cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytokine profile of a long-term pediatric HIV survivor with hyper-IgE syndrome and a normal CD4 T-cell count.

Abstract Background: An elevated IgE level and increased production of T H2 cytokines are factors associated with poor prognosis in HIV infection. We report a pediatric long-term survivor of vertically acquired HIV infection with a normal CD4 count and a low viral burden despite the lack of antiretroviral therapy and a phenotype resembling hyper-IgE syndrome. Objective: We sought to characterize the patient's T H1 versus T H2 cytokine profile and anti-HIV–specific immune responses. Methods: Supernatants collected from cultures of peripheral blood T cells stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate plus ionomycin were assayed for T H1 and T H2 cytokines by means of ELISA. Specific IgE antibodies were determined by immunoblot. HIV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses were measured from cell lysis by fresh T cells of autologous B-lymphoblastoid cells expressing recombinant HIV proteins. Results: Patient CD4 + T cells secreted significantly more T H2 cytokines, IL-4 ( P P < .03), than HIV-infected and seronegative control cells. No difference was noted in T H1 cytokine production. IgE specific for HIV gp160, p24, p17, and p66 proteins and Aspergillus fumigatus was detected in patient sera. Despite predominance of T H2 cytokines, HIV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity was vigorous. Conclusions: The patient demonstrated predominantly T H2 cytokine production in vitro. Unlike other patients with HIV who have hyper-IgE and increased T H2 cytokine production, our patient has maintained HIV-specific immune responses, a low viral load, and a normal CD4 count without antiretroviral therapy. These findings support a diagnosis of primary hyper-IgE syndrome. Presence of anti-HIV–specific IgE may represent a protective mechanism against HIV replication in our patient. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:1045-51.)
Leaf Transpiration Efficiency of Some Drought-Resistant Maize Lines

Field measurements of leaf gas exchange in maize (Zea mays L.) often indicate stomatal conductances higher than required to provide substomatal carbon dioxide concentrations saturating to photosynthesis. Thus maize leaves often operate at lower transpiration effi ciency (TE) than potentially achievable for species with C 4 metabolism. I tested whether several maize lines described as drought resistant or drought tolerant operated with higher leaf TE than less drought-adapted lines. Field measurements of leaf TE were conducted over two seasons for fi ve reputedly drought-resistant lines of maize and three locally grown lines not regarded as drought resistant. Midday photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, and substomatal carbon dioxide concentration measurements were made under the ambient fi eld conditions of air temperature and humidity in Beltsville, MD. Soil moisture was not limiting. Consistent and signifi cant differences among the lines occurred for stomatal conductance, substomatal carbon dioxide concentration, and TE, but no signifi cant differences among the lines occurred in photosynthesis. One droughttolerant line had higher TE than all others tested, and one of the local lines had the lowest TE, but the drought-tolerant lines as a group did not have signifi cantly higher TE. It is concluded that signifi cant genotypic variation in leaf TE exists in maize, and that TE could be improved without reducing photosynthesis.
Rheology of defect networks in cholesteric liquid crystals.

The rheological properties of cholesteric liquid crystals containing networks of defects are investigated. A network of linear defects of the ``oily-streak'' type is stabilized when colloidal particles are dispersed into the cholesteric liquid crystals. This network converts the rheological response of a presheared cholesteric liquid crystal from fluidlike to solidlike and leads to the formation of a ``defect-mediated'' solid. The frequency-dependent complex shear modulus ${G}^{*}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ is measured, for samples with and without inclusions, in both the linear and nonlinear viscoelastic regimes. The linear elastic response mediated by the defect network is discussed in terms of a model analogous to the theories of rubber elasticity. All our data for ${G}^{*}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ are fitted to a simplified theoretical form, and the values and variations of the fitting parameters, in the various regimes investigated, are discussed in terms of the properties of defect structure present in the samples. Similar rheological properties are expected to arise from particle-stabilized oily-streak defect networks in layered systems such as smectic-A and lyotropic ${L}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ phases.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ceramic/ Self-Assembled Monolayer Bilayer Coatings

Thin ceramic coatings/films find their applications in various electronic devices, sensors, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) as a protection/barrier layer as well as functional films. Ceramics are, however, susceptible to catastrophic failure due to their inherent brittleness. We have developed a strain-tolerant, bilayer coating consisting of a ceramic layer and a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The top ceramic coating offers an inert, protective layer, while the underlying SAM acts as a “template” for the subsequent growth of a hard ceramic coating. In this study, we explore the ZrO2/SAM coatings on Si substrates prepared in situ at 80°C in solution. The coatings exhibited good coverage on the silicon surface, but the hardness was rather low. Characterization tools including x-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nanoindentation were employed to achieve a better understanding of the synthesis and processing of the coatings and their relation to the mechanical properties.
Quality of Graphite Target for Biological/Biomedical/Environmental Applications of 14C-Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Catalytic graphitization for 14C-accelerator mass spectrometry (14C-AMS) produced various forms of elemental carbon. Our high-throughput Zn reduction method (C/Fe = 1:5, 500 °C, 3 h) produced the AMS target of graphite-coated iron powder (GCIP), a mix of nongraphitic carbon and Fe3C. Crystallinity of the AMS targets of GCIP (nongraphitic carbon) was increased to turbostratic carbon by raising the C/Fe ratio from 1:5 to 1:1 and the graphitization temperature from 500 to 585 °C. The AMS target of GCIP containing turbostratic carbon had a large isotopic fractionation and a low AMS ion current. The AMS target of GCIP containing turbostratic carbon also yielded less accurate/precise 14C-AMS measurements because of the lower graphitization yield and lower thermal conductivity that were caused by the higher C/Fe ratio of 1:1. On the other hand, the AMS target of GCIP containing nongraphitic carbon had higher graphitization yield and better thermal conductivity over the AMS target of GCIP containing turbostratic ...
Recurring job optimization in scope

An increasing number of applications require distributed data storage and processing infrastructure over large clusters of commodity hardware for critical business decisions. The MapReduce programming model [2] helps programmers write distributed applications on large clusters, but requires dealing with complex implementation details (e.g., reasoning with data distribution and overall system configuration). Recent proposals, such as Scope[1], raise the level of abstraction by providing a declarative language that not only increases programming productivity but is also amenable to sophisticated optimization. Like in traditional database systems, such optimization relies on detailed data statistics to choose the best execution plan in a cost-based fashion. However, in contrast to database systems, it is very difficult to obtain and maintain good quality statistics in a highly distributed environment that contains tens of thousands of machines. First, it is very challenging to efficiently combine a large number of individually collected local complex statistical information (e.g., histograms, distinct values) in a statistically meaningful way. Second, calculating statistics typically requires scans over the full dataset. Such operation can be overwhelmingly expensive for terabytes of data. Third, even if we can collect statistics for base tables, the nature of user scripts, which typically rely on userdefined code, makes the problem of statistical inference beyond selection and projection even more difficult during optimization. Finally, the cost of user defined code is another important source of information for cost-based query optimization. Such information is crucial for the optimizer to choose the optimal degree of parallelism for the final execution plan and when and where to execute the user code. It is challenging, if not impossible, to estimate its actual cost before running the query with the real dataset. We leverage the fact that a large proportion of scripts in this environment are parametric and recurring over a time series of data. The input datasets usually come in regularly,
Immune cell-based screening assay for response to anticancer agents: applications in pharmacogenomics

Background Interpatient variability in immune and chemotherapeutic cytotoxic responses is likely due to complex genetic differences and is difficult to ascertain in humans. Through the use of a panel of genetically diverse mouse inbred strains, we developed a drug screening platform aimed at examining interstrain differences in viability on normal, noncancerous immune cells following chemotherapeutic cytotoxic insult. Drug effects were investigated by comparing selective chemotherapeutic agents, such as BEZ-235 and selumetinib, against conventional cytotoxic agents targeting multiple pathways, including doxorubicin and idarubicin. Methods Splenocytes were isolated from 36 isogenic strains of mice using standard procedures. Of note, the splenocytes were not stimulated to avoid attributing responses to pathways involved with cellular stimulation rather than toxicity. Cells were incubated with compounds on a nine-point logarithmic dosing scale ranging from 15 nM to 100 μM (37°C, 5% CO2). At 4 hours posttreatment, cells were labeled with antibodies and physiological indicator dyes and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde. Cellular phenotypes (eg, viability) were collected and analyzed using flow cytometry. Dose-response curves with response normalized to the zero dose as a function of log concentration were generated using GraphPad Prism 6. Results Phenotypes were quantified using flow cytometry, yielding interstrain variation for measured endpoints in different immune cells. The flow cytometry assays produced over 16,000 data points that were used to generate dose-response curves. The more targeted agents, BEZ-235 and selumetinib, were less toxic to immune cells than the anthracycline agents. The calculated heritability for the viability of immune cells was higher with anthracyclines than the novel agents, making them better suited for downstream genetic analysis. Conclusion Using this approach, we identify cell lines of variable sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents and aim to identify robust, replicable endpoints of cellular response to drugs that provide the starting point for identifying candidate genes and cellular toxicity pathways for future validation in human studies.
Ureteral injury after laparoscopic vs open colectomy: an analysis of NSQIP

RESULTS: A total of 207,311 patients underwent intended laparoscopic colorectal resection during this period; however, 34,461 patients (16.62%) were converted to open surgery. Considering resection type and pathology, the highest conversion rates were observed in proctectomy (31.4%) and Crohn’s disease (20.2%). Using multivariate regression analysis, Crohn’s disease (adjusted odds ratio [AOR],2.80), prior abdominal surgery (AOR,2.45), proctectomy (AOR,2.42), malignant pathology (AOR,1.90), emergent surgery (AOR,1.82), obesity (AOR,1.63) and ulcerative colitis (AOR,1.60) significantly impacted the risk of conversion. Less clinically significant factors were Native American race (AOR,1.40), transverse colectomy (AOR,1.33), male gender (AOR,1.22), left colectomy (AOR,1.16) and non-teaching hospitals (AOR,1.07) Interestingly, sigmoidectomy had lower conversion rate compared with right colectomy (AOR,0.80). Table below shows comparison of outcomes of patients with and without conversion.
Mercury Content in Sharks

Prior to the occurrence of the Minamata disaster in Japan in which 46 people were killed and nearly I00 seriously injured by eating fish and shellfish contaminated by an alkylmercury compound (KURLAND et al. 1960) there had been few attempts to determine mercury levels in fish. However, RAFDER & SNEKVIK in 1941 reported levels in freshwater and marine fish from contaminated areas markedly higher than those found in uncontaminated waters. Prom 1964 to 1967, studies were conducted on fish in Sweden, and mercury concentrations of several ppm were reported, as was the observation that fish were found to contain mercury higher than that noted in waters from which they had been caught (VOSTEL 1972). Also, positive correlation between mercury concentrations in muscle tissue to total weiqht and age was confirmed (BACHE et al. 1971). This paper reports the analytical results relating
Behavioural and physiological bases of drinking inhibition in water deprived rats

FLUID balance is normally precisely maintained. Yet, following water deprivation, neither rat nor man drink enough water to correct the incurred fluid deficit. Fluid balance is corrected, however, when food is also made available. Adolph1 termed this phenomenon voluntary dehydration.
Parental Divorce and Intimate Relationships of Young Adults

This study examined associations among parental divorce, family conflict, sex, and young men's and women's achievement of intimacy. Analyses indicated that family conflict and sex, but not divorce, were significantly related to intimacy. Examination of those within the divorced group suggest that time of divorce, along with family conflict, were related to intimacy.
Calculation of Plunging Breakers with A Fully-Implicit Adaptive-Grid Method

A new algorithm for simulating the plunging breaker is described. The approach is a fully-implicit multigrid scheme which uses the generalized artificial compressibility approach to couple the incompressible Euler equation and continuity equation in a hyperbolic manner. Several techniques for convergence acceleration are also implemented. The kinematic boundary is formulated by the Eulerian description which can easily deal with the open boundary. A grid adaptation strategy is used to capture the wave motions as well as the wavemaker's oscillations. Comparisons are made between the numerical solutions and the tank measurements for the plunging breaker generated by a piston-type wavemaker. Excellent agreement in the wave profile up to and including overturning validates the new method.
Internal hemipelvectomy—excision of the hemipelvis with limb preservation. An alternative to hemipelvectomy

Our results indicate that it is technically possible to resect the hemipelvis and maintain a viable extremity. Functional results are remarkably good and tumor control has been equivalent to standard hemipelvectomy. Excision of the ilium with preservation of the extremity in selected cases would appear to be a reasonable alternative to the standard hemipelvectomy, which involves amputation of the extremity. Cancer 43:806–809, 1979.
On the Role of Statistical Weighting in the Least-Squares Analysis of UV-Visible Spectrophotometric Data:

Spectrophotometric data are inherently heteroscedastic, which means that least-squares component analyses of absorbance spectra should properly employ weighted fits. The effects of neglecting weights (the common practice) is examined through Monte Carlo calculations on a three-peak model having two closely overlapping components of comparable strength and a third component that appears as a weak shoulder. The results show statistically significant loss of precision in all parameters; however the magnitude of this loss is ≲30% for realistic conditions. For comparison, experimental spectra of I2 in CCl4 (which was the basis for the Monte Carlo test model) are similarly analyzed. These results suggest that model inadequacy is likely to be a greater practical problem than neglect of weights, because the great precision of spectrophotometric data places extreme demands on the fit model. In the present instance, for example, incorporation of a correction term for the sinusoidal error in the spectrometer wavelength significantly reduces the fit chi-square.
Behavioral and Neurological Characteristics of a Hydranencephalic Infant

SUMMARY A modified Prechtl neurological examination and the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale were serially administered to a hydranencephalic infant over the first eight weeks of life. Clinical, roentgenographic, neurological and behavioral findings are reported. In contrast to earlier reports, visual tracking of a moving field and auditory and visual habituation were observed. Further, in addition to previously reported reflex automatisms, the infant also possessed what are termed ‘socially relevant behavioral automatisms’. The implications of these findings are discussed. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die Charakteristika des Verhaltens und der Neurologie bei einem hydranencephalen Saugling Bei einem hydranencephalen Saugling wurden in den ersten acht Lebenswochen wieder-holt nach Prechtl modifizierte neurologische Untersuchungen durchgefuhrt und der Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale angewandt. Es werden die klinischen, roentgenolo-gischen und neurologischen Ergebnisse, sowie die Verhaltensbefunde beschrieben. Im Gegensatz zu fruheren Berichten konnte bei dem Kind beobachtet werden, dass es fixierte und dass eine gewisse akustische und visuelle Gewohnung erfolgte. Weiterhin fand man zusatzlich zu den fruher berichteten Reflexautomatismen, dass das Kind nach Bezeichnung der Autoren ‘sozial relevante Verhaltensautomatismen’ hatte. Die Bedeutung dieser Befunde wird diskutiert. RESUMEN Caracteristicas del comportamiento y neurologicas del lactante hidranencefalico Un examen neurologico de Prechtl modificado y la escala de valoracion neonatal de Brazelton fueron administradas de forma seriada a un lactante hidranencefalico durante las primeras ocho semanas de vida. Se aportan los hallazgos clinicos, radiologicos, neurologicos y de comportamiento. En contraste con aportaciones anteriores se observaron fenomenos de seguimiento de un campo visual movil y fenomenos de habituacion auditiva y visual. Por otra parte en adicion de los automatismos reflejos anteriormente mencionados, el lactante poseia tambien lo que los autores han calificado de “automatismos de comportamiento realmente importantes”. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos hallazgos.
Optimizing computed tomography to reduce artifacts from titanium aneurysm clips: an in vitro study. Technical note.

Object At many institutions digital subtraction angiography remains the standard imaging procedure for the postoperative evaluation of patients following placement of a cerebral aneurysm clip largely because of the artifacts produced by the clip on computed tomography (CT). The authors evaluated the effect of various imaging parameters on the quality of 3D reconstructions from CT scans while imaging a phantom to optimize the CT angiograms. Methods Using multidetector CT scanners with submillimeter detector collimation (0.625 mm), the authors scanned a silicone phantom with attached commercial aneurysm clips. Slice thickness, reconstruction overlap, kilovolt level, milliampere level, and pitch were varied. Neuroradiologists, who were blinded to the scanning parameters, rated the reconstructions for image quality and artifact reduction. Results Images of the titanium clip using 140 kV and 380 mA with 0.625-mm overlapping reconstructed slices provided excellent 3D visualization of both the clip and the aneur...
A Self-Correcting, Phase-Locked Tracking Method for Pulsed Ultrasound

A tracking system for pulsed ultrasound was developed with the specific aim of overcoming some of the limitations inherent in both amplitude-discrimination and phase-locked tracking techniques. The tracking accuracy in amplitude-discrimination systems is tied to the amplitude stability of the first cycle of the ultrasonic wavefront. Phase-locked systems cannot distinguish the leading edge of the ultrasonic wavefront and once unlocked are unable to realign the tracking gate with the same cycle of the ultrasonic tone burst. The tracking system described offers automatic alignment with the leading edge of a pulsed ultrasonic signal, yet can ignore fluctuations in amplitude so long as any one cycle of the received ultrasonic tone burst remains above ambient noise levels. A prototype myocardial dimensioning system which employs this tracking method has been built and is in use at the Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, University of California at San Francisco.
Custom networks, new protocols: Basis for a new cloud?

The National Science Foundation's GENI and Future Internet Architecture (FIA) programs provide the basis for imagining incrementally deployable custom networks designed for specific applications and which incorporate new models of integrating computation and communication. In the GENI architecture, multiple service providers integrate into application specific networks via federation. In FIA new networking architectures show promise of improving the usability and security of next generation networks. This talk with describe how these programs are building the components of a new model for cloud computing.
High-efficiency organic electrophosphorescent devices with tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium doped into electron-transporting materials

We demonstrate high-efficiency organic light-emitting devices employing the green electrophosphorescent molecule, fac tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium [Ir(ppy)3], doped into various electron-transport layer (ETL) hosts. Using 3-phenyl-4-(1′-naphthyl)-5-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole as the host, a maximum external quantum efficiency (ηext) of 15.4±0.2% and a luminous power efficiency of 40±2 Im/W are achieved. We show that very high internal quantum efficiencies (approaching 100%) are achieved for organic phosphors with low photoluminescence efficiencies due to fundamental differences in the relationship between electroluminescence from triplet and singlet excitons. Based on the performance characteristics of single and double heterostructures, we conclude that exciton formation in Ir(ppy)3 occurs within close proximity to the hole-transport layer/ETL:Ir(ppy)3 interface.
Assortative marriage and the familiality of cognitive abilities in families of extremely gifted students

Abstract The top 1% of the extremely bright students identified by the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (Benbow & Stanley, 1980b) were tested along with their parents, using a battery of specifically designed cognitive tests. These students represented the top 0.03% of their age group in intellectual ability. The results showed that the parents were extremely able and resembled one another significantly more than parents in the general population. In addition, the intellectually precocious children resembled their parents to a lesser extent than children of average ability resemble their parents. These results suggest that considerable assortative mating has occurred among the parents of these extremely gifted youth, but that extreme giftedness cannot be predicted reliably solely as a result of the mating of bright parents.
Internucleosomal Interactions Monitored at a Single Molecule Level

We studied interactions between two nucleosomes at a single molecule level using FRET. According to the results, internucleosomal interactions strongly depend on various histone modifications. Our unique single molecule setup will facilitate investigations on the detailed structure of chromatin packaging affected by histone modifications.
Asymmetries in the density at the edge of a tokamak plasma

Several Langmuir probes were used simultaneously to observe density asymmetries at the edge of the beam-heated tokamak ISX-B. The large number of identical discharges required for the joint JET/ISX-B beryllium limiter experiment offered the opportunity to perform to perform a careful edge study of the scrape-off layer using probes at various poloidal, toroidal, and radial locations. Floating, double, Langmuir probes were used at 3 separate locations. Edge density asymmetries were observed and correlated with the local connection length along a field line between material surfaces in the scrape-off layer. The effects of limiter movement were also explored with limiters other than the main limiter. It was observed that the asymmetries were altered somewhat when either the magnetic field or the plasma current was reversed. These spatial variations were accentuated locally when a certain critical density was exceeded and may be due to enhanced recycling at the main limiter just below the disruption-limited maximum density.
A Macrolevel Examination of County-Level Risk Factors for Underage Drinking Prevention: Intervention Opportunities to Protect Youth in the State of Georgia

Introduction. Underage drinking can have profoundly negative impacts on childhood development. This study compares 4 categories of known underage drinking risk factors with alcohol consumption. The social indicators in these categories will be compared in the 10 most-at-risk (MAR) counties and the 10 least-at-risk (LAR) counties identified in Georgia. Methods. Independent 2-tailed t-tests were conducted to compare group means among MAR and LAR counties for all identified risk factors. Results. Significant differences were observed in all factors included in the poverty and alcohol outlet density categories. Discussion. The findings underscore the importance of better understanding youth drinking, poverty, and alcohol outlet density. However, our findings, supported by previous individual and aggregated level research, support strategies for researchers and policy makers to more proactively respond to poverty-stricken and high-density alcohol outlet indicators. The current ecological evaluation of underage drinking risk assessed on a macrolevel offers insights into the demographic features, social structures, and cultural patterns of counties that potentially predispose youth to greater health risks specifically associated with underage drinking.
Environmental congruence and work-related stress in acute care hospital medical/surgical units: a descriptive, correlational study.

Objective:To describe the degree to which Environmental Congruence (EC) is present in sampled units and considered important/desirable by staff RNs; staff RNs' reported level of work-related stress...
The inhibition of mouse bone collagenase by lysozyme.

Egg white lysozyme, as well as basic proteins such as histone and protamine-free base, were found to inhibit mouse bone collagenase. The inhibition of mouse bone collagenase by lysozyme was detected when the activity of the collagenase was assayed using collagen as the substrate in the solid state, but not when the collagenase activity was assayed using collagen in solution as the substrate. On the other hand, the inhibition of collagenase activity by histone and protamine-free base was observed in both assay systems. The inhibition of mouse bone collagenase by polycationic molecules is interesting in light of previous findings that several polyanionic molecules, such as heparin, dextran sulfate and polyethylenesulphonic acid, enhance the activity of mouse bone collagenase under the same experimental conditions. Since lysozyme is widely distributed in connective tissues and its concentration varies with the rate of tissue remodeling, the inhibition of mouse bone collagenase by lysozyme suggests its possible role in the regulation of collagen degradation during the remodeling of collagenous tissuesin vivo during normal and pathological states.
Community-acquired respiratory infection: keeping patients at home

This overview focuses on two types of lower respiratory infections; acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia. Each of these types of respiratory infection is responsible for considerable morbidity, and in some instances mortality, in adults every year. Not all adult cases, however, require hospitalization. Specifically, prompt initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy is of primary importance in minimizing the deleterious effects of acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. The majority of patients can be treated effectively as out-patients. Similarly, most patients with community-acquired pneumonia can be cared for at home. The need for hospitalization must be determined individually and is based upon the severity of the patient's illness as well as the presence of associated underlying disease.
Exposure of MC4R to agonist in the endoplasmic reticulum stabilizes an active conformation of the receptor that does not desensitize

Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a G protein-coupled receptor expressed in neurons of the hypothalamus where it regulates food intake. MC4R responds to an agonist, α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and to an antagonist/inverse agonist, agouti-related peptide (AgRP), which are released by upstream neurons. Binding to α-MSH leads to stimulation of receptor activity and suppression of food intake, whereas AgRP has opposite effects. MC4R cycles constantly between the plasma membrane and endosomes and undergoes agonist-mediated desensitization by being routed to lysosomes. MC4R desensitization and increased AgRP expression are thought to decrease the effectiveness of MC4R agonists as an antiobesity treatment. In this study, α-MSH, instead of being delivered extracellularly, is targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of neuronal cells and cultured hypothalamic neurons. We find that the ER-targeted agonist associates with MC4R at this location, is transported to the cell surface, induces constant cAMP and AMP kinase signaling at maximal amplitude, abolishes desensitization of the receptor, and promotes both cell-surface expression and constant signaling by an obesity-linked MC4R variant, I316S, that otherwise is retained in the ER. Formation of the MC4R/agonist complex in the ER stabilizes the receptor in an active conformation that at the cell surface is insensitive to antagonism by AgRP and at the endosomes is refractory to routing to the lysosomes. The data indicate that targeting agonists to the ER can stabilize an active conformation of a G protein-coupled receptor that does not become desensitized, suggesting a target for therapy.
Stochastic modeling of multidimensional diffusion in the radiation belts

Abstract : A new code for solving radiation belt diffusion equations has been developed and applied to the 2-D bounce-averaged energy pitch angle quasi-linear diffusion equation. The code uses Monte Carlo methods to solve Ito stochastic differential equations (SDEs) which are mathematically equivalent to radiation belt diffusion equations. We show that our SDE code solves the diffusion equation with off-diagonal diffusion coefficients in contrast to standard finite difference codes which are generally unstable when off-diagonal diffusion coefficients are included. Our results are in excellent agreement with previous results. We have also investigated effects of assuming purely parallel propagating electromagnetic waves when calculating the diffusion coefficients and find that this assumption leads to errors of more than an order of magnitude in flux at some equatorial pitch angles for the specific chorus wave model we use. Further work is needed to investigate the sensitivity of our results to the wave model parameters. Generalization of the method to 3-D is straight-forward, thus making this model a very promising new way to investigate the relative roles of pitch angle, energy, and radial diffusion in radiation belt dynamics.
Do patients with pelvic organ prolapse have an increased frequency of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria

Objective To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria (AMH) in patients with pelvic organ prolapse. Methods The Urogynecology patient database was reviewed for patients presenting between July 2010 and April 2011 inclusive. We compared the prevalence of AMH in patients with no prolapse with those with prolapse. A post-hoc analysis was performed to evaluate if overall stage of prolapse was related to the presence of AMH. Pearson chi-square analysis was used for categorical variables, and P values <.05 were deemed statistically significant. Results Of the 230 women with evaluable AMH data, 29 (12.6%) had AMH. Baseline patient demographic data did not significantly differ between groups. Women with prolapse had a higher prevalence of AMH compared with women with no prolapse (18.3% vs 5.1%, P = .003). There was a significant difference in the distribution of AMH by stage of prolapse, with AMH more prevalent among women with higher stages of prolapse (P = .007). Conclusion Women with prolapse beyond the hymen have a significantly higher prevalence of AMH when compared with women with prolapse at or above the hymen. We suggest an overall rate of AMH in the Urogynecologic population of 12.6%.
Direct evidence from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility for lateral melt migration at superfast spreading centers

[1] Rare, fault-bounded escarpments expose natural cross sections of ocean crust in several areas and provide an unparalleled opportunity to study the end products of tectonic and magmatic processes that operated at depth beneath oceanic spreading centers. We mapped the geologic structure of ocean crust produced at the East Pacific Rise (EPR) and now exposed along steep cliffs of the Pito Deep Rift near the northern edge of the Easter microplate. The upper oceanic crust in this area is typified by basaltic lavas underlain by a sheeted dike complex comprising northeast striking, moderately to steeply southeast dipping dikes. Paleomagnetic remanence of oriented blocks of dikes collected with both Alvin and Jason II indicate clockwise rotation of 61 related to rotation of the microplate indicating structural coupling between the microplate and crust of the Nazca Plate to the north. The consistent southeast dip of dikes formed as the result of tilting at the EPR shortly after their injection. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of dikes provides well-defined magmatic flow directions that are dominantly dike-parallel and shallowly plunging. Corrected to their original EPR orientation, magma flow is interpreted as near-horizontal and parallel to the ridge axis. These data provide the first direct evidence from sheeted dikes in ocean crust for along-axis magma transport. These results also suggest that lateral transport in dikes is important even at fast spreading ridges where a laterally continuous subaxial magma chamber is present.
UBIQUITIN-DEPENDENT PROTEIN DEGRADATION

▪ Abstract A growing number of cellular regulatory mechanisms are being linked to protein modification by the polypeptide ubiquitin. These include key transitions in the cell cycle, class I antigen processing, signal transduction pathways, and receptor-mediated endocytosis. In most, but not all, of these examples, ubiquitination of a protein leads to its degradation by the 26S proteasome. Following attachment of ubiquitin to a substrate and binding of the ubiquitinated protein to the proteasome, the bound substrate must be unfolded (and eventually deubiquitinated) and translocated through a narrow set of channels that leads to the proteasome interior, where the polypeptide is cleaved into short peptides. Protein ubiquitination and deubiquitination are both mediated by large enzyme families, and the proteasome itself comprises a family of related but functionally distinct particles. This diversity underlies both the high substrate specificity of the ubiquitin system and the variety of regulatory mechanisms...
Low levels of ethanol stimulate and high levels decrease phosphorylation in microtubule-associated proteins in rat brain: an in vitro study.

Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins associated with microtubules (MAPs) modulate the functional properties of microtubules (MT). A study was designed to test the hypothesis that ethanol at pharmacologically relevant levels affects pho s- phorylation of MAPs. Low (6, 12, 24, and 48 mM) and high (96, 384, and 768 mM) levels of ethanol were used in the study. MT pre- pared from rat brain by successive cycles of assembly-disassembly were found to contain two high molecular weight proteins (MAP2 and MAP1), tubulin, and 70-kDa neurofilament. The kinase activity was determined using ( γ32P)ATP as a phosphate donor. The results showed that ethanol primarily stimulated MAP2 phosphorylation. Low levels of ethanol stimulated, whereas high levels decreased, the kinase activity. MAP1 was phosphorylated to a lesser extent. 70-kDa neurofilament and tubulin were phosphorylated, however, the dose- dependent biphasic effect of ethanol on phosphorylation was not found in these cytoskeleton proteins. To determine whether the ethanol- induced kinase activity was cAMP-dependent, the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase was isolated, purified, and kinase activity was determined with and without ethanol. The results showed that cAMP was not involved in ethanol-induced kinas e activity. We conclude that ethanol predominantly stimulates phosphorylation of MAP2 in a dose-dependent manner.
Terminal nutrition: framing the debate for the withdrawal of nutritional support in terminally ill patients

Nutrition and hydration have long been considered to be life-sustaining therapies that are associated with comfort and relief of suffering. This belief is largely based on our own experiences with the sensations of thirst and hunger, which have led physicians to question whether withdrawing or withholding nutritional support from a dying patient can be morally or ethically justified. When considered in light of the available evidence, the underlying premise of this question must be reevaluated. The evidence suggests an alternative formulation, namely, that unrequested nutritional support provided by either the enteral or parenteral route to a terminally ill patient may be both medically and ethically indefensible because it may increase suffering without improving outcome.
Piezoelectrically actuated tunable capacitor

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and characterization of the first MEMS piezoelectric tunable capacitors employing zinc oxide (ZnO) actuation. Relatively simple design rules for the device-structure optimization for largest deflection are shown from simulation results based on theoretical equations. The ZnO-actuated tunable capacitors are accordingly designed and fabricated with both surface and bulk micromachining techniques. Through the surface micromachining process, sacrificial silicon is removed with XeF2, and parylene is successfully used as a supporting layer for a piezoelectric unimorph cantilever. For comparison, other two different structures using plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor deposition (PECVD) SiN and SU-8 as supporting layers are also fabricated. Deflection analyses are performed for three specific structures, among which the parylene-supported one is demonstrated to have the largest displacement and most suitable for tunable capacitor application. For bulk-micromachined tunable capacitor, we have implemented a novel design of a large structure driven by a ZnO unimorph, and obtained a tuning ratio of more than 21:1 (0.46 pF-10.02 pF). This is the highest tuning ratio reported to date for parallel-plate tunable capacitors while requiring an applied voltage of only 35 V
Geometrical First Principles in Proclus’ Commentary on the First Book of Euclid’s Elements

AbstractIn his commentary on Euclid, Proclus says both that the first principle of geometry are self-evident and that they are hypotheses received from the single, highest, unhypothetical science, which is probably dialectic. The implication of this seems to be that a geometer both does and does not know geometrical truths. This dilemma only exists if we assume that Proclus follows Aristotle in his understanding of these terms. This paper shows that this is not the case, and explains what Proclus himself means by definition, hypothesis, axiom, postulate, and the self-evident, and how geometry is a science that receives its principles from dialectic.
Scattering of electromagnetic waves in beyond-the-horizon radio transmission

A formula is developed for the cross section in electromagnetic wave propagation beyond the horizon. The theory assumes that the propagation is the result of scattering by ellipsoidal shaped inhomogeneities in the atmosphere causing variations in the dielectric constant. The method of derivation is straightforward and gives a clear physical picture of the nature of the process. Simplifications concerning the geometric shape, size, and distribution of these inhomogeneities yield 1) the semi-empirical formula of Norton and 2) the formula derived by Gordon for large sized inhomogeneities. Thus, the physical implications contained in these formulas are clearly demonstrated.
Metered residential cooling loads: comparison of three models

End-use metered data collected for five years from 350 California residences are used to compare three types of models for allocating estimates of annual residential central air conditioning energy use to hours of the year. We assess how well the model fits the data for daily energy, peak demand, and demand coincident with system peak. A model which couples regression-based functions for daily load estimation with hourly estimation according to a library of load profiles is judged to have a slightly better fit to the data than a model that estimates hourly loads directly from hourly functions derived from linear regressions. Concerns regarding the applicability of end-use metered data for long-term resource planning are described.
Criteria for Careers Preparing for Power Industry Opportunities

Text of speech delivered at Faculty-Student-Industry Luncheon at IEEE Power Engineering Society Winter Power Meeting, February 2, 1983, New York, NY. The text was developed by A. J. Wood, Power Technologies, Inc., from the speaker's notes and was then reviewed by the speaker. Dr. L. E. Saline approved for publication.
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) assays--are they good enough for their current uses?

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most common significant chronic viral infection world-wide. Approximately 350–400 million people have active HBV infections, and as many as one third of the world’s population has evidence of exposure to HBV. Spread of the virus occurs primarily through contact with infected serum, sexual contact with infected individuals, and vertical transmission from mother to infant. Since shortly after its discovery as the “Australia antigen” (1), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has been the principal target for laboratory testing to identify active infection by HBV. Accumulating evidence, including the article by Chen and Kaplan (2) in this issue of Clinical Chemistry , calls into question the degree to which HBsAg assays can be used as the “gold standard” for detecting HBV infection. The increasing availability of automated assays for viral markers on instruments traditionally found in immunochemistry laboratories makes it imperative for those working in such laboratories to be familiar with issues in HBsAg testing. Exposure to HBV has a variable outcome that is largely determined by the age and immune status of an infected individual. In healthy adolescents and adults, the most common population exposed to HBV in northern Europe and most of North America, exposure to HBV typically leads to acute hepatitis, followed by loss of detectable HBsAg and loss of circulating HBV DNA (as measured by most assays). Chronic infection, identified by persistence of HBsAg, may follow infections in infants, persons with immunosupression, and a small number of otherwise healthy individuals. Such chronic infection may be associated with active viral replication (detected by circulating HBV DNA), or with “nonreplicating” infection, in which HBsAg continues to be produced but HBV DNA is undetectable (by most assays) in the circulation. Replicating forms of infection can convert to nonreplicating forms, either spontaneously (5%–10%/year) or after treatment …
Pediatric Brain Tumor Cell Lines

Pediatric brain tumors as a group, including medulloblastomas, gliomas, and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) are the most common solid tumors in children and the leading cause of death from childhood cancer. Brain tumor-derived cell lines are critical for studying the biology of pediatric brain tumors and can be useful for initial screening of new therapies. Use of appropriate brain tumor cell lines for experiments is important, as results may differ depending on tumor properties, and can thus affect the conclusions and applicability of the model. Despite reports in the literature of over 60 pediatric brain tumor cell lines, the majority of published papers utilize only a small number of these cell lines. Here we list the approximately 60 currently-published pediatric brain tumor cell lines and summarize some of their central features as a resource for scientists seeking pediatric brain tumor cell lines for their research.
Cu(2-methylpyrazine-5-carboxylate)2 hydrate: a metal-containing-ligand for the construction of organic–inorganic framework materials. Four new one-, two- and three-dimensional mixed-valent CuI–CuII coordination polymers

The copper containing building block, Cu(C6H5N2O2)2·H2 O( 1) was used in the synthesis of four new mixed-valent organic–inorganic coordination polymers, each of which adopted a different structural motif. Synthesis, X-ray structure determinations, thermogravimetric analyses and magnetic properties are presented. The reaction between 1 and CdCl2 afforded a one-dimensional chain structure, [Cu(C6H5N2O2)2(H2O)2Cu2Cl2(H2O)2]n (2). When CdCl2 was replaced by CuCl, the reaction yielded a polymer, [Cu(C6H5N2O2)2(H2O)2Cu2Cl2(H2O)2]n having the same empirical formula, but a completely different two-dimensional framework (3). The reaction of CdBr2 and 1 resulted in the formation of two different coordination polymers: [Cu(C6H5N2O2)2(H2O)2Cu(C6H5N2O2)2Cu2Br2·3(H2O)]n (4) as a minor phase and [Cu(C6H5N2O2)2Cu2Br2·]n (5) as the major phase. Compound 4 adopts a two-dimensional structure, while 5 is three-dimensional. The structural classification of these Cu(I) containing coordination polymers is discussed. These new coordination polymers feature mixed-valent Cu(I)–Cu(II) frameworks and exhibit impressive thermal stability (the frameworks collapse between 236 and 246 °C). The magnetic susceptibilities for 2, 3 and 5 followed the Curie law, indicating simple paramagnetic behavior. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.