cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LINGO-1, A TRANSMEMBRANE SIGNALING PROTEIN, INHIBITS OLIGODENDROCYTE DIFFERENTIATION AND MYELINATION THROUGH INTERCELLULAR SELF-INTERACTIONS

Overcoming remyelination failure is a major goal of new therapies for demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis. LINGO-1, a key negative regulator of myelination, is a transmembrane signaling protein expressed in both neurons and oligodendrocytes. In neurons, LINGO-1 is an integral component of the Nogo receptor complex, which inhibits axonal growth via RhoA. Because the only ligand-binding subunit of this complex, the Nogo receptor, is absent in oligodendrocytes, the extracellular signals that inhibit myelination through a LINGO-1-mediated mechanism are unknown. Here we show that LINGO-1 inhibits oligodendrocyte terminal differentiation through intercellular interactions and is capable of a self-association in trans. Consistent with previous reports, overexpression of full-length LINGO-1 inhibited differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Unexpectedly, treatment with a soluble recombinant LINGO-1 ectodomain also had an inhibitory effect on OPCs and decreased myelinated axonal segments in cocultures with neurons from dorsal root ganglia. We demonstrated LINGO-1-mediated inhibition of OPCs through intercellular signaling by using a surface-bound LINGO-1 construct expressed ectopically in astrocytes. Further investigation showed that the soluble LINGO-1 ectodomain can interact with itself in trans by binding to CHO cells expressing full-length LINGO-1. Finally, we observed that soluble LINGO-1 could activate RhoA in OPCs. We propose that LINGO-1 acts as both a ligand and a receptor and that the mechanism by which it negatively regulates OPC differentiation and myelination is mediated by a homophilic intercellular interaction. Disruption of this protein-protein interaction could lead to a decrease of LINGO-1 inhibition and an increase in myelination.
Potential Vorticity Accumulation Following Atmospheric Kelvin Waves in the Active Convective Region of the MJO

AbstractPrevious works have shown that most of the rainfall embedded within the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) occurs in large eastward-moving envelopes of enhanced convection known as super cloud clusters. Many of these superclusters have been identified as convectively coupled Kelvin waves. In this work, a simple composite-averaging technique diagnoses the linear and nonlinear contributions to MJO potential vorticity (PV) structure by convection collocated with Kelvin waves. Results demonstrate that PV is generated coincident with active convection in Kelvin waves, but that this PV remains in the environment after Kelvin wave passage and becomes part of the structure of the MJO. Analysis of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) rainfall suggests that 62% of the total rainfall within the MJO occurs within the active convective phases of the Kelvin waves (88% higher than the rain rate that occurs outside of the Kelvin waves), supporting the hypothesis that diabatic heating in cloud clusters embe...
Evaluation of Combined Radiation Effects to Transistors

A method is present which systematically uses multiple linear regression to predict the current gain response of bipolar transistors to gamma and neutron radiation both separately and collectively. The results indicated that the important parameters needed to predict the radiation response can be statistically determined from a large number of parameters provided those needed for predictions are included in this set. To predict neutron response only pre-rad electrical measurements were needed; while to predict the response to gamma radiation, electrical measurements after some initial gamma irradiation was required. The response to the total neutron and gamma environment was predicted assuming that the increases in base currents due to the environments separately were independent of each other.
Literacy demands and formatting characteristics of opioid contracts in chronic nonmalignant pain management.

Abstract Chronic nonmalignant pain affects a significant number of adults, with many requiring opioid medications to manage their symptoms. Although the content of typical opioid contracts (OCs) has been explored, no studies have examined the literacy demands and formatting characteristics of OCs currently used throughout the United States. We evaluated 162 English-language OCs submitted to us by current American Pain Society members residing in the United States. OCs were evaluated for reading grade level and formatting characteristics. The mean readability of OCs was at grade level 13.8 ± 1.3 (range = 10–17), whereas the average text point size was 11.0 ± 1.4 (range = 6–16). Active voice was used exclusively in almost half of OCs (n = 79, 48.8%). Most OCs contained not only sophisticated medical language but multisyllable, nonmedical terms and vocabulary not used in typical everyday conversation. Overall, most OCs reviewed presented information at much too high a reading grade level, and with formatting characteristics that probably would make these documents difficult for the average patient to fully comprehend. Perspective This study indicates that there is a mismatch between the reading demands of most OCs and the actual health literacy skills of American adults. Accordingly, those developing OCs should be cognizant of the actual literacy abilities of their patient population and design and evaluate OCs accordingly.
Lack of nAChR Activity Depresses Cochlear Maturation and Up-Regulates GABA System Components: Temporal Profiling of Gene Expression in α9 Null Mice

Background It has previously been shown that deletion of chrna9, the gene encoding the α9 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit, results in abnormal synaptic terminal structure. Additionally, all nAChR-mediated cochlear activity is lost, as characterized by a failure of the descending efferent system to suppress cochlear responses to sound. In an effort to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the structural and functional consequences following loss of α9 subunit expression, we performed whole-transcriptome gene expression analyses on cochleae of wild type and α9 knockout (α9−/−) mice during postnatal days spanning critical periods of synapse formation and maturation.
Optical detection of polycations via polymer film-modified microtiter plates: response mechanism and bioanalytical applications.

Microtiter plate wells modified with thin (∼20 μm) polymeric films capable of optically sensing macromolecular protamine and other polycationic species are described. The plates are prepared by coating the bottom of each well of a conventional 96-well polypropylene plate with an adherent polymer film (a mixture of poly(vinyl chloride) and polyurethane) containing a lipophilic 2‘,7‘-dichlorofluorescein derivative. Surprisingly, optical response toward polycations is shown to result from the extraction of the fluorescein derivative from the polymer film into a lyophobic colloidal phase at the sample/film interface. This new phase is likely composed of a micellular-type ion pair complex between the analyte polycation from aqueous sample phase and the deprotonated form of the fluorescein derivative. Accumulation of the deprotonated fluorescein species in this interfacial region induces an absorbance change measured at 540 nm. Optimized plates can be used to sense protamine concentrations in the range of 0−100...
Spectrophotometric and manometric studies of NADPH and NADH oxidase activities of rat liver microsomes: effects of drugs and adenine nucleotides.

Abstract In view of the extensive interest in microsomal NADH and NADPH oxidases —for example, in the relationship of NADPH oxidase to drug-metabolizing enzymes—optimal conditions for the assay of these enzymes were established. Optimal pH was found to depend upon the buffer employed. Variation of microsomal concentration did not give strictly linear rates; high concentration of microsomes caused a decrease in observed reaction rate. In high concentration, both substrates were inhibitory. The reported ADP-stimulated oxidation of NADPH by rat liver microsomes could be confirmed only when particular reaction conditions were employed. The buffer used is crucial, and manometric and spectrophotometric assays may yield divergent results. Poor correlation was found between the extent of metabolism of drugs by NADPH-linked microsomal enzymes and the ability of the drugs to block the stimulation by ADP of oxygen uptake by microsomes in the presence of NADPH. This uptake has previously been suggested to involve the peroxidation of microsomal lipid.
Professional development in person: identity and the construction of teaching within a high school science department

This is a narrative inquiry into the role of professional development in the construction of teaching practice by an exemplary urban high school science teacher. I collected data during 3 years of ethnographic participant observation in Marie Gonzalez’s classroom. Marie told stories about her experiences in ten years of professional development focused on inquiry science teaching. I use a social practice theory lens to analyze my own stories as well as Marie’s. I make the case that science teaching is best understood as mediated by socially-constructed identities rather than as the end-product of knowledge and beliefs. The cognitive paradigm for understanding teachers’ professional learning fails to consistently produce transformations of teaching practice. In order to design professional development with science teachers that is generative of new knowledge, and is self-sustaining, we must understand how to build knowledge of how to problematize identities and consciously use social practice theory.
Alterations in Thyroid Blood Flow Induced by Varying Levels of Iodine Intake in the Rat

Thyroid hormone biosynthesis depends upon the presence of adequate amounts of thyroidal iodine, and during fluctuations in dietary iodine intake, relatively constant thyroid hormone levels are maintained by various homeostatic mechanisms. These mechanisms include an enhancement of iodide pump efficiency and organification when iodine intake is limited, and significant decreases in iodide uptake and hormone synthesis when excess iodine intake occurs. The present study was designed to determine whether acclimation to different dietary iodine regimens is associated with changes in thyroid blood flow and to assess the time course of any such alterations in relation to pituitary-thyroid axis hormone levels. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a diet containing low (LID), high (HID), or normal (CTR) iodine concentrations. Three, 7, 14, or 133 days after starting these dietary regimens, the animals were anesthetized with ketamine/pentobarbital, and thyroid blood flows were assessed using the reference sample version of the microsphere technique. At the same times and at weekly intervals throughout the 133 days of treatment, blood samples for the determination of TSH, T4, and T3 levels were obtained. Additionally, thyroidal immunoreactive vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was measured at the end of the experiments. LID treatment increased thyroid blood flows to 240%, 350%, and 240% of levels in control rats at 7, 14, and 133 days of treatment, respectively. Thyroid weight was also elevated above levels in control animals at each of these times. A slight decrease in plasma T4 levels occurred over the 133 days of LID treatment; however, this dietary regimen did not alter circulating levels of T3 or TSH or thyroidal VIP concentration. HID treatment had opposite effects, in general, to those of LID. Thyroid blood flows were decreased by 34%, 56%, 46%, and 35% after 3, 7, 14, and 133 days of treatment with HID, respectively. Circulating levels of T4 were increased over the 133 days of HID treatment, whereas plasma levels of T3 and TSH and thyroid weights remained unchanged from those in control rats over this period of study. A small decrease in thyroidal VIP concentrations coincident with the decrease in thyroid blood flow was observed at the beginning of the HID treatment. Neither LID nor HID had any effect on blood pressure, cardiac output, or blood flow in other organs. These data demonstrate that acclimation to changes in dietary iodine intake in the rat include alterations in thyroid blood flow which are reciprocal to the iodine intake level and appear to be independent of circulating TSH levels.
Cost-Appraising Techniques For Route Planning

Cost appraisal is one of the most important elements in route planning, especially when dynamic programming is employed in the search technique. Different missions require different routes; for example, a mission may require a minimum-length path, a terrain-constrained path, a tactical path, a threat-avoidance path, a fuel-constrained path, or a combination of such paths. An optimal path is the path whose total cost is appraised to be the minimum. One difficulty in cost appraisal is in identifying common as well as mission-specific parameters. Another difficulty is in ranking the weighting coefficients, or equivalently the importance factors. Many papers can be found on finding an optimal path for some cost function. However, there has been much less published analysis discussing the detailed definitions of cost-measuring functions other than the familiar Euclidean metrics. Known methods of cost appraisal tend to be either exclusively heuristic or numerical. In this paper we present a new formulation of cost appraisal in which intertwined employment of both approaches is evident. An application example is given.
Electronic and magnetic properties of amorphous and crystalline Zr 40 Cu 60-x Fe x alloys

Electronic states and localized magnetic moments and their interactions were studied in amorphous and crystalline ${\mathrm{Zr}}_{40}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{60\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}$ alloys for $0\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}12$. Electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and high-field magnetization measurements were performed. In the dilute crystalline alloys Curie-Weiss behavior is seen in the susceptibility and is associated with localized moments (${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{eff}}\ensuremath{\approx}3{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$) on the iron atoms. At higher iron concentrations ferromagnetism is observed. Curie-Weiss behavior also is seen in the susceptibility of the dilute ($0lx\ensuremath{\le}6$) amorphous alloys; however, for these alloys the dependence on Fe concentration appears complex and the effective moments on the iron atoms are very small (${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{eff}}\ensuremath{\approx}0.7{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$). There is some evidence that the local environment of the Fe atoms is important and may depend sensitively on the quench rate used in making the samples or, perhaps, on room-temperature ageing effects in the samples. The dilute amorphous alloys exhibit a negative $\frac{d\ensuremath{\rho}}{dT}$ from 1.4 to 300 K. This is not to be associated with Kondo spin-flip scattering but it is consistent with several other mechanisms including localized-spin-fluctuation scattering, $s$-$d$ scattering in a nonmagnetic model, scattering from tunneling states in the amorphous alloy, or quasi-liquidmetal-pseudopotential scattering. A recent theory due to Nagel and Tauc on the nearly-free-electron approach to metallic glass alloys is shown to be consistent with this last idea and also is used to account for other features exhibited by the amorphous Zr-Cu system. In the concentrated ($xg6$) amorphous alloys, resistance maxima and magnetic hysteresis are seen at low temperatures. For $x=12$ a random ferromagnetic state develops with ${T}_{0}=30$ K, which is some five times smaller than ${T}_{0}$ for the corresponding crystalline alloy. The saturation moment in the amorphous alloy is also considerably smaller than in the crystalline case. This behavior is similar to other systems in which the crystalline-to-amorphous transition greatly weakens the magnetism.
Association of D-RNA with Polyribosomes in the Soybean Root

Ribosomes from soybean root tips were shown to consist of about 75% polyribosomes based on size distribution on sucrose gradients. Electronmicrographs showed the presence of ribosome clusters in normal preparations and only monomers and dimers in ribonuclease-treated preparations. The polyribosome preparations, but not single ribosomes, showed good in vitro amino acid incorporating activity.D-RNA was associated with the ribosome preparations, and preferentially in the polyribosome structure. It is suggested that at least a part of the soybean D-RNA represents a class of messenger RNA.
P-wave indices and atrial fibrillation: cross-cohort assessments from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) and Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased morbidity. P-wave indices (PWIs) measure atrial electrical function and are associated with AF. Study of PWI has been limited to single-cohort investigations, and their contributions to risk enhancement are unknown. Methods We examined PWI from the FHS and ARIC study. We calculated 10-year AF risk using adjusted Cox models. We conducted cross-cohort meta-analyses for the PWI estimates and assessed their contributions to risk discrimination (c statistic), net reclassification index, and integrated discrimination improvement. Results After exclusions, the analysis included 3,110 FHS (62.6 ± 9.8 years, 56.9% women) and 8,254 ARIC participants (62.3 ± 5.6 years, 57.3% women, 20.3% black race). Over 10 years, 217 FHS and 458 ARIC participants developed AF. In meta-analysis, P-wave duration >120 milliseconds was significantly associated with AF (hazard ratio 1.55, 95% CI 1.29-1.85) compared with ≤120 milliseconds. P-wave area was marginally but not significantly related to AF (hazard ratio 1.31, 95% CI 0.95-1.80). P-wave terminal force was strongly associated with AF in ARIC but not FHS. P-wave indices had a limited contribution toward predictive risk beyond traditional risk factors and markers. Conclusions P-wave indices are intermediate phenotypes for AF. They are associated with AF in cross-cohort meta-analyses but contribute minimally toward enhancing risk prediction.
COMPILE-TIME ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION OF EXPLICITLY PARALLEL PROGRAMS*

Data flow analysis has been used by compilers in diverse contexts, from optimization to register allocation. Traditional analysis of sequential programs has centered on scalar variables. More recently, several researchers have investigated analysis of array sections for optimizations on modern architectures. This information has been used to distribute data, optimize data movement and vectorize or parallelize programs. As multiprocessors become more common-place. we believe there will be considerable interest in explicitly parallel programming languages. In this paper, we extend traditional analysis to array section analysis for parallel languages which include additional control and synchronization structures. We show how to compute array section data flow information, i.e., Communication Sets, for a class of parallel programs. To illustrate its use, we show how this information can be applied in compile-time program partitioning. Information about array accesses can also be used to improve estimates of ...
Genetic analysis of the endemic island loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi

Based on limited research, the island loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi has been considered a distinct subspecies endemic to the northern California Channel Islands. We used mtDNA control region sequences and microsatellite genotyping to compare loggerhead shrikes from the southern California mainland (L. l. gambeli), San Clemente Island (L. l. mearnsi), and the northern islands (L. l. anthonyi). Habitats on the islands are recovering due to the removal of non-native ungulates on the islands, but may be transitioning to habitats less supportive of loggerhead shrikes, so this evaluation comes at a critical time. We utilized 96 museum specimens that were collected over a century to evaluate both spatial and temporal genetic patterns. Analysis of multilocus microsatellite genotypes indicated that historical specimens of loggerhead shrikes (collected between 1897 and 1986) from the two northern islands of Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz are genetically distinct from adjacent mainland and island shrikes. Birds from Santa Catalina Island showed mixed ancestry and did not cluster with the northern island birds. Historical specimens of L. l. mearnsi from San Clemente Island also showed mixed ancestry. Our study provides evidence that a genetically distinct form of loggerhead shrikes, L. l. anthonyi, occurred on the islands of Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz.
Biosynthesis and sorting of neuropeptides

As part of the secretory process neuropeptides are sorted from other cellular compartments and concentrated in vesicles. The vesicles are transported to release sites and stored, awaiting the proper signal for exocytosis. Regulation of the packaging process has many implications for neuropeptide function.
Conservative Management of a Bilothorax Resulting From Blunt Hepatic Trauma

Pleurobiliary fistula after blunt abdominal trauma is rare. We report a case managed with tube thoracostomy alone, without the need for biliary system drainage.
Rapid method for determining the susceptibility of herpes simplex virus to acyclovir.

Detecting changes in viral antigen by immunoperoxidase staining of infected cell monolayers was extended to antiviral susceptibility testing. The same endpoints of viral replication, in the presence of acyclovir, were obtained by staining monolayers by immunoperoxidase at 18 hr as by a 72-hr cytopathic effect assay. Levels of acyclovir effectively reducing viral replication by 50% when determined by estimation of reduction in replication of herpes simplex virus or derived from dose-response curves, were comparable for a number of herpes simplex virus isolates from genital sources. Overall, the immunoperoxidase staining method is more rapid, applicable to a broader range of virus groups, complements rapid detection and confirmation techniques, is readily adaptable for use in the diagnostic virology laboratory, and is potentially automatable .
Changes in the treatment of wheezing children in the emergency department

This study prospectively examined the pharmacologic treatment of all wheezing children presenting to a pediatric emergency department from December 1987 to September 1991 (10,091 cases). There were increasing trends in rate of hospitalization, use of oxygen saturation measurements, use of corticosteroids and beta agents at discharge, and use of aerosolized bronchodilators administered in the emergency department. This cohort shows decreasing trends in use of theophylline and the use of subcutaneous bronchodilators administered in the emergency department. Increasing patient severity could not be confirmed in this cohort. The increase in use of corticosteroids in wheezing children is well supported in the literature. The use of theophylline appears to have significantly declined while there is still some controversy over its recommendations in the literature.
On the Analysis of Response Curve Data

Experimenters often make several observations on a given experimental unit. If these observations can be associated with some continuous variable, such as t)ime or temperature, they collectively form a curve. Wishart (1938) first recommended that a general regression model be fitted to each curve and that the effects of the experimental treatments be evaluated by analyzing the coefficients in the model. Univariate (Box, 1950) and multivariate analysis of variance (Cole and Grizzle, 1966) and principal component analysis (Church, 1966) are other techniques for the analysis of response curves. A discussion of these methods is presented and a new model, which combines the univariate analysis of variance and principal component analysis, is developed. This model overcomes some of the inadequacies of the available procedures and gives results which are easy to understand and interpret. Examples are presented which compare the various methods of analysis and illustrate the usefulness of this new model.
Electrical Forepaw Stimulation During Reversible Forebrain Ischemia Decreases Infarct Volume

Background and Purpose— Functional stimulation is accompanied by increases in regional cerebral blood flow which exceed metabolic demands under normal circumstances, but it is unknown whether functional stimulation is beneficial or detrimental in the setting of acute ischemia. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of forepaw stimulation during temporary focal ischemia on neurological and tissue outcome in a rat model of reversible focal forebrain ischemia. Methods— Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared for temporary occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) using the filament model. Cerebral blood flow in the MCA territory was continuously monitored with a laser-Doppler flowmeter. Subdermal electrodes were inserted into the dorsal forepaw to stimulate either the forepaw ipsilateral or contralateral to the occlusion starting 1 minute into ischemia and continuing throughout the ischemic period. A neurological evaluation was undertaken after 24 hours of reperfusion, and animals were then eu...
Fluids at high dynamic pressures and temperatures

Abstract Electrical conductivity data for shocked liquid nitrogen, Hugoniot data for liquid air, shock temperatures for liquid ammonia, and double-shock equation-of-state data for Al are discussed.
Stochastic estimation with Z2 noise

Abstract We introduce a Z 2 noise for the stochastic estimation of matrix inversion and discuss its superiority over other noises including the Gaussian noise. This algorithm is applied to the calculation of quark loops in lattice quantum chromodynamics that involves diagonal and off-diagonal traces of the inverse matrix. We will point out its usefulness in its applications to estimating determinants, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors, as well as its limitations based on the structure of the inverse matrix.
EEG based brain activity monitoring using Artificial Neural Networks

Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) have gained significant interest over the last decade as viable means of human machine interaction. Although many methods exist to measure brain activity in theory, Electroencephalography (EEG) is the most used method due to the cost efficiency and ease of use. However, thought pattern based control using EEG signals is difficult due two main reasons; 1) EEG signals are highly noisy and contain many outliers, 2) EEG signals are high dimensional. Therefore the contribution of this paper is a novel methodology for recognizing thought patterns based on Self Organizing Maps (SOM). The presented thought recognition methodology is a three step process which utilizes SOM for unsupervised clustering of pre-processed EEG data and feed-forward Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) for classification. The presented method was tested on 5 different users for identifying two thought patterns; “move forward” and “rest”. EEG Data acquisition was carried out using the Emotiv EPOC headset which is a low cost, commercial-off-the-shelf, noninvasive EEG signal measurement device. The presented method was compared with classification of EEG data using ANN alone. The experimental results for the 5 users chosen showed an improvement of 8% over ANN based classification.
Frequency of headshaking in White Leghorn chickens in response to hormonal and environmental changes

Abstract Frequency of headshaking in chickens from two selected lines (HA and LA) known to differ in this trait was observed at various ages, during hormonal fluctuations and in different environmental surroundings. Neither hormonal changes concomitant with the initial onset of lay nor ingestion of corticosterone (which stopped egg production in 240-day-old pullets) altered headshaking frequency. When pullets reared in flocks on litter were moved at 77 days of age to individual battery cages, headshaking frequency was dramatically increased in one flock but did not change in another flock. Moving 252-day-old birds from individual cages to floor pens decreased headshaking frequency in males but not in females; returning the birds to cages did not significantly alter levels of headshaking. In older birds (252 days of age), headshaking frequency in all birds in line HA and in males of line LA were considerably greater than in LA females.
A modal radar cross section of thin-wire targets via the singularity expansion method

A modal radar cross section (RCS) of arbitrary wire scatterers is constructed in terms of singularity expansion method parameters. Numerical results are presented for both straight and L-shaped wire targets and are compared to computations performed in the frequency domain using the method of moments. >
Kynurenic Acid Is a Potent Endogenous Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ligand that Synergistically Induces Interleukin-6 in the Presence of Inflammatory Signaling

Inflammatory signaling plays a key role in tumor progression, and the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important mediator of protumorigenic properties. Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) with exogenous ligands coupled with inflammatory signals can lead to synergistic induction of IL6 expression in tumor cells. Whether there are endogenous AHR ligands that can mediate IL6 production remains to be established. The indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase pathway is a tryptophan oxidation pathway that is involved in controlling immune tolerance, which also aids in tumor escape. We screened the metabolites of this pathway for their ability to activate the AHR; results revealed that kynurenic acid (KA) is an efficient agonist for the human AHR. Structure-activity studies further indicate that the carboxylic acid group is required for significant agonist activity. KA is capable of inducing CYP1A1 messenger RNA levels in HepG2 cells and inducing CYP1A-mediated metabolism in primary human hepatocytes. In a human dioxin response element-driven stable reporter cell line, the EC(25) was observed to be 104nM, while in a mouse stable reporter cell line, the EC(25) was 10muM. AHR ligand competition binding assays revealed that KA is a ligand for the AHR. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with interleukin-1beta and a physiologically relevant concentration of KA (e.g., 100nM) leads to induction of IL6 expression that is largely dependent on AHR expression. Our findings have established that KA is a potent AHR endogenous ligand that can induce IL6 production and xenobiotic metabolism in cells at physiologically relevant concentrations.
Late presentation of upper airway obstruction in Pierre Robin sequence.

A retrospective review was carried out of 11 consecutive patients with the Pierre Robin sequence referred to a tertiary paediatric referral centre over a five year period from 1993 to 1998. Ten patients were diagnosed with significant upper airway obstruction; seven of these presented late at between 24 and 51 days of age. Failure to thrive occured in six of these seven infants at the time of presentation, and was a strong indicator of the severity of upper airway obstruction. Growth normalised on treatment of the upper airway obstruction with nasopharyngeal tube placement. All children had been reviewed by either an experienced general paediatrician or a neonatologist in the first week of life, suggesting that clinical signs alone are insufficent to alert the physician to the degree of upper airway obstruction or that obstruction developed gradually after discharge home. The use of polysomnography greatly improved the diagnostic accuracy in assesssing the severity of upper airway obstruction and monitoring the response to treatment. This report highlights the prevalence of late presentation of upper airway obstruction in the Pierre Robin sequence and emphasises the need for close prospective respiratory monitoring in this condition. Objective measures such as polysomnography should be used, as clinical signs alone may be an inadequate guide to the degree of upper airway obstruction.
Shifting Identity from Within the Conversational Flow of Organisational Complexity

This article draws on an organisational strengthening process I carried out as part of my PhD research, which was intended to develop capacity‐building methodology to help organisations grapple with their complex social change realities. Focused on conversations generated in two methodological moments in a particular workshop, I share how co‐researcher Juan Carlos Giles and I used systemic methodological experimentation to generate critical organisational conversations in order to support an organisation's desire to strengthen its identity. I use Stacey, Griffin and Shaw's ‘complex responsive processes’ and Checkland's ‘soft systems thinking’ to explore relationships between the methodology and the conversations that emerged, and Reason's ‘choice and quality’ framework to explore implications for action research.
Phylogenetic analysis of multiprobe fluorescence in situ hybridization data from tumor cell populations

Motivation: Development and progression of solid tumors can be attributed to a process of mutations, which typically includes changes in the number of copies of genes or genomic regions. Although comparisons of cells within single tumors show extensive heterogeneity, recurring features of their evolutionary process may be discerned by comparing multiple regions or cells of a tumor. A useful source of data for studying likely progression of individual tumors is fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), which allows one to count copy numbers of several genes in hundreds of single cells. Novel algorithms for interpreting such data phylogenetically are needed, however, to reconstruct likely evolutionary trajectories from states of single cells and facilitate analysis of tumor evolution. Results: In this article, we develop phylogenetic methods to infer likely models of tumor progression using FISH copy number data and apply them to a study of FISH data from two cancer types. Statistical analyses of topological characteristics of the tree-based model provide insights into likely tumor progression pathways consistent with the prior literature. Furthermore, tree statistics from the resulting phylogenies can be used as features for prediction methods. This results in improved accuracy, relative to unstructured gene copy number data, at predicting tumor state and future metastasis. Availability: Source code for software that does FISH tree building (FISHtrees) and the data on cervical and breast cancer examined here are available at ftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/FISHtrees. Contact: ude.umc.werdna@hdwohcas Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Pharmacokinetic evaluation of topical calcineurin inhibitors for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.

Introduction: Topical calcineurin (Cn) inhibitors delivered via ophthalmic drop is emerging as a potential treatment for severe, immune-mediated forms of allergic conjunctivitis, such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis and giant papillary conjunctivitis. Areas covered: This article is based on a comprehensive literature search, with information taken from meta-analyses, systematic reviews, treatment guidelines and clinical studies in children and adults. The articles that have been selected evaluate the use of topical Cn inhibitors and their role in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. Expert opinion: Ophthalmic topical Cn inhibitors have been shown to be safe for short-term use, with minimal systemic absorption and toxicity. For patients with severe, refractory forms of allergic conjunctivitis, topical Cn inhibitors offer a promising treatment option and an alternative to steroidal therapies. The safety profile and efficacy data for topical cyclosporine are more robust compa...
Pro‐subtilisin E: purification and characterization of its autoprocessing to active subtilisin E in vitro

The formation of active subtilisin E from pro-subtilisin E requires the removal of the N-terminal pro-sequence of 77 residues. Pro-subtilisin E produced in Escherichia coli using a pINIII-ompA vector was first extracted with 6 M guanidine-HCl and 5 M urea and purified to homogeneity in the presence of 5 M urea. Upon drop dialysis against 0.2 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.2), the purified pro-subtilisin in 5 M urea was processed to active subtilisin of which the N-terminal sequence and migration in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were identical to those of authentic active subtilisin E. This process was found to be very sensitive to the ionic strengths and anions used. Under the optimum conditions (dialysis against 0.5 M (NH4)2SO4 and 1 mM CaCl2 in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.0) at 4 degrees C for 1 h), approximately 20% of pro-subtilisin E was converted to active subtilisin E. The activation process was not inhibited by Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor, and pro-subtilisin E in which the active site was mutated (Asp32 to Asn) was unable to be processed under the optimum conditions. These results confirmed the previous hypothesis that the processing of pro-subtilisin occurs by an intramolecular, autoprocessing mechanism.
Molecular Analysis of the Cyclin-dependent Kinase Inhibitor Gene p27/Kip1 in Human Malignancies

Cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes play important roles in controlling the cell cycle. The CDK inhibitors (CDKIs) inhibit the kinase activities of the complexes and block transitions of the cell cycle. Recently several CDKI genes have been cloned, and evidence suggests that at least a couple of these may be tumor suppressor genes. In this study, the partial structure of a CDKI gene, p27/Kip1, was determined. In addition, a large number of human cancers (432 cases) and cancer cell lines (20 lines) were analyzed for alterations of the p27/Kip1 gene by Southern blot analysis and PCR/single-strand conformation polymorphism. The coding region of the p27/Kip1 gene consists of at least two exons and an intron of about 600 bp. In 140 tumors of various tissues and 18 transformed cell lines, no deletions or rearrangements of the gene were detected by Southern blot analysis using a part of the coding sequence as a probe. One polymorphism and one silent mutation were detected by PCR/single-strand conformation polymoprhism. The polymorphism was a nucleotide substitution of guanine for thymine (GTC-->GGC) at codon 109, resulting in an amino acid substitution of glycine for valine (Val-->Gly). In summary, no abnormalities of the p27/Kip1 gene were detected in human malignancies. Now, two groups of CDKIs are classified based on the structure of the proteins. One group includes the p15, p16, and p18 CDKIs, which have ankyrin repeat motifs. The p15 and p16 CDKI genes are very frequently mutated in a variety of cancers. The p27/Kip1 and p21 CDKIs belong to the other group. We reported previously that abnormalities of the p21 gene were very rare. The latter group of the CDKIs, including p27/Kip1 and p21, are rarely mutated in human malignancies.
The Shifting Now: Aspect, Deixis, and Narrative in Classic Maya Texts

Abundant and complex, Maya hieroglyphic texts serve as a crucial resource for understanding pre-Columbian narrative. This essay documents and discusses the discursive structure of Maya texts. New evidence on glyphic aspect and deixis show the presence of a "shifting now" or "alternating historical incompletive" in Classic narratives. There were two possible motivations for this pattern: to sequence events and establish textual boundaries between incompletive events and, more speculatively, to provide performance cues from hieroglyphic inscriptions.
Construction of Complex Receptive Fields in Cat Primary Visual Cortex

In primary visual cortex, neurons are classified into simple cells and complex cells based on their response properties. Although the role of these two cell types in vision is still unknown, an attractive hypothesis is that simple cells are necessary to construct complex receptive fields. This hierarchical model puts forward two main predictions. First, simple cells should connect monosynaptically to complex cells. Second, complex cells should become silent when simple cells are inactivated. We have recently provided evidence for the first prediction, and here we do the same for the second. In summary, our results suggest that the receptive fields of most layer 2+3 complex cells are generated by a mechanism that requires simple cell inputs.
Whole‐genome scan to detect QTL for milk production, conformation, fertility and functional traits in two US Holstein families

A genome scan was conducted in two US Holstein half-sib families to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting milk production and conformation traits using the granddaughter design. The sires of the two studied families were related as sire and son and had 96 and 212 sons respectively. A total of 221 microsatellite loci were scored in both families. Statistical analysis was performed using two different analytical methods; half-sib least squares regression and Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov Chain. Traits analysed included five traditional milk production traits, somatic cell count, daughter pregnancy rate, male fertility and 20 conformation traits. A total of 47 tests achieved at least genome-wise significance. However, results from the two methods of analysis were only concordant for QTL location and level of significance in eight instances.
Fatigue behaviour of dental composite materials

Abstract Objective The intent of the project was to evaluate the fatigue behavior of particle and fiber filled dental composites that are fabricated either directly or indirectly using a notched specimen with respect to the number of cycles until failure. Methods The materials were five dental composites, three normally cured in the oral cavity (Restolux, Renew and Filtek Supreme), direct processing, and two laboratory produced (BelleGlass, and Tescera), indirect processing. The specimens were 3 mm × 3 mm × 25 mm bars with a 0.75 or 1.0 mm notch in the mid-span of the bars, polished with 320 grit SiC paper and aged for 6 months in air, distilled water, artificial saliva, and a 50/50 mixture of ethanol and distilled water. Testing was performed with a stress mean range of 5–49 MPa, the maximum number of cycles was 100,000, and the number of cycles to failure was recorded. Results For the specimens that failed, BelleGlass, Restolux, and Tescera were able to withstand a higher cyclic loaded stress than Renew and Filtek. The 50/50 by volume mixture of water and ethanol resulted in the lowest resistance to fatigue for all materials. Conclusions Of the dental composite materials investigated, the indirect processed and those with large particle fillers (higher weight percent filler) had better cyclic fatigue resistance than micro- and nano-particle fillers (lower weight percent filler).
On the generation of spatially growing waves in a boundary layer

The solution is obtained in general terms for the velocity fluctuations generated in a laminar boundary layer by an oscillating disturbance on the boundry wall. The form of excitation is chosen to represent a vibrating ribbon of the type used by Schubauer to force disturbance in boundary layers. The forced wave system generated by the ribbon is shown to be a spatially growing one, which is described far downstream by an eigenmode of the system which has a complex wave-number.
Deep-level transient spectroscopy in InGaAsN lattice-matched to GaAs

Deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) measurements have been performed on the quaternary semiconductor InGaAsN. A series of as-grown, metalorganic chemical vapor deposited samples having varying composition were grown and measured. A GaAs sample was used as a baseline for comparison. After adding only In to GaAs, we did not detect significant additional defects; however, adding N and both N and In led to larger hole-trap peaks and additional electron-trap peaks in the DLTS data. The samples containing about 2% N, with and without about 6% In, had electron traps with activation energies of about 0.2 and 0.3 eV. A sample with 0.4% N had an electron trap with an activation energy of 0.37 eV.
Patient Safety At Ten: Unmistakable Progress, Troubling Gaps

December 1, 2009, marks the tenth anniversary of the Institute of Medicine report on medical errors, To Err Is Human, which arguably launched the modern patient-safety movement. Over the past decade, a variety of pressures (such as more robust accreditation standards and increasing error-reporting requirements) have created a stronger business case for hospitals to focus on patient safety. Relatively few health care systems have fully implemented information technology, and we are finally grappling with balancing "no blame" and accountability. The research pipeline is maturing, but funding remains inadequate. Our limited ability to measure progress in safety is a substantial impediment. Overall, I give our safety efforts a grade of B�, a modest improvement since 2004.
A heterostructure FET with 75.8-percent power added efficiency at 10 GHz

The authors report the performance of a new AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure FET (HFET) designed to have very high efficiency at the X-band with high drain bias. The combination of low doped AlGaAs under the gate and highly doped GaAs channel and superlattice buffer layers allows high gate-drain and source-drain breakdown voltage, constant transconductance, and moderate-to-high maximum channel current. These characteristics make the devices ideal for Class B and Class F operation. The 1200*0.25- mu m HFET devices have demonstrated a power-added efficiency (PAE) of 75.8% with 603 mW of output power and 8.8 dB of gain with a 9-V drain bias at 10 GHz. Other 1200*0.25- mu m HFET devices have demonstrated a 63.2% PAE with 8.3 dB of gain and 851 mW of output power with a 12-V drain bias. At 14 volts, 50% PAE was measured with 7.4-dB gain and 1.1 W of output power. >
Closed-chain exercise after simultaneous bilateral knee replacement surgery: a case report.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this case report was to present a method for assessing entire lower extremity performance and describe a Medical Exercise Therapy (MET) training program early after simultaneous bilateral total knee replacement (TKR). We also documented perceived function, mobility, and weight-bearing ability during functional tasks. The patient was a 50-year-old male who underwent a simultaneous bilateral procedure and began physical therapy (PT) 16 days postsurgery. Lower extremity performance (weight, repetitions, and load*volume) was assessed weekly using a one-legged horizontal press. Perceived physical abilities, mobility, and body weight placed over each limb during a sit to stand and a squat at two different flexion angles were assessed. At discharge load*volume for the weakest limb was 87% of the strongest side. At discharge, sit-to-stand, and 30 and 60 degree squat asymmetry ranged from 4% to 6%. Perceived abilities and mobility improved from initial visit to discharge. The patient was abl...
CVD growth of Si nanocrystals on dielectric surfaces for nanocrystal floating gate memory application

Initial stages of growth of silicon on dielectric surface proceeds through Volmer-Webber growth mode (through island formation) and coalescence of islands to form a continuous thin film layer. Growth of silicon nanocrystals on dielectric surface can be achieved by controlling the nucleation and growth kinetics of these nanocrystals on the dielectric surface. In this study, we present CVD growth of Si nanocrystals on oxide, oxynitride and nitride surfaces using silane based chemistry. The effect of process conditions such as deposition temperature, precursor flow rate, carrier gas on nanocrystal incubation time, size and density of nanocrystals was studied. The nucleation and growth rate of the silicon nanocrystals is also a strong function of the surface chemistry, surface structure and strain in the dielectric film. We have studied the effect of oxide deposition temperature and surface pretreatments on the nucleation and growth characteristics of the silicon nanocrystals.