cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Refractory vasodilation after cardiopulmonary bypass for heart transplantation in recipients on combined amiodarone and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy : A role for vasopressin administration

O PTIMAL THERAPY for end-stage cardiac failure before heart transplantation increasingly includes the use of both amiodarone and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. This combination has been shown to decrease both 1-year mortality and the incidence of sudden death. However, a number of reports describe severe hypotension in anesthetized patients chronically treated with either amiodarone 2 or ACE inhibitors, 3,4 and Mackay et al 5 have questioned whether concurrent therapy with these agents might pose a synergistic risk. Vasoconstriction to maintain blood pressure is normally maintained through the interplay of three neurohormonal systems; the sympathetic system, the renin angiotensin system (RAS), and the arginine vasopressin (AVP) system (Fig 1). 6 Normally, blockade of one or two of these systems is compensated for by the other(s). 6,7 However, under duress and under anesthesia, this compensatory balance may become compromised: in rats that are administered an ACE inhibitor, hemodynamic recovery after blood loss is incomplete despite a normal catecholamine response and high vasopressin levels? and in sheep under anesthesia, blockade of the RAS and AVP systems results in hypotension. 9 These data suggest that in the face of an added insult, such as hemorrhage or anesthesia, blockade of only one or two of the components of this neurohormonai triad may lead to severe hemodynamic compromise. Under the extreme stress of cardiac surgery, the chronic use of amiodarone, which, in addition to other cardiovascular effects, is assumed to block the sympathetic system by noncompetitive and [3 blockade, l°,la has been associated with fatal vasodilatory shock ~2 and the need for massive doses of vasopressors, a3 Similarly, ACE inhibitors, which block the RAS and decrease cardiovascular responsiveness to catecholamines, TM increase vasoconstrictor requirements during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). 15 This would suggest that the combined use of amiodarone and an ACE inhibitor might result in severe hemodynamic compromise during cardiac surgery. Two cases of refractory vasodilation in heart transplantation patients who presented for surgery on therapy with amiodarone and an ACE inhibitor are presented and compared with the seven other adult patients not on this combination who underwent cardiac transplantation by the same surgeon during the 4 months intervening between these cases.
The Influence of the Spleen on Hematopoietic Recovery After Irradiation Injury

Summary and ConclusionsYoung adult female mice were exposed to 1025 r whole-body X radiation. The spleens of these mice were mobilized surgically through an abdominal incision and lead protected during irradiation in one group and mobilized but not lead protected during irradiation in another group.The bone marrow and lymphatic tissues were destroyed and no regeneration was as yet apparent on the tenth day in the animals irradiated without lead protection of the spleen. In the animals with lead protection of the spleen during irradiation, these tissues were never depleted of free hematopoietic cells and the bone marrow and the lymph nodes were normal in cellularity by the eighth day after irradiation.Several possible interpretations of the role of the spleen under the conditions of these experiments are discussed.
Genome-wide association study identifies new disease loci for isolated clubfoot

Background Clubfoot is a common congenital birth defect with complex inheritance patterns. Currently, the genetic and morphological basis of clubfoot is poorly understood. To identify genetic risk factors associated with clubfoot, we performed a genome-wide association study of common genetic variants. Methods The DNA of 396 isolated clubfoot patients and 1000 controls of European descent was genotyped for >600 000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) using the Affymetrix 6.0 array. Replication was performed with an independent cohort of 370 isolated clubfoot cases and 363 controls of European descent. Results Strongest evidence for an association of clubfoot was found with an intergenic SNP on chromosome 12q24.31 between NCOR2 and ZNF664 (rs7969148, OR=0.58, p=1.25×10−5) that was significant on replication (combined OR=0.63, p=1.90×10−7). Additional suggestive SNPs were identified near FOXN3 , SORCS1 and MMP7/TMEM123 that also confirmed on replication. Conclusions Our study suggests a potential role for common genetic variation in several genes that have not previously been implicated in clubfoot pathogenesis.
A brief history of the discovery of the SU(3) mass formula and other subjects

We give a brief history of the discovery of the SU(3) mass formula and offer a few remarks on the inequality of partial decay rates of particles and their antiparticles.
Optimum parameters for the measurement of cortical coupling

Electrical coupling between areas on the human scalp can be estimated using information transmission as a measure of contingency. Such a measure of coupling changes as a subject’s cognitive operations change. Based on a study of six subjects, detection of cognitively induced changes in coupling is optimum when contingencies are computed from EEG epochs that are about 1.6 sec in duration, sampled every 4 msec with each sample classified as to polarity and first difference.
C.W. operation of l.s.a. oscillators in R band

C.W. fundamental oscillations in the frequency range 30-40 GHz with an output power of 120 mW were observed on devices fabricated from an epitaxial n++-n-n+ layered wafer of GaAs. Conversion efficiencies of up to 7% were observed. The optimum bias voltage was seen to be about 4.5-5.5 times the threshold voltage for the best r.f. output in our circuit. Effects of bias voltage and tuning conditions on power output and frequency are described.
TheK-Theory of Vector Bundles with Endomorphisms over a Scheme

Abstract Using Thomason and Trobaugh's localization theorem for the K -theory of a scheme, we study the K -theory of the category of vector bundles with endomorphisms over a scheme. The results generalize those of Grayson when the scheme is affine. We also give an example showing that the Mayer–Vietoris sequence does not hold for the K -theory of vector bundles with endomorphisms, which indicates that the K -theory of vector bundles with endomorphisms is a global theory (not determined by local data).
Sexual function following sphincteroplasty for women with third- and fourth-degree perineal tears.

Our goal was to evaluate sexual function following anal sphincteroplasty in women with third and fourth degree perineal tears secondary to birth trauma. Our study was performed using a retrospective cohort design in a group of women (n = 32) who had experienced either third-degree or fourth-degree perineal tears during labor and then elected to undergo sphincteroplasty for fecal incontinence. We surveyed our patients with a questionnaire that was developed by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Epidemiology Center at Harvard Medical School and was previously used to survey women with obstetric injuries. Self-reported presphincteroplasty and postsphincteroplasty degree of physical sensation, sexual satisfaction, and likelihood of achieving orgasm were measured. Also measured were libido, partner satisfaction, and presence of emotional or physical inability to engage in sexual behavior. Our results reaffirmed the findings of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Epidemiology Center’s study that sexual function is compromised in women with third and fourth degree perineal tears. For our patients with this degree of perineal tearing who underwent sphincteroplasty after primary repair, our survey showed consistent improvement in several parameters of sexual function. After sphincteroplasty, physical sensation was higher /much higher in 40 percent, sexual satisfaction was better/much better in 33.3 percent, and 28.6 percent of the patients were more/much more likely to reach orgasm. Libido was improved in 37.5 percent of the study population, and 20 percent reported increased partner satisfaction. Before surgery, 23.5 percent of patients were physically and 31.2 percent emotionally unable to participate in sexual activity because of fear of incontinence or intimacy; after surgery only 6.3 percent were physically unable and 0 percent were emotionally unable to engage in sexual activity. The response rate for our study was 18/32 (56 percent). Anal sphincteroplasty for the treatment of incontinence in women with third and fourth degree perineal tears improves physical and emotional sexual well-being and function.
A note on Lippmann's identity

Abstract It is shown that, contrary to other claims, the conventional form of Lippmann's identity holds in the weak topology.
A linear DABCO templated fluorogallophosphate: synthesis and structure determination from powder diffraction data of Ga(PO4H)2F·[N2C6H14]

A new 1D fluorogallophosphate, Ga(PO4H)2F[N2C6H14], was synthesized solvothermally using 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as a templating agent. The structure was determined ab initio from X-ray powder diffraction data. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121, with a = 14.8725(9) A, b = 12.0132(7) A, c = 7.0700(6) A, V = 1263 A3 and Z = 4. The 1D structure contains discrete inorganic chains built-up by fluorine sharing GaO4F2 octahedra, corner linked by bridging PO4H tetrahedra. These chains, similar to those found in tancoite type minerals, are linked to each other via hydroxy groups and via hydrogen bonding with the ammonium groups of the doubly protonated DABCO molecules.
Vortex motion in Josephson-junction arrays near f=0 and f=1/2.

We study vortex motion in two-dimensional Josephson arrays at magnetic fields near zero and one-half flux quanta per plaquette (f=0 and f=1/2). The array is modeled as a network of resistively and capacitively shunted Josephson junctions at temperature T=0. Calculations are carried out over a range of the McCumber-Stewart junction damping parameter \ensuremath{\beta}. Near both f=0 and f=1/2, the I-V characteristics exhibit two critical currents, ${\mathit{I}}_{\mathit{c}1}$(f) and ${\mathit{I}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(f), representing the critical current for depinning a single vortex, and for depinning the entire ground-state phase configuration. Near f=0, single vortex motion just above ${\mathit{I}}_{\mathit{c}1}$(0) leads to Josephson-like voltage oscillations. The motion of the vortex is seemingly overdamped (i.e., nonhysteretic) even when the individual junction parameters are highly underdamped, in agreement with experiments. At sufficiently large \ensuremath{\beta}, and sufficiently high vortex velocity, the vortex breaks up into a row of resistively switched junctions perpendicular to the current. Near f=1/2, the vortex potential, and corresponding vortex trajectories, are more complicated than near f=0. Nevertheless, the vortex is still ``overdamped'' even when the individual junctions are highly underdamped, and there is still row-switching behavior at large values of \ensuremath{\beta}. A high-energy vortex in a very underdamped array tends to generate resistively switched rows rather than to move ballistically. Some possible explanations for this behavior are discussed.
Subglottic stenosis: Another challenge for intubation and potential mechanism of airway obstruction in Pierre Robin Sequence☆

Abstract Objective To determine the endotracheal tube (ETT) size and presence of subglottic narrowing in children less than 1 year old with Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS). Materials and methods We performed a retrospective review from 2005 to 2009 of infants with PRS who underwent diagnostic laryngoscopy (DL) and intubation. Results Fifteen children with a median age of 25 days were reviewed. All patients, except one, were born full term. Subglottic narrowing was visualized in 5 patients (33%). 73% of all patients required an ETT size smaller than what is recommended by intubation guidelines in the literature in regards to normative data based on age and weight. Conclusion Infants with PRS may have a higher incidence of subglottic stenosis and require a smaller ETT compared to the normal population. This pilot study warrants a larger prospective investigation to validate these findings.
Vortex dislocations and force distribution of long flexible cylinders subjected to sheared flows

Abstract We present DNS results of vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of flexible cylinders with aspect ratio greater than 500, subjected to linear and exponential sheared flows. The maximum Reynolds number is Rem=1000 resulting in a turbulent near-wake. The first case corresponds to lock-in of the third mode (n=3), while the second case is a multi-mode response with excited modes as high as n=12 and 14. We observed vortex dislocations similar to the structures visualized in experiments for stationary cylinders, and obtained corresponding force distributions. Strong vortex dislocations can result in substantial modulation of the forces on the body, and such effects have to be taken into account when constructing low-dimensional predictive models.
Comparative toxicity of Solvent Yellow 33 [2-(2′-quinolinyl)-1,3-indandione] and Solvent Green 3 (1,4-di-p-toluidinoanthraquinone) dyes to freshwater organisms

Abstract Solvent Yellow 33 and a Solvent Green 3 mixture (30:70 mixture of Solvent Yellow 33 and Solvent Green 3) were not acutely toxic to seven of nine freshwater species when tested at the solubility limits of the dyes in freshwater. A solubility limit solution of the Solvent Green 3 mixture killed 50% of the rainbow trout tested for 96 h but was non-toxic when diluted by 50%. Both dyes caused a reduction in green algal growth at solubility limits. The Solvent Green 3 mixture was the most detrimental causing a 98–99% reduction in growth after 5 days of exposure.
Gauge Group of Gravity, Spinors, and Anomalies

A discussion is given of the gravitational anomalies that arise from coupling Weyl spinors to gravity, treating the metric, the soldering form, and the connection as independent dynamical variables. This system is strictly analogous to Weyl spinors coupled to Yang-Mills fields and a nonlinear sigma model. The larger gauge group of this formulation is seen to lie at the root of the equivalence between Einstein and Lorentz anomalies.
Open field and water wading as tests of emotionality in rats.

20 male and 20 female Wistar rats were assessed for open-field defecation and ambulation and for water wading defecation. Defecation in the two places was not correlated. While there was a signific...
Identification of Thermal Degradation Products of Titanium Polyethers Using Coupled Thermogravimetric Analysis-Mass Spectroscopy: Development and Evaluation of Instrumentation

Abstract The construction and evaluation of a coupled Thermogravimetric Analyzer-Mass Spectrometer (TG-MS) instrument, capable of heating samples as small as one milligram to temperatures as high as 1200°C, while continuously monitoring the gaseous effluents using mass spectrometry, is described. Degradation of titanium polyethers was studied to assess the performance of the TG-MS.
Regulation of Transforming Growth Factor β in Diabetic Nephropathy: Implications for Treatment

Summary The recognition that the drivers of matrix accumulation is an appropriate therapeutic target for diabetic nephropathy is now accepted by the nephrology and pharmaceutical communities. Interventions focused around transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) likely will be an important area of clinical investigation in the near future. Understanding the various pathways involved in stimulating TGF-β in the diabetic kidney is of paramount importance in devising strategies to combat the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. In this review we highlight the major pathways involved in stimulating TGF-β production by increased glucose levels and discuss the therapeutic implications thereof.
Interdisciplinarity and childhood studies

In March of 2009, Children's Geographies convened a session at the annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers on interdisciplinarity in childhood studies. The underlying issue was ho...
Interionic interactions in transition metals

An approximate calculation of the total energy of a transition metal as a function of volume and ionic configuration at constant volume obtained by extending the nearly-free-electron theory of the simple metals to include the effects of transition-metal $d$ bands provides a qualitative first-principles prediction of the elastic and bonding properties of the transition metals. The description becomes quantitative if one allows the adjustment of two parameters. The $s$ electrons, treated with an empty-core pseudopotential and Thomas-Fermi theory, contribute volume-dependent terms and an effective two-body repulsive potential between ions at constant total volume. The Harrison-Froyen formulation of the $d\ensuremath{-}d$ matrix elements is combined with a similar treatment of the overlap between $d$ states on different ions and the Friedel model of the density of $d$ states to include the effects of the $d$ bands in the total energy, resulting in a bonding term proportional to the bandwidth, varying as ${d}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$, and a shift in the center of gravity of the $d$ band, varying as ${d}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$, both of which can be expressed as effective two-body interactions between ions to be combined with the repulsion from the $s$ electrons in describing properties at constant total volume. The effect of $s\ensuremath{-}d$ hybridization is shown to be approximately accounted for by a shift in relative band occupations. The volume dependence is tested by prediction of the equilibrium volume, the bulk modulus, and a Gr\"uneisen constant for all the transition metals, and the effective interionic potential is used to predict the elastic constants of the cubic metals. All properties can be calculated by hand; the agreement between predicted and observed values is as good as that obtained with the corresponding theory in the simple metals.
Noninvasive imaging of protein–protein interactions from live cells and living subjects using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer

This study demonstrates a significant advancement of imaging of a distance-dependent physical process, known as the bioluminescent resonance energy transfer (BRET2) signal in living subjects, by using a cooled charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. A CCD camera-based spectral imaging strategy enables simultaneous visualization and quantitation of BRET signal from live cells and cells implanted in living mice. We used the BRET2 system, which utilizes Renilla luciferase (hRluc) protein and its substrate DeepBlueC (DBC) as an energy donor and a mutant green fluorescent protein (GFP2) as the acceptor. To accomplish this objective in this proof-of-principle study, the donor and acceptor proteins were fused to FKBP12 and FRB, respectively, which are known to interact only in the presence of the small molecule mediator rapamycin. Mammalian cells expressing these fusion constructs were imaged using a cooled-CCD camera either directly from culture dishes or by implanting them into mice. By comparing the emission photon yields in the presence and absence of rapamycin, the specific BRET signal was determined. The CCD imaging approach of BRET signal is particularly appealing due to its capacity to seamlessly bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo studies. This work validates BRET as a powerful tool for interrogating and observing protein-protein interactions directly at limited depths in living mice.
Complexity and Hierarchy in Truth Predicates

In this paper, I speak in favor of hierarchies in the theory of truth. I argue that hierarchies are more well-motivated and can provide better and more workable theories than is often assumed. Along the way, I sketch the sort of hierarchy I believe is plausible and defensible. My defense of hierarchies assumes an ‘inflationary’ view of truth that sees truth as a substantial semantic concept. I argue that if one adopts this view of truth, hierarchies arise naturally. I also show that this approach to truth makes it a very complex concept. I argue that this complexity helps motivate hierarchies. Complexity and hierarchy go together, if you adopt the right view of truth.
Multi-agent learning in extensive games with complete information

Learning in a multi-agent system is difficult because the learning environment jointly created by all learning agents is time-variant. This paper studies the model of multi-agent learning in complete-information extensive games (CEGs). We provide two provably convergent algorithms for this model. Both algorithms utilize the special structure of CEGs and guarantee both individual and collective convergence. Our work contributes to the multi-agent learning literature in several aspects: 1. We identify a model of multi-agent learning, namely, learning in CEGs, and provide two provably convergent algorithms for this model. 2. We explicitly address the environment-shifting problem and show that how patient agents can collectively learn to play equilibrium strategies. 3. Many game-theoretical work on learning uses a technique called fictitious play, which requires agents to build beliefs about their opponents. For our model of learning in CEGs, we show it is true that agents can collectively converge to the sub-game perfect equilibrium (SPE) by repeatedly reinforcing their previous success/failure experience; no belief building is necessary.
Applications of extracellular micro‐bial polysaccharide‐polyelectrolytes: Review of literature, including patents

Hydrophilic macromolecular polysaccharides, selected for their distinctive constitution and unusual properties, are produced industrially from common sugars by nonpathogenic microorganisms. The α-(1–6)-linked D-glucan dextran and fractions of defined lower molecular-weight produced from it are derivatized chemically to a variety of ionogenic substances for uses such as: anticoagulant, antilipemic, and peptic-ulcer alleviating agents; to enhance the sensitivity and covering power of x-ray and photographic emulsions; and separations of sensitive biochemical products by two-phase liquid distribution and ion-exchange and affinity chromatography. The polyanionic heteropoly-saccharide xanthan is used in many industries (such as agriculture, abrasives, ceramics, food, paint, petroleum production, and textile) for its thickening and suspending ability even in the presence of high salt concentrations, reversible shear thinning, synergistic interaction with galactomannans, and excellent stability to heat and to acidic and basic conditions. Other water-soluble polysaccharide-polyelectrolytes, produced in liquid cultures unattached to the microbial cells, have potentially useful properties.
Inverse Relationship of Marine Aerosol and Dust in Antarctic Ice with Fine-Grained Sediment in the South Atlantic Ocean: Implications for Sea-Ice Coverage and Wind Strength

This research seeks to test the hypothesis that natural gamma radiation (NGR) from Ocean Drilling Program Site 1094, which displays variability over the last glacial-interglacial cycle similar to dust in the Vostok ice core, reflects fine-grained terrigenous sediment delivered by eolian processes. Grain size was measured on 400 samples spanning 0-20 m in a composite core. Accumulation of the <63μ size fraction at Site 1094 and dust in Vostok exhibit a negative correlation, suggesting the fine sediments are not dominantly eolian. However the technique used for grain size measurements cannot distinguish between terrigenous and biogenous materials; therefore it is possible much fine-grained material is diatoms. An inverse correlation between fine sediments and NGR supports this interpretation, and implies terrigenous materials were at times diluted by microfossils from high biological productivity. Fine marine sediments correlate positively with temperature and negatively with marine aerosol Na+ in Vostok. O...
Evolution of the Vertebrate Central Nervous System: Patterns and Processes

AS brains do not fossilize, most proposed phylogenetic sequences for central nervous system characters must be based on the patterns of variation of those characters in living organisms. Similarly, hypotheses regarding how brains change through time, and the evolutionary processes that produce these changes, are ultimately based on the character patterns recognized. It is critical in these analyses to distinguish between homologous and homoplasous characters if errors in the reconstruction and interpretation of phylogenies are to be minimized. Definitions of homology and homoplasy are reviewed, as are the concepts that bear on their application. Cladistic definitions are adopted, and criteria for distinguishing homologous from homoplasous characters are discussed. Analysis of a number of CNS characters that are usually assumed to be homologous reveals that homoplasous characters appear among them. As in other organ systems, homoplasous characters are actually common. A number of previous hypotheses regarding CNS evolution are reviewed in the context of new data on neural connections and their cladistic analysis. Some of these hypotheses may be falsified by a cladistic treatment of CNS characters, whereas sufficient data do not exist to evaluate others.
Pressure dependence of the second virial coefficient of dilute polystyrene solutions

The pressure derivatives of the second virial coefficients [dA2/dP; 0.1 ≤ P (MPa) ≤ 35.0] for dilute polystyrene (PS) solutions in good, θ, and poor solvents were measured with static light scattering. The solvent quality improved (dA2/dP > 0) in the good and poor solvents that we investigated (toluene, chloroform; and methylcyclohexane) but deteriorated (dA2/dP < 0) in θ solvents (cyclohexane and 50-50 cis,trans-decalin). The effects of temperature [22 < T (°C) < 45] and molecular weight [25 × 103 < weight-average molecular weight (amu mol−1) < 900 × 103] on dA2/dP for PS/cyclohexane solutions were examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3070–3076, 2003
The Role of Surgery in the Management of Pediatric Pelvic Rhabdomyosarcoma

AbstractPurpose: We assessed the role of surgery, particularly exenteration, in the treatment of children with lower urinary tract and pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma.Materials and Methods: We treated 23 children with bladder and/or prostate[11], or pelvic retroperitoneal tumors[12]. Initial management was tumor resection in 6 cases, anterior pelvic exenteration in 5 and biopsy only in 12, combined with chemotherapy in 23 and radiotherapy in 20.Results: The bladder salvage rate for surviving patients with pelvic tumors was 92 percent versus 27 percent for those with prostate/bladder tumors. Estimated 5 and 10-year survival probability for patients with pelvic retroperitoneal tumors was 49 plus/minus 50 percent compared to 81 plus/minus 24 percent for those with bladder and/or prostate tumors (log rank test, p = 0.11).Conclusions: Exenterative surgery is frequently required to achieve a durable complete response.
Identifying Critical Junctures in Learning in a College Course on Evolution.

The purpose of this research study was to (a) describe how concept mapping can be used as an integrated instructional strategy for teaching a college course on evolution, (b) evaluate the utility of incorporating concept mapping in a college course on evolution, (c) determine whether students' concept maps reveal critical junctures in learning as the course unfolds, and (d) assess the impact of concept mapping on students' study practices and on students' understanding of course content. Key findings include: (a Critical junctures in learning evolution can be identified by monitoring the degree of concordance or superordinate concepts appearing on the class set of concept maps submitted after each of the cours lectures; (b) students who made concept maps reported spending an average of 37% more study time on this college biology course than on their previous biology courses; and (c) the use of seed concepts, micromapping, a standard concept map format, and a standard concept map checklist made the strategy feasible for the instructor to implement and for the student to adopt. A concept map performance index formulas was also developed for this research study in order to assess students' overall mapping performance.
Stress-Induced Hormones Cortisol and Epinephrine Impair Wound Epithelization.

Background: Stress-induced disruption of hormonal balance in animals and humans has a detrimental effect on wound healing. The Problem: After the injury, keratinocytes migrate over the wound bed to repair a wound. However, their nonmigratory phenotype plays a role in pathogenesis of chronic wounds. Despite many therapeutic approaches, there is a dearth of treatments targeting the molecular mechanisms mediated by stress that prevent epithelization. Basic/Clinical Science Advances: Recent studies show that epidermal keratinocytes synthesize stress hormones. During acute wound healing, cortisol synthesis in the epidermis is tightly controlled. Further, a key intermediate molecule in the cholesterol synthesis pathway, farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), can bind glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and activate GR. Additionally, keratinocytes express beta-2-adrenergic-receptor (β2AR), a receptor for the stress hormone epinephrine. Importantly, migratory rates of keratinocytes are reduced by cortisol, FPP, epinephrine, and ...
TOPOLOGY OF HEPATIC MITOCHONDRIAL CARNITINE PALMITOYLTRANSFERASE I

Our earlier work using intact mitochondria and isolated mitochondrial outer membranes confirms the observations of Murthy and Pande that CPT-I is located on the mitochondrial outer membranes and supports the notion that this enzyme has a malonyl-CoA binding domain facing the cytosol and an acyl-CoA binding domain facing the inter membrane space. Our data also suggests that coenzyme A binds at the active site of CPT-I, as does acyl-CoA, 2-bromopalmitoyl-CoA, and (+)-hemipalmitoylcarnitinium, but malonyl-CoA does not bind at that site. Inhibition of CPT-I at the malonyl-CoA binding site by HPG and Ro 25-0187, which have no CoA moiety, contributes to a resolution of this question in that the CoA itself is not essential for the binding of malonyl-CoA to its regulatory site, but the dicarbonyl function which is present in malonyl-CoA, HPG, and Ro 25-0187 is absolutely essential. Our re-evaluation of the topology of hepatic mitochondrial CPT-I confirms the original observations that this enzyme has at least two different binding domains, one domain binding malonyl-CoA, HPG, and Ro-25-187 and the other domain binding acyl-CoA and other inhibitors of CPT-I. Furthermore, the malonyl-CoA binding domain is exposed to the cytosolic face of the membrane. Our data showing that treatment of the intact mitochondria with trypsin causes release of adenylate kinase which indicates that trypsin has damaged the mitochondrial outer membrane, possibly allowing trypsin to enter the intermembrane space and act on CPT from within the outer membrane. Since trypsin's action is limited to arginine and lysine residues, an alternative explanation could be that the portion of the protein domain responsible for malonyl-CoA inhibition may not contain these residues. The latter explanation is plausible, since malonyl-CoA was able to protect against loss of activity and sensitivity to inhibition, but did not protect against loss of adenylate kinase, suggesting that rupture of the outer membrane is not necessarily related to loss of CPT activity. These results suggest that some protein domain that is necessary for CPT activity is exposed on the outer surface of the outer membranes. Therefore, it seems likely that trypsin would have to be able to hydrolyse protein domains of CPT that are inaccessible to Nagarse and papain.
Primordial Nucleosynthesis Constraints on Neutrino Degeneracy

Based on the work by Kang and Steigman, I review the effects of neutrino degeneracy on big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). Since the electron-neutrino degeneracy and the non-electron-neutrino degeneracy play a different role in the synthesis of the light elements (D, 3He, 4He, 7Li), besides the baryon asymmetry (the nucleon-to-photon ratio; η ≡ nB/nγ) there are two additional free parameters in our scenario of degenerate BBN. An extended range of these parameters has been explored. It is shown that at a given η value, the agreement of the predicted primordial abundances of the light elements with those observationally inferred abundances restricts the permitted range of neutrino degeneracies, particularly the electron-neutrino degeneracy. Furthermore, we find that a large baryon density, even baryon-dominated, critical density (ΩB=1) Universe successfully provides the consistency between the predicted and observed abundances of all the light elements if neutrinos are degenerate enough. For an ΩB=1 Universe, for example, η10=80 is permitted if the electron-neutrino degeneracy and the expansion rate due to the non-electron-neutrino degeneracies fall in the ranges 1.2 ≲ ξνe ≲ 1.5, 17 ≲ S (ξνμ,τ) ≲ 33, respectively.
Rates of DNA Duplication and Mitochondrial DNA Insertion in the Human Genome

The hundreds of mitochondrial pseudogenes in the human nuclear genome sequence (numts) constitute an excellent system for studying and dating DNA duplications and insertions. These pseudogenes are associated with many complete mitochondrial genome sequences and through those with a good fossil record. By comparing individual numts with primate and other mammalian mitochondrial genome sequences, we estimate that these numts arose continuously over the last 58 million years. Our pairwise comparisons between numts suggest that most human numts arose from different mitochondrial insertion events and not by DNA duplication within the nuclear genome. The nuclear genome appears to accumulate mtDNA insertions at a rate high enough to predict within-population polymorphism for the presence/absence of many recent mtDNA insertions. Pairwise analysis of numts and their flanking DNA produces an estimate for the DNA duplication rate in humans of 2.2 × 10−9 per numt per year. Thus, a nucleotide site is about as likely to be involved in a duplication event as it is to change by point substitution. This estimate of the rate of DNA duplication of noncoding DNA is based on sequences that are not in duplication hotspots, and is close to the rate reported for functional genes in other species.
Regularized Winnow Methods

In theory, the Winnow multiplicative update has certain advantages over the Perceptron additive update when there are many irrelevant attributes. Recently, there has been much effort on enhancing the Perceptron algorithm by using regularization, leading to a class of linear classification methods called support vector machines. Similarly, it is also possible to apply the regularization idea to the Winnow algorithm, which gives methods we call regularized Winnows. We show that the resulting methods compare with the basic Winnows in a similar way that a support vector machine compares with the Perceptron. We investigate algorithmic issues and learning properties of the derived methods. Some experimental results will also be provided to illustrate different methods.
The representation of phonological information during speech production planning:evidence from vowel errors in spontaneous speech

A corpus of more than 500 speech errors that involve a vowel or syllabic nucleus is examined for evidence that bears on the nature of the processing representation that is in force when such errors occur. Evidence is obtained from the patterns of similarity between target segments and the intrusion segments that replace them in errors, on the assumption that target– intrusion similarity arises from characteristics of the processing representation. Findings include (1) a distinctive feature similarity between vowel targets and intrusions, (2) evidence that complex syllabic nuclei can function as error units and (3) evidence that vowel errors are constrained by lexical stress. Finally, the error patterns in both vowels and consonants, and the processing representations they suggest, are evaluated in the light of recent theoretical proposals about the phonological component of the grammar.
Making Gentle the Life of the World

A design project, the compassion and peace practicum, is described. The practicum has evolved over the years and now focuses upon promoting peace and/or justice in the world through some concrete action. Engineering and non-engineering students have successfully completed their projects. The topics and teams are self-selected. A formal engineering design methodology is employed. For engineering students, this serves as a broadening of their understanding of the role and impact of engineering and technology. For non-engineering students, the project serves as an introduction to the technical world and develops an appreciation for the skills and talents of engineers. The concepts of compassion and promoting peace are considered and ideas are offered for integrating such ideas into the context of an engineering design project.
The clinical case for proton beam therapy

Over the past 20 years, several proton beam treatment programs have been implemented throughout the United States. Increasingly, the number of new programs under development is growing. Proton beam therapy has the potential for improving tumor control and survival through dose escalation. It also has potential for reducing harm to normal organs through dose reduction. However, proton beam therapy is more costly than conventional x-ray therapy. This increased cost may be offset by improved function, improved quality of life, and reduced costs related to treating the late effects of therapy. Clinical research opportunities are abundant to determine which patients will gain the most benefit from proton beam therapy. We review the clinical case for proton beam therapy.
A Combined Cytogenetic and Molecular Approach for Diagnosing Delayed Puberty

A phenotypic female aged 15 4/12 years was referred because of delayed puberty and short stature. Chromosomal analysis of peripheral blood leukocytes revealed two subpopulations of cells. The modal cell line was hypodiploid with a missing X chromosome while the other cell line was diploid with one X chromosome and a G-sized chromosome that resembled a Y chromosome in morphology. Subsequent fluorescent in situ hybridization yielded results consistent with the above conventional cytogenetic studies. To provide unequivocal evidence of the Y-chromosome material, molecular analyses using the polymerase chain reaction and various primers were carried out which identified an intact short arm and centromere of the Y chromosome and structurally altered long arms. A laparoscopic bilateral gonadectomy, performed because of the risk of neoplasia, also yielded cells with both 45,X and 46,XY karyotypes. The present report thus illustrates the usefulness of a combined approach for diagnosing delayed puberty.
Superquadric artificial potentials for obstacle avoidance and approach

An obstacle-avoidance potential based on superquadrics is discussed. The superquadric formulation is a generalization of the elliptical potential function method and therefore is viable for a much larger class of object shapes. As with elliptical potentials, a modified form of the superquadric potential provides safe approach objects. The avoidance and approach potentials are implemented in simulations and the results exhibit an improvement over existing potential schemes. The simulations also use an algorithm that eliminates collisions with obstacles by calculating the repulsive forces exerted on links, based on the shortest distance to an object. >
Chronic administration of a partial agonist at strychnine-insensitive glycine receptors: a novel experimental approach to the treatment of ischemias.

During the past decade, converging lines of evidence have linked the abnormal release or leak of excitatory amino acids to the neurodegeneration associated with a wide range of pathologies including cerebral ischemias, Huntington’s disease, and AIDS dementia (Coyle and Robinson, 1987; Lipton, 1994; Meldrum, 1994). Pharmacological studies indicate that activation of both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors can substantially contribute to excitotoxic cell damage (Choi, 1992; Pizzi et al, 1993; Sheardown et al., 1993; Xue et al., 1994). Based on these findings, therapeutic strategies based on blunting or blocking glutamatergic transmission may be useful in treating a variety of neurodegenerative disorders.
Transport in a One-Dimensional Luttinger Liquid

In this paper we review recent theoretical results for transport in a one-dimensional (1d) Luttinger liquid. For simplicity, we ignore electron spin, and focus exclusively on the case of a single-mode. Moreover, we consider only the effects of a single (or perhaps several) spatially localized impurities. Even with these restrictions, the predicted behavior is very rich, and strikingly different than for a 1d non-interacting electron gas. The method of bosonization is reviewed, with an emphasis on physical motivation, rather than mathematical rigor. Transport through a single impurity is reviewed from several different perspectives, as a pinned strongly interacting “Wigner” crystal and in the limit of weak interactions. The existence of fractionally charged quasiparticles is also revealed. Inter-edge tunnelling in the quantum Hall effect, and charge fluctuations in a quantum dot under the conditions of Coulomb blockade are considered as examples of the developed techniques.
Using Contextualized Engineering and Technology Education to Increase Student Motivation in the Core Academics

Education can be used to change human behavior. It can enhance one’s ability to perform verbally, quantitatively and analytically. Much of one’s early education takes place within the family and in school. Motivation is essential for enhanced learning. Motivation was conceptually defined by Lewin (1938) using the formula of B = ƒ (P,E), where B is behavior and it is influenced by the function of interaction of the person (P) in his/her environment (E).
The stability of trolleite and the Al 2 O 3 -AlPO 4 -H 2 O phase diagram

The univariant reaction ALGO4L(OH)3 (trolleite) := 3 AIPO4 @erlinite) + + Al2O3 + 3/2 HrO has been investigated at pressures between Pu,o: 10.0 and 23.0 kbar u5ing a pistoncylinder apparatus, and below Pu,o:5.0 kbar using standard cold-seal bombs. From these experimental results the third-law entropy and the Gibbs free energy of formation of trolleite were calculated to be 64.7+6 eu and -145255+35 kcal,/mole, respectively. Based on experimental data including reversal reactions demonstrated in this study plus previous experimental results in the system AI2O3-AIPO4-H'O, a revised phase diagram for this system is presented wherein four univariant curves define an invariant point at 4.70 kbar and 542"C.
No new evidence for a citation benefit for Author-Pay Open Access Publications in the social sciences and humanities

I challenge a finding reported recently in a paper by Sotudeh et al. (Scientometrics, 2015. doi:10.1007/s11192-015-1607-5). The authors argue that there is a citation advantage for those who publish Author-Pay Open Access (Gold Open Access) in journals published by Springer and Elsevier. I argue that the alleged advantage that the authors report for journals in the social sciences and humanities is an artifact of their method. The findings reported about the life sciences, the health sciences, and the natural sciences, on the other hand, are robust. But my finding underscores the fact that epistemic cultures in the social sciences and humanities are different from those in the other fields.
Systematic review of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis: A more virulent etiology?

Abstract Objective We sought to define the severity and natural history of hypertriglyceridemia induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP), specifically whether HTG-AP causes more severe AP than that caused by other etiologies. Methods Systematic review of the English literature. Results Thirty-four studies (15 countries; 1972–2015) included 1340 HTG-AP patients (weighted mean prevalence of 9%). The median admission triglyceride concentration was 2622 mg/dl (range 1160–9769). Patients with HTG have a 14% weighted mean prevalence of AP. Plasmapheresis decreased circulating triglycerides, but did not conclusively affect AP mortality. Only 7 reports (n = 392 patients) compared severity of HTG-AP to that of AP from other etiologies. Of these, 2 studies found no difference in severity, while 5 suggested that HTG-AP patients may have increased severity compared to AP of other etiology. Conclusions 1) hypertriglyceridemia is a relatively uncommon (9%) cause of acute pancreatitis; however, patients with hypertriglyceridemia have a high (14%) incidence of acute pancreatitis; 2) plasmapheresis may offer specific therapy unique to this patient population; and 3) data specifically comparing the severity of HTG-AP with AP caused by other etiologies are heterogeneous and scarce.
Predicting Temperature-Dependent Aqueous Henry’s Law Constants Using Group Contribution Methods

A first-order temperature-dependent group contribution method was developed to predict Henry’s law constants of hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, and formates in which none of the functional groups are attached directly to a benzene ring. Efforts to expand this method to include ester and ether groups were unsuccessful. Second-order groups were developed at a reference condition of 298.15 K and 100 kPa. A second-order temperature-dependent group contribution method was then developed for hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, ethers, and alcohols. These methods were compared to existing literature prediction methods.
Direct Observation of Valence-Band Mixing in GaAs/GaPAs Strained-Layer Superlattices

Low-temperature magneto-luminescence studies are used to examine the in-plane valence-band dispersion in GaAs/GaPAs strained-layer-superlattice structures. The results provide a direct observation of valence-band mixing effects in strained-layer systems. Theoretical and experimental studies of the effect of valence-band mixing upon the magneto-transport properties and magneto-luminescence data for GaAs/AlGaAs latticed-matched superlattices have been recently reported.[1–] Due to the presence of the 2D-quantum well, the valence-band degeneracy between the light-hole and heavy-hole bands at is removed. These studies show, however, that the lowest energy valence-band mass is still strongly dependent upon due to valence-band mixing. On the other hand, because of the large biaxial compression in strained-layer-super lattices (SLS), valence-band mixing effects should be minimal.[8–9] Recent magneto-transport measurements[10] on p-type InGaAs/GaAs SLS structures have provided information regarding nonparabolic valence-bands in these structures.
Management of the Recurrent Male Urethral Stricture

Urethral stricture disease negatively impacts quality of life and leads to significant urologic pathology including lower urinary tract symptoms, recurrent urinary tract infections, and potentially more severe sequelae such as detrusor dysfunction, renal failure, urethral carcinoma, and Fournier's gangrene. Open urethral reconstruction is considered a durable and definitive treatment for urethral stricture with lifetime success rates ranging from 75-100%; however, strictures do recur up to 10 years after surgery. Recurrence rates vary by repair type. There also is no agreed-upon modality for recurrence surveillance, but there are many modalities with varying degrees of invasiveness. Recurrent strictures may be managed endoscopically or via open repair. We review stricture recurrence rates, surveillance modalities, risk factors, and management options.