cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do airborne nitrophenols contribute to forest decline

Abstract A hypothesis is put forward which postulates the possible contribution of photochemically formed nitrophenols to forest decline. The following steps are analysed with regard to experimental data endorsing or contradicting this hypothesis: formation of nitrophenols, enrichment in the aqueous phase, exposure of plants to nitrophenols, and their possible contribution to forest decline‐ It is shown that phytotoxic nitrophenols are formed in the troposphere and have been detected in rainwater. The gaps in our knowledge are discussed, especially with regard to accurate analytical data and subacute phytotoxicity.
Introducing point mutations into the ATGs of the putative open reading frames of the HSV-1 gene encoding the latency associated transcript (LAT) reduces its anti-apoptosis activity

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latency associated transcript (LAT) gene has anti-apoptosis activity that directly or indirectly enhances the virus's reactivation phenotype in small animal models. The first 1.5 kb of the primary 8.3 kb LAT is sufficient and some or all of it is necessary for LAT's anti-apoptosis in transient transfection assays and for LAT's ability to enhance the reactivation phenotype. Based on LAT's genomic sequence, the first 1.5 kb contains eight potential open reading frames (ORFs) defined as an ATG followed by an in frame termination codon. In this study, point mutations were introduced into the ATGs of ORFs present in the 1.5 kb fragment of LAT. Mutagenesis of all eight ATGs in LAT ORFs consistently reduced the anti-apoptotic activity of LAT in transiently transfected mouse neuroblastoma cells regardless of whether apoptosis was induced by caspase 8 or caspase 9. Mutation of the six ATGs located in the stable intron sequences within the 1.5 kb LAT had a dramatic effect on caspase 9, but not caspase 8, induced apoptosis. For both caspase 8 and caspase 9 induced apoptosis, mutating the two ATGs in the exon of the LAT 1.5 kb fragment reduced, but did not eliminate the anti-apoptotic activity of LAT. These studies suggest that altering the fine structure of regulatory RNA or expression of a putative LAT ORF regulates the anti-apoptosis activity of LAT. These studies also indicate that more than one function is present in the 1.5 kb LAT fragment.
The Use of Family Therapy within a University Counseling Center.

As a counterpoint to the oftentimes adversarial way that parents are viewed when they appear to be overinvolved in the lives of their college-aged students, this article advocates for the use of a family therapy perspective in university counseling centers. Benefits of this perspective include a broadening of the lens through which individual concerns are seen and a more nuanced social justice analysis in which issues of gender, race, and class are highlighted. A review of family therapy literature is intertwined with discussion regarding the relevance of this perspective when working with college students. Vignettes illustrate various applications of college-based family psychotherapy.
Blocking in multirate interconnection networks

Presents an extension of the classical methods used to evaluate blocking probability. This method is applicable to multirate circuit and fast packet/ATM switching systems. The analytical methods are presented and compared with simulation results using Benes networks as an example. Extensive simulation has been performed focusing on ways to reduce blocking to acceptable levels. The author found that the major factors affecting blocking are switching element size, speed advantage of the switch fabric, routing algorithms and connection bandwidth. >
Labor after previous cesarean: influence of prior indication and parity.

Abstract Objective: To determine whether the risk of cesarean for women who had trials of labor after one prior cesarean differs from that of nulliparas overall and by indications for those cesareans. Methods: We reviewed medical records of women who had trials of labor after cesareans between July 1984 and June 1996, and of nulliparas who delivered between December 1994 and August 1995. Cesarean rates for women with prior cesareans were compared with the rates for nulliparas overall and by prior cesarean indication (breech, failure to progress, nonreassuring fetal testing, or other). Lengths of labor for women who had repeat cesareans for failure to progress in index pregnancies were compared by prior cesarean indication. Results: The cesarean rate was 28.7% (634 of 2207) for the prior cesarean group and 13.5% (219 of 1617) for nulliparas (P = .001), and varied according to the prior cesarean indication (13.9%, 37.3%, 25.4%, and 24.8% for breech, failure to progress, nonreassuring fetal testing, and other, respectively). Mean durations of labor in the index pregnancies for women who had cesareans for failure to progress were 13.9, 11.5, 13.4, and 15.1 hours for breech, failure to progress, nonreassuring fetal testing, and other, respectively. Conclusion: Overall rates of cesareans were higher for women with one prior cesarean than for nulliparas. Rates of cesareans after trials of labor were related to the prior cesarean indications. Rates were highest for women whose prior cesareans were for failure to progress and lowest for women whose prior cesareans were for breech. The latter group had a rate that was essentially identical to that of nulliparas. Among women with cesareans for failure to progress in index pregnancies, lengths of labor were shorter for those whose prior cesareans were for failure to progress than for those whose prior cesareans were for other indications, suggesting that physicians may intervene earlier in these cases.
Phosphorylation-mediated PTEN conformational closure and deactivation revealed with protein semisynthesis

The tumor suppressor PIP3 phosphatase PTEN is phosphorylated on four clustered Ser/Thr on its C-terminal tail (aa 380-385) and these phosphorylations are proposed to induce a reduction in PTEN's plasma membrane recruitment. How these phosphorylations affect the structure and enzymatic function of PTEN is poorly understood. To gain insight into the mechanistic basis of PTEN regulation by phosphorylation, we generated semisynthetic site-specifically tetra-phosphorylated PTEN using expressed protein ligation. By employing a combination of biophysical and enzymatic approaches, we have found that purified tail-phosphorylated PTEN relative to its unphosphorylated counterpart shows reduced catalytic activity and membrane affinity and undergoes conformational compaction likely involving an intramolecular interaction between its C-tail and the C2 domain. Our results suggest that there is a competition between membrane phospholipids and PTEN phospho-tail for binding to the C2 domain. These findings reveal a key aspect of PTEN's regulation and suggest pharmacologic approaches for direct PTEN activation. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00691.001.
Social pressures on organizational website adoption

Innovation adoption research has demonstrated that organizational features and perceived benefits of innovations play significant roles in explaining organizational-level decisions to adopt new technologies. Beyond such motivations, however, social pressures operating at the interorganizational level have been proposed to influence the decision to adopt innovations, even without regard to any proven or anticipated benefit from the innovation itself. To empirically determine the influence of organizational features, perceived benefits, and social pressures on organizations' innovation adoption decisions, this study examined the decisions of 288 organizations to adopt Internet websites. Organizational social pressures were found to be the most significant discriminators of adopters and non adopters, although they were not particularly important in predicting the likelihood of future adoption for those organizations currently without websites. This finding suggests that social pressures are significant in innovation adoption, but that they may have their strongest effect during the early phases of innovation diffusion. Organizational features and perceived benefits were also reasonable discriminators of adopters and nonadopters as well as effective predictors of the likelihood of adoption for nonadopters. To a lesser degree, these factors were also predictive of the stage of adoption for those organizations that have already adopted websites.
Genetic Transmission of Congenital Membranous Ventricular Septal Defects in Selectively Inbred Substrains of Rats

Two inbred substrains of Long-Evans rats have been maintained under identical laboratory conditions. In one substrain (Olson-Goss) 25% of the neonates have spontaneously occurring membranous ventricular septal defects; in the other (California) only 4% are affected. Since a genetic etiology was indicated, two series of reciprocal crosses were made to evaluate the possibilities that the defects might result from an abnormal fetal genotype, a genetically abnormal intrauterine environment, or both. In both series parents of a highly defective litter ("high-incidence" pairs) were reciprocally mated to parents of a completely normal litter ("low-incidence" pairs). In Series I, all parental pairs were Olson-Goss animals; in Series II, the low-incidence pairs were California animals. Substitution of a low- for a high-incidence male consistently and appreciably decreased the incidence of defects in the progeny of high-incidence females. Conversely, low-incidence females produced a relatively large number of defective pups when mated to high-incidence males. These data suggest that the primary factor responsible for septal malformation is the fetal genotype rather than the intrauterine environment. Patroclinous reciprocal cross differentials, particularly marked in the substrain crosses, suggest, however, that secondary factors may also be implicated.
Combating elder and dependent adult mistreatment: the role of the clinical psychologist

Among the many different professionals who work to address elder and dependent adult mistreatment, the clinical psychologist performs a function that is not well documented. The experiences of a clinical psychologist attached to a medical response team and an elder abuse forensic center provide insight into this complex and multifaceted role. Case examples from an elder abuse forensic center illustrate the breadth of referral questions that a clinical psychologist addresses. This information may be of use to those who would argue that these services be made widely available to elder abuse professionals such as social workers, public guardians, and those in the criminal justice system. The case studies also may be useful for training purposes.
Standards-based hybrid probe instrumentation for multiprocessor computing systems

Hybrid performance monitoring provides an unobtrusive and relatively inexpensive method of evaluating and tuning parallel hardware and software performance. In this paper, the design of standards-based hybrid performance monitoring hardware is examined for physical nodes containing a cluster of four processors. The design incorporates a NIST developed MultiKron probe acquisition chip and an interface design is presented which is suitable for multiprocessor systems and efficiently avoids probe consistency problems. It provides a queue in separate hardware and provides a dedicated hardware arbiter to eliminate the need for semaphores. This reduces the software overhead of sending performance data and provides a deadlock-free method of communication. >
Antagonism of some toxic effects of dextropropoxyphene by nalorphine

Abstract It has been shown that nalorphine changes the LD 50 of the intraperitoneally administered dextropropoxyphene from 68 mg/kg to 105 mg/kg. Furthermore, nalorphine antagonizes the convulsant effect of dextropropoxyphene. Also, the dextropropoxyphene-induced convulsions were of cerebral origin as evidenced by the abolition of these convulsions in body segments below the spinal cord section.
Salivary gland neoplasms with basaloid cell features: report of two cases diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology.

Basal-cell adenoma and basal-cell adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland are rare tumors. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of these tumors, particularly those of basal-cell adenocarcinoma, has rarely been described in the literature. In this report, we describe the clinical, cytomorphologic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features of basal-cell adenoma and its malignant counterpart, basal-cell adenocarcinoma, in 2 patients. Fine-needle aspiration specimens from both tumors contained abundant cohesive groups of neoplastic cells. Basaloid cells were prominent in both tumors; however, there were significant cytologic atypia, hyperchromasia, and increased nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio in basal-cell adenocarcinoma. Review of the literature and cytomorphologic distinction between both tumors and others are discussed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:46–50. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Recurrent epimutations activate gene body promoters in primary glioblastoma

Aberrant DNA hypomethylation may play an important role in the growth rate of glioblastoma (GBM), but the functional impact on transcription remains poorly understood. We assayed the GBM methylome with MeDIP-seq and MRE-seq, adjusting for copy number differences, in a small set of non-glioma CpG island methylator phenotype (non-G-CIMP) primary tumors. Recurrent hypomethylated loci were enriched within a region of chromosome 5p15 that is specified as a cancer amplicon and also encompasses TERT, encoding telomerase reverse transcriptase, which plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. Overall, 76 gene body promoters were recurrently hypomethylated, including TERT and the oncogenes GLI3 and TP73. Recurring hypomethylation also affected previously unannotated alternative promoters, and luciferase reporter assays for three of four of these promoters confirmed strong promoter activity in GBM cells. Histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) ChIP-seq on tissue from the GBMs uncovered peaks that coincide precisely with tumor-specific decrease of DNA methylation at 200 loci, 133 of which are in gene bodies. Detailed investigation of TP73 and TERT gene body hypomethylation demonstrated increased expression of corresponding alternate transcripts, which in TP73 encodes a truncated p73 protein with oncogenic function and in TERT encodes a putative reverse transcriptase-null protein. Our findings suggest that recurring gene body promoter hypomethylation events, along with histone H3K4 trimethylation, alter the transcriptional landscape of GBM through the activation of a limited number of normally silenced promoters within gene bodies, in at least one case leading to expression of an oncogenic protein.
An optical FSK-based label coding technique for the realization of the all-optical label swapping

A new approach on optical label encoding for the realization of the all-optical label swapping in transparent optical packet switched networks is proposed and tested via simulation. The proposed method is based on the combination of the optical frequency shift keying (OFSK) modulated label with the on-off keying (OOK) modulated payload on the same optical carrier. The combination has been achieved by feeding the two independent optical signals, carrying the OFSK modulated label, and the OOK modulated payload, at the input of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). The obtained four wave mixing at the output of the SOA combines label and payload on one carrier. The simulations have been carried out for 625-Mb/s labels and 10-Gb/s payload and for three 80-km span hops. At each hop the label was removed and a new locally generated label was loaded on the payload. The bit error rate calculations were made for both label and payload at each node, which proved the feasibility of the proposed method.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Heart Failure Therapy

C l i n M e d International Library Citation: Wang H (2014) Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Heart Failure Therapy. Int J Surg Res Pract 1:001e Received: August 17, 2014: Accepted: August 20, 2014: Published: August 23, 2014 Copyright: © 2014 Wang H. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Wang, Int J Surg Res Pract 2014, 1:1
PROXIMAL: a method for Prediction of Xenobiotic Metabolism

Contamination of the environment with bioactive chemicals has emerged as a potential public health risk. These substances that may cause distress or disease in humans can be found in air, water and food supplies. An open question is whether these chemicals transform into potentially more active or toxic derivatives via xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes expressed in the body. We present a new prediction tool, which we call PROXIMAL (Prediction of Xenobiotic Metabolism) for identifying possible transformation products of xenobiotic chemicals in the liver. Using reaction data from DrugBank and KEGG, PROXIMAL builds look-up tables that catalog the sites and types of structural modifications performed by Phase I and Phase II enzymes. Given a compound of interest, PROXIMAL searches for substructures that match the sites cataloged in the look-up tables, applies the corresponding modifications to generate a panel of possible transformation products, and ranks the products based on the activity and abundance of the enzymes involved. PROXIMAL generates transformations that are specific for the chemical of interest by analyzing the chemical’s substructures. We evaluate the accuracy of PROXIMAL’s predictions through case studies on two environmental chemicals with suspected endocrine disrupting activity, bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-chlorobiphenyl (PCB3). Comparisons with published reports confirm 5 out of 7 and 17 out of 26 of the predicted derivatives for BPA and PCB3, respectively. We also compare biotransformation predictions generated by PROXIMAL with those generated by METEOR and Metaprint2D-react, two other prediction tools. PROXIMAL can predict transformations of chemicals that contain substructures recognizable by human liver enzymes. It also has the ability to rank the predicted metabolites based on the activity and abundance of enzymes involved in xenobiotic transformation.
The Federal Trade Commission's Anti-trust Attack on Advertising

Over the last decade, American public policy has turned increasingly against advertising. The Federal Trade Commission, in several test cases, has set out to show that advertising strengthens and sustains the power of the monopolist. By and large, the attack has failed, and thereby enhanced the contrary view that advertising is a force for competitive efficiency.
Article X Contents of Writing, Recordings, and Photographs

Article X deals with what at common law was termed the "best evidence rule," but should, more accurately, be called the "original document rule." Rule 1002 sets forth a classical “statement” of the rule, ostensibly preserving the common law requirement that the original be produced to prove the contents of any writing, recording or photograph. Moreover, the breadth of the definitions contained in Rule 1001 seemingly expands the coverage of the. Rule beyond simple documents to all writings, recordings, and photographs, including virtually all methods of data storage. Rules 1003-1007, however, provide a series of exceptions which largely envelop the common law rule. Finally, Rule 1008 defines the respective roles of court and jury with respect to Article X issues, carving out a substantial role for the jury in resolving disputed fact questions.
Web-Based Simulation Modules as Supplement for Enhancing Learning in Lecture and Laboratory-Based Engineering Courses

Results are presented from an NSF supported project that validate the hypothesis that students` learning gains can be enhanced through integration of web-based interactive simulation and visualization modules in engineering courses. The implemented modules were used in the "supplementation" mode wherein students used these modules along with conventional lecture or laboratory classes. In order to gage the effectiveness of each implemented module a "control" group, without access to the module, and an "experimental" group, with access to the module, were identified. Performance of students in both groups in an identical quiz was analyzed statistically to determine if the introduction of web-based modules favorably affected students learning outcomes. Since both "control" and "experimental" groups may have different demographic profiles-different age, ethnicity, gender etc.-a demographic factor analysis was also conducted for each module to assess if the impact of demographic factors rises to the level of statistical significance. Results of statistical analysis indicated that of the twenty eight learning outcomes tested in eight engineering courses, fifteen showed statistically significant improvement in quiz scores for "experimental" groups over corresponding "control" groups. Even though for thirteen outcomes the quiz scores were generally higher for the "experimental" groups, improvement in quiz scores over the control group performance was not statistically significant. The demographic factor analysis also showed that whereas gender, ethnicity, course load and math SAT scores are not significant factors for the pedagogy of learning with the web-based simulation and visualization modules, the cumulative GPA was a significant factor in five out of nine modules. The results presented in this large scale study, spanning over three engineering disciplines, demonstrates the favorable impact of web-based simulation and visualization modules on student learning. The project has not only led to enhanced student learning in engineering courses and faculty development but it has also contributed to engineering pedagogy by demonstrating the effectiveness of web based simulation and visualization modules when used in the "supplementation" mode with conventional lectures or lab classes.
The Effects of Expertise on the Hindsight Bias

We present data from three experiments examining the effects of objective and subjective expertise on the hindsight bias. In Experiment 1, participants read an essay about baseball or dogs and then answered questions about the baseball essay to the best of their ability, as if they had not read the essay, or to the best of their ability, although they read about dogs. Participants also completed a quiz about baseball rules and terminology, which was an objective measure of expertise. Results demonstrated that as participants' baseball expertise increased, their inability to act as if they never read the essay also increased; expertise exacerbated the hindsight bias. To test the effects of subjective expertise on hindsight bias and investigate factors underlying the relationship, participants in Experiment 2 ranked five topics in order of expertise and gave feeling-of-knowing (FOK) ratings for questions from these topics. Foresight participants then saw each question again and answered the questions; hindsight participants saw the questions and answers and gave the probability they would have known the answers had they not been provided. Hindsight bias increased with subjective expertise as did average FOK ratings. In Experiment 3, we experimentally manipulated perceived expertise but found that neither average FOK ratings nor hindsight bias was affected by experimentally induced expertise. Taken together, the results demonstrate that expertise exacerbates both objective and subjective hindsight bias but that an FOK, which likely exists only when expertise is naturally acquired, is necessary to engender the detrimental effect of expertise on the hindsight bias. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Female Athletes: A Systematic Review.

Background: A number of reports have been published on the effectiveness and design of intervention programs for the prevention of rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in female athletes. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature to determine the effectiveness of neuromuscular training programs in preventing ACL injury in female athletes. Methods: A systematic review was performed with use of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. The search terms included “anterior cruciate ligament” and “ACL” combined with “prevention” and “intervention.” The searches included material indexed by September 30, 2013. Data concerning study design, the characteristics of participants, the details of the neuromuscular programs, the types of sports, and number of ACL ruptures were extracted from the studies. Study heterogeneity was assessed with funnel plot and Egger regression methods. Pooled effects were calculated with use of a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. The number needed to treat was calculated on the basis of pooled incidence data. Results: The risk of ACL rupture was 1.83 times higher for female athletes who did not participate in neuromuscular ACL-prevention training programs (odds ratio [OR], 1.83; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.08 to 3.10; p = 0.02). In studies that focused exclusively on soccer, the risk of ACL rupture was 2.62 times higher for nonparticipating athletes (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.59 to 4.32; p < 0.01). When the data were analyzed according to the timing of the intervention, no significant effects were found. In studies in which the program took place both preseason and in-season, the risk (odds ratio) of ACL rupture for nonparticipating athletes was 2.34 (95% CI, 0.82 to 6.7; p = 0.11). In studies in which the intervention took place in-season only, the risk (odds ratio) of ACL rupture for nonparticipating athletes was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.23 to 6.75; p = 0.8). The number needed to treat to prevent a single ACL rupture was 128.7 athletes. We found no significant heterogeneity among the included studies. The I2 value was 35.40% (p = 0.11). No significant publication bias was found in our included studies. Conclusions: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis favor a protective effect of neuromuscular training programs on the risk of ACL rupture in female athletes. This protective effect is more pronounced in soccer players. Additional research is needed to design the optimal training program. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Fathers' and Mothers' Language Acculturation and Parenting Practices: Links to Mexican American Children's Academic Readiness.

This study used a family-centered ecological lens to examine predictive relations among fathers’ and mothers’ language acculturation, parenting practices, and academic readiness in a large sample o...
Astudy on the epidemiological characteristics and molecular typing of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in Shanghai

[Objective] To study the molecular epidemiological characteristics of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis(S.Enteritidis)strains in Shanghai from year 2006 to 2007. [Methods] A retrospective analysis from year 2002 to 2007 was performed to explore the source of food-borne S.Enteritidis strains and compare its antibiotic resistance with strains isolated from diarrheal patients.Data of S.Enteritidis strains of patient and food of Global Salm-Surv(GSS) from year 2006 to 2007 were tested,including phenotype confirmation,antibiotic resistance and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE) analysis. [Results] S.Enteritidis was the topmost strain in diarrheal patients caused by non-typhi Salmonella in year 2006 to 2007,in Shanghai.80% strains of food-borne S.Enteritidis were obtained from poultry and their products.The antibiotic resistance of food isolates was higher than those from clinical isolates.The drug resistance spectrum of diarrhea patients isolates in year 2006 was different from that in year 2007.76 strains including 13 food-borne strains belonged to 21 PFGE pattern combinations,and their genetic similarity was higher than 80%.The major PFGE subtype was type 3(34strains),type 1(12 strains),type 2(5 strains)and type 5(5 strains),Every strain from food had been matched with PFGE subtype strains in diarrhea patients except subtype 2.The number of homology case of diarrhea patients and food caused by subtype 1/2 were 4 and 12 in year 2006 and 2007. [Conclusion] There is close relationship between diarrhea patients of S.Enteritidis and contaminated poultry(chicken) in Shanghai.The PFGE subtype 3 is the predominant epidemic strain.The PFGE subtype 1/2 isolated from goose liver in year 2007 may be a viriety of subtype 3,and may tend to replace the predominant strain.This study suggests that rapid control and forecast the potential outbreak cases of S.Enteritidis and trace the suspected source of contamination by combining the surveillance of clinical patients and food chain,including the real-time molecular typing in laboratory.
High performance liquid chromatography method for determination of vitamins B1 in spirulina

Objective To establish a high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)method for determination of vitamins B1 in spirulina. Methods Add 0.2mol/L hydrochloric acid to the sample,mix 30 s,hydrolysis in the oven for 30 min at 121℃.After cooling,the resulting solution was brought to pH 4.5by addition of 2.0mol/L sodium acetate,coupled with papain and amylase enzyme solution mixed,shake,and then set incubator overnight at 37 ℃,after which it was filtered through filter paper and made up to 100 mL with pure water.The filtrate derived by alkaline ferricyanide derivatives,extracted by N-butanol,then separated by symmetry C18(5μm,250 mm ×4.6 mm)column,methanol and sodium acetate as the mobile phase,detected by fluorescence detector and quantified by external standard. Results The baseline of method is smooth.the peak separation is complete.The detection limits were 0.2mg/kg,the calibration curves were liner in the range of 0.01~2.0 mg/L,the rate of recovery were 86.36% to 98.23%,the RSDs were between1.15%~3.14%. Conclusions The proposed method was simple,sensitive.The method is accurate and reliable to test vitamins B1 in spirulina.
Activation of CFTR Cl- conductance in polarized T84 cells by luminal extracellular ATP

Luminal extracellular ATP evoked a bumetanide-sensitive short-circuit current in cultured T84 cell epithelia (90.2 +/- 18.2 microA/cm2 at 100 microM ATP, apparent 50% effective concentration, 11.5 microM). ATP appeared to increase the Cl- conductance of the apical membrane but not the driving force for Cl- secretion determined by basolateral membrane K+ conductance. Specifically, the magnitude of Cl- secretion stimulated by ATP was independent of basal current, and forskolin pretreatment abolished subsequent stimulation of Cl- secretion by ATP. Whereas ATP stimulated modest production of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) by T84 cells, ATP caused smaller increases in intracellular Ca2+ and inositol phosphate activities than the Ca(2+)-signaling Cl- secretagogue carbachol. An inhibitor of 5'-nucleotidase, alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-diphosphate, blocked most of the response to luminal ATP. The adenosine receptor antagonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline blocked both the luminal ATP-dependent generation of cAMP and Cl- secretion when administered to the luminal but not submucosal bath. These results demonstrate that the Cl- secretion stimulated by luminal ATP is mediated by a A2-adenosine receptor located on the apical cell membrane. Thus metabolism of extracellular ATP to adenosine regulates the activity of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductor regulator (CFTR) in the apical membrane of polarized T84 cells.
Effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on enterocyte basolateral membrane Ca transport in rats.

One, twenty-five dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], commonly known as calcitriol, stimulates intestinal Ca absorption through increased activity of a cellular transport process. To determine whether transcellular Ca transport involves energy-dependent Ca efflux across enterocyte plasma membrane in vitamin D-sufficient rats, in vitro bidirectional Ca fluxes were measured under short-circuited conditions across proximal duodenum from rats fed diets adequate in vitamin D and containing a normal Ca diet (NCD), a low Ca diet (LCD), or fed NCD and injected with 50 ng of 1,25(OH)2D3 daily for 4 days before study. LCD or 1,25(OH)2D3 increased Ca net flux [Jnet, mucosal-to-serosal flux minus the serosal-to-mucosal flux] by increasing Ca mucosal-to-serosal flux (Jm----s) (mean +/- SE, NCD vs. LCD vs. 1,25(OH)2D3, 16 +/- 4 vs. 179 +/- 18 vs. 82 +/- 21 nmol.cm-2. h-1, P less than 0.0001). Initial ATP-dependent Ca uptake rates by duodenal basolateral membrane vesicles (BLMV) was greater in vesicles from rats fed NCD c...
Chapter 14 – Principles of Detection

Publisher Summary Autoradiography is a simple and sensitive photochemical technique used to record the spatial distribution of radiolabeled compounds within a specimen or an object. Autoradiography is subdivided into two broad groups, commonly referred to as macroautoradiography and microautoradiography, indicative of the type of specimen containing the radioactivity, the type of emulsion necessary for image formation, and the method of examining the results. The most common applications of autoradiography in molecular biology include the quantitative analysis of nucleic acid hybridization events. The choice of X-ray film is dependent on whether high-energy or low-energy emitters were used as label and the required level of resolution. The non-radioactive methodologies for the hybridization detection are: chemiluminescence, a process in which light is generated by enzymatic modification of suitable substrates; chromogenic detection, in which an enzymatic activity causes a color precipitate to be deposited directly on the filter at the site of the reaction; fluorescence, in which molecular excitation of certain compounds at one wavelength results in emission of light at a different, characteristic wavelength; and chemifluorescence, in which a fluorogenic substrate is converted enzymatically into a fluorescent product which, upon laser excitation, may be captured using a fluorescence imaging system. In addition to that, digital image analysis of data has added a new dimension to both the sensitivity that is achievable and the accuracy of interpretation such as a phosphorimager, which is a sophisticated, very sensitive imaging device and the primary function of which is to produce digital images of the gels and blots.
Darwin's legacy

Charles Darwin was no theoretical physicist, and I am no biologist. Yet, as a theoretical physicist, I have found much to think about in Darwin's legacy – and in that of his fellow naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace. Darwin's style of science is not usually thought of as theoretical and certainly not mathematical: he was a careful observer of nature, kept copious notes, contributed to zoological collections; and eventually from his vast repertoire of observation deduced the idea of natural selection as the origin of species. The value of theorizing is often dismissed in the biological sciences as less important than observation; and Darwin was the master observer.
Graphene neural interfaces for artifact free optogenetics

Light-induced artifacts in metal-based microelectrodes significantly limit simultaneous use of electrophysiology with optogenetics or optical imaging. In this work, we systematically investigate light-induced artifacts in Au and transparent graphene electrodes fabricated in the same batch. We demonstrate that the Au electrodes show light artifacts resembling genuine local field potentials, while graphene electrodes are free of light-induced artifacts. With its other desirable properties including high mechanical strength, good conductivity, transparency, and biocompatibility, graphene electrodes show great promise for combining electrical and optical modalities in the same experiment.
Sleep architecture parameters as a putative biomarker of suicidal ideation in treatment-resistant depression.

Abstract Background Disturbed sleep may confer risk for suicidal behaviors. Polysomnographic (PSG) sleep parameters have not been systematically evaluated in association with suicidal ideation (SI) among individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods This secondary data analysis included 54 TRD individuals (N=30 with major depressive disorder (MDD) and N=24 with bipolar depression (BD)). PSG sleep parameters included Sleep Efficiency (SE), Total Sleep Time (TST), Wakefulness After Sleep Onset (WASO), REM percent/latency, and non-REM (NREM) Sleep Stages 1–4. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) was used to group participants according to presence or absence of SI. Sleep abnormalities were hypothesized among those with current SI. ANOVA analyses were conducted before (Model 1) and after adjusting for depression (Model 2) and diagnostic variables (Model 3). Results Significant differences in PSG parameters were observed in Model 1; those with SI had less NREM Stage 4 sleep (p Limitations 1) a predominantly white sample; 2) exclusion of imminent suicide risk; 3) concomitant mood stabilizer use among BD patients; and 4) single-item SI assessment. Conclusions Independent of depression severity, SI was associated with less NREM Stage 4 sleep, and higher nocturnal wakefulness across diagnostic groups. Sleep may warrant further investigation in the pathogenesis of suicide risk, particularly in TRD, where risk may be heightened.
Robust direct adaptive control for MIMO systems using Q-parameterization

Abstract This paper presents the design of a robust direct adaptive control (DMRAC) algorithm for MIMO systems with focus on the satisfaction of an almost strictly positive real (ASPR) condition in the presence of plant unmodeled dynamics. These unmodeled dynamics are represented as either additive or multiplicative norm bounded perturbations in the transfer function. Design conditions for a feedforward compensator have been developed utilizing the so-called Q parameterization. Illustrative example is presented to validate the algorithm’s use and applicability to control systems with unmodeled dynamics.
"For All the Dorothies": Motherhood as a Campaign Strategy in Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential Television Ads

This paper looks at the television ad campaign for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 democratic nomination and specifically why children figure so predominantly in her television presence from April 2015 to February 2016. Focusing mainly on the early campaign for the democratic nomination rather than the actual presidency, it is clear that children appear significantly more often in Clinton’s ads than in those of her opponent, Bernie Sanders. This paper argues that the difference here is due mainly to gender, specifically America’s perceptions of female gender roles and the predominantly male attributes associated with power. Children, in Clinton’s 2016 campaign, therefore act as a way to associate Clinton with a traditionally more feminine sphere of power through motherhood, placing her in the position of nurturer for the USA through the presidency and consolidating her roles as both a woman and political leader.
PKC/Nedd4-2 Signaling Pathway Regulates the Cell Surface Expression of Drug Transporter hOAT1.

Human organic anion transporter-1 (hOAT1) regulates the absorption, distribution, and excretion of a wide range of clinically important drugs. Our previous work demonstrated that hOAT1 is a dynamic membrane transporter, constitutively internalizing from and recycling back to the cell plasma membrane. Short-term activation ( 2 hours) of PKC significantly enhanced hOAT1 degradation, and such action was partially blocked by ubiquitin mutant Ub-K48R, which has its lysine (K) 48 mutated to arginine (R) and is incapable of forming a K48-linked polyubiquitin chain. The ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2 was also found to augment hOAT1 degradation. These results suggest that PKC-regulated and Nedd4-2-catalyzed attachment of a lysine 48-linked polyubiquitin chain to hOAT1 is important for hOAT1 stability. We further showed through coimmunoprecipitation experiments that there was a direct association between hOAT1 and Nedd4-2, and such interaction was weakened when the WW3 and WW4 domains of the ligase were mutated. Mutating WW3 and WW4 domains of the ligase also impaired its ability to ubiquitinate hOAT1. Therefore, WW3 and WW4 domains of Nedd4-2 are critical for its association with and modulation of the transporter.
The Role of the IGFs in Myogenic Differentiation

Myogenesis is an important aspect of developmental biology that has been actively investigated in cultured cells for nearly three decades. Interest has been heightened and activity more sharply focussed during the past few years by the discovery of a family of myogenesis controlling genes, which appear to play major roles in the aspect of myogenesis to be considered here: the terminal differentiation of proliferating myoblasts to form postmitotic myotubes in which a number of muscle-specific genes are expressed. Most attention on the control of this process has been concentrated on its negative regulation by medium components initially characterized loosely as „mitogens,“ but subsequently identified as Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) and Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-ft). This laboratory has shown that the Insulinlike Growth Factors (IGFs), in contrast, are stimulators of myogenesis, and recent work suggests that autocrine/paracrine actions of the IGFs may play an important role in differentiation in low serum medium even when the exogenous growth factors are not added. Thus, initiation of myogenic differentiation in vitro requires not only the removal of inhibitors present in serum, but also the secretion or addition of stimulators of this process.
Primary Care Providers’ Perspectives on Errors of Omission

Background Despite recent focus on patient safety in primary care, little attention has been paid to errors of omission, which represent significant gaps in care and threaten patient safety in primary care but are not well studied or categorized. The purpose of this study was to develop a typology of errors of omission from the perspectives of primary care providers (PCPs) and understand what factors within practices lead to or prevent these omissions. Methods A qualitative descriptive design was used to collect data from 26 PCPs, both physicians and nurse practitioners, from the New York State through individual interviews. One researcher conducted all interviews, which were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed in ATLAS.ti, Berlin by 3 researchers using content analysis. They immersed themselves into data, read transcripts independently, and conducted inductive coding. The final codes were linked to each other to develop the typology of errors of omission and the themes. Data saturation was reached at the 26th interview. Results PCPs reported that omitting patient teaching, patient followup, emotional support, and addressing mental health needs were the main categories of errors of omission. PCPs perceived that time constraints, unplanned patient visits and emergencies, and administrative burden led to these gaps in care. They emphasized that organizational support and infrastructure, effective teamwork and communication, and preparation for the patient encounter were important safeguards to prevent errors of omission within their practices. Discussion Errors of omission are common in primary care and could threaten patient safety. Efforts to eliminate them should focus on strengthening organizational attributes of practices, improving teamwork and communication, and assigning manageable workload to PCPs. Conclusions Practice and policy change is necessary to address gaps in care and prevent them before they result in patient harm.
Gold Chloride Permanent Standards for Residual Chlorine

When permanent standards are used in colorimetrie determinations it is imperative that, if accuracy is to be attained, their colors closely simulate those developing in the actual determinations. In determining residual chlorine the potassium dichromate-copper sulphate standards of Standard Methods of Water Analysis provide a satisfactory match for the ortho-tolidine-chlorine color only in 300 m.m. depth of liquid. For other depths the color is not simulated. At the 1935 Ohio Conference on Water Purification the writer
Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (Lynch Syndrome)

The diagnosis and management of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also referred to as the Lynch syndrome, is dependent upon knowledge of its medical-genetic features and its natural history, a well- orchestrated family history, evidence for MMR mutations and an understanding of their significance, all in concert with its phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity. From the clinical standpoint, variable expressivity of the phenotype is a well-established phenomenon in virtually all hereditary disorders, inclusive of HNPCC. Phenotypic variability may be a function of the differences in the expressivity of a single gene or it may occur in concert with modifier genes, and/or environmental factors. However, a full understanding of these events in HNPCC remains elusive. Nevertheless, important surveillance and management implications may emerge from translation of this knowledge into the clinical practice setting.
Dysautonomia in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease and Correlations with Patient-Reported Disability (P2.112)

Objective: To assess the prevalence of autonomic neuropathy in patients with CMT and its impact on patient-reported disability. Background: Charcot Marie Tooth disease (CMT) is a genetic neuropathy characterized by progressive foot drop, imbalance, sensory loss, gait abnormalities and reduced quality of life. Patients with peripheral neuropathy may also exhibit autonomic neuropathy, which can impact heart rhythms, small fiber nerves, and breathing. The prevalence of autonomic neuropathy in CMT is unknown. Design/Methods: Prospective survey study of CMT patients aged 18 and older, recruited online from patient advocacy groups (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation, and Rare Disease Clinical Research Network). Scores on the Survey of Autonomic Symptoms (SAS; range: 0–12) were used to determine the primary outcome of prevalence of autonomic neuropathy (> 4 for ages 3 for ages >60). Scores on the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2; range: 1–5; higher scores indicate worse function) were compared to determine impact of autonomic neuropathy on CMT. Results: Of 705 surveys received, 669 responders with complete data were analyzed. Responders with genetic testing: n=433, 64.7%. Most common CMT type: 1A (n=228, 52.7%); most common age range: 60+ (n=286, 42.8%); most common gender = F; (n=431, 64.4%). Prevalence of autonomic neuropathy as identified by SAS scores in adults with CMT =65.8% (n=441). CMT patients with autonomic neuropathy reported significantly more CPAP/BiPAP use (t=2.95, p=0.003), cardiac pacemaker/defibrillator use (t=2.47, p=0.01), and burning dysesthesias (t=7.71, p Conclusions: There is a high prevalence and impact of autonomic neuropathy in patients with CMT. We recommend prospective validation of our results in a CMT population, as this would change disease surveillance and the clinical care of patients with CMT. Disclosure: Dr. Ramchandren has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tirella has nothing to disclose.