cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reversible trifluoroacetic acid-induced conformational changes in glycophorin as detected by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

High-field (270 MHz) 1H-NMR has been employed to study the solution conformation of glycophorin A, a sialoglycoprotein which spans the human erythrocyte membrane. Glycophorin A is one of the most fully characterized integral membrane proteins known, making it an excellent model for the study of membrane-bound proteins. This protein consists of three distinct domains: a glycosylated extracellular N-terminus, a hydrophobic intramembranous segment, and a polar cytoplasmic C-terminus. These domains contain aromatic residues which serve as convenient 1H-NMR conformational probes. The aromatic region of the NMR spectrum of glycophorin A in 2H2O shows single, well-resolved His and Tyr resonances. No resonances are observed, however, for the Phe residues which are located in or near the hydrophobic domain. These observations suggest that considerable heterogeneity with respect to segmental motions exists within the protein. This is consistent with circular dichroism data showing the intramembranous segment to be completely helical with the extremities of the protein being predominantly random coils. The helix of the hydrophrobic domain is remarkably resistant to conventional denaturing conditions including variations in pH, and temperature, and treatment with guanidine hydrochloride. However, in trifluoroacetic acid, which strongly solvates peptide backbones, there is extensive reversible unfolding of the helical structure as evidenced by the appearance of Phe resonances. Solvent titration experiments indicate that approximately a 1 : 1 volume ratio of trifluoroacetic acid to 2H2O is required to initiate unfolding of the helix.
In situ measurements of brain tissue hemoglobin saturation and blood volume by reflectance spectrophotometry in the visible spectrum

Before the development of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for monitoring of hemoglobin and cytochromes in situ, the Jobsis laboratory designed a visible light reflectance spectrophotometer. The method was not as useful for cytochrome oxidase measurements, which stimulated the search for a better method that culminated in NIRS. Visible light reflectance spectrophotomery was, however, usefully applied in several experimental applications, such as the study of brain capillary hemoglobin saturation during changes in inspired gas mixtures in awake and anesthetized animals, and to record transient increases in total hemoglobin (blood volume) after local neuronal activation by direct cortical electrical stimulation, demonstrating a response that is fundamental to functional magnetic resonance imaging blood oxygen level-dependent methods. A third application of the instrumentation was for brain capillary red cell mean transit time analysis, estimated by recording the passage of a red cell-free bolus through the cerebral cortical optical monitoring field. Taken together with his previous application of fluorescence detection of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, the visible and near-infrared spectroscopy demonstrate that Frans Jobsis was a pioneer in the application of optical techniques to the study of intact organs in situ. These methods have been used to illuminate the basic function of the cerebrovascular and metabolic pathways in both physiological and pathological conditions.
Thermal oxidative degradation of poly(4-methyl-1-pentene). I. Identification of products and mechanisms

Isotactic and atactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) powders were degraded in the presence of pure oxygen at temperatures of 145° and 175°C. The functional groups present in the nonvolatile products were identified using infrared spectroscopy. The volatile products that formed were identified by means of a relativly new technique which combines gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. In this study, seventeen volatile products were detected and identified and their relative abundance estimated. The results obtained could readily be reproduced. Various oxidation mechanisms for these products are postulated.
Gene pathways and subnetworks distinguish between major glioma subtypes and elucidate potential underlying biology

Molecular diagnostic tools are increasingly being used in an attempt to classify primary human brain tumors more accurately. While methods that are based on the analysis of individual gene expression prove to be useful for diagnostic purposes, they are devoid of biological significance since tumorgenesis is a concerted deregulation of multiple pathways rather than single genes. In a proof of concept, we utilize two large clinical data sets and show that the elucidation of enriched pathways and small differentially expressed sub-networks of protein interactions allow a reliable classification of glioblastomas and oligodendrogliomas. Applying a feature selection method, we observe that an optimized subset of pathways and subnetworks significantly improves the prediction accuracy. By determining the enrichment of altered genes in pathways and subnetworks we show that optimized subsets of genes rarely seem to be a target of genomic alteration. Our results suggest that groups of genes play a decisive role for the phenotype of the underlying tumor samples that can be utilized to reliably distinguish tumor types. In the absence of enrichment of genes that are genomically altered we assume that genetic changes largely exert an indirect rather than direct regulatory influence on a number of tumor-defining regulatory networks.
Fine structure in isobaric analogue resonances

Abstract Isobaric analogue resonances in nuclei near mass-90 exhibit observed total widths of approximately 50 keV. This paper is concerned with the observation of fine structure of the order of 3 keV near the isobaric analogue resonances. These measurements consist of excitation functions over the 5.3 and 5.9 MeV s-wave resonances in proton elastic scattering on 92Mo and 90Zr, respectively. In both cases the neutron exit channel is closed and other competing reactions are relatively unimportant. It is found that the magnitude of the fine structure becomes about 25 % of the average cross section on resonance and fades away off resonance. The variation of the magnitude of the fine structure is asymmetric with respect to the resonance energy. The cross section averaged over the fine structure has been analysed using an opticalmodel-plus-single-level formula. It is found that both resonances exhibit a large spreading width, which is a measure of the absorption of protons out of the isobaric analogue state into the more complicated states which are essentially degenerate with the analogue state. The asymmetry of the fluctuations away from the average is explained in terms of the Robson “external” mixing formulation.
Capillary electrophoretic separation of recombinant granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor glycoforms

Abstract Free zone capillary electrophoresis separated recombinant human granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells, into two well-resolved species. Following incubation with neuraminidase, these species comigrated, eluting earlier than either of the original two species. This indicated that the observed heterogeneity was caused by different amounts of sialic acid present on the carbohydrate portion of the protein. It was determined that optimum separation occurred in the buffer pH range 7–9. Evidence is also presented to show that these glycoforms migrate in order of increasing numbers of sialic acids present.
Museum materials in a digital library context and beyond

This poster will present an overview of metadata mappings needed to support access, collaboration, preservation and aggregation of museum content within and beyond a digital library context.
‘Particle stress’ in disperse two-phase potential flow

The problem of determining the particle-phase stress in potential flow has been examined recently using two different procedures by Sangani & Didwania (1993 a and by Bulthuis (Appendix C of Zhang & Prosperetti 1994). The present study corrects errors in the expression given by Sangani & Didwania, recasts the expression given by Bulthuis in a form suitable for computation, and shows the equivalence of the results obtained by the two methods.
Expression of hepatitis B surface and core antigens and transforming growth factor-a in “oval cells” of the liver in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Recent studies have identified epithelial cell populations in human livers that are similar to the "oval cells" and "transitional cells" seen in rat livers during the early stages of chemical carcinogenesis. It has been suggested that these cells might be precursors of hepatocytes and theoretically could be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) also is believed to play a role in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, a study was conducted in nontumorous livers adjacent to HCCs obtained from 26 patients from China to determine whether HBV antigens could be identified in oval cells and transitional cells using an immunohistochemical technique. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in the nontumorous livers of 22/26 (85%) patients. HBsAg was detected in oval cells in 18/26 (69%), in transitional cells in 21/26 (81%), and in mature hepatocytes in 22/26 (85%), but not in bile duct or ductule cells. Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) was expressed in oval cells, transitional cells, and bile duct cells in 24/26 (92%) patients, an in mature hepatocytes in 25/26 (96%). Coexpression of HBsAg and TGF-alpha was identified in the same cells in populations of oval cells and transitional cells of selected patients. Because of the possibility that oval cells could be a source of evolving HCC, these findings suggest that expression of TGF-alpha associated with HBV infection of oval cells could be a mechanism of human hepatocarcinogenesis. Thus, oval cells could be a site (or one of the sites) where HBV participates in the development of HCC.
Closure and Context

Evaluaton de la these de la cloture de la justification de l'implication developpee par H. Vahid dans son article intitule «Deductive closure, scepticism and confirmation» (in «Ratio», VIII, 1995, pp. 70-86). Examinant la dependance contextuelle du concept de justification epistemique, ainsi que la restriction du principe de cloture a un intra-contexte determine, l'A. critique la position de Vahid fondee sur la distinction entre l'evidence et la connaissance retrospective des consequences de l'implication
Approximating minimum-cost polygonal paths of bounded number of links in weighted subdivisions

This video illustrates the k-LinkSolver software for computing k-link shortest paths in weighted regions. The k-LinkSolver implements methods to find paths of length at most (1+e) times the length of a shortest k-link path, for any fixed e>0, and having at most 2k−1 links. The methods implemented are an improvement over the previously known (1+e)-approximation algorithms, which guarantee at most 5k−2 links.
Empirical evidence on the union free-rider problem: Do right-to-work laws matter?

This study provides detailed statistics by state, industry, occupation, and worker characteristics on private sector wage and salary workers covered by union collective bargaining agreements but who are not union members. A distinction is made between those workers who value the benefits of coverage more than the cost of membership, the true free riders, and those who do not, the induced riders. A probit union membership equation is estimated on a sample which excludes the covered nonmembers. Predicted probabilities are then calculated from the estimated model, yielding a quantifiable measure of the true free-rider problem.
A test of the niche dimension hypothesis in an arid annual grassland.

The niche dimension hypothesis predicts that greater numbers of limiting factors can allow greater numbers of species to coexist through species’ tradeoffs for different limiting factors. A prediction that follows is that addition of multiple limiting resources to plant communities will increase productivity and simultaneously decrease diversity. Species loss due to limiting resource enrichment might occur through reducing the number of resources that species compete for or by changing the identity of limiting factors. We tested these predictions of the niche dimension hypothesis in an arid annual grassland by adding combinations of nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium with other elements (O). We found that species number decreased while biomass increased with greater numbers of added resources. In particular, N in combinations with P or O resulted in the greatest species loss, while biomass increased super-additively with N and P together. The addition of greater numbers of added nutrients decreased the availability of light and soil moisture, consistent with a potential shift in the identity of limiting resources. Species also differed in their responses to different combinations of N, P, and O, supporting predictions of resource–ratio tradeoffs. These results are particularly notable because this experiment was conducted during a drought year in an arid grassland (226 mm annual rainfall), which might have been expected to be water-rather than nutrient-limited. Our results support the hypothesis that plant diversity may be maintained by high-dimensional tradeoffs among species in their abilities to compete for multiple limiting factors.
Canonical transient receptor potential channels expression is elevated in a porcine model of metabolic syndrome.

Plasma epinephrine and heart rate are elevated in metabolic syndrome, suggesting enhanced catecholamine secretion from the adrenal medulla. Canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels are implicated in mediating hormone-induced Ca2+ influx and catecholamine secretion in adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. We studied the pattern of TRPC expression in the pig adrenal medulla and investigated whether adrenal TRPC expression is altered in prediabetic metabolic syndrome Ossabaw miniature pigs. We used a combination of molecular biological, biochemical, and fluorescence imaging techniques. We determined the sequence of pig TRPC1 and TRPC3-7 channels. We found that the pig adrenal medulla expressed predominantly TRPC1, TRPC5, and TRPC6 transcripts. The expression level of these TRPCs was significantly elevated in the adrenal medulla from pigs with metabolic syndrome. Interestingly, aldosterone, which is endogenously secreted in the adjacent adrenal cortex, increased TRPC1, TRPC5, and TRPC6 expression in...
Mechanical measurement of infant activity: a cautionary note.

Activity level in childhood has long been of interest to researchers in psychology, personality, and pediatrics. With the current epidemic in child obesity, even greater attention is being paid to physical activity and its role in preventing excess weight gain. Activity can be rated by observers as well as recorded more objectively by mechanical devices, however, some research suggests that estimates from these two sources do not always correlate. Via a demonstration with a human infant and a doll, the present report suggests that for younger infants at least, much of their measured activity may be confounded by their caregivers’ movements.
Alcohol and occupational injuries among older workers.

Although there is an extensive literature linking alcohol use to a wide variety of injuries, relatively little research has focused on the association between alcohol and occupational injuries. Recently, some work has been done on risk factors for occupational injuries among workers aged 51 to 61 years. This paper examines the relationship between alcohol use and occupational injury more closely, attempting to validate an earlier model in a nationally representative sample of older workers. In particular, the authors assess the association between responses to an alcoholism screening questionnaire, a self-report of average daily alcohol consumption, and the occurrence of an occupational injury within the last year.
Identification of glacial refugia in south-eastern North America by phylogeographical analyses of a forest understorey plant, Trillium cuneatum

ABSTRACTAim We examine several hypotheses emerging from biogeographical and fossilrecords regarding glacial refugia of a southern thermophilic plant species.Speciﬁcally, we investigated the glacial history and post-glacial colonization of aforest understorey species, Trillium cuneatum. We focused on the followingquestions: (1) Did T. cuneatum survive the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) inmultiple refugia, and (if so) where were they located, and is the modern geneticstructure congruent with the fossil record-based reconstruction of refugia formesic deciduous forests? (2) What are the post-glacial colonization patterns in thepresent geographical range?Location South-eastern North America.Methods We sampled 45 populations of T. cuneatum throughout its currentrange. We conducted phylogeographical analyses based on maternally inheritedchloroplast DNA (cpDNA haplotypes) and used TCS software to reconstructintraspeciﬁc phylogeny.Results We detected six cpDNA haplotypes, geographically highly structuredinto non-overlapping areas. With one exception, none of the populations hadmixed haplotype composition. TCS analysis resulted in two intraspeciﬁc cpDNAlineages, with one clade subdivided further by shallower diversiﬁcation.Main conclusions Our investigation revealed that T. cuneatum survived theLGM in multiple refugia, belonging to two (western, eastern) genealogicallineages geographically structured across south-eastern North America. Thewestern clade is conﬁned to the south-western corner of T. cuneatum’s modernrange along the Lower Mississippi Valley, where fossil records document a majorrefugium of mesic deciduous forest. For the eastern clade, modern patterns ofcpDNA haplotype distribution suggest cryptic vicariance, in the form of forestcontractions and subsequent expansions associated with Pleistocene glacial cycles,rather than simple southern survival and subsequent northward colonization. Thenorth–south partitioning of cpDNA haplotypes was unexpected, suggesting thatpopulations of this rather southern thermophilic species may have survived inmore northern locations than initially expected based on LGM climatereconstruction, and that the Appalachian Mountains functioned as a barrier tothe dispersal of propagules originating in more southern refugia. Furthermore,our results reveal south-west to north-east directionality in historical migrationthrough the Valley and Ridge region of north-west Georgia.KeywordsChloroplast DNA, conservation, biogeography, post-glacial colonization, geneticstructure, glacial refugia, phylogeography, Trillium.
Semantically Enhanced Containers for Concurrent Real-Time Systems

Future space missions, such as Mars Science Laboratory, are built upon computing platforms providing a high degree of autonomy and diverse functionality. The increased sophistication of robotic spacecraft has skyrocketed the complexity and cost of its software development and validation. The engineering of autonomous spacecraft software relies on the availability and application of advanced methods and tools that deliver safe concurrent synchronization as well as enable the validation of domain-specific semantic invariants. The software design and certification methodologies applied at NASA do not reach the level of detail of providing guidelines for the development of reliable concurrent software. To achieve effective and safe concurrent interactions as well as guarantee critical domain-specific properties in code, we introduce the notion of a Semantically Enhanced Container (SEC). A SEC is a data structure engineered to deliver the flexibility and usability of the popular ISO C++ Standard Template Library containers, while at the same time it is hand-crafted to guarantee domain-specific policies. We demonstrate the SEC proof-of-concept by presenting a shared nonblocking SEC vector. To eliminate the hazards of the ABA problem (a fundamental problem in lock-free programming), we introduce an innovative library for querying C++ semantic information. Our SEC design aims at providing an effective model for shared data access within the JPL's Mission Data System. Our test results show that the SEC vector delivers significant performance gains (a factor of 3 or more) in contrast to the application of nonblocking synchronization amended with the traditional ABA avoidance scheme.
Stereociliary Dysfunction, a Cause of Sensory Hearing Loss, Recruitment, Poor Speech Discrimination and Tinnitus

The following hypothesis is presented: a dysfunction of the hair cell cilia, either in the form of ciliary pathology or as a temporary loss of ciliary stiffness, both of which are documented, ought to lead to a partial decoupling of the involved hair cells from the tectorial membrane. Consequently, 1) energy transmission should be attenuated (= hearing loss), 2) the noise level at the hair cell input should be increased (= tinnitus) and, owing to the concomitant center-clipping of the signal waveform, 3) the input/output function should become steeper (= recruitment) and 4) the formant structure of speech should be largely destroyed (= relatively poor speech discrimination). the above signs and symptoms are characteristic of a number of acute cochlear disorders and would thus find a common explanation.
Subchronic Phencyclidine Administration Increases Mesolimbic Dopaminergic System Responsivity and Augments Stress- and Psychostimulant-Induced Hyperlocomotion

Previous studies have shown that repeated exposures to phencyclidine (PCP) induces prefrontal cortical dopaminergic and cognitive deficits in rats and monkeys, producing a possible model of schizophrenic frontal cortical dysfunction. In the current study, the effects of subchronic PCP exposure on forebrain dopaminergic function and behavior were further explored. Prefrontal cortical dopamine utilization was reduced 3 weeks after subchronic PCP administration, and the cortical dopaminergic deficit was mimicked by repeated dizocilpine exposure. In contrast, stress- and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion, behavior believed to be mediated by activation of mesolimbic dopamine transmission, was enhanced after PCP exposures. Furthermore, haloperidol-induced increases in nucleus accumbens dopamine utilization were larger in magnitude in PCP-treated rats relative to control subjects. These data are the first to demonstrate that repeated exposures to PCP causes prefrontal cortical dopaminergic hypoactivity and subcortical dopaminergic hyper-responsivity in rats, perhaps mimicking alterations in dopaminergic transmission that underlie the behavioral pathology of schizophrenia.
Effect of reducing interns' work hours on serious medical errors in intensive care units.

background Although sleep deprivation has been shown to impair neurobehavioral performance, few studies have measured its effects on medical errors. methods We conducted a prospective, randomized study comparing the rates of serious medical errors made by interns while they were working according to a traditional schedule with extended (24 hours or more) work shifts every other shift (an “every third night” call schedule) and while they were working according to an intervention schedule that eliminated extended work shifts and reduced the number of hours worked per week. Incidents were identified by means of a multidisciplinary, four-pronged approach that included direct, continuous observation. Two physicians who were unaware of the interns’ schedule assignments independently rated each incident. results During a total of 2203 patient-days involving 634 admissions, interns made 35.9 percent more serious medical errors during the traditional schedule than during the intervention schedule (136.0 vs. 100.1 per 1000 patient-days, P<0.001), including 56.6 percent more nonintercepted serious errors (P<0.001). The total rate of serious errors on the critical care units was 22.0 percent higher during the traditional schedule than during the intervention schedule (193.2 vs. 158.4 per 1000 patient-days, P<0.001). Interns made 20.8 percent more serious medication errors during the traditional schedule than during the intervention schedule (99.7 vs. 82.5 per 1000 patient-days, P = 0.03). Interns also made 5.6 times as many serious diagnostic errors during the traditional schedule as during the intervention schedule (18.6 vs. 3.3 per 1000 patientdays, P<0.001). conclusions Interns made substantially more serious medical errors when they worked frequent shifts of 24 hours or more than when they worked shorter shifts. Eliminating extended work shifts and reducing the number of hours interns work per week can reduce serious medical errors in the intensive care unit.
Maternal serum reactivity to species-specific antigens in sheep-goat interspecific pregnancy

Three models were used to test the hypothesis that interspecific pregnancy failure between the sheep and goat is due to a species-specific, maternal antibody response. Interspecific pregnancies were established in ewes and does, sheep in equilibrium goat chimeric conceptuses produced by injection of ovine blastocysts were transferred to ovine recipients, and ovine and caprine pregnancies were established in interspecific chimeras. Complement-mediated lymphocytotoxic and hemolytic assays were used to monitor onset and titer of antibodies. Sera from 3 of 8 injection-chimera recipients reacted with all caprine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and red blood cells (RBC) tested (n = 18). Sera from 3 of 6 ewes and 7 of 7 does also were pancytotoxic to PBL of the other species (n greater than or equal to 20). Absorptions with xenogeneic RBC generally removed the reactivity. The data were consistent with responses to species-specific, monomorphic antigens expressed on PBL and RBC, and probably trophoblast. The response preceded or coincided with interspecific pregnancy failure in does, but not in ewes. Accordingly, no xenoreactivity was observed in chimera sera but caprine pregnancies were resorbed (n = 16) and ovine pregnancies developed to term (n = 11). The data did not support the hypothesis that failure of caprine pregnancy in ewes or chimeras is due to a species-specific, maternal antibody response. In contrast, a maternal, cytotoxic antibody response to species-specific antigen(s) may contribute to failure of hybrid or ovine pregnancy in does.
"Yo! This is no lie, if you smoke, you die": a content analysis of anti-smoking posters created by adolescents.

Introduction: Exposure to anti-smoking messages is strongly associated with lower smoking initiation by adolescents. However, few anti-smoking efforts have involved message generation by adolescents themselves. This article presents a content analysis of anti-smoking posters created by middle school students in two northeastern schools in the United States. Understanding how smoking prevention messages should be framed from the perspective of young teens will provide us with formative information about what kinds of smoking prevention messages teens believe are effective. Methods: 50 anti-smoking posters created by adolescents (11–14 years) were content analysed, with a focus around three broad areas: effects of smoking portrayed in posters, specific ways of message depiction in posters and use of slogans. Result: Results of content analysis reveal that appearance-related factors (44%) were most commonly used to convey harmful health effects of smoking, followed by messages about death and dying (30%), before–after effects of smoking (22%), other sickness-related effects of smoking (20%) and cancer (12%). Supplemental thematic analysis revealed that in a majority of posters pictures were exaggerated and were dominant part of the posters. Discussion: These results provide information about anti-smoking messages/themes perceived as efficacious by young adolescents and have implications for developing anti-smoking messages for adolescents.
Splenic para-amyloid material: a possible vasculopathy of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

We have observed perivascular para-amyloid in the spleens of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients at autopsy. Whether this phenomenon is unique to AIDS patients or is a common degenerative phenomenon in the spleen has not been determined. Autopsy spleens from 355 patients (171 AIDS, 184 non-AIDS) were graded for presence of splenic para-amyloid material (SPAM) on a scale of 0 to 3. The average ages of the AIDS and non-AIDS groups were 38.4 and 60.4 years, respectively. All SPAM-positive AIDS cases had age-matched non-AIDS controls. Selected positive cases were examined ultrastructurally. Of the 171 AIDS patients, 55 had SPAM; in 30 cases, it was considered grade 2 or 3. Although none of the non-AIDS cases were graded 2 or 3, eight of them were grade 1. SPAM is highly correlated with AIDS (32.1 v 4.3%; P < .0001), with a specificity of 95.6% and a positive predictive value of 87.3%. These perivascular deposits correspond to areas of periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths and appear to be in continuity with arteriolar adventitia. Ultrastructurally, they contain collagen, long-spaced collagen, fibrillin, and occasional residual cells. No viral particles were noted. SPAM appears to be more prevalent and in greater quantity in AIDS patients. It does not correlate with advanced age; it can be mistaken for amyloid. Its consistent association with the adventitia of vessels raises the possibility of a new vasculopathy of AIDS; it also may be related to follicular involution and hyalinization associated with regression of prior follicular hyperplasia.
The relationship between uncertainty, the contract zone, and efficiency in a bargaining experiment

Research on bargaining suggests that the efficiency of bargaining is related to the size of the surplus to be divided and to uncertainty about the opponent. We conducted a bargaining experiment which manipulated both of these factors. We find that the presence of uncertainty decreases bargaining efficiency, while the effect of contract zone size depends on whether there is uncertainty or certainty.
Epidermal growth factor activates Na+/H+ exchanger in podocytes through a mechanism that involves Janus kinase and calmodulin

Abstract Sodium-proton exchanger type 1 (NHE-1) is ubiquitously expressed, is activated by numerous growth factors, and plays significant roles in regulating intracellular pH and cellular volume, proliferation and cytoskeleton. Despite its importance, little is known about its regulation in renal glomerular podocytes. In the current work, we studied the regulation of NHE-1 activity by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in cultured podocytes. RT-PCR demonstrated mRNAs for NHE-1 and NHE-2 in differentiated podocytes, as well as for EGFR subunits EGFR/ErbB1, Erb3, and ErbB4. EGF induced concentration-dependent increases in proton efflux in renal podocytes as assessed using a Cytosensor microphysiometer, were diminished in the presence of 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl) amiloride or in a sodium-free solution. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibitors of Janus kinase (Jak2) and calmodulin (CaM) attenuated EGF-induced NHE-1 activity. Co-immunoprecipitation studies determined that EGF induced formation of complexes between Jak2 and CaM, as well as between CaM and NHE-1. In addition, EGF increased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of Jak2 and CaM. The EGFR kinase inhibitor, AG1478, blocked activation of NHE-1, but did not block EGF-induced phosphorylation of Jak2 or CaM. These results suggest that EGF induces NHE-1 activity in podocytes through two pathways: (1) EGF → EGFR → Jak2 activation (independent of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity) → tyrosine phosphorylation of CaM → CaM binding to NHE-1 → conformational change of NHE-1 → activation of NHE-1; and (2) EGF → EGFR → EGFR kinase activation → association of CaM with NHE-1 (independent of Jak2) → conformational change of NHE-1 → activation of NHE-1.
Erythromycin inhibits rabbit pyloric smooth muscle through neuronal motilin receptors

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Erythromycin's effect in accelerating gastric emptying is attributed primarily to increased antral contractility. The aim of this study was to characterize erythromycin's effect on pyloric muscle. METHODS: Rabbit pyloric muscle strips were studied in vitro. RESULTS: Pyloric muscle strips developed spontaneous phasic contractions with a frequency of 1.9 +/- 0.1 contractions per minute. Erythromycin and motilin had dose-dependent inhibitory effects on pyloric muscle. At the maximal effective dose (50 mumol/L), erythromycin caused cessation of spontaneous contractions for 1.8 +/- 0.2 minutes, decreasing the initial 2-minute motility index to 35% +/- 9% (P
Body Ideals in the Media: Perceived Attainability and Social Comparison Choices

Social comparison research suggests that people seek upward comparisons if the achievement seems attainable, but avoid them if it appears unattainable. This experiment (N = 169) manipulated attainability by presenting body-improvement articles about dieting/exercising (experimental group) or body-unrelated articles (control group). Social comparison choices were recorded through selective advertisement exposure, as participants browsed a computerized magazine with both “ideal body” ads and “regular person” ads. Body satisfaction was measured before and after exposure. Body-dissatisfied readers in the control group circumvented ideal body ads compared to satisfied readers. Body-dissatisfied participants in the experimental group viewed ideal body images longer than in the control group. No impact of ideal body imagery exposure on body satisfaction was found.
Energetic Insight into the Formation of Solids from Aluminum Polyoxocations.

The e-Keggin [AlO4Al12(OH)24(H2O)12](7+) ion (AlAl12(7+)) is a metastable precursor in the formation of aluminum oxyhydroxide solids. It also serves as a useful model for the chemistry of aluminous mineral surfaces. Herein we calculate the enthalpies of formation for this aqueous ion and its heterometal-substituted forms, GaAl12(7+) and GeAl12(8+), using solution calorimetry. Rather than measuring the enthalpies of the MAl12(7/8+) ions directly from solution hydrolysis, we measured the metathesis reaction of the crystallized forms with barium chloride creating an aqueous aluminum solution monospecific in MAl12(7/8+). Then, the contributions to the heat of formation from the crystallized forms were subtracted using referenced states. When comparing the aqueous AlAl12(7+) ion to solid aluminum (oxy)-hydroxide phases, we found that this ion lies closer in energy to solid phases than to aqueous aluminum monomers, thus explaining its role as a precursor to amorphous aluminum hydroxide phases.
The Efficacy of Group Psychotherapy for Depression: A Meta-analysis and Review of the Empirical Research

We conducted a meta-analysis of 48 research reports on the efficacy of group therapy for depression. In 15 studies in which treated participants were compared to untreated controls, the average effect size was 1.03, suggesting that the average treated participant was better off than about 85% of the untreated participants. Analyses of clinically significant change suggested that treated participants improved substantially. However, even after treatment, participants still had pronounced depressive symptomatology relative to normative levels of depressive symptoms seen in non-depressed individuals. We conclude that group therapy is an efficacious treatment for depressed patients. However, numerous questions remain unanswered. For example, little empirical work has investigated what advantages group therapy might have over individual therapy. We conclude by making recommendations for future research in this area.
Impact of Prophylactic Levofloxacin on Rates of Bloodstream Infection and Fever in Neutropenic Patients with Multiple Myeloma Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Few studies have evaluated the role of antibacterial prophylaxis during neutropenia in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). At our center, levofloxacin prophylaxis was initiated in June 2006 in patients with myeloma who were undergoing autologous HSCT. We compared the incidence of bloodstream infection (BSI) and fever and neutropenia (FN) within 30 days of transplantation before (January 2003 to May 2006) and after (June 2006 to April 2010) the initiation of levofloxacin prophylaxis in patients undergoing autologous HSCT for myeloma. We also compared rates of BSI and FN during the same time periods in autologous HSCT recipients with lymphoma who did not receive antibacterial prophylaxis during either time period. After the initiation of levofloxacin prophylaxis, the BSI rate decreased from 41.2% (49 of 119) to 14.7% (23 of 156) and the rate of FN decreased from 91.6% to 60.9% in patients with myeloma (P < .001, for each). In contrast, rates of BSI (43.1% versus 47.3%; P = .50) and FN (98.8% versus 97.1%; P = .63) did not change in patients with lymphoma. Levofloxacin prophylaxis was independently associated with decreased odds of BSI (odds ratio, .27; 95% confidence interval, .14 to .51; P < .001) and FN (odds ratio, .18; 95% confidence interval, .09 to .36; P < .001) in multivariate analysis. Patients with myeloma had a nonsignificant increase in the risk of BSI due to levofloxacin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (5% versus 1%, P = .08) and Clostridium difficile infection (7% versus 3%, P = .12) after the initiation of levofloxacin prophylaxis but did not have higher rates of BSI due to other resistant bacteria. Levofloxacin prophylaxis is associated with decreased risk of BSI and FN in patients with myeloma undergoing autologous HSCT.
Time for dyadic treatments for low-level partner aggression.

The partner violence field has become stagnant with the common use of "power and control" interventions for men in relationships characterized by intimate partner aggression (IPV), though such interventions have received only marginal support. Thus, it is time to admit that "one size does not fit all" in the treatment of partner abuse and that there are alternatives. Interventions for low-level physical aggression and psychological aggression against partners can be successfully implemented in diverse settings with relationship dyads as well explicated in this treatment evaluation with veterans and their partners (see Hayes et al, this issue). Language: en
DO FIRING COSTS AFFECT THE INCIDENCE OF FIRM BANKRUPTCY

An overlooked topic is the treatment of worker claims when firms are shutting down. In fact, when firms close, worker claims such as severance pay often go unfulfilled. To evaluate the quantitative importance of this observation, this paper develops a general equilibrium model with close attention to the exit margin, and examines how macroeconomic outcomes vary with the treatment of firing costs on exit. In the model, the impact of firing costs on employment weakens by a third when closing plants do not have to pay them, even though closure accounts for considerably less than one-third of total job destruction. Thus, the distribution of firm characteristics is a new channel for labor market rigidities to affect aggregates. The model also accounts for cross-country differences in the relationship between the structure of job flows and firm turnover.
Rupture of rudimentary horn pregnancy

A rare case of rupture of an noncommunucating rudimentary horn pregnancy is reported. The pregnancy proceeded to 25 gestational weeks, when the rudimentary horn ruptured. The patient had signs and symptoms of massive hemoperitoneurn. An emergency exploratory laparotomy revealed rupture of the gravid rudimentary horn and the fetus was lying free in the peritoneal cavity, was delivered breech and died 2 hours later. This reproductive complication was treated successfully by prompt exploratory laparotomy. Some of the factors associated with pregnancy in a rudimentary horn are discussed.
Sleep Control for Tracking in Sensor Networks

We study the problem of tracking an object moving through a network of wireless sensors. In order to conserve energy, the sensors may be put into a sleep mode with a timer that determines their sleep duration. It is assumed that an asleep sensor cannot be communicated with or woken up, and hence the sleep duration needs to be determined at the time the sensor goes to sleep based on all the information available to the sensor. Having sleeping sensors in the network could result in degraded tracking performance, therefore, there is a tradeoff between energy usage and tracking performance. We design sleeping policies that attempt to optimize this tradeoff and characterize their performance. As an extension to our previous work in this area, we consider generalized models for object movement, object sensing, and tracking cost. For discrete state spaces and continuous Gaussian observations, we derive a lower bound on the optimal energy-tracking tradeoff. It is shown that in the low tracking error regime, the generated policies approach the derived lower bound.
Simulated directional radiances of vegetation from satellite platforms

A computer modeling and simulation investigated the effects of off-nadir viewing, canopy geometry and density, solar zenith angle, and atmospheric conditions on the radiance of several vegetated targets. Effects on the normalized difference (ND) index were also investigated, and two wavelengths of 0.68 and 0.80 micron were simulated at nine sensor zenith angles, five sensor azimuths, and nine solar zenith angles. Seven canopies of low, medium, and high densities were observed, and bidirectional reflectance functions of other canopies were discussed. A modified Turner's (1974) atmospheric radiative transfer model was used for 2300 simulation runs. Off-nadir viewing effects were more pronounced in the red than the infrared, and the variability was found to be a function of canopy geometry. The ND index eliminated much of the variability seen in the individual bands, while the overall variability decreased with increasing biomass, and increased with increasing solar zenith angles.
Minimally invasive microendoscopy system for in vivo functional imaging of deep nuclei in the mouse brain

The ability to image neurons anywhere in the mammalian brain is a major goal of optical microscopy. Here we describe a minimally invasive microendoscopy system for studying the morphology and function of neurons at depth. Utilizing a guide cannula with an ultrathin wall, we demonstrated in vivo two-photon fluorescence imaging of deeply buried nuclei such as the striatum (2.5 mm depth), substantia nigra (4.4 mm depth) and lateral hypothalamus (5.0 mm depth) in mouse brain. We reported, for the first time, the observation of neuronal activity with subcellular resolution in the lateral hypothalamus and substantia nigra of head-fixed awake mice.
An Access Authentication Scheme Based on 2-HIBS in Proxy Mobile IPv6 Network

Proxy Mobile IPv6 is a network-based mobility management protocol. The access authentication security plays the primary role in maintaining network security of proxy mobile IPv6. In this paper, we constructed an authentication framework, which is suitable for proxy mobile IPv6 and has eliminated the interaction between the access network and the home network. We implemented a mutual authentication between users and the access network by using hierarchical identity-based signature (HIBS) schemes and combining the identity-based signature and the real network environment based on proxy mobile IPv6. Also, we have enhanced the function of LMA to make it able to optimize the authentication function of proxy mobile IPv6 protocol by reusing historical authentication information. By results from security analysis, this scheme is secure.
Packings of Uniform Disks having Bond Orientational Order

Packings of uniform disks with bond orientational order (BOO) are described. These are distinct from both ordered structures, that have translational correlations as well as BOO, and fully disordered structures that lack both features.
Polarization dependent color-switching in metallic films with high aspect ratio subwavelength apertures

Controlling the symmetry of an array of subwavelength apertures as well as the aperture aspect ratio and relative orientation, surface plasmon polariton transmission peaks can be enhanced relative to the spectra. Two arrays with high aspect ratio apertures were milled on top and normal to each other creating color-switching structures.
Thyroid function in human pregnancy. IV. Serum butanol-extractable iodine drop with weight gain.

Abstract Twenty-four pregnant women had a marked decrease in serum BEI (butanolextractable iodine) following a sudden weight gain or during an acute upper respiratory infection. A single low BEI obtained at such a time or during temporary hospitalization is not per se an indication for thyroid therapy without confirmation of another serum BEI in the absence of weight gain or an acute infection.
Parallel growth of rectus sheath grafts and recipient aorta. Critical role of graft tissue preservation.

Previous experimental studies revealed striking similarities in mechanical properties of host aortic tissue and rectus sheath inserted as an aortic graft, as well as enlargement of some of the grafts. We have now evaluated the capacity of rectus sheath grafts to keep pace with aortic growth and investigated the role of tissue preservation in determining the ability of such grafts to maintain suitable dimensions. Autologous rectus sheath grafts were substituted for thoracic aortic segments in 15 puppies, 8 weeks of age. Nine grafts were inserted with careful attention to tissue preservation (live grafts), but in six experiments, cells were killed and tissues fixed by freezing and thawing in acetone before graft implantation (devitalized grafts). Grafts were fixed in situ by controlled pressure perfusion and examined 1, 2, and 3 months after implantation. Over the 3 month experimental interval, body weight increased from 2.0 ± 1 pounds to 25.0 ± 2.5 pounds, and as is characteristic for the period of maximum growth rate for the animals. Total thoracic aortic length increased 41.2% ± 6.1% and aortic diameter, 30.0% ± 3.1%, during this time. Growth rate of the total thoracic aortic length during the first month was greater for the devitalized graft group, but aortic length was the same for both groups at 3 months. The live grafts increased 42.3% ± 12.0% in length and 27.3% ± 3.0% in diameter, i.e., to the same degree as the aorta, whereas the devitalized grafts showed only slight increases in length and diameter (2.1% ±2% and 5.3% ±5%, respectively). The live rectus sheath grafts were augmented and largely replaced by a newly formed, layered fibrocellular structure, 45.8 ± 25.8 mm3 in volume, whereas in the devitalized grafts more of the original rectus sheath persisted and only a minimal amount of organized connective tissue sheath was formed (volume 18.7 ± 8.9 mm3). In addition, cellularity was much greater in live grafts than in devitalized specimens (990.9 ± 186.8 cells/mm2 and 423.6 ± 124.7 cells/mm2, respectively). All of the grafts were lined by endothelium. These findings indicate that autologous rectus sheath aortic grafts may be used to provide channels which keep pace with aortic dimensions during the period of maximum growth, provided that the graft tissue is viable on implantation. Long-term durability of such grafts may also depend on tissue preservation.