cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isosilybin B causes androgen receptor degradation in human prostate carcinoma cells via PI3K-Akt-Mdm2-mediated pathway

The identification and development of novel nontoxic phytochemicals that target androgen and androgen receptor (AR) signaling remains a priority for prostate cancer (PCA) control. In the present study, we assessed the antiandrogenic efficacy of isosilybin B employing human PCA LNCaP (mutated AR), 22Rv1 (mutated AR) and LAPC4 (wild-type AR) cells. Isosilybin B (10–90 µM) treatment decreased the AR and prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in LNCaP, 22Rv1 and LAPC4 cells, but not in non-neoplastic human prostate epithelial PWR-1E cells. Isosilybin B treatment also inhibited synthetic androgen R1881-induced nuclear localization of AR, PSA expression and cell growth, and caused G1 arrest. In mechanistic studies identifying AR degradation, isosilybin B caused increased phosphorylation of Akt (Ser-473 and Thr-308) and Mdm2 (Ser-166), which was linked with AR degradation as pretreatment with PI3K inhibitor (LY294002)-restored AR level. Further, over-expression of kinase-dead Akt largely reversed isosilybin B mediated-AR degradation suggesting a critical role of Akt in AR degradation. Antibody pull-down results also indicated that isosilybin B treatment enhances the formation of complex between Akt, Mdm2 and AR, which promotes phosphorylation-dependent AR ubiquiti-nation and its degradation by proteasome. Together, present findings identify a novel mechanism for isosilybin B-mediated anticancer effects in human PCA cells.
Single-wafer optical processing of semiconductors: Thin insulator growth for integrated electronic device applications

This paper presents an overview of the single-wafer optical processing techniques for integrated circuit fabrication with an emphasis on their applications to insulator growth. Rapid thermal growth of various thin homogeneous and heterogeneous dielectrics on silicon substrates including silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, nitrided oxides, and composition-tailored insulators will be described and some electronic device applications of the rapidly grown dielectrics will be examined. Multicycle rapid growth processes have been used for dielectric structural engineering and in-situ formation of thin layered insulators. The compositional depth profiles and the electrical characteristics of devices are controlled through the synthesis of an appropriate sequence of the wafer temperature-vs-time profiles and process gas cycles. The ongoing developments and future prospects of single-wafer rapid processing for advanced microelectronics manufacturing will also be discussed.
Effect of a Downstream Ventilated Gas Cavity on the Spectrum of Turbulent Boundary Layer Wall Pressure Fluctuations

This paper theoretically and experimentally examines the effect of a downstream ventilated gas cavity on the spectrum of turbulent boundary layer wall pressure fluctuations. The theoretical model predicts that the ratio of the point spectrum of the turbulent boundary layer wall pressure fluctuations upstream of a ventilated gas cavity to the blocked point pressure spectrum decays rapidly to zero as the cavity origin is approached and undergoes oscillations in amplitude that relax to unity as the quantity ωx/Uc goes to infinity upstream of the cavity. Here ω is the radian frequency, x is the distance upstream from the cavity origin and Uc is the convection velocity. A water tunnel experiment was performed to investigate the theoretical predictions. Dynamic wall pressure sensors were mounted flush to the surface of a flat plate at various distances upstream from a rearward facing step. Carbon dioxide gas was injected into the separated flow region downstream of the step to form a ventilated cavity. The water tunnel measurements were unable to verify the reduction in the amplitude of the turbulent boundary layer wall pressure fluctuations as the step and cavity were approached but did verify the fundamental oscillation predicted by the theoretical model and its relaxation to unity as ωx/Uc went to infinity upstream of the step and cavity.© 2004 ASME
Failure to obtain follow-up testing for gestational diabetic patients in a rural population.

Abstract Objective: To determine physician and patient compliance rates for diabetes testing in patients with previous gestational diabetes. Methods: Questionnaires regarding follow-up testing and personal health history were sent to 66 patients with previous gestational diabetes who did not have diabetes when they participated in a follow-up study conducted 5 years earlier. A 2-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT) was offered to those whose last test was done more than 1 year previously. Results: All 66 individuals returned the questionnaire and 20 (30.3%) reported having received a yearly 2-hour GTT. Of the remaining 46, 19 had been tested at least once in the previous 5 years, but 27 had not been tested. Of the patients who had been tested at least once in the 5-year period, their physicians initiated testing 61.5% of the time and the patients initiated the remainder. There were no significant differences between physician specialty and rate or appropriateness of the testing. Of 39 individuals who had been tested at least once in the 5-year period, eight had diabetes and four were glucose intolerant. Of 12 individuals who had not been tested in the past year and agreed to be tested in 1995, four had diabetes and two had glucose intolerance. Conclusion: Although physicians and their gestational diabetic patients knew the risks of diabetes development, compliance with follow-up testing was poor and the risk of developing diabetes high.
Narcissism and Sensitivity to Criticism: A Preliminary Investigation

Two studies investigated the connection between narcissism and sensitivity to criticism. In study 1, participants completed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) and the Sensitivity to Criticism Scale (SCS) and were asked to construct and deliver speeches to be rated by performance judges. They were then asked whether they would like to receive evaluative feedback. Narcissism and sensitivity to criticism were mildly, but not significantly, negatively correlated and had contrasting relationships with choices regarding feedback. Highly narcissistic participants tended to seek (rather than avoid) feedback, whereas highly sensitive participants tended to reject feedback opportunities. Study 2 examined the relationship between sensitivity to criticism and both overt and covert narcissism. Those scoring high on the trait narcissism, as measured by the NPI, tended to be less sensitive to criticism, sought (rather than avoided) feedback opportunities, experienced little internalized negative emotions in response to “extreme” feedback conditions, and did not expect to ruminate over their performance. By contrast, participants scoring high on a measure of “covert narcissism” were high in sensitivity to criticism, tended to avoid feedback opportunities, experienced high levels of internalized negative emotions, and showed high levels of expected rumination. These findings suggest that the relationship between narcissism and sensitivity to criticism is highly dependent upon the definition or “form” of narcissism considered.
Predictions of the spectral absorption and extinction coefficients of an urban air pollution aerosol model.

Abstract An urban air pollution aerosol model is developed for various chemical compositions and size distributions. The spectral absorption and extinction coefficients are predicted from the Mie theory for mixtures consisting of non-absorbing (quartz), absorbing (carbon), and metal-like (nickel) particles. The spectral optical thickness (turbidity) of the atmosphere due to the aerosol is presented for an exponential vertical distribution. The effects of size distribution and chemical composition of the spectral absorption and extinction coefficients are discussed. It is found that the inclusion of carbon particles implies a wavelength independent spectral absorption coefficient for a haze L size distribution which is in agreement with experimental evidence. The effects of the metal-like particles are concluded to be negligible since they do not exist in large enough quantities in the urban atmosphere. The differences between using a wavelength constant mean index of refraction and materials whose indices of refraction are wavelength dependent are discussed.
Phosphorus in suspended sediments of the Amazon River

Substantial quantities of soluble phosphorus are released from natural suspended sediments from the Amazon River, over periods of many days, when such sediments are kept in suspension in seawater or in 0.01 M nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), a chelator. These results are interpreted, with the help of other chemical analyses, in terms of various physico-chemical forms in which the phosphorus may exist in sediments. Potential availability of the phosphorus to estuarine algae is discussed. Flux calculations indicate that available particulate phosphorus may be as much as 15 times greater than dissolved PO 4 − P (soluble reactive phosphate) during the Amazon rainy season.
A Cutting Edge Overview: Psoriatic Disease

Psoriasis is a lifelong skin disease, affecting about 2% of the global population. Generalized involvement of the body (erythroderma), extensive pustular lesions, and an associated arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are severe complications of psoriasis. Genetic, immunologic, and environmental factors contribute to its pathogenesis. A complete understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is lacking. Cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, growth factors like NGF, neuropeptides, and T cell receptors all act in an integrated way to evolve into unique inflammatory and proliferative processes typical of psoriasis and PsA. Management of psoriasis requires exemplary skin care along with careful monitoring of arrays of comorbidities which includes arthritis and coronary artery disease. In many ways, psoriasis can be considered a model autoimmune disease. This statement itself is ironic considering that it was not recognized as immune mediated until relatively recently. Fortunately, the immunobiology has made enormous strides and there are now excellent therapeutic options for patients. In this thematic review, we have attempted to provide summaries of not only basic science and clinical research, but also an overview of future research directions.
Focal depression of cortical excitability induced by fatiguing muscle contraction: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) of the motor cortex were recorded in separate sessions to assess changes in motor cortex excitability after a fatiguing isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the right ankle dorsal flexor muscles. Five healthy male subjects, aged 37.4±4.2 years (mean±SE), were seated in a chair equipped with a load cell to measure dorsiflexion force. TMS or TES was delivered over the scalp vertex before and after a fatiguing MVC, which was maintained until force decreased by 50%. MEPs were recorded by surface electrodes placed over quadriceps, hamstrings, tibialis anterior (TA), and soleus muscles bilaterally. M-waves were elicited from the exercised TA by supramaximal electrical stimulation of the peroneal nerve. H-reflex and MVC recovery after fatiguing, sustained MVC were also studied independently in additional sessions. TMS-induced MEPs were significantly reduced for 20 min following MVC, but only in the exercised TA muscle. Comparing TMS and TES mean MEP amplitudes, we found that, over the first 5 min following the fatiguing MVC, they were decreased by about 55% for each. M-wave responses were unchanged. H-reflex amplitude and MVC force recovered within the 1st min following the fatiguing MVC. When neuromuscular fatigue was induced by tetanic motor point stimulation of the TA, TMS-induced MEP amplitudes remained unchanged. These findings suggest that the observed decrease in MEP amplitude represents a focal reduction of cortical excitability following a fatiguing motor task and may be caused by intracortical and/or subcortical inhibitory mechanisms.
Development of atopy and asthma: candidate environmental influences and important periods of exposure.

Atopy is a major risk factor for the development of asthma. Immune processes that lead to the development of antigen-specific IgE are essential to the development of atopy. This review examines the...
Endovascular Treatment of Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia

Endovascular procedure is frequently used as an alternative to surgical bypass in aortic atherosclerotic lesions. Two rare cases of chronic mesenteric ischemia treated with a stent implantation are reported. The patients were a 72-year-old woman and a 57-year-old woman. They presented with severe abdominal pain after meals, repeatedly. Angiography revealed severe stenosis and occlusion of the super mesenteric artery (SMA). Endovascular treatment was initially and technically successful in both patients. A Palmaz® stent was deployed in the ostium lesion of the SMA for both cases. Completion angiography showed successful recanalization of the SMA without any complication and with satisfactory distal flow. The patients' symptoms were alleviated. They remained asymptomatic after stent implantation. Primary stenting may be considered a viable alternative to conventional surgery in carefully selected patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia due to SMA stenosis. (Circ J 2008; 72: 1198 - 1200)
Lessons learned from structural results on uracil-DNA glycosylase

Uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) functions as a sentry guarding against uracil in DNA. UDG initiates DNA base excision repair (BER) by hydrolyzing the uracil base from the deoxyribose. As one of the best studied DNA glycosylases, a coherent and complete functional mechanism is emerging that combines structural and biochemical results. This functional mechanism addresses the detection of uracil bases within a vast excess of normal DNA, the features of the enzyme that drive catalysis, and coordination of UDG with later steps of BER while preventing the release of toxic intermediates. Many of the solutions that UDG has evolved to overcome the challenges of policing the genome are shared by other DNA glycosylases and DNA repair enzymes, and thus appear to be general.
Origin of atomic resolution on metal surfaces in scanning tunneling microscopy.

Scanning tunneling microscopy has repeatedly resolved individual atoms on a number of metal surfaces with atomic distances 2.5--3 \AA{}. This is in sharp contradiction to the resolution limits previously predicted, 6--9 \AA{}. We present a theory of such atomic resolution in terms of actual tip states, for example, ${\mathit{d}}_{\mathit{z}}^{2}$ tip states on tungsten tips. Quantitative interpretation of the observed images is obtained with no adjustable parameters. We predict that to achieve atomic resolution, the tip material should be either a d-band metal or certain semiconductor.
Order-α radiative correction to the rate for parapositronium decay to four photons

We have calculated the $O(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ radiative correction affecting the decay rate of parapositronium to four photons. Our result for the rate is $\ensuremath{\Gamma}(4\ensuremath{\gamma})={\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{LO}}(4\ensuremath{\gamma})[1\ensuremath{-}14.5(6)\ensuremath{\alpha}/\ensuremath{\pi}+O({\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{2})],$ where ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{LO}}(4\ensuremath{\gamma})$ is the lowest order four-photon decay rate. Our prediction for the four-photon to two-photon branching ratio, including all $O(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ corrections, is $R=1.4388(21)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}.$ We also have a higher precision result for the lowest-order rate: ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{LO}}(4\ensuremath{\gamma})=0.0138957(4)m{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{7}.$
How big is a pinhole

Numerical estimates are formulated for the pinhole size required for a distortion free pinhole camera. The appropriate formulas are shown for both large and small pinholes.
Interpersonal verbs and interpersonal experiences.

Abstract This study investigated differences in the latency and duration of interpersonal experiences named by two different verb types: “experiencer-stimulus verbs,” for which the experiencer is the subject and the stimulus is the object of a sentence, and “stimulus-experiencer verbs,” for which the experiencer is the object and the stimulus is the subject of a sentence. Forty-five U.S. undergraduates responding to a questionnaire estimated that experiences named by experiencer-stimulus verbs generally develop more gradually and endure longer than do experiences named by stimulus-experiencer verbs.
The futility of observing stimulated gamma-ray emission from a long-lived isomeric state

We reveal the fallacies in recent gamma-ray laser schemes that propose to obtain gain by stimulating transitions from a long-lived upper to a short-lived lower nuclear state. We point out the errors in recent derivations of the stimulated-emission coefficients, derive the correct formulae, and submit an alternative explanation for an experiment purported to observe stimulated emission from a long-lived isomer.
Bayesian Approach for Uncertainty Analysis of an Urban Storm Water Model and Its Application to a Heavily Urbanized Watershed

AbstractThe significance of uncertainty analysis (UA) to quantify reliability of model simulations is being recognized. Consequently, literature on parameter and predictive uncertainty assessment of water resources models has been rising. Applications dealing with urban drainage systems are, however, very limited. This study applies formal Bayesian approach for uncertainty analysis of a widely used storm water management model and illustrates the methodology using a highly urbanized watershed in the Los Angeles Basin, California. A flexible likelihood function that accommodates heteroscedasticity, non-normality, and temporal correlation of model residuals has been used for the study along with a Markov-chain Monte Carlo-based sampling scheme. The solution of the UA model has been compared with the solution of the conventional calibration methodology widely practiced in water resources modeling. Results indicate that the maximum likelihood solution determined using the UA model produced runoff simulations ...
C2 SYMMETRIC AMINES. II: ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF C2 (3S, 3'S)- AND (3R, 3'R) DIMETHYL 4H-DINAPHTH 2, 1-C:1', 2'-E AZEPINES

Abstract The C 2 -symmetric dimethyl amines ( 1a, 1b ) were prepared in high stereoselectivity by carbanion alkylation of their respective formamidines.
A Multiliteracies Pedagogy: Exploring Semiotic Possibilities of a Disney Video in a Third Grade Diverse Classroom

Disney videos are used across the US as important materials for teaching language arts and literacy in elementary schools. However, how pupils make meaning of the videos has not been sufficiently investigated in educational research. Twenty-five third-grade pupils were taught comprehension skills using Sleeping Beauty. The students created their understanding in visual images. Their drawings and explanations were analyzed using a social semiotic theory. The findings indicated that the students’ interpretations of Sleeping Beauty were not a decontextualized practice; rather, they used the specificity of their gender, social-cultural experiences and available multimodal resources at their disposal to construct interpretations of the video. The implications of the findings were discussed.
Recovery of GaN surface after reactive ion etching

Surface properties of GaN subjected to reactive ion etching and the impact on device performance have been investigated by surface potential, optical and electrical measurements. Different etching conditions were studied and essentially high power levels and low chamber pressures resulted in higher etch rates accompanying with the roughening of the surface morphology. Surface potential for the as-grown c -plane GaN was found to be in the range of 0.5~0.7 V using Scanning Kevin Probe Microscopy. However, after reactive ion etching at a power level of 300 W, it decreased to 0.1~0.2 V. A nearly linear reduction was observed on c -plane GaN with increasing power. The nonpolar a -plane GaN samples also showed large surface band bending before and after etching. Additionally, the intensity of the near band-edge photoluminescence decreased and the free carrier density increased after etching. These results suggest that the changes in the surface potential may originate from the formation of possible nitrogen vacancies and other surface oriented defects and adsorbates. To recover the etched surface, N 2 plasma, rapid thermal annealing, and etching in wet KOH were performed. For each of these methods, the surface potential was found to increase by 0.1~0.3 V, also the reverse leakage current in Schottky diodes fabricated on treated samples was reduced considerably compared with as-etched samples, which implies a partial-to-complete recovery from the plasma-induced damage.
Formation and behavior of surface layers on electron emission glasses

Abstract The thermochemical reduction of thin surface layers on multicomponent lead-silicate glasses is fundamental to their use in electron multiplier and microchannel plate devices. These surface layers can exhibit a specific conductivity as high as 10 −2 (Ω cm) −1 and secondary electron yields up to 3.5. However, due to the complex processing used in the fabrication of the devices, a basic understanding of the chemical and structural surface characteristics responsible for these properties has not been established. Moreover, the effects of prolonged electron bombardment upon the chemical characteristics of the surface have not been extensively investigated, nor related to any associated degradation of the electron emission properties. In this study, the clean fracture surfaces of these glasses were investigated. The effects of hydrogen reduction, chemical etching, and prolonged electron bombardment were determined. Ion-scattering spectroscopy (ISS) was used for its monolayer sensitivity, especially to alkali species, while secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) provided depth profiles. The hydrogen profile created by the reduction could also be obtained with SIMS. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed selectively to examine changes in the oxidation state of the surface species. It was found that the hydrogen reduction of these glasses creates a thin 20–50 nm silica-rich surface layer. The layer of reduced lead atoms is beneath this zone, and is visible to depths of the order 5 μm, but the hydrogen profiles which are found in these surfaces extend only 0.5 μm in depth. The electron bombardment of these surfaces leads to a decrease in concentration of alkali and lead in the surface monolayer, and to a change in the hydrogen profile. The cross-section for this bombardment-induced change in the surface composition correlates with the reported gain degradation in microchannel plate devices.
HER2 mediated de novo production of TGFβ leads to SNAIL driven epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis of breast cancer☆

HER2 is an important determinant of poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Studies indicate that HER2 positive tumors are mostly resistant to therapy and have high metastatic potential however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells with their HER2 overexpressing syngeneic variants were used to delineate the role of HER2 in EMT and metastasis. Our results demonstrated that HER2 overexpression increased the invasive potential of cells. Our results also showed that HER2 overexpression lead to the production of TGFβ resulting in the activation of TGFβ/SMAD signaling. Furthermore, activation of SNAIL, SLUG and ZEB-1, the transcriptional repressors of E-cadherin and increased mesenchymal characteristics were observed in high HER2 cells. Interestingly, EMT by HER2 was mediated through TGFβ. Intravenous injection of high HER2 MDA-MB-231 (HH) cells in athymic nude mice showed early and substantial metastasis as compared to the parent cells establishing the direct role of HER2 in metastasis. Our results showed that inhibition of HER2 mediated EMT by cucurbitacin B a triterpenoid, resulted in the suppression of brain metastasis of breast cancer cells. Taken together, our results identify a novel mechanism of HER2 in promoting breast cancer metastasis through de novo synthesis of TGFβ leading to EMT, an initial and essential step of metastasis.
Sex pheromone of the cabbage looper: Reactions with antennal proteins in vitro☆

Abstract In the presence of (Z)-7-dodecen-1-ol acetate, the sex attractant of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, soluble protein from male antennae showed a time-dependent difference spectral absorbance at 280 nm. The change was associated with the enzymatic conversion of the pheromone to (Z)-7-dodecen-1-ol, a potent inhibitor of behavioural responses to the pheromone. In contrast, the response obtained with the inhibitor was indicative of non-enzymatic binding to specific protein(s) in the fraction. GLC analyses of the relative rates of enzymatic hydrolysis of the pheromone by the antennae, haemolymph, and legs revealed 33·9, 10·1, and 6·5 per cent conversion per hour, respectively. These results may provide an insight into the fate of a pheromone in the olfactory process of this insect; however, the significance of the reaction with the inhibitor is not yet known.
WHY A FREE TRADE AREA? THE TARIFF ALSO RISES*

This paper considers the choice between a customs union (wherein partners share a common external tariff) and a free trade area (wherein each partner chooses its own tariff against non-members). Following the result that a customs union dominates a free trade area, with coordination of domestic tax policies, we show that a free trade area may nevertheless be chosen if tariffs are determined endogenously through industry lobbying. This is so even when the free trade area equates producer prices within its borders and induces tariff revenue competition and whether or not there is domestic free-riding in lobbying.
EFFECT OF CATALYST PORE STRUCTURE ON EFFECTIVE DIFFUSIVITY

The effective diffusivity of the catalyst was experimentally measured in both octanedecane and polystyrene-chloroform systems for comparison with effects identified in the coal liquefaction model work. The diffusivity data were in good agreement with the theoretical solution and their reproducibility was satisfactory. In both experimental systems, the effective diffusivity was strongly dependent upon the ratio of diffusing species to catalyst pore size. When the steric exclusionhydrodynamic drag theory was applied, the tortuosity significantly varied with the ratio of diffusing molecule to catalyst pore size. Using the diffusivity data of unimodal catalysts, an empirical equation relating the size ratio to the restrictive factor was derived to evaluate the diffusivity data of bimodal catalysts.
Hand, belt, pocket or bag: Practical activity tracking with mobile phones

For rehabilitation and diagnoses, an understanding of patient activities and movements is important. Modern smartphones have built in accelerometers which promise to enable quantifying minute-by-minute what patients do (e.g. walk or sit). Such a capability could inform recommendations of physical activities and improve medical diagnostics. However, a major problem is that during everyday life, we carry our phone in different ways, e.g. on our belt, in our pocket, in our hand, or in a bag. The recorded accelerations are not only affected by our activities but also by the phone's location. Here we develop a method to solve this kind of problem, based on the intuition that activities change rarely, and phone locations change even less often. A hidden Markov model (HMM) tracks changes across both activities and locations, enabled by a static support vector machine (SVM) classifier that probabilistically identifies activity-location pairs. We find that this approach improves tracking accuracy on healthy subjects as compared to a static classifier alone. The obtained method can be readily applied to patient populations. Our research enables the use of phones as activity tracking devices, without the need of previous approaches to instruct subjects to always carry the phone in the same location.
Zeeman-Effect Magnetic Field Measurement of a High-Temperature Plasma

Distortions of magnetic field measurements caused by material probes in hot plasmas can be avoided by measuring the Zeeman splitting of impurity spectral lines. The problem of the line breadths being large compared to the magnetic field splitting is solved by using the opposite circular polarization characteristics of the symmetrically displaced Zeeman components in a longitudinal field. This, however, limits the technique to wavelengths longer than 2000 \AA{}, where there is a scarcity of intense allowed transitions from the highly ionized species which originate in the hot plasma. Successful measurements have been made on the Scylla I theta pinch device. These indicate approximately zero magnetic field in the hot plasma and set a lower limit of 79% on $\ensuremath{\beta}$, the ratio of plasma to magnetic pressure.
Mixed (Neutrophil-Rich) Interstitial Pneumonitis in Biopsy Specimens of Lung Allografts: A Clinicopathologic Evaluation

Study objectives: Mixed interstitial pneumonitis (MIP), defined herein as a diffuse neutrophil-rich inflammatory infiltrate within the interstitial tissues, is an uncommon finding that is not a standard manifestation of acute or chronic rejection. This study examines the clinical significance of MIP in lung allograft recipients at St. Louis University Hospital. Design We retrospectively reviewed surgical pathology reports from a selected 50-month period, and identified MIP reported in 13 transbronchial biopsy specimens in lung transplant recipients, representing 4.7% of all lung allograft biopsy specimens seen during this 4-year period. Biopsy specimens with MIP were examined to confirm the presence of a neutrophil-rich interstitial infiltrate and other associated histopathologic findings. The culture results, eytopathologic findings, and clinical charts of the affected patients were also reviewed. Measurements and results The detection of MIP at some point in a patient's posttransplant course was found to be associated with a significantly shorter (p Conclusions We found no evidence that MIP represents an unusual form of acute or chronic rejection. Instead, it appears to represent a response to acute injury, similar to other injury patterns (hyaline membranes, organizing pneumonia) in transplant recipients. Exposure to tobacco smoke is likely to have played a role in the development of MIP in at least some cases. Because patients with MIP had a significantly shorter posttransplant survival, MIP may usefully identify lung allograft recipients at risk for an adverse outcome.
Detection of influenza virus resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors by an enzyme inhibition assay.

Abstract We previously characterized influenza viruses whose selection in the presence of neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors resulted in a substituted residue (position 119, 152, 274, or 292) in the NA active center. To identify the most favorable conditions for detecting NA inhibitor-resistant viruses we compared the results of four modifications of the NA inhibition assay utilizing a fluorogenic substrate. The IC50 values were highly dependent upon assay conditions, and most mutant enzymes were more sensitive to changes in assay conditions (e.g. addition of PO43−, Ca2+, DMSO, or EDTA) than wild-type enzymes or a mutant NA with an Arg292 → Lys substitution. Although the levels of resistance to zanamivir, oseltamivir carboxylate, and BCX-1812 (RWJ-270201) for each mutant varied among assays, mutants with substitutions at framework residues 119 or 274 exhibited sensitivity to at least one inhibitor. Viruses with substitutions at catalytic residues 152 or 292 were resistant to each inhibitor in all assays. Monitoring resistance in a clinical setting will require a panel of resistant viruses to ensure that assay conditions are favorable for detecting variants with substituted residues in the NA active center. Because variants selected in the presence of one NA inhibitor could be variably resistant to other inhibitors, all three inhibitors should be used in drug susceptibility testing.
Plasticity in functional traits in the context of climate change: a case study of the subalpine forb Boechera stricta (Brassicaceae)

Environmental variation often induces shifts in functional traits, yet we know little about whether plasticity will reduce extinction risks under climate change. As climate change proceeds, phenotypic plasticity could enable species with limited dispersal capacity to persist in situ, and migrating populations of other species to establish in new sites at higher elevations or latitudes. Alternatively, climate change could induce maladaptive plasticity, reducing fitness, and potentially stalling adaptation and migration. Here, we quantified plasticity in life history, foliar morphology, and ecophysiology in Boechera stricta (Brassicaceae), a perennial forb native to the Rocky Mountains. In this region, warming winters are reducing snowpack and warming springs are advancing the timing of snow melt. We hypothesized that traits that were historically advantageous in hot and dry, low-elevation locations will be favored at higher elevation sites due to climate change. To test this hypothesis, we quantified trait variation in natural populations across an elevational gradient. We then estimated plasticity and genetic variation in common gardens at two elevations. Finally, we tested whether climatic manipulations induce plasticity, with the prediction that plants exposed to early snow removal would resemble individuals from lower elevation populations. In natural populations, foliar morphology and ecophysiology varied with elevation in the predicted directions. In the common gardens, trait plasticity was generally concordant with phenotypic clines from the natural populations. Experimental snow removal advanced flowering phenology by 7 days, which is similar in magnitude to flowering time shifts over 2–3 decades of climate change. Therefore, snow manipulations in this system can be used to predict eco-evolutionary responses to global change. Snow removal also altered foliar morphology, but in unexpected ways. Extensive plasticity could buffer against immediate fitness declines due to changing climates.
Neuropsychological Deficits Among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Sixty-six patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were evaluated for neuropsychological functioning. While the patients showed normal skills on broad intellectual tasks, they displayed mild cerebral deficits on several neuropsychological tests. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the neuropsychological test battery scores were significantly related to partial pressure of arterial oxygen (Pa02), and to degree of pulmonary impairment. Although the cognitive deficits were real, they were generally small. This result may explain why the widely assumed link between chronic lung disorders and cognitive deficit has been difficult to demonstrate. The general pattern was similar to deficits produced by chronic alcoholism and childhood asthma, with complex skills suffering the greatest insult. Because the cognitive deficits among COPD patients in stable condition are small, it is uncertain whether they have importance clinically or for accomplishing daily activities.
Nonintrusive identification of electrical loads in a three-phase environment based on harmonic content

This paper describes a signature construction for identifying loads based upon harmonic content of the current measured at a metering socket. Data gathered from ten loads at a commercial site served to experimentally validate the signature construction. The repeatability of current harmonics was investigated during transients and steady-states of several single, split-phase, and three-phase loads monitored in isolation.
Prevention of embolism in atrial fibrillation

New York, NY 10029, USA. Cardiogenic thromboembolism is the mechanism responsible for upwards of 100 000 cases of ischaemic stroke annually among North Americans. Although fewer than the number caused by cerebrovascular diseases, these produce considerable disability and a cost of nearly a billion dollars annually for acute and convalescent care for stroke victims. Over half the strokes of cardiac origin occur in patients with atrial fibrillation, a relatively common cardiac rhythm disturbance with a prevalence of 21.5 per 1000 men and 17.1 per 1000 women in the Framingham Heart Study population. This and other epidemiologic studies have estimated the risk of stroke and systemic embolism associated with atrial fibrillation as five to six events per 100 patient-years, roughly five times the rate among comparable patients without this cardiac rhythm disturbance, and accumulating to a 35% lifetime risk of stroke for patients with atrial fibrillation. The risk appears related to age, such that among stroke victims over 85 years of age a history of atrial fibrillation can be found in nearly half. These strokes are typically devastating clinical events which leave survivors with lasting disability, but there is an additional incidence of subclinical ’silent’ strokes
Molecular biology of somatostatin receptors

I. Introduction SOMATOSTATIN [somatotropin release-inhibiting factor (SRIF)] is a 14-amino acid polypeptide that is widely distributed throughout the central nervous system and peripheral tissues (Ref. 1; reviewed in Refs. 2–4). It potently inhibits basal and stimulated secretion from a wide variety of endocrine and exocrine cells and functions as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator in the central nervous system with effects on locomotor activity and cognitive functions (1–12). Somatostatin also has antiproliferative effects and may be an important hormonal regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation (Refs. 13–15 and reviewed in Ref. 16). The first evidence for somatostatin-like activity came from studies of Krulich et al. (17), reported in 1968, who while looking for GHRF described a factor in hypothalamic extracts that inhibited GH secretion from anterior pituitaries in culture. Based on the identification of this inhibitory activity, Krulich et al. (17) proposed that the secretion of GH was regul...
Induction of hemoglobin synthesis in k562 cells by carbon dioxide deficiency

Proliferation and differentiation are inversely related in many cell culture systems. The study of inducible systems is facilitated by optimal growth conditions in order that whatever differentiation is observed may be attributed to a specific effect of the inducer, rather than to a nonspecific effect of adverse growth conditions. To investigate the role of CO2 supply in an inducible system, the K562 human leukemia cell line inducible for hemoglobin synthesis was studied at 10%, 5% and 1.5% CO2 concentrations. The lower the CO2 concentration, the higher the percentage of benzidine-positive cells but the slower the growth rate. This increase in benzidine positivity reflected hemoglobin synthesis as indicated by incorporation of 3H-leucine into globin chains. If, in addition to reducing CO2 concentration, the complete medium was replaced by a bicarbonate-free medium, the percentage of benzidine-positive cells was further increased and growth further slowed. However, if endogenously produced CO2 was retained by sealing the culture vessel, these effects were mitigated. Since addition of ribosides blocked these effects, the mechanism for these effects appears to be inhibition of riboside biosynthesis due to the depletion of CO2 as a substrate. The implication of this work is that, for reproducibility in studies of inducible systems in which reduction of proliferation may itself increase the probability of differentiation, the CO2 tension, the bicarbonate concentration in the medium and the rate of egress of endogenously produced CO2 must be kept constant.
The corrosion of copper and porous gold in flowing mixed gas environments

Experiments were conducted on the corrosion of materials in a broad variety of single-component and multicomponent flowing mixed gas environments. One purpose of the experiments was to document in a consistent manner the corrosion rates and effect which can be expected for different gas mixtures. A second objective was to demonstrate the importance of standardized control materials for documenting environmental tests. The results confirm that flowing mixed gas environments based upon the use of the sulfide-chloride synergisms produce relevant corrosion with useful accelerator factors. Nonchloride environments were found to be relatively high. Two materials were demonstrated to be useful for documenting the conditions actually obtained during environmental tests. These are copper and porous gold. Neither alone can present an adequate descriptor of the test conditions actually achieved. Used together, however, they can provide a sensitive indicator of corrosion rates and mechanisms. >
Learning Curves: Making Quality Online Health Information Available at a Fitness Center.

Meeting consumer health information needs can be a challenge. Research suggests that women seek health information from a variety of resources, including the Internet. In an effort to make women aware of reliable health information sources, the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center–Shreveport Medical Library engaged in a partnership with a franchise location of Curves International, Inc. This article will discuss the project, its goals, and its challenges.
Production of the K−π+π−n final state in K−d interactions at 5.5 GeV/c☆

Abstract The reaction K−d → K−π+π−n ps was studied in a bubble chamber experiment. The cross section was measured to be 1.3 ± 0.2 mb. The final state is dominated by K ∗0 (890) , K ∗0 (1420) and Δ − (1236) production. Partial cross sections, differential cross sections and decay angular distributions of the K ∗0 (890) δ − (1236) final state were found to give good agreement with the predictions of Bialas and Zalewski obtained from the quark model. The final state K−π+Δ−(1236) is analyzed by use of the Van Hove plot.
Second-Generation Korean American Evangelicals: Ethnic, Multiethnic, or White Campus Ministries?

Why do those who can participate in more inclusive congregations instead choose to tum to those that draw strong ethnic boundaries? This article addresses this question through a little studied but growing phenomenon - Asian American college students' participation in separate ethnic evangelical organizations. Using data gathered from field research in a variety of ethnically diverse campus ministries, this paper examines why second-generation Korean Americans who can participate in pan-ethnic, multiracial, or predominately white campus ministries instead participate in separate ethnic campus ministries. In so doing, it contributes to the emerging literature on the religious participation of the children of today's post-1965 immigrants; it addresses the largely unformed debate regarding the prevalence of racialization versus ethnicization explanations for ethnic religious group formation.
On providing quality-of-service control for core-based multicast routing

In this paper, we develop efficient admission control tests for member join/leave and its associated state refresh and update procedures for receiver-initiated core-based multicast routing, e.g., core based tree (CBT) protocol, to allow construction of QoS-capable multicast trees, while making the minimum possible impact on the existing infrastructure. Specifically, we (i) derive sufficient conditions for a multicast tree to maintain its QoS; (ii) devise effective admission tests to verify whether or not a group member may join the multicast tree at adequate QoS, while not violating existing QoS guarantees to other on-tree members; and (iii) identify the minimum set of state information required for the admission tests and develop a soft state refresh and update procedure. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of the proposed mechanism by incorporating it into the CBT protocol, and evaluate it via event-driven simulations in terms of the probability of join requests being rejected, message overhead, and scalability.
Dynamics of p56lck translocation to the T cell immunological synapse following agonist and antagonist stimulation.

Abstract To study the spatio/temporal recruitment of lck during immunological synapse formation, we utilize high-speed time-lapse microscopy to visualize green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions of lck and CD3ζ following agonist or altered peptide ligand (APL) stimulation. The dynamics of lck and CD3ζ recruitment are comparable; however, lck becomes excluded to the periphery of mature synapses, while most CD3ζ is centrally localized, suggesting a limited time frame within which lck can efficiently phosphorylate CD3 molecules during synapse maturation. Exposure of T cells to specific APLs affects the efficiency of conjugate formation and lck accumulation. Most surprisingly, we find an intracellular pool of lck associated with recycling endosomes that translocates to mature synapses within 10 min of calcium flux. This bolus of lck may contribute to intermediate-late signal transduction.
Stimulation of Luteinizing Hormone Release by γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Agonists: Mediation by GABAA-Type Receptors and Activation of Chloride and Voltage-Sensitive Calcium Channels

The mechanism by which →-aminobutyric acid (GABA) stimulates the release of LH was analyzed in cultured female rat pituitary cells. In 3-h incubations, GABA (1-100 μM) caused a dose-dependent increase in LH release, with the maximal response about 16% of that evoked by 10 nM GnRH. GABA action was independent of the GnRH receptor, since 1 /iM GnRH antagonist ([N-acetyl-D-p-Cl-Phe11-2,D-Trp3,D-Lys6,D-Ala10] GnRH), which completely inhibits GnRH action, did not affect the response to GABA. In studies on the effects of GABA receptor agonists and antagonists, 4,5,6,7-tetrahydoisoxazolo- [5,4-c]pyridin-3(2H)-one (THIP) and muscimol (GABAA agonists) gave similar response patterns, with the same maximal stimulation as GABA but much higher potencies. In contrast, the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen did not stimulate LH release. The GABAA receptor antagonist SR95531 caused dosedependent inhibition of the LH-releasing effects of GABA and muscimol (10 μM), with complete blockade at 10 μM SR95531. T-Butylbicyclophosph...
Dimethyl Sulfoxide as a Vehicle for Topical Antiviral Chemotherapy

Abstract : To evaluate the importance of drug delivery experimentally, we have measured the penetration of acyclovir (ACV) through guinea pig skin in vitro from different drug vehicles and compared these findings with the efficacy of two topical formulations of the drug in the treatment of an experimental cutaneous herpes simplex virus infection. ACV is a potent new compound with striking in vitro activity against herpes simplex virus, a wide toxic/therapeutic ratio, and established clinical activity against cutaneous human HSV infection other than recurrent disease. The penetration of acyclovir through guinea pig skin in vitro was markedly greater with DMSO than when PEG was the vehicle. When 5% ACV in DMSO infection in the guinea pig, ACV/DMSO was more effective. The effectiveness of antivirals in DMSO in the guinea pig is likely related to drug penetration, and development of a means to enhance delivery of antivirals to the target cells would apper to be a potentially fruitful next step to further the effectiveness of topical anti-herpesvirus therapy in humans.