cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in inflammation, oxidative stress and adipokines following bariatric surgery among adolescents with severe obesity.

Inflammation, oxidative stress and dysregulation of adipokines are thought to be pathophysiological mechanisms linking obesity to the development of insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. In adults, bariatric surgery reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and beneficially changes the levels of several adipokines, but little is known about the postsurgical changes among adolescents. In two separate longitudinal cohorts we evaluated change from baseline of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1), oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (oxLDL), adiponectin, leptin and resistin up to 12 months following elective laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) surgery in adolescents with severe obesity. In cohort 1, which consisted of 39 adolescents (mean age 16.5±1.6 years; 29 females) undergoing either RYGB or VSG, IL-6 (baseline: 2.3±3.4 pg ml−1 vs 12 months: 0.8±0.6 pg ml−1, P<0.01), leptin (baseline: 178±224 ng ml−1 vs 12 months: 41.4±31.9 ng ml−1, P<0.001) and oxLDL (baseline: 41.6±11.6 U l−1 vs 12 months: 35.5±11.1 U l−1, P=0.001) significantly decreased and adiponectin significantly increased (baseline: 5.4±2.4 μg ml−1 vs 12 months: 13.5±8.9 μg ml−1, P<0.001). In cohort 2, which consisted of 13 adolescents (mean age 16.5±1.6 years; 10 females) undergoing RYGB, results were similar: IL-6 (baseline: 1.7±0.9 pg ml−1 vs 12 months: 0.4±0.9 pg ml−1, P<0.05) and leptin (baseline: 92.9±31.3 ng ml−1 vs 12 months: 37.3±33.4 ng ml−1, P<0.001) significantly decreased and adiponectin significantly increased (baseline: 6.1±2.9 μg ml−1 vs 12 months: 15.4±8.0 μg ml−1, P<0.001). When the cohorts were combined to evaluate changes at 12 months, oxLDL also significantly decreased (baseline: 39.8±16.7 U l−1 vs 12 months: 32.7±11.9 U l−1, P=0.03). Bariatric surgery produced robust improvements in markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and several adipokines among adolescents with severe obesity, suggesting potential reductions in risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
BLAST-2 [EBVCS], an early cell surface marker of human B cell activation, is superinduced by Epstein Barr virus.

Activation of human B cells by pokeweed mitogen (PWM), protein A, anti-IgM, or EBV infection results in the expression of a new surface antigen, termed BLAST-2 [EBVCS]. This marker appears before the cells undergo blast transformation as assessed by the initiation of DNA synthesis and expression of the BLAST-1 antigen. Thus, the BLAST-2 [EBVCS] antigen is expressed on both activated and lymphoblastoid cells. The antigen is, in addition, restricted to B cells, as it is not found on cells of T or myeloid lineage derived from peripheral blood, cell lines, or neoplastic cells. However, it is readily detected on chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells of B cell origin and in the germinal centers of tonsils and lymph nodes. Like the BLAST-1 antigen, BLAST-2 [EBVCS] is expressed at a high level only on EBV-transformed B lymphoblasts and has a m.w. close to 45,000. Immunoprecipitation experiments show, however, that the two antigens are expressed on distinct populations of molecules.
Immigrant Laws, Obstacle Preemption and the Lost Legacy of McCulloch

With the federal government's perceived failure to enforce the immigration laws as a backdrop, this paper explores how the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Chamber of Commerce v.Whiting upholding the Legal Arizona Workers Act exposes some of the tensions and contradictions in modern preemption doctrine. Examining the relationship among express, field, impossibility and obstacle preemption, I explore three emerging trends, all evident in Whiting. The first is an increasing reluctance of the Court to find implied obstacle preemption. The second is an inclination to expand the scope of impossibility preemption beyond the physical impossibility cases. The third is a tendency to no longer explicitly apply the presumption against preemption, and in some cases, to do exactly the opposite: presume preemption. The Court’s decision in Whiting is a harbinger of things to come, as challenges to state and local laws regulating immigrants make their way to the Court and a growing number of states adopt their own versions of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 and the Legal Arizona Workers Act. I first offer an overview of preemption jurisprudence, focusing on the nearly-forgotten legacy of McCulloch v. Maryland in planting the roots of obstacle preemption. I also examine recent case law showing a tendency on the Court’s part to substitute impossibility and obstacle preemption with a “direct conflict” or “logical contradiction” test. I then address the implications for S.B. 1070 and state and local copycat laws of the Supreme Court’s and lower federal courts’ apparent willingness to uphold state laws modeled after federal law when enacted to redress a gap in federal enforcement. I conclude that the Supreme Court’s adoption of a new direct conflict test as the standard for conflict preemption would be a dramatic paradigmatic shift that would provide lower courts with the means to uphold state and local laws regulating immigrants and immigration to the extent that these laws track federal enforcement measures.
Studies on the control of antibody synthesis. XIV. Role of T cells in regulating antibody affinity.

Abstract The effect of limiting the number of helper T cells on the affinity of the primary antibody response to a T-dependent antigen (DNP-BGG) was evaluated in a cell transfer system. Lethally irradiated, thymectomized mice were reconstituted with either bone marrow or anti-brain θ antiserum plus complement-treated spleen as the source of B cells. In addition, they received various numbers of thymus cells as a source of helper T cells. The animals were immunized with DNP-BGG 1 day after cell transfer and their splenic anti-DNP PFC response was assayed for magnitude and affinity 3 weeks later. A marked restriction in helper T-cell activity resulted in a primary response which was of low magnitude, which lacked indirect PFC, and which had a very low affinity and restricted heterogeneity. When sufficient thymus cells were given to permit a switch to indirect plaque formation, a highly heterogeneous, high-affinity primary response was elicited. Further increase in the number of thymic cells resulted in a progressive increase in the magnitude of the primary response but had no effect on affinity. Thus, a reduction of 50% in the magnitude of the response as a consequence of limiting the number of T-helper cells had no effect on the affinity of the PFC. The results are consistent with the interpretation that the effect of restriction in T-cell help on antibody affinity is not due to a direct effect on precursors of high-affinity PFC but is secondary to inefficient selection for high-affinity cells when the degree of cell proliferation is markedly reduced.
SIGNIFICANCE OF SOIL SALINITY ON THE ECOLOGY OF COCCIDIOIDES IMMITIS

Elconin, Ann F. (University of Southern California, Los Angeles), Roger O. Egeberg, and Margaret C. Egeberg. Significance of soil salinity on the ecology of Coccidioides immitis. J. Bacteriol. 87:500–503. 1964.—An 8-year study of the soil in a small parcel of land where coccidioidomycosis is endemic was conducted. Over 5,000 samples collected from the surface of the soil at monthly intervals were tested for the presence of Coccidioides immitis. These samples were also analyzed to determine their major chemical composition. During the first 3 years, C. immitis was recovered in profusion from the spring samples, but during the next 4 years the fungus virtually disappeared from this endemic area. C. immitis reappeared in the spring of the final year of this study. There had been no significant deviation in the climatic conditions, flora, or fauna of the region. Chemical analysis of soils showed a marked elevation of the soluble salts (principally Na, Ca, SO4, and Cl) during those years when C. immitis was recovered. The soluble salts, expressed in terms of the saturation extract conductivity, ranged from 11 to 27 in those spring seasons when C. immitis was recovered, and from 3.5 to 8.8 when it was not found. This degree of correlation indicates that the high level of surface salinity encouraged the growth of C. immitis, and could be a factor in accounting for the spotty distribution of this fungus within endemic areas.
Estimation of cognitive workload during simulated air traffic control using optical brain imaging sensors

Deployment of portable neuroimaging technologies to operating settings could help assess cognitive states of personnel assigned to perform critical tasks and thus help improve efficiency and safety of human machine systems. Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIR) is an emerging noninvasive brain imaging technology that relies on optical techniques to detect brain hemodynamics within the prefrontal cortex in response to sensory, motor, or cognitive activation. Collaborating with the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, fNIR has been used to monitor twenty four certified professional controllers as they manage realistic Air Traffic Control (ATC) scenarios under typical and emergent conditions. We have implemented a normalization procedure to estimate cognitive workload levels from fNIR signals during ATC by developing linear regression models that were informed by the respective participants' prior n-back data. This normalization can account for oxygenation variance due to inter-personal physiological differences. Results indicate that fNIR is sensitive task loads during ATC.
Sheltered versus nonsheltered homeless women differences in health, behavior, victimization, and utilization of care.

OBJECTIVE: To contrast sociodemographic characteristics, physical and mental health status, substance use, sexual behaviors, victimization, and utilization of health services between homeless women residing in sheltered and nonsheltered environments. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. A structured scale was used to measure mental health status. Physical health status, substance use, sexual behavior, history of adult victimization, and health services utilization were measured by content-specific items. SETTING: Shelters (N=47) and outdoor locations in Los Angeles. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand fifty-one homeless women. RESULTS: Homeless women living on the streets were more likely than sheltered women to be white and longer-term homeless. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that unsheltered women had over 3 times greater odds of fair or poor physical health, and over 12 times greater odds of poor mental health than sheltered homeless women. They were also more likely than sheltered women to report using alcohol or noninjection drugs, to have multiple sexual partners, and to have a history of physical assault. About half of the overall sample reported utilization of a variety of health services; however, unsheltered homeless women were less likely to utilize all of the health services that were assessed, including drug treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There is a critical need for aggressive outreach programs that provide mental health services and substance abuse treatment for homeless women on the streets. Comprehensive services that also include medical care, family planning, violence prevention, and behavioral risk reduction may be particularly valuable for homeless women, especially those living in unsheltered environments.
Central serous chorioretinopathy after bone marrow transplantation.

Abstract PURPOSE: To describe central serous chorioretinopathy after bone marrow transplantation. METHODS: The medical records of the patient were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: A 46-year-old Filipino man developed multifocal central serous chorioretinopathy affecting his left eye 4 months after bone marrow transplantation for acute myelogenous leukemia. Other co-existing medical problems at the time of presentation included systemic hypertension and graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), for which the patient was using both systemic corticosteroids and cyclosporine. CONCLUSION: Central serous chorioretinopathy is a rare cause of vision loss in patients after bone marrow transplantation. Previous descriptions of bone marrow transplantation-associated central serous chorioretinopathy in patients with thrombotic microangiopathy, as well as the occurrence of both systemic hypertension and the use of systemic corticosteroids and cyclosporine in our patient with bone marrow transplantation-associated central serous chorioretinopathy, support theories of choroidal vascular compromise in the pathogenesis of central serous chorioretinopathy.
Projection of enrollment distribution with enrollment ceilings by Markov processes

Abstract Markovian models for the projection of student enrollment have been previously suggested. In application, difficulties arise when (1) the number of university departments and consequent states increase and (2) the projected enrollments of various fields exceed the maximum enrollments established by various departments. This paper introduces a two-step Markovian model which resolves the difficulties, and describes the authors' experiences in developing and utilizing the model at Illinois State University.
A QSAR model for the estimation of carcinogenicity: example application to an azo-dye.

Abstract Since carcinogenicity bioassays are time-consuming, costly, and use animal resources, structure-activity relationship equations which model toxicological end-points have been developed to make available alternative methods which approximate the results that could be obtained from bioassays but which are less expensive and time-consuming and use fewer, if any, animals. These equations are based on sets of bioassay results and explain the end-point under consideration in terms of substructural and other parameters which describe the chemical entities. The resulting equations — or models — can can then be used to estimate — or predict — the end-point for new structures. The estimation is followed by validation procedures.
Keeping At-Risk Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Care: A Qualitative Study of Staff Perspectives

Engaging and retaining persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in medical care is essential to ensure disease management and successful health outcomes. This article summarizes the results of a qualitative study of 21 staff members from seven programs aimed to engage and retain at-risk PLWHA in HIV medical care. The data revealed five domains of services provided and skills delivered: 1. finding people, 2. delivering services and practical support, 3. assistance with systems navigation and linking to services, 4. providing HIV education and information, and 5. relationship-building. These activities were implemented within a framework of client-centered care and teamwork. These findings can assist program planners and service providers with approaches to enhance staff skills that lead to better quality and service delivery for at-risk PLWHA individuals.
On the dynamic vibrations of an elastic beam in frictional contact with a rigid obstacle

Existence and uniqueness results are established for weak formulations of initial-boundary value problems which model the dynamic behavior of an Euler-Bernoulli beam that may come into frictional contact with a stationary obstacle. The beam is assumed to be situated horizontally and may move both horizontally and vertically, as a result of applied loads. One end of the beam is clamped, while the other end is free. However, the horizontal motion of the free end is restricted by the presence of a stationary obstacle and when this end contacts the obstacle, the vertical motion of the end is assumed to be affected by friction. The contact and friction at this end is modelled in two different ways. The first involves the classic Signorini unilateral or nonpenetration conditions and Coulomb's law of dry friction; the second uses a normal compliance contact condition and a corresponding generalization of Coulomb's law. In both cases existence and uniqueness are established when the beam is subject to Kelvin-Voigt damping. In the absence of damping, existence of a solution is established for a problem in which the normal contact stress is regularized.
Family patterns and parenting attitudes in teenage parents

A group of 55 primarily Mexican-American teenage mothers were interviewed and compared with 45 never-pregnant teenagers attending a local high school and 20 never-pregnant teenagers attending a mental health clinic. The purpose of the interview was to identify characteristics particular to the teen parents and to determine if they appeared to be at a higher risk for parenting problems than the comparison groups. The Demographic Data Form obtained data such as current family size desired family size birth order and last school grade attended. A Support System Questionnaire was developed to obtain information on whom the teenager saw as helpful in her environment and to gain information on some of her attitudes and future goals. The Michigan Screening Profile of Parenting was developed to help identify parents and potential parents who are at risk especially for child abuse. The profile identifies 4 major areas: emotional needs met relationship with parents expectations of children and coping. The teen parents grew up and were currently living in significantly more single parent families than the high school group. The teen parent and clinic groups were similar in the % who grew up in single parent families the % currently living with the biological father in the home and their desired family size even though the 2 groups were markedly different in economic and ethnic background. The results from the support system questionnaire show that family members mentioned most frequently are mother and siblings. Fathers are underrepresented in the responses. When asked whom they are most proud of 53% of the high school group mention a parent but only 21% of the teen parents mention a parent. The teen parent and clinic group both had a significantly higher likelihood of a problem in the relationship with their parents than did the high school group. The teen parent group was different from the other 2 groups in that more members were isolated less interested in obtaining new information and less oriented toward work and school.
Characterization of a unique glycosylated anchor endopeptidase that cleaves the LPXTG sequence motif of cell surface proteins of Gram-positive bacteria

The precursors of most surface proteins on Gram-positive bacteria have a C-terminal hydrophobic domain and charged tail, preceded by a conserved LPXTG motif that signals the anchoring process. This motif is the substrate for an enzyme, termed sortase, which has transpeptidation activity resulting in the cleavage of the LPXTG sequence and ultimate attachment of the protein to the peptidoglycan. While screening a group A streptococcal membrane extract for cleavage activity of the LPXTG motif, we identified an enzyme (which we term "LPXTGase") that differs significantly from sortase but also cleaves this motif. The enzyme is heavily glycosylated, which is required for its activity. Amino acid composition and sequence analysis revealed that LPXTGase differs from other enzymes, in that the molecule, which is about 14 kDa in size, has no aromatic amino acids, is rich in alanine, and is 30% composed of uncommon amino acids, suggesting a nonribosomal construction. A similar enzyme found in the membrane extract of Staphylococcus aureus, indicates that this unusual molecule may be common among Gram-positive bacteria. Whereas peptide antibiotics have been reported from bacillus species that also contain unusual amino acids and are synthesized non-ribosomally on amino acid-activating polyenzyme templates, this would be the first reported enzyme that may be similarly synthesized.
Los Alamos Laboratory Portrait

Established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project, Los Alamos National Laboratory today is a multidisciplinary laboratory serving national security and basic science missions. The overall Laboratory budget is more than $2 billion, with about 80% of that supporting a variety of national security missions. About $200 million comes to support non-national security science and approximately $100 million supports energy programs. The Laboratory has a workforce of about 10,000 people, of which 21% hold PhDs.
Race and gender intersections: the struggle for including the African diasporic perspective in the educational system in Brazil

This article focuses on the challenges of utilizing an African diasporic approach in the field of education in Brazil. The study seeks to offer a historical overview of the context of law 10639/03 and the National Curriculum Guidelines that regulate the teaching of history and African and Afro-Brazilian culture. Subsequently, race and gender relations will be discussed within this context, seeking to critique the preponderance of a malecentered perspective within the educational field in the country. Lastly, the article also aims at emphasizing the role played by the Black Diasporic Movement in the development of the Brazilian curriculum concerning issues of inequality.
GFAP-expressing progenitors are the principal source of constitutive neurogenesis in adult mouse forebrain

Establishing the cellular identity in vivo of adult multipotent neural progenitors is fundamental to understanding their biology. We used two transgenic strategies to determine the relative contribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-expressing progenitors to constitutive neurogenesis in the adult forebrain. Transgenically targeted ablation of dividing GFAP-expressing cells in the adult mouse subependymal and subgranular zones stopped the generation of immunohistochemically identified neuroblasts and new neurons in the olfactory bulb and the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Transgenically targeted cell fate mapping showed that essentially all neuroblasts and neurons newly generated in the adult mouse forebrain in vivo, and in adult multipotent neurospheres in vitro, derived from progenitors that expressed GFAP. Constitutively dividing GFAP-expressing progenitors showed predominantly bipolar or unipolar morphologies with significantly fewer processes than non-neurogenic multipolar astrocytes. These findings identify morphologically distinctive GFAP-expressing progenitor cells as the predominant sources of constitutive adult neurogenesis, and provide new methods for manipulating and investigating these cells.
The crystal-melt interface in Si or Ge

From the nucleation data on undercooling of liquid Si or Ge, crystal-melt interfacial tensions are calculated. Only a temperature-dependent tension can account simultaneously for the results of experiments on bulk and thin film Si. The observed temperature dependence can be accounted for by reasonable values of the interfacial entropy and enthalpy. The analysis is used to determine the temperature-dependent interfacial tension for Ge. A comparison of results for Ge and Si indicates that homogeneous nucleation has not been achieved in the undercooling of bulk liquid Si.
Studies of weak β branching in 55Cr and 206Tl decay

Abstract Weak β branches in the decay of 3·5 min 55 Cr of 0·038 per cent and 0·0033 per cent have been measured to levels in 55 Mn at 1528·2 and 2251·8 keV respectively. Upper limits have been set for the β branching to other well-known levels in 55 Mn. A weak β branch of 0·0056 per cent has been measured for decay of 4·2 min 206 Tl to the 803·3 keV level in 206 Pb.
Auditory development in complex tasks of comodulation masking release.

Experiments on listeners aged 5 years to adult were conducted to investigate the development of comodulation masking release (CMR) under conditions where auditory grouping could be affected either ...
Optimal Jamming using Delayed Learning

Recent advances in cognitive radios for electronic warfare create the potential for dynamic environmental conditions, which makes it difficult to rely upon predict-then-adapt approaches in unfamiliar environments. It is thus imperative that radios have increasingly intelligent capabilities in order to be effective in harsh unknown surroundings. In this paper, we explore whether an intelligent jammer can learn and adapt to its surroundings in an electronic warfare-type scenario. We address this problem from a reinforcement learning perspective where the jammer has delayed information regarding the packets exchanged between a victim transmitter and the receiver. This is different from the traditional assumption that feedback is available instantaneously in reinforcement learning-based algorithms. A new framework, to enable delayed learning in scenarios where rewards are associated with state transitions rather than the states themselves is developed. The benefits of such a framework are shown by studying the optimal jamming strategies against an 802:11-type wireless network that uses the RTS-CTS protocol to communicate and deliver information.
Playing in parallel: the effects of multiplayer modes in active video game on motivation and physical exertion.

Abstract Although multiplayer modes are common among contemporary video games, the bulk of game research focuses on the single-player mode. To fill the gap in the literature, the current study investigated the effects of different multiplayer modes on enjoyment, future play motivation, and the actual physical activity intensity in an active video game. One hundred sixty-two participants participated in a one-factor between-subject laboratory experiment with three conditions: (a) single player: play against self pretest score; (b) cooperation with another player in the same physical space; (c) parallel competition with another player in separated physical spaces. We found that parallel competition in separate physical spaces was the optimal mode, since it resulted in both high enjoyment and future play motivation and high physical intensity. Implications for future research on multiplayer mode and play space as well as active video game-based physical activity interventions are discussed.
Angelopoulos, Schrag, and Tabazadeh receive 2001 James B. Macelwane Medal

Vassilis Angelopoulos, Daniel PSchrag, and Azadeh Tabazadeh received the Macelwane Medal at the 2001 Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony on 12 December, in San Francisco, California. The medal is given for significant contributions to the geophysical sciences by young scientists of outstanding ability.
Evidence that a novel dopamine receptor agonist, RDS-127 [2-di-n-propylamino-4,7-dimethoxyindane] has some centrally mediated cardiovascular actions.

The cardiovascular effects of RDS-127 [2-di-n-propylamino-4,7-dimethoxyindane] were examined in normotensive, anaesthetized rats. RDS-127 given i.v. (12.5-125 micrograms kg-1) produced dose-dependent bradycardia. The bradycardic effect was 20.5 times more potent when the drug was administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) than when given i.v. RDS-127 produced a slight, but significant hypotension. Haloperidol given i.c.v. or i.v. reversed these bradycardic and hypotensive actions, whereas phentolamine was ineffective. Methylatropine partially reduced the bradycardic effect. These results suggest that RDS-127 activates central DA receptors to produce hypotension and bradycardia in rats.
Nonpharmacologic treatment of hypertension: A review

Abstract Numerous investigations have demonstrated that sustained reductions in elevated blood pressure may be achieved by a variety of nonpharmacologic interventions, including relaxation-meditation techniques, reduction of salt intake, weight loss, and regular vigorous exercise. This article reviews the literature about the benefits of these interventions as alternatives or adjuncts to antihypertensive medication.
On the role of chemical detail in simulating protein folding kinetics

Is an all-atom representation for protein and solvent necessary for simulating protein folding kinetics or can simpler models reproduce the results of more complex models? This question is relevant not just for simulation methodology, but also for the general understanding of the chemical details relevant for protein dynamics. With recent advances in computational methodology, it is now possible to simulate the folding kinetics of small proteins in all-atom detail. Therefore, with both detailed and simplified models of folding in hand, the outstanding questions are what the differences in these models are for the description of protein folding dynamics, and how we can quantitatively compare the folding mechanisms found in the models. To address the outstanding problem of how to determine the differences between folding mechanism in a sensitive and quantitative manner, we suggest a new method to quantify the non-linear correlation in folding commitment probability (Pfold) values. We use this method to probe the differences between a wide range of models for folding
Estimation of partially nonstationary vector autoregressive models with seasonal behavior

Abstract In this paper the concept of multivariate partial nonstationarity considered by Ahn and Reinsel (1990) is extended to nonstationary seasonal models. The relationship between the partially non- stationary vector autoregressive model with seasonal behavior and seasonal cointegration and the error correction model is presented. The Gaussian reduced rank estimation procedure along with asymptotic properties of its estimator are studied. This estimation procedure yields an estimated model in which the same nonstationary characteristics are imposed as those possessed by the underlying process. Therefore, we can achieve better understanding of the nature of the process, improved forecasts, and better seasonal adjustment. We also study a two-step reduced rank estimation procedure that yields an estimator which is asymptotically as efficient as the Gaussian reduced rank estimator. Asymptotic properties of the Gaussian reduced rank estimator are also studied when deterministic seasonal components are included in the model. The finite sample properties of the estimators are briefly examined through a simulation. An example is presented to illustrate the methods and concepts.
Effect of drugs on the synthesis of noradrenaline in guinea‐pig vas deferens

1. Reserpine in vitro (10(-5)M) caused a profound inhibition (>85%) of the formation of both (14)C-catecholamine ((14)C-CA) and (14)C-dihydroxyphenylalanine ((14)C-DOPA) (in the presence of the amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor brocresine) from (14)C-tyrosine in guinea-pig vas deferens. The magnitude of the inhibition was similar for both (14)C-CA and (14)C-DOPA suggesting that the inhibition occurred primarily at the tyrosine hydroxylase step.2. One hour after in vivo treatment with reserpine (1 mg/kg) when tissue stores of noradrenaline (NA) were depleted by 50%, there was a significant inhibition of the formation of (14)C-DOPA. Twenty-four hours after such treatment, when endogenous NA could no longer be detected, synthesis of (14)C-DOPA was indistinguishable from untreated controls. However a 45% inhibition of (14)C-DOPA synthesis from (14)C-tyrosine could be produced in tissues which had been depleted of NA for 24 h or 48 h by the addition of reserpine, 10(-5)M, to the incubation medium.3. Addition of pteridine cofactor, 2-amino-6,7,-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteridine, to the incubation medium in a concentration of 5 x 10(-3)M enhanced the formation of both (14)C-CA and (14)C-DOPA from (14)C-tyrosine in guinea-pig vas deferens. In 52 mM KCl Krebs-Henseleit medium (14)C-CA formation increased from 2.58+/-0.20 (nmol/g)/h to 6.35+/-0.47 (nmol/g)/h whilst (14)C-DOPA formation increased from 5.04+/-0.88 (nmol/g)/h to 11.29+/-0.59 (nmol/g)/h.4. Pteridine cofactor (5 x 10(-3)M) did not reverse the inhibition of (14)C-DOPA formation seen with reserpine (10(-5)M) in previously untreated tissues or in vasa deferentia from animals pretreated with reserpine 1 mg/kg for 24 hours. However, the inhibition did disappear in the presence of pteridine cofactor when treatment with reserpine was prolonged to 48 h and included two doses of reserpine of 2 mg/kg.5. Tyramine (5.8 x 10(-5)M) and bretylium (10(-5)M) in vitro inhibited the formation of (14)C-CA and (14)C-DOPA from (14)C-tyrosine to the same extent in guinea-pig vas deferens again indicating that their major site of action is on tyrosine hydroxylase. The inhibitory effects were reversed by pteridine cofactor.6. Synthesis of (14)C-NA from (14)C-tyrosine in calf splenic nerve was not increased by incubating the tissue in 52 mM KCl-Krebs-Henseleit solution.
“First Train Out”: Marriage and Cohabitation in the Context of Poverty, Deprivation, and Trauma

There has been a steep rise in the proportion of children born to and living with unmarried parents. Unmarried parents are increasingly likely to cohabitate, especially low-income couples, placing their children at elevated psychosocial risk. This life history study of poor, White single mothers suggests that the current focus on differences between married and cohabiting poor women may overstate underlying similarities in factors associated with their partner formation and dissolution and that poor women's decisions about marriage and cohabitation must be understood in a developmental context that reflects the stacking, over time, of multiple forms of vulnerability to unstable partnerships, single motherhood, and continuing poverty into adulthood.
A Macrophyte‐Based Rapid Biosurvey of Stream Water Quality: Restoration at the Watershed Scale

The restoration of chemically degraded rivers, lakes, and estuaries with large watersheds and pollution sources that are primarily diffuse in nature requires the grading of thousands of kilometers of tributary streams. Many population-and community-oriented biomonitoring methods have been developed that avoid the cost limitations of chemical/biomarker/bioassay approaches and the serious limitations of single-factor analysis as related to complex systems. In this study of the coastal plain and piedmont geomorphologic provinces of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, we have demonstrated a set of quantitative measures based on analysis of macrophyte populations that provide statistically significant separation of streams in accordance with their state-issued water quality rating. Macrophytes can be abundant and diverse in lower-order streams, and they demonstrate patterns of community structure and diversity similar to those of other organisms developed for biomonitoring of stream degradation. Unlike organisms previously and extensively used in biomonitoring techniques, however, macrophytes are considerably easier to identify and quantify. In addition, macrophyte techniques provide a range of measures of increasing sensitivity from species numbers at a few sites, to the presence/absence and abundance of indicator species, and, finally, to a diversity analysis based on easily identified species at an extended number of sites. We suggest that the ease of utilization of this methodology will allow repeated surveys of all streams in large watersheds with the invertebrate, fish and diatom biomonitoring to biomarking and chemical bioassays and finally analytical chemistry, progressively applied to verify and then identify specific pollution sources (“hot spots”) in a more limited number of problem streams.
Management of gastrointestinal involvement in scleroderma

Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is commonly involved in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The GI involvement is quite heterogeneous varying from asymptomatic disease to significant dysmotility causing complications like malabsorption, weight loss, and severe malnutrition. This review focuses on the management of GI involvement in SSc and has been categorized based on the segment of GIT involved. A brief discussion on the role of patient-reported outcome measures in SSc-GI involvement has also been incorporated.
A three-dimensional, shell-solid transition element for general nonlinear analysis

Abstract A transition element that can connect quadratic, isoparametric solid and shell finite elements is presented. Rather than using reduced integration, transverse shear and membrane locking are avoided by interpolating covariant strain components from appropriate points within the element domain. The proposed element is free from spurious zero energy modes and it is applicable to general nonlinear structures. Linear and geometric stiffness matrices are derived in detail. Accurate results are presented for several test cases.
Determination of Strains in Enameled Cast Iron

A method of determining strains in enameled cast iron using a modification of the split-ring furnace and employing cantilever-type specimens is described. Strain curves of several cast-iron enamels on cast-iron cantilever-type specimens are compared with results obtained on split rings. Strain curves are presented which show that cast-iron enamels may craze at or close to the temperature of maximum tension of the enamels owing to the high degree of tensile strain in the enamels. This maximum tension can be increased by permanent growth of the cast iron. Summary The cast-iron strip test as modified from the split-ring test for sheet steel enamels serves as a more direct means of determining the strain existing between enamel and cast-iron from room temperature to the softening point of the enamel. The cast-iron strip test shows differences in cast iron enamels that have not been indicated by either the warp or split-ring tests. Cast-iron enamels may craze at or close to the temperature of maximum tension, and this crazing is caused by the enamel being subjected to too high a degree of tensile stress during cooling. The degree of tensile strain is increased by the growth of iron which occurs if the temperature is held within, or moves too slowly through, the range of maximum tension of the enamel. By controlling the cooling rate, the strains in enameled cast iron can be altered.
Amplitude analysis of hypercharge exchange reactions

Abstract We present a smooth parametrization of the amplitudes for meson-baryon hypercharge exchange reactions which describes well all the data available at present for laboratory momenta above 3 GeV/c. The KV∗ (KT∗) amplitudes we find are very similar to the ϱ(ω) amplitudes, respectively, obtained already by other authors. The SU(3) assumption seems to be well supported by the experimental data.
Graduate Nursing Education as a Conduit to Embed Evidence-Based Practice in Home Health Care

Historically, nurses have relied on traditions, clinical expertise, and expert opinion as a foundation for practice. Although these sources of knowledge are important and valued in nursing, the approach is unsystematic and not always based on scientific evidence. Although medicine used evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines in their practice for decades, nurses have only recently embraced this concept. The purpose of this article is to describe the implementation of an EBP clinical practicum for graduate nursing students designed to (a) engage graduate nursing students in a collaborative relationship with a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) who is practicing in the home health care arenas, (b) provide CNS students with a framework for translating research to effect advanced clinical practice, and (c) provide opportunities for CNS students to critically evaluate the applicability and adaptability of evidence for the specific needs of the patient and the home health agency.
Passive Neutron Multiplication Measurements

We have developed an instrument to measure neutron multiplication by statistical analysis of the timing of neutrons emitted from fissionable material. This instrument is capable of repeated analysis of the same recorded data with selected algorithms, graphical displays showing statistical properties of the data, and preservation of raw data on disk for future comparisons. In our measurements we have made a comparison of the covariance to mean and Feynman variance to mean analysis algorithms to show that the covariance avoids a bias term and measures directly the effect due to the presence of neutron chains. A spherical assembly of enriched uranium shells and acrylic resin reflector/moderator components used for the measurements is described. Preliminary experimental results of the Feynman variance to mean measurements show the expected correlation with assembly multiplication.
Spreading and generalized propagating speeds of discrete KPP models in time varying environments

The current paper deals with spatial spreading and front propagating dynamics for spatially discrete KPP (Kolmogorov, Petrovsky and Paskunov) models in time recurrent environments, which include time periodic and almost periodic environments as special cases. The notions of spreading speed interval, generalized propagating speed interval, and traveling wave solutions are first introduced, which are proper modifications of those introduced for spatially continuous KPP models in time almost periodic environments. Among others, it is then shown that the spreading speed interval in a given direction is the minimal generalized propagating speed interval in that direction. Some important upper and lower bounds for the spreading and generalized propagating speed intervals are provided. When the environment is unique ergodic and the so called linear determinacy condition is satisfied, it is shown that the spreading speed interval in any direction is a singleton (called the spreading speed), which equals the classical spreading speed if the environment is actually periodic. Moreover, in such a case, a variational principle for the spreading speed is established and it is shown that there is a front of speed c in a given direction if and only if c is greater than or equal to the spreading speed in that direction.
Dentinogenesis imperfecta : endodontic implications: Case report

Dentinogenesis imperfecta is a hereditary disorder resulting in defective dentin in both the primary and secondary dentitions. The complications of dentinogenesis imperfecta are difficult to manage and provide a challenge to the dentist. This case report concerns treating an African American patient with dentinogenesis imperfecta who appeared for treatment with endodontic pathosis. It illustrates the need for appropriate and timely restorative treatment to prevent pulpal pathosis. Also demonstrated is the difficulty of endodontically treating dentinogenesis imperfecta teeth because of pulpal obliteration and abnormal dentin mineralization. Early and correct diagnosis of dentinogenesis imperfecta is imperative to enable appropriate preventive interventions and optimal dental treatment. Although pulpal pathosis is rarely reported with dentinogenesis imperfecta, endodontic treatment is occasionally necessary and has a guarded prognosis if initiated after pulp canal obliteration has occurred.
Recent progress in drying of gels

Abstract The status of the theory and practice of drying is reviewed, with emphasis on work published in the last few years. Advances have been made in (1) the theory of drying stresses and the causes of cracking, (2) detailed and precise observations of phenomenology and drying, and (3) preparation of monolithic gels of commercial interest.
N-Terminal Domain of Phosphodiesterase-11A4 (PDE11A4) Decreases Affinity of the Catalytic Site for Substrates and Tadalafil, and is Involved in Oligomerization†

The phosphodiesterase-11A (PDE11) family consists of four splice variants (PDE11A1-PDE11A4) that contain a conserved carboxyl-terminal (C-terminal) catalytic domain that hydrolyzes cAMP and cGMP; the amino-termini (N-termini) vary in length and amino acid sequence. PDE11A2, PDE11A3, and PDE11A4 contain one or more GAF (cGMP-binding phosphodiesterase, Anabaena adenylyl cyclase, and Escherichia coli FhlA) subdomains. In the present study, PDE11A1 and PDE11A2 demonstrated higher affinity for cAMP and cGMP when directly compared to that of the longest isoform, PDE11A4. Moreover, PDE11A3, PDE11A2, and PDE11A1, which contain progressively shorter N-termini, were more sensitive than PDE11A4 to inhibition by two structurally unrelated inhibitors, tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra). The substrate and inhibitor affinity differences among the PDE11 isozymes could not be ascribed to differences in their quaternary structure since PDE11A4, PDE11A3, and PDE11A2 were determined to be dimers, and PDE11A1 was a tetramer. These data also demonstrate that PDE11 isozymes containing at least 123 C-terminal amino acids of the GAF-B domain are stable oligomers and that GAF-A is not required for oligomerization. The isolated PDE11 catalytic domain (Met-563-Asn-934) displayed both monomeric and dimeric forms, and upon dilution, this domain was primarily monomeric, indicating that the main oligomerization contacts are within the N-termini of PDE isozymes. This report is the first to describe an inhibitory effect of the N-terminal region of PDE11A4 on the affinity of the catalytic domain for both substrates and inhibitors and the first to define the quaternary structure and the regions that contribute to this structure within the human PDE11A family.
Visualizing a New Binding Site of ncd-Motor Domain on Tubulin

Ncd is a microtubule minus-end directed motor of the kinesin superfamily. Previously it has been shown that ncd and kinesin motor domains share the same major binding site on microtubules. Here we report a three-dimensional EM reconstruction of negatively stained two-dimensional Zn-induced tubulin crystal sheets (Zn-sheets) decorated with the ncd motor domain at a resolution of 16 A. This work has revealed a second specific binding site for the ncd motor domain. The motor binding site on the tubulin Zn-sheets spans both alpha and beta tubulin subunits. This binding site is located at a position different from the previously identified ncd binding site on microtubules and may play a role in motor function.
Concepts, Theory, and Techniques: FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERCEIVED UTILIZATION OF COMPUTER-BASED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN THE OIL INDUSTRY

This study investigates factors that may affect the use of decision support systems. The independent variables investigated included: characteristics of the decision makers such as age, educational level, experience, and cognitive style; characteristics of the decision support system such as response time, accuracy, timeliness, relevancy of output, format, and the distance traveled to interact with the system; and characteristics of the implementation process such as user involvement, user training, and top management support. The study included 8 systems and 64 subjects from the oil industry. The results indicated that the most important variables affecting decision support system usage were accuracy of output, user training, relevancy of output, and the decision maker's experience. Subject Areas: Decision Support Systems, Information Management, and Organizational Behavior.