cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
180 Examining the transcriptional impact of liganded estrogen receptor alpha in the inflammatory milieu of systemic lupus erythematosus

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disproportionally affects females (9:1) over males. Despite significant research effort, the exact mechanisms behind this compelling sex bias are undefined. Our prior studies demonstrate a significant role for estrogen receptor alpha (ER) mediated inflammation in the pathogenesis of disease. NZM2410 lupus prone mice, expressing a truncated ER functional knockout, survived longer and had significantly reduced renal disease. Yet, a complete knockout of ER was not protective, suggesting the truncated isoform may be protective with the full-length gene necessary for disease. These findings underscore the importance of defining the role of ER in lupus. Methods While the hormonal impact of estrogen and ER is well studied, less is known about the transcriptional impact of ER in immunity. Our goal is to identify the molecular mechanisms utilized by liganded ER in regulating the inflammatory milieu. To accomplish this, we have identified ER associated target genes, transcription factors and genes involved in the immune response, histone acetylation, and immune related signaling pathways, and determined differences in expression. B cells isolated from 15 female African American lupus patients and 8 age and race matched healthy controls were used for the analysis. In an effort to further understand the molecular mechanisms behind ER function, we examined the transcriptional effects of ER on the inflammatory response. Transient transfections of full length ER (66 kDa) and a shortened isoform ER46 (lacking the AF-1 activation domain and similar to the truncated ER functional knockout) were initially performed in the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, which lacks ER. Results RNA-seq analysis indicates that 64% of ER associated target genes were differentially expressed between the two groups. The majority of these genes were upregulated in lupus patients compared to controls. Genes with increased expression included TLRs, NFB related transcription factors and IL-1. Preliminary results from the transfection experiments indicate that both ER isoforms reduce mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1 twenty-four hours after stimulation with a TLR4 agonist. A decrease in cytokine expression was observed when the short isoform ER46 was overexpressed in relation to ER66. Additional transfections will be carried out in immune relevant cells such as B cells, monocytes, macrophages or dendritic cells. Conclusions These results support a role for ER in the pathogenesis of SLE via regulation of inflammatory mediators. Future goals include utilizing high throughput sequencing technology to examine the transcriptional impact of ER in monocytes of African American pediatric lupus patients. Funding Source(s): None
Investigation of N-alkylbenzamides by reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Abstract The capacity factors for eighteen normal-chain N-alkylbenzamides in a reversed-phase chromatographic system are reported. Measured and calculated chromatographic parameters indicate that an adequate description of teh structure-retention process canbe achieved only if the amides are considered in groups of short, intermediate and long chain length. The inconsistent chromatographic behavior observed when all eighteen amides are considered may be due to conformational or critical chain-length effects.
Management of Skin Cancer in the Elderly.

Over the next 30 years, dermatologists face a rising population of elderly patients, causing a marked increase in the incidence of cutaneous malignancies. For this reason, it is important to review the approach to the management of skin cancer in the elderly. In the current medical environment, there has been debate as to how cutaneous malignancy should be treated in elderly patients, especially those with multiple comorbid conditions. Clinicians should use a comprehensive approach that accounts for functional status, impact on quality of life, cost, and potential adverse outcomes when managing high- and low-morbidity skin cancers in the elderly.
Developing culturally informed genetic services for the Somali immigrants in Minnesota

Misinformation and distrust often prevent individuals from minority communities to seek adequate healthcare, including genetic services. Immigrants appear to be further burdened by factors that negatively impact their health outcomes and little is known about their experience with genetic services. We sought to identify attitudes and perception of genetic services in one immigrant group, the Somali community of Minnesota and to establish a culturally informed framework for caring for members. A qualitative study comprised of 11 semi-structured key informant interviews was conducted and analyzed using a thematic approach. Main themes emerged from the analysis fell within one of four major topics: (a) Somali views and perspective on genetics and healthcare, (b) barriers to uptake of genetic services, (c) facilitators to uptake of genetic services, and (d) perspective on genetic service delivery subtypes. Somali views and perspective on genetics are often framed by religious and cultural values. These values, at times, conflicted with those common in the American healthcare system. Supports for different genetic service delivery subtypes also varied, ranging from little to no support in prenatal screening to generally positive support for pharmacogenetic testing. Future studies should prioritize topics with support and ways to better provide genetic counseling services within the Somali community.
Can Early Dental Extractions Reduce Delays in Postoperative Radiation for Patients With Advanced Oral Cavity Carcinoma

Purpose This study sought to evaluate the effect of early extractions on the timing of postoperative radiation (PORT) for patients with advanced oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods All patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma who required resection, free flap reconstruction, and dental extractions in a 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The study included patients who preoperatively had advanced disease that indicated the need for adjuvant radiation as defined by an advanced clinical T category (T3 or T4a) or clinical N category (N2a or above). Multivariate logistic regression models were created to estimate the risk factors for initiation of PORT greater than 6 weeks after surgery. Results Thirty-four patients were included. Thirteen patients underwent early extractions (before or at the time of surgery). Twenty-one patients underwent extractions after surgery. Extractions included all teeth with periodontal disease within the expected field of radiation. Most patients underwent full-mouth extractions (91.1%). PORT was initiated at greater than 6 weeks in 30.8% of patients in the early cohort, whereas 72.4% of patients in the late group experienced a delay (P = .02). Early extractions were significantly associated with a decreased risk of PORT delay. No increase in operating room time occurred for patients who underwent same-day extractions. Conclusions Early involvement of the dental oncology department and oral-maxillofacial surgeons can aid in the timely delivery of care for patients with advanced oral cavity cancer.
RESCUE: imputing dropout events in single-cell RNA-sequencing data

Single-cell RNA-sequencing technologies provide a powerful tool for systematic dissection of cellular heterogeneity. However, the prevalence of dropout events imposes complications during data analysis and, despite numerous efforts from the community, this challenge has yet to be solved. Here we present a computational method, called RESCUE, to mitigate the dropout problem by imputing gene expression levels using information from other cells with similar patterns. Unlike existing methods, we use an ensemble-based approach to minimize the feature selection bias on imputation. By comparative analysis of simulated and real single-cell RNA-seq datasets, we show that RESCUE outperforms existing methods in terms of imputation accuracy which leads to more precise cell-type identification. Taken together, these results suggest that RESCUE is a useful tool for mitigating dropouts in single-cell RNA-seq data. RESCUE is implemented in R and available at https://github.com/seasamgo/rescue .
Association of State Legislation of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination with Vaccine Uptake Among Adolescents in the United States.

We assessed the association of state legislation with adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in states that legislated information dissemination or administration of HPV vaccination. Using insurance claims, we calculated monthly HPV vaccination rates (November 2009–December 2017) among adolescents in states that passed HPV vaccination legislation during that period: Missouri (July 2010), Kentucky (February 2012), Indiana (March 2013), Oregon (June 2013). We used segmented regression to estimate levels and trends of HPV vaccination rates, comparing pre-legislation to post-legislation segments, adjusting for seasonal vaccination patterns and changes to the vaccination recommendation among males during the study period. Indiana’s legislation allowed pharmacists to administer HPV vaccination; legislation in Kentucky, Missouri, and Oregon included provisions HPV and cervical cancer education. No statistically significant increases in HPV vaccination levels or trends were observed in the post-legislation segments among adolescents overall; however, a significant post-legislation increase in vaccination trends was observed among boys in Missouri (β = 0.16, p = 0.03). Evidence for a positive impact of legislation on HPV vaccination rates is limited. The scarcity of policies that directly facilitate or promote HPV vaccination, and the breadth of exemptions to school vaccination requirements, may limit the effectiveness of these policies. Continuing efforts to introduce and pass legislation that directly facilitates HPV vaccination, combined with promoting existing evidence-based interventions, can provide opportunities to identify the most effective strategies to increase adolescent HPV vaccination rates.
Optimal governmental incentives for biomass cofiring to reduce emissions in the short-term

Several studies have shown that biomass cofiring is a viable short-term option for coal-fired power plants to reduce their emissions if supported by appropriate tax incentives. These results sugges...
Orpheus: Extending the ADMX QCD Dark-Matter Axion Search to Higher Masses

Axions in our local dark matter halo could be detected using an apparatus consisting of a resonant microwave cavity threaded by a strong magnetic field. The ADMX experiment has recently used this technique to search for the QCD axions in the few μeV/c2 mass range. However, the ADMX search technique becomes increasingly challenging with increasing axion mass. This is because higher masses require smaller-diameter cavities, and a smaller cavity volume reduces the signal strength. Thus, there is interest in developing more sophisticated resonators to overcome this problem. We present the progress of the ADMX Orpheus prototype experiment. This uses a dielectric-loaded Fabry–Perot resonator to search for axions with masses approaching 100 μeV/c2 [1].
Instabilities of embedded cylindrical inclusions undergoing isotropic swelling or growth

Abstract Infinite circular cylindrical elastic inclusions, or rods, embedded in an unbounded elastic matrix display various modes of instability when they undergo sufficiently large expansion due to either swelling or volumetric growth. In this letter two modes of instability are examined: sinusoidal axisymmetric modes and sinusoidal bending modes. The rod and the matrix are neo-Hookean materials, and the full range of the modulus ratio of rod to matrix is considered. In the primary case examined, deformation is driven by an isotropic volumetric expansion, or transformation, of the rod. A three-dimensional bifurcation analysis of the rod constrained by the matrix reveals the onset of the critical instability mode as dependent on the modulus ratio. Comparisons with related results are discussed, including the compressive buckling of a stiff rod in a compliant matrix and the other limit when the modulus of the rod is very small compared to that of the matrix and behaves effectively as a fluid exerting pressure on the wall of the matrix cavity. 1
The prevalence of diabetes among male glaucoma patients

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between diabetes and glaucoma. Methods: Consecutive 143 subjects with primary angle-closure glaucoma and 127 subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma (control) were studied retrospectively at an urban Veterans Administration Hospital. In addition to ocular examination findings, body mass index (BMI) and diabetes mellitus (DM) status were recorded. Results: All subjects in this study were male. The mean age was 72.3 years old in primary open angle versus 71.1 in primary angle-closure subjects. Half of the subjects with angle closure and 70% of open-angle subjects were self-identified as African–American. BMI was not significantly different between the two groups (28.2 in open angle vs. 28.7 in angle closure; P = 0.45). The percentage of DM was higher in subjects with primary angle closure than in those with primary open-angle glaucoma (43% vs. 29%, P = 0.001; Chi-square test). The odds of having DM were nearly two times higher in angle-closure subjects than open-angle subjects (Logistic regression, P = 0.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.17–3.30). Conclusion: In this retrospective study, diabetes was found to be associated with higher risk for primary angle-closure glaucoma.
Validation of (not‐historical) large‐event near‐fault ground‐motion simulations for use in civil engineering applications

Author(s): Petrone, F; Abrahamson, N; McCallen, D; Miah, M | Abstract: Ground-motion simulations generated from physics-based wave propagation models are gaining increasing interest in the engineering community for their potential to inform the performance-based design and assessment of infrastructure residing in active seismic areas. A key prerequisite before the ground-motion simulations can be used with confidence for application in engineering domains is their comprehensive and rigorous investigation and validation. This article provides a four-step methodology and acceptance criteria to assess the reliability of simulated ground motions of not historical events, which includes (1) the selection of a population of real records consistent with the simulated scenarios, (2) the comparison of the distribution of Intensity Measures (IMs) from the simulated records, real records, and Ground-Motion Prediction Equations (GMPEs), (3) the comparison of the distribution of simple proxies for building response, and (4) the comparison of the distribution of Engineering Demand Parameters (EDPs) for a realistic model of a structure. Specific focus is laid on near-field ground motions (l10km) from large earthquakes (Mw7), for which the database of real records for potential use in engineering applications is severely limited. The methodology is demonstrated through comparison of (2490) near-field synthetic records with 5nHz resolution generated from the Pitarka etnal (2019) kinematic rupture model with a population of (38) pulse-like near-field real records from multiple events and, when applicable, with NGA-W2 GMPEs. The proposed procedure provides an effective method for informing and advancing the science needed to generate realistic ground-motion simulations, and for building confidence in their use in engineering domains.
Comment on Artiga’s “Teleosemantics and Pushmi-Pullyu Representations”

“Teleosemantics and Pushmi-Pullyu Representations” (call it “TP-PR,” this journal 2014 79.3, 545–566) argues that core teleosemantics, particularly as defined in Millikan (Language, thought and other biological categories, MIT Press, Cambridge, 1984, J Philos 86(6):281–297, 1989, White queen psychology and other essays for Alice, MIT Press, Cambridge, 1993, Philosophical perspectives, Ridgeview Publishing, Alascadero, 1996, Varieties of meaning, MIT Press, Cambridge, 2004–2008), seems to imply that all descriptive representations are at the same time directive and that directives are at the same time descriptive, hence that all representations are pushmi-pullyu representations. A pushmi-pullyu representation is at once indicative and imperative, telling both what the case is and what to do about it. The usefulness at all of the notion of a pushmi-pullyu representation is then questioned. I have recently found several new papers, dissertations, discussions, in which TP-PR is treated as definitive. However, the conclusions of TP-PR rest on misunderstandings of my position, so although the date is late, clarification seems still to be in order. I will indicate a few significant corrections that need to be made to TP-PR’s description of my position (originally called “biosemantics”) and explain central features of biosemantics that are omitted in TP-PR’s description of basic teleosemantics and which are incompatible with the main argument and conclusions of TP-PR. I will try to clarify and explain the value of the notion of a pushmi-pullyu representation.
Covalent and non-covalent albumin binding of Au(I) bis-NHCs via post-synthetic amide modification

Recent decades have witnessed the emergence of Au(i) bis-N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as potential anticancer agents. However, these systems exhibit little interaction with serum proteins (e.g., human serum albumin), which presumably impacts their pharmacokinetic profile and tumor exposure. Anticancer drugs bound to human serum albumin (HSA) often benefit from significant advantages, including longer circulatory half-lives, tumor targeted delivery, and easier administration relative to the drug alone. In this work, we present Au(i) bis-NHCs complexes, 7 and 9, capable of binding to HSA. Complex 7 contains a reactive maleimide moiety for covalent protein conjugation, whereas its congener 9 contains a naphthalimide fluorophore for non-covalent binding. A similar drug motif was used in both cases. Complexes 7 and 9 were prepared from a carboxylic acid functionalized Au(i) bis-NHC (complex 2) using a newly developed post-synthetic amide functionalization protocol that allows coupling to both aliphatic and aromatic amines. Analytical, and in vitro techniques were used to confirm protein binding, as well as cellular uptake and antiproliferative activity in A549 human lung cancer cells. The present findings highlight a hitherto unexplored approach to modifying Au(i) bis-NHC drug candidates for protein ligation and serve to showcase the relative benefits of covalent and non-covalent HSA binding.
Role of multivesicular emulsions containing ceramides and moisturizers in the treatment of skin diseases

Human skin is a complex multilayered organ. It is the largest organ of the body. As a self-regulating barrier, the skin maintains life, preventing the entry of microorganisms and chemicals into the body and at the same time regulates the loss of heat and water from the body. It is composed of two main layers - epidermis and dermis. The epidermis is covered by a hydrolipid shell, which is maintained by the secretion of sweat and sebum glands. It helps maintain skin volume and acts as an additional barrier against bacteria and fungi. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the skin, made up of cells whose cytoplasm has been replaced by keratin. Its proper function plays a key role in maintaining skin health, and improper function leads to skin diseases. The stratum corneum consists of corneocytes surrounded by intercellular lipids, including ceramides, free fatty acids, and cholesterol. Disruption of the epidermal barrier is involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Recent data show its importance in other skin conditions, such as acne vulgaris and rosacea. In the treatment of these diseases should be properly selected medicinal products, dispensed with or without a prescription, therapeutic moisturizers and cleansers that help maintain the functional and structural integrity of the skin. The predominant ceramide moisturizers have become the basis for the treatment of skin diseases. New technologies for the delivery of ceramides with multivesicular emulsions delay the ceramides during release continuously and no rupture effect occurs. Multivesicular emulsion systems are a new patented technology for local delivery of medicinal products. It involves the creation of a two-phase oil-in-water emulsion system that produces concentric multilayer spheres of oil and water. The active ingredients can be released from their respective layers when applied to the skin. In addition to the controlled release of active substances, the multivesicular emulsion base improves the biophysical properties of the skin by reducing transepidermal water loss and improving skin hydration.
A shift in the diurnal timing and intensity of deep convection over the Congo Basin during the past 40 years

Abstract The Congo Basin, one of the three most convective regions in the world, has recently experienced a large-scale drying trend accompanied by an increase in thunderstorm activity. This study analyzes changes in the diurnal variations of cloudiness and deep convection from 1979 to 2019 over the Congo, evaluates their associations with trends in precipitation efficiency, and explores their possible connections to the observed decrease in precipitation. Analyses of GridSat-B1 and MODIS satellite datasets in conjunction with ERA5 reanalysis data show that cloud cover has decreased, and brightness temperature (Tb) has increased during the morning hours, while convective activity has increased and Tb has decreased during the afternoon hours, possibly due to the observed warming and drying trend over the Congo. The combined effects of decreasing clouds during the morning and the subsequent increasing convection during the afternoon have led to an amplification of the diurnal amplitude in Tb over the Congo. Our results also indicate a decrease in precipitation efficiency and an increase in cloud base height. Such changes may be attributable to the Congo drought as increased surface temperatures and decreased surface relative humidity would raise the lifted condensation level, and thus increase the cloud base height and decrease the precipitation efficiency. This positive-feedback mechanism may ultimately result in the observed decrease of precipitation at the surface, further accelerating the drying trend over the Congo.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's Mars Color Imager (MARCI): A New Workflow for Processing Its Image Data

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's (MRO's) Mars Color Imager (MARCI) has returned approximately daily, approximately global images of Mars since late 2006, in up to seven different colors, from ultraviolet through near-infrared. To-date, that is over 5300 Mars days of data, nearly eight full Mars Years, or more than 15 Earth years. The data are taken at up to nearly 500 meters per pixel, and the nearly circular orbit of MRO and its consistent early afternoon imaging provide an unprecedented baseline of data with which to study Mars' atmosphere and surface processes. Unfortunately, processing the MARCI data is difficult, fraught with exploding file sizes, issues that require workarounds in free software, and other problems that make this a severely under-utilized dataset. This paper discusses a workflow to process MARCI data to their fullest, including suggestions on how to work around issues unique to MARCI and its interaction with the current version of the free software ISIS (Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers), and discussion of some trades that can be made to dramatically speed data processing are also described. Examples of processed MARCI images, mosaics, and color composites are shown, demonstrating the abilities of this workflow on global, regional, and local areas at the full, 96 pixels per degree scale afforded by MARCI.
Convexified robust control approach and its application to actuator saturation control

We study a convexified robust control problem and its application to actuator saturation control. It has been shown that the robust control synthesis condition becomes convex under a special controller structure. Moreover, for this class of robust control problem, the gain-scheduling control based on scaled small-gain condition does not provide any performance improvement over convexified robust controllers. Based on this observation, a convexified robust control synthesis framework with stringent performance and computational efficacy is proposed. The convexified robust control approach is very useful to develop saturation control schemes in convex form.
The t(4;14) Translocation in Myeloma Dysregulates Both FGFR3 and a Novel Gene, MMSET, Resulting in IgH/MMSET Hybrid Transcripts

Previously we reported that a karyotypically silent t(4;14)(p16. 3;q32.3) translocation is present in about 25% of multiple myeloma (MM) tumors, and causes overexpression of FGFR3, which is 50 to 100 kb telomeric to the 4p16 breakpoints. Frequent FGFR3 kinase activating mutations in MM with t(4;14) translocations substantiate an oncogenic role for FGFR3. We now report that the 4p16 breakpoints occur telomeric to and within the 5' introns of a novel gene, MMSET (Multiple Myeloma SET domain). In normal tissues, MMSET has a complex pattern of expression with a short form (647 amino acids [aa]) containing an HMG box and hath region, and an alternatively spliced long form (1365 aa) containing the HMG box and hath region plus 4 PHD fingers and a SET domain. Although t(4;14) translocation results in IgH/MMSET hybrid transcripts, overexpression of MMSET also occurs from endogenous promoters on 4p16. Given the homology to HRX/MLL1/ALL1 at 11q23 that is dysregulated by translocations in acute leukemia, we hypothesize that dysregulation of MMSET contributes to neoplastic transformation in MM with t(4;14) translocation. This is the first example of an IgH translocation that simultaneously dysregulates two genes with oncogenic potential: FGFR3 on der(14) and MMSET on der(4).
The Effect of Access to End of Chapter Problem Solutions On the Performance of Students in Principles of Finance

The author taught two sections of Principles of Finance in two different years. The courses were identical, except that in the second section, in 2004, students had access to the solutions manual for the answers to the many assigned practice problems which constituted a large proportion of the exam material. The author found that student performance on quizzes and exams was poorer for the class that had access to the solutions manual.
The Planter's Prospect: Privilege and Slavery in Plantation Paintings

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: John Michael Vlach Year: 2002 Pages: x + 216 Publisher: University of North Carolina Press Prices: $24.95
Airborne Aspergillus fumigatus levels outside and within a large clinical center

Abstract Most considerations of Aspergillus fumigatus prevalence have implied that patterns of occurrence observed within London hospitals are generally applicable. Since prevalence data are almost nonexistent elsewhere, this assumption remains untested. To provide a comparison relevant to North America, we have monitored thermotolerant fungi outside as well as at two sites within the University Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan, during one year. Collections were made with paired Andersen samplers and malt agarfor 30- to 40-min periods in a hallway adjacent to 6W, a general medical ward (47 days), and 2W, a lower level service and supply area (40 days); in addition, 10-min outdoor samples (44 days) were taken on an unobstructed hospital rooftop (out). Recoveries were analyzed after 3 and 7 days of 37 °C aerobic incubation. Virtually complete suppression of Cladosporium form species at 37 ° left a mycoflora with A. fumigatus, A. niger, Paecilomyces spp., Mucor spp. , and yeast/bacteria predominating. Although the proportions of samples yielding A. fumigatus were 76% for 6W, 57% for 2W, and 56% (out), levels exceeded 40 isolates/m 3 only twice and were over 10 isolates/m 3 on only 10 of 131 total samples. For 6W, 2W and out, respectively, means were 4.78, 1.97, and 6.25 isolates/m 3 ; medians were 1.20, 1.05 and 1.75/m 3 without annual trends indoors and with only a limited outdoor summer increase. Our data fail entirely to show the fall-winter abundance observed in the London report and suggest substantially lower indoor exposure levels of A. fumigatus than those noted in London.
Biomarkers and recent advances in the management and therapy of sickle cell disease

Although production of hemoglobin S, the genetic defect that causes sickle cell disease (SCD), directly affects only red blood cells, the manifestations of SCD are pervasive, and almost every cell type and organ system in the body can be involved. Today, the vast majority of patients with SCD who receive modern health care reach adulthood thanks to vaccine prophylaxis and improvements in supportive care, including transfusion. However, once patients reach adulthood, they commonly experience recurrent painful vaso-occlusive crises and frequently have widespread end-organ damage and severely shortened life expectancies. Over the last several decades, research has elucidated many of the mechanisms whereby abnormal red blood cells produce such ubiquitous organ damage. With these discoveries have come new ways to measure disease activity. In addition, new pharmaceutical interventions are now being developed to address what has been learned about disease mechanisms.
Dr. Bonham's Case and the Modern Significance of Lord Coke's Influence

Dr. Bonham’s Case, decided by Edward Coke as Chief Justice of the British Court of Common Pleas in 1610, remains - to this day - the case acknowledging the supremacy of the fundamental (or natural) law interpreted and enforced as such by the judiciary and not a legislative body - here, Parliament. Coke’s idea of a law of nature superior to man-made law was not new. What was original - and even radical for the times - was the notion that the courts of law should be given the power and the right to interpret and enforce that law. This theory of judicial review was embraced first in the Massachusetts Colony in the case of Giddings v. Brown in 1657 and in subsequent challenges by the colonies to the supremacy of Parliamentary rule over them. Subsequently, Coke’s holding in Bonham’s Case became the very lynchpin for the American theory of the judicial review of legislation.
PPARγ Agonists Prevent TGFβ1/Smad3-Signaling in Human Hepatic Stellate Cells

PPARγ agonists inhibit liver fibrosis, but the mechanisms involved are uncertain. We hypothesized that PPARγ agonists inhibit transforming growth factor (TGF)β1-activation of TGFβ receptor (TGFβR)-1 signaling in quiescent stellate cells, thereby abrogating Smad3-dependent induction of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes, such as PAI-1 and collagen-1αI. To test this, human HSC were cultured to induce a quiescent phenotype, characterized by lipid accumulation and PPARγ expression and transcriptional activity. These adipocytic HSC were then treated with TGFβ1 ± a TGFβR-1 kinase inhibitor (SB431542) or a PPARγ agonist (GW7845). TGFβ1 caused dose- and time-dependent increases in Smad3 phosphorylation, followed by induction of collagen and PAI-1 expression. Like the TGFβR-1 kinase inhibitor, the PPARγ agonist caused dose-dependent inhibition of all of these responses without effecting HSC proliferation or viability. Thus, the anti-fibrotic actions of PPARγ agonists reflect their ability to inhibit TGFβ1-TGFβR1 signaling that initiates ECM gene expression in quiescent HSC.
Mathematical Models and the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.

The use of mathematical models in the experimental analysis of behavior has increased over the years, and they offer several advantages. Mathematical models require theorists to be precise and unambiguous, often allowing comparisons of competing theories that sound similar when stated in words. Sometimes different mathematical models may make equally accurate predictions for a large body of data. In such cases, it is important to find and investigate situations for which the competing models make different predictions because, unless two models are actually mathematically equivalent, they are based on different assumptions about the psychological processes that underlie an observed behavior. Mathematical models developed in basic behavioral research have been used to predict and control behavior in applied settings, and they have guided research in other areas of psychology. A good mathematical model can provide a common framework for understanding what might otherwise appear to be diverse and unrelated behavioral phenomena. Because psychologists vary in their quantitative skills and in their tolerance for mathematical equations, it is important for those who develop mathematical models of behavior to find ways (such as verbal analogies, pictorial representations, or concrete examples) to communicate the key premises of their models to nonspecialists.
First Report of Coelacanth and Hybodont Remains from the Lower Permian Wellington Formation of Oklahoma

This is the first and only positive indication to date of the presence of the coelacanth, Spermatodus pustulosus, and the hybodont shark, Polyacrodus zideki, from the Wellington Formation of Oklahoma. This record documents the occurrence of both the coelacanth and hybodont in the Wellington Formation of North-central Oklahoma and it increases the stratigraphic distribution of both. The specimens were collected from a channel-fill conglomerate exposed in a south facing road cut. The site SNOMNH (Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History) vertebrate site V 1627 is located in southern Noble County, north-central Oklahoma. The site has yielded numerous three-dimensional remains of fish, amphibians, and reptiles.
Transverse thermomagnetic effects in the mixed state of Josephson-coupled superconducting systems

Abstract Transverse thermomagnetic effects (Ettingshausen and Nernst effects) are discussed for a variety of phenomenological models of Josephson-coupled superconducting systems. Analytic expressions for a possible thermal force acting on Josephson vortices in a single Josephson junction are derived. The temperature dependence of the associated transport line entropy is illustrated. The thermal force appropriate to vertices in multilayer and granular structures is mentioned.
Design and performance of vacuum capable detector electronics for linear position sensitive neutron detectors

Abstract We describe the design and performance of electronics for linear position sensitive neutron detectors. The eight tube assembly requires 10 W of power and can be controlled via digital communication links. The electronics can be used without modification in vacuum. Using a transimpedance amplifier and gated integration, we achieve a highly linear system with coefficient of determinations of 0.9999 or better. Typical resolution is one percent of tube length.
The international agricultural research institute as a source of agricultural development

It seems clear that the returns on investment in agricultural research by the donors to the new international research systems (the members of the Consultative Group on International Research) have been exceptionally high relative to other development assistance opportunities available to the donors. The initial results obtained by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) have, however, created expectations of performance by the newer institutes which will be difficult to duplicate. There are also a number of weaknesses in funding and administration which may act to limit the effective development of the international system. In this paper I attempt to (a) place the evolution of the international agricultural research institute model within the context of post World War II agricultural development assistance thought and experience; (b) indicate some of the organisation and management issues that have confronted the international agricultural research system during its evolution, and (c) present some of my own perspectives on future policy and programme directions for the international agricultural research system. Before proceeding to these three tasks, however, I would like to make three observations which condition my discussion of the more general problem of transforming knowledge into food. First, the output and productivity gains available to agriculture will come with greater difficulty and at greater cost in most poor countries in the next decade than in the last decade.
Congenital Transmission of Toxoplasmosis from Mother Animals with Acute and Chronic Infections

However, the view has been expressed by Weinman (1952) that chronically infected women may suffer asymptomatic exacerbations of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and may thus provide the opportunity for the parasite to invade the nonimmune fetus. Although the follow-up studies of Eichenwald and Levine (1954) and Feldman and Miller (1956) show that mothers of toxoplasmic children have subsequently
Induction of hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme system by levamisole in male mice.

— To examine the effect of levamisole on the hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme system of mice, levamisole at a dose of 20 mg kg−1 day−1 was administered i.p. for 5 days. Compared with the control values, the levamisole treatment significantly increased the amount of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5 and the in-vitro activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase, benzphetamine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase. In contrast, there was no change in microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity in-vitro or in the relative liver weight and microsomal protein content compared with the corresponding values for control mice. Furthermore, in-vivo induction of drug metabolism was demonstrated by decreased pentobarbitone sleeping times after levamisole pretreatment. These results indicate that certain hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidases of mice are induced by levamisole, the drug that is frequently used as an anthelmintic in veterinary medicine and as an immunostimulant drug in human medicine.
Reciprocity of steric and stereoelectronic effects in the collagen triple helix.

In previous work, we demonstrated that 4-fluoroproline residues can contribute greatly to the conformational stability of the collagen triple helix, and that this stability arises from stereoelectronic effects that fix the pucker of the pyrrolidine ring and thereby preorganize the backbone properly for triple-helix formation. Here, we take a reciprocal approach, demonstrating that the steric effect of a 4-methyl group confers stability similar to that from a 4-fluoro group in the opposite configuration. Such fundamental interplay between steric and stereoelectronic effects is heretofore unknown in proteinsnatural or syntheticand provides a new means to modulate conformational stability.
Demographics of patient visits during high daily census in a pediatric ED.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study is to describe patient demographics in a pediatric emergency department (PED) during low, average, and high daily census days. Methods Daily PED census, between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2006, was categorized into very low, low, average, high, and very high quintiles. Variables of interest included acuity, age, health care coverage, and disposition. χ 2 analysis assessed the significance of differences in proportions of patient populations across the census quintiles. Results An increasing proportion of younger children ( P P Conclusions Younger children with self-pay and government-assisted health care coverage make up a greater proportion of children seen in a PED during high census days.
Microdetermination of copper using dithiooxamide crayons and the ring-oven technique

Abstract A method for the microdetermination of copper in air pollution investigations, using a dithiooxamide crayon and the ring-oven technique is presented. The limit of detection for the method is 0.04 μg, and the quantitative determination is applicable in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 μg of copper. The method is free from interferences that might be of significance in the study of air samples.
State Regulation of Religion and Muslim Religious Vitality in the Industrialized West

Church-state relations have captured the attention of prominent thinkers throughout history. Drawing upon the intellectual heritages of Adam Smith and Alexis de Toqueville, a "supply-side" explanation of religious participation predicts that religion will be more vibrant where it is less regulated by the state. Studies of Christian "segments" of religious markets have lent considerable empirical support to this hypothesis. This research note extends earlier research by investigating the relationship between state regulation and religious participation among the minority Muslim segments of predominantly Christian religious markets in 18 advanced industrial countries. Operationalizing Muslim religious participation by the rate at which Muslims make the "hajj" (pilgrimage) to Mecca, we find the predicted effect: Once social class is controlled, there is a powerful negative relationship between state regulation and the religious participation of Muslims. Even among Muslims in predominantly Christian societies...
High Affinity Choline Transporter Status in Alzheimer's Disease Tissue from Rapid Autopsy

The degeneration of nucleus basalis cholinergic neurons in Alzheimers disease (AD) has led to therapies that attempt to increase the synaptic availability of acetylcholine in the remaining cholinergic nerve terminals and to thereby reverse or slow the progressive dementia accompanying the disease process. The inadequacy of current choline-replacement therapies suggests that utilization of choline may be disordered and the rate-limiting step in acetylcholine synthesis, the high affinity choline transporter, may be involved. An adequate test of this hypothesis requires the use of fresh, unfrozen tissue, as the transporter activity declines rapidly after death. Using tissue acquired within two hours of death, the activity of the high affinity choline transporter was shown to be increased in cortical brain regions from AD patients compared to non-AD controls. Further studies using frozen tissues with similar short postmortem acquisition times, revealed the expression of the high affinity uptake transporter to be increased in AD cortex as well. When the ratio of regional uptake activity or expression to the regional level of choline acetyltransferase was calculated, the increase in choline transporter activity and expression was clearly statistically significant. Further statistical significance in the choline transporter activity of the AD group was achieved when the putamen, a region without marked pathology in AD, was used as an internal standard to control for agonal state differences in the individual patients contributing tissue to this study. These increases in choline transporter expression and activity in AD indicate disordered regulation of this rate-limiting component of acetylcholine synthesis above and beyond that required to compensate for the reduced cholinergic synaptic availability in AD.
Structure of Turbulent Adiabatic Wall Plumes

Etude sur une paroi inclinee de 0 a 62° par rapport a la verticale. La source de poussee hydrostatique est un melange dioxyde de carbone/air dans de l'air calme. Mesure des profils de concentration et de vitesse le long de la paroi. Observation de la structure d'ecoulement par diffusion de Mie d'une nappe de lumiere laser
The mouse C-reactive protein (CRP) gene is expressed in response to IL-1 but not IL-6

C-Reactive protein (CRP) is a minor acute phase reactant (APR) in the mouse, whereas CRP is the prototypical and one of the major positive APRs in all other mammals. MoCRP gene expression was tissue specific for the liver and induced by culture supernatants of LPS-activated macrophages. MoCRP gene expression by isolated hepatocytes in culture increased c, 3-fold in response to interleukin (IL)-1, but not IL-6. IL-6 is the most potent inflammatory cytokine for the induction of human CRP and many other APRs. By contrast, gene expression of the major APR of the mouse, serum amyloid P-component (SAP), a structural homologue of CRP, increased in response to either IL-1 or IL-6 under the same conditions. The region containing two potentially IL-1 responsive C/EBP elements in the moCRP gene failed to respond to IL-1 when a pCAT construct containing the elements was transfected into Hep 3B2 hepatoma cells. Therefore, IL-1 may influence the expression of the moCRP gene at the post-transcriptional rather than at the transcriptional level. The findings suggest that moCRP may be a minor APR because of the limited response of the gene to inflammatory cytokine signals.
Pressure Sensitive Paint for Acoustic Pressure Fluctuations

Full-field luminescent pressure sensors are commonly referred to as Pressure Sensitive Paint (PSP). In this paper, the suitability of PSP for the detection of acoustic pressure fluctuations is evaluated. Single point measurements utilizing a photomultiplier tube are performed in an acoustic plane wave tube capable of generating pressure levels up to 164 dB SPL for frequencies from 500 to 2100 Hz. The PSP coating employed is platinum meso-tetra(pentafluorophenyl) porphrine [PtTFPP] in poly(tBS-co-TFEM). Comparisons between a 1/4″ Bruel & Kjaer type 4138 condenser microphone and the PSP detection system are used to evaluate the PSP system in both the time and frequency domains. The frequency response and linearity of the optical system is established and the high frequency attenuation is characterized. Experimental characterization indicates a dc sensitivity of 5.68 μV/Pa, a noise floor of 127 dB SPL and a frequency response of −2.5 dB/octave and a 45° phase delay. PSP shows the ability to avoid saturation and nonlinearities at higher sound pressure levels.Copyright © 2005 by ASME