cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does it really matter what volume to exhale before using asthma inhalation devices

Correct use of inhalation devices is one essential component of optimal management of asthma. Several longstanding controversies regarding specific steps to correct use of metered dose inhalers (MDI) include the lung volume when the MDI should be actuated. As a primary objective, literature was reviewed examining this one step in MDI use. Results from six of nine investigations support the need to gently exhale either to functional residual capacity (FRC) or residual volume (RV) before MDI actuation. Literature is also summarized regarding the need to exhale to FRC or RV before inhaling from MDI plus valved holding chambers or other extension devices and from dry powder inhalers. Numerous studies indicate that many patients as well as health care professionals either do not know or forget to exhale to RV or FRC before inhaling asthma medications. Both patients and health care professionals need education to help ensure correct use of MDI and other asthma inhalation devices, including instruction to first exhale gently to RV or FRC before inhaling the medication.
Autophagic flux without a block differentiates varicella-zoster virus infection from herpes simplex virus infection

Autophagy is a process by which misfolded and damaged proteins are sequestered into autophagosomes, before degradation in and recycling from lysosomes. We have extensively studied the role of autophagy in varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, and have observed that vesicular cells are filled with >100 autophagosomes that are easily detectable after immunolabeling for the LC3 protein. To confirm our hypothesis that increased autophagosome formation was not secondary to a block, we examined all conditions of VZV infection as well as carrying out two assessments of autophagic flux. We first investigated autophagy in human skin xenografts in the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse model of VZV pathogenesis, and observed that autophagosomes were abundant in infected human skin tissues. We next investigated autophagy following infection with sonically prepared cell-free virus in cultured cells. Under these conditions, autophagy was detected in a majority of infected cells, but was much less than that seen after an infected-cell inoculum. In other words, inoculation with lower-titered cell-free virus did not reflect the level of stress to the VZV-infected cell that was seen after inoculation of human skin in the SCID mouse model or monolayers with higher-titered infected cells. Finally, we investigated VZV-induced autophagic flux by two different methods (radiolabeling proteins and a dual-colored LC3 plasmid); both showed no evidence of a block in autophagy. Overall, therefore, autophagy within a VZV-infected cell was remarkably different from autophagy within an HSV-infected cell, whose genome contains two modifiers of autophagy, ICP34.5 and US11, not present in VZV.
Research on the preschool prediction of later academic achievement: A review

Abstract This review provides a comprehensive examination of the longitudinal research on the preschool prediction of later academic achievement. A total of 74 studies published from 1973 to 1986 are considered with respect to both their methodological features and their substantive findings. Effective predictors were found to span cognitive, verbal, and perceptual/perceptual-motor areas of functioning in the preschool child, as well as behavioral and demographic factors. Predictive relationships varied according to the specific area of criterion performance assessed and the grade level when evaluated, and also in terms of when the initial testing was obtained. Overall, the research has succeeded in identifying a general set of preschool measures that should allow a gross discrimination of children who are likely to fall at the extremes of academic ability in early elementary school grades. More attention must be given to selected methodological issues if better discrimination is to be achieved. These are outlined, and the incorporation of a theoretical framework based on neurodevelopmental concepts is discussed.
Phototoxicity of lumidoxycycline.

Abstract Doxycycline (DOTC) is a photosensitizing drug whose mechanism of phototoxicity is complicated by the large variety of stable photoproducts formed. To assess the role of a DOTC photoproduct, lumidoxycycline (LuDOTC), in the photosensitization mechanism of DOTC, MGH-U1 human ladder carcinoma cells were treated in vitro with either DOTC or LuDOTC, and irradiated with the 351-nm emission of an argon-ion laser. Both DOTC and LuDOTC were phototoxic and caused radiant-exposure-dependent inhibition of cellular incorporation of tritiated thymidine. On an absorbed-photon basis, DOTC was about five times as phototoxic as LuDOTC. Cellular uptake of DOTC was about five times as great as that of LuDOTC. Epifluorescence microscopy showed localization of LuDOTC predominantly within cellular membranes, particularly of mitochondria, as well as a low level of LuDOTC fluorescence diffusely within the cytoplasm. Epifluorescence microscopy of cells labeled with the mitochondrial probe, rhodamine 123, showed mitochondrial fragmentation and altered mitochondrial membrane integrity after LuDOTC photosensitization; these effects depended on radiant exposure and were partially reversible by 24 h after irradiation. For both DOTC and LuDOTC, phototoxicity was increased by irradiation in the presence of deuterium oxide and decreased in the presence of sodium azide, effects consistent with an important mechanistic role for singlet oxygen, O 2 ( 1 Δg), in the injury. In solution, LuDOTC and DOTC had similar quantum yields for generation of O 2 ( 1 Δg) as measured by time-resolved spectroscopy and by O 2 ( 1 Δg) trapping. LuDOTC was photostable in solution, but DOTC underwent significant photodegradation. These data demonstrate that DOTC photoproducts such as LuDOTC have significant photobiologic activity and may play an important role in the phototoxicity mechanism of DOTC.
Rituximab in hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Importance of the field: The success of rituximab therapy in managing B cell malignancies supports its widespread application in both autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.Areas covered in this review: We searched the PubMed database using the terms rituximab, stem cell transplant, autologous, or allogeneic and limited the search to clinical trials in English. In total, 92 trials were identified and 16 were reviewed in detail for significance of rituximab intervention. In this review, we will examine rituximab's emerging roles in: i) in vivo graft purging; ii) maintenance following autologous transplantation; iii) allogeneic transplant conditioning; and iv) the rationale for its use in the treatment/prevention of chronic graft-versus-host disease and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.What the reader will gain: The reader will gain an understanding of the use of rituximab not only in transplants for B cell malignancies, but also its extension to other diseases where we are...
Russell-Silver Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disability: A Case Study

Russell-Silver Syndrome (RSS) is a rare genetic developmental disorder characterized by prenatal and postnatal growth delays and other physical abnormalities. Neuropsychological screening was completed with LP, a 20-year-old college male diagnosed at one year of age with Russell-Silver Syndrome. LP's history and test findings yielded a profile consistent with a nonverbal learning disability, with significantly higher verbal compared to nonverbal intelligence, deficient visual-spatial memory, fine motor coordination and motor planning problems, relatively greater difficulty in math compared to other achievement areas, decreased writing fluency, and social behavior impediments. LP also experienced attention and concentration problems along with a ruminative cognitive-emotional style and mild depression. His pattern of processing weaknesses indicated a need for academic accommodations to complete his college-level academic work, along with counseling to address emotional issues. Further studies of individuals with RSS should consider neuropsychological assessment to address patterns of cognitive processing and possible need for educational and psychosocial intervention.
Localized orbitals in the coupled cluster singles and doubles model

In the vast majority of many-body perturbation theory and coupled-cluster method (MBPT/CCM) calculations, the self-consistent field (SCF) wavefunction is employed as the zeroth-order wave-function, and its associated canonical orbitals as the molecular orbital basis. The recent development of the coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) formalism provides an opportunity to explore alternative reference function and orbital choices, on a consistent basis. Here we examine, specifically, sets of orbitals that are more “localized” than the SCF orbitals. In particular, the bonding orbitals are selected to resemble traditional chemical bonds. CCSD calculations in the localized basis on methane employing a better than double-zeta basis set are performed and compared with conventional SCF basis results.
Species Diversity in the Structure of Zonadhesin, a Sperm-specific Membrane Protein Containing Multiple Cell Adhesion Molecule-like Domains

A hallmark of gamete interactions at fertilization is relative or absolute species specificity. A pig sperm protein that binds to the extracellular matrix of the egg in a species-specific manner was recently identified and named zonadhesin (Hardy, D. M., and Garbers, D. L. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 26025–26028). We have now cloned a cDNA for mouse zonadhesin (16.4 kb), and it demonstrates a large species variation in the numbers and arrangements of domains. Expression of mouse zonadhesin mRNA is evident only within the testis, and the protein is found exclusively on the apical region of the sperm head. There are 20 partial D-domains, found as tandem repeats, inserted between two of the four full D-domains and an additional partial D-domain. These domains are homologous to the D-domains of von Willebrand factor and α-tectorin. A region at the N terminus of the mouse cDNA contains three tandem repeats homologous to MAM domains. These are domains comprised of about 160 amino acids that are present in transmembrane proteins such as the meprins and receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatases, where they appear to function in cell/cell interactions. Additionally, mouse zonadhesin contains a mucin-like domain and a domain homologous to epidermal growth factor (EGF). A putative single transmembrane segment separates a short carboxyl tail from the extracellular region. The existence of MAM, mucin, D-, and EGF domains suggest that mouse zonadhesin functions in multiple cell adhesion processes, where binding to the extracellular matrix of the egg is but one of the functions of this sperm-specific membrane protein.
Diode endolaser photocoagulation.

• Endolaser photocoagulation was applied using a diode laser in 25 patients. Indications were for treatment of complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (17 patients), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (four patients), complex retinal detachments (three patients), and a retinal break (one patient). Good retinal and retinal pigment epithelial laser uptake was observed in all cases. The clinical appearance of the burn while it is being made is similar to that with the argon laser, but it is subtly lighter, especially in less-pigmented areas and eyes. Predictable clinical results and no adverse effects have been observed. While the clinical utility of the diode laser is analogous to that of standard argon endolaser systems, numerous logistical advantages are offered by this system.
Is there a correlation between atherosclerosis and renal resistive indices in kidney transplant recipients

Is there a correlation between atherosclerosis and renal resistive indices in kidney transplant recipients?
Infrared light utilized for photodynamic therapy by activation of rare earth phosphors for visible light generation

Introduction: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment for cancer requiring activation of a photosensitizer for light-mediated tumor cytotoxicity. PDT is limited by tissue penetration because visible light is required for photosensitizer activation. Sunstones™ are rare-earth phosphors which up-convert energy from infrared wavelengths to emit higher energy in the visible spectrum. We utilized this unique characteristic to generate light of appropriate intensity and wavelength for photosensitizer activation and subsequent tumor cell eradication. Methods: Sunstones™ with infrared absorption at 808 and 980nm and visible two-photon emission at 549.9 and 663.1nm were used. A murine NSCLC line was used to determine in vitro toxicity of Sunstones™ and dose response curves for Sunstones™-mediated PDT. Human NSCLC cells were incubated with/without Photofrin™ (photosensitizer). Experimental groups included: Infrared light treatment (IR), IR+Photofrin™, IR+Sunstones™, and IR+Sunstones™+Photofrin™. Groups were exposed to 2.5W of 808nm light and assayed for metabolic activity. Results: In vitro toxicity assays showed no significant toxicological side effects after 1 week incubation with Sunstones™ and demonstrated linear response in cytotoxicity as treatment times and infrared dose increased. IR+Sunstones™+Photofrin™ group showed significantly decreased metabolic activity compared to control cells, cells treated with IR+Sunstones™, and IR alone. Conclusion: Sunstones™ are nontoxic nanocrystals capable of activating photosensitizers for PDT. Future directions include conjugation of up-converters to a novel photosensitizer and managing the selective uptake of conjugate by tumor cells.
Twin of I-POU: a two amino acid difference in the I-POU homeodomain distinguishes an activator from an inhibitor of transcription.

Abstract I-POU, a POU domain nuclear protein that lacks two conserved basic amino acids of the POU homeodomain is coexpressed in the developing Drosophila nervous system with a second POU domain transcription factor, Cf1-a. I-POU does not bind to DNA but forms a POU domain-mediated, high affinity heterodimer with Cf1-a, inhibiting its ability to bind and activate the dopa decarboxylase gene. The I-POU/Cf1-a dimerization interface encompasses only the N-terminal basic region and helices 1 and 2 of the POU homeodomains with precise amino acid and α-helical requirements. twin of I-POU , an alternatively spliced transcript of the I-POU gene, encodes a protein containing the two basic amino acid residues absent in I-POU. Twin of I-POU is incapable of dimerizing with Cf1-a, but can act as a positive transcription factor on targets distinct from those regulated by Cf1-a. These findings suggest that the I-POU genomic locus simultaneously generates both a specific activator and inhibitor of gene transcription, capable of modulating two distinct regulatory programs during neural development.
Control of the water fugacity at high pressures and temperatures: Applications to the incorporation mechanisms of water in olivine

Abstract A new method is developed to control water fugacity at a fixed pressure and temperature. We use two divariant phase assemblages (clinohumite–periclase–forsterite and brucite–periclase) in the MgO–SiO2–H2O system and the chemical reactions among co-existing phases buffer the water fugacity. In order to avoid a reaction between the water fugacity buffer and the specimen, a double-capsule assemblage was designed such that the water fugacity buffer was separated from the specimen by an inner metal jacket permeable to hydrogen and impermeable to other components. This method was applied to investigate the incorporation mechanisms of water in single crystals of San Carlos olivine as a function of water fugacity at 5 GPa and 1273 K. The chemical environment of the olivine crystal was controlled by the water fugacity buffer, the Ni–NiO oxygen fugacity buffer, and the olivine–orthopyroxene silica activity buffer. The establishment of chemical equilibrium was demonstrated by the presence of all relevant phases in the buffering reactions. The effect of water fugacity on water concentration in olivine was investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with a polarized light. The total water concentration is nearly linearly dependent on water fugacity, indicating that the dominant incorporation mechanism of water in olivine involves two hydrogen atoms substituted in a Mg-site vacancy. The proposed method of the water fugacity buffer can be applicable to investigate the role of water in various important properties including water solubility and partitioning between mantle minerals, rheological properties, electrical conductivity, as well as solidus temperatures.
Nuclear Electric Quadrupole Interactions in Crystals

A study is made of the effects of the presence of nuclear electric quadrupole moments on the nuclear magnetic resonance absorption in solids. Necessary theoretical background is followed by descriptions of experiments in which the spectra obtained with an r-f spectrograph, described elsewhere, are found to show marked splitting resulting from the quadrupole interaction with the electric field gradient. Both powder patterns and spectra of single crystals are reported, for ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}$, ${\mathrm{Na}}^{23}$, and ${\mathrm{Al}}^{27}$, with splittings varying from about 20 kc to 718 kc, depending on the crystal and the nucleus. Unambiguous indication of the spin values is obtained. The possibility of the detection of a resonance resulting from the electric quadrupole splittings in the absence of a static magnetic field is discussed and an unsuccessful attempt to find such a resonance in ICl is described and the failure tentatively explained. Available signal-to-noise ratios are calculated for such resonances. A method is described of determining the frequency of a large electric quadrupole splitting, by observation of the dependence of the frequency of the magnetic splitting of the levels $m=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\frac{1}{2}$, for an odd half-integral spin, on the angle between the direction of a magnetic field and the symmetry axis of the crystalline field. The electric quadrupole moment is shown probably to account for relaxation times of nuclei of spin greater than \textonehalf{} even in cubic crystals and, as evidence, resonances of ${\mathrm{Na}}^{23}$, ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}$, ${\mathrm{I}}^{127}$, and ${\mathrm{Br}}^{81}$ are reported. Assuming partial saturation and electric quadrupolar relaxation, calculations are made to account for a departure of the intensity ratios of the lines, in the ${\mathrm{Na}}^{23}$ spectrum in NaN${\mathrm{O}}^{3}$, from the ratios of the transition probabilities for magnetic dipole radiation. The possibility of determining nuclear electric quadrupole moments from splittings or relaxation times in ionic crystals is discussed.
Variation in the seasonal patterns of innate and adaptive immunity in the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta)

The primary function of the immune system is to protect the organism from invading pathogens. In vertebrates, this has resulted in a multifaceted system comprised of both innate and adaptive components. The immune system of all jawed vertebrates is complex, but unlike the endothermic vertebrates, relatively little is known about the functioning of the ectothermic vertebrate immune system, especially the reptilian system. Because turtles are long-lived ectotherms, factors such as temperature and age may affect their immune response, but comprehensive studies are lacking. We investigated variation in immune responses of adult male and female red-eared sliders ( Trachemys scripta ) across the entire active season. We characterized seasonal variation in innate, cell-mediated and humoral components via bactericidal capacity of plasma, delayed-type hypersensitivity and total immunoglobulin levels, respectively. Results indicate that all immune measures varied significantly across the active season, but each measure had a different pattern of variation. Interestingly, temperature alone does not explain the observed seasonal variation. Immune measures did not vary between males and females, but immunoglobulin levels did vary with age. This study demonstrates the highly dynamic nature of the reptilian immune system, and provides information on how biotic and abiotic factors influence the immune system of a long-lived ectotherm.
Haptic identification of remote environment properties

In teleoperation, automatic identification of remote environment properties such as object weight, size, and friction can assist the teleoperator in determining optimal manipulation strategies. Similarly, virtual training systems can be calibrated using such an automatic identification procedure. For those properties which can be described by parameterization constraint equations, this paper provides a method by which the active constraints can be determined during each portion of the remote manipulator's data stream. The parameterized properties can then be estimated from the appropriate data stream segments. The approach is validated for peg-in-hole insertion using a desktop teleoperator system.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rheological behavior of starch–polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposite melts synthesized by reactive extrusion

Rheological behavior of reactively extruded starch–PCL nanocomposite blends was evaluated in an off-line capillary rheometer. Power law models for blends with different nanoclay volume fractions were developed using appropriate correction factors. Consistency coefficients K for blends containing starch were significantly higher than 100% PCL. Starch–PCL nanocomposite blends showed shear-thinning behavior with higher pseudoplasticity than did 100% PCL. Viscosities of nanocomposite blends were significantly lower than that of 100% PCL and nonreactive starch–PCL composites synthesized from simple extrusion mixing. Power law coefficients developed in this study will be used to evaluate rheology-dependent parameters during scaling up the reactive extrusion process from a batch micro-extruder to a high output continuous twin-screw extruder. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:650–658, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Technology-based degrees: do faculty and students agree on necessary skills for success in these programs?

Students selecting information-based degree programs such as Information Systems (IS), Computer Science (CS), and Information Technology (IT) are entering into rigorous programs comprised of demanding classes. On the surface it would seem that these students would be aware of the skills and/or attributes needed for success in these difficult programs. It also seems that the skills and attributes these students feel will lead to academic success would not be at odds with those viewed as critical in the eyes of the faculty who teach in these programs. Students and faculty from three universities were surveyed and asked the importance of skills/attributes. Then a comparison of the responses of these two groups as well as student subgroups was completed.
Autocrine role of endothelin in rat inner medullary collecting duct: inhibition of AVP-induced cAMP accumulation.

Exogenous endothelin-1 (ET-1) inhibits arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced cAMP accumulation in the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). Because ET-1 is produced by and binds to specific receptors on the IMCD, the possibility exists that ET-1 is an autocrine regulator of AVP action in this nephron segment. To test this hypothesis, rat IMCD cells were grown on semipermeable membranes in the presence of rabbit anti-ET-1 antiserum or nonimmune rabbit serum (NRS). AVP (10 -9 M) caused a 2.5-fold greater accumulation of cAMP in confluent IMCD monolayers preincubated in ET-1 antiserum in comparison with NRS
The effects of stock market rumors on stock prices: evidence from an emerging market

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of stock market rumors on the prices of stocks traded at the Istanbul Stock Exchange. The sample consists of 355 favorable rumors mentioned in the HOTS column of ‘Ekonomik Trend’. While positive significant abnormal returns are observed in each of the 4 days prior to the publication date, negative insignificant abnormal returns are detected in the post-publication period. The findings in the pre-publication period refute the strong form of market efficiency while the findings in the post-publication period suggest that investment decisions based on the published rumors would not benefit investors. A further analysis based on the content of rumor shows that earning expectations’ rumors, and purchases by foreign investors rumors generate greater impact on stock prices than other rumors.
Viscoelastic properties of polybutadiene in the glassy regime from molecular dynamic simulations

Introduction A thorough understanding of the dynamic-mechanical properties of polymer melts and glasses is key to many, if not most, applications of polymers as well as to the processing of polymers. It is well-known that amorphous and semicrystalline polymers exhibit viscoelastic response to an applied stress or strain. For a small constant shear strain γ the shear stress is proportional to the strain and is given by the stress relaxation equation1
A multidimensional age-dependent branching process with applications to natural selection. II

Abstract A multidimensional version of an age-dependent branching process of Bellman and Harris is studied. In the Introduction the model is described and some of its biological limitations are discussed; in Section 2 it is shown that the mean functions of the process satisfy a system of linear integral equations of the renewal type, and a solution to the system of integral equations is obtained; and in Section 3 the limiting behavior of the mean functions is studied. The analytic techniques used rely heavily on the theory of the Laplace transform and the Perron-Frobenius theory of positive matrices. Further analytic results as well as applications to the theory of natural selection will be developed in a companion article.
Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Animals and Humans, 2nd Edition.

The stated purpose of the second edition of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Animals and Humans is to provide medical professionals, allied health scientists, research workers, and graduate students with current information on the significance of M. bovis in the control and eradication of tuberculosis in animals and humans. This newest edition deals with topics such as the public health significance of M. bovis, pathogenesis of M. bovis, epidemiology of M. bovis (with an entire chapter on molecular epidemiologic techniques), PCR detection of M. bovis with formalin-fixed tissues, and DNA vaccines. As with the first edition, the second edition delivers several updates from various countries on the status of M. bovis infection in animals and humans. Little accessible published information has been available on this topic, which makes the book especially useful. The second edition also deals with several areas not covered in the first edition, including molecular epidemiology, evolution of the M. tuberculosis complex, tuberculosis caused by M. pinnipedii in fur seals and sea lions, the economics of bovine tuberculosis, and cost-benefit analysis of disease eradication programs. Several chapters deal with timely issues related to tuberculosis in wildlife. In spite of its strengths, the second edition adds little additional information to material provided in the first edition on the topics of pathogenesis or diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis. In addition, although most of the photomicrographs are adequate, several are of such poor quality that they are of little use. Also, as with any multiauthored volume, some repetition occurs on general topics. The book achieves its stated purposes, however, and will be especially useful as a reference for researchers, regulatory agencies, and graduate students. It will be less informative for those interested in detailed discussions on research in the field of pathogenesis or diagnosis of M. bovis infection.
Year round patchiness of Vibrio vulnificus within a temperate Texas bay.

Aims: To investigate with high geographical resolution the small-scale spatial and temporal distribution of the pathogen Vibrio vulnificus throughout the water column in a temperate Texas bay where numerous V. vulnificus infections had been reported by the regional media the previous summer. Methods and Results: Surface and bottom water samples were collected from 19 sites between April 2005 and October 2006 from Matagorda Bay, TX. Physicochemical parameters were measured and V. vulnificus were analysed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) as a means of overcoming constraints of traditional culturing techniques. V. vulnificus was detected through out the year, although it’s temporal and spatial distribution was patchy. V. vulnificus abundances at individual sites ranged from 1·1 × 103 cells ml−1. No statistically reliable predictive model related to the physicochemical parameters could be developed for this pathogen. Conclusions: his study demonstrates that year round detection of V. vulnificus while likely in the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state during the winter months and emphasizes why physicochemical factors are insufficient metrics for robust regression modelling of this pathogen. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study provides an effective new tool, Q-PCR, to study environmental distribution of V. vulnificus and that in the light of the patchy distribution observed, new reliable approaches and a mechanistic understanding of pathogen ecology need to be considered to effectively model the aquatic distribution of V. vulnificus.
Myosin Light Chain Phosphorylation in Neutrophil-Stimulated Coronary Microvascular Leakage

Neutrophil-induced coronary microvascular leakage represents an important pathophysiological consequence of ischemic and inflammatory heart diseases. The precise mechanism by which neutrophils regulate endothelial barrier function remains to be established. The aim of this study was to examine the microvascular endothelial response to neutrophil activation with a focus on myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)-mediated myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, a regulatory process that controls cell contraction. The apparent permeability coefficient of albumin (Pa) was measured in intact isolated porcine coronary venules. Incubation of the vessels with C5a-activated neutrophils induced a time- and concentration-dependent increase in Pa. The hyperpermeability response was significantly attenuated during inhibition of endothelial MLC phosphorylation with the selective MLCK inhibitor ML-7 and transfection of a specific MLCK-inhibiting peptide. In contrast, transfection of constitutively active MLCK elevated Pa, which was abolished by ML-7. In addition to the vessel study, albumin transendothelial flux was measured in cultured bovine coronary venular endothelial monolayers, which displayed a hyperpermeability response to neutrophils and MLCK in a pattern similar to that in venules. Importantly, neutrophil stimulation caused MLC phosphorylation in endothelial cells in a time course closely correlated with that of the hyperpermeability response. Consistently, the MLCK inhibitors abolished neutrophil-induced MLC phosphorylation. Furthermore, immunohistochemical observation of neutrophil-stimulated endothelial cells revealed an increased staining for phosphorylated MLC in association with contractile stress fiber formation and intercellular gap development. Taken together, the results suggest that endothelial MLCK activation and MLC phosphorylation play an important role in mediating endothelial barrier dysfunction during neutrophil activation.
Southern Ocean synoptics – observations and analyses

Synoptic surface pressure analyses for the Southern Ocean have been raised to a new level of realism by satellite imagery and NWP models, but the rare ship observations remain important analysis ingredients. This is illustrated here with observed and analysis pressures for an icebreaker journey from Hobart (Tasmania) to Dumont d'Urville and McMurdo (Antarctica). Copyright © 1998 Royal Meteorological Society
Density-Functional and ab initio computational studies of palladium clusters

Nonlocal density-functional and correlated ab initio methods have been used to compute singlettriplet separations for the Pd atom and Pd2, as well as the dissociation energies of the latter in its ground and first excited states. The results are in good agreement with the available experimental data and with other high-level calculations. Single-point local density-functional computations were carried out for Pd clusters up to PdZ2 ( 1012 electrons). The interaction energy per Pd- Pd bond appears to be approaching a limiting value for Pd22. 0 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
31st annual meeting of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology and Clinical Virology Symposium, Daytona Beach, FL, USA, 26–29 April 2015

The 31st annual meeting of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology and Clinical Virology Symposium was held in Daytona Beach, FL, USA on 26–29 April 2015. This year the symposium was jointly cosponsored by the American Society for Microbiology, the France Foundation and the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology. The event was chaired by Steven Specter and Richard Hodinka.
Apigenin down-regulates the hypoxia response genes: HIF-1α, GLUT-1, and VEGF in human pancreatic cancer cells.

Background The flavonoid apigenin exhibits anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic activities. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of apigenin on hypoxia responsive genes important in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. Materials and Methods Immunohistochemistry for GLUT-1 expression was conducted on human pancreatic cancer samples and adjacent controls. Real-time RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were conducted on CD18 and S2-013 human pancreatic cancer cells treated with apigenin (0–50 μM) in normoxic and hypoxic conditions to evaluate HIF-1α, GLUT-1, and VEGF mRNA and protein expression and secretion. Results GLUT-1 expression was significantly increased in pancreatic adenocarcinoma samples versus adjacent controls ( P P Conclusions Apigenin inhibits HIF-1α, GLUT-1, and VEGF mRNA and protein expression in pancreatic cancer cells in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. This may account for the mechanism of apigenin’s anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic effects and further supports the potential of apigenin as a future chemopreventive agent for pancreatic cancer.
An Exploratory Use of Musical Metaphors to Enhance Student Learning

This article provides the role, scope, instructional experiences, and prospects of employing musical metaphors as a possible teaching tool. Interactive student learning is encouraged by actually playing songs in marketing strategy courses. First, an overview on the explanation and popularity of metaphors in both nonbusiness and business fields including marketing is provided. A brief discussion is then offered on the potential value and opportunities for using musical metaphors in the classroom. A narrative is then given on the instructional process of four stages that the professor experienced in adopting music metaphors. Student benefits as well as the limitations and suggestions on the process of trying musical metaphors are then summarized. Last, anecdotal student reactions are described and some illustrated experiential music assignments are given in the appendix. The contents of the article have interesting implications for marketing educators who may like to experiment with musical metaphors.
Coded partial response signalling with peak detection

A form of coding which enables the combination of partial response equalization and peak detection is described. The equalization involves equalizing the magnetic recording channel to an extended class-IV partial response (EPR4) channel. The scheme increases the code rate at the expense of having to discriminate between two different types of peaks. The two types of peaks have different amplitudes and different phases. Decoding is accomplished with a straightforward modification of a standard analog peak detector. The constraint graph for one particular code constraint is given, and it is shown that a rate 5/6 code satisfying the given constraint is feasible. An example waveform is shown from a helical-scan tape machine operating at a channel bit density of 100000 bits/in. >
A Problem in Single Facility Scheduling with Sequence Independent Changeover Costs

This paper treats a problem of optimally scheduling a number of products on a single facility when changeover costs are sequence independent. After some observations, a rather cumbersome, but straightforward, initial formulation is transformed into a zero-one knapsack problem with side constraints, for which an existing algorithm is modified to provide an efficient solution procedure. A numerical example and computational results are included.
Study of a synthetic human olfactory receptor 17-4: Expression and purification from an inducible mammalian cell line

In order to begin to study the structural and functional mechanisms of olfactory receptors, methods for milligram-scale purification are required. Here we demonstrate the production and expression of a synthetically engineered human olfactory receptor hOR17-4 gene in a stable tetracycline-inducible mammalian cell line (HEK293S). The olfactory receptor gene was fabricated from scratch using PCR-based gene-assembly, which facilitated codon optimization and attachment of a 9-residue bovine rhodopsin affinity tag for detection and purification. Induction of adherent cultures with tetracycline together with sodium butyrate led to hOR17-4 expression levels of approximately 30 microg per 150 mm tissue culture plate. Fos-choline-based detergents proved highly capable of extracting the receptors, and fos-choline-14 (N-tetradecylphosphocholine) was selected for optimal solubilization and subsequent purification. Analysis by SDS-PAGE revealed both monomeric and dimeric receptor forms, as well as higher MW oligomeric species. A two-step purification method of immunoaffinity and size exclusion chromatography was optimized which enabled 0.13 milligrams of hOR17-4 monomer to be obtained at >90% purity. This high purity of hOR17-4 is not only suitable for secondary structural and functional analyses but also for subsequent crystallization trials. Thus, this system demonstrates the feasibility of purifying milligram quantities of the GPCR membrane protein hOR17-4 for fabrication of olfactory receptor-based bionic sensing device.
Identification of nonlinear-nonlinear neuron models and stimulus decoding

The majority of neural encoding models employed today consist of a linear feature-selection stage followed by a static memoryless nonlinearity generating the neuronal rate of response. Although such linear-nonlinear (LN) models have been proven useful in characterizing computation in many neurons (see [1] and references therein), they exclude the biophysics of action potential generation and, with a few exceptions [2-4], are limited to describing only linear computations. A large body of evidence [5] suggests that various synaptic microcircuits and complex dendritic morphologies exhibit a rich repertoire of nonlinear computations on a single neuron level. Importantly, such computations are observed not only for individual inputs [2,3] but also between inputs, as manifested by multiplicative interactions between them [5]. At the same time, the highly nonlinear nature of action potential generation has been shown to adversely affect many existing identification methodologies and typically presents itself as artifactual stimulus processing [3,6]. Here we investigate nonlinear-nonlinear neuron models that combine both biophysics and dendritic computation. Specifically, we consider models in which the nonlinear dendritic processing of input stimuli is described by a Volterra series [4] and the aggregate dendritic current is encoded into a sequence of action potentials by a biophysical conductance-based model. We first present a novel experimental approach for characterizing the biophysical spike generator using conditional phase response curves [7]. We then prove that only a projection of Volterra kernels onto the space of input signals can be identified and present an efficient algorithm for estimating these projections. The identification is robust in the presence of noise, scales favorably with the order of nonlinear interactions and affords high-resolution identification due to a basis decomposition of the projections. Furthermore, either synthetic or naturalistic stimuli can be used to identify the model. Finally, we consider a nonlinear-nonlinear population encoding scheme and construct a nonlinear decoder that is capable of reconstructing the original stimulus directly from spike times. This should be contrasted with linear decoders applied to firing rates of LN models [8,9]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a nonlinear decoder capable of high-fidelity reconstruction from a single multidimensional spike train in the nonlinear-nonlinear setting.
Probe Station Placement for Fault Diagnosis

Probe stations are specially instrumented nodes from where probes can be sent to monitor the network. Probe station locations affect probing efficiency, monitoring capability, and deployment cost. We present probe station selection algorithms and aim to minimize the number of probe stations and make the monitoring robust against failures in a deterministic as well as a non-deterministic environment. We provide experimental evaluation of the proposed algorithms through simulation results.
Transmembrane Residues of the Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)/PTH-related Peptide Receptor That Specifically Affect Binding and Signaling by Agonist Ligands

Polar residues within the transmembrane domains (TMs) of G protein-coupled receptors have been implicated to be important determinants of receptor function. We have identified mutations at two polar sites in the TM regions of the rat parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related peptide receptor, Arg-233 in TM 2 and Gln-451 in TM 7, that caused 17-200-fold reductions in the binding affinity of the agonist peptide PTH-(1-34) without affecting the binding affinity of the antagonist/partial agonist PTH-(3-34). When mutations at the TM 2 and TM 7 sites were combined, binding affinity for PTH-(1-34) was restored to nearly that of the wild type receptor. The double mutant receptors, however, were completely defective in signaling cAMP or inositol phosphate production in response to PTH-(1-34) agonist ligand. The results demonstrate that Arg-233 and Gln-451 have important roles in determining agonist binding affinity and transmembrane signaling. Furthermore, the finding that residues in TM 2 and TM 7 are functionally linked suggests that the TM domain topology of the PTH/PTH-related peptide receptor may resemble that of receptors in the rhodopsin/beta-adrenergic receptor family, for which structural and mutagenesis data suggest interactions between TMs 2 and 7.
Three-point statistics of cosmological stochastic gravitational waves

We consider the three-point function (i.e. the bispectrum or non-Gaussianity) for stochastic backgrounds of gravitational waves. We estimate the amplitude of this signal for the primordial inflationary background, gravitational waves generated during preheating, and for gravitational waves produced by self-ordering scalar fields following a global phase transition. To assess detectability, we describe how to extract the three-point signal from an idealized interferometric experiment and compute the signal to noise ratio as a function of integration time. The three-point signal for the stochastic gravitational wave background generated by inflation is unsurprisingly tiny. For gravitational radiation generated by purely causal, classical mechanisms we find that, no matter how nonlinear the process is, the three-point correlations produced vanish in direct detection experiments. On the other hand, we show that in scenarios where the B-mode of the cosmic microwave background is sourced by gravitational waves generated by a global phase transition, a strong three-point signal among the polarization modes is also produced. This may provide another method of distinguishing inflationary B-modes. To carry out this computation, we have developed a diagrammatic approach to the calculation of stochastic gravitational waves sourced by scalar fluids, which has applications beyond the present scenario.
Personality Change in Women Physicians from Medical Student Years to Mid-40S

Scales from the California Psychological Inventory's (CPI; Gough, 1987) Externality and Control clusters, in conjunction with a case study, were used to investigate personality change in a sample o...
Lithium isotopes in Guatemalan and Franciscan HP–LT rocks: Insights into the role of sediment-derived fluids during subduction

Abstract High-pressure, low-temperature (HP–LT) rocks from a Cretaceous age subduction complex occur as tectonic blocks in serpentinite melange along the Motagua Fault (MF) in central Guatemala. Eclogite and jadeitite among these are characterized by trace element patterns with enrichments in fluid mobile elements, similar to arc lavas. Eclogite is recrystallized from MORB-like altered oceanic crust, presumably at the boundary between the down-going plate and overlying mantle wedge. Eclogite geochemistry, mineralogy and petrography suggest a two step petrogenesis of (1) dehydration during prograde metamorphism at low temperatures ( T during exhumation. In contrast, Guatemalan jadeitites are crystallized directly from low- T aqueous fluid as veins in serpentinizing mantle during both subduction and exhumation. The overall chemistry and mineralogy of Guatemalan eclogites are similar to those from the Franciscan Complex, California, implying similar P – T – x paths. Li concentrations (⩽90 ppm) in mineral separates and whole rocks (WR) from Guatemalan and Franciscan HP–LT rocks are significantly higher than MORB (4–6 ppm), but similar to HP–LT rocks globally. Li isotopic compositions range from −5‰ to +5‰ for Guatemalan HP–LT rocks, and −4‰ to +1‰ for Franciscan eclogites, overlapping previous findings for other HP–LT suites. The combination of Li concentrations greater than MORB, and Li isotopic values lighter than MORB are inconsistent with a simple dehydration model. We prefer a model in which Li systematics in Guatemalan and Franciscan eclogites reflect reequilibration with subduction fluids during exhumation. Roughly 5–10% of the Li in these fluids is derived from sediments. Model results predict that the dehydrated bulk ocean crust is isotopically lighter (δ 7 Li ⩽ +1 ± 3‰) than the depleted mantle (∼+3.5 ± 0.5‰), while the mantle wedge beneath the arc is the isotopic complement of the bulk crust. A subduction fluid with an AOC–GLOSS composition over the full range of model temperatures (50–600 °C) gives an average fluid δ 7 Li (∼+7 ± 5‰ 1 σ ) that is isotopically heavier than the depleted mantle. If the lowest temperature steps are excluded (50–260 °C) as too cold to participate in circulation of the mantle wedge, then the average subduction fluid (δ 7 Li = +4 ± 2.3‰ 1 σ , is indistinguishable from depleted mantle. Because of the relatively compatible nature of Li in metamorphic minerals, the most altered part of the crust (uppermost extrusives), may retain a Li isotopic signature (∼+5 ± 3‰) heavier than the bulk crust. The range of Li isotopic values for OIB, IAB and MORB overlap, making it is difficult to resolve which of these components may contribute to the recycled component in the mantle using δ 7 Li alone.