cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intercalation complex of proflavine with DNA: Structure and dynamics by solid-state NMR

The structure of the complex formed between the intercalating agent proflavine and fibrous native DNA was studied by one- and two-dimensional high-resolution solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Carbon-13-labeled proflavine was used to show that the drug is stacked with the aromatic ring plane perpendicular to the fiber axis and that it is essentially immobile. Natural abundance carbon-13 NMR of the DNA itself shows that proflavine binding does not change the puckering of the deoxyribose ring. However, phosphorus-31 NMR spectra show profound changes in the orientation of the phosphodiester grouping on proflavine binding, with some of the phosphodiesters tilting almost parallel to the helix axis, and a second set almost perpendicular. The first group to the phosphodiesters probably spans the intercalation sites, whereas the tilting of the second set likely compensates for the unwinding of the DNA by the intercalator.
Spatial transformation and registration of brain images using elastically deformable models

The development of algorithms for the spatial transformation and registration of tomographic brain images is a key issue in several clinical and basic science medical applications, including computer-aided neurosurgery, functional image analysis, and morphometrics. This paper describes a technique for the spatial transformation of brain images, which is based on elastically deformable models. A deformable surface algorithm is used to find a parametric representation of the outer cortical surface and then to define a map between corresponding cortical regions in two brain images. Based on the resulting map, a three-dimensional elastic warping transformation is then determined, which brings two images into register. This transformation models images as inhomogeneous elastic objects which are deformed into registration with each other by external force fields. The elastic properties of the images can vary from one region to the other, allowing more variable brain regions, such as the ventricles, to deform more freely than less variable ones. Finally, the framework of prestrained elasticity is used to model structural irregularities, and in particular the ventricular expansion occurring with aging or diseases, and the growth of tumors. Performance measurements are obtained using magnetic resonance images.
The neural selection and control of saccades by the frontal eye field

Recent research has provided new insights into the neural processes that select the target for and control the production of a shift of gaze. Being a key node in the network that subserves visual processing and saccade production, the frontal eye field (FEF) has been an effective area in which to monitor these processes. Certain neurons in the FEF signal the location of conspicuous or meaningful stimuli that may be the targets for saccades. Other neurons control whether and when the gaze shifts. The existence of distinct neural processes for visual selection and saccade production is necessary to explain the flexibility of visually guided behaviour.
Operational theory and instrumental implementation of the thermal gradient programmed gas chromatography (TGPGC) mode of analysis

Thermal gradient programmed gas chromatography (TGPGC) separations involve the application of three-dimensional thermal field programming. The operational aspects associated with TGPGC are such that rapid GC analyses can be achieved for complex and broad-volatility-range samples using open tubular columns with high thermal compliance, physical compactness, and geometric conformity. Elapsed times for TGPGC analyses of complex samples have ranged from 50 to 300 s. The application of rapidly changing thermal fields (or temperature surfaces) in TGPGC is accomplished through the use of a column sheath assembly. Recent research has centered upon different column sheath assembly designs and instrumental implementation of the TGPGC mode of operation. The instrumental implementation of the TGPGC mode for conducting GC and GC-MS analyses places special demands upon the design and performance of numerous operational aspects of the system, e.g., the response-time characteristics associated with analyte detection and the analytical output signal handling capabilities.
Trisomy 3 in gastric lymphomas of extranodal marginal zone B-cell (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) origin demonstrated by FISH in intact paraffin tissue sections.

Some reports have indicated that trisomy 3 represents a characteristic chromosomal abnormality found in lymphomas arising in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT)/extranodal marginal zone B-cells (MZBC). Traditional cytogenetic analysis of metaphase preparations is cumbersome and not always possible, especially in those situations in which the diagnosis in not suspected before a biopsy. Our aim is to use a relatively simple method to evaluate trisomy 3 in paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissue, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on intact tissue sections. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissues from 30 cases (27 lymphoma and 3 chronic gastritis cases) were hybridized with a chromosome 3 specific α-satellite probe (ONCOR, Gaithersburg, MD). Three of four cases of gastric MZBC/MALT lymphoma revealed trisomy 3. Ten cases of lymphoma of possible or probable MZBC origin were examined, and four revealed trisomy 3. Five of 13 non-MZBC lymphomas revealed trisomy 3. None of the chronic gastritis cases nor normal tonsil cases revealed trisomy 3. Our results, using a different methodological approach, confirm the findings of others that trisomy 3 is an abnormality found in a significant proportion of lymphomas of MZBC origin. Our approach also makes possible interphase cytogenetic analysis (by FISH) of routinely processed formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, without the need to disaggregate cells. It thus may facilitate genetic analysis on specimens previously deemed unsuitable for such analysis, particularly when tissue quantity is limited.
Note Concerning the Mechanism of Increased Capillary Permeability in Inflammation

ConclusionsAn inflammatory exudate readily induces an increased capillary permeability as evidenced by the rapid accumulation of trypan blue from the circulation into cutaneous areas treated with the exudative material. Dialysis of the exudate allows the outward diffusion of leukotaxine. The indiffusible residual material remaining after dialysis of the exudate is essentially incapable of increasing capillary permeability with the characteristic homogeneous pattern. The exact original effect of the exudate, however, can be readily reconstituted by merely adding leukotaxine to the indiffusible fraction of the dialyzed exudate. This cannot be obtained by adding histamine in the concentration in which the latter is recovered from exudates. These facts therefore add further support to previous observations that leukotaxine and not histamine is the primary factor concerned in the mechanism of increased capillary permeability in inflammation.
Project BART: Effectiveness of a behavioral intervention to reduce HIV risk in adolescents.

PURPOSE: To examine the effectiveness of Project BART (Becoming a Responsible Teen [St. Lawrence 1998]) a behavioral-based curriculum for adolescents at risk for developing HIV. The purpose of BART was to help adolescents acquire the skills needed to reduce risks thus encouraging them to make safe healthy choices concerning sexual behaviors. METHODS: This was a one-group pre- and post-test intervention study with 105 adolescents (ages 12 to 18) of culturally diverse backgrounds. RESULTS: Results of the main effects varied. Significant differences were found between pre- and post-test means of the score on the HIV Attitudes (P=0.018) and between the means of the AIDS Risk Knowledge Test (P=0.001) but no significant difference was found between the pre- and post-test means of two other questionnaires: the Condom Attitude Scale (CAS) and Risk Behavior Survey. Process evaluation of the program indicated positive reactions toward the content and presentation methods of the program. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The need for programs to which adolescents’ have positive reactions is vital to community-based participation by teens. Nurses can implement this comprehensive theory-based program in community settings. Implementation should include a modification of the instruments for better clarity and more one-on-one instruction/attention during data collection. More research with clarified instruments and facilitated data collection is needed to further substantiate the effectiveness of the Project BART with adolescents.
Management of Depression in Patients with Comorbid Cardiovascular Disease

Evidence suggests that depression commonly occurs in patients with cardiovascular disease and is associated with a poor prognosis including increased risk of cardiac mortality. Proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms include decreased heart rate variability, altered sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, increased ventricular instability, and abnormal platelet reactivity. Other proposed mechanisms involve the interference of depression with medication adherence and cardiac risk factor reduction. Despite this evidence, depression during cardiovascular disease is commonly unrecognized and inadequately treated. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) are efficacious for treating depression in this population but cause serious cardiac side effects and should be avoided in patients with significant cardiovascular disease. More recent studies with bupropion and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline) indicate that they are acceptable alternatives to TCAs with regard to cardiac r...
SU-E-T-132: Dosimetric Impact of Positioning Errors in Hypo-Fractionated Cranial Radiation Therapy Using Frameless Stereotactic BrainLAB System

Purpose: To determine dosimetric impact of positioning errors in the stereotactic hypo-fractionated treatment of intracranial lesions using 3Dtransaltional and 3D-rotational corrections (6D) frameless BrainLAB ExacTrac X-Ray system. Methods: 20 cranial lesions, treated in 3 or 5 fractions, were selected. An infrared (IR) optical positioning system was employed for initial patient setup followed by stereoscopic kV X-ray radiographs for position verification. 6D-translational and rotational shifts were determined to correct patient position. If these shifts were above tolerance (0.7 mm translational and 1° rotational), corrections were applied and another set of X-rays was taken to verify patient position. Dosimetric impact (D95, Dmin, Dmax, and Dmean of planning target volume (PTV) compared to original plans) of positioning errors for initial IR setup (XC: Xray Correction) and post-correction (XV: X-ray Verification) was determined in a treatment planning system using a method proposed by Yue et al. (Med. Phys. 33, 21-31 (2006)) with 3D-translational errors only and 6D-translational and rotational errors. Results: Absolute mean translational errors (±standard deviation) for total 92 fractions (XC/XV) were 0.79±0.88/0.19±0.15 mm (lateral), 1.66±1.71/0.18 ±0.16 mm (longitudinal), 1.95±1.18/0.15±0.14 mm (vertical) and rotational errors were 0.61±0.47/0.17±0.15° (pitch), 0.55±0.49/0.16±0.24° (roll), and 0.68±0.73/0.16±0.15° (yaw). The average changes (loss of coverage) in D95, Dmin, Dmax, and Dmean were 4.5±7.3/0.1±0.2%, 17.8±22.5/1.1±2.5%, 0.4±1.4/0.1±0.3%, and 0.9±1.7/0.0±0.1% using 6Dshifts and 3.1±5.5/0.0±0.1%, 14.2±20.3/0.8±1.7%, 0.0±1.2/0.1±0.3%, and 0.7±1.4/0.0±0.1% using 3D-translational shifts only. The setup corrections (XC-XV) improved the PTV coverage by 4.4±7.3% (D95) and 16.7±23.5% (Dmin) using 6D adjustment. Strong correlations were observed between translation errors and deviations in dose coverage for XC. Conclusion: The initial BrainLAB IR system based on rigidity of the mask-frame setup is not sufficient for accurate stereotactic positioning; however, with X-ray imageguidance sub-millimeter accuracy is achieved with negligible deviations in dose coverage. The angular corrections (mean angle summation=1.84°) are important and cause considerable deviations in dose coverage.
Branching of amylose by the branching isoenzymes of maize endosperm

Abstract A convenient, quantitative assay method of branching enzyme (BE) was devised with reduced amylose as the substrate. Using this assay, the properties of the purified branching isoenzymes from maize, BE I, IIa, and IIb, were studied. The method is based on determination of reducing power, by the modified Park-Johnson method, of the chains transferred by BE after they are released from the branched products with isoamylase. The optimum pH of the three enzymes is 7.5, and the optimum temperatures of BE I, IIa, and IIb are 33, 25, and 15–20°C, respectively. The specific activities are found to be the highest for BE I and the lowest for BE IIb, whereas in the conventional assay based on stimulation of unprimed phosphorylase activity, the specific activities are BE IIb > 11a > I. BE I has a lower Km (2.0 μM of the nonreducing terminal) for the reduced amylose of average chain-length ( cl ) 405 than BE IIa (10 μM) and IIb (11μM), and the enzyme shows a higher Km for reduced amyloses of smaller cl . Gel-permeation chromatograms on Sephadex G-75SF of the chains transferred from the reduced amylose indicate that initially the three isoenzymes produce chains of various sizes (dp ∼ 8 to > 200), and BE I preferentially transfers longer chains than BE IIa and IIb.
Synthesis and characterization of second‐generation S,S‐dialkyl‐S‐(dimethylhydroxyphenyl)sulfonium salt photoinitiators

A new, simplified method has been developed for the synthesis of S,S-dialkyl-S-(dimethylhydroxyphenyl)sulfonium salt cationic photoinitiators. This novel method has successfully been used for the preparation of S,S-dialkyl-S-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonium and S,S-dialkyl-S-(3,5-dimethyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonium salts showing a wide variation in the length and structure of the alkyl chains on the positively charged sulfur atom. These photoinitiators can also be prepared with a wide variety of different anions. The manipulation of the lengths of the alkyl chains permits the design of compatible photoinitiators for highly nonpolar monomers and oligomers such as epoxy-functional silicones, epoxidized polybutadiene, and epoxidized vegetable oils. This article describes the synthesis and characterization of these photoinitiators. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2556–2569, 2003
Studentship in preservice teacher education: a qualitative study of undergraduate students in physical education.

Abstract Studentship is a process by which teacher trainees react to the demands of their training environment. It consists of an array of behaviors that students may employ in order to progress through a training program with greater ease, more success, and less effort. The purpose of this study was to examine in a naturalistic setting the types of studentship behaviors teacher trainees employ, the context within which such behaviors were displayed, and the total for regularities that might allow for the development of theories that are grounded in data. The data generated by the study might enhance the development of theories. Data collection consisted of nonparticipant observation, formal and informal interviews, and a document analysis. Data were analyzed by multiple reviews of all data sources, sorting and resorting of themes, development of 21 final subcategories and four major classifications, and preparation of summary descriptors from a triangulated perspective. It was determined that the observe...
The Delta–C&S Merger: A Case Study in Airline Consolidation and Federal Regulation

The road to merger is strewn with fortuitous events, surprises, and disappointments for most firms even under ordinary circumstances, but the airline industry following World War II faced special problems of postwar readjustment, rapid technological change, and government intervention by a Civil Aeronautics Board that was determined to shape the future of American commercial aviation. Congruence with federal regulatory policy was a key element in the success of the merger with which this essay deals.
In vitro assay-assisted treatment selection for women with breast or ovarian cancer.

The selection of chemotherapy for women with breast or ovarian carcinoma has been traditionally based on results from phase III comparative trials that define the most active drugs and drug combinations. This approach has led to a significant prolongation of the lives of these patients. Unfortunately, few patients with advanced stage IV disease are cured using the currently available regimens. In order to improve the selection process for individual patients, various types of in vitro tests that assess the activity of standard drugs on a patient’s tumor have been developed over the past five decades. As with bacterial culture and sensitivity tests, significant predictive correlations between in vitro drug-response assays and cancer patient response and survival have been demonstrated. Medicare currently covers in vitro drug-resistance assays. This review discusses the historical development of in vitro drug-response assays and the clinical validation of various technologies currently available to assist the clinician in selecting the optimal therapy for each patient. Endocrine-Related Cancer (2002) 9 171–182
Development of an aerosol opacity retrieval algorithm for use with multi-angle land surface images

In 1998, the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) will fly aboard the EOS-AM1 spacecraft. MISR will enable unique methods for retrieving the properties of atmospheric aerosols, by providing global imagery of the Earth at nine viewing angles in four visible and near-IR spectral bands. As part of the MISR algorithm development, theoretical methods of analyzing multi-angle, multispectral data are being tested using images acquired by the airborne Advanced Solid-State Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS). The authors derive a method to be used over land surfaces for retrieving the change in opacity between spectral bands, which can then be used in conjunction with an aerosol model to derive a bound on absolute opacity. They demonstrate the method using ASAS data. >
Association Between Divorce and Risks for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background—Divorce is a major life stressor that can have economic, emotional, and physical health consequences. However, the cumulative association between divorce and risks for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unknown. This study investigated the association between lifetime exposure to divorce and the incidence of AMI in US adults. Methods and Results—We used nationally representative data from a prospective cohort of ever-married adults aged 45 to 80 years (n=15 827) who were followed biennially from 1992 to 2010. Approximately 14% of men and 19% of women were divorced at baseline and more than one third of the cohort had ≥1 divorce in their lifetime. In 200 524 person-years of follow-up, 8% (n=1211) of the cohort had an AMI and age-specific rates of AMI were consistently higher in those who were divorced compared with those who were continuously married (P<0.05). Results from competing-risk hazard models showed that AMI risks were significantly higher in women who had 1 divorce (hazard ratio, 1.2...
The Safety of Women on College Campuses Implications of Evolving Paradigms in Postsecondary Education

This volume serves as the second in a two-part special issue focusing on the victimization of college women. Asserting that the fields of violence against women and postsecondary education both still lack a detailed understanding of the presence of victimization on college campuses, how to respond to its aftermath, and how to prevent its occurrence, in the summer of 2013, the University of Kentucky Center for Research on Violence Against Women hosted a national scientific meeting on this topic.1 Presentations made at the meeting and related articles were compiled into a two-volume special issue. The special issue includes 17 main articles and discussant responses. Language: en
Neuropharmacology of St. John's Wort (Hypericum)

OBJECTIVE:To review preclinical information related to possible antidepressant mechanism(s) of action of St. John's wort in order to address the issue of whether its purported clinical effectiveness has a rational pharmacologic basis.DATA SOURCES:Primary and review articles were identified by a MEDLINE search (1966–January 1998) and through secondary sources. Many of the original German articles had English abstracts, but where necessary, German articles were translated into English. The results of a new screen of hypericin activity at receptor and uptake sites are summarized.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All of the articles identified from the data sources were evaluated and all information deemed relevant was included in this review.DATA SYNTHESIS:The neuropharmacology of St. John's wort has been examined in only a few studies. A mechanism similar to that of the synthetic antidepressants, such as the selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors or monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, might play a role, ...
The adenovirus E1A oncoprotein N-terminal transcriptional repression domain enhances p300 autoacetylation and inhibits histone H3 Lys18 acetylation.

Expression of the adenovirus E1A N-terminal transcription repression domain alone (E1A 1-80) represses transcription from specific promoters such as HER2 [1] and from reconstituted chromatin [2]. Significantly, E1A 1-80 can induce the death of human breast cancer cells over-expressing the HER2 oncogene [1] as well as other cancer cells. Here, we report that E1A 1-80 alone is sufficient to inhibit H3K18 acetylation in vivo and p300-mediated H3K18 acetylation in reconstituted chromatin. Of interest, hypoacetylation of H3K18 has been correlated with the survival of tumor cells and the poor prognosis of many cancers [3, 4]. E1A 1-80 enhances p300 autoacetylation and concurrently inhibits H3K18 acetylation in chromatin in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-acetylation of p300 by incubation with acetyl-CoA alone reduces p300's ability to acetylate H3K18 in chromatin. Additional acetylation of p300 in the presence of E1A 1-80 produces stronger inhibition of H3K18 acetylation. These findings indicate that autoacetylation of p300 greatly reduces its ability to acetylate H3K18. The results reported here combined with our previous findings suggest that E1A can repress transcription by multiple strategies, including altering the chromatin modifying activity of p300 and dissociating TFIID from the TATA box thus disrupting formation of the transcription pre-initiation complex [5, 6]
Optimum emulsion liquid membranes stabilized by non-Newtonian conversion in Taylor–Couette flow

Abstract The use of Taylor–Couette flow for extraction by emulsion liquid membranes has been characterized. In particular, the rate limiting step for the extraction of a weak acid (benzoic) in an aqueous continuous phase to a strong base (NaOH) in the encapsulated internal phase has been attributed to a surfactant resistance. Numerical and analytical solutions are developed to characterize the mass transfer at Biot numbers Bi 10 . It is demonstrated for fixed droplet composition that a single curve exists for all N for the extent of extraction by stretching the time coordinate by a function of the rotation rate ∝ N 1.2 that is proportional to the globule external area per unit total volume. Moreover, the leakage rate is shown to increase as t 0.6 and to be proportional to N 0.75 , the Kolmogoroff eddy velocity. Comparison with stirred tank data demonstrates that greater droplet stability exists for Taylor–Couette flow.
Defining spoken language benchmarks and selecting measures of expressive language development for young children with autism spectrum disorders.

Purpose: The aims of this article are twofold: (a) to offer a set of recommended measures that can be used for evaluating the efficacy of interventions that target spoken language acquisition as part of treatment research studies or for use in applied settings and (b) to propose and define a common terminology for describing levels of spoken language ability in the expressive modality and to set benchmarks for determining a child’s language level in order to establish a framework for comparing outcomes across intervention studies. Method: The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders assembled a group of researchers with interests and experience in the study of language development and disorders in young children with autism spectrum disorders. The group worked for 18 months through a series of conference calls and correspondence, culminating in a meeting held in December 2007 to achieve consensus on these aims. Results: The authors recommend moving away from using the term functional speech, replacing it with a developmental framework. Rather, they recommend multiple sources of information to define language phases, including natural language samples, parentreport,andstandardizedmeasures.Theyalsoprovideguidelinesandobjective criteria for defining children’s spoken language expression in three major phases that correspond to developmental levels between 12 and 48 months of age.
Pore-Water Chemistry and Early Diagenesis of Nearshore Marine Sediments: ABSTRACT

End_Page 801------------------------------Pore-water chemistry and mineralogy of carbonate and terrigenous sediments from Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, were analyzed to determine differences in pore-water compositions, in nature and extent of early diagenetic reactions, and in fluxes of constituents between these sediment types. Pore waters, extracted at in-situ temperatures and analyzed for pH and concentrations of Ca++, Mg++, K+, Na+, Cl-, SO=4, reduced sulfides, SiO2, NH+4, PO 4, NO-3,and Sr++, of 23 1-3 m gravity cores show chemical gradients of dissolved species with sediment-burial depth. The sediment pore waters are anaerobic, exhibiting an increase in reduced sulfides, H+, and alkalinity and a decrease of SO=4 with depth. Owing to reactions resulting in the formation of diagenetic ferrous sulfide, the pH's of terrigenous sediment pore waters are higher at an equivalent depth than those of carbonates, whereas reduced sulfides are lower and sulfate reduction is more rapid. Calcium and Mg++ are removed from pore waters with increasing depth as a result of (1) formation of protodolomite, or (2) precipitation of calcite and substitution of Mg++ for Fe++ in clay minerals resulting in formation of ferrous sulfide ("Drever reaction"). Dissolved SiO2 increases with depth by solution of siliceous plankton or amorphous aluminosilicates, whereas NH+4, PO^identity4, and NO-3 increase with depth because of bacterial oxidation of organic matter. Sodium, K+, and Cl- vary sympathetically, reflecting the original salinity of the pore waters. Lateral gradients of dissolved species in bay pore waters reflect the fact that the southern end of the bay is a more efficient trap for organic matter. These gradients imply a lateral component of flux of dissolved constituents. This study shows that (1) calculations of fluxes in and out of marine sediments must take into account variability of pore-water compositions and fluxes among sediment types, and (2) nutrient regeneration in pore waters can be a significant source of nutrients to overlying waters, whereas reduced sulfide fluxes may be significant enough to inhibit infaunal and epifaunal growth. End_of_Article - Last_Page 802------------
Restoration of Mga function to a Streptococcus pyogenes strain (M Type 50) that is virulent in mice

The Mga protein in B514Sm, a Streptococcus pyogenes strain isolated as a mouse pathogen, contains amino acid substitutions at conserved sites that render the protein defective. Replacement of mga50 with the functional homolog mga4.1 restored full expression of Mga-regulated proteins. Restoration of Mga function did not affect fibrinogen binding, nor did it affect virulence in several mouse models of group A streptococcus infection.
Factors influencing prognosis in the radiotherapeutic management of carcinoma of the prostate

Abstract A total of 96 patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate were irradiated with the intent to control the disease locally by two dissimilar techniques: pelvic irradiation with a prostatic boost vs pelvic and para-aortic irradiation with prostatic boost. Survival and local control of disease appeared to be enhanced by the use of adjuvant hormonal therapy. Advancing extent of disease, locally and distally, and the presence of disease within the lymph nodes affected prognosis adversely.
Model reference adaptive control with recurrent networks trained by the dynamic DEKF algorithm

Two fundamental extensions of the dynamic backpropagation (DBP) gradient descent procedure which generally result in faster convergence times and higher quality solutions are presented. The decoupled extended Kalman filter training algorithm (DEKF) for feedforward layered networks is extended to the training of neural controllers in a dynamic indirect adaptive control scheme; the resulting algorithm is called dynamic DEKF (or DDEKF). The DDEKF neural controller training algorithm is extended to include control network architectures with explicit internal feedback connections. It is demonstrated that the DDEKF algorithm has computational complexity and requirements that are similar to those of DBP for control networks with a large number of recurrent connections. The use of these extensions for a model reference adaptive control (MRAC) problem in which the example dynamical system is highly nonlinear and does not possess a unique inverse is presented. >
High-Throughput Screens for eEF-2 Kinase:

eEF-2 kinase is a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer, gliomas, and depression. No potent inhibitors of eEF-2K have been reported, and thus development of high-throughput assay systems may expedite the process. Two high-throughput assays are described for eEF-2K using recombinant, tag-free enzyme purified from bacteria. The first is a fluorescencebased assay that uses the phosphorylation of a Sox-based peptide substrate by eEF-2K, which results in a 5-fold increase in fluorescence emission, allowing for continuous monitoring of the kinase activity. The second is a luminescence-based assay that produces a luminescence signal, which correlates with the amount of adenosine triphosphate remaining in the kinase reaction. Both assays have been optimized and miniaturized for a 384-well plate format and validated in screens. In conclusion, we demonstrated that a traditional radiolabeled assay can be readily transferred to universal spectroscopic assays that are robust and will facilitate high-throughput screening of larger size libraries for the identification of smallmolecule inhibitors and significantly contribute to the development of therapies for targeting eEF2K.
The Effects of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) on Human Cytochrome P450 Activity

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) extracts are widely used as a complementary and alternative treatment of various hepatic conditions and a host of other diseases/disorders. The active constituents of milk thistle supplements are believed to be the flavonolignans contained within the extracts. In vitro studies have suggested that some milk thistle components may significantly inhibit specific cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes. However, determining the potential for clinically significant drug interactions with milk thistle products has been complicated by inconsistencies between in vitro and in vivo study results. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a standardized milk thistle supplement on major P450 drug-metabolizing enzymes after a 14-day exposure period. CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4/5 activities were measured by simultaneously administering the four probe drugs, caffeine, tolbutamide, dextromethorphan, and midazolam, to nine healthy volunteers before and after exposure to a standardized milk thistle extract given thrice daily for 14 days. The three most abundant falvonolignans found in plasma, following exposure to milk thistle extracts, were silybin A, silybin B, and isosilybin B. The concentrations of these three major constituents were individually measured in study subjects as potential perpetrators. The peak concentrations and areas under the time-concentration curves of the four probe drugs were determined with the milk thistle administration. Exposure to milk thistle extract produced no significant influence on CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, or CYP3A4/5 activities.
Circadian clock functions localized in xenopus retinal photoreceptors

A circadian oscillator that regulates visual function is located somewhere within the vertebrate eye. To determine whether circadian rhythmicity is generated by retinal photoreceptors, we isolated and cultured photoreceptor layers from Xenopus retina. On average, 94% of the viable cells in these preparations were rod or cone photoreceptors. Photoreceptor layers produced melatonin rhythmically, with an average period of 24.3 hr, in constant darkness. The phase of the melatonin rhythm was reset by in vitro exposure of the photoreceptor layers to cycles of either light or quinpirole, a D2 dopamine receptor agonist. These data indicate that other parts of the eye are not necessary for generation or entrainment of retinal circadian melatonin rhythms and suggest that rod and/or cone photoreceptors are circadian clock cells.
Effects of Anion and Cation Inhibitors and Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors upon the Activity of the Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Nucleo-polyhedrovirus

Abstract Twenty chemicals that were reported to act as anion transport inhibitors, cation transport inhibitors, and inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase activity were tested at a 1% concentration (wt:wt) for their effects upon the biological activity of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV). Among the five anion transport inhibitors tested, flufenamic acid acted as a viral enhancer. None of the seven inhibitors of K+ enhanced viral activity and three (4-aminopyridine, diacetyl, and procaine) significantly reduced the activity of LdMNPV. All four Na+ transport inhibitors (abietic acid, amiloride, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, triamterene) acted as viral enhancers. Triamterene was the most active enhancer, as the LC50 was reduced by ≈1,750-fold. Five carbonic anhydrase inhibitors were tested and four (acetazolamide, hydrochlorothiazide, methazolamide, sulfanilamide) enhanced the activity of LdMNPV. Acetazolamide (a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor), amiloride (a Na+ transport inhibitor), ...
Prison Environments and Psychological Survival

We all know—or we all presume we know—that prison is hell. We know this through Goffman’s (1961) indictment of total institutions. We know it from prison studies (such as Sykes, 1966; Clemmer, 1940; Ward & Kassebaum, 1965)—studies that catalog “pains of imprisonment” and list extreme adjustments required of inmates to cope with captivity. We even know it from the laboratory, where Zimbardo (1972) has “brutalized” students in simulated cells.
Quellcode der Unit Sys

Die in der Unit Sys enthaltenen Funktionen und Prozeduren sind maschinennah programmiert. Einerseits werden Interrupts des Betriebssystems aufgerufen, andererseits wird direkt auf bestimmte Speicherstellen des Systemspeichers zugegriffen. Die einzelnen Routinen sind jedoch in der hochst moglichen Programmier-Ebene geschrieben, so das Probleme bei nur teilweise kompatiblen Computern weitgehend vermieden werden konnen.
A negative arterial-portal venous glucose gradient increases net hepatic glucose uptake in euglycemic dogs.

We investigated whether a negative arterial-portal venous (a-pv) glucose gradient, or “portal signal,” can increase net hepatic glucose uptake (NHGU) and decrease muscle glucose uptake at euglycemi...
Methotrexate loading of red cell carriers by osmotic stress and electric‐pulse methods: ultrastructural observations

Transmission and scanning electron microscopy (EM) of osmotically stressed and electrically pulsed human erythrocyte carriers indicated that the mode of uptake of methotrexate (MTX) varied depending on the method of carrier production. The preswell and electroporation loading methods, apparently by facilitating passive diffusion across the cell membrane, promoted incorporation of the MTX directly into the cytoplasm of the carriers, as evidenced by their variable electron densities. The preswell method produced carriers displaying leptocytic characteristics, whereas the electroporation method produced carriers exhibiting sphero- and stomatocytic transformation. Hypotonic dialysis-prepared carriers took up MTX primarily by endocytosis and secondarily by passive diffusion. Endocytotic activity was not induced by the MTX. Scanning EM revealed that most of the dialysis-prepared carriers exhibited prominent invaginations of the cell surface. Transmission EM of serial thin sections through these carriers revealed numerous fully internalized, membrane-bound vesicles. Endocytotic activity caused progressive loss of membrane and resulted in the sphero- and stomatocytic transformation of the carriers.
Dissociation between Central and Peripheral Noradrenergic Activity in Essential Hypertension

1. Eleven patients with essential hypertension and nine healthy normotensive volunteer subjects, all without a neurological disorder, had blood drawn and cerebrospinal fluid sampled for analysis of noradrenaline (NA). 2. Cerebrospinal fluid NA levels were elevated (P < 0.01) in the hypertensive patients but plasma levels of NA were similar between groups. 3. The results suggest there is noradrenergic hyperactivity in the central nervous system which is not reflected in abnormal peripheral sympathetic nervous system function in this group of patients.
Depletion of plasma hemopexin in man by hematin injections.

SummaryRepeated intravenous injections of hematin in a normal human subject produced depletion of the plasma heme-binding β-globulin, hemopexin. The observations provide support for the hypothesis that hemopexin depletion in hemolytic disease is due to its binding of heme and consequent shortened survival in the circulation.
Expression of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Contributes to Corneal Inflammation in Experimental Dry Eye Disease

Purpose. To investigate the corneal expression of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and determine its contribution to the immunopathogenesis of dry eye disease (DED). Methods. Seven to 8-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were housed in a controlled environment chamber and administered scopolamine to induce experimental DED. Mice received intravenous TLR4 inhibitor (Eritoran) to block systemic TLR4-mediated activity. The expression of TLR4 by the corneal epithelium and stroma was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry. Corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) was performed to evaluate clinical disease severity. The corneal expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, and CCL2), corneal infiltration of CD11b(+) antigen-presenting cells, and lymph node frequency of mature MHC-II(hi) CD11b(+) cells were assessed. Results. The epithelial cells of normal corneas expressed TLR4 intracellularly; however, DED significantly increased the cell surface expression of TLR4. Similarly, flow cytometric analysis of stromal cells revealed a significant increase in the expression of TLR4 proteins by DED-induced corneas as compared with normal corneas. DED increased the mRNA expression of TLR4 in corneal stromal cells, but not epithelial cells. TLR4 inhibition decreased the severity of CFS and significantly reduced the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF. Furthermore, TLR4 inhibition significantly reduced the corneal infiltration of CD11b(+) cells and the lymph node frequency of MHC-II(hi) CD11b(+) cells. Conclusions. These results suggest that DED increases the corneal expression of TLR4 and that TLR4 participates in the inflammatory response to ocular surface desiccating stress.
On the Tradition of Calligraphic Culture

The thousand-year heritage and creativity of the art of calligraphy are all the time based on the lo- cal roots of the Chinese characters.As an important branch of the traditional culture,the life of calligraphy keeps going on,along with its localism of the cultural feature and its nationalism of the art spirit.At present time the art of calligraphy develop in both aspects of the creative forms and the theoretical studies,and the cul- tural extension continuously enlarges and the systematic characteristic strengthens;At the same time,the awk- wardness and contradiction between the introspective consciousness of the traditional Chinese culture and the philosophy of the West occur in the cultural ideological trend of the art of calligraphy;Now the disorder and thread-and-thrum of some cultural activities to some degree affect the promotion of artistic style of calligra- phy.In light of the traditional culture itself,this article analyses the cultural tradition and artistic spirit as well as the significance of the development of humanity spirit of the contemporary calligraphy.
253 DIFFERENTIAL INDUCTION OF TOLL-LIKE RECEPTORS 3 AND 8 BY DOUBLE-STRANDED U1-RIBONUCLEIC ACID CONSTRUCTS.

Purpose We observe that immunization of B6 mice with an snRNP autoantigen plus U1-RNA induces a TLR3-dependent model of MCTD-like autoimmunity. In the absence of TLR3, this same stimulus induces lupus-like glomerulonephritis. TLR3 is believed to recognize double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), while TLR8 is reported to recognize single-stranded RNA (ssRNA). Stem-loop II, the longest dsRNA structure in U1-RNA, has also been reported to have immunostimulatory effects in a lupus-like model. This study examined whether stem-loop II and intact U1-RNA have the same TLR specificity. Methods A stem-loop II construct encompassing codons 37-105 of human U1-RNA was constructed in an sp64 plasmid and confirmed by DNA sequencing. U1-RNA and stem-loop II were produced by in vitro transcription and were extensively purified. IL-6 secretion by TLR3+ RL-95 cells was measured by ELISA 24 hours after exposure to mg-per-mg doses of stem-loop II or full-length U1-RNA. HEK293 cells were stably transfected to express human TLR 3 or 8 and then were transiently transfected with an NF-KB promoter-firefly luciferase reporter construct. Cells were exposed to mg-per-mg equal doses of U1-RNA or stem-loop II for 5 hours then assayed for luminescence with a stable luciferase substrate. Student9s t-test was used to compare mean values. Results TLR3+ RL-95 cells responded to 30 μg/mL intact U1-RNA (92.1 6 7.0 pg/mL IL-6) but not to 30 μg/mL stem-loop II (8.11 6 0.52 pg/mL IL-6, p = .0034). Treatment with 50 μg/mL U1-RNA induced a 193% increase in luciferase activity in TLR3+ HEK293 cells (p = .038 vs control) but no increase in luciferase activity in TLR8+ cells. A similar 172% increase in luciferase activity was observed when TLR8+ cells were exposed to 50 μg/mL of stem-loop II (p = .0068 vs control), whereas stem-loop II failed to induce luciferase activity in TLR3+ cells. Conclusions Stem-loop II of the U1-RNA activates TLR8 not TLR3, in contrast to intact U1-RNA. This implies that the double-stranded RNA structure of stem-loop II is not sufficient to induce TLR3 recognition. Conversely, full-length U1-RNA apparently loses the capacity to stimulate TLR8. This pattern recapitulates the largely mutually exclusive cellular expression of TLR3 and TLR8 on myeloid versus plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Thus, recognition of intact versus fragmented U1-RNA may predispose to different patterns of immune activation and different end-organ targeting of autoimmunity.
Secure and strong mobile cloud authentication

Mobile cloud computing has dual benefits that includes cloud computing and mobile computing. In mobile cloud computing data storage and data processing take place outside the mobile device. As a result, there is a high chance of security attack. The security even becomes more critical when mobile phone is initiating the handoff during handover management process. Thus, the attacker may easily get access to our sensitive data. Due to this the malicious user may see or modify our data. In order to overcome this problem, we need to store our data in clouds in a secured manner. In this paper, we propose a secure and strong authentication (SSA) process that stores the key at different cloud servers. This process provides strong authentication. Greencloud is used to validate the process. The results confirm that our proposed SSL protects the mobile cloud computing from malicious activities.
Ideological Divisiveness in Criminal Procedure Cases Measuring Variability in U.S. Supreme Court Outcomes

Limited scholarly attention has been devoted to an understanding of ideology in criminal procedure cases decided by appellate courts. This study focuses on U.S. Supreme Court outcomes and develops ...
Transient and long-time kinetic responses of the cadaveric leg during internal and external foot rotation

The purpose of this study was to determine the long-time and transient characteristics of the moment generated by external (ER) and internal (IR) rotation of the calcaneus with respect to the tibia. Two human cadaver legs were disarticulated at the knee joint while maintaining the connective tissue between the tibia and fibula. An axial rotation of 21° was applied to the proximal tibia to generate either ER or IR while the fibula was unconstrained and the calcaneus was permitted to translate in the transverse plane. These boundary conditions were intended to allow natural motion of the fibula and for the effective applied axis of rotation to move relative to the ankle and subtalar joints based on natural articular motions among the tibia, fibula, talus, and calcaneus. A load cell at the proximal tibia measured all components of force and moment. A quasi-linear model of the moment along the tibia axis was developed to determine the transient and long-time loads generated by this ER/IR. Initially neutral, everted, inverted, dorsiflexed, and plantarflexed foot orientations were tested. For the neutral position, the transient elastic moment was 16.5N-m for one specimen and 30.3N-m for the other in ER with 26.3 and 32.1N-m in IR. The long-time moments were 5.5 and 13.2N-m (ER) and 9.0 and 9.5N-m (IR). These loads were found to be transient over time similar to previous studies on other biological structures where the moment relaxed as time progressed after the initial ramp in rotation.
Corneal function after storage in dexsol or optisol

Rabbit corneas were stored in Dexsol or Optisol (Chiron, Irvine, CA) for up to 2 wk at 4 degrees C. The thickness of corneas placed in Dexsol decreased 10 microns after they were placed initially in Dexsol, then increased approximately 8 microns/d for 7 d and 3 microns/d thereafter. Corneas placed in Optisol decreased 35 microns in thickness initially, then increased 2 microns/d thereafter. Human corneas showed similar thickness changes to those of the rabbit when stored in these media. After 5.5, 10, and 14 d in storage, rabbit corneas from each medium were cultured to assess their net deturgescence ability. Identical groups were cultured in media containing 20 microM ouabain to monitor the corneas' passive swelling characteristics. Corneas stored in either medium showed similar net deturgescence and passive swelling patterns after each storage period. Deturgescence rates decreased with increasing storage time, primarily because the rates of passive corneal swelling increased with storage time. Knowledge of the net deturgescence and passive swelling rates allowed an estimation of the total deturgescence activity of corneas after removal from Dexsol or Optisol. The total deturgescence activity of corneas stored in Dexsol for 5.5, 10, and 14 d was 85%, 68%, and 63% of control corneas, which were processed identically but not stored before culture. Corneas stored in Optisol exhibited 87%, 71%, and 69% of control deturgescence activity, respectively. These experiments show that Optisol was not significantly better than Dexsol in retaining poststorage corneal deturgescence activity but was superior to Dexsol in preventing corneal swelling during storage.