cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of electroshock on immune function and disease progression in juvenile spring chinook salmon

Abstract Although much is known about the effects of electroshock on fish physiology, consequences to the immune system and disease progression have not received attention. Our objectives were to determine the effects of electroshock on selected immune function in juvenile spring chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, the mechanism of any observed alteration, and the effects of electroshock on disease progression. We found that the ability of anterior kidney leukocytes to generate antibody-producing cells (APC) was suppressed 3 h after a pulsed-DC electroshock (300 V, 50 Hz, 8 ms pulse width) but recovered within 24 h. This response was similar in timing and magnitude to that of fish subjected to an acute handling stress. The mechanism of suppression is hypothesized to be via an elevation of plasma cortisol concentrations in response to stress. Other monitored immune functions, skin mucous lysozyme levels, and respiratory burst activity were not affected by exposure to electroshock. The progression of a...
Statistical validation of a plate finite element model for damage detection

It is common practice in applied mechanics to develop finite element models for mechanical system behavior. Most structural integrity monitoring techniques, proposed to date, rely on an accurate model of the structure at hand. In many situations the structure being monitored is already built; in those cases, it is good engineering practice to ensure that the finite element model matches the behavior of the physical structure. However, no general-purpose technique exists or formally, statistically judging the quality of the finite element model. This paper applies a formal statistical procedure for the validation of finite element models of structural systems, when data taken during operation of the system are available. The statistical validation procedure is based on the bootstrap, and it seeks to build a tool for assessing whether or not a finite element model is an acceptable representation of the structure. The approach uses experimental data to construct confidence bounds that permit the assessment of the model. The case of a finite element model of an aluminum plate is presented.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Development of the Smoking Cessation Quality of life questionnaire

This paper describes the development of the Smoking Cessation Quality of Life (SCQoL) questionnaire, a self-reported measure designed to quantify the impact of smoking cessation on perceived functioning and well-being in adults. In addition to incorporating the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) as a generic core, the SCQoL contains 5 multi-item cessation-targeted scales: social interactions, self-control, sleep, cognitive functioning, and anxiety. The draft SCQoL was developed through a series of focus groups and was pilot-tested in a sample of 101 adults. Respondents were predominantly male (59.2%), with a mean (SD) age of (48.6) (12.7) years and a mean (SD) smoking history of 29.3 (14.7) years. Of the respondents, 76.5% identified themselves as current smokers and 23.5% indicated that they were former smokers. The majority of former smokers (82.6%) reported being abstinent for > or =2 weeks. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare scale scores between smokers and former smokers who had been abstinent for > or =2 weeks. Former smokers reported significantly higher scores than did current smokers on 3 of 8 SF-36 scales and 3 of 5 cessation-targeted scales (P < 0.05). In no case did current smokers report significantly higher scale scores than did former smokers. The internal-consistency reliability of the SCQoL scales ranged from 0.68 to 0.96, exceeding 0.70 on 12 of 13 scales. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the reliability and construct validity of the SCQoL.
An approximation algorithm for the fault tolerant metric facility location problem

We consider a fault tolerant version of the metric facility location problem in which every city, j, is required to be connected to rj facilities. We give the first non-trivial approximation algorithm for this problem, having an approximation guarantee of 3 ċ Hk, where k is the maximum requirement and Hk is the k-th harmonic number. Our algorithm is along the lines of [2] for the generalized Steiner network problem. It runs in phases, and each phase, using a generalization of the primal-dual algorithm of [4] for the metric facility location problem, reduces the maximum residual requirement by 1.
THIRD-YEAR SUMMARY OF IES ARROW-DOT LONGITUDINAL COMPARISONS IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Three samples of preschool children in a suburban nursery school and kindergarten were administered the IES Arrow-Dot test at the beginning and end of three successive school years. Trends for declining Impulsivity and similar baselines for this variable were found in all three samples. Results for Ego and Superego scores showed variation. These findings support the effective use of this instrument with preschool children. Future investigations within varying educational environments are suggested to delineate further patterns of preschool personality development and integration.
Genetic algorithms for object recognition in a complex scene

A realworld computer vision module must deal with a wide variety of environmental parameters. Object recognition, one of the major tasks of this vision module, typically requires a preprocessing step to locate objects in the scenes that ought to be recognized. Genetic algorithms are a search technique for dealing with a very large search space, such as the one encountered in image segmentation or object recognition. The article describes a technique for using genetic algorithms to combine the image segmentation and object recognition steps for a complex scene. The results show that this approach is a viable method for successfully combining the image segmentation and object recognition steps for a computer vision module.
Who Writes to Their Senators? Preliminary Analysis from the Daschle and Dole Casework Files

Constituent contacts are an essential link between citizens and their elected officials. By studying these messages to U.S. Senators - an overt act of political activity - we can understand the kinds of issues and concerns faced by congressional leaders. This manuscript draws on newly-available data in the form of citizen-initiated communications to two retired U.S. Senators from their archives. These data allows us to explore specific complaints about agencies directed to members of Congress. Thus, this investigation fits within two existing paradigms: political participation and agency operations. This manuscript serves as a cross-check on the few surveys that inquire about self-reported contacts to public officials. These preliminary results report basic information of a sample of these contact, including the agency to which the case was "bucked" and some basic characteristics of the contactor. The goal of this project is to understand how these messages enlighten us about the relationship between legislators and government agencies
Practice Summary: Improving Bus Routing for KIPP Charter Schools

KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) provides school bus service to the majority of its students over a relatively large geographic region. We applied the Clarke-Wright heuristic in to quickly find routes that adhere to capacity and travel-time constraints. These routes improved transportation spending and reliability significantly over the previous routes that KIPP used.
Performance of Retrofitted Stormwater Extended Detention Wetlands

An existing detention basin was retrofitted to an extended detention basin through the outlet modification. Since bottom of the existing basin was covered extensively by vegetation, it served as the surface wetlands as well. The refore, the basin after outlet modification became an extended detention basin with dual flood control and pollutant removal functions as well as the surface wetlands with advanced pollutant removal function. It was determined that the retrofitted extended detention -surface wetlands system would be as efficient as other retrofit alternatives in pollutant removal. Sustaining such a system would eliminate the additional retrofit costs, reduce the long -term maintenance costs, and prevent the adverse upstream f looding impacts. Water quality performance of the retrofitted extended detention -surface wetlands system was monitored and evaluated. The retrofitted basin achieved excellent total suspended solids removal and reasonably good nutrient removal. Introductio n Many existing stormwater detention basins do not reach achievable results of non point -source pollutant loading reduction. This is mainly due to the fact that the dry detention basin was initially designed for the sole purpose of flood -control. It is this correctable situation that has prompted watershed organizations to call for the implementation of retrofitting measures to meet local water quality protection and improvement goals. An example of retrofit is provided in this paper.
Host Range Studies of the Melon Leaf Miner, Liriomyza Pictella (Thomson) (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

A full life cycle was completed on 54 out of the 71 species and varieties of wild and cultivated plants that were tested. These “positive” species, representing 16 of the 21 plant families sampled, were listed as severely, moderately, or lightly mined, according to the numbers of larvae completing their development in the leaves. Most of the heavily mined species were in the Leguminosae, Compositae, and Cucurbitaceae. Several plant families included both positive and negative host species; and several species (e. g., common egg plant and snapdragon) exhibited hypersensitive reactions to the presence of the mining larvae.
Characterizing Bacteriophage PR772 as a Potential Surrogate for Adenovirus in Water Disinfection: A Comparative Analysis of Inactivation Kinetics and Replication Cycle Inhibition by Free Chlorine.

Elucidating mechanisms by which pathogenic waterborne viruses become inactivated by drinking water disinfectants would facilitate the development of sensors to detect infectious viruses and novel disinfection strategies to provide safe water. Using bacteriophages as surrogates for human pathogenic viruses could assist in elucidating these mechanisms; however, an appropriate viral surrogate for human adenovirus (HAdV), a medium-sized virus with a double-stranded DNA genome, needs to be identified. Here, we characterized the inactivation kinetics of bacteriophage PR772, a member of the Tectiviridae family with many similarities in structure and replication to HAdV. The inactivation of PR772 and HAdV by free chlorine had similar kinetics that could be represented with a model previously developed for HAdV type 2 (HAdV-2). We developed and tested a quantitative assay to analyze several steps in the PR772 replication cycle to determine if both viruses being inactivated at similar rates resulted from similar re...
Automated Data Acquisition for Large Cryogenic Systems

The superconducting power transmission line test site at Brookhaven National Laboratory is a moderately large and complex cryogenic facility.1,2 Over the last year, two superconducting cables, each 115 m long, have been tested at rated voltage, 80 kV single phase, and rated current, 4100 A, for a single phase power rating of 333 MVA.3,4,5 The cables are cooled by a 700 W supercritical helium refrigeration system to a temperature of 7 to 8 K. The operation of this facility requires that the pressure, temperature, helium density, and mass flow rate be known at many locations throughout the system.
Abstract 3524: D-glucose exposure induced DNA damage and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells

D-glucose is the simple carbohydrate sugar that our bodies rely on to produce ATP energy. It has been shown that sustained high glucose burden is related to the promotion of many long-term health problems to various vital target organs including the kidneys, nervous system, eyes, heart (failure and stroke), erectile dysfunction in men and pregnancy complications in women. Epidemiological data have suggested an increased cancer rates in diabetic patients, for which the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Furthermore, the D-glucose paradox as cancer-promoting energy source as well as being toxic to cancer cells is puzzling. Therefore in the present study, we will investigate the mechanisms of glucose-induced toxicity in MCF-7 cells as an in vitro cellular model to simulate diabetic complications in tumor cells using trypan blue exclusion and MTT assays. Mechanisms of DNA damage and apoptosis were tested by alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay, and flow cytometry analysis using Annexin V FITC/PI and caspase-3 analysis. The MTT assay indicated that low dose (5 mg/mL) of D-glucose slightly increase cell viability upon 2 h of exposure. On the other hand, high doses (10-80 mg/mL) of D-glucose significantly reduced the viability of MCF-7 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. Similar trends were seen with the trypan blue exclusion test. Data obtained from the comet assay indicated that D-glucose caused DNA damage in MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The flow cytometry assessment (Annexin V FITC/PI) showed a strong dose-response relationship between high glucose exposure and Annexin V positive MCF-7 cells undergoing early stage apoptosis. Similarly, a statistically significant and concentration-dependent increase (p This research is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health-NIH (Grant No. NIMHD-G12MD007581). Citation Format: Ibrahim O. Farah, Christine K. Tchounwou, Clement G. Yedjou, Paul B. Tchounwou. D-glucose exposure induced DNA damage and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3524.
School-based Early Mental Health Intervention with At-Risk Students.

This study investigated the effect of a school-based early mental health intervention program on school adjustment of first-to fourth-grade at-risk children, using a wait-control design. Subjects p...
Notices from Prager Tagblatt, 1916

The opening of the Cabaret Voltaire on February 5, 1916, and the subsequent soirees, were advertised and extensively reviewed in Swiss newspapers such as Neue Zurcher Zeitung and Volksrecht. In con...
Effective Sample Size of the Cumulative Values of a Time Series

In the computation of cumulative values of a time series of length N, all data items except for the last item are used more than once. The multiplicity in the use of the data reduces the effective value of N. We show that for time series of cumulative values the effective value of N is too small to yield sufficient degrees of freedom to make inferences about the population. It is not possible to evaluate the statistical significance of a correlation between cumulative values for this reason even when the magnitude of the correlation coefficient observed in the sample is large. The results provide a rationale for the findings of a previous work in which the spuriousness of correlations between cumulative values was demonstrated with Monte Carlo simulation.
Preventing illegal logging: simultaneous optimization of resource teams and tactics for security

Green security – protection of forests, fish and wildlife – is a critical problem in environmental sustainability. We focus on the problem of optimizing the defense of forests against illegal logging, where often we are faced with the challenge of teaming up many different groups, from national police to forest guards to NGOs, each with differing capabilities and costs. This paper introduces a new, yet fundamental problem: Simultaneous Optimization of Resource Teams and Tactics (SORT). SORT contrasts with most previous game-theoretic research for green security – in particular based on security games – that has solely focused on optimizing patrolling tactics, without consideration of team formation or coordination. We develop new models and scalable algorithms to apply SORT towards illegal logging in large forest areas. We evaluate our methods on a variety of synthetic examples, as well as a real-world case study using data from our on-going collaboration in Madagascar.
Wavelength-dependent optical properties of melanosomes in retinal pigmented epithelium (Conference Presentation)

Melanosome is an organelle for synthesis, storage and transport the melanin, a major intrinsic pigment. In retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), it is generally accepted that melanosome plays a critical photoprotective role, and it has been shown that that loss of melanin from RPE could be an early event towards age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Meanwhile, melanosome is also the major contributor to the optical properties of RPE, due to its high refractive index and the strong optical absorption of melanin. Therefore, a characterization and understanding the optical properties of melanin is of great interest to relate the physical and chemical changes of melanosomes, and their fundamental roles in RPE-related retinal diseases such as AMD. Here, we present a theoretical study to characterize the full optical properties of melanosomes. We modeled melanosomes as uniformly melanin filled spheroids, based on their morphology under transmission electron microscopy. T-matrix method was used to simulate the wavelength dependent total scattering, backscattering, absorption cross sections, and anisotropy factor. We verified our simulation on backscattering cross section of melanosome by comparing optical coherence tomography taken in visible and NIR ranges. In addition, we studied the changes of the optical properties of melanosomes on melanin bleaching. The results suggested a spectroscopic mechanism for optical detection of melanin loss by inverse spectroscopic optical coherence tomography.
Superconducting Tunable Microstrip Gap Resonators Using Low Stress RF MEMS Fabrication Process

A Nb superconducting tunable microstrip gap resonator has been designed and fabricated with low stress Au RF MEMS dc-contact switches. The resonator can be tuned in four states from 12–15 GHz. Simulations show that the resonator $Q$ is highly sensitive to the contact resistance of the MEMS when the switches are actuated. Measurements confirm that the $Q$ degrades from 200 to 50. RF performance of the resonator is investigated at cryogenic (4 K) temperatures while the Nb is superconducting.
Unique sex- and age-dependent effects in protective pathways in acute kidney injury.

Sex and age influence susceptibility to acute kidney injury (AKI), with young females exhibiting lowest incidence. In these studies, we investigated mechanisms which may underlie the sex/age-based ...
327 ROPPORIN IS A NOVEL CANCER TESTIS ANTIGEN FOR MULTIPLE MYELOMA.

Purpose Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic disease characterized by plasma B-cell high proliferation in the bone marrow environment, osteolysis, local angiogenesis, and distant metastasis. MM remains a fatal malignancy mainly due to the development of intrinsic and acquired drug resistance. To develop an alternative cure based on immunotherapy, the discovery of new possible targets is needed. A potential immunotherapeutic marker displays low and/or restricted expression in normal tissues and high levels of expression in malignant tissues. Ropporin is exclusively expressed in testis and induced at the late stage of spermatogenesis. Immunocytochemistry, using anti-ropporin antibody, showed that ropporin is localized in the principal piece and the end piece of sperm flagella. Electron-microscopy revealed that ropporin is mostly localized in the inner surface of the fibrous sheath. Our aim was to investigate the presence of ropporin as a novel cancer testis antigen target in MM patients. Methods We evaluated ropporin expression in a normal panel of tissues and in 15 MM patients both at the transcriptional and at the protein level by PCR and by immunohisto-/cytochemistry. The normal investigated tissues were kidney, ovary, skeletal muscle, mammary, brain, heart, colon, stomach, liver, lung, pancreas, spleen, trachea, and bone marrow. Summary The analysis of ropporin mRNA expression did not show bands in the panel of normal tissues, whereas positive band signals were detectable in 5 of the 15 investigated patients (33.3%). The normal panel, investigated by immunohistochemistry, showed no staining for any of the organs evaluated expect the positive control (testis), whereas 6 of the 15 MM patients (40%) showed a positive reaction after immunocytochemical treatment. Conclusion We established for the first time that ropporin is expressed at the transcriptional level in MM, with a rate of 33.3%, and at the protein level, in the 40% of the examinated cases, whereas it was not shown in normal tissues, neither at the transcriptional nor at the protein level. Interestingly, the PCR data were confirmed and reinforced by immunocytochemistry. Since ropporin has been shown to be exclusively expressed in the testis and in no other normal tissue, our data strongly suggest that ropporin could be a novel cancer testis antigen and possibly a suitable immunologic target for MM.
Variability extraction and synthesis via multi-resolution analysis using distribution transformer high-speed power data

A library of load variability classes is created to produce scalable synthetic data sets using historical high-speed raw data. These data are collected from distribution monitoring units connected at the secondary side of a distribution transformer. Because of the irregular patterns and large volume of historical high-speed data sets, the utilization of current load characterization and modeling techniques are challenging. Multi-resolution analysis techniques are applied to extract the necessary components and eliminate the unnecessary components from the historical high-speed raw data to create the library of classes, which are then utilized to create new synthetic load data sets. A validation is performed to ensure that the synthesized data sets contain the same variability characteristics as the training data sets. The synthesized data sets are intended to be utilized in quasi-static time-series studies for distribution system planning studies on a granular scale, such as detailed PV interconnection studies.
Sequential In-Vehicle Glance Analysis of Attention Maintenance Behavior for Trained and Untrained Young Drivers

In-vehicle tasks often require drivers to glance away from the forward roadway while driving for relatively long durations. Long in-vehicle glances are associated with an elevated risk of fatal crash involvement. In the current effort, the glance data reported in Yamani et al. (2016) where drivers received either an integrative training program for higher cognitive skills including attention maintenance (SAFE-T) or a placebo program, have been reanalyzed to uncover differences in glance behavior among trained and untrained drivers. By applying two alternative analytic techniques, the summed excess glance durations and the sequential glance analysis, the data indicated that the training was especially effective on limiting the duration of the first glance in the sequence compared to the rest of the glances in the sequence. The results imply that the training program has differential impacts on attention maintenance behavior at different stages of task interaction, such as orienting to, and processing of task-relevant information.
Does EMG (dry needling) reduce myofascial pain symptoms due to cervical nerve root irritation

Objective EMG examination at tender points affects myofascial pain symptoms related to cervical nerve root irritation. Methods Consecutive patients with neck and arm pain had physical examinations immediately before and after having EMGs of bilateral C3-C8 myotomes. Patients were randomly chosen for EMG either at the most tender point along the palpated myofascial band or at a nonselected site. The myotomal presence of > or = 30% incidence of normal duration and amplitude, and polyphasic motor unit potentials confirm the diagnosis of cervical nerve root irritation. Results 52% returned patient questionnaires 2 weeks post EMG examination. Group I (82/122 patients [67.2%]), averaged pain relief of 51.8 +/- 21.9%, a mean of 10.2 +/- 8 days; 14% had > or = 75% relief. The number of days of pain relief correlated positively with the percentage of pain relief (p or = 75% pain relief. Both groups' duration of pain symptoms affected onset of relief. Evidence of bilateral multiple-level cervical nerve root irritation, especially noted at bilateral C6 and C7 levels. Conclusion EMG at tender points on myofascial bands tends to improve symptoms. Needling these points elicits motor endplate activity and twitches, and induces more relief than when needling random points.
Antimutagenic agents from natural products of terrestrial and marine origin.

Both chemists and biologists have been intrigued for many years by the role of secondary metabolites in plants of terrestrial and marine origins. Of equal interest is whether such compounds have antitumor, antiviral, or antimutagenic properties. For example, the highly active antitumor agents, camptothecin and taxol, have been isolated from the bark and wood of trees (13,21), and another active agent, bryostatin I, from a marine animal (11). Dudley Williams has proposed that “secondary metabolites are a measure of the fitness of the organism to survive by repelling or entrapping other organisms” (23). Mitscher has stated that “as some constituents of higher plants are mutagens, it seems reasonable that substances capable of antimutagenicity also be produced by such plants” (10).
Absolute determination of reaction mechanisms by in situ measurements of reaction intermediates

This paper presents a general methodology to determine reaction mechanisms using in situ measurement of concentration and reaction rate of intermediates. The criteria for testing the validity of a reaction sequence are discussed. An example is given for a heterogeneous catalytic reaction, the decomposition of ozone on manganese oxide.
Microbial Oxidation and Reduction of Manganese and Iron

The environmental distribution of iron and manganese, which are required trace metals for virtually all life, is strongly influenced by redox chemistry. The oxidized forms (Mn4+, Fe3+) are usually found as insoluble oxides, while the reduced forms (Mn2+, Fe2+) can be soluble. Biotic mediation of iron and manganese chemistry, which often involves changes in the redox states of these metals. Such activities, which can be indirect (pH/Eh alteration of the environment) or direct (via enzymes or binding components), are common to many bacterial groups. Biotic mediation may thus be important in metal deposition, mobilization and cycling, especially in stratified environments with well-developed oxic-anoxic interfaces. Conversely, the presence of large amounts of iron and manganese, often common in sediments, may be very important to both chemistry and biology of the environment.
Biogenesis and Function of Virus-Derived Small Interfering RNAs in Plants

RNA silencing is a deeply conserved mechanism that operates in most eukaryotes. A hallmark of RNA silencing is the processing of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) precursors into 21–24-nucleotide (nt) small RNAs that function as sequence-specific cellular regulators. One of the well-established roles of RNA silencing is antiviral defense in plants. The virus-derived small RNAs found in the infected host cells serve as a manifestation that viral RNAs are targeted by the host RNA silencing machinery. On the other hand, many viruses encode proteins that suppress the activities of host silencing machinery, reflecting a viral counterdefense strategy evolved during the long-standing virus–host arms race. In many cases, viral disease symptoms are attributable, at least in part, to the interference of the host endogenous small RNA pathways by the virus-encoded silencing suppressors. During the last few years, significant advances have been made in our understanding of the host RNA silencing machinery involved in antiviral defense in plants, mainly through genetic analysis in Arabidopsis. Application of the next-generation DNA sequencing technology has enabled high-resolution profiling of the virus-­derived small RNAs in the infected hosts. This review covers the most recent advances in our understanding of the biogenesis and cellular activity of virus-derived small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in plants.
Biochemical Regulators: Cytokines and Transcription Factors

This chapter discusses the characterization of the predominant factors that govern the liver synthesis of plasma proteins. The cytokines are known to influence the levels of plasma proteins. The cytokines stimulate the commencement of the acute-phase reaction in the liver, resulting in increased levels of specific plasma proteins or positive reactants and diminution of negative reactants in the circulation. The best understood cytokines controlling plasma protein expression are interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor a (TNFα; cachectin), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leukemic inhibitory factor (LIF), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), and interferon-γ (IFNγ). Cytokines can be induced by endotoxins, by other cytokines, or by themselves. Cytokines act through receptors on other cells or their own cells; the synthesis of the cyokines by macrophages, fibroblasts, lymphocytes, and epithelial cells is controlled in an autocrine manner where the cytokine and its receptor promote their own synthesis. The chapter describes the properties of the cytokines that are known to induce or reduce plasma protein gene expression.
Non-Prostaglandin Effects of Aspirin III and Salicylate: Inhibition of Integrin-dependent Human Neutrophil Aggregation and Inflammation in COX 2- and NFκB (P105)-Knockout Mice

Two, non-prostaglandin effects of antiinflammatory levels of salicylates (i.e.aspirin III) are shown here: 1) Exposure of neutrophils to aspirin or sodium salicylate inhibited Erk activity and integrin-dependent aggregation of neutrophils, consistent with anti-inflammation but not COX inhibition. Inhibition of Mek (proximal activator of Erk) also blocked stimulation of Erk and neutrophil aggregation by FMLP and arachidonic acid. Thus, the antiinflammatory effects of salicylates may be mediated by inhibition of Erk signaling required for integrin-mediated responses. 2) Acute inflammation was induced in murine air-pouches of wild-type mice and mice rendered deficient in either COX-2 or pl 05, the precursor of p50 of NFiB. The antiinflammatory effects of aspirin and sodium salicylate were independent of the presence of COX-2 or p105 component of NFKB or the levels of prostaglandins at the inflammatory site. In contrast, glucocorticoid action depended on the p105.
Pentoxifylline protects against loss of function and renal interstitial fibrosis in chronic experimental partial ureteral obstruction.

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease resulting from diverse etiologies and predicts severity and progression of the kidney disease. To investigate the pathogenesis of TIF, complete unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is the most widely used animal model. However, UUO precludes evaluation of renal function. In the present study, we created a rat model of chronic partial ureteral obstruction (PUO), which allowed assessment of renal function at different intervals after obstruction. We examined the effects of pentoxifylline (PTF), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor used clinically to treat peripheral artery disease, on renal function and TIF. Studies were performed in sham-PUO rats and rats with 14-day PUO or 30-day PUO receiving vehicle in drinking water or PTF (400 mg/liter in drinking water). At day-14 PUO, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was markedly and similarly depressed in rats receiving vehicle or PTF as compared with sham-operated rats. However, at day-30 PUO, GFR in rats receiving PTF was significantly higher than that in rats receiving vehicle, approaching the level seen in the sham-operated rats. At day-30 PUO, histologic studies also revealed a marked reduction of TIF in rats treated with PTF as compared with the rats receiving vehicle in drinking water. Western blot analysis demonstrated that at day-30 the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (an indicator of renal fibrosis) in the medulla was significantly reduced in PUO rats treated with PTF. In conclusion, PTF treatment ameliorated renal fibrosis and helped preserve renal function in a rodent model of PUO.
Heterogeneous parental impacts on infant health outcome

ABSTRACTPolicymakers have long sought to mitigate the losses associated with single-mother child rearing relative to dual-parenting. Using the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (FFCW) data, we a...
Acellular Biologic Scaffolds in Regenerative Medicine: Unacceptable Variability with Acceptable Results

The innovation of regenerative medicine in health care is matched only by the challenges in regulating such products to ensure safety and efficacy for patients. The variability that is inherent within each step of product development, including the fidelity of basic science test methods, the relevance of preclinical models, the often-non-traditional manufacturing methods, the clinical trials, and the variability that exists within the composition of the products themselves, are unavoidable when attempting to create complex tissues and organs from biologic components that, by design, have variability as a constructive and positive attribute. Nonetheless, the control of variability has long been considered a requirement for product quality and consistency. Herein is a discussion regarding the regulation of regenerative medicine products and examples of products, especially biologic scaffold materials, that have unacceptable variability by current standards but are associated with more-than-acceptable clinical outcomes. Future considerations are suggested for the regulation of regenerative medicine products to allow for and incentivize creativity, innovation, and the commercialization of heretofore unrealized regenerative medicine solutions for unmet medical needs while also assuring safety. Surgical mesh and topical wound care products composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) are safe and effective. However, by their very nature, the composition of ECM products is more variable than synthetic materials, and the methods of preparation vary markedly from one product to the next. Further, the mechanism(s) by which ECM influences the host response to affect clinical outcomes is multimodal and only partially understood. The conundrum of acceptable clinical results in the face of typically unacceptable variability in raw material composition and biologic activity presents regulatory challenges. There is a need to reevaluate the suitability of existing guidelines for regulation of ECM-based products.
Operative Technique in Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) remains the treatment of choice for patients with operable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). It is a technically demanding operation that offers patients with CTEPH improvements in survival and quality of life. In this article, we describe the operative technique of PTE in detail.
CHAPTER 3 – PROJECTIVE PLANES

Publisher Summary This chapter elaborates the different aspects of the projective planes. Parallelism is not invariant under all projections in Euclidean space. The chapter discusses the incidence bases where, in effect, any two lines are going to intersect. It is observed that the statements of the four theorems were obtained from the axioms, respectively, by an interchange of the words point and line. A statement obtained from another by such an interchange will be called the dual of the first. A set of statements is said to be self-dual if it is equivalent to the set of dual statements obtained by dualizing each statement in the given set. This means that the dual of each statement in the given set can be proved using the given set of statements and conversely, each statement in the given set can be proved using the set of dual statements. The set of statements consisting of the four axioms of present theory is self-dual as is the set consisting of the four theorems. In case, a self-dual set consists of exactly one statement, one shall simply say that the statement is self-dual.
O Projeto CNJ de Lei de Ação Civil Pública. Avanços, inutilidades, imprecisões e retrocessos: a decadência das ações coletivas no Brasil (The Proposed Class Action Statute by the Brazilian National Council of Justice (CNJ). Advances, Imprecisions, Setbacks, and the Dismantling of Class Actions in Brazil)

PORTUGUES O artigo analisa a proposta de Lei de Acao Civil Publica patrocinada pelo CNJ. A proposta possui poucos avancos, a maioria meros ajustes na redacao da lei, sem aprimoramentos praticos significativos. Ela tambem contem normas inuteis e atecnicas, como a desnecessaria repeticao de artigos ja constantes no CPC. Ademais, a proposta incorre em graves retrocessos que irao burocratizar e dificultar a tutela coletiva. Entre os inumeros retrocessos, as normas mais nocivas sao a nao-interrupcao da prescricao das pretensoes individuais na pendencia da acao coletiva e as normas de despesas e sucumbencia, que prejudicam as associacoes, o Ministerio Publico e a Defensoria Publica. Essas duas normas, sozinhas, inviabilizarao a tutela coletiva e funcionarao como uma armadilha para prejudicar os membros do grupo. A proposta merece ser rejeitada sob pena de representar um retrocesso inaceitavel ao sistema processual coletivo brasileiro, alem da perda de uma oportunidade historica de construir uma solucao util para a nossa sociedade. ENGLISH This article discusses the proposed Class Action Statute sponsored by the National Council of Justice (CNJ). The proposal contains few advances, most of which are mere adjustment to the legal provisions, without significant practical improvement. The proposal contains also useless and imprecise rules, such as the unecessary repetition of articles of the Code of Civil Procedure. In addition, it incurs in grave setbacks that will make group protection more difficult to obtain. Among the setbacks, the most dangerous rules are the non-interruption of the statute of limitations during the pendency of a class action and the rules on expenses and attorney fee-shifting. These two rules alone will dismantle the class action in Brazil and will trap unsuspecting class members. This proposal represents the loss of a historical opportunity to build a legal device useful for our society. It must be rejected, or the class action practice in Brazil will suffer an unacceptable setback.
A second mechanism employed by artemisinins to suppress Plasmodium falciparum hinges on inhibition of hematin crystallization

Malaria is a pervasive disease that affects millions of lives each year in equatorial regions of the world. During the erythrocytic phase of the parasite life cycle, Plasmodium falciparum invades red blood cells, where it catabolizes hemoglobin and sequesters the released toxic heme as innocuous hemozoin crystals. Artemisinin (ART)-class drugs are activated in vivo by newly released heme, which creates a carbon-centered radical that markedly reduces parasite density. Radical damage to parasite lipids and proteins is perceived to be ARTs' dominant mechanism of action. By contrast, quinoline-class antimalarials inhibit the formation of hemozoin and in this way suppress heme detoxification. Here, we combine malaria parasite assays and scanning probe microscopy of growing β-hematin crystals to elucidate an unexpected mechanism employed by two widely administered antimalarials, ART, and artesunate to subdue the erythrocytic phase of the parasite life cycle. We demonstrate that heme-drug adducts, produced after the radical activation of ARTs and largely believed to be benign bystanders, potently kills P. falciparum at low exogenous concentrations. We show that these adducts inhibit β-hematin crystallization and heme detoxification, a pathway which complements the deleterious effect of radicals generated via parent drug activation. Our findings reveal an irreversible mechanism of heme-ART adduct inhibition of heme crystallization, unique among antimalarials and common crystal growth inhibitors, that opens new avenues for evaluating drug dosing regimens and understanding growing resistance of P. falciparum to ART.
Genitalia: Undescended Testis, Acute Scrotum, Buried Penis

Cryptorchid testis is a frequent congenital anomaly of the genitourinary tract, occurring as a consequence of various phenomena, and may be palpable (inguinal region or scrotum) or non-palpable (abdomen). The condition is approximately 10–12 times more frequent in premature than term infants. Laparoscopy is both diagnostic and therapeutic, providing an opportunity for the gold standard orchiopexy. The acute scrotum is due to pain or swelling in the testicular region. It may be defined by the duration of symptoms, with either acute, subacute, or gradual insidious presentation. In addition to physical exam, color doppler ultrasound and urinalysis are common noninvasive laboratory tools. Buried penis is a condition in which the penis lies under a layer of integument, either from the thigh or abdomen. The condition can be congenital (megaprepuce) or acquired (obesity). The latter poses a fairly difficult management challenge.
Role of Cyclic Adenosine 3',5'-Monophosphate in the Induction of Hepatic Enzymes: III. INTERACTION OF HYDROCORTISONE AND N6,O2'-DIBUTYRYL CYCLIC ADENOSINE 3',5'-MONOPHOSPHATE IN THE INDUCTION OF TYROSINE AMINOTRANSFERASE IN CULTURED H-4-11-E HEPATOMA CELLS

The induction of tyrosine aminotransferase in H-4-11-E hepatoma cells (a strain derived from H-35 Reuber hepatoma) in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) requires low concentrations of hydrocortisone. Incubation of the cells with 10-4 m dibutyryl cyclic AMP alone failed to induce the enzyme. Hydrocortisone must be continuously present for the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by 10-8 m hydrocortisone plus 10-4 m dibutyryl cyclic AMP requires both protein and RNA synthesis. Glucagon (free of insulin) alone or with hydrocortisone neither increases the adenyl cyclase activity nor induces tyrosine aminotransferase in H-4-11-E hepatoma cells. Hydrocortisone has no effect on the uptake of exogenous dibutyryl cyclic AMP and, conversely, dibutyryl cyclic AMP has no effect on the uptake of hydrocortisone. That hydrocortisone might increase the cyclic AMP-binding activity of soluble proteins has also been excluded. Hydrocortisone increases both the total activity of protein phosphokinase (or phosphokinases) of the cells and the phosphorylation in vivo of nuclear histones.
Philosophy and the visual arts : seeing and abstracting

I Abstracting and Depicting.- Depiction and the Golden Calf.- Plates [1-14].- Painting, Expression, Abstraction.- Dimensions of Meaning.- Cubism - abstract or realist?.- Representing and Abstracting.- Alienation and Disalienation in Abstract Art.- On Attempting to Define Abstract Art.- Plates [15-27].- On Being an Abstract Artist.- II Depicting Colours.- Identity, Predication and Colour.- Colour Systems and Perception in Early Abstract Painting.- Colour, Culture and Cinematography.- Form and Meaning in Colour.- Colour Appearances and the Colour Solid.- III The Limits of Depiction.- Perspective and Meaning: Illusion, Allusion and Collusion.- Plates [28-40].- Looking at Pictures and Looking at Things.- Plates [41-44].- Some New Problems in Perspective.- The Limits of Portrayal.- Bibliography of Works Cited.
Water Resources as an Element of Urban Planning

In northeastern Illinois the evolving water situation is characterized by the availability of several sources, a high intensity of use and reuse, increasingly complex technical, legal, and administrative problems, and a large number of management alternatives. A metropolitan comprehensive planning agency provides a formalized base from which a selection of management alternatives may be made.
Entrainment pathways and the functional organization of the circadian system.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the following assertions—(1) the processing of photic information for entrainment is a specialized function of the circadian timing system (CTS); (2) the intergeniculate leaflet and geniculohypothalamic tract are concerned primarily with integrating photic and non-photic information; (3) the functional organization of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is revealed by the pattern of termination of its afferents; (4) areas receiving SCN efferents also receive direct and indirect photic input; and (5) the modulation of circadian period and phase is extremely complex and requires an interaction of direct retinal input, indirect photic input from other visual centers and non-photic input on the SCN pacemaker, and the interaction of photic input and pacemaker input onto effector systems that are under circadian control. The thesis of the chapter is that the analysis of afferents to the circadian system provides important insight into an understanding of its functional organization in mammals. The function of these visual projections is presently unknown, but they indicate that the circadian regulation of physiological processes and behavior requires the integration of photic and circadian information at each level of the system, including its output. This further emphasizes the primacy of light in the control of circadian function.
Growth and Biosynthesis of Aflatoxin by Aspergillus parasiticus in Cultures Containing Nisin

Nisin, 200 or 5000 Reading units/ml, was added to Aspergillus parasiticus cultures. The cultures were incubated at 28 degrees C for 3, 7 or 10 days and analyzed for mycelial dry weight, pH and accumulation of aflatoxin B1 and G1. During the first 3 days of incubation, dry weight, pH decrease and aflatoxin accumulation were suppressed by nisin, when compared with similar values for the nisin-free control. After longer incubation, differences in dry weight nd pH values decreased, whereas accumulation of aflatoxin in the nisin-containing cultures surpassed that of the control.
Technological solutions for protecting privacy

The Web is commonly viewed as an information access tool for end users. But as much as it simplifies access to stock quotes, medical libraries, or reference manuals, the Web also makes it easier for individuals and organizations to obtain and infer. Emerging technologies can protect privacy without restricting the information flow crucial to efficient organizations. Solutions to privacy concern must combine laws, societal norms, market and technology.
Social Work and Divinity, edited by Daniel Lee and Robert O'Gorman

In Social Work and Divinity, Lee and O'Gorman compiled a collection of seminal papers from the First National Symposium on Social Work and Divinity in 2002. The editors and their esteemed colleague...
Nucleosynthesis and Mixing in Low- and Intermediate-Mass AGB Stars

The existence of carbon stars brighter than Mbo1=−4 can be understood in terms of dredge up in thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. As a low- or intermediate-mass star evolves on the AGB, the large fluxes engendered in a helium shell flash cause the base of the convective envelope to extend into the radiative, carbon-rich region, and transport nucleosynthesis products to the stellar surface. Numerical models indicate that AGB stars with sufficiently massive stellar envelopes can become carbon stars via this standard dredge-up mechanism. AGB stars with less massive stellar envelopes can become carbon stars when carbon recombines in the cool, carbon-rich region below the convective envelope.