cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AI-11 The kinase inhibitory region of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 modulates autoinflammatory skin pathology

Background Although aberrant antibody production is a lupus disease hallmark, abundant evidence implicates a dysregulated peripheral T lymphocyte repertoire in the onset and progression of lupus. Notably, the intracellular protein suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) has been shown to regulate T lymphocyte effector functions and modulate lupus-like pathologies in rodent models. Significantly, peritoneal injection of a peptide (SOCS1-KIR), capable of mimicking SOCS1, was effective in mitigating T lymphocyte effector functions associated with lupus disease progression. Moreover, topical application of SOCS1-KIR ‘eyedrops’ was effective in mitigating experimental autoimmune uveitis. The peptide has been shown to function through the inhibition of the janus kinases Jak2 and Tyk2. We have previously shown that peritoneal injection of SOCS1-KIR inhibited lymphadenopathy in MRL lpr/lpr mouse model of spontaneous lupus that was correlated to decreased frequencies of interferon gamma producing memory T cells (Collins et al, 2018 (under revision)). In addition, the peritoneal injection of SOCS1-KIR also inhibited spontaneous lesion formation=In this study we test the hypotheses that SOCS1 modulates skin pathology and that topical application of the SOCS1-KIR peptide will have efficacy in the imiquimod induced lesion model. Methods SOCS1 heterozygous mating pairs, sufficient and deficient of interferon gamma, were obtained from St. Jude and used to generate mice used in the experiment. Spontaneous skin lesions were assessed by histology. In addition, cytokine neutralizing antibodies were administered to evaluate mechanisms promoting lesion formation. Imiquimod was administered in the presence or absence of SOCS1-KIR to mice sufficient and deficient in SOCS1. Lesion formation was subsequently assessed. Results SOCS1 ± IFN gamma -/- mice, but not SOCS ±, or IFN gamma -/- spontaneously developed epidermal hyperplasia. The SOCS1 ±, IFN gamma skin lesions were heavily infiltrated with macrophages and IL17 producing T lymphocytes. In addition, imiquimod induced skin lesions were exacerbated on SOCS1 ± mice compared to WT. Significantly, the topical administration of SOCS1-KIR to imiquimod treated murine skin reduced epidermal hyperplasia, erythema, and scaling. Conclusions Together these results suggest that a peptide mimic of SOCS1 may have value as a therapeutic for lupus through topical and/or systemic administration. Acknowledgements The study was supported by a grant from the Lupus Research Institute, The national Psoriasis Foundation, a BD Biosciences Research Grant, the NIH/NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Awards to the University of Florida TL1 TR000066 and UL1TR000064, a sub-award from NIH/NIAID/U01AI101990, and the University of Florida.
Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-aa promotes neuron survival by regulating mitochondrial function

A neuron's longevity is regulated by both extracellular molecular factors and the regulation of its intracellular functions, including mitochondrial activity. It remains poorly understood which extracellular factors promote neuron survival by influencing mitochondrial function. Through zebrafish mutant analysis, we reveal a novel extracellular neuronal survival factor: Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-aa (Pappaa). Neurons in pappaa mutant larvae die precociously and exhibit multiple mitochondrial defects, including elevated mitochondrial calcium, membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species production (ROS). In pappaa mutants, neuron loss is exacerbated by stimulation of mitochondrial calcium load or ROS production and suppressed by exposure to a mitochondrial ROS scavenger. As a secreted metalloprotease, Pappaa stimulates local insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling; a known regulator of mitochondrial function and neuron survival. In pappaa mutants, neurons show reduced IGF1-receptor activity and neuron loss is attenuated by stimulation of IGF1 signaling. These results suggest Pappaa-IGF1 signaling promotes neuron survival by regulating mitochondrial function.
Foreign Object Insertions in Sexual Homicide

A nonrandom national sample of 260 sexual homicides (207 nonserial and 53 serial) disclosed 50 cases in which an offender (45 nonserial and 10 serial) inserted a foreign object into a victim's orifice. The prevalence of foreign object insertion, as well as the types and shapes of inserted objects, where the objects were obtained, the bodily location of insertions, the visibility of inserted objects at the scene, and whether the insertions were pre- or post-mortem are all reported. The foreign object insertion prevalence rate for the sexual homicide sample of cases is 19.2%. Nonserial offenders engaged in foreign object insertion at about the same rate (21.7%) as the serial offenders (18.8%). Our findings do not support the largely held notions-based mainly on case reports-that most offenders who engage in foreign object insertion are psychotic and that the insertion behavior is always post-mortem. The insertion behavior of the nonserial offenders reflects a level of sadism and deviancy comparable with the serial offenders, an unexpected finding with possible prognostic implications.
Residual stability of lipase from Candida rugosain hexane, supercritical CO , and supercritical SF

Lipase from Candida rugosa (EC 3.1.1.3) lost only 15% of its activity when held in supercritical CO and about 10% activity in both supercritical SF and hexane even after two days of incubation at up to 60°C and 82 atm.A pressure of 680 atm resulted in up to 15% loss of enzyme activity in supercritical CO and only about 5% loss of activity in supercritical SF 6 even at 410 atm. There was about 60% decrease in enzyme activity even at 1% water content in supercritical CO . Supercritical SF is a better solvent than supercritical CO and hexane.
Mechanobiology of the abluminal glycocalyx.

Background Endothelial cells (ECs) sense the forces from blood flow through the glycocalyx, a carbohydrate rich luminal surface layer decorating most cells, and through forces transmitted through focal adhesions (FAs) on the abluminal side of the cell. Objectives This perspective paper explores a complementary hypothesis, that glycocalyx molecules on the abluminal side of the EC between the basement membrane and the EC membrane, occupying the space outside of FAs, work in concert with FAs to sense blood flow-induced shear stress applied to the luminal surface. Results First, we summarize recent studies suggesting that the glycocalyx repels the plasma membrane away from the basement membrane, while integrin molecules attach to extracellular matrix (ECM) ligands. This coordinated attraction and repulsion results in the focal nature of integrin-mediated adhesion making the abluminal glycocalyx a participant in mechanotransduction. Further, the glycocalyx mechanically links the plasma membrane to the basement membrane providing a mechanism of force transduction when the cell deforms in the peri-FA space. To determine if the membrane might deform against a restoring force of an elastic abluminal glycocalyx in the peri-FA space we present some analysis from a multicomponent elastic finite element model of a sheared and focally adhered endothelial cell whose abluminal topography was assessed using quantitative total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy with an assumption that glycocalyx fills the space between the membrane and extracellular matrix. Conclusions While requiring experimental verification, this analysis supports the hypothesis that shear on the luminal surface can be transmitted to the abluminal surface and deform the cell in the vicinity of the focal adhesions, with the magnitude of deformation depending on the abluminal glycocalyx modulus.
Exercise-Induced Premature Ventricular Contractions Are Associated With Myocardial Ischemia Among Asymptomatic Adult Male Firefighters: Implications for Enhanced Risk Stratification:

Background:Exercise-induced premature ventricular contractions (EI-PVCs) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease among asymptomatic adult males, but the underlying mechanism...
Novel Mouse Model for Studying Hemostatic Function of Human Platelets.

Objective: Platelets are critical to the formation of a hemostatic plug and the pathogenesis of atherothrombosis. Preclinical animal models, especially the mouse, provide an important platform to a...
Cellular Automata Can Reduce Memory Requirements of Collective-State Computing

Various non-classical approaches of distributed information processing, such as neural networks, computation with Ising models, reservoir computing, vector symbolic architectures, and others, employ the principle of collective-state computing. In this type of computing, the variables relevant in a computation are superimposed into a single high-dimensional state vector, the collective-state. The variable encoding uses a fixed set of random patterns, which has to be stored and kept available during the computation. Here we show that an elementary cellular automaton with rule 90 (CA90) enables space-time tradeoff for collective-state computing models that use random dense binary representations, i.e., memory requirements can be traded off with computation running CA90. We investigate the randomization behavior of CA90, in particular, the relation between the length of the randomization period and the size of the grid, and how CA90 preserves similarity in the presence of the initialization noise. Based on these analyses we discuss how to optimize a collective-state computing model, in which CA90 expands representations on the fly from short seed patterns - rather than storing the full set of random patterns. The CA90 expansion is applied and tested in concrete scenarios using reservoir computing and vector symbolic architectures. Our experimental results show that collective-state computing with CA90 expansion performs similarly compared to traditional collective-state models, in which random patterns are generated initially by a pseudo-random number generator and then stored in a large memory.
Quantum gravity and BH-NS binaries

We argue that the Black Hole-Neutron Star (BH-NS) binaries are the natural astrophysical probes of quantum gravity in the context of the new era of multi-messenger astronomy. In particular, we disc...
GCNG: graph convolutional networks for inferring gene interaction from spatial transcriptomics data

Most methods for inferring gene-gene interactions from expression data focus on intracellular interactions. The availability of high-throughput spatial expression data opens the door to methods that can infer such interactions both within and between cells. To achieve this, we developed Graph Convolutional Neural networks for Genes (GCNG). GCNG encodes the spatial information as a graph and combines it with expression data using supervised training. GCNG improves upon prior methods used to analyze spatial transcriptomics data and can propose novel pairs of extracellular interacting genes. The output of GCNG can also be used for downstream analysis including functional gene assignment.Supporting website with software and data: https://github.com/xiaoyeye/GCNG .
Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Lupus is a serious, potentially life-threatening disease. Its natural history is to culminate in a crescendo of autoimmunity and organ involvement. Difficulty arriving at the diagnosis may delay institution of therapy, which although helpful brings new problems. The fundamental understanding of this disease has made major strides. There is no consensus on the likely etiological agent(s), though evidence implicates Epstein-Barr virus, and the genetic approach to understanding etiology is in its infancy. Nevertheless, efficacious treatments are anticipated in the plethora of new biologics likely to have therapeutic effects in lupus, essentially a disease of immune dysregulation.
Conservative Motion of Tops and Gyroscopes

Rigid body motion is of fundamental interest in mathematics, science and engineering. In this chapter we will introduce a simplistic approach to this area of study in the spirit of modern molecular mechanics. We will consider first a discrete tetrahedral body and simulate its motion when it spins like a top whose contact point with the XY plane is allowed to move in the plane. The approach will not require the use of special coordinates, Cayley—Klein parameters, tensors, dyadics, or related concepts (Goldstein (1980)). All that will be required is Newtonian mechanics in three-dimensional XYZ space.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase II of Escherichia coli: I. THE PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ENZYME

Abstract DNA polymerase II has been purified 27,000-fold in high yield by alumina grinding, polyethylene glycol-dextran phase partition, and chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose and phosphocellulose columns from Escherichia coli pol A- (DNA polymerase I negative strain) endo I-. This enzyme activity resembles DNA polymerase I described by Kornberg. (a) It requires as template DNA either treated with exonuclease III or partially degraded with DNase I; (b) the activity is completely dependent on the presence of Mg2+ and all four deoxynucleoside triphosphates; (c) like DNA polymerase I, DNA polymerase II is inhibited by pyrophosphate and catalyzes both pyrophosphorolysis of DNA and a DNA-dependent pyrophosphate exchange into deoxynucleoside triphosphates. Unlike DNA polymerase I, DNA polymerase II activity is inhibited by high salt concentration or reagents which react with sulfhydryl groups. DNA polymerase II is not inhibited by antibodies directed against DNA polymerase I and the two polymerases are separated by phosphocellulose chromatography or by sedimentation in glycerol gradients. DNA polymerase II has an exonuclease activity which preferentially degrades single stranded DNA in the 3' to 5' direction. In contrast, DNA polymerase I has two exonuclease activities, one acting 3' to 5' on denatured DNA, the other acting 5' to 3', on native DNA. DNA polymerase II has a sedimentation rate in high or low ionic strength and a migration on gel filtration consistent with a molecular weight of approximately 120,000. Based upon the extent of purification there are fewer than 17 molecules of DNA polymerase II per bacterium. This amount of enzyme can account for the incorporation into DNA of 800 deoxynucleotide residues per min per cell under optimal assay conditions. The in vivo rate of DNA synthesis is approximately 3 x 105 nucleotides incorporated into DNA per min per bacterium. DNA polymerase II is found in pol A+ cells at approximately the same concentration observed in pol A- cells. The enzyme has been isolated from septation mutants of E. coli which produce DNA-negative cells (minicells). DNA polymerase II is present in minicells at approximately half the specific activity observed in the whole cells. A similar distribution of DNA polymerase I has been reported previously for DNA negative cells. These results and those concerning the mode of action of DNA polymerase II presented in the accompanying paper (Wickner, R. B., Ginsberg, B., and Hurwitz, J. (1972) J. Biol. Chem., 247, 498) suggest that this enzyme is probably not involved in the replication of DNA but may have a repair function.
Brain Hypoxia: Metabolic and Ventilatory Depression

The sections in this article are: 1 Metabouc Aspects 1.1 Mechanisms of Hypoxic Failure 1.2 Mechanisms of Brain Hypoxic Tolerance 1.3 Mechanisms of Brain Anoxic Tolerance 1.4 Enhanced Tolerance—The Mammalian Neonate 2 Hypoxic Depression of Ventilation 2.1 Cardiorespiratory Responses to Hypoxia 2.2 Potential Sites of Action of Hypoxic Ventilatory Depression 2.3 Mechanisms of Hypoxic Ventilatory Depression 2.4 Clinical Implications of Hypoxic Respiratory Depression
USHA: a practical vertical handoff solution [mobile wireless Internet service applications]

We present a seamless handoff solution, called universal seamless handoff architecture (USHA). USHA is simple and requires minimal modification to the current Internet infrastructure. Therefore, it is instantly ready for real-world deployment. Using testbed experiments, we evaluate USHA by observing TCP (FTP downloading) behavior in various vertical handoff scenarios. The results shows that USHA can successfully maintain the application connectivity in all cases. Furthermore, the results also shows that when handoff from a low capacity link to a high capacity link, there is no service latency caused by the handoff, whereas when the handoff is from high capacity link to a lower capacity link, the non-negligible latency could not be alleviated unless early handoff notification can be provided.
A mutation in the centriole-associated protein centrin causes genomic instability via increased chromosome loss in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Background The role of centrioles in mitotic spindle function remains unclear. One approach to investigate mitotic centriole function is to ask whether mutation of centriole-associated proteins can cause genomic instability.
THE EMPLOYMENT RELATION AND SPATIAL DIVISION OF LABOR: A HYPOTHESIS∗

The relationship between labor and capital is one of mutual antagonism and interdependence. Conflict occurs between labor and capital over control of the production process and conditions of employment. However, both classes need one another in order to produce and sustain a livelihood. Spatial decentralization of production and the division of labor can be interpreted as an explicit bargaining strategy of the firm designed to control the power of labor and reinforce the authority of capital. Firms prefer to externalize their labor markets although local conditions, skill requirements, and union power may force internalization and consequently higher costs. Small and relatively depressed local labor markets are favored locations for firms producing standardized commodities. Firms that require specific skills and technical expertise are, on the other hand, more dependent upon the locational preferences of labor. Spatial concentration and agglomeration of production involving both skilled and unskilled workers may not be in the best interests of a firm because of their different labor market strategies related to their preferred employment relations.
Quantification and visualization of anisotropy in trabecular bone

Summary A number of methods for measuring anisotropy in trabecular bone using high-resolution X-ray computed tomography exist, which give different answers but have not been compared in detail. In this study, we examine the mean-intercept length (MIL), star volume distribution (SVD) and star length distribution (SLD) methods, their algorithmic implementation for three-dimensional (3D) data, and how their results relate to each other. A uniform ordered sampling scheme for determining which orientations to sample during analysis enhances the reproducibility of anisotropy and principal component direction determinations, with no evident introduction of biasing. This scheme also facilitates the creation of a 3D rose diagram that can be used to gain additional insights from the data. The directed secant algorithm that is frequently used for traversing pixel and voxel grids for these calculations is prone to bias unless a previously unreported normalization is used. This normalization ameliorates the bias present when using cubic voxels, and also permits calculations on data sets in which the slice spacing is not equal to the pixel spacing. Overall, the three methods for quantification of anisotropy give broadly similar results, but there are systematic divergences that can be traced to their differences in data and processing, and which may impact on their relative utility in estimating mechanical properties. Although discussed in the context of computed tomography of trabecular bone, the methods described here may be applied to any 3D data set from which fabric information is desired.
Problems for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis

The use of b-values derived from the Gutenberg–Richter relationship as a phenomenological base for developing probabilistic seismic hazard analyses (PSHA) has been questioned for years. The relationship is still used because political demands require something for PSHA, one variable is easy to deal with, and no persuasive alternative has come forward. Using cumulative distribution probability plots, it can be shown that seismic magnitude-frequency data can be well described as one or more populations, each of which is normally distributed with respect to magnitude. This holds true for large earthquakes when sorted by mechanism, for earthquakes >400 km deep, for the general USGS NEIC catalog, for the Harvard CMT catalog, for the CERI catalog of the New Madrid Zone, and for a Scandinavian catalog. In all instances, multiple normal populations provide a better fit to the data than does the Gutenberg–Richter relationship. Use of these multiple populations in PSHA emphasizes that the scientifically sound limits of magnitude projection are within the 4σ limit of the largest populations. Such graphs may make it easier to resist political requirement to extrapolate into scientifically unsound regions.
Temperature independent quantum well FET with delta channel doping

A temperature independent device is presented which uses a quantum well structure and delta doping within the channel. The device requires a high delta doping concentration within the channel to achieve a constant Hall mobility and carrier concentration across the temperature range 300-1.4 K. Transistors were RF tested using on-wafer probing and a constant G sub max and F sub max were measured over the temperature range 300-70 K.
Nonresident Fathers’ Parenting, Maternal Mastery and Child Development in Poor African American Single-Mother Families

This study examines the relationships between and among economic hardship, mothers’ depressive symptoms, nonresident fathers’ parenting, mothers’ parenting and mastery, and their children’s behavioral and cognitive development in poor African American single-mother families. Informed by stress-coping and family process theoretical perspectives, this study estimates the effects of nonresident fathers’ parenting and maternal mastery on child developmental outcomes. Analyses use the first three waves of longitudinal data from a subsample of single, African American and noncohabiting mothers with low income in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Results suggest that nonresident fathers’ parenting is indirectly associated with children’s behavior problems and cognitive development transmitted through mothers’ parenting and mastery. Maternal mastery is also found to be one of the most influential predictors of both developmental outcomes of children. Policy and practice implications of these findings are discussed.
Cardiovascular, neuropeptide Y, and adrenergic responses in stress are sexually differentiated

Abstract Cardiovascular and sympatho-adrenomedullary responsiveness at rest and during stress were studied in weight-matched, sexually mature male and female rats. At rest, although there were no sex differences in cardiovascular parameters, females had two-fold higher plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine. Resting plasma levels of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactivity (NPY-ir, a putative sympathetic contransmitter and a vasoconstrictor) were similar in both sexes. Stresses of handling and cold (4°C) water exposure induced greater pressor and tachycardic responses in males than in females. Males but not females exhibited a protracted recovery from the stress-induced pressor responses and a 2-fold increase in plasma NPY-ir suggesting that NPY release is sexually differentiated. Only in males, low basal plasma NE and NPY-ir levels inversely correlated with greater cold-induced pressor responses. Furthermore, in areflexic pithed rats, pressor adrenergic and NPY responses were greater in males than in females suggesting the possibility of “down”-regulation of vascular adrenergic receptors in females (due to elevated circulating catecholamines) and “up”-regulation of NPY and adrenergic receptors in males.
Modern Language Teaching: Problems and Opportunities for the Seventies.

W E ARE LIVING in an age of crisis. This is a pure platitude, because men have always lived in an age of crisis. Since before the Sphinx began posing its riddles, men have faced the future with foreboding and anxiety. This is a time of change, but change is the definition of time. So I like to remember that the Chinese character for crisis is a double symbol: danger and opportunity. I have chosen for my theme "Problems and Opportunities" because I want to be very realistic in discussing with you the problems and dangers I see ahead for foreign language teaching; at the same time I believe there are solutions to the problems, and opportunities contained in them for greater success and service. The first problem I see is that of decreasing enrollments in our language classes. There are several reasons for this. School populations will not increase as rapidly as in the past decade. The "baby boom" of the forties and fifties has now passed. The census and demographic studies seem to show that our school population will grow, but much more slowly (perhaps 2 percent yearly). More important for us specifically is that language requirements are being dropped, quite generally. Colleges and universities dropped them in the thirties, reinstated them in the fifties and early sixties, largely due to the campaign of the MLA Foreign Language Program and to the Sputnik furor; and now are again dropping the requirements both for the degree and for admission to college. The natural result is that High Schools and Prep Schools are makng foreign languages only recommended for the college bound, and optional or even "counter-indicated" for the terminal student. One thing is certain: we are no longer a "protected" profession with a captive clientele guaranteed to us by college requirements and other bases of an academic "status quo." Underlying this significant change is the permissiveness evident in our entire life and society today. Everthing is becoming optional-morals, drugs, social ethics, financial responsibility, family obligations. Small wonder that permissiveness in our academic curriculum is the vogue of the moment. Students are told that they know best what subjects they should study in order to become well educated, and that their choice may
A causal analysis of environment-reward-satisfaction linkages for the sales representative

A causal model that postulated linkages of organizational environmental variables, reward variables, and satisfaction for sales representatives was investigated. Findings indicated that the usual assumptions concerning an organization's inability to contribution to intrinsic rewards may not hold.
Radial Head Arthroplasty: A Radiologic Outcome Study

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to provide a radiographic outcome assessment of radial head arthroplasty in correlation with clinical outcomes and to determine whether there is an association between certain patient factors and clinical and radiographic outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A 10-year retrospective review was performed to identify patients with metal radial head arthroplasty. At least two follow-up radiographs were reviewed for each patient and were correlated with clinical information. Statistical analysis included calculation of complication rates, phi coefficient for variable association with complications, and Kaplan-Meier survival. RESULTS. A total of 258 radial head implants in 244 patients were reviewed. The mean patient age was 46 years, with mean follow-up time of 12.8 months. Two hundred nineteen (84.9%) implants were unipolar in design, whereas 39 implants were bipolar. The most common indication for arthroplasty was trauma (94% acute and 2% failed internal fixation). Radiogr...
Management of Patient Continence in Long-Term Care Nursing Facilities

Ninety-one urinary incontinent nursing home patients who responded to a 1-hour prompted voiding toileting program were gradually moved to a 2-hour program without a significant change in either continence or appropriate toileting levels. The nursing staffs were given experiential training and written recommendations describing the patients' required toileting schedules. Follow-up data from 2 and 6 weeks after initial patient treatment documents that nursing staffs did not maintain the 2-hour program.
Anticardiolipin antibodies and hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation.

Background. Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) remains a devastating complication after liver transplantation. Various factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of HAT, such as clotting abnormalities, increased hematocrit, and technical complications, but the role of anticardiolipin antibodies has not been evaluated. We investigated the possible association between HAT and anticardiolipin antibodies in adult patients who underwent liver transplantation. Methods. Seven patients with HAT after orthotopic liver transplantation, 28 liver recipients without HAT, and 35 normal blood donors were evaluated. Determination of IgM and IgG anticardiolipin antibodies was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using pretransplant serum from all allograft recipients. Clinical information was obtained from chart review. Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for statistical analysis, and all P-values were two-tailed. Results. Overall, 22 of 35 (63%) liver recipients had a positive anticardiolipin antibody test (either IgG or IgM titer >4 SD from the normal controls). The test was positive in 7 liver recipients (100%) with HAT compared with 15 out of 28 patients (54%) without HAT (P=0.031). As compared with liver recipients without HAT, patients with HAT also tended to have a higher mean anticardiolipin titer of IgG and IgM and a lower pretransplant platelet count; however, these differences were not significant. Conclusions. Our findings indicate that anticardiolipin antibodies are frequently elevated in patients with liver failure and may contribute to the pathogenesis of HAT after liver transplantation. Other potential consequences of anticardiolipin antibodies in end- stage liver disease remain to be determined.
Integrating CAM into Nursing Curricula: CAM Camp as an Educational Intervention

Background In 2002, the University of Washington School of Nursing (SON) partnered with Bastyr University on a five-year plan to offer a four-week intensive "CAM Camp" (CAMp) for SON faculty members and medical students from across the country. The four-week educational program introduced attendees to various complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities through didactic and experiential learning. Objective To enhance complementary and alternative medicine content in a SON curriculum and to increase SON faculty knowledge and understanding about (1) the range of CAM therapies, (2) the theoretic and cultural backgrounds of these therapies, and (3) their potential contributions to the health of diverse populations. Design A descriptive pretest, posttest design was used to compare pre-CAMp CAM knowledge and CAM course content with post-CAMp knowledge levels of faculty and course CAM content. Results On post-CAMp surveys, familiarity with CAM modalities was rated with mixed results as compared with positive reports on the qualitative interviews. Interview results were more positive about CAM in general and were less specific about individual CAM topics. Statistically significant increases in competences were evident in each of 13 competencies rated with four competencies at P
Panel data analysis of household brand choices

Abstract The paper examines theoretical and empirical issues arising in panel data studies of household brand choices. We develop a dynamic utility maximization model with habit formation that yields a discrete choice model that is linear in a vector of observable individual and brand characteristics, the lagged choice, an unobservable permanent individual/brand-specific effect, and an unobservable time-varying error component. We estimate the model using panel data on household yogurt purchases. We compare traditional estimation procedures with the method recently proposed by Honore and Kyriazidou. Panel data discrete choice models with lagged dependent variables, Econometrica 68 839–874. The methods’ robustness with respect to underlying assumptions is investigated in Monte Carlo simulations.
A PROCEDURE FOR ESTIMATION OF ULTIMATE UPLIFT CAPACITY OF FOUNDATIONS IN CLAY

ABSTRACT Based on the previous laboratory model test results of Das (1978) on rectangular foundations in saturated clay and similar results obtained by other investigators for circular foundations, a tentative general procedure for estimation of ultimate uplift capacity of foundations (square, circular and rectangular) has been presented. This procedure is mainly based on an α-β parameter curve, obtained from experimental results, which appears to be a unique curve irrespective of the undrained cohesion of clay and length-to-width ratio of the foundation. The effect of suction force which generally develops below the foundations resting on soft clays due to the sudden application of the pullout force has not been included.
Co-evolving model parameters for anytime learning in evolutionary robotics

Abstract Evolutionary robotics is a research area that makes use of evolutionary computation (EC) to provide a means of learning in robots. In this paper, we discuss a new way of integrating the actual robot and its model during EC. This method, which involves the co-evolution of model parameters, is applied to the problem of learning gaits for hexapod robots. The form of EC used is the cyclic genetic algorithm (CGA). Tests done in simulation and on the robot show that the CGA operating on the co-evolving model of the robot can adapt to changes in the robot’s capabilities to provide a system of anytime learning.
Radiation leukemogenesis: a proteomic approach.

Objective The objectives of this study were to identify protein biomarkers of radiation-induced acute myeloid leukemia (rAML) in CBA/CaJ mice, and to examine the similarities or differences in the patterns of protein-expression profiles among AMLs induced by low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation (e.g., gamma- or x-rays), and high LET radiation (i.e., neutrons). Materials and Methods We used two-dimensional electrophoresis gel in combination with mass spectrometry (MS), i.e., matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight MS and electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, to identify protein signatures in blood-plasma samples collected from control and rAML mice. There were nine cases of rAML (three cases induced by high LET radiation; six induced by low LET radiation) and eight control mice at similar ages. Results The results showed differences in the patterns of protein profiles from blood-plasma samples collected from rAML vs control mice. Moreover, our data demonstrated, both qualitatively and quantitatively, differences between the plasma protein profiles obtained from mice with AML induced by low vs high LET radiation. Most of the proteins that were present at greater levels in normal samples than in rAML samples were associated with normal metabolism and growth. Several acute-phase proteins were upregulated in rAML samples. Conclusion The data present, for the first time, evidence for increased expression of clusterin and a loss of gelsolin expression in blood plasma as potential biomarkers of rAML in the CBA/CaJ mouse. Results also indicate that two-dimensional electrophoresis, in combination with MS, is a highly sensitive technique for identification of blood-based biomarkers of rAML.
Towards a chronology of brownware pottery in the western great basin: A case study from Owens Valley

Great Basin brownware is often perceived as highly variable and lacking distinct subdivisions. Combined with the lack of painted decoration, the result has been to lump all brownware into a single all-encompassing temporal category. This article examines this perception in the Owens Valley of California where pot sherds are often found associated with late prehistoric house floors. An analysis of these sherd assemblages reveals important changes in how pots were made through time and suggests changes in prehistoric human behavior.
The demonstration of energy dependence of the isoproterenol-induced transcellular Ca2+ current in isolated perfused guinea pig hearts--an explanation for mechanical failure of ischemic myocardium.

Abstract Each contraction cycle of myocardial cells is initiated by movement of Ca 2+ across the cell membrane during the action potential, and the positive isotropic action of catecholamines appears to be mediated by augmentation of the inward Ca 2+ current. To investigate whether energy is required for production of Ca 2+ channels in the myocardial cell membrane, the inward Ca 2+ current was measured in isolated perfused guinea pig hearts whose fast Na + channels were inactivated by elevating external [K + ] to 27 m M (which depolarized to about −40 mV). Isoproterenol (1 × 10 −7 M ) rapidly induced excitability, i.e., slowly rising (about 10 V/sec) electrical potentials and contractions in response to external electrical stimulation. The electrical responses had a shape similar to that of the plateau of the normal action potential. Evidence that this inward current is mainly carried by Ca 2+ is that it was blocked by (a) Ca 2+ -free solution, (b) 1 m M Mn 2+ , and (c) verapamil (0.05 μg/ml). Caffeine and theophylline mimicked the catecholamines, except that they were effective in the presence of propranolol. The Ca 2+ current was completely blocked, with cessation of contractions, within 20 min by dinitrophenol (DNP) (10 −4 M ) or by cyanide (10 −3 M ). Similar effects were produced by hypoxia and ischemia (cessation of perfusion) also within 20 min. The effects of hypoxia and ischemia were rapidly reversible, whereas those of the metabolic poisons were not. In hearts perfused with normal Ringer, the contractions were depressed by these four metabolic stresses along a similar (but sometimes slower) time course, whereas the action potentials were not appreciably altered until considerably later; these results suggest that the Ca 2+ current contribution to the normal action potential is depressed in a similar fashion to that of the catecholamine- or methylxanthine-induced responses. Although Sr 2+ substituted for Ca 2+ in the inward current, Sr 2+ (5 m M ) addition did not restore the inward current blocked by DNP, thus suggesting that the DNP inhibition is not due to loss of electrochemical driving force for the inward divalent cation current. These findings suggest that the production and/or maintenance of Ca 2+ channels are energy dependent.
Gauge field theory of covariant strings

Abstract We present a gauge covariant second-quantized field theory of strings which is explicitly invariant under the gauge transformations generated by the Virasoro algebra. Unlike the old field theory strings [1] this new formulation is Lorentz covariant as well as gauge covariant under the continuous group Diff(S1) and its central extension. We derive the free action: L=Φ(X) † P[i∂ τ −(L 0 −1)]PΦ(X) , in the same way that Feynman derived the Schrodinger equation from the path integral formalism. The action is manifestly invariant under the gauge transformation δΦ(X)= ∑ n=1 ∞ ϵ −n L −n Φ(X) , where P is a projection operator which annihilates spurious states. We give three distinct formulations of this operator P to all orders, the first based on extracting the operator from the functional formulation of the Nambu-Goto action, and the second and third based on inverting the Shapovalov matrix on a Verma module. This gauge covariant formulation can be easily extended to the Green-Schwarz superstring [2,3]. One element application of these methods is to re-express the old Neveu-Schwarz-Ramond model as a field theory which is manifestly invariant under space-time supersymmetric transformations.
Multiplicity of depressive episodes: Phenomenological and neuroendocrine correlates

Sixty-four patients with a Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) diagnosis of major depressive disorder were categorized into three groups based on their number of depressive episodes (DE): Gr I (1 DE), n = 16, Gr II (2-4 DE), n = 25; and Gr III (5 or more DE), n = 23. All patients were nonsuppressors after 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) prior to the start of treatment. Patients were monitored during the course of their treatment using serial Hamilton Depression scores and post-DST plasma cortisol levels. A proportionately equal number of patients in the three groups had a favorable outcome, i.e., the number of depressive episodes did not predict recovery. Despite favorable clinical outcome, patients with higher numbers of depressive episodes had significantly higher post-DST plasma cortisol levels that were above the suppressive range (greater than 5 micrograms/dl). Patients with a higher number of depressive episodes had a significantly shorter duration of index episode and were younger at first depressive episode than patients in the other two groups. These results, however, were confounded with polarity, with a higher number of bipolars in Gr III than in the other two groups. Results are discussed in light of phenomenological and psychoendocrine findings of earlier studies.
Forward-viewing Endoscope of Appropriate Scanning Speed for 3D OCT Imaging

A forward-viewing fiber-optic endoscope was developed with the scanning speed appropriate for 3-D real-time OCT imaging when using a high-speed swept source. The scanning speed was systematically analyzed. In-vivo 3-D oral cavity imaging was performed.
Current Approaches to Postfall Assessment in Nursing Homes

Objective Falls in nursing homes occur among a large percentage of residents. Their onset necessitates a postfall assessment (PFA) be performed by clinical staff to determine likely etiology. The absence of an empirically validated comprehensive postfall assessment tool has led to considerable variability in the types of PFAs performed. The purpose of this study was to examine the types of PFA tools available, their content, and to compare this with national recommendations for fall assessment in geriatric practice. Setting A convenience sample of 379 long-term care facilities, with a cumulative census of over 40,000 residents, in New Jersey were solicited to return to the Director of Long-Term Care Surveys at the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services a copy of any PFA tools used in practice. Methods A review of the types of assessment tools used in each of the responding facilities were tabulated and coded as belonging to one of five categories: (1) fall-risk assessment short form, (2) fall-risk assessment long form, (3) fall prevention protocols such as fall programs and postfall assessment forms, (4) incident reports, and (5) other. A subset of 20 facilities used a specific PFA. This content was further analyzed and compared with national and professional recommendations for PFA that included five domains: (1) history of the fall, (2) environmental issues, (3) physical examination, (4) functional assessment, and (5) laboratory and other diagnostics. Results Of 379 facilities solicited, 149 responded (40%) to reveal a wide array of tools used for the purpose of PFA. These included: risk assessment tools, fall prevention programs, policies and procedures for fall management, and incident reports. Overall, most facilities used fall-risk assessment tools in place of PFA (63.7%; n = 95). Many of the nationally recommended guidelines for PFA were not included in the tools included in this sample, with the exception of environmental questions that were evident in all PFAs surveyed (100%). Other fall circumstances related to time, mobility, and footwear were included less often (70% n = 14) as were use of diuretics (55% = 11), mental status and ambulation ability (45% n = 9) of the falling older adult. Conclusion Despite recommendations in the geriatric literature, comprehensive postfall assessment tools were unavailable for use by nursing home staff. When a PFA was performed, there was no consistency among facilities sampled. Data collected was minimal and unlikely to reveal the full range of possible underlying etiologies. Improved, validated PFA tools are needed to aid clinical staff in evaluating older adults who have fallen. (J Am Med Dir Assoc 2004; 5: 387-394)
The Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Suspected Appendicitis in Pregnancy Shortened Length of Stay Without Increase in Hospital Charges

IMPORTANCE Making an accurate diagnosis of appendicitis in pregnancy is critical for maternal and fetal outcomes. OBJECTIVE To determine whether magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in pregnant patients with suspected appendicitis improves outcomes, minimizes length of stay (LOS), and lowers hospital charges. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective review at a university tertiary referral center of all pregnant patients seen with abdominal pain and suspected appendicitis who were followed up through delivery during an 11-year period. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Time to operation, LOS, complications, nontherapeutic exploration, fetal outcomes, and hospital charges. RESULTS Seventy-nine patients were included in this study, 34 of whom had pathology-confirmed appendicitis. Thirty-one patients underwent MR imaging. A trend toward fewer operations (odds ratio [OR], 0.45; 95% CI, 0.18-1.16; P = .07) was observed in the MR imaging group. Seven nontherapeutic explorations were performed in the non-MR imaging group and 1 nontherapeutic exploration in the MR imaging group (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.08-2.32; P = .13). Patients in the MR imaging group were more frequently discharged from the emergency department (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13-0.94; P = .04) and had shorter LOS (33.7 vs 64.8 hours, P < .001). Gestational age, time to operation, and the presence of perforated appendicitis were similar between groups. No patient discharged without operation returned with appendicitis in either group. On multivariable analysis, the receipt of MR imaging (P < .001) and the absence of operative intervention (P = .001) were associated with shorter LOS. The mean hospital charges were similar in those with vs without appendicitis. One fetal loss occurred in the non-MR imaging group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Magnetic resonance imaging in pregnant patients with suspected appendicitis does not affect clinical outcomes or hospital charges. It allows safe discharge from the emergency department and improves resource use.
Tandem Enzymatic Oxygenations in Biosynthesis of Epoxyquinone Pharmacophore of Manumycin-type Metabolites

Many natural products contain epoxyquinone pharmacophore with unknown biosynthetic mechanisms. Recent genetic analysis of the asukamycin biosynthetic gene cluster proposed enzyme candidates related to epoxyquinone formation for manumycin-type metabolites. Our biochemical studies reveal that 3-amino-4-hydroxyl benzoic acid (3,4-AHBA) precursor is activated and loaded on aryl carrier protein (AsuC12) by ATP-dependent adenylase (AsuA2). AsuE1 and AsuE3, both single-component flavin-dependent monooxygenases, catalyze the exquisite regio- and enantiospecific postpolyketide synthase (PKS) assembly oxygenations. AsuE1 installs a hydroxyl group on the 3,4-AHB ring to form a 4-hydroxyquinone moiety, which is epoxidized by AsuE3 to yield the epoxyquinone functionality. Despite being a single-component monooxygenase, AsuE1 activity is elicited by AsuE2, a pathway-specific flavin reductase. We further demonstrate that the epoxyquinone moiety is critical for anti-MRSA activity by analyzing the bioactivity of various manumycin-type metabolites produced through mutasynthesis.