cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P1-09-01: Beyond fatigue – The impact of breast cancer treatment on body composition and energy expenditure

Background: Patients (pts) frequently report ‘fatigue’ as a consequence of breast cancer therapy but the true impact of cancer treatments on body composition and energy expenditure has not been measured. Patients and Methods: Pts with stage 0-III were evaluated prior to any therapeutic intervention to assess baseline health status, at 6 months to assess acute impact of therapy, and at 12 months to assess chronic effects and ‘spontaneous’ recovery. Measurements included body composition, maximum watts produced and power envelope (watts/kg) based on laboratory testing, energy expenditure over 7 days in real world conditions, insulin resistance (HOMA), fatigue (BFI), quality of life scales (FACT-B), and serum for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), adiponectin, leptin, markers of bone formation (P1NP, BSAP, osteocalcin), bone resorption (sCTX), and bone mineral metabolism (PTH, 25-OH Vit D). Results: 45 patients have been enrolled; 25 have completed the 6 month assessment to date. Median age was 52 (30-68). Patients were analyzed separately based on therapies received. Week long bi-axial pedometry studies at baseline and six months revealed a decrease in pt activity between 17 and 23 percent, confirming the decrease in motive power seen in the power envelope and body composition tests. Enrollment continues to a planned total of 75 pts. Additional follow-up with 12 month assessment, as well as QOL and serum data will be presented. Conclusions: Pts in this study were more deconditioned than expected based on population normative data. Systemic therapy had a profound impact on body composition with a substantial decrease in lean muscle mass with a corresponding increase in % body fat and decrease in the ability to generate and sustain motive power. Our data suggest that most patients would not be able to participate in or comply with commonly proposed exercise interventions and physical activity recommendations. Future interventions need to be restructured, following the model of individualized rehabilitation with careful assessment of the pts baseline status to improve the health of breast cancer survivors. Citation Format: Kathy D Miller, Jessica L Sollars, Sandra K Althouse, Linda K Han, Stephen J Ventura, Jeffrey S Sledge. Beyond fatigue – The impact of breast cancer treatment on body composition and energy expenditure [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-09-01.
Nephrotoxicity of Uranyl Fluoride and Reversibility of Renal Injury in the Rat

Recent accidental exposures of workers and members of the public to uranium hexafluoride (UF6) releases have reinforced interest in the nephrotoxic properties of uranium compounds (1). Additionally, a large industrial work force is engaged in several types of uranium production operations in which intermittent exposures frequently occur. Despite recent improvements in our understanding of the toxicology and biokinetics of uranium, there remain several important issues for which there are virtually no occupational or experimental data. Foremost of these issues is the time course and extent to which nephrotoxic actions of uranyl uranium are reversible, particularly after exposures at or near the socalled threshold for injury of 3 ug U/g kidney (2–5). More-over, better procedures for detecting uranium-induced renal injury need to be identified, particularly for injury associated with exposure to occupationally relevant uranium compounds. The objective of the present study was to examine severity and duration of renal injury produced in the rat from exposures to low levels of uranyl fluoride (UO2F2).
Gender Equality in the Workplace in Japan: Twenty Years of Progress or More of the Same?

This paper examines the process of social change in Japan, with a focus on policy related to gender equality in the workplace, specifically the Equal Employment Opportunity Law (EEOL), initially passed in 1985. In Japan, significant change has resulted from the dual forces of international pressure and domestic advocacy seeking to alter existing inequalities. Japan’s experience with regard to internationalization of gender equality issues demonstrates both the significance of international pressure in creating new approaches and the limits of symbolic response. My particular focus in this study is to contrast the process of legislative revision which took place in June 2006 with earlier efforts at seeking workplace equality for women in 1985 and 1997. I examine who participated in the most recent debate and with what consequences. I hope to shed light on whether the process has become more transparent and public, with greater inclusion by citizen groups, especially women. My methodology includes interviews with members of the groups who were significant participants in the process and to build a case study account relying on newspaper and other Japanese sources.
Chapter 6 Embryo Slices

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses embryo slices. Surgical manipulations—such as tissue grafts or deletions—have long been used and provide much of the framework upon which modern developmental biology is built. Surgical approaches are particularly common with avian embryos because they are easily accessed and manipulated and because reliable cell markers are available. Cell-culture techniques provide insights into the interactions, molecules, and intracellular mechanisms behind directed cell movements in a greatly simplified environment. While both surgical and culture approaches have provided a wealth of important information, each also has limitations. Cell cultures have the advantage of being simple and so are relatively easy to manipulate and analyze. But cell cultures also have the disadvantage of being simple and so cannot replicate the complexity of the embryonic milieu and the numerous factors that affect guidance. This chapter describes a chick-embryo-slice preparation that was originally developed by Landmesser to study motor axon guidance through peripheral tissues. Chick embryo slices maintain many characteristics of the intact embryo and allow a detailed study of neurite outgrowth in an environment neurites normally encounter in vivo .
Can Non-Gaussian Fluctuations for Structure Formation Arise from Inflation?

Non-Gaussian fluctuations for structure formation may be generated during the inflationary epoch from the nonlinear interaction of two scalar fields with gravity. Semi-analytical calculations are given describing nonlinear long wavelength evolution in 3+1 dimensions. Long wavelength fields are governed by a single equation, the separated Hamilton-Jacobi equation (SHJE). I discuss complete analytic solutions of the SHJE for two scalar fields with a potential whose logarithm In V(Φj) is linear. More complicated potential surfaces may be approximated by continuously joining various linear In V(Φj) potentials. Typically, non-Gaussian fluctuations arise when one passes over several sharp ridges in the potential surface. One can input this richer class of initial conditions into N-body codes to see the effects on the large scale structure in the Universe. The cleanest test of non-Gaussian fluctuations will hopefully occur in the near future from large angle microwave background anisotropy experiments.
Development of a dual-pulse fiber optic LIBS probe for in-situ elemental analyses

One of the strengths of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is the ability to acquire atomic emission spectra for a wide variety of samples non-invasively, with only optical access being required. The use of optical fibers makes the technique ideal for applications where the measurement area of interest is either not accessible or where it is not safe to take a sample. Fiber-optic LIBS probes have been described where a single laser pulse is delivered to the sampling region by one optical fiber and the emission is collected by another. One of the problems with this approach is fiber degradation from the high power laser pulses. To minimize this problem, we are investigating dual-pulse LIBS where the laser power is split between 2 different laser pulses that are separated by a short delay time. We have found in related studies that the use of dual laser pulses to obtain LIBS signals can lead to enhanced intensity and reproducibility for some types of samples. A natural extension of this result is to make dual- pulse measurements using optical fibers. Thus far, we have seen 1.5 to 2 fold enhancements for copper and lead using fiber-optics in various geometries to both deliver the dual laser pulses and collect the emission.
With Man’s Worst Friend (The Rat)

Historically, the rat has been considered a scourge to mankind. For example, the rat is a reservoir for plague called the Black Death Which accounted for millions of deaths in Europe during the Middle Ages. Pandemics of plague ravaged earlier civilizations and undoubtedly had “plagued” mankind prior to recorded history. Also, numerous other diseases are spread to man by the rat; thus Hans Zinsser’s quote from his text Rats, Mice and History: “Man and rat will always be pitted against each other as implacable enemies,” conveys the general revulsion that society holds for the wild rat (1).
Human Temporal-Parietal Junction Spontaneously Tracks Others' Beliefs: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study

Humans have the unique capacity to actively reflect on the thoughts, beliefs, and knowledge of others, but do we also track mental states spontaneously when observing other people? We asked this question by monitoring brain activity in belief-sensitive cortex using functional near-infrared spec- troscopy (fNIRS) during free-viewing of social videos. More specifically, we identified a portion of the right temporal-parietal junction (rTPJ) selective for mental state processing using an established, explicit theory of mind task, and then analyzed the brain response in that region of interest (ROI) dur- ing free-viewing of video clips involving people producing goal-directed actions. We found a signifi- cant increase in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration in our rTPJ ROI during free-viewing for all of our test videos. Activity in this region was further modulated by the extent to which the knowledge state, or beliefs, of the protagonist regarding the location of an object contrasted with the reality of where the object was hidden. Open-ended questioning suggested our participants were not explicitly focusing on belief states of the characters during free-viewing. Further analyses ruled out lower-level details of the video clips or general attentional differences between conditions as likely explanations for the results. As such, these results call into question the traditional characterization of theory of mind as a resource intensive, deliberate process, and, instead, support an emerging view of theory of mind as a foundation for, rather than the pinnacle of, human social cognition. Hum Brain Mapp 00:000- 000, 2015. V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Uses of Resistance: A Transactional View

RESISTANCE, a technical term with specific meani g, has been used for too many purposes. Freud identified and described resistance as an expected phenomenon in treat ment: the uncovering of buried and threatening material inevitably leads a client to develop mechanisms for defense and protection.1 Over the years this technical definition, which locates a problem in the client's un conscious and identifies it as aris
Health care providers' implicit and explicit attitudes toward lesbian women and gay men

Objectives. We examined providers’ implicit and explicit attitudes toward lesbian and gay people by provider gender, sexual identity, and race/ethnicity.Methods. We examined attitudes toward heterosexual people versus lesbian and gay people in Implicit Association Test takers: 2338 medical doctors, 5379 nurses, 8531 mental health providers, 2735 other treatment providers, and 214 110 nonproviders in the United States and internationally between May 2006 and December 2012. We characterized the sample with descriptive statistics and calculated Cohen d, a standardized effect size measure, with 95% confidence intervals.Results. Among heterosexual providers, implicit preferences always favored heterosexual people over lesbian and gay people. Implicit preferences for heterosexual women were weaker than implicit preferences for heterosexual men. Heterosexual nurses held the strongest implicit preference for heterosexual men over gay men (Cohen d = 1.30; 95% confidence interval = 1.28, 1.32 among female nurses; C...
Why does ARNT2 behave differently from ARNT

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) is a member of the bHLH PAS (basic helix–loop–helix Period/ARNT/Single-minded) family of transcription factors. It is the obligatory dimerization partner for many other members of this family, including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and hypoxia-inducible factors 1α and 2α (HIF-1/2α). Agonists for AHR include a variety of environmentally important toxicants, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and benzo[a]pyrene (BAP). The mechanism of transcriptional activation by AHR is best understood for the CYP1A1 gene. After binding ligand, AHR translocates into the nucleus and dimerizes with ARNT. The AHR/ARNT heterodimer then binds to specific regulatory sequences, termed xenobiotic response elements (XREs), in the enhancer regions of CYP1A1 (and other responsive genes). Transcriptional coactivators the associated with the AHR/ARNT dimer as it resides on the enhancer region. These coactivators in turn direct the recruitment of RNA polymerase II (pol II) and the other general transcription factors to the promoter regions of genes, resulting in the initiation of transcription of those genes. Transcriptional activation of genes (as yet not fully defined) in this fashion is believed to underlie many of the toxic effects of TCDD, including its potent carcinogenicity. Metabolism of PAHs by CYP1A1 and other enzymes that are upregulated via AHR/ARNT critically impact the carcinogenic activities of these compounds.
Contact areas and pressures between native patellas and prosthetic femoral components

Abstract Contact areas and pressures between native patellas and a prosthetic condylar design femoral component were measured at flexion angles of 30°, 60°, and 90°. These were compared to measurements obtained with a domed all-polyethylene patellar component. Mean native patellar contact areas were found to be fourfold greater than seen with the prosthetic patellar component. Contact stresses in the native patellas were below the yield strength of articular cartilage in 80% of the contact area. By contrast, stresses measured in the prosthetic patella exceeded the yield strength of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene in 64% of the measured contact area. Contact areas and stresses were not significantly effected by flexion angle. Although contact areas and stresses reflect only a part of the dynamics of the patellofemoral articulation this information would support the selective retention of the native patella in total knee arthroplasty.
Regulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) expression: Interferon-γ enhances the accumulation of mRNA for TNF induced by lipopolysaccharide in murine peritoneal macrophages☆

Abstract The secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by macrophages is initiated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS); considerable evidence indicates that such secretion can be potentiated by interferon-γ (IFN-γ). The present studies show that accumulation of mRNA for tumor necrosis factor, which represents an important regulatory focus for controlling secretion of TNF, is enhanced by physiologic doses of IFN-γ (20 units/ml of purified recombinant IFN-γ). mRNA for TNF induced by LPS, which was maximal 2 hr after LPS was applied to the cells, was enhanced 5- to 8-fold by IFN-γ as determined by Northern blot analysis. Interferon did not change the kinetics of accumulation but did change the dose effects of LPS in that increasing amounts of LPS led to increasing amounts of TNF mRNA in IFN-γ-treated macrophages. IFN-γ itself, however, did not induce expression of TNF mRNA. These studies document that IFN-γ potentiates the cytoplasmic accumulation of mRNA for TNF induced in murine peritoneal macrophages by LPS.
Intranasal Immunization with an Archaeal Lipid Mucosal Vaccine Adjuvant and Delivery Formulation Protects against a Respiratory Pathogen Challenge

Archaeal lipid mucosal vaccine adjuvant and delivery (AMVAD) is a safe mucosal adjuvant that elicits long lasting and memory boostable mucosal and systemic immune responses to model antigens such as ovalbumin. In this study, we evaluated the potential of the AMVAD system for eliciting protective immunity against mucosal bacterial infections, using a mouse model of intranasal Francisella tularensis LVS (LVS) challenge. Intranasal immunization of mice with cell free extract of LVS (LVSCE) adjuvanted with the AMVAD system (LVSCE/AMVAD) induced F. tularensis-specific antibody responses in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, as well as antigen-specific splenocyte proliferation and IL-17 production. More importantly, the AMVAD vaccine partially protected the mice against a lethal intranasal challenge with LVS. Compared to LVSCE immunized and naive mice, the LVSCE/AMVAD immunized mice showed substantial to significant reduction in pathogen burdens in the lungs and spleens, reduced serum and pulmonary levels of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines, and longer mean time to death as well as significantly higher survival rates (p<0.05). These results suggest that the AMVAD system is a promising mucosal adjuvant and vaccine delivery technology, and should be explored further for its applications in combating mucosal infectious diseases.
FRET-based Mapping of Regions involved in FKBP12.6 Binding to the Type 1 Ryanodine Receptor

The type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) is an intracellular calcium channel that plays an integral role in skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling. The functional properties of this protein are regulated by numerous associated proteins, including FKBP12, a skeletal muscle protein that stabilizes full RyR1 channel gating. While the binding site of FKBP12 was originally identified at position 2458 of RyR1, subsequent reports have localized additional binding determinants within the N-terminal domain of RyR1. In this study, we used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to determine the orientation and proximity of FKBP relative to sites either within the N-terminal domain or near amino acid position 2458. We utilized the cardiac muscle isoform FKBP12.6 (which binds to RyR1 at the same site as FKBP12 but with higher affinity and stability) labeled with the FRET donor Alexa Fluor 488 at either position 14, 44, 49, or 85. Specific binding of each labeled FKBP to RyR was confirmed in permeabilized HEK-293T cells expressing wtRyR1. Weak energy transfer was observed from FKBP12.6 to the FRET acceptor Cy3NTA, which was targeted to poly-histidine “tags” placed in the N-terminal domain. This result suggested that the acceptors were not proximal (∼90A away) to FKBP12.6 bound to RyR1. Next, we measured FRET from FKBP12.6 to Cy3NTA targeted to positions 2157, 2341, 2502 and 2777 of RyR1. FKBP12.6 binding to constructs containing His-tags at positions 2157 and 2502 was significantly reduced relative to binding to wtRyR1. In contrast, we detected strong and weak FRET efficiencies from FKBP12.6 to positions 2341 and 2777, respectively. These data suggest that FKBP12.6 binds near amino acid position 2341 but far from the N-terminal domain of RyR1. Supported by NIH grant R01AR059124 (to JDF and TG) and R01HL092097 (to RLC).
Patterns of cytochemical staining in Golgi apparatus of amebae following enucleation

Abstract The Golgi apparatus of amebae generally contains 6–8 cisternae. The cisternae of the convex face contain phosphatases (AcPase and TPPase) whereas the cisternae of the concave face contain glycoproteins [11, 12]. Enucleation results in an ordered loss of cisternae from each Golgi apparatus. The glycoprotein-containing cisternae of the concave face are lost first. The remaining cisternae, usually four in number in 48 h enucleates, still contain phosphatases. Correlation of this ordered loss of cisternae with certain physiological porperties of enucleated amebae is discussed.
Current drug therapy recommendations for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterised by symptoms of inattentiveness and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity which are not appropriate to the child's age. This disorder usually manifests by age 3 and affects up to 5% of school-age children. Although the aetiology is unknown, ADHD appears to have a strong genetic component and to involve dysregulation of the CNS dopaminergic system. Psychostimulants are the mainstay of therapy. The majority of patients will respond to an adequate trial of one of the 3 available stimulants, methylphenidate, dexamphetamine or pemoline. Use of the tricyclic antidepressants as second-line agents is supported by substantial literature. Third-line agents include amfebuta-mone (bupropion) and clonidine. Other modalities have been studied, but sufficient research is not available to recommend their use over the abovementioned treatments. Assessment of response is best achieved by objective rating scales which allow for input from various environments.
Phenylation of Benzaldehyde by Dizinc Organometallics Supported by Binucleating Bis(amidoamine) Ligands

Several new dizinc organometallics that are supported by dianionic bis(amidoamine) ligands are reported. The reaction of N,N‘-bis(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl)dibenzofuran-4,6-diamine (iPrLH2) with excess ZnR2 (R = Et, Me) in toluene solution forms the dizinc derivatives iPrLZn2Et2 (1) and iPrLZn2Me2 (2), which were isolated in 69% and 72% yields, respectively. Both 1 and 2 feature three-coordinate zinc centers in the solid state. Reaction of 2 equiv of ZnPh2 with N,N‘-bis(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)dibenzofuran-4,6-diamine (MeLH2) forms MeLZn2Ph2 (3), which was isolated in 73% yield. The analogous reaction using iPrLH2 instead of MeLH2 forms iPrLZn2Ph2 (4), which was isolated in 56% yield. The solid-state structure of 3 (two independent molecules) reveals a parallelogram-shaped [Zn2(μ-Ph)2]2+ core, with the overall molecule having approximate (noncrystallographic) C2 symmetry and a short intermetal separation (2.7279(6) and 2.7809(6) A). In contrast, the 1H NMR spectrum of 3 (CD2Cl2) indicates overall C2v symme...
Exploring the Relationship between Exposure to Violence, Perceptions of Neighborhood Safety, and Children's Adaptive Functioning: Clinical and Community Implications

This study explored the relationship of exposure to violence and children's perceptions of neighborhood safety and children's adaptive functioning. It used a cross-sectional quadi-experimental design of 300 inner-city children and a bttery of standardized measures, which included the Child Maltreatment Classification Scheme, Exposure to Community Violence Scale, the Domains of Safety Subscale for Neighborhood, and the Child Behavior Checklist-Teacher's Report form. Hierarchal regression analysis revealed that child maltreatment history and perceptions of neighborhood safety were significantly related to children's overall adaptive functioning. Social workers can help by engaging in efforts to increase neighborhood safety and reinforcing positive adaptive psychosocial functioning of children at risk or exposed to violence.
New laser-trimmed film resistor structures for very high stability requirements

The drift with time and/or temperature of laser-trimmed film resistors limits the effective accuracy attainable form laser-trimmed resistor circuits. This accuracy is dependent on the geometries of the film resistors and on the trimming process. Novel film resistor structures that practically and significantly improve the effective ultimate accuracy attainable with laser-trimmed film resistors over both time and temperature are proposed. The structures are evaluated using computer simulations. This technique is substantiated with an example that shows an improvement in resolution of 4 bits when compared to that attainable with conventional bar resistors. >
Cirsoid aneurysm treatment by percutaneous injection of sodium tetradecyl sulfate.

BACKGROUND Cirsoid aneurysms are uncommon arteriovenous fistulas of the scalp. Surgery for these lesions can be difficult; transarterial embolization is rarely curative, while embolization of the venous pouch with permanent agents usually necessitates subsequent surgical removal of the embolic material. The ideal embolic agent would be one that is safe and effective, commercially available, and would not require subsequent removal. METHODS We treated an arteriovenous fistula of the scalp with direct puncture and injection of sodium tetradecyl sulfate, a commercially available sclerosing agent. RESULTS Control angiography immediately following percutaneous injection of sotradecol into the fistula showed decreased flow but not complete closure of the lesion. However, within several days of the embolization, the patient's scalp pain and mass resolved. Four months after embolization, MRA demonstrated no evidence of residual or recurrent fistula. Color doppler flow imaging demonstrated only slightly decreased vascular resistance in the distal superficial temporal artery, possibly indirect evidence of persistent micro-fistulae. Twenty-three months after the procedure, the patient continued to be asymptomatic and had no palpable lesion. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous injection of sotradecol can be considered as one of the treatment options for arteriovenous fistula of the scalp. Further experience is needed to compare the safety and effectiveness of sotradecol with other agents currently used in the treatment of scalp arteriovenous fistulae.
On the fcc→hcp transformation in a cobalt-base superalloy (Haynes alloy no. 25)

Etude de la transformation en fonction du travail a froid et des conditions de vieillissement
Victor Almon McKusick, MD, 1921–2008, In Memoriam

Victor Almon McKusick died peacefully in his sleep on the evening of July 22, 2008, at the age of 86 years and 274 days. Fortunately, he was sharp to the end and in not too much discomfort. A genetics enthusiast and an educator to the very last, he spent parts of his final two days enjoying live streaming video of the first two days of the 49th annual Short Course in Medical and Experimental Mammalian Genetics (the “Short Course”) going on at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. I spoke to him twice in those last two days: the first time was to get clarification regarding aspects of the history of genetics (which he readily provided), and the second was to inquire about his condition.
Topological characterization of periodically driven quantum systems

Topological properties of physical systems can lead to robust behaviors that are insensitive to microscopic details. Such topologically robust phenomena are not limited to static systems but can also appear in driven quantum systems. In this paper, we show that the Floquet operators of periodically driven systems can be divided into topologically distinct (homotopy) classes and give a simple physical interpretation of this classification in terms of the spectra of Floquet operators. Using this picture, we provide an intuitive understanding of the well-known phenomenon of quantized adiabatic pumping. Systems whose Floquet operators belong to the trivial class simulate the dynamics generated by time-independent Hamiltonians, which can be topologically classified according to the schemes developed for static systems. We demonstrate these principles through an example of a periodically driven two-dimensional hexagonal lattice tight-binding model which exhibits several topological phases. Remarkably, one of these phases supports chiral edge modes even though the bulk is topologically trivial.
Behavioral correlates of reproductive success in a pigtail macaque breeding colony

Data on social and spatial behavior from a sample of 21 female pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) were analyzed to identify behavioral correlates which could be used to predict reproductive success, problem pregnancies, and adult female mortality in a primate breeding colony in the subsequent year. Two spatial measures of sociability, amount of time and number of other individuals involved in sitting associations, were found to be related to future adult and infant survivorship.
Role of dopamine in the inhibitory control of growth hormone and prolactin release by gastrin-releasing peptide

The ability of gastrin-releasing peptide to inhibit the release of growth hormone and prolactin by a hypothalamic mechanism has been previously reported. To determine whether or not these effects involved the hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons, ovariectomized female rats were pretreated with the dopamine receptor blocker, pimozide (0.6 mg/kg, SC), or the diluent 35 min prior to administration of gastrin-releasing peptide (2 micrograms in 2 microliters 0.9% NaCl) into the third ventricle. The elevation in plasma growth hormone in response to growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF; 1 microgram/kg, i.v.) was blocked by gastrin-releasing peptide as previously reported following pretreatment with the diluent, but occurred following the injection of pimozide, reversing the inhibitory action of gastrin-releasing peptide. Some control animals that were injected with the pimozide vehicle exhibited elevated plasma prolactin levels compared to levels in uninjected controls. Gastrin-releasing peptide significantly lowered plasma prolactin concentrations in this group of animals. As expected, plasma prolactin levels were elevated following pimozide treatment due to the removal of inhibitory dopaminergic control. Prolactin concentrations were unresponsive to gastrin-releasing peptide treatment in this paradigm and remained elevated throughout the 40-min duration of sampling. We interpret these data to indicate that gastrin-releasing peptide exerts its inhibitory actions on the release of growth hormone and prolactin through a dopaminergic mechanism. Gastrin-releasing peptide may elicit the release of dopamine from tuberoinfundibular neurons, which a) stimulates release of somatostatin, thus inhibiting the release of growth hormone, and b) reaches the pituitary directly via the hypophysial portal vessels to inhibit the release of prolactin from the lactotropes.
Dynamics of the Ribosome Assembly Line in Living Cells

The process of ribosome assembly is a major metabolic program that accounts for a third of the energy budget of a rapidly growing bacterium. using Stable Isotope Pulse Labeling and Quantitative Mass Spectrometry, we are investigating the dynamics of ribosome biogenesis in living cells. A distribution of ribosome assembly intermediates is observed that provides direct information on the order of ribosomal protein binding to the nascent ribosomal RNA transcript. Proteomics reveals the participation of many assembly cofactors at specific stages of assembly. using specific deletion strains and growth under perturbed conditions, we are developing a systems level approach to understanding the critical assembly dynamics required to ensure the capacity for protein synthesis.
Identification and characterization of the helix-destabilizing activity of rotavirus nonstructural protein NSP2.

Rotaviruses, members of the family Reoviridae, are the major cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children (16). The viruses are icosahedrons made up of three concentric layers of protein and contain a genome composed of eleven segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) (8). The outermost capsid layer consists of the spike protein, VP4, and the glycoprotein, VP7, and the intermediate layer is formed by VP6 trimers (34). The innermost layer consists of 60 dimers of VP2, arranged as a T=1 icosahedron (21). Positioned at the vertices of the VP2 icosahedron are one copy each of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), VP1, and the capping enzyme, VP3 (21). Together, VP1, VP2, VP3, and the dsRNA genome make up the core of the virion. Double-layered particles, representing cores surrounded by VP6, have an associated transcriptase activity that catalyzes the synthesis of viral mRNAs (6, 22). The mRNAs not only direct protein synthesis but also serve as templates for the synthesis of minus-strand RNA to form dsRNA (5). Minus-strand synthesis occurs soon after or as viral mRNAs are packaged into core-like replication intermediates (RIs) (9, 32). In addition to the core proteins, several lines of evidence suggest that the nonstructural protein NSP2 is involved in mRNA packaging and/or minus-strand synthesis: (i) a mutant rotavirus with a temperature-sensitive lesion in the NSP2 gene produces empty virus particles at nonpermissive temperatures (4, 35); (ii) NSP2 is a major component of RIs that support packaging and replication (9, 31); (iii) cross-linking of infected cell lysates has revealed that NSP2 is associated with the viral RdRP (17) and with partially replicated RNA (1); and (iv) NSP2 accumulates in cytoplasmic inclusions that form in infected cells (33), the sites where packaging, dsRNA synthesis, and the assembly of double-layered particles occurs. NSP2 is a highly conserved, basic 35-kDa protein that binds single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) nonspecifically and with high affinity (18, 40). The protein self-assembles into stable homomultimers consisting of 8 subunits (37), and these NSP2 octamers bind ssRNA cooperatively to form large RNA-protein complexes (40). NSP2 also possesses a Mg2+-dependent nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) activity (40). These features of NSP2, viz., NTPase activity, affinity for ssRNA, lack of template specificity, association with RIs, and oligomeric nature, are characteristic of known viral helicases (15). In this study we report that NSP2 possesses helix-destabilizing activity, but unlike typical helicases the activity is dependent on neither Mg2+ nor ATP. The destabilization activity of the protein is nondirectional and causes the disruption of both DNA-RNA and RNA-RNA duplexes. The helix-destabilizing activity of NSP2 is similar to those of ssDNA binding proteins (SSBs) and the reovirus nonstructural protein ςNS and may promote rotavirus RNA replication by removing secondary structures in the mRNA templates that impede packaging and minus-strand synthesis.
Electron microscopy of supported metal particles: III. The role of the metal in an SMSI interaction

Abstract Previous studies with high-resolution electron microscopy have enabled a model to be formulated to account for the strong metal support interaction found in the Pt/titanium oxide system following reduction at 500 °C and higher. One of the crucial steps in the model was the postulate that the metal dissociated H2 to provide a source of H atoms, which then attacked the support reducing it to a lower oxide, TiO2 → Ti4O7. Subsequently the Pt particles assumed a pillbox structure on the Ti4O7, which was believed to be indicative of an SMSI interaction. In an attempt to determine if dissociation of H2 → 2H is a necessary requirement of the metal to form an SMSI interaction, we chose to examine the behavior of Ag on titanium oxide. This system was selected as Ag does not dissociate H2 and should provide a stringent test of the model. Examination of Ag on titanium oxide at high resolution showed that after treatment in H2 at 550 °C the metal particles were rather large, relatively dense, and globular in outline, indicative of quite normal behavior. Electron diffraction examination revealed that the titanium oxide support was in the rutile form of TiO2. These observations are consistent with the system being in a normal state. Subsequent introduction of Pt onto these specimens, followed by a further reduction cycle, brought about massive changes in the characteristics of Ag. In this case the crystallites were predominantly thin, pillbox structures and almost indistinguishable from Pt. During this treatment the support underwent conversion from TiO2 to Ti4O7. Similar particle characteristics were also found when Ag was deposited on Pt Ti 4 O 7 and then treated in H2 at 550 °C. It is suggested that in the presence of Pt, Ag exhibits characteristics attributable to SMSI bonding on a reduced titanium oxide (Ti4O7) support. Further, it is believed that the function of Pt is to provide a source of H atoms by dissociation of H2, which are responsible for converting TiO2 to Ti4O7.
Effects of (±)-abscisin II on seed germination in four species of grasses

Abscisin II (Ab II) inhibited germination of seeds of four species of grasses. The effects ranged from slight retardation of the onset of germination from the lowest concentration (0.1 mg/l) to complete inhibition throughout the 17-day test period from the highest concentration (10 mg/l). Intermediate concentrations induced some abnormalities of development. Seed viability was not destroyed even by the highest Ab II concentration applied, normal development and growth resuming when seeds were transferred from abscisin solutions to water.
The insulin receptor with phenylalanine replacing tyrosine-1146 provides evidence for separate signals regulating cellular metabolism and growth

Abstract We have studied the function of a mutant insulin receptor (IR) molecule in which Tyr-1146, one of the first autophosphorylation sites in the beta subunit, was replaced with phenylalanine (IRF1146). Autophosphorylation of the partially purified IRF1146 was reduced 60-70% when compared to the wild-type IR but was still stimulated by insulin. The phosphotransferase activity of the dephospho form of both the IR and IRF1146 toward exogenous substrates was stimulated 3- to 4-fold by insulin. However, the wild-type IR was activated 12-fold by autophosphorylation, whereas the IRF1146 was activated only 2-fold. When the IRF1146 was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, insulin binding was normal, whereas autophosphorylation was reduced 80% when compared to cells expressing the wild-type IR. Endogenous substrates of the insulin receptor kinase were not detected during insulin stimulation of CHO cells expressing the IRF1146. Moreover, the IRF1146 did not internalize insulin rapidly or stimulate DNA synthesis in the presence of insulin. In contrast, both the IR and IRF1146 stimulated glycogen synthase equally in CHO cells. These data suggest that activation of the IR tyrosine kinase can be resolved into two components: the first is dependent on insulin binding and the second is dependent on the subsequent insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation cascade. Thus, at least two signal transduction pathways diverging from the IR are implicated in the mechanism of insulin action.
Advantages of regularization in space dynamics.

Abstract : Trajectories are computed using special transformations which eliminate the singularities occurring at collisions or at close approaches. It is shown that computation time for Apollo-type trajectories between the Earth and the Moon may be reduced by at least 50 percent using the method proposed in this paper. (Author)
Comparison of computerized tomography and direct visualization in thoracic pedicle screw placement

Object. To validate computerized tomography (CT) scanning as a tool to assess the accuracy of thoracic pedicle screw placement, the authors compared its accuracy with that of direct visualization in instrumented cadaveric spine specimens. Methods. A grading scale was devised to score the placement of the pedicle screw. The grades ranged from 0 to 3 depending on the extent to which the pedicle had been violated. One hundred fifty-five pedicles were fitted with instrumentation in eight cadaveric spines. A single observer graded the appearance of the screw based on CT scans (3-mm axial sections with 1-mm overlap) and direct visualization of the specimen. The authors arrived at a Kappa value of 0.51, which suggested only moderate agreement between the two measurement techniques. Whereas CT had a positive predictive value of 95%, it had a negative predictive value of 62%. Conclusions. The authors thus conclude that although CT scanning is the most valid tool to assess the accuracy of thoracic pedicle screw pla...
The relationship between aortic stiffness and E/A filling ratio and myocardial strain in the context of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in heart failure with normal ejection fraction: insights from magnetic resonance imaging ☆

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between aortic stiffness and diastolic dysfunction in heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF) and compare the results to normal subjects using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sixteen human subjects (eight HFNEF and eight volunteers) were scanned on a 3.0-T MRI system. Aortic stiffness was assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV). Left ventricle (LV) diastolic function was assessed by the early/atrial (E/A) filling ratio and different myocardial strain components. The results showed that, in HFNEF, a major part of LV filling occurred later during the atrial filling phase. The E/A ratio was less than 1 in HFNEF and greater than 1 in volunteers. Left ventricular myocardial dynamic strain range (difference between end-diastolic and end-systolic strains) was reduced in HFNEF, with less relaxation (strain rate) during the diastolic phase. Aortic PWV was higher in HFNEF than in volunteers due to less vessel compliance. The E/A ratio and myocardial strain measurements showed inverse correlations with aortic stiffness in HFNEF. The resulting inter- and intraobserver variabilities showed no bias between repeated cardiovascular measurements. In conclusion, a comprehensive MRI exam was developed for assessing patients with HFNEF. Heart failure with normal EF is associated with impaired LV diastolic function and significant ventricular and aortic stiffening. The degree of aortic stiffness involvement suggests reduced aortic compliance as a major factor in HFNEF.
Studying links via closed braids II: On a theorem of Bennequin

Abstract Links which are closed 3-braids admit very special types of spanning surfaces of maximal Euler characteristic. These surfaces are decribed naturally by words in cyclically symmetric elementary braids which generate the group B 3 .
Physician attire in the military setting: does it make a difference to our patients?

ABSTRACTObjective: To examine patient preference regarding physician attire and whether perception of medical competence was influenced by the physician’s clothing style. Methods: New patients presenting to the OB/GYN clinic at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth were asked to complete a survey regarding patient preference for physcian attire and any effect on their comfort or confidence in the physician. Results: Surveys were collected over a 2-month period. Completed surveys (328) were analyzed with the following results: 86% had no preference whether the physician wore a white coat, 61% preferred scrubs, 13% were uncomfortable talking to a doctor about general topics, and 16% were uncomfortable talking about sexual, psychological, or personal topics based on physician attire. In a comparison between active duty women and dependent wives, a significantly greater number of dependent wives reported the physician attire having no influence on their comfort level discussing general topics with their physici...
Lipids of Streptococcus dysgalactiae

Abstract The free lipids extracted from the bovine pathogen Streptococcus dysgalactiae when fractionated into phospholipids, di-and triglycerides, and free fatty acids yielded the following mean percentages: 52.4, 14.0, 8.6, and 25.0, respectively. The total free lipid extracted from S. dysgalactiae was 7.2% of dry cellular weight. The triglyceride fraction contained higher percentages of hexadecenoic, octadecanoic, and octadecenoic acids, but less lactobacillic acid (
Comparison of exact and approximate variate generation methods for the erlang distribution

A truncation-rejection method for the generation of random variates from the Erlang distribution is presented. A procedure using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic is developed for the comparison of exact and approximate methods for random variate generation. This procedure is used to compare the efficiency of the truncation rejection method against the well known summation method for Erlang variates. The rejection method is found to be mere efficient than the summation method for large values of the Erlang shape parameter
Dynamic Structure of a Protein Hydrogel: A Solid-State NMR Study

^(13)C and ^(15)N solid-state NMR spectroscopy has been used to study the dynamic structure of a genetically engineered multidomain protein hydrogel that contains two leucine-zipper domains and a central polyelectrolyte domain. ^(13)C NMR spectra show that on the microsecond time scale the central domain is isotropically mobile while the leucine-zipper domains are rigid. This supports the hypothesis that the central domain acts as the flexible swelling agent of the gel network while the terminal domains form intermolecular aggregates. ^(13)C isotropic chemical shifts indicate that the terminal domains are helical, while the central domain has a random coil conformation. On the millisecond time scale, the leucine-zipper domains are highly dynamic, as determined from the ^(13)C-detected ^(15)N CODEX experiment. The motion is rigid-body in nature with a correlation time of about 80 ms at room temperature and has an average amplitude of about 50°. Several specific motional models are considered by comparing simulated and experimental exchange intensities as a function of the recoupling time for ^(15)N chemical shift anisotropy. The experimental data are consistent with two of the models considered: a random jump model and a uniaxial rotation model. The implications of this motion to strand exchange between helical bundles are discussed.
Credibility and trust of information in online environments: The use of cognitive heuristics

Abstract Networked digital media present new challenges for people to locate information that they can trust. At the same time, societal reliance on information that is available solely or primarily via the Internet is increasing. This article discusses how and why digitally networked communication environments alter traditional notions of trust, and presents research that examines how information consumers make judgments about the credibility and accuracy of information they encounter online. Based on this research, the article focuses on the use of cognitive heuristics in credibility evaluation. Findings from recent studies are used to illustrate the types of cognitive heuristics that information consumers employ when determining what sources and information to trust online. The article concludes with an agenda for future research that is needed to better understand the role and influence of cognitive heuristics in credibility evaluation in computer-mediated communication contexts.
Study of the stereoselectivity of 2-azido-2-deoxyglucosyl donors: protecting group effects

A series of tolyl 2-azido-2-deoxy-thio-glucoside donors with different combinations of protecting groups were prepared. These donors were used in glycosylation reactions to test the correlations between the stereoselectivity and the pattern of the protecting groups. Acetyl groups showed a position dependent stereo-directing effect. A remote participating mechanism is proposed to explain the observed results.
Urinary Tritium Excretion Following Intravenous 3H-Norepinephrine Administration in Hypertensive Rats

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), salt-resistant (SRR), salt-sensitive (SSR), and Sprague-Dawley DOC-salt nephrectomized rats were tested by evaluation of tritiated norepinephrine uptake and blood pressure with diets containing various amounts of sodium. Only Sprague-Dawley rats who had been both nephrectomized and given DOC on a high salt diet (8%) illustrated the elevated tritium excretion similar to that observed in human subjects with essential hypertension.