cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corpora amylacea in gastrointestinal leiomyomas: a clinical, light microscopic, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study with comparison to hyaline globules

Context Corpora amylacea (CA) are inclusions with starch-like composition that occur in various conditions. We have observed CA in gastrointestinal leiomyomas (GILM) and hypothesised that they differ from intracytoplasmic hyaline globules (HG) of GILM. We aimed to investigate the anatomical distribution, prevalence, staining characteristics and ultrastructural features of CA and compare them with HG of GILM. Design Slides from a consecutive series of resected GILM and bland spindle cell tumours were examined for CA and HG. Special stains, electron microscopy and elemental analysis were performed on select leiomyomas. Results CA occurred in 13/35 GILM (37%) from the following sites: oesophagus (4/8), stomach (5/7) including one frozen section, small intestine (1/2) and large intestine (3/18), but were not identified in 19 gastrointestinal stromal tumours (12 gastric, 7 small intestinal; p=0.0019), five schwannomas (three gastric, two small intestinal; p=0.154) and 35 non-GILM (p=0.0001). The densities of CA ranged from one per 4–200 mm 2 . CA stained intensely with periodic acid Schiff after diastase predigestion (PASD), Alcian blue and ubiquitin, and faintly in peripheral zones for desmin and smooth muscle actin. Ultrastructurally, CA consisted of an electron-dense outer layer and a fibrillar core with scattered particle matter. HG were present in all leiomyomas, but showed variable staining for PASD, negative staining for Alcian blue and ubiquitin, and positive staining for smooth muscle markers. Conclusions CA are a distinctive histological feature of approximately one third of GILM with different composition to HG. These differences may represent divergent degenerative processes or different stages of a single degenerative process over time.
Diesel-Enriched Particulate Matter Functionally Activates Human Dendritic Cells

Epidemiologic studies have associated exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) with exacerbations of asthma. It is unknown how different sources of PM affect innate immunity. We sought to determine how car- and diesel exhaust–derived PM affects dendritic cell (DC) activation. DC development was modeled using CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors. Airborne PM was collected from exhaust plenums of Fort McHenry Tunnel providing car-enriched particles (CEP) and diesel-enriched particles (DEP). DC were stimulated for 48 hours with CEP, DEP, CD40-ligand, or lipopolysaccharide. DC activation was assessed by flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and standard culture techniques. DEP increased uptake of fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran (a model antigen) by DC. Diesel particles enhanced cell-surface expression of co-stimulatory molecules (e.g., CD40 [P < 0.01] and MHC class II [P < 0.01]). By contrast, CEP poorly affected antigen uptake and expression of cell surface molecules, and did not greatly affec...
Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia cancer treatment efficacy dependence on cellular and tissue level particle concentration and particle heating properties

The use of nanotechnology for the treatment of cancer affords the possibility of highly specific tumor targeting and improved treatment efficacy. Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (IONPs) have demonstrated success as an ablative mono-therapy and targetable adjuvant therapy. However, the relative therapeutic value of intracellular vs. extracellular IONPs remains unclear. Our research demonstrates that both extracellular and intracellular IONPs generate cytotoxicity when excited by an alternating magnetic field (AMF). While killing individual cells via intracellular IONP heating is an attractive goal, theoretical models and experimental results suggest that this may not be possible due to limitations of cell volume, applied AMF, IONP concentration and specific absorption rate (SAR). The goal of this study was to examine the importance of tumor size (cell number) with respect to IONP concentration. Mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cells were incubated with IONPs, washed, spun into different pellet sizes (0.1, 0.5 and 2 million cells) and exposed to AMF. The level of heating and associated cytotoxicity depended primarily on the number of IONPs /amount Fe per cell pellet volume and the relative volume of the cell pellet. Specifically, larger cell pellets achieved greater relative cytotoxicity due to greater iron amounts, close association and subsequently higher temperatures.
The action of ricin A-chain on ribosomes

Abstract The mechanism of action of ricin, an irreversible inhibitor of protein synthesis in eukaryotic ribosomes, has been studied with ethanol extracted 80S rat liver ribosomes. The results show that the irreversible action of the toxin is on a component of the ribosome which remains in the core ribosome after the removal of the ethanol soluble proteins. The acid phosphoproteins P1 and P2 are shown not to be the site of action of the toxin.
Housing patterns and correlates of homelessness differ by gender among individuals using San Francisco free food programs.

Homeless individuals experience high rates of morbidity and mortality, yet many homeless studies include small percentages of female participants. We therefore sought to determine correlates of homelessness separately for men and women in a sample of individuals visiting free food programs. Between August 2003 and April 2004, 324 individuals were recruited from San Francisco free food programs and interviewed regarding housing, sociodemographics, health, drug use, sex trade, and incarceration. Over one-half of women and almost three-fourths of men reported homelessness in the prior year. Among women, white race, younger age, not living with minor children, engaging in sex trade and recent incarceration were strongly associated with homelessness; however, only incarceration maintained the strong association in adjusted analysis (OR = 7.16, CI = 3.83–13.4). Among men, heavy alcohol use, drug use, years spent living in San Francisco and monthly income were strongly associated with homelessness; however, only years living in San Francisco (OR = 0.28, CI = 0.19–0.42) and monthly income maintained strong association in adjusted analysis (OR = 0.27, CI = 0.13–0.57). Housing patterns and the strongest correlates of homelessness among individuals visiting free food programs differ by sex. These results suggest the need to characterize homelessness and develop effective homeless interventions separately for men and women.
Characterization of CMF1 in avian skeletal muscle

This study reports the identification of the CMF1 protein in somites and embryonic limb muscle. We have previously described CMF1 in developing cardiac muscle. CMF1 is a member of the LEK family of proteins, which are involved in regulating mitosis. Our current data suggest that CMF1 expressed in skeletal and cardiac myocytes is the product of a single gene and that the two proteins are homologous or very highly conserved. Immunohistochemistry shows a dynamic subcellular localization of CMF1 in differentiating skeletal myoblasts: Early myoblasts stain positively for CMF1 antigen in the nucleus, while differentiating myoblasts stain positively in the cytoplasm. CMF1 expression precedes myosin. Later, CMF1 and myosin are detected in the cytoplasm of the same cells. Transfection analysis identifies a functional nuclear localization signal (NLS) in CMF1, whose nuclear transport capability is modified by external sequences. To characterize the function of CMF1 in skeletal muscle, we used antisense oligonucleotides to disrupt CMF1 in myoblast cultures. Expression of CMF1 in early myotubes is reduced by an average of 40% on a cell by cell basis, with a 56% reduction in anti-myosin staining. These data suggest that CMF1 is involved in induction and/or accumulation of myosin in differentiating myocytes. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Agonist-mediated conformational changes in acetylcholine-binding protein revealed by simulation and intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence.

We delineated acetylcholine (ACh)-dependent conformational changes in a prototype of the nicotinic receptor ligand binding domain by molecular dynamics simulation and changes in intrinsic tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence. Prolonged molecular dynamics simulation of ACh-binding protein showed that binding of ACh establishes close register of Trps from adjacent subunits, Trp143 and Trp53, and draws the peripheral C-loop inward to occlude the entrance to the binding cavity. Close register of Trp143 and Trp53 was demonstrated by ACh-mediated quenching of intrinsic Trp fluorescence, elimination of quenching by mutation of one or both Trps to Phe, and decreased lifetime of Trp fluorescence by bound ACh. Occlusion of the binding cavity by the C-loop was demonstrated by restricted access of an extrinsic quencher of binding site Trp fluorescence by ACh. The collective findings showed that ACh initially establishes close register of conserved Trps from adjacent subunits and then draws the C-loop inward to occlude the entrance to the binding cavity.
Vagus nerve stimulation therapy: A research update

Over the past 5 years, and especially within the last year, there has been a rapid expansion of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)-related preclinical research, as well as clinical studies in indications other than epilepsy. The research advances in understanding VNS are occurring in the midst of a blossoming of other forms of therapeutic brain stimulation, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS). In general, improved understanding of the neurobiological effects of VNS therapy as a function of the different use parameters (frequency, intensity, pulse width, duration, dose) is beginning to guide clinical use and help determine which diseases, in addition to epilepsy, VNS might treat.
Plasticity and ultra-low stress induced twin boundary migration in nanotwinned Cu by in situ nanoindentation studies

Nanotwinned metals have rare combinations of mechanical strength and ductility. Previous studies have shown that detwinning occurs in plastically deformed nanotwinned metals. Although molecular dynamics simulations have predicted that fine nanotwins can migrate at low stress, there is little in situ evidence to validate such predictions. Also it is unclear if detwinning occurs prior to or succeeding plastic yielding. Here, by using in situ nanoindentation in a transmission electron microscope, we show that a non-elastic detwinning process in nanotwinned Cu occurred at ultra-low indentation stress (0.1 GPa), well before the stress necessary for plastic yielding. Furthermore, the in situ nanoindentation technique allows us to differentiate dislocation-nucleation dominated microscopic yielding preceding macroscopic yielding manifested by dislocation-transmission through twin boundaries. This study thus provides further insights for understanding plasticity in nanotwinned metals at microscopic levels.
Dielectric relaxation in thermally grown SiO 2 films

An extensive investigation of the dielectric properties of thermally grown silicon dioxide films was performed in the temperature range from 400°C to 525°C. Principally, the variation of dissipation factor with frequency was observed at various applied peak fields and oxide thicknesses. In the temperature and frequency domain investigated, a large peak in the dissipation factor occurred. This peak corresponded to a massive capacitance dispersion with accompanying peaking of the loss factor at low frequencies. The phenomenon was apparently an ionic space-charge polarization. Theoretical developments based on this model were verified by experiment. The activation energy for the relaxation time was 10.1 ± 0.4 kcal/mole. Examination of the oxide thickness dependence indicated that the carriers were not uniformly distributed initially, but a fixed number was present at a particular temperature and this number was independent of thickness. Further investigation led to the conclusion that a reaction between the metal electrode and the SiO 2 produced positively charged oxygen vacancies which migrated through the oxide under the influence of an electric field. A mechanism for the production and migration of these vacancies is proposed which complies with the low activation energy as well as the observed temperature and electrode dependence.
Adoptive transfer of autoimmune diabetes mellitus to athymic rats: synergy of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and prevention by RT6+ T cells

We describe the induction and prevention of autoimmune insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), and its pathological substrate, insulitis, in congenitally athymic nude rats following injections of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) compatible lymph node T cells. The cells capable of adoptive transfer of autoimmunity were obtained from diabetes resistant (DR) BB rats that had been rendered hyperglycemic by in vivo depletion of the RT6+ regulatory T cell subset. We first established that our adoptive transfer assay system is cell dose- and time dependent and therefore amenable to quantitative analysis. It was also observed that both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are required for efficient transfer of autoimmunity. The data indicate that, as in the NOD mouse, a synergistic interaction between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is important for beta cell destruction. Finally, we demonstrated that the admixture of equal numbers of lymph node T cells, 60% of which were RT6+, from intact, non-diabetic DR rats prevented the adoptive transfer of IDDM mediated by diabetogenic T cells from RT6-depleted DR-BB rats. We conclude that an equilibrium between autoreactive and regulatory cells determines the expression of autoimmunity in the DR-BB rat and in the adoptive transfer of diabetes in quantitative analytical systems.
Response properties of the brainstem neurons of the cat following intra-esophageal acid-pepsin infusion.

Abstract Studies in humans have documented that acute acid infusion into the esophagus leads to decrease in threshold for sensations to mechanical distension of the esophagus. It is not known whether acid infusion leads to sensitization of brainstem neurons receiving synaptic input from vagal afferent fibers innervating the esophagus. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of responses of vagal afferents and brainstem neurons after acute infusion of acid (0.1 N HCl)+pepsin (1 mg/ml) into the esophagus of cats. The vagal afferent fibers (n=20) exhibited pressure-dependent increase in firing to graded esophageal distension (5–80 mm Hg). Infusion of acid+pepsin into the esophagus produced a significant increase in ongoing resting firing of five of 16 fibers (31%) tested. However, their responses to graded esophageal distension did not change when tested 30 min after infusion. Pepsin infusion did not change the resting firing and response to esophageal distension (n=4). Twenty-one brainstem neurons were recorded that responded in an intensity-dependent manner to graded esophageal distension. Responses of 12 excited neurons were tested after intra-esophageal acid+pepsin infusion. Neurons exhibited a decrease in threshold for response to esophageal distension and increase in firing after acid+pepsin infusion. The sensitization of response after intra-esophageal acid remained unaffected after cervical (C1–C2) spinal transection (n=3). Results indicate that the esophageal distension-sensitive neurons in the brainstem exhibit sensitization of response to esophageal distension after acute acid+pepsin exposure. The sensitization of brainstem neurons is possibly initiated by increased spontaneous firing of the vagal afferent fibers to acid+pepsin, but not to sensitized response of vagal distension-sensitive afferent fibers to esophageal distension. Results also indicate that spinal pathway does not contribute to sensitization of brainstem neurons.
Ion-beam mixing in pure and in immiscible copper bilayer systems

Ion-beam mixing was measured in immiscible Cu bilayer systems after Kr irradiation at 6 K and at 295 K. It was observed that for the systems which form miscible liquids but which have limited solid solubility, Cu-Nb and Cu-Bi, mixing occurs at 6 but not at 295 K. For a system which is not miscible in either the solid or liquid state, mixing does not occur at either 6 or 295 K. Mixing was also measured in pure Cu isotope bilayer specimens,63Cu–65Cu, to provide a standard for the other measurements. The results are interpreted on the basis of an atomistic model of ion beam mixing. The model assumes that point defects are created in the initial phases of the cascade evolution, and that these defects migrate during the later ‘thermal spike’ phase.
Metastate approach to thermodynamic chaos

In realistic disordered systems, such as the Edwards-Anderson (EA) spin glass, no order parameter, such as the Parisi overlap distribution, can be both translation-invariant and non-self-averaging. The standard mean-field picture of the EA spin glass phase can therefore not be valid in any dimension and at any temperature. Further analysis shows that, in general, when systems have many competing (pure) thermodynamic states, a single state which is a mixture of many of them (as in the standard mean-field picture) contains insufficient information to reveal the full thermodynamic structure. We propose a different approach, in which an appropriate thermodynamic description of such a system is instead based on a metastate, which is an ensemble of (possibly mixed) thermodynamic states. This approach, modeled on chaotic dynamical systems, is needed when chaotic size dependence (of finite volume correlations) is present. Here replicas arise in a natural way, when a metastate is specified by its (meta)correlations. The metastate approach explains, connects, and unifies such concepts as replica symmetry breaking, chaotic size dependence and replica nonindependence. Furthermore, it replaces the older idea of non-self-averaging as dependence on the bulk couplings with the concept of dependence on the state within the metastate at fixed coupling realization. We use these ideas to classify possible metastates for the EA model, and discuss two scenarios introduced by us earlier---a nonstandard mean-field picture and a picture intermediate between that and the usual scaling-droplet picture.
LIQUID CRYSTAL EQUILIBRIUM FLUCTUATIONS UNDERSTOOD BY A RELATIONSHIP TO THE DYNAMICS OF GROWING INTERFACES

We review a recent theoretical progress in understanding equilibrium thermal fluctuations of smectic A liquid crystals. It is based on a relationship of smectics A to a rather different physical problem, namely, the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) dynamical model for interfaces growing in the presence of a flux of incoming particles. This relationship provides an exact approach to study Landau-Peierls phenomena in two-dimensional smectics and reveals the existence of novel elastic critical point in three-dimensional smectics A with broken inversion symmetry.
Performance Analysis and Feedback Control of ATRIAS, A Three-Dimensional Bipedal Robot

This paper develops feedback controllers for walking in 3D, on level ground, with energy efficiency as the performance objective. Assume The Robot Is AS phere (ATRIAS) 2.1 is a new robot that has been designed for the study of 3D bipedal locomotion, with the aim of combining energy efficiency, speed, and robustness with respect to natural terrain variations in a single platform. The robot is highly underactuated, having 6 actuators and, in single support, 13 degrees of freedom. Its sagittal plane dynamics are designed to embody the spring loaded inverted pendulum (SLIP), which has been shown to provide a dynamic model of the body center of mass during steady running gaits of a wide diversity of terrestrial animals. A detailed dynamic model is used to optimize walking gaits with respect to the cost of mechanical transport (CMT), a dimensionless measure of energetic efficiency, for walking speeds ranging from 0.5 m=s ðÞ to 1.4 m=s
How Does the Family Narrative Influence the Individual's Ability to Communicate about Death?

Adults often report that there was little or no discussion of death in their homes when they were children. Although many families have a rich history of narratives, stories about death may be overlooked by family members. This study utilizes symbolic interactionism, rules theory and silence theory to examine the impact of family narratives on individual women's perspective of death. Interviews with three women provide insight into their perspectives of death based on family death communication, reactions to death, perceptions of death and the connection between life and death. Although the women reported that their families had no narratives or discussions concerning death, each person developed attitudes toward death similar to those of family members. Communication regarding death occurred through impressions and silence expressed by families through implicit and explicit rules. Przemilczec, the failure to say something, was apparent in each woman's narrative, as perspectives were also formed from what...
Impact of liver transplantation on quality of life: a longitudinal perspective

The impact of transplantation on quality of life in liver transplant recipients was studied in a longitudinal sample of 41 subjects. Quality of life was measured during the pretransplantation and posttransplantation phases of the transplant process. Quality of life improved significantly over time, except in the family domain. This study suggests that quality of life improves after a liver transplant despite the number and length of rehospitalizations. Satisfaction and importance of family remained high throughout the transplant phases. Of the demographic variables, only age and income correlated significantly with quality of life.
A light top quark after all

Abstract A massive charged scalar, such as is present in a two Higgs-doublet electroweak theory, can alter the nature of top-quark decay, ensuring that the top quark would not have been detected at hadron colliders. Box diagrams involving charged-scalar exchange can produce the observed level of B0− B 0 mixing, thus relaxing the need for a heavy top quark. Future experiments can readily establish the existence of the charged scalar.
A review of the management of two common clinical problems found in patients with cystic fibrosis: cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and poor growth.

Background: Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) and glucose intolerance often occur in teens and adults with CF. The initial deficiency is an impaired first-phase insulin response; as patients age, peak insulin response is delayed and less robust than normal. Decreased insulin sensitivity (insulin resistance) is also present in patients with CF. Insulin is the only currently recommended therapy for all types of CFRD, and many clinicians find that basal/bolus regimens are optimal. Another common finding in children with CF is poor linear growth and inadequate weight gain. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is being explored in this patient population; studies overall show improvements in height and weight, without development of glucose intolerance. Conclusions: rhGH may be a useful growth-promoting therapy in children with CF.
Soil Test Phosphorus and Clay Content Effects on Runoff Water Quality

Dissolved phosphorus (P) in runoff increases with an increase in soil test P, but slopes found for this relationship vary by an order of magnitude. A difference in clay content contributes to this variation. Experiments were conducted on Ultisols of 5 and 32% clay by incorporating poultry (Gallus gallus domesticus) litter and triple superphosphate (TSP) to create a wide range in Mehlich 3-extractable phosphorus (M3P). Mehlich 3 P increased similarly for the two sources with rate of P applied, but the increase was greater as clay content decreased. Total P in runoff was measured and it was related primarily to the quantity of sediment. Dissolved P (mg L -1 ) was measured with simulated rainfall and it increased with an increase in M3P (mg dm -3 in the surface 15-20 cm of soil). The slope of dissolved P versus M3P was 0.0040 for the 5% clay soil and 0.0014 for the 32% clay soil. With these relationships, M3P would need to be 250 mg dm -3 at 5% clay and 714 mg dm -3 at 32% clay to result in 1.0 mg L -1 dissolved P in runoff. Dissolved P in samples of runoff collected from natural rainfall with automatic samplers was substantially less than that with simulated rainfall. Thus, there was a marked difference due to method of measurement as well as the difference noted due to clay content. Both factors should be considered if attempting to predict the level of dissolved P in runoff from soil test data.
Determinants of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor prescribing: are patient or physician characteristics more important?

Abstract Background Little is known about which factors influence the widespread use of selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors. We examined the relative effects of patient risk factors for gastrointestinal toxicity, other patient characteristics, and physician prescribing preferences on the decision to prescribe a selective COX-2 inhibitor. Methods We retrospectively studied a cohort of 28,190 Medicare beneficiaries who were continuously enrolled in a large, state-run pharmacy benefits program that reimbursed for selective COX-2 inhibitors and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without restrictions. Half of the study sample filled a prescription for a selective COX-2 inhibitor and the other half for a nonselective NSAID. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to predict COX-2 inhibitor use. Results Seventeen percent of patients using a COX-2 inhibitor had no identifiable risk factor for NSAID-associated gastrointestinal toxicity, compared with 23% of those using a nonselective NSAID. Established risk factors (age ≥75 years, history of gastrointestinal hemorrhage or peptic ulcer disease, or concomitant warfarin or oral glucocorticoid use) were all significant predictors of COX-2 inhibitor use, but a multivariable model including only these risk factors discriminated poorly between the two patient groups (C statistic=0.55). Adding other patient clinical and demographic characteristics to the model somewhat improved this association (C statistic=0.66); however, when physician prescribing preference was included, the model had excellent ability to discriminate between the two treatment groups (C statistic=0.83). Conclusion Established risk factors for NSAID-associated gastrointestinal toxicity were poor predictors of who was prescribed a selective COX-2 inhibitor; in contrast, physician prescribing preference was an important determinant.
Incorporation of a photochromic hinge in a rodlike polypeptide and its influence on dielectric and optical properties

A hinged, photoresponsive polypeptide (PAzP) was prepared and the effect of the photochromic hinge on the dielectric and photoisomerization behavior of the polymer in solution was probed. Polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride of γ-benzyl-L-glutamate was carried out with two different bifunctional photochromic amine initiators: di[(mercaptoethylamine)-methylpropanamide]azobenzene (DMMPAB) and diaminoazobenzene (DAAB). Careful structural comparison of the polymers revealed that the basicity of the initiator plays a key role in determining the shape and structure of the polymer. Specifically, the use of a novel initiator DMMPAB prepared by the addition of flexible aliphatic amine substituents onto DAAB resulted in a hinged polymer (PAzP1), in which a single photochromic hinge was located within the polymer chain (Mw ∼ 36 kDa). In contrast, direct initiation with DAAB resulted in a polymer (PAzP2) in which the photochromic moiety was preferentially near the terminus of the polymer chain (Mw ∼ 21 kDa) and the polymer possessed a significant degree of asymmetry. Dielectric spectroscopy revealed that, in spite of a higher molecular weight, PAzP1 had a lower rotational relaxation time (2.72 μs) in solution than that of PAzP2 (4.41 μs). The residual dipole moment for the hinged PAzP1 was also smaller than that observed for PAzP2. The hinged polypeptide PAzP1 prepared from DMMPAB showed uniform photoisomerization between cis and trans states. However, the presence of flexible aliphatic amine substituents on DMMPAB caused the rate of isomerization of PAzP1 to be similar to the initiator DMMPAB. Optical characterization revealed that heterogeneity in the structure of PAzP2 was manifested as nonuniform rates of photoisomerization and thermal relaxation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2759–2773, 2001
Autophagy Is a Component of Epithelial Cell Fate in Obstructive Uropathy

Epithelial cell fate and nephron loss in obstructive uropathy are not fully understood. We produced transgenic mice in which epithelial cells in the nephrons and collecting ducts were labeled with enhanced yellow fluorescent protein, and tracked the fate of these cells following unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). UUO led to a decrease in the number of enhanced yellow fluorescent protein-expressing cells and down-regulation of epithelial markers, E-cadherin, and hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β. Following UUO, enhanced yellow fluorescent protein-positive cells were confined within the tubular basement membrane, were not found in the renal interstitium, and did not express α-smooth muscle actin or S100A4, markers of myofibroblasts and fibroblasts. Moreover, when proximal tubules were labeled with dextran before UUO, dextran-retaining cells did not migrate into the interstitium or express α-smooth muscle actin. These results indicate that UUO leads to tubular epithelial loss but does not cause epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that has been shown by others to be responsible for nephron loss and interstitial fibrosis. For the first time, we found evidence of enhanced autophagy in obstructed tubules, including accumulation of autophagosomes, increased expression of Beclin 1, and increased conversion of microtubular-associated protein 1 light chain 3-I to -II. Increased autophagy may represent a mechanism of tubular survival or may contribute to excessive cell death and tubular atrophy after obstructive injury.
The Efficacy of Propafenone for Treatment of Ventricular Ectopic Depolarizations

Propafenone is an effective agent for suppression of chronic ventricular ectopic depolarizations. Complete elimination of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia is achieved in most patients treated with propafenone. The efficacy of propafenone is best correlated with its prolongation of the PR and QRS intervals whereas its plasma level is a poor predictor of therapeutic efficacy. Although serious side effects do occur with propafenone therapy and the drug must be discontinued in some patients, successful therapy of patients for up to four years has been reported.
Number and Novelty in Approaches to the Calculation of Strainless Group Increments

In this paper we show that the large number of approaches using apparently unrelated strainless increments for unsubstituted alicyclic hydrocarbons in the literature are neither mathematically nor conceptually unique. We additionally demonstrate that if the strain energy assigned to a compound by any three sets of increments is known, the strain energy any other approach would assign can automatically be determined without considering any further details of the structure of the compound. Equivalently, there are but three mathematically distinct, i.e. linearly independent, strainless incremental approaches for these compounds. Thus the choice of which method to employ in one's own reasoning relative to a chemical problem must be based on personal, rather than strictly chemical or mathematical criteria. We proceed by presenting our criteria and their molecular realization, the concept of diagonal reference states. Diagonal reference states are defined from hydrocarbons composed solely of the group of interest. In particular, >C CH–, –CH2– and –CH3 are derived from diamond, cubane, cyclohexane and ethane with the accompanying enthalpies of formation, +1.9, –9.7, –20.6. and –42.0kJ mol−1. The virtues and debits of this method are presented in support of our conclusion that this approach is preferable because it is diagonal.
Shock tube studies of the N2O/Ar and N2O/H2/Ar systems

N2O decay has been monitored via infrared emission for a series of mixtures containing N2O/Ar and N2O/H2/Ar. These mixtures were studied behind reflected shock waves in the temperature interval of 1950–3075°K with total concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 2.5 × 1018 molec/cm3. In all cases the N2O decayed exponentially, and a rate constant kobs was obtained. Runs without added H2 could be described by the following Arrhenius parameters: log A = −9.72 ± 0.08 (in units of cm3/molec · sec) and EA = 203.5 ± 3.6 kJ/mole. Addition of 0.01% and 0.1% H2 was observed to increase the decay rate; the largest increase occurred between 2250 and 2500°K with 0.1% H2, where kobs doubled. Mixtures with no added H2 were analyzed by numerical integration of the following reactions: Quantitative agreement between calculations and observations were obtained with both high and low choices for k2 and k3. The additional reactions were included in the analysis of the mixtures containing H2. Here agreement was obtained only when low values were assigned to k2 and k3. The combinations of k1 k3 which agreed with all the data were k1 = 3.25 × 10−10 exp (−215 kJ/RT) and k2 = k3 = 1.91 × 10−11 exp (-105 kJ/RT).
Using Periodontal Plastic Surgery Techniques

In the 1980s, mucogingival surgery evolved into periodontal plastic surgery with various reconstructive techniques designed to produce root coverage for marginal tissue recession, to augment deficient ridges, and to lengthen crowns in cases of excessive gingival display.
Elastic–plastic mode-II fracture of adhesive joints

Abstract A numerical study of the elastic–plastic mode-II fracture of adhesive joints is presented in this paper. A traction–separation law was used to simulate the mode-II interfacial fracture of adhesively bonded end-notched flexure (ENF) specimens loaded in three-point bending, with extensive plastic deformation accompanying failure. The fracture parameters for the traction–separation law were determined by comparing the numerical and experimental results for one particular geometry. These parameters were then used without further modification to simulate the fracture of other ENF specimens with different geometries. It was found that the numerical predictions for the loads and deformation were in excellent agreement with the corresponding experimental results.
TLR4 Expression by Liver Resident Cells Mediates the Development of Glucose Intolerance and Insulin Resistance in Experimental Periodontitis

Background Results from epidemiological studies indicate a close association between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the mechanism linking periodontitis to glucose intolerance (GI) and insulin resistance (IR) is unknown. We therefore tested the hypothesis that periodontitis induces the development of GI/IR through a liver Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) dependent mechanism. Methods TLR4 chimeric mice were developed by bone marrow transplantation using green fluorescent protein expressing TLR4WT mouse (GFPWT) as donor and TLR4 WT or TLR4-/- as recipient mice (GFPWT:WT and GFPWT:KO chimeras respectively). These chimeras were subjected to experimental chronic periodontitis induced by repeated applications of LPS to the gingival sulci for 18 weeks. The levels of GI/IR were monitored and plasma cytokines and LPS were determined at 18 weeks when differences in glucose tolerance were most apparent. Cytokine gene expression was measured in liver tissue by qPCR. Results Alveolar bone loss was significantly greater in GFPWT:WT chimeras treated with LPS compared with chimeras treated with PBS or GFPWT:KO chimeras. However, the degree of gingival inflammation was similar between GFPWT:WT and GFPWT:KO mice with LPS application. Severe GI/IR occurred in GFPWT:WT chimeras but not in the GFPWT:KO chimeras that were subjected to 18 weeks of LPS. Serum LPS was detected only in animals to which LPS was applied and the level was similar in GFPWT:WT and GFPWT:KO mice at the 18 week time point. Surprisingly, there was no significant difference in the plasma levels of IL1β, IL6 and TNFα at 18 weeks in spite of the severe GI/IR in the GFPWT:WT chimeras with LPS application. Also, no difference in the expression of TNFα or IL6 mRNA was detected in the liver of GFPWT:WT vs GFPWT:KO mice. In contrast, liver IL1β expression was significantly greater in GFPWT:WT chimeras compared to GFPWT:KO chimeras treated with LPS. Conclusion We observed that GFPWT:WT, but not GFPWT:KO chimeras, treated with LPS developed GI/IR despite similar degrees of gingival inflammation, circulating cytokine levels, and LPS concentrations. We conclude that LPS from periodontitis sites has a pivotal role in triggering the development of GI/IR through a mechanism that involves TLR4 expression by resident macrophages/Kupffer cells in the liver.
The Changing Profile of College Access: The Truman Commission and Enrollment Patterns in the Postwar Era

The 1947 President's Commission on Higher Education, popularly known as the Truman Commission, offered a remarkable vision, one of an expansive, inclusive and diverse system of postsecondary education in the United States. It appeared just as hundreds of thousands of former GIs poured onto the nation's campuses, taking advantage of a little heralded program to provide tuition and other benefits to veterans of the recently concluded World War II. As it turned out, both of these events signaled the beginning of a remarkable period of expansion in higher education. The postwar years have been described as the third great period of growth in the history of American education, a development that took decades to unfold. While the Commission suggested that nearly half of the nation's youth could benefit from collegiate education, it limited its projections to just thirteen years (to 1960). In fact, it took more than twice as long to approach such high levels of popular participation in higher education, and the most dramatic growth occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. In other respects, however, the President's commissioners' projections for change in enrollment patterns look remarkably prescient in retrospect. Even if they missed the timing of college growth and the significant role women played in it, their report still managed to anticipate a very broad process of change. By 1980 the collegiate student population had come to embody much of the inclusiveness and diversity that they had envisaged some thirty-three years earlier.
Reduced conservatism in testing for Hurwitz invariance of state-space models

This paper addresses the issue of 'conservatism' in the time domain stability robustness bounds obtained by Lyapunov approach. A state transformation is employed to improve the upper bounds on the linear time-varying perturbation of an asymptotically stable linear time-invariant system for robust stability. This improvement is due to the variance of the conservatism of Lyapunov stability condition with respect to the basis of the vector space in which the Lyapunov function is constructed. Improved bounds are obtained, using transformation, on elemental and vector norm of perturbations (i.e., structured perturbations) as well as on matrix norm of perturbations (i.e. unstructured perturbations). For the case of diagonal transformation, an algorithm is proposed to find the 'optimal' transformation. Several examples are presented to illustrate the proposed analysis.
Faith MattErs: rEligion in thE 2012 PrEsidEntial ElEction

(2012). Faith Matters: Religion in the 2012 Presidential Election. Political Theology: Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 529-535.
Psychosocial stressors and behavioral interventions in gay men with HIV infection

Homosexual men who are diagnosed as HIV-1 seropositive may face major psychosocial changes including multiple, chronic, uncontrollable stressors, and losses in familiar sources of social support. This combination of events may overwhelm previously learned coping strategies resulting in a loss of perceived self-efficacy, feelings of hopelessness and depression, and increases in maladaptive behaviors such as unprotected sexual activities and substance use. These sequelae may, in turn, compromise future mental and physical health status. This population may benefit substantially from behavioral interventions that increase self-efficacy, encourage emotional expression, and increase social support resources in a supportive group environment. It is plausible that such increases in self-efficacy, adaptive coping and social support may reduce the likelihood of distress and depression, sexual risk behaviors and substance use with potential benefits as well for immunologic status and clinical health. Recent work, t...
Sp1 Transcription Factor as a Molecular Target for Nitric Oxide-- and Cyclic Nucleotide--Mediated Suppression of cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase-Iα Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) expression is highly variable and decreases in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), exposure of cells to nitric oxide (NO), or in response to balloon catheter injury in vivo. In this study, the mechanisms of human type I PKG-alpha (PKG-Ialpha) gene expression were examined. Three structurally unrelated NO donors decreased PKG-Ialpha promoter activity after transfection of a promoter/luciferase construct in VSMCs. Promoter deletion analysis demonstrated that (1) a 120-bp promoter containing tandem Sp1 sites was sufficient to drive basal PKG-Ialpha promoter activity, and (2) NO was inhibitory at this site. Cyclic nucleotide analogues also suppressed PKG-Ialpha promoter activity with cAMP being more potent than cGMP. The effects of cyclic nucleotides to suppress PKG-Ialpha promoter activity were attenuated by a specific cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor. Single or double mutation of Sp1 binding sites abolished PKG-Ialpha expression. Moreover, Sp1 binding activity on the PKG-Ialpha promoter was detected in A7r5 cells, and this binding was inhibited by NO and cyclic nucleotides. These results indicate that PKG-Ialpha gene expression is driven by an Sp1 transcription mechanism, and that NO and cAMP inhibit Sp1-mediated PKG-Ialpha gene expression through separate mechanisms.
Are there age and racial differences to methyl nicotinate-induced vasodilatation in human skin?

Preliminary experiments have been performed to determine whether there are age and racial differences in the response of human skin to the topically applied vasodilator methyl nicotinate. With the use of a constant stimulus (a 15-second exposure to a 100 mM aqueous solution of drug), the subsequent time-course of the vasodilatation response was followed noninvasively and objectively with the optical technics of laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and photoplethysmography (PPG). Three groups of subjects were considered: young white subjects (20 to 30 years of age), elderly white subjects (63 to 80 years old), and young black subjects (20 to 30 years old). Analysis of the results shows that the time to peak response, the area under the response-time curve, and the time for the response to decay to 75% of its maximum value are statistically indistinguishable for all three groups at the p=0.05 level of significance. Only the magnitude of the peak response revealed some significant differences between the cohorts (young>black, determined by PPG; young>old, determined by LDV). The data suggest, therefore, a remarkable similarity in response across a wide range of skin types. The origin of this consistency may, however, be complex and is not revealed by these experiments.
Another New Kinase Targets Troponin I

See related article, pages 1091–1099 In this issue of Circulation Research , Haworth et al1 report that protein kinase D (PKD), a serine kinase, phosphorylates the cardiac thin filament protein, troponin I (TnI). These investigators performed a detailed and complete set of experiments, initially noting the association of TnI and PKD, and then mapping the sites that PKD phosphorylates, Ser22 and Ser23. PKD treatment of myocytes was further demonstrated to result in desensitization of the myofilaments to calcium and accelerated isometric crossbridge cycling.1 Why is finding an additional kinase for TnI important? TnI is a critical component of the calcium switch of striated muscle, and the cardiac specific isoform is further specialized because of the presence of an amino-terminal region containing protein kinase A (PKA) sites. Troponin (Tn) consists of three subunits including TnI, the inhibitory component, which inhibits actin-myosin interactions at diastolic calcium levels, TnC, the calcium binding subunit, and TnT, which anchors Tn to tropomyosin (Tm) but also contributes to regulation of muscle activation. During systole, a regulatory Ca2+ -binding site on TnC is occupied, increasing the affinity of TnC for TnI and lessening the interaction between TnI and actin-Tm. This results in movement of Tm-Tn on the thin filament, releasing the inhibition of actin-myosin interactions and increasing the probability of cycling of the crossbridge and muscle shortening (reviewed by Tobacman2). Studies conducted in the 1970s demonstrated TnI to be a target of …
Pseudo-intestinal Obstruction (Functional Intestinal Obstruction) in a Premature Infant

Intestinal paralysis in the newborn without any demonstrable anatomic ab normality of the gastro-intestinal tract 1-3 is a disorder which closely resembles symptomatic aganglionosis, but the pres ence of normal ganglion cells and its association with low birth weight dis tinguishes one from the other. No satis factory explanation for the syndrome is available.This paper describes such a case.
Do Adenocarcinomas of the Prostate With Gleason Score (GS)≤6 Have the Potential to Metastasize to Lymph Nodes?

Although rare, there are cases within reported series of men with Gleason score (GS)≤6 on radical prostatectomies that show pelvic lymph node (LN) metastases. However, there are no studies on whether pelvic LN metastases occur in tumors with GS≤6 using the International Society of Urological Patholo
Compiling cryptographic protocols for deployment on the web

Cryptographic protocols are useful for trust engineering in Web transactions. The Cryptographic Protocol Programming Language (CPPL) provides a model wherein trust management annotations are attached to protocol actions, and are used to constrain the behavior of a protocol participant to be compatible with its own trust policy. The first implementation of CPPL generated stand-alone, single-session servers, making it unsuitable for deploying protocols on the Web. We describe a new compiler that uses a constraint-based analysis to produce multi-session server programs. The resulting programs run without persistent TCP connections for deployment on traditional Web servers. Most importantly, the compiler preserves existing proofs about the protocols. We present an enhanced version of the CPPL language, discuss the generation and use of constraints, show their use in the compiler, formalize the preservation of properties, present subtleties, and outline implementation details.