cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical Efficacy of Sildenafil in Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Dogs

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in dogs carries a poor prognosis. Sildenafil increases exercise capacity and improves hemodynamics in people with PAH. Hypothesis/Objectives: Dogs receiving sildenafil will have lower pulmonary arterial pressure, increased exercise capacity, and better quality of life (QOL) than dogs receiving placebo. Animals: Thirteen dogs with echocardiographic evidence of PAH. Methods: Prospective short-term, randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind, crossover study. Dogs with PAH were randomly allocated to receive sildenafil or placebo for 4 weeks, followed by the alternative treatment for 4 weeks. Results: Dogs receiving sildenafil had a significantly lower estimated pulmonary arterial pressure (median, 56 mmHg; range, 34–83 mmHg) than at baseline (median, 72 mmHg; range, 61–86 mmHg; P= .018), but not significantly lower than those receiving placebo (median, 62 mmHg; range, 49–197 mmHg). Exercise capacity was significantly greater in dogs receiving sildenafil than those receiving placebo (mean activity count per minute: 101 ± 47 versus 74 ± 32; P= .05). QOL scores were significantly higher in dogs receiving sildenafil than dogs receiving placebo. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Sildenafil decreases systolic pulmonary arterial pressure from baseline in dogs with PAH and is associated with increased exercise capacity and QOL when compared to treatment with placebo.
Effect of Magnesium on Replication of Rhinovirus HGP

It is known that plaque formation by some rhinoviruses is greatly enhanced by increasing the concentration of MgCl(2). The mechanism of this action was studied by investigating the effects of MgCl(2) on rhinovirus HGP adsorption, growth, clumping, thermal stability, and cell susceptibility to viral cytopathic effect. The latent period was at most 7 hr, whether virus was propagated in cells maintained in 0.8 or 30 mm MgCl(2), but virus release was 8- to 310-fold greater in the presence of 30mm MgCl(2), depending on initial multiplicity. Intracellular virus content appeared unaffected by Mg(++) and reached maximal yield (plateau phase) at about 10 hr. Viral adsorption was increased when cells were maintained in 30mm Mg(++). It is likely that the two effects of magnesium, enhanced adsorption and increased virus release, both contribute to enhancement of plaque formation.
METABOLISM OF AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN MARINE ORGANISMS

Studies on hydrocarbon metabolism in marine organisms are reviewed with emphasis on the enzyme systems involved and the nature of the products formed. Some topics discussed are as follows: tissue accumulation and depuration; role of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylases in regulating metabolism; and formation of metabolic products. (HLW)
A queuing model of a multiprogrammed computer with a two-level storage system

The results are presented of an analysis of a probabilistic model of a multiprogrammed computer system with a two-level storage system in which there is sequential dependency of accesses between the devices. Expressions are obtained for the long-run probability that both the CPU and each of the storage devices are busy. Some numerical results are given which quantify the gains in CPU utilization obtainable by multiprogramming in the presence of this type of storage system.
Suspiciousness as a specific risk factor for major depressive episodes in schizophrenia.

Objective: Serious depression is a common and important complication of schizophrenia. In a prospective, population-based study, we tested the hypothesis that suspiciousness increases the risk for the later development of depression in schizophrenia. Method: Data came from the Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA) study. Baseline clinical and demographic features were used to predict the onset of new episodes of depression at 1 year follow-up. As ECA diagnoses were based on lay interviews, which may have low sensitivity compared with clinical diagnoses, two overlapping groups of putative schizophrenia patients were defined. Results: Suspiciousness was associated with an increased risk of new episodes of depression in both patient groups, after accounting for demographic variables. There was no association between an increased risk of depression and either disorganization or hallucinations and delusions. Conclusions: Suspiciousness appears to be a specific risk factor for depression in psychotic groups. Interventions that decrease suspiciousness, or mitigate its isolating effects, might decrease the risk of serious depression and suicide.
Improved creep resistance in a glass-bonded alumina through concurrent devitrification

La rupture par fluage d'une ceramique polycristalline est souvent le resultat d'une cavitation aux joints de grain. On montre qu'en augmentant la viscosite de la phase vitreuse, on reduit le glissement aux joints de grain et on ameliore la resistance au fluage
Structural characterization of the transmembrane domain from subunit e of yeast F1Fo-ATP synthase: a helical GXXXG motif located just under the micelle surface.

: F 1 F o -ATP synthase is a large multiprotein complex, including at least 10 subunits in the membrane-bound F o -sector. One of these F o proteins is subunit e (Su e), involved in the stable dimerization of F 1 F o -ATP synthase, and required for the establishment of normal cristae membrane architecture. As a step toward enabling structure-function studies of the F o -sector, the Su e transmembrane region was structurally characterized in micelles. Based on a series of NMR and CD (circular dichroism) studies, a structural model of the Su e/micelle complex was constructed, indicating Su e is largely helical, and emerges from the micelle with Arg20 near the phosphate head groups. Su e only adopts this folded conformation in the context of the micelle, and is essentially disordered in DMSO, water or trifluoroethanol/ water. Within the micelle the C-terminal Ala10-Arg20 stretch is helical, while the region N-terminal may be transiently helical, based on negative CSI (chemical shift index) values. The Ala10-Arg20 helix contains the G 14 XXXG 18 motif, which has been proposed to play an important role in dimer formation with another protein from the F o -sector. The Gly on the C-terminal end of this motif (Glyl8) is slightly more mobile than the more buried Gly 14, based on NMR order parameter measurements (Gly 14 S 2 = 0.950; Glyl8 S 2 = 0.895). Only one Su e transmembrane peptide is bound per micelle, and micelles are 22-23 A in diameter, composed of 51 ±4 dodecylphosphocholine detergent molecules. Although there is no evidence for Su e homodimerization via the transmembrane domain, potentially synergistic roles for N-terminal (membrane) and C-terminal (soluble) domain interactions may still occur. Furthermore, the presence of a buried charged residue (Arg7) suggests there may be interactions with other F o -sector protein(s) that stabilize this charge, and possibly drive the folding of the N-terminal 9 residues of the transmembrane domain.
Effect of penetration enhancers and iontophoresis on the FT-IR spectroscopy and LHRH permeability through porcine skin

The present study explores the effect of enhancer and iontophoresis on the in vitro permeability of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) through porcine epidermis and biophysical changes in the stratum corneum lipids by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Enhancers (e.g. ethanol, 10% oleic acid in combination with ethanol and 10% oleic acid in combination with propylene glycol) pretreatment increased (P 0.05) of LHRH through the epidermis. Iontophoresis further increased the permeability of LHRH (P<0.05) through the enhancers (ethanol, 10% oleic acid in combination with ethanol, propylene glycol and 10% oleic acid in combination with propylene glycol) pretreated epidermis in comparison to the control (without enhancer pretreated epidermis). This shows that iontophoresis can synergize with enhancers, such as 10% oleic acid in combination with ethanol and 10% oleic acid in combination with propylene glycol, to provide an additional driving force to maintain and control the target flux of LHRH. The FT-IR spectroscopic study was performed to investigate the effect of the above enhancers and iontophoresis on the biophysical changes in the stratum corneum lipids. Pretreatment of the stratum corneum with 10% oleic acid in combination with ethanol, and 10% oleic acid in combination with propylene glycol followed by iontophoresis shifted the antisymmetric peak position with reference to the control (without enhancer and iontophoresis) from 2919.3±0.7 to 2927.6±4.1, and 2919.3±0.7 to 2924.2±1.9 cm−1, respectively. Thus, the combination of enhancer and iontophoresis increased the average acyl chain disorder (lipid fluidity). The synergism in enhancement of the permeability of LHRH through the epidermis by iontophoresis in combination with enhancers (10% oleic acid in combination with ethanol, and 10% oleic acid in combination with propylene glycol) may be due to greater fluidization of the stratum corneum lipids.
Effect of Surface Curvature on Laminar Film Condensation

In this work, laminar film condensation on curved surfaces is considered. It should be noted that the surface curvature considered here is in the direction of the flow. The analysis starts with solving the momentum equation in cylindrical coordinates. The results are then written in terms of the solution for the case of negligible curvature effect, i.e., solution to momentum equation written in Cartesian coordinates, and a correction due to the effect of the curvature of the surface.
Polychlorinated biphenyls and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents in tree swallows from the Upper Hudson River, New York State, USA

The upper Hudson River of New York State, USA, is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as a result of industrial discharges throughout the latter half of this century. In 1994 and 1995, the authors monitored the transfer of PCBs from aquatic sediments to a terrestrial wildlife community using the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) as a model organism. Tree swallow eggs and nestlings were collected at four colonies established along a 40-km stretch of the upper Hudson River watershed. Samples were analyzed for total PCBs and PCB congeners, including non-ortho- and mono-ortho-substituted PCBs. Mean concentrations of PCBs in tree swallow eggs and nestlings ranged from 721 to 62,200 ng/g and were as much as 15 times greater than PCB concentrations in tree swallow eggs and nestlings collected from PCB-contaminated areas within the Great Lakes ecosystem. The corresponding 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) calculated using avian toxic equivalency factors ranged from 410 to 25,400 pg/g. Concentrations of PCB congener 77 (3.3{prime}, 4,4{prime}-tetrachlorobiphenyl) were extremely elevated and were major contributors to the calculated TEQs. Homologue pattern comparisons between Hudson River and Saginaw River (Michigan, USA) ecosystems supported the hypothesis that a consistent Hudson River PCB source was the major contributor to PCBs in Hudson Rivermore » tree swallows. The high concentrations of PCBs in Hudson River sediments and resultant concentrations observed in tree swallows were indicative of a potential elevated risk to these and other wildlife linked to the aquatic food web of the Hudson River ecosystem.« less
The amount and accumulation rate of plastic debris on marshes and beaches on the Georgia coast

Abstract The amount and accumulation rate of plastic debris at 20 sites along the Georgia coast were prepared using data reported by a number of volunteer organizations. The amount of plastic debris at highly visited barrier island beaches and estuarine marshes ranged from 300 to >1000 kg. Relatively large amount of plastics (180–500 kg) were found on less visited barrier island beaches, i.e. Blackbeard, Ossabaw and Cumberland Islands. A follow up monthly or quarterly collection study was carried out on two of the sites, a barrier beach and estuarine marsh, to determine accumulation rate in 8000 m 2 areas. Accumulation rates ranged from 0.18 to 1.28 kg/30 days–8000 m 2 on the barrier island beach and from 0.6 to 1.61 kg/30 days–8000 m 2 at the estuarine marsh site. The major type of plastics, e.g. bottles, food wrappers, plastic fragments, was highly variable at different seasons and sites. The authors recommend consideration of a standardization in reporting plastic debris, with respect to quantitation of debris and sample area.
Electronic structure of H/GaN(0001): An EELS study of Ga-H formation

Bare and hydrogenated GaN(0001) were characterized using electron-energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). AES and LEED show that the GaN surface is clean but faceted. EELS following hydrogen atom exposure shows a decrease in the intensity of the band-gap transition at 3.5 eV as well as the development of a previously unreported loss peak at 11.7 eV and quenching of a peak at 6.6 eV. We suggest that the peaks at 6.6 and 11.7 eV correspond to occupied states observed in photoemission lying near 1 and 6 eV below the valence-band maximum, respectively. These loss peaks indicate the participation of an unfilled electronic state \ensuremath{\sim}2 eV above the conduction-band minimum. Hydrogen atom exposure also results in an increase in EELS intensity at 18 eV. Molecular hydrogen does not react with Ga-terminated GaN(0001). These changes in the electronic structure of GaN(0001) may be useful indicators of surface Ga-H.
Isoenzymes of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from tobacco cells

Abstract Two anodic isoenzymes of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) were isolated from tobacco suspension culture WR-132, utilizing fractional ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The pH optimum was 9.0 for isoenzyme G6PDH I and 8.0–8.3 for G6PDH IV. Isoenzyme G6PDH I exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics for both substrates, G6P and NADP+, with Km's of 0.22 mM and 0.06 mM, respectively. G6PDH IV exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics for G6P with a Km of 0.31 mM. The NADP+ double reciprocal plot showed an abrupt transition between two linear sections. This transition corresponds to an abrupt increase in the apparent Km and Vmax values with increasing NADP+, denoting negative cooperativity. The two Km's for high and low NADP+ concentrations were 0.06 mM and 0.015 mM, respectively. MWs of the isoenzymes as determined by SDS disc gel electrophoresis were 85 000–91 000 for G6PDH I and 54 000–59 000 for G6PDH IV. Gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-150 showed MW's of 91 000 for G6PDH I and 115 000 for G6PDH IV. A probable dimeric structure for IV is suggested, with two NADP+ binding sites.
The immune response to fungal infections

During the past two decades, invasive fungal infections have emerged as a major threat to immunocompromised hosts. Patients with neoplastic diseases are at significant risk for such infections as a result of their underlying illness and its therapy. Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus and emerging pathogens, such as the zygomycetes, dark walled fungi, Trichosporon and Fusarium, are largely opportunists, causing infection when host defences are breached. The immune response varies with respect to the fungal species and morphotype encountered. The risk for particular infections differs, depending upon which aspect of immunity is impaired. This article reviews the current understanding of the role and relative importance of innate and adaptive immunity to common and emerging fungal pathogens. An understanding of the host response to these organisms is important in decisions regarding use of currently available antifungal therapies and in the design of new therapeutic modalities.
Legitimating leadership: The rhetoric of succession as a genre of presidential discourse

(1992). Legitimating leadership: The rhetoric of succession as a genre of presidential discourse. Rhetoric Society Quarterly: Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 25-38.
Experiments and Simulations of the Freezing of Jet Fuel in Forced Flow

Under low-temperature environmental conditions, the cooling of aircraft fuel results in reduced fluidity with the potential for freezing. To study the freezing behavior of jet fuel under forced flow conditions, a quartz duct was fabricated. The duct walls were cooled below the solidification temperatures of JP-8 and JPTS fuel samples by means of an environmental chamber. Freezing was also simulated using computational fluid dynamics, and the validity of the calculations was established by comparing them with experimental measurements. As they were unavailable, the low-temperature properties of a sample of JPTS were measured experimentally and were used in the simulations. The calculated temperature and solidified area of the fuel inside the duct agree well with those values measured in the experiments. This work demonstrates that computational fluid dynamics techniques can potentially be used to predict the fuel holdup in aircraft fuel tanks. The effect of flow rate on solidification was also simulated, and it was found that lower flow rates result in relatively more solidification of the fuel than do higher flow rates. The simulations of the freezing behaviors of JP-8 and JPTS samples were found to have essentially the same value of morphology constant. However, the crystal structures of these two fuels were studied in experiments and were found to be very different. This shows the inability of the model to capture small-scale details like the crystal microstructure. However, this limitation is not fatal because the focus here is on the overall flow and freezing behavior of jet fuels.
Electrocatalytic hydrogenation and oxidation of model coal-derived compounds chemisorbed at smooth polycrystalline Pt: a survey

Abstract The chemisorption and electrocatalytic reactivity of six model coal-derived compounds at smooth polycrystalline platinum electrodes in aqueous solutions have been investigated. The compounds studied were aniline (AN), hydroquinone (HQ), 3,6-dihydroxypyridazine (DHPz), 2,3-dihydroxypyridine (DHPy), 2,5-dihydroxythiophenol (DHT), and thiophene (TP). Electrocatalytic hydrogenation and oxidation using thin-layer electrochemical cells were carried out at −0.25 V [Ag/AgCl (1 M Cl − ) reference] and 1.18 V, respectively, in 1 M H 2 SO 4 in the absence of bulk (unadsorbed) species. Electrocatalytic hydrogenation was characterized by the average number of hydrogen atoms n H reacted per chemisorbed molecule, and anodic oxidation was investigated in terms of the effective number of electrons n ox transferred during the oxidation reaction. The results indicate that: (i) Hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexane, which is a function of the initial adsorbate orientation, is a more facile process than hydrogenolysis of the aromatic ring. (ii) Hydrogenation of the aromatic ring proceeds more readily than cleavage of the C-O bond even if the oxygen heteroatom is not part of the aromatic ring. (iii) Hydrogenative cleavage of the C-S bond occurs more readily and with greater specificity if the sulfur heteroatom is not part of the aromatic framework. (iv) Hydrogenative cleavage of the C-N bond also takes place more easily and with higher specificity if the nitrogen heteroatom is not part of the aromatic ring. (v) Anodic oxidation is dependent upon orientation or mode of attachment, if the orientational states of a given molecule are vastly different from one another, as in η 6 -HQ and 2,3-η 2 -HQ; if the alternative orientations are similar, as in S-η 1 and tilted DHT, n ox may be independent of initial orientation. (vi) For a given mode of surface attachment, the extent of anodic oxidation is a function of the structure of the aromatic ring. (vii) In general, hydrogenation is limited to the functional group directly bonded to the Pt surface; no such limitation applies to catalytic oxidation.
Technical Note: Measuring contrast- and noise-dependent spatial resolution of an iterative reconstruction method in CT using ensemble averaging.

Purpose: The spatial resolution of iterative reconstruction (IR) in computed tomography (CT) is contrast- and noise-dependent because of the nonlinear regularization. Due to the severe noise contamination, it is challenging to perform precise spatial-resolution measurements at very low-contrast levels. The purpose of this study was to measure the spatial resolution of a commercially available IR method using ensemble-averaged images acquired from repeated scans. Methods: A low-contrast phantom containing three rods (7, 14, and 21 HU below background) was scanned on a 128-slice CT scanner at three dose levels (CTDIvol = 16, 8, and 4 mGy). Images were reconstructed using two filtered-backprojection (FBP) kernels (B40 and B20) and a commercial IR method (sinogram affirmed iterative reconstruction, SAFIRE, Siemens Healthcare) with two strength settings (I40-3 and I40-5). The same scan was repeated 100 times at each dose level. The modulation transfer function (MTF) was calculated based on the edge profile measured on the ensemble-averaged images. Results: The spatial resolution of the two FBP kernels, B40 and B20, remained relatively constant across contrast and dose levels. However, the spatial resolution of the two IR kernels degraded relative to FBP as contrast or dose level decreased. For a given dose level at 16 mGy, the MTF 50% value normalized to the B40 kernel decreased from 98.4% at 21 HU to 88.5% at 7 HU for I40-3 and from 97.6% to 82.1% for I40-5. At 21 HU, the relative MTF 50% value decreased from 98.4% at 16 mGy to 90.7% at 4 mGy for I40-3 and from 97.6% to 85.6% for I40-5. Conclusions: A simple technique using ensemble averaging from repeated CT scans can be used to measure the spatial resolution of IR techniques in CT at very low contrast levels. The evaluated IR method degraded the spatial resolution at low contrast and high noise levels.
Fire behavior of interior finish materials

The advent of a multitude of new materials, many of which may have applications in the building construction industry, has stimulated an examination of current fire codes and tests with an eye toward changing our approach to them.
The impact of the federal cutback on genetic services

A survey of directors of federally supported genetics, sickle cell and hemophilia programs was undertaken to determine the effect of reduced federal awards for fiscal year 1983 (FY83). Most states deemed ineligible for federal genetics and sickle cell grants for FY83 were unable to make up federal losses with funds from other sources. In FY82, per capita allocations to genetics and sickle cell programs were not significantly different between states that remained eligible in FY83 and those that became ineligible. In FY83, however, per capita allocations were significantly lower in the ineligible states. If cutbacks were to curtail operations, most program directors would give their highest priority to preserving newborn screening and follow-up services. Of the 23 states that do not currently charge for newborn screening, 8 are contemplating imposition of a charge. The findings suggest that continued or expanded availability of genetic services depends, in part, on federal support.
Cleavage of the C-terminus of NEDD8 by UCH-L3.

NEDD8 is a novel ubiquitin-like protein that has been shown to conjugate to nuclear proteins in a manner analogous to ubiquitination and sentrinization. To identify proteins that are involved in the NEDD8-conjugation and de-conjugation pathway, the yeast two-hybrid system was used to screen a human heart cDNA library using NEDD8 as a bait. Seven strongly positive clones were found to contain a cDNA insert encoding the ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase, UCH-L3. In vitro GST pull-down assay demonstrated that UCH-L3 bound to both NEDD8 and ubiquitin. In contrast, UCH-L3 did not bind to sentrin-1, sentrin-2, or sentrin-3. Recombinant UCH-L3, but not UCH-L1, was able to cleave the C-terminus of NEDD8. Thus, UCH-L3 can function as a C-terminal hydrolase for both NEDD8 and ubiquitin. UCH-L3 may play a physiologically significant role in the cleavage of the C-terminus of NEDD8, which is required for NEDD8 to conjugate to target proteins.
The TRH neuronal phenotype forms embryonic cell clusters that go on to establish a regionalized cell fate in forebrain.

How neurons diversify in developing brain to produce discrete cell fates in their appropriate regions remains a fundamental question. Embryonic Xenopus was previously used to identify juxtaposed embryonic cells that first express proopiomelanocortin mRNA in forebrain and pituitary, supporting the idea that this neuropeptide phenotype is induced locally. (Hayes and Loh, 1990, Development 110:747–757). To begin to examine how a more widespread population of forebrain cells is set up, the present focus is on the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) phenotype. Serial section in situ hybridization histochemistry produced the unexpected finding that the adult-like TRH system spanning forebrain and comprising over six different telencephalic and diencephalic nuclei, is preceded by an embryonic TRH cell population that is initially localized and then highly regionalized in the area from which the adult pattern develops. Thus, the first TRH cells, detected in vivo after 35 h (stage 29/30), were confined to discrete anterior or posterior bilateral clusters in embryonic forebrain or hindbrain. Thereafter, the TRH cell clusters in diencephelon, but not hindbrain, expanded to form rows, extending anteriorly into telencephalon and bifurcating posteriorly around the infundibulum. By 80 h (stage 42), after extensive brain morphogenesis, these forebrain rows showed regional differences in levels of TRH and mRNA corresponding to the specific brain nuclei that have been shown to contain TRH cells in adult. These findings show that subsets of phenotype-specific forebrain cell first form a regionalized neuronal cell fate before distinct brain nuclei form. This is turn points to the testable hypothesis in Xenopus that certain neuronal cell fates in forebrain may be dictated by cell lineage or local induction. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
DI-JET MEASUREMENTS IN HEAVY-ION COLLISIONS AT STAR

Jets are produced from hard scatterings in the early stages of heavy-ion collisions. It is expected that these high-pT partons travel through the hot and dense medium before fragmenting. Therefore they are expected to suffer energy loss in the QGP via gluon radiation and elastic collisions along their path. Measurements of fully reconstructed jets help understand the effect of the energy loss on the jet structure and energy profile. A data-driven characterization of the background in Au+Au is needed in order to compare the results to p+p. The full azimuthal coverage of STAR Time Projection Chamber and Electromagnetic Calorimeter allows measurements of fully reconstructed di-jets, defined by jets that match the online trigger and recoil jets on the away side. A tight selection of the trigger jets allows for a selection of those coming from the surface. Hence, the population of jets on the recoil side is biased towards a maximal energy loss because of the extreme in-medium pathlength. We present measurements of di-jets, exploring their structure and properties in Au+Au and p+p at in the STAR experiment.
Objectively measured physical activity and inflammatory markers among US adults with diabetes: implications for attenuating disease progression.

Abstract Objective To examine the association between objectively measured physical activity and markers of inflammation (ie, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, and C-reactive protein level) among a national sample of adults with diabetes. Patients and Methods Data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles were used. The data were evaluated from November 25, 2012, to May 3, 2013. Participants wore an accelerometer for 4 days or longer to assess physical activity, with blood samples obtained to assess the aforementioned inflammatory markers. Results Accelerometer-derived light physical activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity were inversely associated with white blood cell and neutrophil counts, whereas time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity was inversely associated with C-reactive protein levels. Conclusion Adults with diabetes engaging in more physical activity have lower degrees of inflammation, suggesting that physical activity may reduce disease progression through mitigating inflammation, which is an important finding because increased inflammation among those with diabetes can worsen disease progression, including diabetic end-organ damage.
Black and White Holes

IN recent years there has been considerable discussion of two important problems: (1) the gravitational collapse of bodies too massive to attain a permanent equilibrium state and (2) the sources of energy for quasars and galactic nuclei.
Assisting the psychosocial problems of cancer patients: a review of current research.

Abstract The discovery that one has cancer is typically viewed by the individual who makes such a discovery as a stressful traumatic event. It is likely that all individuals who are diagnosed as having cancer have some sociological and psychological problems in coping with the situation. This article brings together current research concerned with (1) the nature of the reactions and the defense mechanisms employed by cancer patients in coping with the stress produced by the diagnosis, and (2) the available successful methods for assisting cancer patients with their psychosocial problems.
Transcriptional Regulation by Cyclic AMP

A number of hormones and growth factors have been shown to stimulate target cells via second messenger pathways that in turn regulate the phosphorylation of specific nuclear factors. The second messenger cyclic AMP, for example, regulates a striking number of physiologic processes, including intermediary metabolism, cellular proliferation, and neuronal signaling, by altering basic patterns of gene expression. Our understanding of cyclic AMP signaling in the nucleus has expanded considerably over the past decade, owing in large part to the characterization of cyclic AMP–responsive promoter elements, transcription factors that bind them, and signal-dependent coactivators that mediate target gene induction. More importantly, these studies have revealed new insights into biological problems as diverse as biological clocks and long-term memory. The purpose of this review is to describe the components of the cyclic AMP response unit and to analyze how these components cooperate to induce target gene expression ...
Simplicity of Mammalian Regulatory Systems inferred by Single Gene Determination of Sex Phenotypes

Dr Ohno predicts that mammalian regulatory systems will turn out to be less complex than is generally anticipated.
Simulation of vortex sheet roll-up by vortex methods

The idealization of a shear layer as a vortex sheet separating two regions of potential flow is an old and often used approximation. Although this model has an appealing simplicity, complete understanding of its properties has not yet been achieved, in spite of the considerable attention the model has received. Analytical investigations are limited to linear or weakly nonlinear studies of the small amplitude stage, so numerical methods were applied quite early to this problem. Rosenhead [27] modelled the vortex sheet as a row of point vortices and was able to simulate the motion up to relatively large amplitudes. Rosenhead’s calculation, done in the precomputer years of the early thirties, used only a modest number of points and a large time step. Nevertheless, the calculations clearly showed the expected roll-up of the vortex sheet. When computers became available, these calculations were repeated with a larger number of points by Birkhoff and Fisher [9], who found that instead of a more accurate solution, the increased number of points led to irregular motion of the points and early deterioration of the computations. Later efforts by other investigators confirmed these disappointing result. Birkhoff [S] pointed out that the vortex sheet problem does not contain a physical mechanism that stabilizes small-scale motion and that the model is subject to a short wave instability with the growth rate increasing with wave number. The problem is therefore formally ill-posed, and extreme care must be taken not to introduce short wave disturbances as the resolution is increased. Finite numerical resolution, however, provides an artifical short wave stabilitzation, and since early calculations generally used rather modest resolution, this rapid growth of short waves during the initial stages of the evolution was not as serious of a problem as one might suspect. However, even when calculations proceeded beyond the linear
Dissociation of the ventilatory and lactate thresholds following caffeine ingestion.

Caffeine ingestion prior to the start of exercise has been shown to have an effect on ventilatory parameters and substrate utilization. Changes in either substrate utilization or ventilatory parameters may influence the determination of the lactate threshold (LT) and/or the ventilatory threshold (VT). Therefore, it was the purpose of this investigation to determine whether the VT and LT occur at similar metabolic rates and what effect caffeine ingestion will have on these two measures. Ten male subjects completed two maximal exercise bouts on the treadmill using a single blind procedure. One trial was performed 45 min after the ingestion of caffeine citrate (CC) in an amount equal to 7.0 mg of anhydrous caffeine.kg-1 body weight. The second trial was performed 45 min after the ingestion of a gelatin powdered placebo (P). Ventilatory parameters were monitored on a breath-by-breath basis, and blood for lactate determination was obtained from an antecubital vein every minute. Maximal oxygen consumption did not differ significantly between the CC (60.3 +/- 5.2 ml.kg-1.min-1) and P (59.7 +/- 5.6 ml.kg-1.min-1) trials. Oxygen consumption (VO2) values during the P trial at the VT (40.2 +/- 6.1 ml.kg-1.min-1) and the LT (38.6 +/- 3.3 ml.kg-1.min-1) were not significantly different (P less than 0.05). During the CC trial, VO2 values at the VT (44.4 +/- 6.6 ml.kg-1.min-1) and the LT (39.7 +/- 5.8 ml.kg-1.min-1) were significantly different. When comparing the VO2 at the LTs between the CC and P trials, there was no significant difference. There was, however, a significant difference in VO2 at the VTs when comparing the two trials. These data demonstrate a dissociation between the VT and LT following caffeine ingestion and suggest that the use of the VT as an indicator of the LT may be inappropriate following ingestion of moderate dosages of caffeine.
Inguinal hernia in infants and children in China

Inguinal hernia repair for children and infants is one of the most common operations done as day surgery in China. In a series of 11,272 cases in Beijing Children's Hospital, 10,101 (89.6%) were performed as day cases. Of 1,171 hospitalized patients, 633 (54%) had incarcerated hernias. The standard procedures of day-surgery repair include a small transverse incision at the external ring, high ligation of the sac, and a constriction stitch on the external ring. Many reports involving thousands of day-surgery herniorrhaphies performed by community surgeons with no mortality or remarkable complications have been presented in the last 10 years in the Chinese literature. Most surgeons prefer to perform the repair in children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years, while some neonatal surgeons have done many in the first few days after birth. The problems of recurrence, latent contralateral hernia, sliding hernia, congenital hernia, incarceration, and common complications are discussed.
Effect of impurity on the cholesteric-smectic-A transition

Abstract The divergence of the helical pitch near the cholesteric-smectic-A transition has been measured in cholesteryl nonanoate doped with controlled amounts of cholesteryl chloride. The apparent critical exponent v is found to increase sensitively but smoothly with chloride concentration. While the physical origin is unclear, the results indicate the value of v in pure cholesteryl nonanoate is nonclassical.
Thermodynamically Reversible Addressing of a Stimuli Responsive Fusion Protein onto a Patterned Surface Template

The sensitivity of an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) to environmental stimuli is used to reversibly immobilize a fusion partner, thioredoxin (TRX), onto a hydrophobic surface. An ELP, fused to TRX ...
Abstract C269: Targeting casein kinase 1 delta and epsilon (CK1δ/ε) in breast cancer therapeutics.

The Caesin Kinase 1 (CK1) family consists of 7 ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinases that play diverse roles in a number of cellular processes. Interestingly, CK1δ and e are highly expressed in some cancer types where they have been shown to promote cell growth, survival, and tumorigenicity in vivo. For example, exogenous expression of kinase dead mutants of CK1δ block SV40 induced cell transformation as well as mammary carcinogenesis in xenograft models. Furthermore, the effect of CK1δ/e shRNAs on breast cancer cell growth has been shown to correlate with high levels of nuclear β-catenin, a molecular phenotype known to be associated with the invasive TNBC subtype and poor clinical outcome. Therefore, we investigated whether inhibition of CK1 δ/e could represent a viable strategy for the treatment of TNBC, for which there are currently no targeted therapies. Here we report the development of novel small molecule, ATP competitive inhibitors of CK1δ/e, that are highly selective for CK1δ and e and have low nanomolar biochemical and anti-breast cancer cell potency. In particular, our top leads (such as SR-3029) show selectivity toward cancer cells over non-tumorigenic cells and screening of the NCI-60 panel of tumor cell lines suggest potency against a number of additional malignancies, including GBM and melanoma. We show, using genetic tools, that SR-3029 is on-target and functions to promote apoptotic cell death in TNBC cells through negative regulation of β-catenin. Furthermore, SR-3029 is highly efficacious in vivo, promoting regression of human MDA-MB-231 tumors established in the mouse mammary fat pad. Our studies demonstrate pre-clinical proof of concept that targeting of CK1δ/e is an effective anti-TNBC strategy. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):C269. Citation Format: Laura H. Rosenberg, Weimin Chen, Shima Nakanishi, Mathieu Bibian, Michael D. Cameron, John L. Cleveland, William R. Roush, Derek R. Duckett. Targeting casein kinase 1 delta and epsilon (CK1δ/e) in breast cancer therapeutics. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C269.
INFLUENCE OF CALCIUM TREATMENT, SPEAR SIZE AND STORAGE TIME ON FRESH AND FROZEN ASPARAGUS QUALITY

The use of 3% calcium dips, prior to storage, reduced weight losses and increased sensory appeal of fresh stored asparagus, but reduced ascorbic acid values. Long term storage of fresh asparagus prior to processing increased drip loss and shear values, and reduced ascorbic acid content, There were differnces in weight loss, moisture, ascorbic acid, and color between small and large diameter asparagus spears, fresh or frozen. The large diameter spears had an economic advantage in that these spears lost less weight in storage, but the small diameter spears had a higher ascorbic acid content.
APPLICATION OF THE EMBEDDED ATOM METHOD TO THE FRACTURE OF INTERFACES

Presentation d'une nouvelle theorie de liaison metallique: la «methode d'atome enrobe» pour evaluer les forces et l'energie dans un amas d'atomes. Application de cette methode a la segregation superficielle dans des alliages Ni−Cu, a la reconstruction de surfaces. En combinaison avec la procedure de Monte Carlo, cette methode peut predire la structure et l'energie de cohesion des joints de grains dans Ni et Ni 3 Al. Determination par dynamique moleculaire de la resistance a la rupture fragile de ces joints
Abdominal Pain and Mass

A28-year-oldman presentedwith severalmonths of constant, burning upper abdominal pain centered on the epigastrium. The pain was associated with morning nausea and was worsened by food and alcohol. He was given trials of proton pump inhibitors and dicyclominewithno relief. Hehadnoprior chronicmedical conditions.His family historywaspositive for a brother with kidney stones. He was a former smoker but denied current drug or alcohol use. Review of systems was positive for dry throat, gastroesophageal reflux, and frequent headaches. Physical examinationwasnotable for a faintly palpablemidabdominalmass slightly to the left andabove the umbilicuswith localizeddiscomfort topalpation.Ultrasonographyof theabdomenshowed a hypoechoic, hypervascular, solidmass left of themidline (Figure, A). A subsequent computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a left adrenal myelolipoma and a 4.4 × 3.7-cm hypervascular soft tissue mass just left of the midline within the mesentery in close approximationwith the small bowel, centered at the level of the L3-L4 intervertebral disc (Figure, B). A laparotomy was performed and a round, wellcircumscribed soft tissuemass located approximately 90 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz at the base of themesentery was removed intact without the need for bowel resection (Figure, C). Pathologic photomicrograph of the specimen is shown (Figure, D). A B
Efficacy of Using Thermography to Assess Shoulder Loads during Overhead Intermittent Work

Upper extremity work related musculoskeletal disorders remain a priority research area due to their prevalence and cost despite efforts to mitigate their presence in the workplace. A laboratory stu...
Ocular Motility Testing in the Evaluation of Visual Hallucinations

Distinguishing organic visual hallucinations from those caused by hysteria or malingering is important but difficult. We found that ocular motility testing is helpful in making the distinction in some patients who allege that their hallucinations move. A 9-year-old girl thought to have organic hallucinations, possibly caused by an occipital lobe neoplasm, was unable to generate smooth pursuit movements when she attempted to follow the movements of the hallucinations. Instead, she executed a series of small downward saccades. Her hallucinations were presumably stress-induced. Conversely, a 62-year-old man with hypertension, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and depression, whose hallucinations were thought to be hysterical, was able to execute smooth pursuit movements when he attempted to follow the hallucinations. Detection of a previously unrecognized visual field defect helped to establish that the hallucinations were organic. Thus, patients with moving organic hallucinations may produce smooth pursuit movements when attempting to follow the hallucinations, but patients with feigned or hysterical hallucinations, who lack a fixation target, are likely to execute a series of saccades.
Comparative effectiveness of implant density

Abstract Comparative effectiveness research provides information on the benefits and complications of specific treatments and can guide spine surgeons to best-quality practices. Although orthopedic implants comprise more than 25% of the perioperative costs for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), there are few high-level studies comparing the various implant types, patterns, and number. Numerous studies have shown the superiority of all pedicle–screw constructs over hook-and-hybrid constructs. A wide variety of pedicle screw numbers, densities, and configurations are used in clinical practice. Many small studies indicate no significant difference in clinical outcomes between low-implant density and high-implant density constructs for the surgical treatment of moderate AIS, but these are likely underpowered. More work is needed to determine the appropriate number and distribution of implants for specific curve patterns to optimize the surgical care of AIS patients.
The Travis County, Texas, meteorites

— Studies of 52 specimens recovered from the find site of the original Travis County meteorite reveal the presence of two distinct meteorites. Travis County (a), which includes the original Travis County meteorite, is the more abundant meteorite and is classified as an H5(S4) shock-blackened chondrite. Travis County (b) is classified as an H4(S2) chondrite with rare chondritic clasts of H group parentage, indicating that the meteorite is a breccia.
MONOPOLY AND PUBLIC POLICY IN SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURY GREAT BRITAIN

Previously, there have been few attempts to explore fully the concept of monopoly as it existed prior to the eighteenth century. The concept of monopoly as presently defined, namely that situation where there exists only one seller in the market, could not be applied evenly to monopolies existing in sixteenth and seventeenth century Great Britain. As Joseph Schumpeter pointed out, there existed the “tendency to extend the concept of monopoly beyond the case of a single seller.” In addition, monopoly as a tool of public policy proved to be ineffective. Not only was the Crown inconsistent in its treatment of monopoly, but public opinion was against any policy that appeared to impinge upon the rights of Englishmen as defined by Common Law.
Interaction of 4-aminopyridine with [3H]phencyclidine receptors in rat brain homogenates

The effect of 4-aminopyridine and its analogs on the specific binding of [3H]phencyclidine was investigated in rat brain homogenates. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) and 3,4-diaminopyridine displaced [3H]phencyclidine binding, while 3-aminopyridine was without effect. The concentrations of 4-AP required for inhibition of binding increased with increasing the ligand concentration, and the resultant Dixon plots indicated a competitive type of interaction. However, 4-AP also accelerated the dissociation rate of the ligand-receptor complex, suggesting that the effect of 4-AP on phencyclidine receptors in the brain might not be purely competitive.
Secure multidimensional range queries in sensor networks

Most future large-scale sensor networks are expected to follow a two-tier architecture which consists of resource-rich master nodes at the upper tier and resource-poor sensor nodes at the lower tier. Sensor nodes submit data to nearby master nodes which then answer the queries from the network owner on behalf of sensor nodes. Relying on master nodes for data storage and query processing raises severe concerns about data confidentiality and query-result correctness when the sensor network is deployed in hostile environments. In particular, a compromised master node may leak hosted sensitive data to the adversary; it may also return juggled or incomplete query results to the network owner. This paper, for the first time in the literature, presents a suite of novel schemes to secure multidimensional range queries in tiered sensor networks. The proposed schemes can ensure data confidentiality against master nodes and also enable the network owner to verify with very high probability the authenticity and completeness of any query result by inspecting the spatial and temporal relationships among the returned data. Detailed performance evaluations confirm the high efficacy and efficiency of the proposed schemes.