cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What's new in liver fibrosis? The origin of myofibroblasts in liver fibrosis

Chronic liver injury of many etiologies produces liver fibrosis and may eventually lead to the formation of cirrhosis. Fibrosis is part of a dynamic process associated with the continuous deposition and resorption of extracellular matrix, mainly fibrillar collagen. Studies of fibrogenesis conducted in many organs including the liver demonstrate that the primary source of the extracellular matrix in fibrosis is the myofibroblast. Hepatic myofibroblasts are not present in the normal liver but transdifferentiate from heterogeneous cell populations in response to a variety of fibrogenic stimuli. Debate still exists regarding the origin of hepatic myofibroblasts. It is considered that hepatic stellate cells and portal fibroblasts have fibrogenic potential and are the major origin of hepatic myofibroblasts. Depending on the primary site of injury the fibrosis may be present in the hepatic parenchyma as seen in chronic hepatitis or may be restricted to the portal areas as in most biliary diseases. It is suggested that hepatic injury of different etiology triggers the transdifferentiation to myofibroblasts from distinct cell populations. Here we discuss the origin and fate of myofibroblast in liver fibrosis.
A Robust Mobile Target Localization Method for Cooperative Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Using Sensor Fusion Quality

One of the current unmanned systems research areas at the US Air Force Academy is finding robust methods to locate ground mobile targets using multiple, cooperative unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In our previous work (Plett et al., Lect Notes Control Inf Sci 369:22---44, 2007), we showed an effective method to search, detect, and localize static ground targets. The current focus of our research is to extend the method to handle mobile ground targets. To that end, we introduced a novel concept called Sensor Fusion Quality (SFQ) in Kwon and Pack (2011). In this paper, we adapt and incorporate the SFQ principle to include both static and mobile ground targets in a modified Out-of-Order Sigma Point Kalman Filtering (O3SPKF) approach (Plett et al., Lect Notes Control Inf Sci 369:22---44, 2007). The proposed method uses augmented covariances of sigma points to compute SFQ values. This approach showed superior performance over those observed when either the SFQ method or the O3SPKF method was used alone. The added benefit of the integrated approach is in the reduction of computational complexity associated with the propagation updates of target state uncertainties. We validate the proposed method using both simulation and flight experiment results.
Effects of crop rotation and reduced chemical inputs on pests and predators in maize agroecosystems

Abstract A 2-year study examined the effects of no-rotation, 2-year and 4-year rotations with either conventional management (CM) practices (involving use of herbicides, synthetic fertilizers and prophylactic soil insecticides) or reduced chemical inputs (RCI), on insect pests and their predators in maize agroecosystems. Artificial infestations of the soil pest, southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi , and a foliage feeder, European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis , were applied in order to measure the amount of predator activity. Pest populations were influenced both by rotation and by chemical-input. Multi-layer rotations significantly reduced pest numbers compared with no-rotations. Reduced chemical inputs decreased pest numbers by 38% compared with CM systems. The use of herbicides and a soil insecticide reduced early-season soil predators, but their populations increased rapidly after mid-May. Predator populations were more effected by rotation, multi-year rotation systems having significantly more predators than no-rotation systems. In 1989, multi-year rotation RCI systems had significantly less corn root feeding because of artificial rootworm infestations that no-rotation CM systems. Artificial European corn borer infestations significantly reduced grain fill in no-rotations and CM systems compared with 2- and 4-year rotations and RCI systems.
Expressive disclosure to improve well-being in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomised, controlled trial.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a terminal neurological disease associated with progressive paralysis, loss of communicative ability and functional decline. Expressive disclosure may help people with ALS, particularly those who are emotionally or socially inhibited, meet psychological challenges associated with the disease. People with ALS (N = 48) were randomised to expressive disclosure about their disease or no disclosure. Psychological well-being (affect, depression and quality of life) was assessed pre-intervention and also three and six months later. Results of multi-level models indicated that the group that disclosed thoughts and feelings about ALS had higher well-being than the control group at three months post-intervention, but not six months. Ambivalence over emotional expression (AEE) moderated three-month post-intervention well-being. Those low in AEE had higher well-being than those high in AEE regardless of condition. Those high in AEE, who disclosed, had increased well-being from p...
The upper Gila river gravels as an archaeological obsidian source region: Implications for models of exchange and interaction

Recent geoarchaeological research in the Upper Gila River region of southeastern Arizona indicates the presence of two geochemically distinct archaeological obsidians occurring as small secondarily deposited nodules within the Quaternary gravels and alluvium. Approximately 32% of the nodules recovered in the sample are derived from the known and reported Mule Creek source upstream in western New Mexico. The remaining 68% of the nodules recovered are derived from another source somewhere in the area, probably in the Tertiary silicic volcanics along the San Francisco drainage or the Upper Gila proper. Additionally, analyses of the Mule Creek primary source data indicates significant geochemical variability not previously indicated by energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) studies. The presence of Mule Creek glass 50 or more kilometers from the primary source bears significantly on distance to source based studies where secondary deposition is not accounted for.
Wave-CAIPI enables highly accelerated 3D MRI

We introduce Wave-CAIPI acquisition-reconstruction technique to accelerate 3D MR Imaging by an order of magnitude, with negligible noise amplification and image artifact penalties. Wave-CAIPI involves playing sinusoidal G y and G z gradients during the readout of each phase encoding line while modifying the phase encoding strategy to incur slice shifts as in 2D-CAIPI. This combination spreads out aliasing due to data undersampling evenly in all spatial directions, thereby taking full advantage of 3D coil sensitivity distribution of the receiver coil. By expressing the voxel spreading effect as a convolution in image space, an efficient reconstruction scheme that recovers the undersampled data without data gridding is proposed. Wave-CAIPI enables full-brain gradient echo (GRE) acquisition in 2.3 minutes with 1 mm isotropic voxel size and R=3×3 acceleration, and yields maximum g-factors (noise amplification) of 1.08 at 3T, and 1.05 at 7T. Relative to state of the art accelerated imaging methods, this is a factor of 2 reduction in maximum g-factor at 3T and 7T.
Differential capacity of larval deer ticks (Ixodes dammini) to imbibe water from subsaturated air

Abstract To determine how the larval stage of Ixodes dammini , the deer tick that transmits the agent of Lyme disease in eastern North America, survives the relatively xeric environment in which eggs hatch, we compared the water-balance relationships of non-fed larvae to those of the non-fed nymphal and adult stages of this tick. In contrast to more mature deer ticks, larvae contain less water, tolerate the loss of less water and retain water less effectively. The ability of larvae to imbibe water from subsaturated air, however, adapts them to a relatively xeric environment.
Use of concanavalin A in the purification of juvenile hormone esterase from the hemolymph and the fat body of Lymantria dispar

Abstract A new method for the purification of juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) exploits the ability of Sepharose-coupled concanavalin A to bind to glycoproteins. Preparation of homogenous esterase from the plasma of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar , was accomplished by a procedure employing polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation, Superose-12 gel filtration, concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography and mono-Q FPLC. The 62 kDa plasma glycoprotein was purified 1325-fold by the four-step procedure with an 8% recovery of the original activity. A specific activitiy of 2650 nmol of juvenile hormone III (JH III) hydrolyzed per min per mg of protein at 28°C was determined for the purified enzyme. Concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography also was used in the partial purification of JHE from the last stadium fat body of gypsy moth larvae. After precipitation with ammonium sulfate, the fat body enzyme was purified 239-fold by a single step using concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography. Western blots showed that the fat body enzyme was similar in size to JHE purified from the plasma. These results are consistent with JHE being a glycoprotein.
Treatment strategies for bronchial asthma: an update.

Advances in understanding the biomolecular basis of the disease's inflammatory and remodeling responses are offering new therapeutic choices—and sometimes new drugdelivery system∼n categories such as B-agonists, glucocorticoids, and leukotriene blockers. Meanwhile, researchers are exploring novel targets, including intercellular signals and cell-adhesion and gene-activating molecules.
The Werner syndrome protein binds replication fork and holliday junction DNAs as an oligomer.

Werner syndrome is an inherited disease displaying a premature aging phenotype. The gene mutated in Werner syndrome encodes both a 3′ → 5′ DNA helicase and a 3′ → 5′ DNA exonuclease. Both WRN helicase and exonuclease preferentially utilize DNA substrates containing alternate secondary structures. By virtue of its ability to resolve such DNA structures, WRN is postulated to prevent the stalling and collapse of replication forks that encounter damaged DNA. Using electron microscopy, we visualized the binding of full-length WRN to DNA templates containing replication forks and Holliday junctions, intermediates observed during DNA replication and recombination, respectively. We show that both wild-type WRN and a helicase-defective mutant bind with exceptionally high specificity (>1000-fold) to DNA secondary structures at the replication fork and at Holliday junctions. Little or no binding is observed elsewhere on the DNA molecules. Calculations of the molecular weight of full-length WRN revealed that, in solution, WRN exists predominantly as a dimer. However, WRN bound to DNA is larger; the mass is consistent with that of a tetramer.
AKAPs: from structure to function

Compartmentalization of signalling molecules through association with anchoring proteins ensures specificity in signal transduction by placing enzymes close to their appropriate effectors and substrates. For example, 'A-kinase anchoring proteins' (AKAPs) bind to the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) to direct the kinase to discrete intracellular locations. Recently, functional studies aimed at disrupting AKAP-PKA complexes have demonstrated a role for anchored PKA in various cellular processes, including gene transcription, hormone-mediated insulin secretion and ion-channel modulation. By binding to additional signalling molecules, AKAPs might function to coordinate multiple components of signal-transduction pathways.
A STUDY OF THE VALIDITY OF FOUR TYPES OF STUDENT RATINGS OF COLLEGE TEACHING ASSESSED ON A CRITERION OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GAINS

The purpose of the study was to investigate relationships between student ratings of college teaching using four types of student rating instruments and pre- vs. post-student achievement gains in 36 sections of an undergraduate analytic geometry and calculus course. Student rating instruments used varied according to type of items (high vs. low inference) and focus (students rating their own perceived growth vs. rating the instructor). Data were collected on 799 students (66% freshmen; 16% sophomore; and 15% juniors) at the University of Florida, and relationships were analyzed using the Pearson product-moment correlation technique. Significant relationships were not found between student ratings and student achievement.
Land markets in late imperial and republican China

China has had very active markets for both the sale and the rental of land since Song times (960–1279), if not longer. By the sixteenth century, most of the institutional arrangements that would characterize these markets until 1949 were in place. These institutions differed sharply from those of emerging land markets in early modern Western Europe: in particular, government played a lesser role in adjudicating disputes over land contracts, and customary arrangements included features that (a) gave some sellers of land claims on purchasers that could last for many years and (b) gave some tenants, especially in South and East China, very strong usufruct rights, which themselves became a form of tradable property. However, despite these and other differences from Western models, Chinese land markets were quite efficient, and provided the incentives needed for a very productive agriculture; secure tenants, for instance, responded to their strong position by behaving like owners and investing heavily in improving the land.
Aggregation and Gelation of Fully Conjugated Rigid-Rod Polymers. Poly(2,5-dialkyl-1,4-phenyleneethynylene)s

A series of π-conjugated rodlike polymers, poly(2,5-dialkyl p-phenyleneethynylene)s, PPE's, were synthesized with alkyl groups of n-butyl (4a), n-octyl (4b), n-tetradecyl (4c), 2-ethylhexyl (4d), and 2-cyclohexylethyl (4e). Polymers with linear alkyl side groups (4a, 4b, and 4c) formed gels in toluene solutions, but polymers with branched (4d) or bulky (4e) side groups did not. Copolymers also did not form gels. Gels of PPE-4b and 4c show liquid crystalline structures at high concentrations. In the DSC cooling scans of toluene solutions, the primary processes of gelation are identified as distinct exotherms. In the case of PPE-4c, the primary exotherm was followed by secondary exotherms. Comparison of DSC scans of nascent and aged gels led to the conclusion that molecular arrangement in the aged gel continued beyond the initial process to result in more ordered microstructures. The fluorescence emission spectra of freshly prepared PPE-4b solutions showed two peaks at 425 and 450 nm over a wide range of co...
Growth responses of Sphagnum hollows to a growing season lengthening manipulation in Alaskan Arctic tundra

The global increase in surface air temperature has produced an overall lengthening of the growing season by 3-5 days/decade in the Northern Hemisphere during the last 30 years. The direct impact of a longer growing season has not been well documented for Sphagnum moss com- munities in the Arctic. We hypothesized that an increase in the growing season length may be detrimental to Sphag- num growth as a result of photoinhibition caused by the plants emerging from snow near the seasonal peak of solar irradiance. We conducted an experiment from 1999 to 2002, lengthening the growing season in arctic Alaska, to determine the effects that this simulation of climate change had on the growth of hollows dominated by Sphagnum angustifolium. The lengthened growing season was asso- ciated with a decrease in annual moss height increment of 78 and 69 % for 1999 and 2000, respectively. These growth reductions may be related to freeze/thaw episodes and prolonged periods of cold in those years. The growth of individuals exposed to snow removal was also reduced by high global radiation. Overall, snow removal did not sig- nificantly affect the seasonal dynamics of growth, but seasonal patterns of growth strongly differed among years. These differences in seasonal dynamics suggest that Sphagnum growth is driven by opportunistic responses to favorable conditions rather than ontogenetic drivers. In addition, we compared environmental variation and growth between control and snow removal plots. Growth of Sphagnum in both treatments was stimulated by warmer soil temperatures and drier conditions. With earlier snow- melt as a result of warmer temperatures, it is likely that S. angustifolium will be subjected to higher levels of radiation and possibly greater photoinhibition which may lead to lower growth rates and significant implications for moss production in tussock tundra.
Report of the working group on B→ π+π− decay mode

Abstract The standard model explanation of the CP violation can be tested by verifying the consistency of the unitarity relation. Although one of the angles of
Polymerization of organic compounds in an electrodeless glow discharge. X. Internal stress in plasma polymers

Owing to the unique mechanisms operative in plasma polymerization, a thin layer of plasma polymer deposited on the surface of a substrate shows a tendency to expand, indicating an internal stress in the layer. This stress, σs, has been estimated from the observed curling of composite membranes in which the thickness of the plasma coating, d, is much smaller than the thickness of a flexible substrate, D, according to the relation where R is the radius of the roll into which the composite films curl up and E is the modulus of the substrate polymer. The stress σs is found to depend on the kind of monomer used and to be of the order of magnitude 108–109 dynes/cm2 with most of the monomers here employed.
Computational Analysis of the Mode of Binding of 8-Oxoguanine to Formamidopyrimidine-DNA Glycosylase†

8-Oxoguanine (8OG) is the most prevalent form of oxidative DNA damage. In bacteria, 8OG is excised by formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (Fpg) as the initial step in base excision repair. To efficient...
Synaptic organization of motor corticostriatal projections in the rat

The precise organization of motor corticostriate projections in rats was determined by light and electron microscopy. The motor cortex (head, forelimb, trunk, and hind limb regions) was either surgically ablated or injected with [3H]leucine. Terminal fields in the striatum were described and regions with the densest terminal degeneration or axonal labeling were cored and processed for electron microscopy. Projections from the motor region end mainly in the dorsolateral striatum, rostral to the anterior commissure and lateral to the pallidum. Axons from the motor cortex synapse exclusively on dendritic spines of small dendrites in these regions.
Chaos Theory, Hypertext, and Reading Borges and Moulthrop

In her paper "Chaos Theory, Hypertext, and Reading Borges and Moulthrop," Perla Sasson-Henry presents a multidisciplinary perspective to the study of Jorge Luis Borges's and Stuart Moulthrop's works. Sasson-Henry argues that there exists a tripartite relationship among Borges's texts, Moulthrop's Victory Garden, and chaos theory. The dialogue among these texts via chaos theory, bifurcation theory, and noise is what separates this analysis from former studies. Sasson-Henry concludes that by underscoring the reciprocal interconnectedness among Borges's stories, Victory Garden, scientific theory, and new media technology we also acknowledge the intricate connections among print literature, digital literature, and science, and thus move towards a new interpretation of Borges's oeuvre, one that reaffirms Borges significant role in Latin American literature and culture while acknowledging its projection into the digital age. Perla Sasson-Henry, "Chaos Theory, Hypertext, and Reading Borges and Moulthrop" page 2 of 11 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 8.1 (2006):
Purification and properties of apple fruit malic enzyme.

Malic enzyme was isolated and purified from mature apple fruits ( Malus sylvestris , Miller) by utilizing procedures probably applicable to other soluble enzymes in this and similar tissues. The physical properties of apple fruit malic enzyme are similar to those reported for malic enzyme from other plant and animal sources. It is specific for l-malate, TPN and requires a divalent cation for activity. In contrast to the pigeon liver enzyme, supplemental TPN is not required for oxalacetic decarboxylase activity of the fruit enzyme. The pH optimum of the malic enzyme varied with the l-malate concentration and the nature of the divalent cation present. d-Malate activated the oxidation of l-malate at rate-limiting concentrations.
Spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of particles, bacteria, and pEPS in Arctic winter sea ice

Abstract Abundances of particles, total bacteria, and particulate extracellular polymeric substances (pEPS) in Arctic sea ice were tracked through a winter season to examine the impact of combined extremes of low temperature and high salinity on the prokaryotic microbial community. Three horizons, centered at depths of 25, 45, and 65 cm from the ice surface, with mean seasonal temperatures of − 20, − 17, and − 13 °C, respectively, were sampled 16 times over the course of 12 weeks. Microscopic counts of bacteria (stained with DAPI) and particles (stained with acridine orange) reflected the dynamic conditions of the growing ice sheet, with greater abundances and variability in the upper ice horizons compared to the lower. The trend of higher particle and bacterial abundances in the upper ice was corroborated by several full-depth profiles taken during the expedition, which also displayed significantly decreasing cell abundance with depth. Bacterial abundance declined slowly and significantly with time in the upper and middle ice horizons, but not in the lowest, suggesting that much of the prokaryotic microbial community is resilient to extreme environmental conditions. We found that pEPS concentrations increased significantly with time and with decreasing temperatures in all depth horizons, which may lend support to the argument that sea ice bacteria produce EPS in situ as a cryoprotectant.
New Perspectives on the Technical Communication Internship: Professionalism in the Workplace

This article argues for developing linked courses in technical communication where the instructor facilitates a service-learning curriculum and then serves as faculty advisor within subsequent inte...
Preparing for the profession ahead

I’m delighted to be speaking to you as chair of the Board of Directors. One of my greatest obligations is to report to you, the House of Delegates, about the strategic decisions the Board is making for ASHP’s future success. We’ve recently made some significant investments in a number of key
A histological and histochemical study on the effects of adrenal cortical steroids in the fetal and neonatal rat thymus.

The late fetal and neonatal rat thymus was studied by histological and histochemical techniques following adrenal cortical steriod administration. Albino rats from seventeenth day of gestation through thirtieth postnatal day were sacrificed six, 24, 48 and 96 hours following single or series of cortisone or hydrocortisone injections in pregnant or neonatal rats. Some of gestation periods were prolonged by progesterone injections. Stains included Harris hematoxylin and eosin, May-Grunwald Giemsa, Gomori's ('52) or Burstone's ('58) method for alkaline phosphatase, and the PAS stain. Autofluorescence was examined in some of the sections. A reduction in distinctness of the cortico-medullary border of the fetal thymus followed maternal cortical steriod treatment. Similar treatment in neonatals one and two days of age led to pycnosis and phagocytosis of small lymphocytes. No histochemically stainable alkaline phosphatase was observed before sixteenth postnatal day, or following steriod administration on day one or two. However, a precocious increase in alkaline phosphatase followed a single injection on day 12. In the fetal and neonatal thymus PAS-positive material was present, was more prominent on the sixteenth day, and increased following steriod treatment, particularly on the twelfth day. Autofluorescent cells, present on the sixteenth day, increased following steriod administration. Histochemical and autofluorescent modifications were particularly prominent at the cortico-medullary border and are thought to represent postnatal maturation about the sixteenth day which changes can be induced precociously by cortical steroids.
Dynamics of a Reduced Scale Landing Gear System Considering the Effect of the Viscoelastic Interaction of the Brake Pads and Rotors

Gear walk is a dynamic instability condition that can pose serious harm to an aircraft and its passengers. The instability is believed to be borne as a result of braking, in which vibration of the landing gear can be induced generating motion reminiscent of a walking movement. This paper focuses on the theoretical account of a Reduced Scale Landing Gear (RSLG) apparatus and studies gear walk phenomenon. The mathematical approach involves lumped-parameter model representation of the RSLG that accounts for the landing gear’s struts, the wheels and the caliper-disc brake dynamics. The theoretical treatment of the RSLG apparatus entails consideration of the structure of the device that includes the account of dynamic response of the assembly consisting of a fuselage, two struts and two wheels. Various physical and geometrical parameters are determined and included in the mathematical model of the apparatus. It is demonstrated that the occurrence of gear walk vibration is greatly influenced by the structural stiffness of the system. Both synchronous and 180° out of phase motion of the struts are generated in a parametric study in which structural stiffness is varied.© 2005 ASME
More than Audio on the Go: Uses and Gratifications of MP3 Players

MP3 players are widely used for multiple purposes, especially among younger generations. This study explores uses and gratifications involved in individuals' use of MP3 players and uncovers 5 distinct gratification factors: control, companionship, entertainment, status, and concentration. The control factor reflects a content gratification, whereas the remaining 4 factors reflect aspects of process gratification. Concentration is a “new” gratification related to multitasking with MP3 players. Of all 5 gratification factors for MP3 players, concentration and entertainment significantly predict their usage.
SCOPing out Proteases in Long-Term Memory

The ERK1/2 MAP kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is important for the formation of long-term memories. In this issue, Shimizu et al. (2007) provide new insight into the regulation of this pathway by demonstrating that activation of MAP kinase occurs through the calcium-dependent degradation of SCOP (suprachiasmatic nucleus circadian oscillatory protein) by the protease calpain.
Admittance of p-n junctions containing traps☆

Abstract A p-n junction containing large densities of deep levels is analyzed using a truncated space-charge approximation. The continuity equation for the occupation of deep levels is solved simultaneously with Poisson's equation to obtain the frequency dependent capacitance of a junction containing one or more levels. That portion of the capacitance which enters the field-effect transconductance is also obtained and is found to have a different frequency dependence. An apparent dependence of the deep level time constant on compensation is shown to arise from the interaction between the total charge in the levels and the electron concentration in the space-charge region. This interaction further alters all the time constants when two or more deep levels are present. The single level theory is compared with the experiments and more exact numerical calculations of Sah and co-workers, and the two level theory is compared with experimental results on neutron-irradiated junction field-effect transistors.
Neural network-based adaptive event-triggered control of nonlinear continuous-time systems

In this paper, a neural network (NN) based adaptive event-triggered control is developed for a single input and single output (SISO) uncertain nonlinear continuous time system. An explicit design of the event-triggered controller using NN approximation and feedback linearization is presented. The controller dynamics are approximated by using two single layer NNs. In addition, novel weight update laws are derived for the NNs in the context of event-triggered transmission, i.e., weights are updated only at the triggering instants, hence, aperiodic in nature. The closed loop stability analysis using Lyapunov approach for impulsive dynamical system is carried out to show the uniform ultimate boundedness (UUB) of the NN weight estimation errors as well as system states. Numerical results are included for validating the design.
The effect of extended acquisition upon the replacement capacity of intertrial reinforcement

A modified extinction procedure was used to determine whether simple repeated exposure to intertrial reinforcement (ITR) was sufficient for loss of ITR replacement capacity. This modified extinction consisted of interpolating ITRs between extinction trials. Extinction performance suggested that ITR remained effective despite extended exposure during acquisition.
The antiarrhythmic effects of quinidine and propronaolol in the auabain-intoxicated spinally transected cat

The influence of propranolol and qunidine on ouabain-induced cardiotoxicity was studied in intact cats and cats whose spinal cords has been transected. Spinal section alone increased the lethal dose of ouabain from 67 ±4 to 115 ± 8 μg/kg and the myocardial content of ouabain associated with death from 0.85 ± 0.04 to 1.26 ± 0.07 pmol/mg. Quinidine and propranolol increassed the lethal dose of ouabain to 122 ± 11 and 134 ± 17 μg/kg and the lethal contents to 1.21 ± 0.05 and 1.20 ± 0.09 pmol/mg respectively. Propranolol failed to influence either the lethal dose fo ouabain or the myocardial content of ouabain associated with death in the spinally transected cat. On the other hand, quinidine increased the lethal dose of ouabain to 169 ± 16 μg/kg (P < 0.01) and the lethal myocardial content of ouabain to 1.38 ± 0.06 pmol/mg (P < 0.01) in the spinally transected cat. The data suggest that the antiarrhythmic action of propranolol to antagonized ouabain-induced rhythm disorders dependes upon an intact nervous system while that of quinidine does not. The data also suggest that spinal cord transection can separate antidysrhytmic dugs acting principally on neural sturcture s from those acting directly on the myocardium.
Magnetic resonance imaging surveillance following vestibular schwannoma resection.

Objectives/hypothesis To describe the incidence, pattern, and course of postoperative enhancement within the operative bed using serial gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection and to identify clinical and radiologic variables associated with recurrence. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods All patients who underwent microsurgical resection of VS between January 2000 and January 2010 at a single tertiary referral center were reviewed. Postoperative enhancement patterns were characterized on serial MRI studies. Clinical follow-up and outcomes were recorded. Results During the last 10 years, 350 patients underwent microsurgical VS resection, and of these, 203 patients met study criteria (mean radiologic follow-up, 3.5 years). A total of 144 patients underwent gross total resection (GTR), 32 received near-total resection (NTR), and the remaining 27 underwent subtotal resection (STR); 98.5% of patients demonstrated enhancement within the operative bed following resection (58.5% linear, 41.5% nodular). Stable enhancement patterns were seen in 24.5% of patients, regression in 66.0%, and resolution in only 3.5% of patients on the most recent postoperative MRI. Twelve patients recurred a mean of 3.0 years following surgery. The average maximum linear diameter growth rate among recurrent tumors was 2.3 mm per year. Those receiving STR were more than nine times more likely to experience recurrence compared to those undergoing NTR or GTR (P Conclusions Persistent nonspecific radiologic enhancement within the postoperative field is common, making the diagnosis of tumor recurrence challenging. Factors including completeness of resection and baseline postoperative MRI findings provide valuable information regarding risk for recurrence, which may assist the clinician in determining an appropriate postoperative MRI surveillance schedule. Future studies using standardized terminology and consistent study metrics are needed to further refine surveillance recommendations.
Polynomial-time versus recursive models

Abstract The central problem considered in this paper is whether a given recursive structure is recursively isomorphic to a polynomial-time (p-time) structure. Positive results are obtained for all relational structures, for all Boolean algebras and for the natural numbers with addition, multiplication and the unary function 2x. Counterexamples are constructed for recursive structures with one unary function and for Abelian groups and also for relational structures when the universe of the structure is fixed. Results are also given which distinguish primitive recursive structures, exponential-time structures and structures with honest witnesses.
Alcoholism screening inventory: replication of Reich and extension.

Summary This study is a replication and extension of an earlier study which generated a screening interview for alcoholism with computer assistance. Its goals were to assess the degree of concordant validation (agreement between screening interview decision and clinical diagnosis) and to test the validity of an exit-path x seventy hypothesis. Fifty Veterans Administration Hospital patients on an Alcohol Treatment Unit were interviewed with a standardized 22–item inventory which included the eight items comprising the screening inventory. Eighty-four per cent concordance of screening interview and clinical diagnosis was obtained. Fifty-four per cent of the sample was identified with only two items (i.e., positive responses to morning drinking? and blackouts?). The exit-path x severity hypothesis gained general support although the first two alcoholic exit-paths showed considerable overlap. The screening inventory appeared to be an efficient instrument and is recommended for further use. It may lead to under diagnosis, especially with schizophrenic drinkers and episodic-stress drinkers. Its validity as a prognostic device has yet to be tested.
"Fluctuograms" reveal the intermittent intra-protein communication in subtilisin Carlsberg and correlate mechanical coupling with co-evolution.

The mechanism of intra-protein communication and allosteric coupling is key to understanding the structure-property relationship of protein function. For subtilisin Carlsberg, the Ca2+-binding loop is distal to substrate-binding and active sites, yet the serine protease function depends on Ca2+ binding. The atomic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of apo and Ca2+-bound subtilisin show similar structures and there is no direct evidence that subtilisin has alternative conformations. To model the intra-protein communication due to Ca2+ binding, we transform the sequential segments of an atomic MD trajectory into separate elastic network models to represent anharmonicity and nonlinearity effectively as the temporal and spatial variation of the mechanical coupling network. In analogy to the spectrogram of sound waves, this transformation is termed the “fluctuogram” of protein dynamics. We illustrate that the Ca2+-bound and apo states of subtilisin have different fluctuograms and that intra-protein communication proceeds intermittently both in space and in time. We found that residues with large mechanical coupling variation due to Ca2+ binding correlate with the reported mutation sites selected by directed evolution for improving the stability of subtilisin and its activity in a non-aqueous environment. Furthermore, we utilize the fluctuograms calculated from MD to capture the highly correlated residues in a multiple sequence alignment. We show that in addition to the magnitude, the variance of coupling strength is also an indicative property for the sequence correlation observed in a statistical coupling analysis. The results of this work illustrate that the mechanical coupling networks calculated from atomic details can be used to correlate with functionally important mutation sites and co-evolution.
Necessary levels of detail in microkinetic models of catalytic reactions on nonuniform surfaces

Abstract A quantitative evaluation of approximate models which account for the kinetic effects of nonuniformity of adsorption on heterogeneous catalyst surfaces has been performed. Model adequacy was evaluated by comparing the predictions to a base case model in which the dependence of the reaction rate on the nonuniformity of the surface was rigorously taken into account. None of the approximate models were found to provide predictions sufficiently similar to the kinetics observed on a surface possessing active sites with a known heterogeneous distribution of adsorption energies under a variety of conditions. Surprisingly, a uniform surface model, which treated the catalyst surface as if it were homogeneous in adsorption energy, provided the most accurate representation. The prediction of the uniform site model was always within a factor of 4–5 for all conditions investigated with adsorption energy distribution breadths ranging up to 20 kcal mol −1 . The same general conclusions were drawn without requiring the allowed adsorption energy distribution to be centered about the so-called “optimum” reactive site. In fact, the uniform site model prediction was within a factor of 4 whether or not the optimum reactive site was contained within the allowed range of adsorption energies. It was concluded that if the kinetic effects of nonuniform surfaces are of central importance and must be incorporated in a kinetic model, a computationally intensive, site-by-site averaging of the reaction rate at each unique adsorption site must be performed.
Ethnolinguistically Relevant Pedagogy: Empowering English Language Learners in Physical Education

People from diverse cultures interpret languages and gestures differently (Columna & Lieberman, 2011). It is not surprising, therefore, that communication differences may have negative implications for teachers and English language learners in K–12 physical education environments. To address this issue, we advocate preparing physical education teacher education (PETE) candidates to implement ethnolinguistically relevant pedagogy to better accommodate students with diverse linguistic backgrounds in K–12 physical education settings. Ethnolinguistically relevant pedagogy (Farr, Seloni, & Song, 2010) is a blending of intercultural language education and intercultural competence (Byram, 1997; Byram, Gribkova, & Starkey, 2002) with culturally relevant pedagogy (Gay, 2000). In this article, we discuss ethnolinguistically relevant pedagogy and strategies for implementing such pedagogy in physical education settings.
Direct Measurement of Distances and Angles in Biomolecules by NMR in a Dilute Liquid Crystalline Medium

In isotropic solution, internuclear dipolar couplings average to zero as a result of rotational diffusion. By dissolving macromolecules in a dilute aqueous nematic discotic liquid-crystalline medium containing widely spaced magnetically oriented particles, a tunable degree of solute alignment with the magnetic field can be created while retaining the high resolution and sensitivity of the regular isotropic nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum. Dipolar couplings between1H-1H, 1H-13C,1H-15N, and 13C-13C pairs in such an oriented macromolecule no longer average to zero, and are readily measured. Distances and angles derived from dipolar couplings in human ubiquitin are in excellent agreement with its crystal structure. The approach promises to improve the accuracy of structures determined by NMR, and extend the size limit.
Aspartate-type C-4 photosynthetic carbon metabolism in leaves of Eleusine coracanaGaertn

Summary Photosynthetic carbon metabolism during aspartate-type C-4 photosynthesis has been studied using Eleusine coracana . The C-4 pathway of E. coracana was unique in the early appearance of radioactive carbon in aspartate. There was practically no radioactivity detectable in malate. Studies on the inter- and intracellular distribution of photosynthetic enzymes and substrate induction of carbon fixation by the isolated mesophyll and bundle sheath chloroplasts have confirmed the exclusive synthesis of aspartate from oxaloacetate. The transfer of label from C-4 acids to PGA was found to be light-dependent. Kinetic evidence for the observed PIB of CO 2 from leaves was obtained as the loss of carbon from C-4 acids upon darkening. CO 2 for the Calvin cycle operating in the bundle sheath was released by the decarboxylation of oxaloacetate in the bundle sheath, the reaction being catalysed by OAA decarboxylase. Direct evidence for PGA synthesis in the bundle sheath was obtained by infiltrating 14 C-bicarbonate through veins into the leaf. Both mesophyll and bundle sheath chloroplasts possessed the potential to synthesize starch. The results are discussed and a scheme is proposed for the type of leaf photosynthesis occurring in E. coracana .
Recent and Remote Extinction Cues Reduce Spontaneous Recovery

Five appetitive conditioning experiments with rats examined the ability of extinction cues (ECs) to reduce spontaneous recovery after extinction procedures that varied the temporal relation between the ECs and the conditioned stimulus (CS) and included presentations of additional events (e.g. other stimuli correlated with extinction, CSs, and the US). In extinction, two different ECs were presented either closely in time before (i.e. recent to), or more distant (i.e. remote) from a nonreinforced CS. Both recent and remote ECs reduced spontaneous recovery to the CS when present during testing (Experiments 1-4). Each EC reduced recovery despite the addition during extinction of a second EC and CS (Experiments 1, 3, and 4), and the US (Experiment 3). Experiments 4 and 5 investigated the recent and remote ECs' tendency to control a serial occasion setting discrimination involving the target CS under explicit training conditions. Neither EC gained such discriminative control. Possible explanations of the results are discussed, including configural learning, occasion setting, and contextual cue control.
Toroidal maps of modular quotient groups

Abstract Genus-one modular quotient groups have been studied in various guises, from the toroidal maps of Brahana and Coxeter, to the symmetric trivalent graphs of Coxeter, Miller, Bouwer, and Chernoff, to the level-six groups of Newman. We develop relations among the parameters of these objects as a means of describing the correspondence between these alternate descriptions.
The elimination of the influence of ambient environmental effects on the structure of 'inert' polymers

The construction and use of a vacuum chamber suitable for conventional X-ray diffraction has revealed the influence of the ambient environment, including moisture, on the bulk structure of very thin polymer films. It is concluded that studies of thin film organic systems, even those thought not to be perturbed by ambient water vapor and other contaminants, may benefit from undertaking some studies in such small sample vacuum chambers.
Accuracy of home pregnancy tests at the time of missed menses

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of home pregnancy tests (HPTs) around the time of the missed menses. Study design Levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were determined in urine around the time of the missed menses, and 5th and 95th centiles were calculated. In a blind study evaluating 18 brands of HPTs, each was tested six times with five concentrations of hCG, 0 to 100 mIU/mL. Sensitivity was defined as the concentration at which six of six brands gave positive results, at the suggested reading time or at an extended time. Results It was estimated that a sensitivity of 12.5 mIU/mL was needed to detect 95% of pregnancies at the time of missing menses. Only 1 of 18 HPTs had this sensitivity. If faintly discernible results considered, 2 of 18 brands gave false-positive or invalid results. Clear positive results were given by only 44% of the brands at 100 mIU/mL hCG. If one accepted faintly discernible and extended reading times, all brands responded at 100 mIU/mL. A test with 100 mIU/mL sensitivity would detect approximately 16% of pregnancies at the time of missed menses. Conclusion The utility of HPTs is questioned. Clinicians need to be aware of the limitations of current HPT brands.
Field Coil for Magneto-Optic Switching: Capacitance Considerations

A tractable method for accurately predicting the parasitic capacitance of a field coil as part of an all-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometric switch based on Faraday rotation is reported. The effects of the wire insulation layer, inter-turn air gap as well as capacitive coupling to the four nearest adjacent turns are considered in predicting the effective parasitic capacitance for single-layer coils. The complex distributed capacitance network that results is resolved using Kron reduction to yield the equivalent shunt capacitance. Several coil configurations were designed and compared to experimental results. This new approach can be used in conjunction with existing expressions for inductance and loss to enable the complete and accurate a priori design of field generating coils.
O05.4 Association Between Chlamydia Trachomatis Genital Infection and the Vaginal Microbiome

Background Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) genital infection is one of the most widespread sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is thought that certain types of vaginal microbiota are better able to prevent STIs, however, very little is known about the relationships between species and genomic composition of the vaginal microbiome and risk of infection. Information about these can be used to advance prevention strategies for STIs. We sought to characterise the vaginal microbiome at the time of diagnosis and after treatment of CT infection. Methods 101 women with CT genital infection were recruited to a longitudinal study in Baltimore, MD. Participants were treated at diagnosis and returned for clinical visits every 3 months for 9 months, at which times the vaginal microbiota was determined using 16S rRNA analysis. We further applied high-throughput metagenomics to characterise the genomic makeup of the vaginal microbiome. Results The average age of participants was 19.3 (range 14–28) and 92% were African-American. During CT infection, comprehensive surveys of the vaginal microbiota demonstrated two distinct community state types characterised by: (1) a complex assemblage of strict anaerobes with low proportions of Lactobacillus spp. (60% of samples) or (2) a high relative abundance of Lactobacillus iners- dominated communities (37% of samples) . Metagenomic evaluation suggested unique characteristics of the genomes of the dominant species in these communities (i.e., L. iners, Gardnerella vaginalis ). L. iners appeared more genetically diverse than other Lactobacillus species. Conclusions Complex communities of strict anaerobes with low proportions of Lactobacillus or specific L. iners genome types represented a hallmark of the chlamydia - infected state in this population. Some L. iners may be better suited to adapt to diverse environments while others may be contributing factors to an at-risk microbiome. In the era of personalised medicine, future work will enhance our ability to intervene and establish a protective vaginal microbiome.