cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of a transient inward current that causes delayed afterdepolarizations in atrial cells of the canine coronary sinus

Delayed afterdepolarizations and triggered activity occur in atrial cells of the canine coronary sinus in response to catecholamines. We studied the properties of the membrane current that causes the after-depolarizations with the two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique in small preparations (about 0.5×1 mm). At a holding potential of −50 mV a transient inward current (TI) occurred after repolarization from a depolarizing step to between −40 and −20 mV in the absence of catecholamines. When the depolarizing pulse was made more positive or its duration increased the amplitude of the TI current increased and it reached peak amplitude faster. The current-voltage relationship of the TI current was studied by changing the voltage to whcih the membrane was repolarized after a depolarizing clamp pulse of fixed amplitude and duration. At repolarization levels positive to −30 mV there were current fluctuations without a distinct TI current. As the repolarization voltage was made more negative, a TI current occurred and its time to peak increased monotonically. The TI current amplitude increased and reached a maximum amplitude at around −60 to −70 mV, and then declined at more negative repolarization voltages. Norepinephrine increased the TI current while simultaneously augmenting the slow inward current. Elevating [Ca]0 increased the TI current amplitude. Caffeine 92 m m ) increased the TI current amplitude, while caffeine (4 m m ) increased and then decreased the current amplitude. The dependence of the TI current on the voltage and duration of the activating depolarizing step in these atrial cells are qualitatively similar to those of the TI current associated with digitalis toxicity in Purkinje fibers and ventricular muscle, although there are some quantitative differences. There is no distinct TI reversal in these atrial cells, similar to TI in ventricular muscle but dissimilar to TI in Purkinje fibers.
Revolutions in Treatment of Posterior Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) involving the posterior semicircular canal has evolved over the last 25 years from exercises that were thought to jar debris from the cupula of the involved canal and were repeated 20 times, three times a day, to a single manoeuvre that takes only a few minutes to perform. In the course of development of new treatments for BPPV, research has demonstrated the efficacy of the treatment and has also enabled the treatment to be simplified while retaining its benefits. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the canalith repositioning procedure as it was initially described by Epley, as well as to discuss the modifications of the procedure that have been proposed, and to expand on the overall management of the patient with posterior canal BPPV. The results of different studies suggest that, for most patients, CRP can be simplified by omitting pre-medication, mastoid oscillation and the requirement of sitting upright for 48hours The importance of educatin...
Effects of haloperidol administration on in vivo extracellular dopamine in striatum and prefrontal cortex after partial dopamine lesions

The effects of haloperidol on striatal and prefrontal cortical extracellular fluid dopamine (DA) concentrations were examined in sham-operated control rats and in rats which had received partial lesions of their dopamine systems. In control rats haloperidol administration produced increases in extracellular fluid DA concentrations in both the striatum and prefrontal cortex. However, in rats which had been partially lesioned with intracerebroventricular 6-hydroxydopamine, haloperidol produced an increase in extracellular fluid DA concentration in the prefrontal cortex but failed to alter striatal DA release. These data suggest that nigrostriatal and mesocortical DA neurons have different response capabilities following partial DA lesions.
Weak bonding of alumina coatings on Ni(1 1 1)

Abstract We examine the structure and stability of an ultrathin ceramic film coating a metal substrate, specifically, an α-alumina, Al2O3, film grown on fcc nickel. This metal–ceramic interface may play a role in materials failure of current combustion engine thermal barrier coatings (TBC's). We characterize the (0 0 0 1) surface of α-Al2O3 and study the effect of increasing alumina film thickness on the alumina/nickel interface using periodic slab density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. Since Ni forms stable alloys with Al, it is not obvious whether the bonds between Ni and alumina will be Ni–Al, Ni–O, or both. Interestingly, our calculations indicate that the preferred bonding mode depends on the thickness of the alumina film. Namely, for one monolayer of alumina, the alumina appears amorphous and both Ni–O and Ni–Al interactions take place, while for two and three monolayers, Ni–O interactions decrease and Ni–Al bonds become more pronounced. By studying the effect of increasing alumina thickness on the Ni substrate, we observe a marked decrease in the work of adhesion for thicker alumina coatings. This provides a new atomic-scale explanation for the observed increase in spallation with increasing thickness of oxide layer (alumina) that forms during preparation and operational cycling of TBC's. The thickest alumina layers energetically prefer intra-ceramic bonding over Al2O3/Ni interface formation. Connections to metal catalyst–oxide support interfaces are also discussed.
Cicatricial Ectropion and Lacrimal Obstruction Associated with the Sclerodermoid Variant of Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

A patient with porphyria cutanea tarda developed bilateral cicatricial ectropion with stenosis of the puncta and canaliculi. The pathophysiologic findings suggested a photosensitivity reaction in sites of uroporphyrin and 7-carboxyl porphyrin deposition.
DEMONSTRATION OF CROSS-LINKED CYTOKERATIN POLYPEPTIDES IN TRANSPLANTABLE RAT HEPATOMA CELLS

Covalently cross-linked multimers of cytokeratins were shown to be present in transplantable Morris hepatoma 7777 cells. These high molecular weight antigens were not detectable in normal rat liver cells. However, identical high molecular weight antigens were also demonstrated in rat liver cells when the cells were homogenized in solutions containing Ca2+. The cross-linking reaction was suggested to be mediated by the action of tissue transglutaminases.
Chunking, rule learning, and multiple item memory in rat interleaved serial pattern learning

Abstract Nonhuman animals, like humans, appear sensitive to the structure of the elements of sequences, perhaps even when the structure relates nonadjacent elements. In the present study, we examined the contribution of chunking, rule learning, and item memory when rats learned serial patterns composed of two interleaved subpatterns. In one group, the first interleaved subpattern was a formally simple sequence, whereas in two other groups the first subpattern was formally more complex, containing 2 or 4 violation elements, respectively. In all groups, the second interleaved subpattern encountered was formally simple. Evidence from the study suggests that rats chunked their interleaved patterns into component subpatterns, that is, they cognitively sorted pattern elements to form chunks based on nonadjacent structural relationships that can be characterized as rules. They also learned interitem associations via traditional discrimination learning to use adjacent elements as compound or configural cues for later events in the sequence. Thus, the evidence suggests that rats used chunking, rule learning, and interitem association learning concurrently to master these complex patterns.
Efficient single-photon frequency conversion using a Sagnac interferometer

We present a quantum nanophotonic scheme to achieve efficient single-photon frequency conversion. This mechanism is essential for integrated nanophotonics, as it can provide access to frequency regimes in which no single-photon sources are currently available. Moreover, such a device could be used as the basis of a photonic frequency-shift-keyed quantum information scheme. The proposed scheme uses a Sagnac interferometer to exploit quantum interference between two transition pathways in a three-level quantum dot. In the proposed scheme, an input photon induces a complete population state transfer on the Lambda-type quantum dot, causing a frequency shift in the outgoing photon. The Sagnac interferometer is used to put the input photon into a superposition of counterpropagating states which interfere at the quantum dot, providing the necessary quantum interference to make the process efficient. We have developed a real-space theoretical approach and a computationally efficient pseudospectral numerical method to invegtigate the full spatiotemporal dynamics of the scattering process. It is shown that the efficiency of the frequency-conversion process approaches unity in the ideal case, and is greater than 80% even in the presence of realistic dissipation.
On the Exchange of Information in Collaborative Product Development

We develop a dynamic programming (DP) model of the product development (PD) process. We conceptualize PD as a sequence of decisions: whether to incorporate a piece of information that just arrived (i.e. became available) or wait longer. We utilize this formulation to derive optimal decision rules to determine whether (and when) to incorporate newly available information in an archetypal situation in PD. The managerial implications are discussed with several numerical examples.
Institutionalization and Personal Control: A Panel Study of Impaired Older People

The relationship between perceived personal control over the events of daily life and institutionalization is examined through a panel study of 151 impaired older individuals who were interviewed at two points in time six months apart. Institutionalization between the initial and follow-up interviews reduced perceived control even when taking into account functional status and sociodemographic variables. Furthermore, the decline in perceived control was greater among the less educated and more functionally impaired and those with more negative life events.
Single-cell RT-PCR analysis of GIRK channels expressed in rat locus coeruleus and nucleus basalis neurons

G protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium channels (GIRK, Kir3) play a crucial role in determining neuronal excitability. Currently, four mammalian GIRK members (GIRK1-4) have been genetically identified. We have been investigating physiological properties of GIRKs in cultured noradrenergic neurons from the locus coeruleus (LC) and cholinergic neurons from the nucleus basalis (NB). Yet, precise information is lacking about which types of GIRK channels are present in these neurons. We performed single-cell RT-PCR on these cultured neurons. In 13 noradrenergic LC neurons, GIRK1, GIRK2, GIRK3, and GIRK4 mRNAs existed in 12, 13, nine, and six neurons, respectively. In six cholinergic NB neurons, GIRK1, GIRK2, GIRK3, and GIRK4 mRNAs existed in six, four, one, and three neurons, respectively. Therefore, GIRK1 and GIRK2 mRNAs are most frequently encountered in both LC and NB neurons.
Convective transport of solutes by steady flows II. Specific flow problems

Abstract A comprehensive theory describing convective transport of solutes was presented in Part I. In this paper the general theory is applied to specific flow problems. The relatively simple problem of leaching to drains and ditches induced by an input distributed uniformly over the surface is discussed in detail. It is shown that if the ratio of the halfspacing between the drains or ditches and the depth to the impermeable layer is larger than about five, then the system approximates an apparently well-mixed system, i.e., then the transit time density distribution is approximately exponential. The general theory is also used to evaluate the literature on many other problems.
Ultrastructure of the intracellular melanization of Brugia malayi (Buckley) (Nematoda : Filarioidea) in the thoracic muscles of Anopheles quadrimaculatus (Say) (Diptera : Culicidae)

Ultrastructural details of the melanization of the filarial parasite Brugia malayi (Nematoda : Filarioidea) in the thoracic muscle cell of selected susceptible and refractory strains of Anopheles quadrimaculatus (Diptera : Culicidae) were examined. In both susceptible and refractory strains, following infection of the muscle cells, there is a dissolution of the sarcoplasmic cytoskeletal matrix surrounding the myofibrils, causing the myofibrils and mitochondria to drift apart and lose their regular spacing. This is coupled with a reorganization of the cytoplasm near the normally developing intracellular larva. Masses of vesicles and vesiculated cytoplasmic bodies accumulate near the larva. Eventually, these form a dense layer of cytoplasm around the parasite. Fine grains of melanin begin to appear in this dense cytoplasmic layer, increasing gradually until a nearly complete capsule of melanin surrounds the larva. The time course of melanization was found to be quite variable among and even within mosquitoes. Strains of A. quadrimaculatus selected to be refractory or susceptible to B. malayi, were found to vary substantially in the frequency of intracellular melanization, but not in the mechanism.
Revisitando os fundamentos da educação para a libertação: o legado de Paulo Freire

This essay examines, critiques, and extends the ontological, epistemological, ethical, and political foundations of Paulo Freire’s theoryof liberation education; it also situates Freire’s legacy with in the global applicationof his ideas in a wide range of educational contexts. It defends historicity and praxis as essential characteristics of human existence, exposes the problems with notions of authentic identities, and elaborates a historicized understanding of knowledge production. The essay argues for liberation education to be grounded in an ethics without righteousness coupled with a politics of militant nonviolence.
Impact of very-large-scale integration (v.l.s.i) on systems and people

The impact of semiconductor technology on systems and on people is substantial, and increases with further increasing scales of integration. This is mainly the result of further cost reductions and therefore of a growing penetration of highly integrated silicon chips into a wide variety of applications. In the first part of the paper, the impact of v.l.s.i. on systems will be discussed, dealing especially with the following topics: benefits from integration, differentiated cost reductions, new applications, regular arrays and random logic, performance implications, system size, and interface problems. The second part of the paper deals with people-oriented topics: dimensions of knowledge, `remote engineering', simulation and modelling, changing careers, numeracy, productivity impact, and technology: no end in itself.
What is the role of the pharmacist in home care

Pharmacists provide a wide range of medications, along with health and convalescent aids, for patients at home. Traditionally community pharmacists have been viewed as providers of prescription and nonprescription medications administered orally. Today pharmacists in community and hospital pharmacies across the country have expanded their services for the homebound patient and provide a variety of sophisticated products and services in the patient's home.
Retiming with logic duplication transformation: theory and an application to partial scan

Retiming when performed in conjunction with logic duplication results in many different circuit configurations that are not obtainable by retiming alone. These circuit configurations (we call RLD configurations) have significantly different area, performance and testability characteristics. We develop a formal framework that allows consideration of all configurations that can be designed using the RLD transformation. The RLD configurations are represented as a feasible solution set of an integer linear program (ILP). The objective function of the ILP can be used to explore the trade off between different design and testability metrics. We Identify an approach to solve several useful special cases of the ILP in polynomial time. As far as we know, our framework is the first to treat RLD transformations in a formal way. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our framework, we consider the application of RLD transformation to partial scan. A recent technique determines the desired positions for scan flip-flops and then employs an RLD transformation to achieve this repositioning. No attempt is made to reduce the area overhead due to logic duplication. Using our RLD framework, we develop an efficient polynomial time algorithm to compute the desired RLD configuration for which the number of logic nodes duplicated is also minimized. Experimental results on large ISCAS 89 benchmark circuits are included to show that our algorithm is indeed very efficient.
Recombinant Leptin Promotes Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Objective— The direct role of leptin in vascular disease remains controversial. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of leptin treatment on atherosclerosis and thrombosis in ather...
Interactive construction of multi-segment curved handles

In this work, we present a method to interactively create multi-segment, curved handles between two star-shaped faces of an orientable 2-manifold mesh or to connect two 2-manifold meshes along such faces. The presented algorithm combines a very simple 2D morphing algorithm with Hermite interpolation to construct the handle. Based on the method, we have developed a user interface tool that allows users to simply and easily create multi-segment curved handles.
Gender Stereotypes and Social Identity: How Being in the Minority Affects Judgments of Self and Others

Men and women participated in groups in which they were either the only member of their sex or in the majority. Participants rated themselves along gender-stereotypic traits and then made judgments of a gender-ambiguous target person. Results for both measures supported social-identity theory, suggesting that men's consciousness of their sex made them aware of their high social status in relation to women and activated concepts about them-selves that confirmed their membership in this high-status category. In contrast, women's consciousness of their sex made them aware of their low social status relative to men and motivated them to view themselves in terms of concepts that distinguished them from other members of this low-status category.
The Impact of Ethical Climate on Project Status Misreporting

Without complete and accurate status information, a project manager’s ability to monitor progress, allocate resources effectively, and detect and respond to problems is greatly diminished, and this can lead to impaired project performance. Many different factors can contribute to intentional misreporting of status information by project members to the project manager. In this study, the impact of organizational ethical climate was assessed through the analysis of responses from 228 project members drawn from a variety of ongoing information systems projects. Our results revealed that project members who perceived their organization to be one in which rules are followed strictly tended to misreport less, while those operating in an environment dominated by personal self-interest tended to misreport more. Somewhat surprisingly, the existence of a caring, team-spirited environment did not appear to have an impact on misreporting behaviors. Implications for researchers and project managers are discussed.
Asian Cultural Values, Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help, and Willingness to See a Counselor:

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among Asian American adherence to Asian cultural values, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, and willingness to see a counselor. Based on the data from 242 Asian American college students, the results revealed that adherence to Asian cultural values inversely predicted both attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help and general willingness to see a counselor, above and beyond the effects of related demographic variables. The results also indicated that attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help were a perfect mediator on the relationship between adherence to Asian cultural values and willingness to see a counselor in general and between adherence to Asian values and willingness to see a counselor for personal and health problems in particular.
Ouabain induces endocytosis of plasmalemmal Na/K-ATPase in LLC-PK1 cells by a clathrin-dependent mechanism.

Ouabain induces endocytosis of plasmalemmal Na/K-ATPase in LLC-PK1 cells by a clathrin-dependent mechanism. Background We have demonstrated that ouabain causes dose- and time-dependent decreases in 86 Rb uptake in porcine proximal tubular (LLC-PK1) cells. The present study addresses the molecular mechanisms involved in this process. Methods Studies were performed with cultured LLC-PK1 and Src family kinase deficient (SYF) cells. Results We found that 50 nmol/L ouabain applied to the basal, but not apical, aspect for 12 hours caused decreases in the plasmalemmal Na/K-ATPase. This loss of plasmalemmal Na/K-ATPase reverses completely within 12 to 24 hours after removal of ouabain. Ouabain also increased the Na/K-ATPase content in both early and late endosomes, activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI(3)K), and also caused a translocation of some Na/K-ATPase to the nucleus. Immunofluorescence demonstrated that the Na/K-ATPase colocalized with clathrin both before and after exposure to ouabain, and immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that ouabain stimulated interactions among the Na/K-ATPase, adaptor protein-2 (AP-2), and clathrin. Potassium (K) depletion, chlorpromazine, or PI(3)K inhibition all significantly attenuated this ouabain-induced endocytosis. Inhibition of the ouabain-activated signaling process through Src by 4-Amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-( t -butyl)pyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyrimidine (PP2) significantly attenuated ouabain-induced endocytosis. Moreover, experiments performed in SYF cells demonstrated that ouabain induced increases in the endocytosis of the Na/K-ATPase when Src was reconstituted (SYF+), but not in the Src-deficient (SYF-) cells. Conclusion These data demonstrate that ouabain stimulates a clathrin-dependent endocytosis pathway that translocates the Na/K-ATPase to intracellular compartments, thus suggesting a potential role of endocytosis in ouabain-induced signal transduction as well as proximal tubule sodium handling.
Posterior expectation based on empirical likelihoods

5SUMMARY Posterior expectation is widely used as a Bayesian point estimator. In this paper we extend it from parametric models to nonparametric models using empirical likelihood, and provide a nonparametric analog of James–Stein estimation. We use the Laplace method to establish asymptotic approximations to our proposed posterior expectations, and show by simulation that they are of- 10 ten more efficient than corresponding classical nonparametric procedures, especially when the underlying data are skewed.
Determination of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase activity in man

Summary Procedures were developed for the determination of the activity of the microsomal enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMG CoA reductase, EC 1.1.1.34) in human liver. The enzyme assay could be carried out with as little as 20 mg of fresh liver tissue, thus making the method applicable to specimens obtained by percutaneous liver biopsy. Experiments were carried out to determine optimal assay conditions and to establish the identity and radiopurity of the reaction product formed from 3- ' 4C-labeled 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA. The specific activity of the enzyme was measured in a number of patients with different disorders of lipid metabolism. The rate-determining step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol from two-carbon precursors is the formation of mevalonic acid from HMG CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA). This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme HMG CoA reductase (meva1onate:NADP oxidoreductase [acylating CoA], EC 1.1.1.34) (1). In order to study the activity of hepatic microsomal HMG CoA reductase in patients with disorders of lipid metabolism and to assess the effects of treatment, procedures were developed to assay the activity of .the enzyme in the relatively small amounts of liver tissue obtained by percutaneous liver biopsy. This report describes the preparation of the microsomal fraction from 20-65 mg of liver, characterizes those properties of the enzyme activity that must be known to establish an optimal assay system, and establishes the identity and radioactive purity of the reaction product, mevalonolactone. Methods [3- 'C] HMG CoA was prepared by reacting [ 3- 'C] HMG anhydride with reduced CoA (2). The labeled anhydride was synthesized from [3-''C]HMG by the method of Goldfarb and Pitot (3), with some modifications. A solution of 10 mg of [34C]HMG (New England Nuclear Corp., Boston, Mass.)
Performance-based control interface for character animation

Most game interfaces today are largely symbolic, translating simplified input such as keystrokes into the choreography of full-body character movement. In this paper, we describe a system that directly uses human motion performance to provide a radically different, and much more expressive interface for controlling virtual characters. Our system takes a data feed from a motion capture system as input, and in real-time translates the performance into corresponding actions in a virtual world. The difficulty with such an approach arises from the need to manage the discrepancy between the real and virtual world, leading to two important subproblems 1) recognizing the user's intention, and 2) simulating the appropriate action based on the intention and virtual context. We solve this issue by first enabling the virtual world's designer to specify possible activities in terms of prominent features of the world along with associated motion clips depicting interactions. We then integrate the prerecorded motions with online performance and dynamic simulation to synthesize seamless interaction of the virtual character in a simulated virtual world. The result is a flexible interface through which a user can make freeform control choices while the resulting character motion maintains both physical realism and the user's personal style.
Civil Engineering: Anachronism and Black Sheep

The paper presents a thesis that the word “civil” in “civil engineering” is anachronistic and does not represent the works of the so-called civil engineer. The origin and root of the words “engineer” and civil are traced. Engineer is seen to have its roots via the Greek and Latin in the Sanskrit word jan, meaning life, whereas civil is traced to the differentiation that engineers of the 18th and 19th centuries created from their military engineer counterparts. The word engineer was used as far back as the 14th century, though, much of it in nontechnical terms. The evolution of the practice of civil engineering, and the history of the formation of societies are studied to determine how tasks relate to the word civil. Of particular interest is to see what the practitioners and founders of societies aimed to embody in this field of civil engineering. The paper aims to explore the factors and influences in the practice and naming of the civil engineer. It delves into the roots and origins of the names of a nu...
The Origin of Along-Shelf Pressure Gradient in the Middle Atlantic Bight

AbstractIt is quite widely accepted that the along-shelf pressure gradient (ASPG) contributes in driving shelf currents in the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) off the northeastern U.S. coast; its origin, however, remains a subject for debate. Based on analyses of 16 yr (1993–2008) of satellite, tide gauge, river, and wind data and numerical experiments, the authors suggest that river and Coastal Labrador Sea Water (CLSW) transport contribute to a positive mean ASPG (tilt up northward) in the ratio of approximately 1:7 (i.e., CLSW dominates), whereas wind and the Gulf Stream tend to produce a negative mean ASPG in the ratio of approximately 1:6.Data also indicate seasonal and interannual variations of ASPG that correlate with the Gulf Stream’s shift and eddy kinetic energy north of the Gulf Stream (N-EKE) due to warm-core rings. A southward shift in the Gulf Stream produces a sea level drop north of Cape Hatteras, which is most rapid in winter. The N-EKE peaks in late spring to early summer and is larger in so...
Ste20-related proline/alanine-rich kinase: A novel regulator of intestinal inflammation

Recently, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been the subject of considerable research, with increasing attention being paid to the loss of intestinal epithelial cell barrier function as a mechanism of pathogenesis. Ste20-related proline/alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) is involved in regulating barrier function. SPAK is known to interact with inflammation-related kinases (such as p38, JNK, NKCC1, PKCtheta, WNK and MLCK), and with transcription factor AP-1, resulting in diverse biological phenomena, including cell differentiation, cell transformation and proliferation, cytoskeleton rearrangement, and regulation of chloride transport. This review examines the involvement of Ste20-like kinases and downstream mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways in the pathogenesis and control of intestinal inflammation. The primary focus will be on the molecular features of intestinal inflammation, with an emphasis on the interaction between SPAK and other molecules, and the effect of these interactions on homeostatic maintenance, cell volume regulation and increased cell permeability in intestinal inflammation.
Properties of membership services

A membership service is used in a distributed system to maintain information about which sites are functioning and which have failed at any given time. Such services have proven to be fundamental for constructing distributed applications, with many example services and algorithms defined in the literature. Despite these efforts, however, little has been done on examining the abstract properties important to membership independent of a given service. Here, these properties are identified and characterized. Message ordering graphs are used to specify the effect of each property on the message flow as seen by the application, and dependency graphs are used to characterize the relationship between properties. These graphs help differentiate existing services, as well as facilitate the design of new services in which only those properties actually required by an application are included. >
Impact of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) on patients harboring the spliceosome mutation SRSF2.

7008 Background: Molecular predictors of outcome are increasingly important in determining optimal therapy for myeloid neoplasms. Mutations (mut) in spliceosome genes U2AF1 and SRSF2 predict poor o...
Can the Gulf Stream induce coherent short-term fluctuations in sea level along the US East Coast? A modeling study

Much attention has been given in recent years to observations and models that show that variations in the transport of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and in the Gulf Stream (GS) can contribute to interannual, decadal, and multi-decadal variations in coastal sea level (CSL) along the US East Coast. However, less is known about the impact of short-term (time scales of days to weeks) fluctuations in the GS and their impact on CSL anomalies. Some observations suggest that these anomalies can cause unpredictable minor tidal flooding in low-lying areas when the GS suddenly weakens. Can these short-term CSL variations be attributed to changes in the transport of the GS? An idealized numerical model of the GS has been set up to test this proposition. The regional model uses a 1/12° grid with a simplified coastline to eliminate impacts from estuaries and small-scale coastal features and thus isolate the GS impact. The GS in the model is driven by inflows/outflows, representing the Florida Current (FC), the Slope Current (SC), and the Sargasso Sea (SS) flows. Forcing the model with an oscillatory FC transport with a period of 2, 5, and 10 days produced coherent CSL variations from Florida to the Gulf of Maine with similar periods. However, when imposing variations in the transports of the SC or the SS, they induce CSL variations only north of Cape Hatteras. The suggested mechanism is that variations in GS transport produce variations in sea level gradient across the entire GS length and this large-scale signal is then transmitted into the shelf by the generation of coastal-trapped waves (CTW). In this idealized model, the CSL variations induced by variations of ∼10 Sv in the transport of the GS are found to resemble CSL variations induced by ∼5 m s−1 zonal wind fluctuations, though the mechanisms of wind-driven and GS-driven sea level are quite different. Better understanding of the relation between variations in offshore currents and CSL will help to improve the prediction of both short-term water level anomalies that cause flooding, as well as spatial variations in long-term sea level variability and coastal sea level rise.
Iliopsoas muscle transfer in the treatment of myelomeningocele patients with paralytic hip deformities.

Fifty-two iliopsoas transfers were performed in twenty-eight children from a clinic population of 150 myelomeningocele patients. All the patients operated on had neurological deficits characterized by muscle imbalance around the hip, that is, hip flexors and adductors overpowering all the other muscles. The neuromuscular function of these children varied considerably. It was of the utmost importance to evaluate function at birth and on repeated examinations thereafter. These evaluations permitted a prediction of future functional achievement, and detection of muscle imbalances so that the development of deformity could be anticipated and the need for treatment could be established. Muscle imbalance at the hip if left untreated led to deformities in subsequent years that made walking difficult or impossible. These deformities included lumbar lordosis, hip-flexion deformity, subluxation, and dislocation of the hip. Transfer of the iliopsoas muscle to the posterolateral aspect of the greater trochanter was employed to correct the muscle imbalance occurring when the strength of the hip adductors and flexors overpowered their antagonists. The method of transfer used was a modification of that described by Mustard for paralysis due to poliomyelitis. Complications were one wound infection which cleared with no residua, fourteen fractures of the femur and tibia in six patients after the plaster casts were removed, limitation of hip motion seen in four hips of three patients, and three dislocations in two patients. Improvement was seen in all but seven of the fifty-two hips treated. These seven had limitation of motion on the dislocation was not reduced.
Gene Therapy for MERTK-Associated Retinal Degenerations

MERTK-associated retinal degenerations are thought to have defects in phagocytosis of shed outer segment membranes by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), as do the rodent models of these diseases. We have subretinally injected an RPE-specific AAV2 vector, AAV2-VMD2-hMERTK, to determine whether this would provide long-term photoreceptor rescue in the RCS rat, which it did for up to 6.5 months, the longest time point examined. Moreover, we found phagosomes in the RPE in the rescued regions of RCS retinas soon after the onset of light. The same vector also had a major protective effect in Mertk-null mice, with a concomitant increase in ERG response amplitudes in the vector-injected eyes. These findings suggest that planned clinical trials with this vector will have a favorable outcome.
Effect of heat on the agent of homologous serum hepatitis.

ConclusionsSamples of palasma known to contain the agent of homologous serum hepatitis retained their ability to produce hepatitis even after being heated at 60° for 4 hours.
Quantitative aspects of interferon-induced plaque reduction: effects of cell age and dose of challenge virus.

SummaryIncreasing the in vitro age of chick cell monolayers was found to alter the dose-response to interferon so that aged cells responded over a narrower concentration range than young cells. This effect was not observed on aged L-cells. No consistent effect on the PDD50 of chick and mouse interferons was observed under the conditions of aging used in these experiments.The percent of plaques appearing on interferon-treated chick cell monolayers was found to be independent of the amount of vesicular stomatitis virus used for challenge over an eightfold range. The percent of plaques appearing on interferon-treated L-cells, however, showed a progressive decrease with increasing amounts of challenge virus.I am grateful to Dr. Walter D. Foster for helpful criticism of the manuscript and to Tony Verga for technical assistance.
Teaching/Preaching the Theology of Lamentations:

The cries of Lamentations are desperate, wailing up from the darkest side of human existence. They will not be silenced. Lament harasses those who oppress and calls all to justice—even God.
Baboon corpus luteum: the effect of melatonin on in vitro progesterone production

Objective To determine the effect of melatonin on baboon corpus luteum (CL) cell progesterone (P) production. Design Five baboon CL obtained during the midluteal phase by luteectomy were dissociated using collagenase, and incubations were performed (50,000 cells per plate) in quadruplicate for 3hours at 37°C with melatonin (0.001 to 1.0ng/mL) (basal) or with melatonin and 10IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (hCG-stimulated). Total P was measured by a specific radioimmunoassay. Main Outcome Measures Progesterone concentrations measured in the presence and absence of melatonin and hCG. Results Melatonin (0.01 to 1.0ng/mL) inhibited basal P production in all the CL (41.8±9.9ng P without melatonin compared with 32.2±2.0ng P, 28.4±2.1ng with 0.01 and 1.0ng/mL melatonin, respectively). Human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated P production was significantly inhibited with as little as 0.01ng of melatonin (150.8±11.4ng with 10IU hCG versus 120.3±6.4ng with 10IU hCG and 1.0ng melatonin). The degree of inhibition in the hCG-stimulated cells was greater than in the nonstimulated cells. Melatonin at a concentration of 0.001ng/mL did not affect P production in both stimulated and nonstimulated cells. Serotonin in similar concentrations had no effect on luteal cell P production. Conclusion These findings indicate that melatonin exerts a suppressive effect on baboon dispersed luteal cell P production and thus may play a role in luteal function.
Anterior Extraperitoneal Donor Nephrectomy

AbstractThe anterior extraperitoneal approach was compared to the flank approach for living donor nephrectomy in a series of 36 familial donors. The former procedure (23 cases) not only afforded superior visualization of renal vessels but also was probably at least as safe as the latter (13 cases) for donors with risk factors of obesity, age more than 45 years and pulmonary disease. Anterior extraperitoneal nephrectomy appears to be indicated for donors with multiple renal arteries and skeletal deformities, including thoracolumbar arthritis.
Coordinating Systems of Care Using Health Information Technology: Development of the ADHD Care Assistant.

AbstractPerhaps the two principal venues for the delivery of mental health services are schools and primary care practices. Unfortunately, these systems of care are poorly connected, which may result in care that is fragmented and suboptimal. This article describes the development and implementation of an electronic health record portal, known as the ADHD Care Assistant, to facilitate the sharing of information between schools and primary care offices to promote the use of evidence-based practices for managing children with behavioral health conditions. A feasibility study was conducted across 19 diverse primary care practices with 105 participating providers. Across the practices, 67% of providers activated the system for at least one patient and 32% activated it for five or more cases. Care Assistant use was lower in practices with a relatively high percentage of Medicaid patients (≥25%). The article discusses challenges that have arisen among primary care providers, parents, and schools in using the Ca...
CHAPTER III – Introduction to Kinetic Theory

It is sweet to dance to violins When Love and Life are fair: To dance to flutes, to dance to lutes Is delicate and rare: But it is not sweet with nimble feet To dance upon the air!
Designing interaction concepts, managing customer expectation and mastering agile development in rich application product development

The emergence of rich application implementation frameworks, such as WPF and Silverlight, promoted a new collaboration paradigm between developers and designers where ownership of the user interface code is transferred to the user experience team. The implications of this new paradigm for the user centered design process impact its technical, collaborative, and business dimensions. The traditional design prototype can now demonstrate most of the desired user experience and could be directly integrated with the back-end code, significantly reducing the design revision costs. Creating the rich prototypes demand enhanced technical skills from visual designers, who become a member of both the design and implementation teams. The implementation tools provided by the rich application frameworks aim to simplify the prototype creation task for the designer, but can potentially lead customers to expect a lower effort associated with the user centered design process.
Self-delay-line-referenced optical frequency comb for low-phase noise microwave generation

We stabilized the repetition rate of a mode-locked laser (MLL) to a fiber-optic delay-line in order to generate a low-phase-noise microwave signal at 10 GHz. We designed a circuit to directly cancel the contribution of the MLL's carrier-envelope-offset (CEO-) noise to the stabilization feedback signal. The sensitivity of our feedback method is enhanced by the ratio of the optical frequency to the output microwave frequency. Because we are using a fiber-optic delay-line, we do not require an ultra-stable Fabry-Perot etalon or other reference cavity. The current results are a proof of principle; we expect this method to generate a lower-phase-noise microwave than previously reported fiber-optic-delay-line-stabilized MLLs when tested under the same conditions.
Issues in the Prevalence of Low Birth Weight in South India

Prevention of low birth weight (LBW; < 2500 g), which affects nearly 30 per cent of infants born in India, is a public health priority. LBW includes infants born prematurely (<37 weeks of gestation) or with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR; <10 th for gestational age). Since the majority of LBW infants in India and most developing countries are a result of IUG R, studies that explore the etiology of IUGR and interventions aimed at preventing foetal growth retardation are urgently needed.
Teaching big data analytics skills with intelligent workflow systems

We have designed an open and modular course for data science and big data analytics using a workflow paradigm that allows students to easily experience big data through a sophisticated yet easy to use instrument that is an intelligent workflow system. A key aspect of this work is the use of semantic workflows to capture and reuse end-to-end analytic methods that experts would use to analyze big data, and the use of an intelligent workflow system to elaborate the workflow and manage its execution and resulting datasets. Through the exposure of big data analytics in a workflow framework, students will be able to get first-hand experiences with a breadth of big data topics, including multi-step data analytic and statistical methods, software reuse and composition, parallel distributed programming, high-end computing. In addition, students learn about a range of topics in AI, including semantic representations and ontologies, machine learning, natural language processing, and image analysis.
Runx1 stabilizes the mammary epithelial cell phenotype and prevents epithelial to mesenchymal transition

// Deli Hong 1, 2 , Terri L. Messier 1 , Coralee E. Tye 1 , Jason R. Dobson 2 , Andrew J. Fritz 1 , Kenneth R. Sikora 1 , Gillian Browne 1 , Janet L. Stein 1 , Jane B. Lian 1 , Gary S. Stein 1 1 Department of Biochemistry and University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA 2 Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA Correspondence to: Gary S. Stein, email: gary.stein@uvm.edu Keywords: Runx1, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, epithelial Integrity, patient survival, breast cancer Received: November 17, 2016 Accepted: January 16, 2017 Published: February 16, 2017 ABSTRACT Runx1 is a well characterized transcription factor essential for hematopoietic differentiation and Runx1 mutations are the cause of leukemias. Runx1 is highly expressed in normal epithelium of most glands and recently has been associated with solid tumors. Notably, the function of Runx1 in the mammary gland and how it is involved in initiation and progression of breast cancer is still unclear. Here we demonstrate the consequences of Runx1 loss in normal mammary epithelial and breast cancer cells. We first observed that Runx1 is decreased in tumorigenic and metastatic breast cancer cells. We also observed loss of Runx1 expression upon induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in MCF10A (normal-like) cells. Furthermore depletion of Runx1 in MCF10A cells resulted in striking changes in cell shape, leading to mesenchymal cell morphology. The epithelial phenotype could be restored in breast cancer cells by re-expressing Runx1. Analyses of breast tumors and patient data revealed that low Runx1 expression is associated with poor prognosis and decreased survival. We addressed mechanisms for the function of Runx1 in maintaining the epithelial phenotype and find Runx1 directly regulates E-cadherin; and serves as a downstream transcription factor mediating TGFβ signaling. We also observed through global gene expression profiling of growth factor depleted cells that induction of EMT and loss of Runx1 is associated with activation of TGFβ and WNT pathways. Thus these findings have identified a novel function for Runx1 in sustaining normal epithelial morphology and preventing EMT and suggest Runx1 levels could be a prognostic indicator of tumor progression.