cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nerve Growth Factor Decreases Soluble Guanylate Cyclase in Rat Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells

Nitric oxide (NO) modulates neurotransmission in the central and peripheral nervous systems. NO acts, in part, by stimulating cGMP production by soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), an obligate heterodimer composed of alpha and beta subunits. To investigate mechanisms that regulate responsiveness to NO in the nervous system, sGC regulation was examined in a rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) exposed to nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF decreased sGC alpha1 and beta1 subunit mRNA and protein levels as well as NO-stimulated sGC enzyme activity. The NGF-mediated decrease in sGC subunit mRNA levels was blocked by 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (an inhibitor of NGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation). NGF did not decrease sGC subunit mRNA levels in PC12 cells containing a mutant Ras protein that blocks Ras-dependent intracellular signaling. Incubation of PC12 cells with a transcription inhibitor (actinomycin D) or protein synthesis inhibitors (anisomycin or cycloheximide) attenuated the ability of NGF to decrease sGC subunit mRNA levels. Moreover, sGC subunit mRNA levels decreased more rapidly in NGF-treated cells than in actinomycin D-treated cells, suggesting that NGF decreases sGC subunit mRNA stability. Thus, NGF decreases sGC subunit mRNA levels via mechanisms that are dependent on protein tyrosine phosphorylation and Ras activation. The effect of NGF on sGC subunit mRNA stability appears to be transcription- and translation-dependent. Modulation of sGC subunit levels and enzyme activity in PC12 cells suggests that NO responsiveness may be regulated in the nervous system by NGF.
Solving Integral Equations by Reconstruction in Isomorphic Taylor Coefficient Spaces

A new method for numerically solving integral equations is presented. Several examples are shown to demonstrate the accuracy of the procedure. Using the procedure, one can in principle solve any properly constructed integral equation for solutions in the analytic domain.
Hovering of a passive body in an oscillating airflow

Small flexible bodies are observed to hover in an oscillating air column. The air is driven by a large speaker at frequencies in the range 10–65Hz at amplitudes 1–5cm. The bodies are made of stiffened tissue paper, bent to form an array of four wings, symmetric about a vertical axis. The flapping of the wings, driven by the oscillating flow, leads to stable hovering. The hovering position of the body is unstable under free fall in the absence of the airflow. Measurements of the minimum flow amplitude as a function of flow frequency were performed for a range of self-similar bodies of the same material. The optimal frequency for hovering is found to vary inversely with the size. We suggest, on the basis of flow visualization, that hovering of such bodies in an oscillating flow depends upon a process of vortex shedding closely analogous to that of an active flapper in otherwise still air. A simple inviscid model is developed illustrating some of the observed properties of flexible passive hoverers at high R...
Mitigation of sulfur poisoning of Ni/Zirconia SOFC anodes by antimony and tin

Surface Ni/Sb and Ni/Sb alloys were found to efficiently minimize the negative effects of sulfur on the performance of Ni/zirconia anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Prior to operating on fuel gas containing low concentrations of H2S, the nickel/zirconia anodes were briefly exposed to antimony or tin vapor, which only slightly affected the SOFC performance. During the subsequent exposures to 1 and 5 ppm H2S, increases in anodic polarization losses were minimal compared to those observed for the standard nickel/zirconia anodes. Post-test XPS analyses showed that Sb and Sn tended to segregate to the surface of Ni particles, and further confirmed a significant reduction of adsorbed sulfur on the Ni surface in Ni/Sn and Ni/Sb samples compared to the Ni. The effect may be the result of weaker sulfur adsorption on bimetallic surfaces, adsorption site competition between sulfur and Sb or Sn on Ni, or other factors. The use of dilute binary alloys of Ni-Sb or Ni-Sn in the place of Ni, or brief exposure to Sb or Sn vapor, may be effective means to counteract the effects of sulfur poisoning in SOFC anodes and Ni catalysts. Other advantages, including suppression of coking or tailoring the anode composition for themore » internal reforming, are also expected.« less
Asymptotic Dynamics of Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations: Resonance-Dominated and Dispersion-Dominated Solutions

We consider a linear Schrodinger equation with a nonlinear perturbation in R 3 . Assume that the linear Hamiltonian has exactly two bound states and its eigenvalues satisfy some resonance condition. We prove that if the initial data is sufficiently small and is near a nonlinear ground state, then the solution approaches to certain nonlinear ground state as the time tends to infinity. Furthermore, the difference between the wave function solving the nonlinear Schrodinger equation and its asymptotic profile can have two different types of decay: The resonancedominated solutions decay as t 1=2 or the dispersion-dominated solutions decay at least like t 3=2 . c 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Learning to Effectively Implement Constant Time Delay Procedures To Teach Spelling.

This study examined the effectiveness of a training procedure designed to teach a special education resource teacher the constant time delay procedures. In addition, the study examined the effectiveness of constant time delay procedures in teaching written spelling words to one 12-year-old male student with a learning disability. A multiple-probe design across behaviors was used to demonstrate the functional relationship between the time delay procedure and the student acquiring, maintaining, and generalizing 15 spelling words. The investigation specifically sought to address teacher-training issues related to instructional procedures, student acquisition, maintenance, and generalization. The teacher successfully implemented the procedure with 100% treatment integrity and the student learned to spell all 15 spelling words.
Relative motion: kinetic information for the order of depth at an edge.

A new source of kinetic information for depth at an edge was investigated with adult subjects. The relationship between the motion of optical texture, indicating a surface, and the motion of a contour, indicating an edge, determines whether the surface is perceived as occluding or occluded. Subjects viewed computer-generated random-lot displays in which this relative-motion information provided the only information for depth order and a second type of display in which order in depth was specified both by relative-motion information and by the accretion and deletion of texture. Reliable depth effects were obtained in both conditions. These results indicate that adults are sensitive to the relative motion of texture and contour as information for depth at an edge.
1,4-DIHYDRO-2,3-QUINOXALINEDIONES AS POTENTIAL FLAVIN METABOLITES AND EXCITATORY AMINO ACID RECEPTOR LIGANDS : PART 1 : SYNTHESIS AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE BENZYLIC OXIDATION SERIES OF 1,4-DIHYDRO-6,7-DIMETHYL-2,3 -QUINOXALINEDIONE

A series of five 6,7-disubstituted 1,4-dihydro-2,3-quinoxalinediones was prepared, two of which are known microbial flavin metabolites and three of which are potential flavin metabolites. Four of the five compounds inhibited specific binding of [3H]-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropanoic acid ([3H]AMPA), [3H]kainic acid, and [3H]6-cyano-1,4-dihydro-7-nitro-2,3-quinoxalinedione ([3H]CNQX) in rat brain homogenate fractions, with IC50 values in the low micromolar range (the fifth compound competed only with [3H]CNQX). Two of the compounds were moderately potent AMPA antagonists in an in vitro functional test.
Adhesion formation after laparoscopic excision of endometriosis and lysis of adhesions

Objective To evaluate adhesion reformation after laparoscopic excision of endometriosis and adhesiolysis in women with chronic pelvic pain. Design Prospective clinical trial. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) Thirty-eight women with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. Intervention(s) A primary and second-look laparoscopy with adhesiolysis and excision of endometriotic lesions with a neodymium-yttrium argon garnet surgical laser technologies (SLT) contact laser. Main Outcome Measure(s) Adhesion formation and character (thin, thin and thick, or thick). Location of adhesions at a first laparoscopy was compared with de novo or reformation of adhesions and the location of adhesions at a second surgery. Result(s) Adhesions or adhesions combined with endometriotic lesions were significantly more likely to reform at second surgery compared with sites having only an endometriosis lesion. Thick adhesions were associated with a significantly increased likelihood of an adhesion reforming, compared with thin adhesions or thin and thick adhesions. Lesions or adhesions involving the ovary were more likely to be associated with adhesions at a subsequent surgery, compared with lesions in the adjacent ovarian fossa or fallopian tube. Conclusion(s) Most patients developed adhesions after radical surgical excision of endometriosis for pelvic pain. The high incidence of adhesion formation after surgery for endometriosis underscores the importance of optimizing surgical techniques to potentially reduce adhesion formation.
Immunochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of a synaptic membrane protein that binds the competitive antagonists of NMDA receptors

Abstract An ~ 54-kDa protein that has binding sites for the competitive N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists 3-((±)-2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) and (±)-(E)-2-amino-4-propyl-5-phosphonopentenoic acid (CGP 39653) was purified from rat brain synaptic membranes. Polyclonal antibodies to this protein reacted specifically with an ~ 54-kDa protein in synaptic membranes and immunoextracted ~ 60% of [ 3 H]CGP 39653 binding sites associated with solubilized membrane proteins. The antibodies also labeled antigenic sites in the perikaryon and apical and basilar dendrites of pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex.
An Expanding Job Description for Bcl6

B cell lymphoma/leukemia gene 6 (Bcl6) is well known as a master regulator of germinal center (GC) B cell differentiation. Now, three new publications demonstrate that Bcl6 also plays a second role in GC response, in that it is both required and sufficient to drive the differentiation of T follicular helper cells.
Mild hypothermia reduces infarct size in the beating rabbit heart: a practical intervention for acute myocardial infarction?

The present study describes a method for rapidly cooling the whole body via its blood pool and tests whether cooling instituted after ischemia has begun can sill limit infarction. We also evaluated whether the cardiac protection seen with cooling could be added to that from ischemic preconditioning. Recently it was reported that lowering myocardial temperature by only several degrees greatly slows the extent of myocardial infarction in the beating heart experiencing regional ischemia. To further explore the potential of hypothermia for myocardial protection, rabbits underwent either a 30-, 45- or 60-min coronary artery occlusion and 3-h reperfusion. Blood from a carotid artery was allowed to circulate through a heat exchanger immersed in ice water and return to a jugular vein until the blood temperature in the left atrium reached the target temperature of 35 or 32°C. Furthermore, to elucidate the mechanism of hypothermia's protection, we also examined its effect on isolated cardiomyocytes. Rewarming began upon reperfusion in all protocols. Cooling to 32°C before a 30-min ischemia reduced infarct size from 37.3±2.5% (n=6) of the risk zone in normothermic controls to 3.6±0.3% (n=6). When cooling was begun 10 or 20 min after the onset of ischemia infarct size was still significantly smaller [8.1±1.2% and 22.8±1.8%, respectively (n=6 in each group)]. Less but significant protection was also seen with cooling to 35°:C. Cooling caused only mild bradycardia and hypotension and no apparent arrhythmias. Forty-five min of regional ischemia caused 50.7±3.3% (n=6) of risk zone to infarct in untreated hearts. Preconditioning with 5-min ischemia/10-min reperfusion reduced infarct size to 27.5±2.5% (n=6). Cooling to 32°C starting 20 min after the onset of ischemia protected the heart (28.7±2.6% infarction, n=8), and this protection could be added to the effect from ischemic preconditioning delayed the progressive increase in osmotic fragility that occurs during simulated ischemia in an additive way, but only hypothermia delayed the appearance of contracture suggesting that different mechanisms are involved. Hence blood pool cooling was easily induced and well tolerated and protected the beating heart against infarction even when hypothermia was started after the onset of coronary occlusion. We conclude that hypothermia might be a simple and useful therapy for patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.
Dynamics of thick viscoelastic beams

A viscoelastic higher-order thick beam finite element formulation is extended to include elastodynamic deformations. The material constitutive law is a special differential form of the Maxwell solid, which employs viscous strains as internal variables to determine the viscous stresses. The total time-dependent stress is the superposition of its elastic and viscous components. In the constitutive model, the elastic strains and the conjugate viscous strains are coupled through a system offirst-order ordinary differential equations. The use of the internal strain variables allows for a convenient finite element formulation. The elastodynamic equations of motion are derived from the virtual work principle. Computational examples are carried out for a thick orthotropic cantilevered beam. Relaxation, creep, relaxation followed by free damped vibrations, and damping related modal interactions are discussed.
A novel approach to teaching the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) exam

Introduction and hypothesis The purpose of this study is to develop an inexpensive, feasible, and useful 3-D model for teaching and performing the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) exam.
Current and future treatments in progressive supranuclear palsy

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is an atypical parkinsonian disorder that, in spite of its growing recognition, is still underdiagnosed. For management, prognosis, and research, an accurate and early diagnosis is essential. PSP is a relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disorder, clinically characterized by parkinsonism with prominent axial involvement and postural instability, bulbar symptoms, supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, and executive dysfunction. Abnormal neuronal and glial four-repeat tau aggregations affecting the basal ganglia and selective brainstem structures result in dysfunction of the five frontosubcortical circuits and brainstem functions. Primary therapeutic approaches are based on neurotransmitter replacement and palliative strategies. This article reviews the experience and challenges with neurotransmitter replacement and palliative strategies through an extensive literature search of studies published between 1965 and 2005. The role of and limited experience with alternative therapies, such as deep brain stimulation and pallidotomy, are also discussed. Advances in the development of biological therapies for PSP and a better understanding of its etiopathogenesis will likely result from epidemiologic studies and developed four-repeat tau-transgenic animal models. The management of patients with this disorder poses a considerable challenge and includes symptomatic and palliative strategies, as well as education and support, to improve the quality of life for patients and their caregivers.
Vascular Compression of the Duodenum and Peptic Ulcer Disease

The exact role of vascular compression of the duodenum to peptic ulcer disease remains unknown, although a review of the literature indicates that the association is more than coincidental. Three patients who had operations for peptic ulcer incurred severe gastric retention. Detailed studies disclosed compression of the duodenum beneath the superior mesenteric vessels. Relief of symptoms followed reoperation in each patient. Apparent gastric atony after vagotomy and pyloroplasty may be an occasional manifestation of vascular compression of the duodenum.
The away neurology rotation: Is the grass greener on the other side?

Medical students and residents often struggle with the pros and cons of pursuing an away rotation. The purpose of this article is to share personal perspectives on the benefits and costs of an away rotation.
A Comparison of Visual, Auditory, and Cutaneous Tracking Displays when Divided Attention is Required to a Cross-Adaptive Loading Task

The present investigation was designed to order the relative difficulty of tracking with a visual, an auditory and a cutaneous display. Utilizing one of the three displays, subjects were required to track while simultaneously performing a visual loading task. Tracking performance did not differ as a function of the type of tracking display utilized. However, performance on the loading task accompanying visual and auditory tracking was superior to that accompanying cutaneous tracking, From these findings it was concluded that visual and auditory tracking are less difficult than cutaneous tracking in that both the former leave the operator with more ‘ spare attention ’ for carrying additional tasks.
The Past 200 Years in Diabetes

Although scientific advances have led to effective prevention strategies, the pathway to a cure for diabetes has remained elusive. This anniversary article describes progress in the understanding, diagnosis, and management of diabetes during the past 200 years.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFFINITY SILICA MONOLITH CONTAINING α1- ACID GLYCOPROTEIN FOR CHIRAL SEPARATIONS

An affinity monolith based on silica and containing immobilized α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) was developed and evaluated in terms of its binding, efficiency and selectivity in chiral separations. The results were compared with data obtained for the same protein when used as a chiral stationary phase with HPLC-grade silica particles or monoliths based on a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA). The surface coverage of AGP in the silica monolith was 18% higher than that obtained with silica particles and 61% higher than that measured for a GMA/EDMA monolith. The higher surface area of the silica monolith gave materials that contained 1.5- to 3.6-times more immobilized protein per unit volume when compared to silica particles or a GMA/EDMA monolith. The retention, efficiency and resolving power of the AGP silica monolith were evaluated by injecting two chiral analytes onto this column (i.e., R/S-warfarin and R/S-propranolol). In each case, the AGP silica monolith gave higher retention plus better resolution and efficiency than AGP columns containing silica particles or a GMA/EDMA monolith. The AGP silica monolith also gave lower back pressures and separation impedances than these other materials. It was concluded that silica monoliths can be valuable alternatives to silica particles or GMA/EDMA monoliths when used with AGP as a chiral stationary phase.
At the crossroads: Bringing the tenure and promotion process into the Digital Age

Over the past two years, Grand Valley State University (GVSU) faculty librarians have been looking for ways to improve the portfolio process for personnel reviews. The personnel review system at GVSU is such that all unit faculty members are responsible for reviewing colleagues’ portfolios and voting on their reappointments, tenure decisions, and promotions, meaning all tenured and tenure-track librarians must carve out a significant amount of time for this each year. Traditionally, these portfolios have taken the format of one printed copy, available in the libraries dean’s office, for review by one individual at a time. Since GVSU has libraries . . .
Effect of image registration on longitudinal analysis of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness of non-human primates using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

In this paper we determined the benefits of image registration on estimating longitudinal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) changes. RNFLT maps around the optic nerve head (ONH) of healthy primate eyes were measured using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) weekly for 30 weeks. One automatic algorithm based on mutual information (MI) and the other semi-automatic algorithm based on log-polar transform cross-correlation using manually segmented blood vessels (LPCC_MSBV), were used to register retinal maps longitudinally. We compared the precision and recall between manually segmented image pairs for the two algorithms using a linear mixed effects model. We found that the precision calculated between manually segmented image pairs following registration by LPCC_MSBV algorithm is significantly better than the one following registration by MI algorithm (p < <0.0001). Trend of the all-rings and temporal, superior, nasal and inferior (TSNI) quadrants average of RNFLT over time in healthy primate eyes are not affected by registration. RNFLT of clock hours 1, 2, and 10 showed significant change over 30 weeks (p = 0.0058, 0.0054, and 0.0298 for clock hours 1, 2 and 10 respectively) without registration, but stayed constant over time with registration. The LPCC_MSBV provides better registration of RNFLT maps recorded on different dates than the automatic MI algorithm. Registration of RNFLT maps can improve clinical analysis of glaucoma progression.
Delay-Aware Transmission Range Control for VANETs

End-to-end delay is critical for the real-time safety message delivery in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs). In this paper, we present an analytical model to evaluate the impact of transmission range on the end-to-end delay in 802.11p-based VANETs. Compared with the previous works, our model derives a concise expression of the transmission delay in saturated networks, and obtains the service rate of non-saturated networks with novel methodology. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first complete analytical model that reveals the significant end-to-end delay difference between saturation and non-saturation cases.
Theoretical statistical correlation for biometric identification performance

Measurement and evaluation of biometric device performance is critical to end users and consumers of these devices. In this paper we present explicit theoretical correlation models when the biometric matching process is stationary that can be used to derive variance estimates of biometric performance metrics. We focus in this paper on the failure to enroll, the failure to acquire, the false match rate and the false non-match rate. We further present unified notation that makes our correlation frameworks possible.
Safety and Efficacy of Metformin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Hepatitis C

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) with or without cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Data Sources: A PubMed (1946-August 2013) search using the keywords type 2 diabetes mellitus, metformin, hepatitis C virus, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma was conducted. The references in published articles were reviewed to identify additional references for inclusion. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies written in English, evaluating metformin use in human patients with T2DM and chronic HCV were included. Data Synthesis: Eight studies met criteria for inclusion. Two prospective, randomized controlled trials showed increased benefit with metformin on virological response in patients with insulin resistance receiving HCV treatment. A prospective observational study evaluated metformin exclusively in patients with T2DM and HCV and showed significant reductions in the occurrence of HCC, ...
GEOCHEMICAL MECHANICS FOR THE DISSOLUTION, TRANSPORT, AND DEPOSITION OF ALUMINUM IN THE ZONE OF WEATHERING

Organic acids in the 0-01M concentration range representing amino-, aliphatic, and aro- matic types present in humus dissolve 70-85 ppm A1 from Arkansas bauxite at room temperature, whereas 0-03 ppm is dissolved in water. The species of A1 in aqueous solution, calculated from stability data, range from A13+ at pH 3 and lower, through AI2(OH)24+ at a maximum concentration at pH 4.5, AI(OH) 2+ at a maximum at pH 4.7, AI(OH)2 + at a maximum at pH 6.0, to AI(OH)4- at pH 8.5 and higher. In salicylic acid an Al-Sal + complex occurs between pH 1"5 and 8.5, and is at a maximum at pH 4.2. Solubility of A1 obviously is pH dependent; also because of the vulnerability of organic acids to oxidation, the solubility and transport of A1 is indirectly Eh dependent. Anions that combine with Al include OH- to form bauxite, PO43- to form lateritic phosphate such as the Bone Valley Formation, Fla., and SiO4 4- to form allophane or kaolin as noted in the kaolin synthesis by Linares and Huartes. Spongelike, pisolitic or oolitic structures, and mineral veins in bauxites, lateritic phos- phates, and some flint clays attest to mobilization of Al in solution. Lignites and humus zones associa- ted with laterites are a logical geologic source of these complexing organic solvents. Although Al is inherently mobile, such commonly available precipitating anions render A1 relatively immobile.
An Overview of Organizational and Occupational Psychiatry

Although many clinicians agree in principle that work is central to personal identity and mental health, issues related to patients' experiences in the workplace have not been a central focus in clinical practice in psychiatry. However, the link between work and mental health continues to be confirmed by research, and interest in occupational and organizational psychiatry, which focuses on the psychopathology that the individual brings to the workplace and that results from the individual's experiences in the workplace, has increased in the past decade. The three main areas of practice in the field--direct clinical services, consultation, and applied research--include evaluating work-related psychiatric disability, providing case management for employees who receive psychiatric treatment, evaluating a candidate for an executive position, and conducting epidemiological research about stress-related disorders. A patient's occupational or work history can provide valuable information for routine psychiatric diagnosis and treatment planning.
Glucocorticoid regulation of GM-CSF : evidence for transcriptional mechanisms in airway epithelial cells

Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Glucocorticoids are first-line anti-inflammatory therapy in the treatment of asthma and are effective inhibitors of inflammatory cytokines. Clinical data demonstrate that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) production by airway epithelial cells may be an important target of inhaled glucocorticoid therapy. We examined the regulatory mechanisms of GM-CSF expression by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone in the BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cell line. IL-1β stimulation resulted in a 15-fold induction of GM-CSF protein, which was associated with a corresponding 47-fold maximal induction of GM-CSF mRNA levels. Treatment with the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D before IL-1β stimulation completely abolished induction of GM-CSF mRNA, whereas incubation with cycloheximide had no effect. Taken together, these data demonstrate that IL-1β induction of GM-CSF is mediated through transcriptional mechanisms. Dexamethasone treatment of BEAS-2B cells produced an 80% inhibition of IL-1β-induced GM-CSF protein and a 51% inhibition of GM-CSF mRNA. GM-CSF mRNA was rapidly degraded in these cells, and dexamethasone treatment did not significantly affect this decay rate. We conclude that, in the BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cell line, IL-1β induction and dexamethasone repression of GM-CSF expression are mediated predominantly through transcriptional mechanisms.
Strain induced super-paramagnetism in Cr2O3 in the ultra thin film limit

Ultra thin films of chromia (Cr2O3), less than 3 nm thick, grown epitaxial on α-Al2O3 (sapphire), and are thus compressively strained in-plane. The resulting films show evidence of some magnetic ordering above the Neel temperature of chromia (307 K). The observed higher temperature hysteresis effect observed are very likely a strain effect, and not associated with the typical antiferromagnetic ordering expected of chromia.
Mutation of the little finger domain in human DNA polymerase η alters fidelity when copying undamaged DNA.

DNA polymerase η (pol η) synthesizes past cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer and possibly 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) lesions during DNA replication. Loss of pol η is associated with an increase in mutation rate, demonstrating its indispensable role in mutation suppression. It has been recently reported that β-strand 12 (amino acids 316–324) of the little finger region correctly positions the template strand with the catalytic core of the enzyme. The authors hypothesized that modification of β-strand 12 residues would disrupt correct enzyme–DNA alignment and alter pol η’s activity and fidelity. To investigate this, the authors purified proteins containing the catalytic core of the polymerase, incorporated single amino acid changes to select β-strand 12 residues, and evaluated DNA synthesis activity for each pol η. Lesion bypass efficiencies and replication fidelities when copying DNA-containing cis-syn cyclobutane thymine-thymine dimer and 8-oxoG lesions were determined and compared with the corresponding values for the wild-type polymerase. The results confirm the importance of the β-strand in polymerase function and show that fidelity is most often altered when undamaged DNA is copied. Additionally, it is shown that DNA–protein contacts distal to the active site can significantly affect the fidelity of synthesis.
Review: HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and renoprotection: the weight of the evidence

Dyslipidemia and the contributions of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) are independent cardiovascular risk factors. There is growing evidence that dyslipidemia contributes not only to cardiovascular disease but also to the progressive decline of renal function in diabetic and non-diabetic kidney disease. Ox-LDL, by generating inflammation and oxidative stress, contributes to a pro-atherogenic mileu and leads to endothelial dysfunction, subsequent glomerular filtration barrier damage, and progressive renal injury. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), in turn, induces deleterious effects on lipid metabolism. Therefore, by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and reducing ox-LDL, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are attractive therapeutic options to preserve renal function. Current evidence demonstrates a reduction in cardiovascular risk and improved renal outcomes especially in patients with mild to moderate impairment of renal function. Evidence supports a beneficial role of statins thought to extend beyond their lipid-lowering effect, referred to as pleiotropic actions. These actions include modulatory effects on inflammation, oxidative stress and thrombosis, derived from their ability to prevent the formation of isoprenoid intermediates involved in cellular signaling, posttranslational modification of proteins and cellular function. This translates to potential reductions in the rate of decline in GFR in CKD and adverse effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the kidney. This review examines the role of statins for reno-protection as well as cardiovascular benefit in patients with CKD.
Intravenous Drug Use and HIV Infection in Miami

In this article we report the results of a study of needle-using behaviors in a street-recruited, noninstitutionalized sample of intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in Miami-Dade County. Survey data, elicited from 230 IVDUs, indicate a statistically significant relationship between injection frequency and antibody seropositivity for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Self-reported needle-sharing behavior and use of safe houses (i.e., shooting galleries) are also related to infection. Observational data, gathered using ethnographic techniques, identify standard cleaning practices, drug sharing between syringes, and accidental punctures as additional risks of HIV infection for IVDUs. In-depth interview data on values associated with needle use indicate that interventions focused on needle cleaning can be effective in this population.
Fatal occupational injuries among U.S. law enforcement officers: A comparison of national surveillance systems

BACKGROUND: This study describes and compares the three surveillance systems used to record occupational injury fatalities among U.S. law enforcement officers (LEOs). METHODS: The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund database (NLEOMF), and Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted reports (LEOKA) were examined for LEO deaths between 2003 and 2009. Fatality rates per 100,000 workers were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2009, the NLEOMF reported 1,050 fatalities (rate of 16.4 per 100,000 workers), the CFOI reported 968 fatalities (15.1 per 100,000), and the LEOKA recorded 853 fatalities (13.3 per 100,000). The LEOKA under-counted the number of fatalities compared to the NLEOMF and CFOI. Discrepancies were found between the LEOKA, NLEOMF, and CFOI regarding age, race, and Hispanic origin. Similar patterns for cause of fatality were found; however, the NLEOMF recorded a higher number of "other" fatalities compared to the other two systems. CONCLUSIONS: This study fills a critical knowledge gap by providing an overview of the three surveillance systems used to enumerate LEO occupational deaths. Understanding the differences across the systems is critical when utilizing them for surveillance research. Am. J. Ind. Med. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Language: en
Oligomeric and Fibrillar Species of Amyloid-β Peptides Differentially Affect Neuronal Viability

Genetic evidence predicts a causative role for amyloid-beta (A beta) in Alzheimer's disease. Recent debate has focused on whether fibrils (amyloid) or soluble oligomers of A beta are the active species that contribute to neurodegeneration and dementia. We developed two aggregation protocols for the consistent production of stable oligomeric or fibrillar preparations of A beta-(1-42). Here we report that oligomers inhibit neuronal viability 10-fold more than fibrils and approximately 40-fold more than unaggregated peptide, with oligomeric A beta-(1-42)-induced inhibition significant at 10 nm. Under A beta-(1-42) oligomer- and fibril-forming conditions, A beta-(1-40) remains predominantly as unassembled monomer and had significantly less effect on neuronal viability than preparations of A beta-(1-42). We applied the aggregation protocols developed for wild type A beta-(1-42) to A beta-(1-42) with the Dutch (E22Q) or Arctic (E22G) mutations. Oligomeric preparations of the mutations exhibited extensive protofibril and fibril formation, respectively, but were not consistently different from wild type A beta-(1-42) in terms of inhibition of neuronal viability. However, fibrillar preparations of the mutants appeared larger and induced significantly more inhibition of neuronal viability than wild type A beta-(1-42) fibril preparations. These data demonstrate that protocols developed to produce oligomeric and fibrillar A beta-(1-42) are useful in distinguishing the structural and functional differences between A beta-(1-42) and A beta-(1-40) and genetic mutations of A beta-(1-42).
Governmental Coordination to Enforce Environmental Laws: The Experiences of an Australian Federal Environmental Regulator

The fact that environmental crimes, and those entities that perpetrate them, do not respect borders has been well-documented. Given that these borders are local, provincial and national, it is no surprise that recent decades have seen a proliferation of Environmental Enforcement Networks (‘networks’).Additionally; there are expectations and requirements on governments to operate in a more connected, seamless and joined-up way. In fact, operating in such a way is referred to in the public administration lexicon as ‘the whole of government approach’. The combination of these factors has resulted in government regulators becomingly increasingly reliant upon the greater ‘regulatory reach’ and the collective capacity provided by networks.This paper details the use made by the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) of networks as a part of governmental coordination in its overall environmental enforcement effort. It focuses also on the systems and coordination mechanisms which are in place presently and that will need to be enhanced or developed to combat environmental crime more effectively into the future.
Bilateral upper arm compartment syndrome after a vigorous cross-training workout.

Upper arm compartment syndrome is a rare clinical entity. It has been reported after cardiovascular surgery, trauma, and intravascular line infiltration during coronary intervention. To our knowledge, there have not been any reports of upper arm compartment syndrome resulting from a cross-training exercise program. We report an occurrence of acute, bilateral, upper arm compartment syndrome after an upper body cross-training workout.
A novel M-FSK modem architecture based on perfect reconstruction NMDFBs

Standard M-FSK demodulators are implemented with a series of digital parallel matched filters followed by envelope detectors and a decision stage. The number of required matched filter and envelope detectors is the same as the number of complex (In-phase/Quadrature) sub-carriers. The performance, in terms of bit error rate, of the M-FSK transmission improve as the number of frequencies employed increases. This improvement is obtained at the expense of increased size, weight and power consumption (SWaP) in the transceiver. In standard M-FSK demodulators, transmission performance and receiver complexity are inversely proportional. In this paper we propose a new fully-digital M-FSK demodulator that inverts this rule. The proposed architecture is based on perfect reconstruction (PR) non-maximally decimated filter banks (NMDFBs) also referred to as polyphase channelizers. And, compared to standard FSK receivers, the efficacy of the proposed architecture increases as the number of frequencies employed, M, increases. The architecture we propose has a very compact design and, for M larger than 16, it is more efficient than standard M-FSK receivers.
Analysis of Publication Decisions for "Journal of Research in Music Education" Manuscripts (2009-2014).

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics of manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Research in Music Education (JRME) representing various research methodologies. A dat...
Near-surface geophysical imaging of Barringer (Meteor) Crater, Arizona

Summary We investigated the shallow subsurface at Barringer (Meteor) Crater, Arizona using seismic and gravity techniques. We found compressional (P)-wave velocities of 450-2500 m/s for a 55 m deep section from seismic refraction analysis. The low uppermost P-wave velocity layers thin away from the crater rim (toward the south). Shear (S)-wave velocities (estimated from ground-roll inversion) vary from 200-700 m/s for the top 16-20 m increasing to 900-1000 m/s at 38 m depth. The prominent change in S-wave velocities (around 500-600 m/s up to 20 m depth) is interpreted as the transition from the lowvelocity ejecta blanket (a sheet of debris thrown out of the crater during the impact) to the bed-rock Moenkopi sandstone. This S-wave transition takes place at a depth range of 12-20 m near the crater rim with a thinning away from the crater rim. This consistent P- and S-wave layer is interpreted as the ejecta blanket. Near-surface reflection seismic analysis provided relatively deeper information indicating at least four sub-horizontal reflectors intersected by a number of faults. Staking velocity analysis estimates P-wave velocities up to 3500 m/s (for the top 500 ms) showing a similar P-wave thinning structure (especially for top 200 ms). Ultrasonic measurements on hand samples provide a range of P-wave velocities of 800-1600 m/s for the Moenkopi consistent with seismic refraction results. The estimated residual gravity profile also supports the identified thinning of the ejecta blanket in seismic analysis.
Calorimetric analysis of triple helices targeted to the d(G3A4G3).d(C3T4C3) duplex.

We present a thermodynamic analysis based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of three short intermolecular DNA triplexes targeted to the same DNA duplex: (G3A4G3)· d(C3T4C3) (PYR), d(G3A4G3) d(G3A4G3)·d(C3T4C3) (PUR), and d(G3T4G3) d(G3A4G3)·d(C3T4C3) (PUR/PYR). Enthalpies, ΔH, and entropies, ΔS, are measured by model-free integration of the DSC curves and are compared to the same quantities determined by van't Hoff analysis of the DSC curves and, in the case of the PYR and PUR/PYR triplexes, UV melting curves as well. In the case of the PUR triplex, which exhibits monophasic melting behavior, the calorimetric ΔH and the calorimetrically determined van't Hoff ΔH are in excellent agreement, indicating an all-or-none transition for this triplex. For the PYR and PUR/PYR triplexes, which melt in a biphasic manner, the calorimetrically determined van't Hoff ΔH values are somewhat larger than the model-independent calorimetric ΔH values. In those cases, however, good agreement is found between the calo...
Anisotropic spontaneous curvatures in lipid membranes

Symmetry restrictions due to fluidity require the strain energy in the Helfrich theory of lipid membranes to be locally isotropic in nature. Although this framework is suitable for modeling the interaction of membranes with proteins that generate spherical curvature such as clathrin, there are other important membrane-bending proteins such as BIN-amphiphysin-Rvs proteins that form a cylindrical coat with different curvatures in the longitudinal and the circumferential directions. In this work, we present a detailed mathematical treatment of the theory of lipid membranes incorporating anisotropic spontaneous curvatures. We derive the associated Euler-Lagrange equations and the edge conditions in a generalized setting that allows spatial heterogeneities in the properties of the membrane-protein system. We employ this theory to model the constriction of a membrane tubule by a cylindrical scaffold. In particular, we highlight the role of the equilibrium equation in the tangential plane in regulating the spatial variation of the surface tension field.
Study of Dynamic Characteristics of Friction: A Comparative Analysis of the Velocity Dependent and the LuGre Friction Model

In this paper, we conduct numerical analysis to study the effects of friction on the dynamic response of a single degree of freedom mechanical system. Two different friction models, the velocity dependent friction model and the LuGre friction model, have been used to model the friction interface. Bifurcation analysis has been conducted using equilibrium and limit cycle continuation methods. With system viscous damping as the bifurcation parameter, a reverse subcritical Hopf bifurcation is observed in the case of velocity dependent model. In the case of the LuGre model for the same bifurcation parameter, a reverse supercritical Hopf bifurcation is observed at lower velocities but at higher velocities it changes to a reverse subcritical Hopf bifurcation. A fold bifurcation of the limit cycles is also seen at higher velocities for the LuGre model.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Evaluating the F easibility of a Particle Filtering Approach for Tracking Unmanned Surface Vehicles

A particle filter ing approach for tracking Unmanned Surface Vehicle s (USV s) with the use of surface radar is presented. This is a nonlinear estimation problem and involves non -Gaussian measurement noise because of glint in a radar problem. Glint is modeled as a Gaussian mixture comprising of two Gaussian distributions . Experimental data from tracking a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) has been used to evaluate the Sampling Importance Resa mpling (SIR) filter and results have been compared with those obtained from applying a standard Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) .
Computational social science: a bricolage of approaches

Computational social science is an interdisciplinary field with researchers from different disciplines. What these researchers have in common is a fundamental question---what can we learn about social behavior using big data? Computational social science is defined more by the type of data that researchers harness to generate evidence than by substantive questions. This creates a bricolage of approaches that is one of the strengths of the nascent field. Rather than offering a definition, the panel will present the variety of approaches that make computational social science a burgeoning field. The goal is to generate a dialogue among researchers coming from different institutional domains and research traditions. A potential byproduct of such dialogue will be the development of more research projects.
Pulmonary dirofilariasis in man. A case report and review of the literature.

Pulmonary dirofilariasis in man is becoming a well-recognized entity. Its pathogenesis and histopathological picture have been well characterized but the preoperative diagnosis still remains a challenge. The roentgenographic picture, usually described as a “coin lesion,” is nonspecific and easily mistaken for other inflammatory and neoplastic nodules. Forty-seven clinical instances of pulmonary dirofilariais have been reported in the literature, with most of them in the last two decades. Considering the entire clinical picture, a strong suspicion can be based on serological studies, thus improving the possibilities of a correct preoperative diagnosis.
14. Neuromonitoring during carotid endarterectomy procedures

Objectives To gain a basic understanding of the anatomy and neurophysiologic methods for monitoring neurovascular procedures with a focus on EEG. Historical review There are multiple techniques that can be used to monitor the status of the brain during neurovascular procedures. These techniques include: (1) performing the procedure awake; (2) Transcranial Doppler; (3) Stump pressure monitoring; (4) Electroencephalography; (5) Somatosensory evoked potentials; (6) Motor Evoked Potentials; (6) Cerebral O2 monitoring. Each technique has its advantages and benefits which are related to speed of acquisition, resolution of cortical volume monitored, effects of anesthesia on the resulting data needed for interpretation, and the lack of ability to localize emboli or even the overabundance of emboli detection and not understanding what it actually means. Other than the complexity of interpretation, which for neurovascular is minimal, the EEG seems to be least affected by all of these short comings given its speed of data for interpretation and cortical resolution if enough channels are monitored.