cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of adenosine tri phosphate-glucose administration following sepsis

Abstract Sepsis in rats was produced in cecal ligation and puncture. Sixteen hours later, the peritoneal cavity was reopened, the gangrenous cecum removed, and the cavity irrigated with warm saline. Animals which were normotensive then received iv either: (a) saline (controls), (b) glucose (50%) plus saline, or (c) ATP-MgCl2 (12.5 or 100 μmole ATP and 12.5 or 50 μmole MgCl2) with or without hypertonic glucose plus saline. Following the infusion of one of the above, survival was measured over a period of 5 days. The results indicate that there was no statistical difference in the survival rate of rats given saline, glucose, ATP-MgCl2 alone, or lower concentrations of ATP-MgCl2 with glucose. However, infusion of ATP-MgCl2 (100 μmole ATP + 50 μmole MgCl2) plus glucose (ATP-MgCl2-G), resulted in a significant increase in the survival of animals. Thus, the septic hypoglycemic rats required glucose together with higher ATP-MgCl2 concentrations for treatment to be effective. Hepatic and renal ATP levels decreased during sepsis; however, infusion of higher concentrations of ATP-MgCl2 alone or together with glucose resulted in the restoration of cellular ATP levels within 3 hr. Infusion of glucose alone did not restore cellular ATP levels. Reticuloendothelial system (RES) function was depressed during sepsis; however, infusion of ATP-MgCl2-G resulted in the restoration of RES function. The precise mechanism of the salutary effects of ATP-MgCl2-G on survival is not clear. The results presented here indicate that extirpation of the lesion producing the septic process and metabolic support proved helpful without antibiotic treatment.
Perspectives on Communication

Les AA. s'interrogent sur l'identite et l'avenir de de la communication en tant que discipline specifique au sein des sciences sociales en general. Ils prennent comme point de depart la perspective sociologique, qui constitue une approche de l'etude de la communication de masse, mais sans se limiter toutefois au travail des sociologues. Ils s'interessent a trois themes qui caracterisent la recherche en matiere de communication - la nature de la communication humaine, les effets de la communication de masse, les relations entre media et societe - et montrent que chacun a sa propre approche du sujet
Slow pathway modification for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia

The change in the "refractory window" was assessed as a possible indicator of successful slow pathway modification in 26 pediatric patients with persistent dual-atrioventricular node physiology. The "refractory window" was defined as the difference between the fast and slow pathway effective refractory periods. A significant decrease in the refractory window (p <0.001) after successful slow pathway modification was found.
Clinical Pharmacology of NSAIDs

All nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are characterized by a high degree of protein binding and small volumes of distribution. Differences in clearance account for the variability in half-life among these drugs. The majority are metabolized by the liver through a variety of pathways. These drugs are subject to drug interactions of several mechanisms, including protein-binding-displacement interactions, induction or inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism, and competition for active renal tubular secretion with other organic acids. NSAIDs are also subject to special pharmacokinetic considerations about which a great deal has been learned recently. These include data demonstrating that assessment of disposition of these drugs using only total drug concentrations can be misleading and that one must instead assess the disposition of unbound, pharmacologically active drug. Second, it appears that only one enantiomer of the propionic acid NSAIDs is active; studies of the pharmacokinetics of this class of NSAID should include assessment of the active stereoisomer. Finally, the propionic acid NSAIDs are metabolized to acyl-glucuronide conjugates, which are unstable and can cleave back to the parent drug. This feature allows the paradox of a drug that is metabolized by the liver being able to accumulate in patients who have renal insufficiency. Because of these newer pharmacokinetic considerations, much of the old data concerning the clinical pharmacology of NSAIDs are obsolete. More precise new information is needed in this area.
Extracorporeal pump assistance--novel treatment for acute lidocaine poisoning.

Accidental bolus administration of lidocaine ranging in dosages from 1000mg to 2000mg has caused death in humans. Because lidocaine clearance depends upon hepatic blood flow, drug clearance in a hypotensive overdosed patient is poor so that a drug overdose is likely to be irreversible. Traditional approaches to drug removal include hemodialysis and charcoal hemoperfusion. Neither treatment would be effective for lidocaine overdose because the drug is a myocardial depressant and because the clearance rates of these techniques are 100–200ml/min. Hepatic clearance of lidocaine is 1000ml/min in a human with normal cardiac output. We have tested a new concept for removal of high clearance drugs that are associated with myocardial depression. Cardiac bypass support was used in a dog experiment to demonstrate that restoration of cardiac output could restore high clearance of lidocaine. Sixteen anesthetized dogs were given 30mg/kg boluses of lidocaine. In one group of eight dogs, toxicity was treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, pressor drugs and cardioversion. Six out of eight of these animals died within 30min after lidocaine infusion. In the second group of eight dogs, an extracorporeal bypass pump was used for 90min after the lidocaine injection. None of these assisted animals died. Drug clearance in dogs treated with the extracorporeal pump was compared to drug clearance in eight dogs that received non-toxic lidocaine doses of 3mg/kg. Drug clearance was 39.75±4.16ml/kg/min in the overdosed animals compared to 38.29±8.6 ml/kg/min in the non-toxic animals. Thus, drug clearance was normal in dogs treated with the extracorporeal pump. These experiments suggest that short-term support of the circulation with an extracorporeal pump could theoretically be effective in reducing patient mortality from acute massive lidocaine overdose.
Regional Primitive Equation Studies of the Gulf Stream Meander and Ring Formation Region

Abstract Primitive equation and quasi-geostrophic eddy resolving, open ocean models are used for hindcast studies in the Gulf Stream meander and ring formation region. A feature model approach is used to initialize the models, based on one month of observations during November to December 1984. Flat bottom and topographic calculations are carried out using an initial Gulf Stream velocity profile based on the Pegasus dataset. All of the major events observed in the upper thermocline are reproduced by both numerical models. The addition of bottom topography is shown to significantly alter the character of the deep velocity fields. Large, basin scale circulations found near the bottom in both flat bottom calculations were replaced by energetic jets and eddies associated with the dominant spatial scales of the bottom topography. Use of the quasi-geostrophic model to dynamically adjust the initial conditions for the primitive equation model is shown to reduce the growth of large scale meanders on time scales o...
Chromosomal microarrays: influential players in the diagnosis of developmental disorders

precise locations spanning the genome. These slides are laser scanned and analyzed with software that quantifies copy number differences between a test and a reference sample. Initially, bacterial artificial chromosomes were the probes of choice for this technique, known as array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-comparative genomic hybridization). Theses arrays contain DNA isolated from bacterial artificial chromosomes that range in size from 150–200 kb, which are spotted directly onto the array [7].
EXPERIMENTS ON THE SPREAD OF COLDS. 1. LABORATORY STUDIES ON THE DISPERSAL OF NASAL SECRETION.

It is now known that colds are due to infections with a number of different viruses and that it is therefore unwise to generalize about the epidemiology of the disease. We have, nevertheless, attempted to measure some of the processes which may operate when infected nasal secretion leaves the upper respiratory tract of a model 'patient' and reaches that of another subject. This paper describes work using biological tracers; in this we have measured the clearance of foreign material from the nose, mouth and conjunctiva and the dispersal of material from the mucous surfaces of normal subjects on sneezing, coughing and so on. METHODS We wished to use a tracer which could be detected after great dilution, could be measured accurately, was completely unaffected by the activity of biological fluids, and could be detected in the presence of these fluids or of common house dust. It had, of course, to be completely non-irritating and harmless to man even when administered repeatedly. We considered the use of fluorescent or radioactive powders and tried suspensions of uniform plastic beads stained with fluorescent dyes, and detected by ultra-violet microscopy. We finally chose to use a suspension of spores of the non-pathogenic organism Bacillus mycoides, which was recommended and prepared for us by the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton. This organism is a saprophyte which forms large colonies in 18 hr. at 30? C. on a medium (1 % peptone, 2 % agar) on which the normal human flora will not grow at all, and the saprophytes of the laboratory and home will grow very little. The colonies are so characteristic that they are immediately distinguished from the occasional contaminant (see Plate l a). The suspension used contained 109 spores per ml.; it was stored at 4? C. and the viable count was unchanged at the end of 1 year. It was shown that the viable counts were quantitatively satisfactory provided that not more than fifty colonies on a 4 in. plate were counted; also the counts were unaffected by inoculating spore suspensions mixed with human saliva and nasal secretion. If spores were spread on glass, enamel and other surfaces and allowed to dry they could be completely recovered by washing the surfaces with 1 or 2 % of calf serum in isotonic saline buffered at pH 7-1 with 0-01 M sodium phosphate buffer (sampling fluid).
Nephrotoxic effects of tetanus toxin: an ultrastructural study.

Abstract Generalized nephrotoxicity was observed in the rat as early as 6 hr after intramuscular injection of 1000 mld of tetanus toxin. The most striking morphological changes, including swelling and rupture of the mitochondria, sloughing of the microvilli, and dissolution of cells, were found exclusively in the renal proximal tubule. Acute tubular necrosis with degeneration of the organelles and disruption of the cell membrane were also encountered throughout the entire nephron. Since these observations parallel those reported in patients with complicated acute tubular necrosis secondary to nephrotic syndrome and chemical toxicity, perhaps the kidney is one of the major targets in tetanus intoxication. It is possible that injury to the nephron results in electrolyte imbalance that can contribute to the neuromuscular manifestation accompanying tetanus toxicity.
Melt growth of Nd : Y3Al5O12 (Nd : YAG) using the heat exchange method (HEM)

Abstract Pure and Nd doped Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (YAG and Nd : YAG) single crystals weighing 2180 g and 7.62 cm in diameter have been grown using the Heat Exchanger Method (HEM). Furnace modifications were necessary to achieve the planar solid-liquid growth interface needed to avoid faceted growth. Crystals doped with 0.6–0.8 at% Nd were free of scattering centers over 90% of their volume while crystals doped with 1.1 at% Nd were only free of scattering centers over 50% of their volume. These scattering centers contained voids and either YAlO 3 or Al 2 O 3 depending upon melt composition. Fluorescent lifetime of 3 × 30 mm laser rods fabricated from HEM grown crystals doped with 0.6–0.8 at% Nd was 254 ± 2.5 μsec.
Pseudo-spectral calculations of shock waves, rarefaction waves and contact surfaces

Abstract A Chebyshev expansion approach is employed to solve the one dimensional compressible flow equations for flows with large gradients. A technique for controlling oscillations is presented.
Familial episodic ataxia: Clinical heterogeneity in four families linked to chromosome 19p

We describe the clinical and oculographic findings in 4 families with episodic ataxia and interictal nystagmus (EA-2) linked to chromosome 19p. Episodes varied from pure ataxia to combinations of symptoms suggesting involvement of the cerebellum, brainstem, and cortex. Some affected individuals exhibited a progressive ataxia syndrome phenotypically indistinguishable from the dominantly inherited spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) syndromes. About one-half of the affected individuals had migraine headaches and several had episodes typical of basilar migraine. Oculographic findings were localizing to the vestibulocerebellum and posterior vermis. Additional genetic and environmental factors must account for the marked clinical heterogeneity in these families with an abnormal gene on chromosome 19p.
Jet Studies in ATLAS

Abstract A summary of jet tools and some 2010/2011 cross section measurements using the ATLAS detector at the LHC.
Serological cross-reactivity between products of different Ia loci.

Antibody prepared in I-E-subregion-incompatible strains (anti-A e s :E /k ) cross-reacts with I-A-subregion controlled A b : A /b and A q A q complexes. This cross-reaction defines a new I-region specificity designated Ia.50. The implications of this finding for the genetic origin of the I region and immuneresponse-gene function are discussed.
Descartes glare points in scattering by icicles: color photographs and a tilted dielectric cylinder model of caustic and glare-point evolution

Glare points associated with the Airy caustics of once and twice internally reflected rays are visible in the scattering by sunlit icicles. Supporting color photographs include an image of the far-field scattering. Relevant rays are analogous to the Descartes rays of primary and secondary rainbows of drops; however, the caustic conditions for the icicle are predicted to be affected by tilt of the illumination relative to the axis of the icicle. A model for the caustic evolution, given for a circular dielectric cylinder, manifests a transition in which the Airy caustic (and associated glare points) merge in the meridional plane at a critical tilt. At this critical tilt the merged glare point is predicted to be very bright. The calculations use the Bravais effective refractive index and generalized ray tracing.
Incidence of major bleeding complication of warfarin therapy in Japanese patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background During anticoagulation for prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), bleeding is the most serious complication. In Western countries, the incidences of major bleeding and intracranial hemorrhages with low-dose warfarin are known to occur at a rate of 0.4-1.3% and 0.2% per year, respectively. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors for major bleeding related with warfarin therapy in Japanese patients with NVAF. Methods and Results From August 2004 to July 2005, 667 NVAF patients treated with warfarin for NVAF were followed-up. The target prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) value was set at 1.6-2.6 (low-dose warfarin). The exposure on warfarin was 503 patient-years (average PT-INR 2.00 ±0.40). During the follow-up period, 12 major bleeding complications occurred (2.38% per patient-year), which included 3 intracranial hemorrhages (0.60% per patient-year). Among the patients' characteristics, average PT-INR ≥2.27 during the study was identified as an independent risk factor for major bleeding. Conclusions The incidence of major bleeding and intracranial hemorrhages in Japanese NVAF patients with low-dose warfarin therapy was 2.38% and 0.60% per patient-year, respectively, which is higher than in Westerners. (Circ J 2007; 71: 761 - 765)
User-interface tools: introduction and survey

An overview is given of user-interface development systems (UIDS). Systems are classified by how they let the programmer specify the interfaces, and examples of each type are given. The three types are language-based, graphical, and automatic creation interfaces. Shortcomings of UIDS and user-interface toolkits are discussed. >
Poster: supporting collaborative sensing applications

Many context aware applications can benefit from using high-level sensing results with semantic meanings (e.g, busy/idle). This paper proposes a platform design that provides high-level "virtual sensor" abstractions and enables new virtual sensors to be bootstrapped from existing ones.
Using the ethnostatistics methodology to reconcile rhetoric and reality: an examination of the management release of Enron’s year end 2000 results

We analyzed the earnings release of the Enron Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2000. By applying the methodology of ethnostatistics we were able to gain insight into the environment of earnings releases, the underlying meanings ascribed within the content and the resulting limitations on those third party users who rely upon the information provided. Moreover, with this understanding, we were better able to contrast the rhetoric employed by management in light of the reality of a deteriorating company. Our contribution provides for a comprehensive application of ethnostatistics in sensemaking of organizational disclosures and further extends the utility of the ethnostatistics methodology beyond academia.
Merger Deal Structures and Investment Strategies

The target and bidding firms9 return patterns during merger and acquisition attempt periods have been researched by many. This article explores how the target shareholder wealth protection which collar offers provide is related to the performance of merger arbitrage positions. More specifically, the authors seek to test how the collar offer deal components which are designed to protect the wealth of the target firm9s shareholders relate to both merger arbitrage performance and the probability of success for the takeover effort. The results show that the level of wealth protection relates consistently and positively to the profitability of merger arbitrage and the probability of merger completion, thereby supporting the protection argument made by the authors. The results also show that the decision to use a fixed payment (fixed dollar amount) collar offer rather than a fixed exchange (variable dollar value exchange ratio) collar offer is positively related to the correlation between the target and acquiring firms9 stock prices and the growth potential of the target firm. These findings may be of use to both merger arbitragers and those involved in the formulation of takeover offers.
Rehospitalization of infants born to adolescent mothers

This study defines the variables that predict rehospitalization of infants born to teen mothers. Rehospitalization was defined as hospital admission during the first year of life subsequent to hospitalization at birth. Normal birth weight (NBW), but not low birth weight (LBW), infants of adolescent mothers had higher rehospitalization rates than infants of older mothers. NBW infants of young vs. older mothers had significantly higher rehospitalization rates for gastroenteritis. Among infants of adolescent mothers, the variables associated with increased risk of rehospitalization were unemployed household head, presence of a congenital anomaly or developmental delay, and an unusually high or low number of well child care visits. Although individual variables were significant at the bivariate level, in combination, these variables were poor predictors of which infants would be rehospitalized. Our study suggests that all teen mothers of NBW infants may require additional education to prevent excess rehospitalization of their infants.
Tumor angiogenesis and tissue factor.

A coagulation factor expressed in human breast cancer has implications for the interaction of neoplastic cells with vascular endothelium (pages 209–215).
Source and Sink Leaf Metabolism in Relation to Phloem Translocation: Carbon Partitioning and Enzymology

The import-export transition in sugar beet leaves (Beta vulgaris) occurred at 40 to 50% leaf expansion and was characterized by loss in assimilate import and increase in photosynthesis. The metabolism and partitioning of assimilated and translocated C were determined during leaf development and related to the translocation status of the leaf. The import stage was characterized by C derived from either (14)C-translocate or (14)C-photosynthate being incorporated into protein and structural carbohydrates. Marked changes in the C partitioning were temporally correlated with the import-export conversion. Exporting leaves did not hydrolyze accumulated sucrose and the C derived from CO(2) fixation was preferentially incorporated into sucrose. Both source and sink leaves contained similar levels of acid invertase and sucrose synthetase activities (sucrose hydrolysis) while sucrose phosphate synthetase (sucrose synthesis) was detected only in exporting leaves. The results are discussed in terms of intracellular compartmentation of sucrose and sucrose-metabolizing enzymes in source and sink leaves.
The Role of Summary and Specific Behavioral Memories in Trait Judgments about the Self

In a recent series of studies, Klein and Loftus and their colleagues have shown that trait judgments about the self are uninfluenced by the prior retrieval of trait-relevant behavioral memories. In this article, two types of behavioral memories are distinguished-specific and summary. A study is reported that, in contrast to the authors' earlier studies examining the effect of specific behavioral memories, shows that retrieval of summary behavioral memories does affect subsequent judgments of a trait's self-descriptiveness. The implications of the distinction between spears and summary behavioral memories for models of trait self-knowledge are discussed.
Development of an LC-MS method for measuring TNF in human vaginal tissue.

A sensitive, accurate, and precise liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for the determination of tenofovir (TNF) in human vaginal tissue was developed and validated. After homogenization of the tissue, solid-phase extraction on Varian Bond Elut-C 18 column was used for sample clean up. Chromatographic separation of TNF and the internal standard (tolbutamide) was achieved with a Varian Polaris 3C 18 -A reversed-phase analytical column (150 mm x 2 mm). A gradient method using 0.1 % formic acid in water and 0.1 % formic acid in acetonitrile was employed. Detection of TNF and tolbutamide was achieved by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the positive ion mode using 288.05 and 271.00 m/z, respectively. Linear TNF calibration curves were obtained between 1-1,000 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient (r 2 ) greater than 0.999. Intra-and inter-day accuracy for TNF ranged from 89.7% and 109.4% and from 97.3% and 104.9%, and precision ranged from 1.3% and 10.9% and 2.6% and 9.0%, respectively. This is the first validated method developed to quantitate TNF in human tissues.
Maternal postadoption depression: theory refinement through qualitative content analysis:

Background:Some adoptive parents struggle with depressive symptoms post-placement. Foli’s Mid-Range Theory of Postadoption Depression provided the theoretical context for the analysis.Research Aim:...
Semi-global stabilization of partially linear composite systems via linear dynamic state feedback

This paper extends the results of the authors (1992) on semi-global stabilization of a class of minimum-phase nonlinear systems via linear state feedback. The class of minimum-phase nonlinear systems considered in this paper subsume those of the previous paper. More specifically, the authors show, by explicit construction of the control laws, that a cascade of linear stabilizable and nonlinear asymptotically stable subsystems is semi-globally stabilizable by linear dynamic feedback of the state of the linear subsystem if the linear subsystem is right invertible and has all its invariant zeros in the closed left half s-plane. The authors' proposed linear dynamic state feedback control law has a single tunable gain parameter that allows for local asymptotical stability and regulation to the origin for any initial condition in some a priori given (arbitrarily large) bounded set. >
Q-Factor Measurement with Network Analyzer

Ginzton's impedance method of Q-factor measurement is adapted to network analyzer techniques. The circuit model of the resonator incorporates also an external reactance which varies linearly with frequency to take into account the effects of the coupling mechanism and the influence of the distant resonant modes.
A motor drive electronics assembly for Mars Curiosity Rover: An example of assembly qualification for extreme environments

This paper describes the technology development and infusion of a motor drive electronics assembly for Mars Curiosity Rover under space extreme environments. The technology evaluation and qualification as well as space qualification of the assembly are described and summarized. Because of the uncertainty of the technologies operating under the extreme space environments and that a high level of reliability was required for this assembly application, both component and assembly board level qualifications were performed.
Developing the Foundation for Syndromic Surveillance and Health Information Exchange for Yolo County, California

This report delineates Yolo County Health Department’s process to ascertain its optimal methods of participation in syndromic surveillance and health information exchange. As a health department serving a county of just 200,000 residents, Yolo County Health Department needed to operate within strict financial constraints. Meaningful Use legislation enabled it to pursue both syndromic surveillance and health information exchange participation whilst complying with its budgetary restrictions. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH), a segment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, has incentivized the ‘Meaningful Use’ of electronic health records (EHRs) by providing incentive reimbursements and non-compliance penalties. The Meaningful Use of EHRs is to take place over 3 Stages: Stage 1 has begun, Stage 2 is imminent, and Stage 3 is currently being discussed. Having been solicited by both health information exchange and syndromic surveillance options which were cost-prohibitive, Yolo County Health Department focused attention on BioSense 2.0, a Meaningul Use-ready and virtually free syndromic surveillance program developed by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In collaboration with Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services, and with support from several other area counties, Yolo County Health Department submitted a Funding Opportunity application for BioSense 2.0 regional implementation. Through this collaboration, Yolo County Health Department has begun participating in the formative stages of the Sacramento Area Center for Advanced Biosurveillance (SAC-B). Via SAC-B, Yolo County Health Department will be able to participate in syndromic surveillance in the BioSense 2.0 program, and simultaneously expand its electronic health data sharing towards a more comprehensive health information exchange. Lastly, over the course of these projects, three other methods of participating in electronic health data sharing became available to Yolo County Health Department: all three methods were the direct result of Meaningful Use legislation. Key words: county health department; health information exchange; meaningful use, syndromic surveillance
Induction of 15-Lipoxygenase Expression by IL-13 Requires Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Jak2 and Tyk2 in Human Monocytes

The enzyme 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) participates in the dioxygenation of polyenoic fatty acids. This activity leads to the degradation of mitochondrial membranes during reticulocyte differentiation, the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators by a variety of cell types, and the oxidation of lipids in atherosclerotic lesions. The cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, are reported to induce the expression of 15-LO in human peripheral blood monocytes. In this report we explore the signaling mechanisms involved in the IL-13-mediated induction of 15-LO expression. First we demonstrate that the delayed induction of 15-LO requires continuous stimulation of monocytes for a minimum period of 12 h. We also found that tyrosine kinase inhibitors blocked the induction of 15-LO in a dose-dependent manner. By immunoprecipitation and antiphosphotyrosine blotting experiments, IL-13 was shown to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Jak2 and Tyk2, but not Jak1 or Jak3, within 5 min of treatment in human monocytes. To investigate whether the early induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of both Jak2 and Tyk2 was ultimately involved in 15-LO expression, we generated antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) against Tyk2 and Jak2. We employed a cationic lipid-mediated delivery technique to transfect the monocytes and found that both antisense ODNs inhibited expression of their target proteins by 75–85%. The treatments were specific and did not affect the expression of each other. Furthermore, the antisense ODNs to Jak2 and Tyk2 both inhibited the induction of expression of 15-LO in monocytes treated with IL-13. Parallel experiments with sense ODNs to Jak2 and Tyk2 did not affect their protein levels or the induction of 15-LO by IL-13, and down-regulation of Jak1 also did not affect expression of 15-LO. Our results suggest the novel finding that IL-13 can induce tyrosine phosphorylation of both Jak2 and Tyk2 in primary human monocytes. This occurs as an early and essential signal transduction event for the IL-13-mediated induction of 15-LO expression. These data represent the first characterization of upstream kinases involved in the induced expression of 15-LO.
Matrix Gla protein C-terminal region binds to vitronectin. Co-localization suggests binding occurs during tissue development.

Abstract Matrix Gla protein (MGP) regulates calcification in cartilage and arteries. MGP synthesis during embryonic development and its binding and regulation of growth factors and morphogens of the TGF-beta/BMP superfamily suggests that it has additional functions. Assay by far-western gel overlays and gel filtration shift shows MGP binds vitronectin. Binding is saturable and consistent with a single class of binding sites. MGP binds to vitronectin but not collagen, fibromodulin, heparin, osteocalcin, chondroitin sulfate, laminin, ovalbumin or albumin. We have identified a vitronectin binding site within a 17-amino acid peptide 61–77 near the carboxyl-terminus that corresponds to a naturally occurring MGP C-terminus. MGP and the 61–77 MGP peptide also binds to fibronectin. MGP and vitronectin are focally co-localized in embryonic tissues. Co-localization in vivo suggests that the MGP and vitronectin interactions may modify cell–matrix interactions. Alternatively, vitronectin-bound MGP may have altered function for modulating BMP2 or TGF-β activity. The current study demonstrates that MGP has a novel binding activity for vitronectin, an extracellular protein that promotes cell–matrix interactions and regulates coagulation.
Glucagon Receptor–Mediated Extracellular Signal–Regulated Kinase 1/2 Phosphorylation in Rat Mesangial Cells: Role of Protein Kinase A and Phospholipase C

Glucagon, a major insulin counterregulatory hormone, binds to specific Gs protein-coupled receptors to activate glycogenolytic and gluconeogenic pathways, causing blood glucose levels to increase. Inappropriate increases in serum glucagon play a critical role in the development of insulin resistance and target organ damage in type 2 diabetes. We tested the hypotheses that: (1) glucagon induces proliferation of rat glomerular mesangial cells through glucagon receptor-activated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK 1/2); and (2) this phosphorylation involves activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) and phospholipase C (PLC)/[Ca2+]i signaling pathways. In rat mesangial cells, glucagon (1 nM) stimulated [3H]-thymidine incorporation by 96% (P<0.01). This proliferative effect was blocked by the specific glucagon receptor antagonist [Des-His1-Glu9] glucagon (1 micromol/L; P<0.01), a mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase inhibitor PD98059 (10 micromol/L; P<0.01), a PLC inhibitor U73122 (1 micromol/L; P<0.01), or a PKA inhibitor H-89 (1 micromol/L; P<0.01). The proliferation was associated with a 2-fold increase in p-ERK 1/2 that peaked 5 minutes after glucagon stimulation (P<0.01) and also was blocked by [Des-His1-Glu9] glucagon. Total ERK 1/2 was not affected by glucagon. Pretreating of mesangial cells with U73122 or H89 significantly attenuated ERK 1/2 phosphorylation induced by glucagon. We believe that these are the first data showing that glucagon activates specific receptors to induce ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and thereby increase mesangial cell proliferation and that this effect of glucagon involves both PLC/[Ca2+]i- and cAMP-dependent PKA-activated signaling cascades.
Order or not: does parallelization of model building in hBOA affect its scalability?

It has been shown that model building in the hierarchical Bayesian optimization algorithm (hBOA) can be efficiently parallelized by randomly generating an ancestral ordering of the nodes of the network prior to learning the network structure and allowing only dependencies consistent with the generated ordering. However, it has not been thoroughly shown that this approach to restricting probabilistic models does not affect scalability of hBOA on important classes of problems. This paper demonstrates that although the use of a random ancestral ordering restricts the structure of considered models to allow efficient parallelization of model building, its effects on hBOA performance and scalability are negligible.
Niche conservatism along an onshore-offshore gradient

Abstract Niche conservatism is increasingly recognized in diverse modern ecological settings, and it influences many aspects of modern ecosystems, including speciation mechanisms, community structure, and response to climate change. Here, we investigate the stability of niches with benthic marine invertebrates along a Late Ordovician onshore-offshore gradient on the Cincinnati Arch in the eastern United States. Using a Gaussian niche model characterized by peak abundance, preferred environment, and environmental tolerance, with these parameters estimated through weighted averaging and logistic regression, we find evidence of strong niche conservatism in peak abundance and preferred environment, particularly for abundant taxa. This conservatism is maintained in successive depositional sequences and through the nearly 9–10 Myr study interval. Environmental tolerance shows no evidence of conservatism, although numerical simulations suggest that the error rates in estimates of this parameter are so high that ...
Impact of a mass media campaign on bed net use in Cameroon

In 2011, Cameroon and its health partners distributed over eight million free long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) in an effort to reduce the significant morbidity and mortality burden of malaria in the country. A national communications campaign was launched in July 2011 to ensure that as the nets were delivered, they would be used consistently to close a net use gap: only 51.6% of adults and 63.4% of their children in households with at least one net were sleeping under nets before the distribution. Even in households with at least one net for every two people, over 35% of adults were not sleeping under a net. Malaria No More (MNM) adapted its signature NightWatch communications programme to fit within the coordinated “KO Palu” (Knock Out Malaria) national campaign. This study evaluates the impact of KO Palu NightWatch activities (that is, the subset of KO Palu-branded communications that were funded by MNM’s NightWatch program) on bed net use. Using national survey data collected at baseline (in March/April 2011, before the national LLIN distribution and KO Palu NightWatch launch) and post-intervention (March/April 2012), this study evaluates the impact of exposure to KO Palu NightWatch activities on last-night net use by Cameroonian adults and their children under five. First, a plausible case for causality was established by comparing net use in 2011 and 2012 and measuring exposure to KO Palu NightWatch; next, a propensity score matching (PSM) model was used to estimate the impact of exposure on net use by simulating a randomized control trial; finally, the model was tested for sensitivity to unmeasured factors. The PSM model estimated that among Cameroonians with at least one net in their household, exposure to KO Palu NightWatch activities was associated with a 6.6 percentage point increase in last-night net use among respondents (65.7% vs 59.1%, p < 0.05) and a 12.0 percentage point increase in last-night net use among respondents’ children under five (79.6% vs 67.6%, p < 0.025). Sensitivity analysis suggests only a very small risk of bias from omitted factors influencing exposure and net use. Extrapolating the results of the PSM model to the population of Cameroonians with access to at least one mosquito net, this analysis estimates that approximately 298,000 adults and over 221,000 of their children under five slept under a bed net because of the knowledge, motivation, and/or timely reminder provided by KO Palu NightWatch activities. The programme cost less than $0.16 per adult reached, and less than $1.62 per additional person protected by a net. The results suggest a strong role for mass media communication interventions in support of investments in malaria control commodities such as LLINs.
Proteomic analysis of a eukaryotic cilium

Cilia and flagella are widespread cell organelles that have been highly conserved throughout evolution and play important roles in motility, sensory perception, and the life cycles of eukaryotes ranging from protists to humans. Despite the ubiquity and importance of these organelles, their composition is not well known. Here we use mass spectrometry to identify proteins in purified flagella from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. 360 proteins were identified with high confidence, and 292 more with moderate confidence. 97 out of 101 previously known flagellar proteins were found, indicating that this is a very complete dataset. The flagellar proteome is rich in motor and signal transduction components, and contains numerous proteins with homologues associated with diseases such as cystic kidney disease, male sterility, and hydrocephalus in humans and model vertebrates. The flagellum also contains many proteins that are conserved in humans but have not been previously characterized in any organism. The results indicate that flagella are far more complex than previously estimated.
The Profanation of Revelation: On Language and Immanence in the Work of Giorgio Agamben

AbstractThis essay seeks to articulate the many implications which Giorgio Agamben's work holds for theology. It aims, therefore, to examine his (re)conceptualizations of language in light of particular historical glosses on the “name of God” and the nature of the “mystical,” as well as to highlight the political task of profanation, one of his most central concepts, in relation to the logos said to embody humanity's “religious” quest to find its Voice. As such, we see how he challenges those standard (ontotheological) notions of transcendence which have been consistently aligned with various historical forms of sovereignty. In addition, I intend to present his redefinition of revelation as solely the unveiling of the “name of God” as the fact of our linguistic being, a movement from the transcendent divine realm to the merely human world before us. By proceeding in this manner, this essay tries to close in on one of the largest theological implications contained within Agamben's work: the establishment o...
Modulation of Transcription mediated by the Vitamin D Receptor and the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor δ in the presence of GW0742 analogs

Herein we describe the evaluation of GW0742 analogs in respect to their ability to modulate transcription mediated by the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) and the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)δ. The GW0742 analog bearing carboxylic ester functionality in place of the carboxylic acid was partially activating both nuclear receptors at low concentration and inhibited transcription at higher compound concentrations. The GW0742 alcohol derivative was more active than the ester in respect to VDR but less active in regard to PPARδ. Importantly, the alcohol derivative was significantly more toxic than the corresponding acid and ester.
IES TM-30-15 Is Approved—Now What?

Address correspondence to Michael P. Royer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 620 SW 5th Ave., Suite 810, Portland, OR 97204, USA. E-mail: michael.royer@pnnl.gov
chapter 8 Mock Stereo

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the definition and scope of mock stereo. A mock-stereo display is one that generates depth perception from parallax information arising from sources other than a shift of vantage point. Such displays have at times proved effective in various fields of study including electron microscopy and therefore it is interesting to examine the conditions under which such displays can prove advantageous. Mock-stereo displays can include before-and-after pictures of a scene in which some details have become shifted by motion or distortion of objects and comparisons to establish identity or equivalence of objects in two scenes. A criterion for selecting types of images as candidates for mock-stereo treatment is that this method should offer advantages over other modes of display in enhancing recognizability of features. Mock-stereo methods gain another advantage when one wishes to display two different types of disparities in an image pair simultaneously to the observer. One of the types can be assigned to the mock-stereo channel by displaying it as horizontal parallax, and the other.
An Overview of Taxation in the United States

This technical note provides a brief overview of tax planning, the U.S. tax system, and basic U.S. tax law attributable to fundamental business decisions in a corporation’s life.
The Organization of Substance Abuse Managed Care

Managed care came to dominate the delivery of substance abuse services during the 1990s. This paper uses literature and new data to describe and analyze the set of arrangements it implies. The description suggests that substance abuse managed care typically is “carved out” of the general health care plan and treatment is coordinated by a behavioral health managed care company that manages treatment access, length, type, and intensity. This administrative agent is provided financial incentives to keep costs low and otherwise faces such mandates as to ensure timely access to treatment and to deliver reports. A typical agent has some interest in improving the quality of decision-making, but has few incentives for controlling the treatment technology. In contrast, agents tend to control treatment providers through relatively rigid rules that substitute outpatient for inpatient care, regulate the length and intensity of services, provide limited social services, mandate accreditation, allow limite d clinician discretion, administer an entire “network” of providers as an only slightly differentiated mass, and rarely shape the details of the treatment process. These patterns are analyzed in terms of transaction cost economics and institutional and resource dependency theories. In general, it is argued that managed care reflects an interest in controlling costs but also in ensuring access within an environment where there is uncertainty accompanying competing demands, varying conceptions of the client, and controversies over the efficacy of specific treatment technologies.
Physician-assisted suicide--Michigan's temporary solution.

Lewis Thomas has noted that doctors “are as frightened and bewildered by the act of death as everyone else”1. “Death is shocking, dismaying, even terrifying,” Thomas has written. “A dying patient i...
Abstract P3-12-13: Radiation enhancement with cysteine coated platinum nanoparticles

Background: Radiation is the current choice treatment for non-operable metastatic breast-brain cancer. When cancer lesions are located in sensitive areas like the brain or have excessive amounts of metastatic sites, radiation usually proves to be a more viable option than excision. Ionizing (X-ray and gamma) radiation is non-selective and affects all the tissue it penetrates. In order to concentrate the dose on tumors, high energy radiation from multiple directions is typically used, reaching the highest dose where the radiation crosses. This type of multiple angle treatment minimizes the dose to normal tissue by increasing overall normal tissue irradiation. The objective is to achieve sufficient radiation in the tumor tissue to cause the DNA strands to break and to disrupt the reproduction and maintenance of cancer cells while keeping the damage to normal tissue in a reasonable range for tissue preservation. Metal nanoparticles have shown promising results for reinforcing the radiation dose effect. High atomic number (Z) elements absorb a greater amount of radiation because the higher density raises the probability of interaction. The metal nanoparticles interact with the energy of the ionizing radiation by either scattering or absorbing, or accumulating the energy, thus increasing the number of DNA strand breaks in the nucleus of cells. Methods: Four breast cancer cell lines (BT-474, MDA-231, BT-549 and MCF-7) were incubated with 1-2 nm platinum nanoparticles (0-1000 μg/mL) produced with a cysteine coating. 24 hours later cells were exposed to 2 Gy radiation with a C-arm (Toshiba Infinix VF-i/SP) using 125 KV P to deliver a spectrum of KeV low energy X-rays. After 24 hours the cells were washed and analyzed using a bioluminescence assay to assess cell proliferation based on ATP production. Results: Of the four cell lines tested the BT-474 and BT-549 demonstrated limited reduction in cell proliferation at up to the highest treatment concentration 1000 μg/mL with no radiation exposure. As a result of the limited toxicity of the platinum nanoparticles the effect from increased radiation can be more readily observe when 2 Gy radiation is added resulting a in platinum nanoparticle dose dependent decrease in proliferation in the BT-474 cell line. Conclusions: At moderate doses of low energy radiation, a reduction in cell proliferation can be detected. This data supports follow-up experiments to add a targeting protein to facilitate uptake by cancer cells based on cell receptor expression. Experiments are current being done to utilize the HER2 + cell receptor upregulation to increase internalization of the particles to achieve a greater effect. Citation Format: Wagner S, Yue Y, Cui X, Zhang G, Bingchen H, Li D, Medina-Kauwe L. Radiation enhancement with cysteine coated platinum nanoparticles. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-12-13.