cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation of a local tissue angiotensin system in podocytes by mechanical strain

Activation of a local tissue angiotensin system in podocytes by mechanical strain. Background Glomerular capillary hypertension, a common denominator in various forms of progressive glomerular disease, results in mechanical distention of the capillary tuft, and subsequent injury of the overlying podocyte layer. The mechanisms by which elevated intraglomerular pressure is translated into a maladaptive podocyte response remain poorly understood. Angiotensin II plays a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic renal injury, largely through its actions on the subtype 1 receptor. Accordingly, we have tested the hypothesis that mechanical strain up-regulates local angiotensin II in podocytes, thereby resulting in a progressive reduction in podocyte number. Methods Conditionally immortalized mouse podocytes were subjected to cyclical stretch of 10% amplitude. Nonstretched podocytes served as controls. Angiotensin II levels were measured in whole cell lysate by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of angiotensin II receptors (AT 1 R, AT 2 R) was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analysis. Apoptosis was measured by Hoechst staining. Immunostaining for AT 1 R was performed in tissue sections from rats with 5/6 remnant kidney disease, a model of glomerular hypertension. Results Mechanical strain increased angiotensin II production in podocytes at 24, 48, and 72hours ( P 1 R mRNA expression at 24hours and a twofold increase in protein levels vs. controls ( P 1 R staining was increased in a podocyte distribution in the 5/6 remnant kidney, consistent with our in vitro findings. Mechanical strain resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in apoptosis ( P Conclusion Mechanical strain leads to up-regulation of the AT 1 R and increased angiotensin II production in conditionally immortalized podocytes. The resulting activation of a local tissue angiotensin system leads to an increase in podocyte apoptosis, mainly in an AT 1 R-mediated fashion.
L'hoˆpital's rule in a Poisson derivation

(1988). L'Hopital's Rule in a Poisson Derivation. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 95, No. 3, pp. 253-254.
Stabilization of mRNA templates in bovine lens epithelial cells

Abstract Through the use of actinomycin D, it has been shown that the half-life of α-, β- and γ-crystallin mRNA in bovine lens epithelium increases with lens age. Crystallin synthesis in epithelial cells from embryonic lenses was potently inhibited by actinomycin D; the synthesis of these same proteins in adult lens epithelial cells was not affected. In both cases, all RNA synthesis was completely turned off by the antibiotic. Since the mitotic index of epithelial cells in embryonic lenses is much greater than that of the adult epithelial cells, our results indicate that stabilization of the protein-synthesizing templates found in adult epithelial cells may be related to the decreased replicative activity of these cells.
Food restriction affects the maternal behavior provided by female meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Many female small mammals face limited food availability during lactation. These dams may have to choose between altering the amount of maternal behavior they provide to their young, reducing the size of their litter, or not adjusting their behavior or litter size. How females allocate energy to maternal investment may depend on the energy costs of different lactation stages. We hypothesized that the amount of time female voles provided maternal behavior would differ if they were deprived of food during early, middle, or late lactation. We tested this hypothesis by placing lactating female meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) into 1 of 4 groups: dams that underwent a 30% caloric restriction during days 1–7 of lactation, those that were food restricted on days 8– 14, those that were food restricted on days 15–21, and dams that did not undergo food restriction during lactation. Dams that were not food restricted spent more time engaged in maternal behavior than dams that were food restricted during lactation. Dams that were food restricted during days 8–14 of lactation displayed the most pronounced decline in maternal behavior relative to dams that were restricted during days 1–7 or days 15–21 of lactation. This effect was most dramatic in the amount of time that dams spent licking their pups. Reduced licking of pups may affect the mother–pup bond, inducing pups to possibly develop deficits in their social and sexual behavior as adults. The results also suggest that when they are faced with a food shortage, particularly during the 1st week of lactation, lactating female meadow voles do not reduce the size of their litter but do show a decrease in maternal behavior toward pups.
Reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior by drug-associated discriminative stimuli after prolonged extinction in the rat.

Clinical observations suggest that stimuli associated with the availability or consumption of ethanol can evoke subjective feelings of craving and trigger episodes of relapse in abstinent alcoholics. To study the motivational significance of alcohol-related environmental cues experimentally, the effects of discriminative stimuli previously predictive of alcohol availability on the reinstatement of ethanol-seeking behavior were examined. Wistar rats were trained to lever-press for 10% (w/v) ethanol or water in the presence of distinct auditory cues. The rats were then subjected to an extinction phase where lever presses had no scheduled consequences. After extinction, the animals were exposed to the respective auditory cues without the availability of ethanol or water. Neither the ethanol (SA+) nor water-associated (SA−) auditory cue increased responding over extinction levels. In contrast, subsequent presentation of an olfactory cue associated with ethanol (SO+), but not a water-associated (SO−) cue significantly reinstated lever pressing behavior in the absence of the primary reinforcer. Moreover, responding elicited by the concurrent presentation of the SO+ and SA+ was selectively attenuated by the opiate antagonist naltrexone (0.25 mg/kg; sc). The results suggest that ethanol-associated cues can reinstate extinguished ethanol-seeking behavior in rats, but that the efficacy of these stimuli may be modality-specific. In addition, the present procedures may be useful for studying neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol-seeking behavior and relapse.
Using Lagrangian Coherent Structures to understand coastal water quality

Abstract The accumulation of pollutants near the shoreline can result in low quality coastal water with negative effects on human health. To understand the role of mixing by tidal flows in coastal water quality we study the nearshore Lagrangian circulation. Specifically, we reveal Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCSs), i.e., distinguished material curves which shape global mixing patterns and thus act as skeletons of the Lagrangian circulation. This is done using the recently developed geodesic theory of transport barriers. Particular focus is placed on Hobie Beach, a recreational subtropical marine beach located in Virginia Key, Miami, Florida. According to studies of water quality, Hobie Beach is characterized by high microbial levels. Possible sources of pollution in Hobie Beach include human bather shedding, dog fecal matter, runoff, and sand efflux at high tides. Consistent with the patterns formed by satellite-tracked drifter trajectories, the LCSs extracted from simulated currents reveal a Lagrangian circulation favoring the retention near the shoreline of pollutants released along the shoreline, which can help explain the low quality water registered at Hobie Beach.
k-k routing, k-k sorting, and cut-through routing on the mesh

Abstract In this paper we present randomized algorithms for k-k routing, k-k sorting, and cut-through routing on an n × n mesh connected computer (referred to simply as the mesh). The stated resource bounds hold with high probability. The algorithm for k-k routing runs in ( k /2) n + o ( kn ) steps. We also show that k-k sorting can be accomplished within ( k /2) n + 2 n + o ( kn ) steps, and cut through routing can be done in kn /2 + (3/2) n + o ( kn ) steps. kn /2 is a known lower bound for all three problems (which is the bisection bound), and hence our algorithms are very nearly optimal. All the above-mentioned algorithms have optimal queue length. These algorithms also extend to higher-dimensional meshes.
Urea volume of distribution exceeds total body water in patients with acute renal failure

Urea volume of distribution exceeds total body water in patients with acute renal failure. Background An accurate estimate of volume of distribution of urea (V urea ) is critically important to guide the prescription of therapy and the quantification of delivered dialysis dose in patients with chronic and acute renal failure (ARF). While V urea has been shown to be substantially the same as total body water (TBW) in other patient populations, this relationship has not been adequately studied in detail in ARF patients. Methods To evaluate this question, we undertook a systematic study of these parameters in a cohort of 28 patients with ARF to analyze methods of estimating V urea and TBW using blood-based kinetic data, anthropometric data and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Results The results show that V urea estimated by double-pool Kt/V (67.9 ± 19.2 L) and by equilibrated Kt/V (61.2 ± 13.6 L) were statistically significantly higher than V urea determined by single-pool Kt/V (55.3 ± 12.9 L; difference of 16% and 11%, respectively). Determination of TBW by anthropometric measurements (Watson, 42.5 ± 7.0 L; Hume-Weyer, 43.6 ± 7.1 L; Chertow, 46.8 ± 8.1 L) yielded significantly lower measures compared to TBW determined by physiological formulae and by BIA (51.1 ± 11.6L and 51.1 ± 13.3 L, respectively). Most importantly, all measures of V urea by blood-based kinetics exceeded TBW measurements by any method (7% to 50% difference). Conclusion Our results suggest that in terms of useful guidelines to prescribe a specific dose of dialysis in patients with acute renal failure, estimates of TBW cannot be used as a surrogate for V urea in determining dialysis adequacy.
Clinical signs and symptoms predicting influenza infection.

Background: New antiviral drugs are available for the treatment of influenza type A and type B infections. In clinical practice, antiviral use has rarely been guided by antecedent laboratory diagnosis. Defined clinical predictors of an influenza infection can help guide timely therapy and avoid unnecessary antibiotic use. Objective: To examine which clinical signs and symptoms are most predictive of influenza infection in patients with influenzalike illness using a large data set derived from clinical trials of zanamivir. Methods: This analysis is a retrospective, pooled analysis of baseline signs and symptoms from phase 2 and 3 clinical trial participants. It was conducted in mainly unvaccinated (mean age, 35 years) adults and adolescents who had influenzalike illness, defined as having fever or feverishness plus at least 2 of the following influenzalike symptoms: headache, myalgia, cough, or sore throat who underwent laboratory testing for influenza. Clinical signs and symptoms were evaluated in statistical models to identify those best predicting laboratory confirmation of influenza. Results: Of 3744 subjects enrolled with baseline influenzalike symptoms, and included in this analysis, 2470 (66%) were confirmed to have influenza. Individuals with influenza were more likely to have cough (93% vs 80%), fever (68% vs 40%), cough and fever together (64% vs 33%), and/or nasal congestion (91% vs 81%) than those without influenza. The best multivariate predictors of influenza infections were cough and fever with a positive predictive value of 79% (P,.001). The positive predictive value rose with the increase in the temperature at the time of recruitment. Conclusion: When influenza is circulating within the community, patients with an influenzalike illness who have both cough and fever within 48 hours of symptom onset are likely to have influenza and the administration of influenza antiviral therapy may be appropriate to consider. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:3243-3247
Attracting foreign direct investment the Chilean government's role promoting renewable energy

The development and implementation of renewable energy power plants is important for Chile in order to increase energy security, supply remote mines with electricity, and eventually decrease energy costs. The Chilean government has promoted renewable energy and attracted Foreign Direct Investment FDI) to develop large-scale renewable energy projects. However, the policies cannot sufficiently attract FDI in unproven renewable energies such as Concentrated Solar Power, though it is proven elsewhere. This paper examines the Chilean government's renewable energy policies and investigates potential pitfalls of early to mid-stage capital for the renewable energy industry. Recommendations include linking the mining industry to the large-scale renewable energy industry in order to drive innovation and investment. A renewable energy technopole, or innovation center, should be established to link academia with private enterprise and government policy. Data for this research was acquired through in-person interviews with officials from CORFO (Economic Development Agency) and CER (Center for Renewable Energy) in Santiago, Chile, in June 2012.
Archie Cochrane and his vision for evidence-based medicine

Archibald (Archie) Cochrane's most influential mark on health care was his 1971 publication, Effectiveness and Efficiency. This book strongly criticized the lack of reliable evidence behind many of the commonly accepted health care interventions at the time. His criticisms spurred rigorous evaluations of health care interventions and highlighted the need for evidence in medicine. His call for a collection of systematic reviews led to the creation of The Cochrane Collaboration. Archie Cochrane was a visionary person who helped lay down much of the foundation for evidence-based medicine. This article introduces evidence-based medicine to plastic surgery by tracing its history to the seminal efforts by Archie Cochrane.
Revisiting the Cold ILC Parameters

Discussions are currently underway to re-examine the parameters of the cold ILC. Using the TESLA parameters MathCad program developed in 1991 [1], I examined several variations to explore consequences to the capital and operating costs of the linac (cryomodules, RF & refrigeratorn only). The cost coefficients were chosen to match the distribution of the above items in the TESLA TDR at a gradient of 25 MV/m. One parameter to vary is the gradient from 25 to 50 MV/m coupled with a realistic Q (which falls with gradient) as well as with an optimistic Q (held constant at 1010). Other parameters to vary are: number of bunches, bunch spacing, and repetition rate to decrease costs and separately to decrease the damping ring size.
Sign determination of dipolar couplings in field-oriented bicelles by variable angle sample spinning (VASS).

Residual dipolar couplings are being increasingly used as structural constraints for NMR studies of biomolecules. A problem arises when dipolar coupling contributions are larger than scalar contributions for a given spin pair, as is commonly observed in solid state NMR studies, in that signs of dipolar couplings cannot easily be determined. Here the sign ambiguities of dipolar couplings in field-oriented bicelles are resolved by variable angle sample spinning (VASS) techniques. The director behavior of field-oriented bicelles (DMPC/DHPC, DMPC/CHAPSO) in VASS is studied by 31P NMR. A stable configuration occurs when the spinning angle is smaller than the magic angle, 54.7°, and the director (or bicelle normal) of the disks is mainly distributed in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis. Since the dipolar couplings depend on how the bicelles are oriented with respect to the magnetic field, it is shown that the dipolar interaction can be scaled to the same order as the J-coupling by moving the spinning axis from 0° toward 54.7°. Thus the relative sign of dipolar and scalar couplings can be determined.
Saturation mutagenesis of 2,4-DNT dioxygenase of Burkholderia sp. strain DNT for enhanced dinitrotoluene degradation.

Dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) and 2,6-DNT are priority pollutants, and 2,4-DNT dioxygenase of Burkhol- deriasp.strainDNT(DDO)catalyzestheinitialoxidationof 2,4-DNT to form 4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol and nitrite but has significantly less activity on other dinitrotoluenes and nitrotoluenes (NT). Hence, oxidation of 2,3-DNT, 2,4- DNT, 2,5-DNT, 2,6-DNT, 2NT, and 4NT were enhanced here by performing saturation mutagenesis on codon I204 of the a subunit (DntAc) of DDO and by using a membrane agar plate assay to detect catechol formation. Rates of degradation were quantified both by the forma- tion of nitrite and by the formation of the intermedi- ates with high performance liquid chromatography. The degradation of both 2,3-DNT and 2,5-DNT were achieved for the first time (no detectable activity with the wild- type enzyme) using whole Escherichia coli TG1 cells expressing DDO variants DntAc I204L and I204Y (0.70 � 0.03 and 0.22 � 0.02 nmol/min/mg protein for 2,5-DNT transformation, respectively). DDO DntAc variant I204L also transformed both 2,6-DNT and 2,4-DNT 2-fold faster than wild-type DDO (0.8 � 0.6 nmol/min/mg protein and 4.7 � 0.5 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively). Moreover, the activities of DDO for 2NT and 4NT were also enhanced 3.5-fold and 8-fold, respectively. Further, DntAc variant I204Ywasalsodiscoveredwithcomparablerateenhance- ments for the substrates 2,4-DNT, 2,6-DNT, and 2NT but not 4NT. Sequencing information obtained during this study indicated that the 2,4-DNT dioxygenases of Burkholderia sp. strain DNT and B. cepacia R34 are more closely related than originally reported. This is the first report of engineering an enzyme for enhanced degrada- tion of nitroaromatic compounds and the first report of degrading 2,5-DNT. 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison and analysis of phase noise in ring oscillators

Voltage-controlled oscillators are widely used circuit blocks, particularly in phase-locked loops. As CMOS is the technology of choice for many applications, CMOS oscillators with low phase noise and timing jitter are highly desired. CMOS ring oscillators with five different delay cell topologies have been designed, fabricated and evaluated for phase noise performance. Our results show that ring oscillators with linear loads provide much better phase noise performance than oscillators with nonlinear loads. We also observe that well designed single-ended oscillators have phase noise that is on par or better than oscillators with fully differential delay stages. Both our analysis and measurement results suggest that large signal voltage swing and improved linearity of the delay cells help reduce oscillator phase noise.
Specificity and Mobility of Biomacromolecular, Multivalent Constructs for Cellular Targeting

Effective targeting of drugs to cells requires that the drug reach the target cell and interact specifically with it. In this study we synthesized a biomacromolecular, multivalent construct intended to target glioblastoma tumors. The construct was created by linking three dodecapeptides, reported to bind the α6β1 integrin, with poly(ethylene glycol) linkers. The construct is intended to be delivered locally, and it demonstrates a more homogenous and more rapid perfusion profile in comparison with quantum dots. The binding specificity of the construct was investigated using glioblastoma cells and normal human astrocyte cells. The results reveal qualitative differences in binding between glioma and normal human astrocyte cells, with a moderate increase in binding avidity due to multivalency (0.79 μM for the trivalent construct versus 4.28 μM for the dodecapeptide). Overall, biomacromolecular constructs appear to be a promising approach for targeting with high biocompatibility, good perfusion abilities, and specificity.
Epistemologically Authentic Inquiry in Schools: A Theoretical Framework for Evaluating Inquiry Tasks

A main goal of science education is to help students learn to reason scien- tifically. A main way to facilitate learning is to engage students in inquiry activities such as conducting experiments. This article presents a theoretical framework for evaluating inquiry tasks in terms of how similar they are to authentic science. The framework helps identify the respects in which these reasoning tasks are similar to and different from real scientific research. The framework is based on a recent theory of reasoning, models-of-data theory. We argue that inquiry tasks commonly used in schools evoke reasoning processes that are qualitatively different from the processes employed in real scientific inquiry. More- over, school reasoning tasks appear to be based on an epistemology that differs from the epistemology of authentic science. Inquiry tasks developed by researchers have increas- ingly captured features of authentic science, but further improvement is still possible. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our analysis for research, assessment, and instruction. C
Arsenic Inhibits Autophagic Flux, Activating the Nrf2-Keap1 Pathway in a p62-Dependent Manner

The Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway is a protective mechanism promoting cell survival. Activation of the Nrf2 pathway by natural compounds has been proven to be an effective strategy for chemoprevention. Interestingly, a cancer-promoting function of Nrf2 has recently been observed in many types of tumors due to deregulation of the Nrf2-Keap1 axis, which leads to constitutive activation of Nrf2. Here, we report a novel mechanism of Nrf2 activation by arsenic that is distinct from that of chemopreventive compounds. Arsenic deregulates the autophagic pathway through blockage of autophagic flux, resulting in accumulation of autophagosomes and sequestration of p62, Keap1, and LC3. Thus, arsenic activates Nrf2 through a noncanonical mechanism (p62 dependent), leading to a chronic, sustained activation of Nrf2. In contrast, activation of Nrf2 by sulforaphane (SF) and tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) depends upon Keap1-C151 and not p62 (the canonical mechanism). More importantly, SF and tBHQ do not have any effect on autophagy. In fact, SF and tBHQ alleviate arsenic-mediated deregulation of autophagy. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that arsenic causes prolonged activation of Nrf2 through autophagy dysfunction, possibly providing a scenario similar to that of constitutive activation of Nrf2 found in certain human cancers. This may represent a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying arsenic toxicity and carcinogenicity in humans.
Modeling total quality elements into a strategy-oriented simulation

This article reviews the rudiments of total quality management (TQM) and describes algorithms for integrating many of the key elements into a strategy-oriented simulation. Specifically, the modeling of three key TQM components is described in detail These include: (a) an increased focus on customer need and satisfaction; which involves altering the demand equation in the model to include product failures and developing a quality-focused customer survey; (b) continuous improvement and process capability modeling, which entails integrating quality prevention activities, statistical quality control procedures, and Taguchi loss function into the model; and (c) adding competitive benchmarking options in which teams can assess who is "best" in the industry and use this information to aid in goal-setting and continuous improvement activities.
Controllability and properties of optimal paths for a differential drive robot with field-of-view constraints

This work presents the proof of controllability for a differential drive robot that maintains visibility of a landmark. The robot has limited sensing capabilities (angle of view). We also present properties of optimal paths for this system
Sharing the load

In this article, we discussed the use of various spatial tessellations to determine, in the framework of partitioning policies, optimal workload share in a mobile robotic network. We also proposed efficient and spatially distributed algorithms for achieving some of these tessellations with minimum or no communication between the agents. Because of space limitations, we have not reported results of numerical experiments in this article but provided bibliographic references to publications containing such results and further details. It is interesting to note that these tessellations appear while considering different variations of the same basic problem (DTRP). It is then natural to investigate the existence of a single objective function, whose optima correspond to the various tessellations under these different variations. The game theory approach seems to be a promising one.
HER-2/neu gene amplification in breast imprint cytology analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization: direct comparison with companion tissue sections.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a validated method for detection of HER-2/neu gene amplification and was recently approved by the FDA for diagnostic use in paraffin-embedded tissue. Its use in cytologic specimens, however, has not been investigated. To see whether HER-2/neu gene amplification is detectable in cytologic specimens, we examined touch imprints and corresponding tissue sections of 27 breast carcinomas (20 invasive and 7 in situ) and 3 atypical epithelial hyperplastic lesions, using the FISH technique with the HER-2/neu DNA probe kit (Vysis, Inc., Downers Grove, IL). HER-2/neu gene amplification was determined, using the ratio of HER-2/neu:CEP 17 signal counts; a ratio of 2.0 or greater was considered amplified. Successful hybridization occurred in 55/60 (92%) slides. In all cases, at least one of the paired slides was adequate for evaluation. Whole-cell imprint and tissue section slides yielded comparable HER-2/neu:CEP 17 signal counts and ratios, including one case of low-level HER-2/neu gene copy numbers where the ratio was 2.0. Our findings indicate that whole-cell imprint cytology preparations are a reliable medium for HER-2/neu gene quantification by FISH, and may substitute for or complement tissue section analysis.
Who is the “public” when you make teaching public? Conceptions of audience in the scholarship of teaching and learning

This article considers how SoTL practitioners have addressed three types of audiences: personal, administrative, and discipline-based. The analysis draws on narrative data from a collaborative SoTL project at a community college. The findings are discussed in relation to broader trends across institutions and disciplines. It is argued that investigators should take into account the audience's epistemology of teaching. This approach helps investigators to enter into the professional discourse of that audience. Five strategies are offered to help SoTL practitioners communicate effectively with audiences outside of their professional area.
Current Approaches to Medieval Historiography

In recent decades a variety of approaches have been adopted to wring as much meaning as possible out of medieval chronicles and narrative histories. Moving past the use of these texts merely as source material to reconstruct the history of the Middle Ages, scholars have begun to focus to an increasing extent on topics such as authorial intention, social and political function, audience, and textual transmission. This essay charts the development of new approaches to medieval historiography, focusing on: 1) the analysis of fictional elements in history; 2) the relationship between politics and history; and 3) the return to manuscripts as primary sites of historical communication.
Pressure-temperature effects on the form-stability and movements of Euglena gracilis var. Z.

The phytoflagellate, Euglena gracilis var Z, maintained in a chemically defined culture medium, was subjected to various high hydrostatic pressures (10,000–15,000 psi) at various temperatures (15° 20° and 25°C). The effects on form stability, locomotion, euglenoid movement and flagellatory activity were observed at various times after the application of pressure. The pressure-temperature relations of form stability clearly show that the supporting gel structures of the cell, presumably the peripheral gelated cytoplasm and the pellicle, may be identified as Type II systems in the Freundlich classification, since they undergo solational weakening with increasing pressure and with decreasing temperature. The gelational state of these structures appears to be unusually high, however, since at each given temperature, an usually high intensity of pressure is required to produce an observable loss of stability, i.e. a rounding up of the normally elongate cells. Flagellatory movement continued even at the highest pressure, but locomotion was abolished in all rounded and partly rounded individuals. Euglenoid movement ceased at relatively lower pressure (about 10,000 psi). The rounding of the euglena, even at maximum pressures, was not accompanied by any cytolysis. In this respect, euglena resembles amoeba and other sarcodinans, rather than paramecium and other ciliates. Euglena exhibited a rapid transient post-pressure contraction, similar to that which has been described in several other protistan forms. No irreversible changes were observed. Normal form and activity reappeared in almost all specimens within about five minutes, subsequent to decompression.
Studies of adenosine and dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphoric acid on the isolated fat cell.

The action of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (c-AMP) and N6, O2'-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (dc- AMP) was studied in isolated rat adipocytes using parameters of glucose oxidation and lipolysis. Whereas c-AMP stimulated the conversion of glucose-U-C-14 or glucose-1-C-14 to C-14-O2, dc-AMP inhibited C-14-O2 production below the baseline in each case. Both N6-monobutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (N6 mbc-AMP) and O2'-monobutyryl-adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (O2'-mbc-AMP) stimulated C-14-O2 production from glucose-U-C-14. Only N6-mbc-AMP, however, was significantly lipolytic. When glucose-6-C-14 was utilized as the substrate, both c-AMP and dc-AMP stimulated its conversion to C-14-O2. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP antagonized the action of insulin and proinsulin on glucose-U-C-14 oxidation in the isolated fat cell by an apparent competitive mechanism. Paradoxically, insulin potentiated C-14-O2 production from glucose-6-C-14. in the presence of 1.0 mM dc-AMP. C-AMP exhibited no such response. It is concluded that under the experimental conditions described, (1) c-AMP and dc-AMP exhibit divergent effects with regard to glucose oxidation; (2) by the use of glucose-U-C-14 and glucose-l-C-14, dc-AMP competitively inhibits the action of insulin or proinsulin on glucose oxidation; (3) insulin synergistically stimulates C-14-O2 production from glucose-6-C-14, in the presence of dc-AMP; and (4) both N6- and O2'-butyrate moieties are necessary for the inhibitory effect on glucose oxidation observed with dc-AMP.
Race and Child Welfare: Disproportionality, Disparity, Discrimination: Re-assessing the Facts, Re-Thinking the Policy Options

This paper summarizes what the author believes can be learned from the evidence presented at a conference co-sponsored by Harvard Law School’s Child Advocacy Program and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago on what has generally been termed racial disproportionality in child welfare. The conference was designed to present some of the best available evidence analyzing the high representation of black children in foster care, and exploring policy implications. Some have contended that black/white maltreatment rates are similar, and accordingly that child welfare system bias is responsible for this high representation. However the evidence presented helped demonstrate that overall, higher rates of black contact with child welfare reflect differences in the underlying incidence of actual maltreatment. This paper incorporates material from a short Chapin Hall “Issue Brief”on the same topic co-authored with three others, but goes beyond that Issue Brief to provide a more complete description of the evidence, with links to the conference videos, powerpoints, and related papers. It describes in more detail the evidence both on high black maltreatment rates, and on the potential of certain targeted program to prevent maltreatment and to protect victimized children. It argues that the focus on alleged child welfare system bias with its emphasis on anti-racism training and on immediate reduction in the number of black children removed to foster care, diverts attention from the most significant problems facing black families and poses dangers to black children victimized by maltreatment. It concludes that reducing the number of children in care without reducing the prevalence of child maltreatment will endanger children, and that the work to facilitate real reform is much more challenging.
Basic Science and Immunology

Functions as a mechanical and antimicrobial barrier; protects against water loss and provides immunological protection; thickness varies from 0.04 mm (eyelid skin) to 1.5 mm (palmoplantar skin).
Sequencing of DNA Lesions Facilitated by Site-Specific Excision via Base Excision Repair DNA Glycosylases Yielding Ligatable Gaps

Modifications to nucleotides in the genome can lead to mutations or are involved in regulation of gene expression, and therefore, finding the site of modification is a worthy goal. Robust methods for sequencing modification sites on commercial sequencers have not been developed beyond the epigenetic marks on cytosine. Herein, a method to sequence DNA modification sites was developed that utilizes DNA glycosylases found in the base excision repair pathway to excise the modification. This approach yields a gap at the modification site that is sealed by T4-DNA ligase, yielding a product strand missing the modification. Upon sequencing, the modified nucleotide is reported as a deletion mutation, identifying its location. This approach was used to detect a uracil (U) or 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (OG) in codon 12 of the KRAS gene in synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides. Additionally, an OG modification site was placed in the VEGF promoter in a plasmid and sequenced. This method requires only commercially available materials and can be put into practice on any sequencing platform, allowing this method to have broad potential for finding modifications in DNA.
An Economic Analysis of the Effects of Fair-Trade with Rumination on the Popularity of Economists

We analyze the effects of fair-trade programs, which allow people to pay extra for products expecting that the premium will improve the lives of poor people in poor countries. We assume these programs are operated exactly as those donating would ideally like them to be. All the money paid in excess of the market price and reasonable administrative costs are transferred to either the workers, or used to improve their communities and working conditions. We demonstrate that these transfers do not help the intended workers, and may harm them and capital owners who hire the workers receive most of the benefit from fair-trade. We end with thoughts on the tendency for many to dismiss economists as aggravating nuisances.
Circuit modeling and feedback controller development of the 8.4MW modulator/regulator power system for the electron cyclotron heating facility upgrade at DIII-D

As part of the Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH) Facility upgrade at DIII-D an 8.4 MW Modulator/Regulator Power System was designed and constructed using acquired hardware from the Mirror Fusion Test Facility (MFTF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) program as a foundation. 1 Design changes in the feedback control of the modulator/regulator (M/R) was motivated by the need for improved output voltage regulation and improved capability to modulate the output voltage consistent with reference command signals containing modulation patterns (typically square wave). The regulation characteristics of the old ECH M/R power system had previously constrained gyrotron operation due to marginal voltage control loop stability and slow response to voltage step changes. The technical approach was to develop models of the circuit functions of the M/R controller from the circuit diagrams, and then examine the control characteristics using circuit analysis software. MATLAB® Simulink® and Intusoft IsSPICE4® (SPICE) codes were used to examine the control issues. These analysis software tools were used to simulate the controller functions and yielded identical results. The SPICE circuit model was selected as a baseline for future maintenance by the engineering staff. The analysis of the controller model blocks provided the needed information to modify the controller circuits. Changes made to the controller included addition of a voltage feedback loop around the grid driver amplifier for the power tetrode control grid in the M/R, and changes to the feedback loop compensation of the main error amplifier. The implemented revised controller performance matches the model performance predictions remarkably well. This paper describes the circuit models, implementation of the revisions to the controller, and recent operational results.
Modernism and the fate of individuality: “The passion of opposition” in Women in Love : none, one, two, few, many

The value behind values in Women in Love is integrity, not in the moral sense of the term, but in a sense that may be taken as a foundation for morality, integrity as a form of completion, perfection and coherence that justifies our strivings but needs no justification itself. An eye that lingers over the self-containment of a flower or a landscape in vast panorama is an eye that delights in integral and uncompromised wholeness. That is Lawrence's eye. But what arouses Lawrentian wrath and ignites this wrathful novel is the perception that wholeness has indeed been compromised, has been streaked, stained and discolored in faint but ominous ways. Here is part of the description of Shortlands, the Crich family home. Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke. The smoke that curls into the meadow makes a fit image for the disruption of integrity, and it also enforces the historical character of the problem. Industry scars the landscape – “No flowers grow upon busy machinery” (p. 262) – but industry is only the proximate historical influence. Machinery is no more the first cause than flowers are the final victims.
Using Moran's I and geostatistics to analyze the spatial distribution of organic carbon in forest soil of Zhejiang province

In ordor to study the distribution of forest soil organic carbon( SOC),a total of 840 soil sampling sites were laid based on a grid of 4 km × 6 km,using portable GPS. Normality test was applied for log-transformed data of forest SOC data. Moran's I,geostatistics and GIS techniques were used to study the spatial variation and spatial patterns of SOC. Extremely significant spatial auto-correlation of forest SOC was found based on the global Moran's I value. Local Moran's I index revealed that high SOC values were located around the area of Qiandao Lake,the west part of Lishui city,while low SOC values were located in the middle part of Zhejiang province. The experimental variogram of SOC was calculated and fitted by exponential model. Further ordinary Kriging was applied to interpolate the SOC in forests of Zhejiang province. The spatial patterns of SOC were strongly related to human being activity such as planting economic forest,changing soil management and so on.
Evolution of phi chi 174. II. A cleavage map of the G4 phage genome and comparison with the cleavage map of phi chi 174.

Abstract A physical cleavage map of the ∅X-like phage G4 has been constructed for the DNA fragments obtained using the Haemophilus influenzae (Hind) the Haemophilus aegyptius (Hae) and the Haemophilus parainfluenzae (HpaII) restriction enzymes and the position of the G4 Eco R I restriction site has been located. A comparison of the G4 DNA restriction map with that of ∅X174 shows that while there are no similarities in the pattern of restriction fragments observed on acrylamide gels, the two maps can be superimposed to give a ‘best fit’ with two areas of the genomes showing a considerable similarity in pattern of restriction cuts. These two areas correspond to two of the known ∅X174 promoter regions and to the origin of ∅X174 DNA replication. The areas of the G4 and ∅X174 genomes that show the greatest dissimilarities in restriction cuts correspond to the region of ∅X174 DNA that codes for the virion structural proteins.
Electroencephalographic Changes from Hyponatremia During Transurethral Resection of the Prostate

AbstractA patient undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate suffered hyponatremia during the perioperative period. Electroencephalography demonstrated diffuse slowing although the patient was not clinically encephalopathic. The serum sodium level may indicate a trend toward development of the transurethral resection syndrome but the sodium level does not necessarily parallel metabolic changes in brain tissue. Consequently, electroencephalography may aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of encephalopathy during the early phases of the transurethral resection syndrome.
Regulation of Interstitial Fluid Volume and Pressure

Recently the structure of the interstitial fluid spaces has been greatly clarified, and with the clarification has also come, we believe, a clear understanding of the mechanisms by which both interstitiel fluid volume and pressure are regulated.
Calculating Frequency of Occurrence of ASL handshapes

Here we discuss an investigation of handshape markedness based on frequency of occurrence in an ASL database. Using a database of the most frequently used signs in a corpus of child language and other early-acquired signs we examined the handshapes of approximately 1000 signs by using two annotation systems, BTS and Stokoe annotation. Results indicate that the distribution of handshape use on the dominant and non-dominant hands is consistent with the predictions set forth by previous researchers in their examinations of handshape markedness. Our findings are also consistent with investigations handshape frequency in other sign languages, suggesting some cross-linguistic comparability in handshape markedness.
Lack of hepatic inactivation of canine vasoactive intestinal peptide.

To study hepatic inactivation of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), in 3 dogs with gastric fistula the portal vein and inferior vena cava were transposed, thus allowing access to the portal vein through a hind leg vein. To demonstrate that the liver's ability to inactivate peptides was intact in these dogs, each experiment with VIP was preceded by an intraportal infusion of 4 μ kg-1 hr-1 of pentagastrin which failed to stimulate acid secretion. In the tests with VIP, a plateau of acid secretion was established by systemic venous infusion of 1 μg kg-1 hr-1 of pentagastrin. While continuing infusion of pentagastrin, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 μg kg-1 hr-1 of VIP was given by portal or systemic infusion for 30 min. VIP produced a dose-dependent decrease in acid secretion ranging from about 30% inhibition with the low dose to about 60% inhibition with the high dose. The degree of inhibition produced by portal infusion of VIP did not differ significantly from that produced by systemic infusion. After infusion of 30 μ kg-1 hr-1 of VIP for 5 min, peak serum VIP levels by radioimmunoassay were 769 ± 63 pmoles liter-1 after systemic and 717 ± 60 pmoles liter-1 after portal administration, an insignificant difference. After stopping the infusion the disappearance half-time of VIP was 3.1 ± 0.3 min and did not differ significantly with the two routes of administration. We conclude that inhibition of acid secretion and serum levels of VIP were not significantly different after portal or systemic infusions of VIP. Thus we found no evidence of selective hepatic inactivation of VIP in dogs.
Estimating Location-Adjustment Factors for Conceptual Cost Estimating Based on Nighttime Light Satellite Imagery

AbstractA fundamental process in construction cost estimation is the appropriate adjustment of costs to reflect project location. Unfortunately, location adjustment factors are not available for all locations. To overcome this lack of data, cost estimators in the United States often use adjustment factors from adjacent locations, referred to as the nearest neighbor (NN) method. However, these adjacent locations may not have similar economic conditions, which limit the accuracy of the NN method. This research proposes a new method of using nighttime light satellite imagery (NLSI) to estimate location adjustment factors where they do not exist. The NLSI method for estimating location adjustment factors was evaluated against an established cost index database, and results show that NLSI can be used to effectively estimate location adjustment factors. When compared with NN and other alternative proximity-based location adjustment methods, the proposed NLSI method leads to a 25–40% reduction of the median abso...
Case File of Justice Frank Murphy for Bowles v. Seminole Rock, 325 U.S. 410 (1945)

This pdf contains Justice Murphy's entire file for Bowles v. Seminole Rock, including draft opinions and letters exchanged between the Justices.
Security Testing of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Unmanned aerial vehicle's (UAV's), are becoming more popular in both military and commercial use. Generally, they are remotely piloted or rely on global positioning systems (GPS) which makes them vulnerable to cyber security attacks. This paper demonstrates an approach for security testing a UAV. Our approach has previously been demonstrated on both pre-flight and post-liftoff launch vehicle systems. This approach uses a behavioral model, an attack model, and a mitigation model to build a security test suite. We identify attack points in a system using behavioral and attack models. We then generate a UAV security test suite based on attack mitigation models.
Sampling techniques to improve big data exploration

The success of Big Data relies fundamentally on the ability of a person (the data scientist) to make sense and generate insights from this wealth of data. The process of generating actionable insights, called data exploration, is a difficult and time-consuming task. Data exploration of a big dataset usually requires first generating a small and representative data sample that can be easily plotted and viewed, managed and interpreted to generate insights. However, the literature on the topic hints at data scientists only using random sampling with regular sized datasets and it is unclear what they do with Big Data. In this work, we first show evidence from a survey that random sampling is the only technique commonly used by data scientists to quickly gain insights from a big dataset despite theoretical and empirical evidence from the active learning community that suggests benefits of using other sampling techniques. Second, to evaluate and demonstrate the benefits of other sampling techniques, we conducted an online study with 34 data scientists. These scientists performed a data exploration task to support a classification goal using data samples from more than 2 million records of editing data from Wikipedia articles, generated using different sampling techniques. The study results demonstrate that sampling techniques other than random sampling can generate insights that help to focus on different characteristics of the data, without compromising quality in a data exploration.