cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hedgehog signaling promotes endoneurial fibroblast migration and Vegf-A expression following facial nerve injury.

Abstract Background Peripheral nerve injuries are a common clinical problem which may result in permanent loss of motor or sensory function. A better understanding of the signaling pathways that lead to successful nerve regeneration may help in discovering new therapeutic targets. The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays significant roles in nerve development and regeneration. In a mouse model of facial nerve injury, Hedgehog-responsive fibroblasts increase in number both at the site of injury and within the distal nerve. However, the role of these cells in facial nerve regeneration is not fully understood. We hypothesize that the Hh pathway plays an angiogenic and pro-migratory role following facial nerve injury. Methods Hedgehog pathway modulators were applied to murine endoneurial fibroblasts isolated from the murine facial nerve. The impact of pathway modulation on endoneurial fibroblast migration and cell proliferation was assessed. Gene expression changes of known Hedgehog target genes and the key angiogenic factor Vegf-A were determined by qPCR. In vivo, mice were treated with pathway agonist (SAG21k) and injured facial nerve specimens were analyzed via immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization. Results Hedgehog pathway activation in facial nerve fibroblasts via SAG21k treatment increases Gli1 and Ptch1 expression, the rate of cellular migration, and Vegf-A expression in vitro. In vivo, expression of Gli1 and Vegf-A expression appears to increase after injury, particularly at the site of nerve injury and the distal nerve, as detected by immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization. Additionally, Gli1 transcripts co-localize with Vegf-A following transection injury to the facial nerve. Discussion These findings describe an angiogenic and pro-migratory role for the Hedgehog pathway mediated through effects on nerve fibroblasts. Given the critical role of Vegf-A in nerve regeneration, modulation of this pathway may represent a potential therapeutic target to improve facial nerve regeneration following injury.
Navigating the waters of membrane design.

The United States benefits from access to comparatively cheap and plentiful water, but population growth, urbanization, and environmental challenges threaten water security, putting our future at risk (1, 2). This problem is intensified in disparate parts of the world that do not have access to the resources available to the United States. Water purification membrane processes offer a potentially efficient, cost-effective route to overcome the challenges presented by water scarcity and pollution, but progress is constrained by the limitations of current membrane materials (3). The development of new membrane materials that are robust, resist fouling, and achieve purification targets has the potential to transform this technology and impact global populations. To go beyond trial-and-error approaches to design next-generation membrane materials and surfaces requires the ability to engineer surfaces on the molecular level to tune the relative affinities for aqueous contaminants permeating through the membrane. In PNAS, Monroe et al. (4) computationally demonstrate that intuitions founded on bulk solubility correlations can make specious predictions when designing membrane surfaces to optimize solute affinities, and that a molecularly focused examination of adsorption highlights the roles of water fluctuations and competitive interactions next to hydrophobic/hydrophilic surfaces. These intuitions can be even further stymied for realistic chemically heterogeneous surfaces. Conceptually, the design of surfaces to minimize/maximize solute adsorption frequently rely on correlations with the solubility of those solutes in bulk water or their transfer between water and an organic solvent. While this idea makes intuitive predictions, such as nonpolar solutes do not adsorb on polar surfaces, the connections between hydration in the bulk solvent and … [↵][1]1Email: hanka{at}tulane.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
An Interactive Mock Paging Curriculum to Prepare New Internal Medicine Interns for Inpatient Wards

Introduction The July effect refers to an increase in adverse outcomes during periods of physician trainee turnover in teaching hospitals. We created an interactive resident-led curriculum to train...
Catholic Women Religious: Discerning Faith-based Vigilance

This chapter explores U.S. women religious, primarily those who are known as “sisters,” as embodiments of vigilance—those who “kept watch.” It explores what this role entailed, its historical configurations and influence, its discursive constructions, and the tensions associated with it. The chapter also explores how the experience of U.S. women religious contributes to our overall understanding of feminist vigilance. Although women religious were often reluctant to label themselves as feminist, they dominated early leadership positions in health care, education, and social welfare, three areas in which individual moral agency and collective vigilance are essential. In what ways did their experiences both deepen and expand our understanding of feminist vigilance?
Acquiring firms' stock returns: Methods of payment, change in leverage, and management ownership

This study examines the effects of the method of payment, change in leverage, and management equity ownership on the acquiring firm's stock returns around the initial announcement date of the merger. Results indicate that stockholders of mergers financed with stocks suffer significant losses. These losses are larger when management ownership is low and smaller in mergers that resulted in acquiring firm leverage decreases. Stockholders of acquiring firms involved in cash mergers gain significant abnormal returns, provided that acquiring firms increase their leverage and that managerial ownership is high. When management equity ownership is low, leverage has no effect on stock returns. When management ownership is high, mergers which resulted in acquiring firm leverage increases have significant positive effects, and those which resulted in acquiring firm leverage decreases have negative but insignificant effects.
Issues in the design, analysis, and application of rodent developmental neurotoxicology studies.

Abstract Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) studies could benefit from revisions to study design, data analysis, and some behavioral test methods to enhance reproducibility. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviewed 69 studies submitted to the Office of Pesticide Programs. Two of the behavioral tests identified the lowest observable adverse effect level (LOAEL) 20 and 13 times, respectively, while the other two tests identified the LOAEL only 3 and 4 times, respectively. The EPA review showed that the functional observational battery (FOB) was least effective at detecting the LOAEL, whereas tests of learning and memory (L&M) had methodological shortcomings. Human neurodevelopmental toxicity studies over the past 30 years show that most of the adverse effects are on higher cognitive functions such as L&M. The results of human studies together with structure-function relationships from neuroscience, suggest that tests of working memory, spatial navigation/memory, and egocentric navigation/memory should be added to guideline studies. Collectively, the above suggest that EPA and EU DNT studies would better reflect human findings and be more relevant to children by aligning L&M tests to the same domains that are affected in children, removing less useful methods (FOB), and using newer statistical models to better account for random factors of litter and litter × sex. Common issues in study design and data analyses are discussed: sample size, random group assignment, blinding, elimination of subjective rating methods, avoiding confirmation bias, more complete reporting of species, housing, test protocols, age, test order, and litter effects. Litter in DNT studies should at least be included as a random factor in ANOVA models and may benefit from inclusion of litter × sex as random factors.
Guanine nucleotide binding proteins and signal transduction.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the general aspects and functions of guanine nucleotide binding proteins and signal transduction. The function of several identified G-proteins such as G o and the multiple forms of “G i ” are also defined. The function of ras and ras -related gene products likewise are also elucidated in the chapter. The G-protein(s) linked to stimulation of PI breakdown are identified. Members of the G-protein family share certain common features. G- Proteins act to couple receptors and effectors. The receptors with which G-proteins interact appear to be transmembrane glycoproteins capable of being activated by specific extracellular signals or “first messengers.” These signals are diverse and include peptide and glycoprotein hormones, neurotransmitter amines, prostaglandins, chemical odorants, photons of light, and perhaps others. Activation of the receptor involves more than specific binding. New G-proteins, and new functions for G-proteins, are also discovered. G-protein-effector interaction is transient under physiologic conditions and is terminated by a guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activity intrinsic to the G-protein. The structural basis for receptor-G-protein-effector interactions and the specificity of these interactions are reviewed. Novel therapeutic approaches could result from an appreciation of these structural and functional details.
Using focus groups to develop a heart disease prevention program for ethnically diverse, low-income women.

Although low-income women have higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than higher-income women, health promotion and disease prevention are often low priorities due to financial, family, and health care constraints. In addition, most low-income women live in environments that tend to support and even promote high risk CVD behaviors. Low-income African-American, Hispanic, and White women constitute one of the largest groups at high risk for CVD but few heart disease prevention programs have effectively reached them. The purpose of this project was to use feedback from focus groups to generate ideas about how to best structure and implement future CVD intervention programs tailored to low-income populations. Seven focus groups were conducted with 51 low-income African-American, Hispanic, and White women from two urban and two agricultural communities in California. The women in the study shared many common experiences and barriers to healthy lifestyles, despite their ethnic diversity. Results of the focus groups showed that women preferred heart disease prevention programs that would address multiple CVD risk factors, emphasize staying healthy for themselves, teach specific skills about how to adopt heart-healthy behaviors, and offer them choices in effecting behavioral change. For health information, they preferred visual formats to written formats. They also expressed a desire to develop knowledge to help them separate health “myths” from health “facts” in order to reduce their misconceptions about CVD. Finally, they stressed that health care policies and programs need to address social and financial barriers that impede the adoption of heart-healthy behaviors.
Preliminary Commissioning and Energy Audit of a UNLV Building

ABSTRACT A partial commissioning and energy audit were performed on a recently constructed building at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Although the building is relatively new and has passed all building code requirements, it has not undergone a formal commissioning process to check that the mechanical systems, such as the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), were performing at optimally designed conditions. The building is approximately 35,000 ft2 spread over three floors. The following components and systems were inspected, tested, and/or analyzed during the project: rooftop units, ducting flow rates, VAV units, room supply air fl ows, thermostats, temperature control sensors, some preliminary aspects of IAQ, some aspects of lighting, hot water heating, occupancy and occupant perceptions, and operating parameters. The building chosen has an energy management system (EMS), and hence its data can be reasonably evaluated. In addition to the inspections of the above items in the abo...
Normal mode splitting with lossy coupled resonances

The effects of lossy coupled resonances on normal mode splitting are investigated. A unit cell of a nano wire and slot are modeled and compared to mathematical description.
STA: a tool for systolic array reasoning

A concise introduction to a novel formalism developed for systolic array reasoning is presented. This new formalism is called systolic temporal arithmetic (STA). The motivation for such a development, its syntax, and some of the constructs and rules involved are briefly presented. Its applications to formal specification, formal verification, simulation, fault diagnosis, and test generation for systolic arrays are briefly discussed. >
O DISCURSO DO PROFISSIONAL DE GINÁSTICA EM ACADEMIA NO RIO DE JANEIRO

Este estudo insere-se na linha de pesquisa sobre Representacoes Sociais dos atores da educacao fisica. Tem por objeto de analise o significado do discurso de profissionais de ginastica em grandes academias na Cidade do Rio de Janeiro sobre o seu processo de trabalho e sobre as representacoes que o acompanham. O referencial teorico provem da "analise do discurso", de linha francesa, de motivacao interdisciplinar, com base em Bakhtin, Foucault, Pecheux e Maingueneau. This study belongs to the line of research on the Social Representation of the physical education' actors. It has for analysis object the meaning of the gymnastics professionals' speech in great academies in the City of Rio de Janeiro on its work process and about the representations that accompany it. The theoretical reference comes from the "analysis of the speech", of French background, of interdiscipline motivation, based on Bakhtin, Foucault, Pecheux and Maingueneau.
Hydrogen Peroxide-coupled cis-Diol Formation Catalyzed by Naphthalene 1,2-Dioxygenase

Abstract Naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase (NDOS) catalyzes the NAD(P)H and O2-dependent oxidation of naphthalene to (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene. NDOS consists of three protein components: a flavo-[2Fe-2S] reductase (NDR), a ferredoxin electron transfer protein (NDF), and an (αβ)3 oxygenase (NDO) containing a mononuclear iron site and a Rieske-type [2Fe-2S] cluster in each α-subunit. The active site is built across a subunit-subunit boundary, and each subunit contributes one type of metal center. Our previous studies have shown that NDO with both metal centers reduced is capable of an O2-coupled single turnover to yield the correctcis-diol product in the absence of the NDR and NDF components (Wolfe, M. D., Parales, J. V., Gibson, D. T., and Lipscomb, J. D. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 1945–1953). It is shown here that addition of H2O2 to NDO allows reaction with naphthalene to rapidly yield the correct product in a “peroxide shunt” reaction that does not require a reduced Rieske cluster. The mononuclear Fe2+ center is oxidized during turnover, while the Rieske cluster remains in the oxidized state. Peroxide shunt turnover in the presence of 18O-labeled H2O2, H2O, or O2 shows that both oxygen atoms in the product derive primarily from H2O2. The peroxide shunt halts after one turnover despite the presence of excess H2O2 and naphthalene, but this is not the result of enzyme inactivation. Rather, it appears that the product cannot be released when the mononuclear iron is in the Fe3+state, blocking a second turnover. This work supports the hypotheses that the cis-dihydroxylation activity of NDOS requires only the NDO component, that a peroxo intermediate is formed during normal catalysis, and that product release requires an additional reducing equivalent beyond those necessary for the first turnover.
Acoustic spectral preferences in two cryptic species of grey treefrogs: implications for mate choice and sensory mechanisms

Females are expected to use spectral properties of acoustic signals for mate choice because dominant frequency often provides reliable information about male size. The advertisement calls of grey treefrogs ( Hyla chrysoscelis and H. versicolor ) have two main frequency bands: the amplitude of the dominant, high-frequency band averages 7–10 dB greater than that of the low-frequency band. The frequencies of these peaks were negatively correlated with male body size in both species. I used two-speaker playbacks of synthetic calls to generate preference functions for both species based on simultaneous variation in the frequencies of the two bands and, for H. versicolor , on variation in single-component calls; frequencies of most of these stimuli fell within the range of the dominant, high-frequency band. When two-component sounds were used, preference functions were bimodal and broad, with peaks close to ( H. versicolor ) or slightly higher than ( H. chrysoscelis ) mean frequencies in conspecific calls. Because preferences were not strong, I predict that females exert only weak stabilizing or directional selection on male call frequencies. When single-component calls were used in tests of H. versicolor , the preference-function peak was shifted to a lower-than-average frequency within the high-frequency range. I hypothesize that such a frequency may better stimulate both of the inner ear organs, whose tuning roughly matches frequencies in the two bands in conspecific calls, than a single component of average or much lower-than-average frequency. Females of both species preferred calls with both spectral peaks to calls with a single, high-frequency peak, even when the low-frequency peak was attenuated by 24–30 dB. This result serves to emphasize that typically subdominant frequency components can have seemingly disproportionate effects on signal attractiveness.
Children's Orientations Toward the President: Some Additional Theoretical Considerations and Data

ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING and significant developments in the study of childhood political socialization has involved "images" youngsters have of executive figures. Studies by Robert Hess and David Easton and by Fred Greenstein, the principal reporters of data in this field, have convincingly demonstrated that in America, earliest political cognitions involve prominently the president. Children regard the President as a "symbol of undifferentiated government that includes all levels and holds essentially all governmental authority."1 When other political objects are cognized, they often perceive them in positions subordinate to the President.2 Like Walter Bagehot's English king, who performed a constitutionally symbolic function for ignorant and credulous masses, the President personifies political authority for unsophisticated minds. As with cognition, so with affect. The same pair of studies indicates that children not only become aware of the President, but that they also evaluate him. To youngsters, the Chief Executive is extremely benevolent, good, worthy, kind, generous, and indulgent. In short, they have a highly positive image of him. Although parts of this positive image appear to become tarnished as children grow
Cervical facet joint dysfunction: a review

Abstract Kirpalani D, Mitra R. Cervical facet joint dysfunction: a review. Objective To review the relevant literature on cervical facet joint dysfunction and determine findings regarding its anatomy, etiology, prevalence, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment. Data Sources A computer-aided search of several databases was performed, including Medline (1966 to present), Ovid (1966 to present), and the Cochrane database (1993 to present). Study Selection Selected articles had the following criteria: (1) all articles analyzed cervical facet joint pain—anatomy, prevalence, etiology, diagnosis, treatment; (2) only full, published articles were studied, not abstracts; and (3) all articles were published in English. Data Extraction All articles were critically evaluated and included the following categories: randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, uncontrolled clinical trials, uncontrolled comparison studies, nonquantitative systematic reviews, and literature-based reviews. Data Synthesis We examined 45 references that consisted of 44 journal articles and relevant sections from 1 textbook. Cervical facet joints have been well established in the literature as a common nociceptive pain generator, with an estimated prevalence that ranges from 25% to 66% of chronic axial neck pain. No studies have reported clinical examination findings that are diagnostic for cervical facet mediated pain. Conclusions Overall the literature provides very limited information regarding the treatment of this condition, with only radiofrequency neurotomy showing evidence of effectively reducing pain from cervical facet joint dysfunction.
Relative permeability hysteresis: Laboratory measurements and a conceptual model

Relative permeability hysteresis has been measured for a water-wet outcrop rock sample and a mixed-wet reservoir core. For the oil phase, imbibition and drainage relative permeability curves differed significantly. The difference was much less pronounced for the water phase. Scanning curves, which characterize transitions between imbibition and drainage curves, were also measured. A notable characteristic of the oil relative permeability scanning curves is their reversibility; along most of the length of a scanning curve, oil relative permeability exhibits no hysteresis. A proposed mechanism for the reversible behavior is pinning of water/oil interfaces on surfaces of rock grains. Pinned interfaces remain anchored at fixed positions on grains despite changes in interface curvature and contact angle. In water-wet samples, pinning can occur as a result of contact-angle hysteresis. In mixed-wet rock, pinning can occur at the boundaries between water- and oil-wet grain surfaces. As long as interfaces remain pinned, pore-level fluid geometry is a function of saturation only and does not depend on the directional of saturation change.
Mapping information policy frames: the politics of the digital millennium copyright act

Passage of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was a significant milestone in congressional information policy legislation. However, the results were widely criticized in some circles as providing too much power to certain stakeholder groups. This paper uses computer-based content analysis and a theoretical taxonomy of information policy values to analyze congressional hearing testimony. The results of document coding were then analyzed using a variety of statistical tools to map how different stakeholders framed issues in the debate and determine if congressional value statements about the legislation conformed more closely to certain stakeholders. Results of the analysis indicate that significant differences in the use of information policy terms occurred across stakeholders, and showed varying degrees of convergence between congressional or other stakeholders when framing information policy issues.
Existence and asymptotic behavior of smooth solutions for the nonlinear transmission line problem

For a distributed parameter nonlinear transmission line with constant self-inductance and resistance, but voltage-dependent capacitance and leakage conductance, we establish for small data the existence of global C2 solutions to the (nonlinearly) damped nonlinear wave equation which governs the evolution of the charge in the line; the energy method employed to establish the global existence theorem also yields new results on the asymptotic behavior of the charge distribution in the line as t —► +00
Does Community-Based Collaborative Resource Management Increase Social Capital?

One potential benefit of collaboration is increased social capital, defined as trust, norms of reciprocity, and networks. Social capital may improve a group's ability to collaborate, manage risk, innovate, and adapt to change. We used mail surveys of group participants and key informant interviews to assess whether social capital changed over time in eight collaborative groups in northwest Colorado. The majority of social capital measures increased over time in all groups. However, social capital between agencies and group members increased more than social capital among other participants for most groups. Interviews revealed that commitment and continuity; understanding, empathy, and respect; transparency; and dependability and predictability are important mechanisms for building social capital in collaborative settings.
Evaluation and differential diagnosis of movement disorders: A flow chart approach

Abstract This paper presents a flow-chart approach for evaluation and diagnosis of movement disorders (MD. It serves as a simple guideline for physicians to evaluate and diagnose patients with MD. It consists of a master flow chart with a step-by-step process for evaluation, a check list table for recording the abnormal findings, a chart for identifying the underlying medical and neurological diseases grouped under the major types of MD, and a table on the drug-induced MD.
An analytical model for solute redistribution during solidification of planar, columnar, or equiaxed morphology

Existing models for solute redistribution (microsegregation) during solidification were reviewed. There are no analytical models that take into account limited diffusion in both the liquid and the solid phases. A new analytical mathematical model for solute redistribution was developed. Diffusion in liquid and in solid was considered. This model does not require a prescribed movement of the interface. It can be used for one-dimensional (1-D) (plate), two-dimensional (cylinder), or three-dimensional (3-D) (sphere) calculations. Thus, it is possible to calculate microsegregation at the level of primary or secondary arm spacing for columnar dendrites or for equiaxed dendrites. The solution was compared with calculations based on existing models, as well as with some available experimental data for the segregation of base elements in as cast Al-4. 9 wt pct Cu, INCONEL 718, 625, and plain carbon (0. 13 wt pct C) steel.
The bit-error rate performance of a satellite microwave matrix switch

The matrix switch is a critical element of communications satellites using multiple-beam antennas and on-board switching. Two proof-of-concept models of a microwave matrix switch have been developed under NASA-sponsored contracts. These switches have undergone extensive testing at NASA Lewis Research Center to determine their operating characteristics in a system environment. The results of these tests indicate the effect of the matrix switch on the overall system operation.
Marketplace Institutions Related to the Timing of Transactions: Reply to Priest

In this reply I describe the unraveling of transaction dates in several markets, including the labor market for new lawyers hired by large law firms. This and other markets illustrate that unraveling can occur in markets with competitive prices, that it can result in substantial inefficiencies, and that marketplace institutions play a role in restoring efficiency. All of these contradict the conclusions of Priest.
THE QUESTION OF THYROID WEIGHT DURING PREGNANCY WITH FURTHER OBSERVATIONS OF ADRENAL WEIGHT IN LATE PREGNANCY

IT is WELL ESTABLISHED that the basal metabolic rate increases during pregnancy (1) and it may be assumed for this reason that the thyroids are especially active at that time. Histological examination indicates an hyperplasia with storing of colloid (2, 3). It is not unreasonable, therefore, to suspect that the thyroids increase in weight during pregnancy. At any rate, it is widely accepted that such is the case. Marine (4), in discussing the thyroid gonad relationship, writes as follows: “This interrelationship has been recognized for centuries because of the enlargement of the thyroid during menstruation and pregnancy ….” This same idea of thyroid hypertrophy may be found in widely used textbooks of obstetrics (2). Although there are many reports in the literature regarding the microscopic structure and the gross size of the thyroid gland (5) during pregnancy, no quantitative data could be found on the thryroid weight-body weight ratio.
Ligation-mediated PCR: Applications to genomic footprinting

A major requirement of the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is that sequences at both ends of the region to be amplified be known. Ligation-mediated PCR bypasses this by requiring knowledge of only one end initially and then adding the second end by ligation of a unique DNA linker. This method was originally developed for studying in vivo protein:DNA interactions at single-copy genes in complex genomes, but it is applicable to other PCR problems in which only one end of the region to be amplified is known. For example, it has been used for genomic sequencing, in vivo methylation analysis, and gene isolation. For each of these applications, the basic method of adding the second defined end is the same. Of the various single-sided PCR strategies, ligation-mediated PCR is uniquely suited to the amplification of a genomic sequence ladder because it preserves the single base resolution present in the starting material. Here ligation-mediated PCR is discussed in the context of genomic sequencing, with specific reference to in vivo footprinting applications.
Energy Levels in Sulfur Nuclei

A study has been made of the proton groups from the reaction of 3.22-Mev deuterons with sulfur in the form, primarily, of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$S gas. The following $Q$ values have been assigned to the reaction ${\mathrm{S}}^{32}(\mathrm{dp}){\mathrm{S}}^{33}:6.48, 5.69, 4.58, 4.31, 3.63, 3.33, 2.60, 2.33, 2.06, 1.78, 1.37, 0.85, \mathrm{and} 0.18$ Mev, corresponding to the ground state and twelve excited states of ${\mathrm{S}}^{33}$. Four of these groups have been investigated for proton gamma-ray coincidences to confirm this assignment. The yield as a function of deuteron energy has been observed for the six highest energy groups and indication of the presence of some broad resonances found. A qualitative measurement of the variation with angle of relative yields of the groups has indicated a proton intensity distribution that is symmetric for some groups and asymmetric for others. The cross section for the reaction for 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} observation has been found to be 1.2 barns. The mass difference ${\mathrm{S}}^{33}$-${\mathrm{S}}^{32}$ has been calculated to be 0.99963 mass unit.Two low intensity, high energy groups have been assigned to the reaction ${\mathrm{S}}^{33}(\mathrm{dp}){\mathrm{S}}^{34}$ with $Q$ values of 8.67 and 7.85 Mev. This, together with the above observation, leads to a value of 1.99691 for the mass difference ${\mathrm{S}}^{34}$-${\mathrm{S}}^{32}$.
EFFECT OF TOTAL PARENTERAL ALIMENTATION (TPA) ON RAT SMALL INTESTINE

Rats were killed on day 0 and after 3, 7, 10 and 14 days of TPA, isocaloric rat chow feedings(IC), or starvation. In each group the small intestine was removed for determination of its total weight(TW), mucosal weight(MW), mucosal protein(MP), mucosal DNA, and mucosal glycolytic enzyme activities. Both TPA and IC rats were in positive N balance; weight gains were 5 and 3.5gm/d, respectively. Starved rats lost 10 gm/d. In IC rats, none of the variables changed significantly over 14 days. In TPA rats, both TW and MW decreased by 40% within 3 days, after which no further changes occurred. Both mucosal protein and DNA of TPA rats were 40% lower by 3 days and remained at this level. TW and MW of starved rats decreased by 63% over 10 days, while both mucosal protein and DNA decreased 65%. In contrast to the changes during TPA, all variables fell continuously, during starvation. Mucosal Protein: DNA ratios remained constant in all groups, suggesting a decrease in the total number of cells. Specific activities of pyruvate kinase and both fructose-1-phosphate and fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolases remained constant in all 3 groups, but because of decreased mucosal protein and DNA contents, total intestinal activity of all enzymes was significantly decreased. These findings show that although increases in body weight can be achieved with TPA, it does not adequately maintain intestinal cell mass.
PICking apart Pol II initiation

The recent mapping and modeling of protein-protein interfaces between general transcription factors TFIIE, TFIIH and Pol II have provided new insights into TFIIH-mediated melting of the transcription start site to form an open Pol II preinitiation complex and the stabilization of the complex by TFIIE, leading to a new mechanistic model for open-complex formation.
Work in progress — A problem-based learning approach for systems understanding in the MSU AES program

Applied Engineering Sciences is a longstanding engineering undergraduate degree program in the College of Engineering, Michigan State University. It is at root an interdisciplinary program integrating core engineering studies, core business/management studies, and a depth-oriented “finishing area.” Over the last two years, an evolved program has been designed and implemented that retains the traditional strengths of the program while providing a strong underlying theme of systems thinking. In this WIP report we describe the new AES program, and our plans to leverage problem based learning as the core pedagogy for supporting student introduction and applications of systems thinking.
The trade‐off between rate and yield in the design of microbial metabolism

Extra energy devoted to resource acquisition speeds metabolic rate, but reduces the net yield of energy. In direct competition, microbial strains with high rates of resource acquisition often outcompete strains with slower resource acquisition but higher yield, reducing the net output of the group. Here, I use mathematical models to analyse the genetic and demographic factors that tip the balance toward either rate or yield. My models clarify the widely discussed roles of kin selection and the spatial structure of populations. I also emphasize the strong effect of two previously ignored factors: demographic aspects of colony survival and reproduction strongly shape the design of metabolic rate and efficiency, and competitive mutants within long-lived colonies favour rate over yield, degrading the efficiency of the population.
A possible physiological uptake mechanism of methylmercury by the marine bloodworm (Glycera dibranchiata).

The uptake of methylmercury by fish has been studied extensively. There have been some studies on marine invertebrates. These studies have been concerned with either the effect of methylmercury on viability or methylmercury distribution among body parts. The physiological uptake mechanisms of methylmercury in aquatic organisms have not been studied. The objective of this paper is to examine the uptake mechanism of methylmercury from water in a lower-food-chain organism, the marine bloodworm (Glycera dibranchi-ata).
Weak-localization approach to a 2D electron gas with a spectral node

Abstract We study a weakly disordered 2D electron gas with two bands and a spectral node within the weak-localization approach and compare its results with those of Gaussian fluctuations around the self-consistent Born approximation. The appearance of diffusive modes depends on the type of disorder. In particular, we find for a random gap a diffusive mode only from ladder contributions, whereas for a random scalar potential the diffusive mode is created by ladder and by maximally crossed contributions. The ladder (maximally crossed) contributions correspond to fermionic (bosonic) Gaussian fluctuations. We calculate the conductivity corrections from the density–density Kubo formula and find a good agreement with the experimentally observed V-shape conductivity of graphene.
Mineralogic controls on aqueous neptunium(V) concentrations in silicate systems

Abstract The presence of radioactive neptunium in commercially spent nuclear fuel is problematic due to its mobility in environmental systems upon oxidation to the pentavalent state. As uranium is the major component of spent fuel, incorporation of neptunium into resulting U(VI) mineral phases would potentially influence its release into environmental systems. Alternatively, aqueous neptunium concentrations may be buffered by solid phase Np 2 O 5 . In this study, we investigate both of these controls on aqueous neptunium(V) concentrations. We synthesize two uranyl silicates, soddyite, (UO 2 ) 2 SiO 4 ·2H 2 O, and boltwoodite, (K, Na)(UO 2 )(SiO 3 OH)·1.5H 2 O, each in the presence of two concentrations of aqueous Np(V). Electron microscopy and electron diffraction analyses of the synthesized phases show that while significant neptunyl incorporation occurred into soddyite, the Np(V) in the boltwoodite systems largely precipitated as a secondary phase, Np 2 O 5(s) . The release of Np(V) from each system into aqueous solution was measured for several days, until steady-state concentrations were achieved. Using existing solubility constants ( K sp ) for pure soddyite and boltwoodite, we compared predicted equilibrium aqueous U(VI) concentrations with the U(VI) concentrations released in the solubility experiments. Our experiments reveal that Np(V) incorporation into soddyite increases the concentration of aqueous U in equilibrium with the solid phase, perhaps via the formation of a metastable phase. In the mixed boltwoodite – Np 2 O 5(s) system, the measured aqueous U(VI) activities are consistent with those predicted to be in equilibrium with boltwoodite under the experimental conditions, a result that is consistent with our conclusion that little Np(V) incorporation occurred into the boltwoodite. In the boltwoodite systems, the measured Np concentrations are likely controlled by the presence of Np 2 O 5 nanoparticles, suggesting an additional potential mobility vector for Np in geologic systems. Our results demonstrate that in systems containing solid phases that cannot incorporate significant concentrations of Np(V), secondary precipitates such as Np 2 O 5(s) are likely to control aqueous neptunium concentrations, and that uranium concentrations are buffered by the uranyl mineral assemblage present. For systems containing uranyl mineral phases such as soddyite, which can incorporate significant concentrations of Np(V), Np 2 O 5(s) precipitation may be suppressed and the Np-bearing uranyl phase may act as a sink and a buffer for aqueous Np(V) in oxidizing environments.
Efficient training of the backpropagation network by solving a system of stiff ordinary differential equations

The training of backpropagation networks involves adjusting the weights between the computing nodes in the artificial neural network to minimize the errors between the network's predictions and the known outputs in the training set. This least-squares minimization problem is conventionally solved by an iterative fixed-step technique, using gradient descent, which occasionally exhibits instabilities and converges slowly. The authors show that training of the backpropagation network can be expressed as a problem of solving coupled ordinary differential equations for the weights as a (continuous) function of time. These differential equations are usually mathematically stiff. The use of a stiff differential equation solver ensures quick convergence to the nearest least-squares minimum. Training proceeds at a rapidly accelerating rate as the accuracy of the predictions increases, in contrast with gradient descent and conjugate gradient methods. The number of presentations required for accurate training is reduced by up to several orders of magnitude over the conventional method. >
OCT-2 expression and OCT-2/BOB.1 co-expression predict prognosis in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia.

OCT-2 and its co-activator, BOB.1, are B-cell associated transcription factors expressed in a subset of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We evaluated OCT-2 and BOB.1 expression by immunohistochemistry in patients with newly diagnosed AML. The median overall survival (OS) for patients with varying levels of OCT-2 expression was statistically different (p = 0.03) (OCT-2 50%: 11.6 months). On multivariate analysis, co-expression of OCT-2/BOB.1 remained predictive for achievement of complete remission (HR 0.44, p = 0.010) and increased risk of relapse (HR 2.30, p = 0.047). OCT-2 (per 10% increase) was associated with a decreased progression-free survival (HR 1.10, p = 0.036) and a trend toward a worse OS (HR 1.10, p = 0.063). OCT-2 may act as a cell survival factor in AML by mediating expression of downstream targets, such as BCL-2. These results will need to be validated prospectively.
Evolution of the optical functions of aluminum films during nucleation and growth determined by real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry.

We report the first measurements of the optical functions of polycrystalline metal films throughout nucleation and growth. The dielectric function of aluminum, evaporated onto ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$, was determined versus thickness d by real-time multichannel ellipsometry (1.3\ensuremath{\le}h\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\le}4.1 eV). We find that the electron relaxation time for the (200) parallel-band transition is independent of particle size during nucleation (d50 \AA{}) and increases abruptly only after coalescence. This behavior is not consistent with a classical size effect and suggests that the atomic structure of the particles dominates their optical properties.
Feminism and Attachment Parenting: Attitudes, Stereotypes, and Misperceptions

This paper investigated attitudes and stereotypes about what feminist women, primarily from the United States, believed about a number of practices associated with attachment parenting which is theorized to be both feminist and non-feminist. The goals of this study were to determine whether feminists endorsed attachment parenting and whether stereotypes of feminists’ beliefs corresponded to actual feminists’ attitudes. Women were recruited online, primarily through blogs, to complete an online survey about feminism and mothering. Four hundred and thirty one women comprised the sample for the current investigation and included heterosexual-identified feminist mothers (n = 147), feminist non-mothers (n = 75), non-feminist mothers (n = 143), and non-feminist non-mothers (n = 66). Participants were asked to rate their own attitudes towards specific practices associated with attachment parenting and to indicate their perceptions of the beliefs of the typical feminist. Results indicated that feminists were more supportive of attachment parenting practices than were non-feminists. Non-feminists, particularly mothers, held misperceptions about the typical feminist, seeing them as largely uninterested in the time-intensive and hands-on practices associated with attachment parenting. Feminist mothers also held stereotypes about feminists and saw themselves as somewhat atypical feminists who were more interested in attachment parenting than they thought was typical of feminists. Our data indicated that feminists did endorse attachment parenting and that stereotypes of feminists related to attachment parenting are untrue. Furthermore, the role of feminism in the identity of feminist mothers and whether attachment parenting is truly a feminist way to parent are discussed.
Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of valsalva: A case report

The rare anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva has recently been shown to be associated with myocardial ischemia and sudden death. A patient is presented with overwhelming evidence of myocardial ischemia corrected by a single-vessel bypass of the right coronary artery.
Muscle pain and blood pressure responses during isometric handgrip exercise in healthy African American and non-Hispanic White adults.

Abstract It has been shown that African Americans (AAs) are more sensitive to experimental pain stimuli compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). A single bout of exercise results in naturally-occurring muscle pain and elevation in blood pressure (BP); however, it is currently unclear whether AAs and NHWs differ in muscle pain and BP responses during exercise. Therefore, we examined the differences in muscle pain and blood pressure (BP) during isometric handgrip exercise in African Americans (AAs) and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Fourteen AAs and 14 NHWs completed isometric exercise consisting of squeezing a hand dynamometer at 25% of maximal strength for 3 min. During exercise, muscle pain ratings (MPRs) were assessed every 30 s, whereas systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) were recorded every minute. During exercise, AAs generally reported greater MPR than NHWs (p 0.05). The results suggest that AAs generally experienced a greater intensity of muscle pain than NHWs during isometric handgrip exercise, but both groups exhibited similar elevations in BP during exercise.
Neighborhoods in the Network Society the e-Neighbors study

This study examines whether the Internet is increasingly a part of everyday neighborhood interactions, and in what specific contexts Internet use affords the formation of local social ties. Studies of Internet and community have found that information and communication technologies provide new opportunities for social interaction, but that they may also increase privatism by isolating people in their homes. This paper argues that while the Internet may encourage communication across great distances, it may also facilitate interactions near the home. Unlike traditional community networking studies, which focus on bridging the digital divide, this study focuses on bridging the divide between the electronic and parochial realms. Detailed, longitudinal social network surveys were completed with the residents of four contrasting neighborhoods over a period of three years. Three of the four neighborhoods were provided with a neighborhood email discussion list and a neighborhood website. Hierarchical linear mode...
Nowcasts of Thunderstorm Initiation and Evolution

Abstract This paper reports on experimental space-specific 30-min nowcasts of thunderstorm initiation, evolution, and movement. The experiments were conducted near Denver, Colorado, with the purpose of providing weather information for planning purposes to air traffic control managers. The nowcasts were based primarily on Doppler weather radar observations of the clear-air boundary layer, storm reflectivity, storm Doppler velocity structure, and visual observations of clouds. The forecasters found that they could often anticipate thunderstorm initiation by monitoring radar-detected boundary-layer convergence lines together with monitoring visual observations of cloud development in the vicinity of the convergence lines. Nowcast procedures and nowcast results for experiments in 1989 and 1990 are presented. The procedures are based on research experiments and exploratory field tests conducted since 1984. The forecaster results were better than persistence or extrapolation forecasts because of the ability to...
Toughening of glassy polystyrene through ternary blending that combines low molecular weight polybutadiene diluents and ABS or HIPS-type composite particles

The effectiveness of toughening brittle glassy polymers such as polystyrene (PS) through deformation-induced plasticization by low molecular weight diluents of polybutadiene (PB) was amply demonstrated in earlier studies. In those applications, surface-initiated crazes of unusual growth kinetics and stability could produce effective toughening in sheet samples of millimeter thicknesses, but would have been ineffective in more massive parts where crazes could not be initiated in the interiors to promote a plastic response of the entire volume. This shortcoming has now been rectified through the development of ternary blends incorporating into the previous PS/PB blends a critical small volume fraction of ABS- or HIPS-type composite particles that serve to initiate crazes throughout the volume. Thus, we demonstrated in the present study that incorporation of 10% commerical ABS or 20% commercial HIPS into the most effective PS/PB-3K blend results in tensile toughnesses equal to or exceeding those of commercial ABS or HIPS in full concentration.