cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deregulation of Cytoskeletal Protein Phosphorylation and Neurodegeneration

Phosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins is tightly regulated by the activities of multiple protein kinases and phosphatases. Three kinases, Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and MAPKs have been implicated in their direct involvement in neuronal cytoskeletal protein phosphorylation. Cdk5 and GSK3β have been identified as prime candidates for pathogenesis. Cdk5 is a proline-directed serine/threonine protein kinase that requires an interaction with its activators, p35 or p39, to be catalytically active. While Cdk5 expression is ubiquitous, p35 and p39 are abundantly expressed in postmitotic neurons which, therefore, exhibit enhanced levels of Cdk5 activity. A pleiotropic kinase, Cdk5 has a multifunctional role in the mammalian central nervous system. Cdk5 was originally identified as a major Tau kinase. It associates with early stages of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). NFTs are composed mainly of hyperphosphorylated Tau aggregates, the pathological hallmarks of neurodegenerative tauopathies and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cdk5, by phosphorylating neuronal cytoskeletal proteins, such as Tau and neurofilaments (NFs), plays a critical role in neurodegeneration. In this review, we focus on the specific roles of Cdk5 phosphorylation of the neuronal cytoskeletal proteins (NFs and Tau) that contribute to neurodegeneration.
The Problem with Violence: Exceptionality and Sovereignty in the New World

For many observers, the violent and often spectacular crime that takes place in particular Caribbean areas is evidence of a failure to create a growth-oriented economy and morally progressive ethos. It is a problem of culture, a mark of backwardness, an unsuccessful movement from savagery, or a failure to take advantage of post-World War II opportunities for development in political, economic, and socio-cultural fields. At the very least, it is something that marks the Caribbean—as well as some spaces within Latin America—as seeming to have taken a different path in relation to other New World trajectories. This article uses the case of Jamaica—itself often portrayed as exceptional within the region—to think through how, when, and why the US is, on one hand and from one perspective, written out of these narratives and, on the other and from alternative vantage points, central to them. In doing so, Thomas emphasizes the long-standing transnational dimension of violence in the postcolonial Americas, situating the New World as a single sphere of experience, in order to say something about the relationships among violence, the exploitation and settlement of the New World, sovereignty, and the various phases of modern capitalism.
Integrating the Ethical into Scientific Rationality

Among philosophers of science nearly a century ago the dominant attitude was that (in Carnap’s words) philosophy of science was, “like science itself, neutral with respect to practical aims, whether they are moral aims for the individual, or political aims for a society.” The dominant attitude today is not much different: our aim is still to articulate scientific rationality, and our understanding of that rationality still excludes the moral and political. I contrast this with the growing entanglements within the sciences of the ethical and the epistemic and I suggest ways in which philosophers of science can usefully respond.
Do Profiles of Adolescent Temperament Differ on Family Processes and Adult Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms

In the present study, we examined whether profiles of temperamental features in adolescence (a) predict internalizing and externalizing symptoms in early adulthood, and (b) differ in family processes (i.e., cohesion, conflict) during early adolescence. Participants were 662 youth (72% male; 76% White). Mothers reported on family cohesion and conflict during participants’ early adolescence (ages 12–14, Time 1). Youth completed measures of temperament in middle adolescence (ages 16, Time 2), and of their symptoms in middle adolescence (Time 2), late adolescence (age 19, Time 3), and early adulthood (age 22, Time 4). Latent profile analysis identified three temperamental profiles: low positive mood, low rhythmicity, and well-regulated. Individuals in the low rhythmicity profile reported higher levels of externalizing symptoms compared to the well-regulated profile. No between-profile differences were found for internalizing symptoms. Mothers of youth in the low positive mood and low rhythmicity profiles reported higher levels of family conflict than the well-regulated profile. In addition, mothers of youth in the low positive mood profile reported lower levels of family cohesion than the well-regulated profile. Research implications of the study findings are presented.
Trends in Radiation for Bone Metastasis During a Period of Multiple National Quality Improvement Initiatives.

PURPOSE:To evaluate trends in fractionation and cost of radiation for bone metastasis during a time period of multiple national quality improvement initiatives that focused on reducing the number o...
Novel monoclonal antibody-based treatment strategies in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has a poor overall survival compared with pediatric ALL where cure rates are observed in more than 90% of patients. The recent development of novel monoclon...
Urine Microscopy: Clouding Over – Bacteria, Yeast, Parasites and Zika

Urine microscopy, whether done by Gram stain, concentrated wet-mount, or automated microscopy, is an attractive diagnostic procedure because of its rapidity and potential for narrowing the differential to particular kinds of infectious etiologies. This chapter reviews the performance characteristics of microscopic examination in the case of typical uropathogens as well as special cases such as fungal and parasitic infections of the urinary tract.
The coevolution of mammae number and litter size

Mammals are unique in provisioning their offspring with milk, lactiferous nourishment produced in glandular organs called mammae. Mammae number is hypothesized to coevolve with litter size, acting as a constraint on offspring survival. However, predicted canonical relations between mammae number and litter size (i.e., the 9one-half9 and 9identity9 rules) are untested across Mammalia. Here we analyze data for 2,301 species and show how these characters coevolve. In Mammalia, mammae number approximates the maximum reported litter size of a species, and mammae number explains more variation in litter size than other species-level traits (mass, gestation length, diet, and seasonality of contemporary geographic distribution). Clades show differences in these patterns, indicating that certain life history strategies might break the 9rules9 of mammary evolution. Mammae number is an underappreciated constraint on fecundity that has influenced the radiation of mammals.
Functional proteomics in phosphatase research

With the technological development of mass spectrometry as a powerful tool in biology and the completion of the human genome sequencing project, proteomics has emerged as a field that promises to revolutionize the face of biology. In particular, we may now rapidly and thoroughly analyze signal transduction networks in a variety of systems in order to characterize individual components. Information garnered from such studies will undoubtedly aid in our understanding of the biology of a system as well as promote drug development. Many aspects of protein phosphatase action remain unclear due to paucity in our understanding of in vivo activity and regulation. Emerging proteomics studies and technology is poised to fill such gaps.
Spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression around implanted silicon electrode arrays.

Objective.Intracortical brain interfaces are an ever evolving technology with growing potential for clinical and research applications. The chronic tissue response to these devices traditionally has been characterized by glial scarring, inflammation, oxidative stress, neuronal loss, and blood-brain barrier disruptions. The full complexity of the tissue response to implanted devices is still under investigation.Approach.In this study, we have utilized RNA-sequencing to identify the spatiotemporal gene expression patterns in interfacial (within 100µm) and distal (500µm from implant) brain tissue around implanted silicon microelectrode arrays. Naive, unimplanted tissue served as a control.Main results.The data revealed significant overall differential expression (DE) in contrasts comparing interfacial tissue vs naive (157 DE genes), interfacial vs distal (94 DE genes), and distal vs naive tissues (21 DE genes). Our results captured previously characterized mechanisms of the foreign body response, such as astroglial encapsulation, as well as novel mechanisms which have not yet been characterized in the context of indwelling neurotechnologies. In particular, we have observed perturbations in multiple neuron-associated genes which potentially impact the intrinsic function and structure of neurons at the device interface. In addition to neuron-associated genes, the results presented in this study identified significant DE in genes which are associated with oligodendrocyte, microglia, and astrocyte involvement in the chronic tissue response.Significance. The results of this study increase the fundamental understanding of the complexity of tissue response in the brain and provide an expanded toolkit for future investigation into the bio-integration of implanted electronics with tissues in the central nervous system.
Emergence of Antibiotic Resistance Across Two-Stage Revision for Periprosthetic Joint Infection.

Abstract Background The current preferred treatment for chronic hip and knee periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) involves both surgical intervention and antibiotic treatment as part of a two-stage revision. The purpose of this study is to determine how often patients who underwent a two-stage revision for chronic PJI developed a subsequent antibiotic-resistant infection. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 142 patients who underwent a two-stage revision for a chronic culture-positive PJI from January 2014 to May 2019. Demographic data and risk factors for PJI were identified. Resistance was defined in accordance with microbiology laboratory report and minimum inhibitory concentration. Statistical analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and univariate analysis. Results Only 10 of the 142 patients (7.04%) demonstrated emergence of resistance to antibiotics across their two-stage revision. At reimplantation, 25 (17.6%) patients had positive cultures. Of these, 16 patients presented with a novel organism and 9 patients had positive culture for the same organism as the initial infection. During the entire course of the two-stage revision, including spacer exchanges and irrigation and debridement procedures, 15 (10.56%) patients demonstrated persistent infections, whereas 25 (17.6%) patients presented with novel infections. 26 (18.3%) patients had reinfection of the same joint within one year. Conclusion In the given cohort, there does not appear to be a major emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms in patients undergoing two-stage exchange arthroplasty and antibiotic treatment.
Risk factors for heart transplant survival with greater than 5 h of donor heart ischemic time.

Objective Implantation of donor hearts with prolonged ischemic times is associated with worse survival. We sought to identify risk factors that modulate the effects of prolonged preservation. Methods Retrospective review of the United Network for Organ Sharing database (2000-2018) to identify transplants with >5 (n = 1526) or ≤5 h (n = 35,733) of donor heart preservation. In transplanted hearts preserved for >5 h, Cox-proportional hazards identify modifiers for survival. Results Compared to ≤5 h, transplanted patients with >5 h of preservation spent less time in status 1B (76 ± 160 vs. 85 ± 173 days, p = .027), more commonly had ischemic cardiomyopathy (42.3% vs. 38.3%, p = .002), and less commonly received a blood type O heart (45.4% vs. 50.8%, p 5 h of heart preservation, multivariable analysis identified greater mortality with ischemic cardiomyopathy etiology (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.36, p Conclusion Preservation time >5 h is associated with worse survival. This mortality risk is further amplified by preoperative dialysis and ECMO, ischemic cardiomyopathy etiology, and use of O blood type donor hearts.
Genes, other than Muc5b, play a role in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an incurable genetic disease that affects 5 million people worldwide. The gain-of-function MUC5B promoter variant rs35705950 is the dominant genetic risk fact...
Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare disorder of defective UV-radiation induced damage repair that is characterized by photosensitivity with easy skin burning following minimal sun exposure, early freckling and development of lentiginous pigmentation along with other features of poikiloderma and a propensity for developing skin cancer at an early age. In this short review, the clinical, pathological, genetic and molecular aspects of XP are reviewed in the current literature. XP encompasses a spectrum of disease that overlaps with other diseases of DNA repair systems. In addition to cutaneous complications, patients are susceptible to eye conditions, neurodegenerative processes, central nervous system tumors and other tumors as a result of UV radiation exposure and its byproducts. Patients with XP frequently experience a shorter life span due to skin cancer and neurodegenerative sequelae, but aggressive preventative measures to minimize UV radiation exposure and damage can improve the course of disease and prolong life. The disease has served as a model for photoaging and UV radiation-induced cancer and has led to a better understanding of cell processes that prevent development of these disease features in normal individuals.
An Infrared Quantitative Imaging Technique (IR-QIV) for Remote Sensing of River Flows

Stage and discharge are some of the oldest measurements in environmental fluid mechanics and are vital in forecasting water supply and flood safety. These measurements are traditionally manpower intensive, hence expensive, and dangerous under high flow conditions. Considering climate change and the planet’s increasing population there is a critical need for better, more accurate, and frequent, in space and time, data for model and forecast guidance. This need spans monitoring small-scale turbulent processes to calibrating and nudging continental scale river dynamics models. Driven by applications from river gaging networks to fish behavior modeling to flood and erosion forecasting, and more generally, the near-shore environment of lakes, estuaries and the coasts, remote sensing with quantitative imaging tools is a rapidly expanding field. Such tools can be deployed from fixed platforms, drones, planes and satellites with valuable information contained within the visible to infrared spectral bands.
Knot Dynamics.

We examine computer experiments that can be performed to understand the dynamics of knots under self-repulsion. In the course of specific computer exploration we use the knot theory of rational knots and rational tangles to produce classes of unknots with complex initial configurations that we call hard unknots, and corresponding complex configurations that are topologically equivalent to simpler knots. We shall see that these hard unknots and complexified knots give examples that do not reduce in the experimental space of the computer program. That is, we find unknotted configurations that will not reduce to simple circular forms under self-repulsion, and we find complex versions of knots that will not reduce to simpler forms under the self-repulsion. It is clear to us that the phenomena that we have discovered depend very little on the details of the computer program as long as it conforms to a general description of self-repulsion. Thus, we suggest on the basis of our experiments that sufficiently complex examples of hard unknots and sufficiently complex examples of complexified knots will not reduce to global minimal energy states in self-repulsion environments. In the course of the paper we make the character of these examples precise. It is a challenge to other program environments to verify or disprove these assertions.
Pharmacotherapy of Pediatric Hypertension

Hypertension is the primary cause of cardiovascular disease in humans. In adults, hypertension is clearly linked to an increased risk of stroke, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease (1). Fortunately, the devastating cardiovascular health outcomes seen in the adult population are infrequently seen in children, but the seemingly benign nature of hypertension in children may be more a result of the duration of exposure rather than any disease, developmental, or physiologic factor. Emerging evidence suggests that the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease and resultant adverse health outcomes begins during childhood and, if left unattended, will likely culminate in the clinical presentation of cardiovascular disease as an adult. The evidence pointing to a pediatric onset of adult cardiovascular disease includes the finding of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and increased carotid intimal–medial thickness (cIMT) in many children with hypertension (2–6), as well as epidemiologic studies finding an association between cardiovascular disease as an adult and high blood pressure readings as a youth (7–10).
Pharmacologically Active Agents of Microbial Origin

Pharmacologically active natural products are generally classified as those useful for treating human diseases and disorders including hyperlipidemia, cancer, immunoregulatory disorders, inflammation, and neurological and metabolic diseases. This chapter reviews the discovery of pharmacologically active microbial metabolites, with an emphasis on recent developments, and considers the specific challenges involved in screening samples derived from microbial fermentations. It discusses high-throughput screening assays used for the discovery of pharmacologically active agents. It also gives specific examples of assays that have resulted in the discovery of new pharmacological agents of microbial origin. The chapter also reviews the selected pharmacologically active agents of microbial origin with utility or potential utility in the areas of immunosuppression, cancer, and cardiovascular and metabolic disease. The microbial products discussed in this chapter range from successful drugs to recently described lead compounds and provide ample testament to the ability of microbial secondary metabolism to provide compounds with real or potential therapeutic utility against a diverse and extensive range of pharmacological targets. The focus of many current microbial product screening operations is returning to antibiotic discovery. It is worth remembering that the discovery route of some very significant pharmacologically active agents of microbial origin has been indirect.
Multiobjective optimum design of electrical machines for variable speed motor drives

A pragmatic design philosophy for variable speed motor drives that seeks to satisfy all the desirable goals of the designer based on a multiobjective (vector) optimization formulation is presented. Pareto-optimal (noninferior) solutions are found from which the best is chosen based on the designer's preferences. The design of a current-fed surface-mounted permanent-magnet motor for variable speed application in which the efficiency is maximized and the material and production cost is simultaneously minimized is used to demonstrate the advantages and usefulness of this design approach over most of the existing electric motor design techniques. >
Panel: Analog/RF BIST: Are we there yet?

BIST for analog and RF circuits has been proposed many years ago and we are still chasing it. One school of thought is to have generic BIST components for input stimulus generation and output analysis and to use them in a plug-and-play fashion. Another school of thought is to develop dedicated circuits for each functionality and re-use the same blocks for the same functionality. A third approach is designing completely circuit-specific BIST for each primary circuit. The truth is ad-hoc examples of BIST have been around for years. However, there is no standardized way of implementing or inserting BIST for analog and RF circuits. The panelists, all experts in this domain, will share their view of the best way of implementing BIST for analog and RF circuits, if there is such a thing…
A Woman at War: Marlene Dietrich Remembered

The word “magic” is not typically used when describing a person, yet it consistently appears in the descriptions of those who knew and respected Marlene Dietrich. Despite her “magic,” however, Diet...
The Effects of a Prior Story-Bank on the Processing of a Related Narrative

Two studies tested whether the possession of a mental story-bank (a set of thematically related narratives) affected the processing of a related narrative. Three competing predictions were proposed: a story-bank may lead to reduced attention, increased attention, or selective attention to a new, related story. The results of Study 1 (N = 125 undergraduates) suggested that a prior story-bank led to more efficient processing of a target narrative (as indicated by recall data), favoring a selective attention interpretation. Study 2 (N = 114 undergraduates) showed that individuals who possessed a relevant story-bank were more persuaded by a related target narrative, also consistent with the selective attention interpretation. Story-banks thus appeared to facilitate, rather than hinder, processing of new narratives.
The mechanism of mitochondrial swelling. II. Pseudoenergized swelling in the presence of alkali metal salts.

Abstract Alkali metal salts can induce large amplitude swelling of mitochondria in absence of either electron transfer or hydrolysis of ATP. This type of swelling is referred to as pseudoenergized swelling. The requirements for pseudoenergized swelling in salt media have been systematically investigated. The ammonium, sodium, and lithium salts of weakly dissociating acids (e.g., acetate, phosphate, arsenate, phenylacetate) are competent in the induction of rapid swelling when present at 0.15 m concentration whereas the potassium, cesium, and rubidium salts of the same series of acids, at the same concentration, are not competent. The incompetent salts can become competent in presence of one or another reagent of the peptide-antibiotic family (e.g., valinomycin, gramicidin, nigericin). These reagents facilitate selectively the entry of appropriate alkali metal salts into or through the mitochondrial membranes; this facilitation overcomes the distinction between competent and incompetent alkali metal salts. The chlorides of alkali metals as a class are incompetent in inducing pseudoenergized swelling but again the presence of reagents of the peptide-antibiotic family can confer competence. Thus, competence is a function of the rate of penetration of the mitochondrial membranes by the salts in question. Gramicidin shows little or no discrimination with respect to the nature of the alkali metal ion or the nature of the anion in respect to its facilitating action; valinomycin shows some discrimination with respect to the nature of the alkali metal ion; and nigericin is specific for alkali metal salts of weak acids. Cadmium ions at 10 −4 m can duplicate the action of gramicidin in facilitating the induction of pseudoenergized swelling by alkali metal chlorides. This facilitation by cadmium does not extend to the alkali metal acetates. Calcium ions at 10 −4 m also have gramicidin-like action but this action is manifest only after the ions in question have been translocated into the mitochondrion in an energized process. Once inside the mitochondrion, calcium ions have the same capability as does cadmium for potentiating pseudoenergized swelling induced by alkali metal chlorides. Hypotonic swelling is viewed as a special case of pseudoenergized swelling in which the induction is achieved not by exogenous salt but rather by salts contained within the mitochondrion. Three factors play a paramount role in pseudoenergized swelling: (1) the Donnan effect that provides the driving force; (2) the interaction of salt with groups in the membrane that leads to the conformational changes intrinsic to swelling; and (3) the permeability of the membrane that determines which salts are competent in inducing swelling and which are not. Solutes that do not penetrate the mitochondrial membranes can suppress pseudoenergized swelling.
Primary full-gland prostate cryoablation in older men (> age of 75 years): results from 860 patients tracked with the COLD Registry.

Study Type – Therapy (outcomes research) Level of Evidence 2c What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Most elderly patient with prostate cancer undergo radiation therapy, but cryoablation has gained popularity. This study demonstrates the safety and efficiency of this new approach. OBJECTIVE • To report on the largest data set regarding outcomes for whole gland prostate cryoablation as a primary treatment of prostate cancer in older men, which we empirically defined as age >75 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS • The COLD (Cryo On-Line Data) Registry consists of case report forms with pre- and post-treatment information obtained from patients undergoing prostate cryoablation. • A total of 860 patients were stratified into low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups (D'Amico 2003 risk definitions). • Biochemical disease-free survival (bDFS) was defined according to the traditional American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology definition (3 increases) and the newer (Phoenix) definition (nadir +2). • Biopsy was performed at physician discretion but most commonly for cause if a patient had an increasing or suspicious prostate-specific antigen level (PSA). RESULTS • The median age was 79 years (76–91) and the median follow-up was 16 months (4–60). • The 5-year [95% confidence interval (CI)] bDFS for the entire population using ASTRO and Phoenix definitions was 79% (4%) and 62.6% (8.3%), respectively. • Stratified by risk group, 5-year bDFS (ASTRO) was 82.4% (7.9%), 78.3% (5.8%) and 77.6% (7.7%) for low, moderate and high risk, respectively. • Using the Phoenix definition, 5-year bDFS was 74.9%± 15.3%, 61.4%± 13.2% and 58.0%± 11.9% for low-, moderate- and high-risk groups, respectively. • Incontinence was reported in eight patients (0.9%). CONCLUSION • Whole gland cryoablation in older men maintains oncological efficacy similar to that of younger men without increased morbidity.
Proteolysis of human factor II by factor Xa in the presence of hirudin

Summary Human Factor II was reacted with Factor Xa in the presence of hirudin, a highly specific thrombin inhibitor. Under these conditions, two new proteins with apparent molecular weights of 39000 and 37000 daltons are generated. Purification of the 39000 dalton species and subsequent incubation with either Factor Xa or thrombin revealed that only thrombin could cleave this protein producing two polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 27000 and 14000 daltons. These findings suggest that the intermediates observed when Factor II is reacted with Factor Xa in the absence of a thrombin inhibitor arise from a combination of Factor Xa and thrombin proteolysis at different sites on the Factor II molecule.
Carbon deposition and activity changes over FeRu alloys during Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

The interaction of 3H/sub 2//CO at 1 atm and 573 to 673/sup 0/K with unsupported Ru, Fe, and RuFe alloy powders was investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and differential chemical kinetics. Direct surface analysis of fresh, reacted, and regenerated surfaces, without exposure to air, shows a strong dependence of carbon deposition on catalyst composition. Pure Ru and Ru doped with 3 atom% Fe show no carbon buildup, and therefore exhibit steady specific activity and selectivity in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis as a function of time on stream. Increasing the iron content of the alloys results in a thick carbon overlayer being deposited during the first few hours of reaction. The carbon overlayer reduces specific activity by a factor of 2 to 3 and shifts selectivity toward lower-molecular-weight products. Regeneration of these catalysts requires heating in H/sub 2/ at 683/sup 0/K. Both XPS and SIMS confirm that pure iron first incorporates carbon into the bulk with a resulting temporary increase in activity and selectivity to saturated products. Selectivity then shifts to lighter products as carbon gradually builds up on the iron carbide surface.
Biochemical evolution. I. Polymerization on internal, organophilic silica surfaces of dealuminated zeolites and feldspars

Catalysis at mineral surfaces might generate replicating biopolymers from simple chemicals supplied by meteorites, volcanic gases, and photochemical gas reactions. Many ideas are implausible in detail because the proposed mineral surfaces strongly prefer water and other ionic species to organic ones. The molecular sieve silicalite (Union Carbide; = Al-free Mobil ZSM-5 zeolite) has a three-dimensional, 10-ring channel system whose electrically neutral Si-O surface strongly adsorbs organic species over water. Three -O-Si tetrahedral bonds lie in the surface, and the fourth Si-O points inwards. In contrast, the outward Si-OH of simple quartz and feldspar crystals generates their ionic organophobicity. The ZSM-5-type zeolite mutinaite occurs in Antarctica with boggsite and tschernichite (Al-analog of Mobil Beta). Archean mutinaite might have become de-aluminated toward silicalite during hot/cold/wet/dry cycles. Catalytic activity of silicalite increases linearly with Al-OH substitution for Si, and Al atoms tend to avoid each other. Adjacent organophilic and catalytic Al-OH regions in nanometer channels might have scavenged organic species for catalytic assembly into specific polymers protected from prompt photochemical destruction. Polymer migration along weathered silicic surfaces of micrometer-wide channels of feldspars might have led to assembly of replicating catalytic biomolecules and perhaps primitive cellular organisms. Silica-rich volcanic glasses should have been abundant on the early Earth, ready for crystallization into zeolites and feldspars, as in present continental basins. Abundant chert from weakly metamorphosed Archaean rocks might retain microscopic clues to the proposed mineral adsorbent/catalysts. Other framework silicas are possible, including ones with laevo/dextro one-dimensional channels. Organic molecules, transition-metal ions, and P occur inside modern feldspars.
Analyses of forest foliage III: Determining nitrogen, lignin and cellulose in fresh leaves using near infrared reflectance data

Near infrared laboratory data of whole fresh leaves were evaluated with respect to leaf chemical composition. Near infrared spectra were measured for 211 foliage samples including both broad- and n...
Effects of inorganic lead in vitro on ion exchanges and respiratory metabolism of rat kidney cortex.

The effects of Pb2+ added in vitro to tissue slices, isolated tubules and isolated mitochondria of rat kidney cortex have been studied. Slices were depleted of K+ and loaded with Na+, Cl− and water by pre-incubation at 1° C, and reversal of these changes was then induced by incubation under metabolically favourable conditions. The net reaccumulation of K+ was reduced by a maximum of 30% when Pb2+ was present in the medium, the maximal effect being caused by 200 μM Pb2+. Lead also caused a reduction of Na+ extrusion which was approximately equimolar with its effect on K+, but it did not affect the extrusion of Cl− and water. The initial rates of the net, active movements of K+ and Na+ were not altered by Pb2+, divergence from control values only being noted after 15–30 min incubation. The O2 consumption and the ATP content were 25–30% lower in slices incubated with 200 μM Pb+ than in control slices; the effect on ATP content was not observed until incubation had continued for 30 min. In tubules isolated from the renal cortex, the rate of respiration (50%) and ATP content (30%) were also partly reduced by 200 μM Pb2+. The consumption of O2 by mitochondria isolated from the cortex was much more sensitive to Pb2+ added in vitro than the respiration of intact cells; the rate of respiration in state 3 (presence of phosphate acceptor) and the respiratory control ratio were drastically reduced, with half-maximal inhibition at 30 and 20 μM Pb2+ respectively. Comparison of the effects of Pb2+ on energy metabolism and ion transport of the slices with the corresponding effects of antimycin A and ouabain suggests that Pb2+ inhibited K+ and Na+ transport mainly as a consequence of a primary inhibition of the provision of ATP.
An undescribed species of Helicogloea from Brazil

Helicogloea variabilis is described from a collection made near Santos, Brazil. This species is distinguished from other known species of the genus by basidial ontogeny, basidiocarp texture, hyphal morphology, and basidiospore size and morphology. Unique among the known species is the formation in many basidia of portions of one or more of the proximal hypobasidial segments within the probasidial wall.
Wafer bonding of (211) Cd0.96Zn0.04Te on (001) silicon

We have successfully bonded (211) cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) substrates onto (001) Si substrates for subsequent epitaxial-layer deposition of mercury cadmium telluride device layers. Silicon-nitride intermediate layers were employed as they provide both low surface roughness, which is necessary for bonding, and low absorption in the 1–10-µm range. Prior to bonding, the SiN layers were activated using oxygen plasma. Transmission infrared (IR) imaging showed >70% bonded area of a 10 mm×10 mm CdZnTe substrate onto a Si substrate. After the initial bond, the structure was exposed to a low-temperature anneal (150°C) for extended periods of time (22 h) to increase the bond strength. This process was sufficient to produce a CdZnTe on silicon structure that was able to withstand subsequent chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) of the CZT substrate. We also investigated CMP of the transferred CdZnTe to improve the surface for subsequent epitaxial deposition. A Br/ethylene glycol/methanol solution produced the lowest damage levels, as determined by triple axis x-ray diffraction (TAD) while a standard silica/NaOH treatment produced a surface with <0.5-nm root mean square (RMS) roughness.
Maternal Control of Embryogenesis by MEDEA, a Polycomb Group Gene in Arabidopsis

The gametophytic maternal effect mutant medea (mea) shows aberrant growth regulation during embryogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Embryos derived from mea eggs grow excessively and die during seed desiccation. Embryo lethality is independent of the paternal contribution and gene dosage. The mea phenotype is consistent with the parental conflict theory for the evolution of parent-of-origin-specific effects. MEA encodes a SET domain protein similar to Enhancer of zeste, a member of the Polycomb group. In animals, Polycomb group proteins ensure the stable inheritance of expression patterns through cell division and regulate the control of cell proliferation.
Alcoholism-associated spinal and femoral bone loss in abstinent male alcoholics, as measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry.

Although alcoholism is a known risk factor for osteoporosis, there are few published reports on alcoholism-associated bone loss. To study alcoholism-associated bone loss, this study used a dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) densitometer to measure lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) in a previously little-studied population: 32 relatively healthy, nonhospitalized, Caucasian, alcoholic men with a period of abstinence longer than that previously studied (median abstinence 4.0 months, range 3 days–36 months). DXA is a new, highly precise densitometric method with many advantages over the methods used in previous studies. The subjects had statistically significant bone loss at three sites: lumbar spine, femoral neck, and Ward's triangle (multiple correction adjusted two-tailed P < 0.008). Compared to the mean BMD of sex-, age-, and race-matched norms, the subjects' average femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and lumbar BMDs were, respectively, 0.56, 0.69, and 0.57 standard deviations (SDs) below the normative values.
Heat-Related Illness

Heat-related illnesses encompass disorders ranging from minor syndromes to life-threatening emergencies. The number of children suffering from heat-related illness is increasing. Because of physiologic differences and unique behavioral characteristics, children are at high risk for suffering heat-related illnesses. This article reviews physiologic responses to heat stress and highlights particular differences and behavioral considerations unique to children. It will address the diagnosis of heat-related illness in the emergency department, including the need for accurate temperature assessment and laboratory diagnostic tests. Management strategies follow a description of each illness. The science surrounding possible treatments for moderate to severe heat-related illness is reviewed.
HeteroCheckpoint: Efficient Checkpointing for Accelerator-Based Systems

Moving toward exascale, the number of GPUs in HPC machines is bound to increase, and applications will spend increasing amounts of time running on those GPU devices. While GPU usage has already led to substantial speedup for HPC codes, their failure rates due to overheating are at least 10 times higher than those seen for the CPUs now commonly used on HPC machines. This makes it increasingly important for GPUs to have robust checkpoint/restart mechanisms. This paper introduces a unified CPU-GPU checkpoint mechanism, which can efficiently checkpoint the combined GPU-CPU memory state resident on machine nodes. Efficiency is gained in part by addressing the end-to-end data movements required for check pointing - from GPU to storage - by introducing novel pre-copy and checksum methods. These methods reduce checkpoint data movement cost seen by HPC applications, with initial measurements using different benchmark applications showing up to 60% reduced checkpoint overhead. Additional exploration of the use of next-generation storage, like NVM, show further promises of reduced check pointing overheads.
Intercellular exchange of class II MHC complexes: Ultrastructural localization and functional presentation of adsorbed I-A/peptide complexes

Activated rat T cells, like human T cells, synthesize class II MHC glycoproteins (MHCII) and absorb MHCII from neighboring T cells. This study focused on interactions of myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific T cells that either synthesized MHCII or absorbed MHCII during activation to assess cellular structures associated with presentation of functional MHCII/peptide complexes. Synthesis of MHCII by CD4(+)TCR(+) T cells involved I-A(+) multivesicular MHC class II-like compartments (MIIC), release of MHCII(+) vesicles, and expression of MHCII on a dendritic arborization. T-cell-mediated adsorption of MHCII was a saturable process that required close cell proximity, actin polymerization, and a permissive temperature. Adsorbed MHCII existed on vesicles that were intimately associated with the responder cell membrane. T cells bearing adsorbed vesicular MHCII presented antigen and were specifically lysed by CD4(+) T cell responders, but when labeled with anti-MHCII antibody were not susceptible to complement-mediated lysis. In summary, this study reveals vesicular compartments associated with synthesis and intercellular exchange of functional MHCII/peptide complexes.
Increased neuromuscular activity causes axonal defects and muscular degeneration.

Before establishing terminal synapses with their final muscle targets, migrating motor axons form en passant synaptic contacts with myotomal muscle. Whereas signaling through terminal synapses has been shown to play important roles in pre- and postsynaptic development, little is known about the function of these early en passant synaptic contacts. Here, we show that increased neuromuscular activity through en passant synaptic contacts affects pre- and postsynaptic development. We demonstrate that in zebrafish twister mutants, prolonged neuromuscular transmission causes motor axonal extension and muscular degeneration in a dose-dependent manner. Cloning of twister reveals a novel, dominant gain-of-function mutation in the muscle-specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α-subunit, CHRNA1. Moreover, electrophysiological analysis demonstrates that the mutant subunit increases synaptic decay times, thereby prolonging postsynaptic activity. We show that as the first en passant synaptic contacts form, excessive postsynaptic activity in homozygous embryos severely impedes pre- and postsynaptic development, leading to degenerative defects characteristic of the human slow-channel congenital myasthenic syndrome. By contrast, in heterozygous embryos, transient and mild increase in postsynaptic activity does not overtly affect postsynaptic morphology but causes transient axonal defects, suggesting bi-directional communication between motor axons and myotomal muscle. Together, our results provide compelling evidence that during pathfinding, myotomal muscle cells communicate extensively with extending motor axons through en passant synaptic contacts.
The effect of fillers on the vibration welding of poly(butylene terephthalate)

Abstract Two particulate-filled grades of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) containing about 10 and 30 wt% mineral fillers, one particulate-filled polyester blend containing about 65 wt% mineral filler, and two glass-filled grades of PBT containing about 15 and 30 wt% glass fibres have been studied to assess the effects of fillers on the strength of vibration welded butt joints. The weldability of these materials has been characterized at weld frequencies of 120 and 250 Hz and weld pressures of 0.9 and 3.45 MPa. Each of these five materials is shown to exhibit the four phases of vibration welding that are common in unfilled resins. Welds of these five materials are shown to achieve strengths on the order of 89, 58, 85, 69 and 60% of the strengths of the base (filled) resins.
Vanadium, nickel and cobalt variations in eclogites from Roberts Victor Mine, South Africa

Abstract The V-Ni-Co variation trend of Roberts Victor eclogites is toward the enrichment of vanadium at the expense of nickel with relatively little change of cobalt. The systematic V-Ni-Co variation together with petrographic evidences suggest that Group I and Group II eclogites from Roberts Victor Mine were most probably formed by fractional crystallization.
Search for Nagaoka ferromagnetism in non-magnetic doped semiconductors

Abstract While ferromagnetism at relatively high temperatures is seen in diluted magnetic semiconductors such as Ga 1 - x Mn x As , under certain conditions semiconductors doped with non-magnetic impurities may also exhibit a ferromagnetic ground state. We investigate the possibility of ferromagnetism in a generalized disordered Hubbard model designed to characterize hydrogenic centers in semiconductors. We demonstrate the occurrence of high spin ground states in clusters (e.g. doped quantum dots), and discuss the nature of the single-particle states in a positionally disordered three-dimensional system with a maximally spin-polarized ground state. In particular, we identify the mobility edges, and describe their dependence on impurity density and potential.
Late recurrence of herpes simplex virus meningoencephalitis in two infants.

Two infants with recurrence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis are reported. Both patients developed HSV encephalitis during their neonatal period and were treated with iv acyclovir. Long-term oral acyclovir prophylaxis was given thereafter. At the age of 8 and 11 months respectively, both babies, while under oral acyclovir prophylaxis, presented a second episode of HSV encephalitis. An inadequate dose of suppressive oral acyclovir therapy may be responsible for the recurrence of encephalitis in these two babies. Conclusion: the present observations emphasise the need for very long follow-up of any infant who has suffered from neonatal herpes simplex virus encephalitis and the need for careful prospective controlled studies in order to define the appropriate treatment regimen (initial plus prophylaxis) for neonates with herpes simplex virus infections.
Detection of Myoglobin with an Open-Cavity-Based Label-Free Photonic Crystal Biosensor

The label-free detection of one of the cardiac biomarkers, myoglobin, using a photonic-crystal-based biosensor in a total-internal-reflection configuration (PC-TIR) is presented in this paper. The PC-TIR sensor possesses a unique open optical microcavity that allows for several key advantages in biomolecular assays. In contrast to a conventional closed microcavity, the open configuration allows easy functionalization of the sensing surface for rapid biomolecular binding assays. Moreover, the properties of PC structures make it easy to be designed and engineered for operating at any optical wavelength. Through fine design of the photonic crystal structure, biochemical modification of the sensor surface, and integration with a microfluidic system, we have demonstrated that the detection sensitivity of the sensor for myoglobin has reached the clinically significant concentration range, enabling potential usage of this biosensor for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. The real-time response of the sensor to the myoglobin binding may potentially provide point-of-care monitoring of patients and treatment effects.
The molecular depression of the surface tension by fatty acids in aqueous solution

Abstract When fatty acids are dissolved in water and the lowering of the surface tension is plotted against the natural logarithm of the concentration in grams per kilogram, the equation for the rectilinear midportion of the curve is F= aRT log e g + aRTM 14 , where a is the molar surface excess calculated from the slope, aRT, g is the gram concentration, and M is the molecular weight of the fatty acid calculated from the intercept, aRTM/14.
Human and economic impact of allergic contact dermatitis and the role of patch testing

A 40-year-old woman had hand dermatitis. By history alone, a dermatologist diagnosed contact dermatitis from detergents and cleaning solutions. During the next 5 years the patient wore cotton liners under rubber gloves when handling cleaning solutions but continued to have dermatitis. She applied topical corticosteroids regularly and received systemic steroid injections intermittently. After 5 years, she sought the opinion of another dermatologist. This time diagnostic patch tests were employed and revealed an allergy to thiuram mix and carba mix. These results indicated a problem with the rubber gloves she was wearing. She also was found to be sensitive to quatemium-15 in her hand cream. A change to polyvinyl chloride based gloves and a hand cream without quatemium-15 led to resolution of her dermatitis. As this case illustrates, allergic contact dermatitis can be a significant and costly medical problem. Rapid, accurate diagnosis, however, can eliminate a persistent skin problem. The cost to society and industry from occupational skin diseases alone has been estimated to be up to $1 billion per year, 1 more than 90% of which is estimated to result from contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis also exacts a significant toll in terms of time lost from work and a potentially inappropriate job change, resulting in a lower standard of living. Adding to the patient's burden is the discomfort and disability that results from continued exposure to the offending allergen.
An Introduction to Islamic Law

Wael Hallaq is one of the leading scholars in the field of Islamic law, and well-qualified to evaluate the historical Shari‘ah, in comparison with both modern legislation and today's heavily politi...