cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of the brain stem in the rat. IV. Thymidine-radiographic study of the time of origin of neurons in the pontine region.

Groups of pregnant rats were injected with two successive daily doses of 3H-thymidine from gestational day 12 and 13 (E12+ 13) until the day before parturition (E21+22) in order to label in their embryos the proliferating precursors of neurons. At 60 days of age the proportion of neurons generated (or no longer labeled) on specific embryonic days was determined quantitatively in 14 nuclei of the pontine region. Peak production time of neurons of the trigeminal mesence- phalic nucleus was on day Ell or earlier, with a small proportion generated on day E12. Peak production time of the trigeminal motor neurons was on day E12, with a small proportion produced earlier. Neurons of the principal sensory nucleus were generated between days El3 and E16, with a peak on day E14; the late-produced neurons tended to belong to a class of intermediate and large cells. The bulk of the neurons of the supratrigeminal and infratrigeminal nuclei arose on days E 15 and E16. Neurons of the locus coeruleus are produced mostly on day E12, with about 20% of the cells arising on day E13. The bulk of the neurons of the dorsal tegmental nucleus (Gudden's) are produced between days El3 and E15, whereas most of the neurons of the deep (ventral) tegmental nucleus are produced on day E15. A dorsal-to-caudal gradient was also obtained between the dorsal and ventral nuclei of the lateral lemniscus, the neurons of the former being generated between days El2 and E15; the latter, between days El3 and E17. The neurons of both the pars lateralis and the pars medialis of the parabrachial nucleus were produced simul- taneously between days El3 apd E15, with a peak on day E13. The heterogeneous collection of neurons of the pontine paramedial reticular formation was produced from day Ell (or earlier) until day E15. Finally, the neurons of the raphe pontis parvicellularis were generated at an even rate between days E 13 and E15, whereas the bulk of the neurons of the raphe pontis magnocellularis were produced on days El5 and E16. On the basis of datings obtained for 9 subdivisions of the entire brain stem trigeminal complex, hypotheses were offered of the cytogenetic components of the system. The sequence of neuron production in the dorsal and deep tegmental nuclei was related to their connections with divisions of the mammillary and habenular nuclei on a "first come-first serve" basis. A quantitative account of the time of origin of neurons of the major nuclei of the lower and upper medulla was given in the preceding pa- papers of this series (Altman and Bayer, '80a,b, c). The present paper deals with the pontine region, which is delineated by two imaginary perpendicular lines drawn to the dorsal surface of the brain stem from the caudal and the ros- tral boundaries of the pontine gray nuclei (see
Wet heat exposure: a potentially reversible cause of low semen quality in infertile men.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the recovery of semen quality in a cohort of infertile men after known hyperthermic exposure to hot tubs, hot baths or whirlpool baths. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive cohort of infertile men had a history remarkable for wet heat exposure in the forms of hot tubs, Jacuzzi or hot baths. Clinical characteristics and exposure parameters were assessed before exposure was discontinued, and semen parameters analyzed before and after discontinuation of hyperthermic exposure. A significant seminal response to withdrawal of hyperthermia was defined as > 200% increase in the total motile sperm count (TMC = volume x concentration x motile fraction) during follow-up after cessation of wet heat exposure. RESULTS: Eleven infertile men (mean age 36.5 years, range 31-44) exposed to hyperthermia were evaluated pre and post-exposure. Five patients (45%) responded favorably to cessation of heat exposure and had a mean increase in total motile sperm counts of 491%. This increase was largely the result of a statistically significant increase in sperm motility from a mean of 12% at baseline to 34% post-intervention (p = 0.02). Among non-responders, a smoking history revealed a mean of 5.6 pack-years, compared to 0.11 pack-years among responders. The prevalence of varicoceles was similar in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The toxic effect of hyperthermia on semen quality may be reversible in some infertile men. We observed that the seminal response to exposure elimination varies biologically among individuals and can be profound in magnitude. Among non-responders, other risk factors that could explain a lack of response to elimination of hyperthermia should be considered.
Effect of protein levels in the diet on the growth of pheasants

Abstract Rate of growth, feed consumption, mortality, and feathering were studied in an unselected line of Chinese and Mongolian Ring-necked pheasants fed different levels of protein. In experiment 1, approximately 180 pheasants were fed 16, 20, 24, or 28% protein from the 2nd through the 14th week of age. In experiment 2, 264 unsexed Mongolian and Chinese Ring-necked pheasants were fed 16, 20, or 24% protein from the 3rd through the 15th week of age. Feed consumption and body weight were measured biweekly. Completeness of feathering was measured at 14 weeks of age in experiment 1, and at 5, 11, and 15 weeks in experiment 2. Results of both experiments indicated that despite the differences due to sex and species, best growth was obtained in pheasants fed a ration containing at least 24% protein. Pheasants fed rations containing 16% protein grew significantly (P We concluded that starter rations for pheasants must contain at least 24% protein. This level can be reduced to 20% after about 8 weeks of age. After 16 weeks of age, the pheasants can be fed diets with no more than 10% to 12% protein.
Assessing Eucryptorrhynchus brandti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as a potential carrier for Verticillium nonalfalfae (Phyllachorales) from infected Ailanthus altissima

Abstract Two potential biological control agents for the invasive tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, have been extensively studied: a vascular wilt fungus, Verticillium nonalfalfae Inderb. (formerly Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke and Berthold), and a host-specific weevil from China, Eucryptorrhynchus brandti Harold, which is currently pending quarantine release. In 2002, V. nonalfalfae was observed in Pennsylvania causing significant mortality to A. altissima. Quarantine experiments were conducted to test different forms of transmission of the fungus by E. brandti to A. altissima. In one experiment, 75% of adult E. brandti transmitted V. nonalfalfae to A. altissima seedlings after contact with a culture and feeding on infected plant material. In another study, 14.7±1.3% of adult E. brandti ingested and passed viable V. nonalfalfae propagules into faeces after feeding on infected A. altissima stems for 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively, and the number of propagules increased at 72 h. Eighty-t...
Captain Jack and the Dalton Gang: The Life and Times of a Railroad Detective – By John J. Kinney

John J. Kinney's interest in the career of his great‐grandfather, railroad detective John Joseph Kinney (“Captain Jack”), was stimulated by family stories about an encounter he had with the famous ...
An Unusual Late Complication of Orbital Floor Fracture Repair

Three patients developed unilateral proptosis 13, 16, and 20 years after repair of blow-out fracture with orbital floor Teflon implants. In one patient trauma preceded the onset of proptosis. In all three cases, the cause of the proptosis was probably hemorrhage of the capillaries in a fibrous capsule that surrounded the implant and that was evident on orbital CT scan. In two cases on CT scan, a retrobulbar cyst-like structure surrounded the implant, which was confirmed on ultrasonography. In the third case, an irregular soft-tissue density surrounded the implant. Histologically, a fibrous capsule surrounded the implant in all three cases, and in one case, the inner lining of the fibrous capsule was respiratory epithelium. The contents of the cyst-like structure, in two cases, were fresh blood and disintegrating red blood cells and blood products. In the third case, no cyst-like structure or "cyst" contents were identified; however, fibrous tissue containing hemosiderin-laden macrophages suggested the presence of an organized hemorrhage. The patients' proptosis resolved almost completely after surgical removal of the implant, decompression of the "cyst," and partial removal of the "cyst" wall in two cases. The same result followed removal of the implant and part of the fibrous capsule in the third case.
Predicting Yeast Synthetic Lethal Genetic Interactions Using Protein Domains

Synthetic lethal genetic interactions are of interest as they can be used to predict function of unknown proteins and find drug target or drug combinations. In this study, we applied support vector machine (SVM) classifier to predict synthetic lethal genetic interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae based on domain information in proteins. We found that our method can predict synthetic lethal genetic interactions with high sensitivity (88.35%) and specificity (82.00%). To the best of our knowledge, the work reported in this paper is the first domain-based model for the prediction of genetic interactions. Our study indicates that there is strong correlation between protein domain relationship and synthetic lethal genetic interactions.
Astroturf as a dustbathing substrate for laying hens

Abstract Furnished cages for laying hens often contain an Astroturf (AT) pad which may be sprinkled with feed to promote foraging and dustbathing. We evaluated AT and AT plus feed (ATF) to determine if hens use these substrates for dustbathing. Hens ( N = 30) without prior exposure to substrate were housed singly in cages at 34 weeks of age. Using a 3 × 3 Latin square design, groups of 10 hens were provided with a dustbox containing either sand (control), an AT pad, or an AT pad with 200 g of feed (ATF) delivered daily, with three 20-day treatment Periods. The treatment order was: sand–ATF–AT (1); ATF–AT–sand (2); AT–sand–ATF (3). Behavior was recorded for 8 or 9 days each Period, from 11:00 to 22:00 h. Three measures of dustbathing were evaluated: bout number per day, bout length, and total time spent dustbathing per day. Data were collected and processed to evaluate dustbathing activity in the substrate, on the wire floor and in both locations combined (overall). Data were analyzed using the GLM or Kruskal–Wallis and Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner tests. Although there were some differences in statistical significance between Periods, in general hens provided with sand exhibited fewer bouts both overall and on wire, and longer bouts both overall and one wire, than AT or ATF hens, and longer bouts both overall and in substrate than AT. Hens with sand also spent significantly (all P ≤ 0.04) more time dustbathing on substrate (median min = 18.71 ± 5.16) and less time on wire (0.59 ± 1.56) than AT (0.33 ± 2.62 and 13.39 ± 7.15, respectively) and ATF (2.05 ± 4.43 and 11.26 ± 4.37, respectively) treatments during Period 1, and also more time dustbathing on substrate (7.66 ± 8.13) than hens in the AT treatment (0.00 ± 2.52) during Period 2. Exposure to AT and ATF during the first two treatment periods reduced hens’ use of sand during the third treatment period, with only 11% of bouts occurring in sand during Period 3 as compared to 64% and 41% during Periods 1 and 2, respectively. These findings demonstrated that AT did not provide an adequate dustbathing substrate, even with the addition of feed, as hens were less likely to dustbathe on both AT and ATF than sand, and were also less likely to dustbathe on sand if they were initially exposed to AT and ATF as dustbathing substrates.
The providing resources to enhance African American patients’ readiness to make decisions about kidney disease (PREPARED) study: protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Living related kidney transplantation (LRT) is underutilized, particularly among African Americans. The effectiveness of informational and financial interventions to enhance informed decision-making among African Americans with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and improve rates of LRT is unknown. We report the protocol of the Providing Resources to Enhance African American Patients’ Readiness to Make Decisions about Kidney Disease (PREPARED) Study, a two-phase study utilizing qualitative and quantitative research methods to design and test the effectiveness of informational (focused on shared decision-making) and financial interventions to overcome barriers to pursuit of LRT among African American patients and their families. Study Phase I involved the evidence-based development of informational materials as well as a financial intervention to enhance African American patients’ and families’ proficiency in shared decision-making regarding LRT. In Study Phase 2, we are currently conducting a randomized controlled trial in which patients with new-onset ESRD receive 1) usual dialysis care by their nephrologists, 2) the informational intervention (educational video and handbook), or 3) the informational intervention in addition to the option of participating in a live kidney donor financial assistance program. The primary outcome of the randomized controlled trial will include patients’ self-reported rates of consideration of LRT (including family discussions of LRT, patient-physician discussions of LRT, and identification of a LRT donor). Results from the PREPARED study will provide needed evidence on ways to enhance the decision to pursue LRT among African American patients with ESRD. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01439516
Estimation of the number of sources in unbalanced arrays via information theoretic criteria

Estimating the number of sources impinging on an array of sensors is a well-known and well-investigated problem. A common approach for solving this problem is to use an information theoretic criterion, such as Minimum Description Length (MDL) or the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The MDL estimator is known to be a consistent estimator, robust against deviations from the Gaussian assumption, and nonrobust against deviations from the point source and/or temporally or spatially white additive noise assumptions. Over the years, several alternative estimation algorithms have been proposed and tested. Usually, these algorithms are shown, using computer simulations, to have improved performance over the MDL estimator and to be robust against deviations from the assumed spatial model. Nevertheless, these robust algorithms have high computational complexity, requiring several multidimensional searches. In this paper, which is motivated by real-life problems, a systematic approach toward the problem of robust estimation of the number of sources using information theoretic criteria is taken. An MDL-type estimator that is robust against deviation from assumption of equal noise level across the array is studied. The consistency of this estimator, even when deviations from the equal noise level assumption occur, is proven. A novel low-complexity implementation method avoiding the need for multidimensional searches is presented as well, making this estimator a favorable choice for practical applications.
Differences in crystal and solution structures of the cytolethal distending toxin B subunit: Relevance to nuclear translocation and functional activation

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in eukaryotic cells, which are mediated by the DNA-damaging CdtB subunit. Here we report the first x-ray structure of an isolated CdtB subunit (Escherichia coli-II CdtB, EcCdtB). In conjunction with previous structural and biochemical observations, active site structural comparisons between free and holotoxin-assembled CdtBs suggested that CDT intoxication is contingent upon holotoxin disassembly. Solution NMR structural and 15N relaxation studies of free EcCdtB revealed disorder in the interface with the CdtA and CdtC subunits (residues Gly233–Asp242). Residues Leu186–Thr209 of EcCdtB, which encompasses tandem arginine residues essential for nuclear translocation and intoxication, were also disordered in solution. In stark contrast, nearly identical well defined α-helix and β-strand secondary structures were observed in this region of the free and holotoxin CdtB crystallographic models, suggesting that distinct changes in structural ordering characterize subunit disassembly and nuclear localization factor binding functions.
A mutant Escherichia coli that attaches peptidoglycan to lipopolysaccharide and displays cell wall on its surface

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) forms the surface-exposed leaflet of the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria, an organelle that shields the underlying peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall. Both LPS and PG are essential cell envelope components that are synthesized independently and assembled by dedicated transenvelope multiprotein complexes. We have identified a point-mutation in the gene for O-antigen ligase (WaaL) in Escherichia coli that causes LPS to be modified with PG subunits, intersecting these two pathways. Synthesis of the PG-modified LPS (LPS*) requires ready access to the small PG precursor pool but does not weaken cell wall integrity, challenging models of precursor sequestration at PG assembly machinery. LPS* is efficiently transported to the cell surface without impairing OM function. Because LPS* contains the canonical vancomycin binding site, these surface-exposed molecules confer increased vancomycin-resistance by functioning as molecular decoys that titrate the antibiotic away from its intracellular target. This unexpected LPS glycosylation fuses two potent pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs).
The nature of evidence for and against epigenetic inheritance

Not so fast. The Iqbal et. al. study and the associated Whitelaw commentary highlight the appropriately high standards of study design and interpretation needed to obtain good evidence for or against epigenetic inheritance.
The distribution of gas and gas hydrate at natural seeps inferred from seismic data

The Naval Research Laboratory has conducted detailed seismic and acoustic investigations at natural methane hydrate seep sites at several locations worldwide. The seismic expressions of these features exhibit significant differences, such as bathymetric expression (mounds, pockmarks, pavements) and the positions of the faults that are likely acting as methane-supplying conduits. Similarities include the way in which the base of gas-hydrate stability, a pressure and temperature boundary is perturbed upward by the warm, upward advecting fluids that supply the seep. In all areas observed, massive, sediment-displacing deposits of gas hydrate on or within about one meter of the seafloor are consistent with a localized conduit supplying the methane, but also brings heat, thereby thinning the zone in which hydrates are stable. Although massive gas hydrates on the seafloor are one of the most visible types of gas hydrate accumulation, they appear to be very localized.
Image Processing for Teaching: a national dissemination program

The "Image Processing for Teaching" (IPT) project provides a powerful medium to excite students about science and mathematics, especially children from minority groups and others whose needs have not been met by traditional "coded" ways of teaching these subjects. IPT offers open-ended opportunities for exploration, discovery, and quantitative analysis. Using professional quality software on microcomputers, students explore a variety of scientific data sets, including biomedical imaging, Earth remote sensing and meteorology data, and planetary exploration images. They also learn about the mathematical concepts that underlie image processing. IPT curriculum materials cover all areas of mathematics and science for elementary school through college levels, allowing this tool to be used across a variety of subjects and student interests. Through the non-profit Center for Image Processing in Education (CIPE), teachers across the country are learning image processing and how it can be incorporated into their classes. CIPE provides materials, implementation support, and teacher education for school districts, for colleges, and for other education projects that want to incorporate image processing into their educational programs. >
Catheter lock heparin concentration: effects on tissue plasminogen activator use in tunneled cuffed catheters.

Abstract The optimal cost-effective heparin concentration for locking tunneled cuffed hemodialysis catheters (TCC) is unclear. We performed a retrospective review of tissue plasminogen activator (tpa) use in TCC in 2 hemodialysis units that used different heparin concentrations for TCC lock to evaluate the effectiveness of lower dose heparin as a lock for TCC. Catheter blood flow rate per treatment, units of heparin given during treatments, patient hemoglobin values and use of warfarin, and tpa use were compared for all patients using TCC for at least 3 months in 2 in-center hemodialysis units between 11/04 and 5/05. Both units used the same type of catheters and biocompatible, non-re-use dialyzers. Unit A used heparin 1000 U/mL for catheter locks, and Unit B used heparin 10,000 U/mL for catheter locks. Twelve of 19 Unit A patients, tpa and 14 of 45 Unit B patients received intracatheter during the study period (p=0.0009). There were no differences in the number of patients on warfarin, treatment blood flow rate, or mean hemoglobin levels between the 2 groups. The mean heparin units given during hemodialysis treatments was higher in Unit A patients (3.92+/-2.2 vs. 3.83+/-2.5 1000 U, p=0.05). Assuming a 4.1 mL total catheter lumen volume, the cost of heparin 1000 U/mL lock was 0.20 dollars per treatment and heparin 10,000 U/mL cost 2.67 dollars/treatment; tpa cost 89.02 dollars/use. Using the 10,000 U/mL heparin as a catheter lock was associated with less frequent use of tpa. However, the significantly lower cost of the 1000 U/mL heparin could result in significant savings despite higher tpa use. This retrospective, uncontrolled study of a small number of patients suggests that comparing low and high heparin concentrations as a TCC lock would be worthwhile. Prospective studies would be helpful to define the most appropriate and cost-effective lock for TCC.
LOOM: optimal aggregation overlays for in-memory big data processing

Aggregation underlies the distillation of information from big data. Many well-known basic operations including top-k matching and word count hinge on fast aggregation across large data-sets. Common frameworks including MapReduce support aggregation, but do not explicitly consider or optimize it. Optimizing aggregation however becomes yet more relevant in recent "online" approaches to expressive big data analysis which store data in main memory across nodes. This shifts the bottlenecks from disk I/O to distributed computation and network communication and significantly increases the impact of aggregation time on total job completion time. This paper presents LOOM, a (sub)system for efficient big data aggregation for use within big data analysis frameworks. LOOM efficiently supports two-phased (sub)computations consisting in a first phase performed on individual data sub-sets (e.g., word count, top-k matching) followed by a second aggregation phase which consolidates individual results of the first phase (e.g., count sum, top-k). Using characteristics of an aggregation function, LOOM constructs a specifically configured aggregation overlay to minimize aggregation costs. We present optimality heuristics and experimentally demonstrate the benefits of thus optimizing aggregation overlays using microbenchmarks and real world examples.
American road narratives: reimagining mobility in literature and film

As Ann Brigham notes in the introduction to her book, the road, as a subject of myth in America, is typically assumed to mean ‘freedom, rebellion or reinvention; there exists the promise of escape’...
Correlation of Cks1 and p27kip1 with tumor biologic aggressiveness and survival in gastrointestinal stromal tumor

e15549 Background: The biologic behavior of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) based upon morphologic parameters is unpredictable. Cyclin dependent kinase-1 (Cks1) plays an important role in th...
Specifying Kidnapping for Ransom Epidemics at the Global Level: A Matched-Case Control Design

ABSTRACTCriminal groups around the world frequently rely on kidnapping for ransom (K&R) to fund and further their cause. Some case studies suggest war torn, fragile, and corrupt countries experience K&R epidemics more often. While such factors may be present in some countries experiencing K&R epidemics, it remains to be seen if these failed state factors are generalizable to all nations. To date, no research has systematically examined the conditions that might facilitate K&R epidemics. This study used a case-control design comparing countries with high rates of K&R (experimental) to countries without a K&R problem (control). Findings suggest that problem K&R countries were less secure, less peaceful, and unevenly developed in relation to social and economic indicators. Better understanding of the conditions involving K&R problems offers to improve foresight and the development of effective policy responses.
The lungs in homozygous alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency.

A morphologic study of three lungs from patients with homozygous deficiency of serum alpha1 antitrypsin was undertaken to determine the presence, type, and distribution of emphysema and the coexistence, if any, of airway disease in the form of chronic bronchitis or bronchiolitis. All three lungs had panlobular emphysema, involving most severely the dependent portions of the lower lobes and to a lesser extent the upper lobes. The lungs also showed microscopic features of chronic bronchitis. The three lungs were from patients who had been cigarette smokers. Previous reports concerning the association of serum alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have emphasized the panlobular emphysema and may have overlooked accompanying coexistent chronic bronchitis. The exact effect of cigarette smoking in antitrypsin deficiency remains to be defined, but it apparently accelerates the development of emphysema and is also involved in the pathogenesis of coexistent chronic bronchitis. The bronchioles studied showed remarkably little airway disease.
IFNγ inhibition of cell growth in glioblastomas correlates with increased levels of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p21 WAF1/CIP1

IFNγ inhibition of cell growth in glioblastomas correlates with increased levels of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p21 WAF1/CIP1
Stereotactic Radiosurgery for the Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Spinal Sarcomas.

Purpose:Despite advancements in local and systemic therapy, metastasis remains common in the natural history of sarcomas. Unfortunately, such metastases are the most significant source of morbidity and mortality in this heterogeneous disease. As a classically radioresistant histology, stereotactic radiosurgery has emerged to control spinal sarcomas and provide palliation. However, there is a lack of data regarding pain relief and relapse following stereotactic radiosurgery.Methods:We queried a retrospective institutional database of patients who underwent spine stereotactic radiosurgery for primary and metastatic sarcomas. The primary outcome was pain relief following stereotactic radiosurgery. Secondary outcomes included progression of pain, radiographic failure, and development of toxicities following treatment.Results:Forty treatment sites were eligible for inclusion; the median prescription dose was 16 Gy in a single fraction. Median time to radiographic failure was 14 months. At 6 and 12 months, radi...
Competition between deformability and charge transport in semiconducting polymers for flexible and stretchable electronics

The primary goal of the field concerned with organic semiconductors is to produce devices with performance approaching that of silicon electronics, but with the deformability—flexibility and stretchability—of conventional plastics. However, an inherent competition between deformability and charge transport has long been observed in these materials, and achieving the extreme (or even moderate) deformability implied by the word “plastic” concurrently with high charge transport may be elusive. This competition arises because the properties needed for high carrier mobilities—e.g., rigid chains in π-conjugated polymers and high degrees of crystallinity in the solid state—are antithetical to deformability. On the device scale, this competition can lead to low-performance yet mechanically robust devices, or high-performance devices that fail catastrophically (e.g., cracking, cohesive failure, and delamination) under strain. There are, however, some observations that contradict the notion of the mutual exclusivit...
The effect of liguistrazine on the HIF-1ɑ expression in neonatal rats with hypoxic ischemic brain damage

Objective:To explore the effect of liguistrazine on the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α(HIF-1α)in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD).Methods:Models of 7-day-old neonatal rats with HIBD were established by occluding the left common carotid artery and subjected to inhalation of 8% oxygen.The mice of treated group were injected with liguistrazine intraperitoneally(50 mg/kg) before and after the operation.The expression of HIF-1α in cortex was measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining.Results:Although the levels of HIF-1α mRNA and protein expression at 2 h after HIBD were higher than those of sham group,there was no significance(P 0.05) .While the expression of HIF-1α mRNA and protein were remarkably higher in liguistrazine treated group than those of HIBD group(P 0.05).Conclusion:Liguistrazine can increase the expression of HIF-ɑ mRNA and protein in neonatal rats with HIBD,which may be the molecular mechanism of its neuroprotective effect.
Alleviating stress in newborn infants in the intensive care unit.

Potentially stressful features of the neonatal intensive care environment, including factors such as continuous high-intensity noise and bright light, have generated concern. Some neonatal researchers have speculated that the intensive care nursery constitutes a source of sensory deprivation, whereas others have suggested that the preterm infant is overestimulated or experiences an inappropriate pattern, rather than an excessive amount, of stimulation. This article examines some of the sources of stress in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Genetically tuned LQR based path following for UAVs under wind disturbance

An Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) guidance law is addressed as an optimal regulator (LQR) problem. An adaptive optimal path following nomenclature is derived and defined. The state weighting matrix of the LQR is defined in term of intrinsic parameter error thereby enabling the guidance law to regulate the UAV disturbance errors effectively. The state weighing matrix is tuned using a genetic algorithm based search. Simulations are carried out for straight line and loiter paths under various wind conditions. The genetically tuned results show low position errors for path following for UAVs and the guidance law is effective in minimizing the effect of wind disturbances.
Determination of nucleoside triphosphatase activities from measurement of true inorganic phosphate in the presence of labile phosphate compounds.

One of the most common assays for nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) activity entails the quantification of inorganic phosphate (Pi) as a colored phosphomolybdate complex at low pH. While this assay is very sensitive, it is not selective for Pi in the presence of labile organic phosphate compounds (OPCs). Since NTPase activity assays typically require a large excess of OPCs, such as nucleotides, selectivity for Pi in the presence of OPCs is often critical in evaluating enzyme activity. Here we present an improved method for the measurement of enzymatic nucleotide hydrolysis as Pi released, which achieves selectivity for Pi in the presence of OPCs while also avoiding the costs and hazards inherent in other methods for measuring nucleotide hydrolysis. We apply this method to the measurement of ATP hydrolysis by nitrogenase and GTP hydrolysis by elongation factor G (EF-G) in order to demonstrate the broad applicability of our method for the determination of nucleotide hydrolysis in the presence of interfering OPCs.
TlSn2I5, a Robust Halide Antiperovskite Semiconductor for γ-Ray Detection at Room Temperature

The semiconductor TlSn2I5 with a two-dimensional crystal structure and an antiperovskite topology is a promising novel detection material. The compound crystallizes in the I4/mcm space group, has an indirect band gap of 2.14 eV, and melts congruently at 314 °C. Electronic band structure calculations reveal that the most facile electron transport is along the ab layered plane. Compared to CH3NH3PbX3 (X = Br, I), TlSn2I5 features higher long-term stability, higher photon stopping power (average atomic number of 55), higher resistivity (∼1010 Ω·cm), and robust mechanical properties. Centimeter-size TlSn2I5 single crystals grown from the melt by the Bridgman method can be used to fabricate detector devices, which detect Ag Kα X-rays (22 keV), 57Co γ-rays (122 keV), and 241Am α-particles (5.5 MeV). The mobility-lifetime product and mobility for electrons were estimated to be 1.1 × 10–3 cm2·V–1 and 94 ± 16 cm2·V–1·s–1, respectively. Unlike other halide perovskites, TlSn2I5 shows no signs of ionic polarization u...
Reduced activin receptor-like kinase 1 activity promotes cardiac fibrosis in heart failure.

Abstract Introduction Activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) mediates signaling via the transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFβ1), a pro-fibrogenic cytokine. No studies have defined a role for ALK1 in heart failure. Hypothesis We tested the hypothesis that reduced ALK1 expression promotes maladaptive cardiac remodeling in heart failure. Methods and results In patients with advanced heart failure referred for left ventricular (LV) assist device implantation, LV Alk1 mRNA and protein levels were lower than control LV obtained from patients without heart failure. To investigate the role of ALK1 in heart failure, Alk1 haploinsufficient (Alk1+/−) and wild-type (WT) mice were studied 2 weeks after severe transverse aortic constriction (TAC). LV and lung weights were higher in Alk1+/− mice after TAC. Cardiomyocyte area and LV mRNA levels of brain natriuretic peptide and β-myosin heavy chain were increased similarly in Alk1+/− and WT mice after TAC. Alk-1 mice exhibited reduced Smad 1 phosphorylation and signaling compared to WT mice after TAC. Compared to WT, LV fibrosis and Type 1 collagen mRNA and protein levels were higher in Alk1+/− mice. LV fractional shortening was lower in Alk1+/− mice after TAC. Conclusions Reduced expression of ALK1 promotes cardiac fibrosis and impaired LV function in a murine model of heart failure. Further studies examining the role of ALK1 and ALK1 inhibitors on cardiac remodeling are required.
Theoretical physics: Quarks fuse to release energy.

In nuclear fusion, energy is produced by the rearrangement of protons and neutrons. The discovery of an analogue of this process involving particles called quarks has implications for both nuclear and particle physics. See Letter p.89 The LHCb collaboration at CERN's Large Hadron Collider recently reported the discovery of a doubly charmed baryon with a large binding energy between the two charm quarks inside it. Marek Karliner and Jonathan Rosner report that this strong binding energy allows for a rearrangement of the quarks that releases energy in a quark-level analogue of deuterium–tritium nuclear fusion. They point out that the even larger binding energy between two bottom quarks can also enable such an exothermic rearrangement, with a considerably larger energy release.
Study of the Lyase Activity of Human DNA Polymerase β Using Analogues of the Intermediate Schiff Base Complex

DNA polymerase β (Pol β) participates in mammalian base excision repair. The enzyme has a two-domain architecture, reflecting its dual functionality. The polymerase activity, which replaces damaged nucleosides removed during an initial excision process, is within the C-terminal 31 kDa domain, while the N-terminal 8 kDa domain participates in a lyase function, working to remove a 5'-deoxyribose phosphate (5'-dRP) moiety from the damaged DNA substrate. The currently accepted mechanism of the lyase reaction involves a transient covalent enzyme-DNA intermediate in the form of a Schiff base connecting Lys72 of the enzyme with the 5'-dRP moiety. The Schiff base intermediate is resolved via a β-elimination reaction, initiated by abstraction of a C2'-H atom from the 5'-dRP moiety. Presently, we describe the preparation of three Pol β enzymes modified at position 72 with aminooxy or hydrazinyl analogues of lysine. These enzymes form transient covalent bonds with the 5'-dRP moiety of the damaged DNA, in the form of an oxime or hydrazone, respectively. Both types of enzyme DNA intermediates are ultimately resolved by the lyase activities of each of the modified enzymes. Unsurprisingly, the formation and resolution of these E-S complexes proceed with diminished kinetics, and with an altered pH profile. The performed experiments provide additional support for Schiff base formation as an obligatory intermediate on the pathway to DNA repair, as well as for the proposed participation of Lys72 in effecting opening of the 5'-dRP ring via protonation of the ring oxygen atom, and for complex resolution via a β-elimination reaction.
Green industrial performance: the GIP index

This article develops and introduces the green industrial performance (GIP) index that allows policy-makers and practitioners to analyse the performance of countries in terms of green manufacturing. We derive our data from international data sources, namely UNIDO's industrial statistics database (INDSTAT) and UN COMTRADE, to build up a set of green industrial indicators capturing different aspects of the country's green industrial performance. We then construct a composite index and rank and analyse the green industrial performance of a set of 107 countries in 2014. In 2014, the top five green industrial performers according to the GIP index are Denmark, Taiwan Province of China, Germany, the Republic of Korea and Singapore. Industrialised economies generally outperform other economies. We derive from the GIP index a set of recommendations for future research within the general framework of the international 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Does Meat Mean Murder

The third and final area of moral disagreement that I want to look at is that of vegetarianism and what some would call animal rights. This will involve some more talk about the concept of rights in general, but that will not be my main focus. I have already suggested that the language of rights is not a very useful one for the discussion of moral issues. The meaning of ‘rights’ is neither clear — does it imply the existence of a real moral law? — nor agreed upon. Nor, apparently, is the question of rights fundamental. If rights depend on interests, then it is interests that we should be talking about, at least primarily. Another reason not to talk overmuch about rights in connection with animals is that the particular philosophers whose work in this area I will consider are not themselves devotees of rights talk. Let me now introduce them and say something in justification of my choice.
Soft tissue tumors among beagles injected with 90Sr, 228Ra, OR 228Th

The occurrence of soft-tissue tumors in beagles given 90Sr (88 dogs), 228Ra (76 dogs), or 228Th (81 dogs) as young adults and followed throughout their lifespans was compared with that of 133 control beagles given no radioactivity. For animals injected with 228Ra, tumors of the eye were more prominent (p 0.05 by Odds Ratio Chi Square analysis but p 0.05). Intercurrent mortality, mainly from bone cancer, was higher in the radioactive dogs than in the controls. Mean survival was reduced in the dogs given 90Sr, 228Ra, or 228Th (13.17 +/- 2.64 y in controls, 10.95 +/- 4.06 y in 90Sr dogs, 9.07 +/- 3.61 y in 228Ra dogs, and 9.20 +/- 4.15 y in 228Th dogs). Attenuated lifespans could account, at least in part, for the relative paucity of soft-tissue tumors not induced by radiation among the groups of dogs given radioactivity and occurring near the end of life for control animals.
Common Sense, Rationality and the Legal Process

Our organizer and moderator, Peter Tillers, asked that I address the topic of common sense, rationality, and the legal process. As you know, everything in the law is controversial, and thus it is not surprising that there are at least two possible explanations for why he did this. One school of thought holds that Professor Tillers believes that I am the walking embodiment of common sense and rationality, and thus that my remarks here, whatever the content, would be an exemplar of just what he asked me to talk about. The other school of thought holds just the opposite: that the reason for the request was that the probability of my saying anything commonsensical, indeed, maybe even coherent, was just about zero. This state of affairs may seem problematic, but in fact it is a testament to the deep insight of our esteemed organizer (this being perhaps the only true proposition in this entire string of sounds that I am now emitting!), because in either case these remarks may be an exemplar, even though there may be disagreement as to what they are exemplifying. Leave it to Professor Tillers to detect Chomsky-like deep structures to our inquiries and to find an efficient way to put the matter before the assembly. By the way, although I certainly would not suggest that I know which of these schools is correct, I do think there is some good evidence before us. Who in his right mind, in the midst of the intellectual feast that we are consuming, would agree to give any remarks that would disturb the consumption of the well-deserved nutritional feast before you, the likely result of which is surely to be either intellectual or physiological indigestion, or both? And while I am on the topic of people being in a tough spot, we should all extend our deepest sympathies to Professor MacCrimmon who will soon be called upon to try to make some sense of all this. Heroic duty if ever there were any.
Pure Psychology and Societal Reproduction

We are now ready to reintroduce the three foundations of pure psychology in the context of societal reproduction and ideology. Let me first simply assert my conclusion and then develop the bases for it: the building blocks of positivist empiricism, truncated subjectivism, and abstracted individualism on which psychology’s deep structure is based contribute to societal reproduction and are primarily ideological in their social function. Insofar as the existing socioeconomic and sociocultural system generates the necessary domination of many by a few, psychology’s role is to help foster the very self-understandings that reproduce both the underlying system and its accompanying system of domination and unfreedom.
Infrared Evidence for the Existence of Nitrate Species on Cu-ZSM5 During Isothermal Rate Oscillations in the Decomposition of N2O

Isothermal oscillations in the rate of decomposition of N2O were studied on an over-exchanged Cu-ZSM-5 catalyst by mass spectroscopy and in situ transient FTIR. Oscillations in the production of O2 and N2 were observed to occur in a temperature range of 410–490°C at a total pressure of 1.0 Torr pure N2O. FTIR has provided the first spectroscopic evidence that surface nitrate species are present under oscillatory conditions. This study confirmed a previously proposed model that predicts a slow build-up of surface nitrates, followed by a rapid nitrate decomposition coupled with an increase in the rate of N2O decomposition. The IR signature of the surface nitrates suggests they are monodentate nitrate species bound to Cu2+ ions. Temperature-programmed desorption studies reveal a strong correlation between the stability of the surface nitrate species and the temperature range in which oscillations occur.
Medical school hotline: importance of research in medical education.

In the last several decades, medical student education has changed dramatically from the idealized and antiquated images commonly presented in literature and the popular media (Figure 1). Progressively, medical school curricula have seen the introduction of problem-based learning,1 community outreach,2,3 cultural awareness,4,5 ethics in medicine,6,7 and other humanist elements. These have replaced the traditional curriculum and primarily at the expence of didactic lectures. Figure 1 Anatomy Lecture Room. Drawing by Henry Hollingsworth Smith (1854).9 A more recent inclusion, (notable in trending back towards scientific medicine), has been broad-scale introduction in most US medical schools of a research experience for medical students.2,8 The nature and size of these research experiences vary widely from school to school, but the common theme is a block of time wherein medical students are released from some (rarely all) medical subjects to perform research under an established scientific or clinical mentor.8 In choosing to remove valuable time from academic medicine, medical education specialists (including professors responsible for curriculum development as well as medical school administrators and Deans) must ensure that the benefits of a research experience outweigh the consequences of compressing an already tight learning schedule. If the programs providing research experiences are managed optimally, involving input from administration, scientific/clinical mentors, and the students; a research experience can benefit the student greatly, strengthen faculty/student and clinician/scientist relationships, and enhance the reputations of those involved, including institutional reputations. At the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), research for medical students has evolved since 2006 to include; a dedicated block of curricular time for a research rotation, centralized coordination through the Office of Medical Education (OME), courses offered for credit that appear on student transcripts, and an annual biomedical sciences symposium (coordinated by the Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology) for research dissemination. The following is a description of the impact of this evolution on medical student education, including the author's experiences and recommendations for mentors offering clinical, translational, and basic science research projects for medical students. The discussions include concluding remarks on how research experiences assist medical students in their future careers.
Static Encephalopathy/Cerebral Palsy/Rehabilitation

1. A 2-year-old premature boy, he was 26 weeks of gestation and his birth weight was 750 grams. He had retrolental fibroplasia but did not require laser surgery. At 2 years, he has sever global developmental delay and he is unable to walk or talk. On examination, he has remarkable hypotonia, athetois and dysmetria. Brain MRI is shown. What is the most likely cause of his condition? A. Intraventricular hemorrhage B. Neonatal streptococcal meningitis C. Ischemia D. Congenital toxoplasmosis E. Neonatal herpes simplex infection