cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discontinuous buffer system for polyacrylamide and agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments.

DNA fragments up to 9 kb in size were stacked and separated by polyacrylamid gel electrophoresis, and those up to 50 kb in size by agarose gel electrophoresis using a discontinuous buffer system. Polyacrylamide gel at pH 8.9, 2°C, 0.01 M ionic strength, yielded sharp bands with DNA loads of 8 μg/cm2 of gel of a mixture of 19 DNA fragments in the size range of 72–23130 bp, while agarose gels at pH 8.5, 25°C, provided well-resolved, unperturbed bands at 0.04 M ionic strength with DNA loads of 1 μg/cm2 of the same mixture. Note that the ionic strength of the agarose gels is comparable to the conventionally used 0.5 × TBE (Tris-borate-EDTA) buffer, while that successfully applied to polyacrylamide is seven-fold less than the ionic strength of conventionally used 1 × TBE buffer, with is substantially shorter duration of electrophoresis as a result. The application of a discontinuous buffer system to the gel electrophoresis of DNA results in (i) Band identification Rf, the migration distance relative to a sharply defined “buffer front” (moving boundary). This is sufficiently labor saving, compared to determining absolute mobilities, so as to render practical the expression of bands as numbers, with benefits for data storage, statistical manipulations and physico-chemical exploitation of mobility data. The use of Rf's also circumvents loss of precision in mobility measurement resulting from progressive band spreading of dye bands used as a front. (ii) A uniformly and highly concentrated starting zone, beneficial to resolution, is obtained, without the losses by which separate concentration steps are usually burdened. (iii) The degree of dilution of the DNA sample becomes unimportant.
Overview no. 100 Scalings in fracture probabilities for a brittle matrix fiber composite

Abstract This paper considers the statistical aspects of strengthening of a monolithic ceramic by the addition of continuous ceramic fibers in parallel. The failure process involves quasi-periodic matrix cracking, frictional sliding of the fibers in break zones, and fiber bridging of cracks in a global load-sharing framework. First we consider a “characteristic” bundle in the composite and develop its distribution for strength in terms of certain characteristic stress and length scales. We then consider the strength distribution for a chain arrangement of such bundles where failure of the weakest bundle triggers failure of the composite. The scale of load transfer among fibers in a bundle may be smaller than the full composite cross-section depending on such things as the stiffness of the matrix relative to the fibers and the spacing of periodic cracks. Substantial reductions in strength are predicted for smaller bundle sizes, but composite reliability is typically very high and the size effect very mild.
Child soldiers and children associated with the fighting forces

Experience has shown that the breakdown of protective structures such as families and communities, particularly in times of conflict, leaves children vulnerable to recruitment into armed groups. These children are subject to gross violations of their human rights, such as the right to protection from harm, violence and abuse. At least 300,000 children are currently being used to fight in armed conflicts in over 30 countries across the world. Girls and boys are abducted, coerced or persuaded to join armed forces, often in brutal circumstances. These children are usually involved in internal conflicts, where poverty and exclusion leave very few other viable options--becoming soldiers may appear to be their only means of survival. Many, however, sustain physical injuries and permanent disabilities as a result of combat and it is impossible to know how many are killed. A large number encounter health problems such as sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Lack of data on the health of child soldiers means that appropriate medical care and treatment may be inadequate or inaccessible, even during a planned demobilization. There is an urgent need for systematic research and data collection in order to better understand and provide for the healthcare of all children leaving armed groups.
Active site mutations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A. Analysis of the His440 residue.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA) is a member of the family of bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxins which use NAD + as the ADP-ribose donor. By analogy to diphtheria and pertussis toxins, the His 440 residue of ETA has been proposed to be one of the critical residues within the active site of the toxin. In this study the role of the His 440 residue was explored through site-directed mutagenesis which resulted in the production of ETA proteins containing Ala, Asn, and Phe substitutions at the 440 position. The His 440 -substituted ETA proteins were purified and analyzed. All substitutions at the 440 site displayed severely reduced ADP-ribosylation activity (>1000-fold). However, NAD glycohydrolase activity remained intact and in the case of ETAH440N actually increased 10-fold. NAD + binding is not affected by substitutions at the 440 site as indicated by similar K m values for the ETA variants tested. Conformational integrity of the mutant toxins appears to be largely unaffected as assessed by analysis with a conformation-sensitive monoclonal antibody as well as sensitivity to proteinase digestion. In view of the location of His 440 residue within or close to the proposed NAD + -binding site, these results suggest that His 440 may be a catalytic residue involved in the transfer of the ADP-ribose moiety to the EF-2 substrate.
Structure and stability of Σ3 grain boundaries in face centered cubic metals

Σ3 grain boundaries form as a result of either growth twinning or deformation twinning in face centered cubic (fcc) metals and play a crucial role in determining the mechanical and electrical properties and microstructural stability. We studied the structure and stability of Σ3 grain boundaries (GBs) in fcc metals by using topological analysis and atomistic simulations. Atomistic simulations were performed for Cu and Al with empirical interatomic potentials to reveal the influence of stacking fault energy on the morphology of the twinned grains. Three sets of tilt Σ3 GBs were studied with respect to the tilt axis parallel to ⟨111⟩, ⟨112⟩, and ⟨110⟩, respectively. We showed that Σ3{111} and Σ3{112} GBs are thermodynamically stable and the others will dissociate into terraced interfaces regardless of the stacking fault energy. The morphology of the nano-twinned grains in Cu is predicted from the above analysis and found to match with experiments.
Complex marine trace fossils

Structurally elaborate burrow systems deserve special attention from ichnologists as the products of complex, variable behavior. Ichnogenera such as Zoophycos, Paleodictyon and Phymatoderma in some cases record deliberate restructuring of habitats, modulation of disturbances, and active control of food supplies. Thus they cannot be accommodated in the traditional ethologic classification of trace fossils.
Electrochemical Insertion of Lithium into Pyrite from Nonaqueous Electrolytes at Room Temperature: An in Situ Fe K-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Study

The effects of lithium ion insertion on the structural and electronic properties of FeS{sub 2} (pyrite) have been examined in situ by Fe K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) using electrodes and electrolytes similar to those found in conventional, ambient-temperature, primary Li/FeS{sub 2} batteries. A substantial reduction in the amplitudes of the Fe-S and Fe-Fe backscattering was observed as the amount of intercalated lithium in the FeS{sub 2} lattice was increased from 0 to 2 Li{sup +} equivalents, (Li{sup +}){sub eq}. After the insertion of 2 (Li{sup +}){sub eq}, the second-shell Fe-S interaction and the distant Fe-Fe interactions were no longer discernable in the Fourier transform (FT) data. Curve-fitting analysis of the {kappa}{sup 3}{sub {Chi}}(k) extended X-ray absorption fine structure for this latter material yielded an average Fe-S distance, d(Fe-S) = 2.31 {+-} 0.02 A, which is about 0.05 A longer than d(Fe-S) in crystalline pyrite. In addition, the X-ray absorption near-edge structure revealed a rounding of the otherwise highly structured edge of FeS{sub 2} as the amount of inserted lithium was increased. This behavior is consistent with the formation of Fe{sub 1{minus}x}S and thus supports the assignment made on the basis of in situ {sup 57}Fe Mossbauer effect spectroscopymore » of the same system. 24 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.« less
Alterations of the hprt gene in human in vivo-derived 6-thioguanine-resistant T lymphocytes.

Investigations into the extent and significance of somatic gene mutations occurring in vivo in humans have been hampered by the lack of a means of unambiguously defining the mutational origin of in vivo-derived variant cells. Several years ago we proposed that 6-thioguanine-resistant T lymphocytes, present at low frequencies in human peripheral blood, might be useful markers of in vivosomatic mutation1,2. We and others have since described methods for the isolation and study of these unusual cells3–5. The thioguanine-resistant T cells stably lack hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) activity, suggesting that they are somatic equivalents in normal individuals to cells from individuals with the X-chromosomal hprt Lesch-Nyhan germinal mutation6,7. We now report that in vivo-derived thioguanine-resistant T-cell colonies from a single normal individual show a variety of hprt structural alterations, as determined by Southern blot analysis. This finding demonstrates unequivocally that these cells are genetic mutants and validates their use for fundamental and applied mutational studies in humans.
Evaluation of Diffracted Stimulated Emission as a Potential Analytical Measurement Technique

Stepowski has recently shown theoretically that diffracted stimulated emission should occur at certain angles when a medium is probed with intersecting dye laser beams capable of exciting a certain species in the medium. This was of great interest to us because it is wellknown that the stimulated emission rate can be considerably greater than the spontaneous emission rate in all cases where the radiational excitation rate exceeds the collisional quenching rate plus the spontaneous emission rate. Unfortunately, with a single laser beam, stimulated emission is difficult to detect because it occurs in the same direction and with the same phase and polarization as the exciting laser beam. By splitting the exciting laser beam into two equivalent beams that intersect at angle 2θ in the medium of interest and measuring the diffracted stimulated emission of an angle of 3θ (or 5θ, 7θ, etc.), it is possible to avoid the difficult (impossible) problem of separating the stimulated emission beam from the incident single laser beam.
Jacopo de' Barbari's View of Venice: Map Making, City Views, and Moralized Geography before the Year 1500

Among the hundreds of city views printed in the sixteenth century—bird's-eye views, flat plans, profile views, woodcuts, engravings, and etchings—the anonymous woodcut view of Venice of 1500 stands out for its great size, wealth of detail, and sheer beauty of design and execution.1 It consists of six large sheets, each approximately 66 by 99cm, which together compose a bird's-eye view of the city from the southwest, measuring fully 135 by 282cm (Fig. 1). We distinguish the characteristic fish-like outline of the metropolis, the distant islands of Murano, Torcello, Burano, and Mazzorbo, and the far-off Alps. Within the city we recognize scores of churches, public buildings, and private palaces that are still standing, little changed in their appearance. The perfection of the work is such that one might think it was the product of a long-established, accomplished tradition of printed city views. It is not. It is one of the first large bird's-eye views known to have been published in woodcut, and perhaps the...
SERUM ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE IN THE POST-NATAL PIG AND EFFECT OF SERUM STORAGE ON ENZYME ACTIVITY.

SummaryAlkaline phosphatase activity in the serum of 41 pigs was studied at 1, 2, 7, 14 and/or 28 days post-partum. Individual values were highly variable both within and between litters. Activity generally, but not always, decreased after birth. Negative values of .53 and .33 were obtained when serum phosphatase activity was correlated with body weight and serum protein concentration, respectively. Storage of serum at 5°C for 18 hours significantly increased phosphatase activity. Serum collected at 1, 7 or 14 days post-partum significantly decreased in phosphatase activity during 5 weeks of storage at −20°C.
DNA polymerase clamp loaders and DNA recognition

Clamp loaders are heteropentameric ATPase assemblies that load sliding clamps onto DNA and are critical for processive DNA replication. The DNA targets for clamp loading are double-stranded/single-stranded junctions with recessed 3′ ends (primer-template junctions). Here, we briefly review the crystal structures of clamp loader complexes and the insights they have provided into the mechanism of the clamp loading process.
Dimensions of the semantic differential as cues in discrimination learning

The present study addresses two questions: (1) Will Osgood’s semantic differential dimensions, activity and potency, provide adequate cuing to the human learner in a binary choice selective (discrimination) learning paradigm? And (2) will these dimensions combine as redundant cues to facilitate learning? Undergraduate student subjects responded to a program presented by microcomputer. Three groups were designated: Group P was presented word pairs that differed only in their factor scores on potency (weak-strong); the other semantic dimensions were “neutralized.” Group A received word pairs differing only in activity scores (active-passive). And Group A&P-matched received word pairs differing in both potency and activity (relevant redundant cues, as weak-passive vs. strong-active). Instructions to all subjects simply urged that they respond to the “way the word feels−the general feeling of the word.” Few subjects mastered the one dimension problem (potency or activity presented singly). Combining the two, however, yielded evidence of learning.
Similar pharmacological actions of chlordimeform and local anesthetics

Abstract The toxic symptoms of the pesticide, chlordimeform, resemble those observed following systemic local anesthetic overdose. In view of similarities in the chemical structures of chlordimeform and the local anesthetic agent phenacaine, additional comparisons between the actions of chlordimeform and local anesthetics were made. Chlordimeform had effects on the frog sciatic nerve preparation similar to those of local anesthetics (i.e., blocked conduction, increased threshold, prolonged refractory period). Chlordimeform was 0.6 times as active as procaine, less active in the ionized form, and more active on the desheathed preparation. Chlordimeform lethality was reduced by pretreatment with diazepam or pentobarbital, but not by diphenylhydantoin, trimethadione, or mephenesin pretreatment. These pretreatments have a comparable effect on local anesthetic toxicity. Chlordimeform lethality was slighly increased by agents possessing “local anesthetic activity” such as imipramine, pyribenzamine, and phenoxybenzamine. These and other results indicate that a number of the pharmacological and toxic actions of chlordimeform in mammals may be due to actions that are similar to those of local anesthetic agents.
Predicting Elementary and Secondary School Achievement With School-Related and Demographic Factors

Relationships between school and social factors reported on the Illinois School Report Card were examined, along with student achievement, as measured by the Illinois Goal Assessment Program (IGAP). The purposes were (a) to identify relationships between school demographic variables and IGAP achievement and (b) to assess the explanatory ability of the cannot control and can control models in accounting for IGAP achievement score variability. Results revealed that all of the independent variables (except high school per-pupil expenditure) were significantly related to achievement scores. A school's IGAP achievement score is more a function of the school's demographic status and socioeconomic status than its effectiveness. Educators, legislators, and the public should consider this when comparing achievement among school districts and rank them accordingly.
Assignment of the human ubiquitous receptor gene (UNR) to 19q13.3 using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Human UNR cDNAs were used to screen a Lambda FIX II human male placenta genomic library. Phage DNA from clones hybridizing to UNR cDNA was characterized by Southern hybridization and restriction mapping, and two different clones (hG10 and hG12) with inserts of 15-20 kb were chosen for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Biotin-labeled probes were prepared from phage DNA by nick-translation using Bio-11-dUTP. FISH was performed as described previously. Hybridization was detected with fluorescien-conjugated avidin, and chromosomes were identified by staining with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-dihydrochloride (DAPI).
Potential role of the airway wall in the asthma of obesity.

The pathogenesis of late-onset TH2-low asthma in obesity is thought to be related to weight-related decreases in lung volume, but why only a subset of individuals with obesity develop this conditio...
A novel early intervention for preschool depression: findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Validation for depression in preschool children has been established; however, to date no empirical investigations of interventions for the early onset disorder have been conducted. Based on this and the modest efficacy of available treatments for childhood depression, the need for novel early interventions has been emphasized. Large effect sizes (ES) for preschool psychotherapies for several Axis I disorders suggest that earlier intervention in depression may also be promising. Therefore, a novel form of treatment for preschool depression, Parent–Child Interaction Therapy Emotion Development (PCIT-ED) was developed and tested. Methods: A preliminary randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted comparing PCIT-ED to psycho-education in depressed 3- to 7-year-olds and their caregivers. A total of 54 patients met symptom criteria for DSM–IV major depressive disorder and were randomized, 19 patients completed the active treatment (n = 8 dropouts) and 10 completed psycho-education (n = 17 dropouts). Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in several domains, with PCIT-ED showing significance in a greater number of domains. An intent-to-treat analysis suggested that PCIT-ED was significantly more effective than psycho-education on executive functioning (p = .011, ES = 0.12) and emotion recognition skills (p = .002, ES = 0.83). Conclusions: The RCT proved feasible and suggests an individual control condition should be used in future trials to minimize differential dropout. These pilot data, although limited by power, suggest that PCIT-ED may be a promising early intervention for depression. Larger scale randomized controlled trials of PCIT-ED for depressed preschoolers are now warranted.
IDENTIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF CRITICAL CONVERSATIONAL SOCIAL SKILLS

In this study, we used a four-step social validation process to identify and validate critical skill components that constitute high school students’ conversational behavior. The four steps were nominating target behaviors, establishing a normative range of performance, manipulating simulations of behavioral dimensions, and comparing ratings of judges to levels of performance on those behavioral dimensions. Multiple measures, both quantitative and qualitative, suggested that the rate and percentage of time initiating and responding verbally, the percentage of time attending, and the percentage of time not engaging in distracting motor behavior related to favorable ratings by a wide variety of 60 judges. Findings are discussed in relation to the utility of the multistep social validation process and the identification of critical social skill components as targets of interventions. DESCRIPTORS: social validation, high school students, mental retardation, conversational social skills
A Computerized Task for Investigating the Relation Between Attentional and Emotional Processes in Children

The authors' goals in this article are to (a) describe a new task for the assessment of shifting attention between different affective stimuli, The Children's Attentional Shifting Task (CAST); (b) present the theoretical background for the development of the CAST; and (c) report initial information on the developmental appropriateness and validity of the CAST. The task was tested using a sample of kindergarten and 1st-grade children, 50% of whom had social and conduct problems. Preliminary analyses showed that the CAST was not subject to problems arising from fatigue or loss of interest. Moreover, children's ability to shift attention away from angry facial expressions was positively related to teachers' ratings of their ability to shift attention and parents' reports of children's emotion regulation. Shifting away from negative affect also predicted children's academic performance as reported by teachers.
Input-to-state stabilization with minimum number of quantization regions

We study control systems where the state measurements are quantized and time-sampled, and an unknown disturbance is being applied. We present a dynamic quantization scheme that switches between three modes of operation. We show that by using this scheme with a continuous static feedback controller we achieve a closed-loop system which has the input-to-state stability property (ISS). Our design does not use any characterization of the disturbance; as long as the disturbance is bounded the system will remain stable. We show that three quantization regions per dimension is sufficient to achieve the ISS property, and furthermore we show that the ISS property is achievable using a data rate that is arbitrarily close to the minimum required data rate when no disturbance is applied.
Salivary Monitoring of Antiepileptic Drugs

Therapeutic drug monitoring is widely used in the anticonvulsant treatment of persons with epilepsy. Most monitoring uses serum, but many anticonvulsant drugs can as easily be monitored using saliva, including phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, levetiracetam, and gabapentin. For highly protein-bound medications such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine, saliva has the advantage of providing an approximation of the serum free level, the free level presumably being the active moiety. Salivary therapeutic drug monitoring offers a number of advantages over serum therapeutic drug monitoring, including lack of pain, lower cost, and wide potential acceptability by patients and physicians. It has the potential to open new approaches to treatment with strategic at-home monitoring at the time a seizure or adverse event occurs and to allow the collection of cohort-based, pharmacokinetic, and pharmcodynamic data for populations of persons of varying ages and wit...
A comparison of sonographic estimation of fetal weight and obstetrically determined gestational age in the prediction of neonatal outcome for the very low-birth weight fetus

A comparison of sonographic estimation of fetal weight and obstetrically determined gestational age in the prediction of neonatal outcome for the very low-birth weight fetus was conducted in a study population of 122 fetuses. With stepwise logistic regression, obstetric gestational age was found to be the best predictor of neonatal death, while sonographic estimated fetal weight did not add significantly to this prediction. However, both variables were important in the prediction of adverse neonatal outcome (neonatal death together with major neonatal complications of prematurity).
Decarboxylation of oleic acid over Pt catalysts supported on small-pore zeolites and hydrotalcite

The catalytic decarboxylation and further conversions of oleic acid to paraffins, branched and aromatic hydrocarbons over Pt supported on small pore zeolites and hydrotalcite are demonstrated. The influence of the support, platinum source, and reaction temperature on the decarboxylation of oleic acid was investigated. An increase in reaction temperature increased the degree of decarboxylation and selectivity to heptadecane. Pt-SAPO-34 was a very effective catalyst. In addition to a high degree of decarboxylation, Pt-SAPO-34 displayed a high selectivity to heptadecane and dodecylbenzene among the products. Branched isomers, cracked (mostly <C17) paraffins, alkenes such as undecene and dodecene, and carboxylic acids such as nonanoic acid and decanoic acid were observed as side products. The further isomerization of the initially formed linear heptadecane (by decarboxylation of oleic acid) to branched isomers is suppressed in the narrow pores of SAPO-34 due to restricted transition state shape selectivity limitations in the pore system of SAPO-34. Catalyst acidity, dispersion of Pt and the pore diameter of the support played crucial roles in determining product selectivity.
Relationship of compaction bands in Utah to Laramide fault-related folding

Abstract Multiple sets of compaction bands of southwestern Utah occur in Navajo Sandstone near a bend in the adjacent East Kaibab monocline. Forward mechanical models of blind-thrust fault deformation are used in this paper to investigate the spatial relationship between compaction bands and fault-related folding. Results are consistent with the East Kaibab monocline being underlain by a west-dipping blind high-angle reverse fault between ~ 1.5 and 5 km depth below the top of the Navajo Sandstone. Reverse slip along this reactivated fault during the Laramide orogeny is inferred to have produced values of compactional normal strain that were largest in the footwall near the concave map-view bend in the monocline. The calculated compactional normal strains and Coulomb stress increases are consistent with the field occurrence of pure and shear-enhanced compaction bands in this area. Bends, relays, stepovers, or other geometric complexities above blind reverse faults are thus inferred to be potential sites for compaction band localization in appropriate rock types.
The effect of comorbid substance use disorders on the course of bipolar disorder: a review.

Population-based studies have documented that among all patients with major psychiatric disorders, those with bipolar disorder have the highest prevalence of comorbid substance abuse and dependence. The cause of this high comorbidity rate has not been clearly established, and the relationship is probably bidirectional. Articles published in English from 1980 through 1997 containing the terms comorbidity, mania, outcome, and substance use were identified by searching Medline and then the bibliographies of the articles identified in this search. The literature review showed several risk factors to be associated with comorbid substance use disorders in bipolar disorder patients: early age of onset, gender, family history of substance use disorders, and presence of mixed mania. Methodological enhancements that have helped to advance understanding in this area include distinguishing between primary and secondary disorders, between the different subtypes of bipolar disorder, and between first and subsequent epi...
Effectiveness of information retraction

In this work, we study the effectiveness of information retraction in situations where information being spread requires recipients to make a decision or take an action. Consider the scenario where information is introduced into a network, advising recipients to take an action. If at a later time, the information is found to be inaccurate and the action is unnecessary, it becomes a concern to cease the information from spreading any further and stop people from taking the action. The spread of inaccurate information can lead to confusion and mistrust, and therefore it is important to be able to quickly impede or retract inaccurate information, if needed to at a later time. We investigate the idea of introducing counter messages into a network to interfere with an ongoing diffusion and stop the action that was prescribed by the previous messages. These counter messages are diffusive themselves and may spread through the network based on the recipient's evaluation of the information. We present an empirical framework for modeling the spread of actionable information and information retraction. Using the framework, we perform preliminary experiments to investigate strategies for broadcasting the counter message, in particular, how to identify individuals that should receive the counter message directly from the information source. There is a trade off between a fast effective spread of actionable information and the ability to retract the information. Findings also suggest that alternate strategies will have to be explored to incorporate group structures and the distribution of trust in designing a useful abort mechanism.
Effect of Zebra Mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, on Macroinvertebrates in a Lake-outlet Stream

Abstract Zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, increase macroinvertebrate abundance on hard substrata in lakes and large rivers because they enhance surface area, substratum heterogeneity and the accumulation of benthic organic matter (BOM). We tested the hypothesis that zebra mussel colonization of hard substrata in a lake-outlet stream would similarly increase macroinvertebrate abundance. Zebra mussels were attached to artificial rocks (0.05 m2) in a crossed factorial design with two states of mussels (live or dead) and three densities [low (200·m−2), medium (500·m−2) or high (1000·m−2)] plus a noncrossed control (no attached mussels). Rocks were placed in an erosional zone of a lake-outlet stream in southwestern Michigan that contained low densities of zebra mussels. After 28 d total macroinvertebrate abundance was significantly higher on rocks with high densities of zebra mussels, but live or dead treatment had no effect on macroinvertebrate abundance. Family richness differed significantly among densi...
Cerebrospinal Fluid Monoamine Metabolites in Korsakoff’s Disease

The time-honored concept of anatomical localization as a basis for the study of the pathogenesis of central nervous system disease has yielded an enormous body of data contributing to the understanding of a variety of these disorders. Despite its increasing capacity for greater precision, utilizing techniques such as electron microscopy, histochemistry, and radioisotopic and immunological methods, this modality has limited usefulness for the understanding of biological derangements underlying certain illnesses that produce major deficits in cognition. This limitation might be explained by presuming that such diseases are associated with interruption of one or more neuronal systems that have widespread connections throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Interruption of such systems could result from lesions in a number of anatomically separated locations, thereby allowing any of such lesions to produce remarkably similar clinical signs and symptoms. We are then confronted with the difficult task of trying to identify critical anatomical substrata by analyzing an apparent pathological heterogeneity. This enigma is exemplified by the scientific controversy that has resulted from extensive attempts to unravel the conflicting anatomical observations that underlie the neuroanatomy of amnesia.
The alcohol self-management smartphone application: an evidence-based approach

The WHO, in its report on the global status on alcohol and health, has clearly highlighted that alcohol use disorders are a major problem worldwide that has resulted in millions of deaths each year.1 Previous research2 conducted a content analysis of 500 alcohol smartphone applications made available in stores and highlighted the fact that the vast majority of …
IS SPIZELLOMYCES PUNCTATUM A PARASITE OR SAPROPHYTE OF VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI?

Spizellomyces punctatum has been reported to be a mycoparasite on spores of vesiculararbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and studies were undertaken to determine whether this species attacked viable or non-viable Gigaspora margarita azygospores incubated in sterile sand on nylon sieves and inoculated with zoospores of the fungus. (1) Spizellomyces puntatum mostly attacked non-germinated azygospores. (2) Inoculation of G. margarita azygospores with zoospores of S. punctatum did not significantly reduce the incidence of azygospore germination. (3) Pre-killing of azygospores with propylene oxide or heat greatly increased colonization by S. punctatum. (4) Water soluble exudates from propylene oxide-killed azygospores chemotactically attracted more S. punctatum zoospores than exudates from healthy azygospores. (5) High populations of the chytrid did not reduce infection or growth response by G. margarita when a zoospore suspension of S. punctatum was mixed with VAM inoculum and added to cotton plants in the greenhouse. Infection and growth response of citrus by Glomus fasciculatum similarly were not reduced. This evidence suggests that S. punctatum is primarily a saprophyte which attacks non-viable spores of VAM fungi.
Factors Affecting Employee Attitudes Toward the Installation of a New Management System

Selected variables related to a Management by Objectives system were examined to determine their relationship to manager attitudes toward the system. Two variables, ability of MBO to contribute pos...
Induction of Regeneration of Forelimb of the Frog by Augmentation of the Nerve Supply.

SummaryThe ability of the amputated forelimb of the tadpole to regenerate declines and in most cases is lost completely at the time of metamorphosis. However, .the present report shows that regeneration can be evoked experimentally in the adult frog if the number of nerve fibers available at the amputation surface of the forelimb is augmented by deviation of the sciatic nerve from the hindlimb. The theoretical considerations which led to these experiments emerged from the study of the influence of quantity of nerve fibers in regeneration in salamanders and are discussed here.
The Limen and Media in Love——Inspection of the cultural function of Changjiao Miao dress in love customs

The taboo of clothing and adorn in the Changjiao Miao love activities reflect the marriage notion developed in the long-term social history and natural environment.As a symbol,dress marks the beginning and the end of Miao people who can attend love activity.The Changjiao Miao people use costume as a media to express themselves,implicative for each other's attitude and display different stages of love.Clothing and adorns of Miao people play an important role is in their love customs.
Synthesis, characterization and anti-cancer activity of a peptide nucleolipid bioconjugate.

Abstract The synthesis, characterization and anti-cancer activity of a novel peptide nucleolipid bioconjugate is reported in this study. The prerequisite 5′-carboxy derived nucleolipid was synthesized following a five-step solution-phase approach and then coupled to the cytotoxic D-(KLAKLAK) 2 sequence by solid-phase bioconjugation. The biophysical and structural properties of the peptide-nucleolipid bioconjugate were evaluated and compared to the peptide controls. These characterization studies revealed that the amphiphilic peptides favored helical-type secondary structures and well-defined nanoparticle formulations that were found to be contributive towards their biological activity. The peptide-nucleolipid bioconjugate displayed greater lethality in comparison to the native D-(KLAKLAK) 2 AK sequence when treated within the human A549 non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line. Thus, the amphiphilic peptide-nucleolipid forms a new class of anti-cancer peptides that may be developed into promising leads in the fight against cancer.
Role of nitrosyl factors in the hemodynamic adjustments to heat stress in the rat.

The present study examined the mechanisms responsible for the hindlimb vasodilation produced by elevating core body (colonic) temperature (Tco) of alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats from 37 to 39 degrees C. Elevating Tco to 39 degrees C produced equivalent decreases in hindlimb vascular resistance in sham-operated (-48 +/- 2%) and sinoaortic baroreceptor-denervated rats (-44 +/- 3%) rats. There were no changes in mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, or lumbar sympathetic nerve activity in either group. The prior administration of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (100 micrograms/kg i.v.) did not prevent the heat-induced decrease in hindlimb resistance in sham-operated rats (-52 +/- 7% vs. baseline). In contrast, the fall in hindlimb resistance was markedly attenuated (-20 +/- 5% vs. baseline) in sham-operated rats that had received a prior injection of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 mumol/kg i.v.). Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg i.v.), administered to prevent the possible induction of inducible NOS, did not modify the heat-induced hindlimb vasodilation in sham-operated rats (-41 +/- 5%). These results demonstrate that the elevation of Tco to 39 degrees C in alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats produces a relative vasodilation in the hindlimb that is not obviously linked to an alteration in lumbar sympathetic nerve activity. Because the vasodilation occurred in the presence of prazosin, it is unlikely that the decline in resistance is due to the loss of the vasoconstrictor potency of neurally derived catecholamines. The findings that NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, but not dexamethasone, diminished the heat-induced hindlimb vasodilation suggests that the fall in resistance is due in part to constitutive NOS and supports a role for NOS as a mediator of thermoregulatory active vasodilation.
Against Neoliberal Enclosure: Using a Critical Transdisciplinary Approach in Science Teaching and Learning

ABSTRACTThis article offers a critical transdisciplinary heuristic as both a tool for critique of neoliberal reforms in schools, particularly in science and environmental education, and a springboard for the reconstruction of education along more equitable and sustainable lines. Emerging from the sociocultural study of science, critical pedagogy, critical youth studies, and participants’ reflections on practice, this heuristic challenges hegemonic assumptions pervasive in science teaching, learning, and research by foregrounding the lived experiences of students. Two narratives demonstrate the potential of this heuristic in both a formal and an informal context.
Hormonal Regulation of the EGF/Receptor System

The EGF/receptor system is involved in the development, maintenance and repair of various organs, particularly those involving ductal systems. Disruptions of the EGF/receptor system have been implicated in a variety of clinical disorders including cancer and aging. Some hormones alter the expression of EGF ligands, EGF receptors and of downstream factors that mediate EGF receptor action during development. These hormonal effects vary according to the species, organ and stage of development under study. Androgens alter EGF mRNA levels in several rodent tissues, yet no androgen-responsiveness is detectable within 7 kB upstream of the promoter of the EGF gene, which supports earlier evidence that androgens have post-transcriptional actions on EGF expression. AU-rich elements that can influence transcript stability and subcellular localization are present in the 3’ UTR of EGF mRNA. Androgens regulate EGF mRNA polyadenylation site usage, poly-A tail length and mRNA stability in the mouse submaxillary salivary gland (SMG) but not in the kidney, although androgens do regulate other genes in the kidney. Androgens also regulate the levels of several AU-rich RNA binding proteins known to affect the subcellular localization, translation and stability of AU-rich mRNAs. Androgen-dependent changes in the subcellular levels of these RNA binding proteins also indicate a causal connection with the androgen-dependent changes in EGF mRNA and its translation.
Sparsifying Word Representations for Deep Unordered Sentence Modeling

Sparsity often leads to efficient and interpretable representations for data. In this paper, we introduce an architecture to infer the appropriate sparsity pattern for the word embeddings while learning the sentence composition in a deep network. The proposed approach produces competitive results in sentiment and topic classification tasks with high degree of sparsity. It is computationally cheaper to compute sparse word representations than existing approaches. The imposed sparsity is directly controlled by the task considered and leads to more interpretability.
The Measurement of Colon Motility

The motor activity of an organ is designed to subserve all of the other functions of the organ. In order to facilitate transit, the esophagus has developed a pattern of motor behavior which we recognize as peristalsis; as soon as a bolus comes into the esophagus, peristalsis very efficiently sweeps it through and moves it out. It would be socially disastrous if that occurred in the colon. The colon can be said to have three functions: dehydration, storage of contents until evacuation becomes socially convenient, and finally evacuation. Each of these three functions is subserved by a special type of physiological motor activity. Segmentation is the major means of effecting storage; and evacuation is achieved, not in a peristaltic manner (because peristalsis rarely occurs in the colon under normal circumstances), but by mass propulsion.
STAT5 and STAT5A Signaling Play an Important Role in the Pathophysiology of the CML-Like Myeloproliferative Disorder in Mice.

Although numerous studies have implicated signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)5 in Bcr/Abl-dependent transformation and survival, the role of STAT5 in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has not been fully elucidated. In mice, the CML-like myeloproliferative disorder can occur in the absence of STAT5A/5B, but the repopulating and colony-formation defects of STAT5A/5B double knockout (−/−) bone marrow (BM) cells have made it difficult to separate Bcr/Abl-specific and Bcr/Abl-non-specific effects. To clarify the role of STAT5 signaling in P210 BCR/ABL leukemogenesis, we have expressed Bcr/Abl in primary murine STAT5A-deficient (−/−) BM cells, which have no demonstrable intrinsic hematopoietic defects. Interestingly, the absence of STAT5A profoundly decreased the incidence of the pure CML-like disease. Only 24% of wild-type mice reconstituted with P210-transduced STAT5A(−/−) BM cells developed CML, compared to 93% of P210-STAT5A(+/+)- and 83% of P210(+/−)-reconstituted mice. The remainder of P210-STAT5A(−/−)-reconstituted mice developed an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)-like disease (20%) or a CML/ALL mix (56%), underscoring the relative importance of STAT5 signaling in P210-induced myeloid leukemia compared to P210-induced lymphoid leukemia. There was also a trend for increased latency of the CML-like disease in P210-STAT5A(−/−)-reconstituted mice, with P210-STAT5A(−/−)-reconstituted mice having a median survival of 38 days, compared to only 22 days for P210-STAT5A(+/+) animals. Compared to P210-control cells, primary leukemia cells from P210-STAT5A(−/−) mice had decreased constitutive expression of the STAT5 target genes Bcl-XL and oncostatin M, but preserved expression of pim-1 and cis. Of mice that developed CML, P210-STAT5A(−/−)-reconstituted animals had greater splenomegaly and tended to have higher Bcr/Abl expression than P210-control animals, suggesting that enhanced expression of Bcr/Abl might compensate for the absence of STAT5A in these mice. Importantly, there was no difference in the number of unique P210-STAT5A(−/−) or P210-STAT5A(+/+) leukemic clones by Southern blot, indicating that the reduced incidence of CML in STAT5A (−/−) mice was not due to the decreased availability of CML progenitors. Altogether, these findings indicate that STAT5, particularly STAT5A, plays an important role in the efficient induction of the CML-like disease in mice. A greater understanding of the STAT5 target genes important in CML will provide important insights into the pathophysiology of CML, and may provide additional molecular targets for CML therapy.
Novel role of a C-type lectin receptor in pulmonary klebsiella infection

K pneumoniae (KPn) is an important causative agent of nosocomial and community acquired pneumonia and sepsis. Although innate immune mechanisms play an important role in development of sepsis, these are not well defined in pathogenesis of KPn infection. The goal of this study was to elucidate the role of an innate immune C-type lectin receptor, Clec4d in pulmonary infection of mice with this pathogen. As such, the function of this receptor in host immunity to any infection is completely undefined. Here, we report that compared to the wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice, the Clec4d-/mice were highly susceptible to pulmonary infection with KPn and showed 100% mortality by day 4 of infection. This coincided with a higher bacterial burden in lungs, liver and blood of these mice as compared to their WT counterparts. While lungs of WT as well as Clec4d-/mice showed infiltration of neutrophils early during infection, the WT mice showed resolution of this cellular infiltration by day 3 p.i. whereas the Clec4d-/mice showed increased neutrophil infiltration and severe tissue pathology at that time p.i. in the lungs. This correlated with overwhelming levels of inflammatory cytokines in the knock-out mice reminiscent of hypercytokinemia, a characteristic feature of sepsis. These results demonstrate that Clec4d-associated responses modulate the disease severity and sepsis development during pulmonary infection with KPn. This is the first report of the role of Clec4d in a pulmonary infection model. Jyotika Sharma, J Clin Exp Pathol 2012, 2:5 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2161-0681.S1.003
Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1 Regulates β-Catenin Signaling to Maintain Glioma Stem-like Stemness and Self-Renewal.

Glioblastoma multiforme is a common malignant brain tumor that portends extremely poor patient survival. Recent studies reveal that glioma stem-like cells (GSC) are responsible for glioblastoma multiforme escape from chemo-radiotherapy and mediators of tumor relapse. Previous studies suggest that AEG-1 (MTDH), an oncogene upregulated in most types of cancers, including glioblastoma multiforme, plays a focal role linking multiple signaling pathways in tumorigenesis. We now report a crucial role of AEG-1 in glioma stem cell biology. Primary glioblastoma multiforme cells were isolated from tumor specimens and cultured as neurospheres. Using the surface marker CD133, negative and positive cells were separated as nonstem and stem populations by cell sorting. Tissue samples and low passage cells were characterized and compared with normal controls. Functional biological assays were performed to measure stemness, self-renewal, differentiation, adhesion, protein–protein interactions, and cell signaling. AEG-1 was upregulated in all glioblastoma multiforme neurospheres compared with normal neural stem cells. Expression of AEG-1 was strongly associated with stem cell markers CD133 and SOX2. AEG-1 facilitated β-catenin translocation into the nucleus by forming a complex with LEF1 and β-catenin, subsequently activating Wnt signaling downstream genes. Through an AEG-1/Akt/GSK3β signaling axis, AEG-1 controlled phosphorylation levels of β-catenin that stabilized the protein. Implications: This study discovers a previously unrecognized role of AEG-1 in GSC biology and supports the significance of this gene as a potential therapeutic target for glioblastoma multiforme. Mol Cancer Res; 15(2); 225–33. ©2016 AACR.