cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does statin therapy added to calcium channel blocker reduce development of transplant coronary artery disease in heart transplant survivors

ysis. 179 (70.2%) patients were listed, 21(11.7%) of these died on the list awaiting transplantation, 5 (2.8%) patients recovered function sufficient to be removed from the list and 153 (60%)patients were transplanted. Acturarial survival of the 179 listed patients was 62% as opposed to 77% for those not Listed (p 0.05). Patients who died awaiting transplant had only a 20% chance of suriving 60 days. Decision to list for transplant took more than one month in 22 cases. 5 year survival post transplant for patients whose decision to list for transplant took less than a month was comparable to these whose decision took more than a month. This would appear to confirm that appropriate time was taken in listing these patients and that their survival was not adversly affected as a result of reassessment at a later date. In conclusion,our assessment process decisions appear valid as survival of those not listed is better than those listed (and those transplanted) furthermore the listing appears justified as death on the list occurred in 80% of those not transplanted and removal from the list because of clinical improvement was rare.
Building micro and nanosystems with electrochemical discharges

Since the discovery of the electrochemical discharge phenomenon by Fizeau and Foucault, several contributions have expanded the wide range of applications associated with this high current density electrochemical process. The complexity of the phenomenon, from the macroscopic to the microscopic scales, led since then to experimental and theoretical studies from different research fields. This contribution reviews the chemical and electrochemical perspectives where a mechanistic model based on results from radiation chemistry of aqueous solutions is proposed. In addition applications to micro-machining and fabrication of nanoparticles are discussed.
Measuring the impact of water conservation campaigns in California

The reductions in water use achieved by urban households in California during the recent drought are well documented. What is not documented is how those reductions were achieved. In this paper, we report on survey data from the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Areas describing the water conservation activities undertaken. We also examine variation in water conservation activities across households and adjust statistically for social desirability biases in the self-reports.
Adjusting ITE's Trip Generation Handbook for urban context

This study examines the ways in which urban context affects vehicle trip generation rates across three land uses. An intercept travel survey was administered at 78 establishments (high-turnover restaurants, convenience markets, and drinking places) in the Portland, Oregon, region during 2011. This approach was developed to adjust the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Handbook vehicle trip rates based on built environment characteristics where the establishments were located. A number of policy-relevant built environment measures were used to estimate a set of nine models predicting an adjustment to ITE trip rates. Each model was estimated as a single measure: activity density, num- ber of transit corridors, number of high-frequency bus lines, employment density, lot coverage, length of bicycle facilities, presence of rail transit, retail and service employment index, and intersection density. All of these models perform similarly (Adj. R 2 0.76-0.77) in estimating trip rate adjustments. Data from 34 additional sites were collected to verify the adjustments. For convenience markets and drinking places, the adjustment models were an improvement to the ITE's handbook method, while adjustments for restaurants tended to perform similarly to those from ITE's estimation. The approach here is useful in guiding plans and policies for a short-term improvement to the ITE's Trip Generation Handbook. The measures are useful for communities seeking to develop local adjustments to vehicle trip rate estimates, and all could be calculated from spatial data available in most locations. The paper concludes with a discussion on what long-term improvements to the ITE's Trip Generation Handbook might entail, with further implications in planning and practice.
Do We Have a Cure for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

The recent development of several mouse models for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) provides in vivo systems to test new therapies for the neurological manifestations of TSC. Rapamycin is known to antagonize the effects of loss of TSC protein function in vitro and in mouse TSC models, rapamycin can prevent seizures and improve learning task performance. These findings provide new hope for TSC patients suffering from intractable seizures and possibly, for those with autism and cognitive disabilities.
Effective solution chemistry instruction by integrating live pC–pH diagrams into PowerPoint

pC–pH diagrams provide a graphical illustration of chemical speciation as a function of pH and are hence a very effective tool for understanding the chemical system being studied. This understanding can lead to assumptions that simplify problem solving. However, manual construction of pC–pH diagrams for multiprotic systems is cumbersome and is further complicated by non-standard temperature and ionic strength conditions. As a result, construction of pC–pH diagrams can become the focus of classroom teaching rather than their application to solving real-world problems. Students tend to get lost in the complexities of pC–pH diagram construction and often fail to appreciate their value in problem solving. To address this limitation, we have developed interactive pC–pH diagrams for mono, di, and triprotic systems that are all bundled into a single PowerPoint file. The governing equilibrium equations are presented adjacent to the pC–pH diagram which makes the entire process transparent. The diagrams update in real-time when the total concentration and pKa are changed by the user making them universally applicable to any mono, di, or triprotic system. Temperature impact on pKa and the pC–pH diagram can also be examined for some commonly encountered systems. Because of PowerPoint integration, there is no learning curve and specification of pKa is typically all that is required to use these diagrams. A real-world application of these interactive pC–pH diagrams is presented by examining the solution chemistry in therapeutic protein-producing mammalian cell bioreactors. The cause of high bioreactor CO2 concentration and strategies to overcome it were determined just by using the interactive pC–pH diagrams without resorting to numerical calculations. We believe these easy to use and interactive pC–pH diagrams could be more extensively used for problem solving in the classroom simultaneously enhancing student understanding of the chemical system being studied. The PowerPoint file with the pC–pH diagrams is available free of charge for academic use. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 20: 741–749, 2012
Evaluating the capabilities of watershed-scale models in estimating sediment yield at field-scale.

Many watershed model interfaces have been developed in recent years for predicting field-scale sediment loads. They share the goal of providing data for decisions aimed at improving watershed health and the effectiveness of water quality conservation efforts. The objectives of this study were to: 1) compare three watershed-scale models (Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), Field_SWAT, and the High Impact Targeting (HIT) model) against calibrated field-scale model (RUSLE2) in estimating sediment yield from 41 randomly selected agricultural fields within the River Raisin watershed; 2) evaluate the statistical significance among models; 3) assess the watershed models' capabilities in identifying areas of concern at the field level; 4) evaluate the reliability of the watershed-scale models for field-scale analysis. The SWAT model produced the most similar estimates to RUSLE2 by providing the closest median and the lowest absolute error in sediment yield predictions, while the HIT model estimates were the worst. Concerning statistically significant differences between models, SWAT was the only model found to be not significantly different from the calibrated RUSLE2 at α = 0.05. Meanwhile, all models were incapable of identifying priorities areas similar to the RUSLE2 model. Overall, SWAT provided the most correct estimates (51%) within the uncertainty bounds of RUSLE2 and is the most reliable among the studied models, while HIT is the least reliable. The results of this study suggest caution should be exercised when using watershed-scale models for field level decision-making, while field specific data is of paramount importance.
Raf-1 kinase activation by angiotensin II in adrenal glomerulosa cells: roles of Gi, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and Ca2+ influx.

Little is known of the mechanisms leading to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation via Gq-coupled receptors. We therefore examined the pathways by which angiotensin II (Ang II) activates Raf-1 kinase, an upstream intermediate in the pathway to MAPK, via the Gq-coupled AT1 angiotensin receptor in bovine adrenal glomerulosa (BAG) cells. Ang II caused a rapid and transient activation of Raf-1 that reached a peak at 5–10 min. Ang II was a potent stimulus of Raf-1 activation with an ED50 of 10 pm and a maximal response at 1 nm, although higher Ang II concentrations elicited a submaximal response. Ang II-stimulated Raf-1 activity was unaffected by down-regulation of protein kinase C and intracellular Ca2+ chelation (using BAPTA) but was partially inhibited by pertussis toxin, and was abolished by manumycin A. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ (by EGTA) or blockade of L type Ca2+ channels (by nifedipine), as well as inhibition of MEK-1 kinase (by PD98059), enhanced Raf-1 activity, whereas wortmannin (10...
Double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of imipramine and paroxetine in the treatment of bipolar depression

Objective: This study compared the efficacy and safety of paroxetine and imipramine with that of placebo in the treatment of bipolar depression in adult outpatients stabilized on a regimen of lithium. Method: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 117 outpatients with DSM-III-R bipolar disorder, depressive phase, were randomly assigned to treatment with paroxetine (N=35), imipramine (N=39), or placebo (N=43) for 10 weeks. In addition to lithium monotherapy, patients may have received either carbamazepine or valproate in combination with lithium for control of manic symptoms. Patients were stratified on the basis of trough serum lithium levels determined at the screening visit (high: >0.8 meq/liter; low: ≤0.8 meq/liter). Primary efficacy was assessed by change from baseline in scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Clinical Global Impression illness severity scale. Results: Differences in overall efficacy among the three groups were not statistically significant. For patients with high serum lithium levels, antidepressant response at endpoint also did not significantly differ from placebo. However, both paroxetine and imipramine were superior to placebo for patients with low serum lithium levels. Compared to imipramine, paroxetine resulted in a lower incidence of adverse events, most notably emergence of manic symptoms. Conclusions: Antidepressants may not be useful adjunctive therapy for bipolar depressed patients with high serum lithium levels. However, antidepressant therapy may be beneficial for patients who cannot tolerate high serum lithium levels or who have symptoms that are refractory to the antidepressant effects of lithium.
EFFECTS OF NITROUS OXIDE ON DAY 9 RAT EMBRYOS GROWN IN CULTURE

A rat whole embryo culture system was used to study the adverse reproductive effects of nitrous oxide. Embryos were removed on day 9 of gestation and exposed in culture to several concentrations of nitrous oxide for 24 h. After an additional 25 h of culture, embryos were examined for morphological abnormalities and were assayed later for protein content. Nitrous oxide resulted in growth retardation and an increased incidence of morphological abnormalities and altered body laterality. The conditions required to produce abnormalities were similar to those required in vivo. We conclude that nitrous oxide has direct toxic effects on the developing embryo and that day 9 embryo culture is a useful technique for studying mechanisms of nitrous oxide-induced teratogenicity.
Parameterized convection and the thermal evolution of the earth

Abstract Thermal convection is an efficient means of extracting heat from the interior of the earth. Heat lost from the earth's interior comes from the decay of radioactive isotopes and the cooling of the earth. To determine the magnitude of each contribution detailed studies of the convective mechanism must be carried out. One approach to this problem is to parameterize a nondimensional mantle temperature in terms of the mantle Rayleigh number. The time variation of the radioactive heat production and the transient cooling of the entire earth are included. Also included is the differentiation of radioactive isotopes into the continents. Important conclusions are: 1. (1) That between 25 and 30% of the surface heat flow can be attributed to the cooling of the earth. This gives a mean concentration of uranium in the mantle close to 30 ppb. 2. (2) That two scales of mantle convection are occurring. The first associated with convection of the surface plates and the second a turbulent convection beneath the surface plates. 3. (3) That the mean temperature of the mantle in Archean times was 100–150 °K hotter than at present but that the mean thickness of the lithosphere was about one-half the present value. 4. (4) That 60 to 80% of the area of the continents was formed prior to 3 b.y.B.P.
Pharmacological Management of the Obese Patient

Being obese goes beyond moral failure or a character flaw. Obesity has the defining characteristics of a chronic disease for which there is no cure. Treatment may require lifelong treatment which m...
Interpreting Whole-Genome Sequencing

We believe that the report of the yield and interpretability of clinical whole-genome sequencing by Dr Dewey and colleagues1 is unduly pessimistic about the present and future efficacy of this molecular genetic technology in clinical medicine. Their experience of low coverage of key disease genes, poor nucleotide-calling reproducibility, low diagnostic yield, and insurmountable interpretative challenges for unexpected variants is at odds with that of most centers offering clinical genomic sequencing,2 including our own.
Development of a multidimensional measure of perceived product quality

Abstract A measure of perceived product quality (i.e., the Perceived Product Quality Measure of PPQM) was developed that had scales for measuring four general dimensions of quality, i.e., flawlessness, durability, appearance, and distinctiveness. Results of two studies (preliminary and main) showed support for the reliability and validity of the PPQM. Results of analyses of data from the main, experimental study showed that: (1) the PPQM scales had fairly high levels of internal consistency; (2) manipulations of several attributes of products led to expected changes in the responses to PPQM scales; (3) the PPQM scales predicted a willingness to buy criterion; and (4) the results of a confirmatory factor analysis showed support for the hypothesized multidimensionality of the PPQM. In view of these findings, we believe that the PPQM should prove useful in future research on perceived product quality. It should also prove helpful in efforts to manage the quality of products produced by individuals on work organizations.
The effects of temporal and spatial patterns of Holocene erosion and alluviation on the archaeological record of the Central and Eastern Great Plains, U.S.A.

Patterns of erosion and deposition act as a filter that strongly influences the disposition of the archaeological record of the Central and Eastern Plains of the North American Midcontinent. Detailed studies of alluvial valley stratigraphy in four drainage basins in the region reveal temporal and spatial patterns of fluvial system behavior that control the preservation and visibility of past human activity. These basins are located on a 600-km-long longitudinal gradient extending from semiarid southwestern Kansas to moist-subhumid central Iowa. Despite significant environmental variability along this transect, basin-wide patterns of Holocene erosion and deposition are similar across the study area. From ca. 11,000 to 8000 yr B.P., aggradation, punctuated by slow alluviation and/or stability around 10,000 yr B.P., was the dominant process in large and some small valleys. The early and middle Holocene (ca. 8000–5000 yr B.P.) was a period of net erosion and sediment movement in small valleys, sediment storage in large valleys, and episodic aggradation on alluvial fans. During the late Holocene (post-5000 yr B.P.), alluvial fans stabilized, small valleys became zones of net sediment storage, and aggradation slowed in large valleys. Basin-wide aggradation followed by entrenchment and channel migration characterizes fluvial activity during the Historic period. Consideration of the effects of these temporal and spatial patterns of Holocene erosion and alluviation on the archaeological record is crucial for developing efficient cultural resource sampling strategies and for accurately interpreting the archaeological record. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Differential neurotrophic effects of apolipoprotein E in aged transgenic mice

The present study seeked to determine whether the neurodegenerative and cognitive alterations in aged apolipoprotein E-deficient mice are differentially reversed by transgenic overexpression of human apolipoprotein-E3 vs. apolipoprotein-E4 in the background of deficient endogenous apolipoprotein E. These studies showed dendritic alterations in pyramidal neurons of apolipoprotein-E4 transgenic mice, similar to the ones observed in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. However, these mice had a preserved density of synaptophysin-immunoreactive presynaptic terminals. In contrast, mice overexpressing apolipoprotein-E3 showed no synapto-dendritic alterations. Analysis of behavioral performance in the Morris water maze showed that while apolipoprotein E-deficient mice performed poorly, overexpression of apolipoprotein-E3 and, to a lower extent apolipoprotein-E4, resulted in an improved performance. This study supports the contention that, compared with apolipoprotein-E4, apolipoprotein-E3 might have a greater neurotrophic in vivo effect in aged mice.
Effect of continuous gamma-radiation on the stem and differentiating spermatogonia of the adult rat.

Abstract Sprague-Dewley rats were irradiated continuously ( 60 Co, γ) at a dose-rate of either 1 (0.0007 rad/min), 3 or 6 rad/23-h day for monthly intervals of 1 to 6. At one month after irradiation, counts of differentiating spermotogomia (A 1 and A 4 ) were reduced to a level that remained essentially unchanged during the succeeding 5 months of irradiation. The magnitude of the irradiation effect was greatest at stage 1 of the spermatogenic cycle where numbers of differentialting spermatogonia were reduced to 50% of control by 1 rad/day and to 30 and 20% of control by 3 and 6 rad/day, respectively. Number of stem spermatogonia was not significantly affected by 1 rad/day ( P > 0.10). At 3 and 6 rad, and 40% of control at 6 months, respectively. At a dose-rate of 1 rad/day there was either a reduction in numnber of A 1 spermatogonia per clone nor significant evidence of necrosis among either stem or differentiating spermatogonia; therefore, a reduction of stem-cell mitotic activity appears to be the principal effect of continous low-level irradiation on spermatogenesis in the rat.
The Sodium and Potassium Absorption Bands

Vibrational relations.---Formulas for the heads of the bands are: $\mathrm{Green} {\mathrm{Na}}_{2}: \ensuremath{\nu}=20301.62+(123.84{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}0.79{n}^{\ensuremath{'}2})\ensuremath{-}(157.57{n}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}0.57{n}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}2})$ $\mathrm{Red} {\mathrm{Na}}_{2}: \ensuremath{\nu}=15006.68+(115.69{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}0.427{n}^{\ensuremath{'}2})\ensuremath{-}(157.81{n}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}0.538{n}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}2})$ $\mathrm{Near}\mathrm{red} {\mathrm{K}}_{2}: \ensuremath{\nu}=15368.63+(74.58{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}0.30{n}^{\ensuremath{'}2})\ensuremath{-}(92.01{n}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}0.34{n}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}2})$ Since the coefficients of the ${n}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$ terms for the green and red ${\mathrm{Na}}_{2}$ bands are the same, the two systems must have the same initial state ($^{1}S$) in absorption. The similarity of the green ${\mathrm{Na}}_{2}$ and the near red ${\mathrm{K}}_{2}$ band systems is pointed out. The ${n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ progressions are very large for small ${n}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$ values, especially in the red ${\mathrm{Na}}_{2}$ system.
Capital controls and exchange rate regime: case study of India

This paper focuses on India's exchange rate regime, capital controls and monetary policy. According to official classification, the exchange rate of the Indian rupee has been a ‘managed float' since the 1990s. This paper presents a classification of India's exchange rate regime and also investigates whether changes in capital controls have had any influence on the exchange rate regime. The results reveal that the Indian rupee was de facto pegged to the US dollar between 2001 and 2003 but it has been moving toward greater flexibility in recent years. The analysis shows that there is indeed a link between changes in capital controls and the exchange rate regime. The paper also offers a discussion of India's monetary policy independence in the context of ‘trilemma'.
Effect of flexibility on the dynamic stability of a four-bar mechanism

Abstract Dynamic behavior of flexible components of mechanisms is prone to instabilities which create resonant speed barriers. By considering small deformations superimposed on the steady dynamic state, equations governing evolution of disturbances can be obtained. For the case of mechanisms driven by periodic inputs these equations reduce to a system of coupled Mathieu-Hill equations for the amplitudes of modes of vibrations. Application of the Floquet theory determines the critical conditions of speed, geometry and material properties causing dynamic instability.
Numerical analysis of a radiant drying oven for web applications

During the manufacture of prepregs (composite material made of resin with fiber reinforcement), for the electronics industry, solvent evaporation and product heating are important aspects of the production process. A mathematical model is presented to describe convective and infra-red radiant heating and solvent evaporation from a web (product being processed before being finished as prepreg) in a solvent removal oven. Differential equations are used to model the mass and energy transfers occurring within the oven. Radiation enclosure theory is employed to describe the infrared heat transfer within the oven and use is made of a solvent evaporation model from the literature. Results of temperature distributions in the heated plate (oven component), the web and the air/solvent mixture; the convective and radiant heat transfer rates to the web, the web solvent concentration and the effects of varying the web velocity, heater temperature, heater size and inlet air temperature are in agreement with theory. The results yielded good agreement with a similar study in the literature. Careful analysis of the results of computer simulations under different conditions, such as presented in this study, can be expected to lead to better design decisions prior to building an infra-red oven for web applications.
Effect of Continuous Shoulder Rumble Strips and Pavement Marking on Lateral Placement of Vehicles

Shoulder rumble strips and enhanced pavement markings were two key areas identified by AASHTO to reduce run-off-road collisions. The Michigan Department of Transportation is currently testing the effectiveness of placing shoulder rumble strips close to the edge of travel lanes and painting a line on the rumble strip to improve the retroreflective properties of the line. Two issues arise from placing the rumble strips closer to the edge line and moving the paint line onto the rumble strip: the potential increased noise when vehicles crossed over the rumble strips and damage to the pavement if vehicles moved closer to the construction joint between the travel lane and the shoulder. This study found that simply moving the paint line onto the rumble strips resulted in vehicles moving slightly closer to the edge of the travel lane. However, maintaining the current edge line and adding an additional paint line on the rumble strip resulted in vehicles moving away from the edge of the pavement and thus reduced no...
Insulin Infusion Protocols for Critically ILL Patients: A Highlight of Differences and Similarities

Objective: To discuss the major differences and similarities among the currently published insulin infusion protocols (IIPs) for critically ill patients.Methods: IIPs were identified by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The reference lists for all retrieved protocols were also reviewed to identify any IIPs that were not surfaced with use of our initial search strategies. The major differences and similarities among the IIPs were identified and examined. In addition, strategies for successful implementation of IIPs were outlined.Results: Our search strategies retrieved 17 IIPs. Currently, no published studies have compared one insulin protocol with another. The major differences or similarities among the published IIPs were in the following areas: patient characteristics, target glucose level, time to achieve target glucose level, incidence of hypoglycemia, rationale for adjusting the rates of insulin infusion, and methods of blood glucose measurements. Beca...
Effects of Two Solvent Conditions on the Free Energy Landscape of the BBL Peripheral Subunit Binding Domain

BBL is a small independently folding domain with two main parallel helices. The experiment of Cα secondary shifts has shown that changing the pH from ∼7 to ∼5 results in the reduced helicity at the C-terminus of helix 2. Combining constant pH molecular dynamics with replica exchange, we sampled the protein conformation space and protonation states extensively under a neutral pH condition and an acidic condition. Our results reveal that the solvent conditions influence the free energy landscape. Under the neutral pH condition, the denatured state and the native state are well separated. The condition of the acidic pH reshapes the free energy surface, leading to a broadly populated denatured-state basin and a low free energy barrier between the denatured state and the native state. The acidic pH shifts the equilibrium between the denatured state and the native state in favor of the denatured state. Caution must be used to interpret experimental data under the acidic condition because the contribution of the...
Septoplasty in children

Surgery to correct nasal abnormalities in children has significant implications in the treatment of sleep disordered breathing, especially obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Septal deformity can contribute to significant nasal obstruction, and failure to address this problem in the treatment of children with sleep disordered breathing will usually result in recurrence of symptoms. Preoperative considerations and a simple technique in performing septoplasty are discussed.
A model of the population genetics of cystic fibrosis in the United States

Abstract A model of the population genetics of cystic fibrosis is developed. It is shown that in the absence of a selective advantage the cystic fibrosis gene dies out, while in the presence of a reproductive advantage for the heterozygote the gene persists in the population.
Srs2 Prevents Rad51 Filament Formation by Repetitive Scrunching of DNA

Srs2 is a helicase and single-stranded (ss)DNA translocase that can dismantle presynaptic Rad51 filaments in its capacity as an anti-recombinase. However, the molecular mechanism by which Srs2 accomplishes this remains unclear. Here we report a single molecule fluorescence study of the dynamics of Rad51 filament formation on ssDNA and disruption by Srs2. Rad51 forms filaments on ssDNA by sequential binding of primarily monomers and dimers in a 5’ to 3’ direction. One Rad51 molecule binds 3 nucleotides and six monomers are required to achieve a stable nucleation cluster. Srs2 exhibits ATP-dependent ssDNA translocation and repetitive scrunching and this latter activity is exploited to prevent Rad51 filament reformation. The same activity of Srs2 cannot prevent RecA filament formation, indicating its specificity for Rad51. Srs2's DNA unwinding activity is greatly suppressed when Rad51 filaments form on duplex DNA. Taken together, our results reveal an exquisite and highly specific mechanism by which Srs2 regulates Rad51 filament formation.
Abstract 5318: DPC4 loss results in the activation of alternative oncogenic pathways in pancreatic cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Introduction: Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal forms of cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than five percent. Many of these patients succumb to complications from metastasis. We have shown that genetic inactivation of DPC4, a major factor in TGF-β signaling, is significantly correlated with widespread metastasis in pancreatic cancer patients at autopsy. We hypothesize that DPC4 loss may be driving pancreatic cancer metastasis by forcing the TGF-β signal down an alternative pathway. Methods: DPC4 was stably restored into three cell lines that harbor a homozygous deletion of the locus (A2.1, A6L, and BxPC3), forming isogenic pairs of DPC4−/− and DPC4+ cells. Matched DPC4−/− and DPC4+ cells were treated with TGF-β1 for 24 hours prior to protein extraction. Immunoblotting was performed for total and phospho Akt (Pi3K pathway), p44-42 (ERK pathway), and Stat3 (JAK-Stat pathway), as well as nuclear and cytoplasmic p65 (NFκB pathway), as these networks have previously been identified as being activated by TGF-β. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 50 surgically resected pancreatic cancers for pAkt. Results: DPC4 was successfully introduced into DPC4−/− cells, as evidenced by semi-quantitative PCR for DPC4, as well as a TGF-β luciferase assay. DPC4+ cells displayed characteristic differences in cell behavior, such as decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion, compared to DPC4−/− cells. Western blot analysis of Smad-independent TGF-β pathways in three sets of DPC4-complemented pancreatic cancer cell lines revealed patterns of preferential activation of the Pi3K and ERK signaling pathways in cells lacking DPC4. In surgically-resected pancreatic cancers, activation of Pi3K was associated with the presence of lymph node metastases (p=0.03), while concomitant DPC4 loss and Pi3K pathway activity was associated with poor survival in pancreatic cancer patients (p=0.02). Conclusions: Restoration of DPC4 into DPC4−/− cells results in the abrogation of Pi3K and ERK signaling, and simultaneous DPC4 loss and Pi3K activation correlates to a poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients at surgery. Further studies will confirm whether genotype-specific activation of the ERK and Pi3K pathways plays a role in pancreatic cancer cell behavior, particularly those processes that directly impact metastasis (i.e. migration and invasion). Nevertheless, it is intriguing to consider the Pi3K and ERK pathways as therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer patients with loss of DPC4. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5318. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5318
The Indignados and Occupy movements as political challenges to representative democracy: a reply to Eklundh

This is a reply to:Eklundh, Emmy. 2014. “Who is speaking? The Indignados as political subjects.” Global Discourse. 4 (2–3): 223–235. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23269995.2014.910058.
Triangularis sterni muscle use during eupnea in humans: effect of posture

Abstract The electromyograms of the triangularis sterni (transversus thoracis), of the abdominal external oblique, and of the deeper abdominal muscle layer (internal oblique or transversus abdominis) were recorded with concentric needle electrodes in twenty normal naive subjects breathing quietly in the supine and the standing posture. The triangularis sterni and abdominal muscles were usually silent in the supine posture. In contrast, all subjects in the standing posture showed activity in the abdominal muscles, and sixteen subjects also had activity in the triangularis sterni. The abdominal muscle activity was principally tonic, unrelated to the phase of the breathing cycle, whereas in fifteen subjects the triangularis sterni activity wa confirmed to expiration. Expiratory activation of the triangularis sterni was more frequently observed in the older than in the younger subjects of the study. These observations indicate that unlike in the supine posture, most normal subjects when breathing at rest in the standing posture recruit both the triangularis sterni and the abdominal muscles. This recruitment may compensate for the adverse effects of the standing posture on the diaphragm and rib cage inspiratory muscles.
Cosmic microwave background temperature fluctuations and gravitational waves

Temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation may include an important contribution from gravitational waves (tensor metric perturbations). We show here how one can calculate analytically these fluctuations on all angular scales. In our treatment, we include the effect of the radiation-dominated period and the finite thickness of the last scattering surface. The adiabatic damping of gravitational waves inside the horizon leads to a strong decrease in amplitude at scales smaller than the size of the horizon at recombination.
Pediatric lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension and congenital heart disease

Five children underwent lung transplantation for end-stage pulmonary hypertension and respiratory insufficiency associated with congenital heart disease. One (17 mo) had pulmonary hypertension with a patent ductus arteriosus and required two periods of preoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation before successful bilateral sequential lung transplantation. One (21 mo) required bilateral lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension and bronchopulmonary dysplasia associated with iatrogenic injury to the left pulmonary artery. This child also had patent ductus arteriosus ligation and preoperative catheter closure of an atrial septal defect. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required for early postoperative pulmonary support. One child underwent right single-lung transplantation and closure of an atrial septal defect for pulmonary hypertension. Two patients had single-lung transplantation for Eisenmenger's syndrome: 1 with muscular inlet ventricular septal defect closure, atrial septal defect closure, and right single-lung transplantation; 1 with ventricular septal defect closure, patent ductus arteriosus ligation, right ventricular outflow tract patch repair, and single-lung transplantation. All patients survived operation, with one late death (lymphoproliferative disease). The 4 survivors are all ambulatory without oxygen and have evidence of normal pulmonary artery pressure 9 to 12 months after transplantation.
A computational study of RNA binding and specificity in the tandem zinc finger domain of TIS11d.

TIS11d is a member of the CCCH-type family of tandem zinc finger (TZF) proteins; the TZF domain of TIS11d (residues 151–220) is sufficient to bind and destabilize its target mRNAs with high specificity. In this study, the TZF domain of TIS11d is simulated in an aqueous environment in both the free and RNA-bound states. Multiple nanosecond timescale molecular dynamics trajectories of TIS11d wild-type and E157R/E195K mutant with different RNA sequences were performed to investigate the molecular basis for RNA binding specificities of this TZF domain. A variety of measures of the protein structure, fluctuations, and dynamics were used to analyze the trajectories. The results of this study support the following conclusions: (1) the structure of the two fingers is maintained in the free state but a global reorientation occurs to yield a more compact structure; (2) mutation of the glutamate residues at positions 157 and 195 to arginine and lysine, respectively, affects the RNA recognition by this TIS11d mutant in agreement with the findings of Pagano et al. (J Biol Chem 2007; 282:8883–8894); and (3) we predict that the E157R/E195K mutant will present a more relaxed RNA binding specificity relative to wild-type TIS11d based on the more favorable nonsequence-specific Coulomb interaction of the two positively charged residues at positions 157 and 195 with the RNA backbone, which compensates for a partial loss of the stacking interaction of aromatic side chains with the RNA bases.
γ-Tubulin complexes: size does matter

Abstract γ-Tubulin is a conserved component of all microtubule-organizing centres and is required for these organelles to nucleate microtubule polymerization. However, the mechanism of nucleation is not known. In addition to its localization to organizing centres, a large pool of γ-tubulin exists in the cytoplasm in a complex with other proteins. The size of the γ-tubulin complex and number of associated proteins vary among organisms, and the functional significance of these differences is unknown. Recently, the nature of these γ-tubulin complexes has been explored in different organisms, and this has led us closer to a molecular understanding of microtubule nucleation.
Field water balance performance in prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus and C. ludovicianus)

Abstract 1. 1. Field samples of urine, blood plasma, and kidneys were collected seasonally from white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus) and black-tailed prairie dogs (C. ludovicianus). 2. 2. Maximum field urine osmolalities for black-tailed prairie dogs were significantly below maximum urine osmolalities for that species under laboratory water deprivation. However, white-tailed prairie dogs produced field urine concentrations that did not differ from maximum urine osmolality collected under laboratory water deprivation except during June. 3. 3. Black-tailed prairie dogs demonstrated greater urine concentrating ability than white-tailed prairie dogs as evidenced by kidney relative medullary thickness and by urine concentration under water deprivation. Survival time under water deprivation was higher for black-tailed prairie dogs. Potassium, sodium, urea, and ammonia concentration in urine are discussed. Blood plasma osmolality and plasma potassium, sodium, and urea concentrations are discussed. 4. 4. It is argued that white-tailed prairie dogs, although living in a more xeric habitat than black-tailed prairie dogs, are not as well adapted to withstand water stress and probably rely on seasonal torpor. Black-tailed prairie dogs, while occupying a more mesic habitat, are better adapted to water stress and therefore are able to remain active throughout the year. This, in turn, enables continuous social contact in this species and subsequent high social organization.
Chemical composition of the spore case of the acellular slime mold Fuligo septica

Abstract Spores were collected from aethalia of the acellular slime mold Fuligo septica . The following components were identified in the spore cases at the relative amounts (percentage dry weight) indicated: protein (12.0%), lipid (16.7%), total carbohydrate (62.3%), glucose (0.12%), galactose (0.56%), galactosamine (61.6%), melanin (7.1%), phosphorus (0.4%), silicon (0.36), calcium (0.66%), sulfur (0.13%), manganese (0.08%), and tin (0.02%). There was a significant fraction of nonprotein amino acids made up largely of phenylalanine. The spore cases were enriched for specific proteins, some of which were glycosylated.
The evidence-based medicine advisor's challenge: mentoring and critiquing students' PubMed search methods.

INTRODUCTION Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a component of many of our curricular offerings and is presented with varying levels of rigor based on the requirements of the given curricular application. For example, physician assistant (PA) students during their clinical experiences are encouraged to access point-of-care, evidencebased recommendations from secondary sources to assist in the care of patients. EBM may also be the focus of a more academically minded experience such as a final capstone or master’s project. The more rigorous use of EBM for master’s projects is typically supported through prior coursework. These EBM training efforts are often heavily skewed toward teaching the basic concepts required to interpret the medical literature in regards to relevance and validity of identified articles.1,2 The teaching of database search strategies (eg, MEDLINE via PubMed) is often unsystematic, limited in scope, and lacking in principles of adult learning theory. Even when additional time is allocated to teaching medical literature search strategies, the effectiveness is limited.3 This pattern of training can lead students into a situation where they may be able to evaluate articles once identified, but they lack the ability to efficiently and confidently locate the most appropriate articles for a given clinical question. Students fear wasting precious clinical year training time on evaluating articles that may not be the best available evidence. For programs that require students to perform original EBM searches, challenges may arise for students and their faculty advisors. The ideal search of the medical literature involves collaboration between a content expert (eg, a clinician with expertise in the subject area) and an expert searcher (eg, a medical librarian).4 It may not be feasible for programs to support student projects with these two valuable assets. How can faculty advisors, who may be neither content experts in the student’s chosen topic nor search experts, be prepared to properly advise and mentor clinical-year students on their unique search methodology? Faculty advisors of master’s projects sense a heavy burden of responsibility when they are asked to critique search terms and strategies. Fortunately, there are proven steps for success in searching MEDLINE via PubMed that faculty advisors can promote. At the same time, the PubMed interface can also lead to common “human factor” errors that students may inappropriately employ to garner a manageable number of citations for clinical questions. This article will describe both the steps for success and common errors that may arise while performing a PubMed search. The goal is to improve an advisor’s confidence and ability to mentor and critique search strategies. Feature Editor’s Note:
The late positive components of the human EEG in a signal detection task

Abstract In 1971, Hillyard, Squires, Bauer and Lindsay using human subjects in a signal detection task, obtained a prominent late positive component (LPC) of the EEG only in the Hit category of responses. They concluded that the LPC reflects the subject's degree of certainty that a signal has occurred. In contrast the present study observed the LPC in the Hit, Miss, and Correct Rejection categories of responses, supporting the hypothesis that the LPC is a correlate of uncertainty reduction and does not directly depend on the physical presence of the signal.
Infrared Luminescence in the Photographic Examination of Paintings and other Art Objects

(1963). Infrared Luminescence in the Photographic Examination of Paintings and other Art Objects. Studies in Conservation: Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 77-83.
EFFECTS OF HYPOXIA ON TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE ACTIVITY IN RAT CAROTID BODY

— Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity was measured in the carotid body. superior cervical ganglion and adrenal glands of the rat under normal conditions and at 48 h following exposure of the animals for 1-3 h in a low O2 atmosphere. Basal TH levels were 5-6 nmol/h/mg tissue for both the carotid body and the ganglion. Forty-eight hours after hypoxia, there was an increase in enzyme activity in both tissues which paralleled the severity of the hypoxia but was greater in the carotid body than the superior cervical ganglion. Thus, following exposure to 5% O2 in N2 for two 30-min periods (20-min interim), TH activity had increased by 50% in the carotid body and 33% in the ganglion; after exposure to 10% O2 in N2 for 3 h (continuous), TH levels were increased by 37% in the carotid body and 12% in the ganglion. In the adrenal gland, basal TH activity was 3.42 ± 1.87 nmol/h/mg tissue, and this value was unchanged following either level of hypoxia.
The behavior of equity securities on the German Stock Exchange

Abstract This is the first major empirical study of the German Stock Exchange and involves the analysis of monthly data for ninety German companies from 1960 to 1970. Whereas previous studies had suggested that German securities were peculiar, this analysis showed that, except for the high positive serial correlation of returns for the larger companies, German securities had very similar properties to securities elsewhere. Betas for German companies were fairly stationary over time, with the interperiod correlation for company betas ranging from 0.2 to 0.4. When the effect of measurement error was reduced, the perceived stationarity increased and a significant regression tendency towards the mean was observed. Further, it was found that the behaviour of German securities did not conflict with the domestic capital asset pricing model and indeed supported it during the bull market of the early 1960s.
The prediction of broadband shock-associated noise including propagation effects

An acoustic analogy is developed based on the Euler equations for broadband shock-associated noise (BBSAN) that directly incorporates the vector Green's function of the linearized Euler equations and a steady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes solution (SRANS) to describe the mean flow. The vector Green's function allows the BBSAN propagation through the jet shear layer to be determined. The large-scale coherent turbulence is modeled by two-point second order velocity cross-correlations. Turbulent length and time scales are related to the turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate. An adjoint vector Green's function solver is implemented to determine the vector Green's function based on a locally parallel mean flow at different streamwise locations. The newly developed acoustic analogy can be simplified to one that uses the Green's function associated with the Helmholtz equation, which is consistent with a previous formulation by the authors. A large number of predictions are generated using three differe...
Kalirin expression is regulated by multiple promoters

Kalirin is a multidomain guanine nucleotide exchange factor for small GTP binding proteins of the Rho family. It is expressed in multiple isoforms that contain different combinations of functional domains and display a complex pattern of expression during brain development. In addition to the isoforms generated through alternative splicing, we have identified multiple transcriptional start sites in rats and humans. These multiple transcriptional start sites result in full-length Kalirin transcripts possessing different 5′ ends encoding proteins with differing amino termini. These alternative first exons display different patterns of expression in developing rats and humans and in cultured cells. Most of these alternate first exons lie >100 kb upstream of exon 2 in both rats and humans. Comparisons of the rat and human Kalirin promoter regions reveal numerous shared potential regulatory elements.