cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urothelial Inhibition of Transforming Growth Factor-β in a Bladder Tissue Recombination Model

Purpose: We examined the role of transforming growth factor-β in urothelial and bladder development. Transforming growth factor-β signaling was attenuated in the urothelial compartment and the subsequent effects were examined in a tissue recombination model.Materials and Methods: Urothelium was cultured from adult rat bladders and transfected with control vector C7Δ or mutant DNIIR (dominant negative transforming growth factor-β receptor II). Grafts were created by recombining transfected urothelium plus embryonic day 18 bladder mesenchyma and placed beneath the renal capsule of athymic mouse hosts. Grafts were harvested at 21 and 42 days. Final tissues were evaluated with staining and immunohistochemistry using hematoxylin and eosin, Gomori’s trichrome strain, broad-spectrum uroplakin, smooth muscle actin-α, phosphorylated SMAD2 and Ki67 antigen. Bladder structures were defined as having smooth muscle, suburothelial connective tissue and mature urothelium expressing uroplakin. Urothelial compartment diam...
Harvesting alternate energies from our planet

Recent price fluctuations have focused attention on the phenomenal increase of global energy consumption in recent years. We have almost reached a peak in global oil production. Total world consumption of oil will rise by nearly 60% between 1999 and 2020. In 1999 consumption was 86 million barrels of oil per day, which has reached a peak of production extracted from most known oil reserves. These projections, if accurate, will present an unprecedented crisis to the global economy and industry. As an example, in the United States, nearly 40% of energy usage is provided by petroleum, of which nearly a third is used in transportation. An aggressive search for alternate energy sources, both renewable and nonrenewable, is vital. This article will review national and international perspectives on the exploration of alternate energies with a focus on energy derivable from the ocean.
Vagotomy and Pyloroplasty in the Surgical Treatment of Hiatus Hernia in Children

The place of vagotomy and pyloroplasty in the treatment of 18 children with severe complications of hiatus hernia is discussed. Vagotomy with pyloroplasty was performed in four groups of cases: (a) as a primary procedure with concurrent repair of the hiatus hernia; (b) without repair of the hiatus hernia; (c) after failure of transthoracic repair of hiatus hernia; (d) accompanying excision of a stricture and aesophago-gastric anastomosis or colon transplant. The importance is stressed of early operation to reduce the acid gastric reflux when marked aesophagitis or stricture is present. The results were good in 16 cases and fair in one, and there was one death.
Regulation of ciaXRH Operon Expression and Identification of the CiaR Regulon in Streptococcus mutans

The ciaRH operon in Streptococcus mutans contains 3 contiguous genes, ciaXRH. Unlike the CiaRH system in other streptococci, only the ciaH-null mutant displays defective phenotypes, while the ciaR-null mutant behaves like the wild type. The objective of this study was to determine the mechanism of this unusual property. We demonstrate that the ciaH mutation caused a >20-fold increase in ciaR transcript synthesis. A ciaRH double deletion reversed the ciaH phenotype, suggesting that overexpressed ciaR might be responsible for the observed ciaH phenotypes. When ciaR was forced to be overexpressed by a transcriptional fusion to the ldh promoter in the wild-type background, the same ciaH phenotypes were restored, confirming the involvement of overexpressed ciaR in the ciaH phenotypes. The ciaH mutation and ciaR overexpression also caused transcriptional alterations in 100 genes, with 15 genes upregulated >5-fold. Bioinformatics analysis identified a putative CiaR regulon consisting of 8 genes/operons, including the ciaXRH operon itself, all of which were upregulated. In vitro footprinting on 4 of the 8 promoters revealed a protected region of 26 to 28 bp encompassing two direct repeats, NTTAAG-n5-WTTAAG, 10 bp upstream of the -10 region, indicating direct binding of the CiaR protein to these promoters. Taken together, we conclude that overexpressed CiaR, as a result of either ciaH deletion or forced expression from a constitutive promoter, is a mediator in the CiaH-regulated phenotypes.
Association of Lipids with Proteins and Glycoproteins in Human Saliva

The distribution of lipids in the fractions of parotid and submandibular saliva following Bio-Gel A-50 column chromatography was measured. Over 50% of the total lipids of submandibular saliva was found in the fraction which contained mainly the high-molecular-weight glycoprotein. This fraction also contained most of the glycolipids, free fatty acids, phospholipids, and cholesterol. In the parotid saliva, the fraction containing the basic glycoprotein (the major glycoprotein fraction of parotid saliva) contained 35% of the total saliva lipids and was enriched in phospholipids ana cholesterol esters.
Mixture excitations and finite-state CELP speech coders

Code excited linear prediction (CELP) coding and its derivatives are currently the most frequently used techniques for speech compression at medium-to-low rate range. Until this study, the excitation vectors were always selected from a codebook generated by a Gaussian source or by the ensemble of residual signals collected from the used speech database. To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no study in which the excitation vectors were formed from a mixture of sources, a notion very successfully used by the speech recognition community within the hidden Markov model (HMM) framework. The authors proposed an improvement to the excitation model of CELP coders by embedding a labeled-state finite state vector quantization (FSVQ) and a mixture density approach in constructing 5-ms-long excitation vectors. >
Sediment distribution and transport along a rocky, embayed coast: Monterey Peninsula and Carmel Bay, California

Abstract Field measurements of beach morphology and sedimentology were made along the Monterey Peninsula and Carmel Bay, California, in the spring and summer of 1997. These data were combined with low-altitude aerial imagery, high-resolution bathymetry, and local geology to understand how coastal geomorphology, lithology, and tectonics influence the distribution and transport of littoral sediment in the nearshore and inner shelf along a rocky shoreline over the course of decades. Three primary modes of sediment distribution in the nearshore and on the inner shelf off the Monterey Peninsula and in Carmel Bay were observed. Along stretches of the study area that were exposed to the dominant wave direction, sediment has accumulated in shore-normal bathymetric lows interpreted to be paleo-stream channels. Where the coastline is oriented parallel to the dominant wave direction and streams channels trend perpendicular to the coast, sediment-filled paleo-stream channels occur in the nearshore as well, but here they are connected to one another by shore-parallel ribbons of sediment at depths between 2 and 6 m. Where the coastline is oriented parallel to the dominant wave direction and onshore stream channels are not present, only shore-parallel patches of sediment at depths greater than 15 m are present. We interpret the distribution and interaction or transport of littoral sediment between pocket beaches along this coastline to be primarily controlled by the northwest-trending structure of the region and the dominant oceanographic regime. Because of the structural barriers to littoral transport, peaks in wave energy appear to be the dominant factor controlling the timing and magnitude of sediment transport between pocket beaches, more so than along long linear coasts. Accordingly, the magnitude and timing of sediment transport is dictated by the episodic nature of storm activity.
Characterization of Particle Morphology and Rheological Behavior in Solder Paste

Solder paste is an integral part of surface mount technology. An adequate understanding of its behavior and properties is essential to comprehend the relationship solder paste has to the overall manufacturing process. Techniques to characterize solder paste behavior adequately were explored. Particular emphasis was placed on characterizing solder particle size and shape as well as the viscous behavior of pastes. In all, 24 samples were characterized. Size and shape were effectively measured utilizing an image analysis technique which employs Fourier shape descriptors. The Shape AnalyzerTMwas the instrument employed. Viscous behavior was characterized over a range of shear rates. The behavior of the paste was found to fit a power law model. In addition, paste viscous behavior was found to he very complex. Metal loading and particle size affect the solder paste. The characterization schemes discussed could be adapted to the specification of solder paste parameters.
Traumatic retrobulbar hemorrhage: Emergent decompression by lateral canthotomy and cantholysis

Traumatic retrobulbar hemorrhage may result in acute loss of vision that is reversible when recognized and treated promptly. A case of traumatic retrobulbar hemorrhage is presented. The technique of emergent orbital decompression by lateral canthotomy and cantholysis is described. The anatomy of the lateral canthus and the surgical procedure are illustrated by gross dissection.
Insight into the Binding of Antifreeze Proteins to Ice Surfaces via 13C Spin Lattice Relaxation Solid-State NMR

The primary sequences of type I antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are Ala rich and contain three 11-residue repeat units beginning with threonine residues. Their secondary structures consist of a-helices. Previous activity study of side-chain mutated AFPs suggests that the ice-binding side of type I AFPs comprises the Thr side chains and the conserved i 1 4 and i 1 8 Ala residues, where i indicates the positions of the Thrs. To find structural evidence for the AFP's ice-binding side, a variable- temperature dependent 13 C spin lattice relaxation solid-state NMR experiment was carried out for two Ala side chain 13 C labeled HPLC6 isoforms of the type I AFPs each frozen in H2O and D2O, respectively. The first one was labeled on the equivalent 17th and 21st Ala side chains (i 1 4, 8), and the second one on the equivalent 8th, 19th, and 30th Ala side chains (i 1 6). The two kinds of labels are on the opposite sides of the a-helical AFP. A model of Ala methyl group rotation/three-site rotational jump combined with water molecular reorientation was tested to probe the interactions of the methyl groups with the proximate water molecules. Analysis of the T1 data shows that there could be 10 water molecules closely capping an i 1 4o r an i 1 8 methyl group within the range of van der Waals interaction, whereas the surrounding water molecules to the i 1 6 methyl groups could be looser. This study suggests that the side of the a-helical AFP comprising the i 1 4 and i 1 8 Ala methyl groups could interact with the ice surface in the ice/water interface.
Severe anion gap acidosis associated with intravenous sodium thiosulfate administration.

Introduction Severe anion gap (AG) acidosis associated with intravenous sodium thiosulfate (STS) administration has not been previously described in nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.
Comparing glacial and Holocene opal fluxes in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean

[1] The silicic acid leakage hypothesis (SALH) predicts that during glacial periods excess silicic acid was transported from the Southern Ocean to lower latitudes, which favored diatom production over coccolithophorid production and caused a drawdown of atmospheric CO2. Downcore records of 230Th-normalized opal (biogenic silica) fluxes from 31 cores in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean were used to compare diatom productivity during the last glacial period to that of the Holocene and to examine the evidence for increased glacial Si export to the tropics. Average glacial opal fluxes south of the modern Antarctic Polar Front (APF) were less than during the Holocene, while average glacial opal fluxes north of the APF were greater than during the Holocene. However, the magnitude of the increase north of the APF was not enough to offset decreased fluxes to the south, resulting in a decrease in opal burial in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean during the last glacial period, equivalent to approximately 15 Gt opal ka−1. This is consistent with the work of Chase et al. (2003a), and satisfies the primary requirement of the SALH, assuming that the upwelled supply of Si was approximately equivalent during the Holocene and the glacial period. However, previous results from the equatorial oceans are inconsistent with the other predictions of the SALH, namely that either the Corg:CaCO3 ratio or the rate of opal burial should have increased during glacial periods. We compare the magnitudes of changes in the Southern Ocean and the tropics and suggest that Si escaping the glacial Southern Ocean must have had an alternate destination, possibly the continental margins. There is currently insufficient data to test this hypothesis, but the existence of this sink and its potential impact on glacial pCO2 remain interesting topics for future study.
Properties of soluble and immobilized Aspergillus niger β‐xylosidase

Aspergillus niger ..beta..-xylosidase was characterized when in soluble form and when immobilized to alkylamine porous silica with glutaraldehyde and to alumina with titanium tetrachloride. Energies of activation averaged 13.4 kcal/mol for the soluble enzyme, 9.0 kcal/mol when immobilized to alumina, and 8.0 kcal/mol when bound to silica. The highest activity of all forms of ..beta..-xylosidase was found near pH 3. The soluble enzyme was highly stable at pH 4, where lowest rates of decay occurred, and temperatures of 65/sup 0/C and below.
Attenuation of elastic waves in a cracked, fluid-saturated solid

The problem of the determination of the overall dynamic elastic moduli of an elastic solid permeated by uniformly distributed penny-shaped cracks is considered. The cracks are assumed to be filled with a viscoelastic material. The orientations of the cracks may be either parallel or perfectly random. The overall velocities as well as the specific attenuation coefficients of plane harmonic compressional and shear waves are calculated for low frequencies and dilute concentration of the cracks.
Significant challenges facing HIV practitioners.

The care of patients with HIV infection has become possibly the most rewarding and yet most challenging specialty in medicine. The advances over the past 10-15 years have been extraordinary and probably are unrivaled by those for the treatment of any other contemporary disease. However, treatment-related decisions are complex, and the penalties for mistakes are harsh. There are now 24 antiretroviral drugs, with 2 new agents introduced in 2007. PubMed lists >6000 articles about HIV treatment that have been published within the past year. It is becoming impossible to keep up. This supplement to the Journal of Infectious Diseases discusses 5 areas that are central to HIV care and that are characterized by especially challenging issues. Authoritative reviews are provided regarding the management of initial therapy, failed therapy, adherence issues, hepatic coinfection, and neurological complications. Martin S. Hirsch [1] reviews the latest information about when to start antiretroviral therapy (ART) during chronic infection, as well as the drugs to use and whether to start therapy during primary
Structure of Nonhairpin Coding-End DNA Breaks in Cells Undergoing V(D)J Recombination

The V(D)J recombinase recognizes a pair of immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor gene segments flanked by recombination signal sequences and introduces double-strand breaks, generating two signal ends and two coding ends. Broken coding ends were initially identified as covalently closed hairpin DNA molecules. Before recombination, however, the hairpins must be opened and the ends must be modified by nuclease digestion and N-region addition. We have now analyzed nonhairpin coding ends associated with various immunoglobulin gene segments in cells undergoing V(D)J recombination. We found that these broken DNA ends have different nonrandom 5′-strand deletions which were characteristic for each locus examined. These deletions correlate well with the sequence characteristics of coding joints involving these gene segments. In addition, unlike broken signal ends, these nonhairpin coding-end V(D)J recombination reaction intermediates have 3′ overhanging ends. We discuss the implications of these results for models of how sequence modifications occur during coding-joint formation.
Relationship between blockade of dopamine transporters by oral methylphenidate and the increases in extracellular dopamine: therapeutic implications.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is an effective drug in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, the doses required therapeutically vary significantly between subjects and it is not understood what determines these differences. Since methylphenidate's therapeutic effects are in part due to increases in extracellular DA secondary to blockade of dopamine transporters (DAT), the variability could reflect differences in levels of DAT blockade. Here we used PET to assess if for a given dose of methylphenidate the differences in DAT blockade account for the variability in methylphenidate-induced increases in extracellular DA. Ten healthy adult subjects were tested before and 60 min after oral methylphenidate (60 mg) with PET to estimate DAT occupancy (with [(11)C]cocaine as the radioligand) and levels of extracellular DA (with [(11)C]raclopride as the D2 receptor radioligand that competes with endogenous DA for binding to the receptor). Methylphenidate significantly blocked DAT (60 +/- 11%) and increased extracellular DA in brain (16 +/- 8% reduction in [(11)C]raclopride binding in striatum). However, the correlation between methylphenidate-induced DAT blockade and DA increases was not significant. These results indicate that for a given dose of methylphenidate, individual differences in DAT blockade are not the main source for the intersubject variability in MP-induced increases in DA. This finding suggests that individual differences in response to MP are due in part to individual differences in DA release, so that for an equivalent level of DAT blockade, MP would induce smaller DA changes in subjects with low than with high DA cell activity.
Improving simulation accuracy for SMT packages by incorporating trace level details in PCB thermal modeling

The need for accurate trace level modeling is emphasized, by comparing simulated junction temperatures of a SMT package on a PCB under different combinations of trace layout. The results show that detail modeling of traces around the device has a significant impact on the predicted temperatures and over-simplified PCB models can cause unacceptable errors.
The Appalachian Inferno: Historical Causes for the Disjunct Distribution of Plethodon nettingi (Cheat Mountain Salamander)

The original Picea rubens (Red Spruce) forest in West Virginia covered approximately 1.5 million acres, most of which was eliminated between 1870 and 1920 by clear-cutting and conflagrations. The total range of Plethodon nettingi (Cheat Mountain Salamander) was confined within this Red Spruce forest. Fires burned the duff and soil to the bedrock in many places, thus eliminating salamander habitats. It is hypothesized that Cheat Mountain Salamanders were eradicated throughout much of their range, and only areas with large emergent rocks or boulder fields provided refugia where they survived.
RADIATION THERAPY FOR CANCER OF THE UTERINE CERVIX.

Meticulously applied intracavitary radium therapy is still the best form of radiotherapy for localized cancer on and around the cervix. External irradiation (primarily supervoltage roentgenotherapy because of its skin-sparing effect and better systemic and organ tolerance) must be skillfully combined with intracavitary radium therapy. This type of irradiation assumes an increasingly important role in more advanced stages of the disease. Close teamwork between gynecologist and radiotherapist is the key to the planning of treatment units adapted to individual cases.
COSC: Paths with Combined Optimal Stability and Capacity in opportunistic networks

Opportunistic networks are characterized by the dynamic connectivity created when mobile devices encounter each other, as they are within close proximity. During these transient opportunities, devices are typically within one-hop wireless range of their neighbors. Opportunistic networks are an effective way, in terms of bandwidth and battery consumption to distribute large volume content among peers. Many existing proposals consider opportunistic networks as a best-effort content delivery approach, which limits their applications. We exploit characteristics of human mobility to derive an effective data forwarding scheme that achieves Combined Optimal Stability and Capacity (COSC) for opportunistic networks. COSC includes a path selection algorithm to maximize the utility of link capacity and stability. We validate theoretical findings with rigorous simulation studies using synthetic and real-world mobility traces. When compared with other approaches, COSC shows significant improvement due to the consideration of link capacity and stability.
Abstract 4943: Engulfment gene GULP1 is a functional tumor suppressor through influencing TGF-β pathway and is silenced by promoter methylation in urothelial carcinoma

GULP1 functions as a cytoplasmic adaptor protein in the engulfment of apoptotic corpses and cells. It was also reported to be an adapter protein of LRP1 which is known to be a key regulator of TGF-β signaling. TGF- β signaling pathway is known to contribute to urothelial carcinoma (UC) development by increasing invasiveness and metastasis, and inducing epithelial to mescenchymal (EMT) transition. By an integrated genetic approach, we recently identified GULP1 as a potential tumor suppressor gene and epigenetically silenced in ovarian cancer. In the present study we evaluated the promoter methylation of GULP1 in urothelial carcinoma (UC) and functionally characterize GULP1 in urothelial carcinogenesis. We first determined GULP1 protein expression by immunohistochemistry on a customized muscle-invasive UC (MIUC) tissue-microarray. The mechanism of gene silencing was probed using quantitative methylation-specific PCR (QMSP). The association between GULP1 expression and promoter methylation was analyzed by using a subset of primary UC and UC cell lines. Effects of forced overexpression and siRNA-mediated GULP1-knockdown were measured by cell proliferation and colony forming assays. Western blot analysis was performed for several key molecules to determine the effect of GULP1 modulation in the respective pathways. Complete loss of GULP1 expression was observed in 89 out of 104 MIUC (85.6%). In primary tumor tissues and cell lines, promoter methylation of GULP1 were inversely correlated with GULP1 expression and reactivation of GULP1 was observed by 5-aza-dC treatment of UC cell lines. Additionally QMSP assay of GULP1 was performed for 98 primary UC tissues of different cell types and 21 normal urothelial samples. Our initial analysis by using an empiric cut off value revealed GULP1 promoter methylation was significantly associated with UC (P = 0.007, Fisher9s exact test). To determine the feasibility of GULP1 QMSP assay for non-invasive detection of UC using urine DNA, we tested urine from 58 UC patients and 46 healthy people. As expected, 33 out of 58(56.9%) UC cases were methylation positive while very low level of methylation were detected in 4 out of 46 urine control samples (8.7%) (P In conclusion, GULP1 is a candidate tumor suppressor in UC carcinogenesis and it may have a potential for non-invasive UC detection and targeting therapy. Citation Format: Masamichi Hayashi, Leonardo O. Reis, Alexander Baras, Leonel Maldonado, Eliza Guida, Evgeny Izumchenko, Mariana Brait, Trinity Bivalacqua, George J. Netto, Wayne Koch, David Sidransky, Mohammad O. Hoque. Engulfment gene GULP1 is a functional tumor suppressor through influencing TGF-β pathway and is silenced by promoter methylation in urothelial carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4943. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4943
Cutaneous hazards of the coast.

Through recreational and commercial pursuits, more people than ever before are coming in contact with coastal waters containing a variety of bacteria, aquatic flora, and sea creatures potentially harmful to the skin. It is important for dermatology nurses to be aware of some of the more common cutaneous hazards related to the coastal environment as well as the basic treatment of these problems. Language: en
Regulation of Growth Factor Receptors by Glycosphingolipids

Complex glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are ubiquitous components of animal cell plasma membranes, and many have been structurally characterized. GSLs, including gangliosides, are involved in crucial biological processes such as cell growth, differentiation, and motility. Certain GSLs have been identified as tumor-associated antigens in various types of cancer cells. Early studies of inhibitory effects of gangliosides on cell growth led to the discovery that GSLs modulate (inhibit or enhance) the activation of growth factor (GF) receptor-associated tyrosine kinase, which is triggered by the binding between a GF and its specific receptor. GSLs are localized as clusters at unique microdomains of the plasma membrane, termed glycolipid-enriched microdomains, lipid rafts, or glycosynapses. Various GF receptors (GFRs), including epidermal GFR and hepatocyte GFR, are localized in such membrane microdomains. There is increasing evidence that GSLs modulate the activation of GFR kinases in such microdomains, in which other signaling molecules and regulatory molecules such as integrins and tetraspanins are also localized.
Design Considerations for Nuclear-Aircraft Gas-Turbine Engines

Many new design considerations are encountered in the design of nuclear aircraft gas-turbine engines. The effect that the power-plant configurations, the cycle, radiation level, residual radiation, and nuclear heating have on the design is discussed in this paper.Copyright © 1959 by ASME
Numerical Modeling of Slip Effects on Methane Oxidation on a Catalytic Surface

The rarefied gas effects on microscale heterogeneous oxidation of methane-air mixtures are numerically investigated by using in a stagnation point flow impinging onto a platinum surface. Emphasis is placed on the interaction between velocity, temperature and species concentration slips and detailed kinetic and transport processes at large Knudsen numbers. The results show that the slips effects affect the surface reaction rates. It is found that species and temperature slips can increase or decrease the catalytic oxidation rate the gas temperature is higher or lower than the catalytic surface temperature. Furthermore, the slip effects also change the radical distributions.
Variable effects of short chain fatty acids and lactic acid in inducing intestinal mucosal injury in newborn rats.

ABSTRACTBackgroundShort chain fatty acids and lactic acid are colonic bacterial fermentation products.MethodsTo evaluate the effects of these organic acids on the intestinal mucosa, a total of 72 newborn Sprague-Dawley rats (10 days old) were studied. A 3.5F catheter was inserted per rectum 4.0 cm d
Monitoring and Modeling Endosulfan in Chinese Surface Soil

Endosulfan is a currently used organochlorine pesticide in China, with annual usage of 2300 t between 1994 and 2004. Concentrations of endosulfan (including α- and β-isomers and their metabolite endosulfan sulfate) were reported for surface soil collected in 2005 at 141 sites (6 background, 95 rural, and 40 urban) across China. The concentrations of total endosulfan (sum of α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate) at all sites ranged from BDL (below detection limit) to 19000 pg/g dry weight (dw), with geometric mean (GM) 120 pg/g dw. Rural soils had the highest total endosulfan concentrations, with GM 160 pg/g dw, followed by urban soils (GM = 83 pg/g dw) and background soils (GM = 38 pg/g dw). The observed soil concentrations of α-endosulfan (GM = 6.5 pg/g dw) were much lower than those of β-endosulfan (GM = 49 pg/g dw) and endosulfan sulfate (GM = 47 pg/g dw). The fractional abundance of α-endosulfan Fα-endo [α-endosulfan/(α-endosulfan + β-endosulfan)] for all soils ranged from 0.00040 to 0.9...
Study on the index system in evaluating the adult health literacy situation related to infectious disease in Beijing

Objective To establish and assess a comprehensive index system on adult health literacy which related to infectious disease.Methods A multi-stage stratified sampling method was carried out among adults aged over 18 years,in Bcijing.A questionnaire survey was used to collect the information on adult health literacy situation related to infectious disease,with answers scored.Degrees of difficulty and difference together with confirmatory factor analysis were used to screen the indications from the questionnaires so as to establish a comprehensive index system.Methods as Cronbach a coefficient,split-half reliability,confirmatory factor analysis and cluster analysis methods were used to assess the reliability and validity of the index system.Results The sample size was 13 287 with valid questionnaires as 13 001.There were 30 indexes selected to establish the comprehensive index system on adult health literacy related to infectious disease.The Cronbach a coefficient was 0.777,and the split-half reliability was 0.609.Data from Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that each of the standardized regression coefficient was significant,and there were significant differences between the groups of being clustered by Q cluster analysis method (P＜0.001).9.9％ of the residents were classified as having enough knowledge on health.Conclusion The index system set for adult health literacy that related to infectious disease showed good reliability and validity thus could be used as a good tool to evaluate the levels of health literacy which related to infectious diseases,in Beijing. Key words: Infectious disease; Health literacy; Health education; Evaluation studies
Poly(A)+ RNA from sheep omasal epithelium induces expression of a peptide transport protein(s) in Xenopus laevis oocytes

To verify research from this laboratory indicating that sheep omasal epithelium contains mRNA encoding for a peptide transporter(s) and to determine di- to octapeptide transport capability, we injected poly(A)+ RNA isolated from sheep omasal epithelium into Xenopus laevis oocytes. Poly(A)+ RNA was functionally expressed in Xenopus oocytes 4 to 7 d after injection. Peptide (5 di-, 10 tri-, 6 tetra-, 2 penta-, 1 hexa-, 1 hepta-, and 1 octapeptide) transport capability was measured by impaling oocytes with a microelectrode to monitor membrane potential (Vm). Oocytes were maintained in pH 5.5 buffer. Peptide transport was identified as being expressed when, in the presence of a buffered peptide substrate (1 mM), the oocyte membrane showed persistent depolarization (a more positive Vm). In the absence of peptide transport, the membrane became depolarized with the addition of buffered substrate, but it rapidly repolarized to the resting potential. Peptide transport was expressed for some di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides. Measured depolarization ranged from 9.6 mV to 42.1 mV. Larger peptides were not transported by the oocytes. When transport expression was measured with the substrates in a pH 7.5 buffer, no transport occurred, indicating that transport was dependent on a proton gradient. Thus, sheep omasal epithelium contains mRNA that codes for a protein(s) capable of proton-dependent di-, tri-, and tetrapeptide transport. Results from the present study provide further evidence that absorption of peptides from the ruminant stomach is possible.
Surgical Endoscopy: A Historical Perspective

Endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract was first introduced in the early 1930s. The field has significantly evolved since the early description of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Surgeons and gastroenterologists have worked very closely to push the envelope in modern-day therapeutic endoscopy. Many of the advanced procedures performed today such as early removal of gastrointestinal cancers, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, percutaneous endoscopic gastrointestinal access, per oral endoscopic myotomy, among others are a result of the development of techniques that were introduced by the early pioneers of surgical endoscopy. The aim of this chapter is to review the history and evolution of surgical endoscopy since its introduction almost a century ago.
The A(i)/GI/l Queue: A new model of transitory queueing

We introduce the Δ (i) /GI/1 queue, a new model of transitory queueing, where demand for service exists only in a fixed interval of time and a large, but finite, number of customers enter the system. Customers independently arrive according to some given distribution F. Thus, the arrival times are an ordered statistics, and the inter-arrival times are differences of consecutive ordered statistics. They are served by a single server which provides service according to a general distribution G, with independent service times. The exact model is analytically intractable. Thus, we develop fluid and diffusion limits for the various stochastic processes as the population size is increased. The fluid limit of the queue length is observed to be a reflected process, while the diffusion limit is observed to be a function of a Brownian motion and a Brownian bridge, and given by a netput process and a directional derivative of the Skorokhod reflected fluid netput in the direction of a diffusion refinement of the netput process.
Structure and geometry of minimum-time trajectories for planar rigid bodies

This paper explores the structure of the time optimal trajectories for a rigid body in the unobstructed plane. The available controls for the system are the velocity and angular velocity of the body, in its own frame of reference. Controls are bounded by a closed convex polyhedron. The paper shows that the structure of the optimal trajectories may be completely described analytically.
Blueberry supplementation attenuates oxidative stress within monocytes and modulates immune cell levels in adults with metabolic syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Blueberries (BB) have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and endothelial function in obese and pre-diabetic humans, and decrease oxidative stress and inflammation, and ameliorate cardio-renal damage in rodents. This indicates that blueberries have a systemic effect and are not limited to a particular organ system. In order for blueberries to exert beneficial effects on the whole body, the mechanism would logically have to operate through modulation of cellular humoral factors. Objective: This study investigated the role of blueberries in modulating immune cell levels and attenuating circulatory and monocyte inflammation and oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome (MetS) subjects. Design: A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled study was conducted in adults with MetS, in which they received a blueberry (22.5 g freeze-dried) or placebo smoothie twice daily for six weeks. Free radical production in the whole blood and monocytes, dendritic cell (DC) levels, expression of cytokines in monocytes and serum inflammatory markers were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: Baseline free radical levels in MetS subjects’ samples were not different between groups. Treatment with blueberries markedly decreased superoxide and total reactive oxygen species (ROS) in whole blood and monocytes compared to the placebo (p ≤ 0.05). The baseline DC numbers in MetS subjects’ samples in both groups were not different, however treatment with blueberries significantly increased myeloid DC (p ≤ 0.05) and had no effect on plasmacytoid cells. Blueberry treatment decreased monocyte gene expression of TNFα, IL-6, TLR4 and reduced serum GMCSF in MetS subjects when compared to the placebo treatment (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of the current study demonstrate that blueberries exert immunomodulatory effects and attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation in adults with MetS.
Oxygen Exposure Resulting in Arterial Oxygen Tensions Above the Protocol Goal Was Associated With Worse Clinical Outcomes in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Objectives:High fractions of inspired oxygen may augment lung damage to exacerbate lung injury in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Participants enrolled in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Network trials had a goal partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood range of 55–80 mm H
Epistemology: III. Categories

Kant divides human knowledge into two parts, sensibility and understanding. Therefore, critical philosophy has to investigate two forms of a priori knowledge. In the first part of the Transcendental Analytic, which follows after the Transcendental Aesthetic, Kant states.
The Ebb and Flow of Planning Specializations

To understand the creation and propagation of knowledge in planning, this research provides the first look at planning specialization development. In assessing planning’s educational response to internal expertise, federal mandates, and historic precedents, we queried the seventy-six accredited planning schools on the evolution of concentrations and certificates offered from 1950 to the present day. We identify pedagogical trends by following the arc of program creation and retirement, intersectionality, and prevalence. Drawing parallels from the most well-established subfields of social and physical planning, this paper offers recommendations for formalizing new knowledge, such as food systems planning. We conclude with the observation that continued innovation and diversity of specializations is a key to planning’s resilience at the nexus of an ever-evolving constellation of fields.
Abstract 3786: Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Augments Myofilament Ca2+ Responsiveness in Failing Myocardium via Altered Phosphorylation

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become one of the major clinical therapies that improve long term survival in heart failure (HF) patients. The beneficial effects of CRT have been suggested, including upregulation of sarcoplamic reticulum ATPase, β 1 -adrenergic receptor expression, and improved chamber mechanoenergetics. Here, we reveal that CRT also acts as a calcium sensitizer and restores maximum force when applied in a dog model of dyssynchronous HF (DHF, 6 wks rapid atrial pacing with LBBB). Trabeculae (in mm: 0.35±0.02 wide, 0.22±0.01 thick, 1.74±0.13 long, n=27) from the ventricles of control, DHF, always synchronous HF (HF-synch, atrial rapid pacing for 6 wks), and CRT (BiV rapid pacing for latter 3 wks) were dissected, mounted between a force transducer and a motor arm, and chemically skinned in 1% Triton. Force-pCa relations were obtained with varied [Ca 2+ ]. The Table compares maximal Ca 2+ -activated force (F max ), the [Ca 2+ ] for 50% of F max (Ca 50 ), and the Hill coefficient in these groups. In parallel, myofibrillar ATPase activity as a function of Ca 2+ activation were studied in these four groups (n=4, and 3 runs in each dog sample). DHF displayed a substantial downward shift with depression of minimum and maximal Ca 2+ -activated myofibrillar ATPase compared with control or CRT, and HF-synch myofibrils also yielded a response quite similar to that of DHF. Finally, 2D-DiGE and mass spectrometry of the myofilament proteins showed increased phosphorylation of troponin I, myosin light chain 2, and α -tropomyosin (at a novel site, T237), while troponin T had less phosphorylation. These results demonstrate that (1) myofilament Ca 2+ responsiveness is markedly depressed in HF and this myofilament abnormality occurs in HF per se (i.e. regardless of synchrony), (2) CRT significantly improves myofilament Ca 2+ responsiveness, and (3) post-translational modification of myofil-ament proteins may underlie the beneficial myofilament effects of CRT.
Integrated Behavioral Health and Primary Care: A Common Language

The field of integrated behavioral health has been around for decades, but until recently in the hands of pioneers in their own particular settings, using their own distinctive language and concepts. That work was generally successful and gathered around it considerable energy in this era of patient-centered medical home and primary care transformation. Mainstream application requires the field to coalesce enough in language and concept to be consistently understood by implementers, health systems, researchers, policymakers, purchasers—and of course patients themselves. Unifying a field with consistently understood concepts and definitions is a normal stage in the development of emerging fields. Inconsistently understood concepts and definitions—including what constitutes the essential functions of integrated behavioral health—have been a practical concern and source of confusion in the field. Even authors writing about different topics in the same book have encountered such ambiguities and confusions. The response to this practical problem was to employ published methods from the field of Descriptive Psychology to create a consensus lexicon or operational definition for behavioral health integrated in primary care. This work sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality—on behalf of the field—resulted in a lexicon described here and employed by chapter authors to move toward using consistently understood terms and functional descriptions of integrated behavioral health.
Kinetic mechanism of coupled binding in sodium-aspartate symporter GltPh

Many secondary active membrane transporters pump substrates against concentration gradients by coupling their uptake to symport of sodium ions. Symport requires the substrate and ions to be always transported together. Cooperative binding of the solutes is a key mechanism contributing to coupled transport in the sodium and aspartate symporter from Pyrococcus horikoshii GltPh. Here, we describe the kinetic mechanism of coupled binding for GltPh in the inward facing state. The first of the three coupled sodium ions, binds weakly and slowly, enabling the protein to accept the rest of the ions and the substrate. The last ion binds tightly, but is in rapid equilibrium with solution. Its release is required for the complex disassembly. Thus, the first ion serves to 'open the door' for the substrate, the last ion 'locks the door' once the substrate is in, and one ion contributes to both events.
Neuroanatomical abnormalities in fragile X syndrome during the adolescent and young adult years.

Abstract Abnormal brain development and cognitive dysfunction have been reported both in children and in adults with fragile X syndrome (FXS). However, few studies have examined neuroanatomical abnormalities in FXS during adolescence. In this study we focus on adolescent subjects with FXS (N = 54) as compared to age- and sex-matched subjects with idiopathic intellectual disability (Comparison Group) (N = 32), to examine neuroanatomical differences during this developmental period. Brain structure was assessed with voxel-based morphometry and independent groups t-test in SPM8 software. Results showed that the FXS group, relative to the comparison group, had significantly larger gray matter volume (GMV) in only one region: the bilateral caudate nucleus, but have smaller GMV in several regions including bilateral medial frontal, pregenual cingulate, gyrus rectus, insula, and superior temporal gyrus. Group differences also were noted in white matter regions. Within the FXS group, lower FMRP levels were associated with less GMV in several regions including cerebellum and gyrus rectus, and less white matter volume (WMV) in pregenual cingulate, middle frontal gyrus, and other regions. Lower full scale IQ within the FXS group was associated with larger right caudate nucleus GMV. In conclusion, adolescents and young adults with FXS demonstrate neuroanatomical abnormalities consistent with those previously reported in children and adults with FXS. These brain variations likely result from reduced FMRP during early neurodevelopment and mediate downstream deleterious effects on cognitive function.
Educational Tools to Teach STEAM Subjects Integrating Linguistic Rights, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking

In this chapter, I will examine how the introduction of the Arts into the teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects represents a new model of education that improves science learning and satisfies human rights criteria for education. I will argue that the incorporation of the Arts into an open and investigate process, based on the “inquiry-based approach”, using local languages and cultural references will improve learning and strengthen human rights. This model is particularly important in educational systems which today use dominant languages and culture in their instruction, disregarding local languages and local knowledge. In contrast to conventional approaches to education, I argue that teaching is more effective when it is based in local languages and culture which include the Arts. Therefore, I introduce a pedagogic model that expands the traditional STEM method to include the Arts. I will conclude with a discussion of the importance of national and international aimed at promoting collaborative learning as well as a pedagogical model that expands the traditional STEM to STEAM and contributes to human rights in education. This includes the introduction of digital narratives into the classroom and a virtual and international collaboration across the Art–Science divide. These narratives are grounded in both local and global cultures, and they include a diversity of knowledge within the human rights framework in education. This model of teaching gives human rights its rightful place in the model of educational.
Miracle or mirage? The promise and peril of desert energy part 2

Consisting of two parts, this article explores the history and challenges facing the Gobitec project, an ambitious proposal to build a multibillion dollar solar power system in the Gobi desert to export electricity throughout Northeast Asia. The first part of our study detailed the primary methods of data collection involved—research interviews, site visits, and a literature review—as well as the history of the Gobitec concept and its close relation to the Desertec concept in North Africa and Europe. Part 1 also discussed the “promise” of very large solar systems in deserts, namely improved security of supply and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. However, this part of our study finds that such projects also face a list of serious – and perhaps insurmountable – technical, economic, political, and social barriers. It concludes by drawing implications for large-scale energy projects and energy policymaking more broadly.