cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduced benzodiazepine receptor binding in cerebral cortical cultures chronically exposed to diazepam.

Summary: Fetal mouse cerebral cortex in culture was exposed chronically to diazepam, and benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor activity was assayed on the intact cell. Results have indicated: (1) minimal evidence of generalized drug toxicity, determined by choline acetyltransferase activity, tetanus labeling, high-affinity uptakes of -γ-aminobutyric acid and β-alanine, protein, and light microscopy; (2) a significant dose-dependent reduction (down-regulation) of BDZ receptor activity that occurs after chronic exposure to clinically relevant concentrations of the drug; (3) a disproportionate suppression of the neuronal portion of the receptor after both acute and chronic exposure; and (4) recovery patterns of the BDZ receptor that differ substantially after acute versus chronic treatment. The latter finding may partially explain the observed clinical manifestations of drug tolerance and reduced anticonvulsant efficacy after prolonged use of this class of drugs. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Kulturen des cerebralen Kortex von Mausefeten wurden im chronischen Versuch mit Diazepam behandelt; die Aktivitat des Benzodiazepin-Rezeptors (BDZ) wurde in der intakten Zelle bestimmt. Die Ergebnisse zeigten (a) minimale Hinweise auf eine allgemeine Medikamententoxizitat wie sie durch die Cholin-Acetyltransferase Aktivitat, die Tetanus Markierung, die hohe Affinitat gegenuber der Aufnahme von GABA und Beta-Alanin, die Eiweis und Lichtmikroskopie bestimmt wurden. (b) Eine signifikante dosisabhangige Reduktion (Nieder-Regulation) von BDZ-Rezeptor Aktivitat, die nach chronischer Exposition gegenuber klinisch relevanten Konzentrationen des Medikaments auftreten. (c) Eine unproportionierte Unterdruckung des neuronalen Anteils des Rezeptors sowohl nach akuter wie chronischer Exposition und (d) Bilder der Erholung des BDZ Rezeptors, die nach akuter bzw. chronischer Behandlung vollig unterschiedlich aussehen. Der letzte Befund kann zum Teil die beobachteten klinischen Manifestationen der Toleranz gegenuber Medikamenten und die reduzierte antikonvulsive Wirkung nach langer dauernder Verwendung dieser Medikamentenklasse erklaren.
Present status of reversed vein bypass grafting: Five-year results of a modern series

Abstract From January 1980 through December 1988, 564 limbs in 434 patients were treated for infrainguinal arterial ischemia. Of these, 516 limbs in 387 patients underwent reversed vein bypass grafting. The remainder were treated by primary amputation (11 limbs, 1.9%) or by prosthetic bypass (37 limbs, 6.4%). The indications for operation were limb salvage in 80% of limbs and claudication in 20%. Adequate ipsilateral greater saphenous vein was available for 285 (55%) grafts, with reversed vein bypass achieved in the other 231 operations by use of distal graft origins (151 grafts), use of alternate vein sources (120 grafts), and splicing of venous segments (81 grafts). Seventy-six grafts (15%) were to the above-knee popliteal artery, 199 grafts (37%) were to the below-knee popliteal artery, and 241 grafts (47%) were to infrapopliteal arteries, 26 of which (11%) were to inframalleolar arteries. The primary and secondary patencies for all grafts at 5 years were 75% and 81%, respectively. Grafts to infrapopliteal arteries had significantly worse primary patency (69%) at 5 years than did grafts to the popliteal artery (77%, above knee; 80%, below knee) and grafts formed of adequate ipsilateral greater saphenous vein had significantly better primary patency (80%) than did grafts performed when this conduit was not available (68%). Secondary patency of all graft categories ranged from 76% to 85%, and there were no significant differences regardless of site of distal anastomosis, source of venous conduit, or site of graft origins. We prefer the use of reversed vein bypass grafting for lower extremity revascularization both because of the excellent patency results and because the technique can be applied to the large number of patients in our practice who lack intact ipsilateral greater saphenous vein, in contrast to in situ vein bypass procedures. (J VASC SURG 1990;11:193-206.)
VCUG and the question of sedation.

For a condition as common as urinary tract infection (UTI), it is surprising how much controversy persists regarding its optimal imaging evaluation. Multiple studies have been performed over the years, with recommendations generally divided into “top down” and “bottom up” approaches, depending upon whether the emphasis is on upper tract disease (pyelonephritis) or lower tract abnormalities (vesicoureteral reflux [VUR]). While there is still dissent, recent European studies and an American Academy of Pediatrics position paper show a shift to emphasize evaluation of the upper urinary tract, with decreased emphasis on the diagnosis of VUR. Regardless, the radiological investigation of VUR will continue to have some role in UTI evaluation. Whether one performs a fluoroscopic voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), tosonogram, catheterization of the bladder is required, and this creates anxiety in parents and patients. Part of pediatric radiology training is how to best minimize this anxiety by having confidence and skill in bladder catheterization, using numbing gels and having child life specialists assist during the procedure. Increasingly, radiologists are being asked to provide some kind of pharmacological sedation or anxiolysis to make the experience even less stressful. Is this reasonable? Does the addition of sedative medication make for a “better” procedure? A safer procedure? A costand time-effective procedure? It is difficult to weigh these factors dispassionately, and there are strong opinions on each side. The following two commentaries explore both sides of the argument. Whatever your opinion, the radiological evaluation of VUR and the issue of procedural sedation are not going away. Pediatr Radiol (2012) 42:284 DOI 10.1007/s00247-011-2322-x
A New Security Testing Method and its Application to the Secure Xenix Kernel

A new security testing method is proposed that combines the advantages of both traditional "black box" (monolithic functional) testing and "white box" (functional-synthesis- based) testing. The new method allows significant coverage both for security model-based tests and for individual kernel-call tests. It eliminates redundant kernel test cases (1) by using a variant of control synthesis graphs, (2) by analyzing dependencies between descriptive kernel-call specifications, and (3) by exploiting access check separability. A higher degree of test assurance is achieved than that of other security testing methods because the new method helps eliminate cyclic dependencies among test programs for different kernel calls. The application of this method to the testing of the Secure Xenix* kernel is illustrated. The design and the implementation of Secure Xenix are presented in a companion paper.
Student interpretations of 2-D and 3-D renderings of the substorm current wedge

Abstract In this paper, we report the results of a study of eight participants, all physics majors with some exposure to space physics, who were provided with 2-D and 3-D depictions of the substorm current wedge. Student understanding of the substorm current wedge was probed by asking them to determine the magnetic perturbations produced by the current wedge system. None of the students were able to determine the complete correct set of north–south and east–west perturbations from the 2-D drawing, but all of them were able to do so from the 3-D rendering. Moreover, three students had interpreted the 2-D drawing incorrectly and were able to correct the misconception on seeing the 3-D rendering. Our analysis strongly suggests that the cognitive processing of mental images is a key factor in the students' ability to correctly determine the magnetic perturbation due to the current wedge, and that determining the direction of a magnetic field from an arbitrary current is not an impediment. We also discuss the broader implications of this result for teaching about magnetism and the relationship to electric current.
Design Guidelines for Ambient Software Visualization in the Workplace

Success in software development dictates that the right information reaches the right people. In the development process, information flows among developers, managers, and customers. The information is represented in a multitude of sources: customer requirements, application domains, product specifications, development processes, schedules, budgets, project status reports, and task priorities. Unfortunately, in the transmission of information, vital tidbits are filtered away, made inaccessible, or withheld from the stakeholders. Software visualization systems have traditionally focused on the complexities of the relations and detailed structure of the software artifacts. Recently, attention has been given to visualizing software artifacts from the perspective of supporting teams in coordinating efforts. In this paper, we describe the nature of this information source and provide design guidelines for developing ambient software visualizations in the workplace. In particular, we describe how developers can better understand more about project management, recall and perform tasks in their personal work flow, and coordinate project state that is continually changing.
The patellar tendon: thickening, internal signal buckling, and other MR variants.

We studied the range of appearance of asymptomatic patellar tendons and evaluated the effect of age, weight, joint effusions, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears on this tendon. One hundred and seventy-three patellar tendons in asymptomatic patients were studied at 1.5 tesla. Sagittal short and long TE images were evaluated in regard to tendon thickness, ratio of thickness of patellar to quadriceps tendons, frequency, location, and severity of intratendon signal, and frequency and severity of tendon buckling. Results were correlated with patient age, sex, weight, the presence of ACL tears, and relative volumes of joint fluid. The mean thickness of the patellar tendon was 0.52 cm. The patellar to quadriceps tendon ratio was 0.72. The patellar tendon frequently (74%) had focal areas of signal apparently within it. This signal was usually subtle, V-shaped (95%), and seen posteriorly in the proximal end of the tendon (82%). Intratendon signal was also seen commonly in the inferior aspect of the tendon (32%). This signal intensity did not increase with greater T2-weighting (99%). Buckling of the patellar tendon was a frequent asymptomatic variant (71%) but was also associated with joint effusions (p<0.01) and ACL tears (p=0.01). Buckling, intratendon signal, and tendon thickness increased with weight and age. Variation of the magnetic resonance appearance of the patellar tendon is frequent. Many of these changes appear to represent subclinical degeneration. Buckling of this tendon also may occur secondary to joint effusions or ACL tears.
Activation of d-Tyrosine by Bacillus stearothermophilus Tyrosyl-tRNA Synthetase 1. PRE-STEADY-STATE KINETIC ANALYSIS REVEALS THE MECHANISTIC BASIS FOR THE RECOGNITION OF d-TYROSINE

Abstract Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) is able to catalyze the transfer of both l- and d-tyrosine to the 3′ end of tRNATyr. Activation of either stereoisomer by ATP results in formation of an enzyme-bound tyrosyl-adenylate intermediate and is accompanied by a blue shift in the intrinsic fluorescence of the protein. Single turnover kinetics for the aminoacylation of tRNATyr by d-tyrosine were monitored using stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy. Bacillus stearothermophilus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase binds d-tyrosine with an 8.5-fold lower affinity than that of l-tyrosine (K D-Tyrd = 102 μm) and exhibits a 3-fold decrease in the forward rate constant for the activation reaction (k D-Tyr3 = 13 s–1). Furthermore, as is the case for l-tyrosine, tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase exhibits “half-of-the-sites” reactivity with respect to the binding and activation of d-tyrosine. Surprisingly, pyrophosphate binds to the TyrRS·d-Tyr-AMP intermediate with a 14-fold higher affinity than it binds to the TyrRS·l-Tyr-AMP intermediate (K PPid = 0.043 for TyrRS·d-Tyr-AMP·PPi). tRNATyr binds with a slightly (2.3-fold) lower affinity to the TyrRS·d-Tyr-AMP intermediate than it does to the TyrRS·l-Tyr-AMP intermediate. The observation that the K Tyrd and k3 values are similar for l- and d-tyrosine suggests that their side chains bind to tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase in similar orientations and that at least one of the carboxylate oxygen atoms in d-tyrosine is properly positioned for attack on the α-phosphate of ATP.
Insect Insurance: Potential Management Tool for Corn Insects

Soil insecticides are often applied in prophylactic fashion to protect corn against yield losses caused by soil insects. Results of a 1973 survey, where 635 Indiana farmers responded, revealed that of the corn growers using soil insecticides 93% had applied the treatments as insurance against insect damage. Such prophylactic or insurance insecticide treatments are normally applied with little knowledge regarding the probability of an economic infestation of soil insects and are often unneeded.
GFI1B, EVI5, MYB—Additional genes that cooperate with the human BCL6 gene to promote the development of lymphomas

The BCL6 gene, which is expressed in certain B- and T-cell human lymphomas, is involved with chromosomal rearrangements and mutations in a number of these neoplasms. Lymphomagenesis is believed to evolve through a multi-step accumulation of genetic alterations in these tumors. We used retroviral insertional mutagenesis in transgenic mice expressing the human BCL6 transgene in order to identify genes that cooperate with BCL6 during lymphomatous transformation. We previously reported PIM1 as the most frequently recurring cooperating gene in this model. We now report three newly identified cooperating genes—GFI1B, EVI5, and MYB—that we identified in the lymphomas of retroviral-injected BCL6 transgenic mice (but not in retroviral-injected non-transgenic controls); mRNA and protein expression of GFI1B and EVI5 were decreased in the murine tumors, whereas MYB mRNA and protein expression were increased or decreased. These findings correlated with protein expression in human lymphomas, both B- and T-cell. Improved therapy of lymphomas may necessitate the development of combinations of drugs that target the alterations specific to each neoplasm.
Direct Evidence for Mother-to-Embryo Transfer of Nutrients in the Livebearing Fish Gambusia geiseri

Abstract We present direct experimental evidence of maternal-to-embryo nutrient transfer in largespring gambusia, a species in which embryonic development was believed to depend solely on nutrients and energy sequestered in the egg prior to fertilization. Thirteen pregnant females were injected with tritiated leucine, and developing embryos of those individuals were assayed for radioactivity two hours postinjection. In eight females, one to all embryos in the developing brood showed significant uptake of labeled leucine. This finding suggests that matrotrophy may be an important maternal investment strategy for this species.
Developing a sensory–enhanced robot–aided motor training programme

The present study aimed at developing a novel sensory enhancement handle used in robot–aided motor training. The handle provided vibro–tactile stimulation through pins connected to small servomotors inside the handle. When the pressure on the handle indicated an active movement of the subject, the corresponding servomotor(s) was activated to generate vibration on the hand of the subject to enhance the cutaneous sensation during motor training. In a feasibility study, nine chronic stroke survivors were randomly assigned to either a sensory–enhanced robot–aided motor training group (SERMT) or robot–aided motor training (RMT) only group. After 6–week motor training, the total motor status (MS) scores showed significant improvement in both groups. However, when dividing MS scores into two sub–scores for the shoulder/elbow and wrist/hand, significant increases in both sub–scores were shown only in the SERMT group (p < 0.05). Enhanced sensation might increase the gain of robot–aided motor training in stroke survivors.
Effects of forest management on California Spotted Owls: implications for reducing wildfire risk in fire-prone forests

Management of many North American forests is challenged by the need to balance the potentially competing objectives of reducing risks posed by high-severity wildfires and protecting threatened species. In the Sierra Nevada, California, concern about high-severity fires has increased in recent decades but uncertainty exists over the effects of fuel-reduction treatments on species associated with older forests, such as the California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis). Here, we assessed the effects of forest conditions, fuel reductions, and wildfire on a declining population of Spotted Owls in the central Sierra Nevada using 20 years of demographic data collected at 74 Spotted Owl territories. Adult survival and territory colonization probabilities were relatively high, while territory extinction probability was relatively low, especially in territories that had relatively large amounts of high canopy cover (≥70%) forest. Reproduction was negatively associated with the area of medium-intensity timber harvests characteristic of proposed fuel treatments. Our results also suggested that the amount of edge between older forests and shrub/sapling vegetation and increased habitat heterogeneity may positively influence demographic rates of Spotted Owls. Finally, high-severity fire negatively influenced the probability of territory colonization. Despite correlations between owl demographic rates and several habitat variables, life stage simulation (sensitivity) analyses indicated that the amount of forest with high canopy cover was the primary driver of population growth and equilibrium occupancy at the scale of individual territories. Greater than 90% of medium-intensity harvests converted high-canopy-cover forests into lower-canopy-cover vegetation classes, suggesting that landscape-scale fuel treatments in such stands could have short-term negative impacts on populations of California Spotted Owls. Moreover, high-canopy-cover forests declined by an average of 7.4% across territories during our study, suggesting that habitat loss could have contributed to declines in abundance and territory occupancy. We recommend that managers consider the existing amount and spatial distribution of high-canopy forest before implementing fuel treatments within an owl territory, and that treatments be accompanied by a rigorous monitoring program.
Small town triage: a rural settlement policy for the American Midwest

Abstract The American Midwest of the 1980s has suffered from a depressed farm economy which has led to rural depopulation. Small towns of fewer than 2500 people have been especially hard hit, and state and federal government spending cuts will tend to accelerate the decline of these towns. The State of Iowa has a multitude of small towns struggling for survival. Iowa faces the choice of spreading public resources among many towns or concentrating those resources on a relative few. In fact, a key settlement policy may be emerging as a means to create growth centers in rural areas and thus limit depopulation and promote economic diversification. Potential growth centers and investment strategies need to be further identified so that state economic development funds can be targeted spent in the most cost-effective manner. This will require considerable regional and state planning and coordination in implementation.
Effect of protein supplementation during a 6-month strength and conditioning program on areal and volumetric bone parameters.

Background: Skeletal loading and proper nutrition are necessary for optimal bone health. The appropriate amount of dietary protein to maximize skeletal health, however, is under constant debate. Objective: To determine if 6 months of protein supplementation in conjunction with a strength and conditioning training program improves areal and volumetric bone mineral density (BMD). Design: Fifty-two apparently healthy males and females ages 18–25 years were randomized to protein supplement (PRO, Myoplex, EAS, Inc. Golden CO) containing 280 kcal, 42 g protein, 21 g carbohydrate, and 1.5 g fat) or calorically equivalent carbohydrate control (CS). All subjects participated in a 5 sessions/week strength and conditioning program. Volumetric and areal BMD measurements were made by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) of the tibia and whole body DXA. pSSI a measure of torsional bone strength, based on structural and material properties was obtained by pQCT. Results: Measurements at the 20% tibia by pQCT revealed that overall there were significant increases in cortical vBMD (4.3 ± 1.3 mg/cm 3 ), cortical area (1.9 ± 0.6 cm 2 ), cortical thickness (0.05 ± 0.02 mm) and pSSI (67 ± 24 mm 3 ), and a decrease in endosteal circumference (� 0.5 ± 0.2 mm) over the intervention period (all, P b 0.05). None of the changes in DXA measures were found to differ by group or sex, there was a trend for a greater increase in whole body BMC among the carbohydrate compared to protein supplemented group and a greater increase among males (16 ± 8 g) compared to females (� 9±9g ) (P = 0.06). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the consumption of additional protein does not improve measurements of vBMD or bone size during a 6-month strength and conditioning program. Longer duration studies may be necessary to determine the influence of increased dietary protein on bone in young adults. Males and females may have different bone responses to increased protein intake while participating in a strength and conditioning program.
Bioenergy Crops Miscanthus × giganteus and Panicum virgatum Reduce Growth and Survivorship of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Large-scale cultivation of plants used as biofuels is likely to alter the ecological interactions of current agricultural crops and their insect pests in a myriad of ways. Recent evidence suggests many contemporary maize pests will be able to use potential biofuel crops such as switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L., and miscanthus as hosts. To determine how suitable these biofuels are to the maize, Zea mays L., pest and generalist graminivore, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), we examined host plant preference and larval performance on foliage grown for commercial biofuel production. Larvae fed leaf tissue from both field- and greenhouse-grown switchgrass and miscanthus were monitored for survival, development, and food use relative to field-grown maize. Survivorship on biofuel crops was high on greenhouse-grown leaf tissue but severely reduced for field-grown switchgrass, and no larvae survived on field-grown miscanthus. Larvae fed field-grown tissue had larger head capsules yet achieved lower pupal weights because the increased toughness of the leaf tissue prevented the assimilation of nitrogen. Given that larvae overwhelmingly preferred maize to other biofuel crop species and that survival and performance were dramatically reduced on biofuel crop species, it is likely that biofuel crops, as grown for field cultivation, will suffer reduced damage from maize pests such as S. frugiperda because of reduced suitability.
Modems for emerging digital cellular-mobile radio system

Digital modem techniques for emerging digital cellular telecommunications-mobile radio system applications are described and analyzed. In particular, theoretical performance, experimental results, principles of operation. and various architectures of pi /4-QPSK ( pi /4-shifted coherent or differential QPSK) modems for second-generation US digital cellular radio system applications are presented. The spectral/power efficiency and performance of the pi /4-QPSK modems (emerging American and Japanese digital cellular standards) are studied and briefly compared to GMSK (Gaussian minimum-shift keying) modems (proposed for European DECT and GSM cellular standards). Improved filtering strategies and digital pilot-aided (digital channel sounding) techniques are also considered for pi /4-QPSK and other digital modems. More spectrally efficient modem trends for future cellular mobile (land mobile) and satellite communication system applications are also highlighted. >
Maxillofacial trauma: principles of management, priorities and basic techniques:

The management of maxillofacial trauma involves organs and regions managed by various well-established health care disciplines and is therefore multidisciplinary. The organization of this multidisciplinary care includes:•Facility and personnel - the facility requires all the relevant diagnostic material and the personnel must have a special interest in maxillofacial trauma and form a dedicated team.•Principles of management of facial fractures - these involve setting priorities, understanding the indications for operative intervention and developing techniques, of which one of the most significant is the wider exposure of the maxillofacial skeleton. This, together with interosseous fixation with mini- and microplates and the use of primary bone grafting, has brought about the most significant advances in this area of patient management.Three case studies are presented, the first of which illustrates the management of a fractured zygoma requiring open reduction and internal fixation, using modern radiology...
The botany, uses and production of Wasabia japonica (Miq.) Cruciferae Matsum

Wasabi (Wasabia japonica) is a unique native plant and a traditional condiment crop of Japan. It is used in traditional Japanese raw fish and noodle dishes and in several modern foods for its hot taste and tangy flavor. Japanese farmers grow the crop in wet upland orchard soils for leaves, petioles and small enlarged stems, and in flooded gravel and sand fields along streams or near springs to produce whole plants and large succulent green enlarged stems. Recent studies in Japan have demonstrated numerous enzymatic and biocidal properties of the plant. This review of Japanese and other literature details the history, uses, botany, cultivars, ecological requirements, production techniques, insect pests and diseases of wasabi.
THE EFFECTS OF A CLASSROOM MANAGER ROLE ON THE SOCIAL INTERACTION PATTERNS AND SOCIAL STATUS OF WITHDRAWN KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS

We examined the effects of assigning a classroom manager's role on the frequency of social interactions and the sociometric standing of three withdrawn kindergarten students. Results showed that when the three socially withdrawn students were placed in the manager's role they substantially increased the frequency of their positive social initiations during free-play time, were the recipients of many more positive and significantly fewer negative social bids from their peers, were rated more favorably by their classmates on a sociometric rating scale, and were selected more frequently as best friends by their peers. In addition, follow-up data suggested partial maintenance of treatment effects when students no longer occupied manager positions.
State-set branching: Leveraging BDDs for heuristic search

In this article, we present a framework called state-set branching that combines symbolic search based on reduced ordered Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs) with best-first search, such as A* and greedy best-first search. The framework relies on an extension of these algorithms from expanding a single state in each iteration to expanding a set of states. We prove that it is generally sound and optimal for two A* implementations and show how a new BDD technique called branching partitioning can be used to efficiently expand sets of states. The framework is general. It applies to any heuristic function, evaluation function, and transition cost function defined over a finite domain. Moreover, branching partitioning applies to both disjunctive and conjunctive transition relation partitioning. An extensive experimental evaluation of the two A* implementations proves state-set branching to be a powerful framework. The algorithms outperform the ordinary A* algorithm in almost all domains. In addition, they can improve the complexity of A* exponentially and often dominate both A* and blind BDD-based search by several orders of magnitude. Moreover, they have substantially better performance than BDDA*, the currently most efficient BDD-based implementation of A*.
Comparison of Effects of Breast-Feeding Practices on Birth-Spacing in Three Societies - Nomadic Turkana Gainj and Quechua

Variation in the duration and pattern of breast-feeding contributes significantly to inter-population differences in fertility. In this paper, measures of suckling frequency and intensity are used to compare the effects of breast-feeding practices on the duration of lactational amenorrhoea, and on the length of the birth interval in three prospective studies undertaken during the 1980s, among Quechua Indians of Peru, Turkana nomads of Kenya, and Gainj of Papua New Guinea. In all three societies, lactation is prolonged well into the second year postpartum, and frequent, on-demand breast-feeding is the norm. However, the duration of lactational amenorrhoea and the length of birth intervals vary considerably. Breast-feeding patterns among Gainj and Turkana are similar, but Turkana women resume menses some 3 months earlier than do the Gainj. The average birth interval among the Gainj exceeds that of nomadic Turkana by over 15 months. Suckling activity decreases significantly with increasing age of nurslings among both Gainj and Quechua, but not among Turkana. Earlier resumption of menses among Turkana women may be linked to the unpredictable demands of the pastoral system, which increase day-to-day variation in the number of periods of on-demand breast-feeding, although not in suckling patterns. This effect is independent of the age of infants. The short birth intervals of Turkana women, relative to those of the Gainj, may be related to early supplementation of Turkana nurslings with butterfat and animals' milk, which reduces energetic demands on lactating women at risk of negative energy balance.
The incidental pore: CaV1.2 and stem cell activation in quiescent hair follicles

The hair follicle undergoes a lifelong developmental cycle that depends on the integration between activating and inhibitory signals acting to regulate and guide the proliferation and differentiation of pluripotent epithelial stem cells. The effectors and mechanisms responsible for re-entry of quiescent telogen hair follicles into the hair-producing anagen stage in mature skin remain incompletely understood. In the June 1, 2013, issue of Genes & Development, Yucel and colleagues (pp. 1217-1222) reported the unexpected finding that CaV1.2, the pore-forming subunit in a well-characterized voltage-gated, L-type calcium channel, is expressed in hair follicle stem cells and contributes to anagen re-entry but does so in a calcium flux-independent fashion.
Laplace, Legendre, and Gauss

Laplace’s efforts in our field appear both in his work on celestial mechanics and on probability theory. Moreover these contributions, which overlap each other and those of Gauss very much, are central to the interests of Laplace. One of his chief tools was that of the generating function. He was perhaps the first to exploit fully the generating function of a sequence y0, y1, y2,... . He wrote the function as $$u={{y}_{0}}+{{y}_{1}}t+{{y}_{2}}{{t}^{2}}+{{y}_{3}}{{t}^{3}}+...+{{y}_{x}}{{t}^{x}}+{{y}_{x+1}}{{t}^{x+1}}+...+{{y}^{\infty }}{{t}_{\infty }}$$ without any consideration of convergence. Let us accept his formalistic approach and see how the generating function tool, which he used so powerfully, could produce various interpolation formulas.1
Conversation clusters: grouping conversation topics through human-computer dialog

Conversation Clusters explores the use of visualization to highlight salient moments of live conversation while archiving a meeting. Cheaper storage and easy access to recording devices allows extensive archival. However, as the size of the archive grows, retrieving the desired moments becomes increasingly difficult. We approach this problem from a socio-technical perspective and utilize human intuition aided by computer memory. We present computationally detected topics of conversation as visual summaries of discussion and as reference points into the archive. To further bootstrap the system, humans can participate in a dialog with the visualization of the clustering process and shape the development of clustering models.
Decreases in asthma mortality in the United States.

Background Rates of death from asthma in the United States increased from 1978 until 1988 and have tended to stabilize since then. Objective To identify and evaluate recent trends in asthma mortality in the United States. Methods Graphing and tabulation of data from the National Center for Health Statistics identifying asthma (ICD 493) as the underlying cause of death in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia with rates of death from asthma by age, race, and sex and age-adjusted rates of death by race. Results Rates of death from asthma in the United States increased from 0.8 per 100,000 general population in 1977 and 1978 to 2.0 in 1989 and 2.1 in 1994 through 1996 but decreased to 2.0 in 1997. Rates decreased for black females and males and for white females in 1997. Age-adjusted rates of death from asthma decreased in 1997 for both blacks and whites. Deaths from asthma in children less than 15 years of age decreased from 191 in 1996 to 154 in 1997, the greatest decrease in any single year since 1971. Conclusion Decreases in deaths from asthma in the United States in 1997 have followed stabilization of asthma mortality rates since 1988, although changes in a single year cannot establish a trend. Improved management is the most likely explanation of reversal of previous increases in asthma mortality.
Search for cellular stress biomarkers in lymphocytes from individuals exposed to arsenic: a pilot study

The molecular mechanisms of arsenic toxicity are not fully elucidated. The Italian project SEpiAs aims at developing and validating the assay to detect stress biomarkers in individuals living in areas characterized by either natural or industrial arsenic contamination.
Discrimination of a colony stimulating factor subclass by a specific receptor on a macrophage cell line.

Utilizing the high affinity interactions between pure 125I-L cell colony stimulating factor and its receptor(s) on the murine macrophage cell line J774, a murine radioreceptor assay (RRA) has been developed. The murine RRA selectively detects a colony stimulating factor (CSF) subclass (CSF-1) previously defined by murine radioimmunoassay (RIA) (E.R. Stanley, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., USA, 76:2969-2973 ('79)). CSF-1 stimulates macrophage production exclusively, and the occurrence of the CSF-1 receptor(s) appears to be restricted to cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system (L.J. Guilbert and E.R. Stanley, J. Cell Biol. 85:153-160 ('80)). The murine CSF-1 RRA failed to detect a variety of other CSF subclasses, growth factors, and hormones. In contrast to data obtained with the murine CSF-1 RIA, human CSF-1 (e.g., human urinary CSF) is detected by the mouse CSF-1 RRA almost as sensitively as murine CSF-1. In addition, there was an absolute correlation between CSF-1 levels determined by murine CSF-1 RRA and those determined by a human CSF-1 RIA for a variety of human CSF-1 sources. The murine CSF-1 RRA is a sensitive (sensitivity 5 units or 1.0 femtomole of CSF-1 protein), rapid, and highly specific assay for CSF-1 in both murine and human sources.
Cell cycle progression in G1 and S phases is CCR4 dependent following ionizing radiation or replication stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

To identify new nonessential genes that affect genome integrity, we completed a screening for diploid mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that are sensitive to ionizing radiation (IR) and found 62 new genes that confer resistance. Along with those previously reported (Bennett et al., Nat. Genet. 29:426-434, 2001), these genes bring to 169 the total number of new IR resistance genes identified. Through the use of existing genetic and proteomic databases, many of these genes were found to interact in a damage response network with the transcription factor Ccr4, a core component of the CCR4-NOT and RNA polymerase-associated factor 1 (PAF1)-CDC73 transcription complexes. Deletions of individual members of these two complexes render cells sensitive to the lethal effects of IR as diploids, but not as haploids, indicating that the diploid G1 cell population is radiosensitive. Consistent with a role in G1, diploid ccr4Δ cells irradiated in G1 show enhanced lethality compared to cells exposed as a synchronous G2 population. In addition, a prolonged RAD9-dependent G1 arrest occurred following IR of ccr4Δ cells and CCR4 is a member of the RAD9 epistasis group, thus confirming a role for CCR4 in checkpoint control. Moreover, ccr4Δ cells that transit S phase in the presence of the replication inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU) undergo prolonged cell cycle arrest at G2 followed by cellular lysis. This S-phase replication defect is separate from that seen for rad52 mutants, since rad52Δ ccr4Δ cells show increased sensitivity to HU compared to rad52Δ or ccr4Δ mutants alone. These results indicate that cell cycle transition through G1 and S phases is CCR4 dependent following radiation or replication stress.
High-Density Lipoprotein-Binding Protein (HBP)/Vigilin Is Expressed in Human Atherosclerotic Lesions and Colocalizes With Apolipoprotein E

Accumulation of cholesteryl esters within cells of the arterial intima is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. A small number of proteins have been shown in vitro to be upregulated by cellular cholesterol loading, including apolipoprotein E (apoE) and the recently cloned HDL-binding protein (HBP), but only apoE has been shown to be upregulated in cholesterol-loaded cells in atherosclerosis. To determine whether HBP (also called vigilin) might be expressed in human atherosclerosis, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed on coronary arteries of 18 patients. HBP/vigilin was detected on all endothelial cells. HBP/vigilin mRNA and protein also were detected on a subset of macrophages and occasionally on smooth muscle cells (SMC) in atherosclerotic plaques but were not detected on these cell types in nondiseased coronary intima. The majority of HBP/vigilin-expressing macrophages were foam cells, but HBP/vigilin expression also was detected rarely in nonfoam cell macrophages. Foam cell macrophage HBP/vigilin expression was present in 100% of atherosclerotic quadrants, and nonfoam cell macrophage HBP/vigilin expression was present in 6% of atherosclerotic quadrants. HBP/vigilin-expressing human plaque cells also expressed apoE. However, HBP/vigilin was detected in cardiac myocyte foam cells of an apoE-deficient mouse, demonstrating that HBP/vigilin expression can occur independently of apoE. These results suggest that in vivo HBP/vigilin expression is upregulated by intracellular cholesterol loading but also that other factors present in atherosclerotic plaques may upregulate HBP/vigilin. Although the exact function of HBP/vigilin is unknown, its expression in plaque macrophages suggests a role for this molecule in atherogenesis.
NHPDCC: The National High Performance Distributed Computing Consortium

This paper discusses the proposed National High Performance Distributed Computing Consortium (NHPDCC), a second-generation high performance computing consortium. NHPDCC will build high performance computing solutions via distributed, heterogeneous machines with diverse, complementary capabilities. Unlike single-machine consortia, NHPDCC will strive to demonstrate practical solutions to current and future "challenge" and "grand-challenge" applications, by utilizing multi-vendor, commercial products, rather than prototypes. Specific software projects to be implemented by the consortium personnel include MPI message-passing standard and related tools, scalable parallel libraries, benchmarks, as well as systems software. Consortium members will benefit through access to both the hardware and software of the consortium. In addition, the synergy generated by interactions among NHPDCC members will be a significant benefit to consortium members. >
Cardiac regeneration and diabetes

The prevalence of diabetes continues to increase world-wide and is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and rapidly rising health care costs. Although strict glucose control combined with good pharmacological and non-pharmacologic interventions can increase diabetic patient life span, the frequency and mortality of myocardial ischemia and infarction remain drastically increased in diabetic patients. Therefore, more effective therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Over the past 15 years, cellular repair of the injured adult heart has become the focus of a rapidly expanding broad spectrum of pre-clinical and clinical research. Recent clinical trials have achieved favorable initial endpoints with improvements in cardiac function and clinical symptoms following cellular therapy. Due to the increased risk of cardiac disease, cardiac regeneration may be one strategy to treat patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy and/or myocardial infarction. However, pre-clinical studies suggest that the diabetic myocardium may not be a favorable environment for the transplantation and survival of stem cells due to altered kinetics in cellular homing, survival, and in situ remodeling. Therefore, unique conditions in the diabetic myocardium will require novel solutions in order to increase the efficiency of cellular repair following ischemia and/or infarction. This review briefly summarizes some of the recent advances in cardiac regeneration in non-diabetic conditions and then provides an overview of some of the issues related to diabetes that must be addressed in the coming years.
The role of focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) in pediatric trauma evaluation.

Abstract Purpose With increasing concerns about radiation exposure, we questioned whether a structured program of FAST might decrease CT use. Methods All pediatric trauma surgeons in our level 1 pediatric trauma center underwent formal FAST training. Children with potential abdominal trauma and no prior imaging were prospectively evaluated from 10/2/09 to 7/31/11. After physical exam and FAST, the surgeon declared whether the CT could be eliminated. Results Of 536 children who arrived without imaging, 183 had potential abdominal trauma. FAST was performed in 128 cases and recorded completely in 88. In 48% (42/88) the surgeon would have elected to cancel the CT based on the FAST and physical exam. One of the 42 cases had a positive FAST and required emergent laparotomy; the others were negative. The sensitivity of FAST for injuries requiring operation or blood transfusion was 87.5%. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV in detecting pathologic free fluid were 50%, 85%, 53.8%, and 87.9%. Conclusions True positive FAST exams are uncommon and would rarely direct management. While the negative FAST would have potentially reduced CT use due to practitioner reassurance, this reassurance may be unwarranted given the test's sensitivity.
Common and Distinguishing Regulatory and Expression Characteristics of the Highly Related KorB Proteins of Streptomycete Plasmids pIJ101 and pSB24.2

The conjugative plasmid pIJ101 of the spore-forming bacterium Streptomyces lividans contains a regulatory gene, korB, whose product is required to repress potentially lethal expression of the pIJ101 kilB gene. The KorB protein also autoregulates korB gene expression and may be involved in control of pIJ101 copy number. KorB (pIJ101) is expressed as a 10-kDa protein in S. lividans that is immediately processed to a mature 6-kDa repressor molecule. The conjugative Streptomyces cyanogenus plasmid pSB24.1 is deleted upon entry into S. lividans to form pSB24.2, a nonconjugative derivative that contains a korB gene nearly identical to that of pIJ101. Previous evidence that korB of pSB24.2 is capable of overriding pIJ101 kilB-associated lethality supported the notion that pIJ101 and pSB24.2 encode highly related, perhaps even identical conjugation systems. Here we show that KorB (pIJ101) and KorB (pSB24.2) repress transcription from the pIJ101 kilB promoter equally well, although differences exist with respect to their interactions with kilB promoter sequences. Despite high sequence and functional similarities, KorB (pSB24.2) was found to exist as multiple stable forms ranging in size from 10 to 6 kDa both in S. lividans and S. cyanogenus. Immediate processing of KorB (pIJ101) exclusively to the 6-kDa repressor form meanwhile was conserved between the two species. A feature common to both proteins was a marked increase in expression or accumulation upon sporulation, an occurrence that may indicate a particular need for increased quantities of this regulatory protein upon spore germination and resumption of active growth of plasmid-containing cells.
The Impact of Industry Concentration and Firm Location on Export Propensity and Intensity: An Empirical Analysis of Chinese Manufacturing Firms

Abstract Recent export studies have focused on the internal/controllable determinants of export performance. The external/uncontrollable determinants of export performance have received scant research attention. In this study, the authors examine two key external/uncontrollable factors, namely, industry concentration and firm location, in the context of Chinese manufacturing firms. In addition, the authors include several frequently studied factors such as firm size, capital intensity, technology innovation, and industry in the analysis as covariates. On the basis of logistical regression and multiple regression analysis, the authors find that both domestic market concentration and firm location are potent predictors of Chinese firms’ export propensity and export intensity. The authors discuss implications of the findings to expose the reason behind the success of Chinese exporters in international markets.
Multiple equilibria of cations with metabolites in muscle bioenergetics

The multiple ionic forms of metabolites were evaluated at 37 degrees C for four reactions important in muscle contraction and recovery: 1) ATPase, 2) creatine kinase, 3) the Lohmann reaction, and 4) the Lohmann reaction reversed by coupling to glycogenolysis and glycolysis. Solution of the system of equations defining the multiple equilibria of the proton and cation complexes gives the concentration of each ionic form and a value for the proton stoichiometry for each reaction. The proton stoichiometric coefficients are unique for each reaction and are a function of pH because of differential binding of Mg2+ and K+ to adenine nucleotides, phosphocreatine, and Pi and because of different acidic dissociation constants for the metabolites. These results show the need to consider the binding of K+ in addition to the previously documented effects of Mg2+ in the cytoplasmic milieu. Commercially available software was used to show that related problems can be calculated readily on personal computers in applications similar to those described here.
Extraction of Bacterial O Antigens (Endotoxins or lipopolysaccharides)

Extraction of O-antigens (or endotoxins) from bacterial cells was first described by Boivin, Mesrobeanu and Mesrobeanu (1933). The trichloroacetic acid extraction procedure used by these workers dissolves a peptide-containing glycolipid from the cell walls. In some cases, depending on the bacterial strain used, the TCA extract also contains nucleic acids derived from the cells. Numerous other procedures for the isolation of endotoxic O-antigens from bacteria have also been published. This Exercise in Part A presents a slightly modified version of the original Boivin, Mesrobeanu and Mesrobeanu procedure.