cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NH2-terminal Proline Acts as a Nucleophile in the Glycosylase/AP-Lyase Reaction Catalyzed by Escherichia coli Formamidopyrimidine-DNA Glycosylase (Fpg) Protein *

Formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) protein plays a prominent role in the repair of oxidatively damaged DNA in Escherichia coli. The protein possesses three enzymatic activities, hydrolysis of the N-glycosidic bond (DNA glycosylase), beta-elimination (AP lyase), and delta-elimination; these functions act in a concerted manner to excise oxidized deoxynucleosides from duplex DNA. Schiff base formation between the enzyme and substrate has been demonstrated (Tchou, J., and Grollman, A. P. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 11671-11677); this protein-DNA complex can be trapped by reduction with sodium borohydride. By digesting the stable, covalently linked intermediate with proteases and determining the accurate mass of the products by negative electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, we show that the N-terminal proline of Fpg protein is linked to DNA and, therefore, is identified as the nucleophile that initiates the catalytic excision of oxidized bases from DNA. This experimental approach may be applicable to the analysis of other protein-DNA complexes.
Convenient analysis of protein modification by chemical blotting with fluorogenic "click" reagents.

Direct visualization of bioorthogonal alkyne or azide handles using fluorogenic azide–alkyne cycloaddition conducted on the surface of a blot membrane. The method eliminates the need for separation steps to remove excess small molecule reagents before attachment of antigen molecules or other visualization handles, and is especially useful for the analysis of peptides and small proteins. A variety of potential fluorogenic reagents are assessed, and sensitivity (<0.1 picomole) similar to current commercially available fluorescence imaging methods is possible.
Trp63 is regulated by STAT5 in mammary tissue and subject to differentiation in cancer

Transformation-related protein 63 (Trp63), the predominant member of the Trp53 family, contributes to epithelial differentiation and is expressed in breast neoplasia. Trp63 features two distinct promoters yielding specific mRNAs encoding two major TRP63 isoforms, a transactivating transcription factor and a dominant negative isoform. Specific TRP63 isoforms are linked to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, survival, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Although TRP63 overexpression in cultured cells is used to elucidate functions, little is known about Trp63 regulation in normal and cancerous mammary tissues. This study used ChIP-seq to interrogate transcription factor binding and histone modifications of the Trp63 locus in mammary tissue and RNA-seq and immunohistochemistry to gauge gene expression. H3K4me2 and H3K4me3 marks coincided only with the proximal promoter, supporting RNA-seq data showing the predominance of the dominant negative isoform. STAT5 bound specifically to the Trp63 proximal promoter and Trp63 mRNA levels were elevated upon deleting Stat5 from mammary tissue, suggesting its role as a negative regulator. The dominant negative TRP63 isoform was localized to nuclei of basal mammary epithelial cells throughout reproductive cycles and retained in a majority of the triple-negative cancers generated from loss of full-length Brca1. Increased expression of dominant negative isoforms was correlated with developmental windows of increased progesterone receptor binding to the proximal Trp63 promoter and decreased expression during lactation was correlated with STAT5 binding to the same region. TRP63 is present in the majority of triple-negative cancers resulting from loss of Brca1 but diminished in less differentiated cancer subtypes and in cancer cells undergoing EMT.
Control strategies for finger movement during touch-typing The role of the extrinsic muscles during a keystroke

A single keystroke during touch-typing is a rapid, goal-directed motion of the fingertip which consists of two single-direction movements. The neural control and the role of the finger extrinsic musculature during typing have not yet been explained. The fingertip motion and force, and the intramuscular electromyographic (EMG) activity (fine-wire) of the index finger extrinsic musculature were measured during touch-typing by ten experienced typists. The motions and forces were repeatable qualitatively across keystrokes. A three-burst EMG pattern was observed during a single keystroke. The three bursts were: (1) a burst of extensor activity lifted the finger before the keystroke; (2) a burst of flexor activity followed while the fingertip was moving downward; and (3) a second burst of extensor activity occurred as the fingertip reached the end of key travel. The timing of the third burst suggests the role of the extensors is to remove the fingertip from the keyswitch rather than stop the downward motion of the finger. The collision with the end of key travel stops the downward finger motion. The timing of the finger flexor EMG activity, burst 2, suggests that the flexor contraction principally overcomes the activation force of the keyswitch rather than accelerates the finger downward as expected.
Combining Boundaries and Ratings from Multiple Observers for Predicting Lung Nodule Characteristics

We use the data collected by the Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC) for modeling the radiologists' nodule interpretations based on image content of the nodule by using decision trees. Up to 4 radiologists delineated nodule boundaries and provided ratings for nine nodule characteristics (lobulation, margin, sphericity, etc). Therefore, there can be up to 4 instances per nodule in our data set. However, to learn a good predictive model, the data set should have only one instance per nodule. In this study, we investigate several approaches to combine delineated boundaries and ratings from multiple observers. From our experimental results, we learned that the thresholded p-map analysis approach with the probability threshold PrGt=0.75 provides the best predictive accuracies for the nodule characteristics. In the long run, we expect that the predictive model will improve radiologists' efficiency and reduce inter-reader variability.
The role of extracellular proteases in cell proliferation and differentiation.

Proteases play critical roles in a vast number of reactions that are important in regulating anabolic as well as catabolic cellular metabolism and, in addition, many extra- and intracellular physiologic functions (158, 165, 288). Although regulation of specific and general protein levels by catabolism was not as emphasized in early studies as that of the regulation of protein synthesis, this is now recognized as an error (4, 200). The importance of proteases in “molding” a final protein product by converting a zymogen, a pro-hormone, or a pro-growth factor to an active moiety, or by removing a signal peptide to have the protein “delivered” to the proper location, is clear (see Refs. 295, 338, 397). Specific examples include the activation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) by the proteolytic EGF-binding protein (123, 384) or the auto-proteolytic processing of pro-β nerve growth factor (NGF) to NGF by its own γ-subunit (142, 389). The importance of studying protease induction of cell proliferation and DNA synthesis is now recognized (see Refs. 265, 266 for earlier reviews) and it has also been suggested that proteases may act as growth factors for malignant cells (41, 254) or in wound healing (see Ref. 30). Proteases appear to be able to act as true growth factors and not simply in a process directed toward supplying nutrient amino acids, as carefully defined by Gospodarowicz and Moran (140), although the latter case has not been ruled out as an augmenting process.
Small radio repeater system for enhancement of wireless connectivity

For wireless network systems, the path-loss between the transmitter and receiver is a critical factor that determines the possible range between two communication nodes. In complex environments such as dense urban area, indoor environment the line-of-sight (LOS) cannot be established, thus wireless communication must rely on multi-path propagation (multiple reflection, diffraction, and penetration through obstacles). As a result, the propagation path-loss is much higher than free-space, and the communication range decreases. To overcome this problem, either the transmitter power has to be increased or the data rate should be lowered. Low power and high data rate communication is essential for ad-hoc networks and method that allows low-power communication in multi-path channel and highly desirable. To address this problem and to improve the coverage of communication signals, radio repeaters have been extensively utilized in various scenarios. The main objective of the radio repeater is to achieve enhanced connectivity by proper placement and amplifying the radio signal. For the downlink communication, from a base station to an end-node/unit, the signal originating in the base station is linked through the Receive antenna (RX), amplified, and re-transmitted through Transmit antenna (TX), and vice versa for uplink direction. Existing radio repeaters use down conversion, amplification, and up conversion to a different frequency. But this scheme is complex and requires much power. A simple repeater scheme is shown in Fig. 1. However, the mutual coupling between repeater's RX and TX antennas can generate a positive feedback loop, and when the gain of the RF amplifier exceeds this isolation level, the system goes to oscillation. This will drop the gain of the amplifier, and the repeater can no longer perform its function. To circumvent this intrinsic problem, generally two approaches have been proposed. The first method is to utilize Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) to separate the frequencies of the uplink and downlink signals as mentioned before. And the second is to adapt Time Division Duplex (TDD) in time domain. However, both methods require complex circuitry and large dimension, which imply higher cost and power consumption.
Prostaglandin and Fatty Acid ω- and (ω-1)-Oxidation in Rabbit Lung: Acetylenic fatty acid mechanism-based inactivators as specific inhibitors

Terminal acetylenic fatty acid mechanism-based inhibitors (Ortiz de Montellano, P. R., and Reich, N. O. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 4136-4141) were used as probes in determining the substrate specificity of rabbit lung cytochrome P-450 isozymes of pregnant animals in both microsomes and reconstituted systems. Lung microsomal and reconstituted P-450 form 5-catalyzed lauric acid omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylase activities were inhibited by a 12-carbon terminal acetylenic fatty acid, 11-dodecynoic acid (11-DDYA), and an 18-carbon terminal acetylenic fatty acid, 17-octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA). Rabbit lung microsomal lauric acid omega-hydroxylase activity was more sensitive to inhibition by 11-DDYA than was (omega-1)-hydroxylase activity. In reconstituted systems containing purified P-450 form 5, both omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylation of lauric acid were inhibited in parallel when either 11-DDYA or 17-ODYA was used. These data suggest the presence of at least two P-450 isozymes in rabbit lung microsomes capable of lauric acid omega-hydroxylation. This is the first report indicating the multiplicity of lauric acid hydroxylases in lung microsomes. Lung microsomal prostaglandin omega-hydroxylation, mediated by the pregnancy-inducible P-450PG-omega (Williams, D. E., Hale, S. E., Okita, R. T., and Masters, B. S. S. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 14600-14608) was subject to inhibition by 17-ODYA only, whereas 11-DDYA acid was not an effective inhibitor of this hydroxylase. We have recently developed a new terminal acetylenic fatty acid, 12-hydroxy-16-heptadecynoic acid (12-HHDYA), that contains a hydroxyl group at the omega-6 position. We show that 12-HHDYA possesses a high degree of selectivity for the inactivation of rabbit lung microsomal prostaglandin omega-hydroxylase activity which cannot be obtained with the long chain acetylenic inhibitor, 17-ODYA. In addition, 12-HHDYA has no effect on lauric acid omega- or omega-1-hydroxylation or on benzphetamine N-demethylation. The development of this new terminal acetylenic fatty acid inhibitor provides us with a useful tool with which to study the physiological role of prostaglandin omega-hydroxylation in the rabbit lung during pregnancy.
Pharmacokinetic drug interactions and adverse consequences between psychotropic medications and pharmacotherapy for the treatment of opioid dependence

Background: Psychiatric comorbidities among opioid-dependent patients are common. Many medications used to treat both conditions are metabolized through complimentary cytochrome P450 isoenzymes. When medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence is concurrently used with psychotropic medications, problematic pharmacokinetic drug interactions may occur. Methods: We reviewed relevant English language articles identified through the MedLine, Scopus, and Embase databases from 1950 to December 2009 using the specific generic names of medications and keywords such as pharmacokinetics and drug interactions with buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. Selected references from these articles were reviewed. Additionally, a review was conducted of abstracts and conference proceedings from national and international meetings from 1990 to 2009. A total of 60 studies were identified and reviewed. Results: Clinical case series and carefully controlled pharmacokinetic interaction studies have been conducted betwe...
National survey of the usage of lung expansion modalities for the prevention and treatment of postoperative atelectasis following abdominal and thoracic surgery

A national survey of hospitals was conducted to evaluate the usage of lung expansion maneuvers in the prevention and management of postoperative atelectasis associated with abdominal and thoracic surgery. Equal numbers of hospitals were randomly selected from the nine American Hospital Association regions and from bed-size groups of 50 to 200 beds, 201 to 400 beds, and greater than 400 beds. Preoperative and postoperative prophylactic therapy was found to be similar in all groups except for a lower usage of intermittent positive-pressure breathing (EPPB) in the western third of the United States compared with the central third. In the treatment of postoperative atelectasis there are significant differences in the use of chest physical therapy, EPPB, and intermittent continuous positive airway pressure based on hospital size. Objective measurements of tidal volume or inspiratory capacity as a guide to therapeutic decisions are performed more frequently in the western regions. Surgical statistics relative to the number of abdominal and surgical procedures done and the incidence of postoperative atelectasis are also presented.
QUERCETIN STIMULATION OF CALCIUM RELEASE FROM RABBIT SKELETAL MUSCLE SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM

To elucidate the mechanism by which quercetin enhances the rate of tension development in skinned muscle fibers, effects on calcium release from longitudinal tubule-derived SR (LSR) after phosphate-supported calcium uptake were examined. In all studies, 100 microM quercetin (which inhibits initial calcium uptake velocity 85%) was added at or shortly after the time calcium content reached a maximum at various extravesicular Ca2+ concentrations (Cao). At moderate Cao (0.2-1.0 microM), where spontaneous calcium release rate depended on Cao, quercetin caused a marked stimulation of calcium release. This was accompanied by a 60% reduction in calcium influx and a 30-fold increase in calcium efflux. Thus, the previously reported quercetin-induced increase in the rate of tension development by skinned muscle fibers may result, at least in part, from sensitization of Ca2+-triggered calcium release to lower Cao.
Not in My Watershed! Will Increased Federal Supervision Really Bring Better Coordination Between Land Use and Water Planning?

This article challenges the assertion that increased federal leverage would successfully coalesce land and water planning throughout the country. Federalism will have the opposite effect, exacerbating tensions between competing management authorities and increasing the number of disparate policies to which local governments must adhere, as examples illustrate. Alternatively, we argue for enforcement of existing tools and creation of an institutional framework loosely modeled on federal–state–local partnership in transportation metropolitan planning organizations. While land use and water planning merit closer coordination, a more flexible institutional arrangement is preferable to expanded federal authority under the Clean Water Act.
A Review of: “Materials Processing and Texture, A. D. Rollett, (editor)”

The editor of this bound volume, also categorized as Ceramic Transactions Volume 200, a joint publication with The American Ceramic Society, brings forth a book that truly represents a community ef...
Serum Lipids, Insulin, and Glucagon after Portacaval Shunt in Cirrhosis

The cholesterol-lowering effect of portacaval anastomosis in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia suggested a study of lipid metabolism in cirrhotic patients after portasystemic anastomoses. Fasting serum cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and glucagon levels were obtained in 20 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and portacaval anastomosis, and in 21 nonshunted subjects with cirrhosis. After 100 g of glucose, given orally, insulin and glucagon levels were measured. In the shunted patients serum cholesterol was higher than in the nonshunted subjects, 240 ± 15 mg per 100 ml (mean ± 1 SEM) versus 180 ± 13 mg per 100 ml, P
Spherical combustion clouds in explosions

This study explores the properties of spherical combustion clouds in explosions. Two cases are investigated: (1) detonation of a TNT charge and combustion of its detonation products with air, and (2) shock dispersion of aluminum powder and its combustion with air. The evolution of the blast wave and ensuing combustion cloud dynamics are studied via numerical simulations with our adaptive mesh refinement combustion code. The code solves the multi-phase conservation laws for a dilute heterogeneous continuum as formulated by Nigmatulin. Single-phase combustion (e.g., TNT with air) is modeled in the fast-chemistry limit. Two-phase combustion (e.g., Al powder with air) uses an induction time model based on Arrhenius fits to Boiko’s shock tube data, along with an ignition temperature criterion based on fits to Gurevich’s data, and an ignition probability model that accounts for multi-particle effects on cloud ignition. Equations of state are based on polynomial fits to thermodynamic calculations with the Cheetah code, assuming frozen reactants and equilibrium products. Adaptive mesh refinement is used to resolve thin reaction zones and capture the energy-bearing scales of turbulence on the computational mesh (ILES approach). Taking advantage of the symmetry of the problem, azimuthal averaging was used to extract the mean and rms fluctuations from the numerical solution, including: thermodynamic profiles, kinematic profiles, and reaction-zone profiles across the combustion cloud. Fuel consumption was limited to $$\sim $$ 60–70 %, due to the limited amount of air a spherical combustion cloud can entrain before the turbulent velocity field decays away. Turbulent kinetic energy spectra of the solution were found to have both rotational and dilatational components, due to compressibility effects. The dilatational component was typically about 1 % of the rotational component; both seemed to preserve their spectra as they decayed. Kinetic energy of the blast wave decayed due to the pressure field. Turbulent kinetic energy of the combustion cloud decayed due to enstrophy $$\overline{\omega ^{2}} $$ and dilatation $$\overline{\Delta ^{2}} $$ .
Heparin-bonded circuits: clinical outcomes and costs

The aim of this study was to use meta-analysis to combine the results of numerous studies and examine the impact of heparin-bonded circuits on clinical outcomes and the resulting costs. Heparin-bon...
MITES AND NEMATODES ASSOCIATED WITH THREE SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE SPECIES (ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE)

Abstract Mites and nematodes associated with three subterranean termite species, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks), and Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki were studied. Mites belonging to 8 families were found associated with the three termite species. Australhypopus sp. (Acari: Acaridae) was the most common mite on R. flavipes and R. virginicus. Histiostoma formosana Phillipsen and Coppel (Acari: Acaridae) was the dominant mite species living on C. formosanus. Nematode, Rhabditis sp. (Rhabditida: Rhabditidae) was found in the three termite species examined. Nematodes did not cause termite mortality or abnormal behavior. Percentages of R. flavipes, R. virginicus, and C. formosanus parasitized by nematodes were 67.9, 38.8, and 3.3%, respectively. The nematodes were found mainly in the termite heads (85.8% in R. flavipes and R. virginicus). The abundance of mites varied with colonies and termite species. Australhypopus sp. occurred in large numbers when injured or dead termites...
The solubility of4He in3He below 0.1 K

The Zharkov-Silin Fermi Liquid theory of solutions of4He in non-superfluid liquid3He has been applied to the recent phase separation data of Nakamura et al. At zero pressure, the difference in binding between a4He atom in liquid4He and in liquid3He is smaller than previous estimates, and the4He effective mass is close to the bare mass. The volume measurements of Laheurte show that the difference in binding has a minimum near ∼11 atm. This implies an enhanced solubility of4He in3He below 0.1 K at this pressure, although there is experimental evidence that the solubility at 0 K remains zero.
Extension of enzyme half-life during quiescence in Artemia embryos

Encysted gastrulae of Artemia franciscana are known to enter a reversible state of quiescence in which biosynthetic and catabolic pathways are markedly suppressed. Given that these embryos can survive months of anoxia, we investigated their ability to extend the half-life of cytochrome-c oxidase (COX), a key metabolic enzyme, during anoxia. We calculate that the half-life of COX is extended to 101 days under anoxia, an estimated 77-fold increase compared with aerobic values. During conditions of aerobic acidosis, the half-life of COX was extended sevenfold to a value of 9.7 days. We propose that the extended lifetimes of COX in both cases may be due to suppressed mitochondrial proteolysis under depressed pH. The shorter enzyme half-life observed under the latter condition may be due to the availability of ATP for degradative processes during aerobic acidosis. We also suggest that the presence of oxygen in aerobic acidosis may lead to increased rates of protein damage due to autooxidation.
Training and Educating International Students in Professional Psychology: What Graduate Programs Should Know

International graduate students in professional psychology face specific challenges, such as language barriers to the counseling process and legal restrictions on their ability to work and study. However, this group has received little clinical, research, or educational attention. Because they face formidable difficulties while receiving limited support, these students are vulnerable to unjust and exploitative treatment, but their voices are rarely heard. This article contains a brief review of the literature on the challenges that international students face, and emphasizes four specific areas of challenge for this population: financial difficulties, language barriers, career concerns, and cultural differences. Specific recommendations for each of the areas are made after each section. This article also highlights the specific challenges faced by international students who are applying to the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers, and suggests training techniques that can be adopted by programs to prepare international student applicants for this process.
8B1H Code Used in 140Mb/s Long-distance Digital Fiber Communication System

This paper describes the 8 B1H code used in 140 Mb/s long-distance digital fiber communication system and its designs in detail, with the emphasis on the simplification, reliability and the convinience of production and maitenance for the purpose of optical performance required for the whole system In the end, the system performance and the operating functions of the monitoring system for 140 Mb/s long-distance digital fiber communication system using 8B1H code is briefly described.
Life as We Know It

What is life, that we should ponder it? One of the curious features of biology as we know it is that, even as we delve ever deeper into the mechanisms that make life tick, the phenomenon of life has all but vanished from sight. Biologists who care about such things find refuge in programs of astrobiology, where they can hobnob with like-minded expatriates from astronomy, geology, and even philosophy. The present volume is the tenth in a Springer series dedicated to “cellular origin, life in extreme habitats and astrobiology,” most of them edited by Professor J. Seckbach. The purpose of the work, as D. J. Chapman puts it in the foreword, is to offer “something new and challenging to all readers and [help] us focus on the overriding question of what is life.” Most readers will, indeed, find something here to their liking, but the product as a whole falls far short of what this reviewer hoped for.
Toddler Emotional States, Temperamental Traits, and Their Interaction: Associations with Mothers' and Fathers' Parenting.

Abstract We investigated the degree to which toddlers’ observed emotional states, toddlers’ temperamental traits, and their interaction accounted for variance in mothers’ and fathers’ parenting. Main effects of two emotional states (positive emotion and negative emotion), three temperamental traits (negative affectivity, effortful control, and surgency) as well as state-by-trait interactions, were examined in relation to parental sensitivity, positive affect, and negative affect. The hypothesis that toddlers’ temperamental traits would moderate the association between their observed emotional states and parenting was partially supported. Significant state-by-trait interactions were found in models predicting the probability that mothers and fathers expressed negative affect toward their toddlers. For parental sensitivity and positive affect, only main effects of temperament and/or emotion expression accounted for variance in parenting.
Incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease with and without methotrexate prophylaxis in allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients.

Methotrexate has been used as the mainstay therapy to prevent or ameliorate graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. We began a nonrandomized study in which methotrexate was not given routinely. Fifty-five patients underwent transplant for acute leukemia (44 patients), aplastic anemia (6 patients), and other malignancies (5 patients). Methotrexate was given to 34 patients (MTX +) and was withheld in 21 patients (MTX -). Median (range) age of patients was 12 (0.8-43) years in the MTX + group, and 16 (3-45) years in the MTX- group. Mean days (+/- SEM) to engraftment (neutrophils greater than 500/microL, and platelets greater than 20,000/microL untransfused) occurred earlier in the MTX- patients (19.6 +/- 1.4 v 24.9 +/- 1.8 days for granulocytes, and 19.3 +/- 1.5 v 27.4 +/- 2.8 days for platelets, P less than .05). There were no statistically significant differences between the patient groups for the incidence or severity of GVHD (10/34 in the MTX + group had grade O-l GVHD compared to 9/21 in the MTX- group). The interstitial pneumonitis occurred at a significantly increased rate in patients who received methotrexate (15/34) compared to those patients who did not (3/21) (P = .02). However, there was also a significant relationship between the interstitial pneumonitis and the preparative regimen: if the preparative regimen contained 1,000 rad single fraction total body irradiation, 8/14 patients were affected compared to 5/22 patients affected when 1,200 rad fractionated total body irradiation was used (P = .03). Because methotrexate significantly retards hematopoietic reconstitution, randomized trials for GVHD prevention are recommended.
Nutritional Support in Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis

Enteral nutrition (EN) is now considered the standard of care for patients with severe acute pancreatitis and patients with pancreatic necrosis. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have shown that the administration of EN nutrition reduces complications and mortality of patients with severe pancreatitis including patients with pancreatic necrosis compared to parenteral nutrition (PN). PN had been the standard of care for many decades, based on the concept of “pancreatic rest”. Avoidance of alimentary stimulation of pancreatic exocrine secretion was assumed to limit or prevent ongoing pancreatic inflammation. Current practice guidelines recommend the use of enteral nutrition for feeding patients with acute pancreatitis, including those with pancreatic necrosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that the use of the gut through EN may promote the maintenance of gut barrier and immune functions. Provision of luminal nutrition via the gastric approach appears to be equally tolerated as the enteral route and may be more cost effective. However, larger randomized controlled trials and other studies focused on optimization of nutritional support during the acute and convalescent phases of necrotizing pancreatitis are needed. Pharmaconutriton or the use of defined elemental formulae has not yet been shown to be beneficial. The use of PN should be limited to patients that cannot tolerate EN.
Bridging the gap: Social networks as a theoretical mechanism linking public service motivation and performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to theoretically clarify the relationship between public service motivation and performance by suggesting a framework in which social networks among members provide an explicit mechanism linking employees’ PSM with their performance and by proposing several empirically testable propositions. Design/methodology/approach – The author suggests a theoretical framework based on a literature review and combining insights from several major strands of theory including social capital and social network theories. Findings – Conceptually, the paper shows that, first, the extent of the social relationships among group members and their positions within a network vary depending on the level of PSM; second, individuals with high PSM are more likely to complete their tasks when they are in central positions in a network of advice relations and less likely to complete their tasks when they are in peripheral positions in central positions and a network of advice relations in a network of adversarial relations; third, group members with high PSM are more likely to complete group tasks when the group has higher density in a network of advice relations and less likely to complete tasks in a dense network of adversarial relations. Practical implications – The author demonstrates the possibility of reciprocal relationships between PSM and social networks, in which PSM builds social capital that reinforces each member’s PSM by enhancing relationship quality, which will positively affect performance. Originality/value – This paper provides opportunities for future empirical research by developing the discussion about a new conceptual mechanism in the relationship between PSM and performance, proposing an initial conceptual framework that clarifies the PSM and performance linkage, and suggesting several testable propositions.
A Hall of Spin

In 1879 Edwin Hall was a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in the US studying the effects of magnetic fields on electrical currents. Contrary to what was written in his textbook, Hall's intuition told him that the magnetic field should exert a force on the current flowing through the wire, and not on the wire directly. In his paper describing the discovery Hall wrote, "A wire bearing a current is affected [by a magnet] exactly in proportion to the strength of the current, while the size and, in general, the material of the wire are matters of indifference."
Relation of Stress Hormones (Urinary Catecholamines/Cortisol) to Coronary Artery Calcium in Men Versus Women (from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [MESA])

The relation between high levels of psychosocial stress and the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been increasingly recognized, especially in women. We hypothesized that simple biomarkers of stress, urinary catecholamines/cortisol levels, are associated with more coronary artery calcium (CAC), an indicator of CAD, and that this relation is stronger in women compared with men. Using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Stress study, we examined the relation between urinary catecholamines/cortisol and CAC. The study cohort (n = 654) was 53% women, and 56.4% of the cohort had detectable CAC. Multivariable regression analyses assessed the relation between urinary catecholamines/cortisol and CAC (odds CAC >0 through logistic and ln CAC through Tobit model). There was an association between increased cortisol and increased CAC and an inverse association between dopamine and CAC. These relations were seen in men and women, with no difference between the genders. In conclusion, higher cortisol and lower dopamine levels are independently associated with higher CAC to a similar degree in men and women. These simple urinary biomarkers contribute to our understanding of the role of stress in the pathogenesis of CAD and may be incorporated into future strategies to prevent and treat CAD.
Plasma exchange in kidney transplantation: Still a valuable option for nephrotic syndrome recurrence

About 30% of the cases of steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome display a genetically determined disease and will not recur after kidney transplant; the other cases with fully or partially immunological pathogenesis display a high risk of post transplant recurrence. Although lots of studies were carried out in the last 50 years the pathogenetic mechanism is still obscure and the therapeutic approach mostly empirical. The cornerstones principles of the therapies are based on removal of a still undefined "permeability factor" through plasma-exchange or other apheresis techniques and inhibition of its synthesis by the immunological system through different drugs. The probability of successfully inducing persistant remission is nowadays around 30%through the different schemes experimented so far which mostly include plasmapheresis. Rituximab in the last years has significantly increased the efficacy of the treatments. Non responders are rapidly evolving to graft loss and will most probably recur also in subsequent transplant. Apart from genetics no other risk factors are predictive for recurrence.
How People Really Suspect and Discover Lies

Previous research suggested that real-world lies are detected through hard evidence, such as physical evidence or a direct confession, and not via nonverbal clues. However, we argue that discovering a lie is a process, and nonverbal clues are an important source of information that can induce suspicion, which then triggers the search for hard evidence. We replicated an original study suggesting the irrelevance of nonverbal clues, but experimentally manipulated the wording of the critical question as ‘discovering’ a lie versus ‘suspecting’ a lie. A second study was conducted that further manipulated the phrasing to ask about ‘events’ versus ‘clues’ that led one to detect the lie. Results of both studies showed that those asked about suspecting a lie cited nonverbal behaviors significantly more often than those asked about discovering a lie. Thus, in contrast to previous research, these findings suggest the importance of behavioral clues (e.g. verbal and nonverbal behavior), specifically in the early stage of lie detection.
Mesenchyme homeobox 1 mediates transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)–induced smooth muscle cell differentiation from mouse mesenchymal progenitors

Differentiation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is critical for proper vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling SMC differentiation are not completely understood. During embryogenesis, the transcription factor mesenchyme homeobox 1 (Meox1) is expressed in the early developing somite, which is one of the origins of SMCs. In the present study, we identified Meox1 as a positive regulator of SMC differentiation. We found that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) induces Meox1 expression in the initial phase of SMC differentiation of pluripotent murine C3H10T1/2 cells. shRNA-mediated Meox1 knockdown suppressed TGF-β-induced expression of SMC early markers, whereas Meox1 overexpression increased expression of these markers. Mechanistically, Meox1 promoted SMAD family member 3 (Smad3) nuclear retention during the early stage of TGF-β stimulation because Meox1 inhibited protein phosphatase Mg2+/Mn2+-dependent 1A (PPM1A) and thereby prevented PPM1A-mediated Smad3 dephosphorylation. Meox1 appears to promote PPM1A degradation, leading to sustained Smad3 phosphorylation, thus allowing Smad3 to stimulate SMC gene transcription. In vivo, Meox1 knockdown in mouse embryos impaired SMC marker expression in the descending aorta of neonatal mice, indicating that Meox1 is essential for SMC differentiation during embryonic development. In summary, the transcriptional regulator Meox1 controls TGF-β-induced SMC differentiation from mesenchymal progenitor cells by preventing PPM1A-mediated Smad3 dephosphorylation, thereby supporting SMC gene expression.
Vitamin D, Calcium, or Combined Supplementation for the Primary Prevention of Fractures in Community-Dwelling Adults: Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force

Importance Osteoporotic fractures result in significant morbidity and mortality. Objective To update the evidence for benefits and harms of vitamin D, calcium, or combined supplementation for the primary prevention of fractures in community-dwelling adults to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force. Data Sources PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and trial registries through March 21, 2017; references; and experts. Surveillance continued through February 28, 2018. Study Selection English-language randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or observational studies of supplementation with vitamin D, calcium, or both among adult populations; studies of populations that were institutionalized or had known vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis, or prior fracture were excluded. Data Extraction and Synthesis Dual, independent review of titles/abstracts and full-text articles and study quality rating using predefined criteria. Random-effects meta-analysis used when at least 3 similar studies were available. Main Outcomes and Measures Incident fracture, mortality, kidney stones, cardiovascular events, and cancer. Results Eleven RCTs (N = 51 419) in adults 50 years and older conducted over 2 to 7 years were included. Compared with placebo, supplementation with vitamin D decreased total fracture incidence (1 RCT [n = 2686]; absolute risk difference [ARD], −2.26% [95% CI, −4.53% to 0.00%]) but had no significant association with hip fracture (3 RCTs [n = 5496]; pooled ARD, −0.01% [95% CI, −0.80% to 0.78%]). Supplementation using vitamin D with calcium had no effect on total fracture incidence (1 RCT [n = 36 282]; ARD, −0.35% [95% CI, −1.02% to 0.31%]) or hip fracture incidence (2 RCTs [n = 36 727]; ARD from the larger trial, −0.14% [95% CI, −0.34% to 0.07%]). The evidence for calcium alone was limited, with only 2 studies (n = 339 total) and very imprecise results. Supplementation with vitamin D alone or with calcium had no significant effect on all-cause mortality or incident cardiovascular disease; ARDs ranged from −1.93% to 1.79%, with CIs consistent with no significant differences. Supplementation using vitamin D with calcium was associated with an increased incidence of kidney stones (3 RCTs [n = 39 213]; pooled ARD, 0.33% [95% CI, 0.06% to 0.60%]), but supplementation with calcium alone was not associated with an increased risk (3 RCTs [n = 1259]; pooled ARD, 0.00% [95% CI, −0.87% to 0.87%]). Supplementation with vitamin D and calcium was not associated with an increase in cancer incidence (3 RCTs [n = 39 213]; pooled ARD, −1.48% [95% CI, −3.32% to 0.35%]). Conclusions and Relevance Vitamin D supplementation alone or with calcium was not associated with reduced fracture incidence among community-dwelling adults without known vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis, or prior fracture. Vitamin D with calcium was associated with an increase in the incidence of kidney stones.
Incremental verification with mode variable invariants in state machines

We describe two complementary techniques to aid the automatic verification of safety properties of synchronous systems by model checking. A first technique allows the automatic generation of certain inductive invariants for mode variables. Such invariants are crucial in the verification of safety properties in systems with complex modal behavior. A second technique allows the simultaneous verification of multiple properties incrementally. Specifically, the outcome of a property--valid or invalid--is communicated to the user as soon as it is known. Moreover, each property proven valid is used immediately as an invariant in the model checking procedure to aid the verification of the remaining properties. We have implemented these techniques as new options in the Kind model checker. Experimental evidence shows that these two techniques combine synergistically to increase Kind's precision as well as its speed.
Middle Arabian Pastoral

During the early part of the period, conditions described for the EAP largely apply. However, during the latter part, in gradual stages, dessication set in as the summer monsoon system (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone [ITCZ]) weakened and moved southward towards its more present location. Bronze Age societies of the MAP were eventually faced with alternative solutions for remaining in the Arabian peninsula. The percentage of insolation and rainfall (from 300 mm-250 mm annually to under 50 mm) decreased annually for most of the region during a 200-300 year period.
The Retrograde Response Retrograde Response and Other Pathways of Interorganelle Communication Interorganelle Communication in Yeast Replicative Aging

A form of mitochondria-to-nucleus signaling is known to play a role in determining replicative life span in yeast. This retrograde response is triggered by experimentally-induced mitochondrial dysfunction , but it also is activated during the course of normal replicative aging, allowing yeast to have as long a replicative life span as they do. The components of the retrograde signaling pathway participate in diverse cellular processes such as mitophagy , which appear to be involved in mitochondrial quality control . This plethora of mitochondrial surveillance mechanisms points to the central importance of this organelle in yeast replicative aging. Additional pathways that monitor mitochondrial status that do not apparently involve the retrograde response machinery also play a role. A unifying theme is the involvement of the target of rapamycin (TOR ) in both these additional pathways and in the retrograde response. The involvement of TOR brings another large family of signaling events into juxtaposition. Ceramide synthesis is regulated by TOR opening up the potential for coordination of mitochondrial status with a wide array of additional cellular processes. The retrograde response lies at the nexus of metabolic regulation , stress resistance , chromatin-dependent gene regulation , and genome stability . In its metabolic outputs, it is related to calorie restriction, which may be the result of the involvement of TOR. Retrograde response-like processes have been identified in systems other than yeast, including mammalian cells . The retrograde response is a prototypical pathway of interorganelle communication. Other such phenomena are emerging, such as the cross-talk between mitochondria and the vacuole , which involves components of the retrograde signaling pathway. The impact of these varied physiological responses on yeast replicative aging remains to be assessed.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis (AAV) Overlap Syndrome: Case Report and Review of the Literature

We report here the first case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis overlap syndrome (SLE/AAV) who had granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA) as the initial presentation. SLE/AAV overlap syndrome is an uncommon entity recently described in the literature. Prior reported patients with SLE/AAV overlap syndrome presented with SLE and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Our patient initially presented with granulomatous gastric ulcer and later developed respiratory failure. She was diagnosed with GPA. While on maintenance treatment with azathioprine 150 mg/day, she developed hematuria and proteinuria which turned out to be from class V lupus nephritis instead of relapse of vasculitis. Currently, the patient is doing well after treatment with rituximab. Although rare, this entity should be recognized and need to be treated appropriately.
Applications of Projectiles for Nonaqueous Cleaning of Interior Surfaces of Tubes

Abstract Contamination of the interior surfaces of tubes, hoses and pipes reduces the operating efficiency of industrial systems that transmit fluids. The nonaqueous pneumatic projectile cleaning method overcomes the many disadvantages of traditional chemical or mechanical cleaning methods for removal of contamination in tube interiors. A pneumatic launcher propels the projectile, sized slightly larger than the internal diameter of the tube, into the tube, where it removes the contamination deposited on the internal tube surface and forces it out of the tube. Tubes with internal diameters from 2 mm to 60 mm can be cleaned very effectively in seconds. Examples of applications in a wide variety of industries illustrate the versatility of this tube cleaning technique.
Neural Transplants in Lower Vertebrates

Taken as a developmental problem, the nervous system in higher metazoans represents the most complex example of pattern formation in all of biology. An understanding of the mechanisms regulating neural ontogeny cannot simply come from descriptive anatomy or physiology. As the early experimental embryologists realized, hypotheses about development may be born of observations on normal embryos, but experimental manipulations are necessary to prove them.1–3 The manipulations often take the classical form of tissue transplantation, and in the nervous system the results are analyzed with modern techniques of electrophysiology and neuroanatomical tracing. The power of combining these approaches has been enormously successful in generating basic rules of causal neurogenesis, even to the point of suggesting molecular mechanisms. Transplantation studies cannot, however, discover the molecules involved. The remarkable development of the topographic retinotectal projection as revealed by experimental manipulations in vivo has attracted many groups interested in the molecular biology of the formation of specific neural connections.4–9 If, as soon seems likely, theories derived from transplantation experiments are substantiated biochemically, it will constitute a major break-through in our understanding of the brain.