cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sex and body-type interactions in the regulation of renal sodium transporter levels, urinary excretion, and activity in lean and obese Zucker rats.

Abstract Background: Female humans and rodents are relatively protected against the development of hypertension and renal disease. Whether this protection is modified during insulin resistance and obesity, however, is not known. Objective: Because renal sodium reabsorption has a central role in determining blood pressure, we hypothesized that lean female rats would bave reduced renal expression, activity, and urinary excretion of 8 major sodium transporters/channels. Methods: Lean and obese, male and female Zucker rats (n = 4–8 per group) were fed progressively higher levels of dietary NaCl over a period of 54 days. Urinary excretion of renal sodium transport proteins was determined for 3 different dietary levels (0.04%, 0.4%, and 4%) of NaCl. With the high-NaCl diet, natriuretic responses to benzamil, furosemide, and thiazide were used as in vivo markers for activity of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), the bumetanide-sensitive Na-K-2C1 cotransporter (NKCC2), and the thiazide-sensitive NaCl cotransporter (NCC), respectively. Results: Female rats (of both body types) had lower plasma renin activity and insulin levels than their male counterparts. Likewise, immunoblotting revealed female rats had increased whole kidney abundance of NCC and of the α, β, and γ subunits of ENaC, as well as decreased abundance of the type 3 sodium hydrogen exchanger (NHE3), type 2 sodium phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-2), and α-1 sodium-potassium-adenosine triphosphatase (Na-K-ATPase), compared with males. Obese rats had reduced levels of NKCC2, NHE3, and γ-ENaC, but higher levels of NaPi-2 and NCC. Urine excretion of sodium transporters in lean female rats was nearly undetectable, whereas obese rats of both sexes excreted markedly more NKCC2 and NCC, which agreed with greater natriuretic responses to thiazide and furosemide. Conclusions: Obese female rats are similar to lean female rats with regard to the sex-distinct pattern of renal sodium transporters. However, obese female rats are more like obese male rats with regard to increased natriuretic response tofurosemide and thiazide, and to urine excretion of several transporters including NCC. Our results suggest that, with obesity, there is some loss of the protective female advantage.
Effect of colostomy on the circadian rhythm in DNA synthesis in the rat colon.

Synthesis of DNA and mitosis in gut epithelium are not constant or random events but rather are characterized by circadian rhythmicity, which we reported persists even in fasted rats. Others suggest that rhythms persist because rats anticipate food, causing nerve impulses to propagate caudally in the gut at usual meal times, or that digestive products from previous feedings cause rhythms in the lower tract. We studied colonic DNA synthesis in rats that had been given colostomies. In one study, the distal colon was isolated neurally from proximal gut by means of an end colostomy. In a second study, rats were subjected to loop colostomy; some intrinsic innervation of the gut wall remained intact. Sprague-Dawley male rats, 8 weeks old, were acclimated to a 12:12 light-dark cycle. Colostomies were performed after a 48-h fast. The rats were fed ad libitum for 4 weeks after surgery. Operated rats and an equal number (n = 30) of control rats (unoper-ated) were divided into four subgroups that were killed at 07:0...
P.11.15 Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) therapy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD): A 6-month prospective randomized controlled trial

Glucocorticoids (GC) delay motor decline in DMD, but cause significant endocrine adverse effects. IGF-I offers potential as a therapeutic agent; it may improve or preserve muscle function and counter GC effects of growth failure and insulin resistance. To determine if IGF-I therapy (1) improves or preserves muscle function and (2) improves linear growth in DMD. Prospective randomized controlled trial of IGF-I therapy in pre-pubertal, ambulatory, GC-treated DMD boys (n = 17) compared to controls (GC alone, n = 21). IGF-I 160 mcg/kg was given daily subcutaneously for 6 months. Primary motor outcome was 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and endocrine outcomes were height velocity and change in height SD score (ΔHtSDS). Other outcomes included changes in timed motor tests, cardiopulmonary function, insulin sensitivity and safety. The difference of 6MWD between control and IGF-I groups at 6 months was 8.5 ± 7.0 m (mean ± SEM, p > 0.5). There were no significant differences between groups for changes in cardiopulmonary and other motor functional outcomes. Height velocity in IGF-I treated subjects was double that of controls at 6 months (6.5 ± 0.4 vs. 3.3 ± 0.3 cm/yr, p In this first study of IGF-I therapy in DMD boys, 6 months of daily IGF-I significantly increased height velocity and HtSDS compared to controls, but there was no difference in motor functional outcomes.
Evaluation of surgical freedom for microscopic and endoscopic transsphenoidal approaches to the sella.

Background Microscopic and endoscopic transsphenoidal approaches to the sellar are well established. Surgical freedom is an important skull base principle that can be measured objectively and used to compare approaches. Objective To compare the surgical freedom of 4 transsphenoidal approaches to the sella turcica to aid in surgical approach selection. Methods Four transsphenoidal approaches to the sella were performed on 8 silicon-injected cadaveric heads. Surgical freedom was determined with stereotactic image guidance using previously established techniques. The results are presented as the area of surgical freedom and angular surgical freedom (angle of attack) in the axial and sagittal planes. Results Mean total exposed area surgical freedom for the microscopic sublabial, endoscopic binostril, endoscopic uninostril, and microscopic endonasal approaches were 102 ± 13, 89 ± 6, 81 ± 4, and 69 ± 10 cm2, respectively. The endoscopic binostril approach had the greatest surgical freedom at the pituitary gland and ipsilateral and contralateral internal carotid arteries (25.7 ± 5.4, 28.0 ± 4.0, and 23.0 ± 3.0 cm2) compared with the microscopic sublabial (21.8 ± 3.5, 21.3 ± 2.4, and 19.5 ± 6.3 cm2), microscopic endonasal (14.2 ± 2.7, 14.1 ± 3.2, and 16.3 ± 4.0 cm2), and endoscopic uninostril (19.7 ± 4.8, 22.4 ± 2.3, and 19.5 ± 2.9 cm2) approaches. Axial angle of attack was greatest for the microscopic sublabial approach to the same targets (14.7 ± 1.3°, 11.0 ± 1.5°, and 11.8 ± 1.1°). For the sagittal angle of attack, the endoscopic binostril approach was superior for all 3 targets (16.6 ± 1.7°, 17.2 ± 0.70°, and 15.5 ± 1.2°). Conclusion Microscopic sublabial and endoscopic binostril approaches provided superior surgical freedom compared with the endonasal microscopic and uninostril endoscopic approaches. This work provides objective baseline values for the quantification and evaluation of future refinements in surgical technique or instrumentation.
Antifungal activity of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. tolerans isolated from a sourdough bread culture

Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from four different sourdough bread cultures previously investigated for antifungal activity. A total of 116 isolates were obtained and screened for antifungal activity against a battery of molds. The most inhibitory isolate obtained was identified by API 50 CHL and 16s ribosomal RNA genotyping and found to be Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. tolerans. This isolate completely inhibited the growth of Fusarium proliferatum M 5689, M 5991 and Fusarium graminearum R 4053 compared to controls in a dual agar plate assay.
Disposition of fluoride in a fatal case of unsuspected sodium fluoride poisoning

A case of suicidal ingestion of sodium fluoride roach powder by a 33-year-old black woman is presented. Disposition of fluoride (mg/l or mg/kg) was: bile, 3.4; gastric content, 225; kidney, 16; liver, 8.6 and urine, 295. No history of roach powder ingestion was available at autopsy. This case illustrates the need for extensive toxicological screening to determine if fatal poisoning has occurred when histopathological findings are unremarkable.
Soft error detection via double execution with hardware assistance

As technology trends keep pushing cell dimensions in semiconductors to smaller geometries and higher densities, modern digital systems are increasingly becoming more vulnerable to reliability issues originated by soft errors. Various techniques used to detect soft errors are accomplished by incorporating redundancy into the hardware or software, but the penalty associated with the added redundancy can be measured by the high cost of the extra hardware or the degradation in performance for software-added redundancy. We are proposing a technique that compromise between hardware and software redundancy approaches. This approach is based on a software time redundancy combined with some hardware assistance. This hybrid technique has the potential to improve performance by adding a limited amount of hardware assistance when compared with a common time redundancy approach. It is also designed to set a foundation for further investigation into variations of this technique to improve soft error detection with better performance and less hardware.
Counselors' Perceptions of Career Images of Women.

Abstract The investigation examined perceptions of female and male vocational and social roles, with particular interest in the meaning of career vis-a-vis other female roles. A mail questionnaire, using the Semantic Differential technique, was sent to 326 Wisconsin school counselors. The results indicated differences in perceptions between female and male roles, with more similarity among the male social and vocational role concepts and less similarity among the female role concepts. The existence of these differential perceptions of sex roles suggests that the counselors in this study hold a traditional view of women's roles, which incorporates a home-career conflict.
Assessing response bias in random‐digit dialling surveys: The telephone‐prefix method

Knowledge of the characteristics of survey non-respondents is important to determine generalizability to the population of interest. In a recent random-digit dialling survey of health behaviours only 73 per cent of the households contacted provided any information about household composition, and only 74 per cent of those actually completed the extended interview, for an overall response rate of 54 per cent. To identify possible biases we grouped all attempted phone numbers by their prefix, and looked for the association between the response rate for that prefix and other summary variables known about the prefix. A simulation study showed that the method can identify non-response biases if certain assumptions are correct. The analysis suggested that our survey data under-represent older people and those with a college education. We found no significant biases in health behaviours, possibly because the basic assumptions did not hold. This method may assist in identification of non-response bias in other studies.
Claudins regulate the intestinal barrier in response to immune mediators.

Abstract Background & Aims: To determine the functional role of immune mediators in the formation of the intestinal barrier, we have examined the regulation of claudin expression by interleukin (IL)-17 in human intestinal epithelial cells. Methods: Expression of claudins, extracellular signal-related (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and activated ERK MAPKs was determined by immunoblotting. Claudin membrane association was assessed by immunohistochemistry and claudin messenger RNA expression by Northern blot analysis. Intestinal epithelial barrier function was characterized through transepithelial electrical resistance and mannitol tracer flux. Results: IL-17 induced the development of a paracellular barrier of T84 cell monolayers. Inhibition of ERK activation with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 blocked IL-17 as well as basal development of tight junctions in T84 cells. IL-17 induced formation of tight junctions correlated with up-regulation of claudin-1 and claudin-2 gene transcription. Inhibition of MEK reduced the activated and basal expression of claudin-2 messenger RNA and protein expression. Functional MEK was required for the expression and membrane association of claudin-2 but not claudin-1 in T84 cells. Conclusions: MEK activity is required for claudin-mediated formation of tight junctions. IL-17 is able to regulate the intestinal barrier through the ERK MAPK pathway. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2000;118:1001-1011
Correlation between nuclear reaction yields induced by fast and slow ions in the DPF

Summary form only given, as follows. Nuclear reaction yields Y(HZ) induced by fast ions were measured by activation methods. An array of GM-counters measures the radioactivity from reaction products in the plasma deposited on or induced by D/sup +/ ions, on Cu foils wrapping the detectors. DPF (W=7 kJ) operates with plasmas of different compositions of high-Z (/sup 12/C, /sup 14/N, /sup 16/O) and low-Z (/sup 2/H, /sup 3/He) elements with comparable abundances. Reactions sensitive to the slow ion (E/sub i/ 1 MeV. As an example the relations between Y(HZ) and D(d,n) neutron yield, Y/sub n/ are shown. From the same discharge over a series of discharges with fillings consisting of /sup 2/H+/sup 3/He+/sup 16/O and /sup 2/H+/sup 14/N+/sup 16/O. Y(HZ) is always recalculated to the values that would be obtained if the plasma were composed of two elements of equal atomic densities. We show the relation between Y(HZ) induced in the plasma by trapped fast ions and on Cu foils by ejected fast D/sup +/ ions. For all considered plasma compositions, a quadratic dependance exists between Y(HZ, fast) and Y(LZ, slow) while the relation between Y(HZ, fast) induced simultaneously in the plasma and in the external targets is linear.
Micromorphological investigation of pedogenic barite in Mormon Mesa petrocalcic horizons, Nevada USA: Implication for genesis

Abstract Barite crystals are identified in stage VI petrocalcic horizons at Mormon Mesa, Nevada. Their presence is significant because barite is not typically associated with arid soil processes. Barite is identified through backscatter SEM/EDS as bright white crystals with EDS peaks of high Ba, S, and O. Barite crystals are euhedral, tabular to acicular crystals ranging in size from 1 to 50 μm in length and 1–20 μm in diameter, and as small (2–4 μm) tabular-ovoid crystals. Forty-one percent of the barite in SEM images is associated with fibers of palygorskite and/or sepiolite. Barite crystals are also associated with linear voids, circular pores, and within micropores between fibers of silicate clays. The formation of barite at Mormon Mesa is attributed to: (i) The dissolution of Ba and SO 4 ions from detrital minerals and dust that are flushed into the soil profile and precipitate as barite; and/or (ii) Biomineralization of barite in micro-environments suitable for bacteria or other organisms within the petrocalcic horizon.
Effect of dithiocarbamates and dithiocarbamate-induced cadmium mobilization on essential trace metal metabolism in the female rat

Abstract The effects of two dithiocarbamates (both of which induce an increase in the excretion of cadmium) on the biliary and urinary excretion of the essential trace elements zinc, copper, iron, magnesium, and calcium have been examined in the female Sprague-Dawley rat to estimate what alterations in the excretion of essential metals accompanies the use of these compounds. The dithiocarbamates studied were sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) and sodium N-(4-methylbenzyl)-4-O-(β- d -galactopyranosyl)- d -glucamine-N-carbodithioae (MeBLDTC). DDTC induced a modest decrease in the biliary and urinary excretion of copper. The biliary excretion of both zinc and iron was significantly enhanced when MeBLDTC was given ip to normal rats, while those of copper, magnesium, and calcium were not significantly affected by this compound. DDTC treatment of normal female rats which had not been administered cadmium resulted in a slight decrease in the iron level of the liver. Treatment of rats with cadmium chloride resulted in a significant increase in the zinc and iron levels of the kidney, liver, and pancreas and an increase in the copper levels of the kidney and the liver. After a treatment with MeBLDTC, which reduced hepatic cadmium levels, only some of the levels of these essential metals were modified toward the levels found in untreated controls. Cadmium-loaded animals from which hepatic cadmium had been mobilized by MeBLDTC did not differ in renal or hepatic histopathology from the control (untreated) animals or from the group which had received cadmium only.
Portraying the Dead

This article explores the custom of post-mortem photography. In nineteenth century America, this was a socially acceptable, publicly acknowledged form of photography. Professional photographers acc...
THERMOVISCOELASTIC STRESS ANALYSIS FOR 304 STAINLESS STEEL

Abstract A constitutive equation applicable to metals is employed which incorporates elasticity, plasticity, and viscoelasticity. Central to this treatment is that all nonlinearities are confined to a quantity known as the “reduced time” so that the final solution technique can utilize linear methods. A 304 stainless steel plate cooled symmetrically from both sides is solved for the transient and residual stresses under different initial temperatures and heat transfer rates.
Comparison of vRNA and cRNA based reporters for detection of influenza replication.

Abstract In this study, RNA polymerase I expressed replicons containing EGFP and luciferase reporter genes controlled by influenza vRNA or cRNA promoters were compared side-by-side in the ability to detect influenza RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity as an indicator of influenza replication. Results showed the vRNA based Luc reporter was more sensitive to early detection of influenza virus at 6 h post infection (p
Vitamin B6 antagonists and growth of microorganisms. II. 5-Desoxypyridoxal and related compounds.

Abstract Three 5-desoxy analogs of vitamin B6 were compared with 4-desoxypyridoxine and ω-methylpyridoxine as antagonists of vitamin B6. Except for minor variations, the order of decreasing effectiveness as antagonists of vitamin B6 for Saccharomyces carlsbergensis was: ω-methylpyridoxine > 4-desoxypyridoxine > 5-desoxypyridoxine ≧ 5-desoxypyridoxal > 5-desoxypyridoxamine. Pyridoxine was more effective than pyridoxal in preventing the inhibitory effects of these antagonists; pyridoxal in turn was more effective than pyridoxamine. For Streptococcus faecalis, 5-desoxypyridoxamine was an effective antagonist of vitamin B6; 5-desoxypyridoxal was somewhat less active; the remaining compounds were inactive. Pyridoxamine was more effective than either pyridoxal or pyridoxamine phosphate in preventing growth inhibition by these antagonists. The antagonists did not inhibit growth when vitamin B6 was made nonessential by the addition of d -alanine to the medium. For Lactobacillus helveticus, only 5-desoxypyridoxal proved effective as an antagonist of vitamin B6. The inhibitory effects on Saccharomyces carlsbergensis of 4-desoxypyridoxine and ω-methylpyridoxine were additive, indicating that these two compounds inhibited the same reaction in this organism. In contrast, the effects of 4-desoxypyridoxine (or of ω-methylpyridoxine) and of 5-desoxypyridoxal were exerted independently of one another; these inhibitors, therefore, appear to act by independent mechanisms.
A Comparison of Pair Programming to Inspections for Software Defect Reduction

Even though convinced of their efficacy, software development managers are looking for ways to reduce the cost of inspections. Recent work shows that inspections by two engineers have as good results as by using a larger team of five. This indicates that pair programming might be effective as an inspection technique, as other research shows that a meeting is not necessarily better than not meeting. An experiment was conducted to see if pair programming reduces defects more than formal inspections. Results indicate that pair programming is more effective. A defect rate of 9.6 per thousand lines of code, much lower than that of a heavier method, were achieved. The implications for teaching are explored.
Perindopril treatment for congestive heart failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most common and lethal consequence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with a prevalence estimated between 1% and 10%, and very high associated mortality. Preventing the continued progression of established heart failure and improving the prognosis for patients with this disease is difficult, but angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to be effective in reducing mortality in patients with CHF. In a review of the worldwide literature of the efficacy and safety of perindopril erbumine for the treatment of patients with CHF, once-daily treatment with this ACE inhibitor was shown to be effective in patients with CHF of all severities. Its use is associated with a low risk of first-dose hypotension and no unwanted effects on blood pressure in normotensive patients. Perindopril also improves arterial compliance and reverses left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension. It is well tolerated and has no significant effects on heart rate, indexes of renal function, or plasma lipid profile. It also has no clinically significant interactions with other drugs, including digoxin, likely to be taken by patients with CHF.
Genetic risk assessment for women with epithelial ovarian cancer: referral patterns and outcomes in a university gynecologic oncology clinic.

Little is known about genetic service utilization and ovarian cancer. We identified the frequency and outcome of genetic counseling referral, predictors of referral, and referral uptake for ovarian cancer patients. Using pathology reports, we identified all epithelial ovarian cancer patients seen in a university gynecologic oncology clinic (1/04–8/06). Electronic medical records (EMR) were used to document genetic service referral, time from diagnosis-to-referral, point-in-treatment at referral, personal/family cancer history, demographics, and genetic test results. Groups were compared using chi-squared and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables. The study population consisted of 376 women with ovarian cancer, 72 (19 %) of who were referred for genetic counseling/testing, primarily during surveillance. Of those referred, 42 (58 %) had personal or family genetic counseling and 34 (47 %) were ultimately tested or identified due to known family mutation. Family history and prior cancer were associated with referral. Family history, living in a larger community, higher-stage disease, and serous histology were associated with undergoing genetic counseling. Risk assessment identified 20 BRCA1/2 (5.3 %) and 1 HNPCC (0.3 %) mutation carriers. Based on recent estimates that 11.7–16.6 % of women with ovarian cancer are BRCA carriers and 2 % are HNPCC carriers, results suggest under-identification of carriers and under-utilization of genetic services by providers and patients. Interventions to increase medical providers’ referrals, even in a specialized oncology clinic, are necessary and may include innovations in educating these providers using web-based methods. Ease of referral by the introduction of an electronic cancer genetic referral form represents another new direction that may increase genetic risk assessment for high-risk women with ovarian cancer.
Protein Kinase G Type II Is Required for Night-to-Day Progression of the Mammalian Circadian Clock

Summary The cell cycle is another molecular timing device found within biological systems. Similar to the circadian Circadian clocks comprise a cyclic series of dynamic clock, the free-running period of mitosis is 24 hr in cellular states, characterized by the changing avail- many eukaryotic cells (Tyson et al., 2002). Cell replicaability of substrates that alter clock time when acti- tion is controlled by complex intracellular signaling pathvated. To determine whether circadian clocks, like the ways that integrate information about the extracellular cell cycle, exhibit regulation by key phosphorylation environment with intracellular cues. The events of the events, we examined endogenous kinase regulation cell cycle are predominantly controlled at the protein of timekeeping in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nu- level by a small number of heterodimeric protein kicleus (SCN). Short-term inhibition of PKG-II but not nases. These kinases, which fluctuate over the course PKG-I using antisense oligodeoxynucleotides de- of the cycle, exert control over multiple proteins that layed rhythms of electrical activity and Bmal1 mRNA. are involved in transcription, DNA replication, and cytoPhase resetting was rapid and dynamic; inhibition of kinesis by phosphorylation at specific regulatory sites, PKG-II forced repetition of the last 3.5 hr of the cycle. rendering certain proteins active while inactivating othChronic inhibition of PKG-II disrupted electrical activ- ers (Nurse, 2002; Tyson et al., 2002). ity rhythms and tonically increased Bmal1 mRNA. Knowledge of cell cycle regulation prompted our inPKG-II-like immunoreactivity was detected after coim- vestigation of critical kinases for regulating the circadian munoprecipitation with CLOCK, and CLOCK was clock. Clock elements are regulated by complex cellular phosphorylated in the presence of active PKG-II. PKG- processes that include posttranslational modifications
Long-Lived Chemiluminescence in Cigarette Smoke

Cigarette smooke contains high concentrations of unstable moleculles that react with oxygen to produce chemiluminescence. The chemiluminescent activity is concentrated in the aerosol phase that can be absorbed on glass-fiber filters and extracted into organic solvents. Cigarette smnoke in N, N-dimethylformamide produces a long-lasting luminescence visible to the dark-adapted eye. We have demonstrated the oxygen dependence and have measured the kinetics, activation energies, emission spectra, and absolute photon intensities of this chemiluminescence. The total light emission from a single puff (35 cubic centimeters) of cigarette smoke is greater than 10(12) photons. There was a significant correlation between smoke chemiluminescence anSd tar content. It is suggested that the chemical production of electronically excited states of aromatic hydrocarbons is equivalent to photoexcitation in the promotion of the carcinogenicity of these agents.
Closure for a plane fin heat sink with scale-roughened surfaces for volume averaging theory (VAT) based modeling

The present paper describes an effort to obtain closure for a volume averaging theory (VAT) based model of a plane fin heat sink (PFHS) with scale-roughened surfaces by evaluating the closure terms for the model using computer fluid dynamics (CFD). Modeling a PFHS as porous media based on VAT, specific geometry can be accounted for in such a way that the details of the original structure can be replaced by their averaged counterparts and the VAT based governing equations can be efficiently solved for a wide range of parameters. To complete the VAT based model, proper closure is needed, which is related to a local friction factor and a heat transfer coefficient of a representative elementary volume (REV). The terms in the closure expressions are complex and sometimes relating experimental data to the closure terms is difficult. In this work we use CFD to obtain detailed solutions of flow and heat transfer through an element of the scale-roughened heat sink and use these results to evaluate the closure terms needed for a fast running VAT based code, which can then be used to solve the heat transfer characteristics of a higher level heat sink. The objective is to show how heat sinks can be modeled as a porous media based on volume averaging theory and how CFD can be used in place of a detailed, often formidable, experimental effort to obtain closure for a VAT based model.
Strong Cation Exchange Chromatography in Analysis of Posttranslational Modifications: Innovations and Perspectives

Strong cation exchange (SCX) chromatography has been utilized as an excellent separation technique that can be combined with reversed-phase (RP) chromatography, which is frequently used in peptide mass spectrometry. Although SCX is valuable as the second component of such two-dimensional separation methods, its application goes far beyond efficient fractionation of complex peptide mixtures. Here I describe how SCX facilitates mapping of the protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs), specifically phosphorylation and N-terminal acetylation. The SCX chromatography has been mainly used for enrichment of these two PTMs, but it might also be beneficial for high-throughput analysis of other modifications that alter the net charge of a peptide.
A Systematic Evaluation of Data Streams for Global Disease Surveillance

Living in a closely connected and highly mobile world presents many new mechanisms for rapid disease spread and in recent years, global disease surveillance has become a high priority. In addition, much like the contribution of non-traditional medicine to curing diseases, non-traditional data streams are being considered of value in disease surveillance. Los Alamos National Laboratory is determining the relevance of various data streams through the use of defined metrics and methodologies. An overview of this project will be presented, together with results of data stream evaluation.
Nonvolatile memory elements based on organic materials

Many organic electronic devices exhibit switching behavior, and have therefore been proposed as the basis for a nonvolatile memory (NVM) technology. This Review summarizes the materials that have been used in switching devices, and describes the variety of device behavior observed in their charge-voltage (capacitive) or current-voltage (resistive) response. A critical summary of the proposed charge-transport mechanisms for resistive switching is given, focusing particularly on the role of filamentary conduction and of deliberately introduced or accidental nanoparticles. The reported device parameters (on-off ratio, on-state current, switching time, retention time, cycling endurance, and rectification) are compared with those that would be necessary for a viable memory technology.
Medieval Mercenaries: The Great Companies, Volume I

(2001). Medieval Mercenaries: The Great Companies, Volume I. History: Reviews of New Books: Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 27-27.
Magnetic Hysteresis of CoPt Films

Co-Pt bulk alloys have been of interest due to their high coercivity and anisot-ropy.(1,2) Several uses of these alloys have been suggested in magnetic recording, such as longitudinal recording(3) and magnetooptical recording.(4) Of particular interest are the alloys between 25 and 60 at.%. Within this composition range the alloys undergo an ordering phase transition.(5,6) Direct evidence of this ordering was first reported by Gebhardt and Koster(7) who showed that the face centered cubic (fcc) structure of equiatomic alloys transforms into a face centered tetragonal (fct) at temperatures below 835°C. The fct phase is highly anisotropic with K ≃ 4 × 107erg/cc.(8) The coercivity of these films is small for the disordered fcc Co50-Pt50 alloys, but increases with annealing because of the transformation to fct and then decreases in overaged state because of coarsening of the microstructure. Higher Pt content alloys ~ 75%, transform from disordered fcc to ordered fcc. Although there are several reports on the magnetic properties of Co-Pt thin films, most of the work has been on films with high Co concentrations. Yanagisawa et al(3) reported a peak in coercivity as high as 1700 Oe for a 350A thick film with 20% Pt. The coercivity decreased on either side of this composition. Kitada and Shimizu(9) related this anomaly in coercivity to the microstructure of the films. It was assumed that the increase in coercivity was due to both grain growth and the tendency for the c-axis of α-Co (hep structure) to collapse into the film surface. Aboaf and co-workers(10,11) reported the results of annealing in Co50-Pt50 films. The coercivity was reported to increase from 90 Oe for the as-grown films to “very high” values after annealing at 700°C for one hour. They also related this increase in coercivity to the solid state transformation from fcc to ordered fct.
Perceptions of Behavioral Consistency: Are People Aware of the Actor-Observer Effect?

Actors view behavior relevant for personality traits as more variable than observers do This study was designed to replicate this actor-observer effect (AOE) in a common-target paradigm, test whether actors, observers, or both are intuitively aware of the AOE, and examine the effects of social projection on people's awareness of the AOE Within each actor-observer pair, subjects described the actor on a series of trait adjectives and rated the consistency of relevant behavior They then predicted the other person's ratings The AOE emerged, and actors, but not observers, were aware of the effect On average, actors correctly predicted that observers rated actors' behavior as more consistent than actors themselves did Correlational analyses showed that actors and observers were equally prone to project their own ratings to their matched partners
Respiratory Uncoupling in Skeletal Muscle Delays Death and Diminishes Age-Related Disease

Age-related disease, not aging per se, causes most morbidity in older humans. Here we report that skeletal muscle respiratory uncoupling due to UCP1 expression diminishes age-related disease in three mouse models. In a longevity study, median survival was increased in UCP mice (animals with skeletal muscle-specific UCP1 expression), and lymphoma was detected less frequently in UCP female mice. In apoE null mice, a vascular disease model, diet-induced atherosclerosis was decreased in UCP animals. In agouti yellow mice, a genetic obesity model, diabetes and hypertension were reversed by induction of UCP1 in skeletal muscle. Uncoupled mice had decreased adiposity, increased temperature and metabolic rate, elevated muscle SIRT and AMP kinase, and serum characterized by increased adiponectin and decreased IGF-1 and fibrinogen. Accelerating metabolism in skeletal muscle does not appear to impact aging but may delay age-related disease.
FAMILY PERCEPTIONS OF FUTURE PROGRAMMING NEEDS IN A SAMPLE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION

The present study examined parents' perceived programming needs of their children with mental retardation. Parents (44 mothers, 8 fathers) of individuals attending programming in an agency for mental retardation responded to a telephone survey. Analysis showed parents were most concerned about future housing needs. A significant difference was found between older and younger parents in their perception of future needs.
Some effects of the growth-retardant glyphosine [N, N-bis (phosphonomethyl) glycine] on the sugar-beet crop

SUMMARY Four experiments tested a range of doses of the growth-retardant glyphosine on sugar-beet crops between 1970 and 1972. The period of time between application and harvest was varied. One experiment (1972) in nutrient mist culture examined its effect on seedling root development. The growth-retardant decreased root, sugar and top yield of sugar beet at all doses in excess of 0·56 kg a.i. ha-1 at all treatment times. It increased the α-amino nitrogen content of beet roots significantly (P < 0·05) with doses in excess of 1·12 kg a.i. ha-1. When applied to the leaves of seedlings with their roots in nutrient mist culture, glyphosine at 500 ppm and 2000 ppm of a.i. in aqueous solution slowed or stopped root elongation.
Commonalities, conflicts and contradictions in organizational masculinities; exploring the gendered genesis of the Challenger disaster.

Les auteurs reviennent sur la controverse qui a entoure le lancement, en 1986, de la navette spatiale Challenger afin de montrer de quelle maniere les rapports masculins - en particulier entre les gestionnaires et les ingenieurs - ont contribue a generer cette crise au sein de la NASA. L'analyse des rapports de force fondes sur le sexe, entre les hommes principalement, revele comment l'emergence de comportements masculins particuliers, et la fagon dont ils sont reproduits, justifies ou remis en cause, varie selon le contexte. Les auteurs examinent ensuite les points communs et les differences entre ces comportements masculins. Enfin, ils etudient les contradictions eventuelles, a la base de ces comportements masculins, ainsi que leurs consequences sur les rapports de travail. The events surrounding the 1986 decision to launch the Space Shuttle Challenger are reconstructed to illustrate how multiple masculinities, particularly between and among managers and engineers, contributed to that organizational crisis. An analysis of gendered power relations—especially among men—reveals how the construction of particular forms of “masculinities,” and the ways in which they are reproduced, rationalized or resisted, vary as a result of contextual changes. Commonalities and differences among these masculinities are discussed. We close by exploring possible contradictions in the construction of organizational masculinities and their implications for organizational practice.
Design and development of MOSFIRE, the Multi-Object Spectrometer For Infra-Red Exploration at the Keck Observatory

MOSFIRE is a unique multi-object spectrometer and imager for the Cassegrain focus of the 10 m Keck 1 telescope. A refractive optical design provides near-IR (0.97 to 2.45 μm) multi-object spectroscopy over a 6.14' x 6.14' field of view with a resolving power of R~3,270 for a 0.7" slit width (2.9 pixels in the dispersion direction), or imaging over a field of view of 6.8' diameter with 0.18" per pixel sampling. A single diffraction grating can be set at two fixed angles, and order-sorting filters provide spectra that cover the K, H, J or Y bands by selecting 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th order respectively. A folding flat following the field lens is equipped with piezo transducers to provide tip/tilt control for flexure compensation at the 0.1 pixel level. A special feature of MOSFIRE is that its multiplex advantage of up to 46 slits is achieved using a cryogenic Configurable Slit Unit or CSU developed in collaboration with the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Micro Technology (CSEM). The CSU is reconfigurable under remote control in less than 5 minutes without any thermal cycling of the instrument. Slits are formed by moving opposable bars from both sides of the focal plane. An individual slit has a length of 7.1" but bar positions can be aligned to make longer slits. When masking bars are removed to their full extent and the grating is changed to a mirror, MOSFIRE becomes a wide-field imager. Using a single, ASIC-driven, 2K x 2K H2-RG HgCdTe array from Teledyne Imaging Sensors with exceptionally low dark current and low noise, MOSFIRE will be extremely sensitive and ideal for a wide range of science applications. This paper describes the design and testing of the instrument prior to delivery later in 2010.
Percutaneous plasma decompression alters cytokine expression in injured porcine intervertebral discs.

Abstract Background context Discectomy is a surgical technique commonly used to treat bulging or herniated discs causing nerve root compression. Clinical data suggest discectomy may also help patients with contained discs and no clear neural compromise. However, the mechanisms of clinical efficacy are uncertain, and consequently bases for treatment optimization are limited. Purpose To determine the effect of percutaneous plasma decompression on the histologic, morphologic, biochemical and biomechanical features of degenerating intervertebral discs. Study design An adult porcine model of disc degeneration was used to establish a degenerative baseline against which to evaluate discectomy efficacy. Outcome measures Cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured from tissue samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histology and morphology images were rated for degenerative findings (of cells and matrix) in both the nucleus and annulus. Proteoglycan content was determined, and intact specimen stiffness and flexibility were measured biomechanically. Magnetic resonance images were collected for biomechanical specimens. Methods Using a retroperitoneal surgical approach, stab incisions were made in four or five lumbar discs per spine in 12 minipigs. Animals were allocated into one of three groups: 6-week recovery, 12-week recovery and percutaneous plasma decompression using an electrosurgical device at 6 weeks with recovery for 6 additional weeks. Four additional animals served as controls. Results Discs treated with discectomy had a significant increase in IL-8 and a decrease in IL-1 as compared with the 12-week, nontreated discs. There were no significant differences in morphologic and biomechanical parameters or proteoglycan content between treated discs and time-matched, nontreated discs. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that percutaneous plasma discectomy alters the expression of inflammatory cytokines in degenerated discs, leading to a decrease in IL-1 and an increase in IL-8. Whereas both IL-1 and IL-8 have hyperalgesic properties, IL-1 is likely to be a more important pathophysiologic factor in painful disc disorders than IL-8. Therefore, the alteration in cytokine expression that we observed is consistent with this effect as a mechanism of pain relief after discectomy. In addition, given that IL-1 is catabolic in injured tissue and IL-8 is anabolic, our results suggest that a percutaneous plasma discectomy may be capable of initiating a repair response in the disc.
Neuronal classes and their relation to functional and laminar organization of the lateral geniculate nucleus: a Golgi study of the prosimian primate, Galago crassicaudatus.

The neuronal organization of the lateral geniculate nucleus of the prosimian primate, Galago crassicaudatus, was studied in Golgi-Kopsch-impregnated material. On the basis of cytoarchitecture, electrophysiology, and connections the nucleus is divisible into three pairs of layers—one magnocellular, one parvocellular, and one koniocellular—each part of a separate retinogeniculate and geniculostriate pathway (Itoh et al., '82; Norton and Casagrande, '82). In Macaca and Saimiri, which have equally distinct geniculate subdivisions, it has been reported that, outside of cell size, no one morphological attribute differentiates magnocellular from parvocellular neurons (Campo-Ortega et al., '68; Wong-Riley, '72; Saini and Garey, '81; Wilson and Hendrickson, '81). Results presented here are not inconsistent with this conclusion. However, when the results are analyzed from the standpoint of the collective traits that distinguish the cell groups that make up the layers, clear morphological differences are evident. Using this approach we find the following differences between presumed projection neurons and interneurons in each pair of layers. The projection neurons of the magnocellular layers, as a group, exhibit large cell bodies with radially arranged dendrites which often extend beyond laminar borders. The magnocellular interneurons are larger than their counterparts in the other layers and, like the magnocellular projection neurons, exhibit radially arranged dendrites. The former, however, also share characteristics in common with other interneurons such as relatively small somata, few proximal dendrites, and complex distal dendritic appendages. In contrast, the projection neurons and interneurons of the parvocellular layers have smaller somata and more restricted dendritic spreads than their counterparts in the magnocellular layers. Dendritic arbors of parvocellular neurons are typically oriented perpendicular to laminar borders and remain confined to their layer of origin. The koniocellular neurons represent a more diverse population but collectively are distinct in that the dendrites of almost all neurons in these layers run parallel to the layers. The fact that presumed interneurons and projection neurons in a single layer share a number of related dendritic features suggests that both groups together are responsible for the structural and, hence, functional architecture of a layer. We conclude that when the organization of the lateral geniculate nucleus is considered from the standpoint of layers and not individual cell types, the functional differences between layers indicated bydifferential connections, histochemistry, and electrophysiology can be related to distinct morphological differences singular to magnocellular, parvocellular, and koniocellular divisions.
Carotid artery intimal-medial thickness distribution in general populations as evaluated by B-mode ultrasound. ARIC Investigators.

B-mode ultrasound is a widely used technique for the clinical and epidemiological assessment of carotid atherosclerosis. This article provides a description of the distribution of carotid atherosclerosis in the general population.Intimal-medial arterial wall thickness was measured by B-mode real-time ultrasound as an index of atherosclerotic involvement in the extracranial carotid arteries as part of the population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. The distribution was described by race-sex strata, in which 759 to 4952 individuals were imaged depending on strata and location in the carotid system.Median wall thickness ranged between 0.5 and 1 mm at all ages; fewer than 5% of ARIC participants had values exceeding 2 mm. Individuals tended to have a larger wall thickness in the carotid bifurcation than in the common carotid artery. Internal carotid artery values were more variable, with higher proportions of both large and small wall thicknesses than in the common carotid. The proporti...
Worst case bounds on the point-wise discretization error in boundary element method for the elasticity problem

In this work, point-wise discretization error is bounded via interval approach for the elasticity problem using interval boundary element formulation. The formulation allows for computation of the worst case bounds on the boundary values for the elasticity problem. From these bounds the worst case bounds on the true solution at any point in the domain of the system can be computed. Examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the treatment of local discretization error in elasticity problem via interval methods.
High-Throughput Screens for Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Development

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is both a model biofilm-forming organism and an opportunistic pathogen responsible for chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and infections in burn patients, among other maladies. Here we describe the development of an efficient high-throughput screen to identify small-molecule modulators of biofilm formation. This screen has been run with 66,095 compounds to identify those that prevent biofilm formation without affecting planktonic bacterial growth. The screen is a luminescence-based attachment assay that has been validated with several strains of P. aeruginosa and compared to a well-established but low-throughput crystal violet staining biofilm assay. P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 was selected for use in the screen both because it forms robust biofilms and because genetic information and tools are available for the organism. The attachment-inhibited mutant, strain PAO1 DeltafliC, was used as a screening-positive control. We have also developed and validated a complementary biofilm detachment assay that can be used as an alternative primary screen or secondary screen for the attachment screening-positive compounds. We have determined the potencies of 61 compounds against biofilm attachment and have identified 30 compounds that fall into different structural classes as biofilm attachment inhibitors with 50% effective concentrations of less than 20 microM. These small-molecule inhibitors could lead to the identification of their relevant biofilm targets or potential therapeutics for P. aeruginosa infections.