cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epsilon aminocaproic acid prevents bleeding in severely thrombocytopenic patients with hematological malignancies

Background Despite prophylactic platelet transfusions, bleeding remains a significant problem in thrombocytopenic patients. Methods The antifibrinolytic agent epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) was administered to 44 chronically (median duration, 273 days) and severely (platelet count, 8 × 10(9)/L; range, 1 × 10(9)/L-19 × 10(9)/L) thrombocytopenic patients with hematological malignancies. Prophylactic EACA at a dose of 1 g twice daily was orally administered for a median duration of 47 days (range, 7 days-209 days) until the platelet count recovered to > 30; × 10(9) /L. Platelets were only transfused if bleeding occurred. Results While receiving EACA, 59% of the patients did not bleed, 25% had 19 episodes of spontaneously resolving minor bleeding that did not require platelet transfusion, and 16% received a median of 4 platelet transfusions (range, 1 transfusion-8 transfusions) for 1 major traumatic and 9 spontaneous grade 2 to grade 3 bleeding (based on the World Health Organization classification of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura). No EACA toxicities were noted, and venous thromboses were not observed. Conclusions EACA is well tolerated and is associated with a low risk of major bleeding in patients with hematological malignancies who are experiencing chronic severe thrombocytopenia.
Vaccination with Phosphoglycan-Deficient Leishmania major Protects Highly Susceptible Mice from Virulent Challenge without Inducing a Strong Th1 Response

Long-term immunity to Leishmania may require the continued presence of parasites, but previous attempts to create attenuated parasites that persist without causing disease have had limited success. Since Leishmania major mutants that lack lipophosphoglycan and other secreted phosphoglycans, termed lpg2 − , persist indefinitely in infected mice without inducing any disease, we tested their ability to provide protection to virulent L. major challenge. In response to leishmanial Ag stimulation, cells from lpg2 − -infected mice produced minimal levels of IL-4 and IL-10, as well as very low levels of IFN-γ. Nevertheless, when BALB/c mice infected with lpg2 − parasites were challenged with virulent L. major they were protected from disease. Thus, these findings report on attenuated parasites that may be used to induce long-term protection against leishmaniasis and indicate that the immunity induced can be maintained in the absence of a strong Th1 response.
Enantioselective synthesis of a potential 1,5-syn-polyol C1–C24 subunit of (−)-caylobolide A

Abstract The synthesis of a possible 1,5-syn-polyol C1–C24 subunit resident in (−)-caylobolide A has been accomplished. The key reaction sequence was a repetitive protocol for the construction of the syn-1,5-diol segment by means of Ru-catalyzed cross-metathesis and boron-mediated allylation reactions.
Coincidence of Cleavage Sites of Intron Endonuclease I-TevI and Critical Sequences of the Host Thymidylate Synthase Gene

To maximize spread of their host intron or intein, many homing endonucleases recognize nucleotides that code for important and conserved amino acid residues of the target gene. Here, we examine the cleavage requirements for I-TevI, which binds a stretch of thymidylate synthase (TS) DNA that codes for functionally critical residues in the TS active site. Using an in vitro selection scheme, we identified two base-pairs in the I-TevI cleavage site region as important for cleavage efficiency. These were confirmed by comparison of I-TevI cleavage efficiencies on mutant and on wild-type substrates. We also showed that nicking of the bottom strand by I-TevI is not affected by mutation of residues surrounding the bottom-strand cleavage site, unlike other homing endonucleases. One of these two base-pairs is universally conserved in all TS sequences, and is identical with a previously identified cleavage determinant of I-BmoI, a related GIY-YIG endonuclease that binds a homologous stretch of TS-encoding DNA. The other base-pair is conserved only in a subset of TS genes that includes the I-TevI, but not the I-BmoI, target sequence. Both the I-TevI and I-BmoI cleavage site requirements correspond to functionally critical residues involved in an extensive hydrogen bond network within the TS active site. Remarkably, these cleavage requirements correlate with TS phylogeny in bacteria, suggesting that each endonuclease has individually adapted to efficiently cleave distinct TS substrates.
Temporal and spatial sampling strategies maintain tracking success of whelks to prey patches of differing distributions

The ability of predators to navigate efficiently towards prey patches can determine competitive ability, abundance and distribution of predator or prey species. Slowly moving odour-mediated predators that have a high capacity for temporal integration of signals can successfully navigate prey odour plumes in naturally turbulent environments, but their ability to do this in response to different distributions of prey in patches has not been assessed. We challenged knobbed whelk, Busycon carica, predators to detect and navigate to hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, prey patches with different distributions of individuals at two densities (three clams/patch: parallel versus perpendicular arrangement relative to the direction of water flow; 10 clams/patch: aggregated versus random distribution) in laboratory assays to better understand how prey-generated mixing impacts time-averaging predators. Whelks decreased navigational efficiency (movement speed and path linearity) and increased spatial sampling (scanning) in perpendicular treatments at low densities, but these did not result in differences in success. No differences in whelk foraging efficiency, incidence of spatial sampling or success were seen at high prey densities. Increased mixing at high and low prey density (parallel treatment only) may have mitigated information about the distribution of prey individuals within patches and accounted for our results. The whelks' ability to utilize time-averaging strategies effectively to extract information from odour plumes regardless of prey distribution allowed them to maintain foraging success and may enable them to occupy specific sensory niches that could reduce competition with other odour-mediated predators over resources.
Cancer therapy by restoration of immune Notch

Factors affecting host immunity are important variables during cancer growth. The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment perturbs numerous immune regulatory networks and usurps host antitumor immune responses. We discovered that tumor interferes with host hematopoietic Notch system. Tumor-induced decrease in Notch signaling in host immune cells could be a major causative link in the inadequate induction of anti-tumor immunity. Interestingly, we found that tumor-induced decrease in immune Notch could be restored therapeutically by the following two agents. Administration of a novel Delta-like ligand 1 (DLL1) multivalent cluster, and FDA-approved proteasome inhibitor drug bortezomib - which also sensitizes tumors to death signals - could activate Notch 1 signaling in lymphoid cells of tumor-bearing mice without increasing tumor cell proliferation or clonogenicity. Systemic activation of DLL1-Notch signaling could attenuate tumor vascularization as well as increase T cell infiltration in tumor, decrease proportion of regulatory T cells and enhance antitumor T cell function and memory in multiple mouse tumor models. This resulted in significant suppression of tumor growth in wild type mice as well as provided therapeutic benefit following an adoptive T cell transfer into tumor-bearing SCID-NOD mice. New data also show that bortezomib affects the expression of notch receptors and ligands differentially in lymphocytes and in a wide range of solid tumor cells: 4T1, PyMT, MDA-MB-231, C26, LLC, D459, and Renca-HA. Moreover, bortezomib administration increased the expression of Notch target Hes1 in thymus, lymph node and spleen of tumor-bearing mice, suggesting a potential synergistic action of bortezomib and DLL1 activation of Notch signaling. This new role of Notch in the development of effective antitumor immunity and the potential of its modulation by a novel prototypic agent DLL1 in combination with bortezomib present exciting opportunities to uncover multi-pronged immune stimulatory regimens. Reagents based on the multivalent forms of Notch ligands thus need to be explored for the therapeutic modulation of Notch signaling. Therapeutic restoration of immune Notch signaling could provide effective treatment and recurrence-free survival in cancer patients by breaking tumor resistance and induction of robust antitumor immunity.
On the Algebra of Operations for Hopf Cohomology

In his thesis (Mem. Amer. Math. Soc. 42 (1962)) A. Liulevicius defined Steenrod squaring operations with both multiplication and comultiplication should be considered neither a Hopf algebra nor a bialgebra, but another kind of structure, for which the name ‘algebra with coproducts’ is proposed in the paper.
NAD+-dependent Deacetylase SIRT3 Regulates Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis by Deacetylation of the Ribosomal Protein MRPL10

A member of the sirtuin family of NAD+-dependent deacetylases, SIRT3, is located in mammalian mitochondria and is important for regulation of mitochondrial metabolism, cell survival, and longevity. In this study, MRPL10 (mitochondrial ribosomal protein L10) was identified as the major acetylated protein in the mitochondrial ribosome. Ribosome-associated SIRT3 was found to be responsible for deacetylation of MRPL10 in an NAD+-dependent manner. We mapped the acetylated Lys residues by tandem mass spectrometry and determined the role of these residues in acetylation of MRPL10 by site-directed mutagenesis. Furthermore, we observed that the increased acetylation of MRPL10 led to an increase in translational activity of mitochondrial ribosomes in Sirt3−/− mice. In a similar manner, ectopic expression and knockdown of SIRT3 in C2C12 cells resulted in the suppression and enhancement of mitochondrial protein synthesis, respectively. Our findings constitute the first evidence for the regulation of mitochondrial protein synthesis by the reversible acetylation of the mitochondrial ribosome and characterize MRPL10 as a novel substrate of the NAD+-dependent deacetylase, SIRT3.
Search for Chromosome Instability in Lymphocytes with Germ-Line Mutations in DNA Mismatch Repair Genes

All colorectal cancer results from the accumulation of critical genetic alterations; however, the mechanisms of acquiring these mutations appear to be different in hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) and sporadic tumors with microsatellite instability compared with sporadic tumors with no microsatellite instability. To further explore the possible mechanisms of cancer predisposition in HNPCC, we studied chromosome breakage and induction of aneuploidy in the lymphoblastoid cell lines of four patients who were heterozygous for mutations in either hMSH2 or hMLH1--two components of the DNA mismatch repair complex. Cells were cultured under different stress systems, including exposure to bleomycin, mitomycin C, bromodeoxyuridine-induced sister chromatid exchange, and a DNA alkylator, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. No significant differences were detected in the levels of major or minor chromosome breakage or aneuploidy compared with controls. These results suggest that a single "hit" to a DNA mismatch repair gene does not confer appreciable susceptibility to structural or numerical chromosomal alterations, which is consistent with previous observations that HNPCC-related cancers are more likely to be near diploid than are sporadic colon cancers.
Cholangiocarcinoma: the "other" liver cancer on the rise.

Abstract The purpose of the study by Patel was to examine the secular trends in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in the United States between 1973 and 1997. Incidence rates were calculated using data collected by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Mortality rates were obtained from Vital Statistics data, collected by the National Center for Health Statistics. Cases included in this study were diagnosed with either a primary intrahepatic biliary tract cancer or extrahepatic biliary tract cancer (gallbladder, primary extrahepatic biliary tract, other specified extrahepatic biliary tract). The age-adjusted incidence rates of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma significantly increased from 0.13 per 100,000 in 1973 to 0.67 per 100,000 in 1997, with an overall annual percent change of 9%. For the same cancer, the age-adjusted mortality rates significantly increased from 0.07 per 100,000 in 1973 to 0.69 per 100,000 in 1997. There were no significant differences between men and women. In contrast, deaths from extrahepatic biliary tract cancers progressively decreased during the same time period. The second article by Taylor-Robinson et al. examined mortality statistics collected in England and Wales to explore time trends in liver cancer deaths using data from the Office for National Statistics in London for the years 1968 through 1996. The total number of deaths caused by malignant liver tumors increased steadily from 967 in 1968 to 1,822 in 1996. The age-adjusted mortality rate related to liver cancer increased from 1.29 per 100,000 to 1.93 per 100,000 in women, and from 2.56 per 100,000 to 3.70 per 100,000 in men. Of all liver cancer types, the most significant rise in mortality was attributed to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The total number of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma increased from 38 in 1968 to 736 in 1996 and was similar for men and women. Conversely, a decrease was observed in the total number of deaths and age-adjusted mortality rates for gallbladder, extrahepatic biliary, and pancreatic carcinomas. Based on these findings, the authors concluded that the observed increase in liver cancer deaths occurring in England and Wales was caused by a steady increase in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Time-dependent effects of metrazol on memory.

Abstract The effects of Metrazol induced seizures on memory were studied in two experiments. In Experiment 1 it was found that Metrazol given at different intervals before a single passive avoidance training trial produced graded performance impairments 24 hr later. The degree of the resulting amnesia was shown to depend on the temporal proximity of the Metrazol seizures to the training trial. In Experiment 2 Metrazol was given immediately following the passive avoidance trial but amnesia was found to develop only after several hr following the Metrazol treatment. The data are similar to those obtained with ECS.
Oxidation of chiral α-phenylacetate derivatives: formation of dimers with contiguous quaternary stereocenters versus tertiary alcohols

The menthol esters of α-phenylacetate derivatives undergo diastereoselective oxidative dimerizations (α-cyano) in the presence of oxidants, and nitrosylation (α-amido) in the presence of CAN to form products containing adjacent functionalized quaternary stereocenters and tertiary alcohols, respectively.
Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Stimulates the Mitochondrial Translocation of Raf-1 via Oxidative Stress

The human hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) plays a crucial role(s) in the viral life cycle and contributes to the onset of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBx caused the mitochondrial translocation of Raf-1 kinase either alone or in the context of whole-viral-genome transfections. Mitochondrial translocation of Raf-1 is mediated by HBx-induced oxidative stress and was dependent upon the phosphorylation of Raf-1 at the serine338/339 and Y340/341 residues by p21-activated protein kinase 1 and Src kinase, respectively. These studies provide an insight into the mechanisms by which HBV induces intracellular events relevant to liver disease pathogenesis, including HCC.
Approach toward high efficiency CdTe/CdS heterojunction solar cells

CdTe solar cells were fabricated by depositing MOCVD grown CdTe films on CdS/SnO2/glass substrates with varying Te:Cd mole ratios in the growth ambient. Cells grown in Te-rich ambient showed increased atomic interdiffusion at the CdS/CdTe interface and produced high-efficiency cells (11.9%) with an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 780 mV. Cd-rich cells were < 6% efficient. Carrier transport analysis showed that the transport mechanism switches from tunneling/interface recombination in the Cd-rich cells to depletion region recombination limited transport in the Te-rich cells. This suggests that the enhanced interdiffusion is beneficial for these cells and leads to reduced lattice mismatch or gradual transition from CdS to CdTe with fewer interface states. In order to understand the loss mechanisms associated with grain boundaries in polycrystalline CdTe cells, an attempt was made to fabricate thin film CdTe/CdS device structures using an epitaxial lift-off (ELO) process. Single crystal CdTe and CdTe/CdS epitaxial layers were separated from the GaAs substrate by selective etching and were then transferred and bonded to a SnO2/glass substrate. SIMS analysis of CdTe/CdS cells, with Au/Cu ohmic contacts to CdTe, showed much less Cu diffusion in the single crystal CdTe films due to the absence of grain boundaries. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the CdTe/CdS lattice structure and quality does not change appreciably after the lift-off process. A new methodology was developed, using XRD and the lift-off technique, to assess the lattice mismatch induced strain and defects at the heterojunction interface. The lattice constant of CdTe at the interface with GaAs was 6.317 A, which is smaller than the ideal lattice constant of 6.481 A for the CdTe bulk.
Asklepios: Ancient Hero of Medical Caring

Western culture's demands of integrity, sacrifice, and compassion from its physician healers have roots in the mythic traditions of ancient Greece. By understanding these traditions, modern physicians can better understand their patients' expectations and the high expectations physicians often have for themselves. The mythic figure Asklepios was the focus of Greek and Roman medical tradition from approximately 1500 BC to 500 AD. As a physician-hero, Asklepios exemplified the ideal physician and the pitfalls he or she may face. With the progressive deification of Asklepios and the spread of his worship first in Greece and then in the Roman empire, Asklepios became generally recognized as the god of healing and served as an object of supplication, particularly for the poor and disregarded. Asklepian traditions for medical service provide historical insight into the role of modern physicians and their obligations to care for the underserved.
Postembedding immunocytochemistry of large sections of brain tissue: an improved flat embedding technique.

A method for osmicating, dehydrating, and flat-embedding large slabs of brain tissue in epoxy resin is presented. This permits the production of semithin sections for postembedding immunocytochemistry that are far larger than can be obtained with other embedding approaches. Vibratomed slabs, 50-200 microns thick and as large as 6 x 8 mm are embedded in a 'soft' Araldite epoxy. The slabs are laminated onto the flat surface of a pre-cast epoxy slide. After polymerization, the tissue can be studied on the slide as a whole mount to view osmicated fiber tracts, or in experimental tract-tracing studies, to locate retrogradely labeled cells before semithin sections are cut. The rigidity of the epoxy slide ensures that the slabs remain flat and are easily removed and mounted for resectioning. Semithin sections are cut using 8 mm wide glass knives or a 6 mm wide diamond knife and are mounted singly or in serial pairs and immunostained using conventional etching and immunoperoxidase techniques. The relative softness of the epoxy permits dozens of semithin sections to be cut from large blocks without appreciably degrading a glass knife edge. After further polymerization the embedment is also compatible with electron microscopy.
Octupole Correlations in the Actinides and the spdf-IBA Model

The octupole bands in the Z∼88, N∼134 region, with their abundance of experimental information, offer a real challenge for different nuclear structure models. In this region, quasimolecular bands, which are thought to indicate the presence of stable octupole deformation, have been observed. The quantities most often reported are the B(E1)/B(E2) branching ratios from these levels. The calculations in the framework of the spdf model show that the 1-pf boson limit (dipole-octupole vibrations) can describe the essential experimental features related to the octupole bands in the Rn-Th region.
Heat shock and deciliation induce phosphorylation of histone H1 in T. pyriformis

Both heat shock and decilliation of Tetrahymena pyriformis lead to an increase in the level of histone H1 phosphorylation. After heat shock, starved or growing cells reach the same maximum level of H1 phosphorylation, although the increase is more easily detected in starved cells because of their relatively low initial level of phosphorylation. In starved cells, stress-induced phosphorylation is rapid, involves a large percentage of the H1, occurs at multiple sites on the H1 molecule and is inhibited by cycloheximide. Stress-induced phosphorylation of H1 in Tetrahymena thus has many properties in common with cell-cycle-dependent H1 phosphorylation although it is not coupled to the cell cycle.
Effect of Chloride on PEFCs in Presence of Various Cations

The performance and durability of Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) were investigated by separately introducing HCl and five different chloride salts (AlCl3 ,F eCl3 ,C rCl3 ,N iCl2 ,a nd MgCl2) into the air stream of an operating fuel cell. Under the same operating conditions and at a fixed chloride (Cl − ) concentration of 50 ppm in air stream, it appeared that HCl affected the cell performance faster than the other chloride salts, therefore the presence of the cation in the contaminant solutions slowed and/or reduced the decrease in the cell performance. The overall cell performance degradation was ranked as HCl, AlCl3 > FeCl3 > CrCl3 > NiCl2 ,M gCl2. The performance degradation is believed to be due to the adsorption of chloride on the Pt surface reducing active surface area. At lower relative humidity, the contaminant concentration increased in liquid phase and salt precipitated eventually
Electrical conductivity relaxation of polycrystalline PrBaCo2O5 + δ thin films

Abstract Thin films of PrBaCo 2 O 5 + δ (PBCO) were prepared on SrTiO 3 substrates by spray pyrolysis. Electrical conductivity relaxation was performed to measure the surface exchange coefficient, k chem , from 650 to 850 K, in the p O 2 range 0.05–100% at a total pressure of 1 atm. The measured values fell in the range from 3.4 × 10 − 9 cm/s to 8.6 × 10 − 7 cm/s, with an activation energy of 1.30 eV. These values are significantly lower, and the activation energy higher, than previous reports. This discrepancy, and the discrepancies between prior reports in the literature, are attributed to surface composition. The film samples used in this study are shown to be enriched in (Pr + Ba) when compared with the bulk composition.
The preparation and application of performance evaluation materials

The Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory administers three separate programs that include the use of prepared evaluation material to assess the performance of the participant laboratories. The performance materials include a simple liquid matrix to soil containing organic compounds to synthetic excreta containing known concentrations of radionuclides. The paper discusses the quality control associated with the preparation of these materials. The concept of synthetic-standard enhancement of a natural matrix is briefly discussed to demonstrate homogeneity. The use of verified standards and the assurance of homogeneity by preparation method and characterization are shown to be the necessary components of useful and accurate performance evaluation materials. Because each of the performance programs is tailored to the specific needs of the participants, a discussion of the acceptance criteria is also included.
Plasma Cytokine Levels are Related to Brain Volumes in HIV-infected Individuals

HIV-infected individuals frequently exhibit brain dysfunction despite antiretroviral treatment. The neuropathological mechanisms underlying these abnormalities remain unclear, pointing to the importance of identifying biomarkers sensitive to brain dysfunction. We examined 74 medically stable HIV-infected individuals using T1-weighted MRI. Volumes of the cortical grey matter (GM), white matter (WM), caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and ventricles were derived using automated parcellation. A panel of plasma cytokines was measured using multiplexed bead array immunoassay. A model selection algorithm was used to select the combination of clinical and cytokine markers that best predicted each brain volumetric measure in a series of linear regression models. Higher CD4 nadir, shorter HIV infection duration, and antiretroviral treatment were significantly related to higher volumes of the putamen, thalamus, hippocampus, and WM. Older age was related to lower volumes in most brain regions and higher ventricular volume. Higher IFN-γ, MCP-1, and TNF-α were related to higher volumes of the putamen, pallidum, amygdala, GM, and WM. Higher IL-1β, IL-6, IL-16, IL-18, IP-10, MIP-1β, and SDF-1α were related to lower volumes of the putamen, pallidum, thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, GM, and WM; and higher ventricular volume. The current findings provide evidence linking smaller brain volumes to HIV disease history, antiretroviral treatment, and advanced age. Cytokine markers, especially IL-6 and IL-16, showed robust association with brain volumes even after accounting for other clinical variables, demonstrating their utility in examining the mechanisms of HIV-associated brain abnormalities.
Immunologic approaches to assessing the response to inactivated hepatitis A vaccine.

Natural immunity to hepatitis A.virus (HAV) is complex and likely to involve several distinct arms of the immune system. There is evidence that natural killer cells, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted cytotoxic T cells, and antibody-secreting cells of B-cell lineage all play roles in the immune response to infection with HAV. However, antibody alone is sufficient to provide a high level of protection against clinical disease. A comparison of the serum levels of antibody to HAV (anti-HAV) following administration of immune serum globulin and hepatitis A vaccine may provide a useful estimate of vaccine efficacy. Such comparisons may be accomplished using solid-phase immunoassays for detection of anti-HAV. However, tests which measure antibody capable of neutralizing virus in vitro are generally more sensitive than solid-phase immunoassays. The use of endogenously labelled virus in radioimmunoprecipitation assays shows promise of providing an equally sensitive means of measuring antibodies which are reactive with HAV particles.
Selection and critical success factors in successful ERP implementation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors that contribute to the successful implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in manufacturing firms. Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative research method was used to study six diverse manufacturing firms in Virginia. A semi-structure method of data collection was used for the analysis. Findings – The ERP software has emerged as a key enabler of system integration in organizations to reduce redundancy, improve efficiency, productivity and performance. Firms implement ERP not only to improve operations efficiency but to be more responsive to the customer needs in the global economy. The findings provide insights on the factors that these large and global manufacturing firms consider to be important to the success of ERP implementation and utilization. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to large manufacturing firms and does not consider service industries or small and medium enterprises. Practical i...
Justice at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia

By utilizing the devices of justice, politics contracts some ill-defined and spurious obligations. Circumstantial and contradictory, the linkage of politics and justice is characterized by both pro...
Cellular uptake of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine and thyroxine by red blood and thymus cells.

During recent studies of receptor binding of T3 and T4 in tadpole red blood cells (RBCs), it was found that the fractional uptake of T3 was 3–5 times greater than that of T4. The present studies were performed to determine if this difference was due to facilitated uptake of T3. All studies were performed in cells incubated at 22 C in phosphate-buffered amphibian or mammlian Ringer solution containing 10−11 m [125I]T3 or [125I]T4, with or without nonradioactive l-T3, d-T3, or l-T4 in concentrations ranging from 10−10 to 2 × 10−7 m. In tadpole, frog, rat, and human RBCs and in rat thymus cells, the rate of uptake of [125I]T3 and its appearance in the cytosol (extranuclear) fraction of the cell was greatly retarded in the presence of 10−7 m T3. This effect was not due to saturation of the T3-binding proteins in cytosol, since the presence of 10−7 m T3 did not influence the percentage of [125I]T3 in cytosol at equilibrium. These data suggest the presence of a saturable system for the cellular uptake of T3. T4...
Productivity breakdown of the information and computing technology industries across countries

In this paper, we measure productivity growth of the information and computing technology (ICT) industries in 14 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries over the 13-year period of 1978–1990. The ICT industries are the providers of essential information technology (IT) capital goods. This macro-level analysis seeks to find out how productively such IT capital goods are provided. The basic unit of analysis employed is the Malmquist Total Factor Productivity (TFP) index. The Malmquist TFP index is then decomposed into three constituent elements accounting for different sources of productivity growth: technological progress, efficiency change, and change in economies of scale. The approach of measurement is based on the concept of distance functions and employs the non-parametric frontier method of data envelopment analysis. Our results indicate that each country's ICT industry manifests its own particular patterns in various performance measures. Among the 14 countries examined, 10 had witnessed productivity growth in their ICT industries. Overall, these ICT industries are found more productive than other industries when compared with previous research. Further analyses reveal that (1) most of the productivity growth measured is due to technological progress; (2) efficiency change exerts a relatively small positive effect on productivity growth; and (3) the change in scale economies unfavourably affects productivity for most countries. Finally, practical implications for formulating IT policy are drawn from our results, and topics are identified for future research.
Examining incentives for adjacent non-industrial private forest landowners to cooperate

article i nfo Individual landowners may capture non-timber benefits from both their own forested parcels and adjacent parcels owned by different landowners. These benefits may affect incentives for landowners to cooperate in their forest management decisions. Landowner survey data is used to examine incentives to cooperate concerning joint forest management and coordination of harvesting. We find spatial factors to be particularly importanttotheseincentives.Thepercentageofneighboringlandemployedinagricultureorcropusesandthe number of bordering landowners are important positive predictors of willingness to cooperate concerning joint forest management, while the latter has a negative effect on willingness to coordinate timing of harvest. We also find that the non-timber values an individual receives from adjacent land are important positive predictors of cooperation incentives in general. Our results confirm, first, that cross parcel externalities modeled in theoretical work do in fact exist, and, second, that there is merit to formulating future policies with the incentives of landowners to participate in cooperative agreements with neighbors in mind. Such information could be important to addressing landscape level threats to forest health and sustainability.
Anti-inflammatory HDL becomes pro-inflammatory during the acute phase response. Loss of protective effect of HDL against LDL oxidation in aortic wall cell cocultures.

Abstract We previously reported that high density lipoprotein (HDL) protects against the oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) induced by artery wall cells causing these cells to produce pro-inflammatory molecules. We also reported that enzyme systems associated with HDL were responsible for this anti-inflammatory property of HDL. We now report studies comparing HDL before and during an acute phase response (APR) in both humans and a croton oil rabbit model. In rabbits, from the onset of APR the protective effect of HDL progressively decreased and was completely lost by day three. As serum amyloid A (SAA) levels in acute phase HDL (AP-HDL) increased, apo A-I levels decreased 73%. Concomitantly, paraoxonase (PON) and platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) levels in HDL declined 71 and 90%, respectively, from days one to three. After day three, there was some recovery of the protective effect of HDL. AP-HDL from human patients and rabbits but not normal or control HDL (C-HDL) exhibited increases in ceruloplasmin (CP). This increase in CP was not seen in acute phase VLDL or LDL. C-HDL incubated with purified CP and re-isolated (CP-HDL), lost its ability to inhibit LDL oxidation. Northern blot analyses demonstrated enhanced expression of MCP-1 in coculture cells treated with AP-HDL and CP-HDL compared to C-HDL. Enrichment of human AP-HDL with purified PON or PAF-AH rendered AP-HDL protective against LDL modification. We conclude that under basal conditions HDL serves an anti-inflammatory role but during APR displacement and/or exchange of proteins associated with HDL results in a pro-inflammatory molecule.
Rash and fever in a 3-year-old girl.

MEDICAL HISTORY She was very irritable and fussy. She also tilted her head to her right and refused to have it moved. This gave her parents the impression that she might have an ear infection. On examination, she was extremely uncooperative and irritable, but she did not have an ear infection. She was also not febrile and did not have any lymphadenopathy. She did have an injected pharynx and a throat culture was negative. An initial diagnosis of torticollis was made and she was started on ibuprofen (Motrin). Her pain seemed to improve with this treatment. Two weeks later she developed a fever and a rash. Her parents did not take her temperature, but at the doctor’s office it was documented at 37.8 °C orally. Her rash was maculopapular and pruritic and was distributed over her whole body including her face. She also had fissures at both angles of her mouth. A diagnosis of an allergic reaction to Motrin was made and the drug was stopped. On the following day, her rash seemed to clear on her face and upper torso, but was erythematous on her buttocks. She was also refusing to eat and had a temperature of 38.6 °C. Her conjunctivae were red and injected to the limbus. Her tongue was also injected. Over the next two days, her fever increased to 40 °C. She ate very little and her lips were dry and fissured. She also had difficulty walking and moving her arms, fingers, and legs.
Intact Spatial Updating with Severely Degraded Vision

Critical to low-vision navigation are the abilities to recover scale and update a 3-D representation of space. In order to investigate whether these abilities are present under low-vision conditions, we employed the triangulation task of eyes-closed indirect walking to previously viewed targets on the ground. This task requires that the observer continually update the location of the target without any further visual feedback of his/her movement or the target’s location. Normally sighted participants were tested monocularly in a degraded vision condition and a normal vision condition on both indirect and direct walking to previously viewed targets. Surprisingly, we found no difference in walked distances between the degraded and normal vision conditions. Our results provide evidence for intact spatial updating even under severely degraded vision conditions, indicating that participants can recover scale and update a 3-D representation of space under simulated low vision.
Solution Behavior and Structural Properties of Cu(I) Complexes Featuring m-Terphenyl Isocyanides

The synthesis of the m-terphenyl isocyanide ligand CNAr (Mes2) (Mes = 2,4,6-Me 3C 6H 2) is described. Isocyanide CNAr (Mes2) readily functions as a sterically encumbering supporting unit for several Cu(I) halide and pseudo halide fragments, fostering in some cases rare structural motifs. Combination of equimolar quantities of CNAr (Mes2) and CuX (X = Cl, Br and I) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution results in the formation of the bridging halide complexes (mu-X) 2[Cu(THF)(CNAr (Mes2))] 2. Addition of CNAr (Mes2) to cuprous chloride in a 2:1 molar ratio generates the complex ClCu(CNAr (Mes2)) 2 in a straightforward manner. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction has revealed ClCu(CNAr (Mes2)) 2 to exist as a three-coordinate monomer in the solid state. As determined by solution (1)H NMR and FTIR spectroscopic studies, monomer ClCu(CNAr (Mes2)) 2 resists tight binding of a third CNAr (Mes2) unit, resulting in rapid isocyanide exchange. Contrastingly, addition of 3 equiv of CNAr (Mes2) to cuprous iodide readily affords the tris-isocyanide species, ICu(CNAr (Mes2)) 3, as determined by X-ray diffraction. Similar coordination behavior is observed in the tris-isocyanide salt [(THF)Cu(CNAr (Mes2)) 3]OTf (OTf = O 3SCF 3), which is generated upon treatment of (C 6H 6)[Cu(OTf)] 2 with 6 equiv of CNAr (Mes2) in THF. The disparate coordination behavior of the [CuCl] fragment relative to both [CuI] and [CuOTf] is rationalized in terms of structure and Lewis acidity of the Cu-containing fragments. The putative triflate species [Cu(CNAr (Mes2)) 3]OTf itself serves as a good Lewis acid and is found to weakly bind C 6H 6 in an eta (1)- C manner in the solid-state. Density Functional Theory is used to describe the bonding and energetics of the eta (1)- C Cu-C 6H 6 interaction.
Role of the Electrostatic Interactions in the Genome Packaging and Ejection of DNA From Bacteriophages

Electrostatic interactions play an important role in both packaging of DNA inside bacteriophages and its release into bacterial cells. While at the physiological conditions DNA strands repel each other, the presence of polyvalent cations such as spermine and spermidine in DNA solutions leads to the formation of DNA condensates. This phenomenon has been experimentally observed for DNA confined inside bacteriophages and upon its ejection into bacteria. In this presentation, we discuss packaging and release of DNA from bacteriophages under repulsive and attractive conditions using a coarse-grained model of DNA and capsids. The first group of simulations describes packaging of DNA inside bacteriophages Lambda. Packaging under repulsive conditions leads to the appearance of the folded toroidal conformations; DNA occupies all available space inside the capsid. Under the attractive potential both packed systems reveal toroidal conformations, leaving the central part of the capsids unoccupied by DNA. We also present a detailed thermodynamic analysis of packaging and show that the forces required to pack the genomes in the presence of polyamines are significantly lower than those observed under repulsive conditions (in the absence of polycations). Additionally we report the results of simulations of DNA condensation inside partially packed bacteriophage Lambda. In the second group of studies we simulated the ejection of DNA from bacteriophages. Simulations performed in the repulsive regime result in the formation of a random coil of fully ejected DNA, while the genome condenses into rod-like structures upon ejection, if the simulations were done with the attractive potential. In both cases we confirm the “push-pull” mechanism proposed to explain the ejection and estimate the pulling force that acts on the ejected portion of DNA.
Resolution of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocysts with transpapillary stent placement

Pancreatic pseudocysts can occur as a complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis. They are usually located in the peripancreatic area, most commonly in the lesser sac. On rare occasion a pseudocyst can reach the mediastinum. Approximately 40 such cases have been reported.1 These pseudocysts are caused by rupture of the pancreatic duct posteriorly into the retroperitoneal space. The pancreatic fluid then tracks up through a diaphragmatic hiatus into the mediastinum, usually the posterior mediastinum.2-4 In one series of 24 patients, the commonest sites of entry into the mediastinum from the diaphragm were the openings for the esophagus and the aorta (21 out of 24 patients).5 Other less frequent sites are the inferior vena cava hiatus (case 2 of our report), foramen of Morgagni, and direct penetration of the diaphragm. Traditionally, pancreatic pseudocysts, whatever the site, have been treated initially with conservative management and surgery with internal drainage for those cases in which the pseudocyst does not resolve with conservative treatment alone.1-7 More recently, endoscopic transpapillary stent placement has been introduced as a therapeutic option for pancreatic fistulas and communicating pseudocysts in patients who do not respond to conservative treatment.8-11 In other cases, endoscopic transmural drainage or percutaneous drainage has been used. This is a report of 2 cases of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocysts that were successfully treated with transpapillary stent placement as primary therapy in 1 case and in conjunction with percutaneous drainage in the other.
Observations on spiny vesicles and P-protein inNicotiana tabacum

The occurrence of spiny vesicles and P-protein and the spatial relation between these two cell components were studied inNicotiana tabacum L. Healthy plants were compared with those infected with tobacco mosaic virus. In noninfected plants, P-protein and spiny vesicles were found occurring independently and jointly in phloem-parenchyma cells in veins of leaves and in young cells around protophloem sieve tubes in the vascular cylinder of root tips. P-protein and spiny vesicles were found in a larger number of cells and in larger amounts in phloem parenchyma of veins in infected leaves than they were in the same kind of cells in noninfected leaves. No suitable root-tip material was obtained from infected plants.
Selective Changes in Cell Bodies and Growth Cones of Nerve Growth Factor-Differentiated PC12 Cells Induced by Chemical Hypoxia

Cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured in differentiated PC12 cells to test whether chemical hypoxia selectively alters intracellular Ca2+ in growth cones and cell bodies. Hypoxia increased [Ca2+]i and exaggerated its response to K+ depolarization in both parts of the cells. [Ca2+]i in the cell bodies was greater than that in the growth cones under resting conditions and in response to K+ or hypoxia. Ca2+-channel blockers selectively altered these responses. The L-channel blocker nifedipine reduced [Ca2+]i following K+ depolarization by 67% in the cell bodies but only 25% in the growth cones. In contrast, the N-channel blocker omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTX) diminished K+-induced changes in [Ca2+]i only in the growth cones. During hypoxia, nifedipine was more effective in the cell bodies than in the growth cones. During hypoxia, omega-CgTX diminished K+-induced changes by 50-75% in both parts of the cell, but only immediately after depolarization. The combination of nifedipine and omega-CgTX diminished the [Ca2+]i response to K+ with or without hypoxia by >90% in the cell body and 70% in the growth cones. Thus, the increased Ca2+ entry with K+ during hypoxia is primarily through L channels in the cell bodies, whereas in growth cones influx through L and N channels is about equal. The results show that chemical hypoxia selectively alters Ca2+ regulation in the growth cone and cell body of the same cell.
Deconvolution of permeance in supported nanoporous membranes

Nanoporous membranes--porous membranes generally having a porosity below 1 nm--have attracted the attention of many researchers because of their potential for technological advances in gas separations and shape selective catalysis. Permeation experiments often constitute a significant contribution to the characterization of these membranes. As the dimensions of a pore approach that of the molecule, transport generally becomes extremely sensitive to the molecular dimensions of the probe gas and very high separation factors have been reported for ceramic, zeolite, and nanoporous carbon membranes of this type. The purpose of this article is to introduce a technique that can be used to dissect the relative contributions of the overall permeances through molecular sieving membranes.
Local Dialogue Heard Around the World

The authors of this article examine deliberative democracy and the value of dialogue in promoting the engagement of communities in deliberation and involvement in public issues. Focusing on the Texas Forum (TF), a member of the National Issues Forum (NIF), the authors discuss how diverse individuals are brought together with the purpose of cultivating public dialogue and discourse about significant policy issues, with a focus on the public's participation in the democratic process. The article addresses changes in civic engagement, dialogue, and the use of technology to mediate civic discourse and create virtual civic communities. The TF and NIF provide practical examples of the work needed in promoting deliberative democracy and civic engagement.
Glycoprotein biosynthesis during inflammation in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Extracellular glycoproteins play an important role in wound healing; yet little is known about glycoprotein biosynthesis and its regulation by insulin in inflammation. Using [1-14C] fucose as a marker, glycoprotein biosynthesis was studied in carrageenan-induced granuloma from diabetic and control rats. Fucose incorporation into glycoproteins was followed for 24 h after an intraperitoneal injection of the label. Radioactivity in trichloroacetic acid precipitable serum glycopoteins and saline-soluble and insoluble glycoproteins was assessed in five-, seven-, and ten-day-old granuloma tissues. Fucose incorporation was higher in soluble glycoproteins (P < 0.01) at all points in controls than in diabetic granulomas, and peak incorporation was reached in both groups on the seventh day. Incorporation of fucose into insoluble glycoproteins was higher in normals on the seventh day than in diabetics. Liver-, kidney-, and intestine-soluble glycoproteins showed a maximum incorporation on the seventh day, but no difference was noted between diabetic and normal rats. Incorporation of fucose in insoluble glycoproteins showed a gradual decline with the age of granuloma in all tissues from both groups, with the exception of the kidney. In the kidney, fucosylation of insoluble glycoproteins was decreased (P < 0.01) in diabetics compared to controls. These results indicate an active phase of biosynthesis, with an increase in glycosylation during inflammation that is probably insulin dependent.