cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial UCP4 mediates an adaptive shift in energy metabolism and increases the resistance of neurons to metabolic and oxidative stress.

The high-metabolic demand of neurons and their reliance on glucose as an energy source places them atrisk for dysfunction and death under conditions of metabolic and oxidative stress. Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochodrial inner membrane proteins implicated in the regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and cellular energy metabolism. The authors cloned UCP4 cDNA from mouse and rat brain, and demonstrate that UCP4 mRNA is expressed abundantly in brain and at particularly high levels in populations of neurons believed to have high-energy requirements. Neural cells with increased levels of UCP4 exhibit decreased ΔΨm, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased mitochondrial calcium accumulation. UCP4 expressing cells also exhibited changes of oxygen-consumption rate, GDP sensitivity, and response of ΔΨm to oligomycin that were consistent with mitochondrial uncoupling. UCP4 modulates neuronal energy metabolism by increasing glucose uptake and shifting the mode of ATP production from mitochodnrial respiration to glycolysis, thereby maintaining cellular ATP levels. The UCP4-mediated shift in energy metabolism reduces ROS production and increases the resistance of neurons to oxidative and mitochondrial stress. Knockdown of UCP4 expression by RNA interference in primary hippocampal neurons results in mitochondrial calcium overload and cell death. UCP4-mRNA expression is increased in neurons exposed to cold temperatures and in brain cells of rats maintained on caloric restriction, suggesting a role for UCP4 in the previously reported antiageing and neuroprotective effects of caloric restriction. By shifting energy metabolism to reduce ROS production and cellular reliance on mitochondrial respiration, UCP4 can protect neurons against oxidative stress and calcium overload.
Rapid transport of neural intermediate filament protein.

Peripherin is a neural intermediate filament protein that is expressed in peripheral and enteric neurons, as well as in PC12 cells. A determination of the motile properties of peripherin has been undertaken in PC12 cells during different stages of neurite outgrowth. The results reveal that non-filamentous, non-membrane bound peripherin particles and short peripherin intermediate filaments, termed `squiggles9, are transported at high speed throughout PC12 cell bodies, neurites and growth cones. These movements are bi-directional, and the majority require microtubules along with their associated molecular motors, conventional kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein. Our data demonstrate that peripherin particles and squiggles can move as components of a rapid transport system capable of delivering cytoskeletal subunits to the most distal regions of neurites over relatively short time periods.
CEO duality, succession, capabilities and agency theory: Commentary and research agenda

We offer a new explanation for the relationship between CEO duality and firm performance that accounts for managerial capabilities and succession planning. Our reinterpretation of findings by Worrell, Nemec and Davidson (1997) is consistent with the new explanation. We also make suggestions for future research. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A 'Kane's dynamics' model for the active rack isolation system. Part four: a model for optimal controller design

Boeing's active rack isolation system (ARIS) isolates microgravity space-science experiments on the international space station (ISS) against station-induced disturbances, at the level of the international standard payload rack (ISPR). Part 1 of this documentation presented a linearised model of ARIS, hand-developed via Kane's method. Part 2 reported the use of software packages to develop and verify a corresponding non-linear model, without umbilicals. Part 3 documented the augmentation of the non-linear model with an arbitrary number of umbilicals, with specified arbitrary attachment points, and arbitrary (parallel) stiffnesses and dampings. Part 4 reviews the general model-development procedure; reports on the reformulation of the model into a standard, linearised, input-coupled, state-space (descriptor) form, with all bias-force and -moment terms removed; summarises the significant features of the completed model; and discusses its possible uses in support of future microgravity vibration-isolation efforts.
Prostaglandin H synthase activity in the sheep placenta during cortisol-induced labor at 128-131 days of gestation and during spontaneous delivery at term.

Abstract This study investigated whether the prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) enzyme activity of sheep fetal placental cotyledon can be induced by cortisol at 128–131 days of gestation (dga) as compared to gestational age matched controls, before PGHS's normal gestational increase would occur (experiment 1). This study also investigated whether active PGHS is diminished following prostanoid synthesis in the labor process (experiment 2). A PGHS activity assay was employed in which PGE2 product was measured under initial velocity conditions. Labor was induced before term by continuous infusion of 10 mg of cortisol succinate per day (day 1) followed by 15 mg per day (days 2–4, or until delivery) of cortisol succinate administered through the fetal saphenous vein. Cotyledonary tissue was collected from sheep at term (142–145 dga), as judged by the absence of labor-type myometrial electromyogram (EMG) activity, and during cortisol induction at 128–131 dga. Tissue was also collected from term laboring animals immediately after fetal delivery while the fetus was still attached to the umbilicus and before placental delivery. At 128–131 dga, cortisol had no significant effect on PGHS activity as compared to gestational age matched saline-infused controls; thus, it is unlikely that cortisol directly induces PGHS. In experiment 2, normal progression of active spontaneous labor led to a significant diminution of PGHS activity (p
PU.1 activates transcription of SHP-1 gene in hematopoietic cells.

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 is the key negative regulator of numerous signaling pathways. SHP-1 is expressed in the hematopietic and epithelial cells as two structurally similar mRNA transcripts controlled by two different promoters designated P2 and P1, respectively. Whereas the transcriptional regulation of the SHP-1 gene P1 promoter has been partially elucidated, the structure and functional control of the P2 promoter remain unknown despite the critical role played by SHP-1 in the normal and malignant lymphoid and other hematopoetic cells. Using luciferase reporter assays with the set of constructs that contained a gradually truncated intron 1 of the SHP-1 gene, we identified the minimal (
Directed forgetting of related words: evidence for the inefficient inhibition hypothesis.

Fifth-grade children and college students were asked to remember some words and to forget others in an item-cued-directed-forgetting task. Taxonomically related pairs of words and control pairs that were unrelated in meaning were used as stimuli. Children found it more difficult than did adults to ignore forget-cued words that followed associatively related words that were remember-cued. The results provide support for D. F. Bjorklund and K. K. Harnishfeger's (1990) inefficient inhibition hypothesis (i.e., that the efficiency of inhibitory mechanisms improves as children develop). The results also suggest that the inhibition is occurring primarily in the early stages of processing.
Continuous-time random walk models of DNA electrophoresis in a post array: Part I. Evaluation of existing models

Several continuous-time random walk (CTRW) models exist to predict the dynamics of DNA in micropost arrays, but none of them quantitatively describes the separation seen in experiments or simulations. In Part I of this series, we examine the assumptions underlying these models by observing single molecules of λ DNA during electrophoresis in a regular, hexagonal array of oxidized silicon posts. Our analysis takes advantage of a combination of single-molecule videomicroscopy and previous Brownian dynamics simulations. Using a custom-tracking program, we automatically identify DNA-post collisions and thus study a large ensemble of events. Our results show that the hold-up time and the distance between collisions for consecutive collisions are uncorrelated. The distance between collisions is a random variable, but it can be smaller than the minimum value predicted by existing models of DNA transport in post arrays. The current CTRW models correctly predict the exponential decay in the probability density of the collision hold-up times, but they fail to account for the influence of finite-sized posts on short hold-up times. The shortcomings of the existing models identified here motivate the development of a new CTRW approach, which is presented in Part II of this series.
A diagnostic evolution: surgical experience with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome at a military tertiary referral center.

Background Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is an increasingly encountered disorder that typically presents as claudication in young and active individuals. However, despite the increased recognition, accurate preoperative diagnosis can be difficult. The objective of this study was to describe the surgical assessment and outcomes of patients treated for PAES. Methods Retrospective case series of all patients managed surgically for a diagnosis of PAES at the San Antonio Military Medical Center from 2005 to 2013. Results Over 8 years, PAES was surgically treated in 25 consecutive limbs of 15 patients (mean age, 35; range, 21–49) in a military tertiary medical center. Type III was the most common variant ( n = 13, 52%), followed by type VI ( n = 7, 28%). Most patients presented with class I or II ischemia (88%), with anterolateral symptoms (56%), and were referred by orthopedics (66%). Diagnostic work-up included stress ankle-brachial indices, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and provocative angiography. Sixty-three percent of limbs with negative MRI demonstrated findings consistent with either type III or V PAES. Tendon release was used in those with types III and V, whereas liberal myectomy was used in those with types I, II, or VI. Two patients required revascularization. At a median follow-up of 126 days (range, 25 days–7 years), 83% of patients with type III demonstrated partial resolution of symptoms. Only 27% of patients without an identifiable muscle slip had clinical improvement. Conclusions Despite modern imaging, open surgical exploration remains the definitive diagnostic modality for PAES. Patients with a muscular or tendinous slip identified intraoperatively have the best clinical outcomes. Those with no identifiable muscle slip (functional entrapment) are less likely to demonstrate clinical improvement. Further evaluation on outcomes in the management in PAES is warranted.
Height and Occupational Success: A Review and Critique

The relationship between height and occupational success is reviewed. Examining the focal areas of academia, police work, and sales, the review concludes that height is an important attribute in se...
Alteration in the Frequency and Quality of States

Step 8: State. Describe outcome in terms of changes in frequency and quality of each state. Discuss the emergence of new states, the stability and cycle of states, especially alteration in what triggers state entries and exits.
Influences of suspended sediments on the ecosystem in Lake Michigan: a 3-D coupled bio-physical modeling experiment

The influence of suspended sediments on the Lake Michigan ecosystem was examined using a 3-dimensional (3-D) coupled biological and physical model developed by Chen et al. (part I). The model was driven by the realistic meteorological forces observed in March 1998, with daily inputs of suspended sediment concentration that were derived from temporally and spatially interpolated satellite imagery. The model results show the significant impact of a seasonally recurring coastal resuspension plume on the spatial and temporal variation of the nutrients and plankton in southern Lake Michigan. The plume-released nutrients played an essential role in maintaining the nutrient level in the lake. Although the growth of phytoplankton in the plume depended on the availability of nutrients and light, the offshore decrease in phytoplankton biomass still satisfied the Sverdrup’s relationship. Cross-shore fluxes of nutrients and phytoplankton were controlled by episodic wind events with a period of 5–7 days: offshore during southward winds and onshore during northward winds. The flux estimates for biological variables suggest that the microbial food web is a key contributor to secondary production in southern Lake Michigan and the lower trophic level food web system could be dynamically divided into two decoupled loops: (1) detritus–bacteria–microzooplankton–large zooplankton; and (2) nutrient–phytoplankton–detritus. The model-predicted spatial distributions of nutrients and phytoplankton were in reasonable agreement with observations taken during the 1998 EEGLE interdisciplinary cruises, suggesting that the model was sufficiently robust to capture the basic characteristics of the Lake Michigan ecosystem during the plume event. © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Pathophysiology of Parasomnias

Parasomnias are undesirable physical phenomena that intrude onto sleep. The pathophysiology of parasomnias has not been definitively established. They are hypothesized to result from sleep state dissociation, which is defined as the superimposition of elements of one state (non-rapid eye movement sleep, rapid eye movement sleep, or wakefulness) on to another. The basis for arousal parasomnias such as sleep walking, rhythmic movement disorder, and bruxism seems to be activation central pattern generators (CPGs). These are pacemaker-like networks of neurons and interneurons that are localized to the brainstem and spinal cord. They possess the ability to generate stereotyped movements. The clinical manifestations will depend upon the location of CPGs that have been activated. Sleep related breathing disorders and periodic limb movements in sleep can predispose to arousal parasomnias, probably via activation of CPGs. The expression of CPGs is controlled by genes that have been conserved during evolution. The present clinical classification of rhythmic parasomnias remains phenomenologically based. The application of whole genome analyses may advance the understanding of rhythmic motor phenomena of sleep. For example, the BTBD9 complex is associated with periodic limb movements in sleep. Increased activation of glutaminergic relative to GABAergic pathways may explain the appearance of NREM parasomnias in early childhood. Their gradual resolution over time may coincide with brain maturation. The pathophysiology of parasomnias of rapid eye movement sleep is less well understood.
Generalized minimum probability of symbol error adaptive equalization

Expected loss or Bayes risk is taken as a criterion for adaptive linear equalization. In this paper loss functions are chosen to weight more serious error events more heavily than less serious events and correct decision. New adaptive algorithms are derived leading to faster convergence and lower steady state error rates than previously proposed error rate minimizing algorithms.
Do State Growth Management Regulations Reduce Sprawl

Thirteen states in the United States have adopted state growth management legislation that aims to preserve environmentally sensitive areas, improve the quality of urban areas, and reduce urban sprawl. Although there is a considerable amount of literature describing such policies, there is very little that examines the effectiveness of such policies. The author researched the efficacy of state growth management laws in controlling urban sprawl by examining the change in urban densities in 49 states over a 15-year period. He found that growth-managed states generally experienced a lesser density decline than states without growth management. However, regression analysis revealed that state growth management programs did not have a statistically significant effect in checking sprawl. The author concludes with several suggestions for modifying state regulations to curb sprawl more effectively.
The Genetic, Developmental, and Molecular Bases of Fruit Size and Shape Variation in Tomato

Fruit, corresponding to the plant's ovary (or ovaries), protect seed development and serve as the vehicle for seed dispersal to different habitats for species propagation. Fruit also provide humans with a source of nutrition, culinary diversity, and often great pleasure. Humans consume fruit from a
Work Disability Among Individuals With Diabetes

OBJECTIVE —Diabetes is rapidly increasing in prevalence among working-age adults, but little is known about the clinical characteristics that predict work disability in this population. This study assessed clinical predictors of work disability among working-age individuals with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —In a cohort of diabetic individuals ( n = 1,642) enrolled in a large health maintenance organization, excluding homemakers and retirees, we assessed the relation of diabetes severity, chronic disease comorbidity, depressive illness, and behavioral risk factors with work disability. Three indicators of work disability were assessed: being unable to work or otherwise being unemployed; missing ≥5 days from work in the prior month; and having severe difficulty with work tasks. RESULTS —In the study population, 19% had significant work disability: 12% were unemployed, 7% of employed subjects had missed ≥5 days from work in the prior month, and 4% of employed subjects reported having had severe difficulty with work tasks. Depressive illness, chronic disease comorbidity, and diabetes symptoms were associated with all three types of work disability. Diabetes complications predicted unemployment and overall work disability status, whereas obesity and sedentary lifestyle did not predict work disability. Among subjects experiencing both major depression and three or more diabetes complications, >50% were unemployed; of those with significant work disability, half met the criteria for major or minor depression. CONCLUSIONS —Depressive illness was strongly associated with unemployment and problems with work performance. Disease severity indicators, including complications and chronic disease comorbidity, were associated with unemployment and overall work disability status. Effective management of work disability among diabetic patients may need to address both physical and psychological impairments.
Bias polarity dependent effects of P+floating gate EEPROMs

EEPROM devices with either N-type or P-type floating gate were fabricated and characterized. Program/erase speeds and stress-induced leakage current-related retention characteristics for both types of devices are explained. Discrepancies between previously published reports on P-type floating gate devices and PMOS gate current measurements are resolved. The feasibility of integrating P-type floating gate EEPROMs in high density memory arrays is examined.
DNA recognition by GAL4: structure of a protein-DNA complex

A specific DNA complex of the 65-residue, N-terminal fragment of the yeast transcriptional activator, GAL4, has been analysed at 2.7 A resolution by X-ray crystallography. The protein binds as a dimer to a symmetrical 17-base-pair sequence. A small, Zn(2+)-containing domain recognizes a conserved CCG triplet at each end of the site through direct contacts with the major groove. A short coiled-coil dimerization element imposes 2-fold symmetry. A segment of extended polypeptide chain links the metal-binding module to the dimerization element and specifies the length of the site. The relatively open structure of the complex would allow another protein to bind coordinately with GAL4.
The Identification of Human H-Y Antigen and Testicular Transformation Induced by its Interaction with the Receptor Site of Bovine Fetal Ovarian Cells

β2m (—), HLA (—) Daudi human male Burkitt lymphoma cells excreted a group of protein subunits that shared three distinctive characteristics; their conspicuously longer half-lives compared to more hydrophilic Daudi excreted proteins, their tendency to form progressively larger polymers by means of interchain disulfide bridges, and the extreme hydrophobicity of these polymers. The plasma membrane of extragonadal somatic cells absorbed 1.2 to 2.8% of these hydrophobic proteins. The unoccupied H-Y receptor sites residing on the plasma membrane of bovine fetal ovarian cells, on the other hand, selectively absorbed polymers of 18,000 mol. wt. subunits, and this antigen-receptor interaction, if allowed to continue for five days, induced the formation of tunica albuginea and seminiferous tubules in bovine XX embryonic indifferent gonads. In this manner, human H-Y antigen excreted by Daudi cells has functionally been identified as a series of polymers derived from 18,000 mol. wt. subunits. While, the H-Y antigenic determinants were retained even by the largest polymeric form that became irreversibly water insoluble, the receptor binding activity was shown only by 36.8% of the available polymeric forms of 18,000 mol. wt. subunits, at the most. Nevertheless, once bound to the receptor site, these polymers were rapidly reduced to the monomeric form on the plasma membrane of bovine fetal ovarian cells. Accordingly, the 18,000 mol. wt. monomer might actually represent the functional form of H-Y antigen.
One-step encapsulation and triggered release based on Janus particle-stabilized multiple emulsions

One-step formation of stable multiple emulsions is demonstrated using stimuli-responsive amphiphilic Janus particles as emulsifiers. Multiple emulsions stabilized by these stimuli-responsive Janus particles can be induced to release the encapsulant by simply increasing the pH of the continuous phase.
Use-Conditions-Based Board Level Shock Test Development for Handheld Components

For handheld electronic applications such as cell phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), drop/impact could result in considerable flexure of the printed circuit board (PCB) mounted inside the cell phone housing. The mechanical stresses may cause electrical failure of the components, with typical failure mechanisms of board trace cracking, solder joint fatigue, and solder pad cracking. A standardized test needs to be developed to assess reliability of handheld components subjected to impacts. The test should facilitate high volume testing, maximize margin for safety factors, and capture the failure mechanisms in the field environment. To develop the reliability test using use conditions based reliability methodology, comprehensive characterization of the mechanical field stresses during end use conditions is particularly essential. This paper discusses complete cell phone drop characterization along with the shock test developed to test the components subjected to such drops. Novel fixtures have been designed to simulate free fall of the cell phone in specific orientations. After the complete characterization of cell phone use conditions, board level shock test has been selected to assess component reliability. Test repeatability, number of components on the test board, and layout of the components are some of the factors considered during the board level shock test development. Several parameters like screw and washer designs, torque have been studied to yield excellent test repeatability. Nonlinear Dynamic Finite Element Simulation has been performed to provide more insight into the interaction of the bending modes and its impact on the solder joint failures. This paper demonstrates the process of understanding use conditions, developing reliability tests, validating test results and driving industry standards.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Young’s Modulus of Cortical and P19 Derived Neurons Measured by Atomic Force Microscopy

In this paper we use the Atomic Force Microscope to measure the Young’s modulus for two types of neuronal cell bodies: cortical neurons obtained from rat embryos and neurons derived from P19 mouse embryonic carcinoma stem cells. The neurons are plated on different substrates coated with two types of protein growth factors, poly-D-lysine and laminin. We report on the Young’s modulus of each type of neuron as well as the variation of modulus between cells plated on different protein substrates. We compare these results to various individual cell and bulk tissue measurements reported in literature. We additionally report on an observed change in the Young’s modulus of cortical neurons when subjected to a short-term reduction in ambient temperature.
Dynamic node management and measure estimation in a state-driven fault injector

Validation of distributed systems using fault injection is difficult because of their inherent complexity, lack of a global clock, and lack of an easily accessible notion of a global state. To address these challenges, the Loki fault injector injects faults based on a partial view of the global state of a distributed system, and performs a post-runtime analysis using an off-line clock synchronization algorithm to determine whether the faults were properly injected. In this paper, we first describe enhanced runtime architecture for the Loki fault injector and then present a new method for obtaining measures in Loki. The enhanced runtime allows dynamic entry and exit of nodes in the system. It also offers more efficient multicast of notification messages and more efficient communication between state machines on the same host, and is more scalable than the previous runtime. We then detail a new and flexible method for obtaining a wide range of performance and dependability measures in Loki.
An instruction throughput model of superscalar processors

With advances in semiconductor technology, processors are becoming larger and more complex. Future processor designers will face an enormous design space, and must evaluate more architecture design points to reach a final optimum design. This exploration is currently performed using cycle accurate simulators that are accurate but slow, limiting a comprehensive search of design options. The vast design space and time to market economic pressures motivate the need for faster architectural evaluation methods. The model presented in this paper facilitates a rapid exploration of the architecture design space for superscalar processors. It supplements current design tools by narrowing a large design space quickly, after which existing cycle accurate simulators can arrive at a precise optimum design. This allows the designer to select the final architecture design much faster than with traditional tools. The model calculates the instruction throughput of superscalar processors using a set of key architecture and application properties. It was validated with a Simplescalar out-of-order simulator. Results were within 5.5% accuracy of the cycle accurate simulator, but executed 40,000 times faster.
Bolivian glass frogs (Anura: Centrolenidae) with a description of a new species from Amazonia

ABSTRACT We describe a new species of Cochranella from the Serrania de Huanchaca, Bolivia. The new species possesses a suite of unusual characteristics, most notably dermal glands along its fingers and toes. Cochranella spiculata is reported from Bolivia and we describe the females of that species. New material of C. bejaranoi from Chuquisaca collected during the dry season confirms that spicules develop only during the breeding season in this species. Small round clusters of melanophores appear to be germinal in nature and associated developmentally with spicules in C. bejaranoi.
Neural circuit for inking behavior in Aplysia californica

1, Inking behavior is a stereotyped response, which can be utilized as a model system to study the neuronal mechanisms underlying simple neuroglandular behaviors. While much is known about the features of the behavior and its motor neurons (2, 811, 20), little is known regarding the sensory neurons and interneurons that drive the motor cells. The present study was undertaken to examine these additional elements of the neural circuit. 2. Strong tactile stimuli presented to the mantle region excite the ink motor neurons. At least part of the sensory input is mediated by previously identified LE and RE cluster mechanoreceptor neurons as well as by a newly identified cluster (RF) of mechanoreceptor sensory neurons, The LE and RE cells innervate the siphon and mantle shelf, while the RF cells partially overlap these regions and also innervate the gill. 3. Some of the sensory neurons produce monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in the L14 ink motor neurons, others produce EPSPs that have both monoand polysynaptic components, while still others produce EPSPs that have only polysynaptic components. 4. There are at least two types of polysynaptic excitatory pathways. Sensory neurons make monosynaptic connections onto an interneuron, identified as cell R18, which in turn makes a monosynaptic increasedconductance fast EPSP to the ink motor neurons. Tactile stimulation of the skin also excites a cluster of at least three interneurons, one of which has been identified as L31. L3 1 makes a slow decreased-conductance EPSP to the L14 ink motor neurons.
Revisit to Fritz John’s paper on the blow-up of nonlinear wave equations

Abstract In Fritz John’s famous paper (1979), he discovered that for the wave equation □ u = ∣ u ∣ p , where 1 p 1 + 2 and □ denoting the d’Alembertian, there is no global solution for any nontrivial and compactly supported initial data. This paper is intended to simplify his proof by applying a Gronwall’s type inequality.
The Relationship Between Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors and Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy.

Background A cause and effect relationship between phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5I) use and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) has been hypothesized based on case reports. Evidence acquisition Review of literature. Results Thirty-nine case reports in the peer-reviewed medical literature have documented a possible relationship between PDE5I consumption and NAION. However, pertinent details, such as the dose and frequency of PDE5I use, and elapsed time between ingestion and onset of vision loss, are lacking from many of these reports. Investigations regarding alterations in ocular perfusion in research subjects who ingested sildenafil have been inconclusive because they have not been performed on subjects with "disc at risk" or risk factors for NAION. One case-crossover study demonstrated a 2-fold increase in risk of NAION after ingestion of PDE5I. Conclusions When a diagnosis of NAION is made, an inquiry should be made as to whether any PDE5I was ingested before the onset of vision loss. If so, the patient should be counseled regarding the possibility that continued PDE5I use may increase the risk of NAION in the fellow eye. Patients with a known history of previous NAION should be cautioned regarding the use of PDE5I for erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension because of the potential increased risk of fellow eye involvement.
The Constitution Matters in Taxation, and Jensen's Response to Johnson's Response to Jensen's Response to Johnson's Response to Jensen (or is it the Other Way Around?)

These articles, from a colloquy on the taxing power, are part of an ongoing-some might say endless-debate between the author and Professor Calvin Johnson about the meaning of the Direct-Tax Clauses of the Constittuion and the Sixteenth Amendment. The author argues that the Direct-Tax Clauses were intended to be a signficant limitation on the national taxing power, and that the Amendment ought to be interpreted accordingly-to have exempted only one category of taxes, taxes on incomes, from the apportionment rule that otherwise applies to direct taxes.
Role of endogenous dopamine in the natriuretic response to various degrees of iso-osmotic volume expansion in rats.

It is recognized that endogenous dopamine (DA) plays an important role in regulation of sodium excretion under certain physiological and experimental conditions. However, the relative contribution of intrarenally produced DA to natriuresis accompanying various degrees of acute volume expansion (VE) still remains to be clarified. In the present study, acute iso-osmotic VEs were performed in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats over a 60 min period. The rats were divided into 3 groups, each received either modest (2.5% body weight), moderate (5% body weight), or large degree of VE (10% body weight), respectively. Acute VE in these three groups evoked pronounced increases in urine output (UV) and urinary sodium excretion (UDA V), which were associated with significant increase in urinary DA excretion (UDA V). Compared to the modest VE (2.5% body weight), moderate VE (5% body weight) produced larger increases in UV (43 ± 4.7 vs 29.0 ± 4.7 μl/min, p < 0.05) and UNa V (7.8 ± 0.7 vs 4.7 ± 1.0 μEq/min, p < 0.05) with ...
The Resistance of SV40-Transformed 3T3 to Supertransformation

SummaryAttempts were made to learn if SV40-transformed cells are resistant to super-transformation by infecting SV40-trans-formed clones of 3T3 with SV40. No alteration of growth properties was detected after SV40 infection of four cloned lines of SV40-transformed 3T3 that had stable low saturation densities. In contrast, SV40 infection of polyoma-transformed 3T3 having comparable saturation densities yielded easily detectable double transformants. Two lines of 3T3, which had been transformed by UV-inactivated SV40 and did not release virus upon fusion with permissive cells, were super-infected with SV40. After dilution of residual virus by cell growth, the superinfecting virus could not be recovered from either of the cell lines upon fusion with permissive (GMK) cells. Two lines transformed by a temperature sensitive large plaque mutant of SV40 were infected with temperature resistant small and minute plaque mutants. Fusion of the cells with GMK at the permissive temperature was effective in releasing th...
Growth-inhibiting Fungicides Affect Detection of Phytophthora ramorum from Infected Foliage and Roots

Shishkoff, N. 2014. Growth-inhibiting fungicides affect detection of Phytophthora ramorum from infected foliage and roots. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-RS-12-0124. Growth-inhibiting fungicides are used routinely to control common and regulated Oomycete pathogens. This study investigated whether such fungicides could affect detection of Phytophthora ramorum from plant tissue, both foliage and roots. Whole plants of Rhododendron x ‘Cunningham’s White’ were inoculated with P. ramorum and treated 3 days later with fosetyl-Al, mefenoxam , or propamocarb. The foliage was sampled over time to see if fungicides prevented successful culturing of the pathogen from infected leaf tissue or interfered with detection using real-time PCR or ELISA. Mefenoxam significantly reduced the ability to culture the pathogen from leaves for the first 6 weeks while recovery from leaves treated with other fungicides did not differ from water-treated controls; detection using PCR or ELISA was not affected by fungicide application. The roots of Viburnum cuttings were inoculated with P. ramorum and then treated 4 days later with fosetyl-Al, mefenoxam, or propamocarb. The amount of inoculum in flow through water samples taken weekly for 5 weeks was quantified and percent root colonization determined at the end of the experiment. Propamocarb had no effect on inoculum production or root infection, while viable inoculum production was significantly decreased in fosetylAl- or mefenoxam-treated plants over 5 weeks, and root colonization was significantly decreased.
The natural history of hypertension.

The decision for treatment in mild hypertension is not clear-cut because knowledge of the natural history of the disease is imperfect. Each patient must be evaluated on an individual basis to determine the degree of hypertensive vascular damage and atherosclerosis.
Nitroprusside abolishes the deleterious effects of surface cooling−induced hypothermia on immature pigs with ventricular septal defects

The efficacy of systemic hypothermia in combination with cardiopulmonary bypass for the repair of congenital cardiac malformations is established. Surface cooling in infants with ventricular septal defects as a prebypass adjunct has been associated with visceral ischemic complications. Surface cooling in infant pigs with ventricular septal defects results in increased systemic vascular resistance and unchanged pulmonary vascular resistance with increased left-to-right shunting and a maldistribution of blood flow away from the viscera and kidneys. This study was to determine whether nitroprusside ameliorates the deleterious effects of increased systemic vascular resistance during hypothermia in infant pigs with ventricular septal defects. Nine neonatal pigs (4 weeks, 4 kg) had experimental ventricular septal defects resulting in a 2.3 ± 0.3 : 1 shunt. Systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances were determined by the flow probe and microsphere techniques. Systemic and pulmonary blood flow distributions were measured by the microsphere technique. Left-to-right shunt ratios were determined by oximetry, flow probe, and microsphere. The pigs were cooled to 28° C and measurements were made at 37°, 32°, and 28° C. We found that nitroprusside abolishes the deleterious effects of surface cooling by blocking the rise of systemic vascular resistance without significant changes in aortic pressure. As a result, the animals maintained control pulmonary-to-systemic flow levels and maintained control levels of oxygen delivery while showing a decline in oxygen consumption. Additionally, the vasodilatory effect allowed the animals to cool twice as fast as animals without nitroprusside. Regional blood flow distribution as percent cardiac output and absolute tissue flow were protected during surface cooling. This technique may have a role in cardiac operations on infants with left-to-right shunts.
Dynamics of Nuclear Pore Density and Distribution Patterns within Developing Pollen: Implications for a Functional Relationship Between the Vegetative Nucleus and the Generative Cell

Quantitative transmission electron microscopy was used to study pore density (mean pore number±standard deviation/nuclear envelope area) on developing pollen nuclei of alfalfa. We found that pore density is essentially uniform around the vegetative nucleus (VN) at an early developmental stage (29±6 pores μm−2), but later, when the VN forms a close physical association with the generative cell (GC), nuclear pore density is 69% higher on the surface of the VN facing the GC (27±12 pores μm−2) compared to the surface away from the GC (16± 9 pores μm−2). The surface area of the VN does not change significantly during the stages of this study. Pore density is nearly equal on vegetative and generative nuclei in young pollen, but at pollen maturity the VN has a mean pore density 3.5 times greater than that of the generative nucleus. Our results are consistent with those of other studies comparing pore densities on developing and mature pollen nuclei. However, this is the first study, to our knowledge, that has followed vegetative nuclear pore density and distribution as it relates to the formation of a close physical association between the VN and the GC. Taken together with biochemical studies on RNA and protein synthesis during pollen development, and studies on nuclear pore function, these results support the notion that even though mean pollen nuclear activity may decrease during pollen maturation, the potential for nucleocytoplasmic exchange is not diminished appreciably in the area of the VN-GC association. This suggests that there is a direct functional relationship between the VN and the GC, and that gene expression may be not only temporally but also spatially separated within the VN during pollen development.
Clinical benefit of nanoparticle albumin-bound-paclitaxel in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma resistant to cremophor-based paclitaxel or docetaxel

The clinical benefit of nab-paclitaxel monotherapy for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RM-HNSCC) that progressed on other taxanes (cremophor-based paclitaxel or docetaxel) is unknown. A retrospective analysis of patients treated at a single institution with nab-paclitaxel for taxane-resistant RM-HNSCC. The exploratory hypothesis was that nab-paclitaxel would result in clinical benefit (tumor response) in patients with taxane-resistant RM-HNSCC. Twelve patients who were treated with nab-paclitaxel monotherapy for taxane-resistant RM-HNSCC and met all eligibility criteria were identified. The majority of patients (n = 9; 75%) received three or more lines of therapy for RM-HNSCC. All patients had platin-resistant, and ten patients (83%) had cetuximab-resistant disease. Patients had RM-HNSCC that progressed on cremophor-based paclitaxel (8), docetaxel (1), or both (3). With prior taxane, the best tumor response was partial (PR) in 4 patients (33%), stable (SD) in 3 (25%), and progression in 5 (42%). The median time-to-progression (TTP) with prior taxane was 1.7 (range 0.7–9.0) months. The median interval from last dose of taxane to first dose of nab-paclitaxel was 3 (0.7–31.3) months. With nab-paclitaxel, tumor response occurred in two patients (17%; PR in both) and disease control (PR and SD) occurred in five (42%). Median TTP with nab-paclitaxel was 2.1 months (range 0.6–6.2), and median overall survival was 4.9 months (range 1.9–13.5). nab-Paclitaxel provided clinical benefit in some patients with taxane-resistant RM-HNSCC. The median TTP with nab-paclitaxel and with prior taxane were similar. This exploratory observation warrants further investigation in prospective studies.
Self-compassion promotes positive adjustment for people who attribute responsibility of a romantic breakup to themselves

AbstractAttributing responsibility for a romantic breakup to the self can have dual effects on psychological adjustment, exacerbating disruptive thoughts and feelings, yet also increasing the likelihood of positive changes. Three studies (N = 441) examined whether these dual effects associated with attributing responsibility for a romantic breakup to the self are moderated by self-compassion. Supporting this assertion, trait self-compassion predicted better romantic outlook (Studies 1 & 2), and induced self-compassion predicted greater intended future romantic partner appreciation (Study 3), among people who attributed greater responsibility of a breakup to themselves. In addition, higher trait (Study 2) and induced self-compassion (Study 3) boosted self-improvement motivation with regard to future relationships among participants who attributed responsibility of a romantic breakup to themselves. These adjustment-promoting tendencies associated with self-compassion held controlling for a range of variable...
Furthest reach of a uniform cantilevered elastica

Abstract A uniform elastic cantilever is subjected to a uniformly distributed load or a concentrated load at its tip. The angle of the fixed end with the horizontal is varied until the maximum horizontal distance (projection) from the fixed end to the horizontal location of the tip is attained. The beam is modeled as an inextensible elastica, and numerical results are obtained with the use of a shooting method. For the optimal solution (furthest reach), the tip is below the level of the fixed end. Experiments are conducted to verify the analysis for a heavy cantilever (i.e., only subjected to its self-weight).
Utilization of date juice for the production of lactic acid by streptococcus thermophilus

The interest in the fermentative production of lactic acid has increased due to the prospects of environmental friendliness and of using renewable resources instead of petrochemicals. In this context, we have judged that is gainful to use the date juice which is with a low commercial value as a substrate for the production of lactic acid by Streptococcus thermophilus. Further, dates are rich in sugar ranging from 65% to 80% on dry weight basis mostly of inverted form (glucose and fructose), which can used as carbon source for the fermentation and the production of microbial biomass. The parameters optimization for lactic acid production by S. thermophilus grown on medium based on dates in order to improve yields is applied in this study. The results showed that the maximum of lactic acid production (36.9g/l) is obtained after the enrichment of date juice with yeast extract (15%), Tween 80 (1g/l) MgSO4 (0.5g/l), MnSO4 (0.02g/l) and K2 HPO4 (1g/l).
Evolutionary decomposition for 3D printing

Capabilities of extrusion-based 3D-printers have progressed significantly, but complex forms are still challenging to print. One major problem is overhanging surfaces. These surfaces require extra support structure to be printed, wasting material and time. Furthermore, delicate parts of the object can be damaged when these structures are removed. One potential solution is to print the object in parts, but decomposition is difficult. This paper proposes an evolutionary approach for determining optimal object decompositions for 3D printing. Two alternative methods, with different complementary strengths, are tested: Multi-objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) and Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (CMA-ES). MOGA is able to evolve a set of decompositions at variable complexity, i.e. number of pieces, whereas CMA-ES is able to find a limited number of comparable decompositions with significantly less computational time.
FDA subset analysis of the safety of nivolumab in elderly patients with advanced cancers.

10010Background: With recent FDA approvals of immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of advanced cancer, an increasing number of elderly patients will be treated with immunotherapy. Nivolumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor, currently approved for the treatment of advanced renal cell cancer, melanoma, and non-small cell lung cancer based on significant responses including benefit in overall survival. However, little is known about the safety of nivolumab in an elderly patient population. Methods: Eligible patients recieved at least one dose of nivolumab as a single agent while enrolled in a phase 3 registration trial for the treatment of advanced renal cell cancer (CA209025), melanoma (CA209066), or non-small lung cancer (CA209057 and CA209017). Adverse events which occurred up to 100 days after last dose of nivolumab based on standardized adverse event datasets submitted by the sponsor were included. Results: See table. Conclusions: Immune therapies can benefit patients across a wide range of t...
Immediate Auditory Feedback is Superior to Other Types of Feedback for Basic Surgical Skills Acquisition.

Objective We examined the effect of timing and type of feedback on medical students' knot-tying performance using visual versus auditory and immediate versus delayed feedback. We hypothesized that participants who received immediate auditory feedback would outperform those who received delayed and visual feedback. Methods Sixty-nine first- and second-year medical students were taught to tie 2-handed knots. All participants completed 3 pretest knot-tying trials without feedback. Participants were instructed to tie a knot sufficiently tight to stop the “blood” flow while minimizing the amount of force applied to the vessel. Task completion time was not a criterion. Participants were stratified and randomly assigned to 5 experimental groups based on type (auditory versus visual) and timing (immediate versus delayed) of feedback. The control group did not receive feedback. All groups trained to proficiency. Participants completed 3 posttest trials without feedback. Results There were fewer trials with leak (p Conclusions In a surgical force feedback simulation model, immediate auditory feedback resulted in fewer training trials to reach proficiency and fewer leaks compared to visual and delayed forms of feedback.