cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PRE-084 as a tool to uncover potential therapeutic applications for selective sigma-1 receptor activation

The discovery of a highly selective putative sigma-1 (σ1) receptor agonist, PRE-084, has revealed the numerous potential uses of this receptor subtype as a therapeutic target. While much work has been devoted to determining the role of σ1 receptors in normal and pathophysiological states in the nervous system, recent work suggests that σ1 receptors may be important for modulating functions of other tissues. These discoveries have provided novel insights into σ1 receptor structure, function, and importance in multiple intracellular signaling mechanisms. These discoveries were made possible by σ1 receptor-selective agonists such as PRE-084. The chemical properties and pharmacological actions of PRE-084 will be reviewed here, along with the expanding list of potential therapeutic applications for selective activation of σ1 receptors.
Ontogeny of vocal learning in a hummingbird

Hummingbirds have evolved to learn song from conspecifics independently of other bird clades that show this behaviour, such as parrots and oscine passerines. Little is known about how vocal learning occurs in hummingbirds. To determine the conditions necessary and sufficient for learning, we raised young Costa's hummingbirds, Calypte costae, in isolation in two experiments. The first experiment tested whether three pairs of males, raised either in silence or with only acoustic exposure to song, would produce wild-type song. They did not: each pair instead produced ‘isolate’ songs dissimilar to wild-type song. Each pair produced a unique isolate song with subtle differences from other pairs. Thus, exposure to song alone is insufficient to trigger learning. The second experiment tested whether individually housed males would learn songs when exposed to a live male model plus playback of song (1 h/day, 3 days/week, for 3 months). Seven of eight birds that heard Costa's-like songs learned to sing their tutor song. Each individual produced song that matched idiosyncratic features of the individual songs played to them, demonstrating attention to, and learning of the exact acoustic stimuli received. Two control birds exposed to acoustically dissimilar Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna, song developed isolate song. Thus, exposure to species-specific song with a conspecific male is sufficient to trigger learning. The sensory phase began after fledging, around 23 days posthatch, and the sensorimotor phase began around 50 days posthatch, when singing also began. Song crystallization occurred approximately 125 days posthatch. Costa's also appear to be statistical learners; they learn to sing the songs they hear most often. Hummingbird song ontogeny appears to be similar to song ontogeny in passerines, despite its convergent origin.
Host, Gender, and Early-Life Factors as Risks for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Although smoking results in lung pathology in many, still not all smokers develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Roughly a quarter of patients with COPD have never smoked. An understanding of both host and environmental factors beyond smoking that contribute to disease development remain critical to understanding disease prevention and ultimately effectively intervene. In this article, we summarize host factors, including genetics and gender, as well as early-life events that contribute to the development of COPD.
A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Spend (as Much): The Fiscal Effect of Separate Taxing and Spending Committees in State Legislatures

In recent years, a raft of studies has examined the effect of various institutions on state fiscal outcomes, especially per capita spending. A review of the literature reveals that one institution has an especially large effect on government spending: states with separate legislative committees overseeing taxing and spending legislation spend significantly less than stateswithout separate committees. The size of this effect was found to be an order of magnitude larger than that of any other institution. Despite this large effect, separate committees are one of the least studied state institutions. We found only one peer-reviewed study of separate taxing and spending committees, and it was based on data from a relatively short time period in the 1980s. We offer the first formal theoretical model of the institution, emphasizing the important role that transaction costs play in political logrolls. We empirically test the model, improving on the previous test with a longer panel (spanning 40 years), a larger set of controls, separate tests on different measures of fiscal policy, and tests to learn whether it makes a difference if taxing and spending committees are separate in one or both legislative chambers. Controlling for other factors, we find that states with separate taxing and spending committees spend between $300 and $450 less per capita than states without separate committees. Having these functions separate in one chamber seems to have a larger effect than having them separate in both chambers. Moreover, the pattern does not hold for all subcategories of state spending.
Iterative AP selection, MMSE precoding and power allocation in cell-free massive MIMO systems

In this work, the authors proposed the iterative access point (AP) selection (APS), linear minimum mean-square error (MMSE) precoding and power allocation techniques for cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. They considered the downlink channel with single-antenna users and multiple-antenna APs. They derive sum-rate expressions for the proposed iterative APS techniques followed by MMSE precoding and optimal, adaptive, and uniform power allocation schemes. Simulations show that the proposed approach outperforms existing conjugate beamforming and zero-forcing schemes and that performance remains excellent with APS, in the presence of perfect and imperfect channel state information.
Hybrid surgical and endovascular treatment

Abstract High-risk dural arteriovenous fistulas, defined as fistulas with cortical venous reflux, can be treated with both endovascular and open surgical techniques. However, in challenging cases in which surgical risk is high and traditional endovascular access via transarterial or transvenous routes is not obtainable, hybrid open surgical and endovascular techniques can be used. This chapter reviews cases from the literature exploring these novel approaches with illustrative examples and discusses the indications and nuances of performing hybrid surgical and endovascular procedures for these challenging lesions in the modern neuroendovascular era.
The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the quality of life and treatment disruption of patients with breast cancer in a multiethnic cohort.

Background As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread, it remains unclear how vulnerable populations with preexisting health conditions like cancer have been affected. Methods Between July and September of 2020, the authors conducted a cross-sectional study that surveyed 2661 patients with breast cancer who were registered in the Chicago Multiethnic Epidemiologic Breast Cancer Cohort and received 1300 responses (71.5% White patients and 22.4% Black patients). The survey measured the psychosocial well-being of participants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined whether they experienced any type of financial challenges or treatment disruption. Results The results indicated that feelings of isolation increased significantly during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the overall median isolation/stress score was 1.2 on a scale from 0 (never) to 4 (always), which was not significantly different between White patients and Black patients. One-third of patients experienced some type of financial challenge during this time. Medicaid recipients, of whom almost 80% were Black, were more likely to experience financial challenges. In addition, approximately one-fourth of patients experienced difficulty getting treatment. Conclusions This study indicates that the quality of life of patients with breast cancer and their scheduled treatments have been adversely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings suggest that more support should be provided by hospital centers and the medical research community to patients with cancer during this challenging pandemic. Lay summary The authors surveyed patients with breast cancer in Chicago using a questionnaire to examine how their lives have been affected during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The results indicate that the lives of patients with breast cancer and their scheduled treatments have been adversely affected during the pandemic. In addition, patients who were covered by Medicaid, most of whom were Black, were more likely to experience financial challenges. The findings suggest that hospital centers and the medical research community should reach out and provide more information to support patients with cancer during this challenging pandemic.
Liquidity and the Impact of Information Shocks: A Macroeconomics Course Application

This chapter explains how “information shocks” can affect the liquidity of financial markets and stock prices. The focus is on unexpected macroeconomic news as a key type of information shock. The final portion of the chapter discusses some realworld events that demonstrate the effects of these shocks on financial markets and how investors react to unexpected macroeconomic news items.
Quality Map Fusion for Adversarial Learning

Generative adversarial models that capture salient low-level features which convey visual information in correlation with the human visual system (HVS) still suffer from perceptible image degradations. The inability to convey such highly informative features can be attributed to mode collapse, convergence failure and vanishing gradients. In this paper, we improve image quality adversarially by introducing a novel quality map fusion technique that harnesses image features similar to the HVS and the perceptual properties of a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN). We extend the widely adopted l2 Wasserstein distance metric to other preferable quality norms derived from Banach spaces that capture richer image properties like structure, luminance, contrast and the naturalness of images. We also show that incorporating a perceptual attention mechanism (PAM) that extracts global feature embeddings from the network bottleneck with aggregated perceptual maps derived from standard image quality metrics translate to a better image quality. We also demonstrate impressive performance over other methods.
Maternal Infant Feeding Behaviors and Disparities in Early Child Obesity

Abstract Background: Although disparities in child obesity exist during infancy, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Assessing dissimilarities in feeding practices, styles, and beliefs may provide a better understanding of these mechanisms. This study sought to identify modifiable maternal-infant feeding behaviors that may contribute to disparities in early child obesity. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional analysis comparing mothers with infants (2 weeks to 6 months old) in a low-risk group of high-income white mothers to a high-risk group of low-income Hispanic mothers. Regression analysis was used to explore relationships between each group and (1) infant feeding practices, including breastfeeding, giving juice, and adding cereal to bottles, (2) controlling feeding styles, (3) beliefs about infant hunger and satiety, and (4) infant weight status. Results: The sample included 412 mothers (low-risk group, n=208; high-risk group, n=204). The high-risk group was less likely to exclusively breastfee...
Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian in the western Holy Cross Mts.

Lithology of the Upper Silurian, Lower and Middle Devonian sediments exposed in northwestern part of Kielce are described. Nine lithostratigraphical units representing the six stages of the Silurian and Devonian are distinguished. Three of these units have been newly introduced i.e. Niewaehlow Beds, Kielce Beds and Conglomerates from Gruchawka. Biostratigraphy of the Lower and Upper Silurian greywacke sediments and of a bottom of the Middle Devonian are defined. Lithostratigraphy and structural setting of the Miedziana Gora Conglomerates and their relation to K1onow and Barcza Beds are presented.
Aerotolerant Clostridium tertium brain abscess following a lawn dart injury.

Abstract A young girl developed an intracranial abscess and necrotizing cellulitis following penetrating injury from a lawn dart. Initial identification of a gram-positive rod growing aerobically from clinical specimens was as a Bacillus organism, but the observation that the isolate grew poorly in subcultures for susceptibility testing but quite well under standard anaerobic culture techniques led to the identification of the organism as an aerotolerant Clostridium tertium. Early management of penetrating head trauma should include cranial imaging studies to detect fractures and intracranial pathology. Clinical microbiologists and clinicians should be aware of the phenomenon of aerotolerance in anaerobic bacteria to avoid errors in choice of antibiotic therapy.
Nondirective Teaching and Self-Insight: A Statistical Addendum

(1954). Nondirective Teaching and Self-Insight: A Statistical Addendum. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 331-332.
Closed claims’ analysis

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Closed Claims database was started in 1985 to study anaesthesia injuries to improve patient safety, now containing 8954 claims with 5230 claims since 1990. Over the decades, claims for surgical anaesthesia decreased, while claims for acute and chronic pain management increased. In the 2000s, chronic pain management involved 18%, acute pain management 9% and obstetrical anaesthesia formed 8% of claims. Surgical anaesthesia claims with monitored anaesthesia care (MAC) increased in the 2000s to 10% of claims, while regional anaesthesia involved 19%. The most common complications were death (26%), nerve injury (22%) and permanent brain damage (9%). The most common damaging events due to anaesthesia in claims were regional-block-related (20%), respiratory (17%), cardiovascular (13%) and equipment-related events (10%). This review examines recent findings and clinical implications for injuries in management of the difficult airway, MAC, non-operating room locations, obstetric anaesthesia and chronic pain management.
Quality evaluation of meshed split-thickness skin grafts stored at 4 °C in isotonic solutions and nutrient media by cell cultures

Abstract Objective Excess split-skin autografts harvested and meshed during burn surgery are often stored at 4 °C temporarily for later use. The quality of the stored skin is critical to clinical outcome and needs to be assured. Methods Meshed split-thickness skin graft (mSSG) stored in saline, Hartmann's solution and two cell culture media, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) and DMEM/Ham F12 (DMEM/F12, 3:1 mixture) were analyzed by trypan blue staining, cell culture and microbiological testing through a 28-day time course for cell viability and microbial contamination. Results mSSG samples in all groups showed a progressive decrease of cell viability and colony forming efficiency through the time course of storage at 4 °C. Cell culture media were better than saline and Hartmann's solution in maintaining the viability and growth capability of skin cells. The viability observed by trypan blue staining did not truly reflect the cell growth capacity after storage. mSSG in saline and Hartman's solution retained minimal keratinocyte growth potency after 7 days. mSSG in cell culture media had significant loss of keratinocyte colony growth potency after 7 days and minimal keratinocyte growth after 14 days. Dermal fibroblasts of all groups were less tolerant than keratinocytes to the storage. Microbial contaminations were common in mSSG harvested from burn surgery. Conclusions Culture media instead of saline or Hartman's solution should be used for temporary storage of mSSG at 4 °C. The stored mSSS should be used within seven days to have sufficient viable number and cell growth efficiency. After then, the efficacy of stored mSSG as a source of living cells for wound closure could be full of uncertainty due to significant decrease of keratinocyte colony forming efficiency. Precaution should be taken during skin harvest and storage to minimize the risk of sample contamination. Inclusion of antimicrobial agents in storage solution and microbiological testing are advisable to ensure the quality and clinical outcome.
The missing link: the trombone in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries

The extensive use of the trombone in Italy until c.1630 is well known. The standard literature about the trombone has nothing more to add about Italy until the 19th century. The facts that Italian operatic composers working in Paris in the 1770s and 1780s wrote trombone parts with confidence and that Austrian composers of Fux's generation wrote many solo passages for trombone in their sacred music are thus inadequately explained. Both repertories seem like new beginnings. As it turns out, the trombone continued to be used in Venice throughout the 17th century, and without interruption throughout the 17th and 18th centuries in Naples, Rome and Bologna. This continuity, and some important innovations along the way, put the 18th-century developments in Paris and Vienna in their proper context. The careers of Camillo Cortellini, Antonio Mariotti and Giovanni Battista Zoboli are of particular interest.
Localization of Cortical Tissue Optical Changes During Seizure Activity in vivo with Optical Coherence Tomography

Localization of optical changes for focal and global seizure models was used to differentiate active versus inactive cortical tissue in vivo, demonstrating OCT’s utility as a tool for studying brain activity with high spatiotemporal resolution.
Commentary: non-haemodynamic effects of beta-blockers in cirrhosis - more than meets the eye? Authors' reply.

*Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University and McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA. Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, Virginia Commonwealth University and McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA. Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. E-mail: jsbajaj@vcu.edu
An Advanced Airborne Magnetic System For High-resolution Mapping

Summary An eight-sensor boom-mounted airborne magnetometer system has been developed for mapping unexploded ordnance. The system is appropriate for high-resolution mapping of cultural and geologic features in environmental surveys as well as mining and petroleum applications. Data from a meander in the White River on the Badlands Bombing Range demonstrate the sensitivity of the system, and the benefits of the ORAGS system over systems that operate at higher altitudes.
Measurements of flame orientation and scalar dissipation in turbulent partially premixed methane flames

Abstract Three turbulent flames were studied using a new experimental facility developed at Sandia National Laboratories. Line imaging of Raman and Rayleigh scattering and CO laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) yielded information on all major species, temperature, mixture fraction, and a 1D surrogate measure of scalar dissipation. Simultaneously, crossed planar OH LIF imaging provided information on the instantaneous flame orientation, allowing estimation of the full 3D (flame-normal) scalar dissipation rate. The three flames studied were methane–air piloted jet flames (Sandia flames C, D, and E), which cover a range in Reynolds number from 13,400 to 33,600. The statistics of the instantaneous flame orientation are examined in the different flames, with the purpose of studying the prevailing kinematics of isoscalar contours. The 1D and 3D results for scalar dissipation rate are examined in detail, both in the form of conditional averages and in the form of probability density functions. The effect of overall strain and Reynolds number on flame suppression and eventual extinction is also investigated, by examining the doubly conditional statistics of temperature in the form of S-shaped curves. This latter analysis reveals that double conditioning of temperature on both mixture fraction and scalar dissipation does not collapse the data from these flames onto the same curve at low scalar dissipation rates, as might be expected from simple flamelet concepts.
Vision-based retinal membrane peeling with a handheld robot

Peeling delicate retinal membranes, which are often less than five microns thick, is one of the most challenging retinal surgeries. Preventing rips and tears caused by tremor and excessive force can decrease injury and reduce the need for follow up surgeries. We propose the use of a fully handheld microsurgical robot and vision-based virtual fixtures to enforce helpful constraints on the motion of the tool. Our key contribution is using only visual information to reduce and limit forces during vitreoretinal surgery: no force feedback is used in the control system. Utilizing stereo vision and tracking algorithms, the robot activates motion-scaled behavior as the tip nears the surface, providing finer control during the critical step of engaging the membrane edge. A hard virtual fixture just below the surface bounds the total downward force that can be applied. Furthermore, velocity limiting during the peeling helps the surgeon maintain a smooth, constant force while lifting and delaminating the membrane. On a retinal phantom consisting of plastic wrap stretched on top a rubber slide, we demonstrate a reduction of maximum force by 40–70%.
Effects of intravenous N-acetylprocainamide on hemodynamics and left ventricular function in man

Abstract N-acetylprocainamide (NAPA) is the active metabolite of procainamide currently undergoing evaluation for its antiarrhythmic properties. Its effects on hemodynamic variables and on ventricular function in man are poorly defined. The effects of intravenously administered NAPA (18 mg/kg over 30 minutes; mean plasma level 40.2 ± 6.2 μg/ml) on hemodynamics and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessed by radionuclide ventriculography were therefore determined in 14 patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. The peak effects of the drug with respect to most measured variables were seen at 30 minutes and were still apparent at 60 minutes. NAPA increased heart rate (3% at 10 minutes; p p p p p max (9%; p p p
Building a Distributed E-Healthcare System Using SOA

This article describes a distributed e-healthcare system that uses the service-oriented architecture as a means of designing, implementing, and managing healthcare services. Medical monitoring devices worn by the patient, and frequent electronic communication between the patient and a nurse, can ensure that the prescribed treatment is being followed and that the patient is making good progress. The e-healthcare system described here can be readily extended to other healthcare professionals, including medical technicians who perform and report tests and analyses requested by physicians. In addition, the system can be interfaced to other applications that provide information on medications and dosages and warn of interactions between medications. Finally, it can be interfaced to drug-delivery devices that prompt and monitor the regular and timely consumption of medications.
Improvement of small-field penumbra and dose distributions on a 4 MV accelerator

Abstract The penumbra and dose distributions for small X ray fields from a 4 MV accelerator, designed for 80 cm source-to-surface distance (SSD) but used at 100 cm SSD, were observed to be similar to those obtained from cobalt-60 units. Penumbra was reduced and flatter isodose curves were obtained by the addition of tungsten trimmers at a distance of 48 cm from the X ray source. This stratagem improves the definition of irradiation volume of small fields which are common in the treatment of lesions in the head and neck.
VCR: App-Agnostic Recovery of Photographic Evidence from Android Device Memory Images

The ubiquity of modern smartphones means that nearly everyone has easy access to a camera at all times. In the event of a crime, the photographic evidence that these cameras leave in a smartphone's memory becomes vital pieces of digital evidence, and forensic investigators are tasked with recovering and analyzing this evidence. Unfortunately, few existing forensics tools are capable of systematically recovering and inspecting such in-memory photographic evidence produced by smartphone cameras. In this paper, we present VCR, a memory forensics technique which aims to fill this void by enabling the recovery of all photographic evidence produced by an Android device's cameras. By leveraging key aspects of the Android framework, VCR extends existing memory forensics techniques to improve vendor-customized Android memory image analysis. Based on this, VCR targets application-generic artifacts in an input memory image which allow photographic evidence to be collected no matter which application produced it. Further, VCR builds upon the Android framework's existing image decoding logic to both automatically recover and render any located evidence. Our evaluation with commercially available smartphones shows that VCR is highly effective at recovering all forms of photographic evidence produced by a variety of applications across several different Android platforms.
Mechanism of Mouse Awareness of X-Radiation

ANIMALS are aware of X-radiation1, but no one knows how they achieve this awareness. Recently, a biological tool, the acatalasaemic mouse developed in this laboratory2, has become available to test the one mechanism which has been seriously investigated. The acatalasaemic mouse is a mutant strain, CSb, which differs from its normal, wild type progenitor strain (CSa); the blood catalase activity of the mutant is about 1 per cent of normal. The catalase activity of the solid tissues is also reduced3, but it is difficult to measure the change because the mutation is more a modification of molecular stability than change of actual activity and thus is critically dependent on the method of assay used4.
A photometric technique for the quantitative measurement of changes in peripheral blood flow

A technique is described which utilizes a multiplier photometer, Model 520-M, equipped with photo-multiplier tube No. 21-C and an argon light source to measure quantitatively and record the circulatory changes in the skin and striated muscles of anesthetized and unanesthetized laboratory animals. With this technique drug-produced changes in blood flow through the peripheral vascular system may be compared with simultaneously acquired manometric recordings of carotid blood pressure. The method yields information which is subject to statistical analysis.
Dilation-Free Solutions for the Incompressible Flow Equations on Nonstaggered Grids

The present method employs a pressure Poisson formulation that has the unique capability of satisfying the discrete continuity equation exactly while producing smooth pressure on nonstaggered grids. A fourth-order accurate discretization is employed for the pressure gradient operator in both the momentum equation and the pressure Poisson equation. The use of higher-order accurate approximations for the pressure derivatives results in the enlargement of Laplace operator, which incorporates both odd and even grid points and thus spatially couples the pressure field. The numerical solutions are compared to solutions obtained from the classic pressure Poisson approach, which uses artificial dissipation to couple the pressure field, as well as benchmark results of a stream function-vorticity formulation (which automatically produces dilatation-free solutions).
Intravenous ribavirin therapy for adenovirus pneumonia

We report on the effectiveness of intravenous ribavirin for severe adenoviral pneumonia in a 10-month-old male following orthotopic liver transplantation. On day 20 post-transplantation, he developed high fever, marked respiratory compromise, and hypoxemia. The chest radiograph showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. Samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid grew adenovirus, serotype 1. Marked clinical and radiological improvement was noted after intravenous ribavirin therapy. A prospective clinical trial is needed to determine the efficacy of ribavirin therapy for severe adenovirus disease. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2000; 29:69–73. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Is It Good Practice to Treat Patients With Uncomplicated Myocardial Infarction at Home

UNDER WHAT circumstances might a patient with an apparently uncomplicated myocardial infarction be treated at home? This question has never been satisfactorily answered. Recently, a 70-year-old man was initially seen at our office with a history and ECG consistent with a lateral-wall myocardial infarction with likely onset 72 hours before the visit. When hospitalization was recommended, the patient adamantly refused but wanted us to continue providing his medical care. He went home and had an uncomplicated recovery. He continues to do well and is at full activity 18 months after infarction. Perhaps our patient instinctively chose what was best for him. There is evidence to support his choice. The original descriptions of the coronary care unit (CCU) were published in 1963. Brown and co-workers,1describing an intensive care center for the treatment of myocardial infarction, noted that in the first year the mortality rate of those in the intensive
Nondestructive microwave characterization for determining the bulk density and moisture content of shelled corn

A method based on nondestructive microwave characterization is used for simultaneous determination of the bulk density and moisture content of shelled corn. This method can be applied regardless of the measurement technique and thus considerably simplifies the calibration procedure. Calibration equations, both for the bulk density and for the moisture content, are given, together with the standard error of performance (SEP) at several frequencies in the range 11-18 GHz and three temperatures, 14, 24 and C. The bulk density, ranging from 695 to , can be determined with SEP in the range 11-. Neither the sample moisture content nor its temperature are required in order to determine the bulk density. The moisture content ranging from 9% to 19% on a wet basis, can be determined at each temperature without knowledge of the bulk density with SEP of less than 0.5% moisture content. Results of an error analysis of the measurements show that about half of the total uncertainties in bulk density and moisture content can be considered systematic errors and thus they are correctable.
Extragenic suppression of temperature-sensitive phenotype in reovirus: Mapping suppressor mutations

Independently isolated, spontaneous pseudorevertants of temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of reovirus type 3 have previously been genetically characterized (R. F. Ramig and B. N. Fields, 1979, Virology 92, 155-167). Eighteen of these pseudorevertants were backcrossed to wild-type reovirus type 1 and reassortant progeny expressing the parental ts phenotype were selected. Analysis of segregation of genome segments in the reassortant, parental ts, progeny clones allowed the determination of the genome segment bearing the suppressor mutation of four pseudorevertants. The suppressor of tsA(201) phenotype mapped to segment S4 in the pseudorevertants RtsA(201)101 and RtsA(201)121 and to segment L3 in pseudorevertant RtsA(201)122. The suppressor of tsB(352) phenotype mapped to segment S1 in the pseudorevertant RtsB(352)b. In two other pseudorevertants the suppressor could not be mapped to a single genome segment due to the small number of progeny clones examined. These genetic results indirectly support the "compensating protein interactions" hypothesis for the mechanism of suppression.
Activation of protein kinase C inhibits the expression of connective tissue growth factor.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a member of a protein family in which 38 cysteine residues are conserved. Although a wide variety of important biological functions have been ascribed to these proteins in recent years, the regulation of their gene expression for most members is virtually unknown. We studied the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) and tyrosine kinase on the expression of CTGF and observed that at the mRNA level CTGF expression is inhibited by the activation of PKC, but stimulated by the inhibition of PKC and tyrosine kinase. We further determined that the novel and the classical PKC isoforms are needed for the inhibition, but the atypical isoforms are not involved. Our data suggest that phosphorylation on serine/threonine and tyrosine by PKC and by tyrosine kinase are all inhibitory to the expression of CTGF.
Historical Context of Elevated Temperature Structural Integrity for Next Generation Plants: Regulatory Safety Issues in Structural Design Criteria of ASME Section III Subsection NH

In 2006, ASME and DOE signed a cooperative agreement to update and expand appropriate materials, construction and design codes for application in future Generation IV nuclear reactor systems that operate at elevated temperatures. The second task in this ASME/DOE Gen-IV Materials Project was to identify issues relevant to ASME Section III, Subsection NH, and related Code Cases that must be resolved for licensing purposes for VHTGRs (Very High Temperature Gas Reactor concepts such as those of PBMR, Areva, and GA); and to identify the material models, design criteria, and analysis methods that need to be added to the ASME Code to cover the unresolved safety issues. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) issues which were raised in 1983 in conjunction with the licensing of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor (CRBR) provide the best early indication of regulatory licensing issues for high temperature reactors. The approach to resolve the 25 identified elevated temperature structural integrity licensing issues was never implemented because Congress halted the construction of CRBR. This 1983 list provided the most definitive description of NRC elevated temperature structural integrity concerns. This paper presents both the results of the study by O’Donnell and Griffin [1] and a preliminary analysis by NRC staff of the earlier identified elevated temperature structural integrity issues that attempts to provide updated information for several of the next generation reactor types under consideration.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Molecular Motion in Free-Standing Thin Films of Poly(methyl methacrylate), Poly(4-tert-butylstyrene), Poly(α-methylstyrene), and Poly(2-vinylpyridine)

A photobleaching technique has been used to measure the reorientation of dilute fluorescent probes in free-standing polymer films from 7 nm to 20 μm thick. Similar to our previous report on free-standing polystyrene films, two subsets of probes with distinct dynamics were observed in free-standing poly(methyl methacrylate) films. The more mobile subset of probes is consistently interpreted in terms of a surface layer, and the thickness of the mobile surface layer is shown to increase with temperature. Poly(methyl methacrylate) has a mobile surface layer thickness of 4 nm at the bulk Tg. Similar measurements on free-standing poly(2-vinylpyridine) and poly(4-tert-butylstyrene) films indicate mobile surface layer thicknesses from 7 to 10 nm at their bulk Tg values, similar to the 7 nm value previously reported for polystyrene. In contrast to the other four polymers, free-standing poly(α-methylstyrene) films show no evidence of a mobile surface layer. We interpret these results in terms of contributions from ...
Chasing the Chinese Dream in America: 20th-Century Chinese Christian Students in the United States and Their Quest for Modernization

This paper looks at the Chinese Christian students of the early 20th century in the light of their own publication The Chinese Christian Students. For these overseas Chinese students, Christianity represented not just a personal belief but a means of modernization, a way in which individuals could continually renew, or more accurately reaffirm, their identity via religious and ideological conversion. The author argues that Christianity provides these Chinese students a way to fulfill their traditional, “old China” role of literati in America, and thereby to build or at least to envision, a new modern China.
MULTIVARIATE REGRESSION OF SATELLITE-LINKED DIVE RECORDER DATA: SIMULTANEOUS ANALYSIS OF ALL BINS

Statistical analysis of diving behavior data collected from satellite-linked dive recorders (SDRs) can be challenging because: (1) the data are binned into several depth and time categories, (2) the data from individual animals are often temporally autocorrelated, (3) random variation between individuals is common, and (4) the number of dives can be correlated among depth bins. Previous analyses often have ignored one or more of these statistical issues. In addition, previous SDR studies have focused on univariate analyses of index variables, rather than multivariate analyses of data from all depth bins. We describe multivariate analysis of SDR data using generalized estimating equations (GEE) and demonstrate the method using SDR data from harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) monitored in Prince William Sound, Alaska between 1992 and 1997. Multivariate regression provides greater opportunities for scientific inference than univariate methods, particularly in terms of depth resolution. In addition, empirical variance estimation makes GEE models somewhat easier to implement than other techniques that explicitly model all of the relevant components of variance. However, valid use of empirical variance estimation requires an adequate sample size of individual animals.
Group Identification, Independence, and Self-Monitoring Characteristics as Predictors of Leaderless Group Discussion Performance1

The leaderless group discussion (LGD) has been used extensively for assessing leadership potential in a group setting. Personality measures administered prior to LGD have produced low correlations with effective LGD task behaviors in previous research. In addition to assessing characteristics of individuality and orientation to groups, factor measures (Buss, 1980) comprising the self-monitoring construct (Snyder, 1974) were utilized. These measures of social and external environment cues explained the greatest amount of variance of the effective LGD performance measures as scored by trained raters. Subjects' orientation to groups and their reports of individuality also were found to be significant predictors of effective LGD performance. Descriptions of individuals showing the most potential in a leaderless group discussion problem-solving situation are included.
Distribution of noncellulosic β-d-glucans in grasses and other monocots

Abstract Cell wall specimens from nonendospermic tissues of six grasses and representatives of nine other monocot families were treated with a specific glucanase in order to liberate wall-bound noncellulosic β- d -glucans. Gel filtration chromatography profiles of the oligosaccharides released from all grass species indicated the presence of a mixed linkage β-(1→3):(1→4)-glucan. The results also indicate that this glucan was not present in the other monocots examined. The evidence from this and previous studies indicates that the mixed linkage glucan may be restricted in the monocots to the Gramineae.
Expanding Roles: A Survey of Public Health Genetic Counselors

According to the 2008 National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Professional Status Survey (PSS), 31 genetic counselor respondents reported spending at least 50% of their time in the area of public health. The NSGC Public Health Special Interest Group (PHSIG) had 49 dues-paying members in 2009. The purpose of this study was to identify the work settings and public health activities in which genetic counselors participate. A novel online survey was disseminated over the NSGC PHSIG Listserv. Forty-one percent (n = 13) of public health genetic counselor respondents worked in a university medical system, while 53% (n = 17) were grant-funded and held a non-clinical appointment. The most common public health activities included educating healthcare professionals (82%) and community members (61%), research (55%), grant writing (55%) and grant administration (36%). Most respondents (82%) reported learning certain public health skills outside of their genetic counseling training programs. Differences in work settings were found, with a significantly greater percentage of public health genetic counselors working in government agencies. Genetic counselors have opportunities to become involved in public health activities as the scope of public health genetics grows. Furthermore, genetic counseling competencies are compatible with the Institute of Medicine’s “10 Essential Public Health Services.” The NSGC and genetic counseling training programs are encouraged to offer more public health learning opportunities for genetic counselors and genetic counseling students interested in this specialty area.
Neutron elastic scattering on T = 0 nuclei☆

Abstract Neutron elastic scattering on Si, S and Ca has been measured at 11, 20 and 26 MeV using the Ohio University 11 MeV Tandem Van de Graaff. A time-of-flight technique was used and the angular distributions covered an angular range from 15° through 155°. The measured cross sections were corrected for dead time, source anisotropy, detector efficiency, finite geometry, neutron flux attenuation and multiple scattering. Individual as well as global fits to the data using an optical-model search code are presented. The comparison of the optical-model analysis to the neutron and proton elastic scattering data in the case of 40 Ca, allows an empirical determination of the Coulomb correction term which may be parametrized as 0.46 Z/A 1 3 . It is also shown that the elastic scattering and inelastic scattering to the first 2 + states in 28 Si and 32 S may be fitted using the same optical-model parameters obtained for 40 Ca using the coupled-channel formalism.
Enhancement of sodium excretion by substance P during saline loading in the canine puppy.

Summary: Saline loading in puppies results in an attenuated natriuresis when compared to the normal response by adult animals to the same degree of volume expansion. To characterize an eventual role for kinins in the diuretic response by puppies to saline loading, two experimental protocols were constructed to evaluate the effect of substance P infusion during baseline hydration and acute saline loading. Low dose (10 ng·kg−1·min−1) infusion of substance P during basal conditions did not affect urine flow, sodium excretion or glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The addition of saline loading to the ongoing low dose infusion of substance P produced an increase in urine flow from 3.73 to 12 μ l·min−1·g−1 kidney weight and resulted in a marked increase in urinary sodium excretion from 110 to 851 μ Eq·min−1·g−1 kidney weight. These increases in urine flow and urinary sodium excretion during low dose substance P infusion were significantly greater than those observed during saline loading alone. No significant effect on GFR was observed during either saline loading alone or low dose substance P during saline loading. In Protocol II, the infusion of low dose substance P during an ongoing saline load enhanced diuresis and natriuresis to a greater extent than those receiving only a saline load without affecting GFR. The high dose infusion of substance P (100 ng·kg−1·min−1) during baseline hydration resulted in a natriuresis and diuresis that persisted during the addition of saline despite a significant fall in GFR. Saline loading alone resulted in increased urinary kallikrein activity and the infusion of substance P (10 ng·kg−1·min−1) increased urinary kallikrein activity even further. A significant positive correlation between urinary sodium excretion and urine kallikrein activity was found (r = 0.91, P < 0.01).
A unique point OLED source

Highly luminous polymers have been successfully prepared by copolymerization of various arylene vinylene units. Among the copolymers synthesized, poly(phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and its derivatives have been studied most intensively because they show fairly strong fluorescence and have a wide structural variety. In this paper, light-emitting polymers and traditional organic LED technology are briefly reviewed at first. A novel and unique point source based on the organic LED fabricated on an optical fiber is then proposed. As proof of concept, some preliminary experimental results are shown. Two light-emitting materials needed for our experiments are synthesized. It is illustrated that the unique point OLED source is feasible, which can lead to many practical applications, such as biomedical imaging.
KRN5500 induces apoptosis (PCD) of myeloid leukemia cell lines and patient blasts

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if KRN5500, a spicamycin derivative with a unique acyl tail, would induce programmed cell death (PCD) of myeloid leukemia cell lines and cryopreserved leukemic blasts from newly diagnosed children with acute leukemia (AL). Cells were incubated with varying concentrations (0–5 ng/ml) of KRN5500 and the percent PCD determined using a modified in situ end labeling (ISEL) technique with Klenow fragment. The percent PCD was calculated using the formula: Percent PCD (% PCD)=[number of apoptotic cells/(viable cells+apoptotic cells)]×100. DMSO (0.30% w/v) was added to the cells in culture as the positive control for PCD; the negative control was media or albumin. KRN5500 increased the amount of PCD significantly in all five of the tested cell lines; U937 41±1.8%, KG1a 40±0.3%, HEL 14±2.2%, HL-60 41±0.9%, K562 36±2% (mean PCD±SD). Patient blasts exposed to KRN5500 had an increase in PCD when exposed to 2 ng/ml of agent from 2 to 8 h; acute myeloid leukemia patients 7.5±0.5% at 2 h to 43.5±1.6% at 8 h, and acute lymphocytic leukemia patients rose from 12.4±3.8% at 2 h to 29.9±11.6% after 8 h (mean±SE). Overall the PCD for the patient samples was 3.7 versus 28±4% at 2 and 8 h, respectively. PCD was proportional to the dose of KRN5500 and incubation time. Further pre-clinical and clinical studies are required.
In vivo effect of pressurization of polymethyl methacrylate bone-cement: Biomechanical and histologic analysis

Sixteen goats underwent total hip arthroplasty, half with pressurized and half with unpressurized bone-cement. The animals underwent hemiarthroplasty of the contralateral hip immediately prior to sacrifice 6 weeks later. Samples were tested for interface strength and evaluated histologically. Pressurization of polymethyl methylacrylate improves the strength of the bone-cement interface in vivo, as well as in vitro. There is a regional variation in the strength of the bone-cement interface both in vivo and in vitro. The regional variation in the in vivo model is at least in part due to a biologic effect. Membranes forming at the bone-cement interface are usually fibrous and incomplete, allowing direct cement-to-bone contact. Membranes appear to be involved in the remodeling of bone. Polymethyl methacrylate causes significant necrosis of the cortex, with ensuing resorption of the cortical bone. There is a small, statistically insignificant trend toward increased resorption and decreased bone formation with pressurized cement. The amount of necrosis appears to be similar with pressurized and nonpressurized cement. Bone remodels to fill defects in the cement mantle.