cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Regulation of the Endothelin-1 Gene by Hypoxia CONTRIBUTIONS OF HYPOXIA-INDUCIBLE FACTOR-1, ACTIVATOR PROTEIN-1, GATA-2, AND p300/CBP

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a peptide hormone with potent vasoconstrictor properties which is synthesized and secreted predominantly by vascular endothelial cells. Its production is regulated by numerous stimuli including ischemia and hypoxia, and the enhanced levels that occur during myocardial ischemia may contribute to the progression of heart failure. We reported previously a preliminary characterization of a hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) binding site in the human ET-1 promoter which contributed to the activation of ET-1 expression in endothelial cells. We report here that the HIF-1 binding site alone is not sufficient for the response to hypoxia but requires an additional 50 base pairs of flanking sequence that includes binding sites for the factors activator protein-1 (AP-1), GATA-2, and CAAT-binding factor (NF-1). Mutation of any one of these sites or the HIF-1 site eliminated induction by hypoxia. Mutations of the AP-1 and GATA-2 sites, but not the HIF-1 site, were complemented by overexpressing AP-1, GATA-2, HIF-1α, or the activator protein p300/CBP, restoring the response to hypoxia. Binding studies in vitro confirmed physical associations among GATA-2, AP-1, and HIF-1 factors. Overexpression or depletion of p300/CBP modulated the level of ET-1 promoter expression as well as the endogenous ET-1 transcript but did not change the fold induction by hypoxia in either case. Regulation of the ET-1 promoter by hypoxia in non-endothelial cells required overexpression of GATA-2 and HIF-1α. The results support essential roles for AP-1, GATA-2, and NF-1 in stabilizing the binding of HIF-1 and promoting recruitment of p300/CBP to the ET-1 hypoxia response complex.
Liver fatty acid binding protein expression enhances branched-chain fatty acid metabolism

Although liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) is known to enhance uptake and esterification of straight-chain fatty acids such as palmitic acid and oleic acid, its effects on oxidation and further metabolism of branched-chain fatty acids such as phytanic acid are not completely understood. The present data demonstrate for the first time that expression of L-FABP enhanced initial rate and average maximal oxidation of [2,3-3H] phytanic acid 3.5- and 1.5-fold, respectively. This enhancement was not due to increased [2,3-3H] phytanic acid uptake, which was only slightly stimulated (20%) in L-FABP expressing cells after 30 min. Similarly, L-FABP also enhanced the average maximal oxidation of [9,10-3H] palmitic acid 2.2-fold after incubation for 30 min. However, the stimulation of L-FABP on palmitic acid oxidation nearly paralleled its 3.3-fold enhancement of uptake. To determine effects of metabolism on fatty acid uptake, a non-metabolizable fluorescent saturated fatty acid, BODIPY-C16, was examined by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). L-FABP expression enhanced uptake of BODIPY-C16 1.7-fold demonstrating that L-FABP enhanced saturated fatty acid uptake independent of metabolism. Finally, L-FABP expression did not significantly alter [2,3-3H] phytanic acid esterification, but increased [9,10-3H] palmitic acid esterification 4.5-fold, primarily into phospholipids (3.7-fold) and neutral lipids (9-fold). In summary, L-FABP expression enhanced branched-chain phytanic acid oxidation much more than either its uptake or esterification. These data demonstrate a potential role for L-FABP in the peroxisomal oxidation of branched-chain fatty acids in intact cells.
Cardiac involvement in non-human primates infected with the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.

To investigate cardiac involvement in the non-human primate (NHP) model of Lyme disease, we inoculated 39 adult Macaca mulatta with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto strains N40 (BbN40) by needle (N=22, 14 immunocompetent (IC), seven permanently immunosuppressed (IS), and four transiently immunosuppressed (TISP)) or by tick-bite (N=4, all TISP) or strain 297 (Bb297) by needle (N=2 IS), or with B. garinii strains Pbi (N=4, 2 TISP and 2 IS), 793 (N=2, TISP) or Pli (N=2, TISP). Five uninfected NHPs were used as controls. Infection and inflammation was studied in the hearts and the aorta removed at necropsy 2-32 months after inoculation by (1) HE (2) immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis; (3) Western blot densitometry; and (4) TaqMan RT-PCR. All NHPs inoculated with BbN40 became infected and showed carditis at necropsy. The predominant cells were T cells, plasma cells, and macrophages. There was increased IgG and IgM in the heart independent of immunosuppression. The B-cell chemokine BLC was significantly increased in IS-NHPs. There was increased deposition of the complement membrane attack complex (MAC) in TISP and IS-NHPs. The spirochetal load was very high in all BbN40-inoculated IS-NHPs but minimal if any in IC or TISP NHPs. Double-immunostaining revealed that many spirochetes in the heart of BbN40-IS NHPs had MAC on their membranes. We conclude that carditis in NHPs infected with B. burgdorferi is frequent and can persist for years but is mild unless they are immunosupressed.
Petal Blight of Sunflower Caused by Itersonilia perplexans

In February 1999, a cut-flower grower from Florida reported post-harvest losses of approximately 25% in Helianthus annuus (sunflower) cvs. Sunrich Orange and Sunbright. Symptoms began as small, pinpoint brown lesions on the petals, which enlarged and coalesced, leading to necrosis of the entire blossom. Symptomatic petals were surface disinfested for 30 sec with 0.5% NaOCl and suspended over plates containing acidified 25% potato-dextrose agar. Petals adhered to lids of the petri dishes by the surface tension of the water on the petals. Itersonilia perplexans Derx was consistently isolated. Inoculation of sunflower with I. perplexans was achieved using three detached, mature blossoms of the cv. Sundance Kid with their pedicels placed in sterile water. Each blossom was inoculated with 3.5 ml of a spore suspension (1 × 105 spores/ml) applied as a spray. Three noninoculated control blossoms were sprayed with sterile, distilled water. Blossoms were incubated in a controlled environment chamber at near 100% RH, a constant temperature of 18°C, and a 12-h photoperiod. Three days following inoculation all of the inoculated blossoms were symptomatic, with necrosis ranging from 50 to 100% on individual petals. I. perplexans was recovered from all of the inoculated blossoms. Noninoculated controls remained symptomless, and I. perplexans was not recovered. I. perplexans has been reported to cause lesions on the cotyledons, first true leaves, and the hypocotyl region of sunflower seedlings in Canada and Uruguay (1,2). However, this is the first report of post-harvest petal blight in sunflower caused by I. perplexans and the first report in the United States of infection of sunflower by I. perplexans. References: (1) W. E. Sackston. Can. Phytopath. Soc. 1952:22, 1953. (2) W. E. Sackston. Phytopathology. 48:108, 1958.
Conformational Adaptation of Apolipoprotein A-I to Discretely Sized Phospholipid Complexes†

The conformational constraints for apoA-I bound to recombinant phospholipid complexes (rHDL) were attained from a combination of chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry. Molecular distances were then used to refine models of lipid-bound apoA-I on both 80 and 96 A diameter rHDL particles. To obtain molecular constraints on the protein bound to phospholipid complexes, three different lysine-selective homo-bifunctional cross-linkers with increasing spacer arm lengths (i.e., 7.7, 12.0, and 16.1 A) were reacted with purified, homogeneous recombinant 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) apoA-I rHDL complexes of each diameter. Cross-linked dimeric apoA-I products were separated from monomeric apoprotein using 12% SDS−PAGE, then subjected to in-gel trypsin digest, and identified by MS/MS sequencing. These studies aid in the refinement of our previously published molecular model of two apoA-I molecules bound to ∼150 molecules of POPC and suggest that the protein hydrophobic interactions at ...
Developing webs of significance through communications: appropriate interactive activities for distributed learning environments

Interactive activities are an important aspect of distributed learning situations, wherein online communities and learner motivational levels evolve and thrive. Through the thoughtful integration of interactive activities into the online learning process, learners and instructors gain considerable exposure to reciprocally favorable occurrences among learners, content, interface, instructor, community, and self. The thoughtful design and development of a distributed learning environment aids the use of interactive activities in moving beyond mere online interactions towards a more theoretically productive level of interactions. Within a theoretically productive level of interaction wherein the learners obtain information, develop conceptual frameworks through which the information is not only derived but becomes useful knowledge, develop higher‐level thinking skills, and continue to be internally motivated to continue with the course, the learners conceptualize a learning community which can be sorely lacking within distributed learning situations that do not integrate appropriate interactive activities.
Transporters of nucleotide sugars, nucleotide sulfate and ATP in the Golgi apparatus

Abstract Proteins and glycolipids are glycosylated, sulfated and phosphorylated in the lumen of the Golgi apparatus. The nucleotide substrates of these reactions must first be translocated from the cytosol into the Golgi lumen by specific transporters (antiporters). These are hydrophobic, transmembrane-spanning proteins that appear to regulate post-translational modifications in the Golgi lumen.
Triad case study: Rattlesnake Creek

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (US ACE) is responsible for conducting the cleanup of radiological contaminated properties as part of the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program. One property is the Rattlesnake Creek (RSC) portion of the Ashland sites. The RSC stream sediments are contaminated with thorium-230, radium-226, and uranium. The US ACE is closing RSC using protocols contained within the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM). At RSC, the US ACE developed site-specific derived concentration guideline level (DCGL) cleanup requirements consistent with the MARSSIM guidance. Because of uncertainty about the distribution of contamination within the creek, the US ACE used the Triad approach to collect data and design remedial actions. Systematic planning helped target the areas of concern, develop a conceptual site model, and identify data gaps to be addressed before remediation plans were finalized. Preremediation sampling and analysis plans were designed to be explicitly consistent with final status survey requirements, allowing data sets to support both excavation planning needs and closure requirements in areas where contamination was not encountered above DCGL standards. Judicious use of real- time technologies such as X-ray fluorescence and gamma walkover surveys minimized expensive off- site alpha spectrometry analyses, and at the same time provided the ability to respond to unexpected field conditions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wrist strength is dependent on simultaneous power grip intensity

The effect of grip activities on wrist flexion/extension strength was examined. Twelve healthy subjects performed maximum wrist flexion/extension exertions with one of five levels of simultaneous grip effort: minimum effort; preferred effort; 30%, 60% and 100% maximum voluntary contraction. As grip force increased from the minimum to the maximum effort, average wrist flexion strength increased 34% and average wrist extension strength decreased 10%. It appears that the finger flexor tendons on the volar aspect of the wrist act agonistically in wrist flexion and act antagonistically to wrist extension. When an object gripped by the hand is fragile or uncomfortable, the reduced finger flexor activity will limit wrist flexion strength. Gripping a slippery object that requires high grip effort will result in reduced wrist extension strength. Grip force should be controlled during measurement of wrist flexion or extension strength. When analysing a task that involves both grip and wrist exertions, use of grip/wrist strength values that were measured during grip exertions only, or wrist exertions only, may incorrectly estimate the true grip/wrist strength, as grip and wrist activities significantly interact with each other as demonstrated in this paper.
Gender Roles, Sex and the Process of Psychotherapy: Many Questions and Few Answers.

While gender roles have a profound effect on individuals in our culture, there has been a dearth of research on the impact of counselor and client gender roles on the therapy process. Also, the research and theory that do exist on this topic suffer from the misguided assumption that biological sex is equivalent to socialized gender role behaviors. The authors review and critique the research and theory on sex, gender roles, and the process of therapy. A new paradigm through which to view and conduct this research is offered, and a number of potentially fruitful directions for future research are suggested.
The crystallization of fluoroapatite. A constant composition study

The kinetics of crystallization of fluoroapatite, an important phase in the reaction of enamel surfaces with fluoride ion, were investigated using a highly reproducible constant composition seeded growth technique at a pH of 7.40, in solutions supersaturated only with respect to this phase. The resulting low rates of crystallization were precisely measured over long periods of time so that macroscopic amounts of highly crystalline FAP could be grown. Changes in the specific surface areas of the solid with the extent of growth are interpreted in terms of the developing morphology of the crystals.
Universal properties of maps of the circle with ɛ-singularities

Following the work of Collet, Eckmann, and Lanford on the Feigenbaum conjecture, we study the structure of the renormalization transformation introduced in [12] upon maps of the circle with critical points of the formx|x|ɛ.
A cognitive hierarchical framework for evaluating emergency response activities

We describe a system model for determining decision making strategies based upon the ability to perform data mining and pattern discovery utilizing open source information to prepare for specific events or situations from multiple information sources. Within this paper, we discuss the development of a method for determining actionable information. We have integrated open source information linking to human sentiment and manipulated other user selectable interlinking relative probabilities for events based upon current knowledge. Probabilistic predictions are critical in practice on many decision making applications because optimizing the user experience requires being able to compute the expected utilities of mutually exclusive pieces of content. Hierarchy game theory for decision making is valuable where two or more agents seek their own goals, possibilities of conflicts, competition and cooperation. The quality of the knowledge extracted from the information available is restricted by complexity of the model. Hierarchy game theory framework enables complex modeling of data in probabilistic modeling. However, applicability to big data is complicated by the difficulties of inference in complex probabilistic models, and by computational constraints. We focus on applying probabilistic models to evaluating emergency response activities. We specifically evaluate adversarial competition to help decide and plan how much to give in our emergency response example to capture the position of highest donor nation using mixed probabilities from game theory. Our contribution in this paper is to combine linear programming, hierarchical game theory with uncertainty modeling as a tool in order to plan for activities based on open source intelligence.
Effects of apomorphine on appetitive conditioning in 6-hydroxydopamine treated rat pups

Rat pups were treated on postnatal day 5 either with the combination of desmethylimipramine (DMI) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to produce depletion of brain dopamine, or with control injections of saline. Two days later they were presented a novel anise odor paired with intraoral baby formula, and on the next day were tested for preference for the novel odor. Before conditioning and testing, animals were treated with either apomorphine (0.05 mg/kg) or isotonic saline. Performance of the conditioned appetitive response was impaired in dopamine depleted animals. In DMI/6-OHDA treated pups, apomorphine administration prior to conditioning produced an improvement in performance, but drug treatment prior to testing had no effect. In normal pups, apomorphine administration either before conditioning or testing produced impaired performance at testing.
Kinetic studies of temperature changes and oxygen uptake in a differential calorimeter: energy balance during calcium accumulation by mitochondria.

Abstract The application of a differential calorimeter equipped with an oxygen electrode for the determination of the enthalpy of substrate oxidation during calcium accumulation by rat liver mitochondria is described. For succinate-supported calcium uptake by aerobic mitochondria, the enthalpies of substrate oxidation are as follows: δH = − 44.1 ± 1.1 kcal/atom oxygen in a medium containing chloride as the principal anion, δH = − 35.8 ± 1.4 kcal/atom oxygen in acetate medium, and δH = − 34.0 ± 1.1 kcal/atom oxygen in phosphate medium. An energy balance is constructed for the heat evolution, and a clear demonstration of calcium binding is presented. The average heat of calcium binding was δHb = − 2.5 ± 0.85 kcal/mole calcium in chloride and acetate medium, where the mean heat of ionization of the internal mitochondrial buffers was δHI = +5.3 ± 1.1 kcal/mole protons. In phosphate medium, indeterminacy in the δHI allowed only a range of values for the enthalpy of calcium uptake to be determined.
Death Penalty Opinions: A Classroom Experience and Public Commitment

This study attempts to identify stimuli that produce changes in death penalty opinions and to determine whether public commitment to a death penalty opinion has an effect on that opinion. Consistent with previously reported findings, the results of this study suggest that public commitment has a substantial inhibitory effect on opinion change. Reasons for both changing and maintaining death penalty opinions are provided, and the implications of the research are discussed.
Laboratory toxicity of a photo activated dye mixture to six species of beneficial insects

The toxicity of a mixture of two photoactive dyes, Phloxine B and Uranine, was determined for six species of beneficial insects in the laboratory. The dye had no measurable contact toxicity to any test insect. The dye, when mixed in protein baits, was significantly more toxic than the bait alone to Chrysopa carnea Stephens, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, Delphastes pusillus Le Conte and Goniozus legneri (Gordh). The toxicity of all dye and bait mixtures was significantly less to all test insects than that of the malathion and bait mixtures. Substituting the dye mixture for malathion in protein bait sprays used to eradicate exotic fruit flies from the United States should significantly reduce the kill of non-target beneficial insects.
Ultralow switching energy germanium electro-optical modulator

A lateral p-n junction nanobeam electro-optic modulator for the 8 micron regime is presented. Owing to a strong free-carrier absorption effect, an ultralow switching energy is achieved, while utilizing a small footprint, monolithic, and VLSI-compatible implementation.
Endobronchial Ultrasound as a Diagnostic Tool in Patients With Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy

Background The diagnostic yield and accuracy of new approaches to diagnose cancer should focus on comparison with established surgical techniques. Our objective was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) to detect cancer in patients with radiographically abnormal mediastinal lymph nodes. Methods The medical records of patients who underwent EBUS and had abnormal mediastinal lymph nodes (short-axis >1 cm and [or] positron emission topography-positive) over a 25 month period at the University of Pittsburgh were reviewed. Demographic and clinical data, cytology, and pathology results were entered in a database and analyzed. Results A total of 172 patients [male to female=1.8:1; median age, 67 years (range, 20 to 90]) were included. The diagnostic yield of EBUS cytology was 79.7% (137 of 172). Pathologic testing was available in 68% (117 of 172) and 82% (96 of 117) had a diagnostic EBUS. The diagnostic accuracy of EBUS was 91.7%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were 88.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 77.3 to 94.3), 100% (95% CI, 85.9 to 100), 100% (95% CI, 92.4 to 100), and 80.6% (95% CI, 63.4 to 91.2), respectively. In 67 patients who had a suspected or biopsy-proven primary lung cancer, diagnostic yield was 86.6% and accuracy was 94.8%. In this subgroup the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 93% (95% CI, 76.5 to 98.9), 100% (95% CI, 69.9 to 100), 100% (95% CI, 85 to 100), and 83.3% (95% CI, 56.2 to 97.5). Conclusions Diagnostic performance data support the clinical usefulness of EBUS in the evaluation of patients with a radiographically abnormal mediastinum. It should be considered complementary to mediastinoscopy rather than substitutive.
Inter-layer motion field mapping for the scalable extension of HEVC

The next generation video coding standard, High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), is under development by the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of the ITU-T VCEG and the ISO/IEC MPEG. As the first version of single-layer HEVC standard comes close to completion, there is a great interest to extend the standard with scalable capabilities. In this paper, an inter-layer Motion Field Mapping (MFM) algorithm is proposed for the scalable extension of HEVC to generate the motion field of inter-layer reference pictures, such that the correlation between the motion vectors (MVs) of base-layer and enhancement-layer can be exploited. Moreover, as the proposed method does not change any block-level operation, the existing single-layer encoder and decoder logic of HEVC can be directly applied without modification of motion vector prediction for the enhancement-layer. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed MFM method in improving the performance of enhancement-layer motion prediction in scalable HEVC.
Cytosolic delivery of antisense oligonucleotides by listeriolysin O-containing liposomes

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) possess great potential as sequence-specific therapeutic agents. Sufficient concentrations of intact ODN must bypass membrane barriers and access the cytosol and nucleus, for ODNs to be therapeutically effective. A cytosolic delivery strategy was designed to improve the efficiency of ODN delivery in bone-marrow-derived macrophages. This liposome-based formulation utilizes listeriolysin O (LLO), the endosomolytic hemolysin from Listeria monocytogenes, to mediate the escape of ODN from endocytic compartments into the cytosol. To monitor the cytosolic delivery of ODN, subcellular trafficking of fluorescently labeled ODNs was visualized using epifluorescence microscopy. The expression of target protein and mRNA after delivery was measured using flow cytometry and Northern blot analysis, respectively. ODN specific for murine intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) encapsulated in LLO-liposomes was released to the cytosol and trafficked to the nucleus, efficiently and specifically suppressing activation-induced expression of ICAM-1 at both protein and mRNA levels. Delivery without LLO resulted in sequestration of ODN in vesicular compartments leading to little inhibition of ICAM-1 expression, which supports the requirement of LLO for efficient cytosolic delivery using this system. The data clearly demonstrate that LLO-mediated escape of ODN from intracellular vesicles is an effective approach to achieve full therapeutic antisense activity in cultured macrophages.
Nicotinamide exacerbates hypoxemia in ventilator-induced lung injury independent of neutrophil infiltration.

Background Ventilator-induced lung injury is a form of acute lung injury that develops in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation and has a high degree of mortality. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase is an enzyme that is highly upregulated in ventilator-induced lung injury and exacerbates the injury when given exogenously. Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) directly inhibits downstream pathways activated by Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase and is protective in other models of acute lung injury. Methods We administered nicotinamide i.p. to mice undergoing mechanical ventilation with high tidal volumes to study the effects of nicotinamide on ventilator-induced lung injury. Measures of injury included oxygen saturations and bronchoalveolar lavage neutrophil counts, protein, and cytokine levels. We also measured expression of nicotinamide phosophoribosyltransferase, and its downstream effectors Sirt1 and Cebpa, Cebpb, Cebpe. We assessed the effect of nicotinamide on the production of nitric oxide during ventilator-induced lung injury. We also studied the effects of ventilator-induced lung injury in mice deficient in C/EBPe. Results Nicotinamide treatment significantly inhibited neutrophil infiltration into the lungs during ventilator-induced lung injury, but did not affect protein leakage or cytokine production. Surprisingly, mice treated with nicotinamide developed significantly worse hypoxemia during mechanical ventilation. This effect was not linked to increases in nitric oxide production or alterations in expression of Nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase, Sirt1, or Cebpa and Cebpb. Cebpe mRNA levels were decreased with either nicotinamide treatment or mechanical ventilation, but mice lacking C/EBPe developed the same degree of hypoxemia and ventilator-induced lung injury as wild-type mice. Conclusions Nicotinamide treatment during VILI inhibits neutrophil infiltration of the lungs consistent with a strong anti-inflammatory effect, but paradoxically also leads to the development of significant hypoxemia. These findings suggest that pulmonary neutrophilia is not linked to hypoxemia in ventilator-induced lung injury, and that nicotinamide exacerbates hypoxemia during VILI.
Long-term safety and efficacy of sapropterin: The PKUDOS registry experience

The Phenylketonuria (PKU) Demographics, Outcomes and Safety (PKUDOS) registry is designed to provide longitudinal safety and efficacy data on subjects with PKU who are (or have been) treated with sapropterin dihydrochloride. The PKUDOS population consists of 1189 subjects with PKU: N = 504 who were continuously exposed to sapropterin from date of registry enrollment, N = 211 who had intermittent exposure to the drug, and N = 474 with some other duration of exposure. Subjects continuously exposed to sapropterin showed an average 34% decrease in blood phenylalanine (Phe)--from 591 ± 382 μmol/L at baseline to 392 ± 239 μmol/L (p = 0.0009) after 5 years. This drop in blood Phe was associated with an increase in dietary Phe tolerance [from 1000 ± 959 mg/day (pre-sapropterin baseline) to 1539 ± 840 mg/day after 6 years]. Drug-related adverse events (AEs) were reported in 6% of subjects, were mostly considered non-serious, and were identified in the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and nervous systems. Serious drug-related AEs were reported in ≤ 1% of subjects. Similar safety and efficacy data were observed for children<4 years. Long-term data from the PKUDOS registry suggest that sapropterin has a tolerable safety profile and that continuous use is associated with a significant and persistent decrease in blood Phe and improvements in dietary Phe tolerance.
Fullerenes, fulleranes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Allende meteorite

In this paper, we confirm our earlier observations of fullerenes (C60 and C70) in the Allende meteorite (Becker et al., 1994a, 1995). Fullerene C60 was also detected in two separate C-rich (approximately 0.5-1.0%) dark inclusions (Heymann et al., 1987) that were hand picked from the Allende sample. The amounts of C60 detected were approximately 5 and approximately 10 ppb, respectively, which is considerably less than what was detected in the Allende 15/21 sample (approximately 100 ppb; Becker et al., 1994a, 1995). This suggests that fullerenes are heterogeneously distributed in the meteorite. In addition, we present evidence for fulleranes, (C60Hx), detected in separate samples by laser desorption (reflectron) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (LDMS). The LDMS spectra for the Allende extracts were remarkably similar to the spectra generated for the synthetic fullerane mixtures. Several fullerane products were synthesized using a Rh catalyst (Becker et al., 1993a) and separated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also observed ppm levels) that included benzofluoranthene and corannulene, a cup-shaped molecule that has been proposed as a precursor molecule to the formation of fullerenes in the gas phase (Pope et al., 1993).
Rapid nighttime evacuation of a veterans hospital

Loss of essential utilities and danger of explosion forced a rapid nighttime winter evacuation of 229 patients from an acute-care Veterans Administration hospital. Although distribution of patients to recipient hospitals was not optimal, and the location of several patients could not be documented for more than 24 hours, the evacuation in subfreezing weather went smoothly. Continuity of care and careful planning permitted an orderly return to the hospital five days later. Although financial costs were high, no excess mortality or morbidity was associated with the evacuation. No changes in pharyngeal gram-negative bacterial flora of the patients were noted. Further, a critique is presented to aid in planning for similar emergencies elsewhere.
Rigorous evaluation of the ring diagram contribution to the ground state energy of an electron gas

The ground state energy and the correlation energy of an electron gas are evaluated rigorously without using the smallr s expansion and the small momentum-transfer approximation in the ring diagram contribution and taking into consideration the first order and second order exchange graphs. The Fermi momentum is determined by solving the number density equation without using iteration and is compared with that obtained by iteration. The ground state energy is found to stay positive in contrast to the iterative solution which becomes negative beyond a certain value ofr s .
Association of impaired facial affect recognition with basic facial and visual processing deficits in schizophrenia.

Background Impaired emotion recognition has been reported in schizophrenia, yet the nature of this impairment is not completely understood. Recognition of facial emotion depends on processing affective and nonaffective facial signals, as well as basic visual attributes. We examined whether and how poor facial emotion recognition in schizophrenia is related to basic visual processing and nonaffective face recognition. Methods Schizophrenia patients ( n = 32) and healthy control subjects ( n = 29) performed emotion discrimination, identity discrimination, and visual contrast detection tasks, where the emotionality, distinctiveness of identity, or visual contrast was systematically manipulated. Subjects determined which of two presentations in a trial contained the target: the emotional face for emotion discrimination, a specific individual for identity discrimination, and a sinusoidal grating for contrast detection. Results Patients had significantly higher thresholds (worse performance) than control subjects for discriminating both fearful and happy faces. Furthermore, patients' poor performance in fear discrimination was predicted by performance in visual detection and face identity discrimination. Conclusions Schizophrenia patients require greater emotional signal strength to discriminate fearful or happy face images from neutral ones. Deficient emotion recognition in schizophrenia does not appear to be determined solely by affective processing but is also linked to the processing of basic visual and facial information.
A methoxy derivative of resveratrol analogue selectively induced activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in transformed fibroblasts

Resveratrol (R-3), a trihydroxy trans-stilbene from grape, inhibits multistage carcinogenesis in animal models. A resveratrol derivative 3,4,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene (R-4) exhibits potent growth inhibitory effect against transformed human cells. Here we report that 3,4,5,4'-tetramethoxystilbene (MR-4), converted from R-4, was more potent against cancer cell lines (WI38VA, IMR-90SV, HeLa, LNCaP, HT-29, and HepG2), but had almost no inhibitory effect on the growth of normal cells (WI38, IMR-90, BJ-T) at the concentrations tested. The IC50 value of MR-4 on the growth inhibition of transformed WI38VA human cells was 0.5 microM, as compared to the value of greater than 50 microM for the normal WI38 cells. Resveratrol, however, did not exhibit such clear differential effect and the IC50 value of R-3 for WI38VA cells was about 50 microM. The growth inhibitory effect of MR-4 correlated with the induction of apoptosis in the transformed cells. When normal WI38 cells and transformed WI38VA cells were compared, MR-4 induced increases of the Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA ratio, p53 and Bax protein level, activation of caspases, and DNA fragmentation in transformed, but not in normal cells. Further analysis revealed that MR-4 caused a rapid appearance of perinuclear aggregation of mitochondria in WI38VA but not in WI38 cells, suggesting that the mitochondria could serve as an early target of MR-4. R-3 also induced apoptosis and mitochondrial clustering but only at a much higher concentration, close to 500 microM. Taken together, the specific activation of the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway could be a major reason for the striking differential growth inhibitory effect of MR-4.
Physiological transport in relation to ageing.

IT has been shown that the diffusivity of oxygen, glucose and carbon dioxide through blood plasma decreases with increased plasma protein concentrations1,2. Navari et al.2 and Connor et al.3 have further demonstrated that the diffusivity of oxygen and glucose is markedly affected by the concentrations of these proteins in human plasma within their normal physiological ranges. For example, an increase of the concentration of albumin from 2.0 to 5.0 gm/100 ml. at 37° C causes almost a 50% decrease in the diffusivity of oxygen. Since the concentrations of albumin and the globulins, as well as cholesterol, change with various pathological conditions and with ageing of “normal” subjects, subsequent changes in diffusion may have physiological consequences.
Promoter-dependent and -independent activation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 gene expression by prostaglandin E2 in primary rat osteoblasts

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) action is mediated by high affinity cell surface IGF receptors and modulated by a family of secreted IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). IGFBP-5, the most conserved of six IGFBPs characterized to date, uniquely potentiates the anabolic actions of IGF-I for skeletal cells. In osteoblasts, IGFBP-5 production is stimulated by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a local factor that mediates certain effects induced by parathyroid hormone, cytokines such as interleukin-1 and transforming growth factor-beta, and mechanical strain. In this study, we show that transcriptional and post-transcriptional events initiated by PGE2 collaborate to enhance IGFBP-5 gene expression in primary fetal rat osteoblast cultures. PGE2 treatment stimulated up to a 7-fold rise in steady-state levels of IGFBP-5 mRNA throughout 32 h of incubation. Analysis of nascent IGFBP-5 mRNA suggested that PGE2 had only a modest stimulatory effect on IGFBP-5 gene transcription, and transient transfection studies with IGFBP-5 promoter-reporter genes confirmed that PGE2 enhanced promoter activity by approximately 2-fold. Similar stimulatory effects were seen with forskolin. A DNA fragment with only 51 base pairs of the 5'-flanking sequence retained hormonal responsiveness, which may be mediated by a binding site for transcription factor AP-2 located at positions -44 to -36 in the proximal IGFBP-5 promoter. Incubation of osteoblasts with the mRNA transcriptional inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole demonstrated that PGE2 enhanced IGFBP-5 mRNA stability by 2-fold, increasing the t1/2 from 9 to 18 h. The effects of PGE2 on steady-state IGFBP-5 transcripts were abrogated by preincubating cells with cycloheximide, indicating that the effects of PGE2 on both gene transcription and mRNA stability required ongoing protein synthesis. Therefore, both promoter-dependent and -independent pathways converge to enhance IGFBP-5 gene expression in response to PGE2 in osteoblasts.
Reconciling exhaustive pattern matching with objects

Pattern matching, an important feature of functional languages, is in conflict with data abstraction and extensibility, which are central to object-oriented languages. Modal abstraction offers an integration of deep pattern matching and convenient iteration abstractions into an object-oriented setting; however, because of data abstraction, it is challenging for a compiler to statically verify properties such as exhaustiveness. In this work, we extend modal abstraction in the JMatch language to support static, modular reasoning about exhaustiveness and redundancy. New matching specifications allow these properties to be checked using an SMT solver. We also introduce expressive pattern-matching constructs. Our evaluation shows that these new features enable more concise code and that the performance of checking exhaustiveness and redundancy is acceptable.
Fluorous Mixture Synthesis: A Fluorous-Tagging Strategy for the Synthesis and Separation of Mixtures of Organic Compounds

The solution-phase synthesis of organic compounds as mixtures rather than in individual pure form offers efficiency advantages that are negated by the difficulty in separating and identifying the components of the final mixture. Here, a strategy for mixture synthesis that addresses these separation and identification problems is presented. A series of organic substrates was tagged with a series of fluorous tags of increasing fluorine content. The compounds were then mixed, and multistep reactions were conducted to make enantiomers or analogs of the natural product mappicine. The resulting tagged products were then demixed by fluorous chromatography (eluting in order of increasing fluorine content) to provide the individual pure components of the mixture, which were detagged to release the final products.
Differentiation and cell division in the mammalian thymus

The thymus is the primary differentiation site for T (thymus-derived) lymphocytes (Metcalf, 1966). Over the past 20 years, cell traffic to and from the thymus has been investigated, and the lymphocyte population of the thymus has been found to be composed of myriad phenotypically distinct subpopulations. Several recent reviews have treated these subjects in detail (e.g., Scollay and Shortman, 1983, 1985; Scollay et al, 1984a; Mathieson and Fowlkes, 1984; Fowlkes and Mathieson, 1985). This work has resulted in a wealth of information that allows T-cell development to be examined with high resolution. By this analysis, events in the thymus provide vivid and accessible examples of processes common to many developmental systems: specific homing and migration, formation of specific cell-cell contacts, mitogenesis, coordinate and noncoordinate gene activation, induction of gene rearrangements, and programmed cell death. In this review, current knowledge of the biology of the thymus serves as a framework to define the molecular events by which thymic precursor cells are endowed with the functional properties of mature T cells.
Effect of brand name on consumers' risk perceptions of online shopping

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between brand names and consumers' perceived risk. Hypotheses dealt with whether the presence of a product's brand name affects consumers' perceived risk towards shopping online; whether the familiarity with a brand name influences consumers' perceived risk; and whether online shoppers and non-shoppers perceive risk towards shopping online differently. Results indicate that the presence or absence of a product's brand name affects online shoppers' perceived risk, but in the opposite direction to that expected. There was no significant difference between online shoppers' perceived risk vis-a-vis brand familiarity; however, online shoppers possessed lower perceived risk than non-shoppers. Implications and limitations are discussed and recommendations for future research are provided. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications Ltd.
System-level analysis for 3D interconnection networks

This paper provides a fast and efficient approach to analyze and compare systems implemented with through-silicon via (TSV) and monolithic inter-tier via (MIV) 3D integration technologies based on compact models for cycle-per-instruction, memory throughput, and multi-level interconnect networks. Additionally, the impact of via diameter and capacitance on the overall system throughput has been quantified. It is demonstrated that for the same die area and thermal constraint, an MIV-based processor offers over 25% improvement in computational throughput as compared with its 2D counterpart.
Stages of infection and ecological effects of a fungal epidemic on the eggs of a limnetic copepod

SUMMARY. Fungal infection of calanoid copepod (Diaptomus novamexicanus) eggs was observed in each of three years in an alpine lake (Castle Lake, California, U.S.A.). Stages in the infection process were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy and evidence was obtained that the Lagenidium-like fungus concerned was a virulent parasite. Fungal destruction of eggs varied in timing and severity from year to year. The maximum impact of the disease was an estimated 48.4% decrease in potential copepod recruitment in 1976 due to the onset of a severe epidemic early in the summer growing season. The minimum impact, a 5.6% decrease in potential recruitment, was recorded in 1975. In this year the proportion of infected eggs was reduced and large numbers of juveniles had been released before the fungal disease began. The 1974 epidemic was intermediate in severity. The effect of these epidemics on Castle Lake calanoid populations is discussed in relation to temperature, food availability and predation.
Use of oral sildenafil (Viagra) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

In response to sexual stimulation, sildenafil effectively potentiates the natural dilatation of arteries supplying blood to the penis and corpora cavernosa. The drug is well tolerated and appears to have few significant side effects and a limited number of drug interactions. It adequately satisfies the medical and public desire for a discreet, noninvasive form of therapy for erectile dysfunction. Generally, however, patients with psychogenic erectile dysfunction and those with mild organic causes are most likely to benefit from sildenafil. The drug will likely not be as effective in patients with more significant medical problems. Despite direct marketing of the drug to patients, and media coverage that has bordered on sensationalism, it remains incumbent upon the physician to evaluate and counsel the patient thoroughly prior to prescribing the drug because its true efficacy and safety will not be known for some time.
Organizational Awareness: A Missing Generalist Social Work Competency

Ipractice management and, on my better days, leadership. At least that is what I tell my higher education colleagues who question my clinical background. Ironically, I matriculated at a social work school precisely because they had a “clinical concentration.” But somewhere along the journey, organizations and their stewardship became more compelling. I have seen nurse professionals assume leadership rolesoncedominatedbysocialwork.Amajorsocial service agency where I once served as both a board member and staff executive is now without a single social workerat cabinet-level leadership. This commentary proposes the need to bridge the gap between the more seasoned macro social worker and thenovice.Todoso,Iadvocateforthedevelopment of a new generalist social work competency: organizational awareness. The premise is not to establish more social work managers or administrators— though that is a noble goal. The critical need is to develop a generalist macro-related knowledge base that will allow practitioners, especially those less experienced, to have more impact and influence within their organizations and agencies. RECENT VOICES Theredoesappeartobearesurgenceofvoicescalling for the profession to examine looming macro-related issues. Murdach (2012) reported that consideration of the organizational context in which intervention
Temporal reliability of aphasic performance on the token test.

Abstract Test-retest reliability for the Token Test was established for a sample of 30 aphasic subjects tested on 3 days within an 8-day period. Fifteen subjects were tested within 3 months of onset of disorder. Results indicated that subject performance was highly reliable on test-retest, regardless of time since onset; that subjects did not learn the tasks through test readministration; and that the test sections were homogeneous yet sampling at discrete levels.
Accumulation of functionally immature myeloid dendritic cells in lymph nodes of rhesus macaques with acute pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus infection

Myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) are key mediators of innate and adaptive immunity to virus infection, but the impact of HIV infection on the mDC response, particularly early in acute infection, is ill-defined. We studied acute pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of rhesus macaques to address this question. The mDC in blood and bone marrow were depleted within 12 days of intravenous infection with SIVmac251, associated with a marked proliferative response. In lymph nodes, mDC were apoptotic, activated and proliferating, despite normal mDC numbers, reflecting a regenerative response that compensated for mDC loss. Blood mDC had increased expression of MHC class II, CCR7 and CD40, whereas in lymph nodes these markers were significantly decreased, indicating that acute infection induced maturation of mDC in blood but resulted in accumulation of immature mDC in lymph nodes. Following SIV infection, lymph node mDC had an increased capacity to secrete tumour necrosis factor-α upon engagement with a Toll-like receptor 7/8 ligand that mimics exposure to viral RNA, and this was inversely correlated with MHC class II and CCR7 expression. Lymph node mDC had an increased ability to capture and cleave soluble antigen, confirming their functionally immature state. These data indicate that acute SIV infection results in increased mDC turnover, leading to accumulation in lymph nodes of immature mDC with an increased responsiveness to virus stimulation.