cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secretion of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone from overfeeding dairy heifers

Secretory effects of gonadotropins and various ovarian and uterine measurements were investigated in 22 prepubertal or postpubertal dairy heifers fed a concentrate to forage ration (60:40) in restricted or ad libitum amounts until they gained 125 kg. Average daily gain of heifers on restricted feeding was 613 g compared with 1218 g for heifers fed for ad libitum intake. During three stages of the experiment blood was collected either at 30-min intervals for two 4-h periods (Stage I and III) or at frequent intervals before and after an injection of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (Stage II). At the end of Stage III, all heifers were slaughtered, and ovaries and uteri were collected. Of the variables measured in ovaries and uteri, nutrition affected only number of uterine caruncles (76.5 in ad libitum versus 59.7 in restricted-fed heifers). Excess feeding increased frequency of luteinizing hormone pulses during Stage I but not during Stage II. However, amplitude baseline and overall concentrations of luteinizing hormone were unaffected. Release of luteinizing hormone induced by luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone was reduced in heifers with ad libitum intake. Secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone was not affected by overfeeding.
Novel roles of Akt and mTOR in suppressing TGF-β/ALK5-mediated Smad3 activation

Insulin-like growth factor-I inhibits transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling by blocking activation of Smad3 (S3), via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt-dependent pathway. Here we provide the first report that the kinase activity of Akt is necessary for its ability to suppress many TGF-β responses, including S3 activation and induction of apoptosis. Wild-type and myristoylated Akts (AktWT and AktMyr) suppress TGF-β-induced phospho-activation of S3 but not Smad2 (S2), whereas kinase-dead Akt1 (Akt1K179M) or dominant-negative PI3K enhances TGF-β-induced phospho-activation of both S2 and S3. Using siRNA, rapamycin (Rap), and adenoviral expression for FKBP12-resistant and constitutively active TGF-β type I receptor (ALK5), we demonstrate that mammalian target of Rap (mTOR) mediates Akt1 suppression of phospho-activation of S3. These and further data on Akt1-S3 binding do not support a recently proposed model that Akt blocks S3 activation through physical interaction and sequestration of S3 from TGF-β receptors. We propose a novel model whereby Akt suppresses activation of S3 in an Akt kinase-dependent manner through mTOR, a likely route for loss of tumor suppression by TGF-β in cancers.
Studies on the carbohydrate metabolism of Trypanosoma congolense.

Abstract 1. 1. The rate of oxygen consumption of T. congolense is nearly as high as that of the trypanosomes of the evansi-brucei groups, but its rate of glucose consumption is lower. 2. 2. The R.Q. is high. 3. 3. The main metabolic end products, accounting nearly quantitatively for the degraded glucose, are acetic acid, pyruvic acid, and carbon dioxide. Succinic acid was produced at most in traces, no lactic, citric, malic, formic, propionic or higher volatile acids were excreted, nor was ethyl alcohol formed.
Surgical rotations: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Background Every surgeon’s career begins with a surgical residency. Each residency has dreaded rotations as well as those that seem ideal, but to date, no objective criteria exist to define such rotations. The aim of this study is to establish objective criteria that, when applied to a specific rotation, will define it as a “dream” or a “dreaded” rotation and, in the process, elucidate the good, the bad, and the ugly of surgical rotations in general. Methods All 39 residents from a multi-institutional residency program were asked to collaboratively identify the criteria they felt necessary for a dream rotation. Each resident evaluated 16 rotations at 4 hospitals using the identified criteria on a scale of “Inadequate,” “Optimal,” and “Ideal/Dream Rotation.” Residents then gave an overall evaluation of each rotation as a dream rotation on a scale of “No,” “For the Most Part,” or “Yes.” Finally, each resident was asked whether the individual rotations were following ACGME recommendations on duty hours. Results The best correlations with a dream rotation were: clinical experience - quality and quantity of cases (r = 0.83), operative experience (r = 0.83), patient management responsibilities (r = 0.78), and outpatient office experience (r = 0.77). All p-values were
Spectroscopic and Bulk Susceptibility Evidence for Independent Antiferromagnetic Ordering Transitions in the Rock Salt Like Structured Hetero-Bimetallic Complexes [Cr (NH3)6 [FeCl6 and [Ru(NH3), [(FeCl6): Consequences of Highly Different Magnetic Symmetries

Abstract Entirely separate 3D-A.F. magnetic ordering processes are observed for the ionic components of the rock salt like materials [Cr (NH3)6 [FeCl6 and [RU (NH3)6 [FeCl6 through high resolution a.c. susceptibility and Mossbauer spectroscopy measurements.
Relative importance of pollen and seed dispersal across a Neotropical mountain landscape for an epiphytic orchid.

Populations of many species are isolated within narrow elevation bands of Neotropical mountain habitat, and how well dispersal maintains genetic connectivity is unknown. We asked whether genetic structure of an epiphytic orchid, Epidendrum firmum, corresponds to gaps between Costa Rican mountain ranges, and how these gaps influence pollen and seed flow. We predicted that significant genetic structure exists among mountain ranges due to different colonization histories and limited gene flow. Furthermore, we predicted that pollen movement contributes more to gene flow than seeds because seeds are released into strong winds perpendicular to the narrow northwest-southeast species distribution, while the likely pollinators are strong fliers. Individuals from 12 populations and three mountain ranges were genotyped with nuclear microsatellites (nDNA) and chloroplast sequences (cpDNA). Genetic diversity was high for both markers, while nDNA genetic structure was low (FSTn = 0.020) and cpDNA structure was moderate (FSTc = 0.443). Significant cpDNA barriers occurred within and among mountain ranges, but nDNA barriers were not significant after accounting for geographic distance. Consistent with these contrasting patterns of genetic structure, pollen contributes substantially more to gene flow among populations than seed (mp /ms = 46). Pollinators mediated extensive gene flow, eroding nDNA colonization footprints, while seed flow was comparatively limited, possibly due to directional prevailing winds across linearly distributed populations. Dispersal traits alone may not accurately inform predictions about gene flow or genetic structure, supporting the need for research into the potentially crucial role of pollinators and landscape context in gene flow among isolated populations.
Possibility of Mass Separation Utilizing Multiple Nuclear Scattering at High Energy

It is found that the dispersion of a beam of high-energy particles in passing through a medium is dominated by multiple nuclear scattering and is mass-dependent. This leads to the possibility of mass separation of a momentum-analyzed beam of charged particles. The feasibility of such a separation is discussed.
A stranger in a strange land: Micro political risk and the multinational firm

Abstract When a firm chooses to enter or continue business in a foreign market, it becomes exposed to associated political risks which should be assessed and managed. Help is available for becoming aware of the level of macro political risk; that is, the political risk across industries or all businesses in entire countries or geographic regions. Yet, surprisingly little guidance exists by which to identify and assess firm-specific political risks, termed micro political risk. Herein, we offer some new perspectives on the nature of micro political risk within a host country, illustrating how it stems from economic, societal, and governmental forces. We have compiled a number of firm-specific variables which can affect the firm’s micro political risk profile, and advance an innovative methodology by which executives can address these variables and develop an assessment of their firm’s micro political risk. Examples of micro political risk situations are provided, along with discussion of implementing the proposed methodology.
Evasion of the p53 tumour surveillance network by tumour-derived MYC mutants

The c-Myc oncoprotein promotes proliferation and apoptosis, such that mutations that disable apoptotic programmes often cooperate with MYC during tumorigenesis. Here we report that two common mutant MYC alleles derived from human Burkitt's lymphoma uncouple proliferation from apoptosis and, as a result, are more effective than wild-type MYC at promoting B cell lymphomagenesis in mice. Mutant MYC proteins retain their ability to stimulate proliferation and activate p53, but are defective at promoting apoptosis due to a failure to induce the BH3-only protein Bim (a member of the B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) family) and effectively inhibit Bcl2. Disruption of apoptosis through enforced expression of Bcl2, or loss of either Bim or p53 function, enables wild-type MYC to produce lymphomas as efficiently as mutant MYC. These data show how parallel apoptotic pathways act together to suppress MYC-induced transformation, and how mutant MYC proteins, by selectively disabling a p53-independent pathway, enable tumour cells to evade p53 action during lymphomagenesis.
Alterations in cerebrospinal fluid glycerophospholipids and phospholipase A2 activity in Alzheimer's disease

Our aim is to study selected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glycerophospholipids (GP) that are important in brain pathophysiology. We recruited cognitively healthy (CH), minimally cognitively impaired (MCI), and late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) study participants and collected their CSF. After fractionation into nanometer particles (NP) and supernatant fluids (SF), we studied the lipid composition of these compartments. LC-MS/MS studies reveal that both CSF fractions from CH subjects have N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine, 1-radyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerophosphoethanolamine (PE), 1-radyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerophosphocholine (PC), 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerophosphoserine (PS), platelet-activating factor-like lipids, and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). In the NP fraction, GPs are enriched with a mixture of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acid species, while PE and PS in the SF fractions are enriched with PUFA-containing molecular species. PC, PE, and PS levels in CSF fractions decrease progressively in participants from CH to MCI, and then to LOAD. Whereas most PC species decrease equally in LOAD, plasmalogen species account for most of the decrease in PE. A significant increase in the LPC-to-PC ratio and PLA2 activity accompanies the GP decrease in LOAD. These studies reveal that CSF supernatant fluid and nanometer particles have different GP composition, and that PLA2 activity accounts for altered GPs in these fractions as neurodegeneration progresses.
Chronic Constipation with Megacolon

A 61-year-old female with long-standing constipation presented with increasing abdominal distention, pain, nausea and weight loss. She had been previously treated with intermittent fiber supplements and osmotic laxatives for chronic constipation. She did not use medications known to cause delayed bowel transit. Examination revealed a distended abdomen, hard stool in the rectum, and audible heart sounds throughout the abdomen. A CT scan showed severe colonic distention from stool (Fig. 1). She had no mechanical, infectious, metabolic, or endocrine-related etiology for constipation. After failing conservative management including laxative suppositories, enemas, manual disimpaction, methylnaltrexone and neostigmine, the patient underwent a colectomy with Hartmann pouch and terminal ileostomy. The removed colon measured 25.5 cm in largest diameter and weighed over 15 kg (Fig. 2). The histopathological examination demonstrated no neuronal degeneration, apoptosis or agangliosis to suggest Hirschprung’s disease or another intrinsic neuro-muscular disorder. Idiopathic megacolon is a relatively uncommon condition usually associated with slow-transit constipation. Although medical therapy is frequently ineffective, rectal laxatives, gentle enemas, and manual disimpaction can be attempted. Oral osmotic or secretory laxatives as well as unprepped lower endoscopy are relative contraindications as they may precipitate a perforation. Surgical therapy is often required as most cases are refractory to medical therapy. Figure 1 CT scan showing severe colonic distention from stool. Figure 2 Surgical specimen (colon).
Magnetic “Dead” Layer at a Complex Oxide Interface

Recent magnetic measurements at ${\mathrm{La}}_{0.67}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{0.33}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}/{\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ interfaces led to conflicting interpretations: a magnetic ``dead'' layer on the LCMO side or antiparallel Cu and Mn magnetic moments. Here we report results of first-principles density-functional calculations of position-dependent magnetic couplings between interlayer and intralayer Mn atoms. The couplings in the first few layers near the interface are found to be weak ferromagnetic or even antiferromagnetic. The results suggest that a ``dead'' magnetic layer 2--3 atoms thick is present, as needed to account for the observations.
The relationship between stage III + IV + REM sleep and arousals with migraine.

SYNOPSIS Three studies are presented investigating the relationship between sleep stages and the onset of migraine on awakening. Study I consists of the polygraphic recording of daytime naps in patients who suffer from sleep-precipitated migraine. All headache naps contained Stages III, IV or REM Sleep. The second study is that of serotonin levels during napping in which serotonin levels were stable during naps in which only Stages I and II were recorded. During naps when Stages III, IV or REM Sleep were recorded, there was considerable variation in serotonin levels. The final study is that of nocturnal sleep periods associated with morning awakening with headache or the onset of headache within 1 hour. The results of this study show an association between nights of increased Stage III + IV + REM sleep and those mornings when headaches occur.
Presolar corundum and spinel in ordinary chondrites : Origins from AGB stars and a supernova

On the basis of anomalous isotopic compositions of oxygen and magnesium, 14 oxide grains from two primitive meteorites (Bishunpur and Semarkona) have been identified as circumstellar condensates. One corundum grain has a high 18O/16O ratio and isotopic compositions of magnesium, calcium, and titanium that are compatible with a formation in ejecta of a type II supernova that was about 15 times the mass of the sun. The other grains have oxygen, magnesium, and titanium compositions that are consistent with a formation around asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars with a range of mass and initial composition. The large range of aluminum/magnesium in circumstellar corundum and spinel is considered to reflect various stages of back-reaction between condensed corundum and gaseous magnesium in cooling stellar ejecta.
Modality is the message: interactivity effects on perception and engagement

New media interfaces offer a wide variety of modalities for interacting with systems. While typing and clicking remain the staple of most interfaces, several other modalities have emerged in recent years, enabling users to perform a range of other actions, such as dragging, sliding, zooming-in/out, mousing-over and flipping through a revolving carousel of images (as in cover flow). While each modality offers a unique way of interacting with information, it is not clear whether it brings unique psychological advantages. Does a drag engender greater user engagement? Is the mouse-over likely to enhance user's perceptual bandwidth? A scientific assessment of such effects is impossible with existing interfaces given the confounded nature of modality combinations and information provided by them. Therefore, we designed six Web interface prototypes with identical content, differing only in modality, for experimentally isolating the effects of each, using a between-subjects design. Ongoing data collection involves both physiological and psychological measures of perceptual bandwidth and engagement.
Impact of exchange rate volatility on commodity trade between US and Hong Kong

The impact of exchange rate uncertainty on trade flows is still the center of attention in international economics. A few studies that have looked at this effect in Hong Kong have used either aggregate data between Hong Kong and the rest of the world or between Hong Kong and several of her major trading partners. They have been unable to locate any significant effect. Suspecting that existing studies could suffer from aggregation bias, we concentrate on the trade between Hong Kong and the US and disaggregate their trade flows further by commodity. Out of 140 Hong Kong importing industries and 104 exporting industries considered, we find short-run effects in the majority of the industries. The short-run effects translated into the long run in 81 of Hong Kong import industries and 51 of her export industries, a finding that contradicts previous research.
A Novel Domain Decomposition Technique for Solving very Large Problems in Frequency and Time Domains

In this paper, we describe some novel approaches to solving large problems in frequency and time domains. The frequency domain approach is based on the characteristic basis function method (CBFM), while the time domain scheme is called the serial-parallel approach. The common thread between them is that they both utilize the domain decomposition (DD) approach, but without resorting to iteration. (4 pages)
Governance and Timber Harvests

Resource economics theory implies that risks associated with weak governance have an ambiguous impact on extraction, with the net impact depending on the relative strengths of depletion and investment effects. Previous empirical studies have found that improved governance tends to reduce deforestation but to raise oil production. Here, we present evidence that the marginal impact of improved governance on timber harvests in developing countries during 1984–2006 was nonmonotonic. It tended to raise harvests in countries with weaker governance but to reduce harvests in countries with stronger governance. This nonmonotonic impact occurred for both an index of governmental integrity (corruption, bureaucracy quality, law and order) and an index of governmental stability. A simulation of hypothetical increases in these governance indices to the maximum 2006 values observed in the sample predicted that improved governance would reduce harvests in most countries but could raise harvests in some, with large increases occurring in countries with the weakest governance.
Immune function, mitogenicity, and angiogenic growth factor concentrations in lean and obese rodent sera: implications in obesity-related prostate tumor biology

Immune function, mitogenicity, and angiogenic growth factor concentrations in lean and obese rodent sera: implications in obesity-related prostate tumor biology
Simplified Dynamic Analysis of Barge Collision for Bridge Design

The AASHTO design provisions for barge impact on bridges spanning navigable waterways use a static force approach to determine structural demand on bridge piers. Recently, however, full-scale experimental dynamic tests of barge impact have indicated that consideration should also be given to additional forces generated from dynamic effects. Specifically, mass-related inertial forces generated by the superstructure of a bridge can restrain underlying pier columns and lead to dynamic amplification of column design forces. This paper presents an algorithm for performing simplified, coupled dynamic barge impact analysis for bridge structures. This type of analysis yields structural design forces, with dynamic amplifications included, on the basis of characteristics of the design impact condition (barge mass and speed). Results from the proposed simplified analysis method are validated using full-scale experimental test data and are compared with results obtained from full-resolution analyses for a variety of ...
Sampling airway surface liquid: non-volatiles in the exhaled breath condensate.

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples contain molecules that have no appreciable vapor pressure; such molecules likely derive from droplets of airway fluid. We analyzed EBC gathered from a total of 62 healthy volunteers in order to quantify the volume of airway liquid that was the source of the non-volatiles; saliva was analyzed as a reference secretion. EBC urea averaged 0.52 ± 0.12 μmol/L (n = 18), an 8,600-fold dilution from predicted blood urea nitrogen levels. Protein averaged 2.3 ± 0.3 μg/ml (n = 31), three orders of magnitude less than in saliva (1.4 ± 0.1 mg/ml, n = 15). EBC ammonia was 6.6 ± 0.6 mmol/L (1/15 that of saliva) and EBC ammonium ion was 0.90 ± 0.19 μmol/L, concentrations that are incompatible with an 8,600-fold dilution from a biological source. Thus, urea-derived dilution factors may be used to interpret EBC non-volatile molecules, but not EBC volatiles.
Origins of Electrochemical Noise during Pitting Corrosion of Aluminum

The pitting corrosion of aluminum was investigated by measuring electrochemical noise using interconnected electrodes, together with an artificial-pit technique and a corrosion-visualizing method employing an agar gel containing a pH indicator. The electrochemical noise in chloride solution at open circuit shows distinct transitions at which vigorous and meandering fluctuations in current and potential commence. We demonstrated that the transients occur when the pits continue to remain active, and also when more than one pit is present. The noise, lasting up to thousands of seconds, is not due to the superposition of multiple metastable pitting events but reflects electrochemical processes occurring within active pits. The electrochemical transient during propagation of a single pit can be modeled in terms of cathodic oxygen reduction and discharging of capacitance at the passive surface. When more than one active pit is present, the pits interfere with each other because the impedance of the active pits is lower than that of the passive film, and the pits can generate cathodic currents. The complex, slow meandering patterns observed in the electrochemical noise are due to electrochemical communication between the pits.
The pigeon's discrimination of visual entropy: a logarithmic function.

We taught 8 pigeons to discriminate 16-icon arrays that differed in their visual variability or “entropy” to see whether the relationship between entropy and discriminative behavior is linear (in which equivalent differences in entropy should produce equivalent changes in behavior) or logarithmic (in which higher entropy values should be less discriminable from one another than lower entropy values). Pigeons received a go/no-go task in which the lower entropy arrays were reinforced for one group and the higher entropy arrays were reinforced for a second group. The superior discrimination of the second group was predicted by a theoretical analysis in which excitatory and inhibitory stimulus generalization gradients fall along a logarithmic, but not a linear scale. Reanalysis of previously published data also yielded results consistent with a logarithmic relationship between entropy and discriminative behavior.
Analysis of gases containing inorganic compounds and light hydrocarbons on fused-silica open-tubular columns prepared with a thick liquid phase film

Capillary columns having a thick liquid phase film and a low phase ratio permit the separation of low molecular mass compounds which would have a very small capacity factor on columns with a classical thin film. At the same time, the increased sample capacity allows conventional hot-wire thermal conductivity detectors to be used with such columns. The analysis of natural and refinery gases, containing both inorganic compounds and light (C1C7) hydrocarbons, utilizing a combination of hot-wire and flame ionization detectors, is demonstrated.
Adsorption of Single Anionic Surfactants on Hydrophobic Surfaces.

Abstract The adsorption of a series of linear alkyl sulfonates and linear alkyl sulfates on sulfonated polystyrene latexes of various surface charge densities was studied to provide a better understanding of the effects of surface charge on the adsorption of anionic surfactants. Direct measurement of the adsorbed amount via ion chromatography provided greater accuracy and precision than do indirect methods such as soap titration. Results indicate that in the region of surface charge densities between −3 and −7 μC/cm 2 the effects of surface potential on adsorbed amount are more complex than has been described in the past. Previous work hypothesized a steady decrease in adsorbed amount with increasing surface charge due to increased electrostatic repulsions. The data obtained in this investigation indicate local increases in the adsorbed amount, possibly a result of configurational rearrangements of the adsorbed surfactant leading to an increase in surface area available for adsorption.
Investigation of gastrin-releasing peptide as a mediator for 5′-guanidinonaltrindole-induced compulsive scratching in mice

Abstract Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) has been implicated in the itch-scratch cycle. We investigated if this gut–brain–skin peptide plays a role in the compulsive, hindleg scratching of the neck of mice by 5′-guanidinonaltrindole (GNTI), the kappa opioid receptor antagonist, and in the antipruritic activity of nalfurafine, the kappa opioid agonist. Previously, we showed that GNTI (0.03–1 mg/kg, s.c.) elicits dose-related scratching and that nalfurafine (0.001–0.02 mg/kg, s.c.) inhibits this behavior in mice. Utilizing immunohistochemistry, GRP positive nerve fibers were detected in mouse skin and superficial layer of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord as well as GRP positive cells in the dorsal root ganglion. Pretreating mice with either a pseudopeptide GRP receptor antagonist, RC-3095 (10–30 mg/kg, s.c. at −15 min), or a peptide GRP receptor antagonist, [ d -Phe 6 ]bombesin(6-13) methyl ester (2–100 nmol, i.t. at −10 min), did not suppress GNTI-induced scratching. However, pretreating mice with either antagonist inhibited scratching precipitated by the GRP receptor agonist, GRP 18–27 (2 nmol, i.t.). Pretreating mice with a muscarinic M 1 receptor agonist, McN-A-343 (1.5–15 μg/5 μl, i.t. at −10 min) antagonized GNTI-induced scratching. Norbinaltorphimine (20 mg/kg, i.p. at −18 to −20 h), a kappa opioid antagonist, countered the antiscratch activity of nalfurafine. We conclude that (a) the GRP receptor system does not mediate GNTI-induced scratching and (b) the kappa opioid system is involved, at least in part, in the scratch suppressing activity of nalfurafine.
The recognition of faces, expressions, and moods

This was a recognition study, in which only one inspection face was followed by a recognition test 5 days later. The level of facial, expressional, and mood recognition was assessed over six different conditions. Face recognition was better than expressional and mood recognition when familiar faces were used in the test phase of the study. However, the memory of the affective expression of a previously seen face was comparable to facial memory when prompted by the use of unfamiliar faces in the recognition test.
Detecting Targeted Malicious Email

Targeted malicious emails (TME) for computer network exploitation have become more insidious and more widely documented in recent years. Beyond spam or phishing designed to trick users into revealing personal information, TME can exploit computer networks and gather sensitive information. They can consist of coordinated and persistent campaigns that can span years. A new email-filtering technique based on email's persistent-threat and recipient-oriented features with a random forest classifier outperforms two traditional detection methods, SpamAssassin and ClamAV, while maintaining reasonable false positive rates.
Adopting commercial software in the accounting classroom: A focus on learning

Abstract Concerns about the current state of accounting education are well documented. A common anxiety is that students are not prepared to deal with the complex issues and unstructured problems that they will encounter throughout their professional lives. Recent studies conclude that an educational objective for accounting is to teach students how to learn. This paper discusses adopting commercial-use software as an approach to accomplish this objective. The paper also provides an example for an accounting information systems class. Because “learning to learn” involves teaching students learning strategies, accounting educators need to find new ways to help students acquire these strategies. This paper will be useful for instructors seeking ways to assist students in developing strategies for learning that will better prepare them for careers in a complex and dynamic environment.
Repair of Nitric Oxide-damaged DNA in β-Cells Requires JNK-dependent GADD45α Expression

Proinflammatory cytokines induce nitric oxide-dependent DNA damage and ultimately β-cell death. Not only does nitric oxide cause β-cell damage, it also activates a functional repair process. In this study, the mechanisms activated by nitric oxide that facilitate the repair of damaged β-cell DNA are examined. JNK plays a central regulatory role because inhibition of this kinase attenuates the repair of nitric oxide-induced DNA damage. p53 is a logical target of JNK-dependent DNA repair; however, nitric oxide does not stimulate p53 activation or accumulation in β-cells. Further, knockdown of basal p53 levels does not affect DNA repair. In contrast, expression of growth arrest and DNA damage (GADD) 45α, a DNA repair gene that can be regulated by p53-dependent and p53-independent pathways, is stimulated by nitric oxide in a JNK-dependent manner, and knockdown of GADD45α expression attenuates the repair of nitric oxide-induced β-cell DNA damage. These findings show that β-cells have the ability to repair nitric oxide-damaged DNA and that JNK and GADD45α mediate the p53-independent repair of this DNA damage.
Women's reproductive health--challenges for the 1990s.

Health policy makers, program planners and donor agencies have paid little attention to issues surrounding women's reproductive health. This paper will look at reproductive health issues surrounding pregnancy and chilbirth, the accessibility and safety of contraception, and reproductive tract infections.
Abandonments of unfinished nuclear power plants: A study of the causes of technology rejection after adoption

A major feature of the last decade has been the systematic and continuous abandonments of large investments in nuclear power plants by electric utilities. This paper investigates the mix of financial, regulatory, and other causes associated with these abandonments by investor owned electric utilities. Construction cost escalation, the major force in Nuclear plant abandonments, appears to result from multiple joint causes whose individual effects are difficult to isolate. Discussion of construction cost escalation focuses on the causes of inaccurate projections, the timeliness of management's reaction in making abandonment decisions, and the impact of unforeseen external events. Failure to recognize and control construction cost escalation has resulted in a consensus that additional Nuclear plants are unlikely to be built in the near future.
Ionothermal synthesis of uranyl compounds that incorporate imidazole derivatives

Ionothermal reactions of uranyl nitrate with various salts in methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids have produced single crystals of three uranyl compounds that incorporate imidazole derivatives as charge-balancing cations. (C{sub 4}H{sub 7}N{sub 2})[(UO{sub 2})(PO{sub 3}F)(F)] (1) crystallizes in space group C2, a=17.952(1) A, b=6.9646(6) A, c=8.5062(7) A, {beta}=112.301(1) Degree-Sign , (C{sub 6}H{sub 11}N{sub 2}){sub 2}[(UO{sub 2})(SO{sub 4}){sub 2}] (2) crystallizes in space group C2/c, a=31.90(1) A, b=9.383(5) A, c=13.770(7) A, {beta}=93.999(7) Degree-Sign and (C{sub 6}H{sub 11}N{sub 2})[(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(PO{sub 4})(HPO{sub 4}) (3) crystallizes in space group P2{sub 1}/n, a=9.307(2), b=18.067(4), c=9.765(2), {beta}=93.171(2). The U{sup 6+} cations are present as (UO{sub 2}){sup 2+} uranyl ions coordinated by three O atoms and two F atoms in 1 and five O atoms in 2 and 3 to give pentagonal bipyramids. The structural unit in 1 is composed of F-sharing dimers of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids linked into sheets through corner-sharing fluorophosphate tetrahedra. The structural unit in 2 is composed of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids with one chelating sulfate tetrahedron linked into chains by three other corner-sharing sulfate tetrahedra. In 3, the structural unit is composed of chains of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids linked into sheets through edge- and corner-sharing phosphate and hydrogen phosphate tetrahedra. N-methylimidazolium cations occupy themore » interstitial space between the uranyl fluorophosphate sheets in 1, whereas 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium cations link the uranyl sulfate and phosphate units in 2 and 3 into extended structures. - Graphical abstract: The synthesis of uranyl compounds by ionothermal treatment is explored, and provides three novel compounds and insights concerning the role of water in controlling the structural units. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Ionothermal syntheses have produced three new uranyl compounds. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Imidazole derivatives are incorporated as charge-balancing agents. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer X-ray and spectroscopic analyses reveal variability between imidazole derivatives. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer This method offers synthetic insight in the absence of water at low temperatures.« less
Exploring N-dimensional databases

The authors present a tool for the display and analysis of N-dimensional data based on a technique called dimensional stacking. This technique is described. The primary goal is to create a tool that enables the user to project data of arbitrary dimensions onto a two-dimensional image. Of equal importance is the ability to control the viewing parameters, so that one can interactively adjust what ranges of values each dimension takes and the form in which the dimensions are displayed. This will allow an intuitive feel for the data to be developed as the database is explored. The system uses dimensional stacking, to collapse and N-dimension space down into a 2-D space and then render the values contained therein. Each value can then be represented as a pixel or rectangular region on a 2-D screen whose intensity corresponds to the data value at that point. >
Control of filamentous fungal cell shape by septins and formins.

Amy Gladfelter discusses our current knowledge of the functions and regulation of the septins and formins in filamentous fungi, and makes the case that a concerted research effort on these proteins in these organisms could yield significant insights into fundamental eukaryotic cellular processes.
Performance of a Large-Area Triple-GEM Detector in a Particle Beam

Abstract A multi-institutional collaboration is investigating the possibility of enhancing muon tracking and triggering capabilities in the small-angle region 1.6
Femoral nerve palsy and hip instability in infants with breech birth presentation: a review of the literature and report of 2 cases.

BACKGROUND Femoral nerve palsy has been described as a result of hip hyperflexion during orthotic treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip, but femoral nerve palsy in newborns who have not had brace treatment has not been reported. METHODS Two cases of femoral nerve palsy after breech lie in utero are reviewed. Neither of these infants had undergone treatment of any sort for the hip. RESULTS In both children, Ortolani-positive hip dislocation was encountered. Both were treated with abduction orthoses with lesser hip flexion than the Pavlik-type brace. Nerve recovery was complete, and the hip dysplasia resolved satisfactorily. CONCLUSIONS Femoral nerve palsy may be seen after breech lie in utero and may be associated with hip instability. Treatment considerations for the hip must take into account the nerve compromise. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV, case series.
Impacts of Risk Attitudes on Farm‐Level Acreage Flexibility Decisions

The 1990 Farm Bill included «flexibility,» which allows farmers to plant alternative crops on a percentage of base acres without losing those base acres. This study was conducted to determine how sensitive the flex decision is to the consideration of price and yield risk and to producers' degree of risk aversion. A whole farm simulation model is used to analyze alternative flex planting decisions of representative farms developed throughout the USA using deterministic, stochastic, and risk neutral and averse assumptions. The results indicate that the inclusion of stochastic yields and prices has little impact on the flex decision. For 13 of the 18 farms, the deterministic budgeting results corresponded to the risk analysis recommendations
The Expressive Gaze Model: Using Gaze to Express Emotion

The Expressive Gaze Model is a hierarchical framework for composing simple behaviors into emotionally expressive gaze shifts for virtual characters. Its primary components are the Gaze Warping Transformation, which generates emotionally expressive head and torso movement in a gaze shift, and an eye movement model.
Risk Factors for Short-term Adverse Events and Readmission After Arthroscopic Meniscectomy Does Age Matter?

Background:Recent studies have questioned the efficacy of meniscectomy in older patients with and without evidence of osteoarthritis; however, it continues to be frequently performed. There is limited information about age and other risk factors for adverse events and readmission after the procedure. This knowledge is vital to understand the true risk profile of this common surgery.Purpose:To investigate if age and medical comorbidities were risk factors for postoperative adverse events and readmission after meniscectomy.Study Design:Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy between 2005 and 2012 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database. Age ≥65 years and medical comorbidities were evaluated as risk factors for any adverse event (AAE), severe adverse events (SAEs), and readmission after meniscectomy using univariate and multivariate analyses.Results:A total of 17,774 pati...
Comparison of injection well patterns for remediating benzene‐contaminated groundwater

Ten alternative injection well patterns and a no‐action plan were evaluated for bioremediating benzene‐contaminated groundwater. Evaluations were made for a silty‐sand aquifer using a contaminant fate and transport model. Wells injected water containing 8 mg/L dissolved oxygen. The study's objective was to rank the alternative schemes based upon mass of contaminant removed and area of residual groundwater contamination. Interior configurations with injection wells at areas of high benzene concentration outperformed the other remediation schemes. Interior wells supply oxygen quickly to areas of a plume where it is most needed. Alternative configurations rely upon groundwater to transport the oxygen, an inefficient process. No action was the least effective strategy.
Declining Institutional Sponsorship and Religious Orders: A Study of Reverse Impacts

In recent decades, Catholic religious orders have largely withdrawn from an active presence in the day-to-day operations of their sponsored institutions. Recent mergers have similarly reduced their presence at administrative and board levels. While many studies have investigated the impact of this reduced presence on religious colleges, hospitals, and social agencies, few if any have studied the impact on the sponsoring orders themselves. The present paper uses a series of thirty extended, taped interviews to explore the implications of reduced or eliminated institutional presence on the internal functioning, group identity, and spirituality of two communities of Catholic sisters. Some tentative implications are suggested for further research in other denominations.
Acoustic node calibration using a moving source

Acoustic nodes, each containing an array of microphones, can track targets in x-y space from their received acoustic signals, if the node positions and orientations are known exactly. However, it is not always possible to deploy the nodes precisely, so a calibration phase is needed to estimate the position and the orientation of each node before doing any tracking or localization. An acoustic node can be calibrated from sources of opportunity such as beacons or a moving source. We derive and compare several calibration methods for the case where the node can hear a moving source whose position can be reported back to the node. Since calibration from a moving source is, in effect, the dual of a tracking problem; methods derived for acoustic target trackers are used to obtain robust and high resolution acoustic calibration processes. For example, two direction-of-arrival-based calibration methods can be formulated based on combining angle estimates, geometry, and the motion dynamics of the moving source. In addition, a maximum likelihood (ML) solution is presented using a narrowband acoustic observation model, along with a Newton-based search algorithm that speeds up the calculation the likelihood surface. The Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) on the node position estimates is also derived to show that the effect of position errors for the moving source on the estimated node position is much less severe than the variance in angle estimates from the microphone array. The performance of the calibration algorithms is demonstrated on synthetic and field data.
A novel strategy to determine protein structures using exclusively residual dipolar coupling

Recent advances in NMR techniques to measure anisotropic spin interactions such as residual dipolar coupling (RDC) have provided better insights into protein structure as well as dynamics. Exploitation of RDC, however, still remains challenging because its successful application requires a reasonable starting model. Using the singular value decomposition method, we have recently developed an RDC restraint potential to optimally extract orientational information from RDC without the prerequisite of any structural information. In the present study, its efficacy is further illustrated by folding a beta-hairpin and alpha-helix of protein G from extended conformations with RDC restraints alone by employing the replica exchange torsion angle molecular dynamics (REX-TAMD) technique. Subsequently, the entire structure of protein G has been determined accurately using the developed fragment superposition method (FRAGSUM). In FRAGSUM, each overlapping fragments (10 amino acids long) is first folded individually by REX-TAMD, and then the common amino acids are superimposed to determine the entire structure. Because FRAGSUM does not require any additional information besides RDC, it offers a new strategy for de novo structure determination using exclusively RDC.
Patient Reported Activity After Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract A total of 335 patients underwent revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between 1995 and 2000 with a single implant design. These patients were surveyed regarding clinical outcome and activity level; 206 patients responded (62%). Average age at revision TKA was 69years (range, 31-87 years). Average follow-up was 5.6 years (range, 3-9 years). Average University of California at Los Angeles activity level rating was 6.7 (range, 2-10). Satisfaction with activity level after TKA was 77%. Among the respondents, 126 (61%) indicated that their activities were limited by other joints. Patients younger than 70 years had higher University of California at Los Angeles activity level scores ( P =.054) and Knee Society function scores ( P P = .81) compared to those older than 70years. Patients most commonly reported participating in walking, stationary biking, swimming, and dancing. Twenty-three (12%) patients reported participating in heavy manual labor or sports deemed "not recommended" by Knee Society published guidelines.
Eisenman Receives 2012 Cryosphere Young Investigator Award: Response

I am honored to receive this award from the Cryosphere Focus Group and glad for the opportunity it gives to acknowledge some of the people who have contributed to my scientific growth.
Implementation of a 3-phase state estimation tool suitable for advanced distribution management systems

A state estimation tool is presented which is suitable for distribution system real time monitoring. The tool is considered to be a critical component of a smart grid infrastructure that will enable modernization of the distribution grid. The proposed estimator is advantageous compared to currently available estimators for two reasons. First, it is based on a three phase physical model of the distribution system. Moreover, it utilizes synchronized measurements available from a novel proposed device (UGPSSM). The synchronized measurement set combined with conventional non-synchronized measurements from SCADA systems results in improved solution and convergence speed. Reporting and visualization tools are also developed in order to make it a user friendly tool for the operators in the DMS. The state estimator provides the operator with a highly accurate real time model of the distribution system that can be used in various applications including Volt/Var control, load levelization and reliability enhancement.
Conservation of the COP9/signalosome in budding yeast

Background The COP9/signalosome (CSN), a multiprotein complex consisting of eight subunits, is implicated in a wide variety of regulatory processes including cell cycle control, signal transduction, transcriptional activation, and plant photomorphogenesis. Some of these functions have been linked to CSN-associated enzymes, including kinases and an activity that removes the ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8/Rub1p from the cullin subunit of E3 ligases. CSN is highly conserved across species from fission yeast to humans, but sequence comparison has failed to identify the complex in budding yeast, except for a putative CSN5 subunit called Rri1p.
Prenatal origins of adult disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Human epidemiological and animal studies show that many chronic adult conditions have their antecedents in compromised fetal and early postnatal development. Developmental programming is defined as the response by the developing mammalian organism to a specific challenge during a critical time window that alters the trajectory of development with resulting persistent effects on phenotype. Mammals pass more biological milestones before birth than any other time in their lives. Each individual's phenotype is influenced by the developmental environment as much as their genes. A better understanding is required of gene-environment interactions leading to adult disease. RECENT FINDINGS During development, there are critical periods of vulnerability to suboptimal conditions when programming may permanently modify disease susceptibility. Programming involves structural changes in important organs; altered cell number, imbalance in distribution of different cell types within the organ, and altered blood supply or receptor numbers. Compensatory efforts by the fetus may carry a price. Effects of programming may pass across generations by mechanisms that do not necessarily involve structural gene changes. Programming often has different effects in males and females. SUMMARY Developmental programming shows that epigenetic factors play major roles in development of phenotype and predisposition to disease in later life.