cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fibrocystic breast disease: Pathophysiology, pathomorphology, clinical picture, and management

The pathophysiology of fibrocystic breast disease is determined by estrogen predominance and progesterone deficiency that result in hyperproliferation of connective tissue (fibrosis), which is followed by facultative epithelial proliferation; the risk of breast cancer is increased twofold to fourfold in these patients. The clinical correlate of fibrocystic disease is reflected by breast and axillary pain or tenderness in response to development of fibrocystic plaques, nodularity, macrocysts, and fibrocystic lumps. The disease progresses with advancing premenopausal age and is most pronounced in women during their 40s. Fibrocystic changes regress during the postmenopausal period. Medical treatment of fibrocystic disease is accomplished: by suppression of ovarian estrogen secretion with a low-estrogen oral contraceptive, whereby the action of estrogen on breast tissues is opposed by the oral contraceptive's progestin component (19-nortestosterone derivatives), or by cyclic administration of a progestogen (progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate) that modulates the mammary effects of estrogen. These treatment modalities are equally as effective as or superior to danazol therapy, which entails side effects in the majority of patients. Adjuvant therapy of fibrocystic breast disease with vitamin E is of value in patients with borderline or abnormal lipid profiles (low plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein and high plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein). With thorough diagnostic evaluation, appropriate medication, and close follow-up, treatment success can be achieved in almost every patient. Needle aspiration biopsy should be performed in patients with macrocysts and whenever clinical, ultrasonic, and/or mammographic examinations are suspicious for carcinoma. Patients at high risk of breast cancer (breast cancer in mother and/or sister) should have clinical examinations at 4- to 6-month intervals and mammography every 1 to 2 years; needle aspiration should be performed when the slightest suspicion arises. Fibrocystic breast disease is not a "harmless nondisease" but a distinct clinical entity that requires treatment to bring about relief to the patient, to reduce the incidence of breast surgical procedures, and to diminish the risk of breast cancer.
Immune intervention yes, but for what reason, for whom, when and how ?

The hypothesis that Type i (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease has yet to be proven. The many phenomena of immune character associated with the clinical onset of Type i diabetes are used to support this hypothesis. However, too many questions remain unanswered. We would probably make tremendous progress if the hypothesis were to be disproved, since it would force us to formulate new hypotheses. Taking the immunological perspective for now, when does the initial antigen presentation take place, what are the antigen(s), and are they the same in every pre-diabetic subject? Specific T-cell participation is taken for granted, but to my knowledge, human T cells, be they CD4 + cells that proliferate in response to a specific Beta-cell antigen, or CD8 + cells that kill Beta ceils, have yet to be demonstrated convincingly. The assays for islet cell autoantibodies are becoming more reproducible and progress is being made by joint international efforts to develop standardized assays [1, 2]. The availability of defined antigens, first insulin [3] and now also recombinant glutamic acid decarboxylase(s) (GAD) [4-8] makes it possible to study these antibodies using quantitative, validated assays. More antigens are apparently also waiting to enter the stage. In this brief commentary, I would therefore like to put the problem of intervention therapy into perspective by asking: for what reason should it be used, who should be treated, and when, and how to treat?
Same Situation—Different Emotions: How Appraisals Shape Our Emotions

Appraisal theories of emotion hold that it is the way a person interprets a situation--rather than the situation itself--that gives rise to one emotion rather than another emotion (or no emotion at all). Unfortunately, most prior tests of this foundational hypothesis have simultaneously varied situations and appraisals, making an evaluation of this assumption difficult. In the present study, participants responded to a standardized laboratory situation with a variety of different emotions. Appraisals predicted the intensity of individual emotions across participants. In addition, subgroups of participants with similar emotional response profiles made comparable appraisals. Together, these findings suggest that appraisals may be necessary and sufficient to determine different emotional reactions toward a particular situation.
Cell Characterization Using High Frequency Ultrasound.

It has been previously shown that malignant cancer cells have different material properties than benign cells. Human cells exhibit extensive variability in their chemical and mechanobiological response due to donor-to-donor variability. Therefore, there is a great need for cell characterization in a high throughput fashion. In this paper, a method of cell detection and characterization based on the electrical impedance of a piezoelectric transducer as a function of cell acoustic properties is proposed. Percent impedance change from day 1 to day 14 for human adipose derived stem cells undergoing chemical induced osteogenic differentiation was twice that of human adipose derived stem cells maintained in complete growth media. The observed results were validated by a simulation model.
A comparison of the suppression of human transferrin synthesis by lead and lipopolysaccharide

Transferrin, as the major iron-transport protein in serum and other body fluids, has a central role in managing iron the body receives. Liver is a major site of transferrin synthesis, and in this study we present evidence that liver synthesis of human transferrin is suppressed by both the toxic metal lead and bacterial lipopolysaccharide, an inducer of the hepatic acute phase response. The responses of intact endogenous transferrin in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and chimeric human transferrin-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase genes in transgenic mice were examined. In HepG2 cells, 35S-transferrin protein synthesis and mRNA levels were suppressed by 100 microM and 10 microM lead acetate as early as 24 h after the initial treatment. Yet, synthesis of two proteins known to respond in the hepatic acute phase reaction, complement C3 and albumin, was not altered by the lead treatment. In transgenic mouse liver, lead suppressed expression of chimeric human transferrin genes at both the protein and mRNA levels, but LPS only suppressed at the protein level. The study indicates that lead suppresses human transferrin synthesis by a mechanism that differs from the hepatic acute phase response and that lead may also affect iron metabolism in humans by interfering with transferrin levels.
Eportfolios in Business Communication Courses as Tools for Employment.

Eportfolios are a powerful tool for business students to gain self-awareness and take control of their learning experiences. Ideally, they can be used as online profiles in the job application proc...
The clustering and host haloes of galaxy mergers at high redshift

High-resolution simulations of cosmological structure formation indicate that dark matter substructure in dense environments, such as groups and clusters, may survive for a long time. These dark matter subhaloes are the likely hosts of galaxies. We examine the small-scale spatial clustering of subhalo major mergers at high redshift using high-resolution N-body simulations of cosmological volumes. Recently merged, massive subhaloes exhibit enhanced clustering on scales ∼100–300 h−1 kpc, relative to all subhaloes of the same infall mass, for a short time after a major merger (<500 Myr). The small-scale clustering enhancement is smaller for lower mass subhaloes, which also show a deficit on scales just beyond the excess. Haloes hosting recent subhalo mergers tend to have more subhaloes; for massive subhaloes, the excess is stronger and it tends to increase for the most massive host haloes. The subhalo merger fraction is independent of halo mass for the scales we probe. In terms of satellite and central subhaloes, the merger increase in small-scale clustering for massive subhaloes arises from recently merged massive central subhaloes having an enhanced satellite population. Our mergers are defined via their parent infall mass ratios. Subhaloes experiencing major mass gains also exhibit a small-scale clustering enhancement, but these correspond to two-body interactions leading to two final subhaloes, rather than subhalo coalescence.
The Psychological Assessment of Depression: Unipolars Versus Bipolars

Psychological test differences between unipolar (UD) and bipolar (BD) depressed inpatients were examined using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI, Hathaway and McKinley, 1943; MMPI-2, Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989), Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI, Millon, 1983; MCMI-II, Millon, 1987), and Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90-R, Derogatis, 1983). One hundred fifty-eight UD patients and 26 BD patients took these self-report tests at the beginning of their hospitalization. Results indicate that there were few consistent findings across the three tests (or versions of tests). Contrary tO some previous studies, the BD patients did not exhibit a "social desirability" response set, nor did they produce "normal" test profiles. Although the tests were not able to identify depressed patients with past manic episodes, BD patients were more narcissistic, driven, and willing to engage in antisocial practices than were UD patients. These findings are discussed in terms of ...
Maternal and fetal plasma prostaglandin levels at vaginal delivery and cesarean section.

Abstract Prostaglandin F has been measured in plasma from the maternal peripheral vein (MPV), umbilical artery (UA), and umbilical vein (UV) of women at elective cesarean section but not in labor, and in patients during spontaneous or oxytocin induced vaginal delivery. In all groups of patients, the PGF concentration in the UA and UV plasma was significantly greater than in the corresponding MPV sample. However, there was no consistent difference in the plasma concentration of PGF between pairs of UA and UV samples. The plasma concentration of PGF in the UA and UV was significantly elevated at vaginal delivery compared to cesarean section. These data indicate that there is an increase in the concentration of PGF within the fetal compartment during active labor, but no single source of the prostaglandin could be defined.
Participating in the culture of cancer: A demilitarized approach to treatment

This case study describes the use of hypnosis with an anthropologist diagnosed with breast cancer. The therapist utilized the client’s sense of identity as a qualitative researcher, as well as her knowledge of and respect for indigenous cultures, to help her actively engage in her chemotherapy treatment and to help her better tolerate the side-effects of the medication. He also used hypnosis to attempt to improve the functioning of her immune system, employing, at her request, an alternative approach to standard military-based images. Considering immunity to be a cognitive process, the therapist designed metaphors that focused on improving the immune system’s ability to perceive, learn, and achieve balance. The second author (JS) approached the first (DF) in the summer of 1990 with a request for hypnosis. JS had been diagnosed with breast cancer a few months earlier, and had, at the time of her call, undergone a lumpectomy and one round of chemotherapy. The experience had left her despondent. Feeling betrayed by her body and depersonalized by the attitudes of her doctors and medical technicians, JS found herself fighting the treatment regime. She was distressed and angry at, and afraid of, what she deemed ‘the aggressive chemical warfare’ called for by her oncologist. A journal entry at that time reads:
An Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Aigialospirol

A concise and enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-aigialospirol is described here, featuring the first complex natural product synthesis that employs a cyclic ketal-tethered ring-closing metathesis strategy and an unexpected stereoselective epimerization of a benzylic hydroxyl group. The 15-step synthetic sequence illustrates the proof-of-concept that such an approach can be competitive with the classical spiroketal formation in the natural product synthesis.
Age-dependent changes in the capacity of rat sympathetic neurons to form dendrites in tissue culture.

Abstract We compared the ability of prenatal and postnatal rat sympathetic neurons to form dendrites in tissue culture. Dendrites were distinguished from axons by light microscopic criteria after intracellular dye injection and by differential immunostaining with antibodies to microtubule-associated protein-2 and to both non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated forms of the M and H neurofilament subunits. When maintained in the absence of serum and non-neuronal cells, most (72%) prenatal neurons were unipolar and had only an axon. In contrast, most (89%) neurons derived from postnatal ganglia were multipolar and extended both axons and dendrites. The dendritic morphology of postnatal neurons was usually simple with cells commonly having 2–5 short (50–200 μm), relatively unbranched dendrites. Thus, as the development of the dendritic arbor progresses in situ, sympathetic neurons acquire an enhanced ability to extend dendrites in tissue culture. To determine whether changes in the capacity to develop dendrites might occur with aging in vitro, ganglia were removed from prenatal rats and grown as explants for 3 weeks in the presence of non-neuronal cells; under these conditions, prenatal neurons within the explant became multipolar. When neurons derived from aged explants were subsequently maintained in dissociated cell culture, most formed dendrites. In cultures treated with an antimitotic agent, neurons typically had 1–4 unbranched dendrites; greater amounts of dendritic growth occurred in cultures in which ganglionic non-neuronal cells were allowed to proliferate. We conclude that: (1) the acquisition of the capacity to form dendrites in dissociated cell culture does not require either normal afferent input or physical contact with the target tissue; and (2) even after aging in vitro, sympathetic neurons remain responsive to the dendrite-promoting activity of ganglionic non-neuronal cells.
Soft elastohydrodynamic analysis of rotary lip seals

AbstractThe extensive literature on the elastohydrodynamic analysis of rotary lip seals is reviewed. Models that predict quantities such as film thickness and reverse pumping rate and that elucidate the physical processes governing the behaviour of rotary lip seals are described. Thermal effects, mixed lubrication, capillary effects, transients, viscoelasticity, statistical approaches, and so-called hydrodynamic seals are discussed.
CISEPO (City Selection Program): A DSS for relocating companies within the U.S.

Abstract The aim of this paper is to design a decision support system that allows companies to consider their options with respect to relocation within the United States. A prototype system is developed through a rigorous development methodology and illustrates a style of development that attempts to ensure system maintainability, correctness, consistency of deduction and promotes quality software. The system utilizes data that allows a hybrid information systems to be created that combines artificial intelligence and spreadsheet techniques. The system allows individual companies to examine their relocation needs and opportunities while also acting as an educational tool for business and planning students.
FM Signaling in Single Cells

Regulation of transcription factor localization allows cells to respond rapidly to extracellular signals. Although the molecular mechanisms of nuclear import and export have been examined, it remains unclear how localization varies among individual cells, and how dynamic changes in localization affect expression of downstream genes. In the presence of extracellular calcium, Crz1, the calcineurin responsive zinc finger transcription factor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is dephosphorylated and translocates into the nucleus. By observing the localization of Crz1-GFP fusion proteins using time-lapse microscopy, we found that Crz1 exhibited bursts of nuclear localization with a characteristic nuclear residence time of ∼2 minutes. These bursts occurred in a stochastic fashion in individual cells and propagated to the expression of downstream genes, contributing significantly to fluctuations in gene expression. Strikingly, calcium concentration controlled the frequency, but not duration, of nuclear localization bursts. Using an analytic model , we find that the observed stochastic frequency modulation (FM) of localization bursts can enable cells to proportionally coordinate expression levels of multiple target genes by regulating the fraction of time a promoter is active, rather than tuning the level of activity itself. We experimentally confirmed this theory by showing that both natural and synthetic Crz1 target promoters are expressed proportionally across a wide range of calcium concentrations. Furthermore, we observe that many proteins exhibit localization bursts and show diverse dynamic behaviors. These results suggest that cells may utilize FM mode of regulation to control diverse cellular processes.
The Pragmatics of Science, Self, and Explanation

In her article “Neuroscience, Self-Understanding, and Narrative Truth,” Walker (2012) argues that narrative self-knowledge is true in a less robust way than perhaps other forms of truth, as it is b...
News & Views: A Foot in the Door: A Guide to the Postdoctoral Application Process

A recent report in Nature (1) provides some helpful advice on the postdoctoral application process. The author interviews a number of successful postdoctoral fellows on how they secured their positions. The report was divided into 3 categories: “narrowing the field,” “beyond publication record,” and “what not to do.” No strict formula guaranteed success, but as the title indicates, there are some key steps candidates can take to improve their chances. A recurring theme in the report was to identify a laboratory that does work of genuine interest to the candidate. One interviewee described how she wrote down the names of laboratories that published reports she found interesting to narrow the field. Another interviewee wrote from the perspective of someone already in that laboratory, describing in detail the follow-up experiments this applicant would do if accepted. This effort and creativity are typically reflected in cover letters and applications, where candidates may mention specific aspects of the research of the principal investigator (PI).3 Because PIs are acutely concerned with what the applicant has to offer the laboratory, candidates can pique their potential employer's interest by providing details as to what they did previously and how their target laboratory will get them to their destination. This part of the …
College Orientation Profiles of Latino Students From Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds: A Cluster Analytic Approach

This study used cluster analysis to identify college orientation profiles of 115 Latino college freshmen from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds and examined the relationship of profiles to adj...
Control of cambendazole-resistant small strongyles (Population S) with oxibendazole in a pony band: an 8 year field test (1984–1992)

Abstract Studies in a band of ponies harboring Population S benzimidazole-resistant small strongyles were initiated in 1974 and have continued for 18 years. Treatment (bimonthly) was with cambendazole for the first 4 years and with oxibendazole (OBZ) for the next 14 years. Data on the first 10 years have been published. The present investigation includes the last 8 years (4 October 1984-11 September 1992), which are the seventh through fourteenth years, of treatment with OBZ. Pre- and posttreatment mean counts of strongyle eggs (epg) and larvae (lpg) per gram of feces were determined biweekly during the current study to monitor the efficacy of OBZ. The average annual percent reductions of epg counts effected by OBZ treatments were 51%, 53%, 38%, 38%, 39%, 28%, 40%, and 19% for the seventhth through fourteenth years, respectively. Similar levels of reductions were observed for lpg counts. Although OBZ was initially highly effective on this population of small strongyles, epg and lpg counts gradually declined, but have remained more or less constant since the fifth year of research. However, reductions of the counts were the lowest for the last year of the study.
A new system to support knowledge discovery: Telemakus

An unfortunate consequence of specialization in the sciences is poor communication across domains—which can hamper the knowledge discovery process. Research findings in one area may be pertinent to another, researchers may be unaware of relevant work by others that could be integrated into theirs, and important findings just outside a researcher's focus may go undiscovered. Compounding this problem is the information overload issue-the difficulty of keeping current with information that continues to grow at an exponential rate. The development of methods and tools for assisting researchers and other professionals in an effective extraction of problem-oriented knowledge from heterogeneous and massive information sources, and for using this knowledge in problem-solving is one of the most fundamental research directions for the information and computer sciences today. It is clear that there is a need for new tools to support more precise identification of relevant research articles and, further, to provide visual clues regarding relationships among the document sets. We present here a suite of such tools which has been in development at the University of Washington for several years.
Visible Implant Tag Retention by and Effects on Condition of a Stream Population of Brook Trout

Abstract Wild brook trout Savelinus fontinalis in the Hazel River, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, were marked with individually labeled visible implant tags, fin-clipped, and recaptured at intervals over the following year. Tags remained legible over the entire period. Overall tag retention was 65%. Tag retention rates were only about 50% for brook trout 130—160 mm in total length (TL) but rose to 100% for brook trout 200 mm TL or greater. The magnitude of decline in the recapture percentage for brook trout that retained tags is consistent with reported mortality rates for southern Appalachian brook trout populations. Total length and condition of tagged and untagged adult brook trout did not differ significantly in August, October, and May collections.
Recent developments in kidney transplantation - a critical assessment.

Rapid advances have been made in decreasing acute rejection rates and improving short-term graft survival in kidney transplant recipients. Whether these advances ultimately will lead to a commensurate improvement in long-term survival is not yet known. In recent years, greater attention has been placed on defining the precise etiology of graft loss, determining how far and with what agents we can minimize immunosuppression, and delineating the nature of both T-cell-mediated as well as antibody-mediated rejection. In addition, with the growing disparity of available organs and patients in need of a transplant, greater attention has been placed on optimizing allocation. In this minireview, we will focus on developments over the last couple of years, paying particular attention to insights, studies and observations that may attempt to elucidate some of these open questions.
Laser damage in polymer waveguides driven purely by a nonlinear, transverse scattering process

Abstract We demonstrate that in very thin cellulose acetate films, 351 nm, subnanosecond laser damage is a process driven by a probably slow (buildup time τ × laser pulse length), transverse stimulated scattering process that spectrally causes neither Raman nor Brillouin shifts.
Analysis of the structure and synthesis of GRP94, an abundant stress protein of the endoplasmic reticulum.

ABSTRACT The synthesis and cotranslational modification of GRP94, an abundant, resident protein of the endoplasmic reticulum belonging to the hsp90 family of stress proteins, has been studied in tr...
Polymer toughness transfer in a transparent interpenetrating glass–polymer composite

Abstract Nanoporous glass–polymer composites provide a convenient, manufacturable solution for producing transparent composite materials. Such materials may fulfill needs for next-generation, impact- and blast-resistant transparencies in applications such as vehicle windshields and architectural windows. In this work we manufacture transparent composites from a commercially available nanoporous glass by infiltrating the glass with monomer and polymerizing in situ, resulting in an interpenetrating network of glass and polymer. Here, we show that the toughness of the polymer phase plays a significant role in overall composite toughness. Experiments show that, on average, a 100% increase in polymer toughness corresponds to an approximate 40% increase in overall composite toughness.
The Electrocardiogram and Ventricular Gradient in Isolated Congenital Pulmonary Stenosis

The electrocardiogram and ventricular gradient were studied in 41 patients with isolated congenital pulmonary stenosis. The ventricular gradient was abnormal in 26 of the 41 patients (63 per cent). The AQRS migrated to the right in the frontal plane and AT migrated to the left. Following surgical reduction of the stenosis these vectors rotated rapidly toward the normal position. The electrocardiographic pattern in isolated congenital pulmonary stenosis tended to be of 4 types that were generally related to the right ventricular systolic pressure. The electrocardiographic changes associated with this defect, in which the work of the right ventricle was increased because of right ventricular hypertension, were different from those associated with atrial septal defect in which right ventricular work was increased because of high volume output. The duration of the QRS complex was not prolonged in the electrocardiograms of patients with pulmonary stenosis, whereas it was characteristically prolonged in those...
Stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for the treatment of acoustic schwannomas: comparative observations of 125 patients treated at one institution

Abstract Background: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and, more recently, fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) have been recognized as noninvasive alternatives to surgery for the treatment of acoustic schwannomas. We review our experience of acoustic tumor treatments at one institution using a gamma knife for SRS and the first commercial world installation of a dedicated linac for SRT. Methods: Patients were treated with SRS on the gamma knife or SRT on the linac from October 1994 through August 2000. Gamma knife technique involved a fixed-frame multiple shot/high conformality single treatment, whereas linac technique involved daily conventional fraction treatments involving a relocatable frame, fewer isocenters, and high conformality established by noncoplanar arc beam shaping and differential beam weighting. Results: Sixty-nine patients were treated on the gamma knife, and 56 patients were treated on the linac, with 1 NF-2 patient common to both units. Three patients were lost to follow-up, and in the remaining 122 patients, mean follow-up was 119 ± 67 weeks for SRS patients and 115 ± 96 weeks for SRT patients. Tumor control rates were high (≥97%) for sporadic tumors in both groups but lower for NF-2 tumors in the SRT group. Cranial nerve morbidities were comparably low in both groups, with the exception of functional hearing preservation, which was 2.5-fold higher in patients who received conventional fraction SRT. Conclusion: SRS and SRT represent comparable noninvasive treatments for acoustic schwannomas in both sporadic and NF-2 patient groups. At 1-year follow-up, a significantly higher rate of serviceable hearing preservation was achieved in SRT sporadic tumor patients and may therefore be preferable to alternatives including surgery, SRS, or possibly observation in patients with serviceable hearing.
Hemopump Bypass Is Associated With Less White Cell Activation Than Roller Pump Bypass In The Fetal Bypass Model † 132

Hemopump Bypass Is Associated With Less White Cell Activation Than Roller Pump Bypass In The Fetal Bypass Model † 132
Characterization of nanofibrous membranes with capillary flow porometry

Pore size and pore size distribution of nanofibrous membranes have been studied using capillary flow porometry. Nanofibrous membranes have been obtained by electrospinning polymer solutions either at room temperature or at elevated temperature. Our results reveal that pore size and pore size distribution are strongly associated with fiber mass, fiber diameter, and fiber length. An increase in membrane mass caused a decrease in pore size and a shift in pore size distribution towards lower values. Larger fiber diameter resulted in the formation of larger pores. The dependence of pore size on fiber length has also been discussed and a correlation is proposed between the pore size of electrospun membranes and fiber length. The current study is significant in providing a general understanding of the porous structure of electrospun fibrous membranes because the pore size and distribution of the membranes depend on the physical size and amount of fibers and are independent of the composition of the spun materials.
Negatively charged excitions (X−) and D− triplet transitions in GaAs/Al0.3Ga0.7As multiple quantum wells

From a combination of low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) and far-infrared magnetospectroscopy on several GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well samples with different donor doping (well only, barrier only, both well and barrier), we have identified a recombination line due to negatively charged excitons (X−). We have also studied the effects of excess free electrons in the wells on the X− line. Magneto-Pl for low-density barrier-only doped samples shows both free exciton and X− recombination lines at all values of field studied. However, for more heavily doped samples the behavior is very different. As magnetic field is increased, three distinct features evolve from the broad free carrier recombination lines. At low fields all three features are Landau level recombination lines. At a field corresponding to filling factor v = 2 the lowest energy line undergoes a discontinuous change in slope, and above this field it evolves into the X− line. In related far-infrared magnetospectroscopy studies we have made a clear identification of one of the predicted negative donor ion (D−) triplet transitions.
Enhanced lung maturation in cocaine-exposed rabbit fetuses.

ABSTRACT: Because of cocaine's possible effect on the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in offspring of cocaine-addicted mothers, we have studied the effects of maternal exposure to cocaine on the functional anatomy of fetal rabbit lungs. Pregnant dams were injected s.c. daily with either cocaine (18 mg/kg) or an equal volume of 0.9% NaCl at 24, 25, and 26 d gestation. Cocaine metabolites were confirmed both in urine of treated dams and in fetal amniotic fluid. Serum cortisol levels were higher in treated dams than in controls. Fetuses were delivered through hysterotomy at 27 d. Tracheas were cannulated and a volume-pressure diagram was obtained during initial lung inflation-deflation. Volume was measured for 2 min at each pressure (P) increment of 5 cm H2O. Body weights and dry lung weights were comparable between the two groups. In contrast, cocaine-exposed lungs differed from controls as follows: I) wet lung weights were lower (0.79 versus 0.89 g, p < 0.02); 2) opening pressure was lower (P25 versus P35); 3) volume (ml/kg) was higher in treated animals at each pressure step (p < 0.05); 4) end-deflation volume at P0 was higher (30.4 versus 0.8 mL/kg, p < 0.001); and 5) bubbles released from saccules by micropuncture, which were stable by Pattle's criteria, had estimated surface tension near zero (controls produced no stable bubbles). Light micrographs of cocaine-exposed fetuses revealed more secondary septa and thinner septal walls than controls. We conclude that fetal exposure to cocaine results in increased lung distensibility and stability, induction of low surface tension, and morphologic transformations, each of which is consistent with accelerated lung maturation. The cortisol surge suggests a steroid-mediated mechanism for this effect.
Opposite action of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in regulating renal inflammation: functional switch by its ligand

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) agonists, a new class of antidiabetic agents, have been shown to possess antiinflammatory activity. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which PPARγ agonists inhibit proinflammatory cytokine expression in rat glomerular mesangial cells. Both natural and synthetic PPARγ agonists potently inhibited RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression induced by TNF-α in mesangial cells, which was dependent on NF-κB signaling. However, PPARγ agonists had little effect on TNF-α-triggered IκBα phosphorylation and its subsequent degradation, p65 phosphorylation, and nuclear translocation. In the absence of PPARγ ligand, TNF-α induced a physical interaction between nuclear p65 and PPARγ, as demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation. Such an interaction was mediated by the C-terminal region of p65. Activation of PPARγ by its agonist prevented PPARγ·p65 complex formation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that TNF-α induced p65 binding to the cis-acting κB elements in rat RANTES promoter, whereas disruption of PPARγ·p65 by its agonist blocked p65 interaction with its cognate κB sites. Knockdown of PPARγ via siRNA strategy completely abolished TNF-α-mediated p65 binding to κB sites and negated RANTES induction, suggesting that unliganded PPARγ is obligatory for NF-κB signaling. Consistently, overexpression of PPARγ in the absence of its ligand sensitized mesangial cells to TNF-α stimulation. These results uncover a paradoxical action of the unliganded and ligand-activated PPARγ in regulating NF-κB signaling and demonstrate PPARγ ligand as a molecular switch that controls its ability to modulate inflammatory responses in opposite directions.
Sodium retention and hepatic function after two‐thirds hepatectomy in the rat

Recently it was suggested that the onset of sodium retention in experimental cirrhosis in rats is related to a critical threshold of hepatic function, as assessed by the aminopyrine breath test. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether sodium retention occurred after two-thirds hepatectomy in rats and to investigate the relationship between sodium retention and changes in hepatic function associated with liver regeneration in this model. Sodium balance, creatinine clearance, serum sodium and the aminopyrine rate constant of elimination were evaluated daily for 4 days after surgery in partially hepatectomized (n = 6) and shamoperated rats (n = 6). All rats in the partial hepatectomy group exhibited sodium retention (sodium balance >0.7 mmol/day) 24 hr after surgery. This was associated with a 62% reduction of the aminopyrine rate constant of elimination. Spontaneous natriuresis, which occurred between 2 and 4 days after surgery, was associated with an increase in the aminopyrine rate constant of elimination (from 0.73 ± 0.02 × 10−2 min−1 on the last day of sodium retention to 0.95 ± 0.04 × 10−2 min−1 on the first day of natriuresis [p < 0.05]). In contrast, no change in creatinine clearance occurred over the same period. A negative curvilinear association was found between sodium balance and the aminopyrine rate constant of elimination in all animals (r = −0.72, p < 0.001). These observations indicate that natriuresis is related to the recovery of liver function, not to changes in creatinine clearance. In conclusion, the concept of a critical threshold of liver function below which sodium retention occurs has been substantiated in this model of hepatic dysfunction.
Calibrating a VPL DataGlove for teleoperating the Utah/MIT hand

A system able to control the Utah/MIT hand with the VPL DataGlove has been developed. To get the actual joint angles from the DataGlove sensor values, a least-squares fit is used to find the best-fit exponential curve for each sensor, and then the correlation between the sensors is reduced by the iterative correlation elimination procedure. The calibration depends both on the wearer and the particular DataGlove being used. The first level calibration is simple and can be done in under 15 minutes with a little experience. The second level is fixed and requires no adjustments. To control the hand, a mapping from the DataGlove angles to the hand angles is applied, making the hand fingertips follow the DataGlove fingertips. The hand can successfully implement various high-level tasks under the DataGlove wearer's control. >
Cycling performance decrement is greater in hypobaric versus normobaric hypoxia

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cycling time trial (TT) performance differs between hypobaric hypoxia (HH) and normobaric hypoxia (NH) at the same ambient PO2 (93 mmHg, 4,300-m altitude equivalent). Two groups of healthy fit men were matched on physical performance and demographic characteristics and completed a 720-kJ time trial on a cycle ergometer at sea level (SL) and following approximately 2 h of resting exposure to either HH (n = 6, 20 ± 2 years, 75.2 ± 11.8 kg, mean ± SD) or NH (n = 6, 21 ± 3 years, 77.4 ± 8.8 kg). Volunteers were free to manually increase or decrease the work rate on the cycle ergometer. Heart rate (HR), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected every 5 min during the TT, and the mean was calculated. Both groups exhibited similar TT performance (min) at SL (73.9 ± 7.6 vs. 73.2 ± 8.2), but TT performance was longer (P < 0.05) in HH (121.0 ± 12.1) compared to NH (99.5 ± 18.1). The percent decrement in TT performance from SL to HH (65.1 ± 23.6%) was greater (P < 0.05) than that from SL to NH (35.5 ± 13.7%). The mean exercise SaO2, HR, and RPE during the TT were not different in HH compared to NH. Cycling time trial performance is impaired to a greater degree in HH versus NH at the same ambient PO2 equivalent to 4,300 m despite similar cardiorespiratory responses.
A method for reasoning with structured and continuous attributes in the INLEN-2 multistrategy knowledge discovery system

Structured attributes have domains (value sets) that are partially ordered sets, typically hierarchies. Such attributes allow knowledge discovery about hierarchical relationships among attribute values. Inductive generalization rules for structured attributes have been developed that take into consideration the type of nodes in the domain hierarchy (anchor or non-anchor) and the type of decision rules to be generated (characteristic, discriminant or minimum complexity). These generalization rules enhance the ability of knowledge discovery system INLEN-2 to exploit the semantic content of the domain knowledge in the process of generating hypotheses. If the dependent attribute (e.g., a decision attribute) is structured, the system generates a system of hierarchically organized rules representing relationships between the values of this attribute and independent attributes. Such a situation often occurs in practice when the decision to be assigned to a situation can be at different levels of abstraction (e.g., this is a liver disease, or this is a liver cancer). Continuous attributes (e.g., physical measurements) are quantized into a hierarchy of values (ranges of values arranged into different levels). These methods are illustrated by an example concerning the discovery of patterns in world economics and demographics.
Solid-vapor interactions: Influence of environmental conditions on the dehydration of carbamazepine dihydrate

The goal of this research was a phenomenological study of the effect of environmental factors on the dehydration behavior of carbamazepine dihydrate. Dehydration experiments were performed in an automated vapor sorption apparatus under a variety of conditions, and weight loss was monitored as a function of time. In addition to lattice water, carbamazepine dihydrate contained a significant amount of physically bound water. Based on the kinetics of water loss, it was possible to differentiate between the removal of physically bound water and the lattice water. The activation energy for the 2 processes was 44 and 88 kJ/mol, respectively. As expected, the dehydration rate of carbamazepine dihydrate decreased with an increase in water vapor pressure. While dehydration at 0% relative humidity (RH) resulted in an amorphous anhydrate, the crystallinity of the anhydrate increased as a function of the RH of dehydration. A method was developed for in situ crystallinity determination of the anhydrate formed. Dehydration in the presence of the ethanol vapor was a 2-step process, and the fraction dehydrated at each step was a function of the ethanol vapor pressure. We hypothesize the formation of an intermediate lower hydrate phase with unknown water stoichiometry. An increase in the ethanol vapor pressure first led to a decrease in the dehydration rate followed by an increase. In summary, the dehydration behavior of carbamazepine dihydrate was evaluated at different vapor pressures of water and ethanol. Using the water sorption apparatus, it was possible to (1) differentiate between the removal of physically bound and lattice water, and (2) develop a method for quantifying, in situ, the crystallinity of the product (anhydrate) phase.
Atf4 regulates chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation during endochondral ossification by activating Ihh transcription

Activating transcription factor 4 (Atf4) is a leucine-zipper-containing protein of the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) family. Ablation of Atf4 (Atf4−/−) in mice leads to severe skeletal defects, including delayed ossification and low bone mass, short stature and short limbs. Atf4 is expressed in proliferative and prehypertrophic growth plate chondrocytes, suggesting an autonomous function of Atf4 in chondrocytes during endochondral ossification. In Atf4−/− growth plate, the typical columnar structure of proliferative chondrocytes is disturbed. The proliferative zone is shortened, whereas the hypertrophic zone is transiently expanded. The expression of Indian hedgehog (Ihh) is markedly decreased, whereas the expression of other chondrocyte marker genes, such as type II collagen (Col2a1), PTH/PTHrP receptor (Pth1r) and type X collagen (Col10a1), is normal. Furthermore, forced expression of Atf4 in chondrocytes induces endogenous Ihh mRNA, and Atf4 directly binds to the Ihh promoter and activates its transcription. Supporting these findings, reactivation of Hh signaling pharmacologically in mouse limb explants corrects the Atf4−/− chondrocyte proliferation and short limb phenotypes. This study thus identifies Atf4 as a novel transcriptional activator of Ihh in chondrocytes that paces longitudinal bone growth by controlling growth plate chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation.
Decision Making in the Canadian Supreme Court: Extending the Personal Attributes Model across Nations

Theory-based personal attributes models of the civil rights and liberties and economics decision making of the Canadian Supreme Court justices serving from 1949-1985 are developed from Lipset and Rokkan's (1967) approach to explaining mass political behavior. The models show both behaviors to be influenced by Quebec/non-Quebec regional origins and religious affiliation, political party, being appointed by the last laissez faire Liberal Prime Minister, King, and having judicial and political experience. The models are reasonably potent, statistically. Their most important attributes capture crucial dimensions in contemporary Canadian politics, region, and party, and also have implications for the cross-national study of judicial behavior.
Directed random generation of sentences

The problem of producing sentences of a transformational grammar by using a random generator to create phrase structure trees for input to the lexical insertion and transformational phases is discussed. A purely random generator will produce base trees which will be blocked by the transformations, and which are frequently too long to be of practical interest. A solution is offered in the form of a computer program which allows the user to constrain and direct the generation by the simple but powerful device of restricted subtrees. The program is a directed random generator which accepts as input a subtree with restrictions and produces around it a tree which satisfies the restrictions and is ready for the next phase of the grammar. The underlying linguistic model is that of Noam Chomsky, as presented in Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. The program is written in FORTRAN IV for the IBM 360/67 and is part of a unified computer system for transformational grammar. It is currently being used with several partial grammars of English.
Evidence for retrograde transpulmonary propagation of the V (or regurgitant) wave in mitral insufficiency.

Abstract 1. (1) Seven patients with mitral insufficiency and giant V waves in the wedged pulmonary artery position have been studied. 2. (2) The systolic peak of the V (or regurgitant) wave approximated the systolic peak of the right and main pulmonary artery pressure curves. 3. (3) Pulmonary arteriolar resistance was found to be normal or reduced. 4. (4) A consideration of the hemodynamic data favors the concept that in mitral insufficiency a retrograde transmission of the V wave may occur and that it results from an increase in the tone of the pulmonary vascular system without an increase in the pulmonary vascular resistance.
Effect of Neem Leaf Extract (Azadirachta indica) on c-Myc Oncogene Expression in 4T1 Breast Cancer Cells of BALB/c Mice.

Abstract During the adipose conversion of 3T3 cells in medium supplemented with 10% serum, the accumulation of triglyceride depends upon a small molecular weight component in the serum. When this is removed by exhaustive dialysis of the serum, the cells undergo some changes that are part of the adipose conversion, but very little triglyceride accumulates. After the addition of either a serum dialysate or commercial biotin, cellular lipid begins to accumulate rapidly. The dialyzable factor in the serum has numerous chemical properties of biotin. When cells begin the adipose conversion in the absence of biotin, they are unable to increase their rate of acetate incorporation into triglyceride, but they do undergo the same change in shape to spherical, the same increase in activity of cytoplasmic (NAD-linked) glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (300 fold) and the same increase in lipoprotein lipase (>50 fold) as in the presence of biotin. On the other hand, in the biotin-deficient state the activity of glycerophosphate acyltransferase and of malic enzyme rises to only a small fraction of the control level. After the addition of biotin to the biotin-deficient cultures, the activity of both enzymes increases to the control level within 24–48 hr. These results are consistent with the concept that the glycerophosphate dehydrogenase is a primary enzyme in the adipose conversion: its response (measured as the amount of extractable activity) does not depend upon the rate of cellular fatty acid synthesis. Lipoprotein lipase is similarly independent. On the other hand, both malic enzyme and glycerophosphate acyltransferase may be considered as secondary enzymes in the sense that their response during the adipose conversion is linked to the supply of fatty acid.