cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative geomagnetic paleointensity across the Jaramillo Subchron and the Matuyama/Brunhes Boundary

Analysis of old paleomagnetic data and new mineral magnetic data from a sediment core from the central equatorial Pacific Ocean indicates that this core can be used for determination of relative geomagnetic paleointensity. These data indicate that during the Jaramillo subchron, there was a gradual decrease in paleointensity from the onset of the subchron to its termination. The data from the subchron also display high-amplitude, fine-scale features that may be coherent over the scale of an ocean basin. Furthermore, there was a rapid rise in paleointensity immediately after the termination of the Matuyama /Brunhes polarity transition. These observations support the hypothesis that an asymmetrical saw-tooth pattern in paleointensity may be a common characteristic of polarity transitions; however, a better understanding of the high-amplitude features is needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn about the overall behavior of the field. The coherence of fine-scale features across such large distances does not support the suggestion that the asymmetrical sawtooth pattern is an artifact of viscous remanent remagnetization.
Primary pancreatic lymphoma : a case report, literature review, and proposal for nomenclature

Primary neoplasms of the pancreas are most often adenocarcinoma. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) involving the pancreas is less common but well documented; the pancreas as the primary site of NHL is rare. The majority of patients with pancreatic cancer, whether it is adenocarcinoma or lymphoma, present with a mass in the head of the gland. Pancreatic lymphoma is often described as a large homogeneous mass with extra-pancreatic extension, with or without associated lymphadenopathy. Less common presentations are masses in the body or tail, or more rarely diffuse involvement of the pancreas. We present a case of diffuse pancreatic lymphoma with extra-pancreatic dissemination to the spleen and lymph nodes, and review the literature on pancreatic lymphoma. Because the definition of pancreatic lymphoma and primary pancreatic lymphoma varies, we also propose a nomenclature system to make future studies of pancreatic lymphoma more comparable.
A high resolution historical record of Holocene anoxygenic primary production in the Black Sea

Abstract I reconstruct the historical record of anoxygenic primary production in the Black Sea over the last 8200 years by an analysis of Chlorobium carotenoids in sediments. Anoxygenic photosynthesis in the Black Sea occurs only when hydrogen sulfide-containing deep water penetrates the euphotic zone. The data show that the Black Sea has experienced large fluctuations in the extent of anoxygenic primary production and therefore the depth of the H2S chemocline throughout much of the Holocene. Changes in the depth of the H2S chemocline also shift the dominant phytoplankton populations in the water column to noncarbonate-bearing species and result in the formation of intense dark bands in sediments.
An olefin cross metathesis approach to C-disaccharide analogs of the α-d-arabinofuranosyl-(1→5)-α-d-arabinofuranoside motif found in the mycobacterial cell wall

Abstract Reported is the synthesis of a C-disaccharide analog of the α- d -Ara f -(1→5)-α- d -Ara f motif present in the cell wall of mycobacteria, including the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis . The key step is an olefin cross metathesis reaction that proceeds in excellent yield and which can be carried out on mmol scale.
Quantum mechanical studies of local water structure near fixed ions in ion exchange membranes

Abstract Quantum mechanical ab initio calculations are presented for the study of interactions of fixed ions in cation and anion exchange membranes with surrounding hydration water molecules. The relative effects of -SO3− and -N(CH3)3+ on single and fully coordinated (hydrogen bonded) water molecules are related to the ability of the former to act as a hydrogen bond acceptor. Stronger interaction of water with -SO3− by hydrogen bonding to oxygen atoms in this anion has been found, compared to weak water interaction with -N(CH3)3+ where bulky methyl groups do not allow a close association of oxygen in water with nitrogen of the cation. The influence of these ions on surrounding water is determined by changes in force constants associated with the fundamental symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of H2O, relative to those obtained in calculations for isolated water molecules.
Coupling endoplasmic reticulum stress to cell death program in isolated human pancreatic islets: effects of gene transfer of Bcl-2

A variety of toxic insults can result in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress that ultimately leads to apoptosis. β-cells have a highly developed ER due to a great commitment to insulin production. The present study was carried out to determine the role of ER-stress in isolated human pancreatic islet apoptosis, and the potential protective effects of Bcl-2. Isolated human islets were infected with an adenoviral vector encoding Bcl-2 and then exposed to brefeldin-A, tunicamycin, A23187 and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Activation of caspase-12 was analyzed by means of Western blots. Apoptosis was evaluated using a commercial quantitative assay. ER-stress-inducers promoted caspase-12 activation and apoptosis, effect reversed by overexpression of Bcl-2. Co-localization of caspase-12 and Bcl-2 in the microsomal islet fractions were demonstrated by means of Western blots. We can conclude that the current studies highlight the importance of Bcl-2 as an anti-apoptotic protein, and shed new light on the mechanisms underlying its cytoprotective effects on pancreatic islets.
Plasmonic enhancement of the vanadium dioxide phase transition induced by low-power laser irradiation

Nanocomposites consisting of gold nanoparticle (NP) arrays and vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films are noteworthy for the tunability of both their thermal and optical properties. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of the Au can be tuned when its dielectric environment is modulated by the semiconducting-to-metal phase transition (SMT) of the VO2; the LSPR itself can be altered by changing the shape of the NPs and the pitch of the NP array. In principle, then it should be possible to choose a combination of VO2 film and Au LSPR properties that maximizes the overall optical response of the nanocomposite. To demonstrate this effect, transient transmission measurements were conducted on lithographically fabricated arrays of Au NPs of diameter 140 nm, array spacing 350 nm, and covered with a 60 nm thick films of VO2 via pulsed laser deposition. Both Au::VO2 nanocomposites and bare VO2 film were irradiated with a shuttered 785 nm pump laser, and their optical response was probed at 1550 nm by a fixed-frequency diode laser. The Au::VO2 nanocomposite exhibited an increased effective absorption coefficient 1.5 times that of the plain film and required 37 % less laser power to induce the SMT. The time-dependent temperature rise in the film as a function of laser intensity was calculated from these measurements and compared with both analytic and finite-element models. Our results suggest that Au::VO2 nanocomposites may be useful in applications such as thermal-management coatings for energy efficient “smart” windows.
Diets of Introduced Predators Using Stable Isotopes and Stomach Contents

Abstract In a study of predation on ground-nesting birds at South San Francisco Bay (South Bay), California, USA, we analyzed stomach contents and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen to identify commonly consumed prey. We obtained the stomach contents from 206 nonnative red foxes (Vulpes vulpes regalis) collected in the South Bay area and Monterey County during 1995–2001 and from 68 feral cats (Felis silvestris) from the South Bay area during 2001–2002. We determined prey identity, biomass, and frequency, described seasonal diet trends, and derived an Index of Relative Importance. Avian species were the most frequent prey we found in the stomachs of red foxes from South Bay (61%), whereas small rodents were most frequent for red foxes from Monterey County (62%). Small rodents were the most frequent prey we found in feral cats (63%). Carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures for foxes supported stomach content findings. However, isotope results indicated that cats received a majority of their energy from ...
SEVENTH-GRADE EVALUATION OF THE AMMONS QUICK TEST (QT)

school in Missoula, Montana. They were tested with the QT during January and February of 1959. Students hzd been given the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (Lindquist g: Hieronymus, 1956) in the fall of 1958, and scores were available for 46 of the Ss. Final course grades for the school years 1957-58 and 1958-59 were obtained and converted to numbers (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, and F = 0). To attain a reasonable degree of uniformity in presentation, the QT was administered to all Ss by a single examiner (E), an undergraduate major in elementary education who was given about ten hours of training and practice with the test prior to the beginning of this study. Testing was done in a small private room at the school. The order in which the three forms of the test were presented was rotated systematically in order to control for possible practice or warmup effects. Ss were assigned alphabetically to one of the six possible orders of presentation.
Denoising with higher order derivatives of bounded variation and an application to parameter estimation

Regularization with functions of bounded variation has been proven to be effective for denoising signals and images. This nonlinear regularization technique, in contrast with linear regularization techniques like Tikhonov regularization, has the advantage that discontinuities in signals and images can be located very precisely. In this paper bounded variation regularization is generalized to functions with higher order derivatives of bounded variation. This concept is applied to locate discontinuities in derivatives, which has important applications in parameter estimation problems.
Achievable Privacy in Aggregate Residential Energy Management Systems

AbstractDemand-side energy management systems consist of communication links between consumer homes and a centralized scheduler, whose main responsibility is to make decisions regarding curtailment, shifting, or modification of individual loads so that the aggregate load profile closely matches a predetermined supply function for a given time horizon. One challenge for aggregators using a centralized energy management system is the consumer’s wariness of exposing usage data to third parties. Thus, the transmission of load requests from individual consumers to the centralized scheduler must support the flexibility of anonymizing usage data from potential eavesdroppers. This paper considers how load request times can be hidden from any third party entity by incorporating a packet scheduler that collects individual load requests within a consumer’s home and reschedules the load request packets by inserting dummy packets to hide the true load request instances. The packet scheduler impacts performance of the ...
Volcanic Ash Model verification using a Klyuchevskoi Eruption

Satellite imagery of volcanic ash is used to verify the Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) time dependent three-dimensional Volcanic Ash Forecast Transport And Dispersion (VAFTAD) model. VAFTAD forecasts are included in volcano hazards alert messages issued as an aid to aircraft operations for ash clouds that reach flight levels of 6 km or higher and may drift hundreds to thousands of kilometers from an explosive volcanic eruption. VAFTAD is run by users connected through Internet to a workstation at ARL using screen-prompted input, and is applicable globally. Model output gives charts of the forecast ash cloud which are phone-faxed back to the user and made available for public distribution over various weather information distribution systems and Internet. Volcanic ash model verification is essential for interpreting ash cloud forecasts and applying them for decision-making. The VAFTAD model verification is detailed using a September 1994 eruption of the Klyuchevskoi Volcano on Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia. Both the downwind extent of the ash cloud along the main flow axis and the ash cloud width perpendicular to the main flow axis, seen on satellite imagery, compared remarkably well with the VAFTAD calculations that used eruption source information and archived meteorological analyses as model input.
Large Time Behavior of Solutions to Difference Wave Operators

The Cauchy problem for two dimensional difference wave operators is considered with potentials and initial data supported in a bounded region. The large time asymptotic behavior of solutions is obt...
Role of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter on Acid Exposure Revisited with High-Resolution Manometry

Background The objective of this study was to investigate the role of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) length and pressure on acid exposure with high-resolution manometry (HRM). Study Design After Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database identified patients who had undergone HRM and 24-hour pH studies. Abdominal LES length (AL) ≤1 cm and overall LES length ≤2 cm were considered inadequate. A new parameter called lower esophageal sphincter pressure integral (LESPI) was analyzed in this study. Distal esophageal acid exposure was analyzed in relation to LES parameters. Results One hundred eight patients (inadequate AL, n=54; inadequate overall LES length, n=54) satisfied study criteria. Patients with inadequate AL had considerably lower LESPI and LES pressure. They also had more severe acid exposure and higher DeMeester score. However, inadequate overall LES length was not associated with abnormal acid exposure. Patients with a positive pH study had considerably lower LESPI than patients with a negative pH study. Inadequate AL and low LESPI ( Conclusions Using HRM, inadequate AL (≤1cm) and low LESPI (
Reactions of nitromethane on Si(100): First-principles predictions

Reactions of nitromethane on Si(100) are investigated using density functional theory. Calculations show that nitromethane should strongly chemisorb to the surface dimer by means of a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction pathway, with no significant activation barrier. Though the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition results in a strongly bound product, this initial cycloadduct is metastable with respect to rearrangement products formed through oxygen migrations between lattice silicons. Multiple products are likely to be present on the surface, so that it will not be well ordered. This reaction suggests a new route for attaching organic monolayers to Si(100) and provides a model system for bonding in silicon oxynitride films.
Finite embedding theorems for partial Latin squares, quasi-groups, and loops

Abstract In this paper we prove that a finite partial commutative (idempotent commutative) Latin square can be embedded in a finite commutative (idempotent commutative) Latin square. These results are then used to show that the loop varieties defined by any non-empty subset of the identities {x(xy) = y, (yx)x = y} and the quasi-group varieties defined by any non-empty subset of {x2 = x, x(xy) = y, (yx)x = y}, except possibly {x(xy) = y, (yx)x = y}, have the strong finite embeddability property. It is then shown that the finitely presented algebras in these varities are residually finite, Hopfian, and have a solvable word problem.
Terrain Influences on Effective Ground Conductivity

Measurements of the ground wave field intensity were made along radial paths from a low-frequency transmitter in Rapid City, S. Dak. Ground wave attenuation curves for different conductivities are compared with the measured data. Millington's mixed path theory for path segments with different conductivities is then applied to obtain a ground conductivity map. Effects of topological features such as hills, ridges, and rivers, and variations in ground moisture and temperature are discussed. Hills and ridges are described along each radial path for the purpose of indicating the influence of terrain irregularities. The conductivity variations have an impact on radio station coverage which is described for a low-frequency range station.
The state of the art of stalking: Taking stock of the emerging literature

Abstract A meta-analysis of 175 studies of stalking is reported in which descriptive estimates of prevalence, sex differences, relationship origins, motives, threat and violence are provided. The moderating effects of type of sample are examined. Overall, an average of 25% of samples across 58 studies report stalking victimization, with each episode lasting an average of 22 months ( N = 28). Females are more likely to be victims ( M = 28.5, SD = 26, N = 44) than males ( M = 11, SD = 8, N = 21), and between 60 and 80% of victims are females, although these differences reflect clinical and forensic samples more than collegiate or general population samples. Across 54 studies, 54% of stalking cases revealed some use of threat, which again was far more likely to occur in clinical and forensic samples. Across 82 studies in which some estimate of violence was provided, 32% of stalking cases involved physical violence, whereas 12% involved sexual violence ( N = 36). Stalking clearly tends to emerge most commonly from pre-existing relationships; 79% of victims were acquainted with their pursuer ( N = 62), and half of all stalking emerged specifically from romantic relationships ( M = 49%, N = 53). Typological issues are examined in regard to types of stalkers, types of stalker motivation, types of stalking behavior, and types of victim symptomatology. Given the rich descriptive base of information about stalking, it is recommended that priority should shift to more theoretical issues surrounding stalking. These issues along with other future implications are examined.
Ceremonial Dimensions of Market-Based Pollution Control Instruments: The Clean Air Act and the Cap-and-Trade Model

Market-based pollution control instruments represent the influence of a commitment to the principle of laissez-faire economics and the success of orthodox economics to steer public policy formation. The criteria for design and assessment of policy interventions however should not be influenced by a prior commitment to a problem-solving strategy. Rather, the inquiry guiding policy design and assessment should be guided by the recognition of social, ecological, and technological interdependence and by the discovery of evaluative criteria consistent with this interdependence.
Testicular Innervation is Necessary for the Response of Plasma Testosterone Levels to Acute Stress

At 1, 2, 4, and 7 weeks or 15 months postsurgery, bilateral denervation of the testes of mature male rats had no effect on basal levels of plasma testosterone, testicular weight, spermatogenesis, or mating behavior. However, bilateral denervation blocked an acute stress-induced rise of plasma testosterone. This is the first report of a possible role of testicular innervation in the mature male rat.
Ovulation-Induced DNA Damage in Ovarian Surface Epithelial Cells of Ewes: Prospective Regulatory Mechanisms of Repair/Survival and Apoptosis

Oxidative base (8-oxoguanine) damage, DNA fragmentation, and apoptosis occurred among ovarian surface epithelial cells within the formative site of ovulation in sheep. The incidence of 8-oxoguanine adducts in surviving antiapoptotic Bcl-2/base excision repair polymerase beta-positive cells at the margins of ruptured follicles (which avoid the focal point of the ovulatory assault) was intermediate between apoptotic and outlying healthy epithelium. Cells containing perturbations to DNA expressed the tumor suppressor p53. Localized reactions of DNA injury and programmed cellular death were averted by ovulation blockade with indomethacin. Progesterone enhanced the biosynthesis of polymerase beta in ovarian surface epithelial cells exposed in vitro to a sublethal concentration of H(2)O(2). Ovulation is a putative etiological factor in common epithelial ovarian cancer. A genetically altered progenitor cell, with unrepaired DNA, but not committed to death, could give rise to a transformed phenotype that is hence propagated upon healing of the ovulatory wound; it appears that this incongruity is normally reconciled by up-regulation of the base excision repair pathway during the ensuing luteal phase.
Characterization of a herpes simplex virus sequence which binds a cellular protein as either a single-stranded or double-stranded DNA or RNA.

Earlier we reported that herpes simplex virus 1 DNA contains a sequence which binds a host protein in a sequence-specific manner as either a single-stranded or a double-stranded DNA or RNA and that this sequence is located in a transcriptional unit whose RNA traverses the origin of viral DNA replication (OriSRNA) (R.J. Roller, L. McCormick, and B. Roizman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:6518-6522, 1989). The protein reacts with both DNA and RNA in band-shift assays and protects the single-stranded RNA sequence from digestion by RNase. We report that the minimal cognate sequence required for these interactions consisted of [N(GTGGGTGGG)2(N less than or equal to 10)]. The ninemer repeat sequence was located at nucleotides -1 to -18 relative to the transcription initiation of the major species of OriSRNA. The activity of the cognate sequence required at least three guanines between thymines and tolerates the insertion of additional thymines, but it was inactivated by the insertion of adenines or by the substitution of some of the guanines with cytosines in one repeat. Replacement of the 10 3' nucleotides has no effect on binding activity, whereas deletion of these sequences abolished it. Among the related sequences with no demonstrable binding activity were some telomeric sequences which interact with known cognate proteins. The electrophoretic mobility of the herpes simplex virus cognate sequences in nondenaturing gels suggests that they may be able to form higher-order structures, but the conditions under which they were formed were different from the optimal conditions for binding the protein. UV light cross-linking studies of labeled RNA-protein complexes following digestion with RNases indicated that the electrophoretic mobility of the protective activity corresponded to that of a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 100,000.
Metropolitan Accessibility and Socioeconomic Differentiation in Nonmetropolitan Areas

This paper addresses the ecological problem of how a territorial system is organized around a metropolitan center or system of such centers. We hypothesize that accessibility to the metropolitan system is inversely related to the degree of internal heterogeneity or differentiation of nonmetropolitan cities. Measuring differentiation on four variables: industry, occupation, education, and income, we find general support for this proposition. Ecological theory bearing on these problems also suggests that such specialization derives from trade interdependencies that grow with increased accessibility to the total territorial system. We interpret this to mean that the degree of industrial differentiation in a community mediates the relation between accessibility and other dimensions of differentiation. Again, the evidence seems to support this prediction. This paper addresses a key issue in human ecology: how a territorial system is organized around a metropolitan center. It starts from the principle that: "The focal point in tle territorial organization of the community is its center, for it is there that interdependencies are integrated and administered" (Hawley, a:238). A derived proposition is that the friction of space causes the organizing influence of the center to decline with distance between itself and units within its region of dominance. "Organizing influence" is a broad term, of course, and this general conceptual approach has spawned many efforts to show that one or another areal characteristic reveals a distance gradient (see, for example, Bogue; Duncan et al.; McKenzie). We take organization to mean the interdependence of functionally specialized parts, a position supported in ecological theory (Gibbs and Martin; Hawley, a). Our hypothesis is that community units on the periphery of a metropolitan system should prove less specialized in function and more heterogeneous in composition than units near the center. The community units to which the present data pertain are nonmetropolitan cities whose territorial organization we see as shaped by their integration in a metropolitan system.
Quantification and regulation of mRNAs encoding beaded filament proteins in the chick lens.

PURPOSE. To quantify the expression of beaded filament protein mRNA levels in regions of the chick lens and to examine the in vitro regulation of message and protein levels using cell culture techniques. METHODS. RNase protection assays and Northern blotting were used to quantify beaded filament protein mRNA levels in dissected lenses. Cultured cells were assayed for mRNA with RNase protection and for protein with Western blotting and ELISA techniques after treatment with cAMP analogs. RESULTS. Beaded filament protein message levels were greatly up-regulated in cortical fiber cells compared to annular pad cells. Full length messages were also detected in nuclear fiber cells. The presence of an unusual form of the CP49 message with a lamin-like insert, CP49 INS, was also established. Both message and protein levels were subject to regulation in response to elevated intracellular cAMP levels. CONCLUSIONS. The accumulation of beaded filament protein levels during fiber cell development may be due to the incr...
Meinhard v. Salmon

This article offers a legal history of the northwest corner of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, the plot of land that, among other things, was the source of dispute in Meinhard v. Salmon, one of the leading business law cases in American history. Using the Meinhard case as a lens, the paper explores New York's changing ethnic, social, and economic environment - the rise and fall of industries, the booms and busts of business conditions, the dispersal and commercialization of landed estates, the influence of immigrants, the role of yachting, horse racing, art collecting and charitable work in establishing social standing, and the importance of family and heritage in the development of New York City during the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries.
Anatomy of the ear region of four Eocene artiodactyls: Gobiohyus, ?Helohyus, Diacodexis and Homacodon

ABSTRACT Basicrania of four Eocene artiodactyls, Diacodexis, Homacodon, ?Helohyus and Gobiohyus are basically similar to those of more primitive ungulates such as Hyopsodus and do not foreshadow derived basicranial characters of ruminants, an-thracotheres, suids or any other specific artiodactyl group. These genera differ from more primitive ungulates in having more laterally oriented mastoids and a broader epitympanic recess roofing the middle ear cavity. Primitive artiodactyls are mastoid; amastoidy appears to have arisen independently in several different artiodactyl lineages.
Residual disease predicts outcomes after definitive resection for incidental gallbladder cancer.

Background Residual disease (RD) at definitive resection of incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBCA) influences outcome, but its clinical relevance with respect to anatomic site is incompletely characterized. Study Design Consecutive patients with IGBCA undergoing re-exploration from 1998 to 2009 were identified; those submitted to a complete resection were analyzed. Demographics and tumor- and treatment-related variables were correlated with RD and survival. Cancer-specific survival was stratified by site of RD (local [gallbladder bed]; regional [bile duct, lymph nodes]; distant [discontiguous liver, port site, peritoneal]). Results Of the 135 patients submitted to re-exploration, RD was found in 82 (61%) overall and in 63 (54%) of 116 patients submitted to resection; the most common site was regional (n = 27, 43%). The T stage of the gallbladder specimen was the only independent predictor of RD (T1b = 35.7%, T2 = 48.3%, T3 = 70%, p = 0.015). The presence of RD at any site dramatically reduced median disease-free survival (DFS) (11.2 vs 93.4 months, p Conclusions Survival in patients with RD at local or regional sites was not significantly different than that seen in stage IV disease, with neither subgroup clearly benefiting from reoperation. Outcomes were poor in all patients with RD, regardless of location.
James D. G. Dunn's The Theology of Paul the Apostle

L'A. presente ici l'oeuvre majeure de J. Dunn, La theologie de Paul, l'Apotre (1998) qui est l'aboutissement de presque quatre decennies de travail et qui est un point de reference dans le monde anglophone pour l'etude de Paul. Il expose d'abord l'ampleur de la tâche accomplie, avant d'aborder les themes centraux de l'ouvrage.
Chronic constipation in the elderly

Constipation is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal disorders encountered in clinical practice in Western societies. Its prevalence increases with age and is more frequently reported in female patients. Chronic constipation has been associated with considerable impairment in quality of life, can result in large individual healthcare costs, and represents a burden to healthcare delivery systems. This review will focus on the definition, epidemiology, diagnostic approach, and non-pharmacologic as well as pharmacologic management of chronic constipation in the elderly, including an overview of new medications currently under clinical investigation.
Differential Binding of Cross-Reactive Anti-DNA Antibodies to Mesangial Cells: The Role of α-Actinin

Target Ag display is a necessary requirement for the expression of certain immune-mediated kidney diseases. We previously had shown that anti-DNA Abs that cross-react with α-actinin may be important in the pathogenesis of murine and human lupus nephritis; in murine models, we had found that a significant proportion of pathogenic serum and kidney-deposited Igs are α-actinin reactive. Furthermore, a pathogenic anti-DNA/α-actinin Ab showed enhanced binding to immortalized mesangial cells (MCs) derived from a lupus prone MRL-lpr/lpr mouse as compared with MCs from BALB/c mice which are not susceptible to spontaneous lupus, suggesting that kidney α-actinin expression may be contributing to nephritis. In the current study, we established that two isoforms of α-actinin that are present in the kidney, α-actinin 1 and α-actinin 4, can both be targeted by anti-α-actinin Abs. We found novel sequence polymorphisms between MRL-lpr/lpr and BALB/c in the gene for α-actinin 4. Moreover, α-actinin 4 and a splice variant of α-actinin 1 were both expressed at significantly higher levels (mRNA and protein) in MCs from the lupus prone MRL-lpr/lpr strain. Significantly, we were able to confirm these differences in intact kidney by examining glomerular Ig deposition of anti-α-actinin Abs. We conclude that enhanced α-actinin expression may determine the extent of Ig deposition in the Ab-mediated kidney disease in lupus. Modulation of Ag expression may be a promising approach to down-regulate immune complex formation in the target organ in individuals with circulating pathogenic Abs.
The Action of Pitressin on Solute Permeability of the Rabbit Nephron in Vivo

The isotopic equilibration of urea, thiourea, and inulin between urine and plasma was determined in rabbits in the presence or absence of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Animals were anesthetized with ethanol and permitted to reach steady state after completion of surgery. Tracer was then administered by intraarterial infusion in such a manner that a high constant specific activity in plasma was rapidly attained. Urine flow was kept independent of ADH by addition of mannitol. Urea/creatinine clearance ratios and the accumulation of urea in renal medulla and papilla also remained unaffected by ADH. Under these conditions, thiourea and inulin at all times approached equilibrium, at similar rates. In the absence of ADH, urea also equilibrated at a rate similar to that of inulin. The addition of ADH, however, significantly prolonged the delay before urinary urea reached the high constant specific activity of plasma urea. These observations are interpreted in terms of a specific effect of the hormone on the solute permeability of the nephron.
Effect of sodium deficiency on secretion of hormones by the rat adrenal cortex.

Previous studies have shown that when adrenals of sodium deficient rats are incubated in vitro there is increased production of aldosterone but reduced secretion of other Δ4,3-ketosteroid hormones including corticosterone. Other investigators have demonstrated increased aldosterone secretion after sodium restriction but reduced production of other hormones has not been described. For this reason, the effect of salt depletion on adrenocortical hormone secretion of the rat was reinvestigated by inducing sodium deficiency in animals and measuring hormone content of adrenal vein plasma. The results demonstrate that in salt-depleted rats the plasma level of corticosterone and the rate of secretion of this hormone are decreased. There is also a reduction in plasma concentration of Δ4,3-ketosteroids which is probably a result of the marked decline in corticosterone production. The fact that corticosterone secretion of sodium depleted rats is diminished whereas similar changes have not been observed in other anim...
Functional-Lesion Investigation of Developmental Stuttering With Positron Emission Tomography

Positron emission tomographic (PET) H215O measurements of resting-state regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) were obtained in 29 right-handed men, 10 of whom stuttered and 19 of whom did not. PET ima...
Encoding of Tactile Responses in the Periphery of the Somatosensory System

Biomimetics, or neuromimetics in particular, have held out the promise that by studying the nervous system we could discern optimal design strategies and parameters to develop better artificial devices. However, when studying natural systems it has proved difficult to abstract useful design strategies. One reason for this difficulty is the poor techniques for studying neural systems during natural behaviors. We developed a novel technique for studying cells in the trigeminal ganglion whose nerve terminals lie in the follicles surrounding the whiskers on the rats face and transduce tactile stimulation to electrical impulses for subsequent processing by the central nervous system. The goals of this work were to 1) determine if the passive response properties of these cells are used by the animal during natural exploration and 2) evaluate how these cells encode complex stimuli. We developed a novel method for chronically recording from these peripheral nerve cells and determined that 1) the passive response properties are used by these primary cells to encode sensory information during natural exploration and 2) while each cell has a narrow range of parameters that it responds to, the rat employs complex behavioral movements of the whiskers and head to optimize the probability of exciting these cells. As a population then, these cells convey complex features of their environment and the CNS uses precise spike timing to decode the information
Effects of phytogenic feed additives on growth performance and on ammonia and greenhouse gases emissions in growing-finishing pigs

Abstract The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of two commercial phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) on growth performance and emissions of ammonia, methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide compared to an unsupplemented control. The two tested commercial PFAs contained either essential oils or a mixture of essential oils and dried herbs and spices. In addition, both PFAs delivered the same amount of Quillaja saponaria saponins to the final feed, although dosage of the products differed. The PFAs were included in cereal-based grower and finisher diets via premixes. For negative control diet a placebo premix was used. The diets were fed to a total of 81 castrated male growing-finishing pigs (45–114 kg body weight, 27 per treatment) that were kept in nine gas-tight sealed chambers, each with three pens with fully slatted floors (three pigs per pen). The whole experiment lasted 72 days. Pigs were individually weighted and the feed consumption of pigs was recorded per pen at day 0, 24 and 72 of the experiment. From day 24 to day 72 (48 days) emission measurement took place. The inclusion of the PFAs significantly improved average daily feed intake (P = 0.010) and average daily gain (P = 0.018) of pigs over the whole trial period of 72 days compared to the negative control. Feed conversion ratio was not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Pigs that were fed with the PFAs had 3.6% higher final body weight (P = 0.017) compared to the negative control. The inclusion of the PFAs reduced ammonia emissions per animal per day (P = 0.003) as well as per kg body weight gain of pigs (P 0.05). In summary, it might be speculated that the observed increased intake and consequently higher growth was mediated via flavoring properties of the PFAs, irrespective of differences in composition. The reduction of ammonia emissions most probably was due to the inclusion of the quillaja saponins in the PFAs. It can be concluded that the tested PFAs have a potential as performance enhancers and are useful tools for the reduction of ammonia emissions from pig barns. Further research is warranted to identify the exact modes of action of PFAs.
Particle filtering and the inverse problem of biochemical networks

In this paper we address the inverse problem of biochemical networks composed of first-order reactions. Based on noisy measurements of the number of molecules of some of the species that participate in the reactions of a given network, we propose a method for estimating recursively the numbers of molecules and the stochastic rate constants in the network. The evolution of the number of molecules of the species is modeled by Poisson random processes, and the observations are assumed to be (non)linear functions of the number of molecules. Our method employs particle filtering where we propose particles of the stochastic rate constants from their posteriors. We demonstrate the performance of the proposed method with several examples.
How to Put More Strategy into Your 'Taxes and Business Strategy' Course: A Case-Method Approach

This technical note provides the design for a case-method course called Taxation and Management Decisions taught in Darden's MBA program. The course is a general management course, and is designed specifically to exclude mergers and acquisitions, which are taught in another elective. While the entire course is taught through the case method, students discuss and analyze a mixture of cases and press articles and exercises. The case method is an incredible way to more fully integrate tax and non-tax factors into a strategic discussion in the classroom. This technical note provides a framework for others, who might be interested in a case-method approach, think about how to structure their classes. Although the case method is a more applicable teaching method for tax education than its current use reflects, case-method teaching may not be the best method for all environments. Adjustments to strict case-method teaching may be needed for such factors as the experience and future professional goals of the students, the norms of the institution, the number of students, and the purpose of the course (to disseminate information or to develop judgment and leadership).
Polysaccharide Crowder Shows Optimal Affinity for Semi-Open State of Maltose Binding Protein

In cellular environments, protein-ligand binding occurs under very crowded conditions. To probe how macromolecular crowding may affect protein-ligand binding, our lab has used maltose binding protein (MBP) and maltose as a model system and the synthetic polymer Ficoll70 as a crowding agent. MBP consists of two subdomains that close up upon ligand binding to the interdomain cleft. Our previous study [10.1371/journal.pone.0074969] showed that Ficoll70 reduced MBP-maltose affinity. Evidence from NMR and titration of Ficoll70 into apo or maltose-bound MBP further suggested that Ficoll70 competed with maltose for binding to MBP. This means that Ficoll70 preferentially binds to the open state of MBP (apo form; Ka = 0.50±0.13 mM-1), relative to the fully closed state (induced by maltose binding; no apparent binding). To explore how domain closure affects binding preference, we generated a panel of MBP mutants with bulky residue substitutions at the interdomain hinge. The I329W mutation increases Ficoll70 affinity by 3-fold to 1.45±0.39 mM-1 suggesting closure induced by this mutant increases Ficoll70 affinity but that to the extent induced by maltose binding abrogates Ficoll70 affinity. Consequently, an intermediate extent of closure optimal for Ficoll70 affinity is expected. Indeed, the A96W mutant has less closure than the I329W mutant with a 2-fold higher affinity for Ficoll70. When domain closure is further reduced with the A96F mutation, Ficoll70 affinity falls. Therefore we have identified the A96W mutant as the semi-open state optimal for Ficoll70 binding. Our study demonstrates that, just like for the specific binding of the ligand, weak nonspecific binding of a macromolecular crowder is sensitive to subtle changes in protein structures. Nonspecific binding with bystander macromolecules may in fact uses some of the same regulatory mechanisms as for specific binding in modulating biochemical processes in cellular environments.
Development of Three Populations of Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Feeding on Eggs of Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Laboratory experiments were conducted to compare the preimaginal survival, development rate, adult weight, and sex ratio of 3 Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer populations feeding on Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) eggs and pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). Preimaginal survival of C. maculata from Iowa, Rhode Island, and Honduras reared on L. decemlineata eggs alone ranged from 1.7 to 30%. The highest mortality of C. maculata immature stages occurred during the early (1st and 2nd) stadia. Higher preimaginal survival for Rhode Island population (30%) than for Iowa (5%) and Honduras (1.7%) populations suggests that C. maculata in Rhode Island may be better adapted to feeding on L. decemlineata eggs as early instars. Development of C. maculata at 26°C was slowest (18 d) on L. decemlineata eggs alone and fastest (13 days) on pea aphids alone. However, when 1st and 2nd instars of C. maculata were provided with aphids, followed by L. decemlineata eggs, there was no observed delay in larval development. Older C. maculata larvae readily feed on L. decemlineata eggs, and in the presence of additional prey such as aphids for early instars, L. decemlineata eggs alone are an adequate diet for subsequent C. maculata development and survival.
Treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia by sequential Azithromycin therapy

Objective: To adopt sequential Azithromycin therapy for mycoplasma pneumonia treatment for shortening the intravenous chemotherapy time, which is used to inhibit infection as soon as possible and then to eradicate the causative pathogen by discontinuous treatment. Methods : 64 of cases received sequential Azithromycin therapy that is Azithromycin for injection iv. gtt, qd for five days, then after 3 days since iv termination changed to 2 courses of oral Azithromycin treatment each of which included 3 days of drug taken in and then no drug administration for 4 days. The total duration of this sequential therapy was 3 weeks. In the same time, 37 cases of the control group were treated with Kitasamycin Tartrate for injection iv and then changed to oral Erythromycin Ethylsuccinale Tablets administration. The treatment duration was 18 - 20 days. Results: No significant difference was observed as to the fever disappearing time between the 2 groups ( P 0.05 ) . But the difference of the cough alleviation time and the cough ending time between the 2 groups were very significant ( P 0.001) . Side reaction of the sequential therapy included slight abdominal pain and dizziness and no serious adverse drug reaction and allergic reaction were observed. Conclusion : The sequential therapy of mycoplasma pneumonia by Azithromycin has many advantages such as the short duration of the intravenous treatment, good effect , slight adverse drug reaction and good patient compliance. It deserves to be spreaded.
Antibiotic resistance monitoring: a laboratory perspective.

Efficient monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AR) can produce timely and important data and information that will benefit patients and could assist in the detection of a bioterrorist event. The microbiology laboratory staff of the largest U.S. Air Force medical facility attempted to improve AR monitoring at their hospital by reviewing their current capabilities and the capabilities of other available monitoring systems. The systems reviewed included the DataTrac System (Vitek bioMerieux, Hazelwood, Missouri) and the military Composite Health Care System, which were already in use, and the WHONET 5 (World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland) and The Surveillance Network (MRL Pharmaceutical Services, Herndon, Virginia). The Surveillance Network was selected for incorporation into the hospital AR monitoring program with modifications to comply with military command requirements. Information gathered during the review and selection process are presented and may be helpful to others who are looking to improve their hospital AR monitoring programs.
Pyomyoma after uterine artery embolization.

BACKGROUND Pyomyoma (suppurative leiomyoma of the uterus) is a rare condition resulting from infarction and infection of a leiomyoma. It can lead to sepsis and death unless treated with antibiotics and aggressive surgical intervention. CASE A 47-year-old multigravid woman with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas presented with fever, pelvic pain, and leukocytosis after uncomplicated uterine artery embolization. Pyomyoma was suspected after computed tomography scan demonstrated an enlarged, heterogeneous uterus containing copious myometrial air. She underwent supracervical hysterectomy, lysis of adhesions, and right salpingo-oophorectomy. CONCLUSION Surgical management of pyomyoma may be necessary early in the management of pyomyoma after uterine artery embolization.
Challenging the monolingual mindset, edited by John Hajek and Yvette Slaughter

Challenging the Monolingual Mindset is a carefully crafted collection of essays honoring the memory of Dr. Michael Clyne, a prominent Australian linguist who died in 2010. Clyne studied linguistic ...
Ensayos clínicos en América Latina: implicancias para la sustentabilidad y seguridad de los mercados farmacéuticos y el bienestar de los sujetos

This study sought to verify whether drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were registered, commercialized and sold at affordable prices in the Latin American countries where they had been tested, as well as to ascertain their contribution to the quality of the pharmaceutical market. The list of New Molecular Entities (NMEs) approved by the FDA in 2011 and 2012 was consulted to determine the countries where pivotal trials were conducted. Affordability was assessed as a proportion of income and information on safety and efficacy was gathered from independent drug bulletins. In the study years, 33 medications were tested in 12 Latin American countries. Only 60% of the expected registrations had been completed by September 2014. With one exception, all products for which pricing information was obtained (n=18) cost more than one monthly minimum wage in all countries. Only five drugs were classified as "could be better than available treatments." Just one of the NMEs responds to the health care priorities in low and middle income countries.