cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Annexin V Inhibition of Factor IXa-Catalyzed Factor X Activation on Human Platelets and on Negatively-Charged Phospholipid Vesicles†

Annexin V was found to inhibit factor IXa-catalyzed factor X activation on both thrombin-activated human platelets and artificial lipid vesicles containing phosphatidylserine, supporting previous observations of the importance of negatively-charged lipid in potentiating the reaction. Annexin V reduced the Vmax of factor X activation in factor IXa titrations on the platelet surface with an IC50 of 4 nM in the absence of thrombin-activated factor VIII (factor VIIIa), and 4.5 nM in its presence, whereas there was no effect on the EC50,FIXa. This noncompetitive inhibition is consistent with interference of recognition of the factor IXa binding site on the platelet, which was confirmed by equilibrium binding of [125I]-factor IXa to thrombin-activated platelets where, in the absence of factor VIIIa and factor X, annexin V reduced the number of factor IXa binding sites/platelet from 610 to 320, without changing the Kd,app. In the presence of factor VIIIa and factor X, annexin V reduced the number of binding sites, but also raised the Kd,app. Although factor VIIIa improved the affinity of factor IXa for the lipid surface from Kd approximately 60 nM in its absence to Kd 1 nM in its presence, addition of annexin V to factor IXa titrations on lipid vesicles in the presence of factor VIIIa increased the EC50,FIXa with an IC50 of 1.5 nM, without affecting the Vmax. These data provide evidence that factor IXa, although requiring negatively-charged phospholipid for part of its binding site, is accommodated differently on platelets and on artificial vesicles.
"Self" to cytotoxic T cells has to be 1,000 or less high affinity nonapeptides per MHC antigen.

In order to serve as the effective target of a relevant cytotoxic T-cell receptor, the same peptide fragment has to occupy at least 0.1% of the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen sites on the plasma membrane. Because of this need, I contend that the thymic educator cell of “self” to cytotoxic T cells can suppress autoreactive T-cell clones only with regard to at the most, 1000 self nonapeptides per a given allelic form of class I MHC antigens; e. g., HLA-A2. Each allelic form of class I MHC antigen apparently developed the preferential binding affinity toward a specific set of nonapeptides. The requirement for preferential binding can either be permissive or stringent. In the case of human HLA-A2, those nonapeptides having either Leu or Met at the second position and mainly Val, but occasionally Leu at the ninth position are preferred. Since both Leu and Val are very common residues, the typical somatic cell type readily supplies nearly 3000 high affinity host nonapeptides preferred by HLA-A2. Of those, the tolerance can be induced, at the most, to only 1000 nonapeptides. In view of this, permissive class I MHC antigens such as HLA-A2 carefully avoid high affinity nonapeptides in viral proteins, for their status as to self or nonself is uncertain, and they choose second choice nonapeptides as T epitopes. In sharp contrast to human HLA-A2, mouse H-2Db represents the stringent class I MHC antigens. In order to show the high binding affinity toward H-2Db, nonapeptides are required to carry Asn at position 5 and Met or Ile at the equally critical position 9. Inasmuch as Asn and Met are rare residues and Ile, too, is not a common residue, the typical somatic cell type can supply only several hundred host nonapeptides having the high binding affinity toward H-2Db. Under the circumstance, there is no problem in memorizing the selfness of all of them. Accordingly, T epitopes are almost invariably chosen from the high affinity nonapeptides that are present in their viral proteins.
Inheritance of non-obligate vernalization requirement for flowering in Lilium formosanum Wallace

Commercial potted, cut flower, and garden lily production relies on forcing vegetatively-propagated, two- or three-year-old bulbs. Chilling induces stem elongation and more controlled, timely flowering in the wild and in commercial production. Select genotypes of Lilium formosanum lack dormancy and are non-obligate-vernalization-requiring (NV) for flowering. Such NV lilies flower within one year from seed. The objective of this study was to determine the inheritance of NV within select L. formosanum. Twenty-three families were generated from nine parents (6 NV, 3 obligate-vernalization-requiring [OV]). Segregation for NV:OV fit a model for NV being controlled by two genes, hereby named VER1 and VER2. A dominant allele at either locus confers the NV phenotype. For inheritance of NV, VER1 and VER2 parallels the spring/winter flowering habit and VRN1 genes of wheat. VER2 has less penetrance than VER1, and earlier stem emergence among families segregating for VER1 and VER2 suggests epistatic gene action. NV l...
Inhibition of yeast-to-mycelium conversion of Candida albicans by conjugated styryl ketones.

Candida albicans is a dimorphic pathogenic yeast capable of producing alternate morphological forms (yeast or mycelium) in response to environmental changes. The dimorphism of C. albicans plays an important role in the pathophysiology of this organism. The intracellular level of glutathione, which helps to maintain the oxidationreduction potential of the cell, is decreased significantly during the yeast-to-mycelium conversion implicating the possible involvement of thiols in the yeast-to-mycelium transition. To evaluate the possible participation of sulphydryl group(s) containing component(s) in the yeast-to-mycelium transition of C. albicans, we examined the effect of a group of newly synthesized thiol-alkylators on the production of germ tubes from yeast cells. Several conjugated styryl ketones which are thiol-alkylators, and p-chloromercuriphenylsulphonate (a known non-penetrating thiol-blocker) inhibited the yeast-to-mycelium conversion of C. albicans. The thiol-alkylators at 20 μM failed to inhibit four key enzymes (γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase) involved in glutathione utilization indicating that the inhibition of yeast-to-mycelium conversion is not mediated by the inhibition of glutathione metabolic enzymes. Moreover, these results suggest that a key thiol-blocker sensitive component(s) containing a critical sulphydryl group(s) is involved in the yeast-tomycelium transition of C. albicans.
Atomic-scale dynamics during silicon oxidation and the properties of defects at the Si–SiO2 interface

Abstract We describe first-principles calculations in terms of which we arrive at a unified description of the atomic dynamics that underlie the nucleation and growth of SiO 2 precipitates in Si and the oxidation of Si films. We identify the mechanism for the observed emission of Si interstitials and show that it eliminates electrically-active defects without introducing dangling bonds. The results provide an explanation for the low defect density at the Si–SiO 2 interface and suggest a novel family of electrically-active interface defects that are akin to the ‘thermal donors’ in Si.
Image extrapolation for patient-specific CT dose determination based on scout images

Monte Carlo (MC) simulation based on a patient’s computed tomography (CT) images is a promising way to retroactively determine patient-specific dose from CT scans. CT scans generally include only a portion of the patient’s body; however, photon interactions in regions adjacent to the scan region contribute to the overall scan dose. Thus, the CT images alone, which do not include these adjacent regions, are insufficient for determining dose. In fact, dose underestimation, especially at the scan edge, occurs when the adjacent regions are not accounted for. In this work, the dose underestimation without the scatter region is demonstrated, and the size of the scatter region required to provide sufficient simulated scatter was determined with mathematical phantom studies. For a simple cylindrical water phantom, up to a 25% underestimation of dose was found when no scatter region was used, and a 40 mm scatter region was determined to be required to eliminate this error for scans performed with both the 40 mm and 5 mm collimation sizes. In addition, four different image extrapolation methods based on CT images and scout images were proposed for a chest CT scan of an anthropomorphic phantom. The dose was calculated with the chest images only and the chest images plus the four types of extrapolated images. The results were compared with the dose calculated using whole body images of the anthropomorphic phantom. The image extrapolation methods, especially the ones based on scout images, were shown to improve the dose calculation accuracy under both step-shoot scan mode and helical scan mode. Keywords: CT, patient-specific dose, Monte Carlo, image extrapolation, scout images
Doubling of Fermions

Although the baryons possess strong interactions, in addition to the electromagnetic and weak ones, it is conceivable that whatever the cause of the doubling of electrons into light and heavy ones might also be responsible for a doubling of baryons. Considerations are given to the interactions which could possibly give rise to the doublets and to the characteristics which may help distinguish the unknown particle from the known. (T.B.A.)
Batten disease and the control of the Fo subunit c pore by cGMP and calcium

Subunit c of ATP synthase functions as a high conductance ion channel, tightly regulated by calcium. We have suggested that the pathogenesis of Batten syndromes involving overaccumulation of subunit c are linked to the protein's ion channel function. In normal electrically excitable tissue the channel could act as a pacer setting nodal voltage via control of cation entry. The channel conductance is controlled by voltage, calcium, cyclic nucleotides and polyamines. We discuss the pathogenic role that subunit c could play in the electrically excitable tissues of retina, brain and heart where Batten neurodegeneration is seen. Focus is given to potential links between subunit c and the known mutant gene products in the Batten diseases, the process of apoptosis, and the requirement of the growing brain for gradients of cGMP, a ligand of the subunit c channel.
Measurement of the hydrogen-tritium g J -factor ratio

A hydrogen maser operating at fields of up to 16 G has been used as a spin-exchange detector of Zeeman transitions in the hyperfine spectra of hydrogen and tritium. The maser oscillates on the field-dependent $\ensuremath{\pi}$ transition which is sensitive to the state of colliding atoms. Atomic magnetic moment or ${g}_{J}$-factor ratios were obtained from the measured Zeeman frequencies with the aid of the Breit-Rabi formula. Measurements were made at different values of magnetic field and an extrapolation was done to eliminate the effects of spin-exchange frequency shifts. The result is $\frac{{g}_{J}(H)}{{g}_{J}(T)}=1+(10.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$, in agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Fibrinogen faux pas

A 2001 compilation of dysfibrinogens counted 322 affected families, of which 99 had involvement of the Aα chain, 16 of the Bβ chain, and 54 of the γ chain, with an additional 153 without a structural explanation.[1][1] With a molecular size of 340 000 Da and constructed of nearly 1500 amino acid
Assortative marriage for physical characteristics in newlyweds

The objective of this study was to estimate the degree of spouse resemblance in the first 6 months of marriage and to compare these estimates with those of previous studies on long-standing marriages. The participants, 215 couples, were selected from the marriage licenses issued in two counties within the San Francisco Bay Area. They attended one of several group sessions in which questionnaires were filled out and forearm length measurements were taken. Only the results for the couples of European ancestry (N = 164) are presented here since the other subsamples were too small to analyze separately. The husband-wife correlations for body size were found to be essentially equal to those in long-standing marriages. Thus, it appears that physical resemblance in couples is the result of initial assortment rather than convergence arising from long cohabitation. A significant residual husband-wife correlation for weight was found after statistically partialing out height. It may be that assortative marriage for food habits and attractiveness produces spouse resemblance in weight, independently of height. Alternatively, convergence in eating habits may occur during courtship and the early months of marriage which may increase the resemblance in weight. There was very little homogamy for eye color independently of race, and no evidence of assortative marriage for handedness.
Relationship between hair/eye color and primary vesicoureteral reflux in children

The relationship between hair/eye color and primary vesicoureteral reflux was analyzed in more than 900 children. Children with blonde hair/blue eyes didnot show an increased prevalance of reflux not did any other hair/eye combination. With the possible exception of rufous coloring, the color of the hair and eyes are poor predictors of the competence of the ureteral orifice.
Bursal transcriptome of chickens protected by DNA vaccination versus those challenged with infectious bursal disease virus.

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infection destroys the bursa of Fabricius, causing immunosuppression and rendering chickens susceptible to secondary bacterial or viral infections. IBDV large-segment-protein-expressing DNA has been shown to confer complete protection of chickens from infectious bursal disease (IBD). The purpose of the present study was to compare DNA-vaccinated chickens and unvaccinated chickens upon IBDV challenge by transcriptomic analysis of bursa regarding innate immunity, inflammation, immune cell regulation, apoptosis and glucose transport. One-day-old specific-pathogen-free chickens were vaccinated intramuscularly three times at weekly intervals with IBDV large-segment-protein-expressing DNA. Chickens were challenged orally with 8.2 × 102 times the egg infective dose (EID)50 of IBDV strain variant E (VE) one week after the last vaccination. Bursae collected at 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days post-challenge (dpc) were subjected to real-time RT-PCR quantification of bursal transcripts related to innate immunity, inflammation, immune cell regulation, apoptosis and glucose transport. The expression levels of granzyme K and CD8 in DNA-vaccinated chickens were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those in unvaccinated chickens upon IBDV challenge at 0.5 or 1 dpc. The expression levels of other genes involved in innate immunity, inflammation, immune cell regulation, apoptosis and glucose transport were not upregulated or downregulated in DNA-vaccinated chickens during IBDV challenge. Bursal transcripts related to innate immunity and inflammation, including TLR3, MDA5, IFN-α, IFN-β, IRF-1, IRF-10, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, iNOS, granzyme A, granzyme K and IL-10, were upregulated or significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated at 3 dpc and later in unvaccinated chickens challenged with IBDV. The expression levels of genes related to immune cell regulation, apoptosis and glucose transport, including CD4, CD8, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-12(p40), IL-18, GM-CSF, GATA-3, p53, glucose transporter-2 and glucose transporter-3, were upregulated or significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated at 3 dpc and later in unvaccinated chickens challenged with IBDV. Taken together, the results indicate that the bursal transcriptome involved in innate immunity, inflammation, immune cell regulation, apoptosis and glucose transport, except for granzyme K and CD8, was not differentially expressed in DNA-vaccinated chickens protected from IBDV challenge.
Relations between Parenting Behavior and SES in a Clinical Sample: Validity of SES Measures.

Two common methods of measuring socioeconomic status (SES) were examined in relation to observed parenting behaviors in a clinical sample of 89 mothers of 3- to 6-year-olds referred for treatment of oppositional defiant disorder. Families were 74% Caucasian, 9% African American, 5% Hispanic, 1% Asian, and 11% Biracial. Most children were male (75%). Parenting behaviors were measured with the Dyadic Parent–Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS) categories of prosocial talk and negative talk. Analyses were conducted with SES measured in two ways: (a) the Hollingshead Four-Factor Index of Social Status (HI) was correlated with parenting behaviors; and (b) family income, parent education (5 categories), and parent occupation (5 categories) were used to predict parent behavior. SES was significantly positively related to maternal prosocial talk. When SES was operationalized as income, occupation, and education, the model predicted three times more variance in maternal prosocial talk than the HI alone. SES was...
Experimental Evaluation of Ground-Based Microwave Radiometric Sensing of Atmospheric Temperature and Water Vapor Profiles

Profiles of atmospheric temperature and water vapor derived from ground-based microwave radiometric measurements are compared with concurrent rawinsonde profiles including both clear and cloudy cases. Accuracies of the temperature profiles including the cloudy cases are quite close to predicted accuracies. Mean virtual temperatures between commonly used pressure levels are also compared and resulting rms accuracies are 1.1, 1.6, 2.0 and 2.8/sup 0/C for the 1000--850, 850--700, 700--500 and 500--300 mb layers, respectively. The microwave technique is potentially useful in applications requiring high time resolution or in data-sparse regions of the oceans that might be covered by an ocean data buoy system.
A Case for Item-level Indexing: The Kenneth Burke Papers at The Pennsylvania State University

In light of numerous discussions about whether to follow Mark Greene and Dennis Meissner's suggestions to process lightly and broadly, valid reasons remain for continuing traditional practices for many literary correspondence collections. In this case study, the authors use the Kenneth Burke Papers in the Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University Libraries, as an example of when it is desirable to provide item-level indexing. Recognizing that the majority of archival records may not require such detailed description, the authors discuss when it is appropriate to examine and index literary correspondents, a practice used with many other literary collections in which name access to literary correspondents is a legitimate, valued interest.
Reduced SERCA2a converts sub-lethal myocardial injury to infarction and affects postischemic functional recovery

The goal of the present study was to assess how reduced SERCA2a expression affects in vivo myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We specifically wanted to determine to what extent hearts with reduced SERCA2a levels are susceptible to in vivo I/R injury. Therefore, we examined the effects of different ischemic periods on post-ischemic myocardial injury in wild-type (WT) and SERCA2a heterozygous knockout (SERCA2a(+/-)) mice expressing lower levels of SERCA2a pump in vivo. Following 20-min ischemia and 48-hour reperfusion, SERCA2a(+/-) mice developed significant myocardial infarction (MI) compared to negligible infarction in WT mice (14+/-3% vs. 3+/-1%, P<0.01); whereas following 30-min ischemia, the infarction was significantly larger in SERCA2a(+/-) mice compared to WT mice (49+/-5% vs. 37+/-3%, P<0.05). Further, echocardiographic analysis revealed worsened postischemic contractile function in SERCA2a(+/-) mice compared to WT mice. Thus, these findings demonstrate that maintaining optimal SERCA2a function is critical for myocardial protection from I/R injury and postischemic functional recovery.
Multiple PPPS/TP motifs act in a combinatorial fashion to transduce Wnt signaling through LRP6

Binding of Wnt to Frizzled, and either of two members of the low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related protein family, LRP5/6, leads to β-catenin activation by a poorly understood mechanism. LRP5/6 exhibit five highly conserved PPPS/TP motifs in their intracellular region, among which the first PPPS/TP site is rapidly phosphorylated upon Wnt stimulation. By the use of full-length LRP6 mutants harboring multiple mutations involving the five PPPS/TP motifs, we found that this first PPPS/TP phosphoacceptor site is alone not sufficient or strictly necessary for β-catenin activation. Instead, we show that each LRP6 PPPS/TP motif contributes in a combinatorial fashion to activate the canonical Wnt-β-catenin pathway.
Platelet HLA Typing and Cross‐Matching by a Direct Microcytotoxic Assay

Carboxyfluoresceindiacetate-labelled platelets can be used in direct microcytotoxic assays for the purpose of typing platelets for a number of antigenic determinants, such as HLA and beta-2 microglobulin. The assay when used in direct platelet cross-matching, where thrombocytopenic patient sera were screened, resulted in the uncovering of many extrapositive and weakly positive cross-matches not identified by the lymphocyte cross-match. The simplicity and rapidity of this new method makes it an attractive alternative for future use in research and clinical studies.
Functional Dissection of Osteoprotegerin and Its Interaction with Receptor Activator of NF-κB Ligand

Abstract The receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) belongs to the neuregulin/tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily and is activated by RANK ligand (RANK-L), a homotrimeric, TNF-like cytokine. RANK is present on the surface of osteoclast cell precursors, where its interaction with RANK-L induces their terminal differentiation into osteoclasts, thus increasing bone breakdown. The secreted, soluble receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) interrupts this activation by binding directly to RANK-L. Therefore, osteoclast maturation (and bone homeostasis) is regulated in vivo by OPG levels of expression. We have studied the assembly state and affinity of OPG for RANK-L by sedimentation analyses and surface plasmon resonance (Biacore). Full-length, homodimeric OPG binds to RANK-L with a KD of 10 nm. OPG is also a member of the TNF receptor superfamily and contains four disulfide-rich ligand-binding domains, yet lacks a transmembrane region separating the ligand-binding region from the two death domains, as observed for other receptor family members. We showed that dimerization of OPG results from noncovalent interactions mediated by the death domains and to a lesser extent by a C-terminal heparin-binding region. In contrast, a C-terminal intermolecular disulfide bond does not contribute to the formation or stability of OPG dimers. A truncate of osteoprotegerin, containing the ligand-binding domains but lacking the dimerization domains, bound RANK-L with a KD of ∼3 μm, indicating that monomer oligomerization for the OPG provides an increase of 3 orders of magnitude in the affinity for RANK-L. Therefore, OPG dimer formation is required for the mechanism of inhibition of the RANK-L/RANK receptor interaction.
ROLE OF AQUAPORINS IN LUNG LIQUID PHYSIOLOGY

Aquaporins (AQPs) are small, integral membrane proteins that facilitate water transport across cell membranes in response to osmotic gradients. Water transport across epithelia and endothelia in the peripheral lung and airways occurs during airway hydration, alveolar fluid transport and submucosal gland secretion. Several AQPs are expressed in the lung and airways: AQP1 in microvascular endothelia, AQP3 and AQP4 in airway epithelia, and AQP5 in type I alveolar epithelial cells, submucosal gland acini, and a subset of airway epithelial cells. Phenotype analysis of transgenic knockout mice lacking AQPs has defined their roles in the lung and airways. AQP1 and AQP5 provide the principal route for osmotically driven water transport between airspace and capillary compartments; however, alveolar fluid clearance in the neonatal and adult lung is not affected by their deletion, nor is lung fluid accumulation in experimental models of lung injury. In the airways, though AQP3 and AQP4 facilitate osmotic water transport, their deletion does not impair airway hydration, regulation of airway surface liquid, or fluid absorption. In contrast to these negative findings, AQP5 deletion in submucosal glands reduced fluid secretion by >50%. The substantially slower fluid transport in the lung compared to renal and secretory epithelia probably accounts for the lack of functional significance of AQPs in the lung and airways. Recent data outside of the lung implicating the involvement of AQPs in cell migration and proliferation suggests possible new roles for lung AQPs to be explored.
Minimum wage laws: What does an employment increase imply about output and welfare?

Abstract Card and Krueger find empirically that minimum wage laws may increase employment. The current paper seeks the analytical implications of employment-increasing minimum wages for output and welfare. The standard supply and demand model cannot be used for this purpose. One needs a model in which employment-increasing minimum wages are at least possible, such as this paper's efficiency wage model. Here, an employment increase is neither necessary nor sufficient for expected welfare gains for either employed or unemployed workers. An employment-increasing minimum wage raises output but unambiguously lowers labor force participation and hurts those who remain unemployed.
Dynamical and Boundary Forcing Characteristics of Regional Components of the Asian Summer Monsoon

Abstract In this paper, the authors present a description of the internal dynamics and boundary forcing characteristics of two major subcomponents of the Asian summer monsoon (ASM), that is, the South Asian monsoon (SAM) and the East–Southeast Asian monsoon (EAM). The description is based on a new monsoon-climate paradigm in which the variability of ASM is considered as the outcome of the interplay of a “fast” and an “intermediate” monsoon subsystem, under the influence of “slow” external forcings. Two sets of regional monsoon indices derived from dynamically consistent rainfall and wind data are used in this study. Results show that the internal dynamics of SAM are representative of a “classical” monsoon system in which the anomalous circulation is governed by Rossby wave dynamics, where anomalous vorticity induced by an off-equatorial heat source is balanced by the advection of planetary vorticity. On the other hand, the internal dynamics of EAM are characterized by a “hybrid” monsoon system featuring m...
Swedish juvenile justice and welfare

Abstract Swedish life, in general, and social welfare, in particular, are continually of interest to United States observers. This article describes juvenile justice and welfare in Sweden, especially as it relates to the idea of diverting juveniles from the official sanctioning process. The article includes a summary of child welfare board legislation and its current administrative structure, a description of the disposition process and its main actors and decision points — police, prosecutor, child welfare board and workers, community programs, training schools, and prisons - and suggestions for further research.
0.026µm 2 high performance Embedded DRAM in 22nm technology for server and SOC applications

This paper presents the industry's smallest Embedded Dynamic Random Access Memory (eDRAM) implemented in IBM's 22nm SOI technology. The bit cell area of 0.026µm2 achieves ∼60% scaling over the previous generation with deep trench (DT) capacitance optimized for performance and retention requirements. We report, for the first time, the asymmetric embedded stressor, cavity implant, through gate implant, and substrate n-band innovations to maintain aggressive cell scaling for the 22nm eDRAM technology.
Cooking Up a Recipe for Self-Control: The Three Ingredients of Self-Control and its Impact on Impulse Buying

The present study investigates the three ingredients of self-control as identified by Baumeister (2002) and links these ingredients to impulse buying in a sample of U.S. adults. Study results sugge...
Effects of Exogenous Gonadal Steroids on Leptin Homeostasis in Rats

WU-PENG, SHARON, MICHAEL ROSENBAUM, MARGERY NICOLSON, STREAMSON C. CHUA, AND RUDOLPH L. LEIBEL. Effects of exogenous gonadal steroids on leptin homeostasis in rats. Obes Res. Background: In humans, circulating concentrations of the hormone leptin, normalized to body fat mass, are significantly higher in females compared to males. This experiment was designed to determine whether the administration of exogenous androgen or estrogen would significantly alter the relationship between plasma leptin and fat mass in rats. Methods: In the first experiment, plasma leptin and retro-peritoneal and parametrial (female)/epididymal (male) adipose tissue expression of leptin mRNA were measured in five male and five female 9. 5-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. In a second experiment, gonadectomized 10. 5-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats received 1 or 2 weeks of daily intraperitoneal injections (in oil) of 750 mg testosterone propionate, 2. 5 μg of estradiol benzoate or vehicle. At 0, 1, and 2 weeks, plasma concentrations of leptin, fat pad weight of parametrial and retroperitoneal fat pads, and leptin mRNA expression by Northern blot in retroperitoneal fat pads were determined. Daily weight and food intake of animals were monitored throughout the study. Results: Circulating leptin concentrations per unit of fat pad mass and leptin mRNA expression normalized to actin mRNA were higher in gonadally intact female compared to male rats. Compared to placebo, estrogen administration decreased food intake and body weight, but had no significant effect on leptin mRNA expression or on circulating leptin concentration. Testosterone administration increased body weight and decreased expression of leptin mRNA (only after 2 weeks), but did not change food intake or circulating leptin concentration. Conclusions: Administration of estrogen did not affect either leptin expression or the circulating concentration of leptin. Administration of androgen decreased expression of leptin mRNA. However, even after 2 weeks of testosterone administration to gonadectomized females, plasma leptin concentration, corrected for fat pad weight, was higher in gonadectomized females than in intact males, Thus, sex steroid-associated changes in plasma leptin concentration and leptin mRNA expression are not sufficient to explain the observed sexual dimorphism in plasma leptin concentrations in rats.
HEAD GROWTH IN SICK PREMATURE INFANTS-A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

Serial weekly measurements of somatic growth and head circumference were made for 10 weeka on 45 Caucasian infants. They had major neonatal problems - 32 (71%) required prolonged assisted ventilation. All were AGA, gestations ranged from 26-32 weeks (M 30.4±1.6 wks) and caloric intake from 102-130 cals/kg/day by the end of the 2nd week. During the first 7 weeks, coincident with their illness, the velocity of growth was significantly below that of the normal fetus with deviation away from and below the fetal growth curve. For head circumference, velocity was 0.2 cm/wk vs. 0.9 cm/wk for normal fetal growth (p<.05). During recovery over the next 3 weeks growth paralleled that of healthy preterm infants. Subsequently rapid “catch-up” growth in head circumference occurred. By comparison, 6 similar infants whose head circumference followed the intra-uterine growth curve had proven hydrocephalus. These results suggest that: (1) Growth in the sick preterm infant does not proceed at the same velocity as in the fetus and the use of growth charts based on cross-sectional fetal growth may be misleading; (2) Hydrocephalus should be suspected in a sick infant whoae head circumference follows the fetal growth curve; (3) In spite of an adequate caloric intake, the energy distribution of the sick LBW Infant appears to prevent new growth until the acute illness has resolved.
A systematic review for the screening for peripheral arterial disease in asymptomatic patients

Background Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. PAD can be detected through a noninvasive measurement of the ankle-brachial index (ABI). Methods We conducted a systematic review of several electronic bibliographic databases for studies that evaluated ABI as a screening test for PAD in asymptomatic individuals. We conducted random-effects meta-analysis, reporting pooled hazard ratios (HRs) when appropriate. Results We included 40 individual studies, 2 systematic reviews, and 1 individual-patient data meta-analysis. We found no studies comparing ABI screening with no screening in terms of patient-important outcomes (mortality, amputations). The yield of PAD screening averaged 17% (range, 1%-42%) and was 1% to 4% in lower risk populations. Patients with PAD had higher adjusted risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 2.99; 95% confidence interval, 2.16-4.12) and of cardiovascular mortality (HR, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-2.89). Data on benefits, harms, and cost-effectiveness of screening were limited; however, ABI screening was associated with additional prognostic information and risk stratification for heart disease. The overall quality of evidence supporting screening was low. Conclusions The current available evidence demonstrates that PAD is common in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but it does not support the benefit of routine ABI screening.
Emerging Ideas: Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 in Muscle Atrophy

Background Muscle atrophy impacts almost every patient seen for orthopaedic conditions. Unfortunately, no effective treatment is available to date. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-2, are involved in skeletal muscle atrophy. MMP-2 null mice reportedly have substantially reduced muscle atrophy after tendon transection compared with wild-type mice, suggesting MMP-2 plays an important role in muscle atrophy. Although the exact mechanisms remain unknown, a newly-discovered intracellular form of MMP-2 suggests a possible novel mechanism of MMP-2 digesting muscle matrix during muscle atrophy. I propose a new pharmacologic treatment for muscle atrophy using selective MMP-2 inhibitors.
Significant developments in membrane desalination — 1979

Abstract A brief summary of several recent developments connected with the Office of Water Research and Technology (OWRT) program on advancing membrane desalination technology is presented. The impact of recently enacted legislation on the OWRT program and newly obtained results of operational testing with reverse osmosis composite membranes for both seawater and low pressure brackish water desalting applications are described. The status of the 96 mgd Yuma, Arizona brackish water desalting plant is discussed. A synopsis of the 3.2 mgd (12,000 m 3 /day) Jedda, Saudi Arabia reverse osmosis seawater desalting plant and a description of a high temperature electrodialysis pilot plant of 50,000 gpd capacity designed for seawater desalination are given. Finally, estimated costs for both seawater and brackish water desalting using reverse osmosis and electrodialysis membrane plants of up to 10 mgd capacity are provided.
Development of the High Speed Air Drop Container (HISAC): Status report

This paper discusses the development of the High Speed Air Drop Container (HISAC). The HISAC is an aerodynamically configured cargo container which will be transported and delivered as an external store by high performance tactical aircraft. It will be used to resupply ground forces with up to 500 pounds of equipment and supplies at release speeds up to Mach 0.95 and at altitudes as low as 300 feet above ground level (AGL). The HISAC design requirements are presented and the development approach is discussed. The store design is presented in detail and results of numerous tests are discussed. The parachute system design and testing is covered but not in detail, as this is the subject of another technical paper. Finally, the present status of the development program is discussed along with the future direction of the program. 5 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.
A molecular basis for estrogen-induced cryptorchidism

Male sexual differentiation relies upon testicular secretion of the hormones testosterone, Mullerian inhibiting substance, and insulin-3 (Insl3). Insl3 is responsible for testicular descent through virilization and outgrowth of the embryonic gubernaculum. In mouse, prenatal exposure to 17beta-estradiol and the nonsteroidal synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) disturbs the endocrine balance, causing demasculinizing and feminizing effects in the male embryo, including impaired testicular descent (cryptorchidism). In the current study, we show that maternal exposure to estrogens, including 17alpha- and beta-estradiol, as well as DES, specifically down regulates Insl3 expression in embryonic Leydig cells, thereby providing a mechanism for cryptorchidism. These experiments may have implications for the widespread use of estrogenic substances in agriculture and the environment.
TiO2–RuO2 electrocatalyst supports exhibit exceptional electrochemical stability

Abstract Titanium dioxide–ruthenium dioxide (TiO2–RuO2; TRO) powders were prepared in both the hydrous and anhydrous form using a wet chemical synthesis procedure. These materials were characterized by XRD, TEM, and BET. Their electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties such as stability under potential cycling, electrochemical surface area (ECSA), electrocatalytic activity, and fuel cell performance were measured. Anhydrous TiO2–RuO2 (TRO-a) demonstrated exceptional electrochemical stability compared to baseline Vulcan XC-72R carbon when tested using an aggressive accelerated stability test (AST) protocol. The various TRO powders were catalyzed by depositing platinum nanoparticles by an impregnation–reduction method to yield Pt/TRO electrocatalysts. The Pt/TRO-a electrocatalysts had a mass activity of 54 mA m g Pt − 1 and a specific activity of 284 μ A c m Pt − 2 for the oxygen reduction reaction. Fuel cell polarization data was obtained on membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) prepared with Pt/TRO and baseline Pt/C electrocatalysts showed that the Pt-TRO-based MEAs exhibited very good performance. The performance obtained was below the Pt/C benchmark, however, further improvements in performance are expected with greater optimization of the Pt particle size and electrode structure.
PC program extending the Potthoff-Roy longitudinal data analysis model to allow missing data: Kleinbaum's method

Potthoff and Roy (Biometrika, 51 (1964) 313-326) generalized the multivariate analysis of variance model into a form that is especially useful for the study of longitudinal growth curve data. Applications of this method have, however, been limited by the requirement that each case in the sample be measured at the same set of time points, i.e. there can be no missing data. In this paper we describe, illustrate, and make available a user-friendly, interactive PC program implementing Kleinbaum's (J Mult Anal, 3 (1973) 117-124) extension of the Potthoff-Roy model to allow incomplete measurement sequences. These missing data are permitted to arise either randomly or by design as in mixed longitudinal studies.
Discriminative cues produced by NPY do not generalize to the interoceptive cues produced by food deprivation

Abstract Exogenous administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) into the third ventricle causes a rapid and robust feeding response in sated rats. The current experiment was designed to assess whether the interoceptive cues produced by exogenous NPY administration generalize to those produced by another orexigenic treatment: 24-h food deprivation. Rats were placed in a chamber after receiving either NPY or saline infused into the third ventricle for a total of six sessions (three after NPY and three after saline). Half of the rats were given a brief foot shock after NPY and not after saline, while the other half received the opposite contingency. The pattern of behavioral immobility for the two groups differed with the rats “freezing” significantly more to the treatment (NPY or saline) paired with shock. Then rats were tested for generalization by placing them in the chamber either after 0- or 24-h food deprivation with no NPY or saline administration or any foot shock. Behavioral immobility during the generalization test of rats that had been trained with shock following saline was greater than that for rats that had been trained with shock following NPY, independent of whether testing occurred when the rats were 0- or 24-h food deprived. This outcome indicates that interoceptive stimuli produced by NPY are no more similar to internal cues produced by 24-h food deprivation than to the stimulus consequences of ad lib feeding. These and other recent findings suggest that food deprivation activates processes or mechanisms different from those that underlie the orexigenic effects of NPY.
Entrepreneurship and economic development: the valley of backwardness

This paper identifies the impact of productive, unproductive, and destructive entrepreneurship on social value creation. The paper constructs a Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index (GEDI) that captures the contextual feature of entrepreneurship across countries. We find the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic development to be mildly S-shaped. It is seen that the stages of development are more varied at the innovation-driven stage than at either the factor-driven stage or the efficiency-driven stage. Implications for public policy suggest that institutions need to be strengthened before entrepreneurial resource can be fully deployed. Keywords: entrepreneurship; development; stages of growth; globalization; innovation; institutions (Published: 7 October 2010) Citation: Annals of Innovation & Entrepreneurship 2010, 1: 5641 - DOI: 10.3402/aie.v1i1.5641
Haplotypes of the human β‐like globin gene cluster: Analyzing the 3′ Hpa I polymorphic site by long distance PCR

Haplotypes of the beta-like globin gene cluster in individuals with sickle cell disease appear to be important as prognostic factors for the severity of the disease. The Hpa I polymorphic site 3' of the beta-globin gene is very often involved in haplotyping. However, this restriction site cannot be ascertained by conventional PCR, as it is in the middle of a long repetitive sequence. Long distance PCR was employed to amplify this Hpa I-containing region. By positioning either one or both primers outside the repetitive sequence, specific amplification was achieved. Moreover, sufficient amplification can be obtained by using a white cell lysate instead of purified DNA, thereby significantly reducing the amount of blood needed, and the total procedure time.
A Study of Paraphrases.

Three types of paraphrase were investigated. Transformational (T): Here the surface structure of the base is changed but its basic vocabulary (content words) is retained. Lexical (L): The surface structure of the base is retained but synonyms are substituted for its content words. Formalexic (F): This type represents a combination of T and L types. In Experiment 1 college students rated T types as most similar in meaning to their base, F types least smiliar, with L types intermediate. Experiment 2 investigated the retention, comprehension, and memory space required for storage of two sentences related by virtue of repetition (RE) or paraphrase (T, L, or F). Performance was superior, in general, under conditions RE and T, next best for L, and worst for F.
Welcome to Nanomedicine

Charles R Martin Senior Editor, University of Florida, Colonel Allen R. and Margaret G. Crow Professor of Chemistry, University of Florida Research Foundation Professor, Fellow of the Electrochemical Society, Department of Chemistry, Department of Anesthesiology, Director Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, Gainesville, FL 32611-7200, USA Tel.: +1 352 392 8205; Fax: +1 352 392 8206; E-mail: crmartin@ chem.ufl.edu ‘Nanomedicine is emerging as one of the most important sub-disciplines under the nanotechnology umbrella.’
What Should We Be Doing to Reduce or End Campus Violence

Over the last several years, there have been a number of high-profile incidents of violence on college and university campuses. These have precipitated discussions and new initiatives on campuses and within our professional organizations intended to prevent and respond to violence.
The inflation-catheter technique of ventilation during laryngoscopy

Over the past three years the inflation-catheter technique (ICT) of controlled ventilation during general anaesthesia has proved a safe and useful method for use with laryngoscopy and other trans-oral endoscopies (most notably flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy). The ICT allows full control of the patient's airway for the anaesthetist and exceptionally good exposure for the surgeon. In this technique ventilation of the patient is accomplished by intermittent high flow (10 ml/kg/sec) inflation of the lungs through a small (2 to 6 mm diameter) plastic orotracheal catheter. The inflation-catheter is stiffened by fixation of an intralumenal wire. Exhalation is passive around the catheter through the open airway. The Inflation Catheter Technique is readily adaptable for patients ranging from large adults to small babies by variation of catheter sizes. It can be used safely with nitrous oxide-oxygen as the ventilating gas(i.e., Bird N2O/O2 Blender) since air entrainment is not a feature. It is also readily adaptable for use with mechanical ventilation (i.e., Wolf Injectomat).
EXPRESSION OF VL30 VECTORS IN HUMAN CELLS THAT ARE TARGETS FOR GENE THERAPY

Novel vectors made from mouse VL30 retrotransposons were tested in cell types that are targets for gene therapy, including normal human cells (skeletal muscle epithelium, bronchial epithelium, mammary epithelium), Epstein-Barr virus-transformed peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), and various tumor cell lines. The long terminal repeat (LTR) transcriptional promoter, derived from the retroelement NVL-3, expressed abundant mRNA containing the bacterial neomycin resistance gene (neo) in all cell types tested. The amounts of neo RNA detected on RNA blots from normal vs. transformed cells were similar, although relatively less RNA was expressed in PBLs than in other cell types. Vector RNA expression in PBLs persisted during six months of continuous culture. Transcription was regulated by fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin, with the effects of each being cell-type-dependent. Thus, VL30 vectors introduced and expressed transgenes at significant levels in a number of cell types that are of interest for human gene therapy of metabolic and neoplastic diseases.
Spin trapping in biological systems. Oxidation of the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide by a hydroperoxide-hematin system

Abstract We have used the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide to determine if primary free radicals are involved in the hematin-cumene hydroperoxide system which has been shown to oxidize N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene into the nitroxyl free radical form of this carcinogen. We have found that the spin trap was oxidized itself rather than trapping either primary free radicals or carcinogen free radicals.
Saturn's ring and nearby faint satellites

Observations of Saturn's rings during passage of the Earth through the ring plane, coupled with those of others, suggest a ring thickness of 1.3 plus or minus 0.3 km. The wide disparity in the optical depth of Cassini's division found by other investigators is resolved, and for conservative isotropic single scattering, a normal optical depth for Cassini's division of 0.060 plus or minus 0.006 is obtained. We find the mean normal optical depth of ring C to be 0.074 plus or minus 0.007. Analysis of all available observations of faint objects near Saturn indicates the presence of at least one previously undiscovered satellite of Saturn. The orbit for Janus determined by Dollfus is supported. These satellites may be major members of an extended ring.