cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ELECTRON CAPTURE AND LOSS BY IONS IN GASES

Capture and loss cross sections for ions of intermediate atomic number (${Z}_{1}=8 \mathrm{to} 18$) passing through low-pressure gases have been calculated. A modified form of Bell's model was used, leading to lower capture cross sections than the original model. The resulting equilibrium charge distributions obtained compare favorably with the experimental results of Hubbard and Lauer. The individual cross sections were obtained from the observed dependence of the charge distribution on the stripper thickness; these results agree reasonably well with the predictions of the calculations. Capture and loss of two electrons in a single collision may be significant, but the effect on the charge distributions should not be too great.
Biological studies in childhood schizophrenia: Plasma and RBC cholinesterase activity

Most investigations of possible metabolic aberrations in childhood schizophrenia failed to demonstrate differences between schizophrenic patients and control groups. Cholinesterase activity has net been previously reported in schizophrenic children. Similar studies with adult schizophrenics have hot been consistent, despite some reports of abnormal cholinesterase activity. The present study reports the results of plasma (pseudo) cholinesterase and erythrocyte (true) cholinesterase activity in 16 maie childhood schizophrenic patients and 16 male nonpsychotic hospitalized control patients. No signfficant dffferences were found between the two groups. An unexpected finding of high signfficance was the inverse correlation between acetylcholinesterase activity of erythrocytes and serotonin uptake by platelets in both the nonschizophrenic patients and the combined groups. This negative correlation was less significant in tbe schizophrenic patients.
A primer on radiometry

Correctly measuring radiometric quantities and reporting radiometric data is essential in developing a more complete understanding of the requirements and polymerization kinetics of dental resin composites. Presented herein is an introduction to the fundamental concepts, quantities and units of radiometry. A brief discussion of photometry and how it differs from radiometry is also included. While the basic principles of radiometry are relatively straightforward, a great deal of attention must be paid to the details when performing radiometric measurements and reporting radiometric data. Meaningful radiometric measurements require very close attention to nomenclature and mathematical definitions. Radiometric, not photometric quantities should always be used, unless the goal is to report how the human eye perceives light.
Spatial light interference microscopy with programmable illumination patterns

A commercial projector is used as a programmable illumination source for spatial light interference microscopy, providing flexibility and optimization of illumination pattern for images with higher resolution and less optical artifacts.
Effect of BCG immunotherapy on the active-T and total T-RFC in patients with lung cancer

This report describes a study of the active T-RFC, the total T-RFC, and the in vitro lymphocyte response to PHA stimulation in patients with inoperable, locally advanced, lung cancer before and monthly after either radiotherapy alone (RT) or RT-BCG (TICE strain). Pre-RT active and total T-RFC values were seen to be prognostic to patient survival. Immunoenhancement was demonstrated for RT-BCG patients who had significantly higher percentages of active T-RFC and greater PHA responses post-RT than patients treated by RT alone. These data suggest that the active T-RFC may reflect increased nonspecific immunity induced by BCG and be a good correlate to patient immunocompetence. The comparative relevance of the active and total T-RFC to patient clinical progress and survival are discussed.
A Versatile Multiport Biconical Antenna

This paper describes a multiport, biconical antenna that can be used as a wide-band direction finder or multiplexer. When the antenna is used for reception, incident plane waves excite in the feeding coaxial line both the TEM mode and the orthogonal TE11 mode whose azimuthal orientation depends on the direction of arrival of the signal. Directional information can be obtained by measuring the sum of these two modes at four fixed detectors arranged at 90-degree intervals around the coaxial lines. Alternatively, the linearly-polarized TE11 mode can be resolved, with appropriate circuitry, into right- and left-hand circularly-polarized TE11 modes. Then directional information can be obtained by measuring the phase difference between either of the circularly-polarized modes and the TEM mode. This latter form of direction finder is well suited to multiplexing applications, because each of its three ports is well isolated from the others. Furthermore, this antenna has the unique property that a signal fed into any one of these three ports will cause the antenna to radiate omnidirectionally in azimuth. A waveguide version of this antenna has been built and tested and found to operate well over the frequency range of 8.2 to 12.4 kmc.
Real-time detection of probe loss in atomic force microscopy

In this letter, a real-time methodology is developed to determine regions of dynamic atomic force microscopy based image where the cantilever fails to be an effective probe of the sample. Conventional imaging signals such as the amplitude signal and the vertical piezoactuation signal cannot identify the areas of probe loss. It is experimentally demonstrated that probe-loss affected portion of the image can be unambiguously identified by a real-time signal called reliability index. Reliability index, apart from indicating the probe-loss affected regions, can be used to minimize probe-loss affected regions of the image, thus aiding high speed AFM applications.
Free-space electro-optic detection of continuous-wave terahertz radiation

We present a scheme for the coherent detection of freely propagating continuous-wave terahertz radiation using electro-optic detection. The terahertz radiation is generated by photomixing two single-mode laser diodes in an antenna fabricated on low-temperature-grown GaAs. This radiation is detected using the electro-optic effect in 〈110〉 ZnTe. In contrast to typical terahertz detection techniques, this is a frequency-domain measurement that relies on coherent up-conversion of the terahertz field combined with optical homodyning to suppress background noise.
Cell migrations to the isocortex in the rat.

Cells that took up tritiated thymidine (H-3T) at various periods of intrauterine and early infant life in the periventricular proliferative zone and migrated to form the isocortex in the rat were tracked autoradiographically in series of stages to characterize their movements. Cells labeled at any stage soon separated themselves into cohorts, some continuing to proliferate, others migrating at once, and still others delaying before migrating. Migratory cells moved to the developing cortex along the curved and oblique paths of the pallial fibers, whose basic plan was established by the early thalamocortical fibers. Magnitude of speed was 15 to 30 μ per hour. The primitive neural cells that originated on each of the fourteenth to eighteenth intrauterine days first reached the cortex in about 48 hours, others took two or three days longer. Migrations originating on the nineteenth to twenty-first days continued into the week after birth; as the primitive cells approached the cortex, however, they differentiated into young neurons, and traveled perpendicularly to its outer part. The first cohort of twentieth day labeled cells reached their intracortical destinations in about three days, the last in about ten days. The isocortex was formed essentially from within outward. The first neuroglia destined for the isocortex arose on the twenty-first intrauterine day.
Assessing Empowerment in Divorce Mediation

The empowerment of disputants is a fundamental concern of mediation research, but empowerment is difficult to measure. This study operationally defines empowerment in a divorce case as an agreed-upon modification of the Texas Standard Possession Order in the direction of granting more time with the child to the noncustodial parent. Using a cross-case analysis of mediated and nonmediated divorce cases, this study found that couples that participated in mediation were empowered, not disempowered, in the construction of their visitation arrangements. Implications for measuring empowerment, litigation, and legislative policy are discussed.
Role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) in cell cycle checkpoint activated by the protease inhibitor N-acetyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-norleucinal.

Role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) in cell cycle checkpoint activated by the protease inhibitor N -acetyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-norleucinal
Mastoid subperiosteal abscess management in children

The management of a mastoid subperiosteal abscess has traditionally required mastoidectomy. With the improvement of antibiotic therapy current literature supports the treatment of uncomplicated acute mastoiditis with myringotomy and intravenous antibiotics. Treatment of a mastoid subperiosteal abscess with tympanostomy tube insertion, intravenous antibiotics, and postauricular incision and drainage of the abscess avoids the morbidity and potential complications of mastoid surgery in young children. Three patients diagnosed with a mastoid subperiosteal abscess were managed in this way. The outcome of their treatment has been documented with lengthy otologic follow-up. Complete resolution of the acute infectious process was achieved in all cases with no evidence of recurrent disease.
Angiogenesis and the ischaemic heart.

Historically, interest in the therapeutic implications of angiogenesis has centered on the inhibition of new vascular growth to retard the spread of cancer. More recently, however, there has been equal enthusiasm for the therapeutic implications of inducing new vascular growth in ischaemic disorders of the coronary and peripheral vasculature. While medical, surgical and percutaneous catheter-based interventions provide symptomatic relief in a significant proportion of the ischaemic population, a substantial cohort of patients with advanced or refractory disease currently has no acceptable therapeutic alternative. In this context, the promotion of neovascularization within ischaemic vasculature is based upon a valid and intuitively rational scientific concept and presents an innovative approach to treatment of ischaemic diseases in the cardiovascular system. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate some of these scientific concepts and to review the recent advances in the field of angiogenesis.
Norwegians led the way in training wartime weather officers

The physics majors at The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) were fond of “Big Joe,” as he was called behind his back. There was an air of boyishness about him when playing in the annual faculty-student softball game. Yet Dr. Joseph Kaplan (Figure 1) could be formal and imposing when discussing a thesis or a research project. He had been the popular chairman of the Physics Department since 1936, when he was 34. The pipe clenched between his teeth was ever present, even when he was sliding into third base.
Variability in Microbiological Samplings of Chickens by the Swab Method

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE bacterial population on the surface of ready-to-cook chicken is a good index of its shelf life. Procedures for microbiological sampling of birds fall into 3 general categories: 1) using a prescribed weight of excised tissue, 2) washing the entire bird or piece, and 3) removing the organisms from a definite surface area. Lock-head and Landerkin (1935) and May et al. (1961) among others, estimated bacterial numbers on poultry by washing a piece of excised tissue in diluent. Gunderson et al. (1954) ground the sample in a blender prior to making the serial dilutions. Yacowitz et al. (1957) and Goresline and Haugh (1959) dipped chicken parts into the diluent whereas Drewniak et al. (1954) and Corey and Barnes (1963) submerged the whole bird. Removal of bacteria from a prescribed area of the bird’s surface has been accomplished using pressed or poured agar, contact with millipore filter pads or by …
Predictors of diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients representing a huge health and economic burden. Alarming recent data described diabetes as an unprecedented worldwide epidemic, with a prevalence of ∼6.4% of the world population in 2010, while the prevalence of CKD among diabetics was approximately 40%. With a clinical field hungry for novel markers predicting DN, several clinical and laboratory markers were identified lately with the promise of reliable DN prediction. Among those are age, gender, hypertension, smoking, sex hormones and anemia. In addition, eccentric left ventricular geometric patterns, detected by echocardiography, and renal hypertrophy, revealed by ultrasonography, are promising new markers predicting DN development. Serum and urinary markers are still invaluable elements, including serum uric acid, microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria, urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (u-LFABP), and urinary nephrin. Moreover, studies have illustrated a tight relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and the development of DN. The purpose of this review is to present the latest advances in identifying promising predictors to DN, which will help guide the future research questions in this field. Aiming at limiting this paramount threat, further efforts are necessary to identify and control independent modifiable risk factors, while developing an integrative algorithm for utilization in DN future screening programs.
Communication apprehension and shyness: Conceptual and operational distinctions

A conceptual distinction is drawn between communication apprehension and shyness, two constructs which some writers previously have treated as interchangeable. In two studies, measures of these constructs were examined for both relationship and independence. The results of the studies indicated validity of the conceptual distinction between these constructs.
Irrational Beliefs and Intellectual Performance

A multiple-regression analysis of the association between the endorsement of irrational beliefs and scores on tests of reading, writing, and mathematics in 135 female and 98 male college applicants...
Design, fabrication and thermal characterization of a magnetocaloric microcooler

Magnetocaloric cooling is an alternative, high-efficiency cooling technology. In this paper, we present the design and fabrication of a micromachined magnetocaloric cooler and demonstrate its ability to work in a small magnetic field (<1.2 T) with a cooling test. The cooler was built by fabricating Si microfluidic channels, and it was integrated with a Gd5(Si2Ge2) magnetocaloric refrigeration element. The magnetic properties of the Gd5(Si2Ge2) material were characterized to calculate the magnetic entropy change at different ambient temperatures. Three different methods to integrate the channel layer and the magnetocaloric element were evaluated to test sealing and cooling performance. The cooling tests were performed by providing a magnetic field using an electromagnet. A test jig was constructed between the poles of an electromagnet to maintain a steady temperature during the test. Cooling tests were performed on the magnetocaloric element at ambient temperatures ranging from 258 to 280 K using a magnetic field of 1.2 T. Experimental results showed a maximum temperature change of 7 K on the magnetocaloric element alone at an ambient temperature of 258 K. Cooling tests of the fully integrated coolers were also performed. A solution of anti-freeze fluid (propylene glycol) and water was used as the coolant. The temperature of the working fluid decreased by 4.6 and 9 K for the glass and Si intermediate layers, respectively, confirming that the thermal conductivity of the materials is also an important factor in cooler performance. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regional conferences for women: another world wide web

In many parts of the world, special regional conferences for women help inspire women to persist in the male-dominated culture of computer science. The conferences occur in India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States; the Association for Computing Machinery and its Women's Council sponsor most of the events. The celebrations of women in computing address the underrepresentation of women by focusing on retention. Within the broad retention classification, subgoals involve: intentional role modeling, mentoring, community building and providing accurate career information. Features of individual conferences vary, but most events include different tracks concentrating on research and industry; sessions covering ethical, social and curricular issues; lightning talks in which attendees share five- to ten-minute presentations on topics of their choosing; poster sessions; and a career fair where companies interview attendees for internship and job openings and where graduate schools provide information about their programs. In the United States, a recent National Science Foundation grant funded twelve new regional conferences and extensive assessment of the project. The poster summarizes the conference goals, the components of the events, results of the evaluation conducted by a professional assessment company and contact information for existing conferences and for launching new conferences. Regional celebrations connect women, often in remote areas around the globe, and the collection of conferences has the potential to form a new World Wide Web -- a web of women.
Legal Solvency Tests and Financial Economics

Legal solvency tests play a crucial role in high‐stakes financial transactions. This article presents a brief introduction to legal solvency tests that play important roles in bankruptcy and corporate law. The author then proceeds to analyze these tests from the perspective of financial economics, and argues that optimal solvency tests should be context‐dependent.
Vivian Paley as a model for moral decision‐making

In her book, You Can’t Say You Can’t Play, Vivian Paley critiques the issue of fairness in her kindergarten classroom and concludes that the behavior of some of her students is not acceptable. She proceeds to reflect, analyze and then create a plan that she believes will provide the children with the opportunity to behave fairly with each other. The process involved in producing such a plan is fraught with certain dilemmas that carry with them ethical dimensions. Paley’s story also serves to model how a teacher uses her own moral understanding as well as her understanding of child development to interfere with behavior she defines as wrong, and models the capacity of a teacher to teach ‘good’ behavior. The change of behavior that she witnesses as a result of her actions provides tangible proof that her decision was appropriate.
Somatic Mutation Rates and Specificities at TC/AG and GT/CA Microsatellite Sequences in Nontumorigenic Human Lymphoblastoid Cells

We have examined mutational events at TC/AG microsatellites, the second most abundant dinucleotide repetitive motif in the human genome. Mutational targets were constructed containing TC/AG alleles up to 20 units in-frame within the coding region of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene. These targets were incorporated into oriP shuttle vectors, which replicate episomally in human lymphoblastoid cells. The overall HSV-tk mutant frequencies measured after 10 population doublings in cells derived from a clinically normal donor were slightly increased over the background of mutations recovered in Escherichia coli. DNA sequence analyses revealed that replication of TC/AG vectors in human cells increased the mutation frequencies at the microsatellite motif up to 3-fold, relative to background. Additionally, the median HSV-tk mutation rate of single-cell clones carrying the [TC/AG]17 vector was significantly different from that of clones harboring the control vector. The median rate of allele length alterations within the [TC/AG]11 tract was 2 x 10(-6) mutations/cell generation, with an equivalent rate of deletion and expansion mutations. In contrast, a [GT/CA]10 vector showed no increase in microsatellite mutation frequency after replication in human cells, and mutation rates of clones carrying a [GT/CA]16 vector were not significantly different from controls. Intriguingly, replication in human cells of all microsatellite-containing vectors resulted in elevated mutation frequencies at the downstream HSV-tk coding sequence of up to 20-fold, an effect not observed for the control vector. These results demonstrate that the frequency of mutational events at TC/AG motifs is slightly greater than at GT/CA motifs of similar allele length. This is the first report to our knowledge of the mutation rates at TC/AG microsatellite alleles in eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells.
Inhibition of TWIST1 Leads to Activation of Oncogene-Induced Senescence in Oncogene Driven Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

A large fraction of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) are dependent on defined oncogenic driver mutations. Although targeted agents exist for EGFR- and EML4-ALK-driven NSCLCs, no therapies target the most frequently found driver mutation, KRAS. Furthermore, acquired resistance to the currently targetable driver mutations is nearly universally observed. Clearly a novel therapeutic approach is needed to target oncogene-driven NSCLCs. We recently showed that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Twist1 cooperates with mutant Kras to induce lung adenocarcinoma in transgenic mouse models and that inhibition of Twist1 in these models led to Kras-induced senescence. In the current study, we examine the role of TWIST1 in oncogene-driven human NSCLCs. Silencing of TWIST1 in KRAS-mutant human NSCLC cell lines resulted in dramatic growth inhibition and either activation of a latent oncogene-induced senescence program or, in some cases, apoptosis. Similar effects were observed in EGFR mutation-driven and c-Met-amplified NSCLC cell lines. Growth inhibition by silencing of TWIST1 was independent of p53 or p16 mutational status and did not require previously defined mediators of senescence, p21 and p27, nor could this phenotype be rescued by overexpression of SKP2. In xenograft models, silencing of TWIST1 resulted in significant growth inhibition of KRAS-mutant, EGFR-mutant, and c-Met-amplified NSCLCs. Remarkably, inducible silencing of TWIST1 resulted in significant growth inhibition of established KRAS-mutant tumors. Together these findings suggest that silencing of TWIST1 in oncogene driver-dependent NSCLCs represents a novel and promising therapeutic strategy.
Evidence suggesting that Pif1 helicase functions in DNA replication with the Dna2 helicase/nuclease and DNA polymerase delta.

The precise machineries required for two aspects of eukaryotic DNA replication, Okazaki fragment processing (OFP) and telomere maintenance, are poorly understood. In this work, we present evidence that Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pif1 helicase plays a wider role in DNA replication than previously appreciated and that it likely functions in conjunction with Dna2 helicase/nuclease as a component of the OFP machinery. In addition, we show that Dna2, which is known to associate with telomeres in a cell-cycle-specific manner, may be a new component of the telomere replication apparatus. Specifically, we show that deletion of PIF1 suppresses the lethality of a DNA2-null mutant. The pif1{Delta} dna2{Delta} strain remains methylmethane sulfonate sensitive and temperature sensitive; however, these phenotypes can be suppressed by further deletion of a subunit of pol {delta}, POL32. Deletion of PIF1 also suppresses the cold-sensitive lethality and hydroxyurea sensitivity of the pol32{Delta} strain. Dna2 is thought to function by cleaving long flaps that arise during OFP due to excessive strand displacement by pol {delta} and/or by an as yet unidentified helicase. Thus, suppression of dna2{Delta} can be rationalized if deletion of POL32 and/or PIF1 results in a reduction in long flaps that require Dna2 for processing. We further show that deletion of DNA2 suppresses the long-telomere phenotype and the high rate of formation of gross chromosomal rearrangements in pif1{Delta} mutants, suggesting a role for Dna2 in telomere elongation in the absence of Pif1.
Far-Infrared Spectroscopy of Minerals and Inorganics

Far-infrared spectroscopic analysis of minerals and inorganics was investigated. Far-infrared spectra, 200 to 50 cm−1 (50 to 200 μ), were obtained for 18 different minerals and inorganics, including 8 sulfides, 3 oxides, 3 carbonates, and 4 sulfates, many for the first time. Original analytical applications were made on samples of practical interest. These included the identification of cinnabar in a high-quartz ore, cuprite and tenorite in a mixture, calcite and dolomite in a coal refuse sample, dawsonite and dolomite in an oil shale, thenardite in a boiler deposit, and ferrous sulfate in the surface film on pyrite.
Superantigens in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from prosthetic joint infection

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of prosthetic joint infection (PJI). The prevalence of superantigens (SAgs) among PJI-associated S. aureus is unknown. Eighty-four S. aureus isolates associated with PJI isolated between 1999 and 2006 were studied. SAg genes, sea , seb , sec , sed , see , seg , seh , sei , and tst , were assayed by PCR. Seventy-eight (92.9%) isolates carried at least 1 SAg gene studied, with 61 (72.6%) harboring more than 1. seg was most commonly (70.2%), and seh was least frequently (4.8%) detected. tst -positive isolates were associated with early infection and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate at diagnosis ( P =0.006 and P =0.021, respectively). seg and sei were associated with methicillin resistance ( P =0.008 and P =0.002, respectively). A majority of PJI-associated isolates studied produced biologically active SAgs in both planktonic and biofilm growth modes. SAg genes are prevalent in S. aureus causing PJI.
Quantitative sonographic measurement of cerebral blood flow volume in infants with periventricular leukomalacia

Fukuda et al. recently reported on decreased cerebral blood flow volume (CBFV) in infants with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) [1]. It is a first attempt to address the role of alterations in cerebral hemodynamics in prematures developing PVL by means of ultrasound flowmetry of the extracranial, brain-feeding arteries. However, considering methodological aspects the results of Fukuda et al. have to be questioned:
Keratinocyte cytoskeletal roles in cell sheet engineering

There is an increasing need to understand cell-cell interactions for cell and tissue engineering purposes, such as optimizing cell sheet constructs, as well as for examining adhesion defect diseases. For cell-sheet engineering, one major obstacle to sheet function is that cell sheets in suspension are fragile and, over time, will contract. While the role of the cytoskeleton in maintaining the structure and adhesion of cells cultured on a rigid substrate is well-characterized, a systematic examination of the role played by different components of the cytoskeleton in regulating cell sheet contraction and cohesion in the absence of a substrate has been lacking. In this study, keratinocytes were cultured until confluent and cell sheets were generated using dispase to remove the influence of the substrate. The effects of disrupting actin, microtubules or intermediate filaments on cell-cell interactions were assessed by measuring cell sheet cohesion and contraction. Keratin intermediate filament disruption caused comparable effects on cell sheet cohesion and contraction, when compared to actin or microtubule disruption. Interfering with actomyosin contraction demonstrated that interfering with cell contraction can also diminish cell cohesion. All components of the cytoskeleton are involved in maintaining cell sheet cohesion and contraction, although not to the same extent. These findings demonstrate that substrate-free cell sheet biomechanical properties are dependent on the integrity of the cytoskeleton network.
Bioavailability to rats of zinc, magnesium and calcium in casein-, egg- and soy protein-containing diets.

The bioavailability of zinc ( Zn ) and magnesium ( Mg ) from several soybean products (SP) as well as the effect of the presence of dietary SP upon the bioavailability of added Zn or calcium (Ca) was investigated. Male, weanling rats were fed all or part of their dietary pro tein as full fat soy flour ( SF ), freeze-dried soy beverage ( SB) or soy con centrate (SC). In experiments testing the bioavailability of minerals from SP, incremental levels of a SP were substituted on an isonitrogenous basis for egg white (Zn studies) or casein (Mg studies). Graded levels of ZnCOa or MgCOs were added to egg white or casein basal diets. In experiments testing the effect of the presence of SP upon the bioavailability of supple mental minerals, graded levels of CaCOs or ZnCO3 were added to SP-con- taining diets or casein (Ca studies) or egg white (Zn study) basal diets. Linear regression analyses related total tibia (or femur) Zn, Mg, or Ca to in creased dietary mineral. Growth (Zn studies) and serum Mg were also related to the dietary mineral concentration. The results showed that Zn was poorly available from soy products, especially SC. Mg was highly available from SF and SB; Mg utilization from SC was good but less than from the other SP. Ca added to all SP was highly available, while Zn added to SC was not fully available. Conditions involved in processing SC or its elevated phytate to zinc molar ratio may have resulted in reduced bioavailability of endogenous Zn and Mg and of added Zn. J. Nutr. 109: 1652-1660, 1979.
Temporal and Spatial Expression of Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases 1 and 2 (TIMP-1 and -2) in the Bovine Corpus Luteum

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), may mediate the dramatic structural and functional changes in the corpus luteum (CL) over the course of its life span. In addition to regulating MMP activity, TIMPs are also involved in a variety of cellular processes, including cell proliferation and steroidogenesis. In a series of initial studies, we determined that matrix metalloproteinase inhibitory activity was present in protein extracts from early (4 days old, estrus = day 0), mid (10–12 days old) and late (16 days old) CL (n = 3 for each stage). Reverse zymography revealed four metalloproteinase inhibitory protein bands with relative molecular masses that are consistent with those reported for TIMP-1 to -4. In order to gain a better understanding of TIMPs and their role in luteal function, we further characterized this inhibitory activity with a particular focus on the temporal and spatial expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the bovine CL. Northern blotting revealed that the TIMP-1 transcript (0.9 kb) was expressed at a higher (p < 0.05) level in early and mid cycle CL than in the late stage. In contrast, two TIMP-2 mRNA species, one major 1 kb species and one minor 3.5 kb species, were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the mid and late cycle CL than in the early. Western blotting analyses demonstrated no differences in TIMP-1 (29 kDa) protein levels between early and mid stages, while its levels decreased (p < 0.05) from the mid to late stage CL. Conversely, TIMP-2 (22 kDa) protein was detected at a low level in the early CL, but significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the mid and late stages. Immunohistochemistry revealed that both TIMP-1 and -2 were localized to large luteal cells from all three ages of CL. TIMP-1 was also localized in capillary smooth muscle cells, while TIMP-2 was restricted to the endothelial cells in the capillary compartment. In conclusion, the different temporal expression patterns of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 suggest that TIMP-1 may be important for luteal formation and development, while TIMP-2 may play significant roles during luteal development and maintenance. Furthermore, the distinct localization of these two inhibitors in the vascular compartment indicates that they may serve diverse physiological functions during different stages of luteal angiogenesis.
Near-Death Experiences in a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic Population

Near-death experiences, or mystical experiences during encounters with death, are reported to have beneficial effects despite their phenomenologic similarity to pathological states. This study explored the prevalence of near-death experiences and associated psychological distress by using a cross-sectional survey of 832 psychiatric outpatients. Standardized measures of near-death experiences and psychological distress were administered via questionnaire at clinic intake. A total of 272 patients (33 percent) reported encounters with death, and these patients were found to have greater psychological distress than other patients. Sixty-one of the patients who had been close to death (22 percent) reported having near-death experiences, and these patients were found to have less psychological distress than patients who did not have near-death experiences after brushes with death.
Large effective area dispersion-shifted fibers with dual-ring index profiles

Summary form only given. In summary, we have designed and fabricated single mode dispersion-shifted fibers, using the dual-ring index profile, with effective area as large as 90 /spl mu/m/sup 2/. The large effective area can greatly reduce the performance degradation caused by fiber nonlinearities for long-haul terrestrial and submarine applications. Furthermore, these fibers show lower bending losses than standard step-index single-mode fibers.
The Origins of the Federal Budget

The federal budget, a long-sought goal of fiscal reformers, became a reality with the passage of the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921. This paper is concerned with one of the key expectations of the reformers, that the adoption of a formal budget would produce better estimates of federal revenues and expenditures. The conclusion is that there is little evidence of a dramatic improvement that could be attributed to the reform, although there is some evidence that the quality of the estimates improved over the long run. The paper then discusses the reasons for and implications of this finding. M OST histories of federal budgeting depict the adoption of a formal budget in the early 1920s as part of an inevitable maturing of the bureaucracy requiring little comment. Seldom is attention paid to what was expected from the budget or to whether those expectations were fulfilled. The neglect of this issue is unfortunate, I believe, because the concerns that motivated the reformers before World War I were similar to those that motivate many in the current generation of would-be reformers, for example, those who advocate a balanced budget amendment. There is much that can be learned from the successes and failures of a previous generation of reformers.
A New Treatment of the Coriolis Terms in C-Grid Models at Both High and Low Resolutions

Numerical models of the ocean typically employ gridpoint techniques in which the dynamical variables defining the state of the ocean are held on a staggered grid. One common arrangement of the variables, known as the Arakawa C-grid, is particularly prone to gridscale noise that is due to spatial averaging of Coriolis terms and that is manifest when the grid resolution is coarse with respect to the deformation radius. Here, the authors analyze the problem in the context of linear inertia‐gravity waves and discuss the reason for the prevalence of noise. They suggest a solution to the problem in which the C-grid model variables are augmented with D-grid velocity variables. An analysis of the resulting C‐D grid indicates favorable behavior and numerical results are presented to demonstrate this. Finally, they discuss the similarity in nature between the C‐D grid and the Zgrid, to explain why the C‐D grid works well at both high and low resolution.
Relationship between Multiple Forms of Maltreatment by a Parent or Guardian and Adolescent Alcohol Use

This study examined the effect of the co-occurrence of multiple categories of maltreatment on adolescent alcohol use. Data were from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health which used a nationally representative sample of adolescents (n = 14,078). Among those reporting any maltreatment, over one-third had experienced more than one type of maltreatment. Logistic regression models found that all types or combinations of types of maltreatment except physical-abuse-only were strongly associated with adolescent alcohol use, controlling for age, gender, race, and parental alcoholism. These results add to accumulating evidence that child maltreatment has a deleterious impact on adolescent alcohol use.
Radioautographic studies of plaque-forming cells. I. Antigen-stimulated proliferation of plaque-forming cells.

A method has been described for obtaining radioautographs of plaque-forming cells. The method permits radioautographic analyses of small numbers of plaque-forming cells amidst large populations of non-plaque-forming cells. Spleen cells that were pulse-labeled with tritiated thymidine could be categorized readily as labeled or not labeled. Using this method it was found that (a) at least 55% of plaque-forming cells which appear 3 days after a maximal stimulus of 4 x 108 sheep red cells are still capable of DNA synthesis, and must have arisen by cell proliferation; (b) the rate of proliferation of plaque-forming cells is proportional to the log of the dose of antigen; (c) the S period of plaque-forming cells is at least 2 hr, appears to be constant, and is not influenced by antigen dose. The results suggest that antigen stimulates proliferation of plaque-forming cells by hastening their transit through the G1 phase of the generative cycle.
Connective tissue activation. XVII. Radioimmunoassay of a human platelet derived connective tissue activating peptide (CTAP-III) and specificities of anti-CTAP-III sera

Abstract The platelet-derived connective tissue activating peptide (CTAP-III) has been shown to be an important factor stimulating the metabolism and proliferation of human connective tissue cell strains, including synovial tissue cells. The quantities of CTAP-III affecting the cellular changes and the amounts in various biologic fluids and tissues are small. The objectives of this study were to develop a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for CTAP-III and to ascertain the specificities of the anti-CTAP-III sera reagents. The antisera were shown not to cross-react with a number of polypeptide hormones. However, two other platelet proteins, β-thromboglobulin and low affinity platelet factor-4, competed equally as well as CTAP-III for anti-CTAP-III antibodies in the RIA system. Thus, the three platelet proteins are similar or identical with respect to those portions of the molecules constituting the reactive antigenic determinants. The levels of material in normal human platelet-free plasma that inhibited anti-CTAP-III-12S!-CTAP-III complex formation were determined to be 34 ± 13 (S.D.) ng/ml.
Topographic enhancement mapping of the cancer-associated breast stroma using breast MRI

In animal and laboratory models, cancer-associated stroma, or elements of the supporting tissue surrounding a primary tumor, has been shown to be necessary for tumor evolution and progression. However, little is understood or studied regarding the properties of intact stroma in human cancer in vivo. In addition, for breast cancer patients, the optimal volume of local tissue to treat surrounding a primary tumor is not clear. Here, we performed an interdisciplinary study of normal-appearing breast tissue using breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), correlative histology and array comparative genomic hybridization to identify a cancer-associated stroma in humans. Using a novel technique for segmenting breast fibroglandular tissue, quantifiable topographic percent enhancement mapping of the stroma surrounding invasive breast cancer was found to be significantly elevated within 2 cm of the tumor edge. This region was also found to harbor increased microvessel density, and genomic changes that were closely associated with host normal breast tissue. These findings indicate that a cancer-associated stroma may be identified and characterized in human breast cancer using non-invasive imaging techniques. Identification of a cancer-associated stroma may be further developed to help guide local therapy to reduce recurrence and morbidity in breast cancer patients.
Clopidogrel Use and Early Outcomes Among Older Patients Receiving a Drug-Eluting Coronary Artery Stent

Background—Clopidogrel use after drug-eluting stent (DES) coronary artery implantation is essential for the prevention of early in-stent thrombosis, but clopidogrel use among older DES recipients has not been widely studied. We sought to identify characteristics associated with failure to fill a clopidogrel prescription and to examine the relationship between a clopidogrel prescription fill and hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or death. Methods and Results—This study was a retrospective analysis of administrative data (20% sample) of 15 996 Medicare Part D enrollees who received a DES in 2006 to 2007. We modeled the adjusted probability and odds of clopidogrel prescription fill within 7 and 90 days of discharge and its association with AMI hospitalization or death. Of the study sample, 19.7% did not fill a clopidogrel prescription within 7 days of discharge, falling to 13.3% by day 90. The adjusted probability of filling a clopidogrel prescription within 7 or 90 days of discharge was ...
A neutrality test for detecting selection on DNA methylation using single methylation polymorphism frequency spectrum.

Inheritable epigenetic mutations (epimutations) can contribute to transmittable phenotypic variation. Thus, epimutations can be subject to natural selection and impact the fitness and evolution of organisms. Based on the framework of the modified Tajima’s D test for DNA mutations, we developed a neutrality test with the statistic “Dm” to detect selection forces on DNA methylation mutations using single methylation polymorphisms. With computer simulation and empirical data analysis, we compared the Dm test with the original and modified Tajima’s D tests and demonstrated that the Dm test is suitable for detecting selection on epimutations and outperforms original/modified Tajima’s D tests. Due to the higher resetting rate of epimutations, the interpretation of Dm on epimutations and Tajima’s D test on DNA mutations could be different in inferring natural selection. Analyses using simulated and empirical genome-wide polymorphism data suggested that genes under genetic and epigenetic selections behaved differently. We applied the Dm test to recently originated Arabidopsis and human genes, and showed that newly evolved genes contain higher level of rare epialleles, suggesting that epimutation may play a role in origination and evolution of genes and genomes. Overall, we demonstrate the utility of the Dm test to detect whether the loci are under selection regarding DNA methylation. Our analytical metrics and methodology could contribute to our understanding of evolutionary processes of genes and genomes in the field of epigenetics. The Perl script for the “Dm” test is available at http://fanlab.wayne.edu/ (last accessed December 18, 2014).
Screening for Pain in the Ambulatory Cancer Setting: Is 0-10 Enough?

Asking about pain frequency and intensity and reconsidering threshold values on pain intensity scales may be practical strategies to better identify patients with cancer who have relevant pain.
Issues Affecting Respirator Selection for Workers Exposed to Infectious Aerosols: Emphasis on Healthcare Settings

The goal of occupational health practice is to protect the health of workers by preventing diseases and injuries from occurring. When work activities are anticipated, recognized, or found during an...
Day-Roosting Habitat of Female Long-Legged Myotis in Ponderosa Pine Forests

We studied use of day roosts by adult, female long-legged myotis (Myotis volans) in 4 watersheds dominated by ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest east of the Cascade Crest in Washington and Oregon, USA, 2001–2003. To investigate maternity habitat in managed, xeric forests we radiotracked 87 bats to 195 snag roosts and 34 rock crevices totaling 842 roost-days. Bats changed roosts every 2.7 ± 0.1 (SE) days and averaged 3.6 ± 0.3 roosts per bat. Roosts were 2.0 ± 0.1 km from capture sites, and bats moved 1.4 ± 0.1 km between successive roosts. Six bats (6.9%) day-roosted in rock crevices exclusively, 9 bats (10.3%) used snags and rock crevices, and the remaining bats (82.8%) day-roosted in snags exclusively. Most snag roosts were thick-bark ponderosa pine (n = 103; 52.8%) or thin-bark grand fir (Abies grandis) and white fir (Abies concolor) (n = 74; 37.9%). Over half of all snag roosts (n = 101; 52%) were used by solitary bats; 28 snag roosts (14%) housed >50 bats (large-flyout roosts). Ninety-three percent of large-flyout roosts were in ponderosa pine snags. Large-flyout roosts were larger, taller, and retained more exfoliating bark and total bark than small-flyout roosts (P 25 cm diameter, and were lower in elevation than random snags (P < 0.05). Pregnant bats divided roost-days almost evenly between thick and thin-bark snags (52.7 vs. 47.3%), whereas lactating bats roosted in thick-bark snags more often than they did in thin-bark snags (80.3 vs. 19.7%, P < 0.0001). Pregnant bats roosted in both upslope and riparian zones (57.5 vs. 42.5%), but lactating bats spent more days roosting upslope than in riparian zones (73.1 vs. 26.9%, P < 0.0001). These findings suggest that reproductive female long-legged bats choose roosts relative to their changing physiological needs. We recommend that management of forests for sustaining habitat of female long-legged myotis in the east Cascades ensure the continued availability of both thick- and thin-bark snags in early stages of decay, in both riparian and upslope positions.
The Vast Domain of the Restatement (Third) of Torts

This essay discusses the challenges faced by th American Law Institute in completing work on the Restatement (Third) of Torts.
Neural and Neurochemical Control of the Separation Distress Call

Our work in the area of separation-induced distress vocalizations (DVs) was precipitated by the discovery of brain opioid systems in the early 1970’s. The discovery of these systems led to diverse lines of research to identify the psychobehavioral functions of endogenous opioid systems. Many ideas have been generated, including hypotheses related to neurochemical mechanisms of reward-pleasure, stress-induced analgesia, and memory (for an overview see, Davis, 1984). Our own perspective was that this system may constitute a major neurochemical underpinning of social bonding. To put it simply, we reasoned that social attachments may reflect an opioid mediated addictive process in the brain. As summarized in Table 1, there are many reasons to believe that this might be the case. Accordingly, we decided to evaluate the putative emotional dynamics underlying social interactions (including social bonding and closely related social processes, such as gregariousness, play and dominance) by determining how opiates and other neuroactive drugs modulate DVs arising from social separation.