cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Activity of a Low-Affinity L-Arginine Transporter Quenches Peroxynitrite-Induced Fluorescence in Ventricular Cardiomyocytes

We discovered a low-affinity, high-capacity L-arginine (L-Arg) transport process in rat cardiomyocytes consistent with the activity of the CAT-2A member of the y(+) family of cationic amino acid transporters (Peluffo, J Physiol, 580:925-936, 2007), set to function in parallel with the previously described high-affinity, low-capacity CAT-1 (Lu et al., Biosci Rep, 29:271-281, 2009). In assessing the role of a low-affinity transporter in this setting, we propose that CAT-2A protects cardiac muscle cells by ensuring the availability of proper L-Arg levels for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) via NO synthase (NOS). To test this hypothesis, acutely-isolated cardiomyocytes were loaded with the dye coelenterazine that greatly increases its fluorescence quantum yield in the presence of peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and superoxide radicals. Cells were then exposed to 20 or 100 μM ONOO- and changes in fluorescence were followed with a spectrofluorometer. Addition of extracellular L-Arg reduced ONOO-induced fluorescence in a concentration-dependent manner, an effect that was not mimicked by D-arginine or L-lysine and was fully blocked by the NOS inhibitor L-NAME. L-Arg reduced fluorescence with Ki values of 0.84 ± 0.12 and 1.26 ± 0.16 mM at 20 and 100 μM ONOO-, respectively. L-Arg “zero effect” on ONOO-induced fluorescence was also dependent on ONOO- concentration, with values of 145 and 363 μM for 20 and 100 μM ONOO-, respectively. Below these values, decreasing concentrations of L-Arg progressively increased ONOO-induced fluorescence, an effect that was also blocked by L-NAME. All these effects can be explained by NOS-mediated NO synthesis, which may turn to ONOO- production at limiting L-Arg. Since ONOO- has detrimental effects on cardiac contractility, these results suggest a cardioprotective role for the low-affinity L-Arg transporter, ensuring proper supply of NOS substrate under a variety of physiological and pathological conditions.
Intermittent claudication associated with cancer: case studies

Cancer was diagnosed in 15 patients among 300 consecutive patients with intermittent claudication. The cancer-associated claudication is characterized by a more accelerated course of claudication, more often requires vascular sur gery, and moreover, the lasting relief of claudication depends upon the effi ciency of cancer therapy. It is the authors' impression that cancer-associated claudication is predetermined by atherosclerosis and aggravated by cancer through the chronic hypercoagulability state secondary to neoplasm. The clini cal picture is characterized by rapid progression, with the frequent necessity of vascular surgery for limb salvage and a higher incidence of graft occlusion. Awareness of this possibility of hidden malignancy may be related to the clinical picture of hemodynamic deterioration of the underlying arterial insufficiency. A high index of suspicion leads to earlier diagnosis of neoplasm. Effective onco logic therapy will often bring the symptomatic relief of ischemic symptoms in the...
Logic Form Transformation of WordNet and its Applicability to Question Answering

WordNet is a rich source of world knowledge from which formal axioms can be derived. In this paper we present a method for transforming the WordNet glosses into logic forms and further into axioms. The transformation of WordNet glosses into logic forms is useful for theorem proving and other applications. The paper demonstrates the utility of the WordNet axioms in a question answering system to rank and extract answers.
A survey of PEV impacts on electric utilities

For the past few years, plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) technology development has gained immense popularity. Recent studies show that if PEVs displaced half of all vehicles on the road, they would require only an 8% increase in electricity generation. Results similar to this help encourage the continuing development of PEVs. Despite this small increase in generation, uncontrolled charging, especially during on-peak summer hours, could overload the current power grid. This paper provides a narrative literature survey of the development and impact of PEVs. Subjects cover PEV industry trends, charge and discharge scenarios, and impacts on distribution systems. Some concluding remarks are summarized.
Development and Initial Validation of a Questionnaire to Measure Hearing Parents’ Perceptions of Health Care Professionals’ Advice

This study reports the development of The Hearing Parents' Perceptions of Health Professionals' Advice Questionnaire (HPP/HPQ). This questionnaire was designed to investigate the impact of the advice and information that parents receive from health professionals during the time when their child's hearing loss is identified and how parents, in turn, make initial decisions about services and interventions for their deaf child. Once developed, the HPP/HPQ was partially validated on 2 separate samples. Analysis of data from both samples supported a 14-item questionnaire, with all items loading onto a single composite factor. The implications of how this tool can be used to both help improve health professionals' services and gain an understanding of how the relationship between hearing parents and health professionals might influence developmental outcomes in deaf children are discussed.
A STUDY OF THE HOMOGENEITY OF THE NOAA EARTHQUAKE DATA FILE IN THE MID-AMERICA REGION BY THE MAGNITUDE SIGNATURE TECHNIQUE

The Earthquake Data File (EDF) compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U. S. contains information that can be of great importance when studying seismicity of a certain region of the world. However, the homogeneity of this catalog, which comprises mostly data gathered by PDE (Preliminary Determination of Epicenters), depends on the characteristics of the stations and agencies which provided the data in the first place. In this study, the homogeneity of the NOAA catalog, with specific focus on the Mid-America region, is investigated by means of a technique recently proposed which simulates changes in the events reported with respect to time. These changes may account for the observed variations in number and characteristics of the events listed in the catalog. The method is briefly described. Times of occurrence of such changes, as given by the magnitude signature method, are determined as well as their possible causes, and proposed corrections are given. The times for which changes were found to be statistically significant are: end of September 1965; mid-October 1967; early October 1969, end of May 1972 and end of July 1979. The corrections proposed for events in the Mid-America region listed in the NOAA catalog are: events from July 1964 to September 1965 should be shifted -0.1 magnitude (m b ) units; events from September 1965 to May 1972 should be changed by + 0.1 magnitude units and events after May 1972 ought to be left without change. With this results the probable inclusion of artificial changes in seismicity that could otherwise be taken as real seismicity variations can hopefully be avoided. Thus, the study of seismicity in the Mid-America region for earthquake prediction purposes can be undertaken with more accurate results.
Developmental stages of the CD (Sprague-Dawley) rat skeleton after maternal exposure to ethylene glycol.

Ethylene glycol (EG), a chemical which causes skeletal malformations in rats, was administered by gavage to sperm positive CD® rats on gestational days (gd) 6 through 15 at doses of 0 or 2,500 mg/kg/day to assess its effects on the pre- and postnatal skeletal development. Dams and fetuses/pups were killed on gd 18, 20, postnatal day (pnd) 1, 4, 14, 21, or 63, and offspring were double-stained for examination of skeletal malformations and degree of ossification of rapidly developing skeletal districts. No difference in gestational day of delivery between controls and the EG-treated dams was seen. Fetal weights per litter were significantly decreased with EG treatment in both the gd 18 and 20 groups. Pup body weight on pnd 1 was significantly below controls; however, EG had no effect on pup body weight on pnd 4–63. The percentage of fetuses/pups with skeletal malformations per litter was significantly increased after EG exposure for all time points except at pnd 63, with a predominance of axial skeletal defects. The percentages of total ossification, of sternabrae ossified, and of vertabral centra ossified were significantly reduced in the EG groups on gd 20 and on pnd 1–21, but not on gd 18 or on pnd 63. When the ossification data were subjected to statistical analysis with fetal/pup weights as a covariate, the values for EG-exposed pups on gd 20 were not statistically significantly different from the control values. The reduced ossification values for EG-exposed pups on pnd 1–21 retained statistical significance even after covariate analysis. There was no effect of dose or body weight on ossification of fore- or hindlimb digits. In conclusion, the differences in incidence of skeletal alterations observed prenatally and through pnd 21 were not evident by pnd 63, suggesting that perinatal skeletal abnormalities may not always be permanent. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Does stress induce bowel dysfunction

Psychological stress is known to induce somatic symptoms. Classically, many gut physiological responses to stress are mediated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. There is, however, a growing body of evidence of stress-induced corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) release causing bowel dysfunction through multiple pathways, either through the HPA axis, the autonomic nervous systems, or directly on the bowel itself. In addition, recent findings of CRF influencing the composition of gut microbiota lend support for the use of probiotics, antibiotics, and other microbiota-altering agents as potential therapeutic measures in stress-induced bowel dysfunction.
Methodologies for the Assembly of a Fiber-Coupled MEMS Fourier Transform Spectrometer

This manuscript presents methodologies followed in the construction and packaging of a 3-D microelectromechanical system (MEMS) Fourier transform (FT) spectrometer based on integrated heterogeneous microassembly and packaging systems. We develop procedures, assembly, and packaging work-cells configured for sequential active alignment of miniaturized optical components. Component-to-system-level tolerance analysis is introduced to compensate for the misalignments associated. Furthermore, an inverse methodology based on the self-alignment of fibers is presented to counter the shifts resulting from the fiber packaging process.
Localized in vivo isotropic-anisotropic correlation 1H NMR spectroscopy using ultraslow magic angle spinning.

In a previous work (1), the susceptibility broadening in the 1H NMR metabolite spectrum obtained in a live mouse was separated from the isotropic information, which significantly increased the spectral resolution. This was achieved using ultraslow magic angle spinning (MAS) of the animal combined with a modified phase-corrected magic angle turning (PHORMAT) pulse sequence. However, PHORMAT cannot be used for spatially selective spectroscopy. This article introduces a modified sequence called localized magic angle turning (LOCMAT) that makes this possible. Proton LOCMAT spectra were obtained from the liver and heart of a live mouse while the animal was spun at a speed of 4 Hz in a 2 Tesla field. It was found that even in this relatively low field, LOCMAT provided isotropic line widths that were a factor of 4–10 times smaller than those obtained in a stationary animal. Furthermore, the susceptibility broadening of the heart metabolites showed unusual features that are not observed in dead animals. The limitations of LOCMAT and possible ways to improve the technique are discussed. It is concluded that in vivo LOCMAT can significantly enhance the utility of NMR spectroscopy for biomedical research. Magn Reson Med, 2006. Published 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Was Shock Therapy Consistent with the Washington Consensus

Williamson proposed the term ‘Washington Consensus’ to refer to the lowest common denominator of policy advice being addressed by the Washington based institutions. Owing to the considerable confusion about the term, I distinguish between two different versions of the term: the Washington Consensus proper to denote the original set of policies initiated by the father of the term and the Washington Consensus as a neoliberal manifesto to represent the policies identified with the term ‘neoliberalism’. It is demonstrated that the Shock Therapy process had some common elements with both versions of the Washington Consensus; however, there were also important differences due in large measure to the differing circumstances in transition economies and Latin American economies.
Puyo Runa: Imagery and Power in Modern Amazonia

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Jr. Whitten, Norman E. and Dorothea Scott Whitten Year: 2008 Pages: 336 Publisher: University of Illinois Press ISBN: 978-0-252-03239-4 (hard cover). Prices: $65.00 USD(hard cover).
Preferentially oriented submicron silicalite membranes

An oriented submicron silicalite membrane has been prepared by growing a layer of oriented silicalite crystals on a composite precursor nanocrystalline silicalite/alumina film using controlled secondary growth. The orientation of the crystals at the surface was such that both straight and sinusoidal channel networks run nearly parallel to the membrane surface. The membrane exhibits ideal selectivities for H{sub 2} over N{sub 2} as high as 60 at 150 C and O{sub 2} over N{sub 2} as high as 3.6 at 185 C, H{sub 2}, N{sub 2} and O{sub 2} permeances are 2.13, 0.05 and 0.17 cm{sup 3}(STP)/(cm{sup 2}{center_dot}min{center_dot}atm) at 185 C, respectively, and the corresponding apparent activation energies are 11, 26 and 32 kJ/mol. The permeation characteristics are attributed to the preferred orientation of the molecular sieving layer.
Mathematical simulation of singularities for isoparametric elements of arbitrary orders

For the general quadrilateral isoparametric elements with 4(n−1) nodes (i.e. n nodes along each side), it is shown that the inverse square root singularity of the strain field at the crack tip can be obtained by a general but simple rule. This amounts to collapsing the quadrilateral elements into triangular elements around the crack tip and placing the (n−2) mid-side nodes at locations γ2/(n−1)2 (γ=1,2,…, n−2) times the length of side emanating from the crack tip. These locations are measured from the crack tip. The known results for n = 3 and n = 4 are thus obtained as special cases.
A Review of Evidence-Based Therapeutic Interventions for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a complex disability that presents substantial challenges for diagnosis and treatment. Recent research shows that there is a significant need for adjunctive psychotherapy to supplement and optimize the benefits of medication. Researchers and clinicians recognize that quality of life outcomes are at least as important as clinical outcomes to successful treatment of bipolar disorder. A growing body of literature indicates that psychotherapeutic interventions benefit bipolar clients and have the potential to significantly improve their psychosocial functioning and decrease the substantial social costs of the illness. In this article we examine psychoeducational interventions along with three evidence-based interventions that address the complexity of bipolar disorder.
Antisense piRNA amplification, but not piRNA production or nuage assembly, requires the Tudor‐domain protein Qin

Qin is required for transposon silencing by the PIWI‐interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway (Zhang et al , 2011; Anand & Kai, 2012). Initial descriptions of qin mutants led to conflicting explanations for the role of Qin in piRNA biogenesis. One study suggested that loss of Qin causes the accumulation of sense piRNAs instead of antisense without altering total piRNA levels or perturbing the localization of Aub and Ago3 to the perinuclear nuage (Zhang et al , 2011). A second report concluded that both piRNAs and nuage were lost from the germline in qin mutants, leading to a complete failure of the piRNA pathway (Anand & Kai, 2012). We re‐analyzed the qin alleles used in the two studies: qin 1 , qin 2 (Zhang et al , 2011) and qin kumo (Anand & Kai, 2012). These analyses corroborate our original findings that the fundamental defect in qin mutants is not a loss of piRNAs, but rather the replacement of heterotypic Aub:Ago3 Ping‐Pong with non‐productive, homotypic Aub:Aub Ping‐Pong. Our data suggest that the phenotypes reported for qin kumo homozygotes are caused by a secondary mutation unlinked to qin . Compared with genotypically matched w 1118 and qin kumo /TM3 controls, homozygous qin kumo mutant ovaries are small, with few egg chambers beyond stage 10 (Supplementary Fig S1). In contrast, qin 1 , qin 2 , qin kumo in trans to a complete deletion of the qin locus ( Df ( 3R ) Excel6180 ; henceforth, Df ), as well as qin 1 / qin kumo and qin 2 /qin kumo , all had normal ovary size and shape. Figure 1. Without Qin, Ago3, Aub and Vasa still reside in nurse cell nuage 1. RNA‐seq data for wild‐type and qin mutant ovaries. 2. Ago3 and Aub immunostaining or live EGFP‐Vasa image in qin mutants. EGFP‐Vasa fusion protein was expressed from a transgene using the vasa promoter. qin kumo / qin kumo females laid almost no eggs …
CHAPTER 2 – Linear Programming

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a foundation of linear programming with emphasis on the topics that contribute to the development of integer programming theory. It also presents the topics including the Benders approach for partitioning programming problems having two different types of variables into two sub-problems, each having homogeneous variables. The Benders approach is useful in solving mixed integer problems. The chapter discusses simplex method, revised simplex method, dual problem, and bounded variables. The selective search of the simplex method, among all the basic solutions, depends on two fundamental conditions: (1) the feasibility condition, given an initial basic feasible solution to the problem, guarantees generating new basic solutions that are always feasible. This is accomplished by replacing one basic vector by an associated non-basic vector. (2) The optimality condition ensures that the non-basic vector that is selected by the feasibility condition would improve the objective value or otherwise indicate that no further improvements could be achieved by generating new basic solutions.
Moral Intuition and Transformative Organizations

This is a longitudinal case study about an entrepreneur in Massachusetts who exemplifies the practices and policies of a good company. Dave Ferrairo illustrates the transformative role played by organizational leaders who are committed to combining a focus on people, planet, and profit in such a way as to incorporate the principles of corporate social responsibility and Christian social teaching in their daily operations. Ferrairo’s actions are compared with the songs of Bruce Springsteen, who develops in a similar three-stage process (rational, emotional, and spiritual) to move beyond the traditional “American Dream” to a focus on something other than oneself, other people, and nature. The focus becomes one of universality and appreciation of the common good.
The Emergence of Descriptive Set Theory

Descriptive set theory is the definability theory of the continuum, the study of the structural properties of definable sets of reals. Motivated initially by constructivist concerns, a major incentive for the subject was to investigate the extent of the regularity properties, those properties indicative of well-behaved sets of reals. With origins in the work of the French analysts Borel, Baire, and Lebesgue at the turn of the century, the subject developed progressively from Suslin’s work on the analytic sets in 1916, until Godel around 1937 established a delimitative result by showing that if V = L, there are simply defined sets of reals that do not possess the regularity properties. In the ensuing years Kleene developed what turned out to be an effective version of the theory as a generalization of his foundational work in recursion theory, and considerably refined the earlier results.
Seed Predators, not Herbivores, Exert Natural Selection on Solidago spp. in an Urban Archipelago

The effects of urbanization on biodiversity are well established, as a growing city will reduce the size and diversity of patches of native plants. Recolonization of old patches and discovery of new ones by arthropod herbivores should occur as predicted by island biogeography theory. Although colonization represents an increase in biodiversity, such arrivals may exert new forms of natural selection on plants through herbivory and seed predation. Using a single species of old-field aster (Solidago altissima L.), we found that the level of natural selection by seed predators and herbivores follows patterns of island biogeography, with lower amounts of damage on smaller islands, where there are fewer species, and hypothetically smaller populations of arthropods. We also found that in an urban system, levels of herbivory are far below the tolerance levels of Solidago, and that seed predators are likely to be the only arthropod to cause reduced fitness. The pattern seen also implies that as a patch of Solidago grows through clonal expansion, it will come under higher selective pressure.
Synergistic wound healing promoting effects of adenosine and nitric oxide

INTRODUCTION: Wound healing is a highly organized biological process involving inflammation, cell proliferation, matrix deposition and tissue remodeling. Impaired wound healing is well documented in mice lacking adenosine A2A receptor. In addition, the rapid activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been reported during wound repair. Functioning vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) are also required for normal wound healing. Our hypothesis was that high tissue levels of adenosine released from damaged cells and nitric oxide produced by iNOS would promote wound healing through the induction of VEGF and HIF-1.
Another case of mushroom poisoning involving Tricholomopsis platyphylla

A few years ago, Goos and Shoop (1980) reported on two cases of mushroom poisoning involving Tricholomopsis platyphylla (Fr.) Singer, a mushroom cited in most mushroom manuals as non-poisonous. Recently, another case of poison? ing following ingestion of T. platyphylla has come to my attention. In view of the apparent toxicity of this fungus, it seems important to document this additional incident. The case involves two physicians from the greater Providence, Rhode Island, area. On June 4, 1983, the two gentlemen collected a specimen of T. platyphylla growing near the base of a dead hardwood tree. The cap, about 10 cm in diam, was sampled, uncooked, at about 6:30 p.m., by both men. The symptoms which ensued, while differing somewhat in sequence of occurrence and in intensity, were basically similar, leading them to connect their illness to ingestion of the mush?
Abstract 1136: Detection and characterization of circulating tumor cells in localized and metastatic prostate cancer patients using CTC-Chip microfluidic technology

Despite recent molecular advances, the treatment of localized and metastatic prostate cancer has changed little in recent decades and it remains a major cause of cancer deaths in men. Localized prostate cancer may be either indolent or invasive, without reliable distinguishing markers, and the absence of tumor tissue from patients with metastatic bone disease has hampered understanding of acquired resistance to primary hormonal therapy. Given the predominant hematogenous spread of prostate cancer, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may provide an indicator of vascular invasiveness, as well as a source of tumor specimens for molecular analysis, but available technologies have been limited by relatively low sensitivity. Huge strides in engineering at smaller scales have lead to the tremendous progress in microfabricated devices to facilitate both applied and basic research. Applying a multi-disciplinary approach, we have developed a microfluidic technology “CTC-Chip” for diagnosis and monitoring of non-hematological cancers. Using the CTC-Chip, we were able to isolate CTCs in patients with both localized and metastatic prostate cancer. In patients with advanced cancer, CTCs were present at a frequency of 34 CTCs/mL (range 14-653), with a profound decline in numbers during response to hormone withdrawal therapy. Molecular markers, including the characteristic TMPRSS2-ERG translocation, are readily identified in CTCs. In patients with early stage, resectable prostate cancer, we have monitored CTC load in circulation following surgical resection of the primary tumor. CTCs were examined the day following surgical resection, at postoperative day 9, and at greater than 3 months, coincident with scheduled postoperative clinical visits. Longitudinal monitoring of CTCs revealed all CTC-positive cases showed disappearance of CTCs following prostate resection, with some having an immediate decline and others having a delayed (>24 hours) response. No evident differences in tumor pathology or operative procedure distinguished patients with a rapid versus delayed postoperative CTC decline. Dual staining of captured CTCs for PSA and Ki67 indicated a broad range in proliferative index of CTCs among patients with different clinical courses. Thus, the quantitative isolation and analysis of CTCs in both localized and metastatic prostate cancer provides novel insights into early hematogenous dissemination and enables molecular analyses of treatment-responsive and -resistant disease. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1136.
Relationship between Religious Attitude and Rational Thinking

Correlations for 81 male and 63 female college students among scores on Feagin's Intrinsic-Extrinsic Religious Orientation Scale, Faulkner and Dejong's Religiosity Scales, Ellis' scale, and Bard's self-rating scale for nationality though significant were low in magnitude. These women scored more rational and intrinsic. Extrinsically oriented religious subjects were less rational than intrinsically oriented ones.
Planet Imaging Coronagraphic Technology Using a Reconfigurable Experimental Base (PICTURE-B): The Second in the Series of Suborbital Exoplanet Experiments

The PICTURE-B sounding rocket mission is designed to directly image the exozodiacal light and debris disk around the Sun-like star Epsilon Eridani. The payload used a 0.5m diameter silicon carbide primary mirror and a visible nulling coronagraph which, in conjunction with a fine pointing system capable of 5milliarcsecond stability, was designed to image the circumstellar environment around a nearby star in visible light at small angles from the star and at high contrast. Besides contributing an important science result, PICTURE-B matures essential technology for the detection and characterization of visible light from exoplanetary environments for future larger missions currently being imagined. The experiment was launched from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on 2015 November 24 and demonstrated the first space operation of a nulling coronagraph and a deformable mirror. Unfortunately, the experiment did not achieve null, hence did not return science results.
Genetics of Cystinuria in an Inbred Population

AbstractAfter the identification of 2 cystinurics in a large eastern Virginia isolate a population study was undertaken to identify carriers of the gene and others who could be affected by it. Of 102 individuals 3 additional homozygous cystinurics and 27 possible carriers were found. The cystinuria gene shows a highly variable expression, although all those affected and carriers could be traced to 1 couple who married about 1890. These studies demonstrate that there is considerable variation in urinary concentrations of cystine even in an affected population. No form of therapy should be based on random or isolated samples.
Power in Editorial Positions: Where Are the Women in Public Administration?

Journal editors serve a vital, powerful role in academic fields. They set research priorities, serve as gatekeepers for research, play a critical role in advancing junior scholars as reviewers and eventually into editorial roles, build extensive networks while serving as editors, and gain valuable insight into the behavior and preferences of reviewers and researchers in the field. This paper analyzes data collected from eleven leading public administration journals in 2014. The data illustrate a clear underrepresentation of women on editorial boards and complete absence of women in chief and managing editor positions at our journals. Drawing from these data, research on journal editorships, departmental websites, and interviews with senior and junior women in the field, I discuss the underrepresentation of women in journal leadership. I then propose a number of mechanisms by which all public administration scholars (junior, senior, men, and women), journal leadership, and academic departments can move toward increasing women’s representation in these important positions.
The Effect of Back Closure on Detrusor Function in Neonates with Myelomeningocele

AbstractTo determine the effect of back closure on the detrusor-external sphincter coordination, we reviewed the medical records of 40 neonates with myelodysplasia studied prospectively with urodynamic assessment and renal ultrasonography before closure of the spinal defect, within 7 days of closure and at 3-month intervals thereafter. Only 31 of the 40 neonates met all criteria for inclusion. All renal sonograms were normal before and after closure. Urodynamic evaluation demonstrated coordinated detrusor-sphincter activity in 18 neonates before and after closure. During prolonged followup 1 patient had detrusor areflexia and 4 had detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. Of 11 neonates who demonstrated detrusor areflexia and no external sphincter activity before closure 10 were unchanged on initial post-closure evaluation (4 had detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia during followup), while 1 demonstrated detrusor areflexia with external sphincter overactivity and vesicoureteral reflux after closure. The latter patient s...
On the Reconstruction of Past Levels of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Right now, with a concentration of 30% above background, the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere is higher than anything experienced in the last 800,000 years. According to the “best-guess” reconstructions of Berner (1997, 1998), we have to go back tens of millions of years to reach values greater than 50% over present, and to the mid- Cretaceous to go beyond a factor of two. However, the error bars are very large indeed. According to new reconstructions based on carbon isotopes in unsaturated alkenones from deepsea carbonates, atmospheric CO2 was in fact lower in the Miocene than today (Ennyu et al., 1998; Pagani et al., 1998), rather than higher, as is generally thought. If this is accepted, Neogene cooling must be derived from orographic and other geographic changes affecting albedo and redistribution of heat, rather than a drawing down of CO2 from intensified weathering or burial of organic matter.
Continued Pregnancy After Curettage and Incidental Tubal Fulguration by Laparoscopy: A Case Report

The patient presented in this case report had an incomplete abortion after dilatation, curettage and tubal fulguration, despite postoperative radiologic evidence of tubal occlusion. The pregnancy evidently either survived the fulguration to abort later or was intrauterine and missed by the curettage.
Effects of freezing on nitrite stability in aqueous solutions

Les pertes en nitrites sont importantes sauf si le pH est voisin de 11,0 ce qui est rarement le cas pour les echantillons de produits alimentaires
Connecting Climate Social Adaptation and Land Use Change in Internationally Adjoining Protected Areas

The development of climate adaptation strategies to address social problems derived from climate change is pressing. Yet, in addition to providing means to minimise the impact of climate variability and change on livelihoods, climate adaptation strategies might exacerbate environmental change and cause negative social impacts. Systematic research has not addressed the impacts of adaptation on environmental change. In this paper, I focus on land use change as a specific type of environmental change and on three adaptation strategies: diversification, pooling and out-migration. I analyse the influence of adaptation strategies on land use change by drawing on interviews with the managers of 56 internationally adjoining protected areas in 18 countries in the Americas. The findings indicate that the impact of adaptation depends on the adaptation strategy people choose. When people out-migrate, land use change increases. Community elite control for decision-making, shorter distances between communities and markets and more communities in and around the protected areas also increase land use change. These findings show that adaptation can be a driver of further environmental change, and thus further study is needed to understand the likely impacts of adaptation on conservation.
On shifting the blame to humanity: Historicist narratives regarding transgressors evoke compassion for the transgressor but disdain for humanity

People respond compassionately to transgressors whose immorality is rooted in an unfortunate life history. But, are reactions to such historicist narratives uniformly compassionate? We suggest not. We propose that historicist narratives also have a dark side. Specifically, they encourage blame shifting, in which negative evaluations of humanity arise hand in hand with compassion for the focal transgressor of the narrative. Indeed, historicist narratives portray the focal transgressor as victimized by multiple others, who destroy her goodness and remove her chance to flourish in life. This destruction of another's potential is itself a profound moral violation and thus activates far-reaching blame responses that feed a disdainful view of humanity. In three studies, we provide evidence that historicist narratives evoke compassion for one but disdain for the multitude. We show that the resulting disdain can diminish prosocial behaviour in unrelated contexts, that it is elicited by both experimenter-provided and participant-generated historicist narratives, and that it is created via blame shifting. Our findings question the assumption that proliferation of historicist thinking would necessarily contribute to creating a more compassionate, humane society.
Internal-tide interactions with the Gulf Stream and Middle Atlantic Bight shelfbreak front

Internal tides in the Middle Atlantic Bight region are found to be noticeably influenced by the presence of the shelfbreak front and the Gulf Stream, using a combination of observations, equations, and data-driven model simulations. To identify the dominant interactions of these waves with subtidal flows, vertical-mode momentum and energy partial differential equations are derived for small-amplitude waves in a horizontally and vertically sheared mean flow and in a horizontally and vertically variable density field. First, the energy balances are examined in idealized simulations with mode-1 internal tides propagating across and along the Gulf Stream. Next, the fully nonlinear dynamics of regional tide-mean-flow interactions are simulated with a primitive-equation model, which incorporates realistic summer-mesoscale features and atmospheric forcing. The shelfbreak front, which has horizontally variable stratification, decreases topographic internal-tide generation by about 10% and alters the wavelengths and arrival times of locally generated mode-1 internal tides on the shelf and in the abyss. The (sub)mesoscale variability at the front and on the shelf, as well as the summer stratification itself, also alter internal-tide propagation. The Gulf Stream produces anomalous regions of O(20 mW m−2) mode-1 internal-tide energy-flux divergence, which are explained by tide-mean-flow terms in the mode-1 energy balance. Advection explains most tide-mean-flow interaction, suggesting that geometric wave theory explains mode-1 reflection and refraction at the Gulf Stream. Geometric theory predicts that offshore-propagating mode-1 internal tides that strike the Gulf Stream at oblique angles (more than thirty degrees from normal) are reflected back to the coastal ocean, preventing their radiation into the central North Atlantic.
Selenium induced DNA repair and cancer prevention.

Fifth AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, Nov 12-15, 2006 A72 Several clinical trials are seeking to determine the efficacy of selenium in cancer prevention. There is evidence that selenium supplementation can reduce the incidence of a variety of human cancer types including lung, prostate, gastric, and esophageal. There are also studies in rats and mice that reveal selenium prevention of chemically-induced mammary and colon cancers. However, the mechanism by which selenium exerts its preventive effect remains to be identified. We have shown that different types of selenium exert different biochemical effects on the tumor suppressor p53, and we propose that these differential effects contribute to the mechanism of selenium prevention. Specifically, we have shown that methylseleninic acid induces p53 serine phosphorylation, which is associated with apoptosis. Selenomethionine, on the other hand, caused no detectable serine phosphorylation. Selenomethionine treated cells have an altered redox environment that leads to a reduction of p53 cysteine residues. The reduced conformation of p53 induces DNA binding and transcription of DNA damage recognition proteins. The damage recognition proteins XPC and p48XPE comprise the rate-limiting step in the nucleotide excision repair process. In this study, we analyzed the expression of several DNA damage recognition factors in wildtype and p53-null mouse embryo fibroblasts following treatment with selenomethionine. Selenomethionine treatment had no effect on p53-null cells, but in wildtype cells, there was increased expression of rate-limiting damage recognition factors, which coincided with an increase in the rate of repair of ultraviolet radiation-induced lesions. We also show that selenomethionine elevates DNA repair in primary mouse bone marrow and rat gut epithelial cells. The preventive effect of selenium may depend on the relative contribution of particular selenium compounds and their differential effects of either apoptosis or DNA repair.
Levodopa Dose-Limiting Dyskinesias in Treatment of Segawa Disease

Researchers at the University of Cordoba, and other centers in Spain, Germany and New York report an atypical phenotype of persistent, low-dose levodopa treatment-limiting dyskinesias in 2 members of a family (female child aged 13 years and mother) with prominent brachial dystonia and a novel GCH1 mutation.
Natural Resource Management And Poverty In Sub-Saharan Africa

This chapter examines the opportunities and limitations of poverty reduction in Africa based on strategies of natural resource use. It argues that the small-farmer model of rural society that dominates policy-making fails to take account of key local dynamics. In particular, African use of land, water and other natural resources needs to be understood from a perspective that recognizes the integration of many rural people within broader national and international labour markets and its effects in terms of migration and distribution of labour. While new markets are being created by urbanization and by technological change, the capacity to take advantage of such opportunities tends to be unevenly spread among households, so that aggregate increases in investment and income are often accompanied by growing inequality between rural households. The chapter concludes by considering the implications of these economic dynamics for current policies favouring the decentralization of the management of natural resources. Keywords: international labour markets; natural resource management; poverty reduction; rural households; Sub-Saharan Africa
Persistent landfalling atmospheric rivers over the west coast of North America

Landfalling atmospheric rivers (ARs) are linked to heavy precipitation and extreme flooding, and are well known along the western coast of North America. The hydrological impacts of ARs upon landfall are correlated with their duration and magnitude. In order to improve the forecast of these hydrologically significant landfalling events, a better understanding of how they differ from other landfalling events must be established through an investigation of the mechanisms leading to their development prior to landfall. A subset of persistent landfalling AR events between 30°N and 50°N is identified in 3-hourly Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications reanalysis and validated against existing data sets. These events are identified as features in the low troposphere with high moisture transport and extended geometry that persist over a limited region of the coastline for longer than 63 h (85th percentile of AR duration). A composite analysis shows that persistent events have distinct thermodynamical and dynamical characteristics compared to all AR events. They are characterized by greater moisture content, suggestive of Pineapple Express-type events, a perturbed upper level jet and anticyclonic overturning of potential vorticity contours associated with anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking. Moreover, the location of the Rossby wave breaking is shifted inland compared to all AR events. Analogue analysis of the 500 hPa geopotential height anomalies is used to find nonpersistent events with similar dynamical characteristics to persistent events. Despite their similarity to persistent events, nonpersistent analogues show very little shift toward longer duration. A comparison of the development of persistent and nonpersistent analogues shows that persistent events have much greater moisture content.
LPS-treated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells induce immune tolerance through modulating differentiation of CD4 + regulatory T cell subpopulations mediated by 3G11 and CD127.

Intravenous transfer of LPS-treated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells blocks development of autoimmunity induced by CD4+ T cells in vivo. However, cellular mechanisms of dendritic cell-mediated immune tolerance have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we report that there are two new subpopulations of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+GITR+ regulatory T cells (CD127+3G11+ and CD127+3G11- cells). LPS-treated dendritic cells facilitate development of CD4+CD127+3G11- regulatory T cells but inhibit that of CD4+CD127+3G11+ regulatory T cells. LPS-induced tolerogenic dendritic cells may cause immune tolerance through modulating balance of different subsets of CD4+ regulatory T cells mediated by CD127 and 3G11. Our results imply a new potential cellular mechanism of dendritic cell-mediated immune tolerance.
Interior local null controllability for multi-dimensional compressible flow near a constant state

Abstract We consider compressible flow with periodic boundary conditions. In a neighborhood of a state of constant density and nonzero velocity, we prove exact null controllability of the system with a control localized in space and acting only on the momentum equation.
Bernstein-Bézier techniques for divergence of polynomial spline vector fields in ℝ n

Bernstein-Bezier techniques for analyzing polynomial spline fields in n variables and their divergence are developed. Dimension and a minimal determining set for continuous piecewise divergence-free spline fields on the Alfeld split of a simplex in ℝ n are obtained using the new techniques, as well as the dimension formula for continuous piecewise divergence-free splines on the Alfeld refinement of an arbitrary simplicial partition in ℝ n .
Chromatographic Evaluation of Protein Mixtures

Publisher Summary This chapter presents chromatographic evaluation of protein mixtures. Protein and the ion exchanger are polyelectrolytes, and they are therefore capable of interacting at several points, provided intercharge distances are favorable. The adsorbed protein is more tightly bound than a singly charged substance under the same conditions; however, it can be eluted from a suitable ion exchanger if the pH is changed to reduce the number of charges on the protein or adsorbent, or if the salt concentration is raised to compete for the existing charges. A homologous series of polynucleotides emerges from a cellulosic anion exchange column in the order of increasing size. The conditions required for elution of a given molecule from a given adsorbent depend upon the number of bonds that can be formed among them. Therefore, a molecule having the same net surface charge density as another but exceeding it significantly in size, can require a stronger eluting condition because it can be capable of forming more bonds with the adsorbent.
Therapeutic Angiogenesis, Cell Therapy and Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is one of the major complications of systemic atherosclerosis where occlusions along the major arterial pathway that supplies blood to the lower extremities is interrupted and blood flow to the distal limb becomes dependent on the presence, extent, and function of collateral blood vessels. Estimates are PAD is present in ~8.5 million Americans at or over the age of 40 and the two major clinical manifestations of PAD are intermittent claudication (IC) and critical limb ischemia (CLI) (Go et al., Circulation 129(3):e28–e292, 2014). Across the two major clinical manifestations of PAD the types of leg symptoms, amputation rates, and mortality differ greatly (Norgren et al., J Vasc Surg 45(Suppl S):S5–S67, 2007). Medical therapies for PAD subjects are designed to limit complications from systemic but no medical therapies are reliably able to improve blood flow to the ischemic limb. Here we will review how trials of therapeutic angiogenesis using gene or cell therapy have fared to treat PAD.
An online growth mindset intervention in a sample of rural adolescent girls.

Background Students living in rural areas of the United States exhibit lower levels of educational attainment than their suburban counterparts. Innovative interventions are needed to close this educational achievement gap. Aims We investigated whether an online growth mindset intervention could be leveraged to promote academic outcomes. Sample We tested the mindset intervention in a sample of 222 10th-grade adolescent girls (M age = 15.2; 38% White, 25% Black, 29% Hispanic) from four rural, low-income high schools in the Southeastern United States. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of the growth mindset intervention, relative to a sexual health programme. We used random sampling and allocation procedures to assign girls to either the mindset intervention (n = 115) or an attention-matched control programme (n = 107). We assessed participants at pre-test, immediate post-test, and 4-month follow-up. Results Relative to the control condition, students assigned to the mindset intervention reported stronger growth mindsets at immediate post-test and 4-month follow-up. Although the intervention did not have a total effect on academic attitudes or grades, it indirectly increased motivation to learn, learning efficacy and grades via the shifts in growth mindsets. Conclusions Results indicate that this intervention is a promising method to encourage growth mindsets in rural adolescent girls.