cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vulnerability to Hurricanes Along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts: Considerations of the Use of Long-Term Forecasts

The scientific community has demonstrated some skill in long-term forecasts (i.e., inter-annual/decadal) of Atlantic hurricane activity. Long-term forecasts of hurricane incidence are a component of broader political and social processes. Recognition of this broader context of a forecast is central to its utilization for societal benefits. We seek to use the concept of vulnerability to hurricanes along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts to provide a framework to assess the use/value of long-term forecasts of hurricane activity. Vulnerability provides a common goal that integrates the science and social science of hurricane impacts. Experience suggests that improved long-term forecasts, by themselves, will not reduce society’s vulnerability unless accompanied by efforts to use them in processes of preparedness. To the extent that improved forecasts contribute to reduced vulnerability we will have made less serious the threat of hurricanes to coastal communities, supplied a basis of experience for actions in response to other types of extreme weather phenomena, and provided a practical demonstration of a successful connection of scientific research in pursuit of societal objectives.
States Diverting Funds from the Poor

While the United States continues to recover from the 2008 Great Recession, the country still faces unprecedented inequality as increasing numbers of poor families struggle to get by with little assistance from the government. Holes in the Safety Net: Federalism and Poverty offers a grounded look at how states and the federal government provide assistance to poor people. With chapters covering everything from welfare reform to recent efforts by states to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients, the book avoids unnecessary jargon and instead focuses on how programs operate in practice. This timely work should be read by anyone who cares about poverty, rising inequality, and the relationship between state, local, and federal levels of government. Emphasizes how programs work in the real world to appeal to those interested in how programs impact people, avoiding overly academic theoretical discussions. Grounded in the relationship between states and the federal government for those interested in antipoverty work at both the federal and state levels. Connects past policies with current proposals to undermine the safety net to address concerns about rising inequality and interest in poor communities.
Conductivity Induced by High-Field Terahertz Waves in Dielectric Material.

An intense, subpicosecond, relativistic electron beam traversing a dielectric-lined waveguide generates very large amplitude electric fields at terahertz (THz) frequencies through the wakefield mechanism. In recent work employing this technique to accelerate charged particles, the generation of high-power, narrow-band THz radiation was demonstrated. The radiated waves contain fields with measured amplitude exceeding $2\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GV}/\mathrm{m}$, orders of magnitude greater than those available by other THz generation techniques at a narrow bandwidth. For fields approaching the $\mathrm{GV}/\mathrm{m}$ level, a strong damping has been observed in ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$. This wave attenuation with an onset near $850\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MV}/\mathrm{m}$ is consistent with changes to the conductivity of the dielectric lining and is characterized by a distinctive latching mechanism that is reversible on longer timescales. We describe the detailed measurements that serve to clarify the underlying physical mechanisms leading to strong field-induced damping of THz radiation ($h\ensuremath{\omega}=1.59\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{meV}$, $f=0.38\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{THz}$) in ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$, a bulk, wide band-gap (8.9 eV) dielectric.
Tangle: A New Measure of Time Series Complexity.

Dynamical systems analysis and the study of time series data provide a rich source of information for researchers interested in studying psychological phenomena. While many methods exist for quanti...
Voided volume for postoperative voiding assessment following prolapse and urinary incontinence surgery

The objective was to compare the safety and accuracy of voided volume with the standard retrograde fill approach for voiding assessment after pelvic floor surgery. This cohort represents all women in our repository who underwent postoperative voiding assessment following procedures for pelvic floor disorders between September 2011 and June 2014. One surgeon utilized a spontaneous voiding (SV) protocol and allowed any patient who voided 150 ml or more at one time to pass the trial. The other surgeon used a retrograde fill (RF) protocol. This involved instilling the bladder with 300 ml of water or until maximum capacity immediately after the outpatient procedures and on the first postoperative day for hospitalized patients. For this protocol, a voided volume of 200 ml was considered sufficient to pass the trial. In this cohort, 431 women had a voiding trial with SV, and 318 with RF. The groups were similar with respect to baseline characteristics but more women in the RF group had a sling-only procedure. The failure rates of the RF (22.8%) and SV (20.0%) groups were similar (p = 0.46). Among women who passed the voiding trial, similar percentages of women returned with urinary retention and needed catheter insertion after the RF (1.6%) and SV (0.9%) methods (p = 0.65). Spontaneous voiding trial based on a minimum voided volume of 150 ml is a safe and reliable alternative to the retrograde fill method after female pelvic floor procedures.
Family Matters: The Double-Edged Sword of Police-Community Connections

Scholars and policy makers frequently advocate recruiting “embedded” bureaucrats with strong ties to citizens in order to improve service delivery. Yet, officials who are too embedded in their comm...
MG53 suppresses tumor progression and stress granule formation by modulating G3BP2 activity in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background Cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapeutic intervention by excessive formation of stress granules (SGs), which are modulated by an oncogenic protein G3BP2. Selective control of G3BP2/SG signaling is a potential means to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Co-immunoprecipitation was conducted to identify the interaction of MG53 and G3BP2. Immunohistochemistry and live cell imaging were performed to visualize the subcellular expression or co-localization. We used shRNA to knock-down the expression MG53 or G3BP2 to test the cell migration and colony formation. The expression level of MG53 and G3BP2 in human NSCLC tissues was tested by western blot analysis. The ATO-induced oxidative stress model was used to examine the effect of rhMG53 on SG formation. Moue NSCLC allograft experiments were performed on wild type and transgenic mice with either knockout of MG53, or overexpression of MG53. Human NSCLC xenograft model in mice was used to evaluate the effect of MG53 overexpression on tumorigenesis. Results We show that MG53, a member of the TRIM protein family (TRIM72), modulates G3BP2 activity to control lung cancer progression. Loss of MG53 results in the progressive development of lung cancer in mg53-/- mice. Transgenic mice with sustained elevation of MG53 in the bloodstream demonstrate reduced tumor growth following allograft transplantation of mouse NSCLC cells. Biochemical assay reveals physical interaction between G3BP2 and MG53 through the TRIM domain of MG53. Knockdown of MG53 enhances proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells, whereas reduced tumorigenicity is seen in NSCLC cells with knockdown of G3BP2 expression. The recombinant human MG53 (rhMG53) protein can enter the NSCLC cells to induce nuclear translation of G3BP2 and block arsenic trioxide-induced SG formation. The anti-proliferative effect of rhMG53 on NSCLC cells was abolished with knockout of G3BP2. rhMG53 can enhance sensitivity of NSCLC cells to undergo cell death upon treatment with cisplatin. Tailored induction of MG53 expression in NSCLC cells suppresses lung cancer growth via reduced SG formation in a xenograft model. Conclusion Overall, these findings support the notion that MG53 functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting G3BP2/SG activity in NSCLCs.
Applying Research-Based Teaching Strategies in a Biomedical Engineering Programming Course: Introduction to Computer Aided Diagnosis.

There are increasing calls for the use of research-based teaching strategies to improve engagement and learning in engineering. In this innovation paper, we detail the application of research-based teaching strategies in a computer programming focused biomedical engineering module. This four-week, one-credit undergraduate biomedical engineering (BME) programming-based image processing module consisted of a blend of lectures, active learning exercises, guided labs, and a final project. Students completed surveys and generated concept maps at three time points in the module (pre, mid, and post) to document the impact of integrating research-based teaching strategies. Students demonstrated a significant (p 4 out of 5) perceptions of gains in knowledge and attitudes toward instructor support. Overall, the novel design utilized multiple research-based pedagogies and increased students' conceptual knowledge, self-efficacy, and perceived usefulness of material. The proposed design is an example of how multiple research-based instructional strategies can be integrated into an undergraduate biomedical engineering course. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43683-021-00057-w.
United States Food and Drug Administration’s Total Diet Study Program

The US launched the first total diet study in 1961 and has conducted the program continuously since then. This chapter describes the evolution of the TDS methodology used in the US, with a particular emphasis on the current sampling strategy, analytical coverage, and use of the TDS results in estimating dietary exposures.
Adoption of Health Information Exchange by Small Clinics: An Institutional Perspective

The growing use of health information technology has also led to an increase in the adoption and use of electronic health information exchange (HIE). While large hospitals and healthcare systems have been at the forefront of implementing HIE, little is known about the state of adoption by small clinics, a large but little researched group. Using the institutional perspective we propose examination of the environmental coercive, normative, and mimetic pressures from government, patients, affiliates, peers, and IT vendors on small clinics to adopt HIE.
Homocysteine and risk of cardiovascular disease.

This pictorial introduction to homocysteine illustrates at a glance the nature of homocysteine and its role in cardiovascular disease by means of eight simple figures and an essential bibliography. Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing metabolite of methionine. Conversion back to methionine or transsulfuration to cysteine are the two major metabolic pathways that reduce total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in cells and blood. B vitamins are essential cofactors in homocysteine metabolism. Median fasting total homocysteine levels in adult males are ∼10 µmol/L. Increased plasma tHcy concentrations are found with methionine-rich diets, low vitamin B intake, male gender, age, impaired renal function, and genetically determined defects of the enzymes involved in homocysteine metabolism. An inverse relation exists between plasma tHcy and circulating folate or vitamin B6 concentrations, and folic acid supplements of 0.5 mg/d can reduce tHcy levels by ∼25%. Homocystinuric patients, who have severe hyperhomocysteinemia, die prematurely of atherothrombotic disease. Many (but not all) cross-sectional and prospective studies indicate, on average, that plasma tHcy levels <.10 µmol/L are associated with, or predict the development of, coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vascular disease. The risk conferred by hyperhomocysteinemia is graded and is independent of traditional risk factors, with an estimated odds ratio for ischemic heart disease of 1.4 for every 5 µmol/L increase in plasma tHcy. In vitro and in vivo, tHcy has been found to impair endothelial function. It is now well established that tHcy represents a marker of current or subsequent ischemic vascular disease. However, irrefutable proof that hyperhomocysteinemia actually causes atherothrombosis will come only if interventions to lower plasma tHcy will produce concomitant reductions in cardiovascular events.
Improving logic obfuscation via logic cone analysis

Logic obfuscation can protect designs from reverse engineering and IP piracy. In this paper, a new attack strategy based on applying brute force iteratively to each logic cone is described and shown to significantly reduce the number of brute force key combinations that need to be tried by an attacker. It is shown that inserting key gates based on MUXes is an effective approach to increase security against this type of attack. Experimental results are presented quantifying the threat posed by this type of attack along with the relative effectiveness of MUX key gates in countering it.
Experimental Design: Large-Scale Social Experimentation

Abstract Large-scale social experiments became scientifically feasible in the 1960s, and the US government began funding them to obtain better information for policymakers. The rate of new experiments has risen steadily since then, although the newer experiments tend to be smaller and more focused. This article reviews some of the advantages, disadvantages, and design issues that accompany large-scale, long-term social experimentation.
History Repeated with the USA Patriot Act

This past summer I taught a class on Civil Liberties. One of the interesting things that came to light in that class is the relationship between national security concerns (real or feared) and civil liberties. Several times in our history, periods of increased concern about national security have gone nearly in lockstep with an increased willingness to curtail civil liberties, by both the public as well as in the courts and legislatures.The attacks of September 11, 2001 impacted this country’s “national well-being” at a level that we have not seen since World War II, and perhaps beyond. The terroristic nature of the attacks heightened that impact in that anyone anywhere felt targeted by virtually anyone, anywhere. Among the government responses to the attacks was the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-56, October 26, 2001, available online at thomas.loc.gov), which has several provisions that impact civil liberties in the interest of the national well-being. At the anniversary of the USA PATRIOT Act, information professionals and the public are increasingly concerned that the “proper balance between freedom and order” may have shifted too far.
Validating online recursive independent component analysis on EEG data

The needs for online Independent Component Analysis (ICA) algorithms arise in a range of fields such as continuous clinical assessment and brain-computer interface (BCI). Among the online ICA methods, online recursive ICA algorithm (ORICA) has attractive properties of fast convergence and low computational complexity. However, there hasn't been a systematic comparison between an online ICA method such as ORICA and other offline (batch-mode) ICA algorithms on real EEG data. This study compared ORICA with ten ICA algorithms in terms of their decomposition quality, validity of source characteristics, and computational complexity on the thirteen experimental 71-ch EEG datasets. Empirical results showed that ORICA achieved higher mutual information reduction (MIR) and extracted more near-dipolar sources than algorithms such as FastICA, JADE, and SOBI did while the performance of ORICA approached that of the best-performed Infomax-based algorithms. Furthermore, ORICA outperforms most of ICA methods in terms of the computational complexity. The properties of fast convergence and low computational complexity of ORICA enable the realization of real-time online ICA process, which has further applications such as real-time functional neuroimaging, artifact reduction, and adaptive BCI.
Stochastic Müller games are PSPACE-complete

The theory of graph games with ω-regular winning conditions is the foundation for modeling and synthesizing reactive processes. In the case of stochastic reactive processes, the corresponding stochastic graph games have three players, two of them (System and Environment) behaving adversarially, and the third (Uncertainty) behaving probabilistically. We consider two problems for stochastic graph games: the qualitative problem asks for the set of states from which a player can win with probability 1 (almost-sure winning); and the quantitative problem asks for the maximal probability of winning (optimal winning) fromeach state. We consider ω-regular winning conditions formalized as Muller winning conditions. We show that both the qualitative and quantitative problem for stochastic Muller games are PSPACE-complete.We also consider two well-known sub-classes of Muller objectives, namely, upwardclosed and union-closed objectives, and show that both the qualitative and quantitative problem for these sub-classes are coNP-complete.
Motility of the biliary system

The sections in this article are: 1 Historical Background 2 Anatomy of Biliary-Pancreatic Duct System 2.1 Gross Structure 2.2 Microscopic Structure 2.3 Species Variation 3 Methods of Study 3.1 Imaging Studies 3.2 Flow Measurements 3.3 Manometry 3.4 Electromyography 3.5 Scintigraphy 3.6 Sonography 3.7 Miscellaneous 4 Pharmacology 5 Physiology 5.1 Hepatic Bile 5.2 Gallbladder 5.3 Cystic Duct 5.4 Common Duct 5.5 Sphincter of Oddi 5.6 Overview 6 Abnormal Function In Humans 6.1 Gallbladder 6.2 Sphincter of Oddi 7 Summary
Clock jitter noise spectra in continuous-time delta-sigma modulators

This paper describes a theoretical method to obtain the exact structure of the noise spectra due to clock jitters in a low-pass continuous-time /spl Delta//spl Sigma/-modulator. It is shown that the clock jitters changing the width of the feedback pulse have a more important degrading effect than those causing a random delay in the feedback pulse. Calculation details and simulation results for the first-order and second-order modulators are presented.
Spatial intensity correction of fluorescent confocal laser scanning microscope images

Fluorescent confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) imaging has become popular in medical domain for the purpose of 3D information extraction. 3D information is extracted either by visual inspection or by automated techniques. Nonetheless, 3D information extraction from CLSM suffers from significant lateral intensity heterogeneity. We propose a novel lateral intensity heterogeneity correction technique to improve accurate image analysis, e.g., quantitative analysis, segmentation, or visualization. The proposed technique is novel in terms of its design (spatially adaptive mean-weight filtering) and application (CLSM), as well as its properties and full automation. The key properties of the intensity correction techniques include adjustment of intensity heterogeneity, preservation of fine structural details, and enhancement of image contrast. The full automation is achieved by data-driven parameter optimization and introduction of several evaluation metrics. We evaluated the performance by comparing with three other techniques, four quality metrics, and two realistic synthetic images and one real CLSM image.
Obstructive sleep apnea and stroke: links to health disparities

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a novel cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factor that presents unique opportunities to understand and reduce seemingly intractable stroke disparity among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanic/Latinos. Individuals from these 2 groups have up to a 2-fold risk of stroke and greater burden of OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea directly and indirectly increases risk of stroke through a variety of autonomic, chemical, and inflammatory mechanisms and vascular risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. Untreated OSA exacerbates poststroke prognosis, as it may also influence rehabilitation efforts and functional outcomes such as cognitive function after a stroke. Conversely, treatment of OSA may reduce the risk of stroke and may yield better poststroke prognosis. Unfortunately, in racial/ethnic minority groups, there are limited awareness, knowledge, and screening opportunities for OSA. Increasing awareness and improving screening strategies for OSA in minorities may alleviate stroke risk burden and improve stroke outcomes in these populations. This review article is intended to highlight the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of OSA in relation to stroke risk, with an emphasis on race-ethnic disparities.
The Meritocratic Conception of Educational Equality: Ideal Theory Run Amuck

The dominant conception of educational equality in the United States is meritocratic: an individual's chances of educational achievements should track only (natural) talent and effort, not social class or other morally irrelevant factors. The meritocratic conception must presuppose that natural talent and effort can be isolated from social class — and environmental factors in general — if it is to provide guidance in the world of educational policy and practice. In this article Kenneth R. Howe challenges that presupposition and related elements of the meritocratic conception having to do with the role of competition and education as a positional good. Howe argues that, in use, the meritocratic conception unavoidably distributes education based on developed talent and motivation that cannot be isolated from the effects of social class, thus masking the real basis of the distribution and contributing to the perpetuation of illicit group privilege. Howe then entertains and rejects several rejoinders to his critique, including that the meritocratic conception might eliminate the presupposition of isolatable natural talent. Finally, Howe sketches an alternative conception of educational equality based on Elizabeth Anderson's adaptation of Rawls's “democratic equality.”
A cost-effective rabbit embolic stroke bioassay: insight into the development of acute ischemic stroke therapy.

Preface: 30 Years a ModelThis article was written to acknowledge the scientificachievement of Dr. Justin A. Zivin, the originator ofthe rabbit embolic stroke model and investigator respon-sible for the “translational stroke research” that led tothe NINDS rt-PA trial and eventual approval of tissueplasminogen activator (tPA) for the treatment of acuteischemic stroke 20 years ago. In 1984–1985, the term“translational stroke research” did not exist, nor did thisjournal bearing the name Translational Stroke Research.Nevertheless, over the years, the rabbit embolic strokemodel has been integral in the development and testingof novel therapies, and the model remains important fortranslational stroke therapy development. TranslationalStroke Research has become an important means of dis-seminating advances in basic and translational strokeresearch and will be integral in future stroke therapydiscovery.tPA, a Cost-Effective TreatmenttPA has been described as a cost-effective treatment forstroke [1]whenadministered3to4.5hafterastroke.The specific conclusion is derived using a disease-baseddecision analytic model, which included probabilisticsensitivity analyses, indicating that “improvement inlong-term patient outcomes in most patient subgroups(except for diabetes and atrial fibrillation) and is a goodeconomic value versus no treatment” [1]. This has beenconfirmed in two recent reports using extensive patientdatabases [2, 3].In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)approved the thrombolytic tPA for the treatment ofacute ischemic stroke resulting from blockage of a ves-sel due to an embolus or blood clot. tPA, a thrombolyticthat promotes clot lysis, is also known as a clot busterthat increases blood flow to the formerly clot-affectedcore and possibly salvageable penumbra [4–13]; thisresults in clinical and/or behavioral improvement onthe National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)andmodifiedRankinScale(mRS).Almost20yearshave passed without the approval of another stroketreatment despite the tremendous financial investmentsand achievements of many investigators worldwide!A Rigorous Model and Bioassay for Therapy Testingand DevelopmentThe approval of tPA was based upon a randomized andblinded clinical trial comparing tPA to tPA-placebo; thetrial was initiated based upon preclinical data by Zivinandcolleagues,whichwaspublished30yearsagoinalandmark science paper [14] and eventually detailed in avolume dedicated to the history of tPA [15]aswellasother comprehensive books on thrombolytics and trans-lational stroke research [16–19]. In retrospect, the au-thors simply showed that tPA could effectively improvebehavioral function when tested in a noninvasive rabbitembolic stroke model, now known as the rabbit small
Watching Individual DNA Helicases and Motor Proteins Behaving and Misbehaving

We can now watch individual proteins acting on single molecules of DNA. Using these approaches, we have been imaging the translocation of motor proteins, such as the ssDNA translocases and DNA helicases, RecBCD, RecQ, and Sgs1, and the dsDNA translocases and chromatin-remodeling enzymes, Rad54 and Tid1 proteins.The RecBCD enzyme comprises two motor subunits: RecB, a 3’→5’ SF1-helicase, and RecD, a 5’→3’ SF1-helicase. Although the mean unwinding rate of individual RecBCD enzyme molecules is close to ensemble measurements, the rates of individual enzyme molecules vary widely. Individual RecBCD molecules unwind DNA at constant rates, suggesting static, not dynamic, disorder. This apparent conformational heterogeneity is static on the experimental time scale of DNA unwinding. We discovered that transiently halting a single enzyme-DNA complex changes the rates of the RecBCD molecule. We will demonstrate that the behavior of individual RBCD enzymes manifests a basic tenet of the ergodic hypothesis, suggesting that ligand binding kinetically traps a single conformer that is capable of redistributing to all other states within the population of molecules at equilibrium.Using TIRF microscopy, the helicase activity of RecQ was visualized on single molecules of DNA using a fluorescent ssDNA sensor. By monitoring the formation and progression of individual unwinding forks, we observe that both the frequency of initiation and rate of unwinding are highly dependent on RecQ concentration. We establish that unwinding forks can initiate internally by melting into dsDNA and can proceed in both directions. The findings suggest that initiation requires a RecQ dimer, and continued unwinding involves the repeated cooperative action of multiple monomers at the DNA unwinding fork. We propose a distinctive model wherein RecQ melts dsDNA internally to initiate unwinding, and subsequently unwinds DNA as a dynamic assembly of proteins cooperating at the fork.
Analysis and control of a communicable disease

It is a cruel fact which many societies have to live with that many diseases cannot be totally eradicated; among such diseases are influenza, gonorrhea, tuberculosis and syphilis. The inability of many public health authorities to eradicate these diseases may be owing to many reasons, such as the shortage of medical staff, the limited availability of funds, and especially the failure of those infected with the disease to submit to screening and subsequent medication if found infected. Much research effort has been devoted to the modeling and control of communicable diseases such as gonorrhea; for example, see [2-l 1] and the references cited therein. In [7,8], the authors investigated a single population model similar to that of Cromer [4] with the exception of allowing the system and input parameters to be uncertain but bounded within given ranges. Constrained control strategies were sought so that their implementation results in stabilizing the infected population within a prescribed tolerably low level. However, some of the features which may be important for communicable sexual diseases were not included in [7,8]. For example, infection of gonorrhea occurs during sexual contacts between members of the opposite sex. Furthermore, it is generally the case that, at any instant of time, the levels of infection as well as the behavior of the two sexes differ, and therefore different control measures are needed to control effectively the spread of the disease. In this paper, we separate the fractions of infected into male and female components and modify the model used in [7,8] so that the features mentioned above are incorporated in the model.
Southeast Asian child rearing practices: Implications for child and youth care workers

This article focuses on a comparison of American and Southeast Asian child rearing practices and the implications for child and youth care workers. Included are a discussion of “culture,” a comparison of specific child rearing practices and family relationships, and a discussion of factors that affect parent-care worker interaction. Also included are specific suggestions for care workers when working with both Southeast Asian children and youth and their parents.
Regulation of Murine Osteoblast Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Production by 1,25(OH)2D3

Macrophage colony stimulating factor (MCSF) is important for formation of osteoclasts. We investigated the ability of 1,25(OH)2D3 to regulate osteoblast production of MCSF. Mouse calvarial osteoblasts were cultured for 2 days ± 1,25(OH)2D3. Since 1,25(OH)2D3 decreased osteoblast proliferation by 17.6 ± 1% at 10 nM and 11 ± 4% at 1 nM, the effect of growth rate on MCSF secretion was examined. Limiting cell proliferation by serum did not affect MCSF production. 1,25(OH)2D3 (1 nM) increased MCSF production (U/105 cells) maximally by 68 ± 33% (n = 3) with an ED50 for 1,25(OH)2D3 of 5 × 10−11 M. To investigate effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on MCSF gene regulation, RT-PCR primers were designed to identify the mRNA coding for the membrane-bound isoform of MCSF. Simultaneous RT-PCR of glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) allowed semiquantitative assessment of MCSF mRNA between treatment groups expressed as the MCSF/GAP RT-PCR product ratio; both MCSF and GAP (+) primers were labeled with 32P-ATP for phosphorimage quantitation. The membrane-bound MCSF/GAP PCR product ratio was not affected by proliferative rate when growth was limited by [serum]. The MCSF/GAP RT-PCR product ratio was dose dependently increased by 1,25(OH)2D3, maximally at 1 nM at 2.2 ± 0.2 = fold (n = 10). 1,25 (OH)2D3 also increased the expression of an RT-PCR MCSF/GAP product ratio which represented the secreted isoform of MCSF. The ability of 1,25(OH)2D3 to pretranslationally regulate expression of membrane-bound osteoblast MCSF may be important in osteoblast:osteoclast interactions.
Degree of immediate early gene induction in striatum by eticlopride determines sensitivity to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blockade

Cortical afferents excite striatal efferent neurons through activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which can be modulated by D2 dopamine receptors. It is suggested that activation of PKA by D2 receptor blockade leads to NMDA receptor phosphorylation in the dendrites or phosphorylation of transcription factors in the nucleus. Thus, the levels and cellular localization of activated PKA may determine if D2 antagonist-mediated gene expression is dependent on NMDA receptor activation. We have previously demonstrated that NMDA receptor antagonists block gene expression induced by a high dose of eticlopride in medial and central but not lateral striatum. Here, we examined the effects of NMDA receptor antagonists on striatal gene expression after administration of a low dose of eticlopride. The results showed that NMDA receptor antagonists blocked gene induction by eticlopride throughout striatum. Less PKA activation by the low dose of eticlopride might explain why the expression was more sensitive in the lateral striatum to NMDA receptor blockade than in our previous study. To increase levels of PKA activation to the extent that NMDA receptor blockade would have less effect on eticlopride-mediated gene induction in all regions of striatum, we administered the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX to animals treated with eticlopride. The combined administration of IBMX and eticlopride induced gene expression that was only partially attenuated (c-fos) or unaffected (zif268) by NMDA receptor blockade. These data support the suggestion that the degree of second messenger activation by D2 receptor blockade determines whether D2 dopamine receptor antagonist-mediated gene expression is dependent on NMDA receptor activation.
Necrotizing enterocolitis occurring in an infant three months of age.

Abstract Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is usually described as occurring in newborn premature or low-birth-weight infants who have been stressed by hypoxia, exchange transfusion, or severe sepsis. It occasionally occurs in full term neonates. 1 The age of onset is between day 1 and day 35. 2 This communication describes the occurrence and course of NEC in a 3 mo old infant with a short intestine.
Effects of atrazine on acetylcholinesterase activity in midges (Chironomus tentans) exposed to organophosphorus insecticides.

Abstract Acetylcholinesterase activity was determined for midge larvae ( Chironomus tentans ) exposed to either organophosphorus insecticides (OPs) alone or OP insecticides in binary combination with atrazine (200 μg/l). Although atrazine by itself did not reduce the level of acetylcholinesterase activity, atrazine in combination with chlorpyrifos significantly decreased acetylcholinesterase activity as compared to chlorpyrifos only treatments. Although similar trends existed for malathion and methyl parathion, differences were not statistically significant. These results match previously published toxicity data where atrazine, although not acutely toxic even at much higher levels, decreased EC 50 values for chlorpyrifos by a magnitude of 4, decreased methyl parathion values by a magnitude of 2, and did not decrease values for malathion.
Protein kinases in protists

The vast preponderance of our understanding of protein kinases comes from studies of mammalian or of other higher eukaryotic systems. A survey of the Wilson reference databank yielded 3,807 citations for protein kinases; only nine of these were reports of protein kinases in protists. It is apparent, nonetheless, that this understudied group offers unique opportunities for resolving the mechanisms by which protein kinases mediate a variety of cellular processes. Moreover, generalities about cofactor requirements (e.g., Ca2+ alone activates many protist protein kinases), substrate specificity, and the nature of the enzymes themselves (monomeric versus dimeric cyclic-nucleotide dependent protein kinases) will certainly need to be modified.
Xenotransplantation of human fetal adipose tissue: a model of in vivo adipose tissue expansion and adipogenesis

Obesity during childhood and beyond may have its origins during fetal or early postnatal life. At present, there are no suitable in vivo experimental models to study factors that modulate or perturb human fetal white adipose tissue (WAT) expansion, remodeling, development, adipogenesis, angiogenesis, or epigenetics. We have developed such a model. It involves the xenotransplantation of midgestation human WAT into the renal subcapsular space of immunocompromised SCID-beige mice. After an initial latency period of approximately 2 weeks, the tissue begins expanding. The xenografts are healthy and show robust expansion and angiogenesis for at least 2 months following transplantation. Data and cell size and gene expression are consistent with active angiogenesis. The xenografts maintain the expression of genes associated with differentiated adipocyte function. In contrast to the fetal tissue, adult human WAT does not engraft. The long-term viability and phenotypic maintenance of fetal adipose tissue following xenotransplantation may be a function of its autonomous high rates of adipogenesis and angiogenesis. Through the manipulation of the host mice, this model system offers the opportunity to study the mechanisms by which nutrients and other environmental factors affect human adipose tissue development and biology.
MORPHOLOGY AND NUTRITION OF PANDORINA UNICOCCA SP. NOV.1,2

SUMMARY Eleven strains of Pandorina unicocca sp. nov. were studied for morphological characterization. The species was delimited by having cells which contain a single basal pyrenoid and by colonies which have cells separate from each other in the colonial envelope. A defined medium was developed for 4 strains of P. unicocca and the nutritional requirements of these strains were examined. All 4 strains were capable of completely autotrophic growth and they could utilize nitrate, ammonium, or urea as nitrogen sources. Optimum growth was nuts attained at pH 8.0.
Glutamate receptor RNA editing in vitro by enzymatic conversion of adenosine to inosine

RNA encoding the B subunit of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluR-B) undergoes a posttranscriptional modification in which a genomically encoded adenosine is represented as a guanosine in the GluR-B complementary DNA. In vitro editing of GluR-B RNA transcripts with HeLa cell nuclear extracts was found to result from an activity that converts adenosine to inosine in regions of double-stranded RNA by enzymatic base modification. This activity is consistent with that of a double-stranded RNA-specific adenosine deaminase previously described in Xenopus oocytes and widely distributed in mammalian tissues.
Phosphorylation of Calcineurin at a Novel Serine-Proline Rich Region Orchestrates Hyphal Growth and Virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus

The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is a leading infectious killer in immunocompromised patients. Calcineurin, a calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein phosphatase comprised of calcineurin A (CnaA) and calcineurin B (CnaB) subunits, localizes at the hyphal tips and septa to direct A. fumigatus invasion and virulence. Here we identified a novel serine-proline rich region (SPRR) located between two conserved CnaA domains, the CnaB-binding helix and the CaM-binding domain, that is evolutionarily conserved and unique to filamentous fungi and also completely absent in human calcineurin. Phosphopeptide enrichment and tandem mass spectrometry revealed the phosphorylation of A. fumigatus CnaA in vivo at four clustered serine residues (S406, S408, S410 and S413) in the SPRR. Mutation of the SPRR serine residues to block phosphorylation led to significant hyphal growth and virulence defects, indicating the requirement of calcineurin phosphorylation at the SPRR for its activity and function. Complementation analyses of the A. fumigatus ΔcnaA strain with cnaA homologs from the pathogenic basidiomycete Cryptococcus neoformans, the pathogenic zygomycete Mucor circinelloides, the closely related filamentous fungi Neurospora crassa, and the plant pathogen Magnaporthe grisea, revealed filamentous fungal-specific phosphorylation of CnaA in the SPRR and SPRR homology-dependent restoration of hyphal growth. Surprisingly, circular dichroism studies revealed that, despite proximity to the CaM-binding domain of CnaA, phosphorylation of the SPRR does not alter protein folding following CaM binding. Furthermore, mutational analyses in the catalytic domain, CnaB-binding helix, and the CaM-binding domains revealed that while the conserved PxIxIT substrate binding motif in CnaA is indispensable for septal localization, CaM is required for its function at the hyphal septum but not for septal localization. We defined an evolutionarily conserved novel mode of calcineurin regulation by phosphorylation in filamentous fungi in a region absent in humans. These findings suggest the possibility of harnessing this unique SPRR for innovative antifungal drug design to combat invasive aspergillosis.
MODELING THE SPATIAL BEHAVIOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE CONDITION

A new understanding of the spatial behavior of infrastructure condition is presented and a methodology for identifying this behavior is developed. Based on two deterioration mechanisms, causal and interactive, a nonstationary stochastic spatial model with a piecewise constant mean function is proposed. Based on this model, a methodology founded on nonparametric cluster analysis and dynamic programming is developed to identify the optimal spatial regions, referred to as fields, within which behavior is uniform and, consequently, condition can be estimated accurately. Validation using detailed distress data from three roadway facilities, each 15 km long, is presented. The value of the model is also demonstrated by comparing it against existing methods for characterizing infrastructure condition over space.
Her-2/neu expression and amplification in early stage ovarian surface epithelial neoplasms.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to examine Her-2/neu gene amplification and protein overexpression in a spectrum of ovarian neoplasms using both immunohistochemical (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques that are FDA approved. This study is focused on early stage tumors including both carcinomas and borderline tumors. Methods FDA-approved IHC and FISH for Her-2/neu were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 79 ovarian neoplasms representing a broad spectrum of tumor types as well as four normal ovaries. All tumors were either stage I or stage II. Tumor and normal tissue were studied collectively using a tissue microarray (TMA). HercepTest (DAKO) and PathVysion Her-2/neu probe kit (Vysis Inc.) were used for IHC and FISH analysis. Results FISH analysis of serous carcinomas demonstrated Her-2/neu gene amplification in 3 (18%) of 17 cases. Two of three cases showing Her-2/neu gene amplification were scored 1+ using IHC, while the remaining case was scored as 0. Analysis of endometrioid carcinomas demonstrated Her-2/neu amplification using FISH in 1 of 10 (10%) cases. IHC in this case was scored 2+ (positive). None of the remaining 44 tumors, including clear cell carcinoma ( n = 12), transitional cell carcinoma ( n = 1), mixed epithelial carcinoma ( n = 7), carcinoma not otherwise specified ( n = 1), and 31 borderline tumors (mucinous, n = 17; endometrioid, n = 7; serous, n = 7), showed Her-2/neu gene amplification or protein overexpression. Normal ovaries were negative as well. Conclusions Amplification of Her-2/neu in early stage ovarian neoplasms is infrequent, 6.7% overall. Due to the limited number of informative cases, we were unable to determine the clinical significance of Her-2/neu amplification in this study. Her-2/neu amplification was restricted to carcinomas and was not encountered in ovarian borderline tumors.
On the robust discrimination of Poisson random counting measures (Corresp.)

Statistical decisions are considered between two hypotheses which consist of classes of Poisson distributions for random counting measures. Each Poisson distribution is generated by an intensity measure on a general observation space. The classes are specified by Choquet capacity bounds on the intensity measures. This problem was first posed and studied by Geraniotis and Poor. A minimax Neyman-Pearson result for error probability performance is the main contribution. Recursive computation of the minimax test statistic is also investigated.
One man’s quest for plant constituents of therapeutic value

I feel most honored to be selected the Distinquished Economic Botanist for 1989. I am well aware of those who have been chosen before me, many of whom I know personally and hold in great respect, and thus feel proud to have my name included on this roster of Distinquished Economic Botanists. While I feel honored to be selected for your award, I feel very humble about it for I know that many of you sitting in the audience are more worthy of such an award than I. I am reminded of the story of the man invited to give a talk in Texas. Soon after the man got into his talk, he noticed a Texan in the front row take a gun out of a holster and examine the bullet cylinder. The speaker stopped his talk and said to the Texan, "Sir, I can stop this talk anytime you want me to; you only need to let me know when you want me to stop." The Texan said, "You go right ahead and talk as long as you desire. You are a guest here and we want to treat you well. The guy I want to see is the person who invited you here." So, If you are wondering why I was chosen for this award, the guys you are looking for are, I suspect, some of my friends from the University of Illinois. I have titled this talk, "One Man's Quest for Plant Constituents of Therapeutic Value." It could have been titled "One Man's Frustration in Seeking Plant Constituents of Therapeutic Value." It could also be titled "Through the Years," for to some extent it gives a perspective on the development of some aspects of research in pharmacognosy. It is my story along with some undergraduate students, my graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and a few colleagues with whom I collaborated through the years. It begins in academic year 1946-1947 when I was in the junior class of the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. I carried out a study in competition for the Kilmer Prize, an award given to an undergraduate student in pharmacy judged to have done the most significant research problem in pharmacognosy for the year. At that time the flavonoid glycoside named rutin was popular for treatment of capillary fragility. The major source at that time was the aboveground portion of the buckwheat plant, Fagopyrum esculentum. There was a need for a better source of the glycoside so, for my research problem, I set about trying to find a better source of rutin in plants growing in Kansas. I examined a large number of plants that had a yellow or yellowish-orange color in some plant part; I even investigated wheat straw. The best source of rutin I could find was in several species of goldenrod, Solidago. However, this was not a better source than F. esculentum. Mind you, in 1947 it was considerably more difficult to identify a plant constitutent than it is today for NMR and mass spectra were not known in those days. Our school did not have an I.R. spectrophotometer, nor did I have access to one. Chromatography was not used at that time either. The only way I
Designing environmentally safe refrigerants using mathematical programming

Computer-aided molecular design is a strategy in which a set of structural groups are systematically combined to form molecules with desired properties. In this paper, a mathematical programming-based approach to computer-aided molecular design is presented. Using a set of structural groups, the problem is formulated as a mixed integer nonlinear program in which discrete variables represent the number of each type of structural groups present in the candidate compound. The augmented-penalty/outer-approximation algorithm is used to solve the MINLP to obtain compound(s) with an optimum value of an appropriate performance index such that molecular structural constraints, physical property constraints and process design limitations are met. With the current renewed interest in the environment, the suggested approach is applied to refrigerant design with an environmental constraint. The results indicate the viability of this approach.
Is endovascular stent therapy or endarterectomy more effective for the treatment of symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis

Several previous trials comparing the efficacy of endovascular stent therapy to endarterectomy for treatment of symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis have been inconclusive, with a trend toward superiority for endarterectomy. The CREST (Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Versus Stenting Trial) is the largest randomized controlled trial comparing these modalities. It has an added advantage that it incorporated new developments in stent technology as the trial progressed so that valid comparisons could be made with the most modern techniques available.