cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Homologous recombination defects in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome and Diamond-Blackfan anemia

ABSTRACT Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) and Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) are ribosomopathies characterized by impaired hematopoiesis and cancer predisposition. The mechanisms underlying cancer predisposition in these disorders are not well understood. We found that LCLs derived from patients with SDS or DBA had a prolonged DNA damage response and hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation, suggesting impaired DNA double strand break (DSB) repair. Consistent with this, depletion of SBDS and RPS19, the most common etiologic factors in SDS and DBA, respectively, resulted in reduced homologous recombination (HR) in HCT116 and U2OS cells. Surprisingly, depletion of EFL1, which functions with SBDS in ribosome biogenesis, did not impair HR and depletion of eIF6, which restores ribosome joining in SBDS-depleted cells, did not rescue the HR defect associated with SBDS depletion. Instead, we found SBDS and RPS19 recruitment to sites of DSBs suggesting that SBDS and RPS19 have more proximate roles in regulating HR, independent of their ribosomal functions. We propose that reduced HR shifts DSB repair toward error-prone NHEJ and this may contribute to oncogenesis in SDS and DBA. Additionally, we found SBDS and RPS19 depleted cells were hypersensitive to PARP inhibition, potentially uncovering a therapeutic target for SDS- and DBA-associated malignancies.
Is regularization determined by semantics, or grammar, or both? Comments on Kim, Marcus, Pinker, Hollander & Coppola (1994).

Kim, Marcus, Pinker, Hollander & Coppola (1994) argue that the preference children and adults show for regular inflection for verbs and nouns with novel meanings (e.g. The batter *flew}flied out to centre field) should be attributed to their grammatically based sensitivity to the derivations of these verbs and nouns. However, it could also be that speakers avoid the use of irregular forms to avoid conveying the conventional meaning associated with the irregular form, such as literally flying to centre field. This paper, in reply to Kim et al .( 1994), reinterprets their findings and argues for a semantic}functional account, without resorting to a grammatical account.
Imaging Behind Occluders Using Two-Bounce Light

We introduce the new non-line-of-sight imaging problem of imaging behind an occluder. The behind-an-occluder problem can be solved if the hidden space is flanked by opposing visible surfaces. We illuminate one surface and observe light that scatters off of the opposing surface after traveling through the hidden space. Hidden objects attenuate light that passes through the hidden space, leaving an observable signature that can be used to reconstruct their shape. Our method uses a simple capture setup—we use an eye-safe laser pointer as a light source and off-the-shelf RGB or RGB-D cameras to estimate the geometry of relay surfaces and observe two-bounce light. We analyze the photometric and geometric challenges of this new imaging problem, and develop a robust method that produces high-quality 3D reconstructions in uncontrolled settings where relay surfaces may be non-planar.
Initial implementation of an electronic oncology trigger tool for adverse event detection.

298Background: In 2009, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) conceived the Global Trigger Tool (GTT), a method for identifying adverse events that relies on correlated clinical documentat...
Officer-Created Jeopardy: Broadening the Time Frame for Assessing a Police Officer’s Use of Deadly Force

When a police officer’s use of deadly force kills or seriously injures a civilian, that officer may face civil liability or criminal prosecution. In both civil and criminal cases, a critical question that the jury must decide is whether the officer’s use of force was reasonable or excessive. As a general matter, the jury will be advised that it should consider all the relevant facts and circumstances—the totality of the circumstances—to answer this question. An officer’s decisions and conduct prior to that officer’s use of deadly force can create jeopardy for the civilian and the officer, increasing the risk of an officer-civilian encounter turning into a deadly confrontation. In cases involving officer-created jeopardy, the trial court must decide whether to restrict the jury to considering only the facts and circumstances known to the officer at the moment the officer chose to use deadly force or allow the jury to consider antecedent conduct of the officer that created or increased the risk of a deadly confrontation. The lower courts are split over whether a narrow or a broad time frame is appropriate and the U.S. Supreme Court has not explicitly taken a position on this issue. This Article argues that courts overseeing criminal prosecutions of police officers should broaden the time frame and allow juries assessing the reasonableness of the officer’s use of deadly force to consider pre-shooting conduct of the officer that created or increased the risk of a deadly confrontation.
A Multiphysics Model of Synergistic Environmental Exposure-Assisted Damage of Composite Using Homogenization-Based Degradation Variables

The adoption of fossil-based hydrocarbon polymer composites has been successful in both the automotive and aircraft industries and is rapidly expanding into buildings and civil infrastructure. One challenge to broader adoption of polymer composites in buildings and civil infrastructure is a limited ability to model the synergistic effects of the combined physical/chemical processes of environmental exposure and mechanical loading. Unlike other building materials, long-term experience and field performance data of polymer composites in buildings and civil infrastructure applications do not exist. The first and largest composite building system used in a high-rise exterior in the USA is the facade of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) completed in 2015. Since historical, experience-based service life models for composite building applications are not available, it is crucial to build multi-physical-based models in order to predict composite service life performance on a semi-centennial or centennial time scale. This study is to build a physics-based model to predict synergistic effect of environmental exposure to damage of the composite. Based on the authors’ previous UV/moisture exposure experiment-computational study, this extended study couples degradation-induced material weakening to continuum damage model. Results of this study indicate that the synergistic effect of combined UV and moisture exposure on composite material degradation is more severe than simple linear superposition of each exposure’s damage. A comparison and analysis of UV and moisture exposure degradation mechanisms indicate that these environmental exposures caused material degradation by weakening the polymer matrix, along with weakening the interface between the polymer matrix and fiber reinforcing yarns. Moreover, the interface weakening is more critical than the former one.
Pen, to Paper, to the Polls: Initiative Signature Gathering and Electoral Outcomes

Does the act of signing a petition to place initiatives on the ballot make a voter more likely to vote for that measure? Previous research suggests that television advertising can influence vote share for ballot propositions and that signature gathering campaigns increase registration and turnout and decrease ballot roll-off but has failed to examine the link between petition drives and vote share. Using heteroskedasticity-robust regression with clustered standard errors and multiple levels of fixed effects, I examine whether either statewide spending on petition circulation or the number of voters a petition campaign reaches in a county has a significant impact on vote share. Though statewide spending analysis proves largely inconclusive, the strength of a petition drive within a county has a significant, positive effect on vote share even after endogenizing campaign strategy and incorporating turnout effects.
Telemedicine Adoption during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Gaps and Inequalities.

Background The telemedicine industry has been experiencing fast growth in recent years. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) further accelerated the deployment and utilization of telemedicine services. An analysis of the socioeconomic characteristics of telemedicine users to understand potential socioeconomic gaps and disparities is critical for improving the adoption of telemedicine services among patients. Objectives This study aims to measure the correlation of socioeconomic determinants with the use of telemedicine services in Milwaukee metropolitan area. Methods Electronic health record review of patients using telemedicine services compared with those not using telemedicine services within an academic-community health system: patient demographics (e.g., age, gender, race, and ethnicity), insurance status, and socioeconomic determinants obtained through block-level census data in Milwaukee area. The telemedicine users were compared with all other patients using regression analysis. The telemedicine adoption rates were calculated across regional ZIP codes to analyze the geographic patterns of telemedicine adoption. Results A total of 104,139 patients used telemedicine services during the study period. Patients who used video visits were younger (median age 48.12), more likely to be White (odds ratio [OR] 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31–1.37), and have private insurance (OR 1.43; CI, 1.41–1.46); patients who used telephone visits were older (median age 57.58), more likely to be Black (OR 1.31; CI 1.28–1.35), and have public insurance (OR 1.30; CI 1.27–1.32). In general, Latino and Asian populations were less likely to use telemedicine; women used more telemedicine services in general than men. In the multiple regression analysis of social determinant factors across 126 ZIP codes, college education (coefficient 1.41, p = 0.01) had a strong correlation to video telemedicine adoption rate. Conclusion Adoption of telemedicine services was significantly impacted by the social determinant factors of health, such as income, education level, race, and insurance type. The study reveals the potential inequities and disparities in telemedicine adoption.
Intracellular Markers in the Crystalline Lens of the Rat

STretton & Kravitz (1968) reported the usefulness of Procion dyes for marking cells in the nervous system. Because of their ionic nature, these dyes can be injected by iontophoresis from the tip of a microelectrode which has impaled the cell to be marked. The most used of these dye markers is procion yellow which, because it is highly fluorescent, can be located in histologic sections by fluorescence microscopy. More recently, Christensen (1973) has reported the use of Procion brown as a marker for cells in the lamprey spinal cord. This dye, because it contains chromium, is electron dense and can be localized by electron microscopy. Rae (1973, 1974) and Rae & BLankenship (1973) described the use of Procion dyes to mark cells in the crystallin lens of the frog. These studies had the disadvantage that they were performed on an animal in which experimental cataracts are not easily produced. In addition, the histologic studies were done using low resolution paraffin embedding procedures. To rectify these shortcomings, the present studies were undertaken using Sprague-Dawley rats and the high resolution histology associated with Epon embedding and glass and diamond knife sectioning techniques.
Catalytic cracking of camelina oil for hydrocarbon biofuel over ZSM-5-Zn catalyst

Abstract Cracking of camelina oil over non-catalyst and ZSM-5 catalyst doped with different Zn concentrations (0, 10, 20 and 30 wt.%) in a fixed-bed reactor was investigated. The fresh and used catalysts were characterized using XRD, FT-IR, BET and TEM. Characterizations of the produced hydrocarbon biofuel, distillation residual and non-condensable gas were carried out. The effect of non-catalyst and catalyst on the physicochemical properties and yield of products was discussed. The results showed that the introduction of Zn did not change the zeolite crystalline structure and ZnO might deposit on the external surface and/or inside the pores of the support ZSM-5. After upgrading, hydrocarbon biofuel had a lower viscosity, lower density, higher heating value (HHV) and higher water content than raw camelina oil. The optimum Zn concentration to ZSM-5 was 20 wt.%, at which the highest hydrocarbon biofuel yield and comprehensively the best quality were obtained. Compared to non-catalytic cracking of camelina oil, the loading of Zn to ZSM-5 could improve some physicochemical properties of the hydrocarbon biofuel. In addition, the loading of Zn to ZSM-5 could facilitate the chemical reactions such as decarbonylation and dehydrogenation.
Short communication: Determination of withdrawal time for oxytetracycline in different types of goats for milk consumption

Antibiotics are widely used in animal husbandry and the presence of antibiotics in milk is a health hazard. The objective of this study was to determine residual amounts of oxytetracycline in fresh, aged, and pasteurized milk of 3 breeds of goats using HPLC analysis. It was also essential to determine the safe withdrawal period of oxytetracycline in lactating goats. The quantitative results obtained using the HPLC system were compared with the tolerance limit of oxytetracycline in milk in the United States. Fifteen milking does, 5 Nubians, 5 Alpines, and 5 LaManchas were randomly selected from the milking herd at the International Goat Research Center at Prairie View A&M University. A simple sample preparation and isocratic HPLC method using ultraviolet detection was used for analysis of milk samples. The HPLC results indicated that the withdrawal period of oxytetracycline in treated Alpine does was 82h (7 milking), whereas for Nubian does the period was 58h (5 milking), and for LaManchas the period was 72h (6 milking) after drug administration. The overall withdrawal period for all the treated goats of 3 breeds was 72h. Although these results indicated that the depletion rate of this antibiotic was faster in goats than the reported data for cows, the 96-h withdrawal period that is currently used for lactating cows is still necessary for these 3 breeds of goats. Additionally, our results indicated that oxytetracycline is not stable in goat milk at refrigeration temperature or during pasteurization and will decrease significantly.
The Opening Phase of STAPP

In my book Short-Term Psychotherapy and Emotional Crisis (Sifneos, 1972) I discussed at some length the specific requirements for STAPP. To avoid repetition, therefore, I shall only summarize the major points here.
Proceedings of the 7th international conference on Interaction design and children

Each day, we interact with hundreds of technological devices that help us organize our lives, achieve our goals, and indulge in our passions. For children today, technology is especially pervasive in all aspects of life. They learn and play using computers and other technological devices; as they grow, they build and maintain friendships using computers and mobile phones; they interact with one another virtually; and even find critical interpersonal support and therapy using computers, the internet and other technology-enhanced products. Given the ubiquity of technology in children's lives, it is surprising that so few venues bring together those who are concerned with designing the technologies and the interactions with technology that are so important to children's lives. For this reason, IDC 2008 brought together, in the diverse city of Chicago, an international community of researchers, educators, and industry professionals concerned with interaction design for children, in order to think outside the toy-box. The goals of the 2008 conference were to better understand children's needs, and how to design for them, by presenting and discussing the most innovative research in the field of interaction design for children, by exhibiting the most recent developments in design and design methodologies, and by gathering the leading minds in the field of interaction design for children - all in one place. It is time to stop thinking of computers as the primary locus of technological design - this year we invited researchers to submit work on everything from cell phones to smart nail polish, from infant programming tools to technological design competitions for teens, and the papers we received reflected this diversification of technology for young people. It is also time to stop thinking of "children" as a homogeneous group - this year we hosted workshops for researchers designing for children with special needs, and concerning interaction design for marginalized young people, and we hosted a doctoral consortium for promising younger scholars. Invited panels on Screen Cultures and on Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice addressed over-arching issues in the field, and a keynote by Dr. Charlotte Cole of Sesame Workshop spoke to issues of globalization and localization. Finally, this year we invited researchers to step outside the domains of learning and play, and to consider designing for civic involvement, for democracy, and for physical well-being, and the papers in this volume reflect this diversification of applications for technology for young people.
The effect of cul length and hippocampal lesions on maze learning in the rat

Twenty-four tats, 8 with bilateral hippocampal lesions, 8 with cortical lesions and 8 unoperated rats, were tested on one of 2 mazes. Half of each group were run in a conventional 5 choice multiple Y maze. The other half were run in a symetrical, long cul maze in which distance and number of successive choice points were equal for a right or wrong choice before the animal reached a cul end or the goal box. The correct path in the long cul maze was identical to that of the short cul maze. S’s were run one trial a day for 15 days. On the symetrical, long cul maze there were no differences between groups. On the short cul maze, hippocampals were significantly worse than control S’s and looked similar to control S’s on the long cul maze. The results are interpreted in terms of frustration theory.
Direction or Misdirection in Physical Education for Mentally Retarded Students

(1979). Direction or Misdirection in Physical Education for Mentally Retarded Students. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 50, No. 7, pp. 22-23.
Pregnancy in the rabbit following immunization with human chorionic gonadotropin.

Abstract Antibodies to gonadotropins may inhibit the biologic activity of the same or closely related gonadotropins. Rabbits immunized with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) formed agglutinating antibodies to the HCG. The immune serum inhibited the biologic activity of HCG. However, the immunized rabbits ovulated and became pregnant despite the circulating antibodies. This suggests that there is no cross reaction between HCG and rabbit gonadotropin.
A Hamiltonian–Krein (Instability) Index Theory for Solitary Waves to KdV-Like Eigenvalue Problems

The Hamiltonian–Krein (instability) index is concerned with determining the number of eigenvalues with positive real part for the Hamiltonian eigenvalue problem , where is skew-symmetric and is self-adjoint. If has a bounded inverse the index is well established, and it is given by the number of negative eigenvalues of the operator constrained to act on some finite-codimensional subspace. There is an important class of problems—namely, those of KdV-type—for which does not have a bounded inverse. In this paper, we overcome this difficulty and derive the index for eigenvalue problems of KdV-type. We use the index to discuss the spectral stability of homoclinic traveling waves for KdV-like problems and Benjamin—Bona—Mahony-type problems.
Chapter 4. Antidepressants

Publisher Summary In this chapter, the role of anti-depressants (ADs) in the treatment of depression has been discussed. In animal studies, β-receptor subsensitivity is observed with effective AD therapies neurochemically, electrophysiologically, and behaviorally and may depend on the “passage of time” rather than chronic exposure to drug. The possible role of dopamine (DA) in depression has been discussed in the chapter. There is some evidence that chronic AD treatment produces presynaptic DA-subsensitivity. Cholinergic-catecholaminergic interactions may play a role in the etiology and treatment of affective disorders. Numerous other systems have been studied for the role they may play in the mechanism of the action of ADs. The role of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO-B) in depression remains controversial. In a clinical trial, using two doses of the irreversible MAO-B selective inhibitor 1-deprenyl, only the higher, non-selective dose was superior to placebo. Several compounds clinically useful in other therapeutic areas have been found active in AD trials. The anti-psychotic agents, sulpiride and fluperlapine, have been effective in open clinical trials. The β 2 agonists, salbutamol and clenbuterol, have been as effective as clomipramine particularly in bipolar and certain unipolar patients. Much research is still directed toward the discovery of reuptake inhibitors that are active in rodent AD models and have little or no side effects. Tetrahydrothienopyridine shows significant inhibition of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) reuptake and is active against tetrabenazine ptosis with less propensity for anti-cholinergic and cardiovascular side effects than AMI. Several potential new ADs are effective in animal models and/or affect NE, 5-HT, or DA systems, but are devoid of significant uptake inhibitory activity. Zometapine is clinically effective and is active in a noise-induced stress model of depression in animals. It has neither amine uptake nor MAO inhibitory activity. Clinically effective ADs continue to serve as templates for further chemistry.
Teacher Education: Its Problems and Some Prospects

Based on an analysis of occupational competence in teaching and teacher education, this article draws together a set of dilemmas that face the field, arguing that an occupational analysis is needed to complement the more common institutional analysis of teacher education. Then, this analysis is used to evaluate the prospects of the reforms that currently are dominant in the policy discourse of teacher education. The article concludes with thoughts on some promising directions for the improvement of the field of teacher education.
Mesozooplankton biomass in the upper 1000 m in the Arabian Sea: overall seasonal and geographic patterns, and relationship to oxygen gradients

Abstract Mesozooplankton biomass distributions in the upper 1000 m of the Arabian Sea were studied as part of the US JGOFS Arabian Sea Process Study. Samples were collected in vertically stratified MOCNESS tows during four seasons in 1995 at six stations spanning the Arabian Sea. This paper describes results from the size-fractionated dry weight and wet weight biomass profiles and their relationship to the seasonal monsoon cycle and the pronounced oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). The total mesozooplankton biomass and most size fractions exhibited a significant onshore/offshore biomass gradient during most seasons and at most depths. The gradient was strongest in August during the late Southwest Monsoon and weakest in March during the Spring Intermonsoon, when maxima of some size-fractions occurred offshore. Seasonal changes in zooplankton biomass were small. The late Southwest Monsoon was the time of higher biomasses for nearshore stations, while the Spring Intermonsoon was the time of higher biomasses for offshore stations. Most of the zooplankton biomass present in the upper 1000 m of the water column occurred in the upper 200 m, but there was substantial diel vertical migration, especially in the large size class, down to 300–400 m, well within the suboxic water of the OMZ. Subsurface biomass increased in the lower OMZ within the depth range of the 0.05–0.1 ml/l oxygen gradient (about 500–600 m). The enhanced zooplankton biomass, higher potential food levels, and possible short food chains suggested active biological modification of the sinking flux in this depth zone. Biomass depth profiles showed close relationships to oxygen profiles. The shapes of the zooplankton biomass and oxygen profiles varied with geographic location across the Arabian Sea but were remarkably consistent over the year at each station. Geographic differences in the shapes of the profiles were dependent on the vertical extent of the suboxic zone and may correspond to broad regional differences in the processing of the export flux in midwater. However, the consistency of the shapes over time implies long-term stability in the structure and function of the midwater ecosystem at each location.
Computer-aided detection of therapy-induced leukoencephalopathy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated with intravenous high-dose methotrexate

The purpose of this study was to use objective quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods to develop a computer-aided detection (CAD) tool to differentiate white matter (WM) hyperintensities into either leukoencephalopathy (LE) induced by chemotherapy or normal maturational processes in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia without irradiation. A combined MRI set consisting of T1-weighted, T2-weighted, proton-density-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images and WM, gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid proportional volume maps from a spatially normalized atlas were analyzed with a neural network segmentation based on a Kohonen self-organizing map (SOM). Segmented maps were manually classified to identify the most hyperintense WM region and the normal-appearing genu region. Signal intensity differences normalized to the genu within each examination were generated for four time points in 228 children. A second Kohonen SOM was trained on the first examination data and divided the WM into normal-appearing or LE groups. Reviewing labels from the CAD tool revealed a consistency measure of 89.8% (167 of 186) within patients. The overall agreement between the CAD tool and the consensus reading of two trained observers was 84.1% (535 of 636), with 84.2% (170 of 202) agreement in the training set and 84.1% (365 of 434) agreement in the testing set. These results suggest that subtle therapy-induced LE can be objectively and reproducibly detected in children treated for cancer using this CAD approach based on relative differences in quantitative signal intensity measures normalized within each examination.
Association of the veterans aging cohort study index with exercise capacity in HIV-infected adults.

Abstract Physical disability is a major priority in aging, affecting morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Despite the large number of adults aging with HIV, our understanding of the physiologic and clinical risk factors for disability is limited. Our goal is to determine whether the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index, based on routine clinical blood tests, could serve as a point of care screening tool to identify HIV-infected adults at high risk for physical disability. HIV-infected adults enrolled in the VACS participated in a cross-sectional exercise study with established measures of strength and endurance. The VACS Index was calculated using recent clinical laboratory values and age; a higher score reflects greater mortality risk. Statistical analyses included correlation and linear regression models adjusted for muscle mass. Fifty-five HIV-infected adults, predominantly African-American men, were included with age mean±SD of 52±7 years. Median (IQR) CD4 cell count was 356 cells/mm3 (212–5...
Novel targeted therapies in inflammatory breast cancer.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) accounts for 1% to 5% of all breast cancer cases. Its aggressive biology is characterized by rapid disease progression and poor prognosis. To improve and standardize therapy for IBC, development of novel therapeutics to molecular targets of IBC is key. Trastuzumab treatment, an anti-HER2 humanized monoclonal antibody, has been demonstrated to improve the 3-year survival rate of patients with IBC (70.1% vs 53.3%; P = .0007). Another chemotherapeutic drug, lapatinib, a dual tyrosine inhibitor of epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and HER2 signaling, in combination with capecitabine demonstrated encouraging results, with a 51% decrease in disease progression. Further investigation is needed to confirm the efficacy of lapatinib. Cancer 2010;116(11 suppl):2837–9. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Al-Tafsīr al-kabīr: An Investigation of al-Qushayrī’s Major Qur’an Commentary

Abstract The mystic and scholar of Nishapur, Abū l-Qāsim al-Qushayrī, is widely acclaimed for his important treatise on the Sufi Path, al-Risāla, and his Sufi commentary of the Qur’an, Laṭāʾif al-ishārāt. However, a commentary composed during his early career has been largely overlooked despite its wide attestation in the biographical literature. Called al-Tafsīr al-kabīr or “the Major Commentary,” this work may only survive in manuscript form. At the center of the present study are two manuscripts from Leiden and Istanbul that appear to partially preserve Qushayrī’s earliest work of Qur’anic exegesis. By examining the various authorities cited in the text and cross-referencing relevant works, this study works to date the commentary of each text, to identify their respective commentarial influences and authorities, and to draw possible conclusions concerning how the manuscripts relate to one another and ultimately to Qushayrī, the alleged author.
Involvement of α2‐adrenoceptors, imidazoline, and endothelin‐A receptors in the effect of agmatine on morphine and oxycodone‐induced hypothermia in mice

Potentiation of opioid analgesia by endothelin-A (ET(A)) receptor antagonist, BMS182874, and imidazoline receptor/α₂-adrenoceptor agonists such as clonidine and agmatine are well known. It is also known that agmatine blocks morphine hyperthermia in rats. However, the effect of agmatine on morphine or oxycodone hypothermia in mice is unknown. The present study was carried out to study the role of α₂-adrenoceptors, imidazoline, and ET(A) receptors in morphine and oxycodone hypothermia in mice. Body temperature was determined over 6 h in male Swiss Webster mice treated with morphine, oxycodone, agmatine, and combination of agmatine with morphine or oxycodone. Yohimbine, idazoxan, and BMS182874 were used to determine involvement of α₂-adrenoceptors, imidazoline, and ET(A) receptors, respectively. Morphine and oxycodone produced significant hypothermia that was not affected by α₂-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine, imidazoline receptor/α₂ adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan, or ET(A) receptor antagonist, BMS182874. Agmatine did not produce hypothermia; however, it blocked oxycodone but not morphine-induced hypothermia. Agmatine-induced blockade of oxycodone hypothermia was inhibited by idazoxan and yohimbine. The blockade by idazoxan was more pronounced compared with yohimbine. Combined administration of BMS182874 and agmatine did not produce changes in body temperature in mice. However, when BMS182874 was administered along with agmatine and oxycodone, it blocked agmatine-induced reversal of oxycodone hypothermia. This is the first report demonstrating that agmatine does not affect morphine hypothermia in mice, but reverses oxycodone hypothermia. Imidazoline receptors and α₂-adrenoceptors are involved in agmatine-induced reversal of oxycodone hypothermia. Our findings also suggest that ET(A) receptors may be involved in blockade of oxycodone hypothermia by agmatine.
Fast spin echo image distortion correction for MR-guided stereotactic pallidotomy

We present a method to reduce the geometric distortion in fast spin echo (FSE) images to levels appropriate for guiding stereotactic pallidotomy. We quantify the accuracy of FSE- guided target localization before and after correction using a cadaver head model. These results strongly suggest that stereotactic pallidotomy can be performed using MR and stimulation responses alone, thus avoiding the morbidity associated with pallidotomy and the costs of x-ray apparatus and personnel during surgery. This method, however, must be tested further and validated clinically before it can be applied.
Molybdenum disulfide nanowires and nanoribbons by electrochemical/chemical synthesis.

Molybdenum disulfide nanowires and nanoribbons have been synthesized by a two-step, electrochemical/chemical synthetic method. In the first step, MoOx wires (a mixture of MoO2 and MoO3) were electrodeposited size-selectively by electrochemical step-edge decoration on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. Then, MoOx precursor wires were converted to MoS2 by exposure to H2S either at 500−700°C, producing “low-temperature” or LT MoS2 nanowires that were predominantly 2H phase, or above 800°C producing “high-temperature” or HT MoS2 ribbons that were predominantly 3R phase. The majority of these MoS2 wires and ribbons were more than 50 μm in length and were organized into parallel arrays containing hundreds of wires or ribbons. MoS2 nanostructures were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, UV−visible absorption spectrometry, and Raman spectroscopy. HT and LT MoS2 nanowires were stru...
A hybrid intelligent system for predicting bank holding structures

A composite model of neural network and rough sets components was constructed to predict a sample of bank holding patterns. The final model was able to correctly classify 96% of a testing set of four types of bank holding structures. Holding structure is defined as the number of banks under common ownership. For this study, forms of bank holding structure include: banks that are not owned by another company, single banks that are held by another firm, pairs of banks that are held by another enterprise, and three or more banks that are held by another company. Initially, input to the neural network model was 28 financial ratios for more than 200 banks in Arkansas for 1992. The 28 ratios are organized by categories such as liquidity, credit risk, leverage, efficiency, and profitability. The ratios were constructed with 70 bank variables such as net worth, deposits, total assets, net loans, total operating income, etc. The first neural network model correctly classified 84% of the testing set at a tolerance level of 0.20. Another artificial intelligence (AI) procedure known as two-dimensional rough sets was then applied to the dataset. Rough sets reduced the number of input variables from 28 to 18, a drop of 36% in the number of input variables. This version of rough sets also eliminated a number of records, thereby reducing the information system (i.e., matrix) on both vertical and horizontal dimensions. A second neural network was trained with the reduced number of input variables and records. This network correctly classified 96% of the testing set at a tolerance level of 0.20, an increase of 11% in the accuracy of the prediction. By applying two-dimensional reducts to the dataset of financial ratios, the predictive accuracy of the neural network model was improved substantially. Banking institutions that are prime candidates for mergers or acquisitions can then be more accurately identified through the use of this hybrid decision support system (DSS) which combines different types of AI techniques for the purposes of data management and modeling.
Cytoplasmic pH regulation in canine renal proximal tubule cells

Cytoplasmic pH regulation in canine renal proximal tubule cells. The precise mechanisms by which the mammalian kidney proximal tubule transports H + and HCO 3 - and regulates cytosolic pH (pHi) remain in doubt, though both a H + -ATPase pump and Na + /H + exchange at the luminal membrane are known to function in the export of protons. The mechanisms of HCO 3 - transport are less clear though recent reports suggest an important role for an electrogenic Na + /HCO 3 - symport in the basolateral membrane. The importance of chloride–dependent bicarbonate transport is unknown. In the present studies, the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, bis-(carboxyethyl)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) has been used to study pHi changes in suspensions of canine proximal tubule cells following acidification or alkalinization of the cytosol. Cells were acid–loaded to pH 6.5 by exposure to the H + /K + ionophore, nigericin. Following removal of nigericin, pHi returned to basal levels (pHi = 7.1) when the cells were resuspended in a buffer containing 100mM Na + . This recovery was blocked by removal of Na + or addition of 0.2mM amiloride to the cell suspension. In the presence of 0.2mM amiloride and Na + , partial excretion of the acid load occurred if the buffer also contained HCO 3 - /CO 2 , but this effect was blocked by the removal of Na + or the addition of 1mM 4-acetomido-4′-isothiocyano-2,2′-stilbene disulfonic acid (SITS). When cell membrane potential was monitored in these experiments using the potential–sensitive fluorescent dye, bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbiturate) trimethine oxonol, the increase in pHi seen in the presence of Na + was found to be electroneutral, whereas when that occurred in the presence of Na + , amiloride and HCO 3 - /CO 2 was associated with membrane hyperpolarization. In a further series of experiments, the chloride dependence of bicarbonate transport was studied. In the absence of chloride, basal pHi was increased (7.31 ± 0.02 vs. 7.15 ± 0.03, P 4 ) 2 SO 4 was blunted (0.12 ± 0.01 vs. 0.16 ± 0.01, P 4 ) 2 SO 4 , but no such recovery was detectable in chloride free conditions. These data are consistent with pHi regulation of these cells by means of an amiloride–inhibitable Na + /H + exchanger and a SITS-inhibitable, electrogenic, Na + /HCO 3 - symport. Chloride–dependent bicarbonate transfer also occurs and is important in the maintenance of basal pHi and the excretion of a base load.
Teichmüller deformations of super Riemann surfaces

Abstract Exact solutions are obtained for the linearized super Beltrami equations which describe infinitesimal deformations of super Reimann surfaces. The tangent and cotangent spaces to super Teichmuller space, as well as the super Weil-Petersson metric, are described in terms of Beltrami differentials and superconformal tensors of weight 3/2. Martinec's approach to super Teichmuller deformations is thereby derived from that of Crane and Rabin.
T Cells Take Notice of Distinct Mutations in Cancer Cells

Antigens are molecular ZIP codes that allow the immune system to sort through and select which cells to ignore and which ones to attack. Change one digit in a ZIP code, and the letter you sent to your aunt in Connecticut could end up with a confused stranger in California. That’s also true for
The impact of Improving Outcomes Guidance on the management and outcomes of patients with carcinoma of the penis

INTRODUCTIONThe Improving Outcomes Guidance (IOG) for patients with carcinoma of the penis states that treatment should be provided supraregionally to populations of 4 million or greater who treat over 25 cases of penis cancer each year. This study assesses the impact of this guidance on the management and outcomes of patients with the disease in our region. PATIENTS AND METHODSWe retrospectively compared the records of 44 patients with carcinoma of the penis treated in our institution between 1969 and 1990 with 101 patients treated between 2002 and 2006, i.e. after supraregional centralisation of the service. RESULTSThere was no significant change in the stage or grade of the tumours. However, the results show that, in modern times, there was a significant increase in the amount of penis-preserving and nodal surgery as well as a fall in mortality. The improved survival is greatest in patients with poorly-differentiated disease who may, therefore, have benefited from aggressive nodal surgery. CONCLUSIONST...
Impact of WHO 2005 revised toxic equivalency factors for dioxins on the TEQs in serum, household dust and soil

Abstract Background In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) – International Programme on Chemical Safety reevaluated the toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) for dioxin-like compounds and made changes that affect the calculation of the total toxic equivalent (TEQ). The impact of these changes on the TEQs for human blood and abiotic matrices such as soil and household dust has not been widely assessed or reported. Methods and results Using a major exposure study which examined blood, household dust, and soil levels of dioxin-like compounds in several regions of Michigan, we found the mean total TEQ was significantly reduced by 26%, 12% and 14% for serum, household dust, and soil, respectively, when the TEQ was based on the 2005 TEFs compared to the 1998 TEFs. The decrease in the serum total TEQ was largely due to the down-weighting of the TEFs for the majority of mono–ortho PCBs. In contrast, the decrease in the soil total TEQ was mostly due to the down-weighting of the TEF for 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF) (1998 TEF = 0.5, 2005 TEF = 0.3). For household dust, the decrease in total TEQ was not due to any single TEF but was due to small changes in a number of compounds. There was a dramatic decrease (−88%) in the mean and 95th percentile for mono–ortho PCB TEQ due to the 2005 TEFs. Discussion These findings suggest that comparisons between studies based on the TEQ–WHO98 and TEQ–WHO05 may need to consider an appropriate conversion factor to assure comparability. Furthermore, the changes in TEFs may have impact in locations where regulations of soil contamination are triggered by specific TEQ levels.
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope's operational mission experience

New Generation of Detector Arrays(100 to 10,000 Gain in Capability over Previous Infrared Space Missions). IRAC: 256 x 256 pixel arrays operating at 3.6 microns, 4.5 microns, 5.8 microns, 8.0 microns. MIPS: Photometer with 3 sets of arrays operating at 24 microns, 70 microns and 160 microns. 128 x 128; 32 x 32 and 2 x 20 arrays. Spectrometer with 50-100 micron capabilities. IRS: 4 Array (128x128 pixel) Spectrograph, 4 -40 microns. Warm Launch Architecture: All other Infrared Missions launched with both the telescope and scientific instrument payload within the cryostat or Dewar. Passive cooling used to cool outer shell to approx.40 K. Cryogenic Boil-off then cools telescope to required 5.5K. Earth Trailing Heliocentric Orbit: Increased observing efficiency, simplification of observation planning, removes earth as heat source.
Characterization of Substrate Binding to the Group II Archael Chaperonin from Methanococcus maripaludis (Mm-Cpn)

Molecular chaperones are important for the proper folding and function of many proteins, and malfunction of chaperone-assisted folding has been implicated in several protein aggregation diseases. For this reason, chaperones have been identified as a potential area for drug development. An important step in developing specific therapeutic targets is the identification of the recognition site on the substrate as well as the binding site on the chaperone. In this study, we use a number of biophysical and biochemical methods to elucidate the binding site on a Human γ-Crystallin substrate and the recognition site on the Methanococcus maripaludis chaperonin (Mm-Cpn). A homologue of human chaperonins, Mm-Cpn has been shown to bind and inhibit the aggregation of several closely related members of the Human γ-Crystallin protein family including HγD- and HγC-crystallins. Although members of this protein family share a high degree of homology, Mm-Cpn suppression of HγD aggregation is twice as efficient as the suppression of HγC aggregation. It remains unclear whether this difference in suppression efficiency is linked to sequence-determined substrate binding kinetics or to differences in substrate aggregation kinetics. To better understand how sequence difference may affect aggregation and chaperone binding, we studied the chaperone-induced aggregation suppression for the isolated N-terminal and C-terminal domains of both HγD and HγC.Supported by an NIH Roadmap Award to the Center for Protein Folding Machinery (http://ncmi.bcm.tmc.edu/nanomedicine).
Craze plasticity in low molecular weight diluent‐toughened polystyrene

Based on the extensive experiments of Qin et al. 9 on the effects of low molecular weight liquid-rubber diluents on the craze plasticity of polystyrene and the substantial toughening obtainable in certain ranges of temperature, strain rate, and diluent character, we examine in this article the various factors that limit the beneficial toughening effect of such diluents. We find that the principal limitation is the inability of the diluent to keep up with the local plastic deformation process which it affects autocatalytically. A subsidiary limitation is the rate of wetting of the craze borders by the spreading diluent rubber as the latter is released from submicron size diluent pools by the craze itself. While we find it difficult to quantitatively separate in importance the diluent spreading effect from the actual effect of plasticization associated with the autocatalytic sorption of the diluent at the deforming craze borders, the latter appears to be the dominant effect which eventually limits the toughening.
Content-aware encoding for improving energy efficiency in multi-level cell resistive random access memory

Memory is an integral and important component of both general-purpose and embedded systems. It is widely acknowledged that energy of the memory structure is a major contributor in overall system energy. Recent advances with emerging non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies can potentially alleviate the issue of memory leakage power. However, they introduce new challenges and opportunities for dynamic power management in memory. In this paper, we consider resistive random access memory (RRAM), a promising NVM technology, and observe that a specific feature of the memory, namely, its multi-level cell (MLC) structure, can be used to significantly reduce its read access energy. Unlike conventional CMOS static random access memory (SRAM), the read access energy in RRAM largely depend on the stored content. Based on this observation, we present an efficient encoding technique for improving the energy efficiency for multi-level cell RRAM. Our simulation results with benchmark applications demonstrate an order-of-magnitude energy reduction with modest area overhead.
Phosphoinositide turnover provides a link in stimulus—response coupling

Abstract Much excitement has resulted from the discovery that phosphatidylinositol and its phosphorylated derivatives are storage forms of messenger molecules that can be released in response to specific extracellular signals. Signal molecules bind to cell surface receptors and the messenger molecules derived from the phosphoinositides couple the signal to a variety of responses within and between cells.
Artificial photosynthesis: Light-activated calcium gradients

Photosynthetic organisms use light to create chemical gradients across bilayer membranes that drive energetically unfavourable reactions. Synthetic systems that accomplish the same feat may find uses in a variety of biological and non-biological applications.
Hyperthermia and local anesthetics: potentiation of survival of tumor-bearing mice

Lidocaine infusion of a CA755 mammary adenocarcinoma growing in the hind leg of BDF1 mice results in a significant increase in the animals' survival when combined with heating for 1 hour in a 43.5 degrees C water bath. This ability of local anesthetics to prolong survival following hyperthermia is consistent with the hypothesis that increases in membrane fluidity influence sensitivity to heat. In view of the extensive clinical experience with local anesthetics, the delay between clinical application and the observation that they potentiate the action of hyperthermia in animals may be reduced.