cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between psychiatric status and frontal–subcortical systems in HIV-infected individuals

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults frequently evidence both neurocognitive and psychiatric dysfunction. It was hypothesized that apathy and irritability, but not anxiety and depression, are related to HIV effects on frontal–subcortical systems. This hypothesis was evaluated by determining the degree to which these psychiatric features are associated with neurocognitive functioning that is dependent upon frontal–subcortical circuitry and, therefore, thought to be sensitive to the central nervous system effects of HIV. Rating scales assessing irritability, apathy, depression, and anxiety and a dual-task paradigm were administered to 189 HIV-seropositive (HIV+) and 53 HIV-seronegative participants. Deficits in dual-task performance and greater anxiety, depression, apathy, and irritability were observed in HIV+ participants. Simultaneous multivariate regression and communality analyses revealed that only apathy and irritability were associated with dual-task performance in HIV+ participants. Thus, these findings suggest that apathy and irritability, but not depression and anxiety, are likely associated with the effects of HIV on frontal–subcortical circuitry.
Outcomes in Primary Raynaud Phenomenon A Meta-analysis of the Frequency, Rates, and Predictors of Transition to Secondary Diseases

Objective To summarize the current literature on the frequency, rates, types, and outcome predictors of secondary diseases that develop in patients with primary Raynaud phenomenon. Methods A structured MEDLINE literature search with the MeSH heading "Raynaud's disease," which was crossed with (1) systemic sclerosis, (2) prognosis, (3) prospective studies, (4) follow-up studies, and (5) retrospective studies, was used to identify 910 articles for possible inclusion. Articles that identified patients with primary Raynaud phenomenon who were followed up and reevaluated at the end of the study, and which used published classification criteria to assess the presence or absence of secondary disease were included. Patient-years of Raynaud disease, patient-years of follow-up, and rates and predictors of transition to secondary disease were calculated from the articles selected. The summary odds ratio and positive predictive value for evaluation criteria at entry were calculated from 2×2 tables generated for each variable. Results Ten articles identified a total of 639 patients with primary Raynaud phenomenon who were followed up for 2531 patient-years. Eighty-one patients (12.6%) developed a secondary disorder, 80 of which were connective-tissue diseases. Transitions occurred at a mean rate of 3.2 per 100 patient-years of observation. The mean time to develop a secondary disorder was 2.8 years from study entry and 10.4 years from the onset of Raynaud phenomenon. At entry, the best predictor of transition was an abnormal nailfold capillary pattern (positive predictive value, 47%). Antinuclear antibodies in these patients had a positive predictive value of only 30%. Conclusion Although a variety of clinical and serological abnormalities can be found in patients with primary Raynaud phenomenon, only a small percentage of them develop a connective-tissue disease.
Acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase in the thermophilic, acetate-utilizing methanogen Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1

There is considerable evidence that acetyl-CoA synthetase (acetate thiokinase, ACS, EC 6.2.1) is responsible for acetate activation in the mesophilic acetotrophic methanogen Methanothrix soehngenii. If the pyrophosphate produced by ACS is simply cleaved, two high-energy phosphodiester bonds are expended in acetate activation. Hi High ACS activity (2–4 μmol min−1 mg protein−1) was present in cell-free extracts of the thermophile Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1. The 23-fold purified enzyme had a molecular mass near 165 kDa and a subunit molecular mass near 78 kDa, suggesting that the enzyme is a homodimer. The temperature optimum for ACS was near 70°C and the apparent Km values were 2–4 mM for acetate and 5.5 mM for MgATP. Coenzyme A at concentrations greater than 0.2 mM inhibited ACS, while acetyl-CoA was not inhibitory. AMP and pyrophosphate inhibited ACS with Ki values of 5 mM and 1.5 mM respectively. Other divalent cations could replace Mg2+, with Mn2+ showing the highest activity. Activity with ITP was 20% of that with ATP, and other nucleotides tested were considerably less active. Since Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1 has an active soluble pyrophosphatase, it appears that it uses the same energetically costly method for acetate activation as M. soehngenii.
Sequence analysis and serological responses against Borrelia turicatae BipA, a putative species-specific antigen.

Background: Relapsing fever spirochetes are global yet neglected pathogens causing recurrent febrile episodes, chills, nausea, vomiting, and pregnancy complications. Given these nonspecific clinical manifestations, improving diagnostic assays for relapsing fever spirochetes will allow for identification of endemic foci and expedite proper treatment. Previously, an antigen designated the Borrelia immunogenic protein A (BipA) was identified in the North American species Borrelia hermsii. Thus far, BipA appears unique to relapsing fever spirochetes. The antigen remains unidentified outside of these pathogens, while interspecies amino acid identity for BipA in relapsing fever spirochetes is only 24–36%. The current study investigated the immunogenicity of BipA in Borrelia turicatae, a species distributed in the southern United States and Latin America. Methodology/Principal Findings: bipA was amplified from six isolates of Borrelia turicatae, and sequence analysis demonstrated that the gene is conserved among isolates. A tick transmission system was developed for B. turicatae in mice and a canine, two likely vertebrate hosts, which enabled the evaluation of serological responses against recombinant BipA (rBipA). These studies indicated that BipA is antigenic in both animal systems after infection by tick bite, yet serum antibodies failed to bind to B. hermsii rBipA at a detectable level. Moreover, mice continued to generate an antibody response against BipA one year after the initial infection, further demonstrating the protein’s potential toward identifying endemic foci for B. turicatae. Conclusions/Significance: These initial studies support the hypothesis that BipA is a spirochete antigen unique to a relapsing fever Borrelia species, and could be used to improve efforts for identifying B. turicatae endemic regions.
High Levels of Plasma C-Reactive Protein and Future Risk of Age-Related Cataract

Abstract PURPOSE: Chronic intraocular inflammation, with or without systemic inflammation, is associated with increased risk of cataract. Whether systemic inflammation alone is associated with cataract is unknown. This study examined the association between plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, and risk of cataract. METHODS: In the Physicians’ Health Study, we recently analyzed plasma CRP levels in baseline blood specimens from 543 men who later developed cardiovascular disease, and 543 who did not. These data provided a cost-efficient means to explore whether baseline plasma CRP is associated with future risk of age-related cataract. After excluding 252 men with prior diagnosis of cataract or missing data, we followed the remaining 834 men defined by baseline CRP level for 11 years for incident cataract. We used proportional hazards regression models, stratified by cardiovascular disease status. RESULTS: Baseline CRP was significantly higher among men who later developed cataract than levels among those who remained free of cataract, P = 0.02 (median 1.53 versus 1.23 mg/L). In a multivariable model adjusted for cardiovascular disease, randomized aspirin and beta carotene assignments, age, diabetes, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, exercise, and parental history of myocardial infarction, the levels of CRP remained significantly associated with development of cataract (P = 0.001); but the association was less significant in a model using log CRP levels (P = 0.038). In exploratory analyses of a threshold effect, the excess risk was significant only among men with levels at or above the 97.5th centile (6.17 mg/L); compared to those with lower levels, the relative risk in these men was 3.00 (95% confidence interval, 1.53 to 5.91; P = 0.002). Relative risks associated with CRP levels at or above versus below the 85th, 90th, and 95th percentiles were not significant (relative risks 1.29, 1.50, and 1.77, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results suggest that elevated levels of CRP are associated with future risk of cataract in these apparently healthy men. This early report raises the possibility that systemic inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of age-related cataract.
Linear Parameter-Varying Antiwindup Compensation for Enhanced Flight Control Performance

Actuator saturation is one of the major issues of flight control in the high angle-of-attack region. This paper presents a saturation control scheme for linear parameter varyjing (LPV) systems from an antiwindup control perspective. The proposed control approach is advantageous from the implementation standpoint because it can be thought of as an augmented control algorithm to the existing control system. Moreover, the synthesis condition for an antiwindup compensator is formulated as a linear matrix inequality (LMI) optimization problem and can be solved efficiently. We have applied te LPV antiwindup controller to an F-16 longitudinal autopilot control system design and compared it with the thrust vectoring control scheme. The nonlinear simulations show that an LPV antiwindup controller improves flight quality and offers advantages over thrust vectoring in a high angle-of-attack region.
Combining Decoder Design and Neural Adaptation in Brain-Machine Interfaces

Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) aim to help people with paralysis by decoding movement-related neural signals into control signals for guiding computer cursors, prosthetic arms, and other assistive devices. Despite compelling laboratory experiments and ongoing FDA pilot clinical trials, system performance, robustness, and generalization remain challenges. We provide a perspective on how two complementary lines of investigation, that have focused on decoder design and neural adaptation largely separately, could be brought together to advance BMIs. This BMI paradigm should also yield new scientific insights into the function and dysfunction of the nervous system. Video Abstract
How Well Can Density Functional Methods Describe Hydrogen Bonds to π Acceptors

We employed four newly developed density functional theory (DFT) methods for the calculation of five π hydrogen bonding systems, namely, H2O−C6H6, NH3−C6H6, HCl−C6H6, H2O−indole, and H2O−methylindole. We report new coupled cluster calculations for HCl−C6H6 that support the experimental results of Gotch and Zwier. Using the best available theoretical and experimental results for all five systems, our calculations show that the recently proposed MPW1B95, MPWB1K, PW6B95, and PWB6K methods give accurate energetic and geometrical predictions for π hydrogen bonding interactions, for which B3LYP fails and PW91 is less accurate. We recommend the most recent DFT method, PWB6K, for investigating larger π hydrogen bonded systems, such as those that occur in molecular recognition, protein folding, and crystal packing.
CAR1, a TNFR–Related Protein, Is a Cellular Receptor for Cytopathic Avian Leukosis–Sarcoma Viruses and Mediates Apoptosis

Viral envelope (Env)-receptor interactions have been implicated in the cell death associated with infection by subgroups B and D avian leukosis-sarcoma viruses (ALVs). A chicken protein, CAR1, was identified that permitted infection of mammalian cells by these viral subgroups. CAR1 bound to a viral Env fusion protein, comprising an ALV-B surface Env protein and the Fc region of an immunoglobulin, indicating that it is a specific viral receptor. CAR1 contains two extracellular cysteine-rich domains characteristic of the TNFR family and a cytoplasmic region strikingly similar to the death domain of TNFR1 and Fas, implicating this receptor in cell killing. Chicken embryo fibroblasts susceptible to ALV-B infection and transfected quail QT6 cells expressing CAR1 underwent apoptosis in response to the Env-Ig fusion protein, demonstrating that this cytopathic ALV receptor can mediate cell death.
Pharmacologic approaches to geriatric pain management.

Abstract Burris JE. Pharmacologic approaches to geriatric pain management. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85(Suppl 3):S45–9. This focused review highlights pharmacologic approaches to geriatric pain management. It is part of the study guide on geriatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article specifically focuses on age-specific differences in pain assessment and use of medications for pain management in older adults. The common disorders leading to acute and chronic pain conditions in the older adult are also described. The article contains practical recommendations regarding use of acetaminophen, anti-inflammatories, opioids, antiepileptics, antidepressants, and topical counterirritant drugs for pain management in older adults. Overall article objective To summarize pharmacologic approaches to geriatric pain management.
Computational Studies of Pressure, Temperature, and Surface Effects on the Structure and Thermodynamics of Confined Water

The behavior of water confined on nanometer length scales is important in a diverse set of technical and scientific contexts, ranging from the performance of fuel cells and biological molecular machines to the design of self-assembling nanoscale materials. Here, we review recent insights into the structure and thermodynamics of confined water that have been elucidated primarily by computer simulation studies. We emphasize investigations in which interfacial chemistry and molecular topography are varied systematically and in which a wide range of thermodynamic conditions of temperature and pressure are explored. We consider homogeneous interfaces ranging from the simplest hard wall to chemically realistic, but structurally ideal, hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces, and the continuous scale of surface polarity is investigated. Features associated with interface heterogeneities arising from chemical patterning or from the natural characteristics of protein surfaces are discussed. Finally, we provide our thoughts on important directions for further studies.
Partisan Politics, Financial Deregulation, and the New Gilded Age

This paper examines how financial deregulation and the partisan underpinnings of deregulation shaped the path of income inequality in the United States. Using time-series data from 1914 to 2010, we...
Changing generic strategies: Likelihood, direction, and performance implications

This study argues for greater research attention to the issue of changing generic strategies over time. The study proposes two sources of theoretical tension relating to changing strategies: (1) the notion of equally viable generic strategies versus particularly appropriate strategy/environment combinations, and (2) the relative influence of process (ability to change strategies) versus content (desire to change strategies) issues. Questions relating to these tensions are then examined empirically in an industry-specific analysis of the likelihood, direction, and performance implications of an organization'S changing its strategy in response to an environmental shift. The findings suggest that changes in generic strategy are not rare, and that organizations do not perceive generic strategies to be equally viable in different environments across time. Performance differences were also found across generic strategies, but not between firms that changed their strategy versus those that did not.
Topological isomerism in a chiral handcuff catenane

The self-assembly of two topological isomers of a handcuff catenane has been achieved by utilizing the template-directed synthesis between the π-electron-rich bis-1,5-dioxynaphtho[50]crown-14 and the precursors to two fused π-electron-deficient cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) cyclophanes. Characterization of the product using 1H NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, with supporting density functional theory (DFT) calculations, suggests that the 1,5-dioxynaphthalene units in the major topological isomer align themselves with the same relative orientations inside the cyclophanes on account of restrictions imposed by the lengths of the polyether loops. The DFT calculations also reveal that the energies of the two topological isomers are similar to each other, supporting the experimental observation that both isomers can be isolated as a mixture from a one-pot reaction. The two isomers – designated as the meta–meta and ortho–ortho isomers with different topologies that are not interconvertible – only differ in the manner in which the polyether loops wind their way around the central 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted benzenoid ring in the ditopic host. X-Ray crystallography proves that by far the major topological isomer in the solid state is the meta–meta one. 1H NMR spectroscopy confirms that it is also the major isomer in solution, whilst also revealing the presence of a minor isomer, which is assumed, for the time-being, to have the ortho–ortho topology. The free fused ditopic host has been obtained using a protocol similar to that employed in the template-directed synthesis of the handcuff catenane, except that the crown ether is replaced with an acyclic template which can be removed post-synthesis. The results of isothermal titration calorimetry studies shed some light on the mechanism of binding of π-electron-rich guests: they lead us to believe that when two electron-rich guests bind to the ditopic host, they do so with allosteric negative cooperativity.
Chorionic Gonadotropin Excretion During Pregnancy in the Marmoset, Callithrix jacchus

The marmoset, Callithrix jacchus, has been shown to excrete a readily detectable gonadotropin throughout most of gestation. Spurious excretion of something with gonadotropic properties in bioassays suggests frequent unproductive pregnancies and the possibility that trophoblastic deportation and persistence may be common in this species. These findings and those on the squirrel monkey may indicate that New World primates produce chorionic gonadotropin during pregnancy in a pattern more like the pattern in man and Hominoids than that seen in rhesus monkeys. (Endocrinology 85: 171, 1969)
Foreign accent conversion through voice morphing

We present a voice morphing strategy that can be used to generate a continuum of accent transformations between a foreign speaker and a native speaker. The approach performs a cepstral decomposition of speech into spectral slope and spectral detail. Accent conversions are then generated by combining the spectral slope of the foreign speaker with a morph of the spectral detail of the native speaker. Spectral morphing is achieved by representing the spectral detail through pulse density modulation and averaging pulses in a pair-wise fashion. The technique is evaluated on parallel recordings from two ARCTIC speakers using objective measures of acoustic quality, speaker identity and foreign accent that have been recently shown to correlate with perceptual results from listening tests. Index Terms: voice morphing, accent conversion.
Fault zone restrengthening and frictional healing: The role of pressure solution

[1] Laboratory and field observations note the significant role of strength recovery (healing) on faults during interseismic periods and implicate pressure solution as a plausible mechanism. Plausible rates for pressure solution to activate, and the magnitudes of ultimate strength gain, are examined through slide-hold-slide experiments using simulated quartz gouge. Experiments are conducted on fine-grained (110 μm) granular silica gouge, saturated with deionized water, confined under constant normal stress of 5 MPa and at modest temperatures of 20 and 65°C, and sheared at a maximum rate of 20 μm/s. Data at 20°C show a log linear relation between strength gain and the duration of holding periods, whereas the higher temperature observations indicate higher healing rates than the log linear dependencies; these are apparent for hold times greater than ∼1000 s. This behavior is attributed to the growth and welding of grain contact areas, mediated by pressure solution. The physical dependencies of this behavior are investigated through a mechanistic model incorporating the serial processes of grain contact dissolution, grain boundary diffusion, and precipitation at the rim of contacts. We use the model to predict strength gain for arbitrary conditions of mean stress, fluid pressure, and temperature. The strength gain predicted under the experimental conditions (σeff = 5 MPa and T = 65°C) underestimates experimental measurements for hold periods of less than ∼1000 s where other frictional mechanisms contribute to strength gain. Beyond this threshold, laboratory observations resemble the trend in the prediction by our mechanistic model, implicating that pressure solution is likely the dominant mechanism for strength gain. The model is applied to the long-term prediction of healing behavior in quartzite fault zones. Predictions show that both rates and magnitudes of gain in contact area increase with an increase in applied stresses and temperatures and that fault healing aided by pressure solution should reach completion within recurrence interval durations ranging from <1 to ∼104 years, depending on applied stresses, temperatures, and reaction rates.
Phosphorylation of serine 1928 in the distal C-terminal domain of cardiac CaV1.2 channels during β1-adrenergic regulation

During the fight-or-flight response, epinephrine and norepinephrine released by the sympathetic nervous system increase L-type calcium currents conducted by CaV1.2a channels in the heart, which contributes to enhanced cardiac performance. Activation of β-adrenergic receptors increases channel activity via phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) tethered to the distal C-terminal domain of the α1 subunit via an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP15). Here we measure phosphorylation of S1928 in dissociated rat ventricular myocytes in response to β-adrenergic receptor stimulation by using a phosphospecific antibody. Isoproterenol treatment increased phosphorylation of S1928 in the distal C-terminal domain, and a similar increase was observed with a direct activator of adenylyl cyclase, forskolin, confirming that the cAMP and PKA are responsible. Pretreatment with selective β1- and β2-adrenergic antagonists reduced the increase in phosphorylation by 79% and 42%, respectively, and pretreatment with both agents completely blocked it. In contrast, treatment with these agents in the presence of 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA)–acetoxymethyl ester to buffer intracellular calcium results in only β1-stimulated phosphorylation of S1928. Whole-cell patch clamp studies with intracellular BAPTA demonstrated that 98% of the increase in calcium current was attributable to β1-adrenergic receptors. Thus, β-adrenergic stimulation results in phosphorylation of S1928 on the CaV1.2 α1 subunit in intact ventricular myocytes via both β1- and β2-adrenergic receptor pathways, but the β2-dependent increase in phosphorylation depends on elevated intracellular calcium and does not contribute to regulation of whole-cell calcium currents at basal calcium levels. Our results correlate phosphorylation of S1928 with β1-adrenergic functional up-regulation of cardiac calcium channels in the presence of BAPTA in intact ventricular myocytes.
High-strength pristine porous chitosan scaffolds for tissue engineering

Chitosan, a biodegradable naturally occurring polymer, has drawn considerable attention in recent years as a scaffolding material in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Despite its favorable biological properties, the weak mechanical strength of scaffolds produced from chitosan has limited the scope of their application. Here we fabricated 3D pristine porous chitosan scaffolds with unprecedented mechanical strength and investigated the regulatory role of chitosan and acidic concentrations on the crystallinity and thus on the mechanical and biological properties of produced scaffolds. Chitosan scaffolds of varying mechanical properties were prepared from solutions with chitosan concentrations of 4–12 wt%. The produced scaffolds showed no apparent shape change after immersion in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), phosphate buffered saline, and simulated body fluid for two weeks. We showed that the crystallinity of the scaffold increased with increasing chitosan concentration or decreasing solution acidity, and the maximum compressive mechanical strength and modulus of 1.74 ± 0.01 MPa and 17.99 ± 0.11 MPa, respectively, were achieved at a chitosan concentration of 12 wt%. MG-63 osteoblast cells demonstrated improved adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic activity on chitosan scaffolds of increased chitosan concentration or mechanical strength. The ability to produce high-strength chitosan scaffolds and engineer their mechanical properties can substantially expand the applicability of chitosan in tissue engineering as well as other engineering applications.
Invariantization of numerical schemes using moving frames

This paper deals with a geometric technique to construct numerical schemes for differential equations that inherit Lie symmetries. The moving frame method enables one to adjust existing numerical schemes in a geometric manner and systematically construct proper invariant versions of them. Invariantization works as an adaptive transformation on numerical solutions, improving their accuracy greatly. Error reduction in the Runge–Kutta method by invariantization is studied through several applications including a harmonic oscillator and a Hamiltonian system.
Scattering height estimation using scintillating Wide Area Augmentation System/Satellite Based Augmentation System and GPS satellite signals

[1] An experiment to measure equatorial amplitude scintillations on the geostationary Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) signal was conducted in Cachoeira Paulista (22.70°S, 45.01°W geographic coordinates; −17.74°N, 21.74°E geomagnetic coordinates), Brazil from December 2003 through February 2004. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the scattering height of the irregularities using the WAAS signal scintillations as compared to nearby Global Positioning System (GPS) signal scintillations. Estimating the scattering height is important because the calculated zonal drift velocity of the irregularities using the measured scintillation pattern velocity on the ground is height dependent. Accurate height estimation is also required if one wishes to develop phase screen scintillation models. The difference in the pattern velocities is due to the different signal puncture point velocities with respect to the ionospheric drift. Two east-west receivers are used to measure the scintillation pattern drift velocity and to compare the results of the geostationary WAAS satellite signal to that of a GPS satellite signal, which has a nonzero ionospheric signal puncture point velocity. By varying the assumed scattering height for the measurements from the nearby GPS signal, the zonal velocity measurements from the GPS scintillations can be matched to those of the WAAS scintillations, and a scattering height estimate can be made. When the puncture points have minimal separation, the inferred ionospheric irregularity zonal velocities should be equal. On the two nights for which data are available, scattering height estimates of 669 ± 209 km for the first night and 388 ± 139 km for the second night were obtained. On the second night, the reported mean hmF2 as calculated using a collocated Digisonde was 385 ± 17 km over the same period as the GPS/WAAS scattering height estimate. The geometry of this experiment was not optimal, but analysis demonstrates that future experiments could be substantially more accurate.
Activation of Pro-gelatinase B by Endometase/Matrilysin-2 Promotes Invasion of Human Prostate Cancer Cells

This work has explored a putative biochemical mechanism by which endometase/matrilysin-2/matrix metalloproteinase-26 (MMP-26) may promote human prostate cancer cell invasion. Here, we showed that the levels of MMP-26 protein in human prostate carcinomas from multiple patients were significantly higher than those in prostatitis, benign prostate hyperplasia, and normal prostate glandular tissues. The role of MMP-26 in prostate cancer progression is unknown. MMP-26 was capable of activating pro-MMP-9 by cleavage at the Ala93–Met94 site of the prepro-enzyme. This activation proceeded in a time- and dose-dependent manner, facilitating the efficient cleavage of fibronectin by MMP-9. The activated MMP-9 products generated by MMP-26 appeared more stable than those cleaved by MMP-7 under the conditions tested. To investigate the contribution of MMP-26 to cancer cell invasion via the activation of MMP-9, highly invasive and metastatic human prostate carcinoma cells, androgen-repressed prostate cancer (ARCaP) cells were selected as a working model. ARCaP cells express both MMP-26 and MMP-9. Specific anti-MMP-26 and anti-MMP-9 functional blocking antibodies both reduced the invasiveness of ARCaP cells across fibronectin or type IV collagen. Furthermore, the introduction of MMP-26antisense cDNA into ARCaP cells significantly reduced the MMP-26 protein level in these cells and strongly suppressed the invasiveness of ARCaP cells. Double immunofluorescence staining and confocal laser scanning microscopic images revealed that MMP-26 and MMP-9 were co-localized in parental and MMP-26 sense-transfected ARCaP cells. Moreover, MMP-26 and MMP-9 proteins were both expressed in the same human prostate carcinoma tissue samples examined. These results indicate that MMP-26 may be a physiological and pathological activator of pro-MMP-9.
Single Molecule Detection of One, Two and Multiplex Proteins Involved in DNA/RNA Transaction

Cellular processes involve complex arrangement of proteins engaged in a multitude of reactions, yet in a highly coordinated manner. The level of complexity, however, makes it difficult to investigate the role played by the individual protein constituent. Data taken from the conventional bulk solution methods suffer from ensemble averaging effect in which information from individual molecules is masked. The single molecule detection method overcomes this limitation by offering unique tools for monitoring the activity of individual molecules in isolation and in real-time dynamics. Included in this review are recent articles of single molecule studies representing a diverse array of experimental platforms which demonstrate the power and spectrum of single molecule detection.
Community College Counseling: Why Are Research Outcomes So Elusive?

This article focuses on counseling research in the community college context. The article suggests the need for a robust community college knowledge base, describes some limitations of the current community college literature, and suggests a framework for more effective work in this area. The authors’ own experiences and selected examples of published studies are used as illustrations of the hurdles encountered and solutions available when examining counseling theories, practices, and outcomes in 2-year settings.
Physician Compensation Are Physicians Paid to Promote Health and Well-Being?

Physician motivation and related incentive compensations plans are central to the design and delivery of safe, high-quality, satisfying medical care as well as advancing physician satisfaction and ...
Towards a Comparative Politics of Movement-Regimes

Those who specialize in the study of Soviet government and politics are beginning to feel and acknowledge the need for a more effective theoretical apparatus. The post-war years of expanded research in this field have been fruitful in empirical studies of Soviet political history and institutions, but the theoretical development has not kept pace; and now the lag is beginning to inhibit the further fruitful progress of empirical research itself. Instead of a gradually developing body of theory, we still have a melange of "ten theories in search of reality," as Daniel Bell has summed it up in the title of a recent article.2 The purpose of the present paper is not to propound an eleventh theory. It is only an exploratory effort, a consideration of a somewhat different approach to the problem than has been customary in the field of Soviet studies. In presenting it, I shall try to shed the blinkers of a Russian specialist and take a look at the whole political galaxy in which Russia is only the biggest star and probably no longer the brightest one.
Interaction of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine and methotrexate. A basis for reduced methotrexate toxicity.

Methotrexate (MTX) toxicity is reduced significantly by a non-toxic dose of 5′-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5′dFUr). Changes in the hematopoietic system (platelets, erythrocytes, leukocytes, and hematocrit), ileal tissue, and body weight were used as parameters to assess toxicity. MTX treatment alone resulted in: (a) a reduction of body weight; (b) significantly morphological changes in ileal tissue; and (c) a marked decrease in the hematopoietic parameters. Sequential treatment with MTX followed by 5′dFUr resulted in reversal of MTX depression of animal body weight and ileal tissue necrosis, and partial reversal in MTX toxicity to the hematopoietic system. Also, for all parameters studied, there were no significant differences between scheduling of MTX after a priming dose of 5′dFUr, 5′dFUr alone, and control. Hence, this study suggests that 5′dFUr is a pharmacological antidote for MTX toxicity, and, therefore, 5′dFUr in combination with MTX may provide a basis whereby more intense and effective MTX therapy may be given.
The Clinical Research for Congenital Dislocation of the Hip with Ferguson's Operation

Objective: In order to evaluate clinical significance,of the Ferguson's operation was systematically evaluated in children less than 3 years old with congenital dislocation of the hip.Method:40 cases (50 hips)with dislocation of the hip were operated by Ferguson's operation,while the control,32 cases (42 hips)were treated traditional conservative regime.The data were comprehensive analyzed.Result:The effective ratio of cases operated by Ferguson's operation(92%)is more than the ratio of cases with conservative therapy(73%)( p 0.01).The incidence rate of avascular necrosis of femoral head(8%)in cases operated by Ferguson's operation is less than in cases with conservative regime(31%)( p 0.05).Conclusion:Instead of the traditional conservative method which including adductor cutting of and closed reduction,Ferguson's operation is a safe and effective therapy for congenital dislocation of hip,especially benefit for children who fail in conservative regime.
Salesperson Types and their Linkage to Reward Valence, Job Satisfaction, Job Effort, and Propensity-to-Leave: An Empirical Investigation of Retail Salespeople

Salespersons are classified into four different types based on the conceptualization of Blau and Boal (1987). Using midpoints of organizational commitment (OC) scores and job involvement (n) scores, this paper divides 192 retail salespeople into institutionalized stars (high OC and high JI), lone wolves (low OC and high JI), corporate citizens (high OC and low JI), and apathetic salespersons (low OC and low JI). An empirical analysis reveals that, as hypothesized, institutionalized stars have the highest levels of reward valence, job satisfaction, and job effort, while apathetic salespersons show the extreme opposite. Lone wolves and corporate citizens show mixed results for reward valence. Interestingly, however, lone wolves, while working harder than corporate citizens, are less satisfied and more likely to leave the company.
Computed tomographic angiography and magnetic resonance angiography were specific, but could not rule out renal artery stenosis.

Source Citation Vasbinder GB, Nelemans PJ, Kessels AG, et al. Accuracy of computed tomographic angiography and magnetic resonance angiography for diagnosing renal artery stenosis. Ann Intern Med. 2...
Co-oxidation of methylphosphonic acid and ethanol in supercritical water II: Elementary reaction rate model

Abstract A supercritical water co-oxidation elementary reaction rate mechanism was constructed from submechanisms for methylphosphonic acid (MPA or PO(OH)2CH3) and ethanol with updated kinetic rate parameters for H2O2 and HOCO chemistry. The co-oxidation mechanism accurately reproduces the experimentally observed conversion trend of the refractory MPA component as a function of initial concentration of the labile ethanol component [J.M. Ploeger, P.A. Bielenberg, R.P. Lachance, J.W. Tester, Co-oxidation of methylphosphonic acid and ethanol in supercritical water: I. Experimental results, J. Supercrit. Fluids (2006)]. The increase in MPA conversion with increasing ethanol concentration is predicted to be caused by the increased concentration of hydroperoxy radicals (HO2 ) produced by ethanol oxidation. An analysis of the major organophosphorus reaction fluxes indicated that the co-oxidative effect would increase the conversion of MPA but not change the rate of formation of methane. An experiment using a model formaldehyde/methanol mixture as a co-oxidant was conducted to confirm this prediction.
Comparison of factors regulating red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) in acute and chronic hypoxemia.

Abstract In twelve hypoxemic patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) correlated significantly with arterial Po 2 (p 2 . Arterial pH seems to be the best predictor of red cell 2,3-DPG in acute hypoxemia and metabolic acid-base disorders while arterial Po 2 or a related factor is pre-eminent in stable COPD.
Noise-cancelling sturdy MASH delta-sigma modulator

A noise-cancelling sturdy multi-stage noise-shaping (NC-SMASH) structure that cancels first stage quantization error is proposed. Without any modification to existing analog blocks in the traditional sturdy MASH (SMASH) structure, adding digital noise-cancelling filters (NCFs) will cancel the first stage quantization error. This quantization error cancellation, unlike the traditional MASH structure, is less sensitive to analog loop filter matching and digital filters. This is because the leakage of the first stage quantization error is shaped by the overall noise transfer function (NTF) of the proposed NC-SMASH structure. Therefore, this technique allows using low gain opamps without signal-to-noise ratio degradation and reducing the number of the first stage quantization levels. Detailed Matlab simulation results are provided to prove the efficiency of the proposed modulator.
Financial Markets Matter More than Fiscal Institutions for the Success of the Euro

AbstractMany argue that the euro is handicapped as a currency because European governments are unwilling to pool responsibility for fiscal policy in common institutions. This argument is derived from the theory of optimum currency areas and fuelled by analogy with US experience. It is mistaken. A monetary union does not need a fiscal union to work. Worse, efforts to build European fiscal institutions are likely to distract European policymakers from a more important agenda. Europe needs a fully functioning banking union with a common risk-free asset if Europeans want to stabilise the euro as a common currency. Moreover, it would need these things even if the euro did not exist and all it had was the common market. Financial stability – and not fiscal federalism – is the key to Europe's future. European policymakers should focus their efforts on building the necessary institutions.
A state space model of gerbil cochlea

A mammal’s cochlea appears to be an array of band-pass filters with steep high-frequency band edges and overlapping pass bands, each covering a slightly different range of frequencies and each serving as a separate signal-processing channel. With the channels ordered according to their pass band peaks, the system’s response to a stimulus can be visualized as a three-dimensional spectrograph (the response versus time over an ordered array of filters), which contains the information passed to the nuclei of the auditory brainstem.
Hospital-Level Variation in Postpartum Readmissions

Readmission rates are used as a quality indicator and linked to reimbursement for certain medical and surgical conditions.1 Obstetric maternal readmissions have not been rigorously studied as a quality measure, though their use has been proposed.2 The goal of this study was to determine the potential utility of this metric and its ability to accurately reflect quality by quantifying (1) the variance in hospital postpartum readmission rates and (2) the percentage of the variance that was attributed to the effect of the hospital after controlling for case mix.
Lawn and Order: An Ecocritique of Progress in Stephen Crane's THE MONSTER

There's something about cutting your lawn that drives some basic need in man for order and regulation….— American LawnLike the realist tales decried by naturalists, Stephen Crane's “The Monster” is...
Guillain-Barré Syndrome After Revision Lumbar Surgery: A Case Report.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a term that is used to describe a group of immune-mediated peripheral neuropathies, with the most common feature being rapid polyradiculoneuropathy. The exact etiology of this syndrome is unknown. In the field of orthopedics, GBS has been reported to occur after total hip arthroplasty, orthopedic trauma, and spine surgery. We report a unique case of GBS after elective revision lumbar spine surgery. A 62-year-old female presented with persistent low back pain and radiculopathy and elected to have revision lumbar spine surgery. Approximately 24 to 36 hours after hospital discharge, she returned to the hospital with weakness in her legs. After an electromyography (EMG), the patient was diagnosed with GBS and placed on intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). She developed respiratory failure, which required intubation and eventually converted to a tracheostomy and was finally decannulated. Over the course of 12 months, she improved to her pre-surgical baseline, gaining 5/5 strength in her upper and lower extremities and was able to ambulate independently without any aids. This was a case of GBS that occurred in a patient approximately two weeks after revision lumbar surgery. GBS is a poorly understood and rare complication of lumbar spine surgery that needs to be recognized quickly to be effectively treated.
Distribution, Age Structure, and Growth of Bigheaded Carps in the Lower Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers

Abstract Invasive Asian carps Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Bighead Carp) and H. molitrix (Silver Carp), collectively referred to as bigheaded carps, were introduced to the US in the 1970s to control noxious algae blooms in aquaculture ponds. Fish subsequently escaped, and by the 1980s bigheaded carps were widespread and established in the upper Mississippi River, lower Missouri River, and the Ohio River and some of its tributaries. We sampled bigheaded carps in the lowermost reservoirs on the Tennessee River (Kentucky Lake) and Cumberland River (Lake Barkley) in 2015 and 2016 using multiple gears, including gill nets, hoop nets, electrofishing, and cast nets, to describe their distribution and estimate several population attributes. Additional electrofishing samples on the Duck River, a system renowned for its diverse ichthyofauna and mussel communities, revealed that Silver Carp range extends 220 river kilometers (rkm) upstream below the Columbia Dam. We collected a total of 737 Silver Carp and 10 Bighead...
Sex pheromone of the cranberry blossom worm, Epiglaea apiata.

The cranberry blossom worm, Epiglaea apiata (Grote) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major pest of cranberries in New Jersey. The female sexpheromone of this moth was identified as a blend of (Z)-9-hexadecenyl acetate (Z9-16:Ac), (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:Ac), and tetradecyl acetate (14:Ac) by gas chromatographic–electroantennographic detection and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The ratio of the components in extracts of the female pheromone gland was determined to be 65 : 2 : 33 of the Z9-16:Ac, Z9-14:Ac, and 14:Ac, respectively. The double bond positions of the pheromone components were confirmed by dimethyl disulfide derivatization. In addition to the above three components, a mixture of C4–C10 aliphatic acids was present in both gland extracts and effluvia collections, and the acids elicited significant EAD responses from male moth antennae. However, addition of the C4–C10 aliphatic acids to the pheromone blend did not significantly increase trap captures. Three-hundred- and 1000-μg doses of a synthetic blend containing Z9-16:Ac, Z9-14:Ac, and 14:Ac (65 : 2 : 33), on a rubber septum were more attractive to males than lower doses.
Marketing Channel Management by Multinational Corporations in Foreign Markets

AbstractMultinational corporations (MNCs) are adopting increasingly diverse and complex marketing channels to sell their products worldwide. They strive to manage channels that confront diverse demands from headquarters, foreign subsidiaries, and local partners as well as complex market environments. Because extant research on MNCs’ marketing channels is sparse, the authors propose an organizing framework to spur and guide research on MNC channel management. As a meta-theory that integrates economic and social elements of MNC channel management, the political economy perspective is used to propose two testable frameworks pertaining to determinants of (1) MNC marketing channel structures and processes and (2) MNC marketing channel outcomes. Building on these frameworks, the authors advance a research agenda to test substantive relationships, elaborate new constructs, and illustrate new contexts pertaining to MNC marketing channels. A set of propositions illustrates the applicability of these conceptual fra...
Functional Justice: Productivity and Well-Being Goals Define Fairness

Theories of distributive justice have identified at least three principles on which allocations can be based – equity, equality, and need. Morton Deutsch linked individual use of these principles to underlying goals, but the importance of goals in defining just distributions is not widely appreciated in psychology, political science, or by policy makers. Examining the literature on gender, ideology, and culture reveals a convergent pattern where goal disposition may mediate observed differences in what allocations are considered fair. Consistent with evolutionary and published theoretical models, the goal of increasing productivity leads to the use of the equity principle while the goal of increasing well-being leads to the use of the equality and/or need principles. Reviewing experimental justice research yields a convergent finding and it is hypothesized that many experimental manipulations may actually be manipulating goal activation. Implications for public policy are discussed, as policy makers increasingly begin to question reliance on measures of national productivity, supplementing them with measures of national well-being.