cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vitamin supplementation and resistance exercise‐induced muscle hypertrophy: shifting the redox balance scale?

Exercise training adaptations are the result of the cumulative changes in the cell consisting of at least transcription, translation, post-translational modifications, and overall cellular remodelling occurring in response to an exercise bout. While there are numerous stimuli for changes in transcription and translation, the transient increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) appears to play a key role in exercise training adaptation (Powers et al. 2010). Thus, ingestion of antioxidant supplements, such as vitamins C and E, during exercise training could blunt exercise-induced ROS production and impair cellular responses to exercise training. As a result, investigators have examined the intracellular responses to exercise with and without antioxidants to determine the role of antioxidant supplementation on ROS-induced changes in protein signalling, gene transcription and protein translation. In general, antioxidant supplementation studies using both animal and human models have produced divergent results on overall exercise performance, protein signalling, gene expression and mitochondrial biogenesis. To date, most studies examine responses to aerobic exercise training interventions, and do not investigate resistance exercise training. In light of the lack of consensus, determining the interaction between antioxidant supplementation and exercise-induced ROS production and subsequent adaptations remains an essential quest for improving health outcomes related to exercise and redox state.
Side Chain Packing below the Fusion Peptide Strongly Modulates Triggering of the Hendra Virus F Protein

Triggering of the Hendra virus fusion (F) protein is required to initiate the conformational changes which drive membrane fusion, but the factors which control triggering remain poorly understood. Mutation of a histidine predicted to lie near the fusion peptide to alanine greatly reduced fusion despite wild-type cell surface expression levels, while asparagine substitution resulted in a moderate restoration in fusion levels. Slowed kinetics of six-helix bundle formation, as judged by sensitivity to heptad repeat B-derived peptides, was observed for all H372 mutants. These data suggest that side chain packing beneath the fusion peptide is an important regulator of Hendra virus F triggering.
NAFTA or Nada? Trade's Impact on U.S. Border Retailers

The extensive debate over trade liberalization policies in the United States holds a general consensus that some industries will benefit while others will not. This paper explores the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on U.S. retailers in states located along the border with Mexico. Overall, the impact of trade on U.S. border retailers has been beneficial. However, the results demonstrate that retailers in the region are vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations and other macroeconomic influences that change the relative price ratio between the United States and Mexico. Furthermore, retailers in metropolitan statistical areas that have a relatively high concentration of retail sector employment are more susceptible to these changes.
Effects of cosmological parameters and star formation models on the cosmic star formation history in ΛCDM cosmological simulations

We investigate the effects of the change of cosmological parameters and star formation (SF) models on the cosmic SF history using cosmological smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations based on the cold dark matter (CDM) model. We vary the cosmological parameters within 1σ error from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe best-fitting parameters, and find that such changes in cosmological parameters mostly affect the amplitude of the cosmic SF history. At high redshift (hereafter high z), the SF rate (SFR) is sensitive to the cosmological parameters that control the small-scale power of the primordial power spectrum, while the cosmic matter content becomes important at lower redshifts. We also test two new SF models: (1) the ‘Pressure’ model based on the work by Schaye & Dalla Vecchia and (2) the ‘Blitz’ model that takes the effect of molecular hydrogen formation into account, based on the work by Blitz & Rosolowsky. Compared to the previous conventional SF model, the Pressure model reduces the SFR in low-density regions and shows better agreement with the observations of the Kennicutt–Schmidt law. This model also suppresses the early SF and shifts the peak of the cosmic SF history towards lower redshift, more consistently with the recent observational estimates of cosmic SFR density. The simulations with the new SF model also predict lower global stellar mass densities at high z, larger populations of low-mass galaxies and a higher gas fraction in high-z galaxies. Our results suggest that there is room left in the model uncertainties to reconcile the discrepancy that was found between the theory and observations of cosmic SF history and stellar mass density. Nevertheless, our simulations still predict higher stellar mass densities than most of the observational estimates.
Prognosis of Children with "Cerebral Palsy" Reflections on a Stock-Taking

What happens to children with cerebral palsy when they grow up?What recuperative powers has the central nervous system?Is everything being done that can be done to prevent these tragedies?
Data-Driven Cluster Reinforcement and Visualization in Sparsely-Matched Self-Organizing Maps

A self-organizing map (SOM) is a self-organized projection of high-dimensional data onto a typically 2-dimensional (2-D) feature map, wherein vector similarity is implicitly translated into topological closeness in the 2-D projection. However, when there are more neurons than input patterns, it can be challenging to interpret the results, due to diffuse cluster boundaries and limitations of current methods for displaying interneuron distances. In this brief, we introduce a new cluster reinforcement (CR) phase for sparsely-matched SOMs. The CR phase amplifies within-cluster similarity in an unsupervised, data-driven manner. Discontinuities in the resulting map correspond to between-cluster distances and are stored in a boundary (B) matrix. We describe a new hierarchical visualization of cluster boundaries displayed directly on feature maps, which requires no further clustering beyond what was implicitly accomplished during self-organization in SOM training. We use a synthetic benchmark problem and previously published microbial community profile data to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed methods.
Smooth Nearness-Diagram Navigation

This paper presents a new method for reactive collision avoidance for mobile robots in complex and cluttered environments. Our technique is to adapt the ldquodivide and conquerrdquo approach of the nearness-diagram+ navigation (ND+) method to generate a single motion law which applies for all navigational situations. The resulting local path planner considers all the visible obstacles surrounding the robot, not just the closest two. With these changes our new navigation method generates smoother motion while avoiding obstacles. Results from comparisons with ND+ are presented as are experiments using Erratic mobile robots.
A new mosaic for women's health.

In recent years, interest in and commitment to the improvement of women’s health have burgeoned in the United States and around the world.[1,][1][2][2] Over the past twenty-five years in the United States, the women’s advocacy community has successfully argued for a better appreciation of the
The excretion of 17-ketosteroids in idiopathic hirsutism.

THE observations which have been published on the excretion of urinary 17-ketosteroids in normal women show that, though fluctuations in the excretion level occur, no systematic relation can be demonstrated between these fluctuations and the different phases of the menstrual cycle (1–11). The level of ketosteroid excretion during the menstrual cycle is on the whole remarkably constant, in contrast to that of other substances of hormonal origin. Ketosteroid excretion in hirsutism has been reported as high or very high, only when the condition is associated with the presence of a masculinizing tumor (adrenal or ovarian). In other cases of hirsutism the excretion range has been described as “within the normal range,” “tending toward the male range of excretion,” or as “moderately elevated” (3, 9, 12–17). The following report deals with the 17-ketosteroid excretion of 9 patients complaining of increased growth of facial and body hair. The patients ranged in age from 21 to 30 years; 4 were single, 5 were or ha...
Principal component analysis of urine metabolites detected by NMR and DESI-MS in patients with inborn errors of metabolism

Urine metabolic profiles of patients with inborn errors of metabolism were examined with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) methods. Spectra obtained from the study of urine samples from individual patients with argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA), classic homocystinuria (HCY), classic methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), phenylketonuria (PKU) and type II tyrosinemia (TYRO) were compared with six control patient urine samples using principal component analysis (PCA). Target molecule spectra were identified from the loading plots of PCA output and compared with known metabolic profiles from the literature and metabolite databases. Results obtained from the two techniques were then correlated to obtain a common list of molecules associated with the different diseases and metabolic pathways. The combined approach discussed here may prove useful in the rapid screening of biological fluids from sick patients and may help to improve the understanding of these rare diseases.
Bactericidal activity of phagocytin from rabbits exposed to whole body x-radiation.

SummaryPeritoneal exudates were induced in female rabbits and collected either 1, 5 or 30 days after total body exposure to 400 r and 1 or 5 days after 500 r. Exudate cells from unirradiated rabbits served as controls. Phagocytin was extracted from the exudate cells (heterophils) and tested for bactericidal activity against Escherichia colt, Salmonella enteritidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Phagocytin from cells collected 1 day after exposure to 400 or 500 r and 5 days after exposure to 500 r showed a decreased activity against all the test micro-organisms. Phagocytin from cells collected 5 days after exposure to 400 r showed only a slight change in activity from controls. A marked increase in phagocytin activity was observed in extracts of cells collected 30 days after exposure to 400 r.The authors are indebted to Dr. W. S. Moos, Dr. J. W. Yusken and Mr. R. Haas, Radiology Dept., College of Medicine, Univ. of Illinois, for the dosimetry and to Miss Mabel Counelis for irradiating t...
Exploring load balancing in heterogeneous networks by rate distribution

In a heterogeneous wireless network (HWN), traffic is distributed primarily by grouping and channelling identical traffic through a particular access point. In this paper, we introduce an effective traffic load balancing scheme for maximising expected throughput in HWNs. Two scenarios are explored. First, we model multiple APs of a HWN as a cascade of independent M/M/1 queues. The expected number of packets in the system is formulated as a convex optimisation problem and solved using a Lagrange multiplier. A recursive approach is used in distributing the traffic to different APs. Then, we model multiple APs as a union of multiple M/M/1 and M/D/1 queues. Here, we minimise the time spent by each job in the system. We use a solver to obtain optimal rate distribution among the networks. Through extensive simulations, we show that distributing the traffic optimally outperforms existing traditional methods of grouping and channelling similar kind of traffic.
Gene duplication as a mechanism of genetic adaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

It has been shown that specific mutations of the gene that codes for the general acid monophosphatase (Aphtase) of S. cerevisiae can increase the affinity of this enzyme for β-glycerophosphate (BGP) and thereby provide this organism with the capacity to exploit extremely low concentrations of this organic phosphate (Francis and Hansche 1973). In this report two additional avenues are demonstrated to be available to this organism for increasing its capacity to exploit low concentrations of organic phosphates. One avenue is through mutations that increase the amount of Aphtase that associates with the cell wall, where it catalizes the hydrolysis of exogenous organic phosphates. The other avenue is through duplication of the gene that codes for Aphtase, doubling the amount of Aphtase synthesized. — The spontaneous duplication of the structural gene of Aphtase and the incorporation of the duplicate into this experimental population as a means of exploiting low concentrations of exogenous organic phosphates provides direct support for the first step of the mechanism through which new metabolic functions are postulated to evolve.
From Cyclothems to Sequences: The Record of Eustasy and Climate on an Icehouse Epeiric Platform (Pennsylvanian-Permian, North American Midcontinent)

The stratigraphic succession of the North American Midcontinent contains a high-resolution (< 100,000 year) record of sea level and climate change spanning the Pennsylvanian-Permian boundary. Outcrop-based sequence stratigraphic analysis on the upper Wabaunsee, Admire, and lower Council Grove groups in Kansas and Nebraska reveals a hierarchy of fifty-one fifth-order meter-scale cycles grouped into five fourth-order composite sequences. Fifth-order cycles are bounded by subaerial unconformities in nearshore settings and correlative conformities in offshore settings, and are therefore very thin depositional sequences. Lowstand systems tracts, observed only in nearshore deposits, are expressed as sandy, incised-valley fills in these meter-scale cycles. Transgressive systems tracts, which are dominated by carbonate deposition, include coastal evaporites indicating arid climatic conditions. Highstand systems tracts, which are dominated by siliciclastic deposition, include thin but persistent coals in muddy coastal successions indicating humid climatic conditions. Paleosols at sequence boundaries evolve from vertic to calcic, indicating climate change from relatively humid to relatively arid conditions during subaerial exposure. This indicates that relatively arid climate coincided with eustatic lows while relatively humid climate coincided with eustatic highs on this low-latitude platform. Composite sequences are bounded by subaerial, angular unconformities and display a transgressive-regressive stacking pattern of meter-scale cycles. The high-resolution stratigraphic record of the Midcontinent helps constrain the rate and magnitude of environmental change in ancient icehouse conditions and can serve as a baseline of environmental change for comparison with other coeval successions.
Discovering homotypic binding events at high spatial resolution

Motivation: Clusters of protein–DNA interaction events involving the same transcription factor are known to act as key components of invertebrate and mammalian promoters and enhancers. However, detecting closely spaced homotypic events from ChIP-Seq data is challenging because random variation in the ChIP fragmentation process obscures event locations. Results: The Genome Positioning System (GPS) can predict protein–DNA interaction events at high spatial resolution from ChIP-Seq data, while retaining the ability to resolve closely spaced events that appear as a single cluster of reads. GPS models observed reads using a complexity penalized mixture model and efficiently predicts event locations with a segmented EM algorithm. An optional mode permits GPS to align common events across distinct experiments. GPS detects more joint events in synthetic and actual ChIP-Seq data and has superior spatial resolution when compared with other methods. In addition, the specificity and sensitivity of GPS are superior to or comparable with other methods. Availability: http://cgs.csail.mit.edu/gps Contact:[email protected]; [email protected] Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Relationships Among Walking Aids, Physical Activity, Depression, Fatigue, and Perceived Health in Assisted-Living Residents: A Pilot Study

This study assesses whether physical activity, depression, fatigue, or perceived health are affected by use of a walking aid in residents of an assisted-living facility. From an assisted-living facility, 21 participants who were independent ambulators (n = 8) or who used a cane or walker (n = 13) participated. Physical activity was measured with accelerometers, and depression, fatigue, and perceived heath status were assessed with questionnaires. There were no differences in physical activity, depression, fatigue, or perceived health status between those using and those not using assistive devices. However, 15% of the participants reported moderate to severe depression, and 40% of participants reported at least mild depression. Depression was strongly correlated to fatigue. Thus, physical activity, depression, fatigue, and perceived health are not associated with walker or cane use in assisted-living facilities. Nevertheless, among all, mild depression is prevalent and strongly correlated to fatigue.
Giving context to sounds through mediation of physical objects

We describe the concept of and approach for combining conceptual information produced by humans and data that convey situations of the real world without any modification or interpretation, which can be thought of as a method for bridging the Web and the real world. We conducted an experiment to validate our concept by making associations between everyday topics or situations and their characteristic sounds. We discuss the preliminary results obtained in the experiment.
Pseudoaneurysm Formation in Infective Endocarditis

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysms that develop in the setting of infective endocarditis are believed to result from remodeling of extravalvular abscesses. The high pressure generated by the left ventricle is thought to dissect into the abscess causing it to form a characteristic sac-like protuberance readily recognized echocardiographically. Left ventricular pseudoaneurysms most often arise from abscesses in the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa and protrude external to the aorta. Less often, as described herein, they arise from abscesses external the posterior mitral annulus and project into the posterior interventricular groove. Perforation may result in camo-cameral or aorto-cameral fistula formation, as well as fistulous communication with the pericardial space.
Carotenoids and cervical, breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer. Epidemiology and clinical trials

Recent observational studies and clinical trials that have investigated the relation- ship between carotenoids (or diets rich in these compounds) and cervical, breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer have increased knowledge in this area. Although epidemiological studies suggest a protective association, five randomized controlled trials testing the effect of beta- carotene supplementation on regression of cervical dysplasia, a preneoplastic lesion, did not find an effect on rate of regression. In the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Study, the effects of a high-vegetable carotenoid-rich diet on disease-free survival following treatment for breast cancer is being examined in a randomized multicenter diet intervention trial. Few epidemiological studies of dietary factors and risk for ovarian cancer have been conducted, with mixed results. Early case-control and cohort studies of colorectal cancer have generally suggested a protective effect of vegetable consumption, although a recent large cohort study did not confirm this relationship. In two randomized trials, beta-carotene supplementation was not observed to reduce risk of adenoma recurrence. The Polyp Prevention Trial (PPT), which tested the effect of prescribing increased fruit, vegetable, and fiber intake, and reduced dietary fat, revealed no effect of these efforts on adenoma recur- rence in the intent to treat analysis. However, serum carotenoid concentrations were associ- ated with decreased risk of recurrence in that study. To move this area of study forward, more research on mechanisms, surrogate biomarkers, and diet-gene interactions is needed. Carotenoids exhibit several biological activities that could prevent or slow the progression of cancer, including the inhibition of growth and malignant transformation and the promotion of apoptosis in transformed cells (1). Although initial interest in the link between carotenoids and cancer focused pri- marily on the antioxidant activities of these compounds, current evidence suggests that the primary mechanisms by which carotenoids influence carcinogenesis relate to cell growth regulation, similar to the effects of retinoids (2). At this point in time, however, the specific mechanisms by which carotenoids reduce risk and progression of human cancers have not yet been firmly established or
Parturient paresis related to dietary phosphorus.

Abstract A lack of available dietary phosphorus during lactation is a predisposing factor in the cause of milk fever. A herd of Jersey cows having a high incidence (74%) of milk fever, were subjected to an experimental ration during lactation. The ration concentrate contained 5% monosodium phosphate but no calcium supplement. This was sufficient to near-balance the calcium-to-phosphorus intake. There was no incidence of milk fever in the experimental animals during the following parturition, when they had received the experimental ration over a given period while lactating (189 days before calving or approximately 130 days during the latter part of their lactation). Control animals fed the regular ration continued to have a high incidence of milk fever. When the feeding of the experimental ration was discontinued, the first incidence of milk fever occurred in 232 days, or after the experimental cows had gone through a lactation without the phosphorus supplement. The usual large amount of calcium and limited amount of phosphorus in dairy rations is, undoubtedly, one of the main reasons that sufficient dietary phosphorus is not available to heavily lactating cows, although the level of phosphorus in the ration might meet recommended levels. The usual addition of calcium supplements to dairy concentrates is certainly not justified under most feeding conditions.
A new matrix solution technique for general circuit simulation

An intelligent partial Gauss-Seidel scheme (PGS) for general circuit simulation is described. This approach is a novel combination of direct solution using incomplete LU factorization, and iterative solution using Gauss-Seidel relaxation. The method converges faster and more reliably than Gauss-Seidel, while taking a comparable amount of execution time per iteration. Reliable analytic rules are derived such that terms that would be relaxed in Gauss-Seidel are relaxed only if they are considered small by applying these rules. Solution speeds up to ten times faster than direct methods have been demonstrated and higher gains are anticipated for larger circuits. This scheme is robust and accurate for circuits with many different element types, including bipolar transistors, MOSFETs, diodes, inductors, and dependent sources. >
Impact of Green Building Design and Construction on Worker Safety and Health

Sustainable, or “green,” rating systems, such as the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), are leading to changes in the way owners, designers, and contractors approach the design, construction, and operation of buildings. The processes and features included in green design and construction may have positive and/or negative impacts on construction worker safety and health. This paper presents the findings of a research study of the impact of green building design and construction practices on construction worker safety and health. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable and lost time injury and illness data from green projects (as identified by LEED) and from nongreen projects was collected through a structured questionnaire survey. The data collected was analyzed to test for the presence of a difference in OSHA recordable incident rates (RIRs) and lost time case rates (LTCRs) between green and nongreen projects. It was found t...
Understanding Student and Faculty Incivility in Higher Education.

In recent years, faculty have seen an increase in latecomers, sleepers, cell phone addicts, and downright discourteous students in their courses. Classroom incivility is the disruptive behavior that occurs in higher education learning environments at an alarming rate. Incivility is often a reciprocal process; both students and faculty may contribute to a climate of disrespect for one another or the learning process. University students are increasingly diverse, unprepared for college-level work, juggling multiple life roles, and facing tremendous pressures to perform in large, impersonal classes. Faculty are often trained as researchers and struggle to effectively manage their classrooms. Millennial Generation students (and their parents) present a new set of challenges for faculty, including consumerist attitudes toward higher education and a failure to take responsibility for their own learning. Overall, uncivil behavior violates an unspoken or implied understanding of respect for the learning process and the academy. If not dealt with swiftly and effectively, it can have detrimental effects on teaching and learning. The purpose of this paper is to review academic literature about classroom disruptions, including the causes of incivility and strategies to manage negative student behaviors. In particular, young, female, low-status, and minority instructors face the greatest challenges. Recommendations for faculty include presenting engaging lectures at a moderate pace, respectfully interacting with students, gathering student input in the development of a classroom code of conduct, communicating clear expectations, and familiarizing oneself with classroom incivility research, as well as sharing this research with students.
A Short-Term Fasting in Neonates Induces Breathing Instability and Epigenetic Modification in the Carotid Body.

The respiratory control system is not fully developed in newborn, and data suggest that adequate nutrition is important for the development of the respiratory control system. Infants need to be fed every 2–4 h to maintain appropriate energy levels, but a skip of feeding can occur due to social economical reasons or mild sickness of infants. Here, we asked questions if a short-term fasting (1) alters carotid body (CB) chemoreceptor activity and integrated function of the respiratory control system; (2) causes epigenetic modification within the respiratory control system. Mouse pups (<P14) were fasted for 3–6 h. Breathing became irregular and slow. The number and duration of apnea increased. Ventilatory response to hypoxia was also depressed even after the pups were returned to own dams. These effects were more prominent when the pups were younger and fasting time was longer. The hypoxic response of the carotid sinus nerve activity appeared to be depressed after fasting. Moreover, fasting increased global 5mC and 5-hmC content in DNA isolated from the CB but not DNA in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG). Methylation specific PCR (MSPCR) revealed that fasting increased methylation of leptin and socs3 genes. The results suggest fasting inhibits CB activity leading to hypoventilation, and low glucose does not compensate the low CB activity. Epigenetic effect on CB function/activity may be related to the prolonged effect of fasting on ventilation.
The importance of Lotmanian semiotics to sign theory and the cognitive neurosciences

The following paper is based on a presentation given as the Juri Lotman Lecture at the University of Tartu conference “Creative Continuity: 50 years of Sign Systems Studies ”, on December 5th, 2014. The focus of the current analysis is to bring to light important new directions in cognitive neuroscience and cognitive neurolinguistics and how Lotman’s work contributes to deepening our understanding of the complex relationship of language(s) and brain(s) and the ever present dynamic cultural context.
The Granuloma Response Controlling Cryptococcosis in Mice Depends on the Sphingosine Kinase 1-Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Pathway.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes pulmonary infections, which may progress into life-threatening meningitis. In commonly used mouse models of C. neoformans infections, fungal cells are not contained in the lungs, resulting in dissemination to the brain. We have previously reported the generation of an engineered C. neoformans strain (C. neoformans Δgcs1) which can be contained in lung granulomas in the mouse model and have shown that granuloma formation is dependent upon the enzyme sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) and its product, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). In this study, we have used four mouse models, CBA/J and C57BL6/J (both immunocompetent), Tge26 (an isogenic strain of strain CBA/J lacking T and NK cells), and SK(-/-) (an isogenic strain of strain C57BL6/J lacking SK1), to investigate how the granulomatous response and SK1-S1P pathway are interrelated during C. neoformans infections. S1P and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were significantly elevated in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of all mice infected with C. neoformans Δgcs1 but not in mice infected with the C. neoformans wild type. SK1(-/-) mice did not show elevated levels of S1P or MCP-1. Primary neutrophils isolated from SK1(-/-) mice showed impaired antifungal activity that could be restored by the addition of extracellular S1P. In addition, high levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha were found in the mice infected with C. neoformans Δgcs1 in comparison to the levels found in mice infected with the C. neoformans wild type, and their levels were also dependent on the SK1-S1P pathway. Taken together, these results suggest that the SK1-S1P pathway promotes host defense against C. neoformans infections by regulating cytokine levels, promoting extracellular killing by phagocytes, and generating a granulomatous response.
Patient Engagement and Informed Decision Making Regarding Medical Imaging

Misuse and overuse of medical imaging have gained widespread attention due to rising costs, radiation exposure risks, and limited comparative effectiveness evidence. Involving patients in shared decision making offers an opportunity to more clearly define risks and benefits, thus allowing patients to consider both personal values and the best available evidence.
Vasodilator-derived nitric oxide inhibits fetal calf serum- and angiotensin-II-induced growth of renal arteriolar smooth muscle cells.

Chemically derived nitric oxide (NO) and 8-bromo-cyclic-GMP (cGMP) have been shown to inhibit the growth of cultured aortic smooth muscle cells. However, their effects on growth of smooth muscle cells of resistance arteries have not been studied, although abnormalities in the control of such growth are related to the elevated vascular resistance in hypertension. This study evaluated the effects of three chemically dissimilar nitrovasodilators and cGMP on fetal calf serum (FCS)-induced growth of renal arteriolar smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). The compounds used were S-nitroso-N-acetylpencillamine (SNAP), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and isosorbide-dinitrate (ISDN) and cell growth was evaluated in terms of DNA synthesis and cell number. In addition, the effects of vasodilator-derived NO on Angiotensin-II (Ang-II)-induced ASMC growth and contraction were studied. Treatment with 10(-7) to 10(-3) M SNAP, SNP or ISDN, as well as cGMP, inhibited FCS (5%)-induced DNA synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner (P SNP > ISDN > cGMP. SNAP (10(-6) M) inhibited cell proliferation induced by 10(-6) M Ang-II, but higher concentrations were required to inhibit ASMC proliferation induced by 5 and 10% FCS. Furthermore, NO generated from SNAP (10(-6) M) inhibited Ang-II (10(-6) M)-induced ASMC contraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Potential Sources of New Revenue for Rutherford County, Tenn.

The author examines several revenue options for Rutherford County, Tenn., and my implication other local governments, including increasing the county sales tax, imposing a county gasoline tax, and imposing impact fees on new development. He suggests that a diversity of revenue options is desirable to avoid large revenue swings in the future.
Bile Acid and Cholesterol Metabolism in the Mouse as Affected by Gholestyramine.

SummaryDietary cholestyramine (MK 135) increased the rate of mobilization of blood and liver cholesterol in mice. The bile acid turnover rate in normal mice was 5 days, in mice treated with 1% cholestyramine, 1¼ days, or 4 times as fast. Bile acid pool size was 5.62 ± 1.09 mg in normals, 4.58 ± 0.65 in cholestyramine-treated mice. The pool was shown to consist almost exclusively of cholic acid and this spectrum was not altered by cholestyramine. The daily rate of synthesis of bile acids in normal mice was 0.56 mg, 1.84 mg in cholestyramine-treated mice. Digi-tonin precipitable fecal sterol excretion was 5.54 mg day in normal mice, 7.58 mg/day in mice treated with 1% MK 135. No conclusion could be reached as to whether the increased rate of mobilization of accumulated cholesterol affected by MK 135 was due to the increased excretion of either the fecal bile acid or sterol fraction exclusively, or was attributable to the excretion of both these fractions.We wish to acknowledge the excellent technical assist...
Field Mortality Studies of the Immature Stages of the Face Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) in Missouri

Field mortality of Musca autumnalis De Geer immature stages was investigated for 3 years in Missouri. In all years, predation was the most important mortality component, averaging ca. 86%, and attributed principally to coleopterans of the families Staphylinidae, Hydrophilidae, and Histeridae. Total mortality to the pupal stage averaged 91.6%.
Apolipoprotein A-II content of human plasma high density lipoproteins measured by radioimmunoassay.

A double antibody radioimmunoassay for human ApoA-I1 is reported. ApoA-I1 isolated from human plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) by column chromatography migrated as a single band on polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis, had the appropriate amino acid composi- tion, and provoked the production of monospecific anti- sera. '251-ApoA-II (iodinated by lactoperoxidase, purified by Sephadex G-75 chromatography) migrated with "cold' ApoA-I1 as a single band on disc gel electrophoresis in SDS. Its specific radioactivity was 5-12 mCi/pg. In assays, (0.05 M barbital buffer, 0.01% Triton X-100, pH 8.6) over 90% of '251-ApoA-II was bound by excess first antibody and over 95% was displaced by excess "cold' ApoA-11. Low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, ApoA-I, ApoC-11, and ApoC-I11 displaced no counts. Intraassay and interassay coefficients of variation for lipo- protein or plasma samples were 7 -t 4 and 11 & 6%, re- spectively. As little as 1.0 ng of ApoA-I1 was detectable with a precision of 10%. ApoA-I1 made up 20-25% of the pro- teins of HDL (d 1.083-1.19), HDLz (d 1.083-1.124), and HDL, (d 1.124- 1.19) on column chromatography. The ApoA-I1 contents of these HDL fractions were also 20-25% by radioimmunoassay. Similar results were ob- tained whether assays were carried out on intact or de- lipidated HDL samples. Thus, in contrast with ApoA-I (only 10%' of which is detectable), all of the ApoA-I1 contents of intact HDL are detected with accuracy by this assay. Plasma levels of ApoA-I1 in young normolipemic subjects were approximately 40 mg/dl (n = 29). In these subjects, over 98% of ApoA-I1 was found in the d 1.063- 1.2 1 density fractions.
A comparative study on diagnostic significance between spiral CT scanning and gastrointestinal radiophotography in pediatric patients with intestinal malrotation

Objective To explore the comparative significance of spiral CT scanning and gastrointestinal radiophotography in diagnosis of intestinal malrotation in pediatric patients. Methods A total of 30 pediatric patients with intestinal malrotation admitted in this hospital during January 2012 to January 2014 were allocated in this study,among them,15 patients underwent spiral CT scanning and 15 cases were examined with digestive tract radiophotography. The significance of diagnosis by these 2 methods had been compared between these two groups,and analysis and discussion had been carried out. Results 1The findings of digestive tract in all children exist abnormal direction and position in small intestine,jejunum had turned to right lower abdomen,and the presence of narrow of jejunum and duodenum by external press,the horizontal part of duodenum gradually disappeared when slow pass of barium sulfate. 2 The results of spiral CT scanning: computed tomography(CT) scanning showed the presence of mass-like image at mesenteric root under the mass shadow of pancreatic head,showed as " whirlpool" performance,it was significant in enhanced scanning as performance of transposition,all accompanied by volvulus. Conclusion Spiral CT scanning and digestive tract radiophotogrphy are effective in diagnosis of children with intestinal malrotation. Spiral CT technology is suitable for older children,and gastrointestinal imaging technology is more suitable for the diagnosis of patients with obstructive lesions baby. Two technologies have relative advantages,can fully meet the needs of clinical disease identification and diagnosis ofthe results will be supported in the further development and implementation of treatment.
The Andes Virus Nucleocapsid Protein Directs Basal Endothelial Cell Permeability by Activating RhoA.

ABSTRACT Andes virus (ANDV) predominantly infects microvascular endothelial cells (MECs) and nonlytically causes an acute pulmonary edema termed hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). In HPS patients, virtually every pulmonary MEC is infected, MECs are enlarged, and infection results in vascular leakage and highly lethal pulmonary edema. We observed that MECs infected with the ANDV hantavirus or expressing the ANDV nucleocapsid (N) protein showed increased size and permeability by activating the Rheb and RhoA GTPases. Expression of ANDV N in MECs increased cell size by preventing tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) repression of Rheb-mTOR-pS6K. N selectively bound the TSC2 N terminus (1 to 1403) within a complex containing TSC2/TSC1/TBC1D7, and endogenous TSC2 reciprocally coprecipitated N protein from ANDV-infected MECs. TSCs normally restrict RhoA-induced MEC permeability, and we found that ANDV infection or N protein expression constitutively activated RhoA. This suggests that the ANDV N protein alone is sufficient to activate signaling pathways that control MEC size and permeability. Further, RhoA small interfering RNA, dominant-negative RhoA(N19), and the RhoA/Rho kinase inhibitors fasudil and Y27632 dramatically reduced the permeability of ANDV-infected MECs by 80 to 90%. Fasudil also reduced the bradykinin-directed permeability of ANDV and Hantaan virus-infected MECs to control levels. These findings demonstrate that ANDV activation of RhoA causes MEC permeability and reveal a potential edemagenic mechanism for ANDV to constitutively inhibit the basal barrier integrity of infected MECs. The central importance of RhoA activation in MEC permeability further suggests therapeutically targeting RhoA, TSCs, and Rac1 as potential means of resolving capillary leakage during hantavirus infections. IMPORTANCE HPS is hallmarked by acute pulmonary edema, hypoxia, respiratory distress, and the ubiquitous infection of pulmonary MECs that occurs without disrupting the endothelium. Mechanisms of MEC permeability and targets for resolving lethal pulmonary edema during HPS remain enigmatic. Our findings suggest a novel underlying mechanism of MEC dysfunction resulting from ANDV activation of the Rheb and RhoA GTPases that, respectively, control MEC size and permeability. Our studies show that inhibition of RhoA blocks ANDV-directed permeability and implicate RhoA as a potential therapeutic target for restoring capillary barrier function to the ANDV-infected endothelium. Since RhoA activation forms a downstream nexus for factors that cause capillary leakage, blocking RhoA activation is liable to restore basal capillary integrity and prevent edema amplified by tissue hypoxia and respiratory distress. Targeting the endothelium has the potential to resolve disease during symptomatic stages, when replication inhibitors lack efficacy, and to be broadly applicable to other hemorrhagic and edematous viral diseases.
The Myth of Self-Sacrifice for the Good[s] of Mankind: Contingency and Women’s Work

The myth of self-sacrifice is a belief in the value of caring and serving, regardless of personal cost, which characterizes attitudes toward women’s work in general and contingent faculty work in p...
A nanoforest-based SERS sensor fabricated by Bosch process for multiplexed chemical detection

A new simple maskless fabrication method based on room temperature Bosh process was developed to fabricate silicon nanoforest. After being coated with a layer of Au, the Au-coated silicon nanoforest was converted into a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate. To further enhance SERS signals, the Au-coated silicon nanoforest was grafted with silver-plate nanoparticles (AgNPs). The SERS substrate was used to detect Escherichia coli as a model strain at 106 CFU/mL, and a Raman signal enhancement factor of ∼106 was achieved without any optimization of the SERS substrate. Multiplexed detection was demonstrated through differentiating R6G and E. coli on the same substrate. Given the simplicity and low-cost of the preparation scheme, and the high enhancement efficiency of this nanoforest-based SERS substrate, it can be potentially used in the field of diagnostic microbiology for the label-free detection of bacterial and viral pathogens, and it is also suitable for detecting and analyzing mixtures of compounds to determine their compositions.
The C-Mpl Receptor Expressed on Endothelial Cells Does Not Contribute Significantly to the Regulation of Circulating Thrombopoietin (TPO) Levels.

Abstract Blood levels of TPO, the primary regulator of platelet production, are thought to be regulated primarily by cellular degradation following its binding to, and internalization by its cell surface receptor, c-Mpl. This physiology is supported by in vitro studies, in which TPO can be removed from solution by incubation with platelets, and accounts for the very high levels of circulating TPO in individuals with congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT), as in this disorder there are no c-Mpl receptor-bearing cells to bind and remove the hormone. Previous reports have demonstrated that in addition to hematopoietic cells, c-Mpl is expressed on several types of endothelial cells. We hypothesized that the c-Mpl expressed on endothelial cells would contribute to the regulation of circulating TPO levels. As a model to test this hypothesis, we transplanted 10 Mpl knock-out mice and 10 wild-type (WT) controls with WT marrow cells and analyzed platelet counts and plasma TPO levels over the course of 6 months. The resulting two groups of chimeric mice both express c-Mpl on megakaryocytes and platelets, but only the WT recipients express the receptor on endothelial cells. If c-Mpl receptors normally expressed on endothelial cells take up circulating TPO and degrade it, we expected that the Mpl-null mice reconstituted with WT cells would display increased TPO levels and an increased steady state platelet count compared to the WT recipients. As expected, pre-transplant the platelet counts in the Mpl-null mice were low (average value 398x109/L) and TPO levels were high (average value 8040 pg/ml), as compared to WT controls (platelet counts average 883x109/L, TPO level 745 pg/ml). However, following transplant with WT cells, we found that TPO levels in the chimeric mice were virtually identical (954 pg/ml for the Mpl-null recipients vs. 829 pg/ml for the WT recipients) as were the steady state platelet counts up to 6 months following transplantation (891x109 /L vs. 883x109/Lx109 /L, respectively). These results indicate that the c-Mpl receptor expressed on endothelial cells does not contribute significantly to the regulation of circulating TPO levels or to steady state platelet counts. The apparent lack of TPO adsorbtion by the endothelial cells is surprising, as prior published studies indicate that Mpl receptors expressed on human umbilical vein endothelial cells bind TPO and that c-Mpl is functionally active on hepatic endothelial cells; in addition, the composite surface area of the endothelium is large. These results also imply that patients with CAMT that have successfully engrafted with normal hematopoietic stem cells should have normal (not elevated) TPO levels. Similarly, gene replacement strategies designed to restore c-Mpl in CAMT do not need to be expressed on endothelial cells to establish the normal regulation of TPO.
Aspirin prophylaxis for thromboembolic disease after total joint arthroplasty.

Abstract The most appropriate prophylactic regimen for thromboembolic disease has not been determined. There appear to be several good alternatives, all of which yield similar results as determined by the incidence of symptomatic pulmonary embolism, but all are associated with various bleeding-related risks. Results from past research of almost 3500 total knee arthroplasties demonstrated a low risk for pulmonary emboli (0.1%) and a reduced risk for postoperative bleeding with use of aspirin and foot pumps as prophylaxis against thromboembolic disease. We continue to remain comfortable recommending this regimen for our patients.
Implications of a New Axiom Set for Quantum Logic

A recent work on the many-body problem in modern physics begins with the following paragraph: A reasonable starting point for a discussion of the many-body problem might be the question of how many bodies are required before we have a problem. Prof. G. E. Brown has pointed out that, for those interested in exact solutions, this can be answered by a look at history. In eighteenth-century Newtonian mechanics, the three-body problem was insoluble. With the birth of general relativity around 1910 and quantum electrodynamics in 1930, the two- and one-body problems became insoluble. And within modern quantum field theory, the problem of zero bodies (the vacuum) is insoluble. So, if we are out after exact solutions, no bodies at all is already too many.1
“Children know more than I think they do”: the evolution of one teacher’s views about equitable mathematics teaching

In this paper I present a case study of one teacher, Harriet, and how her beliefs and practices regarding “equity” and “social justice” in mathematics developed over several years. I use Valsiner’s (Culture and the development of children’s action: a theory of human development, 2nd edn, Wiley, New York, 1997) zone theory to examine the evolution of Harriet’s views and practices of mathematics teaching that occurred during her participation in a long-term professional development program focused on supporting teacher leadership. Early in the program she shifted from advocating for and using direct instruction to taking a student-centered approach to mathematics. Initially, when presented with a range of perspectives on issues of equity and social justice, Harriet took up a view of equity as student-centered mathematics and actively resisted teaching mathematics for social justice. However, later in the program she began exploring teaching mathematics for social justice and came to see some value in it. I discuss mechanisms that supported her transitions and implications for the design of professional development and teacher education.