cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous inhibition of c-Abl and Src kinases abrogates the exaggerated expression of profibrotic genes in cultured systemic sclerosis dermal fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of simultaneous inhibition of c-Abl and Src kinases on the gene expression and in vitro production of profibrotic molecules by dermal fibroblasts from patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) of recent onset. METHODS Dermal fibroblasts from normal individuals or from patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology/EULAR SSc classification criteria were cultured in media containing increasing concentrations of the dual c-Abl and Src kinase inhibitor Bosutinib for 24 h. Total soluble collagen in cell culture supernatants was quantified. Western blots were performed for quantitative assessment of type I collagen, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) production. Quantitative PCR was performed to examine the effects of Bosutinib on the expression of profibrotic and TGF-β-responsive genes in cultured SSc dermal fibroblasts. RESULTS Simultaneous inhibition of c-Abl and Src kinases with Bosutinib reduced the expression of numerous fibrosis-associated genes including COL1A1, COL1A3, FN, and TGFβ and the production of the corresponding proteins by SSc dermal fibroblasts. Bosutinib also decreased the transition of normal dermal fibroblasts into activated myofibroblasts induced by TGF-β as evidenced by reduction of α-SMA in cell extracts from normal and SSc dermal fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS Simultaneous inhibition of c-Abl and Src kinases with Bosutinib abrogates the exaggerated expression of genes encoding fibrillar collagens, fibronectin, and TGF-β-responsive genes and reduces type I collagen, fibronectin and α-SMA production by SSc dermal fibroblasts in vitro. Bosutinib also abrogates TGF- β-induced transition of normal fibroblasts to activated myofibroblasts. These results indicate that inhibition of c-Abl and Src kinases activity may be an effective disease modifying antifibrotic therapeutic intervention for SSc.
Acute Interstitial Nephritis

Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is a term usually reserved for an allergic inflammation of the kidney, with characteristic eosinophilic infiltrates in the renal interstitium. AIN should be suspected in all cases of unexplained renal failure in the intensive care setting, where the incidence of this condition is much higher than in other settings. Common causes include drug-induced, certain infections or autoimmune processes. Withdrawal of the offending agent, if possible, and supportive therapy are the mainstays of management.
Activating Transcription Factor 3 (ATF3) Protects Retinal Ganglion Cells and Promotes Functional Preservation After Optic Nerve Crush.

Purpose To investigate the possible role of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neuroprotection and optic nerve regeneration after optic nerve crush (ONC). Methods Overexpression of proteins of interest (ATF3, phosphatase and tensin homolog [PTEN], placental alkaline phosphatase, green fluorescent protein) in the retina was achieved by intravitreal injections of recombinant adenovirus-associated viruses (rAAVs) expressing corresponding proteins. The number of RGCs and αRGCs was evaluated by immunostaining retinal sections and whole-mount retinas with antibodies against RNA binding protein with multiple splicing (RBPMS) and osteopontin, respectively. Axonal regeneration was assessed via fluorophore-coupled cholera toxin subunit B labeling. RGC function was evaluated by recording positive scotopic threshold response. Results The level of ATF3 is preferentially elevated in osteopontin+/RBPMS+ αRGCs following ONC. Overexpression of ATF3 by intravitreal injection of rAAV 2 weeks before ONC promoted RBPMS+ RGC survival and preserved RGC function as assessed by positive scotopic threshold response recordings 2 weeks after ONC. However, overexpression of ATF3 and simultaneous downregulation of PTEN, a negative regulator of the mTOR pathway, combined with ONC, only moderately promoted short distance RGC axon regeneration (200 μm from the lesion site) but did not provide additional RGC neuroprotection compared with PTEN downregulation alone. Conclusions These results reveal a neuroprotective effect of ATF3 in the retina following injury and identify ATF3 as a promising agent for potential treatments of optic neuropathies.
The Correlation of Neuronal Signals with Behavior at Different Levels of Visual Cortex and Their Relative Reliability for Behavioral Decisions

Behavior can be guided by neuronal activity in visual, auditory, or somatosensory cerebral cortex, depending on task requirements. In contrast to this flexible access of cortical signals, several observations suggest that behaviors depend more on neurons in later areas of visual cortex than those in earlier areas, although neurons in earlier areas would provide more reliable signals for many tasks. We recorded from neurons in different levels of visual cortex of 2 male rhesus monkeys while the animals did a visual discrimination task and examined trial-to-trial correlations between neuronal and behavioral responses. These correlations became stronger in primary visual cortex as neuronal signals in that area became more reliable relative to the other areas. The results suggest that the mechanisms that read signals from cortex might access any cortical area depending on the relative value of those signals for the task at hand.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Information is encoded by the action potentials of neurons in various cortical areas in a hierarchical manner such that increasingly complex stimulus features are encoded in successive stages. The brain must extract information from the response of appropriate neurons to drive optimal behavior. A widely held view of this decoding process is that the brain relies on the output of later cortical areas to make decisions, although neurons in earlier areas can provide more reliable signals. We examined correlations between perceptual decisions and the responses of neurons in different levels of monkey visual cortex. The results suggest that the brain may access signals in any cortical area depending on the relative value of those signals for the task at hand.
Early impact of COVID-19 on transplant center practices and policies in the United States.

COVID-19 is a novel, rapidly changing pandemic: consequently, evidence-based recommendations in solid organ transplantation (SOT) remain challenging and unclear. To understand the impact on transplant activity across the United States, and center-level variation in testing, clinical practice, and policies, we conducted a national survey between March 24, 2020 and March 31, 2020 and linked responses to the COVID-19 incidence map. Response rate was a very high 79.3%, reflecting a strong national priority to better understand COVID-19. Complete suspension of live donor kidney transplantation was reported by 71.8% and live donor liver by 67.7%. While complete suspension of deceased donor transplantation was less frequent, some restrictions to deceased donor kidney transplantation were reported by 84.0% and deceased donor liver by 73.3%; more stringent restrictions were associated with higher regional incidence of COVID-19. Shortage of COVID-19 tests was reported by 42.5%. Respondents reported a total of 148 COVID-19 recipients from 10 years posttransplant: 69.6% were kidney recipients, and 25.0% were critically ill. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was used by 78.1% of respondents; azithromycin by 46.9%; tocilizumab by 31.3%, and remdesivir by 25.0%. There is wide heterogeneity in center-level response across the United States; ongoing national data collection, expert discussion, and clinical studies are critical to informing evidence-based practices.
Problems paying medical bills and mental health symptoms post-Affordable Care Act

Healthcare affordability is a worry for many Americans. We examine whether the relationship between having problems paying medical bills and mental health problems changed as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented, which increased health insurance coverage. Data from the 2013-2016 Health Reform Monitoring Survey, a survey of Americans aged 18-64, were used. Using zero-inflated negative binomial regression, adjusted for predisposing, enabling, and need factors, we examined differences in days of mental health symptoms by problems paying medical bills (n = 85,430). From 2013 to 2016, the rates of uninsured and problems paying medical bills decreased from 15.1% to 9.0% and 22.0% to 18.6%, respectively. Having one or more days of mental health symptoms increased from 39.3% to 42.9%. Individuals who reported problems paying medical bills had more days of mental health symptoms (Beta = 0.133, p < 0.001) than those who did not have this problem. Insurance was not significantly associated with days of mental health symptoms. Over the 4-year period, there were not significant differences in days of mental health symptoms by problems paying medical bills or insurance status. Despite improvements in coverage, the relationship between problems paying medical bills and mental health symptoms was not modified.
Architectured ceramics with tunable toughness and stiffness

Abstract Architectured materials/structures provide avenues as a robust design strategy to enhance the strength and toughness of brittle materials. Architectured materials and interfaces can transform brittle ceramics into impact resistant structures with tunable toughness, strength and stiffness. In this work, we have developed a fast, simplified and industrially scalable fabrication technique based on laser machining for large-scale architectured ceramics. Utilizing this technique, a new class of advanced ceramics based on bio-inspired architectures have been designed to improve and tune the mechanical response in multi-impact conditions. The multilayered ceramics were manufactured by stacking laser-cut hexagonal tiles (with differing cut depths) and interlayers made of the commercial monomer Surlyn®. Stereo/3D laser scanning microscopes and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques including infrared thermography, X-ray radiography and X-ray penetrant inspection were used to assess the architectures before and evaluate the multiscale damage after each impact. It was found that the multilayered architectured ceramic systems with a partial-cut depth (i.e., 40% and 70%) exhibited higher dynamic energy absorption performance (up to 220% for the 3rd impact) and higher stiffness (up to 80% for the 3rd impact) than the multilayered plain ceramic. The results showed a bell-shaped response in the partial-cut architectured ceramics, indicating tough materials (opposed to the plain one) and superior multi-hit resistance owing to the energy dissipation mechanisms including plastic deformation in adhesive interlayers and inter-cuts, crack deflection, frictional energy dissipation due to tile sliding (absent toughening mechanisms in the plain system) as well as ceramic fracture upon flexural cracks in the partial-cuts and delamination crack (absent mechanisms in the 100% cut-depth architectured system).
High Deductibles and Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck: A Loan-Based Model for Primary Care Coverage

To date, healthcare funding models have been limited to insurance, savings programs, and unreimbursed care, with insurance being the dominant model. However, many modern insurance panels include deductibles which are fundamentally incompatible with the reality that many Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck. By reexamining old assumptions of how healthcare should be funded, in the context of a modern society with ubiquitous information technology, a new model could alleviate a common source of frustration for voters while preserving recent policy advancements. This paper outlines a proposal which could bridge the coverage gap created by high deductible levels, which are common in both ACA exchange plans and many employer provided plans today, using a loan-based approach. Such an approach would seem to greatly reduce the rather substantial transaction costs in healthcare by simplifying most transactions and provide a more patient-centered approach for common transactions up to a deductible limit. A specific proposal of how to implement such a proposal, using existing systems, is presented and payment scenarios are also presented. On the provider-side, debit card processing systems, which are widely used to process health savings account (HSA) payments, could be combined with something like the federal student loan program for loan repayment. The federal student loan program provides substantial funding with highly flexible repayment terms in a manner which is currently slightly profitable to taxpayers. Combining these two existing systems could provide much needed relief to patients in a way which is more patient-centered, reduces cost, expands coverage, and at minimal cost to taxpayers. Additionally, we show how the current health savings account framework could facilitate this if IRS regulations we modified to: 1) allow accounts to carry negative balances and 2) make interest expense related to medical care an allowable expense.
Cartographic Humanism: The Making of Early Modern Europe, by Katharina Piechocki

Cartographic Humanism is an ambitious work, seeking to elucidate nothing less than the Making of Early Modern Europe. The transformation of Europe ‘from a derivative of Asia to the sovereign of the...
Screening for Gambling Disorder in VA Primary Care Behavioral Health: A Pilot Study.

The current pilot study assessed the prevalence of at-risk/problem gambling using the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS) among a sample of U.S. military veterans seeking mental health treatment services in a primary care medical setting at a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in the Northeast. Out of the 260 veterans screened, 85 veterans (32.7%) reported gambling behaviors within the past 12 months. No significant differences were found between gambling and non-gambling veterans on demographics, medical, or mental health conditions collected in the study. Among veteran past-year gamblers, five veterans (5.9%) screened positive for at-risk/problem gambling. The estimated prevalence of problem gambling was 1.9% among veterans screened in a primary care behavioral health clinic. Results suggest that self-disclosure of problem gambling among veterans, as well as outreach efforts by VA health care providers, could serve to increase veterans' participation in treatment services for problem gambling. Larger, well-powered studies that examine the utility of the BBGS for detecting problem gambling among military populations are needed.
Impact of Obesity in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure: A Nationwide Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES Obesity and cardiovascular disease remain significant burdens on the overall provision of health care in the United States. Obesity has been shown to be a direct risk factor for heart failure (HF). We conducted a nationwide cohort study to assess the short-term impact of obesity in hospitalized patients with HF. METHODS We identified 1,520,871 encounters with a primary diagnosis of HF in the 2013-2014 Nationwide Readmission Database. We excluded patients younger than 18 years (n = 2755), hospitalized patients discharged in December (n = 126,137), patients with missing mortality information (n = 477), missing length of stay (LOS; n = 91), patients who were transferred to another hospital (n = 38,489), and patients with conflicting body weight information (n = 7757). Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between baseline characteristics (including the presence of obesity) and in-hospital mortality, as well as 30-day readmission rates. RESULTS The overall in-patient mortality rate was 2.8% (n = 37,927). Obese patients had numerically a lower mortality (1.8%) compared with the nonobese patients (3.1%); however, the difference in risk was not significant on multivariable analysis (hazard ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.94-1.01). In the overall cohort, 20.6% (n = 269,988) were readmitted within 30 days. The risk of 30-day readmission was significantly lower in obese patients (19.4%) compared with nonobese patients (20.9%) (odds ratio 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.84-0.86). Obese patients had longer LOSs (median of 5 days [3-7] vs 4 days [2-6], P < 0.001) and higher costs of index admission (median of $27,206 [$16,027-$48,316] vs $23,339 [$13,698-$41,982], P < 0.001) compared with nonobese patients. CONCLUSIONS In this cross-sectional study of patients hospitalized for HF in the United States, obesity was not associated with a higher risk of inpatient mortality, but it was associated with a lower 30-day readmission rate. Obese patients with HF, however, had longer LOSs and higher costs of index admission. Our findings support the obesity paradox seen in patients with HF.
The Mifepristone REMS: A Needless and Unlawful Barrier to Care

Abstract Mifepristone (brand name Mifeprex) is a prescription drug that has been safely used in the United States for twenty years to end early pregnancies and, more recently, to treat early miscarriages. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledges that mifepristone's safety and efficacy are “well-established by both research and experience” [1] , it imposes a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (“REMS”) that severely restricts where, how, and from whom this medication can be obtained. Most notably, FDA requires that mifepristone be dispensed at a hospital, clinic, or medical office—not by mail or through a retail or mail-order pharmacy—even though patients can receive all evaluation and counseling via telemedicine and can self-administer the mifepristone tablet, unsupervised, at the location of their choice. Of more than 20,000 FDA-approved drugs [2] , mifepristone is the only one FDA requires patients to pick up in a clinical setting even though they do not have to take it under clinical supervision [3] . FDA's singular restrictions on mifepristone are not only clinically unjustified, but unlawful. On behalf of leading medical associations, individual physicians, and reproductive justice advocates, our organization, the American Civil Liberties Union, has taken FDA to court—twice—because the agency's restrictions on mifepristone do not satisfy the strict constraints Congress established for REMS programs and erect profound and unnecessary barriers to care in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
[Analysis of laboratory re-examination results in Sichuan Provincial Malaria Diagnostic Reference Laboratory from 2014 to 2020].

OBJECTIVE To re-examine the diagnosis results of reported malaria cases in Sichuan Province from 2014 to 2020, so as to assess the malaria diagnostic capability of Sichuan Provincial Malaria Diagnostic Reference Laboratory. METHODS The blood and blood smear samples from reported malaria cases were collected by Sichuan Provincial Malaria Diagnostic Reference Laboratory from 2014 to 2020, and subjected to re-examinations using microscopy and nested PCR assay. The re-examination results were compared. RESULTS A total of 1 710 samples from reported malaria cases were re-examined by Sichuan Provincial Malaria Diagnostic Reference Laboratory from 2014 to 2020, and 1 634 samples were identified positive, with a positive coincidence rate of 95.56% (1 634/1 710) and a 92.29% (1 508/1 634) total coincidence rate of the Plasmodium species. The coincidence rates with P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale were 99.48% (961/966), 97.07% (430/443), 83.05% (98/118) and 67.86% (19/28), respectively, and the coincidence rate was 91.81% (1 513/1 648) between microscopic and nested-PCR results. CONCLUSIONS The capability of microscopists remains weak at grassroot medical institutions in Sichuan Province. Further training is required among microscopists to improve the malaria surveillance capability in Sichuan Province during the post-elimination stage.
Literacy in times of crisis : practices and perspectives

Preface Personal Prologue Chapter 1: Introduction: Examining Crisis, Laurie MacGillivray and Devon Brenner Commentator Introductions, Tracy Sweeney (Early Career Teacher), Jane Fung (Veteran Teacher) and Elizabeth Moje (Teacher Educator) Part I: Reading and Writing in Times of Crisis Chapter 2: Making Contact in Times of Crisis: Literacy Practices in a Post-Katrina World, April Whatley Bedford and Devon Brenner Chapter 3: "Hallelujah!" Bible-based Literacy Practices of Children Living in a Homeless Shelter, Laurie MacGillivray Chapter 4: Reactions to Divorce: Communication and Child Writing Practices, Gisele Ragusa Chapter 5: When daddy goes to prison: Examining crisis through fanfiction and poetry, Mary K. Thompson Chapter 6: Reading and Writing Teenage Motherhood: Changing Literacy Practices and Developing Identities, Kara L. Lycke Chapter 7: Disability Identification: Shifts in Home Literacy Practices, Gisele Ragusa Part II: Crises Arising from Literate Practices Chapter 8: Finding Husbands, Finding Wives: How Being Literate Creates Crisis, Loukia K. Sarroub Chapter 9: A State Take-Over: The Language of a School District Crisis, Rebecca Rogers and Kathryn Pole Chapter 10: Brewing a Crisis: Language, Educational Reform, and the Defense of a Nation, Susan Florio-Ruane Part III: Reflecting on Crises and Literacy Chapter 11 Commentators' Insights, Tracy Sweeney (Early Career Teacher), Jane Fung (Veteran Teacher) and Elizabeth Moje (Teacher Educator) List of Contributors
Integrated Marketing: How to Manage Brand Relationships

Most companies agree building brand relationships is a good idea but few do it because they don’t know how. As explained in Driving Brand Value, integrated marketing (IM) is an effective way to create, retain, and grow profitable brand relationships (Duncan and Moriarty, 1997). This is because integrated marketing is a cross-functional process for bringing people and corporate learning together in order to maintain strategic consistency in brand communications, facilitate purposeful dialogue, and market a corporate mission that increases brand trust. There are three basic dimensions to IM: corporate focus, organizational infrastructure, and the integration processes.
Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism: a nomological network analysis.

ABSTRACT Evidence has accrued to suggest that there are 2 distinct dimensions of narcissism, which are often labeled grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. Although individuals high on either of these dimensions interact with others in an antagonistic manner, they differ on other central constructs (e.g., Neuroticism, Extraversion). In the current study, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis of 3 prominent self-report measures of narcissism (N=858) to examine the convergent and discriminant validity of the resultant factors. A 2-factor structure was found, which supported the notion that these scales include content consistent with 2 relatively distinct constructs: grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. We then compared the similarity of the nomological networks of these dimensions in relation to indices of personality, interpersonal behavior, and psychopathology in a sample of undergraduates (n=238). Overall, the nomological networks of vulnerable and grandiose narcissism were unrelated. The current results support the need for a more explicit parsing of the narcissism construct at the level of conceptualization and assessment.
AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM FOR REDUCING GROUP A STREPTOCOCCAL PREVALENCE

A relatively simple and inexpensive streptococcal control program was applied to two school populations located in an area of high endemicity in Colorado. Throat cultures were obtained from children admitting sore throat and from a small, continuously rotating random sample of the student body. This method of surveillance provided a reliable index of total streptococcal incidence in the two schools. Children with Group A positive cultures sought consultation with private physicians on a voluntary basis. The application of these sampling procedures resulted in a reduction of prevalence rates to less than 5%. Comparable endemic prevalence rates observed in school children in three other Colorado communities averaged 21.9%. The program described is practical and effective in substantially lowering the incidence of Group A infections and reducing risk to development of nonsuppurative sequelae.
Effect of infusion on force of closure measurements in the human esophagus.

Constant infusion during pressure measurements of peristaltic waves in the body of the esophagus is associated with high mean amplitudes and with agreement between two recording catheters whose tips are in the same location. In a model, infusion allows exact prediction of model pressures; noninfused catheters underestimate model pressures. The rate of infusion is critical when estimating rapidly changing pressure values. Studies in control subjects show marked variation in amplitude values from swallow to swallow, in different locations in the esophagus, and between normal individuals. The wide range of normal values encompasses most values obtained from patients with esophageal symptoms. The reproducibility of values in the same subject presents a possible tool for the study of pharmacological agents.
Prediction of Standard-Dose PET Image by Low-Dose PET and MRI Images

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medical imaging technology that produces 3D images of tissue metabolic activity in human body. PET has been used in various clinical applications, such as diagnosis of tumors and diffuse brain disorders. High quality PET image plays an essential role in diagnosing diseases/disorders and assessing the response to therapy. In practice, in order to obtain the high quality PET images, standard-dose radionuclide (tracer) needs to be used and injected into the living body. As a result, it will inevitably increase the risk of radiation. In this paper, we propose a regression forest (RF) based framework for predicting standard-dose PET images using low-dose PET and corresponding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images instead of injecting the standard-dose radionuclide into the body. The proposed approach has been evaluated on a dataset consisting of 7 subjects using leave-one-out cross-validation. Moreover, we compare the prediction performance between sparse representation (SR) based method and our proposed method. Both qualitative and quantitative results illustrate the practicability of our proposed method.
Non-integrating lentiviral vectors for specific killing of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1-positive B cell lymphoma cells.

Background Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) causes a range of life-threatening B-lymphocyte malignancies but, despite the use of various strategies, treatment remains problematic. Methods In the present study, we developed a non-integrating lentiviral vector (NILV) that mediates specific killing of EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1)-expressing cells with minimal toxicity to EBNA1-negative cells. The EBV family of repeats (FR) was cloned intok the NILV genome upstream of various transgenes. Results The presence of the FR in the NILV genome induced transcriptional up-regulation and prolonged the expression of a transgene specifically in EBNA1-positive B cells. Transgene expression from an FR-containing NILV was also prolonged in EBV-transformed cells compared to an FR-negative NILV. We found that the delivery of an FR-containing NILV encoding herpes simplex virus 1 thymidine kinase (TK) lead to the killing of more than 99% of EBNA1-positive B cells with minimal toxicity to EBNA1-negative cells in the presence of gancyclovir. EBNA1-positive cells were not killed by an FR-negative vector containing the TK gene. An FR-TK-containing NILV also specifically killed EBNA1-containing cells in a mixed population of EBNA1-positive and EBNA1-negative cells, thus confirming that NILV-FR-TK-mediated killing is specific for EBNA1-expressing cells. Conclusions Transgene expression from our NILVs is both EBNA1-specific and dependent upon the presence of the FR. The results obtained in the present study indicate that NILVs have potential use in the treatment of EBV-associated B cell malignancies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Suggestions on the preparation of undecalcified bone for microradiography.

In microradiography the thickness of the specimen usually governs the degree of discrete structural detail attainable. A cause of poor detail in the historadiography of bone sections thinner than 30 micra is distortion attributable to lack of uniform contact between the undecalciiied specimen and the photographic emulsion. The use of a strong but radio-lucent supporting membrane on which the section can be mounted is an approach to the solution of this difficulty. Cementing the polished section under pressure to a 2 μ nylon membrane mounted on a modified specimen ring produces a flat section in close contact with the film. By mounting microtome-cut sections of frozen-dried developing bone directly on a supporting film of a polyvinyl resin, histochemical staining as well as microradiography can be performed on the same section.
Tracheal resection and reanastomosis in the neonatal period.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Severe congenital tracheal stenosis is rare. Most of these can be managed conservatively before elective repair. Focal tracheal stenosis has been treated with resection of the involved trachea and primary reanastomosis in older infants. The authors found no reports of repair of this lesion in neonates. Two patients are presented with severe respiratory failure on the first day of life that required extracorporeal life support (ECLS) who underwent successful tracheal resection and reanastomosis (TRR) during the first week of life. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted. Results: Both babies had severe pulmonary hypertension and carbon dioxide retention despite maximal therapy and were placed on ECLS shortly after transfer. One had an isolated stenosis of the upper trachea, and the other had agenesis of the right lung, esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula, and a tracheal stenosis at the end of a short trachea with a long, narrow left bronchus. Both underwent diagnostic studies and had surgical repair while on ECLS at day 3 and 7 of life without bleeding complications. They were weaned off ECLS 1 and 8 days after surgery. One patient was extubated and did well. The other was extubated transiently, but required a tracheostomy because of left mainstem bronchomalacia. Both are alive and well at 18 and 38 months of age, with no narrowing of the repairs. Conclusion: In the setting of severe respiratory failure requiring ECLS support, TRR can be performed safely and successfully in the neonate with focal tracheal stenosis. J Pediatr Surg 36:1262-1265. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Response reduction in dipteran chemoreceptors after sustained feeding or darkness

Abstract 1. 1. After sustained exposure to darkness, labellar chemoreceptors of flies give brief discharge lasting a few seconds. 2. 2. In normally lighted or fully fasted flies, all sensilla respond and impulse frequencies are higher. 3. 3. For each fast period, impulse frequency distribution is continuous rather than biomodal, indicating a gradual phenomenon. 4. 4. Chemoreceptor modulation could act to safeguard long-term feeding regulation under wide environmental swings.
From Single Atoms to One-Dimensional Solids: Artificial Gold Chains on NiAl(110)

The tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was used to assemble well-defined atomic chains from single Au atoms on a NiAl(110) surface. The electronic properties of the chains are determined by a one-dimensional free-electron like band, gradually developing from a discrete resonance state in Au monomers. The adsorption of a single CO molecule on the chain strongly perturbs the electronic structure by suppressing the interaction between neighboring chain atoms. Vibrational properties of the Au/CO adsorption system were obtained from inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy with the STM, yielding the energy of the hindered rotational mode for AunCO. The experiments demonstrate the strength of the STM to explore properties of matter in the transition range between single atoms and bulk solids.
On the convex hull of the multiform numerical range

Let A 1,…,Am be nxn hermitian matrices. Definine W(A 1,…,Am )={(xA1x ∗,…xAmx ∗):x∊C n ,xx ∗=1}. We will show that every point in the convex hull of W(A 1,…,Am ) can be represented as a convex combination of not more than k(m,n) points in W(A 1,…,Am ) where k(m,n)=min{n,[√m]+δ n 2 m+1}.
Imaging FtsZ Rings In Vitro by Negative-Stain EM

In prokaryotes, the major cytoskeleton protein involved in cell division is FtsZ, a homolog of tubulin. In vivo, light microscopy studies have shown that FtsZ forms a ring (Z ring) at midcell during cell division. However, the substructure of the Z ring remains a mystery. In vitro, FtsZ assembles into short, single-stranded protofilaments (pfs), but it is unknown how these 120 nm long pfs come together to form a ring that encompasses the ∼3000 nm circumference of the cell. One possibility is that they associate by lateral contacts to make ribbons of protofilaments. Another is that the pfs are not in direct contact but communicate via distortions of the membrane. We have developed a lipid tubule system that has enabled us to image the Z-ring substructure by negative-stain EM. Here we took advantage of the self-assembling lipid, DC 8,9, PC, which spontaneously forms 500 nm diameter tubules in solution. We added membrane-targeted FtsZ (mts-FtsZ), which has been shown to form Z rings inside or outside of tubular liposomes. The mts-FtsZ assembled characteristic Z rings imaged by fluorescence light microscopy. Negative-stain EM showed that these Z rings consist of ribbons of pfs, which were one-subunit thick. Fourier transform analysis of these images confirmed the close packing (∼5 nm) of individual pfs in the Z ring. Overall, the data suggest that lateral contacts are important for Z ring assembly. In addition, these results were similar for FtsZ from E. coli and M. tuberculosis, suggesting that lateral contacts are an intrinsic property of Z rings.
Menstrual cycle and ST height.

Background: Sex hormones and menstrual cycle effects on ST height have not yet been clearly identified. Methods: Twenty-two young, healthy women (aged 22–32 years) were included in this study. Twelve-lead ECGs were registered during menses, follicular and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle at baseline, and after double autonomic blockade (DAB). Chest leads V2–V4 and limb leads I and II were chosen for analysis. ST height was measured manually at J-Point and 40 ms after the J-Point, and values were corrected for QRS amplitude (J-Point/QRS, 40 ms/QRS). Repeated measure ANOVA was used to analyze differences in ST height among the three phases of the menstrual cycle. A P-value < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: At baseline, ST height, QTc, and T wave amplitude were not significantly different among the three phases of the menstrual cycle. After double autonomic blockade, ST height at 40 ms, J-Point/QRS, and 40 ms/QRS was significantly higher during follicular versus luteal phase (0.152 ± 0.413 mm versus −0.007 ± 0.427 mm, P = 0.0059 at 40 ms; −0.001 ± 0.030 versus −0.015 ± 0.032, P = 0.0039 at J-Point/QRS; 0.013 ± 0.031 versus −0.004 ± 0.032, P = 0.0005 at 40 ms/QRS) as was the QTc. ST height differences at J-Point were not significantly different (−0.046 ± 0.395 mm follicular, −0.167 ± 0.448 mm luteal, and −0.083 ± 0.492 mm menses, P = 0.1014). Conclusion: ST height and QTc varied among the three phases of the menstrual cycle, predominantly after double autonomic blockade. Female sex hormones that vary throughout the menstrual cycle may modulate measures of repolarization.
The Theological Methodology of John Oman and H. H. Farmer

Two successive theologians at Westminster College, Cambridge, John Oman and Herbert H. Farmer, represented a distinctive theological development which extended over fifty years of the present century. Oman with his original mind was the inaugurator; Farmer was the disciple who followed with great devotion, but who also exhibited independence and attempted to bring his teacher's insight into creative relation with later theological emphases, especially with the renewed interest in Christology.
Emotional Responses to Sexual and Emotional Infidelity: Constants and Differences Across Genders, Samples, and Methods

In three studies (total N = 619), the authors tested an evolutionary hypothesis: Men are more bothered by sexual than emotional infidelity, whereas the reverse is true of women. More diverse samples (in age) and measures than is typical were used. In Study 1, the authors found across gender, sample, and method that sexual infidelity was associated with anger and blame, but emotional infidelity was associated with hurt feelings. The evolutionary effect was replicated with undergraduates but not with the nonstudent sample. In Study 2, narrative scenarios were used; it was found that nonstudent men and women were more hurt and upset by emotional infidelity but were made angrier by sexual infidelity. In Study 3, using Likert-type scales, scenarios, and a nonstudent sample, it was found that both genders were more upset, hurt, and angrier about sexual than emotional transgressions when rating one kind without hearing the opposite type. The implications for how emotional responses evolved are discussed.
Feedback Inhibition of the Retinaldehyde Dehydrogenase GeneALDH1 by Retinoic Acid through Retinoic Acid Receptor α and CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein β *

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) plays a major role in the biosynthesis of retinoic acid (RA), a hormone required for several essential life processes. Recent evidence, using the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-null mouse, suggests that elevated hepatic RA down-regulates ALDH1 in a unique feedback pathway to control RA biosynthesis. To determine the mechanism of suppression of theALDH1 gene by RA, transactivation studies were carried out in Hepa-1 mouse hepatoma cells. RA decreased expression of an ALDH1-CAT construct containing −2536 base pairs of DNA upstream of the transcription start site. Retinoic acid receptor α (RARα) transactivates the ALDH1 gene promoter through a complex with an RA response-like element (RARE) located at −91/−75 bp, which bound to the RARα/retinoid X receptor β heterodimer. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPβ) also transactivates theALDH1 gene promoter through a CCAAT box located 3′ and directly adjacent to the RARE, and the ALDH1 gene is down-regulated in C/EBPβ-null mouse liver. Exposure of Hepa-1 cells to RA results in a decrease in C/EBPβ mRNA levels; however, there was no difference in mRNA and protein levels between wild-type and AHR-null mouse liver. These data support a model in which the RARα and C/EBPβ activate the ALDH1 gene promoter through the RARE and C/EBP response elements, and in Hepa-1 cells, high levels of RA inhibit this activation by decreasing cellular levels of C/EBPβ.
The realization of complex impedance standard

This paper presents the realization of complex impedance standard, which achieve the calibration of digital bridge on entire complex plane through generating voltage and current waveform. The proposed standard can simulate any modulus and angle of complex impedance, which is focused on some technologies, such as digital waveform synthesis, all digital phase locked loop, DDS. Based on the concept of complex impedance and the calibration object, this paper achieves the design and realization of complex impedance standard. The measurement data at 1kHz is provided in the end, which can establish the foundation for calibration.
Chemical variations in sedimentary facies of an inner continental shelf environment, Northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Four major sedimentary provinces of the inner continental shelf off the Louisiana coast have been recognized by textural studies (Krawiec, 1966): deltaic, non-deltaic, and relict sediments; and deltadestructional sands. Samples from these provinces have been analyzed for Rb, Sr, Ni, Fe,Mn, Ti, and Zr; trend surface analysis has been used to discern regional trends of these elements. These trends substantiate the previous division of shelf provinces. Although deltaic and non-deltaic sediments cannot be distinguished by chemical criteria, they are distinctive from relict sediments, which are low in Mn, Fe, Ti, Zr, Rb, and Ni, and high in Sr. The delta-destructional sands are distinctive from the other three provinces by their low contents of Mn, Fe, Rb, and Ni, and high Ti, Zr, and Sr. In an energetic environment such as this, processes subsequent to deposition tend to disperse Rb, Fe, Ni, and Mn, as these elements are closely associated with the clays; these processes may give rise to enrichment of Zr due to the high stability and density of the mineral zircon, or the enrichment of Sr by accumulation of organic remains.
On the Studentisation of Random Vectors

We give general matrix Studentisation results for random vectors converging in distribution to a spherically symmetric random vector, which have wide applicability to the asymptotic properties of estimators obtained from estimating equations, for example. Appropriate matrix “square roots,” required for normalisation of the random vectors, are shown to be the Cholesky square root and the symmetric positive definite square root.
Modality-independent elastography: preliminary results

The correlation between the stiffness and health of tissue is an accepted form of organ disease assessment. As a result, there has been a significant amount of interest in developing methods to image elasticity parameters (i.e. elastography). This work presents a technique that frames the elastography imaging problem within a non-rigid iterative image registration approach. Through the use of finite element modeling and mutual information, material properties are varied in order to optimize the registration between a post-compressed image and a model-generated compressed image. The results shown here demonstrate the strong connection between image similarity and appropriate tissue parameters and the algorithm's ability to detect contrast in tissue stiffness. By casting elasticity image reconstruction within the context of image similarity, the method is generalized to all forms of medical imaging.
Mass-transfer in rotating packed beds—I. Development of gas—liquid and liquid—solid mass-transfer correlations

Correlations for predicting gas—liquid and liquid—solid mass-transfer coefficients in rotating packed beds are developed. They are based on laminar liquid film flow on a rotating blade and rotating disk, and the assumed random distribution of surfaces in the rotating bed. Both penetration theory and the complete convectio—diffusion model are used and the results are compared. The use of penetration theory at lower rotational speed is justified by this comparison. Similarities and differences with gravity film flow and conventional packed beds are outlined. The superior performance of rotating beds is predicted.
Thermodynamic modeling of aqueous piperazine/N-(2-aminoethyl) piperazine for CO2 capture

Abstract Aqueous piperazine (PZ) blended with N-(2-aminoethyl) piperazine (AEP) is an attractive solvent for CO 2 capture from coal-fired power plants. A rigorous thermodynamic model was developed in Aspen Plus® to predict properties of PZ/AEP/H2O/CO 2 , using the electrolyte-Nonrandom Two-Liquid (eNRTL) activity coefficient model. A sequential regression was performed to represent CO 2 solubility, speciation, and amine volatility data over operationally significant loading and temperature ranges. The model predicts a CO 2 cyclic capacity of 0.86 mol/kg (PZ + AEP + water) for 5 m PZ/2 m AEP, compared to 0.50 mol/kg for 7 m MEA and 0.86 mol/kg for 8 m PZ. The predicted heat of absorption is 75 to 85 kJ/mol CO 2 in the operating loading range (0.288–0.380 mol CO 2 /mol alkalinity). Speciation for PZ/AEP/H2O at various CO 2 loading and temperature was also predicted, from which behavior of CO 2 in the amine system was proposed.
Ceramide-1-phosphate binds group IVA cytosolic phospholipase a2 via a novel site in the C2 domain.

Previously, ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) was demonstrated to be a potent and specific activator of group IV cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) via interaction with the C2 domain. In this study, we hypothesized that the specific interaction site for C1P was localized to the cationic β-groove (Arg57, Lys58, Arg59) of the C2 domain of cPLA2α. In this regard, mutants of this region of cPLA2α were generated (R57A/K58A/R59A, R57A/R59A, K58A/R59A, R57A/K58A, R57A, K58A, and R59A) and examined for C1P affinity by surface plasmon resonance. The triple mutants (R57A/K58A/R59A), the double mutants (R57A/R59A, K58A/R59A, and R57A/K58A), and the single mutant (R59A) demonstrated significantly reduced affinity for C1P-containing vesicles as compared with wild-type cPLA2α. Examining these mutants for enzymatic activity demonstrated that these five mutants of cPLA2α also showed a significant reduction in the ability of C1P to: 1) increase the Vmax of the reaction; and 2) significantly decrease the dissociation constant (K As) of the reaction as compared with the wild-type enzyme. The mutational effect was specific for C1P as all of the cationic mutants of cPLA2α demonstrated normal basal activity as well as normal affinities for phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate as compared with wild-type cPLA2α. This study, for the first time, demonstrates a novel C1P interaction site mapped to the cationic β-groove of the C2 domain of cPLA2α.
Synaptic vesicles and the nerve-muscle preparation in resinless sections.

Resinless sections have been used to study the fine structural organization of cellular organelles and fibrous components at synapses. Presynaptic elements of the neuromuscular junction, representing the P.N.S., and of cerebral cortical synapses, representing the C.N.S., are examined and compared. Typical ultrastructural features are apparent in presynaptic and postsynaptic components and in the surrounding muscle and neuronal tissue demonstrating the reliability and usefulness of the technique.
Breast epithelial cell proliferation is markedly increased with short-term high levels of endogenous estrogen secondary to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

Oocyte donors have high serum estradiol (E2) levels similar to the serum levels seen in the first trimester of pregnancy. We report in this article our studies comparing cell proliferation, Ki67 (MIB1), and estrogen and progesterone receptor levels (ERα, PRA, and PRB) in the breast terminal duct lobular units of oocyte donors, women in early pregnancy, and in normally cycling women. Breast tissue and blood samples were obtained from 10 oocyte donors, and 30 pregnant women at 5–18 weeks of gestation. Breast tissue samples were also obtained from 26 normally cycling women. In the oocyte donors: peak E2 (mean ~15,300 pmol/l) was reached on the day before oocyte (and tissue) donation; peak progesterone (P4; mean 36.3 nmol/l) was reached on the day of donation; Ki67 was positively associated with level of E2, and the mean Ki67 was 7.0% significantly greater than the mean 1.8% of cycling women. In the pregnant women: mean E2 rose from ~2,000 pmol/l at 5 weeks of gestation to ~27,000 pmol/l at 18 weeks; mean P4 did not change from ~40 nmol/l until around gestational week 11 when it increased to ~80 nmol/l; mean Ki67 was 15.4% and did not vary with gestational age or E2. Oocyte donors have greatly increased levels of E2 and of breast-cell proliferation, both comparable in the majority of donors to the levels seen in the first trimester of pregnancy. Whether their short durations of greatly increased E2 levels are associated with any long-term beneficial effects on the breast, as occurring in rodent models, is not known.