cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms underlying depressed Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity in the diabetic heart

Objectives: Depression in Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity is an important factor in the development of the diabetic cardiomyopathy. Since the mechanism underlying this depression remains unknown, the aim of this study was to determine the contribution of hyperglycemia and insulinopenia towards the observed impairment in Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity. Methods: Non-insulin-dependent diabetes was induced in neonatal Wistar rats by injection of 90 mg/kg streptozotocin. Na+/Ca2+ exchange in sarcolemmal vesicles and isolated cardiomyocytes was determined by Na+-dependent 45Ca2+ transport. To assess the role of insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia on Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity, neonatal cardiomyocytes were incubated for 3 days in media containing either 5 mM glucose and 56 U/l insulin (Control), 30 mM glucose and 56 U/l insulin (High glucose) or 5 mM glucose and 0 insulin (Insulin deficiency). Since hyperglycemia has been shown to affect protein kinase C activity, Ca2+-dependent isoforms of protein kinase C were examined in non-diabetic and diabetic heart using hydroxylapatite chromatography. Also examined was Na+/Ca2+ exchanger mRNA levels in diabetic and non-diabetic hearts using Northern slot blot analysis. Results: Acute insulin produced a dose-dependent increase in Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity, which was dramatically attenuated in diabetic membrane. Myocytes incubated in media containing 30 mM glucose exhibited a 33% reduction in Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity, while insulinopenia reduced activity by 63%. Exchanger mRNA levels of the diabetic heart were normal; however, diabetes was associated with major changes in protein kinase C activity. Conclusions: Reduced Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity resulting from diabetes, hyperglycemia or insulinopenia may be related to changes in protein kinase C activity, but is not caused by altered expression of the transporter.
Double resonance ejection in a micro ion trap mass spectrometer

Ion ejection from a cylindrical micro ion trap by resonance excitation of the secular motion is observed to be strongly dependent on the frequency of the secular motion at resonance. Both the intensity of the ion signal and the mass resolution of the resulting mass spectrum are increased when the ion secular frequency is approximately that of a nonlinear resonance of the trap. The resonances are attributed to electrical as well as geometrical considerations.
Spatial memory and the performance of rats and pigeons in the radial-arm maze

The resource-distribution hypothesis states that the ability of an animal to remember the spatial location of past events is related to the typical distribution of food resources for the species. It appears to predict that Norway rats would perform better than domestic pigeons in tasks requiring spatial event memory. Pigeons, tested in an eight-arm radial maze, exhibited no more than half of the memory capacity observed in rats in the same apparatus and may not have used spatial memory at all. The results were interpreted as supporting the hypothesis.
Bartonella quintana and Urban Trench Fever

Contemporary Bartonella quintana infections have emerged in diverse regions of the world, predominantly involving socially disadvantaged persons. Available data suggest that the human body louse Pediculus humanus is the vector for transmission of B. quintana. Descriptions of the clinical manifestations associated with contemporary B. quintana infections have varied considerably and include asymptomatic infection, a relapsing febrile illness, headache, leg pain, "culture-negative" endocarditis, and, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons, bacillary angiomatosis. Laboratory diagnosis is most convincing when B. quintana is isolated in blood culture, but growth often takes 20-40 days; problems exist with both sensitivity and specificity of serological assays. On the basis of available information, use of doxycycline, erythromycin, or azithromycin to treat B. quintana infections is recommended. Treatment of uncomplicated B. quintana bacteremia for 4-6 weeks and treatment of B. quintana endocarditis (in a person who does not undergo valve surgery) for 4-6 months are recommended, with the addition of a bactericidal agent (such as a third-generation cephalosporin or an aminoglycoside) during the initial 2-3 weeks of therapy for endocarditis.
Pharmacological characterization of mammalian D1 and D2 dopamine receptors expressed in Drosophila Schneider-2 cells.

AbstractMammalian D1 and D2 dopamine receptors were stably expressed in Drosophila Schneider‐2 (S2) cells and screened for their pharmacological properties. Saturable, dose‐dependent, high affinity binding of the D1‐selective antagonist [3H]SCH‐23390 was detected only in membranes from S2 cells induced to express rat dopamine D1 receptors, while saturable, dose‐dependent, high affinity binding of the D2‐selective antagonist [3H]methylspiperone was detected only in membranes from S2 cells induced to express rat dopamine D2 receptors. No specific binding of either radioligand could be detected in membranes isolated from uninduced or untransfected S2 cells. Both dopamine D1 and D2 receptor subtypes displayed the appropriate stereoselective binding of enantiomers of the nonselective antagonist butaclamol. Each receptor subtype also displayed the appropriate agonist stereoselectivities. The dopamine D1 receptor bound the (+)‐enantiomer of the D1‐selective agonist SKF38393 with higher affinity than the (−)‐enan...
Histochemical observations on the phosphatase activity of the developing dental primordia in the Swiss albino mouse as detected by azo dye and osmium-capture methods

Abstract The distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatase was studied throughout sequential tooth development in the mouse. The azo dye and osmium-capture techniques were shown to provide comparable enzyme localization. Acid phosphatase was found mainly in the distal cytoplasm of functional cell body and process of both ameloblasts and odontoblasts. Alkaline phosphatase activity was observed in the prefunctional and active odontoblasts. In ameloblasts, positive activity was observed only after some enamel mineralization had occurred and was concomitant with a reduction in cell length.
A 19F NMR study of electronic effects in iminophosphoranes and in their methyl iodide salts

Abstract 19 F NMR shifts have been obtained for the iminophosphoranes(FC 6 H 4 ) n (C 6 H 5 ) 3−n PNC 6 H 4 X(n = 1, 3) and (XC 6 H 4 ) 3 PNC 6 H 4 F and for their methyl iodide salts. The data for the iminophosphoranes indicate the presence of a polar PN bond, considerable electron delocalization from nitrogen to the attached aryl ring, and a modest degree of arly-phosphorus conjugative interaction. In the salts the delocalization of the electron pair of nitrogen is largely curtailed.
Sympathetic nervous system in salt-sensitive and obese hypertension: Amelioration of multiple abnormalities by a central sympatholytic agent

Excess activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is linked to human obese hypertension and to salt-sensitive hypertension. Paradoxically, reduced SNS activity has been implicated as a contributor to obesity, particularly in animal models, and salt loading usually inhibits SNS activity. We have investigated the relationship between SNS activity, diet, and hypertension in the obese spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHROB), a model with a recessive obesity trait superimposed on a hypertensive background with multiple metabolic abnormalities resembling human syndrome X. We examined the role of SNS overactivity in the adverse impact of excess dietary salt and the possible beneficial effects of sympatholytic therapy. Mean blood pressure (MBP) was increased in SHROB and SHR fed a 4% NaCl diet. The pressor effect of dietary salt was abolished by ganglionic blockade, suggesting that increased SNS activity contributed to the pressor effect of the high-salt diet. Moxonidine, a second-generation central antihypertensive, controlled hypertension in both SHROB and SHR. Kidney damage in SHROB was accelerated by dietary salt and was reduced by moxonidine. Moxonidine elicited progressive weight loss in SHROB but not in SHR. Food intake in SHROB was reduced to the level of lean SHR. SHROB and SHR treated with moxonidine showed improved glucose tolerance. Additionally, SHROB showed reduced levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, and insulin following moxonidine therapy. Inhibition of the SNS, as with moxonidine therapy, may ameliorate multiple abnormalities and have therapeutic advantages in obese hypertensive syndromes.
Inpatient medical–surgical suicidal behavior: a 12-year case–control study

Abstract Objective To describe a medical center's 12-year experience with medically or surgically hospitalized suicide attempters, with the goal of extending the limited literature on this sentinel event. Patients and Methods Eight Mayo Clinic Rochester patients' self-inflicting injuries serious enough to trigger mandatory reporting while hospitalized on a medical/surgical unit from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2010 were matched with four same-sex and same-age controls, admitted to the same unit within 2 months. Cases were identified from Sentinel Event Tracking System and Minnesota Adverse Events Statute records. Data were analyzed with conditional logistic regression. Results Eight of 777,404 medical/surgical inpatients admitted during 12 years attempted suicide, with significantly more non-Caucasian patients among cases than controls ( P =.020). Of 8 attempts, 1 was fatal. More cases than controls had undergone inpatient psychiatric evaluation prior to attempt ( P =.020), and elevated risk of attempt was significantly associated with increased number of prior attempts (0.049). Near their attempts, each attempter had an identifiable stressor including inadequately controlled pain in 3, agitation and anxiety in 2 each, and acute delirium, insomnia and psychosocial difficulties in 1 each. Conclusion First, this study's findings underscore the rarity of reported inpatient medical/surgical suicidal behavior. In this sample, suicide attempters were distinct from nonattempters by the increased likelihood of prior suicide attempts as well as inpatient psychiatric consultations before their attempts. When patients have these characteristics, medical teams should take particular notice and initiate heightened watchfulness for suicidal behavior.
METHOD OF RECORDING PLASTIC PROPERTIES OF PORCELAIN BODIES

The plastic working properties of a series of high-tension porcelain bodies have been tested on an apparatus called the Plastograph. An attempt has been made to correlate the data thus obtained with other physical properties, such as grain size, amount of organic (carbonaceous) matter, and dry strength.
Do gender differences in the role of dysfunctional attitudes in depressive symptoms depend on depression history

Gender differences in the moderating role of dysfunctional attitudes in the relationship between life stress and depressive symptoms were examined with and without controlling for the presence of lifetime history of depression. When lifetime history of depression was controlled, dysfunctional attitudes played a moderating role in the relationship between life stress and depressive symptoms for both men and women. However, when lifetime history of depression was not controlled, dysfunctional attitudes moderated the relationship of life stress and depressive symptoms for women only. The results suggest gender differences in the moderating role of dysfunctional attitudes may be contingent on lifetime history of depression and that past depression may exert differing effects for men and women.
Surface-structure determination using anomalous x-ray scattering: Underpotential deposition of copper on Pt(111)

Using anomalous x-ray-diffraction methods we have investigated the underpotential deposition of Cu on Pt(111) in the presence of Cl and Br. The initial adsorption of Cu results in an ordered structure with an incommensurate hexagonal unit cell. Changes in the in-plane scattering intensities at x-ray energies close to the Cu K edge indicate that the absorbed layer must include both Cu and the halide. The data are described by a bilayer structure very similar to the (111) planes of CuCl.
Malignant renal schwannoma

Renal schwannomas are rare tumors. There have been only 4 cases (2 benign and 2 malignant) reported in the literature. We report a third case of a malignant renal schwannoma and review the literature on this subject.
Flow, stress and sediment resuspension in a shallow tidal channel

In October of 2004, a 3-d observational program to measure flow and sediment resuspension within a coastal intertidal salt marsh was conducted in the North Inlet/Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve located near Georgetown, South Carolina. Current and acoustic backscatter profiles were obtained from a moored acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) deployed in a shallow tidal channel during the spring phase of the tidal cycle under high discharge conditions. The channel serves as a conduit between Winyah Bay, a large brackish estuary, and North Inlet, a saline intertidal coastal salt marsh with little freshwater input. Salinity measurements indicate that the water column is vertically well mixed during flood, but becomes vertically stratified during early ebb. The stratification results from brackish (15 psu) Winyah Bay water entering North Inlet via the tidal channel, suggesting an exchange mechanism that permits North Inlet to receive a fraction of the poor water quality and high discharge flow from upland rivers. Although maximum flood currents exceed maximum ebb currents by 0.2 m s−1, suspended sediment concentrations are highest during the latter ebb phase and persist for a longer fraction of the ebb cycle. Even though the channel is flood-dominated, the higher concentrations occurring over a longer fraction of the ebb phase indicate net particulate transport from Winyah Bay to North Inlet during spring tide accompanied by high discharge. Our evidence suggests that the higher concentrations during ebb result from increased bed friction caused by flow asymmetries and variations in water depth in which the highest stresses occur near the end of ebb near low water despite stronger maximum currents during flood.
The Editor as Scientific Revolutionary: Keynes, The Economic Journal , and the Pigou Affair, 1936–1938

He [John Maynard Keynes] may not be exactly the ideal editor, who is, I suppose, one who has no ideas of his own and a great respect for those of other people. (Cannan, in Moggridge 1990, p. 152) R...
Bifurcation of a running crack in antiplane strain

Abstract An elastodynamic explanation of running crack bifurcation is explored. The geometry is a semi-infinite body in a state of antiplane strain, which contains a two-dimensional edge crack. It is assumed that a quasi-static increase of the external loads gives rise to rapid crack propagation at time t = 0, with an arbitrary and time-varying speed, but in the plane of the crack. A short time later the crack is assumed to bifurcate at angles −κπ and +κπ, and with velocities v. The elastodynamic intensity factors are computed, and the balance of rates of energies is employed to discuss the conditions for bifurcation.
Studies on the Utilization of the α-Hydroxy Acid of Methionine by Chicks Fed Crystalline Amino Acid Diets

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to study the influence of dietary branched-chain amino acid level and source of nitrogen in a nonessential nitrogen mixture on the utilization of the α-hydroxy acid of methionine (OH-methionine), as compared with an equimolar quantity of l -methionine, by chicks fed corn starch-crystalline l -amino acid diets. l -methionine or OH-methionine were the only sulfur-containing acids added to the diets. Chicks fed diets containing OH-methionine grew at reduced rates and required more feed per gram of body weight gain than was noted for chicks fed diets containing l -methionine when the levels of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) were not growth-limiting. The mean weight gains and feed efficiencies of chicks fed sub-optimum and greater than optimum levels of BCAA did not support the concept that BCAA serve as amino group donors for OH-methionine utilization by the chick. No dietary glutamic acid requirement was observed for the maximal utilization of OH-methionine by the chick. An additional 0.18% OH-methionine significantly (P l -methionine. A significant influence of the various dietary modifications included in these studies of kidney leucine aminotransferase or liver glutamate dehydrogenase was not observed.
Theoretical optical and x-ray spectra of liquid and solid H 2 O

Theoretical optical and x-ray spectra of model structures of water and ice are calculated using a many-body perturbation theory, Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) approach implemented in the valence- and core-excitation codes ai2nbse and ocean. These codes use ab initio density functional theory wave functions from a plane-wave, pseudopotential code, quasiparticle self-energy corrections, and a BSE treatment of particle-hole interactions. This approach improves upon independent-particle methods through the inclusion of a complex, energy-dependent self-energy and screened particle-hole interactions to account for inelastic losses and excitonic effects. These many-body effects are found to be crucial for quantitative calculations of ice and water spectra.
Dependence of chain conformation and solution thermodynamics on composition for poly(ortho ester)s prepared from ketene acetals and mixtures of diols

The solution properties of a series of random copolymers prepared from ketene acetals with mixtures of diols have been characterized by dilute solution light scattering, chromatographic, and viscometric techniques. Five solvents with refractive indices ranging from 1.4 to 1.5 were used to obtain the correct weight average molecular weight. Changes in the unperturbed radius of gyration, obtained by combined size exclusion chromatography and low-angle light scattering techniques, parallelled that predicted by simple considerations of changes in repeat unit size. Thus the relative contributions of differing copolymer–solvent interactions and changing unperturbed radii of gyration to the hydrodynamic volume of random copolymers of different compositions were evaluated.
Multiple Cancer Testis Antigens Function To Support Tumor Cell Mitotic Fidelity

While the expression of genes that are normally involved in spermatogenesis is frequently detected in tumors, the extent to which these gene products are required for neoplastic behaviors is unclear. To begin to address their functional relevance to tumorigenesis, we identified a cohort of proteins which display synthetic lethality with paclitaxel in non-small-cell lung cancer and whose expression is biased toward testes and tumors. Remarkably, these testis proteins, FMR1NB, NXF2, MAGEA5, FSIP1, and STARD6, are required for accurate chromosome segregation in tumor cells. Their individual depletion enhances the generation of multipolar spindles, increases mitotic transit time, and induces micronucleation in response to an otherwise innocuous dose of paclitaxel. The underlying basis for abnormal mitosis is an alteration in microtubule function, as their depletion increases microtubule cytaster formation and disrupts microtubule stability. Given these observations, we hypothesize that reactivated testis proteins may represent unique tumor cell vulnerabilities which, if targeted, could enhance responsiveness to antimitotic therapy. Indeed, we demonstrate that combining paclitaxel with a small-molecule inhibitor of the gametogenic and tumor cell mitotic protein TACC3 leads to enhanced centrosomal abnormalities, activation of death programs, and loss of anchorage-independent growth.
Periodic Table of Impurity Damping in Doped Permalloy Thin Films

This paper presents a survey of the effects of transition metal doping on the damping properties of thin films of Permalloy (Ni80Fe20). For many applications requiring high speed or high data rates, the magnetization of Permalloy is underdamped, and this results in magnetization precession with a lifetime of a few nanoseconds. In these materials, faster switching could be accomplished by increased damping. The coupling to the thermal bath that allows magnetic energy to dissipate is also responsible for driving thermal fluctuations of the magnetization. These fluctuations are observable in small sensors as magnetization noise. For these applications, the noise limit of the sensor could be improved with reduced damping.
Transposable elements in clonal lineages: lethal hangover from sex

Long-term coevolution of transposable elements (TEs) in sexual hosts leads to evolution of extremely active and dangerous mutagens kept in tenuous check by host-derived mechanisms and via natural selection against TE-rich genomes. To the extent that sexual reproduction and recombination are important in maintaining a stable TE copy number and a tolerable mutation load, the switch to clonality from sexual reproduction can be extremely damaging and, generally, should lead to clonal lineage extinction. Surprisingly however, the loss of powerful selective mechanisms constraining TEs can be beneficial in the short-term by immediately eliminating selective load and possibly promoting the early success of clonal lineages. The clonal lineages that do survive in the long-term must find a way to eliminate or domesticate TEs. Indeed bdelloid rotifers, which are ancient asexuals, do appear to have lost most of the otherwise wide-spread TEs and might have domesticated others. The path to this TE-free haven is anything but clear at the moment. We have considered a novel scenario of instantaneous inactivation of TEs by starting off with a genome carrying repressive host alleles for all TEs in the genome. We show that such a scenario appears plausible and provide some limited empirical evidence in its support.
sex roles, power, and illness in an Egyptian village

Some recent studies have reintroduced women into the arena of anthropology as social actors engaged in the manipulation of their environment and the exercise of choice. The purpose of this paper is to question the utility of approaching the study of sex roles in terms of individual strategies and competition for power. This is pursued within the context of the study of health-related behavior. The incidence of a folk illness and symptomatology derived from the Cornell Medical Index are utilized as indices of patterned power differentials associated with sex role expectations in an Egyptian village.
A feedforward controller for a brushless excitation system during the diode open circuit fault operation

This study presents a control algorithm of the brushless excitation system for a synchronous machine during the failure of rotating diodes, specifically open circuit failure. Through the harmonic analysis of the exciter field current, the open circuit or short circuit diode fault can be detected. Also the FFT(fast fourier transformation) results of the exciter field current and the change ratio of the exciter field current to the dc link voltage of the 3-phase diode rectifier connected to the synchronous generator can be used as feedforward terms aiding the PI controller for the excitation system. The feedforward control can improve the system performance from that of the PI controller only and compensate the inaccuracy of the model of the system. The simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller during the diode open circuit fault operations.
Altered frontal‐parietal functioning during verbal working memory in children and adolescents with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure

This study evaluated the neural basis of verbal working memory (WM) function in a group of 20 children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) and 20 typically developing comparison participants using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Both groups showed prominent activation in the frontal-parietal-cerebellar network known to be important for verbal WM. Despite equivalent behavioral performance between groups, alcohol-exposed individuals showed increased activation relative to typically developing individuals in left dorsal frontal and left inferior parietal cortices, and bilateral posterior temporal regions during verbal WM. These effects remained even when group differences on IQ were statistically controlled. This pattern of increased activation coupled with equivalent behavioral performance between groups suggests that individuals with FASD recruit a more extensive network of brain regions during verbal WM relative to typically developing individuals. These findings may suggest that frontal-parietal processing during verbal WM is less efficient in alcohol-exposed individuals.
Malignant mesothelioma and duration of asbestos exposure: Correlation with tissue mineral fibre content

Among 441 cases of malignant mesothelioma in the author's files, there were 324 for whom reliable information was available regarding the duration of exposure to asbestos. Included were 298 pleural and 26 peritoneal mesotheliomas. The mean duration of exposure to asbestos was 23 ± 14 years for all cases, and was not different for the pleural and peritoneal groups. Lung tissue was available for analysis of mineral fibre content in 94 cases. Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between duration of exposure and asbestos bodies per gramme of wet lung as determined by light microscopy, and between duration of exposure and total uncoated fibres (5 μm or greater in length) as well as commercial amphibole fibres per gramme as determined by scanning electron microscopy (P < 0.05). Individuals with direct exposures had on average higher asbestos contents than patients with indirect exposures. Furthermore, for each duration of exposure, shipyard workers had on average higher asbestos contents than non-shipyard workers (P < 0.05). Mesotheliomas are associated with a wide range of durations of exposure to asbestos and pulmonary asbestos burdens, and there is a rough correlation between duration of exposure and pulmonary commercial amphibole content.
The development and implementation of a nurse practitioner sepsis screening team: Impact on transfer mortality

Background: Sepsis is a potentially deadly but treatable condition that occurs as a result of the systemic manifestations of infection. Despite large healthcare expenditures, patient outcomes can be poor, and survivors may still suffer from permanent organ damage, cognitive impairment, and physical disability. Failure to recognize and implement early goal-directed therapy leads to increased mortality. A review of hospital mortality identified that sepsis among inbound transfer patients to acute care units significantly contributed to the overall hospital mortality. As part of a multipronged, multidisciplinary approach, a nurse practitioner sepsis screening team was implemented to improve early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis and decrease mortality in this high-risk population. Methods: A large academic medical facility located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston accepts a significant number of transfer patients requiring a higher level of care from other institutions. A nurse practitioner sepsis screening team was created to focus on this highly vulnerable group. A validated, electronic screening tool was utilized to screen patients and facilitate early identification and treatment of sepsis. The nurse practitioner team screened and evaluated 3,268 inbound transfer patients from 10/01/2009 to 06/30/2012. When a high suspicion for sepsis was appreciated, or another acute condition was identified, the nurse practitioner collaborated with the attending physician and initiated appropriate treatment. The data analyzed were part of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved prospectively collected data set. The data were collected over a 57 month period spanning from 09/30/2007 through 06/30/2012 on all inbound transfer patients to the facility, which include pre-screening baseline statistics. Basic demographics including the patient’s age, gender, and race were collected. The outcome variable was status at discharge from the facility (alive or dead). After verifying assumptions of the chi-square test were met, a Pearson’s chi-square was run against the data set. All data were analyzed using IBM Corp. Released 2012. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. Results: There was a significant association between inbound transfer patients who were evaluated upon arrival at this institution by the nurse practitioner sepsis screening team and mortality in this population regardless of their diagnoses (χ 2 (1) 115.04, p < .001). A patient not screened by the team was more likely to die during the hospitalization than a transfer patient that was screened. Conclusion: In this institution, the development and implementation of a nurse practitioner sepsis screening team has contributed to reducing mortality among the inbound acute care patient transfer population regardless of diagnoses. Further investigation is needed to understand the exact mechanisms that have contributed to this outcome.
A CRE-like sequence that binds CREB and contributes to cAMP-dependent regulation of the proximal promoter of the human aromatase P450 (CYP19) gene

Abstract The major physiological regulator of human aromatase P450 gene expression in the ovary is follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which acts by increasing intracellular cAMP levels. This study describes the identification of an element in the aromatase proximal promoter that is critical for the full transcriptional response of this promoter to cAMP. The cAMP-responsive element (CRE)-like sequence (CLS) was originally identified by its sequence similarity to a palindromic CRE, from which it differs by the insertion of a single cytosine. Mutation of the CLS in the context of 278 bp of 5′-flanking DNA resulted in the loss of cAMP-induced reporter gene expression in transfected ovarian luteal cells. A cell line survey EMSA revealed that CLS binding factors are ubiquitously distributed, although the migration pattern of CLS-nuclear protein complexes varied among different nuclear extracts. An extended half-site for binding members of the basic-leucine zipper class of transcription factors was found to be responsible for ovarian luteal cell nuclear protein binding and cAMP-dependent transcriptional transactivation. Competition and supershift EMSAs revealed that the CLS-nuclear protein complexes that regulate cAMP-induced transcription were indistinguishable from homodimeric CREB bound to the CRE oligonucleotide, yet the interaction with the CLS was of lower affinity.
Predicted Impact of an Exotic Generalist Predator on Monarch Butterfly (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) Populations: A Quantitative Risk Assessment

The multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), was recently identified as a potential hazard to monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus (L.). A quantitative risk assessment for the potential impact of H. axyridis on D. plexippus in Minnesota corn and soybean fields was developed using risk analysis software. This assessment considered a potential worst-case scenario for the impact of H. axyridis on D. plexippus. Habitat-specific recruitment of D. plexippus eggs was determined empirically. Subsequently, simulated abundance of D. plexippus in each habitat was reduced by two classes of stage-specific mortality: predation by H. axyridis and causes other than H. axyridis. Predation was modeled as a function of D. plexippus exposure to H. axyridis, and predation rate of D. plexippus by H. axyridis. Exposure and subsequent risk varied considerably by habitat, with a low risk of H. axyridis adversely affecting D. plexippus populations developing in corn fields, but a moderate to high risk in soybean fields. Predicted rates of D. plexippus mortality attributable to H. axyridis were greater in soybean compared to corn fields, possibly due to the numerical response of H. axyridis to soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura. This study demonstrates that H. axyridis has the potential to have a strong adverse impact on D. plexippus populations. However, the likelihood of occurrence for this worst-case scenario remains uncertain. To evaluate the landscape-level risk of H. axyridis impacting D. plexippus, further data on recruitment of D. plexippus in other habitats and exposure estimates specific to additional habitats are needed.
Model program to improve care for a unique cancer population: Young women with breast cancer

Young women with breast cancer face a variety of problems unique to or accentuated by their age. Attention to these concerns is warranted, yet research has revealed inadequacies in care and that the needs of these patients are not being met. To address these critical issues, we have developed a comprehensive program to provide additional support and education for young women with breast cancer and their providers. On the basis of the preliminary success of the program, we have developed and pilot tested an exportable version that may serve as a national model for care of this unique population. We believe this work will not only improve care for young women with breast cancer, but also may serve as a paradigm to overcome barriers to delivering optimal care for unique groups of patients in other settings.
Multiple forms of selenoprotein P in a candidate human plasma standard reference material

Selenoprotein P (SePP) is a unique selenium-containing protein responsible for the transport and distribution of the essential trace element selenium (Se) through the human body with the concentration of SePP in human blood representing the most useful marker of Se nutritional status. Although SePP has been extensively studied, the structure of SePP in human plasma remains unresolved. Two potential isoforms of SePP have been identified by Western blot analyses distinguished principally by differences in migration (51 kDa and 61 kDa). The biological relevance of the smaller isoform has been called into question by several studies reporting only one major SePP form (69 kDa) suggesting that the shorter 51 kDa is an artifact of protease activity during the SePP purification process. A deficiency of these Western blot analyses is that no information can be gleaned regarding the Se content of the potential isoforms. This study reports a characterization of SePP isoforms in a human plasma Standard Reference Material representative of a healthy US population. Following immunoprecipitation, three SePP isoforms were unequivocally identified at 45 kDa, 49 kDa and 57 kDa (termed as SePP45, SePP49 and SePP57) by LC-MS/MS analyses from a spectral searching approach. Selenium (Se) was detected by gel electrophoresis LA-ICP-MS in SePP49 and SePP57 which was confirmed by the identification of three selenopeptides covering the SePP sequence from residues 312–346 by LC-MS/MS analyses utilizing a sequence searching approach. Conversely, neither Se nor peptides covering SePP sequence from residues 306–346 was identified in SePP45 which suggests that SePP45 is a truncated isoform transcriptionally terminated at the 2nd in-frame UGA codon thereby terminating the protein with the Ser residue at position 299. An additional band at 23 kDa was found to contain Se but no peptides of SePP. Instead, glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) was unequivocally identified within the band presumably being co-immunoprecipitated with the SePP providing preliminary evidence that SePP and GPx3 interaction may take place in vivo.
Recent Legal and Regulatory Developments in Slotting Allowances and Category Management

DAVID BALTO is a partner, White and Case L.L.P. He is the former head of the Policy Office, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission. Slotting allowances and category management are increasingly the subject of antitrust litigation and antitrust enforcement actions. In the past two years, slotting allowances received greater attention before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Canadian Competition Bureau (CCB), in terms of both distribution practices and mergers. Several cases are in litigation, and in Spring 2002, two important decisions were handed down that begin to illuminate the legal rules addressing slotting allowances. The controversy over slotting allowances appears as vibrant as it has for the past few years, with increasing attention likely in the future. What were the major recent developments involving slotting allowances and category management?
2:1 Resonance in the delayed nonlinear Mathieu equation

We investigate the dynamics of a delayed nonlinear Mathieu equation: $$\ddot{x}+(\delta+\varepsilon\alpha\,\cos t)x +\varepsilon\gamma x^3=\varepsilon\beta x(t-T)$$ in the neighborhood of δ = 1/4. Three different phenomena are combined in this system: 2:1 parametric resonance, cubic nonlinearity, and delay. The method of averaging (valid for small ɛ) is used to obtain a slow flow that is analyzed for stability and bifurcations. We show that the 2:1 instability region associated with parametric excitation can be eliminated for sufficiently large delay amplitudes β, and for appropriately chosen time delays T. We also show that adding delay to an undamped parametrically excited system may introduce effective damping.
Guided wave propagation in honeycomb sandwich structures using a piezoelectric actuator/sensor system

Due to the complex nature of such composite structures, an understanding of the guided wave propagation mechanism in honeycomb composite panels with different frequencies inherently imposes many challenges. In this paper, a numerical simulation is first conducted to investigate the wave propagation mechanism in honeycomb sandwich structures using piezoelectric actuators/sensors. In contrast to most of the previous work, elastic wave responses based on the real geometry of the honeycomb core are obtained by using the finite element method (FEM). Based on the simulation, the global guided waves in the composite can be observed when the loading frequency is low and the leaky guided waves in the skin panel are found when the loading frequency is sufficiently high. The applicability of the homogenization technique for a celled core is discussed. The effects of cell geometry on the wave propagation are also demonstrated. Experimental testing is finally conducted to validate the results of numerical simulation and very good agreement is observed. Specifically, some guided wave propagation characteristics such as group velocity dispersion and mode tuning capabilities with the presence of a honeycomb core are discussed.
Functional Programming for Massively Parallel Computing

One important tool for building software is facilitzes for encapsulating abstractions. The cui-wntly popular programming paradigms for parallel computing do not provide such an encapsulation capability if parallelism is to be exploited within program modules. The function application operator of functional programming provides an interface for encapsulating abstractions that satisfi nts for modular softwuie constructio advantages of functional programming languages for programming purallel coniputers and survexthe areas wh.ere work ,is needed so functional programming principles may be applzed 211. eficient and practical parallel computing.
Effect of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid from Pneumocystis carinii- Infected Hosts on Phagocytic Activity of Alveolar Macrophages

Alveolar macrophages from Pneumocystis carinii-infected rats are defective in phagocytosis. To investigate whether this defect is due to a certain factor present in P. carinii-infected lungs, alveolar macrophages from uninfected rats were incubated with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples from P. carinii-infected rats. Alveolar macrophages treated with these BAL fluid samples became defective in phagocytosis but remained normal when treated with BAL fluid samples from noninfected or Toxoplasma gondii-infected rats. The suppressive activity of the BAL fluid samples from P. carinii-infected rats on phagocytosis was retained when the BAL fluid samples were passed through a filter with a pore size of 0.45 microm but was lost when the BAL fluid samples were digested with proteases such as trypsin, pepsin, papain, or endopeptidase Gly-C. Lipid fractions of these BAL fluid samples had no suppressive activity on phagocytosis. The suppressive activity of these BAL fluid samples was also lost when they were incubated with concanavalin A-agarose beads, suggesting that the inhibitor is a glycoprotein. The inhibitor was estimated to be larger than 100,000 Da by exclusion filtration. After binding to the concanavalin A-agarose beads, the inhibitor in BAL fluid samples and P. carinii lysate could be eluted with 200 mM methylmannose. Treatment of both the crude BAL fluid samples and P. carinii lysate and the 200 mM methylmannose eluate with antibody against the major surface glycoprotein of P. carinii eliminated their suppressive activity. These results suggest that the factor capable of suppressing the phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages is P. carinii major surface glycoprotein or one or more of its derivatives.
Using an Internet Questionnaire to Characterize Bat Survey Efforts in the United States and Canada

Standardized survey methods are important for obtaining reliable information on wildlife populations. As a precursor to creating a regional bat-survey (Chiroptera) protocol, we distributed a questionnaire via e-mail to biologists responsible for conducting bat surveys in the United States and Canada. We received 415 responses from 45 states and 7 Canadian provinces or territories. Most of the responses were from western North America. Based on these responses, we characterized the biologists responsible for bat surveys, their objectives and methods, and the habitat types and spatial scales surveyed. Most respondents were government employees, had 10 yr) surveyors tended to employ a wider variety of methods than those with less experience. We discuss how the results of this questionnaire will be used to draft a regional bat-survey protocol to better address the needs of its target audience. Using the Internet to survey the target audience proved to be a very useful step in the development of a standard bat-survey protocol. We believe similar methods should be considered for other taxa as a precursor to creation of standard survey methods.
Periodicity of nuclear morphology in human fibroblasts.

Motivation: Morphology of the cell nucleus has been used as a key indicator of disease state and prognosis, but typically without quantitative rigor. It is also not well understood how nuclear morphology varies with time across different genetic backgrounds in healthy cells. To help answer these questions we measured the size and shape of nuclei in cell-cycle-synchronized primary human fibroblasts from 6 different individuals at 32 time points over a 75 hour period.Results: The nucleus was modeled as an ellipsoid and its dynamics analyzed. Shape and volume changed significantly over this time. Two prominent frequencies were found in the 6 individuals: a 17 hour period consistent with the cell cycle and a 26 hour period. Our findings suggest that the shape of the nucleus changes over time and thus any time-invariant shape property may provide a misleading characterization of cellular populations at different phases of the cell cycle. The proposed methodology provides a general method to analyze morphologic...
Brain, hormone and behavior interactions in avian reproduction: status and prospectus

Le systeme nerveux central transmet les informations environnementales agissant sur le comportement, et necessaires au succes de la reproduction.Les resultats convergents des recherhes suggerent que les questions relatives aux differences entre especes et la comprehension du processus de maintien de ces differences au cours de l'evolution peuvent etre approchees a travers la clarification des mecanismes cerebraux sous-jacents.
Unfinished journey--a century of health care reform in the United States.

In 1915, reformers issued the first major proposal for national health insurance in the United States. Nearly a century later, Americans are still debating health care reform, the perils of “socialized medicine,” and the tension between individual liberty and government aid.
Comparing Student and Professional Responses Toward Advocacy in Science

To advance the conversation about scientists’ roles in advocacy, we conducted an exploratory study examining the perspectives of students alongside those of academic faculty and other natural resou...
The physician's reaction to a malpractice suit.

A malpractice suit can have a devastating impact on a practitioner's professional and personal life. The physician's reaction to this event is profound, affecting his own life-style and that of family, colleagues, and patients. This commentary presents an analogy between the physician's reaction to a malpractice suit and the stages of grief described by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross: the sequence of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Understanding the psychodynamics of this reaction can help physicians to cope with the problems inherent in a malpractice suit and to maintain a greater stability in their personal lives. Adverse effects on medical practice and private life-style, and on the legal proceedings, can be minimized.
Using the Internet to access information inflates future use of the Internet to access other information

ABSTRACTThe ways in which people learn, remember, and solve problems have all been impacted by the Internet. The present research explored how people become primed to use the Internet as a form of cognitive offloading. In three experiments, we show that using the Internet to retrieve information alters a person’s propensity to use the Internet to retrieve other information. Specifically, participants who used Google to answer an initial set of difficult trivia questions were more likely to decide to use Google when answering a new set of relatively easy trivia questions than were participants who answered the initial questions from memory. These results suggest that relying on the Internet to access information makes one more likely to rely on the Internet to access other information.
Applying the Lifestyle Routine Activities Theory to Understand Physical and Nonphysical Peer Victimization

ABSTRACTPeer victimization is a serious problem, and understanding where, with whom, and how long victims spend their time is important. Applying the lifestyle routine activities theory (LRAT), this study examines the association between 4 components of LRAT and physical and nonphysical peer victimization. Using the 2007 National Crime Victimization Survey, we examined Poisson and negative binomial regression models to explain whether physical and nonphysical peer victimization was affected by measures of routine activities. Our findings indicate that students’ exposure and proximity to motivated offenders, school environment, capable guardianship, and target attractiveness were associated with risk of peer victimization. Findings also reveal that risk factors varied depending on the type of victimization.
Hexagonal boron nitride particles for determining the thermal conductivity of diamond films based on near-ultraviolet micro-Raman mapping

Studies are reported of the thermal conductivity () for a supported ~1 µm thick diamond membrane. Near-ultraviolet micro-Raman spectroscopy is used to map the temperature rise produced in the diamond by a micro-fabricated heater and in hexagonal boron nitride micro/nano-particles which are dispersed on the surface as local temperature sensors. Thermal conductivity is determined analytically from Raman temperature rise and also by fitting data via simulation, using a Monte Carlo optimization approach. The low value obtained for , W m−1 K, is attributed to the nanocrystalline diamond grain structure as analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM identifies a disordered silicon-carbon interfacial layer ~2 nm thick which is expected to affect the diamond/silicon thermal boundary resistance.