cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Replication stress-induced chromosome breakage is correlated with replication fork progression and is preceded by single-stranded DNA formation.

Chromosome breakage as a result of replication stress has been hypothesized to be the direct consequence of defective replication fork progression, or “collapsed” replication forks. However, direct and genome-wide evidence that collapsed replication forks give rise to chromosome breakage is still lacking. Previously we showed that a yeast replication checkpoint mutant mec1-1, after transient exposure to replication impediment imposed by hydroxyurea (HU), failed to complete DNA replication, accumulated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) at the replication forks, and fragmented its chromosomes. In this study, by following replication fork progression genome-wide via ssDNA detection and by direct mapping of chromosome breakage after HU exposure, we have tested the hypothesis that the chromosome breakage in mec1 cells occurs at collapsed replication forks. We demonstrate that sites of chromosome breakage indeed correlate with replication fork locations. Moreover, ssDNA can be detected prior to chromosome breakage, suggesting that ssDNA accumulation is the common precursor to double strand breaks at collapsed replication forks.
Response surface measurement for BiFeO3-CoFe2O4 multiferroic nanocomposite

A thin film BiFeO3 - CoFe2O4 multiferroic nanocomposite has been investigated to determine the coupling between the two phases in a constrained film by combining piezoelectric force microscopy and an externally applied magnetic field. In addition, finite element modeling was carried out to fully explain the observed local piezoelectric response. The results of the experiments and modeling show that the mechanical contributions dominate the local response of the ferroelectric phase and that large regions of high response are due to the interactions of the microstructural features. Also, microstructures that would improve mulitferroic properties are suggested based on the modeled response of the nanocomposite.
Acute Pyelonephritis Associated with Bacteriuria During Long-Term Catheterization: A Prospective Clinicopathological Study

Bacteriuria is virtually universal in long-term catheterized patients. This blinded autopsy study of 75 aged nursing home patients demonstrated that acute inflammation of the renal parenchyma was present in 38% of patients with a urinary catheter in place at death versus 5% of noncatheterized patients (P = .004). Of a number of clinical and demographic variables studied, only catheterization was significantly related to acute renal inflammation. Acute cystitis was uncommon, but each case was associated with inflammation of at least one kidney. The majority of kidneys showing acute inflammation (21 [68%] of 31) were not accompanied by acute pyelitis. Acute renal inflammation with or without pelvic inflammation is a common finding in nursing home patients dying with urethral catheters in place. This finding provides additional support for the development of alternatives to the indwelling urethral catheter.
Causal design knowledge: Alternative representation method for product development knowledge management

This paper presents a mathematical comparison of procedural knowledge and causal knowledge, and discusses the potential roles and feasibility of causal knowledge across product development knowledge management. Since reuse of knowledge is so important in product development, various knowledge management approaches have been introduced. Most of the product design knowledge is represented by procedural knowledge, which unfortunately requires cumbersome processes to define, and is typically inadequate for representing the kind of knowledge generated during the product development process. A causal knowledge representation, however, can help us to overcome this limitation and is an alternative formalism for representing product design knowledge. In this paper we compare the procedural and causal knowledge representations. We present the mathematical definitions of two knowledge paradigms, then mathematically describe the relationship between the two. Both knowledge paradigms are then compared based on the perspective of knowledge expression, decision alternative representation, reasoning capability, and knowledge cultivation. This paper concludes that causal knowledge representation is superior to procedural knowledge representation based on the four perspectives. Finally, the knowledge systems are modeled using Systems Modeling Language (SysML), and we present a case study that demonstrates the causal knowledge features using a realistic example from industry.
The Impact of Alcoholism: The Writer, the Story, the Student

Imagine that you are a professor of American literature. Imagine that a vast majority of the authors on your syllabus were diabetics, many of them having died as a direct result of their disease. Imagine that these writers did not know they had diabetes, that even though their relatives and acquain tances were often alarmed by their bi zarre behavior?behavior that would later provide "humorous" fodder for books of literary anecdotes?an ignor ance of the disease or of its existence
Inferential Optimization: An Algorithm for Determining Optimal Sales Commissions in Multiproduct Sales Forces

Relatively simple experimental data which embody a salesman's assessment of relationships between his efforts and sales are used in a computational algorithm to determine the parameters of a functional relationship between sales volume and sales time spent on products in the line. These time-effectiveness functions can be aggregated over salesmen in global optimization, in developing commission rates consistent with other marketing plans or in conjunction with more detailed computer-based sales planning and control models. The procedure can also be extended to deal with errors in the input data.
Geochemistry of gabbro sills in the crust-mantle transition zone of the Oman ophiolite: implications for the origin of the oceanic lower crust

Gabbroic sills intruding dunite in the crust-mantle transition zone (MTZ) of the Oman ophiolite have textures and compositions very similar to those in modally layered gabbros that form the lower part of the gabbro section in the ophiolite, and different from those in non-layered gabbros near the dike-gabbro transition. The presence of gabbroic sills in the MTZ indicates that modally layered gabbros can form far below the level of magmatic neutral buoyancy and far below the dike-gabbro transition. Minerals in the sills and lower, layered gabbros are in FeMg and trace element exchange equilibrium with liquids identical to those that formed the sheeted dikes and lavas in the ophiolite. In contrast, many of the upper, non-layered gabbros resemble crystallized liquid compositions, similar to the dikes and lavas. The lower, layered gabbros probably formed in sills similar to those in the MTZ. Mantle-derived magmas cooled in these sills, where they crystallized from a few percent to 50% of their mass. Residual liquids then rose to form upper gabbros, dikes and lavas. Sills may form beneath permeability barriers created by the crystallization of cooling liquid migrating by porous flow. Once permeability barriers are present, however, porous flow becomes a less important mode of magma ascent, compared to ponding in sills, gradual increase in magma pressure, and periodic ascent in hydrofractures. Thus, gabbroic sills in the MTZ may represent the transition in fast-spreading ridge environments from continuous porous flow in the mantle to periodic diking in the crust.
Violation of microscopic reversibility and the use of reverse quais-classical trajectories for calculating reaction cross sections

In order to calculate the transition probabilities (or cross sections) for reactive collisions, such as A + BC(ν, j)→ AB(ν′, j) + C, using the quasi-classical trajectory method, one quantizes the internal energy of the reagents and in addition adopts some algorithm for calculating the internal quantum numbers of the products. A serious consequence of this procedure is that the quasi-classical results do not obey microscopic reversibility. It is shown that for the collinear F + H2(ν = 0) → FH(ν = 2, 3)+ H reaction (and its D2 counterpart), the quasi-classical trajectory probabilities for the reverse reaction not only differ substantially from the forward ones but in general are in much better agreement with accurate quantum calculations. A similar situation was found for the collinear H + H2(0) → H2(1) + H reaction. We suggest that in doing quasi-classical calculations, the reverse of the process of interest should also be considered. Comparison of forward and reverse quasi-classical collinear calculations with accurate collinear quantum results could give an indication of whether forward or reverse calculations should be used for the three-dimensional case.
Interaction of selection and biased gene conversion in a multigene family.

Abstract A model of the evolutionary dynamics of a multigene family in a finite population under the joint effects of selection and (possibly biased) gene conversion is analyzed. It is assumed that the loss or fixation of a polymorphism at any particular locus in the gene family occurs on a much faster time scale than the introduction of new alleles to a monomorphic locus by gene conversion. A general formula for the fixation of a new allele throughout a multigene family for a wide class of selection functions with biased gene conversion is given for this assumption. Analysis for the case of additive selection shows that (i) unless selection is extremely weak or bias is exceptionally strong, selection usually dominates the fixation dynamics, (ii) if selection is very weak, then even a slight conversion bias can greatly alter the fixation probabilities, and (iii) if both selection and conversion bias are sufficiently small, the substitution rate of new alleles throughout a multigene family is approximately the single locus mutation rate, the same result as for neutral alleles at a single-copy gene. Finally, I analyze a fairly general class of underdominant speciation models involving multigene families, concluding for these models under weak conversion that although the probability of fixation may be relatively high, the expected time to fixation is extremely long, so that speciation by "molecular drive" is unlikely. Furthermore, speciation occurs faster by fixing underdominant alleles of the same effect at single-copy genes than by fixing the same number of loci in a single multigene family under the joint effects of selection, conversion, and drift.
Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid arteries are the blood vessels that deliver blood through the neck to the brain. There is one carotid artery on each side of the neck, where its pulsation can be felt with a finger below the jaw bone. Blockages in the carotid artery decrease blood flow to the brain, causing a medical condition known as carotid artery disease. Interruptions in blood flow to the brain (commonly known as stroke) can cause permanent injury. This Cardiology Patient Page describes how blockages resulting from carotid artery disease cause stroke and what you and your doctor can do to prevent it. Stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, is most frequently caused by a sudden stoppage of blood flow to a portion of the brain. Every year in the United States, an estimated 750 000 people become victims of stroke. There are 2 common causes of stroke. First, an irregular heart rhythm, called atrial fibrillation, can cause stroke when small blood clots form as the heart is quivering instead of beating normally. Once a small blood clot is formed, it can be launched by the heart through the carotid arteries, block a blood vessel in the brain, and deprive that part of the brain of blood, resulting in a stroke. The other common cause of stroke is a blockage in the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries carry blood to the brain; like the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, these arteries can become narrowed or blocked. The blockages are deposits of cholesterol, or atherosclerosis, that narrow the blood flow channel in the carotid arteries (Figure 1). If these cholesterol deposits or blockages break or rupture, small blood clots and cholesterol fragments break off from the plaque, enter the blood flow to the brain, and can get caught in a smaller blood vessel in …
Performance on a token economy psychiatric ward: a two year summary.

Abstract A token economy psychiatric hospital ward for chronic schizophrenic male and female patients is described in detail. After two years, 13 patients had been discharged, 6 were hospital employees, 12 had earned many privilegas on the token ward, 12 had earned very few privileges and 9 had been removed from the ward. The patients in these five terminal positions were compared on age, years-in-hospital, prescribed drugs and diagnosis. The median years-in-hospital for discharged patients was lower than the median for the other four terminal positions. Otherwise comparisons of these variables revealed no consistent trends. The proportion of time the patients spent out of the hospital was greater after entering the token ward than before entering it. The two-thirds of patient movements from one of the five positions to another were in the direction of improvement of socially acceptable behavior.
Pregnancy outcomes following placement of elective, urgent and emergent cerclage.

Objective. To describe pregnancy outcomes following elective (history-indicated), urgent (ultrasound-indicated) or emergent (physical-exam indicated) cerclage placement.Materials and Methods. Study design was retrospective chart review. Women with singleton gestation and cervical cerclage were categorised into: elective, urgent and emergent group.Results. One hundred and thirty-three women were included; 89 in elective, 26 in urgent and 18 in emergent group. Difference was detected when elective and urgent groups were compared with emergent group for: gestation at delivery (35.9 ± 5.1 vs. 34.2 ± 5.9 vs. 29.3 ± 7.2 weeks, respectively, P < 0.05), delivery beyond 36 weeks, (73.9%, 57.7%vs. 23.5%, respectively, P < 0.05), neonatal death (6.8%, 9.5%vs. 43.8%, respectively, P < 0.05) and Apgar score <7 at 5 min (9.1%, 11.5%vs. 47.1%, respectively, P < 0.05). Difference was also detected between elective vs. urgent and emergent groups for: preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) (19.3%vs. 38.5%vs. 64.7%,...
An Approach for Finding Good Anchor Nodes in Ontologies in the Semantic Web

Mapping two (or more) ontologies to each other has become an important topic in the semantic web. Knowing which are the best nodes to start the mapping process (these are called anchor nodes) can make the ontology mapping much easier in many cases. Traditionally, selecting anchor nodes has been done by humans. In the semantic web, however, there is a need to map ontologies on the fly. To our knowledge, how to automatically identify anchor nodes for on the fly ontology mapping has never been addressed before. This research suggests an innovative idea for determining anchor nodes automatically, and describes a preliminary case study illustrating this idea.
Acceptability of information management strategies: Adolescents' and parents' judgments and links with adjustment and relationships.

Parents' and adolescents' (Mage = 15.7) acceptability ratings of four information management strategies and associations between these ratings and adjustment, relationship quality, and strategy use were examined in 174 middle-class families over 1 year. Acceptance of information management was greater for adolescents than for parents and for personal than for prudential issues; acceptance decreased across telling only if asked, avoidance, omitting details, and lying. Strategy acceptance and use were associated for lying and avoiding the topic. Controlling for strategy use, teens' acceptance of lying, omitting details, and avoidance was associated with poorer parent–adolescent relationships and more problem behavior 1 year later; acceptance of lying was associated with increases in depressed mood. Associations in the opposite direction were rare.
Patency and blood flow in gas denucleated arterial prostheses

Biomaterials exposed to blood often fail due to thrombosis. Gas nuclei (air) in the material are thrombogenic and a potential cause of failure. The effects of gas nuclei on patency and blood flow were studied in 4 mm diameter arterial grafts (Gore ePTFE; Johnson and Johnson Vitagraft ePTFE; Bard ACG EXS) in the femoropopliteal position of dogs. Control and denucleated (air-free) grafts were implanted bilaterally. Grafts were denucleated by immersion in degassed saline and exposure to 4 torr vacuum and 3,000–20,000 psig pressure. Graft patency was determined at harvest in 46 dogs. Blood flow was measured with acoustic flow probes in eight dogs. Denucleated graft patency was 60% after 2 days of implant while control patency was 22% (P < .05). Measured blood flow was higher in denucleated grafts than in control grafts (P < .02) in 4 of 5 dogs which had significantly different flows. Patency and flow decreased to zero for both control and denucleated grafts over periods of up to 80 days. Air in the control grafts may have been absorbed within several days, leading to late similarity with the denucleated grafts. Thus, removing the air from 4 mm ePTFE grafts decreased acute thrombosis and increased the patency. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
R(−)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-77bromoamphetamine [77Br-R(−)DOB]: a novel radioligand which labels a 5-HT binding site subtype

R(−)-2,5-Dimethoxy-4-77Br-amphetamine [77Br-R(−)DOB], a radioligand of high specific activity (1500±200 Ci/mmol), was used to label membrane-associated recognition sites in rat brain. 77Br-R(−)DOB sites were of high affinity (KD=0.19 nM) but low density (Bmax=0.32 pmol/g tissue) in rat brain preparations. Competition experiments show that both 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-HT2 antagonists display nanomolar potency for these sites. We conclude that 77Br-R(−)DOB labels 5-HT recognition sites in rat brain which do not fit into current classifications of 5-HT binding subtypes. This finding may be of aid in deciphering the mechanism of action of hallucinogens in man.
Understanding trust in international alliances

Abstract Many firms are discovering that formal contracts, while necessary, are not a substitute for informal understandings. Trust plays in important (often dominant) role in successful alliances, and managers often cite lack of trust as a key reason for failed alliances. This paper attemps to deepen our understanding of trust, by systematically examining the psychological, sociological, and economic components of trust, intercultural differences in the notion of trust, and the various mechanisms through which trust may be generated. A follow-up paper, “Building Trust in International Alliances,” shows how partners can proactively manage an alliance relationship in order to develop trust.
Diagnostic value of cinefluoroscopy in the evaluation of prosthetic heart valve dysfunction.

The surgical treatment of valvular heart disease has advanced rapidly during the last two decades, evidenced by the fact that an estimated 20,000 patients will receive a prosthetic heart valve in the United States in the next year. Although improvements in structure and design of these valvular prostheses have also evolved rapidly, they remain imperfect and subject to various forms of mechanical dysfunction. In attempting to avoid unnecessary catheterization and surgical intervention, the initial evaluation of suspected prosthetic valve dysfunction is noninvasive and includes the modalities of phonocardiography, echocardiography, radiography, and cinefluoroscopy. The potential information of the cinefluoroscopic examination is, however, sometimes overlooked and the examination omitted. The present report demonstrates the substantial diagnostic value of cinefluoroscopy in the evaluation of prosthetic valve dysfunction involving a variety of common mechanical and tissue prostheses.
Smokeless Tobacco Use among Adolescents: Demographic Differences, other Substance Use, and Psychological Correlates

Survey data on smokeless tobacco and other substance use were obtained from 2,926 seventh, ninth, and eleventh graders in Ventura County, California public schools. Patterns of smokeless tobacco use were examined relative to other drug use, particularly cigarette smoking. Few females used smokeless tobacco regularly, as compared to 4.7 percent of the males. The data supported the view that the recent increases in smokeless tobacco use were related to male tobacco users' belief that smokeless tobacco was less harmful to physical health than cigarette smoking. A Guttman scalogram analysis showed that tobacco use, either cigarette smoking or smokeless tobacco use, occurred after marijuana use rather than before. Perceived parental attitudes toward marijuana use predicted both cigarette smoking and use of smokeless tobacco, whereas perceived parental attitudes toward alcohol use was only related to use of cigarettes. Quality of life measures were inversely related to both cigarette smoking and smokeless tobac...
Insertion of vagal nerve stimulator using local and regional anesthesia

BACKGROUND Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is a valuable therapy for patients with intractable epilepsy. Placement of a vagal nerve stimulator typically requires general anesthesia, which frequently interrupts anticonvulsant therapy. Insertion of the stimulator using regional/local anesthesia may offer the advantages of continuity of anticonvulsant therapy and implantation in the outpatient setting. METHODS We retrospectively compared the first 10 consecutive patients undergoing VNS implantation under general anesthesia with the first 12 consecutive patients undergoing VNS implantation under regional/local anesthesia. Patients for the regional/local anesthesia were selected on the basis of their ability to cooperate and follow commands. Regional anesthesia for implantation of the VNS leads was achieved by performing superficial and deep cervical plexus blocks. A local anesthetic field block of a small area of the posterior chest provided anesthesia for insertion of the generator. RESULTS All of the patients undergoing regional/local anesthesia completed the procedure without difficulty and on an outpatient basis. None complained of discomfort, sedation, nausea, or vomiting and none had seizures in the perioperative period. These results contrasted with the group that underwent general anesthesia (n = 10), who had an 80% incidence of nausea and vomiting and a 30% incidence of postoperative seizures. CONCLUSION VNS implantation under regional/local anesthesia is proficiently performed as an outpatient procedure with minimal postoperative side effects.
Administration of soluble activin receptor 2B increases bone and muscle mass in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) comprises a group of heritable connective tissue disorders generally defined by recurrent fractures, low bone mass, short stature and skeletal fragility. Beyond the skeletal complications of OI, many patients also report intolerance to physical activity, fatigue and muscle weakness. Indeed, recent studies have demonstrated that skeletal muscle is also negatively affected by OI, both directly and indirectly. Given the well-established interdependence of bone and skeletal muscle in both physiology and pathophysiology and the observations of skeletal muscle pathology in patients with OI, we investigated the therapeutic potential of simultaneous anabolic targeting of both bone and skeletal muscle using a soluble activin receptor 2B (ACVR2B) in a mouse model of type III OI (oim). Treatment of 12-week-old oim mice with ACVR2B for 4 weeks resulted in significant increases in both bone and muscle that were similar to those observed in healthy, wild-type littermates. This proof of concept study provides encouraging evidence for a holistic approach to treating the deleterious consequences of OI in the musculoskeletal system.
Representing Child Soldiers in Fiction and Film

The child soldier has become the ubiquitous icon of modern warfare—the symbol of nearly everything that is wrong with war. The dominant contemporary view of child soldiers is that the recruitment o...
Simulation of the role of oscillatory shear stress on mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and extracellular matrix production in engineered heart valve tissue formation

Living tissue engineered heart valves (TEHV) may circumvent ongoing problems in pediatric valve replacements, offering optimum hemodynamic performance and the potential for growth, remodeling, and self-repair [1]. TEHV have been constructed by seeding vascular-derived autologous cells onto biodegradable scaffolds and exhibited enhanced extracellular matrix (ECM) development when cultured under pulsatile flow conditions in-vitro [2]. After functioning successfully for up to 8 months in the pulmonary circulation of growing lambs, TEHV underwent extensive in vivo remodeling and structural evolution and have demonstrated the feasibility of engineering living heart valves in vitro [3]. The employment of novel cell sources, which are clinically obtainable in principle such as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), is key to achieve viable clinical application [4].Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Multiple Pathways for Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) Regulation of Na-K-2Cl Cotransporter (NKCC1) Function THE N-TERMINAL TAIL OF THE Na-K-2Cl COTRANSPORTER SERVES AS A REGULATORY SCAFFOLD FOR Ste20-RELATED PROLINE/ALANINE-RICH KINASE (SPAK) AND PP1

The Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC1) participates in epithelial transport and in cell volume maintenance by mediating the movement of ions and water across plasma membranes. Functional studies have previously demonstrated that NKCC1 activity is stimulated by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) inhibitors. In this study, we utilized both in vivo (heterologous cRNA expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes) and in vitro (32P-phosphorylation assays with glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins) experiments to determine whether PP1 exerts its inhibitory effect directly on the cotransporter, or indirectly by affecting the activating kinase. We found that PP1 reduced NKCC1 activity in oocytes under both isotonic and hypertonic conditions to the same level as in water-injected controls. Interestingly, mutation of key residues in the PP1 binding motif located in the N-terminal tail of NKCC1 significantly reduced the inhibitory effect of PP1. In vitro experiments performed with recombinant PP1, SPAK (Ste20-related proline/alanine-rich kinase, which activates NKCC1), and the N terminus of NKCC1 fused to glutathione S-transferase demonstrated that PP1 dephosphorylated both the kinase and the cotransporter in a time-dependent manner. More importantly, PP1 dephosphorylation of SPAK was significantly greater when protein-protein interaction between the kinase and the N-terminal tail of NKCC1 was present in the reaction, indicating the necessity of scaffolding the phosphatase and kinase in proximity to one another. Taken together, our data are consistent with PP1 inhibiting NKCC1 activity directly by dephosphorylating the cotransporter and indirectly by dephosphorylating SPAK.
Links between alcohol and other drug problems and maltreatment among adolescent girls: Perceived discrimination, ethnic identity, and ethnic orientation as moderators

Objectives This study examined the links between maltreatment, posttraumatic stress symptoms, ethnicity-specific factors (i.e., perceived discrimination, ethnic identity, and ethnic orientation), and alcohol and/or other drug (AOD) problems among adolescent girls.
Induction and detection of apoptosis in human periphery blood T-cells.

Abstract Freshly isolated, human peripheral blood T (PBT) cells are resistant to induction of apoptosis. In this study, however, we have shown that although small numbers of monocytes (Mo) are required for PBT cells to proliferate optimally in response to mitogenic challenge, a relatively higher percentage of Mo results in a significant decrease in PHA-, but not ConA-induced T-cell proliferation. Interestingly, the decrease in T-cell proliferation correlated to an increase in apoptotic cell death. Moreover, ConA-induced PBT-cells underwent apoptosis in the presence of PHA-pretreated Mo, suggesting a key role of monocyte activation in this system. This apoptosis-promoting effect of activated Mo appeared to depend on contact or close proximity between Mo and PBT-cells, rather than via soluble mediators. Despite an increase in apoptosis by the presence of high numbers of Mo, PHA-stimulated PBT-cells released IL-2 at elevated levels proportional to the increasing numbers of Mo in cultures. They also expressed activation marker CD69 and the IL-2R-γ chain on the cell surface at comparable or higher levels in the presence of high versus low numbers of Mo. These data suggest that PBT-cells can embark on a normal early phase of activation prior to undergoing apoptosis, thereby providing a model system to study how T-cells are committed to either proliferation or activation-induced apoptosis.
Cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide differentially regulates T- and B-cell function

Mammalian antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play an important role in host defense via direct antimicrobial activity as well as immune regulation. The mouse cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (mCRAMP), produced from the mouse gene Camp, is the only mouse cathelicidin identified and the ortholog of the human gene encoding the peptide LL-37. This study tested the hypothesis that mouse B and T cells produce and respond to mCRAMP. We show that all mature mouse B-cell subsets, including follicular (FO), marginal zone (MZ), B1a, and B1b cells, as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T cells produce Camp mRNA and mCRAMP protein. Camp−/− B cells produced equivalent levels of IgM, IgG3, and IgG2c but less IgG1 and IgE, while Camp−/− CD4+ T cells cultured in Th2-inducing conditions produced more IL-4-expressing cells when compared with WT cells, effects that were reversed upon addition of mCRAMP. In vivo, Camp−/− mice immunized with TNP-OVA absorbed in alum produced an enhanced TNP-specific IgG1 response when compared with WT mice. ELISpot analysis revealed increased numbers of TNP-specific IgG1-secreting splenic B cells and FACS analysis revealed increased CD4+ T-cell IL-4 expression. Our results suggest that mCRAMP differentially regulates B- and T-cell function and implicate mCRAMP in the regulation of adaptive immune responses.
Inhibition of Chromosomal Separation Provides Insights into Cleavage Furrow Stimulation in Cultured Epithelial Cells

While astral microtubules are believed to be primarily responsible for the stimulation of cytokinesis in Echinoderm embryos, it has been suggested that a signal emanating from the chromosomal region and mediated by the interzonal microtubules stimulates cytokinesis in cultured mammalian cells. To test this hypothesis, we examined cytokinesis in normal rat kidney cells treated with an inhibitor of topoisomerase II, (+)-1,2-bis(3,5-dioxopiperaz-inyl-1-yl)propane, which prevents the separation of sister chromatids and the formation of a spindle interzone. The majority of treated cells showed various degrees of abnormality in cytokinesis. Furrows frequently deviated from the equatorial plane, twisting daughter cells into irregular shapes. Some cells developed furrows in regions outside the equator or far away from the spindle. In addition, F-actin and myosin II accumulated at the lateral ingressing margins but did not form a continuous band along the equator as in control cells. Imaging of microinjected 5- (and 6-) carboxymtetramethylrhodamine-tubulin revealed that a unique set of microtubules projected out from the chromosomal vicinity upon anaphase onset. These microtubules emanated toward the lateral cortex, where they delineated sites of microtubule bundle formation, cortical ingression, and F-actin and myosin II accumulation. As centrosome integrity and astral microtubules appeared unperturbed by (+)-1,2-bis(3,5-dioxopiperaz-inyl-1-yl)propane treatment, the present observations cannot be easily explained by the conventional model involving astral microtubules. We suggest that in cultured epithelial cells the organization of the chromosomes dictates the organization of midzone microtubules, which in turn determines and maintains the cleavage activity.
Inactivation of the nopaline synthase gene by double transformation: reactivation by segregation of the induced DNA

Tobacco plants were transformed with derivatives of a binary vector pMON505 and two kanamycin resistant lines that were nopaline positive were selected for second transformation. The plasmids used for the second transformation were derivatives of pMON850 which carries the nopaline synthase gene in addition to a gene for gentamicin resistance. Insertion of each transgene was confirmed by Southern hybridization. Surprisingly, we found that more than 50% of the doubly transformed tobacco plants were nopaline negative. Tobacco plants that were transformed only by the second vector exhibited nopaline accumulation. DNA methylation patterns at the HpaII site in the promoter region of the nopaline synthase gene did not correlate with the nopaline phenotype. In some plant lines, seedlings of the R1 generation which segregated out the second T-DNA insertion recovered the nop+ phenotype. These results indicate that nopaline accumulation was inhibited by the presence of the second T-DNA.
Noble-gas broadening rates for the 6s2 1S0-->6s6p 1,3P1 resonance and intercombination lines of barium.

The collisional-broadening and -shift rate coefficients ([ital k][sub br] and [ital k][sub shift]), for both helium and argon buffer gases, have been measured in the impact limit for the 6[ital s][sup 2] [sup 1][ital S][sub 0][r arrow]6[ital s]6[ital p] [sup 3][ital P][sub 1] intercombination transition of barium. Detailed absorption line shapes were measured at three different ground-state number densities by monitoring the transmitted intensity of a weak cw probe laser as it was scanned over the transition. A single, density-independent line shape was then constructed and fit to a sum of Voigt functions (to account for hyperfine structure and isotope shifts) in order to determine the broadening and shift rates. By repeating the process for several buffer-gas pressures, [ital k][sub br] and [ital k][sub shift] were determined from least-squares straight-line fits to the broadening and shift rates versus buffer-gas number density. Absolute normalization of the line-shape data was used to provide accurate ground-state column densities. Column-density information was then combined with measurements of white-light-absorption equivalent widths for the 6[ital s][sup 2] [sup 1][ital S][sub 0][r arrow]6[ital s]6[ital p] [sup 1][ital P][sub 1] resonance transition to yield broadening rates for that transition. These values for the resonance line lie between previousmore » literature values, which are widely discrepant. Finally we measured the absolute metastable 6[ital s]5[ital d] [sup 3][ital D][sub 2] column density under conditions of optical pumping through the [sup 3][ital P][sub 1] level, and determined that, in steady state, even with a weak cw pump laser, [similar to]20% of all barium atoms in the vapor could be found in the [sup 3][ital D][sub 2] level (with approximately 60% spread over the full [sup 3][ital D][sub [ital J]] metastable manifold).« less
The effects of aging on emotion-induced modulations of source retrieval ERPs: evidence for valence biases.

Abstract Many behavioral studies have shown that memory is enhanced for emotionally salient events across the lifespan. It has been suggested that this mnemonic boost may be observed for both age groups, particularly the old, in part because emotional information is retrieved with less effort than neutral information. Neuroimaging evidence suggests that inefficient retrieval processing (temporally delayed and attenuated) may contribute to age-related impairments in episodic memory for neutral events. It is not entirely clear whether emotional salience may reduce these age-related changes in neural activity associated with episodic retrieval for neutral events. Here, we investigated these ideas using event-related potentials (ERPs) to assess the neural correlates of successful source memory retrieval (“old–new effects”) for neutral and emotional (negative and positive) images. Behavioral results showed that older adults demonstrated source memory impairments compared to the young but that both groups showed reduced source memory accuracy for negative compared to positive and neutral images; most likely due to an arousal-induced memory tradeoff for the negative images, which were subjectively more arousing than both positive and neutral images. ERP results showed that early onsetting old–new effects, between 100 and 300 ms, were observed for emotional but not neutral images in both age groups. Interestingly, these early effects were observed for negative items in the young and for positive items in the old. These ERP findings offer support for the idea that emotional events may be retrieved more automatically than neutral events across the lifespan. Furthermore, we suggest that very early retrieval mechanisms, possibly perceptual priming or familiarity, may underlie the negativity and positivity effects sometimes observed in the young and old, respectively, for various behavioral measures of attention and memory.
The Structural Mechanism for Transcription Activation by MerR Family Member Multidrug Transporter Activation, N Terminus

Transcription regulators of the MerR family respond to myriad stress signals to activate σ70/σA-targeted genes, which contain suboptimal 19-bp spacers between their -35 and -10 promoter elements. The crystal structure of a BmrR-TPP+-DNA complex provided initial insight into the transcription activation mechanism of the MerR family, which involves base pair distortion, DNA undertwisting and shortening of the spacer, and realignment of the -35 and -10 boxes. Here, we describe the crystal structure of MerR family member MtaN bound to the mta promoter. Although the global DNA binding modes of MtaN and BmrR differ somewhat, homologous protein-DNA interactions are maintained. Moreover, despite their different sequences, the mta promoter conformation is essentially identical to that of the BmrR-TPP+-bound bmr promoter, indicating that this DNA distortion mechanism is common to the entire MerR family. Interestingly, DNA binding experiments reveal that the identity of the two central bases of the mta and bmr promoters, which are conserved as either a thymidine or an adenine in nearly all MerR promoters, is not important for DNA affinity. Comparison of the free and DNA-bound MtaN structures reveals that a conformational hinge, centered at residues N-terminal to the ubiquitous coiled coil, is key for mta promoter binding. Analysis of the structures of BmrR, CueR, and ZntR indicates that this hinge may be common to all MerR family members.
Myoma coagulation (myolysis).

Myoma coagulation, or myolysis, is a valued addition to the armamentarium of treatments for uterine leiomyomata, a problem that faces many women of childbearing age. This article discusses the theory behind myolysis, as well as patient selection, technique, and follow-up considerations. The combined procedure of myolysis and endometrial ablation is addressed.
SOCIAL MEMORY AND SACRED SITES IN THE WESTERN MAYA HIGHLANDS: EXAMPLES FROM JACALTENANGO, GUATEMALA

This paper utilizes anthropological and sociological approaches to social memory to analyze the position and relevance of sacred sites among the Jakaltek Maya of the western highlands of Guatemala. Based on archaeological investigations and oral history, the connection between the past and present is analyzed in terms of collective memory, underscoring the importance of specific places and landscape in remembering as well as in reinforcing Jakaltek identity and history. Three distinct sacred sites are discussed, including their archaeological evidence; position (or lack of) in histories; disposition/creation as sacred site; and ties to the community's social memory. Sacred sites and social memory are viewed as a key component of indigenous activism and identity politics as well as an integral aspect to understanding the social context of archaeology in the Guatemalan Maya Highlands.
Double-gate CMOS: symmetrical- versus asymmetrical-gate devices

Numerical device-simulation results, supplemented by analytical characterizations, are presented to argue that asymmetrical double-gate (DG) CMOS, utilizing n/sup +/ and p/sup +/ polysilicon gates, can be superior to symmetrical-gate counterparts for several reasons, only one of which is its previously noted threshold-voltage control. The most noteworthy result is that asymmetrical DG MOSFETs, optimally designed with only one predominant channel, yield comparable, and even higher drive currents at low supply voltages. The simulations further give good physical insight pertaining to the design of DG devices with channel lengths of 50 nm and less.
Lower Region: A New Cue for Figure-Ground Assignment

Figure– ground assignment is an important visual process; humans recognize, attend to, and act on figures, not backgrounds. There are many visual cues for figure– ground assignment. A new cue to figure– ground assignment, called lower region, is presented: Regions in the lower portion of a stimulus array appear more figurelike than regions in the upper portion of the display. This phenomenon was explored, and it was demonstrated that the lower-region preference is not influenced by contrast, eye movements, or voluntary spatial attention. It was found that the lower region is defined relative to the stimulus display, linking the lower-region preference to pictorial depth perception cues. The results are discussed in terms of the environmental regularities that this new figure– ground cue may reflect. Figure– ground assignment is a well-known psychological phenomenon; illustrations of figure– ground assignment appear in most introductory psychology textbooks, and most psychology students recognize these examples. Figure– ground assignment is the process by which the visual system organizes a visual scene into figures (occluding, foreground regions) and grounds (occluded regions) following the initial formation of those regions (Palmer & Rock, 1994). Determining which regions are figures and which are grounds is an important visual process because everyday visual scenes contain multiple objects that often overlap and partially occlude one another. Figure– ground processes have been studied most extensively by perceptual and cognitive scientists (see Palmer, 1999; Pomerantz & Kubovy, 1986; Rock, 1983, 1995; and Rock & Palmer, 1990), but developmental studies have also investigated the perception of occluded objects (e.g., Spelke, 1990). Also, social psychologists have demonstrated that figure– ground processes are influenced by motivational factors; reward and punishment appear to influence figure– ground separation (Schafer & Murphy, 1943). Figure– ground assignment is a fundamental visual process because figural regions form the basis of a wide range of behavior; humans are more likely to recognize, attend to, and act upon foreground figures rather than backgrounds. Thus, the study of figure-ground assignment has a central role in explaining higher-level visual and visuomotor behavior. There are several consequences, or effects, of figure– ground assignment. Rubin (1915/1958), who was the first Gestalt psychologist to study figure– ground assignment rigorously, noted that figures seem more salient than grounds and that figures have a
Epithelial Cells and Their Neighbors. III. Interactions between intraepithelial lymphocytes and neighboring epithelial cells

Intraepithelial γδ-T cells are present in all epithelial tissues, where they reside in close contact with neighboring epithelial cells. Our data support the idea that the role of these cells is to monitor neighboring cells for signs of damage or disease. Once a problem is detected, the intraepithelial γδ-T cells can lyse damaged or malignant epithelial cells, directly participate in tissue repair through production of epithelial growth factors, and play a unique role in the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the site of damage. Intraepithelial γδ-T cells play unique roles in homeostasis and disease.
Non-Revolutionary Peasants: Oaxaca compared to Morelos in the Mexican Revolution

Regionalism has always been an important component of the social structure and history of Mexico. Fortunately for the scholar interested in developing theories about peasant rebellions, regionalism facilitates the method of controlled comparison. This paper will contrast the role of the peasants of Oaxaca and of Morelos in the Mexican Revolution of 1910–20.
Topographical organization in the origin of serotoninergic projections to different regions of the cat cerebellar cortex

The distribution of serotonin immunoreactivity in the cat cerebellum was studied by using the indirect antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique. Furthermore, the origin of these chemically defined afferents was determined by combining the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) with the PAP technique. In the cerebellar cortex, serotonin immunoreactivity is present in a plexus of beaded fibers that is confined almost exclusively to the granule and Purkinje cell layers; a few fibers are present in the molecular layer. Serotoninergic axons and varicosities have a dense and uniform distribution throughout all lobules of the cerebellum with the exception of lobule X where the fiber density is sparse. Serotonin cell bodies were not found within the cerebellar cortex. However, following pretreatment with pargyline and L-tryptophan, serotonin positive cell bodies were found in all deep cerebellar nuclei as well as the raphe and reticular nuclei in the brainstem. The present study demonstrates that the serotoninergic projection to the cat's cerebellum has some degree of topographical organization. Serotoninergic fibers in the anterior vermis (lobules I-V) were shown to arise from neurons located within the paramedian reticular nucleus, the lateral reticular nucleus, and the lateral tegmental field. Injections of HRP into either the posterior vermis (lobule VI-IX) or the paramedian lobule, labeled serotoninergic neurons exclusively in the lateral reticular nucleus. Lobus simplex, crus I and crus II (the hemisphere) receive a serotoninergic input from cells located in the lateral tegmental field, the peri-olivary reticular formation and the paramedian reticular nucleus. In no cases were neurons in the raphe double-labeled, although there were cells positive for HRP or serotonin alone. The data indicate that there is a topographical organization in the serotoninergic projection from the caudal brainstem to specific regions of the cat's cerebellar cortex. In addition to climbing and mossy fibers, this projection represents a third major source of cerebellar afferents based on its dense and widespread distribution as well as its morphological and chemical characteristics.
Intestinal obstruction and pseudo-obstruction in patients with systemic sclerosis

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a known complication of patients with systemic sclerosis, manifested as nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal distension and pain. We report a series of cases with systemic sclerosis that presented with signs of intestinal obstruction. In all cases, the differentiation between a pseudo-obstruction and true mechanical obstruction remained a formidable challenge. Our goal was to present different scenarios of patients with systemic sclerosis and features of intestinal obstruction, with a review on its clinical approach.