cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Cysteine Dioxygenase in Rat Liver

Changes in hepatic cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) activity in response to diet play a dominant role in regulation of cysteine catabolism and taurine synthesis. We have conducted several studies of the molecular regulation of CDO activity in rat liver and rat hepatocytes. Compared to levels observed in liver of rats fed a basal 10% casein diet, up to 180-fold higher levels of CDO activity and protein were observed in liver of rats fed diets that contained additional protein, complete amino acid mixture, methionine, or cystine5,6. Neither CDO activity nor CDO protein was induced by excess non-sulfur amino acids alone. Excess sulfur amino acids or protein did not significantly increase the concentration of hepatic CDO mRNA. Preliminary studies indicate that the polysome profile for association of CDO mRNA with polysomes is not altered by an increase in dietary protein level, suggesting that regulation may be posttranslational and possibly involve a decrease in the rate of CDO degradation. In primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, CDO mRNA, protein, and activity all virtually disappeared by 12 to 24 h of culture in standard medium14 whereas CDO protein, but not CDO mRNA, accumulated markedly between 12 and 24 h in hepatocytes cultured in medium with excess methionine or cyst(e)ine. These observations are also consistent with a limited role of transcriptional or translational regulation of CDO in response to diet.
Modeling Phytoplankton: Covariance and Variogram Model Specification for Phytoplankton Levels in Lake Michigan

Algae and phytoplankton are crucial elements of marine ecosystems and of the global carbon cycle, which engenders widespread interest in better understanding their spatial and temporal variability. In situ fluorometry provides detailed measurements of phytoplankton levels; appropriate statistical models are necessary in order to elicit information about the distribution of phytoplankton biomass from this data. Challenges associated with such a data analysis include covariance model specification for processes in which variation in the vertical and horizontal directions differ greatly. Though the ideas presented here were developed with an eye to understanding phytoplankton dynamics, they may be helpful in developing models for other geophysical and environmental processes measured along vertical and horizontal dimensions.
Generation of reducing power in bacterial photosynthesis. Rhodopseudomonas palustris

Abstract Cell-free extracts were prepared from Rps. palustris grown photosynthetically on thiosulfate. The extracts catalyzed an ATP-driven NAD+ reduction in the dark with a concomitant cyt. c oxidation when thiosulfate served as the exogenous electron donor. A stoichiometry of 2 1 was obtained for cyt. c oxidized/NAD+ reduced. The reversal of electrons was found to be sensitive to uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation and to inhibitors of the respiratory electron transport chain.
Contributions of Mummy Science to Public Perception of the Past

From Tutankhamun’s curse to the mystery that surrounds Otzi’s murder, the public is drawn to stories about mummies. Why mummies are so fascinating is a complex question, but part of the answer may lie in our tendency to resocialize mummies—our scientific investigations lead to the reconstruction of their social identities, often revealing fine and sometimes intimate details. In the process, our research becomes more accessible and interesting to the public. What is often overlooked, however, is how this research can connect to broader anthropological themes, such as embodiment, identity, and social bodies. This chapter attempts to demonstrate how we can harness this fascination and engage more directly with the public by asking different questions. To illustrate this, I discuss three different areas of mummy research (tattooing, Tutankhamun, and disease) that tend to generate considerable public interest. I then discuss how we may be able to reframe research questions and the resulting narratives, leading to a more publically engaged mummy science.
Does a Media Organization’s Defense of its Own Image Matter?

Organizations and individuals depend on the mass media to transmit a transgressor’s apologia to the public. In such cases, the effectiveness of the apologia is dependent on public reception of and attitude to the apologia. However, with most studies of crisis communication focused on transgressors who rely on media as third party, little is known of what happens when that third party (media) is the transgressor. For instance, how do other media react when a competing medium transgresses? And how does a media transgressor frame its message to its audience? This study on The Sun newspaper (UK) investigates those questions. In this case, The Sun issued an apologia after a racial faux pas that outraged the city of Liverpool. The study finds that competing media took advantage of the situation not only to critique The Sun , but also to excoriate the newspaper by insinuating unethical motivation for The Sun ’s publications and suggesting that The Sun ’s readers abandon the newspaper. In contrast, a textual analysis shows how The Sun framed a different message to its readership.
Changes of sperm morphology, volume, density, and motility parameters in northern pike during the spawning period.

Sexually mature males (BW = 1600 ± 150 g and TL = 235 ± 30 mm) of northern pike (Esox lucius L.) were randomly selected from a pond to record changes in their sperm quality parameters (spermatozoa morphology, sperm volume, density, and motility parameters) during the spawning season. The morphological and motility parameters changed significantly during the reproductive season with following trends. Only, head width was not changed during the spawning season. The longest spermatozoa and its flagellar length were found at the middle of spawning period (TL = 38.24 ± 0.37 μm and 35.14 ± 0.26 μm) and shortest at the beginning of spawning period (TL = 34.81 ± 0.29 μm and 32.53 ± 0.18 μm). Other morphological characters were always the lowest at the beginning of spawning period. Sperm volume was changed from 0.33 ± 0.3 ml in February, 0.43 ± 0.2 ml in March to 0.24 ± 0.1 ml in April, and density from 16.2 ± 0.2 × 109 spermatozoa ml−1 in February, 19.4 ± 0.2 × 109 spermatozoa ml−1 in March to 4.8 ± 0.2 × 109 spermatozoa ml−1 in April. Same sperm velocity was observed in all spawning terms at 10 and 20 s after activation. Higher velocity was found at 30 and 40 s after activation in sperm collected at the middle and the end of spawning period. Significantly, higher percentage of motile sperm was observed at 20, 30, and 40 s after activation in sperm sampled at the end of spawning period. This study supports the hypothesis that longer spermatozoa swim faster.
Contextual Visualization

Unseen information can lead to various “threats to validity” when analyzing complex datasets using visual tools, resulting in potentially biased findings. We enumerate sources of unseen information and argue that a new focus on contextual visualization methods is needed to inform users of these threats and to mitigate their effects.
Review: CourseSource: Evidence-Based Teaching Resources for Undergraduate Biology Education

CourseSource: Evidence-Based Teaching Resources for Undergraduate Biology Education (https://www.coursesource.org/) Inspired by national reports like BIO 2010 and Vision and Change , which call for reformation in undergraduate biology education, CourseSource provides tools for faculty teaching life sciences who want to increase student learning. The developers of CourseSource recognize the tremendous time and effort it takes to change a biology curriculum. Moreover, they understand that some faculty want the freedom and flexibility to modify aspects of their course rather than changing everything all at once. Designed with these concerns in mind, …
Histone deacetylase activity and vitamin D-dependent gene expressions in relation to sulforaphane in human breast cancer cells.

It is relatively unknown how dietary bioactive compound, sulforaphane, in partnership with active vitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2D3, regulates vitamin D‐dependent gene expression in breast cancer (BC). It has been suggested that the combination of various bioactive components with vitamins is crucial for their potential anticancer activities. METHODS: This study employed a combinatorial chemopreventive strategy to investigate the impact of dietary histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, that is, sulforaphane on chromatin remodeling in BC. To understand the epigenetics‐mediated changes in gene expression, MCF‐7 cells were exposed for 24 hr to 1,25(OH)2D3 (100nM) either alone or in combination with L‐sulforaphane and TSA (20μM and 1μM, respectively) at 70% confluency. Changes in VDR, CYP24A1, CYP27B1, and TRPV6 gene expressions were quantified using real‐time PCR‐based assays. HDAC inhibitor activity was assessed using HDAC I/II assay that measured global changes in acetylation status. Cell viability was measured using ATP and MT assays. Clonogenic and migration assays were performed to analyze the ability of single cells to grow into colonies and % closure (migration ability) upon treatments, respectively. Results were expressed as ΔCT ± standard error of means (SEM) from One‐way ANOVA analyses for mRNA expressions and mean ± SEM for all other assays. RESULTS: In MCF‐7 cells, treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 tended to decrease VDR (13 ± 0.4) and CYP27B1 (12 ± 0.96), while significantly increased TRPV6 (p = .02, 14 ± 0.1) and CYP24A1 (p < .0001, 0.38 ± 0.12) expression. D alone and D + TSA group had the opposite effects on HDAC inhibition from SFN alone, D + SFN, and TSA alone. The clonogenic assay showed a significant decrease in colony formation with no colonies for D + TSA (p < .03) and TSA alone groups (p < .03). Cell viability tended to decrease with D alone and in combination with TSA. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 and sulforaphane are selective and gene‐specific in MCF‐7 cells. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Breast cancer (BC) affects a large number of the U.S. population each year. Like most cancers, nutrition does play a role in the prevention of BC. However, dietary advice that includes reducing alcohol intake, red meat, and saturated fat consumption, while increasing the intake of heart‐healthy fats, dietary fiber, and lean protein, etc., is difficult to apply to all cancers from a preventative standpoint. Vitamin D has been implicated in BC, mostly as a protective factor, with mixed findings. This research focuses on the role of vitamin D as a protective intervention in human BC, along with a dietary bioactive compound—sulforaphane. The idea is to combine the known benefits of a micronutrient with potential benefits of the bioactive compound to establish a stronger intervention against BC progression, irrespective of the subtype.
2. IMPACT OF X+Y SCHEDULING ON FACULTY PERCEPTIONS OF RESIDENT EDUCATION - RESULTS FROM THE PEDIATRIC X+Y SCHEDULING COLLABORATIVE

Background Traditional half-day per week continuity clinic experiences can lead to fragmented education in both the inpatient and outpatient arenas. Five pediatric residency programs were granted the ability from the ACGME in 2018 to create true X+Y scheduling models where residents see continuity clinic patients in blocks rather than half-day per week experiences. Objective Assess the impact X+Y scheduling has on pediatric faculty perceptions of patient care and other educational experiences. Methods Surveys were sent via REDCap to faculty of the five participating X+Y pilot programs both prior to and 12 months after implementing an X+Y scheduling model. The surveys elicited the clinical focus of the faculty (general pediatrics, hospital medicine, or other subspecialties). Questions were then tailored to the area of clinical focus to determine the impact continuity clinic schedules had on general pediatrics, hospitalist, and subspecialty rotation experiences using a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using z-tests for proportion differences for those answering Agree or Strongly Agree between baseline and post-implementation respondents. Results 384 faculty members were sent the survey with 51% response pre-implementation and 32% response at 12 months. Each general pediatrics faculty outcome was improved in the X+Y model compared to traditional clinic schedules (p Conclusions General pediatric and hospitalist faculty perceive improved patient continuity and enhanced educational opportunities in X+Y scheduling compared to traditional half-day per week continuity clinics. Hospitalist and other subspecialty faculty note no significant impact on educational time after X+Y schedule implementation.
Compressed Single-Pixel Photoacoustic Imaging

Taking advantage of single-pixel detection, we present compressed photoacoustic imaging with spatial resolution unlimited by acoustics. It allows surface tomography in optically diffusive media and enables sub-wavelength structures resolvable with a reduced measurement demand.
Minakshisundaram–Pleijel coefficients for non-compact higher rank symmetric spaces

We assign to a non-compact Riemannian symmetric space X a theta function and a zeta function. We compute all of the Minakshisundaram–Pleijel coefficients in a short-time asymptotic expansion of the theta function especially when X is of complex type, which we use to compute the one-loop effective potential—whose relevance for quantum field theory, for example, is briefly commented on. These coefficients, for X of general type, are also shown to be specifically related to residues and special values of the zeta function. The results presented extend previous ones in the literature where the rank of X is assumed to be one.
Design approaches for printability-performance synergy in Al alloys for laser-powder bed additive manufacturing

Abstract The unprecedented increase in component design space has led to significant focus on fusion-based additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. The new design possibilities integrate features and functionalities that are not supported by conventional manufacturing, and simultaneously achieve unitization of components. However, fusion-based AM suffers from a lack of diverse alloys, as conventional high-strength Al alloys are prone to hot cracking and other defect formation during printing. New alloy design approaches are being pursued to overcome these limitations. Current strategies for design of printable Al alloys for laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) are primarily experimental and revolve around grain refinement and eutectic solidification (ES). Each of these strategies targets hot cracking at only a specific stage of solidification. Consequently, the processing window of the alloy shrinks and fine-tuning of the alloy microstructure becomes difficult, thus prohibiting the activation of multiple deformation mechanisms. On the other hand, strategies that integrate microstructural refinement (MR) and ES attack the problem during multiple stages of solidification. Such MR+ES integrated alloy design strategies allow widening of alloy-processing-window (printability) and activation of multiple deformation mechanisms such as back-stress strengthening and work-hardening, thus producing alloys with excellent synergy of printability and performance.
41224 REDUCED FRONTOSTRIATAL FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY IN 41- TO 70-YEAR-OLD ADULTS WITH HIV

ABSTRACT IMPACT: The knowledge acquired from my research can inform the development of early diagnostic methods for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: In the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remains high but the neural mechanisms are unclear. We examined whether older people with HIV (PWH) with minimal cognitive impairment have reduced functional connectivity in frontostriatal circuits compared to controls. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: 99 PWH (mean age 56.6 years, 75% male, 62% Black, mean duration of HIV-infection 26.2 years ±9.3, 90% viral load <50 copies, 98% on stable cART) and 38 demographically-comparable controls (mean age 54.5 years, 71% male, 58% Black) participated in a cross-sectional study. A 7-domain neuropsychological battery and an Activities of Daily Living index were used to determine HAND diagnoses: 32 PWH met criteria for asymptomatic to mild HAND. Motor skill was assessed using the Grooved Pegboard Test by measuring performance speed. Structural MRI and resting-state functional MRI were collected. Seed-to-voxel analyses were conducted using 4 distinct regions in the striatum as seed regions. We used a voxel threshold of p<0.001 and cluster threshold of p<0.05 (FDR-corrected) after controlling for demographic variables. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Compared to controls, PWH had lower resting state functional connectivity between the default mode region of the striatum (i.e., medial caudate) and bilateral superior frontal gyrus, supplementary motor cortex and paracingulate gyrus (p<0.05; cluster size: 567 voxels). Also, compared to controls, PWH had reduced resting state functional connectivity between the motor division of the striatum (i.e., posterior putamen) and anterior cingulate cortex and left supplementary motor cortex (p<0.05, cluster size: 405 voxels). Performance speed on the Grooved Pegboard motor test negatively correlated with functional connectivity between the motor region of the striatum and supplementary motor frontal regions in all participants (Spearman’s rho=-0.18, p=0.04). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Our results support the hypothesis that frontostriatal abnormalities are widely present in PWH and might play a key role in HAND development. Our data suggest that dysfunction within the frontostriatal circuits may be involved in motor impairment in PWH, and ongoing inflammation may contribute to motor impairment and frontostriatal injury.
A 57-Year-Old Man With Stridor and Critical Tracheal Narrowing.

Case Presentation A 57-year-old man with a history of polysubstance use presented with shortness of breath, wheezing, productive cough, subjective fever, and chills of 3-day duration. Additionally, he reported worsening shortness of breath for the last 3 months. Of note, the patient was reported to have had, in the previous 6 months, two episodes of pneumonia that was treated with antibiotics and steroids. He was also diagnosed several years prior with adult-onset asthma due to intermittent wheezing and was prescribed an albuterol inhaler. The albuterol did not help relieve his wheezing, and he stopped refilling it.
Predicting Number of Personnel to Deploy for Wildfire Containment

Climate change is causing longer forest fire seasons and more fires in places where they traditionally were rare. Accordingly, the US Forest Service’s annual budget devoted to wildfires jumped from 16% to over 50% between 1995 and 2015 and exceeded $2.4 billion in 2017. Allocating and supplying the correct amount of personnel and equipment to a fire as quickly as possible is vital in reducing acreage destroyed, costs, and saving lives. In this chapter, we explore the possibility of predicting the number of personnel needed to effectively fight a wildfire, in an aim to develop a forecasting system in the future. On the IRWIN test dataset, our model obtained a coefficient of determination (R2) 0.61 and mean absolute error 1.4 personnel. Thorough analysis and discussion are also provided in the chapter.
Substorms and Magnetospheric Energy Transfer Processes

Evidence is presented which suggests a direct process for the conversion of solar wind energy into the various manifestations of the auroral substorm. This is in contrast to the widely accepted premise that solar wind energy is accumulated in the magnetosphere and then released by an instability process occurring in the magnetotail. It is shown that much of the plasma sheet behavior associated with auroral substorms can be interpreted in terms of single-particle models and simple variations of the cross-tail electric field intensity which does not invoke release of stored magnetic energy. It is also pointed out that the major entry of substorm energy into the magnetosphere occurs through the boundaries of the lobes of the magnetotail. This paper is not intended to be a complete theory of the magnetospheric substorm — rather the intention of this paper is to point out directions of research deserving of more attention.
Imposing Specificity on Kinases

How does a cell imbue kinase signaling cascades that share some of the same components with a specificity that ensures activation of the correct cellular response? In their Perspective, Ptashne and Gann discuss the leading part played by protein scaffolds and regulated recruitment in conferring specificity on kinase signaling cascades.
Access, Common Agency, and Board Size

We study the impact of the size of a firm's board of directors on managerial incentives. We present a model where a risk-averse agent (the top management team) performs multiple tasks for a firm that is controlled by multiple principals (the board of directors) who differ in the relative value they place on each task. We show that the agent's incentives are lower than they would be had the board been smaller. Our empirical results are consistent with the model's predictions. We find that the number of social objectives (community, diversity, environment, etc.) that a firm pursues is positively related to board size. Board size is negatively related to managerial incentives. We also find that firms incorporated in states with alternative constituency statutes (allowing boards to consider the interests of constituencies other than shareholders) pursue more objectives, have larger boards, and lower managerial pay-performance sensitivities. Our results are robust to the inclusion of various board and firm control variables and to a myriad of specifications.
Ensemble Assimilation of Doppler Radar Observations

Abstract : The final goal of this project is to provide the US Navy with an increased capability of using Doppler radar observations in the detection and prediction of hazardous weather events that usually have a strong randomness in nature and affect the Navy operations, especially over oceans and in remote areas. By developing a high-resolution data assimilation capability that can effectively assimilate Doppler radar observations along with other conventional and remotely-sensed data, the US Navy will have the ability to analyze and forecast the battlespace atmospheric conditions with sufficient detail and accuracy for supporting the Navy mission in threat detection, weapons deployment, and weather safe operations. The objective of the study is to develop an advanced ensemble-based radar data assimilation system for the US Navy and to address some critical scientific and technique issues associated with ensemble radar data assimilation. The radar data system that will be developed will use flow-dependent background error covariance (instead of the static background error covariance) to account for the complexity and rapid change in the dynamical and microphysical structures inside and outside storms. The system will assimilate all the observed variables from different types of sensors, including Doppler radars, satellites, UASs, and conventional meteorological observations, simultaneously to allow full interactions among the assimilated variables during the data assimilation to keep the balances among the dynamics, thermodynamics and microphysics in the model initial fields. The system will be able to use the observations from many types of radars on different platforms (WSR-88D, DoD meteorological radars and tactical radars both on-land and shipboard, etc.) with an appropriate quality control. Multi-scale data assimilation capability will also be one of the major features of the new radar data assimilation system that allows observational data at different scales to be as
Input/output distribution in digital control

The temporal distribution of input and output is the main feature of distributed sampling control (DSC). The DSC method was first used to improve the performance of multi-input-multioutput (MIMO) robotic control systems. Control algorithms to which this method can be applied require each system output (or state variable) at a different time point and generate each plant input at a different time point. The underlying concept is introduced, and its performance is demonstrated through examples of simple robots operating with model-based controllers. Two controllers are used to drive the same plants. One is based on conventional control principles where feedback signals are simultaneously sampled and plant inputs are applied simultaneously, and the other utilizes DSC. Differences in the control action are then analyzed. General aspects of the distributed sampling controls are also discussed. >
Long-term effect of megestrol acetate in the treatment of endometrial hyperplasia

Abstract Fifty-two postmenopausal women who were poor surgical risks and had histologically proved adenomatous hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia, or adenocarcinoma in situ of the endometrium were treated with megestrol acetate, 40 mg per day, continuously for 9 to 104 months (mean, 42 months): More than 90% of these women had complete remissions of the hyperplasia. Three women with carcinoma in situ were followed up for 57, 65, and 104 months, without recurrence of the disease. Four women required hysterectomy; none had invasive adenocarcinoma. No adverse side effects of the drug were observed. Thus, we conclude that the continuous use of megestrol acetate is an effective, safe, alternative form of therapy for endometrial hyperplasia in postmenopausal women.
Avoiding Tragedy in the Wiki-Commons

For some reason, thousands of volunteers contribute to Wikipedia, with no expectation of remuneration or direct credit, with the constant risk of their work being altered. As a voluntary public good, it seems that Wikipedia ought to face a problem of non-contribution. Yet, this Article argues that like much of the Open Source Movement, Wikipedia overcomes this problem by locking-in a core group of dedicated volunteers who are motivated by a desire to join and gain status within the Wikipedia community. Yet, undesirable contribution is just as significant a risk to Wikipedia as under-contribution. Bad informational inputs, including vandalism and anti-intellectualism, put the project at risk, because Wikipedia requires a degree of credibility to maintain its lock-in effect. At the same time, Wikipedia is so dependent on the work of its core community, that governance strategies to exclude bad inputs must be delicately undertaken. Therefore, this Article argues that to maximize useful participation, Wikipedia must carefully combat harmful inputs while preserving the zeal of its core-community, as failure to do either may result in tragedy.
An Introduction to Scale Model Testing to Determine Air Cushion Crash Sensor Location

Design validation of crash sensors in the vehicle barrier impact environment is difficult and costly. The objective of this paper is to outline a method of developing optimum crash sensor mounting utilizing reduced-scale physical models. This technique incorporates design tools that are readily accessible during early vehicle concept stages which will allow mechanical impedance checks of the crash sensor to vehicle structure interface at significantly lower cost than full size prototype testing. Basic equations and methodology are presented with experimental correlation data.
Outside oneself in World of Warcraft: Gamers' perception of the racial self-other

The popularity of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) has created a unique, heavily populated virtual reality wherein player characters are explicitly differentiated by the physical characteristics of their avatars. To investigate the way real-life race perceptions influence these adopted player-character identities, we invited MMO players to participate in an online survey. In this study, we are particularly interested in overlap, or deviation, between real-life racial perceptions and the perception of fictional fantastic races (elves, dwarves). On the basis of the data collected, we found that whether players consciously associate themselves with their avatars or consciously dissociate themselves from their avatars, real-life racial tendencies unconsciously manifest through players' choices of their avatars and in their interactions with other players within the game environment.
Machine processing of remotely sensed data: three applications in Mexico

In general, ground-data acquisition procedures in developing countries are not very efficient, and the resulting lack of reliable data produces significant delays in important management-planning decisions. This paper describes three studies involving different applications of machine processing of remotely sensed data, a recent technology that appears to have potential use for timely ground-information acquisition. The general methodology describes the use of a special software processing system. Finally, some conclusions are presented relating to the specific problems discussed and to the advantages of remote sensing in general.
Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in lung cancer

The development and clinical application of inhibitors that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) provide important insights for new lung cancer therapies, as well as for the broader field of targeted cancer therapies. We review the results of genetic, biochemical and clinical studies focused on somatic mutations of EGFR that are associated with the phenomenon of oncogene addiction, describing 'oncogenic shock' as a mechanistic explanation for the apoptosis that follows the acute treatment of susceptible cells with kinase inhibitors. Understanding the genetic heterogeneity of epithelial tumours and devising strategies to circumvent their rapid acquisition of resistance to targeted kinase inhibitors are essential to the successful use of targeted therapies in common epithelial cancers.
Urologic complications of major genitourinary reconstruction in the exstrophy-epispadias complex

Objective: To present the authors' experiences with urologic complications associ- ated with various techniques used to create a continent stoma (CS), augmentation cystoplasty (AC), and neobladder in the exstrophyeepispadias complex (EEC) population. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of patients who underwent CS with or without bladder augmentation were identified from an institutional review board-approved database of 1208 EEC patients. Surgical indications, tissue type, length of hospital stay, age, preoperative bladder capacity, prior genitourinary surgeries, postoperative urological compli- cations, and continence status were reviewed. Results: Among the EEC patients reviewed, 133 underwent CS (80 male, 53 female). Mean follow-up time after initial continent stoma was 5.31 years (range: 6 months to 20 years). Ap- pendix and tapered ileum were the primary bowel segments used for the continent channel and stoma in the EEC population. The most common stomal complications in this population were stenosis, incontinence, and prolapse. Seventy-nine percent of EEC CS patients underwent AC primarily done with sigmoid colon or ileum. Eleven patients (8%) underwent neobladder creation with either colon or a combination of colon and ileum. Bladder calculi, vesicocuta- neous fistula, and pyelonephritis were the most common non-stomal complications. Stomal ischemia was significantly increased in Monti ileovesicostomy compared to Mitrofanoff appen- dicovesicostomy in classic bladder exstrophy patients (p Z 0.036). Furthermore, pyelonephri- tis was more than twice as likely in colonic neobladder than all other reservoir tissue types in the same cohort (OR Z 2.53, 95% CI: 1.762e3.301, p < 0.001).
Prospective histologic evaluation of intra-abdominal prosthetics four months after implantation in a rabbit model.

Background Placement of an intraperitoneal prosthetic is required for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. The biocompatibility of these prosthetics determines the host’s inflammatory response, scar plate formation, tissue ingrowth, and subsequent mesh performance, including prosthetic compliance and prevention of hernia recurrence. We evaluated the host response to intraperitoneal placement of several prosthetics currently used in clinical practice.
Productive interaction of chaperones with substrate protein domains allows correct folding of the downstream GFP domain

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) has been used to report protein folding by correlating solubility with fluorescence. In a GFP fusion protein, an upstream aggregation-prone domain can disrupt de novo folding of the GFP domain in Escherichia coli, resulting in a loss of fluorescence. Previously, we showed that prevention of misfolding of the upstream aggregation-prone domain by a coupled folding and binding interaction during protein synthesis restored both GFP fluorescence and solubility. Since molecular chaperones often fold nascent polypeptides through a bind-and-release interaction, the question remains whether the chaperone interaction with the upstream aggregation-prone domain enhances GFP fluorescence. Here, we demonstrate that a significant increase in GFP fluorescence occurred only when appropriate chaperones that recognized the aggregation-prone protein and helped its folding were co-expressed. A possible correlation between GFP fluorescence and the productive folding by chaperones is proposed. This study may provide a general strategy for identifying chaperones specific for difficult-to-fold proteins.
Is family functioning and communication associated with health-related quality of life for Chinese- and Korean-American breast cancer survivors?

Purpose This study aims to investigate direct and indirect pathways of family flexibility, social support, and family communication on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for Chinese- and Korean-American breast cancer survivors (BCS).
Colonial law, contemporary water issues in Pakistan

Abstract The paper undertakes a legal geographical analysis of a key piece of legislation, the Canal and Drainage Act (1873), governing water resources management in the Indus basin of Pakistan from a critical legal perspective. The historical context of the Act is discussed to demonstrate the overlap between the Act and the colonial state that framed it. Textual analyses of the Act are undertaken to unpack the ideology and the functionality of the Act. Critical legal analyses of the Act reveal that the balance of legal rights enshrined in the Act is heavily in favor of the state as opposed to the water users. The overall tenor of the Act is that of a colonial document meant to facilitate control over a population than a legislation meant to facilitate efficient and equitable provision of a public service to the public. An analysis of the enforcement data about the Act demonstrate that the Canal and Drainage Act indeed lends itself to differential enforcement because of its insensitivity to issues of social power and geographical variations in the physical and social environment in the basin. The paper concludes that equity in water resources management in the Indus basin is contingent upon engagement with the issues of legal rights and geographical implications of a colonial legislation like the Canal and Drainage Act (1873). The analyses in the paper contribute to a growing literature on legal geography and engage the discourses on legal rights and issues of access to resources.
Global parameters estimation and convergence proof of isomorphic networks using historical data

In recent years, the wireless sensors networks raise a great attention in the world. In this paper we proposed a method — multi-innovation coupled stochastic gradient (MICSG) algorithm for the global parameters estimation of the distributed sensors. This algorithm utilizes the identified result of the previous adjacent node and the local historical data to modify own estimated parameters. Then we make a proof of parameters convergence of proposed algorithm. Two examples are presented in the simulation. The first example concerns the influence of different length of historical data to the convergence rate and error rate. The second one exhibits the method applying the structure healthy management. Simulation shows that increasing the length of multi-innovation vector can improve the convergence effect and accelerate the convergence rate in a certain range.
Information content of accounting goodwill numbers

Abstract Information effects narrowly tied to goodwill write-off announcements are typically negative and material, on the order of 2–3% of the company’s stock price. In the one-year pre-announcement period, negative information effects on the order of −40% are also noted. Post-announcement period information effects of roughly −11% suggest that much, but perhaps not all, of the negative information (valuation) effects tied to goodwill write-off announcements are realized by the end of the announcement period. Negative stock-price effects tied to goodwill write-off decisions indicate that accounting goodwill numbers capture a significant aspect of the intangible dimension of firm value, and suggest that accounting theory and practice is adept at identifying when such intangible assets are impaired.
Secure web referral service

Security has become a major concern while browsing as the number of malicious sites keeps increasing with the cost for hosting a site decreasing. Though most of the web servers use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) over HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) to ensure trust between consumers and providers, SSL is vulnerable to Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attack and becoming very common these days. Phishing is another major problem, which has increased rapidly over the years. In this paper we present a novel secure web referral service using Secure Search Engine (SSE), which would resolve phishing and MITM attacks for web based applications. SSE is based on web crawling technology with a set of checking services to validate IP addresses and certificate chains. Additionally, we present a novel phishing filter that can be used to check any given URLs with minimal delay. Our solution is non-intrusive and reduces human factors, which are commonly in existing web-based services, in security verification processes. Our evaluation shows that our solutions produce less false positive and false negative than existing web browser-based anti-phishing solutions.
Evidence for two types of binding of 3HGABA and 3Hmuccimol in rat cerebral cortex and cerebelum

The binding of nM concentrations of 3HGABA and 3Hmuscimol to synaptosomal membrane preparations from different areas of rat brain were studied by a radioreceptor assay. The characteristics of binding, with respect to kinetic parameters and inhibition of binding by nonradioactive GABA, before and after detergent treatment, suggest the presence of at least two types of binding at putative GABA receptor sites.
Line Source Dispersion with Application to Mixing in River Channels

: Two-dimensional solutions for transient dispersion of nonconservative dispersants in uniform flow resulting from a transverse line source of variable concentration are obtained using multiple integral transformations. In general, the solutions are in integral forms, which can be efficiently evaluated using Filon's quadratures. Examples are presented for cases of practical interest. Applicability of the solution for modeling dispersion in natural river channel where the distribution of flows across the channel are nonuniform is discussed.
Excited state electron transfer after visible light absorption by the Co(i) state of vitamin B12

The first example of excited state electron transfer from cob(I)alamin is reported herein. Vitamin B12 was anchored to a mesoporous TiO2 thin film and electrochemically reduced to the cob(I)alamin form. Pulsed laser excitation resulted in rapid excited state electron transfer, ket > 108 s−1, followed by microsecond interfacial charge recombination to re-form cob(I)alamin. The supernucleophilic cob(I)alamin was found to be a potent photoreductant. The yield of excited state electron transfer was found to be excitation wavelength dependent. The implications of this dependence are discussed.
Comments: Overveiw of the 5th International Workshop on Pneumocystic and the 5th General Meeting of the European Concerted Action of Pneumocystis Research

SUMMARY The major highlights of the meetings were the initiation of efforts ot assign different species names to certain Penumocystis jorganism, and the invitations for international participation in a project to map and sequence the genome of P. carinii. The oral and poster presentations demostrated important advances have been achieved in the past year.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY OF HEMATOPOIESIS

Hematopoietic stem cells are at the top of a hierarchy that regulates the generation of a vast repertoire of blood cells during the lifetime of a vertebrate. Recent experiments, using a vast variety of embryonic systems, shed new light on the origin of stem cells and the genes that function to regulate and maintain hematopoietic differentiation programs. Two distinct populations of stem cells develop--derived initially from transient, extraembryonic source and later from a stable, intraembryonic source; it is possible that both are generated from a pro-HSC able to respond differentially to local inductions. The initial blood cells develop from ventral mesoderm. The blood-forming region develops as a result of signaling from specific, secreted, embryonic growth factors, including the bone morphogenetic proteins. Stem cells give rise to progenitors that are restricted progressively in their ability to contribute to specific lineages. This process is regulated by transcription factors, whose functions are confirmed through genetic analyses. The identification of highly conserved, embryonic signaling pathways and transcription regulatory genes illustrates the enormous utility of analyzing embryonic hematopoiesis in frog, chick, fish, and mouse systems to further our understanding of human stem cells.
Before the peak: impacts of oil shortages on the developing world

We explore the generally ignored reality that the petroleum shortage will occur before oil peaks, when the rate of growth falls below the rate of the growth of demand. This underscores the fact that the shortage with concomitant price increases will occur relatively soon, even if ultimate reserves are found to be more than is currently believed. Indeed, an energy shortage already exists for the half of humanity that lacks access to modern energy. Supply constraints for affluent, industrialised consumers will adversely affect energy imports for developing countries and at the same time increase international pressure on the developing world's resources for the export market. Many resources that have been deemed sub-commercial in these regions will be re-evaluated in light of higher prices. This will offer some opportunity to earn foreign trade, but at the cost of resources that could be tapped for local development. The development community has an opportunity to help those regions achieve energy security through the development of these resources locally by enhancing professional capacity and offering technical expertise.
Mechanical relaxation in polycarbonate–polysulfone blends

Lexan polycarbonate and polysulfone P-1700 were blended to various weight percentages by dissolution in methylene chloride. The blended material was reclaimed in the form of evaporated thin films which were dried, ground, and molded. Low-frequency mechanical relaxation tests were run on specimens machined from this material as a function of composition and thermal treatment. In addition to the β-peak, a second peak, β′, was resolved in unannealed 75 wt/o P-1700 specimens. These results are presented and a possible interpretation is discussed and compared with previously proposed mechanisms.
Cover Picture: U-Pin Polyamide Motif for Recognition of the DNA Minor Groove (Chem. Eur. J. 14/2003)

The cover picture shows a DNA double helix with a pyrrole/imidazole-polyamide bound to the minor groove. The hydrogen bond recognition pattern for the edges of the four Watson–Crick base pairs on the floor of the DNA minor groove is represented as a series of dips and bumps which are read by the corresponding bumps and dips on the edges of four ring pairs of the polyamide. These building blocks can also be seen on the table and the illustration in the back shows the selection rules. The DNA-bound polyamide is a U-pin with a G/C-tolerant turn. For details about this new polyamide motif see the report by P. B. Dervan et al. on p. 3353 ff.
Contextual modulation of androgen effects on agonistic interactions

Seasonal changes in steroid hormones are known to have a major impact on social behavior, but often are quite sensitive to environmental context. In the bi-directionally sex changing fish, Lythrypnus dalli, stable haremic groups exhibit baseline levels of interaction. Status instability follows immediately after male removal, causing transiently elevated agonistic interactions and increase in brain and systemic levels of a potent fish androgen, 11-ketotestosterone (KT). Coupling KT implants with a socially inhibitory environment for protogynous sex change induces rapid transition to male morphology, but no significant change in social behavior and status, which could result from systemically administered steroids not effectively penetrating into brain or other tissues. Here, we first determined the degree to which exogenously administered steroids affect the steroid load within tissues. Second, we examined whether coupling a social environment permissive to sex change would influence KT effects on agonistic behavior. We implanted cholesterol (Chol, control) or KT in the dominant individual (alpha) undergoing sex change (on d0) and determined the effects on behavior and the degree to which administered steroids altered the steroid load within tissues. During the period of social instability, there were rapid (within 2 h), but transient effects of KT on agonistic behavior in alphas, and secondary effects on betas. On d3 and d5, all KT, but no Chol, treated females had male typical genital papillae. Despite elevated brain and systemic KT 5 days after implant, overall rates of aggressive behavior remained unaffected. These data highlight the importance of social context in mediating complex hormone-behavior relationships.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α is a Potent ACTH Secretagogue: Comparison to Interleukin-1β

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) and interleukin-1 β (IL-1) are secreted by activated monocytes and other immune cells. Since IL-1 has been shown to elevate rat plasma ACTH and both of these cytokines induce similar acute-phase responses, the present studies of TNF were undertaken to characterize the ACTH response to this immune cell product. Human rTNF, administered iv at doses (100-1000 ng) which failed to affect blood pressure, food consumption or prolactin levels, resulted in significant peak elevations of rat plasma ACTH within 20 min (mean ± SE 304+94 and 958 ± 128 pg/ml for 100 and 1000 ng, respectively, compared to 53 ± 16 pg/ml for vehicle). rTNF from two different sources produced similar elevations of ACTH as an equivalent amount of rIL-1. TNF failed to affect cultured anterior pituicytes, and it did not modify the response to CRF. When administered into the upper third cerebroventricle, TNF 20 ng failed to affect ACTH levels whereas IL-1 30 ng raised ACTH to 638 ± 79 pg/ml compared to 177 ± 24 pg...