cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protective effects of PX478 on gut barrier in a mouse model of ethanol and burn injury.

Ethanol remains a confounder in postburn pathology, which is associated with an impaired intestinal barrier. Previously, we demonstrated that ethanol and burn injury reduce intestinal oxygen delivery (hypoxia) and alters microRNA (miR) expression in small intestinal epithelial cells. Hypoxia has been shown to influence expression of miRs and miR biogenesis components. Therefore, we examined whether hypoxia influences expression of miR biogenesis components (drosha, dicer, and argonaute-2 [ago-2]) and miRs (-7a and -150) and whether these changes impacted other parameters following ethanol and burn injury. Mice were gavaged with ethanol (∼2.9 g/kg) 4 h before receiving a ∼12.5% total body surface full thickness burn. Mice were resuscitated at the time of injury with normal saline with or without 5 mg/kg PX-478, a hypoxia-inducible factor-1α inhibitor. One day following injury mice were euthanized, and the expression of miRs and their biogenesis components as well as bacterial growth, tight junction proteins, intestinal transit, and permeability were assessed. Ethanol combined with burn injury significantly reduced expression of drosha, ago-2, miRs (-7a and -150), occludin, zonula occludens-1, claudin-4, zonula occludens-1, mucins-2 and -4, and intestinal transit compared to shams. Furthermore, there was an increase in intestinal permeability, total bacteria, and Enterobacteriaceae populations following the combined injury compared to shams. PX-478 treatment improved expression of drosha, ago-2, miRs (-7a and -150), occludin, claudin-4, zonula occludens-1, and mucin-2. PX-478 treatment also improved intestinal transit and reduced dysbiosis and permeability. These data suggest that PX-478 improves miR biogenesis and miR expression, and restores barrier integrity while reducing bacterial dysbiosis following ethanol and burn injury.
Absence of Survival and Motor Deficits in 500 Repeat C9ORF72 BAC Mice.

Summary A hexanucleotide repeat expansion at C9ORF72 is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Initial studies of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mice harboring this expansion described an absence of motor and survival phenotypes. However, a recent study by Liu and colleagues described transgenic mice harboring a large repeat expansion (C9-500) and reported decreased survival and progressive motor phenotypes. To determine the utility of the C9-500 animals for understanding degenerative mechanisms, we validated and established two independent colonies of transgene carriers. However, extended studies of these animals for up to 1 year revealed no reproducible abnormalities in survival, motor function, or neurodegeneration. Here, we propose several potential explanations for the disparate nature of our findings from those of Liu and colleagues. Resolving the discrepancies we identify will be essential to settle the translational utility of C9-500 mice. This Matters Arising paper is in response to Liu et al. (2016) , published in Neuron. See also the response by Nguyen et al. (2020), published in this issue.
Healthcare worker intentions to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and reasons for hesitancy: A survey of 16,158 health system employees on the eve of vaccine distribution

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have been recommended to receive first priority for limited COVID-19 vaccines. They have also been identified as potential ambassadors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, helping to ensure that sufficient members of a hesitant public accept COVID-19 vaccines to achieve population immunity. Yet HCWs themselves have shown vaccine hesitancy in other contexts and the few prior surveys of U.S. HCW intentions to receive a COVID-19 vaccine report acceptance rates of only 28% to 34%. However, it is unknown whether HCW acceptance remains low following mid-November announcements of the efficacy of the first COVID-19 vaccines and the issuance of two emergency use authorizations (EUA) in December. We report the results of a December 2020 survey (N = 16,158; response rate 61%) administered by a large Pennsylvania health system to determine the intentions of its employees to receive a vaccine when it is offered to them. In a mixed sample of individuals serving in patient-facing and other roles, 55% would decide to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when offered, 16.4% would not, and 28.5% reported being undecided. The distribution of responses varied little across hospital campuses, between those in patient-facing roles and other HCWs, or by area or department of work. The higher rate of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance we observe may reflect the framing and timing of our survey. Among hesitant respondents, an overwhelming majority (90.3%) reported concerns about unknown risks and insufficient data. Other commonly reported concerns included known side effects (57.4%) and wanting to wait until they see how it goes with others (44.4%). We observed a substantial increase in self-reported intent to receive a COVID-19 vaccine after an FDA advisory committee voted to recommend an EUA. Among respondents who completed the survey after that point in time, 79% intend to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (n = 1155). Although only suggestive, this trend offers hope that rates of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance may be higher among HCWs and, perhaps, the general public than more hypothetical survey results have indicated.
An AI-Based Optimization of Handover Strategy in Non-Terrestrial Networks

A complicated radio resource management, e.g., handover condition, will be suffered by the user in non-terrestrial networks due to the impact of high mobility and hierarchical layouts which co-exist with terrestrial networks or various platforms at different altitudes. It is necessary to optimize the handover strategy to reduce the signaling overhead and improve the service continuity. In this paper, a new handover strategy is proposed based on the convolutional neural network. Firstly, the handover process is modeled as a directed graph. Suppose a user knows its future signal strength, then it can search for the best handover strategy based on the graph. Secondly, a convolutional neural network is used to extract the underlying regularity of the best handover strategies of different users, based on which any user can make near-optimal handover decision according to its historical signal strength. Numerical simulation shows that the proposed handover strategy can efficiently reduce the handover number while ensuring the signal strength.
Asymptotic Properties of Penalized Spline Estimators in Concave Extended Linear Models: Rates of Convergence

This paper develops a general theory on rates of convergence of penalized spline estimators for function estimation when the likelihood functional is concave in candidate functions, where the likelihood is interpreted in a broad sense that includes conditional likelihood, quasi-likelihood, and pseudo-likelihood. The theory allows all feasible combinations of the spline degree, the penalty order, and the smoothness of the unknown functions. According to this theory, the asymptotic behaviors of the penalized spline estimators depends on interplay between the spline knot number and the penalty parameter. The general theory is applied to obtain results in a variety of contexts, including regression, generalized regression such as logistic regression and Poisson regression, density estimation, conditional hazard function estimation for censored data, quantile regression, diffusion function estimation for a diffusion type process, and estimation of spectral density function of a stationary time series. For multi-dimensional function estimation, the theory (presented in the Supplementary Material) covers both penalized tensor product splines and penalized bivariate splines on triangulations.
GeoDart: A System for Discovering Maps Discrepancies

Map service providers are working hard to maintain high-quality maps service to more than three billion digital maps users. As each provider presents its unique routing engine and road network graph (RNG) mapping techniques, inconsistencies in services provided are inevitable. These inconsistencies may be of two types- (1) inconsistencies in RNG, including missing or shifted road segments, missing turn restriction, or mislabeled road attributes; or (2) inconsistencies in routing service arising from the unique routing algorithm (RA). Discovering those inconsistencies would improve the routing services efficiency. This paper presents a system, named GeoDart, that compares publicly available routing data from the APIs of Bing Maps, Google Maps, and OpenStreetMaps (OSM) to automatically discover discrepancies. The system categorizes the detected discrepancies based on (1) routing data such as distance, duration, and route geometry, (2) the attributes of the road segments, and (3) the connectivity and turn restrictions of the RNG. Equipped with an ensemble of Multi-Layer Perception (MLP) and Support Vector Machine Classifiers (SVC), GeoDart can efficiently discover and classify maps discrepancies. Through its graphical interface, the GeoDart system enables users such as professional editors and cartographers to visually inspect, identify, and correct map discrepancies mutually across the three engines.
Inline Waveguide Pseudo-Elliptic Filters Using Non-Resonating Modes With Folded-Waveguide Resonators

In this paper, a new structure to implement inline waveguide pseudo-elliptic filters using folded-waveguide (FWG) resonators along with non-resonating modes has been proposed. The basic structure is an FWG resonator fed by a rectangular waveguide through inductive irises. The $TE_{10}$ mode of the feeding rectangular waveguide excites both dominant and first higher order modes in the FWG structure. The dominant mode of the FWG acting as a non-resonating mode creates an alternate energy path from source to load thus producing a transmission zero (TZ), while the first higher order mode acts as the resonant mode resulting in a pole. The structure therefore acts as a singlet capable of realizing a pole and a TZ either below or above the passband depending on the offset of the feeding irises from the center of the FWG resonator and relative to each other. The structure also provides flexibility in shifting the FWG center axis relative to the feeding rectangular waveguides, thus giving more coupling control and realizing wider range of singlet responses. The proposed singlet structure does not require any increase in the cross-sectional size relative to the standard rectangular waveguide. Two prototype filters using the proposed singlet structures have been designed, manufactured and tested. Measurements show good agreement with the simulations, verifying the feasibility of the proposed structure.
Exercise-Like Mechanical Stimulation of Soleus Feed Arteries (SFA) Attenuates Age-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction

Objective: To determine the mechanism of exercise-induced attenuation of the detrimental effects of aging on endothelial function. We tested the hypothesis that exercise-like mechanical stimulation...
Local Roots, National Trend: The Richmond Printmaking Workshop (1978-1991)

iv Introduction 1 Chapter One: Printmaking in America and the Beginnings of the Richmond Printmaking Workshop 3 Chapter Two: Revised Mission of the RPW 13 Chapter Three: Dissolution of the RPW and Donation of the Print Collection 22 Chapter Four: Local Significance of the RPW 29 Chapter Five: Significance of the RPW amid the Nationwide Print Revival 37 Conclusion 46 Bibliography 50 Appendices 55 A. List of prints, arranged by artist, in University of Richmond Museum’s Hand Workshop Donation 55 Vita 65
Disappearing Youth in American Politics? Campus, Community, and Political Participation by Undergraduate Students

Public participation in American politics has long been discussed as deficient at best, falling far short of democracy’s goal of an enlightened and participatory citizenry. In no age group is this more apparent than America’s young adults, particularly those in their early years of voting eligibility. This segment of the population has been repeatedly criticized for their disinterest and lack of involvement in politics, primarily because only a small number of young adults vote in elections. In fact, several researchers argue that young adults are less likely to participate in politics than ever before (Astin, Parrott, Korn, and Sax 1997; Bennett and Bennett 1990). Many scholars have concluded that there is little hope for any significant increase in participation by this segment of the population. This article is available in Res Publica Journal of Undergraduate Research: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/respublica/vol7/iss1/4 Disappearing Youth in American Politics? Campus, Community, and Political Participation by Undergraduate Students
Propionate metabolism. V. The physiological significance of isocitrate lyase during growth of E. coli on propionate.

Abstract The role of isocitrate lyase during growth on propionate was investigated using three strains (E-26, K-12, and W) of Escherichia coli . The activity of this enzyme during growth on propionate varied with respect to the strain employed, the concentration of propionate added to the mineral salts culture medium, and the phase of growth at which cells were harvested. The growth behavior of E-26 and of K-12 mutants indicates that in these strains of E. coli , the formation of C 4 acids from propionate can be accomplished either by the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase pathway or by the glyoxylate bypass. In the early phase of growth, pyruvate formed from the oxidation of propionate is metabolized primarily via the PEP carboxylase pathway. In such cultures, the activity of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase is low. As growth proceeds, there occurs a shift in metabolism, such that the carboxylase pathway is inhibited and the decarboxylation of pyruvate to form acetyl-CoA is stimulated. In such cultures, the formation of the enzymes of glyoxylate bypass is derepressed. In contrast to E-26 and K-12, the formation of isocitrate lyase is not derepressed in E. coli W cultured on propionate.
Normal Fans of Polyhedral Convex Sets

The normal fan of a polyhedral convex set in ℝ n is the collection of its normal cones. The structure of the normal fan reflects the geometry of that set. This paper reviews and studies properties about the normal fan. In particular, it investigates situations in which the normal fan of a polyhedral convex set refines, or is a subfan of, that of another set. It then applies these techniques in several examples. One of these concerns the face structure and normal manifold of the critical cone of a polyhedral convex set associated with a point in ℝ n . Another concerns how perturbation of the right hand side of the linear constraints defining such a set affects the normal fan and the face structure.
Evaluation of Nearest-Neighbor Methods for Detection of Chimeric Small-Subunit rRNA Sequences

Detection of chimeric artifacts formed when PCR is used to retrieve naturally occurring small-subunit (SSU) rRNA sequences may rely on demonstrating that different sequence domains have different phylogenetic affiliations. We evaluated the CHECK_CHIMERA method of the Ribosomal Database Project and another method which we developed, both based on determining nearest neighbors of different sequence domains, for their ability to discern artificially generated SSU rRNA chimeras from authentic Ribosomal Database Project sequences. The reliability of both methods decreases when the parental sequences which contribute to chimera formation are more than 82 to 84% similar. Detection is also complicated by the occurrence of authentic SSU rRNA sequences that behave like chimeras. We developed a naive statistical test based on CHECK_CHIMERA output and used it to evaluate previously reported SSU rRNA chimeras. Application of this test also suggests that chimeras might be formed by retrieving SSU rRNAs as cDNA. The amount of uncertainty associated with nearest-neighbor analyses indicates that such tests alone are insufficient and that better methods are needed.
Theoretical description of gas/film interaction on SnO/sub x/

A simple depletion model based on the creation and destruction of Schottky oxygen vacancies near the gas-solid interface is shown to adequately account for the free carrier and mobility response of the SnO/sub x/ films reported by S.C. Chang and D.B. Hicks (1986). Expressions for the relationship between the surface potential, bulk carrier concentration and the reducing gas concentration are derived using the standard semiconductor electrostatic surface model and first order kinetic equations for gas/solid interactions. The results obtained indicate that thin-film gas sensors of the SnO/sub x/ variety behave more like a homogeneous system where free carriers dominate the response than as polycrystalline aggregates dominated by mobility variations arising from potential variations at the intergrain boundaries. >
In Search of Patterns: Disrupting RPG Classes through Procedural Content Generation

This paper presents a first attempt at exploring the search space of Role-Playing Game (RPG) skill systems, with the hope to find stable patterns outside of conventional RPG classes. At the foundation of the experiment is a small text-based game that allows human players to enter RPG combat and uses an evolutionary algorithm to generate and suggest new character abilities to them. The content representation was carefully chosen to be simultaneously simple and expressive. The evaluation function scores abilities based on their use by players. While the game is far from finished, preliminary test results are encouraging.
A secondary ion mass spectometry study of the desorption mechanisms of F+ from a LiF surface bombarded with Ar+ and Ar2+

Abstract Desorption yields of F + from solid LiF were measured as a function of the energy (1–5 keV) of bombarding Ar + and A 2+ . The production of F + induced by the two argon ion species was separated into contributions from a mechanism which generates F + by inelastic energy transfer between an argon ion and a surface fluorine atom and a second mechanism, producing a F + intensity which is relatively constant over the 1–5 keV range of ion energy, which involves an interatomic Auger process between an Ar 2+ ion and a surface fluorine atom. A tentative explanation for the interatomic Auger process is given based on physical and energetic considerations.
A Biomechanical Assessment of Axial Twisting Exertions

Axial twisting of the torso has been identified as a significant risk factor for occupationally related low-back disorders. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of dynamic twisting parameters upon spinal load. Measured trunk moments and muscle activities were employed in a biomechanical model to determine loads on the lumbar spine. Spinal loads were examined as a function of dynamic torsional exertions under various conditions of force, velocity, position, and direction. Results demonstrate significant flexion-extension and lateral moments were generated during the twisting exertions. Muscle coactivity was significantly greater than equivalent levels measured during sagittal lifting exertions. Relative spinal compression during dynamic twisting exertions was twice that of static exertions. Spine loading also varied as a function of whether the trunk was twisted to the left or right, and the direction of applied torsion, i.e. clockwise versus counter-clockwise. The results may hel...
Action of Plasma and of Plasma Albumin on Palmitate-1-C14 Oxidation by Blood Cells.

SummaryWashed blood cells from normal, fasting adult rats were incubated with palmitate-1-C14 in the presence of increasing dilutions of homologous blood plasma, or in the presence of various concentrations of bovine plasma albumin. It has been observed that (a) blood plasma, even when diluted several hundred times, has an inhibitory action on palmitate oxidation by washed blood cells; (b) plasma albumin is one of the substances contributing to this inhibitory action of blood plasma; (c) under certain experimental conditions involving very high dilutions of blood plasma, its action is stimulatory rather than inhibitory. The data from several consecutive periods of incubation were used for construction of skewed bell-shaped curves of instantaneous C14O2 evolution; they are steep and high in the absence of plasma albumin, but flatten out in its presence. The results are discussed in relation to the action of plasma albumin on cell metabolism and to interactions between fatty acids, plasma albumin, and red b...
In Situ High-Temperature Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Investigation of the Charring of Cellulose and Cellulose/Na2CO3 Mixtures and the O2-Induced and H2O-Induced Behaviors of These Chars

In situ high-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has been used to study the pyrolysis (under a helium atmosphere) of cellulose and cellulose/Na2CO3 mixtures, as well as changes in the resulting chars under exposure to O2 and H2O after quenching to room temperature. It has been found that the addition of Na2CO3 not only dramatically changes the pyrolysis behavior, but also has substantial effects on the subsequent exposure behaviors of the resulting chars to O2 and H2O. The presence of Na2CO3 substantially narrows the EPR lines of cellulose chars at all charring temperatures used in this study. For low-temperature (≤350 °C) pure-cellulose chars and for cellulose/Na2CO3 mixture chars prepared at all but the highest temperature (550 °C) of this study, short-term (≤120 min) exposure to O2 has no obvious effect on the spin concentration and the line width; however, decreases in the spin concentration and increases in the line width are observed for high-temperature (≥400 °C) pure-cellulose chars....
X-Ray Diffraction Study of Phase Formation and Growth in Nitrogen Implanted Iron: Temperature Effects

We report preliminary results from an ongoing study of iron nitride grains formed in high purity iron under nitrogen ion bombardment. Under various implantation conditions, different iron nitride phases grow large enough to produce sharp x-ray diffraction lines. We have used these lines to examine the influence of target temperature during implantation. Between 200°C and 400°C increasing target temperature, which enhances dopant mobility, reduces the retained dose of nitrogen and restricts the formation of nitride phases. Over this temperature range, however, increasing vacancy mobility favors the growth of nitride grains and x-ray line breadth data suggests an optimum temperature for growth of Fe4N grains.
Influence of charge trapping on failure detection and its distributions for nFET high-κ stacks

We report that charge trapping has a strong impact on failure detection, yielding many anomalous non-Poisson area effects in nFETs high-κ stacks. Time-to-failure (T FAIL ) distributions and voltage accelerations are found to strongly depend on stress waveforms such as interrupted DC stress and uninterrupted DC stress as well as unipolar and bipolar AC stress. Various correction methodologies such as SILC removal and voltage correction are considered to account for these adverse effects which are not present in SiO 2 films.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPANTS IN AN EMPLOYEE SUGGESTION PLAN

Summary and Discussion Nonparticipants, unawarded suggesters and award recipients in a medium-sized insurance company that had recently installed an employee suggestion plan were compared as to personal characteristics, own attitudes, and attitudes of supervisors. Participants were found to be more concentrated in the age group 25–44, have greater labor force attachment and work experience, and place higher value on order and regularity than did the nonparticipants. No support was found for the common notions that suggesters are prone to gripe and to be hurt by rejection of suggestions or, by contrast, to be “company men.” Nervous, undogmatic, unauthoritarian and fairly well satisfied supervisors tended to have more suggesters among their subordinates than did other supervisors. This provides some support for the assertions of much management literature that the supervisors can greatly affect the success of a suggestion plan.
Fluorescence-based high-throughput assay for human DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1

We have developed the first economical and rapid nonradioactive assay method that is suitable for high-throughput screening of the important pharmacological target human DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). The method combines three key innovations: the use of a truncated form of the enzyme that is highly active on a 26-bp hemimethylated DNA duplex substrate, the introduction of the methylation site into the recognition sequence of a restriction endonuclease, and the use of a fluorogenic read-out method. The extent of DNMT1 methylation is reflected in the protection of the DNA substrate from endonuclease cleavage that would otherwise result in a large fluorescence increase. The assay has been validated in a high-throughput format, and trivial changes in the substrate sequence and endonuclease allow adaptation of the method to any bacterial or human DNA methyltransferase.
Estrogen receptors in the kidney: lessons from genetically altered mice.

Abstract Background: Sex differences in human and animal models of kidney disease suggest that estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated events may modulate these processes. Genetically altered mice lacking one or both ERs provide a powerful tool to study these phenomena. Objective: This article examines sex differences in the kidney, particularly the role of ERs. Methods: To identify pertinent studies in genetically altered mice, a literature search was conducted on the MEDLINE database from January 1966 to July 2007, using the search terms estrogen receptor, kidney, and mice. Our group examined the effect of the ER-α knockout genotype on the kidney in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus and compensatory kidney growth after uninephrectomy. Results: Female mice lacking ERa had reduced renal growth, including glomerular enlargement after 2 weeks of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus and compensatory kidney growth 48 hours after uninephrectomy. Conclusion: ER-mediated events influence kidney growth and disease in female mice.
Ethnic differences in smoking withdrawal effects among adolescents.

Smoking withdrawal effect information was collected from 75 adolescents (54 males and 21 females) making a quit attempt during a school-based smoking cessation program. A strong need to smoke was the most common withdrawal effect (60%), followed by irritability (51%), and difficulty concentrating (41%). Most (61%) participants experienced two or more withdrawal effects during the quit attempt, and withdrawal effects were evident in those smoking less than daily. Significant ethnic differences were found, with African Americans reporting significantly fewer withdrawal effects than Caucasians. After controlling for smoking frequency, African Americans were still less likely to report irritability, difficulty concentrating, and restlessness. Participants who chose to use nicotine replacement during the quit attempt were more likely to report difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and feeling miserable.
Dependence of particulate sampling efficiency on inlet orientation and flow velocities

The function of the inlet of a particulate sampler is to capture particles in the air and duct them to a collection filter or a dynamic sensor. For a given inlet the aerosol concentration and size distribution registered by the sampler may be strongly modified by the orientation of the inlet, θ, relative to the ambient wind direction, and by the velocity ratio, R, defined as the ratio of wind velocity to inlet velocity. We have studied such dependence with a thin-walled inlet tube at wind velocities of 250 to 1000 cm/s, inlet velocities of 125 to 1000 cm/s, and angles of 0° to ±90°. For all the tested velocity-combinations differences in sampling efficiency were found for particles above 10 µm in diameter when the aerosol was sampled 15° upward vs. 15° downward from the horizontal. For θ=30 to 90° the sampling efficiency was found to be approximately a function of Stokes number with R as a parameter. At θ=90° the sampling efficiency was approximately a function of Stk . About half or more of the particle ...
Selective deficits in the circadian light response in mice lacking PACAP

Previous studies indicate that light information reaches the suprachiasmatic nucleus through a subpopulation of retinal ganglion cells that contain both glutamate and pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP). Although the role of glutamate in this pathway has been well studied, the involvement of PACAP and its receptors is only beginning to be understood. To investigate the functions of PACAP in vivo, we developed a mouse model in which the gene coding for PACAP was disrupted by targeted homologous recombination. RIA was used to confirm a lack of detectable PACAP protein in these mice. PACAP-deficient mice exhibited significant impairment in the magnitude of the response to brief light exposures with both light-induced phase delays and advances of the circadian system impacted. This mutation equally impacted phase shifts induced by bright and dim light exposure. Despite these effects on phase shifting, the loss of PACAP had only limited effects on the generation of circadian oscillations, as measured by rhythms in wheel-running activity. Unlike melanopsin-deficient mice, the mice lacking PACAP exhibited no loss of function in the direct light-induced inhibition of locomotor activity, i.e., masking. Finally, the PACAP-deficient mice exhibited normal phase shifts in response to exposure to discrete dark treatments. The results reported here show that the loss of PACAP produced selective deficits in the light response of the circadian system.
Effects of peptide‐binding on the proton n.m.r. spectrum of bovine neurophysin‐I

The effects of binding L-phenylalanyl-L-phenylalanine amide and related peptides on the 220 MHz and 300 MHz proton n.m.r. spectra of bovine neurophysin-I were studied. Throughout both the aliphatic and aromatic proton regions, marked binding-induced changes in the protein spectrum occur which are best explained by invoking conformational change within the neurophysin dimer, in addition to direct perturbation of individual protein protons by bound peptide. In the region downfield from 6 p.p.m., a new resonance, centered at 6.45 p.p.m. was resolved in 300 MHz spectra. This resonance is tentatively assigned to a non-exchangeable -NH and undergoes a reversible binding-induced broadening. Also in this region, the binding-induced chemical shift change in the ortho ring protons of Tyr-49 was used to explore additional aspects of the kinetics of peptide-binding. The results indicate that peptides with affinities greater than or equal to 10(4) M-1 exhibit slow to intermediate exchange rates on the time scale of the Tyr-49 chemical shift change, but that fast exchange can be achieved with peptides having affinities approximately equal to 10(2) M-1.
Una causa poco habitual de restenosis tras la colocación de un stent carotídeo

La colocacion de stent en arteria carotida (SAC) ha evolucionado como alternativa minimamente invasiva a la endarterectomia carotidea, especialmente entre pacientes con cirugia previa del cuello o radioterapia porneoplasias malignas. La reestenosis tras la colocacion del SAC es baja aunque se debe a la hiperplasia de la neointima y se manifiesta en los 2 anos siguientes a la colocacion del stent . Presentamos un caso inusual de estenosis de la arteria carotida 18 meses despues de realizar una angioplastia y colocar un stent como consecuencia de un cancer recidivante, que se trato mediante la colocacion repetida de stent .
Destruction of liver microsomal calcium pump activity by carbon tetrachloride and bromotrichloromethane

Abstract Disturbed cellular calcium homeostatis has been observed during carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) poisoning, with large alterations in calcium content occurring 8 hr after administration. Moore el at. [10] have shown that the hepatic smooth endoplasmic reticulum can sequester calcium and that this ability is decreased severely within 30 min after CCl4 administration to rats. It was suggested that disturbed endoplasmic reticulum calcium pump activity may have a critical role in the expression of CCl4 hepatotoxicity. We examined the effect of bromotrichloromethane (BrCCl3) and CCl4 metabolism on the calcium pump of Fe2+-free rat liver microsomes. It was determined that severe deficits in calcium uptake can be correlated with minimal lipid peroxidation induced by these agents. At a given level of lipid peroxidation, calcium uptake was affected more severely than were the activities of the microsomal enzymes glucose-6-phosphatase and aminopyrine demethylase. Calcium uptake was increased 7-fold by the presence of 5 mM ATP in incubations prior to assay of calcium sequestration. Lipid peroxidation induced by BrCCl3-NADPH was accompanied by leakage of calcium from calcium-loaded microsomes. These results strengthen the possibility that disturbances in intracellular calcium homeostasis may be a key event in liver injury induced by BrCCl3 and CCl4.
Strategic uses of narrative in the presentation of self and illness: A research note

Using Goffman's theory and the methods of narrative analysis, the paper examines the divorce account of a white working-class man with advanced multiple sclerosis to show how he constructs a definition of his divorcing situation, and a positive masculine identity, despite massive disability. He accomplishes this positive self through narrative retelling of key events in his biography, healing discontinuities by the way he structures his account in interaction with the listener. The strategic choice of genre, or forms of narrative, guides the impression we form of him. From this case study, I show the usefulness of close textual analysis of biographical accounts of illness.
Reciprocity between depressive symptoms and physical limitations pre- and postretirement: exploring racial differences.

Objectives: This study assesses (a) the reciprocity between mental and physical health pre- and postretirement, and (b) the extent to which these associations vary by race. Method: Data are from the 1994 to 2008 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Results: Analyses based on structural equation modeling reveal that depression and physical health exert reciprocal effects for Whites pre- and postretirement. For Blacks preretirement, physical limitations predict changes in depression but there is no evidence of the reverse association. Further, the association between physical limitations and changes in depressive symptoms among Blacks is no longer significant after retirement. Discussion: The transition into retirement alleviates the translation of physical limitations into depressive symptoms for Blacks only. The findings underscore the relevance of retirement for reciprocity between mental and physical health and suggest that the health implications associated with this life course transition vary by...
Ion-exchange column chromatography of desmosine and isodesmosine.

Abstract A modification of a standard amino acid analysis procedure is used for the resolution and quantification of the polyfunctional amino acids desmosine and isodesmosine. In addition to the long and short columns normally used during an amino acid analysis, a third column (60 cm resin height) packed with Beckman Custom Research Resin type PA-28 is used to resolve desmosine and isodesmosine. These two amino acids are eluted with a 0.2 N sodium citrate buffer, pH 5.28 ± 0.02.
A Wireless Patch-type Physiological Monitoring MicroSystem

We developed a patch-type wireless multi-sensor system for physiological signals monitoring which is able to apply to tele-home-care or any related application. The module "Tag", without any constraint of the belt, is attached to the belly and is easy to measure the skin temperature, ECG signals, and respiration rate at the same time and show by "Computer Information Center". The Tag consists of three parts: a thermistor, an accelerometer, and electrocardiogram electrodes. In order to make the flexible module, the substrate adopts the soft PI with two conductive layers and the active and passive components are carefully selected.
Videotape Editing Systems Using Microprocessors

Following a short overview of videotape editing history, the modern approach is described — using a controller built around a microprocessor or “computer on a chip” rather than hardwired logic. A good editing controller should be directly interfaced with the individual editing machine; it must “know” all the relevant characteristics of the machine for correct control and at the same time must have easily understandable displays and a simple, functional control panel for easy operation. Two specific microprocessor-controlled editing systems designed to operate with the TR-600 quadruplex VTR are discussed; these are the AE-600, a sophisticated time-code editing system (able to control up to eight TR-600's) using the Intel 8080 microprocessor with 15K bytes of memory, and the SE-1 “simple editing system” using the CDP1802 microprocessor with 2K bytes of memory. The mechanics of editing with time code are discussed briefly.
Current approaches to the initial treatment of symptomatic multiple myeloma.

SUMMARY The treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma has dramatically changed since the emergence of proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs. Front-line combination regimens incorporating novel drugs, such as thalidomide, bortezomib and lenalidomide, have significantly improved response rates and are the standard of care for induction regimens. Although the timing and role of autologous stem cell transplant are now being questioned, it remains an important part of the treatment paradigm in eligible patients. In addition, the concept of extended sequential therapy has recently emerged, including consolidation and/or maintenance in both the post-transplant setting and in nontransplant candidates. In this article we focus on management strategies in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, including choice of induction regimens in transplant-eligible and -ineligible patients, as well as the role of autologous stem cell transplantation, consolidation therapy and maintenance therapy.
Lambs to the Slaughter: Leisure and Laboring-Class Poetry

The idea of leisure is essential to understanding how laboring-class poets conceived of themselves as writers, what they imagined the activity of poetic composition to be, and what kinds of poetic forms they felt were available to them. Further, in their poems exploring the concept of leisure, laboring-class poets illustrate an historical link between the exploitation and oppression of nature and the exploitation and oppression of the lower classes of society. It is an exploitation that is represented in poetry primarily through the suppression of leisure and the devastation of the natural or rural spaces where such leisure had occurred. This essay examines the implicit prohibition of pastoral themes for laboring-class poets from the early eighteenth to the early nineteenth centuries. Whereas early-eighteenth-century laboring-class poets depicted nature as a georgic realm, rarely representing it as the space for leisure, for early nineteenth-century poets such as Robert Bloomfield, Ann Yearsley and John Clare, the pastoral becomes the space for the poet to claim his or her rights to leisure in nature and the leisure of poetry itself. The essay argues that the expression of their protests is encoded within the generic markers of the pastoral mode, in particular through their representation of sheep and shepherds.
Third-party techniques for preventing conflict escalation and promoting peaceful settlement

Although agents employ a wide range of conflict management techniques in practice, scholars have evaluated only a few of these. A more complete empirical analysis of the spectrum of third-party procedures used to manage international crises reveals that two techniques in particular are most effective: mediation efforts and third-party activities to open or maintain lines of communication. The endpoints of preventing escalation and promoting peaceful settlement take into account the notion of conflict as a dynamic evolutionary process, consisting of several phases, which in turn affect the outcome of third-party management. Crisis management methods that have proved successful in a bipolar world may be similarly successful in the post-cold war environment, an issue future work must address.
EFFECTS OF POSTNATAL CHLORPROMAZINE ON DISCRIMINATION IN RATS

Rats treated chronically with 2 mg/kg chlorpromazine from 3 days to 60 days of age, and simultaneously exposed in their home cages to 2 geometric forms (circle and triangle), were significantly inferior to saline-treated controls in their ability at maturity to learn discriminated avoidance responses involving the forms. Chlorpromazine-treated Ss were essentially similar in discrimination learning ability to rats which were not exposed to the forms in early life. The results were interpreted as supporting an hypothesis that chlorpromazine reduces responsiveness to environmental cues by reducing sensory stimulation in general.
Investigation of proton density for measuring tissue temperature.

Purpose To examine the temperature dependence of the proton density (PD) in both adipose and muscle tissues, and the application of the PD as a thermometry parameter in breast tissues. Materials and Methods Porcine fat samples and bovine muscle samples were successively heated to temperatures ranging from 30°C to 76°C and then cooled. They were then imaged with a dual-echo spin-echo sequence. T1 and T2 effects were carefully corrected from the images. The apparent PD (APD) in regions of interest (ROIs) and the sum of the APD in all pixels (Sum_APD) were measured and analyzed by linear regression. Results APD in adipose tissue is linear and reversible, and changes with a 0.3%/°C to 0.45%/°C temperature variation. The temperature coefficient of Sum_APD in adipose tissue is approximately 0.29%/°C, as predicted from the Boltzmann distribution. However, the results in muscle tissue are more variable. There is an offset in both APD and Sum_APD between heating and cooling phases, as well as different temperature coefficients between these two phases. Conclusion The Sum_APD in adipose tissue validates the 1/T dependence on temperature. The APD is a potentially useful parameter for fat thermometry; however, its application in muscle tissue requires further investigation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A molecular-mechanics study of the conformation of the interchain disulfide of human immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)

The conformation of the interchain disulfide bond between the light and the heavy chains of human immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) was modeled based on the known structure of a human IgG1 Fab. Exploration of a large number of conformations followed by energy minimization using molecular mechanics methods rendered a plausible model for the disulfide. In this model the disulfide adopts the long, trans-gauche-trans configuration found in immunoglobulin intrachain bridges and not the conformations most commonly observed in other proteins (left-handed spiral or right-handed hook). Heavy chain residues H217 and H218 pack tightly against the disulfide and put restrictions on which sequences can exist in the proposed conformation. Sequence analysis at these positions shows that: (a) all human IgG4 and IgG3 are compatible with the model; (b) IgG2 and human immunoglobulins of other classes cannot adopt the conformation proposed for IgG4.
Triiodothyronine receptors during maturation.

Capacity of rat liver nuclear triiodothyronine (T3) binding protein (NTBP) for T3 more than quadruples from birth through 50-120 days, whether related to DNA or weight of tissue. Ka for T3 doubles during this interval. T3 content of nuclei nearly parallels capacity. The proportion of receptors occupied by T3 is 0.3 at birth, falling to .16 in old rats. In contrast to these changes in liver content of T3-receptor complex, mitochondrial alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity changes relatively less during maturation. Administration of estrogen, testosterone, and dexamethasone to immature female rats did not alter NTBP capacity of affinity.
Experimental and Numerical Observations of Hydrate Reformation during Depressurization in a Core-Scale Reactor

Gas hydrate has been predicted to reform around a wellbore during depressurization-based gas production from gas hydrate-bearing reservoirs. This process has an adverse effect on gas production rat...
Catalytic performance of Pt-promoted cobalt-based catalysts for the steam reforming of ethanol

Abstract In this study, Pt-promoted Cox/ZrO2 catalysts (including 1.5 wt% Pt and Co loading of 0.75, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0, 12, 24 and 48 wt%, respectively) were prepared by the incipient wet impregnation method for hydrogen production by steam reforming of ethanol (SRE). Evaluation of catalytic activities and products distribution toward the SRE reaction were carried out in a fixed-bed reactor with 100 mg of catalyst under an H2O/EtOH molar ratio of 13.0 and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 22,000 h−1. The results revealed that the optimal loading of cobalt could enhance the capacities of catalytic performance and C–C scission, further raised the yield of hydrogen ( Y H 2 ) and lowered the deposited carbon, CH4 and CO side-products due to the combination effect of cobalt and platinum. The Pt1.5Co12/ZrO2 catalyst exhibited superiority in the SRE reaction, where complete conversion of ethanol was achieved at 275 °C. The ( Y H 2 ) approached 4.95, and only minor CO (
Ethanol Activation of Protein Kinase A Regulates GABA(A) Receptor Subunit Expression in the Cerebral Cortex and Contributes to Ethanol-Induced Hypnosis.

Protein kinases are implicated in neuronal cell functions such as modulation of ion channel function, trafficking and synaptic excitability. Both protein kinase C (PKC) and A (PKA) are involved in regulation of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptors through phosphorylation. However, the role of PKA in regulating GABA-A receptors following acute ethanol exposure is not known. The present study investigated the role of PKA in ethanol effects on GABA-A receptor α1 subunit expression in the P2 synaptosomal fraction of the rat cerebral cortex. Additionally, GABA-related behaviors were also examined. Rats were administered ethanol (2.0 – 3.5 g/kg) or saline and PKC, PKA and GABA-A receptor α1 subunit levels were measured by Western blot analysis. Ethanol (3.5 g/kg) transiently increased GABA-A receptor α1 subunit expression and PKA RIIβ subunit expression at similar time points whereas PKA RIIα was increased at later time points. In contrast, PKC isoform expression remained unchanged. Notably, the moderate ethanol dose (2.0g/kg) had no effect on GABA-A α1 subunit levels although PKA RIIα and RIIβ were increased at 10 and 60 minutes, when PKC isozymes are also known to be elevated. To determine if PKA activation was responsible for the ethanol-induced elevation of GABA-A α1 subunits, the PKA antagonist H89 was administered to rats prior to ethanol exposure. H89 administration prevented ethanol-induced increases in GABA-A receptor α1 subunit expression. Moreover, increasing PKA activity intracerebroventricularly with Sp-cAMP prior to a hypnotic dose of ethanol increased ethanol-induced loss of righting reflex duration. This effect appears to be mediated in part by GABA-A receptors as increasing PKA activity also increased the duration of muscimol-induced loss of righting reflex. Overall these data suggest that PKA mediates ethanol-induced GABA-A receptor expression and contributes to ethanol behavioral effects involving GABA-A receptors.