cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Principles of Bovine Pharmacology

Certain considerations must be taken into account whenever one decides to administer a drug to a food animal. Some issues are relevant to drug use in any species, while others are specific for drug use in food animals. General principles of drug use in food animals are discussed, including withholding time, appropriateness of drug choice, and the potential for adverse effects. Some specific drug classes and compounds are discussed in order to provide examples of the factors that go into therapeutic decision-making.
What Is “the Israel Experience”?

Educational travel to Israel has become an important framework for American Jewish education. In this chapter, the core components of this Israel educational experience are analyzed.
Public Health Importance of Cryptococcal Disease: Epidemiology, Burden, and Control

This chapter focuses primarily on HIV-associated cryptococcosis, due to its much greater public health burden, and discusses the challenges to public health agencies in addressing the threat of Cryptococcus gattii. The vast majority of disease caused by Cryptococcus is found in persons who are infected with HIV, especially those who develop AIDS. The large global burden of cryptococcal disease presents a number of challenges to public health, particularly in the resource-poor regions of high HIV prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia. Public health surveillance is an essential element in public health practice and allows factual insight into the epidemiology of a disease in order to inform decisions and take action. Cryptococcal antigenemia has been shown to be prevalent in persons without symptomatic disease. The study from Cambodia treated 10 persons with asymptomatic antigenemia with fluconazole 200 mg/day for 12 weeks. By 12 weeks after initiation of therapy, none of these had developed cryptococcal meningitis. From a public health standpoint, one of the more challenging aspects of the epidemiology of Cryptococcus is the emergence of the primary pathogen C. gattii in North America. In order to fully understand the epidemiology of this emerging infection in the United States, both human and animal public health agencies at the federal, state, and local levels are working together to form a surveillance network.
Evidence against resveratrol as a viable therapy for the rescue of defective ΔF508 CFTR.

Abstract Background Resveratrol, a natural phenolic compound, has been reported to rescue mutant ΔF508 CFTR in expression systems and primary epithelial cells. Although this implies a therapeutic benefit to patients with CF, investigations were performed using resveratrol concentrations greatly in excess of those achievable in plasma. We evaluated the efficacy of resveratrol as a CFTR corrector in relevant primary airway cells, using physiologically achievable resveratrol concentrations. Methods Cells expressing wt or ΔF508 CFTR were exposed to chronic or acute resveratrol. CFTR mRNA and protein expression were monitored. The effects of resveratrol on primary ΔF508 human airway cells were evaluated by equivalent current analysis using modified Ussing chambers. Results Consistent with previously published data in heterologous expression systems, high doses of resveratrol increased CFTR expression; however physiologically relevant concentrations were without effect. In contrast to heterologous expression systems, resveratrol was unable to increase mutant CFTR channel activity in primary airway cells. Elevated amiloride-sensitive currents, indicative of sodium transport and characteristically elevated in CF airway cells, were also unaffected by resveratrol. Conclusions High concentrations of resveratrol can increase CFTR mRNA and protein in some cell types. In addition, acute resveratrol exposure can stimulate CFTR mediated chloride secretion, probably by increasing cellular cAMP levels. Resveratrol at physiologically achievable levels yielded no benefit in primary ΔF508 airway cells, either in terms of amiloride-sensitive currents of CFTR currents. General significance Taken together, our results do not support the use of resveratrol supplements as a therapy for patients with cystic fibrosis. It is possible that further modifications of the resveratrol backbone would yield a more efficacious compound.
Abstract 13786: Contribution of Medications and Risk Factors to QT Interval Lengthening in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Objective: Prolongation of corrected QT interval (QTc) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, but the association between the number of QT interval prolonging medications (QTPMs) versus selected non-pharmacologic risk factors on the magnitude of QTc lengthening is unknown. We examined these associations in a longitudinal study of a population-based cohort. Methods: We included 15,792 ARIC participants with a resting, standard 12-lead electrocardiogram and ≥ 1 measure of QTc over up to four triennial examinations between 1987 and 1998 (54,638 person-visits). Participants with QRS > 120 ms were excluded (n=2,333). To optimize clinical applicability, QTc was calculated using Bazett’s equation. At each visit, we identified participants using ≥ 1 AzCERT-classified QTPMs, age > 65 years, females, and those with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), or QTc > 500 ms at the prior visit. We used linear regression for 36,513 person-visit observations from visits 2-4 to examine QTc lengthening associations. Visit indicators were controlled for time, and standard errors were corrected for repeat observations per person. Results: Use of any QTPM increased from 9% to 17% between visits 1 and 4 and occurred more frequently among females and participants with LVH. Among person-visit observations from Visit 2-4, 70% (n=25,513) had at least one risk factor including age > 65 years (25%), female sex (56%), LVH (8%) and QTc>500 ms (1%). In patients receiving no QTPM, female sex was associated with the greatest QTc lengthening at 13 ms [95% CI 12-13] followed by LVH at 7 ms [6-9], QTc > 500 ms at 7 [4-10], and age > 65 at 2 ms [1-3]. Mean QTc increased with increasing number of QTPMs and risk factors (Table). The greatest QTc lengthening occurred in participants using ≥ 2 medications with ≥ 1 risk factor. Conclusions: Risk factors, particularly female sex, contribute more to QTc lengthening than QTPMs. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
The Stellar Temperature Scale from O5 to A0

An absolute spectrophotometric calibration of Vega and eleven other standard stars was completed by the author in 1967. This calibration extends from 3200 to 10870 A, and therefore gives a useful calibration of the Paschen discontinuity as well as the Balmer discontinuity, for which calibrations have been available for some time.
National Human Rights Institutions: Domestic implementation of international human rights law

ABSTRACTDoes adopting a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) make states’ international commitments to not torture more constraining? Many researchers have explored international human rights treaties’ abilities to constrain leaders from violating human rights, some focusing exclusively on the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT). Thus far, findings are not promising unless certain domestic conditions apply such as sufficient democratic space to air grievances or independent judiciaries. This article continues to explore domestic conditions by focusing on another liberal institution—National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). Torture is usually a secretive practice, and NHRIs act as information providers to potential mobilizers and domestic legal systems assuring international legal commitments are not empty promises. Using statistical analysis on 153 countries over the years 1981–2007, I find that when a country has ratified the CAT, the presence of an NHRI substantively decreases the chan...
Frequency and directionality of gene conversion events involving the CYC7-H3 mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The CYC7-H3 mutation is a 5-kb deletion that causes overproduction of iso-2 cytochrome c . Unlike most mutations in yeast, the CYC7-H3 mutation is preferentially lost when it is involved in a gene conversion event. We have shown that cloned copies of CYC7-H3 DNA that are inserted into the yeast genome are associated with a high frequency of recombination and aberrant segregation events. Since parity in conversion frequency was observed when the extensive insertion/deletion heterozygosity at this locus was eliminated, we conclude that the CYC7-H3 sequences are inherently capable of acting as donors or recipients in gene conversion events, although they are unlikely to act as donors when they are located opposite a large heterology. DNA sequence comparisons revealed similarities between the CYC7-H3 junction region and the 2-µm circle DNA region that is involved in site-specific recombination.
Foliar flavonoid aglycones of Phoebanthus

The diploid Phoebanthus tenuifolius and the tetraploid P. grandiflorus yielded identical complements of foliar flavonoid aglycones, including the compounds nepetin, jaceosidin, and hymenoxin. Flavonoid data do not resolve the origin of the tetraploid species. The similarity between the flavonoids of Phoebanthus and those earlier reported for Helianthus would support a merger of the two genera.
DNA sequence and characterization of the S. cerevisiae gene encoding adenylate cyclase

We have cloned CYR1, the S. cerevisiae gene encoding adenylate cyclase. The DNA sequence of CYR1 can encode a protein of 2026 amino acids. This protein would contain a central region comprised of over twenty copies of a 23 amino acid repeating unit with remarkable homology to a 24 amino acid tandem repeating unit of a trace human serum glycoprotein. Gene disruption and biochemical experiments indicate that the catalytic domain of adenylate cyclase resides in the carboxyl terminal 400 amino acids. Elevated expression of adenylate cyclase suppresses the lethality that otherwise results from loss of RAS gene function in yeast. Yeast adenylate cyclase, made in E. coli, cannot be activated by added RAS protein.
Cortical Characteristics of Strains of Syngens 10, 11 and 12 of Tetrahymena pyriformis†

SYNOPSIS. The patterns of correlation among cortical structures have been examined in strains of 3 additional breeding groups (syngens) of Tetrahymena pyriformis. As in previous studies, many cytogeometric properties were found to vary within a syngen. Surprisingly, one strain of syngen 12 differed from 3 others in the one property previously found to be constant—the pattern of variation of the position of the contractile vacuole pores. This strain may, however, be a sexually cross-reacting representative of still another syngen. This interpretation would preserve the diagnostic value of CVP position, and permit an ordering of syngens in terms of the distance of the CVP's from meridian #1: 1, 3, 7, 6, 8, 11, 12, 9, 2, 5, 4, 10.
Arousal and memory: Phasic measures of arousal in a free recall task☆

Abstract EEG alpha activity and skin potential were monitored during word presentation in a single trial free recall task. Phasic changes in EEG alpha and skin potential, co-occurring with word onset, were positively related to recall at an immediate retention interval (2 min) but not after a delay (45 min). The results were interpreted as supporting the extension of Routtenberg's (1968) two-arousal system hypothesis to human memory. Arousal was viewed as affecting memory during the attribute encoding stage of memory storage.
Evaluation of a depth proportional intake device for automatic pumping samplers

A depth proportional intake boom for portable pumping samplers was used to collect suspended sediment samples in two coastal streams for three winters. The boom pivots on the stream bed while a float on the downstream end allows debris to depress the boom and pass without becoming trapped. This equipment modifies point sam- pling by maintaining the intake nozzle at the same proportion of water depth regardless of stage. Data taken by pumping samplers with intakes mounted on the boom were compared with depth integrated hand samples. Pumped samples showed higher concentrations than depth integrated hand samples. Results suggested that cross-sectional sampling can give high precision with proper placement and calibration of a boom mounted intake. (KEY TERMS: pumping sampler; water quality; suspended sediment; statistics; sampling.)
East central European urbanization: a political economy of the world-system perspective

This is a historical survey of urbanization in east-central Europe (what is now Poland Hungary and Czechoslovakia). The authors relate the current patterns of underurbanization modest regional inequalities and low urban primacy to the regions history. They suggest that the policies of managed urbanization following World War II have reinforced the semiperipheral legacy of decentralized relatively even urban growth. (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER AND SPA) (ANNOTATION)
Conformity and Group Size: The Concern with Being Right and the Concern with Being Liked

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that the group-size effect in an Asch-type conformity experiment is a function of the concern with being right and the concern with being liked. In addition to a manipulation of group size, there were manipulations of manner of responding (public or private) and of the nature of the judgments (objectively determined or undetermined). Consistent with expectations, each of the latter two variables interacted with group size. There was also a significant main effect for group size, and a significant deviation from control indicating that conformity occurs with private judgments relating to objective stimuli.
Detection of hydrogen at room temperature with catalyst-coated multiple ZnO nanorods

A variety of different metal catalyst coatings (Pt, Pd, Au, Ag, Ti and Ni) deposited on multiple ZnO nanorods have been compared for their effectiveness in enhancing sensitivity for detecting hydrogen at room temperature. Pt-coated nanorods show a relative response of up to 8% in room-temperature resistance upon exposure to a hydrogen concentration in N2 of 500 ppm. This is a factor of two larger than that obtained with Pd and more than an order of magnitude larger than that achieved with the remaining metals. The power levels for these sensors were low, ∼0.4 mW for the responses noted above. Pt-coated ZnO nanorods easily detected hydrogen down to 100 ppm, with a relative response of 4% at this concentration after 10-min exposure. The nanorods show a return to their initial conductance upon switching back to a pure-air ambient with time constants of the order of a few minutes at room temperature. This slow response at room temperature is a drawback in some applications, but the sensors do offer low-power operation and ppm detection sensitivity.
Dispersive mixing in immiscible polymer blends

Dispersive mixing of immiscible polymer blends as well as polymer systems containing solids is achieved in compounding equipment at two stages of the system's processing experience: first, while one or more of the polymer components are melting, and second, after all polymer components have melted. That is, the first mode of dispersive mixing occurs during the melting mechanism of “dissipative mix melting” (Ref. 1), while the second is melt-melt mixing. During the compounding of a given blend system, there are a number of processing parameters that can be changed in order to improve mixing. These range from machine operating variables to the addition of processing aids. If such processing changes fail to produce the desired morphology, the most common change to consider is the screw geometry. This, in practice involves a trial and error procedure, or the use of an existing database built from prior experience. The role which the thermomechanical and rheological properties of the blend component play in dissipative mix melting and melt-melt mixing has not yet been well understood. The reason for this is that although most blend systems have components which are strongly non-Newtonian and strongly viscoelastic, the thinking and rules of thumb for mixing such materials has been heavily influenced by the analysis of G. I. Taylor (Ref. 2), who in 1932 addressed the phenomenon of the dispersion of a single Newtonian droplet by a Newtonian matrix flowing in laminar shear flow. This paper addresses the strong role that the rheology of blend components, under processing conditions, play in laminar dispersive mixing of polymer blends. From a practical point of view, if the dispersion mechanisms and rates of dispersion depend on the component rheology, then such knowledge can lead us to the selection of advantageous mixing element designs and processing conditions. The experimental results were obtained in dispersive mixing carried out in devices developed in the Polymer Mixing Study (Ref. 3). Such model devices include the Couette Flow Intensive Mixer (CIM) (Ref. 4), where a constant shear stress is applied on the blend components and the Twin Screw Mixing Element Evaluator (TSMEE) (Ref. 5), where the mixing flows are those encountered in actual mixing/compounding operations. The TSMEE will be described in the body of this paper together with its on- and off-line morphology determination capabilities and its in-line rheology sensor. The low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene (PS) polymers studied were selected because they cover a wide spectrum of rheological properties.
Dynamic Behavior of Oligomeric Inorganic Pyrophosphatase (IPPASE) Studied by Quasielastic Neutron Scattering

Protein dynamics or protein motions are believed to ultimately govern the biological function and activities of protein. Quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) technique has been proven to be an exceptional tool to study dynamics of proteins in the time scale of picosecond (ps) to nanosecond (ns) [1, 2]. In this study, we use QENS to investigate how a large oligomeric protein, Inorganic Pyrophosphatase (IPPase) from Thermococcus thioreducens with quaternary structural complexity, have distinguishable dynamic characteristics compared to those of the small simple monomeric model protein, lysozyme. IPPase derived from thermostable microorganisms is of extreme interest for biophysical studies because of their inherent chemical and thermal stability and high temperature activity. Two QENS instruments, a backscattering spectrometer (BASIS) and a disk chopper spectrometer (DCS) are used in probing the protein dynamics in different time ranges from 1 ps to 1 ns at different temperatures. In addition, the DCS experiment was performed under the pressure of 1000 bar, mimicking the natural living conditions of IPPase. Our results reveal that the dynamics of IPPase is slower than that of lysozyme in the time range of 10 ps to 0.5 ns [1] while it is faster in the time range of 1 ps to 30 ps. These results are consistent between two instruments and such dynamic behaviors in proteins are believed to be contributed by the rotational motion of the side methyl groups [3]. Distinguishable dynamical behavior found between two proteins reveals local flexibility and conformational substates unique to oligomeric structures. Our results greatly help understanding the relation between protein dynamics and their biological functions.[1] X.-Q. Chu, et al, JPCB. 116, 9917 (2012).[2] X.-Q. Chu, et al, Soft Matter 6, 2623 (2010).[3] X.-Q. Chu, et al, JPCL. 4, 936 (2013).
Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Performance in Relation to Egg Hatch and Feeding Initiation Times

We investigated performance for groups of gypsy moth that began feeding during different times in the spring and, thus, coincided with different levels of host foliage maturation. The study was performed by caging groups of newly hatched larvae on host foliage at three different times over a 2-wk period. These times were coincident with the beginning of natural gypsy moth egg hatch in the study area, near peak gypsy moth egg hatch in that area, and near the end of gypsy moth egg hatch for that area. At each establishment date, we placed the new groups of larvae onto the same individual trees that we were using to feed the earlier-established groups. Thus, the only host plant characteristics that varied between the groups established on different dates were those characteristics related to level of host foliage maturation. The tree species we studied were red oak, white oak, bigtooth aspen, and trembling aspen. Major findings include the following: larvae placed earliest had the highest mortality, slowest development times, and lowest larval weights at the end of the season; larvae placed latest had the lowest mortality, fastest development times, highest relative growth rates early on, and maintained the heaviest larval weights throughout the season; and effects of the various host species on gypsy moth growth and survival strongly support host effects seen in our earlier work and the work of others on gypsy moth–host plant interactions. Aspen-fed insects had the highest larval growth rates at the end of the season and were the heaviest pupae, although aspen-fed larvae had high levels of mortality. Red oak-fed larvae had the best growth rates early in the season and the worst growth rates late in the season.
Developmental biology of a neural cell adhesion molecule

A membrane glycoprotein isolated from embryonic brain has been shown to be a ligand in the formation of cell-cell bonds. The molecule, called neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM), participates in several aspects of neural development, including the formation of plexiform layers, neurite fasciculation and nerve-muscle interactions. Experiments in vivo indicate that N-CAM-mediated adhesion is essential to the orderly assembly of the visual system.
II. Aplysia brasiliana neurons R3–R14: Primary structure of the myoactive histidine-rich basic peptide and its prohormone

Abstract Neurons R3–R14 of the marine mollusc Aplysia are model neuroendocrine cells thought to regulate cardiovascular activity in vivo. The cells express a gene encoding three peptides—peptides I, II and the histidine-rich basic peptide (HRBP)—each of which has been chemically characterized in Aplysia californica. In the studies presented here, HRBP and its prohormone (proHRBP) were purified from A. brasiliana abdominal ganglion extracts by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and characterized by amino acid compositional and sequence analyses. ProHRBP was an 85-residue peptide whose sequence was: NH2-Glu-Glu-Val-Phe-Asp-Asp-Thr-Asp- Val-Gly-Asp-Glu-Leu-Thr-Asn-Ala-Leu-Glu-Ser-Val-Leu-Thr-Asp-Leu-Lys-Asp-Lys-Arg-Asp-Ala-Glu-Glu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Phe-Met- Thr-Arg-Leu-Arg-Arg-Gln-Val-Ala-Gln-Met-His-Ile-Trp-Arg-Ala-Val-Asn-His-Asp-Arg-His-His-Ser-Thr-Gly-Ser-Gly-Arg-His- Ser-Arg-Phe-Leu-Thr-Arg-Asn-Arg-Tyr-Arg-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Gly-His-Leu-Ser-Asp-Ala-COOH. It differed from A. californica pro-HRBP at seven of the 85 positions. Compositional and sequence analyses demonstrated that A. brasiliana HRBP was a 43-residue peptide corresponding to residues 43 through 85 of proHRBP, and that a significant proportion of the isolated peptide possessed a blocked NH2 terminus. Although this sequence differed from that of A. californica HRBP at five of 43 residues, the two peptides were approximately equipotent in inducing contractions of A. californica crop muscle in vitro, suggesting that the substituted residues may not be critical for biological activity.
Comments on : Recent data for particle deposition in human nasal passages'

Abstract The deposition of inhaled particles within human nasal passages has important toxicologic and pharmacologic applications. However, experimental data quantitating factors affecting ultrafine particle deposition in the nose are rare. We have evaluated findings from investigations employing either replica nasopharyngeal (NP) casts or surrogate model airways and compared them to each other and to human subject results. For ultrafine particles, studies using casts and models are incompatible, measured deposition values from the latter being lower by an entire order of magnitude. Possible sources of discrepancies between the data are suggested herein. Studies with diverse nasal replicates, however, have yielded consistent deposition data over a wide particle size range, about 0.005–7 μm. Cast experiments underestimate, but in a systematic manner, in vivo information over a 0.5–3 μm interval. It is recommended that NP replica cast data be used to simulate human passages. For extrapolation modeling purposes, an original empirical formula based upon a logistic theory is derived which describes deposition over a particle size range of three orders of magnitude.
Democracy, Market and Social Safety Nets: Implications for Postcommunist Eastern Europe

Past discussions of market versus planned economies in terms of the efficiency/equity tradeoff missed the adverse equity implications of totalitarian political systems and the importance of pluralistic political decisionmaking structures. The paper demonstrates the role of the paternalistic party–state in creating nonmarket inequities, limiting the articulation of political preferences concerning social safety nets, and restricting nonstate sources of welfare. The transition to pluralistic market economies implies potential improvements both in equity and efficiency. The distinct problems of the transition are primarily rooted in uncertainties arising from the scarcity of resources and the fluidity of political preferences.
Well-Done Meat Intake, Heterocyclic Amine Exposure, and Cancer Risk

High intake of meat, particularly red and processed meat, has been associated with an increased risk of a number of common cancers such as breast, colorectum, and prostate in many epidemiological studies. Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are a group of mutagenic compounds found in cooked meats, particularly well-done meats. HCAs are some of most potent mutagens detected using the Ames/salmonella tests and have been clearly shown to induce tumors in experimental animal models. Over the past 10 years, an increasing number of epidemiological studies have evaluated the association of well-done meat intake and meat carcinogen exposure with cancer risk. The results from these epidemiologic studies were evaluated and summarized in this review. The majority of these studies have shown that high intake of well-done meat and high exposure to meat carcinogens, particularly HCAs, may increase the risk of human cancer.
Pedestrian Fatalities on Interstate Highways: Characteristics and Countermeasures

Pedestrian fatalities on Interstate highways account for more than 10 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in the United States. This study identifies crash types and factors contributing to fatal pedestrian crashes on Interstate highways and surveys countermeasures that address the problem. A 3-year sample of 394 police accident reports detailing fatal Interstate pedestrian crashes in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina was collected. Data from the reports, including light conditions, pedestrian and driver characteristics, and pedestrian activity at the time of the crash were compiled for analysis. Factors contributing to the crashes included pedestrian and driver alcohol use and poor light conditions. Eighty percent of the crashes occurred after dark. Forty percent of the crashes involved pedestrians entering or crossing the highway. Thirty-two percent involved an unintended pedestrian—someone who had a broken-down vehicle, had been involved in a previous crash, or was walking or standing on the shoulde...
Role of self-assembled surfactant structure on the spreading of oil on flat solid surfaces.

Uniform spreading of oil on solid surfaces is important in many processes where proper lubrication is required and this can be controlled using surfactants. The role of oil–solid interfacial self-assembled surfactant structure (SASS) in oil spreading is examined in this study for the case of hexadecane-surfactant droplet spreading on a flat horizontal copper surface, with triphenyl phosphorothionate surfactants having varying chain lengths (0 to 9). It is shown that the frictional forces (FSASS) as determined by the SASS regulate droplet spreading rate according to surfactant chain length; surfactants with longer chains led to higher reduction in the spreading rate. The extent of such forces, FSASS, depends on the surfactant density of the evolving SASS, and specific configuration the evolving SASS exhibit as per the orientations of the surfactant chains therein. Thus, FSASS = [k1 + k2(t)] Γδ(t), where Γδ(t) is the surfactant adsorption density of SASS at time ‘t’ during evolution, and, k1 and k2(t) are the force coefficients for Γδ(t) and orientations (as a function of spreading time) of the surfactant chains respectively. As a SASS evolves/grows along with adsorption of surfactants at the spreading induced fresh interface, the k1Γδ(t) component of FSASS increases and contributes to reduction in the net spreading force (S). With a decrease in the net spreading force, the existence of a cross-over period, during which the transition of the spatial dynamics of the chains from disordered to realignment/packing induced ordered orientation occurs, has been inferred from the FSASS vs. chain length relationships. Such relationships also suggested that the rate of realignment/packing is increased progressively particularly due the realignment/packing induced decrease in the net spreading force. Therefore, the realignment process is a self-induced process, which spans a measurable period of time (several minutes), the cross-over period, during which the net spreading force decreases essentially due to such self-induced process.
LONG-TERM ANTICHOLINERGIC THERAPY FOR PREVENTION OF RECURRENCES IN DUODENAL ULCER.

The effect of long-term Robinul therapy for prevention of recurrence and complication was investigated in 37 patients with chronic duodenal ulcer, utilizing a double-blind study. The results indicate a recurrence rate of 15% in the Robinul group of 20 patients versus 71% in the placebo group of 17 patients at the end of an 18-month follow-up study. Complications during treatment were observed in 5% of patients under Robinul therapy and in 59% of patients under placebo therapy. These differences are statistically significant. The combined results with the use of long-term anticholinergic therapy, the present study utilizing Robinul (double-blind study) and the previous study utilizing tricyclamol (single-blind study), showed that the incidence of recurrence was 11% in the anticholinergic group of 45 patients and 57% in the placebo group of 37 patients. The incidence of complications that developed under treatment was 7% in the anticholinergic group and 43% in the placebo group. The encouraging results in these studies might be attributed to the use of an “effective” anticholinergic drug and to the use of an optimal effective dose tailored to each patient. The results of these studies would indicate that the use of long-term anticholinergic therapy does alter the natural history of the duodenal ulcer disease in a significant number of cases. The rationale and the efficacy of anticholinergic therapy in peptic ulcer are discussed.
Interaction of Two Magnetic Loops in the Solar Corona

The solar corona is populated by a large number of semitoroidal magnetic loops, some of which are sufficiently close to each other within a neighborhood that the probability of loop-to-loop interaction is not negligible. The interaction of two coronal loops is studied using a three-dimensional numerical simulation. The first loop is an established, current-carrying magnetic loop in hydromagnetic equilibrium. The second loop dynamically emerges from the photosphere in the same neighborhood. There are a large number of possible configurations in a two-loop system regarding their relative orientation, physical size, and directions of their toroidal magnetic field and electric current. We present three representative, but characteristically different, configurations whose interactions result in releasing various amounts of energy stored in the magnetic field. Using typical coronal parameters, some of them can take place in a relatively short timescale and release sufficient energy to account for a small flare.
Methylation of phospholipids in microsomes of the rat aorta

The methylation of phospholipids by S-adenosyl-L-methionine was characterized in microsomes prepared from strips of rat aorta. In the presence of 0.5 microM S-adenosyl-L-methionine, endogenous phosphatidylethanolamine was methylated to form three products: phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine, phosphatidyl-N,N-dimethylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. In the presence of 150 microM S-adenosyl-L-methionine the methylation activity increased more than 50-fold and the principal radioactive product was phosphatidylcholine. Optimal activity was at pH 9 and no magnesium requirement was detected. Exogenous phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine and phosphatidyl-N,N-dimethylethanolamine served as substrates for the enzyme. The methylation of exogenous phosphatidyl-N,N-dimethylethanolamine proceeded at a slower rate. Incubation of trypsin with the aorta microsomes reduced the enzymatic activity and reduced the relative yield of phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine. Phospholipase C degraded the methylated phospholipids, but phosphatidyl-N,N-dimethylethanolamine appeared to be less accessible to the phospholipase. The phospholipid methylation activity was inhibited by the addition of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine or by L-homocysteinethiolactone. When intact strips of rat aorta were incubated with L-[methyl-3H]methionine, [3H]methyl groups were incorporated into phospholipids. This incorporation was inhibited when L-homocysteinethiolactone was added to the incubation. Polarized fluorescence of diphenylhexatriene in aorta microsomes was measured to determine the apparent membrane fluidity. When intact strips of aorta were incubated with methionine or with L-homocysteinethiolactone, methionine enhanced and L-homocysteinethiolactone decreased apparent fluidity of the microsomal membranes. Phospholipid methylation activity was examined in aorta microsomes prepared from genetically spontaneous hypertensive SHR strain rats. Phospholipid methylation activity was substantially greater in the SHR aorta microsomes than in microsomes prepared from Wistar-Kyoto WKY control strain aorta. Membrane fluidity was greater in the SHR aorta microsomes than in the WKY aorta microsomes. The hypothesis that phospholipid methylation activity influences fluidity of membranes and the possible involvement of methylated phospholipids in aorta membrane functions are discussed.
Alignment of Adsorbate-Induced Defects on Silicon(001) 2×1 Observed with STM

We have observed that a build-up of gas-phase adsorbates on Si(001) followed by mild annealing at temperatures in the range 500 - 800°C can lead to a quasi-periodic array of line defects, which in STM images appear similar to lines of dimer vacancies aligned perpendicular to the surface dimer rows. These line defects can be eliminated by annealing at temperatures above 900°C, indicating that Ni contamination is not the cause. Adsorbed O2 or H2O followed by an anneal do not exhibit the same behavior.
Pharmacological modulation of GABAergic transmission in cultured cerebellar neurons.

Abstract GABA activates specific ion channels in post-natal cerebellar neurons in primary culture generating Cl− currents that can be recorded with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Evoked and spontaneous GABA-mediated synaptic activity can be recorded from cells kept in culture for a few days. Benzodiazepine and beta-carboline derivatives which bind with high affinity to the domains for allosteric regulation of GABA receptors facilitated and inhibited directly applied GABA responses and synaptically evoked Cl− currents recorded under voltage-clamp.
Studies of the Location of the Receptor Site for Negative Feedback Control of ACTH Release1

Dexamethasone-21-phosphate was administered to rats 20 hr after graded amounts of forebrain had been removed. Four hr later, its ability to suppress ACTH release was estimated by measuring corticosterone in a 3-min collection of left adrenal effluent, obtained immediately after laparotomy under ether anesthesia. Corticosterone secretion was suppressed in dexamethasone-treated hypothalamic island and median eminence island animals as well as in dexamethasone-treated intact controls. Untreated animals of all groups had relatively high corticosterone secretion rates. Untreated animals with pituitary islands usually had pituitary infarcts and low corticosterone secretion rates, even without dexamethasone suppression. While the dexamethasone-treated pituitary island animals tended to have lower secretion rates than untreated pituitary island animals, it was not possible to assess with certainty the effect of dexamethasone on ACTH release in these animals. Since dexamethasone unequivocally suppressed ACTH secre...
Heavier drinking American college students may self-select into study abroad programs: An examination of sex and ethnic differences within a high-risk group.

As with other heavier drinking groups, heavier drinking American college students may self-select into study abroad programs with specific intentions to use alcohol in the foreign environment. This cross-sectional study used a sample of 2144 students (mean age = 20.00, SD = 1.47) to explore differences in alcohol use and related negative consequences among (1) students intending to study abroad while in college, (2) students not intending to study abroad, and (3) students reporting prior study abroad participation. Results revealed that participants with no intention to study abroad drank less and experienced fewer alcohol-related consequences than participants intending to study abroad. In addition, students reporting prior completion of study abroad programs drank more and reported more hazardous alcohol use than those not intending to study abroad. Ethnic and sex differences existed; with White students, males, and females intending to study abroad and non-White students who previously completed study abroad programs demonstrating the most risk. These findings provide empirical support that study abroad students may be a heavier drinking subgroup necessitating intervention prior to beginning programs abroad.
Berkelic acid, a novel spiroketal with selective anticancer activity from an acid mine waste fungal extremophile.

Berkeley Pit Lake is an abandoned open-pit copper mine filled with 30 billion gallons of acidic, metal-contaminated water. This harsh environment is proving to be a source of unusual microorganisms that produce novel bioactive metabolites. Bioassay-guided fractionation using signal transduction enzyme assays led to the isolation of the novel spiroketal, berkelic acid 1, and of the known γ-pyrone, spiciferone A 4. Berkelic acid has shown selective, nanomolar activity against OVCAR-3, an ovarian cancer cell line in the National Cancer Institute cell line screen. The isolation and characterization of these compounds are reported here.
Alcohol Addition to Acetonitrile Activated by the [Re6(μ3-Se)8]2+ Cluster Core

The addition of methanol and ethanol to the previously reported cluster solvates [Re6(μ3-Se)8(PEt3)5(MeCN)](SbF6)2 and trans-[Re6(μ3-Se)8(PEt3)4(CH3CN)2][SbF6]2 afforded three cluster complexes with imino ester ligands: {Re6(μ3-Se)8(PEt3)5[HNC(OCH3)(CH3)]}(SbF6)2, {Re6(μ3-Se)8(PEt3)5[HNC(OCH2CH3)(CH3)]}{SbF6}2, and trans-{Re6(μ3-Se)8(PEt3)4[HNC(OCH3)(CH3)]2}{SbF6}2. In all cases, predominant formation of the Z isomers was observed.
Alternative Approach to Nuclear Data Representation

This paper considers an approach for representing nuclear data that is qualitatively different from the approach currently adopted by the nuclear science community. Specifically, they examine a representation in which complicated data is described through collections of distinct and self contained simple data structures. This structure-based representation is compared with the ENDF and ENDL formats, which can be roughly characterized as dictionary-based representations. A pilot data representation for replacing the format currently used at LLNL is presented. Examples are given as is a discussion of promises and shortcomings associated with moving from traditional dictionary-based formats to a structure-rich or class-like representation.
Chemical Characterization of Magnetic Materials at High Spatial Resolution

The fabrication of nanoscale magnetic materials and novel heterostructures has placed great demands on the analytical tools used to characterize the chemical and structural variations in these samples. Attempts to determine the composition, phase, crystallinity, and interface structure of nanoscale materials often involve tradeoffs between accuracy, sensitivity, and spatial resolution. Traditional techniques such as electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and scanning Auger microscopy (SAM) will be surveyed in this context. Powerful new tools for probing the chemical heterogeneity of materials at ultrafine length scales will also be discussed, including energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) and spectrum imaging, as well as recent advances in new methods such as backscattered electron Kikuchi patterns (BEKP) and microcalorimetry.
Thematic issue on how autophagosomes find their targets.

The prompt for this thematic issue came from a burst of nearly simultaneous publications on the role of autophagic adaptors and molecular earmarks on targets for selective autophagy. This included a range of autophagic cargo from protein aggregates to whole organelles and even intracellular microbes. The continuing motivation emanating from this initial prompt was to distill the points of convergence and common principles and extract the less immediately obvious functional, physiological and evolutionary connections. Another core purpose was to give a side-by-side update and follow-up analysis by the major protagonists of this recent growth, and in some cases provide a forum for bringing up potential controversies. The result is a comprehensive compendium of reviews, addenda and puncta that should give the reader in one place a summary, an update, and an insider glimpse into the ongoing and future studies in this important area of how autophagy accomplishes the goal of finding its targets, and what conseq...
Endocyclic Restriction Test: Applications to Transfers of Oxygen from Nitrogen and from Sulfur to Phosphorus(III)

The geometries allowed for formal transfers of oxygen to the phosphorus(III) of a phosphine from a nitrone, an O-acetylhydroxylamine, and a sulfoxide have been evaluated by the endocyclic restriction test. Investigations of the conversions of 1 to 2, 16 to 17, and 28 to 29, by isotopic labeling, substituent effect, and kinetic and spectroscopic experiments, reveal the operation of different mechanisms for each of these transfers. For 1, oxygen addition to phosphorus is the preferred mechanism. In the case of 16, the mechanism involves nucleophilic displacement of oxygen from nitrogen by phosphorus to give 26 followed by oxygen addition to phosphorus. In acetic acid, the oxygen is added to 26 from water in the workup whereas in toluene the oxygen is provided by the acetate produced by the displacement. For 28, either addition by oxygen of the sulfoxide to activated phosphorus or addition by phosphorus to sulfur of the sulfoxide precedes oxygen transfer.
Polarographic determination of some carcinogenic aminoazobenzenes

The polarographic procedure can be used for the quantitative analysis of all the aminoazobenzenes tested in this study as indicated by proportionality between diffusion current and concentration. There is no significant correlation between the half-wave potential and carcinogenic potency for rat liver for three monosubstituted and seven disubstituted derivatives ofp-dimethylaminoazobenzene. These ring-substituted azocarcinogens rank from weak to very strong for carcinogenic potency against rat liver. Also aminoazobenzenes such as the noncarcinogenic 4′-amino-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene and the carcinogenic N′,N′-dimethyl-4′-amino-N-formyl-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene and N′,N′-dimethyl-4′-amino-N-acetyl-N-methyl-4-aminobenzene have similar have-wave potentials. On the other hand, the noncarcinogenic 4′-aminoazobenzene, 4′-amino-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene and N′-methyl-4′-amino-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene have half-wave potentials that are about 100 mv more negative than that of all other aminoazobenzenes discussed in this report.
Schottky-barrier elevation by ion implantation and implant segregation

PtSi Schottky barriers on n-type silicon have been formed with barrier heights up to 1 V, using a thin p-type interfacial layer for barrier elevation. The p-type layers are formed via shallow ion-implantation, followed by segregation to the metal-silicon interface when the silicide is formed. This results in extremely thin p-regions that enable the diodes to have near ideal forward current/voltage characteristics, with n-values of 1.02 to 1.04.
Comparison of Graft Content and Outcomes in Bone Marrow and PBPC Grafts After T Cell Depletion by Three Different Methods

s / Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 19 (2013) S313eS341 S314 lines: Raji-2R and Raji-4RH (P< .001). However, there was no significant difference against CD20control cells: RS4;11 and Jurkat. Consistently, intracellular CD107a degranulation was enhanced in CAR+ exPBNK compared to CARexPBNK in response to CD20+ Ramos. MIC expressionwas significantly increased in Ramos (P< .05) and in NALM-6 (P < .001) after romidepsin treatment. CD20 expression was significantly increased in NALM-6 (P < .001) after romidepsin treatment. CAR+ exPBNK in vitro cytotoxicity was significantly enhanced against romidepsin treated Ramos (P< .02) and NALM-6 (P< .01) compared to untreated targets. Conclusion: Anti-CD20 CAR expression in exPBNK cells results in significant and specific in vitro cytotoxicity against CD20+ B-L/L. Romidepsin increases MICA/B and CD20 expression in B-L/L. CAR exPBNK significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against romidepsin treated B-L/L. Future directions include examining the combination effect of CAR exPBNK and Romidepsin against B-L/L in xenograft mice.
Near-infrared imaging of balb/c mice injected with a detoxified botulinum neurotoxin A

Identifying pathways taken by Botulinum Neurotoxins (BoNTs) in vivo is an important step to delineate therapeutic windows of opportunity and design countermeasures against them. Because of their high toxicity, tracking the toxin's biodistribution has not been possible. The current preliminary report showed that the toxin's movement in vivo could be followed by using a non-toxic version of type A botulinum neurotoxin (drBoNT/A) labelled with a dye that fluoresces in the Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrum.
Vulnerability of branchiopod cysts to crushing

Ephemeral wetlands, such as vernal pools and playas, have become increasingly threatened by a variety of destructive human practices, including off-highway vehicle (OHV) activity. Among the resident animals that may be adversely affected are the branchiopod crustaceans which produce desiccation resistant cysts to withstand the pools' dry periods. We report a quantitative investigation of the force required to crush individual branchiopod cysts of 8 species: Branchinecta lynchi, B. sandiegonensis, B. mackini, Streptocephalus woottoni, Thamnocephalus platyurus, Linderiella occidentalis, Lepidurus lemmoni, and Triops longicaudata. Very small forces of less than 1 newton crushed dry cysts. Wet cysts were even more fragile; many were crushed under less than 7 X 10-2 newtons. Differences in vulnerability were found within and between taxa and may be related to cyst morphology. Knowledge of these effects should be taken into consideration when developing management strategies for ephemeral wetlands.