An Examination of the Negotiability Concept of the Uniform Commercial Code

The aim of this undertaking is to examine the impact, if any, that the new Uniform Commercial Code may have on our concept of negotiability as it has evolved to the present time. Analysis will be confined to this one broad topic, but our considerations are not limited to one section of the Code. Although analytical thought about the negotiability concept has been applied to its many segments, which we call rules, apparently nothing has been written on the Code that has emphasized the expansion of the concept itself which is now possible. The inspiration for this article stems from the ostensibly innocent words “within this article” found in Section 3-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code. It is contended that these words could completely change the historical policy of the courts and launch us into an entirely new era for the negotiability concept. A full understanding of this position can only be gained by an inquiry into the historical development of negotiability

The high correlation between counts and area fractions of lipofuscin granules, a biomarker of oxidative stress in muscular dystrophies

Images of cryostat unstained sections of two skeletal muscles, diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus (EDL), from wild-type normal and dystrophic mdx mice were captured with a fluorescence microscope, binarised and analysed by an automated procedure using ImageJ free software. The numbers, Feret diameters and areas of autofluorescent lipofuscin (LF)-like granules in the sections were determined from the binary images. The mean numbers of counted LF granules per mm(3) muscle tissue correlated highly (r ≥ 0.9) with the area fractions of the granules in sections of both normal and mdx muscles. The similar distribution patterns of granule sizes in sections of diaphragm and EDL muscles are consistent with the high correlations

RNA-seq analysis of ageing human retinal pigment epithelium: Unexpected up-regulation of visual cycle gene transcription

Ageing presents adverse effects on the retina and is the primary risk factor for age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). We report the first RNA‐seq analysis of age‐related transcriptional changes in the human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), the primary site of AMD pathogenesis. Whole transcriptome sequencing of RPE from human donors ranging in age from 31 to 93 reveals that ageing is associated with increasing transcription of main RPE‐associated visual cycle genes (including LRAT, RPE65, RDH5, RDH10, RDH11; pathway enrichment BH‐adjusted P = 4.6 × 10(−6)). This positive correlation is replicated in an independent set of 28 donors and a microarray dataset of 50 donors previously published. LRAT expression is positively regulated by retinoid by‐products of the visual cycle (A2E and all‐trans‐retinal) involving modulation by retinoic acid receptor alpha transcription factor. The results substantiate a novel age‐related positive feedback mechanism between accumulation of retinoid by‐products in the RPE and the up‐regulation of visual cycle genes

Absence of N addition facilitates B cell development, but impairs immune responses

The programmed, stepwise acquisition of immunocompetence that marks the development of the fetal immune response proceeds during a period when both T cell receptor and immunoglobulin (Ig) repertoires exhibit reduced junctional diversity due to physiologic terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) insufficiency. To test the effect of N addition on humoral responses, we transplanted bone marrow from TdT-deficient (TdT−/−) and wild-type (TdT+/+) BALB/c mice into recombination activation gene 1-deficient BALB/c hosts. Mice transplanted with TdT−/− cells exhibited diminished humoral responses to the T-independent antigens α-1-dextran and (2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hapten conjugated to AminoEthylCarboxymethyl-FICOLL, to the T-dependent antigens NP19CGG and hen egg lysozyme, and to Enterobacter cloacae, a commensal bacteria that can become an opportunistic pathogen in immature and immunocompromised hosts. An exception to this pattern of reduction was the T-independent anti-phosphorylcholine response to Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is normally dominated by the N-deficient T15 idiotype. Most of the humoral immune responses in the recipients of TdT−/− bone marrow were impaired, yet population of the blood with B and T cells occurred more rapidly. To further test the effect of N-deficiency on B cell and T cell population growth, transplanted TdT-sufficient and -deficient BALB/c IgMa and congenic TdT-sufficient CB17 IgMb bone marrow were placed in competition. TdT−/− cells demonstrated an advantage in populating the bone marrow, the spleen, and the peritoneal cavity. TdT deficiency, which characterizes fetal lymphocytes, thus appears to facilitate filling both central and peripheral lymphoid compartments, but at the cost of altered responses to a broad set of antigens

A study of indoor carbon dioxide levels and sick leave among office workers

BACKGROUND: A previous observational study detected a strong positive relationship between sick leave absences and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) concentrations in office buildings in the Boston area. The authors speculated that the observed association was due to a causal effect associated with low dilution ventilation, perhaps increased airborne transmission of respiratory infections. This study was undertaken to explore this association. METHODS: We conducted an intervention study of indoor CO(2) levels and sick leave among hourly office workers employed by a large corporation. Outdoor air supply rates were adjusted periodically to increase the range of CO(2) concentrations. We recorded indoor CO(2) concentrations every 10 minutes and calculated a CO(2) concentration differential as a measure of outdoor air supply per person by subtracting the 1–3 a.m. average CO(2) concentration from the same-day 9 a.m. – 5 a.m. average concentration. The metric of CO(2) differential was used as a surrogate for the concentration of exhaled breath and for potential exposure to human source airborne respiratory pathogens. RESULTS: The weekly mean, workday, CO(2) concentration differential ranged from 37 to 250 ppm with a peak CO(2) concentration above background of 312 ppm as compared with the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommended maximum differential of 700 ppm. We determined the frequency of sick leave among 294 hourly workers scheduled to work approximately 49,804.2 days in the study areas using company records. We found no association between sick leave and CO(2) differential CONCLUSIONS: The CO(2) differential was in the range of very low values, as compared with the ASHRAE recommended maximum differential of 700 ppm. Although no effect was found, this study was unable to test whether higher CO(2) differentials may be associated with increased sick leave

DH and JH usage in murine fetal liver mirrors that of human fetal liver

In mouse and human, the regulated development of antibody repertoire diversity during ontogeny proceeds in parallel with the development of the ability to generate antibodies to an array of specific antigens. Compared to adult, the human fetal antibody repertoire limits N addition and uses specifically positioned VDJ gene segments more frequently, including V6-1 the most DH-proximal VH, DQ52, the most JH-proximal DH, and JH2, which is DH-proximal. The murine fetal antibody repertoire also limits the incorporation of N nucleotides and uses its most DH proximal VH, VH81X, more frequently. To test whether DH and JH also follow the pattern observed in human, we used the scheme of Hardy to sort B lineage cells from BALB/c fetal and neonatal liver, RT-PCR cloned and sequenced VH7183-containing VDJCμ transcripts, and then assessed VH7183-DH-JH and complementary determining region 3 of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (CDR-H3) content in comparison to the previously studied adult BALB/c mouse repertoire. Due to the deficiency in N nucleotide addition, perinatal CDR-H3s manifested a distinct pattern of amino acid usage and predicted loop structures. As in the case of adult bone marrow, we observed a focusing of CDR-H3 length and CDR-H3 loop hydrophobicity, especially in the transition from the early to late pre-B cell stage, a developmental checkpoint associated with expression of the pre-B cell receptor. However, fetal liver usage of JH-proximal DHQ52 and DH-proximal JH2 was markedly greater than that of adult bone marrow. Thus, the early pattern of DH and JH usage in mouse feta liver mirrors that of human

Might Depression, Psychosocial Adversity, and Limited Social Assets Explain Vulnerability to and Resistance against Violent Radicalisation?

BACKGROUND: This study tests whether depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets offer protection or suggest vulnerability to the process of radicalisation. METHODS: A population sample of 608 men and women of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin, of Muslim heritage, and aged 18-45 were recruited by quota sampling. Radicalisation was measured by 16 questions asking about sympathies for violent protest and terrorism. Cluster analysis of the 16 items generated three groups: most sympathetic (or most vulnerable), most condemning (most resistant), and a large intermediary group that acted as a reference group. Associations were calculated with depression (PHQ9), anxiety (GAD7), poor health, and psychosocial adversity (adverse life events, perceived discrimination, unemployment). We also investigated protective factors such as the number social contacts, social capital (trust, satisfaction, feeling safe), political engagement and religiosity. RESULTS: Those showing the most sympathy for violent protest and terrorism were more likely to report depression (PHQ9 score of 5 or more; RR = 5.43, 1.35 to 21.84) and to report religion to be important (less often said religion was fairly rather than very important; RR = 0.08, 0.01 to 0.48). Resistance to radicalisation measured by condemnation of violent protest and terrorism was associated with larger number of social contacts (per contact: RR = 1.52, 1.26 to 1.83), less social capital (RR = 0.63, 0.50 to 0.80), unavailability for work due to housekeeping or disability (RR = 8.81, 1.06 to 37.46), and not being born in the UK (RR = 0.22, 0.08 to 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: Vulnerability to radicalisation is characterised by depression but resistance to radicalisation shows a different profile of health and psychosocial variables. The paradoxical role of social capital warrants further investigation

Growth hormone secretagogue increases muscle strength during immobilization after canine hindlimb immobilization

Summary: Twenty-two beagles were divided into two equal groups, and the right hindlimb of each animal was immobilized at 105" of knee flexion by external fixation. After 10 weeks of fixation, the device was removed, allowing free mobility for the following 5 weeks. Each day throughout the 1. 5 weeks, one group received a growth hormone secretagogue (treatment) at a dose of 5 mg/kg, and the other received a lactose placebo (control). A t weeks 0, 10, and 15, strength as indicated by maximum isometric extension torque was measured in the right hindlimb, biopsies of the vastus lateralis muscle were taken, and the dogs were weighed. Weekly blood samples were analyzed for insulin-like growth factor-1, blood urea nitrogen, and creatine phosphokinase. Between weeks 0 and 10, tetanic torque declined by about 60% (p < 0.001) in both groups, with no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.7). Between weeks 10 and 15, tetanic torque in the treated group increased by 0.81 Nm; this was significantly greater than the increase of 0.25 Nm in the placebo group (p < 0.05). The diameters of slow (type-1) and fast (type-2) fibers measured from the vastus lateralis muscle followed the same trend. At all time points, fiber diameter correlated strongly with torque; this argues against nonmuscular causes such as nerve injury for strength loss. The mean levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 increased 100% by week 4 in the treated group and remained elevated by about 60% throughout the experiment. Levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 in the placebo group decreased 30% within week 1 and remained depressed throughout the experiment. Our interpretation of these data suggests that the growth hormone secretagogue elevated levels of serum insulin-like growth factor-1, which in turn increased the size and strength of the quadriceps muscle during remobilization. These data may ultimately have therapeutic application to humans during rehabilitation after prolonged inactivity. - The strengthening of skeletal muscle after surgery or prolonged disuse remains a primary goal of rehabilitation. Many approaches -including electrical stimulation (lo), voluntary exercise (15), continuous passive motion (7), and hormone therapy (32) -have been used to strengthen atrophied muscles. In some cases, treatment modalities are limited by a patient's access to rehabilitation professionals or rehabilitation devices. Medical treatment of muscle atrophy with hormone therapy offers the advantage of requiring relatively little effort on the part of the patient to achieve the desired therapeutic result. There is ample evidence of hypertrophy of skeletal muscle in response to anabolic steroids. strong correlations were demonstrated between muscle strength and serum testosterone concentration in elderly men in whom a marked loss of muscle function was correlated with low testosterone levels relative to stronger age-matched controls (1). In related studies, the administration of testosterone to elderly men (to increase serum testosterone to a range observed in younger men) increased lean body mass (32) and grip strength (25). The effect of this hormone may be mediated, at least in part, by serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (4). The anabolic effects on humans of I G F -1 administration have been well documented. For example, recombinant IGF-1 attenuated the catabolic effects of glucocorticoids (23) and increased muscle protein synthesis in young men (9). Similar results were obtained in vitro with other muscle growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF). At the cellular level, skeletal muscle myotubes grown in culture in the presence of FGF demonstrated a marked increase in protein synthesis. This effect was enhanced 51