cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of caffeine ingestion on NE kinetics, fat oxidation, and energy expenditure in younger and older men

Age-related differences in energy expenditure, fat oxidation, and norepinephrine (NE) kinetics after caffeine ingestion were examined using a placebo-controlled double-blind study in 10 older (O, 65-80 yr) and 10 younger (Y, 19-26 yr) men who were moderate consumers of caffeine. Caffeine ingestion resulted in similar increases in Y and O men for plasma caffeine levels (Y = 89 +/- 100 to 6,340 +/- 1,938 ng/ml, P < 0.05; O = 124 +/- 38 to 7,066 +/- 2,366 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and energy expenditure (Y = 11%, 1.38 +/- 0.15 to 1.52 +/- 0.22 kcal/min, P < 0.05; O = 9.5%, 1.15 +/- 0.13 to 1.26 +/- 0.20 kcal/min, P < 0.05). However, caffeine ingestion increased fatty acid concentrations (362 +/- 159 to 803 +/- 253 mumol/l, P < 0.05) and tended to increase rate of appearance of fatty acids (624 +/- 376 to 1,394 +/- 1,331 mumol/l, P = 0.07) in younger but not older men. Rates of fat oxidation and NE appearance and clearance did not significantly differ from baseline values in either group. In conclusion, older and younger men show a similar thermogenic response to caffeine ingestion, whereas older men show a smaller increase in fatty acid availability after a caffeine challenge. These metabolic differences are not related to alterations in NE kinetics or fat oxidation.
Functional assessment scales: A study of persons after stroke

The purpose of this study was to investigate disability in persons after stroke by using combinations of functional assessment item, subscale, domain, and full-scale scores, to predict (1) the burden of care measured in minutes of assistance provided per day by another person in the home, and (2) the subject's level of satisfaction with life in general. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) each contributed to prediction of the subject's physical care needs. A change in total FIM score of one point (range, 61 to 126) was equivalent to an average of 2.19 minutes of help from another person per day and a change in one point in the SIP physical dysfunction (SIPPHYS) score (range, 4.0% to 57.4%) was equivalent to an average of 3.32 minutes. Along with the Brief Symptom Inventory and a measure of visual ability, the FIM contributed to predicting the patient's general satisfaction as well. The burden of care and subjective satisfaction with life in general are important standards by which functional assessment instruments may be compared to reflect, in pragmatic terms, the impact of disability on the lives of individuals and on the human and economic resources of the community.
Static Ability, Cognitive School Readiness, Minimal Brain Damage: Sex Differences

In the article by R. Kohen-Raz,1 the author has a remarkable definition of the Romberg position. Classically, the Romberg position is defilled as standing with feet together, parallel, rather than one behind the other, and eyes open. I would suggest that he consider consultation with a neurological textbook, for exampie. The Neurological Examination by Russell DeJong or any other basic handbook for medical students on the neurologic examination. I would hope that all the children included in the study, regardless of grouping, had a neurological examination to rule out any neuromuscular disease that would interfere with maintenance of static balance.
Specificity of Accepted Procedures for Urine Creatinine

Specificities of various commonly used procedures for creatinine in urine were evaluated after subjecting pure creatinine or urine (with or without added creatinine) to counter-current distribution (CCD) between acetate buffer (pH 4.6) and n -butanol. After 10 transfers, each phase of each tube was analyzed for creatinine by each of the various procedures, and the resulting data were compared with the theoretical distribution curve for pure creatinine. The data indicate that the original or automated Jaffe reaction is the most nearly specific of the procedures investigated. Thus, the CCD technique, besides being a powerful separatory tool, also permits a physicochemical approach to the evaluation of specificities of standard procedures in clinical chemistry.
Molecular vibration frequency assignment of dimethylsilanediol

The fundamental molecular vibration frequencies of dimethylsilanediol were studied and assigned based upon data collected by infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and upon the literature of analogous compounds. Dimethylsilanediol and dimethylsilane-d2-diol were prepared by the hydrolysis of dimethoxydimethylsilane with water and deuterium oxide, respectively. The purity of dimethylsilanediol was verified by a gas chromatographic technique. This research found the SiOH deformations of dimethylsilanediol to absorb at 1175 cm−1 and 1060 cm−1
Efficient singlet oxygen inactivation of firefly luciferase.

Abstract Firefly luciferase is inactivated by singlet oxygen at near diffusion controlled rates, 1.9 × 109 M−1 s−1, based on direct comparison with the oxidation of L-histidine. The inactivation kinetics are multiphasic. Inactivation is inhibitable by NaN3. Surface-separated-sensitizer (SSS) system in which singlet oxygen is produced above an air gap separating the reaction solution from the Rose Bengal sensitizer, ensuring only Type II reactions, was compared with a Sensitox II system in which the polymer bound Rose Bengal is contained in the reaction solution and both Type I and Type II reactions can occur. A slight stabilization is afforded by MgSO4.
Conditioned tolerance to the heart rate effects of smoking

This study extended our findings that behavioral tolerance to nicotine in animals can be influenced by conditioning to cardiovascular tolerance in humans. Subjects smoked one-half a cigarette during each of five trials. In the ten-minute intersmoking interval the contexts that preceded smoking were varied. Smokers in the Changing group attended to a different five-minute segment of a Sherlock Holmes radio mystery before each trial, while those in the Repeated group listened to the same segment of the tape. Presmoking heart rates were stable across the groups from trials 1 to 5. As predicted, heart rate for subjects who smoked in the same context showed tolerance to smoking from trials 1 to 5 (84.5 to 78 bpm), while subjects who smoked in in the same context showed tolerance to 83.9 bpm). COa levels increased equally for both groups over the five trials. The results of this study suggest tolerance to smoking can be influenced by learning.
Anatomical registration and segmentation by warping template finite element models

Image segmentation and anatomical registration play an important role in subject-specific computational modeling and image analysis. Often a three-dimensional (3D) segmentation is available for a canonical template image dataset of a single subject. The goal of the present work is to apply this a priori knowledge to facilitate segmentation of anatomical structures in other subjects. A 'Warping' method was developed to deform the template anatomy and register it with specific target anatomies. This was achieved by direct incorporation of image data into a nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis program. The algorithm searches all admissible material configurations for the one which minimizes the difference between the target and the deformed template. FE models of specific anatomical structures were generated from the anatomy of one specific template subject. The FE model deforms under the laws of nonlinear continuum mechanics such that one-to-one correspondence of differential lines, areas, and volumes is guaranteed. The method has been successfully applied to 2D and 3D segmentation, registration, and geometrical model construction. Example results are provided for segmentation of the distal femur using X-ray computed tomography (CT) data, and registration of neuroanatomical structures using optical cryosection image data.
Is nil per os still appropriate for patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal surgery

Nil per os (NPO) is the traditional postoperative approach for patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Data have shown that withholding oral intake in patients undergoing colorectal, gynecologic, urologic and vascular surgery is unnecessary; however, NPO is still widely practiced in patients undergoing major upper gastrointestinal surgery. In this Practice Point commentary, I discuss the findings and limitations of a study by Lassen and colleagues, which investigated the impact of routine NPO with enteral tube feeding compared with allowing normal food at will in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal surgery. The results revealed that allowing normal food at will after surgery did not increase morbidity, and that a lower number of complications were associated with this approach. I hope that these findings will encourage fellows and residents not to be hidebound by their clinician colleagues' attitudes and approaches that have not changed in 25 years. The NPO approach is unnecessary in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal surgery.
Enhancing the Clinical Professional's Knowledge of Regulatory Documents:

The author, an experienced freelance regulatory writer for the pharmaceutical industry, describes her experience contributing to the redesign and teaching of a distance learning graduate course titled Medical Writing for Clinical Research at George Washington University (Washington, DC). This course analyzes and evaluates major clinical research-related regulatory documents that contribute to product development.
Informational influence in group discussion

Abstract An informational influence explanation of group-induced shift on choice dilemma items was examined by experimental manipulation and by a mathematical model based on information weighing assumptions. Although the exchange of arguments in an interactive discussion context produced significant response change, passive reading of arguments did not. Examination of the model revealed that at a molar level the mean model prediction for an item corresponded closely with the mean shift observed on that item following discussion. At a more molecular level, the informational model failed to predict the magnitude of specific group shifts on particular items. A suggestion as to how the informational influence explanation could be refined to accommodate these findings was taken from theory and research on the role of cognitive learning and cognitive rehearsal in attitude change.
Conformational variations in an infectious protein determine prion strain differences

A remarkable feature of prion biology is the strain phenomenon wherein prion particles apparently composed of the same protein lead to phenotypically distinct transmissible states. To reconcile the existence of strains with the 'protein-only' hypothesis of prion transmission, it has been proposed that a single protein can misfold into multiple distinct infectious forms, one for each different strain. Several studies have found correlations between strain phenotypes and conformations of prion particles; however, whether such differences cause or are simply a secondary manifestation of prion strains remains unclear, largely due to the difficulty of creating infectious material from pure protein. Here we report a high-efficiency protocol for infecting yeast with the [PSI+] prion using amyloids composed of a recombinant Sup35 fragment (Sup-NM). Using thermal stability and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, we demonstrate that Sup-NM amyloids formed at different temperatures adopt distinct, stably propagating conformations. Infection of yeast with these different amyloid conformations leads to different [PSI+] strains. These results establish that Sup-NM adopts an infectious conformation before entering the cell--fulfilling a key prediction of the prion hypothesis--and directly demonstrate that differences in the conformation of the infectious protein determine prion strain variation.
Assessing behavioral control across reinforcer solutions on a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement in rats

Instrumental behavior can shift from flexible, goal-directed actions to automatic, stimulus-response actions. The satiety-specific devaluation test assesses behavioral flexibility by evaluating reward seeking after temporary devaluation of the reinforcer via satiety; a decrease in responding compared to control conditions indicates goal-directed behavior. We have observed variability in the outcome of this test that may be dependent on the reinforcer. Another test of habit, contingency degradation, involves changing the action-outcome association over the course of retraining and determines whether reward seeking is sensitive to changing contingencies. We hypothesized that the outcome of the contingency-degradation test would remain consistent across reinforcers, while the satiety-specific devaluation test may vary across reinforcers because it depends on the ability of the reinforcer to induce satiety. Therefore, we trained rats to self-administer 1.5% sucrose, 10% sucrose, 10% ethanol, or 10 mM monosodium glutamate (MSG) on a fixed-ratio (FR5) schedule that has been shown to promote long-term, goal-directed responding. Next, behavioral flexibility was evaluated in three satiety-specific devaluation tests over 6 weeks. Finally, we investigated reward seeking after contingency-degradation training. All groups displayed sensitivity to satiety-specific devaluation in the first test, indicating goal-directed behavior. While the 10% sucrose and ethanol groups remained goal-directed, the 1.5% sucrose and MSG groups exhibited habit-like behavior in later tests. Nevertheless, all groups displayed decreased responding in an extinction session after contingency-degradation training, indicating goal-directed behavior. These results demonstrate that tests of behavioral flexibility can yield dissimilar results in the same rats. Next, rats from the 1.5% sucrose group underwent the entire experiment again, now self-administering 10% sucrose. These rats showed pronounced goal-directed behavior in satiety-specific and contingency-degradation tests under 10% sucrose conditions, further suggesting that the reinforcer solution affected the outcome of the satiety-specific devaluation test. We conclude that reinforcer characteristics should be considered when investigating habit-like behavior in alcohol research.
Larger than Life: threshold-range scaling of Life’s coherent structures

Abstract The Game of Life has many coherent structures known as still lifes , oscillators , and spaceships . The most intriguing of these structures are the spaceships due to their ability to carry information across long spatial distances. Similar structures are supported by Larger than Life (LtL), which is a four-parameter family of two-dimensional cellular automata that generalizes the Game of Life to large neighborhoods and general birth and survival thresholds. Numerous examples of large range versions of Life’s spaceships are provided along with descriptions of the experimental methods used to find these objects. The empirical work illustrates that these structures are quite common, scale in a fairly coherent manner, and have a distinct geometry. A mix of rigorous results, questions, and conjectures are made about the existence of the generalized spaceships and other coherent structures for LtL rules with arbitrarily large neighborhoods as well as the convergence of such rules to “Euclidean automata”. Euclidean automata are deterministic rules that have Euclidean, rather than discrete universes.
Reaction of nitric oxide with bound carbon at flame temperatures

This paper describes an experimental study conducted to evaluate the global rates of the reaction of NO with carbon black particulates at flame temperatures. The results indicate that the NO removal rates on carbon blacks are much greater than rates determined previously for NO removal on Char. The role soot particles play in NO destruction mechanisms in a pulverized coal flame may be significant.
DUMBBELL NEUROBLASTOMA OR GANGLIONEUROMA OF THE SPINAL CANAL

Four cases of neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroma presenting as dumbbell or hourglass tumors of the spinal canal are reported.It is suggested that when such a roentgenographic configuration is encountered in an infant or young child, the first diagnostic considerations be neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroma. This is most important since the early clinical findings may be mild and nonspecific. In other cases, neurologic findings may so overshadow the clinical picture, that the initial diagnostic considerations are those of primary spinal cord tumor or some other primary spinal cord problem.The differential diagnosis includes metastatic neuroblastoma to the spine, histiocytosis X of the spine, tuberculous or pyogenic osteomyelitis, neurofibroma and other spinal tumors, and generalized neurofibromatosis. Roentgenographic differentiation of these lesions is usually readily accomplished, and, thereafter, one can usually suggest the correct diagnosis.
Synthesis, Characterizations, and Morphological Studies of Polyoxometalate-Containing Rod–Coil Diblock Copolymers†

A set of hybrid rod–coil diblock copolymers containing different sizes of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) as the rod block and a polystyryl-type (PS) coil block with covalently linked polyoxometalates (POMs) as side chains have been synthesized. The P3HT rod blocks, synthesized using Grignard metathesis polymerization, and the PS coil block, prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization were successfully coupled using “click” chemistry to form the rod–coil diblock copolymers (PS-PTn). POM cluster attachment was performed on the diblock copolymers through a post-polymerization functionalization approach. The thin film morphology of the diblock copolymers prior to cluster attachment shows a strong dependence on the solvent and the size of the P3HT block. Following cluster attachment, the hybrid diblock copolymers show much less solvent and size dependence in phase-separated morphologies of their pristine films. The sporadic and isolated conducting domains seen in the pristine films change to widespread worm-like conducting networks after thermal annealing; such morphologies are conducive to photovoltaic properties.
Clairaut's critique of Newtonian attraction: Some insights into his philosophy of science

Summary Through an examination of the controversy between Clairaut and Buffon occasioned by Clairaut's proposed revision of Newton's inverse-square law, Clairaut's understanding of Newtonianism is revealed. The interplay in his thought between the possibility of falsification (through modus tollens), and the necessity of seeking verification in terms of mathematically precise consequences, indicates a fruitful development of Newtonianism into probabilism. That Clairaut's principles stem from Newton rather than from the Cartesians is indicated by his retention of a delicate balance between the claims of mathematics and those of observation, a balance in which the claims of metaphysics are weightless.
Limb contribution to increased self-selected walking speeds during body weight support in individuals poststroke

A B S T R A C T Individuals poststroke walk at faster self-selected speeds under some nominal level of body weight support (BWS) whereas nonimpaired individuals walk slower after adding BWS. The purpose of this study was to determine whether increases in self-selected overground walking speed under BWS conditions of individuals poststroke can be explained by changes in their paretic and nonparetic ground reaction forces (GRF). We hypothesize that increased self-selected walking speed, recorded at some nominal level of BWS, will relate to decreased braking GRFs by the paretic limb. We recruited 10 chronic (>12 months post-ictus, 57.5 � 9.6 y.o.) individuals poststroke and eleven nonimpaired participants (53.3 � 4.1 y.o.). Participants walked overground in a robotic device, the KineAssist Walking and Balance Training System that provided varying degrees of BWS (0–20% in 5% increments) while individuals selfselected their walking speed. Self-selected walking speed and braking and propulsive GRF impulses were quantified. Out of 10 poststroke individuals, 8 increased their walking speed 13% (p = 0.004) under some level of BWS (5% n = 2, 10% n = 3, 20% n = 3) whereas nonimpaired controls did not change speed (p = 0.470). In individuals poststroke, changes to self-selected walking speed were correlated with changes in paretic propulsive impulses (r = 0.68, p = 0.003) and nonparetic braking impulses (r = � 0.80, p = 0.006), but were not correlated with decreased paretic braking impulses (r = 0.50 p = 0.14). This investigation demonstrates that when individuals poststroke are provided with BWS and allowed to self-select their overground walking speed, they are capable of achieving faster speeds by modulating braking impulses on the nonparetic limb and propulsive impulses of the paretic limb.
Allosteric Suppression of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Structural Dynamics upon Inhibitor Binding

Efavirenz is a second-generation nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) and a common component of clinically approved anti-AIDS regimens. NNRTIs are noncompetitive inhibitors that bind in a hydrophobic pocket in the p66 subunit of reverse transcriptase (RT) ∼10 A from the polymerase active site. Hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry (HXMS) shows that efavirenz binding reduces molecular flexibility in multiple regions of RT heterodimer in addition to the NNRTI binding site. Of the 47 peptic fragments monitored by HXMS, 15 showed significantly altered H/D exchange rates in the presence of efavirenz. The slow cooperative unfolding of a β-sheet in the NNRTI binding pocket, which was previously observed in unliganded RT, is dramatically suppressed by efavirenz. HXMS also defines an extensive network of allosterically coupled sites, including four distinct regions of allosteric stabilization, and one region of allosteric destabilization. The effects of efavirenz binding extend >60 A from the NNRTI binding pocket. Allosteric changes to the structural dynamics propagate to the thumb and connection subdomains and RNase H domain of the p66 subunit as well as the thumb and palm subdomains of the p51 subunit. These allosteric regions may represent potential new drug targets.
Evidence for the Presence of an Atropine-Degrading Enzyme in Goat Serum

Pooled rabbit serum containing atropinesterase, pooled rabbit serum lacking atropinesterase, and pooled goat serum were tested for their effect on some pharmacological parameters of atropine and related compounds. Pooled goat serum was found to contain a previously undescribed enzymatic activity on certain of the effects of these compounds. These activities were compared to those of the rabbit sera. White male mice were used as the test animal.
Measurement-Based Bandwidth Scavenging in Wireless Networks

Dynamic Spectrum Access can enable a secondary user in a cognitive network to access unused spectrum, or whitespace, found between primary user transmissions in a wireless network. The key design objective for a secondary user access strategy is to "scavenge” the maximum amount of spatio-temporally fragmented whitespace while limiting the amount of disruption caused to the primary users. In this paper, we first measure and analyze the whitespace profiles of an 802.11 network (using ns-2 simulation) and a non-802.11 (CSMA)-based network (developed on TelosB Motes). Then we propose two novel secondary user access strategies, which are based on measurement and statistical modeling of the whitespace as perceived by the secondary users. Afterward, we perform simulation experiments to validate the effectiveness of the proposed access strategies under single and multiple secondary user scenarios, and evaluate their performance numerically using the developed analytical expressions. The results show that the proposed access strategies are able to consistently scavenge between 90 and 96 percent of the available whitespace capacity, while keeping the primary users disruption less than 5 percent.
Isolation of parapox viruses from man and animals: Cultivation and cellular changes in bovine fetal spleen cells

Abstract Maculopapular, pock-like lesions were detected repeatedly on hands and arms of students having contact with sheep or cattle. Pustular lesions were seen on the mammary gland and vulva of a goat. Biopsy samples of the lesions from 3 students and the goat were cultured on bovine fetal spleen (BFS) cells. Viruses were isolated from all samples. The viral isolates induced similar cytopathic changes in BFS cells. Slowly spreading plaque-like changes consisting of large, round cells developed in BFS monolayers. In a growth curve experiment involving the Shoe strain and BFS cells, virus infectivity increased 8 hr after inoculation. The major portion of the infectivity remained associated with the cell fraction. Maximal titers were found 36 hr after infection. Eosinophilic inclusions of varying size were detected in the cytoplasm 8–18 hr after infection of BFS cells. Later these inclusions enlarged, coalesced, stained basophilically, and remained attached to the pycnotic nuclei. Vacuoles created a ballooning appearance and separated the plasma membrane from the nucleus-viral inclusion complex by 24 hr after infection when the cells detached. Negatively stained preparations of purified virus of the isolates contained ovoid virions covered with diagonally woven bands. The long axis of the virions measured 220 and 250 nm and the short axis was 120–140 nm. These features are characteristic of the parapox virus genus which includes members that induce orf.
Emergency Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery for Threatened Acute Myocardial Infarction Related to Coronary Artery Catheterization

Abstract In 20 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, usually involving balloon-catheter dilation or streptokinase infusion, catheter-induced coronary artery intimal damage resulted in severe chest pain, electrocardiographic changes suggesting myocardial ischemia, and angiographic evidence of obstruction or dissection of a major coronary artery. These patients were surgically revascularized within 8 hours after the onset of the acute chest pain syndrome. Our experience with pharmacological and catheter-related manipulations to improve coronary blood flow after the ischemic episode but before operation suggested that the additional time spent in the catheterization laboratory was worthwhile. The injured coronary artery was the left anterior descending in 10 patients, the right in 8, the left main in 1 patient, and an obtuse marginal branch of the circumflex in 1. The average number of grafts per patient was 2.5; only 6 patients had single bypass grafts. In 5 patients, intraaortic balloon pumping was used either preoperatively or postoperatively. Inotropic support was used postoperatively in 5 patients, and 7 patients received lidocaine for ventricular irritability. Abnormal elevation of the serum isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) was seen in 8 patients, and new Q waves were noted in 4 patients; 3 of these 4 patients with new Q waves also had abnormal serum CK-MB levels. Global ejection fraction obtained by the equilibrium-gated blood pool scan postoperatively was 60 ± 3%, which was similar to the 62 ± 3% obtained from the contrast-determined ventriculogram done preoperatively prior to the catheter-related injury. There were no early or late deaths, but morbidity was much higher in the group who had emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compared with those who had elective CABG. In conclusion, emergency CABG for threatened myocardial infarction (MI) related to catheter-induced injury can be performed safely with preservation of global left ventricular function and a 20% incidence of new Q wave MI.
Structure dependence of grain boundary hardening in oriented niobium bicrystals

Abstract The structure dependence of grain boundary hardening of niobium bicrystals with [001] tilt boundaries was investigated. Vickers and Knoop hardness were measured on a set of samples both before and after annealing. In all cases, the boundary hardening was found to increase with misorientation of the bicrystals, except at the coincidence-site-lattice boundaries where the hardening is reduced to a minimum. In addition, the boundary hardening is consistently lower in the annealed bicrystals than in the as-grown bicrystals, indicating that the grain boundary hardening is enhanced by impurity segregation.
Factors Associated with Preclinical Disability and Frailty among HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Women in the Era of cART

Abstract Background: HIV-associated immune injury is hypothesized to increase the risk of preclinical disability and frailty via inflammatory pathways. We investigated the role of CD4+ T cell depletion and clinical AIDS on preclinical disability and frailty in HIV-positive women with a history of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and HIV-negative women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study nested within the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS), a prospective cohort study initiated in 1994 across five U.S. cities. Questionnaires and tests were performed by 573 HIV-negative and 1206 HIV-positive women. Prevalence ratios were computed using regression models. Results: Severe CD4+ cell depletion was an independent predictor of slowness, weakness, and frailty in HIV-positive women compared with HIV-negative women. Women with CD4+ counts <100 cells/mm3 were 0.13 seconds slower to complete 4 meters (95% CI 0.06-0.21), 1.25 kg weaker (95% CI −2.31-−0.19), and had 2.7 times higher prevalence of frailt...
Host leukocytes and their products in chronic kidney allograft rejection in rats.

Bilaterally nephrectomized Lewis recipients of Fisher 344 (F344) kidney allografts, treated with CyA (1.5 mg/kg/day x 10), develop progressive changes of chronic rejection. Treated F344-to-F344 acted as isograft controls. Proteinuria was determined sequentially. Grafts were harvested 8, 12 and 16 weeks after transplantation (n = 9/group/time period). Infiltrating host cells and their products were assessed in chronically rejecting grafts by histology and immunostaining using mAbs for monocyte/macrophages, T-cells, ICAM-1, LFA-1 and cytokines. For in vitro binding studies, snap-frozen sections of transplanted kidneys were incubated with monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood (PBL) of naive animals. For in vivo migration studies, naive cell populations were labeled with Bis-Benzamide and transferred i.v. to grafted animals at weeks 8, 12 and 16 (n = 3/group); grafts were harvested 24 h later and cell localization assessed under immunofluorescence. Increasing numbers of ED1 + monocytes/macrophages in allografted kidneys peaked at 16 weeks, localizing preferentially in glomeruli, where IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha expression had also become intense and correlated with progressive glomerulosclerosis. Binding studies corroborated these results. In vitro, a few monocytes/macrophages bound to glomeruli and vessels at 8 weeks; by 12 weeks, binding to glomeruli was high (72% of cells). In vivo, large numbers of transferred labelled monocytes/macrophages were found in kidney allografts at 12 weeks (23%, isografts; 50 mg/day at 16 weeks at which point animals were beginning to die of renal failure; proteinuria in isografted rats did not increase during this time period. These results suggest that monocyte/macrophage and CD4+ T cells and their products are important in chronic kidney allograft rejection, contributing to the progressive sclerosis and fibrosis.
Challenges and Rewards of Teaching Intercultural Communication in a Technical Writing Course: A Case Study

Community-based projects immerse technical writing students in intercultural communication, addressing local needs and shaping documents in human terms. Students at a South Texas university work to establish communication with clients in a city-county health department to create effective documents and disseminate family health legislation. To prepare students for interactions in multicultural settings, the teacher provides an instructional framework that highlights the concepts and values of intercultural communication and the principles for effective problem-solving. Students engaged in the Baby Moses (el nino Moises) project encounter misunderstandings, rhetorical challenges within the process of document creation, and cultural tensions that thwart their goal to disseminate information to the community. Students and the teacher learn that the classroom, like the city-county health department, is a fertile site for cultural disequilibrium, tensions, and potential cultural awareness. To insure a viable T...
Neuregulin-1β induces embryonic stem cell cardiomyogenesis via ErbB3/ErbB2 receptors.

NRG-1β (neuregulin-1β) serves multiple functions during embryonic heart development by signalling through ErbB family receptor tyrosine kinases (ErbB2, ErbB3 and ErbB4). Previous studies reported that NRG-1β induces cardiomyogenesis of mESCs (mouse embryonic stem cells) at the later stages of differentiation through ErbB4 receptor activation. In the present study we systematically examined NRG-1β induction of cardiac myocytes in mESCs and identified a novel time window, the first 48 h, for NRG-1β-based cardiomyogenesis. At this time point ErbB3, but not ErbB4, is expressed. In contrast with the later differentiation of mESCs in which NRG-1β induces cardiomyogenesis via the ErbB4 receptor, we found that knocking down ErbB3 or ErbB2 with siRNA during the early differentiation inhibited NRG-1β-induced cardiomyogenesis in mESCs. Microarray analysis of RNA expression at this early time point indicated that NRG-1β treatment in mESCs resulted in gene expression changes important to differentiation including upregulation of components of PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase), a known mediator of the NRG-1β/ErbB signalling pathway, as well as activation of CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein). Further study demonstrated that the NRG-1β-induced phosphorylation of CREB was required for cardiomyogenesis of mESCs. In summary, we report a previously unrecognized role for NRG-1β/ErbB3/CREB signalling at the pre-mesoderm stage for stem cell cardiac differentiation.
Effects of nutrient-limiting supply ratios on toxin content of Karenia brevis grown in continuous culture

Abstract Toxins produced as secondary metabolites can play important roles in phytoplankton communities and contribute to the ecological success of harmful algal bloom (HAB) taxa. Toxin composition and content in phytoplankton are affected by a suite of environmental factors, including nutrient availability. Changes in nutrient availability can increase or decrease toxin content and alter toxin composition, depending on toxin stoichiometry and the mechanisms by which nutrient limitation affects toxin production. The studies that have assessed the effects of nutrient availability on brevetoxin content of the HAB species Karenia brevis have reported contradictory results, although there is growing support that nutrient limitation increases brevetoxin content. In this study, we assessed the effects of decreased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability on brevetoxin content and composition of K. brevis grown in chemostats at steady state by altering the nutrient supply ratios of incoming media from the Redfield Ratio. Overall, brevetoxin content was greatest in cultures grown at the lowest rate, regardless of the nutrient supply ratio (i.e., under both Redfield and N-limiting supply ratios). Compared to cultures grown at 0.2 d −1 , cultures grown at 0.1 d −1 exhibited 5-fold increases in intracellular toxin content. In contrast, at constant growth rates, N-limiting supply ratios decreased intracellular brevetoxin content by approximately one-third, although this result was significant only in cultures growing at the fastest rate of 0.23 d −1 . P-limiting supply ratios had no effect on brevetoxin content or composition. In addition, when cultures grown at rates of 0.2 d −1 were supplied with balanced/Redfield N:P supply ratios, but different absolute nutrient concentrations, toxin content was greater under greater nutrient concentrations. These findings suggest that when growth rate is not nutrient limited, there is a positive relationship between nutrient availability and brevetoxin content. This work contributes to previous studies by demonstrating strong growth rates effects on brevetoxin content and that growth rate and nutrient availability can independently or together affect toxin content of K. brevis . Moreover, our work underscores the value of the chemostat as a tool to elucidate the mechanisms by which nutrient availability and growth rate affect toxin production and content of HAB species.
ArchShield: architectural framework for assisting DRAM scaling by tolerating high error rates

DRAM scaling has been the prime driver for increasing the capacity of main memory system over the past three decades. Unfortunately, scaling DRAM to smaller technology nodes has become challenging due to the inherent difficulty in designing smaller geometries, coupled with the problems of device variation and leakage. Future DRAM devices are likely to experience significantly high error-rates. Techniques that can tolerate errors efficiently can enable DRAM to scale to smaller technology nodes. However, existing techniques such as row/column sparing and ECC become prohibitive at high error-rates.To develop cost-effective solutions for tolerating high error-rates, this paper advocates a cross-layer approach. Rather than hiding the faulty cell information within the DRAM chips, we expose it to the architectural level. We propose ArchShield, an architectural framework that employs runtime testing to identify faulty DRAM cells. ArchShield tolerates these faults using two components, a Fault Map that keeps information about faulty words in a cache line, and Selective Word-Level Replication (SWLR) that replicates faulty words for error resilience. Both Fault Map and SWLR are integrated in reserved area in DRAM memory. Our evaluations with 8GB DRAM DIMM show that ArchShield can efficiently tolerate error-rates as higher as 10−4 (100x higher than ECC alone), causes less than 2% performance degradation, and still maintains 1-bit error tolerance against soft errors.
Effect of Testosterone-Estradiol Administration on Citric Acid and Fructose Content of the Rat Prostate

Implanatation of pellets of crystalline testosterone alone, in combination with estradiol pellets, or in combination with injections of 0.05 mg estradiol in sesame oil was carried out in 101 Sprague-Dawley rats orchiectomized 3 weeks. Rats from each group were autopsied at weekly intervals for 4 weeks. Body weight and the weight of the ventral, lateral and dorsal lobes of the prostate, the coagulating gland, and the seminal vesicles were noted. The citric acid content of the individual lobes of the prostate and the fructose content of the lateral and dorsal lobes of the prostate and the coagulating gland were determined. By the second week after pellet implantation, the simultaneous administration of testosterone and estradiol resulted in a much greater citric acid content and concentration in the lateral lobes of the prostate than did the administration of testosterone alone; an accompanying weight increase was also evident. No consistent effect on the citric acid or fructose content of the other lobes o...
Children with Minimal Hearing Loss Interventions in the Classroom

Children with minimal hearing loss are often not identified, and the educational implications of their hearing disability are unrealized. Because children with special learning problems have been s...
Mechanical Design of Translocating Motor Proteins

Translocating motors generate force and move along a biofilament track to achieve diverse functions including gene transcription, translation, intracellular cargo transport, protein degradation, and muscle contraction. Advances in single molecule manipulation experiments, structural biology, and computational analysis are making it possible to consider common mechanical design principles of these diverse families of motors. Here, we propose a mechanical parts list that include track, energy conversion machinery, and moving parts. Energy is supplied not just by burning of a fuel molecule, but there are other sources or sinks of free energy, by binding and release of a fuel or products, or similarly between the motor and the track. Dynamic conformational changes of the motor domain can be regarded as controlling the flow of free energy to and from the surrounding heat reservoir. Multiple motor domains are organized in distinct ways to achieve motility under imposed physical constraints. Transcending amino acid sequence and structure, physically and functionally similar mechanical parts may have evolved as nature’s design strategy for these molecular engines.
Characterization techniques for surface-micromachined devices

Using a microengine as the primary test vehicle, the authors have examined several aspects of characterization. Parametric measurements provide fabrication process information. Drive signal optimization is necessary for increased microengine performance. Finally, electrical characterization of resonant frequency and quality factor can be more accurate than visual techniques.
Strain from two angles of shear

Abstract By converting two angles of shear to three relative stretches the shape and orientation of the strain ellipse may be easily calculated.
p53 Binding Prevents Phosphatase-mediated Inactivation of Diphosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal Kinase

c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a serine/threonine phosphotransferase whose sustained activation in response to genotoxic stress promotes apoptosis. In Drosophila, the normally rapid JNK-dependent apoptotic response to genotoxic stress is significantly delayed in Dmp53 (Drosophila p53) mutants. Likewise, the extent of JNK activity after UV irradiation is dependent on p53 in murine embryonic fibroblasts with loss of p53 resulting in diminished JNK activity. Together, these results suggest that p53 potentiates the JNK-dependent response to genotoxic stress; however, the mechanism whereby p53 stimulates JNK activity remains undefined. Here, we demonstrate that both Drosophila and human p53 can directly stimulate JNK activity independently of p53-dependent gene transcription. Furthermore, we demonstrate that both the Drosophila and human p53 orthologs form a physical complex with diphosphorylated JNK ((DP)JNK) both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that the interaction is evolutionarily conserved. Focusing on human p53, we demonstrate that the interaction maps to the DNA binding domain (hp53(DBD)). Intriguingly, binding of p53(DBD) alone to (DP)JNK prevented its inactivation by MAPK phosphatase (MKP)-5; however, JNK was still able to phosphorylate c-Jun while in a complex with the p53(DBD). Apparent dissociation constants for the p53(DBD)·(DP)JNK (274 ± 14 nm) and MKP-5·(DP)JNK (55 ± 8 nm) complexes were established; however, binding of MKP-5 and p53 to JNK was not mutually exclusive. Together, these results suggest that stress-dependent increases in p53 levels potentiate JNK activation by preventing its rapid dephosphorylation by MKPs and that the simultaneous activation of p53 and JNK may constitute a "fail-safe" switch for the JNK-dependent apoptotic response.
Genetic contribution to yield gains in the Florida sugarcane industry across 33 years

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a successful crop in the Florida Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) that is characterized by high-N organic and low-fertility sandy soils, periodic freeze, and flood events. After 50 yr of breeding, the possibility of a yield plateau was investigated in the cooperative Florida sugarcane breeding program via an assessment of yield gains in the industry and an evaluation of the contribution attributed to breeding efforts. Long-term commercial and selection trial data, covering a 33-yr period (1968-2000), were used in single-degree-of-freedom regression analyses to determine rates of improvement in sucrose content (SC; kg Mg -1 ), cane yield (CY; Mg ha -1 ), and sugar yield (SY; Mg ha -1 ). Analyses of commercial data reflected yearly increases of 0.80 ± 0.08 kg Mg -1 of cane for SC, 0.31 ± 0.10 Mg ha -1 for CY, and 0.10 ± 0.01 Mg ha -1 for SY. Corresponding gains from selection trial data were 0.74 ± 0.15 kg Mg -1 , 1.06 ± 0.40 Mg ha -1 , and 0.16 ± 0.05 Mg ha -1 , respectively. Improvements were significant for all three traits across plant-cane, and first- and second-ratoon crops grown on organic soils but not on sandy soils. About 69% of the total gain in SY was attributed to the cooperative Canal Point public breeding program, via a greater allocation of assimilates toward sucrose accumulation, resulting in a contribution of $99 to 203 million as additional profits to the Florida economy across the 33 yr. The genetic potential of the working germplasm has not been exhausted (no evidence of a yield plateau for SC) in this sugarcane breeding program. These gains and future advances are possible because of the use of a diverse gene pool and a breeding strategy that integrates growers' participation into the program.
Long-lasting depletion of striatal dopamine by a single injection of amphetamine in iprindole-treated rats

A single injection of amphetamine given to rats treated concurrently with iprindole so that they could not metabolize the amphetamine by para-hydroxylation resulted in a decrease in the concentration of striatal dopamine 1 week later. The decrease was antagonized by amfonelic acid, an inhibitor of uptake into dopamine neurons. The long-lasting depletion of cerebral dopamine by amphetamine may be analogous to the depletion of cerebral serotonin by halogenated derivatives of amphetamine.
Appendicitis in children: A systematic approach for a low incidence of complications

Abstract Four hundred fourteen appendectomies in children have been described. Acute nonperforated appendicitis was seen in 57.1 percent of the patients and perforated appendicitis in 18.6 percent. A histologically normal appendix was seen in 14.3 percent of the patients. In 31 of these patients, other pathologic abnormalities were found to account for the symptoms, thus the number of negative explorations was reduced to 7 percent. The average length of hospitalization was 5.3 days for patients with acute nonperforated appendicitis and 7.3 days for patients with perforated appendicitis. A protocol was followed which consisted of fluid resuscitation, preoperative and postoperative administration of antibiotics, and surgical exploration with appendectomy in all patients. No interval appendectomies were performed. The peritoneal cavity was not irrigated and the use of drains was avoided as much as possible. All wounds were closed primarily without wound drains. Topical cefamandole powder was used in all cases. Aerobic and anaerobic culture specimens were obtained in all cases from the peritoneal cavity and appendiceal stump. Twenty-eight different organisms were recovered, B. fragilis being the most common followed by E. coli. Excellent results were obtained without mortality and a less than 1 percent complication rate. There was a shorter period of hospitalization for patients with perforated appendicitis and a shorter period of antibiotic treatment.