cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of the Ryanodine Receptor/Calcium Release Channel in Beta-adrenergic Receptor Blocker Treatment of Heart Failure

To explore the role of protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2)/calcium release channel in the treatment of heart failure (HF) using beta-adrenergic receptor blockers (beta-blockers) we generated a knock-in mouse with aspartic acid replacing serine at residue 2808 in RyR2 (RyR2-S2808D). This mutation mimics constitutive PKA hyperphosphorylation of RyR2, a condition that occurs during HF. RyR2-S2808D+/+ mice developed an age-dependent cardiomyopathy characterized by moderate cardiac dysfunction and mild left ventricular dilatation indicating that PKA hyperphosphorylation of RyR2 alone can cause cardiac dysfunction. Following myocardial infarction (MI), RyR2-S2808D+/+ mice exhibited increased mortality compared to WT littermates. Treatment with the rycal S107, a 1,4-benzothiazepine derivative that inhibits PKA hyperphosphorylation-induced depletion of calstabin2 from the RyR2 complex, for 4 weeks significantly reduced HF progression in WT and RyR2-S2808D+/+ mice, confirming the important role of calstabin2 binding to RyR2 in preventing HF progression. In contrast, following MI, treatment with the beta-adrenergic receptor blocker (beta-blocker) metoprolol improved cardiac function in WT but not in RyR2-S2808D+/+ mice, indicating the important role of inhibition of PKA hyperphosphorylation of RyR2 as a key mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of beta-blockers in HF. Taken together, these data show that chronic RyR2 PKA hyperphosphorylation alone can cause a cardiomyopathy, preventing calstabin2 depletion from the RyR2 macromolecular complex can inhibit HF progression, and PKA phosphorylation of RyR2 is an important determinant of the therpaeutic efficacy of beta-blocker therapy of HF.
Uneasy Repetitions: A Response

This essay is responds to the critical essays by Nijhawan, Mas and Hawthorne. The case is made that each criticism is based on a misreading or misunderstanding of “Religion and the Specter of the West.”
Structure and expression of major histocompatibility complex-binding protein 2, a 275-kDa zinc finger protein that binds to an enhancer of major histocompatibility complex class I genes.

Abstract We have isolated a cDNA encoding a transcription factor that binds to the enhancer of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes. MHC-binding protein 2 (MBP-2) is a 275-kDa protein, containing two sets of widely separated zinc fingers and a stretch of highly acidic amino acids, a putative transactivation domain. The two zinc finger regions, when expressed individually as bacterial fusion proteins, bind with highest affinity to the MHC class I gene enhancer. Several proteins found in mammalian nuclear extracts bind the MHC class I enhancer in an electrophoresis mobility shift assay. Only one of these, a ubiquitously expressed factor, forming a slow-migrating retarded complex, can be supershifted by a MBP-2 antiserum. The same antiserum also precipitates a protein of greater than 250 kDa from COS cells transfected with a MBP-2 expression vector. Our data indicate that MBP-2 is a transcription factor involved in the regulation of MHC class I gene expression.
Common and Contrasting Themes of Plant and Animal Diseases

Recent studies in bacterial pathogenesis reveal common and contrasting mechanisms of pathogen virulence and host resistance in plant and animal diseases. This review presents recent developments in the study of plant and animal pathogenesis, with respect to bacterial colonization and the delivery of effector proteins to the host. Furthermore, host defense responses in both plants and animals are discussed in relation to mechanisms of pathogen recognition and defense signaling. Future studies will greatly add to our understanding of the molecular events defining host-pathogen interactions.
Optical Second-Harmonic Generation in Reflection from Media with Inversion Symmetry

The radiation at the boundary of an isotropic or cubic medium by a polarization at $2\ensuremath{\omega}$, the amplitude of which is proportional to the product of the incident laser field at $\ensuremath{\omega}$ and a spatial derivative of this field, is examined theoretically. A complete expression for the intensity and polarization of the reflected harmonic radiation as a function of the angle of incidence and state of polarization of the incident laser beam is derived. The angular dependences are in good agreement with observations on Si, Ge, and Ag. Some additional experimental results, not previously reported, are described. The magnitude of the nonlinearity due to bound electrons in these cubic materials is related to the square of the linear susceptibility, and agrees qualitatively with observations in Si, Ge, and alkali halides. This nonlinearity has the same order of magnitude as that caused by conduction electrons in metals, which has been extensively discussed in the literature. The influence of absorbed surface layers is considered.
The normal development of the blood‐testis barrier and the effects of clomiphene and estrogen treatment

Previous work with electron opaque intercellular markers has indicated that in adults occluding junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells are the principal morphological basis of the blood-testis barrier (Dym and Fawcett, '70). Since the barrier of not present at birth this study was undertaken to determine when it is established during postnatal development of the rat and to correlate its appearance with other developmental events in the seminiferous epithelium. From birth to 16 days of age interstitially injected tracers, such as horseradish peroxidase, freely entered the seminiferous epithelium and permeated the 200 A intercellular clefts between presumptive Sertoli cells and germ cells, reaching the center of the seminiferous cords and site of the future tubule lumen. Between day 16 and 19 occluding junctions between Sertoli cells appear and thenceforth interstitially injected electron opaque tracers were effectively prevented from reaching the tubule lumen. Therefore, in rats, the blood-testis barrier is established between 16 and 19 days of age. In an attempt to determine whether the development of the Sertoli cell junctions and the blood-testis barrier is under hormonal control circulating gonadotropins were suppressed using daily injections of clomiphene or estrogens from birth. The appearance of blood-testis barrier was delayed approximately seven days in the absence of gonadotropins. However, by day 26 the Sertoli cell junctions did appear and interstitially injected tracers were prevented from reaching the tubule lumen. Thus the development of the occluding junctions between Sertoli cells that constitute the permeability barrier does not appear to be directly dependent upon gonadotropins.
The Belief Bias Effect Is Aptly Named: A Reply to Klauer and Kellen (2011)

In "Assessing the Belief Bias Effect With ROCs: It's a Response Bias Effect," Dube, Rotello, and Heit (2010) examined the form of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for reasoning and the effects of belief bias on measurement indices that differ in whether they imply a curved or linear ROC function. We concluded that the ROC data are in fact curved and that analyses using statistics that assume a linear ROC are likely to produce Type I errors. Importantly, we showed that the interaction between logic and belief that has inspired much of the theoretical work on belief bias is in fact an error stemming from inappropriate reliance on a contrast (hit rate-false alarm rate) that implies linear ROCs. Dube et al. advanced a new model of belief bias, which, in light of their data, is currently the only plausible account of the effect. Klauer and Kellen (2011) disputed these conclusions, largely on the basis of speculation about the data collection method used by Dube et al. to construct the ROCs. New data and model-based analyses are presented that refute the speculations made by Klauer and Kellen. We also show that new modeling results presented by Klauer and Kellen actually support the conclusions advanced by Dube et al. Together, these data show that the methods used by Dube et al. are valid and that the belief bias effect is simply a response bias effect.
The Apparition Problem for Equianharmonic Divisibility Sequences.

The apparition problem consists in finding an arithmetical relation between a rational prime p and its rank of apparition in an elliptic divisibility sequence.' In this report the elliptic divisibility sequences parameterized by equianharmonic functions are investigated, and a partial answer to the apparition problem for such sequences is given (Theorem 2). If (x2/Wl = p = 1/2( -1 -+ /-3), the Weierstrass functions for the parallelogram 0, 2w1 2co2, 2co + 2w2 are called equianharmonic functions and have the following expansions: ^?J/ u \ U 1 U2 a(u) = u II 1 1exp +
Inactivation of Clostridium botulinum nonproteolytic type B spores by high pressure processing at moderate to elevated high temperatures

Abstract The effect of high pressure and high temperature treatments at various process times on the inactivation of spores of Clostridium botulinum nonproteolytic type B strains, 2-B, 17-B, KAP8-B, and KAP9-B, suspended in phosphate buffer (0.067 M, pH 7.0) and a crabmeat blend was investigated. Spores of KAP8-B were less resistant to high pressure treatment than the spores of 2-B, 17-B, and KAP9-B in both phosphate buffer and crabmeat blend. No survivors of initial counts (> 4.3 log units) of KAP8-B spores were detected in these menstura after processing at 827 MPa and 60 °C for 10 min. The amount of inactivation of spores of 2-B, 17-B, and KAP9-B in phosphate buffer or crabmeat blend increased with the increase in processing time from 10 to 30 min at 827 MPa and 75 °C. Similar inactivation patterns were observed for these spores in both phosphate buffer and crabmeat blend. A reduction of > 6-log units of 2-B, 17-B, and KAP9-B spores in phosphate buffer and crabmeat blend was observed at 827 MPa and 75 °C for a processing time of between 20 and 30 min. Crabmeat blend as a suspension menstrum provided no protection against inactivation of spores of 2-B, 17-B, and KAP9-B by high pressure processing. High temperature (> 95 °C) and lower pressure (620 MPa) treatments for up to 10 min were also found to inactivate 17-B spores in phosphate buffer. Spores of nonproteolytic type B strains, 2-B, 17-B, KAP8-B, and KAP9-B in phosphate buffer and crabmeat blend can be inactivated by a combination of high pressure and temperature treatments. Industrial relevance Spores of nonproteolytic type B strains of Clostridium botulinum are of primary concern because they have been involved in the foodborne botulism outbreaks associated with marine products. Foodborne botulism results from consumption of these foods in which C. botulinum has grown and produced neurotoxin. Recently, high pressure processing (HPP) received a great deal of interest because of its ability to destroy vegetative pathogens, viruses, and certain bacterial spores and results in a product with natural sensory, quality, and nutritional attributes. Currently, HPP is being evaluated at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology as an alternative to other traditional thermal processes for its ability to inactivate C. botulinum spores. In this study, the effects of high pressure in conjunction with moderate to elevated high temperatures on inactivation of C. botulinum nonproteolytic type B spores were investigated. Based on limited number of strains tested, HPP showed a potential of destroying spores of nonproteolytic type B strains of C. botulinum when process temperature is above 75 °C.
The Foundations for the Development of Intimacy

In this article, the concept of intimacy is presented as developing concurrent with identity as the basis for exploring the foundations of intimate relationships in adolescents. Researchers explore intimacy as perceived by female adolescents aged 15–18 years regarding heterosexual dating relationships. Both the process toward intimate relationships and various forms are reported.
Innovations in self-sealing under cryogenic conditions

Abstract Ordinary tube fittings can always maintain a tight seal when they are assembled under room temperature conditions. If the temperature of the fluid through the tubes is high, the thermal expansion of the parts tends to tighten the seal. However, when a piping system is handling liquid hydrogen such as that for the space shuttle, contraction of material due to the low temperature invariably causes leakage. An explosive and dangerous environment can be created.
Embolization as first-line therapy for diverticular massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding: Evidence from a meta-analysis

Objective. To determine which etiologies of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) may best be treated with super-selective embolization. Methods. A meta-analysis was undertaken of all 25 identified publications reporting the use of embolization and 12 consecutive cases of LGIB from the authors’ institution. Seven series met selection criteria for further analysis. Results. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated no significant difference in pooled outcomes when varying the included study, age, or embolization method on the outcome of rebleeding. The pooled odds ratio for rebleeding up to 30 days postlocalization and embolization for arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and other diseases was 3.53 compared to re-bleeding after localization and embolization for diverticular disease [95% Confidence Interval OR (1.33, 9.41), P < 0.01]. Embolization for diverticular bleeding demonstrated was successful in 85% of cases. Moreover, the vast majority of cases that rebled did so within 48 h. In contrast, rebleeding after embolization for nondiverticular bleeding occurred in greater than 40% of cases and over a more protracted period. Conclusion. Embolization for LGIB is most effective for the treatment of diverticular bleeding. Given the low observed complication rate, minimal post-procedure recovery time, and low failure rate, super-selective embolization may be considered first-line therapy for severe diverticular LGIB regardless of age. Caution should be used when applying embolization therapy for non-diverticular causes due to the considerably higher associated failure rate. Figure options Download full-size image Download as PowerPoint slide
A review of some recent clinical studies with nedocromil sodium

Abstract Clinical trials reported in these proceedings have shown that nedocromil sodium is an effective antiasthmatic agent. Preclinical studies and the results of the worldwide clinical study program have also shown that nedocromil sodium is a very safe drug. Although it is anticipated that a new drug will perform better than placebo, perhaps a more critical assessment of efficacy is how the drug compares with other currently used agents. Nedocromil sodium has been directly compared with all of the antiasthmatic medications currently used in the United States including theophylline, β-adrenergic agents, inhaled corticosteroids, and cromolyn sodium. The results of these studies indicate that for the treatment of mild-to-moderate asthma, nedocromil sodium provides a safe and clinically effective antiinflammatory addition to the physician's armamentarium of antiasthma drugs.
A novel technique for recording from the serratus anterior

Abstract DePalma MJ, Pease WS, Johnson EW, Kadyan V. A novel technique for recording from the serratus anterior. Objective To design an electrodiagnostic technique by which to accurately record the serratus anterior compound muscle action potential (CMAP). Design Observational study. Setting Academic electromyography laboratory. Participants Fifteen healthy volunteers. Interventions The long thoracic nerve was stimulated by using a standard bipolar surface electrode in the axilla, just anterior to the midaxillary line. The serratus anterior CMAP was recorded by using a self-adhesive, 8.0×0.5cm, ring electrode as the E1 placed across the serratus anterior interdigitations starting at the nipple level. A self-adhesive, motor (1×1cm) electrode was used as E2 and placed over the seventh rib. A standard self-adhesive ground electrode was placed over the inferior region of the latissimus dorsi. Main outcome measures Distal motor latency (DML), and CMAP amplitude and duration. Results After removing 2 outliers, the results are reported as the mean ± 1.96 standard deviations. Right long thoracic DML was 2.2±1.0ms and the left was 2.3±0.9ms, with a side-to-side mean difference of 0.3±0.4ms. The right serratus CMAP amplitude was 3.8±3.9mV and the left was 3.9±3.7mV, with a side-to-side mean difference of 0.6±1.2mV. Statistical analysis did not reveal a significant side-to-side difference for DML or CMAP amplitude. Both sides were combined to form a single set of trials for DML and CMAP amplitude. The mean DML became 2.2±0.7ms, and the CMAP amplitude was 3.5±1.9mV. The CMAP duration was 14.5±4.3ms on the right and 14.5±4.1ms on the left. A significant, positive correlation existed between height and DML ( P Conclusions Our latency, side-to-side comparisons and amplitude data were consistent with other motor nerve conduction findings in the literature. Stimulating the long thoracic nerve in the axilla will provide a reliable technique to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of long thoracic neuropathy.
Origin of porosity in resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogels

Porod analysis of small-angle X-ray scattering results was used to study the structure of resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogels as a function of monomer and catalyst concentration. Based on an analysis of the shape of the scattering curves, the catalyst dependence of the pore and solid chords and previous work on scattering from precursor solutions, it is concluded that the structure of the aerogels results from nanoscale phase separation in the solution precursor. Remnants of a possible kinetic polymerization process were found at length scales so small that porosity arising from these processes is not penetrated by nitrogen.
Study Techniques and Cognitive Style: Their Effect on Recall and Recognition.

AbstractField-independent and field-dependent college students studied a 1525-word article under a preferred or non preferred study condition (read only, underline, or note taking). Half of the subjects reviewed the material prior to an examination and half did not. Results indicated that both field-independent and field-dependent subjects generally produced the best recognition scores when they used a non preferred study technique and reviewed. Both note takers and underliners produced significantly better recall scores than readers only. Implications for further research are discussed.
An Investigation on the Nature of Wireless Scheduling

The paper studies the complexity of the wireless scheduling problem under interference constraints. We first relate the definition of the capacity region to the weighted fractional coloring problem. Then, the scheduling-for-stability problem under deterministic arrivals is studied in light of this relationship. We emphasize the requirement that the scheduling algorithm uses a tractable amount of processing and storage resources. Two classes of algorithms are defined and a complexity result is derived for the intersection of the two classes. We also exhibit an algorithm that can achieve the storage requirement by relaxing the processing requirement. The results are used to examine interesting sections of the capacity region. Finally, we relate the new interpretation and theory about the capacity region to the notion of set &#963;-local pooling.
Robustness of multiqubit entanglement

We survey results on the decay of multiqubit entanglement due to internal interactions between qubits. Dipole-dipole interaction induces decoherence of strongly entangled nuclear spins. The dynamics of spin clusters can be described as quantum decoherence due to an effective composite bath consisting of fully correlated and uncorrelated parts. The rate of decoherence scales up as a square root of the number of entangled spins, resulting in linear scaling of a measure of quantum noise. Our theory is consistent with a recent experiment.
Kinetics of channel formation of gramicidins A and B in phospholipid vesicle membranes

The thermal incorporation and channel formation of gramicidins A and B into phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylglycerol large unilamellar vesicle membranes was studied using 23Na NMR. Delta H and delta S of activation for channel formation for gramicidin A are 11.8 kcal/mol and -11 e.u., respectively. For gramicidin B, delta H and delta S of activation are 14.6 kcal/mol and -4 e.u., respectively. Possible reasons for the differences in delta H and delta S of activation between the two analogues are discussed.
A comment on the scattering of macroscopic strings

Abstract Soliton solutions of string theory recently discovered by Dabholkar and Harvey have the property, like BPS magnetic monopoles, that they exert zero static force on each other and can be superposed to form multi-soliton solutions with arbitrarily variable collective coordinates. We will show that, in contradistinction to the BPS case, the velocity-dependent forces between these string solitons also vanish (i.e., we argue that the metric on moduli space is flat). We also argue that this phenomenon provides further, dynamical evidence for the identification of the Dabholkar-Harvey soliton with the underlying fundamental string.
Mustard Gas: Imminent Danger or Eminent Threat?

Objective:To increase awareness of the widespread environmental prevalence of the chemical warfare agent mustard gas, examine the acute and chronic toxic effects to exposed humans, and discuss medical treatment guidelines for mustard gas exposures.Data Sources:Literature retrieval of medical case reports and clinical studies was accomplished using PubMed and the Cochrane Database (1919–March 2007). Search terms included mustard, mustard gas, sulfur mustard, chemical warfare, blister agents, vesicants, and war gas. Historical information and current events were accessed through military field manuals and Internet searches.Study Selection and Data Extraction:All articles in English identified from the data sources were evaluated. Adult and pediatric populations were included in the review.Data Synthesis:Mustard gas and other chemical weapons are feared for their use as weapons of terror; however, the major threat of mustard gas lies elsewhere. Tons of this chemical agent were produced for war, then subseque...
Hares on ice : phylogeography and historical demographics of Lepus arcticus, L. othus, and L. timidus (Mammalia : Lagomorpha)

Phylogeographical investigations of arctic organisms provide spatial and temporal frameworks for interpreting the role of climate change on biotic diversity in high-latitude ecosystems. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted on 473 base pairs of the mitochondrial control region in 192 arctic hares (Lepus arcticus, Lepus othus, Lepus timidus) and two individual Lepus townsendii. The three arctic hare species are closely related. All L. othus individuals form one well-supported clade, L. arcticus individuals form two well-supported clades, and L. timidus individuals are scattered throughout the phylogeny. Arctic hare distribution was altered dramatically following post-Pleistocene recession of continental ice sheets. We tested for genetic signatures of population expansion for hare populations now found in deglaciated areas. Historical demographic estimates for 12 arctic hare populations from throughout their range indicate that L. arcticus and L. othus persisted in two separate North American arctic refugia (Beringia and High Canadian Arctic) during glacial advances of the Pleistocene, while the high genetic diversity in L. timidus likely reflects multiple Eurasian refugia.
How does religion influence marriage? Christian, Jewish, Mormon, and Muslim perspectives

Seventy-six highly religious Christian, Jewish, Mormon, and Muslim married mothers and fathers were interviewed regarding how and why three dimensions of religion (i.e., faith community, religious practices, and spiritual beliefs) influence marriage in both beneficial and challenging ways. Through qualitative data analysis the author identified eight emergent themes that link religion and marriage: (1) the influence of clergy, (2) the mixed blessing of faith community service and involvement, (3) the importance of prayer, (4) the connecting influence of family ritual, (5) practicing marital fidelity, (6) pro-marriage/anti-divorce beliefs, (7) homogamy of religious beliefs, and (8) faith in God as a marital support. Qualitative data are presented in connection with each theme, and clinical implications are offered.
Comparison of SpO2 to PaO2 based markers of lung disease severity for children with acute lung injury.

Objective: Given pulse oximetry is increasingly substituting for arterial blood gas monitoring, noninvasive surrogate markers for lung disease severity are needed to stratify pediatric risk. We sought to validate prospectively the comparability of SpO 2 /Fio 2 to PaO 2 /Fio 2 and oxygen saturation index to oxygenation index in chil dren. We also sought to derive a noninvasive lung injury score. Design: Prospective, multicentered observational study in six pediatric intensive care units. Patients: One hundred thirty-seven mechanically ventilated chil dren with SpO 2 80% to 97% and an indwelling arterial catheter. Interventions: Simultaneous blood gas, pulse oximetry, and ventilator settings were collected. derivation and validation data sets were generated, and linear mixed modeling was used to de rive predictive equations. Model performance and fit were evaluated using the validation data set. Measurements and Main Results: One thousand one hundred ninety blood gas, SpO 2 , and ventilator settings from 137 patients were included. Oxygen saturation index had a strong linear association with oxygenation index in both derivation and validation data sets, given by the equation oxygen saturation index 5 2.76 1 0.547*oxygenation index (derivation). 1/SpO 2 /Fio 2 had a strong linear association with 1/PaO 2 /Fio 2 in both derivation and validation data sets given by the equation 1/SpO 2 /Fio 2 5 0.00232 1 0.443/PaO 2 /Fio 2 (derivation). SpO 2 / Fio 2 criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury were 221 (95% confidence interval 215–226) and 264 (95% confidence interval 259–269). Multivariate models demonstrated that oxygenation index, serum pH, and Pa co 2 were associated with oxygen saturation index (p < .05); and 1/PaO 2 /Fio 2 , mean airway pressure, serum pH, and Paco 2 were associated with 1/SpO 2 /Fio 2 (p < .05). There was strong concordance between the derived noninvasive lung injury score and the original pediatric modification of lung injury score with a mean difference of 20.0361 0.264 sd . Conclusions: Lung injury severity markers, which use SpO 2 , are adequate surrogate markers for those that use PaO 2 in children with respiratory failure for SpO 2 between 80% and 97%. They should be used in clinical practice to characterize risk, to increase enrollment in clinical trials, and to determine disease prevalence. (Crit Care Med 2012; 40:1309–1316)
Stroke following injection of a melted suppository.

Stroke following the intravenous injection of drugs may be secondary to the direct effect of the substance itself or from embolization by the inert vehicle used in the manufacturing process of the drug.We describe a 39-year-old man who developed a left homonymous hemianopia after intravenous injection of a melted suppository.Paradoxical fat embolism should be added to the possible list of stroke mechanisms in intravenous drug abusers.
Combining information using hard constraints

In this paper we show how the use of hard constraints in solving estimation problems, by allowing multiple sources of information to be taken into account during optimization, increases robustness and improves efficiency over alternative methods such as the statistical combination of separate optimization results. Our argument is based on an empirical evaluation of the technique which uses a model-based optical flow constraint in a deformable model framework for tracking a face. The flow constraint makes the model-to-edge alignment optimization problem easier by projecting away the portion of the search space that optical flow makes unlikely, while a Kalman filter is used to reconcile hard constraints with the uncertainty in the optical flow data. Using these hard constraints, the system converges more quickly at each iteration and avoids local minima in solutions that cause other methods to lose track. We conjecture that this use of constraints will be effective in any integration application where there are disparities in the difficulty of computational problems associated with the we of different information sources.
Regional variations in T1 in the healthy left ventricle.

Methods We assessed regional variation in T1 in the septum of patients with no left ventricular pathology. An adjunct phantom study was performed to assess whether location closer to a surface coil affected T1. Main study: Retrospective. 40 patients whose cardiac MRI showed no left ventricular disease were identified. Patients were imaged on a Siemens Avanto 1.5T scanner with a 32-channel cardiac coil. All patients had a 4-chamber TI scout approximately 12 minutes post injection of 0.14 mmol/kg gad-BOPTA. QMASS (Medis, NL) was used to generate T1 maps and measurements obtained in small regions of interest throughout the septum. Basal, middle third, and apical regions were evaluated in all 40; a subset of 15 patients
Identification by Plaque Assays of a Pituitary Cell Type that Secretes Both Growth Hormone and Prolactin

Sequential application of reverse hemolytic plaque assays for GH and PRL revealed the presence of individual pituitary cells that released both hormones. These dual cells accounted for approximately one third of all GH and/or PRL secretors in 24-h pituitary cultures derived from male rats. Additional studies in which a different version of the plaque assay and double-staining immunocytochemistry were applied separately to dispersed pituitary cells from males yielded results that were virtually identical. These results suggest that mammosomatotropes, cells that secrete both GH and PRL, may exist in pituitaries of normal rats. (Endocrinology 116: 734-737,1985)
Hydration in the System Ca2SiO4–Ca3(PO4)2 at 90°C

Compositions along the Ca2SiO4–Ca3(PO4)2 join were hydrated at 90°C. Mixtures containing 15, 38, 50, 80, and 100 mol% Ca3(PO4)2 were fired at 1500°C, forming nagelschmidtite +a1-CaSiO4, A-phase and silicocarnotite and a-Ca3(PO4)2, respectively. Hydration of these produces hydroxylapatite regardless of composition. Calcium silicate hydrate gel is produced when Ca2SiO4≠ 0 and portlandite when Ca2SiO4 is >50%. Relative hydration reactivities are a-Ca3(PO4)2 > nagelschmidtite > α1-Ca2SiO4 > A-phase > silicocarnotite. Hydration in the presence of silica or lime influences the amount of portlandite produced. Hydration in NaOH solution produces 14-A tobermorite rather than calcium silicate hydrate gel.
Neurophysiologic evaluation of cyclosporine toxicity associated with bone marrow transplantation

Introduction - Cortical blindness, a rare form of cyclosporine (CSA) neurotoxicity, has previously been described in only nine bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients. Methods - Our institution averages 35 allogeneic BMT's per year. In the past year we have seen two women with reversible cortical blindness secondary to CSA toxicity. Results - Age (years) (Case 1 ; Case 2) : 32 ; 22. Day post-BMT : 41 ; 50. Peak CSA level (ng/ml) : 1159 ; 632. Both had a history of renal toxicity requiring adjustment of CSA dosage. MRI - both with diffuse white matter changes. EEG-both with moderate to severe generalized slowing. Visual evoked potentials were markedly prolonged in both. Auditory evoked potentials : minimally abnormal ; normal. Somatosensory evoked potentials - both normal. Prompt improvement occurred with discontinuation of CSA. Followup neurophysiologic evaluations were normal, however structural changes remained on MRI. Conclusion - As neurophysiologic studies closely follow the clinical status they should be included in the evaluation and followup of CSA neurotoxicity.
“Bonanza Development” and the “New Bourgeoisie”: Peru under Military Rule

A study of the social and political impact of the Peruvian mining industry since 1968 reveals that the country has undergone a form of development—“bonanza development”—that differs from other form...
Object integration in logical database design

View integration is one of the important phases in logical database design. During this phase, the individual views designed by separate user groups within the organization are integrated into a conceptual schema for the entire organization. In this paper, we present rules for some of the aspects of view integration, namely integration of entity classes in different views. We then compare our rules with previous approaches, and discuss some of the problems which have to be solved for other aspects of view integration.
Photogrammetric Measurement of Structural Movements

Photogrammetric measurements of displacements of architectural and engineering structures require relative measurements between pairs of plates photographed at different times with the same camera at the same camera station along the same camera axis. With carefully chosen control within the image, the correspondence between successive pairs of plates which are measured together effectively eliminates systematic error caused by lens defects and makes possible the measurement of movements with greater accuracy than measurement of the structure itself. Radial error caused by lack of flatness of photogrammetric plates and emulsions, can be isolated and corrected through an adjustment procedure based on tangential components of the measured parallaxes, with no absolute determination of the flatness of any one photographic plate required. With substantial correction of relative radial error, the standard error of measurement in the photographic image has varied from 1/9,000 to 1/50,000 of the width of the image with various photogrammetric cameras.
Furn ace Spectrum of Plutonium

The spectrum of plutonium has been observed over the temperature range of 2000° to 2600°C and a wavelength coverage of 3476 to 6888A. The spectrum was excited in a modified King furnace.
A Chronic Congenital Ataxia in Chicks Due to Manganese Deficiency in the Maternal Diet

Abstract GALLUP and Norris (1937, 1939) presented results showing that manganese is essential for reproduction in the domestic fowl. The same discovery was made independently by Lyons and Insko (1937). These workers observed that a few of a small number of chicks which hatched from the eggs of hens fed a diet deficient in manganese were afflicted with head retractions similar to those of chicks suffering from thiamin deficiency. Byerly, Titus, Ellis and Landauer (1935) also occasionally observed head retractions in newly hatched chicks suffering from a previously unrecognized nutritional disease characterized chiefly by shortness of the bones. Most of the disease was observed in the chicks hatched from the eggs of hens fed a diet containing 15 percent of dried yeast cells, and little in those hatched from the eggs of hens fed diets containing either 15 percent of rice bran or 15 percent of wheat germ. It is improbable, . . .
Ridge Formation during the Abrasion of Elastomers

Abstract Scanning electron microscopy studies have been carried out on gum and filled natural rubber vulcanizates to investigate the ridge formation in the abrasion of elastomers. The first step of the ridge formation is the occurrence of small particles on the smooth abrading surface by a process of microtearing. Their size and shape depend upon the frictional force per unit length of the abrader in contact with the rubber and the nature of the rubber and the abrasive. These particles are not loose, and, hence, are not removed easily if the strength of the matrix is high. Further particles appear on the surface with continued abrasion. These particles coalesce to form fine ridges on the surface which become progressively thicker. Removal of these ridges depends upon the crack growth resistance and strength of the vulcanizate as well as on the dissipation of sliding energy in the matrix. Gum and filled natural rubber vulcanizates follow similar mechanisms of ridge formation. Due to low strength and crack ...
Electrically Controlled Plasmonic Behavior of Gold Nanocube@Polyaniline Nanostructures: Transparent Plasmonic Aggregates

We demonstrate the electrically controlled and reversible plasmonic signature of hybrid polymer–metal nanostructures composed of core/shell nanostructures: gold nanocubes (AuNCs) coated with electrochromic polyaniline (PANI) shells. A reversible tuning of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak of the AuNC core was obtained by applying an electrical potential that caused a reversible oxidation state change in the electroactive PANI nanoshell. A significant shift of the main LSPR peak was achieved with high reversibility and electrochemical stability due to the interplay of the local decay of the electromagnetic field and the controlled thickness of the surrounding polymer shell. Here, the PANI shell acts as an electroactive medium as well as a physical spacer to prevent uncontrollable plasmonic coupling. The most efficient LSPR shift can be induced by the refractive index change of nanoscale PANI shell thickness lower than the electromagnetic field decay length of the given gold nanoparticles....
Metabolism of dihydrotestosterone to 5α-androstane-3α,17β-dioI glucuronide is greater in the peripheral compartment than in the splanchnic compartment *

Objective To compare the peripheral versus the splanchnic contribution to the formation of 3 α -diol G. Design Prospective study in various groups of women and men. Setting Reproductive Endocrine service of our University Medical Center. Patients Six normal ovulatory women, five hirsute women with polycystic ovary syndrome, and six normal men. Interventions All subjects received IV dihydrotestosterone (DHT) infusions as well as percutaneous administration of DHT. Serum was obtained at multiple time points before and after each administration of DHT. Main Outcome Measures Comparison of serum levels of DHT, 3 α -androstanediol (3 α -diol), 3 α -diol G, and androsterone glucuronide in the three groups. Results Steady-state levels of DHT were similar in the three groups and were also similar after the two different routes of administration. However, ratios of 3 α -diol G to DHT were significantly greater after percutaneous gel than after IV administration in all three groups. This also was the case for the ratio of unconjugated serum 3 α -diol to DHT. Levels of androsterone glucuronide were similar with the different routes of administration. Conclusion Using nonoral routes of administration and, in attempting to assess in vivo metabolism of DHT, our data confirm that the skin is the major site of unconjugated 3 α -diol and 3 α -diol G formation. Serum 3 α -diol G, therefore, appears largely to reflect skin DHT metabolism.
Management of Barrett's esophagus: Screening to newer treatments ☆

Abstract Barrett's esophagus is a premalignant condition of the esophagus in which the squamous epithelium of the lower end of the esophagus is replaced with columnar epithelium. Since the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is on the rise, the major gastroenterology societies have come up with their recommendations for screening and surveillance. Specific factors like obesity, white race, age over 50 years, early age of onset of GERD, smoking and hiatal hernia have been identified as increasing the risk of Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis requires both endoscopic identification of columnar-lined mucosa and histological confirmation with biopsy. Most medical societies recommend screening people with GERD and other risk factors with endoscopy, but other alternatives employing less invasive methods are currently being studied. Surveillance strategies vary depending on the endoscopic findings and the Seattle biopsy protocol with random 4-quadrant sampling is recommended. Biomarkers have shown promising results, but more studies are needed in the future. White light endoscopy is the standard practice, but other advanced imaging modalities have shown variable results and hence more studies are awaited for further validation. Endoscopic eradication techniques, including both resection and ablation, have shown good but variable results for treating dysplastic lesions confined to the mucosa. Resection procedures to remove visible lesions followed by ablation of the dysplastic mucosa have shown the best results with higher eradication rates and lower recurrence rates. Surgical management is reserved for lesions with sub-mucosal invasion and lymph node spread with increased risk of metastasis.
Reasoning with Partial Orders: Restrictions on Ignorance Inferences of Superlative Modifiers

The present study is concerned with Ignorance Inferences associated with Superlative Modifiers (SMs) like at least and at most . Experimental evidence will be presented showing that the Ignorance Inferences associated with SMs depend on their associate: when the associate of an SM is a totally ordered set (e.g. a numeral), the exhaustive interpretation of the prejacent must necessarily constitute an epistemic possibility for the speaker. However, when the associate of the SM is partially ordered, the exhaustive interpretation of the prejacent can, but need not constitute an epistemic possibility for the speaker.
Success and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in children.

Abstract Purpose Despite its diagnostic and therapeutic utility, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is underutilized in children. Methods Patients younger than 18years undergoing ERCP from 2000 to 2014 at a children's hospital were identified. Patient characteristics and outcomes were evaluated. Results Overall, 215 ERCPs (78% therapeutic) were performed in 184 patients. Our cohort was 67% female, with a median age (IQR) of 14 (8) years. Common indications were choledocholithiasis, pancreatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and postoperative complication. ERCP was performed with an adult duodenoscope in 96% of cases and with a pediatric duodenoscope in the remainder. Patients requiring a pediatric scope ranged in weight from 4.3 to 22.8kg, with ages from 2months to 6years. Cannulation was successful in 97% of cases. Findings included bile duct (BD) stones, BD dilatation, sclerosing cholangitis, BD stricture, pancreatic duct (PD) disruption, choledochal cyst, pancreas divisum, and BD leak. The most common therapeutic techniques were sphincterotomy, stone extraction, and stent. Complication rate was overall 10% with no deaths. On multivariate analysis, PD cannulation was associated with pancreatitis (OR 3.48), while age p Conclusion ERCP can be performed successfully and safely in children with complication rates comparable to those in adults. The type of cannulation and patient age are independent risk factors for complications. Level of evidence Treatment study—IV.
Glomerular disease: A suPAR kidney connection found in the bone marrow.

A population of immature myeloid cells in the bone marrow can transfer proteinuric kidney disease from affected to unaffected mice. This new finding highlights a possible central role of bone marrow as the source of the circulating factor(s) that lead to recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and potentially other kidney diseases.
Do taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional plant α- and β-diversity reflect environmental patterns in the Lower Paraná River floodplain?

Background: Floodplain wetlands feature high plant biodiversity, comprising variability in several organisation levels and at different scales.Aims: In a large river floodplain, we aimed to answer whether taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional α-diversity of herbaceous assemblages responded to hydrogeomorphic features conditioning the local flood pulse and/or to soil features; and to determine the relationship between β-diversity and geographic and environmental distances.Methods: Taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional α-diversity indices were computed in 82 sites in the Lower Parana River floodplain. Relationships between α-diversity and environment were explored by generalised linear models. Spatial structure was assessed by semi-variograms. Responses of partitions of β-diversity to geographic or environmental distances were tested through multiple regressions in distance matrices.Results: Taxonomic and phylogenetic α-diversity showed a similar pattern in relation to environment, especially to hydrogeom...
Sm-ChIPi: Single-Molecule Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Imaging

Epigenetic complexes regulate chromatin dynamics via binding to and assembling on chromatin. However, the mechanisms of chromatin binding and assembly of epigenetic complexes within cells remain incompletely understood, partly due to technical challenges. Here, we present a new approach termed single-molecule chromatin immunoprecipitation imaging (Sm-ChIPi) that enables to assess the cellular assembly stoichiometry of epigenetic complexes on chromatin. Sm-ChIPi was developed based on chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by single-molecule fluorescence microscopy imaging. In this method, an epigenetic complex subunit fused with a gene coding for a fluorescent protein is stably expressed in its corresponding knockout cells. Nucleosomes associated with epigenetic complexes are isolated from cells at native conditions and incubated with biotinylated antibodies. The resulting complexes are immobilized on a quartz slide that had been passivated and functionalized with NeutrAvidin. Image stacks are then acquired by using single-molecule TIRF microscopy. The individual spots imaged by TIRF microscopy represent single protein-nucleosome complexes. The number of copies of the protein complexes on a nucleosome is inferred from the fluorescence photobleaching measurements. Sm-ChIPi is a sensitive and direct method that can quantify the cellular assembly stoichiometry of epigenetic complexes on chromatin.
Symmetry breaking and the fermionic fractional Chern insulator in topologically trivial bands

Subjecting a topologically nontrivial class of noninteracting electronic states to interactions can sometimes yield a ``fractional'' topologically ordered version of that class. For example, electrons in topological bands with integer-quantized Hall conductivity can generate fractional quantum Hall (FQH) states upon addition of repulsive interactions. However, of all existing material band structures, the topologically nontrivial ones are rare. Here, the author demonstrates theoretically in a minimal setting how strong interactions and symmetry breaking can induce FQH-type topological order even in topologically trivial bands. This finding shows that even topologically trivial band structures -- the vast majority -- can host topological order.
Personal Recommendations for Raising Social Eminence in an Enterprise

Social media sites have become very popular within large enterprises. Still, employees are experiencing difficulties in engaging efficiently. In this paper, we present a study of a personalized action recommendation system in an enterprise social network. Following a previous study on how to raise one's social eminence in the enterprise and a set of interviews, we built an innovative recommendation system which provides employees with concrete personalized recommendations on how and where to engage. Differently from other systems, it presents recommendations in context of limiting social network behavioral patterns. The recommendations goal is to assist employees in growing out of these patterns. The paper presents the interview findings, the innovative recommendation system and results of a wide survey investigating the effectiveness of such a system.