cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reliability of urinalysis for identification of proteinuria is reduced in the presence of other abnormalities including high specific gravity and hematuria.

ABSTRACT Purpose Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is classified according to cause, glomerular filtration rate, and proteinuria. Identification of proteinuria with urinalysis (UA) is less accurate than quantification via other methods. We investigated factors leading to discordant UA findings when compared against paired albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) testing. Methods Four thousand three hundred and twenty-three UAs were grouped by proteinuria level (A1-A3); concordance with ACR was examined. Classification of UA with confounding factors (UA+CF) or without (UA-CF) was based on CF that resulted in >10% increase in false-positive proteinuria readings. The presence of ≥3+ blood, ≥3+ leukocyte esterase, any ketonuria, specific gravity ≥1.020, ≥1+ urobilinogen, ≥2+ bilirubin, ≥2+ bacteria, ≥3 RBC/hpf (high powered field), ≥10 WBC/hpf, and/or ≥6 epithelial cells/hpf led to UA+CF classification. Results Proteinuria was determined to be present in 14.1% by UA dipstick and 24.9% by ACR. Using ACR as the standard, overall concordance was 80.4%, with 17.2% false-negatives and 2.3% false-positives by UA. UA+CF represented 55.6% of UA overall (n = 2404), and 98.0% of those false-positive for proteinuria. High specific gravity and hematuria are the strongest predictors of false positives. For A2 proteinuria (30–300 mg/g, 1+,2+,3+ on UA) UA-CF had a higher negative predictive value (NPV) (99.8%) than UA+CF (77.6%); NPV for A3 proteinuria (>300 mg/g, 4+ on UA) was 100% for UA-CF and UA+CF. Conclusion Additional abnormalities were noted in >50% of outpatient UAs indicating proteinuria. Given the significant proportion of patients having a false-positive UA for proteinuria when these CFs were present, we recommend that such patients undergo ACR confirmatory testing, according to a clinical algorithm for the incorporation of UA results into the management of CKD.
Trends in MOS Integrated Circuit Technology

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the trends in metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) integrated circuit technology. Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) requires a more complex process and adds the problem of latch-up. It now dominates the field of advanced MOS applications, because it consumes power only during switching and is simpler to design. Integrated circuits with millions of devices are in volume production at present. If all device lateral and vertical dimensions are scaled down and the silicon doping profiles are increased by the same scale factor, field effect transistors (FETs) operate as before with the voltages and currents scaled down. This classical (constant electric field) scaling is not strictly followed, however, for several reasons. A wide variety of integrated circuits must work together to form systems and this forces voltage standards that resist change. The chapter also highlights the trends in FET design. Most integrated circuits today isolate adjacent devices using localized oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) or one of its variations. The chapter discusses very-large scale integration (VLSI) lithography's current use of optical stepping projection aligners with the 436-nm mercury g-line as the source of illumination. It then reviews the current trends in ion implantation. Several trends are driving the need for new dielectric materials. More complex chips require more layers of interconnect with more layers of dielectric. As chip complexity grows, interconnection assumes a more dominant role. As interconnect is scaled down, current densities increase and electromigration becomes increasingly important. The chapter further discusses bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS) and memory technology.
The role of woody detritus in biogeochemical cycles: past, present, and future

Woody detritus (WD), created by mortality of trees and their associated parts, is an important component of forested ecosystems with roles in energy flow, hydrologic and geomorphologic processes as well as in carbon and nutrient cycling. Although likely to be increasingly important as forest systems respond to climatic and other human induced changes, WD-related science is just beginning relative to other aspects of forested ecosystems. WD differs from other litter forms and soil in key ways (i.e., size range, rigidity, and heterogeneity) that limit the application of many paradigms currently used in studying and modeling decomposition. Thus, while temperature and concentrations of lignin and nitrogen are important controls, others factors related to moisture and its interaction with canopy openness, WD size, position relative to the soil surface, and decomposers need to be better understood. Moreover, the unique attributes of WD decomposers need to be acknowledged as they have evolved over hundreds of millions of years to efficiently process this high lignin, low nutrient substrate. Given the heterogeneity within and among WD entities, WD behavior can be extremely non-linear, often resulting in cascades of activity rather than all or nothing behavior. Substantial improvements in understanding and modeling the respiration, fragmentation, leaching, and burial involved during WD decomposition are required to accurately assess the impact of global increases in tree mortality. Additionally understanding how the perception of WD-related processes changes with scale and organizational level is required to fully understand WD’s role in past, present, and future biogeochemical cycling.
Sinonasal Issues After Maxillectomy With Free Flap Reconstruction: Incidence and Clinical Approach.

Objective To characterize the clinical features associated with sinonasal complaints after maxillectomy with free flap reconstruction as well as propose a screening and treatment algorithm. Methods Retrospective review of patients who underwent maxillectomy and free flap reconstruction at a tertiary care center. Results Fifty-eight patients were included, 25 (43.1%) of them had documented sinonasal complaints postoperatively. Eleven patients subsequently underwent revision surgery for sinonasal complaints. Among the 25 patients with sinonasal complaints, 22 patients (88.0%) had nasal crusting, 17 (68.0%) had nasal obstruction, 12 (48.0%) had rhinorrhea, 9 (36.0%) had facial pain or pressure, and 7 (28.0%) had foul odor. Twenty-two patients (88.0%) had multiple sinonasal complaints. There was a higher incidence of both sinonasal complaints and surgical intervention in patients who underwent adjuvant radiation, but this was not statistically significant (47.7% vs 28.6%, P = .235; 29.4% vs 7.1%, P = .265). Conclusions Sinonasal complaints are common following free flap reconstruction for a maxillectomy defect and should be screened for at postoperative visits, with early referral to a rhinologist for consideration of endoscopic sinus surgery. Nonsurgical treatment strategies include large-volume nasal saline irrigations, xylitol irrigations for persistent inflammatory symptoms, and culture-directed antibiotic irrigations for persistent infectious symptoms. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2021.
Controllable Nonclassical Conductance Switching in Nanoscale Phase-Separated (PbI2)1−x(BiI3)x Layered Crystals

Layered 2D (PbI2 )1-x (BiI3 )x materials exhibit a nonlinear dependence in structural and charge transport properties unanticipated from the combination of PbI2 and BiI3 . Within (PbI2 )1-x (BiI3 )x crystals, phase integration yields deceptive structural features, while phase boundary separation leads to new conductance switching behavior observed as large peaks in current during current-voltage (I-V) measurements (±100 V). Temperature- and time-dependent electrical measurements demonstrate that the behavior is attributed to ionic transport perpendicular to the layers. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals that the structure of (PbI2 )1-x (BiI3 )x is a "brick wall" consisting of two phases, Pb-rich and Bi-rich. These brick-like features are 10s nm a side and it is posited that iodide ion transport at the interfaces of these regions is responsible for the conductance switching action.
Food Emulsions and Foams

Many convenience foods, such as frozen desserts, meat products, margarine, and some natural foods, such as milk and butter, are emulsions. That is, they contain either water dispersed in oil or oil dispersed in water. These water and oil liquids do not normally mix, and so when present together, they exist as two separate layers. However, when an emulsion is formed, the liquids are mixed in such a way that a single layer is formed with droplets of one liquid dispersed within another. Food emulsions need to be stable; if they are not, the oil and water will separate out. Stability is usually achieved by adding a suitable emulsifier. In some cases, a stabilizing agent is also required.
Biomimetic Nanosensors and Nanoactuators

This chapter describes the recent advances made in connection with biomimetic distributed nanosensors and nanoactuators (BNNs) made from nanocomposites of ion-containing polymers, polyelectrolytes and conductive materials and networks. Details of the fundamental properties and characteristics of BNNs are provided, together with descriptions of the basic molecular structures of the materials and subsequent procedures to manufacture materials for electroless molecular plating. A phenomenological model of the underlying sensing and actuation mechanisms is also presented, based on linear irreversible thermodynamics with two driving forces, an electric field and a solvent pressure gradient and two fluxes, electric current density and the ionic + solvent flux. Keywords: ion-containing polymers; nanocomposites; nanosensors; nanoactuators
Transitions in friendship and friends' influence.

As children move into adolescence, they spend increasing amounts of time interacting with peers. The features of the closest peer relationships those between best friends, also change during the transition to adolescence. The most important change is the emergence of intimate friendships characterized by open disclosure of personal information. The effects of friends' influence on adolescents' attitudes and behavior are controversial. One perspective that is accepted by many researchers, parents, and other adults can be illustrated—or, perhaps, caricatured—by the following fictional vignette. Writers who emphasize the negative outcomes of peer pressure rarely state precisely who these peers are. Some researchers have used peer pressure to refer to the influence of the entire peer group in a particular setting. For example, Bronfenbrenner described the pressure on Soviet adolescents that come from the group of other adolescents who live at the same boarding school. However, the effects of an entire peer group are weak.
Grid Inertial Response-Based Probabilistic Determination of Energy Storage System Capacity Under High Solar Penetration

It is well known that responsive battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are effective means to improve the grid inertial response to various disturbances including the variability of the renewable generation. One of the major issues associated with its implementation is the difficulty in determining the required BESS capacity mainly due to the large amount of inherent uncertainties that cannot be accounted for deterministically. In this study, a probabilistic approach is proposed to properly size the BESS from the perspective of the system inertial response, as an application of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA). The proposed approach enables a risk-informed decision-making process regarding 1)the acceptable level of solar penetration in a given system and 2)the desired BESS capacity (and minimum cost) to achieve an acceptable grid inertial response with a certain confidence level.
The Dearth of Jointly Dyadic Democratic Interventions

The Democratic Peace Proposition, which states that no two democracies have ever gone to war with each other, has been questioned by scholars who claim that such pacific behavior among free states does not apply to lower forms of conflict. In particular, Kegley and Hermann contend that democracies intervene in the affairs of other liberal states via overt military acts or covert machinations. In many cases, they argue that dyadic democratic interventions (DDIs) occur more frequently than would be expected given the number of jointly democratic dyads in the international system. I examine their research design and suggest changes to their concepts of states, interventions, and regime type, as well as their sample size and definition of dyads in the international system. I implement these changes and retest such arguments on a sample of interventions from 1945 to 1991. I find 11 cases where a democracy intervenes against another democracy, but these cases are rare in comparison to interventions conducted by democratic and/or autocratic states in undemocratic states, or by autocratic states against democratic states. Furthermore, these DDIs are less likely to occur than the presence of democracy in the international system would suggest.
Formation and ion-exchange chemistry of new oxides with the hexagonal MoO3 structure

Abstract In dilute acid solution, layered oxides AVMoO 6 (A=Li, Na) with the “brannerite” structure do not undergo the expected ion-exchange reaction to produce HVMoO 6 , and instead participate in an unusual “leaching reaction” that leads to the formation of new compounds with the stoichiometry A 0.13 V 0.13 Mo 0.87 O 3 (A=H·2H 2 O, Na·2H 2 O). These well crystallized products have the “hexagonal MoO 3 ” structure, which contains one-dimensional tunnels with free diameters approaching 3.5 A. Complete dehydration of the product of the Li brannerite reaction, (H·2H 2 O) 0.13 V 0.13 Mo 0.87 O 3 produces V 0.13 Mo 0.87 O 2.935 , which retains the “hexagonal MoO 3 ” structure up to 455°C and has empty tunnels. This microporous phase readily undergoes a variety of ion-insertion reactions. Hexagonal (Li x H 1− x ) 0.13 V 0.13 mO 0.87 O 3 · n H 2 O has also been prepared by direct precipitation from lithium molybdovanadate solutions. (H·2H 2 O) 0.13 V 0.13 Mo 0.87 O 3 and (Li·2H 2 O) 0.13 V 0.13 mo 0.87 O 3 have been obtained from these precipitates by ion-exchange. Upon heating, Li 0.13 V 0.13 Mo 0.87 O 3 undergoes an exothermic transformation in which the dehydrated Li ions “hop” from the tunnel sites to trigonal prismatic sites located in the framework.
Acoustic assessment of salmon at sea for the purpose of run prediction

Investigations into the migratory habits of salmon have shown that population sampling in particular areas of the North Pacific can help to predict the spawning migration to Bristol Bay, Alaska, the succeeding year. This population indexing has been done with standard purse-seining gear operated at a fixed series of stations. Such indices of population size have proved useful to both the fishing industry and the management agencies in planning their respective operations. This paper describes an acoustic sampling system developed at the University of Washington which will be used to help index this salmon population.
Factors influencing the cognitive and neural effects of hormone treatment during aging in a rodent model.

Abstract Whether hormone treatment alters brain structure or has beneficial effects on cognition during aging has recently become a topic of debate. Although previous research has indicated that hormone treatment benefits memory in menopausal women, several newer studies have shown no effect or detrimental effects. These inconsistencies emphasize the need to evaluate the role of hormones in protecting against age-related cognitive decline in an animal model. Importantly, many studies investigating the effects of estrogen and progesterone on cognition and related brain regions have used young adult animals, which respond differently than aged animals. However, when only the studies that have examined the effects of hormone treatment in an aging model are reviewed, there are still varied behavioral and neural outcomes. This article reviews some of the important factors that can influence the behavioral and neural outcomes of hormone treatment including the type of estrogen administered, whether or not estrogen is combined with progesterone and if so, the type of progesterone used, as well as the route, mode, and length of treatment. How these factors influence cognitive outcomes highlights the importance of study design and avoiding generalizations from a small number of studies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Hormone Therapy .
Effect of Aging on DNA Repair and Skin Carcinogenesis: A Minireview of Population-Based Studies

In the general population, the risk of developing sunlight-induced skin cancer increases as age increases. During the aging process, many biologic factors contribute to the increased risk of developing cancer, including increasing cumulative carcinogenic exposure and increased cellular susceptibility to DNA damage induced by carcinogens. The latter is probably due to an age-related decrease in cellular DNA repair capacity (DRC). Secondary to this decrease in DNA damage repair associated with aging, oncogene activation and amplification also increase, as does the frequency of defects in tumor suppressor genes. All these factors lead to carcinogenesis. Population studies using peripheral blood lymphocytes, transformed lymphoblastoid cells, and primary skin fibroblasts have shown that human DRC decreases with increasing age. The decrease in DRC is also correlated with an increased mutation rate. Reduced DRC may thus be one of the underlying biologic mechanisms for the age-related increase in risk of skin cancer. Therefore, it is important to take the effect of age on DNA repair into account in population studies of DNA repair and skin cancer risk. Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings 3:19–22, 1998
Heart failure and ventricular hypertrophy. Altered cardiac contractility and compensatory mechanisms.

Abstract It would appear that when the ventricle is chronically stressed by an abnormal pressure load, its initial response is to increase the total muscle mass. This increase in muscle mass, operating in conjunction with the Frank-Starling mechanism and increased sympathetic stimulation,15 maintains over-all circulatory compensation despite depression of the intrinsic contractile state of each unit of myocardium. This depression is expressed as a reduction in the intrinsic velocity of shortening and tension development of each myocardial fiber. The marked reduction of cardiac norepinephrine stores, which occurs in the failing heart,5, 15, 16 impairs the potential support available to the myocardium from sympathetic stimulation,17 although it is not responsible for the intrinsic depression of myocardial contractile state.2 Although an improvement in function in response to positive inotropic stimuli can occur in failing muscles, the augmentation is decreased and the resultant level of contractility remains less than normal. As the intrinsic contractile state of each unit of myocardium becomes more severely depressed, there is a more extensive fall in the maximal velocity of shortening (Vmax), a decrease in maximal isometric force and a decrease in the rate of force development. At this point, circulatory compensation can no longer be maintained despite maximal utilization of the compensatory mechanisms provided by the Frank-Starling mechanism and the increases in muscle mass; overt congestive heart failure then occurs.
The chronic effects of db-cAMP on cell cycle parameters and cell size in asynchronous culture of Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Abstract N6,O2′-dibutyryl adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic-phosphate (db-cAMP) has been shown to convert Chinese hamster cells of ovarian origin (CHO-K1) from compact, randomly oriented cells growing in multilayers to elongated fibroblast-like cells which grow in monolayers. This compound also has been reported to have a variety of effects on the cell cycle. Most such studies have employed synchronized cells to determine cell cycle effects, and consequently have been limited to the short-term effects of the compound. We have looked for chronic effects on the cell cycle in cultures exposed continuously to db-cAMP from the initiation of the cultures until they had reached or approached the plateau phase. This was done by combined autoradiography and Feulgen microspectrophotometry plus measurements of the protein content of mitotic cells to detect any influence on cell size. The overall results were that continuous exposure to db-cAMP had at most only minor effects on the cell cycle and cell size when the culture medium was renewed daily. Somewhat greater effects were found on plateau-phase cells in cultures in which the medium was not renewed. In this case fewer cells appeared to remain in the cell cycle in the cultures with db-cAMP. Comparison with our earlier results with Chinese hamster V79 cells led to the conclusions that cell cycle parameters and cell size at mitosis were less altered during culture growth in CHO cells, but that CHO cells seemed to be less able to maintain cells in the cell cycle in crowded cultures.
Stress and the Control of Apoptosis.

Apoptotic cell death is coordinated by the caspase proteases, and these are activated via two major pathways. One of these depends upon the binding of death receptors, such as Fas (CD95) by their ligands. Alternatively, apoptosis can proceed by the activation of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins that induce a permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane, releasing proteins from the intermembrane space. Cytochrome c then triggers caspase activation. In either case, activated “executioner” caspases cleave key substrates within the cell that then cause the apoptotic death. Not all of these key substrates are known. Cellular stress can engage either or both of these pathways to cause apoptosis. DNA damage, heat shock, and other stressors induce expression of Fas-ligand (FasL) on several different cell types, and can sensitize cells to death by ligation of Fas. Dissection of the FasL promoter reveals a number of novel regulatory features consistent with such stress-induced expression. For example, both AP-1 and NF-κB are activated following DNA damage, and this activation is required for induction of FasL expression via binding of these transcription factors to their sites in the FasL promoter. In addition, the promoter appears to be regulated by c-Myc/Max heterodimers, suggesting a link to activation of this important proto-oncogene. We have identified a noncanonical Myc/Max binding site within the FasL promoter that appears to be responsible for this effect. We confirmed that this is indeed a Myc-responsive element by transplanting this site to the promoter for ornithine decarboxylase, replacing its canonical cMyc-binding sites. The chimeric promoter became much more responsive to c-Myc than even the original ODC promoter. Conversely, mutation of the c-Myc site in the FasL promoter destroys its responsiveness to c-Myc or to other activating signals. Therefore, c-Myc is likely to be an important component of FasL expression. When FasL is expressed, it engages Fas on either the same or a neighboring cell. This can include infiltrating inflammatory cells, and the FasL may serve to protect the tissue from inflammatory damage. Upon ligation of Fas, caspases are activated and the cell dies.
Genetic susceptibility to diabetes in inbred strains of mice: measurements of proinsulin mRNA and response to dexamethasone

The insulin resistance produced by the recessive db mutation has led to more severe diabetes in C57BL/KsJ mice relative to that in C57BL/6J mice, suggesting genetic differences between the two strains affecting insulin production or insulin action. To assess these parameters blood glucose, serum insulin, pancreatic insulin, and proinsulin mRNA were measured in both normal and diabetic (db/db) KsJ and 6J strains. The mice were compared at 5 weeks of age, prior to the development of insulin lack known to occur with age in KsJ db/db mice. As a further provocation to insulin production, another group of the normal and db/db mice were given dexamethasone for 4 days. In normal mice there were no strain differences in blood glucose, serum insulin, pancreatic insulin, or proinsulin mRNA. Dexamethasone, presumably by augmenting insulin resistance, induced increases in serum insulin and proinsulin mRNA to the same extent in KsJ and 6J mice. In db/db mice, while blood glucose, serum insulin, and proinsulin mRNA were considerably higher than in normal mice, there were no strain differences observed. After dexamethasone the db/db mice exhibited strain differences which included higher blood glucose and higher serum insulin levels in KsJ mice. These findings were compatible with greater insulin resistance in KsJ than in 6J db/db mice. While dexamethasone treatment increased serum insulin in KsJ db/db mice, there was no augmentation of proinsulin mRNA in either strain, suggesting a limit to the insulin synthesis. Analysis of serum insulin/glucose and proinsulin mRNA/glucose ratios demonstrated a dexamethasone-induced increase in serum insulin/glucose in normal and diabetic mice of both strains. An increase in dexamethasone induced proinsulin mRNA/glucose ratio was observed in all but the KsJ db/db mice. This analysis suggested that although insulin secretion in KsJ db/db mice was augmented, the capacity for insulin synthesis had been exceeded. A limitation of insulin production at the level of insulin synthesis might explain the enhanced diabetes susceptibility of this strain.
Cigarette smoking exacerbates chronic alcohol-induced brain damage: a preliminary metabolite imaging study.

Background: Cigarette smoking is common among alcohol-dependent individuals. Nevertheless, previous research has typically not accounted for the potential independent or compounding effects of cigarette smoking on alcohol-induced brain injury and neurocognition. Methods: Twenty-four 1-week-abstinent recovering alcoholics (RAs; 14 smokers and 10 nonsmokers) in treatment and 26 light-drinking controls (7 smokers and 19 nonsmokers) were compared on measures of common brain metabolites in gray matter and white matter of the major lobes, basal ganglia, midbrain, and cerebellar vermis, obtained via multislice short–echo time proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. Smoking and nonsmoking RAs were also contrasted on measures of neurocognitive functioning, as well as laboratory markers of drinking severity and nutritional status. Results: Chronic alcohol dependence, independent of smoking, was associated with lower concentrations of frontal N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and frontal choline-containing compounds, as well as lower parietal and thalamic choline. Smoking RAs had lower NAA concentrations in frontal white matter and midbrain and lower midbrain choline than nonsmoking RAs. A four-group analysis of covariance also demonstrated that chronic cigarette smoking was associated with lower midbrain NAA and choline and with lower vermian choline. In smoking RAs, heavier drinking was associated with heavier smoking, which correlated with numerous subcortical metabolite abnormalities. The 1-week-abstinent smoking and nonsmoking RAs did not differ significantly on a brief neurocognitive battery. In smoking RAs, lower cerebellar vermis NAA was associated with poorer visuomotor scanning speed and incidental learning, and in nonsmoking RAs lower vermis NAA was related to poorer visuospatial learning and memory. Conclusions: These human in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging findings indicate that chronic cigarette smoking exacerbates chronic alcohol-induced neuronal injury and cell membrane damage in the frontal lobes of RAs and has independent adverse effects on neuronal viability and cell membranes in the midbrain and on cell membranes of the cerebellar vermis. Higher smoking levels are associated with metabolite concentrations in select subcortical structures. Greater consideration of the potential effects of comorbid cigarette smoking on alcohol-induced brain damage and other diseases affecting the central nervous system is warranted.
Supervisor and Teacher Educator Perceived Relevance of Recommendations in the NCTM Curriculum Standards

Based on judgments of mathematics supervisors and teacher educators, the findings of this empirical study confirm that the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], 1989) reflect content that is relevant to mathematics instruction. However, some concern did exist about the relevancy of teaching statistics and probability at the elementary level. Despite the general consensus about the Standards, total agreement was not evident. Respondents with asecondary-school focus rated many of the standards and criteria across grade levels significantly lower in importance than did other respondents; elementary- and middle-school respondents judged several K-8 standards and criteria to be more important than did some higher-education and secondary respondents, while secondary-and middle-school respondents judged the 9–12 standards and critera to be more important than did elementary and some higher education respondents. Respondents with 30 or more years of experience or who were less familiar with the standards rated the K-8 standards and criteria to be lower in importance than did other respondents.
Generation and pharmacological analysis of M2 and M4 muscarinic receptor knockout mice.

Abstract Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M 1 –M 5 ) play important roles in the modulation of many key functions of the central and peripheral nervous system. To explore the physiological roles of the two G i -coupled muscarinic receptors, we disrupted the M 2 and M 4 receptor genes in mice by using a gene targeting strategy. Pharmacological and behavioral analysis of the resulting mutant mice showed that the M 2 receptor subtype is critically involved in mediating three of the most striking central muscarinic effects, tremor, hypothermia, and analgesia. These studies also indicated that M 4 receptors are not critically involved in these central muscarinic responses. However, M 4 receptor-deficient mice showed an increase in basal locomotor activity and greatly enhanced locomotor responses following drug-induced activation of D1 dopamine receptors. This observation is consistent with the concept that M 4 receptors exert inhibitory control over D1 receptor-mediated locomotor stimulation, probably at the level of striatal projection neurons where the two receptors are known to be coexpressed. These findings emphasize the usefulness of gene targeting approaches to shed light on the physiological and pathophysiological roles of the individual muscarinic receptor subtypes.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S DEFINITIONS OF AND EXPERIENCES WITH SOCIAL POWER

Responses of 24 female college students to questionnaires on their definitions of and experiences with social power indicated that they define power in society consistent with a traditional definit...
EphB2 SNPs and sporadic prostate cancer risk in African American men.

The EphB2 gene has been implicated as a tumor suppressor gene somatically altered in both prostate cancer (PC) and colorectal cancer. We have previously shown an association between an EphB2 germline nonsense variant and risk of familial prostate cancer among African American Men (AAM). Here we set out to test the hypothesis that common variation within the EphB2 locus is associated with increased risk of sporadic PC in AAM. We genotyped a set of 341 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) encompassing the EphB2 locus, including known and novel coding and noncoding variants, in 490 AA sporadic PC cases and 567 matched controls. Single marker-based logistical regression analyses revealed seven EphB2 SNPs showing statistically significant association with prostate cancer risk in our population. The most significant association was achieved for a novel synonymous coding SNP, TGen-624, (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.22; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.08–0.66, p = 1×10−5). Two other SNPs also show significant associations toward a protective effect rs10465543 and rs12090415 (p = 1×10−4), OR = 0.49 and 0.7, respectively. Two additional SNPs revealed trends towards an increase in risk of prostate cancer, rs4612601 and rs4263970 (p = 0.001), OR = 1.35 and 1.31, respectively. Furthermore, haplotype analysis revealed low levels of linkage disequilibrium within the region, with two blocks being associated with prostate cancer risk among our population. These data suggest that genetic variation at the EphB2 locus may increase risk of sporadic PC among AAM.
A New Vasopressor Agent in Blood Extracts

THE determination of angiotensin by the method of Morris and Robinson1 involves precipitation of blood with ethanol, desalting with absolute methanol, precipitation with dry ether, and assay on rats', blood pressure. They reported an average of 85 per cent recovery of added angiotensin. Pressor responses equivalent to about 1.0–1.5 ng angiotensin/ml. blood were obtained by us from normotensive human peripheral venous blood, although Morris and Robinson1 reported no angiotensin in peripheral arterial blood of normotensive patients, and complete loss of angiotensin between atrial and peripheral venous blood in patients with hypertension secondary to renal ischaemia. Also pressor responses equivalent to 1.3 ng angiotensin were obtained by us from peripheral venous blood of a patient bilaterally nephrectomized 70 days before sampling, and in 24-day-old normal human blood kept in a refrigerator. Finally, recovery of tritiated angiotensin added to blood was very low. In view of these findings, the method was re-examined leading to isolation of a vasopressor substance having properties not previously described for other vasopressor agents.
Spontaneously immortalised bovine mammary epithelial cells exhibit a distinct gene expression pattern from the breast cancer cells

Spontaneous immortalisation of cultured mammary epithelial cells (MECs) is an extremely rare event, and the molecular mechanism behind spontaneous immortalisation of MECs is unclear. Here, we report the establishment of a spontaneously immortalised bovine mammary epithelial cell line (BME65Cs) and the changes in gene expression associated with BME65Cs cells. BME65Cs cells maintain the general characteristics of normal mammary epithelial cells in morphology, karyotype and immunohistochemistry, and are accompanied by the activation of endogenous bTERT (bovine Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase) and stabilisation of the telomere. Currently, BME65Cs cells have been passed for more than 220 generations, and these cells exhibit non-malignant transformation. The expression of multiple genes was investigated in BME65Cs cells, senescent BMECs (bovine MECs) cells, early passage BMECs cells and MCF-7 cells (a human breast cancer cell line). In comparison with early passage BMECs cells, the expression of senescence-relevant apoptosis-related gene were significantly changed in BME65Cs cells. P16INK4a was downregulated, p53 was low expressed and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was reversed. Moreover, a slight upregulation of the oncogene c-Myc, along with an undetectable level of breast tumor-related gene Bag-1 and TRPS-1, was observed in BME65Cs cells while these genes are all highly expressed in MCF-7. In addition, DNMT1 is upregulated in BME65Cs. These results suggest that the inhibition of both senescence and mitochondrial apoptosis signalling pathways contribute to the immortality of BME65Cs cells. The expression of p53 and p16 INK4a in BME65Cs was altered in the pattern of down-regulation but not "loss", suggesting that this spontaneous immortalization is possibly initiated by other mechanism rather than gene mutation of p53 or p16 INK4a . Spontaneously immortalised BME65Cs cells maintain many characteristics of normal BMEC cells and exhibit non-malignant transformation. Although this cell line displays altered patterns of gene expression, it is clearly distinct from malignant breast cancer cell line. It showed that co-inhibition of cellular senescence and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways coordinates BME65Cs cells immortalisation. Additionally, mechanisms other than gene mutation are likely to be involved in regulation of cellular functions. This study provides an insight into the relationship between cell senescence and immortalisation. BME65Cs cells will be useful in future studies of cellular senescence and tumorigenesis.
Regulation of sulfate assimilation in Cytophaga johnsonae

We have studied the regulation of sulfate assimilation by the gliding bacterium Cytophaga johnsonae in which 20% of the total sulfur is in the sulfornate moiety of sulfonolipid. Added cystine inhibited sulfate uptake and growth with cystine as sulfur source resulted in a repression of sulfate uptake. However, low concentrations of cystine preferentially repressed the terminal reactions of sulfate assimilation responsible for cysteine synthesis while allowing the transport and activation of sulfate for sulfonolipid synthesis. The significance of this novel pattern of regulation in bacteria is discussed.
Biomechanical modeling of repair articular cartilage: Effects of passive motion on osteochondral defects in monkey knee joints

A new biomechanical methodology was developed, based on the linear biphasic finite element formulation and nonlinear optimization techniques under conditions of creep indentation, to determine the ...
The effect of pre-existing stereocenters in the intramolecular asymmetric Stetter reaction

Abstract A series of disubstituted cyclopentanones have been synthesized by the intramolecular Stetter reaction. Racemic substrates containing one chiral center were used, allowing us the opportunity to observe a parallel kinetic resolution in the synthesis of 2,3- and 2,4-disubstituted cyclopentanones. The Stetter reaction of 2,5-disubstituted cyclopentanones proved to be substrate controlled, resulting in the selective formation of the cis -diasteromers with low ee.
Free vibrations of continuous horizontally curved beams

Abstract This paper presents a closed form solution for the out-of-plane free vibration frequencies of a horizontally curved thin walled beam which is continuous over multiple supports. The bending and twisting of this beam is coupled in the mathematical model used. This coupled bending/twisting behavior causes two free vibration frequencies to be associated with each vibration mode shape. The solution is used to calculate the first six free vibration frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes for prismatic beams with three equal spans over a range of non-dimensional parameters representing variations in warping stiffness, torsional stiffness, radius of curvature, included angle of the curve and polar mass moment of intertia. The mathematical model and numerical results are presented in non-dimensional form. The results are applicable to the design of highway, rail, rapid transit and guideway structures.
Influence of ABS type on morphology and mechanical properties of PC/ABS blends

The morphology and the mechanical properties of polycarbonate (PC) blends with different acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) materials were investigated. PC/ABS blends based on a mass-made ABS with 16% rubber and large (0.5–1μm) rubber particles are compared to blends based on an emulsion-made ABS with 50% rubber and small, monodisperse (0.12 μm) rubber particles over the full range of blend compositions. The blends with the bulk ABS showed excellent impact strength for most compositions, and those containing 50 and 70% PC exhibited ductile to brittle transition temperatures below that of PC. The blends with the emulsion ABS showed excellent toughness in sharp notch Izod impact tests at room temperature and in standard notch Izod impact tests at low temperatures near the Tg of the rubber. By melt blending the various ABS materials with a styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN 25) copolymer, materials with lower rubber concentrations were obtained. These materials were used in blends with PC to make comparisons at constant rubber concentration of 5, 10, and 15%. The results of this investigation show that brittle ABS materials can produce tough PC–ABS blends. It is apparent that small rubber particles toughen PC–ABS blends at lower rubber concentrations and at lower temperatures than is possible with large rubber particles. However, additional work is needed to understand the nature of toughening in these PC–ABS blends with different rubber phase morphologies. It is of particular interest to understand the exceptional ductility of some of the blends at low temperatures. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Integrated neonatal care: vital topics that complement neonatal nursing.

It is a pleasure to have been asked to dedicate this edition of Seminars in Neonatology to themes that complement nursing care. This focus highlights the increasing demand for integration between the highly technological medical management and a psychological, emotional and humane philosophy in neonatal health care. Taking responsibility, as a nation, for the physical and mental health of our children is becoming more of a priority today, with numerous early start programmes being promoted by government initiatives. In the UK, however, family focused neonatal funding/management, is at present, typically generated by charities, and often fulfilled by staff on a voluntary basis. Family centred care is an attitude, not merely a protocol. Attitudes can be difficult to change and in order to introduce a new way of working we primarily need to convince the clinicians who are at the helm of neonatal management. Like other neonatal colleagues, most nurses and midwives have not had any formal training in developmental care or family psychology, and are doing their best to provide exceptional care in difficult circumstances. This edition presents the concept of family centred, developmentally supportive neonatal care, and is promoted as a philosophy of neonatal management. Gretchen Lawhon describes modern day nursing issues and implementation of care based on the NIDCAP model, which is considered the gold standard in developmental care. She considers the art and science of caring and the importance of individualized patient care and suggests that the traditional nursing model ‘of stepping in as the expert’, is outmoded, and proposes working in
FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR-8 EXPRESSION IS REGULATED BY INTRONIC ENGRAILED AND PBX1-BINDING SITES

Fibroblast growth factor-8 (FGF8) plays a critical role in vertebrate development and is expressed normally in temporally and spatially restricted regions of the vertebrate embryo. We now report on the identification of regions of Fgf8 important for its transcriptional regulation in murine ES cell-derived embryoid bodies. Stable transfection of ES cells, using a human growth hormone reporter gene, was employed to identify regions of the Fgf8 gene with promoter/enhancer activity. A 2-kilobase 5' region of Fgf8 was shown to contain promoter activity. A 0.8-kilobase fragment derived from the large intron of Fgf8 was found to enhance human growth hormone expressed from the Fgf8 promoter 3-4-fold in an orientation dependent manner. The intronic fragment contains DNA-binding sites for the AP2, Pbx1, and Engrailed transcription factors. Gel shift and Western blot experiments documented the presence of these transcription factors in nuclear extracts from ES cell embryoid bodies. In vitro mutagenesis of the Engrailed or Pbx1 site demonstrated that these sites modulate the activity of the intronic fragment. In addition, in vitro mutagenesis of both Engrailed and Pbx1 sites indicated that other unidentified sites are responsible for the transcriptional enhancement observed with the intronic fragment.
Observational validation of the chronometric cosmology: I. Preliminaries and the redshift-magnitude relation.

Abstract Results of comprehensive observational tests of the cosmological theory proposed by Segal in 1972 are summarized in this and succeeding notes. Within a framework of natural and general causality and symmetry considerations, the theory is mathematically essentially unique. It implies definite relations between directly observed quantities (redshift, apparent magnitude and diameter, number counts, and the like) which are entirely free of adjustable parameters, such as the q0 and Λ of general relativistic cosmologies. Rigorous statistical analysis of large (≳100) or systematically defined samples of galaxies or quasars accepts these relations at substantial probability levels. Note I establishes uniform statistical procedures and compares the redshift—magnitude relations of major samples with the theoretical relations of the present and expansion theories.
A Novel Mechanism of Increased Infections in Contact Lens Wearers

Purpose. It is well documented that contact lens wearers have much higher incidences of corneal infections compared with those of non–contact lens wearers, although the exact cause(s) of this increased susceptibility has not been identified. A distinct subset of mucins (MUCs) is present on the ocular surface, acting to protect the integrity of the corneal epithelium. This study was performed to determine whether multipurpose contact lens solutions (MPCLSs) can cause increased infections in the cornea by destroying the protective cell-bound mucin layer.
Understanding viral partitioning in two-phase aqueous nonionic micellar systems: 2. Effect of entrained micelle-poor domains.

Unlike the partitioning behavior of hydrophilic, water-soluble proteins, the partitioning behavior of viruses in the two-phase aqueous nonionic n-decyl tetra(ethylene oxide) (C10E4) micellar system cannot be fully explained using the excluded-volume theory developed recently by our group. A central assumption underlying the excluded-volume theory--that macroscopic phase separation equilibrium is attained--was therefore challenged experimentally and theoretically. Photographs of the two-phase aqueous C10E4 micellar system were taken for different volume ratios to demonstrate that the entrainment of micelle-poor (virus-rich) domains in the macroscopic, top, micelle-rich phase decreases with a decrease in the volume ratio. Partitioning experiments were then conducted with the model virus bacteriophage P22 and the model protein cytochrome c at different operating temperatures for different volume ratios. For bacteriophage P22, the measured viral partition coefficient at each temperature decreased by about an order of magnitude when the volume ratio was decreased from 10 to 0.1, which clearly indicated that entrainment is an important factor influencing viral partitioning. For cytochrome c, the measured protein partition coefficient did not change, which demonstrated that this entrainment effect negligibly influences protein partitioning. A new theoretical description of partitioning was also developed that combines the excluded-volume theory with this entrainment effect. In this theory, one fitted parameter--the volume fraction of entrained micelle-poor domains in the macroscopic, top, micelle-rich phase--is used to account for the entrainment. To fit this parameter, only a single partitioning experiment is required for a given volume ratio, irrespectively of the partitioning solute. The new theoretical description of partitioning yielded very good quantitative predictions of the viral partition coefficients. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the primary mechanisms governing viral partitioning in the two-phase aqueous C10E4 micellar system are the entrainment of micelle-poor (virus-rich) domains in the macroscopic, top, micelle-rich phase and the excluded-volume interactions that operate between the viruses and the micelles.