cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial mitophagy in mesenteric artery remodeling in hyperhomocysteinemia

Although high levels of homocysteine also termed as hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease and mesenteric artery occlusion, the mitochondrial mechanisms behind endothelial dysfunction that lead to mesenteric artery remodeling are largely unknown. We hypothesize that in HHcy there is increased mitochondrial fission due to altered Mfn‐2/Drp‐1 ratio, which leads to endothelial dysfunction and collagen deposition in the mesenteric artery inducing vascular remodeling. To test this hypothesis, we used four groups of mice: (i) WT (C57BL/6J); (ii) mice with HHcy (CBS+/−); (iii) oxidative stress resistant mice (C3H) and (iv) mice with HHcy and oxidative stress resistance (CBS+/−/C3H). For mitochondrial dynamics, we studied the expression of Mfn‐2 which is a mitochondrial fusion protein and Drp‐1 which is a mitochondrial fission protein by western blots, real‐time PCR and immunohistochemistry. We also examined oxidative stress markers, endothelial cell, and gap junction proteins that play an important role in endothelial dysfunction. Our data showed increase in oxidative stress, mitochondrial fission (Drp‐1), and collagen deposition in CBS+/− compared to WT and C3H mice. We also observed significant down regulation of Mfn‐2 (mitochondrial fusion marker), CD31, eNOS and connexin 40 (gap junction protein) in CBS+/− mice as compared to WT and C3H mice. In conclusion, our data suggested that HHcy increased mitochondrial fission (i.e., decreased Mfn‐2/Drp‐1 ratio, causing mitophagy) that leads to endothelial cell damage and collagen deposition in the mesenteric artery. This is a novel report on the role of mitochondrial dynamics alteration defining mesenteric artery remodeling.
Goldilocks on the couch: Moderate levels of psychodynamic and process-experiential technique predict outcome in psychodynamic therapy.

AbstractObjectives: Greater symptom change is often assumed to follow greater technique use, a “more is better” approach. We tested whether psychodynamic techniques, as well as common factors and techniques from other orientations, had a curvilinear relation to outcome (i.e., whether moderate or “just right” intervention levels predict better outcome than lower or higher levels). Methods: For 33 patients receiving supportive-expressive psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression, interventions were assessed at Week 4 using the multitheoretical list of therapeutic interventions and symptoms were rated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Results: Moderate psychodynamic and experiential techniques predicted greater symptom change compared to lower or higher levels. Conclusion: This “Goldilocks effect” suggests a more complex relation of intervention use to outcome might exist.
Gene expression profiling of nasal polyps associated with chronic sinusitis and aspirin-sensitive asthma.

Objective: To identify genes whose expression is most characteristic of chronic rhinosinusitis and aspirin-sensitive asthma through genome-wide transcriptional profiling of nasal polyp tissue. Study Design: Prospective, controlled study conducted at a tertiary care institution. Methods: Thirty genome-wide expression microarrays were used to compare nasal polyp tissue from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis alone (CRS, n = 10) or chronic rhinosinusitis and a history of aspirin-sensitive asthma (ASA, n = 10) to normal sinonasal mucosa from patients who underwent surgery for non-sinus related conditions (controls, n = 10). Genes found to be most characteristic of each polyp phenotype, as determined from bioinformatic analyses, were validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry in different patient sets. Results: The transcriptional signature of the control mucosa was distinctly different from that of either polyp phenotype. Genes most characteristic of the CRS phenotype included two upregulated genes—met proto-oncogene (MET) and protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 9B (PPP1R9B)—and two downregulated genes— prolactin-induced protein (PIP) and zinc alpha2-glycoprotein (AZGP1). The gene most characteristic of the ASA phenotype was periostin (POSTN), which was upregulated relative to controls. Differences between the CRS and ASA phenotypes were associated with alterations in the 6p22, 22q13, and 1q23 chromosomal regions. Conclusions: Nasal polyps appear to have characteristic transcriptional signatures compared to normal sinonasal mucosa. The five genes identified in this study likely play roles in the pathogenesis of polyps associated with CRS and ASA, and are therefore attractive targets for novel medical therapies for these common debilitating diseases.
Optimal Particle Allocation in Particle Filtering for Multiple Object Tracking

In our previous work, we proposed an approach to particle filtering which simultaneously adjusts the proposal variance and number of particles for each frame, in order to minimize the tracking distortion for single object tracking. In this paper, we extend our previous work to multiple object video tracking. Under the framework of distributed multiple object tracking, we propose the tracking distortion and use rate distortion theory to derive the optimal particle allocation among multiple targets as well as multiple frames. We subsequently propose a dynamic proposal variance and optimal particle number allocation algorithm for multi-object tracking. Experimental results show the superior performance of our proposed algorithm to traditional particle allocation methods, i.e., a fixed number of particles for each object in each frame. The proposed algorithm can also be used in decentralized articulated object tracking. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first to provide an optimal allocation of a fixed number of particles among multiple objects and frames.
A switch in time: detailing the life of a riboswitch.

Abstract Riboswitches are non-protein coding RNA elements typically found in the 5′ untranslated region (5′-UTR) of mRNAs that utilize metabolite binding to control expression of their own transcript. The RNA–ligand interaction causes conformational changes in the RNA that direct the cotranscriptional folding of a downstream secondary structural switch that interfaces with the expression machinery. This review describes the structural themes common to the different RNA–metabolite complexes studied to date and conclusions that can be made regarding how these RNAs efficiently couple metabolite binding to gene regulation. Emphasis is placed on the temporal aspects of riboswitch regulation that are central to the function of these RNAs and the need to augment the wealth of data on metabolite receptor domains with further studies on the full regulatory element, particularly in the context of transcription.
Role of environmental stress in the physiological response to chemical toxicants.

Environmental physiology is the study of the physiological mechanisms that allow animals to cope with and adapt to changes in temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and other natural factors of their physical environment. Nearly all toxicological and pharmacological studies are performed in resting (i.e., nonexercising) experimental animals acclimatized to standard environmental conditions that are usually considered ideal to the animal's physiological well-being. These ideal test conditions are clearly not representative of the fluctuations in the natural environment encountered by humans and other animals on a day-to-day basis. It behooves the toxicologist, especially those interested in extrapolating experimental data from laboratory animals to humans, to consider how variations in the natural environment will alter physiological responses to toxicants. Temperature and exercise are the two most well-studied parameters in the fields of environmental physiology and toxicology. In general, high temperatures exacerbate the toxic effects of many environmental toxicants. Moreover, exercising subjects are generally more vulnerable to airborne toxic agents. The prospect of global warming also warrants a better assessment of how higher environmental temperatures may impact on the response of humans and other species to toxic chemicals. Hence, this paper and accompanying papers from the proceedings of a symposium focus on the salient aspects of the interaction between environmental stress and physiological response to toxic agents with particular emphasis on temperature and exercise.
The impact of a problem-solving intervention on increasing caregiver assistance and improving caregiver health.

There is a paucity of research evaluating the impact of symptom management interventions on increasing family caregiver involvement in symptom management and on caregivers' emotional health. In addition, most caregiver interventions are delivered by a health care professional, which can be costly to implement in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether, in patients with solid tumors, a nurse-delivered symptom management intervention was more effective than a coach-led intervention in increasing caregiver involvement in symptom management and improving caregivers' emotional health. Both caregivers and care recipients were recruited for the study. Inclusion criteria for patients were ≥40 years of age, English speaking, cognitively intact, and having a diagnosis of stage III or IV tumor. Dyads were randomized to a nurse-delivered symptom management intervention (N = 88) versus the coach-led group (N = 81). Data were collected via telephone interviews at baseline, 10, and 16 weeks. There was no significant main effect of the problem-solving intervention on symptom assistance at 10 weeks, but there were two significant interactions, between trial arm and depressive symptoms and between baseline assistance with symptoms and relationship to the patient. Caregivers with lower depressive symptoms were more likely (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.45–2.76) to provide assistance at 10 weeks if they received the nurse-delivered intervention. Spousal (versus non-spouses) caregivers who provided assistance at baseline were less likely to provide assistance at 10 weeks (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.36–0.94). No significant trial arm effects were found on caregiver emotional health, but assistance with greater number of symptoms was associated with worse caregiver depressive symptoms (p < 0.01) and burden (impact on schedule, p < 0.01). Findings suggest that a nurse-delivered problem-solving intervention increases family caregivers' level of assistance in symptom management for caregivers with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Data also suggest interventions focused solely on care recipient symptom management may not be effective in improving caregivers' emotional health.
Coulomb barrier for charge separation at an organic semiconductor interface.

Charge transfer (CT) excitons across donor-acceptor interfaces are believed to be barriers to charge separation in organic solar cells, but little is known about their physical characteristics. Here, we probe CT excitons on a crystalline pentacene surface using time-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy. CT excitons of $1s$, $2s$, and $3s$ characters are bound by Coulomb energies of 0.43, 0.21, 0.12 eV, respectively, in agreement with quantum mechanical modeling. The large binding energy of the $1s$ CT exciton excludes its participation in photovoltaics. Efficient charge separation in organic heterojunction solar cells must involve a series of hot CT excitons.
Everyone Says It's OK: Adolescents' Perceptions of Peer, Parent, and Community Alcohol Norms, Alcohol Consumption, and Alcohol-Related Consequences

An adolescent's perception of norms is related to her or his engagement in alcohol-related behaviors. Norms have different sources, such as parents, peers, and community. We explored how norms from different sources were simultaneously related to different alcohol-related behaviors (current drinking, drunkenness, heavy episodic drinking, driving under the influence or riding with a impaired driver, and alcohol-related nonviolent consequences) using data collected in 2004 from 6,958 adolescents from 68 communities in five states. Results revealed that parent, friend, and community norms were related to adolescents' alcohol-related behavior, but the strength of these impacts varied across behaviors. The pattern of results varied when the analysis relied on all adolescents or just those who had consumed alcohol in the last year.
Differential utilization of beta-tubulin isotypes in differentiating neurites

beta-Tubulin is encoded in vertebrate genomes by a family of six to seven functional genes that produce six different polypeptide isotypes. We now document that although rat PC-12 cells express five of these isotypes, only two (classes II and III) accumulate significantly as a consequence of nerve growth factor-stimulated neurite outgrowth. In contrast to previous efforts that have failed to detect in vivo distinctions among different beta-tubulin isotypes, we demonstrate using immunoblotting with isotype-specific antibodies that three beta-tubulin polypeptides (classes I, II, and IV) are used preferentially for assembly of neurite microtubules (with approximately 70% of types I and II assembled but only approximately 50% of type III in polymer). Immunofluorescence localization shows that an additional isotype (V) is partially excluded from neurites. Distinctions in in vivo localization of the neuron-specific, class III isotype have also been directly observed using immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy. The sum of these efforts documents that some in vivo functional differences between tubulin isotypes do exist.
Anti-retinoic Acid Monoclonal Antibody Localizes All-trans-retinoic Acid in Target Cells and Blocks Normal Development in Early Quail Embryo

Abstract Avian cardiovascular development is vitamin A-dependent, and retinoic acid has been suggested to be active in this important developmental event. We report here that a monoclonal antibody against all- trans -retinoic acid blocks normal embryonic development in the quail causing cardiovascular abnormalities typical of avian vitamin A deficiency. In whole-mount preparations of stage 5 normal quail embryos the fluorescence associated with the anti-retinoic acid monoclonal antibody localizes in Hensen's node and in caudal area. In stage 7-8 embryos fluorescence localizes in heart-forming areas as well as in head mesenchyme, in Hensen's node, in nephrotome, and in caudal area. These studies are the first to localize endogenous all- trans -retinoic acid during very early stages of normal avian development. We propose that all- trans -retinoic acid is biosynthesized in its target cells during early avian embryo-genesis and that the availability of this signal molecule is spatiotemporally regulated. We conclude that all- trans -retinoic acid or a closely related metabolite is the physiological form of vitamin A required for normal cardiovascular development and for other very early developmental events in the quail embryo.
The effects of disorganizing cues on the utilization of a mnemonic structure

To test the hypothesis that disorganizing cues would impair total recall and disrupt the utilization of a mnemonic structure, four groups of Ss were given a list in a free-recall task which was a combination of mnemonic structure (serial or random order) and cuing paradigm (organizing or disorganizing cues). Results revealed that (1) the mnemonic structure enhanced total recall, (2) disorganizing cues tended to disrupt the utilization of the mnemonic structure, and (3) a significant relationship was seen between the nature of the cue and whether or not the S attempted to utilize it.
Poisoning the software supply chain

To the indiscriminate and opportunistic attacker, breaking into a software package's development and distribution site and waiting until unsuspecting users install it is more efficient than locating and hacking into users' systems individually. Starting in 2002 and continuing in to 2003, we've seen new emphasis on this type of attack. All the recent activity has showcased the trend that attacks against open-source software distribution sites are increasing. The author looks at how softwares distribution-both open source and proprietary-can invite attacks.
Communities of Denial: The Co-Construction of Gendered Adolescent Violence

Neutralization theorists argue that techniques of neutralization bridge the gap between deviant behaviors and mainstream norms. While acknowledging this fundamental outcome, this article examines the role of broader communities in upholding neutralizations, specifically those that foster violence. Based on in-depth interviews with 25 adolescents and their mothers (N = 50), I find that neutralizations are developed around rigid gender ideologies, are differentially employed across genders, and reify gender differences in violent behavior. Techniques of neutralization are co-constructed within communities and built on mainstream norms, values, and expectations. This study demonstrates how neutralizations can perpetuate and escalate violence among adolescents.
Finger temperature response to sexual stimulation

Earlier studies support the conclusion that finger temperature decreases (vasoconstriction) during sexual arousal in males. In the present study, the male finger temperature response to a sexually explicit film decreased at first but then reserved itself and increased. Apparently, in the earlier studies the sexual stimulus was presented for such as short period of time that the increase phase was never observed.
Aerodynamic, acoustic, and vibratory comparison of arytenoid adduction and adduction arytenopexy.

Hypothesis: Adduction arytenopexy (AP) with thyroplasty provides improved physiologic placement of the vocal fold and therefore provides improved acoustic, aerodynamic, and vibratory function as compared with arytenoid adduction (AA) with thyroplasty. Methods: Five cadaveric human larynges were prepared by removing supraglottic tissues and fixing the nontest vocal fold medially on the cricoid facet with a needle in a physiologic phonating position. Each test vocal fold was then sequentially tested using an excised larynx phonation system, first with AA with silastic medialization and then converted to AP without changing the contralateral fold position or silastic wedge. The excised larynx setup allowed for simultaneous collection of data, specifically subglottic pressure (including measurement of phonation threshold pressure [PTP]), mean airflow, acoustic output, and full-frame high-speed digital video. Results: Aerodynamic evaluation was similar for each group with similar subglottic pressure versus output curves. Conditions involving AP typically had PTP values that were 80% of that for comparable AA conditions. Acoustic evaluation revealed differences between the two groups. Each AA was found to be vibrating with two dominant frequencies with their associated harmonics. Each AP vibrated at a single dominant frequency with its harmonics. Conclusion: AP provides improved vocal outcomes by decreasing system noise and decreasing PTP, which may lead to a stronger glottal signal with decreased vocal effort.
Creating a Wetland Using Rainwater as Mitigation for Loss of Waterfowl Habitat

A major onshore hydrocarbon terminal was constructed on coastal fields at Point of Ayr on the Welsh side of the Dee Estuary which is protected under national and international environmental legislation and conventions as a wetland of major importance - especially for birds. A scheme is described which was implemented to increase the carrying capacity for waterfowl in an area of farmland adjacent to the terminal. The main method for enhancing the habitat involved bringing a core area of the farm to ‘field capacity’(saturation with water) by surface wetting. Various potential water sources for the scheme were explored. The chosen system entailed the collection of rainwater runoff in a system of drains and reservoirs during the winter and the distribution of the water to bunded irrigation areas in the following autumn. The early successes of commissioning experiments are briefly described, and the key issues for further investigation are identified.
Neurotrophic stimulation of DNA synthesis in the regenerating forelimb of the newt, Triturus

The effect of infusions of soluble newt brain extracts on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in the denervated, regenerating newt blastema has been studied. When moderate early to early regenerates are denervated for 48 hours, DNA synthesis normally drops to about 40% of that found in contralateral, innervated blastemas. Infusion of brain extract halfway through the denervation period (at 24 hours) approximately doubles the rate of DNA synthesis in denervated regenerates.
Rapamycin versus methotrexate in early diffuse systemic sclerosis: results from a randomized, single-blind pilot study.

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of rapamycin in the treatment of diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma). Methods Eighteen patients with diffuse SSc of ≤5 years duration were randomized to receive rapamycin or methotrexate (MTX) in a single-blind, 48-week study. Abnormalities in clinical and laboratory parameters were compared between the 2 treatment groups. The potential efficacy of the study drugs was evaluated by comparing results of the baseline and 48-week assessments, including the modified Rodnan skin thickness score (MRSS) and the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index. Results The baseline characteristics of the patients were similar in both groups (n = 9 in each). One patient in the rapamycin group who never received the study drug was excluded from the analysis. Three patients in each group withdrew from the study; 2 of the withdrawals were treatment-related (severe hypertriglyceridemia associated with rapamycin, and pancytopenia associated with MTX), and 4 were SSc-related. Hypertriglyceridemia was the most notable side effect associated with rapamycin, but it was generally well tolerated and treatable. The incidence and severity of other adverse drug reactions were comparable between the 2 groups. Within each group, the MRSS improved significantly from baseline. In the rapamycin group, the patient's global assessment showed a significant improvement from baseline, while forced vital capacity values declined from baseline. The disease activity scores at 48 weeks and the changes in these scores from baseline were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusion Rapamycin has a reasonable safety profile in a select group of patients with scleroderma. Larger trials are needed to assess the efficacy of rapamycin in patients with early diffuse SSc.
Proton capture reaction rates in the rp process

Detailed shell-model calculations have been performed to study the structure of excited states in neutron deficient T=1, T=3/2, and T=2 nuclei in the mass range A=23--43. Excitation energies, single-particle spectroscopic factors, as well as \ensuremath{\gamma}-transition strengths were computed. On the basis of these results new reaction rates were calculated for proton capture on the T=1/2 nucleus $^{35}\mathrm{Ar}$, on the odd-odd T=1 nuclei $^{24}\mathrm{Al}$ and $^{32}\mathrm{Cl}$, on the even-even T=1 nuclei $^{26}\mathrm{Si}$, $^{30}\mathrm{S}$, $^{34}\mathrm{Ar}$, and $^{42}\mathrm{Ti}$ and the T=3/2 nuclei $^{23}\mathrm{Al}$, $^{27}\mathrm{P}$, $^{31}\mathrm{Cl}$, and $^{35}\mathrm{K}$. The new reaction rates are compared with the results of statistical model calculations as well as with previous estimates. The consequences of these new rates for the reaction flow and the rp process nucleosynthesis at different stellar temperature and density conditions will be discussed.
A Study of Several Approaches to Computing Surface Insolation over Tropical Oceans

Abstract The goals of this study were to investigate the potential of various meteorological factors for representing the more variable insolation reductions in the tropical atmosphere, and to develop curves and formulas for those relationships which appeared to be effective. Emphasis was placed on developing approaches that depend on simple meteorological entries. The following were studied in relation to the average daily atmospheric transmission ratio (insolation recorded at the earth's surface divided by the computed insolation on a horizontal surface at the top of theatmosphere) on a monthly basis using four years of Canton Island data and considering only hours between sunrise and sunset: average total opaque sky cover, average total sky cover, average daily duration (in minutes) of precipitation, average daily amount (in inches) of precipitation and fraction of days with precipitation. Also, the average daily amount of precipitation and fraction of days with precipitation were studied on an annual ...
Players in the silencing of retroviral DNAs in embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells potently repress retroviral infection through transcriptional silencing of the newly established proviral DNAs. We have characterized two distinct types of silencing in embryonic mouse cells infected by the Moloney murine leukemia virus (MLV): a highly efficient one targeted to the proline tRNA primer binding site (PBSpro) on the MLV genome, and a less efficient one occurring independently of the PBS. We determined that the PBS-specific silencing is mediated by TRIM28 (Kap-1), a known transcriptional silencer, tethered to the DNA by ZFP809, one of the dozens of zinc finger proteins encoded in the mammalian genome. At least two more components, HP1gamma and EBP1, are implicated in this silencing. We have also begun characterizing a non-PBS directed silencing complex acting more broadly on incoming viral DNAs in ES cells. We suggest that a major player in this process is Yin Yang1 (YY1), a GLI-Kruppel zinc finger protein, ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved between species. We show by ChIP that YY1 binds the LTR of both exogenous and endogenous retroviruses in ES cells. Deletion of the YY1 binding site from the MLV-LTR increased expression of the provirus at least four fold over that of the wild-type virus. Moreover, in YY1 KD cells the expression of the IAP (class II) endogenous retroviruses was remarkably upregulated.
Expedient synthesis of a modular phosphate affinity reagent.

Isolation and identification of phosphorylated macromolecules is essential for the deconvolution of most biological regulatory networks. Koike and co-workers recently reported the application of a dinuclear zinc-(pyridylmethyl)amine complex to phosphate-specific affinity purifications and gave it the shorthand name “phos-tag”. This complex is valuable for studying phosphorylation because it binds selectively to phosphate dianion in the presence of acidic functional groups at physiological pH, and because the binding is largely independent of molecular context. These properties of phos-tag recommend it for applications in phosphoproteomics, metabolomics, and nucleic acid biology. The catch has been that the molecule is difficult to make and prohibitively expensive to buy. Here, we describe an efficient and inexpensive synthesis of a phos-tag derivative with a versatile alkyne handle. The alkyne handle allows for attachment of phos-tag to alkyl azides via the copper(I)-catalyzed azide−alkyne cycloaddition r...
Can Kids be too Happy in School? The Optimal Level of School Satisfaction

Research to date has assumed linearity in the relationships been school satisfaction (SS), with more positive presumed outcomes associated with increasing levels of school satisfaction (cf. Huebner & Gilman, 2006). Given recent concerns over possible negative consequences associated with the very highest levels of general subjective well-being (Oishi, Diener, & Lucas, 2007), this study investigated the relationships of very high levels of SS, in particular, to measures of academic achievement and interpersonal relationships among middle school students. Analyses based on those of Oishi et al. demonstrated that for both academic achievement and interpersonal relationship measures, the non-linear effect was not significant for this sample of US middle school students. Limitations of the study as well as implications for future research are discussed.
Membrane fluidity and cholestasis

Editorial commentant le role de la membrane plasmatique hepatique dans la formation de la bile, et de la responsabilite de troubles de fonctionnement de cette membrane dans la pathogenese de la stase biliaire intrahepatique
Recategorized WISC-R scores of learning disabled children and differential diagnosis

This study analyzed WISC-R profiles along a three-factor approach (Spatial; Verbal-Comprehensive; Attention-Concentration), as suggested by Bannatyne (1968) for purposes of differential diagnosis. The WISC-R profiles of 278 school-verified learning disabled children were compared to those of four other groups: Educable Mentally Impaired (N = 141), Emotionally Impaired (N = 67), Otherwise Impaired (N = 61), and Nonimpaired (N = 294). The total sample was drawn from the State of Michigan public schools. Statistically significant differences were found between the learning disabled group and the other four groups on WISC-R subtest scores. Further analysis revealed that 36% of the learning disabled and 32% of normal children exhibited this WISC-R profile. Analysis of WISC-R profiles of SpatialVerbalAttention was not useful in differential diagnosis among the five groups. The results are discussed in terms of the limited utility of a three-factor analysis of WISC-R subtest scores for the purpose of differential diagnosis.
Method for hyphenating at the end of a printed line

A description of a method of hyphenation is presented as a result of application of several general rules. The character sets considered by the routine and the method are briefly outlined.
Large granular lymphocytes in the liver

Considerable numbers of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) were isolated from rat liver by a simple method consisting of sinusoidal lavage at elevated (50 cm water column) perfusion pressure. This method gave a yield comparable with the enzymatic dissociation method commonly used for the isolation of nonparenchymal liver cells, but was shorter in time and had the advantage of avoiding the potentially harmful effects of the dissociating enzymes. The isolated LGL were highly cytotoxic against YAC-1 lymphoma cells and this cytolytic activity was blocked by treatment of the effector cells with an antibody against natural killer cells (anti-asialo GMI). We characterized the hepatic LGL as nonphagocytic, nonadherent, per-oxidase-negative and acid phosphatase-positive cells which could be enriched in the low-density fraction of a Percoll gradient. At the light micro- scopic level, they showed characteristic azuro- philic granules, which corresponded to strongly osmiophilic granules with a specific morphology in electron microscopy. It is concluded that these LGL are identical to the “pit cells” which were formerly described by electron microscopy in situ as normal components of the liver sinusoids and which are easily recognized by their fine structure. It is also proposed that the liver may represent one of the major natural killer organs.
Constellations of Interpersonal Trauma and Symptoms in Child Welfare: Implications for a Developmental Trauma Framework

Patterns of trauma exposure and symptoms were examined in a sample of 16,212 children in Illinois child welfare. Data were collected on trauma histories, child and caregiver needs and strengths, and analyzed in light of the proposed Developmental Trauma Disorder diagnostic criteria. Youth exposed to both interpersonal violence and attachment-based (“non-violent”) traumas within the caregiving system had significantly higher levels of affective/physiological, attentional/behavioral, and self/relational dysregulation in addition to posttraumatic stress symptoms compared to youth with either type of trauma alone or in relation to other trauma experiences. These complexly traumatized children exhibited higher levels of functional impairment and were more likely to have placement disruptions and psychiatric hospitalizations. Findings suggest a developmental trauma framework can more adequately capture the spectrum of needs of these multiply traumatized youth than existing diagnostic formulations. Utilizing this framework for assessment, treatment planning, and intervention can lead to more targeted and effective services for these children.
Physician alerts to prevent venous thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which encompasses deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a common but usually preventable complication of hospitalization associated with substantial mortality, morbidity, and health care costs. Despite published guidelines for the prevention of VTE among hospitalized patients, underutilization of prophylaxis continues to be a problem in the United States, Canada, and worldwide. Although much of the emphasis placed on prevention has focused on improving in-hospital prophylaxis, nearly 75% of patients develop VTE in the outpatient setting. Of these patients, a substantial proportion had undergone surgery or hospitalization in the three months preceding the diagnosis of VTE. While extended out-of-hospital prophylaxis has been validated in the orthopedic and surgical oncology literature, data regarding the prevention of VTE in other hospitalized patient populations after discharge have been limited. In this review article, we discuss decision support strategies for improving VTE prevention during hospitalization and at the time of discharge.
Splenomegaly, Apparent Left Atrial Enlargement, and Normal Right Heart Catheterization

From the Departments of Medicine and Radiolo The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine a 3 Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. *Fellow, Canadian Heart Foundation. O°Fellow, Heart Association of Maryland. +Associate Professor of Radiology. ffAssociate Professor of Medicine. Supported in y r t by Training Grant #HE 05735 from The Nationa Heart Institute. sure was 120180 and the pulse irregular at 100Imin. The s the second sound was normal. A grade 216 short ejection systolic murmur was heard at the left lower sternal border. The spleen extended 7 cm. below the left costal margin. The remainder of the examination was unremarkable. The electrocardiogram revealed a sinus tachycardia with associated ST-T wave changes and occasional premature atrial contractions. Right heart catheterization revealed normal pressures in the right atrium. right ventricle, pulmonary artery and capillary wedge positions.
A turn-on split-luciferase sensor for the direct detection of poly(ADP-ribose) as a marker for DNA repair and cell death

Designed sensors comprising split-firefly luciferase conjugated to tandem poly(ADP-ribose) binding domains allow for the direct solution phase detection of picogram quantities of PAR and for monitoring temporal changes in poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation events in mammalian cells.
Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Sons and Daughters of Mothers with a History of Depression

The purpose of the present study was to examine the independent and joint effects of child gender and informant (mother-report vs. child self-report) on children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms in an at-risk sample of children of mothers with a history of depression. Data were obtained from mothers with a history of major depressive disorder (N = 149) and their 9- to 15-year-old children (74 males, 75 females) to assess children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Little evidence was found that maternal depression amplified the typical gender differences in the prevalence of depressive symptoms and behavioral problems. Partial support was found for the hypothesis that maternal depression may equalize the rates of symptoms in boys and girls. There was also some evidence that maternal depression may reverse typical patterns of gender differences in depressive symptoms; i.e., using normative T scores to account for expected rates of problems, boys reported more symptoms than girls. Mothers and children reported significantly different levels of problems depending on child gender. Future research should investigate the processes of risk that may lead to changes in the normative patterns of gender differences in the context of maternal depression.
Locomotion configuration of a robust rappelling robot

Robotic rappelling is an intriguing concept for exploration of planetary craters and their Earth analogs, volcanoes. Integrating a tensioned tether to a framewalking robot enables a new statically-stable locomotive capability appropriate for rappelling on steep and rugged terrains. Rappelling with a tether-assisted framewalker also allows efficient execution of multi-level control. These ideas are manifested in the locomotion configuration of Dante II. The appropriateness of the Dante II configuration for rappelling was evaluated during a variety of tests and its 1994 exploration of the active volcano of Mount Spurr in Alaska.
Managed care and the diffusion of endoscopy in fee-for-service Medicare.

Objective To determine whether Medicare managed care penetration impacted the diffusion of endoscopy services (sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy) among the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare population during 2001–2006.
Dynamin- and Lipid Raft-Dependent Entry of Decay-Accelerating Factor (DAF)-Binding and Non-DAF-Binding Coxsackieviruses into Nonpolarized Cells

Group B coxsackieviruses (CVB) use the CVB and adenovirus receptor (CAR) to enter and infect cells. Some CVB also bind to decay-accelerating factor (DAF), but that interaction alone is insufficient for infection. We previously found that CVB3 entry into polarized human intestinal cells (Caco-2) occurs by a caveolin-dependent but dynamin-independent mechanism that requires DAF-mediated tyrosine kinase signals. In this study, we examined how CVB enter and infect nonpolarized HeLa cells and how DAF binding affects these processes. Using immunofluorescence microscopy and a combination of dominant-negative proteins, small interfering RNAs, and drugs targeting specific endocytic pathways, we found that both DAF-binding and non-DAF-binding virus isolates require dynamin and lipid rafts to enter and infect cells. Unlike what we observed in Caco-2 cells, CVB3 entered HeLa cells with CAR. We found no role for clathrin, endosomal acidification, or caveolin. Inhibition of tyrosine kinases blocked an early event in infection but did not prevent entry of virus into the cell. These results indicate that CVB3 entry into nonpolarized HeLa cells differs significantly from entry into polarized Caco-2 cells and is not influenced by virus binding to DAF.
Personality, Culture, and Subjective Well-Being: Emotional and Cognitive Evaluations of Life

Subjective well-being (SWB), people's emotional and cognitive evaluations of their lives, includes what lay people call happiness, peace, fulfillment, and life satisfaction. Personality dispositions such as extraversion, neuroticism, and self-esteem can markedly influence levels of SWB. Although personality can explain a significant amount of the variability in SWB, life circumstances also influence long-term levels. Cultural variables explain differences in mean levels of SWB and appear to be due to objective factors such as wealth, to norms dictating appropriate feelings and how important SWB is considered to be, and to the relative approach versus avoidance tendencies of societies. Culture can also moderate which variables most influence SWB. Although it is challenging to assess SWB across societies, the measures have some degree of cross-cultural validity. Although nations can be evaluated by their levels of SWB, there are still many open questions in this area.
School desegregation and white flight: A reexamination and case study

Abstract The controversy over white flight and its effect on central city population composition grew out of an earlier controversy over the role of busing and its use to desegregate urban schools. Now, there is general agreement that white school enrollment losses do occur in school systems when there is mandatory busing for integration purposes, where there are large minority populations, accessible white suburbs, and when the busing program is district-wide. Although there is general agreement on the existence of white flight, there is less agreement on the temporal nature of that flight. The recent debate is related to conflicting models of white flight. This paper suggests a more clearly specified model to examine the temporal effects of white flight, and examines some specific impacts of white flight in a case study of Norfolk, Virginia.
Effectiveness and safety of intravenous nalmefene for emergency department patients with suspected narcotic overdose: A pilot study

Study objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nalmefene, an investigational narcotic antagonist that has potential advantages over naloxone because of its four- to eight-hour half-life, in emergency department patients with possible narcotic overdose. Design: Multi-institutional, prospective, phase II, open-label study. Type of participants: Complete data were available for 53 cases from two teaching hospitals. Men 18 years old or older who would otherwise receive naloxone were eligible (two women were enrolled inadvertently). Methods: Over four hours, one to ten boluses (median, one) of 0.5 or 1.0 mg nalmefene IV were given as often as every two minutes based on clinical need. Respirations, blood pressure, pulse, pupil size, and overall clinical response were monitored. Overall clinical response (1, no change; 2, partial response; 3, complete response), first assessed at two minutes, was analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Fifteen of 25 (0.5 mg) and nine of 28 (1.0 mg) cases were opiate positive. Twelve of 15 (0.5 mg) and six of nine (1.0 mg) opiate-positive cases had a rapid complete response. Coincident causes of depressed sensorium were identified in the remaining six opiate-positive cases. No difference in initial overall clinical response was seen between 0.5-mg and 1.0-mg opiate-positive cases ( P = .59). No deterioration requiring repeat nalmefene occurred in opiate-positive cases, even if methadone (four), codeine (two), or pentazocine (one) was found. No serious adverse events were judged to be related to nalmefene. Conclusion: Nalmefene is effective in the reversal of opiate overdose and appears to be safe in the management of patients with altered sensorium.
More bang for your buck: Small firms and the importance of aligned information technology capabilities and strategic flexibility

Information technology (IT) has been recognized for its potential to contribute to sustained competitive advantage for firms, however, research on the relationship between information technology spending and firm performance has produced inconsistent results, leading many to note an apparent “productivity paradox.” This potential hazard is particularly acute for small businesses that do not have sufficient slack resources to absorb unproductive spending. To address this issue, we suggest that a small firm's ability to develop aligned information technology capabilities will affect its ability to use strategic flexibility to proactively anticipate and react to needed changes, thereby improving firm performance. Results of the study, based on a sample of 160 small firms, largely support the proposed model. The work holds important implications for future research and management related to the dynamics of how firm IT capabilities are translated into firm performance.
Seasonal Climate Trends, the North Atlantic Oscillation, and Salamander Abundance in the Southern Appalachian Mountain Region

Abstract The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is a large-scale climate teleconnection that coincides with worldwide changes in weather. Its impacts have been documented at large scales, particularly in Europe, but not as much at regional scales. Furthermore, despite documented impacts on ecological dynamics in Europe, the NAO’s influence on North American biota has been somewhat overlooked. This paper examines long-term temperature and precipitation trends in the southern Appalachian Mountain region—a region well known for its biotic diversity, particularly in salamander species—and examines the connections between these trends and NAO cycles. To connect the NAO phase shifts with southern Appalachian ecology, trends in stream salamander abundance are also examined as a function of the NAO index. The results reported here indicate no substantial long-term warming or precipitation trends in the southern Appalachians and suggest a strong relationship between cool season (November–April) temperature and preci...
Exploring the use of concept spaces to improve medical information retrieval

Abstract This research investigated the application of techniques successfully used in previous information retrieval research, to the more challenging area of medical informatics. It was performed on a biomedical document collection testbed, CANCERLIT, provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which contains information on all types of cancer therapy. The quality or usefulness of terms suggested by three different thesauri, one based on MeSH terms, one based solely on terms from the document collection, and one based on the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) Metathesaurus, was explored with the ultimate goal of improving CANCERLIT information search and retrieval. Researchers affiliated with the University of Arizona Cancer Center evaluated lists of related terms suggested by different thesauri for 12 different directed searches in the CANCERLIT testbed. The preliminary results indicated that among the thesauri, there were no statistically significant differences in either term recall or precision. Surprisingly, there was almost no overlap of relevant terms suggested by the different thesauri for a given search. This suggests that recall could be significantly improved by using a combined thesaurus approach.
Network environmentalism: Citizen scientists as agents for environmental advocacy

Abstract Citizen science – public participation of non-scientists in scientific research – has become an important tool for monitoring and evaluating local and global environmental change. Citizen science projects have been shown to enable large-scale data collection, increase scientific literacy, and monitor environmental quality. However, few studies have examined the individual-level motivations and impacts of citizen science participation. We employ an exploratory multi-method approach (on-line surveys, a focus-group session, informal interviews, and descriptive statements) to evaluate the experiences of citizen scientists volunteering with two conservation organizations based in Bangalore, India. Our findings suggest that citizen science may contribute to increased environmental awareness among the general public. In particular, we identify a three-step process whereby highly motivated individuals, or environmental opinion leaders, seek out citizen science opportunities due to an interest in one or more environmental issues; gain expertise through citizen science participation; and diffuse acquired skills and knowledge to peers through social networks, education of other non-scientist Indian citizens, and/or changes in career or education trajectories. As a result, citizen scientists in India promote environmental principles through an active environmental advocacy network.