cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Noradrenergic action in the developing rat cerebellum: Interaction between norepinephrine and γ-aminobutyric acid applied microiontophoretically to immature Purkinje cells

Abstract In this study, we examined the action of norepinephrine (NE) on developing cerebellar Purkinje cells. Responses of immature Purkinje cells to microiontophoretically applied NE were assessed both in terms of the direct depressant effect of the catecholamine as well as its ability to interact synergistically with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Sensitivity for NE, GABA, taurine and β-alanine was found to be present by postnatal day 3. In addition, NE enhanced inhibitory responses of Purkinje cells to GABA but not those to β-alanine by at least postnatal day 5, before periods of extensive morphological differentiation and synaptic investment. The modulation by NE persisted into adulthood with no qualitative changes in characteristics. The results of this study support and extend the hypothesis that ‘chemosensitivity’ antedates synaptogenesis' to include responsiveness of developing Purkinje cells to interactions between putative cerebellar neurotransmitters.
Enhancement of Energy Harvested from a Random Vibration Source by Magnetic Coupling of a Piezoelectric Cantilever

It is demonstrated experimentally that the energy harvested from a random noise source by a piezoelectric cantilever can be substantially enhanced by introducing a magnetic coupling force. The coupled cantilever responds to a 1/f vibration spectrum (‘pink noise’) with chaotic motion that on average has larger amplitude than the non-chaotic motion of an uncoupled cantilever. A 50% increase in output voltage was observed in the coupled cantilever compared to the uncoupled cantilever. Calculations show that the magnetic force transforms the quadratic spring potential of the cantilever into a double valley of two potential wells. Fluctuations between the two potential minima increase the amplitude of the cantilever motion over a range of vibration frequencies.
Age-related changes in the expression of the glutamate transporter from rat cerebral cortical poly A(+) mRNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes

Abstract Cerebral cortical poly A(+) mRNA was prepared from rats of various age and injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes. Glutamate transporter activity was studied in the oocytes and the results compared with glutamate uptake into synaptosomes prepared from cerebral cortex and striatum from animals of the same age. Both expressed and synaptosomal glutamate transport activity were present in brain at 1 day of age, increased with age and appeared maximum by about 30 days of age. A dissociation between expressed and synaptosomal transport activity was observed for 1 year old animals, when the expressed activity declined. In senescent rats both activities declined. These results suggest that reduced glutamate transporter activity in senescent brain is not limited to protein synthesis, but may involve the genetic mechanisms controlling transporter expression.
Diastolic Biomechanics in Normal Infants Utilizing MRI Tissue Tagging

Background —Most of what is known about diastolic function in normal infants is derived from flow and pressure measurements. Little is known about regional diastolic strain and wall motion. Methods and Results —Magnetic resonance tissue tagging was performed in 11 normal infants to determine regional diastolic strain and wall motion. Tracking diastolic motion of the intersection points and finite strain analysis yielded regional rotation, radial displacement, and E 1 and E 2 strains at 3 short-axis levels (significance was defined as P <0.05). E 2 “circumferential lengthening” strains were significantly greater at the lateral wall, regardless of short-axis level, whereas E 1 “radial thinning” strains were similar in all wall regions at all short-axis levels. In general, no differences were noted in strain dispersion within a wall region or in endocardial/epicardial strain at all short-axis levels. At all short-axis levels, septal radial motion was significantly less than in other wall regions. No significant differences in radial wall motion between short-axis levels were noted. Rotation was significantly greater at the apical short-axis level in all wall regions than in other short-axis levels, and it was clockwise. At the atrioventricular valve, septal and anterior walls rotated slightly clockwise, whereas the lateral and inferior walls rotated counterclockwise. Conclusions —Diastolic biomechanics in infants are not homogeneous. The lateral walls are affected most by strain, and the septal walls undergo the least radial wall motion. Apical walls undergo the most rotation. These normal data may help in the understanding of diastolic dysfunction in infants with congenital heart disease.
Giant optical nonlinearities of fractal colloid aggregates

Strong fluctuations oflocal fields may result in huge enhancements ofoptical nonlinearities in metal fractal colloid aggregates. Giant enhancement ofthird order nonlinearities was calculated and obtained experimentally. The real and imaginary parts of the cubic susceptibility of silver colloid aggregates were measured. It was found that the coefficient of nonlinear absorption depends on laser wavelength and intensity strongly. An optical limiting in silver colloid was observed.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Occupational Therapy Discharge Assessment of Elderly Patients from Acute Care Hospitals

The purpose of this study was to identify effective discharge assessment tools, examine clinical reasoning skills and use of client-centered practice in discharge planning from acute care hospitals...
Role of vagus nerves in resiniferatoxin-induced bronchoconstriction of guinea pigs

Abstract To study the role of vagal afferent C-fibers in resiniferatoxin (RTX)-induced bronchoconstriction in vivo , 30 guinea pig weighing 347±28 g were evenly and randomly divided into five groups: Group 1, control; 2, chronic vagotomy; 3, local capsaicin (acute); 4, local capsaicin (chornic); and 5, systemic capsaicin. Each animal was anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, cannulated with a tracheal cannula and venous catheter, paralyzed with gallamine triethiodide, and artificially ventilated. All animals were pretreated with atropine and phenoxybenzamine. Immediately after RTX was intravenously injected, each animal in the control group exhibited profound decreases in maximal expiratory flow, dynamic respiratory compliance, and total lung capacity, as well as an increase in functional residual capacity, indicating severe airway constriction. Animals in Groups 2–4 exhibited partial abolishment, while those in Group 5 showed complete abolishment of the RTX-induced bronchoconstriction. In 12 additional animals (6 animals each in control and chronic vagotomy groups), chronic vagotomy caused also suppressive effects on capsaicin-induced airway constriction. At one min, our data demonstrate that 36–51% of noncholinergic bronchoconstriction is due to the vagal component while the remaining constriction is due to the nonvagal component. Thus, the nonvagal component plays a significant role in this type of tachykinin-mediated airway constriction.
Terrane sutures in the Maine Appalachians, USA and adjacent areas

Terrane sutures in the Maine Appalachians and adjacent areas are recognized as melange dominated, deformed accretionary prisms of Ordovician age, and as a broad synmetamorphic transcurrent fault zone of probable Late Silurian-Early Devonian age. Although the accretionary prisms are associated with present day aeromagnetic and Bouguer gravity anomalies, they are probably not associated with present day crustal penetrating boundaries. The geology of the accretionary prisms indicates subduction-obduction dominated regimes during which (1) the Gander and Boundary Mountain (Dunnage) terranes amalgamated and (2) the composite Boundary Mountain-Gander terrane accreted to the Laurentian margin. The Penobscottian orogeny produced and deformed the older of the two accretionary prisms. This accretionary prism indicates that the Penobscottian was a continuous or perhaps diachronous event which spanned the late Cambrian to early Late Ordovician. The younger accretionary prism was produced and deformed during the Taconian orogeny during late Middle to early Late Ordovician. Initial deformation of this accretionary prism may have overlapped the waning stages of the Penobscottian. Portions of the Taconian arc locally overlie the Penobscottian accretionary prism. A synmetamorphic fault zone lies within Precambrian(?) to Ordovician(?) bimodal metavolcanic and metapelitic rocks assigned here to the Avalon terrane. This zone is several kilometres wide and is interpreted to be the postsubduction suture between the Avalon and Gander terranes, and may, in part, represent a fossil transform fault system. The fault zone contains phyllonites as well as shear zones which generally record dextral motion. The phyllonites were previously interpreted as a stratigraphic unit, whereas the shear zones span or are contained within mappable compositional units. Formation of and movement along these phyllonites and shear zones ceased before the intrusion of Early Devonian plutons. Not all faults in south-western Maine are related to the suture. Younger dip and/or strike-slip and thrust faults are approximately parallel to, or may lie within, the older shear zones and they complicate the recognition of the older faults.
Affinity and activity of non-native quinones at the Q(B) site of bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers.

Purple, photosynthetic reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides bacteria use ubiquinone (UQ10) as both primary (QA) and secondary (QB) electron acceptors. Many quinones reconstitute QA function, while a few will act as QB. Nine quinones were tested for their ability to bind and reconstitute QA and QB functions. Only ubiquinone (UQ) reconstitutes both functions in the same protein. The affinities of the non-native quinones for the QB site were determined by a competitive inhibition assay. The affinities of benzoquinones, naphthoquinone (NQ), and 2-methyl-NQ for the QB site are 7 ± 3 times weaker than that at QA site. However, di-ortho-substituted NQs and anthraquinone bind tightly to the QA site (K d ≤ 200 nM), and ≥1,000 times more weakly to the QB site, perhaps setting a limit on the size of the site. With a low-potential electron donor, 2-methyl, 3-dimethylamino-1,4-NQ, (Me-diMeAm-NQ) at QA, QB reduction is 260 meV, more favorable than with UQ as QA. Electron transfer from Me-diMeAm-NQ at the QA site to NQ at the QB site can be detected. In the QB site, the NQ semiquinone is estimated to be ≈60–100 meV higher in energy than the UQ semiquinone, while in the QA site, the semiquinone energy level is similar or lower with NQ than with UQ. Thus, the NQ semiquinone is more stable in the QA than in the QB site. In contrast, the native UQ semiquinone is ≈60 meV lower in energy in the QB than in the QA site, stabilizing forward electron transfer from QA to QB.
Wave vector dependence and numerical value of the scattering efficiency for the resonant Raman effect in CdS

Abstract An attempt was made to observe the phonon wave vector dependence of the 1-LO resonant Raman effect by comparing forward and back scattered intensities from CdS at room temperature. There was no intensity dependence on the scattering wave vector. We have also measured the absolute Raman efficiency and compared it with the result of a calculation assuming bound excitons as intermediate states.
Effect of cocultivation on sister chromatid exchange frequencies in Bloom's syndrome and normal fibroblast cells

BLOOM'S syndrome (BS) is a rare, autosomal recessive human disorder, characterised by growth retardation, sunlight-induced facial skin eruptions, low immunological competence and a high incidence of cancer1–4. Lymphocytes, and to a lesser extent, fibroblasts, cultured from affected individuals exhibit unusually high levels of chromosomal aberrations2,5,6 and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE)7,8, suggesting that BS cells may be defective in DNA repair and/or synthesis9–11. However, BS cells are normally competent in excision repair11–13, postreplication repair14, single-strand break rejoining14, and have normal levels of DNA polymerases (α, β, γ)15. On the other hand, these cytogenetic manifestations of BS could indicate the presence of actual DNA damage, perhaps a consequence of some altered metabolite(s) produced endogenously. To examine this possibility, we assessed the effect of cocultivation of fibroblast cells from a BS individual with those from an unaffected control on SCE frequencies in both cell populations. Results of these studies indicate that BS cells produce an agent(s) capable of causing an increased SCE response in normal cells.
Differential regulation of immediate-early gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of rats with a high vs low behavioral response to methamphetamine

Methamphetamine (METH) administration mimics many of the symptoms of mania and can produce psychosis after chronic use. Both rodents and man display interindividual variation in response to METH. The molecular mechanisms underlying these differences might be relevant to both stimulant addiction and endogenous psychosis. We treated 50 Sprague-Dawley rats acutely with METH (4.0 mg/kg) and 10 control rats with saline, and measured their behavior for 3 h after drug administration. Animals were divided into high responders (HR) (top 20%) and low responders (LR) (lowest 20%) based on their stereotypy response. They were killed 24 h after injection. Total RNA was extracted from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the expression of approximately 30 000 transcripts were analyzed using Affymetrix 230 2.0 GeneChips. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to validate the expression of a select group of genes. Forty-three genes exhibited significant differences in expression in HR vs LR 24 h after METH treatment including a group of immediate-early genes (IEGs) (eg, c-fos, junB, NGFI-B, serum-regulated glucocorticoid kinase). These IEG expression differences were accompanied by the significant downregulation of many of these genes compared to saline in the HR but not LR, suggesting a differential responsiveness of signal transduction pathways in these two groups of rats. In addition, the expression of other transcription factors in the PFC was significantly different in HR compared to LR. These gene expression changes may contribute to individual differences in responsiveness to stimulants and the development of mania and psychosis.
Numerical Simulation of Direct Current Glow Discharges for High-Speed Flow Control

Numerical studies of glow discharges were carried out to evaluate their utility for flow control applications. As part of this project, a three-dimensional computer code has been written to solve the fluid conservation laws, the charged particle continuity equations under the drift-diffusion model, and the Poisson equation for the electric potential. Glow discharge calculations have been carried out in the absence of flow, exploring the effects of background pressure, applied magnetic fields, and finite electrodes. With the presence of a Mach 5 crossflow, three-dimensional computations have identified the origin of the downward force in a "plasma flap" concept as dissipative heating in the vicinity of the cathode, and rough agreement has been obtained between numerical predictions and experimental measurements of the total temperature rise in that region. A simplified actuator model has been applied in the numerical exploration of the control of a Mach 14 compression ramp flow, and suitable actuator locations and power levels have been identified.
Discrimination and generalization of complex visual shape variations in pigeons.

Three experiments investigated stimulus control of key pecking in pigeons by varying the distance of vertices movement for a six-point complex visual shape. Ease of discrimination learning was monotonically related to the distance of vertices movement when the directions of vertices movement were held constant. As suggested by selective attention theory, steep generalization gradients were obtained following intradimensional differential training but not following nondifferential training or interdimensional differential training. These results indicate that, unlike the dimension of angular orientation or tilt, distance of vertices movement provides a consistent functional representation of complex shape similarity.
Ovarian theca cell

Abstract Theca cells are the endocrine cells associated with ovarian follicles that play an essential role in fertility by producing the androgen substrate required for ovarian estrogen biosynthesis. Theca cells differentiate from the interfollicular stroma in response to proteins secreted from growing follicles. The most common endocrine cause of infertility is associated with excessive proliferation of theca cells and ovarian hyperandrogenism. Cell facts: - ovarian androgen-producing cells; - are associated only with developing follicles; - over-activity of theca cells causes infertility due to hyperandrogenism; - under-activity of theca cells causes infertility due to lack of estrogen. Theca cells: androgen-producing cells in the ovary.
Racetrack and Bonnie Claire: Southwestern US Playa Lakes as Analogs for Ontario Lacus, Titan

We note the geomorphological and meteorological processes at Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park, as analogs for those at Ontario Lacus on Titan. Although Ontario is ~50× larger, the planforms of the two features are nearly identical, both are extremely flat, and are in environments where infrequent rainfall occurs against a climate, where evaporation exceeds precipitation. While the famous moving rocks on the Racetrack Playa may be exceptional on the Earth, the lower gravity and thicker atmosphere may render wind-induced rock transport comparatively common on Titan. Nearby Bonnie Claire Playa also provides field insights into the interpretation of remote sensing data from Titan.
The Animal Series in the Primeval History

Gen. i 28, the MT is sometimes emended by the addition of ubabbehemd 1). This emendation is based on the LXX and Syriac as well as on the occurrence of "cattle" in v. 26 MT. The assumption is that the phrase has fallen out through scribal error. This plausible suggestion is not to be accepted uncritically. The MT is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch (VON GALL) and by the Targum (SPERBER). v. 26 is itself assumed to be corrupt and "beast" is added to it so as to read "over all the beasts of the earth" 2). However, a close look at the LXX shows that: 1) the LXX does not add haqyyat in v. 26; 2) as the LXX in v. 28 adds "all the cattle and all the earth", it is questionable procedure to accept only part of the LXX reading; 3) the LXX "translates" hayjd of v. 28 by ZprTro6v instead of the normal OypLov 3), making the animal series of v. 26 and v. 28 almost identical to one another. The procedure of the LXX in these two verses is clear. v. 26 LXX = v. 26 MT. v. 28 LXX adds two prepositional phrases from v. 26 and "translates" hayya by "creeping thing" so as to harmonize the verses with one another 4). The LXX instead of supporting the proposed emendation is based on the current MT.
Differences in allocation of family time spent on household tasks among single-parent, one-earner, and two-earner families

The purpose of this study is to use analysis of covariance to examine variations in time use among single-parent, one-earner, and two-earner families and to assess the effects of two covariates, Age of the Younger Child and Hours of Employment of the Homemaker, on total family time spent on household tasks. Data were collected from 81 single-parent and 210 two-parent California households using a questionnaire, time chart, and personal interviews. The greatest discrepancy between single-parent and two-parent families is that single-parent families spend significantly less time than two-parent families on Maintenance of the home and yard and on Nonphysical Care (social interaction with family members). One-earner families spend almost as much time as two-earner families on Nonphysical Care, but only when Secondary Time is included. Two household activities, Clothing Care and Management, are not affected by either family type or the covariates.
The role of computer support tools and gender composition in innovative information system idea generation by small groups.

Abstract The climate in which business currently functions is marked by ever-increasing complexity. As such, collaborative work and creative thought are essentials in the operations of organizations. Computer software is available to meet these needs. Specifically, organizations can presently obtain Group Support System (GSS) software, which is designed to foster group collaboration, and Creativity Support System (CSS) software, which is designed to enhance creative performance. Use of these systems has the potential advantage of minimizing problems related to gender composition and other limitations of traditional group interaction. This paper investigates the effect of three different types of computer support — GSS, CSS, and no support — on small group performance with respect to the generation of innovative information system ideas. This study also compares the ideas of all-female, all-male, and mixed-gender groups in the three support settings. The innovativeness of the information system idea was measured by its novelty, usefulness, feasibility, and overall creativity (global measure) and by a composite novelty–usefulness–feasibility item. The results indicated that small groups using GSS and no computer software support tools generated ideas that were more useful and more novel–useful–feasible (composite) than those ideas generated by groups using CSS. When group gender composition was considered, the study showed that same gender groups generated more novel and overall creative ideas when no computer software support was present. However, mixed-gender groups generated their most novel ideas when using CSS. With respect to overall creativity, mixed-gender groups performed equally well when using either GSS or CSS.
Validating Large-Eddy Simulation for Jet Aeroacoustics

Engineers charged with making jet aircraft quieter have long dreamed of being able to see exactly how turbulent eddies produce sound, and this dream is now coming true with the advent of large-eddy simulation. Two obvious challenges remain: validating the large-eddy-simulation codes at the resolution required to see the fluid–acoustic coupling, and the interpretation of the massive data sets that are produced. This paper addresses the former, the use of advanced experimental techniques such as particle image velocimetry and Raman and Rayleigh scattering, to validate the computer codes and procedures used to create large-eddy-simulation solutions. This paper argues that the issue of accuracy of the experimental measurements be addressed by cross-facility and cross-disciplinary examination of modern data sets along with increased reporting of internal quality checks in particle image velocimetry analysis. Furthermore, it argues that the appropriate validation metrics for aeroacoustic applications are increasingly complicated statistics that have been shown in aeroacoustic theory to be critical to flow-generated sound, such as two-point space-time velocity correlations. A brief review of data sources available is presented along with examples illustrating cross-facility and internal quality checks required of the data before they should be accepted for validation of large-eddy simulation.
EWI-2 is a major CD9 and CD81 partner and member of a novel Ig protein subfamily.

A novel Ig superfamily protein, EWI-2, was co-purified with tetraspanin protein CD81 under relatively stringent Brij 96 detergent conditions and identified by mass spectrometric protein sequencing. EWI-2 associated specifically with CD9 and CD81 but not with other tetraspanins or with integrins. Immunodepletion experiments indicated that EWI-2–CD9/CD81 interactions are highly stoichiometric, with ∼70% of CD9 and CD81 associated with EWI-2 in an embryonic kidney cell line. The EWI-2 molecule was covalently cross-linked (in separate complexes) to both CD81 and CD9, suggesting that association is direct. EWI-2 is part of a novel Ig subfamily that includes EWI-F (F2α receptor regulatory protein (FPRP), CD9P-1), EWI-3 (IgSF3), and EWI-101 (CD101). All four members of this Ig subfamily contain a Glu-Trp-Ile (EWI) motif not seen in other Ig proteins. As shown previously, the EWI-F molecule likewise forms highly proximal, specific, and stoichiometric complexes with CD9 and CD81. Human and murine EWI-2 protein sequences are 91% identical, and transcripts in the two species are expressed in virtually every tissue tested. Thus, EWI-2 potentially contributes to a variety of CD9 and CD81 functions seen in different cell and tissue types.
Unconstrained prepotentials in extended superspace

Abstract We present a deductive method for solving superspace constraints in terms of unconstrained prepotentials which is applicable in extended superspace. The approach is demonstrated in detail for N = 1 Yang-Mills, and then used to solve the N = 2 Yang-Mills theory in d = 6 to all orders. A simple method for writing gauge invariant actions is also given.
Convection models: Laboratory versus mantle

Abstract A general comparison is made between some laboratory convection experiments and behavior which the mantle appears to possess. The structure of convection of a uniform viscosity fluid heatened evenly from below is reviewed, and is seen to exhibit pronounced three-dimensionality at Rayleigh numbers which are believed to apply to the mantle. Some features which resemble tectonic features are described, but the convection is generally much more complex than the lithospheric plate motions which the earth appears to possess. It is advocated that a new class of problems must be addressed involving surface plate—interior convection interaction. A theoretical stability analysis along these lines is described where each convection cell pushes a rigid plate at the upper surface. Under suitable conditions cells with a large width to depth ratio are predicted to be the most expected form. A second class of experiments and theory is described which is aimed at the problem of a moveable energy source. Under some circumstances the convection in this case goes unstable to a drift which is of the same magnitude as the overturning time of the convection.
Complications of obesity in children and adolescents

The increasing prevalence and severity of obesity in children and adolescents has provided greater emphasis on the wide variety of comorbid conditions and complications that can be experienced as a consequence of obesity. These complications can occur both in the short term and in the long term. Some complications, earlier thought to be long-term issues, which would only occur in adulthood, have now been shown to occur in children and adolescents. These findings have raised concerns about the overall health experience of those who develop obesity early in life and have even raised questions about whether the obesity epidemic might shorten the life span of the current generation of children. In this paper, I will examine current knowledge regarding the different organ systems that may be impacted by childhood obesity.
The EU and Issues of Human Rights Protection: Same Solutions to More Acute Problems?

Academic literature repeatedly calls for the EU's accession to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950 (hereinafter Convention1). Similarly, the Lisbon Treaty provides that the EU must accede to the Convention. [Correction made here after initial online publication.] This might seem odd as the European Court of Justice (hereinafter ECJ1) has over the years developed abundant case‐law on human rights protection in the EU, and the EU has not so long ago adopted a, albeit non‐binding, catalogue of human rights (the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (hereinafter Charter)). But after all these years, cases, and Treaty amendments, the EU is in fact going back to the ECJ's 1996 landmark opinion which recommended the EU's formal accession to the Convention,1 already proposed in 1979 by the Commission.1 One reason for this might be that, in the meantime, human rights issues have multiplied in the application of EU law, especially in areas such as the Second and Third Pillars where—at least initially—fewer human rights protection guarantees were foreseen.
The effect of flame structure on soot formation and transport in turbulent nonpremixed flames using direct numerical simulation

Abstract Direct numerical simulations of a two-dimensional, nonpremixed, sooting ethylene flame are performed to examine the effects of soot–flame interactions and transport in an unsteady configuration. A 15-step, 19-species (with 10 quasi-steady species) chemical mechanism was used for gas chemistry, with a two-moment, four-step, semiempirical soot model. Flame curvature is shown to result in flames that move, relative to the fluid, either toward or away from rich soot formation regions, resulting in soot being essentially convected into or away from the flame. This relative motion of flame and soot results in a wide spread of soot in the mixture fraction coordinate. In regions where the center of curvature of the flame is in the fuel stream, the flame motion is toward the fuel and soot is located near the flame at high temperature and hence has higher reaction rates and radiative heat fluxes. Soot–flame breakthrough is also observed in these regions. Fluid convection and flame displacement velocity relative to fluid convection are of similar magnitudes while thermophoretic diffusion is 5–10 times lower. These results emphasize the importance of both unsteady and multidimensional effects on soot formation and transport in turbulent flames.
Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy in HIV-Infected Patients

Purpose Cardiac transplantation is performed on HIV-infected pts effectively treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Recent data has shown that protease inhibitors, a component of HAART, may contribute to dyslipidemia. This study determines the prevalence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in post-transplant, HIV-infected patients and the role of dyslipidemia in its progression. Methods and Materials A retrospective analysis of all cardiac transplantation in HIV-infected pts was done. Transplant outcome, graft function, angiogram results, and laboratory tests including lipid profile, were obtained from electronic medical records. Results 11 pts (41±12 yo, 72.7% males) underwent heart transplant at a large volume centers. All pts were treated with HAART post-transplant. The median follow up time was 42.5 months. Nine patients (82%) are alive and only 3 patients (27%) were diagnosed with CAV. Graft dysfunction was reported in only 1 patient (9%). Seven patients (63%) experienced cellular rejection, and only 1 patient (9%) experienced humoral rejection. Seven patients (64%) of patients fulfilled at least one criterion of dyslipidemia. Triglyceride levels were elevated in 5 patients (45%), HDL levels were low in 3 patients (27%), and only 1 patient had a borderline-high LDL level; mean values were 167, 50, and 94 mg/dL respectively. Conclusions CAV occurs in patients with HIV who undergo HT and are treated with HAART at a rate that appears similar or lower than those in the greater transplant population. Marked dyslipidemia does not appear to be a plausible explanation as a driving force for CAV. Rejection which also appears to occur somewhat less frequently may be a more likely cause for CAV in this population. [ figure 1 ]
Wear experiments in the scanning electron microscope

Abstract Wear experiments using a ball-on-flat configuration were performed in a scanning electron microscope. The sequence of events occurring during the initial or wear-in phase was followed for three different materials: these were mild steel, brass and aluminum. Differences in behavior among the materials were striking. Adhesion and prow formation were observed in the aluminum experiment. A change from sharp microstriations to increasing macrodeformation was characteristic of the behavior of the mild steel. In addition, readily identifiable microstriations persisted for many cycles of sliding contact on the steel surface, while on the brass surface these features changed with each cycle. Microscopic extrusions and lip formation were observed to progress from asperities to incipient wear debris. The tendency for debris to transfer to the harder surface and to influence striation formation in the opposing surface was observed.
Calcineurin inhibitors cause renal afferent activation in rats: a novel mechanism of cyclosporine-induced hypertension ☆

Abstract Inhibition of calcineurin-mediated signaling in T lymphocytes is a major mechanism of cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced immunosuppression, and previous rat studies have suggested that inhibition of calcineurin-mediated signaling in central neuronal pools involved in blood pressure regulation plays an important role in causing acute CsA-induced hypertension. However, a central neural mechanism is difficult to reconcile with other data suggesting that CsA-induced hypertension is due to activation of renal and other subdiaphragmtic visceral afferents that reflexively increase efferent sympathetic nerve activity. Accordingly, we now have revised our hypothesis to suggest that CsA stimulates renal afferents by a calcineurin-dependent process. To test this new hypothesis, in anesthetized rats we recorded arterial pressure and multifiber afferent renal nerve activity from the cut distal end of the renal nerve before, during, and after intravenous infusion of either CsA (5 mg/kg over 20 min, n = 8), FK506 (0.15 mg/kg, n = 7), another potent calcineurin inhibitor that is structurally unrelated to CsA, or rapamycin (0.15 mg/kg, n = 4), a structural analog of FK506 that has no effect on calcineurin. We found that renal afferent discharge was increased markedly by intravenous FK506, as well as CsA, but unaffected by rapamycin (or vehicle), indicating calcineurin mediation. After infusion of either calcineurin inhibitor, afferent renal nerve activity remained elevated for up to 2 h, paralleling the prolonged increase in blood pressure. Thus, the major new conclusion of this study is that, in contrast to what has been assumed previously, calcineurin inhibitors enhance sympathetic neurotransmission by a novel action localized to visceral sensory nerve endings rather than to nerve cell bodies or central synapses. In the rat, calcineurin-dependent activation of renal afferents appears to be the primary mechanism producing the large blood-pressure–raising effect of CsA. Because the data suggest that the major side-effect of CsA and FK506—hypertension—is inexorably linked to calcineurin inhibition in extralymphoid tissue, development of agents that selectively inhibit calcineurin only in T lymphocytes could eliminate this important secondary form of hypertension.
Experimentally distinguishing elevation from gratitude: Oh, the morality

Elevation has garnered empirical support as the emotional response to witnessing moral beauty. The current studies investigated elevation’s construct validity by experimentally testing whether feelings of elevation are distinct from gratitude, another moral and ‘other-praising’ emotion. Study 1 demonstrated that feelings of elevation are distinct from gratitude, serenity (i.e. a secondary comparison condition), and boredom (i.e. a control condition). Study 2 added a behavioral outcome measure in the form of monetary donations to a moral charity. The third study expanded on Study 2 by randomly assigning participants to an elevation or gratitude mood induction and then randomly assigning them to have the opportunity to donate to either a moral or an amoral charity. Together, these studies support Haidt’s conceptualization of elevation, clarify Algoe and Haidt’s qualitative assessment of the emotional differences between elevation and gratitude, and reveal that elevation results in different behavioral respo...
Strongyloides stercoralis: loss of ability to disseminate after repeated passage in laboratory beagles

Abstract A strain of Strongyloides stercoralis originally isolated from a south-east Asian patient and maintained by passage in monkeys for four years was introduced into parasite-free laboratory-reared beagles. After the second passage in these dogs, the prepatent period shortened from an average of 12–14 d to 8–9 d. Up to the third generation, immunosuppressive treatment of the dogs with oral corticosteroids caused hyperinfection with dissemination, albeit limited, to extraintestinal organs. From the fourth generation onward, neither hyperinfection nor extra-intestinal migration could be induced even by higher doses of corticosteroids. These observations suggest that the biological behaviour of populations of S. stercoralis can alter as they pass from host to host. Such changes may account, at least in part, for the diverse clinical manifestations of strongyloidiasis.
Intra-sex dimorphism in crayfish females

A unique cycle of female form alternation has been revealed in an experimental population of Orconectes limosus during a year-long observation. Significant cyclic changes observed in chelae length, width, and robustness, as well as in abdomen width, demonstrated a form alternation similar to that in conspecific males. Small females alternate between sexually active and sexually inactive forms with a short time interval between successive molts as well as different growth patterns of some body parts. Form alternation efficiently produces larger chelae, abdomen, and body dimensions, especially the molt to form I (sexually active). Larger females that undergo only a single annual molt do not alter between forms and are sexually active. They grow slowly and lose chelae robustness. The cycle of form alternation, consisting of two molts per year, may facilitate the effective utilization of resources to increase the size of body parts important to survival and reproduction.
Somatic mutation as mechanism for cyst formation in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

One of the most striking aspects of certain inherted disease is the high degree of variability that is ometimes observed in the clinical presentation of ffected individuals. Differences between families an be easily explained by a variety of mechanisms. or example, mutations in different genes may afect the severity of a disease phenotype; or alternaively, mutations in different functional domains of he same gene may give rise to significant differnces between families in the clinical manifestations hat are associated with the disease. Differences etween family members inheriting the same germine mutation can be more difficult to understand ut a number of explanations can still be postulated. t is well recognized, for example, in animal breedng studies that the genetic background on which a ermline mutation occurs can have a significant imact on the phenotypic expression. Furthermore, for ost inherited diseases, the role of environmental actors is poorly understood, but it is certainly coneivable that they could modify the phenotypic exression of a specific mutant allele. For certain disases with focal manifestations, however, these actors do not tell the entire story (1). In this review e will use autosomal dominant polycystic kidney isease (ADPKD) as a model to explore the factors hat might contribute to phenotypic variability and ocal disease manifestations.
Neural tube defects in mice with reduced levels of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase.

expressed, with the highest mRNA levels in the brain (14). To characterize the developmental expression profile and in vivo function of ITPK1, we generated mice harboring a -galactosidase (gal) gene trap cassette in the Itpk1 gene. Examination of embryos homozygous for the gene trap allele showed the presence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in some of these embryos. NTDs are common birth defects in humans (26). Several studies have shown that women with low serum folate levels are at an increased risk of giving birth to a child with an NTD (27–29). The pivotal role of maternal folate level in human NTDs was conclusively demonstrated in the 1991 Medical Research Council Vitamin Study investigating NTD prevention, which reported a 70% protective effect from periconceptual folic acid supplementation (30). That leaves 30% of cases of NTD considered folate-resistant. In some animal models for folate-resistant NTDs, inositol supplementation or depletion has been shown to affect the prevalence of NTDs (31–35). In this report, we show that mice with reduced levels of ITPK1 develop NTDs. We propose that disruption of inositol signaling might be responsible for the NTDs seen in these animals.
FOURTH GRADERS' PERFORMANCE ON A STATE-MANDATED ASSESSMENT INVOLVING TWO DIFFERENT MEASURES OF READING COMPREHENSION

This study examined fourth graders' performance on two reading comprehension measures, involving a question-answering format and a cloze format, which were part of a state-mandated assessment. Word-level reading skills and oral language comprehension were important to success on both formats, but word accuracy had a stronger relationship to the cloze than to the question-answering measure. Language comprehension related strongly to both formats. The cognitive profiles associated with poor reading comprehension varied, but most often involved a specific difficulty in accuracy of pseudoword decoding. The results suggest that test format should be considered in interpreting reading comprehension performance and underscore the need to assess specific component abilities in reading.
PROFITS DERIVED FROM SEGREGATING COLLEGE STUDENTS ON THE BASIS OF ABILITY.

(1) Under the above scheme of segregation about twenty per cent. of freshman engineering students were classed as "high" and another twenty per cent. as "low."
Chemical ionization mass spectra of alkylphenol and linear alcohol polyethoxylates

The chemical ionization mass spectra of some tert-octylphenol ethoxylates and linear alcohol ethoxylates have been determined using methane and ammonia as reactant gases. Proton, [C2H5]+ and [C3H5]+ adducts were observed with attachment on the ring as well as on the oxyethylene chain for the tertiary octylphenol ethoxylates. Proton and [NH4]+ addition reactions were also observed. Alkyl ion and olefin displacement reactions were also important fragmentations. Hydride abstraction and proton, [C2H5]+, [C3H5]+ and [NH4]+ attachment were the most important reactions occurring for the linear alcohol ethoxylates.
Effect of local field fluctuations on orientational ordering in random-site dipole systems

Some peculiarities of dipole ordering in systems with uniaxial or cubic anisotropy with an arbitrary degree of dilution are analyzed in terms of random local field theory. The approach takes into account the effect of thermal and spatial fluctuations of the local fields acting on each particle from its neighbors with an accuracy corresponding to that of the Bethe-Paierls pair clusters approach. We show that ferromagnetic (ferroelectric) structure for uniaxial Ising dipoles distributed on a simple cubic lattice is intrinsically unstable against the fluctuations of the local fields for any concentration of the dipoles. This result is quite different from the prediction of the mean-field theory which implies the possibility of ferromagnetic ordering as a metastable state in field-cooled experiments. The local field fluctuations do not exclude, however, antiferromagnetic ordering above a certain critical concentration. Ferromagnetic ordering is possible for other types of lattice geometries and for an amorphous-like dipole distribution above a certain critical concentration. A simple physical explanation of such behavior is given based on the specific angular dependence of the dipole-dipole interaction that results in a relatively high value of the local field second moment for simple cubic lattice.
Anomalous Diffusion of Proteins Coupled to Membrane Thickness, Height, and Lipid Order

Diffusion of proteins in lipid membranes has traditionally been described by a hydrodynamic model that treats the membrane as a two-dimensional fluid surrounded by a less viscous outer fluid. As a result, the diffusion coefficient of proteins in a membrane is predicted to have a weak (logarithmic) dependence on the protein size. This result has been experimentally confirmed for micron-scale objects in membranes and related systems such as thin smectic-A films, but the evidence for the size-dependence of protein diffusion coefficients is mixed, with some groups observing a much stronger, 1/R dependence on protein radius. This has led to speculation that the primary source of drag on a protein is not viscous, but comes from coupling to other fields, such as lipid ordering. We discuss simple continuum models of the dynamics of proteins with hydrophobic mismatch, spontaneous curvature, active protein-membrane interactions, and coupling to lipid chain order. We show that these coupling mechanisms will generically create diffusion that is anomalous at short times, which may lead to the observation of differing diffusion coefficients by different techniques.
Numerical Simulation of an Experimental Ocean Current Turbine

The development of a numeric simulation for predicting ocean current turbine performance is presented in this paper along with performance predictions. This numeric model uses an unsteady blade element momentum (BEM) rotor model to calculate the rotor forces and seven degree-of-freedom (DOF) equations of motion to calculate the coupled effects between the rotor and the main body. For the results presented in this paper, this simulation is set to model a 20-kW experimental ocean current turbine, and performance predictions are made for environmental condition that it will likely operate when deployed in the Gulf Stream off Southeast Florida. This model predicts that this turbine will have a maximum rotor power coefficient of 0.45 and that the vertical current gradient will only minimally affect the system performance. This simulation is also used to quantify the cyclic loadings that will be induced for misalignments between the rotor axis and the incoming flow, and it predicts the system motions and the forces on the rotor when the system is operating in a wave field.
Effects of Phosgene Exposure on Bacterial, Viral, and Neoplastic Lung Disease Susceptibility in Mice

AbstractIn this study the effects of phosgene inhalation on host resistance models representative of bacterial, viral, and neoplastic lung diseases were assessed. A single Ch exposure to concentrations of phosgene of 0.025 ppm and above significantly enhanced mortality due to laboratory-induced aerosol infection with Streptococcus zooepidimi-cus (group C). Bacteria recovered from lavage fluid of mice exposed to 0.05 ppm for 4 h increased dramatically between 3 and 48 h post infection, while bacteria recovered from lavage fluid of air exposed mice declined to nearly undetectable levels over the same time period. Concentrations of phosgene 10-fold higher than the lowest observable effect concentration for streptococcus susceptibility had little or no effect on alveolar macrophage phagocytic activity and little or no effect on total cells recovered, viability, or differential cell counts in lavage fluid obtained shortly after exposure. A single 4-h exposure to as little as 0.025 ppm phosgene also caused a si...
Introduction: Seismogenic and Tsunamigenic Processes in Shallow Subduction Zones

Earthquakes in shallow subduction zones account for the greatest part of seismic energy release in the Earth and often cause significant damage; in some cases they are accompanied by devastating tsunamis. Understanding the physics of seismogenic and tsunamigenic processes in such zones continues to be a challenge as well as a focus of ongoing research. In particular, questions that are being addressed include: