cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rho-kinase mediates lysophosphatidic acid-induced IL-8 and MCP-1 production via p38 and JNK pathways in human endothelial cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), an inflammatory mediator that is elevated in multiple inflammatory diseases, is a potent activator of Rho kinase (ROCK) signaling and of chemokine production in endothelial cells. In this study, LPA activated ROCK, p38, JNK and NF-κB pathways and induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA and protein expression in human endothelial cells. We mapped signaling events downstream of ROCK, driving chemokine production. In summary, MCP-1 production was partly regulated by ROCK acting upstream of p38 and JNK and mediated downstream by NF-κB. IL-8 production was largely driven by ROCK through p38 and JNK activation, but with no involvement of NF-κB.
Suprasellar osteolipoma: case report

Abstract BACKGROUND Osteolipomas are distinguished from other intracranial lipomas by their arrangement of central adipose and peripheral osseous tissues and by characteristically arising in the suprasellar/interpeduncular region. METHODS We report computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and pathology findings from this 34-year-old man who underwent surgical removal of this benign lesion. RESULTS This case displays the distinctive histopathology that has been reported in 13 of 31 (42%) lipomas in this region. In contrast, ossification of lipomas at other intracranial sites is relatively rare. CONCLUSIONS Ossification should be expected in many suprasellar/interpeduncular lipomas, and osteolipoma should be included in the radiologic differential diagnosis of fat-intensity masses with calcification in this region.
THE NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL: BIOLOGICAL PORTRAIT OF A FOREST SPECIALIST IN POST-EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT NORTH AMERICA

Papers in this Special Feature were presented at a symposium on the biology of Glaucomys sabrinus convened at the 86th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists in June 2006. Because G. sabrinus is an arboreal species that relies on several attributes of older forests, it is an ideal model organism for studying impacts of broad-scale habitat loss and alteration from logging, clearing, and natural disturbances. The objective of the symposium was to integrate knowledge of mammalogists from multiple disciplines to achieve a more complete biological portrait to gain insights about how forest communities are being impacted by dramatic changes in forest composition and distribution following European settlement of North America, and to identify gaps in knowledge and information needs that can guide future research. The symposium included 5 papers that encompass a diversity of biological information, including the evolutionary origin and systematics of Glaucomys, the anatomy and evolution of G. sabrinus, its biogeography, genetic variation within and among regional populations, its ecology, functional morphology, kinetics, and issues and challenges of conservation.
Induction of FoxP3+CD4+25+ Regulatory T Cells Following Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Role of Bone Marrow-Derived Facilitating Cells

The establishment of donor cell lineages following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is frequently associated with the development of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). The identification of cell populations that are capable of supporting allogeneic stem cell (SC) engraftment and the induction of tolerance without inducing GVHD could expand the use of this therapy. CD8(+)TCR(-) facilitating cells (FC) have been shown to promote allogeneic SC engraftment with resulting transplantation tolerance across complete MHC barriers without inducing GVHD. Although donor reconstitution in SC plus FC recipients is associated with the induction of regulatory T cell-associated factors, it is not known whether an induction of regulatory T cells and subsequent tolerance is a direct effect of the FC. The current study demonstrates that 1) SC plus FC transplantation results in the induction of donor CD4(+)25(+) regulatory T cells and that FC are present in the spleen of recipients before the induction of these cells, 2) activation of FC with CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide promotes CD4(+)25(-) T cell differentiation into CD4(+)25(+) regulatory T cells in vitro, as demonstrated by cytokine and forkhead/winged helix transcription factor (FoxP3) gene and protein expression, and 3) direct contact between FC and CD4(+)25(-) T cells is required for FoxP3(+)CD4(+)25(+) regulatory T cell induction and is dependent on CD86 expression on FC. This is the first report to demonstrate a mechanism for FC in the induction of regulatory T cells following allogeneic SC plus FC transplantation. The transplantation of donor FC may provide an alternative approach to permit clinical SC engraftment and induction of transplantation tolerance in the future.
A comparison of heterotopic and intrauterine-only pregnancy outcomes after assisted reproductive technologies in the United States from 1999 to 2002

Objective To compare the risk for adverse outcomes of pregnancies between heterotopic (defined as a simultaneous intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy) and intrauterine-only pregnancies achieved through assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting ART centers in the United States. Patient(s) Patients were studied in terms of cycles reported to the population-based United States ART Registry, which included 207 heterotopic and 132,660 intrauterine-only pregnancies reported from 1999 to 2002. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Outcomes of heterotopic and intrauterine-only pregnancies and deliveries (spontaneous abortion, induced abortion, still birth, and live birth). Perinatal outcomes (preterm, low birth weight [LBW], preterm LBW, and term LBW) for live-birth deliveries were also assessed. Result(s) Heterotopic pregnancies were more likely to end in spontaneous (relative risk=2.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.67–2.51) or induced (relative risk=10.28, 95% confidence interval, 6.76–15.65) abortions than were intrauterine-only pregnancies. There was no significant difference in perinatal outcomes studied, regardless of adjustment for maternal age, infertility diagnosis, previous live births, and type of ART procedure. Conclusion(s) Heterotopic pregnancies were more likely to result in spontaneous or induced abortions than were intrauterine-only pregnancies. There was no difference in perinatal outcomes between heterotopic and intrauterine-only pregnancies progressing to live birth.
Post-transcriptional silencing of SCN1B AND SCN2B genes modulates late sodium current in cardiac myocytes from normal dogs and dogs with chronic heart failure

The emerging paradigm for Na+ current in heart failure (HF) is that its transient component (INaT) responsible for the action potential (AP) upstroke is decreased, whereas the late component (INaL)...
Associations between sexually experienced adolescents' sources of information about sex and sexual risk outcomes

The objective of this study was to describe prevalent informal sources of information about sex and examine associations between informal sources of information about sex and sexual risk outcomes among sexually experienced adolescents. Work involved the secondary analysis of data from the Minnesota Student Survey, a statewide survey to monitor priority risk and protective health behaviors. The study sample included 22,828 sexually experienced adolescents aged 13–20 years. Multivariate logistic regression analyses examined associations between adolescents' informal sources of information about sex and three sexual risk outcomes. Peers and siblings were the most commonly reported source of information about sex. Ninth-graders who reported parents or parents plus peers/siblings as a source of information about sex had significantly lower odds of having multiple sex partners in the past year. Ninth-graders who reported any informal source of information about sex had significantly lower odds of unprotected in...
Constructing intelligent home-security system design with combining phone-net and Bluetooth mechanism

This paper was exploring one of serial issues which derived from mankind life greatly adopting 3C products everywhere when entering 21th century. At present for the purpose of insuring more security and convenience of daily life, most of advanced countries positively invested much money and manpower to research and develop home-security system with hi-tech and have achieved great success. Taiwan owned many such hi-tech implemented by related manufacturers and those benefits coming along with this business created the environemnt in which more advanced techniques and mechanisms for morden home-security were developed to satisfy the need of people. There are two divisions of security system: (1) commerical-security system (2) home-security system. Since the commerical-security system usually needed too much cost to meet the expenditure of ordinary family, the paper tried to develop DIY home-security so as to cost down the expenditure as well as to improve the mechanism of traditional ones with brand-new techniques co-constructed with phone-net, speech-function, and Bluetooth modules.
The Spectrum of Building-Related Airway Disorders: Difficulty in Retrospectively Diagnosing Building-Related Asthma

Introduction The specific causes and mechanism(s) for asthma occurring among occupants of nonresidential buildings with poor indoor air quality are not known, but allergic and nonallergic processes are possible explanations Methods Repeated indoor air quality measurements were made while employees were working in a building where cigarette smoking was allowed. Seven of 19 employees who sought medical care from their private physicians because of respiratory complaints received a diagnosis of asthma. Subsequently, 19 symptomatic employees were examined at the University of South Florida (USF) 2 ± 0.8 months (mean ± SD) after removal from the building. Results The first floor of the building, where employee complaints were prevalent, was characterized by markedly reduced outdoor fresh air supply, diminished air circulation to the occupant spaces, and elevated airborne concentrations of formaldehyde. Nineteen workers examined at the USF 2 ± 0.8 months after leaving the building reported ear, nose, and throat irritation and asthma-like symptoms while working in the building. There was resolution of symptoms in most of the seven employees (37%) with asthma previously diagnosed by their private physician. In fact, 16 of 19 subjects (84%) reported resolution or significant improvement of symptoms. Among 11 persons with symptoms suggesting asthma while working in the building, 4 persons (21%) showed a negative provocative concentration of methacholine producing a 20% fall in FEV 1 , including two subjects with doctor-diagnosed asthma. Conclusions Confirmation of building-related asthma is influenced by time factors and the clinical criteria used for diagnosis. A nonallergic mechanism seems operative in our cases. While considered an example of occupational asthma, building-related asthma is a challenge for the practicing physician to confirm retrospectively.
Modeling the Thermostructural Stability of Melt-infiltrated Sic/sic Composites

SiC/SiC composites developed by NASA with Sylramic-iBN fibers and melt-infiltrated (MI) SiC-Si matrices have demonstrated 1000-hour rupture life in air at 100 MPa and 1315OC. Recently it has been determined that a major factor controlling the long-term rupture life of these composites is not environment or stress, but an intrinsic microstructural and strength instability caused by a thermally-induced silicon attack of the Sic fibers. The objective of this paper is to present a simple diffusion-based analytical model which predicts well the observed effects of stress-free thermal exposure on the residual tensile strength of Sylramic-iBN/SiC-Si composites. The practical implications of the model for SiC/SiC composites with MI matrices are discussed.
Renal impact of fluid management with colloids: a comparative review.

SummaryBackground and objectives:Colloids such as hydroxyethyl starch (HES), gelatin, dextran and albumin are useful for maintaining renal perfusion and function. The comparative renal effects of colloids have not been previously reviewed.Methods:Computer searches of the MEDLINE and EMBASE bibliogra
Most nuclear systemic autoantigens are extremely disordered proteins: implications for the etiology of systemic autoimmunity

Patients with systemic autoimmune diseases usually produce high levels of antibodies to self-antigens (autoantigens). The repertoire of common autoantigens is remarkably limited, yet no readily understandable shared thread links these apparently diverse proteins. Using computer prediction algorithms, we have found that most nuclear systemic autoantigens are predicted to contain long regions of extreme structural disorder. Such disordered regions would generally make poor B cell epitopes and are predicted to be under-represented as potential T cell epitopes. Consideration of the potential role of protein disorder may give novel insights into the possible role of molecular mimicry in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. The recognition of extreme autoantigen protein disorder has led us to an explicit model of epitope spreading that explains many of the paradoxical aspects of autoimmunity – in particular, the difficulty in identifying autoantigen-specific helper T cells that might collaborate with the B cells activated in systemic autoimmunity. The model also explains the experimentally observed breakdown of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class specificity in peptides associated with the MHC II proteins of activated autoimmune B cells, and sheds light on the selection of particular T cell epitopes in autoimmunity. Finally, the model helps to rationalize the relative rarity of clinically significant autoimmunity despite the prevalence of low specificity/low avidity autoantibodies in normal individuals.
Save the last dance II: unwanted serial position effects in figure skating judgments.

Abstract Serial position effects may occur whenever options are judged in sequence, as is the case in figure skating competitions. International figure skating competitions consist of at least two rounds, with serial position being randomized in the first round. Figure skaters with better scores in the first round perform later in the second round. Despite the initial randomization of serial position, figure skaters who perform later in the first round receive better scores in first and in the second round. The findings presented here replicate those of Bruine de Bruin (2005) [Save the last dance for me: unwanted serial position effects in jury evaluations. Acta Psychologica, 118, 245–260], using a larger dataset, and addressing potential concerns about Bruine de Bruin’s analyses.
The Function of Hitchhiking Behavior in the Leaf‐cutting Ant Atta cephalotes1

In some leaf-cutting ant species, minim workers ride on the fragments of leaves as they are carried back to the nest from the cutting site. There is convincing evidence that these ‘‘hitchhikers’’ can protect the leaf carriers from attack by phorid (Diptera: Phoridae) parasitoids, but we consider the possibility of other functions for the hitchhiking behavior. It has been hypothesized that the hitchhikers (1) feed on leaf sap from the edges of the cut leaves; (2) ride back to the nest to save energy; (3) get caught on the fragments as they are cut, and hitchhike because they cannot (or will not) get off; and (4) begin the process of preparing the leaf to enter the fungal gardens in the nest, perhaps by removing microbial contaminants. We observed hitchhikers of Atta cephalotes in 14 nests at the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. There was no difference in the proportion of leaf carriers with hitchhikers between day and night. Because the nests we observed were largely nocturnal, more than 90 percent of the hitchhiking occurred at night. The phorid parasitoids are usually considered to be diurnal, so the preponderance of nocturnal hitchhiking suggests other functions in addition to parasitoid defense. Hitchhikers spent more time in the defensive head-up posture during the day, but spent more time in the head-down posture at night. The head-down posture may indicate cleaning or other leaf preparation. The hitchhikers were never observed feeding on sap. Hitchhikers frequently got onto and off of the fragments, and so they were not ‘‘marooned.’’ Few hitchhikers rode all the way back to the nest and were often moving on the leaf fragment; these observations make the energy conservation hypothesis less likely, although we cannot reject it. We conclude that parasitoid defense is an important function of hitchhiking but also that there are probably other functions when parasitoids are absent. Based on available data, the most likely possibility is preparation of the leaf fragment before it enters the nest.
Parkinson's disease without expected neuropathologic abnormality.

A case is reported of an initially 78-year-old man whose presentation and course, closely followed over 10 years by an academic neurologist, were consistent with classic idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), including unilateral onset, obvious cogwheeling, and a very good prolonged response to levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD). Yet at autopsy, there was no neuronal loss in the substantia nigra nor were there any Lewy bodies or immunochemical evidence of alpha synuclein in the multiple brain structures studied. This case does not support the hypothesis that the use of LD/CD is toxic to the substantia nigra in people. This patient had been on traditional doses of LD/CD for approximately 10 years, yet the number of cells in the substantia nigra was well within the normal range at autopsy. These findings are not unique, but point out the need to explain the occurrence of typical PD symptoms and course in the absence of any PD-related neuropathologic changes. (J Am Med Dir Assoc 2004; 5: 407-409)
Primary care management of childhood and adolescent hypertension

Purpose: To educate advance practice nurses on the diagnosis, pharmacologic, and nonpharmacologic management of hypertension in children and adolescents. Data sources: Information was collected through a search of published literature and clinical practice guidelines. Conclusions: Increasing rates of hypertension in children and adolescents are correlated to risk for coronary artery disease in adulthood. Nonpharmacologic management includes lifestyle modifications addressing weight reduction, physical activity, and dietary modification. Pharmacologic management is typically reserved for patients with severe hypertension or those who do not respond to lifestyle modifications. Early intervention is critical for preventing target-organ damage and complications of long-term hypertension. Implications for practice: Nurse practitioners must identify and address elevated blood pressure levels in children and adolescents. Many children and adolescents can successfully lower blood pressure readings through nonpharmacologic lifestyle changes. Education about lifestyle modification strategies should focus on family-based changes in order to increase likelihood of successful implementation.
Direct-simulation-based study of turbulent flow over various waving boundaries

We use direct numerical simulation of stress-driven turbulent Couette flows over waving surfaces to study turbulence in the vicinity of water waves. Mechanistic study is performed through systematic investigation of different wavy surface conditions including plane progressive Airy and Stokes waves with and without wind-induced surface drift, as well as stationary wavy walls and vertically waving walls for comparison. Two different wave steepness values ak = 0.1 and 0.25 are considered, where a is the wave amplitude and k is the wavenumber. For effects of wave age, defined as the ratio between the wave phase speed c and the turbulence friction velocity u*, we consider three values, namely c/u* = 2, 14 and 25, corresponding to slow, intermediate and fast waves, respectively. Detailed analysis of turbulence structure and statistics shows their dependence on the above-mentioned parameters. Our result agrees with previous measurement and simulation results and reveals many new features unreported in the literature. Over progressive waves, although no apparent flow separation is found in mean flow, considerable intermittent separations in instantaneous flow are detected in slow waves with large steepness. The near-surface coherent vortical structures are examined. We propose two conceptual vortex structure models: quasi-streamwise and reversed horseshoe vortices for slow waves and bent quasi-streamwise vortices for intermediate and fast waves. Detailed examination of Reynolds stress with quadrant analysis, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and TKE budget with a focus on production shows large variation with wave phase; analysis shows that the variation is highly dependent on wave age and wave nonlinearity. Comparison between Airy waves and Stokes waves indicates that although the nonlinearity of surface water waves is a high-order effect compared with the wave age and wave steepness, it still makes an appreciable difference to the turbulence structure. The effect of wave nonlinearity on surface pressure distribution causes substantial difference in the wave growth rate. Wind-induced surface drift can cause a phase shift in the downstream direction and a reduction in turbulence intensity; this effect is appreciable for slow waves but negligible for intermediate and fast waves. In addition to providing detailed information on the turbulence field in the vicinity of wave surfaces, the results obtained in this study suggest the importance of including wave dynamics in the study of wind–wave interaction.
Quasi-one-dimensional pair density wave superconducting state

We provide a quasi-one-dimensional model which can support a pair-density-wave (PDW) state, in which the superconducting (SC) order parameter modulates periodically in space, with gapless Bogoliubov quasiparticle excitations. The model consists of an array of strongly interacting one-dimensional systems, where the one-dimensional systems are coupled to each other by local interactions and tunneling of the electrons and Cooper pairs between them. Within the interchain mean-field theory, we find several SC states from the model, including a conventional uniform SC state, PDW SC state, and a coexisting phase of the uniform SC and PDW states. In this quasi-1D regime we can treat the strong correlation physics essentially exactly using bosonization methods and the crossover to the 2D system by means of interchain mean-field theory. The resulting critical temperatures of the SC phases generically exhibit a power-law scaling with the coupling constants of the array, instead of the essential singularity found in weak-coupling BCS-type theories. Electronic excitations with an open Fermi surface, which emerge from the electronic Luttinger liquid systems below their crossover temperature to the Fermi liquid, are then coupled to the SC order parameters via the proximity effect. From the Fermi surface thus coupled to the SC order parameters, we calculate the quasiparticle spectrum in detail. We show that the quasiparticle spectrum can be fully gapped or nodal in the uniform SC phase and also in the coexisting phase of the uniform SC and PDW parameters. In the pure PDW state, the excitation spectrum has a reconstructed Fermi surface in the form of Fermi pockets of Bogoliubov quasiparticles.
Distributed Web mining using Bayesian networks from multiple data streams

We present a collective approach to mining Bayesian networks from distributed heterogenous Web-log data streams. In this approach we first learn a local Bayesian network at each site using the local data. Then each site identifies the observations that are most likely to be evidence of coupling between local and non-local variables and transmits a subset of these observations to a central site. Another Bayesian network is learnt at the central site using the data transmitted from the local site. The local and central Bayesian networks are combined to obtain a collective Bayesian network that models the entire data. We applied this technique to mining multiple data streams, where data centralization is difficult because of large response time and scalability issues. Experimental results and theoretical justification that demonstrate the feasibility of our approach are presented.
New exact diagram approach to the Kondo problem

Abstract Described is the physics behind an new exact Feynman diagram approach to the Kondo problem. The method corresponds to a certain self-consistent parquet approximation. Here relatively simple arguments are used to justify the diagram results. The calculation of the static susceptibility and specific heat is described. The cross-over ratio W′=( π e ) 1 2 and Wilson ratio R=2 are given exactly.
On the Optimality of Non-Optimal Portfolios

Accepted wisdom, assuming capital market equilibrium and low cash returns, advises investors to hold optimal portfolios containing little cash. But credit crunches - periods of non-price credit rationing when effective cash yields are very high - happen in the real world. Because of this, it is optimal to keep a much greater allocation in safe, liquid, short-term assets than suggested by standard practice.
Religious Torts: Applying the Consent Doctrine as Definitional Balancing

Tort actions based on religiously motivated conduct necessitate delicate balancing between the governmental interest in providing redress to injured plaintiffs and the Constitution’s guarantee of religious free exercise. This Comment argues that when plaintiffs were members of defendant churches at the time of the alleged tort, a definitional balancing standard is the most appropriate means of measuring the competing interests. The proposed standard is based on the traditional tort law consent doctrine. The standard’s definitional element shifts the burden of proving lack of consent to member/plaintiffs.
Scale of Carbon Nanomaterials Affects Neural Outgrowth and Adhesion

Carbon nanomaterials have become increasingly popular microelectrode materials for neuroscience applications. Here we study how the scale of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers affect neural viability, outgrowth, and adhesion. Carbon nanotubes were deposited on glass coverslips via a layer-by-layer method with polyethylenimine (PEI). Carbonized nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning SU-8 and pyrolyzing the nanofiber depositions. Additional substrates tested were carbonized and SU-8 thin films and SU-8 nanofibers. Surfaces were O2-plasma treated, coated with varying concentrations of PEI, seeded with E18 rat cortical cells, and examined at 3, 4, and 7 days in vitro (DIV). Neural adhesion was examined at 4 DIV utilizing a parallel plate flow chamber. At 3 DIV, neural viability was lower on the nanofiber and thin film depositions treated with higher PEI concentrations which corresponded with significantly higher zeta potentials (surface charge); this significance was drastically higher on the nanofibers suggesting that the nanostructure may collect more PEI molecules, causing increased toxicity. At 7 DIV, significantly higher neurite outgrowth was observed on SU-8 nanofiber substrates with nanofibers a significant fraction of a neuron's size. No differences were detected for carbonized nanofibers or carbon nanotubes. Both carbonized and SU-8 nanofibers had significantly higher cellular adhesion post-flow in comparison to controls whereas the carbon nanotubes were statistically similar to control substrates. These data suggest a neural cell preference for larger-scale nanomaterials with specific surface treatments. These characteristics could be taken advantage of in the future design and fabrication of neural microelectrodes.
The Relationship Between Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Thyroid Neoplasia, and Primary Hyperparathyroidism

The relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and follicular cell carcinoma of the thyroid remains controversial. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is regarded by some as a premalignant lesion for which thyroidectomy is definitely indicated. In contrast, other investigators have found no increased evidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients with this disease. As a result, the management of thyroid nodules in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis remains highly individualized. A program for the management of patients with chronic Hashimoto's thyroiditis with co-existing neoplasia or primary hyperparathyroidism is outlined.
Anticipated regret in shared decision-making: a randomized experimental study.

Explicit consideration of anticipated regret is not part of the standard shared decision-making protocols. This pilot study aimed to compare decisions about a hypothetical surgery for breast cancer and examined whether regret is a consideration in treatment decisions. In this randomized experimental study, 184 healthy female volunteers were randomized to receive a standard decision aid (control) or one with information on post-surgical regret (experimental). The main outcome measures were the proportion of subjects choosing lumpectomy vs. mastectomy and the proportion reporting that regret played a role in the decision made. We hypothesized that a greater proportion of the experimental group (regret-incorporated decision aid) would make a surgical treatment preference that favored the less regret-inducing option and that they would be more likely to consider regret in their decision-making process as compared to the control group. A significantly greater proportion of the experimental group subjects reported regret played a role in their decision-making process compared to the control counterparts (78 vs. 65 %; p = 0.039). Recipients of the regret-incorporated experimental decision aid had a threefold increased odds of choosing the less regret-inducing surgery (OR = 2.97; 95 % CI = 1.25, 7.09; p value = 0.014). In this hypothetical context, the incorporation of regret in a decision aid for preference-sensitive surgery impacted decision-making. This finding suggests that keying in on anticipated regret may be an important element of shared decision-making strategies. Our results make a strong argument for applying this design and pursuing further research in a surgical patient population. Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02563808 .
Identification and Characterization of a Tyramine–Glutamate Ligase (MfnD) Involved in Methanofuran Biosynthesis

Methanofuran is the first in a series of coenzymes involved in the reduction of carbon dioxide to methane. All methanofuran structural variants contain a basic core structure of 4-[N-(γ-l-glutamyl-γ-l-glutamyl)-p-(β-aminoethyl)phenoxymethyl]-2-(aminomethyl)furan (APMF-(Glu)2) with different attached side chains depending on the source organism. Recently, we discovered the biosynthetic route for the production of 5-(aminomethyl)-3-furanmethanol-phosphate (F1-P), a precursor to the furan moiety of methanofuran. However, how the γ-linked glutamates are incorporated into methanofuran’s structure remains unknown. Here, we report the identification of an ATP-grasp enzyme encoded by the gene Mefer_1180 in Methanocaldococcus fervens (the homologue of MJ0815 in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, annotated as MfnD) that catalyzes the ATP-dependent addition of one glutamate to tyramine via a γ-linked amide bond. The occurrence of this reaction is consistent with the presence of γ-glutamyltyramine in cell extracts of M. ...
Genetic interactions of avian RNA tumor viruses and their host cells.

Normal chick embryo cells have been shown to express various functions usually associated with the replication of avian RNA tumor viruses in infected cells. These functions have been detected by a variety of technics which include complement fixation tests for the presence of the viral group specific antigens, physiologic complementation tests for the defective function of the Bryan high titer strain of Rous sarcoma virus, observation of spontaneous production of typical RNA tumor viral particles, and induction of RNA tumor viral particle production by superinfection of chick cells with a second, but distinguishable, RNA tumor virus, or by activation with carcinogenic agents. This paper presents results which suggest that the expression of these viral functions is not always coordinate.
Novel Organically Templated Mixed-Valent Titanium Phosphates with Open Framework Structures: Hydrothermal Synthesis and Characterization

We have hydrothermally synthesized the first reduced titanium phosphates with open-framework structures. The synthetic approach is quite unusual since elemental titanium is used. The full structural, thermal, magnetic, and spectroscopic characterization of a 1,3-diaminopropanetemplated compound, TiIIITiIV(PO4)(HPO4)2(H2O)2·(NH2CH2CH2CH2NH2)0.5, is presented. The frame of the compound is of the octahedral/tetrahedral type with octahedrally coordinated TiIII and TiIV atoms. The template of 1,3-diaminopropane occupies channels with dimensions that are comparable to those of many zeolites. Magnetic measurements are consistent with one d-electron per formula unit. TGA/DTA and IR data will be reported as well. This compound is most likely the first member of a larger class of reduced titanium phosphates. Some preliminary data suggests that similar reduced titanium phosphates with different templates and structures exist as well. All compounds are blue-purple due to Ti(III).
Factors Affecting Preweaning Lamb Death Losses1

Abstract Data on 1,645 lambs were analyzed to determine the effects of season of birth, year, type of birth, sex, breed of sire, breed of dam, age of dam, and birth weight on preweaning death loss of lambs born in six separate lamb crops over a 4-yr period. Weaning occurred at 50 ± 3 d. Analysis of variance indicated that breed of dam (P≤.0001) and sex (P≤.003) had significant effects on preweaning death loss. Effects of age of dam (F≤.01), type of birth (P≤.07), and breed of sire (P≤.07) were not as strong but were significant. Preweaning death losses were not greatly affected by season of birth or year. Lambs born to Booroola Merino × Rambouillet ewes had the highest preweaning mortality rate (31.5%), whereas those born to Finn × Rambouillet ewes had the lowest (0.3%). Preweaning death loss was higher for male lambs (15.4%) than for females (10.8%). Lambs of 8-yr-old ewes had the highest preweaning death loss (19.1%) compared with the low of 8.0% for 9-yr-old ewes. Preweaning death rates for single, twin, and triplet lambs were 9.4, 10.1, and 19.7%, respectively. Suffolk-sired lambs had the highest preweaning death loss (18.5%), followed by Rambouillet-, Finn-, and Booroola Merino-sired lambs. Regression analysis indicated that, within the range of weights observed in this data, each kilogram increase in birth weight was associated with a 10.4% decrease in preweaning death rate.
Clinical Significance of Measuring Interleukin-13 in Serum and Pulmonary Function in Infants with Bronchiolitis

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of measuring IL-13 in serum and dynamics of pulmonary function in infants with bronchiolitis.Methods A total of 50 infants with bronchiolitis(30 in acute phase,20 in recovery phase) and 20 infants in healthy controls were recruited into this study.IL-13 level in serum were detected with Sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),at the same time the object′s respiratory function were tested,then the above indexes were compared.Results The level of serum IL-13 in recovery phase of bronchiolitis was significantly lower than that in acute phase of bronchiolitis and those of both 2 groups were significantly higher than that in control group(all P0.01).Furthermore,teminal flows/peak expiratory flow(25/PF) and ratio of mid-expiratory to mid-inspiratory flow(ME/MI) in recovery phase were significantly higher than those in acute phase(all P0.01).It was also found that the IL-13 levels of acute phase were negative correlation to 25/PF(r=-0.38 P0.05),but no relation to ME/MI(r=-0.002 P0.05).Conclusions IL-13 plays a role in pathogenesis in infants with bronchiolitis.The reduction of level of IL-13 will contribute to recovery of infants with bronchiolitis.During the acute phase of bronchiolitis higher resistance can be seen.
Analysis on Effects of Organic Liquid Fertilizer on Rice Yield

Effects of different application methods of Luboshi organic liquid fertilizer on rice yield and yield components were studied by using "Ganwanxian 37"(926) as tested material.The rice yield of four treatments with applying Luboshi organic fertilizer was higher than that of the treatment without applying the fertilizer.There was significant difference among the four treatments with application.So the results showed that applying Luboshi organic fertilizer had significant yield-increasing effect on rice.According to the results,the increase of yield was mainly due to the increase of effective panicles,setting rate,grains per panicle and 1000-grain weight.What's more,the highest yieldincreasing rate could reach 12.15%.
Statistical pattern recognition in paleontology using SIMCA-MACUP

This paper describes a pattern recognition method, Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy-Modeling And Clas- sification Using Partial least squares (SIMCA-MACUP), and demonstrates its application to two common paleontological problems- identification and prediction. SIMCA-MACUP performs statistical pattern recognition at four hierarchical levels. At level 1, SIMCA builds disjoint principal component models to characterize multivariate data patterns of several classes. At level 2, new, unknown objects are either classified into one of the classes, or recognized as outliers. At levels 3 and 4, the MACUP method models the relationship between external (dependent) variables and internal (independent) variables, and allows prediction of the values of external variables of new objects which are classified at level 2. The applicability of the SIMCA-MACUP has been demonstrated in a case study of the Pliocene planktic foraminiferal clade Globoconella. Two morphotypes of the clade Globorotalia (Globoconella) puncticulata and Globorotalia (Globoconella) inflata were characterized in a reference sample with SIMCA. Ancestral forms of the two morphotypes were traced through the early phylogenetic history of the clade, resulting in a reconstruction of the branching pattern of the divergence of G. inflata from G. puncticulata. The apertural height and apertural width of specimens in the ancestral stocks were then treated as if there were two "external" variables, and predicted using MACUP. The predicted values show slight discrepancy from the observed values. The deviation is size-dependent, indicating a decoupling of the apertural shape from the size of foraminifers during the branching process.
Supercritical Mixing and Combustion of Liquid-Oxygen/ Kerosene Bi-Swirl Injectors

The mixing and combustion characteristics of liquid-oxygen/kerosene bi-swirl injectors are investigated under the supercritical conditions typical of contemporary rocket engines. The basis of the study is a large-eddy simulation technique combined with a unified treatment of real-fluid thermodynamics. The turbulence/chemistry interaction is treated using a laminar flamelet library approach. Emphasis is placed on the near-field flow and flame development downstream of the inner swirler. The flame is found to be stabilized by two counter-rotating vortices in the wake region of the liquid-oxygen post, which is covered by the kerosene-rich mixture. The width of the kerosene annulus is found to significantly affect the injector behavior. A wider annulus induces a larger spreading angle of the liquid-oxygen stream, which intercepts the kerosene stream in a more efficient way. Increasing the annulus width, however, imposes a wake region in a broader zone. The resultant flame becomes relatively unstable if the fl...
God’s Existence and the Kantian Formula of Humanity

Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative can be expressed as the formula of humanity. This states that rational beings ought always to treat humanity, whether in our own persons or in others, as ends in themselves and never as mere means. In this essay, I argue that if God exists, then the Kantian formula of humanity is false. The basic idea behind my argument is that if God exists, then he has knowingly created a world with all kinds of naturally occurring threats, such as disease, flood, drought, etc. and he has knowingly placed human beings in such a world without their consent, knowing that many innocent human beings will be led to suffer, and he allows this suffering to occur. I argue that even if this is somehow for their own good or the good of others or contributes to the goodness of the world as a whole, God treats these innocent human beings as mere means when he places humans in such a world without their consent and allows this suffering to occur.
Expression Levels of CD11b, CD18, CD32, CD62L (L-Selectin) and CD62P (P-Selectin) and Its Role in Sickle Cell Anemia Inflammatory State

Vascular occlusions (VOC) underlie most of the acute and chronic sickle cell anemia (SCA) clinical complications and have been correlated to soluble adhesion molecules up regulation and leukocyte activation. A sequential process involving adhesion through selectins and integrins governs leukocyte recruitment to activated endothelium and to sickle red blood cells (RBC), resulting in heterotypic aggregation and VOC. The chronic hemolysis is the major cause of oxidative stress and it can induce transcriptions factors involved in the recruitment of adherent leukocytes in venules. In this work, we assessed the inflammatory potential of leukocytes in venous blood samples by examining cell surface antigens expression by flow cytometry, activation state and its association with hemolytic state in SCA patients group. The study was approved by the FIOCRUZ ethical committee and informed consents were signed by patients or official responsible. Leukocytes were obtained from 22 SCA patients and 22 healthy controls after RBC lyses and labeled with monoclonal anti-CD11b, anti-CD18, anti-CD32, anti-CD62L (L-Selectin) and anti-CD62P (P-Selectin). Leukocyte activation was stimulated by LPS. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 9.0. The basal expression levels on leukocytes cell surface antigens from patients were not different from the control group. However, the CD62L expression levels were associated to C-reactive protein (CRP) higher levels and decrease of fetal hemoglobin in SCA patients ( p =0.012). The SCA patients had higher CRP levels when compared to reference levels. Moreover, the data showed a co-expression of CD11b with CD18 ( p <0.0001) and CD62P ( p =0.011).The platelet count was positively correlated to CD11b expression ( p =0.016) and the alanine transaminase high levels with the CD62P expression ( p =0.012). Our results demonstrate a leukocyte chronic activation state by expression of CD62L related to CRP higher levels. Interestingly, the platelets could be activated by the indirect activation of CD62P by CD11b, participating of the inflammation state presents at vaso-occlusive events. It seems that the stress oxidative generated by the hemolytic state can contribute to endothelial dysfunction and vaso-occlusive events by CD62L activation in SCA. Fetal hemoglobin is a prognostic factor for several sickle cell complications and we showed that it can ameliorate the CD62L expression on leukocytes, decreasing the chronic inflammatory state of this disease. CD62L serves to as a homing receptor for naive T lymphocytes and dendritic cells to lymph nodes, mediating the biding of T cells to high endothelial venules, in this view, this can be important marker to inflammatory state and vascular complications in SCA.
The effect of hypofractionated radiation and magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia on tumor immunogenicity and overall treatment response.

It is now known that many tumors develop molecular signals (immune checkpoint modulators) that inhibit an effective tumor immune response. New information also suggest that even well-known cancer treatment modalities such as radiation and hyperthermia generate potentially beneficial immune responses that have been blocked or mitigated by such immune checkpoints, or similar molecules. The cancer therapy challenge is to; a) identify these treatment-based immune signals (proteins, antigens, etc.); b) the treatment doses or regimens that produce them; and c) the mechanisms that block or have the potential to promote them. The goal of this preliminary study, using the B6 mouse – B16 tumor model, clinically relevant radiation doses and fractionation schemes (including those used clinically in hypofractionated radiation therapy), magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (mNPH) and sophisticated protein, immune and tumor growth analysis techniques and modulators, is to determine the effect of specific radiation or hyperthermia alone and combined on overall treatment efficacy and immunologic response mechanisms. Preliminary analysis suggests that radiation dose (10 Gy vs. 2 Gy) significantly alters the mechanism of cell death (apoptosis vs. mitosis vs. necrosis) and the resulting immunogenicity. Our hypothesis and data suggest this difference is protein/antigen and immune recognition-based. Similarly, our evidence suggest that radiation doses larger than the conventional 2 Gy dose and specific hyperthermia doses and techniques (including mNP hyperthermia treatment) can be immunologically different, and potentially superior to, the radiation and heat therapy regimens that are typically used in research and clinical practice.
Adolescent Frequent Heavy Drinking From 1991-2015.

* Abbreviations: MTF — : Monitoring the Future SES — : socioeconomic status Alcohol use during adolescence carries an increased risk of negative psychosocial and health outcomes. Adolescents who drink heavily have a higher likelihood of unprotected sex, physical altercations, poor school or work performance, and problems with parents.1 Earlier age of initiation is also a strong predictor of heavy alcohol consumption by adulthood and potential progression to an alcohol use disorder.2 Fortunately, since its peak in the late 1990s, the prevalence of binge drinking (defined as ≥5 drinks in the past 2 weeks) has declined to historic lows of 3.4%, 9.7%, and 15.5% among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders, respectively, according to Monitoring the Future (MTF) data.3 Despite this critical public health occurrence, the underlying reasons for this change are unclear. In this month’s issue of Pediatrics, Jang et al4 explore this decline, using 1991–2015 MTF data to delineate age, period, and cohort effects on frequent heavy drinking. Frequent heavy drinking was defined as ≥2 occasions of ≥5 drinks in a row during the past 2 weeks. “Age effects” describe the familiar phenomenon whereby adolescents become more likely to drink heavily … Address correspondence to Justine Wittenauer Welsh, MD, Emory Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Services, Emory University School of Medicine, 12 Executive Park Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. E-mail: justine.welsh{at}emory.edu
α-Actinin Promotes Surface Localization and Current Density of the Ca2+ Channel CaV1.2 by Binding to the IQ Region of the α1 Subunit

The voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channel CaV1.2 is crucial for initiating heartbeat and control of a number of neuronal functions such as neuronal excitability and long-term potentiation. Mutations of CaV1.2 subunits result in serious health problems, including arrhythmia, autism spectrum disorders, immunodeficiency, and hypoglycemia. Thus, precise control of CaV1.2 surface expression and localization is essential. We previously reported that α-actinin associates and colocalizes with neuronal CaV1.2 channels and that shRNA-mediated depletion of α-actinin significantly reduces localization of endogenous CaV1.2 in dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons. Here we investigated the hypothesis that direct binding of α-actinin to CaV1.2 supports its surface expression. Using two-hybrid screens and pull-down assays, we identified three point mutations (K1647A, Y1649A, and I1654A) in the central, pore-forming α11.2 subunit of CaV1.2 that individually impaired α-actinin binding. Surface biotinylation and flow cytometr...