cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The treatment of esophageal perforation with delayed recognition and continuing sepsis.

Abstract Five patients, recently treated for esophageal ruptures, provided a spectrum of "late" perforations. Treatment was individualized for each patient and ranged from suture closure of the perforation to esophagectomy. Four of the 5 patients survived and now have no dietary restrictions. The goals of treatment should be: (1) elimination of sources of chemical and bacterial soilage; (2) drainage of infected areas; (3) augmentation of host defenses by antibiotics; and (4) provision of adequate nutrition. Several treatment adjuncts, alone or in combination, may be used to accomplish these goals. The selection of treatment methods should be influenced by the site of perforation, the extent of local inflammation, the status of the residual esophagus, the overall status of the patient, and the chronicity of the perforation. As the risk of uncontrolled sepsis increases, the surgeon should take more aggressive and definitive steps, up to and including esophagectomy in certain cases, to prevent further soilage.
Renal Failure, Deafness, and Brain Lesions Following Irrigation of the Mediastinum with Neomycin

Abstract A patient is described who suffered renal failure, deafness, and multiple necrotic brain lesions following irrigation of the mediastinum with neomycin for purulent mediastinitis. High serum neomycin concentrations were found, indicating that the drug had been readily absorbed by the tissue. Hemodialysis was effective in lowering neomycin levels. Postmortem examination showed severe renal tubular damage and multiple necrotic lesions of the brain. It is concluded that the reservations and precautions governing the use of neomycin administered parenterally should be observed when it is used in irrigating the mediastinum.
A New Class of Biomimetically Relevant “Scorpionate” Ligands. 1. The (2-Hydroxyphenyl)bis(pyrazolyl)methanes: Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Some Cobalt(II) Complexes

The syntheses of a new class of potentially biomimetic, tripodal, mixed functionality ligands, (2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(pyrazolyl)methane (L1), (2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane (L2), and (2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(3-isopropylpyrazolyl)methane (L3), are described. These ligands have been used to prepare the cobalt(II) complexes [Co(L1)2]·2.5MeOH·1.5H2O, 1·2.5MeOH·1.5H2O; [Co(L2)2]·0.5H2O, 2·0.5H2O; [Co(L3)Cl2], 3; and [Co3(μ3-OH)2(μ-L3)2(L3)(H2O)]BF4, 4. X-ray structural analysis of 1−4 gave the following structural parameters: 1, C30H34N8CoO6, triclinic, a = 8.286(2) A, b = 10.053(3) A, c = 10.562(2) A, α = 109.66(2)°, β = 96.57(1)°, γ = 91.11(3)°, space group P1, Z = 1; 2, C38H38N8CoO6, triclinic, a = 8.746(5) A, b = 10.900(5) A, c = 11.399(8) A, α = 70.82(4)°, β = 75.13(5)°, γ = 81.46(4)°, space group P1, Z = 1; 3, C20H26N4Cl4CoO, monoclinic, a = 10.934(2) A, b = 12.404(2) A, c = 19.267(3) A, β = 98.33(1)°, space group P21/n, Z = 4; 4, C58H70N12BCo3F4O9, monoclinic, a = 14.798(5) A, b = 23.65...
Non-lethal secondary product release from transformed root cultures of Beta vulgaris

Transformed root tissue of Beta vulgaris (Detroit Dark Red) was permeabilized to stimulate the release of intracellularly stored betanin without adverse affects on tissue viability as measured by biomass accumulation. Product release of up to 15% (w/w) was achieved by heat treatment at 42°C for 45 min with minimal effect on viability. Higher levels of product release were obtained with increasing temperature and exposure, but at the expense of viability. Viability was measured by comparing dry weight increases of permeabilized tissue 3 days after treatment vs non-permeabilized tissue over the same time interval. Recovery of heat-treated tissue was improved by addition of CaCl2 (20 mm for 10 min) post-heat treatment. Betanin release up to 15% was also obtained at ambient temperature (25°C) by addition of up to 20 mm (NH4)2SO4 in the presence of 1 mm ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).
The effects of pulsed and continuous stimulation on vibrotactile thresholds obtained from the tongue

Vibrotactile thresholds were obtained from the anterior midline surface of the tongue on two groups of normal-speaking young adults by using ascending-pulsed, ascending-continuous, and descending-continuous stimulation. The t test comparisons of the data showed no significant differences between ascending-pulsed and continuous thresholds; however, significant t tests were obtained when comparing ascending-continuous and descending-continuous data. These results suggested that descending-continuous vibrotactile thresholds were significantly poorer than either ascending-pulsed or continuous thresholds.
Inhibition of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-induced Endothelial Cell Proliferation by a Peptide Corresponding to the Exon 7-Encoded Domain of VEGF165

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent mitogen for endothelial cells (EC) in vitro and a major regulator of angiogenesis in vivo. VEGF121 and VEGF165 are the most abundant of the five known VEGF isoforms. The structural difference between these two is the presence in VEGF165 of 44 amino acids encoded by exon 7 lacking in VEGF121. It was previously shown that VEGF165 and VEGF121 both bind to KDR/Flk-1 and Flt-1 but that VEGF165 binds in addition to a novel receptor (Soker, S., Fidder, H., Neufeld, G., and Klagsbrun, M. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 5761-5767). The binding of VEGF165 to this VEGF165-specific receptor (VEGF165R) is mediated by the exon 7-encoded domain. To investigate the biological role of this domain further, a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein corresponding to the VEGF165 exon 7-encoded domain was prepared. The fusion protein inhibited binding of 125I-VEGF165 to VEGF165R on human umbilical vein-derived EC (HUVEC) and MDA-MB-231 tumor cells. The fusion protein also inhibited significantly 125I-VEGF165 binding to KDR/Flk-1 on HUVEC but not on porcine EC which express KDR/Flk-1 alone. VEGF165 had a 2-fold higher mitogenic activity for HUVEC than did VEGF121. The exon 7 fusion protein inhibited VEGF165-induced HUVEC proliferation by 60% to about the level stimulated by VEGF121. Unexpectedly, the fusion protein also inhibited HUVEC proliferation in response to VEGF121. Deletion analysis revealed that a core inhibitory domain exists within the C-terminal 23-amino acid portion of the exon 7-encoded domain and that a cysteine residue at position 22 in exon 7 is critical for inhibition. It was concluded that the exon 7-encoded domain of VEGF165 enhances its mitogenic activity for HUVEC by interacting with VEGF165R and modulating KDR/Flk-1-mediated mitogenicity indirectly and that exon 7-derived peptides may be useful VEGF antagonists in angiogenesis-associated diseases.
Expression cloning in Xenopus identifies RNA-binding proteins as regulators of embryogenesis and Rbmx as necessary for neural and muscle development.

We have performed an expression cloning screen in Xenopus laevis with the aim of isolating novel gene activities from the neural plate. Of 8,064 clones screened, we isolated 61 clones that affected either neural plate patterning or tadpole morphology. Of these, 20 clones encoded RNA binding proteins, and the majority of these are heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) or SR-proteins, which are associated with alternative splicing. All of these genes are expressed in the nervous system, and in several cases specific to neural tissue. Injecting mRNA encoding these proteins results in neural plate mispatterning and abnormal muscle segmentation. To initiate characterization of these proteins, we selected Rbmx as a candidate for deeper analysis. Using morpholino mediated knockdown, we show that Rbmx is necessary for normal anterior neural plate patterning, neurogenesis, neural crest development, and muscle segmentation. Developmental Dynamics 237:1755–1766, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Structural Divisions of Personality and the Classification of Traits

Structural models divide the personality system and its associated traits into distinct areas. Four structural models are examined in regard to how well they do this. Three of the models—the trilog...
Visualizing nutritional terrain: a geospatial analysis of pedestrian produce accessibility in Lansing, Michigan, USA

This article considers how geospatial analyses can influence cartographic outputs in studies of the spatial structure of food environments. We make two contributions. First, we present a new approach to conceiving and visualizing urban food environments as ‘nutritional terrains’, in which the opportunities and costs of locating (healthful) food vary continuously across space. While other researchers have conceptualized and represented food environments as continuous phenomena, we use detailed data to produce maps of food accessibility that have high resolution both spatially and in terms of food availability. Second, we show that decisions made about measuring and modelling food accessibility can create artifactual patterns independently of actual variation in food-environment characteristics. Although the type of method-driven patterning we identify will not surprise cartographers, we argue that non-geographers using geographic information technologies to visualize food environments must give greater att...
ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TAXATION TO ACHIEVE EQUITABLE LEVELS OF EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURES

Pressures are increasing for reforms in financing of local government services. At the local level, the property tax is a major source of concern. Two major charges leveled against the property tax are (1) that the property tax is regressive and (2) that financing local government services through the property tax leads to inequities in services received.The charge that the property tax is regressive stems from the fact that it is a tax on wealth and not on income. The amount of real property owned by a person is not necessarily proportional to his ability to pay taxes. Several studies have shown that property taxes are regressive; i.e., that low-income families pay a greater percentage of their income for public services than do middle- and upper-income families. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Spiritual and Religious Issues in Counseling: Ethical Considerations

More and more counselors are addressing religious and spiritual issues in their clinical work. This article outlines some of the ethical concerns that may arise when working with clients in this arena.
Porcine Amelogenin: Alternative Splicing, Proteolytic Processing, Protein-Protein Interactions, and Possible Functions

Amelogenin is the major secretory product of ameloblasts and is critical for proper tooth enamel formation. Amelogenin isoforms and their cleavage products comprise over 80% of total secretory stage enamel protein. We have isolated and characterized four secreted amelogenin isoforms from developing porcine enamel : P190 (27-kDa), P173 (25-kDa), P132 (18-kDa) and P56 (6.5-kDa ; leucine rich amelogenin polypeptide or LRAP). P190 and P132 are low abundance amelogenins that contain a novel exon 4-encoded segment of lack the exon 3-encoded segment, respectively. P173 is the most abundant (major) amelogenin isoform. Cleavage of P173 by matrix metalloproteinase 20 (Mmp20) occurs at specific sites that generates a set of N-terminal cleavage products : P162 (23-kDa), P148 (20-kDa), P62/P63 (11-kDa), and Trp(45) (6-kDa, tyrosine rich amelogenin polypeptide or TRAP). P148 is the most abundant protein in developing enamel and influences the conversion of amorphous calcium phosphate into hydroxyapatite in vitro. Mmp20 cleaves LRAP, the second abundant amelogenin isoform after Pro(45) and Pro(40). Processing by Mmp20 allows amelogenin cleavage products to serve separate functions. Over time, Mmp20 catalyzes additional cleavages that facilitate the progressive replacement of amelogenin by mineral, so enamel crystals thicken and widen with depth. Besides proteolytic processing, amelogenin protein-protein interactions are critical for function. Far-Western analyses demonstrate that the larger amelogenins (P173, P162, and P148) are only able to interact with larger amelogenins. No amelogenin-amelogenin interactions are observed for the smaller amelogenin cleavage products, TRAP or LRAP Amelogenin doesn't interact with the 32-kDa glycosylated enamelin cleavage product, unless it it partially deglycosylated.
Development of Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Cut-off Scores for Patients With Parkinson's Disease

Background The purpose of this study was to explore validity of the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale in measuring cognitive impairment among individuals with Parkinson's disease. The scale was created for use in patients with Alzheimer's disease and, to date, there have been no published studies examining if this tool is appropriate for patients with Parkinson's disease.
Zero Assignment in Vibration: With and Without Time Delay

Control of the vibrating structures is desirable in various engineering applications for preventing fatigue and failure. It can be achieved by passive means using dynamic absorbers or by active means using sensors and actuators. In some cases, it is also not practical to apply a desirable control force in those locations at which dynamics of the structure to be controlled. In recent years, nodal control or dynamic absorption schemes are investigated in which control strategies to absorb a steady state motion of a desired location in the structure have been developed. Unlike conventional full-state feedback control which requires all the states of the system to be measured, nodal control strategy requires least numbers of sensors and actuators (depending upon the number of dynamic absorption points) for estimating the control gains and hence it may provide economical engineering solution. Nodal control problems are essentially a zero assignment problems in which a desired control is achieved by assigning zeroes to the prescribed locations in the structure. However while applying nodal control strategy by active means, small time delay from the sensors and actuators in the feedback loop is unavoidable and they influence the control gains as well as the stability of the system. In this paper we have developed nodal control strategy and obtained control gains for systems with and without time delays. Some examples related to conservative and nonconservative systems as well as realistic distributed parameter systems are presented to demonstrate the nodal control strategy and the effects of time delay on control gains.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
A comparative study of the noise performance of aluminium-gallium-arsenide/gallium-arsenide high electron mobility transistors with and without superconducting gate electrodes

The noise performance of an AlGaAs high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) with a 1 mu m vanadium/titanium superconducting gate electrode is compared to an otherwise identical nonsuperconducting titanium gate HEMT. At a frequency of 1 GHz and at a temperature below its critical temperature, the superconducting gate HEMT achieved a noise temperature of 21 K. Under these conditions the HEMT with the Ti gate electrode demonstrated a noise temperature of approximately 70 K. This factor of three reduction in noise temperature is due to the reduced gate resistance of the V/Ti superconducting gate. This is the first demonstration of noise reduction in an HEMT using a low-temperature superconducting gate electrode. >
Serotonergic mechanism underlying tranylcypromine enhancement of nicotine self-administration

Although nicotine is generally considered to be the main psychoactive component of tobacco, growing evidence highlights the importance of non-nicotine compounds in smoking reinforcement. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition is a major consequence of smoking and MAO inhibitors, such as tranylcypromine, increase nicotine reinforcement. Tranylcypromine has multiple pharmacological effects, increasing monoamine release for a few hours immediately after its administration and blocking MAO activity for several days. To assess the relative role of these two actions, adult male rats were tested in consecutive daily 3-hr sessions for self-administration of nicotine (3μg/kg/inj, i.v.) either 20 hr or 1hr following administration of tranylcypromine (3 mg/kg). Both paradigms were shown to produce highly significant inhibition of MAO activity. However, whereas animals readily acquired self-administration when pretreated with tranylcypromine 1hr prior to testing, they did not with the longer pretreatment interval. Such animals did immediately acquire nicotine self-administration when the tranylcypromine pretreatment interval was switched to 1hr prior to testing on day 4, indicating that an acute effect of the MAO inhibitor was responsible for enhanced nicotine reinforcement. Several lines of evidence implicate serotonin (5-HT) as the mediator of this enhancement: (1) Tranyclypromine-enhanced nicotine reinforcement was blocked by the 5-HT2 receptor antagonists, ritanserin and ketanserin; (2) parachloroamphetamine (PCA), a 5-HT releaser, also enhanced nicotine self-administration in animals in which MAO activity was inhibited; (3) pretreatment with tranylcypromine increased PCA-induced 5-HT overflow in the nucleus accumbens. These findings suggest that MAO inhibition enhances serotonergic transmission, which serves a critical role in the reinforcing effects of nicotine.
Twelve-Month-Old Infants Interpret Action in Context

Two experiments assessed infants' understanding that actions that occur in sequence may be related to an overarching goal. Experiment 1 tested whether embedding an ambiguous action (touching the lid of a box) in a sequence that culminated with an action infants readily construe as goal-directed (grasping a toy inside the box) would alter infants' construal of the ambiguous action. Having seen the ambiguous action in this context, infants later construed this action in isolation as being directed at the toy within the box. Experiment 2 tested whether infants related the two actions on the basis of the temporal or the causal relation between them. When the causal relation was disrupted but the temporal relation was preserved, infants no longer related the two actions. These findings indicate that 12-month-old infants relate single actions to overarching goals and that they do so by construing goal-directed action in a causal framework.
Recent suicide attempt and the effectiveness of inpatient and outpatient substance use disorder treatment.

BACKGROUND:: The present study investigated whether or not the effect of treatment setting (inpatient or outpatient) on 6-mo follow-up substance use varied for suicidal and nonsuicidal patients. In particular, the study tested the hypothesis that treatment setting would have no differing effect for nonsuicidal participants, but for suicidal participants, inpatient setting would be more closely associated with positive outcomes than the outpatient setting. METHODS:: A national sample of patients presenting for treatment of substance use disorders in the Veterans Administration healthcare system was selected to participate in the study. A total of 1289 participants provided complete data on psychiatric and substance-related problems at baseline and 6-mo follow-up. RESULTS:: At baseline, 4% (n = 53) of the sample reported having made a suicide attempt within the past 30 days. Those who reported a suicide attempt were no more likely to have been treated in an inpatient setting than in an outpatient setting. A significant interaction between baseline suicide attempt and treatment setting was found, such that nonsuicidal patients reported similar patterns of substance use when treated in inpatient or outpatient settings, but suicidal patients were significantly more likely to have better substance-related outcomes at 6-mo follow-up if they were treated in inpatient compared with outpatient settings. CONCLUSIONS:: Suicidal patients displayed substantial improvement after substance use disorders treatment and seem particularly responsive to treatment in inpatient settings.
Privileging Asymmetric Warfare?: Defender Duties Under International Humanitarian Law

Scholarship and advocacy needs to bring defender duties to the forefront of any discussion and investigation of armed conflicts. The necessarily joint contribution of attackers and defenders alike to civilian harm must be recognized. Any investigation of an armed conflict must focus on the duties of both parties and evaluate the feasibility of attacker compliance with some of the more open-ended obligations of international humanitarian law (IHL), such as the so-called duty of proportionality, as a function in part of the extent of defender compliance with its duties. . There are open areas in IHL. States that have acceded to Additional Protocol (AP) I are not necessarily bound by ICRC interpretations and they and states that have declined to ratify AP I can play an active role in formulating and urging others to adopt rules of practice that strike the right balance between attacker and defender duties. Even if, for example, there is widespread international recognition that, at some abstract level, the duty of proportionality is grounded in customary law, the content of that duty is not necessarily identical to the wording contained in AP Article 57. The effectiveness of such a duty, including the ability of military commanders to implement it in the air and on the ground, may well depend on serious consideration, elaboration and implementation of defender duties, for defenders are often in the superior position to minimize civilian exposure to the dangers of military operations. Defender duties in armed conflicts is a neglected area of IHL. This needs to change if the overall mission of this body of law – minimization of harm to civilians – is to have any reasonable prospect of being realized.
Willingness to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation by health care providers: a survey.

Abstract Background During cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), mouth-to-mouth ventilation (MTM) is only effective if rescuers are willing to perform it. Methods To assess the degree of willingness or reluctance in performing MTM, a survey including 17 hypothetical scenarios was created. In each scenario health hazards for the rescuer needed to be balanced against the patient's need for MTM. Respondents were recruited from health care workers attending courses at a medical simulation center. Respondents reported their willingness or reluctance to perform MTM for each scenario using a 4 point scale. Results The questionnaire had responses by 560 health care workers. Reluctance to perform MTM varied with the scenario. Some health care workers refused to ventilate patients who could benefit from MTM. In all scenarios even when resuscitation was both futile and potentially hazardous, some health care workers were willing to perform MTM. Age and level of experience tend to reduce the propensity to engage in MTM. Parental propensity to ventilate one's own child was stronger than any other motivator. Conclusions HIV infection is not the only condition for which rescuers hesitate to perform MTM. Bag-valve-mask devices for mechanical ventilation should be available in all locations where health care workers may be called upon to resuscitate apneic patients making the decision to perform MTM moot.
Constitutive Modeling of Electrostrictive Polymers using a Hyperelasticity-Based Approach

The use of constitutive equations to describe the electro-mechanical behavior of electrostrictive materials began over 100 years ago. While these equations have been used to model a host of ceramic-based and polymer-based electroactive materials, a fully-characterized model has not yet been developed to predict the response of transversely-isotropic polymer electrostrictives. A constitutive model is developed within a thermodynamic and hyperelastic framework that incorporates the transversly-isotropic material symmetry that is present in many polymer-based electrostrictives. The resulting constitutive model is characterized for three electrostrictive polymer systems using empirical data that is available in the literature. The model has a relatively simple functional form that is easily adaptable to other polymer electrostrictive material systems.
An institutional experience with laparoscopic gastric bypass complications seen in the first year compared with open gastric bypass complications during the same period.

Abstract Background: Complication rates for laparoscopic bariatric surgery remain in evolution. Methods: Single institution review of the initial year’s experience with laparoscopic gastric bypass compared with open gastric bypass complications for the same period. Results: There were 20 laparoscopic and 52 open gastric bypass procedures. Five laparoscopic patients had major complications. There were 4 anastomotic leaks. Nine open bypass patients had major complications, with 2 leaks. Leak rate was 20% for the laparoscopic group and 4% for the open group. All leaks in both groups led to substantial morbidity. There were two deaths, one in each group. The laparoscopic death was from postleak sepsis. Conclusions: Gastric bypass, whether done open or laparoscopically, has significant surgical risk. Complication profiles differed between the two groups. Anastomotic leaks were significantly more frequent in the laparoscopic group, probably related to the learning curve. There is a continued need for open surgery in many bariatric patients.
Host and Pathogen Glycosaminoglycan-Binding Proteins Modulate Antimicrobial Peptide Responses in Drosophila melanogaster

During group B streptococcal infection, the alpha C protein (ACP) on the bacterial surface binds to host cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and facilitates entry of bacteria into human epithelial cells. Previous studies in a Drosophila melanogaster model showed that binding of ACP to the sulfated polysaccharide chains (glycosaminoglycans) of HSPGs promotes host death and is associated with higher bacterial burdens. We hypothesized that ACP-glycosaminoglycan binding might determine infection outcome by altering host responses to infection, such as expression of antimicrobial peptides. As glycosaminoglycans/HSPGs also interact with a number of endogenous secreted signaling molecules in Drosophila, we examined the effects of host and pathogen glycosaminoglycan/HSPG-binding structures in host survival of infection and antimicrobial peptide expression. Strikingly, host survival after infection with wild-type streptococci was enhanced among flies overexpressing the endogenous glycosaminoglycan/HSPG-binding morphogen Decapentaplegic-a transforming growth factor β-like Drosophila homolog of mammalian bone morphogenetic proteins-but not by flies overexpressing a mutant, non-glycosaminoglycan-binding Decapentaplegic, or the other endogenous glycosaminoglycan/HSPG-binding morphogens, Hedgehog and Wingless. While ACP-glycosaminoglycan binding was associated with enhanced transcription of peptidoglycan recognition proteins and antimicrobial peptides, Decapentaplegic overexpression suppressed transcription of these genes during streptococcal infection. Further, the glycosaminoglycan-binding domain of ACP competed with Decapentaplegic for binding to the soluble glycosaminoglycan heparin in an in vitro assay. These data suggest that, in addition to promoting bacterial entry into host cells, ACP competes with Decapentaplegic for binding to glycosaminoglycans/HSPGs during infection and that these bacterial and endogenous glycosaminoglycan-binding structures determine host survival and regulate antimicrobial peptide transcription.
Sensitivity Analysis for the System Reliability Function

Abstract : Sensitivity analysis, which represents an integral part of virtually every study of system reliability, measures variation in this quantity in response to changes in component reliabilities or in system design. Replacing old components with new ones with higher reliabilities affects system reliability. As time elapses, system reliability deteriorates when a non replacement policy for components all affect system reliability. Sampling variation in component reliability estimates induce sampling variation in the corresponding system reliability estimate. Having access to a model that accurately predicts these changes in system behavior allows one to make considerably more well informed decisions for maintaining or enhancing performance. This paper presents a method for estimating variation in system reliability in response to variation in component reliabilities. It describes a Monte Carlo sampling plan that on each of w sets of distinct component reliabilities. It describes a Monte Carlo sampling plan that on each replication provides sample data that contribute to the estimation of system reliability for each w sets of distinct component reliabilities. The sets may represent alternative component replacement plans, deteriorating component reliabilities at a succession of time points or extremal points of simultaneous component reliability interval estimates (Fishman 1987). For purposes of exposition, we focus on s-t reliability but emphasize that the concepts discussed here also apply to other definitions of system reliability. Keywords: Coefficients; Polynomials; Confidence intervals.
Late asthmatic responses.

Late asthmatic responses provoked in the clinical laboratory under controlled conditions occur commonly in sensitized subjects following inhalation challenge with allergens (1-5) or occupational agents (6-8). Allergen provocation tests generally involve exposure of the subject to increasing allergen concentrations at 10 to 15 rain intervals until an immediate or early response occurs. The early response is maximal at 15 to 30 min and resolves within 2 to 3 h. A proportion of subjects develop a delayed phase of airflow limitation after several hours, the late asthmatic response. Late responses are generally maximal at 6 to 12 h and resolve within 24 h, although an increase in 'morning dipping' a manifestation of increased airway responsiveness, may persist for several days (9). Late responses occurring in the absence of a preceding early response have been observed following occupational type challenge tests for many years (6). However, recent information suggests that these isolated late responses may also occur frequently following exposure to common allergens at low concentrations, insufficient to provoke an immediate asthmatic response (10). The traditional view has been that late asthmatic responses occur as an 'all or nothing' event although this concept was based on the somewhat arbitrary definition of a late response, generally less than or equal to a 15% fall in FEV~ several hours after challenge. It is now accepted that late asthmatic responses occur as a spectrum from 'no late response' to 'severe late responses' and, probably, independently of the size of the early response. Furthermore, although it is not possible to predict accurately the occurrence of late response in individual patients, they occur as dosedependent phenomena (10,11) in relation to the dose of allergen administered and the level of allergen sensitivity of the subject (12-14). The development of late responses after allergens has been regarded as a manifestation of genuine 'allergic' IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to the agent tested, as opposed to an immediate 'irritant' or nonspecific response which might occur in either allergic or nonallergic asthmatic subjects following exposure to many noxious agents or chemicals. Late asthmatic responses have recently been described in other circumstances, including experimental provocation with exercise (l 5-17) and following the inhalation of ultrasonically nebulized distilled water ('fog' challenge) (18). Exercise-induced late responses are generally less severe than following allergen provocation, and appear to be more common in children (15, 16). Indeed, their occurrence in adults has been questioned on methodological grounds (19). In contrast to allergen provocation, the development of exercise-induced late response has not been associated with an increase in nonspecific airway responsiveness following challenge (20). For these reasons the clinical importance of late responses following exercise remains unclear and further studies are required.
Beverage Choices of Adolescents and Their Parents Using the Theory of Planned Behavior: A Mixed Methods Analysis

Abstract Background Added sugar intake in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been considered a contributor to weight gain and cardiometabolic dysfunction in adults and youth. Adolescents are some of the highest consumers of added sugars, taking in ∼16% of their total calories from added sugars with ∼40% of these calories coming from SSBs. Food preferences and self-regulation of dietary intake by youth can be influenced by parents. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in understanding and predicting adolescents' SSB consumption, identify which constructs are the most important when evaluating SSB consumption in adolescents, and determine whether and how adolescents' beverage choices are influenced by parents' reactions to their beverage choices. Design Measurements for this cross-sectional study included four record-assisted 24-hour dietary recalls and responses to an SSB-specific TPB questionnaire from 100 adolescents. Consenting parents completed a beverage intake questionnaire, a TPB questionnaire, and the Parent Response to Beverage Choice Questionnaire. Results The TPB explained 34% of the variance in adolescents' and parents' intention to limit SSBs to b =1.35; P =0.002) and adolescents' subjective norms ( b =0.57; P =0.001) were the strongest predictors of intention, and intention was the strongest predictor of SSB consumption in both adolescents and parents ( b =–37 [ P =0.026] and b =–49 [ P =0.003], respectively). The TPB explained more variance in parent SSB consumption ( R 2 =0.38) than adolescents ( R 2 =0.22). Parents did more discouraging of SSBs and encouraging of non-SSBs. Adolescents' intention to limit SSB consumption moderated the relationship between parents' reactions encouraging SSBs and adolescents' predicted SSB consumption ( P =0.021). Conclusions The TPB explained a small but significant amount of variance in adolescents' SSB consumption. When addressing adolescent SSB intake, people in addition to parents may influence their intentions and SSB consumption.
Abstract 18841: Despite Impaired Autophagic Flux Cardiac and Mitochondrial Functions are Preserved in Aged Mice Lacking Insulin Receptors in the Whole Heart

Introduction: Ageing-dependent cardiovascular diseases have been associated with decreases turnover of long-lived molecules and cellular organelles, known as autophagy. Insulin signaling plays an important role in both cell survival and development. However, the effects of insulin signaling on mammalian aging have been little investigated. Hypothesis: The insulin receptor is pivotal for preserving cardiac function in aging by up-regulating autophagy. Methods: In order to address this, male mice lacking insulin receptors in the whole heart (TIRKO) and their aged-matched wild-type (WT) mice were studied at 12 weeks (young-Y) and 60 weeks (mildly old-MO) of age. Results: Despite signs of perivascular fibrosis, MO-TIRKO mice showed a 20% decrease in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and preserved cardiac and mitochondrial function (maintained cardiac output and increased ATP/O ratios) as compares to age-matched WT. To investigate if autophagy plays a role in this matter, we measured the autophagy in heart homogenates (LC3II/I expression ratio). Interestingly, LC3II/I ratio was 50% decreased in both Y and MO-TIRKO mice, whereas MO-WT mice showed a 50% increase in this ratio. These differences were represented by a 2 fold increase LC3I levels in Y and MO-TIRKO mice, whereas LC3II levels were unchanged. This data was supported by a 50% reduction in ATG3 expression. As expected, P62 levels were also increased in TIRKO mice regardless of age. To further study autophagy flux, we generated LC3-mcherry TIRKO mice. Following either 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours of fasting, 12 weeks-old LC3 mcherry-TIRKO mice showed 40% less LC3-mcherry puncta/cell, while WT mice showed a linear increase of puncta numbers with fasting. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that TIRKO mice are indeed protected against age-induced cardiac and mitochondrial dysfunction, despite lower autophagic flux.
Introduction to: The Law of Development Cooperation

Development cooperation contains a promise. It is the promise of a global community, based on solidarity and built in fairness. But the reality of development cooperation often looks different. It poses seemingly insolvable problems of global governance in a postcolonial world. This book analyzes the normative structures and conceptual riddles of development cooperation. Yet, it is not a book about ethics or politics, but about law.The book argues that development cooperation is increasingly structured by legal rules and hence no longer merely a matter of politics, economics or ethics. In focusing on the rules of development cooperation, it puts forward a specific and still rather unusual perspective. It is less concerned with good governance or the rule of law, which have become key words in development policy and legal approaches to the field. Instead, it focuses on the institutional law of development cooperation and hence on the rules dealing with the process, instruments and organization of this cooperation. The present study points out that development interventions are agreed upon by states and international organizations, which administer public development funds of huge proportions – with debatable success. But the rules applying to these organizations have hardly been a matter of interest. While good governance of recipients is discussed intensively, the good governance of donors is not. This book is intended to help close that gap.
Recovery of hexagonal Si-IV nanowires from extreme GPa pressure

We use Raman spectroscopy in tandem with transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory simulations to show that extreme (GPa) pressure converts the phase of silicon nanowires from cubic (Si-I) to hexagonal (Si-IV) while preserving the nanowire's cylindrical morphology. In situ Raman scattering of the longitudinal transverse optical (LTO) mode demonstrates the high-pressure Si-I to Si-II phase transition near 9 GPa. Raman signal of the LTO phonon shows a decrease in intensity in the range of 9–14 GPa. Then, at 17 GPa, it is no longer detectable, indicating a second phase change (Si-II to Si-V) in the 14–17 GPa range. Recovery of exotic phases in individual silicon nanowires from diamond anvil cell experiments reaching 17 GPa is also shown. Raman measurements indicate Si-IV as the dominant phase in pressurized nanowires after decompression. Transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction confirm crystalline Si-IV domains in individual nanowires. Computational electromagnetic simul...
DOPPELGÄNGER: A FORTRAN program for simulating time-sampled spatial locations of “phantom” animals performing discrete pseudorandom walks

DOPPELGANGER is an analytic tool for determining whether use of space by animals that restrict their movements primarily to two dimensions (little vertical movement) differs appreciably from what would be expected if they oriented at random. The program generates Cartesian planar coordinates (X-Y pairs) simulating use of space by phantom counterparts ("doppelgangers") of individual real animals. Each animal is presumed to have been mapped on one or more "trials" (observation periods), consisting of multiple sampling occasions. The purpose of the simulation is to provide the researcher with a set of map location data representing the movements of imaginary randomly orienting animals who start from the same locations, have the same locomotor characteristics, and are confined, if at all, by the same physical boundaries as the real animals. Thus, any difference between the spatial data of the real animal and its phantom counterpart is attributable to factors other than the restraints imposed by the physical layout of the situation or the length and duration of the locomotor "bouts" of the real animal. The coordinates produced by the program are strictly isomorphic with the reallocation data. With the simulation data in hand, the researcher may compute various summary statistics and/or indexes, just as the real data are treated, and may then compare the two sets of information, providing a relatively secure inferential position from which to answer such questions as: (1) Do the real animals show significant vicinism (restriction to a smaller than expected number of quadrats)? (2) Are certain regions of the arena occupied more or less frequently than would be expected on the basis of random orientation? (3) Do particular pairs or groups of animals tend to remain closer to or further from each other than would be expected if they oriented independently? Thus, the program can assist the investigator in distinguishing orderly "patterns," "rules," or "mechanisms" that contribute to the movements of real animals from expectations based on a general null hypothesis of random navigation. In general, the pro-
A comparison of electric propulsion technologies

Electric propulsion is an advanced form of space propulsion that makes use of electrical energy to accelerate and expel an inert propellant at relatively high exhaust velocity. In contrast to chemical propulsion, the exhaust velocity is a variable that can be controlled in the design and operation of electric thrusters. Electric thrusters are categorized as electrostatic or electromagnetic according to the mechanism used for accelerating the propellant. This paper compares the propulsion capabilities and development status for several thrusters from each category with the objective of providing a 1981 data base for electric propulsion technology, using the same units and operational constraints.
Time-Sensitive Weighting for Microblog Retrieval.

We report our system and experiments for the realtime Adhoc task in the 2011 MicroBlog track. Our goal is to develop effective technique to retrieve relevant tweets that have been posted recently. In particular, we propose a time-­sensitive term weighting strategy that can favor tweets in hot-­discussed time and a document length related weighting method that can favor long tweets which are more likely to be interesting. Query expansion technique is also used to further improve the retrieval performance.
Arachidonic acid inhibits activity of cloned renal K+ channel, ROMK1

Arachidonic acid (AA) has been shown to inhibit the activity of the low-conductance ATP-sensitive K+ channel in the apical membrane of the cortical collecting duct [W. Wang, A. Cassola, and G. Giebisch. Am. J. Physiol. 262 (Renal Fluid Electrolyte Physiol. 31): F554-F559, 1992]. ROMK1, a K+ channel derived from the rat renal outer medulla, shares many biophysical properties of the native low-conductance K+ channel, which is localized to the apical membranes of the cortical collecting duct and thick ascending limb. This study was designed to determine whether the ROMK channel maintains the property of AA sensitivity of the native low-conductance K+ channel. Experiments were conducted in Xenopus oocytes injected with cRNA encoding the ROMK1 channel by use of patch-clamp techniques. We have confirmed previous reports that the cloned ROMK1 has similar channel kinetics, high open probability, and inward slope conductance as the native low-conductance K+ channel, respectively. Addition of 5 microM AA to an inside-out patch resulted in reversible inhibition of channel activity at a concentration similar to the inhibitor constant for AA on the native K+ channel. The effect of AA on channel activity was preserved in the presence of 10 microM indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, 4 microM cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxycyanocinnamate, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, and 4 microM 17-octadecynoic acid, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases, thus indicating that the effect of AA was not mediated by metabolites of AA. The effect did not appear to be the result of changes in membrane fluidity, since 5 microM eicosatetraynoic acid, an AA analogue that is a potent modulator of membrane fluidity, had no effect. Furthermore, the addition of AA to the outside of the patch also had no effect on channel activity. These results indicate that, like the native low-conductance channel, AA is able to directly inhibit ROMK1 channel activity.
Epigenetics in ADPKD: Understanding Mechanisms and Discovering Treatment

ABSTRACT Epigenetics is the study of all heritable changes in gene expression and chromatin organization that are caused by mechanisms independent of the DNA sequence itself. Similar to the genetic information found within the sequence of DNA, epigenetic information can also be inherited across generations. Epigenetic gene regulation includes, but is not limited to, DNA methylation and histone modification through acetylation, methylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, or sumoylation. The roles of epigenetic modulation on gene expression and protein function have recently become the focus in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). An interactive picture between PKD gene mutations and the epigenome needs to be developed to understand why inherited PKD gene mutations in patients may result in epigenetic changes that increase the progression of renal cyst formation. Recent studies demonstrate that PKD1 mutation increases the expression of epigenetic regulators, including DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), histone deacetylases (HDACs), histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and bromodomain proteins. Conversely, inhibition of epigenetic regulators delays cyst growth in Pkd1 knockout mouse models, supporting the importance of abnormal epigenetic regulation in ADPKD. One of the exciting findings is that targeting Sirt1, a class III HDAC, with nicotinamide (vitamin B3) delays renal cyst growth and preserves renal function in three Pkd1 knockout animal models. The hypermethylation of PKD1 gene in gene-body regions implicates that DNA methylation-mediated epigenetic silencing of PKD genes is also a potential mechanism underlying cystogenesis. In this chapter, we will summarize the current knowledge on the role of epigenetics in ADPKD and its translational potential to identify much needed new therapies. We will also discuss the tools to study epigenetic mechanisms in ADPKD and their applications on understanding how epigenetic events intertwine with PKD-associated signaling pathways, including c-Myc, EGFR, HSP90, STAT3/STAT6, AMPK, Wnt/β-catenin, ILK/mTOR, hedgehog, GSK3β and NF-κB/inflammation signaling.