cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mice Expressing Mutant Myosin Heavy Chains Are a Model for Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by ventricular hypertrophy, myocellular disarray, arrhythmias, and sudden death. Mutations in several contractile proteins, including cardiac myosin heavy chains, have been described in families with this disease, leading to the hypothesis that HCM is a disease of the sarcomere. A mutation in the myosin heavy chain (Myh) predicted to interfere strongly with myosin’s binding to actin was designed and used to create an animal model for HCM. Five independent lines of transgenic mice were produced with cardiac-specific expression of the mutant Myh. Although the mutant Myh represents a small proportion (1–12%) of the heart’s myosin, the mice exhibit the cardiac histopathology seen in HCM patients. Histopathology is absent from the atria and primarily restricted to the left ventricle. The line exhibiting the highest level of mutant Myh expression demonstrates ventricular hypertrophy by 12 weeks of age, but the further course of the disease is strongly affected by the sex of the animal. Hypertrophy increases with age in female animals while the hearts of male show severe dilation by 8 months of age, in the absence of increased mass. The low levels of the transgene protein in the presence of the phenotypic features of HCM suggest that the mutant protein acts as a dominant negative. In addition, the distinct phenotypes developed by aging male or female transgenic mice suggest that extragenic factors strongly influence the development of the disease phenotype.
The OpenOrbiter CubeSat as a system-of-systems (SoS) and how SoS engineering (SoSE) Aids CubeSat design

This paper discusses the use of the system-of-systems (SoS) methodology and SoS engineering (SoSE) to the challenge of the design and operation of a CubeSat-class spacecraft. It considers this in the context of one critical component system, the electrical power system (EPS) which interacts with virtually all other systems onboard the spacecraft. The spacecraft is also considered in the context of being a system-component of a larger mission system-of-systems. The efficacy of SoSE use for this endeavor is considered and recommendations are made for the use of SoS and SoSE by other small spacecraft and, more broadly, spacecraft developers.
Many phases in systems without periodic ground states

The low temperature behavior of systems without periodic ground states is investigated. It is shown by using Peierls' argument that in some models the translational symmetry is broken. In particular, an infinite range model with infinitely many Gibbs states is constructed.
The Law of Torts in the Draft Common Frame of Reference

The Draft Common Frame of Reference, aiming at harmonization of European private law, is not limited to the law of contract but also supplies a comprehensive system of non-contractual liability . The more than 50 articles of Book VI cover the central issues to be settled by any modern system of tort or delict, i.e. scope of protection, accountability or attribution (intention, negligence, strict liability), causation, multiple tortfeasors, remedies and quantum, and defenses. The present article analyzes the solutions found by the framers of the DCFR in light of legal learning, but also from an economic perspective. The question is whether the rules and principles contained in Book VI reflect the findings of economic analysis of accident law such they would be desirable in the eyes of lawmakers interested in improving the incentive structure set up by the law of torts.
Developing occupation-centered programs for the community.

Kathryn M. Loukas (2007) indicated that the future of occupational therapy “lies in the community” (www.aota.org). However, there are numerous unknowns for the development of a community-based prac...
CHAPTER 12 – Northern Analysis

This chapter examines the options regarding choice of filter membranes, transfer techniques, and methods for nucleic acid fixation on the filter. One important decision associated with a study of RNA by Northern analysis is the selection of the solid support matrix to which electrophoretically resolved RNA is transferred before hybridization. This selection must be influenced by the knowledge that different types of matrices exhibit wide variations in nucleic acid- binding capacity and support different transfer and immobilization methodologies. The method of probe detection must also be considered because some membranes are incompatible with nonisotopic detection methods. Because the RNA sample on a filter paper may well represent an enormous, labor-intensive effort, many investigators wish to perform repeated hybridizations using a battery of probe sequences. This requires the hybridized probe to be removed, following detection, by a very high-stringency wash; some types of nucleic acid blotting filters withstand the removal of a previously-hybridized probe much better than other filter types.
A teachable element: chlorine as a touchstone for science studies

This is an ambitious book that works on many levels. First and most obviously, it is an example of an ‘‘object biography.’’ Second, it can serve as an introduction to the discipline (or disciplines) of science and technology studies. Finally, it is an interesting pedagogical document, the product of an intriguing educational philosophy which treats undergraduate students as scholars capable of genuine original research. The editors state in their introduction that object biographies have become popular in recent years. Indeed, such basic substances as water, salt, oxygen, and phosphorus have been subjects of popular ‘‘biographies’’ over the last decade, some written by accomplished science writers, skilled at communicating scientific stories to a non-specialist audience. Most of these examples appeal to non-specialist readers interested in chemistry as well as scientists interested in historical and cultural aspects of their discipline. An Element of Controversy can be placed in this category, albeit closer to the scholarly than the popular in style and content. Each chapter, written by a different group of authors, focuses on a particular aspect of the story of chlorine. There are two main sections, within each of which the organization is roughly chronological. The first section treats aspects of chlorine in the context of theories of matter, and the second treats applications of chlorine in technology, medicine, and war. In the first section are chapters that treat chlorine with respect to the eighteenth century theory of phlogiston, the elementary status of chlorine, the role of chlorine in the saga of Prout’s hypothesis over much of the nineteenth century, and chlorine as a probe in the study of neutrinos. In the second, the development of bleaching technology in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the application of chlorine as a disinfectant in the middle nineteenth century, chlorine as a chemical weapon in the first World War and its role in subsequent treaties against chemical weapons, chlorine as a treatment for colds and
Start making sense: Practical approaches to outcomes assessment for libraries

Abstract Traditionally, libraries attempted to prove their effectiveness by reporting the number of resources the library bought or subscribed to, of instructional sessions taught and of reference questions answered, among other statistics. However, libraries are increasingly expected to document student achievement using outcomes assessment. After struggling with outcomes assessment at our own institution for several years, we have found that the most effective way to handle program-level and classroom-level outcomes assessment is to create manageable, realistic assessment tools. In this paper, we describe two assessment tools that have worked for us: a brief survey given to a large number of students and an in-depth, multipart tool used with a limited number of library instruction sessions.
A tale of forecasting 1001 series: The Bayesian knight strikes again

Abstract In this paper it is pointed out that a Bayesian forecasting procedure performed better according to an average mean square error (MSE) criterion than the many other forecasting procedures utilized in the forecasting experiments reported in an extensive study by Makridakis et al. (1982). This fact was not mentioned or discussed by the authors. Also, it is emphasized that if criteria other than MSE are employed, Bayesian forecasts that are optimal relative to them should be employed. Specific examples are provided and analyzed to illustrate this point.
ADR1c mutations enhance the ability of ADR1 to activate transcription by a mechanism that is independent of effects on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation of Ser-230

Four ADR1c mutations that occur close to Ser-230 of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcriptional activator ADR1 and which greatly enhance the ability of ADR1 to activate ADH2 expression under glucose-repressed conditions have been shown to reduce or eliminate cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK) phosphorylation of Ser-230 in vitro. In addition, unregulated cAPK expression in vivo blocks ADH2 depression in an ADR1-dependent fashion in which ADR1c mutations display decreased sensitivity to unregulated cAPK activity. Taken together, these data have suggested that ADR1c mutations enhance ADR1 activity by blocking cAPK phosphorylation and inactivation of Ser-230. We have isolated and characterized an additional 17 ADR1c mutations, defining 10 different amino acid changes, that were located in the region defined by amino acids 227 through 239 of ADR1. Three observations, however, indicate that the ADR1c phenotype is not simply equivalent to a lack of cAPK phosphorylation. First, only some of these newly isolated ADR1c mutations affected the ability of yeast cAPK to phosphorylate corresponding synthetic peptides modeled on the 222 to 234 region of ADR1 in vitro. Second, we observed that strains lacking cAPK activity did not display enhanced ADH2 expression under glucose growth conditions. Third, when Ser-230 was mutated to a nonphosphorylatable residue, lack of cAPK activity led to a substantial increase in ADH2 expression under glucose-repressed conditions. Thus, while cAPK controls ADH2 expression and ADR1 is required for this control, cAPK acts by a mechanism that is independent of effects on ADR1 Ser-230. It was also observed that deletion of the ADR1c region resulted in an ADR1c phenotype. The ADR1c region is, therefore, involved in maintaining ADR1 in an inactive form. ADR1c mutations may block the binding of a repressor to ADR1 or alter the structure of ADR1 so that transcriptional activation regions become unmasked.
Domestic Abuse Across the Lifespan: Definitions, Identification and Risk Factors for Occupational Therapists

Domestic abuse has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Occupational therapists working in many different settings will encounter children, adults, elders and individuals with disabil...
US Geological Survey research on the environmental fate of uranium mining and milling wastes

Studies by the US Geological Survey (USGS) of uranium mill tailings (UMT) have focused on characterizing the forms in which radionuclides are retained and identifying factors influencing the release of radionuclides to air and water. Selective extraction studies and studies of radionuclide sorption by and leaching from components of UMT showed alkaline earth sulfate and hydrous ferric oxides to be important hosts of radium-226 (226Ra) in UMT. Extrapolating from studies of barite dissolution in anerobic lake sediments, the leaching of226Ra from UMT by sulfate-reducing bacteria was investigated; a marked increase in226Ra release to aqueous solution as compared to sterile controls was demonstrated. A similar action of iron(III)-reducing bacteria was later shown. Ion exchangers such as clay minerals can also promote the dissolution of host-phase minerals and thereby influence the fate of radionuclides such as226Ra. Radon release studies examined particle size and ore composition as variables. Aggregation of UMT particles was shown to mask the higher emanating fraction of finer particles. Studies of various ores and ore components showed that UMT cannot be assumed to have the same radon-release characteristics as their precursor ores, nor can226Ra retained by various substrates be assumed to emanate the same fraction of radon. Over the last decade, USGS research directed at offsite mobility of radionuclides from uranium mining and milling processes has focused on six areas: the Midnite Mine in Washington; Ralston Creek and Reservoir, Colorado; sites near Canon City, Colorado; the Monument Valley District of Arizona and Utah; the Cameron District of Arizona; and the Puerco River basin of Arizona and New Mexico.
The effect of alpha incident- and poloidal-angle distributions on blister-induced first-wall erosion

Abstract The incident velocity distribution of high-energy alpha particles bombarding the first wall of an axisymmetric tokamak is evaluated as a function of poloidal angle (γ). The resulting helium concentration profile as a function of the poloidal angle and the implant depth is calculated for a typical Experimental Power Reactor (EPR) design. The critical helium concentration for blistering is first exceeded at θ ~55°. Peak concentrations are reduced somewhat through continuous D-T sputtering which, dependent on θ, reduces the blister skin thicknesses. The blistering-induced impurity level is found to increase drastically (≲
African wave disturbances in a general circulation model

Evidence is presented to show that African wave disturbances are reproduced in a general circulation simulation. The model used is the general circulation model developed by the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency. The model was integrated in order to simulate the summer of 1974. A synoptic analysis of the simulated data over Africa for the month of July was done. The results of the analysis show that wave disturbances are generated by the model; the behavior and the structure of the simulated disturbances are similar to those observed over tropical Africa during the northern summer.
The primate globus pallidus: neuronal activity related to direction of movement

Neurons in the arm areas of the external and internal segments of the globus pallidus (GPe and GPi) and the ventral pallidum (VP) have been examined in a visuomotor step-tracking task. This task, which was similar to that used previously to examine neurons in the arm area of the putamen, dissociated the direction of movement from the pattern of muscle activity associated with the movement. The major finding of the present study is that, as in the putamen, the activity of almost half of the neurons in GPe and GPi was related to the direction of movement. Cells with overall patterns of activity similar to muscle were rare, although many neurons had static and/or dynamic load effects which resembled those seen in muscle. Responses of neurons to load application have also been examined in this paradigm in order to determine the nature of possible somatosensory input. Short-latency “sensory” responses to load application were found in pallidum as previously in putamen, but, by contrast, they occurred somewhat later and included bidirectional responses. Similar proportions of cells in GP and putamen were related to static loads. Some VP neurons appeared to encode information about specific features of the trials, but the majority of responses were nonspecific suggesting relations to more general features of the task.
Coil occlusion of residual shunts after surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus.

Objective— To describe use of coil embolization to occlude residual flow through a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) after incomplete surgical ligation. Study Design— Clinical study. Animals— Dogs (n=4) with continuous murmur after surgical ligation of PDA. Methods— After PDA ligation, residual ductal flow through the PDA was visible on color-flow Doppler examination and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter remained increased. Coil embolization by an arterial approach was performed to achieve complete occlusion of the PDA. Results— Embolization coils were delivered without complications and hemodynamically successful occlusion was achieved. Doppler-visible flow resolved in 2 dogs within 3 months after embolization. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter indexed to body weight decreased in all dogs. Conclusions— Transcatheter coil embolization appears to be a safe and minimally invasive procedure for complete occlusion of residual PDA flow after incomplete surgical ligation. Clinical Relevance— Transcatheter coil embolization should be considered for correction of hemodynamically significant residual shunts in dogs that have incomplete PDA occlusion after open surgical ligation.
Detection and classification of nonstationary transient signals using sparse approximations and Bayesian networks

This paper considers sequential detection and classification of multiple transient signals from vector observations corrupted with additive noise and multiple types of structured interference. Sparse approximations of observations are found to facilitate computation of the likelihood of each signal model without relying on restrictive assumptions concerning the distribution of observations. Robustness to interference may be incorporated by virtue of the inherent separation capabilities of sparse coding. Each signal model is characterized by a Bayesian Network, which captures the temporal dependency structure among coefficients in successive sparse approximations under the associated hypothesis. Generalized likelihood ratios tests may then be used to perform signal detection and classification during quiescent periods, and quiescent detection whenever a signal is present. The results of applying the proposed method to a national park soundscape analysis problem demonstrate its practical utility for detecting and classifying real acoustical sources present in complex sonic environments.
The garden in its time: Visions of refuge in one corner of Beijing

Abstract You do not have to be Chinese or a Buddhist or a Manchu prince to know the value of a place where thought can take its shape at ease. Wendell Berry, a contemporary American poet of the South, like so many cultivators of the garden of the mind before him, turns to the metaphor of water in a pitcher. Nothing is more simple, less adorned, less hard to find. A garden, if well designed, is a place where one can get away from the clutter of daily life. An effective garden scours the mind and the soul down to the basics. Contemplating the ‘bones’ of the garden — be they rocks, trees, water or flowers — one is brought close to the architecture of the self. If you are truly fortunate, you may be able to reshape your innermost being in the presence of the garden.
Clickable polyglycerol hyperbranched polymers and their application to gold nanoparticles and acid-labile nanocarriers

A one-step, large-scale preparation of alkyne-containing hyper-branched polyglycerols (HPG) is reported. The HPGs undergo click reactions to organic azides allowing a range of applications.
Botulinum toxin treatment of spasmodic dysphonia: Techniques, indications, efficacy*

Summary A group of 58 patients with spasmodic dysphonia (SD) was treated perorally or transcutaneously with botulinum toxin (BT), and followed for at least 6 months. Most were treated by peroral injection using indirect laryngoscopy to facilitate precise placement. An effort was made to disperse the toxin over the entire thyroarytenoid muscle in order to affect the greatest number of motor end-plates using the smallest possible effective dose. Severely symptomatic patients with primarily adductor SD had the best results. A potentiation effect is suggested by analysis of a subpopulation of patients, mostly injected unilaterally, for whom the outcome was more favorable for those who had had prior injections. One-month postinjection studies reflect significant improvement in measured readings of a standard passage, and this is consistent with the subjective and perceptual improvements noted. There were no severe complications. Peroral injection seems inadvisable for patients with mixed or abductor SD as well as for those with an uncontrollable gag reflex.
Dry Deposition of Particulate Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons to Lake Michigan

Dry deposition was collected from November 1993 to October 1995 at multiple sites within the Lake Michigan basin to estimate fluxes of particulate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as part of the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study (LMMBS). Samples were also collected during the Atmospheric Exchange over Lakes and Oceans (AEOLOS) project to estimate fluxes to coastal waters adjacent to the Chicago urban area. Fluxes of particulate PCBs and PAHs were higher in Chicago than <15 km offshore and at rural sites. Geometric mean dry deposition fluxes across the Lake Michigan basin ranged from 3.6 to 65 mg/m2-day for particle mass, 0.06 to 0.21 μg/m2-day for Σ-PCBs, and 0.25 to 18 μg/m2-day for Σ-PAHs. Similarities in both the distribution pattern of PCB congeners and PAHs and the magnitude of their fluxes between dry deposition and surficial sediment suggest that dry deposition may dominate loadings to the lake. Conservative estimates of loadings to Lake Michigan through p...
Correlations between nitrogen and N uptake and yield of corn grown in three tillage systems

Abstract Nitrogen fertilizer recommendations for corn in South Dakota are based on a soil test for inorganic N, but data is limited concerning how different tillage systems affect N uptake and yield of continuous corn. Relationships between total N uptake and yield of corn, N03‐N contents at different sampling depths taken either in the spring or fall were studied in 1988 and 1989 on an Estelline soil located in eastern South Dakota. The test consisted of three tillage systems (chisel, moldboard, and ridge) and 5 N rates (0, 65, 130, 195, and 260 kg N/ha). Results indicated that NO3‐N samples taken in the fall to a depth of 60 cm were better correlated with N uptake and yield than spring sampled soils. The correlations in 1988 between fall NO3‐N and uptake were linear for the chisel and moldboard system but quadratic for the ridge system. In 1989 the response was quadratic for the chisel and moldboard system but linear for the ridge system. The relationship between fall NO3‐N and corn grain yield was line...
Combination regimen of methylprednisolone, IV immunoglobulin, and plasmapheresis early in the treatment of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of the disease is of paramount importance; however, treatment options are limited because only case reports and small series are available in the literature. We report a case of a 42 year-old previously healthy man, whom we treated successfully with a combination regimen of methylprednisolone, IV immunoglobulin, and plasmapheresis early in the course of the disease.
Leaf Quality and Enemy Avoidance by the Larvae of a Pyralid Moth

Low nutritional quality of mature plant leaves generally leads to slow growth of herbivores. Slow growth, in turn, is thought to increase the vulnerability of herbivores to their annual enemies. I investigated the relative importance of nutritional quality and enemy avoidance to the larvae of a pyralid moth, Omphalocera munroei, that feed almost exclusively on the old leaves of their host plant (Asimina spp.). The effect of leaf age on development rate, the importance of predators and parasitoids as mortality agents, and the interactions between leaf quality and enemy avoidance were studied in field manipulations using larvae placed on naturally growing plants. Larvae of O. munroei developed 20% more slowly on old leaves than they did not young foliage. Predators, which accounted for most of the mortality of O. munroei caterpillars, reached maximum densities at the same time that O. munroei populations peaked. Two aspects of larval feeding behavior, leaf tying and gregarious feeding, reduced the impact of natural enemies. Leaf ties built of old leaves were more effective at reducing predating than were those built of young leaves, probably because old leaves maintained their shape, while young leaves wilted, following feeding by O. munroei. The greater rigidity of old leaves, however, required that O. munroei feed in groups of at least 20 caterpillars, which could then pull the leaves together. A group size of 20 coincided with the mean size of egg masses laid by females in the field. Given a choice, larvae preferred nutritionally poor old leaves arranged to form a shelter rather than nutritionally superior young leaves without shelter, indicating that protection from enemies was more important than nutrient to the larvae. The results also suggest that slow growth need not invariably lead to greater exposure of herbivores to natural enemies.
Coexistence of Exciton Fission and Fusion in Tetracene Crystals

Triplet exciton fusion and singlet excition fission have been observed in tetracene crystals, and the magnetic field dependence and the rate constants for these processes have been measured. At 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C the singlet fission rate constant and the triplet-triplet fusion rate constant (leading to excited singlets) are (6.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{8}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and 9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ sec-1 (within an order of magnitude), respectively.
Specific RNA binding by Q.beta. coat protein

The interaction between the bacteriophage Q beta coat protein and its specific binding site on Q beta genomic RNA was characterized by using a nitrocellulose filter binding assay. Q beta coat protein bound to a synthetic 29-nucleotide RNA hairpin with an association constant of 400 microM-1 at 4 degrees C, 0.2 M ionic strength, pH 6.0. Complex formation had a broad pH optimum centered around pH 6.0 and was favored by both enthalpy and entropy. The salt dependence of Ka revealed that four to five ion pairs may be formed in the complex although approximately 80% of the free energy of complex formation is contributed by nonelectrostatic interactions. Truncation experiments revealed that coat protein binding required only the presence of a hairpin with an eight base pair stem and a three-base loop. Analysis of the binding properties of hairpin variants showed that the sequence of the stem was not important for coat protein recognition and only one of the three loop residues was essential. A bulged adenosine present in the coat protein binding site was not required for coat protein binding. Q beta coat protein binding specific is therefore primarily achieved by the structure and not by the sequence of the operator.
Preparing Students for a Distance Learning Environment: A Comparison of Learning Strategies of In-Class and Distance Learners.

By 2010, college enrollments are expected to increase by one-third, yet this growth happens at a time when colleges and universities are faced with limited or reduced funding [1]. The result is a demand for cost-effective methods of instruction like distance learning [2]. But to be successful in a distance learning environment, students must not only be self-disciplined but also have effective learning skills [3]. What learning skills do the students need and how can they acquire them? This article examines the learning and study strategies of in-class and distance learners. It indicates the skills they need and the skills they have. It also suggests sources and methods of how they might acquire the skills they lack.
Henri Hubert, racial science and political myth

Even though Durkheim’s sociological reputation was established by works on ‘social problems’ like suicide, a certain remoteness of style characterizes Durkheimian sociology. ‘Remoteness’ describes at least three features of Durkheimian work — two actual; the third, one of Durkheim’s more cherished beliefs. First, Durkheimian thought can be said to be remote because of its preference for the pursuit of general explanatory principles such as ‘elementary forms’ over the study of ‘social problems’. Second, and closely connected, Durkheim increasingly came to approach modern society from the comparative and historically or geographically distant vantage-point of the ‘primitive’. Third, Durkheim’s belief in the objectivity of his ‘scientific’ sociology entails the remoteness of sociological ‘facts’ from the personal or political ‘values’ of the sociologist.1
Composite recovery type curves in normalized time from Theis' exact solution

Type curves derived from Theis' exact nonequilibrium well function solution are proposed for graphical estimation of aquifer hydraulic properties, transmissivity (T), and storage coefficient (S), from water-level recovery data after cessation of a constant-rate discharge test. Drawdown (on log scale) is plotted versus the ratio of time since pumping stopped to duration of pumping, a normalized time. Under Theis conditions, individual type curves depend on only the dimensionless pumping duration, which depends in turn on S and radial distance from the pumping well. Type curve matching, in contrast to the Theis procedure for pumping data, is performed by shifting only the drawdown axis; the time axis is fixed because it is a relative or normalized time. The match-point for the drawdown axis is used to compute T, and S is determined from matching the curve shape, which depends on early dimensionless-time data. Multiple well data can be plotted and matched simultaneously (a composite plot), with drawdown at different radial distances matching different curves. The ratio of dimensionless pumping durations for any two matched curves is equal to one over the squared ratio of radial distances. Application to two recovery datasets from the literature confirm the utility of these type curves in normalized time for composite estimation of T and S.
MODELING LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF PESTICIDES ON POPULATIONS: BEYOND JUST COUNTING DEAD ANIMALS

New highly selective pesticides are often less lethal than older pesticides and consequently leave many survivors behind. Because there are survivors, evaluating efficacy for these new pesticides r ...
The cultivation and predator-prey relationships Chænæ vorax and Cyclidium sp.

Chaenea vorax, a predatory marine gymnostome, was established in laboratory culture using Cyclidium sp. as a food source. The respective cultures were used to study the predator-prey relationships of these organisms. In addition, the feeding specifics of Chaenea vorax were studied and a possible sexual phenomenon, herein called “coupling”, was observed.
Advances in predicting CYP-mediated drug interactions in the drug discovery setting.

Advances in high-throughput screening methodologies, biological reagents and in silico techniques relating to cytochrome p450 (CYP)-mediated drug–drug interactions have led to reduced clinical attrition rates and to the development of safer therapeutics. Greater understanding of the impact of genetic variability and CYP induction on drug interactions, particularly for low therapeutic index drugs, has facilitated improved clinical study design. This review outlines recent developments using in vitro and in silico technologies to study CYP-mediated drug interactions and describes how those tools have been combined to drive improved candidate selection and in vivo predictions early in the drug discovery process.
Phorbol esters inhibit chondrogenesis in limb mesenchyme by mechanisms independent of PGE2 or cyclic AMP

Effects of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on chondrogenesis and concentrations of prostaglandin E{sub 2} (PGE{sub 2}) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) were investigated in micromass cultures of chick limb mesenchyme derived from the distal tip of stage 25 limb buds. TPA completely inhibited chondrogenesis during the first 4 days of culture; however, a few small cartilage nodules formed by day 6. Relative to control cultures, both PGE{sub 2} and cAMP concentrations were altered by TPA treatment during the 6-day period of cell culture. Concentrations of both compounds increased in control cells during the first 24 hours of culture and then declined during the remaining 5 days. In TPA-treated cells both PGE{sub 2} and cAMP levels increased progressively during the 6 days of cell culture, each being elevated at day 6 by twofold over control cells. The results suggest the presence of regulatory pathways important in chondrogenesis which occur independent of those initiated by PGE{sub 2} and the cAMP system.
Percutaneous right ventricular support during catheter ablation of intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia in an adult with a mustard baffle—A novel use of the Impella device

Late sequelea following a Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) include atrial arrhythmias and dysfunction of the systemic right ventricle. Catheter mapping and ablation of atrial tachycardia in the setting of significant right ventricular dysfunction may result in hemodynamic compromise. We report the novel use of the Impella percutaneous microaxial flow pump to support cardiac output in an adult patient with a Mustard operation for TGA who experienced a cardiac arrest during a prior ablation attempt. The Impella device was placed via a retrograde approach across the aortic valve into the right ventricle providing hemodynamic stability for successful mapping and ablation of intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia.
A stress inducible SUMO conjugating enzyme gene (SaSce9) from a grass halophyte Spartina alterniflora enhances salinity and drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis.

SUMO (Small Ubiquitin related Modifier) conjugation is a post translational regulatory process found in all eukaryotes, mediated by SUMO activating enzyme, SUMO conjugating enzyme, and SUMO ligase for the attachment of SUMO to its target protein. Although the mechanism for regulation of SUMO conjugation pathway genes under abiotic stress has been studied to certain extent, the role of SUMO conjugating enzyme in improving abiotic stress tolerance to plant is largely unexplored. Here, we have characterized a SUMO conjugating enzyme gene ‘SaSce9’ from a halophytic grass Spartina alterniflora and investigated its role in imparting abiotic stress tolerance. SaSce9 gene encodes for a polypeptide of 162 amino acids with a molecular weight of ~18 kD and isoelectric point 8.43. Amino acid sequence comparisons of SaSce9 with its orthologs from other plant species showed high degree (~85-93%) of structural conservation among each other. Complementation analysis using yeast SCE mutant, Ubc9, revealed functional conservation of SaSce9 between yeast and S. alterniflora. SaSce9 transcript was inducible by salinity, drought, cold, and exogenously supplied ABA both in leaves and roots of S. alterniflora. Constitutive overexpression of SaSce9 in Arabidopsis through Agrobacterium mediated transformation improved salinity and drought tolerance of Arabidopsis. SaSce9 overexpressing Arabidopsis plants retained more chlorophyll and proline both under salinity and drought stress. SaSce9 transgenic plants accumulated lower levels of reactive oxygen under salinity stress. Expression analysis of stress responsive genes in SaSce9 Arabidopsis plants revealed the increased expression of antioxidant genes, AtSOD and AtCAT, ion antiporter genes, AtNHX1 and AtSOS1, a gene involved in proline biosynthesis, AtP5CS, and a gene involved in ABA dependent signaling pathway, AtRD22. These results highlight the prospect of improving abiotic stress tolerance in plants through genetic engineering of the sumoylation pathway. The study provides evidence that the overexpression of SaSce9 in plant can improve salinity and drought stress tolerance by protecting the plant through scavenging of ROS, accumulation of an osmolyte, proline, and expression of stress responsive genes. In addition, this study demonstrates the potential of the halophyte grass S. alterniflora as a reservoir of abiotic stress related genes for crop improvement.
Role of metabolically active drugs in the management of ischemic heart disease.

This article reviews the fundamentals of myocardial energy metabolism and selectively outlines the use of several metabolically active drug therapies in the treatment of ischemic heart disease. These drugs — ranolazine, trimetazidine, dichloroacetate (DCA), glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) solutions, and L-carnitine — have mechanisms of action distinct from traditional anti-ischemic drugs. These agents work by shifting myocardial energy metabolism away from fatty acids toward glucose as a source of fuel. Because these agents are well tolerated and do not affect heart rate or blood pressure, they conceivably could supplement traditional anti-ischemic drug therapy with little risk. The background, rationale for use, and published literature on each agent is reviewed, and the outcomes of pertinent clinical trials are discussed. In the case of ranolazine, data suggest benefit in the treatment of stable angina pectoris, particularly with sustained release formulations. Trimetazidine appears to have similar physiologic effects to ranolazine, and it is effective as monotherapy and as additive therapy in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease. DCA improves acidosis in critically ill patients and, likewise, improves myocardial hemodynamics in those with chronic coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure; however, its metabolism is variable and clinical data on its use in chronic ischemic heart disease are limited. GIK solutions have been shown to be beneficial in animal and human models of ischemia and acute myocardial infarction, and they offer an inexpensive means by which to improve the oxidation of glucose in the heart. Lastly, a large body of literature suggests a benefit with L-carnitine in a number of cardiovascular illnesses, including ischemic heart disease. Clinical trial data in acute myocardial infarction are promising and have prompted the initiation of a large-scale mortality trial.
Analetheism and dialetheism

Graham Priest (1987) argues that dialetheism alone avoids familiar revenge problems, and in that respect enjoys expressive virtues that rival theories lack.1 In this paper we present a rival theory – analetheism – that seems to enjoy precisely the expressive virtues that dialetheism enjoys.2 Analetheism, for us, is the thesis that some sentences lack truth-value, coupled with the willingness to assert such sentences. On a formal level, both theories rely on the same basic logic (viz. LP), differing only at restrictions placed on truth. On an informal level, the difference arises at interpreting LP’s third value: where the dialetheist sees truth-value gluts, the analetheist sees truth-value gaps.3 Our aim in this paper is not to argue for analetheism but rather to put it on the table with dialetheism; indeed, in terms of cost-benefit analysis, we do not see a clear ‘winner’ among the two positions. On one hand the analetheist, as we present her, evidently enjoys the same sort of expressive benefits enjoyed by the dialetheist (she avoids revenge problems); on the other, she also faces the same sort of (expressive) difficulties. Accordingly, we present the positions in bare parallel, leaving analetheism as a challenge for the dialetheist. Throughout, we attempt to say just enough to highlight the target, parallel, position. In §2 we briefly review LP. In §3 we rehearse Priest’s dialetheic take on the Liar and the dialetheic restrictions on truth.4 §4 presents the analetheist’s take on the Liar and her restrictions on truth. §5 provides some general observations about the two positions and their relationship to each other. In §6 we close by very briefly considering a different notion of truth (intersubstitutable truth) and its apparent effect on the two positions.
A note on stable graphs

Abstract A graph F is stable if for all n sufficiently large and all graphs G of order n, u,v ϵ V(G) deg G u + deg G v⩾2n-4 F⊂G+uv ⇒F⊂G It is shown that if F is a graph which is not a star, then F is stable if and only if given any edge w1w2 of F there are nonadjacent vertices w3, w4 with F−{w3, w4} ⊂ F − {w1,w2}.
Amino acid residues associated with cluster N3 in the NuoF subunit of the proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase from Escherichia coli.

The NuoF subunit, which harbors NADH-binding site, of Escherichia coli NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (NDH-1) con- tains five conserved cysteine residues, four of which are predicted to ligate cluster N3. To determine this coordination, we overex- pressed and purified the NuoF subunit and NuoF + E subcomplex in E. coli. We detected two distinct EPR spectra, arising from a (4Fe-4S) cluster (gx,y,z = 1.90, 1.95, and 2.05) in NuoF, and a (2Fe-2S) cluster (gx,y,z = 1.92, 1.95, and 2.01) in NuoE subunit. These clusters were assigned to clusters N3 and N1a, respectively. Based on the site-directed mutagenesis experiments, we identified that cluster N3 is ligated to the 351 Cx2Cx2Cx40C 398 motif. 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.
Exact derivative interband dielectric function at Van Hove singularities

Interpretations of derivative spectra obtained by wavelength or thermal modulation have been based on universal lineshape functions that include only the resonant term, (ωg − ω −iη) −12, obtained from differentiating e(ω) with respect to ω or ωg, and that neglect the (ω + iη)−2 prefactor. We find the following differences between the approximate universal lineshape functions and the exact results obtained by including the nonresonant terms. de/dω and de2/dω are no longer simply related to each other; two entirely different functions are obtained. Wavelength and temperature modulation no longer have identical lineshapes. Either de1/dω or de2/dω has a resonant derivative lineshape according to whether j is even or odd, respectively, in contrast to the approximate universal function, which has no zeros, de1/dω for a pure M1 singularity has positive and negative peaks of approximately equal strength, which would agree with the experimental results without invoking hyperbolic excitons (admixtures of Mj and mj+1 lineshapes). On the other hand, the nonexcitonic exact result fails to reproduce other experimental features. At the very least, our results call into question the extraction of numbers from detailed curve fits to the approximate functions.
Phytosterol feeding induces alteration in testosterone metabolism in rat tissues

The objective of the present study was to examine the metabolism of testosterone in rat tissues as influenced by dietary phytosterols. Testosterone metabolism includes reductions to more active metabolites or aromatization to estrogen. Both higher levels of androgens and estrogens are implicated as risk factors in the development of prostate cancer. Tissues studied included liver, testis, and prostate. Feeding 2% phytosterols with 0.2% cholic acid to rats for 22 days resulted in a 33% reduction in serum testosterone compared with controls, which received only 0.2% cholic acid in the diet. 5-α-Reductase was reduced by 41 to 44% and 33% in the liver and prostate, respectively. No effect of phytosterols was observed in the testis. Only aromatase activity of the prostate was reduced by 55% upon feeding phytosterols. It was concluded that dietary phytosterols may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by lowering the activities of the enzymes of testosterone metabolism.
New Daily Persistent Headache: An Update

New daily persistent headache is a primary headache disorder marked by a unique temporal profile which is daily from onset. For many sufferers this is their first ever headache. Very little is known about the pathogenesis of this condition. It might be a disorder of abnormal glial activation with persistent central nervous system inflammation and it may be a syndrome that occurs in individuals who have a history of cervical hypermobility. At present there is no known specific treatment and many patients go for years to decades without any improvement in their condition despite aggressive therapy. This article will present an up-to-date overview of new daily persistent headache on the topics of clinical presentation, treatment, diagnostic criteria, and presumed pathogenesis. It will also provide some of the authors own treatment suggestions based on recognized triggering events and some suggestions for future clinical trials.
The role of polyols in the pathophysiology of hypergalactosemia.

Cellular accumulation of galactitol has been suggested to cause the apparent dietary-independent, long-term complications in classic galactosemia. Experimental animals rendered hypergalactosemic by galactose feeding accumulate tissue galactitol, as well as millimolar quantities of galactose, and manifest biochemical, physiological and pathological abnormalities which are generally eliminated or curtailed by the concomitant administration of an aldose reductase inhibitor. This includes reduced cellular content of the cyclic polyol, myo-inositol, which like galactitol may function as an alternate intracellular osmolyte. However, the abnormalities detected in experimental galactosemic animals are more compatible with findings in experimental diabetes mellitus than in human galactosemia. Because patients with galactokinase deficiency fail to manifest the CNS and ovarian complications which characterize classic galactosemia. yet during long-term lactose restriction excrete comparable urinary quantities of galactitol, this polyol alone is not likely to play an important role during postnatal life in the pathogenesis of long-term complications. Notwithstanding, a role for either galactitol or myo-inositol in an intrauterine toxicity cannot be dismissed.
Prevention of aminonitrile lesions in rats with L-triiodothyronine.

SummaryLow doses of l-triiodothyronine suppressed the mild forms of aminoacetonitrile poisoning in rats, whereas extremely high doses of thyroxine were necessary to accomplish the same result. On the basis of the prevention of aminonitrile lesions in rats, l-triiodothyronine was estimated to be over 100 times more active than l-thyroxine when administered orally and over 50 times when administered parenterally.
Toward the Development of an Urban Growth Model that Recognizes the Importance of the Basic Nature of Services

This exploratory research examines selected service sectors of a defined local economy. Using export base theory, preliminary models linking these services sectors to exogenous influences are developed. These models are found to be statistically diverse. Further model-building efforts should recognize the heterogeneous nature of services through disaggregation of services sectors and a thorough consideration of potential exogenous variables.