cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Safety, efficacy, and effects on copper metabolism of intrareticularly placed selenium boluses in beef heifer calves.

Intrareticularly placed sustained-release selenium boluses were administered to 1 group of selenium-deficient heifer calves (n = 16), and a second group (n = 16) was left as nontreated controls. Age range for all calves was 83 to 156 days. These boluses release 3 mg of selenium each day, as sodium selenite. Measurements of blood selenium concentration, plasma copper concentration, hepatic copper concentration, and body weight were made over a 188-day study. The treated group of calves had significantly higher mean blood selenium concentration at posttreatment days 68 (P 0.10 micrograms/ml for 188 days. These boluses were observed to be clinically safe; signs of selenium toxicosis were not detected and untoward effects were not seen in the selenium-treated calves. There were no differences between control and treatment groups with respect to mean hepatic copper concentration or mean plasma copper concentration. There were no observed differences between the control and treatment groups with respect to weight gain during the study.
Urban Centrality and Agricultural Productivity: Regional Development in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Regional development is a concern of many policymakers in developing countries. The government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has recently renewed its emphasis on regional planning in conjunction with its preparations for the latest Five Year Plan (1986–90). The Committee overseeing this work was chaired by Crown Prince Hassan who has repeatedly expressed his desire to eliminate “pockets of poverty” by stimulating development in the least developed regions of the country.
Benadryl Elixir® (Parke-Davis)

Benadryl is an antihistamine. It has anticholinergic or drying actions, a central antitussive effect, an antiemetic effect and sedative side effects. Antihistamines compete with histamine for cell receptor sites.
Pituitary Adenoma and Craniopharyngioma: An Overview

This chapter discusses the pathologic features of pituitary adenoma and craniopharyngioma, the two most common and problematic neoplasms of the region of sella turcica. Pituitary adenoma, even when it is small, can present with very diverse clinical and pathological findings owing to its variety of cell types and its location. An increasing number of subtypes are being recognized based on histological and immunohistochemical features. Valuable data can be obtained from the pathologic evaluation in terms of biologic aggressiveness of the adenoma, and its further characterization as invasive and/or atypical. Craniopharyngioma is a low grade neoplasm that can be quite problematic due to its locally invasive nature and recurrences. Histologic subtypes, namely adamantinomatous and papillary, are reviewed; their pathologic features and prognoses are discussed. Finally, the interesting coexistence of these two neoplasms is discussed briefly.
A rigorous approach to the diagnosis of synergy among combination therapies of immunosuppressive agents

The word “synergism” is derived from the Greek σνveργoσ (synergos), meaning “working together”. The application of synergism to drug therapeutics as the law of compounds was espoused by the Persian physician Avicenna, who proposed that the addition of a second (or multiple) agent(s) to a drug regimen exponentially increased the efficacy of the treatment [1]. Averroes disputed this claim, recognizing the possibility that interactions between drugs might be only additive; indeed, the drug interactions might be antagonistic, or less than additive [2].
Risk Management in the Airline Industry

Abstract The airline industry regularly deals with enormous risks, from fluctuations in currency exchange rates and the price of jet fuel, to massive capital outlays, volatility in passenger demand, and competition from low-cost carriers. This chapter outlines the risks faced by the airlines and the tools they use to manage them. We consider risk management approaches such as leasing, hedging, capacity management, and revenue management. The airlines evidently make decisions in these areas in a decentralized way. We present a summary of the results of an empirical study on the airlines’ capacity decisions in response to exogenous factors, along with the outline of a normative analytical model for integrated risk management in the airline industry.
Microaggressions as a Barrier to Effective Collaboration Between Teaching Faculty and Academic Librarians: An Analysis of the Results of a US and Canadian Survey

Facilitating effective collaboration with teaching faculty (TF) for the purposes of student success and performance is often a priority for academic librarians (AL). The topic of effective partnerships between these two groups has received a great deal of scholarly attention within the field of library and information science (LIS). However, in practice, harmonious working relationships can be difficult to establish and maintain. This is in part due to the lack of understanding of the role and status of AL by TF. The existing divide between these parties has led to discourse and dismissive actions on the part of TF that may be perceived by some AL as microaggressive. While some work has been done on microaggressions in higher education, little quantitative data exists on status-based microaggressions by TF towards AL and its effect on collaboration in the context of information literacy (IL). In early 2016, the researchers surveyed U.S. and Canadian AL in order to collect data on perceived status-based microaggressive experiences. Analysis of the data indicates that status-based microaggressions, although not ubiquitous, do exist. Moreover, the data indicates that some librarians may experience more frequent instances of status-based microaggressions based on self-reported demographic characteristics.
MicroRNA regulated macrophage activation in obesity

Obesity and many other metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis, have conventionally been viewed as lipid storage disorders caused by over nutrition. Research has demonstrated that the obesity associated chronic low-grade tissue inflammation and oxidative stress is crucial factors in the initiation, propagation, and development of these metabolic disorders. Disruption in the normal functioning of the immune system and its interaction with host tissue cells makes it difficult to treat these diseases. Macrophages play critical roles in the development of insulin resistance and tissue inflammation, particularly through a unique shift in polarized activation status from an anti-inflammatory M2 function in lean adipose tissues to proinflammatory M1 activation in adipose tissues of obese individuals. Compelling evidence demonstrated the significance of microRNAs as important regulators in the immune system network. Our recent research has demonstrated that microRNA-223 is a crucial regulator of obesity associated insulin resistance through regulation of macrophage polarization in adipose tissue. This review highlights the importance of various microRNAs and their roles played in the polarization of macrophages which could be targeted for development of new therapeutic strategies to treat obesity associated diseases.
Towards Building Low Power Magnetic Communication Protocols for Challenging Environments

Magnetic Induction (MI) based communication is a near-field communications technology that can work reliably in a variety of difficult propagation media and thus can be useful in many short-range IoT applications. In this paper, we explore low-power protocols for MI communications with low data rate requirements but a premium on energy consumption. In particular, we exploit communication through silence (CTS), and show that it can reduce the energy expenditure of the communication by up to 67% as opposed to typical binary packet based transmission. We also discuss a multi-channel tree based routing protocol to reduce energy consumption from overhearing in asynchronous MI communication networks and show that the proposed scheme can reduce the overhearing counts by ~60% with two channels and by ~80% with four channels.
Time-Resolved, Laser-Absorption Temperature Measurement in Shock Heated Mixtures with Reduced Beam Steering and Emission Noise

A fast temperature diagnostic for time-resolved measurements in harsh environments based on an acousto-optically modulated quantum cascade laser is demonstrated in shock-heated mixtures of carbon monoxide. The temperature measurements made with this system are largely insensitive to beam steering noise.
CODA: Edward Snowden, National Security Whistleblowing, and Civil Disobedience

No recent whistleblower has been more lionized or vilified than Edward Snowden. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and denounced as a "total traitor" deserving of the death penalty. In these debates, Snowden's defenders tend to portray him as a civil disobedient. Yet for a range of reasons, Snowden's situation does not map neatly onto traditional theories of civil disobedience. The same holds true for most cases of national security whistleblowing. The contradictory and confused responses that these cases provoke, this essay suggests, are not just the product of polarized politics or insufficient information. Rather, they reflect the genuine difficulties of locating national security whistleblowers within our main ethical framework for assessing conscientious and communicative lawbreaking. Just as the chapters in this volume urge us to move beyond the reductive characterization of whistleblowers as heroes or traitors, we may need to move beyond the standard models of civil disobedience to gain greater normative purchase on what whistleblowers do.
Process Sequencing for Features with Multiple Processing Requirements

Abstract Process sequencing is a part of process planning that generate the sequence of processes need to manufacture part. Process sequencing is performed with a goal to minimize time and/or cost of manufacturing. In this paper we elaborate of issues and algorithms for process sequencing under condition that manufacturing features that constitute the part require several distinct processes. This condition is very common in practice, particularly for parts with stricter tolerance requirements. For example, holes may require drilling and boring and/or reaming operations, slots and pockets are usually machined by rough and finish milling operations. Further, for more stricter tolerance grinding operations may be necessary. However, not many researchers addressed those requirements in process sequencing procedures. In the paper we briefly explain how multiple processes are generated for high tolerance features and develop an extended feature precedence network (FPN) which constrains the process sequencing algorithms. The extended feature precedence network and process alternatives for each feature are input for the process sequencing algorithms. From this data we generate the process plan network (PPN) and then we apply two procedures for process sequencing, space search algorithm and generalized traveling salesman problem (GTSP) algorithm in order to obtain the optimal sequences.
Thermoluminescent behavior of crystalline and glassy lithium borate

The thermoluminescence of the crystalline and glassy forms of Li2O:2B2O3 and of the crystalline and glassy forms of Li2O:2.7B2O3, doped with various concentrations of divalent and tetravalent manganese, was investigated. Changing sample stoichiometry changes TL sensitivity, with the greatest TL intensity being found for the crystalline Li2O:2B2O3 containing 0.1% manganese impurity. Among the glasses, the Li2O:2.7B2O3 composition has the greatest TL intensity. The thermoluminescence vs. exposure curves are linear between 30 and 105R for all glasses tested, a fact that could be useful in high dose measurements.
Proximity biotinylation reveals novel secreted dense granule proteins of Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite which is capable of establishing life-long chronic infection in any mammalian host. During the intracellular life cycle, the parasite secretes an array of proteins into the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) where it resides. Specialized organelles called the dense granules secrete GRA proteins that are known to participate in nutrient acquisition, immune evasion, and host cell-cycle manipulation. Although many GRAs have been discovered which are expressed during the acute infection mediated by tachyzoites, little is known about those that participate in the chronic infection mediated by the bradyzoite form of the parasite. In this study, we sought to uncover novel bradyzoite-upregulated GRA proteins using proximity biotinylation, which we previously used to examine the secreted proteome of the tachyzoites. Using a fusion of the bradyzoite upregulated protein MAG1 to BirA* as bait and a strain with improved switch efficiency, we identified a number of novel GRA proteins which are expressed in bradyzoites. After using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to characterize these proteins by gene knockout, we focused on one of these GRAs (GRA55) and found it was important for the establishment or maintenance of cysts in the mouse brain. These findings highlight new components of the GRA proteome of the tissue-cyst life stage of T. gondii and identify potential targets that are important for maintenance of parasite persistence in vivo.
Local anesthetic resistance in a Crohn's patient undergoing cesarean delivery.

Introduction Patient resistance to local anesthetics is rarely considered as the cause of regional anesthesia failure. Case report We report a case of resistance to local anesthetics in a patient with Crohn’s disease who underwent cesarean section under continuous spinal anesthesia. Discussion Resistance to local anesthetics may be more common than we think, especially among patients with chronic pain. Providers should consider local anesthetic resistance when regional anesthesia is unsuccessful. Further research is needed to determine if skin wheal tests and/or a different local anesthetic could improve results.
Special Session: Dehumanization of Robotic Assistants and Subsequent Unethical and Abusive Customer Behavior in Frontline Encounters: An Abstract

The rapid technological advancements have revolutionized service encounters (Huang and Rust 2017) and provided an opportunity for companies to improve customer experiences through automatic service interactions (van Doorn et al. 2017). As an increasing number of companies begin to incorporate robotic assistants into their service designs, such as LoweBot adopted by Lowe’s as a shopping assistant (King 2014) and Pepper adopted by Pizza Hut as a waiter (Santos 2018), some of these companies have observed abusive customer behavior directed towards robotic assistants. For example, the co-founder of Starship Technologies, Ahti Heinla, indicated that it is not uncommon to find its food-delivery robots being kicked by people (Hamilton 2018). This type of abusive customer behavior may negatively influence not only organizations through the financial loss associated with the damage of robotic assistants but also other customers through the spread of such behavior. Given the importance of this issue, this research aims to examine why and when customers engage in abusive customer behavior directed towards robotic assistants, a behavior that is both dysfunctional and unethical because it violates the commonly accepted norm of morally appropriate conduct.
Orbitofrontal Cortex Encodes Preference for Alcohol

Abstract Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays a key role in representation and regulation of reward value, preference, and seeking. OFC function is disrupted in drug use and dependence, but its specific role in alcohol use disorders has not been thoroughly studied. In alcohol-dependent humans OFC activity is increased by alcohol cue presentation. Ethanol (EtOH) also alters OFC neuron excitability in vitro, and OFC manipulation influences EtOH seeking and drinking in rodents. To understand the relationship between OFC function and individual alcohol use, we recorded OFC neuron activity in rats during EtOH self-administration, characterizing the neural correlates of individual preference for alcohol. After one month of intermittent access to 20% EtOH, male Long–Evans rats were trained to self-administer 20% EtOH, 10% EtOH, and 15% sucrose. OFC neuronal activity was recorded and associated with task performance and EtOH preference. Rats segregated into high and low EtOH drinkers based on homecage consumption and operant seeking of 20% EtOH. Motivation for 10% EtOH and sucrose was equally high in both groups. OFC neuronal activity was robustly increased or decreased during sucrose and EtOH seeking and consumption, and strength of changes in OFC activity was directly associated with individual preference for 20% EtOH. EtOH-associated OFC activity was more similar to sucrose-associated activity in high versus low EtOH drinkers. The results show that OFC neurons are activated during alcohol seeking based on individual preference, supporting this brain region as a potential substrate for alcohol motivation that may be dysregulated in alcohol misuse.
Benchmarking boron carbide equation of state using computation and experiment

Boron carbide (${\mathrm{B}}_{4}\mathrm{C}$) is of both fundamental scientific and practical interest due to its structural complexity and how it changes upon compression, as well as its many industrial uses and potential for use in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and high-energy density physics experiments. We report the results of a comprehensive computational study of the equation of state (EOS) of ${\mathrm{B}}_{4}\mathrm{C}$ in the liquid, warm dense matter, and plasma phases. Our calculations are cross-validated by comparisons with Hugoniot measurements up to 61 megabar from planar shock experiments performed at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Our computational methods include path integral Monte Carlo, activity expansion, as well as all-electron Green's function Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker and molecular dynamics that are both based on density functional theory. We calculate the pressure-internal energy EOS of ${\mathrm{B}}_{4}\mathrm{C}$ over a broad range of temperatures ($\ensuremath{\sim}6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{3}$--$5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ K) and densities (0.025--50 $\mathrm{g}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$). We assess that the largest discrepancies between theoretical predictions are $\ensuremath{\lesssim}5%$ near the compression maximum at 1--$2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ K. This is the warm-dense state in which the K shell significantly ionizes and has posed grand challenges to theory and experiment. By comparing with different EOS models, we find a Purgatorio model (LEOS 2122) that agrees with our calculations. The maximum discrepancies in pressure between our first-principles predictions and LEOS 2122 are $\ensuremath{\sim}18%$ and occur at temperatures between $6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{3}$--$2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ K, which we believe originate from differences in the ion thermal term and the cold curve that are modeled in LEOS 2122 in comparison with our first-principles calculations. To account for potential differences in the ion thermal term, we have developed three new equation-of-state models that are consistent with theoretical calculations and experiment. We apply these new models to 1D hydrodynamic simulations of a polar direct-drive NIF implosion, demonstrating that these new models are now available for future ICF design studies.
An Approach for Detection of Advanced Persistent Threat Attacks

Advanced persistent threat campaigns employ sophisticated strategies and tactics to achieve their attack goal.
Surgical Relevance of the Suprameatal Tubercle During Superior Petrosal Vein-Sparing Trigeminal Nerve Microvascular Decompression

Background An enlarged suprameatal tubercle (SMT) can obscure visualization of the trigeminal nerve and require removal during microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery, especially when the superior petrosal vein (SPV) complex is preserved. Objective To define the incidence and important variables affecting the need for SMT removal with an SPV-sparing trigeminal nerve MVD. Methods Retrospective single-institution review identified patients who underwent a first-time, SPV-sparing MVD for trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) over a 26-mo period. SMT length (SMT-L), SMT width (SMT-W), and peri-trigeminal cerebellopontine cisternal thickness (CT) were measured from axial high-resolution magnetic resonance images. Need for SMT removal and use of endoscopic assistance was recorded. Data were analyzed using unpaired t-tests, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC)/area under the curve testing. Results A total of 43 MVD surgeries for TGN on 42 patients (mean age 52.7 ± 14.4 yr) were analyzed. Mean SMT-L, SMT-W, and CT were 9.8 ± 1.6, 2.0 ± 0.8, and 4.2 ± 1.5 mm, respectively. SMT removal via drilling was required in 4/43 cases (9.3%). Endoscopic assistance was used in 3 cases (2 SMT removed and 1 SMT preserved). SMT-W was the biggest predictor of the need for SMT removal on ROC analysis (area under the curve 0.97, 0.92-1.0 95% CI). The combined thresholds of SMT-W ≥ 3.2 mm and CT ≤ 3.5 mm demonstrated 100% sensitive and 100% specificity for the need to remove the SMT on optimal cutoff analysis. Conclusion SMT drilling is necessary in nearly 10% of SPV-sparing MVDs for TGN. The combination of SMT width and cerebellopontine cistern thickness is predictive of the need for SMT removal.
Precise control of water and wastewater treatment systems with non-ideal heterogeneous mixing models and high-fidelity sensing

Abstract Non-ideal heterogeneous mixing models are developed and incorporated within advanced closed-loop control strategies utilizing high-resolution sensing to maximize the resiliency and minimize the energy consumption of water treatment processes with intelligent model-based decision-making approaches. The proposed non-ideal heterogeneous mixing models capture continuity (heat and mass conservation), yet are extremely simple with few parameters, so they lend themselves to fast online prediction (with extrapolation capabilities) and regular recalibration. Further, they are more accurate than computational fluid dynamics (CFD) (60% less error) and symbolic regression data-driven models (73% less error). Real-time high-resolution sensor data are collected for observing spatiotemporal responses of state variables (conductivity, pH, and temperature) to transient influent shocks. Deterministic global dynamic optimization is used for training and recalibration of the non-ideal heterogeneous mixing models to guarantee the best-possible fits to the sensor data. The models are then deployed within standard model-predictive control and two economic model-predictive control strategies to demonstrate model-based decision-making for disturbance rejection and optimal operation of aeration in a continuous flow nitrification system utilizing high-resolution sensor data from several spatial positions. The new technology platform, consisting of high-resolution sensors, non-ideal heterogeneous mixing modeling, deterministic global dynamic optimization, and model-predictive control, offers superior performance over current approaches in water and wastewater treatment processes.
Nonpartisan Legislative Budget Offices: A Tentative Step toward Improving Legislative Oversight

Strengthening the budgetary powers of legislatures through nonpartisan budget offices adds to the capacity-building repertoire of development donors. Budget offices are supposed to provide legislatures with information and analysis independent from the executive. The United States Agency for International Development believes that strengthening the legislature's power of the purse improves governance. We highlight USAID-funded legislative strengthening projects implemented in Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, and Afghanistan to show how these budget offices function. There is a significant potential for these units to assist members of parliament in understanding the budget process, the broad fiscal challenges facing government, and expenditure control and budgetary trade-offs that affect present and future spending. These cases demonstrate the challenges of creating and sustaining a parliamentary budget office. Finally, in an effort to make budget offices effective and sustainable, we outline several key steps that we believe are important both for donors and the legislative bodies.
Stem cell-derived endothelial cells for cardiovascular disease: a therapeutic perspective

Stem cell therapy and organ regeneration are therapeutic approaches that will, we suggest, become mainstream for the treatment of human disease. Endothelial cells, which line the luminal surface of every vessel in the body, are essential components in any organ regeneration programme. There are a number of potentially therapeutic endothelial cell types, including embryonic, adult progenitor and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells, as well as host vascular cells. The features (benefits as well as disadvantages) of each cell type that make them potentially useful in therapy are important to consider. The field of stem cell biology is well developed in terms of protocols for generating endothelium. However, where there is a distinct and urgent unmet need for knowledge concerning how the endothelial cells from these different sources function as endothelium and how susceptible they may be to inflammation and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, where stem cells have been used in clinical trials there is little commonality in protocols for deriving the cells (and thereby the specific phenotype of cells used), administering the cells, dosing the cells and/or in assessing efficacy attributed to the cells themselves. This review discusses these and other issues relating to stem cell-derived endothelial cells in cell therapy for cardiovascular disease.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Overview

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract regulates the digestion and absorption of water and nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, allowing for their uptake into circulation and use for energy-requiring functions. The mucosa of the GI tract is the largest organ in the body and is the largest surface area that is exposed to the external environment. This large surface area allows for efficient uptake of nutrients, but also results in vulnerabilities. The epithelium that lines the intestinal tract is constantly being renewed making it susceptible to the development of certain cancers. As well, the intestinal tract is the site of exposure to a multitude of toxins and pathogens, which present challenges for the intestinal immune system. This article reviews the relationships between gastrointestinal physiology and function in health and disease.
The Structure of Decision-Making in the Iranian Hostage Rescue Attempt and its Implications for Conflict Management

On 4 November 1979, fifty-two American diplomats, military personnel, and others were seized in the American Embassy and other sites in Tehran and held until their release on 20 January 1981, 444 days after the event began. The weight of international law, American military threats, and humanitarian appeals were insufficient to secure the release of the hostages. The event became theater. The Iranian students holding the Embassy used the media attention to embarrass the U.S. for its support of the Shah and its alleged complicity in the terroristic operations of SAVAK, the Shah's internal security police. The Iranian government used the event to seek the return of the Shah to Tehran for trial, Iranian funds held in foreign banks, and the wealth removed from Iran by the Shah and his family, as well as to exact revenge on the U.S. for its support of the Pahlavi regime. In the U.S., the event became a symbol of the changing American role in world affairs, a possibly critical variable in the presidential election of 1980, and a very traumatic lesson in the realities of international politics.
Polarization observables in γ N → K K ¯ N

Some of the rich structure of the polarization observables recently developed for processes like $\ensuremath{\gamma}N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}N$ and $\ensuremath{\gamma}N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}K\overline{K}N$ are explored within the framework of a specific model for the latter process. Emphasis is placed on observables that may be accessible at existing facilities in the near future. The sensitivity of the observables to the details of the model indicate that they will be a very useful tool in differentiating among models used to describe reactions like these. Within the framework of a model for $\ensuremath{\gamma}N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}K\overline{K}N$, the sensitivity of the observables to the coupling constants of the \ensuremath{\phi}, to the properties of the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}(1405)$, and to the existence of the ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}^{+}$ is examined.
Wireless sensing, actuation and control: with applications to civil structures

Structural monitoring and control have been subjects of interests in structural engineering for quite some time. Structural sensing and control technologies can benefit in terms of installation cost and time from wireless communication and embedded computing. The hardware and software requirements pose an interesting, interdisciplinary research challenge. This paper describes a low-cost wireless sensing system that is judiciously designed for large-scale applications in civil structures. Laboratory and field tests have been conducted to validate the performance of the prototype system for measuring vibration responses. By incorporating an actuation signal generation interface, the wireless sensing system has the capabilities to perform structural actuation and support structural control applications. Structural control tests have been performed to validate the wireless sensing and actuation system.
An Improved Mouse Sperm–Oocyte Plasmalemma Binding Assay: Studies on Characteristics of Sperm Binding in Medium With or Without Glucose

Sperm binding to the oocyte plasmalemma is crucial to subsequent steps in fertilization. However, the usual in vitro assay for sperm-oocyte binding does not distinguish between nonspecific attachment and specific binding leading to fusion and penetration. Since zona pellucida-free pronuclear zygotes should not bind sperm (because of the block to polyspermy at the level of the oocyte membrane), a procedure has been developed to remove virtually all sperm from zona-free pronuclear zygotes (2PNZ). After six washes with a 90-microm-bore pipette, there were 0.5 +/- 0.2 sperm/2PNZ (n = 83). Therefore, these washing conditions were used to define sperm-oocyte binding. The relationship of binding to oocyte penetration was determined for outbred mouse oocytes coincubated in complete medium with (B6 x 129)F1 hybrid sperm (10(7)/ml). Binding was maximal (29 +/- 5 sperm per oocyte) during the first 30 minutes but decreased significantly to 4.6 +/- 1.4 by 60 minutes of coincubation (over 10 trials). Oocyte penetration was 99 +/- 1% by 30 minutes, while the number of decondensed sperm nuclei per oocyte increased significantly to 7.5 +/- 0.6 at 60 minutes. These data suggest that the block to polyspermy involves detachment of bound sperm. Similar coincubations were carried out in medium without glucose (NoG), as this medium has been reported to inhibit fusion without affecting binding. However, binding was only 11 +/- 2 at 30 minutes but increased to 25 +/- 4 at 60 minutes, suggesting that binding was retarded in NoG. When gametes were coincubated in NoG for 5 hours, about half of the oocytes were penetrated, suggesting that the lack of glucose did not inhibit fusion but instead delayed it. These data suggest that if sperm binding is to be determined in complete medium, the time of the block to polyspermy should be determined prior to selecting the appropriate time to assay binding. Furthermore, using the same coincubation period for the binding assay in control and treated sperm may not be appropriate if the treatment alters the time of maximal binding.
Growth hormone corrects proliferation and transcription of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in livers of old mice via elimination of CCAAT /enhancer -binding protein α-Brm complex

Growth hormone (GH), which is reduced with age, corrects the impaired proliferative capacity of livers of old animals. In this paper, we present a mechanism by which GH eliminates age-dependent negative control of proliferation and increases transcription of liver-specific genes in livers of old mice. The reduced proliferative capacities of the liver of old animals are associated with the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα)-Brm complex, which inhibits E2F-dependent promoters. We found that a sequestration of C/EBPα into complexes with Brm leads to a weak interaction of C/EBPα with promoters of liver-specific genes, expression of which is reduced in old animals. Injection of either GH or the regulator of the amplitude of endogenous GH release, ghrelin, reduces the C/EBPα-Brm complex in livers of old mice, leading to a derepression of E2F targets, to increased interactions of C/EBPα with promoters of liver-specific genes, and to correction of their expression. GH-dependent elimination of the complex is mediated by the inhibition of cyclin D3-CDK4 activity and by elevation of a phosphatase, protein phosphatase 2A, which dephosphorylates C/EBPα and dissociates the complex.
Automatic OO parser generation using visitors for Ada 2005

We describe AdaGOOP 2005 (the Ada Generator of Object-Oriented Parsers). AdaGOOP 2005 takes a specification of tokens and an LALR(1) grammar and creates a lexer, a parser that automatically creates a parse tree, and a traversal of the parse tree using the visitor pattern. AdaGOOP generates output that is similar to that of the Java tool SableCC. It takes advantage of the new interface feature available in Ada 2005 to create a visitor.
Tubal torsion appearing as acute pelvic inflammatory disease

Torsion of the fallopian tube is an uncommon event with variable features, and may occur in the absence of adnexal disease. A woman had signs, symptoms, and ultrasound findings consistent with acute pelvic inflammatory disease. Laparoscopy established the definitive diagnosis of tubal torsion.
Quantifying and comparing constitutive immunity across avian species

Abstract Studies that blend a comparative approach to immunology with an appreciation for physiological ecology are defining an important new field in biology—ecological immunology. However, a panel of assays that permits a comparative approach to immunology is not yet available. In this paper, we describe several assays of innate immunity that do not require species-specific reagents and therefore ideal for use in comparative immunology studies. We optimized the assays for use in small birds, where sample volumes are limiting. The bactericidal assay measures the capacity of whole blood to kill microorganisms, and integrates many important components of constitutive immunity. The phagocytosis assay measures the phagocytic capacity of macrophages in whole blood. Bioassays for mannan binding protein and lysozyme can be used to measure inflammation-induced levels of these acute phase proteins in the plasma. Species differences in bactericidal and phagocytic activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were observed in populations of captive and in free-living birds, demonstrating the assays’ utility for multi-species comparisons. However, clay-colored thrushes ( Turdus grayi ) that were stressed by prolonged capture and handling had diminished phagocytic and antibacterial activities, indicating the need to conduct these assays soon after capture. When birds were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), levels of mannan-binding protein, lysozyme, and haptoglobin were elevated and bactericidal and phagocytic activities of blood were altered, indicating that these measurements are sensitive to the current infection status of the animal. All assays could be done on as little as 10 μL of blood or plasma and should be useful in field studies of comparative immunity.
910-16 Ventricular Size and Function Early and Late After Mitral Valve Repair vs Mitral Valve Replacement for Mitral Regurgitation

Late postop course of left and right ventricular (LV, RV) size and function after surgical relief of mitral regurgitation (MR) is incompletely defined. Moreover, differences following mitral valve repair (MVr) vs replacement (MVR) have not been fully assessed. Therefore, in 28 pts who had MVR or MVr we determined rest (re) and exercise (ex) ejection fraction (RVEF, LVEF), diastolic and systolic LV dimensions (IDd and IDs, n = 27), fractional shortening (FS), LV endsystolic stress (ESS, n = 25) and contractility (ESS/ESVi, n = 25) preop and 4–7 yrs postop (po): RVEF (re: 37% to 47%; ex: 33% to 47%) and ESS/ESVi (2.1 to 2.5) improved and LVIDd (6.4 cm to 5.5 cm) and FS (36% to 28%) decreased (all p l 0.01) while LVEF (re: 52% to 51%; ex: 51% to 55%), and ESS (84 kdyn/cm 2 to 95 kdyn/cm 2 ) were unchanged (all NS). In a subset of 18 pts (EFre, n = 18, ESS/ESVi, n = 15), additional early l 1 yr) po values were obtained: MV-Replacement (n = 11) MV-Repair (n = 7) preop early po late po preop early po late po LVEFre (%) 50 † 42 NS 44 52 NS 51 NS 53 LVEFex (%) 48 NS 44 NS 48 50 NS 49 NS 55 RVEFre (%) 36 * 43 NS 45 39 * 48 NS 50 RVEFex (%) 34 * 44 * 48 30 NS 46 NS 49 LVIDd (cm) 6.2 * 5.4 NS 5.8 7.3 * 5.4 NS 5.3 FS (%) 33 † 22 NS 25 34 NS 27 NS 28 ESS 80 † 118 NS 109 86 NS 74 NS 81 ESS/ESVi 2.1 NS 2.1 NS 2.1 1.5 * 2.0 NS 23 * p l 0.05 † p l 0.05 We conclude, MVr causes a more rapid and complete restitution of LVEF, FS, ESS and contractility (ESS/ESVi) to preop level than MVR, while RVEF improves rapidly after either.
Granule-mediated release of sphingosine-1-phosphate by activated platelets.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an intracellularly generated bioactive lipid essential for development, vascular integrity, and immunity. These functions are mediated by S1P-selective cell surface G-protein coupled receptors. S1P signaling therefore requires extracellular release of this lipid. Several cell types release S1P and evidence for both plasma membrane transporter-mediated and vesicle-dependent secretion has been presented. Platelets are an important source of S1P and can release it in response to agonists generated at sites of vascular injury. S1P release from agonist-stimulated platelets was measured in the presence of a carrier molecule (albumin) using HPLC-MS/MS. The kinetics and agonist-dependence of S1P release were similar to that of other granule cargo e.g. platelet factor IV (PF4). Agonist-stimulated S1P release was defective in platelets from Unc13dJinx (Munc13-4 null) mice demonstrating a critical role for regulated membrane fusion in this process. Consistent with this observation, platelets efficiently converted fluorescent NBD-sphingosine to its phosphorylated derivative which accumulated in granules. Fractionation of platelet organelles revealed the presence of S1P in both the plasma membrane and in α-granules. Resting platelets contained a second pool of constitutively releasable S1P that was more rapidly labeled by exogenously added sphingosine. Our studies indicate that platelets contain two pools of S1P that are released extracellularly: a readily-exchangeable, metabolically active pool of S1P, perhaps in the plasma membrane, and a granular pool that requires platelet activation and regulated exocytosis for release.
Multivariate statistical evaluation of groundwater compliance data from the Illinois Basin - Decatur Project

Abstract Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate groundwater quality data acquired in the pre-injection and injection periods for the Illinois Basin – Decatur Project (IBDP), a large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project located in Decatur, Illinois, USA. For the pre-injection and injection periods three principal components explained 76.6% and 80.0% of the total data variance, respectively. Analysis of the pre-injection data set determined that highly positive loadings for total dissolved solids, chloride, bromide, sodium, magnesium, potassium, and electrical conductance designated the first component (PC1) as the salinity factor. High loadings for calcium, iron, and sulfate in component two (PC2) represents an oxidation-reduction component. The third component (PC3) represents groundwater acidity because of highly positive loading of pH. For the injection data set the variables contributed to the first component are bromide, sodium, total dissolved solids, chloride, electrical conductance, potassium, sulfate, iron, and calcium. Sulfate, magnesium, and calcium contribute to the second component and pH to the third component and represent salinity, dissolution, and acidity of groundwater. The results of the PC analysis indicate that water-rock interactions are the primary mechanism governing groundwater quality during both periods. The results of this analysis indicate that CO 2 injection activities have not impacted the quality of the shallow groundwater in the project area.
Binding of radioactively labelled concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin to normal and virus-transformed cells.

VARIOUS substances isolated from plants cause animal cells to clump. Several of these lectins1 preferentially agglutinate cells which have been transformed spontaneously or by chemicals or viruses2–7. The best known lectins of this class are concanavalin A (Con A) isolated from jack beans8 and wheat germ agglutinin4, which seem to bind to carbohydrate groups on the cell surface. The determinants recognized by the lectins seem to be N-acetyl-D-glucosamine for WGA4 and probably α-methyl-D-glucopyranoside for Con A6.
A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for trichloroethylene and its metabolites, chloral hydrate, trichloroacetate, dichloroacetate, trichloroethanol, and trichloroethanol glucuronide in B6C3F1 mice.

A six-compartment physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for the B6C3F1 mouse was developed for trichloroethylene (TCE) and was linked with five metabolite submodels consisting of four compartments each. The PBPK model for TCE and the metabolite submodels described oral uptake and metabolism of TCE to chloral hydrate (CH). CH was further metabolized to trichloroethanol (TCOH) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA). TCA was excreted in urine and, to a lesser degree, metabolized to dichloroacetic acid (DCA). DCA was further metabolized. The majority of TCOH was glucuronidated (TCOG) and excreted in the urine and feces. TCOH was also excreted in urine or converted back to CH. Partition coefficient (PC) values for TCE were determined by vial equilibrium, and PC values for nonvolatile metabolites were determined by centrifugation. The largest PC values for TCE were the fat/blood (36.4) and the blood/air (15.9) values. Tissue/blood PC values for the water-soluble metabolites were low, with all PC values under 2.0. Mice were given bolus oral doses of 300, 600, 1200, and 2000 mg/kg TCE dissolved in corn oil. At various time points, mice were sacrificed, and blood, liver, lung, fat, and urine were collected and assayed for TCE and metabolites. The 1200 mg/kg dose group was used to calibrate the PBPK model for TCE and its metabolites. Urinary excretion rate constant values were 0.06/hr/kg for CH, 1.14/hr/kg for TCOH, 32.8/hr/kg for TCOG, and 1.55/hr/kg for TCA. A fecal excretion rate constant value for TCOG was 4.61/hr/kg. For oral bolus dosing of TCE with 300, 600, and 2000 mg/kg, model predictions of TCE and several metabolites were in general agreement with observations. This PBPK model for TCE and metabolites is the most comprehensive PBPK model constructed for P450-mediated metabolism of TCE in the B6C3F1 mouse.
Lack of Mitochondrial Anionic Phospholipids Causes an Inhibition of Translation of Protein Components of the Electron Transport Chain A YEAST GENETIC MODEL SYSTEM FOR THE STUDY OF ANIONIC PHOSPHOLIPID FUNCTION IN MITOCHONDRIA

Reduction of mitochondrial cardiolipin (CL) levels has been postulated to compromise directly the function of several essential enzymes and processes of the mitochondria. There is limited genetic evidence for the critical roles with which CL and its precursor phosphatidylglycerol (PG) have been associated. A null allele of the PGS1 gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which encodes the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the CL precursor PG phosphate, was created in a yeast strain in which PGS1 expression is exogenously regulated by doxycycline. The addition of increasing concentrations of doxycycline to the growth medium causes a proportional decrease to undetectable levels of PGS1 transcript, PG phosphate synthase activity, and PG plus CL. The doubling time of this strain with increasing doxycycline increases to senescence in non-fermentable carbon sources or at high temperatures, conditions that do not support growth of thepgs1Δ strain. Doxycycline addition also causes mitochondrial abnormalities as observed by fluorescence microscopy. Products of four mitochondrial encoded genes (COX1,COX2, COX3, and COB) and one nuclear encoded gene (COX4) associated with the mitochondrial inner membrane are not present when PGS1expression is fully repressed. No translation of these proteins can be detected in cells lacking the PGS1 gene product, although transcription and splicing appear unaffected. Protein import of other nuclear encoded proteins remains unaffected. The remaining proteins encoded by mitochondrial DNA are expressed and translated normally. Thus, the molecular basis for the lack of mitochondrial function inpgs1Δ cells is the failure to translate gene products essential to the electron transport chain.
The mode of potassium action on the adrenergic neuron amine transport system.

Experiments with K-depleted rabbit heart slices demonstrate that extracellular K+ is essential for optimal l-MA uptake, but high extracellular [K+] antagonizes amine uptake in a non-competitive manner. The data provide additional evidence for the coupled, stoichiometric nature of the Na+ -anminecarrier at the adrenergic neuron membrane.
Emotion Language and Social Power: Homosexuality and Narratives of Pain in Church

This paper examines the narratives of pain in two religious groups to explore how the everyday concept of emotional pain can work to obscure differences between opposing sides. It shows how these narratives can effectively help to reproduce social hierarchies, even as actors seek to challenge them. Specifically, by examining church debates about homosexuality, it shows how putatively heterosexual actors on both sides use languages of pain to justify welcoming gays into the church, albeit on very different terms, while creating particular feeling rules for gay men and lesbians (Hochschild 1979, 1983). By comparing these two sides we see how narratives of pain (and the shared assumptions behind them) effectively help to reproduce the sexual hierarchy some members seek to subvert.
Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Understand Where and With Whom Adults’ Physical and Sedentary Activity Occur

Purpose This study used Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), a real-time self-report strategy, to describe the physical and social contexts of adults’ physical activity and sedentary activity during their everyday lives and to determine whether these patterns and relationships differ for men and women.