cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping of brain insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptor gene expression by in situ hybridization

Abstract The insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors are members of a distinct tyrosine kinase receptor family. In situ hybridization employing ribonucleotide probes was used to compare patterns of insulin and IGF-I receptor gene expression in serial rat brain sections. A striking redundancy in anatomical patterns for insulin and IGF receptor gene expression is seen in many brain regions from olfactory bulb through cerebellum. Both receptor mRNAs are highest and appear to be coexpressed in the neuron-dense granule cell layers of olfactory bulb, dentate gyrus, and cerebellar cortex and pyramidal cell layers of piriform cortex and Ammon's horn, with relatively little hybridization detected in white matter zones. Superimposed on this generalized pattern are distinct local regions of selective enhancement in gene expression for the insulin or IGF-I receptor. Insulin receptor mRNA is more highly concentrated in anterior thalamic and hypothalamic structures which may have access to circulating insulin. IGF-I receptor mRNA is more highly expressed in projection neurons of sensory and cerebellar relay centers where local IGF-I synthesis is also concentrated. The overlap in insulin and IGF-I receptor gene expression found in many brain regions suggests that hybrid insulin-IGF receptors may be expressed in these regions. In summary, the gene expression patterns revealed in this study suggest that the insulin and IGF receptors may be among the most abundant and ubiquitous of the brain tyrosine kinases.
Cu2+ probe of metal-ion binding sites in melanin using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy: I. Synthetic melanins

Abstract The isotope 63Cu2+ has been used to probe the metal-ion binding sites of synthetic (autoxidized) catechol and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine melanins using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Samples were in aqueous media over a wide range of pH values. Assignments of the structures of the melanin-copper complexes are based in part on model studies of the complexes formed with melanin precursors, catechol and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, and with phenanthroline. Nearly all complexes involve just one or two ligands from melanin. In catechol melanin below pH 5.0, complexes with carboxyl groups are formed; above 6.0, Cu2+ forms complexes with phenolic hydroxyl groups. These same complexes were found in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine melanin and binding of Cu2+ at amino acid type sites also was detected. After partial reduction of copper ions bound to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine melanin, a weak signal of copper with four melanin ligands (oxygen and nitrogen in various combinations) was observed.
Dietary selections of persons with natural and artificial teeth

Abstract The food preference of subjects with natural dentitions was compared with the food items selected by subjects wearing dentures. Results indicated that denture patients tended to avoid foods that were difficult to chew, such as meats, raw vegetables, sandwiches, and salads. Patients with natural teeth ate less cheese, processed fruit, fish, raw fruit, eggs, cereals, bread, and cooked vegetables.
Comparison of regulation of synthesis and utilization of 45S ribosomal precursor RNA in diploid and heteroploid human cells in response to valine deprivation

Abstract Diploid human fibroblasts respond similarly to heteroploid, malignant cells (HeLa) in decreasing both the synthesis and the utilization of 45S ribosomal precursor RNA when cells are blocked in growth by valine deprivation. During valine deprivation the diploid cells, like HeLa cells, decrease 45S r-pre-RNA synthesis to approximately half the rate in active growth, but utilize only about one-fourth of this RNA for ribosome manufacture. The diploid cells also continue synthesis, and partial utilization, of 45S r-pre-RNA for some time after protein synthesis is completely blocked with cycloheximide, as has previously been observed with HeLa cells. Thus the synthesis of ribosomal precursor RNA appears to be under non-stringent control in diploid, normal, as well as heteroploid, malignant human cells. A significant element in the regulation of ribosome synthesis in both types of cells is turnover of unused 45S r-pre-RNA.
Family size, the physical environment, and socioeconomic effects across the stature distribution

A neglected area in historical stature studies is the relationship between stature and family size. Using robust statistics and a large 19th century data set, this study documents a positive relationship between stature and family size across the stature distribution. The relationship between material inequality and health is the subject of considerable debate, and there was a positive relationship between stature and wealth and an inverse relationship between stature and material inequality. After controlling for family size and wealth variables, the paper reports a positive relationship between the physical environment and stature.
The application of the WLF equation to predict lag time as a function of temperature for three psychrotrophic bacteria.

Many mathematical models for microbial growth rates or lag times have been proposed. Most of these models either predict well, but are empirical and offer no insight into mechanism or they reflect mechanism but are too complex or do not fit the data adequately. The Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) equation (used by polymer chemists) is empirical, but shows some relation to first principles, and hence may offer some insight into mechanism. This model also has only three parameters and therefore a fairly simple form. The WLF equation was fit to lag times derived from three datasets previously developed in our laboratory. The fits obtained with the WLF equation were as good as the best fits obtained with other models (e.g Arrhenius, Davey, response surface and square root). The WLF model was able to account for 98 to 99% of the variance in the three datasets, indicating a very good fit overall. The parameter estimates of the WLF model were not as highly correlated as those of some of the other models. Many of the models, including the WLF equation did not predict well at very long lag times. Weighted least squares non-linear regression improved the fit for these long lag times.
Mesenchyme of embryonic reproductive ducts directs process outgrowth of Retzius neurons in the medicinal leech

In the two segments of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) that contain the male (segment 5) and the female (segment 6) reproductive ducts, the paired Retzius (Rz) neurons are distinguished by several unique properties. For example, the muscles and glands of the body wall are the primary peripheral targets of Rz neurons in standard segments [Rz(X)], whereas the muscles and glands of the reproductive ducts are the primary peripheral targets of Rz neurons in the two reproductive segments [Rz(5,6)]. In this paper, we show that organogenesis and differentiation, which generate an epithelial tube surrounded by mesenchymal cells, occur in the embryonic reproductive ducts at approximately the time when Rz processes first contact these structures. The growth cones leading one branch of the posterior axon of Rz(5,6) contact the duct mesenchymal cells. Following initiation of this contact, these posterior growth cones enlarge and send out numerous filopodia. Secondarily, growth cones leading the anterior axon of each Rz(5,6) also modify their shapes and trajectories. When embryonic reproductive ducts were transplanted into posterior (nonreproductive) segments, the branch of the posterior Rz axon near the ectopic reproductive tissue produced enlarged growth cones and extended several secondary branches into the mesenchyme of the ectopic tissue. This result suggests that the reproductive mesenchyme is attractive to, and can modify the growth of, all Rz neurons. The behavior of Rz(5,6) growth cones suggests that the reproductive mesenchyme cells provide guidance cues that control the location in which Rz axons elaborate their peripheral arborization and form synapses, and that the mesenchyme may also stimulate the production of a densely branched arbor.
Chronic Stress- and Sex-Specific Neuromorphological and Functional Changes in Limbic Structures

Chronic stress produces sex-specific neuromorphological changes in a variety of brain regions, which likely contribute to the gender differences observed in stress-related illnesses and cognitive ability. Here, we review the literature investigating the relationship between chronic stress and sex differences on brain plasticity and function, with an emphasis on morphological changes in dendritic arborization and spines in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. These brain structures are highly interconnected and sensitive to stress and gonadal hormones, and influence a variety of cognitive abilities. Although much less work has been published using female subjects than with male subjects, the findings suggest that the relationship between brain morphology and function is very different between the sexes. After reviewing the literature, we present a model showing how chronic stress influences the morphology of these brain regions and changes the dynamic of how these limbic structures interact with each other to produce altered behavioral outcomes in spatial ability, behavioral flexibility/executive function, and emotional arousal.
Impact of error on landscape pattern analyses performed on land-cover change maps

Researchers have emphasized the value of linking observed patterns of land-cover change to the processes driving changes in land-use to explain the dynamics of a land change system. The association of pattern and process requires an accurate quantification of the spatial characteristics of land-cover change. The objective of this research is to assess the impact of error on the accuracy of landscape pattern analyses performed on maps of change. Simulation was used to develop of a series of error-free and error-perturbed change maps, which varied with respect to the pattern of change occurring between the time-1 and time-2 land-cover maps and the patterns of error associated with the time-1 and time-2 land-cover maps. A variety of change and error patterns were examined. The error-free and error-perturbed change maps were compared by calculating landscape pattern metrics, which revealed the degree to which error altered the pattern of change. The introduction of error notably changed the structure of the persistent and transitioning classes, with metrics indicating a more fragmented and variable landscape under error. Agreement between the error-free and error-perturbed maps improved when a greater amount of change occurred within the time-series, change was concentrated at the boundaries of land-cover classes and when time-2 errors were increasingly correlated to their time-1 counterparts. These results have several implications for change pattern analyses given the fundamental nature of land-cover change.
A Flexible GPS Software Development System and Timing Analyzer for Present and Future Microprocessors

Discussed is a timing emulation and operating system which predicts loading for microprocessors and enables efficient generation of software found in such applications as the Global Positioning System. The timing emulator is applied to two classes of user equipment, a conventional fast-multiplexed design and a fully integrated processor featuring continuous state feedback into the spread-spectrum demodulation and tracking loops. Timing data are developed for five representative microprocessors ranging from 818 to 32132 register/bus widths. The advanced integrated processor requires augmentation of the 32132 processor with a math co-processor. The emulator is used to develop speed requirements on the co-processor. Lastly, the software development system is described. This contains a multi-tasking operating system and matrix library written in the language “C” which may be easily adapted to a range of radio-navigation problems.
Recovery of regulatory drinking following lateral hypothalamic lesions: Nature of residual deficits analyzed by NaCl and water infusions

Abstract Traditional views that thirst is no longer experienced by rats which have recovered spontaneous ingestion after lateral hypothalamic lesions have been questioned by a number of recent observations which emphasize the non-specific stressful aspects of dipsogenic challenges. These issues have now been examined in some detail using novel and nonstressful drinking tests. During long-term intravenous and intragastric NaCl infusions, five out of eight rats with lesions in the lateral hypothalamus increased oral drinking. These five rats, and two of the nondrinkers, decreased oral drinking during complementary experiments in which water was infused. All animals with lesions selected for study showed complete failure to drink within 6 hr of intraperitoneal NaCl injection. It is therefore suggested that previous studies have failed to characterize completely the nature of the drinking impairments in these animals. The implications and difficulties of interpretation of these findings in terms of regulatory deficits are discussed, as well as more general issues relating to recovery of function after central nervous system damage. There may be qualitative differences between animals with larger and smaller lesions, and it appears unwise to posit global explanations for the lateral hypothalamic syndrome.
Introduction of the octanucleotide restriction site SwaI into the bicistronic vector pTiSDT for high level synthesis of proteins.

The octanucleotide recognition site for the endonuclease SwaI was introduced into the Escherichia coli bicistronic expression vector pTiSDT by mutating a single position in the coupling SD sequence between a truncated form of the cro-gene and the multicloning site. This mutation does not influence the expression rate. The introduction of this restriction site allows high level production of proteins, that are modified only by an N-terminal methionine incorporated as the start codon.
Use of a terminal system for data acquisition

The application of a mathematically-oriented conversational computing system to data collection and computer control for a specific experiment is described. Relatively simple interfaces are used between the experiment and computer terminal to provide for voltage analog inputs and outputs to the experiment. The terminal is connected to the computer by way of conventional voice-grade telephone lines. It is concluded that this type of data acquisition system is quite useful for experiments in which several-second computer response time can be tolerated data reduction is necessary and the computer load is insufficient to justify the use of a local computer. An additional facility which provides for the ability to plot data was found to be extremely useful.
Neuroendocrinology: Animal Models and Problems of Human Sexuality

The hypothesis has been advanced (Phoenix et al., 1959) that hormones present during early stages of development can determine the pattern of sexual behavior displayed by an individual as an adult. The basic position is that during a very restricted period of development (fetal in some mammals such as the guinea pig and monkey, larval in others such as the mouse and rat born incompletely differentiated) secretions from the XY gonad produce changes not only in the gonaducts and external genitalia, but also in the neural tissues mediating sexual behavior. For sexual behavior, at least two distinct behavioral systems are affected: (1) there is a facilitation or an augmentation of sexual responses normally characteristic of the genetic male, and (2) there is an inhibition or suppression of sexual responses normally characteristic of the genetic female.
Impact of Distal Pancreatectomy on Outcomes of Peritoneal Surface Disease Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Background Left upper quadrant involvement by peritoneal surface disease (PSD) may require distal pancreatectomy (DP) to obtain complete cytoreduction. Herein, we study the impact of DP on outcomes of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC).
Inhibitory and facilitatory influences on mating in the female rat affected by lesions of the anterior hypothalamus or the preoptic area

Abstract The effects of lesions of the anterior hypothalamus and preoptic area on mating behavior, estrous cyclicity and ovulation in the female rat were evaluated. (1) Significant levels of mating behavior occurred after ovariectomy, during vaginal diestrus, in 4 8 animals with lesions of the anterior hypothalamus, and in 2 8 animals with lesions of the preoptic area. (2) The anterior hypothalamic and preoptic area lesioned groups showed more mating behavior than the respective sham groups following injection of the lowest dose of estrogen. (3) Lesions of the anterior hypothalamus failed to reduce mating behavior on days of proestrus, and increased mating on days of estrus compared with sham-anterior hypothalamic lesions. (4) Lesions of the preoptic area reduced mating behavior on days of proestrus, but increased mating on days of estrus compared with sham-preoptic area lesions (5) Lesions of the anterior hypothalamus, and shamlesions of the anterior hypothalamus or preoptic area did not disrupt estrous cycles, or reduce the number of tubal ova present on a morning of estrus. (6) Lesions of the preoptic area were more likely to disrupt cyclicity; they prolonged vaginal estrus in 3 8 animals, and prevented ovulation and development of pseudopregnancy in 4 8 animals. (7) The data suggest that lesions of the anterior hypothalamus interfered with inhibitory influences on mating without disrupting estrous cycles or ovulation. (8) Lesions of the preoptic area interfered with both facilitatory and inhibitory influences on mating behavior, and were more likely to disrupt estrous cycles, ovulation and the development of pseudopregnancy.
Routine use of mechanical ventricular assist following the Norwood procedure

Conventional postoperative management after the Norwood procedure in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome suffers from three main shortfalls. First, the early postoperative care is often labor-intensive and ironically (despite sometimes heroic efforts), when babies die, health care providers often feel like failures, and in the worst scenarios, surgeons or other physicians create cultures of blame. Second, hospital survival is inconsistent in most centers, especially the ones with small surgical volume and limited experience. Third, survivors often show evidence of significant neurologic impairment. To address these postoperative problems, we have adopted the strategy of routinely placing all our patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome on mechanical circulatory support immediately after their Norwood procedure. No attempt was made to balance the systemic and pulmonary circulation. Because an oxygenator was not used in the circuit, a much lower level of anticoagulation was used. Once the lactate level normalized, the amount of mechanical circulatory support was weaned. Since January of 2001, 23 patients have been managed using this strategy. The average time of mechanical circulatory support was approximately 3 days and has decreased to 2 days in more recent experience. The overall incidence of complications was 22%, and overall hospital survival was 87%. Neurodevelopmental testing before the Glenn procedure was normal for all patients tested. Routine postoperative use of mechanical ventricular assist device can support the increased cardiac output demands of infants following Norwood procedure and results in a stable postoperative convalescence. This strategy can simplify postoperative management, lead to excellent hospital survival, and possibly augment cerebral oxygen delivery resulting in improved neurologic outcomes for these patients.
The peri effect in aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogenesis: An empirical force field examination

Methyl substitutents located peri to bay-region benzo rings of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons generally reduce or eliminate carcinogenic activity, most likely because such substituents force the hydroxyl groups of dihydrodiol intermediates to adopt preferentially pseudodiaxial, rather than pseudodiequatorial, conformations. Empirical force field calculations have been employed to examine the influences of peri and other positional substituents on hydroxyl conformation, taking naphthalene, anthracene, and phenanthrene as model compounds. For the unsubstituted naphthalene and anthracene dihydrodiols, the pseudodiequatorial conformation is preferred. This preference is reduced by adjacent methyl substitution and reversed by peri methyl substitution. Because of steric crowding the phenanthrene bay-region dihydrodiol preferentially adopts a pseudodiaxial conformation. The results are discussed in relation to recent experimental evidence.
Some effects of sediment-borne contaminants on development and cytomorphology of teleost eye-lens epithelial cells and their derivatives

Abstract Lens cataracts were found in three sciaenids, Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) in the severely polluted Elizabeth River, Virginia, and induced by in vitro exposure of spot to polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated Elizabeth River sediments. An unusual organ, the living (epithelial and new fiber cells) and ‘non-living’ (older fiber cells and the capsule) components of eye lenses are products of a single cell type. Many lens abnormalities, whether from intoxication, nutritional imbalances, radiation exposure or genetic causes, result from developmental, metabolic or morphological aberrances induced in epithelial cells or new fiber cells. Cataracts of most types observed in our samples are such lesions. Developmental and micromorphological modifications in lens epithelial cells, their cell progeny (the fiber cells) and acellular products (the capsule) related to cataract production from intoxication were examined by bright-field microscopy. Cataractous feral and laboratory-exposed finfishes were employed, with reference or control specimens for comparison. Resulting modifications, including cellular hyperplasia, pleomorphism, megalocytosis, inclusions, necrosis and intracellular vacuolization as well as acellular changes, such as intercellular vacuolization and capsular anomalies, are described or depicted. Studies of cataractogenesis in teleost eyes should yield valuable information on cellular effects of pollution-related intoxication. Further, the whole lens, the lens epithelial layer and individual lens cells are promising subjects for in vivo and in vitro studies of toxicity and environmental bioassay.
Tumor necrosis factor p55 and p75 receptors are involved in chemical-induced apoptosis of dentate granule neurons.

Localized tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) elevation has diverse effects in brain injury often attributed to signaling via TNFp55 or TNFp75 receptors. Both dentate granule cells and CA pyramidal cells express TNF receptors (TNFR) at low levels in a punctate pattern. Using a model to induce selective death of dentate granule cells (trimethyltin; 2 mg/kg, i.p.), neuronal apoptosis [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin in situ end labeling, active caspase 3 (AC3)] was accompanied by amoeboid microglia and elevated TNFα mRNA levels. TNFp55R (55 kDa type-1 TNFR) and TNFp75R (75 kDa type-2 TNFR) immunoreactivity in AC3+ neurons displayed a pattern suggestive of receptor internalization and a temporal sequence of expression of TNFp55R followed by TNFp75R associated with the progression of apoptosis. A distinct ramified microglia response occurred around CA1 neurons and healthy dentate neurons that displayed an increase in the normal punctate pattern of TNFRs. Neuronal damage was decreased with i.c.v. injection of TNFα antibody and in TNFp55R−/−p75R−/− mice that showed higher constitutive mRNA levels for interleukin (IL-1α), macrophage inflammatory protein 1-α (MIP-1α), TNFα, transforming growth factor β1, Fas, and TNFRSF6-assoicated via death domain (FADD). TNFp75R−/− mice showed exacerbated injury and elevated mRNA levels for IL-1α, MIP-1α, and TNFα. In TNFp55R−/− mice, constitutive mRNA levels for TNFα, IL-6, caspase 8, FADD, and Fas-associated phosphatase were higher; IL-1α, MIP-1α, and transforming growth factor β1 lower. The mice displayed exacerbated neuronal death, delayed microglia response, increased FADD and TNFp75R mRNA levels, and co-expression of TNFp75R in AC3+ neurons. The data demonstrate TNFR-mediated apoptotic death of dentate granule neurons utilizing both TNFRs and suggest a TNFp75R-mediated apoptosis in the absence of normal TNFp55R activity.
Adaptive mobility management in wireless networks

The first generation of communication protocols for wireless networks have recently been augmented by auxiliary protocols. These protocols are characterised by the open-loop nature of their control of network traffic. The authors propose a new generation of closed-loop protocols that are coupled with a real-time optimization framework. New itinerary caching is proposed and a genetic algorithm with seeding is used for optimisation. Simulation results show improvements of 20-50% in message traffic when using the proposed adaptive protocols.
Prevalence of brown adipose tissue in chronic congestive heart failure secondary to coronary heart disease

Abstract Brown adipose tissue, a highly metabolic form of fat, is used by some mammals to regulate body temperature. 1 In humans, brown adipose tissue is an important source of nonshivering thermogenesis for the neonate 1 and has recently been identified in variable amounts in adults. 2–4 Brown adipose tissue is located in definite anatomic sites of humans primarily during fetal and infantile stages of life and gradually diminishes with age until it disappears and is replaced by white adipose tissue. 2,3 However, a recent autopsy study has shown a high prevalence of brown adipose tissue in “coldexposed” adult humans, suggesting that this tissue may be important for thermoregulation in these older persons. 4
Public Policy Issues in Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs

Abstract In August 1997, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a reinterpretation of its rules on direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, the effect of which was to permit branded broadcast advertisements and therefore to increase the volume of DTC advertising several-fold. A substantial body of research, consisting primarily of consumer surveys, provides the basis for a preliminary assessment of the effects of DTC advertisements. The FDA’s own assessment, that DTC advertisements can provide substantial benefits and do not appear to cause substantial harm, is consistent with survey and other data. Direct-to-consumer advertisements appear to provide valuable information (including risk information); induce information-seeking (mainly from physicians); prompt patients to discuss conditions not previously discussed; and generate significant, positive externalities including the possibility of improved patient compliance with drug therapy. The effects of DTC advertisements on drug consumption and on ...
Major shear fractures of Alaska and adjacent regions

Stream directions and shorelines in Alaska, Siberia, and Canada suggest the existence of three major sets of almost perpendicular pairs of shear fractures, which correspond to forces originating (1) in the Beaufort Sea, (2) in the bay of the Arctic Ocean near latitude 80° N, longitude 123° E, and (3) from a direction a few degrees east of north from Bering Strait. Available geologic evidence tentatively dates these fracture sets, respectively, as having been produced (1) between Lower and Upper Cretaceous, (2) between Upper Triassic and Jurassic, and (3) in the late Carboniferous or earlier. The first and last sets roughly fit the shear nets calculated by Vening Meinesz for shifts of the pole. Each of the three sets is associated with a distinct segment of the Aleutian Island arc, whose dimensions are here compared with those predicted by the overthrust theory of Gunn.
Hepatitis C virus–infected women have a higher risk of advanced fibrosis and graft loss after liver transplantation than men†‡

In natural history studies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, women have a lower risk of disease progression to cirrhosis. Whether female sex influences outcomes of HCV in the posttransplantation setting is unknown. All patients transplanted for HCV-related liver disease from 2002-2007 at five United States transplantation centers were included. The primary outcome was development of advanced disease, defined as biopsy-proven bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis. Secondary outcomes included death, graft loss, and graft loss with advanced recurrent disease. A total of 1,264 patients were followed for a median of 3 years (interquartile range, 1.8-4.7), 304 (24%) of whom were women. The cumulative rate of advanced disease at 3 years was 38% for women and 33% for men (P = 0.31), but after adjustment for recipient age, donor age, donor anti-HCV positivity, posttransplantation HCV treatment, cytomegalovirus infection and center, female sex was an independent predictor of advanced recurrent disease (hazard ratio [HR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.70; P = 0.04). Among women, older donor age and treated acute rejection were the primary predictors of advanced disease. The unadjusted cumulative 3-year rates of patient and graft survival were numerically lower in women (75% and 74%, respectively) than men (80% and 78%, respectively), and in multivariable analyses, female sex was an independent predictor for death (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.01-1.67; P = 0.04) and graft loss (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.02-1.67; P = 0.03). Conclusion: Female sex represents an underrecognized risk factor for advanced recurrent HCV disease and graft loss. Further studies are needed to determine whether modification of donor factors, immunosuppression, and posttransplantation therapeutics can equalize HCV-specific outcomes in women and men. (HEPATOLOGY 2011;)
Calpastatin is regulated by protein never in mitosis gene A interacting-1 (PIN1) in endothelial cells.

Abstract The peptidyl-proline isomerase, protein never in mitosis gene A interacting-1 (PIN1) binds and isomerizes proteins phosphorylated on serine/threonine before a proline. It was previously found that depletion of PIN1 greatly increased induction of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase by lowering calpain activity in murine aortic endothelial cells (MAEC). Here we investigated the effect of PIN1 on the endogenous inhibitor of heterodimeric μ- and m-calpains, calpastatin. MAEC were transduced with small hairpin (sh) RNA to knock down PIN1 (KD) or an inactive Control shRNA. Cells were also treated with non-targeted double stranded small inhibitory RNA (siRNA) or siRNA designed to deplete calpastatin. Despite reducing calpain activity, PIN1 KD did not significantly affect the expression of μ- and m-calpains, or calpastatin, compared to Control shRNA. Instead, depletion of PIN1 increased the inhibitory activity of calpastatin. Calpastatin co-immunoprecipitated with endogenous PIN1 and was pulled down with glutathione-S-transferase (GST)–PIN1 fusion protein. Adding GST–PIN1 to KD cell extracts lacking PIN1 reduced calpastatin inhibitory activity. Substrate binding and catalytic domain mutants of PIN1 failed to do so. These results suggest that protein interaction and the proline isomerase functions of PIN1 are required for it to inhibit calpastatin. Furthermore, depletion of calpastatin raised calpain activity and reduced calpain inhibitory activity to similar levels in KD and Control MAEC, indicating that calpastatin is required for PIN1 depletion to lower calpain activity. Thus, PIN1 apparently restrains the ability of calpastatin to inhibit calpain, maintaining calpain activity in endothelial cells. PIN1 may act directly via phosphorylated serine/threonine–proline motifs in calpastatin, or indirectly via other PIN1 substrates that control calpastatin.
Duodenal leiomyoma: A case report of hematemesis in a teenager

A leiomyoma of the duodenum presenting in a 17-year-old girl represents and unusual cause for a massive upper gastrointestinal bleed in a teenager.
A re-evaluation of the effects of "hypophysectomy" by surgical decapitation on the glycogen content of the glycogen body of the developing chick embryo.

The glycogen content of individual, isolated glycogen bodies of normal and hypophysectomized White Leghorn chick embryos was determined from days 12.5 to 16.5 of incubation. No statistically significant difference was found between glycogen concentrations of this structure in normal and in hypophysectomized animals. The administration of cortisone acetate to pituoprivic embryos on day 13.5 had no effect upon the glycogen content of the glycogen bodies of animals sacrificed on days 14.5 and 15.5. (Endocrinology 79: 1021,1966)
Robust global asymptotic attitude stabilization of a rigid body by quaternion-based hybrid feedback

Global asymptotic stabilization of the attitude of a rigid body is hindered by major topological obstructions. In fact, this task is impossible to accomplish with continuous state feedback. Moreover, when the attitude is parametrized with unit quaternions, it becomes impossible to design a globally stabilizing state feedback (even discontinuous) that is robust to measurement noise. In this paper, we present a quaternion-based hysteretic hybrid feedback that robustly globally asymptotically stabilizes the attitude of a rigid body. The hybrid control laws are derived through Lyapunov analysis in kinematic and dynamic settings. In the dynamic setting, we provide two control laws: one derived from an energybased Lyapunov function and another based on backstepping. Analyzing the change in these Lyapunov functions due to switching of a logic variable yields a straightforward form for state-based hysteresis. A simulation study demonstrates how hysteresis provides robustness to measurement noise and highlights differences between the energy-based and backstepping control laws.
Cryoelectric hybrid system for very large random access memory

The recent introduction of structured cells characterized by no cell-to-cell interaction, adequate sense signal, and array tolerance under repetitive worse-case disturb evaluation and coincident current operation, has made possible new systems approaches. A coincident current "hybrid" (word-bit) system utilizing room temperature decoders and structured loop cell arrays was designed to satisfy the criteria pertinent to a very large random access cryoelectric memory. Besides offering the advantage of an early realization of a cryoelectric memory, compared to previous systems advanced, several other benefits are realized: 1) low electronics cost, especially in large systems sizes, 2) low heat load, and 3) potential plane yield improvement through redundancy techniques. Although a disadvantage is the large number of interconnections, analysis shows that the overall memory cost can be minimized through proper substrate design. The technology required by the hybrid system embodies present art, and very large random access cryoelectric memories employing hybrid organization and loop cell arrays appear to be feasible.
An autocompensating fiber-optic quantum cryptography system

Summary form only given. Quantum cryptography, or quantum key distribution (QKD), invented by Bennett and Brassard is a method for creating shared, assuredly secret, cryptographic key data over unsecured optical links. Security is guaranteed by the fundamental quantum properties of light. We describe our system in great detail, and report recent improvements and results obtained in generating error-corrected, privacy-amplified photographic key data over a 10-km single-mode fiber link. Bob transmits two orthogonally-polarized phase coherent pulses.
RD-OPT: an efficient algorithm for optimizing DCT quantization tables

The Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) is widely used in lossy image and video compression schemes such as JPEG and MPEG. In this paper we describe RD-OPT, an efficient algorithm for constructing DCT quantization tables with optimal rate-distortion tradeoffs for a given image. The algorithm uses DCT coefficient distribution statistics in a novel way and uses a dynamic programming strategy to produce optimal quantization tables over a wide range of rates and distortions. It can be used to compress images at any desired signal-to-noise ratio or compressed size.
“Dearly Loved Mother Eunice”: Gender, Motherhood, and Shaker Spirituality

In June 1808, at the age of fourteen, Eunice Bathrick confessed her sins and joined the Shakers (also known as the Believers), a celibate religious community founded by Ann Lee in the late eighteenth century. Although largely unknown to modern scholars, Bathrick played many roles in the Shaker village of Harvard, Massachusetts, where she lived her entire Shaker life. A prolific visionist, a creative thinker, and a dedicated writer, she became an authoritative figure at Harvard and a symbol of the empowering opportunities for women found within the religious structure, particularly the spirituality, of Shakerism. Her work—in the form of an autobiography, several biographies, visions and spirit messages, oral histories, hymn collections, and a web of correspondence with other Shakers and the outside world—provides a unique opportunity to study both this interrelationship between gender, spirituality, and female empowerment in Shaker communities and Bathrick's own individual spiritual journey as a Shaker sister.
Students entering internship show readiness in the nutrition care process.

Background The British Dietetic Association and the International Confederation of Dietetic Associations are developing an international model for dietetics practice as an aid in providing evidence-based practice. In the USA, undergraduate programmes are mandated by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) to incorporate the nutrition care process (NCP) into the curriculum so that students can use the process during their dietetic internship and later practice. The present study aimed to assess interns’ readiness in the NCP prior to beginning a dietetic internship. Methods Before starting the internship, the 40 interns in the 2009–2010 class of a university-based internship were sent an e-mail requesting they complete an online survey. Questions inquired about their NCP background with respect to: academic preparation, work or volunteer experiences, knowledge and confidence in ability to apply the NCP. Survey results were analysed with SPSS statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results The 39 interns completing the survey indicated they had prior exposure to the NCP. All but one reported that their academic coursework covered the NCP. Approximately half of the interns worked or volunteered in settings that used the NCP. Overall, students correctly answered most of the questions assessing their basic knowledge in the NCP. Thirty-seven of the 39 interns had some confidence or felt confident in their ability to apply the NCP during internship rotations. Conclusions This distance internship attracts students from all over the USA, and so the findings of the present study shed light on current undergraduate preparation in the NCP.
Contesting Neoliberalism Through Critical Pedagogy, Intersectional Reflexivity, and Personal Narrative: Queer Tales of Academia

In this article, we use personal narrative to explore allies and alliance building between marginalized people working in and through higher education, with an eye toward interrogating the ways in ...
Cross-cultural and international adaptation of peer support for diabetes management

Summary and conclusions That peer support might enhance diabetes manage-ment is based on substantial literature on peer supportin other areas of health, 1–7,10 modest evidence froma relatively small number of studies with adults withdiabetes 8 and a strong rationale based on the day-to-day demands of diabetes management and the likeli-hood that peer support might assist with daily manage-ment, maintaining motivation and dealing withemotional challenges and staying connected to clinicalcare. 9 Following the principal of equiﬁnality, focusing onthe key functions of peer support may enhance bothpromotion across different cultures and settings aswell as general evaluation of peer support. Interna-tional promotion may be advanced by emphasizingthe key functions of peer support—assistance in dailymanagement, social and emotional support, linkage toclinical care—and then encouraging local variation inthe speciﬁc ways they are addressed. By characterizingimplementation of these key functions from pro-gramme records, survey of participants’ reports ofreceipt of the key functions and measurement of com-mon end points, evaluation may span across diverseprogrammes and characterize the general beneﬁts ofpeer support and the extent its several functions con-tribute to them.Among many challenges are integrating peer sup-port among the roles of professionals within healthcare, likely to vary widely across different countriesand health systems, harmonizing the role of peers withfamily and others in individuals’ networks and com-munities, maintaining the engagement of both peersupporters and those they assist and keeping trainingand attention to quality of service delivered fromdistorting the fundamental characteristics of supportfrom a peer.Clearly, the challenges of promoting peer support indiabetes management internationally are substantial,but meeting them may not only enhance diabetes carearound the world but also increase our understandingof how peer support is shaped by its contexts in cul-tures, families, neighbourhoods and health care sys-tems, as well as shedding light on the contributionspeer support may make to health in general.
Performance of severely hearing-impaired children on a closed-response, auditory speech discrimination test.

The performance of 23 hearing-impaired children on a closed-response, auditory speech discrimination test and on an open-response, auditory speech discrimination test was compared to their performa...
Morphological reversible contour representation

In this paper, a novel morphological reversible contour representation of discrete binary images is proposed. A binary image is represented by a set of nonoverlapping multilevel contours and a residual image. In this proposed representation, the total number of pixels representing an image is far less than the total number of pixels obtained by the seed-based morphological contour-skeleton lossless representation. The proposed contour representation is simple, unique, and general without restrictions on the binary image to be represented. The resulting multicontour image component is robust to noise. An efficient differential chain contour coding scheme is employed to further compress the represented image. The proposed method yields very low bit rates compared to the existing morphological techniques. An automatic filling procedure, which properly fills a proper multicontour image according to its topological structure without need of seed points, is proposed.
A label-free proteome analysis strategy for identifying quantitative changes in erythrocyte membranes induced by red cell disorders

Red blood cells have been extensively studied but many questions regarding membrane properties and pathophysiology remain unanswered. Proteome analysis of red cell membranes is complicated by a very wide dynamic range of protein concentrations as well as the presence of proteins that are very large, very hydrophobic, or heterogeneously glycosylated. This study investigated the removal of other blood cell types, red cell membrane extraction, differing degrees of fractionation using 1-D SDS gels, and label-free quantitative methods to determine optimized conditions for proteomic comparisons of clinical blood samples. The results showed that fractionation of red cell membranes on 1-D SDS gels was more efficient than low-ionic-strength extractions followed by 1-D gel fractionation. When gel lanes were sliced into 30 uniform slices, a good depth of analysis that included the identification of most well-characterized, low-abundance red cell membrane proteins including those present at 500 to 10,000 copies per cell was obtained. Furthermore, the size separation enabled detection of changes due to proteolysis or in vivo protein crosslinking. A combination of Rosetta Elucidator quantitation and subsequent statistical analysis enabled the robust detection of protein differences that could be used to address unresolved questions in red cell disorders. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Integrated omics.
Sediment Sources and Clay Mineral Distributions Off the Oregon Coast

ABSTRACT Results of clay mineral analyses of surface sediments from the Oregon continental margin are combined with estimates of continental sediment influx to determine the relations between major source regions and dominant dispersal pathways of fine grained sediment in offshore areas. Both the clay assemblages and the sediment supply estimates indicate that the rivers of the northern California Coast Range, the Klamath Mountains and the Columbia Watershed are the principal sediment suppliers, providing over 90 percent of the silts and clays to the Oregon margin and Cascadia Basin. In order of importance, the major sediment sources appear to be, in l06 tonnes/year, the Eel (24.8), Columbia (14.3), Klamath (10.9), Rogue (4.7 estimated), Umpqua (3.2) and Mad (2.5) rivers. Trends in the clay mineral distributions suggest that deposition of fine grained sediments on the Oregon continental shelf is controlled by seasonal meteorological and oceanic factors such as periodic peak river discharges, winter storms and summer coastal upwelling. A lobe of montmorillonite-rich clays on the northern Oregon shelf may be caused either by southward extension of the Columbia River Plume in May-June, or more likely, from discharges of local Coast Range streams and northward transport during the winter months. Montmorillonite-rich clays found in submarine canyons and channel systems suggest that much of the Columbia load is channelled to abyssal fans off Washington and northern Oregon. On the continental slope, clays relatively rich in chlorite indicate that a portion of the massive influx from the northern California and southern Oregon coastal streams is carried northward, probably via the California Undercurrent. The imprint of this poleward flow can be traced to marginal areas off the Washington coast. Clays in the Cascadia Basin appear to be a mixture of Columbia River and Klamath/California Coast Range type sediments, suggesting that the northward flow may not be confined to the continental slope.
Evaluation of a radiographic caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte on the femoral neck and its relationship to degenerative joint disease and distraction index in dogs

Objective—To determine prevalence of a radiographic caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte (CCO) on the femoral neck in various breeds and age groups of dogs and to evaluate its contemporaneous relationship with degenerative joint disease (DJD) and distraction index (DI). Design—Cross-sectional prevalence study. Animals—25,968 dogs, including 3,729 German Shepherd Dogs, 4,545 Golden Retrievers, 6,277 Labrador Retrievers, and 1,191 Rottweilers. Procedure—Data from the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program database were analyzed, including ventrodorsal hip-extended, compression, and distraction radiographs. The CCO and radiographic signs of DJD were considered independent events and were interpreted as either present or absent. Statistical methods were used to evaluate the CCO as a possible risk factor for DJD and assess its association with DI, as measured by use of distraction radiography. Results—When all breeds were pooled, DJD was detected in 8.6% of dogs, and the CCO was detected in 21.6% of...