cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Follicular Atresia in the Ovaries of Nonmammalian Vertebrates

Publisher Summary Follicular atresia (or degeneration) is a widespread phenomenon occurring in the ovaries of vertebrates including humans, irrespective of age, stage of the reproductive cycle, environmental conditions (season, temperature, light, rainfall, and availability of food), and the general health of the individual animal. Atresia also occurs under various experimental conditions such as hypophysectomy, irradiation, and administration of antigonadotropic substances. However, very little attention has been given to the study of follicular atresia, particularly in the ovaries of nonmammalian vertebrates. The problem of follicular atresia is not fully resolved even in the mammalian ovary. It is not known, for instance, why some oocytes are able to develop and undergo ovulation while their neighbors undergo degeneration. The precise mechanism(s) underlying such a germinal selection is not well understood. In the past, there have been a few reviews dealing with some aspect or another of follicular atresia in one or more classes of vertebrate ovaries. It is apparent from these studies that there is much confusion and controversy with regard to (1) the mode of atresia, (2) the endocrine nature of atretic follicles, (3) the consequences of follicular atresia, if any, and (4) the terminology used. This chapter discusses follicular atresia in the ovaries of nonmammalian vertebrates based on the histological, histochemical, ultrastructural, and biochemical findings of recent years. The consequences of this degenerative process, the endocrine capacity of the atretic follicles, and the possible environmental and hormonal factors affecting or controlling follicular atresia are discussed.
The crowdsourcing design space

Crowdsourcing is a new kind of organizational structure, one that is conducive to large amounts of short parallel work: thousands of individuals may work for several minutes on tasks, their outputs aggregated into a useful product or service. The dimensions of this new organizational form are described. Areas for future research are identified, focusing on open-ended tasks and the coordination structures that might foster collective creativity.
Correlation between stress drop and applied strain as a biomarker for tumor detection.

Abstract This is the first study to measure the viscoelastic behavior of tumor tissues using stepwise compression-relaxation testing, and investigate the measured (Δσ-e) relation between stress drop (Δσ) and applied strain (e) as a biomarker for tumor detection. Stepwise compression-relaxation testing was implemented via a 2D tactile sensor to measure stress drop at each applied strain of a sample. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to quantify the measured Δσ-e relation as slope of stress drop versus applied strain (m=Δσ/e) and coefficient of determination (R2). The measured results on soft materials revealed no dependency of coefficient of determination on the testing parameters and dependency of slope on them. Three groups of tissues: five mouse breast tumor (BT) tissues ex vivo, two mouse pancreatic tumor (PT) tissues in vivo and six normal tissues, were measured by using different testing parameters. Coefficient of determination was found to show significant difference among the center, edge and outside sites of all the BT tissues, and no difference between the BT outside sites and the normal tissues. Coefficient of determination also revealed significant difference between before and after treatment of the PT tissues, and no difference between the PT tissues after treatment and the normal tissues. Moreover, coefficient of determination of the PT tissues before treatment was found to be significantly different from that of the BT center sites, but slope failed to capture their difference. Dummy tumors made of silicon rubbers were found to behave differently from the native tumors. By removing the need of fitting the time-dependent data with a viscoelastic model, this study offered a time-efficient solution to quantifying the viscosity for tumor detection.
The dependence of ion orbit loss on ion charge and mass

The dependence of the kinetic ion orbit loss of thermalized ions in a tokamak plasma on the charge and mass of these ions is explicitly developed from the underlying ion orbit loss theory.The dependence of the kinetic ion orbit loss of thermalized ions in a tokamak plasma on the charge and mass of these ions is explicitly developed from the underlying ion orbit loss theory.
Abstract 054: High Protein Diet-Induced Glomerular Hyperfiltration is Dependent on NOS1β

High protein diet is associated with glomerular hyperfiltration, but the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we tested a hypothesis that an increased intake of protein en...
Sciadopitys verticillata Resin: Volatile Components and Impact on Plant Pathogenic and Foodborne Bacteria

Sciadopitys verticillata (Sv) produces a white, sticky, latex-like resin with antimicrobial properties. The aims of this research were to evaluate the effects of this resin (Sv resin) on bacterial populations and to determine the impact of its primary volatile components on bioactivity. The impact of sample treatment on chemical composition of Sv resin was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) coupled with principal component analysis. The presence and concentration of volatiles in lyophilized resin were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Changes in bacterial population counts due to treatment with resin or its primary volatile components were monitored. Autoclaving of the samples did not affect the FTIR spectra of Sv resin; however, lyophilization altered spectra, mainly in the CH and C=O regions. Three primary bioactive compounds that constituted >90% of volatiles (1R-α-pinene, tricyclene, and β-pinene) were identified in Sv resin. Autoclaved resin impacted bacterial growth. The resin was stimulatory for some plant and foodborne pathogens (Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. syringae, and Xanthomonas perforans) and antimicrobial for others (Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and Erwinia amylovora). Treatment with either 1R-α-pinene or β-pinene reduced B. cereus population growth less than did autoclaved resin. The complex resin likely contains additional antimicrobial compounds that act synergistically to inhibit bacterial growth.
Alexander Von Humboldt's 250th Anniversary Landschaften und Kartographien der Humboldt'schen Wissenschaft; Alexander von Humboldt: The Complete Drawings from the American Travel Diaries; The Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt

Ottmar Ette and Julian Drews, eds. Hildesheim, Germany: Georg Olms Verlag, 2017. 344 pp., illustrations. €68.00 paper (ISBN 978-3-487-15506-7).Ottmar Ette and Julia Maier, eds. Munich, Germany: Pre...
The molecular basis for immune dysregulation by the hyperactivated E62K mutant of the GTPase RAC2.

The RAS-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 2 (RAC2) is a member of the RHO subclass of RAS superfamily GTPases required for proper immune function. An activating mutation in a key switch II region of RAC2 (RAC2E62K) involved in recognizing modulatory factors and effectors has been identified in patients with common variable immune deficiency. To better understand how the mutation dysregulates RAC2 function, we evaluated the structure and stability, guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) and GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity, and effector binding of RAC2E62K. Our findings indicate the E62K mutation does not alter RAC2 structure or stability. However, it does alter GEF specificity, as RAC2E62K is activated by the DOCK GEF, DOCK2, but not by the Dbl homology GEF, TIAM1, both of which activate the parent protein. Our previous data further showed that the E62K mutation impairs GAP activity for RAC2E62K. As this disease mutation is also found in RAS GTPases, we assessed GAP-stimulated GTP hydrolysis for KRAS and observed a similar impairment, suggesting that the mutation plays a conserved role in GAP activation. We also investigated whether the E62K mutation alters effector binding, as activated RAC2 binds effectors to transmit signaling through effector pathways. We find that RAC2E62K retains binding to an NADPH oxidase (NOX2) subunit, p67phox, and to the RAC-binding domain of p21-activated kinase, consistent with our earlier findings. Taken together, our findings indicate that the RAC2E62K mutation promotes immune dysfunction by promoting RAC2 hyperactivation, altering GEF specificity, and impairing GAP function yet retaining key effector interactions.
The Only Constant is Change: Exploring Shifting Relationships in Sport Overconformity through a Narrative Identity Lens

In sport, athletes are socialized to the expectations of the athlete role (i.e., sport ethic), including those expectations that require them to sacrifice themselves and prioritize their sport. Thr...
Abstract IA18: Genomic evolution of brain metastases: Implications for precision medicine

Brain metastases are clinically devastating. Up to 25% of cancer patients will develop brain metastases and prognosis in this patient population continues to be poor. The vast majority of clinical trials in the US exclude patients with active brain metastases. Our understanding of how intracranial metastases genetically evolve from primary tumors has historically been limited, which has hampered the development of clinical trials for this patient population. In this presentation, I will present our ongoing work on genomic characterization of central nervous system metastases with a comparison to primary tumors and extracranial sites. Intracranial metastases demonstrate branched evolution, whereby the brain metastases and primary tumors share a common genetic ancestor yet both the primary tumor and brain metastasis continue to evolve independently. We also show that comprehensive genomic characterization of brain metastases, coupled with functional validation in mouse models of metastasis, can lead to the discovery of putative drivers of progression and metastasis. Taken together, our data implies that precision medicine approaches based solely on genetic characterization of extracranial sites tumors may miss potential therapeutic targets from which patients with brain metastases might benefit. Importantly, despite genetic heterogeneity between the brain metastases and extracranial sites, there are common clinically actionable genetic alterations across brain metastases of different histologies. We have translated these findings to clinical trials, including an NCI-sponsored cooperative group genomically-guided clinical trial in patients with progressive brain metastases (Alliance A071701). Citation Format: Priscilla K. Brastianos. Genomic evolution of brain metastases: Implications for precision medicine [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Tumor Heterogeneity: From Single Cells to Clinical Impact; 2020 Sep 17-18. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(21 Suppl):Abstract nr IA18.
Typical somatomotor physiology of the hand is preserved in a patient with an amputated arm

Electrophysiological signals in the human motor system may change in different ways after deafferentation, with some studies emphasizing reorganization while others propose retained physiology. Understanding whether motor electrophysiology is retained over longer periods of time can be invaluable for patients with paralysis (e.g. ALS or brainstem stroke) when signals from sensorimotor areas may be used for communication or control over neural prosthetic devices. In addition, a maintained electrophysiology can potentially benefit the treatment of phantom limb pains through prolonged use of these signals in a brain-machine interface (BCI). Here, we were presented with the unique opportunity to investigate the physiology of the sensorimotor cortex in a patient with an amputated arm using electrocorticographic (ECoG) measurements. While implanted with an ECoG grid for clinical evaluation of electrical stimulation for phantom limb pain, the patient performed attempted finger movements with the contralateral (lost) hand and executed finger movements with the ipsilateral (healthy) hand. The electrophysiology of the sensorimotor cortex contralateral to the amputated hand remained very similar to that of hand movement in healthy people, with a spatially focused increase of high-frequency band (65-175Hz; HFB) power over the hand region and a distributed decrease in low-frequency band (15-28Hz; LFB) power. The representation of the three different fingers (thumb, index and little) remained intact and HFB patterns could be decoded using support vector learning at single-trial classification accuracies of >90%, based on the first 1-3s of the HFB response. These results demonstrate that hand representations are largely retained in the motor cortex. The intact physiological response of the amputated hand, the high distinguishability of the fingers and fast temporal peak are encouraging for neural prosthetic devices that target the sensorimotor cortex.
Construct validation of an innovative observational child assessment system: Teaching Strategies GOLD® birth through third grade edition

Abstract Teaching Strategies GOLD® child assessment system has been frequently adopted in state-funded early childhood policy initiatives, but there is little validation research about its newest edition, GOLD® Birth through Third Grade (GOLD® B-3rd). Based on a sample of children aged from birth through pre-kindergarten, this study investigated validity evidence regarding internal structure of this observational assessment, and the reliability estimates for each learning domain. From the results of confirmatory factor analysis, acceptable fit of the proposed measurement structure and high composite reliability estimates for the learning domains were found. We found evidence that the GOLD® B-3rd is a psychometrically adequate measure (to the extent of its internal structure) of developmental progress in social-emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy, and mathematics domains for young children. Findings of this research add to the body of validation research of GOLD® B-3rd, and encourage future investigations on other types of validity evidence for this scale.
A Prayer for Orion: A Son’s Addiction and a Mother’s Love

Her son a victim of the global plague of heroin addiction, Katherine James is forced to use every personal resource to keep herself from succumbing to the emotional ravages the plague visits not on...
Secrecy, Simmel and the New Sociology of Wealth

What relevance does an early twentieth century thinker like Simmel have for the contemporary sociology of wealth? This paper suggests that Simmel’s classic work on the secret and secret societies is embedded but largely unacknowledged in twenty-first century wealth research. Thus, the purpose of this discussion is to make these contributions more visible and sketch their implications for new directions in the field.
FAUNA ACOMPANHANTE DA PESCA CAMAROEIRA NO LITORAL DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO, BRASIL

Two hundred and fifty-eight species, belonging to fishes (187), crustaceans (32), mollusks (25) and other invertebrates (14), were registered as the by-catch of the sea-bob shrimp (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) and red spotted shrimp (Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis and F. paulensis) fishery fleets from Sao Paulo State, which act between 5 to 90 m isobaths along Southeast Brazilian coastline. The species composition of the landing and discarded fractions and additional information were presented, characterizing the referred fisheries as those of higher diversity among the others studied.
Positively Curved Combinatorial 3-Manifolds

We present two theorems in the "discrete differential geometry" of positively curved spaces. The first is a combinatorial analog of the Bonnet-Myers theorem: $\bullet$ A combinatorial 3-manifold whose edges have degree at most five has edge-diameter at most five. When all edges have unit length, this degree bound is equivalent to an angle-deficit along each edge. It is for this reason we call such spaces positively curved. Our second main result is analogous to the sphere theorems of Toponogov and Cheng: $\bullet$ A positively curved 3-manifold, as above, in which vertices $v$ and $w$ have edge-distance five is a sphere whose triangulation is completely determined by the structure of $Lk(v)$ or $Lk(w)$. In fact, we provide a procedure for constructing a maximum diameter sphere from a suitable $Lk(v)$ or $Lk(w)$. The compactness of these spaces (without an explicit diameter bound) was first proved via analytic arguments in a 1973 paper by David Stone. Our proof is completely combinatorial, provides sharp bounds, and follows closely the proof strategy for the classical results.
Reducing hydrologic model uncertainty in monthly streamflow predictions using multimodel combination

[1] Model errors are inevitable in any prediction exercise. One approach that is currently gaining attention in reducing model errors is by combining multiple models to develop improved predictions. The rationale behind this approach primarily lies on the premise that optimal weights could be derived for each model so that the developed multimodel predictions will result in improved predictions. A new dynamic approach (MM-1) to combine multiple hydrological models by evaluating their performance/skill contingent on the predictor state is proposed. We combine two hydrological models, “abcd” model and variable infiltration capacity (VIC) model, to develop multimodel streamflow predictions. To quantify precisely under what conditions the multimodel combination results in improved predictions, we compare multimodel scheme MM-1 with optimal model combination scheme (MM-O) by employing them in predicting the streamflow generated from a known hydrologic model (abcd model orVICmodel) with heteroscedastic error variance as well as from a hydrologic model that exhibits different structure than that of the candidate models (i.e., “abcd” model or VIC model). Results from the study show that streamflow estimated from single models performed better than multimodels under almost no measurement error. However, under increased measurement errors and model structural misspecification, both multimodel schemes (MM-1 and MM-O) consistently performed better than the single model prediction. Overall, MM-1 performs better than MM-O in predicting the monthly flow values as well as in predicting extreme monthly flows. Comparison of the weights obtained from each candidate model reveals that as measurement errors increase, MM-1 assigns weights equally for all the models, whereas MM-O assigns higher weights for always the best-performing candidate model under the calibration period. Applying the multimodel algorithms for predicting streamflows over four different sites revealed that MM-1 performs better than all single models and optimal model combination scheme, MM-O, in predicting the monthly flows as well as the flows during wetter months.
A Val-25-to-Ile substitution in the envelope precursor polyprotein, gPr80env, is responsible for the temperature sensitivity, inefficient processing of gPr80env, and neurovirulence of ts1, a mutant of Moloney murine leukemia virus TB.

Abstract ts1 is a neurovirulent spontaneous temperature-sensitive mutant of Moloney murine leukemia virus TB which causes hindlimb paralysis in mice. Previously, it had been shown that the temperature-sensitive defect resided in the env gene. At the restrictive temperature, the envelope precursor polyprotein, gPr80env, is inefficiently processed intracellularly into two cleavage products, gp70 and Prp15E. This inefficient processing of gPr80env is correlated with neurovirulence. In this study, it was shown that a single amino acid substitution, Val-25----Ile in gPr80env, is responsible for the temperature sensitivity, inefficient processing of gPr80env at the restrictive temperature, and neurovirulence of ts1. At the restrictive temperature, a steady-state level of nonprocessed, endoglycosidase H-sensitive gPr80env remained in the endoplasmic reticulum of cells infected by ts1, but no endoglycosidase H-resistant gPr80env and only trace amounts of gp70 were detected in the infected cells. Since the host cell-encoded processing protease resides in the cis cisternae of the Golgi apparatus, inefficient processing of gPr80env at the restrictive temperature is most likely due to inefficient transport of gPr80env from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cis cisternae of the Golgi apparatus rather than due to misfolded gPr80env being a poor substrate for the processing protease at the restrictive temperature.
NIPPING IT IN THE BUD®: ADOPTING A FAMILY DRUG COURT APPROACH TO FIGHTING THE CYCLE OF ALCOHOL ADDICTION FOR CHILDREN WHEN PARENTS ARE CONVICTED OF DUI

Many states have implemented Drug Courts in recent years by combining drug and alcohol treatment with ongoing judicial supervision. Through the use of incentives such as reduced and dismissed charges and fines combined with supervised treatment, Drug Courts have been shown to be very effective in helping to break the cycle of addiction, crime, and repeat incarceration for those involved. However, these courts do little to address situations in which the addict is the custodial parent of a minor child, who is exponentially more at-risk for future alcohol addiction simply by being the child of an alcoholic, due to both environmental and biological factors. Thus, while the parent's addiction is theoretically being addressed by the courts, little is being done, absent a showing of abuse or neglect, by the judicial system to combat the seeds of addiction that have already been planted in these children. Therefore, this Note advocates for states to include an alcohol education and counseling program aimed at children of alcohol-related offenders based on the Drug Court Model. Participation in this program would then act as a mitigating factor for the addicted offender when receiving their final sentence. This proposed program would then serve as a model for other states to adopt in the near future.
Hormones, receptors, and growth in hyperplastic enlarged lobular units: early potential precursors of breast cancer

The hyperplastic enlarged lobular unit (HELU) is a common alteration in adult female human breast and is the earliest histologically identifiable lesion with premalignant potential. Growth and differentiation in normal epithelium are regulated by estrogen and progesterone, whose effects are mediated through estrogen receptor (ER)-α and progesterone receptor (PR). We assessed correlations between growth (proliferation and apoptosis), endogenous hormone levels (using age as a surrogate for menopausal/estrogen status), and ER-α/PR expression in HELUs versus adjacent normal terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) to gain insight into potentially premalignant hyperplasia. Proliferation (Ki67 antigen), ER-α, and PR were assessed by immunohistochemistry, apoptosis using the TUNEL (terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling) assay, and nuclear colocalization of ER-α and Ki67 by dual-labeled immunofluorescence in HELUs and adjacent TDLUs (n = 100–584, depending on the factor) from 324 breasts. All factors were quantified under direct microscopic visualization. ER-α/PR expression was semiquantified by estimating the proportion of positive cells (0 = none, 1 = 2/3). Ki67, TUNEL, and colocalization of ER-α and Ki67 were scored by absolute counting (%positive). ER-α and PR expression were significantly elevated in HELUs versus adjacent TLDUs (average score: 4.5 versus 3.1 and 3.5 versus 2.1; P < 0.0001). Proliferation was also significantly higher in HELUs versus TDLUs (average 6.3% versus 2.0%; P < 0.0001). In contrast, apoptosis was significantly lower in HELUs versus TDLUs (average 0.61% versus 0.22%; P < 0.0001). Changes in proliferation and receptor expression were similar between premenopausal and postmenopausal TDLUs and HELUs, suggesting that hyperplastic cells remain responsive to regulation by estrogen. The proportion of ER-positive/proliferating cells was much higher in HELUs than TDLUs (27.6% vs. 4.9%; P < .0001). Development of HELUs is associated with increased proliferation and decreased cell death relative to normal cells. ER-α and PR are highly elevated in HELUs, which may contribute to the hyperplasia because they mediate hormonal regulation of growth. An understanding of the fundamental causes of increased levels of receptors and growth may lead to new strategies to prevent breast cancer.
Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging Using Acousto-Optics And Charge-Coupled-Devices

The operating principles of an acoustooptic/CCD real-time SAR processor are described, and experimental results are presented. Particular consideration is given to time-and-space integrating processing, the range processor, and the azimuth processor. The interferometric detection scheme is examined in detail.
Glucose Transporter 4 (GLUT4) is Not the Only GLUT Responsible for Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase α (CaMKKα)-Induced Glucose Uptake in Mouse Skeletal Muscle

Chronic activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase α (CaMKKα) signaling for 2 weeks stimulates skeletal muscle glucose uptake in both insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant mice; yet surprisingly the glucose transporter(s) that mediate this effect are currently unknown. The goal of this study was to determine if glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is the main glucose transporter responsible for CaMKKα-induced muscle glucose uptake. To stimulate CaMKKα signaling, muscles from 13-14 week old, male, wild-type/control, muscle-specific GLUT4 heterozygous and muscle-specific GLUT4 knockout mice were transfected with plasmid DNA containing constitutively active CaMKKα or empty vector by in vivo electroporation. After 2 weeks, active CaMKKα protein levels were robustly increased and were not different between groups. In vivo muscle [3H]-2-deoxyglucose uptake was examined in the absence of insulin stimulation. Constitutively active CaMKKα increased glucose uptake ~250% in wild-type/control mice, ~100...
TUFTsim: a multiple domain simulator for experimentation

TUFTsim is a multilevel multiple domain concurrent simulator that is able to investigate and detect scenarios of behavior. A scenario is a combination of individual behavior or points of failure. As a behavior propagates through a model, it has the possibility of colliding into another behavior at a common node or juncture. The result of a collision may produce a new combined behavior. The inherent features of concurrent simulation provides the simulator with the ability to track fault signatures, while simultaneously providing experiment observation capabilities. In this paper we present the algorithms that allow scenarios of experiments to be efficiently created and simulated. Using single stuck-at faults, we discuss the issues of dynamically creating multiple stuck-at-fault scenarios.
In vitro ligation of ureters and urethra modulates fetal mouse bladder explants development

The compliance of the bladder which accommodates the holding and voiding of urine is influenced by the amount and type of collagen deposited as well as the packing and organization of collagen fiber bundles. During fetal development, the accumulation of urine within the bladder lumen is associated with the maturation of the bladder's wall. Fetal mouse bladders can undergo maturation as organ cultured explants in defined medium. Polarized light optics of Sirius red-stained sections of fetal mouse bladders in organ culture for 4 days showed that the ligation of both ureters and urethra promoted more orderly packing of collagen fiber bundles within the luminal edge of the lamina propria compared to unligated bladder explants. It is proposed that ligation causes differences in the development and organization of the collagen fiber bundles within the bladder wall. These differences are due to either increases in intravesical pressure, the accumulation of growth factors within the lumen or a combination of both.
Protein kinase Cδ mediates MCP-1 mRNA stabilization in vascular smooth muscle cells

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is an inflammatory chemokine that promotes atherosclerosis and is a mediator of the response to arterial injury. We previously demonstrated that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and angiotensin II (Ang) induce the accumulation of MCP-1 mRNA in vascular smooth muscle cells mainly by increasing mRNA stability. In the present study, we have examined the signaling pathways involved in this stabilization of MCP-1 mRNA. The effect of PDGF (BB isoform) and Ang on MCP-1 mRNA stability was mediated by the PDGF β and angiotensin II receptor AT1R, respectively, and did not involve transactivation between the two receptors. The effect of PDGF-BB was blocked by inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), but not by inhibitors of phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Src, or NADPH oxidase (NADPHox). In contrast, the effect of Ang was blocked by inhibitors of Src, and PKC, but not by inhibitors of PI3 K, or NADPHox. The effect of PDGF BB on MCP-1 mRNA stability was blocked by siRNA directed against PKCδ and protein kinase D (PKD), whereas the effect of Ang was blocked only by siRNA directed against PKCδ. These results suggest that the enhancement of MCP-1 mRNA stability by PDGF-BB and Ang are mediated by distinct “proximal” signaling pathways that converge on activation of PKCδ. This study identifies a novel role for PKCδ in mediating mRNA stability in smooth muscle cells.
Synthesis of anthra[b]thiophenes and benzo[b]naphtho[d]thiophenes

All isomers of the parent anthra[b]thiophenes and benzo[b]naphtho[d]thiophenes, namely anthra[2,3-b]thio-phene, anthra[2,1-b]thiophene, anthra[1,2-b]thiophene, benzo[b]naphtho[2,3-d]thiophene, benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene and benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene were synthesized using a new procedure.
Chronic inhibition of cardiac Kir2.1 and HERG potassium channels by celastrol with dual effects on both ion conductivity and protein trafficking.

Abstract A high percentage of drugs and drug candidates has been found to cause cardiotoxicity by reducing potassium conductance, more commonly known as QT prolongation. However, some compounds do not show direct block of ionic flow, suggesting that other mechanisms may also lead to reduction of potassium currents. Using the functional recovery after chemobleaching (FRAC) assay, we have examined a collection of drugs and drug-like compounds for potential perturbation of cardiac potassium channel trafficking. Here we report that a significant number of inhibitory compounds displayed effects on channel expression on the cell surface. Further investigation of celastrol (3-hydroxy-24-nor-2-oxo-1 (10),3,5,7-friedelatetraen-29-oic acid), a cell-permeable dienonephenolic triterpene compound, revealed its potent inhibitory activity on both Kir2.1 and hERG potassium channels, causal to QT prolongation. In addition to acute block of ion conduction, celastrol also alters the rate of ion channel transport and causes a reduction of channel density on the cell surface. In contrast, celastrol has no effects on trafficking of either CD4 or CD8 membrane proteins. Furthermore, the potency for reducing surface expression is ∼5-10-fold more effective than that for either direct acute inhibition or reported cytoprotectivity via activation of the heat shock transcription factor 1. Because the reduction of potassium channel activity is a common form of druginduced cardiotoxicity, the potent inhibition of cell surface expression by celastrol underscores a need to evaluate drug candidates for their chronic effects on biogenesis of potassium channels. Our results suggest that chronic exposure to certain drugs may be an important aspect of acquired QT prolongation.
The legacy of Carl Vincent Gisolfi in temperature regulation

Carl Vincent Gisolfi (1942–2008) was a Distinguished Professor of Exercise Science at the University of Iowa whose contributions included mentoring future investigators and seminal studies in the areas of thermoregulation during exercise, responses of the diencephalon to elevated temperatures, fluid absorption during heat stress, and the role of heat shock proteins in circulatory failure.
Tritium target for intense neutron source

Abstract A rotating target is described for an intense source of 14 MeV neutrons. For a fresh target the source strength is 2 × 10 12 neutros/s. The source strength decreases to half its initial value in about 100 h of continuous operation.
Source modeling and calculation of mask illumination during extreme-ultraviolet lithography condenser design

Lithography condensers must create very uniform illumination at the mask plane. The non-uniformity in theillumination is required to be less than 1%.1 Tomeet this requirement a designer must use a method for determining theillumination created on the mask plane during the design of the condenser system. This paper describes a method forcalculating the illumination at a plane in a lithography condenser system. This method is a general one that is applicableto many systems besides those for extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL).Our methodology uses reverse ray tracing to accurately and efficiently determine illumination in a system during thedesign phase. The technique is used with a standard optical design software package. This enables the system designerto test the illumination uniformity of the design with the same software that is used for the design work itself. Therefore,the user is not required to use illumination specific software to model the illumination properties for the design.Implementation ofthis new methodology necessitates accurate modeling ofa source in the optical design software. Thetechnique for modeling sources using apodization files is described. Results are shown for point sources, multiple pointsource configurations, and finite sources that have non-trivial surface radiance distributions. In some cases, the resultsof our method are compared to those found using a traditional technique of calculating illumination.Keywords: illumination, reverse ray trace, source modeling, extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL)
Mothers' knowledge and practices related to sun protection in Greece.

: We attempted to estimate the level of Greek mothers' knowledge relating to the harmful effects of sunlight and whether this knowledge led to protective measures for them and their children. Between September and November 1993, 315 mothers were randomly selected from the outpatient department of our hospital and interviewed by questionnaire about themselves and their children (56% boys, 44% girls, ages 1–12 yrs). Knowledge was estimated by an index score that for 28% of the mothers was considered poor, for 50% moderate, for 16% good, and for only 6% very good or excellent. The score was positively associated with parent education, urban residence, mother's job relevant to the cosmetics industry or the mass media, and history of sunburn in one or both parents. Scores were also established for sunlight-protective measures taken for themselves (28% poor, 45% moderate, 27% just good) and for their children (24% poor, 46% moderate, 30% just good). These scores were significantly associated only with mothers' knowledge of sun protection. Mothers who used sun protection for themselves also applied it to their children. This study shows that mothers in Greece should be encouraged both to increase their knowledge of sun protection and steadily incorporate it into their knowledge of sun protection and steadily incorporate it into their lifestyle.
A Priori error analyses of a stabilized discontinuous Galerkin method

Abstract We introduce a new stabilized discontinuous Galerkin method within a new function space setting, that is closely related to the discontinuous Galerkin formulation by Oden, Babuska and Baumann [1], but involves an extra stabilization term on the jumps of the normal fluxes across the element interfaces. The formulation satisfies a local conservation property and we prove well posedness of the new formulation. A priori error estimates are derived, which are verified by 1D and 2D experiments on a reaction-diffusion type model problem.
Long-term benefit of cardioselective beta blockade with once-daily atenolol therapy in angina pectoris

Abstract The long-term efficacy of once-daily atenolol cardioselective beta-blockade therapy for chronic stable angina pectoris was studied in nine coronary disease patients. After a placebo-controlled single-blind dose-ranging trial with 2-week drug periods of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg, they continued on 100 or 200 mg daily for 1 year. Treadmill exercise tests (ET) were performed at times of peak and trough serum stenolol concentrations and 24-hour ECG ambulatory recordings were obtained after placebo, after 2 weeks of 100 and 200 mg atenolol, and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of 100 or 200 mg atenolol. During early and chronic atenolol therapy, angina frequency and nitroglycerin consumption were decreased ( p
Indications for fetal echocardiography from a tertiary-care obstetric sonography practice.

Purpose The present study was conducted to evaluate the indications for fetal echocardiography in a tertiary-care obstetric sonography practice and to determine the incidences of confirmed congenital heart disease for each primary indication. Methods A retrospective analysis of all pregnant women referred to a pediatric cardiology unit for fetal echocardiography by the tertiary-care sonography unit over a 2-year period was performed. The primary indications for referral for fetal echocardiography were obtained from the sonographers' reports. Outcome data were extracted from the fetal echocardiograms, postnatal echocardiograms or pathology and autopsy reports, and patient medical records. Results Of 6,002 pregnant women who had undergone prenatal sonographic examination during the study period, 275 (4.6%) had been subsequently referred for fetal echocardiography. The most common primary indication for referral had been abnormal cardiac findings on the prenatal sonographic examination, which had been present in 64 (23.3%) of the 275 cases. In 44 (69%) of those 64 cases, congenital heart disease had been confirmed. Among the 211 patients who had had normal cardiac findings on prenatal sonography but had been referred for fetal echocardiography owing to other primary indications, congenital heart disease had been confirmed in only 7 cases (3.3%). Conclusions An abnormal cardiac finding during prenatal sonographic examination is a common primary indication for fetal echocardiography and is more useful for identifying congenital heart disease than are other risk factors. Careful routine cardiac screening during routine prenatal sonographic examination may facilitate further investigation and treatment. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 32:123–128, 2004
An empirical Bayesian approach for model-based inference of cellular signaling networks

A common challenge in systems biology is to infer mechanistic descriptions of biological process given limited observations of a biological system. Mathematical models are frequently used to represent a belief about the causal relationships among proteins within a signaling network. Bayesian methods provide an attractive framework for inferring the validity of those beliefs in the context of the available data. However, efficient sampling of high-dimensional parameter space and appropriate convergence criteria provide barriers for implementing an empirical Bayesian approach. The objective of this study was to apply an Adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo technique to a typical study of cellular signaling pathways. As an illustrative example, a kinetic model for the early signaling events associated with the epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling network was calibrated against dynamic measurements observed in primary rat hepatocytes. A convergence criterion, based upon the Gelman-Rubin potential scale reduction factor, was applied to the model predictions. The posterior distributions of the parameters exhibited complicated structure, including significant covariance between specific parameters and a broad range of variance among the parameters. The model predictions, in contrast, were narrowly distributed and were used to identify areas of agreement among a collection of experimental studies. In summary, an empirical Bayesian approach was developed for inferring the confidence that one can place in a particular model that describes signal transduction mechanisms and for inferring inconsistencies in experimental measurements.
Physiological and histochemical properties of the soleus muscle after denervation of its antagonists

Abstract Muscle fibers undergo physiological and metabolic changes in response to altered functional demands. For example, muscles exhibit prolonged contraction time and decreased ATPase activity when their synergists are removed. The present experiment was performed to determine whether inactivation of a muscle's antagonists produces physiologic and metabolic changes indicative of speeding. The common peroneal nerve was transected unilaterally in rats and the ipsilateral soleus muscle examined 7–8 months later. Evidence of physiological speeding was indicated by faster isotonic speed of shortening and isometric rate of tension development, decreased contraction time, and decreased tetanus; twitch tension ratio. Histological sections incubated for actomyosin ATPase activity revealed an increase in the proportion of dark, high-ATPase fibers. A quantitatively similar result was obtained when the central end of the transected nerve was implanted into the normally innervated soleus muscle. Under these conditions the implanted nerve did not form a transmissive neuromuscular connection. Thus, in contradistinction to previous assertions by Fex, we found no “trophic” effect specific to the implanted, nonfunctional nerve. Since the physiological and metabolic properties of muscle can be altered without nerve crossing, we suggest that these properties are regulated by an interaction between neural and muscular factors. A specific trophic function cannot be attributed to the nerve until the regulatory role of all factors is more fully evaluated.
Propylene Polymerization with Cyclopentadienyltitanium(IV) Hydroxylaminato Complexes

Complexes of the type Cp*TiX2(ONR′R′′) (Cp* = η5-C5Me5; X = Me, Cl; R = R′ = Et, TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl); X = R′ = Me, R′′ = tBu) were synthesized by several routes. Upon activation with [Ph3C]+[B(C6F5)4]− and AliBu3, these complexes generate highly active catalysts for propylene polymerization, although significant catalyst deactivation was observed. Activation with B(C6F5)3/AliBu3 or methylaluminoxane (MAO) resulted in reduced polymerization activity, the latter leading to increased catalyst lifetime. Model studies showed that the interaction of AlMe3 with Cp*Ti(Me)2(ONEt2) led to the formation of Cp*Ti(Me)2(η2-O(AlMe3)NEt2). The X-ray crystal structure confirmed that the hydroxylaminato ligand remained η2 bound to the titanium center with the AlMe3 bound to the complex through the oxygen atom of the hydroxylaminato ligand. Exchange reactions with organic ethers revealed the metalloether to be a comparable donor to PhOMe. Cp*Ti(Me)2(ONtBu(Me)) was revealed to be a weaker donor than Cp*Ti(Me)2(ONEt2); Cp*Ti(Me)2(TEMPO) did not bind to AlMe3. AliBu3 bound more weakly to Cp*Ti(Me)2(ONEt2) than AlMe3. Reaction of Cp*Ti(Me)2(ONEt2) and Cp*Ti(Me)2(ONtBu(Me)) with B(C6F5)3 resulted in clean formation of the zwitterionic contact ion pairs [Cp*Ti(Me)(η2-ONEt2)]+[MeB(C6F5)3]− and [Cp*Ti(Me)(η2-ONtBu(Me))]+[MeB(C6F5)3]−, respectively, whereas reaction of Cp*Ti(Me)2(η2-ONtBu(Me)) with [Ph3C]+[B(C6F5)4]− resulted in the clean formation of the solvent-separated ion pair [Cp*Ti(Me)(η2-ONtBu(Me))]+[B(C6F5)4]−. Reaction of Cp*Ti(Me)2(η1-TEMPO) with B(C6F5)3 results in the elimination of methane to result in the formation of the contact ion paired [Cp*Ti(η2-TEMPO)]+[MeB(C6F5)3]−, in which one of the TEMPO methyl groups has undergone C−H activation, resulting in a η2-bound TEMPO ligand, confirmed by 1H, gROESY, and 1H−15N HMBC NMR. Addition of AliBu3 or AlMe3 to the cationic [Cp*Ti(Me)(ONtBu(Me))]+[B(C6F5)4]− resulted in decomposition of the cations.
A Stress-Coping Model for Conceptualizing the Impact of Substance Abuse on Families

Substance abuse can have such a destructive impact on a family that it can both interrupt and transform the entire family's life. The impact of chronic illness on the family has been researched primarily from a stress-coping paradigm. Within the mental health literature, the impact of one family member's mental illness on other family members has begun to be investigated in a systema-tic and scientific manner. Within a stress-coping paradigm, the results of this empirical research have borne out the tremendous objective and subjective burdens placed on family caregivers (Biegel, Song, and Chakravarthy, 1994; Lefley, 1996). This article suggests that the impact of substance abuse on families may also be conceptualized within this paradigm and posits an evidence-based stress-coping model for conceptualizing this process.
Blood parasites of some reptiles of the Pacific northwest.

SYNOPSIS. Three hundred and fifty-seven reptiles belonging to 15 species (11 genera, 7 families) from the Pacific Northwest were examined for haematozoa. Twenty-six (7.3%) had parasites. Eleven (3.1%) were infected with haemogregarines, 6 (1.7%) with microfilariae and 9 (2.5%) with unidentified organisms. Four species of snakes and 4 of lizards were positive. Several forms of haemogregarine from the Pacific gopher snake (Pituophis melanoleucus catenifer) are described.
Advances in understanding molecular mechanisms of fungicide resistance and molecular detection of resistant genotypes in phytopathogenic fungi

Abstract Although fungicide treatments are a key component in the integrated management of many plant diseases, the appearance of resistance has become an important factor in limiting the efficacy and useful lifetime of fungicides developed at increasingly higher costs. Extensive molecular studies have led to advances in our understanding of mechanisms of fungicide resistance and in developing effective, rapid methods for detection of resistant genotypes of pathogens. This paper reviews recent advances in our understanding of resistance mechanisms of phytopathogenic fungi to some major classes of fungicides (benzimidazoles, demethylation inhibitors [DMIs], Qo respiration inhibitors [QoIs], and dicarboximides [DCFs]) at a molecular level and developments in molecular detection of fungicide-resistant fungi.
The CH2OH+→CHO++H2 decomposition mechanism: a G3, G3B3, CBS-Q, CBS-QB3 versus pure DFT comparison: interesting variations☆

Abstract It was reported [J. Mol. Struct (Theochem) 425 (1998) 193] that density functional theory was able to reproduce experimental data for the CH 2 OH + →CHO + +H 2 decomposition mechanism to above a 5% bar of error. However, the computationally expensive density functional theory methods (coupled to very large basis sets) do not singularly provide these results, thus many theoretical methods must be used to achieve (i.e. HFB, SVWN, B3LYP, B3PW91, etc.) results that correlate well with known quantities. This may not be practical for experimental purposes. Newly implemented methods such as CBS-Q, CBS-QB3, G3 and G3B3 allow a very fast approximation to very high level ab initio methods such as QCISD (T) with a fraction of the time. Also, a comparison of not only geometrical affects between wave function based MP2 optimizations and the B3LYP optimization is possible (X versus XB3, where X=CBS-Q or G3) but also basis set affects can be explored to some extent. The results of the CBS-Q, CBS-QB3, G3 and G3B3 calculations for the singlet cationic decomposition potential energy surface of CH 2 OH + will be presented.
Dynamic correlation in wave propagation in random media

The time-resolved intensity correlation function for an incident pulse of linewidth \sigma has a universal form in terms of the square of the time-independent field correlation function and the time-varying degree of intensity correlation, \kappa_{\sigma}(t). The probability distribution of intensity is determined exclusively by \kappa_{\sigma}(t).