cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of causes of death in animal survival experiments

Abstract Life-span studies, using the laboratory mouse, are an efficient means for determining potential chronic toxicity of various materials. However, difficulties that affect the analysis of the data include (1) incomplete and missing observations due to canabilism or autolysis, (b) possible differences in overall mortality rate between treated and control populations that preclude assessments based upon observed final incidence, and (c) potential interaction between specific pathological states. Being aware of these difficulties does not eliminate their consequence, but careful attention to ascertaining the presence or absence of a disease state coupled with an assessment of its significance for each individual can allow greater confidence to be placed in data obtained from survival studies. The question of possible interaction between disease states is better approached experimentally by judicious use of serial killing to define age-specific disease prevalence. Many diseases are difficult to identify in animals as small as the mouse. At the other extreme, too much importance may be attributed to some disease states, not because of their lethality, but because of their ease of detection. One way to minimize the uncertainties introduced by conscious and unconscious observational bias is to adhere to a highly systematic tissue examination of every animal, regardless of condition of apparent cause of death. Through application of well-defined and stable diagnostic criteria a better appreciation can be obtained of the full spectrum of lethal and incidental pathologies observed in animals dying throughout the survival study.
Replication protein A interactions with DNA. III. Molecular basis of recognition of damaged DNA.

Human replication protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric single-stranded DNA-binding protein (subunits of 70, 32, and 14 kDa) that is required for cellular DNA metabolism. RPA has been reported to int...
Host and parasite recruitment correlated at a regional scale

Drivers of large-scale variability in parasite prevalence are not well understood. For logistical reasons, explorations of spatial patterns in parasites are often performed as observational studies. However, to understand the mechanisms that underlie these spatial patterns, standardized and controlled comparisons are needed. Here, we examined spatial variability in infection of an important fishery species and ecosystem engineer, the oyster (Crassostrea virginica) by its pea crab parasite (Zaops ostreus) across 700 km of the southeastern USA coastline. To minimize the influence of host genetics on infection patterns, we obtained juvenile oysters from a homogeneous source stock and raised them in situ for 3 months at multiple sites with similar environmental characteristics. We found that prevalence of pea crab infection varied between 24 and 73 % across sites, but not systematically across latitude. Of all measured environmental variables, oyster recruitment correlated most strongly (and positively) with pea crab infection, explaining 92 % of the variability in infection across sites. Our data ostensibly suggest that regional processes driving variation in oyster recruitment similarly affect the recruitment of one of its common parasites.
Adenine nucleotide regulation of particulate guanylate cyclase from rat lung

Adenine nucleotides activate basal particulate guanylate cyclase in rat lung membranes. Activation is specific for adenine and not guanine, cytidine or uridine nucleotides. The concentration of adenine nucleotides yielding half-maximum activation of particulate guanylate cyclase is 0.1 mM and this nucleotide activates the enzyme by increasing maximum velocity 11-fold without altering affinity for substrate. Activation is specific for particulate guanylate cyclase, since soluble enzyme is inhibited by adenine nucleotides. Similarly, activation is specific for magnesium as the enzyme substrate cation cofactor, since adenine nucleotides inhibit particulate guanylate cyclase when manganese is used. Adenine nucleotide regulation of particulate guanylate cyclase may occur by a different molecular mechanism compared to other activators, since the effects of these nucleotides are synergistic with those of detergent, hemin and atrial natriuretic peptides. Cystamine inhibits adenine nucleotide activation of particulate guanylate cyclase at concentrations having minimal effects on basal enzyme activity suggesting a role for critical sulfhydryls in mechanisms underlying nucleotide regulation of particulate guanylate cyclase. Purification and quantitative recovery of particulate guanylate cyclase by substrate affinity chromatography results in the loss of adenine nucleotide regulation. These data suggest that adenine nucleotides may be important in the regulation of basal and activated particulate guanylate cyclase and may be mediated by an adenine nucleotide-binding protein which is separate from that enzyme.
Structural variation in Ca(TixSi1-x)O3 perovskites (1>x>0.65) and the ordered phase Ca2TiSiO6

High pressure perovskites in the system CaTiO3−CaSiO3 in the composition range from 0 to 50% CaSiO3 have been re-examined using powder x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. In runs performed at 9 GPa and 1200 °C, a solid solution is obtained with compositions ranging from CaTiO3 to near Ca(Ti0.65Si0.35)O3, and with the orthorhombic distortion in the CaTiO3 end-member diminishing to pseudocubic for Ca(Ti0.65Si0.35)O3. Raman spectra show intensity changes and band broadening which are attributed to the reduction of orthorhombic character, but still indicate lower than cubic symmetry for the entire solid solution range. An ordered intermediate, Ca2TiSiO6, has been recovered from a run at 14 GPa at 1200 °C. The space group is Fm3m, with a=7.410(2) A, and the compound has the double perovskite structure. In this structure, Si-rich octahedral sites and Ti-rich octahedral sites alternate along the three principal axes. Transmission electron microscopy confirms the presence of the Fm3m ordered structure, and also documents the presence of lesser amounts of at least three other ordered perovskite structures which are not resolved in the x-ray data. These may account for extra features observed in the Raman spectrum which are inconsistent with mode assignments for the Fm3m phase. Non face-centered ordering schemes for these regions are suggested based on modeling of the HRTEM patterns.
Un)Reliability of video concept detection

Great effort has been made to improve video concept detection and continuous progress has been reported. With the current evaluation method being confined to carefully annotated domains and thus quite forgiving, the reliability of the state-of-the-art concept classifiers remains in question. Adopting a more rigorous evaluation approach, we find that most concept classifiers built using the mainstream approach are unreliable because they generalize poorly to domains other than their training domain. Moreover, evidences show that SVM-based concept classifiers learn little beyond memorizing most of the positive training data, and behave close to memory-based models such as kNN indicated by comparable performance between the two models. Examining the properties of the reliable concept classifiers, we find that the classifiers of frequent concepts, "bloated" classifiers, and classifiers capable of learning the pattern of data, tend to be more reliable. This paper contributes to a better understanding of concept detection, suggests heuristics to identify reliable concept classifiers, and discusses solutions to improving concept detection reliability.
Simulation of CT dose and contrast-to-noise as function of bowtie shape

Dose is becoming increasingly important for computed tomography clinical practice. It is of general interest to understand the impact that system design can have on dose and image quality. This study addresses the effect of bowtie shape on the dose and contrast-to-noise across the field of view. Simulation of the CT acquisition is used to calculate the energy deposition throughout a numerical phantom for a set of relevant system operating parameters and bowtie shapes. Mean absorbed dose is calculated by summing over the phantom volume and is compared with other typical dose specifications. A more aggressive attenuation profile of the bowtie which offers higher attenuation in the periphery of the field of view can offer the benefit of lower dose but at the expense of reduced contrast-to-noise at the edge of the cross-sectional image.
Rate-Sensitive Glucocorticoid Feedback Inhibition of Adrenocorticotropin and β-Endorphin/β-Lipotropin Secretion in Rats

Abstract In the present study, we present physiological evidence for rate-sensitive, fast feedback inhibition of secretion of ACTH and β-endorphin (βEND)-related peptides. We used a 2 min restraint stress to physiologically increase plasma corticosterone, then examined the plasma responses of immunoreactive ACTH and βEND plus β-lipotropin (beta;END/(8LPH) to a subsequent restraint stress. After onset of this stress, plasma corticosterone increased from 2.5–10 min at a rate of 120 nM min−1, then remained at a peak from 10–15 min. A single 2 min restraint stress produced peak plasma levels of ACTH and βEND/βLPH 2.5 min after onset of the stress, and these plasma concentrations declined after this initial stress at rates of 2.7 and 7.4 pM min−1, respectively. Application of a second restraint stress at the time of the peak corticosterone response produced plasma ACTH and βEND/βLPH responses similar to those after the first stress. Application of a second stress during the period of significant rate-rise of c...
Some partial inverse eigenvalue problems: recovering diagonal entries of symmetric matrices

We investigate certain inverse problems involving symmetric matrices. In particular, given a finite list of numbers and a symmetric matrix, how many changes to the diagonal entries will suffice for the numbers in the list to be eigenvalues?
Crystal growth and characterization of KTiOPO4 isomorphs from the self-fluxes

Abstract We report the crystal growth of KTiOPO 4 (KTP) and its isomorphs from the self-fluxes. Common features in the crystal growth properties of MTiOXO 4 within the M 2 O-TiO 2 -X 2 O 5 ternary, where M={K, Rb or Cs} and X={P or As (for M=Cs only)}, are noted. The solubility of these crystals in the M 5 X 3 O 10 and M 6 X 4 O 13 fluxes are presented. A previously unreported (00-1) growth face was observed in KTiOAsO 4 (KTA) and the morphological stability of this face in KTP is also discussed. Optimization of the crystal growth parameters allows us to grow inclusion-free crystals of up to 18×35×35 mm 3 from 250 ml charges. We discuss the domain characteristics of these crystals and present the optical, electro-optical and dielectric properties of these materials.
The Small RNA GcvB Regulates sstT mRNA Expression in Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli, the gcvB gene encodes a nontranslated RNA (referred to as GcvB) that regulates OppA and DppA, two periplasmic binding proteins for the oligopeptide and dipeptide transport systems. An additional regulatory target of GcvB, sstT, was found by microarray analysis of RNA isolated from a wild-type strain and a gcvB deletion strain grown to mid-log phase in Luria-Bertani broth. The SstT protein functions to transport l-serine and l-threonine by sodium transport into the cell. Reverse transcription-PCR and translational fusions confirmed that GcvB negatively regulates sstT mRNA levels in cells grown in Luria-Bertani broth. A series of transcriptional fusions identified a region of sstT mRNA upstream of the ribosome binding site needed for negative regulation by GcvB. Analysis of the GcvB RNA identified a sequence complementary to this region of the sstT mRNA. The region of GcvB complementary to sstT mRNA is the same region of GcvB identified to regulate the dppA and oppA mRNAs. Mutations predicted to disrupt base pairing between sstT mRNA and GcvB were made in gcvB, which resulted in the identification of a small region of GcvB necessary for negative regulation of sstT-lacZ. Additionally, the RNA chaperone protein Hfq was found to be necessary for GcvB to negatively regulate sstT-lacZ in Luria-Bertani broth and glucose minimal medium supplemented with glycine. The sstT mRNA is the first target found to be regulated by GcvB in glucose minimal medium supplemented with glycine.
Application Of A Silicon Photodiode Array For Solar Edge Tracking In The Halogen Occultation Experiment

The optical and electronic design of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) elevation sunsensor is described. This system uses a Galilean telescope to form a solar image on a linear silicon photodiode array. The array is a self-scanned, monolithic charge coupled device. The addresses of both solar edges imaged on the array are used by the control/pointing system to scan the HALOE science instantaneous-field-of-view (IFOV) across the vertical solar diameter during instrument calibration, and then maintain the science IFOV four arcmin below the top edge during the science data occultation event. Vertical resolution of 16 arcsec and a radiometric dynamic range of 100 are achieved at the 0.7 micrometer operating wavelength. The design provides for loss of individual photodiode elements without loss of angular tracking capability. The HALOE instrument is a gas correlation radiometer that is now being developed by NASA Langley Research Center for the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite.
Assessment of exposure to parenteral and oral aluminum with and without citrate using a desferrioxamine test in rats.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relative usefulness of various measures to monitor body aluminum burden in weanling rats fed various amounts of aluminum (0.39 mumol Al/g diet for 29 days, approximately 40 mumol Al/g diet with or without citrate for 29 days and approximately 100 mumol Al/g diet with citrate for 12 or 29 days) or injected intraperitoneally with graded doses of aluminum (0.01, 4.6, 11.8, 23.5 or 94 mumol Al). Twenty-four hours prior to sacrifice, all rats were injected intraperitoneally with either desferrioxamine (75 mg DFO) or buffer. All seven indices of aluminum exposure monitored (i.e. tibia, liver, kidney and serum aluminum concentrations; changes in serum aluminum concentrations in response to DFO; urinary aluminum excretion with and without DFO treatment) were highly (P < 0.001) correlated to parenteral aluminum exposure. Five of these measures (i.e. tibia, liver and serum aluminum concentrations and urinary aluminum excretion with and without DFO treatment) were also highly (P < 0.001) correlated to oral aluminum loads. Changes induced by DFO were very small. Moreover, the 'DFO stimulated' serum and urine aluminum concentrations were not more correlated to the body load of aluminum, as indicated by tibia aluminum concentrations, than baseline values. Comparisons of aluminum exposure in tibias and sera of rats exposed to parenteral and oral aluminum indicated that only 0.01-0.04% of dietary aluminum was absorbed. Ingestion of citrate had small but significant effects on aluminum retention.
Trade policy in Mexico

This evaluation examines Mexican trade policies applied over three well-defined periods during the last quarter century and makes recommendations for the future. Each discussion begins with a description of the macroeconomic background and then analyzes trade policy developments of the period with further attention given to industrial policy measures. Changes in Mexican exports and imports and their contribution to industrial growth are discussed. Mexico's current economic difficulties stem from 1956 when increases in public consumption contributed to inflation and to the appreciation of the peso in real terms under fixed exchange rates. The overvaluation of the exchange rate led to the application of protectionist measures which discriminated against exports. The situation was aggravated by excessively expansionary policies, which necessitated substantial foreign borrowing and exacerbated protectionist pressures. This paper makes recommendations for remedying macroeconomic disequilibria, reducing price distortions, and reforming trade policy, with a view to moving towards an outward-oriented development strategy. Future growth will depend, however, on increased investments, particularly in export activities, that may be encouraged by appropriate incentives.
The localization of cholinephosphotransferase in the outer membrane of guinea-pig lung mitochondria

The activity of cholinephosphotransferase was measured in the subcellular fractions of guinea-pig lung. The specific activity of the enzyme was highest in a fraction, intermediate in density between mitochondria and microsomes. Similar subcellular distribution patterns were observed for both cholinephosphotransferase and rotenone-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase, an enzyme associated with the outer membrane of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting that cholinephosphotransferase may be localized in both of these organelles. The distribution of cholinephosphotransferase activity in the subfractions of mitochondria and the intermediate fractions recovered by linear density gradient paralleled that of the mitochondrial outer membrane marker enzyme, monoamine oxidase. RNA content of a subfraction enriched in cholinephosphotransferase and monoamine oxidase was not typical to that of either rough or smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The results of this study suggest that in guinea-pig lung, cholinephosphotransferase is localized in both the outer membrane of mitochondria, and the endoplasmic reticulum.
A Mixed Problem for an Elastic Ring

Elastic ring subject to uniform hydraulic pressure on inner boundary and with two opposite slipless quarter-arcs on outer boundary, noting stress and deformation
Classification of range images

Range images incorporate 3-D surface coordinates of a scene and are well suited for a variety of vision tasks. For tasks, such as 3-D object recognition, a representation of the object(s) present in the image is derived. This representation is then matched with the stored models to determine the object identity. Surface based representation is the most widely used technique for range images. Surface based representation is generated by segmenting the object into a number of surfaces. The segmented surfaces are then classified into a number of primitives and the relations between these surfaces are defined. In this paper a number of techniques for the classification of range images of industrial parts are presented. Surface patches are classified into three primitives: planar, convex or concave. Four tests are presented two planarity tests, and two for classifying curved surface patches into convex, or concave. The first planarity test we is a variation of the Wald-Wolfowitz runs test. The second planarity test is based on the connected components formed after fitting a plane to surface patches. The nonplanar regions are then classified into convex or concave using multi-scale residual computation, and a goodness of fit test. The performance of the classification tests on a number of industrial parts range images is presented.
Making Immigrants Illegal in Small‐Town USA

Using two discourse-analytical lenses, one genealogical and the other textual, this article traces the interdiscursive history through which the social categories “Mexican immigrant” and “illegal alien” have become conflated in the United States, effectively criminalizing Mexican immigrants as dangerous Others. Today, this conflation is a prime source for the racialization of not only Mexican immigrants, but other Latin American immigrants as well, where racialization is understood as a form of social differentiation that marks people as inherently threatening and foreign. This article focuses on the ways this conflation has been established and circulated in U.S. immigration policy. After offering a genealogy of the relevant federal policy, I provide a textual analysis of an anti-immigrant ordinance penned in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. I trace the interdiscursive strategies used by municipal officials in constructing the ordinance, showing that they extend the “legal racialization” in federal code by expanding the categories of behavior associated with immigrant illegality. [Legal discourse; racialization; interdiscursivity; performative nomination; Latin American immigration; Hazleton]
Gross Appearance of Turkey Cloacae Before and After Single or Multiple Manual Semen Collections

The gross appearance of the turkey cloaca was examined before and after single or multiple semen collections. All cloacae exhibited some degree of hemorrhage formation, the extent of which was dependent upon 1) frequency of semen collection, 2) number of cloacal strokes, and 3) individual differences in semen collectors' techniques. Cloacae of males subjected to multiple semen collections of more than four cloacal strokes per semen collection were the most severely injured. Cloacae examined three days after the last semen collection were nearly normal in appearance. It is suggested that cloacal hemorrhages resulting from semen collection can be minimized by 1) reducing the number of cloacal strokes per semen collection to one or two and 2) using the correct hand placement and pressure on the cloaca during the cloacal strokes.
How a computer should talk to people

This essay deals with a very down-to-earth topic: the things computer programs or systems say to people--in particular, computer messages for users. It is the product of the author's experience as a programmer and technical writer and editor. It puts together a lot of common-sense insights into the philosophy of creating good computer messages, how people think and feel around computers, how to analyze the situations in which people need a message, what to say in a message and how to say it, why imagination is invaluable for creating and evaluating messages, what technical questions must be answered in order to design and build a program or system that can talk effectively to people.
The Mandatory Residency Dilemma: Parallels to Historical Transitions in Pharmacy Education

Objective:To review recent literature regarding mandatory residencies in the perspective of the historical entry-level degree debate.Data Sources:Articles were identified through searches of MEDLINE/PubMed, national pharmacy association Web sites, and a review of the references of related literature.Study Selection and Data Extraction:Several studies, commentaries, and reviews are examined to discuss viewpoints from both the entry-level degree and mandatory residency debates. Similarities were observed between the 2 debates in regard to objectives and rationale for change, educational issues, pharmaceutical care issues, and economic issues.Data Synthesis:Fewer than 10 years ago, after many years of debate, colleges of pharmacy made the transition to offering the PharmD degree as the sole entry-level degree for licensure as a pharmacist. Similar debates have taken place over the past several years and continue to take place regarding the necessity for residency training. One key 2006 document by the Americ...
Active/Inactive Marking

Active/inactive marking is a type parallel to nominative/accusative, ergative/absolutive, or tripartite marking. In an active/inactive marking system, one marker (usually case or agreement) is conditioned by subjects of transitives and of certain intransitives, while a different marker is conditioned by direct objects and by subjects of remaining intransitives. A few languages permit variable marking for a subset of intransitive verbs. Various theories to account for this distribution are based on semantics and syntax, on semantics alone, or on syntax alone. Some scholars suggest that different semantic contrasts may underlie different active/inactive systems.
The Repression Domain of the E1B 55-Kilodalton Protein Participates in Countering Interferon-Induced Inhibition of Adenovirus Replication

To begin to investigate the mechanism by which the human adenovirus type 5 E1B 55-kDa protein protects against the antiviral effects of type 1 interferon (IFN) (J. S. Chahal, J. Qi, and S. J. Flint, PLoS Pathog. 8:e1002853, 2012 [doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1002853]), we examined the effects of precise amino acid substitution in this protein on resistance of viral replication to the cytokine. Only substitution of residues 443 to 448 of E1B for alanine (E1B Sub19) specifically impaired production of progeny virus and resulted in a large defect in viral DNA synthesis in IFN-treated normal human fibroblasts. Untreated or IFN-treated cells infected by this mutant virus (AdEasyE1Sub19) contained much higher steady-state concentrations of IFN-inducible GBP1 and IFIT2 mRNAs than did wild-type-infected cells and of the corresponding newly transcribed pre-mRNAs, isolated exploiting 5′-ethynyluridine labeling and click chemistry. These results indicated that the mutations created by substitution of residues 443 to 448 for alanine (Sub19) impair repression of transcription of IFN-inducible genes, by the E1B, 55-kDa protein, consistent with their location in a segment required for repression of p53-dependent transcription. However, when synthesized alone, the E1B 55-kDa protein inhibited expression of the p53-regulated genes BAX and MDM2 but had no impact whatsoever on induction of IFIT2 and GBP1 expression by IFN. These observations correlate repression of transcription of IFN-inducible genes by the E1B 55-kDa protein with protection against inhibition of viral genome replication and indicate that the E1B 55-kDa protein is not sufficient to establish such transcriptional repression.
The Influence of Strength on Speed of Movement in Eighth Grade Girls

Abstract The purpose of this study was twofold: to determine which exercise program was most effective in producing a static strength gain and to determine the relationship between static strength and speed of movement. Seventy-two eighth grade girls were divided into two experimental groups one using an isometric exercise program, the other using an isotonic program. A control group played lead-up games during the experimental period. Strength and speed of the arm and shoulder girdle were both measured by three tests. Prior to training, correlations indicated a rather high relationship between static strength, and speed of a dominant arm movement. Following training there was little relationship between static strength, and speed of a specific arm movement. The results of the training program indicated an increase in mean performance in all three groups with the isotonic group being superior.
THE EFFECT OF THYROID HORMONE ON GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN ACCUMULATION IN HUMAN SKIN FIBROBLASTS

Because the dermis of myxedematous humans is known to accumulate increased amounts of glycosaminoglycan (GAG), we were prompted to study the effects of thyroid hormone depletion in vitro. Human skin fibroblasts were grown to confluence in medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). Some cultures were shifted to a medium containing FCS depleted of thyroid hormone (D-FCS) or to a D-FCS medium to which 10(-7) M triiodothyronine (T3) was added (D-FCS + T3). Cultures were then labeled for 16 h with [3H]-acetate, harvested and combined with the media. After pronase digestion, the non-trichloroacetic acid precipitable, non-dialysable material was digested with streptomyces hyaluronidase followed by chondroitinase ABC. Digestable material was separated by G-50 Sephadex column chromatography. The cultures incubated in media containing D-FCS accumulated 2.8-fold more hyaluronic acid and 2.1-fold more chondroitin sulfate than did sister cultures incubated in the presence of D-FCS + T3. The addition of T3 to the D-FCS reduced the amounts of GAG accumulated nearly to the levels observed in cultures grown in FCS. The data indicate that thyroid hormone exerts an inhibitory effect on GAG accumulation in human skin fibroblasts. This model offers the opportunity to study thyroid hormone action in vitro using an easily accessible human tissue.
Treatment of persistent or recurrent papillary carcinoma of the thyroid--the good, the bad, and the unknown.

The diagnosis and treatment of recurrent or persistent papillary carcinoma of the thyroid can pose significant clinical dilemmas. The tumor generally has a relatively indolent biology; however, recurrent or persistent disease is not uncommon, although tumor-specific mortality is infrequent (1). The exquisite detection sensitivity of the combination of TSH-stimulated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) in conjunction with the ease, sensitivity, and availability of ultrasonography [including ultrasoundguided fine-needle aspiration (FNA)] yields a patient cohort with persistent or recurrent disease. The compulsive physicianemploysthesetechniquesandfrequentlydetects small-volumecervicaldisease,andthephysicianinconcert with the patient reacts by employing ablative or resectional therapy. Treatment options include 131 I, surgical resection, and ethanol or radiofrequency ablation (2–5). Allarecapableofdestroyingtargetlesions,and 131 Ihasthe advantage of ablating extracervical disease. Each technique has unique, but acceptable, morbidities. Surgery is generally the preferred technique for resectable loco-regional cervical disease (6). Careful observation alone may also be an option in select patients. In this edition of the Journal, Al-Saif et al. (7) report a cohortof70patientswithrecurrentorpersistentpapillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) of the thyroid who had undergone a previous thyroidectomy (with or without nodal dissection) and 131 I therapy. Recurrent or persistent disease was detected by imaging studies or the presence of detectable TSH-stimulated serum Tg in patients who did not have anti-Tg antibodies. Each patient underwent one, two, or three remedial cervical reexplorations, and 19 (27%) achieved a biochemical complete remission as defined by an undetectable TSH-stimulated serum Tg level. Thefirstre-resectionachievedaremissionrateof17%(12 of 70), and the second re-resection achieved a remission rate of 18% (five of 28). No patient achieved remission (zero of seven) with a third re-resection. Two additional patients achieved complete biochemical remission during long-term follow-up without further intervention, presumably due to the latent effects of previous 131 I treatment. The duration of complete biological responses ranged from 4–116 months. It is noteworthy that in 10 (9%) of the lymphadenectomies, the intervention was nontherapeutic because the surgeonwasunabletoidentifyorresectresidualPTC.This emphasizes the difficulty of locating small-volume disease in the remedial neck even in the setting of a positive preoperative ultrasound-guided FNA. It is also worth noting that there were no cases of new long-term hypoparathyroidismorrecurrentnerveinjury.Athoracicductinjuryin one patient required reoperative intervention.
Receptor-Mediated Effects of Angiotensin II on Neurons

Aside from its well-known and numerous actions at peripheral tissues, the octapeptide angiotensin II (ANG II) elicits specific receptor-mediated effects within the central nervous system. In this review we focus on the receptor-mediated actions of ANG II on neurons. The distribution of ANG II receptors in the brain and physiological, electrophysiological, and cellular effects mediated by these receptors are discussed. This is extended to a review of the characteristics of ANG II receptor subtypes on cultured neurons and the cellular and genomic actions mediated by these receptors. Finally, we develop this information into speculative models for the cellular effects mediated by each ANG II receptor subtype in neurons.
Quantification of nanoscale density fluctuations by electron microscopy: probing cellular alterations in early carcinogenesis

Most cancers are curable if they are diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Recent studies suggest that nanoarchitectural changes occur within cells during early carcinogenesis and that such changes precede microscopically evident tissue alterations. It follows that the ability to comprehensively interrogate cell nanoarchitecture (e.g., macromolecular complexes, DNA, RNA, proteins and lipid membranes) could be critical to the diagnosis of early carcinogenesis. We present a study of the nanoscale mass-density fluctuations of biological tissues by quantifying their degree of disorder at the nanoscale. Transmission electron microscopy images of human tissues are used to construct corresponding effective disordered optical lattices. The properties of nanoscale disorder are then studied by statistical analysis of the inverse participation ratio (IPR) of the spatially localized eigenfunctions of these optical lattices at the nanoscale. Our results show an increase in the disorder of human colonic epithelial cells in subjects harboring early stages of colon neoplasia. Furthermore, our findings strongly suggest that increased nanoscale disorder correlates with the degree of tumorigenicity. Therefore, the IPR technique provides a practicable tool for the detection of nanoarchitectural alterations in the earliest stages of carcinogenesis. Potential applications of the technique for early cancer screening and detection are also discussed.
Perforin-Deficient CD8+ T Cells: In Vivo Priming and Antigen-Specific Immunity Against Listeria monocytogenes

CD8+ T cells require perforin to mediate immunity against some, but not all, intracellular pathogens. Previous studies with H-2b MHC perforin gene knockout (PO) mice revealed both perforin-dependent and perforin-independent pathways of CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity to Listeria monocytogenes (LM). In this study, we address two previously unresolved issues regarding the requirement for perforin in antilisterial immunity: 1) Is CD8+ T cell-mediated, perforin-independent immunity specific for a single Ag or generalizable to multiple Ags? 2) Is there a deficiency in the priming of the CD8+ T cell compartment of PO mice following an immunizing challenge with LM? We used H-2d MHC PO mice to generate CD8+ T cell lines individually specific for three known Ags expressed by a recombinant strain of virulent LM. Adoptive transfer experiments into BALB/c host mice revealed that immunity can be mediated by PO CD8+ T cells specific for all Ags examined, indicating that perforin-independent immunity is not limited to CD8+ T cells that recognize listeriolysin O. Analysis of epitope-specific CD8+ T cell expansion by MHC class I tetramer staining and ELISPOT revealed no deficiency in either the primary or secondary response to LM infection in PO mice. These results demonstrate that the perforin-independent pathway of antilisterial resistance mediated by CD8+ T cells is generalizable to multiple epitopes. Furthermore, the results show that reduced antilisterial resistance observed with polyclonal PO CD8+ T cells is a consequence of a deficiency in effector function and not a result of suboptimal CD8+ T cell priming.
Bm86 midgut protein sequence variation in South Texas cattle fever ticks

Cattle fever ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and R. (B.) annulatus, vector bovine and equine babesiosis, and have significantly expanded beyond the permanent quarantine zone established in South Texas. Currently, there are no vaccines approved for use within the United States for controlling these vectors. Vaccines developed in Australia and Cuba based on the midgut antigen Bm86 have variable efficacy against cattle fever ticks. A possible explanation for this variation in vaccine efficacy is amino acid sequence divergence between the recombinant Bm86 vaccine component and native Bm86 expressed in ticks from different geographical regions of the world. There was 91.8% amino acid sequence identity in Bm86 among R. microplus and R. annulatus sequenced from South Texas infestations. When South Texas isolates were compared to the Australian Yeerongpilly and Cuban Camcord vaccine strains, there was 89.8% and 90.0% identity, respectively. Most of the sequence divergence was focused in one region of the protein, amino acids 206-298. Hydrophilicity profiles revealed that two short regions of Bm86 (amino acids 206-210 and 560-570) appear to be more hydrophilic in South Texas isolates compared to vaccine strains. Only one amino acid difference was found between South Texas and vaccine strains within two previously described B-cell epitopes. A total of 4 amino acid differences were observed within three peptides previously shown to induce protective immune responses in cattle. Sequence differences between South Texas isolates and Yeerongpilly and Camcord strains are spread throughout the entire Bm86 sequence, suggesting that geographic variation does exist. Differences within previously described B-cell epitopes between South Texas isolates and vaccine strains are minimal; however, short regions of hydrophilic amino acids found unique to South Texas isolates suggest that additional unique surface exposed peptides could be targeted.
The Making of a Cynic

I like to think of Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, the American film critics, whose television program Siskel & Ebert & the Movies, has been such a delight. Whenever the little dog makes his cameo appearance, someone is in trouble; they are reviewing a dog.
Is Alzheimer's disease a mitochondrial disorder?

Cell bodies of neurons at risk of death in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have increased lipid peroxidation, nitration, free carbonyls, and nucleic acid oxidation. These oxidative changes occur in all vulnerable neurons and are reduced in neurons that contain neurofibrillary pathology. In this review, the authors provide a summary of recent work that demonstrates key abnormalities that may play a part in initiating and promoting neuronal oxidative damage. Mitochondrial abnormalities are clearly involved as a source of reactive oxygen species that culminates in perikaryal oxidative damage. However, because mitochondria in AD do not exhibit striking evidence of oxidative damage, as would be expected if they produced free radicals directly, the authors suspected that abnormal mitochondria are responsible for supplying a key reactant, that once in the cytoplasm, releases radicals. Because abnormal mitochondria, H2O2and redox-active iron are juxtaposed in the same AD neuron, it has all the markings of a “radical fac...
Anomalous Defect/Impurity Dominated Dielectric Behaviour of Lauric Acid in the Solid Phase

Abstract The dieiectric permittivity and loss of solid lauric acid (C11H23COOH) at. audio and radio frequencies are reported for the temperature range from 1.5K to near the melting point No features attributable to confirsurational interchange within the acid-dimer groups are observed. The peculiarities of the data are discussed in terms of the liquid-liKe regions associated with impurity and defect centres.
Progress of tropospheric propagation research related to communications beyond the horizon

It is proposed to give a simple elementary review of tropospheric mechanisms believed to be capable of propagating short radio waves well beyond the earth's horizon together with some selected experimental data indicatine the potential communication capacity of these tropospheric propagation mechanisms. In view of the wide general interest in the useful applications of the propagation of short radio waves, well beyond the horizon to communications systems, it is hoped that the rather simplified method of presentation will serve to introduce those communications engineers, not intimately associated with past radio propagation research, to the subjects to be discussed. The simplified presentation of theoretical models and discussion of selected experimental results discussed in this paper was intended to give communications engineers a general physical picture of tropospheric scattering. The results of experimental measurements have shown that reliable communications with useful bandwidths can be obtained at UHF and SHF over paths 150 to 300 miles in length utilizing radio waves scattered by the troposphere provided that several kilowatts of power and highly directional antenna system are utilized. The angular measurements of pulse signals scattered by the troposphere indicate that the mechanism of scattering is highly directive and that nmltipath delays are less serious than were originally anticipated.
No Excuses: Protecting the Vulnerable After Brown v. Buhman

This Article responds to the December 2013 federal court ruling striking down a criminal ban on polygamous cohabitation in Utah. In its decision, the court chided the state for its failure to present “competent” evidence of the harms associated with polygamous practice. Moreover, the court asserted that its ruling would in fact aid in preventing harm by forcing the state to focus on prosecuting collateral crimes of polygamy. This Article is a response to the court’s December ruling in four important ways. First, it responds to the state’s failure to document harms associated with polygamous practice by presenting evidence of harm and abuse emanating from polygamous practice in insular communities. Second, and relatedly, it responds with a call to action for states to ensure that criminal laws against child rape, child abuse and abandonment, and other crimes of sexual abuse are vigorously prosecuted within insular polygamous communities where there are critical break downs in accountability and neutral law enforcement. Lastly, in documenting the harm and making a call to action this piece makes theoretical observations about the characteristics of closed polygamous communities that lead to critical break downs in accountability and a corresponding increase in abuse, crime, and turning a blind eye to persistent harm. In the final section, these theoretical observations are applied to a variety of other contexts to show that the harm and related call to action outlined in this piece have broader application to multiple contexts in society including other insular religious communities and even prestigious sports programs.
Anterolateral Drawer Versus Anterior Drawer Test for Ankle Instability: A Biomechanical Model

Background:The addition of unconstrained internal rotation to the physical examination could allow for detection of more subtle degrees of ankle instability. We hypothesized that a simulated anterolateral drawer test allowing unconstrained internal rotation of the ankle would provoke greater displacement of the lateral talus in the mortise versus the anterior drawer test.Methods:Ten cadaveric lower extremities were tested in a custom apparatus designed to reproduce the anterior drawer test and the anterolateral drawer test, in which the ankle was allowed to internally rotate about the intact deep deltoid ligament while being subluxed anteriorly. Specimens were tested intact and with anterior tibiofibular ligament sectioned. A differential variable reluctance transducer was used to measure lateral talar displacement with anterior forces of 25 and 50 N.Results:No significant differences in talar displacement or ankle rotation were noted in intact specimens between the groups. Among sectioned specimens, sign...
Abstract P129: G Protein--Coupled Receptor Kinase-2 (GRK2) Is a Novel Regulator of Collagen Synthesis in Adult Human Cardiac Fibroblasts

Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) make up 70% of the total cell number in the heart and play a critical role in regulating normal myocardial function and in adverse remodeling following myocardial infarction. Recent studies have shown that increased intracellular cAMP can inhibit CF transformation and collagen synthesis in adult rat CF; however, mechanisms by which cAMP production is regulated in CF have not been elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential role of GRK2 in modulating CF transformation to myofibroblasts and collagen synthesis in adult human CF isolated from normal and failing left ventricles. CF isolated from failing ventricles showed a significant increase in expression of collagen I, III and VI compared with controls. α-SMA was increased 2-fold over controls, consistent with CF transformation to myofibroblasts. Baseline collagen synthesis was elevated 2-fold in failing CF and was not inhibited by isoproterenol (ISO)-stimulation in contrast to normal controls. β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling was markedly uncoupled in failing CF as assessed by basal and ISO-stimulated cAMP production. The primary mechanism appears to be a 2.5-fold increase in GRK2 activity as GRK2 phosphorylates and uncouples agonist-occupied β-ARs. Overexpression of GRK2 in normal CF recapitulated a heart failure phenotype with minimal inhibition of collagen synthesis following ISO stimulation. In contrast, siRNA-mediated knockdown of GRK2 expression in normal CF enhanced cAMP production and led to greater β-agonist-mediated inhibition of basal and TGFβ-stimulated collagen synthesis versus control. Inhibition of GRK2 activity by adenoviral-mediated βARKct expression or GRK2 knockdown in failing CF led to a significant decline in collagen and α-SMA expression. GRK2 inhibition restored β-AR signaling and ISO-stimulated inhibition of collagen synthesis and also significantly decreased collagen synthesis in response to TGFβ stimulation. In conclusion, GRK2 appears to play a significant role in regulating CF transformation and collagen synthesis in adult human CF and increased activity of this kinase may be an important mechanism of maladaptive ventricular remodeling as mediated by cardiac fibroblasts.
Should E-Cigarettes Be Taxed?

Brill, Satel, and Viard examine proposals to extend federal and state tobacco taxes to e-cigarettes. They conclude that e-cigarettes should not be subjected to tobacco taxes at this time, because the current medical evidence does not point to any significant adverse health effects.
Investigation of the Low-Frequency Vibrations of Crystalline Tartaric Acid Using Terahertz Spectroscopy and Solid-State Density Functional Theory

The room temperature and cryogenic terahertz (THz) spectra (10–95 cm–1) of l-tartaric acid and dl-tartaric acid were investigated. At 293 K, the l-tartaric acid spectrum showed four absorption features at 36.4, 61.6, 78.7, and 87.3 cm–1 in the experimental spectrum. Once cooled to 78 K, these features narrowed and shifted to 35.9, 63.4, 81.1, and 90.1 cm–1. The THz spectrum of dl-tartaric acid is significantly different, containing only a single absorption at 79.9 cm–1 at room temperature, which shifts to 82.9 cm–1 at 78 K. Solid-state density functional theory calculations [B3LYP/6-311G(2d,2p)] were performed to simulate the crystalline structure of both molecular solids and to assign the observed spectral features to specific atomic motions. The THz spectrum of l-tartaric acid is particularly interesting in that it contains a theoretically unaccounted for spectral feature that may arise from second-order phonon processes and also exhibits an anomalous red-shifting absorption feature with cooling that is...