587 research outputs found
NOCTURNAL ARBOREALITY IN SNAKES IN THE SWAMPLANDS OF THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN OF SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND BIG THICKET NATIONAL PRESERVE OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS
The southeastern United States is home to a diverse assemblage of snakes, but only one species, the Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus), is considered specialized for a predominantly arboreal lifestyle. Other species, such as Ratsnakes (genus Pantherophis) and Ribbonsnakes/Gartersnakes (genus Thamnophis), are widely known to climb into vegetation and trees. Some explanations given for snake climbing behavior are foraging, thermoregulation, predator avoidance, and response to flood. Reports of arboreality in snake species typically not associated with life in the trees (such as terrestrial, aquatic, and even fossorial species) usually come from single observations, with no knowledge of prevalence of the behavior. Here, we report on arboreality of snake species detected during 8 years of night surveys in the Atchafalaya Basin of south-central Louisiana and 5+ years of night surveys in Big Thicket National Preserve in southeast Texas. We recorded a total of 1,088 detections of 19 snake species between the two study areas, with 348 detections above ground level (32%). The Rough Greensnake and Western Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis proximus) accounted for nearly 75% of total arboreal detections among the two study areas. However, with one exception, all snake species detected more than once between both study areas had at least one arboreal detection. These observations demonstrate that snakes with widely varying natural histories may be found in the trees at night, and for some species, this behavior may be more common than previously believed
Should Courts Set Doctors\u27 Fees
Should courts set doctors\u27 fees? This short query has interesting ramifications. Initially, the question seems to demand an unqualifiedly negative answer. It is adverse to our system of free enterprise. It is socialized medicine. It is unconstitutional. Responses like these can be heard not only from the medical profession but from the conservative members of the public as well. Modem legislation, in attempting to regulate an ever expanding population, is constantly moving towards more and more social control. Rephrase the initial question to read, should courts regulate workmen\u27s compensation or Medicare? What then, would the same people answer? And, yet, we know that illness can bring financial disaster as well as other misery. Are there or should there be laws setting compensation for doctors? This paper seeks to examine these question by analyzing court decisions and modern trends
Flaw growth behavior in thick welded plates of 2219-T87 aluminum at room and cryogenic temperatures
Axial load fatigue and fracture tests were conducted on thick welded plates of 2219-T87 aluminum alloy to determine the tensile strength properties and the flaw growth behavior in electron beam, gas metal arc, and pulse current gas tungsten arc welds for plates 6.35 centimeters (2.5 in.) thick. The tests were conducted in room temperature air and in liquid nitrogen environments. Specimens were tested in both the as-welded and the aged after welding conditions. The experimental crack growth rate were correlated with theoretical crack growth rate predictions for semielliptical surface flaws
Dedifferentiation rescues senescence of progeria cells but only while pluripotent
Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a genetic disease in which children develop pathologies associated with old age. HGPS is caused by a mutation in the LMNA gene, resulting in the formation of a dominant negative form of the intermediate filament, nuclear structural protein lamin A, termed progerin. Expression of progerin alters the nuclear architecture and heterochromatin, affecting cell cycle progression and genomic stability. Two groups recently reported the successful generation and characterization of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from HGPS fibroblasts. Remarkably, progerin expression and senescence phenotypes are lost in iPSCs but not in differentiated progeny. These new HGPS iPSCs are valuable for characterizing the role of progerin in driving HGPS and aging and for screening therapeutic strategies to prevent or delay cell senescence
Tumor necrosis factorâÎ contributes to below-level neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury
Objective Our objective was to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for below-level pain after partial spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods We used lateral hemisection to model central neuropathic pain and herpes simplex viral (HSV) vectorâmediated transfer of the cleaved soluble receptor for tumor necrosis factorâÎ (TNF-Î) to evaluate the role of TNF-Î in the pathogenesis of below-level pain. Results We found activation of microglia and increased expression of TNF-Î below the level of the lesion in the lumbar spinal cord after T13 lateral hemisection that correlated with emergence of mechanical allodynia in the hind limbs of rats. Lumbar TNF-Î had an apparent molecular weight of 27kDa, consistent with the full-length transmembrane form of the protein (mTNF-Î). Expression of the p55 TNF soluble receptor (sTNFRs) by HSV-mediated gene transfer resulted in reduced pain behavior and a decreased number of ED1-positive cells, as well as decreased phosphorylation of the p38 MAP kinase (p-p38) and diminished expression of mTNF-Î in the dorsal horn. Interpretation These results suggest that expression of mTNF-Î after injury is related to development of pain, and that reverse signaling through mTNF-Î by sTNFR at that level reduces cellular markers of inflammatory response and pain-related behavior. Ann Neurol 2006;59:843â851Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50655/1/20855_ftp.pd
Generalized time-reversal symmetry and effective theories for nonequilibrium matter
The past decade has witnessed the development of systematic effective
theories for dissipative thermal systems. Here, we describe an analogous
effective theory framework that applies to the classical stochastic dynamics of
nonequilibrium systems. We illustrate this approach using a range of examples,
including nonreciprocal (predator-prey) dynamics, dissipative and driven
rigid-body motion, and active chiral fluids and solids. Many of these systems
exhibit a generalized time-reversal symmetry, which plays a crucial role within
our formalism, and in many cases can be implemented within the
Martin-Siggia-Rose path integral. This effective theory formalism yields
generalizations of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem and second law of
thermodynamics valid out of equilibrium. By stipulating a stationary
distribution and a set of symmetries -- rather than postulating the stochastic
equations of motion directly -- this formalism provides an alternative route to
building phenomenological models of driven and active matter. We hope that this
approach facilitates a systematic investigation of the universality classes of
active matter, and provides a common language for nonequilibrium many-body
physics from high energy to condensed matter.Comment: 74 pages, 6 figure
Gene therapy for pain: Results of a phase I clinical trial
Objective: Preclinical evidence indicates that gene transfer to the dorsal root ganglion using replicationâdefective herpes simplex virus (HSV)âbased vectors can reduce painârelated behavior in animal models of pain. This clinical trial was carried out to assess the safety and explore the potential efficacy of this approach in humans. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, doseâescalation, phase I clinical trial of NP2, a replicationâdefective HSVâbased vector expressing human preproenkephalin ( PENK ) in subjects with intractable focal pain caused by cancer. NP2 was injected intradermally into the dermatome(s) corresponding to the radicular distribution of pain. The primary outcome was safety. As secondary measures, efficacy of pain relief was assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS), the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SFâMPQ), and concurrent opiate usage. Results: Ten subjects with moderate to severe intractable pain despite treatment with >200mg/day of morphine (or equivalent) were enrolled into the study. Treatment was well tolerated with no study agentârelated serious adverse events observed at any point in the study. Subjects receiving the low dose of NP2 reported no substantive change in pain. Subjects in the middleâ and highâdose cohorts reported pain relief as assessed by NRS and SFâMPQ. Interpretation: Treatment of intractable pain with NP2 was well tolerated. There were no placebo controls in this relatively small study, but the doseâresponsive analgesic effects suggest that NP2 may be effective in reducing pain and warrants further clinical investigation. ANN NEUROL 2011Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/86983/1/22446_ftp.pd
The Ursinus Weekly, May 20, 1977
Ursinus news in brief: Weekly tries new printer; Chem student receives award; Top seniors honored; Music officers picked; Simon wins award; Brandt wins award; Young Republicans choose officers ⢠Richter hails USGA proposal as primary document ⢠Field hockey trip cancelled ⢠Chapter scholars honored ⢠Comment: Is this any way to run a school? ⢠Letters to the editor ⢠Dames at sea ⢠Movie attack: Fellini\u27s Casanova ⢠Musical notes: Meistersingers tour ⢠Parsons\u27 book reviewed ⢠Pi No ⢠On curriculum ⢠Presidential memo ⢠Doctorates ⢠From the cluttered desk of the USGA President ⢠Calendar priorities ⢠Curley wins scholarship ⢠14 admitted to med schools ⢠Placement Office offers services ⢠Check it out: Lacrosse at 10-1 ⢠Baseball winds down season ⢠Women\u27s softball ⢠Trinkle holds all records in high jump competition ⢠5th in MAC\u27s track team ⢠Women\u27s tennis at match pointhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1071/thumbnail.jp
The Ursinus Weekly, April 7, 1977
Ursinus news in brief: New CCC organized; Class elections to be held; Volunteers needed at Norristown; Exec. Comm. meets with Pres.; Late examination fee cancelled; Night school requirement changed ⢠WCC meets food service rep. ⢠New asst. to Harris chosen ⢠Cub and Key inducts new members ⢠Comment: A fond farewell to a close friend; Initial optimism of a new editor ⢠Weekly special: FBI warns of more terrorist attacks ⢠Letters to the editor ⢠Movie attack: Bomb renamed ⢠A low-scale of relief ⢠Alumni assoc. gives gift ⢠Dog Day afternoon ⢠Forum review: Horrors recalled ⢠Meisters prepare tour ⢠Women\u27s basketball reaches nationals ⢠USGA survey ⢠Senior dance ⢠1977 baseball: title bound? ⢠Bears begin seasonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1069/thumbnail.jp
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