cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Translocation of proteins across archaeal cytoplasmic membranes

All cells need to transport proteins across hydrophobic membranes. Several mechanisms have evolved to facilitate this transport, including: (i) the universally-conserved Sec system, which transports proteins in an unfolded conformation and is thought to be the major translocation pathway in most organisms and (ii) the Tat system, which transports proteins that have already obtained some degree of tertiary structure. Here, we present the current understanding of these processes in the domain Archaea, and how they compare to the corresponding pathways in bacteria and eukaryotes.
Analysis of Chamber Simulations of Long Probes in High-Speed, Dense Plasmas

We describe chamber tests of simulated electrodynamic tethers (EDTs) of different geometries operating in a dense, high-speed plasma. The geometries tested and described here were cylindrical and flat-ribbon. Several important conclusions that can be drawn from the tests are as follows: the currents collected by cylinder are close to what would be predicted via orbital-motion-limited (OML) current collection theory. The tape tether had comparable current levels to a theoretical equal area OML cylinder collector. However, I–V behavior clearly is different at nearest distances (∼ 16 λD tape width) as compared to furthest test distances (∼ 6 λD tape width). The tape tether did better than a theoretical equal mass solid cylinder. A “knee” in the I–V curves can be seen in the tape data at a potential that is near the estimated energy of the incoming beam of ions, at least for the closest distances where Debye length is smallest. Below this knee the current increases rapidly as voltage is increased. Above the knee the current increases at a rate near that expected from OML current-collection models depending on the relative width. This likely is an example of high-speed plasma flow effect. Perpendicular tape orientation performed slightly better than parallel.
Vancomycin-Induced Elevation of Liver Enzyme Levels

Objective:To report a case of oral vancomycin-induced elevation of liver enzyme levels.Case Summary:A 57-year-old man with multiple medical conditions requiring systemic antibiotic therapy developed numerous Clostridium difficile–associated enterocolitis episodes. The patient did not respond adequately to oral metronidazole, as evidenced by his continuing diarrhea. He was treated with oral vancomycin on 5 separate occasions (with doses from 125 to 500 mg/day), each of which resulted in significant elevations in alanine aminotransferase (to 371 U/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (to 203 U/L) levels. The elevations resolved on each occasion with discontinuation of vancomycin.Discussion:Vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic, has primary activity against gram-positive bacteria. Oral vancomycin can be used for the treatment of C. difficile–associated enterocolitis in patients who fail to respond to or are intolerant to metronidazole therapy. Oral vancomycin has very poor bioavailability and, as of May 4, 2006...
Toxicity of 3,4,5,3′,4′,5′-hexabrominated biphenyl and 3,4,3′,4′-tetrabrominated biphenyl☆

Immature male rats were given a single equimolar dose (21.3 mumol/kg body wt) of 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) or 3,4,3',4'-tetrabromobiphenyl (TBB) and terminated at various times up to 14 days after treatment. Hepatic microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity for the TBB treatment group was maximal at Day 2 and then steadily decreased, whereas this activity was induced in 1 day and remained high for the HBB treatment group. Tissue concentrations of HBB appeared to be unchanged over time whereas tissue concentrations of TBB decreased in a biphasic manner. Rates of in vitro metabolism of TBB with hepatic microsomes from TBB-treated animals showed a similar time-course relationship to AHH induction. HBB caused moderate to severe hepatic changes while TBB-treated rats had only mild hepatic changes. The relative binding of TBB by the hepatic receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was about 10 times that of HBB. The results suggest that even though the receptor-binding affinities imply that TBB should be more toxic than HBB, it is less toxic than HBB because it is metabolized. Studies with the chlorinated analogs of TBB and HBB suggested that PCB behave similarly. These results also suggest that receptor binding and AHH induction do not accurately reflect toxicity for polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons which are metabolized, presumably because continued occupation of the receptor and persistent induction of some enzyme activity are required for toxicity.
Shades of Brown: The Law of Skin Color

Because antidiscrimination efforts have focused primarily on race, courts have largely ignored discrimination within racial classifications on the basis of skin color. In this Article, Professor Jones brings light to this area by examining the historical and contemporary significance of skin color in the United States. She argues that discrimination based on skin color, or colorism, is a present reality and predicts that this form of discrimination will assume increasing significance in the future as current understandings of race and racial classifications disintegrate. She maintains that the legal system must develop a firm understanding of colorism in order for the quest for equality of opportunity to succeed.
β-Glucan Is a Fungal Determinant for Adhesion-Dependent Human Neutrophil Functions

Candida albicans is a common cause of nosocomial infections whose virulence depends on the reversible switch from blastoconidia to hyphal forms. Neutrophils (or polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs)) readily clear blastoconidia by phagocytosis, but filaments are too long to be ingested. Mechanisms regulating immune recognition and response to filamentous fungal pathogens are not well understood, although known risk factors for developing life-threatening infections are neutropenia or defects in the NADPH oxidase system. We show human PMNs generate a respiratory burst response to unopsonized hyphae. Ab specific for beta-glucan, a major component of yeast cell walls, blocks this response, establishing beta-glucan as a key molecular pattern recognized by PMNs in response to C. albicans. This study also elucidates recognition and signaling mechanisms used by PMNs in response to beta-glucan under conditions where phagocytosis cannot occur. Human PMNs adhered to immobilized beta-glucan and released an efficient plasma membrane respiratory burst. Ab blockade of the integrin complement receptor 3 (CD11b/CD18) significantly inhibited both of these functions. Furthermore, we show a role for p38 MAPK and actin but not protein kinase C zeta in generating the respiratory burst to beta-glucan. Taken together, results show that beta-glucan in C. albicans hyphae is accessible to PMNs and sufficient to support an innate immune response.
Ab Initio Structure and Energetics for the Molecular and Dissociative Adsorption of NH3 on Si(100)-2 1 †

We predict the structures and detailed energetics for the dissociative adsorption of NH3 to form NH2 and H adsorbed on a single Si dimer on the Si(100)-2 × 1 surface at the MRSDCI (multireference single and double excitation configuration interaction) level of theory. We predict that this dissociation involves two steps: (i) barrierless molecular chemisorption of NH3 followed by (ii) activated N−H bond cleavage of NH3(a) to form NH2(a) + H(a). While the second step involves a barrier, its relatively small height renders the overall reaction barrierless. The extremely high adsorption exothermicity (∼75 kcal/mol) results in a very high desorption barrier. These results can explain the experimentally determined high sticking probability of NH3, the observation of NH3(a) at low temperatures, and the observed stability of NH2(a) and H(a) on the Si(100) surface up to ∼600 K. Additionally, our CASSCF level (complete active space self-consistent-field) calculated geometries for the dissociatively adsorbed specie...
Structure and Function of Bacteriophage R17 Replicative Intermediate Ribonucleic Acid II. Properties of the Parental Labeled Molecule

Replicative intermediate ribonucleic acid (RNA), designated RI, which contained parental RNA labeled with (32)P was separated by filtration through agarose from the nucleic acids prepared from (32)P-labeled RNA phage-infected Escherichia coli. A larger amount of ribonuclease-sensitive parental label was found in the rapidly sedimenting forms of RI than in the slower sedimenting forms, indicating that parental RNA is displaced to form a single-stranded tail. This result indicates that some phage RNA is generated by asymmetric semiconservative replication of RI, but it does not mean that a portion of the RI duplexes cannot be conserved during generation of phage RNA. Parental RNA was also found in double-stranded RNA with no apparent tails which sedimented with an S value of 13. This RNA was soluble in 2 m NaCl, and its sedimentation rate was unaffected by ribonuclease; nevertheless, single-strand scissions were produced by ribonuclease and were detected after the duplex was converted to its component single strands.
Verification of multileaf collimator leaf positions using an electronic portal imaging device

An automated method is presented for determining individual leaf positions of the Siemens dual focus multileaf collimator (MLC) using the Siemens BEAMVIEW(PLUS) electronic portal imaging device (EPID). Leaf positions are computed with an error of 0.6 mm at one standard deviation (sigma) using separate computations of pixel dimensions, image distortion, and radiation center. The pixel dimensions are calculated by superimposing the film image of a graticule with the corresponding EPID image. A spatial correction is used to compensate for the optical distortions of the EPID, reducing the mean distortion from 3.5 pixels (uncorrected) per localized x-ray marker to 2 pixels (1 mm) for a rigid rotation and 1 pixel for a third degree polynomial warp. A correction for a nonuniform dosimetric response across the field of view of the EPID images is not necessary due to the sharp intensity gradients across leaf edges. The radiation center, calculated from the average of the geometric centers of a square field at 0 degrees and 180 degrees collimator angles, is independent of graticule placement error. Its measured location on the EPID image was stable to within 1 pixel based on 3 weeks of repeated extensions/retractions of the EPID. The MLC leaf positions determined from the EPID images agreed to within a pixel of the corresponding values measured using film and ionization chamber. Several edge detection algorithms were tested: contour, Sobel, Roberts, Prewitt, Laplace, morphological, and Canny. These agreed with each other to within < or = 1.2 pixels for the in-air EPID images. Using a test pattern, individual MLC leaves were found to be typically within 1 mm of the corresponding record-and-verify values, with a maximum difference of 1.8 mm, and standard deviations of <0.3 mm in the daily reproducibility. This method presents a fast, automatic, and accurate alternative to using film or a light field for the verification and calibration of the MLC.
Effects of Substance P and Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP) on Guinea Pig Nasal Mucosal Secretion in vivo

Trigeminal sensory nerves contain and release the neurotransmitters substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) in nasal mucosa. The effects of SP and CGRP on nasal secretion were tested in an in vivo model of guinea pig nasal mucosal secretion by topically applying the peptides directly to turbinates, and then lavaging the nostrils 10 min later. Concentrations of total protein, albumin, and 125I-bovine serum albumin (25I-BSA, injected intravenously at time 0 of the studies) were measured in lavage fluid. SP (beginning at 10−6 M) and CGRP (beginning at 10−6 M) stimulated the secretion of 25I-BSA indicating stimulation of plasma protein exudation. SP and CGRP increased total protein concentration at 10−6 M indicating stimulation of glandular secretion. Topically applied thiorphan (1 μg), an inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase, did not potentiate the maximal response to SP. However, thiorphan significantly prolonged the duration of 125I-BSA, total protein, and albumin secretion in response to...
Quantifying nutrient removal from groundwater seepage out of constructed wetlands receiving treated wastewater effluent

Wetlands play an important role in the reduction of nutrients in agricultural runoff and treated wastewater effluent. A component of wetlands systems, the seepage out of the wetland and subsequent groundwater flow, has been virtually ignored in understanding the transport and fate of nutrients. This study examined the flow of groundwater infiltrating from a constructed wetland receiving municipal wastewater effluent, and the fate of dissolved nutrients within the groundwater. Concentrations of nitrate, ammonium, phosphate and chloride were used to assess the quantity of nutrients being removed/added from the seepage compared to the total amount removed/added by surface water processes. Nitrate–Nitrogen concentrations in the surface water ranged 10.0–26.8 and ND-1.5 mg/L in groundwater. Ammonium–Nitrogen concentrations in the surface water ranged 0.05–2.3 and 0.004–4.5 mg/L in groundwater. Phosphate concentrations in the surface water ranged 0.1–3.2 and ND-0.4 mg/L in groundwater. Effluent-groundwater mixing calculations showed that a majority of the water sampled from the wells is effluent rich (50–100 %). MODFLOW simulations suggest that groundwater seepage flux from the wetland was between 3 and 11 % of the surface water flux through the wetland. Nitrate and phosphate removal was determined to be significant in the groundwater—1930 and 175 g/day, respectively, but ammonium concentrations increased in the groundwater by 29 g/day. Dependent on surface water retention times in the wetland, nitrate removal from the surface water ranged from 4100 to 14,450 g/day. Ammonium and phosphate were added at rates between 21–74 and 221–780 g/day, respectively.
Circadian rhythm of cell proliferation in the telencephalic ventricular zone: effect of in utero exposure to ethanol.

Abstract The neocortical ventricular zone is composed of a desynchronized population of proliferating cells. These cells give rise to neurons in the infragranular laminae of neocortex. The present study documents a diurnal rhythmicity of cell proliferation in the ventricular zone and examines the effects of ethanol on this biological clock. Pregnant rats were fed one of 3 diets. They were provided an ethanol-containing (6.7% v/v) liquid diet ad libitum between gestational day (G) 6 and G18, pair-fed an isocalorir liquid control diet, or fed chow and water. Throughout the experiments, the rats were fed either at 08.00 h (E.S.T.) or at 17.00 h (lights on 06.00 to 18.00 h). Rats were given a single injections of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) on G17 at one point during a 24 h period (03.00, 06.00, 09.00 h, etc.). The fraction of ventricular cells that incorporated the BrdU was determined using quantitative immunohistochemical methods. Pair-fed control rats (fed at 08.00 or 17.00 h) consumed their food within 4 h of presentation. The ratio of cells passing through the S-phase of the cell cycle changed diurnally; the ratio was highest during the day (0.52 ± 0.01 at 12.00 h) and lowest during the night (0.40 ± 0.02 at 03.00 h). In contrast, the ethanol-fed rats grazed on their food throughout the dark cycle regardless of when the food was presented. The mean peak blood ethanol concentration was 142 ± 13 mg/dl during the dark phase and less than 25 mg/dl during the light phase. Prenatal exposure to ethanol eliminates the fetal circadian rhythm in cell proliferation (mean labeling index of 0.45 ± 0.03). This ethanol-induced alteration demonstrates the resiliency of the developing system; its ability to compensate for traumas that alter the epigenetic control of development.
Spinal morphine but not ziconotide or gabapentin analgesia is affected by alternative splicing of voltage-gated calcium channel CaV2.2 pre-mRNA

Presynaptic voltage-gated calcium CaV2.2 channels play a privileged role in spinal level sensitization following peripheral nerve injury. Direct and indirect inhibitors of CaV2.2 channel activity in spinal dorsal horn are analgesic in chronic pain states. CaV2.2 channels represent a family of splice isoforms that are expressed in different combinations according to cell-type. A pair of mutually exclusive exons in the CaV2.2 encoding Cacna1b gene, e37a and e37b, differentially influence morphine analgesia. In mice that lack exon e37a, which is enriched in nociceptors, the analgesic efficacy of intrathecal morphine against noxious thermal stimuli is reduced. Here we ask if sequences unique to e37a influence: the development of abnormal thermal and mechanical sensitivity associated with peripheral nerve injury; and the actions of two other classes of analgesics that owe part or all of their efficacy to CaV2.2 channel inhibition. We find that: i) the analgesic efficacy of morphine, but not ziconotide or gabapentin, is reduced in mice lacking e37a, ii) the induction and maintenance of behaviors associated with sensitization that accompany peripheral nerve injury, do not require e37a-specific sequence, iii) intrathecal morphine, but not ziconotide or gabapentin analgesia to thermal stimuli is significantly lower in wild-type mice after peripheral nerve injury, iv) the analgesic efficacy of ziconotide and gabapentin to mechanical stimuli is reduced following nerve injury, and iv) intrathecal morphine analgesia to thermal stimuli in mice lacking e37a is not further reduced by peripheral nerve injury. Our findings show that the analgesic action of morphine, but not ziconotide or gabapentin, to thermal stimuli is linked to which Cacna1b exon, e37a or e37b, is selected during alternative pre-mRNA splicing.
Self-Labeling Processes in Mental Illness: The Role of Emotional Deviance

Thomas Scheff's labeling approach to mental illness is based on reactions of other to "residual rule-breaking." This article develops a theory of self-labeling processes to account for the unexplained phenomenon of voluntary treatment seeking. By taking the role of the generalized other, individual can assess the meaning of their impulses and actions. When individuals observe themselves frequently or persistently breaking "residual rules," they attribute disturbance to themselves and may seek professional help. Drawing from Hochschild and Pugliesi, the article reconceptualized " residual rule-breaking" as violations of feeling or expression norms. When individuals are unable to manage or transform deviant feelings, self-attributions of disturbance should result. The conditions under which feeling management attempts are likely to fail and result in self-attributions of disturbance are outlined in the context of a more general theory of emotional processes. Some conditions under which labeling by others ma...
Against Spoon-Feeding. For Learning. Reflections on Students' Claims to Knowledge

Education philosopher Wilfred Carr points to the importance of engagement in the debates on the central issues in education, but not about education, rather for education. In this essay, we extend this position into the realm of management education by critiquing the disappointing outcomes of traditional approaches to teaching and learning, that is, spoon-feeding. We build on the imperative of enhancing student development through scholarly teaching that focuses on what we ask students to do. Our reflections derive from the disappointing results of an assignment asking students to articulate their learning by making claims to knowledge. Our interpretation argues for the need for reflexive practice by faculty as well as a systemic focus on developing students as more sophisticated “knowers,” especially in the management classroom.
Repeated hospitalizations predict mortality in the community population with heart failure.

Background Identification of patients at high risk of death is critical for appropriate management of patients and health care resources. The impact of repeated heart failure (HF) hospitalization on mortality has not been studied for a large community population with HF. We aimed to characterize survival of patients in relation to the number of HF hospitalizations. Method Using the health care utilization databases, we identified a cohort of patients with a first hospitalization for HF among all residents of British Columbia between 2000 and 2004. Survival time was measured after patients' first and each subsequent HF hospitalization. Kaplan-Meier cumulative mortality curves were constructed after each subsequent HF hospitalization. Hazard ratios for the number of HF hospitalizations were estimated using a multivariate Cox regression adjusting for major comorbidities. Results Of 14 374 patients hospitalized for HF, 7401 died during the 24 766 person-years of follow-up. Mortality significantly increased after each HF hospitalization. After adjusting for age, sex, and major comorbidities, the number of HF hospitalizations was a strong predictor of all-cause death. Median survival after the first, second, third, and fourth hospitalization was 2.4, 1.4, 1.0, and 0.6 years. Advanced age, renal disease, and history of cardiac arrest attenuated the impact of the number of HF hospitalizations. Conclusions The number of HF hospitalizations is a strong predictor of mortality in community HF patients. This simple predictor of mortality in HF patients should help triage management and resources for HF and trigger patient planning for prognosis.
Pharmacy students' motivational beliefs regarding pursuance of graduate school after completion of the PharmD program

Abstract Objectives The primary objective of the study was to develop and validate an instrument, within an expectancy-value framework, to assess student motivational beliefs regarding pursuance of graduate school after obtaining a PharmD degree. A secondary objective of the study was to examine additional student perceptions regarding graduate school. Methods Using a web-based survey instrument, information was obtained from samples of 2 nd and 3 rd professional year pharmacy students regarding motivational beliefs, graduate school, and other post-PharmD options. Results The developed instrument demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity. Differences in motivational beliefs were discovered across student demographic variables. Furthermore, intrinsic value and attainment/utility value motivational beliefs were significant predictors of likelihood of students pursuing graduate school in a pharmacy-related area. Faculty encouragement was positively associated with increased likelihood of pursuing graduate school and increases in intrinsic value and attainment/utility value motivational beliefs. Conclusions Student value beliefs of graduate school influence the likelihood of pursuing graduate school. Student motivational beliefs should be considered when determining effective methods of recruiting students to post-PharmD graduate education.
Identification of cell-specific targets of sumoylation during mouse spermatogenesis

Recent findings suggest diverse and potentially multiple roles of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) in testicular function and spermatogenesis. However, SUMO targets remain uncharacterized in the testis due to the complex multicellular nature of testicular tissue, the inability to maintain and manipulate spermatogenesis in vitro, and the technical challenges involved in identifying low-abundance endogenous SUMO targets. In this study, we performed cell-specific identification of sumoylated proteins using concentrated cell lysates prepared with de-sumoylation inhibitors from freshly purified spermatocytes and spermatids. One-hundred and twenty proteins were uniquely identified in the spermatocyte and/or spermatid fractions. The identified proteins are involved in the regulation of transcription, stress response, microRNA biogenesis, regulation of major enzymatic pathways, nuclear-cytoplasmic transport, cell-cycle control, acrosome biogenesis, and other processes. Several proteins with important roles during spermatogenesis were chosen for further characterization by co-immunoprecipitation, co-localization, and in vitro sumoylation studies. GPS-SUMO Software was used to identify consensus and non-consensus sumoylation sites within the amino acid sequences of the proteins. The analyses confirmed the cell-specific sumoylation and/or SUMO interaction of several novel, previously uncharacterized SUMO targets such as CDK1, RNAP II, CDC5, MILI, DDX4, TDP-43, and STK31. Furthermore, several proteins that were previously identified as SUMO targets in somatic cells (KAP1 and MDC1) were identified as SUMO targets in germ cells. Many of these proteins have a unique role in spermatogenesis and during meiotic progression. This research opens a novel avenue for further studies of SUMO at the level of individual targets.
Treatment for Acute Knee Dislocations

Acute knee dislocations, though uncommon, are among the most serious injuries encountered by the orthopedic surgeon. Many knee dislocations spontaneously reduce prior to presentation to the hospital; thus, a keen understanding of the characteristic injury mechanism and a high clinical suspicion are necessary to appropriately identify and treat this patient population. Once a knee dislocation is identified, the physical examination of the affected lower extremity is crucial to delineate the extent of the osseous and soft tissue injury, as well as prevent limb-threatening neurovascular complications. Appropriate diagnostic testing should assist in guiding immediate and delayed treatment. Neurovascular and open injuries should be addressed immediately, while fractures should be stabilized early in the post-dislocation period. There is no consensus regarding the most appropriate treatment for the multiligamentous injury that accompanies a knee dislocation. Injury pattern, patient-specific factors, and surgeon factors should all be considered when treating the ligamentous injuries associated with a knee dislocation. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the literature alongside our current approach to the management of the acute knee dislocation and the associated multiligamentous knee injury.
Research in Physical Therapy Philosophy, Barriers to Involvement, and Use Among California Physical Therapists

This study was designed to 1) determine the importance of research in physical therapy to professional physical therapists; 2) assess the factors impeding their involvement in research; and 3) examine the extent to which therapists use published research. The study was conducted in two parts, a series of personal interviews and a questionnaire developed from the results of the interviews. The sample for the interviews was drawn from the population of Santa Clara County, California, and the questionnaires were mailed to a random distribution of 300 physical therapists throughout the State of California. Lack of time and funding as well as unfamiliarity with both the research process and the use of statistics were cited as the main barriers to research involvement. Collaboration with other health professionals involved in research and an apprenticeships were listed as desirable methods to gain additional research skills; however, these were believed to largely unavailable. A large percentage of therapists used research information published in professional journals other than PHYSICAL THERAPY.
Reuse paint wastewater in the manufacture of cement bricks and tiles

Waste management is one of the most important and serious issues facing many developing countries. The main purpose of this research involves reusing wastewater generated by the paint industry in the manufacture of cement bricks and tiles, in addition to improving some mechanical properties of the cement bricks and tiles. Since large quantities of water are needed to produce bricks and tiles, this project focuses on using wastewater rather than supply clean water in the production of bricks and tiles. Different samples have been prepared and tested to evaluate the effect of using wastewater on the properties of the bricks and tiles formed. The bricks and tiles samples were tested for water absorption, ignitability, toxicity, and corrosivity. The concentrations of sulfide and cyanides in all samples were determined and compared to the prescribed limit identified by the U.S. EPA. The bricks samples were also tested for compressive strength, where the tiles samples were tested for bending strength and abrasion resistance. The tests results showed that there are no negative effects of using wastewater generated from the paint industry in the manufacture of the cement bricks and tiles, as well as it improves the mechanical properties of the bricks and tiles.
Structural and Vibrational Properties of U(VI)O2Cl42- and Pu(VI)O2Cl42- Complexes

In actinide chemistry, it has been shown that equatorial ligands bound to the metal centers of actinyl ions have a strong influence on the chemistry and therefore the electronic structure of the O═An═O moiety. While this influence has received a significant amount of attention, considerably less research has been done to investigate how the identity of the actinide metal itself (U, Np, Pu, Am) affects the actinyl stretching frequencies. Herein, we present the structural and spectroscopic characterization of six actinyl tetrachloride compounds (M2AnO2Cl4: M = Rb, Cs, Me4N; An = U, Pu) as well as the stretching and interactive force constants of the actinyl moiety in each species. Our results show a decrease in the stretching force constant and a weakening of the An═O bond when traversing the actinides from uranyl to plutonyl, which is interesting because the solid state molecular structures show a slight contraction of the An═O bond length when uranium is replaced with plutonium. Additionally, the interact...
Trimethyltin intoxication induces the migration of ventricular/subventricular zone cells to the injured murine hippocampus

Following the postnatal decline of cell proliferation in the mammalian central nervous system, the adult brain retains progenitor cells with stem cell-like properties in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus. Brain injury can stimulate proliferation and redirect the migration pattern of SVZ precursor cells to the injury site. Sublethal exposure to the neurotoxicant trimethyltin (TMT) causes dose-dependent necrosis and apoptosis in the hippocampus dentate gyrus and increases SGZ stem cell proliferation to generate new granule cells. To determine whether SVZ cells also contribute to the repopulation of the TMT-damaged dentate gyrus, 6-8 week old male C3H mice were injected with the carbocyanine dye spDiI and bromodeoxyuridine (80mg/kg; ip.) to label ventricular cells prior to TMT exposure. The presence of labeled cells in hippocampus was determined 7 and 28days after TMT exposure. No significant change in the number of BrdU(+) and spDiI(+) cells was observed in the dentate gyrus 7days after TMT treatment. However, 28days after TMT treatment there was a 3-4 fold increase in the number of spDiI-labeled cells in the hippocampal hilus and dentate gyrus. Few spDiI(+) cells stained positive for the mature phenotypic markers NeuN or GFAP, suggesting they may represent undifferentiated cells. A small percentage of migrating cells were BrdU(+)/spDiI(+), indicating some newly produced, SVZ- derived precursors migrated to the hippocampus. Taken together, these data suggest that TMT-induced injury of the hippocampus can stimulate the migration of ventricular zone-derived cells to injured dentate gyrus.
A Tool for Assessing Photovoltaic Array End-of-Life Power Performance

Introduction End-of-life photovoltaic array performance is an increasingly important issue in spacecraft and mission design. For constellations involving hundreds of satellites, differences in lifetime predictions of as little as a few percent can have an enormous impact on the economics of the system. Radiation induced damage to solar cells due to interactions with trapped electron and ion particles and to ultraviolet radiation can reduce power output significantly. However, little data is available on new solar cell designs. Calculations of damage effects have typically required tedious and elaborate operation of separate space environment, transport, and damage codes, usually hand-feeding the results from one into another. In hopes of rectifying this, we have developed an integrated tool to automate the assessment of solar array on-orbit end-of-life performance and to assist the development and design of ground test protocols for different solar cell designs. Once established, protocols can then be used to calculate on-orbit EOL performance from ground test results.
Interplay of somatostatin, opioid, and GABA neurons in the regulation of the peristaltic reflex

The interplay of somatostatin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and opioid neurons in the regulation of the descending relaxation phase of peristalsis was examined in isolated rat colonic segments. Release of somatostatin, GABA, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and L-[3H]citrulline [coproduct and index of nitric oxide (NO) production] increased, and release of Met-enkephalin decreased, during descending relaxation. Somatostatin antiserum (1:50) inhibited GABA and L-[3H]citrulline and reversed Met-enkephalin from decrease below to increase above basal level; exogenous somatostatin had the opposite effect. Bicuculline (GABAA antagonist) inhibited L-[3H]citrulline, had no effect on somatostatin, and reversed Met-enkephalin from decrease below to increase above basal level; exogenous GABA had the opposite effect. Naloxone increased GABA and L-[3H]citrulline but had no effect on somatostatin; exogenous Met-enkephalin had the opposite effect. In all instances the changes in L-[3H]citrulline paralleled those previously obtained with VIP. The results are consistent with the operation of a circuit in which somatostatin neurons inhibit the activity of opioid neurons, causing a decrease in Met-enkephalin. The decrease in Met-enkephalin initiated by somatostatin is accentuated by a reciprocal inhibitory pathway linking GABA and opioid neurons. The decrease in Met-enkephalin eliminates the inhibitory influence of opioid neurons on VIP/NO neurons and leads to increase in VIP, NO, and descending relaxation.
Social Capital and Well-Being: Structural Analyses of Latina Mothers by Nativity

Objective This study examined the direct and mediating effects of maternal social capital on health and well-being for native- and foreign-born Latina mothers and their children. Methods Data were drawn from the baseline and nine-year follow up waves of the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study. The study included a sample of 874 Latina mothers. Mplus7 was used to perform structural equation modeling to determine whether exogenous indicators (age, education, and economic well-being) predicted social capital, whether social capital predicted mother and child well-being, and whether mediating effects helped explain each relationship. Results For native-born Latinas (n = 540), social capital did not predict maternal or child well-being. However, social capital significantly mediated the effects of age, education, and economic well-being on maternal well-being. For foreign-born Latinas (n = 334), social capital was a significant predictor of maternal well-being. Social capital also mediated the effects of age, education, and economic well-being on maternal, but not child well-being. Younger and foreign-born Latinas who report higher educational attainment and economic well-being have greater social capital, and thus better self-reported health. Conclusion Findings suggest that social capital is particularly relevant to the health of foreign-born Latinas. For all Latina mothers, social capital may serve as a protective mitigating factor to better health. Health service providers should evaluate the potential to integrate programs that promote social capital accumulation for Latinas. Further research should examine factors to improve the health of Latinas’ children.
Analysis on the epidemiology of syphilis in Pingxiang city from 2004 to 2012

Objective This research was designed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of syphilis in Pingxiang city, study the corresponding changes in Pingxiang city, evaluate the incidence factors for syphilis, in order to provide scientific basis for future prevention and control. Methods The syphilis outbreak database for Pingxiang city from 2004 to 2012 was established using Excel software, and the epidemiological characteristics were analyzed. Results From 2004 to 2012, 8913 cases of syphilis were reported in Pingxiang city. The reported incidence rate rose from 20.68/lakh in 2004 to 71.71/lakh in 2012, and the incidence rate showed an upward trend. The average annual incidence growth rate for syphilis was 16.82%, while the phase one and phase two syphilis showed a downward trend. The increase in incidence growth rate was mainly due to recessive latent syphilis, which showed an average annual incidence growth rate of 59.43%. The composition of latent syphilis increased year by year, and male were slightly outnumbered by female. The male to female ratio was 1: 1.14. Most reported cases were among age group of 30 to 39-year-olds. Major infection crowds were housekeeping and housework population, unemployed and farmers. Conclusion According to the epidemiological characteristics of syphilis in Pingxiang city, effective interventions should be taken to control syphilis.
Marital Transitions: Widowhood, Divorce, and Remarriage

Although divorce rates historically have been low for persons in their fifties and older, recent cohorts of midlife and older adults are divorcing at unprecedented levels, a phenomenon referred to as gray divorce. Older men are less likely than older women to become widowed, reflecting both men's tendency to marry slightly younger women and men's elevated morality risk. Following marital dissolution, men are more likely than women to remarry, reflecting the larger pool of eligible partners and men's greater desire and need for a spouse. Growing numbers of divorced and widowed older adults are eschewing remarriage for living apart together arrangements, as a way to preserve financial, residential, and personal autonomy. Divorce and widowhood have far-reaching deleterious effects on the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of older adults. Understanding these patterns may help to inform policies and practices to enhance the well-being of older adults. Keywords: aging and adult development; gender; health; marriage
Submegahertz frequency stability in ultrahigh frequency mode-locking of QW lasers at >60 GHz

This work is concerned with the fundamental limit in the frequency stability of the output pulse train of a passively mode-locked laser. The results here are valid for passively mode-locked lasers in general, although we have specifically in mind the ultrahigh frequency monolithic mode-looked QW laser,1 which has attracted considerable attention of late.2–4
Efficacy of sunitinib in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST): an exposure-response based meta-analysis

C190 Background Sunitinib malate (SU) is an oral, multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFRs, PDGFRs, KIT, RET, and FLT3, approved multinationally for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and imatinib-resistant/-intolerant GIST. We conducted a meta-analysis of SU-treated GIST patients enrolled in three phase II/III clinical studies. The objective was to characterize the exposure-response relationship for antitumor efficacy as assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Criteria include objective response, progression free survival (PFS), time-to-tumor progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and tumor growth kinetics. A secondary objective was to evaluate the impact of Asian (relative to Caucasian/others) race, age, and gender on antitumor efficacy. Methods Data from one Japanese and two Western GIST phase II/III clinical studies were pooled (n=259 sunitinib and 59 placebo-treated patients, 12% Asian, 36% female). Sunitinib doses ranged from 25 to 75 mg/day orally on a 4-weeks on, 2-weeks off cycle (4/2 schedule). Pharmacokinetic (PK) samples from patients were used to assess individual exposure via a previously published population PK model (Houk et al. Clin Cancer Res 2005, Abstract B171). Pharmacodynamic (PD) measures were then modeled as a function of average daily exposure using logistic regression and time-to-event (assuming a Weibull probability distribution) analyses. A mechanistic tumor growth dynamics (PK/PD) model, incorporating integrated individual patient PK and tumor volume changes over time, was constructed using mixed-effects modeling. Clinical trial simulations were carried out using final model parameter estimates. Results Mean treatment duration across all three studies was 20 weeks (±19 weeks). Analysis of RECIST-defined partial or complete responses revealed a 2.6-fold increase in the odds of a partial or complete response with each unit (μg·hr/mL) increase in area under the curve at steady state (or 25-mg increase in dose for the median-clearance patient). PFS, TTP, and OS were significantly longer in patients with average daily exposure that was greater than the median (P
Speed and Accuracy Improvements in Visual Pattern Recognition Tasks by Employing Human Assistance

This study investigates methods of enhancing human-computer interaction in applications of visual pattern recognition where higher accuracy is required than is currently achievable by automated systems, but where there is enough time for a limited amount of human interaction. The first author’s doctoral dissertation research and experiments are summarized here. Within this study the following questions are explored: How do machine capabilities compare to human capabilities in visual pattern recognition tasks in terms of accuracy and speed? Can we improve machine-only accuracy in visual pattern recognition tasks? Should we employ human assistance in the feature extraction process? Finally, human assistance is explored in color and shape/contour recognition within a machine visual pattern recognition framework.
Pieter Lastman in the Literature: From Immortality to Oblivion

(1996). Pieter Lastman in the Literature: From Immortality to Oblivion. Dutch Crossing: Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 87-116.
The Phenomenological Derivation of Oughts and Shalls from Ises or Why it is Right to Take the Stairs

The impossibility of logically deriving “oughts,” i. e., norms or, better, evaluational propositions, from “ises,” i. e., theoretical or, better, cognitional propositions, is now widely accepted. That a great deal of effort has been devoted to this question of derivation nevertheless suggests that something has been dimly glimpsed. Perhaps the derivability is other than directly logical.
Calcification of the lower respiratory tract in relation to flight development in Jamaican fruit bats (Phyllostomidae, Artibeus jamaicensis).

The production of echolocation calls in bats along with forces produced by contraction of thoracic musculature used in flight presumably puts relatively high mechanical loads on the lower respiratory tract (LRT). Thus, there are likely adaptations to prevent collapse or distortion of the bronchial tree and trachea during flight in echolocating bats. By clearing and staining (Alcian blue and Alizarin red) LRTs removed from nonvolant neonates, semivolant juveniles, volant subadults, and adult Jamaican fruit bats (Artibeus jamaicensis), I found that calcification of the tracheal, primary bronchial, and secondary bronchial (lobar) cartilage rings occurs over the span of about 3 days and coincides with later developmental stages of flight and the increased production of echolocation calls. Tracheal rings that are immediately adjacent to the larynx calcified first, followed by more caudal tracheal rings and then the rings of the primary and secondary bronchi. I suggest that calcification of LRT cartilage rings in echolocating bats provides increased rigidity to counter the thoracic compressions incurred during flight. Calcification of the LRT rings is an adaptation to support the emission of laryngeally produced echolocation calls during flight in bats.
Importance of PGE2 signaling via the EP1 receptor in UVB skin carcinogenesis

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 4297 Chronic inflammation induced by repeated UVB exposure has been linked to development of skin tumors. The inflammatory mediator cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and its enzymatic product prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) have been implicated in this carcinogenic response. While it is known that PGE2 exerts its effects via signaling through one of four E Prostanoid receptors, EP1 through EP4, the specific role of each receptor in skin tumor development is not clear. We have previously shown that topical application of celecoxib alone, ONO-8713, a specific EP1 receptor antagonist, alone, or a combination of these 2 drugs significantly inhibited several parameters associated with acute UVB-induced inflammation. Further immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in UVB-induced p53 levels in the epidermis of mice treated topically with either celecoxib or ONO-8713 (p<0.02). This suggested that inhibition of PGE2 signaling might reduce UVB-mediated DNA damage and tumor development. Therefore, we compared the effects of chronic blockade of PGE2 production with blocking PGE2 signaling via the EP1 receptor on UVB-induced tumor development. SKH-1 hairless mice were treated topically with either 0.5 mg celecoxib, 0.05 mg ONO-8713 or a combination these drugs immediately following exposure to 2240 J/m2 UVB light three times weekly for 25 weeks. Topical treatment with celecoxib, ONO-8713, or the combination of these drugs decreased tumor grade as well as decreased tumor number (p<0.03) and size (p<0.05) compared to control treated mice. However, there was no significant difference in these parameters between treatment groups. This data suggests that inhibition of PGE2 signaling via the EP1 receptor is necessary but not sufficient to prevent UVB-induced skin tumor development. Supported by NIH NCI CA102340.
Occupational Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review

This paper is a synthesis of the available literature on occupational therapy interventions performed in the adult intensive care unit (ICU). The databases of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and CINAHL databases were systematically searched from inception through August 2016 for studies of adults who received occupational therapy interventions in the ICU. Of 1,938 citations reviewed, 10 studies met inclusion criteria. Only one study explicitly discussed occupational therapy interventions performed and only one study specifically tested the efficacy of occupational therapy. Future research is needed to clarify the specific interventions and role of occupational therapy in the ICU and the efficacy of these interventions.