cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Refinement of noncalorimetric determination of the change in heat capacity, ΔCp, of protein unfolding and validation across a wide temperature range

The change in heat capacity, DeltaC(p), on protein unfolding has been usually determined by calorimetry. A noncalorimetric method which employs the Gibbs-Helmholtz relationship to determine DeltaC(p) has seen some use. Generally, in this method the free energy change on unfolding of the protein is determined at a variety of temperatures and the temperature at which DeltaG is zero, T(m), and change in enthalpy at T(m) are determined by thermal denaturation and DeltaC(p) is then calculated using the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation. We show here that an abbreviated method with stability determinations at just two temperatures gives values of DeltaC(p) consistent with values from free energy change on unfolding determination at a much wider range of temperatures. Further, even the free energy change on unfolding from a single solvent denaturation at the proper temperature, when coupled with the melting temperature, T(m), and the van't Hoff enthalpy, DeltaH(vH), from a thermal denaturation, gives a reasonable estimate of DeltaC(p), albeit with greater uncertainty than solvent denaturations at two temperatures. We also find that nonlinear regression of the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation as a function of stability and temperature while simultaneously fitting DeltaC(p), T(m), and DeltaH(vH) gives values for the last two parameters that are in excellent agreement with experimental values.
Gravity wave kinetic, potential, and vertical fluctuation energies as indicators of different frequency gravity waves

[1] An advantage of examining atmospheric gravity waves using high vertical-resolution radiosonde data over other measurement techniques is that horizontal wind, temperature, and vertical ascent rate can be measured directly. This allows the kinetic, potential, and vertical velocity fluctuation energies to be derived independently. Each of these gravity wave energies is shown to have sensitivity to different gravity wave frequencies. Observed correlations among these energies are consistent with this, and simulations of these correlations are shown to constrain gravity wave frequency spectra. The climatology of these energies shows quite different variations with month of the year and with latitude such that the vertical fluctuation energy seems to be a better indicator of convectively forced higher-frequency gravity waves.
Testosterone-Secreting Adrenal Adenoma That Contained Crystalloids of Reinke in an Adult Female Patient

We describe a testosterone-secreting adrenal adenoma that contained crystalloids characteristic of Leydig cells in a 55-year-old woman with virilization, in whom results of a steroid biochemical profile were normal except for a substantially increased serum testosterone level. After right adrenalectomy, the serum testosterone level returned to normal and has remained within the normal range 2 years postoperatively. Histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of a testosterone-secreting adrenal adenoma with crystalloids of Reinke specific for Leydig cells. The exact pathogenesis of these testosterone-secreting adrenal adenomas is still unclear. Although crystalloids of Reinke have been identified in only three cases, their absence does not exclude a Leydig cell character in the rest of the reported cases. Our case provides additional support for the hypothesis that Leydig cells are present in the adrenal gland and may have an active role in the pathogenesis of testosterone-secreting adrenal tumors; thus, such cells should be sought in every case.
Prenatal Care for Women Who Are Addicted: Implications for Gender-Sensitive Practice

This article examines legal and gender-sensitive interventions for prenatal drug abuse and the greater benefits that accrue to women when gender-sensitive approaches are used. It also discusses the disparate use of legal proceedings against poor women and women of color, pejorative attitudes and behaviors of prenatal health workers that compromise their relationship with women who are addicted, and sexist practices that place mothers who use drugs more at risk of legal interventions in health care settings than fathers who are addicted. Attention is given to the 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision that makes it unlawful for health care providers to conduct involuntary drug tests of pregnant women who are suspected of drug use.
The Effects of Sensor Spectral Sensitivity, Pixel Pitch, Photon Shot Noise, and Dark Noise on Perceived Image Quality

Image sensor noise was estimated in an approximately perceptually uniform space with a color image sensor model. Particularly, the noise level with respect to an image sensor's pixel pitch and the dark noise was investigated. It was shown that the noise level could be about half when spectral sensitivity was optimized considering noise with reduced color reproduction accuracy. It was also shown that for a 2.0µm pixel pitch sensor, the exposure index should be less than 100-150 in order to keep the noise level σ94 less than 5 even if it had no dark noise, whereas the exposure index could reach about 2000-4000 for a 8.0µm pixel pitch sensor depending on the sensor sensitivity and the dark noise level.
Unemployment, joblessness, psychological well-being and self-esteem: Theory and evidence

Abstract Social psychologists Erikson (1959), Jahoda (1979, 1981, 1982) and Seligman (1975) believe that exposure to events such as joblessness are capable of impairing an individual's psychological well-being. Psychological well-being is a multidimensional concept. Therefore, the impact of unemployment on mental health is likely to be manifest in many forms, including denigration of self-worth or self-esteem. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between joblessness and its component parts, unemployment and dropping out of the labor force, on self-esteem using data drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). The NLSY is well suited for such an investigation since it contains detailed information on the personal characteristics of individuals in the sample, as well as their labor force experiences and measures of self-esteem. Two additional issues will be addressed. First, we examine the psychological counterpart of Ellwood's (1982) hypothesis that joblessness may scar an individual. Second, we shed new light on the debate between Clark and Summers (1979) and Flinn and Heckman (1982, 1983) over whether being out of the labor force (OLF) and being unemployed should be thought of as distinct states. We find that joblessness damages self-esteem for female youths; however, the damage is akin to a blemish. Surprisingly, prior labor force experiences generally fail to influence perceptions of self-worth on the part of young men. However, we do find that for both young men and women who in the past spent time out of the labor force, the greater the duration of their exposure to this form of joblessness, the lower their level of self-esteem. We also offer psychological evidence on the relative emotional wellbeing of the unemployed and labor force drop outs that largely supports the position of Clark and Summers that these conditions are essentially indistinguishable.
Laboratory Assays for Diagnosis and Management of Hepatitis C Virus Infection

It was noted in 1974 that 75% of cases of transfusion-associated hepatitis were caused by NANBH, but 15 years passed before advances in molecular biology led to the cloning of the NANBH agent and anti-HCV assays were developed (2). In a little more than a decade, our knowledge of and ability to diagnose and treat HCV infections have increased dramatically. In 1990, mass screening of blood donors was implemented in the United States and was estimated to have prevented 40,000 HCV infections in the first year (2). Improvements in EIAs and the performance of NAT on donations prior to transfusion have further lowered the incidence of transfusion-transmitted HCV (39). Although the incidence of new HCV infections in the United States has declined, the population of individuals infected for ≥20 years who are at risk for serious complications is projected to increase until about 2015 (19). Improvements in therapy have resulted in better virologic response rates, and molecular HCV tests have proved useful in making management decisions. As new therapeutic options evolve and laboratory assays change, the clinical relevance and use of laboratory testing for HCV will require frequent reassessments. Consensus conferences that include experts from a variety of disciplines provide an ideal environment where these issues can be debated (12, 29).
Modification of the effects of continuous low dose rate irradiation by concurrent chemotherapy infusion

The combined effects of continuous low dose rate irradiation (CLDRI) and concurrent infusion of bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, cis-platinum, 5-fluorouracil, actinomycin D, and mitomycin C were studied in the SCC VII/SF tumor, a squamous cell carcinoma and the jejunal crypt cells in the mouse. For the SCC VII/SF tumor, enhanced cell killing was seen with each of the six drugs when infused concurrently with CLDRI; the greatest enhancement was seen with mitomycin C and cis-platinum. For the jejunal crypt cells, enhanced cell killing was seen primarily with bleomycin. At a dose of 20 Gy, the dose effect factor (DEF) ranged from 1.13-1.64 for the SCC VII/SF tumor and 0.92-1.19 for the jejunal crypt cells. Our results suggest a therapeutic gain with concurrent CLDRI and chemotherapy infusion for five of the six chemotherapeutic drugs studied with the exception of bleomycin.
Four- to six-year-old children's conceptions of the mechanism of rainfall

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe four- to six-year-old children's understandings of the mechanism of rainfall and to reveal possible differences due to age. A total of 22 children participated in the study (mean age = 60.4 months; range 48–73 months), including 14 boys and 8 girls, all from middle-SES families. To reveal children's understanding of the mechanism of rainfall, semi-structured interviews were conducted using a set of interview questions. Children were individually interviewed, and interviews were audio-taped and transcribed. The constant comparative method was used to analyze the transcribed audio tapes. A framework of codes was developed based on previous studies of children's understanding of the mechanism of rainfall. This partial framework of codes served as the basis for describing children's conceptual understandings of the mechanism of rainfall. A nonparametric statistical test was used to test for age differences in children's conceptions of the mechanism of rainfall. The results indicated that older preschool children were more likely to have synthetic or naturalistic conceptions than the younger children. Implications of the findings for instructional practices in early childhood classrooms are discussed.
Environmental limits of cellular existence.

Abstract Life has been divided into three categories: active, suspended and latent. Active life was considered to occupy an environmental bag of N dimensions, and an attempt was made to identify already measured boundaries of this bag for temperature, pressure, water activity, osmotic pressure, salinity, pH and centrifugal force. It was concluded that most experimental and theoretical limits remain to be found and that the range of terrestrial life is probably more limited by ecological niches than by the properties of material from which the cells are composed.
Verily: a web framework for creating more reasonable web applications

The complexity of web application construction is increasing at an astounding rate. Developing for the web typically crosses multiple application tiers in a variety of languages, which can result in disjoint code bases. This lack of standardization introduces new challenges for reasoning. In this paper we introduce Verily, a new web framework for Java that supports the development of verifiable web applications. Rather than requiring that programs be verified in separate a posteriori analysis, Verily supports construction via a series of Recipes, which are properties of an application that are enforced at compile time. In addition to introducing the Verily framework, we also present two Recipes: the Core Recipe, an application architecture for web applications designed to replace traditional server-side Model View Controller, and the Global Mutable State Recipe, which enables developers to use sessions within their applications without resorting to the use of unrestricted global mutable state. Demo Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjRF7E4um3c
Cellular and molecular derangements in acute tubular necrosis.

Purpose of review Acute tubular necrosis secondary to ischemic acute renal failure remains a common clinical problem with serious consequences and unsatisfactory therapeutic options. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent advances that have provided an improved understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular derangements, and have resulted in the design of novel therapeutic approaches. Recent findings Sophisticated morphologic studies have identified apoptosis and vascular changes as significant novel findings in human acute tubular necrosis. Promising roles for inhibitors of apoptosis have been proposed. Activation of tubuloglomerular feedback, previously thought to contribute to acute tubular necrosis, has now emerged as a potentially beneficial phenomenon. The role of reactive oxygen molecules has been further elucidated, and novel antioxidants and iron chelators have been identified. Genome-wide screening techniques have identified the molecular mechanisms underlying the regeneration and repair processes, and have provided clues towards accelerating recovery from acute renal failure. An improved understanding of the role of inflammation has suggested strategies to target this previously underappreciated aspect of acute tubular necrosis. Summary The cellular and molecular tools of modern science have provided critical new insights into the roles of apoptosis, oxidant and iron-mediated injury, endothelial changes, regeneration, and the inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of acute tubular necrosis. Novel strategies that modulate these pathways hold tremendous promise for the proactive treatment of human acute renal failure.
Rho and Rho-kinase Mediate Thrombin-induced Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate 5-Kinase Trafficking in Platelets

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the production of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), a signaling phospholipid that contributes to actin dynamics. We have shown in transfected tissue culture cells that PIP5K translocates from the cytosol to the plasma membrane following agonist-induced stimulation of Rho family GTPases. Nonetheless, it is unclear whether Rho GTPases induce PIP5K relocalization in platelets. We used PIP5K isoform-specific immunoblotting and lipid kinase assays to examine the intracellular localization of PIP5K in resting and activated platelets. Using differential centrifugation to separate the membrane skeleton, actin filaments and associated proteins, and cytoplasmic fractions, we found that PIP5K isoforms were translocated from cytosol to actin-rich fractions following stimulation of the thrombin receptor. PIP5K translocation was detectable within 30 s of stimulation and was complete by 2-5 min. This agonist-induced relocalization and activation of PIP5K was inhibited by 8-(4-parachlorophenylthio)-cAMP, a cAMP analogue that inhibits Rho and Rac. In contrast, 8-(4-parachlorophenylthio)-cGMP, a cGMP analogue that inhibits Rac but not Rho, did not affect PIP5K translocation and activation. This suggests that Rho GTPase may be an essential regulator of PIP5K in platelets. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found that C3 exotoxin (a Rho-specific inhibitor) and HA1077 (an inhibitor of the Rho effector, Rho-kinase) also eliminated PIP5K activation and trafficking into the membrane cytoskeleton. Thus, these data indicate that Rho GTPase and its effector Rho-kinase have an intimate relationship with the trafficking and activation of platelet PIP5K. Moreover, these data suggest that relocalization of platelet PIP5K following agonist stimulation may play an important role in regulating the assembly of the platelet cytoskeleton.
Motility Enhancement through Surface Modification is Sufficient for Emergent Behaviors During Phototaxis

The emergent behaviors of communities of genotypically identical cells cannot be easily predicted from the behaviors of individual cells. In many instances, direct cell-cell communication or cell differentiation play important roles in the transition from individual to community behavior. In the cyanobacterium Synechocystis, cells exhibit light-directed motility (phototaxis). This process occurs at both single-cell and community scales. While single cells undergo a biased random walk, an inoculation of cells on an agarose surface can be observed to form dynamic finger-like projections toward a directed light source. These subcommunities consist of a high concentration of cells concentrated at the progressing front, followed by a lower concentration of cells distributed along the finger. Results from time-lapse microscopy suggest that cells secrete an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) that modifies the physical properties of the substrate, leading to enhanced motility and the ability to detect tracks left by other cell groups. Our quantitative, single-cell tracking results show that the EPS confers no information of directionality or memory of light directionality, suggesting its major role in motility enhancement. Furthermore, the distribution profiles of the movement bias of single cells vary spatially across the inoculation, with cells in finger-like projections having a more pronounced movement bias toward light. We have developed a cellular automata model that demonstrates that indirect, surface-based communication conferred by EPS is sufficient to create distinct motile groups whose shape and bias distributions match our experimental observations, even in the absence of direct cellular interactions or changes in single-cell behavior. Therefore, our modeling and experiments provide a framework to show that the emergent behaviors of phototactic communities involve modification of the substrate, and this form of surface-based communication could provide insight into the behavior of a wide array of biological communities.
Bypass and embolization for a vertebral artery aneurysm in a patient with Marfan syndrome

Extracranial vertebral artery aneurysms represent an uncommon presentation of collagen vascular disease. We performed staged proximal embolization of large left vertebral artery aneurysm after distal common carotid-to-vertebral bypass at C2 in a young adult patient with Marfan syndrome and a hypoplastic contralateral vertebral artery. Dilation of the autogenous saphenous vein graft occurred at 1 year with proximal graft stenosis requiring operative revision. Subsequent dilation of the basilar artery led to symptoms of pontine compression at 18 months that have resolved at 31 months of follow-up.
Buoyancy effects on flow transition in low-density inertial gas jets

Effects of buoyancy on transition from laminar to turbulent flow are presented for a momentum-dominated helium jet injected into ambient air. The buoyancy was varied in a 2.2 s drop tower facility without affecting the remaining operating parameters. The jet flow in Earth gravity and microgravity was visualized using the rainbow schlieren deflectometry apparatus. Results show significant changes in the flow structure and transition behavior with change of buoyancy.
The biosynthesis of a muscle-relaxing substance

Abstract Under appropriate conditions it is possible to show that, during the incubation of muscle microsomes with ATP, a soluble dialyzable substance is found which is capable of inhibiting tension generation in glycerinated muscle fibers. A hypothesis has thus been made that the muscle-relaxing activity of Marsh extract is achieved through the formation of this substance. A number of conditions have been found, however, where the microsomes were active, but no soluble substance could be demonstrated. The conditions most favorable for forming the soluble muscle-relaxing substance have been investigated and some preliminary characterization of it has been achieved. Evidence is presented which suggests that ATP is a substrate for the formation of the substance.
Complete prostatic ablation using a two-stage laser

Laser photoirradiation has been delivered endoscopically for the treatment of both benign prostatic hyperplasia and early localized prostatic carcinoma. In treating carcinoma, aggressive transurethral resection of the prostate has been followed with laser irradiation to the remnants of malignant capsular disease. No attempt has been made heretofore to completely destroy the glandular prostate using laser irradiation alone. We performed a two-stage endoscopic laser prostatectomy in 6 adult mongrel dogs in an attempt to completely destroy the glandular prostate. Although no complications developed, histologic evaluation of the prostate revealed viable glandular elements in the midst of necrosis and atrophy. We conclude that in order to accomplish total ablation of the glandular prostate using laser photoirradiation, more precise thermal telemetry is needed.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
KATP‐mediated Vasodilation is Impaired in Obese Zucker Rats

Objective: Skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise is impaired in obesity. We tested the hypothesis that the attenuated vasodilation in skeletal muscle arterioles of obese Zucker rats (OZR) is due to altered KATP channel-mediated vasodilation.Materials and Methods: KATP channel function was determined in isolated skeletal muscle arterioles in response to the KATP opener cromakalim (0.1–10 μ M) during normal myogenic tone and α -adrenergic-mediated tone (0.1 μ M phenylephrine). The spinotrapezius muscle was prepared and the vasodilatory responses to muscle stimulation or iloprost (0.028–2.8 μ M) were observed before and after the application of the KATP inhibitor, glibenclamide (10 μ M). Channel subunit expression was determined by using western blot analyses.Results: Cromakalim concentration-response curves were shifted in OZR as compared to lean controls. OZR exhibited impaired functional and iloprost-induced vasodilation as compared to the lean controls. Glibenclamide inhibited the functional and ilo...
Measurement of Salivation by Aedes aegypti (L.) feeding on a Living Host.

Abstract Aedes aegypti mosquitoes having tritiated water in their body fluids were permitted to feed on living suckling mice. The quantity of saliva a mosquito left in a mouse was computed as the ratio of the radioactivity of the tritium found in the mouse and of the specific activity of the mosquito fluids. The fluids were extracted from individual mice and individual mosquitoes by lyophilization, and they were assayed for tritium in a liquid scintillation spectrometer. The quantity of saliva left in a mouse when a mosquito took a blood meal had a range of 1–13 μg, with a mean of 4·7 μg.
How to Talk to Christian Clients About Their Spiritual Lives: Insights From Postmodern Family Therapy

Responding to literature calling for the integration of Christian spirituality and postmodern thinking, this article presents a more specific discussion of how postmodern family therapy approaches can be used to open therapy to the spiritual lives of Christian clients. In this article, postmodern family therapy approaches are described and the compatibility of postmodern family therapies and Christian thinking are examined. Finally, we see how a clinical practice based upon postmodern ideas can provide pastoral counselors with useful tools for talking with Christian clients about their spiritual lives.
Potential clinical application of antioncogene ribozymes for human lung cancer.

Abstract Non–small-cell lung cancer frequently contains oncogenetic defects (mutations in ras , retinoblastoma, and p53 genes) that contribute to disease pathophysiology. Recent studies and clinical trials have focused on gene therapy approaches that either replace the function of defective tumor-suppressor genes such as p53 or inactivate mutant oncogenes such as ras . Ribozymes are RNA molecules with highly specific intrinsic enzymatic activity against target RNA sequences, which can discriminate mutant sequences that differ by a single base from their wild-type counterparts. Following binding to the RNA substrate by base-pair complementation, the ribozyme cleaves the target RNA irreversibly, then releases itself for new rounds of subsequent cleavage, resulting in significantly improved target:effector stoichiometry as compared with antisense oligonucleotides of the same specificity. Transcript-specific ribozymes have been used extensively for experimental oncogene inactivation. Ribozymes are effective for targeting mutant ras, p53 , or the multidrugresistant gene product for lung cancer cells in vitro. However, their in vivo effect is not well defined against this malignancy. We recently characterized the antitumor properties of an anti–K- ras ribozyme specific for the K- ras codon 12 mutation (GGT → GTT). When delivered as a transgene by an adenoviral vector (ADV), the K- ras ribozyme (KRbz) suppressed growth of lung tumor xenografts expressing the relevant mutation, whereas the corresponding antisense sequence lacking catalytic activity did not. Multiple intratumoral (3-5) injections of KRbz-ADV were effective in producing complete tumor regressions of preexisting tumor xenografts. Clinical trials are under consideration to examine the applicability of this anti–K- ras ribozyme for treatment of non–small-cell lung cancers expressing the relevant mutation.
Targeted ribozymes reveal a conserved function of the Drosophila paired gene in sensory organ development

Abstract The Drosophila paired ( prd ) gene, the founding member of the PAX gene family, is required for normal embryonic segmentation and is re-expressed later in development in the head and developing CNS. As for most embryonically active genes, global defects resulting from loss of early prd function obscure an analysis of the role of later expression phases. We used heat inducible targeted ribozymes to functionally ‘knock-out’ prd at late stages. When prd protein levels in the head are reduced in this fashion, the maxillary chemosensory ventral organs fail to develop and dorsal-lateral cirri rows are disrupted. These studies reveal a role for prd in sensory organ development that appears to be conserved in PAX genes throughout the animal kingdom.
A cross‐cultural comparison of the implications of self‐disclosure on conversational logics∗

Theorists dealing with the relationship between communication and culture confront the dilemma of trying to describe communication as culture‐laden without making statements which are themselves not so culture‐laden as to be mere ethnocentric expressions. One way of coping with the dilemma is to use “transcultural concepts”; as defined by Kang and Pearce. “Logical force,”; a concept derived from the theory of “the coordinated management of meaning,”; is proposed as a useful transcultural concept and tested in a cross‐cultural comparison. High and low levels of self‐disclosure were manipulated in a simulated conversation in which North American and Chinese subjects were asked to role‐play and subsequently describe. Obtained differences between conditions and between cultures in the logical force described as impinging on their response to the self‐disclosing messages were understood as descriptions of the differences between the cultures. The configuration of linkages within the logical force measures are ...
Zinc histochemistry reveals circuit refinement and distinguishes visual areas in the developing ferret cerebral cortex

A critical question in brain development is whether different brain circuits mature concurrently or with different timescales. To characterize the anatomical and functional development of different visual cortical areas, one must be able to distinguish these areas. Here, we show that zinc histochemistry, which reveals a subset of glutamatergic processes, can be used to reliably distinguish visual areas in juvenile and adult ferret cerebral cortex, and that the postnatal decline in levels of synaptic zinc follows a broadly similar developmental trajectory in multiple areas of ferret visual cortex. Zinc staining in all areas examined (17, 18, 19, 21, and Suprasylvian) is greater in the 5-week-old than in the adult. Furthermore, there is less laminar variation in zinc staining in the 5-week-old visual cortex than in the adult. Despite differences in staining intensity, areal boundaries can be discerned in the juvenile as in the adult. By 6 weeks of age, we observe a significant decline in visual cortical synaptic zinc; this decline was most pronounced in layer IV of areas 17 and 18, with much less change in higher-order extrastriate areas during the important period in visual cortical development following eye opening. By 10 weeks of age, the laminar pattern of zinc staining in all visual areas is essentially adultlike. The decline in synaptic zinc in the supra- and infragranular layers in all areas proceeds at the same rate, though the decline in layer IV does not. These results suggest that the timecourse of synaptic zinc decline is lamina specific, and further confirm and extend the notion that at least some aspects of cortical maturation follow a similar developmental timecourse in multiple areas. The postnatal decline in synaptic zinc we observe during the second postnatal month begins after eye opening, consistent with evidence that synaptic zinc is regulated by sensory experience.
Dermatomyositis induced by drug therapy: a review of case reports.

Background Drugs have occasionally been implicated in dermatomyositis (DM) onset. Objective We sought to review case reports of drug-induced DM. Methods Articles were gathered from MEDLINE and bibliographies of acquired reports. Causality was assessed using World Health Organization criteria. Clinical characteristics, management, and resolution were examined. Results In 70 reported cases, 50% of patients were female and the median age was 57 years. Hydroxyurea was implicated in 51% of cases. All cases had pathognomonic (76%) or compatible (24%) cutaneous findings. Hydroxyurea cases lacked myositis, but myositis was described in 79.4% of nonhydroxyurea cases. Drug causality was probable (25.7%) or possible (74.3%), but not certain in any case. Most patients had underlying pathology associated with DM (44% had malignancy; 16% had rheumatoid arthritis). Of the sample, 84.3% had improvement of DM after discontinuation of the drug. Limitations Case reports may emphasize unusual findings. Conclusions Further work is needed to differentiate drug effects from underlying, predisposing factors.
The oxidation of methoxy aromatic aldehydes with the system O2 / iPrACHO / metal catalyst

Abstract The oxidation of methoxy aromatic aldehydes by the system O 2 / iPrCHO / metal catalyst proceeds in high yields of formates, almost without the formation of important quantities of carboxylic acids.
Computed tomography-based muscle attenuation and electrical impedance myography as indicators of trunk muscle strength independent of muscle size in older adults.

Objective To examine the associations of computed tomography (CT) -based x-ray attenuation and paraspinal electrical impedance myography (EIM) measures of trunk muscles with absolute and relative (normalized by body weight) trunk extension strength, independent of muscle cross-sectional area (CSA).
Seeing a World Apart: Visual Reality in Michelangelo Antonioni's Chung Kuo/Cina

This essay examines Michelangelo Antonioni's Chung Kuo Cina (China) (1972), a documentary made in and about the People's Republic of China during the height of the Cultural Revolution. Detailing the documentary's controversial reception and analyzing Chung Kuo’s emphasis on visual reality in opposition to the PRC's official socialist realism, I argue that Chung Kuo constituted a critical cross-cultural project, while providing a unique portrayal of quotidian life in Maoist China.
Spontaneous inelastic Rayleigh scattering in optical fibers

Rayleigh scattering (RS) adds noise to signals that are transmitted over optical fibers and other optical waveguides. This noise can be the dominant noise source in a range between 10 Hz and 100 kHz from the carrier and can seriously degrade the performance of optical systems that require low close-in noise. Using heterodyne techniques, we demonstrate that the backscattered close-in noise spectrum in optical fibers is symmetric about the carrier and grows linearly with both input power and fiber length. These results indicate that the RS is spontaneous and is due to finite-lifetime thermal fluctuations in the glass.
Persistent inappropriate sinus tachycardia after radiofrequency current catheter modification of the atrioventricular node.

Atrioventricular (AV) junctional reentrant tachycardia (JRT) is the most frequent cause of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.1 Recently, radiofrequency current delivered through a transvenous catheter was used to modify AV nodal properties so that AVJRT is no longer inducible while preserving normal AV nodal conduction. 2–4 This technique has produced high success rates with relatively few complications. In this report, we present a previously unreported complication observed in 3 patients undergoing AV node modification using radiofrequency current: persistent, inappropriate and symptomatic sinus tachycardia.
Behavior of organic compounds confined in monoliths of sol–gel silica glass. Effects of guest–host hydrogen bonding on uptake, release, and isomerization of the guest compounds

Various proteins, catalysts, and other compounds can be encapsulated or diffused into porous sol–gel glasses, but little is known about their interactions with the glass matrix. We report unexpectedly large effects that hydrogen bonding between organic compounds and sol–gel silica has on equilibria and reactions involving these guest compounds. Silica monolith immersed in a solution takes up the organic solute. Styrene, which is incapable of hydrogen bonding, becomes evenly distributed between external solution and the glass. Aniline and N,N-diethyl-p-methoxybenzamide, which are capable of hydrogen bonding, become extracted into the glass when the solvent (neat CCl4) does not interfere with their hydrogen bonding with silica. They become evenly distributed between the solution and the glass when a component of the solvent (DMF added to CCl4) or chemical modification (trimethylsilylation) of the silica surface suppresses hydrogen bonding of the guests with the surface. Ultraviolet spectra show that silica–guest interactions are present when the guest uptake is excessive and absent when this uptake is balanced. Ultraviolet spectra of aniline show that the hydrogen atoms are donated by silica to the guest. Not only the extent, but also the rate, of uptake is enhanced when the guest makes hydrogen bonds to the silica matrix; suppression of these bonds lowers the uptake rate. Silica monolith extracts trans-3,3′-diacetylazobenzene from a CCl4 solution 1250-fold. Upon addition of DMF, hydrogen bonds are broken, and the monolith completely releases the solute into the external solution. Five derivatives of azobenzene (3,3′-dimethyl-, 3-acetyl-, 3,3′-diacetyl-, 3,5-diacetyl-, and 3,3′,5,5′-tetraacetylazobenzene), which differ in the propensity for accepting hydrogen atoms, served as photochromic probes and showed the effect of hydrogen bonding on reactivity. Both the photoinduced (trans-to-cis) and the subsequent thermal (cis-to-trans) isomerizations of the five derivatives obey the first-order law in glass as well as in free solution. When the solvent (neat CCl4) allows hydrogen bonding, the proportion of the isomers in the photostationary state differs between the glass and solution, and the rate constant for the thermal reaction is two to four times (in different derivatives) smaller in the glass than in solution. Evidently, hydrogen bonding retards the rearrangement of the probe molecules in the silica matrix. When hydrogen bonding is abolished (by addition of DMF to CCl4), the compositions of the photostationary state in the glass and in solution become equal, and so do the rate constants. Effects of hydrogen bonding on enzymes encapsulated in sol–gel glass and on the distribution of analytes between the glass monolith and the sample solution should be taken into consideration when designing accurate biosensors.
The role of vitamin D in the FGF23, klotho, and phosphate bone-kidney endocrine axis

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D), through association with the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR), exerts control over a novel endocrine axis consisting of the bone-derived hormone FGF23, and the kidney-expressed klotho, CYP27B1, and CYP24A1 genes, which together prevent hyperphosphatemia/ectopic calcification and govern the levels of 1,25D to maintain bone mineral integrity while promoting optimal function of other vital tissues. When occupied by 1,25D, VDR interacts with RXR to form a heterodimer that binds to VDREs in the region of genes directly controlled by 1,25D (e.g., FGF23, klotho, Npt2c, CYP27B1 and CYP24A1). By recruiting complexes of comodulators, activated VDR initiates a series of events that induces or represses the transcription of genes encoding proteins such as: the osteocyte-derived hormone, FGF23; the renal anti-senescence factor and protein co-receptor for FGF23, klotho; other mediators of phosphate transport including Npt2a/c; and vitamin D hormone metabolic enzymes, CYP27B1 and CYP24A1. The mechanism whereby osteocytes are triggered to release FGF23 is yet to be fully defined, but 1,25D, phosphate, and leptin appear to play major roles. The kidney responds to FGF23 to elicit CYP24A1-catalyzed detoxification of the 1,25D hormone while also repressing both Npt2a/c to mediate phosphate elimination and CYP27B1 to limit de novo 1,25D synthesis. Comprehension of these skeletal and renal actions of 1,25D should facilitate the development of novel mimetics to prevent ectopic calcification, chronic renal and vascular disease, and promote healthful aging.
Resolution of d- and l-galactose peracetates as their BIS(ethyl l-lactate) acetals by ga—liquid chromatography

Abstract Reaction between ethyl l -lactate and each of a pair of sugar enantiomers, the peracetylated d -galactose and l -galactose diethyldithioacetals, produced two acyclic diasterioisomers. They could be separated by conventional gas—liquid chromatography. The corresponding fucose diastereomers were also separated. This process should make it possible to develop a general analytical method by which small amounts of enantiomeric sugars can be identified and their quantities measured.
Gender, Socialization, and Money1

We examine the familial experiences of 605 university students surrounding money, and their current beliefs and attitudes about money. A survey examined parental practices regarding money, gender beliefs about equal and unequal earnings, money as it relates to assessments of the self and others, current financial practices, and plans and expectations regarding future financial earnings. Gender comparisons of 12 factors revealed separate and distinct money socialization tracks for men compared to women. Parents were described as having a very different set of practices and expectations for sons and daughters, and the male and female students also sharply differed in a number of ways on their attitudes and behaviors regarding money. For males, money was positively valued. Females had a negative value for money. These money tracks were more sharply differentiated and positively associated among students from higher social classes.
Smart polymers and interfaces for dynamic cell-biomaterials interactions

Fundamental aspects of the interactions between cells and biomaterials provide a crucial framework for the design of many systems that interact with the human body. A comprehensive understanding of multifactorial processes may provide an adequate basis for the rational design of implantable devices ranging from nanoparticles for drug delivery and scaffolds for tissue engineering, to artificial organs for augmentation and rehabilitation. Recent progress in the elucidation of cell-biomaterials interactions has been predicated on advances in polymer chemistry, materials engineering, and device microfabrication. The confluence of these developments has stimulated a newfound ability to design soft materials and interfaces with precise chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. While static surfaces can yield insight into the interaction of mammalian cells with medical materials, the study of fundamental cell-biomaterials phenomena will benefit significantly from the ability to present biologically active signals to cells with spatiotemporal control. Specifically, the use of dynamic materials and interfaces can mirror the intrinsic dynamic behavior of living cells. This article highlights recent advances in soft materials design, interfacial engineering, and synthetic polymer networks in the context of producing dynamic materials to study cell-biomaterials interactions. Emerging challenges and future research directions are also discussed.
Loss of neutral endopeptidase and activation of protein kinase B (Akt) is associated with prostate cancer progression

BACKGROUND. Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is a cell-surface peptidase that can regulate the activation of Akt kinase through catalytic-dependent and independent mechanisms. NEP expression is absent in approximately 50% of prostate cancers. The authors investigated whether NEP loss in vivo would result in Akt phosphorylation and potentially contribute to prostate cancer progression by examining the interaction of NEP, Akt, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in a prostate xenograft model and in clinical specimens from patients with prostate cancer. METHODS. Using a tetracycline-repressible expression system to express NEP in a tumor animal xenograft model, the effects of NEP were tested on tumor growth, Akt phosphorylation, and PTEN expression. The clinical relevance of NEP, phosphorylated Akt, and PTEN protein expression also was investigated in 204 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy. RESULTS. The results indicated that the induction of NEP expression inhibited established xenograft tumor growth, diminished Akt phosphorylation, and increased PTEN protein levels. In humans, prostate cancers with complete loss of NEP expression were significantly more likely to express phosphorylated Akt (P = .02). Moreover, patients who had prostate cancers with concomitant loss of NEP and expression of phosphorylated Akt had an increased, independent risk of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence (P = .03). In the study cohort, loss of PTEN protein expression did not correlated significantly with phosphorylated Akt or with patients' clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS. The findings from this investigation demonstrated that NEP loss leads to Akt activation and contributes to the clinical progression of prostate cancer. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Characteristics of topography and vegetation at boundaries between the beach and dune on residential shorefront lots in two municipalities in New Jersey, USA

Abstract Natural and cultural characteristics at seaward boundaries of residential lots are examined to identify ways of making these boundaries more naturally functioning. Field data on lot size, house size, type and location of the seaward-most vertical structure, and window height are compared with topography and vegetation on the backdune, foredune, foreslope, and flat seaward of the foredune. Results indicate that intensively developed coastlines can retain natural dune features on private property if residents allow ecological boundaries to replace cultural boundaries. Appropriate management actions include: (1) discouraging planting of exotics, (2) building houses at higher elevations, so residents can retain views of the sea as dunes grow, (3) elevating boardwalks to facilitate transfers of sediment and biota, (4) discouraging use of fences to demarcate lot lines, (5) restricting use of sand-trapping fences, and (6) placing cultural features on landward sides of lots to provide space for nature to evolve.
MYDRIA TICS DECREASE GASTRODUODENAL MOTOR FUNCTION AFTER ROUTINE EYE EXAMS IN PRETERM INFANTS. • 683

MYDRIA TICS DECREASE GASTRODUODENAL MOTOR FUNCTION AFTER ROUTINE EYE EXAMS IN PRETERM INFANTS. • 683
Motivational Antecedents of Social Shopping for Fashion and its Contribution to Shopping Satisfaction

To enhance the understanding of social shopping behavior along with its motivational antecedents and consequences, this study developed and tested a structural model of social shopping focused on t...
Utilization of freshwater sponges in paleolimnological studies

Abstract Prior to the past decade, freshwater sponges had not been utilized in paleolimnological studies. There were valid reasons for this: the taxonomy of the spongillid freshwater sponges of the world was in complete disarray; the ecological parameters of freshwater sponge species either were not known or were presented in scattered publications that were not readily available to paleolimnologists. The revisionary work of Penney and Racek finally brought order into the chaos of spongillid systematics. Shortly after the appearance of the Penney-Racek landmark monograph, Poirrier, and later Harrison, described the ecological parameters of North American spongillid freshwater sponges in a series of species-by-species treatments. Racek, in a body of pioneering studies, evaluated spicular remains of freshwater sponges in cores dating to 30,000 yr B.P. from several lakes, i.e., Lake Huleh, Lago di Monterosi, Laguna de Petenxil, while Harrison and colleagues characterized the past history of Lake Okeechobee (3000–4000 yr B.P.) and of Serendipity Bog, Graham Island, British Columbia (9400-8500 yr B.P.) using spicular components. It is now evident that freshwater sponge skeletal and reproductive structures can be used to characterize accurately past ecological conditions of freshwater habitats. In this paper, I will introduce the reader to the pertinent literature in freshwater sponge taxonomy, will characterize spongillid species into broad groups based upon their environmental parameters, and will summarize present paleolimnological studies using freshwater sponge remains as a diagnostic tool.
A Model of Meaning-Making Coping and Growth in Combat Veterans

More than 1.6 million military men and women have deployed to fight the global war on terror. Although studies have suggested that approximately one third of these service men and women return with...