cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
S179D prolactin sensitizes human prostate cancer cells such that physiological concentrations of 1, 25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 result in growth inhibition and cell death.

BACKGROUND S179D Prolactin (PRL) is a molecular mimic of naturally phosphorylated human PRL which has been shown to inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells both in vitro and when grown as tumors in nude mice. METHODS In the current study, we have investigated the potential interplay between S179D PRL and 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25D) in the inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth by incubating cells under circumstances where each hormone alone has no effect. RESULTS Incubation of DU145 or PC3 cells in 100 pM 1,25D or 10 nM S179D PRL for 3 days showed no effect of each alone on expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), or the cell cycle regulatory protein p21, or on cell number. Incubation in both together increased expression of the VDR and p21 two to threefold. This co-operative effect was reproduced when activation of the p21 promoter was analyzed using a p21-luciferase (p21-luc) construct. Elimination of the VDR response element from p21-luc eliminated response to the hormone combination, showing that the effect on p21 was through the VDR. Most importantly, S179D PRL sensitized the cells to 1,25D such that there was a concentration-related reduction in cell number versus controls between 40 and 160 pM. At least part of this effect was via the induction of cell death. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that combined anti-tumor therapy may be very efficacious and that the dose of 1,25D required may be below the range that results in hypercalcemia. Prostate 67: 1498–1506, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Classroom-based interventions in mathematics education: relevance, significance, and applicability

This special issue discusses various pedagogical innovations and myriad of significant findings. This commentary is not a synthesis of these contributions, but a summary of my own reflections on selected aspects of the nine papers comprising the special issue. Four themes subsume these reflections: (1) Gestural Communication (Alibali, Nathan, Church, Wolfgram, Kim and Knuth 2013); (2) Development of Ways of Thinking (Jahnke and Wambach 2013; Lehrer, Kobiela and Weinberg 2013; Mariotti 2013; Roberts and A. Stylianides 2013; Shilling-Traina and G. Stylianides 2013; Tabach, Hershkowitz and Dreyfus 2013); (3) Learning Mathematics through Representation (Saxe, Diakow and Gearhart 2013); and (4) Challenges in Dialogic Teaching (Ruthven and Hofmann 2013).
Kinematics as objective tools to evaluate lameness phases in multiparous sows

Lameness has been ranked as the third most common reason for culling sows, comprising 15% of the culls marketed in the U.S. Producers assess sow lameness using subjective evaluation, which have been shown to be variable in their application. Objective empirical tools to measure sow lameness on farm are required. Therefore, the purpose of this study were to evaluate the embedded force plate and the GAITFour gait analysis walkway system as objective assessment tools to discriminate between sound and lame phases in multiparous sows. Twenty-four mixed parity crossbred sows were anesthetized and injected with Amphotericin B in the distal interphalangeal joint of both claws of one hind hoof to induce transient lameness. Kinematic data was collected on D−1, D+1 and D+6 relative to induction (D0). For the embedded force plate, weight distributions on each hoof were collected. Gait analysis measures collected were stride time (defined as the time (s) between 2 successive footfalls by the same hoof), stride length (defined as the distance (cm) between 2 sequential footfalls from the same hoof), maximum pressure (defined as the greatest amount of weight (kg/cm2) placed on a single hoof) and stance time (defined as the duration of time (s) the sensors were activated by a hoof in a single stride). For the embedded microcomputer-based force plate system weight placed on the induced hoof decreased on D+1 when compared to D−1 (P<0.0001). For the GAITFour® pressure mat gait analysis walkway system, stride time increased on D+1 for all hooves, stride length decreased on D+1 compared to D−1 and maximum pressure placed on the induced hoof decreased on D+1 compared to baseline levels (P<0.05). Stance time increased for all sound hooves on D+1 compared to D−1 (P<0.05). In conclusion, the embedded force plate and GAITFour walkway system all demonstrated differences for mature sows during sound and most lame phases indicating promise as objective tools for use on farm.
Unexplained lower limb pain in Parkinson's disease: a phenotypic variant of "painful Parkinson's disease".

Abstract Unexplained pain is a key non-motor symptom (NMS) of Parkinson's disease (PD) that is prevalent throughout the condition and often unrecognized and under treated. We have identified a cluster of patients with unexplained refractory and intrusive lower limb pain. Methods Patients with ‘unexplained’ pain were identified from a survey using a non-motor symptom questionnaire and scale (NMSQuest, NMSS). Patients reporting unexplained severe proximal lower limb pain were then assessed using a newly devised PD pain scale. Co-morbid conditions were excluded and all had lower spine imaging. Results From a cohort of 225 patients we have identified 22 with unexplained lower limb pain described as persistent leg pain ranging from unilateral to bilateral sometimes associated with whole body pain. None had significant spinal pathology or evidence of large fiber neuropathy. 14 were on regular analgesics with poor effect while 9 took morphine based remedies. Severe unremitting pain led to accidental overdose and death in one patient. All took a combination of levodopa and dopamine agonist treatment including 3 on intrajejunal levodopa infusion. All had high NMSQuest (mean = 17/30) and NMSS (mean = 95 (normal range 30–60)) scores. Conclusions We believe that unexplained lower limb pain is a specific non-motor phenotype in Parkinson's disease that is problematic and often undisclosed. This may be a variant of central pain and merits recognition.
Metabolism and Excretion of Methylamines in Rats

Experiments were performed with rats to examine the sources and disposition of dimethylamine (DMA), trimethylamine (TMA), and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), all potential substrates for in vivo nitrosation to form N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a potent carcinogen. When bolus doses of [14C]DMA or [14C]TMA were given ip, recovery of radioactivity in the urine was essentially complete, and respiratory excretion, fecal excretion, and accumulation in tissues of these amines or their metabolites were negligible. Urine analysis following doses of stable isotopes showed that DMA was not converted to TMA or TMAO. Varying amounts of TMA were oxidized to TMAO, the fraction oxidized decreasing at higher doses of TMA. Ingestion and excretion of naturally occurring methylamines were monitored over a 5-day period in separate groups of normal and germ-free rats. The results of these metabolic balance studies indicate that there is net synthesis of DMA by gut bacteria and net consumption of TMAO by endogenous processes. The net intake or excretion of TMA and TMAO observed in normal and germ-free rats is consistent with bacterial synthesis of TMA followed by its almost complete oxidation to TMAO. Blood concentrations of DMA and TMA were measured in rats for 8 hr following < 5, 100, or 1000 mumol bolus i.v. or ip doses of radioisotopes or stable isotopes. At any given dose of DMA or TMA, the decay in blood concentration was approximately monoexponential. At the lowest (most physiologic) dose the apparent volume of distribution (VD) for DMA was larger than that for TMA. Both values of VD greatly exceeded the size of the animals, suggesting that DMA and TMA are highly concentrated at one or more locations in the body. This was confirmed by measurements in tissue homogenates sampled 1 hr after a dose. The overall handling of methylamines by rats is generally consistent with observations in humans. The presence of high local concentrations of DMA and TMA at various extragastric sites merits further investigation in connection with the potential for endogenous nitrosation of these methylamines to form NDMA.
On exploiting scale economies

Abstract Indivisibilities give rise to scale economies in the provision of many local public services. Exploitation of these scale economies often requires that the activities of several communities be coordinated. In this study we analyze the game analog to a simple waste collection system in order to determine the requirements for the design of a financing system that will sustain optimal participation in a regional service system plan. We find that market based pricing in the face of scale economies created by indivisibilities will generally not support an optimal partition of communities into service districts. We also find that characterization of the game structure of local public service delivery systems is feasible and provides information for designing appropriate cost-sharing arrangements.
Addressing morphological variation in alphabetic languages

The selection of indexing terms for representing documents is a key decision that limits how effective subsequent retrieval can be. Often stemming algorithms are used to normalize surface forms, and thereby address the problem of not finding documents that contain words related to query terms through infectional or derivational morphology. However, rule-based stemmers are not available for every language and it is unclear which methods for coping with morphology are most effective. In this paper we investigate an assortment of techniques for representing text and compare these approaches using data sets in eighteen languages and five different writing systems. We find character n-gram tokenization to be highly effective. In half of the languages examined n-grams outperform unnormalized words by more than 25%; in highly infective languages relative improvements over 50% are obtained. In languages with less morphological richness the choice of tokenization is not as critical and rule-based stemming can be an attractive option, if available. We also conducted an experiment to uncover the source of n-gram power and a causal relationship between the morphological complexity of a language and n-gram effectiveness was demonstrated.
Gender and monastic autonomy in thirteenth-century Barcelona: abbess vs. bishop

Abstract In the early thirteenth century, possibly 1201, a Barcelona cleric by the name of Guillem Carbonell passed away. At the time of his death Carbonell was the pastor of two parishes: the church of Santa Maria in the village of Montmelo and the church of Sant Sadurni in neighboring Montornes de Valles. The former belonged to the monastery of Sant Pere de les Puelles; the latter came under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Barcelona. Immediately following Carbonell's demise the bishop, Ramon Castellvell, sought to institutionalize Carbonell's 15 years of joint duties and to draw the parish of Santa Maria under his own influence by appointing a single replacement without consulting Sant Pere. The monastery's abbess, Ermessenda, moved quickly to circumvent this action. She confiscated the keys to the church in Montmelo and refused entry to either the bishop or his representatives. Thus began the conflict between monastery and bishop for control of the church of Santa Maria. Four decades, three court trials, and at least one armed confrontation took place before the matter was settled. The purpose of the present study is to analyze this conflict and its effect on the women of Sant Pere.
Metabolic memory in diabetes–focus on insulin

Large-scale clinical trials have demonstrated that metabolic control achieved early in the course of diabetes substantially reduces development and progression of diabetes and the associated microvascular complications. Additionally, prospective observational studies have demonstrated that atherogenic and inflammatory mediators are elevated even prior to the onset of diabetes and significantly contribute to subsequent development of macrovascular complications. Collectively, these data suggest that metabolic memories are stored early in the course of diabetes. We believe that insulin suppresses inflammation and also suppresses glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity (and the consequences thereof, such as the formation of advanced glycation end products and epigenetic phenomena), and thus has a pivotal and beneficial role. Comprehensive metabolic control, especially when instituted early, may alter the natural history of diabetic complications by affecting this metabolic memory. Thus, our overall goal is to understand in more detail the molecular mechanisms involved in these changes, thereby affording us opportunities to reduce the long-term effects of diabetes.
Current Philosophies regarding injection therapy for Vesicoureteral Reflux: Results of a society for pediatric urology web survey

Abstract Purpose In 2001, the FDA approved Deflux for injection therapy (IT) for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children. We sought to investigate how IT has impacted pediatric urologists who are members of the Society for Pediatric Urology (SPU). Material and Methods A web survey of members of the SPU was conducted . The survey included a section on general demographics (7 questions) and a section on practice patterns (18 questions). The RESULTS were then analyzed Results There were 138 repondents . Demographically, half were 1,000,000. 88 (64%) see >50 new VUR patients annually; 83 (60%) see >100 established VUR patients every 12-18 months. 126 utilize IT as an option in their practices with 23 (17%) using it for all grades of VUR. 7 offer it for infants but an additional 44 (32%), offer it in children Conclusions Based on this survey, IT has been widely embraced by pediatric urologists for the treatment of VUR beyond infancy, even in complex scenarios. Long term data are necessary due to the perception that Deflux might only only have a transient affect. The cost of this product is of concern, yet has not seemed to affect its utilization.
A Review of the Neotropical Genera Astroscara Schürhoff, 1937, Chiriquibia Bates, 1889, Hadrosticta Kraatz, 1892, Jansonia Schürhoff, 1937, Macrocranius Schürhoff, 1935, and Tiarocera Burmeister, 1842 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini)

The monotyopic genera Astroscara Schurhoff, 1937, Chiriquibia Bates, 1889, Hadrosticta Kraatz, 1892, Jansonia Schurhoff, 1937 (revised status), Macrocranius Schurhoff, 1935, and Tiarocera Burmeister, 1842 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini) are reviewed. Redescriptions, diagnoses, distributions, and illustrations of the species are provided. A type species for Tiarocera is designated.
An aluminum silicate binding assay for quantitationof degradation of cholecystokinin octapeptide and other short peptides

Abstract Most available techniques for the quantitation of enzymatic degradation of peptide hormones are time-consuming and require expensive equipment and/or novel reagents. Our aim here was to develop a rapid and sensitive assay for the measurement of degradation of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) as well as other short, hydrophobic peptides. The proposed technique is based on our novel observation that intact CCK-8, but not its degradation product(s), binds to Lloyd reagent, a form of aluminum silicate. When radiolabeled CCK-8 was exposed to rat liver cytosol containing endogenous CCK-degrading activity, there was a time-dependent decrease in the binding of radiolabel to aluminum silicate [from 86 to 8% over 60 min at 37°C]. The decrease in binding closely paralleled the extent of CCK-8 degradation over time as assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography and immunoprecipitation with specific polyclonal antibodies to CCK-8. While aluminum silicate did not efficiently bind to C-terminal and N-terminal CCK tetrapeptides, magnesium silicate bound to both tetrapeptides (>82%), but not to their radiolabeled degradation products. Both aluminum and magnesium silicate also extensively bound (>82%) to other peptide hormones including Met-enkephalin, somatostatin, and secretin, but did not bind their degradation products. These binding assays will be useful in studies of peptidases which degrade cholecystokinin or other small, hydrophobic peptides.
Intermediate-binding excitons and biexcitons in semiconducting crystals

Exciton-exciton (biexciton) pairing is considered in an insulating crystal consisting of a simple cubic lattice. With the use of a formalism similar to Gorkov's theory of superconductivity, it is shown that excitons may interact to form charge-transfer bound states. The exciton spectrum is evaluated in the mean-field Hartree-Fock or random-phase approximation by means of a Hamiltonian describing the physical situation which is intermediate between the Wannier and Frenkel models. The gap parameter function $\ensuremath{\Delta}(l{l}^{\ensuremath{'}})$ which binds two excitons at the lattice sites ${\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{R}}}_{l}^{0}$ and ${\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{R}}}_{{l}^{\ensuremath{'}}}^{0} (l\ensuremath{\ne}{l}^{\ensuremath{'}})$ is produced by the direct Coulomb interaction. The exchange Coulomb interaction (of finite range), on the other hand, is responsible for binding electron-hole pairs to produce excitons. Thus in the absence of the direct Coulomb interaction, the excitons can travel in the crystal independently. A set of coupled equations for the normal (exciton) and anomalous (biexciton) Green's functions is derived. The excitation energies for the exciton and biexciton normal modes are calculated to order ${\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}}}^{2}$, $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}}$ being the wave vector. The dispersion relations are solved numerically and the results are discussed in detail.
Gluconeogenesis in rabbit liver III. The influences of glucagon, epinephrine, α- and β-adrenergic agents on gluconeogenesis in isolated hepatocytes

Abstract 1. 1. Gluconeogenesis from various substrates has been demonstrated in hepatocytes from 48 h fasted rabbits. Maximum rates of gluconeogenesis (expressed as μmol glucose formed/30 min per 108 cells) are: d -fructose, 9.86; dihydroxyacetone, 5.28; l -lactate, 5.26; L -lactate/pyruvate, 3.83; pyruvate, 3.32; glycerol, 2.92; l -alanine, 2.24. 2. 2. Gluconeogenesis from l -lactate is enhanced 1.3–1.5-fold over control values by glucagon, l -epinephrine, l -norepinephrine, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, l -phenylephrine and l -isoproterenol. Glucogenesis from both dihydroxyacetone and d -fructose is stimulated 1.7–2.0-fold of control values by glucagon, epinephrine and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. 3. 3. Gluconeogenesis from lactate is enhanced by both α- and β-adrenergic stimulations based on findings with α- and β-agonists and antagonists. 4. 4. Enhancement of gluconeogenesis by epinephrine and norepinephrine is apparently due to both α- and β-adrenergic effects, as either propranolol or phentolamine partially inhibits such enhancement. The consistently more pronounced inhibition produced by propranolol implies that stimulation of glucose formation by catecholamines is more strongly β-adrenergic related. Epinephrine-induced glycogenolysis in rabbit hepatocytes is severely inhibited by propranolol but insensitive to phentolamine, suggesting that glycogen breakdown is solely β-adrenergic related. These observations consrast with those of others that stimulation of both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis by catecholamines while sensitive to both α- and β-adrenergic stimulation in rats, at least young rats, is primarily α-adrenergic mediated, especially in adult rats.
Quasi-static propagator matrices: Creep on strike-slip faults

Abstract This paper presents a method for computing viscoelastic flow in a layered Earth by means of quasi-static propagator matrices. The method has advantages over approximate or purely numerical attacks in that exact, semi-analytical solutions are obtained. The procedure enables a more rapid calculation than is possible with finite elements, yet it does not sacrifice exactness as do analytical approximations. To illustrate the technique, I constructed a plausible model of the San Andreas fault and investigated the time and space behavior of displacement, displacement rate, shear-stress and shear-strain rate at depth as well as at the surface. Viscoelastic relaxation speeds the restressing of the fault. For events of magnitude 6.2 and 6.9, viscoelasticity reduces recharge time relative to the base strain rate by 15% and 50% respectively. For events of magnitude 6.2 and less, viscoelasticity has only a small influence and a linear extrapolation of stress accumulation will predict the time of recharge reasonably well. Relative plate velocities measured within 400 km of the fault are highly variable in space and time. Direct plate velocity measurements made as far as 100 km from a major fault could differ by a factor of two from the average rate. Features of the fault model at depth include: stresses and strain rates which exceed surface values by a factor of three; sign reversals in strain rates; and positive coseismic stress drops induced for limited periods in narrow thin zones. The latter feature could initiate and terminate aftershock sequences. Stress recharge does not occur simultaneously at all depths on the fault for all magnitude events. Recurrence times of earthquakes estimated from surface observations may thus be biased.
Circumscription of Myrtales and their relationships to other rosids: evidence from rbcL sequence data

Despite intensive morphological and chemical studies on the Myrtales, the circumscription of the order remains poorly defined. To test the monophyly of Myrtales sensu Dahlgren and Thorne (Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 71: 633694, 1984), determine the relationships of some controversial families, and identify the most likely sister group of Myrtales, we conducted parsimony analyses on 80 rbcL sequences representing 36 taxa from families traditionally included in Myrtales and 44 taxa from other Rosidae. The consensus tree resulting from these analyses supports the monophyly of Myrtales and is substantially congruent with the circumscription of the order proposed by Dahlgren and Thorne (Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 71: 633-694, 1984), with one notable exception: in the rbcL tree Vochysiaceae are placed in Myrtales. A reanalysis of morphological attributes of Vochysiaceae revealed that the inclusion of the family in Myrtales is also supported by the combined occurrence of two typical myrtalean features of the wood: vestured pits and bicollateral vascular bundles. Furthermore, our analyses excluded Thymelaeaceae, Lecythidaceae, Haloragaceae, and Gunneraceae from Myrtales, suggesting that the association of these families with Myrtales, as previously proposed by other authors, may not reflect common ancestry. Finally, our analyses support a sister group relationship between the order Myrtales and a clade formed by an expanded Malvales, Sapindales, and an expanded Capparales.
Palmar Crease Pallor

A 74-year-old man with a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and iron deficiency anemia presented to clinic with three weeks of worsening fatigue, weakness, and dyspnea on exertion. He did not have melena, hematochezia, or hematemesis. He had stopped all medications including iron supplementation six months prior. Examination was notable for pallor of the conjunctivae, face, palms, and palmar creases (Fig. ​(Fig.1).1). The patient’s hemoglobin tested result was 4.7 g/dl and subsequent esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated erosive gastritis. Palmar crease pallor has a positive likelihood ratio of 7.9 for the diagnosis of anemia,1 which increases the post-test probability of anemia by approximately 40 %.2 The physical exam cannot rule out anemia,3 but the presence of pallor in the hands, eyes, or mucosa should prompt the physician to send for a complete blood count and consider the diagnosis of anemia. Figure 1. Pallor of the palmar creases in the patient’s hand (red arrow) compared to the examiner’s hand (blue arrow).
Recurrent Sickle Cell Nephropathy in a Transplanted Kidney

Of patients who developed end-stage renal disease secondary to sickle cell anemia (SCA), some have undergone renal transplantation with reasonable success. We recently cared for a patient with SCA and a functioning, transplanted kidney who experienced a permanent decline in renal function three and one-half years following transplant. The evaluation of his renal dysfunction revealed multiple features to support recurrence of sickle cell nephropathy as the cause for the deterioration.
Large hysteretic magnetoresistance in high-mobility semiconductor quantum wires bridged by single-domain nanomagnets

The authors discuss hysteresis in the magnetoresistance of hybrid semiconductor/ferromagnetic devices composed of high-mobility semiconductor quantum wires (QWs) bridged by single-domain Co nanomagnets (NMs). This hysteresis is shown to be consistent with the ballistic transport of electrons in the QW through the nonuniform magnetic field generated by the NM. It is also found to be strongly dependent on tilt angle, suggestive of a transition between easy- and hard-axis magnetizations.
Deep impact: the Web and the changing media economy

Espouses the Web with regard to the media and all its areas of relevance. Encourages and supports multinational forms of production as new but admits they may be no more sympathetic to social need and democratic practice than previous commercial media. Charts the market and the Web’s changes for commercial business.
Maternal Mental Health during Children's First Year of Life: Association with Receipt of Section 8 Rental Assistance

Prior studies evaluating housing programs have found varied results for the impact of improved housing on maternal mental health. This study evaluated data from 169 families who participated in Hawaii's Healthy Start Program. The study's objective was to determine whether receipt of Section 8 rental assistance in the first year of a child's life decreased the risk of poor maternal mental health. Multivariable logistic regression was used to measure the association of Section 8 housing receipt with poor mental health. Overall, 50% of mothers had poor mental health at baseline, and 32% reported receipt of Section 8 housing at follow-up. Mothers who received Section 8 housing were significantly less likely to have poor maternal mental health at follow-up (adjusted odds ratio = .40; 95% confidence interval, .16–.97; p < .05). Receipt of Section 8 rental assistance in the first year of a child's life may reduce the risk of poor mental health for mothers in housing need.
Characteristics of holographic scanners utilizing a concave auxiliary reflector

The characteristics of 2-D holographic scanners utilizing a concave auxiliary reflector are analyzed. The total resolution capability of the scanner is discussed in detail for the scanner operated at both finite and infinite conjugations, and the factors limiting resolution are indicated. The resolution considerations lead to a near-optimal design procedure which is used in design examples for typical applications in the visible, millimeter, and ultrasonic wavelength regions.
Examining Interior Grid Nudging Techniques Using Two-Way Nesting in the WRF Model for Regional Climate Modeling

AbstractThis study evaluates interior nudging techniques using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for regional climate modeling over the conterminous United States (CONUS) using a two-way nested configuration. NCEP–Department of Energy Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP-II) Reanalysis (R-2) data are downscaled to 36 km × 36 km by nudging only at the lateral boundaries, using gridpoint (i.e., analysis) nudging and using spectral nudging. Seven annual simulations are conducted and evaluated for 1988 by comparing 2-m temperature, precipitation, 500-hPa geopotential height, and 850-hPa meridional wind to the 32-km North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR). Using interior nudging reduces the mean biases for those fields throughout the CONUS compared to the simulation without interior nudging. The predictions of 2-m temperature and fields aloft behave similarly when either analysis or spectral nudging is used. For precipitation, however, analysis nudging generates monthly precipitatio...
Size-Dependent Same-Material Tribocharging in Insulating Grains

Experiments show that the buildup of charge in a collection of grains is not due to the transfer of electrons.
Innocence, Maturation, and Liberation:The Maturation Process in al-Mīdānī b. Ṣāliḥ’s Work

Abstract The Tunisian poet al-Mīdānī b. Ṣāliḥ’s work not only reflects a clear preoccupation with themes of innocence and maturity, but also displays interesting stages of maturation on both personal and literary levels. It also echoes different stages in modern Tunisian and Arab intellectual and political history. This article traces the different stages in this poet’s literary and intellectual experience, and through him assesses the poetic and literary scene in Tunisia and the Arab world in the second half of the twentieth century.
Involvement of DNA topoisomerase I in transcription of human ribosomal RNA genes

Abstract Treatment of HeLa cells with a DNA topoisomerase I-specific inhibitor, camptothecin, results in rapid cessation of the synthesis of the 45S rRNA precursor. The inhibition of rRNA synthesis is reversible following drug removal and correlates with the presence of camptothecin-trapped topoisomerase I-DNA abortive complexes, which can be detected as topoisomerase I-linked DNA breaks upon lysis with sodium dodecyl sulfate. These breaks were found to be concentrated within the transcribed region of human rRNA genes. No such sites can be detected in the inactive human rRNA genes in mouse-human hybrid cells, suggesting a preferential association of topoisomerase I with actively transcribed genes. The distribution of RNA polymerase molecules along the transcription unit of human rRNA genes in camptothecin-treated HeLa cells, as assayed by nuclear run-on transcription, shows a graded decrease of the RNA polymerase density toward the 3' end of the transcription unit; the density is minimally affected near the 5' start of the transcription unit. These results suggest that DNA topoisomerase I is normally involved in the elongation step of transcription, especially when the transcripts are long, and that camptothecin interferes with this role.
Density currents in two‐layer shear flows

An earlier two-fluid model of an idealized densitycurrent in low-level shear is extended to include variable upper-level shear. Far-field solutions are determined, based on the conservation of mass, momentum and vorticity, and the conservation of Bernoulli function (energy) along streamlines for inviscid flows. It is found that the upper-level and low-level shears play similar roles in controlling the depth of steady-state density-currents. In most cases, large positive upper-level shear supports a deeper density-current and steeper front, and therefore a stronger updraught. It is also found that when the low-level shear is weak and upper-level shear occupies about half the domain depth, larger positive shear can result in a shallower rather than a deeper density-current. This behaviour was not found for either constant shear flow or flows with only low-level shear. The behaviour is understood by examining the flow structure and flow-force components as a function of the upper-level shear, Furthermore, by allowing the upper-level shear to vary, an overturning flow is permitted ahead of the density current. This was not possible in the earlier model in which the upper-level flow was assumed to be constant. The present extension allows us to draw closer analogues between the model solutions and the circulation patterns found in typical squalllines in sheared environments. Time-dependent numerical experiments are conducted for a range of upper- and low-level shears. The depth and the propagation speed of simulated density-currents are found to agree very well with predictions by the idealized theoretical model. This verifies the validity of the theoretical model. In addition, numerical experiments with identically zero low-level shear but differing upper-level shears suggest that the deeper shear is as important as the low-level shear in determining the uprightness of the upward branch of inflow. In fact, the presence of positive low-level inflow shear may not be essential. Such results are also supported by the theoretical model, and may have important implications for our understanding of squall-line dynamics.
IBR5, a dual-specificity phosphatase-like protein modulating auxin and abscisic acid responsiveness in Arabidopsis.

Auxin is an important plant hormone that plays significant roles in plant growth and development. Although numerous auxin-response mutants have been identified, auxin signal transduction pathways remain to be fully elucidated. We isolated ibr5 as an Arabidopsis indole-3-butyric acid–response mutant, but it also is less responsive to indole-3-acetic acid, synthetic auxins, auxin transport inhibitors, and the phytohormone abscisic acid. Like certain other auxin-response mutants, ibr5 has a long root and a short hypocotyl when grown in the light. In addition, ibr5 displays aberrant vascular patterning, increased leaf serration, and reduced accumulation of an auxin-inducible reporter. We used positional information to determine that the gene defective in ibr5 encodes an apparent dual-specificity phosphatase. Using immunoblot and promoter-reporter gene analyses, we found that IBR5 is expressed throughout the plant. The identification of IBR5 relatives in other flowering plants suggests that IBR5 function is conserved throughout angiosperms. Our results suggest that IBR5 is a phosphatase that modulates phytohormone signal transduction and support a link between auxin and abscisic acid signaling pathways.
Pricing environmental health risks: survey assessments of risk-risk and risk-dollar trade-offs for chronic bronchitis☆

Abstract This study develops a methodology for measuring the values that individuals place on morbidity risk reductions and applies it to the measurement of the benefits from reducing the risks of contracting chronic bronchitis. The survey methodology involves the use of an iterative computer program that presents respondents with a series of pairwise comparisons which are individually designed to measure respondents' marginal rates of substitution for chronic bronchitis risk reduction. The approach is innovative in that it measures the rates of trade-offs for chronic bronchitis risk reduction in terms of the risk of an automobile accident fatality (risk-risk trade-off), as well as in dollars (risk-dollar trade-off). Since it generates estimates for each individual, it can reveal distributions of benefit measures rather than simply a population mean estimate. The resulting rates of trade-off for chronic bronchitis and auto fatality risks suggest that the risk of a chronic bronchitis case is worth 32% of the comparable risk of death, as measured by the median trade-off rate. When risk reduction for chronic bronchitis is compared to a cost of living increase, the median rate of trade-off is $457,000, whereas the comparison between automobile fatality risk reductions and cost of living increases yielded a median rate of trade-off of $2.29 million. The results across different risk-risk and risk-dollar trade-offs were internally consistent.
Performance of multistatic space-time adaptive processing

In this paper, we analyze the benefits of using multiple airborne radar systems viewing a scene from different directions. The filter outputs from multiple radars employing space-time adaptive processing (STAP) are combined to increase signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) and detection performance. The performance improvement is analyzed by looking at the detection probability and the probability of false alarm of the combined system with and without bistatic components of the multistatic system. Performance is compared to a multi-radar system employing a decentralized method of detection. Sensitivity to training data availability for adaptive filtering is also considered.
A vasopressin antagonist blocks the norepinephrine and epinephrine responses to hemorrhage in the fetus.

In 8 chronically cannulated fetal lambs between 119 and 127 days gestation the resting plasma norepinephrine concentration was 528 ± 77 pg·ml−1 and the resting plasma epinephrine concentration 159 ± 42 pg·ml−1. Hemorrhage of 20% of estimated blood volume at 2% per min produced a 2.1-fold increase in plasma norepinephrine levels and a 3.4-fold increase in plasma epinephrine levels when the animals were pretreated with an injection of saline (1 ml). Plasma catecholamine levels returned toward control values following return of the shed blood. In contrast, hemorrhage of these animals following pretreatment with an antagonist of the pressor effect of vasopressin did not cause an increase in fetal plasma catecholamine levels. Thus, vasopressin may mediate the sympathetic responses to volume depletion in the fetus.
High-Throughput Method Development Approaches for Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry

A rational approach to the development and optimization of solidphase extraction (SPE) methods is described. The semiautomated scheme allows for the simultaneous testing of multiple chemistries using a custom multiple-sorbent 96-well method development plate. Optimized extraction conditions for up to five analytes are determined in a single 2.5-h experiment. The experiment can be tailored to determine SPE conditions (including wash protocols) for related analytes. Data obtained by liquid chromatography‐ atmospheric pressure ionization-mass spectrometry allows the quantitation of absolute recovery and selection of the best extraction conditions for approximately 100 analytes of diverse structure. Optimized extraction protocols yielding at least 80% recovery are determined for 81% of the analytes. For 96% of the analytes screened, extraction conditions resulting in recoveries of ≥ 60% are determined. The most generic set of SPE conditions consist of either C8 or C18 sorbent with an eluent composition of acetonitrile with 5mM nitric acid added.
EnviroMic: Towards Cooperative Storage and Retrieval in Audio Sensor Networks

This paper presents EnviroMic, a novel distributed acoustic monitoring, storage, and trace retrieval system. Audio represents one of the least exploited modalities in sensor networks to date. The relatively high frequency and large size of audio traces motivate distributed algorithms for coordinating recording tasks, reducing redundancy of data stored by nearby sensors, filtering out silence, and balancing storage utilization in the network. Applications of acoustic monitoring with EnviroMic range from the study of mating rituals and social behavior of animals in the wild to audio surveillance of military targets. EnviroMic is designed for disconnected operation, where the luxury of having a basestation cannot be assumed. We implement the system on a Tiny OS-based platform and systematically evaluate its performance through both indoor testbed experiments and a preliminary outdoor deployment. Results demonstrate up to a 4-fold improvement in effective storage capacity of the network compared to uncoordinated recording.
Urinary Cannabinoid Disposition in Occasional and Frequent Smokers: Is THC-Glucuronide in Sequential Urine Samples a Marker of Recent Use in Frequent Smokers?

BACKGROUND: There is extended urinary excretion of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH) in abstinent frequent cannabis smokers. We characterized THC, 11-OH-THC, THCCOOH, cannabidiol, cannabinol, THC-glucuronide, and THCCOOH-glucuronide disposition in urine of frequent and occasional cannabis smokers, and we propose a model to predict recent cannabis smoking. METHODS: Frequent and occasional smokers resided on a closed research unit and smoked one 6.8% THC cannabis cigarette ad libitum. Urinary cannabinoids were quantified in each void by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry within 24 h of collection. RESULTS: No urine samples had measureable THC, 11-OH-THC, cannabidiol, or cannabinol. THCCOOH, THC-glucuronide, and THCCOOH-glucuronide were measurable in all frequent smokers' urine and 60%, 100%, and 100% of occasional smokers' urine samples, respectively. Pre- and postdose maximal concentrations (non- and creatinine normalized) and probability of being positive were significantly higher in frequent smokers' samples. THC-glucuronide concentrations peaked 0.6–7.4 h after smoking; THCCOOH and THCCOOH-glucuronide concentrations were highly variable. At the newly adopted THCCOOH 175-μg/L World Anti-Doping Agency decision limit, only 50% of frequent smokers were positive 0–6 h postdose; no occasional smokers' samples were positive. An absolute %difference of ≥50% between 2 consecutive THC-glucuronide–positive samples with a creatinine-normalized concentration of ≥2 μg/g in the first sample predicted cannabis smoking with efficiencies of 93.1% in frequent and 76.9% in occasional smokers within 6 h of first sample collection. CONCLUSIONS: These controlled urinary cannabinoid data provide a possible means of identifying recent cannabis intake in cannabis smokers' urine within a short collection time frame after smoking.
Short-Term Frequency-Dependent Plasticity at Recurrent Mossy Fiber Synapses of the Epileptic Brain

The recurrent mossy fiber pathway of the dentate gyrus expands dramatically in human temporal lobe epilepsy and in animal models of this disorder, creating monosynaptic connections among granule cells. This novel granule cell network can support reverberating excitation but is difficult to activate with low-frequency stimulation. This study used hippocampal slices from pilocarpine-treated rats to explore the dependence of synaptic transmission in this pathway on stimulus frequency. Minimal electrically evoked EPSCs exhibited a high failure rate (60%). Stimulus trains delivered at a frequency of1 Hz depressed synaptic transmission, as evidenced by an increase in response failures. Conversely, stimulus trains delivered at higher frequencies reduced the percentage of response failures and increased the amplitude of compound EPSCs, including pharmacologically isolated NMDA receptor-mediated EPSCs. Short-term frequency-dependent facilitation was of modest size compared with mossy fiber synapses on other neuronal types. Facilitation depended on the activation of kainate receptors by released glutamate and was inhibited by feedback activation of type II metabotropic glutamate receptors. These results suggest that the recurrent mossy fiber pathway may be functionally silent during baseline asynchronous granule cell activity in vivo attributable, in part, to progressive transmission failure. The pathway may synchronize granule cell firing and may promote seizure propagation most effectively during the brief periods of high-frequency granule cell firing that occur during normal behavior, during the periods of hypersynchronous fast activity characteristic of epileptic brain and, most importantly, during the period of increasing granule cell activity that precedes a spontaneous seizure.
Extreme Confinement of Xenon by Cryptophane‐111 in the Solid State

Solids that sorb, capture and/or store the heavier noble gases are of interest because of their potential for transformative rare gas separation/production, storage, or recovery technologies. Herein, we report the isolation, crystal structures, and thermal stabilities of a series of xenon and krypton clathrates of (±)-cryptophane-111 (111). One trigonal crystal form, Xe@111⋅y(solvent), is exceptionally stable, retaining xenon at temperatures of up to about 300 °C. The high kinetic stability is attributable not only to the high xenon affinity and cage-like nature of the host, but also to the crystal packing of the clathrate, wherein each window of the molecular container is blocked by the bridges of adjacent containers, effectively imprisoning the noble gas in the solid state. The results highlight the potential of discrete molecule materials exhibiting intrinsic microcavities or zero-dimensional pores.
[Bis(2‐mercapto‐1‐methyl­imidazol‐3‐yl)borato](tri­phenyl­phosphine)­gold(I)

The Au atom in the title complex, [Au(C8H12BN4S2)(C18H15P)], is coordinated by two S (thione) atoms and one phosphine ligand in a distorted trigonal environment. The gold center is displaced by 0.048 (1) A from the coordination mean plane. The Au—Sthione distances are 2.3511 (8) and 2.8155 (12) A, and the Au—P distance is 2.2557 (12) A.
Preliminary Review of Assessment Technologies Visualizing Knowledge Structure: Exploring an Alternative Approach

This is an exploratory study aimed at devising methodologies and technologies for creating concept maps from everyday language input from students. The concept maps have potential uses for formative assessment and feedback. An innovative approach based on semantic relationships is compared with current methods involving proximity relationships and adjacency. The semantic relation approach appears to have the potential to enable concept maps to be more usable as the basis for formative assessments and feedback.
Complex ±1 Multiplier Based on Signed-Binary Transformations

A complex ±1 multiplier is an integral element in modern CDMA communication systems, specifically as a pseudonoise code scrambler/descrambler. An efficient implementation is essential to reduce the critical path delay, power, and area of wireless receivers. A signed-binary architecture is proposed to achieve this complex multiplier function. Tradeoffs and design solutions are discussed. It is shown that the VLSI circuit implementation of the arithmetic operations may be significantly improved by using non-conventional number representations and transforming intermediate results from one format to another format. For a target function, the objective is to change the number representations of the input and output operands such that a minimum amount of logic circuitry is required to achieve a computation. An analytical framework is developed that expands the scope of the functions that can be efficiently implemented using signed-binary representation. Simulations exhibit a significant speed improvement as compared to alternative architectures.
Interprofessional Authorship in Critical Care Journals

Interprofessional education and patient care have been endorsed by accrediting bodies because interprofessional health care teams improve outcomes while decreasing health care costs. Thus, there has been an increased focus in educating health professional students collectively. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of interprofessional authorship of original research published in high-impact critical care journals. Physicians constituted 76.2% of authors, followed by 10.5% PhDs and 3.0% nonphysician health professionals. From 2001 to 2011, the frequency of physician and nonphysician authors increased significantly ( P < .01 for both). Interprofessional authorship also increased, from 49.9% to 64.3% of published articles ( P < .0001). The enhanced attention on interprofessional education and patient care has translated into an increase in interprofessional authorship for original research articles published in critical care journals. However, collaboration appears to be primarily between physicians and PhDs, not other health care professionals.