cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute Severe Transaminitis as a Unique Presentation of Chronic Cholecystitis.

The hepatocellular function can be evaluated using aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) which are biochemical markers of the liver. Whenever there is an ischemic, toxic, or inflammatory injury to the liver, necrosis of the hepatocytes occurs and these biochemical markers are released into the circulation, showing an acute elevation in serum levels. In this case report, we discuss the unique clinical presentation of a female patient who came to the Emergency Room (ER) with acute onset chest pain with laboratory findings of elevated serum aminotransferases and cholestatic markers and was ultimately diagnosed with chronic cholecystitis. The usual clinical presentation associated with extremely elevated levels of liver enzymes can be one of three cases: acute viral hepatitis, toxin-induced liver injury, or acute ischemic insult to the liver. However, our patient was diagnosed with chronic cholecystitis despite her unique initial presentation of acute, severe transaminitis. While one may find elevated liver enzyme levels in acute cholecystitis, owing to the sudden nature of the inflammatory process, chronic cholecystitis is not known to cause high levels of serum amino transaminases or fulminant liver failure. Our case report indicates a diverse phenotype of chronic cholecystitis with an unusual presentation of acute, severe transaminitis. It helps expand the differential diagnoses of acute elevation of liver function tests (LFTs). Further studies are needed to explore the pathology behind chronic cholecystitis in order to understand its impact on liver damage.
Secondhand Smoke Exposure Impairs Ion Channel Function and Contractility of Mesenteric Arteries.

Cigarette smoke, including secondhand smoke (SHS), has significant detrimental vascular effects, but its effects on myogenic tone of small resistance arteries and the underlying mechanisms are understudied. Although it is apparent that SHS contributes to endothelial dysfunction, much less is known about how this toxicant alters arterial myocyte contraction, leading to alterations in myogenic tone. The study's goal is to determine the effects of SHS on mesenteric arterial myocyte contractility and excitability. C57BL/6J male mice were randomly assigned to either filtered air (FA) or SHS (6 h/d, 5 d/wk) exposed groups for a 4, 8, or 12-weeks period. Third and fourth-order mesenteric arteries and arterial myocytes were acutely isolated and evaluated with pressure myography and patch clamp electrophysiology, respectively. Myogenic tone was found to be elevated in mesenteric arteries from mice exposed to SHS for 12 wk but not for 4 or 8 wk. These results were correlated with an increase in L-type Ca2+ channel activity in mesenteric arterial myocytes after 12 wk of SHS exposure. Moreover, 12 wk SHS exposed arterial myocytes have reduced total potassium channel current density, which correlates with a depolarized membrane potential (Vm). These results suggest that SHS exposure induces alterations in key ionic conductances that modulate arterial myocyte contractility and myogenic tone. Thus, chronic exposure to an environmentally relevant concentration of SHS impairs mesenteric arterial myocyte electrophysiology and myogenic tone, which may contribute to increased blood pressure and risks of developing vascular complications due to passive exposure to cigarette smoke.
Understanding past experiences of suicidal ideation and behavior in the life narratives of transgender older adults

Transgender people (collectively referred to here as trans) experience disproportionate rates of suicidal ideation and behavior (plans and attempts) attributed to complex constellations of structur...
Energy Supply for the Future

As early as the 1960s, in the days of the Office of Coal Research in the Department of the Interior, attention was focused on a need to expand our evaluation of various energy options, to determine whether any of them could replace petroleum or natural gas, which one day are certain to run into short supply, giving consideration to both the technical viability and the economics of the respective technologies. Following the Arab oil embargo in 1973, a sense of urgency arose, fueled by a realization that as a nation we were vulnerable to interruptions in oil supply from overseas, with national security implications.
Scorpio: A Simple, Convenient, Microsoft Excel Macro Based Program for Privacy-Preserving Logrank Test

Survival analysis is frequently used for dealing with survival outcomes in biological organisms. However it is a tedious process to compare survival curves step by step. In this study, we designed and developed a user-friendly, cloud-storage based Microsoft Excel program, named Scorpio, for privacy preserving logrank test model. Our program can be applied to Microsoft Excel immediately which is widely used by clinics and biomedical scientists. Therefore, it can be more easily to use and avoid incorrect manipulation by mistake when people compute survival curves comparison statistic manually.
Summary and Perspectives

This chapter provides summary and perspectives of Cellular Signaling and Innate Immune Responses to RNA Virus Infections. Rapid activation of the innate immune response has a significant impact on the outcome or resolution of RNA virus infections. This occurs not only through the restrictions imposed on viral replication by the induction of interferon (IFN) α/β synthesis, but also through the controlling influence of cytokines and chemokines on the acquisition of antigen-specific adaptive immunity and inflammation at the site of infection. For this reason, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) represent a critical first line of defense in the host response to RNA virus infections. It is increasingly clear that PRR signaling pathways share common adaptor proteins that facilitate assembly of signaling complexes that converge on two major groups of transcription factors, IFN regulatory factors (IRFs) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). An emerging concept is that the NF-κB and IRF pathways are interconnected networks. Modulation by viruses of both induction and inhibition of the innate immune response has been shaped by coevolution of viruses with their hosts, to the point that it is likely that many viruses have achieved a delicate balance between induction and repression of the innate immune response that favors virus and host survival. In contrast, certain aspects of the innate response may be used by viruses for their own advantage. Recombinant viruses that lack IFN antagonism may produce highly effective and safe attenuated vaccines.
CX. The positive thermions emitted by the alkali sulphates

(1910). CX. The positive thermions emitted by the alkali sulphates. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 20, No. 120, pp. 981-999.
STUDIES USING THE DIRECT MICROSCOPIC SOMATIC CELL COUNT

Factors which might contribute to variance of cell estimates in milk, using the Direct Microscopic Somatic Cell Count ( DMSCC) were investigated, Comparisons of cell estimates obtained from counting cells in nine areas of 20 circular milk films produced no evidence of uneven distribution of cells on these films. Estimates of cells by DMSCC were not affected by the temperature of the milk, or the method of spreading, when milk films were prepared. Standard deviations and means of counts indicated no significant difference in cell estimates obtained by three operators. Cell estimates from counts made in horizontal and vertical diameter strips of milk films showed no significant differences among means or variances relating to strip direction. Cells were counted in diameter strips (as defined by a wide and narrow ocular reticle) at two magnifications (450 × and 1,000 ×). Cell estimates based on counts from the wide strips had lower standard deviations than those from the narrow strips. Confidence limits were...
Querying Compressed Data in Data Warehouses

The large size of most data warehouses (typically hundreds of gigabytes to terabytes) results in non-trivial storage costs and makes compression techniques attractive. For the most part, page-level compression (as opposed to attribute or record level schemes) has been shown to achieve the greatest reductions in storage size for databases. A key issue with such schemes is how to quickly access the data to answer queries, since individual tuple boundaries are lost. In this paper we introduce an approach that aims to maintain the benefits of page-level compression (i.e., large reductions in storage size), while at the same time improving query performance through an efficient signature file indexing scheme. The approach uses an attribute-level signature generation method that exploits the value distribution of each attribute in a data warehouse. We provide an extensive theoretical analysis of this approach in which we compare our approach with a recently proposed indexing technique, encoded bitmapped indexing, along a number of important metrics including query processing, insertion, and storage costs. Results show that our approach is preferred in many situations that are likely to occur in practice. We have also implemented a prototype system which validates our analytical findings.
From helium-6 to krypton-81

A new method of ultrasensitive trace-isotope analysis has been developed based upon the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms. It has been used to count individual 85Kr and 81Kr atoms present in a natural krypton sample with isotopic abundances in the range of 10−11 and 10−13, respectively. The atom counts are free of contamination from other isotopes, elements, or molecules. The method is applicable to other trace-isotopes that can be efficiently captured with a magneto-optical trap, and has a broad range of potential applications.
ADAPT-NMR 3.0: utilization of BEST-type triple-resonance NMR experiments to accelerate the process of data collection and assignment

ADAPT-NMR (Assignment-directed Data collection Algorithm utilizing a Probabilistic Toolkit in NMR) is a software package whose Bayesian core uses on-the-fly chemical shift assignments to guide data acquisition by non-uniform sampling from a panel of through-bond NMR experiments. The new version of ADAPT-NMR (ADAPT-NMR v3.0) has the option of utilizing 2D tilted-plane versions of 3D fast spectral acquisition with BEST-type pulse sequences, while also retaining the capability of acquiring and processing data from tilted-plane versions of conventional sensitivity-enhanced experiments. The use of BEST experiments significantly reduces data collection times and leads to enhanced performance by ADAPT-NMR.
Oxidation of Bilirubin in the Brain—Further Characterization of a Potentially Protective Mechanism

Bilirubin is a well-known neurotoxin and presents a particular problem in newborn infants. This is partly due to the high incidence of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in that age group, but may also be due to increased vulnerability to bilirubin toxicity. The brain may be able to protect itself against bilirubin toxicity through a process of oxidation. The responsible enzyme is localized on the inner mitochondrial membrane and appears to be more active in glia than in neurons and to increase in activity with postnatal maturation. Here we have investigated the possibility that the responsible enzyme might be a cytochrome oxidase, malate dehydrogenase, or monoamine oxidase, all enzymes located on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondria were obtained from rat brains through homogenization and differential centrifugation in sucrose medium. The ability of mitochondrial membranes to oxidize bilirubin was measured by following the change in optical density at 440 nm of a bilirubin solution to which a membrane suspension had been added. The activity was not changed by in vitro inhibitors of malate dehydrogenase or monoamine oxidase, but was moderately inhibited by ketoconazole and clotrimazole, both known inhibitors of hepatic cytochrome P450 oxidases. Activity was inhibited by depletion of cytochrome c in the mitochondria and reconstituted by reintroducing cytochrome c into the reaction mixture. The reaction was not modified by the addition of a free radical quencher, but was inhibited by removal of oxygen from the reaction mixture. The activity was significantly inhibited by cyanide. Activity was retained in a 100,000-g pellet and was not influenced by the addition of NAD, NADP, NADH, NADPH, GSH, or GSSH to this pellet. We conclude that the bilirubin-oxidizing activity in brain mitochondrial membranes is cytochrome c dependent, but does not appear to be unequivocally identifiable as a cytochrome P450 oxidase.
Residents’ perceptions of quality of life in a surf tourism destination: A case study of Las Salinas, Nicaragua:

Tourism development has been treated as a panacea for the economic woes of lesser developed countries (LDCs). Studies examining the impacts of tourism on local residents have failed to capture the ...
The effects of 3rd party consensus information on service expectations and online trust

Abstract The marketing literature has recently explored a number of ways in which trust can be communicated by Internet retailers, including 3rd party consensus ratings. This paper explores the impact of consensus sequences over time and across high and low ranges, rather than the mere valence of ratings as presented in past research. Second, effects are compared across products with variant levels of risk. Two experiments investigate service quality inferences, expected satisfaction, and trust beliefs for online retailers as outcomes of 3rd party consensus information (i.e., agreement among a firm's past customers). Results indicate that online trust beliefs vary positively with consensus ratings and trust is higher when ratings trends increase rather than decrease. Service quality inferences and expected satisfaction are shown to mediate these relationships. More interestingly, results of study two suggest sequence direction becomes insignificant when ratings do not approach certain range limits (e.g., high, moderate, low cut-offs). Comparisons across products varying in risk show that consensus ratings are more important when consumers evaluate high risk products. Implications for both researchers and practitioners are offered.
Overcoming MIII arrest from spontaneous activation in cultured rat oocytes.

The rat oocyte spontaneously activates under a wide variety of conditions. This process progresses to MIII arrest that is not responsive to parthenogenetic activation and development. Insofar as activation involves extrusion of the second polar body (PBII), we set out to determine if preventing this step by inhibiting microfilaments would change the course of spontaneous activation (SA). In particular, how long does the effect of SA persist while retaining reversibility of PBII extrusion once inhibitors are removed? We wanted to determine if the eggs would be responsive to parthenogenetic activation and capable of resuming development once a permanent inhibition is achieved. We set out to determine whether SA would depend on the ovular age of oocytes. Inhibiting of PBII extrusion was achieved by affecting microtubules with demecolcine or nocodazole or actin filaments with cytochalasin B (CB) and cytochalasin D (CD). We found that all oocytes undergo SA and progression to MIII; however, the rapidity of spo...
Rheology and stability of phospholipid-stabilized emulsions

Lecithin in cosmetic emulsions produces a unique “skin feel,” which can be related to its rheological properties. In this study, water-in-oil (w/o) and oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions were made from a cosmetic-grade caprylic/capric triglyceride with deoiled lecithin and hydroxylated lecithin. Synthetic surfactants commonly used in commercial cosmetic products were used as controls. Optical light microscope investigation showed significant differences in the structures of the w/o and o/w emulsions made with the lecithins. Freeze/thaw tests were conducted to evaluate emulsion stability. The o/w emulsion (oil/water = 20:80) was stable with 3% hydroxylated lecithin at room temperature. However, 4% hydroxylated lecithin was needed for stabilizing the emulsion with an oil-to-water ratio of 20:80 or 30:70 through the freeze/thaw treatments. With 4% deoiled lecithin, the w/o emulsion showed a water-holding capacity up to 80%, which was also stable through two freeze/thaw cycles. All emulsions in this study exhibited pseudoplastic flow, in which a minimum shearing stress, a yield value, was required before flow became linear. In general, the emulsion viscosity increased as lecithin content increased. Changing the oil-to-water ratio also affected the emulsion viscosity. The deoiled lecithin-based w/o emulsions had higher yield values than hydroxylated lecithin-based o/w emulsions. Therefore, more force was needed to spread the w/o emulsions. In addition, because w/o emulsions had more viscous continuous phases and a greater volume of internal phases, the w/o emulsions were more viscous than the o/w emulsions.
Long-term effects of tillage and fertilization on soil organic matter dynamics

Understanding the effects of long-term management practices on soil C and N pools and activities is essential for sustaining soil productivity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate long-term and seasonal changes in soil organic C (SOC), soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) and N (SMBN), and mineralizable C and N in continuous corn (Zea mays L.) under conventional tillage (CT), moldboard (MB), chisel (CH), minimum tillage (MT), and no-tillage (NT) with low (45 kg N, 10 P kg ha -1 ) and high (90 N kg, 10 P kg ha -1 ) N fertilization. An Orelia sandy clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Ochraqualf) in south Texas was sampled before corn planting in February, during pollination in May, and following corn harvest in July. No-tillage and MT retained more corn residue C input as SOC and SMBC than the more intensive tillage systems. Soil organic C, SMBC, SMBN, and mineralizable C and N were greatest in the surface 0 to 50 mm with NT and MT. Seasonal distributions of SMBC and mineralizable C were consistently greater in reduced-tillage systems (NT and MT), averaging 22 and 34% greater than plowed treatments at planting, 45 and 53% larger at pollination, and 36 and 34% higher at harvest, respectively, at a depth of 200 mm. The greater amount of crop residues remaining with MT and NT may have provided available substrate for maintenance of the larger SMB pool and the higher C and N mineralization in the 0- to 200-mm depth during the growing season. Higher N fertilization increased seasonal mineralizable C and N, but did not consistently affect SOC and SMB. Reduced tillage systems that promote surface residue accumulation provide an opportunity for increasing sequestration of C and mineralizable nutrients within SMB.
Learning that classifiers count: Mandarin-speaking children's acquisition of sortal and mensural classifiers

Two experiments explored two-to five-year-old Mandarin-speaking children's acquisition of classifiers, mandatory morphemes for expressing quantities in many Asian languages. Classifiers are similar to measure words in English (e.g., a piece of apple; a cup of apples), with the main difference being that classifiers are also required when counting sortals (e.g., yi ge pinguo or "one unit apple" in Mandarin means "one apple"). The current study extended prior studies (e.g., Chien et al., J East Asian Linguist 12:91-120, 2003) to examine Mandarin-speaking children's understanding of classifiers as indicating units of quantification. Children were also tested on their knowledge of numerals to assess the relationship between children's acquisition of numerals and classifiers. The findings suggest that children first notice that sortal classifiers specify properties such as shape. Only after learning some numerals do they begin to work out how classifiers indicate units of quantification. By age four, children scored above chance on most classifiers tested.
Generalizability of Measures of Teacher Effectiveness.

Summary Short‐term and long‐term studies of teacher effectiveness were categorized according to characteristic facets such as type of teacher, students, occasions, and subject matter to identify conditions over which these measures generalize (i.e., conditions in which teacher effects on pupil outcomes are stable). This review suggests that generalizability may be extremely limited in an educational context. Issues of the external validity of these studies are raised. 1 This work was completed pursuant to Contract #400‐75‐0001 between the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, National Institute of Education and the California Commission for Teacher Preparation and Licensing. The Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development is the primary contractor of the California Commission. The Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development, 1855 Folsom Street, San Francisco, California 94103, is a non‐profit organization supported in part by the United States Office of. Education ...
A spreadsheet model approach for integrating static capacity planning and stochastic queueing models

This paper proposes a manufacturing system modelling approach using computer spreadsheet software, in which a static capacity planning model and stochastic queueing model are integrated. Most stochastic performance measures such as throughput time or work in process as well as deterministic measures can be captured directly from the proposed model. Several special manufacturing features such as machine breakdown and batch production can be included in the model. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated by comparing its results with those obtained from other existing approaches.
Optimization of airplane wing structures under landing loads

Abstract A methodology is presented for the optimum design of aircraft wing structures subjected to landing loads. The stresses developed in the wing during landing are computed by considering the interaction between the landing gear and the flexible airplane structure. The landing gear is assumed to have nonlinear characteristics typical of conventional gears, namely, velocity squared damping, polytropic air-compression springing and exponential tire force-deflection characteristics. The coupled nonlinear differential equations of motion that arise in the landing analysis are solved by using a step-by-step numerical integration technique. In order to find the behavior of the wing structure under landing loads and also to obtain a physical insight into the nature of the optimum solution, the design of the typical section (symmetric double-wedge airfoil) is studied by using a graphical procedure. Then a more realistic wing optimization problem is formulated as a constrained nonlinear programming problem based on finite element modeling. The optimum solutions are found by using the interior penalty function method. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to find the effect of changes in design variables about the optimum point on the various response parameters on the wing structure.
Two subcellular mechanisms underlie calcium-dependent facilitation of bioluminescence

Epithelial calcium action potentials in Obelia geniculata trigger brief light flashes from specialized cells by direct activation of cytoplasmic calcium-activated photoprotein obelin. During a series of action potentials, sequential flashes undergo characteristic facilitation and decrement with no change in associated spike waveform. Analysis of the subcellular light distribution shows that facilitation results from two processes: recruitment of calcium entry sites and increased light from previously responding localized sites. We propose a model that accounts for the localized flash facilitation and decrement observed in vivo and is based upon the kinetics of calcium binding and emission of obelin. In this model, obelin emits light only when three calcium ions are bound. Changes in flash intensity during successive action potentials result from calcium bound persistently to unexpended obelin, effectively lowering the number of calcium ions required for subsequent activation. Accordingly, facilitation or decrement results from the time-dependent availability of singly and doubly bound obelin.
Complications of needle catheter jejunostomy in 2,022 consecutive applications

Abstract Background : We commonly use needle catheter jejunostomy (NCJ) for early enteral feeding in selected patients. Review of our approach was prompted by the suggestion that enteral feeding represents a “stress test” for the bowel and may be associated with a high complication rate. Materials and methods : We reviewed patients with NCJ inserted over the past 16 years by prospective database, chart review, and conference minutes, with emphasis on complications. Results : During the conduct of 28,121 laparotomies, 2,022 NCJs inserted in 1,938 patients (7.2%) resulted in 34 NCJ-related complications in 29 patients (1.5%) The most common complication was premature loss of the catheter from occlusion or dislodgment (n = 15; 0.74%), and the most serious was bowel necrosis (n = 3; 0.15%). Conclusions : Needle catheter jejunostomy may be inserted and used with a low complication rate. Most complications were preventable through greater attention to detail and better monitoring of physical examination of patients with marginal gut function.
Transcription rates of individual polytene chromosome bands: effects of gene dose and sex in Drosophila

Autoradiographs of 3H-uridine pulse labeled Drosophila melanogaster salivary gland polytene chromosomes were prepared from normal genotypes and from genotypes which contained either an intrachromosomal duplication of region 16A-17E of the X-chromosome or a non-reciprocal translocation of this segment. RNA extracted from these cytological preparations showed an electrophoretic profile similar to that of RNA from gland homogenates. Silver grains were scored over individual bands. Two different methods to correct for geometry and self-absorption were used to determine the 3H-RNA content of each band. Instability of a band's transcription rate increased with gene dose. The average transcription rate per unit DNA was generally independent of gene dose (dosage effect or additivity). Pairing of homologous bands suppressed RNA synthesis in band 17B. One sex-linked gene in a male or two sex-linked genes in a female effect the same enzyme levels (dosage compensation). Any one X-chromosome band in a male was found to transcribe 0.7 units of RNA for each 1.0 units transcribed by two similar bands in a female-X. Thus, a 40% increase in RNA synthesis by male-X bands effects a 100% increase in enzyme levels. Dosage compensation seems to increase the transcription rate of mRNA on the male-X while not increasing the synthesis of non-messenger chromosomal RNA.
Wide-field shadowgraph flow visualization of tip vortices generated by a helicopter rotor

The vortex trajectory and vortex wake generated by helicopter rotors were visualized using a wide-field shadowgraph technique. Use of a retro-reflective Scotchlite screen made it possible to investigate the flow field generated by full-scale tail rotors. Tip vortex trajectories were visible in shadowgraphs for a range for tip Mach number of 0.38 - 0.60. The effect of the angle of attack was substantial. At an angle of attack greater than 8 degrees, the visibility of the vortex core was significant even at relatively low tip Mach numbers. The theoretical analysis of the visibility was carried out for a rotating blade. This analysis demonstrated that the visibility decreases with increasing dimensionless core radius (ro/c) and increases with increasing tip Mach number. Based on this investigation, it is concluded that the wide-field shadowgraph flow visualization technique should be feasible to study the flow field generated by a large main rotor in a wind tunnel and in an outdoor full-scale test stand. Of note is that the shadowgraph technique could easily be used with other on-going tests such as aerodynamic performance study, noise measurements, velocity measurements with LDV or hot-wire anemometer, local pressure measurement on the rotor surface, etc.
Swimming Motility Mutants of Marine Synechococcus Affected in Production and Localization of the S-Layer Protein SwmA

The S-layer protein SwmA is required for nonflagellar swimming in marine Synechococcus. An analysis of mutations in seven genes at two loci in the Synechococcus sp. strain WH8102 genome indicates that a multicomponent transporter and glycosyltransferases are required for the production and proper localization of SwmA.
When houseguests become parasites: Sympatric speciation in ants

Species are part of the common coinage of biology. Taxonomists name them, developmental biologists deconstruct them, physiologists compare them, ecologists count them, conservation biologists conserve them, and evolutionary biologists study their multiplication and extinction. It may be that only the individual is a more important biological unit than the species. It is thus no surprise that Darwin named his great work On the Origin of Species , nor is it a surprise that many evolutionary biologists today concentrate their efforts on understanding species formation, or speciation. Riitta Savolainen and Kari Vepsalainen (1), in a study in this issue of PNAS, have contributed significantly to a long-standing debate in evolutionary biology, over whether geographic isolation is a necessary first step in speciation, in a study of social parasites in Myrmica ants (2). The resolution of this argument has important consequences beyond evolutionary biology. If species do not have to wait for the next geological event to speciate, then speciation could conceivably be very rapid. This, in turn, means that the process might be conducive to study in real time. We might expect to see speciation in response to humanity's incessant modification of the globe. Anthropogenic change might drive not only such well known adaptations as the evolution of insecticide, herbicide, and antibiotic resistance, but also, for example, speciation of herbivorous insects adapting to plants moved to new parts of the world. To fully understand Savolainen and Vepsalainen's results, some history is in order. In the 144 years since publication of On the Origin of Species , enormous progress has been made in illuminating the things we need to know to understand speciation (2). We now know a lot about geographic isolation and the biogeography of closely related species. We know the kinds of features that prevent mating between closely related species …
New in Vitro Findings on the “Free” Form of Apolipoprotein A‐1

Clinical and experimental gerontologists are extremely interested in lipoproteins as well as in new methods for investigating and probing the apolipoprotein pattern. Using immunofixation electrophoresis, we separated free apolipoprotein A-1 from the apo A-1 associated with high-density lipoproteins. Free apolipoprotein A-1 is a low-molecular-mass form of apo A-1 that seems to contain an extremely low quantity of lipids. The use of IFE as a tool for probing free apo A-1 has revealed new and interesting findings, such as its "artificial" increase during serum conservation at temperatures between 0-4 degrees C. From the clinical point of view, we demonstrated a decrease to the point of disappearance of free apo A-1 in some patients with liver cirrhosis. Moreover, one of the main findings here reported is the failure of anti-human apo A-1 murine monoclonal antibody and monoclonal antibody mixture to precipitate free apo A-1 in agarose systems. This discovery has important implications both for basic knowledge on apolipoproteins and for practical reasons concerning variability in those immunoassays (radial immunodiffusion) utilizing monoclonal antibody mixtures.
Alignment Localization in Nonlinear Biological Media

Cells imbedded in biopolymer gels are important components of tissue engineering models and cancer tumor microenvironments. In both these cases, contraction of cells attached to the gel is an important phenomenon, and the nonlinear nature of most biopolymers (such as collagen) makes understanding the mechanics of the contraction a challenging problem. Here, we investigate a unique feature of such systems: a point source of contraction leads to substantial deformation of the environment, but large strains and large alignment of the fibers of the gel are confined to a small region surrounding the source. For fibroblasts in collagen-I, we estimate that the radius of this region is of order 90 μ. We investigate this idea using continuum estimates and a finite element code, and we point out experimental manifestations of the effect.
Constructing membership functions using statistical data

Abstract Determination of the membership functions is vital in practical applications of the fuzzy set theory. This paper presents a guideline to construct the membership functions for fuzzy sets whose elements have a defining feature with a known probability density function (pdf) in the universe of discourse. The method finds the smallest fuzzy set which assigns high average membership values to those objects with the defining features distributed according to the given pdf. It is show that, for any pdf, the method is capable of generating membership functions in accordance with the possibility-probability consistency principle. Membership functions derived from some of the well known pdfs and an application in solving noise contaminated linear system of equations are presented.
Observation of Energy Gain at the BNL Inverse Free-Electron-Laser Accelerator.

A 40 MeV electron beam, using the inverse free-electron-laser interaction, has been accelerated by $\ensuremath{\Delta}E/E\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}2.5%$ over a distance of 0.47 m. The electrons interact with a 1--2 GW ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ laser beam bounded by a 2.8 mm i.d. sapphire circular waveguide in the presence of a tapered wiggler with ${B}_{\mathrm{max}}\ensuremath{\approx}1\mathrm{T}$, and a period $2.89\ensuremath{\le}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{w}\ensuremath{\le}3.14\mathrm{cm}$. The experimental results of $\ensuremath{\Delta}E/E$ as a function of electron energy $E$, peak magnetic field ${B}_{w}$, and laser power ${W}_{l}$ compare well with analytical and 1D numerical simulations and permit scaling to higher laser power and electron energy.
Early and intermediate results of the fontan procedure at moderately high altitude

Abstract At higher elevations, alveolar hypoxia increases pulmonary vascular resistance and may limit the cardiac output of individuals without a subpulmonary ventricle. Thus, we reviewed the outcome of definitive palliation for tricuspid atresia and other forms of single ventricle in 60 consecutive Fontan patients living at a mean elevation of 1,370 m (range, 910 to 2,130 m). There were four early deaths (6.7%; 70% confidence limits, 4.1% to 10.7%) and six late deaths. Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival (± standard error) is 79.6% ± 8.2% at 5 years. Survival was significantly decreased in patients with a preoperative mean pulmonary arterial pressure greater than or equal to 15 mm Hg unless the Fontan procedure was performed with a residual fenestrarion. Exercise tolerance was significantly worse at higher elevations in a subgroup of patients who have traveled to altitudes of 1,680 to 3,350 m. We conclude that the early and intermediate results of the Fontan procedure at moderately high altitude are similar to results reported at sea level. However, exercise tolerance may be impaired at higher elevations in many patients.
Tensile and Fracture Characterization of PETI-5 and IM7/PETI-5 Graphite/Epoxy Composites Under Quasi-Static and Dynamic Loading Conditions

Tensile and fracture responses of the phenylethynyl terminated imide oligomer (PETI-5) are studied. Since this polymer is a candidate aerospace structural adhesive as well as a matrix material in composite systems, neat as well as fiber reinforced forms of PETI-5 are studied under static and dynamic loading conditions. A split-Hopkinson tension bar apparatus is used for performing tensile tests on dogbone specimens. The dynamic fracture tests are carried out using a drop tower in conjunction with 2D image correlation method and high-speed digital photography on edge cracked specimens in three-point bend configuration. A toughened neat epoxy system, Hexcel 3900, is also studied to provide a baseline comparison for neat PETI-5 system. The tensile stress-strain responses show PETI-5 to have excellent mechanical characteristics under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions when compared with 3900. Fracture behavior of PETI-5 under quasi-static and impact loading conditions also shows superiority relative to 3900. The dynamic fracture behavior of a PETI-5 based graphite fiber reinforced composite, IM7/ PETI-5, is also studied and the results are comparatively evaluated relative to the ones corresponding to a more common aerospace composite system, T800/3900-2 graphitel epoxy. Once again, the IM7/PETI-5 system shows excellent fracture performance in terms of dynamic crack initiation and growth behaviors.
Adaptation of Mesenteric Collecting Lymphatic Pump Function Following Acute Alcohol Intoxication

Objective Acute alcohol intoxication increases intestinal lymph flow by unknown mechanisms, potentially impacting mucosal immunity. We tested the hypothesis that enhanced intrinsic pump function of mesenteric lymphatics contributes to increased intestinal lymph flow during alcohol intoxication.
Human lymphocyte-sheep erythrocyte rosette formation: Some characteristics of the interation

Abstract Sheep red blood cell rosette (SRBC-R) formation was evaluated and utilized as a human T cell marker for lymphocytes from normals and selected patients; 69–82% of the blood lymphocytes of normal individuals and 90–100% of human thymocytes form SRBC-R. In double-labeling experiments in which the B lymphocytes are first labeled with either aggregated human immunoglobulin or anti-immunoglobulin and then SRBC added, the vast majority of B cells do not form SRBC-R. However, rare cells are noted that show B cell markers and are also SRBC-R. Lymphocytes from most patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) showed predominence of anti-lg and aggregate staining and low percentages of SRBC-R. Therefore, these appeared to represent B cell leukemias. One case, however, showed no anti-lg or aggregate staining but 88% SRBC-R and thus appeared to be a T cell leukemia. These relationships were also found in hypogammaglobulinemia patients with relative B cell deficiency. Rosette formation was not inhibited by anti-immunoglobulin sera including specific anti-light chain sera. Electron microscopic studies of the SRBC-R suggest that there are relatively few sites of attachment between the reactive lymphocyte and SRBC. This binding is distinguished from binding of complement-coated SRBC to the C3 receptor-bearing lymphocyte, in which broad zones of attachment between lymphocyte and erythrocyte are observed.
Adrenal steroids regulate postnatal development of the rat dentate gyrus: II. Effects of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids on cell birth

Unlike the majority of mammalian brain regions, the rat dentate gyrus undergoes maximal cell birth and cell death during the same developmental time period. Granule cell birth and death peak at the end of the first postnatal week. We have found that manipulations of glucocorticoid levels during the stress hyporesponsive period profoundly influence the density of pyknotic cells in the dentate gyrus while apparently not affecting the density of healthy cells. This raises the possibility that glucocorticoids are regulating processes in addition to cell death, i.e., cell birth. In order to determine whether increases in circulating glucocorticoids or mineralocorticoids affect the birth of cells in the developing dentate gyrus, 3H-thymidine autoradiography was performed on brains of rat pups treated with either corticosterone or aldosterone during the first postnatal week. Quantitative analysis of 3H-thymidine-labelled cells revealed significant decreases in the density of labelled cells in the granule cell layers with both corticosterone and aldosterone treatment. In these same brains, significant decreases in the density of pyknotic cells were also observed in the granule cell layers. However, no changes in the numbers of 3H-thymidine-labelled pyknotic cells were observed with any treatment. Increases in circulating corticosterone or aldosterone resulted in significant increases in the density of both 3H-thymidine-labelled and pyknotic cells in the hilus. These results suggest that dentate gyrus cell birth and cell death are related and that these processes are regulated by adrenal steroids.
Multinuclear NMR studies of the trp-represser

Abstract The binding of the corepressor, l -tryptophan, to the Escherichia coli trp -aporepressor in solution has been examined by 13 C-and 19 F-NMR spectroscopy. The binding of a number of trytophan analogues have been studied by equilibrium dialysis. Evidence is presented that support the crystallographic studies (Schevitz, R.W., Otwinowski, Z., Joachimiak, A., Lawson C.L. and Sigler, P.B. (1985) Nature 317, 782–786) that Val-58 is within the ring currents of the bound tryptophan and also close in space to the indole 5'-position, on the basis of heteronuclear 19 F( 1 H)-NOE experiments. The tryptophan carboxylate is in hydrogen-bonding distance to a highly positively charged residue, probably Arg-54 and this bond strengthens on formation of the trp -repressor-DNA complex.
Damage accumulation in structures

Four types of defect are described, and the hierarchical nature of shape, form and material is explored. Defects and failure are also shown to be hierarchical, and a structure's damage is defined as the sum of its defects. The concept of material toughness is linked to structural redundancy. Damage is described in two ways: geometrically and materially, the latter describing performance loss quantitatively. The paper concludes with a simple numerical example of how damage affects reliability.
Six-hydroxydopamine induced hyperactivity: neither sex differences nor caffeine stimulation are found.

Abstract We investigated possible sex differences in the development of locomotor activity in rats treated neonatally with desmethylimipramine (DMI) followed by intraventricular 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HDA). In addition, the locomotor response to the stimulant caffeine was investigated in the male rats after they had reached adulthood. Both male and female 6-HDA-treated rats exhibited increased activity relative to controls. No sex differences were seen in either the development or magnitude of this effect. Male rats were used to determine the dose effects function for caffeine (0.5, 5, 15, 30 mg/kg) on locomotor activity. Control rats exhibited increased locomotor activity whereas 6-HDA-treated rats showed no increases with any dose of caffeine. Large decreases in the dopamine content of the olfactory tubercle (−88%, −82%), nucleus accumbens (−96%, −95%), and striatum (−99%, −99%) were found in both male and female rats. Choline acetyltransferase and glutamic acid decarboxylase activities were unchanged.
Leukapheresis in a 3-year-old child with lymphoma in leukemic transformation

1. Fox JP, et al: The Seattle Virus Watch VII. Observations of adenovirus infections, Am J Epidemiol 105:362, 1977. 2. Brandt CO, Kim HW, Vargusko AJ, et al: Infections in 18,000 infants and children in a controlled study of respiratory disease. I. Adenovirus pathogenicity in relation to serologic type and illness syndrome, Am J Epidemiol 90:484, 1969. 3. Herbert FA, et al: Adenovirus type 3 pneumonia causing lung damage in children, Can Med Assoc J 116:274, 1977. 4. Connor JD: Evidence of an etiological role of adenoviral infection in the pertussis syndrome, N Engl J Med 283:390, 1970. 5. Darougar S, et al: Epidemic. keratoconjunctivitis and chronic papillary conjunctivitis in London due to adenovirus 19, Br J Ophthalmol 61:73, 1977. 6. Guyer B, O'Day DM, Hierholzer JC, and Schaffner W: Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis: a community outbreak of mixed adenovirus type 8 and 19 infection, J Infect Dis 132:142, 1975.
Oral Contraceptives and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Over the years, the estrogen dose in combined oral contraceptives has been progressively reduced to decrease the risk of thrombosis; however, the cardiovascular safety of widely used oral contraceptives is still a concern. Low-dose oral contraceptives, especially those containing certain third-generation progestins, have been found to increase the risk of venous thrombosis. Low-dose oral contraceptive use has not been clearly shown to increase the risk of arterial vascular disease. The risk of arterial and venous thrombosis in young healthy women taking low-dose oral contraceptives is outweighed by the risks of unintended pregnancy. Women with cardiovascular risk factors, particularly smoking, must weigh the risk of thrombotic events against the convenience and efficacy of alternative methods for preventing pregnancy. As oral contraceptives are increasingly used in the later reproductive years, further research is needed to define the risks in older women, for whom the prevalence of risk factors and the incidence of cardiovascular disease are higher.
Small molecule probes that perturb a protein–protein interface in antithrombin

Small molecule probes for perturbing protein-protein interactions (PPIs) in vitro can be useful if they cause the target proteins to undergo biomedically relevant changes to their tertiary and quaternary structures. Application of the Exploring Key Orientations (EKO) strategy (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135, 167 - 173) to a piperidinone-piperidine chemotype 1 indicated specific derivatives were candidates to perturb a protein-protein interface in the α-antithrombin dimer; those particular derivatives of 1 were prepared and tested. In the event, most of them significantly accelerated oligomerization of monomeric α-antithrombin, which is metastable in its oligomeric state. This assertion is supported by data from gel electrophoresis (non-denaturing PAGE; throughout) and probe-induced loss of α-antithrombin's inhibitor activity in a reaction catalyzed by thrombin. Kinetics of α-antithrombin oligomerization induced by the target compounds were examined. It was found that probes with O-benzyl-protected serine side-chains are the most active catalysts in the series, and reasons for this, based on modeling experiments, are proposed. Overall, this study reveals one of the first examples of small molecules designed to act at a protein-protein interface relevant to oligomerization of a serpin (ie α-antithrombin). The relevance of this to formation of oligomeric serpin fibrils, associated with the disease states known as "serpinopathies", is discussed.
Functional characterization of the human intestinal NaPi-IIb cotransporter in hamster fibroblasts and Xenopus oocytes.

Abstract The recently cloned NaPi-IIb cotransporter is an apical membrane protein that is involved in the absorption of phosphate in the intestine. To expedite functional and structural studies, the human intestinal NaPi-IIb cotransporter was stably expressed in hamster fibroblast (PS120) cells. The hNaPi-IIb cDNA stably transfected cells exhibited a 1.8-fold higher sodium-dependent phosphate uptake than vector DNA transfected cells, and had a Km for Pi of ∼106 μM and a Km for Na+ of ∼34 mM. The hNaPi-IIb cotransporter was also expressed in Xenopus oocytes and it exhibited a Km for Pi of ∼113 μM and a Km for Na+ of ∼65 mM. The hNaPi-IIb cotransporter expressed in both PS120 cells and oocytes was inhibited by high external pH. Furthermore, the phosphate uptake mediated by the hNaPi-IIb cotransporter was inhibited by 5 mM phosphonoformic acid (PFA), 1 mM arsenate and 100 nM phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). These results demonstrate that the human intestinal NaPi-IIb cotransporter is functional when expressed in hamster fibroblasts, and that this model system may be useful in the future to identify NaPi-IIb cotransporter-specific inhibitors.