cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of aztreonam, cefoperazone, latamoxef and ceftazidime in the hamster colitis model

Aztreonam, ceftazidime, cefoperazone and latamoxef (moxalactam) were evaluated in a hamster model for antibiotic-associated colitis. Aztreonam, a novel monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic specifically directed against aerobic Gram-negative bacteria with limited activity against Gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria did not cause haemorrhagic caecitis and death in hamsters when administered intraperitioneally or orally. Quantitative caecal cultures showed no changes in the anaerobic caecal microflora of hamsters treated intraperitoneally with aztreonam and only a temporary decrease in anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli in hamsters treated orally. Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin were not present in these animals. Parenteral administration of ceftazidime also did not affect the anaerobic caecal microflora or cause caecitis. However, when given orally, ceftazidime suppressed the anaerobic caecal microflora and a lethal C. difficile-induced caecitis developed. Latamoxef or cefoperazone given parenterally resulted in caecitis and death in five days with marked changes in the anaerobic caecal microflora and C. difficile present in the caecal contents of these animals. The lethal haemorrhagic caecitis observed in this study was indistinguishable from that seen in the clindamycin-induced colitis model in the hamster. The possible correlation of these findings to gastrointestinal disturbances as a complication of antibiotic therapy in humans is discussed.
PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF THREONINE OR ALLOTHREONINE ALDOLASE FROM RAT LIVER.

Abstract 1. 1. Allothreonine ( l -allothreonine acetaldehyde-lyase, EC 4.1.2.6) or threonine aldolase ( l -threonine acetaldehyde-lyase, EC4.1.2.5), an enzyme that cleaves both allothreonine and threonine to glycine and acetaldehyde, has been purified 174-fold from rat liver using acetone precipitation, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and negative adsorption with hydroxyapatite gel. The purified preparation was found to be free of threonine deaminase ( l -threonine hydro-lyase (deaminating), EC 4.2.1.16). 2. 2. That allothreonine and threonine are degraded by the same enzyme was demonstrated by the ratios of allothreonine/threonine activities remaining constant during purification, inactivation on standing in buffers of various Ph, and during removal and readdition of the cofactor, pyridoxal phosphate. In addition, the rates were not additive when both substrates were assayed together. 3. 3. The Km for l -threonine was calculated to be 20 mM, for l -allothreonine, 0.217 mM. In addition, the reaction rate with allothreonine was 1.8- to 2.0 fold greater than the rate with threonine when both were at saturating levels. 4. 4. Pyridoxal phosphate was shown to be cofactor for the enzyme by demonstrating a decrease in activity after treatment with hydroxylamine or charcoal and a partial reactivation upon the addition of the cofactor. Pyridoxal phosphate also appears to have a general protective effect as it protects the enzyme against inactivation by dilution and prevents enzyme solutions from turning turbid on standing in phosphate buffer. 5. 5. Allothreonine was found to be a small contaminant of commercial threonine but it did not account for all of the activity observed with threonine as a substrate. 6. 6. Reversibility of the reaction was demonstrated with allothreonine only; the absence of formation of threonine in the reverse reaction was determined by a microbiological assay procedure using Streptococcus faecalis R. 7. 7. Aldolase activity towards β-phenylserine is present in the purified preparation, but varying β-phenylserine/allothreonine ratios during purification and the fact that the rates were additive when both substrates were assayed together demonstrated that β-phenylserine aldolase is a different enzyme than allothreonine adolase.
Oxidation of chars during smoldering combustion of cellulosic materials

Abstract In view of the significance of the properties and reactions of chars during the process of smoldering combustion, a series of cellulosic chars was prepared at temperatures ranging from 340 to 600°C and their pyrolysis and combustion properties were studied by thermal analysis. Correlation of the resulting data with the recently available quantitative information on the chemical composition of different chars indicates that solid-phase combustion of these materials proceeds in two distinct exothermic stages. The first exotherm, at ∼360°C, is associated with combustion of the aliphatic components, and the second exotherm, at ∼520°C, is due to oxidation of the aromatic components. The chars formed at lower temperatures have a high concentration of aliphatic groups and burn mainly in the first exotherm. As the temperature of the char formation increases, so does the aromaticity, and the combustion is shifted to the higher temperature range.
Condylomata acuminata in the pediatric population.

• The incidence of condylomata acuminata infection has shown a steady increase for adults and children in recent years. With the discovery that the viral agents of this disease are potentially neoplastic, a disorder that was once considered a nuisance is now taking on new-found importance and concern. Furthermore, the knowledge that these lesions are often sexually transmitted and the ever-increasing concern over child abuse have combined to make the recognition and treatment of this disease in the pediatric population of even greater significance. Depending on location, podophyllum resin (podophyllin) is the initial therapy of choice. Available studies indicate a cure rate ranging from 22% to 98% depending on location of the warts, frequency of treatment, patient compliance, and freshness of the podophyllum resin preparation. Cure rates of 91% to 97% have been reported with cryotherapy and laser photocoagulation. Eradication of the viral agent and long-term follow-up are Important. (AJDC. 1990;144:817-824)
The future of high efficiency solar cells

Research approaches to obtain solar cell modules with 1 sun efficiencies of 20-30 percent at air mass 1 are now well understood. Such high efficiency modules should become available in the near future. It can be expected that these modules will be extensively used in terrestrial power generation, space power generation, and consumer electronics. To achieve practical module efficiencies significantly above 30 percent, it will be necessary to employ concepts other than spectral splitting, such as spectral compression and broad band detection. A major breakthrough in these areas is not anticipated at this time.
Distributive politics, ward representation, and the spread of zoning

This analysis examines two alternative explanations for the adoption of comprehensive zoning ordinances in the years immediately following its initial adoption in New York City. The market failure explanation predicts zoning adoption in cities where externality problems (represented by heavy incidence of manufacturing) exist. The distributive policymaking model treats zoning as a form of regulation that is most likely to be found in cities where local legislators are elected from geographically-concentrated constituencies (e.g., wards) and therefore try to target policy benefits to their own constituencies while spreading the policy costs over all constituencies. Some support is found for each model. Especially striking is the interactive effect of ward representation and of economic interest (i.e., levels of home ownership).
Analysis of the Staphylococcus aureus DgkB Structure Reveals a Common Catalytic Mechanism for the Soluble Diacylglycerol Kinases

Summary Soluble diacylglycerol (DAG) kinases function as regulators of diacylglycerol metabolism in cell signaling and intermediary metabolism. We report the structure of a DAG kinase, DgkB from Staphylococcus aureus , both as the free enzyme and in complex with ADP. The molecule is a tight homodimer, and each monomer comprises two domains with the catalytic center located within the interdomain cleft. Two distinctive features of DkgB are a structural Mg 2+ site and an associated Asp•water•Mg 2+ network that extends toward the active site locale. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that these features play important roles in the catalytic mechanism. The key active site residues and the components of the Asp•water•Mg 2+ network are conserved in the catalytic cores of the mammalian signaling DAG kinases, indicating that these enzymes use the same mechanism and have similar structures as DgkB.
Advanced Batteries For Load-Leveling The Utility Perspective on System Integration

Developments associated with advanced batteries for large scale power applications have resulted in renewed interest in the use of batteries as a form of electric energy storage by utilities. Concerns which must be addressed to facilitate commercialization of battery systems and their integration into electric power systems are discussed along with programs and demonstrations designed to address these concerns and support the development of battery systems.
Effects of naloxone infusion on nocturnal prolactin secretion and Fos/FRA expression in pregnant rats

Dopamine (DA) secreted by tubero infundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons in the hypothalamus is the major inhibitory factor controlling prolactin (PRL) secretion from the anterior pituitary. Endogenous opioid peptides (EOPs), mainly the neuropeptide β-endorphin, have a stimulatory influence on PRL secretion. During the first half of pregnancy in rats, PRL secretion is characterized by two daily surges, the nocturnal surge and the diurnal surge. We tested the hypothesis that EOPs are critical stimulatory factors in regulating the nocturnal PRL surge, possibly via inhibition of TIDA neuronal activity. Naloxone (NAL), an opioid antagonist, was continuously infused (0.2 mg/10 μL/min iv) during the expected time of the nocturnal PRL surge in day 8 pregnant rats. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure plasma PRL levels, and the immunocytochemical (ICC) staining of Fos/FRA was performed to detect changes in transcriptional activity of neurons in the hypothalamus. ICC of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme for DA synthesis, was performed to visualize TIDA neurons in the arcuate nucleus. The results showed that the nocturnal surge of PRL was markedly delayed and dampened in NAL-treated rats (p<0.01). The numbers of both Fos/FRA and (Fos/FRA)/TH dual-staining neurons increased in the arcuate nucleus following NAL treatment (p<0.05 for both comparisons). These data indicate that EOPs are critical stimulatory factors for the nocturnal PRL surge and that the actions of EOPs are partially mediated via decreasing TIDA neuronal activity.
Skeletal muscle myosin cross-bridge cycling is necessary for myofibrillogenesis.

A major stimulus affecting myofibrillogenesis in both embryonic and mature striated muscle is contractile activity. There are two major signals associated with contractile activity: a physiological signal, the transient increase in intracellular calcium, and a physical signal, the transient increase in tension production. However, dissociating these two signals to examine their relative contributions to myofibrillogenesis has proven difficult. In this study, we have used two different myosin inhibitors to determine the importance of myosin cross-bridge cycling in sarcomere assembly. We find that the small-molecule inhibitor 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM), which inhibits myosin ATPase, disrupts myofibrillogenesis in amphibian myocytes, consistent with results from avian studies. However, BDM is a weak myosin inhibitor and it is non-specific; concentrations that inhibit contraction and disrupt myofibrillogenesis also disrupt calcium signaling. Therefore, we also used the recently identified skeletal muscle myosin II inhibitor, N-benzyl-p-toluenesulphonamide (BTS), which has high affinity and specificity for skeletal muscle fast myosin. BTS inhibits contraction and results in myofibrillar disruption that phenocopies our results with BDM. However, BTS does not affect either spontaneous or induced calcium transients. Furthermore, BTS is reversible and does not significantly affect the expression levels of myosin or actin. Thus, our convergent results with BDM and BTS suggest that sarcomere assembly depends on active regulation of tension in the forming myofibril. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 55:61–72, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Probabilistic Epigenesis, Experience, and Psychological Development in Infancy

The commentators on our target article have raised some excellent points relative to our article, and we are gratified to see the generally positive tone of the replies. All of the commentators have offered overall support for our framework, although there are differences of opinion with us on some issues. Because the commentaries raised questions in common, we do not try to address each commentary in turn. Instead, we highlight some general principles that go beyond what we originally stated in the target article, with the goals of clarifying our original aims and addressing the commentators' concerns. Our reply centers on four key issues: the concept of "probabilistic epigenesis," an updated view of brain-behavior relations in development, the temporal specificity of developmental antecedents and consequences, and the nature of experience.
Disability in valued life activities among individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective To identify the prevalence of disability in a wide range of valued life activities (VLAs) among individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 1-year changes in such disability, and predictors of and changes in VLA disability. Methods Data were from 2 waves of a cohort of 829 individuals with SLE interviewed annually by telephone. VLA disability was assessed using a scale rating the difficulty of performing 21 activities. Scores were also calculated for subscales corresponding to obligatory, committed, and discretionary activities. Changes in VLA disability from baseline to 1-year followup were assessed. Sociodemographic and disease status measures were examined as predictors of and changes in VLA disability using multiple regression analyses. Results Almost half of the subjects were unable to perform ≥1 VLA at baseline. Almost all (91%) reported ≥1 VLA affected by SLE. One-quarter of the subjects experienced a significant increase in the number of activities they were unable to perform; approximately half experienced significant increases in the number of activities affected and in difficulty scores. Proportions of individuals whose disability increased and whose disability decreased were roughly equivalent. Disease status measures accounted for 62–72% of the variation in VLA difficulty. More severe disease status was predictive of increases in VLA difficulty; few predictors of improvements were identified. Conclusion VLA disability was common, with more disability noted in committed and discretionary activities than in obligatory activities. Because VLA disability has been linked to psychological well-being in previous studies, identification of factors that may protect against such disability is important.
Influence of inherited geologic framework on barrier shoreface morphology and dynamics

Abstract Passive margin coastlines with limited sand supplies, such as much of the U.S. Atlantic margin, are significantly influenced by the geologic framework of older stratigraphic units that occur beneath and seaward of the shoreface. Many U.S. east coast barrier islands are perched barriers in which the underlying, pre-modern sediments determine the morphology of the shoreface and strongly influence modern beach dynamics and composition. Perched barriers consist of varible layers of beach sand on top of older, eroding stratigraphic units with highly variable compositions and geometries. Along many parts of the coastal system, stratigraphically-controlled bathymetric features on the inner shelf modify waves and currents and thereby effect patterns of sediment erosion, transport, and deposition on the adjacent shoreface. It is essential to understand this geologic framework before attempting to model the large-scale behavior of these types of coastal systems. In North Carolina, most shoreline features are controlled by the pre-Holocene stratigraphic framework of the shoreface; the beaches are perched on top of pre-existing Pleistocene, Tertiary, and Cretaceous sediments. The surficial geology of the coastal zone is subdivided into two distinct provinces resulting in different stratigraphic controls of the shoreface. North of Cape Lookout the geological framework consists of a Quaternary sequence that fills a regional depositional basin called the Albemarle Embayment. The coastal zone south of Cape Lookout is dominated by Tertiary and Cretaceous units that crop out across the coastal plain and continental shelf, with very thin Quaternary units only locally preserved. Superimposed upon this regional stratigraphy is an ancient drainage system resulting in a series of fluvial valleys filled with younger coastal sediments separated by large interfluve areas of older stratigraphic units. This results in a coastal system in which the shoreface is either nonheadland or headland dominated, respectively. Headland dominated shorefaces are further divided into subaerial and submarine categories. Nonheadland dominated shorefaces are further divided into those influenced primarily by transgressive or regressive processes, or channel-dominated depositional processes (i.e., inlet migration or stream valley fill). Examples of each of these six types of shorefaces are presented to demonstrate the control that the geologic framework exhibits on shoreface morphologies and processes.
Beyond the path of least resistance: the system quest

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand how visionary system architects wean the development of a new technology away from the seductions of the path of least resistance – a complementary relationship with the entrenched system.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on two cases wherein critical players started pursuing visions of a full‐fledged system while the technology was still an appendage to an established one: Theodore Vail and the development of the Bell telephone system; and the US Navy and the development of wireless telegraphy. Vail's interests were of a commercial nature, securing competitive advantage over Western Union and future rivals. The US Navy's interests were of a geopolitical nature, overthrowing Britain's monopoly on trans‐oceanic cable telegraphy.Findings – The pursuit of system benefits requires long‐term thinking. In terms of day‐to‐day actions it requires a persistent effort against the seductions of a complementary relationship or the path of least resistan...
Cross infection of a granulosis virus of Cadra cautella, with observations on its ultrastructure in infected cells of Plodia interpunctella

Abstract An earlier study showed that a granulosis virus of Plodia interpunctella did not cross-infect first-instar larvae of Cadra cautella. However, the study reported here showed P. interpunctella to be moderately susceptible to a similar virus originally isolated from C. cautella. Capsules in cross-infected P. interpunctella larvae were generally abnormal in form, some containing up to 18 virions. Associated rodlike structures that accompanied the C. cautella virus were always present in either infected host. An assay showed that the virus had retained its virulence to C. cautella after passage through P. interpunctella, and further examination showed that the virus developed normally when transmitted back to its natural host.
Early alterations in thyroid hormone physiology during acute infection in man.

ABSTRACT Certain aspects of peripheral thyroid hormone physiology were measured sequentially in subjects exposed to Pasteurella tularensis or vaccinated with a living attenuated strain of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus. In both groups a significant rise in the per cent of unbound thyroxine (p <0.001) was observed within 24 hr following exposure to the infecting agent. In the tularemia group this elevation persisted for 3 days, then fell during the period of fever and clinical illness to reach a transient depression below normal. The per cent of free thyroxine then rose gradually to preinfection control levels. Following the initial rise in the vaccinated group, the per cent of unbound thyroxine continued to be elevated above preinfection control levels throughout the period of observation. The PBI in both groups fell initially within 48 hr following exposure to the infecting microorganism. Although a depression of PBI persisted throughout the period of observation in the vaccinated group,...
Genetic ablation of N-linked glycosylation reveals two key folding pathways for R345W fibulin-3, a secreted protein associated with retinal degeneration

An R345W mutation in the N-glycoprotein, fibulin-3 (F3), results in inefficient F3 folding/secretion and higher intracellular F3 levels. Inheritance of this mutation causes the retinal dystrophy malattia leventinese. N-Linked glycosylation is a common cotranslational protein modification that can regulate protein folding efficiency and energetics. Therefore, we explored how N-glycosylation alters the protein homeostasis or proteostasis of wild-type (WT) and R345W F3 in ARPE-19 cells. Enzymatic and lectin binding assays confirmed that WT and R345W F3 are both primarily N-glycosylated at Asn249. Tunicamycin treatment selectively reduced R345W F3 secretion by 87% (vs. WT F3). Genetic elimination of F3 N-glycosylation (via an N249Q mutation) caused R345W F3 to aggregate intracellularly and adopt an altered secreted conformation. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones GRP78 (glucose-regulated protein 78) and GRP94 (glucose-regulated protein 94), and the ER lectins calnexin and calreticulin were identified as F3 binding partners by immunoprecipitation. Significantly more N249Q and N249Q/R345W F3 interacted with GRP94, while substantially less N249Q and N249Q/R345W interacted with the ER lectins than their N-glycosylated counterparts. Inhibition of GRP94 ATPase activity reduced only N249Q/R345W F3 secretion (by 62%), demonstrating this variant's unique reliance on GRP94 for secretion. These observations suggest that R345W F3, but not WT F3, requires N-glycosylation to acquire a stable, native-like structure.
Preventable sudden death: the "long Q-T syndrome".

The syndrome of long Q—T interval (LQTS) must be included in the differential diagnosis of an adolescent with syncope. A case of cardiac arrest in a patient with LQTS is presented and discussed. The method for identifying these patients through using Bazett's formula is included. Treatment with beta blockers (propranolol) appears to be indicated in patients with prolonged QTc interval and syncope if the high mortality from ventricular arrhythmias is to be presented.
A probabilistic model for evaluation of neural network classifiers

Abstract A technique for evaluation of the generalization ability in artificial neural network (ANN) classifiers is presented. A probabilistic input model is proposed to account for all possible input ranges. The expected value of a square error function over the defined input range is taken as a measure of generalization ability. The minimization of the error function outlines the boundary of the decision region for a minimum error neural network (MENN) classifier. Two essential elements for carrying out the proposed technique are the estimation of the input density and numerical integration. A non-parametric method is used to locally estimate the distribution around each training pattern. The Monte Carlo method has been used for numerical integration. The evaluation technique was tested for measuring the generalization ability of back propagation (BP), radial basis function (RBF), probabilistic neural network (PNN) and MENN classifiers for different problems.
Infrared spectra of HCl(H2O)n clusters from semiempirical Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations.

Infrared spectra of HCl(H2O)n clusters, with n = 4–10 and 21, are calculated at T = 50 K from semiempirical Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations performed with the PM3-MAIS model. The specific focus of this study is on the relationship between spectroscopic features associated with the presence of the excess proton generated by the HCl dissociation as a function of n and the underlying water hydrogen-bonding topologies. Vibrational modes involving the motion of the excess proton are attributed to specific features appearing at ∼1175 cm–1 for Zundel-type structures, in the 1670–1800 cm–1 range for intermediate Zundel–Eigen-type structures, and at ∼2820 cm–1 for Eigen-type structures. This broad range of vibrational frequencies correlates with the position of the excess proton within the clusters. Overall, the theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the available experimental data.
Effect of Polya George’s Problem Solving Model on Students’ Achievement and Retention in Algebra

Quasi-experimental design was adopted in this study. Pretest-posttest, non equivalent control group was used. Eight intact classes, four of which were randomly assigned to experimental and the other four to control groups are used for the study. Sample of the study consisted of 220 SSII students from Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. Algebra Achievement Test (ALAT) was used for data collection. ALAT was constructed by the researcher and validated by three research experts. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while the hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Experimental groups were taught using Polya George’s Problem Solving Model (POGPROSMO) while control groups were taught the same topics using expository method. Major findings of the study revealed that students taught Algebra with POGPROSMO achieved higher and retained more than those taught with expository method. There was no significant difference between the mean achievement and retention scores of male and female students in the study. It was recommended that Mathematics teachers should adopt POGPROSMO in teaching Algebra. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n6p41
Anomalous effects in silicon solar cell irradiated by 1‐MeV protons

Several silicon solar cells having thicknesses of approximately 63 microns, with and without back-surface fields (BSF), were irradiated with 1-MeV protons having fluences between 10 to the 10th and 10 to the 12th sq cm. The irradiations were performed using both normal and isotropic incidence on the rear surfaces of the cells. It was observed that after irradiation with fluences greater than 10 to the 11th protons/sq cm, all BSF cells degraded at a faster rate than cells without BSF. The irradiation results are analyzed using a model in which irradiation-induced defects in the BSF region are taken into account. Tentatively, it is concluded that an increase in defect density due to the formation of aluminum and proton complexes in BSF cells is responsible for the higher-power loss in the BSF cells compared to the non-BSF cells.
Elucidation of Primary (α3N) and Vestigial (α5) Heavy Metal-binding Sites in Staphylococcus aureus pI258 CadC: Evolutionary Implications for Metal Ion Selectivity of ArsR/SmtB Metal Sensor Proteins

Despite a common evolutionary origin, individual members of the ArsR/SmtB family of bacterial metal-responsive transcriptional repressors sense a wide range of heavy-metal ions. The molecular basis for this metal ion selectivity is unclear. Here, we establish that Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pI258 CadC, a Cd(II)/Pb(II)/Bi(III)/Zn(II) sensor, contains two distinct metal-binding sites: a thiolate-rich alpha(3)N site comprised exclusively of cysteine ligands that preferentially binds larger, softer metal ions such as Cd(II), Pb(II) and Bi(III); and a second C-terminal alpha(5) site, found at the dimer interface, that is devoid of cysteine ligands and preferentially binds smaller, harder metal ions [Co(II) and Zn(II)] concurrently with metal binding to the alpha(3)N site. Optical absorption and X-ray spectroscopies reveal that the alpha(3)N site can adopt distinct coordination geometries in order to accommodate different metal ions, i.e. Cd(II), Bi(III), Co(II) and Zn(II) form distorted tetrahedral S(4) complexes, while Pb(II) adopts a trigonal S(3) complex. Characterization of mutant CadCs reveals that the alpha(3)N site is composed of Cys58 and Cys60 from the alpha(3) helix of the helix-turn-helix DNA-binding domain and Cys7 and/or Cys11 from the N-terminal "arm" of CadC; Cys11 is excluded from the Pb(II) coordination sphere. Only the thiolate-rich alpha(3)N site is metalloregulatory for repressor binding to a fluorescein-labeled cad O/P oligonucleotide upon coordination to Cd(II), Pb(II), Bi(III), Zn(II), and weakly for Co(II). Substitution of Cys60 and Cys7 with non-ligating residues specifically abrogates metal-dependent negative regulation of cad O/P binding, despite the fact that C60G and C7G CadCs maintain high affinity for metals in altered coordination complexes. These findings reveal that formation of metal coordination bonds to Cys7 and Cys60 play primary roles in transducing the allosteric response in CadC. The evolutionary implications for metal ion selectivity of ArsR/SmtB metal sensor proteins are discussed.
Unusal complications of pentamidine in the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

A 3-year-old girl, during a remission phase of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The infection was treated successfully with pentamidine, but she developed toxic epidermal necrolysis and azotemia. Acute tubular necrosis of the kidney was found at autopsy.
Hugh Blair and the True Eloquence.

Two admissions in Hugh Blair's Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres seem peculiar in relation to his own rhetorical practice. One is his observation in Lecture 25 that it is debate in popular assemblies, rather than the pulpit, which provides the "most illustrious field" for the highest kind of eloquence. The other, not so striking in itself, but somewhat so in relation to Blair's own choice of rhetorical strategies as a preacher, is his judgment in Lecture 26, and again in Lecture 29, that among modern divines, it is French preachers rather than English who most nearly approach the ideal of true eloquence. There are repeated indications in the middle parts of Blair's Lectures that he accepts the Ciceronian view that the truest eloquence is strongly pathetic in the sense of vigorously arousing the more violent and more perturbing emotions. This highest degree of eloquence he characterizes in Lecture 25 as eloquence
Resveratrol as a Therapeutic Agent for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Excess production of reactive oxygen species in the brain has been implicated as a common underlying risk factor for the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and stroke. In recent years, there is considerable interest concerning investigation of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of phenolic compounds from different botanical sources. In this review, we first describe oxidative mechanisms associated with stroke, AD, and PD, and subsequently, we place emphasis on recent studies implicating neuroprotective effects of resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound derived from grapes and red wine. These studies show that the beneficial effects of resveratrol are not only limited to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action but also include activation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and vitagenes, which can prevent the deleterious effects triggered by oxidative stress. In fact, SIRT1 activation by resveratrol is gaining importance in the development of innovative treatment strategies for stroke and other neurodegenerative disorders. The goal here is to provide a better understanding of the mode of action of resveratrol and its possible use as a potential therapeutic agent to ameliorate stroke damage as well as other age-related neurodegenerative disorders.
The large Wilson-Yukawa coupling expansion

Abstract An expansion valid in the region of large Wilson-Yukawa coupling is defined for chiral lattice theories with such couplings. The expansion is applied to the calculation of fermionic two-point functions in the Smit-Swift model. From the two-point function for a fermion charged with respect to the chiral symmetry group, we conclude that no such fermion exists as a physical state in the symmetric phase of the large coupling region. The results for the two-point function are in agreement with Monte Carlo calculations.
Plumbagin‐induced apoptosis of human breast cancer cells is mediated by inactivation of NF‐κB and Bcl‐2

Breast cancer remains the major cause of cancer-related deaths in women world-wide. The heterogeneity of breast cancer has further complicated the progress of target-based therapies. Triple negative breast cancers, lacking estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and the Her-2/neu (ErbB2), represent a highly aggressive breast cancer subtype, that are difficult to treat. Pleiotropic agents, such as those found in nature, can target receptor-positive as well as receptor-negative cancer cells, suggesting that such agents could have significant impact in breast cancer prevention and/or therapy. Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone) is one such agent which has anti-tumor activity against several cancers. However, its mechanism of action against breast cancer is not clearly understood. We hypothesized that plumbagin may act as an effective agent against breast cancer especially triple negative breast cancer. We tested our hypothesis using ER-positive MCF-7 and ER-negative MDA-MB-231 (triple negative) breast cancer cells, and we found that plumbagin significantly inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells with no effect on normal breast epithelial cells. We also found that plumbagin induces apoptosis with concomitant inactivation of Bcl-2 and the DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB. Bcl-2 over-expression resulted in attenuation of plumbagin-induced effects, suggesting that the inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis by plumbagin is in part due to inactivation of NF-kappaB/Bcl-2 pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first report, showing mechanistic and cancer cell specific apoptosis-inducing effects of plumbagin in breast cancer cells, suggesting the potential role of plumbagin in the prevention and/or treatment of breast cancer.
Reversible and irreversible surface charge modification of bacteria for facilitating transport through porous media

Abstract Reversible and irreversible surface charge modification of Bacillus subtilis (a gram-positive aerobe), Pseudomonas fluorescens (a gram-negative species) and polymeric microspheres was attempted using common chemicals. This study was undertaken to see if such chemicals could be used to alter significantly the transport of various bacterial species through porous media. Significant surface charge alterations were observed in the irreversible treatments as shown by zeta potential measurements. The changes were shown to be partly reversible as evidenced by much larger shifts in zeta potential in the presence of the chemicals. Sodium pyrophosphate was found to alter the surface charge most significantly. All three species showed similar trends. Experiments on the transport of these species through sandpacks showed that their transport was significantly enhanced by the presence of the chemicals. The excellent correlation between high surface charge and transportability clearly suggests that electrostatic interactions between bacteria and sand grains are a dominant factor in their retention. Other bacterial retention mechanisms such as polymer adhesion seem to be relatively unimportant, at least for the species studied here. The various mechanisms responsible for the improved transportability and the surface charge modification are discussed. The applications of the study to filtration and microbial-enhanced oil recovery are pointed out.
Fetal infection from rubeovirus or cytomegalovirus: Correlation among maternal serological profiles, invasive diagnostic procedures, and long‐term follow‐up

Different variables influence the possibility that maternal viral infection may be transmitted to the fetus, although not all fetal infections result in fetal “illness” with consequent fetopathy. As concerns the fetus, prenatal diagnosis includes invasive techniques necessary for fetal tissue sampling. These techniques carry some risks. The fetal infectious risk, as determined by maternal clinico-serological profile and according to sonographic investigation, always should be weighed against the risks and benefits of invasive diagnostic procedures. The present study re-elaborates the criteria necessary for defining fetal risk as related to the maternal serological profile. In the 26 mothers with rubeola infection, the incidence of fetal mortality was 7.7%. Fetal prognosis worsens with the precocity of eruption. In these cases the esantema is the most reliable prognostic element as an indication to perform the invasive procedure. In the 15 patients with cytomegalovirus infection, no fetal or postnatal loss...
Neutrophil transmigration in inflammatory bowel disease is associated with differential expression of epithelial intercellular junction proteins

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consisting of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s (CD) typically displays a waxing and waning course punctuated by disease flares that are characterized by transepithelial migration of neutrophils (PMN) and altered barrier function. Since epithelial barrier function is primarily regulated by the apical most intercellular junction referred to as the tight junction (TJ), our aim was to examine expression of TJ and adherens junction (AJ) proteins in relation to PMN infiltration in mucosal tissue samples from patients with active IBD. Expression of epithelial intercellular TJ proteins (occludin, ZO-1, claudin-1, and JAM) and subjacent AJ (β-catenin and E-cadherin) proteins were examined by immunoflourescence/confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. Colonic mucosa from patients with UC revealed dramatic, global down-regulation of the key TJ transmembrane protein occludin in regions of actively transmigrating PMN and in quiescent areas in the biopsy samples. Significant decreases in occludin expression were observed at the protein and mRNA levels by Western and Northern blotting. In contrast, expression of other TJ and AJ proteins such as ZO-1, claudin-1, JAM, β-catenin, and E-cadherin were down-regulated only in epithelial cells immediately adjacent to transmigrating PMN. Analysis of inflamed mucosa from Crohn’s disease patients mirrored the results obtained with UC patients. No change in TJ and AJ protein expression was observed in colonic epithelium from patients with collagenous colitis or lymphocytic colitis that are respectively characterized by a thickened subepithelial collagen plate and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes. These results suggest that occludin expression is diminished in IBD by mechanisms distinct from those regulating expression of other intercellular junction proteins. We speculate that down-regulation of epithelial occludin may play a role in enhanced paracellular permeability and PMN transmigration that is observed in active inflammatory bowel disease.
Relationship between Cloud Radiative Forcing and Sea Surface Temperatures over the Entire Tropical Oceans

Abstract Satellite measurements from January 1985 to December 1989 show that warmer tropical oceans as a whole are associated with less longwave greenhouse effect of clouds and less cloud reflection of solar radiation to the space. The regression slopes of longwave and shortwave cloud radiative forcings against sea surface temperatures averaged from 30°N to 30°S are about −3 and 2 W m−2 K−1, respectively. Relationships of cloud forcings and sea surface temperatures are analyzed for regions with different sizes. As has been reported in previous studies, the magnitude of area-averaged cloud radiative forcing for both longwave and shortwave radiations increases with sea surface temperatures in the equatorial eastern Pacific and is insensitive to sea surface temperatures over the tropical Pacific basin. Yet, when the region extends beyond the tropical Pacific, the magnitude decreases with sea surface temperatures. This phenomenon is shown to relate to changes in clouds over the tropical Indian Ocean and Atlan...
Spatially power-combined W-band power amplifier using stacked CMOS

A spatially power-combined CMOS SOI power amplifier at 94 GHz is reported. The CMOS chip contains a 2×4 array of pseudo-differential power amplifiers, and is integrated with a microstrip antenna array on a quartz superstrate. A 13-stage amplifier chain is implemented to provide gain, using stacked NFETs in a 45-nm CMOS SOI process. The amplifier array outputs a power of 24 dBm (250 mW) and the chip-quartz assembly radiates an equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of 33 dBm at 94 GHz. This is the highest radiated power reported from a Silicon CMOS active array transmitter at W-band, and the highest W-band output power from a single CMOS chip.
Implementation of a Restaurant Style Menu and Bedside Ordering to Improve Patient Satisfaction and Better Serve the Pediatric Inpatients at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center

Text: A new menu with increased kid friendly choices was needed to improve patient satisfaction of the pediatric inpatient population. The new pediatric menu has shown that a move to a restaurant style menu is effective to improve patient satisfaction. A team was formed to collaborate on new menu items, menu formatting, appearance and ordering system. They utilized a focus group, comprised of families of chronically ill children, to obtain food suggestions for menu additions. The new menu includes color, graphics and product logos. During this project, bedside ordering was implemented. In this process, a computer is taken into the patient’s room by food service staff who then takes the patient’s meal order. The patient no longer needs to select their meal choices by circling the items on the menu. Another improvement was made by listing a telephone number on the menu where the child or caregiver can call for menu choices for the next meal if they where unavailable when the staff visited them. Implementation of the new menu has improved Press-Ganey scores in the following areas; the overall meal, temperature of the food, explanation of a special diet, quality of food and availability of child preferences. After the new menu was implemented, the Press-Ganey score mean value increased by 2.4%. There was improvement post implementation in every area except for the “received what was ordered” question. This increase is directly correlated with the menu appearance, additional menu choices and bedside ordering changes that have been made.
On implicit constitutive theories for fluids

We consider generalizations of fluid models wherein the fluid is assumed to be incompressible, but with the viscosity depending on the pressure. We show that a natural setting for the development of such models is a class of implicit constitutive relations, which, in addition to the fluid model described here, provides a means for developing other complex models for viscoelastic fluids which cannot be set within the ambit of classical explicit constitutive relations for the stress in terms of the histories of appropriate kinematical variables.
Expression and Function of Enamel-related Gene Products in Calvarial Development

Enamel-related gene products (ERPs) are detected in non-enamel tissues such as bone. We hypothesized that, if functional, ERP expression corresponds with distinct events during osteoblast differentiation and affects bone development and mineralization. In mouse calvariae and MC3T3 cells, expression profiles of enamel-related gene products (ERPs) correlated with key events in post-natal calvarial development and MC3T3 cell mineralization. Developing skulls from both Amel- and Ambn-deficient animals were approximately 15% shorter when compared with those of wild-type controls, and their sutures remained patent for a longer period of time. Analysis of Amel- and Ambn-deficient calvariae and calvarial osteoblast cultures revealed a dramatic reduction in mineralized nodules, a significant reduction in Runx2, Sp7, Ibsp, and Msx2 expression, and a reduction in Alx4 in Amel-deficient calvariae vs. an increase in Alx4 in Ambn-deficient calvariae. Analysis of these data indicates that ERP expression follows defined developmental profiles and affects osteoblast differentiation, mineralization, and calvarial bone development. We propose that, in parallel to their role in the developing enamel matrix, ERPs have retained an evolutionary conserved function related to the biomineralization of bones.
T- and P-odd electron-nucleon interactions and the electric dipole moments of large atoms

The relative importance of scalar, pseudoscalar, and tensor {ital T}- and {ital P}-odd electron-nucleon operators and the electron electric dipole moment in contributing to the electric dipole moments of various large atoms of experimental interest (Cs, Tl, Xe, Hg, and TlF) is analyzed. This analysis is carried out in the context of a general classification of the kinds of particle-physics theories which can give rise to these operators.
An ideology of rights: Support for civil liberties among political activists

This paper examines support for civil liberties among a large and diverse set of political activists during the Reagan era: financial donors to party and political action committees (PACs). While these activists are more tolerant than the mass public, support for civil liberties is not evenly distributed among them. Liberals and Democrats are far more tolerant than their conservative and Republican counterparts. Tolerance is related to support for substantive rights and rooted in cosmopolitan demography, and it is not linked to greater political or social participation. Thus, among political activists, tolerance is associated with broader political alignments and not elite statusper se.
Opiate receptor phenomenon: Proconvulsant action of morphine in the mouse

Abstract Opiate narcotics lowered the chemoconvulsive threshold in the mouse in a manner that is characteristic of an opiate receptor mediated process. The proconvulsant action was dose-dependent, stereoselective for narcotics possessing the absolute configuration of D(-)-morphine, and selectively antagonized by naloxone. Chronic morphine treatment produced tolerance and cross-tolerance to the convulsant actions of narcotics. The chemconvulsant threshold provides a convenient and reproducible measure of opiate receptor-drug interaction and the development of narcotic tolerance.
Comparison of divalent dimethoxyethane-solvated thulium and samarium diiodides in hexamethylphosphoramide and pyridine: Isolation of the cations { [TmI2 (HMPA) 4] [I] (pyridine) 5} and { [TmI (HMPA) 4 (pyridine) ] [I] 2} and a single crystal containing both linear and bent dimethoxyethane-solvated SmI2

Abstract The highly reducing nature of TmI2 (DME) 3 is shown by comparison with SmI2 in its reactions in hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) and pyridine. Addition of 4 equiv. of HMPA to green TmI2 (DME) 3 in dimethoxyethane (DME) forms pale yellow solids which dissolve in pyridine and can be isolated as TmI3 (HMPA) 4, 1. Recrystallization of 1 from pyridine yields { [TmI2 (HMPA) 4] [I] (pyridine) 5} , 2, or { [TmI (HMPA) 4 (pyridine) ] [I] 2} , 3, depending upon conditions. Both 2 and 3 crystallize with distorted octahedral geometries around thulium. Addition of HMPA to TmI3 in DME also forms 1. TmI2 (DME) 2, formed by the loss of DME from TmI2 (DME) 3 under vacuum, reacts with pyridine to form intensely colored materials, which have magnetic moments consistent with the presence of Tm (III) . In comparison, SmI2 (THF) 2 dissolves in a mixture of pyridine and DME and can be recrystallized as divalent SmI2 (DME) 3, 4. 4 crystallizes with both linear and bent I-Sm-I arrangements in the same crystal. In the former case a hexagonal bipyramidal coordination geometry is present and in the latter a dodecahedral geometry is observed.