cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A preliminary correlation study of serum free carnitine concentration and follicle size in thoroughbred mares

Summary For a one month period, four Thoroughbred mares were the subjects for serum free camitine concentration determinations. Rectal palpation and teasing information was collected each time blood was collected. Results showed a significant linear relationship between serum free camitine and follicular development. Preliminary data indicates that it may be possible to predict ovulation dates of the mares based on serum free camitine concentrations.
Inverse Pm3̄n cubic micellar lyotropic phases from zwitterionic triazolium gemini surfactants

Inverse lyotropic liquid crystal phases comprising spatially-limited aqueous nanodomains have potentially wide-ranging applications, including the encapsulation and selective delivery of small molecules and as aqueous nanoreactors for molecular catalysis. We report the aqueous self-assembly of two homologous, zwitterionic bis(alkyltriazolium sulfobetaine) gemini surfactants into previously unknown inverse cubic micellar phases with Pmn symmetry (space group #223). Using temperature-dependent X-ray scattering, we demonstrate that these highly ordered, inverse discontinuous micellar phases are stable over remarkably wide amphiphile concentration windows between T = 30–90 °C at ambient pressure. These observations suggest that the packing arrangements adopted by structurally anisotropic gemini surfactants enable ready access to only the third known inverse micellar lyotropic phase, and the first one to exhibit a tetrahedral close-packing of inverse micelles.
SecA Is Required for the Insertion of Inner Membrane Proteins Targeted by the Escherichia coli Signal Recognition Particle

Recent work has demonstrated that the signal recognition particle (SRP) is required for the efficient insertion of many proteins into the Escherichia coli inner membrane (IM). Based on an analogy to eukaryotic SRP, it is likely that bacterial SRP binds to inner membrane proteins (IMPs) co-translationally and then targets them to protein transport channels ("translocons"). Here we present evidence that SecA, which has previously been shown to facilitate the export of proteins targeted in a post-translational fashion, is also required for the membrane insertion of proteins targeted by SRP. The introduction of SecA mutations into strains that have modest SRP deficiencies produced a synthetic lethal effect, suggesting that SecA and SRP might function in the same biochemical pathway. Consistent with this explanation, depletion of SecA by inactivating a temperature-sensitive amber suppressor in a secAam strain completely blocked the membrane insertion of AcrB, a protein that is targeted by SRP. In the absence of substantial SecA, pulse-labeled AcrB was retained in the cytoplasm even after a prolonged chase period and was eventually degraded. Although protein export was also severely impaired by SecA depletion, the observation that more than 20% of the OmpA molecules were translocated properly showed that translocons were still active. Taken together, these results imply that SecA plays a much broader role in the transport of proteins across the E. coli IM than has been previously recognized.
LINKAGE AND THE ELIMINATION OF DELETERIOUS MUTANT GENES FROM EXPERIMENTAL POPULATIONS

The behavior of a balanced lethal system and its two component loci was examined in laboratory populations of the flour beetle,Tribelium castaneum. The two lethal genes wereShort antenna (Sa), a dominant morphological mutant which is a recessive lethal when homozygous, and a lethal (l) located 1 to 2 map units fromSa in linkage group VII.
Insuring Libraries Against Risk

The library administrator needs to be aware of the risks inherent in the operation of a library that can create a financial loss or injury. The development of a risk management program can identify potential exposures to loss and liability, reduce or eliminate incidents and accidents from occurring, and provide methods for effective control and financial amelioration of risk. Insurance coverage protects the organization from the most serious types of financial loss. Blanket insurance policies provide the best value and coverage for libraries. Developing an ongoing relationship with an insurance professional or agency increases the experience and knowledge available to administrators for effective decision making regarding risk management.
Analysis of RNA Processing Reactions Using Cell Free Systems: 3' End Cleavage of Pre-mRNA Substrates in vitro

The 3' end of mammalian mRNAs is not formed by abrupt termination of transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNPII). Instead, RNPII synthesizes precursor mRNA beyond the end of mature RNAs, and an active process of endonuclease activity is required at a specific site. Cleavage of the precursor RNA normally occurs 10-30 nt downstream from the consensus polyA site (AAUAAA) after the CA dinucleotides. Proteins from the cleavage complex, a multifactorial protein complex of approximately 800 kDa, accomplish this specific nuclease activity. Specific RNA sequences upstream and downstream of the polyA site control the recruitment of the cleavage complex. Immediately after cleavage, pre-mRNAs are polyadenylated by the polyA polymerase (PAP) to produce mature stable RNA messages. Processing of the 3' end of an RNA transcript may be studied using cellular nuclear extracts with specific radiolabeled RNA substrates. In sum, a long 32P-labeled uncleaved precursor RNA is incubated with nuclear extracts in vitro, and cleavage is assessed by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. When proper cleavage occurs, a shorter 5' cleaved product is detected and quantified. Here, we describe the cleavage assay in detail using, as an example, the 3' end processing of HIV-1 mRNAs.
Coincident electron scattering in distorted wave born approximation I. The (e, e′γ) process

Abstract Coincident electron scattering is formulated in terms of the spin density matrices of the nuclear states involved. The treatment is appropriate to initial and/or final state polarizations. Both PWBA and DWBA derivations are given, and the (e, e′γ) process is discussed in detail. Numerical results are given for transitions in 12C and 208Pb with various electron energies, nuclear excitations, and multipolarities. Photon angular patterns and their DWBA corrections are shown. The extreme sensitivity of measurements of the photon angular distribution at diffraction minima to the current density is pointed out. A reanalysis is made of the 12C(e, e′γ) 4.439-MeV experiment.
LDL Physical and Chemical Properties in Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia

Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) is characterized by elevations of triglyceride and/or cholesterol within families and an elevation in apoB. Although small dense LDL has been consistently associated with hypertriglyceridemia, small dense LDL persists despite reductions in triglyceride after treatment with gemfibrozil in FCHL. The current study evaluated potential differences in the distribution and chemical composition of LDL species in patients with FCHL and normolipidemic control subjects. LDL from FCHL patients was characterized by a relative abundance of a discrete LDL species with a mean peak analytic ultracentrifuge flotation rate (S0f) of 4.7 +/- 0.5 (SEM), a density of 1.041 +/- 0.001 g/mL, and a particle diameter of 250 +/- 1 A as assessed by gradient gel electrophoresis. The major LDL species in the control subjects had a higher mean S0f rate (6.3 +/- 0.4), was more buoyant (density, 1.037 +/- 0.001 g/mL), and was larger (diameter, 262 +/- 2 A). In addition, in a series of six LDL fractions separated by equilibrium density gradient ultracentrifugation, particle diameters were significantly smaller in all fractions from FCHL patients compared with those from control subjects. LDL particles from patients contained less free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, and phospholipid than LDL from control subjects. The amount of triglyceride per LDL particle, however, did not differ between FCHL patients and control subjects. Differences in flotation rate and mass of the major LDL species between patients and control subjects could not be fully accounted for by differences in plasma triglyceride levels. Thus, LDL particles from FCHL patients are smaller and more dense with less cholesterol and phospholipid. Many of these differences appear to be independent of plasma triglyceride.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Electrophysiological correlates of selective attention: modality specific changes in thalamocortical evoked potentials.

Abstract At a moment when dogs were anticipating the presentation of a visual stimulus which would predict the delivery of food, the second of a pair of thalamocortical evoked potentials (30 msec interstimulus interval) in the visual system decreased in amplitude relative to control periods whereas similar measures in the auditory system increased. Opposite effects were obtained in dogs anticipating an auditory stimulus. These data were interpreted as reflecting selective changes in sensory channels during selective attention.
Do increased premium subsidies affect how much health insurance is purchased? Evidence from the self-employed

Abstract This paper estimates the effect of recent federal and state level increases in the deductibility of health insurance premiums for self-employed individuals, which reduced the after-tax price of health insurance, on both the take-up of coverage and the amount of insurance purchased. Using a panel of tax returns filed by self-employed taxpayers from 1999 to 2004, we estimate a take-up elasticity of −0.316 overall, with significantly higher elasticities for single taxpayers. On the intensive margin, we find an elasticity of −0.733 overall.
Outcome of carbon dioxide laser therapy for persistent cutaneous viral warts.

SUMMARY Twenty-two adults with persistent, symptomatic viral warts on the hands or feet which had failed to respond to conventional therapy were treated by carbon dioxide (CO2) laser ablation under local anaesthesia. Four patients did not return for follow-up treatment. Of the remaining 18 patients, 12 had plantar warts, the other six had warts on the hands that were mainly periungual. The median duration of the warts prior to laser treatment was 5 years. The areas treated were solitary in eight and multiple in 10 cases. After an average follow-up period of 10 months (minimum 6 months), all of the treated areas were clear of warts in 10 patients (56%), some had cleared in three, and all the treated warts had relapsed in the other five patients. Side-effects were commonly observed, especially post-operative pain, temporary loss of function of the treated part and scarring. The use of the CO2 laser may clear otherwise resistant viral warts but a significant morbidity may occur with this method of treatment.
A Comparison of Studies from the United States and Western Europe on Psychiatric Hospitalization Referrals for Youths Exhibiting Suicidal Behavior

A comprehensive literature review that rates of adolescent suicide-behavior based referrals from emergency rooms (ER) to psychiatric impatient facilities in the United States (U.S.) and in Western Europe (WE). Also compared on both sides of the Atlantic were the characteristics of suicidal youths seen at the ER and those admitted to psychiatric hospital units. The major findings were as follows. (1) Youths at both geographical locations who were seen at the ERs for suicidal behavior were very similar with respect to age and gender. (2) A median of 39% of youths seen in U.S. ERs for suicidal behavior were referred for inpatient psychiatric treatment; in WE, the median was 12%. (3) In the U.S., suicidal youths referred from the ER to psychiatric inpatient care were predominantly female (2.5:1) and mainly midadolescent in age (median age = 15). (4) In WE, the majority of those suicidal youths referred for psychiatric hospitalization were male (1:1.2) and in their late adolescent years (median age = 17). Thus, far fewer but more at risk youths presenting with suicidal behavior were admitted to psychiatric hospitals in WE than in the U.S. Presumably this is due largely to cross-Atlantic differences in malpractice patterns, academic perspectives, and medical care financing.
Literature trends for mobile learning: word frequencies and concept maps

This study identifies patterns in the mobile-learning literature. The hypothesis is that the literature will demonstrate a growth over years and will cluster around the concepts in a published concept map. Four citation databases were systematically analysed. While the number of publications has been increasing in the engineering databases, the growth has been less apparent in the education and business databases, which may reflect a faster growth in the technology than in its applications to education and business. All the many concepts of the concept map were recognised except for 'ethics' and 'discourse', which merit future attention.
CCR9 mediates PI3K/AKT-dependent antiapoptotic signals in prostate cancer cells and inhibition of CCR9-CCL25 interaction enhances the cytotoxic effects of etoposide.

Despite recent advances in treatment and management of prostate cancer (PCa), it remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the US. Chemotherapy is one of the treatment alternatives for hormone refractory metastatic PCa. However, current chemotherapeutic regimens provide palliative benefit but relatively modest survival advantage primarily due to chemo-resistance and upregulated antiapoptotic machineries in PCa cells. Therefore, blocking the mechanisms responsible for suppression of apoptosis might improve current chemotherapeutic regimens. In this study, we show that CC chemokine receptor-9 (CCR9) and its natural ligand CCL25 interaction upregulates antiapoptotic proteins (i.e., PI3K, AKT, ERK1/2 and GSK-3β) and downregulate activation of caspase-3 in PCa cells. Significant downregulation of these CCR9-mediated antiapoptotic proteins in the presence of a PI3K inhibitor (wortmannin), further suggests that the antiapoptotic action of CCR9 is primarily regulated through PI3K. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of etoposide was significantly inhibited in the presence of CCL25, and this inhibitory effect of CCL25 was abrogated when CCR9-CCL25 interaction was blocked using anti-CCR9 monoclonal antibodies. In conformation to these in vitro studies, significant reduction in tumor burden was found in mice receiving CCL25 neutralizing antibodies and etoposide together as compared to both as a single agent. These results suggest that the CCR9-CCL25 axis mediates PI3K/AKT-dependent antiapoptotic signals in PCa cells and could be a possible reason for low apoptosis and modest chemotherapeutic response. Therefore, targeting CCR9-CCL25 axis with cytotoxic agents may provide better therapeutic outcomes than using cytotoxic agents alone.
Modeling Dynamic Sorption of Cadmium in Cropland Soils

In sorption experiments, Cd in the solution phase may be surface adsorbed or immobilized and precipitated into mineral phases. The reaction kinetics can be described by a two-site model combining a linear instantaneous model for the surface adsorption and a first-order reaction kinetic model with forward and backward reaction constants for the immobilization and precipitation of the mineral phase. A simplified sequential procedure was developed to study the contribution of these two processes. Results of batch Cd adsorption experiments with two California soils were used to illustrate the model validity. When the Cd sorption was obtained by varying the initial Cd solution concentration and maintaining constant equilibration time, the amounts of Cd in the solid phase as well as the adsorbed and mineral phases increase linearly with the initial Cd solution concentrations. As much as 90% of the sorbed Cd may be in the mineral phase. When the Cd sorption was examined at varying equilibration time and a constant Cd initial solution concentration, the sorbed Cd in the mineral phase increased exponentially to approach a maximum with time. The forward and backward reaction constants were obtained by fitting the sorption data to the model equations. It showed that the forward reaction was five times faster than the backward reaction for both soils and the reaction rates were two times faster in the heavier textured Holtville clay loam soil than the Arlington sandy loam soil.
Droplet bisulfite conversion platform for epigenetic cancer biomarker detection

We report an integrated digital microfluidic platform for methylation biological samples. Recent advances in epigenetic studies highlight the importance of DNA methylation in the biology of cancer. The epigenetic signature of promoter regions in the genes ADAMTS1 and BNC1 has been shown to have strong correlation with the early stages of pancreatic carcinogenesis [1]. Most analytical techniques for studying methylation require pre-processing of sample DNA via bisulfite conversion. However, repetitive addition and removal of liquid reagents using conventional tubes and pipettes present a technical hurdle for microliter-scale reagents, as well as a high risk for contamination and human error. Previously, we reported a magnetically actuated platform for integrated DNA extraction and amplification from crude biological samples [2]. In this work, we demonstrate a self-contained, magnetically-actuated droplet cartridge for bisulfite treatment of genomic DNA with enhanced performance compared to the tube-based process.
Is positive action ‘positive’? Collective bargaining and gender relations in the Irish civil service

Participation in the EC has given Irish unions the clout to press for equality policies. However, economic factors combined with an entrenched sex-gender system hinder women's progress in achieving employment equity. Within the civil service, positive action policies have tended to perpetuate women's marginal status and discourage their labour force attachment.
Vasculogenic female sexual dysfunction: the hemodynamic basis for vaginal engorgement insufficiency and clitoral erectile insufficiency.

Objective: Organic female sexual dysfunction may be related in part to vasculogenic impairment of the hypogastric-vaginal/clitoral arterial bed. The aim was to develop an animal model of vaginal engorgement insufficiency and clitoral erectile insufficiency. Methods: Pelvic nerve stimulated vaginal engorgement and clitoral erection were achieved in control (normal diet, n=8) and atherosclerotic (balloon injury of aorto-iliac arteries and 0.5% cholesterol diet, n=7) New Zealand White female rabbits. After 16 weeks, novel hemodynamic variables including vaginal wall and clitoral blood flow, vaginal wall and clitoral intracavernosal pressure, vaginal length, vaginal luminal pressure, blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, aorto-iliac angiography and vaginal wall and clitoral erectile tissue histology were recorded in the two groups. Results: Concerning pelvic nerve stimulated vaginal hemodynamic changes, there was significantly less increase in blood flow (ml/min/100 gm tissue), wall pressure (mmHg) and length changes (mm) in atherosclerotic (9.3±3.7, 4.8±3.8, 67.3±8.3) compared to control (13.9±4.5, 5.5±2.6, 74.1±10.0) animals respectively. Histologic examination of clitoral erectile tissue demonstrated cavernosal artery atherosclerotic changes and diffuse vaginal and clitoral fibrosis. Aorto-iliac angiography in atherosclerotic animals revealed diffuse moderate to severe atherosclerotic occlusion. Conclusions: Vaginal engorgement and clitoral erection depend on increased blood inflow. Atherosclerosis is associated with vaginal engorgement insufficiency and clitoral erectile insufficiency.
Fish community dynamics following dam removal in a fragmented agricultural stream

Habitat fragmentation impedes dispersal of aquatic fauna, and barrier removal is increasingly used to increase stream network connectivity and facilitate fish dispersal. Improved understanding of fish community response to barrier removal is needed, especially in fragmented agricultural streams where numerous antiquated dams are likely destined for removal. We examined post-removal responses in two distinct fish communities formerly separated by a small aging mill dam. The dam was removed midway through the 6 year study, enabling passage for downstream fishes affiliated with a connected reservoir into previously inaccessible habitat, thus creating the potential for taxonomic homogenization between upstream and downstream communities. Both communities changed substantially post-removal. Two previously excluded species (white sucker, yellow perch) established substantial populations upstream of the former dam, contributing to a doubling of total fish biomass. Meanwhile, numerical density of pre-existing upstream fishes declined. Downstream, largemouth bass density was inversely correlated with prey fish density throughout the study, while post-removal declines in bluegill density coincided with cooler water temperature and increased suspended and benthic fine sediment. Upstream and downstream fish communities became more similar post-removal, represented by a shift in Bray-Curtis index from 14 to 41 % similarity. Our findings emphasize that barrier removal in highly fragmented stream networks can facilitate the unintended and possibly undesirable spread of species into headwater streams, including dispersal of species from remaining reservoirs. We suggest that knowledge of dispersal patterns for key piscivore and competitor species in both the target system and neighboring systems may help predict community outcomes following barrier removal.
A note on physical depreciation and the capital accumulation process

Abstract This paper examines the effect of different depreciation patterns on an economy's capital accumulation process. We model the transition path and the new steady-state growth rate following a change in either the economy's saving rate or its capital-output ratio. We show that the growth path of the capital stock can be very jagged, with pronounced declines in the growth rates of the capital stock. While a new steady state is eventually reached, an economy may go through periods of very uneven growth. Our simulation results have interesting implications for both developing and developed economies that have experienced a change in their saving rate.
Request Protocol Performance Impact for Mobile SATCOM with Dynamic Resource Allocation

Future communication schemes for transponding satellites will use dynamic resource allocation for efficient transmission of multi-media packet traffic. In typical centrally controlled schemes, a controller terminal is designated to collect resource requests from the other terminals and allocate slots. The delay between request generation and the related allocations reduces performance. For communications with terminals on-the-move, occasional blockage of the link is an additional impairment to the request-allocation protocol. This results in frequent lost request and allocation messages which may impair the ability of the terminal to communicate even when it is not blocked. We consider how the request-allocation protocol interacts with the on-the-move SATCOM channel for several allocation algorithms in the context of user-relevant performance metrics.
Continuous Use of a Live Vaccine in the Drinking Water Against Fowl Cholera Infection in Turkeys

Abstract HARSCHFIELD (1965) has referred to various types of bacterins or killed vaccines but his only reference to live vaccine is Pasteur's attenuated fowl cholera vaccine. He noted that Pasteur's vaccine “did not prove practical because uniform attenuation could not be secured and heavy losses sometimes occurred in vaccinated flocks.” Sinha et al. (1957) found that a living, nonlethal, highly capsulated mouse avirulent strain of Pasteurella was a better immunizing agent than heat killed strains. Bain (1963) referred to various types of killed vaccines used in immunizing cattle against hemorrhagic septicemia (pasteurellosis) and suggested that with improved methods of technology living attenuated vaccines may become the main method of prophylaxis in the future. This research was conducted to determine the feasibility of that idea in the control of fowl cholera in turkeys. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two separate trials were conducted. The experimental design in trial 1 utilized ten 9-week-old Broad-Breasted-White turkeys . . .
Teaching Critical Chain Project Management: The Academic Debate and Illustrative Examples

In recent decades, the project-scheduling practice known as critical chain project management CCPM has been successful in industrial applications, yet remains a subject of disagreement among scholars and is only sporadically taught in business schools. The purpose of this paper is to assess what aspects of CCPM are appropriate in operations courses, whether dedicated project management classes or broader introductory operations management classes. To answer this, we survey academic literature on traditional project management problems that gave rise to CCPM to understand if these issues are real. We also examine whether the CCPM methodology should, according to scholars, correct these problems, and survey project success stories attributed to CCPM. We conclude that CCPM is an appropriate project management methodology for student consideration on the basis of motivating critical thinking---especially about behavioral issues---rather than on formal scientific proof of its merit. In so doing, we survey teaching resources as well as articles in the trade press on the subject. We then present a sequence of numerical practice problems that are designed to motivate further critical reflection about CCPM. Throughout are a number of open questions about CCPM that the academic community has not yet answered and that instructors should keep in mind. Case Teaching Note: Interested Instructors please see the Instructor Materials page for access to the restricted materials. To maintain the integrity and usefulness of cases published in ITE, unapproved distribution of the case teaching notes and other restricted materials to any other party is prohibited.
Demonstration of Dye-Uptake as a Potential Aid in Early Diagnosis of Incipient Caries

The increased porosity of enamel and the presence of free calcium ions at the sites of developing lesions allow a color change or fluorescence to develop at these sites after application of certain dy
Automated subpixel image registration of remotely sensed imagery

An algorithm is described for the automated registration of remotely sensed imagery that registers 6000 × 6000-pixel images in 8–18 minutes on an IBM RISC System/6000® workstation. The resulting registration is accurate to the subpixel level even in the presence of noise and large areas of change in the images. It is shown that the registration- mapping function for parallel projections has the form F(x,y) = A(x,y) + h(x,y)e, where A(x,y) is an affine transformation, h(x,y) is a function that depends on the topographic heights, and e is a vector that defines the epipolar lines. The algorithm determines the parameters of this equation using only the image data, without knowledge of the viewing orientations or scene point coordinates. The search for match points is then a one-dimensional search along the epipolar lines, which greatly increases the speed and accuracy of the registration.
A numerical method for simulating plankton transport

Abstract Transport, stemming from water currents or the plankton's own actions, is an important factor in planktonic ecosystems. Numerical simulation of plankton transport is a useful tool by which the interaction of transport with other aspects of plankton population biology can be investigated. Presented here is a generalization of a numerical method for simulating transport developed by Fiadeiro and Veronis (1977). The method, which is based on weighted finite-differences, provides an approximate solution to the advection-diffusion equation. It has several advantages over unweighted finite-difference methods, including increased accuracy, numerical conservation of plankton biomass, and readily met stability requirements assuring convergence of the iterative methods used in obtaining solutions.
In vitro activity of lysostaphin, mupirocin, and tea tree oil against clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract Colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) commonly leads to infection by the same strain. We examined the activity of lysostaphin, mupirocin, and tea tree oil against clinical MRSA ( n = 98) isolates. MIC 50 (range) were as follows: lysostaphin, 0.125 mg/L (0.125–0.25); mupirocin, 0.5 mg/L (0.19–1024); tea tree oil, 1024 mg/L (512–2048). High- and low-level mupirocin resistance was noted in 9.2% of our MRSA isolates. Time kill results indicate MRSA activity at 24 h was lysostaphin=gentamicin = vancomycin ( P ≤ .001) > mupirocin > tea tree oil ( P ≥ .05). Checkerboard testing indicated a synergistic relationship between lysostaphin and mupirocin in combination with gentamicin. Antagonism was observed with the combination of vancomycin and tea tree oil; time kill studies confirmed this result. Decolonization options are limited and resistance to mupirocin exists. Lysostaphin and tea tree oil may offer additional therapeutic options for the decolonization of MRSA where current treatment alternatives are limited.
Thiazide Diuretic Receptors in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and 2-Kidney 1-Clip Hypertensive Rats

Thiazide diuretic receptor density was assessed in kidneys from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats by measuring hydroflumethiazide-displaceable 3H-metolazone binding to renal membranes in vitro. Renal thiazide receptor density was not significantly different in 4 week old SHR and WKY rats, but was significantly increased by 20%-40% in 14-49 week old SHRs compared to WKY rats. Affinity of receptors for 3H-metolazone did not differ between SHRs and WKY rats at any age. In WKY rats with 2 kidney-1 clip (2K-1C) hypertension, thiazide receptor density was not significantly different in either clipped or unclipped kidneys from sham-operated controls. Thus, increased renal thiazide receptor density occurs in SHRs along with the development of hypertension and does not appear to be secondary to increased renal perfusion pressure. This increase may reflect altered hormonal or ionic input to the distal tubule and may contribute to elevated sodium reabsorption in this segment in the SHR.
Chemoprevention of tobacco smoke-induced lung tumors by inhalation of an epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) aerosol: a pilot study.

We investigated whether inhalation of aerosolized epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) would prevent the development of lung tumors produced by tobacco smoke (TS). Male strain A/J mice were exposed for 5 mo, 6 h/day, 5 days/wk, to a mixture of tobacco sidestream and mainstream smoke. At the end of this exposure, 3 groups were formed: (a) mice exposed to TS and left undisturbed in air; (b) animals exposed to TS and given EGCG aerosol by nose-only inhalation for 30 min per session; and (c) animals exposed to TS and then exposed by nose-only inhalation to water aerosol without any EGCG (sham-exposed group). Three similar groups were formed from animals that previously had been kept in filtered air. In experiment 1, the EGCG concentration in the aerosol was 80 μg/L and administered 3 times a week and in experiment 2 it was 191 μ g/L administered twice a week. Inhalation of EGCG did not modulate TS-induced tumorigenesis. In two accompanying positive control experiments, animals treated with the tobacco-specific car...
The structural protein of reptilian scales.

Previous studies of reptilian epidermis have shown that scales contain both a and feather fibrous proteins. The outer stratum (feather) and inner stratum (a) of snake (Boa constrictor) scales were separated and the tissue extracted with 6 M urea in 0.1 M Tris, pH 9.0, with 0.1 M mercaptoethanol. Following alkylation to the S-carboxymethyl derivatives (SCM), the proteins were separated on the basis of their solubility at pH 4.5. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that pH 4.5 insoluble proteins represented the fibrous proteins while the soluble ones had the characteristics of matrix material. Disc electrophoretic patterns and amino acid analyses of the two types of fibrous proteins were different while those of the matrix proteins from both strata appeared to be very similar. The epidermal proteins of shell (feather) and extremity (a) skin from turtle (Pseudemys) were similarly isolated and shown to have different amino acid compositions. Although separation of the various components by differences in their solubility at pH 4.5 was not possible, a comparison of electrophoretic patterns suggested that the proteins extracted from the epidermis of the shell and extremity skin had different fibrous but similar matrix proteins. These studies indicated a strong similarity between reptilian scales and hair, where fibrous and matrix proteins are present and are separable on the basis of the solubility of their SCM derivatives. Although the a and feather fibrous proteins form filaments of very different size, it appears that they are associated with similar matrix proteins.
Eosinophil‐rich syphilis: a report of four cases

The differential diagnosis for eosinophil-rich skin lesions often includes a drug reaction, allergic contact dermatitis and rarely, response to a helminth infection. However, many unrelated entities, such as infections, neoplasms and inflammatory dermatoses, can have a prominent eosinophilic infiltrate. Syphilis is classically associated with plasma cells, but other patterns of inflammation have been reported, including ulcerative, granulomatous and eosinophil-rich. Classic teaching might indicate that the presence of eosinophils argues against a diagnosis of syphilis. We present four cases of secondary syphilis with increased eosinophils, ranging from 8 to >200 eosinophils per 10 high-power fields (×400 magnification). Patient 1 had lesions on the penis and scrotum, with greater than 200 eosinophils per 10 high-power fields. Patient 2 had lesions on the back, with 150 eosinophils per 10 high-power fields. Patient 3 had lesions on the bilateral arms, with 8 eosinophils per 10 high-power fields. Patient 4 had lesions involving the anus, with 17 eosinophils per 10 high-power fields. These cases highlight that the presence of an eosinophil-rich infiltrate on skin biopsy should not exclude syphilis from the differential diagnosis.
The Response of Corporate Financing and Investment to Changes in the Supply of Credit

We examine how shocks to the supply of credit impact corporate financing and investment using the collapse of Drexel Burnham Lambert, Inc., the passage of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act, and regulatory changes in the insurance industry as an exogenous contraction in the supply of below-investment-grade credit after 1989. A difference-in-differences empirical strategy coupled with a variety of treatment-control comparisons reveals that substitution to bank debt and alternative sources of capital (e.g., equity, cash balances, trade credit) was extremely limited. Consequently, net investment decreased almost one-for-one with the contraction in net issuing activity. Further, the impact of the credit contraction on financing and investment varied cross-sectionally as a function of geographic heterogeneity in the cost of bank capital and the credit risk of borrowers. Despite this sharp change in behavior, corporate leverage ratios remained relatively stable, a result of the contemporaneous decline in debt issuances and investment. Overall, our findings highlight how even large firms with access to public credit markets are susceptible to fluctuations in the supply of capital.
Natural Antioxidants for the Prevention of Atherosclerosis

Hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking, hypertension, and obesity are known contributing risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). However, they account for only half of all cases of CAD, and the complete pathologic process underlying atherosclerosis remains unknown. Growing evidence suggests that oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) may be of particular importance in the pathogenesis. Oxidized LDL exhibits proatherogenic effects. Therefore, current research has focused on inhibiting the oxidation of LDL as a means of inhibiting the atherosclerotic process. One such approach is to enhance the endogenous antioxidant defense systems within the LDL particle with lipophilic antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene, or by supplementing the aqueous-phase antioxidant capacity with ascorbic acid. Observational data suggest a protective effect of antioxidant supplementation on the incidence of CAD; however, specific doses cannot be recommended since the data are inconclusive.
Dynamics and generation of gaits for a planar rollerblader

We develop the dynamic model for a planar rollerblader. The robot consists of a rigid platform and two planar, two degree-of-freedom legs with in-line skates at the foot. The dynamic model consists of two unicycles coupled through the rigid body dynamics of the planar platform. We derive the Lagrangian reduction for the rollerblading robot. We show the generation of some simple gaits that allow the platform to move forward and rotate by using cyclic motions of the two legs.
Management graphics: An analysis of individual preference

It appears that computer generated graphics improve the potential for quality decision making under certain conditions for particular types of individuals. Industry publications suggest that graphic applications have been successfully used in the scientific community for years, but that business users are only beginning to realize the potential of computer generated graphics. Limited information related to the effective use of management graphics in the decision making process has been made available.The purpose of this paper is to review research related to graphics for decision making including pattern recognition and learning research. In addition, research pertaining to individual differences and their relationship to the effects of graphic presentation is reveiwed. Finally the results of a study of over 200 business school students that investigated the relationship between individual differences and user preferences for forms of management graphic presentation, is described and discussed.
Human-Intention Driven Self Adaptive Software Evolvability in Distributed Service Environments

Evolvability is essential to adapting to the dynamic and changing requirements in response to the feedback from context awareness systems. However, most of current context models have limited capability in exploring human intentions that often drive system evolution. To support service requirements analysis of real-world applications in distributed service environments, this paper focuses on human-intention driven software evolvability. In our approach, requirements analysis via an evolution cycle provides the means of speculating requirement changes, predicting possible new generations of system behaviors, and assessing the corresponding quality impacts. Furthermore, we also discuss evolvability metrics by observing intentions from user contexts.
Zinc-induced cardiomyocyte relaxation in a rat model of hyperglycemia is independent of myosin isoform

It has been reported previously that diabetic cardiomyopathy can be inhibited or reverted with chronic zinc supplementation. In the current study, we hypothesized that total cardiac calcium and zinc content is altered in early onset diabetes mellitus characterized in part as hyperglycemia (HG) and that exposure of zinc ion (Zn2+) to isolated cardiomyocytes would enhance contraction-relaxation function in HG more so than in nonHG controls. To better control for differential cardiac myosin isoform expression as occurs in rodents after β-islet cell necrosis, hypothyroidism was induced in 16 rats resulting in 100% β-myosin heavy chain expression in the heart. β-Islet cell necrosis was induced in half of the rats by streptozocin administration. After 6 wks of HG, both HG and nonHG controls rats demonstrated similar myofilament performance measured as thin filament calcium sensitivity, native thin filament velocity in the myosin motility assay and contractile velocity and power. Extracellular Zn2+ reduced cardiomyocyte contractile function in both groups, but enhanced relaxation function significantly in the HG group compared to controls. Most notably, a reduction in diastolic sarcomere length with increasing pacing frequencies, i.e., incomplete relaxation, was more pronounced in the HG compared to controls, but was normalized with extracellular Zn2+ application. This is a novel finding implicating that the detrimental effect of HG on cardiomyocyte Ca2+ regulation can be amelioration by Zn2+. Among the many post-translational modifications examined, only phosphorylation of ryanodine receptor (RyR) at S-2808 was significantly higher in HG compared to nonHG. We did not find in our hypothyroid rats any differentiating effects of HG on myofibrillar protein phosphorylation, lysine acetylation, O-linked N-acetylglucosamine and advanced glycated end-products, which are often implicated as complicating factors in cardiac performance due to HG. Our results suggest that the relaxing effects of Zn2+ on cardiomyocyte function are more pronounced in the HG state due an insulin-dependent effect of enhancing removal of cytosolic Ca2+ via SERCA2a or NCX or by reducing Ca2+ influx via L-type channel or Ca2+ leak through the RyR. Investigations into the effects of Zn2+ on these mechanisms are now underway.
Leptin-sensitive neurons in the arcuate nucleus integrate activity and temperature circadian rhythms and anticipatory responses to food restriction

Previously, we investigated the role of neuropeptide Y and leptin-sensitive networks in the mediobasal hypothalamus in sleep and feeding and found profound homeostatic and circadian deficits with an intact suprachiasmatic nucleus. We propose that the arcuate nuclei (Arc) are required for the integration of homeostatic circadian systems, including temperature and activity. We tested this hypothesis using saporin toxin conjugated to leptin (Lep-SAP) injected into Arc in rats. Lep-SAP rats became obese and hyperphagic and progressed through a dynamic phase to a static phase of growth. Circadian rhythms were examined over 49 days during the static phase. Rats were maintained on a 12:12-h light-dark (LD) schedule for 13 days and, thereafter, maintained in continuous dark (DD). After the first 13 days of DD, food was restricted to 4 h/day for 10 days. We found that the activity of Lep-SAP rats was arrhythmic in DD, but that food anticipatory activity was, nevertheless, entrainable to the restricted feeding schedule, and the entrained rhythm persisted during the subsequent 3-day fast in DD. Thus, for activity, the circuitry for the light-entrainable oscillator, but not for the food-entrainable oscillator, was disabled by the Arc lesion. In contrast, temperature remained rhythmic in DD in the Lep-SAP rats and did not entrain to restricted feeding. We conclude that the leptin-sensitive network that includes the Arc is required for entrainment of activity by photic cues and entrainment of temperature by food, but is not required for entrainment of activity by food or temperature by photic cues.
Assessment of uncoupling activity of the human uncoupling protein 3 short form and three mutants of the uncoupling protein gene using a yeast heterologous expression system.

The human uncoupling protein 3 gene generates two mRNA transcripts, uncoupling protein 3L and uncoupling protein 3S, which are predicted to encode long and short forms of the uncoupling protein 3 protein, respectively. While uncoupling protein 3L is similar in length to the other known uncoupling proteins, uncoupling protein 3S lacks the last 37 C-terminal residues. A splice site mutation in the human uncoupling protein 3 gene, resulting in the exclusive expression of uncoupling protein 3S, and a number of point mutations in the uncoupling protein 3 gene have been described. This study compares the biochemical activity of uncoupling protein 3S as well as three mutants of the uncoupling protein 3 gene (V9M, V1021, R282C) with that of uncoupling protein 3L utilizing a yeast expression system. All proteins were expressed at similar levels and had qualitatively similar effects on parameters related to the uncoupling function. Both uncoupling protein 3S and uncoupling protein 3L decreased the yeast growth rate by 3S and 52%, increased the whole yeast basal O2 consumption by 26 and 48%, respectively, and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential as measured in whole yeast by uptake of the fluorescent potential-sensitive dye 3'3-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide. In isolated mitochondria, uncoupling protein 3S and uncoupling protein 3L caused a similar (33 and 35%, respectively) increase in state 4 respiration, which was relatively small compared to uncoupling protein 1 (102% increase). A truncated version of uncoupling protein 3S, lacking the last three C-terminal residues, Tyr, Lys and Gly, that are part of a carrier motif that is highly conserved among all mitochondrial carriers, had a greatly reduced uncoupling activity. The two naturally occurring uncoupling protein 3 mutants, V9M and V1021, were similar to uncoupling protein 3L with respect to effects on the yeast growth and whole yeast O2 consumption. The R282C mutant had a reduced effect compared to uncoupling protein 3L. In summary, uncoupling protein 3S and the three mutants of uncoupling protein 3 appear to be functional proteins with biochemical activities similar to uncoupling protein 3L, although uncoupling protein 3S and the R282C mutant have a modestly reduced function.
Transient Neonatal Hypocalcemia: Presentation and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of moderate-to-severe transient neonatal hypocalcemia in term neonates and to describe the characteristics of affected infants and the outcomes of their management. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of all term infants <31 days of age who presented to Children’s Medical Center Dallas from 2001 to 2009 with hypocalcemia (ionized calcium <1.00 mmol/L [4.00 mg/dL]). RESULTS: Seventy-eight infants met criteria. Median (interquartile range) age at admission was 8.0 (7.0–10.0) days, and median duration of admission was 3.0 (2.0–4.0) days. Most infants were male (71.8%) and Hispanic (62.8%). Neonates were generally severely hypocalcemic and hyperphosphatemic. Seventy-five of 78 were hypomagnesemic, and the majority had low or inappropriately normal parathyroid hormone responses. Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were ≤62.4 nmol/L (25 ng/mL) in all 42 infants in whom they were determined. All infants responded to therapy of limited duration with 1 or more of the following: calcium supplements, calcitriol, low phosphorus formula, and magnesium supplementation. Neuroimaging did not affect management decisions in any neonate. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-to-severe late-onset neonatal hypocalcemia is more common in Hispanic and male infants, is often a sign of coexistent vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency and hypomagnesemia, and is readily managed with therapy of limited duration. Neonates presenting with seizures who are found to be hypocalcemic are unlikely to benefit from neuroimaging evaluations. * Abbreviations: 25(OH)D — : 25-hydroxyvitamin D IQR — : interquartile range IV — : intravenous PTH — : parathyroid hormone