cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurokinin 1 receptors regulate morphine-induced endocytosis and desensitization of μ-opioid receptors in CNS neurons

μ-Opioid receptors (MORs) are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that mediate the physiological effects of endogenous opioid neuropeptides and opiate drugs such as morphine. MORs are coexpressed with neurokinin 1 receptors (NK1Rs) in several regions of the CNS that control opioid dependence and reward. NK1R activation affects opioid reward specifically, however, and the cellular basis for this specificity is unknown. We found that ligand-induced activation of NK1Rs produces a cell-autonomous and nonreciprocal inhibition of MOR endocytosis induced by diverse opioids. Studies using epitope-tagged receptors expressed in cultured striatal neurons and a neuroblastoma cell model indicated that this heterologous regulation is mediated by NK1R-dependent sequestration of arrestins on endosome membranes. First, endocytic inhibition mediated by wild-type NK1Rs was overcome in cells overexpressing β-arrestin2, a major arrestin isoform expressed in striatum. Second, NK1R activation promoted sequestration of β-arrestin2 on endosomes, whereas MOR activation did not. Third, heterologous inhibition of MOR endocytosis was prevented by mutational disruption of β-arrestin2 sequestration by NK1Rs. NK1R-mediated regulation of MOR trafficking was associated with reduced opioid-induced desensitization of adenylyl cyclase signaling in striatal neurons. Furthermore, heterologous regulation of MOR trafficking was observed in both amygdala and locus ceruleus neurons that naturally coexpress these receptors. These results identify a cell-autonomous mechanism that may underlie the highly specific effects of NK1R on opioid signaling and suggest, more generally, that receptor-specific trafficking of arrestins may represent a fundamental mechanism for coordinating distinct GPCR-mediated signals at the level of individual CNS neurons.
Fast drum strokes: Novel and convergent features of sonic muscle ultrastructure, innervation, and motor neuron organization in the pyramid butterflyfish (hemitaurichthys polylepis)

Sound production that is mediated by intrinsic or extrinsic swim bladder musculature has evolved multiple times in teleost fishes. Sonic muscles must contract rapidly and synchronously to compress the gas-filled bladder with sufficient velocity to produce sound. Muscle modifications that may promote rapid contraction include small fiber diameter, elaborate sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), triads at the A–I boundary, and cores of sarcoplasm. The diversity of innervation patterns indicate that sonic muscles have independently evolved from different trunk muscle precursors. The analysis of sonic motor pathways in distantly related fishes is required to determine the relationships between sonic muscle evolution and function in acoustic signaling. We examined the ultrastructure of sonic and adjacent hypaxial muscle fibers and the distribution of sonic motor neurons in the coral reef Pyramid Butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae: Hemitaurichthys polylepis) that produces sound by contraction of extrinsic sonic muscles near the anterior swim bladder. Relative to adjacent hypaxial fibers, sonic muscle fibers were sparsely arranged among the endomysium, smaller in cross-section, had longer sarcomeres, a more elaborate SR, wider t-tubules, and more radially arranged myofibrils. Both sonic and non-sonic muscle fibers possessed triads at the Z-line, lacked sarcoplasmic cores, and had mitochondria among the myofibrils and concentrated within the peripheral sarcoplasm. Sonic muscles of this derived eutelost possess features convergent with other distant vocal taxa (other euteleosts and non-euteleosts): small fiber diameter, a well-developed SR, and radial myofibrils. In contrast with some sonic fishes, however, Pyramid Butterflyfish sonic muscles lack sarcoplasmic cores and A–I triads. Retrograde nerve label experiments show that sonic muscle is innervated by central and ventrolateral motor neurons associated with spinal nerves 1–3. This restricted distribution of sonic motor neurons in the spinal cord differs from many euteleosts and likely reflects the embryological origin of sonic muscles from hypaxial trunk precursors rather than occipital somites. J. Morphol., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimal nuchal skin-fold thresholds based on gestational age for prenatal detection of Down syndrome

Objective: We attempted to determine optimal nuchal skin-fold thresholds throughout the second trimester of pregnancy for the detection of Down syndrome. Study Design: Thresholds of 5, 6, and 7 mm were prospectively tested in 8138 consecutive midtrimester pregnancies. The pregnancies were divided into early (14 to 18 weeks) and late (19 to 24 weeks) second-trimester time frames. The pregnancies were also subdivided by maternal age, and the same thresholds were tested for efficacy in the women Results: There were a total of 32 fetuses with trisomy 21 in the study population. From 14 to 18 weeks' gestation, a nuchal fold thickness of ≥5 mm was the optimal threshold. Measurements of this magnitude were found in 2.9% of pregnancies and produced a sensitivity of 42% (11/26) for the detection of Down syndrome. When adjusted for the incidence of Down syndrome in the general population, the 5 mm threshold had a positive predictive value of 1 in 48. In the 19 to 24 week gestational time frame, ≥6 mm appeared to be the optimal threshold, yielding a positive screen rate of 3.7% with a sensitivity of 83% (5/6). The adjusted positive predictive value was 1 in 38. The sensitivity of nuchal skin-fold thickness for Down syndrome detection was similar in women Conclusions: Whereas definitive diagnostic testing should still be offered to all women with risk factors for a fetus with trisomy 21, differential nuchal skin-fold thresholds based on gestational age are effective for the detection of Down syndrome in pregnancies at low risk.
A near-road modeling system for community-scale assessments of traffic-related air pollution in the United States

The Community Line Source (C-LINE) modeling system estimates emissions and dispersion of toxic air pollutants for roadways within the continental United States. It accesses publicly available traffic and meteorological datasets, and is optimized for use on community-sized areas (100-1000?km2). The user is not required to provide input data, but can provide their own if desired. C-LINE is a modeling and visualization system that access inputs, performs calculations, visualizes results, provides options to manipulate input variables, and performs basic data analysis. C-LINE was applied to an area in Detroit, Michigan to demonstrate its use in an urban environment. It was developed in ArcGIS, but a prototype web version is in development for wide-scale use. C-LINE is not intended for regulatory applications. Its local-scale focus and ability to quickly (run time?<?5?min) compare different roadway pollution scenarios supports community-based applications and help to identify areas for further research. Developed a near-road modeling system to estimate mobile-source emissions and dispersion.The modeling system automatically provides nationwide coverage for most major roadways.Users can manipulate input data on traffic and meteorology to compare differences in resulting air toxics concentrations.The modeling system is optimized for use in local-scale community-based types of scenarios.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor in animal models of myocardial necrosis induced by coronary artery ligation or isoproterenol injection.

Abstract Background: Increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been described in humans with cardiomyopathies. Most animal models of ischemia-induced heart failure use the surgical ligation of coronary arteries. However, studies of iNOS expression in these models may be confounded by a robust immune response because of the surgical procedure itself leading to iNOS expression in the heart, as well as in other tissues. Methods and Results: iNOS expression was studied in adult male rats injected subcutaneously with either 250 mg/kg of isoproterenol (ISO) or vehicle on 2 consecutive days. This approach induces diffuse myocardial necrosis and leads to the development of a dilated cardiomyopathy. Hearts from ISO-injected animals harvested at 6 weeks had evidence of apical and subendocardial scarring. These hearts showed a 9.6-fold (left ventricle [lv], P = .004) and an 11.9-fold (right ventricle, P = .002) increase in the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and a 6.8-fold increase (LV, P = .0183) in iNOS messenger RNA compared with vehicle-injected controls. iNOS protein also was detectable by immunoprecipitation in left ventricular muscle from ISO-injected animals, as well as by immunohistochemical analysis. Conclusion: Expression of TNF and iNOS in the heart is increased in an experimental model of dilated cardiomyopathy that minimizes the confounding effects of surgery, supporting a role for the activation of innate immunity signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of heart failure.
Limitations to squeezing in a parametric amplifier due to pump quantum fluctuations.

We perform discrete-mode calculations for a parametric amplifier with a quantum pump and discuss some of the limitations on calculations of this sort in quantum optics. We calculate corrections to the squeezing due to pump quantum fluctuations to order N${\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2}$, for a pump initially in a coherent state with average photon number N\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}. We find that the limit to the variance of the squeezed quadrature due to the quantum nature of the pump goes as N${\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1/2}$. .AE
Metabolism in hyperthermophilic microorganisms.

Hyperthermophilic microorganisms grow at temperatures of 90 °C and above and are a recent discovery in the microbial world. They are considered to be the most ancient of all extant life forms, and have been isolated mainly from near shallow and deep sea hydrothermal vents. All but two of the nearly twenty known genera are classified asArchaea (formerly archaebacteria). Virtually all of them are strict anaerobes. The majority are obligate heterotrophs that utilize proteinaceous materials as carbon and energy sources, although a few species are also saccharolytic. Most also depend on the reduction of elemental sulfur to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) for significant growth. Peptide fermentation involves transaminases and glutamate dehydrogenase, together with several unusual ferredoxin-linked oxidoreductases not found in mesophilic organisms. Similarly, a novel pathway based on a partially non-phosphorylated Entner-Doudoroff scheme has been postulated to convert carbohydrates to acetate, H2 and CO2, although a more conventional Embden-Meyerhof pathway has also been identified in one saccharolytic species. The few hyperthermophiles known that can assimilate CO2 do so via a reductive citric acid cycle. Two So-reducing enzymes termed sulfhydrogenase and sulfide dehydrogenase have been purified from the cytoplasm of a hyperthermophile that is able to grow either with or without So. A scheme for electron flow during the oxidation of carbohydrates and peptides and the reduction of So has been proposed. However, the mechanisms by which So reduction is coupled to energy conservation in this organism and in obligate So-reducing hyperthermophiles is not known.
Planning of collision-free paths for a reconfigurable dual manipulator equipped mobile robot

In this paper, we study the problem of finding a collision-free path for a mobile robot which possesses manipulators. The task of the robot is to carry a polygonal object from a starting point to a destination point in a possibly culttered environment. In most of the existing research on robot path planning, a mobile robot is approximated by a fixed shape, i.e., a circle or a polygon. In our task planner, the robot is allowed to change configurations for avoiding collision. This path planner operates using two algorithms: the collision-free feasible configuration finding algorithm and the collision-free path finding algorithm. The collision-free feasible configuration finding algorithm finds all collision-free feasible configurations for the robot when the position of the carried object is given. The collision-free path finding algorithm generates some candidate paths first and then uses a graph search method to find a collision-free path from all the collision-free feasible configurations along the candidate paths. The proposed algorithms can deal with a cluttered environment and is guaranteed to find a solution if one exists.
On the orbital stability of solitary waves for the 2-coupled nonlinear Schrödinger system

iut+uxx+(a|u|+b|v|)u=0, ivt+vxx+(b|u|+c|v|)v=0, where u,v are complex valued functions of (x,t)∈R, and a,b,c∈R was previously studied by Nguyen and Wang. In that work, it was shown that for this system of equations, the interplay between components of solutions in terms of the parameters a,b,c plays an important role in both the existence and stability of solitary wave. In particular, it was proved that solitary wave solutions of this system are orbitally stable when either 0 0 with b>max{a,c} and b>ac. In this manuscript, the orbital stability result obtained by Nguyen and Wang is further improved. It will be shown that when a solitary wave is perturbed, the perturbed solution must stay close to a solitary-wave profile in which the translation and phase parameters are prescribed functions of time. Properties of these functions are then studied.
The Validity of Receptive and Expressive Vocabulary Measures with Spanish-Speaking Kindergarteners Learning English

Research examined construct meaning and validity for two new measures of receptive and expressive vocabulary for Spanish-speaking kindergarteners learning English. Substantive validity and generalizability of score meaning was assessed by examining correlations between an established measure (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test–PPVT) and new measures (Stanford English Language Proficiency Test–SELP; Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, Word Use Fluency, DIBELS–WUF). Positive correlations between the SELP and PPVT supported validity of the SELP as a measure of receptive and expressive vocabulary for these children. DIBELS–WUF results were less clear with lower correlations between the PPVT raising questions about appropriateness.
Non-indigenous endospore persistence following release in a snow–soil system

Abstract Knowledge of snow–soil–microbial interactions could lead to the development of strategies that exploit snow as a delivery system for microorganisms to soil or for nutrients that would in turn influence the soil microbiota. A predictable soil–snow–microbial system could promote or sustain native or introduced microbial activity during periods of snow cover or preserve and preposition viable but inactive microorganisms until conditions become favorable for growth. Knowledge of these manipulations could result in strategies to target desired soil microbial processes. Potential applications include bioremediation and decontamination. We hypothesized that population dynamics at the snow–soil interface would be a determinant in the growth and survival of an introduced species and that the microbial community would not be static. Using replicated field studies, we characterized native microbial populations in a local soil with and without snow cover using molecular-based taxonomic methods. We introduced the bacterial species Bacillus thuringiensis to the soil prior to snowfall and to the snow covering following snowfall. As competition, we also added Pseudomonas syringae to the snow in selected treatments. During a single winter and into the spring, we periodically sampled the snow–soil interface to characterize the prevailing microbial populations. Results showed that micro-eukaryotes, either protists or fungi, increased significantly under snow. P. syringae survival and growth was detected for up to 80 days post-inoculation to snow. B. thuringiensis , added as endospores, remained and survived mainly in the endospore state.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Emotional Availability Across Contexts

The construct of emotional availability has been referred to as the “connective tissue” in parent–child relationships, highlighting its role in affective exchanges throughout childhood (Easterbrook...
Relative frequency of a subclavian vs. a transverse cervical origin for the dorsal scapular artery in humans

Background: The origin of the dorsal scapular artery to the rhomboid muscles in humans has been the subject of uncertainty. The present study sought to clarify which of its two most common sources (the transverse cervical artery or the subclavian artery) is the major source of the dorsal scapular artery. Methods: Gross anatomical dissection was used to visualize the origin and course of the dorsal scapular artery in human cadavers. Results: We found that the dorsal scapular artery typically arises from either of two main sources: the subclavian artery (about 75% of all sides) or the transverse cervical artery (about 25% of all sides). Subclavian origins were approximately equally divided between its second and third part. Other origins for the dorsal scapular artery were negligible in frequency. Those dorsal scapular arteries that arose from the subclavian artery passed between the upper and middle or middle and lower trunks of the brachial plexus to course to the rhomboid muscles. In the case of trans- verse cervical artery origin, the dorsal scapular artery arose as a branch that passed deep to the levator scapulae muscle before coursing to the rhomboid muscles. No noteworthy differences were observed between males and females. Conclusions: These results strongly support the simple view, which does not appear widely accepted, that the subclavian artery is the most common source of the dorsal scapular artery to the rhomboid muscles and the trans- verse cervical artery a major but secondary source. o 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The 13C isotope and nuclear magnetic resonance: unique tools for the study of brain metabolism.

As studies of brain metabolism grow in complexity, investigators turn increasingly to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy combined with13C isotopic labeling. The unique ability to detect labeling non-destructively in specific carbon positions of individual compounds has opened the way to investigate brain metabolism in systems ranging from cellular preparations to the human brainin vivo. This review is written for investigators whose backgrounds do not include detailed knowledge of principles of nuclear magnetic resonance. Its purpose is to show the wide array of NMR techniques for13C detection that are available for application in different systems to study aspects of brain metabolism, such as metabolic compartmentation and measurements of the tricarboxylic acid cycle ratein vivo. Basic NMR concepts are explained, and, because each detection method possesses specific advantages to address the requirements of different experimental goals, basic explanations and examples are given for each technique. The review should provide readers with a basic understanding of the methods of13C detection by NMR and assess which of the methods are most applicable to the particular issues they may face in their own research.
Labor union coercion: The misuse of the grievance procedure

Labor unions provide security to workers through the use of the grievance procedure. Unions, however, may misuse their power and thereby reduce the security of workers. Such misuse has been documented through Section 8(b)(1)(A) of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, which outlaws “restraint and coercion” by labor unions. Few cases involving coercion through the use of the grievance procedure were filed during the 1950s and 1960s, but the number of cases began growing in the 1970s, possibly because of the growing legal sophistication of those involved in labor relations. Such cases still number under 15 annually.
Effective hypernetted-chain study of even-denominator-filling state of the fractional quantum Hall effect

The microscopic approach for studying the half-filled state of the fractional quantum Hall effect is based on the idea of proposing a trial Fermi wave function of the Jastrow-Slater form, which is then fully projected onto the lowest Landau level. A simplified starting point is to drop the projection operator and to consider an unprojected wave function. A recent study claims that such a wave function approximated in a Jastrow form may still constitute a good starting point on the study of the half-filled state. In this paper we formalize the effective hypernetted-chain approximation and apply it to the unprojected Fermi wave function, which describes the even-denominator-filling states. We test the above approximation by using the Fermi hypernetted-chain theory, which constitutes the natural choice for the present case. Our results suggest that the approximation of the Slater determinant of plane waves as a Jastrow wave function may not be a very accurate approximation. We conclude that the lowest Landau-level projection operator cannot be neglected if one wants a better quantitative understanding of the phenomena. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
AgGaS2 infrared parametric oscillator

A report is presented of the first operation of an optical parametric oscillator in a chalcopyrite crystal, AgGaS2. Tuning from 1.4 to 4.0 microns is demonstrated for 1.06-micron Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet pumping. The potential tuning range extends to the 12-micron transparency limit of the crystal.
Neurologic and histopathologic evaluation after high-volume intrathecal amitriptyline

Background and objectives Accumulating evidence indicates that amitriptyline decreases pain sensation when administered orally, intraperitoneally, or for sciatic nerve block. Previous reports of intrathecal administration of amitriptyline have yielded inconsistent results. The failure of amitriptyline to provide antinociception may partly be related to its high logP (octanol-water partition coefficient) and consequent poor spread within the cerebrospinal fluid. We evaluated spinal block after various concentrations of amitriptyline administered intrathecally in a fixed high volume. Methods We administered 100 μL of 5, 10, 15.9 (0.5%), 25, 50, or 100 mmol/L amitriptyline hydrochloride solution or 100 μL of 15.4 mmol/L (0.5%) bupivacaine hydrochloride solution intrathecally to rats. The neurologic deficit was evaluated by antinociceptive, motor, and proprioceptive responses, and the spinal cord was examined for histopathologic changes. Results Doses of 100 μL amitriptyline at 15.9 mmol/L (0.5%) and 25 mmol/L produced longer complete nerve block than did bupivacaine at 15.4 mmol/L (0.5%); 5 and 10 mmol/L amitriptyline produced only partial nerve block. However, with 100 μL intrathecal amitriptyline at 50 and 100 mmol/L, many rats did not fully recover from spinal block. Severe axonal degeneration, myelin breakdown, and replacement of neuronal structures by vacuoles were seen in the spinal root section of animals injected with concentrations higher than 25 mmol/L amitriptyline. Conclusions At lower doses, intrathecal injection of high volumes of amitriptyline results in long-acting spinal block. At higher doses, intrathecal amitriptyline results in irreversible neurologic deficit. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of intrathecal amitriptyline because of a very low therapeutic index.
Narrow-band electrons in transition-metal oxides

Experiments on LaCoO3 demonstrate that crystal-field theory and band theory describe two thermodynamically different electronic phases. For an integral number of electrons per atom, the phase transition is first-order. The critical parameter is an overlap integral, which may be either a cation-cation or a cation-anion-cation overlap integral. Intra-atomic exchange and electron-phonon interactions contribute significantly to electron localization. The characteristic feature of collective electrons is a Fermi surface. Those physical properties that depend upon the existence of a Fermi surface vary discontinuously through a localized-electron ⇄ collective-electron transition; other physical properties, including electron mobility and paramagnetic susceptibility, apparently do not. It is argued that the spontaneous crystallographic distortions associated with semiconducting ⇄ metallic phase changes manifest the existence of narrow, cation-sublattice bands if the cations are removed from the centers of symmetry of their interstices, narrow crystalline bands otherwise; ferroelectric and antiferroelectric transitions manifest the existence of a narrow valence band; the formation of a homologous series of shear structures in nonstoichiometric compounds manifests narrow conduction bands. These distortions all result from the creation, or enhancement, of an energy discontinuity at the Fermi surface. By contrast, conventional Jahn-Teller distortions, magnetostriction due to spin-orbit coupling, and the ordering of small polarons manifest localized electrons and the applicability of crystal-field theory. It is also shown that the critical overlap integral (or bandwidth) for spontaneous band magnetism is only a little larger than that for a localized-electron ⇄ collective-electron transition. Preliminary data are compatible with two possibilities for bands that are more than half-filled: (1) saturation of orbitals ofα spin, which leads to localized electrons ofα spin and collective electrons ofβ spin; (2) spontaneous magnetization (ferromagnetism) of only the antibonding electrons, which may lead to reduced atomic moments. Spontaneous band antiferromagnetism may be stabilized in bands that are half-filled or slightly less. It is represented by a spin-density wave with wavelength adjusted to create an energy discontinuity at the Fermi surface. Spin-density waves are also possible among collectiveβ-spin electrons that are coupled to localizedα-spin electrons.
Community‐Based Rehabilitation in Botswana: The Myth of the Hidden Disabled

Community-Based Rehabilitation in Botswana: The Myth of the Hidden Disabled. Benedicte lngstad. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 1997. xi. 384 pp.
Substrate concentrations and turnover of plasma glucose during cold exposure in seasonally acclimatized house finches, Carpodacus mexicanus

Concentration ([Glc]) and turnover (Ro) of plasma glucose, concentration of free fatty acids in plasma ([FFA]), and concentration of glycogen in muscle and liver were measured in summer- and winter-acclimatized house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) freshly captured in Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado. The birds were exposed acutely to one of three thermal regimes: (1) ‘thermoneutral’, 30°C in air; (2) ‘moderate cold’, −12°C in air; or (3) ‘severe cold’, 1°C in 79% He and 21% O2. Plasma glucose turnover in winter house finches increases directly with severity of cold stress, rising 67% between thermoneutral and severe cold conditions. Similar values of Ro were observed for cold stressed birds in both winter and summer. However, the turnover of plasma glucose at 30°C is elevated during the latter season. The amount of glycogen remaining in the muscle after 2 h of exposure to any of the three thermal regimes did not vary seasonally. Combining data for the summer and winter yielded the following values for glycogen (mean ±SE in mg/g fresh muscle mass): 7.84±0.70, 4.62±0.39, and 1.56±0.32 at 30°C, −12°C and 1°C in He−O2, respectively. Liver glycogen was relatively low (<17 mg/g fresh liver mass) under all test conditions. In winter birds exposed to −12°C, liver glycogen was significantly higher than in control individuals, suggesting a rate of gluconeogenesis exceeding glucose requirements. Plasma glucose concentrations and [FFA] did not vary in house finches between winter and summer, except for an elevated [FFA] in winter individuals at 30°C. Plasma [FFA] was relatively high (ca. 2 meq/l) under severe cold stress, but was not elevated during exposure of the birds to more moderate cold. We conclude that, with the possible exception of an increased rate of gluconeogenesis in winter house finches, carbohydrate metabolism during exposure to cold does not change between summer and winter. This is consistent with predictions based on the limited seasonal acclimatization observed in the cold resistance of house finches.
Ex-Offenders and Educational Equal Access: Doctoral Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Utilizing data from university websites, this exploratory study examined criminology and criminal justice doctoral program admission requirements, while focusing on identifying barriers and challenges unique to applicants with criminal records. Findings reveal that all doctoral programs in criminology and criminal justice expect applicants to complete the GRE, submit recommendation letters, and provide personal statements. The majority of programs also specify minimum grade point averages necessary for admission, while just over one-half request academic writing samples. Further, data show that many academic institutions housing criminology and criminal justice doctoral programs make deliberate efforts to identify ex-offender applicants, particularly sex offenders. Limitations and directions for future research concerning equal and equitable educational access for ex-offenders are discussed.
Evaluation of a Gastric Lavage Method on Juvenile Pallid Sturgeon

Abstract Because of the endangered status and limited knowledge of the early life history of the pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus, I tested the safety and efficiency of a nonlethal method for investigating the food habits of age-2 juvenile pallid sturgeon. Pallid sturgeon were fed a mixture of live prey items, including earthworms Lumbricus terrestris, red worms Alloloborpha calliginosa, meal worms Tenebrio molitor, and wax worms Galleria mellonella. Gastric lavage was performed on two test groups; a third group did not undergo gastric lavage but was held as a control (N = 30 fish per group). Over a 60-d test period, no mortality was observed. No significant differences were detected in relative condition and growth in length between the two lavaged groups and the control group over the 60-d test period. The efficiency of the gastric lavage procedure was tested on 29 age-2 juveniles, and food items were recovered from 100% of the fish with food in their stomachs. The average recovery rate for all food...
The relationship of preoperative and intraoperative factors on the incidence of pain following ambulatory surgery

Abstract Despite the growth of ambulatory surgery, little information is available concerning patients' recovery following discharge. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of postoperative pain and pain-related outcomes such as sleep and activity disturbance following a wide variety of ambulatory surgical procedures. Second, this study attempted to identify a correlation between preoperative and intraoperative variables and the level of postoperative pain experienced after discharge. One hundred and eighty-nine adult patients undergoing a variety of outpatient surgical procedures were studied. Data collected included preoperative pain and anxiety ratings, preoperative medication use, type and location of surgery, type of anaesthetic, postoperative pain ratings and the occurrence of pain-related outcomes during the 24 h following surgery. Seventy-four per cent of patients experienced moderate or severe pain following discharge, 32% reported sleep disturbance and 34% reported activity disturbance secondary to pain. Preoperative anxiety level, level of pain expectation, use of psychoactive medications and pain level at the time of discharge were significantly correlated with the greatest level of pain following discharge. These results suggest that pain following ambulatory surgery is a significant problem and that patients who are at greatest risk of this complication may be identified preoperatively in order to target pain-specific therapies toward this group and improve recovery.
Isolation of peanut lectin by affinity chromatography on polyacrylamide-entrapped guar beads and polyacrylamide(co-allyl α-d-galactopyranoside)

Abstract Guar gum (galactomannan) was entrapped in polyacrylamide gel by bead polymerization. The gel beads were used in one-step affinity column chromatography of peanut lectin (specific for d -galactosyl residue). The lectin prepared with these gel beads was homogeneous by electrophoresis, either in the presence or absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Another affinity gel prepared by copolymerization of allyl α- d -galactopyranoside and acrylamide was also useful in purification of the lectin.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Alpha Synuclein In The Presence Of Sds Micelles

Alpha synuclein (αS) is the principle protein in the Lewy body plaques that are found in the brains of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. Oligomerization of αS is believed to be the initial step in the mechanism by which the disease causes neuronal death. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is known to enhance the rate at which αS aggregates. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed on αS in the absence and presence of SDS micelles to probe which specific protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions are involved as SDS denatures αS determining the structure and dynamics. In the absence of SDS, individual αS molecules rapidly fold to form globular structures in which the acidic C-terminus interacts strongly with the more basic N-terminus. Simulating these structures in the presence of SDS micelles shows an initial electrostatic interaction between the protein and lipid, but the tertiary structure remains compact over short time scales, instead of forming the extended structures obtained by others via NMR measurements. However, as the simulations progress, the electrostatic interactions between the protein and lipid become less favorable because the sulfate groups of the micelles compete with the acidic residues of the C-terminus. Meanwhile the interaction between hydrophobic residues and the lipid acyl chains increases with time. These results suggest that monomeric and soluble αS requires the presence of lipids to overcome the strong attraction between the N- and C-terminus prior to aggregation, or that soluble multimeric forms of αS are the primary agents of aggregation.
Opposite Effect of NF-κB and c-Jun N-terminal Kinase on p53-independent GADD45 Induction by Arsenite

Cell cycle checkpoint, a major genomic surveillance mechanism, is an important step in maintaining genomic stability and integrity in response to environmental stresses. Using cells derived from human bronchial epithelial cells, we demonstrate that NF-κB and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) reciprocally regulate arsenic trioxide (arsenite)-induced, p53-independent expression of GADD45 protein, a cell cycle checkpoint protein that arrests cells at the G2/M phase transition. Inhibition of NF-κB activation by stable expression of a kinase-mutated form of IκB kinase caused increased and prolonged induction of GADD45 by arsenite. In contrast, the induction of GADD45 by arsenite was transient and less potent in cells where the NF-κB activation pathway was normal. Analysis of the cell cycle profile by flow cytometry indicated that NF-κB inhibition potentiates arsenite-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest. Abrogation of JNK activation, on the other hand, decreased GADD45 expression induced by arsenite, suggesting a role for JNK activation in GADD45 induction. These results indicate a molecular mechanism by which NF-κB and JNK may differentially contribute to cell cycle regulation in response to arsenite.
Nanoscale topography-induced modulation of fundamental cell behaviors of rabbit corneal keratocytes, fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts.

Purpose. Keratocyte-to-myofibroblast differentiation is a key factor in corneal wound healing. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of environmental nanoscale topography on keratocyte, fibroblast, and myofibroblast cell behavior
Exploiting Loss?: Ethical Considerations, Boundaries, and Opportunities for the Study of Death and Grief Online

More people are turning to the Internet to communicate about dying, death, and grief experiences. This theoretical article explores the ethical dilemmas, challenges, and opportunities presented to researchers interested in exploring how death and grief are communicated online. Weaving together the literatures of computer-mediated communication and thanatology (dying and death), we discuss the ways in which many common ethical dilemmas uniquely manifest related to death and grief. We also explore the emotional impact studying death and grief online has on researchers and the importance of thinking about researcher emotions on scholars who study these issues. We end with recommendations of how to move forward in the dialogue about ethics and studying death and grief online.
Ab initio rep-based relativistic core/valence polarization operator

Abstract The adiabatic core polarization procedure of Christiansen is expanded to derive an REP-based relativistic core/valence correlation potential (RCVPP) operator. The operator is derived from data corresponding to individual energies, rather than total energies, within a j — j coupling scheme and is grounded in the relativistic effective potential approximation. The calculation from individual orbital energies in j — j coupling has the advantage of treating systems as eigenfunctions of the total angular momentum squared operator, thereby allowing each ljm component of the RCVPP operator to be calculated and its contribution to the total operator to be determined individually.
An effective method for selecting the number of components in density mixtures

This paper proposes a simple and effective method for selecting the number of components in density mixtures. The proposed method is based on a combination of Stein's unbiased risk estimation and the plug-in principle. Also provided by this paper are numerical results comparing several popular methods for Gaussian mixture estimation. These results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method.
Infants' response to facelike patterns: Developmental changes between 10 and 15 weeks of age

Abstract Infants at two age levels were shown six patterns which represented three levels of stimulus complexity and two types of organization, facial and nonfacial. Ten-week-old infants showed a preference for the higher levels of complexity but acted as though they were oblivious to the type of organization which was imposed on the elements within the stimulus patterns. Fifteen week olds also showed increased attention to the higher levels of complexity. In addition, at the older age level differential responding was greater for stimuli which varied concomitantly in both facial resemblance and complexity (Facial organization) than for those which varied only in complexity (Nonfacial organization). The present results agree with those of previous studies in suggesting that there is a change between the ages of 10 and 15 weeks in the dimensions which underlie infants' response to facelike patterns.
Instrumentation for a new undulator at SRC

Abstract A new permanent magnet undulator will soon be installed in long straight section two (LSS2) of the Aladdin storage ring. We report on design characteristics of the undulator and beamlines that will utilize the first through ninth harmonics to cover the energy range from 7.8 to 500 eV. The instrumentation design is to provide high flux with moderate resolution throughout this range through the installation of two monochromators, as well as support a EUV experimental lithography exposure station. The first monochromator will be a Wadsworth design covering the energy range from 7.8 to 50 eV with
Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease: Clinical presentation and results of treatment

Summary The records of 59 patients with lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease (LPHD) evaluated and treated at Stanford University Medical Center between 1963 and 1983 were reviewed. Of these 59 patients, 92% are alive at 10 years following treatment, 78% are relapse-free, and none have died of Hodgkin's disease. Compared with the other histologic subtypes of Hodgkin's disease, LPHD presents more frequently as stage I or II disease (78% vs. 55%) and less frequently with constitutional symptoms (7% vs. 32%). Despite these factors, there is no statistically significant difference in either survival or freedom-from-relapse (FFR) between the histologic subtypes when comparisons are made on a stage-for-stage basis. Analysis of sites of presentation and relapse reveals that LPHD rarely involves intrathoracic structures. Patients with C.S. I disease presenting in inguinofemoral or high cervical lymph nodes do not require staging laparotomy as none of these patients were upstaged by surgery. Patients with stage I disease involving high cervical lymph nodes may be treated with limited field irradiation employing fields no more extensive than a mantle and Waldeyer's ring field, as no relapses have been seen in such patients treated in this fashion. Although limited field irradiation was used successfully for LPHD presenting in other localized sites, inadequate patient numbers preclude assessment of this treatment for those clinical presentations.
Free radical scavengers prevent reflux esophagitis in rats

Free radical damage in reflux esophagitis of rats induced by 24-hr duodenojejunal ligation was studied. Oxygen free radicals were selectively blocked. Groups were: sham operation, reflux, reflux + superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, dimethylthiourea, allopurinol, and inactivated SOD or inactivated catalase alone or in the combination SOD + catalase or SOD + catalase + dimethylthiourea + allopurinol. Macroscopic esophagitis was inhibited only by SOD, alone or in combination with other agents. Esophageal mucosal lipid peroxidation was 10-fold increased in the reflux group compared to the sham group (P catalase (P < 0.05) but not by the inactivated enzymes, dimethylthiourea or allopurinol. SOD + catalase showed no significant improvement on SOD alone. Total inhibition of lipid peroxidation was achieved by combining all scavengers. Total glutathione (GSH) in the esophageal mucosa was stimulated by reflux. This response was inhibited by scavengers equivalent to their efficacy in preventing lipid peroxidation. It is concluded that reflux esophagitis is associated with free radical release with O2- being the main source. Free radicals appear to stimulate GSH production in this prolonged oxidative stress.
Efficiency and sensitivity determination of Shrimple®, an immunochromatographic assay for white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), using quantitative real-time PCR

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a prevalent and virulent pathogen affecting both wild and cultured penaeid shrimp worldwide. Molecular diagnostic tools have made detection of the virus increasingly accurate. However, these techniques are often not readily available for rapid diagnosis in the field or in shrimp production facilities. Shrimple®, an immunochromatographic detection assay for WSSV, was designed specifically for use by shrimp producers. In this study, WSSV-infected shrimp were tested with both real-time PCR and Shrimple®, in order to determine the range of sensitivity in which the diagnostic test kit is capable of detecting viral infection and the efficiency of the test kit when compared to the real-time PCR. Litopenaeus vannamei were injected with a WSSV inoculum and sampled from 1 to 32 h post injection (p.i.), prior to developing gross anatomical signs of disease. By analyzing the corresponding samples from each specimen, the Shrimple® test results were correlated with estimated viral copy numbers from quantitative PCR. Real-time PCR detected infections in 100% of the inoculated shrimp, while the Shrimple® test kits detected infection in only 34.7% of the specimens. The findings of this study indicate that the Shrimple® test kits fail to detect WSSV infection prior to 12 h post infection and demonstrate a significant reduction in detection efficiency during early onset of infection—failing to detect any viral infection from 1 to 8 h p.i. compared to 100% with real-time PCR. False negative results were observed for specimens containing 4-1061 viral copies/ng genomic DNA. Faint positives were observed for specimens containing 36-1784 viral copies/ng genomic DNA. Although considerably less sensitive than real-time PCR, the Shrimple® test kits provide a useful tool for the detection of WSSV infections prior to development of gross signs of acute disease.
Response of plasmonic terahertz detector to large signals: theory and experiment

In the Dyakonov-Shur terahertz (THz) detector, nonlinearities in the plasma wave propagation in the conduction channel of a heterostructure High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) lead to a constant source-to-drain voltage providing the detector output. For a small signal, the perturbation theory treatment shows that the response is proportional to the intensity of the radiation. The proportionality factor can have a resonant or a broad dependence on the signal frequency. For submicron HEMTs, the typical measured response falls within the range of 0.1 to 4.5 THz. The deviations from this relation have been studied and reported in the approximation of the local Ohm’s law and transmission line model for the non-resonant response. Here we present the results obtained with the hydrodynamic model using the electron plasma Navier-Stokes equation, thus fully accounting for the hydrodynamic non-linearity, the viscosity and pressure gradients in the detector response. The model is applicable to both resonant and broadband operations of the HEMT based plasmonic detectors. The relation between the electron channel density and gate voltage was modeled by the unified charge control model applicable both above and below the threshold voltage. The theoretical results are compared with the response measured in the short channel InGaAs HEMT and the analytical approximation. The THz source was operating at 1.63 THz and the response was measured at varying signal intensities. The response of the detector operated in the open drain mode was measured above and below the threshold. The theoretical and experimental results are in good agreement.
Pelvic ultrasonography and the management of gestational trophoblastic disease

Pelvic ultrasonography was performed in 33 patients with persistent gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and the sonographic findings were compared in all patients with laparoscopic findings and histologic material from endometrial curettage and/or hysterectomy. Ultrasonography indicated trophoblastic uterine involvement in 17 patients (51.5%) and the ultrasound interpretation was histologically confirmed in all 17 patients by endometrial curettage and/or hysterectomy. Among the 16 patients in whom the uterus appeared normal by ultrasound, endometrial curettings demonstrated scanty fragments of trophoblastic tumor in 6 patients (37.5%). Furthermore, in all 16 patients in whom the uterus appeared normal by ultrasound, laparoscopy also revealed no uterine abnormalities. Ultrasonography appears to be accurate in detecting extensive trophoblastic uterine involvement and helpful in identifying resistant uterine foci. Pelvic ultrasonography should be an integral part of the pretreatment assessment of patients with persistent GTD.