cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of mTORC1 by PI3K signaling

The class I phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling network directs cellular metabolism and growth. Activation of mTORC1 [composed of mTOR, regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (Raptor), mammalian lethal with SEC13 protein 8(mLST8), 40-kDa proline-rich Akt substrate (PRAS40), and DEP domain-containing mTOR-interacting protein (DEPTOR)] depends on the Ras-related GTPases (Rags) and Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) GTPase and requires signals from amino acids, glucose, oxygen, energy (ATP), and growth factors (including cytokines and hormones such as insulin). Here we discuss the signal transduction mechanisms through which growth factor-responsive PI3K signaling activates mTORC1. We focus on how PI3K-dependent activation of Akt and spatial regulation of the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) complex (TSC complex) [composed of TSC1, TSC2, and Tre2-Bub2-Cdc16-1 domain family member 7 (TBC1D7)] switches on Rheb at the lysosome, where mTORC1 is activated. Integration of PI3K- and amino acid-dependent signals upstream of mTORC1 at the lysosome is detailed in a working model. A coherent understanding of the PI3K-mTORC1 network is imperative as its dysregulation has been implicated in diverse pathologies including cancer, diabetes, autism, and aging.
Laboratory study of fabric development in shearing till: The importance of effective pressure and shearing rate

Abstract Herein we present data on the shearing rate (glacier velocity) and effective pressure (difference between the ice-overburden pressure and pore-water pressure) in the development of magnetic fabric (anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility) using a rotary ring-shear device. A Wisconsin-age basal till was used in the experiments and deformed to its critical state at shear strains as high as 93. We also present data from hysteresis and high temperature susceptibility experiments to identify the magnetic carrier in the basal till. Results showed little change in fabric strength when varying the shearing rate in the speed range of 110–860 m year − 1 . Moreover, the effective pressure tests also showed an inconsistency in fabric between 30 and 150 kPa; however, a slight strengthening effect was documented. Thus, the k 1 magnetic fabric strength is independent of the shearing rate and effective pressure. This suggests that the fabric strength upon these variables cannot be used as a benchmark for estimating shear deformation to the geological record. The k 1 fabric strength in this study; however, remained consistent with respect to other till particle fabric methods (e.g., sand and pebble) in which the same conclusion was drawn; all particles align parallel to the direction of shear and plunge mildly up glacier.
EHD-Enhanced Water Evaporation

Abstract The enhancement of water evaporation by electrostatic field (corona wind) has been experimentally evaluated in this study. Two sets of experiments were conducted, with and without cross-flow, at an increment of 1 kV from the corona threshold voltage until the occurrence of sparkover. Two types of electrodes (wire and needle) were used. In addition, both positive and negative corona discharges were applied. The weight loss of water due to evaporation as well as the ambient temperature and humidity were measured. For each case a companion experiment was carried out simultaneously under the same ambient conditions but without the application of electric field. The result of which is used as a basis in the evaluation of the evaporation enhancement using electric field. Each experiment lasted for at least 5 h. With the application of electric field alone, the enhancement in the water evaporation rate increases with the applied voltage. With the introduction of cross-flow, the enhancement in the evapor...
Paulo Freire: Neglected Mentor for Social Work

Paulo Freire, Brazilian educator and author, advocated radical educational approaches to empower oppressed peoples. Social workers contributing to English-language journals and other literature have made only limited use of Freire's ideas. Explanations may include social work's clinical drift, discomfort with radical ideas, obliviousness to contributions from the developing world, unease with religious thought, and avoidance of primary sources, in addition to the complexity of Freire's writing style. This article introduces Freire's contributions and suggests consistent approaches in social work practice, past and present, illustrating that those who practice with marginalized and disempowered people can benefit from reading Freire as a mentor.
C0 Interior Penalty Methods for Fourth Order Elliptic Boundary Value Problems on Polygonal Domains

C0 interior penalty methods for fourth order elliptic boundary value problems on polygonal domains are analyzed in this paper. A post-processing procedure that can generate C1 approximate solutions from the C0 approximate solutions is presented. New C0 interior penalty methods based on the techniques involved in the post-processing procedure are introduced. These new methods are applicable to rough right-hand sides.
Stress ulcer prophylaxis in an evidence-based analysis of therapy

Abstract The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) therapeutic guidelines on stress ulcer prophylaxis are the first society-based published guidelines. These guidelines were promulgated following a rigorous and formal examination of the published medical literature. This evidence-based medicine approach is crucial for the development of comprehensive scientifically based clinical care. A multidisciplinary team including pharmacy specialists in critical care and drug information, consulting physicians and nurses, and an independent panel of clinical specialists appointed by ASHP prepared and reviewed the guidelines. The guidelines can aid health care professionals in identifying appropriate patients for stress ulcer prophylaxis and selecting cost-effective therapeutic options. The scope of the article includes application of guidelines for patients of all ages following a stressful event, such as trauma or surgery, which would predispose them to stress-induced bleeding. Therapeutic agents evaluated include only those available in the United States, regardless of United States Food and Drug Administration-approved labeling. The article is divided into sections with pertinent issues related to stress ulcer prophylaxis in adults and pediatrics, when plausible. The evidence-based medical guidelines were developed following a comprehensive literature review of each presented issue. Summary data from randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses are presented to validate and strengthen the authors' line of reasoning. A summary and recommendation paragraph follows each major section. The first section evaluates the issues of frequency of bleeding, efficacy of prophylaxis, and risk factors for bleeding in general. The second major area of review includes these same topics as they relate to special populations. Other topics evaluated include the efficacy of prophylactic agents on bleeding prevention and mortality. A separate part evaluates the frequency of nosocomial pneumonia associated with stress ulcer prophylaxis. Therapeutic monitoring, other options for prophylaxis, prevention of recurrent bleeding, discontinuation of prophylaxis, and economic analysis complete the article.
Critical distance model for the energy of activation of the Bergman cyclization of enediynes

The reaction profile of the Bergman cyclization of enediynes is written as a cubic polynomial expansion about the critical distance. Using the “simple sewing” approximation, a relationship is derived that expresses the energy of activation as a function of the critical distance, with the effect of other geometric and electronic factors accounted for in the expansion coefficients. A training set of 10 representative enediynes were selected and input parameters were calculated by density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311G* level of theory. All calculations were corrected for zero-point energy. All singlet biradical calculations were also checked for wave function stability. Calibration curves were then constructed that correlate the activation energy of cyclization of the molecules in the test set with the critical distance parameter. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003
Identification of a Novel Tropomodulin Isoform, Skeletal Tropomodulin, That Caps Actin Filament Pointed Ends in Fast Skeletal Muscle

Tropomodulin (E-Tmod) is an actin filament pointed end capping protein that maintains the length of the sarcomeric actin filaments in striated muscle. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of a novel tropomodulin isoform, skeletal tropomodulin (Sk-Tmod) from chickens. Sk-Tmod is 62% identical in amino acid sequence to the previously described chicken E-Tmod and is the product of a different gene. Sk-Tmod isoform sequences are highly conserved across vertebrates and constitute an independent group in the tropomodulin family. In vitro, chicken Sk-Tmod caps actin and tropomyosin-actin filament pointed ends to the same extent as does chicken E-Tmod. However, E- and Sk-Tmods differ in their tissue distribution; Sk-Tmod predominates in fast skeletal muscle fibers, lens, and erythrocytes, while E-Tmod is found in heart and slow skeletal muscle fibers. Additionally, their expression is developmentally regulated during chicken breast muscle differentiation with Sk-Tmod replacing E-Tmod after hatching. Finally, in skeletal muscle fibers that coexpress both Sk- and E-Tmod, they are recruited to different actin filament-containing cytoskeletal structures within the cell: myofibrils and costameres, respectively. All together, these observations support the hypothesis that vertebrates have acquired different tropomodulin isoforms that play distinct roles in vivo.
Preassigned character values in the Gaussian integers

Abstract Let γ1, γ2,…, γt be distinct prime Gaussian integers. With k an odd positive rational integer, take ω1, ω2,…, ωt to be k-th roots of unity, not necessarily distinct nor primitive. We show there exist infinitely many prime Gaussian integers π having a k-th-power character χ such that χ(γi) = ωi, 1 ≤ i ≤ t.
Amperometric determination of guanethidine sulfate in a flowing stream at the glassy carbon electrode

Abstract A flow-injection method for the determination of guanethidine sulfate based on electrochemical oxidation at the glassy carbon electrode is presented. The amperometric method may be used to determine guanethidine sulfate in the presence of other drugs commonly found in its pharmaceutical dosage forms or administered concurrently in therapeutic situations. Using an electrode potential of +1200 mV, a calibration curve is linear in the 0.5–16 μg/ml concentration range with minimum detectability at 5 ng ( S N = 2 ). The method applied to the analysis of guanethidine sulfate in selected pharmaceutical dosage forms shows good accuracy and precision. Although automation was not used in this study, the method could readily be incorporated in automated systems because it employs the technique of continuous analysis in a flowing stream.
Review: The integration of mobile (tele) robotics and wireless sensor networks: A survey

Researchers have been extensively, but often independently, investigating Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), Mobile Robotics, and Teleoperation. Lately, due to the complementary nature of these areas, there is a growing trend in integrating them to support various applications that can go beyond passive monitoring and allow us to actually interact with the environment through autonomous and teleoperated robots. Such applications can extensively be used in medicine, science, military, industry, nuclear power stations, underwater, and space explorations. In this paper, we start with a review of the history of WSNs, robotics and mobility in WSNs, and teleoperation. We then introduce a system model integrating these areas as Wireless Sensor and Robot Networks with Teleoperation capabilities (WSRNT). Using this model, we define the problems associated with WSRNT. Finally, we discuss the recent research efforts and open research challenges in merging these fields with respect to major WSRNT tasks and communication requirements.
Plasmodium gallinaceum: selective immunosuppression by cyclophosphamide in preerythrocytic malaria.

Abstract When chicks are injected with the immunosuppressant cyclophosphamide (Cy) on days 1 and 2 after hatching and then injected with sporozoites from infected mosquitoes on day 4, the normal susceptibility of only one host cell type to the sequential invasive stages of the preerythrocytic forms of avian malaria ( Plasmodium gallinaceum ) is increased. Thus, only endothelial cells lining capillaries showed an increased susceptibility to invasion or development of second generation preerythrocytic parasites. There is some indication that such an increased susceptibility also occurs after X-irradiation of chicks but not after treatment with endotoxin. Neither the infectivity or development of sporozoites within macrophages nor the invasion of erythrocytes by parasites released from the tissues was apparently affected by Cy-treatment of chicks. Neither suppression of natural anti-sporozoite humoral antibody nor the possibility of suppression of acquired immunity to preerythrocytic stages of the parasite was shown to be responsible for the observed increased parasitemia of Cy-treated chicks. The apparent specificity of the immunosuppression of a natural immunity was ascertained by inoculation of a selected preerythrocytic stage into Cy-treated and control birds, and, in addition, by observing the increased tissue parasite levels of spleens and brains of similarly treated birds after sporozoite inoculation when compared to controls.
Strategic Performance Measurement Systems, Job‐Relevant Information, and Managerial Behavioral Responses—Role Stress and Performance

This study explores managerial behavioral responses associated with the extent to which a firm's performance measurement system is linked to its strategy (SPMS). We hypothesize that an SPMS is positively associated with higher levels of job‐relevant information (JRI) and lower levels of role stressors, which are then associated with higher levels of managerial performance. Using survey data from over 700 respondents, we find that an SPMS positively affects performance through its relations with JRI and role ambiguity (RA). Managers perceive that they have higher levels of JRI and lower levels of both role conflict (RC) and RA when they have an SPMS closely linked to strategy. In turn, performance is higher when managers perceive that their RA is lower. Additionally, we find that the link to the evaluative process, complexity, and managerial experience moderate the relations between an SPMS and JRI, RA, and RC.
Biogenic directional features on several recent point-bars

Abstract Fresh-water pelecypods and gastropods are distributed on Recent point-bars of the Wabash River in western Indiana and the Whitewater River in western Ohio with the larger species and individuals at the upper, coarse sediment ends of the bars and the smaller species and individuals at the lower, fine sediment ends of the bars. Molluscs trapped in the back-bar slough areas during and after floods make random patterned trails and burrows; and the molluscs on the bar-foreshore migrate down-slope with the shore line, leaving straight, long trails oriented at right angles to the shore line. On the foreshore, burrows and articulated shells are oriented downslope toward the Thalweg. These products of biogenic origin have a potential use as paleogeographic indicators of point-bar orientation and meander migration direction in ancient river sediments.
On choosability with separation of planar graphs with lists of different sizes

A ( k , d ) -list assignment L of a graph G is a mapping that assigns to each vertex v a list L ( v ) of at least k colors and for any adjacent pair x y , the lists L ( x ) and L ( y ) share at most d colors. A graph G is ( k , d ) -choosable if there exists an L -coloring of G for every ( k , d ) -list assignment L . This concept is also known as choosability with separation.It is known that planar graphs are (4, 1)-choosable but it is not known if planar graphs are (3, 1)-choosable. We strengthen the result that planar graphs are (4, 1)-choosable by allowing an independent set of vertices to have lists of size 3 instead of 4.Our strengthening is motivated by the observation that in (4, 1)-list assignment, vertices of an edge have together at least 7 colors, while in (3, 1)-list assignment, they have only at least 5. Our setting gives at least 6 colors.
Vitamin D, Low-Grade Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk in Young Children: A Pilot Study

Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties, and deficiency is prevalent in children. There is a paucity of data regarding vitamin D status and its correlation with low-grade inflammation and vasculature. We prospectively enrolled 25 children, 9-11 years old (13 male); 21 obese. Eight atherosclerosis-promoting risk factors were scored as categorical variables with the following thresholds defining abnormality: body mass index Z score ≥ 1.5; systolic blood pressure ≥ 95th percentile (for age, sex, and height); triglyceride ≥ 100 mg/dL; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 110 mg/dL; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≤ 45 mg/dL; hemoglobin A1C (HBA1C) ≥ 5.5; 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] ≤ 30 ng/mL, and tobacco smoke exposure. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured to assess low-grade inflammation and classified as low- ( 3 to 30 ng/mL). hsCRP was 1.7 (0.2-9.1) mg/L, with 11 being 3.0 to < 10.0 mg/L. Risk factor score was 3.9 ± 1.7 out of eight. 25(OH) D levels did not correlate with hsCRP or CIMT. While vitamin D deficiency, inflammation, and risk factors coexist at a very young age, causative mechanisms remain unclear.
Third Molars and Progression of Periodontal Pathology During Pregnancy

Purpose This study was conducted to evaluate the association between third molar periodontal pathology at enrollment and periodontal disease progression during pregnancy. Patients and Methods The data were derived from patients in an institutional review board–approved prospective study known as the Oral Conditions and Pregnancy (OCAP) study. Demographic, health behavior, and medical history data were obtained from medical records. Full-mouth periodontal examinations of 6 periodontal probing sites for each visible tooth, including third molars, were conducted at less than 26 weeks of pregnancy and within 72 hours postpartum. The primary outcome variable was periodontal progression (4 or more probing sites with at least a 2 mm increase in probing depth (PD), all at least 4 mm deep), between the enrollment and postpartum examinations. The primary predictor variables at enrollment were at least 1 PD ≥4 mm around the third molars, and the upper tertile of the number of third molar probing sites recorded as bleeding on probing (BOP). Bivariate analyses were performed for baseline characteristics. The χ 2 test was used to determine statistical significance ( P = .05). Significant variables were included in unconditional logistic multivariable models to derive relative risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Data from enrollment and term were available for 360 subjects with visible third molars (mean age, 27.3 years; standard deviation, 5.5 years). At the postpartum examination, 122 subjects (34%) demonstrated periodontal progression. These subjects included 74 of the 176 subjects (42%) in whom a third molar PD ≥4 mm was detected at baseline and 48 of the 184 (26%) without third molar PD ≥4 mm ( P = .001). Periodontal progression was found in 40 of the 77 subjects (52%) who were in the upper tertile of the number of third molar probing sites exhibiting BOP at enrollment versus 82 of the 203 (29%) in the lower tertiles ( P = .0002). In multivariable models, either third molar PD ≥4 mm at enrollment (RR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.1 to 2.0) or third molar bleeding on probing (RR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.3 to 2.3) was associated with periodontal disease progression. Conclusion Third molar periodontal pathology appears to be a significant risk indicator for periodontal disease progression during pregnancy.
Nucleation and growth of dislocation loops in Cu, Al and Si by a concurrent atomistic-continuum method

Submicron-sized samples with 42,000 finite elements containing up to ∼86 million atoms have been simulated using a concurrent atomistic-continuum method. The simulations reproduce not only nucleation and growth of semicircular dislocation loops in Cu and Al, but also hexagonal shuffle dislocation loops in Si, with the loop radius approaching ∼75 nm. Details of leading and trailing partial dislocations connected by intrinsic stacking faults, dislocation loop coalescence through annihilation, and formation of junctions are reproduced.
AIDS related opportunistic infections, going but not gone.

It is now more than two decades since the AIDS epidemic began with a cluster ofPneumocystiscarinii pneumonia (PCP) in a community of homosexual men. Since then, many other infections have been characterized as opportunistic infections secondary to HIV infection. These include, but are not limited to, infections withToxoplasma gondii, Cytomegalovirus (CMV),Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), andCryptococcus neoformans. Over the last two decades, there have been dramatic improvements in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of all these infections. As a result, in North America and Western Europe the rates of opportunistic infections secondary to AIDS have decreased substantially. We will review these common opportunistic infections below.
Fossil cercopithecidae from the middle pleistocene dawaitoli formation, Middle Awash Valley, Afar Region, Ethiopia

A series of fossil cercopithecoids has been recovered from the Dawaitoli Formaiton, in the Middle Awash study area, Ethiopia. The Dawaitoli Fm. has been dated to 600 Ka. This series includes several partial cra- nia of Theropithecus oswaldi leakeyi as well as other cra- nial and postcranial fragments. This material is some of the most complete to date and adds considerably to what is known of this widespread and abundant taxon. There are also two isolated papionin molars here allocated to Papio cf. hamadryas based largely on size grounds and similarity to contemporary material from other sites in the Afar Depression. Cercopithecoids are rare in the Dawaitoli Fm., and among them only large papionins are known. This is unique among known Pleistocene sites in the Afar region, but is most similar to the Daka Member of the Bouri Formation. It is quite different from the other known Middle Pleistocene sites in the Afar: Asbole and the geologically younger Andalee where cercopithecoids are abundant and colobines predominate. Am J Phys Anthropol 134:460-471, 2007. V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Kinetics of Megacaryocyte Proliferation.

The kinetics of the megaca-ryocytic cell line of the rat bone marrow were studied using tritiated thymidine as a cell label. The changes in the percentage of labeled cells as a function of time after injection of the tracer were registered separately for arbitrarily chosen successive recognizable stages of megacaryocytic differentiation. Emphasis is put on the development of initially labeled cells into a stage of maturation corresponding to initially non- labeling cell forms. The transit time for the most immature recognizable stage of megacaryocytic development to megacaryocytic disintegration is approximately 40 hours. Evidence was obtained that the recognizable megacaryocytic elements originate from unrecognized precursors which continuously synthesize DNA for a period of at least 1 to 3 days prior to maturation into recognizable megacaryocytic precursors. The immature megacaryocytic cells able to synthesize DNA take up more H/sup 3/ thymidine than the rest of the bone marrow cells. This is consistent with polyploidy. The process of nuclear lobulation is not acoomplished by the end of DNA synthesis, thus being comparable to nuclear segmentation in neutrophilic granulocytes. This latest phase of maturation is relatively long (approximately 25 to 30 hours) as compared to the phase during which recognizable megacaryocytic precursors which recognizablemore » megacaryocytic precursors are able to synthesize DNA (less than 15 hours). (auth)« less
Textual and nontextual characteristics of scientific papers: Neglected science indicators

The citation rates of scientific papers, long used by numerous sociologists of science to measure the influence of individual scientists and the diffusion of knowledge, are shown to be partly affected by the various structural characteristics of these papers. Based on an analysis of 221 scientific papers in three cocitation clusters, between 15 and 35 percent of the variation in citation rates is found to be a function of those papers' textual and nontextual characteristics. The citation rates of papers in the Burkitts-Lymphoma and Heavy Quark Potential clusters are shown to be heavily dependent on abstract characteristics such as readability and number of uncommon words. The citation rates of DNA cluster papers are observed to be significantly affected by both the number of references and figures found in teh body of those papers. Of particular note is the fact that while the readability of abstracts is shown to decrease the citation rates of Burkitts-Lymphoma papers, the opposite is true of Heavy Quark Potential papers.
Differential bearing estimation for RF tags

Fusing spatially distributed observations in wireless sensor networks or asset tracking in a shipyard are just two-example applications where the location of radio nodes needs to be known. Localization and tracking of wireless nodes have been an active research area, yet a universal solution has not emerged so far. This paper introduces a novel method for bearing estimation based on a rotating antenna generating a Doppler shifted RF signal. The small frequency change can be measured even on low-cost resource constrained nodes using a radio interferometric technique introduced previously. Bearing information between anchors nodes at known locations and RF tags at unknown positions can be derived. A few such measurements provide enough information to enable accurate node localization.
Usefulness of repeat balloon aortic valvuloplasty in children

This retrospective study examines all 15 patients who underwent a second balloon dilation procedure for congenital aortic stenosis to determine its safety and efficacy. The recurrent gradient was significantly reduced, but 4 patients had unsatisfactory gradient relief, 3 of whom had previous surgical valvotomies; therefore, we conclude that repeat balloon aortic valvuloplasty is worthwhile, although third balloon dilations may not be beneficial.
BRIDGING TIES AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL

Abstract This paper examines the relevance of the “strength of weak ties” model (Granovetter 1973) in devising community development strategies for urban neighborhoods. The policy implications of this model for activities designed to promote neighborhood identification and cohesion are outlined, and Granovetter's specific assumptions about the structure and functioning of urban neighborhood social networks are assessed in light of existing research. Little support is found for the presumed absence of bridging weak ties among urban neighbors, or for the assumption that strong ties create an obstacle to effective political mobilization in working-class neighborhoods. An alternative model of local-level integration is suggested, which retains Granovetter's concept of dense clusters of network ties linked by “local bridges”, but re-examines the role of weak ties in effecting such bridges.
Cognitive Performance During Respirator Wear in the Absence of Other Stressors

Reaction time, decision-making speed, and response accuracy were measured in 12 male and 5 female subjects performing computer-controlled tasks under nonexercise conditions during two 3.5-hour days, one with and one without (control) wearing a respirator, to assess the effects of respirator wear alone on cognitive performance. Tasks included measures of simple and choice reaction time (CRT), serial pattern matching, lexical discrimination (LD), visual selective attention, rapid visual scanning, and form discrimination (FD). Anxiety levels were assessed along with reaction time measures obtained at the start of each test day and after 1, 2, and 3 hours of testing. Reaction time and response accuracy did not differ significantly between respirator and control trials and were not changed over time. However, mean decision-making times were significantly faster during respirator wear compared to control for the LD (0.17±0.04 versus 0.19±0.05 sec) and FD (0.32±0.10 versus 0.36±0.12 sec) CRT tasks. Females exhib...
On pro-reductive groups

In the proof of the Freudenthal–Weil theorem in, for example (5), essential use is made of the fact that if G and H are compact analytic groups and o: G → H is a continuous epimorphism then o( Z(G) 0 ) = Z(H) 0 where the subscript 0 denotes the identity component of a topological group G and Z(G) its centre. Although this is sufficient for the proof of the Freudenthal–Weil theorem it raises the interesting question as to whether actually o( Z(G) ) = Z(H) (from which the above would follow) and, if so, in what generality this can be expected. The present paper deals with this question, in more general form, as well as certain of its structural consequences.
Regulation of cell adhesion in the Drosophila embryo by phosphorylation of the Cadherin-Catenin-Complex

Cell-culture studies indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of the cadherin-catenin-complex (CCC) is one of the post-translational mechanism regulating E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion. In this investigation, controlled application of a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor (orthovanadate) and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (tyrphostin) to early Drosophila embryos, followed by biochemical assays and phenotypic analysis, has been utilized to address the mechanism by which tyrosine phosphorylation regulates E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion in vivo. Our data suggest that, in the Drosophila embryo, β-catenin (Drosophila homolog Armadillo) is the primary tyrosine-phosphorylated protein in the CCC. The increase in tyrosine phosphorylation correlates with a loss of epithelial integrity and adherens junctions in the ectoderm of early embryos. Late application of the phosphatase inhibitor does not have this effect, presumably because of the formation of septate junctions in late embryos. Co-immunoprecipitation assays have demonstrated that tyrosine hyper-phosphorylation does not cause the dissociation of Drosophila (D)E-cadherin and α-catenin or Armadillo, suggesting that abrogation in adhesion is most likely attributable to the detachment of actin-associated proteins from the CCC. Finally, although the Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a receptor tyrosine kinase, is linked to the CCC and shows genetic interactions with DE-cadherin, we find that a constitutively active Drosophila EGFR construct does not cause any detectable changes in the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of Armadillo or destabilization of the CCC.
Abstract 2422: Circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers in prostate cancer pathogenesis.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Introduction: According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer (PCa) is a major health concern for U.S. men and is expected to result in approximately 241,740 new cases and about 28,170 deaths in 2012. African American (AA) men have a 60 percent higher incidence rate and twice the death rate of Caucasian men (CA). Whereas metastasis is the most common cause of death, no specific markers have been assigned to the severity and ethnic biasness of the disease. Deregulation of miRNAs has been observed in various human tumors which emphasize their role in cancer pathogenesis, progression and metastasis. This study was aimed to investigate potential miRNAs involved in PCa. The study also aims to identify potential biomarkers and/or their therapeutic targets which can provide insight into the severity and ethnic biasness of disease. Methods: Study was divided into three phases: (I) Candidate serum miRNAs were detected by using PCR microarray (learning set of 6 AA and 6 CA PCa patients). (II) Discriminating performance of candidate miRNAs were validated by real-time RT-PCR in serum [AA (20 PCa patients and 16 controls) and CA (16 PCa patients and 16 controls). (III) Functional studies on candidate miRNA(s) were subsequently performed using gain-and loss-of-function approach in cellular assays. Results: In the discovery phase we obtained 5 miRNAs which were differentially expressed in the AA prostate cancer patients. After careful examination miR-212 and few others were selected for future validation. In the validation set there was an overall high expression of miR-212 in serum of PCa patients as compared to normal individuals (p=0.0110). Subdivision on the basis of ethnicity showed serum expression levels of miR-212 in AA were significantly modulated (p=0.034) as compared to CA PCa patients. Functional validation of miR-212 was done in PC3 and LnCap cell lines. Conclusion: Our results showed a potential role for miR-212 in the regulation of gene expression which in turn can define the aggressiveness associated in African American PCa patients. Citation Format: Anvesha Srivastava, Malathi Ramalinga, Deepak Kumar, Alexander Dimtchev, Juliet Chijioke, Offie Soldin, Xin Li, Catalin Marian, Simeng Suy, Sean P. Collins, Deepak Kumar. Circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers in prostate cancer pathogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2422. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2422
Is blood thicker than water? Peer effects in stent utilization among Floridian cardiologists

Abstract Variations in physician practice are pervasive and costly, and may be harmful. The objective of much policy in the West is to increase the interconnectedness of physicians, furthering the transfer of information and thus reducing variation. This study tests whether physicians are influenced by the practice of peers, or if propensity, mere context or sorting of like-minded physicians better explain similarities and differences in practice. We study US cardiologists who place coronary stents into patients with blocked arteries around the heart. Organized in locally competing physician groups and also as solo practitioners, they see patients in offices, but insert the stents at a shared production facility – the cath lab. We examine their use of the popular drug-eluting coronary stents between their launch and rapid adoption in early 2003, and through the period of late 2006 in which private and public reports of serious late side-effects eventually led to reductions in use. Our analyses use administrative claims data on nearly 1000 cardiologists and their patients in Florida, USA, merged with Florida physician licensure data. Collectively these physicians used these stents nearly a quarter of a million times in the 4 year period reviewed. Pooled and panel linear regressions for device utilization by a physicians are estimated using measures of peer utilization, physician characteristics and controls for unobservable physician characteristics, common shocks and selection effects. We find strong evidence for intra-group but against inter-group practice spillovers. Even when sharing the same lab, competing cardiologists did not appear to correlate practices. Our results are consistent with a view that policies aimed at increasing the interconnectedness of physicians must first consider the organizational barriers and competitive forces that can stymie knowledge transfer even among physicians working closely together.
Human Xenografts Are Not Rejected in a Naturally Occurring Immunodeficient Porcine Line: A Human Tumor Model in Pigs

Animal models for cancer therapy are invaluable for preclinical testing of potential cancer treatments; however, therapies tested in such models often fail to translate into clinical settings. Therefore, a better preclinical model for cancer treatment testing is needed. Here we demonstrate that an immunodeficient line of pigs can host and support the growth of xenografted human tumors and has the potential to be an effective animal model for cancer therapy. Wild-type and immunodeficient pigs were injected subcutaneously in the left ear with human melanoma cells (A375SM cells) and in the right ear with human pancreatic carcinoma cells (PANC-1). All immunodeficient pigs developed tumors that were verified by histology and immunohistochemistry. Nonaffected littermates did not develop tumors. Immunodeficient pigs, which do not reject xenografted human tumors, have the potential to become an extremely useful animal model for cancer therapy because of their similarity in size, anatomy, and physiology to humans.
Molecular design of conducting polymer for electrochromic applications

The electrochromism of polyaniline in the near infrared spectral range is studied. Spectroelectrochemical data are used to construct optically monitored cyclic voltamograms (o- CV). Details of the electrochromic effects are clarified by comparing o-CV with the ordinary current monitored cyclic voltamograms (i-CV). Components of Faradaic currents to the cyclic voltamogram can be resolved by comparing o-CV with i-CV. We discuss molecular designs for modifying the properties of polyaniline. By a template-guided polymerization scheme, we synthesize the double strand polymeric complex of polyaniline. The first strand is a conducting polymer and the second strand is a polyelectrolyte. This molecular complex has the advantage of being more stable, more processable than the conventional polyaniline. The double strand molecular complex offers increased flexibility in molecular design of electrochromic and electroactive polymers.
The Perceived Effects of State Governance Decentralization on Baccalaureate Articulation

Almost all community colleges provide baccalaureate degree access through the implementation of articulated programs of study called 2 + 2 agreements. Articulation agreements are designed to ensure that associate degree courses apply toward upper-level baccalaureate study. Florida has a long-standing statewide articulation policy that was highly regulated by a state university governing board, the Board of Regents (BOR). The 2001 abolishment of the BOR led to the development of a local governance structure. Thus, university governance transitioned from a centralized to a decentralized model with corresponding questions arising about the continued viability of the statewide articulation policy. This study focused on the perceived impact of the governance change on compliance with Florida's 2 + 2 articulation policy and institutional student support services. Employing a descriptive qualitative design, the structure and function of community college transfer student services and student life programs at thr...
A spatial model for collaborative filtering of comments in an online discussion forum

This extended abstract presents a new spatial model for collaboratively recommending "compelling" comments in an online discussion forum that promote consensus among a diverse group of users. In this application our goal is to promote comments that are rated highly by dissimilar users, which in some sense is a dual to traditional recommender problems. We propose a model for weighting and aggregating comment ratings that gives greater influence to positive ratings from users who tend to disagree with the commenter, and we compare it with various alternate methods. The model has the added benefit of being resistant to manipulation by false ratings and sybil attacks.We test the model on comments in Opinion Space, a new online discussion tool that allows users to visualize where they stand with respect to other users in terms of their opinions on a set of controversial propositions. Comments in the system are recommended visually, where more "compelling" comments are emphasized with larger sizes.
Pediatric residents' and continuity clinic preceptors' perceptions of the effects of restricted work hours on their learning relationship.

Objective The effects of the Work Hour Standard (WHS) on continuity of care and quality of education has stimulated much discussion, yet little is known about how it affects the resident–continuity clinic preceptor (CCP) dyad, the only longitudinal learning relationship in pediatric residency. This case study explored residents' and CCPs' perceptions of the effects of restricted work hours on their learning relationship. Methods Direct observation of third-year pediatric residents (n = 10) and their CCPs (n = 10) was carried out in continuity clinic (CC) for 5 months; both groups attended clinic before and after the WHS. Semistructured, audiotaped interviews were conducted with residents before and after observation, and with CCPs after resident data were collected. Data from interview transcripts and observational notes were analyzed for major themes. Results To comply with the WHS, postcall clinic was eliminated and residents were rescheduled to another afternoon CC. The consequence of eliminating postcall clinic, disruption in the resident-CCP relationship, was perceived differently by residents and CCPs. From the residents' perspective, rescheduling CC in response to the WHS benefited their learning because it exposed them to different CCPs with different practice styles. From the CCPs' perspective, rescheduling CC frustrated their efforts to be learner-centered teachers and effective mentors. Conclusions Intended changes to limit excessive work hours had unintended effects that were viewed more favorably by residents than by CCPs. Understanding the shared and different perspectives of residents and preceptors regarding WHS-related changes in CC extends the discussion of the effect of restricted work hours.
Use of critical incidents to develop a rating form for resident evaluation of faculty teaching

CONTEXT Monitoring the teaching effectiveness of attending physicians is important to enhancing the quality of graduate medical education. METHODS We used a critical incident technique with 35 residents representing a cross-section of programmes in a teaching hospital to develop a 23-item rating form. We obtained ratings of 11 attending physicians in internal medicine and general surgery from 54 residents. We performed linear and logistic regression analysis to relate the items on the form to the residents' overall ratings of the attending physicians and the programme directors' ratings of the attending physicians. RESULTS The residents rated the attending physicians highly in most areas, but lower in provision of feedback, clarity of written communication and cost-effectiveness in making clinical decisions. When we used the residents' overall ratings as the criterion, the most important aspects of attending physicians' teaching were clarity of written communication, cost-effectiveness, commitment of time and energy and whether the resident would refer a family member or friend to the physician. When we used the programme directors' ratings as the criterion, the additional important aspects of performance were concern for the residents' professional well-being, knowledge of the literature and the delivery of clear verbal and written communication. CONCLUSIONS The critical incident technique can be used to develop an instrument that demonstrates content and construct validity. We found that residents consider commitment of time to teaching and clinical effectiveness to be the most important dimensions of faculty teaching. Other important dimensions include written and verbal communication, cost-effectiveness and concern for residents' professional development.
The use of item-specific and relational episodic information in the recall of children and adults

Abstract Four experiments were conducted in order to show that the effects of itemspecific and relational encoding emphasis on recall vary with the retrieval context for both children and adults. In Experiment 1, second- and fifth-graders and college adults were oriented toward item-specific or subordinate and superordinate relational aspects of cue-target noun pair information, or encoding was unconstrained, pair presentation was blocked by target category or randomized, and both free and cued recall were examined. In Experiment 2, only the targets were presented at acquisition. In Experiment 3, the context cues at retrieval were blocked by category for relational orienting, and in Experiment 4 a categorical hint was provided for each randomized context cue. The results showed that relational information was particularly useful in free recall, while item-specific information was particularly useful in cued recall, though the effects varied somewhat with the acquisition organization of the stimuli. The results offer no support for claims that relational information is preeminent for young children.
The effect of organic substances on the transfer of oxygen from air bubbles in water

The liquid film coefficient is related to bubble diameter and velocity in pure water and to the physical properties of the liquid. The addition to water of organic substances which influence the surface tension and viscosity will decrease the size of the air bubble released from a diffuser and reduce the transfer of oxygen into the solution. The maximum reduction in oxygen transfer occurs in the region of maximum surface tension change. The effect of the addition of several organic substances on the oxygen transfer characteristics are shown.
What Does Corruption Mean in a Democracy

Despite a growing interest in corruption, the topic has been absent from democratic theory. The reason is not a lack of normative issues, but rather missing links between the concepts of corruption and democracy. With few exceptions, political corruption has been conceived as departures by public officials from public rules, norms, and laws for the sake of private gain. Such a conception works well within bureaucratic contexts with well-defined offices, purposes, and norms of conduct. But it inadequately identifies corruption in political contexts, that is, the processes of contestation through which common purposes, norms, and rules are created. Corruption in a democracy, I argue, involves duplicitous violations of the democratic norm of inclusion. Such a conception encompasses the standard conception while complementing it with attention to the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion within democratic politics. By distinguishing the meanings of inclusion and exclusion within the many institutions, spheres, and associations that constitute contemporary democracies, I provide a democratic conception of corruption with a number of implications. The most important of these is that corruption in a democracy usually indicates a deficit of democracy.
Search for a spontaneous fission branch in a metastable state of 214Cm

Abstract The partial spontaneous fission half-life of the 0·034 sec (I = 6 +) metastable state of 244Cm has been found to be ≥ 1·4 × 102 years. The lifetime is not reduced as much as one might expect from the 1·04 MeV excitation energy of the isomeric state. This hindrance may be due to the intrinsic structure of the metastable state. The relative thermal neutron capture cross-section ratio for producing the two 244Am isomers from 243Am was found to be σ(26 min 244 m Am ) σ(10·1 hr 244 Am =18·6±1·9.