cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Modulation of Thymic MicroRNAs in Response to Stress

Background Physiological stress evokes rapid changes in both the innate and adaptive immune response. Immature αβ T cells developing in the thymus are particularly sensitive to stress, with infections and/or exposure to lipopolysaccharide or glucocorticoids eliciting a rapid apoptotic program. MicroRNAs are a class of small, non-coding RNAs that regulate global gene expression by targeting diverse mRNAs for degradation. We hypothesized that a subset of thymically encoded microRNAs would be stress responsive and modulate thymopoiesis. We performed microRNA profiling of thymic microRNAs isolated from control or stressed thymic tissue obtained from mice. We identified 18 microRNAs that are dysregulated >1.5-fold in response to lipopolysaccharide or the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone. These included the miR-17-90 cluster, which have anti-apoptotic functions, and the miR-181 family, which contribute to T cell tolerance. The stress-induced changes in the thymic microRNAs are dynamically and distinctly regulated in the CD4−CD8−, CD4+CD8+, CD4+CD8−, and CD4−CD8+ thymocyte subsets. Several of the differentially regulated murine thymic miRs are also stress responsive in the heart, kidney, liver, brain, and/or spleen. The most dramatic thymic microRNA down modulated is miR-181d, exhibiting a 15-fold reduction following stress. This miR has both similar and distinct gene targets as miR-181a, another member of miR-181 family. Many of the differentially regulated microRNAs have known functions in thymopoiesis, indicating that their dysregulation will alter T cell repertoire selection and the formation of naive T cells. This data has implications for clinical treatments involving anti-inflammatory steroids, ablation therapies, and provides mechanistic insights into the consequences of infections.
The Competing Risks Model A Method for Analyzing Processes with Multiple Types of Events

Social scientists are often interested in modeling processes with multiple types of events. One frequently used model—the competing risk model—provides a method for analyzing the rates of different...
Effect of cryopreservation on lymphocyte markers evaluated by monoclonal antibodies.

Lymphocytes were frozen at a density of 5 to 10 × 10(6) cells per ml at 1 degree C per minute in a programmable liquid nitrogen freezer. T- subsets were determined by using monoclonal antibodies. A fluorescein- conjugated polyvalent antisera with B-cell specificity was used to define B-cells. No significant change in numbers of total T-lymphocytes or -subsets was identified in the frozen lymphocytes when compared to fresh controls. Liquid nitrogen cryopreservation is an acceptable method of storing lymphocytes for subsequent determination of T-subsets using monoclonal antibodies.
Changes in glucose and insulin metabolism induced by dialysis in patients with chronic uremia

Abstract The effect of repeated hemodialysis on glucose metabolism was studied in 10 patients with severe uremia. Carbohydrate metabolism was evaluated during the first dialysis and again in a subsequent dialysis (second, third or fourth dialysis). Dialysis was performed using a high bath glucose concentration ( 1500 mg. 100 cc. ) in both study periods. Improvement in carbohydrate metabolism was demonstrated in the second dialysis study period by a lower mean glucose during dialysis and by more rapid disappearance rate of glucose in the immediate postdialysis period. This improvement in carbohydrate metabolism was associated with an increase in both mean and maximum insulin levels during the second study period in 8 of the 10 patients. It is concluded that the carbohydrate intolerance associated with uremia is improved by hemodialysis. In the majority of the patients studied, this improvement was associated with a significant increase in circulating insulin levels. The increase in insulin levels in response to hyperglycemic stimulation after only one or two dialyses suggests the removal of a dialyzable substance that either inhibits insulin release or increases insulin degradation.
Improvement of the Richness Estimates of maxBCG Clusters

Minimizing the scatter between cluster mass and accessible observables is an important goal for cluster cosmology. In this work, we introduce a new matched filter richness estimator, and test its performance using the maxBCG cluster catalog. Our new estimator significantly reduces the variance in the L{sub X}-richness relation, from {sigma}{sub lnL{sub X}}{sup 2} = (0.86 {+-} 0.02){sup 2} to {sigma}{sub lnL{sub X}}{sup 2} = (0.69 {+-} 0.02){sup 2}. Relative to the maxBCG richness estimate, it also removes the strong redshift dependence of the richness scaling relations, and is significantly more robust to photometric and redshift errors. These improvements are largely due to our more sophisticated treatment of galaxy color data. We also demonstrate the scatter in the L{sub X}-richness relation depends on the aperture used to estimate cluster richness, and introduce a novel approach for optimizing said aperture which can be easily generalized to other mass tracers.
Kinetic studies on the formation and destruction of the vasopressor polypeptide, substance A.

Abstract Kinetic studies on the enzymatic formation and destruction of substance A, a vasopressor polypeptide similar to angiotensin II, were carried out by incubating fraction IV-4 of human plasma protein with subtilisin BPN' (“Nagarse”), a crystalline proteinase from Bacillus subtillis. By means of biological assay in an isometric tension apparatus, the general requirements for the formation and destruction of substance A were investigated. The optimal pH and temperature for formation were found to be 7.5 and 40°, whereas 8.5 and 40° were found to be optimal for enzymatic inactivation. Studies on formation of substance A in the absence of destruction of the active material were accomplished by incubation of the enzyme and substrate at pH 6.0. The apparent Km for the formation of substance A by Nagarse was found to be 1.17 ± 0.28 × 10−5 M, while the apparent Km for the same reaction with crude alpha-amylase was found to be 1.7 ± 0.34 × 10−6 M. DFP and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride produced 100 per cent inhibition of the enzyme. The enzymatic formation and destruction of substance A were inhibited by Cu2+ and Ni2+ and this inhibition can be reversed by histidine. Fraction IV-4 or serum from species other than human was found to serve as substrate for the enzymatic formation of a vasopressor polypeptide similar to substance A.
Electric Multipole Moments in j − j Coupling

It is possible to derive a simple expression for the electric quadrupole moment of any $I$-state arising in $j\ensuremath{-}j$ coupling, from the proton configuration ${({l}_{j})}^{n}$, without explicitly setting up the wave function in question. If the given $I$-state occurs more than once, only the sum of the quadrupole moments is obtainable by this method. In principle, it is possible to generalize the theory to higher electric multipole moments.
Global Sequencing of Proteolytic Cleavage Sites in Apoptosis by Specific Labeling of Protein N Termini

The nearly 600 proteases in the human genome regulate a diversity of biological processes, including programmed cell death. Comprehensive characterization of protease signaling in complex biological samples is limited by available proteomic methods. We have developed a general approach for global identification of proteolytic cleavage sites using an engineered enzyme to selectively biotinylate free protein N termini for positive enrichment of corresponding N-terminal peptides. Using this method to study apoptosis, we have sequenced 333 caspase-like cleavage sites distributed among 292 protein substrates. These sites are generally not predicted by in vitro caspase substrate specificity but can be used to predict other physiological caspase cleavage sites. Structural bioinformatic studies show that caspase cleavage sites often appear in surface-accessible loops and even occasionally in helical regions. Strikingly, we also find that a disproportionate number of caspase substrates physically interact, suggesting that these dimeric proteases target protein complexes and networks to elicit apoptosis.
Effect of phloridzin, insulin, and butyrate on the concentration of glucose and ketones in the blood and urine of fasted steers.

Summary Seven experiments were conducted in an attempt to produce both clinical and biochemical symptoms of bovine ketosis. The treatments imposed were phloridzin, which causd a lowering of the renal threshold for glucose, phloridzin plus 800 units of insulin, which depressed the total reducing substances (T.R.S.) level in the blood during a period of increased glucose demand due to the lowered renal threshold, and the infusion of 25g. per hour of butyrate, either by itself or with phloridzin and with phloridzin and insulin. When phloridzin was infused following a 48- to 72-hr. fast, 56.62g. of glucose were voided in the urine in 8 hr. Only a moderate fall in blood T.R.S. level and a moderate rise in blood and urine ketone levels were observed. When two intramuscular injections of 400 units of insulin were superimposed on phloridzin infusion, the blood T.R.S. level rapidly dropped to the ketotic level. The blood and urine ketone levels were less than with phloridzin alone and less glucose was voided in the urine. The infusion of butyrate at the rate of 25g. per hour caused a very rapid drop in the T.R.S. level of the blood. Even at this high level of butyrate infusion, the level of ketones found in the blood approached ketotic levels only if phloridzin was infused concurrently. This observation adds support to the observation and theoretical postulation that a glucose stress is a predisposing factor in ketone formation. The butyrate concentration in the blood increased to a peak early in the infusion period, followed by a reduction and the establishment of a plateau. Approximately 185g. of butyrate were thus metabolized during an 8-hr. period without adverse effect upon the animal. No clinical symptoms of hypoglycemic shock were observed under any of the experimental treatments applied.
Design of a Beverage from Whey Permeate

ABSTRACT: Wheypermeate (WP) is a byproduct ofwhey protein ingredient production, and primarily contains water, lactose, and minerals, with minimal fat and protein. The majority of the WP produced in the United States is disposed of via land-spreading or is used as a component in animal feed. However, WP could be utilized in the growing beverage industry. The objectives of this study were to conduct descriptive sensory analysis of a wide selection of commercial beverages and to design a beverage utilizing WP. The descriptive sensory properties (visual, flavor, and texture/mouth-feel) of fifteen commercial beverages were determined using a trained descriptive panel (n= 11).WP with and without hydrolysis of lactose was subsequently incorporated into a basic beverage formula, substituted for 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of water. Consumers (n = 100) evaluated beverages withWP and commercial beverages for overall acceptability, flavor liking, and thirst-quenching ability. Drinks made with lower levels (25% and 50%) of either hydrolyzed or unhydrolyzed WP were more similar to the commercial beverages in visual and flavor properties than beverages containing higher percentages (75% and 100%) ofWP. All drinks made withWP were higher in electrolyte (Na, K, Zn, Mg, P) content compared with a commercial sports beverage (P < 0.05). Beverage incorporation represents a value-added utilization for low levels ofWP
Letters from Bloomfield to Michelson and Sapir

SUMMARYBetween 1919 and 1930, Leonard Bloomfield corresponded with the anthropologist Truman Michelson (1879-1938) concerning Algonquian linguistics, and between 1924 and 1925 with Edward Sapir (1884-1939), with regard to American Indian languages, linguistic theory, and Bloomfield's appointment as field-worker for the Canadian Bureau of Mines. The surviving letters are enumerated and discussed, and non-technical portions of them are reproduced, for the light which they shed on three of Bloomfield's professional concerns: his work in Algonquian; his move from Illinois to Ohio State in 1921 ; and the planning and founding of the Linguistic Society of America in 1924-25. They also afford a few glimpses of his (in general little known) personal life and attitudes.RESUMEEntre 1919 et 1930, Leonard Bloomfield echangea des lettres avec l'an-tropologue Truman Michelson (1879-1938) a propos des langues algonkien-nes, et entre 1924 et 1925 avec Edward Sapir (1884-1939) a propos des langues amerindiennes, de la theorie generale de la linguistique, et de sa nomination comme investigateur de langues algonkiennes pour le Bureau des Mines canadien. L'auteur decrit et commente les lettres qui nous sont parvenues, et il en reproduit des morceaux non techniques, pour mettre en lumiere certains aspects des soucis professionnels de Bloomfield: son travail sur les langues algonkiennes, son demenagement d'Illinois a Ohio State en 1921, et les plans pour la fondation de la Linguistic Society of America en 1924-25. Ces lettres nous permettent aussi d'entrevoir certains aspects (en general peu connus) de sa vie et de ses attitudes personnelles.
Bovine mammary dendritic cells: A heterogeneous population, distinct from macrophages and similar in phenotype to afferent lymph veiled cells

Abstract Dendritic cells (DC) are a heterogeneous population of professional antigen presenting cells and are potent stimulators of naive T-cells. However, there is little previous research describing DC in bovine mammary tissue, primarily because of the difficulty distinguishing these cells from macrophages, which possess a similar phenotype. Using immunohistofluorescence and a combination of markers (MHC-II, CD205, CD11c), DC were localized in the bovine mammary gland and supramammary lymph node. In mammary tissue DC were found within the alveolar epithelium and within the intralobular connective tissue. In the lymph node DC were found on the periphery of B-cell areas, in the cortex, and among T-cells in the paracortex and medulla. DC in mammary parenchyma and supramammary lymph nodes were quantified and further characterized using flow cytometry. DC were CD11c hi , CD14 lo cells that expressed MHC-II and CD205. DC could be distinguished from macrophages based on their low CD14 expression. This research provides a better understanding of mammary gland immunology, while potentially aiding in the targeting of antigens to mucosal DC for vaccine development.
High-Repetition-Rate Raman Amplification Of 16-µm Radiation

High-repetition-rate generation of up to 325 mJ of Raman amplified radiation near 615 cm-1 has been demonstrated in CO2-pumped para-H2 using a low-power, microwave-shifted CF4 laser as an input Stokes seed source. Experiments were limited to 200 Hz, but single-shot Schlieren measurements indicate that our flowing room-temperature 44-pass Raman con-verter should be capable of the design goal of 1 kHz. Strong conversion was achieved even with no flow at 100 Hz. Details of the overall system design, experimental parameters, and present system limitations are discussed.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Extensions, validation, and clinical applications of a feedback control system simulator of the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis.

Background: We upgraded our recent feedback control system (FBCS) simulation model of human thyroid hormone (TH) regulation to include explicit representation of hypothalamic and pituitary dynamics, and updated TH distribution and elimination (D&E) parameters. This new model greatly expands the range of clinical and basic science scenarios explorable by computer simulation. Methods: We quantified the model from pharmacokinetic (PK) and physiological human data and validated it comparatively against several independent clinical data sets. We then explored three contemporary clinical issues with the new model: combined triiodothyronine (T3)/thyroxine (T4) versus T4-only treatment, parenteral levothyroxine (L-T4) administration, and central hypothyroidism. Results: Combined T3/T4 therapy—In thyroidectomized patients, the L-T4–only replacement doses needed to normalize plasma T3 or average tissue T3 were 145 μg L-T4/day or 165 μg L-T4/day, respectively. The combined T4 + T3 dosing needed to normalize both pla...
Reflections of a protégé

(1988). Reflections of a protege. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 27, Mentoring Teachers, pp. 195-200.
Simultaneous generation and deposition of cobalt nanoparticles by flow-limited field-injection electrostatic spraying for catalytic growth of single- walled carbon nanotubes

Laterally oriented single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) from cobalt nanoparticles that were produced by flow-limited field-injection electrostatic spray (FFESS). The FFESS system allowed simultaneous generation and deposition of cobalt nanoparticles uniformly over a large area. The population and diameter of the nanoparticles could be controlled by the FFESS system, which in turn allowed for the control of the diameter and length of the SWCNTs. Chiral angle, and consequently chiral vector and diameter, were determined using nanoarea electron diffraction.
Left parietal activation related to planning, executing and suppressing praxis hand movements.

Objective We sought to investigate the activity of bilateral parietal and premotor areas during a Go/No Go paradigm involving praxis movements of the dominant hand.
Electrolytic-Bubble-Based Flow Sensor for Microfluidic Systems

Accurate measurement and control of flow properties are essential for microfluidic lab-chips. In this paper, we demonstrate an electrolytic-bubble-based approach to directly measure flow rate in microfluidic arteries. By simultaneously generating two gas bubbles electrochemically along a channel, we can measure the pressure difference (and thus flow rate) in real time. A prototype chip that measures flow rate was fabricated on silicon. The sensor was characterized for a functional microfluidic system with inlet pressure ranging from 108 to 135 kPa. The flow-meter performance was compared with computational fluid dynamics simulations and was also calibrated against other direct experiments. The impedance-based flow-rate measurements are easily achieved on a chip with a simple electronic circuit. The described approach can be integrated into any fluid circuit, particularly microfluidic channels that are too small to use off-shelf flow meters.
Structural studies on the impurities of troglitazone

Abstract The impurity profile study of troglitazone has been carried out primarily by (liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry) LC–MS. Four process-related impurities have been detected by LC–MS and were confirmed by co-injection with authentic samples. Apart from the process-related impurities, two polar by-products were characterized by mass spectral data and comparison with reference samples, while one non-polar by-product and one degradation product have been isolated by means of preparative HPLC and characterized by 2D NMR and mass spectral study. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies have been carried out on the degradation product. The formation and characterization of these by-products and degradation product are discussed.
The Philosophy of Plato as a Meditation on Death

It is of the philosophy of Plato that I would write, but I would keep in mind a definition of philosophy given by Plato himself when he spoke of it as “meditation on death.” I would write, too, not of any inner details of what Plato thought, but of his teaching in its general character and value; and especially, on behalf of my readers, I would assume that, for their purposes as well as always for my own, no fair estimate and no vital appreciation of Plato or his meditation can ever be attained without some understanding of the place of Plato and his philosophy in the history of his very remarkable people, the ancient Greeks, and of their dead civilization.
Daily Supplementation with 25 μg Cholecalciferol Does Not Increase Calcium Absorption or Skeletal Retention in Adolescent Girls with Low Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D

In healthy adolescents, cross-sectional studies show either no or negative relationships between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and calcium (Ca) absorption. Using a 2-period metabolic balance study, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on Ca absorption and retention in adolescent girls was investigated. Eleven girls aged 12-14 y with a mean entry serum 25(OH)D of 35.1 nmol/L consumed a controlled intake (providing 5 μg vitamin D and 1117 mg Ca/d) for two 3-wk metabolic balance periods separated by a 1-wk washout period. Sunlight exposure was minimized by sunscreen with a sun protection factor ≥ 15. After the first metabolic balance period, participants received 25 μg/d cholecalciferol supplementation for 4 wk. Fractional Ca absorption was measured in each metabolic balance period using a stable Ca isotope method. All urine and fecal samples were collected and analyzed to measure net Ca absorption and Ca retention. Paired t tests and correlations were used to analyze the data. Daily supplementation with 25 μg vitamin D resulted in a mean increase in serum 25(OH)D of 13.3 nmol/L (P < 0.01) but a decrease in fractional Ca absorption of 8.3% (P < 0.05) and no significant change in fasting serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, net Ca absorption, or Ca skeletal retention. In pubertal girls with vitamin D status considered insufficient in adults, vitamin D supplementation of 25 μg/d for 4 wk did not improve fractional Ca absorption, net Ca absorption, or Ca retention.
Selective isotope determination of lanthanum by diode-laser-initiated resonance-ionization mass spectrometry

A diode-laser step has been incorporated into a resonance-ionization mass spectrometry optical excitation process to enhance the isotopic selectivity of the technique. Lanthanum isotope ratio enhancements as high as 103 were achieved by use of a single-frequency cw diode laser tuned to excite the first step of a three-step excitation–ionization optical process; the subsequent steps were excited by use of a pulsed dye laser. Applying the same optical technique, we measured atomic hyperfine constants for the high-lying even-parity 4D5/2 state of lanthanum at 30 354 cm−1. The general utility of this spectral approach is discussed.
A distributed architecture for a general cellular modeling and simulation framework

The Virtual Cell is a general framework for the spatial modeling and simulation of cellular physiology. Biochemical reaction models are topologically organized by their cellular location and are mapped to image-based cell geometry. The corresponding mathematical system is automatically generated and solved. A system architecture is described that allows the integration of heterogeneous processes and available resources while managing the overall system complexity.
Health Status of Vulnerable Populations

The notion of risk underlying the concept of vulnerability implies that everyone is potentially vulnerable (or at risk), that is, there is always a chance of developing health problems. The risk is, however, greater for those with the least social status, social capital, and human capital resources to either prevent or ameliorate the origins and consequences of poor physical, psychological, or social health. The completeness and accuracy of information on the health status of the vulnerable populations examined here varies substantially across groups. Methodological work is needed to derive standardized definitions of terms, specify the content and timing for collecting information for minimum basic data sets, and develop uniform standards for evaluating and reporting data quality on the health status of vulnerable populations. The variety of indicators of vulnerable populations examined indicates that during the decade of the 1980s the incidence of serious physical, psychological, and/or social needs increased (at worst) and was unameliorated (at best) for millions of Americans. AIDS emerged as a new and deadly threat from a handful of cases classified as Gay-Related Immune Deficiency in the early part of the 1980s to what now may be over a million Americans who are HIV-positive. The number of homeless has increased an average of 20% a year to estimates now ranging up to one million men, women, or children homeless on any given night to twice that number who may be homeless sometime during the year. Over seven million people immigrated to the United States during the period from 1981 to 1990--an increasing proportion of whom are refugees carrying with them the physical, psychological, and social wounds of war. The number of children abused by family members or other intimates has burgeoned to an estimated 1.6 to 1.7 million per year, and with the greater use of firearms, intentional acts of violence towards oneself or others are becoming increasingly deadly in their consequences. Though fewer Americans smoke, drink, and use illicit drugs in general than was the case earlier in the decade of the 1980s, the use of cocaine (and particularly crack) among hard-core addicts has resulted in increases in the number of drug-related deaths.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Exploiting Covalency to Enhance Metal–Oxide and Oxide–Oxide Adhesion at Heterogeneous Interfaces

We employ first-principles density functional calculations to explore atomic-level interactions and predict the ideal work of adhesion at the SiO2/nickel and ZrO2/SiO2 interfaces. We find that chemical bonding at the interface serves to strengthen significantly interfaces formed with SiO2, which exhibits significant covalent bonding character, relative to those formed using more ionic oxides, such as Al2O3, in place of SiO2. The improved strength of these interfaces due to local bonding interactions may hold materials design implications for practical applications that require optimal adhesion between metal-ceramic layered structures, including thermal barrier coatings.
THE ROLE OF AN URBAN ELITE IN A MUNICIPAL ANNEXATION DISPUTE

This study examines the racial politics involved in the 1970 annexation by Richmond, Virginia, of 23 square miles and 47,000 people from Chesterfield County. The annexation was initialed by a small, hut powerful group of individuals who were alarmed by the growth of the city's black population and the prospect that blacks could acquire a majority on the city council. The study concentrates on the events of the 1960's which culminated in the annexation. Attention is given, first, to the city's efforts to annex a portion of Henrico County and the reasons underlying the city's rejection of the Henrico annexation award. The attention then shifts to the Chesterfield annexation suit. The role of local elites is explored and the role of the slate legislature is also studied to probe the interconnection between state and local politicians and the common cause made by white leaders to perpetuate a capital city controlled by the while elite.
Corrosion Control Using Regenerative Biofilms on Aluminum 2024 and Brass in Different Media

The corrosion behavior of Al 2024-T3 and C26000 brass exposed to artificial seawater and Luria Bertani medium has been studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Tests were performed in sterile media and in the presence of three strains of bacteria. A Bacillus subtilis biofilm was genetically engineered to produce polyaspartate or polyglutamate, a B. licheniformis biofilm naturally produced the anionic polymer γ-polyglutamate and E. coli was genetically engineered to produce polyphosphate. A significant reduction of active pit growth rates and an ennoblement of the corrosion potential E corr were observed for Al 2024 in both media in the presence of the biofilms The lowest corrosion rates of Al 2024 exposed to LB medium were observed in the presence of the B. subtilis bacterial biofilms producing polyaspartate and the E. coli bacterial biofilm producing polyphosphate in which E corr was more positive by about 400 mV than in the sterile solution. A significant reduction of corrosion rates and an ennoblement of E corr were also observed for brass in both media in the presence of the biofilms. Samples exposed in the presence of biofilms remained untarnished and unattacked for time periods exceeding one week, while samples exposed in the sterile solutions were covered with a dark film of corrosion products.
Methotrexate-mediated inhibition of nuclear factor κB activation by distinct pathways in T cells and fibroblast-like synoviocytes

Objectives. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a critical activator of inflammatory processes and MTX is one of the most commonly prescribed DMARDs for treatment of RA. We sought to determine whether MTX inhibited NF-κB activity in RA and in lymphocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and to define underlying mechanisms of action. Methods. An NF-κB luciferase reporter plasmid was used to measure NF-κB activation across experimental stimuli. Flow cytometry was used to quantify changes in intracellular protein levels, measure levels of reactive oxygen species and determine apoptosis. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to identify changes in MTX target genes. Results. In T cell lines, MTX (0.1 μM) inhibited activation of NF-κB via depletion of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and increased Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent p53 activity. Inhibitors of BH4 activity or synthesis also inhibited NF-κB activation and, similar to MTX, increased JNK, p53, p21 and JUN activity. Patients with RA expressed increased levels of phosphorylated or active RelA (p65) compared with controls. Levels of phosphorylated RelA were reduced in patients receiving low-dose MTX therapy. In contrast, inhibition of NF-κB activation by MTX was not mediated via BH4 depletion and JNK activation in FLSs, but rather was completely prevented by adenosine receptor antagonists. Conclusion. Our findings support a model whereby distinct pathways are activated by MTX in T cells and FLSs to inhibit NF-κB activation.
Direct Antagonism of Ethanol's Effects On GABAA Receptors by Increased Atmospheric Pressure

Previous studies have shown that exposure to 12 times normal atmospheric pressure of helium-oxygen gas (heliox) directly antagonizes a range of ethanol's acute and chronic behavioral effects. The present study extends the investigation to the biochemical level by investigating the effects of pressure on ethanol-induced potentiation of GABA(A) receptor function in mouse membrane vesicles (microsacs). Exposure to 12 atmospheric pressure heliox significantly antagonized ethanol (25 to 100 mM) potentiation of GABA-activated 36Cl- uptake, but did not significantly alter baseline GABA(A) receptor function measured by the response of the system to GABA (10 to 100 microM), bicuculline (3 and 100 microM), or picrotoxin (100 microM). These findings add essential support for the hypothesis that hyperbaric exposure is a direct ethanol antagonist that can be used as a tool to help identify ethanol's initial cellular and molecular sites of action that cause its behavioral effects. Taken in context with previous behavioral studies, the present results also provide important new evidence for a cause-effect relationship between ethanol potentiation of GABA(A) receptor function and ethanol's anesthetic and behavioral effects.
Behavioral and genetic correlates of the neural response to infant crying among human fathers

Although evolution has shaped human infant crying and the corresponding response from caregivers, there is marked variation in paternal involvement and caretaking behavior, highlighting the importance of understanding the neurobiology supporting optimal paternal responses to cries. We explored the neural response to infant cries in fathers of children aged 1–2, and its relationship with hormone levels, variation in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, parental attitudes and parental behavior. Although number of AR CAG trinucleotide repeats was positively correlated with neural activity in brain regions important for empathy (anterior insula and inferior frontal gyrus), restrictive attitudes were inversely correlated with neural activity in these regions and with regions involved with emotion regulation (orbitofrontal cortex). Anterior insula activity had a non-linear relationship with paternal caregiving, such that fathers with intermediate activation were most involved. These results suggest that restrictive attitudes may be associated with decreased empathy and emotion regulation in response to a child in distress, and that moderate anterior insula activity reflects an optimal level of arousal that supports engaged fathering.
Fracture Intensity Distributions during Compression of Puffed Corn Meal Extrudates: Method for Quantifying Fracturability

The distribution of fracture intensities occurring during compression of puffed corn meal extrudates was described using an exponential function, and parameters from that analysis were used as fracturability indices. Since “jagged” or oscillating stress-strain functions are typical for porous and brittle materials, fracture intensities were determined by measuring the abrupt, sequential reductions in stress produced during compression. Both distribution exponent and cumulative fracture stress correlated strongly with fracturability measured by other techniques, including fractal and Fourier analysis of stress-strain functions. Distribution parameters also indicated textural differences due to process parameters (structural modification through addition of different levels of sucrose) and storage conditions (equilibration at various relative humidities).
Elaboration in Processing Adolescent Health Messages: The Impact of Egocentrism and Sensation Seeking on Message Processing

The present studies explored how adolescents process information in making decisions about risk behavior. We studied two developmental aspects of adolescent egocentrism: personal fable (a sense of invulnerability) and imaginary audience (focus on others), along with individual difference variables (sensation seeking, self-esteem, and peer pressure). The studies investigated the effects of a message variable, elaboration demand, which is driven by a developmental view of adolescents' cognitive processing. Results of 3 studies indicated the deep elaboration message was partially effective in changing message perceptions and adolescents' intentions to behave in ways to reduce risks. The message type interacted with developmental indicators (age and cognitive development), gender, and topic to explain behavioral intentions, message perceptions and retention.
A framework for testing query transformation rules

In order to enable extensibility, modern query optimizers typically leverage a transformation rule based framework. Testing individual rule correctness as well as correctness of rule interactions is crucial in verifying the functionality of a query optimizer. While there has been a lot of work on how to architect optimizers for extensibility using a rule based framework, there has been relatively little work on how to test such optimizers. In this paper we present a framework for testing query transformation rules which enables: (a) efficient generation of queries that exercise a particular transformation rule or a set of rules and (b) efficient execution of corresponding test suites for correctness testing.
Simulating biogenic volatile organic compound emissions in the Community Climate System Model

[1] The Community Climate System Model (CCSM) calculates terrestrial biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions using an algorithm developed from field and laboratory observations. This algorithm is incorporated in CCSM, a coupled atmosphere, ocean, sea ice, and land model, as one step toward integrating biogeochemical processes in this model. CCSM is designed to easily incorporate more complex BVOC models in the present framework when such models become available. Two simulations are performed: a land-only simulation driven with prescribed atmospheric data and satellite-derived vegetation data and a fully coupled CCSM simulation with prognostic vegetation using CCSM's dynamic vegetation model. In both cases, warm and forested regions emit more BVOC than other regions, in agreement with observations. With prescribed vegetation, global terrestrial isoprene emissions of 507 Tg C per year compare well with other model simulations. With dynamic vegetation, BVOC emissions respond to varying climate and vegetation from year to year. The interannual variability of the simulated biogenic emissions can exceed 10% of the estimated annual anthropogenic emissions provided in the IPCC emission scenarios. We include BVOC emissions within the CCSM to ultimately reduce the simulated climate uncertainty due to natural processes in this model.
Dynamic Ray Scheduling to Improve Ray Coherence and Bandwidth Utilization

The performance of full-featured ray tracers has historically been limited by the hardware's floating point computational power. However, next generation multi-threaded multi-core architectures promise to provide sufficient CPU throughput to support real time frame rates. In such systems, limited memory system performance in terms of both on-chip cache and DRAM-to-cache bandwidth is likely to bound overall system performance. This paper presents a novel ray tracing algorithm that both improves cache utilization and reduces DRAM-to-cache bandwidth usage. The key insight is to view ray traversal as a scheduling problem, which allows our algorithm to match ray traversal computations and intersection computations with available system resources. Using a detailed simulator, we show that our algorithm significantly reduces the amount of data brought into the cache in exchange for the small overhead of maintaining the ray schedule. Moreover, our algorithm creates units of work that are more amenable to parallelization than traditional Whitted-style ray tracers.
Asymptotically Efficient Estimation of a Bivariate Gaussian–Weibull Distribution and an Introduction to the Associated Pseudo-truncated Weibull

Two important wood properties are stiffness (modulus of elasticity or MOE) and bending strength (modulus of rupture or MOR). In the past, MOE has often been modeled as a Gaussian and MOR as a lognormal or a two or three parameter Weibull. It is well known that MOE and MOR are positively correlated. To model the simultaneous behavior of MOE and MOR for the purposes of wood system reliability calculations, we introduce a bivariate Gaussian–Weibull distribution and the associated pseudo-truncated Weibull. We use asymptotically efficient likelihood methods to obtain an estimator of the parameter vector of the bivariate Gaussian–Weibull, and then obtain the asymptotic distribution of this estimator.
Creating programming projects with visual impact

One of the challenges facing educators in computer science is to develop programming projects which not only engage students intellectually, but which also excite and motivate them. Given the highly visual orientation of today's students, if is important that we consider not only the conceptual underpinnings of our programming projects, but also their visual impact. This paper focuses upon a set of programming projects which use the traditional elements from a data structures course to produce visually engaging applications.
Effects of concurrent ozone exposure on the pathogenesis of cigarette smoke-induced emphysema in B6C3F1 mice

Episodic elevation of air pollutants may exacerbate respiratory distress associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), yet few experiments have been performed to determine how continuously polluted atmospheres may contribute to the etiology of COPD, in general and pulmonary emphysema in particular. This study describes the effects of concurrent exposure to ozone (O(3)) in the pathogenesis of cigarette smoke (CS)-induced emphysema in the mouse. Female B6C3F1 mice were whole-body exposed either to filtered air (FA) or to mainstream CS at a concentration of 250 mg total particulate material/m(3) for 6 h/day, 5 days/wk for 15 or 32 wk. Concurrently, mice were exposed either to FA or to O(3) at 0.3 ppm for 8 h/night, 5 nights/wk for the same time periods. At necropsy, mouse lungs were lavaged, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was analyzed for inflammatory cell numbers, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities, superoxide production by isolated alveolar macrophages, glutathione content, inflammatory cytokines, and proteolytic activity. Other lungs were inflated at constant pressure for 6 h with formalin for fixation, routine histopathology, and stereology. After 32 wk of exposure, CS with or without concurrent O(3) exposure produced stereologic evidence of emphysema as previously described. Concurrent O(3) exposure did not worsen any of these parameters, nor did O(3) by itself cause stereologic changes that were consistent with emphysema. The O(3) exposure caused only slight elevations of BALF macrophages, while CS exposure caused marked increases in the numbers of both BALF macrophages and neutrophils. Neutrophils in the BALF in response to CS exposure were also more numerous at 32 wk than at 15 wk. Exposure to CS caused an increase in BALF total protein, LDH, AP, and interleukin (IL)-1beta. After 32 wk, CS exposure was associated with decreased superoxide production from isolated alveolar macrophages. The CS exposure elevated BALF total glutathione primarily at 15 wk. Overall, O(3) had little effect on endpoints that were significantly affected by CS exposure. We conclude that concurrent O(3) exposure has no effect on the induction of emphysema by CS in this animal model.
Label-free Evanescent Field Biosensors Using Silicon Photonics Technology

Photonics is playing an increasingly important role in the field of medical diagnostics, genomics and drug discovery. With the advances in molecular biology which gives insight to the processes underlying diseases and drug response, there is a need for new biological sensors to rapidly detect and quantify these processes. Sensing of biological events using planar waveguide evanescent field (EVF) detection offers label-free, high sensitivity, and real time monitoring [1-4]. This is a competing technology with the commercially pervasive SPR (surface plasmon resonance) method, but with the advantage of portability and low cost.
The unconscious colossus: limits of (& alternatives to) American empire

First and foremost, a very great power that has left its mark on the international relations of an era . . . a polity that rules over wide territories and many peoples, since the management of space and multiethnicity is one of the great perennial dilemmas of empire . . . . An empire is by definition . . . not a polity ruled with the explicit consent of its peoples . . . . [But] by a process of assimilation of peoples and democratization of institutions empires can transform themselves into multinational federations or even nation states.1
Correcting the Record Regarding the Restatement of Property's Slayer Rule in the Brooklyn Law Review's Symposium Issue on Restatements

In a 2014 law review symposium on Restatements of the Law, a paper by the then-Director of the American Law Institute, Lance Liebman, mistakenly claimed that we, as Reporters of the Restatement (Third) of Property: Wills and Other Donative Transfers, sought to contest the ancient slayer rule, the rule that prevents a felonious slayer from inheriting from the victim or otherwise benefiting from the slaying. To correct the record, we published this brief response in the same journal.
Induction of GLUT-1 mRNA in response to inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation: role of increased [Ca2+]i

Exposure of Clone 9 cells (a rat liver cell line expressing only the GLUT-1 isoform) to 5 mM azide or to 3 microM ionomycin for 12 h results in 3.7 +/- 0.3- and 4.9 +/- 0.4-fold increases in GLUT-1 mRNA content, respectively, suggesting the hypothesis that a rise in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) mediates the induction of GLUT-1 mRNA by azide. Five lines of evidence were employed to test this hypothesis. 1) Exposure of cells to 0-3 microM of ionomycin increased [Ca2+]i from 83 +/- 9 to 504 +/- 20 nM (half-maximal effect at 0.1 microM ionomycin), whereas half-maximal increase in GLUT-1 mRNA occurred at 1 microM ionomycin, with the increase in the mRNA being negligible at [Ca2+]i below 400 nM. Exposure of cells to 5 mM azide, however, increased [Ca2+]i to maximal value of 174 +/- 22 nM at 15 s, suggesting that the magnitude of the increase in [Ca2+]i by azide may not be adequate for the response. 2) The increase in GLUT-1 mRNA content by azide was fully preserved in cells preloaded with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA). 3) GLUT-1 mRNA content increased within 30 min of exposure to ionomycin, whereas the mRNA increased after a "delay" period of 2 h in cells exposed to 5 mM azide. 4) A brief (2-min) rise in [Ca2+]i by ionomycin was sufficient to increase GLUT-1 mRNA content, whereas continuous exposure to azide for > 1 h was necessary for a subsequent induction of the mRNA. 5) Treatment with ionomycin, A-23187, and thapsigargin caused larger increases in glucose-regulated protein 78 and 94 and in 70-kDa heat shock protein mRNAs than in GLUT-1 mRNA, whereas treatment with azide resulted in greater induction of GLUT-1 mRNA. These results strongly suggest that, whereas increased [Ca2+]i enhances GLUT-1 mRNA expression and azide increases [Ca2+]i, the rise in [Ca2+]i does not mediate the induction of GLUT-1 mRNA in response to inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation.
Lessons from interdisciplinary qualitative research: learning to work against a single story:

In this article, we consider the everyday practices and methodological and theoretical tensions of interdisciplinary, qualitative work. In particular, we discuss the varied interpretations of focus group data from Burundian men and women with refugee status and explore the consequences of representations that result in deficit-based understandings. We highlight how through our research process we learned that following participants, rather than leading with our disciplines, deepened our understanding and complicated our representations.
Trouble for Natural Design

Despite the recent trend of framing biological adaptation in terms of natural design, this chapter points to trouble for that approach. In this chapter, I hold that arguments for natural design are in fact untenable. I provide a substantive argument for the thesis that a design implies the existence of a designer and conclude that naturalists who reject a natural designer (God) should therefore also reject natural design. A design, as well as its cousins the program, blueprint, and recipe, is a standard of correct form for the phenotype of an item. That is, it represents what the item is to be like in the end and rules out alternative outcomes as defective. But phenotypes, as we know, are a result of a genotype plus the environment. Even if we hold fixed some genotype, we still need to specify a “correct” or “natural” environment for that genotype to inhabit to arrive at a norm for the phenotype. Only mental activity is capable of the feat of representing intended environmental conditions, which is how we say that an artifact turned out contrary to its design. Therefore, without mental activity, design is in fact an impossibility.
Role of endothelium in sexual dimorphism in vasopressin-induced contraction of rat aorta.

In rat thoracic aorta, contractile responses to arginine vasopressin (AVP) are twofold higher in females than in males. To determine the role of the endothelium in this phenomenon, the effects of e...
Immunology for the otolaryngic allergist.

In an allergic individual, repeated exposure to large amounts of inhalants, foods, and other environmental allergens may overwhelm the normal immune defences and cause an allergy to develop. This article examines the human immune system, including the cellular elements of humoral and cell-mediated immunity, complement, immunoglobulins, interleukins, and mast cell degranulation. Immediate hypersensitivity is explained along with the mediators of inflammation.