cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“No Composition, No Problem: Ordinary Objects as Arrangements”

On the grounds that there are no mereological composites, mereological nihilists deny that ordinary objects (such as tables and chairs) exist. Even if nihilism is true, however, I argue that tables and chairs exist anyway: for I deny that ordinary objects are (identical to) the mereological sums the nihilist rejects. Instead, I argue, ordinary objects have a different nature; they are arrangements, not composites. My argument runs as follows. First, I defend realism about ordinary objects by showing that there is something that plays the role of ordinary objects in perception and discourse, and that ordinary objects are (identical to) whatever plays this role. Next, I argue that it is arrangements that play this role. It follows that ordinary objects exist- even if mereological nihilism is true.
Topographic projections to the visual cortex from the basal forebrain in the rat.

Recent studies have shown that cholinergic neurons within the basal forebrain give rise to a projection that terminates throughout the neocortex. The purpose of the present study is to determine the topographic organization of the basal forebrain projection to a single cortical region: the visual cortex. Injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase were placed within the infragranular layers of areas 17, 18a or 18b in Long-Evans hooded rats. Following injections placed within area 18a, retrogradely labeled neurons were located primarily within the caudal components of the basal forebrain including the basal nucleus of Meynert. Injections placed within area 18b, on the other hand, resulted in retrograde labeling of numerous neurons within rostral basal forebrain nuclei, including the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca, whereas only a few labeled cells were located within the basal nucleus. Two patterns of labeled cells were evident following injections placed within area 17 and they resembled the results from injections within the adjacent extrastriate area; i.e. either area 18a or area 18b. Thus, injections restricted to the lateral portions of area 17 resulted in retrograde labeling of neurons located within the caudal levels of the basal forebrain, whereas injections within the medial portions of area 17 were followed by retrograde labeling of neurons within the rostral levels of the basal forebrain. Based on these results we suggest that the cholinergic corticopetal projection terminates within the visual cortex in a medial to lateral pattern.
A high resolution gravity model for Venus - GVM-1

A spherical harmonic model of the gravitational field of Venus complete to degree and order 50 has been developed using the S-band Doppler tracking data of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) collected between 1979 and 1982. The short wavelengths of this model could only be resolved near the PVO periapse location (about 14 deg N latitude), therefore a priori constraints were applied to the model to bias poorly observed coefficients towards zero. The resulting model has a half-wavelength resolution of 400 km near the PVO periapse location, but the resolution degrades to greater than 1000 km near the poles. This gravity model correlates well with a degree 50 spherical harmonic expansion of the Venus topography derived from a combination of Magellan and PVO data. New tracking data from Magellan's gravity mission should provide some improvement to this model, although a complete model of the Venusian gravity field will depend on tracking of Magellan after the circularization of its orbit using aerobraking.
Regrowth of olfactory sensory axons into transplanted neural tissue. 1. Development of connections with the occipital cortex

Abstract Presumptive occipital cortex was transplanted from 15-day-old embryos to host mice 10 days of age close to the ethmoidal lamina cribrosa, previous to partial or total bulbectomy of the host. The transplants have been studied for a period up to 150 days on histological preparations stained with iron hematoxylin and Bodian methods. The olfactory sensory axons, which degenerated as a result of bulbectomy, subsequently regenate and invade the transplant, where they form characteristic glomerular structures. The transplant's neurons show interesting relations with the newly formed glomeruli. Significance of the results is briefly discussed.
Serum haptoglobin in rabbits after subcutaneous injection of Freund's adjuvant or turpentine.

SummaryThe concentration of serum haptoglobin in normal and stimulated rabbits was studied. Hyperhaptoglobinemia could be produced by both single and multiple subcutaneous injections of turpentine; multiple injections resulted in more striking and longer lasting hyperhaptoglobinemia. Single or multiple subcutaneous injections of Freund's adjuvant caused no significant elevation of the serum haptoglobin concentration.
Adriamycin induces large deletions as a major type of mutation in CHO cells

Adriamycin (ADR), a commonly used cancer chemotherapy antibiotic, exhibits a variety of genotoxicities. In this study, we have examined the mutagenicity of ADR at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene (hprt) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and the xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase locus (gpt) in a pSV2gpt-transformed CHO cell line, AS52. Although ADR induced a dose-dependent increase of mutant frequency at both loci, it was more mutagenic to the gpt gene than to the hprt locus. Multiplex PCR analysis revealed that 35% of the 103 independent ADR-induced HPRT-deficient mutants carried large deletions. Among these deletion mutants, 33% were total gene deletions, 22% affected multiple exons, and 42% involved a single exon, of which most (9/15) were exon 1. The majority (63%) of ADR-induced AS52 mutants had a total deletion of the gpt gene. These observations indicate that ADR induces large deletions as a major type of gene mutation in mammalian cells, suggesting the involvement of reactive oxygen species as one mutagenic pathway in the mutagenesis of ADR.
Differing Perspectives of Inner-City Parents and Pediatric Clinicians Impact Management of Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Abstract Objective To ascertain the beliefs and experiences of inner-city pediatric clinicians and parents regarding anemia in young children. Design Focus groups and in-depth interviews. Setting Pediatric clinics and community agencies in Hartford, Connecticut. Participants Convenience sample of 41 pediatric clinicians (93% white, 73% female) and 85 parents (100% minority, 88% female, 47% Phenomenon of Interest Identification, understanding, and management of anemia. Analysis Researcher pairs coded complete transcriptions. Recurrent themes were identified, which were then contrasted and compared between clinicians and parents. Results Both clinicians and parents were familiar with, but frustrated by the persistence of anemia. They noted time constraints and poor communication during office visits as contributing to the problem. Parents felt alarmed upon initial diagnosis; linked anemia with heredity, food patterns, and activity; reported culturally linked management strategies; but were uncertain of the seriousness. Health clinicians saw physiological processes as outside the parents’ understanding and emphasized prevention through feeding recommendations. Conclusions and Implications In order to address childhood anemia effectively, differing socio-cultural perspectives of clinicians and parents need to be incorporated into a unified health care plan. Nutritionists are well suited to collaborate on the health care team to effectively address this issue.
Angiotensin II and Other Hypertrophic Stimuli Mediated by G Protein–Coupled Receptors Activate Tyrosine Kinase, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase, and 90-kD S6 Kinase in Cardiac Myocytes The Critical Role of Ca2+-Dependent Signaling

Abstract Many hypertrophic stimuli such as angiotensin II (Ang II) activate phospholipases through G protein–coupled receptors in cardiac myocytes. However, it is not known whether these stimuli also activate the tyrosine phosphorylation–dependent signaling pathway, which plays an essential role in growth factor–induced mitogenic responses in other cell types. Serine/threonine kinases such as mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and 90-kD S6 kinase (RSK) are activated in response to many growth stimuli and are important downstream signaling pathways of tyrosine kinases. Therefore, we examined whether Ang II activates these protein kinases in primary cultures of cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts from neonatal rats. Ang II rapidly induced tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple proteins, including 42-, 44-, 75- to 80-, and 120- to 130-kD proteins, in both cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts. This was accompanied by an increase in tyrosine kinase activity. The 42- and 44-kD proteins were immunologically related to an extracellular signal-regulated kinase family (MAP kinases). Ang II rapidly increased kinase activity of MAP kinases and their downstream kinase, RSK. The Ang II–induced tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinases and RSK were AT 1 receptor–mediated. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or an increase in intracellular Ca 2+ by the Ca 2+ ionophore A23187 was sufficient to cause tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple proteins and activation of MAP kinase and RSK. Although downregulation of PKC did not suppress Ang II–induced activation of MAP kinase and RSK, chelating intracellular Ca 2+ by BAPTA-AM completely abolished Ang II–induced activation of these kinases. Activation of MAP kinases and RSK was also observed in myocytes stimulated with other agonists for G q protein–coupled receptors, such as phenylephrine, norepinephrine, and endothelin 1, but not with agonists to G s protein–coupled receptors, such as isoproterenol. These results suggest that Ang II and other hypertrophic stimuli, known to act through G q protein–coupled receptors, rapidly cause tyrosine phosphorylation of several intracellular substrates through activation of tyrosine kinase and activate MAP kinases and RSK in cardiac myocytes as well as in cardiac fibroblasts. Furthermore, intracellular Ca 2+ , rather than PKC, seems to be critical for Ang II–induced activation of these protein kinases in cardiac myocytes.
De-exciting Rydberg atoms using a half-cycle THz pulse train

Work is in progress to combine an ultra-cold atom trap and half-cycle THz set-ups. Half-cycle THz pulses generated via exciting a GaAs antenna by a femtosecond laser beam of a Ti:Sapphire oscillator have been characterized in detail. The effect of fiber coupling on THz generation has been studied.
Enrichment of biologically active U1 small nuclear RNAs by ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract The use of ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with preparative electrophoresis to facilitate the purification of biologically active snRNAs is described. Separation of total nuclear RNA from a Bombyx mori cell line was done with a Bio-Rad MA7 plasmid column in a HRLC 500 system. Individual fractions were subjected to electrophoresis through 14% polyacrylamide gels for identification. High levels of U1 RNA were confirmed by Northern analysis with a human U1 probe. Biological activity of RNAs from the column was demonstrated by their ability to incorporate 32P-AMP at the 3′ end. Ion-exchange chromatography provides a rapid, automated method for purifying large amounts of RNAs that can then be utilized in further studies.
How do urinary diaries of women with an overactive bladder differ from those of asymptomatic controls

OBJECTIVE To quantify clinically important differences in common diary variables between asymptomatic controls and women with symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB), controlling for the effects of age and race. PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS The 24-h urinary diaries of 49 women with symptoms of OAB were compared to those of age- and race-matched asymptomatic controls. Control subjects did not have a physical examination. RESULTS The 49 patients with OAB symptoms had a median (range) age of 51 (20–85) years, a body mass index of 25 (17–46) kg/m2 and a parity of 2 (0–5). The median number of voids was significantly greater in women with OAB than asymptomatic controls (P < 0.001). The median value for mean voided volume was significantly lower in women with OAB than asymptomatic controls (P = 0.014). There was no difference in the maximum voided volume, total voided volume, daytime or night-time diuresis rates, voids per litre intake, or total fluid intake. CONCLUSIONS This preliminary study suggests that a median reduction of three voids/24 h and an increase of 70 mL in the mean voided volume might be clinically important goals in therapeutic trials for treating OAB symptoms. This remains to be confirmed by further studies linking improvements in quality of life and the overall impression of bladder health with these quantitative diary variable changes.
Language trends in nanoscience and technology: The case of Chinese-language publications

Nanoscience and technology (NST) is a young scientific and technological field that has generated great worldwide interest in the past two decades. Previous bibliometric analyses have unmistakably demonstrated the remarkable growth of the global NST literature. While almost all published research articles in NST are in English, increasingly a larger share of NST publications is published in the Chinese language. Perplexingly, Chinese is the only language — apart from English — that displays an ascendant trend in the NST literature. In this brief note, we explore and evaluate three arguments that could explain this phenomenon: coverage bias, language preference, and community formation.
Wetting films on chemically modified surfaces: An x-ray study

The wetting of silicon wafers and silicon wafers coated with alkylsiloxane monolayers by saturated vapors of cyclohexane and methanol were studied using x-ray specular reflection. Differentially heating the substrate surface relative to the temperature of a liquid reservoir was used to probe the disjoining pressure as a function of the film thickness and surface chemistry. Uncoated silicon wafers wet completely. The variations in film thickness with \ensuremath{\Delta}T are explained exclusively in terms of the nonretarded van der Waals forces for films 10--120 \AA{} thick. Wafers coated with methyl terminated alkylsiloxane monolayers wet incompletely, with a microscopic film 1--3 \AA{} thick adsorbing on the surface. Changing the alkylsiloxane terminal group from -${\mathrm{CH}}_{3}$ to -${\mathrm{CH}}_{2}$OH converts the surface from incompletely to completely wet. Surfaces coated with partial monolayers of methyl terminated alkylsiloxane of greater than 50% coverage are incompletely wet by cyclohexane, with the monolayers ``swelling'' to a thickness close to that of fully extended alkane chains through incorporation of cyclohexane into the film structure. The data are consistent with a first-order transition to complete wetting upon reduction of the alkylsiloxane coverage below approximately 50%. The importance of the surface atomic layer in the promotion or suppression of complete wetting is explained in the context of van der Waals forces.
The geochemistry of olivine-hosted melt inclusions in a FAMOUS basalt ALV519-4-1

Abstract Some 22 melt inclusions hosted by high-Mg olivines (Fo88–91) from a single basalt lava from the FAMOUS area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge were analyzed for major and trace elements. The results demonstrate that large chemical variabilities are present in melts that existed in close temporal and spatial proximity at the site of host olivine growth. Major element compositions after corrections for growth of host olivine after entrapment show that they are very primitive (MgO ranging from 9 to 14 wt.%; Mg# around 0.73), and that variations of CaO, FeO and SiO2 as a function of MgO are much greater than expected from fractionation of olivine from the most magnesian melt. Exactly 14 of the melt inclusions are consistent with equilibration with mantle minerals at 8.7±2 kbar and 1272±18°C. Abundance patterns of rare earth elements (REE) show that light REE (LREE)-enriched transitional mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) and LREE-depleted N-type MORB existed in close temporal and spatial proximity. It is argued that co-variations of trace element ratios, especially [La/Sm]N and Ti/Zr can be modeled by critical melting of a depleted MORB source at depths where garnet is stable to form LREE-enriched melts, and at depths of spinel lherzolite residue to form LREE-depleted melts. Abundance patterns of middle to heavy REE (M∼HREE) indicate, however, that important chemical modification has occurred by reactions between deep melts and shallow mantle in an AFC-type mechanism during upward migration of melts. This mechanism also appears to explain some of the major element characteristics, and suggests general importance of melt/mantle reaction during migration of MORB.
Quantum Sleeping Beauty

The Sleeping Beauty paradox in epistemology and the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics both raise problems concerning subjective probability assignments. Furthermore, there are striking parallels between the two cases; in both cases personal experience has a branching structure, and in both cases the agent loses herself among the branches. However, the treatment of probability is very different in the two cases, for no good reason that I can see. Suppose, then, that we adopt the same treatment of probability in each case. Then the dominant ‘thirder’ solution to the Sleeping Beauty paradox becomes incompatible with the tenability of the many-worlds interpretation.
Atopic dermatitis: a review of topical treatment options

AbstractBackground:Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic, inflammatory skin disease with a wide range of severity, and is usually the first manifestation of atopic disease. It is one of the most common skin disorders in developed countries, affecting approximately 20% of children and 1–3% of adults. Symptoms such as eczematous papules, plaques, and itch, and their associated consequences, such as sleep disturbance, can significantly impact the quality of life of the patient and family.Scope:This is a broad-based review focusing on clinical practice for primary care physicians treating patients with AD. The PubMed database was searched (to 1 November 2008) for English-language articles containing the keywords atopic dermatitis, atopic eczema, topical calcineurin inhibitor, tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, or corticosteroid. Articles focusing on clinical practice for patients with AD were chosen for further review. A limitation is that this is not a systematic review of the literature.Findings:Emollients h...
Targeting the sugar metabolism of tumors with a first-in-class 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (PFKFB4) inhibitor

// Jason Chesney 1,2 , Jennifer Clark 1 , Lilibeth Lanceta 1 , John O. Trent 1,2 and Sucheta Telang 1,2,3 1 Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, J. Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA 2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA 3 Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA Correspondence to: Sucheta Telang, email: // Keywords : glycolysis, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase, fructose-2, 6-bisphosphate, tumor metabolism Received : Apil 26, 2015 Accepted : June 02, 2015 Published : June 19, 2015 Abstract Human tumors exhibit increased glucose uptake and metabolism as a result of high demand for ATP and anabolic substrates and this metabolotype is a negative prognostic indicator for survival. Recent studies have demonstrated that cancer cells from several tissue origins and genetic backgrounds require the expression of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4), a regulatory enzyme that synthesizes an allosteric activator of glycolysis, fructose-2,6-bisphosphate. We report the discovery of a first-in-class PFKFB4 inhibitor, 5-(n-(8-methoxy-4-quinolyl)amino)pentyl nitrate (5MPN), using structure-based virtual computational screening. We find that 5MPN is a selective inhibitor of PFKFB4 that suppresses the glycolysis and proliferation of multiple human cancer cell lines but not non-transformed epithelial cells in vitro . Importantly, 5MPN has high oral bioavailability and per os administration of a non-toxic dose of 5MPN suppresses the glucose metabolism and growth of tumors in mice.
Perispinal etanercept: Potential as an Alzheimer therapeutic

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is one of a number of systemic and immunomodulating cytokines that generally act to promote acute-phase reactions but can drive degenerative changes when chronically elevated. Traditional focus on TNF has been directed at these inflammation-related functions. Of particular relevance to intersections between neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration is the ability of TNF to increase expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1), which in turn increases production of the precursors necessary for formation of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and Lewy bodies. More recent data have revealed that TNF, one of the few gliotransmitters, has strikingly acute effects on synaptic physiology. These complex influences on neural health suggest that manipulation of this cytokine might have important impacts on diseases characterized by glial activation, cytokine-mediated neuroinflammation, and synaptic dysfunction. Toward such manipulation in Alzheimer's disease, a six-month study was conducted with 15 probable-Alzheimer patients who were treated weekly with perispinal injection of Etanercept, an FDA-approved TNF inhibitor that is now widely used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic diseases associated with inflammation. The results demonstrated that perispinal administration of etanercept could provide sustained improvement in cognitive function for Alzheimer patients. Additionally, the authors were impressed by the striking rapidity with which these improvements occurred in the study patients. An example of this rapid improvement is presented in this issue as a case report by Tobinick and Gross. Such rapid gain of function inspires speculation about the role of gliotransmission or other equally rapid synaptic events in the relationship of TNF to Alzheimer-impacted neurophysiology. Because of the inability of large molecules such as etanercept to cross the blood brain barrier following conventional systemic administration, it is likely that the more direct drug delivery system pioneered by Tobinick also contributed to the effectiveness of the treatment. If so, this system could be useful in drug delivery to the brain in other neural disorders, as well as in animal research studies, many of which currently employ delivery strategies that inflict damage to neural cells and thus engender neuroinflammatory responses.
Myocardial, Smooth Muscle, Nephron, and Collecting Duct Gene Targeting Reveals the Organ Sites of Endothelin A Receptor Antagonist Fluid Retention

Endothelin-1 binding to endothelin A receptors (ETA) elicits profibrogenic, proinflammatory, and proliferative effects that can promote a wide variety of diseases. Although ETA antagonists are approved for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, their clinical utility in several other diseases has been limited by fluid retention. ETA blocker-induced fluid retention could be due to inhibition of ETA activation in the heart, vasculature, and/or kidney; consequently, the current study was designed to define which of these sites are involved. Mice were generated with absence of ETA specifically in cardiomyocytes (heart), smooth muscle, the nephron, the collecting duct, or no deletion (control). Administration of the ETA antagonist ambrisentan or atrasentan for 2 weeks caused fluid retention in control mice on a high-salt diet as assessed by increases in body weight, total body water, and extracellular fluid volume (using impedance plethysmography), as well as decreases in hematocrit (hemodilution). Mice with heart ETA knockout retained fluid in a similar manner as controls when treated with ambrisentan or atrasentan. Mice with smooth muscle ETA knockout had substantially reduced fluid retention in response to either ETA antagonist. Mice with nephron or collecting duct ETA disruption were completely prevented from ETA blocker-induced fluid retention. Taken together, these findings suggest that ETA antagonist-induced fluid retention is due to a direct effect of this class of drug on the collecting duct, is partially related to the vascular action of the drugs, and is not due to alterations in cardiac function.
The validity of bioelectrical impedance models in clinical populations.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is the most commonly used body composition technique in published studies. Herein we review the theory and assumptions underlying the various BIA and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) models, because these assumptions may be invalidated in clinical populations. Single-frequency serial BIA and discrete multifrequency BIA may be of limited validity in populations other than healthy, young, euvolemic adults. Both models inaccurately predict total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) in populations with changes in trunk geometry or fluid compartmentalization, especially at the level of the individual. Single-frequency parallel BIA may predict body composition with greater accuracy than the serial model. Hand-to-hand and leg-to-leg BIA models do not accurately predict percent fat mass. BIS may predict ECW, but not TBW, more accurately than single-frequency BIA. Segmental BIS appears to be sensitive to fluid accumulation in the trunk. In general, bioelec...
Concurrent Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Urologic Neoplasm: An Argument for Simultaneous Intervention

This report describes the surgical management of 24 patients with concurrent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and urinary tract neoplasm. The patient population consisted of 22 men and two women whose average age was 65.5 years. AAA sizes ranged from 3.1 to 9.0 cm (mean 5.2 cm) in diameter. Urinary tract neoplasms included transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder (n = 19), adenocarcinoma of the prostate (n = 3), and TCC of the renal pelvis (n = 2). Urologic procedures included radical prostatectomy, radical nephroureterectomy, and radical cystoprostatectomy with continent or ileal loop urinary diversion. The AAA was resected at the time of the urologic procedure in 12 patients (group I) or prior to the urologic procedure in five patients (group II) and was left in situ in seven patients (group III: AAA diameter 3.1 to 5.5 cm). All patients but one in group I recovered without complications. One patient developed an infection postoperatively as a result of fluid collection anterior to the aortic vascular graft; the fluid was successfully drained and the patient subsequently recovered uneventfully. All patients in group II had a marked retroperitoneal desmoplastic reaction at the time of the urologic procedure as a result of prior aneurysmectomy, which complicated the ureteral dissection. One patient later required an ileal ureteral reconstruction for obliterative fibrosis of the ureter. At a mean follow-up of 34 months, no infectious or mechanical complications of the vascular prosthesis occurred in group I or II. Eight patients in group I and two in group II are alive. Three have died of metastatic disease and two of myocardial infarction. Of the seven patients in group III, four subsequently required AAA resection for an increase in AAA size and three have died.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nonstatistical dynamics in thermal reactions of polyatomic molecules.

▪ Abstract A brief review is presented of post-RRKM models for unimolecular reaction kinetics. The dynamics of the gas-phase SN2 reaction are discussed, and the important role of phase-space bottlenecks is highlighted. The remainder of the review is devoted to experimental and trajectory simulation results on thermal reactions of organic molecules that exhibit nonstatistical dynamics quite unlike that seen in the SN2 reaction. Specifically, the intermediates generated in these reactions decay much faster than RRKM theory would predict, and often with bimodal or multimodal lifetime distributions. A qualitative model for this behavior based on overlaps of transitional regions in the molecular phase space is discussed.
The elasmobranch thymus: Anatomical, histological, and preliminary functional characterization

Thymi from 22 species of elasmobranch fish (class Chondrichthyes) were examined. Information on the anatomical location, organ arrangement, and cellular composition of the thymi as a function of sexual maturation as well as preliminary characterization of thymocyte functional activities are reported. Most of the sharks, skates, rays, and guitarfish reported herein represent species from which thymus had not been previously documented. The elasmobranch thymus is bilateral and situated dorsomedial to both gill regions. Although its size and location relative to the surrounding musculature varied with sexual maturation, thymus was confirmed in every specimen examined. Separate cortical and medullary regions resembling the cortex and medulla of mammalian thymi were consistent features among all elasmobranch thymi examined. Tissue imprints confirmed the presence of thymocytes ranging in size from small, darkly staining cells to large, lightly staining blast-like cells. Large thymic cells, containing cell debris or intact thymocytes were often observed. In vitro functional assays including cytochemical visualization of lysosomal enzymes characteristic of stage-specific thymocyte maturation, and the presence of nuclear and cell surface biochemical markers associated with immature thymocytes suggest functional roles for elasmobranch thymi similar to those of the thymi of higher vertebrate classes. Proliferation of senescent nurse shark thymocytes in culture as determined by cell flow cytometry and tritiated thymidine incorporation was also similar to in vitro responses typical of higher vertebrate mitogen-independent thymocyte proliferation. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
AI-19CHEMOKINE RECEPTOR CXCR7 IS A FUNCTIONAL RECEPTOR FOR CXCL12 IN BRAIN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

The chemokine CXCL12 regulates multiple cell functions through its receptor, CXCR4. However, recent studies have shown that CXCL12 also binds a second receptor, CXCR7, to potentiate signal transduction and cell activity. In contrast to CXCL12/CXCR4, few studies have focused on the role of CXCR7 in vascular biology and its role in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) remains unclear. In this report, we used complementary methods, including immunocytofluorescence, Western blot, and flow cytometry analyses, to demonstrate that CXCR7 was expressed on HBMECs. We then employed short hairpin RNA (shRNA) technology to knockdown CXCR7 in HBMECs. Knockdown of CXCR7 in HBMECs attenuated phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signaling pathway in response to CXCL12, and resulted in significantly reduced HBMEC proliferation, tube formation, and migration, as well as adhesion to matrigel and tumor cells. Blocking CXCR7 with a specific antibody or small molecule antagonist similarly disrupted HBMEC binding to matrigel or tumor cells. We found that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, induced CXCR7 in a time and dose-response manner and that this increase preceded an increase in vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Knockdown of CXCR7 resulted in suppression of VCAM-1, suggesting that the reduced binding of CXCR7-knockdown HBMECs may result from suppression of VCAM-1. Collectively, CXCR7 acted as a functional receptor for CXCL12 in brain endothelial cells. Targeting CXCR7 in tumor vasculature may provide novel opportunities for improving brain tumor therapy.
Personal gateway in mobile health monitoring

Recent technological advances in miniaturization of wireless portable bio-sensors and the versatility of smart phones have enabled the design and proliferation of continuous mobile health monitoring. A single smart phone is used as a gateway that interconnects sensors and remote servers in many health networking platforms. However, previous implementations lack a thorough assessment of the phone as they conduct evaluations with only the monitoring program running on it. In this paper, we examine the practicality of a smart phone through test-bed experiments in which the health monitoring software is running together with various smart phone applications. Based on the experiment results and observations, we conclude that a single smart phone is not adequate to satisfy full utilization of both the health monitoring service and the smart phone functionality. To ensure full utilization, we propose a PHM-Gate (Personal Health Monitoring Gateway). PHM-Gate is a special device that removes the restrictions caused by using a single gateway. A Bluetooth communication technique that enables PHM-Gate to successfully perform the monitoring tasks in collaboration with a smart phone is presented in this paper.
Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number

One of the most important goals in neuroscience is to understand the molecular cues that instruct early stages of synapse formation. As such it has become imperative to develop objective approaches to quantify changes in synaptic connectivity. Starting from sample fixation, this protocol details how to quantify synapse number both in dissociated neuronal culture and in brain sections using immunocytochemistry. Using compartment-specific antibodies, we label presynaptic terminals as well as sites of postsynaptic specialization. We define synapses as points of colocalization between the signals generated by these markers. The number of these colocalizations is quantified using a plug in Puncta Analyzer (written by Bary Wark, available upon request, c.eroglu@cellbio.duke.edu) under the ImageJ analysis software platform. The synapse assay described in this protocol can be applied to any neural tissue or culture preparation for which you have selective pre- and postsynaptic markers. This synapse assay is a valuable tool that can be widely utilized in the study of synaptic development.
Histiocytosis X—comparison of three treatment regimens*

The three treatment regimens evaluated in this study (vinblastine alone versus prednisone and vinblastine versus prednisone and 6-mercaptopurine) proved to be about equally efficacious in children with histiocytosis X. Inasmuch as many physicians regard this disorder as one with a high mortality rate, it is worth emphasizing that 59 of the 83 patients (71%) are living.
Tailoring the Load Carrying Capacity of MWCNTs Through Inter-shell Atomic Bridging

Recent studies have finally produced accurate measurements of the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes, confirming the anticipated results computed from quantum and molecular mechanics. Several studies have also predicted an enhancement of these material properties as a result of electron irradiation. Here we prove conclusively through a rigorous TEM imaging study that this enhancement occurs as a result of multiple-shell load transfer through irradiation-induced crosslinks. Using a computational model of the system which mirrors the experimental setup, we show that intershell covalent crosslinks resulting from the irradiation are efficient atomic structures for inter-shell load transfer. A study of the correlation between number of defects and load transfer provides insight into the experimental results and quantifies the increase in load transfer with radiation dose. The combined experimental/computational approach therefore gives a complete understanding of the phenomenon and provides the means for tailoring the mechanical properties of 1-D nanostructures.
Sex, Death, and the Diagnosis Gap

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to kill more women than men annually in the United States,1 a female death epidemic that emerged rapidly in 1984 and persists in 2014. This mortality shift was not accompanied by explanatory sex-specific changes in known risk factors2 and was too rapid to be caused by sex-linked genetic/genomic change. Although the aging epidemic combined with female longevity is a convenient putative explanation, CVD death rates have actually declined in older women, concomitant with the declines in older and young men, compared with an increase in younger women.2 Although overall female CVD death rates began to decline in the 2000s,1 we continue to have both a surplus of female deaths and an absence of understanding as to root causes. Article see p 757 Ischemic heart disease (IHD) accounts for the majority of CVD death. Notably, the female-majority CVD death epidemic has occurred in the absence of a female-majority coronary heart disease (CHD) and myocardial infarction (MI) mortality epidemic.1 Said another way, although women constitute more than half of all CVD deaths, they account for only one third of the CHD and MI burden. A simple look at the daily cardiac care unit or catheterization laboratory roster tells the story: We continue to have sex ratios of 30% women to 70% men diagnosed with CHD and MI. Although higher burdens of stroke and heart failure mortality in women explain a portion of the female excess CVD mortality, it does not fully explain the gap.1 How do women die of IHD without a diagnosis of MI or CHD? In this issue of Circulation , a new analysis by Bucholz et al3 adds to the confusion. When sex differences in 39 studies with longer-term 5- and 10-year mortality after acute MI (AMI) were …
The impact of intra-aortic balloon counter-pulsation on in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction without cardiogenic shock

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to determine whether the elective insertion of an intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation (IABP) device at the time of myocardial revascularization in patients presenting with an acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without cardiogenic shock has any impact on the in-hospital rate of cardiac mortality. Background The role of IABP in patients presenting with an acute MI without cardiogenic shock remains ill defined. Methods The present study comprised 605 consecutive patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention for an anterior STEMI without cardiogenic shock. Patients who received IABP at the time of their coronary revascularization ( n =105) were compared to those who had not ( n =500). Patients with stable angina, unstable angina, non-STEMI, non-anterior STEMI, and cardiogenic shock were excluded. Results The two cohorts were well matched for the conventional risk factors for coronary artery disease. Although the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly lower in the patients who received IABP (0.32±0.11 vs. 0.39±0.12; P P =.12) as was the rate of vascular complications. Major bleeding was significantly greater in the IABP cohort (10.0% vs. 0%; P =.01) leading to a greater transfusion requirement (14.9% vs. 2.9%; P =.01). Conclusion The adjunctive use of an IABP in patients presenting with an acute anterior STEMI without cardiogenic shock may not be associated with an in-hospital mortality benefit.
Pivotal role of MUC1 glycosylation by cigarette smoke in modulating disruption of airway adherens junctions in vitro

Cigarette smoke increases the risk of lung cancer by 20-fold and accounts for 87% of lung cancer deaths. In the normal airway, heavily O-glycosylated mucin-1 (MUC1) and adherens junctions (AJs) establish a structural barrier that protects the airway from infectious, inflammatory and noxious stimuli. Smoke disrupts cell-cell adhesion via its damaging effects on the AJ protein, epithelial cadherin (E-cad). Loss of E-cad is a major hallmark of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and has been reported in lung cancer where it is associated with invasion, metastasis and poor prognosis. Using organotypic cultures of primary human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells treated with smoke-concentrated medium (Smk), we have demonstrated that E-cad loss is regulated through the aberrant interaction of its AJ binding partner, p120-catenin (p120ctn), and the C-terminus of MUC1 (MUC1-C). Here, we reported that even before MUC1-C became bound to p120ctn, smoke promoted the generation of a novel 400kDa glycoform of MUC1’s N-terminus (MUC1-N) differing from the 230kDa and 150kDa glycoforms in untreated control cells. The subsequent smoke-induced, time-dependent shedding of glycosylated MUC1-N exposed MUC1-C as a putative receptor for interactions with EGFR, Src and p120ctn. Smoke-induced MUC1-C glycosylation modulated MUC1-C tyrosine phosphorylation (TyrP) that was essential for MUC1-C/p120ctn interaction through dose-dependent bridging of Src/MUC1-C/galectin-3/EGFR signalosomes. Chemical deglycosylation of MUC1 using a mixture of N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin and O-glycosylation inhibitor benzyl-α-GalNAc disrupted the Src/MUC1-C/galectin-3/EGFR complexes and thereby abolished smoke-induced MUC1-C-TyrP and MUC1-C/p120ctn interaction. Similarly, inhibition of smoke-induced MUC1-N glycosylation using adenoviral shRNA directed against N-acetyl-galactosaminyl transferase-6 (GALNT6, an enzyme that controls the initiating step of O-glycosylation) successfully suppressed MUC1-C/p120ctn interaction, prevented E-cad degradation and maintained cellular polarity in response to smoke. Thus, GALNT6 shRNA represents a potential therapeutic modality to prevent initiation of events associated with EMT in the smoker’s airway.
Orthogonalization based adaptive interference suppression for direct-sequence code-division multiple-access systems

Rapid converging adaptive interference suppression algorithms for direct sequence code-division multiple-access (DS/CDMA) systems are presented after showing the limitations of conventional adaptive algorithms. The rapid converging algorithms are based on an orthogonal transformation preprocessing, and are adaptive implementations of the linear minimum mean square error (MMSE) receiver for interference suppression. These algorithms do not require a priori knowledge on interfering signal parameters such as spreading sequences and relative signal power levels.
A multicriteria model for supporting setup reduction investment decisions

Abstract One critical manufacturing challenge of the 1990s is for firms to effectively apply new operations management techniques while embracing wider philosophies such as total quality management (TQM) and computer integrated manufacturing (CIM), etc. Setup cost and/or time reduction is one such technique capable of producing many benefits for manufacturing firms, including reduced inventory, better equipment utilization, and improved quality. It is thereby viewed as an important component of just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing practice. Existing problems with the setup reduction decision include the many factors that must be considered, as well of an absence of validated and usable models for estimating potential benefits from setup reduction investment made in different contexts. This paper discusses the attainment of gains from setup reduction mainly by improving existing equipment and work practices rather than purchasing new equipment or technology. The model proposed in this paper is based on the app...
A new MEMS sensor for AC electric current

This paper presents new results in the testing and characterization of a MEMS sensor for AC electric current. The sensor is comprised of a piezoelectric MEMS cantilever with a microscale permanent magnet mounted to its free end. When placed near a wire carrying AC current the magnet couples to the oscillating magnetic field around the wire, deflecting the cantilever and generating a sinusoidal voltage proportional to the current. Unlike inductive sensors, this sensor does not need to encircle the conductor and it can measure current in a two-wire “zip-cord”. It is also self-powered, and is thus more suitable for wireless sensor node applications than a powered sensor device. The theoretical basis of this new sensor's operation is presented, as well as the fabrication of a MEMS sensor device, and the first test results of this new sensor measuring current in single-wire and two-wire conductors. Sensor response is linear (R2 > 0.99) with sensitivity in the range of 0.1–1.1 mV/A. An integrated self-powered sensor device is also presented, which employs a piezoelectric energy harvester to power the sensor's signal conditioning circuitry at a 2.6% duty cycle.
Nurse-Curanderas: Las Que Curan at the Heart of Hispanic Culture

Bilingual nurse-curanderas are an emerging group of health care providers who blend the profession of nursing with Hispanic folk healing,thus providing culturally competent care to one of the large...
Isotropic conductive adhesives filled with low-melting-point alloy fillers

Conventional isotropic conductive adhesives (ICAs) are composed of a polymeric matrix and silver (Ag) flakes. As an alternative to lead-bearing solder, ICAs offer a number of benefits, but limitations do exist for ICA technology. ICAs filled with silver flakes generally show higher initial contact resistance, unstable contact resistance, and inferior impact strength. In this study, a new class of isotropic conductive adhesives was developed by using two different fillers, silver flakes and a low-melting-point-alloy filler, into the ICA formulations. After curing, the metallurgical connections between silver particles, and between silver particles and nickel (Ni) substrate were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrical properties including bulk resistance, initial contact resistance, and contact resistance shifts of the ICA were investigated and compared to those of a commercial ICA, an in-house ICA filled with only the silver flake, and a eutectic Sn/Pb solder. It was found that: (1) the low-melting-point alloy filler could wet the silver flakes and nickel substrate to form metallurgical connections, (2) this ICA had much lower bulk resistance than the commercial ICA and the in-house ICA filled with only the silver flake, and (3) this ICA showed especially low initial contact resistance and more stable contact resistance during aging on nickel metal compared to the ICA filled only with silver flakes.
The role of zinc finger linkers in p43 and TFIIIA binding to 5S rRNA and DNA

Transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) and p43 zinc finger protein form distinct complexes with 5S ribosomal RNA in Xenopus oocytes. Additionally, TFIIIA binds the internal promoter of the 5S RNA gene and supports assembly of a transcription initiation complex. Both proteins have nine tandemly repeated zinc fingers with almost identical linker lengths between corresponding fingers, yet p43 has no detectable affinity for the 5S RNA gene. TFIIIA zinc fingers 1-3 are connected by highly conserved linkers, first identified in the Drosophila protein Kruppel, that are found in many DNA binding zinc finger proteins. To understand the role of these linkers in RNA and DNA binding we exchanged three TFIIIA linker amino acids with the equivalent amino acids from p43. The major effect of linker substitution is a 50-fold reduction in DNA specificity, concomitant with an 8-fold reduction in affinity. N-Terminal zinc fingers from either TFIIIA or p43 bind to multiple specific sites on 5S RNA that are resistant to competition by tRNA or poly(rA). This mode of RNA binding is unaffected by linker substitution. These data suggest that zinc finger linkers significantly facilitate the specificity of DNA binding.