cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
miR-484 is associated with disease recurrence and promotes migration in prostate cancer.

Background microRNAs (miRs) regulate the expression of protein-coding genes and play key roles in various biological processes, including development and immunity. However, dysregulation of miR expression is also involved in disease biology, including cancer. Methods We utilized The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and other publicly available databases for miRs and mRNA expression in prostate cancer, selected miR-484 and investigated its role in prostate cancer biology and disease progression using in vitro studies. Results Our data mining efforts revealed that increased miR-484 in prostate tumors associates with early disease recurrence, while miR-484 expression in human prostate cancer cells enhances cancer cell mobility. Using RNAseq and bioinformatics, we identified candidate target genes of miR-484 and generated a list of potential tumor suppressors. One candidate in this list was PSMG1. We applied luciferase assays and immunoblotting to confirm that miR-484 directly targets PSMG1. Additional in vitro assays with cancer cell lines showed that PSMG1 knockdown rescued the reduction in mobility brought on by miR-484 inhibition, pointing toward the existence of a miR-484-PSMG1 axis in prostate cancer. Conclusions We hypothesize that miR-484 is an oncogene in the prostate that increases cancer cell mobility, with PSMG1 being a mir-484 target in this process.
From Struggle to Surge: China's TRIPS Experience and Its Lessons for Access to Medicines

The WTO TRIPS Agreement has imposed unprecedented burdens on countries in the developing world. In the public health arena, its high protection and enforcement standards have not only greatly jeopardized access to medicines—at both the domestic and international levels—but have also eroded the policy space and flexibilities developing countries need to devise solutions for public health challenges. Although many developing and least developed countries continue to struggle with the high and arguably inappropriate TRIPS standards, large or populous emerging economies, such as Brazil, China, India, South Africa, and Thailand, have managed to adapt the TRIPS Agreement with some success. As economic and technological conditions improved, these emerging economies began to secure even greater benefits from the TRIPS-based intellectual property system, thereby initiating a self-reinforcing virtuous cycle. Of all emerging economies, no country provides a better illustration for a complete transformation of its intellectual property system and pharmaceutical landscape than China. This chapter therefore aims to document the country's journey from its struggle with the TRIPS Agreement to its recent surge in the global pharmaceutical arena. It begins by recounting China's initial reluctance to introduce high and externally driven intellectual property standards, including the TRIPS standards that were introduced before and shortly after the country's accession to the WTO. The chapter then discusses China's innovative turn, which began in the mid-2000s when its leaders made a major policy push toward the development of independent innovation. The chapter further examines the recently proposed amendments to Chinese patent law and pharmaceutical regulations. It concludes with five distinct lessons that China's TRIPS experience has provided for the debate on the TRIPS Agreement and access to medicines.
Pineal cysts: Does anyone need long-term follow up?

Abstract Pineal cysts are a common incidental finding on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which frequently prompts referral to neurosurgery. Currently, a management algorithm for patients without hydrocephalus, Parinaud’s syndrome, or pineal apoplexy is lacking. We aimed to identify predictive factors of pineal cyst volume change and surgical intervention by performing retrospective chart review of 98 patients between 2005 and 2018 diagnosed with pineal cysts gleaned from our Neurosurgery clinical databases. We included patients whose initial and follow-up MRIs were available in our institutional radiology system or whose surgical pathology confirmed pineal cyst after evaluation with an initial MRI. Patients’ medical records were queried for presenting symptoms, demographic, management, and pineal cyst measurements. Three dimensions (anterior-posterior, rostral-caudal, transverse) of pineal cyst size were measured and converted to cyst volume (cm3) for analysis. Fifty-five patients (mean age 26.09 ± 14.7 years) with pineal cysts met study criteria. Follow-up ranged from 4 months to 10 years. The indications for MR imaging included headache (81.8%) and vision problems (42%). Forty-eight patients who were observed had a mean volume change of 0.051 ± 0.862 cm [3] and median volume change of 0 cm [3] Patient symptoms, referral source, and age were not associated with changes in volume on follow-up. Aggregated number of symptoms did not differ between operative and observation patients. (p = 0.29). Pineal cyst volumes tend to remain stable over serial MR images, do not reliably correlate with symptoms, and do not typically require long-term follow-up.
Annihilation of topological solitons in magnetism with spin-wave burst finale: Role of nonequilibrium electrons causing nonlocal damping and spin pumping over ultrabroadband frequency range

We not only reproduce a burst of short-wavelength spin waves (SWs) observed in a recent experiment [S. Woo et al., Nat. Phys. 13, 448 (2017)] on magnetic-field-driven annihilation of two magnetic domain walls (DWs) but, furthermore, we predict that this setup additionally generates highly unusual pumping of electronic spin currents in the absence of any bias voltage. Prior to the instant of annihilation, their power spectrum is ultrabroadband, so they can be converted into rapidly changing in time charge currents, via the inverse spin Hall effect, as a source of THz radiation of bandwidth $\ensuremath{\simeq}27$ THz where the lowest frequency is controlled by the applied magnetic field. The spin pumping stems from time-dependent fields introduced into the quantum Hamiltonian of electrons by the classical dynamics of localized magnetic moments (LMMs) comprising the domains. The pumped currents carry spin-polarized electrons which, in turn, exert backaction on LMMs in the form of nonlocal damping which is more than twice as large as conventional local Gilbert damping. The nonlocal damping can substantially modify the spectrum of emitted SWs when compared to widely used micromagnetic simulations where conduction electrons are completely absent. Since we use a fully microscopic (i.e., Hamiltonian-based) framework, self-consistently combining time-dependent electronic nonequilibrium Green functions with the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation, we also demonstrate that previously derived phenomenological formulas miss ultrabroadband spin pumping while underestimating the magnitude of nonlocal damping due to nonequilibrium electrons.
How Sustainable Marketing Strategies Apply Digital Economy Innovations in Cyber Marketing and Digital Communications for Colleges

Cyber marketing, digital communications, and social media practices for branding and marketing purposes have allowed colleges and universities to engage in sustainable/green marketing. For colleges, this means reducing advertising, marketing, and promotions costs in conjunction with lessening previous environmental impacts of printing, paper waste, mailing brochures, and college recruiter travel and transportation. Digital economy innovations in cyber marketing create channels for advertising and promotion without the carbon footprint issues of previous recruiting approaches. This paper uses a content analysis of the literature to explore how sustainable marketing approaches apply digital economy innovations in cyber marketing and digital communications for student global student marketing and recruiting. The goal is to gain actionable and applied knowledge about how sustainable marketing strategies apply digital economy innovations in cyber marketing and digital communication can influence the world of practice.
Genome-wide chromatin accessibility analyses provide a map for enhancing optic nerve regeneration

ABSTRACT Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs) lose their ability to grow axons during development. Adult RGCs thus fail to regenerate their axons after injury, leading to vision loss. To uncover mechanisms that promote RGC axon regeneration, we identified transcription factors (TF) and chromatin accessible sites enriched in embryonic RGCs (high axon growth capacity) compared to postnatal RGC (low axon growth capacity). Developmental stage-specific gene expression changes correlated with changes in promoter chromatin accessibility. Binding motifs for TFs such as CREB, CTCF, JUN and YY1 were enriched in the differentially opened regions of the chromatin in embryonic RGCs and proteomic analysis confirmed their expression in RGC nuclei. The CREB/ATF binding motif was widespread at the open chromatin region of known pro-regenerative TFs, supporting a role of CREB in regulating axon growth. Consistently, overexpression of CREB fused to the VP64 transactivation domain in RGCs promoted axon regeneration after optic nerve injury. Our study provides a map of the chromatin accessibility during RGC development and highlights that TF associated with developmental axon growth can stimulate axon regeneration in mature RGC.
Clinical Impact of Sugammadex in the Reversal of Neuromuscular Blockade.

Background A neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is used in general anesthesia to facilitate endotracheal intubation and muscle relaxation during procedural and surgical interventions. Rapid and complete reversal of the NMB allows for patient recovery to the preoperative baseline with ventilation and motor function, along with the complete return of gastroesophageal motility, thereby expediting recovery and preventing microaspiration in the postoperative period. Sugammadex is a modified gamma cyclodextrin that complexes with steroidal neuromuscular blocking agents (specifically, rocuronium and vecuronium), leading to a molecular gradient and removal of the agents from the neuromuscular junction. Sugammadex has been shown to have a more rapid reversal of neuromuscular blockade compared to neostigmine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if perioperative efficiency was increased when sugammadex was used for paralytic reversal compared to the traditional regimen of neostigmine and glycopyrrolate. Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients admitted for surgical intervention in June 2019 was conducted. Two groups were compared: those who received sugammadex for reversal and those who received neostigmine, plus glycopyrrolate. The primary outcome was time to extubation from the administration of the reversal agent. Results Two hundred seventy-one surgical cases were evaluated. Average doses of sugammadex for those with profound neuromuscular blockade as indicated by a train of four (TOF) of 0 - 2 was 2.47 (0.9) mg/kg for sugammadex and 0.042 (0.01) mg/kg for neostigmine, plus glycopyrrolate. Seventeen patients in the sugammadex group experienced bradycardia after reversal compared to 22 in the neostigmine, plus glycopyrrolate, group (p = 0.73). Reintubation was required for three patients in the neostigmine, plus glycopyrrolate, group and no patients in the sugammadex group. The mean time to extubation from the procedure end comparing reversal with sugammadex and neostigmine, plus glycopyrrolate, was 12.5 (7.6) minutes versus 13.7 (8.8) minutes (p = 0.44), respectively. Comparison of reversal with sugammadex versus neostigmine, plus glycopyrrolate, and time spent in the post-anesthesia care unit was 83.6 (48.6) minutes versus 81.7 (46.6) (p = 0.73), respectively. Conclusions In this retrospective cohort study, we observed a deviation in the recommended sugammadex dosage and increased reintubation rates but no difference in time to extubation or Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) length of stay times when patients received sugammadex compared to neostigmine, plus glycopyrrolate, for neuromuscular blockade reversal. Understanding the PACU flow and culture, education of providers about dosages, along with completion of prospective studies, to correlate acceleromyograph values to reversal and postoperative ventilatory and deglutary function can help assess the true clinical value of sugammadex.
Pre-clerkship Pediatric Exposure Enhances Understanding of Social Determinants of Health.

The Child and Adolescent Motivation and Enrichment Program (CHAMP), an initiative pairing pre-clerkship medical students with pediatric patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD), provides support to HD patients while also providing medical students with opportunities to increase their comfort in the clinical environment and awareness of social determinants of health (SDH). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-021-01329-4.
Overlap of dopaminergic, adrenergic, and serotoninergic receptors and complementarity of their subtypes in primate prefrontal cortex

Quantitative in vitro autoradiography was used to determine and compare the areal and laminar distribution of the major dopaminergic, adrenergic, and serotonergic neurotransmitter receptors in 4 cytoarchitectonic regions of the prefrontal cortex (Walker's areas 12, 46, 9, and 25) in adult rhesus monkeys. The selective ligands, 3H-SCH- 23390, 3H-raclopride, 3H-prazosin, and 3H-clonidine were used to label the D1 and D2 dopamine receptor subtypes and the alpha 1- and alpha 2- adrenergic receptors, respectively, while 125I-iodopindolol was used to detect beta-adrenergic receptors. The radioligands, 3H-5- hydroxytryptamine and 3H-ketanserin labeled, respectively, the 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors. Densitometry was performed on all cortical layers and sublayers for each of the 7 ligands to allow quantitative as well as qualitative comparison among them in each cytoarchitectonic area. Although each monoamine receptor was distributed in a distinctive laminar-specific pattern that was remarkably similar from area to area, there was considerable overlap among the dopaminergic, adrenergic, and serotoninergic receptors, while subtypes of the same receptor class tended to have complementary laminar profiles and different concentrations. Thus, the D1 dopamine, the alpha 1- and alpha 2- adrenergic, and the 5-HT1 receptors were present in highest relative concentration in superficial layers I, II, and IIIa (the “S” group). In contrast, the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic subtypes and the 5-HT2 receptor had their highest concentrations in the intermediate layers, IIIb and IV (the “I” group), while the D2 receptor was distinguished by relatively high concentrations in the deep layer V compared to all other layers (the “D” class). Consequently, clear laminar differences were observed in the D1 vs D2 dopaminergic, the alpha- vs beta- adrenergic, and the 5-HT1 vs 5-HT2 serotoninergic receptor subtypes in all 4 areas examined. The anatomical overlap of different monoaminergic receptors in the same cortical strata suggests that there may be families of receptors linked by localization on common targets, while the complementary laminar distribution of the D1 vs D2, the 5-HT1 vs 5- HT2 and the alpha- vs beta-adrenergic receptors raises the possibility that different subtypes within a given class may have distinctive actions in cortex by virtue of their localization on different cells or possibly different portions of the same cell. Understanding the anatomical arrangement of receptors within the cortical layers may aid in the analysis of monoaminergic modulation of higher cortical function.
Antiparasitic activity of the antimicrobial peptide HbβP-1, a member of the β-haemoglobin peptide family

A family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from the beta-subunit of haemoglobin was recently isolated from channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, infected with Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (ich), an important freshwater fish parasite that causes ichthyophthiriosis. We previously discovered that one of these AMPs, HbbetaP-1, had strong cidal activity against ich as well as another ectoparasite, Tetrahymena pyriformis. HbbetaP-1 toxicity was specific, primarily affecting the trophozoite (trophont) stage of ich. Here, we show that HbbetaP-1 acts more rapidly to kill smaller (presumably less mature) trophonts of ich, taking almost twice as long to kill larger trophonts (P < 0.0001). It acts more rapidly than an unrelated AMP, piscidin 1, which is haemolytic and also lethal to ich trophonts. HbbetaP-1 is potently and selectively lethal to the trophont stage of the dinoflagellate ectoparasite, Amyloodinium ocellatum, one of the most important pathogens of warmwater marine fish. HbbetaP-1 has no effect on the fish gill cell line feeder layer (G1B cells) used to propagate Amyloodinium, further suggesting a highly selective action. These findings suggest that HbbetaP-1 or related AMPs might function in protecting marine as well as freshwater fish and that HbbetaP-1 has highly selective activity against specific life stages of important fish ectoparasites.
Cortical Visual Impairment in Young Children with Multiple Disabilities.

Teachers of visually handicapped children are seeing an increased frequency in referrals of young, multiply handicapped children with cortical visual impairment. The use of the residual visual capa...
Emotions, stress, and health.

1. The Nature of Emotional Experiences 2. Emotions in Two Dimensions 3. Stress and the Eyes of the Beholder 4. The Effects of Stress on the Experience of Emotions 5. Positive Emotions and Mental Health: Are We Chasing the Rainbow? 6. The Role of Positive Emotions in Health 7. Emotional Intelligences 8. Attention and Pain: the Role of Emotions 9. Depression and Anxiety: Two Frequent Disturbances of Emotion Under Stress 10. Addiction and Emotions 11. Emotions Abused 12. Marriage and Other Close Relationships: A Two-Dimensional Look 13. The Quality of Emotional Life at Work 14. The Preservation of Quality of Emotional Life As We Age 15. The Emotional Community 16. Some Conclusions
An innovative wireless Cardiac Rhythm Management (iCRM) system

In this paper, we propose a wireless Communicator to manage and enhance a Cardiac Rhythm Management System. The system includes: (1) an on-body wireless Electrocardiogram (ECG), (2) an Intracardiac Electrogram (EGM) embedded inside an Implantable Cardioverter/Defibrillator, and (3) a Communicator (with a resident Learning System). The first two devices are existing technology available in the market and are emulated using data from the Physionet database, while the Communicator was designed and implemented by our research team. The value of the information obtained by combining the information supplied by (1) and (2), presented to the Communicator, improves decision making regarding use of the actuator or other actions. Preliminary results show a high level of confidence in the decisions made by the Communicator. For example, excellent accuracy is achieved in predicting atrial arrhythmia in 8 patients using only external ECG when we used a neural network.
Lactose-binding lectin expression in human colorectal carcinomas. Relation to tumor progression.

Lactose-binding lectins having Mr values of ∼ 14 000 (L-14.5) and ∼ 35 000 Da have been found in a variety of vertebrate tissues, including normal intestine and colon, and in several types of tumors such as colon carcinomas. To determine the clinical relevance of such lectins in human colon cancer, specimens from 46 patients with colorectal carcinoma of identified Dukes' stages were selected and analyzed for the presence and amount of lactose-binding lectins by immunoblotting using a polyclonal, rabbit anti-lectin antibody followed by binding of 125I-labeled anti-rabbit IgG. The amount of a lectin having an Mr value of ∼ 31 000 Da (L-31) varied among the specimens. The levels of L-31 lectin in colorectal cancer specimens from primary tumors of patients with distant metastases (Dukes' stage D) were significantly higher than were those from patients without detectable metastases (Dukes' stages B1 and B2). In contrast, among the various specimens the variation in the level of the L-14.5 lectin was smaller, and there was no correlation between the amount of this lectin and cancer stage. Immunohistochemical staining of thin sections of colorectal tumor specimens using antibodies specific for either L-31 or L-14.5 lectin revealed that the two were located at different places, the L-31 lectin primarily within the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells, and the L-14.5 lectin associated with secreted material. These results indicated that the relative amount of the L-31 lectin increases as the colorectal cancer progresses to a more malignant stage.
L'enfant insuffisant rénal chronique : évaluation de l'état nutritionnel et prise en charge

Resume L'insuffisance renale chronique est frequemment accompagnee de malnutrition proteinoenergetique chez l'enfant avec de graves consequences sur la croissance. Une prise en charge nutritionnelle de ces enfants est donc essentielle. Le but de cet article est premierement de decrire les methodes courantes d'evaluation de l'etat nutritionnel et, secondairement, de fournir un support dietetique maximal aux patients en insuffisance renale chronique. Celui-ci devrait comprendre des apports suffisants de calories, proteines, electrolytes et vitamines, ainsi qu'un regime pauvre en phosphore.
Storage Stability of Intermediate Moisture Apples: Kinetics of Quality Change

Storage stability of intermediate moisture apples was studied as a function of storage temperature and water activity. The criteria for storage stability was based on three quality factors, namely, nonenzymatic browning reactions, vitamin C degradation and microbial growth. Analysis of kinetic data suggested a zero order reaction for nonenzymatic browning, and a first order reaction for vitamin C degradation. The effect of temperature on the rate constant followed the Arrhenius relationship. Based on this study, it was not possible to generate a kinetic model for microbial growth. However, growth/no growth regions based on temperature and water activity were identified.
Role of T cell subsets in the maternal-to-neonatal transmission of immunity against Trichinella spiralis during lactation in rats

Abstract We have previously demonstrated the maternal-to-neonatal transfer of immunity to T. spiralis during lactation and have shown that antigen-specific T lymphocytes, when injected into the mother or orally fed to neonates, can mediate this transfer. To further analyze the T cell subsets involved in conferring this protection, T lymphocytes were isolated from the mesenteric lymph nodes of syngeneic donor rats infected 4–6 days earlier with T. spiralis. The T cells were incubated in vitro with either mouse-anti-rat OX8 or W3/25 monoclonal antibody, “panned” on plates coated with goat-anti-mouse Ig, and the non-adherent T helper or T cytotoxic/suppressor cells harvested. 100 × 106 T helper cells were injected i.v. into mothers once in early lactation and again two days prior to challenging their pups (200 T. spiralis larvae) at 2 weeks of age. This resulted in significant passage of immunity from the mothers to their suckling neonates, worm counts being 59% and 73% of control values 3 and 8 days post-challenge (P
Effect of water activity on the inactivation kinetics of Escherichia coli O157:H7 by electron beam in ground beef, chicken breast meat, and trout fillets

Water activity (a w ) of ground beef, chicken breast meat, and trout fillets was modified to intermediate (a w 0.98-0.99) and lowest (a w 0.94-0.96) levels. The meat samples with modified and unaltered (native, a w 1.00) a w were inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and subjected to electron beam (e-beam). Survivor curves were plotted and the D 10 -values were calculated. The D 10 -values ranged from 0.22 kGy for trout at native a w to 0.33 kGy for beef at intermediate, and chicken and trout at lowest a w . Regardless of the species, a w reduction increased E. coli resistance to e-beam, suggesting that even small depletion of unbound water from food increases survival. The difference of the D 10 -values between the samples at intermediate and lowest a w was insignificant. E-beam could be used before a w -reducing techniques are applied to food products. However, this would require stringent microbial control following e-beam processing. The 'tailing' of survivors was observed for some samples with reduced a w .
DISTRIBUCIÓN DE LA BECASINA GRANDE GALLINAGO STRICKLANDII (Gray, 1845) (SCOLOPACIDAE), EN CHILE

en Chile y una de las Scolopacidae menos conocida del pais. Las pocas descripciones sobre su historia natural se basan en los apuntes de Reynolds (1935) quien describe vocalizacion, alimentacion y el habitat, en las islas del archipielago del cabo de Hornos. Tambien se registraron algunas caracteristicas del tipo de habitat en otras localidades de Chile austral (Philippi 1939). Poca atencion ha recibido la descripcion del plumaje, que junto a las pocas fotografias existentes hacen dificil su identificacion en terreno. Algunos rasgos para su identificacion, ademas del plumaje, forma del pico mas recurvada en su porcion distal y la diferencia de tamano respecto a
Inventory Control in Theory and Practice

I. Current emphasis on inventory control, 502. — II. The calculation of economic purchase quantities and reorder points, 503. — III. The interaction of economical purchase quantities and reorder point quantities, 508. — IV. Analysis of inventory control problems for style goods, 513. — V. The relationship between inventory control analysis, businessmen's behavior, and economic theory, 517.
The impact of critical injury as described by a spouse: a retrospective case study.

This descriptive study explored the initial experience of critical injury from a spouse's perspective. A case study was used to examine the Lazarus stress and coping paradigm. The subject was 43-year-old Caucasian woman, with three young children. Semistructured interviews were conducted i month following critical injury. Analysis of data confirmed the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional coping processes as suggested by Lazarus. From the spouse's description, three distinct phases of the critical care experience also emerged. notification, arrival at the hospital. and waiting periods. Cognitive, behavioral. and emotional coping processes were clustered according to the spouse's distinct phases of this experience. A 3 x 3 matrix provides a description of the coping processes during the initial critical care period and offers direction for nursing interventions.
Immunocytochemistry of a novel GABA receptor subunit Rdl in Drosophila melanogaster.

Following our recent cloning of a novel γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunit geneResistance to dieldrin orRdl from the cyclodiene resistance locus inDrosophila melanogaster, we were interested in defining its pattern of expression during development. Here we report the raising of an anti-Rdl polyclonal antibody that recognizes a single protein of the expected 65 kDa size in immunoblots ofDrosophila head homogenates.In situ hybridization usingRdl cDNA probes and the anti-Rdl antibody shows thatRdl message and protein are highly expressed in the developing central nervous system (CNS) of 15–17 h embryos. Interestingly, despite the use of GABA in both the peripheral and CNS of insects,Rdl GABA receptor subunits appear to be confined to the CNS. Detailed immunocytochemistry ofDrosophila brain sections showed particularly strong anti-Rdl antibody staining in the optic lobes, ellipsoid body, fan shaped body, ventrolateral protocerebrum and the glomeruli of the antennal lobes. Results are compared with the distribution of staining observed in the insect CNS with antibodies against GABA itself and synaptotagmin, a synaptic vesicle protein.
Leishmania virulence and genetic heterogeneity.

How Leishmania spp. cause human diseases and why their clinical symptoms are so variable remain enigmatic. Of relevance to dermatologists is the fact that all forms of leishmaniasis begin as a skin infection from a sandfly bite. The host–parasite interactions at this site are crucial for the subsequent clinical sequelae of all these chronic diseases. By unknown mechanisms, some infections are limited to the cutaneous sites and often self-healed, while others spread to visceral organs, resulting in a fatal consequence. These wide-ranging differences of clinical manifestations define Leishmania virulence (degree of pathogenecity) in human infection. The parasite and host factors contributing to virulence are summarized and presented in a hypothetical model. Based on this model, strategies for interventions against specific parasite targets are discussed. It is proposed that the variability of Leishmania virulence is genetically based. The evolution of Leishmania virulence is considered in relation to their speciation and phylogeny predicted from the sequence data of a conserved protein-coding gene.
Variations in myocardial CPK and Na+-K+ ATPase following long-term freezing.

Abstract The activity of the soluble enzyme CPK and the membrane bound enzyme Na+-K+ ATPase as a function of storage temperature, time of storage and cryoprotectant type and concentration in canine myocardial tissue was invesigated. Activity of CPK is well preserved at −196 °C and −79 °C and falls off during one month storage at −40 °, −20 °, and 0 °C. Na+-K+ ATPase demonstrates a greater liability. After an initial cryoprotectant “activation,” activity drops. In all cases, however, addition of the cryoprotectant preserved activity better than in samples stored only in buffer.
Ferroelectric copper quinine complexes

The reactions of quinine with Cu(I)Cl and Cu(I)Br afford Cu5Cl9(H2Quinine)2 (1) and Cu3Br7(H2Quinine)2(H2O) (2), respectively, with 1D polymeric structures. The anionic chain in 1 contains Cu4Cl62- adamantane-type aggregates that are linked to two identical units by CuCl32- bridges, and the Cu(I) centers in 2 have a distorted tetrahedral environment formed by bridging and terminal bromide ions. 1 is the first homochiral metal-organic coordination polymer exhibiting ferroelectric behavior.
MASS TRANSFER CHARACTERISTICS OF HOLLOW FIBER ULTRAFILTRATION OF SOY PROTEIN SYSTEMS

Mass transfer characteristics and the applicability of theoretical transport models in ultrafilitration were evaluated in a pilot-scale hollow fiber system processing soybean water extracts. Permeate flux was found to increase linearly with transmembrane pressure and then reach an asymptotic value. Substantial deviations from the pure water permeation line and marked hysteresis effects were also observed, indicative of concentration polarization and additional hydrodynamic resistance at the membrane surface. Pressure-independence occurred at lower pressures with lower Reynolds Numbers (Re) and higher Schmidt Numbers (Sc). Flow rate and temperature significantly affected flux in the totally polarized region. The exponent in the flux-Reα relationship varied from 0.6 at 20°C to 0.32 at 50°C. Theoretical laminar flow mass transfer models were found to predict Sherwood Numbers (Sh) and flux lower than experimental values. The correlation that fit the data best was Sh = 0.181 (Re).47 (Sc).33
Differences among women who exercise for 'food related' and 'non-food related' reasons

Young female subjects who engage in exercise to ‘work off’ food they have consumed (‘food related’ exercisers) were compared with other young female subjects who engage in exercise with other objectives (‘non-food related’ exercisers). Assessment of subjects' attitudes and behaviours indicated that the ‘food related’ exercisers exhibited more symptoms of obligatory exercise, eating disturbance, body dissatisfaction, and lower self-esteem, than did the ‘non-food related’ exercisers. A subset of women in the ‘food related’ group who reported exercising for the primary reason of working off food, losing weight, or changing their appearance (the ‘food related/body dissatisfied’ exercisers), indicated even greater disturbance on these measures. The role of exercise in relation to eating disorders is discussed. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Synthesis and Characterization of a New Class of Cationic Protein Polymers for Multivalent Display and Biomaterial Applications

Monodisperse protein polymers engineered by biosynthetic techniques are well suited to serve as a basis for creating comb-like polymer architectures for biomaterial applications. We have developed a new class of linear, cationic, random-coil protein polymers designed to act as scaffolds for multivalent display. These polymers contain evenly spaced lysine residues that allow for chemical or enzymatic conjugation of pendant functional groups. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and turbidity experiments have confirmed that these proteins have a random coil structure and are soluble up to at least 65 °C. Cell viability assays suggest these constructs are non-toxic in solution up to a concentration of 100 μM. We have successfully attached a small bioactive peptide, a peptoid-peptide hybrid, a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymer, and a fluorophore to the protein polymers by chemical or enzymatic coupling, demonstrating their suitability to serve as multivalent scaffolds in solutions or as gels.
The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) as a model for the study of the epilepsies: EEG records of seizures

EEG recordings have been made from freely moving, seizure sensitive gerbils during seizures of varying severity. The localization of seizure activity in various brain areas and the generalization of this activity could be correlated with the observed motor manifestations. Paroxysmal observed motor manifestations. Paroxysmal bursting has also been recorded in the parietal cortex of a xeizure sensitive animal in which no concomitant peripheral motor activity was evident. These observations strengthen the suggestion that selectively bred epileptic strains of Meriones unguiculatus may be a suitable animal model for the study of the epilepsies.
Methods for stabilizing and activating enzymes in ionic liquids--a review

Ionic liquids (ILs) have evolved as a new type of non-aqueous solvents for biocatalysis, mainly due to their unique and tunable physical properties. A number of recent review papers have described a variety of enzymatic reactions conducted in IL solutions; on the other hand, it is important to systematically analyze methods that have been developed for stabilizing and activating enzymes in ILs. This review discusses the biocatalysis in ILs from two unique aspects (1) factors that impact the enzyme's activity and stability, (2) methods that have been adopted or developed to activate and/or stabilize enzymes in ionic media. Factors that may influence the catalytic performance of enzymes include IL polarity, hydrogen-bond basicity/anion nucleophilicity, IL network, ion kosmotropicity, viscosity, hydrophobicity, the enzyme dissolution, and surfactant effect. To improve the enzyme's activity and stability in ILs, major methods being explored include the enzyme immobilization (on solid support, sol-gel, or CLEA), physical or covalent attachment to PEG, rinsing with n-propanol methods (PREP and EPRP), water-in-IL microemulsions, IL coating, and the design of enzyme-compatible ionic solvents. It is exciting to notice that new ILs are being synthesized to be more compatible with enzymes. To utilize the full potential of ILs, it is necessary to further improve these methods for better enzyme compatibility. This is what has been accomplished in the field of biocatalysis in conventional organic solvents.
Variations in ruminal lactate, volatile fatty acids, and pH from reconstitution of sorghum grain.

Abstract Sorghum grain reconstituted to 25% moisture was used in in vitro and in vivo studies of ruminal pH, lactate, and volatile fatty acid production. Reconstitution resulted in a trend toward reduced pH and ruminal acetate:propionate ratios and increased lactate. Changes in ruminal volatile fatty acids pH, and lactate were similar to those in other research with dairy cattle fed milk fat depressing diets.
Privileging prevention, gendering responsibility: an analysis of the Ghanaian campaign against HIV/AIDS

This article focuses on the discourses around HIV/AIDS in the national Ghanaian ‘Stop AIDS Love Life!’ public health campaign, within non-governmental HIV/AIDS publications, and the Ghanaian national print media. I have used critical discourse analysis to interpret and deconstruct a range of these social texts collected between June and September of 2001 and 2003 in and around Greater Accra, Ghana. I argue, firstly, that these discourses are shaped by an international politics of funding for HIV/AIDS that privileges prevention through behaviour change over treatment action under the premise that prevention is a more cost-effective option for the Global South. I critique this stance, highlighting the emerging possibilities for integrated prevention–treatment efforts in resource-poor settings such as Ghana. Secondly, I argue that the discourses around HIV/AIDS presented in prevention campaign materials powerfully construct normative and gendered subjectivities with assigned roles and responsibilities. The f...
Laser trapping of trace amounts of radioactive atoms

Small samples of radioactive atoms can now be concentrated with magneto- optic laser traps into a very small space and cooled to microdegree temperatures. The first application of these new techniques to atoms with radioactive nuclei offers new possibilities for nuclear physics measurements. The general applicability of these techniques of minute quantities of other materials is discussed.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Surgical Electrotechnology: Quo Vadis?

The development of the modern electrosurgical generator and its accessories is outlined. The use of the electrosurgical scalpel is compared to other thermal knives: the plasma scalpel and the laser. The evolution of the dispersive electrode is summarized. Some of the innovations in endoscopic electrosurgery and the associated problems are discussed, along with a summary of some current research in hazard detection and waveform generating techniques and its impact on the next generation of electrosurgical generators.
Factors and processes governing the 14C content of carbonate in desert soils

A model is presented describing the factors and processes which determine the measured C-14 ages of soil calcium carbonate. Pedogenic carbonate forms in isotopic equilium with soil CO2. Carbon dioxide in soils is a mixture of CO2 derived from two biological sources: respiration by living plant roots and respiration of microorganisms decomposing soil humus. The relative proportion of these two CO2 sources can greatly affect the initial C-14 content of pedogenic carbonate: the greater the contribution of humus-derived CO2, the greater the initial C-14 age of the carbonate mineral. For any given mixture of CO2 sources, the steady-state (14)CO2 distribution vs. soil depth can be described by a production/diffusion model. As a soil ages, the C-14 age of soil humus increases, as does the steady-state C-14 age of soil CO2 and the initial C-14 age of any pedogenic carbonate which forms. The mean C-14 age of a complete pedogenic carbonate coating or nodule will underestimate the true age of the soil carbonate. This discrepancy increases the older a soil becomes. Partial removal of outer (and younger) carbonate coatings greatly improves the relationship between measured C-14 age and true age. Although the production/diffusion model qualitatively explains the C-14 age of pedogenic carbonate vs. soil depth in many soils, other factors, such as climate change, may contribute to the observed trends, particularily in soils older than the Holocene.
Trends in the Presentation, Management, and Outcomes of Little League Shoulder

Background:With rising participation in youth sports such as baseball, proximal humeral epiphysiolysis, or Little League shoulder (LLS), is being seen with increasing frequency. However, there remains a paucity of literature regarding the causes, natural history, or treatment outcomes of LLS.Purpose:To analyze the demographic, clinical, and diagnostic features of a population of LLS patients, with an emphasis on identifying underlying risk factors for the development and recurrence of LLS after nonoperative treatment.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:A departmental database at a high-volume regional children’s hospital was queried to identify cases of LLS between 1999 and 2013. Medical records were reviewed to allow for analysis of age, sex, athletic information, physical examination and radiologic findings, treatment details, clinical course, and rates of recurrence.Results:Ninety-five patients (93 males, 2 females; mean age, 13.1 years; range, 8-16 years) were diagnosed with LLS. Th...
Legal Restrictions in Personal Loan Markets

This study examines the pricing of personal loans in the form of second mortgages to determine whether state-specific default laws have an effect on the availability and cost of that debt. We examine the pricing of loans to higher risk borrowers and whether borrowers in states that limit lender ability to seek default remedies pay higher credit costs. Our results indicate that, for the most part, lenders rationally price loans to higher risk borrowers. However, when we focus on borrowers with low credit scores, the results indicate that mean actual loan rates are higher than those predicted by our model. The results also indicate that state-specific default laws have an effect on the price of credit. Finally, the results show that there is a greater degree of error in the pricing of second mortgage loans to borrowers with low credit scores than to borrowers with high credit scores.
Regulation of translation during oogenesis and embryogenesis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Summary Translational activity in the oocyte and early embryo of Manduca sexta may be regulated by a number of mechanisms including availability of ribosomal subunits, the protein complement of the maternal mRNP, and the presence of a functional 5′ cap structure on the maternal mRNA. We present preliminary experiments concerning the role of intracellular pH in the activation of protein synthesis and the nature of the cortical cytoskeleton of the mature oocyte and its possible role in immobilizing maternal mRNA.
Estrogen hydroxylation--the good and the bad.

Although estradiol itself is primarily responsible for female development, the metabolites are responsible for many of the other positive and negative properties of estrogens. Phase I metabolism of estradiol is exclusively oxidative unlike the other steroid hormones and involves a series of hydroxylations. The specific hydroxylations can be induced or suppressed by endogenous or exogenous compounds that influence the cytochrome enzymes that act on specific sites on the molecule. Modulation of estrogen hydroxylation is essential since some of the other metabolites increase the risk of breast and other hormone-related cancers. The various hydroxylation pathways are discussed as well as the effects of the products of estrogen hydroxylation. The interaction between the human papilloma virus (HPV) and 16α-hydroxyestrone is discussed with reference to recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, cervical dysplasia, and cervical cancer. The role of estrogen metabolites in predicting the relative risk for breast cancer is evaluated using prospective and case-control studies. In one pilot study a factor that is a component of body fat is identified to be an inhibitor of estrogen C-2 hydroxylation. The role of environmental toxins like the phthalate esters and how these compounds increase risk for hormonal cancers is examined in a second pilot study.
A direct iterative-variational method for solving large sets of linear algebraic equations

Abstract We have developed a derect iterative-variational technique for solving large systems of linear equations: Ax = b, where N is the order of the matrix A and the length of the vectors x and b. The method, which has analogues in the conjugate gradient and Lanczos schemes as well as the direct configuration-interaction procedures of quantum chemistry, involves the construction of an orthonormal basis from successive applications of the general linear algebraic (LA) matrix A, to an initial guess for the solution vector. The solution vector is expanded in this basis, and the coefficients are determined from a variational prescription. For m iterations, the number of operations tosolve the LA equations is of the order N2m. Since the basis is orthonormal, the procedure is guaranteed to converge within N iterations, provided that the basis vectors remain linearly independent. In practice, the convergence is much more rapid (m ⪡ N). Another advantage of the method is that the whole matrix A need not be stored. In the more general case of multiple right-hand-sides (x and b matrices), the method can be applied simultaneously to all of the solutions, thus many redundant operations that would arise from treating each column of x independently. We have applied the techniques to the solution of LA systems that arise from converting radial coupled integrodifferential equations to an integral representation on a discrete quadrature, in particular, to a problems for electron-atom and -molecule collisions. The order of A is given approximately by the product of the number of quadrature points np and the number of scattering channels nc(N = ncnp). Since the method is direct, we need only store the potential, the regular and irregular components of the product Green's function, and the iterates, therefore drastically reducing the central memory requirements. The integrals are constructed from simple recursion relationship involving the stored quantities. In addition, the direct approach results in savings in computational time since the number of operations to generate an iterate scales as n2cnp rather than N2. We generally start the iteration from the Born solution although better such as the distored wave, may enhance the convergence. As an example, we apply the method to electron collisions with the hydrogen molecular ion at the static level and treat large numbers of coupled channels (nc ≈ 30).
Nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity distinguishes a sub-population of GABA-immunoreactive neurons in the ventrobasal complex of the cat.

This study describes the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS-ir) immunoreactive neurons in the thalamic ventrobasal complex of the cat. NOS-ir is co-localized with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA-ir) in a subset of small neurons identified as local circuit neurons in previous studies. The double labeled neurons are further identified by a larger soma diameter when compared to GABA-ir only neurons. All NOS-ir somata exhibit GABA-ir but none exhibit immunoreactivity to calbindin.
ON USING EVENT-STUDY METHODOLOGY IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT RESEARCH

Abstract Researchers in strategic management have increasingly employed finance methodologies including event studies to assess the impact on corporate wealth of various announced events, including restructuring, changes in leadership, and mergers and acquisitions. This paper presents the assumptions of event-study methodology and discusses its limitations in light of recent findings in finance. Rather than a powerful and general methodology, this paper argues for a limited and extremely careful use of stock-price data.