cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affected sibpairs: Extent of clinical phenotype concordance

Objective To investigate the clinical phenotypes and demographic characteristics of 183 affected sibling pairs (ASPs) with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and to determine whether there are differences between the clinical phenotypes of the ASP cohort compared with patients with sporadic disease and whether there is greater sharing of specific clinical features within versus between sibpairs. Methods Details of the JRA Affected Sibpair Registry operations have been described previously. The frequencies of phenotypes in the 2 cohorts were tabulated, summary statistics were determined, and comparisons were made by chi-square test or t-test. Sibling risk, sibling risk ratios (λs), and odds ratios were calculated to assess familial aggregation of several different clinical manifestations. Results The most common onset type among the 164 nontwin ASPs was pauciarticular (65% overall). Fifty-three percent of the ASPs were concordant for pauciarticular-onset JRA; 19% were concordant for a polyarticular disease onset. Among subjects with polyarticular-onset disease, significantly more joints were involved at onset in simplex patients than in ASPs (P = 0.008). The difference in age at JRA onset within sibpairs (sibling 1 versus sibling 2) was not significantly different. ASPs developed disease at a mean real-time difference of 5.1 years apart. Familial aggregation was found for tenosynovitis (λs 29.5), leukocytosis (λs 25), rheumatoid factor (λs 11.0), anemia (λs 1.7), and antinuclear antibodies (λs 1.3). Conclusion This study confirms the findings of earlier studies showing that a high proportion of ASPs overall show concordance of disease-onset type, except for the subset of patients with systemic disease, and that nontwin ASPs do not develop disease at the same point in real time. We conclude that JRA and its clinical manifestations do not differ substantially between ASPs and the simplex population. The exception is the number of affected joints at JRA onset among patients with polyarticular-onset disease. Familial aggregation of clinical features among ASPs adds strong evidence for a genetic background in this disease.
MRI quantification of fatty infiltration and muscle atrophy in a mouse model of rotator cuff tears

Rotator cuff pathology is the most common shoulder problem seen by orthopedic surgeons. Rotator cuff muscle fatty infiltration and muscle atrophy are common in larger tears and are considered predicting factors for the prognosis of cuff repair. Clinically, MRI is the gold standard in determining fatty infiltration and muscle atrophy; however, analysis for MRI imaging is primarily qualitative in nature with the results lacking further validation. We have recently developed a mouse model of rotator cuff tears. The goal of this study is to quantify and verify rotator cuff muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration using high-resolution MRI in our mouse model. The rotator cuff muscles were analyzed for fat using a triglyceride quantification assay (TQA), muscle volume was measured through water displacement (WD), and histology. The study revealed that MRI had a high correlation with fat as measured with histology and TQA (R2 = 098). MRI also correlated well with atrophy measured with WD and wet weight. This suggests that MRI is a reliable modality in evaluating the progression of fatty infiltration and muscle atrophy following rotator cuff tears in a small animal model. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31: 421–426, 2013
Conservative management of placenta previa: A cost-benefit analysis☆

Thirty-eight gravid patients with placenta previa were managed according to either an inpatient expectant or an outpatient expectant approach. The inpatient expectant group showed significant improvement in outcome by several measures when compared with the outpatient expectant group. These included mean obstetric gestational age at delivery (35.3 versus 32.4 weeks), mean neonatal Dubowitz (35.7 versus 33.3 weeks), mean neonatal weight (2442 versus 1824 gm), neonatal morbidity (24% versus 74%), mean neonatal hospital days (21.2 versus 32.8 days), and neonatal hospital costs (nearly a 3:1 ratio). There were two cases of neonatal death in the outpatient expectant group and none in the inpatient expectant group. Mean maternal hospital days and hospital costs were significantly higher in the inpatient expectant group. However, overall hospital costs for maternal-neonatal pairs were 69% higher in the outpatient expectant group. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Friction and source hardening in irradiated mild steel

The effect of neutron fluence on stress-strain behavior of mild steel at ambient temperature revealed that Luders strain increases with fluence and at the highest fluence employed here namely 1.4x10/sup 19/n/cm/sup 2/ fracture occurred during Luders propagation. The lower yield stress increased as cube root of fluence and friction stress increased as square root of fluence. The interstitial impurity atoms (C and N) combine with irradiation induced defects thereby resulting in reduced net concentration of free C and N in solution and thus the source pinning effect decreases in irradiated steels as observed here. The increase in Luders strain with the corresponding decrease in source hardening resulted in reduced work-hardening in irradiated steels as expected.
Activation of estrogen signaling pathways collaborates with loss of Brca1 to promote development of ERalpha-negative and ERalpha-positive mammary preneoplasia and cancer.

BRCA1 can regulate estrogen receptor-α (ERα) activity. This study tested the hypotheses that Brca1 loss in mammary epithelium alters the estrogenic growth response and that exposure to increased estrogen or ERα collaborates with Brca1 deficiency to accelerate preneoplasia and cancer development. Longer ductal extension was found in mammary glands of Brca1f/f;MMTV-Cre mice during puberty as compared to wild-type mice. Terminal end bud differentiation was impaired in Brca1 mutant mice with preservation of prolactin-induced alveolar differentiation. Exogenous estrogen stimulated an abnormal sustained increase in mammary epithelial cell proliferation and the appearance of ERα-negative preneoplasia in postpubertal Brca1 mutant mice. Carcinogenesis was investigated using Brca1f/f;MMTV-Cre mice hemizygous for p53. Exogenous estrogen increased the percentage of mice with multiple hyperplastic alveolar nodules. Targeted conditional ERα overexpression in mammary epithelial cells of mice that were Brca1 mutant and hemizygous for p53 increased the percentage of mice exhibiting multiple hyperplastic nodules, invasive mammary cancers and cancer multiplicity. Significantly more than half of the preneoplasia and cancers were ERα negative even as their initiation was promoted by ERα overexpression.
Disulfides out of thin air

The sulfhydryl oxidase Erv2p generates disulfides from oxygen in an FAD-dependent process. The structure of Erv2p shows that during this reaction, a dramatic movement of the enzyme's C-terminal arm occurs.
Behavior of the electron density near an impurity

The behavior of the electron density n(r) and potential energy V(r) near the origin, where an impurity of charge Z is located, is studied using the Lindhard dielectric theory of the free-electron gas. The leading odd terms in the power-series expansion of n(r) and V(r) are obtained. It is shown that the derivative n′(0) = −2Zn0/a0, where n0 is the free-electron gas density and a0 is the Bohr radius.
Aberration corrected aspheric gratings for far ultraviolet spectrographs: conventional approach

Two approaches to reducing optical aberrations of concave grating spectrographs have been used, holographically controlling the groove curvature and spacing and reshaping the optical substrate while ruling the grooves conventionally. The latter approach, slightly deforming an ellipsoidal grating blank, can lead to diffraction-limited performance at a single FUV wavelength. When such a grating is used in a slitted Rowland circle spectrograph, the result is an extremely efficient spectrograph with spectral resolving power of about 30,000 and low astigmatism. Optical fabrication technology has advanced to the point where these exotic surface gratings are becoming practical.
A class of tree algorithms with variable message length

In this paper we present and analyze a class of tree algorithms with variable message length. First we analyze the algorithm according to which a message, consisting of a number of packets, is transmitted continuously after the successful transmission of its first packet, referred to as the tree algorithm with variable message length. The analysis of the algorithm is presented for the two cases of small number of users and of large number of users. In both cases the analysis shows a considerable improvement for the maximum throughput, which gets larger as the average message length increases. Second, we present the reservation tree algorithm, R-Tree, which uses &test& packets instead of the message's first packet to resolve the collision among users. The R-Tree maximum throughput approaches one as the average message length increases, which for single packet messages can be a maximum throughput of 0.776 for infinite number of users.
Mass spectral fragmentation of 18-nor steroids and 12-oxo-20-hydroxysteroids

Abstract Comparison of the mass spectra of 18-nor steroids with those of the corresponding normal steroids revealed that the absence of the 18-methyl group has little effect on the fragmentation pattern, especially on the D-ring and side-chain cleavage. The results indicate that the stability of the cation or radical species, due to the quarte rnary nature of C-13, is not a major driving force in the key 13–17 cleavage. Hydrogen transfer observed in the D-ring fragmentation of 20-hydroxy-18-nor-5α-pregnan-13-ones was not found to be specific to the 18-norcompounds. Deuterium labeling at the 20-OH and 20α-H has suggested the involvement of a unique triple hydrogen rearrangement in this major cleavage. Migration of the 20-hydrogen to the 12-keto oxygen was also observed in the fragmentation of dammarane derivatives and was likewise confirmed by deuterium labeling.
Effectiveness of two tests of visual retention

Evaluated 100 neurological patients with an unequivocal diagnosis of neurological disorders on two neuropsychological tests, the Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) and the Memory-For-Designs Test (MFD), for evidence of impaired retention. The BVRT score, the number correct and error scores, were significantly more effective in eliciting a defective visual retention score than was the MFD, p = >.001. It is suggested the BVRT be selected in evaluating patients with mild to moderate brain damage.
Redox Reactivity as the Controlling Element in Coordination Polymer Stereochemistry: Redox-Switched Growth Mechanism in the [FeII-CN-PtIV]n System

Coordination oligomers and polymers composed of [(CN)(5)Fe(II)-CN-Pt(IV)(NH(3))(4)] units have been synthesized. The oligomer growth mechanism is based on the oxidation state of the iron centers which can be specified either chemically or electrochemically to allow control over oligomer structure. Cyclic voltammetry is found to be a sensitive probe of oligomer and polymer structure. (13)C NMR is also shown to be a useful technique for characterizing the different geometric isomers. Thin films composed of [-(NC)(5)Fe(II)-CN-Pt(IV)(NH(3))(4)-](n)() were electropolymerized onto transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode surfaces and characterized with regard to polymer morphology.
Activation of the steroid and xenobiotic receptor, SXR, induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

The steroid and xenobiotic receptor, SXR, is an orphan nuclear receptor that regulates metabolism of diverse dietary, endobiotic, and xenobiotic compounds. SXR is expressed at high levels in the liver and intestine, and at lower levels in breast and other tissues where its function was unknown. Since many breast cancer preventive and therapeutic compounds are SXR activators, we hypothesized that some beneficial effects of these compounds are mediated through SXR. To test this hypothesis, we measured proliferation of breast cancer cells in response to SXR activators and evaluated consequent changes in the expression of genes critical for proliferation and cell-cycle control using quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting. Results were confirmed using siRNA-mediated gene knockdown. Statistical analysis was by t-test or ANOVA and a P value ≤ 0.05 was considered to be significant. Many structurally and functionally distinct SXR activators inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase followed by apoptosis. Decreased growth in response to SXR activation was associated with stabilization of p53 and up-regulation of cell cycle regulatory and pro-apoptotic genes such as p21, PUMA and BAX. These gene expression changes were preceded by an increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide in these cells. Inhibition of iNOS blocked the induction of p53. p53 knockdown inhibited up-regulation of p21 and BAX. We infer that NO is required for p53 induction and that p53 is required for up-regulation of cell cycle regulatory and apoptotic genes in this system. SXR activator-induced increases in iNOS levels were inhibited by siRNA-mediated knockdown of SXR, indicating that SXR activation is necessary for subsequent regulation of iNOS expression. We conclude that activation of SXR is anti-proliferative in p53 wild type breast cancer cells and that this effect is mechanistically dependent upon the local production of NO and NO-dependent up-regulation of p53. These findings reveal a novel biological function for SXR and suggest that a subset of SXR activators may function as effective therapeutic and chemo-preventative agents for certain types of breast cancers.
Saving and economic shocks in rural Pakistan

Abstract This paper adapts the recent methodology of Paxson to study saving rates in rural Pakistan. Particular attention is paid to differences in marginal rates of financial and physical saving and how these vary across income groups and by direction of income shocks. Households exhibit more difficulty in smoothing consumption after successive shocks than with a single shock. The study also observes marginal rates of saving out of international remittances, and lump sum pensions. Unlike domestic remittances, international remittances appear to be treated much as transitory income shocks.
Prophylactic efficacy and tolerance of low-dose intranasal interferon-alpha2 in natural respiratory viral infections

The prophylactic activity of intranasal human interferon-alpha 2 (HuIFN-alpha 2) was determined in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Healthy, working adults self-administered sprays of HuIFN-alpha 2(1.25 X 10(6) IU; n = 142) or placebo (n = 145) twice daily. Drug administration was stopped after 12 days because of the frequent occurrence of nasal irritation manifested by blood-tinged nasal mucus (44% HuIFN-alpha 2 versus 15% placebo, P less than 0.001) and associated nasal mucosal abnormalities. Over 80% of volunteers had participated in a similar field trial conducted 7 months earlier; no evidence of cumulative toxicity was detected. HuIFN-alpha 2 administration did not decrease the occurrence of illnesses associated with rhinorrhea, cough, or feverishness as compared to placebo, but the number of laboratory-documented respiratory viral infections was small (6 HuIFN-alpha 3 placebo). Intranasal HuIFN-alpha 2 1.25 X 10(6) IU twice daily was associated with significant local intolerance.
Yeast foulant removal by backpulses in crossflow microfiltration

Direct visual observation (DVO) was used to gain a better understanding of membrane cleaning by individual backpulses. Yeast cells were deposited on cellulose acetate membranes during crossflow microfiltration, after which the membranes were cleaned using individual backpulses at varying backpulse durations, transmembrane pressures, and shear rates. The membrane surface after each single backpulse was observed with microvideophotography and the recovered flux was determined. The recovered flux was observed to increase with increasing shear rate, backpulse pressure and backpulse duration, reaching up to 98% of the clean membrane flux. In some cases, a minimum backpulse duration was required for membrane cleaning, and it increased with decreasing backpulse pressure and shear rate. DVO pictures were used to quantify the fraction of membrane which remain covered in foulant after single or multiple backpulses. The observed cleaning was used to predict the recovered flux, and these DVO-based predictions are in excellent agreement with the measured recovered fluxes. Finally, multiple short backpulses were found to be more effective in cleaning the membrane surface than fewer, longer backpulses at high shear rate and backpulse pressure; however, the reverse is true at low shear rate or backpulse pressure. Moreover, longer, weaker backpulses led to higher recovered fluxes than did shorter, stronger backpulses.
Decay of 19 min 67Ge to levels of 67Ga

Abstract The decay of 19 min 67Ge to levels of 67Ga has been studied with large Ge(Li) detectors and Ge(Li)-Ge(Li) coincidence experiments. A total of 56 γ-rays were observed and all but 8 have been placed in the decay scheme. Levels are observed in 67Ga at 167, 359, 828, 911, 1082, (1203), (1556), 1640, 1810, 1976, 2527, 2620, 2731, 3162, 3225, 3402, 3632, 3655 and 3728 keV. The levels below 3600 keV have also been seen in one or more nuclear-reaction studies. We found no evidence for a level at 333 keV that was previously proposed to decay via a cascade of unresolved 166.5 keV γ-rays. Levels observed in odd-mass isotopes of Cu, Ga and As are discussed and compared with theoretical predictions.
Stratosphere‐troposphere exchange of mass and ozone

[1] This study examines the relationship between the extratropical cross-tropopause fluxes of mass and ozone. The adiabatic and diabatic components of the net fluxes are also compared. The rate of change of mass in the lowermost stratosphere and the flux across the 380 K isentropic surface are used to determine the net tropopause mass flux in the framework of a global circulation model. The diabatic mass flux is calculated from the heating rate at the tropopause, and the adiabatic component is determined by the difference of the net and diabatic fluxes. Consistent ozone fields are obtained by driving the Goddard Chemistry and Transport Model with meteorological output of the global circulation model for the same years. The ozone flux is determined by convolving the mass flux and ozone mixing ratio. The results show the following: (1) The seasonal cycle of the ozone mixing ratio is out of phase with the transport cycle leading to a temporal offset of the mass and ozone fluxes; (2) the downward net diabatic flux of mass and ozone occurs primarily at middle latitudes while the adiabatic mass flux is dominated by troposphere-to-stratosphere transport at higher latitudes; and (3) the Southern Hemisphere stratospheric vortex is more effective at blocking meridional transport, resulting in a phase difference of mean tropopause ozone mixing ratio in the higher Southern Hemisphere latitudes with respect to the corresponding Northern Hemisphere season and location. Finally, this study suggests that individual pathways of cross-tropopause transport are unlikely to be the result of simultaneous adiabatic and diabatic mechanisms.
Ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation of tumor suppressors by human cytomegalovirus pp71 requires the 19S regulatory particle

Proteasomes generally degrade substrates tagged with polyubiquitin chains. In rare cases, however, proteasomes can degrade proteins without prior ubiquitination. For example, the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pp71 protein induces the proteasome-dependent, ubiquitin-independent degradation of the retinoblastoma (Rb) and Daxx proteins. These transcriptional corepressors and tumor suppressors inhibit the expression of cellular or viral genes that are required for efficient viral replication. Proteasomes are composed of a 20S catalytic core with or without one or two activator complexes, of which there are four different types. Here, we show that only one of these activators, the 19S regulatory particle that normally participates in ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation, is required for pp71-mediated degradation of Rb and Daxx. We report the unique use of a well-established route of substrate delivery to the proteasome by a viral protein to promote infection.
iRoad: a framework for scalable predictive query processing on road networks

This demo presents the iRoad framework for evaluating predictive queries on moving objects for road networks. The main promise of the iRoad system is to support a variety of common predictive queries including predictive point query, predictive range query, predictive KNN query, and predictive aggregate query. The iRoad framework is equipped with a novel data structure, named reachability tree, employed to determine the reachable nodes for a moving object within a specified future time Τ. In fact, the reachability tree prunes the space around each object in order to significantly reduce the computation time. So, iRoad is able to scale up to handle real road networks with millions of nodes, and it can process heavy workloads on large numbers of moving objects. During the demo, audience will be able to interact with iRoad through a well designed Graphical User Interface to issue different types of predictive queries on a real road network, to obtain the predictive heatmap of the area of interest, to follow the creation and the dynamic update of the reachability tree around a specific moving object, and finally to examine the system efficiency and scalability.
Telogen skin contains an inhibitor of hair growth

We have investigated whether C57B1-6 mouse skin with all its follicles in the telogen stage of the hair cycle contains a hair-growth inhibitory activity, as opposed to skin with anagen follicles. Crude aqueous extracts of whole telogen mouse skin (TE), anagen skin (AE) or vehicle alone (V) were injected intraperitoneally into mice in which anagen had previously been induced by plucking of telogen hair follicles. Injection of TE, but not AE or V, significantly retarded the development of anagen follicles, as measured by macroscopic and quantitative microscopic hair growth parameters (skin pigmentation and thickness, appearance of trichohyaline granules) and the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into mouse skin from animals previously treated with either TE or V (skin organ culture). This inhibitory activity seemed to be localized to the epidermis and was also present in rat epidermis. We suggest that this apparently non-species-specific inhibitor present in telogen skin may play a role in regulating the hair cycle in rodents.
Molecular factors in dendritic cell responses to adsorbed glycoconjugates

Carbohydrates and glycoconjugates have been shown to exert pro-inflammatory effects on the dendritic cells (DCs), supporting pathogen-induced innate immunity and antigen processing, as well as immunosuppressive effects in the tolerance to self-proteins. Additionally, the innate inflammatory response to implanted biomaterials has been hypothesized to be mediated by inflammatory cells interacting with adsorbed proteins, many of which are glycosylated. However, the molecular factors relevant for surface displayed glycoconjugate modulation of dendritic cell (DC) phenotype are unknown. Thus, in this study, a model system was developed to establish the role of glycan composition, density, and carrier cationization state on DC response. Thiol modified glycans were covalently bound to a model protein carrier, maleimide functionalized bovine serum albumin (BSA), and the number of glycans per BSA modulated. Additionally, the carrier isoelectric point was scaled from a pI of ∼4.0 to ∼10.0 using ethylenediamine (EDA). The DC response to the neoglycoconjugates adsorbed to wells of a 384-well plate was determined via a high throughput assay. The underlying trends in DC phenotype in relation to conjugate properties were elucidated via multivariate general linear models. It was found that glycoconjugates with more than 20 glycans per carrier had the greatest impact on the pro-inflammatory response from DCs, followed by conjugates having an isoelectric point above 9.5. Surfaces displaying terminal α1-2 linked mannose structures were able to increase the inflammatory DC response to a greater extent than did any other terminal glycan structure. The results herein can be applied to inform the design of the next generation of combination products and biomaterials for use in future vaccines and implanted materials.
An Investigation of the Surface Pressure Fields beneath Simulated Tornado Cyclones

Abstract The wall static pressure fields beneath tornado-like vortices have been investigated using a large vortex generator especially designed to model tornado cyclone airflow. Presented in nondimensional form, the data include both a series of radial profiles across the mean pressure field under a variety of flow conditions, and a detailed investigation of the magnitude of the central pressure as a function of swirl. The profiles clearly show the development of the intense vortical core from the no-swirl state, and the evolution of the core from a one-celled into a two-celled flow. For the experimental range examined, it is found that the greatest pressure deficits and largest pressure gradients (in the mean field) are associated with single-celled vortices. Strong evidence is found for the existence of a dynamically induced downdraft in the two-celled vortex.
Lost Wax: Abrupt Replacement of Key Morphemes in Australian Agreement Complexes

SUMMARYRichly inflected languages often have morphologies in which one or two key relational morphemes serve as the glue which binds other, more substantive morphemes together. When an important relational morpheme suffers phonetic erosion, it may be replaced rather abruptly by a successor morpheme which obtains a foothold in the relevant paradigm and then spreads rapidly, replacing the old morpheme throughout the system. We will refer to this as the 'lost-wax' (cire perdue) method of formal renewal, on the analogy of an ancient method for casting bronze artefacts. The point is illustrated by a close case study of two morphemes, Inverse and Potential, connected with the pronominal agreement system of a set of closely related Australian languages. The mechanics are somewhat different in the two cases, but both can be described as variations on the lost-wax method.RESUMEDans les langues a inflexion riche, il se trouve souvent que la morphologie possede un ou deux morphemes relationnels qui servent a lier d'autres morphemes a plus grande substance semantique. Quant un tel morpheme relationnel risque de disparaitre a cause d'erosion phonetique, il peut se faire remplacer d'un coup par un autre morpheme qui gagne une entree dans le paradigme et puis s'etend rapidement jusqu'a occuper la meme position relationnelle de l'ancien morpheme. Nous proposons la metaphore de 'cire perdue' pour decrire cette methode de renouvellement formel, par analogie avec une methode classique de mouler les figures en bronze. Dans ce contexte nous etudions l'histoire de deux morphemes, inverse et potentiel, dans le systeme de desinences personnelles d'un groupe de langues australiennes. Chaque cas presente une mecanique originelle, mais tout les deux rentrent dans le cadre general de la methode 'cire perdue'.ZUSAMMENFASSUNGSprachen mit reicher Inflexion haben oft eine Morphologie, in der ein oder zwei zusammenhangende Morpheme andere wesentlichere Morpheme zusam-menbinden. Wenn ein solches Morphem phonetisch zerfallt, kann es ein anderes Morphem plotzlich ersetzen und eine Stelle im Paradigma finden, von dem es sich im System schnell ausbreiten kann, indem es das alte Morphem im ganzen System ersetzt. Wir nennen hier diesen Vorgang 'verlorene Wachs'-Methode der formellen Erneuerung, als Analogie zur althergebrachten Methode der Gusform von Bronzekunstgegenstanden. Wir illustrieren den Vorgang anhand einer Fallstudie von zwei Morphemen im pronominalen System der grammatischen Ubereinstimmung in einigen eng verwandten Sprachen Australiens.
Replacement of the pseudorabies virus glycoprotein gIII gene with its postulated homolog, the glycoprotein gC gene of herpes simplex virus type 1.

Abstract gIII, the major envelope glycoprotein of pseudorabies virus (PRV), shares approximately 20% amino acid similarity with glycoprotein gC of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2. We describe here our first experiments on the potential conservation of function between these two genes and gene products. We constructed PRV recombinants in which the gIII gene and regulatory sequences have been replaced with the entire HSV-1 gC gene and its regulatory sequences. The gC promoter functions in the PRV genome, and authentic HSV-1 gC protein is produced, albeit at a low level, in infected cells. The gC protein is present at the cell surface but cannot be detected in the PRV envelope.
Spatial hemodynamics, the endothelium, and focal atherogenesis: a cell cycle link?

The characteristics of arterial flow and the hemodynamic forces associated with them have important effects upon endothelial biology1 that have long been implicated in the nonrandom distribution of atherosclerotic lesions.2 At branches, curvatures, and bifurcations of large elastic and muscular distributing arteries, separations of the flow streamlines create regions of disturbance that correlate closely with the early appearance of atherosclerosis. Within the regions of flow disturbance, the cardiac cycle imposes complicated spatial patterns of flow that include nonuniform, multidirectional pulsatile forces at variable frequencies. Rapidly changing gradients of shear stress arising from flow reversals and secondary flows frequently result in lower average levels of shear stress.3 The endothelial cells at these locations are subject to shear stress forces that vary considerably over short distances of the monolayer such that cells separated by tens of microns consistently experience significantly different hemodynamic environments. This leads to regional heterogeneity of endothelial exposure to flow forces within the same vascular bed4 5 6 as well as cell-to-cell heterogeneity arising from subcellular differences in cell surface geometry.7 Such spatially defined hemodynamic patterns are postulated to underlie the focal origin of atherosclerotic lesions by inducing small groups of endothelial cells toward a proatherosclerotic phenotype through differential mechanosignaling, transcription, and protein expression.8 Nearly 30 years ago, Wright9 conducted the first studies of endothelial cell proliferation in vivo that are now recognized as relevant to endothelial regional heterogeneity. She noted that although the fraction of mitotic endothelial cells is extremely low throughout the arterial tree, there are loci of proliferating cells associated with curvatures and near branch arteries, regions of …
Multiple ideologies and competing discourses: Language shift in Tlaxcala, Mexico

This article argues for an account of language shift that focuses on ideological conflicts and competing discourses of language, identity, and progress in Tlaxcala, Mexico. The study is based on ethnographic research on patterns of language use, ideology, and boundary differentiation in several Mexicano (Nahuatl)-speaking communities in the Malintzi region of Central Mexico. Metadiscursive practices consisting of three discourses that have local, regional, and national expressions are analyzed: the pro-development metadiscourse of salir adelante, ‘forging ahead’ and improving one's socioeconomic position; the discourse of menosprecio, denigration of indigenous identity; and the pro-indigena or pro-indigenous discourse that promotes a positive attitude toward indigenous identity. Analysis of these discourses offers an understanding of the semiotic resources speakers employ as they orient toward and against particular identities that are both “traditional” and “modern,” as they respond to changing social and economic circumstances. It is concluded that a focus on individuals and communities, through ethnography and discourse analysis, is of critical importance to understanding how and why speakers shift their ideologies and their languages.
Conformational templating of α-synuclein aggregates in neuronal-glial cultures.

Genetic studies have established a causative role for α-synuclein (αS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the presence of αS aggregates in the form of Lewy body (LB) and Lewy neurite (LN) protein inclusions are defining pathological features of PD. Recent data has established that extracellular αS aggregates can induce intracellular αS pathologies supporting the hypothesis that αS pathology can spread via a “prion-like” self-templating mechanism. Here we investigated the potential for conformational templating of αS intracellular aggregates by seeding using recombinant wild-type and PD-linked mutant (A53T and E46K) αS in primary mixed neuronal-glial cultures. We find that wild-type and A53T αS fibrils predominantly seed flame-like inclusions in both neurons and astrocytes of mixed primary cultures; whereas the structurally distinct E46K fibrils seed punctate, rounded inclusions. Notably, these differences in seeded inclusion formation in these cultures reflect differences in inclusion pathology seen in transgenic mice expressing the A53T or E46K αS mutants. We further show that the inclusion morphology is dictated primarily by the seed applied rather than the form of αS expressed. We also provide initial evidence that αS inclusion pathology can be passaged in primary astrocyte cultures. These studies establish for the first time that αS aggregation in cultured cells can occur by a morphological self-templating mechanism.
Regulation of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 production in response to placental ischemia/hypoxia: role of angiotensin II

While soluble fms-like tyrosine-1 (sFlt-1) is implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension during preeclampsia, the mechanisms leading to the enhanced sFlt-1 production remain unclear. A recent report suggests exogenous angiotensin II (ANGII) stimulates sFlt-1 production in pregnant rats, however, the role of endogenous ANGII in mediating the placental production of sFlt-1 in response to placental ischemia remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the role of endogenous ANGII in mediating the placental production of sFlt-1 in response to placental ischemia in pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats. To this end we compared sFlt-1 and ANGII levels from placental explants collected from normal pregnant (NP) and Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP) rats. sFlt-1 (3271 ± 264 vs. 2228 ± 324 pg/mL, P < 0.05) and ANGII levels (43.2 ± 2.8 vs. 26.7 ± 1.9 pg/mL, P < 0.05) were higher in placental explants from RUPP rats versus NP rats. Administration of Losartan, an angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist, (10 mg/day for 5 days) to RUPP rats significantly reduced plasma levels of sFlt-1 (1432 ± 255 pg/mL, P < 0.05) when compared with untreated control rats (3431 ± 454 pg/mL). In addition, RUPP-induced hypertension was significantly reduced (113 ± 2 mmHg vs. 139 ± 2 mmHg, P < 0.05). In conclusion, placental sFlt-1 and ANGII production are significantly elevated in response to placental ischemia in pregnant rats. In addition, AT1 receptor activation, by endogenous ANGII, appears to play an important role in mediating the placental production of sFlt-1 in response to placental ischemia in pregnant rats.
The biology of herpes simplex virus infection in humans

Herpes simplex virus is a frequent cause of recurrent ocular, oral, genital or cutaneous eruptions in man. Lesions are highly localized and tend to recur at the same site. Among the most consistent factors provoking recurrence is root section of the trigeminal nerve. Clinical and experimental data suggest that herpes simplex virus is commonly resident within the trigeminal ganglia of man, where it may be responsible for recurrent oral or lip lesions, and is less frequently a resident of the second or third sacral ganglia where it might be responsible for genital eruptions. Generally, the trigeminal virus is type 1 and the sacral virus is type 2; the virus is only rarely recoverable from other sensory ganglia. Factors provoking the reactivation from the virus' latent site and the mechanism for reactivation remain largely unknown. Further study is needed to understand the behavior of HSV and other viruses in nervous system tissue.
Print Is Dead The Promise and Peril of Online Media for Subcultural Resistance

Researchers have maintained a consistent interest in subcultural resistance: marginalized groups challenging their subordinate positions in society through words or deeds. Resisting groups increasi...
Vertical Shear of the Galactic Interstellar Medium

The detection of UV absorption, 21 cm, H alpha and other diffuse optical emission lines from gas up to ten kiloparsecs above the plane of the Milky Way and other galaxies provides the first, opportunity to probe the rotational properties of the ionized "atmospheres" of galaxies. This rotation has implications for our understanding of the Galactic gravitational potential, angular momentum transport in the Galactic disk, and the maintenance of a Galactic dynamo. The available evidence indicates that gas rotates nearly cylindrically up to a few kiloparsecs. This is in contrast to the expectation that there should be a significant gradient in rotation speed as a function of height assuming a reasonable mass model for the Galaxy. For example, for a vertical cut at galactocentric radius R = 5 kpc in NGC 891 by Rand, the rotation speed is observed to drop by approximately 30 kilometers per second from z = 1 to 5 kpc and is expected to drop by 80 kilometers per second. Magnetic tension forces may resolve this discrepancy. Other possibilities will be examined in the near future.
Improving fault tolerance and supporting partial writes in structured coterie protocols for replicated objects

This paper presents a new technique for efficiently controlling replicas in distributed systems. Conventional structured coterie protocols are efficient but incur a penalty of reduced availability in exchange for the performance gain. Further, the performance advantage can only be fully realized when write operations always replace the old data item with the new value instead of updating a portion of the data item. Our new approach significantly improves availability while allowing partial write operations.After presenting our general approach, we apply it to an existing structured coterie protocol and analyze the availability of the resulting protocol. We also show that other classes of protocols can make use of our approach.
Advances in biochemical and functional roles of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and angiotensin-(1-7) in regulation of cardiovascular function

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the first human homologue of ACE to be described. ACE2 is a type I integral membrane protein that functions as a carboxypeptidase, cleaving a single hydrop...
Speech and Social Status in America

The importance of one's speech' as an indicator of social status has received little attention' in America. Several writers of books on social stratification have even suggested that' the speech differences between members of upper and'lower classes are very subtle and inconsequential. This article presents research evidence to the contrary, based primarily on* three research projects conducted by the present author and two by other researchers. The findings suggest that persons' social status is revealed by their voice-even when content-free speech is used, e.g., counting from one to 20. Persons speaking one regional dialect of American English can identify the social status of persons speaking different dialects. The research also attempts to isolate the various speech qualities which reveal one's social status and to investigate the ability of speakers to disguise these qualities. Language has long been recognized as a symbolic indicator of social class. Barber' points out in his text, Social Stratification, that in India the ability to use written language, i.e., to read and write, had long been a symbol of Brahman caste membership. In nineteenth-century Russia, the upper classes spoke French, the language of the court, in preference to their native language which they shared with the lower classes. In modern European countries the speech patterns of thie different classes are often so gross as to be considered different dialects. The middleand upper-class Germans are expected to speak "Hoch Deutsch" or high German. But it is *This research was done while Professor Ellis was a research assistant in the Communications Research Center at Purdue University. It was conducted under the guidance of Dr. W. Charles Redding and with the financial support of a National Science Foundation grant to the Communications Research Center. 1 Bernard Barber, Social Stratification (New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1957), p. 151. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.104 on Mon, 20 Jun 2016 06:24:30 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Presidential Saber Rattling and Public Approval

Presidential saber rattling has become an increasingly important tool of foreign policy leadership. However, there is little understanding of the causes and consequences of presidential saber rattling for either domestic or foreign policy. This study examines the linkages of presidential saber rattling to public approval of presidential job performance. It finds that presidents significantly affect their own approval ratings through threatening rhetoric directed toward other nations. It also finds that presidents use saber rattling strategically to bolster their own domestic support. The work asserts that presidential saber rattling affects public approval by sparking human emotions, such as nationalism, pride, patriotism, anxiety, and perhaps anger. Interestingly, the work finds that saber rattling evokes the greatest support, not from the president's fellow partisans, but from those in the opposing political party. The results suggests that emotions trump ideology and party identification in evaluations of presidential job performance.
Neutrophil elastase regulates both type 1 and type 2 immune responses to enteric infection (MPF1P.800)

Local neutrophil influx occurs in response to enteric bacterial as well as nematode infection. Neutrophilic release of the serine protease, elastase (NE), is implicated in host defense as well as tissue injury. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of elastase in host defense against enteric pathogens that induce a Th1/Th17 or a Th2 immune response. Elastase deficient (ELA1-/-) or C57BL/6 (WT) mice (n=5-7) were inoculated with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb) and studied 5 and 9 days later or infected with Citrobacter rodentium (Cr) and studied 14 days later. Gene expression was determined by real-time PCR in samples of small intestine or colon. Nb infection in WT mice induced a 21-fold STAT6-dependent increase in elastase expression. ELA1-/- mice had accelerated Nb expulsion coupled with significantly (p<0.01) augmented elevation in IL-4, IL-13, and M2 marker (e.g arginase-1) expression when compared to WT mice. Both strains showed similar increases in smooth muscle hypercontractility and epithelial permeability. In contrast, ELA1-/- mice had delayed clearance of Cr infection with impaired upregulation of IFNγ and IL-17A expression when compared to WT mice. These data indicate that during nematode infection, the upregulation of elastase negatively regulates the Th2 response and could be a novel target for modulating type 2 immunity. During bacterial infection, elastase is essential for the upregulation of type 1 cytokines and pathogen clearance in the gut.
Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Left Ventricular Assist Device Candidates

As a result of the improved survival of patients with heart failure (HF) and the overall rise in the prevalence of HF,1 the number of patients in advanced (stage D) HF continues to increase, thus exceeding the limited availability of donor organs by a wide margin.2 Initially used primarily as a bridge to heart transplantation, mechanical circulatory support is now increasingly offered as a destination therapy to patients with advanced HF in clinical deterioration who are not candidates for transplantation. Improvement in survival to 80% at 1-year postimplantation3 has steadily followed the development of new technologies such as the continuous-flow pump, which now encompasses 99% of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs),3 and improvements in patient and device management. Far from being a panacea, mechanical circulatory support is still fraught with challenges. Among them, post-LVAD right ventricular failure (RVF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite (1) overall improved outcomes and lower rates of RVF with the use of the newer, continuous-flow LVADs over pulsatile-flow devices,4 and (2) development of clinical prediction scores to facilitate preoperative identification of patients at risk for RVF after implantation,5–9 RVF still occurs in 13% to 40% of continuous-flow device.10 LVAD function relies heavily on right ventricular (RV) function for adequate preload. Severe RVF cannot only lead to systemic hypoperfusion, multiorgan failure, and death but also to prolonged or recurrent hospitalization and poor quality of life even in less extreme cases. LVAD recipients who develop RVF have poor outcomes,11–13 including higher perioperative, short- and long-term mortality,5,14,15 and reduced survival to transplantation.11,13–20 RVF has also been associated with higher risk of bleeding, renal failure, and hypotension,13,14,19 and longer …