cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biomechanical interaction between hyphae of two Pythium species (Oomycota) and host tissues.

Abstract Forces exerted by hyphae of the phytopathogen Pythium graminicola and mammalian pathogen Pythium insidiosum were compared with the mechanical resistance of their hosts’ tissues. Hyphal apices of both species exerted a mean force of 2 μN , corresponding to mean pressures of 0.19 μN μm −2 (or MPa) for P. graminicola, and 0.14 μN μm −2 for P. insidiosum. Experiments with glass microprobes showed that the epidermis of grass roots resisted penetration until the pressure applied at the probe tip reached 1–12 μN μm −2 . Previously published data show that mammalian skin offers even greater resistance ( 10–47 μN μm −2 ). Clearly, tissue strength exceeds the pressures exerted by hyphae of these pathogens, verifying that secreted enzymes must play a critical role in reducing the resistance of plant and animal tissues. It is presumed that hyphae are sufficiently powerful to bore through any obstacles remaining after enzyme action.
Redox reactions in seafloor basalts: possible insights into silicic hydrothermal systems

Abstract Many features of the magma-hydrothermal interface are directly observable in, near seafloor hydrothermal systems at mid-ocean ridges. A striking aspect observed at that interface is the spontaneous redox reaction that occurs during rapid crystallization of basaltic magma, which results in generation of highly reducing hydrothermal fluids. A consequence of the reaction is that the ferric/ferrous ratio observed in the resulting crystalline basalt is much higher than it was in the basaltic magma, the redox state of the magma inferred from the ferric/ferrous ratio in the crystalline rock is considerably higher than it was in the magma [Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 79 (1986) 397]. Magnetite-ulvospinel is the only ferric iron-containing phase observed in the crystalline portion of the basalt. This suggests that the driving force for that reaction is related to the stability of magnetite relative to the FeO component in the basaltic liquid (or glass), resulting in the oxidation of ferrous iron by H 2 O dissolved in the melt, yielding magnetite, releasing H 2 from the system. This is an auto-oxidation reaction in which all reactants are present internally in the basalt magma prior to crystallization. H 2 O is the limiting reagent for magnetite formation in the case of MORB magma. If a similar auto-oxidation occurs in the more silicic magmas commonly associated with terrestrial hydrothermal ore deposits, it would have important consequences for the interpretation of the redox condition existing at terrestrial magma-hydrothermal interfaces. Glassy I-type dacites extruded on the seafloor in the Manus Basin have ferric/ferrous ratios that are significantly lower than in I-type plutons, terrestrial volcanics. The ferric/ferrous ratios in the Manus Basin dacites yield oxygen fugacities from about one to more than two log units below that of nickel–nickel oxide. Oxidation of ferrous iron in these silicic magmas is predicted to generate an amount of H 2 that is proportional to the amount of ferrous iron present, rather than the amount of H 2 O (as in the case of MORB) due to the high ratio of H 2 O to ferrous iron in silicic magmas. These relatively reduced dacitic magmas would yield significant quantities of H 2 on crystallization, which would make hydrothermal fluids at the interface strongly reducing, thus affect the speciation in fluids at the magma-hydrothermal interface.
The growth of large Zn3P2 crystals by vapor transport

Large (1 cm diameter x 3 cm long) crystals of Zn3P2 suitable for the fabrication of prototype photovoltaic solar cells have been prepared by vapor transport using a perforated capsule technique. The method, which serves to control vapor composition to a value of p(Zn)/p(P4) = 4.36 during growth, results in a reproducible transport and crystal growth rate. The growth rate of crystals has been measured and the experimental values are compared with theoretical predictions using the model developed by Faktor, Heckingbottom and Garrett (J. Chem. Soc. A (1970) 2657). The results of the perforated capsule method are also compared to various closed capsule techniques, in which vapor composition is not controlled. The lack of composition control during vapor growth is shown to result in a range of electrical resistivity for the as-grown crystals and may be responsible for the wide range values previously reported in the literature for Zn3P2.
Debunking myths in nursing theory and research.

This article examines myths that persist in the traditional male-defined scientific enterprise. Science per se is not rejected, but specific ways of confronting the myths are explored. The methods for debunking the myths derive from the concept of future search, wherein health and the values of nursing for the future direct the discovery of knowledge. The alternatives include a more ethical and responsible use of the methods of science as well as specific alternatives to science derived from Carper's (1978) patterns of knowing in nursing. The nursing literature has reflected growing recognition of the limitations of the scientific method in addressing problems in nursing (Gorenberg, 1983; Munhall, 1982; Newman, 1979; Smith, M. C, 1984; Vredevoe, 1984; Webster, Jacox, & Baldwin, 1981). Taken together, the literature leaves the impression that we should perhaps forsake the scientific method; alternatives for acquiring knowledge in nursing are not adequately described, and the alternatives that are suggested are not clearly alternatives to the scientific method. A fundamental issue that is lacking in most critiques of the scientific method is recognition that science is based on a male world view and that the myths sustained by this partial world view have perpetuated erroneous knowledge about the world. The purposes of this article are (a) to present an analysis of myths of science that arise from the partial male world view, (b) to propose methods for debunking these myths to attain a more whole science consistent with the essence of nursing, and (c) to propose alternative approaches to science where an alternative is indicated.
Lack of correlation between the rate of cholesterol biosynthesis and the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in rats and in fibroblasts treated with ML-236B

ML-236B, a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, was studied in the rat and cultured human fibroblasts. A marked increase in liver reductase was found in fed and fasted rats; there was no effect on cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase. ML-236B did not alter tissue sterol levels in fed or fasted rats. In fibroblasts from normal or familial hypercholesterolemic individuals, ML-236B caused a marked increase in reductase. In contrast, the incorporation [2-14C]-acetate into sterol was decreased while the incorporation into fatty acids was increased. Cycloheximide prevented the increase in fibroblast reductase.
CarD Is an Essential Regulator of rRNA Transcription Required for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Persistence

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is arguably the world's most successful infectious agent because of its ability to control its own cell growth within the host. Bacterial growth rate is closely coupled to rRNA transcription, which in E. coli is regulated through DksA and (p)ppGpp. The mechanisms of rRNA transcriptional control in mycobacteria, which lack DksA, are undefined. Here we identify CarD as an essential mycobacterial protein that controls rRNA transcription. Loss of CarD is lethal for mycobacteria in culture and during infection of mice. CarD depletion leads to sensitivity to killing by oxidative stress, starvation, and DNA damage, accompanied by failure to reduce rRNA transcription. CarD can functionally replace DksA for stringent control of rRNA transcription, even though CarD associates with a different site on RNA polymerase. These findings highlight a distinct molecular mechanism for regulating rRNA transcription in mycobacteria that is critical for M. tuberculosis pathogenesis.
The changing incidence of ventricular fibrillation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1992-2002).

Objectives. To investigate the changes in annual incidence andsurvival of out-of-hospital cardiac-etiology arrests of different initial rhythms, particularly ventricular fibrillation (VF) andventricular tachycardia (VT), among adults (> 21 years old) in Milwaukee County between 1992 and2002 andestablish correlations with patient andemergency medical services (EMS) system-dependent factors. Methods. The study was a retrospective, observational study of all adult (> 21-year-old) patients with out-of-hospital cardiac-etiology arrests with identifiable rhythm andresuscitation attempted by the Milwaukee County EMS system from 1992 to 2002. Nine thousand one hundred seventy cases were enrolled. Primary outcome measures were changes in annual incidence of initial cardiac arrest rhythm, with a focus on VF/VT. Secondary outcome measures were changes in survival to hospital admission andhospital discharge for VF andVT. Patient andEMS system factors potentially affecting the outcome measures were identified andmodel...
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in overwintering monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) from mexico

North American populations of the monarch butterfly,Danaus plexippus, have been found to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides. Analytical methods (TLC, GC, and GC/MS) have been developed to isolate, quantitate, and structurally elucidate the alkaloids. Examples of at least two classes of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been identified, the macrocyclic diesters, senecionine, integerrimine, and seneciphylline, and the monoesters, echinatine, intermedine, and lycopsamine.
Exploration of 4,4-Disubstituted Pyrrolidine-1,2-Dicarboxamides as Potent, Orally Active Factor Xa Inhibitors with Extended Duration of Action.

Abstract Aiming to improve upon previously disclosed Factor Xa inhibitors, a series of 4,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine-1,2-dicarboxamides were explored with the intent of increasing the projected human half-life versus 5 (projected human t1/2 = 6 h). A stereospecific route to compounds containing a 4-aryl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine scaffold was developed, resulting in several compounds that demonstrated an increase in the half-life as well as an increase in the in vitro potency compared to 5. Reported herein is the discovery of 26, containing a (2R,4S)-4-hydroxy-4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-pyrrolidine scaffold, which is a selective, orally bioavailable, efficacious Factor Xa inhibitor that appears suitable for a once-daily dosing (projected human t1/2 = 23 h).
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND SELF‐CONCEPT AS A FUNCTION OF ACHIEVEMENT‐VARIABILITY1

The relationship of achievement-variability (standard deviation of grades) to changes over time in academic achievement and self-concept of academic ability was investigated. Compared were 112 students having near average grade point averages (GPAs) but very high or very low achievement variability (AV) indices. The high AV group showed a significantly greater drop (17 less than .05) in both GPA and self-concept of academic ability over the 5-year period. There were no significant differences between the groups in intelligence scores or socio-economic status ratings.
Effects of depression and ECT on anterograde memory

Abstract This study investigated immediate and delayed recognition memory in depressed patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and in matched, normal controls. At baseline, patients manifested a marked deficit in immediate memory (acquisition), but showed no deficit in delayed memory (retention). When retested 24–36 hr following the seventh ECT, patients showed reductions in both immediate and delayed memory performance. At retesting 4 days, on average, after the ECT course, immediate memory scores returned to baseline levels, but delayed memory performance remained impaired. The findings supported the classic claims that depression is associated with a deficit in the acquisition of information, whereas ECT has a more profound influence on the retention of information. This dissociative pattern could not be viewed as an artifact of task psychometric properties, nor of practice effects in control subjects.
CloudVista: interactive and economical visual cluster analysis for big data in the cloud

Analysis of big data has become an important problem for many business and scientific applications, among which clustering and visualizing clusters in big data raise some unique challenges. This demonstration presents the CloudVista prototype system to address the problems with big data caused by using existing data reduction approaches. It promotes a whole-big-data visualization approach that preserves the details of clustering structure. The prototype system has several merits. (1) Its visualization model is naturally parallel, which guarantees the scalability. (2) The visual frame structure minimizes the data transferred between the cloud and the client. (3) The RandGen algorithm is used to achieve a good balance between interactivity and batch processing. (4) This approach is also designed to minimize the financial cost of interactive exploration in the cloud. The demonstration will highlight the problems with existing approaches and show the advantages of the CloudVista approach. The viewers will have the chance to play with the CloudVista prototype system and compare the visualization results generated with different approaches.
Brachiopod Metabolism and Enzymes

Brachiopods consume oxygen at relatively low rates, and sometimes consume none at all for hours. Specimens of Terebratulina septentrionalis survived total anoxia for 3.5 days at 3°C. Isolated tissues converted 14Cμglucose into eight carboxylic acids at an average rate of 1.5 × 10−10 mole/SOL;hr per g tissue. Carbon from labelled glucose flowed steadily into citric acid and into an unknown acid for 2 hours under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In the first hour, more label was found in malic acid after aerobic incubation, and more label in succinic acid after anaerobic incubation, while the fraction in lactic acid was the same. Terebratulina carried on a mixed fermentation both in the presence and in the absence of oxygen. The inarticulate Glottidia pyramidata has a succinate dehydrogenase with kinetic properties favoring succinate oxidation, while the Terebratulina enzyme is more likely to operate in the reverse direction. Lactate metabolism is relatively unimportant in both species. Information on nitrogen-compound metabolism is limited to the inarticulate Lingula reevii , which is ammonotelic. Arginase and urease activities exceeded those of bivalve mollusks, while aspartate and alanine aminotransferase rates were both much lower. Some unique features of DNA, RNA and hemerythrin from Lingula have been discovered in the last few years.
Ecology of Fungus Gnats (Bradysia spp.) in Greenhouse Production Systems Associated with Disease-Interactions and Alternative Management Strategies

Fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.) are major insect pests of greenhouse-grown horticultural crops mainly due to the direct feeding damage caused by the larvae, and the ability of larvae to transmit certain soil-borne plant pathogens. Currently, insecticides and biological control agents are being used successively to deal with fungus gnat populations in greenhouse production systems. However, these strategies may only be effective as long as greenhouse producers also implement alternative management strategies such as cultural, physical, and sanitation. This includes elimination of algae, and plant and growing medium debris; placing physical barriers onto the growing medium surface; and using materials that repel fungus gnat adults. This article describes the disease-interactions associated with fungus gnats and foliar and soil-borne diseases, and the alternative management strategies that should be considered by greenhouse producers in order to alleviate problems with fungus gnats in greenhouse production systems.
Ultrastructure of neuronal nucleoli of rat trigeminal ganglia: Comparison of routine with pyroantimonate-osmium tetroxide fixation

Rat trigeminal ganglia were fixed with an aqueous solution of potassium pyroantimonate and osmium tetroxide. This method of fixation supposedly localizes tissue sodium by the formation of electron-opaque deposits of antimonate and the cation. Three distinct types of antimonate deposits, designated fine, moderately fine, and coarse, were observed in the neuronal nucleoli. Comparison of these nucleoli with nucleoli from ganglia fixed with routine methods revealed that each of the three types of deposits was localized in one of the ultrastructurally known components of the nucleolus. Thus, the fine, moderately fine, and coarse deposits were localized in the granular component, dense component, and foci of pars amorpha, respectively. Areas of the nucleolus devoid of antimonate deposits corresponded with the nucleolar vacuoles. In addition to visual comparison of nucleolar profiles from specimens fixed by the two general methods of fixation, dimensional and quantitative measurements were made of three of the nucleolar components as visualized in routinely fixed specimens and of the corresponding areas of the nucleolus as seen in the specimens fixed with the pyroantimonate-osmium tetroxide method.
Structure and dynamics of C60 and C70 from tight-binding molecular dynamics.

Structural and vibrational properties of C{sub 60} and C{sub 70} fullerenes are studied by molecular dynamics using a recently developed tight-binding potential model. It is shown that this tight-binding molecular-dynamics scheme has accuracy comparable to {ital ab} {ital initio} techniques and is very efficient for studying the finite temperature properties of fullerenes.
Oxidative biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular disease.

Oxidative damage to lipids and proteins is an important component of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies of oxidation-related molecules are helping to define atherosclerotic mechanisms, and measurements of circulating levels of specific oxidant compounds may improve cardiovascular risk assessment. The present article reviews accumulating data of selected oxidative biomarkers that support their role in providing diagnostic and/or prognostic information. For example, plasma levels of the enzyme myeloperoxidase, which generates the strong oxidizing agent hypochlorous acid, have been found to be correlated with risk for myocardial infarction and endothelial dysfunction. Elevated levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. Oxidized phospholipids play an important role in atherosclerosis. Recent studies measuring circulating levels of oxidized phospholipids have suggested a strong association with CAD, plaque disruption, and response to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor ("statin") therapy. Isoprostanes correlate strongly with cardiovascular risk factors, but their role in risk prediction is less well defined. Future studies are expected to clarify the role of oxidative biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of CVD and to determine their value in specific clinical populations.
Comparative analysis of cerebrovascular resistance in fetuses with single-ventricle congenital heart disease

Objective We sought to determine whether the presence or absence of aortic obstruction impacts cerebrovascular resistance in fetuses with single-ventricle (SV) congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods Pulsatility indices (PIs) were recorded for the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the umbilical artery (UA) from 18 to 40 weeks' gestation in 59 fetuses (163 examinations) with SV-CHD with unobstructed aortic flow, yet decreased pulmonary flow, in 72 fetuses (170 examinations) with obstructed aortic flow and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and in 92 normal fetuses (92 examinations). The cerebral-to-placental resistance (CPR) was calculated as the MCA-PI/UA-PI. Z-scores were generated for the MCA-PI and the UA-PI in order to make comparisons independent of gestational age. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA with post-hoc testing. Trends in these variables over the course of gestation were assessed using linear regression and univariate ANOVA. Results The MCA-PI and the CPR were significantly lower in SV fetuses with aortic obstruction compared with SV fetuses with pulmonary obstruction and with normal fetuses. Moreover, the MCA-PI decreased significantly for SV fetuses with aortic obstruction over the course of gestation. In contrast, the MCA-PI was higher over the course of gestation in SV fetuses with pulmonary obstruction compared with normal fetuses. Conclusion In fetuses with SV-CHD, cerebrovascular resistance varies substantially between fetuses with and without aortic obstruction. Compared with normal fetuses, cerebrovascular resistance is decreased in SV fetuses with aortic obstruction, yet increased in SV fetuses with pulmonary obstruction. In fetuses with SV physiology, inherent differences in cerebral blood flow may underlie postnatal neurodevelopmental outcomes. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
To P or not to P

Statistical inference is the process of making probabilistic statements about a characteristic in a population using a sample of members from that population, and is usually based on a formal testi...
Polynomial controllers for linear systems

In this paper, we study the problem of controlling a linear system with polynomial controls. We establish upper bounds of admissible polynomial controls in two special cases: systems with distinct eigenvalues and systems with all real eigenvalues. For certain other classes we show that the existence of such control of a minimum possible degree is equivalent to questions about the existence of multiple zeros for certain classes of entire functions.
A Redescription of Conchophthirus curtus Engelmann, 1862 (Protozoa, Ciliatea)1

SYNOPSIS. The structure of Conchophthirus curtus is described in detail, based on observations by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Characters of taxonomic importance are described from study of specimens representative of populations of the ciliate collected from 5 localities in Illinois. Variations within and between populations are indicated. New observations include a thoro description of the buccal cavity with its 3 polykineties, a haplokinety, and a deep kinetosomal unit. The somatic ciliature is differentiated into locomotor, thigmotactic, vestibular and caudal regions. In discussion of the systematic position of Conchophthirus, critical review of its past assignments is included; and comments on both the higher and lower levels of taxonomy of the “thigmotrichs” and their relatives are offered.
Structures of thermal, mass-selected water clusters probed with hydrophobic ion tags and infrared photodissociation spectroscopy.

The structures of tetramethylammonium (TMA + ) and phenyltrimethylammonium (PTMA + ) with 1-8 water molecules attached were investigated using infrared photodissociation spectroscopy (IRPD), blackbody infrared radiative dissociation, and theory to elucidate the effects of ion-water interactions and water-water hydrogen bonding in clusters containing these hydrophobic ions. Several pieces of evidence suggest that these ions have only a small effect on water structure. The binding energy of a water molecule to TMA + is 44 kJ/mol, a value that is significantly lower than that reported for other cations and close to the condensation energy of bulk water. The OH asymmetric stretch of the water molecule in TMA + ·(H 2 O) 1 at 3718 cm -1 is less red-shifted from that of an isolated water molecule (3756 cm -1 ) than for those of other cations, and water-water hydrogen bonding is extensive for all clusters with two or more water molecules. These results indicate that charge transfer from water to these hydrophobic ions is much less than that for other cations. There are two predominant structures for these ions with three water molecules: one in which water molecules form a chain and one with a cyclic structure analogous to that of neutral water trimer. With four water molecules attached, water forms a cyclic structure similar to that of neutral water tetramer. The spectra of the larger clusters follow trends reported for neutral water molecule clusters, which indicates that these hydrophobic ions have only a minimal effect on the structure of water in clusters with four or more water molecules. These results suggest that these hydrophobic ions can be used as "tags" that could make possible acquisition of IRPD spectra of even larger clusters, such as clathrates, for which precise mass selection of neutral clusters is not possible by other methods.
Same Session Bilateral Ureteroscopy is Safe and Efficacious

Purpose: Bilateral ureteroscopy can be done in 1 sitting, obviating the need for multiple procedures. We analyzed our experience with same session bilateral ureteroscopy to determine its safety and efficacy.Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study of a 9-year period at Emory University Hospital 1,575 consecutive ureteroscopic procedures were done, of which 95 (6.0%) were done as same session bilateral ureteroscopy, thus constituting our study cohort. Bilateral procedures were performed for urolithiasis in 71 cases, urothelial carcinoma in 9, ureteral stricture in 2 and another indication in 13. Patients were followed at least 1 month postoperatively to evaluate procedural success and assess perioperative complications.Results: Mean age of the 44 male and 40 female patients was 49.8 years. Multiple procedures were done in 9 patients and same session bilateral ureteroscopy was done in 93 of 95 (98%). Intraoperative and postoperative (greater than 1 month) bilateral stone-free rates were 86% and 64...
Planar lightwave circuits for FTTH and photonic networks

Integrated-optic waveguide devices become more and more complicated to realize high functionality. Optical functional devices are important to solve electrical bottleneck issues. Ultra-compact and CMOS compatible silicon waveguides are important for the integration of an optical component and an electronic circuit aiming at higher level of functionalities. This paper reviews the recent progress and future prospects of PLC devices and their applications to FTTH and photonic networks.
Brown recluse spider bites: Five cases with a review of the literature

Brown recluse spider bites can cause ulcerations of the skin, intravascular hemolysis and death. Five clinical cases are presented with a summary of known pathological processes, clinical findings, and recommended methods of treatment. The possibility of systemic manifestation make the physician's knowledge of loxoscelism, early diagnosis and adequate treatment necessary.
Implications of gated-Vss technique on leakage power in embedded caches

In this study, we designed and implemented the gated-Vss technique on a wide range of embedded workloads and evaluated the effects of varying parameters on the static power, specifically for caches (180,130,100, and 70 nm technology nodes with a customised simulator.) The static power increased by 50% when the cache sizes were increased from 16k to 128k for L1 cache and 256k to 2M for L2 cache. Gated-Vss is an ideal solution for larger caches, especially with small latencies. Our results also indicate that the static power savings are higher when the embedded systems have dense memory operations and less misprediction rates.
Acute responses to experimental blunt head trauma: topography of white matter edema.

Abstract The location of edema and territory of extravasation of serum protein were examined in the white matter of cats with different forms of intracranial pathology following an impact-acceleration injury to the head. Edema was tested with an organic density gradient and Evans blue dye was used as a marker for breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. Animals with tissue hemmorrhage (contusions) involving both cerebral cortex and white matter had a substantial, progressive accumulation of Evans blue-stained edema near tissue hemorrhage during the 6 h following trauma. In addition, this category of cats had a widespread, mild edema at 15 min after injury that was usually unaccompanied by Evans blue stain. Cats with cortical contusions had rather mild edema neighboring tissue hemorrhage; animals with subarachnoid hemorrhage in the absence of cerebral contusions had neither measurable edema nor (usually) visible Evans blue staining. We conclude that: (1) acute traumatic cerebral edema varies considerably in presence, magnitude and territory with different forms of intracranial pathology; and (2) mechanically induced edema can occur that is independent of spread of fluid from areas of tissue hemorrhage.
Hepatitis C Virus Activates the mTOR/S6K1 Signaling Pathway in Inhibiting IRS-1 Function for Insulin Resistance

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection significantly increases the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) plays a key role in insulin signaling, thus enabling metabolic regulation in mammalian cells. We have previously shown that HCV infection modulates phosphorylation of Akt, a downstream target of IRS-1. In this study, we further examined the status of total IRS-1 and the downstream regulation of the Akt pathway in understanding mTOR/S6K1 signaling using HCV genotype 2a (clone JFH1)-infected hepatocytes. Inhibition of IRS-1 expression was observed in HCV-infected hepatocytes compared to that in a mock-infected control. The status of the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC-1/TSC-2) was significantly decreased after HCV infection of human hepatocytes, showing a modulation of the downstream Akt pathway. Subsequent study indicated an increased level of Rheb and mTOR expression in HCV-infected hepatocytes. Interestingly, the phosphoS6K1 level was higher in HCV-infected hepatocytes, suggesting a novel mechanism for IRS-1 inhibition. Ectopic expression of TSC-1/TSC-2 significantly recovered the IRS-1 protein expression level in HCV-infected hepatocytes. Further analyses indicated that HCV core protein plays a significant role in modulating the mTOR/S6K1 signaling pathway. Proteasome inhibitor MG 132 recovered IRS-1 and TSC1/2 expression, suggesting that degradation occurred via the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. A functional consequence of IRS-1 inhibition was reflected in a decrease in GLUT4 protein expression and upregulation of the gluconeogenic enzyme PCK2 in HCV-infected hepatocytes. Together, these observations suggested that HCV infection activates the mTOR/S6K1 pathway in inhibiting IRS-1 function and perturbs glucose metabolism via downregulation of GLUT4 and upregulation of PCK2 for insulin resistance.
Rapid-eye movement sleep and muscarinic receptor binding in rats are augmented during withdrawal from chronic scopolamine treatment

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a seven day, once-daily morning administration of scopolamine produces upregulation of muscarinic receptors and augments REMS during withdrawal. After obtaining two, six-hour baseline sleep recordings, beginning at 0900, independent groups of rats were administered either scopolamine or saline every morning for seven days. Six hour sleep recordings were obtained following the first and seventh day of injection and during the two subsequent withdrawal days. After obtaining the last sleep recording the rats were sacrificed and the following brain areas removed: cerebral cortex, hippocampii, caudate nuclei, brainstem, and cerebellum. 3H-QNB was used as the ligand to assess for changes in muscarinic receptor binding. Compared to baseline, scopolamine produced a significant decrease in REMS during the period of drug administration. During the withdrawal days, however, REMS increased during the morning period. Compared to the saline group, the scopolamine treated animals had increased muscarinic receptor binding in the caudate and hippocampus; no significant change in receptor density was observed in the cortex, brainstem or cerebellum.
Cognitive and behavioral aspects of the treatment of compulsive rituals

The treatment of compulsive urges can be facilitated through behavioral approaches using exposure with response prevention. However, many clients benefit from preliminary cognitive therapy designed to improve their ability to cope with difficult situations. The present manuscript describes the cognitive-behavioral treatment of a client with compulsive repeating rituals. Coping self-statements were used to provide the client with cognitive tools to confront his urges and control his anxiety and behavior. Also, several therapeutic analogies were created to help shift the client's views of his urges and learn how to respond to them differently. A variety of detailed examples from his treatment are used to clarify the combined use of cognitive and behavioral therapy when working with clients who have obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Capillary electrophoresis: pioneering new approaches for biomolecular analysis

Abstract There is little doubt that electrophoretic techniques have made an immeasurable contribution to our understanding of biochemical systems. Capillary electrophoresis (CE), the subject of this article, is not yet as widely utilized as ‘slab' gel electrophoresis for the separation of biological molecules, but may confer several advantages over more conventional techniques. For example, it offers fast separation, needs only minute quantities of sample, gives high quantitative reproducibility and can be automated. These qualities make it a highly attractive method, which will ultimately lead to new horizons for biomolecular analyses.
Organizing research in an information society

Six years after he took the initial steps in 1955 to establish the Research Triangle Park of North Carolina, former Governor Luther Hodges described it as "an idea that has produced a reality." The scientific brains and research talents of three academic institutions and their research in many fields could provide the stimulus for research to the benefit of the state of North Carolina and the nation. The Research Triangle is the marriage of North Carolina's ideals for higher education and its hope for material progress. For several years prior to 1955, a noted sociologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Howard W. Odum, had made repeated attempts to foster a research complex of some sort in association with the University at Chapel Hill, with Duke University in Durham, and with North Carolina State University at Raleigh. All three institutions are within a 15-mile radius of the center of a triangle formed by these institutions as points. In addition, over the period 1952-55, a North Carolina developer, Romeo Guest, sought to promote the establishment of industrial laboratories and other forms of research and development within this triangle. But not until Hodges, as Governor, combined the support of state govemment with academic and industrial interests did concrete action begin to take place.
Learning disabilities and attentional problems in boys with the fragile X syndrome.

• The fragile X syndrome is a relatively common form of mental retardation that tends to affect boys more severely than girls. The syndrome Is associated with a fragile site at q27 on the X chromosome and with physical features including large or prominent ears and macro-orchidism. Four boys had physical and cytogenetic features of the fragile X syndrome. However, the IQ scores of these patients extended into the normal range. All four patients demonstrated similar learning difficulties that Included hyperactivity, vlsuomotor incoordination, language deficits, and academic delays In mathematics. The fragile X syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of learning disabled children. ( AJDC 1985;139:674-678)
The Political Cultivation of Moral Character: Kant on Public Moral Feeling as a Precondition for Right

Does the liberal state have the legitimate power to shape the moral character of its citizenry? One common liberal answer, which draws on a traditional reading of Kant's distinction between morality and right, is “no”: the scope of state authority extends only to the external actions of individuals, not to their inner, moral lives. This article explores an alternative reading of Kant in which the liberal state defends individual rights yet also has the duty to supply the preconditions for enjoying those rights. One precondition is the moral character of the citizenry, even though the government's provision of this precondition would seem to undermine the “external freedom” of citizens. The article thus both challenges a traditional interpretation of Kant's view of the state, and develops a liberal line of reasoning about moral character within a secular, pluralistic regime.
Towards understanding the nature of conflict of interest and its application to the discipline of nursing

Most incidences of dishonesty in research, financial investments that promote personal financial gain, and kickback scandals begin as conflicts of interest (COI). Research indicates that healthcare professionals who maintain COI relationships make less optimal and more expensive patient care choices. The discovery of COI relationships also negatively impact patient and public trust. Many disciplines are addressing this professional issue, but little work has been done towards understanding and applying this moral category within a nursing context. Do COIs occur in nursing and are they problematic? What are the morally appropriate responses to COI for our discipline and for individual practicing nurses? In this paper I examine the nature of 'conflict of interest' as a general ethical category, its characteristics and its application to our discipline. Conflict of interest is an odd moral category that may actually or potentially result in immoral decisions. The moral justification for COI is grounded prime facie by the moral value of respect for persons and principle of fidelity from which trust is developed and maintained. In review of the historical development, there appears to be consensus on some qualities of COI that are presented. I conclude that making judgements about COI are challenging and often difficult to determine from a nursing perspective. Improving nurses' and professional organizations' awareness of COI and sharpening our ability to respond appropriately when COI arise can reduce potential harm and promote trust in those whom we serve.
Neighborhood Level Effects of Socioeconomic Status on Liver Transplant Selection and Recipient Survival

RESULTS: Compared with liver recipients in the lowest SES quintile, those in the highest quintile were more likely to be male, Caucasian, have private insurance, and undergo transplantation when they had lower Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores. In proportional hazards model analysis, liver recipients of the lowest SES were at an increased risk for death within a median of 2 years after transplantation (hazard ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.35). CONCLUSIONS: Patients of lower SES appear to face barriers to liver transplantation, but perioperative outcomes (length of stay, in-hospital mortality, or 30-day readmission) do not differ significantly from those of patients of higher SES. However, fewer patients of low SES survive for 2 years after transplantation, independent of features of the recipient, donor, surgery center, or location.
Finding feasible abstract counter-examples

A strength of model checking is its ability to automate the detection of subtle system errors and produce traces that exhibit those errors. Given the high-computational cost of model checking most researchers advocate the use of aggressive property-preserving abstractions. Unfortunately, the more aggressively a system is abstracted the more infeasible behavior it will have. Thus, while abstraction enables efficient model checking it also threatens the usefulness of model checking as a defect detection tool, since it may be difficult to determine whether a counter-example is feasible and hence worth developer time to analyze. We have explored several strategies for addressing this problem by extending an explicit-state model checker, Java PathFinder (JPF), to search for and analyze counter-examples in the presence of abstractions. We demonstrate that these techniques effectively preserve the defect detection ability of model checking in the presence of aggressive abstraction by applying them to check properties of several abstracted multi-threaded Java programs. These new capabilities are not specific to JPF and can be easily adapted to other model checking frameworks; we describe how this was done for the Bandera toolset.
Provoked priapism in sickle cell anemia

Two patients with sickle cell anemia are reported who developed relative impotence after repeated episodes of priapism. They learned that excessive ethanol ingestion produced an erection and utilized this mechanism to satisfy sexual partners. Hospitalization and transfusion therapy were required for repeated episodes of priapism. Extensive interviews were required in order to learn the sequence of events. This synergistic relationship between ethanol and priapism should be sought in patients with repeated hospitalizations for this complication of sickle cell anemia because it is preventable with appropriate counseling.
EXOGENOUS CORTICOSTEROID AND SHIFTS OF CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS IN HAMSTERS

We tested the hypothesis that glucocorticoid stimulation mediates the effect of exercise on circadian clock resetting in hamsters. We injected animals with 1 and 5 mg dexamethasone—a potent glucocorticoid agonist—at zeitgeber time (ZT) 4 and ZT6, circadian phases at which vigorous exercise induces maximal phase advances of about 3h. Neither dose of dexamethasone induced phase shifts that were significantly larger than those induced by injections of saline vehicle at either of the phases tested. Some animals, however, showed quite large and consistent phase shifts to repeated injections whether with saline or dexamethasone, such that there was a statistically significant correlation between individuals' responses to the two treatments. The data indicate no role for increased glucocorticoid activity in mediating the effects of exercise on circadian phase shifting, but suggest a modest role for nonspecific stimulation, independent of exercise, in inducing phase shifts at ZT4–ZT6. (Chronobiology International...
Parsimonious side propagation

A fast parsimonious linear-programming-based algorithm for training neural networks is proposed that suppresses redundant features while using a minimal tra number of hidden units. This is achieved by propagating sideways to newly added hidden units the task of separating successive groups of unclassified points. Computational results show an improvement of 26.53% and 19.76% in tenfold cross-validation test correctness over a parsimonious perceptron on two publicly available datasets.
Considering Mom: Maternity and the Model Act Governing Assisted Reproductive Technology

The traditional family law doctrine governing maternity was easy to apply. Simply stated the rule for centuries was "the birth mother is the legal mother." However, this rule can no longer operate in the growing field of assisted reproductive technology and especially in collaborative reproduction. Today the birth mother is often a surrogate carrier, who may have a genetic connection to the child she births. However, in most cases the surrogate carrier has no genetic connection to the child. In contrast to the birth mother, the intended mother may be designated as both the legal mother under a contract and actually be the genetic mother. In other cases the intended mother provides an embryo to the surrogate carrier which was produced by a donated egg so that even though she intends to be the legal mother she has no genetic connection to the child. While a heterosexual intended mother may resort to surrogacy to overcome an infertility problem, or because of a history of miscarriage or simply to avoid pregnancy, the growing use of assisted reproduction by same-sex couples raises a number of legal parentage problems which are now coming before the courts. Parentage affects custodial and visitation rights and the law of inheritance. There is little statutory law to assist the courts in such cases. The author examines these problems in the light of the newly proposed A.B.A. Model Act Governing Assisted Reproductive Technology, and also considers the proposed uniform laws governing parentage and probate.
Parallel execution of OPS5 in QLISP

The authors show that QLISP can easily encode most sources of parallelism in OPS5 that have been previously discussed in literature. They also list the commonly used QLISP constructs in the parallel implementation (and the contexts in which they are used), which serve as a hint to the QLISP implementor about what to optimize. They discuss the use of speculative parallelism in right-hand-side evaluation for OPS5. >
Ultrasound beam propagation using the hybrid angular spectrum method

We introduce a fast and accurate numerical method for simulating the propagation of an ultrasound beam inside inhomogeneous tissue for mapping beam absorption, refraction and diffraction in the body. The technique, called the hybrid angular spectrum method, is an extension of the angular spectrum method to inhomogeneous tissue. Inhomogeneous tissue is modeled using voxels, each with its own speed of sound, density and absorption coefficient. The proposed technique produces very fast simulations, with total calculation times of about one minute for a 201×201×101 model.
Murine Innate Immune Response to Virulent Toxigenic and Nontoxigenic Bacillus anthracis Strains

Effective treatment of anthrax is hampered by our limited understanding of the pathophysiology of Bacillus anthracis infection. We used a genetically complete (pXO1+ pXO2+) virulent B. anthracis strain and four isogenic toxin-null mutants to determine the effects of the anthrax edema toxin (ET; edema factor [EF] plus protective antigen [PA]) and lethal toxin (LT; lethal factor [LF] plus PA) on the host innate response during systemic infection. Using the spleen as an indicator for host response, we found that intravenous inoculation of LT-deficient mutants into C57BL/6 mice significantly increased production of several cytokines over that observed after infection with the parent strain or an EF-deficient mutant. Bacteria producing one or both of the toxins were capable of inducing significant apoptosis of cells present in spleens, whereas apoptosis was greatly reduced in mice infected with nontoxigenic mutants. Mice infected with toxin-producing strains also showed increased splenic neutrophil recruitment compared to mice infected with nontoxigenic strains and neutrophil depletion prior to infection with toxin-producing strains, leading to decreased levels of apoptosis. Together, these studies indicate that anthrax LT suppresses cytokine secretion during infection, but both EF and LF play roles in inducing neutrophil recruitment and enhancing apoptosis. Interestingly, in the absence of LF the effect of EF-induced cell recruitment is further enhanced, perhaps because LF so effectively suppresses the secretion of chemokines.