cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Profiling of dynamically changed gene expression in dorsal root ganglia post peripheral nerve injury and a critical role of injury-induced glial fibrillary acetic protein in maintenance of pain behaviors

To explore cellular changes in sensory neurons after nerve injury and to identify potential target genes contributing to different stages of neuropathic pain development, we used Affymetrix oligo arrays to profile gene expression patterns in L5/6 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) from the neuropathic pain model of left L5/6 spinal nerve ligation at different stages of neuropathic pain development. Our data indicated that nerve injury induced changes in expression of genes with similar biological functions in a temporal specific manner that correlates with particular stages of neuropathic pain development, indicating dynamic neuroplasticity in the DRG in response to peripheral nerve injury and during neuropathic pain development. Data from post-array validation indicated that there was a temporal correlation between injury-induced expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker for activated astrocytes, and neuropathic pain development. Spinal nerve ligation injury in GFAP knockout mice resulted in neuropathic pain states with similar onset, but a shortened duration compared with that in age, and gender-matched wild-type littermates. Intrathecal GFAP antisense oligonucleotide treatment in injured rats with neuropathic pain states reversed injury-induced behavioral hypersensitivity and GFAP upregulation in DRG and spinal cord. Together, these findings indicate that injury-induced GFAP upregulation not only serves as a marker for astrocyte activation, but it may also play a critical, but yet identified, role in the maintenance of neuropathic pain states.
Waveform effects of a high‐velocity, subducted slab

Creager and Jordan [1986] propose that penetration of subducting slabs under the Kurile Islands and other subduction zones to depths of at least 1000 km is necessary to explain travel time anomalies of deep earthquakes. Such penetration would also be expected to affect the amplitudes and waveforms of the body waves from earthquakes. Synthetic seismograms appropriate for a record section in a plane perpendicular to the strike of the slab are presented using a coupled finite-difference and Kirchhoff method. Our shear-wave version of the compressional-wave velocity structure of Creager and Jordan [1986] produces an amplitude decrease up to a factor of four and waveform broadening up to 20 seconds for SH arrivals with a take-off angle pointing straight down the slab. Slabs that extend only 300 km below the earthquake but are half as thick and twice as anomalously fast as Creager and Jordan's [1986] velocity model will roughly preserve the travel time variation pattern, and show less waveform broadening, but produce first arrivals that are emergent. Slabs that become thicker with depth show less waveform broadening. Reconciliation of the amplitude, waveform distortion, and timing of body waves from deep events is necessary to understand the geometry of slabs in the upper mantle and near and below the 650 km discontinuity.
Incidence of Diarrhea and Colitis Associated with Clindamycin Therapy

A retrospective and prospective study was made of side effects in 200 patients who received clindamycin over a 15-month period. The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms in this group of patients was 21.5%; of diarrhea, 13.5%; and of colitis, 2.5%. Factors associated with an increased incidence of diarrhea were older age and parenteral route of administration. Simultaneous use of other antibiotics, particularly aminoglycosides, and increased total dosage of clindamycin did not increase the incidence of diarrhea. The gastrointestinal side effects were usually self-limited if the drug was promptly discontinued and fluid support was provided.
Papillary cystadenocarcinoma of the sublingual gland presenting as a ranula

A case is reported of a papillary cystadenocarcinoma of the sublingual gland which presented as a ranula. This is both rare in site and mode of presentation.
Theory of aerosol formation and growth in laminar flow

A detailed theoretical analysis of aerosol nucleation and growth in laminar flow, including the important aspects of mass and energy transfer and aerosol size distribution dynamics, is presented. Simulations of aerosol formation and growth in a laminar flow cooled pipe, in the presence and absence of seed particles, are carried out using the classical and Lothe-Pound theories of homogeneous nucleation. The competition between new particle formation and vapor growth onto seed particles in such systems is explored in detail, The theory developed has application to the design and analysis of aerosol generators and continuous flow condensation nuclei counters.
Tumor fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose avidity on positron emission tomographic scan predicts mortality in patients with early-stage pure and mixed bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.

Objective Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma is a clinically heterogeneous subtype of non–small cell lung carcinoma that frequently has low 2-[18F]fluoro- d -glucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomographic scanning. We investigated whether tumor FDG avidity was associated with worse survival among patients with completely resected node-negative pure and mixed bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. Methods We performed a cohort study of 36 patients who had completely resected pure and mixed bronchioloalveolar carcinoma between 1998 and 2004, who had no hilar or mediastinal lymph node metastases, and who had undergone a preoperative positron emission tomographic scan. Tumor FDG avidity was defined as a standardized uptake value of 2.5 or greater. Survival analysis was performed with a proportional hazards model. Results Of 36 patients studied, 26 patients (72%) were alive and 10 patients (28%) were dead after a median follow-up of 31 months (interquartile range 17-41months). Seventeen patients (47%) had FDG-avid tumors, and 19 patients (53%) had non-avid tumors. Three-year survival was 49% in the FDG-avid group and 95% in the non-avid group ( P = .005). FDG avidity had a hazard ratio of death of 8.6 (95% confidence interval 1.4-244.7, P = .02) after adjusting for tumor size, the presence of multifocal bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, and the presence of histologically mixed bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. Conclusions Preoperative tumor FDG standardized uptake value of 2.5 or greater on positron emission tomography is a powerful predictor of long-term mortality in patients with lymph node–negative pure and mixed bronchioloalveolar carcinoma who undergo complete surgical resection. Patients with a high level of FDG uptake (standardized uptake value ≥ 2.5) may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy or more frequent clinical follow-up.
Millimeter radar improves target identification

Recently developed millimeter wave radar has advantages for target identification over conventional microwave radar which typically use lower frequencies. We describe the pertinent features involved in the construction of the new millimeter wave radar, the pseudo-optical cavity source and the quasi-optical duplexer. The long wavelength relative to light allows the radar beam to penetrate through most weather because the wavelength is larger than the particle size for dust, drizzle rain, fog. Further the mm wave beam passes through an atmospheric transmission window that provides a dip in attenuation. The higher frequency than conventional radar provides higher Doppler frequencies, for example, than X-band radar. We show by simulation that small characteristic vibrations and slow turns of an aircraft become visible so that the Doppler signature improves identification. The higher frequency also reduces beam width, which increases transmit and receive antenna gains. For the same power the transmit beam extends to farther range and the increase in receive antenna gain increases signal to noise ratio for improved detection and identification. The narrower beam can also reduce clutter and reject other noise more readily. We show by simulation that the radar can be used at lower elevations over the sea than conventional radar.
USING CURRENT EVENTS TO ENHANCE LEARNING: A SOCIAL WORK CURRICULAR CASE EXAMPLE

Effective social work education that promotes social justice requires expanded curricular models and creative pedagogical approaches. This article presents a curricular case study demonstrating the use of current events to enhance both implicit and explicit curricula. How the cultural crisis of Hurricane Katrina was used to engender transformative learning for both students and teachers is described. Practical tools and resources that can be adapted by educators to incorporate other current events into their teaching-learning are provided. A critique of the process and suggestions for future implementation are discussed. Student perspectives illustrate the effectiveness of this pedagogical approach to provide transformative learning that promotes social justice.
Cell Adhesion and Neurite Extension in Response to Two Proteolytic Fragments of Laminin

Studies from several laboratories have suggested that laminin contains at least two domains that selectively mediate cell type-specific behavior. In this study, two proteolytic fragments of laminin are evaluated for their ability to interact with three different populations of embryonic chicken cells. A 600 kDa thrombin fragment, derived from the central portion of the laminin molecule, supports attachment of dorsal root ganglion (DRG), spinal cord (SC), and heart cells. Neurons from both DRGs and SCs extend neurites in response to this fragment. Quantitatively, both cell adhesion and neurite extension on the 600 kDa fragment are comparable to these responses to intact laminin. A 440 kDa chymotrypsin fragment, derived from either intact laminin or the 600 kDa fragment, does not support equivalent responses. Fewer DRG cells attach to this fragment and neurites are shorter than on the 600 kDa fragment. Heart and SC cell attachment is also reduced in comparison with activity of the 600 kDa fragment, and SC neurites do not form on the 440 kDa fragment. These results suggest that there are at least two cell binding domains in the laminin molecule, one with which a variety of cell types can interact and another that may mediate more restricted cellular responses. The latter site appears to be relatively inactive for SC and heart cell adhesion but supports limited attachment and neurite extension by DRG neurons.
Parallel processing of multidimensional stimuli

A reaction time (RT) task in which S is required to judge pairs of stimuli either the same or different was used in three experiments in order to determine the processing mode employed in complex discriminations. The results of all experiments indicated that stimulus dimensions are processed by parallel but not necessarily independent analyzers.
Amacrine and ganglion cells with corticotropin-releasing-factor-like immunoreactivity in the turtle retina.

This study, which uses immunocytochemical methods at the light microscopical level, examines the cell types in the turtle retina that contain corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-like immunoreactivity. Two anatomically distinct amacrine cell types are labeled when antiserum directed against ovine CRF is used to label the turtle retina. These cell types each have a different dendritic arborization pattern and regional distribution. Type A cells are found only in the visual streak and have elongated dendritic arborizations that run parallel to the visual streak. These cells arborize primarily in stratum 1 and near the border of strata 2 and 3, with some processes extending into stratum 5. Type B amacrine cells are found only ventral to the visual streak and arborize primarily in a wide band in strata 4 and 5 with sparse dendritic arborizations in stratum 1. No labeled amacrine cells of any type were found dorsal to the visual streak. The asymmetric dendritic arborizations of the type A amacrine cells and the different regional distributions of the A and B cell types suggest that these two amacrine cell types perform distinct physiological functions. In addition to these labeled amacrine cells, there are also some immunoreactive cell bodies in the ganglion cell layer. Rhodamine crystals were applied to the optic tectum to retrogradely label the ganglion cell bodies. Double label studies indicate that some of the rhodamine-labeled ganglion cells also contain CRF-like immunoreactivity. The localization of CRF-like immunoreactivity in two distinct amacrine cell types and in ganglion cells suggests that it may play multiple roles in visual processing in the turtle retina.
Modulation of dendritic cell function and cytokine production to prevent thyroid autoimmunity

Understanding autoimmune thyroid diseases provides an unique perspective on the role of various components of the immune system in the pathogenesis of organ specific autoimmune diseases, whether the effector mechanism involves autoantibodies or T cells. Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is largely mediated by thyroglobulin specific T cells, while Graves' disease (GD) is mediated by thyrotropin receptor specific autoantibodies. HT is characterized by thyroid destruction mediated by infiltrating or activated resident immune cells through a variety of mechanisms. In contrast GD is characterized by excessive production of thyroid hormone with little or no glandular destruction. Irrespective of the effector mechanism involved, dendritic cells (DCs) are required for the induction of an efficient primary response and thus are the first cells involved in an autoimmune response. DCs also provide the essential link between the innate and the adaptive immune system through co-stimulatory molecules and the production of cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, inflammatory cytokines also appear to enhance the susceptibility of thyrocytes to apoptosis. In this review, we discuss the role of innate immunity in initiating an adaptive autoimmune response against the thyroid. We will explore the role of different mechanisms involved in breaking self-tolerance to thyroid antigens. Further, we will discuss recent developments in the development of experimental therapeutics against AITD.
Reptile and Amphibian Responses to Restoration of Fire-Maintained Pine Woodlands

Fire-maintained woodlands and savannas are important ecosystems for vertebrates in many regions of the world. These ecosystems are being restored by forest managers, but little information exists on herpetofaunal responses to this restoration in areas dominated by shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata). We compared habitat characteristics and herpetofaunal communities in restored pine woodlands to relatively unmanaged, second-growth forests in the Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas, USA. We found woodland restoration with periodic burning affected species differently; some species benefited, some species appeared negatively affected, but most species did not respond clearly either way. Overall reptile captures were significantly (p = 0.041) greater in pine-woodlands than in unrestored forest; one species of snake and three species of lizards were captured more often in woodlands than unrestored forests. Among anurans, we found no significant difference in captures between woodlands and unrestored forests for any species. Among salamanders, we captured western slimy salamanders (Plethodon albagula )a lmost exclusively in unrestored forest, but captures of other species did not differ between the two treatments. Historically, the Ouachita region likely consisted of a mosaic that included both fire-maintained habitats (woodlands, savannas, and prairies) and areas of denser forest on mesic sites that were less likely to burn. Consequently, landscapes that retain both open woodlands and denser, less-intensely burned forest (in the form of unharvested greenbelts or separate stands) would likely promote and maintain a greater diversity of herpetofauna.
Exclusive Scattering from Unpolarized and Polarized Deuteron

We present results for exclusive electron scattering from polarized and unpolarized deuteron. We employ the Gross equation to describe the deuteron ground state, and we use the SAID parametrization of the full NN scattering amplitude to describe the final state interactions. We discuss properties of various asymmetries accessible with a polarized deuteron target and/or a polarized beam.
The epidemiology of recurrent Gram-negative bacteremia in a tertiary-care hospital

We examined recurrent Gram-negative bacteremia in a prospective cohort from a tertiary hospital. Seventeen (7.1%) of 241 bacteremic patients developed recurrence (median time to recurrence = 44 days; range, 9-217 days). Recurrent and nonrecurrent bacteremic patients did not differ in clinical characteristics and mortality.
Characterization of Schwann cells from normal nerves and from neurofibromas in the bicolour damselfish

Schwann cells are an important component of neurofibromas, one of the primary lesions encountered in neurofibromatosis type 1 in man. A central question in studies of neurofibromatosis type 1 has been whether the Schwann cells present in these tumours are intrinsically abnormal or exhibit abnormal phenotypes in response to stimuli from other cell types in these tumours. Damselfish neurofibromatosis is a naturally occurring disease in a species of marine fish, the bicolour damselfish, that is being developed as an animal model of neurofibromatosis type 1. Affected fish exhibit multiple neurofibromas and neurofibrosarcomas (malignant schwannomas). The present study compares the morphology, antigen expression and proliferative capacityin vitro of Schwann cells derived from peripheral nerves of normal, healthy fish with cells isolated from both spontaneously occurring and experimentally induced neurofibromas. Schwann cells from normal nerves expressed S100 antigens but not fibronectin or glial fibrillary acidic protein antigens and were similar in morphology and proliferative capacity to Schwann cells isolated from mammalian peripheral nerves. Tumour-derived cultures contained variable proportions (27–79%) of S100-positive cells that were identified as Schwann cells based on this feature. These tumour-derived Schwann cells exhibited a different morphology than normal Schwann cells, usually exhibited an increased reactivity to anti-S100 antibodies and were able to proliferate in vitro without added mitogens. Repeated subculturing of tumour-derived cultures led to the production of six cell lines all of which were composed exclusively of Schwann cells as indicated by S100 expression. These findings show that Schwann cells are an important component of tumours in Damselfish neurofibromatosis and that these cells are morphologically and physiologically altered in this disease. Observations of cell lines also suggest that tumour-derived Schwann cells are intrinsically abnormal and that this phenotype is not a result of stimuli from other cell types in the tumours.
THERMAL NEUTRON CAPTURE CROSS SECTIONS

The thermal neutron capture cross sections of more than one hundred isotopes, including all the isotopes of 24 elements, plus several others, have been measured with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory pile oscillator.
The relation between contact charge transfer and chemical donor properties

Abstract The physical concept of a triboelectric series of materials and the chemical concept of the relative electron donor strengths of molecules both refer to a tendency to transfer electrons. In this work, contact charge transfer has been observed, using a variety of liquids and solids. It is shown that the sign of charge transfer is related to the chemical donicity of liquids as determined from thermodynamic data.
Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are necessary for estrogen to enhance acquisition of a delayed matching-to-position T-maze task.

Intraseptal injections of the selective cholinergic immunotoxin 192 IgG-saporin (SAP) were performed to determine whether basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are necessary for hormone-mediated enhancement of acquisition in a delayed matching-to-position (DMP) T-maze task. The DMP task is a simple spatial learning task. Studies have shown that continuous estradiol replacement enhances acquisition of the DMP task in young ovariectomized rats and that long-term treatment with either estradiol or estradiol + progesterone can prevent a deficit in DMP acquisition in old rats. In the present study, continuous estradiol replacement significantly enhanced acquisition of the DMP task by non-SAP-treated, ovariectomized rats. In contrast, neither continuous estradiol nor weekly administration of estradiol + progesterone significantly enhanced acquisition of the DMP task in rats that received intraseptal injections of either a high dose (1.0 μg) or a low dose (0.22 μg) of SAP. Animals that reached criterion were significantly impaired by rotating the maze 180° regardless of treatment, suggesting that animals in all groups used extramaze cues to at least some degree to solve the task. SAP-treated animals were slightly more sensitive to increasing the intertrial delay than non-SAP-treated controls, suggesting that the SAP lesions produced a modest deficit in spatial working memory. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the loss of cholinergic neurons in specific regions of the basal forebrain of SAP-treated animals. In addition, DMP acquisition correlated significantly with ChAT activity in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. The data suggest that basal forebrain cholinergic projections are necessary for hormone-mediated enhancement of DMP acquisition.
The budgetary interview: Intentional learning for students in governmental and non-profit accounting

Abstract Learning-to-learn skills are critical to the future success of accounting students. This paper reports on a budgetary interview exercise that helps students develop as intentional learners. Students select a government or non-profit agency to investigate, arrange an interview with an agency official to discuss the budgetary process, write a technical paper on what was learned, and record their reflections on the experience. The budgetary interview exercise was implemented with undergraduate students in governmental and non-profit accounting courses over four academic years (one course per year). Effectiveness of the exercise was assessed via content analysis of student papers and reflections. Results indicate the exercise was highly effective in helping students develop intentional learning skills. Furthermore, students successfully connected classroom material to “real-world” practice, and most students reflected on potential careers in governmental or non-profit sectors. Appendices provide materials that instructors may use to implement this exercise.
Genetic control of aggressiveness in Phytophthora infestans to tomato

The genetic control of aggressiveness in Phytophthora infestans to tomato was investigated by analyzing hybrid progeny from five different crosses (four F1 crosses and one F2 cross). The parental isolates were all highly aggressive to potatoes, but some had low and others had high aggressiveness to tomato. Of 225 single-oospore progenies tested, 198 were demonstrated to be recombinants on the basis of mating type, allozyme genotype, and (in some cases) nuclear-DNA fingerprint. Trisomy for some parental and progeny isolates was suggested from analysis of allozyme data. The recombinants were evaluated for aggressiveness using detached leaflets of both tomato and potato. From these assays, we suggest that there is a locus with strong influence on P. infestans aggressiveness to tomato, with low aggressiveness being dominant. Other loci of less influence may also be involved, but were not detectable. Some progenies were not aggressive to potatoes, which was consistent with the hypothesis that aggressiveness to...
DNA sequence assembly and multiple sequence alignment by an Eulerian path approach.

We describe an Eulerian path approach to the DNA fragment assembly that was originated by Idury and Waterman 1995, and then advanced by Pevzner et al. 2001b. This combinatorial approach bypasses the traditional “overlap-layout-consensus” approach and successfully resolved some of the troublesome repeats in practical assembly projects. The assembly results by the Eulerian path approach are accurate, and its computation is significantly more efficient than other assembly programs. As an extension, we use the Eulerian path idea to address the multiple sequence alignment problem. In particular, we have as a goal aligning thousands of sequences simultaneously, which is computationally exorbitant for all existing alignment algorithms. As a beginning, we focus on DNA sequence alignment. Our method can align hundreds of DNA sequences within minutes with high accuracy, and its computational time is linear to the number of sequences. We demonstrate its performance by alignments of simulated sequences and by an application in a resequencing project of Arabidopsis thaliana. Although having some weaknesses including aligning gap-rich regions, the Eulerian path approach is distinguished from other existing algorithms in solving either fragment assembly or multiple alignment
Price and income elasticities of demand for air transportation: Empirical evidence from US airfreight industry

This paper examines the demand for airfreight in the US as a function of real income and the price of airfreight between 1996 and 2010. Results show that a unique long-run equilibrium relationship exists between the volume of the US airfreight and the selected variables. The estimated long-run price and income elasticities indicate that US airfreight industry is price and income elastic. It is also found that income is a more powerful determinant of the long-run behavior of US airfreight industry than airfreight price.
Sex and age differences in depression and baseline sport-related concussion neurocognitive performance and symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To examine depression and baseline neurocognitive function and concussion symptoms in male and female high school and college athletes. DESIGN: Cross sectional. SETTING: Athletes completed testing at a designated computer laboratory at high schools and colleges. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included 1616 collegiate (n = 837) and high school (n = 779) athletes from 3 states participating in a variety of competitive sports. INTERVENTIONS: Participants completed the baseline Immediate Postconcussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT), symptom inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Between-group comparisons for depression groups on ImPACT composite scores (verbal and visual memory, reaction time, motor processing speed), total symptoms, and symptom cluster (sleep, cognitive, emotional, somatic/migraine) scores. Between-group comparisons for age and sex on BDI-II, ImPACT, total symptoms, and symptom cluster scores. RESULTS: Severe depression group scored worse on visual memory and reported more total, somatic/migraine, cognitive, emotional, and sleep symptoms than less depressed groups. High school athletes reported more somatic/migraine symptoms than collegiate athletes, whereas collegiate athletes reported more emotional and sleep symptoms than high school athletes. Women had higher verbal memory and reported more cognitive, emotional, and sleep symptom clusters compared with men. Women outperformed men on verbal memory, whereas collegiate athletes outperformed high school athletes on processing speed. CONCLUSIONS: Athletes with severe depression scored lower on visual memory than those with minimal depression. Athletes with severe depression report more concussion symptoms than athletes with minimal and moderate depression scores. Symptoms of depression should be included in baseline assessments to help disentangle depression from concussion symptoms. Language: en
Deficits in Movement Planning and Intrinsic Coordinate Control in Ideomotor Apraxia

Two central issues in the field of motor control are the coordinate frame in which movements are controlled and the distinction between movement planning and online correction. In this study we used these issues to frame several hypotheses about the deficits underlying ideomotor apraxia (IMA). In particular, we examined whether ideomotor apraxics exhibited (1) deficits in movement control in intrinsic (body relative) coordinates with better control in extrinsic (workspace relative) coordinates, (2) deficits in movement planning that are compensated for by an overreliance on online correction, or (3) both deficits. Patients with IMA and two comparison groups performed movement tasks that relied preferentially on either intrinsic or extrinsic coordinate control when online correction was either possible or impossible. Participants performed posture imitation and grasp imitation movements to body- and object-relative end positions in the presence or absence of visual feedback. Consistent with the intrinsic coordinate control hypothesis, patients with IMA showed a significantly greater disparity than the other two groups between movements made to body-relative and object-relative targets as well as between imitation of meaningless postures and grasping. Consistent with the correction overreliance hypothesis, the IMA group was more disrupted than the other groups by the removal of vision. Thus, IMA patients exhibit behavioral patterns consistent with both deficient intrinsic coordinate control and overreliance upon visual feedback. Finally, lesion analysis suggests that damage to the left inferior parietal lobe (Brodmann's areas 39 and 40) may play a key role in both behavioral deficits.
Solubilization of the opiate receptor.

Abstract The opiate receptor is solubilized from rat neural membranes by treating the membranes with Triton X-100, followed by centrifugation. Removal of the Triton X-100 was accomplished with Bio-beads SM-2, and the resulting supernatant was capable of stereospecifically binding opiates at 10−13 moles/mg protein under saturating conditions. Stereospecific binding was measured by equilibrium dialysis and gel filtration using a Sephadex G-25 column, equilibrated with [3H] -ligand and either dextrorphan or levorphanol. The solubilized receptor has affinities for the opiates similar to those observed in membrane preparations and in vivo experiments. The addition of phosphatidylserine to the supernatant enhances stereospecific binding of etorphine slightly. Phospholipase A2, trypsin and chymotrypsin completely inhibit binding. The addition of albumin prevents, but does not reverse the inhibition caused by low concentrations of phospholipase A2. Phosphatidylserine decarboxylase inhibits stereospecific binding by 95%, despite the fact only 10% of the phosphatidylserine present in the supernatant is converted to phosphatidylethanolamine. The solubilized opiate receptor, like the receptor in neural membranes, appears to consist of both protein and lipid moieties.
Effect of moderate exercise on insulin sensitivity and substrate metabolism during post-exercise recovery in cirrhosis

We examined whether a single bout of moderate exercise has a beneficial effect on insulin sensitivity and fuel homeostasis in cirrhosis. Clinically stable cirrhotic patients and age-, sex-, and weight-matched controls participated in insulin clamp studies (either euglycemic hyperinsulinemic or hyperglycemic hyperinsulinemic) in combination with indirect calorimetry and [6,6-2H2]glucose. Three to seven days later, studies were repeated following a single bout of exercise (30 minutes of treadmill exercise at 60% of maximal aerobic capacity). After an overnight fast, following exercise, both cirrhotic and control individuals showed a shift in fuel utilization to enhanced lipid oxidation, decreased glucose oxidation, and increased nonoxidative glucose disposal rates (i.e., glycogen synthesis in muscle) when compared with pre-exercise rates but differences were statistically significant only in the patient group. During euglycemic hyperinsulinemia, insulin-mediated glucose disposal was significantly reduced in cirrhotic patients (3.43 +/- 0.26 vs. 7.36 +/- 0.48 mg/kg/min, P < .01). Following exercise, glucose uptake increased significantly in cirrhotic patients when compared with pre-exercise levels (P < .05) but remained unchanged in the control group. The increase in total body glucose disposal in cirrhotic patients was entirely accounted for by an increase in nonoxidative glucose disposal (0.81 +/- 0.20 vs. 0.51 +/- 0.15 mg/kg/min, P < .05). During combined hyperglycemia/hyperinsulinemia, however, insulin sensitivity was unaffected by exercise in both patients and control individuals. In summary, in cirrhotic patients, a single bout of moderate exercise 1) causes a shift in substrate utilization with an increase in lipid oxidation in the postexercise period that is significantly more pronounced than in controls, and 2) increases insulin sensitivity only during euglycemia but not during the more physiological condition of hyperglycemia. Single bouts of moderate exercise therefore may not have a beneficial effect on the metabolic status of patients with chronic liver disease. (Hepatology 1997 Oct;26(4):972-9)
Oscillatory coexistence in a food chain model with competing predators

A food chain model with two predators feeding on a single prey in a chemostat is studied. Using a multiparameter bifurcation analysis, we find parameters values for which there is stable oscillatory coexistence of the predators. It is also shown how these coexistent states provide a transition between two possible states of competitive exclusion. It is shown that the competitive exclusion principle need not hold if one or more of the predators has oscillatory behavior in the absence of other predators.
Trauma center designation and the decreasing incidence of post-traumatic acute respiratory distress syndrome: A potential guidepost for quality improvement

Abstract Background The incidence of post-traumatic acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is decreasing. We hypothesized that disparities exist in the overall incidence and incidence of ARDS over time across different types of trauma centers. Methods The National Trauma Databank version 7.0 was queried for patients admitted to designated trauma centers (I–III) and ventilated at least 48 hours. Level I university admissions (group 1) were compared with level I community and level II/III center admissions (group 2). Results There were 43,664 patients with an incidence of ARDS of 5.2% (2,260) overall, 4.1% (1,062/25,937) in group 1, and 6.8% (1,198/17,727) in group 2 (P Conclusions Admission to a level I center may not necessarily confer similar results reflecting potential variation in management between centers that presumably provide similar service. These investigations may have significance to quality improvement.
TGF-β and NF-κB signal pathway cross-talk is mediated through TAK1 and SMAD7 in a subset of head and neck cancers

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) has a dual role in epithelial malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Attenuation of canonical TGF-β signaling enhances de novo tumor development, whereas TGF-β overexpression and signaling paradoxically promotes malignant progression. We recently observed that TGF-β-induced growth arrest response is attenuated, in association with aberrant activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a transcription factor, which promotes malignant progression in HNSCC. However, what role cross-talk between components of the TGF-β and NF-κB pathways plays in altered activation of these pathways has not been established. Here, we show TGF-β receptor II and TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) are predominantly expressed in a subset of HNSCC tumors with nuclear activation of NF-κB family member RELA (p65). Further, TGF-β1 treatment induced sequential phosphorylation of TAK1, IKK, IκBα and RELA in human HNSCC lines. TAK1 enhances TGF-β-induced NF-κB activation, as TAK1 siRNA knockdown decreased TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of IKK, IκB and RELA, degradation of IκBα, RELA nuclear translocation and DNA binding, and NF-κB-induced reporter and target gene transcription. Functionally, TAK1 siRNA inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Celastrol, a TAK1 inhibitor and anti-inflammatory compound used in traditional Chinese medicine, also decreased TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of TAK1 and RELA, and suppressed basal, TGF-β1- and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced NF-κB reporter gene activity. Celastrol also inhibited cell proliferation, while increasing sub-G0 DNA fragmentation and Annexin V markers of apoptosis. Furthermore, TGF-β and RELA activation promoted SMAD7 expression. In turn, SMAD7 preferentially suppressed TGF-β-induced SMAD and NF-κB reporters when compared with constitutive or TNF-α-induced NF-κB reporter gene activation. Thus, cross-talk by TGF-β via TAK1 and NF-κB promotes the malignant phenotype of HNSCC. Moreover, NF-κB may contribute to the downstream attenuation of canonical TGF-β signaling through increased SMAD7 expression. Celastrol highlights the therapeutic potential of agents targeting TAK1 as a key node in this pro-oncogenic TGF-β-NF-κB signal pathway.
Developing an engineering shape benchmark for CAD models

Abstract Three-dimensional shape retrieval is a problem of current interest in several different fields, especially in the mechanical engineering domain. There exists a large body of work in developing representations for 3D shapes. However, there has been limited work done in developing domain-dependent benchmark databases for 3D shape searching. We propose a benchmark database for evaluating shape-based search methods relevant to the mechanical engineering domain. Twelve different shape descriptors belonging to three categories, namely: (1) feature vector-based, (2) histogram-based, and (3) view-based, are compared using the benchmark database. The main contributions of this paper are the development of a new engineering shape benchmark and an understanding of the effectiveness of different shape representations for classes of engineering parts. Overall, it was found that view-based representations yielded better retrieval results for a majority of shape classes, while no single method performed best for all shape categories.
Evaluation of Total Emittance of an Isothermal Nongray Absorbing, Scattering Gas-Particle Mixture Based on the Concept of Absorption Mean Beam Length

A general methodology to evaluate the total emittance of an isothermal, nongray, isotropically scattering particle-gas mixture is illustrated. Based on the concept of absorption mean beam length (AMBL), the methodology is demonstrated to be computationally efficient and accurate. As an illustration, the total emittance of a slab containing carbon particles and CO 2 is evaluated. The nongray extinction coefficient and scattering albedo of carbon particles are calculated based on Mie theory and the available index of refraction data
Evidence for parallel Na(+)-H+ and Na(+)-dependent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchangers in cultured bovine lens cells.

BCECF, a cell-entrapable dye with a pH-sensitive fluorescence spectrum, was used to identify transport mechanisms contributing to pH homeostasis of cultured bovine lens epithelial cells. Cells from a spontaneously established lineage were grown on glass coverslips that fit diagonally in a standard curvette and intracellular pH (pHi) was measured. Under perfusion with a CO2-HCO3(-)-free medium (pH 7.45), pHi was 7.19 +/- 0.21 (mean +/- S.D., n = 94 cell preparations). Cell acidifications (pHi to 6.65, n = 8) induced by the 'NH(4+)-loading' method were rapidly followed by a Na(+)-dependent, amiloride-inhibitable pHi recovery. Introduction of a CO2-HCO3(-)-rich medium (pH 7.45) resulted in a small acidification (0.18 +/- 0.04 U, n = 16; P < 0.002) due to rapid CO2 entry and an ensuing slow alkalinization to a pHi near the control CO2-HCO3(-)-free value. Subsequent removal of Cl- resulted in a further alkalinization of 0.18 +/- 0.02 U (n = 13; P < 0.001). This Cl- effect was completely inhibited by the absence of Na+, but was insensitive to amiloride, suggesting the presence of a Na(+)-dependent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchanger. Consistent with this posit, the reintroduction of Na+ to cells perfused in the absence of the cation with a HCO3(-)-containing, amiloride-complemented solution resulted in a gradual recovery from the acidic pHi induced by the baseline conditions (n = 6). The amiloride-insensitive, Na(+)- and HCO3(-)-dependent recovery was completely inhibited in cells pre-incubated with DIDS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Organ Deformation and Dose Coverage in Robotic Respiratory-Tracking Radiotherapy

Purpose Respiratory motion presents a significant challenge in stereotactic body radiosurgery. Respiratory tracking that follows the translational movement of the internal fiducials minimizes the uncertainties in dose delivery. However, the effect of deformation, defined as any changes in the body and organs relative to the center of fiducials, remains unanswered. This study investigated this problem and a possible solution. Methods and Materials Dose delivery using a robotic respiratory-tracking system was studied with clinical data. Each treatment plan was designed with the computed tomography scan in the end-expiration phase. The planned beams were applied to the computed tomography scan in end-inspiration following the shift of the fiducials. The dose coverage was compared with the initial plan, and the uncertainty due to the deformation was estimated. A necessary margin from the clinical target volume to the planning target volume was determined to account for this and other sources of uncertainty. Results We studied 12 lung and 5 upper abdomen lesions. Our results demonstrated that for lung patients with properly implanted fiducials a 3-mm margin is required to compensate for the deformation and a 5-mm margin is required to compensate for all uncertainties. Our results for the upper abdomen tumors were still preliminary but indicated a similar result, although a larger margin might be required. Conclusion The effect of body deformation was studied. We found that adequate dose coverage for lung tumors can be ensured with proper fiducial placement and a 5-mm planning target volume margin. This approach is more practical and effective than a recent proposal to combine four-dimensional planning with respiratory tracking.
Seasonal incidence of aphids and the aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) on rapeseed in Tennessee

Aphids and their parasitoids were sampled in seven and eight commercial rapeseed fields in 1990 and 1991, respectively. Whole-plant sampling was used for aphids during the budding plant stage. Sweep-net sampling was used for aphids and their parasitoids during the flowering and ripening plant stages. Three species of aphids, turnip aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach); green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer); and cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), were collected. The turnip aphid was the most abundant species collected in 1990 and 1991, 99.9 and 86.8%, respectively. Turnip aphid populations peaked (80%) most frequently during the flowering stage, and visual observations taken of feeding damage noted stunted growth, reduced pod formation, and uneven stand maturity. Turnip aphids were parasitized by the wasp parasitoid, Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae). In 1990, the total D. rapae density was 883 wasps per 50 sweeps and this was 24 times higher than the total 1991 density of 37 wasps per 50 sweeps. Aphid infestations were observed to cause substantial damage to rapeseed stands in 1990. However, the lack of quantitative yield-loss data precludes the effective integration of natural and chemical control strategies on rapeseed.
MLR-tagging: informative SNP selection for unphased genotypes based on multiple linear regression

Summary: The search for the association between complex diseases and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or haplotypes has recently received great attention. For these studies, it is essential to use a small subset of informative SNPs accurately representing the rest of the SNPs. Informative SNP selection can achieve (1) considerable budget savings by genotyping only a limited number of SNPs and computationally inferring all other SNPs or (2) necessary reduction of the huge SNP sets (obtained, e.g. from Affymetrix) for further fine haplotype analysis. A novel informative SNP selection method for unphased genotype data based on multiple linear regression (MLR) is implemented in the software package MLR-tagging. This software can be used for informative SNP (tag) selection and genotype prediction. The stepwise tag selection algorithm (STSA) selects positions of the given number of informative SNPs based on a genotype sample population. The MLR SNP prediction algorithm predicts a complete genotype based on the values of its informative SNPs, their positions among all SNPs, and a sample of complete genotypes. An extensive experimental study on various datasets including 10 regions from HapMap shows that the MLR prediction combined with stepwise tag selection uses fewer tags than the state-of-the-art method of Halperin et al. (2005). Availability: MLR-Tagging software package is publicly available at http://alla.cs.gsu.edu/~software/tagging/tagging.html Contact: [email protected]
Commentary: Reflections on ‘The Health Crisis in the USSR’

It seems hard to believe that a quarter century has passed since the publication of my essay ‘The Health Crisis in the USSR’ 1 —but it is gratifying to see that the essay still has an audience, and still more gratifying to know that the audience includes readers of the calibre that this journal attracts. Since the editors have kindly invited me to comment on this essay’s more-or-less silver anniversary, a few reminiscences may be in order about its origins and the controversy it initially elicited—as well as an afterthought or two about the essay’s central arguments. At the time ‘The Health Crisis in the USSR’ appeared, I was a graduate student, just finishing a fellowship at the Rockefeller Foundation, and beginning what was to be an unusually long and happy visiting fellowship with the Harvard Center for Population Studies. I was working on, well, practically anything but my dissertation. In early 1979, while finishing my master’s work, I had published a series of essays in the New York Review of Books (subsequently fashioned into a monograph 2 ) on the new post-Mao revelations about China’s highly qualified progress
Rosuvastatin treatment reverses impaired coronary artery vasodilation in fructose-fed, insulin-resistant rats.

Insulin resistance (IR) impairs vascular responses in coronary arteries, but mechanisms of dysfunction and approaches to treatment remain unclear. We examined the ability of a new 3-hydroxy-methylg...