cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrical Slow Waves in the Mouse Oviduct Are Dependent upon a Calcium Activated Chloride Conductance Encoded by Tmem16a

Myosalpinx contractions are critical for oocyte transport along the oviduct. A specialized population of pacemaker cells—oviduct interstitial cells of Cajal—generate slow waves, the electrical events underlying myosalpinx contractions. The ionic basis of oviduct pacemaker activity is unknown. We examined the role of a new class of Ca2+-activated Cl− channels (CaCCs)—anoctamin 1, encoded by Tmem16a—in oviduct slow wave generation. RT-PCR revealed the transcriptional expression of Tmem16a-encoded CaCCs in the myosalpinx. Intracellular microelectrode recordings were performed in the presence of two pharmacologically distinct Cl− channel antagonists, anthracene-9-carboxylic acid and niflumic acid. Both of these inhibitors caused membrane hyperpolarization, reduced the duration of slow waves, and ultimately inhibited pacemaker activity. Niflumic acid also inhibited propagating calcium waves within the myosalpinx. Slow waves were present at birth in wild-type and heterozygous oviducts but failed to develop by birth in mice homozygous for a null allele of Tmem16a (Tmem16atm1Bdh/tm1Bdh). These data suggest that Tmem16a-encoded CaCCs contribute to membrane potential and are responsible for the upstroke and plateau phases of oviduct slow waves.
Renal injury and salt-sensitive hypertension after exposure to catecholamines.

Abstract —We investigated whether chronic infusion of phenylephrine could induce structural and functional changes in the kidney of rats with the subsequent development of salt-sensitive hypertension. Rats were infused with phenylephrine (0.15 mmol/kg per day) by minipump, resulting in a moderate increase in systolic blood pressure (BP) (17 to 25 mm Hg) and a marked increase in BP variability as measured by an internal telemetry device. After 8 weeks, the phenylephrine infusion was stopped with the return of BP to normal, and a nephrectomy was performed for histological studies. Glomeruli were largely spared, but focal tubulointerstitial fibrosis was present, with the de novo expression of osteopontin by injured tubules, macrophage and “myofibroblast” accumulation, and focal increases in mRNA for transforming growth factor β by in situ hybridization. Peritubular capillaries at sites of injury had distorted morphology with shrinkage, rounding, and focal rarefaction, and endothelial cell proliferation was also identified. Rats were randomized to a high (8% NaCl or 1.36 mol/kg) or low (0.1% NaCl or 17 mmol/kg) salt diet. After 4 to 8 weeks, phenylephrine-treated rats on a high salt diet developed marked hypertension, which was in contrast with phenylephrine-treated rats placed on a low salt diet or vehicle-treated rats given a high salt diet. Hypertension after phenylephrine exposure correlated with the initial mean systolic BP ( r 2=0.99) and the degree of BP lability ( r 2=0.99) during the phenylephrine infusion, the amount of osteopontin expressed in the initial biopsy/nephrectomy ( r 2=0.74), and the final glomerular filtration rate ( r 2=0.58). These studies provide a mechanism by which a markedly elevated sympathetic nervous system can induce salt-dependent hypertension even when the hyperactive sympathetic state is no longer engaged.
The growth of soybean under free air [CO2] enrichment (FACE) stimulates photosynthesis while decreasing in vivo Rubisco capacity

Down-regulation of light-saturated photosyn- thesis (Asat) at elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration, (CO2), has been demonstrated for many C3 species and is often associated with inability to utilize additional photosynthate and/or nitrogen limitation. In soybean, a nitrogen-fixing species, both limitations are less likely than in crops lacking an N-fixing symbiont. Prior studies have used controlled environment or field enclosures where the artificial environment can modify responses to (CO2). A soybean free air (CO2) enrichment (FACE) facility has provided the first opportunity to analyze the effects of elevated (CO2) on photosynthesis under fully open-air conditions. Potential ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) carboxylation (Vc,max) and electron transport through photosystem II (Jmax) were determined from the responses of Asat to intercel- lular (CO2 )( Ci) throughout two growing seasons. Mesophyll conductance to CO2 (gm) was determined from the responses of Asat and whole chain electron transport (J) to light. Elevated (CO2) increased Asat by 15-20% even though there was a small, statistically significant, decrease in Vc,max. This differs from previous studies in that Vc,max/Jmax decreased, inferring a shift in resource investment away from Rubisco. This raised the Ci at which the transition from Rubisco-limited to ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate regeneration-limited photosynthesis occurred. The decrease in Vc,max was not the result of a change in gm, which was unchanged by elevated (CO2). This first analysis of limitations to soy- bean photosynthesis under fully open-air conditions re- veals important differences to prior studies that have used enclosures to elevate (CO2), most significantly a smaller response of Asat and an apparent shift in re- sources away from Rubisco relative to capacity for electron transport.
Output resistance of the common-emitter amplifier

Contrary to a long-held belief, the output resistance of the common-emitter (CE) amplifier is not independent of its signal-source resistance. Although it is widely accepted that the output resistance of the CE amplifier is approximately equal to the ratio of the Early voltage to the collector current V/sub A//I/sub C/, independent of the resistance of the signal source, it is shown herein that this belief is incorrect. The hybrid Pi model gives the output impedance ratio for high-impedance versus low-impedance sources as being equal to unity (i.e., no effect due to the source impedance). On the other hand, the Early model of the bipolar transistor gives a ratio equal to precisely 2. Lastly, the charge injection theory of the bipolar transistor gives a ratio equal to 1.51 in excellent agreement with the experimental value of 1.517.
Effects of γ-irradiation on the morphology and slow crack growth in high-density polyethylene

The effects of γ-irradiation were measured in a HDPE and in the resin after it was recrystallized. The fracture mode of the initial material transformed from crazing to complete brittle failure at a critical dose. The failure mode of the recrystallized material transformed from crazing to shear deformation, which produced an extremely long failure time, and finally, at a higher dose, its fracture became brittle. The relationship between morphology and slow crack growth is presented where crosslinking was the major factor. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1211–1218, 1998
Virtual switch human-machine interface using fingernail touch sensors

A novel human-machine interface using wearable sensors is presented. Fingernail sensors that detect touch forces at the fingertip are used as a means to acquire human intentions of pressing buttons and switches. The sensor is worn on the fingernail (and looks like an ornamental fingernail). Combined with a magnetic tracker detecting the position of the human hand, it identifies which switch the human wishes to push and when the switch has been pushed. This allows traditional physical switches, embedded in a wall, control panel, etc., to be replaced by "virtual switches" that contain no electrical circuits or mechanical parts, but are merely pictures showing the location of the switch. In the virtual switch system, the location and functionality of switches are determined by software and can thereby be changed flexibly depending on the progress of task performance, environmental conditions, and context. The virtual switch method is combined with a "hyper manual" that stores task-procedure and operational information on a computer. Monitoring the human task performance allows the digital hyper manual to better guide the human, detect errors, and provide a safer environment.
SYSTEMIC FACTORS IN SOFTWARE-RELATED SPACECRAFT ACCIDENTS

Four relatively recent spacecraft accidents involving software are examined: the explosion of the Ariane 5 launcher on its maiden flight in 1996; the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter in 1999; the destruction of the Mars Polar Lander sometime during the entry, deployment, and landing phase in the following year; and the placing of a Milstar satellite in an incorrect and unusable orbit by a Titan IV B in 1999. Important common factors and similarities were identified.
Dietary and genetic evidence for enhancing glucose metabolism and reducing obesity by inhibiting klotho functions

Klotho is a multifunctional protein involved in numerous biological functions, ranging from mineral ion metabolism to signaling activities. Recent studies have identified klotho as a target gene for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), a master regulator of adipocyte differentiation, and an adipogenesis-promoting factor. In a similar line of observation, eliminating klotho function from mice resulted in the generation of lean mice with almost no detectable fat tissue. In contrast to the klotho-knockout mice (11.7±0.3 g at 9 wk), leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice are severely obese (49.3±0.6 g at 9 wk), due to excessive fat accumulation. To study the in vivo role of klotho in obesity, we have generated and characterized ob/ob mice lacking klotho activity [ob/ob-klotho double-knockout (DKO) mice]. The ob/ob mice started to get bigger from 3 wk onward and gained almost 2 times more weight than their wild-type (WT) counterparts (WT vs. ob/ob: 34.8±1.3 vs. 65.5±1.2 g at 21 wk). The generated ob/ob-klotho DKO mice were not only viable throughout their adulthood but also showed markedly reduced fat tissue accumulation compared to their ob/ob littermates. The ob/ob-klotho DKO mice had significantly (P<0.01) less retroperitoneal, mesenteric, and epididymal fat accumulation, compared to their ob/ob counterparts. Similarly, the fatty liver that was consistently observed in the ob/ob mice was eliminated in the ob/ob-klotho DKO mice. Such structural improvement in the liver was also evident from markedly reduced fasting blood glucose levels in ob/ob-klotho DKO mice, compared to their ob/ob counterparts (ob/ob vs. ob/ob-klotho DKO: 266 ± 36 vs. 65±2 mg/dl). Finally, to study whether the absence of klotho can induce resistance to high-fat-diet-induced obesity, we provided a high-fat (60%) diet to klotho-knockout mice and compared them with normal-fat (20%) diet-fed klotho-knockout mice. No significant difference in body weight was detected in klotho-knockout mice fed either the normal-fat diet or high-fat diet, while WT mice fed the high-fat diet gradually gained body weight, compared to the normal-fat-diet-fed counterparts. The results of our dietary and genetic manipulation studies provide in vivo evidence for a role of klotho in obesity and offer a novel target to manipulate obesity and associated complications.—Ohnishi, M., Kato, S., Akiyoshi, J., Atfi, A., Razzaque, M. S. Dietary and genetic evidence for enhancing glucose metabolism and reducing obesity by inhibiting klotho functions.
Repair of DNA Strand Breaks at Hyperthermic Temperatures in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

The repair of DNA double-strand breaks was measured by pH 7·2 filter elution in cells incubated at 25–45°C either before or after X-irradiation. Exposure to 45°C for 15 minutes immediately prior to X-irradiation significantly increased both the half-time for DNA double-strand break closure and the number of of DNA double-strand breaks remaining in nuclear DNA 180 minutes after irradiation. Exposure to temperatures between 41 and 45°C immediately after X-irradiation accelerated DNA double-strand break closure and resulted in no increase in the number of DNA double-strand breaks remaining in the cell's genome 180 minutes after irradiation. The results indicate either that the radiosensitization produced by the administration of hyperthermic temperatures before and after irradition result from two characteristically different molecular mechanisms, or that neither the rate of DNA strand break closure nor the number of DNA strand breaks remaining in nuclear DNA after irradiation accurately predict hyperthermic...
On the convergence of Das Gupta's model of fertility projection.

A regression model expressing the age-specific fertility rates at a given point of time as a variable dependent upon the same at the preceding points of time has been developed by Das Gupta for purposes of fertility projection. The model, judged by the values of the multiple correlation coefficients, appears to work very well with the U.S. data set, and it also produces limiting values of the fertility rates when the projection is carried far into the future. The conditions of convergence of such a model have been determined in this paper according to which the model's usefulness for purposes of long-term projection of fertility rates appears to be severely restricted.
Role of endogenous opioids in neurohypophysial function of man.

Studies were carried out in normal human subjects to determine the effect oftwo narcotic antagonists, oxilorphan and butorphanol, on antidiuretic hormone (ADH) release. Oxilorphan given to eight subjects on ad libitum fluid intake resulted in a transient but significant increase in 24-h free water clearance and a decrease inurine osmolality. These changes were not accompanied by an increase in creatinine or solute excretion, and urinary ADH levels did not rise even though plasma osmolality rose significantly from 289.4 ± 0.9 to 292.9 ± 0.8 mosmol/kg. Treatment with oxilorphan did not interfere with the response to ADH infusion in water-loaded subjects. Both oxilorphan and butorphanol significantly elevated the plasma osmolality at which ADHrelease became evident after the infusion of hypertonic saline in water-loaded subjects. Oxilorphan suppressed urinary ADH excretion at the time of the osmotic threshold for ADH release in spite of the greater plasma osmolality. The data indicate that the narcotic antag...
Pregnant women benefit from massage therapy

Twenty-six pregnant women were assigned to a massage therapy or a relaxation therapy group for 5 weeks. The therapies consisted of 20-min sessions twice a week. Both groups reported feeling less anxious after the first session and less leg pain after the first and last session. Only the massage therapy group, however, reported reduced anxiety, improved mood, better sleep and less back pain by the last day of the study. In addition, urinary stress hormone levels (norepinephrine) decreased for the massage therapy group and the women had fewer complications during labor and their infants had fewer postnatal complications (e.g., less prematurity).
Cortical spreading depression produces long-term disruption of activity-related changes in cerebral blood volume and neurovascular coupling

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a pronounced depo- larization of neurons and glia that spreads slowly across the cortex followed by a period of depressed electrophysiological activity. The vascular changes associated with CSD are a large transient increase in blood flow followed by a prolonged decrease lasting greater than 1 h. Currently, the profile of functional vascular activity during this hypo- volemic period has not been well characterized. Perfusion-based im- aging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) assume a tight coupling between changes in neuronal and vas- cular activity. Under normal conditions, these variables are well cor- related. Characterizing the effect of CSD on this relationship is an important step to understand the impact acute pathophysiological events may have on neurovascular coupling. We examine the effect of CSD on functional changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) evoked by cortical electrophysiological activity for 1 h following CSD induc- tion. CBV signal amplitude, duration, and time to peak show little recovery at 60 min post-induction. Analysis of spontaneous vasomo- tor activity suggests a decrease in vascular reactivity may play a sig- nificant role in the disruption of normal functional CBV responses. Electrophysiological activity is also attenuated but to a lesser degree. CBV and evoked potentials are not well correlated following CSD, suggesting a breakdown of the neurovascular coupling relationship.
LIVER INJURY, LIVER PROTECTION, AND SULFUR METABOLISM : METHIONINE PROTECTS AGAINST CHLOROFORM LIVER INJURY EVEN WHEN GIVEN AFTER ANESTHESIA.

Protein-depleted dogs are very susceptible to injurious agents—in particular, chloroform. Methionine given shortly before chloroform anesthesia will give complete protection against chloroform. Methionine (or cysteine plus choline) given 3 or 4 hours after chloroform anesthesia will give significant protection against the liver injury of chloroform anesthesia. Methionine given more than 4 hours after chloroform anesthesia gives no protection against liver injury. Choline alone given before chloroform gives no protection against liver injury. The protein-depleted dogs have livers which are deficient in both nitrogen and sulfur, but sulfur is depleted more than is the nitrogen. The N/S ratio therefore rises. Methionine or cystine feeding promptly makes up this liver sulfur deficit. Viable liver cells are necessary for this uptake of sulfur. Livers of fetuses in utero or of newborn pups tolerate a chloroform anesthesia which will cause fatal liver injury in adults. The nitrogen and sulfur values of these fetus or pup livers are within the high normal values for adults. Blood-forming cells are present in the fetus or pup livers during this period. When these blood islands are eliminated during the 3rd or 4th week of life, the liver then becomes normally susceptible to chloroform liver injury. Methionine or methionine-rich protein digests ( e.g . casein) or various proteins by mouth or by vein should prove useful to protect the liver against certain types of injury and to aid in organ repair.
Assimilation, antigemination, and contingent optionality: The phonology of monoconsonantal proclitics in Polish

Bakovic (2005) analyzes the avoidance of ‘sufficiently similar’ adjacent consonants as the interaction of independent antigemination and assimilation processes. We present evidence from the phonology of monoconsonantal proclitics in Polish in support of the primary consequence of this analysis, that any conditions on antigemination or assimilation will also be conditions on ‘sufficient similarity’ avoidance. These conditions concern the segmental contexts in which geminates are disallowed in Polish and the variability of one of the assimilation processes involved. The analysis is further corroborated by the coincidence of two changes in progress: as the rate of variable assimilation has gone down, so has the rate of ‘sufficient similarity’ avoidance.
Familial Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Evidence for Genetic Susceptibility

Importance Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a major cause of acute coronary syndrome in young women, especially among those without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Prior efforts to study SCAD have been hampered by underrecognition and lack of registry-based studies. Risk factors and pathogenesis remain largely undefined, and inheritability has not been reported. Observations Using novel research methods, patient champions, and social media, the Mayo Clinic SCAD Registry has been able to better characterize this condition, which was previously considered rare. Of 412 patient enrollees, we identified 5 familial cases of SCAD comprising affected mother-daughter, identical twin sister, sister, aunt-niece, and first-cousin pairs, implicating both recessive and dominant modes of inheritance. The mother-daughter pair also reported fatal myocardial infarction in 3 maternal relatives. None of the participants had other potential risk factors for SCAD, including connective tissue disorders or peripartum status. Conclusions and Relevance To our knowledge, this series is the first to identify a familial association in SCAD suggesting a genetic predisposition. Recognition of SCAD as a heritable disorder has implications for at-risk family members and furthers our understanding of the pathogenesis of this complex disease. Whole-exome sequencing provides a unique opportunity to identify the molecular underpinnings of SCAD susceptibility.
Model based condition monitoring in lithium-ion batteries

Abstract In this paper, a model based condition monitoring technique is developed for lithium-ion battery condition monitoring. Here a number of lithium-ion batteries are cycled using two separate over discharge test regimes and the resulting shift in battery parameters is recorded. The battery models are constructed using the equivalent circuit methodology. The condition monitoring setup consists of a model bank representing the different degree of parameter shift due to overdischarge in the lithium ion battery. Extended Kalman filters (EKF) are used to maintain increased robustness of the condition monitoring setup while estimating the terminal voltage of the battery cell. The information carrying residuals are generated and evaluation process is carried out in real-time using multiple model adaptive estimation (MMAE) methodology. The condition evaluation function is used to generate probabilities that indicate the presence of a particular operational condition. Using the test data, it is shown that the performance shift in lithium ion batteries due to over discharge can be accurately detected.
Correlation between pancreatic enzyme secretion and plasma concentration of human pancreatic polypeptide in health and in chronic pancreatitis.

We have determined the relationship between pancreatic enzyme secretion and release of pancreatic polypeptide in response to nutrient and hormone stimulation in healthy subjects and in patients with different degrees of chronic pancreatitis. In 8 healthy subjects, the output of trypsin, in response to intraduodenal perfusion of an essential amino acid mixture (39.6 ± 3U/h) was significantly higher than that in response to oleic acid (30. 5 ± 1.6 U/h), which in turn was greater than the response to glucose (11.3 ± 2.3 U/h). The relative potencies of the three nutrients in the stimulation of pancreatic polypeptide secretion were similar to those observed for pancreatic enzyme secretion. The integrated pancreatic polypeptide responses were 3206 ± 317, 1954 ± 147, and 1236 ± 117 pg/min · ml for amino acids, oleic acid, and glucose, respectively. The mean (±SE) increase in trypsin output in response to cholecystokinin octapeptide stimulation (35.6 ± 6.4 U/h), was significantly greater than that observed in response to either secretin (9.4 ± 3.0 U/h), or pentagastrin stimulation (10.2 ± 5.9 U/h). The patterns of pancreatic polypeptide responses were similar to those observed for pancreatic trypsin secretion (integrated plasma pancreatic polypeptide response=3127 ± 722; 1261 ± 488; 1207 ± 383 pg/min · ml for cholecystokinin octapeptide, secretin, and pentagastrin, respectively). Over the range of pancreatic enzyme secretion there was a linear relationship between the mean increase in trypsin output in response to each nutrient and the corresponding integrated plasma pancreatic polypeptide response (r = 0.83, p
Multi-task learning with selective cross-task transfer for predicting bleeding and other important patient outcomes

In blood transfusion studies, its is often desirable before a surgical procedure to estimate the likelihood of a patient bleeding, need for blood products, re-operation due to bleeding and other important patient outcomes. Such prediction rules are crucial in allowing for optimal planning, more efficient use of blood bank resources, and identification of high-risk patient cohort for specific perioperative interventions. The goal of this study is to present a simple and efficient algorithm that could estimate the risk of multiple outcomes simultaneously. Specifically, a heterogeneous multi-task learning method is presented for learning important surgical outcomes such as bleeding, intraoperative RBC transfusion, need for ICU care, length of stay and mortality. To improve the performance of the method, a post-learning strategy is implemented to further learn the relationship between the trained tasks by a simple “goodness of fit” measure. Specifically, two tasks are considered similar if the model parameters of one tasks improves predictive performance of the other. This strategy allows tasks to be grouped in clusters where selective cross-task transfer of knowledge is explicitly encouraged. To further improve prediction accuracy, a number of operative measurements or surgical outcomes whose predictions are not of direct interest are incorporated in the multi-task model as supplementary tasks to donate information and help the performance of relevant tasks. Results for predicting bleeding and need for blood transfusion for patients undergoing non-cardiac operations from an institutional transfusion datamart show that the proposed methods can improve prediction accuracy over standard single-tasks learning methods. Additional experiments on a real public available data set show that the method is accurate and competitive with some existing methods in the literature.
Semantics: Revolutionary Breakthrough or Just Another Way of Doing Things?

It sometimes feels like an uphill battle to explain why an organization should embrace semantic technology rather than continue to rely on relational databases and application programming in object-oriented languages. In this chapter, we review the formal foundations of various representations, and evaluate them against five criteria: understandability of the models, availability of information for retrieval, ability to infer new information which is provably correct, interoperability, and the ability of the data to speak to minds and machines alike with a shared semantics.
Isolation and Characterisation of Lactic Acid Bacteria During the Traditional Fermentation of Uji

(1984). Isolation and Characterisation of Lactic Acid Bacteria During the Traditional Fermentation of Uji. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal: Vol. 50, No. 1-4, pp. 36-43.
Effects of Phorbol Esters on Membrane Currents and Synaptic Efficacy in the Hippocampus

Application of phorbol esters to hippocampal slices has been shown to enhance synaptic transmission in a way that mimics long term potentiation. These compounds also have effects on a voltage-dependent chloride current that could possibly account for some aspects of this potentiating action.
Energy Transfer Studies of Polyphenylene-Type Polymers to a Series of Dyes.

Energy transfer from two polyphenylene-type polymers to a series of organic dyes was studied. One of the polymers was synthesized via Suzuki coupling of 1,4-phenyldiboronic acid with 1,4-dibromobenzene to obtain polyphenylene. The other polymer was a polybenzophenone generated by a nickel-mediated coupling of 2,5-dichloro-4’-methylbenzophenone. These polymers were used as the energy donors. A variety of Coumarins and other dyes were used as acceptors. Photophysical data and energy transfer parameters were determined.
Oligomers Containing Mixed Thiophene and Pyrrole Units

The synthesis and properties of polythiophenes, polypyrroles and their oligomers has evolved into a major area of conducting polymer research. Mixed systems containing both thiophene and pyrrole units have received much less attention. In this paper, the chemistry of thiophene-pyrrole oligomers containing up to seven heterocyclic units is reviewed.
Bioelectrocatalytic oxidation of glucose in CNT impregnated hydrogels: Advantages of synthetic enzymatic metabolon formation

Enzymatic biofuel cells and bioelectrochemical sensors are often limited in performance because of their inability to utilize all of the energy confined in chemical bonds of complex molecules. Multi-enzyme cascade catalysis provides a means to remedy this limitation, but efficiencies of such electrodes can be further enhanced by improving interenzyme substrate mass transport. This consideration is demonstrated to be advantageous in biological systems, as displayed by nearly ubiquitous organization of sequential enzymes in natural metabolic pathways. This sequential organization, termed a metabolon, is examined in this work for a two-enzyme pentose phosphate pathway bioelectrode for the oxidation of glucose. This two-enzyme electrode is compared with a single enzyme, glucose dehydrogenase, and demonstrates increased performance. In addition, increases in efficiency are demonstrated through the creation of a synthetic two-enzyme metabolon versus randomly suspended enzymes immobilized within a hydrogel matrix.
Phosphoglucomutase activity in hereditary muscular dystrophy in mice.

SummaryA modified method of assaying maximum phosphoglucomutase activity in crude muscle homogenates is presented. Mutase activity is significantly decreased in leg muscles of mice with muscular dystrophy whether determined as total enzyme activity (at infinite coenzyme concentration) or as residual enzyme-coenzyme activity (in the absence of added coenzyme). Evidence is presented for a decrease in coenzyme content of dystrophic muscle and for a correlation of these enzyme changes with age of mice and severity of myopathy.
Opposing effects of xid and nu mutations on proliferative and polyclonal antibody and autoantibody responses to peptidoglycan, LPS, protein A and PWM

We have compared the in vitro and in vivo mitogenic and polyclonal antibody (IgM-, IgG-, IgA- and anti-SRBC-secreting PFC) and autoantibody (IgM anti-ssDNA and anti-bromelin-treated mouse RBC-secreting PFC) responses to peptidoglycan (PG), LPS, protein A and PWM in homozygous xid or nu and normal mice. Our results demonstrated opposing effects of xid and nu on polyclonal B cell activation; in general, xid retarded and nu enhanced or did not change these responses. These effects, however, were greatly dependent on the in vitro or in vivo conditions of the stimulation and the type of polyclonal activator used and antibody assayed (isotype and specificity). In vitro, in xid mice, the numbers of all PFC assayed and proliferative responses were lower than in normal mice, whereas in nude mice the numbers of PFC were mostly unchanged, and proliferative responses were increased (PG, LPS) or decreased (protein A, PWM). The in vitro frequencies of autoantibody-secreting cells were similar (anti-DNA) in xid, nude and normal mice, or lower (anti-RBC) than normal in xid mice. In vivo, unstimulated xid mice had lower than normal numbers of IgM-, IgG- and autoantibody-secreting cells and higher numbers of IgA PFC, but in stimulated xid mice, the numbers of all Ig PFC were similar to normal, whereas anti-DNA and anti-RBC PFC were still depressed. The frequencies of anti-DNA and anti-RBC PFC were also lower than normal in xid mice in vivo. Nude mice in vivo had higher than normal numbers and frequencies of anti-DNA PFC and lower numbers of IgM and anti-SRBC PFC. These results indicate preferential retardation of autoantibody-secreting cells in xid mice in vivo and preferential enhancement of these cells in nude mice in vivo. Since in xid mice in vitro PG- and LPS-induced responses were similarly diminished, PG, like LPS, appears to primarily activate a late-maturing B cell subpopulation affected by the xid mutation.
Can You Repeat That? The Effect of Item Repetition on Interleaved and Blocked Study.

Three experiments explore differences between blocked and interleaved study with and without item repetition. In the first experiment we find that when items are repeated during study, blocked study results in higher test performance than interleaved study. In the second experiment we find that when there is no item repetition, interleaved and blocked study result in equivalent performance during the test phase. In the third experiment we find that when the study is passive and includes no item repetition, interleaved study results in higher test performance. We propose that learners create associations between items of the same category during blocked study and item repetition strengthens these associations. Interleaved study leads to weaker associations between items of the same category and therefore results in worse performance during test when there are item repetitions.
CADASIL and multiple sclerosis: A case report of prolonged misdiagnosis

CADASIL is Cerebral Autosomal-Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy [corrected]. (CADASIL) is sometimes misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS). MS and CADASIL are not known to co-occur and brain magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) findings can help with differential diagnosis. Despite the availability of this information, a case report is presented of a 61-year-old woman who was misdiagnosed with MS at age 50, tested positive for CADASIL at age 56, described incorrectly as having both conditions simultaneously, and continued on MS disease-modifying medications, resulting in financial and physical hardship. Neuropsychological consultation helped initiate removal of the MS diagnosis and treatment. Better understanding is needed among clinicians that MS and CADASIL are not known to co-exist, that no association has been found between MS and the NOTCH3 mutations that cause CADASIL, and that neuroimaging and clinical features can help distinguish between the two conditions in addition to genetic testing. This case study highlights how neuropsychological consultation involves more than testing, can help improve diagnostic decision making, and can improve outcomes by reducing costs to the patient and the healthcare system.
The better bisphosphonate in patients with bone metastasis: Zoledronic acid or ibandronic acid? A study from Eastern India

e20524 Background: Ibandronic acid is a third generation bisphosphonate which acts by inhibition of osteoclasts. Zoledronic acid also has a similar mechanism of action. This study was designed to s...
Regulation of cellular proliferation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia by Casein Kinase II (CK2) and Ikaros

The IKZF1 gene encodes the Ikaros protein, a zinc finger transcriptional factor that acts as a master regulator of hematopoiesis and a tumor suppressor in leukemia. Impaired activity of Ikaros is associated with the development of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with a poor prognosis. The molecular mechanisms that regulate Ikaros' function as a tumor suppressor and regulator of cellular proliferation are not well understood. We demonstrated that Ikaros is a substrate for Casein Kinase II (CK2), an oncogenic kinase that is overexpressed in ALL. Phosphorylation of Ikaros by CK2 impairs Ikaros' DNA-binding ability, as well as Ikaros' ability to regulate gene expression and function as a tumor suppressor in leukemia. Targeting CK2 with specific inhibitors restores Ikaros' function as a transcriptional regulator and tumor suppressor resulting in a therapeutic, anti-leukemia effect in a preclinical model of ALL. Here, we review the genes and pathways that are regulated by Ikaros and the molecular mechanisms through which Ikaros and CK2 regulate cellular proliferation in leukemia.
Profile leverage in self-aligned epitaxial Si or SiGe base bipolar technology

The authors have developed a planar, self-aligned, epitaxial Si or SiGe-base bipolar technology and explored intrinsic profile design leverage for high-performance devices in three distinct areas: transit time reduction, collector-base (CB) junction engineering, and emitter-base (EB) junction engineering. High f/sub T/ Si (30-50 GHz) and SiGe (50-70 GHz) epi-base devices were integrated with trench isolation and polysilicon load resistors to evaluate ECL (emitter coupled logic) circuit performance. A 15% enhancement in ECL circuit performance was observed for SiGe relative to Si devices with similar base doping profiles in a given device layout. Minimum SiGe-base ECL gate delays of 24.6 ps (8 mW) were obtained. Lightly doped spacers were positioned in both the EB and CB junctions to tailor junction characteristics (leakage, tunneling, and avalanche breakdown), reduce junction capacitances, and thereby obtain an overall performance improvement. >
Post-Whipple imaging in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: association with overall survival: a multivariate analysis.

To compare the survival outcomes in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who had regular imaging surveillance with those who had clinical follow-up after Whipple. We identified 229 patients, who underwent Whipple for resection of PDAC from 2005 to 2011, and had regular postoperative clinical follow-up at our hospital. Patients were retrospectively selected for two follow-up groups: imaging surveillance (IS) defined as routine imaging at scheduled intervals, vs. clinical (C) defined as imaging triggered by either change in clinical status or change in CA19-9. Follow-up was obtained through the hospital and Cancer Data Registry records. Survival was calculated from the date of surgery to death or last follow-up, with data censored as of March 13, 2013. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were compared using the log-rank test, and Cox regression models were used for multivariate analysis. Patients were followed for a mean period of 24.35 ± 2.56 months. IS-group underwent significantly more imaging (4.41 vs. 2.08 scans/year). The most frequent imaging was CT of chest and abdomen at 3–4 month interval. Univariate associations with overall survival were detected with post-Whipple ECOG status, T-stage, N-stage, tumor grade, surgical margin, recurrence, and IS. In multivariate analysis, grade, ECOG status, and recurrence were independent predictors of survival. Also, our predictor of interest, IS, was highly associated with longer survival in multivariate modeling (median overall survival, 30.4±3.85 (IS-group) vs. 17.1 ± 2.42 (C-groups) month, log-rank p = 0.002). Routine imaging surveillance was associated with prolonged overall survival post-Whipple in a multivariate model. This is a hypothesis-generating finding that should be studied prospectively and could ultimately impact surveillance guidelines.
The Forefathers of America’s Forefathers

This article discusses the influence that pirates had on Colonial America and the democratic principles that founded the United States of America. Pirate influence on trade, political beliefs, and social reform were present in the New World as early as the late seventeenth century and later duplicated by the founding fathers of America.
Fletcher H. McDowell 1923-2017.

Fletcher H. McDowell, MD, died at his home in New York City on April 23, 2017. He was 93 years old. Fletcher graduated from Dartmouth College and then from Cornell Medical School in 1947. He continued training in medicine there and at Stanford, returning to neurology residency with Harold Wolff at Cornell. He then joined the Army Medical Corps and was chief of neurology at army hospitals in Bad Kanstadt and Landstuhl, Germany, for 2 years. After discharge, he went to Queen’s Square for a year and returned to New York in the mid 50s. Wolff appointed him chief of the Cornell Neurological Service at Bellevue Hospital. There he became involved with studies of stroke diagnosis and prevention and also with new treatments for Parkinson’s disease. When the Bellevue service folded into one academic line, he returned to Cornell and became the director of the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. This brief appreciation mentions some pillars in a life of achievement, but only partly describes the man. He was a founding editor of this journal, Stroke . With Clarke Milliken and Irving Wright in 1971 and a cast of neurological and neurosurgical luminaries from the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association, he particularly appreciated the need for a new outlet that would consolidate stroke manuscripts for a growing focused group of investigators. Thanks in large part to Milliken’s efforts, when Fletcher took over in 1978, the “child had …
Monitoring Progress and Adherence with PAP Therapy for OSA: the Roles of Telemedicine and Mobile Health Applications

Given the challenge of optimizing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy adherence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), this paper discusses implementation of telemedicine-based mechanisms and other health-related technologies in order to develop a comprehensive and cost-effective solution for OSA management. Technology is changing every aspect of health care by empowering patients while changing the approach of providers and the health system of delivering care. Key elements include the use of electronic messaging, remote monitoring, automated care mechanisms, and patient self-management platforms. Follow-up care mechanisms involving automated remote monitoring and direct patient messaging have been proven to improve therapy adherence. Additional sleep-related telemedicine platforms that can be practically adopted include the use of web-based educational programs, patient applications that promote self-management, and peer-based patient-driven platforms. This paper discusses sleep-related telemedicine mechanisms that can be used to improve CPAP adherence and discusses emerging trends within the health information technology ecosystem, including electronic health record integration and their potential impact on OSA and clinical outcomes.
Abstract 190: A Mechanotransduction Study In Embryonic Zebrafish Heart

Background: While proper heart contraction requires an intact sarcomere structure, contraction reciprocally regulates sarcomere assembly and cardiomyocyte shape during heart morphogenesis and heart remodeling. However, how contraction modulates heart morphogenesis and the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here we address this question by manipulating cardiac contractility in a developing zebrafish embryo. Results: Cessation of heart contraction was achieved by treating zebrafish embryos with blebbistatin, a myosin II specific inhibitor, or Niferdipine, a Ca 2+ channel inhibitor. Loss of cardiac contractility reduces ventricular chamber size in 1 dpf embryo, but significantly increases ventricular chamber size in 2 dpf and 3 dpf embryos. In both circumstances, cessation of contraction consistently prevents or disrupts the lateral fusion of myofibril. Cessation of contraction-induced heart enlargement is reversible and also dependent on the time of drug treatment. This heart-remodeling event in 2dpf embryo, which manifests as increased cardiomyocyte surface area accompanied by reduced thickness, can be attenuated by reducing the transmural pressure towards the ventricle wall. This mechanotransductive process occurs in the myocardium without need of endocardium. At the molecular level, by screening several compounds, we found that PI3K signaling confers this contraction-regulated cardiomyocyte shape remodeling process without affecting the lateral fusion of sarcomere. Conclusion: Our data in an in vivo animal model distinguish two different and relatively independent functions of contraction in regulating lateral fusion of sarcomere and cardiomyocytes shape remodeling. The contraction-regulated heart shape remodeling is conveyed by PI3k signaling mediated mechanotransduction independent of endocardium.
Large Deviations of Local Times of Lévy Processes

For X(t) a real-valued symmetric Levy process, its characteristic function is E(e iλX(t))=exp(−tψ(λ)). Assume that ψ is regularly varying at infinity with index 1<β≤2. Let L x t denote the local time of X(t) and L* t =sup x∈R L x t . Estimates are obtained for P(L 0 t ≥y) and P(L* t ≥y) as y→∞ and t fixed.
Incomplete resection after macroscopic radical endoscopic resection of T1 colorectal cancer—should a paradigm-changing approach to address the risk be considered?

Compared with laparoscopic resection, endoscopic resection was found to be cost-effective in the management of complex colon polyps. The effectiveness was due to superior technical success and reduced adverse event rates associated of endoscopic resection, and to the higher cost of laparoscopic resection (1). The economic analysis could explain why endoscopic interventions such as endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection have gained popularity and are being increasingly incorporated into the management of T1 colorectal cancer (CRC). T1 CRC is one that has grown through the muscularis mucosa and extends into the submucosa (2).
Has the General Theory of Relativity Repudiated Absolute Space

The literature of recent decades on the philosophy and history of science has nurtured and given wide currency to a myth concerning the present status of the dispute between the absolutistic and relativistic theories of space. In particular, that literature is rife with assertions that the post-Newtonian era has witnessed “the final elimination of the concept of absolute space from the conceptual scheme of modern physics”1 by Einstein’s general theory of relativity and that the Leibniz-Huyghens polemic against Newton and Clarke has thus been triumphantly vindicated.2 In this vein, Philipp Frank recently reached the following verdict on Einstein’s success in the implementation of Ernst Mach’s program for a relativistic account of the inertial properties of matter: “Einstein started a new analysis of Newtonian mechanics which eventually vindicated Mach’s reformulation [of Newtonian mechanics].”3
Advance Care Planning and Shared Decision-Making: An Interprofessional Role-Playing Workshop for Medical and Nursing Students

Introduction Advance care planning (ACP) is an essential discussion between a health care provider and a patient about their future care during serious illness. In clinical practice, high-quality A...
The Molecular Basis of T Cell Development and How Epigenetic/Transcriptional Deregulation Leads to T-ALL

A wide network of transcription factors orchestrates T lineage commitment. These factors are essential regulators of differentiation, survival, and cell growth in thymocytes. In order to maintain developmental fidelity, the expression of these transcriptional factors is tightly associated with a series of developmental checkpoints that ensure the termination of aberrant differentiation. Failure to maintain this tight control can result in neoplastic transformation. This chapter will review these key transcriptional regulators and discuss their contributions to both normal and malignant thymocyte development.
Germplasm evaluation in beef cattle-cycle IV: Postweaning growth and puberty of heifers

Postweaning growth, puberty, and pregnancy traits were evaluated for 783 F1 heifers sired by Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Shorthorn, Galloway, Longhorn, Nellore, Piedmontese, and Salers bulls and out of Angus and Hereford dams in Cycle IV of the Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) Program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center. The Hereford and Angus sires included a sample of bulls born from 1982 to 1985 (1980s HA) as well as reference sires born from 1963 to 1970 (REF HA) used in previous cycles of the GPE program. Breed group of sire had a significant (P 8.3 kg significant. Rankings for 400-d weight (kilograms) were Charolais (390), Shorthorn (384), Salers (380), 1980s HA (374), Nellore (364), REF HA (356), Piedmontese (353), Galloway (348), and Longhorn (321), with differences >11.5 kg significant. Rankings for 550-d weight (kilograms) were Charolais (445), Salers (430), Shorthorn (429), 80's HA (422), Nellore (420), Piedmontese (401), REF HA (398), Galloway (389), and Longhorn (371), with differences >11.7 kg significant. Rankings for 550-d hip height (centimeters) were Nellore (132.2), Charolais (131.9), Salers (129.9), Shorthorn (129.5), Piedmontese (126.7), 1980s HA (126.1), Longhorn (125.3), Galloway (121.7), and REF HA (121.5), with differences >1.35 cm significant. Breed of sire had significant effects on growth and puberty traits of heifers.