cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Incubation Period for the AIDS virus

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been spreading within the United States for little more than ten years (see, Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 1984)). The most important routes of transmission of the HIV virus so far are homosexual and heterosexual sexual activity and inoculation with blood or blood products (usually via blood transfusions or through sharing of needles among drug addicts). Within the risk groups, the most rapidly growing one today is that of the heterosexual partners of individuals with AIDS or the HIV virus. It is especially important here to note that in some African countries the disease is found in approximately equal numbers of males and females (see, for example, Poit et al. (1984) and the main risk factor for infection is heterosexual sex Van de Perre et al. (1985)). While a vast amount has been discovered in a very short time about this relatively new disease, there is still at this point in time very little that is known about its behavior. There are many quantities and-features of interest which if known could aid us in our understanding of this disease, its progress and its impact on the social and medical fabric of communities and countries.
Erykah Badu's Ambulatory Acts

When black women enter public space acts of retrieval and reproduction are possible. R&B singer and performer Erykah Badu took as her public space Dealy Plaza in Dallas, Texas. In her “Window Seat”...
A Comparison of Murine and Human Factor XI

Factor XI is a plasma glycoprotein that is required for contact activation initiated fibrin formation in vitro and for normal hemostasis in vivo. In preparation for developing a mouse model of factor XI deficiency to facilitate investigations into this protease's contributions to coagulation, we cloned the complementary DNA for murine factor XI, expressed the protein in a mammalian expression system, and compared its properties with human recombinant factor XI. The 2.8-kb murine cDNA codes for a protein of 624 amino acids with 78% homology to human factor XI. Both recombinant murine and human factor XI are 160 kD homodimers comprised of two 80 kD polypeptides connected by disulfide bonds. Murine factor XI shortens the clotting time of human factor XI deficient plasma in an activated partial thromboplastin time assay, with a specific activity 50% to 70% that of the human protein. In a purified system, murine factor XI is activated by human factor XIIa and thrombin in the presence of dextran sulfate. Murine factor XI differs from human factor XI in that it undergoes autoactivation slowly in the presence of dextran sulfate. This is due primarily to murine factor XIa preferentially cleaving a site on zymogen factor XI within the light chain, rather than the activation site between Arg371 and Val372. Northern blots of polyadenylated messenger RNA show that murine factor XI message is expressed, as expected, primarily in the liver. In contrast, messenger RNA for human factor XI was identified in liver, pancreas, and kidney. The studies show that murine and human factor XI have similar structural and enzymatic properties. However, there may be variations in tissue specific expression and subtle differences in enzyme activity across species.
STUDIES DIRECTED TOWARDS VERRUCARINS: A SYNTHESIS OF VERRUCAROL. AN APPROACH TO VERRUCARIN A

Abstract An approach to verrucarin A envisions dissection into verrucarol, verrucarinic acid, and a differentiated E , Z -muconate. A strategy embodying the concepts of geminal alkylation via cyclobutanones and modification of oxidation level via sulfenylation reactions generates a seco derivative of verrucarol. A synthesis of verrucarol highlights the use of a Diels-Alder strategy and a diastereotopic differentiation of two carbonyl groups that relies on an ene-retroene sequence. A completely stereocontrolled synthesis of the verrucarinic acid portion and the utilization of preferential conrotatory ring opening of a cyclobutene have set the stage for completion of the intact molecule.
Sleep Deprivation and Rheumatologic Disease

Sixty-three percent of Americans are not meeting their sleep needs. Symptoms of sleep deprivation (insufficient sleep and poor quality sleep) are common complaints of patients with rheumatologic diseases. Sleep deprivation alters immune function and host defense mechanisms with release of inflammatory cytokines. Pain, fatigue, and depression are associated with sleep deprivation. This review focuses on the role of sleep deprivation in the spectrum of rheumatologic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjogren’s syndrome, scleroderma, Behcet’s disease, and osteoarthritis.
Ion Cyclotron Resonance Spectrometry

It is the purpose of this chapter to explain and to illustrate ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) mass spectrometry, especially as it is currently used to study ion-molecule reactions. Although ICR spectrometry is not particularly new, a great deal of effort has gone into its development as a tool for the study of such reactions in the past several years. Hence, in this review, emphasis has been placed on those aspects of the theory and technique that bear on this subject. While no effort is made here to review all of the chemical systems which have been studied by the ICR technique, previously reported results are used where possible to illustrate specific techniques and the interpretation of ICR spectra.
Sports Activity for Girls: A Report by the Research Committee of the Division of Girls and Women's Sports

(1959). Sports Activity for Girls. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 30, No. 9, pp. 23-54.
Proceedings of the Eighth Wireless of the Students, by the Students, and for the Students Workshop

S3 aims to foster early-career development among students, exposing them to the workings of an academic life, and encourage student leadership in the research community.
ApoB, small-dense LDL-C, Lp(a), LpPLA2 activity, and cognitive change.

Objective To examine the association of specific lipoproteins/inflammatory enzyme with cognitive change. Methods We examined the association of apolipoprotein B (ApoB), small-dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C), lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]), and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LpPLA2) activity with 15-year change in Delayed Word Recall Test, Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Word Fluency Test (WFT), and overall summary score in 9,350 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. We assessed interaction by race, sex, education, APOE e4 status, and statin use. We also addressed questions of informative missingness, the role of stroke, and the influence of fasting status. Results The mean (SD) age was 63.4 (5.7) years; 56.4% were women and 17.4% were black. We observed faster cognitive decline on DSST and global z scores with every 10-mg/dL higher sdLDL-C level (Δ DSST z score, −0.010; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.017, −0.002 and Δ global z score, −0.011; −0.021, −0.001) and the highest vs the lowest ApoB quintiles (Δ DSST z score, −0.092; −0.0164, −0.019 and Δ global z score, −0.101; −0.200, −0.002). Association for the ApoB quintiles with Δ global z score (−0.10) was comparable with that of having 1 APOE e4 allele (−0.11). Higher Lp(a) was associated with slower decline in DSST, WFT, and global z scores. LpPLA2 activity was not associated with cognitive change. Results were similar in sensitivity analyses. The associations of sdLDL-C or Lp(a) on cognitive change were more pronounced in statin users. Conclusions Optimal control of atherogenic lipoproteins such as ApoB and sdLDL-C in midlife for cardiovascular health may also benefit late-life cognitive health.
Self-Aligned Open-Loop Multiphase Generator

An open-loop feedback-less CMOS multiphase generator circuit architecture is presented. The principle generates n 360°/n-spaced outputs from a single-ended input LO or clock at the very same frequency. The phase accuracy of the implemented circuit employing the principle, relies on the matching of delays and weighted linear phase interpolation. The presented circuit is designed in a 28 nm bulk-CMOS technology covering an operating frequency range from 1.5 GHz up to 2.5 GHz. Simulation results of the designed multiphase generator show a worst case phase noise performance of −151 dBc/Hz at 100 MHz offset with a typical power consumption of only 3.5 mW from a 0.95 V supply at 2 GHz, demonstrating the feasibility of the presented circuit architecture.
The Effects of Automation on Market Efficiency in Auction and Specialist Markets

The effects of electronic automation and market structure on three stock exchanges in the U.S., Canada, and Israel are examined. Using non-parametric statistical analysis, the degree of market efficiency was measured before and after automation. The results reveal that the level of informational efficiency remains unchanged during the automation period. Despite several deviations from a random walk process, the returns of stocks on the above exchanges do not appear to exhibit consistent patterns that can be exploited by investors pursuing mean-reverting and/or trend-following investment strategies. We also find that a call auction market structure possesses the same degree of market efficiency as exchanges based on market specialists.
Abstract 4683: Targeting GPCR signaling in HER2+ breast cancer suppresses cancer stem cell tumorigenicity and sensitizes HER2-targeted therapies

G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell surface receptors with over 800 members. Aberrant activation of GPCRs has been implicated in cancer initiation and development. However, many of GPCRs are overexpressed in cancer cells, making it difficult to target individual GPCRs for cancer treatment. In this study, we have tested a new approach of targeting GPCRs in HER2+ breast cancer by blocking their common pathways downstream of G proteins. By mammary gland-specific expression of the pertussis toxin (PTx) catalytic subunit, a selective inhibitor that uncouples a subgroup of GPCRs from activating Gi/o proteins, we demonstrated that blocking GPCR downstream signaling delayed the onset of HER2-driven spontaneous mammary tumor formation and suppressed lung metastasis. Moreover, we showed that aberrant HER2 signaling upregulated Gi/o-GPCR expression in breast cancer cells, which in turn activated the ErbB/HER family of protein-tyrosine kinases via Src and PI3K pathways to maintain cancer stem cell tumorigenicity. Targeting Gi/o-GPCR signaling by PTx, Src or PI3K inhibitors sensitizes HER2+ breast cancer to HER2-targeted therapies. Together, our data demonstrate that targeting GPCR downstream signal pathways may represent a new approach to ablate CSCs to block tumor progression and augment HER2-targeted therapeutics. Citation Format: Wei Wang, Dharmendra Bhargava, Yuan Chao Ye, Songhai Chen. Targeting GPCR signaling in HER2+ breast cancer suppresses cancer stem cell tumorigenicity and sensitizes HER2-targeted therapies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4683.
From Static to Genetic Analysis

The previous chapter has shown that for both Husserl and Hume evidence is grounded in the purely immanent and hence the intuitively given: “perceptions” or the “lived acts” (Erlebnisse) of consciousness. According to Hume “impressions” are given in themselves in simple, straightforward intuition. They possess such completely adequate givenness and hence apodictic evidence that they are incorrigibly true and certain. Hence, strictly speaking, they do not fall within the realm of knowledge and truth. When investigating evidence as the criterion of knowledge and truth Hume has in mind the relations which arise from the association of “ideas.” These relations are evident to the degree they are brought to intuitive givenness. In this sense it may be said that these relations are constituted in evidential givenness through association. Intuition is constitutive.1
Greater Blood Loss in Contemporary Cementless Total Knee Arthroplasty than Cemented Total Knee Arthroplasty despite Tranexamic Acid Use: A Match-Controlled Retrospective Study.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess whether tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces blood loss in cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) comparable to levels observed with cemented fixation. After exclusions from 109 consecutive TKAs, 76 cementless knees were matched to 78 cemented knees of identical implant and surgeon. Blood loss with and without TXA was compared. There was no difference between cohorts in sex, age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification, or preoperative hemoglobin (p ≥ 0.119). Use of TXA reduced median drain output by only 205 mL in cementless knees compared to 470 mL in cemented knees (p
Corrosion studies of stainless steel 304 L in nitric acid in the presence of uranyl nitrate: effect of temperature and nitric acid concentration

In order to better understand the role of uranium on the corrosion behavior of stainless in aqueous nuclear fuel reprocessing and decontamination operations, 304L stainless steel coupons were treated with nitric acid media at 45 °C and 90 °C in the presence of 0.3 M of uranyl nitrate. The impact of time, temperature, nitric acid concentration and uranyl nitrate concentration has been studied over a 183 days period and corrosion rates determined. After 183 days, corrosion rates (μm y−1) at 90 °C are: 33.7 ± 3.4 for 8 M HNO3 with [U] = 0 M; 39.7 ± 0.1 for 8 M HNO3 with [U] = 0.3 M; 5.3 ± 0.1 for 3.5 M HNO3 with [U] = 0 M and 5.9 ± 0.2 for 3.5 M HNO3 with [U] = 0.3 M. After 183 days, the corrosion rates at 45 °C are all below 2 μm y−1 for the nitric acid concentration and uranyl nitrate concentration studied. Analysis of the data indicate that the corrosion domain remains passive, no uranium uptake onto stainless steel has been observed but only an increase of corrosion rate with temperature (major effect) and nitric acid concentration (minor effect) were reported. When both temperature and nitric acid concentration increased and drive the system into a transpassive corrosion domain, the presence of uranium promote the increase of corrosion rate after 3 months. Analyses of the coupon by scanning electron microscopy indicates that at the first stage low homogeneous dissolution of the steel occurs; intergranular corrosion appears at 10 days and finally grain loss is observed after 6 months treatment.
LVOT OBSTRUCTION AND SEVERE AORTIC REGURGITATION CAUSED BY ANTEROLATERAL MUSCLE BUNDLE OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE: THE EMBRYOLOGIC REMNANT OF THE BULBO-ATRIOVENTRICULAR FLANGE

An anterolateral muscle bundle runs along the wall of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and may extend up to the level of aortic valve (AV). The muscle bundle may occasionally bulge into the LVOT without causing significant obstruction. A 53 year old female patient presented with worsening
Zn2+ influx activates ERK and Akt signaling pathways through a common mechanism

Abstract Zinc (Zn2+) is an essential metal in biology and its bioavailability is highly regulated. Many cell types exhibit fluctuations in Zn2+ that appear to play an important role in cellular function. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms by which Zn2+ dynamics influence cell physiology remain enigmatic. Here, we use a combination of fluorescent biosensors and cell perturbations to define how changes in intracellular Zn2+ impact kinase signaling pathways. By simultaneously monitoring Zn2+ dynamics and kinase activity in individual cells, we quantify changes in labile Zn2+ and directly correlate changes in Zn2+ with ERK and Akt activity. Under our experimental conditions, Zn2+ fluctuations are not toxic and do not activate stress-dependent kinase signaling. We demonstrate that while Zn2+ can non-specifically inhibit phosphatases leading to sustained kinase activation, ERK and Akt are predominantly activated via upstream signaling, and through a common node via Ras. We provide a framework for quantification of Zn2+ fluctuations and correlate these fluctuations with signaling events in single cells to shed light on the role that Zn2+ dynamics play in healthy cell signaling. Significance Statement While zinc (Zn2+) is a vital ion for cell function and human health, little is known about the role it plays in regulating cell signaling. Here, we use fluorescent tools to study the interaction between Zn2+ and cell signaling pathways that play a role in cell growth and proliferation. Importantly, we use small, non-toxic Zn2+concentrations to ensure that our Zn2+ changes are closer to what cells would experience in the body and not stress-inducing. We also demonstrate that these signaling changes are driven by Ras activation, which contradicts one of the major hypotheses in the field. Our sensors shed light on how cells respond to a very important micronutrient in real time.
Postoperative Pain Protocol in Children after Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy.

Introduction Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) provides lasting relief of spasticity for children suffering from cerebral palsy, although controlling postoperative pain is challenging. Postoperatively, escalation of therapies to include a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump and intensive care unit (ICU) admission is common. Objectives We developed a multimodal pain management protocol that included intraoperative placement of an epidural catheter with continuous opioid administration. We present the 3-year results of protocol implementation. Methods With institutional review board approval, all patients who were subjected to SDR at our institution were identified for review. Hourly pain scores were recorded. Adverse effects of medication, including desaturation, nausea/vomiting, and pruritus, were also noted. Comparisons were made between patients treated with PCA and those treated with multimodal pain control using t and χ2 tests as appropriate. Results Thirty-nine patients undergoing the procedure with protocolized pain control (average age 6.8 years, 57% male) were compared to 7 PCA-treated controls (average age 6.6 years, 54% male). Pain control was satisfactory in both groups, with average pain scores of 1.5 in both groups on postoperative day 0, decreasing by postoperative day 3 to 1.1 in the PCA group and 0.5 in the protocol group. No patients under the protocol required ICU admission; all patients with PCA spent at least 1 day in the ICU. Desaturations were seen in 16 patients in the protocol group (41%), but none required ICU transfer. Treatment for pruritis was given to 57% of PCA patients and 15% of protocol patients. Treatment for nausea and vomiting was given to 100% of PCA patients and 51% of protocol patients. Medication requirements for the hospitalization were decreased from 1.1 to 0.28 doses per patient for pruritis, and from 3 to 1.1 doses per patient for nausea. Conclusions Multimodal analgesia is an excellent alternative to PCA for postoperative pain after SDR. Actual analgesia is comparative to that of controls without the need for intensive care monitoring. Side effects of high-dose opiates were less frequent and required less medication. With the protocol, patients were safely treated outside the ICU.
Fully Distributed Sequential Hypothesis Testing: Algorithms and Asymptotic Analyses

This paper analyzes the asymptotic performances of fully distributed sequential hypothesis testing procedures as the type-I and type-II error rates approach zero, in the context of a sensor network without a fusion center. In particular, the sensor network is defined by an undirected graph, where each sensor can observe samples over time, access the information from the adjacent sensors, and perform the sequential test based on its own decision statistic. Different from most literature, the sampling process and the information exchange process in our framework take place simultaneously (or, at least in comparable time-scales), thus cannot be decoupled from one another. Our goal is to achieve second-order asymptotically optimal performance at every sensor, i.e., the average detection delay is within a constant gap from the centralized optimal sequential test as the error rates approach zero for the fixed number of sensors. To that end, a type of test procedure that resembles the well-known sequential probability ratio test (SPRT), termed as distributed SPRT (DSPRT) in this paper, is studied based on two message-passing schemes, respectively. The first scheme features the dissemination of the raw samples. In specific, every sample propagates over the network by being relayed from one sensor to another until it reaches all the sensors in the network. Although the sample propagation-based DSPRT is shown to yield the asymptotically optimal performance at each sensor, it incurs excessive inter-sensor communication overhead due to the exchange of raw samples with index information. The second scheme adopts the consensus algorithm, where the local decision statistic is exchanged between sensors instead of the raw samples, thus significantly lowering the communication requirement compared with the first scheme. In particular, the decision statistic for DSPRT at each sensor is updated by the weighted average of the decision statistics in the neighborhood at every message-passing step. We show that, under certain regularity conditions, the consensus algorithm-based DSPRT also yields the second-order asymptotically optimal performance at all sensors given a fixed number of sensors. Our asymptotic analyses of the two message-passing-based DSPRTs are then corroborated by simulations using the Gaussian and Laplacian samples.
FUS Oncofusion Protein Condensates Recruit mSWI/SNF Chromatin Remodelers via Heterotypic Interactions Between Prion-like Domains

Fusion transcription factors generated by genomic translocations are common drivers of several types of cancers including sarcomas and leukemias. Oncofusions of the FET (FUS, EWSR1, and TAF15) family of proteins result from fusion of the prion-like domain (PLD) of FET proteins to the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of certain transcription regulators and are implicated in aberrant transcriptional programs through interactions with chromatin remodelers. Here, we show that FUS-DDIT3, a FET oncofusion protein, undergoes PLD-mediated phase separation into liquid-like condensates. Nuclear FUS-DDIT3 condensates can recruit essential components of the global transcriptional machinery such as the chromatin remodeler SWI/SNF. The recruitment of mammalian SWI/SNF is driven by heterotypic PLD-PLD interactions between FUS-DDIT3 and core subunits of SWI/SNF, such as the catalytic component BRG1. Further experiments with single-molecule correlative force-fluorescence microscopy support a model wherein the fusion protein forms condensates on DNA surface and enrich BRG1 to activate transcription by ectopic chromatin remodeling. Similar PLD-driven co-condensation of mSWI/SNF with transcription factors can be employed by other oncogenic fusion proteins with a generic PLD-DBD domain architecture for global transcriptional reprogramming.
The Challenges and Rewards of Teledentistry

On March 15, 2020, routine dental care in New York State paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pause lasted 10 weeks in part to preserve critical supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). This interruption of access to dental care led to an overall deterioration of oral health, an increase in prescribing and use of antibiotics and analgesic medications, especially opiates, and a rise in visits to hospital emergency centers. New York University's College of Dentistry, an academic ambulatory dental center, normally sees over 1,000 patient visits per day. Most visits are patients who require urgent care or are in the process of treatment to restore debilitating oral health problems. NYU Dentistry responded to the State pause by creating a nascent teledentistry service that began operations on March 17, 2020.
Sulfur mustard gas exposure: case report and review of the literature.

This report describes a case of burn injury following exposure to sulfur mustard, a chemical agent used in war. A review of the diagnostic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic measures used to treat this uncommon, yet extremely toxic, entity is presented. The aim of this report is to highlight the importance of considering this diagnosis in any war victim, especially during these unfortunate times of rising terrorist activities. KEYWORDS: burn; chemical burn; mustard gas; sulfur mustard gas Language: en
Leadership in Undergraduate Medical Education: Training Future Physician Leaders

To confront the challenges facing modern health care, experts and organizations are calling for an increase in physician leadership capabilities. In response to this need, physician leadership programs are proliferating, targeting all levels of experience at all levels of training. Many academic medical centers, major universities, and specialty societies now sponsor physician leadership training programs. To meet this need, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, as part of its Primary Care-Population Medicine (PC-PM) Program, designed a four-year integrated curriculum, Leadership in Health Care, to engage with leadership topics starting early in the preclinical stages of training. This paper describes the design and implementation of this leadership curriculum for PC-PM students.
Oxidation of methylmalonate semialdehyde to propionyl coenzyme A in Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown on valine.

The conversion of methylmalonate semialdehyde to propionyl coenzyme A has been investigated with enzyme preparations made from Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown on valine. A protein fraction has been obtained which catalyzes the oxidation of methylmalonate semialdehyde, acetaldehyde, and propionaldehyde with NAD as the electron acceptor. The product of methylmalonate semialdehyde oxidation in the presence of CoA is heat stable, reacts with hydroxylamine to form propionohydroxamate, is eluted from a chromatographic column of Dowex 1 in the same position as propionyl-CoA, and therefore, appears to be propionyl-CoA. The product of propionaldehyde oxidation in the presence of CoA also has been characterized as propionyl-CoA since it is heat stable and reacts with hydroxylamine to form propionohydroxamate. Oxidation of methylmalonate semialdehyde and propionaldehyde is accompanied by the formation of equal amounts of NADH and an active acyl compound, the latter estimated as the hydroxamate. When CoA is omitted from the reaction mixture, high levels of mercaptoethanol will restore enzyme activity, but catalytic activity is altered. In the presence of CoA, the pH activity curve for the oxidation of methylmalonate semialdehyde is much broader and the specific activity of the enzyme is higher than when CoA is absent. Omission of CoA from reaction mixtures has little effect on the pH activity curve for the oxidation of propionaldehyde however. Other enzymes concerned with propionyl-CoA metabolism which have been identified in extracts of P. aeruginosa are phosphotransacetylase, propionyl-CoA carboxylase, and lactyl-CoA dehydrase.
Ask and Tell: Gay and Lesbian Veterans Speak out

At the outset of Ask & Tell, Estes recalls the debates that produced the 1993 “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy prohibiting “homosexual conduct or activity in the armed forces” of the U.S. and laments...
Lipid biomarker analysis and stable carbon isotope studies of biofilms in the Green Valley acid mine drainage site, Indiana, U.S.A.

53 Introduction 54 Materials and Methods 55 Study site, sampling procedures, and description of biofilms 55 Stable carbon isotope analysis 57 Results 58 Carbon isotope ratios of biomarkers 58 Discussion 59 δ13C values of biofilm biomarkers 59 Metabolic pathways for generation of fatty acids and wax esters 62 Conclusions 68 References 70 CHAPTER 4. MICROBIAL BIOMASS AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF A STROMATOLITE FROM AN ACID MINE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AS DETERMINED BY LIPID ANALYSIS 82 Abstract 82 Introduction 83 Materials and Methods 86 Study site 86 Lipid extraction and fractionation 88
A Review of “A History of the New Zealand Fiction Feature Film”: by Bruce Babington. Manchester, UK: Manchester UP, 2008

Babington begins his A History of the New Zealand Fiction Feature Film with a quote from a 1945 book by film critic and future film censor Gordon Mirams: “If ever a post-mortem is performed on us, ...
Metabolism of prostaglandin A. I. The kidney cortex as a major site of PGA2 degradation.

Abstract The antihypertensive and natriuretic prostaglandin A2 (medullin) has been isolated and identified in rabbit renal papilla. Since PGA2, unlike prostaglandin F2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), is not metabolized by the lung, studies were undertaken to determine if the site of PGA2 metabolism is in the renal cortex where its primary vasodilatory and natriuretic effects occur. In in vitro experiments, homogenates of renal cortex and outer medulla were incubated with 3H-PGA2 (0.2 μc, 20 μg) at 37°C for 30 minutes. A metabolite(s) less polar than 3H-PGA2 was observed following silicic acid chromatography of acidic lipid extracts of cortical, but not outer medullary homogenates. In in vivo studies, 3H-PGA2 (2 μc, 50 μg) was injected into the renal artery of the rabbit and blood withdrawn from the ipsilateral renal vein. At least three less polar major metabolites of PGA2 were observed in the plasma within 15 seconds following injection. No appreciable 3H-PGA2 was observed in venous plasma 30 seconds following injection of 3H-PGA2. In contrast to plasma, the major urinary metabolites were more polar than PGA2. The present study reveals that PGA2 is almost completely metabolized in a single passage through the rabbit kidney suggesting this organ is a major site of PGA2 metabolism.
Isotropic nuclear magnetic resonance shifts in low-spin iron(III) porphyrin and hemin systems

Calculations, based on the t 2 5 (single vacancy) configuration including spin-orbit coupling, have been carried out to evaluate the magnetic susceptibility anisotropies in low-spin iron(III) heme proteins. The results have been used to assess the importance of second order Zeeman effects and thermal population of excited states when evaluating dipolar nuclear magnetic resonance shifts in such systems. The temperature dependencies predicted by the theory are discussed in light of experimental data in the literature.
Who became revolving door patients? Findings from a nation-wide cohort of first time admitted psychiatric patients.

ABSTRACT— A cohort representing all first-time admissions to Danish psychiatric institutions during the period April 1, 1970 to March 31, 1971 was followed for 10 years in the psychiatric register. The cohort comprised 5,881 males and 6,856 females aged 15 years or above. The revolving door population was delineated as (1) patients with minimum four admissions and no admission or discharge period lasting for more than one fourth of the observation period or (2) patients with minimum four admissions during the first one fourth of the observation period. The incidence rate was 3.14 males and 3.55 females per 1,000. Revolving door patients were younger than others, single or divorced, and lived in larger cities. They were more frequently referred to out-patient aftercare and discharged to their own home. A male diagnostic profile of schizophrenia, demential or organic psychoses, personality disorders and abuse emerged together with a female profile of manic depressive and psychogenic psychosis and neurosis. Twenty-one point nine percent of males and 13.0% of females had more than 10 admissions and 4.5% of males and 3.7% of females spent more than 5 years in hospital. High risk groups were 15–24 years old as 21% and 13% of young males respectively females became revolving door patients, and schizophrenics, as 46% of male and 30% of female schizophrenics became revolving door patients.
Regulation of HIF-alpha isoform expression and redox state by carotid body chemosensory reflex (710.5)

The carotid body (CB) chemosensory reflex regulates breathing and sympathetic activity during hypoxia. Here, we determined mechanisms underlying regulation of cardio-vascular function by chemosenso...
The Association between High-Deductible Health Plan Transition and Contraception and Birth Rates

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between employer-mandated enrollment into high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and contraception and birth rates among reproductive-age women. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Using data from 2002 to 2008 we examined 1559 women continuously enrolled in a Massachusetts health plan for 1 year before and after an employer-mandated switch from an HMO to a HDHP compared with 2793 matched women contemporaneously enrolled in an HMO. STUDY DESIGN: We used an individual-level interrupted time series with comparison series design to examine level and trend changes in clinician-provided contraceptives and a differences-in-differences design to assess annual birth rates. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Employer plan and member characteristics were obtained from enrollment files. Contraception and childbirth information were extracted from pharmacy and medical claims. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Monthly contraception rates were 19.0-24.0 percent at baseline. Level and trend changes did not differ between groups (p = .92 and p = .36 respectively). Annual birth rates declined from 57.1/1000 to 32.7/1000 among HDHP members and from 61.9/1000 to 56.2/1000 among HMO controls a 40 percent relative reduction in odds of childbirth (odds ratio = 0.60; p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Women who switched to HDHPs experienced a lower birth rate which might reflect strategies to avoid childbirth-related out-of-pocket costs under HDHPs. (c) Health Research and Educational Trust.
Of calcium, caspases, and cognitive decline

A calcium-binding protein interacts with the presenilins, modulating their proteolytic processing ( pages 1177–1181 ).
Effect of Solvent Discreteness on Solvation

Solvent discreteness or “graininess” is usually considered to affect solvation energetics by modifying the intermolecular structure of the solvent, which in turn modifies its dielectric constant and the solute−solvent configurations. In this work, we separate the effect of solvent discreteness from solvent structure and polarity, as well as the arrangement of solvent particles around the solute. Because it is rather diffficult to do this separation with real solutions and their “realistic” models, we utilized translationally fixed dipole lattices, which allow such a separation. The polarity and the dielectric constant of a dipole lattice can be kept invariant as the number density of the dipoles is varied. The lattice spacing represents the degree of discreteness or coarseness in a lattice. Dipole lattices that polarize according to the continuum prediction, as well as truly interacting dipole lattices, lead to effective cavity sizes that are significantly smaller than the geometrically defined exclusion ...
Sirtuin deacetylases: A new target for melanoma management

Melanoma continues to cause more deaths than any other skin cancer, necessitating the development of new avenues of treatment. One promising new opportunity comes in the form of mechanism-based therapeutic targets. We recently reported the overexpression and delocalization of the class III histone deacetylase SIRT1 in melanoma, and demonstrated that its small molecule inhibition via Tenovin-1 decreased cell growth and viability of melanoma cells, possibly by a p53 mediated induction of p21. Here, we support our data using additional SIRT inhibitors, viz. Sirtinol and Ex-527, which suggests possible benefits of concomitantly inhibiting more than one Sirtuin for an effective cancer management strategy. This “Extra View” paper also includes a discussion of our results in the context of similar recent and concurrent studies. Furthermore, we expand upon our findings in an analysis of new research that may link the cellular localization and growth effects of SIRT1 with the PI3K signaling pathway.
Activity, creatine kinase, and myoglobin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy A clue to etiology?

Large and seemingly random fluctuations in the serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin (Mb) have been noted in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We studied seven affected boys, aged 2 to 9 years. Blood was drawn for CK and Mb every 4 hours, and the boys' activity was documented hourly for 4 days. There was a close correlation between serum levels of CK and Mb with physical activity. Fluctuations in serum levels of CK and Mb are not random and may result from an abnormality of fatty acid metabolism.
A mixed‐phase relative rates technique for measuring aerosol reaction kinetics

A mixed-phase relative rates approach for measuring rates of reaction in aerosols is presented. Using this method the rate of reaction of methyl oleate (MO) particles, normalized to the gas-particle collision rate, was measured to be γ Mo = 1.12 (±0.36) x 10-3 with 2-methyl-2-butene as the gas-phase reference. This value compares favorably with our previously published value of 1.23 x 10 -3 measured using an absolute technique. Reaction of bis(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate (BES) particles with Cl and OH radicals was also studied using acetone and hexanal, respectively, as the gas-phase references. The rates of reaction of BES, normalized to the gas-particle collision rate, were measured to be γ BES = 1-8 ( +0.8 -0.3 and γ BES = 2.0 ( +0.6 -0.1 with Cl and OH, respectively. These fast rates of reaction (γ BES > 1) imply that secondary reactions, perhaps involving radical chain mechanisms, could impact the rate at which organic particles are oxidized in the atmosphere.
Primary progressive aphasia. Longitudinal course, neuropsychological profile, and language features

• Four patients with the clinical syndrome of primary progressive aphasia and a nonfluent aphasia profile were followed up over a period of 3 to 5 years. Extensive neuropsychological data for three patients revealed a progressive, quantitative decline of language with relative stability of memory, visuospatial skills, and reasoning. Comportment and most activities of daily living were preserved even when speech was unintelligible. Although several aphasia types may be associated with primary progressive aphasia, a nonfluent aphasia profile and phonemic paraphasic errors are most useful in differentiating it from the much more common clinical syndrome, "probable Alzheimer's disease." The clinicopathological correlates of probable Alzheimer's disease differ from those associated with primary progressive aphasia. Therefore, the clinical distinction between the two syndromes may be important for predicting the underlying pathophysiologic changes during the life of the patient.
Comparison of Hemochron and HemoTec activated coagulation time target values during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine whether activated coagulation time measurements from Hemochrem and HemoTec machines can be used interchangeably and whether similar activated coagulation time target ranges for adequate anticoagulation can be applied to both machines. Background. Adequate anticoagulation is necessary for the safe performance of intravascular interventions such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. In current practice, anticoagulation status is frequently assessed by way of the activated coagulation time one of two commercially available systems, HemoTec and Hemochron. Each one employs a different technique to determine the time of clot formation; however, the same terget activated coagulation time values for adequate anticoagulation have been used interchangeably in published studies. Methods. A total of 311 paired samples were compared in 113 high risk patients undergoing angioplasty enrolled in a randomized trial of a platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antibody. Simultaneous activated coagulation time measurements were obtained before and after administration of heparin, and the difference between the values of both machines was calculated. The relation between the Hemochron and HemoTec values was determined by using linear regression analysis. All activated coagulation time measurements were classified as either therapeutic or subtherapeutic using an arbitrary activated coagulation time target of 300 s. Results. There was a correlation between values from the two machines (r = 0.86), but the Hemochron values were consistently higher than the HemoTec values by a mean value ± SD of 28 ± 29%, with wide individual variation. After heparin administration, there was a signaificant (p < 0.0001) difference between the number of measurements classified as therapeutic by HemoTec (53%) and by Hemochron (94%). Conclusions. HemoTec and Hemochron activated coagulation time measurements cannot be used interchangeably. Appropriate target activated coagulation time ranges to determine adequate anticoagulation during coronary angioplasty need to be established for both machines; the target range for one machine should not be extrapolated to the other.
Nuclear parameters from muonic and pionic X rays

In view of the higher precision of the experimental data in measurements of the energies and relative intensities of the muonic and pionic x-ray transitions, the validity of the approximations made in extracting nuclear spectroscopic values from the raw data must be scrutinized more carefully if the reliability of the extracted parameters are to approach the accuracy of the experimental data. (GHT)
Micro-chaos and idealization in Cartesian physics

L'A. etudie le cas particulier d'un echec de l'idealisation scientifique: celle employee par Descartes pour definir les lois des chocs. A travers cet exemple, l'A. developpe une double perspective: celle du (bon/mauvais) fonctionnement de l'idealisation scientifique et celle d'une nouvelle interpretation textuelle de quelques aspects de la philosophie de la physique de Descartes
Abstract 5279: Induced expression of PPM1A in ER-negative breast cancer cells inhibits growth by suppressing cell cycle

Background: Estrogen receptor (ER) -negative breast cancer is a clinical subtype that is overrepresented among younger women and is associated with a poor prognosis. Current treatments for ER-negative tumors include cytotoxic chemotherapy, or for those overexpress HER2, the anti-HER2 antibody. Targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancers is urgently needed. In this project, we investigated phosphatases that are differentially expressed in ER-negative as compared to ER-positive breast cancers. We hypothesized that: (1) specific phosphatases govern the growth of ER-negative cancers, (2) Induced expression of specific phosphatases that are under expressed in ER-negative cancers will suppress the growth of ER-negative breast cancers. Methods: Using 102 human breast tumors (57 ER-positive & 45 ER-negative) from the neo-adjuvant studies from the Baylor Breast Center tumor bank, we isolated RNA and performed Affymetrix microarray studies. cDNA was synthesized and Biotin-labeled and hybridized onto an Affymetrix HGU133A GeneChip TM . Statistical analysis was done with dChip software, and phosphatases over (>1.5 fold; FDR Results: We identified 20 over-expressed, and 29 under-expressed phosphatases in ER-negative breast cancers. We selected the under expressed phosphatase PPM1A, for further study. Multivariate cox regression analysis shows PPM1A is an independent predictor for breast cancer survival. Induced expression of PPM1A in ER-negative cells inhibited anchorage-dependent and independent growth but had no effect on ER-positive cell. PPM1A expression also inhibited MDA-MB 231 cells growth in vivo. Induced expression of PPM1A blocked cell cycle progression at G1 phase. Conclusions: We identified a set of over- and under- expressed phosphatases in ER-negative breast cancers as compared to ER-positive cancers. Overexpression of PPM1A in ER-negative breast cancer cells inhibits growth. By identifying the molecules that regulate breast cancer cells growth we are identifying potential new targets for the treatment of these aggressive ER-negative breast cancers. Supported by Komen Promise grant KG081694 & SAB13-00006 Citation Format: Abhijit Mazumdar, Graham Poage, Jamal Hill, Yun Zhang, Anna Tsimelzon, Jenny Chang, Gordon Mills, Powel Brown. Induced expression of PPM1A in ER-negative breast cancer cells inhibits growth by suppressing cell cycle. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5279. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5279
Assessing geographic and individual level factors associated with arrests among injection drug users in California

Law enforcement strategies to reduce street-based drug activity are often concentrated in neighborhoods with high levels of social and economic disadvantage. Intensive street-level policing is associated with fear and reluctance on the part of injection drug users (IDUs) to utilize syringe exchange programs (SEPs). We aim to build on previous research by analyzing the influence of zip code and individual level factors on the probability of arrest among IDUs in California. Individual characteristics and behaviors were more strongly associated with arrest than zip code characteristics. However, living in a disadvantaged zip code exerted a protective effect against arrest after adjusting for individual level factors (AOR 0.7, 95% 0.5, 0.9). Further efforts to contextualize the circumstances surrounding an arrest, including the characteristics of the geographic setting, may be useful for understanding how law enforcement practices impact the success of SEPs and the health of injection drug users.
CULTURING THE AMERICAN LOBSTER (Homarus americanus) USING A VERTICALLY STACKED CAGE SYSTEM1

A vertically stacked cage system capable of supporting juveniles and adult lobsters in individual compartments has been designed and is being tested for commercial production of the American lobster Homarus americanus. Details are given for the construction and operation of the unit as well as techniques for feeding each animal. The modular unit is designed for lobsters ranging from the 4th stage to the adult size.
The 1.7- to 4.2-μm spectrum of asteroid 1 Ceres: Evidence for structural water in clay minerals

A high-resolution Fourier spectrum (1.7-3.5 microns) and medium-resolution spectrophotometry (2.7-4.2 microns) were obtained for Asteroid 1 Ceres. The presence of the 3-micron absorption feature due to water of hydration was confirmed. The 3-micron feature is compared with the 3-micron bands due to water of hydration in clays and salts. It is concluded that the spectrum of Ceres shows a strong absorption at 2.7-2.8 microns due to structural OH groups in clay minerals. The dominant minerals on the surface of Ceres are therefore hydrated clay minerals structurally similar to terrestrial montmorillonites. There is also a narrow absorption feature at 3.1 microns which is attributable to a very small amount of water ice on Ceres. This is the first evidence for ice on the surface of an asteroid.