cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diabetes as a risk factor for arteriosclerotic vascular disease.

The well known association between diabetes and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASHD) suggests that impaired glucose tolerance is a major risk factor for ASHD. The association can be seen from, the point of view of the diabetic, who has increased vascular disease when compared to non-diabetics, or from the point of view of the patient with ASHD, who has increased frequency of diabetes when compared with persons without vascular disease.
Quantifying and Managing Water Withdrawals in the Yellowstone River Basin: Increasing the Scientific Rigor

A scientifically-defensible system for accurate and precise quantification of existing water withdrawals and uses within the Yellowstone River Basin is necessary for effective water management. In conjunction with a data inventory of all known consumptive withdrawals from the Yellowstone River and its tributaries during the period 2006-2008, (municipal, industrial, irrigation agriculture and livestock sources), we conducted a physical inventory of surface withdrawals in 2006 to estimate the number of mainstem surface water users. Of the 687 identified water withdrawal sites, 113 were found to have screening devices present, 120 had no screens, and the screening status of 454 sites could not be determined. Ninety-two of the 687 water withdrawal sites identified during the physical inventory were not found to match with locations on the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) points of use or points of diversion. The lack of measured water withdrawals by most water users in the basin forces investigators to rely on indirect estimates of water use, which are inaccurate and propagate error through water use statistics. To improve the scientific credibility of data regarding the water withdrawals and improve conditions for native fish and other aquatic species, several suggestions are forwarded, including the need to screen all diversions, the need for an identification system to enable a withdrawal site to be specifically linked to a water right and the need for an accurate and precise system for measuring and reporting water withdrawals. Other identified needs are to complete the adjudication process in the state, to review the scientific evidence in support of the differential water use hierarchy in the Yellowstone River Basin, and to review terminology to eliminate, to the extent possible, ambiguous or imprecisely defined terms used in water usage. Short term benefits of applying more scientific rigor to the usage of water rights and the water management process will pay long-term dividends of more justifiable quantification of withdrawals, more reliable allocation of water, reduced litigation, and more effective conservation of native aquatic resources in the basin.
Modulation of Catalytic Promiscuity during Hydrogen Sulfide Oxidation.

The mitochondrial sulfide oxidation pathway prevents the toxic accumulation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a signaling molecule that is maintained at low steady-state concentrations. Sulfide quinone oxidoreductase (SQR), an inner mitochondrial membrane-anchored protein, catalyzes the first and committing step in this pathway, oxidizing H2S to persulfide. The catalytic cycle comprises sulfide addition to the active site cysteine disulfide in SQR followed by sulfur transfer to a small molecule acceptor, while a pair of electrons moves from sulfide, to FAD, to coenzyme Q. While its ability to oxidize H2S is well characterized, SQR exhibits a remarkable degree of substrate promiscuity in vitro that could undermine its canonical enzyme activity. To assess how its promiscuity might be contained in vivo, we have used spectroscopic and kinetic analyses to characterize the reactivity of alternate substrates with SQR embedded in nanodiscs (ndSQR) versus detergent-solubilized enzyme (sSQR). We find that the membrane env...
VCD Spectroscopic Analysis of the Exendin-4 Truncated Analog TC5b

Introduction Truncation and residue replacements of the peptide exendin-4 with the goal of creating the smallest self-folding protein yielded the 20-residue “miniprotein” TC5b (Asn-Leu-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Trp-Leu-Lys-Asp-Gly-Gly-Pro-Ser-Ser-Gly-Arg-Pro-ProPro-Ser) [1]. The folding and resulting tertiary structure of TC5b, unique for a sequence of its length, is a product of its 'Trp-cage' motif [3], which is formed through CH-π interactions between Trp6 and Pro12, 18, and 19, as well as some crucial hydrogen bonds. TC5b has been the subject of much computational analysis and some spectroscopic analysis. Electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy (ECD) has shown that this peptide appears to be primarily α-helical in 30% TFE, as well as in aqueous and phosphate buffer [1]. However, NMR has also shown the existence of a poly-Pro II helix associated with the C-terminal region. The poly-Pro II helix is not apparent in the ECD spectrum [1], but it may be possible to resolve it using vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy (VCD) [2]. In the present study, VCD spectroscopy was used to examine the conformation of TC5b in a variety of deuterated aqueous and organic solvents. The observed spectra were compared to VCD spectra of poly-L-Pro (av. MW: 8900 Da) in deuterated aqueous and organic solvents.
On the Mathematics of Model Building

The purpose of this talk is to present, in nontechnical language, an account of recent developments in mathematical system theory. They are related to the questions: What is a system? How can it be effectively described in mathematical terms? Is there a deductive way of passing from experiments to mathematical models? How much can be said about the internal structure of a system on the basis of experimental data? What is the minimal set of components from which a system with given characteristics can be built?
Transnational Trials as Transitional Justice: Lessons from the Trial of Two Rwandan Nuns in Belgium

More than a decade after the landmark trial of two Rwandan nuns for their role in the 1994 genocide, important lessons from the proceedings have yet to be fully explored. While scholars have vigorously debated the merits of international tribunals, hybrid courts, and local justice, comparatively little attention has focused on transnational trials—when national courts, typically in Europe and North America, exercise jurisdiction over foreign persons for crimes allegedly committed in foreign countries. Drawing on evidence collected in Belgium and Rwanda, including interviews, trial transcripts, and public opinion data, this Article uses the trial of the two Rwandan nuns to evaluate the strengths and  The author conducted ten months of field work in Rwanda as a Fulbright Scholar and additional research in Belgium and Rwanda. Currently an Attorney-Adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State, the author also teaches ―International Transitional Justice‖ at the Georgetown University Law Center. The views expressed in this Article do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Government or the U.S. Department of State. The author wishes to thank Professor Allen Weiner for his support for this project. Washington University Open Scholarship 366 WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY GLOBAL STUDIES LAW REVIEW [VOL. 11:365 weaknesses of transnational trials. The story of Srs. Gertrude and Kizito provides an example of how Belgium’s exercise of jurisdiction prevented two accused genocidaires from escaping the law’s reach. But their story also reveals the challenges associated with conducting a highly sensitive trial in a culturally and geographically distant land. Defense attorneys for the nuns argue that Belgian jurors were ill-equipped to sort truth from fiction because of their lack of familiarity with Rwandan culture. The Belgian government’s reluctance to grant a key witness a visa to testify at trial deprived the jury of the opportunity to hear and assess his testimony. Furthermore, public opinion data reveals that the trial failed to capture the attention of the Rwandan people, perhaps detracting from the trial’s capacity to promote norm penetration and reconciliation. The trial also implicitly privileged Belgian legal values, like due process and relatively light sentences, over Rwanda’s preference for harsher punishments. Before fully embracing universal jurisdiction and transnational trials, policymakers must carefully consider the goals they aim to achieve by prosecuting foreign citizens for crimes committed abroad.
Basis of Hormonal Treatment of Prostatic Cancer

Summary Reports of benefit accruing to patients with prostatic obstruction who underwent orchiectomy were published in 1895, and 1896. Indubitably, some of these were examples of prostatic carcinoma. Further progress awaited the demonstration by Huggins and his group that the prostate gland in dogs was stimulated by androgens and inhibited by orchiectomy or administration of estrogens. The application of these principles to patients with prostatic cancer led to similar findings and constituted the basis for the current hormonal treatment regimens.
Quantifying emergence and self-organisation of Enterobacter cloacae microbial communities

From microbial communities to cancer cells, many such complex collectives embody emergent and self-organising behaviour. Such behaviour drives cells to develop composite features such as formation of aggregates or expression of specific genes as a result of cell-cell interactions within a cell population. Currently, we lack universal mathematical tools for analysing the collective behaviour of biological swarms. To address this, we propose a multifractal inspired framework to measure the degree of emergence and self-organisation from scarce spatial (geometric) data and apply it to investigate the evolution of the spatial arrangement of Enterobacter cloacae aggregates. In a plate of semi-solid media, Enterobacter cloacae form a spatially extended pattern of high cell density aggregates. These aggregates nucleate from the site of inoculation and radiate outward to fill the entire plate. Multifractal analysis was used to characterise these patterns and calculate dynamics changes in emergence and self-organisation within the bacterial population. In particular, experimental results suggest that the new aggregates align their location with respect to the old ones leading to a decrease in emergence and increase in self-organisation.
Oblique lightsheet STORM for tissue samples

While single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) offers superior super-resolution for biology, typical SMLM system using highly-inclined off-axis illumination limits an imaging depth to only a few microns from a coverslip surface. Alternative SMLM system using light-sheet illumination has extended the accessible depth for whole cells or small embryos, but may be less practical as it requires specialized or dedicated sample devices. Furthermore, for typical tissue samples (laterally a few millimeters or wider), the lateral lightsheet illumination is no longer applicable. Here, we demonstrate oblique light-sheet SMLM (obSTORM) that provides a facile and practical platform with a full compatibility with tissue samples. By using a single-objective, inclined lightsheet and directly detecting single molecules along the oblique plane, obSTORM opens new doors for tissue-level super-resolution imaging.
Hydroxyurea use among children with sickle cell anemia

This study describes hydroxyurea use among children ages 1 to 17 with sickle cell anemia (SCA) enrolled in at least one year of Medicaid in six states from 2005 to 2012. Administrative claims were used to summarize the number of days' supply of hydroxyurea dispensed by state and year. A total of 7963 children with SCA contributed 22 424 person-years. Among person-years with greater than 30 days of hydroxyurea, only 18% received at least 300 days of hydroxyurea, which varied by state. Following updated recommendations for all children with SCA to be offered hydroxyurea, strategies to increase hydroxyurea adherence among this population are needed.
The Reel Wheel: Using Analytical Procedures as Substantive Tests of Account Balances

ABSTRACT This case provides students an introductory experience to substantive analytical procedures in a realistic audit setting. Students are presented with a scenario, adapted from a real-world ...
The Impracticalities of Pragmatic Education: The Disconnect Between Top-Down Human Capital Building Policies and Processes of Schooling

As part of Eritrea’s 2003 comprehensive educational policy reform, the government mandated that secondary education should be more “pragmatic.” Curricular reforms, ostensibly oriented toward building job skills and producing in students the dispositions of the lifelong learner in order to prepare them for work in a flexible labor market, are widespread across Africa. And yet, on the ground, these programs may function quite differently from the ways in which their architects intended, as illustrated by the case of Eritrea. This chapter uses the case of Eritrea to illustrate the disconnects between policymakers’ visions of practical education for human capital development and the pragmatics of actually educating students in often underfunded, under-resourced African schools.
Correction to: Globally regional life cycle analysis of automotive lithium-ion nickel manganese cobalt batteries

The article Globally regional life cycle analysis of automotive lithium-ion nickel manganese cobalt batteries written by Jarod C. Kelly, Qiang Dai and Michael Wang, was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on August 28, 2019, without open access.
Effects of radiation models on steady and flickering laminar non-premixed flames

Abstract Four laminar non-premixed methane/air flames with increasing Reynolds numbers are investigated using a newly developed conjugate combustion-radiation laminar flame solver. The baseline model includes a forward Monte Carlo ray tracing solver coupled with a line-by-line spectral model, a 16-species skeletal chemical mechanism and no soot model. A backward Monte Carlo solver is developed for the nongray inhomogeneous combustion mixtures and verified using the forward Monte Carlo solver. A 25-species skeletal chemical mechanism is adopted for parametric studies. Effects of soot radiation on unsteady flames are investigated using a two-equation soot model. Good agreement with experiments in radiative flux and radiant fraction is observed for all flames using the baseline model. The radiative heat flux predicted by the backward Monte Carlo solver agrees well with that obtained from the forward Monte Carlo solver, with well-controlled standard deviations. Contours of radiation-related scalars indicate that the laminar flames are within the optically-thin limit. Results obtained from conjugate combustion-radiation simulations with various radiation solvers and spectral models show minor differences for the two smaller flames. For the two unsteady flames, radiative re-absorption has a more significant impact on the overall flame structure, especially when soot is considered. Parametric studies using the longest flickering flame suggest that the choice of chemical mechanism, the consideration of radiation, and the inclusion of soot radiation, affect the prediction of the instantaneous flame height. The prediction of flame puffing frequency is insensitive to the variations in chemistry, soot and radiation models. The radiative heat flux prediction is sensitive to the thermal boundary condition of the fuel nozzle, the inclusion of soot and its radiation with re-absorption. It is recommended that soot should be considered for future studies when assessing radiation models using this set of target flames.
Socioeconomic disparities in U.S. mortality: The role of smoking and alcohol/drug abuse.

Prior studies have identified smoking as a key driver of socioeconomic disparities in U.S. mortality, but the growing drug epidemic leads us to question whether drug abuse is exacerbating those disparities, particularly for mortality from external causes. We use data from a national survey of midlife Americans to evaluate socioeconomic disparities in all-cause and cause-specific mortality over an 18-year period (1995-2013). Then, we use marginal structural modeling to quantify the indirect effects of smoking and alcohol/drug abuse in mediating those disparities. Our results demonstrate that alcohol/drug abuse makes little contribution to socioeconomic disparities in all-cause mortality, probably because the prevalence of substance abuse is low and socioeconomic differences in abuse are small, especially at older ages when most Americans die. Smoking prevalence is much higher than drug/alcohol abuse and socioeconomic differentials in smoking are large and have widened among younger cohorts. Not surprisingly, smoking accounts for the majority (62%) of the socioeconomic disparity in mortality from smoking-related diseases, but smoking also makes a substantial contribution to cardiovascular (38%) and all-cause mortality (34%). Based on the observed cohort patterns of smoking, we predict that smoking will further widen SES disparities in all-cause mortality until at least 2045 for men and even later for women. Although we cannot yet determine the mortality consequences of recent widening of the socioeconomic disparities in drug abuse, social inequalities in mortality are likely to grow even wider over the coming decades as the legacy of smoking and the recent drug epidemic take their toll.
Perceptions of visual and in situ representations of sea level rise and tidal flooding: the blue line project, Norfolk, Virginia

Future maps and visualizations of sea level rise struggle to convey the salience of evolving coastal hazards on the ground. This study engaged three Norfolk, Virginia communities in the “Blue Line” project to identify the appealing components of various types of visualizations and determine which images increase risk perceptions, contribute to the selection of adaptation or mitigation strategies, and elicit protective actions. Participants viewed models of future high tide shorelines for 2050, 2080, and 2100 as digitized maps and photographs of the lines marked on the ground with tape, spray chalk, and flags at three different communities: a residential neighborhood and park; a downtown museum and open space; and a working waterfront. Results indicate that while the combination of maps and photographs were preferred for the realism conveyed, maps were better able to show a larger area and photographs were more personal. Photographs balanced the reactions to maps, which were preferred, and increased the perception of sea level rise, but also elicited built solutions. Citizens expressed greater immediacy for action in residential areas even if the perceived risk was higher in heritage areas. These results can inform the balance of visualization types utilized by planners and community organizations to create a comprehensive plan through participatory processes.
An Overview of Human Activity Recognition Using Wearable Sensors: Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence.

With the rapid development of the internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, human activity recognition (HAR) has been applied in a variety of domains such as security and surveillance, human-robot interaction, and entertainment. Even though a number of surveys and review papers have been published, there is a lack of HAR overview papers focusing on healthcare applications that use wearable sensors. Therefore, we fill in the gap by presenting this overview paper. In particular, we present our projects to illustrate the system design of HAR applications for healthcare. Our projects include early mobility identification of human activities for intensive care unit (ICU) patients and gait analysis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. We cover essential components of designing HAR systems including sensor factors (e.g., type, number, and placement location), AI model selection (e.g., classical machine learning models versus deep learning models), and feature engineering. In addition, we highlight the challenges of such healthcare-oriented HAR systems and propose several research opportunities for both the medical and the computer science community.
Novel induction of CD40 expression by tumor cells with RAS/RAF/PI3K pathway inhibition augments response to checkpoint blockade.

While immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is the current first-line treatment for metastatic melanoma, it is effective for ~ 52% of patients and has dangerous side effects. The objective here was to identify the feasibility and mechanism of RAS/RAF/PI3K pathway inhibition in melanoma to sensitize tumors to ICB therapy. Rigosertib (RGS) is a non-ATP-competitive small molecule RAS mimetic. RGS monotherapy or in combination therapy with ICB were investigated using immunocompetent mouse models of BRAFwt and BRAFmut melanoma and analyzed in reference to patient data. RGS treatment (300 mg/kg) was well tolerated in mice and resulted in ~ 50% inhibition of tumor growth as monotherapy and ~ 70% inhibition in combination with αPD1 + αCTLA4. RGS-induced tumor growth inhibition depends on CD40 upregulation in melanoma cells followed by immunogenic cell death, leading to enriched dendritic cells and activated T cells in the tumor microenvironment. The RGS-initiated tumor suppression was partially reversed by either knockdown of CD40 expression in melanoma cells or depletion of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. Treatment with either dabrafenib and trametinib or with RGS, increased CD40+SOX10+ melanoma cells in the tumors of melanoma patients and patient-derived xenografts. High CD40 expression level correlates with beneficial T-cell responses and better survival in a TCGA dataset from melanoma patients. Expression of CD40 by melanoma cells is associated with therapeutic response to RAF/MEK inhibition and ICB. Our data support the therapeutic use of RGS + αPD1 + αCTLA4 in RAS/RAF/PI3K pathway-activated melanomas and point to the need for clinical trials of RGS + ICB for melanoma patients who do not respond to ICB alone. NCT01205815 (Sept 17, 2010).
Contrasting a reference cranberry genome to a crop wild relative provides insights into adaptation, domestication, and breeding

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a member of the Heath family (Ericaceae) and is a temperate low-growing woody perennial native to North America that is both economically important and has significant health benefits. While some native varieties are still grown today, breeding programs over the past 50 years have made significant contributions to improving disease resistance, fruit quality and yield. An initial genome sequence of an inbred line of the wild selection Ben Lear, which is parent to multiple breeding programs, provided insight into the gene repertoire as well as a platform for molecular breeding. Recent breeding efforts have focused on leveraging the circumboreal V. oxycoccos, which forms interspecific hybrids with V. macrocarpon, offering to bring in novel fruit chemistry and other desirable traits. Here we present an updated, chromosome-resolved V. macrocarpon reference genome, and compare it to a high-quality draft genome of V. oxycoccos. Leveraging the chromosome resolved cranberry reference genome, we confirmed that the Ericaceae has undergone two whole genome duplications that are shared with blueberry and rhododendron. Leveraging resequencing data for Ben Lear inbred lines, as well as several wild and elite selections, we identified common regions that are targets of improvement. These same syntenic regions in V. oxycoccos, were identified and represent environmental response and plant architecture genes. These data provide insight into early genomic selection in the domestication of a native North American berry crop.
Cervical dystocia versus uterine inertia.

Abstract 1. 1. Fifty-nine cases of cervical dystocia are presented by combination and analysis of the data. 2. 2. Three cases followed cervical cauterization, five followed previous surgery on the cervix, and one followed a known previous laceration. It is possible that even untreated chronic cervicitis may cause sufficient fibrosis to impede normal dilation during labor. 3. 3. Forty-three patients were delivered by cesarean section and sixteen vaginally. Six sections were done without labor, three following failure of induction attempts. 4. 4. There were fifty-five cephalic presentations and four breech. Varying degrees of cephalopelvic disproportion were present in eleven cases. There were eighteen occipitoposterior positions and one mentoposterior. The fetal weights were about average, the section babies weighing an average of 10 ounces more than the vaginally delivered babies. 5. 5. The average length of labor of the patients delivered by cesarean section and those delivered per vaginam were about the same. With a little more patience in some of the cases of the former group, vaginal delivery could probably have been successfully accomplished. 6. 6. Twenty-five patients were noted to have uterine inertia. It is suggested that in some of these cases this was the principal factor rather than cervical dystocia in the prolongation of labor, and with further attention to the inertia, there might have been more successful vaginal deliveries. Failure of good labor to develop from an induction attempt does not mean that the patient will never go into labor or that the cervix will not dilate properly.
Ameloblastic fibroma. Report of a case.

Abstract An unusual case of ameloblastic fibroma of the mandible has been presented. The age of this patient, the rate of development of the lesion, perforation of a large amount of cortical bone, and the size of the lesion make this a rare ameloblastic fibroma. Conservative surgical procedures were followed on the basis of the reported benign nature of this neoplasm and to preserve the continuity of the mandible. To date there has been no recurrence. The conservative approach in this case does not obviate the possibility of further surgical intervention if the neoplasm should reappear on follow-up examination.
Motor function of anorectum and pelvic floor musculature

The sections in this article are: 1 Autonomic Innervation 1.1 Lumbar Sympathetic Innervation to Colon, Rectum, and Internal Anal Sphincter 1.2 Sacral Parasympathetic Innervation to Colon, Rectum, and Internal Anal Sphincter 1.3 Sacral Afferent Fibers 2 Somatic Innervation to Skeletal Muscle of Pelvic Floor 2.1 Efferent Innervation 2.2 Afferent Innervation 3 Peptides 3.1 Vasoactive Intestinal-like Peptide 3.2 Enkephalins 3.3 Substance P-Like Peptide 3.4 Somatostatin-like Peptide 4 Motor Activity of Rectum and Internal Anal Sphincter 4.1 General and Historical Considerations 4.2 Intraluminal Pressure Recordings 4.3 Electrical Activity of Rectum and Internal Anal Sphincter 5 Motor Activity of Skeletal Muscle of Pelvic Floor 5.1 Electromyography 5.2 Histochemical Studies 5.3 Force Measurements 6 Influence of Intrinsic Gastrointestinal Nerves on Motor Activity of Internal Anal Sphincter 6.1 Cholinergic Motor Neurons 6.2 Noncholinergic, Nonadrenergic Neurons 6.3 Rectoanal Reflexes 6.4 Vesicoanal Reflexes 7 Influence of Lumbar Sympathetic Nerves on Motor Activity of Colon, Rectum, and Internal Anal Sphincter 7.1 Effect of Electrical Stimulation of Lumbar Sympathetic Nerves 7.2 Effect of Interruption of Lumbar Sympathetic Pathways to Colon, Rectum, and Internal Anal Sphincter 8 Influence of Sacral Autonomic Nerves on Motor Activity of Internal Anal Sphincter 8.1 Effect of Electrical Stimulation of Sacral Parasympathetic Nerves 8.2 Cholinergic Agonists 9 Influence of Sacral Autonomic Nerves on Motor Activity of Colon and Rectum 9.1 Effect of Electrical Stimulation of Sacral Nerves 9.2 Cholinergic Responses 9.3 Noncholinergic, Nonadrenergic Responses 10 Influence of Somatic Nerves on Motor Activity of Skeletal Muscle of Pelvic Floor 10.1 Somatic Reflexes 10.2 Supraspinal Pathways 10.3 Viscerosomatic Reflexes 10.4 Flexor Reflexes 11 Defecation 11.1 General Considerations 11.2 Visceral and Somatic Afferent Fibers 11.3 Sacral Parasympathetic Efferent Fibers 11.4 Relationship Between Eating and Colonic Motility 12 Motor Dysfunction of Colon, Anorectum, and Pelvic Floor Musculature 12.1 Muscle Dysfunction 12.2 Neurogenic Dysfunctions
Periodic Orbits for Billiards on an Equilateral Triangle

1. INTRODUCTION. The trajectory of a billiard ball in motion on a frictionless billiards table is completely determined by its initial position, direction, and speed. When the ball strikes a bumper, we assume that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. Once released, the ball continues indefinitely along its trajectory with constant speed unless it strikes a vertex, at which point it stops. If the ball returns to its initial position with its initial velocity direction, it retraces its trajectory and continues to do so repeatedly; we call such trajectories periodic. Nonperiodic trajectories are either infinite or singular; in the later case the trajectory terminates at a vertex.
A Review of: Harper, Margaret Mills. Wisdom of Two: The Spiritual and Literary Collaboration of George and W. B. Yeats

As multiple Modern Language Association for a dedicated to collaboration and authorship suggest, the subject is one that warrants further attention. Until recently it has been under-theorized, espe...
ROMK1 (Kir1.1) Causes Apoptosis and Chronic Silencing of Hippocampal Neurons

Lentiviral vectors were constructed to express the weakly rectifying kidney K^+ channel ROMK1 (Kir1.1), either fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or as a bicistronic message (ROMK1-CITE-EGFP). The channel was stably expressed in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Infected cells were maintained for 2–4 wk without decrease in expression level or evidence of viral toxicity, although 15.4 mM external KCl was required to prevent apoptosis of neurons expressing functional ROMK1. No other trophic agents tested could prevent cell death, which was probably caused by K+ loss. This cell death did not occur in glia, which were able to support ROMK1 expression indefinitely. Functional ROMK1, quantified as the nonnative inward current at −144 mV in 5.4 mM external K+blockable by 500 μM Ba^2+, ranged from 1 to 40 pA/pF. Infected neurons exhibited a Ba^2+-induced depolarization of 7 ± 2 mV relative to matched EGFP-infected controls, as well as a 30% decrease in input resistance and a shift in action potential threshold of 2.6 ± 0.5 mV. This led to a shift in the relation between injected current and firing frequency, without changes in spike shape, size, or timing. This shift, which quantifies silencing as a function of ROMK1 expression, was predicted from Hodgkin-Huxley models. No cellular compensatory mechanisms in response to expression of ROMK1 were identified, making ROMK1 potentially useful for transgenic studies of silencing and neurodegeneration, although its lethality in normal K^+ has implications for the use of K^+ channels in gene therapy.
Metrics on Motion and Deformation of Solid Models

Recently, the importance of metrics on the group of rigid body motions has been addressed in a number of works in the kinematics and robotics literature. This paper defines new metrics on motion which are particularly easy to compute. It is shown how these metrics are applicable to path generation for rigid body motions, and also as a means for generating interpolated sequences of deformed solid models. In order to address both problems in a unified framework, general metrics on Lie groups are discussed.
Application of tailored testing to achievement measurement

This paper reports the findings of a study comparing differences on the levels of achievement, differences in time needed to take a test, and differences in attitudes between subjects taking a traditional paper-pencil test and those taking a computerized tailored test. A maximum likelihood tailored testing procedure based on the Rasch simple logistic model was used for the study. Subjects were 106 upper level undergraduate students enrolled in a measurement and evaluation course. Analyses included descriptive statistics on all variables for all conditions, intercorrelations of all variables within each treatment condition, and analyses of variance. Results indicate no differences in the level of achievement between subjects taking paper-pencil tests and those taking the tailored tests. A time savings of 75% was found using the tailored testing model. Subjects indicated that tailored tests were less stressful.
Magnetic x-ray scattering studies of holmium using synchro- tron radiation

We present the results of magnetic x-ray scattering experiments on the rare-earth metal holmium using synchrotron radiation. Direct high-resolution measurements of the nominally incommensurate magnetic satellite reflections reveal new lock-in behavior which we explain within a simple spin-discommensuration model. As a result of magnetoelastic coupling, the spin-discommensuration array produces additional x-ray diffraction satellites. Their observation further substantiates the model and demonstrates additional advantages of synchrotron radiation for magnetic-structure studies.
RFX Transcription Factor DAF-19 Regulates 5-HT and Innate Immune Responses to Pathogenic Bacteria in Caenorhabditis elegans

In Caenorhabditis elegans the Toll-interleukin receptor domain adaptor protein TIR-1 via a conserved mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade induces innate immunity and upregulates serotonin (5-HT) biosynthesis gene tph-1 in a pair of ADF chemosensory neurons in response to infection. Here, we identify transcription factors downstream of the TIR-1 signaling pathway. We show that common transcription factors control the innate immunity and 5-HT biosynthesis. We demonstrate that a cysteine to tyrosine substitution in an ARM motif of the HEAT/Arm repeat region of the TIR-1 protein confers TIR-1 hyperactivation, leading to constitutive tph-1 upregulation in the ADF neurons, increased expression of intestinal antimicrobial genes, and enhanced resistance to killing by the human opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14. A forward genetic screen for suppressors of the hyperactive TIR-1 led to the identification of DAF-19, an ortholog of regulatory factor X (RFX) transcription factors that are required for human adaptive immunity. We show that DAF-19 concerts with ATF-7, a member of the activating transcription factor (ATF)/cAMP response element-binding B (CREB) family of transcription factors, to regulate tph-1 and antimicrobial genes, reminiscent of RFX-CREB interaction in human immune cells. daf-19 mutants display heightened susceptibility to killing by PA14. Remarkably, whereas the TIR-1-MAPK-DAF-19/ATF-7 pathway in the intestinal immunity is regulated by DKF-2/protein kinase D, we found that the regulation of tph-1 expression is independent of DKF-2 but requires UNC-43/Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) II. Our results suggest that pathogenic cues trigger a common core-signaling pathway via tissue-specific mechanisms and demonstrate a novel role for RFX factors in neuronal and innate immune responses to infection.
Industry Structure and Gender Segregation in Blue-Collar Occupations

This paper explores industrial variations in gender segregation among blue-collar, manufacturing positions. National census data on employment by occupations and industry, along with other industrial-level statistics, are used to identify the relationships between an industry's economic resources and labor market characteristics, and its level of blue-collar segregation. The analysis reveals that the highest levels of blue-collar segregation are found in manufacturing industries that possess relatively few economic resources and that provide lower rewards to workers than other industries. In recent years, research on gender segregation has shifted away from individual-level approaches to exploring how men's and women's occupational assignments are shaped by structural characteristics of the workplace. Inspired by dualist and economic segmentation perspectives, researchers have sought to identify how segregation is maintained by the economic, technical, and organizational arrangements of industries and firms. This strategy has produced a growing body of literature on the "demand side's" contribution to gender segregation. For instance, using major occupational groups as their units of analysis, Beck et al. concluded that occupational crowding (i.e., segregation) is higher in the core than the peripheral sector of the U.S. economy. Bridges found that segregation was positively related to an industry's market power, and negatively related to its level of unionization. More recently, Bielby and Baron (a,b) argued that differences in the institutional arrangements of large and small firms, such as union contracts, internal labor markets, bureaucracy, and specialized job structures, explained variation in job segregation at the
Threat Assessment in College Settings

In 2007, the landscape of campus safety changed abruptly with the Virginia Tech shooting and the subsequent wave of anonymous threats in colleges across the country. It seemed that the school shoot...
The effect of age on phenylbutazone pharmacokinetics, metabolism and plasma protein binding in goats.

Phenylbutazone (PBZ) was administered intravenously as a single dose (10 mg/kg) to adult male and 1-day-, 10-day-, 4-week- and 6 week-old male goats. The plasma concentration of PBZ and its major metabolites oxyphenbutazone (OPBZ) and gamma-hydroxyphenbutazone (gamma-OHPBZ) was measured over time. The elimination half-life (t 1/2 beta) of PBZ decreased from 120 h in the 1-day-old to 16 h in the adult goats. Although the volume of distribution (Vd) did not change significantly during maturation, the total body clearance (Cl B) increased from 2 ml.h-1.kg-1 in 1-day-old to 13 ml.h-1.kg-1 in the adult goats; the increase was 2-fold in the first 10 days of life. Oxyphenbutazone was detectable in the plasma of adult and 6-week-old goats as early as 15 min after PBZ administration. Its peak concentration occurred at 1.5 h (1.6 micrograms/ml) in adults and at 6 h (0.95 micrograms/ml) and 12 h (0.36 micrograms/ml) in 6- and 4-week-old goats respectively. The highest plasma concentration of gamma-OHPBZ was achieved in 4-week-old followed by 6-week-old and adult animals.
Multifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks as highly selective adhesive substrates for bioadhesive peptide grafting

Novel artificial extracellular matrices were synthesized in the form of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks containing copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) and acrylic acid (PEG-co-AA) grafted with synthetic bioadhesive peptides onto exposed carboxylic acid moieties. These substrates were very resistant to cell adhesion, but when they were grafted with adhesive peptides they were highly biospecific in their ability to support cell adhesion. Extensive preadsorption of adhesive proteins or peptides did not render these materials cell adhesive; yet covalent grafting of adhesive peptides did render these materials highly cell adhesive even in the absence of serum proteins. Polymer networks containing immobilized PEG-co-AA were grafted with peptides at densities of 475 +/- 40 pmol/cm(2). Polymer networks containing immobilized PEG-co-AA N-terminally grafted with GRGDS supported cell adhesion efficiencies of 42 +/- 4% 4 h after seeding and became confluent after 12 h. These cells displayed cell spreading and cytoskeletal grafted with inactive control peptides (GRDGS, GRGES, or no peptide) supported cell adhesion efficiencies of 0 +/- 0%, even when challenged with high seeding densities (to 100,000 cell/cm(2)) over 14 days. These polymer networks are suitable substrates to investigate in vitro cell-surface interactions in the presence of serum proteins without nonspecific protein adsorption adhesion signals other than those immobilized for study.
Laboratory studies on the sputtering contribution to the sodium atmospheres of Mercury and the Moon

Abstract To ascertain the importance of sputtering by solar wind ions on the formation of a sodium exosphere around Mercury and the Moon, we have irradiated with 4 keV He ions, the Na bearing tectosilicates: albite, labradorite, and anorthoclase, as well as adsorbed Na layers deposited on albite and on olivine (a neosilicate that does not contain Na). Sodium at the surface and near surface ( σ s ≈ 1 × 10 −15 cm 2 atom −1 . In addition, mass spectrometric analyses of the sputtered flux show that a large fraction of the Na is sputtered as ions rather than as neutral atoms. These results have strong implications for modeling the sodium population within the mercurian and the lunar exospheres.
Antigenic distinction between human C9 and guinea pig C9

Abstract Immunization of rabbits with the functionally purified ninth component (C9) of human (Hu) or guinea pig (GP) complement resulted in the production of antibodies which specifically inhibited the functional activity of fluid-phase but not bound HuC9 and GPC9, respectively. There was no detectable immunochemical cross-reactivity between the two C9 species as measured by immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, and cross-neutralization. Despite these differences, HuC9 and GPC9 were found to be interchangeable for the hemolysis of antibody-sensitized sheep erythrocyte EAC1-8 hu or EAC1-7 hu 8 gp cells. Immunization of the rabbits with either species of C9 resulted in a 5- to 10-fold depletion of the number of hemolytically effective C9 molecules in their serum.
Recognition of eukaryotic initiator tRNA by an initiation factor and the transfer of the methionine moiety into peptide linkage.

Abstract A protein factor, obtained from 0.5 M KCl extracts of rabbit reticulocyte ribosomes, forms a GTP-dependent complex with the initiator tRNA from rabbit liver, Met-tRNAMetf. This activity has been purified approx. 125-fold by ion-exchange chromatography upon DEAE-cellulose and hydroxylapatite. Complex formation can be observed by virtue of the complex's elution position from Sephadex G-100 and by its retention on Millipore (nitrocellulose) filters. Complex formation is dependent on the presence of GTP; Met-tRNAMetf and GTP bind to the purified factor in a 1 : 1 ratio. 5′-Guanylylmethylenediphosphonate ( Guo -5′-P 2 CH 2 P ) is 50 % as efficient as GTP, while GDP is unable to substitute for GTP. In the presence of saturating amounts of protein and GTP, complex formation is proportional to the amount of Met-tRNAMetf added. With excess amounts of GTP and Met-tRNAMetf, complex formation is proportional to the protein concentration. Heating a solution of the protein at 75 °C for 15 min destroys 80 % of the Met-tRNAMetf binding capacity. Met-tRNAMetm and Phe-tRNAPhe bind poorly to the protein. The binding of the initiator tRNA to the 40-S ribosomal subunit and to the 80-S ribosome of reticulocytes in the presence of the triplet ApUpG is dependent on the initiation factor. The factor stimulates the in vitro incorporation of methionine from [35S]Met-tRNAMetf into acid-insoluble material using ApUpG(pU)n ( n = 25 ± 5 ) as the messenger. The ternary complex, consisting of [35S]Met-tRNAMetf, GTP and factor, was separated from free GTP and [35S]Met-tRNAMetf by Sephad ex G-100 gel filtration. When this complex is used as the only source of radioactive methionine in an in vitro amino acid incorporation system, the transfer of [35S]methionine into acid-insoluble material using ApUpG(pU)n as the messenger is greatly stimulated as compared to the transfer of methionine from free [35S]Met-tRNAMetf or free [35S]-methionine.
Patients with painful bladder syndrome have altered response to thermal stimuli and catastrophic reaction to painful experiences

AIMS To compare cutaneous sensory thresholds, habituation to somatic stimuli, and tendency towards catastrophic reaction to painful stimuli in patients with Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS) to controls without PBS. METHOD Thermal and vibratory sensory thresholds were established in 11 PBS patients and 10 controls at C5, T1, T12, and S3 dermatomes. Supra-threshold thermal stimuli were then applied at T12 and S3 for 60 sec while patients periodically rated the intensity of stimuli using a visual analog scale. A Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) questionnaire was also completed by all participants before testing. RESULTS PBS patients were less sensitive to warm stimuli in the T12 dermatome than asymptomatic controls (thresholds 36.6 +/- 1.10 degrees C vs. 35.3 +/- 1.0 degrees C, P < 0.02) but otherwise had similar thermal and vibratory thresholds. Habituation to supra-threshold stimuli at T12 and S3 dermatomes was more common in controls than PBS subjects (7 (70%) vs. 2 (18%), P < 0.03 and 9 (90%) vs. 3 (27%), P < 0.008, respectively). The PCS score correlated with the duration of PBS symptoms and with thresholds to warm stimuli at T12 dermatome (rho = 0.65, P < 0.03 and rho = 0.5, P < 0.021, respectively). CONCLUSION Our data suggests that habituation to stimuli may be impaired and that a catastrophic reaction to perceived stimuli may be involved in the sensory experience of PBS patients and facilitate chronic pain. Neurourol. Urodyn. 28:400-404, 2009. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Microcolumn sample injection by spontaneous fluid displacement.

Abstract The withdrawal of a capillary structure from a sample solution causes a droplet to be formed at the end of the capillary. Because of the interfacial pressure difference across the curved surface of the droplet, the droplet is driven into the entrance of the capillary, thereby causing injection of the sample. Assuming negligible sample penetration by diffusive or convective mixing, this injection is intrinsically the smallest possible for a capillary. Moreover, the injection volume can be varied by changing the shape of the capillary structure, specifically the outer diameter of the capillary. This injection method eliminates the need for external pressure differences, applied fields across the capillary, or precise timing, thus offering several advantages over conventional procedures. Studies using capillary electrophoresis as the separation procedure show that approximately 3.5 nl (66 μm I.D. capillary) sample volumes can be injected by hand with a reproducibility of 5.8 ± 0.7% R.S.D. Parameters that affect the variability of the injection are discussed.
Technique for monitoring activity in free-moving animals

A techique is described for measuring activity by monitoring the rotational movements of a commutator. to which animals might be connected for other experimental purposes.
Studies in cerebral circulation. Methods for the stereoscopic demonstration of the human cerebral microcirculation. Preliminary observations on the arterial supply of the red nucleus

Abstract Methods for the development of three-dimensional stereograms of cerebral blood vessels and the microcirculation of the human red nucleus have been presented. The method is reproducible and provides lantern-slide material which an audience of 50 to 100 persons can view in three dimensions. Appropriately processed anatomic materials, wax models, three-dimensional graphs, and other photographic data which do not require full color can be used; and although the methods described were developed for the demonstration of cerebral blood vessels, they are applicable to the vasculature of any organ. The virtue of three-dimensional observation of the angioarchitecture of any organ cannot be appreciated fully until experienced. Certain preliminary observations concerning the arterial circulation to the posterior thalamic and posteroinferior extrapyramidal nuclei are presented. The various nuclei seem to have a unique arterial supply without obvious intra-arterial anastomoses where that supply is dual and from a different parent vessel. When, as in the case of the nucleus ruber, part of the dual supply is derived from primary ganglionic radicles which originate from the same parent vessel, interarterial anastomoses of large caliber occur.