cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct-inelastic and trapping-desorption scattering of N2 and CH4 from Pt(111)

Abstract Angle and velocity distributions for supersonic chopped beams of N 2 and CH 4 scattered from clean close-packed Pt(111) surfaces are reported. For specular direct-inelastic scattering N 2 and CH 4 velocity distributions can be characterized by empirical relationships used for Ar scattering. For instance, for specular scattering the following relation is found for Ar, N 2 and CH 4 : 〈KE f 〉 = A (KE i ) + B (2 kT s ), where 〈KE f 〉 is the average final kinetic energy, KE i is the incident kinetic energy and T s is the surface temperature. The beam and surface temperature independent coefficients A and B are, respectively: Ar 0.87, 0.17; N 2 0.79, 0.19 and CH 4 0.84, 0.25. Unlike Ar, N 2 desorbs from Pt with a Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution near the surface temperature. Qualitatively the trapping probabilities for these molecules on Pt(111) are ordered: Xe > N 2 > CH 4 > Ar.
Influence of chiral thiols on the diastereoselective synthesis of γ-lactams from cyclic anhydrides

The synthesis of γ-lactams from both four-component and imine-anhydride reactions is reported. The synthesis of 2-phenylcyclohexanethiol is described and this compound was evaluated along with an additional seven chiral thiols. A range of selectivity and yields was observed and comparisons to established reactions are made in order to account for the observed reactivity.
Local approximation of functions over points scattered in Rm

Abstract Given points { p 1 ,…, p k } scattered in R m and a real valued function f that is Cn+2 on a neighborhood of the convex hull of the points { p 1 ,…, p k }, we define an interpolant Fn which has polynomial precision of order n + 1, and Fn − f = O(hn+2), where h is determined by the distribution of the data sites p i . We also discuss the application of this interpolant to the scattered data interpolation problem in the plane, where we know the function values f( p i ) but have no information concerning the partial derivatives of f. We also present the results of numerical experiments.
Why the ‘Black Market’ Arguments against Legalizing Organ Sales Fail

One of the most widespread objections to legalizing a market in human organs is that such legalization would stimulate the black market in human organs. Unfortunately, the proponents of this argument fail to explain how such stimulation will occur. To remedy thus, two accounts of how legalizing markets in human organs could stimulate the black market in them are developed in this paper. Yet although these accounts remedy the lacuna in the anti-market argument from the black market neither of them provide reason to believe that legalizing an organ markets would stimulate the black market in organs. Despite its prevalence, then, the argument from the black market should be rejected.
Correlates of resilient outcomes among highly stressed African‐American and White urban children

Compared test variables that differentiated stress-affected and stress-resilient outcomes within separate subsamples of highly stressed 4th–6th grade urban African-American and White children. Similar variables differentiated resilient and stress affected children in the two racial groups. Key common differentiators associated with resilient outcomes under chronically stressful life conditions included: perceived competence; positive self-views; empathy; and realistic control attributions. There was also substantial overlap in the sets of six test variables in the discriminant functions that best predicted (85% accuracy) resilient outcomes among these highly stressed African-American and White children. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Client-Centered Approach as a Foundation for Teaching the Introductory Course in Public Relations.

Abstract The introductory or fundamentals course in public relations is the bedrock of the public relations curriculum. It introduces students to the field and prepares them for the remainder of the curriculum. Students learn the history of the field, the breadth of the practice, and the basic tools for research and planning. It can also be a starting point for their portfolios. This article describes a client-centered approach to the introductory course. The client-centered approach has students develop materials for a “client.” The materials introduce students to basic public relations tasks as well as offering a start to the portfolio. A full outline of the course, including assignments, is explained. The client-centered approach combines the use of the knowledge and skills that are the foundation of public relations practice.
Severe bronchospasm during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Purpose To describe the rare problem of severe bronchospasm occurring during cardiopulmonary bypass in a six-year-old-child.
Surviving change: the metabolic journey of hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are a rare population of somatic stem cells that maintain blood production and are uniquely wired to adapt to diverse cellular fates during the lifetime of an organism. Recent studies have highlighted a central role for metabolic plasticity in facilitating cell fate transitions and in preserving HSC functionality and survival. This review summarizes our current understanding of the metabolic programs associated with HSC quiescence, self-renewal, and lineage commitment, and highlights the mechanistic underpinnings of these changing bioenergetics programs. It also discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting metabolic drivers in the context of blood malignancies.
Effect of “co-ligand” on the biodistribution of 99mTc-labeled hydrazino nicotinic acid derivatized chemotactic peptides

Hydrazinonicotinamide (HYNIC) derivatized chemotactic peptides radiolabeled with 99mTc- (via 99mTc-glucoheptonate) have been demonstrated to be useful for infection imaging [J. Nucl. Med. 34, 1964-1974 (1993)]. Since HYNIC can occupy only two sites of the technetium co-ordination sphere, the labeled product most probably contains additional ligands. Thus we hypothesized that glucoheptonate serves this role by acting as a "'co-ligand'". Due to the low molecular weight of the chemotactic peptides, the "co-ligand" used for technetium labeling could have profound effects on biodistribution. To evaluate this possibility, we measured the biodistribution of 99mTc-labeled For-MLFK-HYNIC radiolabeled using four different "co-ligand"s: glucarate, glucoheptonate, mannitol and glucamine, providing a small series of hydroxyl-backbone ligands which differ in the number and type of ionizable functional groups present. Each preparation was injected into groups of 6 rats (approximately 10 microCi/rat) and biodistribution was determined at 5, 30, 60 and 120 min. Although small differences in biodistribution were detected in most tissues, the most prominent differences (P mannitol >> glucamine), liver (glucarate, glucoheptonate, mannitol >> glucamine), kidney (mannitol > glucarate, glucoheptonate, glucamine), spleen (glucarate >> glucoheptonate, mannitol >> glucamine) and GI-tract (glucarate, glucamine >> gluco-heptonate >> mannitol). These results provide support for the "co-ligand" hypothesis and indicate that the nature of the "co-ligand" can have profound effects on biodistribution. Although radiolabeling using glucamine as the "co-ligand" results in the lowest concentrations of radioactivity in most organs, the extremely low concentration of mannitol-labeled peptide in the GI-tract suggests that this may be the "co-ligand" of choice for most applications.
HUMAN SYMPATHY GROUPS

Human quantitative boundaries for sympathizing are perceived as having been roughly established during human evolution into social beings. Data obtained on 125 American subjects are viewed as consistent with this highly speculative notion.
α-d-mannosidase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Characterization and modulation of activity

A unique and interesting α-d-mannosidase (α-d-mannoside mannohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.24) activity has been isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The enzyme was localized in a crude particulate fraction of the cell extract and was not solubilized by treatment with detergents or high ionic strength NaCl. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 6.3, Km 50 μM with p-nitrophenyl-α-d-mannopyranoside, and was competitively inhibited by d-mannose (Ki 20 mM). The enzyme is not affected by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, a number of different cations, or sulfhydryl reagents. It was inhibited by p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid and this inhibition is prevented by the addition of substrate. The cellular concentration of α-d-mannosidase is inversely proportional to growth rate, suggesting that the enzyme is under catabolite repression. The level of enzyme was found to increase approx. 8-fold during sporulation. This is apparently due to de novo synthesis, since inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide prevents the increase in enzyme activity.
Lower Airway Obstruction, Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness, and Primary Pulmonary Hypertension in Children

We investigated the prevalence and reversibility of lower airway obstruction (LAO) and its correlation with pulmonary artery pressure in children with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). The analysis was performed retrospectively in a cohort of children with PPH between 5-18 years of age. PPH was defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAPm) >25 mmHg at rest, or >30 mmHg during exercise, with normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in the absence of other causes. Lower airway function was assessed by spirometry and maximal expiratory flow-volume curves. Lung volumes were measured by body plethysmography. Patients were assigned according to their pattern of lung function into "normal," "obstructive," and "restrictive" groups. The reversibility of LAO was defined as an increase of > or = 15% from baseline in forced expiratory volume at 1 sec (FEV1) and/or > or =20% in forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25-75%) in response to nebulized albuterol. An "obstructive" pattern was found in 23 children (59%), a "restrictive" pattern in 2 children (5%), and a "normal" pattern in 14 children (36%). Response to bronchodilator was documented in 78% of children with an "obstructive" pattern and in 22% of those with a "normal" pattern. The PAPm showed a significant positive correlation with the TLC, RV, and RV/TLC, but a negative one with the ratio FEV1/FVC. Our findings suggest that reversible LAO is the most common lung function abnormality among pediatric patients with PPH. Whether airway reactivity is a cause of or the result of PPH remains to be determined.
Effects of pretraining and water temperature on female rats' performance in the Morris water maze.

The water maze is a complex spatial task that requires the coordination of multiple systems to perform efficiently. Various factors have been shown to influence performance in this task, including motivational state and prior experience. Although a consistent sex difference has been observed in acquiring the water maze in rats, the contribution of the various factors in female rat performance has not been fully assessed. Therefore, the current study tested the effects of motivation as manipulated by water temperature of the maze and prior experience in the maze on the performance of female rats. It was hypothesized that females pretrained in the maze would perform better than those without exposure to the water maze, regardless of water temperature, but in naive rats, colder water would improve performance as shown previously in male rats. For pretraining, female rats were taught to find a visible platform in cold (19 °C, 4 trials on one day) and warm (25 °C, 4 trials on one day) water before acquisition trials, with the order of the water temperature randomly assigned. Control rats were not given any training and were naive to the water maze procedure. Pretrained and control rats were then tested to locate a hidden platform in either cold or warm water for 5 consecutive days. Overall, pretraining had a significant effect on distance, latency, and directness of path to the platform. Water temperature did not show a significant effect on any measure or a significant interaction with pretraining. Thus, while our hypothesis that pretraining would improve performance was supported, the results did not support the prediction that water temperature would also significantly influence performance. These results show that non-spatial pretraining can critically improve the performance of females in acquiring a place strategy for the hidden platform, irrespective of water temperature.
Role of WDM optical interconnections in a distributed shared-memory multiprocessor

This paper explores the use of optical spanning bus interconnections using optical fiber links and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) with statically assigned channels for implementing distributed shared memory multiprocessors (DSMM). The WDM optical links allow processor synchronization and coherent caches -- two very important requirements for a DSMM -- to be implemented efficiently. Simultaneous broadcasts possible on several channels along a WDM photonic link allow barrier synchronizations to be fast and scalable. The large bandwidth capability of WDM optical links and their ability for accommodating simultaneously -- active channels permits a write-update based cache coherence protocol to be implemented. Our proposed cache coherence protocol is sensitive to the relatively longer propagation delays along optic fiber links and possible mismatch in speeds between the electronic and photonic components. The protocol is hierarchical, reflecting the hierarchy in the interconnection, making it easily scalable with system size. In addition, the proposed protocol performs opportunistic request combining, a pleasant side-effect of using optical links.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dietary and biological factors influencing lactose intolerance

Abstract The number of Americans affected by lactose intolerance is estimated to be between 30 and 50 million people ( NDDIC, 2005 ). Lactose intolerance is the symptoms experienced when the dose of lactose exceeds the digestive capacity of intestinal lactase (lactose maldigestion). Symptoms of intolerance typically include stomach discomfort, excessive flatulence and soft stool or diarrhea and are dependent on dose of lactose, transit time (influenced by meal composition), and colonic flora adaptation. Modest doses of lactose consumed with a meal on a regular basis are often very well tolerated. Lactose maldigestion may be caused by primary (most common), secondary, or congenital lactase non-persistence. Lactose maldigestion should not be thought of as a disease and is not a reliable indicator of lactose intolerance. The hydrogen breath test has become the most reliable method to diagnose lactose maldigestion.
Comparison of activity characteristics of the cuneate nucleus and thoracic spinal neurons receiving noxious cardiac and/or somatic inputs in rats.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that the gracile nucleus in postsynaptic dorsal column pathway plays an important role in conveying nociceptive information from pelvic visceral organs. The purpose of this study was to compare effects of a noxious cardiac stimulus on neuronal activity in the cuneate nucleus and upper thoracic spinal cord in rats. Extracellular potentials of single neurons in the cuneate nucleus and upper thoracic (T3) spinal cord were recorded in pentobarbital anesthetized, ventilated and paralyzed male rats. To activate cardiac nociceptors, a silicone tube was placed in the pericardial sac over the left ventricle to administer a solution of bradykinin (10 μg/ml, 0.2 ml, 1 min). The number of cuneate neurons responding to intrapericardial bradykinin (IB, 15.6%, 17/109) was significantly less than for T3 neurons (43.2%, 48/111, P
The bifunctional role of hexokinase in metabolism and glucose signaling.

The effects of manipulating nutrient supply on plant growth and development have long been known. However, it is only recently that these effects have been understood to consist of more than simply relieving nutrient-limited growth or modifying the allosteric regulation of biochemical pathways. It
RUPERT closed loop control design

Rehabilitation robotics is an active area of research in the field of stroke rehabilitation. There is significant potential for improving the current physical rehabilitation methods after stroke through the use of robotic devices. RUPERT is a wearable robotic exoskeleton powered by pneumatic muscle actuators. An adaptive robot control strategy combining a PID-based feedback controller and an Iterative Learning Controller (ILC) is proposed for performing passive reaching tasks. Additionally, a fuzzy rule-base for estimating the learning rate for the ILC is also proposed. The proposed control scheme has the ability to adapt to different subject for performing different reaching tasks. The preliminary results from two able-bodied subjects demonstrate that the proposed controller can provide consistent performance for different subjects performing different reaching tasks.
First Principle Study of the Terahertz and Far-Infrared Spectral Signatures in DNA Bonded to Silicon Nanodots

The first principle study of hydrogen-terminated silicon (111) with deoxyguanosine (dG) residues chemically bonded to a silicon surface via carbon linkers is performed to reveal new insights into the spectral signatures of constrained DNA chains. Silicon surface structure models are generated to accommodate one or two dG residues. In particular, structural models for two dG residues bonded onto silicon nanodots and that formed a single strand of DNA in the lateral direction (along the surface) were developed. First principle simulations with valence electron basis and effective core potentials are conducted. These studies utilized all-atom geometric optimizations to determine the final conformations and normal mode analyses to derive the spectral absorption information. Stable dG conformations on silicon are obtained for varying types of DNA chain length and Nanodot size/shape. These results show that optically active modes lying within the terahertz spectrum typically arise out of joint coupling between the DNA's vibrational behavior and that of the substrate. However, the dominant absorption line below 6 THz is predicted to most strongly represent the DNA dynamics and effects of sodium, but it is only weakly influenced by the nanodot vibrations. In this study, the phonon-induced light absorption spectra of the DNA chains were analyzed in the context of nanodot influence (e.g., edge effects). These results suggest that DNA strands can be chemically bonded to arbitrary nanosized features on silicon surfaces without perturbing some of the key spectral signatures in the THz regime, and this suggests active THz illumination strategies for DNA identification and characterization.
Abnormal regulation of TSG101 in mice with spongiform neurodegeneration

Spongiform neurodegeneration is characterized by the appearance of vacuoles throughout the central nervous system. It has many potential causes, but the underlying cellular mechanisms are not well understood. Mice lacking the E3 ubiquitin ligase Mahogunin Ring Finger-1 (MGRN1) develop age-dependent spongiform encephalopathy. We identified an interaction between a "PSAP" motif in MGRN1 and the ubiquitin E2 variant (UEV) domain of TSG101, a component of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport I (ESCRT-I), and demonstrate that MGRN1 multimonoubiquitinates TSG101. We examined the in vivo consequences of loss of MGRN1 on TSG101 expression and function in the mouse brain. The pattern of TSG101 ubiquitination differed in the brains of wild-type mice and Mgrn1 null mutant mice: at 1 month of age, null mutant mice had less ubiquitinated TSG101, while in adults, mutant mice had more ubiquitinated, insoluble TSG101 than wild-type mice. There was an associated increase in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) levels in mutant brains. These results suggest that loss of MGRN1 promotes ubiquitination of TSG101 by other E3s and may prevent its disassociation from endosomal membranes or cause it to form insoluble aggregates. Our data implicate loss of normal TSG101 function in endo-lysosomal trafficking in the pathogenesis of spongiform neurodegeneration in Mgrn1 null mutant mice.
Posttraumatic Olfactory Dysfunction: MR and Clinical Evaluation

PURPOSE To evaluate the sites of injury in patients with posttraumatic olfactory deficits and to compare damage with findings on clinical olfactory tests. METHODS Twenty-five patients with posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction were examined by means of olfactory testing, endoscopy, and MR imaging. MR surface-coil scans through the olfactory bulbs and tracts and head-coil scans of the temporal lobes were evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative gradings of damage to the olfactory bulbs, tracts, subfrontal region, hippocampus, and temporal lobes were compared with results on tests of odor identification, detection, memory, and discrimination. RESULTS Twelve patients were anosmic, eight had severe impairment, and five were mildly impaired. Injuries to the olfactory bulbs and tracts (88% of patients), subfrontal region (60%), and temporal lobes (32%) were found, but these did not correlate well with individual olfactory test scores. Volumetric analysis showed that patients without smell function had greater volume loss in olfactory bulbs and tracts than did those posttraumatic patients who retained some sense of smell. Qualitative and quantitative assessments of damage showed few significant correlations with olfactory tests, probably because of multifocal injuries, primary olfactory nerve damage, and the constraints of a small sample size on the detection of clinically significant differences. CONCLUSION MR imaging shows abnormalities in patients with posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction at a very high rate (88%), predominantly in the olfactory bulbs and tracts and the inferior frontal lobes.
Emergence of a B Lymphocyte Population With ADCC Effector Function in Mammary Tumor Bearing Mice

Differential expression of antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) effectors was studied in normal Balb/cCrgI mice and those bearing a chemically induced 7, 12 dimethylbenzanthracene mammary adenocarcinoma. Depletion of macrophages from normal mouse splenocytes by Sephadex G-10 columns resulted in elimination of ADCC. Further separation of the normal G-10 nonadherent splenocytes on nylon wool columns did not result in any population with significant cytotoxicity. However, Balb/c mice bearing mammary tumors showed enhanced levels of ADCC which were not eliminated by macrophage removal. Lymphocytes from tumor bearers further separated on nylon wool yielded nonadherent and adherent populations both capable of effecting significant ADCC. Treatment of the nylon nonadherent cells of both normal and tumor bearing mice with anti-asialo GM1 (AGM1) and complement decreased the ADCC responses. The same treatment only marginally affected cytotoxic levels of nylon adherent cells from tumor bearers, indicating that these effectors are primarily of non-NK lineage. In addition, G-10 nonadherent, nylon adherent cells from tumor bearers separated on a fluorescence activated cell sorter based on the presence of surface immunoglobulins (slg) revealed that both the slg- and slg+ (98% pure) sorted cells were capable of functioning in ADCC. To determine whether in the tumor mice the 2% of slg- cells present in the slg+ sorted population were the ADCC effectors, mixing experiments were done in which up to 10% of slg- cells from tumor bearers were added to nylon adherent cells from normal mice. No significant increases in ADCC levels were found over that of normal mice. These experiments indicate that the 2% slg- cells were not the ADCC effectors nor were they inducing normal B cells to exert this type of cytotoxic reaction in vitro. To further substantiate the B cell lineage of the slg+ ADCC effectors, surface immunoglobulins were removed with protease treatment. After a 36 hr incubation, 92% of the cells had regenerated their slg. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that various splenic lymphoreticular populations from tumor bearers possess an enhanced cytolytic activity against antibody coated target cells. Among these is a unique nylon adherent slg+ cell that is capable of functioning as an ADCC effector.
Public health issues of hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver disease worldwide, as 130-170 million individuals are chronically infected and 350,000 patients die every year from HCV infection. The HCV prevalence varies widely among countries being highest in several African and Eastern Mediterranean countries. The incidence of new HCV infections may be declining in developed countries, but there is still a large reservoir of chronic infections. The most important mode of HCV transmission has been injecting drug use in developed countries with low prevalence and unsafe therapeutic injections in developing countries with moderate-high prevalence. Since there are no systematic screening policies, most patients remain undiagnosed. Even among diagnosed patients, a minority receives treatment due to several barriers to therapy. Given the high efficacy of treatment, public health authorities should recognise the importance of HCV and make resources available for the implementation of effective primary prevention, screening and management policies.
Cost of Risk Transfer: Pricing Agreements in Residential Supply Chains

Theoretical and computational studies of supply chains are confined mainly to buyer-supplier dyads. Evaluation of more tiers in the construction sector specifically is also rare, perhaps in part because short-term partnerships are typical. However, supplier selection in residential construction is often conducted in support of multiple subdivision tracts over a comparatively long time-horizon. This paper describes the lumber supply chain for residential construction, extending from the homebuyer to the lumber company. A particular case for a real builder is examined in which a builder adopted a pricing strategy to control their lumber cost risk. The strategy included minimum time periods of fixed pricing, insulating the builder from price fluctuations during those periods. Consideration of supply-chain lead times allows financial risk modeling for the builder-framer/lumber yard.lumber company portion of the supply chain in order to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this strategy. Historical records of lumber prices were used to conduct Monte Carlo simulations of three tiers of the supply chain. The pricing strategy is shown to result in a risk premium generally in excess of the true commodity price risk.
REAL-TIME BLOCK FLOW TRACKING OF ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT MOTION IN 4D CARDIAC ULTRASOUND

Real-time cardiac ultrasound allows monitoring the heart motion during intracardiac beating heart procedures. Our application assists atrial septal defect (ASD) closure techniques using real-time 3D ultrasound guidance. One major image processing challenge is the processing of information at high frame rate. We present an optimized block flow technique, which combines the probability-based velocity computation for an entire block with template matching. We propose adapted similarity constraints both from frame to frame, to conserve energy, and globally, to minimize errors. We show tracking results on eight in-vivo 4D datasets acquired from porcine beating-heart procedures. Computing velocity at the block level with an optimized scheme, our technique tracks ASD motion at 41 frames/s. We analyze the errors of motion estimation and retrieve the cardiac cycle in ungated images
Tailored Additive Release Rates in Extruded Plastic Films Produced With Smart Blending Machines

Smart blenders controllably form multi-component polymer melts into a wide variety of fine-scale structural arrangements that can be retained in extruded plastics. The machines operate on the principle of chaotic advection, a recent subfield of fluid mechanics, and have been used to produce cast film and blown film but can also be used to extrude sheet, rod, tubing, and other products. Because and structure of a composite material influences greatly additive diffusion, and matrix dissolution, this processing method provides a means for producing packaging film, medications, and medical implants with tailored release rates of active compounds. In this article, an ability to alter release rates of tocopherol, a natural antioxidant of importance to food packaging, is specifically investigated via on-line specification of a process parameter governing blend morphology in extruded cast films. Blends of low-density polyethylene and polypropylene, and also low-density polyethylene and high-density polyethylene w...
Differential Regulation of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and Vasopressin Transcription by Glucocorticoids

CRH and vasopressin (VP), the main regulators of pituitary ACTH secretion, co-exist in parvocellular cells of the PVN, but their levels of expression are regulated differentially during manipulations of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. The effects of glucocorticoids on this system was studied using in situ hybridization with intronic and exonic probes to measure changes in CRH and VP messenger RNA (mRNA) and heteronuclear (hn) RNA in 48-h adrenalectomized (ADX) rats receiving injections of corticosterone (2.8 mg/100 g, ip) or vehicle. We also determined the time course of changes in VP expression following the first 72 h of ADX. Levels of VP heteronuclear (hn) RNA and the number of parvocellular cells containing VP hnRNA remained very low in sham operated rats, whereas biphasic changes were observed after ADX. Grain density levels increased 11.5-fold over sham-operated controls by 6 h, declined to 2-fold by 18 h, to increase again to 10- and 20-fold by 48 and 72 h, respectively. In 48-h ADX rats, vehicle injection increased CRH hnRNA levels transiently (11-fold the basal by 15 and 30 min), returning to basal at 60 min, whereas VP hnRNA levels increased progressively up to 28-fold the basal by 2 h. Corticosterone injection had no significant effect on vehicle-induced increases in CRH hnRNA, in spite of marked elevations in circulating corticosterone. In contrast to CRH, VP hnRNA levels increased only transiently by 15 min, and then decreased below basal (near sham-ADX levels) by 2 h. The data show that in normal conditions the responsiveness of parvocellular neurons to stress is under marked inhibition by the low resting levels of glucocorticoids, and that the sensitivity of CRH and VP transcription to glucocorticoid feedback is markedly different.
The science of sustainable supply chains

Recent advances in the science and technology of global supply chain management offer near-real-time demand-response systems for decision-makers across production networks. Technology is helping propel "fast fashion" and "lean manufacturing," so that companies are better able to deliver products consumers want most. Yet companies know much less about the environmental and social impacts of their production networks. The failure to measure and manage these impacts can be explained in part by limitations in the science of sustainability measurement, as well as by weaknesses in systems to translate data into information that can be used by decision-makers inside corporations and government agencies. There also remain continued disincentives for firms to measure and pay the full costs of their supply chain impacts. I discuss the current state of monitoring, measuring, and analyzing information related to supply chain sustainability, as well as progress that has been made in translating this information into systems to advance more sustainable practices by corporations and consumers. Better data, decision-support tools, and incentives will be needed to move from simply managing supply chains for costs, compliance, and risk reduction to predicting and preventing unsustainable practices.
Statistical methods for clinical studies in the presence of surrogate end points

The use of surrogate end points has become increasingly common in medical and biological research. This is primarily because, in many studies, the primary end point of interest is too expensive or too difficult to obtain. There is now a large volume of statistical methods for analysing studies with surrogate end point data. However, to our knowledge, there has not been a comprehensive review of these methods to date. This paper reviews some existing methods and summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of each method. It also discusses the assumptions that are made by each method and critiques how likely these assumptions are met in practice.
The Population Biology of Bacterial Plasmids: A PRIORI Conditions for the Existence of Conjugationally Transmitted Factors.

A mathematical model for the population dynamics of conjugationally transmitted plasmids in bacterial populations is presented and its properties analyzed. Consideration is given to nonbacteriocinogenic factors that are incapable of incorporation into the chromosome of their host cells, and to bacterial populations maintained in either continuous (chemostat) or discrete (serial transfer) culture. The conditions for the establishment and maintenance of these infectious extrachromosomal elements and equilibrium frequencies of cells carrying them are presented for different values of the biological parameters: population growth functions, conjugational transfer and segregation rate constants. With these parameters in a biologically realistic range, the theory predicts a broad set of physical conditions, resource concentrations and dilution rates, where conjugationally transmitted plasmids can become established and where cells carrying them will maintain high frequencies in bacterial populations. This can occur even when plasmid-bearing cells are much less fit (i.e., have substantially lower growth rates) than cells free of these factors. The implications of these results and the reality and limitations of the model are discussed and the values of its parameters in natural populations speculated upon.
Extremity Reconstruction Using Nonreplantable Tissue (“Spare Parts”)

After a severe digital or extremity injury, the replantation surgeon should always seek to make the best use out of what tissue is available for reconstruction. Exercising sound surgical judgment and being creative allow the surgeon to restore function to critical areas of the hand or extremity by the judicious use of available tissues that would otherwise be discarded. The use of "spare parts" should, therefore, always be considered to facilitate digital or extremity reconstruction when routine replantation is not possible or is likely to produce a poor functional result. The surgeon should always try to use available nonreplantable tissue to preserve length, obtain soft tissue coverage, or most importantly improve the function of remaining less injured digits. This article presents several case studies that illustrate the principals of spare parts reconstruction performed at the time of the initial debridement using nonreplantable tissue to provide coverage or improve function.
Hypophosphatemic rickets with hypocalciuria following long-term treatment with aluminum-containing antacid

Abstract We present what we believe is the first case of rickets following prolonged treatment with aluminum containing antacids that bind phosphate, in an 18-year-old mentally retarded boy with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia. As expected, serum calcitriol was increased, and urinary phosphate excretion was very low. However, in contrast to all published cases of antacid induced hypophosphatemic osteomalacia in adults, despite a substantial increase in bone resorption reflected by urinary total hydroxyproline excretion, urinary calcium excretion was low rather than high, and significant hypocalcemia occurred after antacids were ceased and a phosphate salt administered. We suggest that the skeleton was so under-mineralized because of growth during prolonged phosphate deficiency, possibly augmented by anticonvulsant administration and immobilization, that increased bone resorption did not release enough calcium to cause hypercalciuria, or to prevent hypocalcemia during resumption of normal mineralization.
Chronic headache in the elderly

This article covers some of the major headache types found in the geriatric population. Misperceptions regarding headache in the elderly will be addressed and updated with current perspectives from the literature. Both diagnostic and treatment updates are covered, with special emphasis on headaches unique to those over the age of 60 years: giant cell arteritis, hypnic headache, trigeminal neuralgia, paroxysmal hemicrania, cervicogenic headache, short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing, and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic features. We will focus on both common and unique causes of headache in the elderly. While the medical literature on headache in older patients is rich with case reports, small case series and uncontrolled trials, we will emphasize the last 5 years of medical literature and systematic reviews where they exist.
Melanism in Peromyscus Is Caused by Independent Mutations in Agouti

Identifying the molecular basis of phenotypes that have evolved independently can provide insight into the ways genetic and developmental constraints influence the maintenance of phenotypic diversity. Melanic (darkly pigmented) phenotypes in mammals provide a potent system in which to study the genetic basis of naturally occurring mutant phenotypes because melanism occurs in many mammals, and the mammalian pigmentation pathway is well understood. Spontaneous alleles of a few key pigmentation loci are known to cause melanism in domestic or laboratory populations of mammals, but in natural populations, mutations at one gene, the melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r), have been implicated in the vast majority of cases, possibly due to its minimal pleiotropic effects. To investigate whether mutations in this or other genes cause melanism in the wild, we investigated the genetic basis of melanism in the rodent genus Peromyscus, in which melanic mice have been reported in several populations. We focused on two genes known to cause melanism in other taxa, Mc1r and its antagonist, the agouti signaling protein (Agouti). While variation in the Mc1r coding region does not correlate with melanism in any population, in a New Hampshire population, we find that a 125-kb deletion, which includes the upstream regulatory region and exons 1 and 2 of Agouti, results in a loss of Agouti expression and is perfectly associated with melanic color. In a second population from Alaska, we find that a premature stop codon in exon 3 of Agouti is associated with a similar melanic phenotype. These results show that melanism has evolved independently in these populations through mutations in the same gene, and suggest that melanism produced by mutations in genes other than Mc1r may be more common than previously thought.
Effects on prism adaptation of duration and timing of visual feedback during pointing.

In two experiments, we investigated the effects of duration of visual feedback of the pointing limb and the time (early to late) in the movement when the limb first becomes visible (timing of visual feedback). Timing, rather than duration of visual feedback, proved to have the greater effect on the relative magnitude of visual and proprioceptive adaptation. Visual adaptation increased smoothly with feedback delay, but corresponding decreases in proprioceptive adaptation underwent an additional sharp change when feedback was delayed until about three-fourths of the way to the terminal limb position. These results are consistent with the idea that visual and proprioceptive adaptation are mediated by exclusive processes. Change in the limb position sense (i.e., proprioceptive adaptation) may be produced by visual guidance of the pointing limb, and view of the limb early in the pointing movement seems to be critical for such visual guidance. The limb may be ballistically “released“ as it nears the terminal po...
The Elements of Spectroscopic Orbits

The orbit is based on only one measured function, namely the radial velocity V of a star (relative to the sun) at different times. Call γ the radial velocity of the mass center of the binary (a constant unless a third body is involved), and z= dz/dt the radial part of the orbital velocity of the observed component relative to the mass center: $$V = \gamma + \dot z$$ .
Effects of Surface Diameter on Jumping Kinematics and Performance in Two Arboreal Gecko Species (Correlophus ciliatus and Rhacodactylus auriculatus)

Abstract Jumping is one of the most common modes of locomotion for animals, and animals in the wild often jump off a range of substrates. We tested the effects of varying surface diameter (1 and 5 cm) on jumping performance and kinematics in two species of arboreal geckos (Rhacodactylus auriculatus and Correlophus ciliatus). Both are medium-sized (~10–15 g) geckos that readily jump off a range of diameters. We filmed maximal jumps with a Photron high-speed camera at 500 frames · s−1. We found that diameter had little impact on either jumping performance (distance) or kinematics (takeoff angle and speed, landing angle, jump duration), but mass had a positive effect on both jump distance and takeoff speed in C. ciliatus. Further, C. ciliatus exhibited higher takeoff velocities and tended to have greater jump distances compared to R. auriculatus. The factors causing this among-species difference are unclear, but differences in both tail morphology and how these species use their tails could partly explain th...
Aryl-aryl interactions in designed peptide folds: Spectroscopic characteristics and optimal placement for structure stabilization.

We have extended our studies of Trp/Trp to other Aryl/Aryl through-space interactions that stabilize hairpins and other small polypeptide folds. Herein we detail the NMR and CD spectroscopic features of these types of interactions. NMR data remains the best diagnostic for characterizing the common T-shape orientation. Designated as an edge-to-face (EtF or FtE) interaction, large ring current shifts are produced at the edge aryl ring hydrogens and, in most cases, large exciton couplets appear in the far UV circular dichroic (CD) spectrum. The preference for the face aryl in FtE clusters is W ≫ Y ≥ F (there are some exceptions in the Y/F order); this sequence corresponds to the order of fold stability enhancement and always predicts the amplitude of the lower energy feature of the exciton couplet in the CD spectrum. The CD spectra for FtE W/W, W/Y, Y/W, and Y/Y pairs all include an intense feature at 225-232 nm. An additional couplet feature seen for W/Y, W/F, Y/Y, and F/Y clusters, is a negative feature at 197-200 nm. Tyr/Tyr (as well as F/Y and F/F) interactions produce much smaller exciton couplet amplitudes. The Trp-cage fold was employed to search for the CD effects of other Trp/Trp and Trp/Tyr cluster geometries: several were identified. In this account, we provide additional examples of the application of cross-strand aryl/aryl clusters for the design of stable β-sheet models and a scale of fold stability increments associated with all possible FtE Ar/Ar clusters in several structural contexts. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 337-356, 2016.
Abstract 3712: 2-Methoxyestradiol inhibits Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma growth and aggressive phenotypes through differential regulation of β-catenin-E-cadherin-axis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME 2 ), a promising anticancer agent, modulates Barrett9s esophageal adenocarcinoma (BEAC) cell growth and behavior through cellular pathway involving beta-catenin in partnership with E-cadherin, which appears to play a critical role in the induction of antitumor responses in cancer cells. We found that 2-ME 2 markedly reduced the BEAC cell proliferation via regulating apoptotic machinery such as Bcl-2 and Bax. It may nullify the aggressive behavior of the cells by reducing the migratory behavior. Expressions of beta-catenin and E-cadherin and binding of these two proteins is activated in a 2-ME 2 -dependent fashion in Bic-1 cells. Moreover, over expressions of these two proteins may be due to the stabilization of these proteins by 2-ME 2 . We found that 2-ME 2 -induced anti-migratory effects are mediated through the beta-catenin -E-cadherin signaling pathways. In view of these results, we determined whether 2-ME 2 reduces BEAC tumor growth. Administration of 2-ME2 significantly decreased the growth of BEAC cells xenografted on the flank of nude mice. The evidence presented points out that the impact of 2-ME 2 on beta-catenin-orchestrated signal transduction plausibly plays a multi-faceted functional role to inhibit the proliferation and cell migration of 2-ME 2 treated malignant cells and it could be a potential candidate in novel treatment strategies for Barrett9s esophageal adenocarcinoma Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3712.
Nonoperative management of an anastomotic leak following rectosigmoid resection and anastomosis for Stage IV endometriosis

Anastomotic leakage is a dreaded complication of gastrointestinal surgery. The complication is difficult to manage and is associated with prolonged hospitalizations and increased morbidity and mortality. We present the nonsurgical management and the use of a fibrin sealant for an anastomotic leak that followed rectosigmoid resection and anastomosis for Stage IV endometriosis. This approach requires a clinically stable patient who is willing to follow-up over a prolonged period of time until the leak is completely sealed. Tissue sealants can be considered when an air leak or fistulous tract persists despite drainage and antibiotics.
Analysis of IgM determination in 157 suspected measles in Minhang district of Shanghai

Objective:To explore the method of improving accuracy rate of the anti-measles IgM detection and the epidemiological characteristics of measles in Minhang district.Methods: Blood specimens were collected and tested for anti-measles IgM by ELISA.Results: There were 157 cases included in this study.Those with anti-measles IgM positive were found in 108 measles cases,accounting for 68.8%.The cases dispersed all the year round,the incidence peaked in July,and high-incidence season is from April to Sepertember.The difference of measles infection rate among age groups was significant(P0.01),and the positive cases mainly distributed in age group under 1.5 years old and above 18 years old.The difference of measles infection rate between natives and foreign population was also significant(P0.05).Conclusion: The accuracy of IgM detection mainly depends on the symptom and sampling instant.The measles showed distinct seasonal characteristic.Uninoculation was mainly responsible for measles.Basic immunization and immunological surveillance of measles should be implemented to control and eliminate measles.
From Evangelist to Utilization‐Focused Evaluator

Patton tells stories about how he became a youth revivalist, a missionary for his church, and then a humanist. He makes connections between these experiences and his utilization-focused approach to evaluation.