cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exogenous nitric oxide prevents cardiovascular collapse during hemorrhagic shock

This study investigated the systemic and microvascular hemodynamic changes related to increased nitric oxide (NO) availability following significant hemorrhage, made available by administration of NO releasing nanoparticles (NO-nps). Hemodynamic responses to hemorrhagic shock were studied in the hamster window chamber. Acute hemorrhage was induced by arterial controlled bleeding of 50% of blood volume, and the resulting hemodynamic parameters were followed over 90 min. Exogenous NO was administered in the form of NO-nps (5 mg/kg suspended in 50 μl saline) 10 min following induced hemorrhage. Control groups received equal dose of NO free nanoparticles (Control-nps) and Vehicle solution. Animals treated with NO-nps partially maintained systemic and microvascular function during hypovolemic shock compared to animals treated with Control-nps or the Vehicle (50 μl saline). The continuous NO released by the NO-nps reverted arteriolar vasoconstriction, partially recovered both functional capillary density and microvascular blood flows. Additionally, NO supplementation post hemorrhage prevented cardiac decompensation, and thereby maintained and stabilized the heart rate. Paradoxically, the peripheral vasodilation induced by the NO-nps did not decrease blood pressure, and combined with NO's effects on vascular resistance, NO-nps promoted intravascular pressure redistribution and blood flow, avoiding tissue ischemia. Therefore, by increasing NO availability with NO-nps during hypovolemic shock, it is possible that cardiac stability and microvascular perfusion can be preserved, ultimately increasing survivability and local tissue viability, and reducing hemorrhagic shock sequelae. The relevance, stability, and efficacy of exogenous NO therapy in the form of NO-nps will potentially facilitate the intended use in battlefield and trauma situations.
Racial Differences in Trends and Predictors of Infant Sleep Positioning in South Carolina, 1996–2007

This paper examines racial differences in trends and predictors of prone and lateral infant sleep positioning among South Carolina mothers and infants. Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data were used to analyze linear trends in prone, lateral, and supine infant sleep positioning among 14,648 mother-infant pairs from 1996 to 2007. Logistic regression models were used to examine the predictors of prone and lateral positioning among 9,015 mother-infant pairs from 2000 to 2007. From 1996 to 2007, white infants experienced a reduction in both prone and lateral positioning and an increase in supine positioning (28.2–66.7%), while black infants had smaller decreases in prone and lateral positioning and a smaller increase in supine positioning (22.6–47.1%) than white infants. Compared to births in 2000–2005, births after the explicit recommendation that infants not be placed in the lateral sleep position (2006–2007) were associated with decreased odds of lateral positioning among white infants (odds ratio [OR]: 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51, 0.87) but not among black infants. The significant predictors of white infants being placed in the prone position were different from the predictors for black infants. Additionally, with regard to lateral sleep positioning, more significant predictors were observed among white infants than black infants. These findings suggest that efforts are warranted to increase the prevalence of supine sleep positioning, especially among black infants. Race-specific programs may efficiently reduce non-supine sleep positioning to help narrow racial gaps in sudden infant death syndrome.
Program directors' opinions about surgical competency in otolaryngology residents.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether certain surgical procedures could be used as benchmark skills to monitor resident progress in developing surgical competency. Study Design: Survey. Methods: A two-stage survey was sent to otolaryngology residency program directors in the United States. Respondents were given a list of otolaryngology surgical procedures monitored by the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABO) and were asked to indicate whether they felt residents should be able to do each as a primary surgeon. The appropriate level of training for competency in each procedure and estimated number of procedures to competency was indicated by respondents. Results: Respondents selected 16 common procedures they felt residents at different levels of training should be able to perform independently. There were discrepancies between estimated number of procedures needed for competence and the numbers reported by ABO graduates. Conclusions: Surgical skill is one aspect of clinical competency, and this indicates agreement among program directors with regard to a set of benchmark skills we can use for concentrated evaluation efforts.
Morphology of two pairs of identified peptidergic neurons in the buccal ganglia of the mollusc Tritonia diomedea.

The morphology of two pairs of identified peptidergic neurons (B11 and B12) located in the buccal ganglia of Tritonia diomedea was described. Both pairs of neurons contained a large quantity of a small cardioactive peptide (SCP) in their somata. One of the pairs (B11), the large dorsal white cells, contained ACh in their somata along with SCP. Both pairs of cells appeared white in live preparations under epi-illumination. Each B11 and B12 was a unipolar neuron and sent its major axonal branch through the ipsilateral gastro-esophageal nerve to the gut. In addition, B12 sent a small branch to the contralateral buccal ganglion. A characteristic feature of both neuron pairs was their vesicular content. Three types of vesicles were observed in B11. Vesicles with electron-lucent core (LCV) and electron-dense core (DCV) were found in the somata. The axon hillock and the beginning of axon contained vesicles with variable electron dense core (VDCV) in addition to LCV and DCV. The ratio of DCV: LCV: VDCV changed from 5:95:0 for the perinuclear cytoplasm to 8:55:37 for the beginning of axon. The average maximum diameters were 97 ± 23 nm for DCV, 103 ± 32 nm for LCV and 106 ± 29 nm for VDCV. B12 somata contained DCV (average maximum diameter 100 ± 26 nm), LCV (109 ± 23 nm) and elliptical vesicles with eccentric electron-opaque core (115 ± 20 nm).
Predicting facial valence to negative stimuli from resting RSA: Not a function of active emotion regulation

This research examined the relationship between emotional expressivity and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). A total of 94 healthy undergraduate participants watched a 2 minute movie that was either hedonically positive or negative and reported their emotional response to the film. Skin conductance, number of electrodermal responses (EDRs) and cardiac vagal control (respiratory sinus arrhythmia; RSA) were measured for the 2 minutes prior to and during the film. Facial expressions were videotaped during movie presentation and later rated in terms of valence. Regression analyses revealed that participants with higher baseline RSA levels expressed less negative (i.e., more neutral) facial affect to the negative film, but resting RSA did not predict facial valence to the positive film. In addition, RSA did not predict self-reported affect or sympathetic reactivity (EDRs), indicating that the pattern of facial responding exhibited by individuals with higher resting RSA was not the result of an active respons...
Multiple sclerosis: an immunologic reassessment.

THE PURSUIT of the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) has accelerated in recent years, nourished by new evidence implicating immunologic factors in pathogenesis of the disease. The trail is not yet ‘hot’, but obviously getting warmer. In any ‘chase’ it’s a good idea to pause and take stock of the situation. In this editorial, the widely accepted thesis that MS is an immunologic disease is briefly examined. Concordant evidence is summarized. Special attention will be paid to discordant evidence, since this is where clues may be found for incisive future studies of this elusive disease.
Risk Area Accuracy and Hurricane Evacuation Expectations of Coastal Residents

This study examined the accuracy with which Texas coastal residents were able to locate their residences on hurricane risk area maps provided to them. Overall, only 36% of the respondents correctly identified their risk areas and another 28% were off by one risk area. Risk area accuracy shows minimal correlations with respondents' demographic characteristics but is negatively correlated with the respondent's previous hurricane exposure and evacuation experience. Ultimately, risk area accuracy appears to have little significance because it is uncorrelated with evacuation expectations. Instead, the latter were related to respondents' previous hazard experience and expected evacuation context.
Taurine content of isolated rat alveolar type I cells

Abstract 1. 1. Rat alveolar type I cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion and purified by centrifugal elutriation and specific surface adsorption. 2. 2. The identity of the harvested cells was confirmed using electronic cell sizing and transmission electron microscopy. 3. 3. Purified cell preparations contained 4.6 ± 2.3 × 106 type I cells/rat lung with a purity of 79 ± 3%. 4. 4. Isolated type I cells exhibited the following characteristics: mean cell volume = 716 ± 48 μm3; diameter = 11.1 ± 0.7 μm; and cell water content = 0.50 ± 0.03 μl/106 cells. 5. 5. Taurine content of these alveolar type I cells was measured by HPLC. 6. 6. The intracellular taurine concentration of type I cells was 0.14 ± 0.07 mM, a value close to that of plasma (0.1 mM).
Intracellular distribution of adrenoceptors in the failing human myocardium

Abstract Although it is increasingly recognized that the density of cardiac membrane-bound beta adrenoceptors declines in heart failure, the mechanisms involved are unclear. Furthermore, it is not known whether cardiac alpha-1 adrenoceptors are similarly affected. In as much as agonist-induced desensitization results in translocation of adrenoceptors from the plasma membrane to an intracellular vesicular fraction, we determined the intracellular distribution of cardiac adrenoceptors in two groups: group 1 (n = 9) consisted of papillary muscles from patients with mild-to-moderate heart failure undergoing valve replacement, and group 2 (n = 8) consisted of severely failing hearts removed during orthotopic cardiac transplantation. The density of cardiac beta adrenoceptors was lower in membranes from group 2 (17.8 ± 3.3 fmol/mg protein vs 27.8 ± 3.7 fmol/mg in group 1; ( p p r = −0.87; p r = −0.8; p
Customer Relationship Management in Higher Education: Using Information Systems to Improve the Student-School Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore customer relationship management (CRM) in a higher education setting.Design/methodology/approach – The development and implementation of a CRM project in a state community college was examined as were the benefits realized by implementing CRM. As colleges increasingly embrace distance learning and e‐business, CRM will become stronger and more pervasive. Viewing students as customers provides a competitive advantage for higher education and enhances a college's ability to attract, retain and serve its customers. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with individuals involved with the planning, development and implementation of a statewide CIS system. Student support personnel were additionally interviewed.Findings – The benefits of implementing CRM in a college setting include a student‐centric focus, improved customer data and process management, increased student loyalty, retention and satisfaction with the college's programs and services.Research lim...
Perioperative Complications of Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation: The Emory Experience

Over a 5-year period, 110 cardioverter-defibrillators (109 epicardial, 1 transvenous) were implanted consecutively in selected patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The perioperative course of this patient population was examined to determine the associated morbidity and mortality of the procedure. Patients were predominantly male, with coronary artery disease and a decreased left ventricular ejection fraction. Most underwent median sternotomy for implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation. The incidence of perioperative mortality was found to be 2.7%. New-onset atrial fibrillation or flutter occurred in 17.3% of the patients during the postoperative period and aggravation of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in 19.1%. The ICD system became infected in 2.7% of the patients and the mediastinal incision site infected in 2.4%. Pneumonia developed in 4.5%. Other complications included significant blood loss, ICD pocket hematomas, and lead dislodgement. There is an appreciable incidence of morbidity and mortality associated with ICD implantation.
Characteristics of the Pituitary Binding Sites for Thyrotropin—Releasing Factor

There appear to exist two sites on pituitary thyrotrophs which recognize TRF; one with an affinity constant of 2 X 10-8M, the other with a constant of ca. 5 X 10-7M. The high affinity site saturates at a concentration of TRF tenfold greater than that required to obtain maximal biological activity, possibly indicating the presence of a large number of spare TRF receptors. The TRF binding sites have affinities for TRF analogues which are proportional to their biological potencies as determined by bioassays. An analysis of the competition binding data shows that the two binding sites have slightly different structural preference for some of the TRF analogues. (Endocrinology 92: 1629, 1973)
Uses of artificial intelligence in design optimization

Abstract In this paper, basic ideas and concepts of using artificial intelligence in design optimization of engineering systems are presented. The purpose of the study is to develop an expert (knowledge-based) system that helps the user in design optimization. Two basic ideas are advocated: (1) the successful numerical implementation of algorithms needs heuristics; and (2) the optimal design process can be greatly benefited by the use of heuristics based on knowledge captured during the iterative process. Various steps in the optimization process, where artificial intelligence ideas can be of tremendous help, are delineated. Some simple rules are presented to utilize the knowledge base and raw data as it accumulates in the iterative process. A simple example is used to demonstrate some of the basic ideas.
Bicuculline and Gabazine Are Allosteric Inhibitors of Channel Opening of the GABAA Receptor

Anesthetic drugs are known to interact with GABAAreceptors, both to potentiate the effects of low concentrations of GABA and to directly gate open the ion channel in the absence of GABA; however, the site(s) involved in direct gating by these drugs is not known. We have studied the ability of alphaxalone (an anesthetic steroid) and pentobarbital (an anesthetic barbiturate) to directly activate recombinant GABAA receptors containing the α1, β2, and γ2L subunits. Steroid gating was not affected when either of two mutated β2 subunits [β2(Y157S) and β2(Y205S)] are incorporated into the receptors, although these subunits greatly reduce the affinity of GABA binding. These observations indicate that steroid binding and subsequent channel gating do not require these particular residues, as already shown for barbiturates. Bicuculline or gabazine (two competitive antagonists of GABA binding) reduced the currents elicited by alphaxalone and pentobarbital from wild-type GABAA receptors; however, gabazine produced only a partial block of responses to pentobarbital or alphaxalone, and bicuculline only partially blocked responses to pentobarbital. These observations indicate that the blockers do not compete with alphaxalone or pentobarbital for a single class of sites on the GABAAreceptor. Finally, at receptors containing α1β2(Y157S)γ2L subunits, both bicuculline and gabazine showed weak agonist activity and actually potentiated responses to alphaxalone. These observations indicate that the blocking drugs can produce allosteric changes in GABAA receptors, at least those containing this mutated β2 subunit. We conclude that the sites for binding steroids and barbiturates do not overlap with the GABA-binding site. Furthermore, neither gabazine nor bicuculline competes for binding at the steroid or barbiturate sites. The data are consistent with a model in which both gabazine and bicuculline act as allosteric inhibitors of channel opening for the GABAA receptor after binding to the GABA-binding site.
Enhanced expression of metallothionein isoform 3 protein in tumor heterotransplants derived from As+3- and Cd+2-transformed human urothelial cells.

This laboratory has proposed that the third isoform of the metallothionein gene family (MT-3) might be a biomarker for the development of human bladder cancer. Immunohistochemical staining of MT-3 on archival diagnostic specimens showed that only 2 of 63 (3.17%) benign bladder specimens had even weak reactivity for the MT-3 protein. In contrast, 103 of 107 (96.26%) high-grade urothelial cancers and 17 of 17 (100%) specimens of carcinoma in situ stained positive for the MT-3 protein. For lowgrade bladder cancer it was shown that 30 of 48 specimens (62.5%) expressed the MT-3 protein. Using a cell culture model (UROtsa), it was demonstrated that expression of the MT-3 protein was not required for malignant transformation of urothelial cells by either Cd +2 or As +3 . In contrast, it was shown that the cells transformed by Cd +2 and As +3 that did not express the MT-3 gene in cell culture, gained expression of MT-3 when grown as heterotransplants in nude mice. The gain in MT-3 expression when cells were grown as heterotransplants was also shown to occur for the MCF-7, T-47D, Hs 578t, MDA-MB-231 breast cancer, and the PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines. An analysis of MT-3 mRNA and protein expression suggested that a posttranscriptional mechanism was responsible for accumulation of the MT-3 protein. The results provide strong evidence that MT-3 could be a biomarker for the development of high-grade bladder cancer and that the expression of the MT-3 gene is not involved in the in vitro malignant transformation of UROtsa cells by Cd +2 and As +3 . Bladder cancer is the first cancer in which industrial exposurewas shown to be the major factor in disease causation. This laboratory has proposed that the third isoform of the metallothionein gene family (MT-3) might be a biomarker for the development of human bladder cancer (Sens et al., 2000). A retrospective immunohistochemical analysis of MT-3 expression was performed on a modest sample set of archival paraffinembedded diagnostic specimens composed of benign and cancerous lesions of the bladder. The cells of the normal bladder were shown to have no immunoreactivity for the MT-3 protein. In contrast, all specimens of bladder cancer were immunoreactive for the MT-3 protein and the intensity of staining correlated to tumor grade. An analysis of MT-3 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein was also performed on samples obtained from surgically removed normal bladder tissue. Immunoblot analysis failed to detect MT-3 protein. The analysis of MT-3 mRNA expression by reverse transcriptase‐ PCR (RT-PCR) at an input of 500 ng total RNA and 40 reaction cycles showed no reaction product. These findings were in agreement with the negative immunostaining found using benign paraffin-embedded bladder tissue and it was concluded that the normal bladder expressed minimal, if any, MT-3 mRNA and protein. The goal of the present study was to confirm and extend these observations to a larger sample set
Bartoli indole synthesis

7-Substituted indoles from the reaction of ortho-substituted nitroarenes and vinyl Grignard reagents.
cDNA cloning and developmental expression of fibroblast growth factor receptors from Xenopus laevis.

Abstract The heparin-binding growth factors constitute a family of homologous polypeptides including basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). These factors participate in a variety of processes, including wound healing, angiogenesis, neuronal survival, and inductive events in the early amphibian embryo. We have isolated three closely related species of cDNA clones for Xenopus FGF receptors. One of these, designated XFGFR-A1, encodes an open reading frame of 814 amino acids. A second class encodes an identical amino acid sequence with the exception of an 88-amino-acid deletion near the 5' end. This species probably arises through alternative splicing. A third class of cDNA corresponding to the shorter form of XFGFR-A1 was isolated and shown to be 95% homologous and is designated XFGFR-A2. Xenopus FGF receptors are similar to FGF receptors from other species in that they contain a transmembrane domain, a tyrosine kinase domain split by a 14-amino-acid insertion, and a unique conserved stretch of eight acidic residues in the extracellular domain. Overexpression of Xenopus FGF receptor protein by transfection of COS1 cells with the corresponding cDNA in a transient expression vector leads to the appearance of new FGF binding sites on transfected cells, consistent with these cDNAs encoding for FGF receptors. RNA gel blot analysis demonstrates that Xenopus FGF receptor mRNA is a maternal message and is expressed throughout early development. When blastula-stage ectoderm is cultured in control amphibian salt solutions, Xenopus FGF receptor mRNA declines to undetectable levels by late neurula stages. However, when cultured in the presence of FGF of XTC mesoderm-inducing factor, Xenopus FGF receptor RNA expression is maintained.
The periodic acid-Schiff stain in diagnosing tinea: should it be used routinely in inflammatory skin diseases?

Background: The clinical presentation of tinea is usually, but not always, characteristic. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the routine use of the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain in inflammatory skin disorders is requisite for identifying clinically undiagnosed tinea cases and to ascertain whether there are histopathologic clues that suggest the diagnosis of a dermatophyte infection. Methods: Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides from 60 PAS-positive tinea cases were examined histologically by two observers. One observer, aware of the diagnosis of tinea, searched for hyphal elements and also recorded in detail epidermal, dermal, and follicular changes. The second observer, not aware of the diagnosis beforehand, reviewed the same slides, together with randomly mixed slides from 21 non-tinea cases, recording the same parameters as the first reviewer. Results: Of the 60 cases of tinea, only 45% were diagnosed clinically. Histologic examination of H&E sections by the two observers disclosed the presence of hyphal elements in 68 and 45%, respectively. No significant histologic differences, except for the presence of hyphae, were observed between tinea and non-tinea cases. Conclusions: The finding that only 57% of PAS-positive cases of tinea showed hyphal elements on H&E examination alone, together with no other differentiable histologic characteristics, lends strong support for the routine use of PAS-staining for inflammatory skin disorders.
Changes in Terrestrial Carbon Over the Last 135 Years

About 2100 Pg of organic C are held in the earth’s terrestrial ecosystems: 550 Pg in living plants and 1500 Pg in the organic matter of soils (Houghton et al. 1985b). Because this terrestrial reservoir of carbon is about 3 times greater than the atmospheric reservoir of carbon, and because the annual exchanges of carbon between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere are large (100–120 PgC), changes in terrestrial ecosystems are important in affecting the atmospheric concentration of CO2. Attempts to estimate such changes have been underway for more than a decade (Woodwell and Pecan 1973, Bolin 1977, Woodwell and Houghton 1977, Woodwell et al. 1978).
CYTOCHROME P-450 3A4: Regulation and Role in Drug Metabolism

Cytochrome P-450 (P-450) 3A4 is the most abundant P-450 expressed in human liver and small intestine. P-450 3A4 contributes to the metabolism of approximately half the drugs in use today, and variations in its catalytic activity are important in issues of bioavailability and drug-drug interactions. The gene is known to be inducible by barbiturates, glucocorticoids, and rifampicin in humans and in isolated hepatocytes, although the mechanism remains unclear. The 5'-untranslated region includes putative basal transcription element, hepatocyte nuclear factor, p53, AP-3, glucocorticoid regulatory element, pregnane X receptor, and estrogen receptor element sequences. Recently, the GRE element has been shown to act in a classic glucocorticoid response. Several issues remain to be resolved regarding the catalytic activity of the P-450 3A4 protein, including rate-limiting steps and the need for cytochrome b5, divalent cations, and acidic phospholipid systems for optimal activity. Another issue involves the basis of the homotropic and heterotropic cooperativity seen with the enzyme. The in vivo significance of these findings remains to be further established. In addition to more basic studies on P-450 3A4, several areas of practical interest to the pharmaceutical industry require development.
Transient and fine-grained voltage adaptation for variation resilience in VLSI interconnects

Process variations and circuit aging continue to be a main challenge to the power-efficiency of VLSI circuits, as considerable power budget must be allocated to cushion timing variations. A design-time allocation implies a uniform power spending on all fabricated instances, even if many instances do not have strong variations. Adaptive design provides a power-efficient approach to variation tolerance, since it spends power only when the variations of a circuit instance are harmful. This work is an effort on supply voltage adaptation for variation resilience in VLSI interconnects. The main idea is boostable repeater design that can transiently and autonomously raise its Vdd to boost switching speed. The boosting can be turned on/off to compensate variations. Boostable repeater achieves finegrained voltage adaptation without stand-alone voltage regulators or additional power grid. Since interconnect is a widely recognized bottleneck to chip performance and tremendous repeaters are employed on chip designs, boostable repeater has plenty of chances to improve system robustness. Experimental results indicate that our approach significantly outperforms existing techniques including over-design, adaptive supply voltage and online adjustable buffer.
Integrated-antenna push-pull power amplifiers

In this paper, the integrated-antenna concept is applied to push-pull power amplifiers (PAs). In this approach, the antenna serves as an out-of-phase power combiner and tuned load for higher harmonics. This new architecture effectively has a near-zero loss output hybrid, and results in a high-efficiency PA. The first example is a narrow-band push-pull amplifier integrated with a dual-feed patch antenna. At an operating frequency of 2.5 GHz, a maximum measured power-added efficiency (PAE) of 55% is achieved. The second example is a broadband push-pull amplifier integrated with a dual-feed slot antenna amplifier operating at 2.46 GHz which has a peak PAE of 63%, and PAE better than 55% in an 8% bandwidth. Additionally, 48% PAE is achieved with code-division multiple-access modulation and adjacent-channel power ratio better than -42 dBe at a 1.25-MHz offset.
The effects of naltrexone on alcohol and cocaine use in dually addicted patients.

Concurrent dependence on cocaine and alcohol is common among patients seeking addiction treatment. This study was undertaken to explore the effectiveness of naltrexone (150 mg) as a potential treatment for patients who are alcohol and cocaine dependent. Of 15 subjects enrolled in the 12-week, open medication trial, 7 subjects did not complete the study. Relapse to clinically significant drinking occurred in 7 subjects (47%). There was a reduction in the average daily amount of alcohol consumed from pretreatment to treatment (p < .001) and the percentage of days engaged in drinking behavior (p < .001). Similarly, there was a reduction in the average weekly amount spent on cocaine from pretreatment to treatment (p = .001) and the percentage of days using cocaine (p < .001). This preliminary study suggests that naltrexone (150 mg) may be tolerable in patients dependent upon alcohol and cocaine and may be effective in reducing both cocaine and alcohol use. The results of this study provide a rationale for a double-blind placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of naltrexone in this difficult to treat but prevalent population.
In Vitro Micropropagation of Garden Thyme (Thymbra Spicata L. Var. Spicata L.) Collected from Southeastern Turkey using Cotyledon Node

ABSTRACTThymbra spicata L. from Labiaceae family is perennial plant that prefers dry sunny hillsides and high dry meadows. It bears beautiful purple white flowers and bloom from June to August. The essential oils found in different parts of Thymbra spicata make it an important antibacterial and antioxidant natural source. It is used in food industry as spice and for treatment of asthma and bronchitis in the traditional system. Micropropagation can help to produce large number of true to type plants in short period of time. The study reports micropropagation from cotyledon node explants obtained from in vitro grown plants. These were cultured on MS medium containing 0.05 mg/l TDZ (Thidiazuron), 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.12 mg/l NAA (α naphthalene acetic acid). Developing shoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid). All plants were acclimatised in the greenhouse.
Hyperkalemia following massive transfusion in trauma.

Background Large-volume blood transfusions have been implicated in the development of hyperkalemia. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether critically injured patients receiving massive transfusions are at an increased risk of hyperkalemia. Methods Massive transfusion (MT) cohort, all trauma patients (02/2004–01/2008) taken directly to the OR and receiving ≥10 units of RBC in first 24h. Comparison cohort (No-RBC), all patients (02/2004–01/2008) transported directly to the OR who received no blood products in the first 24h. Hyperkalemia defined as K+ > 5.5 mEq/L. Results There were 266 MT patients, 237 No-RBC patients. MT patients were more likely to have hyperkalemia in the immediate postoperative setting (1.8% versus 4.6%, P = 0.049). However, linear regression did not identify intraoperative blood transfusions as a predictor of postoperative K+ values (P = 0.417). Logistic regression identified only preop K+ (OR 1.79, P = 0.021) and postop pH (OR 0.009, P = 0.001), but not MT, as independent risk factors for postop hyperkalemia. Conclusions Despite concerns of hyperkalemia following MT, we found less than a 5% incidence of postop K+ (>5.5 mEq/L). After adjusting for the significant effects of preop K+ and postop pH, MT patients were at no higher risk of hyperkalemia than those who received no blood products.
Morphological variation within a macaque hybrid zone.

A hybrid zone exists between Macaca tonkeana and Macaca hecki (Primates: Cercopithecidae), centered along the Tawaeli-Toboli road in the narrow isthmus that connects North and Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The current study demonstrates morphological substructure from north to south across the hybrid zone. Macaques to the northwest of the Tawaeli-Toboli road more closely resemble M. hecki, and macaques to the southeast of the road resemble M. tonkeana. While morphology shifted for both males and females over a distance of 1,500-2,000 m, adult males were significantly more M. tonkeana-like across the morphological gradient. This suggests that in the study area, males of M. tonkeana-like morphology are dispersing into hybrid groups at the expense of M. hecki-like males. A permutation analysis of diagnostic character states indicated that associations existed among several morphological traits. This could be due to the operation of one or several nonexclusive evolutionary processes, including recent secondary contact, pleiotropic effects, physical linkage of loci, natural selection against hybrids, the influx of parental types, or assortative mating. Continued environmental perturbation associated with the Tawaeli-Toboli road is likely to be a significant factor in the future of the M. tonkeana/M. hecki hybrid interaction.
The Relationship Between Political Language and Political Reality

Albert Camus' ironic judge-penitent, Jean-Baptiste Clemence, remarks to his compatriot in the seedy bar, Mexico City, in a shadowy district of Amsterdam, the mist rising off the canals, the fog rolling in, cheap gin the only source of warmth, “Somebody has to have the last word. Otherwise, every reason can be answered with another one and there would never be an end to it. Power, on the other hand, settles everything. It took time, but we finally realized that. For instance, you must have noticed that our old Europe at last philosophizes in the right way. We no longer say as in simple times: ‘This is the way I think. What are your objections?’ We have become lucid. For the dialogue we have substituted the communique: ‘This is the truth,’ we say. You can discuss it as much as you want; we aren't interested. But in a few years there'll be the police who will show you we are right.”Now this is still an imperfect method of control—the enforcers are clearly identified and the coercion is too obvious. Not so in Orwell's 1984. As Syme, the chilling destroyer of language proclaims: “It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.” Speaking to Orwell's protagonist Winston Smith, Syme continues: “Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought. In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed will be expressed by exactly one word, with its meaning rigidly defined and all its subsidiary meanings rubbed out and forgotten…. Every year fewer and fewer words, and the range of consciousness always a little smaller. Even now, of course, there's no reason or excuse for committing thoughtcrime. It's merely a question of self-discipline, reality control. But in the end there won't be any need even for that. The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect.”
Personal Growth, Laboratory Training, Science, and All That: A Shot at a Cognitive Clarification

In "Comments on the Preceding Article" style, two psychologists react to Chris Argyris' "On the Future of Laboratory Education" (JABS, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1967) by distilling and blending the modes of learning elaborated by Bruner (Bruner, Olver, & Greenfield, 1966). They apply Bruner's successive stages of understanding-from the senses, to images, to symbols-to laboratory training and pay homage to the trainer who will respect the complexity of individual growth. There is room for both the enactive and the symbolic in the future of laboratory education, say the authors, as long as the hierarchy is understood and maintained.
Toxicity of Botanical Medicines: An Overlooked Global Health Problem

The authors argue that the toxicity of botanical medicines is an overlooked international public health problem as of 2016, and it mentions how herbal remedies are commonly used in places where access to health care is limited and traditional healing cultures exist. Aristolochic acids are examined in relation to renal failure and interstitial tubulonephritis. Cancer and other health problems in Taiwan and China are assessed, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
On finite wordlength FIR filter design

A recent paper has investigated the use of integer linear programming for the design of Chebyshev-optimal finite wordlength FIR digital filters. We point out that for some time domain error norms, coefficient rounding provides the best approximation to the infinite precision filter.
Modulation by cAMP of a slowly activating potassium channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes

When expressed in the Xenopus oocyte, the minK protein induces a slowly activating voltage-dependent potassium current (Isk). We studied the modulation of this current by altering intracellular cAMP levels and found that the amplitude of Isk is dramatically increased by treatments that raise cAMP levels and decreased by agents that lower cAMP levels. Preinjection of a protein inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase blocked the effects of increased cAMP levels. There were no changes in the voltage dependence or kinetics of Isk. Mutations that eliminate a potential phosphorylation site on the minK protein did not block the effects of activating the kinase. In addition, the membrane capacitance of the oocyte increased and decreased in parallel with Isk. Our results fit a mechanism in which channel proteins are selectively inserted into and removed from the plasma membrane in response to changes in kinase activity.
Thermodynamic investigation of concentrating solar power with thermochemical storage

Concentrating solar power systems coupled to energy storage schemes, e.g. storage of sensible energy in a heat transfer fluid, are attractive options to reduce the transient effects of clouding on solar power output and to provide power after sunset and before sunrise. Common heat transfer fluids used to capture heat in a solar receiver include steam, oil, molten salt, and air. These high temperature fluids can be stored so that electric power can be produced on demand, limited primarily by the size of the capacity and the energy density of the storage mechanism. Phase changing fluids can increase the amount of stored energy relative to non-phase changing fluids due to the heat of vaporization or the heat of fusion. Reversible chemical reactions can also store heat; an endothermic reaction captures the heat, the chemical products are stored, and an exothermic reaction later releases the heat and returns the chemical compound to its initial state. Ongoing research is investigating the scientific and commercial potential of such reaction cycles with, for example, reduction (endothermic) and re-oxidation (exothermic) of metal oxide particles. This study includes thermodynamic analyses and considerations for component sizing of concentrating solar power towers with redox active metal oxide based thermochemical storage to reach target electrical output capacities of 0.1 MW to 100 MW. System-wide analyses here use one-dimensional energy and mass balances for the solar field, solar receiver reduction reactor, hot reduced particle storage, re-oxidizer reactor, power block, cold particle storage, and other components pertinent to the design. This work is part of a US Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot project entitled High Performance Reduction Oxidation of Metal Oxides for Thermochemical Energy Storage (PROMOTES).Copyright © 2015 by ASME
A Town Full of Dead Mexicans: The Salinas Valley Bracero Tragedy of 1963, the End of the Bracero Program, and the Evolution of California’s Chicano Movement

In 1963 a horrific accident took the lives of almost three dozen Mexican guest workers, or braceros, in California's Salinas Valley. This article examines the event's effects on various communities in the United States, including policy makers, civil rights activists, and farmworkers, while considering questions of race and labor, tragedy and historical memory, and the evolution of Chicano politics in California.
Can America Afford Tomorrow's Retirees: Results from the EBRI-ERF Retirement Security Projection Model

American retirees will have at least $45 billion less in retirement income in 2030 than what they will need to cover basic expenditures and any expense associated with an episode of care in a nursing home or from a home health care provider. The aggregate deficit in retiree income during the decade ending 2030 will be at least $400 billion. These findings are from an analysis by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) in collaboration with the Milbank Memorial Fund, known as the EBRI-ERF Retirement Security Projection Model.
“Normal” and “Special” Aspects of Pregnancy: A Psychological Approach

Pregnancy has been called the fulfillment of the deepest and most powerful wish of a woman, an expression of fulfillment and selfrealization, a creative act,1 which affords many women the opportunity to explore new directions in their lives. However, it may also be a stressful time, requiring adaptation to enable growth and maturation to occur.2 It may be stressful for a woman who must, for the first time, meet the challenges of pregnancy and the subsequent experience of “mothering.”3 Pregnancy can be compared to other critical life periods which Erikson calls developmental crises.2 A primary aspect of crisis in pregnancy is that it revives psychic conflicts of previous developmental phases, often enabling new solutions to be found and psychologic growth to occur.
Temperature sensitivity of mineral soil carbon decomposition in shrub and graminoid tundra, west Greenland

Shrub expansion is transforming Arctic tundra landscapes, but the impact on the large pool of carbon stored in high-latitude soils is poorly understood. Soil carbon decomposition is a potentially important source of greenhouse gases, which could create a positive feedback to atmospheric temperature. Decomposition is temperature sensitive, but the response to temperature can be altered by environmental variables. We focus on mineral soils, which can comprise a substantial part of the near-surface carbon stock at the landscape scale and have physiochemical characteristics that influence temperature sensitivity. We conducted a soil incubation experiment to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from tundra soils collected from west Greenland at two depths of mineral soils (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm below the surface organic horizon) incubated at five temperatures (4, 8, 12, 16, 24 °C) and two moisture levels (40 % and 60 % water holding capacity). We used an information theoretic model comparison approach to evaluate temperature, moisture and depth effects, and associated interactions, on carbon losses through respiration and to determine the temperature sensitivity of decomposition in shrub- and graminoid-dominated soils. We measured ecologically important differences in heterotrophic respiration and temperature sensitivity of decomposition between vegetation types. Graminoid soils had 1.8 times higher cumulative respiration and higher temperature sensitivity (expressed as Q-10) in the shallow depths (Q-10graminoid = 2.3, Q-10shrub = 1.8) compared to shrub soils. Higher Q-10 in graminoid soils was also observed for the initial incubation measurements (Q-10graminoid = 2.4, Q-10shrub = 1.9). Cumulative respiration was also higher for shallow soils, increased with moisture level, and had a temperature-depth interaction. Increasing soil moisture had a positive effect on temperature sensitivity in graminoid soils, but not in shrub soils. Mineral soil associated with graminoid-dominated vegetation had greater carbon losses from decomposition and a higher temperature sensitivity than shrub-dominated soils. An extrapolation of our incubation study suggests that organic carbon decomposition in western Greenland soils will likely increase with warming and with an increase in soil moisture content. Our results indicate that landscape level changes in vegetation and soil heterogeneity are important for understanding climate feedbacks between tundra and the atmosphere.
The Religion of Senators in the Roman Empire: Towards a “theology” of Roman religion

As in the republic, Roman religion in the empire was not grounded in a central and foundational theology, and therefore the common modern notion that religions are to be characterized by their central theological doctrines cannot adequately be applied in a discussion of Roman senatorial religion. The assertion that there was a “knowledge” component to the conceptualization of religion among senators requires further investigation, as does the place of imperial power, with its religious implication, within this conceptual framework. Chronology is key here: as Arnaldo Momigliano convincingly showed for the final years of the republic, the political upheavals of the times led Roman elites to a deeper engagement with religious questions. Though the pressing theological questions discussed by Cicero or Varro have no parallel in our period, their language and concerns feed into senatorial discussions about religion in the empire. To borrow Momigliano's phrase, “the theological efforts” of the upper classes continued during the empire as well; and in this chapter I shall keep “theology” in inverted commas in order to emphasize the difference between the less foundational role of these considerations among the Roman imperial elite and our modern expectations of the central role of theology for any religion. The chapter begins with a consideration of imperial approaches to talking about religion, noting how religious discourses contributed to the conceptualization of the divine. These knowledge frameworks provided a variety of concurrent foci for understanding the religious.
Impending therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Purpose of reviewAs the first genetic disease for which the culpable gene was identified by positional cloning, Duchenne muscular dystrophy has served as a paradigm for therapeutic approaches to neuromuscular disease, in which role it has proved especially testing. The large mass and broad distribut
An immunological factor that affects Anopheles gambiae survival

High titers of antibodies against Anopheles gambiae midguts were produced in New Zealand rabbits to identify midgut targets for an antimosquito vaccine. The serum from one of 8 rabbits (designated R2B6) killed 71.6% (Abbott's adjusted % mortality) of An. gambiae within 7 days. Mosquitoes ingesting R2B6 serum were unable to absorb their blood meal nutrients, resulting in reduced oviposition and egg hatching rates. Anopheles stephensi and Anopheles arabiensis were also killed when ingesting R2B6 serum but Anopheles freeborni, Anopheles albimanus, and Aedes aegypti were not affected. The mosquitocidal factor was a relatively large molecule (> 100,000 MW) maintained at threshold levels in the sera and killing was complement independent. Mortality, however, was not IgG mediated, as determined by protein A-sepharose fractionation. This surprising finding confounds possibilities of using antibodies against whole mosquito midguts as a step in the development of antimosquito vaccines.