cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of carbon tetrachloride on induction of liver enzymes by acute stress or corticosterone.

Abstract The effects of single and repeated oral doses of carbon tetrachloride on the corticosterone-inducible liver enzymes, tyrosine-α-ketoglutarate transaminase (TKT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and tryptophan pyrrolase (TP) were studied in rats. Corollary indices of liver injury that were measured included plasma alanine-α-ketoglutarate transaminase (AKT), plasma alkaline phosphatase, and liver glucose-6-phosphatase activities. Single doses of 0.25 ml/kg or greater of CCl4 increased liver TKT and AP activities but not TP activity. These effects occurred after an initial transient rise in plasma corticosterone. Liver TKT elevation, but not AP elevation, was prevented by adrenalectomy prior to CCl4. Experiments on rats subjected to simultaneous acute cold stress and CCl4 indicated that, during the acute phase of CCl4 hepatotoxicity, their livers had reduced capacity for induction of TKT and TP by endogenous corticosterone. However, chronically injured livers of rats given repeated doses of CCl4 were fully responsive to the TKT- and TP-inducing effects of exogenous corticosterone or acute cold stress.
Selective effects of cyanide (100 μM) on the excitatory amino acid-induced elevation of intracellular calcium levels in neuronal culture

The effect of low concentrations of cyanide on the excitatory amino acid-induced elevations of intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) was studied in cerebellar granule cells using ratio fluorometry with fura-2. Glutamate, kainate, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), quisqualate (50 μM, each) and membrane depolarization by 40 mM KCl caused elevations of [Ca2+]i which were 10-, 10-, 3-, 2.3-, 10-fold over baseline levels, respectively. Cyanide, 100 μM, greatly augmented the increases in [Ca2+]i induced by glutamate, kainate and NMDA but not those induced by quisqualate or KCl. In the absence of these excitatory amino acids, cyanide had no significant effect in concentrations up to 400 μM. Elevations of [Ca2+]i induced by quisqualate and KCl were not significantly augmented by higher concentrations of cyanide (400 μM). Selective antagonists could block the effect of cyanide+the respective agonist; however, the calcium channel blockers, lanthanum and diltiazem lowered both NMDA- and kainate-induced elevations of [Ca2+]i, yet neither blocked increases in calcium when 100 μM cyanide was added. Collectively, these data support an interaction of cyanide with the excitatory amino acid receptor.
Challenges to globalizing keratoprothesis surgery

This presentation will address the current status of keratoprosthesis globalization, world-wide, with special attention to use in less economically developed countries. The author will review the existing literature, and discuss obstacles and opportunities encountered in implementation of keratoprosthesis surgery in blind, indigent patients, world-wide. Implantation of keratoprostheses, including the modified osteo-odonto keratoprosthesis and the Boston keratoprosthesis, is increasing internationally, and in particular, in less economically developed nations with large proportions of indigent, corneal blind patients. Based on the published literature, specific complications, such as device extrusion and infectious endophthalmitis, may be more common in these settings. Increased implantation of keratoprosthesis use in less economically developed countries will bring new challenges. We can expect increased reports of severe complications after keratoprosthesis implantation, particularly in the poorest patients. New designs and approaches are needed before keratoprosthesis implantation can be fully globalized.
The impact of interference on an OFDM system with AMC, hybrid ARQ, and a finite queue on end-to-end performance

Several technologies have been added to wireless communication systems that increase reliability of these systems and afford them higher data rates. These new technologies when combined with the multiple layers of a communications network make the analysis of these systems increasingly complex. The work here analyzes the impact of placing a modulated interfering transmission in the guard band of a wireless packet based (infrastructure) network on the end user TCP performance. Wireless networks, such as LTE, employ at the physical layer orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) while at the data-link layer they use hybrid auto-repeat-request (HARQ) and a finite length queue; they also utilize cross-layer optimization to improve performance. These protocols allow the wireless network the ability to adapt to an ever changing fading environment. The following work shows the effect of a modulated interfering signal in the guard band of an OFDM system on the end-to-end TCP performance. In some cases the impact from the interference is indistinguishable from the effects of channel fading.
On “Hodge” topological strings at genus zero

A “Hodge strings” construction of solutions to associativity equations based on the t-part of t−t* equations is proposed. This construction formalizes and generalizes the “integration over the position of the marked point” procedure for computation of amplitudes in topological conformal theories coupled to topological gravity.
Social Dominance and Social Identity in the United States and Israel: Ingroup Favoritism or Outgroup Derogation?

American and Israeli university students completed questionnaires in their native languages assessing ingroup identification, social dominance orientation (SDO), and ingroup and outgroup affect. The interrelationships among the variables were examined for high- and low-status groups in three intergroup contexts: whites and Latinos in the United States, Ashkenazim and Mizrachim in Israel, and Jews and Arabs in Israel. Theoretical predictions of social identity theory and social dominance theory were tested. Results indicated that for all high- and low-status groups, stronger ingroup identification was associated with more positive ingroup affect, and for nearly all groups, higher SDO was associated with more negative affect toward the low-status group. In addition, SDO was positively associated with ingroup identification for all high-status groups, and negatively associated with ingroup identification for almost all low-status groups. Explanations for cross-cultural differences in the factors driving group affect are suggested, and theoretical refinements are proposed that accommodate them.
Coronary heart disease and risk factor modification. Is there a threshold

Abstract Modification of coronary heart disease risk factors may play an important role In the control and alteration of the atherosclerotic process. The amount of modification necessary to obtain beneficial results is a controversial issue. Review of epidemiologic studies and recent arteriographic investigations allows for the approach to the issue of threshold levels of modification that may be required prior to obtaining some benefit. Serum lipoproteins appear to play a central role in the atherosclerotic risk factor relationship. On the basis of current evidence, clinical aims are suggested for coronary heart disease risk factor modification in order to assist in obtaining optimal health goals.
LEAF ANATOMICAL AND NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION RESPONSES TO NITROGEN AND SULFUR APPLICATIONS IN POINSETTIA

ABSTRACT Today the many varieties of poinsettia available for production-dates printpubdate="07/01/2002" are typically designated as one of two types: dark leaf vs. green leaf/light leaf types. Research has shown that dark leaf varieties require less fertilizer than green leaf types. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effect of varying nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) fertilizer applications on leaf anatomy, essential nutrient elements, and the growth and development of a dark leaf variety of poinsettia. Vegetative “Freedom Red” poinsettias were grown in a soilless mix following a typical production-dates printpubdate="07/01/2002" schedule except for fertilization. Plants received N at 50, 100, 200, or 275 mg L−1 in combination with S at 0, 12.5, or 25 mg L−1. Visual observations of plants indicated that “Freedom Red” poinsettia responded differently to various application rates of N and S. Plants inferior in size, form, and color were produced when S was applied at rates of 0 mg L−1 in combi...
The purification and characterization of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase A from developing maize seeds.

ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase A (ATP:alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.27) from developing maize (Zea mays) endosperm was purified 129 fold to apparent homogeneity. The molecular weight estimated by gel filtration and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 375 000 and 400 000, respectively. The preparation gave a single protein band after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggesting a monomer mol. wt. of 96 000. It was concluded that ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase A in maize endosperm is a tetramer of four similar molecular weight subunits. Values for the Km for glucose 1-phosphate and ATP were 3.8 . 10(-5) and 1.8 . 10(-4) M, respectively (using the homogeneous preparation).
Farnesol‐mediated inhibition of Candida albicans yeast growth and rescue by a diacylglycerol analogue

During Candida albicans yeast cell growth to early stationary phase, metabolites accumulate in the medium, including the quorum-sensing molecule farnesol. We found that besides germ tube inhibition, 40 microM farnesol also inhibited C. albicans yeast growth under yeast growth permissive conditions. Consistent with this observation, transcriptional analysis of yeast cells resuspended in fresh medium with 40 microM farnesol revealed that genes involved in hyphal formation, GTPase activation, mitosis and DNA replication were downregulated many-fold. Farnesol-mediated inhibition of yeast growth was dependent on the growth phase of the C. albicans cells. The growth defect was relieved by addition of a diacylglycerol analogue, implicating phosphatidylinositol signalling in the delay. Although diacylglycerol is an activator of protein kinase C (PKC) in mammalian cells, there is some question about activation of fungal PKCs. A mutant strain deleted for PKC1 responded to farnesol and the diacylglycerol analogue similar to wild-type, suggesting that PKC is not the target of the diacylglycerol analogue.
Adsorption of N‐phenylglycine on hydroxyapatite: Role in the bonding procedure of a restorative resin to dentin

The adsorption of N-phenylglycine (NPG) onto synthetic hydroxyapatite from ethanol solutions was studied to elucidate the role of surface-active moieties in determining the character of adsorption, and to explore the role of NPG in a bonding procedure of restorative resin to dentin. The adsorption isotherm of N-phenylglycine is reversible (and Langmuirian) from ethanol (99.8%). At maximum adsorption the phenyl rings of the adsorbed molecules lie flat on the surface and the carboxylate oxygens and amino nitrogens are anchored to the surface. The N-phenylglycine serves as an amine accelerator since the peroxide containing monomer polymerizes with the adsorbate-covered apatite. The diametral tensile strength of this composite is approximately equal to the composite filled with untreated apatite. The role of various factors contributing to adhesive strength in the bonding procedure is also discussed.
Comparative non-cholinergic neurotoxic effects of paraoxon and diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) on human neuroblastoma and astrocytoma cell lines.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparative non-cholinergic neurotoxic effects of paraoxon, which is acutely neurotoxic, and diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), which induces OPIDN, in the human neuroblastoma SY5Y and the human astrocytoma cell line CCF-STTG1. SY5Y cells have been studied extensively as a model for OP-induced neurotoxicity, but CCF cells have not previously been studied. We conducted a preliminary human gene array assay of OP-treated SY5Y cells in order to assess at the gene level whether these cells can distinguish between OP compounds that do and do not cause OPIDN. Paraoxon and DFP induced dramatically different profiles of gene expression. Two genes were upregulated and 13 downregulated by at least 2-fold in paraoxon-treated cells. In contrast, one gene was upregulated by DFP and none was downregulated at the 2-fold threshold. This finding is consistent with current and previous observations that SY5Y cells can distinguish between OPs that do or do not induce OPIDN. We also examined gene array results for possible novel target proteins or metabolic pathways for OP neurotoxicity. Protein levels of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) revealed that paraoxon exposure at 3 μM for 24 h significantly reduced GRP78 levels by 30% in neuroblastoma cells, whereas DFP treatment had no effect. In comparison with SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, paraoxon and DFP (3 μM for 24 h) each significantly increased GRP78 levels by 23–24% in CCF astrocytoma cells. As we have previously evaluated intracellular changes in Ca 2+ levels in SY5Y cells, we investigated the effects of paraoxon and DFP on cellular Ca 2+ homeostasis in CCF by studying cytosolic and mitochondrial basal calcium levels. A significant decrease in the ratio of mitochondrial to cytosolic Ca 2+ fluorescence was detected in CCF cultures treated for either 1 or 3 days with 1, 3, 10, or 30 μM paraoxon. In contrast, treatment with DFP for 1 day had no significant effect on the ratio of mitochondrial to cytosolic Ca 2+ fluorescence; after 3 days treatment, only 30 μM decreased the ratio. These results are consistent with the finding that paraoxon induced a greater decrease than did DFP of intracellular esterase activity in CCF cells. The changes seen in the ratio of mitochondrial to cytosolic Ca 2+ represent a good indicator of the degree of injury induced by each chemical tested. This work further develops in vitro models that distinguish between compounds that cause OPIDN and those that induce acute neurotoxicity only. The study also exposes additional OP-induced toxicities that may be obscured in vivo.
The pain of antisense: in vivo application of antisense oligonucleotides for functional genomics in pain and analgesia

As the genomic revolution continues to evolve, there is an increasing demand for efficient and reliable tools for functional characterization of individual gene products. Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown has been used successfully as a functional genomics tool in animal models of pain and analgesia yet skepticism regarding the validity and utility of antisense technology remains. Contributing to this uncertainty are the lack of systematic studies exploring antisense oligonucleotide use in vivo and the many technical and methodological challenges intrinsic to the method. This article reviews the contributions of antisense oligonucleotide-based studies to the field of pain and analgesia and the general principles of antisense technology. A special emphasis is placed on technical issues surrounding the successful application of antisense oligonucleotides in vivo, including sequence selection, antisense oligonucleotide chemistry, DNA controls, route of administration, uptake, dose-dependence, time-course and adequate evaluation of knockdown.
Improving the power, bandwidth, and latency performance of UAV-based imaging systems by structural computation methods

In this paper we present a new method of compressing and decompressing video streams directly on video sensors and display panels, without the use of on-board or independent DSP processors. This eliminates compression/decompression processing delays, minimizes power use, reduces the physical size of the system, and significantly reduces the bandwidth required for the live transmission of images. The method enhances the capabilities of small size surveillance systems, UAVs as well as battery powered mobile entertainment equipment (digital cameras, iPODs, camcorders, camera cell phones...). To achieve these goals we make structural changes to the camera and display sub-system architectures so they can directly process the compressed streams. In particular, we geometrically distribute the light detection and generation elements to correspond to the DCT and ICT coefficients of the JPEG/MPEG algorithm. This eliminates many system redundancies which in turn deliver the aforementioned performance improvements.
Stepwise Reconstruction of a Ternary Complex in Protein Synthesis

Reconstruction of 70S particles from 30S and 50S ribosomes requires both messenger RNA and peptidyl-tRNA. Experiments with poly A and oligolysyl-tRNA show that assembly proceeds through a labile 30S-poly A-polylysyl-tRNA complex which is stabilized by addition of 50S particles.
An electron-microscopic investigation of heavy meromyosin

Abstract Heavy meromyosin has been prepared from myosin under different conditions of tryptic digestion. Specimens of the various heavy meromyosins have been prepared for electron-microscopic examination by the shadow-replica technique. It has been found that the size and appearance of the particles observed in the electron microscope varies with the digestion and preparative conditions.
Preparation and characterization of the system BaBrxCl2−x: The structure of BaBrCl

Abstract The variations in the lattice parameters in the BaBr x Cl 2− x system have been determined for the composition range 2.0 > x > 0.0. All phases exhibit the PbCl 2 -type orthorhombic structure and are assignable to space group Pnma . The crystallographic parameters of BaBrCl were determined by the Rietveld method from a line profile analysis of a digitized powder X-ray diffraction pattern. The anions are ordered with the bromide ion occupying the square pyramidal hole, and the chloride ion the smaller tetrahedral hole. Atomic coordinates are presented.
Trippin' on Sally D: Exploring predictors of Salvia divinorum experimentation

Salvia divinorum is a new recreational drug where few studies have been conducted on its prevalence and predictors of use. Using a sample of undergraduate students, this study investigated these issues. While a small number reported experimenting with salvia, logistic regression models showed that demographics, marijuana use, and self-control are statistically significant predictors. The effect of gender on use was explained by low self-control; but the effect of marijuana use remained. Results also showed that White males who frequently smoke marijuana and have extremely low self-control are most likely to use salvia. Limitations and future research are discussed.
Correlated noise: How it breaks NMF, and what to do about it

Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) is an algorithm for decomposing multivariate data into a signal dictionary and its corresponding activations. When applied to experimental data, NMF has to cope with noise, which is often highly correlated. We show that correlated noise can break the Donoho and Stodden separability conditions of a dataset and a regular NMF algorithm will fail to decompose it, even when given freedom to be able to represent the noise as a separate feature. To cope with this issue, we present an algorithm for NMF with a generalized least squares objective function (glsNMF) and derive multiplicative updates for the method together with proving their convergence. The new algorithm successfully recovers the true representation from the noisy data. Robust performance can make glsNMF a valuable tool for analyzing empirical data.
4-Amino Pteroylglutamic Acid (Aminopterin), Pteroylglutamic (Folic) Acid, and Response of Frogs, Rana clamitans, to Estrogens.

Summary4-amino pteroylglutamic acid (aminopterin) markedly decreased, whereas, folic acid increased the response of the oviducts of newly metamorphosed female frogs (Rana clamitans) to estradiol. The aminopterin effect could not be reversed by folic acid in ratios as high as 100:1 of folic acid to aminopterin.
Behavioral components of heterosocial skills.

This study was an attempt to identify behavioral referents underlying judgments of skill and anxiety. Regression and correlational analyses indicated quite strong relationships between subject talk, gaze, confederate talk, and judgments of skill and anxiety. Discrete behaviors yielded a multiple correlation of .66 with anxiety and .90 with skill. Relationships between these behaviors and other commonly employed measures were also investigated.
The Deep Structure of Venusian Plateau Highlands

Magellan gravity data confirm that several of the large, tectonically deformed, plateau-like highlands on venus are shallowly compensated, most likely by crustal thickness variations. Apparent depths of isostatic compensation, computed in the spatial domain, range from 30 to 50 km for Alpha, Tellus, Ovda, and Thetis Regiones. Using a two-layer model for isostatic compensation, Alpha, Tellus, and Ovda are best represented as nearly completely compensated in crust that is regionally 20-40 km thick around these highlands, with little contribution from deeper mantle sources. In contrast to these three areas, a stronger regional gravity high associated with Thetis requires a significant upper mantle component to compensation. This is evident in the spectral admittance as a pronounced deep, long-wavelength anomaly. In the two-layer isostatic model, a broad, deeply compensated upland underlies a shallowly compensated central block of Thetis. If this deep component is interpreted as a thermal anomaly, the loci of maximum upwelling agree well with sites of recent extension. The plateau highlands are thus physiographically and isostatically equivalent to terrestrial continents, though probably not compositionally. They also share the record of a long tectonic history. The large regional gravity anomaly of Thetis indicates that active mantle proceses continue even beneath some areas (tessera) thought to be a relic of a former geological regime. The excellent agreement of modeled crustal thicknesses around Alpha, Tellus, and Ovda Regiones suggests that 20-40 km is a representative global value for the plains. Such a crust is thicker than previously estimated and about twice as thick as the expected thickness of crust produced at venusian spreading centers
Aerobic Exercise and Weight Loss Reduce Vascular Markers of Inflammation and Improve Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Women

Objectives To examine the relationships between plasma and tissue markers of systemic and vascular inflammation and obesity and insulin resistance and determine the effects of aerobic exercise training plus weight loss (AEX+WL) and weight loss (WL) alone on these biomarkers. Design Prospective controlled study. Setting Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University research setting. Participants Overweight and obese sedentary postmenopausal women (N = 77). Interventions Six months, 3 d/wk AEX+WL (n = 37) or WL (n = 40). Measurements Total-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, abdominal computed tomography, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps (a criterion standard method of assessing insulin sensitivity), adipose tissue biopsies (n = 28), and blood for homeostasis model assessment—insulin resistance, and soluble forms of intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum amyloid A (SAA). Results Body weight (P < .001), percentage of fat (P < .001), visceral fat (P < .005), triglyceride levels (P < .001), and systolic blood pressure decreased comparably after WL and AEX+WL (P = .04). Maximal oxygen consumption increased 16% after AEX+WL (P < .001). Insulin resistance decreased in both groups (P = .005). Glucose utilization according to the clamp increased 10% (P = .04) with AEX+WL and 8% with WL (P = .07). AEX+WL decreased CRP by 29% (P < .001) and WL by 21% (P = .02). SAA levels decreased twice as much after AEX+WL (−19%, P = .02) as after WL (−9%, P = .08). Plasma sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels did not change, but women with the greatest reduction in plasma sICAM-1 levels had the greatest reductions in fasting glucose (P = .02), insulin (P = .02), and insulin resistance (P = .004). Gluteal ICAM messenger ribonucleic acid levels decreased 27% after AEX+WL (P = .02) and did not change after WL. Conclusion Obesity and insulin resistance worsen markers of systemic and vascular inflammation. A reduction in plasma sICAM-1 is important to improve insulin sensitivity. CRP, SAA, and tissue ICAM decrease with exercise and weight loss, suggesting that exercise training is a necessary component of lifestyle modification in obese postmenopausal women.
Understanding the market dynamics of entrepreneurial networks

Austrian economic explanations of market processes have gained considerable attention by management researchers. A central tenet of the Austrian school is that non-equilibrium market processes are primarily attributed to the subjective behaviors of entrepreneurs. Yet, human actions are not only determined by entrepreneur's unique preferences and experiences, but they are also determined by the actions of connected others. As a result, subjective explanations of market processes are extended to account for the social relationships of human action. A conceptual model that underscores the social networks of subjective and alert entrepreneurs was developed and examined in an agent based-simulation setting. The contributions and implications of this study are also discussed.
P1 Shake-and-Bake: can success be guaranteed?

The multi-trial direct-methods procedure known as Shake-and-Bake has been applied to three small proteins (alpha-1 peptide, vancomycin and lysozyme) that crystallize in space group P1. Phase refinement was accomplished through parameter-shift optimization using both the cosine and exponential forms of the minimal function. By extending error-free data to sufficiently high resolution, 100% convergence of trial structures to solution could be achieved in all three cases by using the exponential minimal function and a shift angle in the range 130–150°. These results suggest optimum parameters for other P1 structures and emphasize the importance of collecting data to the highest possible resolution.
Technology's Role in Learning at a Commuter Campus: The Student Perspective.

Patterns of technology ownership and usage, as well as skills with and preferences for various technologies, affect the college experience (Educause 2012). Students at a commuter campus of a large Midwestern public university were surveyed about technology and the learning process: 94% of the respondents believed that technology had the potential to benefit learning and 85% thought it was central to their academic success. Students credited technology-enhanced courses with increased and more effective communication with instructors, the ability to better manage course activities and expanded opportunities for practice and reinforcement. Students’ prior experiences with a course management system affected their perceptions of the role of technology and their subsequent beliefs about the benefits of its use in their university courses. Implications for administrators who make decisions about faculty development, student retention and funding for technology-enhanced course offerings are discussed.
Ultrastructure of teliospores and promycelium and basidiospore formation in the four-spored form of Gymnoconia nitens, one of the causes of orange rust of Rubus

Gymnoconia nitens (Schwein.) Kern & H. W. Thurston consists of two forms that cause orange rust of Rubus. The teliospores of both of these forms are morphologically identical to aeciospores, but up...
A Test for Long Memory in the Conditional Correlation of Bivariate Returns to Stock and Bond Market Index Futures

Long memory is found in the conditional volatilities of financial returns measured at daily or higher frequencies, as well as in residual cross-products in bivariate series. We test for long memory in conditional correlations by extending the fractionally integrated GARCH model to include previous conditional correlations and standardized cross-products in a bivariate system. We apply the model to stock-stock and stock-bond futures index returns using Engle’s (2002) two-stage dynamic conditional correlation approach. We find that cross-products are indeed long memory processes, but that this feature arises from long memory in conditional volatilities and not from long memory in conditional correlation.
'A blood-stained corpse in the butler's pantry': The Queensland bush book club

'Dear Mrs. Ford,' the correspondence often begins, then follow accounts of misfortune and privation: During the floods our home was an inch out of the water and the river four miles wide. We lost heavily in cotton but the stock are alright, though they were standing in water 3 ft. deep for a day and ... 8 pigs lived on the verandah for two days.
Enhancement of jejunal absorption of conjugated bile acid by neurotensin in rats.

Abstract Background & Aims: Release of neurotensin (NT) from intestines is markedly stimulated by ingested fat, and NT may facilitate lipid digestion and absorption through various actions that are not fully understood. Our recent finding that NT stimulates hepatic output of bile acids only when bile delivery to the intestine is maintained has led us to investigate the effects of NT on bile acid absorption in the rat small intestine. Methods: We measured the effects of intravenous infusion of NT (3-10 pmol · kg−1 · min−1) on biliary recovery of 3H-taurocholate (3H-TC) and 3H-cholate administered into proximal and distal intestines or into isolated intestinal segments in situ in biliary fistula rats. To further understand the underlying mechanisms involved, the effects of NT on intestinal absorption of 3H-D-glucose, 3H-leucine, 14C-antipyrine, and 51Cr-EDTA were investigated by monitoring the absorption of radioactivity into superior mesenteric venous blood. Results: Infusion of NT, at doses that caused near physiologic increases in blood NT levels, increased biliary recovery of 3H-TC from the jejunum (3.4-fold) and ileum (1.7-fold), but did not enhance absorption of 3H-cholate. NT also facilitated transcellular uptake of 3H-glucose and 3H-leucine and increased paracellular uptake to 51Cr-EDTA and 3H-mannitol, but did not alter the absorption rate for 14C-antipyrine. Conclusions: These results indicate that NT can exert a facilitative effect on intestinal bile acid absorption and return to liver. This effect of NT may involve increases in paracellular absorption and carrier-mediated transport by mechanisms not yet identified. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2001;120:151-160
Validation of nutrient intake using an FFQ and repeated 24 h recalls in black and white subjects of the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2)

Objective To validate a 204-item quantitative FFQ for measurement of nutrient intake in the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2).
Poly-Si/high-k gate stacks with near-ideal threshold voltage and mobility

We demonstrate poly-Si/high-k gate stacks suitable for successful implementation in low power technologies. An optimized gate dielectric process was employed to suppress the large pFET threshold voltage shift commonly found with Hf-based gate dielectrics, reducing it to -0.2 V, while preserving pFET and nFET device performance.
Adeno-associated virus type-2 expression of pigmented epithelium-derived factor or kringles 1-3 of angiostatin reduce retinal neovascularization

Neovascular diseases of the retina include age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, and together they comprise the leading causes of adult-onset blindness in developed countries. Current surgical, pharmaceutical, and laser therapies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) rarely result in improved vision, do not significantly prevent neovascularization (NV), and often result in at least some vision loss. To address this therapeutic gap, we determined the efficacy of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) serotype-2-mediated expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) or Kringle domains 1-3 of angiostatin (K1K3) in reducing aberrant vessel formation in a mouse model of ischemia-induced retinal NV. Both PEDF and K1K3 are potent inhibitors of NV when injected directly, hence expression of these therapeutic factors from rAAV may provide long-term protection from neovascular eye disease. rAAV vectors expressing the therapeutic gene were injected into one eye of postnatal day 0 (P0) newborn mouse pups. Retinal NV was induced in P7 mice by exposure to elevated oxygen for 5 days followed by room air for another five days. Retinal NV was quantified by the number of vascular-endothelial-cell nuclei above the inner-limiting membrane in P17 eyes. The number of such vascular endothelial cell nuclei in eyes treated with rAAV-PEDF or rAAV-K1K3 was significantly reduced (both P < 0.0000002) compared with control eyes. Ocular protein levels detected by ELISA correlate well with the reduction in NV and confirm that expression of antineovascular agents from rAAV vectors may be a therapeutically useful treatment of retinal or choroidal neovascular disease.
Bringing oversight review in line with online research

The purpose of an oversight structure or institution is to protect human subjects from research that would pose unacceptable dangers or deny human rights. Review boards provide an independent assessment of research proposals. This additional level of scrutiny is meant to provide an additional level of protection for human subjects. However, oversight of human subject research, as currently carried out in the bureaucratic, rule‐based, clinically‐biased American system, is too cumbersome with regard to online research. In addition, it is not conducive to the training of ethical Internet researchers. Internet research differs from traditional human subject research in many ways, and the oversight rules governing traditional research do not easily relate to the complexities of conducting research online. Online researchers do not oppose the foundational principles of non‐maleficence (avoiding harm) and autonomy, nor do they reject the ideals of informed consent and confidentiality, nevertheless, they face practical dilemmas in attempting to follow these principles and apply these ideals in the various Internet domains. The current oversight system is ill‐equipped to assist. A conservative response to this problem of fit might entail adjustments to the oversight system that, in the case of the American system, would entail modifications to the Common Rule and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). I will argue in this paper, instead, that re‐structuring is needed to allow more oversight authority for Internet researchers. I will utilize Consequentialism and Virtue Ethics in making this case.
Analysing spectral data: comparison and application of two techniques

Abstract This study compares two different methods of condensing complex spectral data into interpretable indices or metrics of colour. Colour spectra were measured on standardized Munsell colour paint chips and estimates of the three fundamental components of colour (brightness, chroma and hue) were generated using principal component analysis (PCA) and segment classification (SC). We tested the accuracy of these techniques for generating colour component estimates from spectral data in four different «colour classes» (red/orange, yellow/green, green/blue, and blue/purple) and in an aggregate data set containing all measured spectra. We conclude that both analysis techniques will generally provide more information than more conventional colour assessment techniques. Neither technique was superior under all conditions; appropriateness of each technique depends on the system under study. Efficacy of both techniques depends on the variability present in the data set; greater variance in colour tends to reduce overall resolution. An application of these techniques is also presented in which we characterize sex-specific differences in colour between different populations of the poecilliid fish, Limia perugia.
Prolonged Antigen Presentation following an Acute Virus Infection Requires Direct and Then Cross-Presentation

Antiviral CD8(+) T cell recognition of MHC class I-peptide complexes on the surface of professional APCs is a requisite step in an effective immune response following many potentially lethal infections. Although MHC class I-peptide production is thought to be closely linked to the continued presence of virus, several studies have shown that the persistence of Ag presentation occurs for an extended period of time following the clearance of RNA viruses. However, the mechanism responsible for Ag presentation persistence following viral clearance was unknown until now. In this study, we used a recombinant DNA virus expressing different forms of a model Ag to study the mechanism of prolonged Ag presentation in mice. We determined that the persistence of Ag presentation consists of three distinct mechanistic phases, as follows: ongoing viral replication, persistence of virally infected cells, and cross-presentation of Ag. These data will allow manipulation of the form of Ag contained within viral vectors to produce the most effective and protective CD8(+) T cell response to be generated following vaccination.
How lasers and optics help increase semiconductor manufacturing yield

Summary form only given. We discuss the requirements of, and solutions for, the inspection problems for the ULSI technology. Preferred embodiments for specific detection problems are described, and the possible limitations, and extensions, of the relevant technologies are discussed.
Imaging biological specimens with high-intensity soft x rays

I compare alternative techniques for x-ray imaging of biological specimens on the basis of (1) transverse and longitudinal resolution, (2) depth of field, (3) choice of recording medium, and (4) recording efficiency. I show that, for all imaging techniques, the dosages suffered by specimens are so high that the living state cannot be preserved, nor can the structural integrity of the specimen be maintained in the usual sense. I demonstrate the remarkable fact that, at sufficiently high intensity, an image of diffraction-limited resolution can be captured before the specimen is obliterated.
State Definitions of the Gifted and Talented: An Update and Analysis

This article presents the current information on the definitions states are using to determine giftedness. A 1977 study by Karnes and Collins is updated by this research and the results with comparative data are presented. In addition, definitions are presented by state.
Defining, teaching and assessing lifelong learning skills

Lifelong learning skills have always been important in any education and work setting. However, ABET EC 2000 recently put a new focus on these skills in engineering education. Outcome 3i states the expectation that engineering graduates must have "a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning". The paper first defines a set of attributes/skills, which are necessary for students to develop as lifelong learners. It is postulated that the "recognition of the need" requires skills in the affective domain, while the "ability to engage " requires skills in the cognitive domain. Next, the paper offers course design elements, which help students develop lifelong learning skills. Finally, the paper presents a method for assessing these skills. Assessment of data from a variety of engineering courses at San Jose State University are presented and analyzed. This assessment method can be used for any of the eleven outcomes in ABET EC 2000, criterion 3.
Effect of Children's Perceived Rejection on Physical Aggression

This study investigated whether the perception of self as socially rejected might contribute to increased physical aggression among elementary-school children. It was hypothesized that physically aggressive children would become more physically aggressive over time if they perceived that they were rejected and tended to blame peers for social failure experiences. Third-grade boys and girls (n = 941) were assessed in the Fall and Spring of the school year. Peer-report data on physical aggression and social preference were collected, along with self-report data on perceived rejection and attributions for social failure experiences. Results for boys were consistent with hypotheses, whereas the results for girls revealed a different pattern of relations. These results constitute prospective evidence that children's self-perceptions of social rejection can uniquely influence externalizing behavior. Results are discussed in terms of mechanisms that might mediate the relation between perceived rejection and physical aggression.
Public health nursing competency in a rural/frontier state.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To assess the self-reported levels of competency among public health nurses (PHNs) in Idaho. Design and Sample: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. The sample consisted of 124 PHNs, including 30 in leadership roles, currently practicing in Idaho's official public health agencies. Measures: Structured interviews were conducted with participants who provided self-ratings in the 8 domains of public health competency as developed by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice and the Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations. Results: The findings indicated that the overall level of competency was most strongly associated with the duration of professional experience. No major differences in the competency levels were found in relation to nurses' level of education or licensure. Nurses in leadership positions reported the highest levels of competency. Rurality, as measured by district population density, was not significantly correlated with competency levels, except in relation to community dimensions of practice skills. Conclusions: The findings suggest that PHNs' self-perceived levels of competence are most strongly influenced by their years of professional experience, particularly in leadership roles. Professional development efforts should focus on the domains with the lowest perceived competency: policy development/program planning skills, analytic assessment skills, and financial planning/management skills.
Glucagon-cortisol interactions on glucose turnover and lactate gluconeogenesis in normal humans.

To determine the mechanism for cortisol enhancement of glucagon-stimulated overall hepatic glucose output (OHGO), we employed the glucose-insulin clamp technique with infusions of [6-3H]glucose and [U-14C]lactate and measured OHGO, glucose utilization, and the turnover and incorporation of lactate in plasma glucose in normal volunteers under four experimental conditions: 1) normoglucagonemia (approximately 150 pg/ml)- normocortisolemia (approximately 14 micrograms/dl); 2) isolated hyperglucagonemia (approximately 550 pg/ml); 3) isolated hypercortisolemia (approximately 32 micrograms/dl); and 4) combined hyperglucagonemia-hypercortisolemia. Isolated hyperglucagonemia caused initial increases in OHGO and lactate gluconeogenesis, which were maximal at 1 h (23.9 +/- 1 and 2.7 +/- 0.4 mumol.kg-1.min-1, respectively) but remained significantly above values in control experiments through 5 h (10.3 +/- 0.7 vs. 8.2 +/- 1.1, P less than 0.03; 2.2 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.3, mumol.kg-1.min-1, P less than 0.04, respectively). Hypercortisolemia has no effect on OHGO but increased lactate gluconeogenesis after 3 h. Superimposition of hypercortisolemia on hyperglucagonemia did not further increase OHGO (11.1 +/- 0.7 vs. 10.3 +/- 0.7 mumol.kg-1.min-1, P = NS) but augmented lactate gluconeogenesis additively (isolated hyperglucagonemia = 0.96, isolated hypercortisolemia = 0.98; combined = 2.02 mumol.kg-1.min-1). Neither glucagon nor cortisol affected lactate turnover or glucose utilization. We conclude that glucagon has a persistent effect on OHGO largely accounted for by increased gluconeogenesis. Cortisol augments glucagon-stimulated gluconeogenesis in an additive manner best explained by changes in gluconeogenic enzymes rather than in substrate availability. Finally, the fact that cortisol increased gluconeogenesis without affecting glucose utilization suggests that the liver is more sensitive to the diabetogenic effects of cortisol than are peripheral tissues.
Predictors of binge drinking in elderly Americans.

BACKGROUND: The increasing trend in elderly binge drinking in the U.S. is cause for alarm. We sought to describe the predictors of binge drinking in elderly men and women and evaluate the relationship between binge drinking and mental health disorders in this population. METHODS: The 2008 Centers for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey was utilized to identify a cohort of 4,815 individuals in the U.S. of age 65 or older. The primary outcome of interest was self-reported binge drinking, defined as an affirmative response to the question: "How many times in the past 30 days have you had more than five drinks (in men) or more than four drinks (in women) on an occasion?" RESULTS: Among 4,815 elderly participants studied, a total of 466 (9.7%) participants reported binge drinking over the past 30 days while 4,349 (90.3%) participants reported no binge drinking. Binge drinking was not associated with anxiety or depressive disorders in the overall population, however, elderly women reporting binge drinking had higher rates of depressive disorders. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of binge drinking in elderly participants included younger age, male gender, smoking, absence of college education, lower annual income, and absence of coronary artery disease. Predictors of binge drinking differed in elderly men and women. CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Younger age, male gender, smoking, lack of college education, lower annual income, and absence of coronary artery disease are independently associated with higher rates of binge drinking among elderly Americans. Elderly men and women had disparate predictors of binge drinking. This study provides valuable information to be applied to the substance abuse screening process in elderly men and women. (Am J Addict 2015;XX:1-7). Language: en
Ketolides in the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections: A review

Background: The increasing prevalence of resistance to established antibiotics among key respiratory bacterial pathogens highlights a need for new antibacterial agents for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Ketolides are a new class of antibiotics specifically developed for the treatment of RTIs.
Evidence-based target recall rates for screening mammography.

Purpose: To retrospectively identify target recall rates for screening mammography on the basis of how sensitivity shifts with recall rate. Materials and Methods: The study group included 1 872 687 subsequent and 171 104 first screening mammograms from 1996 to 2001 from 172 and 139 facilities, respectively, in six sites of the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium. Institutional review board (IRB) approval was obtained from each site. Informed consent requirements of the IRBs were followed. The study was HIPAA compliant. Recall rate was defined as the percentage of screening studies for which further work-up was recommended by the radiologist. Sensitivity was defined as the proportion of cancers that were detected at screening mammography. Piecewise linear regression was used to model sensitivity as a function of recall rate. This model allows detection of critical recall rates in which significant changes (shifts) occurred in the rates that sensitivity increased with increasing recall rate. Rates were in...