cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunodetection of connexins and cadherins in corneal fibroblasts and myofibroblasts.

Purpose In normal cornea, stromal fibroblasts (keratocytes) interact with one another by gap junctions. After corneal wounding, the remaining corneal stroma cells are phenotypically fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. For insight into the respective roles of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in wound healing, the authors have investigated the molecular basis of cell-cell interaction in cultures of corneal fibroblasts and corneal myofibroblasts. Methods Using Western blot analysis and immunofluorescent microscopy, the authors determined the relative expression and localization of junction proteins-connexins, cadherins, and cadherin-associated proteins (catenins)-in cultured fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Results In cultured corneal fibroblasts, the gap junction protein, connexin 43, was highly expressed and was localized to dense maculae; cadherins were not detected in cell-cell contacts. Cultured myofibroblasts showed the opposite pattern: Cadherins were highly expressed and localized at the cell-cell contacts, whereas myofibroblast connexin 43 was primarily intracellular. Myofibroblast cadherin was identified by a pan-cadherin antibody as a molecule of 135 kDa that reacted weakly with an N-cadherin monoclonal antibody. In addition, cadherin-associated cytoplasmic proteins, alpha- and beta-catenins, co-localized with cadherin at the cell-cell borders of the myofibroblasts. Conclusions The presence of connexin 43 at the cell-cell borders of corneal fibroblasts is consistent with a primary communication role of junctions in confluent corneal fibroblasts. In contrast, the presence of cadherin at the cell-cel borders of myofibroblasts may provide a site for insertion of actin filaments. A cadherin-actin association could support actin-based force generation for effective wound closure.
Axonal Transport Disorders

Because neurons possess the most complex geometries of any cell type, intracellular transport systems are essential to deliver critical proteins to specific anatomical and functional sites (e.g., dendrites, axons, and synaptic terminals) where relatively few proteins are synthesized. Although increasing evidence suggests that some proteins are synthesized locally within dendrites and spines and even within axons/terminals, the principal sites of neuronal protein synthesis are the cell bodies; axons and nerve terminals, in particular, depend primarily on this source for a continued supply of certain proteins to perform normal functions. The axonal transport systems, which evolved to deliver essential materials to the most distal parts of nerve cells, participate in the delivery of proteins and prepackaged cargo to specific destinations. These systems were initially distinguished based on velocity (fast, intermediate, or slow) and direction of movement (anterograde and retrograde). The identification of anterograde and retrograde transport motors and delineation of transport vesicles and cargo are critical players in this evolving story of discovery. Because axonal transport is a critical process within nerve cells, it is not surprising that axonal transport is involved in regeneration and that impairments in transport are associated with a variety of disorders of the peripheral and central nervous systems. In this article, we describe these transport systems and discuss how axonal transport functions in regeneration and repair and how malfunctions of transport processes are implicated in both experimental models and in human disorders.
A Cowboy Comes to Washington

Ronald Reagan, an actor-turned politician, was elected U.S. president in November 1980. He brought to the presidency a belief in American exceptionalism, an optimistic view of the future, and a fascination with technological progress. Told that the U.S. civilian space program was at “crossroads,” there was a hope that Reagan would put it on a positive future path.
Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes and the Developing Brain

This review describes the literature evaluating the potential adverse effects of youth-onset type 2 diabetes on the developing brain. A summary of recently published articles and the current state of knowledge are covered succinctly in this manuscript. Current literature suggests both cognitive and brain structural differences are found in youth with type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown poorer scores in a number of neurocognitive domains, particularly in areas of executive functioning and memory. Additionally, imaging studies have found differences in brain gray matter volume, white matter volume, and microstructural integrity. These findings are largely consistent with the adult literature. Youth with type 2 diabetes demonstrate lower cognitive scores and structural brain differences. Although causality has not yet been established, these findings are important because these individuals are still undergoing neurodevelopmental maturation.
On the kinetic theory of stable and weakly unstable plasma. Part 2

In plasma, where collective motions are made possible by the long range of the Coulomb interaction, there is properly no general kinetic equation for the one-particle distribution function alone. In part 1, we gave the foundations of an enlarged kinetic theory of plasma where the time evolution of the electric field fluctuations Ik is considered simultaneously with the time evolution of the one-particle distribution F. Here we improve these equations in a systematic fashion to include all processes which are relevant in stable and weakly unstable plasma. More precisely, the equation for the waves now includes, besides Landau damping and Cerenkov emission, the effect of collisional damping and nonlinear Landau damping, as well as emission via particle-particle scattering (bremsstrahlung), wave-particle and wave-wave scattering. The particle kinetic equation is also improved accordingly so that we obtain a kinetic description which is uniformly valid for all plasma reegimes, if one excludes strong turbulence (for which there is at present no completely satisfactory statistical theory).
HIV associated head and neck cancers in an inner-city minority population.

e13124Background: Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) is a common non-AIDS defining malignancy and its risk increases by 1.7 to 4-fold with HIV infection. Little is known about the epidemiology and outcomes...
Use of Fondaparinux Following Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery Is Associated With a Reduction in Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism

Study Design:Retrospective cohort study.Objective:To assess the impact of fondaparinux on venous thromboembolism (VTE) following elective lumbar spine surgery in high-risk patients.Methods:Matched ...
Anterior versus posterior approach total hip arthroplasty: patient-reported and functional outcomes in the early postoperative period

Purpose:Direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty (DA THA) has been reported to improve early outcomes compared to posterior approach THA up to 6 weeks postoperatively. Limited weekly outcome...
Ni(I)-Catalyzed β,δ-Vinylarylation of γ,δ-Alkenyl α-Cyanocarboxylic Esters via Contraction of Transient Nickellacycles.

We disclose a transmetalation-initiated Ni(I)-catalyzed regioselective β,δ-vinylarylation of γ,δ-alkenyl α-cyanocarboxylic esters with vinyl triflates and arylzinc reagents. This reaction proceeds ...
A God “in process of change”: Woolfian Theology and Mrs. Dalloway

In Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf depicts people and places as mysteriously connected, the boundaries between them so thoroughly blurred that her characters are “completed” by one another and by the spaces they inhabit. In this chapter, Kristina Groover reads Woolf’s novel through the lens of feminist enactment theologies, which situate the sacred neither in a transcendent God nor in individual consciousness, but in the relationship between self and other. Building on phenomenological studies of Woolf’s work, this chapter argues that Woolf’s religious thought emerges from situated and embodied experiences, challenging traditional theistic views that regard the spiritual self as immaterial, separated from the body and the world.
Redesigning Science Courses to Enhance Student Engagement and Performance

Following the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT) approach, the University at Buffalo Excellence in Course Instruction Through Enquiry (UB EXCITE) is a partnership between the Center for Educational Innovation (CEI) and faculty in the redesign of their courses to transform undergraduate teaching by incorporating active learning theories and best practices. Faculty members first apply for funding to redesign their courses and the support needed to teach them. Selected faculty form a professional learning community to collaboratively redesign their courses; the faculty also teach the redesigned courses and collect data to evaluate the courses’ effectiveness. The collected data are used to guide further refinement of the redesigned courses; thus course redesign, implementation, and revision form iterative cycles. Results from sample redesigned courses show that course redesign significantly increases student active learning activities and can result in student learning gains while keeping the instructional cost more or less unchanged.
Single cell transcriptomics is a robust approach to defining disease biology in complex clinical settings

Abstract Fluidics based single cell RNASeq (scRNASeq) provides a high throughput method for quantifying gene expression at single cell resolution. However, it remains unclear whether this approach is robust in dynamic clinical settings—including the extent to which new analytic tools required by the unique characteristics of scRNASeq are effective in such contexts. We report scRNASeq analysis of ~1,000 cells from each of 38 patients requiring veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS)—a diverse group of critically ill patients experiencing circulatory collapse as a common endpoint to wide ranging diseases. Using existing tools including Alra for technical drop out imputation and Harmony for batch effect removal, we established an analysis pipeline capturing major biological signals from theses samples as confirmed by flow cytometry. We demonstrate that even in this very complicated clinical setting, scRNASeq can reveal novel aspects of disease biology that can be translated to and validated in subsequent patient cohorts. One Sentence Summary Properly analyzed, fluidics based single cell RNASeq is a robust analytical tool even in complex clinical settings.
Peers or police?: The effect of choice and type of monitoring in the provision of public goods

Abstract Punishments are meant to deter bad acts, but we commonly only punish those we catch. At some point in time, a society chooses how to catch bad acts. We explore the effect of how we catch bad acts on public good provision. We contrast monitoring done by peers (e.g., a neighbor reporting illegal dumping) to that done by an organized group (e.g., the police patrolling for crime). We find that when either type of monitoring is exogenously imposed, both peer and group monitoring lead to similar levels of public good provision. However, when monitoring is an endogenous choice, societies fail to implement group monitoring, resulting in a 44% drop in public good provision. In contrast, peer monitoring results in similar levels of public good provision when either endogenously chosen or exogenously imposed. If the willingness to monitor is unknown, it may be safer to use peer rather than group monitoring.
Novel hybrid finds a peri-urban niche: Allen’s Hummingbirds in southern California

Species range expansions and contractions can have ecological and genetic consequences, and thus are important areas of study for conservation. Hybridization and introgression are not uncommon in closely related populations that experience secondary contact during a range expansion. Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) in California comprises two subspecies: the migratory S. s. sasin, which winters in central Mexico and breeds in central and northern California, and the resident S. s. sedentarius, which lives and breeds year-round on several of the Channel Islands off the California coast. Within recent decades, Allen’s Hummingbirds have been found living and breeding year-round in the southern California peri-urban mainland near Los Angeles. Ornithologists assumed that the L.A. birds were an expansion of the island subspecies, S. s. sedentarius due to similar but very subtle morphological characteristics. However, the genetic relationships among the three putative populations of Allen's hummingbird—migratory, southern California mainland, and island—are unknown. We investigated these relationships by analyzing variation of single nucleotide polymorphisms from the three geographic regions where S. sasin are present. Our population genomic analyses indicate that S. sasin hummingbirds inhabiting mainland southern California are a hybrid population resulting from admixture between S. s. sasin and S. s. sedentarius. From one perspective, these results may be interpreted as a positive development for S. s. sasin as the growing population represent an overall increase in the S. sasin population, and the expanding population contains a significant representation of S. s. sasin alleles.
TaDPole: Traffic-aware Discovery Protocol for Software-Defined Wireless and Mobile Networks

The Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technologies enhance the performance, reliability, and cost of managing the functions, controls, and services of the wireless and mobile network infrastructures (i.e., Internet of Things). However, the current OpenFlow Discovery Protocol (OFDP) in SDN poses substantial scalability, accuracy, and latency challenges due to its gossipy, centralized, periodic, and tardy protocol nature. Furthermore, the problems are aggravated in the wireless, and mobile SDN due to the dynamic topology churns and the lack of link-layer discovery methods.In this paper, we design and build a novel Traffic-aware Discovery Protocol (TaDPole) for wireless and mobile SDN. We facilitate multiple discovery frequency timers for each target instead of using a uniform discovery timer for the entire network. TaDPole calculates the significance of each discovery target according to the recent network usage by assuming that the higher traffic node has more impact on the network service. It lessens discovery delay by increasing the discovery frequency to the more critical nodes. Also, it enhances the control message efficiency by reducing the discovery frequency to the less significant targets. Besides, it supports the port-neutral broadcast-based discovery method instead of using port-specific request and response approaches. We have implemented TaDPole on the RYU controller. Extensive Mininet experiment results validate that TaDPole improves discovery message efficiency by two times and makes the control traffic less bursty than OFDP with a uniform timer. It reduces the network status discovery delay by three times without increasing the control overhead.
Curvature-Induced Buckling for Flapping-Wing Vehicles

This article explores a technique to leverage curved surfaces for producing preferential buckling that can be used to create forward thrust in flapping-wing devices. We present a novel concept for using anisotropically buckling beams in robot locomotion, facilitated via an analytical and finite-element-based analyses. We demonstrate that with symmetric flapping inputs from a motor, buckling beams can be used to generate forward thrust, power, and work while reducing the drag associated with the recovery phase of the flapping gait. Our analysis includes experimental data that measures the forces produced by wings flapping in air and water. The results show a clear difference in the work produced between buckling and nonbuckling curved beams and shows that the average force and work produced by buckling wings over a number of cycles with symmetric flapping is nonzero. This has been demonstrated on a new, two-fin swimming robot that, through the use of this phenomenon, is capable of reaching an average speed of 0.1 m/s. This article makes it possible for simple motor inputs to produce complex swimming gaits through careful consideration during the mechanical design phase for swimming robots.
Design of a Dynamic Parameter-Controlled Chaotic-PRNG in a 65nm CMOS process

In this paper, we present the design of a new chaotic map circuit with a 65nm CMOS process. This chaotic map circuit uses a dynamic parameter-control topology and generates a wide chaotic range. We propose two designs of dynamic parameter-controlled chaotic map (DPCCM)-based pseudo-random number generators (PRNG). The randomness of the generated sequence is verified using three different statistical tests, namely, NIST SP 800-22 test, FIPS PUB 140-2 test, and Diehard test. Our first design offers a throughput of 200 MS/s with an on-chip area of 0.024mm2 and a power consumption of 2.33mW. The throughput of our second design is 300 MS/s with an area consumption of 0.132mm2 and power consumption of 2.14mW. The wider chaotic range and lower-overhead, offered by our designs, can be highly suitable for various applications such as, logic obfuscation, chaos-based cryptography, re-configurable random number generation,and hard-ware security for resource-constrained edge devices like IoT.
Amnesty for Even the Worst Offenders

In recent years, global policy makers have declared that heads of state must be held accountable through criminal prosecution for internationally wrongful acts. Scholars too have insisted that the international system’s embrace of accountability excludes or renders illegal the granting of amnesty. This Article argues that that position is too narrow and uses the ongoing conflict in Syria, as well as other contemporary examples, to examine some of consequences of the clamor for prosecution. The Article rejects the binary juxtaposition of amnesty and accountability in current international legal scholarship, and instead seeks to broaden the terms of the conversation by considering amnesty from the perspective of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle. The Article suggests that viewing amnesty as a conflict resolution mechanism that may discharge R2P highlights important values and tradeoffs that the debate over amnesty and its relation to accountability has heretofore neglected.
Isotropic Components of Antipyrylazo III Signals from Frog Skeletal Muscle Fibers

The activation of the contractile response in a vertebrate twitch muscle fiber is known to depend on a transient rise in myoplasmic free Ca2+. In order to learn more about the details of the cellular processes controlling and controlled by Ca2+, it would be useful to be able to accurately measure the amplitude and time course of the myoplasmic Ca2+ transient. Recent work in a number of laboratories has shown that any of several metallochromic “calcium” indicator dyes, once introduced into the myoplasm, may be useful for this purpose in frog twitch fibers [2,4,5,8,18,19,21–25,31]. For example, arsenazo III and antipyrylazo III at a myoplasmic concentration in the range 0.5–1.5 mM give large and easily measured Ca2+ signals in response to a single action potential or voltage-clamp pulse.
Immigrant and Native-Born Differences in School Stability and Special Education: Evidence from New York City

Using the literature on achievement differences as a framework and motivation, along with data on New York City students, we examine nativity differences in students' rates of attendance, school mobility, school system exit, and special education participation. The results indicate that, holding demographic and school characteristics constant, foreign-born have higher attendance rates and lower rates of participation in special education than native-born. Among first graders, immigrants are also more likely to transfer schools and exit the school system between years than native-born, yet the patterns are different among older students. We also identify large variation according to birth region.
A 10-Year Review of the Methods and Purposes of On-Skin Interface Research in ACM SIGCHI

This paper aims to organize research from Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer–Human Interaction (ACM SIGCHI) associated conferences that have significant impact on on-skin interfaces. We performed a systematic review of the ACM database and identified 68 on-skin related publications between January 2010 to May 2021. The publications are categorized, evaluated, and compared over time and by conference. Citation impact of each paper is assessed revealing trends in the field and reflected onto the general community. Through extensive data collection, we present a thorough analysis of on-skin interfaces’ development in the past decade.
Acetazolamide prevents hypoxia-induced reactive oxygen species generation and calcium release in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle

Upon sensing a reduction in local oxygen partial pressure, pulmonary vessels constrict, a phenomenon known as hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Excessive hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction can oc...
The Random Walk System

The crayfish has a pair of ordinary cephalic eyes capable of spatial perception. In addition, it possesses a primitive photosensitive tail ganglion, A6, of the ventral nerve cord, which even in the absence of normal visual input, permits light avoidance behavior in the form of an aversive walk. This response induces the animal to seek out and remain in dark environments, providing that no overriding stimuli exist [27, 41, 61, 63]. In order to study this response it is useful to scrutinize the entire sequence of signals: (a) light energy, (b) ascending nerve impulses from photoreceptor to brain, (c) descending nerve impulses from brain to thoracic ganglia, (d) motor nerve impulses, (e) muscular contraction. A first stage of our research is to record the nerve signals along the path of the random walk response [14–16, 30, 36, 55].
Entrepreneurship, globalization, and information technology: a case study of Webject Systems, Inc.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of and insight into the creation and success of Webject Systems, Inc., an international SME in the IT consulting sector.Design/methodology/approach – A history of the company along with background information regarding the founder and the information technology (IT) industry is provided. Highlighted are aspects of the competition, financing, business operations, and human resources management. To conclude, the current state of both the industry and Webject Systems is projected.Findings – The information provided in this case study illustrates various business strategies that helped Webject Systems to thrive during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The description of the current state of the company and of the industry helps to forecast its future existence and success.Originality/value – This case study would be of value to entrepreneurs, specifically in the IT sector, and also to those interested in the globalization of existing firms.
An Executive's Guide to Information Technology: Backup to Business process re-engineering

Foundation concepts: Storage, Information lifecycle management, Power protection. Definition: Secondary copies of data and applications kept to guard against catastrophic loss in the event of a system failure. Not to be confused with: BackUPS , the trade name of a variety of uninterruptible power supply. Overview Hardware failures do occur. They can be made less common by using only the most reliable hardware components, employing all available power protection technologies, and regularly monitoring system performance to catch problems before they occur, but nothing can prevent unexpected failure. When a computer system suffers a hardware failure, it will sometimes leave data stored on disks undamaged, but some failures can destroy a disk drive, and some will result in damage to files: if an application is actively modifying a data file when the computer suddenly stops working, the file can be left in an intermediate state with just half of the change made (perhaps a balance transfer had credited one account but not yet debited the other), leaving the file's state invalid. Sadly, amongst the most common forms of hardware failures are failures of the disk system itself. Damage may range anywhere from a slight degradation in performance to a complete loss of all data and the disk itself becoming unusable. Additionally, software problems are very likely to cause loss of data. The presence of Bugs in applications is extremely wide-spread, and, if an application is “buggy,” it could do anything from occasionally failing to update files completely to accidentally deleting everything stored on the disk.
Immunologic abnormalities in pathogen-free cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus.

Abstract Blood mononuclear cells from 47 cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) were examined by using monoclonal antibodies directed against feline CD4 and CD8 homologs, a pan-T-cell antigen, and cell surface immunoglobulin. Significant inversion of the CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio was observed only in cats that were infected for 18 months or more. This inversion was associated with a decrease in the absolute numbers of CD4+ T cells and a concomitant increase in CD8+ cells. However, the total numbers of circulating T and B cells were not significantly reduced. Cats infected with FIV for 24 to 28 months also had significantly elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), but normal levels of IgA and IgM. The long-term decline in CD4+ T cells and hypergammaglobulinemia observed in FIV-infected cats resemble the abnormalities occurring in humans after human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Tracked Regularized Ultrasound Elastography for Targeting Breast Radiotherapy

Tracked ultrasound elastography can be used for guidance in partial breast radiotherapy by visualizing the hard scar tissue around the lumpectomy cavity. For clinical success, the elastography method needs to be robust to the sources of decorrelation between ultrasound images, specifically fluid motions inside the cavity, change of the appearance of speckles caused by compression or physiologic motions, and out-of-plane motion of the probe. In this paper, we present a novel elastography technique that is based on analytic minimization of a regularized cost function. The cost function incorporates similarity of RF data intensity and displacement continuity, making the method robust to small decorrelations present throughout the image. We also exploit techniques from robust statistics to make the method resistant to large decorrelations caused by sources such as fluid motion. The analytic displacement estimation works in real-time. Moreover, the tracked data, used for targeting the radiotherapy, is exploited for discarding frames with excessive out-of-plane motion. Simulation, phantom and patient results are presented.
A Sufficient Condition for Edge Chromatic Critical Graphs to Be Hamiltonian—An Approach to Vizing's 2-Factor Conjecture

In this article, we consider Vizing's 2-Factor Conjecture which claims that any Δ-critical graph has a 2-factor, and show that if G is a Δ-critical graph with n vertices satisfying Δ≥6n7, then G is Hamiltonian and thus G has a 2-factor. Meanwhile in this article, we also consider long cycles of overfull critical graphs and obtain that if G is an overfull Δ-critical graph with n vertices, then the circumference of G is at least min{2Δ,n}.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Graph Theory 00: 1-14, 2012
Uptake of Nicotinic Acid and Nicotinamide by Rat Erythrocytes

Abstract The uptake of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide by rat erythrocytes consists of two processes, diffusion and enzyme-catalyzed conversion to nucleotides which do not readily diffuse from the cell. These two processes provide for a very rapid removal of these compounds, especially nicotinic acid, from the external medium. The two processes have been investigated separately with the use of 14C-labeled substrates and fluoride to prevent the formation of nucleotides. Inorganic phosphate stimulates the formation of nucleotides 2- to 3-fold at an optimum concentration of 20 mm. Glycolytic inhibitors other than fluoride, including arsenate and iodoacetate, also arrest the formation of nucleotides. Replacement of glucose with 2-deoxyglucose likewise prevents nucleotide formation. The passage of nicotinic acid and its amide into and out of fluoride-inhibited erythrocytes differed greatly. The passage of the acid ceased when the temperature was lowered to 0° and exhibited a Q10 of about 2 for uptake between 10° and 30°, suggesting that it was transported by facilitated diffusion. On the other hand, free diffusion can account for the rapid uptake and removal of nicotinamide from the cells. Equilibration occurred within 1 min at temperatures between 0° and 37°. Quinolinic acid was taken up only very slightly, and there was no evidence of nicotinic acid mononucleotide formation.
Sodium and potassium salts in the treatment of experimental diabetes and diabetes mellitus.

The relation of sodium and potassium salts to carbohydrate metabolism has been sporadically investigated for a number of years. Beard ( '18) studied the effect of unrestricted salt intake on diabetic patients, especially from the point of view of possible kidney damage. In the course of his paper, he mentions that only one patient on high sodium chloride, and one on high sodium bicarbonate showed increased sugar toler ance. He observed that his studies allowed no deductions con cerning the utilization of carbohydrates during the period of high sodium chloride intake. Glass and Beiless ( '30) reported beneficial effect of intravenous injections of hypertonic sodium chloride solution on the blood sugar in diabetes. The subject received new attention when McQuarrie, Thomp son and Anderson ( '36) gave large doses of salt (60 to 90 gm.
Proof testing of ceramics

The effectiveness of proof testing as a method of improving component reliability was studied by comparing strength distributions of soda-lime-silica glass before and after proof testing. The effects of unloading rate from the proof stress, hold time at the proof stress, and proof test environment were examined. The results indicate that the proof test must be conducted with rapid unloading rates and good environmental control to be effective. The theoretical implications of these results are discussed.
Piggy-back microtransfer technique

A new microtransfer technique is described which uses a modified, V-bottom, disposable, 96-cup plastic plate that permits serial dilutions and direct rapid transfer to a recipient micro cell culture plate.
Molecular cloning of the cDNA for ligatin

We describe the first isolation and sequence of a partial cDNA clone encoding ligatin, a trafficking receptor for phosphoglycoproteins. The clone was isolated from a human U937 promonocyte lambda gt11 cDNA library using rabbit antiserum to rat ileal ligatin. RNA blot hybridization revealed that the intact receptor transcript in human cells is 2.4 kilobases (kb). DNA sequencing together with expression of protein fusion products in Escherichia coli demonstrated that the cloned segment begins with a 1.2 kb open reading frame potentially encoding a 7.5 × 10(3) Mr section of the 10 × 10(3) Mr receptor followed by a 3′ tail of 948 bases. The 225 bases of coding sequence correspond to the carboxyl region of ligatin and contain a potential acceptor site for asparagine-linked glycosylation. Neither a poly(A) sequence nor polyadenylation signal was found at the 3′ end of the clone. In the 3′ untranslated region there is a paired consensus sequence (TGAGnnnTTTTTCA) that is analogous to a conserved 12 base-pair sequence present in clusters in several growth-controlled mRNAs, including those for c-fos and beta-actin. The identity of this clone as ligatin was confirmed immunologically using antisera to an encoded fusion protein and three independent regions of its derived sequence. In addition, one of these antibodies produced a punctate immunofluorescence pattern within the cytosol of U937 cells in a similar fashion to anti-ligatin serum.
The Political Ecology of the Water Crisis in Israel

The Political Ecology of the Water Crisis in Israel. Susan H. Lees. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1998. 188 pp.
Differences in Carotid Shunt Flow Rates and Implications for Cerebral Blood Flow

A wide variety of carotid shunts are available for use in extracranial carotid surgery. Since it is commonly assumed that when properly positioned all shunts are equal in ability to protect the brain from cerebral ischemia, the choice of shunt is usually based on handling characteristics. However, after an intraoperative stroke occurred in a patient, we compared shunt flow rates using a simple and reproducible method of measurement. A mock circuit was created using a saline-filled fluid reservoir connected to the particular shunt being tested via 1/2-inch tubing. Hydrostatic pressure across the shunt was varied by changing the height of the reservoir, and the flow was collected over 30-second intervals. Multiple flow rate measurements were performed for each shunt with pressure gradients varying from 25 to 150 cm H2O. The data show significant hemodynamic differences among commercially available carotid shunts. A pressure gradient of 75 cm H2O produced a 2.8-fold variation in the amount of fluid delivered by various shunts. Minimal cerebral blood flow requirements and the possibility of underperfusion require that the surgeon consider such data in choosing an appropriate carotid shunt.
On Fully Aligned Lifting Line Model for Propellers: An Assessment of Betz condition

The authors discuss the optimum propeller loading through the use of a lifting line model. Viscous terms are included through a drag-to-lift ratio, and a hub image model is implemented. Two types of trailing wake geometries are considered: one based on helical wakes, which are aligned at the blade (using the so-called “moderately loaded propeller” assumption), and a second one based on a full wake alignment model to represent more accurately the wake geometry and its effect on the efficiency of the propeller. A comparison of the efficiencies and the loading distributions obtained through both methods is presented as well as convergence and numerical accuracy studies. The accuracy of Betz condition according to both wake models is tested, and conclusions are drawn based on these results.
Fracture mechanisms of fiber-reinforced titanium alloy matrix composites Part III: Toughening behavior

Abstract The damage mechanisms of several notched unidirectional SCS-6 fiber-reinforced titanium alloy matrix composites tested under three-point bending are evaluated. The key microstructure parameters which dominate the load-deflection curve, crack tip initiation, crack tip damage growth and fracture behavior of these composites are discussed. The role of the fiber-matrix interface in crack initiation and propagation is also examined. Results indicate that the crack initiation energy is affected by the fiber strength, matrix yield strength or shear strength. The crack propagation energy is controlled by matrix phase deformation, multiple fiber fracture and fiber pull-out.
Dissimilar background genes control susceptibility to autoimmune disease in the context of different MHC haplotypes: NOD.H‐2s congenic mice are relatively resistant to both experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and type I diabetes

Nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice develop multi-organ autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes. We hypothesized that backcrossing the MHC region from SJL (H-2s) mice, which have an endogenous PLP139–151-reactive repertoire, onto the background of autoimmune-prone NOD mice would result in a mouse strain that is highly susceptible to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Unexpectedly, although we detected an endogenous PLP139–151 repertoire in the NOD.S mice, they did not develop spontaneous EAE and were relatively resistant to PLP139–151-induced EAE when compared to SJL mice. This resistance was associated with lower production of proinflammatory cytokines and a decreased expansion of PLP139–151-specific CD4+ T cells after immunization and restimulation with PLP peptide in vitro. Vβ chain usage among PLP139–151-reactive T cells differed between SJL and NOD.S mice. Furthermore, NOD.S mice were resistant to the development of insulitis and cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes, but not sialadenitis. Altogether, even though NOD mice develop spontaneous autoimmune diseases, they become relatively resistant to induction of EAE even when they express the EAE-permissive class II molecule I-As. Our data show that certain combinations of otherwise susceptibility-conferring MHC and non-MHC genes can mediate autoimmune-disease resistance when they are paired together. These findings do not support the "shared autoimmune gene" hypothesis.
Stratospheric air sampling platform/sensor tradeoffs

Results of a study are described in which in-situ and remote sensing instrumentation are considered for accommodation on airborne platforms capable of reaching stratospheric altitudes. The instrumentation measures trace species of importance to present concerns regarding stratospheric pollution and possible ozone depletion. The platforms examined were the U-2, modified U-2, balloon, rocket, F-15 flown in a zoom-climb maneuver, YF-12, and remotely piloted vehicle (RPV). The sensors and performance characteristics of the platforms are described and special problems of sensor-platform integration are discussed. A typical latitudinal sampling mission is utilized to describe platform logistics problems and how the platforms might perform such missions.
Dehydroepiandrosterone: Biosynthesis and Metabolism in the Brain

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is abundantly found in brain tissues of several species, including human. However, the cellular origin and pathway by which DHEA is synthesized in brain are not yet known. We have, therefore, initiated pilot experiments to explore gene expression of cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase (P450c17), the key steroidogenic enzyme for androgen synthesis, and evaluate DHEA production by highly purified astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons. Using RT-PCR, we have demonstrated for the first time that astrocytes and neurons in the cerebral cortex of neonatal rat brain express P450c17. The presence of P450c17 in astrocytes and neurons was supported by the ability of these cells to metabolize pregnenolone to DHEA in a dose-dependent manner as determined by RIA. These data were further confirmed by production of androstenedione by astrocytes using progesterone as a substrate. However, cortical neurons express a low transcript of P450c17 messenger RNA and produce low levels of DHEA and andr...
Assimilation of altimeter Eddy fields in a limited-area quasi-geostrophic model

Abstract Techniques for the synoptic analysis, vertical inference, dynamical adjustment, and forecast of altimetric and deeper in situ data are presented as a first step towards the design of continuous assimilation schemes in limited-area oceanic domains. A year-long time series of streamfunction maps, denoted Mark 2, drawn in the POLYMODE area of the western North Atlantic is used as a benchmark for various tests and simulations. An original projection/extension scheme using empirical modes of density and/or pressure anomalies is used to obtain a first guess of the three-dimensional structure of the currents, starting from surface topography only. In the Mark 2 domain, this technique works well, since the first empirical mode is surface intensified and largely dominant. An alternative approach is to incorporate deeper data, e.g., float trajectories below the main thermocline. The first-guess currents are specified as initial and boundary condition of the Harvard 6-level quasi-geostrophic open ocean mode...
Disaster Interpersonal Communication and Posttraumatic Stress Following the 2011 Joplin, Missouri, Tornado

In 2011 a deadly tornado struck Joplin, Missouri, killing 158 people. Six months after this disaster, we conducted a random digit dialing telephone survey of Joplin adult residents (N = 380) to examine the relationships between disaster experience, posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, and disaster interpersonal communication. We found that tornado experience and PTS symptoms resulting from the disaster were related to more interpersonal communication about the event. Considering the nature of disaster experience in understanding the relationships between PTS symptoms and disaster interpersonal communication proved important, as PTS symptoms were related to more talk with neighbors for those directly affected by the storm and more attendance at community meetings for those not directly affected. For those living in Joplin who knew someone who died, more PTS symptoms were related to more talk with friends, family, and neighbors and more attendance at community meetings relative to those who did not know som...
Cross-linking of NCAM receptors on neurons induces programmed cell death.

Programmed cell death has been implicated in the loss of neurons that occurs in many neurodegenerative diseases. This has led to an increased interest in the types of stimuli that can initiate neurons to undergo programmed cell death. Previously, we have shown that cross-linking of membrane receptors with the lectin concanavalin A can trigger programmed cell death in neurons [D.H. Cribbs, V.M. Kreng, A.J. Anderson, C.W. Cotman, Cross-linking of Concanavalin A receptors on cortical neurons induces programmed cell death, Neuroscience 75 (1996) 173-185]. Concanavalin A, however, binds to many surface glycoproteins and therefore, it is important to determine whether certain specific receptors can initiate the program. We found that surface immobilized anti-neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAM) monoclonal antibodies provide a good substrate for adhesion and neurite outgrowth for cortical neurons. However, neurons treated directly with soluble anti-NCAM monoclonal antibodies show significant cell death after 24 h and exhibit the morphological and biochemical features indicative of apoptosis, including membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, condensation of nuclear chromatin and internucleosomal DNA cleavage.
The mechanism of cobalamin binding to hog intrinsic factor.

Abstract Circular dichroism studies on the methylcobalamin-intrinsic factor complex, together with studies on the carbethoxylation of histidine residues in this complex, indicate that 5,6 dimethylbenzimidazole is probably displaced by a histidine residue of intrinsic factor which coordinates to the cobalt atom at the sixth coordination site. In addition, the stability of the CoC σ bond for methylcobalamin bound to intrinsic factor is identical to that stability measured for the free methyl-cobinamide-histidine complex, but considerably different from the stability of this σ bond in free methylcobalamin.
Lead Catalysis of a Thiocarbonyl Reduction Using Zinc Dust

A catalytic amount of lead is necessary to promote the reduction of a 2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone to the corresponding 4-thiazolidinone with zinc dust. If sufficient lead (>1000 ppm) is not contained in the commercially supplied zinc dust, a catalytic amount of lead dust or a lead salt may be added to consistently obtain the desired reactivity. Addition of larger amounts (>2 mol %) of lead salts or other metal salts results in a decrease in reactivity. Thallium(I) chloride is also a useful additive for increasing the reactivity of commercial zinc dust which does not contain lead. Identification of the catalytic role of lead allowed development of a robust process for the synthesis of 4-thiazolidinones.
Esophageal Achalasia 2011: Pneumatic Dilatation or Laparoscopic Myotomy?

This article reviews the changes that have taken place in the treatment of patients with achalasia in the last 20 years. It compares and contrasts treatment preferences in the USA with those of Canada and Europe. It provides a critical analysis of the recent randomized trial between laparoscopic Heller myotomy and pneumatic dilatation that was carried out in several European centers. It supports the use of laparoscopic Heller myotomy as the preferred treatment for the average patient with this disease in the USA.
Reduced survivin expression and tumor cell survival during chronic hypoxia and further cytotoxic enhancement by the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib

Hypoxia is a characteristic feature of advanced solid tumors and may worsen prognosis. The development of tumor-targeted and hypoxia-inducible gene therapy vectors holds promise to selectively deliver and express suicidal or cytotoxic genes in hypoxic regions of tumors. In this regard, the promoter of the survivin gene, which encodes an anti-apoptotic protein that is strongly expressed in tumor tissue, has received attention because of its supposed inducibility by hypoxia. However, in our present study we demonstrate that treatment of various tumor cell lines with chronic hypoxia or with the hypoxia-mimetic CoCl2 does not result in increased expression of survivin, but rather strongly suppresses this gene’s activity. In contrast, expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78/Bip) is substantially elevated under chronic hypoxia in vitro and in hypoxic areas of tumor tissue in vivo. Although tumor cells in general exhibit increased chemoresistance under hypoxic conditions, we found that hypoxic glioblastoma cells are more sensitive to killing by the selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor celecoxib, and this effect is reflected by further decreased expression of survivin. Intriguingly, 2,5-dimethyl-celecoxib (DMC), a close structural analog of celecoxib that lacks the ability to inhibit COX-2, is able to potently mimic the anti-tumor effects of its parent compound, indicating that inhibition of COX-2 is not involved in these processes. Taken together, our results caution against the use of survivin-based promoters to target hypoxic areas of tumors, but favor constructs that include the strongly hypoxia-inducible GRP78 promoter. In addition, our data introduce celecoxib as a drug with increased cytotoxicity against hypoxic tumor cells.
The seeds of discontent: examining youth perceptions of higher education in Syria

This article examines young Syrians' perceptions of higher education after the 2001 reforms, which expanded access to higher education and permitted the establishment of private universities. Data come from in-depth interviews conducted with 22 Syrians residing in Damascus, aged 18–32 in 2009. Analysis indicates youth are critical of the higher education system broadly, and that their discontent stems from two sources: (1) the high level of state involvement in determining youth life paths when uncoupled from labour market security; and (2) the perceived unfairness in university admissions stemming from connections and new forms of privatisation. This youth discontent reflects a larger rejection of the state's role in the higher education admissions process. Given Syria's long-term commitment to a model of state-led development in the post-independence era, the failure of the Syrian state to successfully link expanded higher education to secure employment in the neo-liberal era has contributed to a de-leg...
The Metaphysics of Meaning: Hopkins on Wittgenstein

AbstractJim Hopkins (2012) defends a ‘straight’ (non-skeptical) response to Wittgenstein’s rule-following considerations, a response he ascribes to Wittgenstein himself. According to this response, what makes it the case that A means that P is that it is possible for another to (correctly) interpret A as meaning that P. Hopkins thus advances a form of interpretivist judgment-dependence about meaning. I argue that this response, as well as a variant, does not succeed.