cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms involved in the metabotropic glutamate receptor-enhancement of NMDA-mediated motoneurone responses in frog spinal cord

The metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist trans-(±)-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD) (10–100 μM) depolarized isolated frog spinal cord motoneurones, a process sensitive to kynurenate (1.0 mM) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) (0.783 μM). In the presence of NMDA open channel blockers [Mg2+; (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate (MK801); 3,5-dimethyl-1-adamantanamine hydrochloride (memantine)] and TTX, trans-ACPD significantly potentiated NMDA-induced motoneurone depolarizations, but not α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-proprionate (AMPA)- or kainate-induced depolarizations. NMDA potentiation was blocked by (RS)-α-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG) (240 μM), but not by α-methyl-(2S,3S,4S)-α-(carboxycyclopropyl)-glycine (MCCG) (290 μM) or by α-methyl-(S)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (L-MAP4) (250 μM), and was mimicked by 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) (30 μM), but not by L(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (L-AP4) (100 μM). Therefore, trans-ACPD's facilitatory effects appear to involve group I mGluRs. Potentiation was prevented by the G-protein decoupling agent pertussis toxin (3–6 ng ml−1, 36 h preincubation). The protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporine (2.0 μM) and N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide HCl (H9) (77 μM) did not significantly reduce enhanced NMDA responses. Protein kinase C activation with phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (5.0 μM) had no effect. Intracellular Ca2+ depletion with thapsigargin (0.1 μM) (which inhibits Ca2+/ATPase), 1,2-bis(O-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetracetic acid acetyl methyl ester (BAPTA-AM) (50 μM) (which buffers elevations of [Ca2+]i), and bathing spinal cords in nominally Ca2+-free medium all reduced trans-ACPD's effects. The calmodulin antagonists N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulphonamide (W7) (100 μM) and chlorpromazine (100 μM) diminished the potentiation. In summary, group I mGluRs selectively facilitate NMDA-depolarization of frog motoneurones via a G-protein, a rise in [Ca2+]i from the presumed generation of phosphoinositides, binding of Ca2+ to calmodulin, and lessening of the Mg2+-produced channel block of the NMDA receptor. British Journal of Pharmacology (1999) 126, 333–341; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0702263
The Sabbath in the Writings of Josephus

L'article est consacre a la vision du sabbat dans les ecrits de Flavius Josephe. L'A. analyse les passages de ces ecrits ou il est question de la pratique du sabbat montrant que Josephe etait entierement conscient de sa signification, estimant beaucoup son observance et a decrit la mise en pratique du sabbat comme etant un barometre de la piete.
Lipid metabolism, physical activity, and postmenopausal hormone therapy

The current concept of coronary risk reduction for the general population involves matching the intensity of the intervention to the intensity of the risk. In an evidence-based model, two components must be addressed: the strength of evidence of the risk of each attribute and the efficacy of specific interventions, both lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy. This format guides national recommendations for the control of lipid abnormalities and for physical activity for the general population. In the absence of randomized trial data for postmenopausal hormone therapy, presentation of relative benefits and risks should be offered with individualization of advice based on the characteristics of the specific patient. Patients with chronic renal disease have a high prevalence of coronary risk factors and are at high risk for coronary heart disease. Goals for coronary risk factor intervention must be developed for patients with specific subsets of chronic renal disease.
Systemic and mucosal T-lymphocyte activation induced by recombinant adenovirus vaccines in rhesus monkeys.

The administration of vectors designed to elicited cell-mediated immune responses may have other consequences that are clinically significant. To explore this possibility, we evaluated T-cell activation during the first 2 months after recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd5) prime or boost immunizations in rhesus monkeys. We also evaluated the kinetics of T-lymphocyte activation in both the systemic and the mucosal compartments after rAd5 administration in monkeys with preexisting immunity to Ad5. The rAd5 immunization induced lower-frequency Gag epitope-specific CD8 + T cells in the colonic mucosa than in the peripheral blood. There was evidence of an expansion of the simian immunodeficiency virus Gag-specific CD8 + T-cell responses, but not the Ad5 hexon-specific T-cell responses, following a homologous rAd5 boost. A striking but transient T-lymphocyte activation in both the systemic and the mucosal compartments of rhesus monkeys was observed after rAd5 immunization. These findings indicate that the administration of a vaccine vector such as Ad5 can induce a global activation of T cells.
Coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndrome: does every culprit lesion require revascularization?

In patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes, 30–60% of patients have multiple significant coronary lesions. Patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome and multivessel disease have a significant increase in the incidence of major cardiovascular morbidity and mortality when compared with patients who have single-vessel disease. Although great progress has been made to reduce the extent of infarction through effective and rapid reperfusion due to faster time to reperfusion, potent antiplatelets, and antithrombotics, there is not much consensus as to how best to treat multivessel disease in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes. We present a review of the current body of evidence for safety and efficacy of multivessel revascularization in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes.
Ukinrek Maars, Alaska, II. Deposits and formation of the 1977 craters

Abstract The initial phase of the eruption forming Ukinrek Maars during March and April 1977 were explosions from the site of West Maar. These were mainly phreatomagmatic and initially transitional to strombolian. Activity at West Maar ceased after three days upon the initiation of the East Maar. The crater quickly grew by strong phreatomagmatic explosions. During the first phases of phreatomagmatic activity at East Maar, large exotic blocks derived from a subsurface till were ejected. Ballistic studies indicate muzzle velocities for these blocks of 80–90 m s −1 . Phreatomagmatic explosions ejected both juvenile and non-juvenile material which formed a low rim of ejecta ( m high ) around the crater and a localized, coarse, wellsorted ( σ φ = 1−1.5) juvenile and lithic fall deposit. Other fine ash beds, interstratified with the coarse beds, are more poorly sorted ( σ φ = 2−3) and are interpreted as fallout of wet, cohesive ash from probably milder phases of activity in the crater. Minor base surge activity damaged trees and deposited fine ash, including layers plastered on vertical surfaces. Viscous basalt lava appeared in the center of the East Maar crater almost immediately and a lava dome gradually grew in the crater despite phreatomagmatic eruptions adjacent to it. The development of these maars appears to be mainly controlled by gradual collapse of crater and conduit walls, and blasting-out of the slumped debris by phreatomagmatic explosions when rising magma contacted groundwater beneath the regional water table and a local perched aquifer. Ballistic analysis on the ejected blocks indicates a maximum muzzle velocity of 100–150 m s -1 , values similar to those obtained from other ballistic studies on maar ejecta.
Proteasome inhibitors induce a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent anti-apoptotic program involving MAPK phosphatase-1 and Akt in models of breast cancer.

Proteasome inhibitors represent a novel class of anti-tumor agents that have clinical efficacy against hematologic malignancies, but single-agent activity against solid tumors such as breast cancer has been disappointing, perhaps due to activation of anti-apoptotic survival signals. To evaluate a possible role for the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), A1N4-myc human mammary epithelial, and BT-474 and MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells, were studied. Exposure of these lines to pharmacologic p38 blockade enhanced proteasome inhibitor-mediated apoptosis, as did overexpression of dominant negative (DN)-p38-α and -β-MAPK isoforms. Inhibition of p38 resulted in suppression of induction of anti-apoptotic MAPK phosphatase (MKP)-1, in association with enhanced activation of the pro-apoptotic c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). Moreover, infection of cells treated with a proteasome inhibitor/p38 inhibitor combination with Adenovirus (Ad) inducing over-expression of MKP-1 suppressed apoptosis compared with controls. Further targets of p38 MAPK were also studied, and proteasome inhibition activated phosphorylation of MAPK-activated protein kinase-2, heat shock protein (HSP)-27, and the AKT8 virus oncogene cellular homolog (Akt). Inhibition of p38 MAPK resulted in decreased phospho-HSP-27 and phospho-Akt, while down-regulation of HSP-27 with a small interfering RNA decreased phosphorylation of Akt, directly linking activation of p38 to Akt. Finally, inhibition of Akt with phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibitors increased apoptosis, as did over-expression of DN-Akt. These studies support the hypothesis that proteasome inhibitors activate an anti-apoptotic survival program through p38 MAPK that involves MKP-1 and Akt. Further, they suggest that strategies targeting MKP-1 and Akt could enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of proteasome inhibitors against breast cancer.
18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Influences Management Decisions in Patients with Biliary Cancer

Background Although 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) has widespread clinical use, its role in cancers of the biliary tract is ill-defined. The aim of this study was to determine if preoperative PET provided additional staging information in patients with biliary tract cancer, beyond that obtained through conventional anatomic imaging. The role of PET in detecting disease recurrence after resection was also examined. Study Design Between March 2001 and October 2003, 126 patients with biopsy-proved or presumed biliary tract cancer (intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma) underwent PET in addition to standard imaging evaluation. Histologic confirmation of the diagnosis was used as the reference standard with which PET results were compared. Patient followup information and serial imaging were reviewed for progression of lesions detected by PET. Results Of the 126 study patients, 93 (74%) underwent preoperative staging PET scans, the results of which changed the stage and treatment in 22 patients (24%): 15 of 62 (24%) with cholangiocarcinoma and 7 of 31 (23%) with gallbladder carcinoma. When used to assess for cancer recurrence (n=33), PET identified disease in 86% of patients but altered treatment in only 9%. So, of the entire study group, the findings of PET influenced management in 20% of patients (24% preoperative staging and 9% cancer recurrence). The sensitivity of PET for identifying the primary tumor was 80% overall: 78% for cholangiocarcinoma, 86% for gallbladder carcinoma. Conclusions Most biliary tract cancers are 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose avid tumors. In patients with potentially resectable tumors based on conventional imaging, PET identified occult metastatic disease and changed management in nearly one-fourth of all patients. PET also helped confirm recurrent cancer after resection.
Soil properties and fast-growing tree species in Tanzania

Abstract This study examined growth rates and soil conditions of 11–14-year-old forest plantations and adjacent unmanaged natural forests at three climatically and geologically distinct sites in Tanzania. The sites differ markedly in growth rates, soil conditions and potential for management. At the Uluguru Forest Reserve on quartzo-feldspathic granulite and mica with average rainfall of 1058–1377 mm y −1 , regenerating evergreen forest and a plantation of Acacia mearnsii have grown at 2.6–7.2 and 3.5 m 3 ha −1 y −1 , respectively. At the East Chenene Forest Reserve on granite where rainfall averages 573–625 mm y −1 , mature dry woodland and plantations of Cassia siamea and Eucalyptus citriodora have grown at 0.2-2.0 and 1.4-2.2 m 3 ha −1 y −1 , respectively. Fertility of the acid soils at these sites depends on litterfall and organic matter decomposition, and it declines when leaching increases after forest clearing. At the Sambasha Forest Reserve on volcanic ash soils with average rainfall of 1200–1800 mm y −1 , mature evergreen forest and a plantation of Cupressus lusitanica have grown at 2–9 and up to 15 m 3 ha −1 y −1 , respectively. Soil fertility here is much less dependent on organic matter additions. In forest management where neither fertilizer nor irrigation is used, inherent soil fertility has a marked effect on growth. Growth rates in this study are related to rainfall and soil nutrient status at each site, with the fastest growth occurring on wet, recent volcanic soil (Sambasha). The slowest growth was measured at the dry site (East Chenene) where soils are developed from nutrient-poor acid rock. At their present slow rates of growth, plantations will not make a significant contribution in the near future to alleviating deforestation and related scarcity of forest products in semiarid regions of Tanzania. Four actions are urgently needed: (1) identification of the best sites for tree plantations; (2) identification of the most promising exotic and indigenous species; (3) identification of the constraints on growth of promising species; and (4) formulation of economically and physically feasible management techniques to overcome constraints to growth. These can be achieved through increased use of soil surveys; establishment of comparative field trials with varying site/species combinations; recognition of the limited potential of species that require intensive management by local people; and exploitation of the inherent advantages of indigenous species.
The elephant in the living room of the house of health care.

There is an elephant in the living room of the House of Health Care that is not going away. The Ethical Force Program authors of Wynia et al. (2004) recognize early on that their report “does not a...
Heritability and selection schemes for rainbow trout: body weight

Abstract Genetic parameter estimates were obtained for nursery weight, yearling weight, 25-month-weight, and spawning weight from 892–2140 fish consisting of 49 half-sib families that reached sexual maturity at 30 months of age. The parents used to produce the half-sib groups had been manipulated to spawn 6 months out of season using photoperiod control. The fact the progeny spawned during the normal season for the broodstock demonstrated the existence of a strong genetic component determining spawning season. With the exception of nursery weight, the estimated heritability of body weight at all ages was 0.20 ± 0.11 when based on half-sib variance components. The dam components of variance were consistently larger than the sire components and estimates of common environmental effects ranged from 0.09 for mature weight to 0.19 for yearling weight, assuming the absence of dominance genetic effects. The estimated heritability of nursery weight was high (0.52 ± 0.15); the dam component of variance was smaller than the sire component suggesting some type of confounding of rearing method and distribution of families within the rearing system. Intraclass correlations for weight of full-sib groups at the four ages ranged from 0.19 for mature weight to 0.29 for yearling weight. A comparison of expected selection responses from individual, family, within-family and combined family and within-family selection demonstrated the superiority of combined selection. Combined selection is expected to produce a response per generation about 10%–30% above that of individual and family selection and about twice that expected for within-family selection.
Assessing acid–base disorders

Effective management of acid–base disorders depends on accurate diagnosis. Three distinct approaches are currently used in assessing acid–base disorders: the physiological approach, the base-excess approach, and the physicochemical approach. There are considerable differences among the three approaches. In this review, we first describe the conceptual framework of each approach, and comment on its attributes and drawbacks. We then highlight the application of each approach to patient care. We conclude with a brief synthesis and our recommendations for choosing an approach.
A 2.4GHz 256/1024-bit Encryption Accelerator reconfigurable Montgomery multiplier in 90nm CMOS

This paper describes a scalable unified reconfigurable 256/1024-bit Encryption Accelerator Montgomery multiplier designed for 2.4GHz operation in 1.2V 90nm process, with total power consumption of 69mW. The design utilizes a fully-static 313ps 256-bit kernel datapath and achieves up to 44% reduction in latency and 50% reduction in FIFO size, enabling 566K 1024-bit finite-field multiplications per second.
A study of winter variability in carbon dioxide and Arctic haze aerosols at Barrow, Alaska

Abstract Relationships among atmospheric CO2 concentration, excess sulfate and vanadium, and meteorological analyses for one winter at Barrow, Alaska were investigated. The results provided a basis for understanding the causes of short term CO2 variability. The study indicated that peaks in CO2 concentration were related to direct atmospheric transport of industrial pollutants from Eurasia. Evidence that background Arctic concentrations contained a pollution component was also found. Lowest CO2 concentrations occurred with intrusions of Pacific air above the surface-based polluted Arctic air mass.
Urinary bladder glycoproteins of the rabbit: extraction, biochemical and immunological studies.

The mucin layer of the bladder covering the transitional epithelium is thought to be an anti-adherence substance for bacteria. We have previously demonstrated that removal of this layer results in increased bacterial colonization. In this present communication we report our attempts to isolate and characterize the components of the mucin layer. Bladders were removed from female NZW rabbits and the mucosal layer was extracted with 0.1 M NaCl. Fractional centrifugation and column chromatography on AcA 34 and AcA 22 resulted in the separation of a partially purified glycoprotein, containing 30% carbohydrate, migrating as a single peak (4.5S) in the analytical ultracentrifuge. It was immunogenic in mice and the antisera were used to develop both a radioimmunoassay and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antigenic activity of the glycoprotein was destroyed by protease or extremes of pH, but not by several glycosidases. In addition the murine antisera could not be inhibited by a panel of naturally...
Measured joint Doppler-delay power profiles for vehicle-to-vehicle communications at 2.4 GHz

Measured per-tap Doppler spectra are presented for a frequency selective vehicle-to-vehicle or mobile-to-mobile wireless communications link in various multipath environments in Atlanta, Georgia. The measurements were taken using the direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) technique at 2.45 GHz. The environments, chosen for their exceptionally long delay spreads, include an expressway, an urban T-intersection, and an exit ramp. The different environments produced quite different spectra. Also, for a given channel, the spectra corresponding to different delays were different, implying a non-separable channel model.
Weakly-Supervised Bayesian Learning of a CCG Supertagger

We present a Bayesian formulation for weakly-supervised learning of a Combinatory Categorial Grammar (CCG) supertagger with an HMM. We assume supervision in the form of a tag dictionary, and our prior encourages the use of crosslinguistically common category structures as well as transitions between tags that can combine locally according to CCG’s combinators. Our prior is theoretically appealing since it is motivated by languageindependent, universal properties of the CCG formalism. Empirically, we show that it yields substantial improvements over previous work that used similar biases to initialize an EM-based learner. Additional gains are obtained by further shaping the prior with corpus-specific information that is extracted automatically from raw text and a tag dictionary.
Credentialing Ethics Consultants: An Invitation to Collaboration

The article by Fox et al. (2007) marks an important moment in the history of clinical ethics consultation. It documents what we in the field all know anecdotally: clinical ethics consultation has b...
Characterization of FRP Rods as Near-Surface Mounted Reinforcement

The use of near surface mounted (NSM) fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rods is a promising technology for increasing flexural and shear strength of deficient reinforced concrete (RC) members. As this technology emerges, the structural behavior of RC elements strengthened with NSM FRP rods needs to be fully characterized. Given the variability of material properties and groove geometry, this requires that the tensile properties of the FRP rod and the mechanics of load transfer between NSM FRP rods and concrete be investigated. Tensile and bond tests on commercially available carbon FRP deformed rods for application as NSM reinforcement were carried out using test methods that are expected to become standards in North America. Three full-size beams, one control beam and two beams strengthened in shear with NSM FRP rods, were tested. Test results are presented and compared with the predictions of a simple design approach, showing reasonable agreement.
STRICTURES OF ASCENDING COLON IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS AND HIGH-STRENGTH PANCREATIC-ENZYMES

We have observed five children with cystic fibrosis, who presented over 2 months, with meconium ileus equivalent that failed to respond to medical management. At surgery, four had a stricture in the ascending colon, and all had histopathological changes of post-ischaemic ulceration repair, with mucosal and submucosal fibrosis. The only common change in the management of these children was a switch from conventional enteric-coated pancreatic enzymes to high-strength products 12-15 months before presentation.
Ion selectivity of volume regulatory mechanisms present during a hypoosmotic challenge in vestibular dark cells.

Abstract Volume regulation during a hypoosmotic challenge (RVD) in vestibular dark cells from the gerbilline inner ear has previously been shown to depend on the presence of cytosolic K + and Cl − , suggesting that it involves KCl efflux. The aim of the present study was to characterize hypoosmotically-induced KCl transport under conditions where a hypoosmotic challenge causes KCl influx via the pathways normally used for efflux. Net osmolyte movements were monitored as relative changes in cell volume measured as epithelial cell height ( CH ). A hypoosmotic challenge (298 to 154 mosM) in the presence of 3.6 or 25 mM K + and loop-diuretics (piretanide or bumetanide) caused an increase in CH by about a factor of 1.2 presumably due to the net effect of primary swelling defined as osmotic dilution of the cytosol and RVD involving KCl efflux. A hypoosmotic challenge in the presence of 79 mM K + and loop-diuretics, however, caused CH to increase by a factor of over 2.4. Presumably, this large increase in CH was due to the sum of primary and secondary swelling. Secondary swelling depended on the presence of extracellular K + and Cl − suggesting that it involved KCl influx followed by water. The ion selectivity of secondary swelling was K + = Rb + >Cs + ⪢ Na + = NMDG + and Cl − = NO 3 − = SCN − ⪢ gluconate − . Secondary swelling was not inhibited by Ba 2+ , tetraethylammonium, quinidine, lidocaine, amiloride, 4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid, 4-acetamido-4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid, 4,4′-dinitrostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid, 5-nitro-2(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid, acetazolamide, or ethoxyzolamide. These data define a profile of the hypoosmotically-induced KCl transport pathways. The ion selectivity and the blocker insensitivity are consistent with the involvement of the apical slowly activating K + channel (I sK or minK channel) and the basolateral 360 pS Cl − channel. The involvement of these channels, however, remains to be demonstrated.
Itpr3 Is Responsible for the Mouse Tufted (tf) Locus

The tf (tufted) locus is responsible for a classic phenotype of hair loss and regrowth in mice. It is a characteristic of the BTBR strain. Here, we use a combination of positional cloning methods and complementation mapping to identify Itpr3, the inositol triphosphate receptor type 3, as the gene responsible for the tf locus.
The 1996 coronary artery bypass risk model: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac National Database

Abstract Background . The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac National Database has recently completed the update for the 1996 risk model to be used to estimate the risk of operative death for isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures. Methods . We placed emphasis on clinical relevance, data quality, data completeness, and univariate analyses. A logistic regression approach was used to develop the 1996 CABG-only risk model. Results . Odds ratios for the factors with highest risk are multiple reoperations (OR = 4.3), emergent salvage status (OR = 3.7), and first reoperation (OR = 2.7). Standard performance measures indicated the model had high predictive power and an acceptable level of calibration after adjustment for a large sample size effect. Conclusion . The most current STS risk model of CABG operative mortality is a reliable and statistically valid tool. The 1996 CABG-only model has been approved for use by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
Glucose Oxidase (GOD)-Coupled Amperometric Microsensor with Integrated Electrochemical Actuation System

Recent developments for biosensors have been mainly focused on miniaturization and exploratory use of new materials. It should be emphasized that the absence of a novel "in-situ self-calibration/diagnosis technique" that is not connected to an external apparatus is a key obstacle to the realization of a biosensor for continuous use with minimum attendance. In order to address this issue, a novel solid-state glucose oxidase-coupled amperometric biosensor with integrated electrochemical actuation system has been designed and validated. There are two key components of the proposed glucose biosensor: solid-state GOD-coupled thin-1m amperometric sensing element and O2 depleting/saturating built-in electrochemical actuator. The actuator can be used to accomplish in-situ 1-point self-calibration by depleting O2 (i.e., by simulating glucose-free environment). Also, it can be used at the same time to extend the proposed sensor's linear detection range by increasing O2 (i.e., by enhancing glucose sensitivity). A prototype sensor was fabricated and a series of lab experiments was conducted. Collected data assures that the proposed sensor effectively establishes the zero calibration point and significantly enhances its measurement sensitivity and confidence
Towards Reasoning Pragmatics

The realization of Semantic Web reasoning is central to substantiating the Semantic Web vision. However, current mainstream research on this topic faces serious challenges, which force us to question established lines of research and to rethink the underlying approaches.
Relationship between Autophosphorylation and Phosphorylation of Exogenous Substrates by the Human Cytomegalovirus UL97 Protein Kinase

Human cytomegalovirus encodes an unusual protein kinase, UL97, which is a member of the HvUL family of protein kinases encoded by diverse herpesviruses. UL97 is able to autophosphorylate and to phosphorylate certain exogenous substrates, including nucleoside analogs such as ganciclovir. It has previously been concluded that phosphorylation of UL97 is essential for its phosphorylation of ganciclovir. We examined the relationship between autophosphorylation of UL97 and its activity on exogenous substrates. Glutathione S-transferase-UL97 fusion protein purified from insect cells was found to be already partially phosphorylated, but neither extensive autophosphorylation nor phosphatase treatment meaningfully altered the time course of its phosphorylation of the exogenous substrate, histone H2B. Sequencing and mass spectrometric analyses of 32P-labeled tryptic peptides of the UL97 fusion protein identified nine sites of autophosphorylation, all within the first 200 residues of the protein, outside of conserved protein kinase subdomains. A peptide corresponding to the N-terminal UL97 segment that was most extensively autophosphorylated was readily phosphorylated by UL97, confirming that fusion protein sequences are not required for phosphorylation at this site. Deletion mutants lacking at least the first 239 residues exhibited drastically reduced autophosphorylation (<5%) but retained near-wild-type H2B phosphorylation activity. Baculoviruses expressing these mutants efficiently directed the phosphorylation of ganciclovir in insect cells. Taken together, these results identify the autophosphorylation sites of a herpesvirus protein kinase and show that autophosphorylation of UL97 is not required for phosphorylation of exogenous substrates.
Pyogranulomatous cystitis associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in a cat after renal transplantation

Case Description—An 8-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for azotemia and a suspected mass in the urinary bladder 6 weeks after receiving a renal transplant. Ultrasonography revealed a mass at the ureteroneocystostomy site, and the mass was excised. Both the donor and recipient cats were seronegative for Toxoplasma gondii–specific IgG antibodies prior to transplantation. Clinical Findings—Histologic evaluation of the mass revealed lesions indicative of extensive necrotizing pyogranulomatous cystitis with numerous intralesional T gondii tachyzoites and bradyzoite cysts. Treatment and Outcome—Treatment with clindamycin was initiated; however, the cat's clinical condition continued to decline, and it was euthanized 9 days after the mass was excised. Necropsy revealed T gondii cysts within the renal allograft and the transplanted ureter, with no evidence of systemic spread of organisms. Clinical Relevance—Toxoplasmosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for azotemia in f...
Bridging the Gap between Eco-Design and the Human Thinking System

Technological progress has enabled widespread adoption and use of consumer electronics, changing how global society lives and works. This progress has come with immense environmental cost, including extraction of scarce materials, consumption of fossil fuels, and growing e-waste challenges. Eco-design has emerged as a promising approach to reduce the environmental footprint of electronics by integrating sustainability-oriented decisions early in the product realization process. However, most approaches focus on the product itself, not on the consumer who ultimately decides how to purchase, use, maintain, and dispose of the device. This article presents a new framework to guide designers in developing products with features that encourage consumers to use them in an environmentally sustainable manner. The Sustainable Behavior Design (SBD) framework links common design concepts (ergonomic, emotional, preventative, and interaction design) with core aspects of the human thinking system to create features to make users aware of their behavior and decisions (reflective thinking) or result in sustainable behaviors even when users are unaware (automatic thinking). The SBD framework is demonstrated using a case study on a smartphone, a high demand product. The reimagined smartphone design integrates solutions addressing both automatic and reflective thinking systems, potentially reducing life cycle impacts by almost 30%.
Is aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma really aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma

Is aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma (ADPA) really aggressive? Does it only occur at digital location? Does it always have microscopic papillary features? Is it really adenocarcinoma? Let’s us address these questions one by one. Is ADPA aggressive? From the term, namely, aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma, one would interpret this as high grade malignant tumor with grim prognosis. Is this the case? Let’s answer this question with historical literature review. In 1979 Helwig from the Armed Force Institute of Pathology introduced a term called aggressive digital papillary adenoma and presented 22 cases under this term at the American Academy of Clinical and Pathologic Conference in Chicago [1]. A brief written description of these cases was found as differential diagnosis in an article entitled “eccrine acrospiroma” published in 1984 [2]. Helwig described the so-called aggressive digital papillary adenoma by these words: “I presented 22 examples of aggressive digital papillary adenoma of which 21 occurred on the digits and one on the sole... Microscopically, nests and masses of cuboidal to columnar cells irregularly infiltrate the collagenous stroma. Usually, pleomorphism is minimal. The epithelial patterns vary from solid foci to a more common picture of repeated acinar or glandlike structures fused into larger masses. The gland-like structures have minute or, occasionally, large lumens and often show a papillary configuration. Small foci of squamous differentiation may occur. Thirteen of the 22 tumors recurred at least once, some extended into subjacent bone and, occasionally, amputation of the digit was required. Two tumors metastasized, one to the lung.” [2] As one can see from what was described, these lesions, some of them with recurrences and even metastasis, were not adenomas but carcinomas. For reasons unknown, Helwig did not make straightforward diagnosis of these lesions as carcinoma even in the presence of metastasis, instead he called them “aggressive” adenoma. The term “aggressive” adenoma was used here by Helwig to describe a lesion considered by him as an adenoma but showing recurrences and metastasis. In other word, if this lesion was called carcinoma, then the word “aggressive” would be redundant, since recurrence and metastasis are expected for carcinomas. Decades later when these lesions were called rightly by Duke et al. (also from Armed Force Institute of Pathology) as carcinomas, namely, aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma [3], the word “aggressive” was not removed and it remained in the term up to today. With the word “aggressive” remaining in the term, it gives a wrong impression that the lesion under consideration Is aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma really aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma?
Historical Perspectives: Perinatal Profiles: Cathy Cropley, RN, MS: A Partner in Developing NRP

In 1960, Cathy Cropley graduated from the University of Washington, Phi Beta Kappa key in hand, and began a career that was to cover a time span from when nurses were considered functionaries to the time they became true partners in developing units and providing care. Nowhere is this truer than in the world of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Cathy's first job was as a staff nurse in obstetrics at the University Hospital of the University of Washington in Seattle. One year later, she was appointed head nurse of the newborn nursery (there was no NICU in the hospital at that time). In 1962, Tim Oliver, MD, one of the pioneers in neonatology, joined the faculty of the University with the goal of creating a NICU and a new Division of Neonatology. Cathy was selected to be his head nurse. Because there were very few NICUs at that time, Cathy and the rest of the staff nurses had no familiarity with the type of unit they were going to develop. As Dr Oliver began to mold the unit and teach the nurses and housestaff …
Psychotopologies: Closing the Circuit between Psychic and Material Space

In this paper we present an argument for a psychoanalytic understanding of space. While Freud struggled to move away from his own early prepsychoanalytic attempts at mapping the psyche through cere...
Morphology of functional long-ranging primary afferent projections in the cat spinal cord

1. A beta-cutaneous primary afferent fibers were impaled in the dorsal columns of alpha-chloralose-anesthetized cats. Penetrations were made with the use of electrodes filled with 2 or 5% N-(2-aminoethyl) biotinamide hydrochloride (Neurobiotin, NB) in 0.1 or 1 M KCl. After determining its adequate stimulus, each fiber was activated by current pulses (18 Hz) injected via the microelectrode. The resulting cord dorsum potential (CDP) was recorded at four locations. NB was then injected into the fiber with the use of positive current pulses (11-22 nA) and a 75% duty cycle. 2. After allowing 2-8 h for diffusion, animals were perfused with saline (37 degrees C) followed by 4% paraformaldehyde (4 degrees C). Frozen 50-microns sections were cut in either the transverse or sagittal plane, processed on slides with the use of standard avidin-biotin protocols, and visualized by the nickel-enhanced diaminobenzidine (DAB) reaction. 3. A total of 15 A beta-cutaneous afferents innervating both rapidly (RA) and slowly adapting (SA) receptors were adequately stained and their central projections recovered. For selected fibers the rostrocaudal and laminar bouton distributions were determined and compared with the distribution of monosynaptic CDP amplitudes recorded at the four surface locations. 4. The rostrocaudal extent of a single A beta-afferent fiber bouton distribution visualized with NB ranged from 8 to 17.5 mm (14.4 +/- 2.4 mm, mean +/- SD), or two to three times greater than that previously shown with the use of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). 5. The strong correlation between the rostrocaudal distribution of boutons and monosynaptic CDP amplitudes, and the improved agreement between modeled and observed CDP amplitudes over that seen previously with the use of HRP (mean percent error, HRP = 23 +/- 2.9%; NB = 9 +/- 2.3%), suggest that boutons along the entire length of the visualized distribution contribute to the recorded potentials. 6. Taken together, these findings suggest that inputs from a given point on the skin can directly influence sensory information processing over a much greater rostrocaudal extent than predicted by dorsal horn somatotopic maps. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for spinal cord plasticity.
21 CARDIOVASCULAR RISK AMELIORATION BY METFORMIN-DIET IN POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: REDUCTION OF WEIGHT, TRIGLYCERIDES, LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD PRESSURE, ELEVATION OF HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL

In 791 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), we assessed the success of metformin-diet (MET-D) in reducing weight, triglycerides (TG), LDL cholesterol (LDLC), and blood pressure (SBP, DBP), while elevating HDL cholesterol (HDLC). At pre-treatment (pre-Rx) entry in the 791 women, median weight was 95 kg, with 15% overweight (BMI>25 24 months (median 40), median weight reduction was 5 kg (5%), p 50 mg/dL (p = .002), and of 64 with LDLC ≥ 130 mg/dL pre-Rx, 41 (64%) had LDLC on MET-D
Vehicle Detection Algorithm Based on Low Contrast Images

A vehicle detection algorithm based on low contrast images is presented. The Region of Interest(ROI) is obtained by using the segmentation algorithm in the image. It performes preprocessing, extracts the edges and texture features of the ROI with the algorithm of Haar wavelet feature extraction, and uses Support Vector Machine(SVM) to detect vehicle. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed approach, whose detection rate is 90.6% and false alarm rate is 3.8%. The performance of the algorithm can be improved by cumulate learning.
Defeating Authoritarian Leaders in Postcommunist Countries: The 1998 Elections in Slovakia and the 2000 Elections in Croatia

I Vote, Therefore I Am Civic Campaign poster, Slovakia, 1998 I want to live in a normal country. Croatia, 2000 This chapter and the four that follow set the empirical stage for analyzing why elections in mixed regimes in postcommunist Europe and Eurasia have had such different effects. In this chapter we focus on the 1998 elections in Slovakia and the 2000 elections in Croatia, which were the beginning of the wave of electoral turnovers in the postcommunist world. In contrast to the cases we analyze in later chapters in this section, these elections were largely free and fair, and electoral mobilization was sufficient, as a result, to bring about a transition from semi-authoritarian rule to rule by the democratic opposition. We devote particular attention to the Slovak case, as it was in Slovakia that the set of innovative electoral strategies, tactics, and tools – which we have termed the electoral model of regime change – was first elaborated fully in the postcommunist world. Once these proved successful, the Slovak case was quite influential in the electoral confrontations that followed the Slovak precedent – not just in Croatia in 1999–2000, but also in Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and even in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus. Because elements of the strategies and tactics that proved successful in Slovakia and later in Croatia were present in the 1996 elections in Romania, and because the protests and elections in Bulgaria in 1996–97 had a large influence on the strategies and tactics later elaborated in Slovakia, we begin this chapter with a discussion of those events.
EFFECTS OF TEACHERS’ GENDER AND QUALIFICATION ON STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL EDUCATION

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of teachers’ gender and qualification on students’ performance in industrial safety. Two research questions guided the study and 2 hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Ex-post facto research design was used and the population of the study was 334 students who registered Industrial Safety (TED 112) from 2004/2005 to 2013/2014 Academic Session. Due to the results TED112 available at the time of request for TED112 results, purposive sampling technique was used to select the TED112 result of students for 4 sessions. Two sessions each was selected based on the lecturers’ gender and qualification. However, 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, and 2013/2014 Session results were used as sample of the study. Therefore, the sample of the study was 91 undergraduate students. No instrument was developed in this study rather a letter was used to request for data. Data collected was analysed using mean for the research questions and anova (Analysis of variance) to test the hypotheses. The result revealed that the teachers’ gender and qualification do not have any significant effects on students’ performance in Industrial Safety. Hence, it was recommended among others that Delta State Ministry of Higher Education should employ qualified male and female lecturers to teach vocational technical education courses,since students’ performce is not related to the gender and qualification of the teacher, there should be no gender and qualification preference in recruiting VTE teachers in schools.
Al-‘Irāq and Persia Conquered

When Khālid in 634 made his memorable dash westward from al-Ḥīrah he left the ‘Irāq front in the hands of his Bedouin ally al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥārithah, sheikh of the banu-Shaybān. In the meantime the Persians were preparing a counter-attack and succeeded in almost annihilating the Arabian bands at the Battle of the Bridge1 near al-Ḥīrah, November 26, 634. Undaunted, al-Muthanna undertook a new raid and in October or November of the following year scored over the Persian general Mihrān a victory at al-Buwayb on the Euphrates. But al-Muthanna was no more than a Bedouin chief, with no Madīnese or Makkan connections, and had not heard of or accepted Islam until after the death of the Prophet. The Caliph ‘Umar therefore chose Sa‘dibn-abi-Waqqāṣ, oneofthose Companions promised Paradise by Muhammad at the conclusion of the Battle of Badr, as commander in chief and sent him at the head of new reinforcements to al-‘Irāq. By that, time the victory of Yarmūk had been won and the fate of Syria sealed. Sa‘d with his 10,000 men measured his strength for the first time with the Persian Rustam, the administrator of the empire, at al-Qādisiyah, not far from al-Ḥīrah.
Reactive metabolites of oxygen and nitrogen, adhesion molecule expression and chronic joint inflammation

One of the hallmark features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the infiltration of large numbers of mononuclear leukocytes (monocytes, lymphocytes) into the inflamed synovium. In addition, extensive polymorphonuclear leukocyte (neutrophil) infiltration is observed in synovial fluid. This inflammatory infiltrate is accompanied by extensive articular damage including cartilage and bone erosion, edema and enhanced vascular permeability suggesting an important role for these leukocytes in the pathophysiology of RA. Recent studies have demonstrated that the enhanced leukocyte infiltrate and some of the pathophysiology observed in different models of synovitis and in human RA may be mediated by the interaction between leukocytes and specific endothelial cell adhesion molecules (ECAMs) [1-6]. These observations have prompted us to propose that the synovial microvasculature regulates chronic joint inflammation by virtue of its ability to modulate the infiltration of immune-modulating and/or potentially injurious leukocytes into the synovial interstitium. Indeed, one of the earliest histopathological events observed in the development of RA is activation and/or injury to the endothelial cell lining of the synovial microvasculature [7 9].This discussion will review the data implicating ECAMs as important determinants in the pathogenesis of RA and discuss the molecular mechanisms that regulate ECAM expression in the chronically inflamed joint, and indicate the roles of oxygen-and nitrogen-derived free radicals in these processes.
Luft's Disease

Luft disease is both the prototype and the rarest type of mitochondrial disease. The only two affected women had nonthyroidal hypermetabolism due to loose coupling of oxidation and phosphorylation in skeletal muscle mitochondria. Muscle biopsy showed massive mitochondrial proliferation (ragged-red fibers) and ultrastructurally enlarged mitochondria with packed cristae. Polarographic studies of isolated muscle mitochondria showed that they respired maximally even in the absence of physiological activators, thus explaining how much of the energy was wasted as heat. The unique biochemical defect is probably due to a mutation in the nuclear genome, which remains unknown.