cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of menaquinone in the reduction of fumarate, nitrate, iron(III) and manganese(IV) by Shewanella putrefaciens MR‐1

Abstract Mutants of Shewanella putrefaciens MR-1 deficient in menaquinone and methylmenaquinone, but which have wild-type levels of ubiquinone, retain the ability to use trimethylamine N-oxide as an electron acceptor, but they lose the ability to use nitrate, iron(III), and fumarate as electron acceptors. These mutants also show a reduced rate of manganese(IV) reduction. One of these mutants could be restored to essentially wild-type phenotype by supplementing the medium with 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. A requirement for naphthoquinones in iron(III) reduction and a preference for naphthoquinones in manganese(IV) reduction provide further support that the metal reducing systems in MR-1 are linked to anaerobic respiration.
Allergic inflammation in upper and lower airways.

Objective The primary reason for this review is to discuss the relationship between upper and lower airways at various levels with the emphasis on common pathophysiologic mechanisms, and how treatment of the upper airways will benefit the lower airways. Data sources The main source of information is derived from original articles and books, with an extensive bibliography included. Study selection Studies were derived almost exclusively from articles and reviews in peer-reviewed journals. Results The prevalence of rhinitis and asthma are both increasing. Common to both the upper and lower airways are the triggers, many of the inflammatory cells and mediators, and the treatment modalities. By contrast, there are organ-specific differences in the reaction to various stimuli in the nose or lung, with each organ manifesting its own vocabulary of response. Conclusions There are meaningful relationships between upper and lower airways at various levels of our understanding. Differential responses to medications help us better understand pathogenic mechanisms in rhinitis and asthma. Further, treatment of the upper airways provides additional benefit to the lower airways.
Relativistic corrections to gluon fragmentation into spin-triplet S -wave quarkonium

We use the NRQCD factorization formalism to calculate the relativistic corrections to the fragmentation function for a gluon fragmenting into a spin-triplet S-wave heavy quarkonium. We make use of the gauge-invariant formulation of the fragmentation function of Collins and Soper. The color-octet contribution receives a large, negative relativistic correction, while the color-singlet contribution receives a large, positive relativistic correction. The considerable decrease in the color-octet contribution requires a corresponding increase in the phenomenological value of the leading color-octet matrix element in order to maintain a fit to the Fermilab Tevatron data.
The adversarial alliance: developing therapeutic relationships between families and the team in brain injury rehabilitation.

Families of individuals who have survived brain injuries experience significant distress, and may resist accepting their relative's neurobehavioural deficits. Staff who work with brain-injured pati...
The Marketing Channels of the Texas Wine and Wine Grape Industry and Their Economic Impacts

This study estimates the economic impacts of the Texas wine and wine grape industry on the Texas economy by marketing channel. Survey data from the state's vineyards and wineries for 1996 is used to construct an input‐output model of the Texas economy and an industry impact framework using IMPLAN. Results show that the total core economic impacts of the Texas wine and wine grape industry were $85.8 million in output impacts, 1,157 jobs, $29.6 million in income impacts, and $46.6 million in total value added impacts in 1996. Much of these core economic impacts were attributable to the retail and restaurant marketing channels.
The distortion of a cylinder with non-uniform axial heat conduction

Closed form expressions are developed for the thermoelastic curvature of the initially plane end faces of a traction free cylinder subjected to arbitrary axisymmetric heat flux, the curved surfaces being assumed insulated. The solution is developed from a potential function representation of displacement and temperature for an elastic layer. The reciprocal theorem is invoked to show that the tractions at the curved surface of the cylinder vary linearly along the axis and they are removed by superposition of biaxial bending. It is found that the curvature of the plane ends depends on the local heat flux and the mean heat flux, whilst the cylindrical face distorts into a cone.
De novo formation of the niaD gene directed protomer in the NADPH-nitrate reductase of Aspergillus nidulans

Evidence for the de novo formation of the niaD gene directed protomer in the multimeric NADPH-nitrate reductase from Aspergillus nidulans has been obtained by the use of structural gene ( niaD -421) and cofactor gene ( cnxH -388) mutant strains. These mutants were cultured as forced heterocaryons after a period in which they were labelled with L-[ 3 H]-histidine. Following nitrate induction with a 2 hr pulse of L-[ 14 C]-lysine, we traced the fate of constitutively formed niaD + protomers into active holoenzyme. Only enzyme synthesized de novo in response to nitrate had significant levels of the isotope available during induction. We concluded that the cnxH + gene directed Mo cofactor acts only on protomers formed de novo upon induction.
Resource-constrained loop list scheduler for DSP algorithms

We present a new algorithm for resource-constrained scheduling for digital signal processing (DSP) applications when the number of processors is fixed and the objective is to obtain a schedule with the minimum iteration period. This type of scheduling is best suited for moderate speed applications where conservation of area and power is more important than speed. We define and make use of newgraph dependent constraints to obtain a lower bound estimate on the iteration period for any data-flow graph. By satisfying these constraints before performing the scheduling task, we can restrict the design space and can generate valid schedules in less time than previously reported. The graph dependent constraints provide a more accurate lower bound estimate on the iteration period than previously published results. This new scheduling algorithm exploits the iterative nature of DSP algorithms and uses aniterative-loop based scheduling approach. This resource scheduling algorithm has been incorporated in the Minnesota ARchitecture Synthesis (MARS) system. Our approach exploits inter-iteration and intra-iteration precedence constraints and incorporates implicit retiming and pipelining to generate optimal and near optimal schedules.
Evidence for Actin Cytoskeleton-dependent and -independent Pathways for RelA/p65 Nuclear Translocation in Endothelial Cells

Activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB involves its release from the inhibitory protein IkappaBalpha in the cytoplasm and subsequently, its translocation to the nucleus. Whereas the events responsible for its release have been elucidated, mechanisms regulating the nuclear transport of NF-kappaB remain elusive. We now provide evidence for actin cytoskeleton-dependent and -independent mechanisms of RelA/p65 nuclear transport using the proinflammatory mediators, thrombin and tumor necrosis factor alpha, respectively. We demonstrate that thrombin alters the actin cytoskeleton in endothelial cells and interfering with these alterations, whether by stabilizing or destabilizing the actin filaments, prevents thrombin-induced NF-kappaB activation and consequently, expression of its target gene, ICAM-1. The blockade of NF-kappaB activation occurs downstream of IkappaBalpha degradation and is associated with impaired RelA/p65 nuclear translocation. Importantly, thrombin induces association of RelA/p65 with actin and this interaction is sensitive to stabilization/destabilization of the actin filaments. In parallel studies, stabilizing or destabilizing the actin filaments fails to inhibit RelA/p65 nuclear accumulation and ICAM-1 expression by tumor necrosis factor alpha, consistent with its inability to induce actin filament formation comparable with thrombin. Thus, these studies reveal the existence of actin cytoskeleton-dependent and -independent pathways that may be engaged in a stimulus-specific manner to facilitate RelA/p65 nuclear import and thereby ICAM-1 expression in endothelial cells.
Host shifts and molecular evolution of H7 avian influenza virus hemagglutinin

Evolutionary consequences of host shifts represent a challenge to identify the mechanisms involved in the emergence of influenza A (IA) viruses. In this study we focused on the evolutionary history of H7 IA virus in wild and domestic birds, with a particular emphasis on host shifts consequences on the molecular evolution of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene. Based on a dataset of 414 HA nucleotide sequences, we performed an extensive phylogeographic analysis in order to identify the overall genetic structure of H7 IA viruses. We then identified host shift events and investigated viral population dynamics in wild and domestic birds, independently. Finally, we estimated changes in nucleotide substitution rates and tested for positive selection in the HA gene. A strong association between the geographic origin and the genetic structure was observed, with four main clades including viruses isolated in North America, South America, Australia and Eurasia-Africa. We identified ten potential events of virus introduction from wild to domestic birds, but little evidence for spillover of viruses from poultry to wild waterbirds. Several sites involved in host specificity (addition of a glycosylation site in the receptor binding domain) and virulence (insertion of amino acids in the cleavage site) were found to be positively selected in HA nucleotide sequences, in genetically unrelated lineages, suggesting parallel evolution for the HA gene of IA viruses in domestic birds. These results highlight that evolutionary consequences of bird host shifts would need to be further studied to understand the ecological and molecular mechanisms involved in the emergence of domestic bird-adapted viruses.
Point-of-care ultrasound differentiates pyomyositis from cellulitis

Pyomyositis (PM) is an infection of skeletal muscle, often associated with an abscess. Patients typically have predisposing risk factors or are immune compromised. The disease is often misdiagnosed, mistreated,and goes undetected until late in the patient's clinical course.We present a case of a patient without obvious predisposing risk factors who complained of right thigh pain, swelling, redness, and fevers for 4 days.Point-of-care ultrasound revealed muscle edema and subcutaneous emphysema without signs of an overlying cellulitis. Point-of-care ultrasound consequently led to an earlier diagnosis of PM and directly affected the immediate patient care in the emergency department.
Removing shore protection structures to facilitate migration of landforms and habitats on the bayside of a barrier spit

Abstract Coastal landforms and habitats require space to reform in response to storm damage to increase the likelihood of long-term sustainability. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential for removing shore protection structures to allow natural shoreline processes to prevail as part of a strategy to adapt to sea level rise associated with climate change. The location of the study was Sandy Hook Spit, New Jersey, a site managed by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). A field investigation was conducted to identify the structures that impede migration of landforms and habitats, the function of each structure in protecting resources, and the opportunities to facilitate landform migration by removing the structures or allowing them to deteriorate. Nineteen shore-parallel walls are present along the ocean and bay shore of a 10 km long portion of the spit. Most of the shore protection structures were built when the spit was formerly used by the US Army, and many bulkheads on the bay shore have deteriorated. Sediment will become available to the longshore transport system where protection structures are removed, contributing to spit growth at the ends of drift cells, possibly mimicking the spits that were more conspicuous on the bay shore prior to human alterations. Observations indicate that new habitat can be created by loss and re-creation in a different location by longshore extension, not just by landward migration. Allowing shore protection structures to deteriorate will leave human infrastructure in the landscape. Removing these structures is more costly but can result in a more rapid reversion to a natural system. The time horizon is critical in determining the social, political and economic feasibility of removing structures and the expectations for geomorphic and habitat change. The feasibility of protecting threatened buildings and roads will decrease in the future as sea level rises and the existing protection structures degrade or fall below new design standards. We suggest that functional buildings with less historic value remain in use until threatened by erosion, but little reason exists to build new structures to protect them. A case is made for allowing developed sites to revert to natural processes to establish a precedent and provide good demonstration areas for promoting stakeholder acceptance of retreat strategies.
Comparative pharmacology of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Abstract The treatment of acute mania and schizophrenia overlap considerably in terms of the typical and atypical neuroleptics, but begin to diverge with the recognized mood stabilizers for bipolar affective illness — lithium, carbamazepine, and valproate — which are substantially less effective in schizophrenia than in affective illness. Moreover, the L-type calcium channel blocker verapamil is reported to be effective in mania, but it may exacerbate schizophrenia. A series of new putative mood stabilizing anticonvulsants (such as lamotrigine, gabapentin, and topiramate) and possible second-messenger targeted treatments (tamoxifen and omega-3 fatty acids) deserve further study in both affective and schizophrenic syndromes. Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the brain offers considerable promise in the treatment of a variety of neuropsychiatric syndromes, especially with preliminary evidence of frequency-dependent effects on regional cerebral blood flow. New insights about the potential neurotrophic effects of lithium and the gene transcriptional effects of other psychotropics offer exciting new targets for therapeutics and strategies for future clinical trials and therapeutic applications in both syndromes.
A NEW APPROACH OF DIGITAL BRIDGE SURFACE MODEL GENERATION

Bridge areas present difficulties for orthophotos generation and to avoid “collapsed” bridges in the orthoimage, operator assistance is required to create the precise DBM (Digital Bridge Model), which is, subsequently, used for the orthoimage generation. In this paper, a new approach of DBM generation, based on fusing LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) data and aerial imagery, is proposed. The no precise exterior orientation of the aerial image is required for the DBM generation. First, a coarse DBM is produced from LiDAR data. Then, a robust co-registration between LiDAR intensity and aerial image using the orientation constraint is performed. The from-coarse-to-fine hybrid co-registration approach includes LPFFT (Log-Polar Fast Fourier Transform), Harris Corners, PDF (Probability Density Function) feature descriptor mean-shift matching, and RANSAC (RANdom Sample Consensus) as main components. After that, bridge ROI (Region Of Interest) from LiDAR data domain is projected to the aerial image domain as the ROI in the aerial image. Hough transform linear features are extracted in the aerial image ROI. For the straight bridge, the 1 st order polynomial function is used; whereas, for the curved bridge, 2 nd order polynomial function is used to fit those endpoints of Hough linear features. The last step is the transformation of the smooth bridge boundaries from aerial image back to LiDAR data domain and merge them with the coarse DBM. Based on our experiments, this new approach is capable of providing precise DBM which can be further merged with DTM (Digital Terrain Model) derived from LiDAR data to obtain the precise DSM (Digital Surface Model). Such a precise DSM can be used to improve the orthophoto product quality.
Treating the Brain Through the Gut

A mechanistic understanding of the rising incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) (in the United States, 1 in 88 live births) might require a little help from our friends—gut bacteria. In a recent paper, Hsiao et al . demonstrate that alterations in the gut microbiota can modulate behavioral and physiological abnormalities associated with a mouse model of ASD. These findings suggest an intriguing mechanistic link between the intestinal flora and neurodevelopmental disorders. Studies have shown that patients with ASD are at increased risk for gastrointestinal problems, particularly abnormal intestinal permeability. This so-called “leaky gut” is often associated with an altered immune response, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ASD. The authors used an established mouse model—the maternal immune activation (MIA) model—to investigate the relationship between gastrointestinal abnormalities and ASD. MIA model offspring displayed typical ASD behavioral features (such as anxiety, stereotyped behaviors, deficits in sociability, and reduced vocalizations) as well as increased intestinal permeability and altered intestinal microbial flora. Moreover, the offspring exhibited altered cytokine composition in the colon and changes in concentrations of more than 20 metabolites in the blood. Treating the mice with cultures of the bacterium Bacillus fragilis corrected all of the ASD-related behavioral features mentioned above except deficits in sociability and normalized many of the blood metabolic changes. One of the normalized metabolites, 4-ethylphenylsufate, was particularly interesting because it induced anxiety-like behavior similar to that in MIA offspring when administered to naive wild-type mice. The study by Hsiao et al . is important because it suggests a possible causal relationship between the intestinal microbiota and ASD. The discovery that probiotic intervention reduces some behavioral abnormalities is particularly promising and justifies further investigations using similar treatments for human patients. E. Y. Hsiao et al ., Microbiota modulate behavioral and physiological abnormalities associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Cell 155 , 1451–1463 (2013). [[PubMed]][1] [1]: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24315484
Instability of liquid coatings on cylindrical surfaces

Capillary instability of long annular viscous liquid layers coating the surface of a cylindrical wire is studied. Effects of Reynolds number, Re, initial disturbance wave numbers, k, and wire radii, s on the growth rate of the instability are considered. The initial disturbance amplitude is chosen as 5% of the initial unperturbed liquid thickness. It is found that the growth rate of the disturbance amplitude is composed of a linear portion, which is well predicted by the linear theory, and a relatively flat portion, which is not predicted by the linear theory and is strongly dependent on the Re, k, and s. A unique feature of this instability is a double pinch‐off process (in certain parameter range) which results in the formation of secondary satellite drops.
Assessing environmental change through chemical-sediment chronologies from inland lakes

This paper examines the hypothesis that the spatial pattern of metal accumulation rates in inland lake sediments provides insight into the causes of the historical and continued loadings of contaminants to the environment. To address this, copper and lead accumulation rates in the Great Lakes' watershed were studied. A multi-element approach was used, in which many non-toxic chemicals were measured along with the toxic chemicals of interest, rather than a target-specific approach. The multi-element approach also allowed for assessing the environmental state of the lake with respect to its surrounding watershed. Sediment cores were collected from the deepest portion of five Michigan inland lakes, sectioned, metals extracted by nitric acid, microwave digestion and leachates analysed for 26 metals using an inductively coupled, plasma, mass spectrometer with hexapole technology. Sedimentation rates, ages and focusing factors were calculated via 210Pb. Dasymetric mapping was used to estimate population distributions in lake watersheds. Watershed area was estimated from digital elevation data using Arc/INFO (ESRI, Redlands, California). The data show that as loadings from dominant (regional) sources decrease (e.g. atmospheric deposition in the case of lead), new patterns provide insight into causes for continued contaminant loadings (e.g. population density). The data also show the universal response of the watersheds to the onset of the anthropogenic loadings of lead but not that of copper. Individual watersheds had different onset times for anthropogenic copper loadings. Recent lead loadings to the environment can be related to population density, and those of copper reflect, in part, a spatial pattern that is similar to the regional pattern for lead during the mid-1970s. As this pattern for lead could be related to a regional gradient of lead concentrations in atmospheric deposition, the same relation cannot be made for copper. The cause for this spatial pattern for copper is not clear.
How thick is the lithosphere

A rapid decrease in shear velocity in the suboceanic mantle is used to infer the thickness of the lithosphere. It is proposed that new and highly precise group velocity data constrain the solutions and imply a thickness near 70 km.
Stability of a class of interconnected evolution systems

Stability conditions for a class of interconnected systems modeled by linear abstract evolution equations and a memoryless nonlinearity are derived. These conditions are stated in terms of the passivity of each of the subsystems and can be considered as a partial generalization of the hyperstability theorem. A Lyapunov function approach is used in the proof without requiring the positive definiteness of the Lyapunov function. Application to the robustness analysis of the infinite-dimensional linear quadratic regulator is also discussed. >
Real-Time Video Quality Control For Multimedia Network

In this paper, we propose a new approach for video quality control for multimedia networks. Our new approach is based on video quality measure that combines both the network quality of service (QoS) as well as the user quality of experience (QoE). The proposed approach improves the end-to-end traditional video quality control for multimedia network by including the human perception of video data, which is major concern for the video client, along with the network quality of service (QoS) measurements. We will show that the proposed QoS-QoE based video quality control algorithm can reflect both the condition of the network environment and the human perception of the received networked video data stream. According to both QoS and QoE parameters, rather than using only QoS parameter, video quality control action will satisfy the user needs more than relying only on the network conditions. Since our proposed QoE parameter Self-Reference Complex Wavelet Video Structural Similarity Index (SRCW-VSSIM) can be obtained with no reference (NF) video data, it satisfies the requirement of real-time video transmission.
Morphology of the levator veli palatini muscle using magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: No studies have reported the circumference and diameter of the levator veli palatini muscle at multiple points along its length and from both views (frontal and lateral). The purpose of this study was to provide quantitative data regarding the levator muscle morphology along the length of the muscle using magnetic resonance imaging and advanced three-dimensional computer technology. Methods: Ten Caucasian male subjects participated in the study. Subjects were scanned using a Siemens 3 T Trio. Levator muscle measures were obtained using a two-dimensional image plane. A three-dimensional model was used to measure the circumference and muscle diameter (in two directions) at six points along the length of the levator muscle. Results: Levator muscle length ranged from 41.67 mm to 52.85 mm across all subjects. Mean extravelar muscle length was 30.55 mm (SD, 2.8 mm) and 30.01 mm (SD, 2.9 mm) for right and left muscles. The mean circumference at the origin was 18.90 mm (SD, 2.6 mm). At the second poin...
Spin-free wave functions in many-electron perturbation theory. I. Closed- shell systems

The Schrodinger equation of an N-electron closed-shell system is reduced to that for the spatial wave function Ψ by the aid of the theory of the symmetric (permutation) group SN. The first-order perturbation equation based on the Hartree–Fock-SCF model as the zero-order solution is then solved by decomposing it into a set of soluble 1/2(N/2)[(N/2) + 1] equations for the pair-correlation (first-order) spatial wave functions. These spatial functions give the spatial parts of the pair functions in the spin orbital basis formulation, reducing also the number of independent pairs needed in the first order.
Pressure dependence of exaggerated natriuresis in two-kidney, one clip Goldblatt hypertensive rats

This study evaluated the responses of each kidney of two-kidney, one clip Goldblatt hypertensive rats to acute volume loading to delineate the contribution of elevated perfusion pressure to the mechanisms of the exaggerated natriuresis in this model of hypertension. Eleven Goldblatt animals (0.2 mm clip 3 weeks prior to study) were studied at spontaneous blood pressure for each kidney's response to volume loading. In 11 other Goldblatt animals an aortic clamp between the renal arteries allowed reduction of perfusion pressure for the left, nonclipped kidney to normal levels. Ten normal rats served as controls. Renal function was examined during control periods and following the infusion of 3.5% body wt of 154 mM X liter-1 NaCl at 22.5 ml X hr-1. An exaggerated natriuresis was observed for the left, nonclipped kidney of the hypertensive Goldblatt rats, while the clipped kidney exhibited an attenuated natriuresis compared to either kidney of normal control rats. Reduction of perfusion pressure to the nonclipped kidney of Goldblatt animals to normal levels resulted in reduced clearance and excretory function before volume loading and attenuated its natriuretic response to levels less than those for the Goldblatt group at spontaneous, hypertensive blood pressure. The exaggerated natriuresis observed at hypertensive blood pressure was attributable to increases of filtered load of Na+ and reduced fractional absorption. These observations indicate that an exaggerated natriuresis occurs in the two-kidney, one clip Goldblatt hypertensive rat and that this phenomenon depends on the elevated renal perfusion pressure to the nonclipped kidney.
Possibility image transform and logical convolution

Possibility theory offers an alternative to ordinary probability theory in describing uncertainty. Images are the visual manifestations of probability laws. Then can a given image be somehow transformed into a possibility image? We show one way of doing this and investigate the properties of such an image. The rules of possibility theory substitute logical operations (size comparisons) for arithmetic operations such as multiply and add. Thus a logical analog to the ordinary (arithmetic) convolution operation also exists. Properties of this logical convolution are investigated. These include superresolution and a kind of closure property that should aid in bandwidth compression.
The N400 in a semantic categorization task across 6 decades.

Abstract Objectives : To characterize the effects of normal aging on the amplitude, latency and scalp distribution of the N400 congruity effect. Methods : Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 72 adults (half of them men) between the ages of 20 and 80 years (12/decade) as they performed a semantic categorization task. Participants listened to spoken phrases (e.g. `a type of fruit' or `the opposite of black') followed about 1 s later by a visually-presented word that either did or did not fit with the sense of the preceding phrase; they reported the word read and whether or not it was appropriate. ERP measurements (mean amplitudes, peak amplitudes, peak latencies) were subjected to analysis of variance and linear regression analyses. Results : All participants, regardless of age, produced larger N400s to words that did not fit than to those that did. The N400 congruity effect (no-fit ERPs−fit ERPs) showed a reliable linear decrease in the amplitude (0.05–0.09 μ V per year, r =0.40) and a reliable linear increase peak latency (1.5–2.1 ms/year, r =0.60) with age. Conclusions : In sum, the N400 semantic congruity effect at the scalp gets smaller, slower and more variable with age, consistent with a quantitative rather than qualitative change in semantic processing (integration) with normal aging.
Nonmetallic Conduction Property of a DNA Templated Gold Nanowire

Nanowires based on DNA are exciting materials with several possible applications in nanoelectronics because of the self-assemble capability for the designed nanostructure. In this study, we have carried out electrical and thermal conduction measurements on a metallized single DNA molecule. The measured values of the electrical and thermal conductivity were about 1.42 × 101 S/cm and 149.8 W/mK at room temperature, respectively. The measured value of the Lorentz number was about 3.6 × 10−4 , which is incompatible with that predicted by the Wiedemann-Franz law. The temperature dependent electrical conductivity shows that electron transport in metallized DNA occurs by the hopping process similar to that in nonmetallized DNA. Atomic force microscopy reveals nanoscale discontinuities in the gold layer around the DNA. While the gold layer assists the DNA in electron conduction, the overall conduction of the metallized DNA is dominated by the DNA rather than the coating. These results suggest that the DNA is potentially a better thermal conductor than the metal coating and that its effective conductivity may be large. This interesting physical property may make the DNA useful for bioapplications involving significant heat transfer.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The role of extracellular calcium in the neuropeptide-Y-induced increase in cytosolic calcium in human erythroleukemic (HEL) cells.

Abstract Cytosolic calcium changes were followed in human erythroleukemic (HEL) cells loaded with the fluorescent probe fura-2. Peak increases in cytosolic calcium were reduced by two-thirds in cells suspended in Ca 2+ -free medium, suggesting that calcium entry significantly contributes to the increases in cytosolic calcium after NPY receptor stimulation. To establish if Ca 2+ entry was a direct consequence of receptor stimulation or indirectly via depletion of Ca 2+ stores, the latter were totally or partially depleted by treatment with cyclopiazonic acid or α-thrombin, respectively, in Ca 2+ -free medium. Partial depletion markedly diminished and full depletion suppressed the NPY-induced response in Ca 2+ -free medium. After full depletion, the recovery of the NPY-induced increase in cytosolic calcium was dependent on the length of [Ca 2+ ] 3 reexposure, suggesting a direct entry of Ca 2+ to the storage sites followed by release to the cytosol. After partial depletion, transient reexposure to [Ca 2+ ] 3 did not by itself increase cytosolic calcium levels or refill the stores as NPY stimulation did not increase cytosolic calcium if [Ca 2+ ] 3 was chelated prior to stimulation. However, if partially depleted cells were exposed to NPY in the presence of readded [Ca 2+ ] 3 , the peak calcium response was similar to that of control cells, indicating that partially depleted calcium stores can be refilled from extracellular sources only if NPY receptors are stimulated. Analysis of the data suggests that in HEL cells the entry of calcium and mobilization from intracellular stores are in series processes and that entry is triggered by intracellular levels only under extreme depletion, while under physiological conditions calcium entry is coupled to receptor stimulation.
New national surveillance system for hemodialysis-associated infections: Initial results

Abstract Background: Hemodialysis patients have frequent infections, especially of the vascular access site, and often harbor antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Therefore a voluntary national system was created to monitor and prevent infections in these patients. Methods: From October 1999 to May 2001, participating centers recorded the number of chronic hemodialysis outpatients that were treated (denominator). Several outcome events, including infections of the vascular access site, were monitored. Data were reported on paper forms or via an Internet-based data entry and analysis system. Results: Among 109 participating centers, the vascular access infection rate per 100 patient-months was 3.2 overall and varied markedly by type of vascular access: 0.56 for native arteriovenous fistulas, 1.36 for synthetic arteriovenous grafts, 8.42 for cuffed catheters, and 11.98 for noncuffed catheters. Among 76 dialysis centers reporting at least 200 patient-months of data, 11 had a significantly low and 14 a significantly high rate of vascular access infection. Conclusion: Initial results from the first national project to monitor infections in patients undergoing hemodialysis indicate that vascular access infections were common and that risk varied substantially among different vascular access types and different dialysis centers. These results can be used for quality improvement at individual centers and to help evaluate the efficacy of specific infection control measures. (Am J Infect Control 2002;30:288-95.)
TransKingdom RNA interference: a bacterial approach to challenges in RNAi therapy and delivery

Since its discovery in 1998 RNA interference (RNAi), a potent and highly selective gene silencing mechanism, has revolutionized the field of biological science. The ability of RNAi to specifically down-regulate the expression of any cellular protein has had a profound impact on the study of gene function in vitro. This property of RNAi also holds great promise for in vivo functional genomics and interventions against a wide spectrum of diseases, especially those with "undruggable" therapeutic targets. Despite the enormous potential of RNAi for medicine, development of in vivo applications has met with significant problems, particularly in terms of delivery. For effective gene silencing to occur, silencing RNA must reach the cytoplasm of the target cell. Consequently, various strategies using chemically modified siRNA, liposomes, nanoparticles and viral vectors are being developed to deliver silencing RNA. These approaches, however, can be expensive and in many cases they lack target cell specificity or clinical compatibility. Recently, we have shown that RNAi can be activated in vitro and in vivo by non-pathogenic bacteria engineered to manufacture and deliver silencing shRNA to target cells. This new approach, termed TransKingdom RNAi (tkRNAi), has several key advantages. First, tkRNAi may provide a viable means to accomplish therapeutic RNAi since non-pathogenic bacteria have a proven safety record in clinical applications. Second, tkRNAi eliminates the cost of siRNA manufacture since silencing shRNA are produced inside bacteria. Moreover, the intracellular mechanism of shRNA release inherent to tkRNAi may circumvent, or mitigate, the activation of host immune responses. Finally, tkRNAi may facilitate high-throughput in vivo functional genomics screening since bacteria-based RNAi libraries can be easily constructed, stored, reproduced and amplified, thereby allowing for the creation of a stable gene silencing system.
Trafficking of the plasma membrane γ-aminobutyric acid transporter GAT1 : Size and rates of an acutely recycling pool

Plasma membrane neurotransmitter transporters rapidly traffic to and from the cell surface in neurons. This trafficking may be important in regulating neuronal signaling. Such regulation will be subject to the number of trafficking transporters and their trafficking rates. In the present study, we define an acutely recycling pool of endogenous γ-aminobutyric acid transporters (GAT1) in cortical neurons that comprises approximately one-third of total cellular GAT1. Kinetic analysis of this pool estimates exocytosis and endocytosis time constants of 1.6 and 0.9 min, respectively, and thus approximately one-third of the recycling pool is plasma membrane resident in the basal state. Recent evidence shows that GAT1 substrates, second messengers, and interacting proteins regulate GAT1 trafficking. These triggers could act by altering trafficking rates or by changing the recycling pool size. In the present study we examine three GAT1 modulators. Calcium depletion decreases GAT1 surface expression by diminishing the recycling pool size. Sucrose increases GAT1 surface expression by blocking clathrin- and dynamin-dependent endocytosis, but it does not change the recycling pool size. Protein kinase C decreases surface GAT1 expression by increasing the endocytosis rate, but it does not change the exocytosis rate or the recycling pool size. Based upon estimates of GAT1 molecules in cortical boutons, the present data suggest that ∼1000 transporters comprise the acutely recycling pool, of which 300 are on the surface in the basal state, and five transporters insert into the plasma membrane every second. This insertion could represent the fusion of one transporter-containing vesicle.
Irreversibility and Generalized Noise

A relation is obtained between the generalized resistance and the fluctuations of the generalized forces in linear dissipative systems. This relation forms the extension of the Nyquist relation for the voltage fluctuations in electrical impedances. The general formalism is illustrated by applications to several particular types of systems, including Brownian motion, electric field fluctuations in the vacuum, and pressure fluctuations in a gas.
First experience of 3D rotational angiography fusion with NavX electroanatomical mapping to guide catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

Background Rotational angiography of the left atrium with 3-dimensional reconstruction (3DATG) is a new imaging tool to guide atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Its role as part of a complex imaging strategy with NavX has not yet been evaluated. Objective To determine the feasibility of using 3DATG fusion with NavX in guiding AF ablation. Methods 3DATG was performed in 24 consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation by using the Philips Allura Xper FD 10 system. The 3DATG anatomical shell was fused with NavX data (fusion group). Procedural characteristics of the fusion group were compared to 12 patients (control group) who underwent AF ablation guided by NavX only during the preceding 6 months. Results 3DATG/NavX fusion was successful in all patients and required 12±2 fiducial points. Total radiation dose, fluoroscopy, and procedural times were significantly lower in the fusion group despite additional time and radiation exposure from 3DATG (total radiation dose of 20.4 mSv in the fusion group vs 34.0 mSv in the control group; P = .04; fluoroscopy time 50.5 minutes vs 69.7 minutes; procedural time 4.3 hours vs 5.1 hours). Ablation was successful acutely in 35 of 36 patients. At follow-up, 14 of 24 (58.3%) patients in the fusion group and 6 of 12 (50%) patients in the control group were in sinus rhythm. There was 1 complication in each group. Conclusions AF ablation guided by 3DATG/NavX fusion is associated with reduced procedural time and radiation exposure and similar clinical outcomes when compared with NavX mapping only. 3DATG/NavX fusion may provide a lower radiation alternative to NavX only or preprocedural cardiac computed tomography as part of complex imaging strategies.
Systolic Multipliers for Finite Fields GF(2 m )

Two systolic architectures are developed for performing the product–sum computation AB + C in the finite field GF(2m) of 2melements, where A, B, and C are arbitrary elements of GF(2m). The first multiplier is a serial-in, serial-out one-dimensional systolic array, while the second multiplier is a parallel-in, parallel-out two-dimensional systolic array. The first multiplier requires a smaller number of basic cells than the second multiplier. The second multiplier heeds less average time per computation than the first multiplier if a number of computations are performed consecutively. To perform single computations both multipliers require the same computational time. In both cases the architectures are simple and regular and possess the properties of concurrency and modularity. As a consequence they are well suited for use in VLSI systems.
Na+:K+:2Cl- cotransport and the thick ascending limb.

Cet article de synthese fait le point sur les mecanismes d'absorption des sels dans la branche grele ascendante de l'anse de Henle dans la corticale et la medullaire renale. Transport du NaCl − cotransporteurs; proprietes biochimiques et electrophysiologiques. Absorption transepitheliale. Regulation par l'Adh et la PGE 2 . Force de dilution
A generalized anisotropic hardening rule based on the Mroz multi-yield-surface model for pressure insensitive and sensitive materials

Abstract In this paper, a generalized anisotropic hardening rule based on the Mroz multi-yield-surface model for pressure insensitive and sensitive materials is derived. The evolution equation for the active yield surface with reference to the memory yield surface is obtained by considering the continuous expansion of the active yield surface during the unloading/reloading process. The incremental constitutive relation based on the associated flow rule is then derived for a general yield function for pressure insensitive and sensitive materials. Detailed incremental constitutive relations for materials based on the Mises yield function, the Hill quadratic anisotropic yield function and the Drucker–Prager yield function are derived as the special cases. The closed-form solutions for one-dimensional stress–plastic strain curves are also derived and plotted for materials under cyclic loading conditions based on the three yield functions. In addition, the closed-form solutions for one-dimensional stress–plastic strain curves for materials based on the isotropic Cazacu–Barlat yield function under cyclic loading conditions are summarized and presented. For materials based on the Mises and the Hill anisotropic yield functions, the stress–plastic strain curves show closed hysteresis loops under uniaxial cyclic loading conditions and the Masing hypothesis is applicable. For materials based on the Drucker–Prager and Cazacu–Barlat yield functions, the stress–plastic strain curves do not close and show the ratcheting effect under uniaxial cyclic loading conditions. The ratcheting effect is due to different strain ranges for a given stress range for the unloading and reloading processes. With these closed-form solutions, the important effects of the yield surface geometry on the cyclic plastic behavior due to the pressure-sensitive yielding or the unsymmetric behavior in tension and compression can be shown unambiguously. The closed form solutions for the Drucker–Prager and Cazacu–Barlat yield functions with the associated flow rule also suggest that a more general anisotropic hardening theory needs to be developed to address the ratcheting effects for a given stress range.
Cellular basis of the non-specific potentiation of the immunoglobulin E response after helminth parasite infection.

Abstract Helminth parasites induce a substantial increase in the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) by the host after infection. Only a portion of the IgE antibody produced is specific for parasite-derived antigens since production of IgE antibody to non-parasite-derived antigens is also stimulated after infection. Invetigators have recently observed, in the parasite-infected host, the appearance of both T and B lymphocytes that synthesize lymphokines that affect the production of IgE in vitro. The results of some of these studies will be reviewed presently, and the possible role of lymphokines in the increase of IgE production after helminth infection will be discussed.
Confinement and deconfinement of spinons in two dimensions.

We use Monte Carlo methods to study spinons in two-dimensional quantum spin systems, characterizing their intrinsic size $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ and confinement length $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$. We confirm that spinons are deconfined, $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$ and $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ finite, in a resonating valence-bond spin-liquid state. In a valence-bond solid, we find finite $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ and $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$, with $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ of a single spinon significantly larger than the bound state---the spinon is soft and shrinks as the bound state is formed. Both $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ and $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ diverge upon approaching the critical point separating valence-bond solid and N\'eel ground states. We conclude that the spinon deconfinement is marginal in the lowest-energy state in the spin-1 sector, due to weak attractive spinon interactions. Deconfinement in the vicinity of the critical point should occur at higher energies.
Effects of Calcium Antagonists on Insulin Sensitivity and Other Metabolic Parameters

The antihypertensive efficacy of calcium antagonists appears to be comparable to that of oral diuretics when used as monotherapy. Peripheral vascular dilation appears to be the principal mechanism of the long-term blood pressure-lowering effects of calcium antagonists. The calcium antagonists appear to have beneficial effects with respect to maintenance of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. Metabolic abnormalities associated with diuretic and β-blocker antihypertensive therapy, such as hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, hyperuricemia, lipid changes, and hyperglycemia, are generally not observed with calcium antagonists.
Raster Map Image Analysis

Raster map images (e.g., USGS) provide much information in digital form; however, the color assignments and pixel labels leave many serious ambiguities. A color histogram classification scheme is described, followed by the application of a tensor voting method to classify linear features in the map as well as intersections in linear feature networks. The major result is an excellent segmentation of roads, and road intersections are detected with about 93% recall and 66 % precision.
Lumbar spine pain originating from vertebral osteophytes.

Background and Objectives. Axial spine pain originates from a number of structures. Putative pain generators include facet joints, intervertebral disks, sacroiliac joints, and myofascial structures. Osteophytes originating from lumbar vertebral bodies in the area of the intervertebral disks may be a source of nociceptive low back pain which may respond to local injection. Methods. Five patients with axial low back pain unresponsive to traditional treatment modalities were treated with fluoroscopic guided injection of local anesthetic and corticosteroid near large intervertebral osteophytes. Results. All 5 patients experienced relief. Conclusion. Vertebral osteophytes may be a source of axial spine pain. Injection of painful osteophytes with a local anesthetic and corticosteroid solution may produce pain relief.