cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rhodopsin Kinetics and Rod Adaptation in Oguchi's Disease

The extra-foveal dark adaptation curve of the normal eye is bipartite; the early and late segments representing adaptation of the cone and rod mechanisms, respectively. In Oguchi's disease (one of the congenital forms of night blindness) the cone branch may be extended for nearly two hours, after which time the rod branch appears, and thresholds descend slowly to the normal absolute level. It is usually assumed that this prolonged course of dark adaptation is due to an abnormality involving the synthesis of the rod pigment, rhodopsin. However, by means of fundus reflectometry, we have shown that the concentration of rhodopsin, its photosensitivity, and the rate at ivhich it regenerates after photolysis are entirely normal. This lack of correspondence betiveen visual pigment concentration and visual sensitivity could be demonstrated also by exposing the fully dark-adapted eye to light which bleached less than one per cent of the available rhodopsin. Whereas a normal subject quickly readapted to the dark-adapted level in about seven minutes, thresholds were raised nearly 3 log units in the case of a subject with Oguchi's disease—and remained there for at least 30 minutes. Studies of the electroretinal responses (ERG and EOG) in this subject indicate that the visual disturbance remits probably from defective neural processes within the retina. In this respect, Oguchi's disease is similar to other forms of congenital stationary night blindness, although the transient nature of the defect suggests a different physiological basis.
Microarray approaches to experimental genome annotation

This work describes the development and application of genomic DNA tiling arrays: microarrays designed to represent all of the DNA comprising a chromosome or other genomic locus, regardless of the genes that may be annotated in the region of interest. Because tiling arrays are intended for the unbiased interrogation of genomic sequence, they enable the discovery of novel functional elements beyond those described by existing gene annotation. This is of particular importance in mapping the gene structures of higher eukaryotes, where combinatorial exon usage produces rare splice variants or isoforms expressed in low abundance that may otherwise elude detection. Issues related to the design of both oligonucleotide- and amplicon-based tiling arrays are discussed; the latter technology presents distinct challenges related to the selection of suitable amplification targets from genomic DNA. Given the widespread fragmentation of mammalian genomes by repetitive elements, obtaining maximal coverage of the non-repetitive sequence with a set of fragments amenable to high-throughput polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification represents a non-trivial optimization problem. To address this issue, several algorithms are described for the efficient computation of optimal tile paths for the design of amplicon tiling arrays. Using these methods, it is possible to recover an optimal tile path that maximizes the coverage of non-repetitive DNA while minimizing the number of repetitive elements included in the resulting sequence fragments. Tiling arrays were constructed and used for the chromosome- and genome-wide assessment of human transcriptional activity, via hybridization to complementary DNA derived from polyadenylated RNA expressed in normal complex tissues. The approach is first demonstrated with amplicon arrays representing all of the non-repetitive DNA of human chromosome 22, then extended to the entire genome using maskless photolithographic DNA synthesis technology. A large-scale tiling array survey revealed the presence of over 10,000 novel transcribed regions and verified the expression of nearly 13,000 predicted genes, providing the first global transcription map of the human genome. In addition to those likely to encode protein sequences on the basis of evolutionary sequence conservation, many of the novel transcripts constitute a previously uncharacterized population of non-coding RNAs implicated in myriad structural, catalytic and regulatory functions.
An Overview of the Multi-Object Geometric Deformable Model Approach in Biomedical Imaging

Abstract Deformable models have been extensively used for various image segmentation tasks and to a lesser extent in image registration. They have been principally concerned with the identification of a single object surrounded by background. There have been numerous proposals to adapt deformable models for segmenting multiple objects, though often with limitations. In this work, we present a description of multi-object geometric deformable model (MGDM) approach in an N-dimensional space. The MGDM framework has unique features including no gaps between objects, no overlaps, and the topology of individual objects and any groups of bordering objects can be preserved. MGDM defines objects in terms of their boundaries and as such enables boundary-specific speeds. The framework can maintain M objects with 2N functions in an N-dimensional space, providing considerable computational efficiency. The multi-object framework provides a critical capability in the parcellation of objects in a variety of situations. We include an illustrative example of multiple-object topology preservation on a human hand and also examples of MGDM for cell segmentation, retinal layer segmentation in optical coherence tomography, and cerebellar lobule segmentation from magnetic resonance imaging.
A continuum grain attachment model for simulations of equiaxed solidification

Abstract Numerical models of equiaxed solidification must consider the effect of free-floating solid grains and their eventual coalescence on the fluid flow and macrosegregation development during processing. Previous models based on a mixture formulation of the governing equations assume that each cell within the computational domain consists of either fully unattached or fully rigid grains. This approach, however, has been found to misrepresent the geometry of the interface between these two regions by forcing it to fall on the boundaries between numerical cells, the effect of which dramatically alters the fluid flow and solute advection during solidification, producing unwanted numerical artifacts. The present study proposes a new continuum model for grain attachment in which cells may be partially rigid. The core of the new model is the introduction of a weighting function that controls the relative magnitude of the appropriate source terms in the momentum conservation equations and a modification of Stokes’ law to account for the flow rate of solid particles in cells that contain both free-floating and rigid solid. A power law form of the weighting function was assumed and a parametric study on the effect of the weighting exponent and the range of solid fraction over which the model is applied was performed. The continuum grain attachment model is shown to effectively suppress the appearance of compositional instabilities and produce a smooth composition field.
Biography, Identity and the Modern Interior, edited by Anne Massey and Penny Sparke

“I have been made by that chair and I have made that chair,” writes Leora Auslander (3), as she acknowledges the intimate resonance between ourselves and the objects and settings we live with and i...
Categories of C’est -Cleft Constructions

In this article, a system of categorizing the c’esf-cleft into different types is developed, based on their pragmatic, syntactic and prosodic properties. This goal has already been accomplished in English linguistic studies for a similar construction, the it-cleft. The c’est-cleft, however, is found more frequently than the it-cleft, and in many contexts, it is obligatory. In general, in the relative clause of the c’est-cleft, there is an open proposition that is saturated through replacing the missing variable by the element that is found in post-copular position. In most cases, the material found in the relative clause is presupposed; however, there are some cleft types for which this is not necessarily the case. This study is based on Lambrecht’s study of Information Structure.
The role of Beclin 1 interacting proteins and Beclin 1 post-translational modification in autophagy regulation.

2765 The process of autophagy is a complex catabolic program for lysosomal degradation of proteins and other subcellular constituents. It is important for normal growth control and is defective in a number of cancers. Beclin 1 gene is the first mammalian gene identified involved in autophagy. Mono-allelic deletions of Beclin 1 gene are identified in 40-75% of human sporadic breast, ovarian and prostate cancers. Beclin 1 knockout mice were recently generated. Homozygous Beclin 1 knockout mice are embryonic lethal, while the heterozygous Beclin 1 knockout mice develop various tumors. These mouse genetic results provide compelling evidence that autophagy plays an important role in preventing tumorigenesis. This work also defined a novel class of tumor suppressor genes which are involved in autophagy and its regulation. However, exactly why the Beclin 1 gene and autophagy are critical for tumor suppression remains unknown. In order to understand the molecular mechanism of how Beclin 1 is involved in autophagy, we created a cell line expressing a flag-tag Beclin 1 protein. Western blot analysis revealed that after the induction of autophagy resulting from starvation, Beclin 1 underwent a molecular weight shift. These results suggest that the protein undergoes a post-translational modification when autophagy is activated. We then opted to purify the Beclin 1 protein and its interacting partners by immunoprecipitation. Two proteins that interact specifically with Beclin 1 were purified and further identified by mass spectrometry. They are two kinases homologous to yeast Vps34 and Vps15. Furthermore, the region of the post-translational modification site was defined with a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes the non-modified form of Beclin-1, but not the modified one. This post-translational modification is inhibited by okadaic acid, a specific inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A and known inhibitor of autophagy. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed the region of the post-translational modification of Beclin 1. Expression of a subset of the mutants of Beclin 1 resulted in the constitutive activation of autophagy. Current experiments are underway to address the role of Beclin 1 on autophagy activation. In addition, these mutants provide a molecular tool to study the impact of autophagy activation on cancer therapy and cancer prevention.
Negotiating Scripts, Humanizing Practice: Remaking Methods Instruction in an Era of Standardization

ABSTRACTThis article highlights two key problems of practice the author faced as the instructor of an elementary literacy methods class for Teach for America corps members in a large, northeastern ...
The state of leadership education in US medical schools: results of a national survey

ABSTRACTOver the past two decades, there have been increasing calls for physicians to develop the capabilities to lead health care transformation. Many experts and authors have suggested that leadership education should begin during medical school; however, little information exists regarding the presence or nature of undergraduate medical education leadership curricula in the USA. This study sought to determine the prevalence of formal leadership education in US undergraduate medical schools, as well as the delivery methods and degree of student participation. A web-based survey of medical education deans from US allopathic medical schools (N = 144) was administered from November 2014 to February 2015. The survey included questions on the presence of leadership curricula, delivery format, student participation rates, and forms of recognition. Eighty-eight surveys were completed; the majority (85%) of respondents were associate or assistant deans for medical education. Approximately half (54.5%) of respon...
Public Goods and Public Support in China

This paper will address two critical and much debated theoretical questions: (1) how do non-democratic regimes generate popular support; and (2) what factors influence popular attitudes towards the current regime, and the potential support for regime change? These theoretical questions are derived not only from current debates about political developments in China, but also reflect ongoing scholarly debates regarding the sustainability of authoritarian regimes and the cultural, structural, and strategic variables that influence regime survival. Using data from a nationwide survey conducted in 2008 and from secondary sources, this paper will examine the influence of public goods provision, assessments of the government’s policy performance, and political attitudes on the level of popular support for the local and national governments.
Education Policy's Critical Role in Improving the Futures of Individuals With Disabilities

Abstract The author, former director of the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education, describes policy changes that are needed to move the nation toward the positive life outcomes Congress articulated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. Five policy recommendations are each supported by experiences spanning over thirty years of service in special education at the local, state, and federal levels. The recommendations reflect fundamental changes in determining eligibility for special education, the continuum of alternative placements, responsibility for enforcement, teacher preparation, and federal monitoring.
Benchmarking: contexts and details matter

Benchmarking is an essential step in the development of computational tools. We take this opportunity to pitch in our opinions on tool benchmarking, in light of two correspondence articles published in Genome Biology. Please see related Li et al. and Newman et al. correspondence articles: www.dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13059-017-1256-5 and www.dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13059-017-1257-4
Abstract 46: The Effects of Membrane Cholesterol on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Stiffness and Adhesion to Fibronectin

Atherosclerosis remains a major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cholesterol has been identified as a major contributor to the cause of atherosclerosis. It is well known that the cholesterol accumulation in macrophage-derived foam cells is the major component of atherosclerotic plaque. However, growing evidences suggests that cholesterol loading into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in atherosclerosis is much larger than previously known, and about 40% of total foam cells in the atherosclerotic plaque are VSMC-derived. Cholesterol may not only contribute as the fatty deposition in the atherosclerotic lesion, but also play a critical role in the VSMC migration toward the intima of the blood vessel wall. In addition, the arterial wall becomes stiffer during atherosclerosis altering the micromechanical environment experienced by the VSMCs leading to changes in VSMC stiffens, adhesion, and phenotype. Migration of VSMCs is a complex process including proliferation and phenotypic switching of VSMCs, thus contributing too many changes in cell membrane adhesion molecules. We tested the hypothesis that membrane cholesterol in VSMCs may play an important role in α 5 β 1 -integrin mediated adhesion, and alter the sensory function of VSMCs to ECM mechanical properties. In this study cholesterol manipulation was achieved using methyl-β-cyclodextrin, and gel substrates with varying stiffness were used to mimic the changing environment in atherosclerosis. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to determine integrin-fibronectin adhesion force and cell stiffness. A custom-written MATLAB program was used to interpret the elasticity of the VSMC cytoskeleton and adhesion force. Cellular adhesion was measured for 50%-70% confluent cells with a sample size of 50 cells on a fibronectin coated AFM stylus probe. Our results show that there is a significant decrease in α5β1-integrin adhesion of VSMCs on substrates above 9 kPa upon membrane cholesterol depletion. Additionally, mechanotransduction of VSMCs upon cholesterol depletion is less efficient. In conclusion, cell membrane cholesterol and extracellular mechanical signals may synergistically regulate cellular mechanical functions of VSMCs and their migration in the progression of atherosclerosis.
Teaching Theological Empathy to Distance Learners of Intercultural Spiritual Care

What is empathy, and why is it essential to intercultural spiritual care? I posit that intercultural spiritual care requires theological empathy—the reflexive capacity to imagine how another’s emotions generate a lived theology or orienting system that ‘makes sense’ given their family and cultural contexts. Can theological empathy be taught in distance learning? If so, how? What kind of outcome measures do we need to assess clinical and theological empathy in religious leaders and chaplains? I explore these questions by first drawing upon psychological research on empathy. I describe the shifting role of empathy within the goals of pastoral and spiritual care. I elaborate a definition of intercultural, spiritually oriented theological empathy that includes theological literacy and reflexivity and the use of spiritual practices in emotional regulation. I describe and illustrate how distance learning offers unique opportunities for modeling and assessing intercultural empathic skills in spiritual care.
Preclinical Evaluation of Combined Topoisomerase and Proteasome Inhibition Against Pediatric Malignancies.

Background/aim The toxicity of the proteasome inhibitor MG132 was tested alone and combined either with the topoisomerase I inhibitor topotecan or the topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide against a panel of 18 cell lines representing six pediatric tumor types. Materials and methods MG132, topotecan, etoposide and their combination were evaluated. Cell viability was determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Combination indices for simultaneous treatment schedules were determined by the method of Chou and Talalay. Results Concentrations inducing growth inhibition of 50% (GI50s) ranged between 0.140-1.30 μmol/l (median=0.55 μmol/I) for MG132. GI50s of 0.004-3.48 μmol/l (median=30 nmol/I) were calculated for topotecan and 0.117-45.0 μmol/l (median=2.74 μmol/l) for etoposide. Additive/synergistic effects were observed in eight cell lines (including all Ewing sarcoma cell lines) for the combination of MG132 with etoposide, but only in three cell lines for its combination with topotecan. Conclusion The combination of proteasome and topoisomerase II inhibitor deserves further evaluation, especially for Ewing sarcoma.
Audiologic profiles of children with Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an idiopathic vasculitis associated with systemic inflammation and profound immunoregulatory changes. Recent reports from Japan and the United States have documented the association of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with acute KD. To further characterize the nature and prevalence of this complication, we prospectively evaluated the hearing of 40 consecutive patients with acute KD at a single institution. Standard audiometric procedures were used, including visual reinforcement audiometry and play audiometry. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing using clicks and tone pips (1000-4000 Hz) was performed in patients with abnormal or unreliable results on behavioral audiometry. Acoustic immittance measurements were obtained on all patients. Of the 23 males and 17 females (mean age 3.2 +/- 2.3 years, range 0.6-11.1 years), all but three were evaluated and treated with aspirin and intravenous gama globulin within 1 month of onset of fever. Seven children had test results suggesting sensorineural threshold shifts, 16 had normal hearing, and 14 had inconclusive hearing evaluations. Laboratory data in patients with hearing threshold shifts revealed significantly longer duration of fever (4.1 +/- 1.0 versus 1.9 +/- 0.5 days), and a tendency for higher temperatures and white blood cell counts at diagnosis compared to those with normal hearing. Results suggest that transient as well as persistent SNHL may be associated with the acute vasculitis of KD, and may be associated with laboratory markers indicating more severe systemic inflammation. Audiologic screening should be considered for all patients following KD.
Theoretical Evidence of Aromaticity in X3− (X = B, Al, Ga) Species

We investigated the electronic structure and chemical bonding of the B3−, Al3−, and Ga3− anions, and the gas phase NaB3, NaAl3, and NaGa3 molecules. We found that the ground state of the neutral gas phase salts contains an equilateral triangular anion interacting with a Na+ cation. The B3−, Al3−, and Ga3− anions possess two delocalized π electrons and are found to be aromatic. The triangular anions have been shown to be related to recently synthesized organometallic compound containing an aromatic -Ga32− unit, but they are differ from them by four valence electrons. The reason for earlier appearance of the π-orbital in the B3−, Al3−, and Ga3− anions is discussed.
Science class is too hard: Perceived difficulty, disengagement, and the role of teacher autonomy support from a daily diary perspective

Abstract The current research aimed to investigate students' daily experiences in high school classes by answering the following questions: to what extent does daily perceived difficulty of science classwork predict daily feelings of competence and disengagement? Are autonomy-supportive teaching strategies useful when work in science class is perceived to be more difficult than the average day? Two-hundred and eighteen high school students in 43 science classes participated in the daily diary study across a six-week instructional unit. Results of multilevel modeling revealed that on days when students perceived their science classwork to be more difficult than usual, they experienced a decrease in perceived competence, which was in turn associated with an increase in disengagement. In addition, the current research suggested that the decrease in perceived competence and subsequent decrease in engagement as a function of perceived difficulty was minimized when students perceived their teachers to provide autonomy support. Discussion centers on the theoretical and practical implications.
Urban Food Systems

This chapter provides an overview of the local and distant impacts of urban food consumption, introduces the concept of food deserts in cities (lack of access to healthy food), and describes efforts to improve the sustainability and resilience of urban food systems to extreme events and supply disruptions.
The Political Economy of Uneven Development and the Rural Nonfarm Sector

This chapter summarizes some of the important findings of this research and provides some concluding remarks about the topic at hand. The chapter starts with a reiteration of the problematic of reinstating the rationale for the need of an alternate conceptual framework to look at the rural nonfarm sector in India. The following section then goes on to summarize some of the main findings of the empirical case study, the coir industry in Kerala. The last section highlights the ways in which this book contributes to the broader debates on the rural nonfarm sector as well as the geographically informed literature on the political economy of development.
When conscientious objection runs amok: A physician refusing HIV preventative to a bisexual patient:

This paper reports of a case where a physician conscientiously objected to prescribing PrEP to a bisexual patient so as not to “enable immoral sexual behavior.” The case represents an instance of c...
Antibacterial effect of copper composites against Xanthomonas euvesicatoria

Abstract Bacterial spot disease caused by Xanthomonas euvesicatoria is one of the major constraints for pepper production in Florida and worldwide. The common prevalence of copper (Cu)-tolerant X. euvesicatoria strains has reduced the efficacy of Cu based bactericides against bacterial spot of pepper. In this study, we evaluated antimicrobial activity of three Cu-based nanocomposites, namely, core-shell Cu (CS–Cu), fixed-quat Cu (FQ-Cu) and mixed-valence Cu (MV-Cu), along with Kocide® 3000, which is a micron size metallic Cu bactericide and is commercially available, both in vitro and in greenhouse trials, against a Cu-tolerant strain of X. euvesicatoria. In repeated in vitro tests, X. euvesicatoria growth was completely inhibited 24 h after exposure of bacterial cells to 500 and 1000 μg/ml of MV-Cu and all concentrations of FQ-Cu and CS-Cu (100, 200, 500, and 1000 μg/ml) treated for 1 h. Micron size copper, even at 1000 μg/ml, had no statistical difference in growth in comparison to the untreated control (P = 0.05; LSD). In the repeated greenhouse experiments, plants treated with all the copper composites exhibited less bacterial spot severity than untreated control and similar or significantly less than Cu-mancozeb (P
A laboratory log(gf) measurement of the Ti II 15873.84 Å H-band line in support of SDSS-III APOGEE

The SDSS-III APOGEE collaboration has identified a single useable line in the H-band spectra of APOGEE target stars arising from a singly ionized species. This line of Ti II (λair = 15873.84 A) is therefore of great importance for use in stellar surface gravity, or log(g), determinations via the Saha equation. While a theoretical estimate of the line strength exists, to date no laboratory measurement of the line strength has been reported. Herein we report an absolute laboratory transition probability measurement for this important Ti II line. A relative line strength measurement is made of the Ti II H-band line of interest and a reference line with a previously reported absolute transition probability. This ratio is measured using multiple spectra of a high-current water-cooled HC lamp recorded with a calibrated FT-IR spectrometer.
The Depiction of Smallpox and Other Dermatologic Lesions on the Surfaces of Ancient Terracotta Statues from Mali, West Africa.

Between 1100 A.D. and 1700 A.D., terracotta statues were created in the Interior Delta of the Niger River in what is now the Republic of Mali. They are known as Djenne-Jeno terracottas because of their geographic proximity to an ancient town of that name. Some of these statues possess surface excrescences that have long perplexed archaeologists, art historians, curators, and others. This study of these surface excrescences employed clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiological methodologies to elucidate their possible meanings. It has not been possible to ascribe these excrescences to a single cause. However, examination of all the evidence permitted consideration of several possibilities. These include diseases such as smallpox, onchocerciasis, and the secondary stage of venereal syphilis. On certain statues, the anatomic placement of excrescences possibly symbolizes intentional cicatrization that resulted in keloid formation which may have been a form of beautification.
Endothelium-dependent and independent cGMP mechanisms appear to mediate O2 responses in calf pulmonary resistance arteries

Our laboratory has previously described in isolated 1- to 4-mm calf pulmonary arteries, an endothelium-independent contraction to hypoxia that appears to involve the removal of a H2O2-elicited guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP)-mediated relaxation. In this study, we examined the effects of changes in O2 tension (PO2) on isolated endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded calf pulmonary resistance arteries of approximately 200 microns in diameter. Resistance arteries precontracted with U46619 were found to undergo a contraction when exposed to a PO2 of 24-27 Torr (hypoxia) from a Po2 of 150 Torr (O2 atmosphere). This contraction was significantly larger in endothelium-intact than endothelium-removed arteries. In the intact artery, 30 microM nitro-L-arginine (NLA), an inhibitor of the biosynthesis of nitric oxide-like activators of guanylate cyclase, increased tone under O2 atmosphere and reduced the contraction to hypoxia to the level observed in the endothelium-removed artery. Reoxygenation caused a relaxation, which was not dependent on the endothelium or inhibited by NLA. The inhibitor of guanylate cyclase activation, LY83583 (10 microM), increased tone under O2 atmosphere, eliminated the contraction to hypoxia, and inhibited the relaxation to reoxygenation, whereas indomethacin (10 microM) did not alter these responses. Thus modulation of a cGMP mechanism, not involving the endothelium or metabolism of arginine, is a primary mediator of responses to changes in O2 tension, and the endothelium appears to cause an enhancement of the contraction to hypoxia via suppression by hypoxia of the tonic generation of an arginine-derived relaxing factor.
Cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression and regulation in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Purpose Cyclooxygenases (COX) orchestrate a variety of homeostatic processes and participate in various pathophysiological conditions. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell performs a variety of regulatory functions within the retina. The conditions under which COX-1 and COX-2 are expressed and upregulated in human RPE (HRPE) cells were determined. Methods COX gene expression was examined using RT-PCR analysis of untreated HRPE cultures or cultures exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide or various cytokines. COX proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Prostaglandin (PG) production was analyzed by EIA. Results Examination of untreated RPE cells revealed the presence of COX-2 mRNA and the absence of COX-1 mRNA. Moreover, cytokine stimulation more readily enhanced COX-2 gene expression than COX-1 gene expression. IL-1 beta, the most potent inducer of COX-2, also resulted in detection of COX-2 protein by immunocytochemical staining and Western blot analysis. There was a direct relationship between both the appearance and amount of COX-2 mRNA and protein synthesis and the degree of PG synthesis by RPE cells. Furthermore, COX inhibitors significantly decreased PG production. Pretreatment of RPE cells with a NF-kappa B inhibitor, PDTC, resulted in dose-dependent decrease in IL-1 beta-induced COX-2 gene expression and PG production. Conclusions COX-2 was the predominant isoform of cyclooxygenase in untreated HRPE cells. When HRPE cells were treated with proinflammatory cytokines, COX-2 gene expression and synthesis of PGs were enhanced. NF-kappa B mediated the induction of COX-2 gene expression in HRPE cells. These studies indicate that RPE cells may participate in normal and pathologic retinal conditions through the induction of COX-2.
The Need for More than Justice

In recent decades in North American social and moral philosophy, alongside the development and discussion of widely influential theories of justice, taken as Rawls takes it as the ‘first virtue of social institutions,’ there has been a counter-movement gathering strength, one coming from some interesting sources. For some of the most outspoken of the diverse group who have in a variety of ways been challenging the assumed supremacy of justice among the moral and social virtues are members of those sections of society whom one might have expected to be especially aware of the supreme importance of justice, namely blacks and women. Those who have only recently won recognition of their equal rights, who have only recently seen the correction or partial correction of long-standing racist and sexist injustices to their race and sex, are among the philosophers now suggesting that justice is only one virtue among many, and one that may need the presence of the others in order to deliver its own undenied value. Among these philosophers of the philosophical counterculture, as it were - but an increasingly large counterculture - I include Alasdair MacIntyre, Michael Stocker, Lawrence Blum, Michael Slote, Laurence Thomas, Claudia Card, Alison Jaggar, Susan Wolf and a whole group of men and women, myself included, who have been influenced by the writings of Harvard educational psychologist Carol Gilligan, whose book In a Different Voice (Harvard 1982; hereafter D.V.) caused a considerable stir both in the popular press and, more slowly, in the philosophical journals.
Improving plasma shaping accuracy through consolidation of control model maintenance, diagnostic calibration, and hardware change control

With the advent of more sophisticated techniques for control of tokamak plasmas comes the requirement for increasingly more accurate models of plasma processes and tokamak systems. Development of accurate models for DIII-D power systems, vessel, and poloidal coils is already complete, while work continues in development of general plasma response modeling techniques. Increased accuracy in estimates of parameters to he controlled is also required. It is important to ensure that errors in supporting systems such as diagnostic and command circuits do not limit the accuracy of plasma parameter estimates or inhibit the ability to derive accurate plasma tokamak system models. To address this issue, we have developed more formal power systems change control and power system/magnetic diagnostics calibration procedures. This paper discusses our approach to consolidating the tasks in these closely related areas. This includes, for example, defining criteria for when diagnostics should be re-calibrated along with required calibration tolerances, and implementing methods for tracking power systems hardware modifications and the resultant changes to control models.
The calculation of partial specific volumes of proteins in 8 M urea solution.

Abstract A method for calculating the number of urea and water molecules bound to proteins in 8 m urea solution in acidic pH is presented. The preferential interaction parameter of solvent components with proteins can be obtained by a proper combination of the calculated number of urea and water molecules bound to the protein. This in turn can give accurate values of the apparent partial specific volumes of proteins in 8 m urea solution. the method demands only a knowledge of the amino acid composition of the protein.
Noncirrhotic nodular transformation of the liver with portal hypertension: clinical, angiographic, and pathological correlation.

Abstract Noncirrhotic nodular lesions of the liver are difficult to classify since the etiologies of most are unknown. Presented here is the case of a 21-yr-old man with portal hypertension and bleeding esophageal varices in which the gross and microscopic pathological findings have the features of two rare hepatic conditions, partial nodular transformation, and nodular regenerative hyperplasia. The angiographic findings in this case are strikingly similar to that which has been reported in cases of idiopathic portal hypertension.
Mechanisms and efficacy of deep brain stimulation in epilepsy

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the mechanism and efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in epilepsy. There is evidence suggesting that several subcortical neuronal circuits including the nigral control of epilepsy system (NCES), the reticular activating system (RAS), and the circuit of papez modulate cortical excitability. These circuits contain subcortical stimulation sites as relais-stations and explain in part the mechanisms, by which cortical excitability is modulated via DBS. In DBS for seizure control, the following three factors correlate closely with each other and are briefly discussed: (1) stimulation parameters, (2) timing of the stimulus, (3) localization of the stimulus. Six stimulation paradigms are used to treat epilepsy in vivo models. The four local stimulation paradigms applied at the epileptogenic zone include closed-loop high-frequency pulsatile stimulation, closed-loop direct current (DC) stimulation, open-loop lowfrequency pulsatile stimulation, and open-loop DC stimulation. Remote stimulation has been used as closed-loop high-frequency stimulation and open-loop high-frequency stimulation. Deep brain stimulation is a promising alternative technique in the prevention and treatment of medically refractory epilepsy in patients that do not qualify for epilepsy surgery. Parameters for the selection of the ideal target and ideal stimulation paradigm in each case have to be defined and may vary from case to case.
High temperature phase transitions in lithium ferrite spinel single crystals

Abstract The preparation and heat-treatment of single crystals of spinel lithium ferrite, LiFe 5 O 8 , are described. X-ray study confirms the existence of two phases, one ordered (α) and one disordered (β), and interplanar spacings are given for these. Two new high-temperature phases, named γ and δ, have been discovered. These appear to be associated loss of lithium from the material when it is heated above 1000°C in a vacuum of 10 −3 mm Hg. Once in the γ form, the material cannot be returned to the α or β forms, but the γ → δ transformation, occuring at 1250°C, is reversible.
Estimated electricity production for an anti-roll tank deployed offshore for use as a wave energy converter

Wave energy is the largest renewable energy resource; the total prospective annual wave energy resource offshore of Taiwan is approximately 16.9 TWh. To develop this energy potential, this study examines the anti-roll tank, which is used to reduce the excessive rolling of a ship, as a type of wave energy converter (WEC). From the perspective of energy interaction, the liquid in the tank absorbs part of the wave energy and converts it to a different type of kinetic energy during a ship's motion in the waves. Thus, for this study, a passive U-tube tank is chosen with a tank-carried buoy selected from a small craft. The liquid motion is coupled with the 5DOF equations of a ship's motion to calculate the frequency response functions (FRFs) of the tank's water height in regular waves, and then using the third-order Volterra model to construct the time histories of response at given seaway. The wave climate around Taiwan's coastal area is simulated using the Taiwan Coastal Ocean Modeling System (TaiCOMs) and th...
A primary transcript in spinach chloroplasts that completely lacks a 5' untranslated leader region.

A fifth, previously undetected transcript for the plastid gene encoding the β subunit of spinach chloroplast ATPase (atpB) has recently been identified in vitro. In this report we show that this transcript is present in vivo and its 5′ end is at the translation start codon. When synthesized in vitro using spinach chloroplast RNA polymerase, the 5′ end of this novel transcript is located at the beginning of the second codon of the atpB coding sequence. Although this atpB transcript lacks an untranslated leader region, it is an abundant RNA in vivo and is associated with crude polysomal fractions, as are the four larger atpB transcripts. In vitro synthesis of the leaderless transcript does not occur for a plasmid DNA in which the ‘−35’ region of the promoter is deleted.
Differentiation of Hypocaust and Floor Tiles at Coriglia, Castel Viscardo (Umbria, Italy) Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Portable X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometry

Portable X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry was used to collect elemental data for in situ hypocaust tiles and floors at an archaeological excavation site near Orvieto, Italy. Data obtained from 2009 to 2011 using three different XRF instruments are compared. Both quantitative results and spectral data were utilized for graphical and chemometric evaluation of the samples' elemental compositions. Despite the different instrumental conditions, changes in data collection protocols, and various data evaluation procedures used with each instrument, conclusions about the archaeological relationships among the tiles remained the same across the three-year study. Utilization of fused data did provide some improvements in differentiation of the materials but at the cost of significantly increased analysis times. The robustness of portable XRF instruments for differentiation of in situ archaeological samples is clearly demonstrated.
Second International Conference on Permafrost: Yakutsk, USSR, July 16”28, 1973

The purpose of the conference was to exchange information on permafrost collected since the first meeting at Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, in 1963. The conference was held at Yakutsk, capital of the Yakut ASSR, a city of some 120,000 on the west bank of the Lena River about 2100 km upstream from the Arctic Ocean, well within the permafrost region of the Soviet Union.
Auditory–Visual Context and Memory Retrieval in 3‐Month‐Old Infants

In 3 experiments, 3-month-old infants were trained to move an overhead mobile by kicking 1 of their feet in the presence of a distinctive visual (crib bumpers) and auditory (music) context. In Experiment 1A, 5-day but not 1-day retention was disrupted if either or both elements of the context present during the retention test were novel. In Experiment 1B, 5-day retention was observed when only a single component of the training context, visual or auditory, was present. In Experiment 2, the retention test occurred at 14 days but it was preceded 24 hr earlier by a brief reactivation treatment. When the reactivation treatment consisted of reexposing the infant to the training crib bumpers and music, or just to the training music, it was not successful. Reactivation was successful when the reactivation treatment consisted of only the training crib bumpers. These results indicate that, in this paradigm, 3-month-old infants do not encode the elements of the context holistically and that, following forgetting, the visual contextual cues become dominant over the auditory contextual cues in facilitating retrieval.
Changing ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids can differentially modulate polychlorinated biphenyl toxicity in endothelial cells.

Abstract Exposure to persistent organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can cause endothelial cell (EC) activation by inducing pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. Our previous studies indicated that linoleic acid (LA, 18:2), a major omega-6 unsaturated fatty acid in the American diet, can potentiate PCB77-mediated inflammatory responses in EC. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids (such as α-linolenic acid, ALA and 18:3) are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. We tested the hypothesis that mechanisms of PCB-induced endothelial cell activation and inflammation can be modified by different ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. EC were pretreated with LA, ALA, or different ratios of these fatty acids, followed by exposure to PCB77. PCB77-induced oxidative stress and activation of the oxidative stress sensitive transcription factor nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) were markedly increased in the presence of LA and diminished by increasing the relative amount of ALA to LA. Similar protective effects by increasing ALA were observed by measuring NF-κB-responsive genes, such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). COX-2 catalyzes the rate limiting step of the biosynthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). PCB77 exposure also increased PGE2 levels, which were down-regulated with relative increasing amounts of ALA to LA. The present studies suggest that NF-κB is a critical player in the regulation of PCB-induced inflammatory markers as modulated by omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
A recodification of the Palermo and Jenkins word-association norms

The Palermo and Jenkins (1964) word association norms were recodified, with responses alphabetically arranged, and related to the various levels of stimuli.
Probenecid treatment enhances retinal and brain delivery of N-4-benzoylaminophenylsulfonylglycine: An anionic aldose reductase inhibitor

Anion efflux transporters are expected to minimize target tissue delivery of N-[4-(benzoylaminophenyl)sulfonyl]glycine (BAPSG), a novel carboxylic acid aldose reductase inhibitor, which exists as a monocarboxylate anion at physiological conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether BAPSG delivery to various eye tissues including the retina and the brain can be enhanced by probenecid, a competitive inhibitor of anion transporters. To determine the influence of probenecid on eye and brain distribution of BAPSG, probenecid was administered intraperitoneally (120 mg/kg body weight; i.p.) 20 min prior to BAPSG (50 mg/kg; i.p.) administration. Drug disposition in various eye tissues including the retina and the brain was determined at 15 min, 1, 2 and 4h after BAPSG dose in male Sprauge-Dawley rats. To determine whether probenecid alters plasma clearance of BAPSG, influence of probenecid (120 mg/kg; i.p.) on the plasma pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered BAPSG (15 mg/kg) was studied as well. Finally, the effect of probenecid co-administration on the ocular tissue distribution of BAPSG was assessed in rabbits following topical (eye drop) administration. Following pretreatment with probenecid in the rat study, retinal delivery at 1h was increased by about 11-fold (2580 ng/g vs. 244 ng/g; p<0.05). Further, following probenecid pretreatment, significant BAPSG levels were detectable in the brain (45 + or - 20 ng/g) at 1h, unlike controls where the drug was not detectable. Plasma concentrations, plasma elimination half-life, and total body clearance of intravenously administered BAPSG were not altered by i.p. probenecid pretreatment. In the topical dosing study, a significant decline in BAPSG delivery was observed in the iris-ciliary body but no significant changes were observed in other tissues of the anterior segment of the eye including tears. Thus, inhibition of anion transporters is a useful approach to elevate retinal and brain delivery of BAPSG.
Receptor tyrosine kinase expression in human bone marrow stromal cells

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are a heterogeneous population of cells derived from colony-forming units-fibroblastic (CFU-Fs). These cells reside in the bone marrow cavity and are capable of differentiating into several cell phenotypes including osteoblasts, chondroblasts, hematopoiesis-supporting stromal cells, and adipocytes. However, the factors that regulate the proliferation and differentiation of the BMSC population are for the most part unknown. Since many members of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family have been shown to participate in growth control of various mesenchymal cell populations, in this study we examined the expression and function of RTKs in the BMSC population. Degenerate oligonucleotides corresponding to two conserved catalytic domains of the RTK family and RT-PCR were used initially to determine which RTKs are expressed in the human BMSC (hBMSC) system. After subcloning the amplification product generated from mRNA of a multicolony-derived hBMSC strain, PDGF receptor (β), EGF receptor, FGF receptor 1, and Axl were identified by DNA sequencing of 26 bacterial colonies. Furthermore, PDGF and EGF were found to enhance BMSC growth in a dose-dependent manner and to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular molecules, including the PDGF and EGF receptors themselves, demonstrating the functionality of these receptors. On the other hand, bFGF was found to have little effect on proliferation or tyrosine phosphorylation. Since single colony-derived hBMSC strains are known to vary from one colony to another in colony habit (growth rate and colony structure) and the ability to form bone in vivo, the expression levels of these RTKs were determined in 18 hBMSC clonal strains by semiquantitative RT-PCR and were found to vary from one clonal strain to another. While not absolutely predictive of the osteogenic capacity of individual clonal strains, on average, relatively high levels of PDGF-receptor were found in bone-forming strains, while on average, nonbone-forming strains had relatively high levels of EGF-receptor. Taken together, these results indicate that RTKs play a role in the control of hBMSC proliferation, and that the differential pattern of RTK expression may be useful in correlating the biochemical properties of individual clonal strains with their ability to produce bone in vivo. J. Cell. Physiol. 177:426–438, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.