cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase/ERK Kinase Kinases 2 and 3 Activate Nuclear Factor-κB through IκB Kinase-α and IκB Kinase-β

Recent evidence indicates that nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), a transcription factor critically important for immune and inflammatory responses, is activated by a protein kinase cascade. The essential features of this cascade are that a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) activates an IkappaB kinase (IKK) that site-specifically phosphorylates IkappaB. The IkappaB protein, which ordinarily sequesters NF-kappaB in the cytoplasm, is subsequently degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, thereby allowing the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. Thus far, only two MAP3Ks, NIK and MEKK1, have been identified that can activate this pathway. We now show that MEKK2 and MEKK3 can in vivo activate IKK-alpha and IKK-beta, induce site-specific IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, and, relatively modestly, activate an NF-kappaB reporter gene. In addition, dominant negative versions of either IKK-alpha or IKK-beta abolish NF-kappaB activation induced by MEKK2 or MEKK3, thereby providing evidence that these IKKs mediate the NF-kappaB-inducing activities of these MEKKs. In contrast, other MAP3Ks, including MEKK4, ASK1, and MLK3, fail to show evidence of activation of the NF-kappaB pathway. We conclude that a distinct subset of MAP3Ks can activate NF-kappaB.
The Isoprostanes: A Perspective

Abstract The isoprostanes are a new class of natural products produced in vivo by a non-enzymatic free-radical-induced peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acid. In the case of arachidonic acid, for example, four classes of isoprostanes can be produced. Because of the specific structural features distinguishing them from other free-radical-generated products, e.g., HETEs, etc., the isoprostanes can provide an exclusive and selective index for the oxidant component of several inflammatory and degenerative diseases. The possible mechanisms of formation of the individual isoprostanes is discussed in detail. Class III products, such as 8-iso-PGF2α and 8-iso-PGE2 have been shown to be vasoconstrictors and modulate platelet function. Several synthetic representatives from the four classes of arachidonic-acid-derived isoprostanes have already been prepared by total synthesis. These synthetic standards have been used for the identification and quantitation of these isoprostanes in biological fluids using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry methodology.
Goals and roles of school psychology: A community based model

Abstract This paper aims to introduce a conceptual model which emphasizes the relationship between the goals of the community and the role of the school psychologist. It is suggested that the single largest contributor to the variance of any school system is its community, which thus becomes the logical place of origin for school psychological services.
Association of bodyweight with total mortality and with cardiovascular events in coronary artery disease: a systematic review of cohort studies

Summary Background Studies of the association between obesity, and total mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have shown contradictory results. We undertook a systematic review to determine the extent and nature of this association. Methods We selected cohort studies that provided risk estimates for total mortality, with or without cardiovascular events, on the basis of bodyweight or obesity measures in patients with CAD, and with at least 6 months' follow-up. CAD was defined as history of percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft, or myocardial infarction. We obtained risk estimates for five predetermined bodyweight groups: low, normal weight (reference), overweight, obese, and severely obese. Findings We found 40 studies with 250,152 patients that had a mean follow-up of 3·8 years. Patients with a low body-mass index (BMI) (ie, Interpretation The better outcomes for cardiovascular and total mortality seen in the overweight and mildly obese groups could not be explained by adjustment for confounding factors. These findings could be explained by the lack of discriminatory power of BMI to differentiate between body fat and lean mass.
Exploration of the effectiveness of physical programming in robust design

Computational optimization for design is effective only to the extent that the aggregate objective function adequately captures designer's preference. Physical programming is an optimization method that captures the designer's physical understanding of the desired design outcome in forming the aggregate objective function. Furthermore, to be useful, a resulting optimal design must be sufficiently robust/insensitive to known and unknown variations that to different degrees affect the design's performance. This paper explores the effectiveness of the physical programming approach in explicitly addressing the issue of design robustness. Specifically, we synergistically integrate methods that had previously and independently been developed by the authors, thereby leading to optimal-robust-designs. We show how the physical programming method can be used to effectively exploit designer preference in making tradeoffs between the mean and variation of performance, by solving a bi-objective robust design problem. The work documented in this paper establishes the general superiority of physical programming over other conventional methods (e.g., weighted sum) in solving multiobjective optimization problems. It also illustrates that the physical programming method is among the most effective multicriteria mathematical programming techniques for the generation of Pareto solutions that belong to both convex and non-convex efficient frontiers.
Morphogenesis of axial skeletal (dysraphic) disorders induced by aliphatic nitriles

The previous study (Willhite et al., '81) linked the administration of acrylonitrile or propionitrile in the pregnant hamster to the production of severe axial skeletal (dysraphic) malformations in the hamster fetus. The present investigation dealt with histological study of both early embryos and term fetuses challenged with a teratogenic dose of either of these nitriles. Inspection of hamster embryos 10 hours after the teratogenic stimulus revealed mesodermal changes including a reduced number of cells, shrinkage of the cell cytoplasm, and enlarged extracellular spaces. In addition, a reduced number of mitotic figures and focal necrobiosis were noted. The affected embryos were smaller and were delayed in their development as compared to controls. Analysis of the fourteen-day-old hamster fetuses revealed the basichondrocranium in both cranioschisis occulta with encephalocoele and cranioschisis aperta with exencephyaly to be shorter than control and lordotic to the vertebral axis. These alterations were more accentuated in cranioschisis aperta than in cranioschisis occulta. The ultimate skeletal malformations may be the reflection of a primary paraxial mesodermal insufficiency.
How important are branching decisions

We show the importance of selecting good branching variables by exhibiting a family of instances for which an optimal solution is both trivial to find and provably optimal by a fixed-size branch-and-bound tree, but for which state-of-the-art Mixed Integer Programming solvers need an increasing amount of resources. The instances encode the edge-coloring problem on a family of graphs containing a small subgraph requiring four colors, while the rest of the graph requires only three.
Structural Characterization of Crystalline Ternary Inclusion Compounds at the Air−Water Interface

Crystalline ternary inclusion monolayers consisting of a two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded host network of guanidinium (G) ions and organosulfonate (S) amphiphiles, and biphenylalkane guests, can be generated at the air−water interface through synergistic structural enforcement by hydrogen bonding and host−guest packing. Surface pressure−area isotherms of the 4‘-hexadecylbiphenyl-4-sulfonate (C16BPS) amphiphile in the presence of G, with or without guest, are characterized by lift-off molecular areas expected for the GS sheet based on single-crystal X-ray structures of homologous bulk crystals. Intercalation of biphenylalkane guests (4-CnH2n+1−C6H4−C6H5, n = 1, 4, 6, 10, 16; denoted CnBP) between organosulfonate hydrophobes, which define pocketlike cavities in the GS monolayer host, afford ternary inclusion monolayers with a 1:1 host−guest stoichiometry. These inclusion monolayers are less compressible than the guest-free host, consistent with dense packing of the biphenylalkane moieties of the host and the...
Delusional disorder: Jealous and nonjealous types

We studied the records of 101 patients with delusional disorder admitted to the Psychiatric Hospital between 1920 and 1980 and divided the sample into those with jealous (43) and those with nonjealous (58) delusions. Patients and relatives were located by telephone and follow-up information was collected. Compared with the nonjealous patients, the jealous ones were more likely to have had a single delusion, and to have experienced a more benign course as indicated by a lower rate of hospitalization and outpatient treatment. The original delusion tended to remain and the illness did not develop into another form of delusional disorder or other psychiatric illness.
Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor-trypsin complex as a detection system for recombinant proteins

Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) binds to trypsin and anhydrotrypsin (an enzymatically inactive derivative of trypsin) with affinities of 6 x 10(-14) and 1.1 x 10(-13) M, respectively. We have taken advantage of the high affinity and specificity of this binding reaction to develop a protein tagging system in which biotinylated trypsin or biotinylated anhydrotrypsin is used as the reagent to detect recombinant fusion proteins into which BPTI has been inserted. Two proteins, opsin and growth hormone, were used as targets for insertional mutagenesis with BPTI. In each case, both domains of the fusion protein appear to be correctly folded. The fusion proteins can be specifically and efficiently detected by biotinylated trypsin or biotinylated anhydrotrypsin, as demonstrated by staining of transfected cells, protein blotting, affinity purification, and a mobility shift assay in SDS/polyacrylamide gels.
53.1: Invited Paper: Recent Trend of LED Backlight with Local Dimming and its Application for Multi‐Primary‐Color Displays

We will consider the characteristics of LED backlights discussing merits and demerits of those characteristics which we will summarize. We have also evaluated combination with multi-primary color panels. By combining with multi-primary color panels, it will be possible to create new effects in Local Dimming technology.
Free protein S deficiency in acute ischemic stroke. A case-control study.

Deficiency of free protein S, a naturally occurring anticoagulant, may be acquired in the setting of acute illness and increasingly has become recognized as a possible stroke risk factor. We sought to determine whether free protein S deficiency is associated with acute cerebral infarction among older individuals at risk for stroke.Free protein S was measured by Laurell rocket immunoelectrophoresis in 94 adults admitted for acute cerebral infarction and in 94 hospitalized control subjects of similar age, sex, and race. Patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease, acute thrombotic or hematologic diseases, or medical conditions known to cause free protein S deficiency were excluded from the control group.The percentage of patients with free protein S deficiency (< 20% normal total protein S) was similar in the case and control groups (21% versus 20%, respectively). Among all subjects, free protein S deficiency was more common in blacks than nonblacks (34% versus 13%, p = 0.001). A very low free protei...
Evaluation of Sulfate Resistance of Portland Cement Mortars Containing Low-Carbon Rice Husk Ash

In this study, a low-carbon rice husk ash (RHA) was used as a supplementary cementing material in cement mortars to evaluate its sulfate resistance in sodium and magnesium sulfate solutions. The sulfate resistance of these mixtures in terms of expansion and loss of compressive strength was determined using the standard test method.. The water to cementitious material (w/cm) ratio and RHA dosage in the mortars was varied from 0.40 to 0.57 and 0 to 15% (by mass), respectively. The results from this investigation suggest that all mortars with a w/cm ratio of 0.40 showed little deterioration, indicating their high sulfate resistance. For mortars with a w/cm ratio of 0.48 and 0.57, the control mortars showed more deterioration than those with RHA. For mortars at any given w/cm ratio, the sulfate resistance decreased with an increase in the RHA dosage. Though both sodium and magnesium sulfates caused significant deterioration in the specimens, the former caused increased expansions in the test specimens while the latter caused significant loss in compressive strength. The sulfate resistance of RHA mortars was comparable with that of silica fume mortars.
Determination of inorganic chlorine species in kraft mill bleach effluents by ion chromatography

A sensitive ion chromatography method has been developed for the determination of chlorine dioxide, chloride, chlorite, chlorate and several other anions in kraft mill bleach effluents. The new method overcomes problems found in existing methods, such as low recovery of chlorine dioxide and poor resolution of chlorite from organic anions. The effects of storage time and temperature on the stability of inorganic chlorine species and other ions, in first bleaching, first extraction, final bleaching and combined mill effluent samples were also studied. In addition, the efficacy of ethylenediamine as a preservative for chlorite and its impact on chlorine dioxide in stored samples of final bleaching stage effluent were assessed.
Genomic organization of mouse and human 65 kDa FK506-binding protein genes and evolution of the FKBP multigene family.

FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) are peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases PPIases) that bind the immunosuppressive drug FK506. Of the many eukaryotic FKBPs that have been identified, FKBP65 is an endoplasmic reticulum-localized protein that associates with tropoelastin in the secretory pathway. Unlike any other FKBP characterized so far, FKBP65 is developmentally regulated and may be intimately involved in organogenesis. Here, we report the isolation, sequencing, and genomic organization of the mouse FKBP65 gene (Fkbp10) and provide a comparison with the human ortholog. Mouse Fkbp10 contains 10 exons and 9 introns encompassing 8.5 kb. The exon-intron organization of Fkbp10 displays a pattern of repetition that reflects the coding sequence of the four PPIase, or FK506-binding, domains present in the mature protein. The exon organization of the PPIase domains differs from that of the other FKBP family members. The evolution of the FKBP65 gene and other members of the FKBP multigene family were therefore investigated from a taxonomically diverse array of prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxa. These analyses suggest that the FKBP multigene family emerged early in the evolutionary history of eukaryotes, and during that time some members, including the FKBP65 gene, have experienced gene elongation by means of PPIase domain duplication.
Hyperthermia produced by simulated intraventricular hemorrhage in the cat

Abstract The thermoregulatory effect of simulated intraventricular hemorrhage was examined in cats implanted with a guide cannula terminating in either the dorsal or ventral aspect of the third cerebral ventricle. Each cat received a slow intraventricular infusion of 500 μl control solution (artificial cerebrospinal fluid) followed 7 days later by a similar infusion of fresh autogenous venous blood. Animals were killed 4 to 48 h after blood infusion and the brains dissected immediately. Control infusions caused hyperthermia in only one cat. Blood infusion produced sustained hyperthermia in nine animals (mean latency, 28.4 min; mean maximum magnitude, 1.4°C). The characteristic of the blood distributions which best correlated with hyperthermia was the presence of clotted blood within the ventral portion of the third ventricle. Cats in which blood did not reach this locus (N = 7), even though massive clots could be found in the lateral, dorsal third, and fourth ventricles and/or in the cisternal spaces, did not become febrile. With one exception, cats in which blood clotted in the ventral third ventricle exhibited hyperthermia. In the exceptional cat, the clot within the ventral third ventricle was limited entirely to the posterior aspect of this space. These findings suggest that hyperthermia consequent to ventricular bleeding is mediated by an action of blood on structures bordering on the ventral portion of the third ventricle, possibly the anterior hypothalamic and/or preoptic nuclei. These results have implications regarding the putative mechanisms through which blood could affect these structures.
Pulsewidth and Wavelength Dependent Optical Nonlinearities of Carbon Disulfide

The dispersion of the nonlinear refractive index, “n2”, of carbon disulfide by femto-, pico-, and nano-second pulses, and its two-photon absorption spectrum are measured. The pulsewidth dependence of “n2” is also determined.
Predicting Older Adults' Knowledge of Services

ABSTRACT This study used the behavioral model to predict two measures of service knowledge; agency awareness and perceived availability of services. A random sample of nearly 5,000 older Missourians provided data on the two dependent variables and 22 predictor variables. Agency awareness and perceived availability of services only correlated .35 with each other. The full behavioral model only explained 8% of the variance of agency awareness and 14% of the variance of perceived availability of services. As a group, enabling variables explained more variance of both measures of service knowledge than predisposing or need variables.
The use of synchrotron radiation to measure electron attenuation lengths in condensed molecular solids

Abstract We describe a method for using synchrotron radiation to measure accurately electron attenuation lengths in condensed molecular solids as a function of electron energy. It consists of measuring the attenuation of photoelectrons from a well characterized, relatively inert, cooled surface as a condensable overlayer is deposited. As photoelectrons from the substrate escape they pass through and are scattered in the overlayer. This scattering appears as a decrease in the intensity of the substrate photoelectron peak. The measurement of this decrease as a function of layer thickness gives the electron attenuation lengths directly. By using monochromatized synchrotron radiation for the photoemission excitation source, one can tune the photon energy and, hence, obtain the attenuation lengths as a function of electron kinetic energy. The techniques developed for obtaining a uniform overlayer film and for determining its thickness are given in detail. These techniques are applicable to most condensable sample that can be introduced into vacuum system as a gas.
Molecular pathogenesis of human cytomegalovirus infection.

: Despite progress in diagnosis and treatment of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, we do not understand why, in hosts with comparable levels of immunosuppression, some CMV infections result in symptomatic CMV disease while others are limited to asymptomatic virus shedding with no discernible clinical consequences. CMV viral detection and quantification are useful for identifying those at highest risk, but do not consistently predict clinical outcome. Factors such as host genotype and immune response are active areas of research. However, the importance of CMV strain variability, recognized since 1976, is now receiving attention. Advances in technology that allow the rapid sequencing of viral DNA for purposes of strain characterization have fueled the renewed interest. The focus of this review will be to summarize our evolving knowledge of CMV strain variability and to document where possible a potential relationship to strain virulence. Studies with the UL55 (gB) envelope glycoprotein will be emphasized because of the ability to clearly identify naturally occurring variants, as well as the increasing number of reports that there are differences in biological activities that may contribute to virulence 1.
Critical Ratio Scheduling with Queue Waiting Time Information: An Experimental Analysis

Abstract The Critical Ratio and Slack Time priority scheduling rules have been applied by a number of firms in computer-based scheduling systems for manufacturing operations. One question in using these rules is whether queue waiting time estimates for individual machines should be used in making scheduling decisions. Simulation experiments are reported in this paper that measure the effect of including historical queue time data in the Critical Ratio and Slack Time rules. The results suggest that such data can adversely affect shop performance, measured using criteria such as job flow times, job lateness, and inventory system costs.
A Lean Six Sigma execution strategy for service sectors: what you need to know before starting the journey

In the last 20 years, the rate of change has accelerated in manufacturing and service organisations as they embark on the challenge of staying competitive and meeting the demands for improved performance. Service sectors encounter tremendous variability while working with the customers' numerous and changing needs, differing arrival times and their unique personalities. A core challenge to profitability is the management of variability in the day-to-day operations. Operations management theory strongly suggests that variation and waste must be eliminated to improve processes. Lean Six Sigma is an improvement methodology that has helped many manufacturing companies with waste and variability issues in their operation. This paper provides several pathways for Lean Six Sigma strategy executions in the service sector that are dependent upon the varying levels of organisational readiness. A case study is presented to validate a strategy execution dependent on the organisation's level of readiness. The paper serves as a guide to evaluate the readiness level of the organisation and provides varying levels of strategy execution leading to financial gains.
Managing group therapy: Further considerations

Abstract Reports on group management of dysphasia have been sporadic over the past three or four decades, and few if any have been supported by hard evidence of their efficacy. This is not altogether surprising in view of the methodological problems involved in researching the effects of group therapy. The general tenor of these contributions is that group work is ‘a good thing’, and clinicians who work with groups are generally enthusiastic about their value (Davis and Wilcox 1985, Fawcus, 1987, 1989, Kearns 1986).
Development and characterization of LLC-PK1 cells containing Sprague-Dawley rat Abcb1a (Mdr1a): comparison of rat P-glycoprotein transport to human and mouse.

Abstract Introduction P-glycoprotein is localized in numerous tissues throughout the body and plays an important role in the disposition of many xenobiotics. The contribution of P-glycoprotein-mediated drug transport is being evaluated in early drug discovery stages, particularly for compounds targeted to the central nervous system, using in vitro tools including cell lines expressing P-glycoprotein. Previous work in our laboratory suggests there are species differences in P-glycoprotein transport activity between humans and animals. The rat Abcb 1a form of P-glycoprotein (formerly known as Mdr 1a), the predominate isoform in the brain, has not been described in a functional cell system. Here, we describe the development and characterization of LLC-PK1 cells expressing rat Abcb1. Methods We cloned rat Abcb 1a and generated a stable LLC-PK1 cell line. Expression and function of the cells were evaluated by immunoblot analysis, cytotoxicity analysis, cellular accumulation assays, and transcellular transport of probe substrates. The transport ratios of structurally diverse compounds obtained from parental cells or cells stably transfected with human ABCB 1, mouse Abcb 1a or rat Abcb 1a were compared. Results Two forms of rat Abcb 1a were cloned from Sprague–Dawley cDNA that differ by six amino acids and a base pair deletion. The intact form was stably transfected in LLC-PK1 cells. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated expression of the protein. The cells demonstrated P-glycoprotein-mediated function by directional transport of dexamethasone, ritonavir, and vinblastine in a transwell assay that was inhibited in the presence of cyclosporin A, verapamil, or quinidine. Likewise, the cells showed reduced cellular accumulation of Rh123 by FACS analysis that was reversed in the presence of cyclosporin A. These cells showed ≥ 350-fold resistance to colchicine, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and taxol and were sensitized in the presence of verapamil or cyclosporin A. Of 179 chemically diverse compounds evaluated, ∼20% of the compounds evaluated were predicted to be substrates in one species but not in other species. Discussion Taken together, these data suggest these cells will be useful for evaluation of rat Abcb 1a-mediated transport and for evaluation of species-specific P-glycoprotein-mediated transport.
Inhibition of amino acid uptake by ATP in isolated intestinal epithelial cells

Abstract The presence of 2 mM ATP in the incubation media inhibited the uptake of 1 mM leucine by isolated intestinal epithelial cells after incubation periods as short as 0.5 min. Inhibition was maximum after 5 min (73.4%) and diminished to 41.4% after 15 min. ATP also inhibited the active uptake of lysine, alanine, valine, and isoleucine. The inhibition was not produced by ADP, 5′-AMP, cyclic 3′,5′-AMP, GTP, or inorganic phosphate. Preincubation of the cells with 2 mM ATP inhibited the subsequent uptake of amino acids from ATP-free media. These results suggest an interaction of ATP with an easily accessible site on the cell membrane resulting in an inhibition of a process involved in energizing amino acid uptake.
Melting of a Small Cluster of Atoms

The thermodynamic properties of small clusters of atoms and molecules are of interest for nucleation theory1–7. Recently several investigators have examined in detail the properties of small clusters8–19. A particularly important problem for small clusters is to determine the phase diagram.
Use of prototype two-channel endoscope with elevator enables larger lift-and-snare endoscopic mucosal resection in a porcine model

Background: Flat and depressed lesions are becoming increasingly recognized in the esophagus, stomach, and colon. Various techniques have been described for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of these lesions. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of lift-grasp-cut EMR using a prototype dual-channel forward-viewing endoscope with an instrument elevator in one accessory channel (dual-channel elevator scope) as compared to standard dual-channel endoscopes. Methods: EMR was performed using a lift-grasp-cut technique on normal flat rectosigmoid or gastric mucosa in live porcine models after submucosal injection of 4 mL of saline using a dual-channel elevator scope or a standard dual-channel endoscope. With the dual-channel elevator scope, the elevator was used to attain further lifting of the mucosa. The primary endpoint was size of the EMR specimen and the secondary endpoint was number of complications. Results: Twelve experiments were performed (six gastric and six colonic). Mean specimen diameter was 2.27 cm with the dual-channel elevator scope and 1.34 cm with the dual-channel endoscope (P = 0.018). Two colonic perforations occurred with the dual-channel endoscope, vs no complications with the dual-channel elevator scope. Conclusions: The increased lift of the mucosal epithelium, through use of the dual-channel elevator scope, allows for larger EMR when using a lift-grasp-cut technique. Noting the thin nature of the porcine colonic wall, use of the elevator may also make this technique safer.
Arrested succession in logging gaps: is tree seedling growth and survival limiting?

Thirty years after selective timber harvest in the Kibale National Park, Uganda, many abandoned logging gaps are dominated by Acanthus pubescens, and show little forest recovery. To examine if this arrested successional state was caused by limited tree seedling growth and survival, we planted seedlings of four forest tree species (Albizia grandibracteata, Mimusops bagshawei, Prunus africana and Uvariopsis congensis )i nA. pubescens-dominated logging gaps and in control areas of adjacent forest. To assess if clearing A. pubescens facilitates forest regeneration, we planted seedlings of two species (A. grandibracteata and U. congensis) in small clearings cut within the logging gaps. We examined mortality, growth, herbivory and site characteristics among the treatments. Finally, we described the physical attributes of the A. pubescens-dominated gaps. Seedlings of all the four species survived and grew equally well in A. pubescens and forest treatments, and most site characteristics were also similar. Seedlings planted in clearings grew more than in either forest or A. pubescens sites. Very few established trees were found in A. pubescens sites, and most of these were near the forest edges. We also discussed the role of elephants (Loxodonta africana) and collapsing A. pubescens canopies in the maintenance of an arrested successional state in these logging gaps.
Nitric Oxide–Releasing Hybrid Drugs Target Cellular Processes Through S-Nitrosylation

Nitric oxide (NO)-releasing agents such as JS-K and NO-releasing hybrids such as NO- and NONO-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are novel agents with great potential for controlling cancer. Although studied extensively, a key question pertaining to their molecular targets and mechanism of action remains unclear: the role of NO in the overall biological effect of these agents. It has been shown that NO can directly modify sulfhydryl residues of proteins through S-nitrosylation and induce apoptosis. We showed that 3 structurally diverse NO-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs S-nitrosylated nuclear factor-κB p65 in vitro and in vivo and also showed that these agents S-nitrosylated caspase-3 in vivo. JS-K reduced nuclear β-catenin and cyclin D1 protein levels without affecting cytosolic β-catenin expression. On the basis of a time course study, S-nitrsolyation of nuclear β-catenin was determined to precede its degradation. These data provide a mechanistic role for NO and a rationale for the chemopreventive effects of these novel agents.
Product development practices and performance: A structural equation modeling-based multi-group analysis

Abstract This paper provides an illustration of the strategies associated with conducting tests of model invariance that are uncommonly applied and reported in the Operations Management literature. The illustration uses a theoretical model that describes the relationships between key product development practices (i.e., heavy-weight product development managers, information technology use and concurrent engineering) and performance as measured through product innovation and quality. Based on a sample of 214 manufacturing executives and managers, the study considers a priori proposed measurement and structural models and further examines the extent to which these models are invariant across two different cellular manufacturing environments.
Remembering gender-related information

College students (approximately 90% nonminority, 10% minority) described themselves, and then rated males and females in general on stereotypically masculine and feminine traits. Next, recall of either pictures or words with gender connotations was tested. Subjects whose judgments of others were more stereotyped recalled a greater proportion of traditional pictures portraying men in masculine activities, recalled a lower proportion of nontraditional pictures portraying men in feminine activities, and were more likely to cluster items in recall according to gender categories. Similar but more limited effects were observed on words. Subjects' self-descriptions, in contrast, were related to one memory measure only. The results were interpreted as providing support for Spence's gender identity theory.
Reduced voltage sensitivity in a K+-channel voltage sensor by electric field remodeling

Propagation of the nerve impulse relies on the extreme voltage sensitivity of Na(+) and K(+) channels. The transmembrane movement of four arginine residues, located at the fourth transmembrane segment (S4), in each of their four voltage-sensing domains is mostly responsible for the translocation of 12 to 13 e(o) across the transmembrane electric field. Inserting additional positively charged residues between the voltage-sensing arginines in S4 would, in principle, increase voltage sensitivity. Here we show that either positively or negatively charged residues added between the two most external sensing arginines of S4 decreased voltage sensitivity of a Shaker voltage-gated K(+)-channel by up to approximately 50%. The replacement of Val363 with a charged residue displaced inwardly the external boundaries of the electric field by at least 6 A, leaving the most external arginine of S4 constitutively exposed to the extracellular space and permanently excluded from the electric field. Both the physical trajectory of S4 and its electromechanical coupling to open the pore gate seemed unchanged. We propose that the separation between the first two sensing charges at resting is comparable to the thickness of the low dielectric transmembrane barrier they must cross. Thus, at most a single sensing arginine side chain could be found within the field. The conserved hydrophobic nature of the residues located between the voltage-sensing arginines in S4 may shape the electric field geometry for optimal voltage sensitivity in voltage-gated ion channels.
Is Refractory Urgency/Frequency Syndrome Associated with Neuropsychiatric Disorders?

Purpose We have noted that a certain group of patients with Urgency/Frequency syndrome (UFS) were refractory to conventional treatment. We noted a high number of these refractory patients had some form of Neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD),could there possibly be an association between these two conditions. Material and methods We identified 326 patients seen in the last year in our office with a diagnosis of UFS. Of these we saw 140 pts more than once and adequate follow up was available. We eliminated 33 pts who had UTI s and this left us with 107 pts (73 male, 44 female) with pure UFS. Treatment consisted of Bowel Program (BP), anticholinergics (AC) and alpha blockers (AB) if needed. Results 26 Pts (45%) responded to BP, while 8 pts (12%) responded to BP+AC. 8 pts (12%) responded to a combination of BP+AC+AB regimen. 18 pts (30%) responded to BP+AB therapy. There were 47 non responders to the above regimens. Of these pts we found that 20 pts had a history of a NPD or a first order family member had such a disorder. A total of 25 pts had NPD of the 5 that responded 4 had anxiety and 1 parent had a diagnosis of anxiety. Of the patients with NPD we found that 11 had ADD/ADHD, 8 had anxiety disorders, 2 were autistic, 1 had depression. The parents of these pts, 5 had anxiety, and 1 had depression. Conclusions We have found that the majority of pts responded to a BP regardless of the fact that they did not exhibit signs of stool hoarding. We also found that BP and AB therapy was more effective than BP and AC. Of note was that close to 50% of the patients that were refractory to treatment regimens were diagnosed with some form of NPD in the child or in the parent. This association should be taken into account when encountering patients resistant to conventional therapy and a push for neuropsychiatric evaluation should be recommended in these patients.
Some Oscillation Theory

In the first section of this paper we extend an interesting result due to Nehari and develop some related ideas. The remainder of the paper has principally to do with sufficient conditions for oscillation of solutions of differential equations of the form y'' + p(x) y = 0, where p(x) is at least piecewise continuous on I: (a, ∞) and changes sign infinitely often in I. In the last section, however, some earlier results of the author on focal and σ-points are extended.
Political Corruption in Central America: Assessment and Explanation

Analysts agree that political corruption is an obstacle to democratic consolidation but disagree about how to measure the extent of corruption in individual nations. This analysis of the Central American countries demonstrates that the most important competing quantitative measures of political corruption produce strikingly different rankings. These contradictory results are caused less by poor measurement techniques than by the existence of two different dimensions of corruption that do not always coincide. Statistical indicators based on expert perceptions of corruption and alternative indicators based on ordinary citizens' firsthand experiences with bribery measure, respectively, grand corruption by senior officials and petty corruption by lower-level functionaries. This study attempts to explain why several Central American nations suffer primarily from one or the other rather than both. It advances recommendations for future research and future anticorruption policies that may be applied to Latin America as a whole.
Association of depressed mixed lymphocyte reactivity with the development of bladder carcinoma in patients with papillomas

Patients with bladder papillomas have an excellent overall prognosis, although approximately 10% of such patients develop frank bladder cancer. It is therefore important to devise methods for subclassifying bladder papillomas in an attempt to identify those patients at high risk for progression to carcinoma. The lymphoproliferative responses in 27 patients with bladder papillomas were tested in the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Patient responses were compared to those of normal individuals tested simultaneously. A relative proliferation index (RPI) was defined as a percent response relative to the mean normal response. A RPI less than 0.5 was defined as a depressed MLR and greater than 0.5 as a normal MLR. All patients were followed at three-month intervals for at least five years for the development of superficial or invasive bladder carcinoma. Of the 27 patients, 12 had a depressed MLR and 10/12 (83%) developed cancer within five years. Of the 15 patients with a normal MLR, only three developed bladder carcinoma. The number of papilloma patients surviving free of bladder carcinoma at five years was 12/15 (80%) with a normal MLR and 2/12 (17%) with a depressed MLR (P less than 0.01). Measurement of the MLR appeared to offer a useful adjunct in the evaluation of staging and biologic potential of bladder papilloma.
Rejection Time of Kidneys following Transplantation in Inbred Rats

ALLOGRAFT rejection is an immunological event resulting from recognition of immunogenetic differences between donor and recipient. These differences are expressed at the cellular level through what are called histocompatibility antigens. In rats it has been estimated that there are 14–16 histocompatibility loci1. The locus, especially important for graft versus host reactions, has been termed Ag–B, with the different antigens in inbred strains of rats labelled numerically2–5.
Two types of luminescence blinking revealed by spectroelectrochemistry of single quantum dots

Photoluminescence blinking—random switching between states of high (ON) and low (OFF) emissivities—is a universal property of molecular emitters found in dyes1, polymers2, biological molecules3 and artificial nanostructures such as nanocrystal quantum dots, carbon nanotubes and nanowires4, 5, 6. For the past 15 years, colloidal nanocrystals have been used as a model system to study this phenomenon5, 6. The occurrence of OFF periods in nanocrystal emission has been commonly attributed to the presence of an additional charge7, which leads to photoluminescence quenching by non-radiative recombination (the Auger mechanism)8. However, this ‘charging’ model was recently challenged in several reports9, 10. Here we report time-resolved photoluminescence studies of individual nanocrystal quantum dots performed while electrochemically controlling the degree of their charging, with the goal of clarifying the role of charging in blinking. We find that two distinct types of blinking are possible: conventional (A-type) blinking due to charging and discharging of the nanocrystal core, in which lower photoluminescence intensities correlate with shorter photoluminescence lifetimes; and a second sort (B-type), in which large changes in the emission intensity are not accompanied by significant changes in emission dynamics. We attribute B-type blinking to charge fluctuations in the electron-accepting surface sites. When unoccupied, these sites intercept ‘hot’ electrons before they relax into emitting core states. Both blinking mechanisms can be electrochemically controlled and completely suppressed by application of an appropriate potential.
Improved characterization of elastic scattering near a Feshbach resonance in 85Rb

We report extensions and corrections to the measurement of the Feshbach resonance in 85Rb cold atom collisions reported earlier [J. L. Roberts et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 5109 (1998)]. In addition to a better determination of the position of the resonance peak [154.9(4) G] and its width [11.0(4) G], improvements in our techniques now allow the measurement of the absolute size of the elastic-scattering rate. This provides a measure of the s-wave scattering length as a function of magnetic field near the Feshbach resonance and constrains the Rb-Rb interaction potential.
Recursive Memory-based Hysteresis Modeling for Solid-state Smart Actuators:

This article presents a new modeling approach for the memory-dependent hysteresis phenomenon in a broad class of smart structures and systems. We propose a recursive formulation to relate the minor hysteresis trajectories to their surrounding loops. More specifically, each internal (minor) trajectory targets its previous turning point and converges to its neighboring loop with a tunable exponential rate. By applying the ‘curve alignment’ and the ‘wiping out’ properties at the turning points, we present a new strategy within the context of a memory-based hysteresis modeling framework. A Galfenol-driven micropositioning actuator and a piezoelectrically driven nanopositioning stage are used to experimentally validate the model. Galfenol exhibits large butterfly-type nonlinearity with a small hysteresis effect, while the piezoelectric actuator exhibits wide hysteresis loops. The model is able to precisely predict the major and minor hysteresis loops in both the Galfenol and piezoelectric actuators, and is exp...
Routes to 4-Hydroxynonenal: Fundamental Issues in the Mechanisms of Lipid Peroxidation

Although investigation of the toxicological and physiological actions of α/β-unsaturated 4-hydroxyalkenals has made great progress over the last 2 decades, understanding of the chemical mechanism of formation of 4-hydroxynonenal and related aldehydes has advanced much less. The aim of this review is to discuss mechanistic evidence for these non-enzymatic routes, especially of the underappreciated intermolecular pathways that involve dimerized and oligomerized fatty acid derivatives as key intermediates. These cross-molecular reactions of fatty acid peroxyls have also important implications for understanding of the basic initiation and propagation steps during lipid peroxidation and the nature of the products that arise.
Evaluation of the MMPI-2-RF for Detecting Over-reported Symptoms in a Civil Forensic and Disability Setting.

Objective: This study investigated the classification accuracy of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form validity scales in a sample of disability claimants and civil forensic litigants. Method: A criterion-groups design was used, classifying examinees as “Failed Slick Criteria” through low performance on at least two performance validity indices (stand-alone or embedded) and “Passed Slick Criteria.” The stand-alone measures included the Test of Memory Malingering and the Dot Counting Test. The embedded indices were extracted from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales Digit Span and Vocabulary subtests, the California Verbal Learning Test-II, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Results: Among groups classified by primary complaints at the time of evaluation, those alleging neurological conditions were more frequently classified as Failed Slick Criteria than those alleging psychiatric or medical conditions. Among those with neurological or psychiatric complaints, the F-r, FBS...
Radioisotope-dilution curves as an adjunct to cardiac catheterization: I. Left to right shunts☆

Abstract A method of recordin externally monitored radioisotope-dilution curves at cardiac catheterization has been described. It was found to be reliable and had marked practical value as a routine procedure in the detection and localization of the site of left to right shunts. The geometry of the detection system was defined and correlated with the anatomic structures viewed by the heart and lung probes. Standards for normal curves were established in a series of patients without shunts. Radioisotope curves were compared with arterial dye-dilution curves and blood oxygen data for the detection and localization of the site of left to right shunts. All three methods detected shunts which comprised greater than 25 per cent of total pulmonary blood flow. The isotope and dye methods were found to be equally sensitive in the detection of small shunts if the indicator was injected into the pulmonary artery. All shunts detected by arterial dye-dilution curves were also detected by radioisotope-dilution curves. The reliability of the method was established and its practical usefulness shown. The major advantages of the radioisotope technic without blood sampling were found in severely ill young infants in whom the technic provided a quick and reliable method for the detection and localization of the site of the shunt.
On the Road to Abilene: Time to Manage Agreement About MBA Curricular Relevance

Substantial evidence demonstrates that sound management practice is critical to creating effective organizations. Despite this fact, recent research suggests that courses designed to inculcate huma...
A SIFT-point distribution-based method for head pose estimation

Estimating the head pose of a person in a video or image sequence is a challenging problem in computer vision. In this paper, we present a new technique on how to estimate the human face pose from a video sequence, by creating a probabilistic model based on the scale invariant features of the face. This method consists of four major steps: (1) the face is detected using the basic CAMSHIFT algorithm, (2) a training dataset is created for each face pose, (3) the distinctive invariant features of the training and test face image sets are extracted using the scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm, (4) a kernel density estimate (KDE) of SIFT points on each image is generated. Pose classification is achieved by nearest-neighbor search using a KDE overlap measure. Results indicate that the proposed method is robust, accurate, not computationally expensive, and can successfully be used for pose estimation.