cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract B08: Triptolide has antitumor effects in lung cancer via Wnt pathway inhibition.

Introduction: Triptolide is an extract of the herb Tripterygium wilfordii (Tw), which has been used to treat autoimmune disorders in traditional Chinese medicine. It has also been reported to have anti-cancer effects in vitro, although little is known about its mechanism of action. The Wnt/B-catenin pathway has been implicated in regulating cancer stem cells in lung cancer, making this pathway a potential target for novel lung cancer therapies. Methods: Here we tested the efficacy of triptolide in several lung cancer cell lines. We elucidated a Wnt pathway mechanism for triptolide effect in lung cancer, first by using a Wnt focused cDNA array in vitro. We examined the effect of triptolide on tumor cell death using flow cytomotery and a beta-galactosidase assay. We tested the ability of triptolide to prevent development of lung tumors in the E160D transgenic mouse model of lung cancer, which carries a somatic mutation in the DNA repair enzyme flap endonuclease-1 (FEN-1). Twelve month old mice were fed triptolide 1mg/kg daily for 2 months and were sacrificed at 18 months along with a control group. Results: Triptolide had more potent therapeutic efficacy in multiple lung cancer cell lines compared with cisplatin and paclitaxel, in vitro. In H460 and A549 cell lines, we found that triptolide resulted in Wnt pathway silencing via overexpression of Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (WIF-1), which occurs due to promoter demethylation. Addition of recombinant Wnt3a, which causes Wnt pathway activation, partially rescues the effect of triptolide on lung cancer cell lines. Triptolide resulted in cellular senescence as demonstrated by beta-galactosidase assay. Finally, in the E160D transgenic mouse model of lung cancer, a two month course of oral triptolide treatment decreased the development of lung tumors from 70% to 30% at 18 months (p=0.01). There were no observed clinical toxicities at the dosage of triptolide used. Conclusions: Triptolide has potent anti-cancer effects in vitro in lung cancer cell lines, and significantly decreases lung tumor development in a transgenic mouse model. Triptolide suppresses the Wnt pathway by causing upregulation of WIF-1a by promoter demethylation. Future studies are needed to test this promising and novel Wnt-targeting therapy in lung cancer animal models, and to identify biomarkers which may predict sensitivity in particular subgroups of lung cancer patients. Citation Format: Youqiang Li, Li Zheng, Binghui Shen, Jae Kim, Dan Raz. Triptolide has antitumor effects in lung cancer via Wnt pathway inhibition. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-IASLC Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer; 2014 Jan 6-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2014;20(2Suppl):Abstract nr B08.
Na+ currents near and away from endplates on human fast and slow twitch muscle fibers

Fast and slow twitch muscle fibers have distinct contractile properties. Here we determined that membrane excitability also varies with fiber type. Na+ currents (INa) were studied with the loose-patch voltage clamp technique on 29 histochemically classified human intercostal skeletal muscle fibers at the endplate border and > 200 microns from the endplate (extrajunctional). Fast and slow twitch fibers showed slow inactivation of endplate border and extrajunctional INa and had increased INa at the endplate border compared to extrajunctional membrane. The voltage dependencies of INa were similar on the endplate border and extrajunctional membrane, which suggests that both regions have physiologically similar channels. Fast twitch fibers had larger INa on the endplate border and extrajunctional membrane and manifest fast and slow inactivation of INa at more negative potentials than slow twitch fibers. For normal muscle, the differences between INa on fast and slow twitch fibers might: (1) enable fast twitch fibers to operate at high firing frequencies for brief periods; and (2) enable slow twitch fibers to operate at low firing frequencies for prolonged times. Disorders of skeletal membrane excitability, such as the periodic paralyses and myotonias, may impact fast and slow twitch fibers differently due to the distinctive Na+ channel properties of each fiber type.
Fused fiber pump and signal combiners for a 4-kW ytterbium fiber laser

We report the development of fused-fiber pump and signal combiners. These combiners are enabling components of a ytterbium fiber-laser emitting 4 kW of 1080-nm radiation. The fiber-laser system consists of seven fiber laser modules and a 7:1 signal combiner. The laser modules are end-pumped by 90 915-nm JDSU L4 diode-lasers, yielding a nominal pump power of 900 W. The diode laser radiation is coupled into the laser fiber through a 91:1 fused-fiber pump combiner. The input fibers of this pump combiner are standard 105/125-um multimode fibers with an NA of 0.22. These fibers form a hexagonally packed fused-fiber bundle, which is tapered to match the cladding diameter of the laser fiber. Eighty-six percent of the light exiting the pump-combiner is emitted within an NA of 0.32, and all measurable power is emitted within an NA of 0.45. The typical insertion loss of the pump combiners is 4 kW in the single output beam. The beam parameter product of the combined output was 2.5 mm-mrad. The low insertion loss of < 2% indicates that the signal combiner is suitable to handle even higher laser powers.
α7-Nicotinic receptors and cognition.

Abstract Nicotinic α7 receptors have been shown in a variety of studies with animal models to play important roles in diverse components of cognitive function, including learning, memory and attention. Mice with α7 receptor knockouts show impairments in memory. Selective α7 agonists significantly improve learning, memory and attention. α7 receptors in limbic structures such as the hippocampus and amygdala have been demonstrated to play critical roles in memory. Blockade of α7 receptors in these areas cause memory impairments. In the brains of people with schizophrenia α7 receptors are impaired. This may be related to pronounced cognitive impairments seen with schizophrenia. There has been a major effort to develop α7 nicotinic agonists for helping to reverse cognitive impairment. These receptors are a promising target for development of therapeutic treatments for a variety of diseases of cognitive impairment including Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia.
Causes for Turbomachinery Performance Deterioration

Turbines and compressors operating in polluted atmosphere with solid particles are subjected to performance deterioration. This paper presents an investigation carried out on two-stage gas turbine with blunt leading edge blades and on a single-stage axial flow compressor to study the effects of particulates and erosion on performance deterioration.Copyright © 1988 by ASME
Propagation of constraints applied to circuit synthesis

A major component in the process of design is synthesis, the determination of the parameters of the parts of a network given desiderata for the behaviour of the network as a whole. Traditional automated synthesis techniques are either restricted to small, precisely defined classes of circuit functions for which exact mathematical methods exist or they depend upon numerical optimization methods in which it is difficult to determine the basis for any of the answers generated and their relations to the design desiderata and constraints. We are developing a symbolic computer-aided design tool, SYN, which can be of assistance to an engineer in the synthesis of a large class of circuits. The symbolic methods produce solutions which are clear and insightful. The dependence of each parameter on the individual design desiderata and circuit constraints can be easily traced.
Elective surgical case cancellation in the Veterans Health Administration system: identifying areas for improvement.

Abstract Background This study evaluated elective surgical case cancellation (CC) rates, reasons for these cancellations, and identified areas for improvement within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) system. Methods CC data for 2006 were collected from the scheduling software for 123 VA facilities. Surveys were distributed to 40 facilities (10 highest and 10 lowest CC rates for high- and low-volume facilities). CC reasons were standardized and piloted at 5 facilities. Results Of 329,784 cases scheduled by 9 surgical specialties, 40,988 (12.4%) were cancelled. CC reasons (9,528) were placed into 6 broad categories: patient (35%), work-up/medical condition change (28%), facility (20%), surgeon (8%), anesthesia (1%), and miscellaneous (8%). Survey results show areas for improvement at the facility level and a standardized list of 28 CC reasons was comprehensive. Conclusions Interventions that decrease cancellations caused by patient factors, inadequate work-up, and facility factors are needed to reduce overall elective surgical case cancellations.
Atopy, Eosinophilia, Complete Blood Count (CBC) and the Risk of Rejection in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients

Purpose Further understanding of risk factors for rejection can allow clinicians to reduce immunosuppression. CD3 lymphocytes play a central role in adaptive immune function with the Th1 phenotype (pro-inflammatory) being a mediator and the Th2 (pro-atopic)possibly being suppressive of rejection. Children have less rejection and more atopic conditions compared to adults. Therefore, we ask whether an association exists between the atopic state and freedom from rejection. Methods and Materials Single-center, observational study of recipients transplanted before 21yrs of age with ≥12 mos FU. Pre-specified biannual CBCs plus clinical information were collected. Individual patient CBC values were grouped and then further combined for comparative analyses. Rejection is defined by need for rescue therapy. Results Study period was 1994-2011 and 86 patients qualified. Median age at transplant was 14.5 mos with mean FU of 40.5 mos and 6.8 CBCs/patient. Atopic conditions necessitating intervention were common (56% of patients) and was associated with age at transplant 3 , p=0.068 ) approached significance with AMR. Conclusions This is the first study to suggest an association between low eosinophil count and rejection. Eosinophilia may be a useful marker of low rejection risk. Future studies will examine its clinical relationship to Th1/Th2 phenotype balance.
On the association of cigarette smoking with coronary and aortic atherosclerosis.

Summary The association of cigarette smoking and atherosclerosis was investigated in 747 autopsied men, 20–64 years of age. Aortic and coronary lesions were evaluated visually in coded specimens and objectively by analysis of radiographs. Using schedules that had been tested for validity and reliability on pairs of living persons, interviewers obtained estimates of cigarette smoking habits of the deceased men from surviving relatives. Data have been analysed with reference to total sample and also to subsamples grouped according to the presence or absence of diseases thought to be associated with smoking (emphysema, lung cancer, etc.) or with coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, etc.). Atherosclerotic involvement of aorta and coronary arteries is greatest in heavy smokers and least in nonsmokers. Occupational physical activity and educational level achieved did not account for observed differences in extent of lesions.
Phenotypic and Etiological Differences Between Psyllid Yellows and Zebra Chip Diseases of Potato

Both potato psyllid yellows and zebra chip (ZC) potato diseases are associated with the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc). Aboveground plant symptoms of both diseases are similar but there is a difference in symptoms in potato tubers. ZC has recently been associated with a new species of the bacterium liberibacter, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’, also known as ‘Ca. Liberibacter psyllaurous’. Mechanisms by which the potato psyllid might cause either ZC or potato psyllid yellows symptoms are not understood. Insect transmission studies were conducted to demonstrate psyllid vectoring of both diseases and to compare symptoms and development of the two diseases. Potato plants were exposed to both liberibacter-free and liberibacter-carrying potato psyllids and later evaluated for plant and tuber symptoms. These plants and tubers were then tested for liberibacter by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, potato plants exhibiting severe psyllid yellows/ZC-like symptoms were collected from a commercial potato field heavily infested with the potato psyllid and tested for liberibacter. PCR detected ‘Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum’ in ZC symptomatic plants and tubers resulting from exposure to liberibacter-carrying psyllids. Despite development of foliar symptoms that resemble those of ZC in plants exposed to liberibacter-free psyllids, no liberibacter was detected in these plants with psyllid yellows. Moreover, tubers from these plants with psyllid yellows did not exhibit any symptoms of ZC infection and tested negative for the bacterium. No liberibacter was detected in plants or tubers collected from the psyllid-infested potato field, suggesting that the observed symptoms were due to psyllid yellows. Furthermore, potato plants that were infected with liberibacter died sooner than plants that were infected with psyllid yellows. Although an association between liberibacter and ZC has been established, no pathogen is yet associated with potato psyllid yellows and mechanisms by which psyllid yellows symptoms are induced by the potato psyllid remain unclear.
Scale-dependent Dynamic Wave Propagation In Heterogeneous Media: II. Theory

The measurable travel times of seismic events propagating in heterogeneous media depend on the geologic scale, the seismic wavelength, and the propagation distance. In general, the velocity inferred from arrival times is slower when the wavelength is longer than the scale of heterogeneity and faster when the wavelength is shorter. For normal incidence propagation in stratified media, this is the difference between averaging seismic slownesses, in the short wavelength limit, and averaging elastic compliances, in the long wavelength limit. In two and three dimensions there is also the path effect. Shorter wavelengths tend to find faster paths, thus biasing the travel times to lower values. In the short wavelength limit, the slowness inferred from the average travel time is smaller than the mean slowness of the medium. When the propagation distance is much larger than the scale of the heterogeneity the path effect causes the velocity increase from long to short wavelength to be much larger in two dimensions than in one dimension, and even larger in three dimensions. The scale-dependent travel time has several implications for seismic measurement and interpretation: The measured velocity depends not just on the rock properties, but on the scale of the measurement relative to the scale of the geology. The amount of scale-dependent dispersion depends on the spatial resolution of the receiver array. When comparing measurements made at different scales, for example logs and surface seismic, it is not always correct simply to apply the Backus average; the correct procedure will vary from case to case with the scale of the geology. Scale effects must be included with other viscoelastic mechanisms of dispersion when comparing measurements made at different frequencies.
Dryland plant biomass and soil carbon and nitrogen fractions on transient land as influenced by tillage and crop rotation

Soil and crop management practices may alter the quantity, quality, and placement of plant residues that influence soil C and N fractions. We examined the effects of two tillage practices [conventional till (CT) and no-till (NT)] and five crop rotations [continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (CW), spring wheat‐fallow (W‐F), spring wheat‐lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) (W‐L), springwheat‐spring wheat‐fallow(W‐W‐F), and springwheat‐pea (PisumsativumL.)‐fallow (W‐P‐F)] ontransient land previously under 10 years of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) planting on the amount of plant biomass (stems + leaves) returnedto the soil from 1998to 2003and soil C and N fractions withinthe surface 20 cm in March2004. A continued CRPplanting was also included as another treatment for comparing soil C and N fractions. The C and N fractions included soil organic C (SOC), soil total N (STN), microbial biomass C and N (MBC and MBN), potential C and N mineralization (PCM and PNM), and NH4-N and NO3-N contents. A field experiment was conducted in a mixture of Scobey clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, Aridic Argiborolls) and Kevin clay loam (fine, montmorillonitic, Aridic Argiborolls) in Havre, MT, USA. Plant biomass yield varied by crop rotation and year and mean annualized biomass was 45‐50% higher in CWand W‐F than in W‐L. The SOC and PCM were not influenced by treatments. The MBC at 0‐5 cm was 26% higher in W‐W‐F than in W‐F. The STN and NO3-N at 5‐20 cm and PNM at 0‐5 cm were 17‐1206% higher in CT with W‐L than in other treatments. Similarly, MBN at 0‐5 cm was higher in CT with W‐L than in other treatments, except in CT with W‐F and W‐P‐F. Reduction in the length of fallow period increased MBC and MBN but the presence of legumes, such as lentil and pea, in the crop rotation increased soil N fractions. Six years of tillage and crop rotation had minor influence on soil C and N storage between croplands and CRP planting but large differences in active soil C and N fractions. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Entrepreneurship in a Graduate Engineering Program

The paper will describe three courses that emphasize the entrepreneurship of new, joint projects between engineering and business students. The courses were co-taught among engineering, business and applied psychology. The graduate student teams developed a marketing plan, conceived a design, built a prototype, and wrote a business plan. The teams were formed into companies with roles and responsibilities, had a budget, and were given the ability to fire “free-loaders.” The teams were expected to develop innovative, high risk, high reward products. The students learned to take risks, accept failure, be creative, and work in a self-directed team. A stress-free classroom environment fostered creativity.
The appearance of regional variations in metabolism at a critical level of diffuse cerebral oligemia.

— Increased intracranial pressure was used to produce graded cerebral oligemia in the rabbit. When cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) was 40 Torr or above, oligemia was not severe enough to cause a decrease in ATP. When CPP was 20 Torr or below, a rapid depletion of ATP occurred. When CPP equalled 30 Torr, animals were distributed at the two extremes, with pronounced diminution of ATP correlating with loss of electrical activity and with increased NADH tissue fluorescence. In addition this critical stage of oligemia was marked by the appearance of regional variations in metabolism. Furthermore, ischemic regions could be visualized in sections of frozen brain by virtue of increased NADH fluorescence.
A microring resonator with an integrated Bragg grating: a compact replacement for a sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector

We present analysis of the distributed Bragg reflector in a microring resonator (DBR-MRR) structure. With appropriate design parameters, the device can closely reproduce the reflectance spectrum of a sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector (SGDBR). By inserting the grating inside a microring resonator, the structure is much more compact than an SGDBR, suppresses side mode ripples near each peak, and offers better control over its full width half maximum (FWHM). The device is expected to have applications in compact tunable lasers and other planar photonic devices.
An asymptotic-preserving semi-Lagrangian algorithm for the time-dependent anisotropic heat transport equation

Abstract We propose a semi-Lagrangian numerical algorithm for a time-dependent, anisotropic temperature transport equation in magnetized plasmas in regimes with negligible variation of the magnitude of the magnetic field B along field lines. The approach is based on a formal integral solution of the parallel (i.e., along the magnetic field) transport equation with sources. While this study focuses on a Braginskii (local) heat flux closure, the approach is able to accommodate nonlocal parallel heat flux closures as well. The numerical implementation is based on an operator-split formulation, with two straightforward steps: a perpendicular transport step (including sources), and a Lagrangian (field-line integral) parallel transport step. Algorithmically, the first step is amenable to the use of modern iterative methods, while the second step has a fixed cost per degree of freedom (and is therefore algorithmically scalable). Accuracy-wise, the approach is free from the numerical pollution introduced by the discrete parallel transport term when the perpendicular to parallel transport coefficient ratio χ ⊥ / χ ∥ becomes arbitrarily small, and is shown to capture the correct limiting solution when ϵ = χ ⊥ L ∥ 2 χ ∥ L ⊥ 2 → 0 (with L ∥ , L ⊥ the parallel and perpendicular diffusion length scales, respectively). Therefore, the approach is asymptotic-preserving. We demonstrate the performance of the scheme with several numerical experiments with varying magnetic field complexity in two dimensions, including the case of heat transport across a magnetic island in cylindrical geometry in the presence of a large guide field.
Sensitivity analysis with regard to capacity expansion in network flow simulation

In the design of flow networks it is desirable to assess the incremental gain in network flow permitted by increasing the flow capacities of one or more components of the system. Probing this question for a stochastic flow network encounters many problems not present in the deterministic case. The authors provide a Monte Carlo sampling plan for investigating this issue. This plan allows one to conduct a sensitivity analysis for a variable upper bound on the flow capacity of a specified arc where the individual arc flow capacities are all random. The plan permits estimation of the probabilities of a feasible flow for many values of the upper bound on the arc capacity from a single data set generated by the Monte Carlo method at a single value of the upper bound. Also, the resulting estimators have considerably smaller variances than crude Monte Carlo sampling would produce in the same setting. The success of the technique follows from the use of lower and upper bounds on each probability of interest where the bounds are generated from an established method of decomposing the capacity state space. >
Markets and relationships in a learning economy

It is generally agreed that within long-term relationships agents learn the characteristics of their market partners better than through spot transactions. In contrast, little is known on how relationship-based and transaction-based markets compare when agents learn about the aggregate economy from market exchanges. In this paper, we study the market structure that arises in an economy where agents learn the aggregate productivity from market exchanges. The model allows to relate the market structure to macroeconomic fundamentals such as the persistence and volatility of the aggregate productivity and the cross-sectional volatility of productivity.
Interactions of Leucine-enkephalin with α-Adrenoceptors in the Conscious Dog

Leucine-enkephalin (Leu-ENK) administered systemically to the conscious dog increases heart rate and blood pressure, a response prevented by naloxone and hence mediated by opiate receptors. Clonidine attenuates the heart rate increase without affecting the pressor response. Propranolol also reduces the magnitude of the heart rate increase but to a lesser degree than does clonidine. Clonidine appears to inhibit the Leu-ENK-induced heart rate increase by both a centrally mediated increase in vagal tone and a peripheral presynaptic α 2 -agonist effect. The presence of a pressor response to Leu-ENK after prazosin pretreatment suggests that Leu-ENK may also increase blood pressure independently of the α 1 -adrenoceptor. Thus, Leu-ENK appears to act via a naloxone-sensitive receptor (perhaps a vagal afferent chemoreceptor), the response involving both sympathetic and parasympathetic mechanisms. The pressor response may also involve a direct effect on peripheral vessels or a non-α 1 -adrenergic efferent pathway.
Random mutagenesis of an essential Candida albicans gene.

A method for the analysis of Candida albicans gene function, which involves random mutagenesis of the open reading frame, is described. This method is especially suited for the study of essential and multi-functional genes, with several advantages over regulatable promoters more commonly used to study essential gene function. These advantages include expression from the endogenous promoter, which should yield a more appropriate transcript expression and abrogate the need for shifts in carbon or amino acid sources necessary with the use of regulatable promoters. Furthermore, there is potential for isolating individual functions of multi-functional genes. To verify this experimental approach, we randomly mutated the essential C. albicans gene, BMH1. The resulting “pool” of putative mutant alleles was then introduced into a BMH1/bmh1Δ strain of C. albicans, such that only the mutagenized BMH1 sequences could be expressed. Transformants were screened for rapamycin sensitivity, defects in filamentation on M199 agar, and growth at 42°C. In this way, we identified six non-lethal mutant alleles of BMH1 with altered amino acid sequences. Further phenotypic analysis of these mutant strains enabled us to segregate individual functions of C. albicans BMH1. The relative merits of Escherichia coli versus PCR-mediated mutagenesis are discussed.
Eomesodermin, a target gene of Pou4f2, is required for retinal ganglion cell and optic nerve development in the mouse

The mechanisms regulating retinal ganglion cell (RGC) development are crucial for retinogenesis and for the establishment of normal vision. However, these mechanisms are only vaguely understood. RGCs are the first neuronal lineage to segregate from pluripotent progenitors in the developing retina. As output neurons, RGCs display developmental features very distinct from those of the other retinal cell types. To better understand RGC development, we have previously constructed a gene regulatory network featuring a hierarchical cascade of transcription factors that ultimately controls the expression of downstream effector genes. This has revealed the existence of a Pou domain transcription factor, Pou4f2, that occupies a key node in the RGC gene regulatory network and that is essential for RGC differentiation. However, little is known about the genes that connect upstream regulatory genes, such as Pou4f2 with downstream effector genes responsible for RGC differentiation. The purpose of this study was to characterize the retinal function of eomesodermin (Eomes), a T-box transcription factor with previously unsuspected roles in retinogenesis. We show that Eomes is expressed in developing RGCs and is a mediator of Pou4f2 function. Pou4f2 directly regulates Eomes expression through a cis -regulatory element within a conserved retinal enhancer. Deleting Eomes in the developing retina causes defects reminiscent of those in Pou4f2-/- retinas. Moreover, myelin ensheathment in the optic nerves of Eomes-/- embryos is severely impaired, suggesting that Eomes regulates this process. We conclude that Eomes is a crucial regulator positioned immediately downstream of Pou4f2 and is required for RGC differentiation and optic nerve development.
Ischemic colitis in a young adult during sickle cell crisis: case report and review.

et al. A case of a pedunculated angiodysplasia in the colon, successfully resected by colonoscopic polypectomy [in Japanese with English abstract]. Gastroenterol Endosc 1998;40:2143-8. 5. Moore JD, Thompson NW, Appelman HD, Foley D. Arteriovenous malformations of the gastrointestinal tract. Arch Surg 1976;111:381-9. 6. Boley SJ, Sammartano R, Adams A, Dibiase A, Kleinhaus S, Sprayregen S. On the nature and etiology of vascular ectasias of the colon: Degenerative lesions of aging. Gastroenterology 1977;72:650-60. 7. Hemingway AP. Angiodysplasia: current concepts. Postgrad Med J 1988;64:259-63. 8. Krevsky B. Detection and treatment of angiodysplasia. Gastrointest Endosc Clin North Am 1997;7:509-24.
Visual perceptual differences in the dyslexic reader: evidence of greater visual peripheral sensitivity to color and letter stimuli.

The present study replicated the 1987 work of Geiger and Lettvin and of Grosser and Spafford in 1989 in providing evidence for greater peripheral sensitivity to individual letter and color stimuli ...
Effects of mortality risk on risk-taking behavior

Abstract This paper studies how an exogenous mortality risk affects an individual's risk-taking behavior elsewhere. We find that individuals will respond to the new mortality risk by increasing their exposure to financial and other mortality risks.
Magnetic manipulation of actin orientation, polymerization, and gliding on myosin using superparamagnetic iron oxide particles

The actin cytoskeleton controls cell shape, motility, as well as intracellular molecular trafficking. The ability to remotely manipulate actin is therefore highly desirable as a tool to probe and manipulate biological processes at the molecular level. We demonstrate actin manipulation by labeling actin filaments with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (IOPs) and applying a uniform magnetic field to affect actin orientation, polymerization and gliding on myosin. We show for the first time magnetic manipulation of magnetizable actin filaments at the molecular level while gliding on a bed of myosin molecules and during polymerization. A model for the magnetic alignment and guiding mechanism is proposed based on the torque from the induced molecular anisotropy due to interactions between neighboring IOPs distributed along magnetically labeled actin molecules.
Assessment of the efficacy of the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in ferrets

Pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus (H1N1pdm) is different from contemporary seasonal human viruses in that it can cause infection deep in the lungs of critical care patients. Here we establish a mammalian animal model and assessed the efficacy of the neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor oseltamivir treatment against H1N1pdm virus infection. Oseltamivir (25 mg/kg/day twice daily for 5 days) was orally administered to groups of ferrets, starting either 2 or 24 h after inoculation with 10(6)PFU of A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) influenza virus. We determined that virus replication was restricted to 1 or 2 of 4 lung lobes in oseltamivir-treated animals, while virus was consistently isolated from 4 of 4 lung lobes in control animals (1.5-3.8log(10)PFU/g). Analysis of arterial blood oxygenation revealed less pronounced changes in partial oxygen and carbon dioxide pressure in oseltamivir-treated ferrets, and histologic examination confirmed reduced pneumonia. Treated animals had significantly decreased inflammatory responses in the upper respiratory tract (P < 0.05), less fever and weight loss, and less reduction of activity. Virus titers in the nasal washes of treated and control ferrets did not differ significantly. NA sequencing and fluorescence-based phenotypic assays identified no oseltamivir-resistant variants. Overall, oseltamivir treatment decreases the signs of infection and reduced the spread of H1N1pdm influenza virus in the lungs of ferrets and therefore impeded the development of viral pneumonia.
Potential Benefits of Pet Ownership in Health Promotion

Pet ownership provides an opportunity to improve health. A pet may become a stimulus for exercise, reduce anxiety, and provide an external focus of attention. Pets are also a source of physical contact and comfort and may decrease loneliness and depression while promoting an interesting lifestyle. The benefits of pet ownership are consistent with the health promotion and disease prevention goals outlined in Healthy People 2000. These goals include (a) increasing physical activity and fitness and (b) improving mental health and preventing mental disorders. Assessment of pet ownership and discussion of potential health benefits facilitates a holistic understanding of our patients and ourselves.
Mitral Stenosis: Implications for Critical Care Obstetric Nursing

Pregnancy complicated by mitral stenosis poses a significant risk for maternal morbidity and mortality. The perinatal nurse is challenged to use obstetric and cardiac physiologic principles in planning and guiding care during the intrapartum period. Nursing assessments and interventions based on these principles promote positive outcomes.
A comment on the effectiveness of uniform finite element refinements

On presente des resultats numeriques sur l'utilisation d'approches de raffinement «h» pour la resolution de problemes d'elasticite avec singularites et on les compare avec des resultats recents bases sur l'approche de raffinement «p»
Using Planning Time to Individualize Instruction for Preschoolers With Special Needs

Teacher planning time is essential for ensuring individualized, intentional instruction for young children with disabilities in community-based settings. The purpose of this study was to describe h...
Behaviour of a sharptail mola in the Gulf of Mexico

A sharptail mola Masturus lanceolatus was tagged and released with a pop-up satellite archival tag in the Gulf of Mexico and tracked for 61 days. The fish travelled a horizontal distance of 594 km while generally staying in water 20° C. Occasionally the sharptail mola dived to depths >700 m and experienced water colder than 6° C.
786-3 Adenosine Causes Flow-Mediated Epicardial Vessel Dilation in Humans

The predominant effect of intracoronary adenosine (Ad) is vasodilation of the microcirculation, but Ad also increases epicardial coronary artery diameter. It is not known whether epicardial dilation is a direct action of Ad or an indirect effect mediated by increased flow or shear stress. We reasoned that changes in the diameter of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery upstream to the site of Ad delivery must reflect an indirect effect. whereas downstream vasodilation would reflect the sum of direct and indirect effects. We therefore compared changes in upstream and downstream LAD diameter in 11 patients without significant coronary artery disease in whom LAD flow increased at least three-fold (n = 6) or remained unchanged (n = 5) in response to Ad 10-4 M infused via a 3F Doppler catheter. LAD diameter was assessed by quantitative angiography 2.5 upstream and 2.5 mm downstream to the site of Ad delivery. LAD flow was calculated as the product of downstream cross-sectional area and Doppler velocity. LAD diameter (mm) is shown as mean ± standard error of the mean. Flow Increased Flow Unchanged Baseline Adenosine p Baseline Adenosine p Downstream 2.08 ± 0.22 248 ± 0.30 0.06 1.97 ± 0.16 1.99 ± 0.14 0.16 Upstream 2.38 ± 0.20 2.65 ± 0.21 0.004 2.28 ± 0.26 2.18 ± 0.26 0.23 Thus, epicardial vessel dilation in response to Ad occurs only in the presence of an increase in coronary blood flow, and there is significant dilation upstream from the site of Ad infusion. Conclusions Adenosine causes flow-mediated epicardial vessel dilation in humans, with little or no direct effect on epicardial vessel diameter.
Further Observations on Ilex Embryoid Production

Summary Embryos of Ilex aquifolium , a tree angiosperm, were excised at heart stage and cultured in Lnsmaier and Skoog agar medium lacking hormones and optional constituents. Embryoids developed from the cotyledons of cultured rudimentary embryos at different stages of embryonic development and also from the cotyledons of young seedlings. Embryoid producing capacity was demonstrated in all seven horticultural clones tested. The cotyledonal embryoids appeared to be initiated from tissue layers deeper than the epidermis. The embryoids, from heart to mature stages, were morphologically similar to the in vitro developed zygotic embryos. The coloration of the embryoids strongly suggested that rather than from a single initial cell, they were organized from cell clusters. Embryoid production potential of the cotyledon did not appear to decline after four consecutive subcultures. Three distinct types of embryoid-producing calli developed from some of these subcultures. Some of the light-grown embryoids developed anthocyanin and stopped further development. Embryoids without anthocyanin developed to the mature stage. Elongation of the embryoidal radicle would take place only after the embryoid had been excised from the mother tissue and cultured individually. Although most of the plantlets germinated from isolated embryoids were normal, certain plantlets contained light colored tissue sectors on their cotyledons. Before this potential cloning technique can be used at a commercial level for forestry, pomology and ornamental horticultural industries, techniques for inducing embryoid production from tissues of mature plant in a cell suspension culture must be developed.
Equilibrium Eulerian approach for predicting the thermal field of a dispersion of small particles

Abstract The equilibrium Eulerian method [J. Ferry, S. Balachandar, A fast Eulerian method for disperse two-phase flow, Int. J. Multiphase Flow 27 (7) (2001) 1199–1226] provides an accurate approximation to the velocity field of sufficiently small dispersed particles in a turbulent fluid. In particular, it captures the important physics of particle response to turbulent flow, such as preferential concentration and turbophoresis. It is therefore employed as an efficient alternative to solving a PDE to determine the particle velocity field. Here we explore two possible extensions of this method to determine the particle temperature field accurately and efficiently, as functions of the underlying fluid velocity and temperature fields. Both extensions are theoretically shown to be highly accurate for asymptotically small particles. Their behavior for finite-size particles is assessed in a DNS of turbulent channel flow (Reτ = 150) with a passive temperature field (Pr = 1). Here it is found that although the order of accuracy of the two extensions is the same, the constant factor by which one is superior to the other can be quite large, so the less accurate extension is appropriate only in the case of a very small mechanical-to-thermal response time ratio.
Performance of the NuTeV Fe-scintillator sampling calorimeter and implications for thin calorimeters

NuTeV is a neutrino-nucleon deep inelastic scattering experiment at Fermilab. The NuTeV detector is a traditional heavy target neutrino detector which consists of an iron/liquid scintillator sampling calorimeter followed by a muon spectrometer. The calorimeter response to hadrons, muons and electrons has been measured in an in situ calibration beam over the energy range from 4.5 to 190 GeV. The small non-linearity of the response to hadrons is compared to the expectation from the measured ratio of responses between electrons and hadrons combined with the energy dependence of the fractional electromagnetic energy deposition in the form of neutral pions in hadronic showers fπ0(Eπ). The predictions use fπ0(Eπ) from the Monte Carlo simulations by GHEISHA, GFLUKA and GCALOR and also from the parameterizations of Wigmans and Groom. In addition, a study based on the NuTeV hadron calibration data of the effectiveness of a thin calorimeter is presented. The results of this study have important consequences for the energy resolution of calorimeters used in other applications; for example, measuring the cosmic ray flux in space or with balloon-based experiments.
Modeling adhesion dynamics of nanoparticles: The effect of flow rates and ligand density

Adhesion of micro and nanoparticles onto cardiovascular walls is a critical process in applications such as targeted drug delivery, biomedical imaging, and cancer treatment. This paper intends to develop an understanding of the dynamic interaction between particle and vessel wall through computational modeling. The ligand-receptor binding dynamics is coupled with Immersed Finite Element Method to study the adhesion process of particles with different shapes, bonding strengths, and physical configurations. Non-spherical particle is found to contact and adhere to the wall easier than spherical particle under the same configuration. This research work will help design of micro/nanoparticles for enhanced targeted adhesion to cells of interest
The effect of night temperature on greenhouse grown tomato yields in warm climates

Data from six seasons of night cooling experiments conducted at north Carolina State University were analyzed to determine the effect of night temperature on the yield of tomato. Each season contained at least one treatment where night temperatures in one greenhouse were kept below 20°C, using air conditioning, and one treatment where night temperatures in a separate greenhouse were essentially the same as those outside. Two seasons included additional treatments where night cooling took place only from 01:00 hours until dawn. Regression analysis indicated a strong dependence of yield on the night temperature during fruitset when the warm treatment temperature exceeded 21°C. Total fruit numbers were as much as 39% higher, and total weights as much as 53% higher, than that observed in the warmer treatment. The effect on fruit quality was even greater, with No. 1 number and No. 1 weight increases as high as 85% and 106%, respectively, as the warm treatment approached 24°C. Regression also suggested the possibility of secondary effects: (1) night temperature reductions over the whole season (as opposed to only during fruit set) and higher night time relative humidities in the warm treatment during fruitset were independently predicted to decrease the quality advantage in the cool treatment(s); (2) higher levels of irradiance were predicted to increase the weight advantage in the cool treatment(s).
Comment on “Implications of Abrikosov-Gor'kov exchange scattering for theories of high temperature superconductivity” by Blackstead and Dow

Abstract Experimental data do not support pair breaking as the primary mechanism for the depression of superconducting transition temperature in rare-earth barium copper oxides doped with magnetic rare-earth ions as asserted by Blackstead and Dow [Phys. Lett. A 206 (1995) 107]. Thus the case for locating mobile charges outside the copper oxide planes is not compelling.
A comparative study of the ontogenetic development of the cupules in Castanea and Lithocarpus (Fagaceae).

Two contradicting theories have been proposed for the morphological nature of fagaceous cupules; the intercalary growth theory and the higher order dichasial branch theory. All the previous ontogenetic studies insist on the latter one, but the genera investigated have been rather restricted and have not covered all the cupule types. A comparative study of the ontogenetic development of cupules inCastanea crenata andLithocarpus edulis, which are representatives of fundamentally different cupule types, revealed that both the theories are incomplete. InL. edulis, the higher order dichasial branches contribute to cupule formation along the anterior portions of the lateral flowers. However, along the adaxial portion of the central flower, the cupule develops as an intercalary growth, represented by rapid increase of tangentially oblong epidermal cells. InCastanea, intercalary growth is not clearly observable, for presumably, the flowers are surrounded by a well-developed partial inflorescence mound from the beginning of development.
Bacterial overgrowth in a patient with chronic diarrhea.

Abstract A case study is presented of a 47-year old, white female with a 1-year progressive history of diarrhea up to 20 liquid stools per day, accompanied by an 18-pound weight loss. She had presented with previous workup of gastroscopy revealing two stomach ulcers; colonoscopy revealing nonspecific colitis and one polyp that was subsequently removed and found to be benign; and a negative abdominal ultrasound. She was Helicobacter pylori negative and HIV negative. Her stools had been negative for blood, ova and parasites, and culture. She had been using well water from a new well for 2 years. String test was negative for Giardia. She had no diarrhea during a day of fasting. Carbon 14 D-xylose breath test was positive. She was discharged on a 14-day course of 500 mg. Augmentin (amoxicillin 500 mg. with clavulanate potassium 125 mg.) by mouth every 8 hours. Seven weeks later, she was having four to five formed stools per day and had gained 16 pounds.
Potential Evapotranspiration in Arid Regions

Abstract The concept of potential evapotranspiration, as applied to arid regions, is examined using an energy balance approach suggested by Budyko. Using data for Yuma, Ariz., it is shown that a 50 per cent increase in the relative humidity of the air above an irrigated field is accompanied by a 10 to 15 per cent decrease in potential evapotranspiration, a negligible decrease in the net radiation, and a temperature increase of the surface relative to the air of 2 to 3C. The estimated annual potential evapotranspiration at Yuma is about 2000 mm, which is 30 to 50 per cent higher than estimates based on Thornthwaite's method.
Descriptive and Injunctive Social Norm Overestimation in Hooking Up and Their Role as Predictors of Hook-Up Activity in a College Student Sample

This study examined the presence of norm overestimation in both injunctive and descriptive norms about hooking up. An online survey was completed by 186 college students (127 women). Overestimation was examined for hooking up as a global category, as well as for six specific behaviors. The role of norms in predicting hooking up was also examined using hierarchical multiple regression analyses. The predictive role of sensation-seeking, sociosexual orientation, self-esteem, and alcohol drinking status was also examined. Injunctive norm overestimation was present for less intimate behaviors (kissing and non-genital touching); only women showed overestimation for more intimate behaviors (genital touching, receiving oral sex, giving oral sex, and intercourse). Descriptive norms were overestimated across the board. Injunctive norms were poor predictors of behavior. Descriptive norms were good predictors only for less intimate behaviors, a pattern similar to that observed for drinking status. Ultimately, partici...
Replantear la cultura: las ideas de Vygotski

This article discusses the meeting point of Vygotsky�s cultural-historical psychology and the critical pedagogy Brazilian school and the alternative schooling experiences in Brazil. It examines the actual reform of the city of Belo Horizonte�s public education system and the role of some of Vygotski�s ideas in order to complete and expand the theoretical foundations of critical pedagogy and illuminate the historical praxis of the struggle for equity in education. The Brazilian experience of alternative schooling, which already has a long tradition and a great wealth of experiences accumulated throughout the XX century, challenges the traditional notions of schooling and the narrow viewpoints of learning and literacy which lead to education�s instrumentalization. Building upon this experience, critical pedagogy has developed a comprehensive view of the educational process as development and liberation of the total human being and of education for social participation and democratic development. Vygotski�s notions on human development and education provides a new theoretical contribution to Brazilian experience which, in turn, can offer a new perspective for the reading of some of the key concepts in cultural-historical psychology.