cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Western Blot Analysis for Nitrotyrosine Protein Adducts in Livers of Saline-Treated and Acetaminophen-Treated Mice

The hepatic centrilobular necrosis produced by the analgesic/antipyretic acetaminophen correlates with metabolic activation of the drug leading to its covalent binding to protein. However, the molecular mechanism of the toxicity is not known. Recent immunohistochemical analyses using an antinitrotyrosine antiserum indicated that nitrotyrosine protein adducts co-localized with the acetaminophen-protein adducts in the centrilobular cells of the liver. Nitration of proteins is believed to occur by peroxynitrite, a substance formed by the rapid reaction of superoxide with nitric oxide. Nitric oxide and superoxide may be formed by activated Kupffer cells or by other cells. Because we were unable to successfully utilize the commercial antiserum in Western blot analyses of liver fractions, we developed a new antiserum. With our antiserum, liver fractions from saline-treated control and acetaminophen-treated mice were successfully analyzed for nitrated proteins. The immunogen for this new antiserum was synthesized by coupling 3-nitro-4-hydroxybenzoic acid to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. A rabbit immunized with this adduct yielded a high titer of an antiserum that recognized BSA nitrated with peroxynitrite. Immunoblot analysis of nitrated BSA indicated that nitrotyrosine present in a protein sample could be easily detected at levels of 20 pmoles. Immunohistochemical analyses indicated that nitrotyrosine protein adducts were detectable in the centrilobular areas of the liver. Immunoblot analysis of liver homogenates from both saline-treated and acetaminophen-treated mice (300 mg/kg) indicate that the major nitrotyrosine protein adducts produced have molecular weights of 36 kDa, 44 kDa, and 85 kDa. The 85-kDa protein stained with the most intensity. The hepatic homogenates of the acetaminophen- treated mice showed significantly increased levels of all protein adducts.
MoPED: A Model-Based Provisioning Engine for Dependability in Component-Based Distributed Real-Time Embedded Systems

Developing dependable distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) systems incurs significant complexities in the radeoffs resulting from the different conflicting attributes of dependability, such as predictability, availability, and security. In component-based systems, these challenges are exacerbated since the tradeoffs must faithfully be reflected within the complex metadata descriptors used to compose, deploy and configure the system. The benefits of design-time approaches to address these problems are well-understood. Existing model-driven design time tools for developing dependable systems, however, focus largely on only one dependability attribute at a time and lack of extensibility results in rigid and hard to maintain tool support. This paper describes MoPED (Model-based Provisioning Engine for Dependability), which is a model-driven framework that unifies reasoning about predictability, availability, and security requirements for developing dependable component-based DRE systems. We evaluate the capabilities of MoPED using a representative case study and show how it alleviates complexities in the design of dependable systems and reduces manual efforts in the deployment phase by an order of magnitude.
Rescue of a genotype 4 human hepatitis E virus from cloned cDNA and characterization of intergenotypic chimeric viruses in cultured human liver cells and in pigs

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important but extremely understudied human pathogen. Genotypes 1 and 2 are restricted to humans, whereas genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic, infecting both humans and pigs. This report describes, for the first time, the successful rescue of infectious HEV in vitro and in vivo from cloned cDNA of a genotype 4 human HEV (strain TW6196E). The complete genomic sequence of the TW6196E virus was determined and a full-length cDNA clone (pHEV-4TW) was assembled. Capped RNA transcripts from the pHEV-4TW clone were replication competent in Huh7 cells and infectious in HepG2/C3A cells. Pigs inoculated intrahepatically with capped RNA transcripts from pHEV-4TW developed an active infection, as evidenced by faecal virus shedding and seroconversion, indicating the successful rescue of infectious genotype 4 HEV and cross-species infection of pigs by a genotype 4 human HEV. To demonstrate the utility of the genotype 4 HEV infectious clone and to evaluate the potential viral determinant(s) for species tropism, four intergenotypic chimeric clones were constructed by swapping various genomic regions between genotypes 1 and 4, and genotypes 1 and 3. All four chimeric clones were replication competent in Huh7 cells, but only the two chimeras with sequences swapped between genotypes 1 and 4 human HEVs produced viruses capable of infecting HepG2/C3A cells. None of the four chimeras was able to establish a robust infection in pigs. The availability of a genotype 4 HEV infectious clone affords an opportunity to delineate the molecular mechanisms of HEV cross-species infection in the future.
The Molybdate-Responsive Escherichia coli ModE Transcriptional Regulator Coordinates Periplasmic Nitrate Reductase (napFDAGHBC) Operon Expression with Nitrate and Molybdate Availability

Molybdenum is an essential component of the molybdopterin cofactor in nearly all species, including bacteria, plants, and animals, where it is located at the active center of a certain oxidoreductases including nitrate reductase, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reductase, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) reductase, and biotin sulfoxide reductase. Escherichia coli has evolved a regulatory scheme to coordinate molybdenum uptake, in the form of molybdate, which is utilized for cofactor synthesis and assembly into the mature molybdoenzymes. The key regulatory element in this scheme is the ModE protein, a molybdate-responsive transcription factor the structure of which was recently determined (14). ModE was first identified in E. coli as the negative regulator of the high-affinity molybdate uptake system, encoded by the modABCD operon (11, 23, 33). Utilizing a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches, ModE was shown to bind the modA promoter in a molybdate-dependent fashion (2, 11, 23). ModE also binds and regulates expression of the moaADCDE and dmsABC operons, which encode enzymes involved in the first steps of molybdate assimilation into molybdopterin and the DMSO reductase, respectively (1, 20, 21, 23). Recently ModE was shown to play a minor role in regulating the hyc and nar operons in E. coli (29). Finally, ModE orthologues have been identified in a wide number of bacteria, including Azotobacter vinelandii, Rhodobacter capsulatus, Ralstonia eutropha (Alcaligenes eutrophus), and Thiosphaera pantotropha (Paracoccus denitrificans) (reviewed in reference 13). ModE has been shown to regulate various molybdate-associated operons in several of these cases (18, 24, 32). In this study, we examine the role of ModE in regulating the expression of the napFDAGHBC operon of E. coli. Sequence and biochemical analysis indicates this operon encodes a molybdenum-containing periplasmic nitrate reductase (10). Expression of the E. coli napFDAGHBC operon is positively regulated in response to anaerobiosis by Fnr and by the presence of nitrate and/or nitrite by NarP (5, 7, 26, 34). Here we show that in the absence of ModE, expression of the napF operon in response to both nitrate and nitrite is dramatically reduced. A ModE site was identified well upstream of the Fnr and NarP binding sites at the napF promoter, and we demonstrate that ModE binds this site in a molybdate-responsive manner to thereby coordinate enzyme synthesis with molybdate availability. We further demonstrate that by deleting the region containing the ModE binding site or by replacing modE+ with a molybdate-independent modE allele (modE*), induction of napF-lacZ expression in response to nitrate is rendered molybdate independent.
A Closer Look at Sarcoptes scabiei

This image was taken from a skin scraping, prepared with mineral oil, from the chest of a 79-year-old man who complained of papular pruritic rash on his torso, arms, and legs for 6 months. He was living in a nursing care facility, unable to perform most of the daily activities because of left-sided hemiparesis secondary to a cerebrovascular accident. His white blood cell count was 8100 cells/mL with absolute eosinophilia of 2000 cells/mL (25%). He was treated with 5% permethrin, and his symptoms were relieved with fewer than 10 days of therapy. Scabies organisms produce this clinical picture after a patient acquires the organisms, Sarcoptes scabiei, from direct skin-to-skin contact or from contaminated fomites. They are ovoid organisms with a small anterior cephalic portion and a caudal thoracoabdominal portion with hairlike projections coming off from the rudimentary legs. The female mite is 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm in size, and the male mite is half the size of the female. This image shows a 6legged protonymph (original magnification 3400). Organisms burrow beneath the skin, eliciting a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. The diagnosis is made based on the typical distribution of the rash (interphalangeal, wrist, hands, axillary folds, and waist area) and direct examination of skin scrapings showing the mites, eggs, or scybala (packets of feces). 1 The major problem of scabies infection is the public health concern. Many infections occur in institutions caring for the elderly, such as assisted-living and nursing homes. Also at risk are infants and young children, health care workers, and immunocompromised patients. The risk factors among nursing homes for acquiring this infection include size and age of the institution and ratio of beds to
Endocrine Control of the Seasonal Occurrence of Ovulation in Rhesus Monkeys Housed Outdoors

In female rhesus monkeys (n = 12) housed in a seminatural environment, serum gonadotropin and steroid levels fluctuated annually in a pattern indicative of a seasonally restricted period of ovulatory cycles in the fall and winter and anovulatory cycles in the spring and summer. This seasonal endocrine rhythm occurred independent of pregnancy and lactation, although the presence of a suckling infant delayed the onset of ovulation in the fall by 81 ± 3.7 days (Dec. 4 vs. Sept 14). Except for serum PRL, levels of gonadotropin and ovarian hormones were similar in lactating and nonlactating females during the spring and summer anovulatory months. Serum levels of LH (<10 ng/ml), FSH (<4 μg/ml), and 17β-estradiol (E2; <30 pg/ml) were low throughout the summer anovulatory period, exhibiting a significant rise approximately 20 days before first ovulation. Serum progesterone levels were low throughout the 100 days before ovulation (<0.5 ng/ml) and did not rise until ovulation occurred. PRL levels remained elevated ...
In vivo Labeling of Constellations of Functionally Identified Neurons for Targeted in vitro Recordings.

Relating the functional properties of neurons in an intact organism with their cellular and synaptic characteristics is necessary for a mechanistic understanding of brain function. However, while the functional properties of cortical neurons (e.g. tuning to sensory stimuli) are necessarily determined in vivo, detailed cellular and synaptic analysis relies on in vitro techniques. Here we describe an approach that combines in vivo calcium imaging (for functional characterization) with photo-activation of fluorescent proteins (for neuron labeling), thereby allowing targeted in vitro recording of multiple neurons with known functional properties. We expressed photo-activatable GFP rendered non-diffusible through fusion with a histone protein (H2B-PAGFP) in the mouse visual cortex to rapidly photo-label constellations of neurons in vivo at cellular and subcellular resolution using two-photon excitation. This photo-labeling method was compatible with two-photon calcium imaging of neuronal responses to visual stimuli, allowing us to label constellations of neurons with specific functional properties. Photo-labeled neurons were easily identified in vitro in acute brain slices and could be targeted for whole-cell recording. We also demonstrate that in vitro and in vivo image stacks of the same photo-labeled neurons could be registered to one another, allowing the exact in vivo response properties of individual neurons recorded in vitro to be known. The ability to perform in vitro recordings from neurons with known functional properties opens up exciting new possibilities for dissecting the cellular, synaptic, and circuit mechanisms that underlie neuronal function in vivo.
Dispersal and vicariance: The complex evolutionary history of boid snakes

Since the early 1970s, boine snakes (Boidae: Boinae) have served as a prime example of a group whose current distribution was shaped by vicariant events associated with the fragmentation of the supercontinent Gondwana. Early phylogenetic treatments of this group, and what were thought to be closely related groups (Erycinae and Pythoninae) based on morphological features, produced a relatively stable view of relationships that has strongly inXuenced subsequent molecular-based work. We examined 4307 base pairs (bp) of nucleotide sequence data obtained from Wve nuclear loci (c-mos, NT3, BDNF, RAG1, and ODC) and one mitochondrial locus (cyt b) for all genera of erycines and boines, plus representatives of other groups, including those previously thought to be closely allied with boines (Ungaliophiidae, Loxocemidae, Xenopeltidae, and Pythoninae). Our results suggest that the Boidae is not monophyletic, and its current division into three subfamilies (Erycinae, Boinae, and Pythoninae) does not accurately reXect evolutionary history. We Wnd that the evolutionary relationships are better reXected by current geographic distributions and tectonic history than by the morphological characters that have long served as the foundation of boid phylogeny. Divergence time estimates suggest that this strong congruence between geography and phylogeny is the result of several vicariant and dispersal events in the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene associated with the fragmentation of the Gondwanan supercontinent. Our results demonstrate the importance of both vicariance and dispersal in shaping the global distributions of terrestrial organisms.
Bioinformatics in otolaryngology research. Part one: concepts in DNA sequencing and gene expression analysis.

BACKGROUND Advances in high-throughput molecular biology, genomics and epigenetics, coupled with exponential increases in computing power and data storage, have led to a new era in biological research and information. Bioinformatics, the discipline devoted to storing, analysing and interpreting large volumes of biological data, has become a crucial component of modern biomedical research. Research in otolaryngology has evolved along with these advances. OBJECTIVES This review highlights several modern high-throughput research methods, and focuses on the bioinformatics principles necessary to carry out such studies. Several examples from recent literature pertinent to otolaryngology are provided. The review is divided into two parts; this first part discusses the bioinformatics approaches applied in nucleotide sequencing and gene expression analysis. CONCLUSION This paper demonstrates how high-throughput nucleotide sequencing and transcriptomics are changing biology and medicine, and describes how these changes are affecting otorhinolaryngology. Sound bioinformatics approaches are required to obtain useful information from the vast new sources of data.
Optimal Satellite Formation Determination for Distributed Target State Estimation

This research addresses optimal orbit determination for a cluster of satellites such that the cluster optimally observes and tracks a target in an orbital trajectory segment. We have focussed on synthesizing stationary Keplerian orbits from which the cluster of satellites can optimally observe and track the target, and thus no orbit changes and associated thrust firing solutions are considered. We present a two-step approach to synthesizing the optimal target viewing orbits for a cluster of N satellites. The first step abstracts the cluster into a centroidal Formation Center orbit and solves a nonlinear, nonconvex search problem for this central orbit. The next step "explodes" the formation center to obtain N distinct orbits in some bounded regime about the formation center. This second step is a high-dimensional search (parameterized by number of satellites, N) posed in a linear perturbational form about the formation center. The overall search is rapid and converges within several seconds. We present simulation results from the target estimator, obtained from running the experiment along the orbital trajectories computed by this algorithm on our multi-satellite simulation testbed.
Speculative Profit Fetishism in the Age of Finance Capital

This article tracks the rise of a new speculative form of ‘profit fetishism’ in the American stock market in the late 20th century as the control of American corporations shifted decisively from production-oriented managers to earning-oriented stockholders. During these years, speculative capitalists made the trading price of corporate stock the primary focus of corporate management. The heightened focus upon stock price coincided with a convergence of stock market actors upon the capitalized earnings model as the primary frame used to value corporate stock, displacing two formerly dominant frames, which focused (respectively) on hard assets and dividend payouts. Despite the notoriously unreliable and unstable nature of speculative accounting with respect to projected future earnings, such accounting profits have become the fetish of an age of speculative finance capital.
German Geopolitics in Transition

Two American geographers examine the evolution of Germany's geopolitical orientation in the aftermath of World War II, through the Cold War era, the war on terrorism, 9/ 11, and the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003. Drawing on public statements by German officials, government documents, opinion polls, and media accounts, the authors analyze the country's increasing post-Cold War assertiveness in foreign policy and much greater autonomy from the United States. They also evaluate the plausibility of two proposed geopolitical scenarios: that Germany will become part of a Paris-Berlin-Moscow-Beijing axis and that Germany will adopt a Europeanist, rather than Atlanticist, orientation.
Distribution and Pharmacokinetics of Triamterene in Rats

The tissue distribution of 14C-triamterene was examined in the fact. After intravenous administration of 14C-triamterene, high concentration ratios between tissues and blood were found in most tissues except the brain, fat, and testes. The maximal concentration of the drug was in the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, and skeletal muscle within the first 20 min, when the maximal natriuresis was observed. No metabolite of triamterene was detected in these tissues. The pharmacokinetics of 14C-triamterene also were investigated. The volume of distribution of the drug was greater in the central compartment (60% of the dose) than in the peripheral compartment (40%). The binding of the drug to skeletal muscle is responsible for the fraction of the dose in the peripheral compartment. Rate constants indicate that slow elimination of triamterene is related to its binding to tissue in the central compartment.
Laparoscopic management of distal ventriculoperitoneal shunt complications

The traditional management of hydrocephalus still is the placement of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. However, the majority of patients require one or more revisions over their lifetime. Revisions may be required for infections, proximal site malfunction, or distal catheter complications. The authors present their experience with distal catheter complications managed laparoscopically. Patients with recurrent symptoms of increased intracranial pressure or abdominal complaints were evaluated for shunt malfunction. Similar radiographic imaging was performed for all the patients, including computed tomography (CT) of the head and abdomen, shunt series, and/or ultrasound of the distal catheter. From April 2003 to July 2005, 13 patients with distal VP shunt complications were managed laparoscopically. On the basis of preoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures, all the patients were determined not to have an infection. Radiographic imaging showed the patients to have distal catheter problems. Preoperatively, five abdominal CT scans, six shunt series, and four abdominal ultrasounds were obtained. All studies singly and positively identified the appropriate abdominal catheter defect except in three patients who required multiple sequential radiographic studies for final determination of the diagnosis. In four patients (30.8%), the distal catheter was found to be in the extraperitoneal space. Another four patients (30.8%) had intraabdominal CSF pseudocysts. Five patients (38.4%) had issues with the position of the intraabdominal catheter: four of them subdiaphragmatic and one on the dome of the bladder. Laparoscopic repositioning was successful for all 13 patients. Regardless of the patient’s presenting symptoms, appropriate imaging studies should be obtained preoperatively in a sequential manner. Distal VP shunt complications can be safely and effectively managed laparoscopically. This approach allows the intraabdominal portion of the catheter to be assessed and problems to be managed, thereby salvaging the existing shunt and avoiding the potential morbidity associated with additional VP shunt placement.
Personal Belief Exemptions From School Vaccination Requirements

Despite the impact vaccination has had on the control and prevention of many infectious diseases, some parents choose not to vaccinate their children. Although there is no federal law requiring vaccination of children in the United States, all states require evidence of vaccination against at least some diseases as a condition of school entry. Which vaccines are required; how many doses are required; whether entry requirements apply to child care, kindergarten, or middle school; and whether exemptions from vaccine requirements will be allowed all differ by state. All but two states allow some kind of personal belief exemption from school vaccination requirements. This article reviews the history of school vaccination requirements and exemptions, the legal status of state vaccination laws and exemptions, the impact of school vaccination requirements and personal belief exemptions on vaccination rates and disease incidence, and strategies for maintaining adequate vaccination rates in states that allow personal belief exemptions.
Effects of domestic violence policies, alcohol taxes and police staffing levels on intimate partner homicide in large US cities

Objective To assess the relationships between intimate partner homicide (IPH) and public policies including police staffing levels in large US cities. Design The research uses a multiple time-series design to examine the effects of statutes aimed at restricting access to firearms for perpetrators of domestic violence, allowing or mandating arrest for violators of domestic violence restraining orders (DVROs), beer excise taxes, and police staffing levels on IPH in 46 of the largest US cities from 1979 to 2003. Both total IPH and IPH committed with a firearm are analysed. Generalised estimating equations using a Poisson distribution are used to regress IPH on the policies and potential confounders. Results State statutes restricting those under DVROs from accessing firearms, and laws allowing the warrantless arrest of DVRO violators, are associated with reductions in total and firearm IPH. Police staffing levels are also negatively associated with total and firearm IPH. There was no evidence that other policies to restrict firearm access to domestic violence offenders or alcohol taxes had a significant impact on IPH. Conclusions Reducing access to firearms for DVRO defendants, increasing police staffing levels and allowing the warrantless arrest of DVRO violators may reduce the city-level risk of IPH. Future research should evaluate factors that may mediate the effects of these laws and increased police staffing levels on IPH to determine whether there are opportunities to increase their protective effects. Further research is needed on firearm law implementation to determine why the other tested laws were not found effective.
Assessment of the Effect of Fat-modified Foods on Diet Quality in Adults, 19 to 50 Years, Using Data From the Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals

Abstract Fat-reduction strategies and the role of fat-modified foods in the US diet were assessed using a nationally representative survey: the 1996 US Department of Agriculture Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. A sample of 878 men and 853 women was included. The sample was divided into low fat and high fat based on the Dietary Guideline's cutoff point of 30% or less of energy from total fat. The survey sample was further stratified in nonusers, low-users or high-users of fat-modified foods. Approximately 10% of 7,000 foods were classified as fat-modified. There was a 400 to 500 kcal difference in energy intake of individuals consuming low-fat compared with high-fat diets. Adults who were users of fat-modified foods consumed more nutrient-dense diets, with higher intakes of vitamin A, folate, and iron. Not all fat-reduction strategies were equally effective in reducing fat and maintaining nutrient intake. Nonusers of fat-modified foods who consumed a low-fat diet tended to do so by substituting carbohydrate, in part from carbonated beverages, for fat. Both men and women consuming a low-fat diet had lower average BMIs; this difference between individuals consuming low-fat vs high-fat diets was significant for women who were high-users of fat-modified foods. The data suggest that a low-fat diet with high use of fat-modified foods may be one strategy for achieving adequate nutrient intake while maintaining weight in the desirable BMI range of 19 to 25. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001;101:455–460 .
Verbal Expressions for Probability Updates: How Much More Probable is Much More Probable?

Abstract Bayesian inference systems should be able to explain their reasoning to users, translating from numerical to natural language. Previous empirical work has investigated the correspondence between absolute probabilities and linguistic phrases. This study extends that work to the correspondence between changes in probabilities (updates) and relative probability phrases, such as “much more likely” or “a little less likely.” Subjects selected such phrases to best describe numerical probability updates. We examined three hypotheses about the correspondence, and found the most descriptively accurate of these three to be that each such phrase corresponds to a fixed difference in probability (rather than fixed ratio of probabilities or of odds). The empirically derived phrase selection function uses eight phrases and achieved a 72% accuracy in correspondence with the subjects’ actual usage.
The Mesoscale and Microscale Structure and Organization of Clouds and Precipitation in Midlatitude Cyclones. VII: Formation, Development, Interaction and Dissipation of Rainbands.

Abstract Mesoscale measurements on five Pacific cyclones are used to investigate the formation, movement, development, interaction and dissipation of warm-sector, prefrontal cold-surge, narrow cold-frontal, wide cold-frontal, wavelike and postfrontal rainbands. Warm-sector rainbands formed near the leading edge of the cold front and often moved away from the front. Prefrontal cold-surge and wide cold-frontal rainbands formed aloft and behind the surface cold front and they also advanced relative to the front. The clearest interactions between rainbands occurred when wide cold-frontal rainbands overtook narrow cold-frontal rainbands; in this case the narrow cold-frontal rainband may be either temporarily or permanently dissipated, or the wide cold-frontal rainband may be dissipated, depending on the relative strengths of the rainbands. Wavelike rainbands, with very uniform properties, were initiated primarily in the vicinity of the cold front aloft; despite their small scale, these rainbands were relativel...
Effect of Sequence Distribution of Oxadiazole Moieties on Luminescence in a Poly(Phenylene-Vinylene) Derivative

In order to realize the vast potential offered by semiconducting polymers in emissive display technologies, it is important to understand the structure-property relationships that govern their performance. This paper will focus on one such relationship in the most widely studied class of polymers viz. poly(phenylene-vinylene) (PPV) derivatives. We have synthesized oxadiazole containing PPV copolymers varying the composition and sequence distribution of the oxadiazole moiety in the chain. We find that a statistically random copolymer performs 50% better in EL efficiency than the corresponding alternating copolymer with the same chemical composition, and 3 times better than the homopolymer without any oxadiazole moieties.
Preoperative External Beam APBI: Report of Acute Toxicities From 2 Prospective Clinical Trials Using Two Different Fractionation Schemes

treatments. Patients then received salvage hyperthermia, weekly or twice weekly, with radiation (median 35.5 Gy). Results: Twenty-six (87%) patients received prior radiation therapy (median 60.4 Gy). Median follow-up was 7.7 months. Complete response (CR) was observed in 15 patients (50%), partial response (PR) in 4 patients (13%), and stable disease (SD) in 11 patients (37%). Twenty-two patients experienced acute grade 1 and 2 toxicities, primarily pain and erythema, and twenty-two experienced long-term grade 1 and 2 toxicities, mainly lymphedema and hyperpigmentation. Conclusion: Hyperthermia and radiation provide good local control with a favorable side effect profile in heavily pretreated patients. Thermoradiation therapy should be considered for patients with locally recurrent breast cancer. Author Disclosure: J.S. Yu: None. S. Dharmaiah: None. V. Rao: None. A.R. Godley: None.
Atrial natriuretic peptide.

Article de synthese traitant du mecanisme d'action et de l'importance physiologique du facteur ANF dans la regulation de la captation renale du sodium chez l'homme
PATTERNS OF SEXUALITY IN FUNGI

The preparation of a paper to match the honor of the invitation to open this symposium with a discussion of patterns of sexuality in fungi poses something of a problem, since I have been somewhat vocal on this subject in the past and at this point have little to say, either by way of facts or concepts, that has not already been repeatedly said. The broad subject of sexuality in fungi, however, remains a fascinating one and is the present object of numerous foci of intensive work. Two of these, genetics of homothallic organisms, together with its implications regarding the origins of heterothallism, and the genetic interrelationships between closely related species in nature will be the topics of the two papers following. I should like, with your permission, to divide my allotted time between the announced topic and a very brief consideration of the present status of the study of sexuality in the fungi. The experimental study of sexuality in fungi is now entering its second century. Through the work of de Bary, Brefeld, van Tieghem, and others, the basic life cycles and the sexual apparatuses of many, broadly representative fungi were quite well known by the turn of the century. These studies, however, had not touched upon the underlying mechanisms of differentiation, and it was only after the turn of the century, with the rapid acceptance of Mendelian genetics and the successive discoveries of many instances of genetically controlled sexual phenomena among fungi, that experimental rather than descriptive studies on sexuality in fungi were inaugurated. Our present-day understanding of the basic patterns of sexuality in fungi has grown more or less directly from remarkably few early investigations, each of which was outstanding in the perceptiveness of its observations and in the appreciation of its basic significance. I should like to recall these classic works in chronology and to emphasize the debt of present students of sexuality in fungi to the several authors of these early studies.
The Direct Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach to the Pituitary Gland

Over the past two decades, the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach to the pituitary gland and sellar region for the treatment of pituitary pathology has evolved rapidly. The direct endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach consists of a nasal stage, a sphenoid stage, a sellar stage, and a reconstruction stage. Integration of the endoscope into pituitary surgery affords the surgeon superior panoramic visualization and illumination compared with the traditional microscopic approach. Additionally, the endoscopic approach facilitates two-handed surgical microdissection and the ability to look around anatomic surgical corners using angled lenses, which in turn may promote maximal tumor resection and preservation of the normal pituitary gland. This chapter focuses on key anatomic landmarks and operative strategies pertaining to the direct endoscopic endonasal approach to the sella. Continued experience and familiarity with the endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, combined with technologic advancements and improved instrumentation, are likely to contribute to improved surgical outcomes in the future.
Prorenin receptor in kidney development

Prorenin receptor (PRR), a receptor for renin and prorenin and an accessory subunit of the vacuolar proton pump H+-ATPase, is expressed in the developing kidney. Global loss of PRR is lethal in mice, and PRR mutations are associated with a high blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy and X-linked mental retardation in humans. With the advent of modern gene targeting techniques, including conditional knockout approaches, several recent studies have demonstrated critical roles for the PRR in several lineages of the developing kidney. PRR signaling has been shown to be essential for branching morphogenesis of the ureteric bud (UB), nephron progenitor survival and nephrogenesis. PRR regulates these developmental events through interactions with other transcription and growth factors. Several targeted PRR knockout animal models have structural defects mimicking congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract observed in humans. The aim of this review, is to highlight new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which PRR may regulate UB branching, terminal differentiation and function of UB-derived collecting ducts, nephron progenitor maintenance, progression of nephrogenesis and normal structural kidney development and function.
C-reactive protein in the prediction of cardiovascular events.

1059 respect to the discontinuation of aspirin, the transfusion of platelets, and the use of antifibrinolytic therapy — all of which are associated with worsened morbidity. Nor did isolated group differences confound our findings. In addition, as Topol elegantly states, we should not discount the compelling experiences with aspirin therapy in at-risk medical patients. In conclusion, we are left with a dilemma, for our problem is potentially unsolvable. Aspirin is safe and inexpensive; it probably reduces vein-graft occlusion; it may reduce complications involving the heart, brain, kidney, and intestine; and no other therapy is available. Given these circumstances, can a randomized clinical trial, wherein one group is deprived of aspirin, even be performed? If not, the clinician must adjudicate, for each patient, the cost– benefit ratio for early aspirin therapy.
Facilitators and Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening in Migori County, Kenya

Abstract 77Background:Cervical cancer, a disease that is largely preventable through organized screening programs, still impacts over 500,000 women every year. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest global incidence and mortality, largely due to lack of screening coverage. Low-cost and simple-to-implement screening technologies can potentially impact the rates of cervical cancer, if they are acceptable and scalable. As part of a trial to evaluate implementation strategies for cervical cancer prevention in western Kenya, we sought to identify the barriers and facilitators of screening, as well as opinions on a strategy employing self-collection of specimens for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.Methods:Providers and female community members were recruited for focus groups using purposive sampling. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members (n=24) and one FGD with providers (n=12) and key stakeholders were held in Migori County, Kenya, using structured guides to assess and current cervical cance...
Radiofrequency Ablation in the Sinus of Valsalva for Ventricular Arrhythmia in Pediatric Patients

The need to perform catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmia from within the sinuses of Valsalva in a pediatric patient is uncommon. This has been reported in adults, but there are little data about the feasibility, safety or efficacy of catheter ablation in the sinuses of Valsalva in the pediatric patients. This is a retrospective review of all patients aged 18 years or less, at two separate institutions with no structural heart disease that underwent an ablation procedure for ventricular arrhythmia mapped to the sinus of Valsalva from 2010 to 2015. We identified 8 total patients meeting inclusion criteria. Median age was 16 years and the median weight was 61 kg. All patients were symptomatic or had developed arrhythmia-induced ventricular dysfunction. Ablation was performed in the left sinus in 4 patients and the right sinus in 4 patients. No ablations were required in the non-coronary sinus. All 8 patients had an acutely successful ablation using radiofrequency energy. There were no complications. At a mean follow-up of 7 months (4–15 months), all patients were known to be living. Follow-up data regarding arrhythmia were available in 6 of the 8 patients, and none had recurrence of their ventricular arrhythmia off of all antiarrhythmic medications. Radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmia in the sinus of Valsalva can be done safely and effectively in pediatric patients.
Complementary sensors for rapid and sensitive detection of wound bacteria

Dual sensors for timely wound bacterial infection detection through the measurement of pH and bacterial cell attachment were developed. A high sensitivity of −57.98 ± 7.08 mV/pH (pH 1–13; over 14 days) and a minimum detectable bacteria concentration of 103 CFU/mL was achieved for the pH and cell-based sensors, respectively. Sensors were capable of successfully monitoring growth of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) over time with and without antibiotics in simulated would fluid.
Slot-Coupled Directional Filters in Multilayer LCP Substrates at 95 GHz

In this paper, traveling-wave directional filters (DFs) in multilayer liquid crystal polymer substrates were proposed at 95 GHz, consisting of two terminating microstrip lines (MSLs) in the top circuit layer, a shared ground and coupling slots in the second layer, and MSL loop resonators in the bottom layer. By using asymmetric phase topology for the loop, the proposed DFs address higher directivity and Q-factor over the traditional symmetric traveling-wave DFs. The single-loop DF was demonstrated with a 3-dB passband width of 4.8% and an insertion loss of 4.6 dB at 94 GHz. To improve the directivity, particularly the insertion loss, two identical DFs were cascaded in series in the direction of the terminating lines. A bandwidth of 8% and a low insertion loss of 2.6 dB can be obtained with a phase delay of 360° between the two DFs. Limited by the practical application, the proposed DFs were fabricated and demonstrated in hybrid substrates, which slightly increases the insertion loss. The measured insertion loss of the single-loop and double-loop DFs is 5.2 and 3.1 dB at 95 GHz, respectively, showing good agreement with the simulated data.
IDA - Interface for Distributed Automation Standardization of the Automation Network

Abstract Communication in the automation field today is characterized by the use of a variety of bus systems with differing bus physics and protocols. For the manufacturers of industrial robots this variety of industrial communication systems leads to extremely high costs for developement and training on the one hand and on the other decreases interoperability of the individual components. Through the gradual increase of Ethernet technology in the automation field industrial communication could be standardized considerably. IDA - INTERFACE FOR DISTRIBUTED AUTOMATION - presents such an effort. IDA standardizes the industrial communication using Ethernet technology exclusively and hereby is able to deal with all the requirements of future automation networks.
Determining the Skills Gap for New Hires in Management: Student Perceptions vs Employer Expectations

This study is an exploratory attempt to evaluate the skills gap in the discipline of business management, based upon the perceptions of students as compared to the expectations of employers. While it has been assumed that the skills gap may be a shortcoming of higher educationâ€™s inability to understand employer needs (Everson 2014), it is expected that the gap is more a result of misaligned student interpretations of employer needs and an academic environment that increasingly views the student as the customer. If faculty consider the employer as a primary customer, then perhaps academic programs can be redesigned to provide better opportunities to new graduates.
Organizational Structure and Innovation Revisited: From Organic To Ambidextrous Structure

Publisher Summary Innovation is a popular area of study in a variety of fields, such as business, economics, engineering, psychology, public administration, and sociology. It is viewed as a concept central to economic growth, the creation of new industries and businesses, competitive advantage and performance of firms, and the effective management of business and public organizations. Innovation in organizations is generally understood in two ways: more specifically, it is distinguished from closely related concepts like creativity and change; more broadly, it includes all. Innovation has been used to represent a variety of concepts and phenomena, including creativity and creative problem solving, speed or extent of product introduction, organizational change, technological change, acquisition of new firms, and so on. Researchers have conceived of innovations in organizations as both a discrete product and outcome, or as a process. The primary goal of the studies of innovation as an outcome is to determine the contextual, structural, and process conditions under which organizations innovate. Innovation as outcome is intended to create a new opportunity or satisfy an existing opportunity, and thus, to contribute to the organization's effectiveness and competitiveness.
Melt extrusion with poorly soluble drugs – An integrated review

Over the last few decades, hot melt extrusion (HME) has emerged as a successful technology for a broad spectrum of applications in the pharmaceutical industry. As indicated by multiple publications and patents, HME is mainly used for the enhancement of solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. This review is focused on the recent reports on the solubility enhancement via HME and provides an update for the manufacturing/scaling up aspects of melt extrusion. In addition, drug characterization methods and dissolution studies are discussed. The application of process analytical technology (PAT) tools and use of HME as a continuous manufacturing process may shorten the drug development process; as a result, the latter is becoming the most widely utilized technique in the pharmaceutical industry. The advantages, disadvantages, and practical applications of various PAT tools such as near and mid-infrared, ultraviolet/visible, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopies are summarized, and the characteristics of other techniques are briefly discussed. Overall, this review also provides an outline for the currently marketed products and analyzes the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of HME application in the pharmaceutical industry.
Specification and generation of custom-tailored knowledge-acquisition tools

Domain-oriented knowledge-acquisition tools provide efficient support for the design of knowledge-based systems. However, the cost of developing such tools is high, especially when their restricted scope is taken into account. Developers can use metalevel tools to generate domain-oriented knowledge-acquisition tools that are custom tailored for a small group of experts, with considerably less effort than is required for manual tool development. An epistemic obstacle to creating such metatools is the specification model for target knowledge-acquisition tools. The metatool DOTS is based on an abstract-architecture approach to the specification and generation of knowledge-acquisition tools. DOTS is domain and method independent, because it is based on an architectural model of the target knowledge-acquisition tool.
Vehicular Clouds: A Survey and Future Directions

Vehicular clouds have become an active area of research with tens of papers written and a large number of documented applications. We feel this is a good moment to summarize the main research trends in the area of vehicular clouds and to map out various research challenges and possible applications. With this in mind, the primary objective of this chapter is to present a survey of the state of the art in vehicular clouds, of the current research topics and future directions. We will take a critical look at the various vehicular cloud models proposed in the literature and their applications.
Identification and evaluation of anti-inflammatory properties of aqueous components extracted from sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil.

Abstract We previously reported that sesame oil (SO) has anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic and lipid lowering properties in vivo. Our recent studies have shown that, an aqueous extract of sesame oil (SOAE) has also anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic properties but with no lipid lowering effects. The extent of reduction in atherosclerosis led us to identify components of SOAE and evaluate their anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometric method was used to detect and identify components of SOAE. Methoxyphenol derivatives, short and long chain carboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, hydroxy and oxo- carboxylic acids were detected. To our surprise, sesamol and its derivatives (lignans), were not present in the SOAE. Among the identified, a combination of methoxy phenol compounds were selected and tested their ability to reduce LPS induced inflammatory gene expression. Monocyte derived macrophages/RAW 264.7 macrophages were pre-treated with these compounds for 2 h, followed by LPS stimulation for 24 h and pro-inflammatory gene expressions were analyzed. These methoxyphenol derivatives showed potent anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory molecules associated with SO may contribute the anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic properties. Also, our results shed light for the development of SOAE based non-pharmacological therapeutics, nutritional supplements and health products for various inflammatory diseases in the future.
The Medical School Experience: Do Gender Differences Exist?

This paper has attempted to look at gender differences in medical students in regard to aspects of their training and expectations. Over 300 medical students from two classes were administered questionnaires. Contrary to expectations, the data revealed that there were very few significant differences between males and females for any of a host of varibles related to the effects and experiences in medical school.