cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An agnostic reevaluation of the amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis: The role of APP homeostasis

Objective To reassess the role of amyloid beta (Aβ) and the amyloid precursor protein (APP) system in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Background APP is a cell adhesion molecule that has been highly conserved over the course of phylogeny that has critical roles in brain development, synaptic plasticity, and the brain's intrinsic immune system. The amyloid cascade hypothesis describes a relatively linear, deterministic sequence of events triggered by a gain of Aβ peptide fragment toxicity that results in neurodegeneration and cognitive loss, yet well designed immunotherapy and beta secretase inhibitor trials that have successfully targeted Aβ have failed to have any consistent effects on the steady decline of cognition. New/updated hypothesis Mutations of the APP and presenilin genes not only alter the ratio of longer to shorter Aβ fragments (resulting in a gain of Aβ toxicity), but also disrupt the normal homeostatic roles of their respective proteins. The evolutionary history, physiological importance, and complexity of the APP and presenilin systems, as well as other critical components including tau and apolipoprotein E (APOE) imply that altered function of such systems could have severe consequences that include but need not be limited to a gain of Aβ toxicity and would more generally result in altered homeostasis of APP-related functions. Major challenges addressed by our hypothesis Challenges that a loss of APP homeostasis addresses better than the more limited gain of Aβ toxicity model include the topographic mismatches between Aβ and tau pathology, the profile and chronology of cognitive and biomarker changes that precede the clinical expression of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and the disappointments of Aβ targeted therapeutics among others. Linkage to other major theories The importance of APP, α- and β-secretases, the presenilins and γ-secretase, as well as tau was recognized by the authors of the amyloid cascade hypothesis, and has since led multiple investigators to propose alternative, more balanced hypotheses including reduced homeostasis and frank loss-of-function of key components that include but go beyond the currently envisioned linear model of Aβ toxicity.
Neighborhood Social Group Participation and Depressive Symptoms Among Mid-to-Late Life Black Americans: Does the Association Differ by Ethnicity?

This study examined how neighborhood social participation relates to depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older African Americans and Caribbean Blacks. A subsample of African Americans (N = 1616) and Caribbean Blacks (N = 601) age 40 and older were drawn from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to examine the association between neighborhood social participation and depressive symptoms. In fully adjusted models, non-participation in available neighborhood organizations was associated with higher depressive symptoms among Caribbean Blacks (b = 1.93, p < .01), while neighborhood social participation was unrelated to depressive symptoms among African Americans. Non-participation in available neighborhood group associations is a risk factor for depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Caribbean Blacks. Future research should assess the correlates of non-participation in available neighborhood organizations, and the mechanisms underlying how non-participation in these organizations relates to the psychological well-being of Caribbean Blacks.
Changes in knowledge, attitudes and beliefs in BSN students after SBIRT education and practice in home health.

Abstract Background Substance Use Disorders (SUD) have detrimental effects on US population's health, healthcare system, and economy. Nursing knowledge gaps in SUD justifies need for nursing education in screening for SUD. Purposes Purposes include examining differences in: • knowledge, and attitude and beliefs related to Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) based on sociodemographic characteristics • received BSN education on substance misuse and motivational interviewing • prior work or internship in a healthcare agency. Method This single-group, pretest-posttest study of 488 BSN students who completed education for integrating SBIRT into home assessments. Instruments included a demographics’ survey, SBIRT Knowledge instrument, and Substance Abuse and Attitude Survey (SAAS). Descriptive statistics using analysis of variance (ANOVA) models and paired-sample t-tests were employed to analyze data. Results Successful identification of knowledge and attitudes significantly improved after BSN education and revealed specific areas for future research. No significant differences in knowledge, and attitudes and beliefs based on gender, race, and ethnicity were found. Conclusion Understanding educational interventions' influence on knowledge and attitudes and beliefs of BSN students toward clients may have a significant effect on quality of care. Positive findings support students SBIRT education. Integrating SBIRT education and practice provides knowledge and attitudinal enhancements for SUD care and supports population and public health initiatives.
Tenofovir alafenamide does not inhibit mitochondrial function and cholesterol biosynthesis in human T lymphoblastoid cell line

In clinical trials, the concentration of tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) in peripheral mononuclear cells was 4 to 5-fold higher in individuals treated with tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) compared to individuals treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). We hypothesized that the higher intracellular accumulation of TFV-DP could cause mitochondrial toxicity from either polymerase gamma (Pol-γ)-dependent or Pol-γ-independent mechanism(s). To test this hypothesis, we cultured human T lymphoblastoid cell line (CEM cells) for up to 12 days with TAF or TDF (multiplicities of Cmax) to investigate the effects on mitochondrial function and respiration, and cholesterol biosynthesis. Both TAF and TDF treatments had no significant effect on cell growth, mitochondrial potential (ΔΨ), production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial respiratory parameters. TAF had no statistically significant effect on expression of Pol-γ mRNA, mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) content, expression of proteins of the electron transport chain (ETC), and key genes of cholesterol biosynthesis. TDF had significant reduction in mtDNA content at 8xCmax, and statistically significant reduction in mRNA expression of squalene epoxidase (SQLE). Our findings do not support our hypothesis that the higher intracellular accumulation of TFV-DP in cells treated with TAF could cause mitochondrial dysfunction. In conclusion, our findings add to the emerging data that TAF may have a low potential for causing mitochondrial toxicity in HIV-infected individuals on TAF-containing regimens.
Cross-border acquisition activity by Chinese multinationals and domestic-productivity upgrading

We investigate the impact of cross-border acquisition activity on the domestic productivity of Chinese multinationals. Chinese MNEs have engaged in cross-border acquisitions in an attempt to explore for new capabilities, technologies and management practices so as to enhance productivity and compete in increasingly competitive domestic markets. Empirical scholarship, however, has yet to establish that cross-border acquisition activity by emerging-market multinationals generally contributes to domestic-productivity upgrading, as learning from foreign-acquisition targets, transferring and assimilating this learning, and ultimately upgrading the productivity of home operations represents a challenging and complicated process. We accordingly apply and advance the literature on reverse-knowledge transfers and capability upgrading by first considering the relevance of cross-border acquisition activities on domestic productivity in an emerging-market context, and by second extending the literature’s understanding of the target-firm characteristics which abet domestic-productivity upgrading. Employing firm-level panel data based on 329 Chinese multinationals over the 2000–2010 period, we find outward cross-border acquisition activities generate increased domestic productivity. In addition, we find domestic-productivity upgrading to be larger when acquiring high-tech (versus low-tech) targets and that this effect is further enhanced when acquiring related (versus unrelated) targets.
Food insecurity in baccalaureate nursing students: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background Food insecurity, the limited or uncertain availability of food, is reported in college students, but little is known about its prevalence in nursing students. Nursing students have extensive required clinical hours limiting their ability to work and spend money on academic and living expenses before spending on food. Purpose To estimate the prevalence of food insecurity and characterize its relationship to social support and first-generation status among nursing students at a public university. Methods A cross-sectional survey study design was used to assess food security and social support in full-time nursing students (n=55). Results The prevalence of food insecurity reported by the survey respondents was 60%. Statistically significant correlations between food security and social support scores were found; as food security worsened, so did social support. Food-insecure students had lower grade point averages, and first-generation students (p=.001) reported food insecurity more frequently than did other participants. Conclusions Findings support that food insecurity is negatively associated with academic performance, and level of social support may impact food insecurity in nursing students. Nursing programs should consider early assessments of cohorts to increase the potential for early intervention with food-insecure students. Collaboration with university-based food pantries and student engagement in hunger initiatives through the Student Nurses Association can support early interventions.
Can Service Be a Growth Escalator in Low-Income Countries?

Several high-level reports have raised the concern that low-income countries, especially in Africa, are experiencing premature de-industrialization. The concern is that they are growing without transforming. Have the latecomers to development missed the boat? Although these concerns are well placed, Africa's growth seems to be benefitting from a structural transformation of a different kind. The manufacturing sector as a share of gross domestic product has shrunk, but countries have benefitted from the third industrial revolution with globalization of services being at the forefront of this technological revolution. As services produced and traded across the world expand with globalization, the possibilities for low-income countries to develop based on their comparative advantage expand. That comparative advantage can just as easily be in services as in manufacturing. Comparative advantage need not be a one-trick pony.
‘Who’ or ‘what’ is the rule of law?:

The standard account of the relation between democracy and the rule of law focuses on law’s liberty-enhancing role in constraining official action. This is a faint echo of the complex, constitutive...
Cervical Steroid Injections Are Not Effective for Prevention of Surgical Treatment of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Study Design:Retrospective cohort study.Objective:The objective of this study is to determine how often patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and initially treated with cervical ster...
Examining vocal attractiveness through articulatory working space

Robust gender differences exist in the acoustic correlates of clearly articulated speech, with females, on average, producing speech that is acoustically and phonetically more distinct than that of males. This study investigates the relationship between several acoustic correlates of clear speech and subjective ratings of vocal attractiveness. Talkers were recorded producing vowels in /bVd/ context and sentences containing the four corner vowels. Multiple measures of working vowel space were computed from continuously sampled formant trajectories and were combined with measures of speech timing known to co-vary with clear articulation. Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) modeling was used to predict ratings of vocal attractiveness for male and female talkers based on the acoustic measures. PLS components that loaded on size and shape measures of working vowel space—including the quadrilateral vowel space area, convex hull area, and bivariate spread of formants—along with measures of speech timing were highly successful at predicting attractiveness in female talkers producing /bVd/ words. These findings are consistent with a number of hypotheses regarding human attractiveness judgments, including the role of sexual dimorphism in mate selection, the significance of traits signalling underlying health, and perceptual fluency accounts of preferences.
Deletion of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate receptor 1 in cardiomyocytes during development leads to abnormal ventricular conduction and fibrosis

Sphingosine 1-Phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1 , encoded by S1pr1) is a G protein-coupled receptor that signals in multiple cell types including endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of S1pr1 during mouse development leads to ventricular noncompaction, with 44% of mutant mice surviving to adulthood. Adult survivors of embryonic cardiomyocyte S1pr1 deletion showed cardiac hypertrabeculation consistent with ventricular noncompaction. Surprisingly, systolic function in mutant mice was preserved through at least 1 year of age. Cardiac conduction was abnormal in cardiomyocyte S1pr1 mutant mice, with prolonged QRS intervals in mutants as compared with littermate control mice. Immunostaining of hearts from S1pr1 mutant embryos displayed a zone of intermediate Connexin 40 (Cx40) expression in the trabecular myocardium. However, we observed no significant differences in Cx40 and Connexin 43 immunostaining in hearts from adult survivors of embryonic cardiomyocyte S1pr1 deletion, which suggests normalized development of the ventricular conduction system in mutant mice. By contrast, the adult survivors of embryonic cardiomyocyte S1pr1 deletion showed increased cardiac fibrosis as compared with littermate controls. These results demonstrate that ventricular hypertrabeculation caused by embryonic deletion of cardiomyocyte S1pr1 correlates with cardiac fibrosis, which contributes to abnormal ventricular conduction. These results also reveal conduction abnormalities in the setting of hypertrabeculation with normal systolic function, which may be of clinical relevance in humans with ventricular hypertrabeculation.
Centrality of the Creative Process: Intuition, Autotelic Flow, and Childhood Adversity

Abstract Individuals who claim that creativity has an existential centrality acknowledge a need to engage in creative activities. This study (n = 460) examined creative centrality in relationship to autotelic dispositional flow, the three intuition dimensions (inferential, affective, holistic), and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Results indicated that ACEs and intuition predicted creative centrality; however, autotelic dispositional flow was not a significant predictor. Creative centrality was significantly greater in the high ACE group compared to the no ACE and few ACE groups. Creative centrality is positively associated with the three dimensions of intuition (inferential, affective, holistic). Individuals with a history of substantial childhood adversity also identified increased desire to engage in the creative process. The findings suggest that engaging in the creative process differs from autotelic dispositional flow experiences. Further study is recommended to understand the role of intuition in creative centrality and how autotelic flow differs from creative centrality.
Adam Smith: Homo Socialis, Yes; Social Preferences, No; Reciprocity Was to Be Explained

I argue that the authors accept too casually the neo-classical framework of thought that was incapable of predicting choices in 2-person and other experimental games in the 1980s and 1990ss. The ex post hoc hypothesis that social preference can describe homo socialis reduces inevitably to a rescue of neo-classical economics in which Max-U (own payoff, other payoff) substitutes mechanically for Max-U (own payoff) in our personal groupings. This static procedure unnecessarily and inappropriately robs human conduct of its sociality as a process relationship. The model I articulate was masterfully developed by Adam Smith, which back-predicts the results of these earlier small group experiments, and argues the central importance of contextâa finding of experimentalists in their attempt to come to terms with the predictive failures of Max-U (own payoff).
Autonomy, Imperfect Consent, and Polygamist Sex Rights Claims

Charles Moore had been watching the challenge to the Texas sodomy law as it made its way to the United States Supreme Court. When his partner called him to say that the Court had ruled the Texas antisodomy statute unconstitutional in Lawrence v. Texas on June 26, 2003, he was overjoyed. Moore quickly found a copy of the decision online and devoured every word. He was thrilled by the court’s holding that the law violated privacy rights guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and was excited by the decision’s implications. Moore’s excitement was somewhat surprising. He is not a gay man, nor is he involved in gay and lesbian causes. He is a fundamentalist Mormon who believes in the religious doctrine of plural marriage. His enthusiasm over Lawrence was not about its implications for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (“LGBT”) rights, but about his hope that the ruling would provide support for the argument that the state should not be permitted to criminalize bigamy or polygamy between consenting adults. The partner who called to give Moore the news was his wife, and while she is currently his only wife, he
Periodic solutions to a difference equation with maximum

An open problem posed by G. Ladas is to investigate the difference equation x n = max { }, n = 0,1,..., where A, B, C are any nonnegative real numbers with A + B + C > 0. We prove that there exists a positive integer T such that every positive solution of this equation is eventually periodic of period T.
Reconstruction of internal density distributions in porous bodies from laser ultrasonic data

It is presently shown that, for density-reconstruction problems in which information about the inhomogeneity is known a priori, the nonlinear least-squares algorithm yields satisfactory results on the basis of limited projection data. The back-projection algorithm, which obviates assumptions about the objective function to be reconstructed, does not recover the boundary of the inhomogeneity when the number of projections is limited and ray-bending is ignored.
Reversing vascular dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis: improved augmentation index but not endothelial function with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist therapy.

Objective To examine the hypothesis that improving insulin sensitivity improves vascular function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods We performed a 20-week, single center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Patients with RA (n = 34) with moderate disease activity who were receiving stable disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy were randomized to drug sequence, receiving either pioglitazone 45 mg/day or matching placebo for 8 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout period and the alternative treatment for 8 weeks. We measured changes in vascular stiffness (augmentation index and aortic pulse wave velocity [PWV]), endothelial function (reactive hyperemia index), and blood pressure. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were also measured. The treatment effect of pioglitazone on outcomes was analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Results Pioglitazone treatment resulted in a change in augmentation index of −4.7% units (95% confidence interval [95% CI] −7.9, −1.5) (P = 0.004) and in diastolic blood pressure of −3.0 mm Hg (95% CI −5.7, −0.2) (P = 0.03), but did not significantly change aortic PWV (P = 0.33) or reactive hyperemia index (P = 0.46). The improvements in augmentation index and diastolic blood pressure were not mediated by the effect of pioglitazone on insulin resistance or inflammation. Conclusion Our findings indicate that pioglitazone improves some indices of vascular function, including augmentation index and diastolic blood pressure, in patients with RA. This is not mediated by improved insulin sensitivity.
Racializing Redemption, Reproducing Racism: The Odyssey of Magical Negroes and White Saviors

Recent research on the intersection of race and media describes a trend of progressive, even antiracist, narratives that showcase close inter-racial friendships and camaraderie on the silver screen. Films in which one character saves or helps another from some unholy or disastrous plight are common in films like The Green Mile (1999), Bruce Almighty (2003), Amistad (1997) and The Blind Side (2009). While these films present a stark change from the patently racist and on-screen segregationist history of Hollywood cinema, these films often trade on racist meanings and expectations. Many of these films are what critics call “Magical Negro” or “White Savior” films – cinema in which implicit and explicit racial stereotypes are employed to structure the inter-racial interactions where one character labors to redeem another. In comparing these two genres, this article provides an overview for how both cinematic forms reproduce racist messages by naturalizing the supposed cerebral rationality, work ethic, and paternalistic morality of select White characters while normalizing Black characters as primordially connected with nature, spiritually connected to the carnal, and possessive of exotic and magical powers. Together, these films subversively reaffirm the social order and relations of racial domination by reproducing centuries’ old understandings of racial difference.
A logical account of causal and topological maps

The Spatial Semantic Hierarchy (SSH) is a set of distinct representations for large scale space, each with its own ontology and each abstracted from the levels below it. At the control level, the agent and its environment are modeled as continuous dynamical systems whose equilibrium points are abstracted to a discrete set of distinctive states. The control laws whose execution defines trajectories linking these states are abstracted to actions, giving a discrete causal graph representation for the state space. The causal graph of states and actions is in turn abstracted to a topological network of places and paths (i.e. the topological map). Local metrical models of places and paths can be built within the framework of the control, causal and topological levels while avoiding problems of global consistency. Most of the SSH's ideas have been traditionally described in procedural terms inspired by implementations of the SSH. This description has various problems when used to implement physical agents. First, some assumptions are not explicitly stated or are difficult to meet by current sensory technology (e.g. sensory information is not rich enough to distinguish one place from another). Second, some important SSH concepts (i.e. paths) are not properly defined or understood. Third, sometimes it is not clear what the representation states and consequently it is hard to apply it to new domains. In this dissertation we propose a formal semantics for the SSH causal, topological and local metrical theories. Based on this semantics, we extend the SSH in the following important ways: (i) we include distinctive states as objects of the theory and handle perceptual aliasing, (ii) we define the models associated with the SSH causal and topological levels, (iii) we extend the SSH topological theory to handle convergent and self intersecting paths as well as hierarchical maps, (iv) we show how to combine causal, topological and noisy local metrical information, (v) based on the previous enhancements, we define an algorithm to keep track of different topological maps consistent with the agent's experiences. This algorithm supports different exploration-strategies and facilitates map disambiguation when the case arises.
Modelling and computational techniques for logic based integer programming

This paper presents a modelling framework for discrete optimization problems that relies on a logic representation in which mixed-integer logic is represented through disjunctions, and integer logic through propositions. It is shown that transformation of the logic formulation into the equation form is not always desirable, and that therefore there is a need to address the solution of mixed-integer programming problems where some of the mixed-integer relationships are expressed in disjunctions while others are expressed as algebraic constraints. A theoretical characterization of disjunctive constraints is proposed which can serve as a criterion for deciding whether a disjunction should be transformed into equation form. A solution algorithm that generalizes the method of Raman and Grossmann (Computers & Chemical Engineering, 17, 909, 1993) for handling mixed-integer disjunctions symbolically is also proposed. Several examples are presented to illustrate the proposed modelling framework and the potential of the solution method.
ILPR repeats adopt diverse G-quadruplex conformations that determine insulin binding

The insulin-linked polymorphic region (ILPR) is a VNTR region located upstream of the insulin (INS) gene consisting of the repeat 5'-ACAGGGGTGTGGGG (repeat a) and several less abundant sequence repeats (b-n). Here, we have investigated the structural polymorphism of G-quadruplexes formed from the most common repeat sequences (a-c) and their effect on insulin protein binding. We first established that the ILPR repeats "b" and "c" can form quadruplex structures. Insulin has previously been shown to bind a G-quadruplex formed by a dimer of the repeat "a". Our findings show that insulin binds preferentially to the repeat "a" G-quadruplex (K(d) = 0.17 + or - 0.03 microM) over G-quadruplexes formed from other ILPR repeats that were tested (K(d)s from 0.71 + or - 0.15 to 1.07 + or - 0.09 microM). Additionally, the Watson-Crick complementary relationship between the loop regions of repeat "a" (ACA and TGT) seemingly play an important role in favoring a specific G-quadruplex conformation, which based on our data is critical for insulin binding. Affinity for insulin is reduced in sequences lacking the putative WC complementarity, however upon engineered restoration of complementarity, insulin binding is recovered. A DMS footprinting assay on the repeat "a" G-quadruplex in the presence of insulin, combined with binding affinities for ILPR mutants led to identification of a loop nucleotide critical for binding. Uniquely, insulin shows clear preference for binding to the G-quadruplexes with the more antiparallel feature. Collectively, our results illustrate the specific nature of insulin binding to the ILPR G-quadruplexes and begin to provide molecular details on such interactions.
Information sharing concerning schizophrenia in a family member: Adult siblings' perspectives☆

Abstract Content analysis of 11 in-depth interviews of adult siblings having a brother or sister with schizophrenia shows a variation in families' needs and desire for information about the illness. Families who do not seek information appear to be in denial, whereas those who can be classified as withholding information realize the significance of illness but are reluctant to share information. Information provided by mental health professionals is thought to be scarce and frequently confusing. Subjects believe they must actively pursure information, and they find advice on everyday problems to be the most practical. Health care professionals need to know about the family's differing stages of readiness to receive information, to have some insight into the family's attitudes toward illness, and a recognition of the stigma of mental illness many of these families feel.
Structural and chemical analysis of marine aggragates: in situ macrophotography and laser confocal and electron microscopy

Marine-snow aggregates are compositionally diverse macroparticles that dominate the vertical material flux in many open-ocean environments. There is little documentation of the detailed physical structure and microcomposition of marine-snow aggregates, yet such characteristics both influence and are a function of aggregation mechanisms. This paper describes the application of in situ macrophotography followed by laser-scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) as a means of observing the fine structure of delicate marine-snow aggregates in their fully hydrated state. Use of pecific fluorescent stains yielded microcompositional images, and addition of analytical scanning electron microscopy allowed analysis of subcomponent particles within the aggregates. Application of these techniques to structurally diverse aggregates collected from the oligotrophic North Pacific surface waters revealed large variations in structure, density, relative homogeneity, extracellular matrix material, abundance and type of phytoplankton, and organic and mineral microcomposition.
Introduction to the special issue on cyber security and management

Today’s cyberspace is a powerful, virtual environment enabled by a pervasive global digital infrastructure. Even though it offers an ideal landscape for the conduct of commerce, science, education, communication, and government, cyberspace remains vulnerable to attack and manipulation from ever-evolving malicious threats. Cyber security, like other research disciplines, must often draw upon disparate fields of study to advance and create applied security measures that ensure adequate levels of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Researchers often face challenging problems in the engineering and science fields that are only uniquely addressed by applying theoretical and practical results from different scientific areas of study. The pervasiveness of the cyber domain in almost every aspect of modern life, from government to private sector, has brought the issue of security research squarely to the forefront of international attention. As such, the need for multidisciplinary approaches to help solve the hard problems of security has become paramount as well. The impact of malicious cyber attacks on various commercial enterprises and military systems can now reach catastrophic proportions in terms of financial loss and compromise of critical information. Lockheed Martin, RSA, Google, Citigroup, the International Monetary Fund, MasterCard, the Unites States (US) Chamber of Commerce, and the US Department of Defense have all reported breech and infiltration through hackers in the last two years (Johnson 2011; Shachtman 2011; Wyler 2011; Thomas and Katrandjian 2011; Hack Against Citigroup revealed: is bank security system really bullet-proof? International Business Times New York, Jun. 09 2011). In 2011, 70 million Sony PlayStation users had their credit card
The vibrational relaxation time constant for the B v=0 level of XeCl

The vibrational relaxation time constant for theB v=0 vibrational level of XeCl* has been investigated by observing the coupling between theB v=1 andB v=0 vibrational levels under saturated lasing conditions. Based on this observation, estimates of the expected extraction efficiency from theB-state have been made.
Bromotyrosine-derived natural and synthetic products as inhibitors of mycothiol-S-conjugate amidase.

Abstract A series of bromotyrosine-derived compounds, including marine natural products and members of a psammaplin A-inspired combinatorial synthetic library, were screened for their ability to inhibit the Mycobacterium tuberculosis detoxification enzyme mycothiol- S -conjugate amidase (MCA). Correlations between the structures and their respective IC 50 values (which range from 3 μM to 2.7 mM) should prove valuable when optimizing more potent inhibitors of MCA.
The Effect of Early Mother–Infant Separation on Later Maternal Performance

The care of premature infants in most nurseries entails prolonged physical separation of a mother from her baby. To determine whether this period of separation results in altered maternal behavior we measured feeding performance in a group of mothers who were permitted physical contact with their premature infants (mean b.w. 1,551 g) beginning in the first days of life (Early Contact). Their feeding behavior was compared at the time of discharge and one month later with another group of mothers who first handled their babies (mean b.w. 1,409 g) after 20 days of age (Late Contact). We made 34 time lapse movies of 24 mothers feeding their infants. Mothers' and babies' reactions were analyzed in detail at 1-sec intervals for 10 min of each 15 min filmed. Each frame was scored for twenty five activities ranging from caretaking skills such as the presence of milk in the tip of the nipple to measurements of maternal affection, such as the mother's body touching the infant's trunk (cuddling). Although the amount of time the mothers were looking at their babies was the same in both groups, the Early Contact group had significantly greater ‘en face’ (mother's face rotated so that her eyes and those of the infant meet fully in the same vertical plane) 14.8% vs. 5.7% (p < 0.05) and also more cuddling 46.3% vs. 21.1% (p < 0.025) in the pre-discharge but not the one month feeding. Both of these reflect to some extent the active interest of the mother in her infant. There were no significant differences in measures of caretaking. it is intriguing to consider whether the differences in maternal behavior are dur to early initiation of physical contact.
Radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy: treatment outcomes and failure patterns.

Abstract Objectives. To define the optimal role for radiotherapy (RT) after radical prostatectomy (RP) and to characterize specific patterns of PSA failure in this setting. Methods. The records of 105 patients who underwent RT after RP (69 received therapeutic RT because of an elevated prostate-specific antigen [PSA] level, 36 received immediate adjuvant RT) were reviewed. The median follow-up was 35 months after RT and 57 months after RP. Radiation success was defined as achievement and maintenance of a PSA less than 0.2 ng/mL. Preoperative, pathologic, and postoperative characteristics were examined for their ability to predict success after RT. Patterns of PSA recurrence after RT were also examined by determining the PSA nadir, PSA velocity, and timing of androgen-deprivation therapy. Results. Of 105 patients, 47 experienced biochemical failure. Actuarial 3 and 5-year progression-free survival estimates for all patients were 55% and 43%, respectively. Significant favorable predictors of response to RT by multivariate analysis were preoperative PSA less than 20 ng/mL and the use of adjuvant RT. However, patients who received therapeutic RT with a pre-RT PSA less than 1.0 ng/mL demonstrated progression-free outcome equivalent to those who received adjuvant RT. Two distinct patterns of PSA failure were observed on the basis of PSA nadir after RT. Patients whose PSA failed to reach a nadir less than 0.2 ng/mL after RT had progression with a high PSA velocity (1.5 ng/mL/yr). Patients whose PSA reached a nadir less than 0.2 ng/mL but who subsequently had treatment failure progressed later with a lower PSA velocity (0.36 ng/mL/yr). Conclusions. RT is effective in select patients after RP. Given the low PSA velocity consistent with persistent local disease in nearly 50% of patients in whom RT failed, more effective local therapy is needed after RP in high-risk patients.
Dissociation of motor and sensory inhibition processes in normal aging.

Objective Age-related cognitive impairments have been attributed to deficits in inhibitory processes that mediate both motor restraint and sensory filtering. However, behavioral studies have failed to show an association between tasks that measure these distinct types of inhibition. In the present study, we hypothesized neural markers reflecting each type of inhibition may reveal a relationship across inhibitory domains in older adults.
Tungsten carbide-supported Pd electrocatalysts for triglyceride hydrogenation in a solid polymer electrolyte reactor

Abstract Noble metals are often used for the electrochemical hydrogenation of organics, however, substitutes are being sought due to their high cost. Research described in this paper compared the performance of tungsten carbide-supported Pd (Pd/W2C) catalysts to those of W2C, Pd and other noble metals for the hydrogenation of triglycerides in a solid polymer electrolyte reactor. Rates for the Pd/W2C catalysts increased with increasing Pd loading. The 6 wt.% Pd/W2C catalyst exhibited the highest activity, and was more active than the Pd or W2C catalysts, indicating a possible synergy. Hydrogenation rates for all of the catalysts were functions of the applied potential, suggesting that the rate-determining step was electrochemical.
Structural Basis for Thrombin Activation of a Protease-Activated Receptor: Inhibition of Intramolecular Liganding

Abstract Protease-activated G protein-coupled receptors (PAR1–4) are tethered-ligand receptors that are activated by proteolytic cleavage of the extracellular domain (exodomain) of the receptor. PAR1, the prototypic member of the PAR family, is the high-affinity thrombin receptor of platelets and vascular endothelium and plays a critical role in blood coagulation, thrombosis, and inflammation. Here, we describe the solution structure of the thrombin-cleaved exodomain of PAR1. The side chains of a hydrophobic hirudin-like (Hir) sequence and adjacent anionic motif project into solution. Docking of the exodomain Hir sequence to exosite I of thrombin reveals that the tethered ligand in the cleaved exodomain bends away from thrombin, leaving its active site available to another large macromolecular substrate. The N-terminal ligand is longer than anticipated and forms an intramolecular complex with a region located in the C terminus of the exodomain. Mutational analysis confirmed that this C-terminal region is a ligand binding site for both intra- and intermolecular ligands. A lipidated-ligand binding site peptide was found to be an effective inhibitor of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation.
Gaining perspective on the allergenicity assessment of genetically modified food crops

Genetically modified plants are created by the insertion of foreign genes into plant cells followed by the generation of reproductively stable stock plants for rapid and precise improvements in agricultural crops. Current products provide resistance to insect pests, plant viruses or herbicides. Future products include nutritionally enhanced crops, salt and draught tolerant crops and plant produced industrial enzymes or pharmaceuticals. The risk that a newly expressed protein might cause serious allergic reactions is real, but the probability is relatively small. Regulatory agencies require a premarket evaluation of the genetically modified crop to reduce the potential for increased risks of food allergy. While absolute proof of safety is not possible, the major risk – transfer of a potent major allergen or nearly identical crossreactive protein – is minimized by allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin E tests that evaluate proteins taken from major allergenic sources or proteins with sequences highly simil...
MCP-3/CCL7 production by astrocytes: implications for SIV neuroinvasion and AIDS encephalitis

Monocyte/macrophages and activated lymphocytes traffic through normal brain, and this trafficking is increased in inflammatory conditions such as HIV encephalitis (HIVE). HIVE is characterized in part by perivascular accumulations of macrophages. The earliest events in this process are poorly understood and difficult or impossible to address in humans. The SIV-infected macaque model of neuroAIDS has demonstrated migration of monocytes into the brain early in disease, coincident with peak SIV viremia. The chemotactic signals that initiate the increased emigration of mononuclear cells into the CNS have not been described. Here, we describe astrocytes as a primary source of chemokines to facilitate basal levels of monocyte trafficking to CNS and that increased chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7 (CCL7) production may be responsible for initiating the increased trafficking in neuroAIDS. We have previously published complementary in vivo work demonstrating the presence of monocyte chemoattractant protein 3 (MCP-3)/CCL7 within the brain of SIV-infected macaques. Here, we demonstrate that MCP-3/CCL7 is a significant chemokine produced by astrocytes, that basal monocyte migration may be facilitated by astrocyte-derived CCL7, that production of CCL7 is rapidly increased by TNF-α and thus likely plays a critical role in initiating neuroinvasion by SIV/HIV.
An experimental study of neat and ionic liquid-aided ammonia borane thermolysis

Abstract This paper reports hydrogen (H2) yield and reaction rate measurements of ammonia borane (AB) thermolysis in the neat form as well as facilitated by the presence of an ionic solvent, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (bmimCl). The measurements were conducted at various temperatures between 85 and 120 °C under quasi-isothermal conditions. The details of fast hydrogen evolution at the initial stage of the thermolysis process were captured for the first time. The presence of bmimCl led to significant increases in both the rate and the amount of hydrogen released, compared to the corresponding quantities at identical temperatures for neat AB thermolysis. Measurements reported in the literature are in qualitative agreement with this observation but lack the time resolution necessary for the quantitative comparisons. At 120 °C, the measured gravimetric H2 storage capacity from the neat AB thermolysis was 9.9 wt% (material base) and that from the AB/bmimCl mixture (80/20 wt%) thermolysis was 11.2 wt%. Also, the reaction rate of the thermolysis of AB/bmimCl mixture (80/20 wt%) was twice as fast as that of the neat AB thermolysis at this temperature. In the bmimCl (20 wt%) aided AB thermolysis, a significant increase in the H2 yield occurred at temperatures over 107 °C.
Cognitive and Psychophysiological Correlates of Subsyndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder

This study longitudinally examined cognitive and psychophysiological factors in females who met criteria for subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder (S-SAD) and nondepressed, low seasonality controls. Participants (N = 46) were tested twice, during one winter month (i.e., December or January) and during one nonwinter month (i.e., September or April). At each assessment, participants completed measures of negative automatic thought frequency, mood, and seasonality as well as three experimental tasks (a psychophysiological task, a schematic faces task, and a modified Stroop task). Women with S-SAD and controls differed at both assessments on frequency of automatic negative thoughts and emotional and psychophysiological reactivity to light-relevant stimuli. These results highlight the need for research examining a possible cognitive vulnerability to symptom development and maintenance across the spectrum of seasonality.
Improving collective I/O performance by pipelining request aggregation and file access

In this paper, we propose a multi-buffer pipelining approach to improve collective I/O performance by overlapping the dominant request aggregation phases with the I/O phase in the two-phase I/O implementation. Our pipelining method first divides the collective buffer into a group of small size buffers for an individual collective I/O call and then pipelines the asynchronous communication to exchange the I/O requests with the I/O requests sent to the file system. Our performance evaluation of a representative I/O benchmark and a production application shows 20% improvement in the I/O time, given theoretical upper bound of 50% when both phases completely overlap.
Left ventricular pressure-dimension relationships in the conscious dog.

The dynamic function of the left ventricle was described in terms of internal diameter, pressure, and flow in conscious sedated dogs at rest and during isoproterenol and metaraminol infusions. The diastolic pressure-diameter curve was sigmoidal in shape, negative in pressure in early diastole, and affected by viscous, and probably inertial, forces.
Forced flow He II cooling for superconducting magnets—design considerations

A review of the engineering considerations for the application of forced flow He II is presented. Issues discussed include: steady state and transient heat transfer up to the highly transient thermal shock regime; pressure drop and circulation methods. The survey of the He II heat transfer processes shows some advantage to forced flow cooling, particularly for long hydraulic cooling paths. On the other hand, the hydraulic behavior of the He II flow is best correlated with classical models for incompressible fluids. Pressure head must be provided by circulation pumps, which add heat and complexity to the system. The above review is presented in the context of a closed He II cooling loop for a forced flow CICC magnet.
Edge enhancement to improve visualizations of tube/line placement in x-ray imaging

A nonlinear unsharp masking algorithm designed specifically to improve visualization of tube and line placements in chest x-ray imaging is presented in this paper. This algorithm was incorporated as an on-demand button in the design of a PACS display console. To address the concerns of radiologists about the artifacts accompanying image processing operations, we utilized a window-shade display scheme that shows both processed and unprocessed images simultaneously in the same display window at full resolution. We have found that the new algorithm enhances more details in low contrast areas without more over-shootings at high contrast edges. This algorithm is beneficial to tube/line placement examinations since the tips of tubes and lines are typically located in the areas of high brightness and low contrast. Preliminary results indicate that our modified unsharp masking algorithm as an option in a PACS workstation leads to better visualizations of tube-placement position for MICU physicians.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A sulfhydryl-disulfide hypothesis of frost injury and resistance in plants

(1) The need for a theory . Though many explanations of frost injury and resistance have been proposed, not one agrees with the known facts. A new hypothesis is needed to stimulate research along new paths. (2) The working hypothesis . Frost injury is due to an unfolding and therefore a denaturation of the protoplasmic proteins. This results from the formation of intermolecular SS† bonds induced by the close approach of the protein molecules due to frost dehydration. Frost resistance is a resistance towards SH oxidation and SH SS interchange and, therefore, to formation of these intermolecular SS bonds. (3) In support of the hypothesis . New biochemical knowledge and recent measurements of SH and SS contents in relation to frost injury and resistance support the hypothesis. (4) Usefulness of the hypothesis . All the accumulated information on frost injury and resistance can be explained by the hypothesis. It is also able to explain other kinds of injury, e.g. those due to drought, heat, pressure, etc.