cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of the Dopaminergic Neurotoxin MPTP on Cocaine-Induced Locomotor Sensitization

The blockade of dopamine (DA) uptake via the dopamine transporter (DAT) in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) and striatum by cocaine has a major role in the reinforcing and psychomotor stimulating effects of the drug. Here we investigated the effect of the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) on the expression and induction of sensitization to the locomotor stimulating effect of cocaine. MPTP (20 mg/kg x 4) caused 72 and 76% depletion of DAT sites in the NAC and striatum, respectively, in C57BL/6 mice. The magnitude of this depletion 3 and 19 days after MPTP administration was the same. To determine the effect of MPTP on the expression of the sensitized response to cocaine, cocaine-experienced mice (20 mg/kg for 5 days) received MPTP 3 days before a challenge cocaine injection was given on day 15. Cocaine/MPTP mice were significantly more sensitive to the challenge cocaine injection than the cocaine/saline-pretreated mice. To determine whether depletion of NAC and striatal DAT affects the induction of sensitization to cocaine, mice were pretreated with MPTP 3 days before the administration of cocaine (20 mg/kg for 5 days). The magnitude of the sensitized response of MPTP/cocaine-pretreated mice to cocaine challenge was the same as the sensitized response of mice treated with saline/cocaine, while the number of DAT binding sites in the MPTP/cocaine group was significantly lower than the saline/cocaine group. The present study indicates that MPTP exacerbates the expression of locomotor sensitization to cocaine, but it had no effect on the induction of sensitization. We conclude that the expression, but not the induction, of locomotor sensitization to cocaine may be dependent on the level of DAT binding sites.
Identification and characterization of nuclear genes involved in photosynthesis in Populus

The gap between the real and potential photosynthetic rate under field conditions suggests that photosynthesis could potentially be improved. Nuclear genes provide possible targets for improving photosynthetic efficiency. Hence, genome-wide identification and characterization of the nuclear genes affecting photosynthetic traits in woody plants would provide key insights on genetic regulation of photosynthesis and identify candidate processes for improvement of photosynthesis. Using microarray and bulked segregant analysis strategies, we identified differentially expressed nuclear genes for photosynthesis traits in a segregating population of poplar. We identified 515 differentially expressed genes in this population (FC ≥ 2 or FC ≤ 0.5, P < 0.05), 163 up-regulated and 352 down-regulated. Real-time PCR expression analysis confirmed the microarray data. Singular Enrichment Analysis identified 48 significantly enriched GO terms for molecular functions (28), biological processes (18) and cell components (2). Furthermore, we selected six candidate genes for functional examination by a single-marker association approach, which demonstrated that 20 SNPs in five candidate genes significantly associated with photosynthetic traits, and the phenotypic variance explained by each SNP ranged from 2.3% to 12.6%. This revealed that regulation of photosynthesis by the nuclear genome mainly involves transport, metabolism and response to stimulus functions. This study provides new genome-scale strategies for the discovery of potential candidate genes affecting photosynthesis in Populus, and for identification of the functions of genes involved in regulation of photosynthesis. This work also suggests that improving photosynthetic efficiency under field conditions will require the consideration of multiple factors, such as stress responses.
NMR studies of malaria. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance of blood from mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.

Abstract High resolution 31P-NMR has been used for the non-invasive observation of metabolites and metabolic rates in blood of normal mice and of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, the causative agent of malaria. 31P-NMR was used to quantitate levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in whole cells as a function of the degree of parasitemia and yielded good agreement with the results of enzymatic assays. The time-dependence of 31P metabolites was monitored in both normal and infected erythrocytes, greater rates of decay of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate being observed in malarial blood which correlate with the level of parasitemia. Very high metabolic rates of infected cells render measurement of intracellular pH unreliable on freshly drawn whole blood. When appropriate measures are taken to avoid this complication, no difference is observed in the intracellular pH of parasitized and non-parasitized erythrocytes from infected animals. In both normal and parasitized mice the intraerythrocytic pH is more acidic than that of the suspending medium by 0.15 pH unit at 25°C. Unlike free-living protozoa, the parasitic protozoan Plasmodium does not contain detectable levels of phosphonates or polyphosphates, in either whole cells or perchloric acid extracts thereof.
A Critical Evaluation of microRNA Biomarkers in Non-Neoplastic Disease

Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small (∼22-nt), stable RNAs that critically modulate post-transcriptional gene regulation. MicroRNAs can be found in the blood as components of serum, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Many microRNAs have been reported to be specific biomarkers in a variety of non-neoplastic diseases. To date, no one has globally evaluated these proposed clinical biomarkers for general quality or disease specificity. We hypothesized that the cellular source of circulating microRNAs should correlate with cells involved in specific non-neoplastic disease processes. Appropriate cell expression data would inform on the quality and usefulness of each microRNA as a biomarker for specific diseases. We further hypothesized a useful clinical microRNA biomarker would have specificity to a single disease. Methods and Findings We identified 416 microRNA biomarkers, of which 192 were unique, in 104 publications covering 57 diseases. One hundred and thirty-nine microRNAs (33%) represented biologically plausible biomarkers, corresponding to non-ubiquitous microRNAs expressed in disease-appropriate cell types. However, at a global level, many of these microRNAs were reported as “specific” biomarkers for two or more unrelated diseases with 6 microRNAs (miR-21, miR-16, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-126 and miR-223) being reported as biomarkers for 9 or more distinct diseases. Other biomarkers corresponded to common patterns of cellular injury, such as the liver-specific microRNA, miR-122, which was elevated in a disparate set of diseases that injure the liver primarily or secondarily including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, sepsis, and myocardial infarction. Conclusions Only a subset of reported blood-based microRNA biomarkers have specificity for a particular disease. The remainder of the reported non-neoplastic biomarkers are either biologically implausible, non-specific, or uninterpretable due to limitations of our current understanding of microRNA expression.
A TEST OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DIFFERENCE OF THE CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS IN NORMAL BIVARIATE SAMPLES

THE problem of testing the significance of the difference between correlation coefficients, r1 and r2, found in two independent samples of size n1 and n2 may be considered as that of testing the hypothesis that the samples have been drawn from populations in which the coefficients of correlation between the variables have some common, but unspecified value, p. A method of procedure commonly used, which is adequate if the samples are large and p not too near either + I or 1, is to compare the difference, r1 r2, with an estimate of its standard error, 0'rl-1'2 But if these conditions are inot satisfied, we are at once faced with certain difficulties: (a) the value of o>,j-r2 is very sensitive to the particular estimate of p chosen; (b) the sampling distribution of r1 92 will be asymnietrical, difficult to calculate and again dependent on the estimlate of p.
Suppressed nitrogen evolution from coal-derived soot and low-volatility coal chars

This laboratory study uses a novel furnace to resolve nitrogen evolution during the three stages of pulverized coal combustion: primary devolatilization, secondary pyrolysis, and combustion. The behavior of six coals depicts continuous rank variations, as well as suppressed nitrogen evolution from low volatility coals. During primary devolatilization of any coal, aromatic compounds in tar and oils are virtually the only shuttles for nitrogen out of the coal matrix. The small amounts of HCN observed while primary devolatilization winds down probably come from the char, because char particles are significantly hotter than tar in these experiments. Secondary pyrolysis promotes additional HCN evolution from both char and tar. Moreover, substantial fractions of the volatile-nitrogen from primary devolatilization is reincorporated into a carbonaceous soot matrix for all coal types. The fraction of coal nitrogen incorporated into soot remains constant, even while soot yields dramatically increase. Incorporation of nitrogen into soot has the potential to substantially reduce the amount of coal nitrogen amenable to aerodynamic NO x abatement strategies for coals with large tar yields. This potential limitation is compounded by another limitation for low volatility coals. Whereas one-half to two-thirds of the coal-nitrogen is expelled by thermal decomposition from other coal types, only 30 to 40% is expelled from low volatility samples. This tendency suggests that nitrogen functionalities become much more refractory as their surrounding aromatic domains become more extensive, either in high rank coals or soot. For such systems, our measurements indicate that the only way to expel the nitrogen is to burn it away.
Unidirectional loss of human chromosomes in rat-human hybrids.

Abstract Karyological analysis of 25 rat-human hybrid cell clones shows that only the human chromosomes are lost from the hybrids. Giemsa banding staining of the chromosomes of these hybrids allowed the identification of each human chromosome present in the hybrid cells.
Enhancing Arabidopsis Leaf Growth by Engineering the BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 Receptor Kinase

The BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) receptor kinase has recently been shown to possess tyrosine kinase activity, and preventing autophosphorylation of the tyrosine-831 regulatory site by site-directed mutagenesis enhances shoot growth. In this study, we characterized the increased leaf growth of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants expressing BRI1(Y831F)-Flag compared with BRI1-Flag (both driven by the native promoter and expressed in the bri1-5 weak allele background) and provide insights into the possible mechanisms involved. On average, relative leaf growth rate was increased 16% in the Y831F plants (in the bri1-5 background), and the gain of function of the Y831F-directed mutant was dominant in the wild-type background. Leaves were larger as a result of increased cell numbers and had substantially increased vascularization. Transcriptome analysis indicated that genes associated with brassinolide biosynthesis, secondary cell wall biosynthesis and vascular development, and regulation of growth were altered in expression and may contribute to the observed changes in leaf architecture and whole plant growth. Analysis of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence indicated that Y831F mutant plants had higher rates of photosynthesis, and metabolite analysis documented enhanced accumulation of starch, sucrose, and several amino acids, most prominently glycine and proline. These results demonstrate that mutation of BRI1 can enhance photosynthesis and leaf growth/vascularization and may suggest new approaches to increase whole plant carbon assimilation and growth.
Suitability of Oryza and other grasses as hosts of Sogata orizicola Muir.

Young adults of Sogata orizicola Muir survived and oviposited as well on the wild diploid forms Oryza perennis var. cubensis (Moench), O. perennis var. barthii (Chevalier), and O. balunga Yeh and Henderson (= O. perennis var. balunga (Sampath and Govindaswami) as on the cultivated variety, O. sativa L. var. Nato. Newly emerged nymphs caged on these wild forms completed their development normally. The other eight species of Oryza and five species of grasses tested did not prove to be suitable hosts for S. orizicola in these greenhouse studies.
Formation of Nanostructured Poly(dicyclopentadiene) Thermosets Using Reactive Block Polymers

Nanostructured thermosets were prepared by reaction-induced phase separation (RIPS) using a metathesis-cross-linkable monomer in the presence of a metathesis-reactive block polymer. Mixtures of poly(norbornenylethylstyrene-s-styrene)-b-poly(lactide) (PNS−PLA) and dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) in tetrahydrofuran were cross-linked using the second generation Grubbs catalyst. Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of a series of cured films containing PNS−PLA with varied PLA block lengths and 0−83 wt % DCPD indicated the presence of nanophase-separated disordered morphologies postcuring in most cases. Scanning electron microscopy of cured films after removal of the PLA phase revealed that a majority of the films exhibited a bicontinuous structure. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that cross-linking the PNS block into the matrix was vital in preventing macrophase separation, and the morphologies observed were relatively unaffected by variations in the concentration of the catalyst. We propose a general mecha...
Cell-to-cell variability in PI3K protein level regulates PI3K-AKT pathway activity in cell populations.

Summary Background Cell-to-cell variability in populations has been widely observed in mammalian cells. This heterogeneity can result from random stochastic events or can be deliberately maintained through regulatory processes. In the latter case, heterogeneity should confer a selective advantage that benefits the entire population. Results Using multicolor flow cytometry, we have uncovered robust heterogeneity in phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity in MCF10A cell populations, which had been previously masked by techniques that only measure population averages. We show that AKT activity is bimodal in response to EGF stimulation and correlates with PI3K protein level, such that only cells with high PI3K protein can activate AKT. We further show that heterogeneity in PI3K protein levels is invariably maintained in cell populations through a degradation/resynthesis cycle that can be regulated by cell density. Conclusions Given that the PI3K pathway is one of the most frequently upregulated pathways in cancer, we propose that heterogeneity in PI3K activity is beneficial to normal tissues by restricting PI3K activation to only a subset of cells. This may serve to protect the population as a whole from overactivating the pathway, which can lead to cellular senescence or cancer. Consistent with this, we show that oncogenic mutations in p110α (H1047R and E545K) partially evade this negative regulation, resulting in increased AKT activity in the population.
Superconducting and normal state properties of Y1−xPrxBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals☆

Abstract Superconducting and normal state properties of Y 1−x Pr x Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ single crystals have been investigated by means of electronic transport and magnetic measurements a function of temperature and magnetic field. The results are compared with corresponding results from polycrystalline samples.
Geochemical evidence for sediment accretion in the Costa Rica Frontal Prism

We report new geochemical data for marine sediments sampled in the frontal prism associated with the Costa Rica subduction zone during Leg 205 of the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP). We describe variation in sediment geochemistry with depth as the decollement zone, the interface between overriding and downgoing tectonic plates, is approached. This variation can be explained by three-component mixing of ash, lower plate sediments (LPS), and frontal prism or upper plate sediments (UPS). We detect in-mixing of LPS in localized sediment intervals, amounting to tens of vertical meters of LPS incorporation; no persuasive evidence of LPS transfer into the prism has been shown until this contribution. This inference of fine structure in the prism provides new insight into how tectonic kneading of sediments occurs in decollement zones.
Usefulness of Ethnicity in International Consumer Marketing

Abstract Internationalization is the term that can characterize the current state of the consumer market in many parts of the world. The phenomenon of an internationalized consumer market is noteworthy particularly because consumer mobility beyond their national boundaries has increased resulting in a significant growth of diverse immigrant populations in the international marketplace. The theory of intercultural accommodation suggests that consumers who have relocated beyond their national/cultural boundaries adapt to the new market environment developing new consumption patterns. At the same time international consumers do not entirely lose their original ethnic identity that had guided their socialization process. The evolving nature of ethnic identity of international consumers may pose an interesting question about the usefulness of observable ethnicity as a market segmentation basis in international consumer marketing. This study examined how consumers' ethnic identity, specifically the strength of ...
Increased ACTH Plasma Levels with Prenatal and Postnatal Nicotine Administration in Rats

Nicotine mediates the release of ACTH in adult rats,’.’ but the resultant effects on development remain unknown. Acute administration of nicotine results in a rise in ACTH which is followed by an increase in plasma corticosterones.”’ This nicotinemediated ACTH release is accompanied by a release of beta-endorphin.’ In addition, corticotropin-releasing factor (0, has been elicited from the hypothalamus in a dose-dependent manner in response to varying concentrations of nicotine? Fabro and Sieber‘ demonstrated that nicotine administered to pregnant females can be subsequently localized in the implanted blastocyst during gestation. Other investigations indicate that the alkaloid is present in high concentrations in the milk of dams postpartum.’ Taken together, it is not unreasonable to postulate that nicotine administration to pregnant females may cause changes in fetal ACTH levels either indirectly through the mothers’ circulatory system or directly by penetration of the placenta. The present study was designed to determine the effects of nicotine on ACTH levels of neonates during development.
Three Problems with Contractarian-Consequentialist Ways of Assessing Social Institutions*

With each of our three criminal-law topics—defining offenses, apprehending suspects, and establishing punishments—we feel, I believe, strong moral resistance to the idea that our practices should be settled by a prospective-participant perspective. This becomes quite clear when we look at how the “reforms” suggested by institutional viewing might combine once we consider all three topics together: imagine a more extensive and swifter use of the death penalty in homicide cases coupled with somewhat lower standards of evidence; or think of backing a strict-liability criminal statute with the death penalty. Of course, such “reforms” would increase the execution of innocents; but, their proponents will tell us, any penal system involves the punishment of some innocents, and, if it provides for the death penalty, the execution of some innocents. Moreover, why is it worse for innocents to be punished than for innocents to suffer an equivalent harm in some other way? Formulated from a prospective-participant perspective: Why not run a small risk of being innocently executed in exchange for reducing, much more significantly, the risk of dying prematurely in other ways?
Ovarian tumor antigens

Evidence has been reported for at least two common tumor-associated antigens, or antigenic determinants, in human cystadenocarcinomas of the ovary that are apparently absent in tissues of normal reproductive organs. These antigenic determinants are immunologically distinct from carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, ferritins and histocompatibility antigens. One of these two ovarian cystadenocarcinoma-associated antigens (OCAA) is not detectable in any ovarian carcinomas except serous or mucinous types, other gynecologic or nongynecologic malignancies thus far tested, while the second antigen is present in about 90% of all gynecologic tumors and occasionally in breast and colon tumors. OCAA has been purified and partially characterized. It is a high molecular weight glycoprotein which carries the unique ovarian tumor-specific antigenic determinant along with some normal cross-reacting determinants. High levels of this glycoprotein antigen have been detected in the sera of ovarian cancer patients with advanced disease by the radioimmunoassay inhibition technique. The serial determination of circulating OCAA appeared to correlate with tumor volume as well as the clinical status of the patients.
Ectopic expression of Sonic hedgehog alters dorsal-ventral patterning of somites

Differentiation of somites into sclerotome, dermatome, and myotome is controlled by a complex set of inductive interactions. The ability of axial midline tissues, the notochord and floor plate, to induce sclerotome has been well documented and has led to models in which ventral somite identity is specified by signals derived from the notochord and floor plate. Herein, we provide evidence that Sonic hedgehog, a vertebrate homolog of the Drosophila segment polarity gene hedgehog, is a signal produced by the notochord and floor plate that directs ventral somite differentiation. Sonic hedgehog is expressed in ventral midline tissues at critical times during somite specification and has the ability, when ectopically expressed, to enhance the formation of sclerotome and antagonize the development of dermatome.
Programmed antigenic stimulation: kinetics of the immune response to challenge infections of mice primed with influenza inactivated whole virus or neuraminidase vaccine.

Abstract Mice were immunized with either inactivated whole virus influenza A (H3N2) virus (WV) vaccine or with purified N2 neuraminidase (NA) vaccine then challenged with mouse-adapted homologous infective virus at intervals of 1–141 days later in order to ascertain the optimal vaccine-infection interval for induction of resistance to subsequent infection. Measured by serological or infection suppressing response, this interval was 15 days for both vaccines. Maximal reduction in pulmonary virus replication during initial (postvaccination) infection was achieved with WV vaccine, but in second infection by NA vaccine. This study provides further support for the concept of infection-permissive immunization with NA vaccines and suggests the promise of programmed antigenic stimulation by coupling of non-replicating and replicating antigens in the induction of solid immunity.
Coding of signals in noise by amphibian auditory nerve fibers.

Rate-level (R-L) functions derived for pure-tones and pure-tones in broadband noise were obtained for auditory nerve fibers in the treefrog, Eleutherodactylus coqui. Normalized R-L functions for low-frequency, low-threshold fibers exhibit a horizontal rightward shift in the presence of broadband background noise. The magnitude of this shift is directly proportional to the noise spectrum level and inversely proportional to the fiber's threshold. R-L functions for mid- and high-frequency fibers also show a horizontal shift, but to a lesser degree, consistent with their elevated thresholds relative to the low-frequency fibers. The implications of these findings for the processing of biologically significant sounds in the high levels of background noise in the animal's natural habitat are considered.
An Approach to the Diagnosis of Intermittent Faults

A procedure for the diagnosis of intermittent faults in combinational circuits is suggested. This procedure employs a probabilistic model for intermittent failures and presumes that a detection experiment has been run. The circuit is assumed to be irredundant and to possess a single fault out of n possible ones. The approach suggested is based on the repeated application of tests that test for these faults had their effect been permanent. A subset of the test set is selected and is repeatedly applied until a failure is observed. Similar subexperiments are then run with appropriate test subsets until the highest diagnostic resolution is obtained. The expected length of the diagnosis experiment is guaranteed to be finite. This is shown by proving that the expected length of each subexperiment is finite. The diagnosis experiment can be terminated, when any preset time limit is exceeded, compromising the obtained diagnostic resolution. Local symmetry of the fault table is found to be the necessary and sufficient condition for maximum diagnostic resolution.
Testing for the Effect of School Size on Student Achievement within a School District

Studies of student achievement generally do not consider the effect of school size, or do so peripherally. Using the production function approach and data from Baltimore (Maryland) public elementary schools, school size is shown to have a negligible effect on the performance of these students on standardized achievement tests. Consistent with other studies, the importance of the socio-economic status of the students and the lack of a positive effect of school input measures such as the teacher/pupil ratio and expenditure per pupil is borne out in these results.
SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO THE ANALYSIS OF NN AND NN TOTAL CROSS SECTIONS

A general, rigorous, and extremely simple method of analyzing nucleon-nucleon and nucleon-antinucleon total cross sections is presented. The method is valid for all energies and provides a simple link between the experimental quantities of fundamental physical interest. It is particularly appropriate in the high-energy region and, as an example, is applied to the Regge model. The results are derived by using the concept of crossing and a weak form of Mandelstam analyticity, and depend upon the observation that the $\mathrm{NN}$ and $N\overline{N}$ total cross sections can be expressed in terms of a single spin-triplet $N\overline{N}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}N\overline{N}$ transition amplitude. A basic ingredient is the experimental knowledge of ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\overline{p}n}$ or, equivalently, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\overline{n}p}$. A primary aim of this work is to encourage the experimental measurement of these cross sections.
Acid phosphatase and protease activities in immobilized rat skeletal muscles

- that H, receptors were not present in the %eft atrium because 169 " M anetiamide, a dose which antagonized the histamine response in right atria, had no effect in left atria. Subsequent studies (Polanin e't a!. 1980: Polanin and McNcill 1981) showed that hisher doscs of mctia~~lide were required to antagonize thc response of the left atrium to histamine than were needed for the right atrium. Thc absolute increase in cyclic AMP is Icss in left atria compared with right atria and the mechanical respcmse is delayed. This could explain why an increase in cyclic AMP was only seen previe~usly in sight atria when it was measured at 20 s fol%~wing drug administration. It is concluded that H2 receptors coupled to cyclic AMP stimulation are prescnt in both rabbit atria. The d(fcrenc*c. if1 sen.~btiviy to agonists of the two tissues indicates that there may be a difference between the H, receptcass of the right and left atria as was suggested by Polanin and hlcNeill (1981). B-Bswever, it should also be noted that the responses measured (rorce and rate) are also different and a comparison is thus rnade Inore difficult. In summary, histamine has been shown capable of increasing cyclic AMP levels in both left and right atria of tlne rabbit. Since H2 receptors have been foasnd to be associated with adenylate cyclase, while lHI receptors are not (McNeill B980b, the data add support to ohas previous findings that H, receptors are present in both rabbit atria (Polanin et ak. 1980). Acknowledgement
Differential expression of the isoforms for the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 receptor, CCR2, in monocytes

Two isoforms of human CCR2, the receptor for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), have been identified but their relative expression in monocytes and contribution to inflammatory responses mediated by MCP-1 remain uncertain. All available information on CCR2 expression is based on mRNA data because isoform-specific antibodies were not available until now. To analyze the relative expression of each isoform, we made two antibodies that specifically recognized CCR2A and CCR2B. Examination of receptor protein with these isoform-specific antibodies showed that the total expression of CCR2B in monocytes was about 10-fold higher than that of CCR2A with an equal distribution between the cell surface and intracellular pools. A detailed analysis using purified plasma membranes demonstrated that about 90% of all CCR2 on the cell surface were composed of CCR2B. The relatively abundant expression of CCR2B on the cell surface suggests a principal role of this isoform as a mediator of monocyte responses to MCP-1 in inflammation.
Vasodilating Procyanidins Derived from Grape Seeds

We have shown in previous work that extracts of grape seeds (GSE) and skins, grape juice, and many red wines exhibit endothelium-dependent relaxing (EDR) activity in vitro. This EDR activity involves endothelial nitric oxide (NO) release and subsequent increase in cyclic GMP levels in the vascular smooth muscle cells. The NO/cyclic GMP pathway is known to be involved in many cardiovascular-protective roles. The current study focuses on the isolation and identification of EDR-active compounds (procyanidins) from GSE. Crushed Concord grape seeds were extracted with methanol and the extract was separated into seven fractions (A-G) on a Toyopearl TSK-HW-40 column. EDR-active fractions (D-G) were further separated into 25 individual compound peaks by HPLC, 16 of which were EDR active (threshold for relaxation ranged between less than 0.5 microg/mL and greater than 4 microg/mL). Procyanidin identification was accomplished by electrospray-ion trap mass spectrometry (ES-ITMS), MS/MS, and by tannase treatment and acid thiolysis, followed by HPLC and ES-ITMS of the products. Activity of isolated procyanidins tended to increase with degree of polymerization, epicatechin content, and with galloylation. These EDR-active compounds (many of which also possess antioxidant activity), individually or in the form of wines, juices, or nutritional supplements, may be useful in preventing or treating cardiovascular diseases.
Radiative polarization of electrons

We present a new method of calculating the radiative polarization of electrons in homogeneous magnetic fields, using the modified electron propagation function.
Why bistetracenes are much less reactive than pentacenes in Diels-Alder reactions with fullerenes.

The Diels–Alder (DA) reactions of pentacene (PT), 6,13-bis(2-trimethylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TMS-PT), bistetracene (BT), and 8,17-bis(2-trimethylsilylethynyl)bistetracene (TMS-BT) with the [6,6] double bond of [60]fullerene have been investigated by density functional theory calculations. Reaction barriers and free energies have been obtained to assess the effects of frameworks and substituent groups on the DA reactivity and product stability. Calculations indicate that TMS-BT is about 5 orders of magnitude less reactive than TMS-PT in the reactions with [60]fullerene. This accounts for the observed much higher stability of TIPS-BT than TIPS-PT when mixed with PCBM. Surprisingly, calculations predict that the bulky silylethynyl substituents of TMS-PT and TMS-BT have only a small influence on reaction barriers. However, the silylethynyl substituents significantly destabilize the corresponding products due to steric repulsions in the adducts. This is confirmed by experimental results here. Architectures of...
An analytical method for simple structure.

One of the most difficult parts of multiple-factor analysis for the student to learn is the rotation of the coordinate axes to simple structure. The complete graphical methods have been the most dependable. The work of interpreting these diagrams is not only tedious but it requires the development of a skill that many otherwise competent students are unable to master. The writer has tried many times to develop an analytical method which would eliminate the graphical methods of successive approximation. The method to be described here seems at last to be successful and practically feasible. It is equally applicable to unimodal and bimodal hyperplanes so that no restrictive assumptions need to be made about the positive or negative signs of the factorial components.
Quantitative determination of olanzapine in rat brain tissue by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A sensitive assay was developed for the measurement of olanzapine in rat brain tissue using HPLC with electrochemical detection. The assay has a lower limit of quantitation of 0.5 ng/ml in tissue homogenate and utilizes a liquid-liquid extraction followed by reversed-phase HPLC for the quantitative analysis of olanzapine. The method provided a linear response for olanzapine over a concentration range of 0.5-100 ng/ml with a coefficient of determination (r2) greater than 0.9995. The extraction efficiencies of olanzapine and internal standard (LY170158) were greater than 82% in brain tissue. The intra-assay and inter-assay relative errors ranged from -5.38 to 17.60% and -3.25 to 10.53%, respectively. The intra-assay and inter-assay RSD values were in the range of 1.12 to 6.96% and 3.78 to 6.68%. Long-term stability studies showed that brain tissue homogenate samples spiked with olanzapine and internal standard are stable at -70 degrees C for at least 110 days. However, a room temperature stability study showed that olanazapine was not stable in brain homogenate if the sample was exposed at 25 degrees C longer than 2 h. This method has been used for the study of the disposition and pharmacokinetics of olanzapine in male Sprague-Dawley rats.
Roaming zones of precipitation on ancient Mars as recorded in valley networks

[1] The 10 largest valley networks in the Terra Sabaea, Arabia Terra, and Meridiani Planum regions of Mars were mapped, crater age dated, and analyzed by geomorphology, stream order, and drainage density to understand changes in fluvial erosion during early Martian history. All of these networks demonstrate characteristics consistent with formation by precipitation. Many appear to be in different stages of preservation, with both highly eroded and pristine valleys sometimes appearing in the same network. In some cases, the valley network morphologies and crater age dating indicate multiple periods of formation. The results from this research place precipitation-driven formation of the Martian valley networks in Terra Sabaea, Arabia Terra, and Meridiani Planum in the late Noachian and early Hesperian epochs (∼3.6–3.8 billion years ago). Our age estimates do not extend into earlier or later Martian history, and the spread in these ages indicates they did not all form or cease formation at the same time. The difference in age between the oldest and youngest valley networks in Terra Sabaea, Arabia Terra, and Meridiani Planum analyzed in this work is ∼210 ± 50 Ma. Within this range are valley networks that have distinctly separate ages and those that appear to be coeval. This research suggests the late Noachian and early Hesperian were characterized by roaming zones of precipitation that occurred during either continuously warmer and thicker atmospheric conditions or intermittently clement conditions, with precipitation occasionally returning to previously rainy regions and overall continuing near Meridiani Planum longer than in Terra Sabaea.
Improving the accuracy of the diffusion model in highly absorbing media

The diffusion approximation of the Boltzmann transport equation is most commonly used for describing the photon propagation in turbid media. It produces satisfactory results in weakly absorbing and highly scattering media, but the accuracy lessens with the decreasing albedo. In this paper, we presented a method to improve the accuracy of the diffusion model in strongly absorbing media by adjusting the optical parameters. Genetic algorithm-based optimization tool is used to find the optimal optical parameters. The diffusion model behaves more closely to the physical model with the actual optical parameters substituted by the optimized optical parameters. The effectiveness of the proposed technique was demonstrated by the numerical experiments using the Monte Carlo simulation data as measurements.
Stabilization of mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser

Stable mode-locked pulses with a repetition rate of 10 GHz were generated from an Er-doped fiber laser with a semiconductor optical amplifier in the cavity. By tuning the current of the semiconductor optical amplifier, complete harmonic mode-locking was obtained and the supermode noise in the RF spectrum of mode locked laser was removed for certain current range of the semiconductor optical amplifier.
Ultradian Biological Periodicities in the Integration of Behavior

Periodic phenomena in biology and behavior have been frequently observed, but their functional importance for the organism has not been the object of careful inquiry. This review paper presents the concept of an oscillator from a theoretical point of view, and applies this to high frequency, or “ultradian” biological rhythms. Integration of various physiological systems with behavioral processes in a maximally efficient way requires maximally efficient utilization of the available energy. Thus, optimal performance is accomplished as the many periodic phenomena become coordinated, or entrained, and is impossible without this high degree of integration of functions. The data concerning specific rhythms at the molecular, cellular, tissue, systemic, and behavioral levels are represented and a theoretical discussion of their mutual relationships and physiological significance is proposed. The role of the nervous system in optimizing the efficiency of the interaction of various biological and behavioral ultradi...
Zif is If

A conditional takes the form 'If A, then C'. On the truth-conditional view of conditionals, conditional statements state things with truth-conditions. On the suppositional view, conditional statements involve the expression of a supposition. I develop and defend a view on which conditional statements both state things with truthconditions and express suppositions. On this view, something is fundamentally right about standard truth-conditional and standard suppositional views. Considerations in favor of conditional contents lead us to attribute truth-conditional contents to conditional statements; considerations in favor of the suppositional view then lead us to an unexpected account of these contents. The resulting view has a number of benefits, including a unified treatment of conditional speech acts, a plausible account of our practice of ascribing truth-values to conditional statements, a simple explanation of the apparent equivalence between probabilities of conditionals and conditional probabilities, an intuitive treatment of 'Gibbardian stand-offs', a plausible logic of conditionals, and an explanation of why theorizing about conditionals has proved so difficult.
Endothelial progenitor cells and thrombosis.

Abstract The remodelling of existing vessels (i.e. angiogenesis) and the “de novo” vessel formation (i.e. vasculogenesis) occur not only during the embryonic development but also over the entire postnatal life. In 1997, the Asahara group first reported that endothelial progenitor cells circulate in peripheral blood and that they are recruited at sites of ischemia, thus proving that these cells are able to promote vasculogenesis. Since then, several different approaches have been set up to investigate endothelial progenitor cells. This review summarizes the different modalities utilized to enumerate these cells, delineates their involvement in the haemostatic pathways, and depicts their altered trafficking during cardiovascular diseases. Finally, recent observations suggesting a primary role for endothelial progenitors in particular situations such as pulmonary arterial hypertension or Philadelphia negative-myeloproliferative neoplasms are discussed.
Halide complexes of pentavalent uranium

Abstract New and simpler methods of preparing solutions and salts of the UF6− and UCl6− complexes are given. The preparation of the previously unknown hexahalide complexes UBr6− and Ul6− and oxohalide complexes UOF52−, UOCl52−, and UOBr52− is described. The chemical properties and stabilities of all of these complexes are discussed. The stability of uranium(V) toward disproportionation in several non-aqueous halide solutions is demonstrated. Absorption spectra of these uranium(V) hexahalide and oxohalide complexes in the regions of electron transfer transitions, internal 5f electron transitions, metal-oxygen vibrational frequencies, and metal-halogen vibrational frequencies are presented. These spectra are interpreted and related to the observed chemical properties of uranium(V) in these halide complexes.
Effect of Adhesive Thickness on Joint Strength: A Molecular Dynamics Perspective

Recent studies suggest that adhesion in thin joints depends on several factors including temperature, interface toughness, strain rate, surface roughness of adherends, bondline thickness of adhesives, and many others. Influence of thickness on joint properties is surprising but experimentally well documented without reasonable explanations. In this study, we attempt to address the mechanical behavior of polymer adhesives by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. We show that interfacial strength of the joints in tensile, shear, or combined loading significantly depends on the coupling strength between adhesives and adherends. Failure of joints is always at the interface when coupling strength is weaker. With stronger interfaces, cohesive failure occurs by cavitation or by bulk shear depending on the loading condition. When joints are loaded in tension, it requires an exceedingly stronger interface to realize pure shear failure, otherwise failure is through interface slip. Under a mixed mode condition, interf...
Give peace a chance: a call to design technologies for peace

Peace is an extremely important value for humankind, yet it has been largely ignored by the computing and human-computer interaction community. This paper seeks to begin a discussion within the human-computer interaction community on how we can design technologies that have peace as an explicit goal. To begin this discussion, I review empirical studies on the factors that contribute to conflict and those that make conflict less likely. Based on this, I identify areas where human-computer interaction research has already contributed to prevent conflict and promote peace, and open areas where our community can make a positive difference.
Ethnography in Late Industrialism

This essay situates contemporary ethnography within late industrialism, a historical period characterized by degraded infrastructure, exhausted paradigms, and the incessant chatter of new media. In the spirit of Writing Culture, it calls for ethnography attuned to its times. It also calls for ethnography that “loops,” using ethnographic techniques to discern the discursive risks and gaps of a particular problem domain so that further ethnographic engagement in that domain is responsive and creative, provoking new articulations, attending to emergent realities. Ethnographic findings are thus fed back into ethnographic engagement. This mode of ethnography stages collaboration with interlocutors to activate new idioms and ways of engaging the world. It is activist, in a manner open to futures that cannot yet be imagined.
IL-17F deficiency inhibits small intestinal tumorigenesis in ApcMin/+ mice.

IL-17 plays an important role in gut homeostasis. However, the role of IL-17F in intestinal tumorigenesis has not been addressed. Here we demonstrate that ablation of IL-17F significantly inhibits spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in the small intestine of Apc Min/+ mice. IL-17F ablation decreased IL-1b and Cox-2 expression as well as IL-17 receptor C (IL-17RC) expression, which were increased in tumors from Apc Min/+ mice. Lack of IL-17F did not reverse the splenomegaly but partially restored thymic atrophy, sug- gesting a local effect of IL-17F in the intestine. IL-17F deficient Apc Min/+ mice showed a significant decrease in immune cell infiltration in the lamina propria. Interestingly, the expression of IL-17A from CD4 T cells in the lamina propria remains unchanged in the absence of IL-17F. Collectively, our results suggest the proinflammatory and essential role of IL-17F to develop spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in Apc Min/+ mice in the presence of IL-17A. IL-17F and IL-17A are highly homologous cytokine members in the IL-17 family and closely genetically linked in both humans and mice. Both IL-17A and IL-17F bind to IL-17RA and IL-17RC receptor complexes. The binding affinity of IL-17F to IL-17RA is much lower than that of IL-17A and only IL-17F binds to IL-17RC in the mouse (1). Several lines of evidence have demonstrated that IL-17A is responsible for the development of various autoimmune diseases (2). Unlike IL-17A, IL-17F plays only marginal roles in these models (3). It has been suggested that the role of IL-17A and IL-17F may be differential and dependent on microenvironmental context (3) .I n colitis models using Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS), the role of IL- 17A and IL-17F differed, while another DSS model showed that the role of these two cytokines in intestinal inflammation might be similar (4,5).
Interpreting Novel Metaphors

This paper examines how categorization accounts handle cases of novel metaphor which involve “category-crossing” (e.g. “Her mind is a jungle”, “His life was a skiff with no oar”). I provide a stringent characterization of the cases I have in mind and show that the relevance-theoretic account of metaphor (Carston, 2002; Sperber and Wilson, 2008) as well as other central categorization accounts (Glucksberg, 2001; Recanati, 2004) lack the resources to explain such cases. An adequate categorization account, I argue, cannot avoid incorporating the central element of rival, comparison-based, views: analogy. I show how this might be done within a categorization framework.