cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects on Translation Pausing of Alterations in Protein and RNA Components of the Ribosome Exit Tunnel

Amino acids are polymerized into peptides in the peptidyl transferase center of the ribosome. The nascent peptides then pass through the exit tunnel before they reach the extraribosomal environment. A number of nascent peptides interact with the exit tunnel and stall elongation at specific sites within their peptide chain. Several mutational changes in RNA and protein components of the ribosome have previously been shown to interfere with pausing. These changes are localized in the narrowest region of the tunnel, near a constriction formed by ribosomal proteins L4 and L22. To expand our knowledge about peptide-induced pausing, we performed a comparative study of pausing induced by two peptides, SecM and a short peptide, CrbCmlA, that requires chloramphenicol as a coinducer of pausing. We analyzed the effects of 15 mutational changes in L4 and L22, as well as the effects of methylating nucleotide A2058 of 23S rRNA, a nucleotide previously implicated in pausing and located close to the L4-L22 constriction. Our results show that methylation of A2058 and most mutational changes in L4 and L22 have differential effects on pausing in response to CrbCmlA and SecM. Only one change, a 6-amino-acid insertion after amino acid 72 in L4, affects pausing in both peptides. We conclude that the two peptides interact with different regions of the exit tunnel. Our results suggest that either the two peptides use different mechanisms of pausing or they interact differently but induce similar inhibitory conformational changes in functionally important regions of the ribosome.
Global-scale carbon and energy flows through the marine planktonic food web: An analysis with a coupled physical–biological model

Abstract Global-scale planktonic ecosystem models exhibit large differences in simulated net primary production (NPP) and assessment of planktonic food web fluxes beyond primary producers has been limited, diminishing confidence in carbon flux estimates from these models. In this study, a global ocean-ice-ecosystem model was assessed against a suite of observation-based planktonic food web flux estimates, many of which were not considered in previous modeling studies. The simulation successfully captured cross-biome differences and similarities in these fluxes after calibration of a limited number of highly uncertain yet influential parameters. The resulting comprehensive carbon budgets suggested that shortened food webs, elevated growth efficiencies, and tight consumer-resource coupling enable oceanic upwelling systems to support 45% of pelagic mesozooplankton production despite accounting for only 22% of ocean area and 34% of NPP. In seasonally stratified regions (42% of ocean area and 40% of NPP), weakened consumer-resource coupling tempers mesozooplankton production to 41% and enhances export below 100 m to 48% of the global total. In oligotrophic systems (36% of ocean area and 26% of NPP), the dominance of small phytoplankton and low consumer growth efficiencies supported only 14% of mesozooplankton production and 17% of export globally. Bacterial production, in contrast, was maintained in nearly constant proportion to primary production across biomes through the compensating effects of increased partitioning of NPP to the microbial food web in oligotrophic ecosystems and increased bacterial growth efficiencies in more productive areas. Cross-biome differences in mesozooplankton trophic level were muted relative to those invoked by previous work such that significant differences in consumer growth efficiencies and the strength of consumer-resource coupling were needed to explain sharp cross-biome differences in mesozooplankton production. Lastly, simultaneous consideration of multiple flux constraints supports a highly distributed view of respiration across the planktonic food web rather than one dominated by heterotrophic bacteria. The solution herein is unlikely unique in its ability to explain observed cross-biome energy flow patterns and notable misfits remain. Resolution of existing uncertainties in observed biome-scale productivity and increasingly mechanistic physical and biological model components should yield significant refinements to estimates herein.
Toward Independence with Keyword Mnemonics A Strategy for Science Vocabulary Instruction

The use of mnemonics to learn and remember information holds promise for students with learning and memory problems. Keyword mnemonics were used in two of three instructional procedures taught to students with mild handicaps in this study. Students were required to learn and remember definitions of previously unfamiliar science terms. Systematic teaching, an imposed keyword method, and an induced keyword method (taught by using the IT FITS strategy) were compared. Favorable results for imposed and induced keyword methods were obtained. Implications for teaching strategies that increase students' opportunities for independent success in content curricula are discussed, as well as active involvement of students in the learning process.
Milk ceruloplasmin and its expression by mammary gland and liver in pigs.

Concentrations of ceruloplasmin and copper in milk and blood plasma, the nature of milk ceruloplasmin, and the effects of lactation and gestation on these parameters, as well as the expression of ceruloplasmin mRNA by the mammary gland, were examined in pigs. As seen previously in humans, ceruloplasmin and copper concentrations in sow milk were much higher a few days after birth than 1 month later, averaging 26.5 and 6.6 mg ceruloplasmin/L (by immunoassay) and 1.67 and 0.34 mg total Cu/L, on days 3 and 33 postpartum, respectively. Values for ceruloplasmin oxidase activity (measured with p-phenylene diamine) were 7.8 and 1.3 nmol/min/L, respectively. Daily milk ceruloplasmin production went from 61 to 22 mg/day and daily copper output from 38 to 12 mg/day. In contrast, there was little or no variation in serum ceruloplasmin concentration during lactation or gestation, although total plasma copper was high at the end of gestation. Milk ceruloplasmin was of the same apparent size as serum ceruloplasmin, as determined by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting, and ceruloplasmin mRNAs of liver and mammary gland were indistinguishable by Northern analysis and RT-PCR of the various exons. Expression of total RNA and ceruloplasmin mRNA, as detected in biopsies of mammary gland, increased markedly upon onset of lactation and then declined during the next month in conjunction with a drop in milk ceruloplasmin production. The results indicate that milk ceruloplasmin, while being the same protein as in plasma, is not derived from the plasma but is produced by the mammary gland.
Extranodal Rosai‐Dorfman Disease Presenting as an Intranasal Mass

Objective. We report the case of a 40-year-old female with biopsy-proven cutaneous extranodal Rosai-Dorfman who presented with symptoms of nasal obstruction and sinusitis. Rosai- Dorfman disease, also known as sinus histiocystosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML), is a rare, idiopathic disorder characterized by a benign proliferation of histiocytes initially thought to be limited to cervical lymph nodes. However, between 30% and 50% of patients identified with SHML have extranodal manifestations. Study design. Case report and literature review. Results. The patient presented to the otolaryngology clinic with nasal obstruction. A CT scan demonstrated lesions of the left inferior turbinate and anterior nasal septum with bony erosion. The patient underwent a biopsy of the nasal mass. The specimen was evaluated with flow cytometry, microscopy, and stained for immunohistochemical markers which confirmed a diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman. Conclusion. Rarely, Rosai-Dorfman disease may manifest in the nasal cavity with symptoms mimicking that of sinusitis. Otolaryngologists should be familiar with the pathophysiology of the disease, the variability of extranodal involvement, radiologic findings, and the immunohistochemical analysis of Rosai-Dorfman to aid in diagnosis. This report emphasizes the radiological, pathological, and clinical appearance of the disease.
Spirochaeta bajacaliforniensis sp. n. from a microbial mat community at Laguna Figueroa, Baja California Norte, Mexico.

A new anaerobic spirochete was isolated from anaerobic muds beneath the laminated sediment in the evaporite flat at Laguna Figueroa, Baja California Norte, Mexico. The organism is a member of the stratified microbial community involved in the deposition of the laminated sediments in the lagoon. The size of the spirochete is 0.3 by 30 μm, with a wave amplitude of 0.5 μm and a wavelength of 1.25 μm. The periplasmic flagella have a 1-2-1 arrangement. The outer membrane of the modified Gramnegative cell wall (the sheath) is irregularly crenulated and has a sillon. The growth medium contained yeast extract, trypticase, cellobiose, sodium thioglycolate and at least 20% natural seawater. Chemically defined artificial seawater media did not support growth. Optimal growth occurred with a seawater concentration of 80% at 36° C and a pH of 7.5. Glucose was fermented to acetate, ethanol, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The guanine+cytosine content of the DNA was 50 mol %. the spirochete body reacts positively to antibodies raised against eukaryotic brain tubulin protein. On the basis of its free-living anaerobic habitat, its unique morphological and physiological characteristics and G+C ratio, it is proposed that this isolate be considered a new species and named Spirochaeta bajacaliforniensis.
Repeated cocaine exposure during adolescence alters glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GAD65) immunoreactivity in hamster brain: correlation with offensive aggression

Male Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) treated with low-dose (0.5 mg/kg/day) cocaine throughout adolescence (P27-P56) display highly escalated offensive aggression. The current study examined whether adolescent cocaine exposure influenced the immunohistochemical localization of glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GAD65), the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a fast-acting neurotransmitter implicated in the modulation of aggression in various species and models of aggression. Hamsters were administered low doses of cocaine throughout adolescence, scored for offensive aggression using the resident-intruder paradigm, and then examined for changes in GAD65 immunoreactivity in areas of the brain implicated in aggression control. When compared with saline-treated control animals, aggressive cocaine-treated hamsters showed significant differences in the area covered by GAD65 puncta in several notable aggression regions, including the anterior hypothalamus, the medial and central amygdaloid nuclei, and the lateral septum. However, no differences in GAD65 puncta were found in other aggression areas, such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the ventrolateral hypothalamus, and the corticomedial amygdala. Together, these results suggest that altered GABA synthesis and function in specific aggression areas may be involved in adolescent cocaine-facilitated offensive aggression.
An evaluation of the divergent physics laboratory

During the school years 1969–1971, a set of objectives expressed by Dr. John M. Fowler of the Commission on College Physics was used to evaluate the divergent physics laboratories at New Mexico State University. The result indicated greater achievement of two of the objectives by students enrolled in divergent laboratories than by students enrolled in traditional laboratories. Additionally, the need for revising some elements of the divergent laboratory was indicated, as well as a need for special training of the graduate assistants who conducted the divergent laboratories. A synopsis of this paper was presented to the 14th Annual Idaho Academy of Science Meeting in April, 1972.
Thromboxane receptor antagonist properties of SQ 27,427 in the anesthetized guinea pig.

Abstract The TXA 2 receptor antagonist properties of SQ 27,427 (a novel oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivative) were studied in vivo in the anesthetized guinea pig where changes in pulmonary resistance, dynamic compliance, and mean arterial blood pressure were measured. Both the bronchoconstrictor and pressor responses to arachidonic acid (AA) and to the stable TXA 2 mimic 9,11-azoPGH 2 (AZO) were taken as indices of in vivo TXA 2 receptor activation. The administration of SQ 27,427 (0.1–1.0 mg/kg i.v., and 10.0 mg/kg p.o.) caused dose-related inhibitions of both AA- and AZO-induced bronchoconstriction. Relative specificity of this antagonism was evidenced by the failure of SQ 27,427 (1.0 mg/kg i.v.) to inhibit histamine-induced bronchoconstriction. In the same experiments the pressor response to AA was reversed to a depressor response by SQ 27,427. This reversal was abolished by indomethacin. The pressor response to AZO was antagonized by SQ 27,427, but not by indomethacin. The reversal of the pressor response to AA by SQ 27,427 may be due to the unmasking of the depressor effect of a cyclooxygenase product, i.e., prostacyclin. It is concluded that SQ 27,427 is a relatively specific TXA 2 receptor antagonist in vivo in the guinea pig.
The influence of clinostat rotation on the fertilized amphibian egg

Study in which unrestrained, fertilized eggs of Rana pipiens and Xenopus laevis were rotated in a plane parallel to the normal gravity vector. In R. pipiens rotation at 1/4 rpm for five days at 18 C produced a significantly increased number of commonly occurring abnormalities. Rotation at 1/15, 1/8, 1, 2, 5 and 10 rpm did not significantly affect normal development. X. laevis eggs reacted similarly. R. pipiens eggs were most sensitive to rotation at 1/4 rpm when exposure was initiated before first cleavage. Mixing of intracellular constituents apparently occurred only at 1/4 rpm in R. pipiens (of the clinostat speeds studied), and may have been the cause of the increased abnormality observed at this rate.
Screening for psychological distress in surgical breast cancer patients.

This pilot study assessed the levels of patient emotional distress and impact on clinic throughput time. From April through August 2012, 149 breast cancer patients at the Penn State Hershey Breast Center were screened with the emotions thermometer (ET), a patient-rated visual 0–10 scale that measures distress, anxiety, depression, anger, burden, and need for help. Also, patients indicated their most pressing cancer-related concerns. Clinic visit time was computed and compared with a control group. Using a previously validated cut point ≥4 for any thermometer, we found emotional difficulty in the following proportions: distress 22 %, anxiety 28 %, depression 18 %, anger 14 %, burden 16 %, and need for help 10 %; 35 % scored above the cut point on at least 1 thermometer. We found higher levels of distress in all domains associated with younger age at diagnosis. More extensive surgery (bilateral mastectomy vs unilateral mastectomy vs. lumpectomy) was correlated with higher levels of psychosocial distress. Most often cited concerns, experienced by >20 %, included eating/weight, worry about cancer, sleep problems, fatigue, anxiety, and pain. Mean clinic visit time for evaluable patients screened using the ET (n = 109) was 43.9 min (SD 18.6), compared with 42.6 min (SD 16.2) for the control group (n = 50). Utilizing the ET, more than one-third of women screened met criteria for psychological distress. Younger age at diagnosis and more extensive surgery were risk factors. The ET is a simple validated screening tool that identifies patients in need of further psychological evaluation without impacting clinic throughput time.
Software packages for direct broadcast data processing of ATOVS, MODIS and AIRS radiances

The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, has a long history of software development to acquire and process radiances measurements from polar orbiting and geostationary weather satellites. Since 1983, CIMSS has worked with the International TOVS Working Group (ITWG) to create the International TOVS/ATOVS Processing Packages (ITPP/IAPP). CIMSS has also worked with NASA and the Earth Observing System (EOS) direct broadcast community to create the International MODIS/AIRS Processing Package (IMAPP). The International TOVS Processing Package (ITPP) provides Level 0 to 1B processing and software to retrieve vertical profiles of temperature and moisture from AHVRR, HIRS and MSU radiances on NOAA polar orbiting satellites through NOAA -14. For NOAA -15 through the current NOAA -17 satellites, the International ATOVS Processing Package (IAPP) works in conjunction with the AAPP (AVHRR and ATOVS Processing Package), developed by Eumetsat, to accomplish the same tasks for this new generation of NOAA polar weather satellites. Within the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) program, a direct broadcast capability was created for MODIS and AIRS radiance measurements. The NASA Earth System Enterprise provided support to the University of Wisconsin CIMSS to develop Level 0 to 1B processing software for MODIS and AIRS radiances. The International MODIS/AIRS Processing Package (IMAPP) allows any ground station capable of receiving direct broadcast from Terra or Aqua to produce calibrated and geolocated MODIS radiances (Level 1), along with a select group of science products (Level 2). IMAPP is derived from the operational MODIS processing software developed at NASA GSFC, and is modified to be compatible with direct broadcast data. This poster will describe the functionality of the IAPP and IMAPP software, including its applications, examples from processing and how to obtain the software.
A comparison of schizophrenic patients in different community support treatment approaches.

Recent advances in the care of the chronically mentally ill in the community have resulted in a “community support system” approach to maintaining chronically mentally ill persons outside the hospital. Yet, very little is known of what a community support system actually is for the chronic mental patient. This paper looks at three different sorts of community support programs and compares a sample of patients within them with respect to network variables, role performance, and demographic variables. Implications regarding the use of network oriented approaches are discussed and directions for further research are explored.
Huddling for high reliability and situation awareness

Background Studies show that implementing huddles in healthcare can improve a variety of outcomes. Yet little is known about the mechanisms through which huddles exert their effects. To help remedy this gap, our study objectives were to explore hospital administrator and frontline staff perspectives on the benefits and challenges of implementing a tiered huddle system; and propose a model based on our findings depicting the mediating pathways through which implementing a huddle system may reduce patient harm. Methods Using qualitative methods, we conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups to obtain a deeper understanding of the huddle system and its outcomes as implemented in an academic tertiary care children’s hospital with 539 inpatient beds. We recruited healthcare providers representing all levels using a snowball sampling technique (10 interviews), and emails, flyers, and paper invitations (six focus groups). We transcribed recordings and analysed the data using established techniques. Results Five themes emerged and provided the foundational constructs of our model. Specifically we propose that huddle implementation leads to improved efficiencies and quality of information sharing, increased levels of accountability, empowerment, and sense of community, which together create a culture of collaboration and collegiality that increases the staff’s quality of collective awareness and enhanced capacity for eliminating patient harm. Conclusions While each construct in the proposed model is itself a beneficial outcome of implementing huddles, conceptualising the pathways by which they may work allows us to design ways to evaluate other huddle implementation efforts designed to help reduce failures and eliminate patient harm.
Quantification of PRL/Stat5 signaling with a novel pGL4-CISH reporter.

Background Elevations of serum prolactin (PRL) are associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. PRL signaling through its prolactin receptor (PRLr) involves the Jak2/Stat5 pathway. Luciferase-based reporter assays have been widely used to evaluate the activity of this pathway. However, the existing reporters are often not sensitive enough to monitor the effect of PRL in this pathway.
Noninvasive evaluation of the lymphatic system with lymphoscintigraphy: A prospective, semiquantitative analysis in 386 extremities

Abstract Purpose: Lymphoscintigraphy has emerged as the diagnostic test of choice in patients with suspected lymphedema. To assess the lymphatic circulation of 386 extremities in 188 patients, we prospectively recorded a semiquantitative index of lymphatic transport in addition to visual evaluation of lymphoscintigraphy image patterns. Methods: Sixty-one male and 127 female patients were studied (mean age 48 years, range 13 to 87 years). Twenty had upper extremity swelling, and 168 had lower extremity swelling. The disease was bilateral in 60 patients. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed by injecting a mean of 503 μCi of technetium 99m—antimony trisulfide colloid subcutaneously into the second interdigital space of the extremity. Time for transport to regional lymph nodes, appearance of lymph vessels and nodes and distribution pattern were scored. These scores were compiled into a modified Kleinhans transport index (TI). To assess the venous circulation, 155 patients underwent evaluation of the venous system by impedance plethysmography, ultrasonography, or contrast venography. Results: The mean TI (±SEM) in 79 asymptomatic extremities was 2.6 ± 0.5, with 66 (83.5%) demonstrating normal lymphoscintigraphy pattern (TI n = 124) had a mean TI of 23.8 ± 1.5; 81.5% of these were greater than 5. Fifty-six patients (30%) had primary and 68 (36%) had secondary lymphedema. (TI of 26 ± 3.5 and 22.1 ± 1.9, respectively, p = NS). Patients without any lymphatic transport (TI of 45) were more likely to have cellulitis in their history ( p p Conclusions: Semiquantitative evaluation of the lymphatic transport with lymphoscintigraphy reliably depicts abnormalities in the lymphatic circulation. Lymphoscintigraphy excluded lymphedema as a cause of leg swelling in one third of our patients. J VASC SURG 1993;18:773-82.)
A putative morphological substrate of the catecholamine-influenced neuropeptide Y (NPY) release in the human hypothalamus

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36 amino acid peptide, which among others, plays a pivotal role in stress response. Although previous studies confirmed that NPY release is increased by stress in several species, the exact mechanism of the stress-induced NPY release has not been elucidated yet. In the present study, we examined, with morphological means, the possibility that catecholamines directly influence NPY release in the human hypothalamus. Since the use of electron microscopic techniques is virtually impossible in immunostained human samples due to the long post mortem time, double-label immunohistochemistry was utilised in order to reveal the putative catecholaminergic-NPY associations. The present study is the first to demonstrate juxtapositions between the catecholaminergic, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)/dopamine-beta hydroxylase (DBH)-immunoreactive (IR) and NPY-IR neural elements in the human hypothalamus. These en passant type associations are most numerous in the infundibular and periventricular areas of the human diencephalon. Here, NPY-IR neurons often form several contacts with catecholaminergic fibre varicosities, without any observable gaps between the contacting elements, suggesting that these juxtapositions may represent functional synapses. The lack of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT)-NPY juxtapositions and the relatively few observed DBH-NPY associations suggest that the vast majority of the observed TH-NPY juxtapositions represent dopaminergic synapses. Since catecholamines are known to be the crucial components of the stress response, the presence of direct, catecholaminergic (primarily dopaminergic)-NPY-IR synapses may explain the increased NPY release during stress. The released NPY in turn is believed to play an active role in the responses that are directed to maintain the homeostasis during stressful conditions.
Family and peer influences on smoking behavior among American adolescents: An age trend

Purpose: To study the age trend of family and peer influence on adolescent smoking behavior using a national sample. Methods: Adolescents (N = 6,900), ages 14 through 18 years, from the 1988-89 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey, were selected for analyses. Data collected included measures for smoking status of the adolescent and their family and peers. Results: Peer influence, such as the smoking status of best male/female friends, proved to be the most significant and consistent predictor across all ages, while parental influence had little effect on adolescent smoking status. Gender-specific effects were noted in the peer influence of adolescent smoking. Conclusions: The peer influence on adolescent smoking, across ages 14 through 18 years, confirmed previous literature. However, no differential effect of family and peer influence on adolescent smoking was evident.
Dynamics of the West African Monsoon Jump

The observed abrupt latitudinal shift of maximum precipitation from the Guinean coast into the Sahel region in June, known as the West African monsoon jump, is studied using a regional climate model. Moisture, momentum, and energy budget analyses are used to better understand the physical processes that lead to the jump. Because of the distribution of albedo and surface moisture, a sensible heating maximum is in place over the Sahel region throughout the spring. In early May, this sensible heating drives a shallow meridional circulation and moisture convergence at the latitude of the sensible heating maximum, and this moisture is transported upward into the lower free troposphere where it diverges. During the second half of May, the supply of moisture from the boundary layer exceeds the divergence, resulting in a net supply of moisture and condensational heating into the lower troposphere. The resulting pressure gradient introduces an inertial instability, which abruptly shifts the midtropospheric meridional wind convergence maximum from the coast into the continental interior at the end of May. This in turn introduces a net total moisture convergence, net upward moisture flux and condensation in the upper troposphere, and an enhancement of precipitation in the continental interior through June. Because of the shift of the meridional convergence into the continent, condensation and precipitation along the coast gradually decline. The West African monsoon jump is an example of multiscale interaction in the climate system, in which an intraseasonal-scale event is triggered by the smooth seasonal evolution of SSTs and the solar forcing in the presence of land–sea contrast.
Activation of Nod-Like Receptor Protein 3 Inflammasomes Turns on Podocyte Injury and Glomerular Sclerosis in Hyperhomocysteinemia

Inflammasome is a multiprotein complex consisting of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NALP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), and caspase 1 or 5, which functions to switch on the inflammatory process. The present study hypothesized that the formation and activation of NALP3 inflammasomes turn on podocyte injury leading to glomerulosclerosis during hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcys). RT-PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated that murine podocytes expressed 3 essential components of the NALP3 inflammasome complex, namely, NALP3, ASC, and caspase 1. Treatment of podocytes with l-homocysteine induced the formation of NALP3 inflammasome complex, an increase in caspase 1 activity, podocyte cytoskeleton rearrangement, and decreased production of vascular endothelial growth factor from podocytes, which were all blocked by silencing the ASC gene or inhibiting caspase 1 activity. In mice with hHcys induced by feeding them a folate-free diet, NALP3 inflammasome formation and activation in glomerular podocytes were detected at an early stage, as shown by confocal microscopy, size exclusion chromatography of the assembled inflammasome complex, and increased interleukin-1β production in glomeruli. Locally silencing the ASC gene in the kidney significantly reduced NALP3 inflammasome formation and interleukin 1β production in glomeruli of mice with hHcys. Pathologically, hHcys-associated albuminuria, foot process effacement of podocytes, loss of podocyte slit diaphragm molecules, and glomerulosclerosis at the late stage were significantly improved by local ASC gene silencing or by caspase 1 inhibition. In conclusion, NALP3 inflammasome formation and activation on stimulation of homocysteine are important molecular mechanisms triggering podocyte injury and ultimately resulting in glomerulosclerosis in hHcys.
The relationship between blood sugar and lymphocyte levels in normal individuals.

IN PREVIOUS investigations it has been our experience that in the majority of cases the sugar tolerance of subjects afflicted with mental disturbances is decreased as compared with that of normal subjects (4). In view of the relationship of the adrenal cortex hormone to sugar metabolism (5) it has been suspected that differences in the rate of adrenal discharge may play a part in determining these differences in the reaction to ingested sugar. Since adreno-cortical activity is reflected by the level of the absolute lymphocyte count (1) a study was made of normal subjects in whom simultaneous observations were made of the blood sugar levels and the absolute lymphocyte counts during the course of responses to ingested glucose. A group of 21 normal subjects was studied, of whom 19 were males. These included university students and personnel of the hospital and were presumably free of any organic illness.
LIFE METAPHORS FOR THE ETHICAL CONDUCT OF RESEARCH

The use of analogies, or metaphors, can be useful in integrating ethical principles into the planning and implementation of a research study involving human participants. This article demonstrates how metaphors can be utilized as tools in teaching research ethics in conjunction with planning and implementing a study, developing and maintaining community involvement and support, adapting to changes that may occur during the course of the research, developing new perspectives, and measuring growth.
Roles of Oxidative Stress and AT1 Receptors in Renal Hemodynamics and Oxygenation in the Postclipped 2K,1C Kidney

The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) exhibits angiotensin II (Ang II)–dependent oxidative stress and reduced efficiency of renal oxygen usage (Q O2 ) for tubular sodium transport (T Na ). We tested the hypothesis that oxidative stress determines the reduced T Na :Q O2 ratio in the clipped kidney of the early 2-kidney, 1-clip (2K,1C) Ang II–dependent model. One week after sham operation (Sham) or clip placement, 2K,1C rats received for 2 weeks either a vehicle, the superoxide dismutase mimetic tempol (Temp), or candesartan (Cand). Oxidative stress was assessed from excretion of 8-isoprostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and renal oxygenation from pO 2 in the renal cortex and from the ratio of calculated T Na and Q O2 values. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) of Sham (113±6 mm Hg) was increased in 2K,1C vehicle-treated rats (148±4 mm Hg), but both Temp and Cand restored MAP to Sham levels. The excretions of 8-iso-PGF 2α and MDA were higher in 2K,1C vehicle-treated rats compared with Sham and were normalized by Temp. The pO 2 of Sham (42±2 mm Hg) was lower in 2K,1C vehicle-treated animals (28±2 mm Hg). This was restored to Sham values by Temp (36±3 mm Hg) but not by Cand (28±2 mm Hg). The T Na :Q O2 of Sham (12.9±1.6) was reduced in 2K,1C vehicle-treated rats (9.7±2.8) and was restored to Sham values by Temp (13.7±2.5) but not by Cand (7.5±1.6). We conclude that the correction of oxidative stress in the 2K,1C model partially corrects renal cortical hypoxia and inefficient utilization of O 2 for Na + transport, independent of the fall in blood pressure.
Malignant angioendotheliomatosis: an angiotropic lymphoma

Malignant angioendotheliomatosis is a rare, systemic, usually fatal disease characterized by massive proliferation of large, neoplastic, mononuclear cells within the lumen of small blood vessels. Recent studies suggested that the tumor cells are of lymphoid origin. We studied two cases of malignant angioendotheliomatosis by Southern blot hybridization analysis that showed rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain and kappa light chain (case 2), indicating the presence of a monoclonal B cell lymphoma. Our results provide further evidence that malignant angioendotheliomatosis is an angiotropic lymphoma.
A multimode pyramidal horn with symmetrical dielectric loading-a high efficiency feed for reflector antennas in satellite communications

A novel multimode pyramidal horn with symmetric dielectric loading on the horn walls is presented. The horn possesses the desirable features of high aperture efficiency (on-axis gain), low sidelobe levels, and low cross polar radiation suitable for applications in satellite communication. In the development of this efficient pyramidal horn, the technique of multimode generation of high order TE/TM/sub 12/ modes by a step discontinuity and a change ill the horn flare angle for equalizing E- and H-plane patterns at reduced sidelobe levels is combined with symmetrical dielectric loading on the horn walls for aperture efficiency enhancement. This pyramidal feed horn can be used for developing an antenna system with monopulse capability for searching and tracking purposes in radar and astronomy applications. Experimental results are presented on a multimode (double-flare) pyramidal horn for operations in the Ku-band. >
Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) on-board calibrator (OBC) in-flight performance studies

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) consists of nine cameras pointing from nadir to an extreme of 70.5/spl deg/ in the view angle. It is a pushbroom imager with four spectral bands per camera. Instrument specifications call for each camera to be calibrated to an absolute uncertainty of 3% and to within 1% relative to the other cameras. To accomplish this, the MISR instrument utilizes an on-board calibrator (OBC) to provide updates to the instrument gain coefficients on a bimonthly basis (i.e. once every two months). Spectralon diffuse panels are used in the OBC to provide a uniform target for the nine MISR cameras to view. The radiometric scale of the OBC is established through the use of photodiodes. The stability of the MISR OBC system and its in-flight calibration are discussed.
Prediction Of Infrared (IR) Celestial Source Counts

AbstractOne of the questions that must be investigated in the design of spaceborne IR telescopesystems is that of the level of the background flux due to discrete celestial IR sources(stars, galaxies, etc.). This flux is a potential source of false targets and coulddecrease the efficiency of a system's data handling capability. This paper describes atechnique for predicting 2.2 pm source counts based on an extrapolation of the Cal Tech TwoMicron Sky Survey (IRC) using a model of galactic structure. These source counts can beused to estimate the celestial IR flux incident on a space -viewing sensor. For improvedaccuracy source count predictions should be based on a galactic model which includes, e.g.,local spiral arm structure. The IRC is not complete to distances at which spiral armstructure becomes obvious. However, for some space systems now under consideration suchgalactic features should be considered. For this task as well as for an improved knowledgeof stellar distributions in the galaxy deeper IR surveys would be very desirable.Appropriate surveys are possible using existing technology.IntroductionA knowledge of infrared celestial radiation is of interest to both the scientificand defense communities. The scientific community desires data concerning the intensityand distribution of galactic radiation at various wavelengths to solve basic questionsconcerning, for example, stellar evolution, galactic structure and dynamics, andnucleosynthesis. The defense community desires similar information for use in satellitenavigation and earth remote sensing missions. As infrared systems which exploit theimproved sensitivity available to a space -based platform become increasingly common, theeffect of discrete celestial sources on system performance must be addressed. For thisreason we have produced a computer code CELES, which calculates a) the number ofsources /sq degree brighter than a given flux along a line of sight, and b) the totalstarlight due to those sources. The basic featues of CELES have been described in partelsewhere1,2,3. This paper reviews those features and describes new features included in
Extreme value analysis of wildfires in Canadian boreal forest ecosystems

Large fires are a major disturbance in Canadian forests and exert significant effects on both the climate system and ecosystems. During the last century, extremely large fires accounted for the maj...
ST. LUCIE ESTUARY AND INDIAN RIVER LAGOON CONCEPTUAL ECOLOGICAL MODEL

The St. Lucie Estuary is one of the largest brackish water bodies on the east coast of Florida, USA and a major tributary to southern Indian River Lagoon. The Indian River Lagoon is a biogeographic transition zone, rich in habitats and species, with the greatest species diversity of any estuary in North America. Habitats and species diversity in the lagoon system are believed to be affected by the decline in water and sediment quality. The health of the system is being affected by water management and land-use development in this rapidly growing area of South Florida. These affects are expressed through the six major stressors identified in this conceptual ecological model. The model diagram and its associated text describe the effects of these stressors on the key ecological attributes of the system and are a way to describe both the well-known linkages and pathways between these stressors and the detrimental impacts they have on the ecology of the system. This model also provides a means to describe some of the uncertainties and associated research that will be needed to fine tune our understanding of some of the more complicated ecological interactions and interdependencies in order to carry out effectively the goals and objectives of Everglades restoration in this system and adaptively manage the restoration into the future.
Fatty acids enhance neurovascular reflex responses by effects on alpha 1-adrenoceptors

Abnormalities in plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) may contribute to increased vascular alpha-adrenergic tone in obese hypertensive patients, because raising NEFAs locally enhances vascular reactivity to exogenously infused phenylephrine. However, responses to exogenous phenylephrine, a relatively selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, may not reflect the physiologically more important response to endogenous norepinephrine, a nonselective alpha-adrenoceptor agonist. To study the effects of NEFAs on vascular responses to endogenously released norepinephrine, dorsal hand venoconstrictor responses to thigh cuff inflation were quantified in nine healthy volunteers during coinfusion of Intralipid with heparin to raise fatty acids locally. Intralipid-heparin, which approximately doubled local linoleic and oleic acid concentrations (P < 0.05), increased the magnitude and duration of the venoconstrictor response to thigh cuff inflation (P < 0.005) and also enhanced venoconstrictor responses to locally infused phenylephrine but not clonidine, a relatively selective partial alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist. The results of this study indicate that NEFAs enhance reflex vasoconstrictor responses largely through local effects on the vascular alpha 1-adrenoceptor and raise the possibility that fatty acids contribute to increased neurovascular tone in obese hypertensive patients.
A Nodal Diffusion Technique for Synthetic Acceleration of Nodal Sn Calculations

A diffusion theory method is developed for synthetic acceleration of nodal Sn calculations in multidimensional Cartesian geometries. The diffusion model is derived from the spatially continuous dif...
Refactorings for Android asynchronous programming

Running compute-intensive or blocking I/O operations in the UI event thread of smartphone apps can severely degrade responsiveness. Despite the fact that Android provides several async constructs that developers can use, developers can still miss opportunities to encapsulate long-running operations in async constructs. On the other hand, they can use the inappropriate async constructs, which result in memory leaks, lost results, and wasted energy. Fortunately, refactoring tools can eliminate these problems by retrofitting asynchrony to sequential code and transforming async code to use the appropriate constructs. This demo presents two refactoring tools for Android apps: (i) Asynchronizer, a refactoring tool that enables developers to extract long-running operations into Android AsyncTask. (ii) AsyncDroid, a refactoring tool which enables developers to transform existing improperly-used AsyncTask into Android IntentService.
Music Performance: Expectations, Failures, and Prevention

Performing music at a professional level is probably one of the most demanding of human activities. In the first part of this chapter, we focus on the commonalities and differences between sport and music performance. Music performance uniquely requires the integration of multimodal sensory and motor information and precise planning and monitoring of the performance via auditory feedback. In the context of western classical music, musicians have to reproduce highly controlled movements almost perfectly with high reliability in the context of an unyielding societal punishment–reward mechanism. We then describe various conditions compromising music performance, beginning with the common phenomenon of music performance anxiety, and continuing with more serious failures in performance, such as choking under pressure, and dynamic stereotype. Lastly, musician's dystonia (MD), a permanent degradation of performance skills, will be discussed, along with its psychological and neurological causes. We subsequently summarize interventions designed to improve performance and to treat MD, and finally give an outlook with special emphasis on prevention of performance failures in music conservatories.
ONSET OF IN-HOSPITAL COMPLICATIONS IN ACUTE TYPE B AORTIC DISSECTIONS INITIALLY UNCOMPLICATED

It is unknown what the incidence is of in-hospital complications in patients presenting with initially uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) and what predicts such clinical evolution. Our aim was to identify the incidence and predictors of development of in-hospital complications in
Role of Echocardiography in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Cardiac imaging is the key to make an initial impression of TC and follow-up images confirms the diagnosis of TC. Because of the availability and feasibility in acute medical care, echocardiography plays an important role in the assessment of patients with TC. The diagnosis of TC needs serial echocardiographic evaluation. The ejection fraction is geometric changes of ventricle rather than contractile function measurements of myocardium. Therefore, it is suggested that standard echocardiography combined with 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography should be used to evaluate cardiac muscular function especially in TC because the diagnosis needs serial evaluation.
High-density lipoproteins in the prevention of atherosclerotic heart disease. Part I. Epidemiological and family studies.

It has recently been proposed that the concentration of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction in plasma bears a negative relationship to the incidence of atherosclerotic heart disease.
Abstract 522: Role and regulation of Aurora A in radiation resistance mechanisms in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive tumor of the human brain, which inevitably escapes the standard treatment modalities that include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Consequently, the median survival of GBM patients remains 12-15 months despite these aggressive treatments. Therefore, to develop effective therapies, it is important to understand how GBM cells develop therapeutic resistance. Aurora A is a ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase, which plays essential roles in mitotic regulation. This protein kinase, which phosphorylates p53, PP1, CEBP, and histone H3 among other regulators of cell division, is overexpressed in various neoplasms including GBM and invariably associated with poor prognosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that Aurora A contributes to radio-resistance in various solid neoplasm including GBM. Importantly, Aurora A inhibitors are currently in phase I/II clinical trials for solid cancer. Notably, Aurora A inhibitor MLN8237 that crosses the blood brain barrier specifically inhibits Aurora A at concentrations ≤ maximally tolerated dose in animal models and in phase I clinical trials. We found that Aurora A protein level is upregulated by ionizing radiation in GBM cells. This was, in part, mediated by radiation-induced inhibition of 26S-proteosomal degradation of Aurora A. Aurora A was silenced using both lentiviral mediated shRNA expression and a specific Aurora A inhibitor in three different established cell lines, and were treated with 6 gy radiation. We found that pharmacological inhibition and RNAi-mediated knockdown of Aurora A sensitized the GBM cells to radiation therapy resulting in reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Interestingly, we observed that RNAi-mediated down-regulation of Aurora A was associated with a decrease in X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) expression in GBM cells. We also found that Aurora A and XIAP were co-localized in GBM cells. Taken, together our results reveal a mechanism by which Aurora A confers radio-resistance in GBM cells and further rationalize the use of Aurora A inhibitors as radio-sensitizer in solid neoplasms including GBM. Funding sources: This work was supported by R01CA108633 (To AC), 1RC2CA148190 (To AC) U10CA180850-01 (To AC), 1R01CA169368 (To AC) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Brain Tumor Funders Collaborative Grant (To AC), Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Award (To AC) Citation Format: Brinda Ramasubramanian, Kamalakannan Palanichamy, Disha Patel, Saikh Jaharul Haque, Arnab Chakravarti. Role and regulation of Aurora A in radiation resistance mechanisms in glioblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 522.
Safety of Intravenous Valproate

A multicenter. open-label study of the safety of intravenous sodium valproate in 318 hospitalized patients with epilepsy is reported from the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases; MINCEP Epilepsy Care and Minnesota Epilepsy Group, MN; University of Texas, Houston; Medical College of Virginia, Richmond; Bowman-Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; and University of Miami, FL.