cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endothelin-1 inhibits resistin secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Abstract Resistin is an adipocyte-derived hormone whose role in the development of insulin resistance is controversial. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a 21 amino acid peptide demonstrated to possess vasoconstrictor, positive inotropic, mitogenic, and metabolic properties. In numerous disease states, including congestive heart failure, obesity, and diabetes, elevated levels of ET-1 have been reported and are thought to contribute to the pathology of the disease. A recent study demonstrated that ET-1 induces the expression and stimulates the secretion of the adipose tissue-derived hormone leptin. However, the effect of ET-1 on resistin secretion has not been determined. To characterize the effect of ET-1 on resistin secretion, 3T3-L1 fibroblasts were differentiated into adipocytes and allowed to mature for 14 days. Cells were incubated for 24 h with ET-1 (1–100 nM), insulin (1–100 nM), insulin + ET-1 (100 nM I + E) or the appropriate vehicle or antagonist. At the end of the incubation period, resistin secretion was determined in the media by immunoblotting and densitometric analysis. ET-1 (1–100 nM) significantly decreased basal resistin secretion by 49% (1 nM), 43% (10 nM), and 59% (100 nM). Insulin (1–100 nM) produced a concentration-dependent increase in resistin secretion from 3T3-L1 adipocytes (1 nM-42%, 10 nM-55%, and 100 nM-86% vs. control). Insulin-stimulated resistin secretion (100 nM) was almost completely inhibited (94%) by ET-1 (100 nM). The effects of ET-1 on resistin protein secretion were inhibited by co-incubation with the ET A receptor antagonist BQ-610. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate that basal and hormonal stimulation of resistin secretion by insulin are inhibited by ET-1. Such findings demonstrate that resistin secretion is regulated in a similar manner to other adipose tissue factors, including leptin, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, our findings suggest that vascular factors such as ET-1 may regulate whole body energy metabolism through adipocyte-derived hormones, including leptin and resistin.
Adoptive T cell therapy of solid cancers

The development of immune-based approaches for the treatment of cancer has been actively investigated for many years. One strategy that has emerged as a potentially effective strategy for the treatment of aggressive established malignancies is adoptive T cell therapy. The power of this approach has been repeatedly observed in preclinical animal models. However, moving from homogeneous animal models to the heterogeneous human clinical setting has been very difficult. It is only in recent times that we have been able to pinpoint the problems of the clinical translation of adoptive T cell therapy. Some of the major problems are sources of tumor-specific T cells, ex vivo expansion, persistence, and anti-tumor activity. This review overviews the nature of these problems and some of the emerging solutions.
ORIGIN AND GEODYNAMIC IMPLICATION OF THE DUPAL ISOTOPIC ANOMALY IN VOLCANIC ROCKS FROM THE PHILIPPINE ISLAND ARCS

Newly acquired Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope data, combined with other recently available data in the literature, clearly show that Philippine arc volcanic rocks do not have a true Dupal isotopic anomaly. Instead, most of the volcanic rocks must have come from a mantle source with a “Dupal-like” Indian Ocean– to enriched ocean-island-basalt composition. This mantle source is present beneath the Philippine Sea plate and the South China Sea plate on either side of the Philippine arc systems. The isotopic signature of Philippine arc volcanics is most probably inherited from the previous southern locations of the different geologic terranes that compose the modern Philippine island arcs. The new data also show that the isotopic signature of Philippine arc volcanics, similar to volcanic rocks from other western Pacific island-arc–back-arc settings, is mainly a function of the mantle source and was only recently modified by a component from subducted sediments and crust.
PROBLEMS OF DRUG REACTIONS.

I N GENERAL, reactions from drugs are usually classified as (1) allergic causing symptoms of anaphylaxis, (2) side actions causing undesirable responses apart from the main therapeutic goal, and (3) delayed toxicity causing varied pathologic syndromes usually associated with the peculiar metabolism of the drug. In addition, it is recognized that when multiple drugs are utilized, the chances of additive, synergistic and potentiating effects, usually undesirable, are increased.
Parental loss and hope among orphaned children in South Africa: A pilot study

In this pilot study, the Children's Hope Scale was used for the first time in Africa to compare hope levels among a sample of 41 orphans and 40 non-orphans, aged 8–16 years, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Contrary to results suggested by other regional data and their own hypothesis, authors found that orphaned children reported slightly higher levels of agency thinking overall, with more pronounced differences between orphan girls and their non-orphan counterparts. A possible explanation may be found in the diverse set of individuals that orphans access for support. Policy and practice implications are discussed in the context of sub-Saharan Africa.
Mucinous adenocarcinoma arising in rectovaginal fistulas associated with Crohn's disease.

Abstract Background . Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by focal, transmural inflammation of the intestine. Gynecologic involvement, including rectovaginal fistula formation, is frequent. Case #1 . A 53-year-old female with a 30-year history of Crohn's disease and numerous perirectal fistulas developed a foul smelling, purulent drainage from her rectum and a mucopurulent, bloody discharge from her vagina. A lower vaginal lesion biopsy demonstrated a low-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma. Case #2 . A 42-year-old female with a 15-year history of Crohn's disease developed drainage from her vagina. Physical examination revealed an enlarging mass involving the posterior wall of the vaginal vault that connected to the anus by a fistula tract. A biopsy revealed mucinous adenocarcinoma. Conclusion . Malignant transformation of persistent rectovaginal fistulas is a potential complication of Crohn's disease.
Visual manifestations in giant cell arteritis: trend over 5 decades in a population-based cohort.

Objective To evaluate clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with visual changes from giant cell arteritis (GCA) and to examine trends over the last 5 decades. Methods We reviewed the medical records of a population-based cohort of patients with GCA diagnosed between 1950 and 2004. The clinical, ophthalmological, and laboratory features of patients with visual manifestations attributable to GCA were compared to patients without visual complications. Trends over time were examined using logistic regression modeling adjusted for age and sex. Results In a cohort of 204 cases of GCA (mean age 76.0 ± 8.2 yrs, 80% female), visual changes from GCA were observed in 47 patients (23%), and 4.4% suffered complete vision loss. A higher proportion of patients with visual manifestations reported jaw claudication than did patients without visual changes (55% vs 38%, p = 0.04). Over a period of 55 years, we observed a significant decline in the incidence of visual symptoms due to GCA. There was a lower incidence of ischemic optic neuropathy in the 1980–2004 cohort vs 1950–1979 (6% vs 15%, p = 0.03). Patients diagnosed in later decades were more likely to recover from visual symptoms (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.06–1.71). Chances of recovery were poor in patients with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or complete vision loss. Conclusion Incidence of visual symptoms has declined over the past 5 decades, and chances of recovery from visual symptoms have improved. However, complete loss of vision is essentially irreversible. Jaw claudication is associated with higher likelihood of development of visual symptoms.
Learning to recognize valuable tags

Many websites use tags as a mechanism for improving item metadata through collective user effort. Users of tagging systems often apply far more tags to an item than a system can display. These tags can range in quality from tags that capture a key facet of an item, to those that are subjective, irrelevant, or misleading. In this paper we explore tag selection algorithms that choose the tags that sites display. Based on 225,000 ratings and survey responses, we conduct offline analyses of 21 tag selection algorithms. We select the three best performing algorithms from our offline analysis, and deploy them live on the MovieLens website to 5,695 users for three months. Based on our results, we offer tagging system designers advice about tag selection algorithms.
Differential Entropy and Tiling

This paper relates the differential entropy of a sufficiently nice probability density functionp on Euclideann-space to the problem of tilingn-space by the translates of a given compact symmetric convex setS with nonempty interior. The relationship occurs via the concept of the epsilon entropy ofn-space under the norm induced byS, with probability induced byp. An expression is obtained for this entropy ase approaches 0, which equals the differential entropy ofp, plusn times the logarithm of 2/e, plus the logarithm of the reciprocal of the volume ofS, plus a constantC(S) depending only onS, plus a term approaching zero withe. The constantC(S) is called the entropic packing constant ofS; the main results of the paper concern this constant. It is shown thatC(S) is between 0 and 1; furthermore,C(S) is zero if and only if translates ofS tile all ofn-space.
Inflammation, Atherosclerosis, and Psoriasis

Increasing evidence supports an important role for inflammation in all phases of atherosclerosis, from initiation of the fatty streak to final culmination in acute coronary syndromes. Numerous inflammatory biomarkers including cell adhesion molecules, cytokines, chemokines, and acute-phase reactants such as fibrinogen, serum amyloid A, and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been shown to predict cardiovascular (CVD) events. Several prospective studies have shown a consistent and robust relationship between levels of high-sensitivity CRP and the risk of future CVD events. Toll-like receptors are pattern recognition receptors and members of the innate immune system that contribute to inflammation and appear to play key roles in atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 may also be an independent CVD risk factor. Psoriasis has been associated with an increasing risk for atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease and stroke. Patients with psoriasis have a 5-year shorter life expectancy, most frequently due to CVD. Psoriasis is associated with a chronic inflammatory state and with elevated levels of CRP and other inflammatory cytokines and these may play a causative role in the increased risk of psoriatic patients for CVD. Patients with psoriasis may represent an emerging risk population and patients with moderate to severe psoriasis should be screened and aggressively treated for CVD risk factors.
Operator-theoretic solution of stochastic systems

Abstract A (stochastic) operator-theoretic approach leads to expresssions for inverses of linear and nonlinear stochastic operators—useful for the solution of linear or nonlinear stochastic differential equations. Operator equations are developed for inverses of linear or nonlinear stochastic operators. Series expressions are obtained which allow writing the solution y= F −1 x of the operator equation F y = x . Special cases are studied in which F may be linear or nonlinear, deterministic or stochastic in various combinations.
Immunohistochemical evaluation of the integrity of the blood-aqueous barrier in normal and rubeotic human eyes

Background: • The integrity of the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) was analyzed using an immunohistochemical technique for the demonstration of albumin. • Methods: Paraffin sections of 36 normal eyes obtained from eye banks or at autopsy (mean age 62.8 ± 15.2 years) and 46 eyes with marked iris neovascularization (mean age 54.6 ± 25.3 years) were formalin-fixed and examined using rabbit anti-human albumin. • Results: In normal eyes, albumin staining was found in the iris stroma inside and outside the iris vessels but was not detected across the anterior iris border; albumin was present in the anterior chamber in one eye, but not internal to the nonpigmented ciliary epithelium. In rubeotic eyes, albumin staining extended along the anteri or iris in all 46 cases; albumin was demonstrated in the anterior chamber in 31 eyes and along to the nonpigmented ciliary epithelium in 13 eyes. Differences between normal and rubeotic eyes were significant for intensity of albumin staining in the iris stroma and for presence of albumin along the anterior iris, within the anterior chamber, and along the ciliary epithelium (P < 0.001, χ2 test). • Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the BAB may be less resistant to leakage in the iris stroma than at the ciliary epithelium. BAB breakdown in rubeotic eyes occurred mainly in the iris; the ciliary epithelium was much less involved. Immunohistochemical staining for albumin appears to be useful for evaluating the integrity of the BAB in human pathologic specimens.
In silico analysis of nuclei in glioblastoma using large-scale microscopy images improves prediction of treatment response

In this paper, we present a complete and novel workflow for quantitative nuclear feature analysis of glioblas-toma using high-throughput whole-slide microscopy image processing as it relates to treatment response and patient survival. With a complete suite of computer algorithms, large numbers of micro-anatomical structures, in this case nuclei, are analyzed and represented efficiently from whole-slide digitized images with numerical features. With regard to endpoints of treatment response, the computerized analysis presents a better discrimination than traditional neuropathologic review. As a result, this analysis method shows potential to facilitate a better understanding of disease progression and patients' response to therapy for glioblastoma.
Helical mesobenzanthrones: a class of highly luminescent helicenes

Abstract Diazotization of 3-aminophthalic acid in the presence of 7,9-di(1-naphthyl)-8H-cyclopent[a]acenaphthylen-8-one (9, a dinaphthyl analog of the common cyclopentadienone acecyclone), followed by treatment with thionyl chloride in toluene, gave 11-(1-naphthyl)-7H-fluorantheno[9,8,7-no]tetraphen-7-one (3), an orange luminescent helicene. Similar treatment of 1,3-di(1-naphthyl)-2H-cyclopenta[l]phenanthren-2-one (11, a dinaphthyl analog of phencyclone) gave 11-(1-naphthyl)-7H-triphenyleno[3,2,1-no]tetraphen-7-one (4), a highly luminescent derivative of hexahelicene. Both 3 and 4 are composed of four stable conformational isomers: two diastereomers, each of which contains a pair of enantiomers. One pure isomer of 3 and two isomers of 4 were ultimately obtained by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) of the mixtures on chiral supports. These isolated components exhibited high specific rotations and strong circular dichroism. Attempts to prepare a third helicene by diazotization of 3-aminophthalic acid in the presence of aceanthrenecyclone (5) gave no helicene products, but instead resulted in the oxidation of 5 to two unusual chiral diketones (7 and 8) whose structures were determined by X-ray diffraction.
One pot, two step sequence converting atom transfer radical polymerization directly to radical trap-assisted atom transfer radical coupling

Abstract Monobrominated polystyrene (PStBr) chains were prepared using standard atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) procedures at 80 °C in THF, with monomer conversions allowed to proceed to approximately 40%. At this time, additional copper catalyst, reducing agent, and ligand were added to the unpurified reaction mixture, and the reaction was allowed to proceed at 50 °C in an atom transfer radical coupling (ATRC) phase. During this phase, polymerization continued to occur as well as coupling; expected due to the substantial amount of residual monomer remaining. This was confirmed using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), which showed increases in molecular weight not matching a simple doubling of the PStBr formed during ATRP, and an increase in monomer conversion after the second phase. When the radical trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) was added to the ATRC phase, no further monomer conversion occurred and the resulting product showed a doubling of peak molecular weight ( M p ), consistent with a radical trap-assisted ATRC (RTA-ATRC) reaction.
Vascular endothelial growth factor prevents G93A-SOD1-induced motor neuron degeneration

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by selective loss of motor neurons (MNs). Twenty percent of familial ALS cases are associated with mutations in Cu(2+)/Zn(2+) superoxide dismutase (SOD1). To specifically understand the cellular mechanisms underlying mutant SOD1 toxicity, we have established an in vitro model of ALS using rat primary MN cultures transfected with an adenoviral vector encoding a mutant SOD1, G93A-SOD1. Transfected cells undergo axonal degeneration and alterations in biochemical responses characteristic of cell death such as activation of caspase-3. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic and neuroprotective growth factor that can increase axonal outgrowth, block neuronal apoptosis, and promote neurogenesis. Decreased VEGF gene expression in mice results in a phenotype similar to that seen in patients with ALS, thus linking loss of VEGF to the pathogenesis of MN degeneration. Decreased neurotrophic signals prior to and during disease progression may increase MN susceptibility to mutant SOD1-induced toxicity. In this study, we demonstrate a decrease in VEGF and VEGFR2 levels in the spinal cord of G93A-SOD1 ALS mice. Furthermore, in isolated MN cultures, VEGF alleviates the effects of G93A-SOD1 toxicity and neuroprotection involves phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling. Overall, these studies validate the usefulness of VEGF as a potential therapeutic factor for the treatment of ALS and give valuable insight into the responsible signaling pathways and mechanisms involved.
Observation of π-π resonance in pion production

The difficulty of obtaining direct experimental information on pion-pion scattering is well known. Goebel and Chew and Low(1) have suggested a procedure to be applied to the process π + N + → π + π + N which involves extrapolating the experimental data into the nonphysical region, to a point at which the pion-pion cross section may be extracted with no theoretical uncertainties.
Androgen Receptor Expression in the Preputial Gland and Its Sebocytes

As in other sebaceous glands, preputial gland sebocytes are stimulated to proliferate and produce lipid by androgen. As a necessary step in understanding the role of androgen in sebaceous gland growth and development, we have undertaken studies to determine the relationship between androgen receptor gene expression and sebocyte differentiation. Sebocytes throughout the preputial gland, with the exception of some basal sebocytes, stain intensely for androgen receptor. Quantitative assessment of androgen receptor mRNA by RNase protection assay confirms that androgen receptor mRNA abundance is similar in sebaceous and prostate epithelial cells, but is tenfold less in epidermal cells. When sebocytes were separated according to their state of differentiation by gradient density centrifugation, sebocytes in the 1.080 density fraction contrasted with the more buoyant fractions in that they immunostained weakly for androgen receptors. The 1.080 fraction consists of approximately 50% immature (undifferentiated and early differentiated) sebocytes, whereas more mature sebocytes predominate in the other fractions. Androgen receptor mRNA quantity was found by RNase protection assay to be half as great in the 1.080 density fraction as in the fractions in which more mature sebocytes predominate. In primary monolayer culture androgen receptor mRNA content was significantly higher in sebaceous epithelial cells than in epidermal cells and similar to that in the 1.080 fraction of freshly dispersed sebocytes. These results suggest that there is little if any androgen receptor gene expression in undifferentiated preputial sebocytes and that androgen receptor gene expression increases as sebocytes begin to differentiate. Because androgen receptor expression seems to approach its maximum as sebocytes attain mid-differentiation, the stage at which sebocytes switch from a proliferative mode to commence their specialized holocrine function, androgen is postulated to play a direct role in regulating these aspects of sebocyte development.
Sequencing, annotation and analysis of the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) transcriptome.

Background The Syrian hamster (golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus) is gaining importance as a new experimental animal model for multiple pathogens, including emerging zoonotic diseases such as Ebola. Nevertheless there are currently no publicly available transcriptome reference sequences or genome for this species. Results A cDNA library derived from mRNA and snRNA isolated and pooled from the brains, lungs, spleens, kidneys, livers, and hearts of three adult female Syrian hamsters was sequenced. Sequence reads were assembled into 62,482 contigs and 111,796 reads remained unassembled (singletons). This combined contig/singleton dataset, designated as the Syrian hamster transcriptome, represents a total of 60,117,204 nucleotides. Our Mesocricetus auratus Syrian hamster transcriptome mapped to 11,648 mouse transcripts representing 9,562 distinct genes, and mapped to a similar number of transcripts and genes in the rat. We identified 214 quasi-complete transcripts based on mouse annotations. Canonical pathways involved in a broad spectrum of fundamental biological processes were significantly represented in the library. The Syrian hamster transcriptome was aligned to the current release of the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell transcriptome and genome to improve the genomic annotation of this species. Finally, our Syrian hamster transcriptome was aligned against 14 other rodents, primate and laurasiatheria species to gain insights about the genetic relatedness and placement of this species. Conclusions This Syrian hamster transcriptome dataset significantly improves our knowledge of the Syrian hamster's transcriptome, especially towards its future use in infectious disease research. Moreover, this library is an important resource for the wider scientific community to help improve genome annotation of the Syrian hamster and other closely related species. Furthermore, these data provide the basis for development of expression microarrays that can be used in functional genomics studies.
Heterogeneity of outcome with single-agent carfilzomib: all relapsed/refractory myelomas are not created equal.

Since the year 2000, there has been a continued improvement in survival outcomes for multiple myeloma (MM) patients,1 attributable to the clinical development and inclusion of novel agents in upfront therapy, and improvement in high-dose therapy administration.2 There has been a growing body of literature furthering the biological understanding of the disease. There is a clear recognition of both inter-patient and intra-patient genomic heterogeneity in multiple myeloma,3 although the academic community is still trying to comprehend specific phenotypic presentations such as primary plasma cell leukemia4 and extramedullary disease.5 Even with effective upfront therapeutic strategies, which seemingly help a greater proportion of MM patients achieve a ‘complete’ remission by biochemical and pathology criteria, relapses do occur sooner or later that require subsequent lines of therapy. There is a growing list of classes of novel agents that are disease-relevant and showing promise in early clinical investigations in the relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) setting. These classes include histone deacytelase inhibitors, heat-shock protein inhibitors, kinesin spindle protein inhibitors, immune-therapeutics and ubiquitin-proteasome pathway targeting agents.6 We have witnessed the Food and Drug Administration approval of two novel agents in the past 12 months, namely carfilzomib and pomalidomide, in the RRMM setting. It is highly likely that several novel agents will acquire Food and Drug Administration approval for RRMM over the next 5 years. The challenges in this setting would then be to determine which class of drugs may be more suitable for an individual patient, whether it would be better to sequence or combine different drug classes, and whether or not it would be possible to achieve ‘functional cure’ by making RRMM a chronic disease for most patients.
Pipe Wall Damage Detection in Buried Pipes Using Guided Waves

It is well known that cylindrical guided waves are very efficient for detecting pipe wall defects when pipes are open in the air. In this paper it is investigated how efficient the guided waves are for detecting pipe wall damage when the pipes are embedded in the soil. For this purpose guided waves were propagated through pipes that were buried in the soil by placing transmitters on one end of the embedded pipe and receivers on the other end. Received signals for both defect-free and defective pipes were recorded. Then the received signals were subjected to wavelet transforms. To investigate whether embedding the pipe in the soil makes it more difficult to detect the pipe wall defects, the same set of defective and defect-free pipes were studied before and after burying them in the soil. In both cases the defective pipes could be easily identified. Interestingly, contrary to the intuition, it was observed that under certain conditions defective pipes could be identified more easily in buried conditions. For example, the difference between the strengths of the initial parts of the received signal from defect-free and dented pipes was found to be greater for the buried pipes. Some qualitative justification for easier detection of buried dented pipes is provided.
Regulation of [3H]mazindol binding to subhypothalamic areas: involvement in glucoprivic feeding.

Abstract The distribution of low-affinity sodium-sensitive binding sites of [3H]mazindol were studied in rat hypothalamic nuclei. Using microdissection methods, it was demonstrated that the highest level of [3H]mazindol binding is localized to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the lowest binding is observed in the lateral hypothalamus. Following food deprivation, a significant decrease in [3H]mazindol binding in the PVN and ventromedial hypothalamus (VHM) were observed. Refeeding food-deprived rats resulted in restoration of the level of binding in the PVN, and this was correlated with changes in blood glucose levels. Thus, changes in the binding of [3H]mazindol in the PVN may reflect local changes in glucose levels. In related studies, the involvement of the PVN in the regulation of food deprivation or 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG)-induced food intake was studied. Application of amphetamine (20μg) into the PVN had no effect on food deprivation induced feeding, but significantly inhibited 2-DG induced (glucoprivic) feeding. The PVN may play an important role in the glucostatic regulation of feeding and in mediating the anorectic action of amphetamine and related anorectic drugs on glucoprivic feeding.
High speed single nucleotide polymorphism typing of a hereditary haemochromatosis mutation with capillary array electrophoresis microplates

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing assay is developed and evaluated on a microfabricated capillary array electrophoresis system. Using fluorescently labeled allele-specific primers, the S65C (193A-->T) substitution associated with hereditary haemochromatosis in the HFE gene is genotyped. The covalently labeled polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products are separated on a microfabricated radial capillary array electrophoresis microplate using nondenaturing gel media in under two minutes. Detection is accomplished with a laser-excited rotary confocal scanner. The Rox-labeled A-allele specific amplicon (211 bp) is differentiated from the R110-labeled T-allele specific amplicon (201 bp) by both size and color. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using allele-specific PCR with covalently labeled primers for high speed fluorescent SNP typing on microfabricated radial capillary array electrophoresis microplates.
Establishing the phraseological profile of a text type: The construction of meaning in academic book reviews

Starting from the observation that meaning does not primarily reside in individual words but in the phrase, this paper focuses on the examination of recurring phrases in language. It introduces a new analytical model that leads corpus researchers to a profile of the central phraseological items in a selected text or text collection. In this paper, the model is applied to a 3.5-million word corpus of online academic book reviews that represents part of the specialized discourse of the global community of linguists. This demonstrates how the model facilitates the study of the occurrence and distribution of the central phraseological items in linguistic book reviews, and how it helps to determine the extent of the phraseological tendency of language.
A general equation of state for supercritical fluid mixtures and molecular dynamics simulation of mixture PVTX properties

Abstract A general Equation of State (EOS), which we previously developed for pure nonpolar systems, is extended to polar systems such as water and to mixtures in this study. This EOS contains only two parameters for each pure component and two additional parameters for each binary mixture (no higher order parameters are needed for more complicated mixture systems). The two mixing parameters can be eliminated for nonaqueous mixtures with a slight loss of accuracy in both total mole volume and in excess volume (or nonideal mixing). Comparison with a large amount of experimental PVTX data in pure systems (including H2O) and in the mixtures, H2O-CO2, CO2-N2, CH4-CO2, and N2-CO2-CH4 results in an average error of 1.6% in density. Comparison with commonly used EOS for supercritical fluids shows that the EOS of this study covers far more T-P-X space with higher accuracy. We believe that it is accurate from supercritical temperature to 2000 K and from 0 to 25,000 bar or higher with an average error in density of less than 2% for both pure members and mixtures in the system H2O-CO2-CH4-N2-CO-H2-O2-H2S-Ar and possibly with additional gases. Comparison with the published simulated data suggests that this EOS is approximately correct up to 300,000 bar and 2800 K. We also simulated the PVTX properties of a number of supercritical fluid mixtures using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. These results and those of other authors are well predicted by the EOS of this study.
Corneal Posterior Crocodile Shagreen and Polymorphic Amyloid Degeneration: A Histopathologic Study

Globes were obtained post mortem from a 75-year-old patient who had both corneal posterior crocodile shagreen and polymorphic amyloid degeneration. The crocodile shagreen was typified by grayish, polygonal opacities with indistinct edges and separated by clear lines. The cloudy area involved the central two thirds of the corneas and included the posterior two thirds of the stroma, with increasing posterior density. The polymorphic amyloid degeneration was typical, demonstrating polymorphic punctate and filamentous deposits in the deeper corneal layers. The deposits appeared white in direct illumination and refractile in indirect illumination. Transmission electron microscopy revealed sawtoothlike configurations of the stromal collagen lamellae that corresponded to the central cloudy opacities seen clinically. The minute deposits were found to be amyloid by histochemical staining and electron microscopy.
Intermolecular Interaction of Lens Crystallins: From Rotationally Mobile to Immobile States at High Protein Concentrations

Abstract The conformation of lens crystallins in vivo or in a highly concentrated solution is not well established. Most studies were carried out in dilute solutions in which protein-protein interaction is minimal. In order to see whether there is conformational change (tertiary and secondary structures) when crystallin solutions are brought to high concentrations, we have performed the following molecular spectroscopic measurements: circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Near-UV CD measurements showed a more than two-fold increase in CD intensity (molar ellipticity) for the total water-soluble (WS) protein from young calf lens nucleus in a highly concentrated solution (>300 mg/ml in a 0.01-mm cell), when compared with a dilute solution (1000-fold dilution in a 10-mm cell). The individual crystallins in concentrated solutions also showed an increase in CD intensity, but of different magnitude: α-crystallin > β-crystallin > γ-crystallin. The increased CD indicates that lens crystallins are in a more compact structure in highly concentrated solutions; they likely undergo a transition from a mobile to an immobile state. Change in near-UV CD usually is caused by restricted mobility of aromatic side groups, particularly Trp. The transition involves not only a change in protein tertiary and/or quaternary structure, but also in protein backbone structure. The change of protein backbone structure was drawn from FTIR measurements. FTIR spectra, sensitive to the secondary structure in the amide I region, could be measured for a highly concentrated solution for which far-UV CD measurement is not feasible. The secondary structure that showed prominent change for α-crystallin in a highly concentrated solution was β-conformation: increase in β-turn with a concomitant decrease of α-helix structure.
Toxic Waste and Risk Prevention: Rating US Policy

Ecological Politics in an Age of Risk, Ulrich Beck, Polity Press, Cambridge (1995), 216 pp. EcoPopulism: Toxic Waste and the Movement for Environmental Justice, Andrew Szasz, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis (1994), 216 pp. Toxic Debts and the Superfund Dilemma, Harold Barnett, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill (1994), 334 pp. Beyond Superfailure: America's Toxics Policy for the 1990s, Daniel Mazmanian and David Morell, Westview Press, Boulder (1992), 278 pp.
Regeneration in Coupled Circuits

1-The simple theory of regeneration in a single oscillatory circuit is developed, both when the oscillatory element is in the plate circuit and in the grid circuit of the regenerating tube. 2-The theory of couple circuits having positive resistances is reviewed and illustrated by means of space models for the secondary current. The use of sections of the model for determining graphically and for visualizing the variations of secondary current as the primary or secondary circuits are changed or as the impressed wave length is varied, is given. The positions of the two peaks of max. max. secondary current, when the coupling is greater than critical, is shown to depend upon the relative values of R/(Lω 0 ) = η for the two circuits. When the ratio of η 1 /η 2 is unity, the two peaks are symmetrically located on the space model with respect to the primary and secondary axes, otherwise the space model is unsymmetrical. 3-The theory of regeneration in coupled circuits is developed. It is shown that regeneration in the secondary circuit affects only the impedance of that circuit and may make the equivalent resistance of that circuit zero or negative. The first case taken up assumes the regeneration to be constant, so that the theory for this case is the theory for coupled circuits, one of which has a negative resistance. The boundary equation between oscillation and non-oscillation is derived and plotted.
Magnetic field behavior of SNS edge Josephson junctions

Measurements of the response of critical current of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta///PrBa/sub 2/Cu/sub (3-x)/(Ga)/sub x/O/sub 7-/spl delta///YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta// SNS edge Josephson junctions to external magnetic field reveal periodic dependence of critical current on magnetic field. Theoretically the shape of critical current versus magnetic field for uniform current flow across the junction should resemble a Fraunhofer diffraction pattern. Using analysis of depth of modulation as an indication of how well the experimental modulation pattern fits the diffraction model, our experiments show a correlation between the depth of modulation and the type of junction. RSJ-like I-V curves, with their sharp concave upward curvature and I/sub ex//I/sub c/ 1. Also the response of single junctions as a function of temperature is analyzed.
Twinning in humans: maternal heterogeneity in reproduction and survival

While humans usually give birth to singletons, dizygotic twinning occurs at low rates in all populations worldwide. We evaluate two hypotheses that have differing expectations about the effects of bearing twins on maternal lifetime reproduction and survival. The maternal depletion hypothesis argues that mothers of twins will suffer negative outcomes owing to the higher physiological costs associated with bearing multiples. Alternatively, twinning, while costly, may indicate mothers with a greater capacity to bear that cost. Drawing from the vast natural fertility data in the Utah Population Database, we compared the reproductive and survival events of 4603 mothers who bore twins and 54 183 who had not. These mothers were born between 1807 and 1899, lived at least to the age of 50 years and married once to men who were alive when their wives were 50. Results from proportional hazards and regression analyses are consistent with the second hypothesis. Mothers of twins exhibit lower postmenopausal mortality, shorter average inter-birth intervals, later ages at last birth and higher lifetime fertility than their singleton-only bearing counterparts. From the largest historical sample of twinning mothers yet published, we conclude that bearing twins is more likely for those with a robust phenotype and is a useful index of maternal heterogeneity.
Murder in Ciudad Juárez A Parable of Women’s Struggle for Human Rights

The murder of hundreds of women in Ciudad Juarez during the past decade has compelled women to mobilize. This mobilization is a parable of women's struggle for human rights because the factors that cause gender-based violence in Mexico are common throughout the world, the authorities' failure to punish those crimes constitutes a form of gender discrimination that is prevalent throughout the world, and the imperative for Mexican women to mobilize in defense of their own human rights is shared by women throughout the world. This struggle involves a double transformation: the transformation of women's organizations into human rights organizations and the transformation of human rights advocacy through the integration of the gender perspective.
Chemistry of “naked” anions II. Reactions of the 18-crown-6 complex of potassium acetate with organic substrates in aprotic organic solvents.☆

Durch Vorhandensein katalytischer Mengen der Crownverbindung in einem Gemisch aus Acetonitril und Benzol wird KF gelost.
Mechanical Stability of the Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein-C (CMybP-C) Motif is Phosphorylation-Dependent

Enhanced cardiac contractility results from phosphorylation within the cMyBP-C motif domain by affecting the interaction of cMyBP-C's N-terminus with actin and/or myosin. We investigated whether motif (i.e. C1C2 linker) phosphorylation alters its structural conformation by characterizing the force-extension behavior of expressed N-terminal cMyBP-C fragments (i.e.C0C3) that contain the motif using atomic force spectroscopy. Proteins were adsorbed onto glass slides, bound non-specifically to SiNi AFM probes, and stretched at 700nm/s. Force-extension traces showed the characteristic sawtooth shape of unfolding immunoglobulin domains, and were well fitted by the wormlike chain model. The model fits produced a median persistence length of 0.36nm and an average C0C3 contour length of 71.5nm, suggesting that the motif is disordered and freely extensible when unphosphorylated. PKA phosphorylation did not change immunoglobulin unfolding force or persistence length but decreased the contour length by 27nm, suggesting that the motif assumed a folded configuration that is stable under load. This was investigated further by varying the extent of phosphorylation using phosphomimetic mutants, in which serines 273, 282, and 302 were replaced with different combinations of alanines or aspartic acids in order to mimic the unphosphorylated and phosphorylated states respectively. While substitution with all alanines or all aspartic acids produced similar results to the control and PKA treated fragments respectively, phosphorylation at only one or two sites did not reduce contour length significantly. This implies that phosphorylation at all three sites is required for motif folding to be stable under load, while partial phosphorylation may result in a fold which is readily extended at low force. In conclusion, cMyBP-C phosphorylation could modulate the cMyBP-C's N-terminal domain interactions with actin and/or myosin by folding the motif in such a way that binding sites for actin and/or myosin are hidden.
Improved Dry-Fleshed Sweetpotato Genotypes Resistant to Insect Pests

Thirty-five mostly dry-fleshed sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. (Convolvulaceae), genotypes from the USDA-ARS/Clemson University sweetpotato breeding program were evaluated in nine field experiments at the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC, from 1998 to 2004. There were highly significant entry effects for percentage of uninjured roots; wireworm, Diabrotica, and Systena (WDS) index; percentage of roots damaged by sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers); percentage of roots damaged by sweetpotato flea beetle, Chaetocnema confinis Crotch); and percentage of roots damaged by white grub larvae (primarily Plectris aliena Chapin). The susceptible control, 'SC1149-19', had a significantly lower percentage of uninjured roots, a significantly higher WDS rating, and higher percentage infestations of flea beetle, grubs, and sweetpotato weevils than all other sweetpotato entries in this study. Twenty-seven genotypes had significantly less insect damage than 'Beauregard', the leading commercial orange-fleshed cultivar in the United States. In addition, 11 genotypes had significantly less insect injury than 'Picadito', a commercial boniato-type sweetpotato grown extensively in southern Florida. Overall, no genotypes were more resistant to soil insect pests than the resistant checks 'Sumor' and 'Regal'. Many of the advanced dry-flesh sweetpotato genotypes had high levels of resistance to soil insect pests, and they represent a useful source of advanced germplasm for use in sweetpotato breeding programs.
Calmodulin kinase II is required for fight or flight sinoatrial node physiology.

The best understood “fight or flight” mechanism for increasing heart rate (HR) involves activation of a cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel (HCN4) by β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) agonist stimulation. HCN4 conducts an inward “pacemaker” current (If) that increases the sinoatrial nodal (SAN) cell membrane diastolic depolarization rate (DDR), leading to faster SAN action potential generation. Surprisingly, HCN4 knockout mice were recently shown to retain physiological HR increases with isoproterenol (ISO), suggesting that other If-independent pathways are critical to SAN fight or flight responses. The multifunctional Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a downstream signal in the βAR pathway that activates Ca2+ homeostatic proteins in ventricular myocardium. Mice with genetic, myocardial and SAN cell CaMKII inhibition have significantly slower HRs than controls during stress, leading us to hypothesize that CaMKII actions on SAN Ca2+ homeostasis are critical for βAR agonist responses in SAN. Here we show that CaMKII mediates ISO HR increases by targeting SAN cell Ca2+ homeostasis. CaMKII inhibition prevents ISO effects on SAN Ca2+ uptake and release from intracellular sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) stores that are necessary for increasing DDR. CaMKII inhibition has no effect on the ISO response in SAN cells when SR Ca2+ release is disabled and CaMKII inhibition is only effective at slowing HRs during βAR stimulation. These studies show the tightly coupled, but previously unanticipated, relationship of CaMKII to the βAR pathway in fight or flight physiology and establish CaMKII as a critical signaling molecule for physiological HR responses to catecholamines.
A numerical simulation of a free mixing layer

A numerical method is pre sented that can resolve a compressible flow field at high Reynolds number. It is used to compute the free mixing layer of a flat plate of finite length with unequal free stream velocities above and below the plate. The computed flow field is shown to be dominated by large scale vortices which have been observed unexperiments. These results are shown to be in close agreement with experiments.
Manganese superoxide dismutase suppresses hypoxic induction of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that governs cellular responses to reduced O2 availability by mediating crucial homeostatic processes. HIF-1 is composed of an HIF-1a subunit and an HIF-1b subunit. HIF-1a is degraded following enzyme-dependent hydroxylation of prolines of HIF-1a in the presence of molecular oxygen, Fe 2 þ , a-ketoglutarate, and ascorbate. These cofactors contribute to the redox environment of cells. The antioxidant enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) also modulates the cellular redox environment. Here we show that MnSOD suppressed hypoxic accumulation of HIF-1a protein in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. This suppression was biphasic depending on MnSOD activity. At low levels of MnSOD activity, HIF-1a protein accumulated under hypoxic conditions. At moderate levels of MnSOD activity (twoto six-fold increase compared to parent cells), these accumulations were blocked. However, at higher levels of MnSOD activity (>6-fold increase), accumulation of HIF-1a protein was again observed. This biphasic modulation was observed under both 1 and 4% O2. Coexpression of mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide-removing proteins prevented the accumulation of HIF-1a protein in cells with high levels of MnSOD; this effect demonstrates that the restabilization of HIF-1a observed in high MnSOD overexpressors is probably due to hydrogen peroxide, most likely produced from MnSOD. Hypoxic induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein was also suppressed by elevated MnSOD activity and its levels reflected HIF-1a protein levels. These observations demonstrated that HIF-1a accumulation and VEGF expression could be modulated by the antioxidant enzyme MnSOD.