cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anesthetic Binding Sites in the Neuronal N-Acetylcholine Receptor Transmembrane Domain

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are sensitive to general anesthetics at physiologically relevant concentrations, but the locations and mechanisms of relevant anesthetic interactions are unknown. The interactions of the anesthetics halothane, isoflurane, and ketamine with the transmembrane domains of the human nAChR α4 and β2 subunits were studied using fluorescence spectroscopy and high-resolution solution NMR. The isolated transmembrane domains, with the extracellular and intracellular domains removed by mutagenesis, were expressed in E. coli and purified into detergent micelles. Multi-angle light scattering experiments on a mixture of α4 and β2 subunits demonstrated their interaction in detergent micelles. Anesthetics quenched the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of these proteins in a manner consistent with specific binding. Direct interaction with anesthetic halothane, isoflurane, and ketamine was confirmed by NMR saturation transfer difference spectroscopy. The anesthetics induced chemical shift changes for specific resonances in the NMR spectra of the α4 and β2 transmembrane domains. Two specific interaction sites for the volatile anesthetics halothane and isoflurane have been identified at the extracellular and intracellular interfaces near the ends of the transmembrane domain in the α4 subunit. Differing from halothane and isoflurane, the intravenous anesthetic ketamine affected a set of residues at a more interior location near the extracellular interface. Changes in NMR peak intensity and line width indicated modulations of protein motion by all three anesthetics. This study demonstrated that general anesthetics interact at specific sites within the isolated transmembrane domain of nAChR and affect protein dynamics on a time scale consistent with protein function. This work was supported by NIH grants: R01GM066358, R01GM056257, R37GM049202, and R01GM069766.
Restoration of Spermatogenesis in Infertile Mice by Sertoli Cell Transplantation

Abstract The niche is considered to play an important role in stem cell biology. Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous tubule that closely interact with germ cells to create a favorable environment for spermatogenesis. However, little is known about how Sertoli cells develop to form the male germ line niche. We report here that Sertoli cells recovered and dissociated from testes of donor male mice can be microinjected into recipient testes, form mature seminiferous tubule structures, and support spermatogenesis. Sertoli cells from perinatal donors had a dramatically greater capacity for generating seminiferous tubules than those from adult donors. Furthermore, transplantation of wild-type Sertoli cells into infertile Steel/Steeldickie testes created a permissive testicular microenvironment for generating spermatogenesis and spermatozoa. Thus, our results demonstrate that the male germ line stem cell niche can be transferred between animals. In addition, the technique provides a nove...
Dobutamine stress Doppler hemodynamics in patients with aortic stenosis: feasibility, safety, and surgical correlations.

Objectives This study was designed to describe the experience of our center with the safety and feasibility of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in aortic stenosis (AS), to characterize the hemodynamic response to dobutamine infusion, and to examine the hemodynamic response in relation to the anatomic evaluation of the valve among patients who underwent valve replacement. Background The diagnosis of the hemodynamic severity of AS can be difficult when the cardiac output is reduced and the gradient is low, but the effective valve area calculates to be small. DSE has been proposed as a means of assessing the severity of AS in this setting. Methods We reviewed 27 patients (18 men, 9 women; mean age 71 ± 12 years) with AS who underwent DSE between 1991 and 1996. Results Fifteen (55%) patients were New York Heart Association class III or IV, 8 (30%) had angina Canadian class III or IV, and 3 (11%) syncope. Dobutamine peak dose was 27 ± 11 μg/kg/min. Sixteen (59%) patients had mild side effects. DSE resulted in a significant increase in the cardiac output from 4.1 ± 1.2 L/min at rest to 7.3 ± 1.9 L/min at peak dose, and in heart rate (76 ± 16 beats/min to 124 ± 20 beats/min), systolic blood pressure (128 ± 26 mm Hg to 137 ± 26 mm Hg), ejection fraction (38% ± 20% to 42% ± 20%), and transvalvular mean gradient (28 ± 10 mm Hg to 39 ± 9 mm Hg) (P < .05). There was also a significant increase in the valve area from 0.77 ± 0.14 cm2 at rest to 0.97 ± 0.21 cm2 (P < .001). Seven patients underwent surgery; all valves were severely calcified, confirming anatomic disease. In this group, an increase in the mean gradient but also a trend toward an increase in the valve area were noted in response to dobutamine: 33 ± 10 mm Hg to 47 ± 6 mm Hg and 0.79 ± 0.11 cm2 to 0.95 ± 0.19 cm2 , respectively. Conclusion Although more data are needed to fully establish the safety of the test in this indication, this study suggests that patients with AS can safely undergo DSE. Dobutamine results in an increase not only in the mean gradient, but also in the valve area. An increase in valve area with dobutamine was observed in some patients with anatomically confirmed severe AS and thus does not exclude fixed valve disease. (Am Heart J 1998;136:1010-6.)
Regulation of the cellulose synthase-like gene family by light in the maize mesocotyl.

The cellulose synthase-like (ZmCSL) gene family of maize was annotated and its expression studied in the maize mesocotyl. A total of 28 full-length CSL genes and another 13 partial sequences were annotated; four are predicted to be pseudogenes. Maize has all of the CSL subfamilies that are present in rice, but the CSLC subfamily is expanded from 6 in rice to 12 in maize, and the CSLH subfamily might be reduced from 3 to 1. Unlike rice, maize has a gene in the CSLG subfamily, based on its sequence similarity to two genes annotated as CSLG in poplar. Light regulation of glycan synthase enzyme activities and CSL gene expression were analyzed in the mesocotyl. A Golgi-localized glucan synthase activity is reduced by ~50% 12 h after exposure to light. β-1,4-Mannan synthase activity is reduced even more strongly (>85%), whereas β-1,4-xylan synthase, callose synthase, and latent IDPase activity respond only slightly, if at all, to light. At least 17 of the CSL genes (42%) are expressed in the mesocotyl, of which four are up-regulated at least twofold, seven are down-regulated at least twofold, and six are not affected by light. The results contribute to our understanding of the structure of the CSL gene family in an important food and biofuel plant, show that a large percentage of the CSL genes are expressed in the specialized tissues of the mesocotyl, and demonstrate that members of the CSL gene family are differentially subject to photobiological regulation.
Cortico-cortical connections reorganize in hamsters after neonatal transection of the callosal bridge

Neonatal hamsters were subjected to transection of the callosal bridge. Later examination of the brains showed complete or partial absence of the corpus callosum and an anomalous bilateral longitudinal bundle of fibers. In addition, aberrant commissural fibers were seen to connect heterotopically the parietal cortex with the contralateral frontal cortex through a callosal remnant over the septum, and the olfactory cortex with the opposite frontal and parietal cortices through the anterior commissure.
The Shadow of Ethics: A Reply to Laurie Pamental

THAT 'business ethics' is an oxymoron, like 'military intelligence' or l 'deficit spending,' is surely the most regular and tiresome conversational chestnut proffered to those of us who teach it by those who don't. (Pity the present writer, who also works in philosophy of religion.) There is some comfort, though howbeit cold- in recognizing that the joke depends for its hilarity upon a conventional wisdom which is, for once, not too wide of the mark. Business and ethics are (or are perceived to be) so incompatible and even polemical that conjoining them like this is like watching a bad Hollywood buddy movie Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy handcuffed together for yet another forty-eight hours. For the sake of revenge for the professional distress the joke occasions me, I'll gladly run the risk of seeming a bore by trying to explain it. Why is the concept of 'business ethics' so risible? Mentioning 'medical ethics' does not produce the same guffaw quotient; nor does 'engineering ethics,' nor even, oddly, 'military ethics.' (During the recent war with Iraq, Pentagon spokesmen were at great pains during media briefings to detail measures to reduce icollateral damage' and to promulgate a 'battlefield code of ethics' among the ground forces; their words were attended to in respectful silence.) Somehow, ethics and business are thought to be more incongruous than ethics and almost any other profession, with the possible exception of the law. But why should this be so? Surely much of the current attitude is the result of the Petronian excesses of the past decade. Hardly has a day gone by when the readers of even the Wall Street Journal have not been treated to news of yet another moral impropriety, to put it delicately. Affront succeeds affront: the explosion of corporate debt produced by the LBO frenzy of the '80ss; the insider trading scandals of Boesky and Drexel Burnham Lambert; the rise and fall of Michael Milken's junk-bond empire; the defense contractor procurement scandals prior to the 1988 federal election; executive 'compensation packages' rocketing into the stratosphere while quarterly profits and employee wages plod along at ground level; the eminently preventable crackup of the Exxon Valdez; and, to top it off, a savings and loan swindle whose bailout price is nearing defense budget proportions: all have contributed to a rather substantial downward revision of the moral esteem in which business is held in the
BDNF protects neurons following injury by modulation of caspase activity

Introduction: Neurotrophins can protect against apoptotic death following neuronal injury. In a previous article, we showed that activation of the trk receptor is required, but the subsequent mechanisms of action remain unclear. Because the caspase family of cysteine proteases plays a central role in the apoptotic process, we examined the effect of the neurotrophins on caspase activation. Materials and Methods: Primary neuronal cultures from the embryonic rat cortex were injured with radiation, oxygen deprivation, or oxygen-glucose deprivation. Neurons were treated with brain-derived growth factor (BDNF) or caspase inhibitors. The level of injury was assayed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase release. Western blots were used to note the presence and activation of the caspases 1, 2, 3, 8, and 9—with and without treatment with BDNF. Results: Proenzymes for caspases 1, 2, and 3—but not for caspases 8 or 9—were expressed. With radiation or oxygen deprivation, but not oxygen-glucose deprivation, caspase 3 was activated. Treatment with BDNF was protective against radiation and oxygen deprivation only. Treatment with BDNF also blocked the activation of caspase 3. A similar effect was achieved by directly blocking caspase 1 or 3 activation using an inhibitor. Conclusions: In this study, we showed that BDNF treatment inhibits caspase 3 activation following neuronal injury. This is a central event: when injury did not lead to caspase 3 activation, BDNF treatment was not protective. These results suggest one mechanism by which the neurotrophins protect neurons following injury.
Structure development in biaxially stretched polystyrene film: Part II. Theoretical analysis of orientation development

The present paper describes an analysis of the orientation developed in biaxially stretched polystyrene films in terms of the kinematics of the process and a viscoelastic constitutive equation. It was possible to achieve reasonable agreement of predicted and experimental birefringences through use of a convected Maxwell model and the Rheo-Optical Law.
A state space model for interconnected rigid bodies

A state space model of interconnected rigid bodies is developed that is conceptually simple, employs a relatively small number of parameters for the representation of each link, and allows connection of an arbitrary number of elements in open or closed chains. The connection to other elements may be at arbitrary locations and with arbitrary joint constraints. Further, it allows for easy insertion of muscle-like actuators. The model involves three nonlinear feedback loops for each rigid body: local angular velocity, state feedback for connection and joint constraints, and finally, output muscle feedback. This model is most suitable for computer simulation of large natural and man-made systems. The basic characteristics of this model and two examples are presented.
Endocrine precursor cells from mouse islets are not generated by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of mature beta cells

We previously presented evidence that proliferative human islet precursor cells may be derived in vitro from adult islets by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and show here that similar fibroblast-like cells can be derived from mouse islets. These mouse cell populations exhibited changes in gene expression consistent with EMT. Both C-peptide and insulin mRNAs were undetectable in expanded cultures of mouse islet-derived precursor cells (mIPCs). After expansion, mIPCs could be induced to migrate into clusters and differentiate into hormone-expressing islet-like aggregates. Although early morphological changes suggesting EMT were observed by time-lapse microscopy when green fluorescent protein-labeled beta cells were placed in culture, the expanded precursor cell population was not fluorescent. Using two mouse models in which beta cells were permanently made either to express alkaline phosphatase or to have a deleted M3 muscarinic receptor, we provide evidence that mIPCs in long term culture are not derived from beta cells.
Hypermethylation of a Cluster of Krüppel-Type Zinc Finger Protein Genes on Chromosome 19q13 in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Identification of epigenetically affected genes has become an important tool for understanding both normal and aberrant gene expression in cancer. Here we report a whole-genome analysis of DNA methylation profiles in fresh-frozen oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) tissues and normal mucosa samples using microarray technology with patient genomic DNA. We initially compared whole-genome patterns of DNA methylation among 24 OPSCC primary tumors and 24 matched normal mucosal samples. From a survey of 27,578 CpG dinucleotide loci spanning more than 14,000 genes, we identified 958 CpG loci in which measurements of DNA methylation were altered in the primary tumors relative to the normal mucosal samples. These alterations were validated in an independent set of 21 OPSCC patients. A survey of these loci by chromosomal location revealed an abnormally high number of differentially methylated loci on chromosome 19. Many of the loci on chromosome 19 are associated with genes belonging to the Kruppel-type zinc finger protein genes. Hypermethylation was accompanied by a significant decrease in expression of these genes in OPSCC primary tumors relative to adjacent mucosa. This study reports the epigenetic silencing of Kruppel-type zinc finger protein genes on chromosome 19q13 in oropharyngeal cancer. The aberrant methylation of these genes represents a new avenue of exploration for pathways affected in this disease.
Newborn Sepsis following Antepartum Group B Streptococcal Maternal Infection in Rats

Group B streptococcus is an important pathogen in man and infection due to this bacteria is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity in neonates. An animal model of neonatal infection caused by group B streptococcus that results from vertical transmission is described. Nine pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal inoculation of 10(9)-10(10) colony forming units of group B streptococcus on day 20 or 21 of gestation. Four of nine rats died following inoculation. A total of 51 pups was born to the surviving five mothers. Pups were sacrificed at 4- to 8-h intervals and cultures of blood, brain, liver, and spleen were obtained. Nineteen of 51 pups (37%) had group B streptococcus isolated from blood or tissues within the first 48 h of life. Results suggest that antepartum systemic infection in rats can result in vertical transmission of disease. This animal model can be used to further study the mechanisms of transmission of group B streptococcus and the pathogenesis and treatment of neonatal sepsis caused by this pathogen.
Insight into the mechanism of direct catalytic aldol addition mediated by ambifunctional titanium complexes

Abstract X-Ray structure analysis of a titanium(IV) isopropoxide/mandelic acid complex provides an insight into the mechanism of this novel direct enantioselective aldol addition. The catalytic cycle mediated by the titanium(IV) alkoxide/mandelic acid complex is presented.
Locally tuned inverse sine nonlinear technique for color image enhancement

In this paper, a novel inverse sine nonlinear transformation based image enhancement technique is proposed to improve the visual quality of images captured in extreme lighting conditions. This method is adaptive, local and simple. The proposed technique consists of four main stages namely histogram adjustment, dynamic range compression, contrast enhancement and nonlinear color restoration. Histogram adjustment on each spectral band is performed to belittle the effect of illumination. Dynamic range compression is accomplished by an inverse sine nonlinear function with a locally tunable image dependent parameter based on the local statistics of each pixel’s neighborhood regions of the luminance image. A nonlinear color restoration process based on the chromatic information and luminance of the original image is employed. A statistical quantitative evaluation is performed with the state of the art techniques to analyze and compare the performance of the proposed technique. The proposed technique is also tested on face detection in complex lighting conditions. The results of this technique on images captured in hazy/foggy weather environment are also presented. The evaluation results confirm that the proposed method can be applied to surveillance, security applications in complex lighting environments.
Pulmonary toxicity of bleomycin analogs.

Pulmonary fibrosis develops in DBA mice within several days following a single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. Fibrosis tends to be extensive so that lungs stained for collagen can be evaluated by histopathological criteria. This technique was used to assess the pulmonary toxicities of bleomycins of different structure. The mixture of bleomycins currently used in the United States was compared with bleomycins A1, A2, B2, A5, PEP, BAPP, and tallysomycin at concentrations ranging from 1 to 50 nmol per mouse. All bleomycins produced a similar incidence of fibrosis but the severity of fibrosis differed significantly. Of the drugs studied, bleomycin B2 was least toxic relative to bleomycin mixture (p < 0.02). The toxicities of A5, PEP, BAPP, and tallysomycin were equal to or exceed that of bleomycin. BAPP was the most potent stimulator of pulmonary metaplasia. The technique described is useful for comparing the intrinsic pulmonary toxicities of structural analogs and for studying the relation between chemical structure and the process of pulmonary fibrosis.
Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation in obese non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic participants

The aim of this study was to measure mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production directly from skeletal muscle biopsies obtained from obese insulin-resistant non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic participants. Ten lean healthy, ten obese non-diabetic and ten type 2 diabetic participants received a euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp to measure whole body insulin sensitivity. Mitochondria were isolated from skeletal muscle biopsies, and mitochondrial ATP synthesis and hydrogen peroxide production were measured ex vivo under conditions that maximally stimulate ATP synthesis and ROS production using chemiluminescent and fluorescent techniques, respectively. Compared with lean controls, both obese non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic participants were resistant to insulin, and had a reduced rate of mitochondrial ATP production. Obese insulin-resistant participants had a decreased rate of mitochondrial ROS production, while ROS production rate in participants with type 2 diabetes was similar to that in lean healthy participants. In non-diabetic participants, the rate of ROS production was strongly correlated with the rate of ATP synthesis and the glucose disposal rate measured with the euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp. The ROS/ATP ratio in obese insulin-resistant participants was similar to that in lean insulin-sensitive participants, while the ratio was significantly elevated in type 2 diabetes participants. Since, in absolute terms, the maximal capacity for mitochondrial ROS production was not increased in either obese insulin-resistant participants or in type 2 diabetic participants, these results do not favour a role for increased mitochondrial ROS production in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in human skeletal muscle. However, care should be taken in extrapolating these ex vivo observations to the in vivo situation.
How Fast Will We Lose

In a version of gambler's ruin, players start with x and y dollars respectively, and flip coins for one dollar per flip until one player runs out of money. This is a random walk with two absorbing ...
Cryopreservation of immunological memory and other lymphoid cell functions.

Abstract The following components of the immune response by mouse spleen cells were retained after cryopreservation at −110°C: direct and indirect plaque formation, avidity of antibody secreted by plaque forming cells, and induction of primary or secondary adoptive transfer responses. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes retained the capacity to mediate antibody-dependent cytotoxicity and cell mediated immunity to tumor in vitro.
Wandering audiences, nomadic critics

(1988). Wandering audiences, nomadic critics. Cultural Studies: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 377-391.
A Comparison of Landsat ETM+ and High-Resolution Aerial Orthophotos to Map Urban/Suburban Forest Cover in Massachusetts, USA

This article examines the extent to which L(ow)-spatial resolution Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) imagery can be used to map urban/suburban forest cover in comparison with H(igh)-spatial resolution (less than 1 m) digital aerial orthophotos from the same study area and time period. This research has practical implications for resource managers, government agencies and forestry researchers interested in mapping large-area urban/suburban forests because Landsat imagery is more accessible, has an extensive historical archive, has broader spatial and temporal coverage and is more cost efficient than H-resolution aerial orthophotos. Classification tree results suggest that Landsat ETM+ imagery is adequate for mapping larger, contiguous patches of forest (i.e. small forest patches greater than 2 acres) in urban/suburban settings, but its spatial resolution is too coarse to accurately map spatially complex residential areas in urban/suburban landscapes.
BIOCHEMICAL ROLE OF FOLATE IN CELLULAR METABOLISM

As described in the previous chapter, natural folate compounds exist in tissues as polyglutamates. These serve to keep the folates within the cell since only the monoglutamate forms are transported...
AGAP3 and Arf6 Regulate Trafficking of AMPA Receptors and Synaptic Plasticity

During NMDA receptor-mediated long-term potentiation (LTP), synapses are strengthened by trafficking AMPA receptors to the synapse through a calcium-dependent kinase cascade following activation of NMDA receptors. This process results in a long-lasting increase in synaptic strength that is thought to be a cellular mechanism for learning and memory. Over the past 20 years, many signaling pathways have been shown to be involved in the induction and maintenance of LTP including the MAPK cascade. However, the crucial link between NMDA receptors and the signaling cascades involved in AMPA receptor trafficking during LTP remains elusive. In this study, we aimed to identify and characterize NMDA receptor signaling proteins that link NMDA receptor activation to downstream signaling pathways that lead to trafficking of AMPA receptors. We have identified a novel NMDA receptor interacting signaling protein, AGAP3. AGAP3 contains multiple signaling domains, a GTPase-like domain, a pleckstrin homology domain, and an ArfGAP domain, and exists as a component of the NMDA receptor complex. In addition, we found that AGAP3 regulates NMDA receptor-mediated Ras/ERK and Arf6 signaling pathways during chemically induced LTP in rat primary neuronal cultures. Finally, knocking down AGAP3 expression leads to occlusion of AMPA receptor trafficking during chemically induced LTP. Together, AGAP3 is an essential signaling component of the NMDA receptor complex that links NMDA receptor activation to AMPA receptor trafficking.
The effects of test expectations based upon goals on the free recall of learning from text

Abstract The number of facts college students correctly recalled was not affected by whether they were provided goals which did or did not encourage them to reorganize the passage material they studied. This held both for learners asked to recall all facts they could and those asked to recall only a portion of the goal-targeted facts. Learners whose recall exhibited reorganization of passage material did not differ in number of correctly recalled facts from those who failed to reorganize the passage material. Learners were more apt to reorganize the text materials when asked to recall only a portion of the goal-targeted facts than when asked to recall all facts they could. Self-report data suggest learners primarily use goals to rehearse the targeted material only after they carefully read a study passage.
Biodegradable Polymer Crosslinker: Independent Control of Stiffness, Toughness, and Hydrogel Degradation Rate

Hydrogels are being increasingly studied for use in various biomedical applications including drug delivery and tissue engineering. The successful use of a hydrogel in these applications greatly relies on a refined control of the mechanical properties including stiffness, toughness, and the degradation rate. However, it is still challenging to control the hydrogel properties in an independent manner due to the interdependency between hydrogel properties. Here it is hypothesized that a biodegradable polymeric crosslinker would allow for decoupling of the dependency between the properties of various hydrogel materials. This hypothesis is examined using oxidized methacrylic alginate (OMA). The OMA is synthesized by partially oxidizing alginate to generate hydrolytically labile units and conjugating methacrylic groups. It is used to crosslink poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate and poly(N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) to form three-dimensional hydrogel systems. OMA significantly improves rigidity and toughness of both hydrogels as compared with a small molecule crosslinker, and also controls the degradation rate of hydrogels depending on the oxidation degree, without altering their initial mechanical properties. The protein-release rate from a hydrogel and subsequent angiogenesis in vivo are thus regulated with the chemical structure of OMA. Overall, the results of this study suggests that the use of OMA as a crosslinker will allow the implantation of a hydrogel in tissue subject to an external mechanical loading with a desired protein-release profile. The OMA synthesized in this study will be, therefore, highly useful to independently control the mechanical properties and degradation rate of a wide array of hydrogels.
A-C Characteristics of Dielectrics-II

Predetermination of the a-c characteristics of dielectrics by d-c measurements was discussed in an earlier paper.1 The present paper further shows that the method of 3 exponentials, although predicting accurately the in-phase component of current caused by reversible absorption, usually yields results of less than the true value in predicting the quadrature component. Charts are presented that reduce the computations required in the study of a great number of specimens.
Robotic-assisted Fluorescence Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping Using Multimodal Image Guidance in an Animal Model

Objective To investigate positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) preoperative imaging and intraoperative detection of a fluorescent-labeled receptor-targeted radiopharmaceutical in a prostate cancer animal model. Materials and Methods Three male beagle dogs underwent an intraprostatic injection of fluorescent-tagged tilmanocept, radiolabeled with both gallium Ga-68 and technetium Tc-99m. One hour after injection, a pelvic PET/CT scan was performed for preoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping. The definition of SLN was a standardized uptake value that exceeded 5% of the lymph node with the highest standardized uptake value. Thirty-six hours later, we performed robotic-assisted SLN dissection using a fluorescence-capable camera system. Fluorescent lymph nodes were clipped, the abdomen was opened, and the pelvic and retroperitoneal nodes were excised. All excised nodal packets were assayed by in vitro nuclear counting and reported as the percentage of injected dose. Results Preoperative PET/CT imaging identified a median of 3 SLNs per animal. All SLNs (100%) identified by the PET/CT were fluorescent during robotic-assisted lymph node dissection. Of all fluorescent nodes visualized by the camera system, 9 of 12 nodes (75%) satisfied the 5% rule defined by the PET/CT scan. The 2 lymph nodes that did not qualify accumulated Conclusion Fluorescent-labeled tilmanocept has optimal logistic properties to obtain preoperative PET/CT and subsequent real-time intraoperative confirmation during robotic-assisted SLN dissection.
Mechanism of Altered Metformin Distribution in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Metformin is an antihyperglycemic drug that is widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes mellitus and is currently being investigated for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is known to alter hepatic membrane transporter expression and drug disposition similarly in humans and rodent models of NASH. Metformin is almost exclusively eliminated through the kidney primarily through active secretion mediated by Oct1, Oct2, and Mate1. The purpose of this study was to determine how NASH affects kidney transporter expression and metformin pharmacokinetics. A single oral dose of [(14)C]metformin was administered to C57BL/6J (wild type [WT]) and diabetic ob/ob mice fed either a control diet or a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet. Metformin plasma concentrations were slightly increased in the WT/MCD and ob/control groups, whereas plasma concentrations were 4.8-fold higher in ob/MCD mice compared with WT/control. The MCD diet significantly increased plasma half-life and mean residence time and correspondingly decreased oral clearance in both genotypes. These changes in disposition were caused by ob/ob- and MCD diet-specific decreases in the kidney mRNA expression of Oct2 and Mate1, whereas Oct1 mRNA expression was only decreased in ob/MCD mice. These results indicate that the diabetic ob/ob genotype and the MCD disease model alter kidney transporter expression and alter the pharmacokinetics of metformin, potentially increasing the risk of drug toxicity.
Caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis inhibits protein synthesis through effects on eIF2B and eIF4F.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) has been shown in some studies to inhibit total protein synthesis in the pancreas, whereas in other studies, protein synthesis was not affected. Previous in vitro work has s...
The Law: Presidential Inherent Power: The "Sole Organ" Doctrine

The executive branch relies in part on the “sole organ” doctrine to define presidential power broadly in foreign relations and national security, including assertions of an inherent executive power that is not subject to legislative or judicial constraints. The doctrine draws from a statement by John Marshall as a member of the House of Representatives in 1800: “The President is the sole organ of the nation in its external relations, and its sole representative with foreign nations.” In dicta, the Supreme Court, in United States v. Curtiss-Wright (1936), cited Marshall's speech to support an independent, extra-constitutional, or exclusive power of the president. When read in context, however, Marshall made no such claim.
Competitive binding of EF1 and EF2 by mammalian ribosomes: role of GTP hydrolysis in overcoming inhibition by EF2 of aminoacyl-tRNA binding.

Abstract Preincubation of mammalian ribosomes with EF2 retards subsequent binding of EF1-leucyl tRNA when GTP hydrolysis does not occur. This indicates that both the elongation factors have a common binding site on the ribosome. Since the conditions permitting hydrolysis of GTP overcome this inhibition, the possible regulatory role of GTP at the common site on the ribosome is discussed.
Solving Defender-Attacker-Defender Models for Infrastructure Defense

This paper (a) describes a defender-attacker-defender sequential game model (DAD) to plan defenses for an infrastructure system that will enhance that system's resilience against attacks by an intelligent adversary, (b) describes a realistic formulation of DAD for defending a transportation network, (c) develops a decomposition algorithm for solving this instance of DAD and others, and (d) demonstrates the solution of a small transportation-network example. A DAD model generally evaluates system operation through the solution of an optimization model, and the decomposition algo- rithm developed here requires only that this system-operation model be continuous and convex. For example, our transportation-network example incorporates a conges- tion model with a (convex) nonlinear objective function and linear constraints.
Home Health Care of Patients With Febrile Neutropenia

Febrile neutropenia is a potentially life-threatening oncologic emergency characterized by a dangerously low neutrophil count that places the patient at great risk. In these patients, fever may be the only sign of infection, which requires prompt treatment. With the increasing focus in shifting health care from inpatient centers to outpatient arenas, home health care clinicians will likely have an increased role in the care of neutropenic fever patients in the future. The article describes both the pharmacologic treatment and nonpharmacologic support required of these patients with particular attention to treatment that may be required in the patient’s home.
Effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid, irradiation, and packaging conditions on the quality characteristics of raw broiler breast fillets

Skinless breast fillets were harvested from broilers fed with 0, 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for 3 weeks. Fillets were either vacuum or aerobically packaged, then irradiated at 0 or 3.0 kGy using a Linear Accelerator. Breast fillets were analyzed for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), volatile profiles, and color at 0 and 7 days of storage at 4°C. Dietary CLA reduced TBARS, but had no effect on volatile profiles and color of breast fillets. Color a* value of breast fillets increased after irradiation. Irradiation also induced production of many volatiles, mainly alkanes and alkenes, which could be the breakdown products of unsaturated fatty acids and amino acids. High amount of dimethyl disulfide was detected in the volatiles of irradiated fillets. Low level of hexanal and pentanal in volatiles, together with low TBARS values, indicated that lipid oxidation of breast fillets after irradiation is not a big concern.
DHA Supplementation Decreases Serum C-Reactive Protein and Other Markers of Inflammation in Hypertriglyceridemic Men

Dietary (n-3) PUFA reduce inflammation, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The antiinflammatory effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in hypertriglyceridemic men have not been previously reported, to our knowledge, and were the focus of this study. Hypertriglyceridemic men (n = 17 per group) aged 39-66 y, participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel study. They received no supplements for the first 8 d and then received either 7.5 g/d DHA oil (3 g DHA/d) or olive oil (placebo) for the last 90 d. Blood samples were collected from fasting men on study days -7, 0, 45, 84, and 91. DHA supplementation for 45 and 91 d decreased the number of circulating neutrophils by 11.7 and 10.5%, respectively (P < 0.05). It did not alter the circulating concentrations of other inflammatory markers tested within 45 d, but at 91 d it reduced (P < 0.05) concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) by 15%, interleukin-6 by 23%, and granulocyte monocyte-colony stimulating factor by 21% and DHA increased the concentration of antiinflammatory matrix metalloproteinase-2 by 7%. The number of circulating neutrophils was positively associated with the weight percent (wt %) of 20:4(n-6) in RBC lipids, and negatively to the wt % of 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3). Concentrations of CRP and serum amyloid A were positively associated with the sum of SFA and negatively with the wt % of 18:1(n-9) and 17:0 in RBC lipids; CRP was also positively associated with the wt % of 20:2(n-6). The mean size of VLDL particles was positively associated with plasma concentrations of neutrophils and CRP. In conclusion, DHA may lessen the inflammatory response by altering blood lipids and their fatty acid composition.
Rapid Isolation of Monoclonal Antibodies. Monitoring Enzymes in the Phytochelatin Synthesis Pathway

Genomics projects have identified thousands of interesting new genes whose protein products need to be examined at the tissue, subcellular, and molecular levels. Furthermore, modern metabolic engineering requires accurate control of expression levels of multiple enzymes in complex pathways. The lack of specific immune reagents for characterization and monitoring of these numerous proteins limits all proteomic and metabolic engineering projects. We describe a rapid method of isolating monoclonal antibodies that required only sequence information from GenBank. We show that large synthetic peptides were highly immunogenic in mice and crude protein extracts were effective sources of antigen, thus eliminating the time-consuming step of purifying the target proteins for antibody production. A case study was made of the three-enzyme pathway for the synthesis of phytochelatins. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and western blots with the recombinant proteins in crude extracts demonstrated that the monoclonal antibodies produced to synthetic peptides were highly specific for the different target proteins, gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, glutathione synthetase, and phytochelatin synthase. Moreover, immunofluorescence localization studies with antibacterial γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase and antiglutathione synthetase antibodies demonstrated that these immune reagents reacted strongly with their respective target proteins in chemically fixed cells from transgenic plants. This approach enables research to progress rapidly from the genomic sequence of poorly characterized target genes, to protein-specific antibodies, to functional studies.
La ortodoxia económica desalienta el estudio del comportamiento colectivo

El pensamiento economico se centro en el comportamiento individual como base de toda actividad economica. Algunos economistas heterodoxos muestran la importancia del comportamiento del grupo y la influencia de las organizaciones en la actividad economica, pero el paradigma neoclasico es la corriente dominante. Este articulo presenta una “sociologia de la economia” para explicar por que la cultura imperante impide ver y estudiar el comportamiento de grupo. Recurriendo a la obra de Pierre Bourdieu, examina el habitus, el sistema de creencias y la violencia simbolica contra quienes los cuestionan. Y resalta el apoyo de los intereses comerciales y financieros a esta cultura dominante.
Vi Antigen from Salmonella typhosa and Immunity Against Typhoid Fever I. Isolation and Immunologic Properties in Animals

Abstract The role of Vi antigen in human immunity against typhoid fever has been debated for decades. Circumstantial evidence indicates that Vi antigen may play a role in pathogenicity and immunity. A Vi preparation was isolated from Salmonella typhosa, the causative organism in human typhoid fever, by a mild precipitation method. It was significantly more potent in animal studies than preparations from Citrobacter used in the past for human study and less toxic than conventional typhoid vaccines. With this antigen, the role of Vi antigen in human protection is now being investigated.
Oxygen is nonbeneficial for most patients who are near death

Abstract Context Clinicians prescribe and administer oxygen in response to reports of dyspnea, in the face of dropping oxygen saturation, as a "routine" comfort intervention, or to support anxious family members. Oxygen may produce nasal irritation and increase the cost of care. Objectives To determine the benefit of administering oxygen to patients who are near death. Methods A double-blind, repeated-measure observation with the patient as his/her own control was conducted. The Respiratory Distress Observation Scale© measured presence and intensity of distress at baseline and at every gas or flow change. Medical air, oxygen, and no flow were randomly alternated every 10 minutes via nasal cannula with patients who were near death, at risk for respiratory distress, with no distress at the baseline of testing. Each patient had two encounters under each condition, yielding six encounters per patient. Results Patients were 66% female, 34% white, and 66% African American, and ages 56–97 years. Patients had heart failure (25%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (34%), pneumonia (41%), or lung cancer (9%). Most (91%) patients tolerated the protocol with no change in respiratory comfort. Three patients (9%) displayed distress and were restored to baseline oxygen; one patient died during the protocol while displaying no distress. Repeated-measure analysis of variance revealed no differences in the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale under changing gas and flow conditions. Conclusion The routine application of oxygen to patients who are near death is not supported. The n-of-1 trial of oxygen in clinical practice is appropriate in the face of hypoxemic respiratory distress.
Long-term monitoring of growth in the Eastern Elliptio, Elliptio complanata (Bivalvia: Unionidae), in Rhode Island: a transplant experiment

AbstractThe lengths of marked specimens of the freshwater mussel, Eastern Elliptio (Elliptio complanata [Lightfoot 1786]), were monitored annually in 3 lakes in Rhode Island, USA, from 1991 to 2005. Mussels growing in Worden Pond showed a change in mean shell length of only 4.3 mm over 14 y, whereas mussel growth in 2 nearby lakes was 3 to 8× greater than growth in Worden Pond over the same time period. L∞, the length at which shell growth stops, was significantly different (p < 0.001) among lakes and ranged from 60.5 to 87.4 mm. Transplant experiments revealed that mussels moved to Worden Pond stopped growing, whereas mussels moved from Worden Pond to the 2 other lakes grew at rates similar to the rates observed for resident mussels in the 2 lakes. Standard water-quality measures did not explain the observed growth cessation and lower condition indices of mussels in Worden Pond. Our growth data are consistent with food limitation. The consistent slow growth of E. complanata in Worden Pond, without high m...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Myopathies and Myositis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has broad applications in evaluating the patient with a suspected myopathy. The superior soft tissue contrast and spatial resolution of MRI make it a useful tool in evaluating the anatomy, morphology, and potential functionality of muscles. Specifically, MRI is extremely sensitive for resolving areas of muscle edema, thus identifying areas of active involvement, detecting potential subclinical disease, and providing guidance for muscle biopsy. As MRI is a fairly reproducible examination, the longitudinal course and disease progression (or regression) of myopathies can be evaluated, with MRI providing potential prognostic information and evaluating response to treatment.
Analysis of Calla Lily and Cucumber Production in Greenhouse (Анализа Производње Кале и Краставца У Пластенику)

English Abstract: In the last few decades, vegetable production in greenhouses has been more and more presented within the national agriculture. On small agricultural holdings, in aforementioned form of protected production area, dominate the tomato, cucumber and pepper growing. However, in recent years, beside vegetable crops, flowers are more and more grown (seedlings and cut flowers), where on the territory of Pancevo city, in cut flowers production calla lily becomes particularly interesting to producers. In paper are presented some specificities in cucumber and calla lily production in greenhouse, with the main goal to easily determine (according to contribution margin analysis in the cut flowers (calla lily) and cucumber production) in which line of plant production can be expected achievement of potentially better financial results. All, for analysis, necessary data were obtained from the small family agricultural holdings located at the territory of Pancevo city (within the Metropolitan area Belgrade - Novi Sad). After analytical calculations based on the variable costs have been made, it can be concluded that producers may generally achieve better production results within the calla lily production.Serbian Abstract: Производња повртарских култура у пластеницима је последњих неколико деценија све више присутна у националној пољопривреди. На малим пољопривредним газдинствима у поменутој форми заштићеног простора доминира узгој парадајза, краставца и паприке. Међутим, у последње време се поред повртарских култура све више узгаја и цвеће (расад и резано цвеће), где је код производње резаног цвећа произвођачима на подручју града Панчева посебно интересантна бела кала. У раду су представљене специфичности производње краставца и беле кале у пластенику, са циљем да се на основу анализе марже покрића (бруто финансијског резултата) у производњи резаног цвета (беле кале) и краставца непосредно утврди у којој се линији биљне производње остварују бољи финансијски резултати. Сви неопходни подаци за анализу су црпљени са породичних пољопривредних газдинстава лоцираних на територији града Панчева (унутар метрополитен подручја Београд - Нови Сад). По изради аналитичких калкулација на бази варијабилних трошкова, утврђено је да произвођачи генерално могу остварити боље производне резултате у производњи беле кале.