cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Salicylates and the Microbiota: A New Mechanistic Understanding of an Ancient Drug's Role in Dermatological and Gastrointestinal Disease

Preclinical Research The proposed mechanism(s) of action of salicylates are as varied as their extraordinary range of clinical indications. Extracted from plant leaves since the beginning of recorded history, salicylates have been used for over 4000 years for the treatment of disease. The anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet agent aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) was synthesized at the turn of the 20th century and paved the way for salicylates becoming the most widely used drug in the world. Its parent compound salicylic acid as well as the derivatives bismuth subsalicylate and 5-aminosalicylate are invaluable topical treatments for many dermatological and gastrological diseases. Their mode of action is poorly understood, but a developing understanding of the role of the microbiota in diseases of the skin and intestine suggest microbial targets as a possible unifying mechanism. There is a relatively substantial and little-known literature demonstrating the antibiofilm and antibiotic-metabolizing effects of salicylates. A better understanding of this antimicrobial mechanism in dermatological and gastrointestinal diseases could lead to new adjunctive treatments aimed at modulating microbes rather than host inflammation.
Visual neglect in the tree shrew after interruption of the descending projections of the deep superior colliculus.

Abstract Four tree shrews received tegmental lesions aimed at a transection of those fibers from the deep superior colliculus which cross and descend in the predorsal bundle. In two cases the transection appeared complete or nearly so and these animals suffered a profound deficit in attention which resembles “visual neglect” as that term is used in the neurological clinic, as well as the experimental laboratory. In two cases with lesser lesions, the deficit was less severe. While all of the animals showed some defects in tracking, orienting, and following, and while all tended to sit motionless, they all retained the capacity to discriminate patterns and showed other evidence that they had no sensory or motor loss or a defect in emotion, learning, or level of consciousness. It was concluded that neglect is a specific deficit in attention and is the result of transecting efferent descending pathways from the deep layers of superior colliculus. Since the deep superior colliculus receives fibers from the cortex, it was suggested that neglect in man may be caused by some disruption of the deep tectal system which is normally dependent on the cortex.
UV IR mixing in non-commutative plane

Abstract Poincare-invariant quantum field theories can be formulated on non-commutative planes if the coproduct on the Poincare group is suitably deformed. As shown in our previous work, this important result implies modification of free field commutation and anti-commutation relations and striking phenomenological consequences such as violations of Pauli principle. In this Letter we prove that with these modifications, UV–IR mixing disappears to all orders in perturbation theory from the S-matrix. This result is in agreement with the previous results of Oeckl.
Quartz Crystal Microbalance Studies of Al2O3 Atomic Layer Deposition Using Trimethylaluminum and Water at 125 °C †

Al(2)O(3) atomic layer deposition (ALD) growth with Al(CH(3))(3) (trimethylaluminum (TMA)) and H(2)O as the reactants was examined at the relatively low temperature of 125 degrees C using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements. The total Al(2)O(3) ALD mass gain per cycle (MGPC) and MGPCs during the individual TMA and H(2)O reactions were measured versus TMA and H(2)O exposures. The Al(2)O(3) MGPC increased with increasing H(2)O and TMA exposures at fixed TMA and H(2)O exposures, respectively. However, the TMA and H(2)O reactions were not completely self-limiting. The slower surface reaction kinetics at lower temperature may require very long exposures for the reactions to reach completion. The Al(2)O(3) MGPCs increased quickly versus H(2)O exposure and slowly reached limiting values that were only weakly dependent on the TMA doses. Small TMA exposures were also sufficient for the Al(2)O(3) MGPCs to reach different limiting values for different H(2)O doses. The TMA MGPCs increased for higher TMA exposures at all H(2)O exposures. In contrast, the H(2)O MGPCs decreased for higher TMA exposures at all H(2)O exposures. This decrease may occur from more dehydroxylation at larger hydroxyl coverages after the H(2)O exposures. The hydroxyl coverage after the H(2)O exposure was dependent only on the H(2)O exposure. The Al(2)O(3) MGPC was also linearly dependent on the hydroxyl coverage after the H(2)O dose. Both the observed hydroxyl coverage versus H(2)O exposure and the Al(2)O(3) ALD growth versus H(2)O and TMA exposures were fit using modified Langmuir adsorption isotherm expressions where the pressures are replaced with exposures. These results should be useful for understanding low-temperature Al(2)O(3) ALD, which is important for coating organic, polymeric, and biological substrates.
Photonic valence/conduction subbands in optically generated photonic quantum wells: Tunable optical-delay line application

It has been shown that, in the absence of a control laser field, functional photonic superstructures can act as homogeneous photonic band gap structures formed via uniform corrugations of their background refractive indexes. When some sections of these structures are illuminated with such a laser, those sections become resonant (active) photonic band structures with higher refractive index contrast, forming photonic heterostructures. In this paper we study how by controlling the phase of quantum interference processes in such structures one can control alignment of such heterostructures, coherently generating photonic quantum wells with either conduction- or valencelike subbands (resonant transmission states). We show the energies of these subbands can be tuned by the control laser and demonstrate that their longitudinal mode profiles follow one-by-one correspondence with the envelope functions of the electron or hole subbands in electronic quantum well structures. In particular, we show how such photonic quantum wells can act as optically tunable time-delay lines, capable of increasing delay of a signal passing through them significantly via laser-induced control of optical confinements of the photonic subbands.
From “I am” to “we could be”: creating dialogic learning communities in ESOL teacher education

As educators concerned with enacting a critical and humanizing pedagogy, we place emphasis on dialogue as a way to structure our classrooms as authentic sites of democracy, equality and community-building. This study combined a collaborative research partnership with ethnographic methods to investigate one learning community's efforts to develop and live out a critical and humanizing educational experience in an undergraduate English for Speakers of Other Languages teacher education course in the southeastern United States. Our findings suggest that the course was successful in creating a dialogic learning community where participants, both teachers and students, recognized one another as important knowledge producers. However, a more complex learning community was also revealed, one that struggled to name and examine some of its underlying tensions on occasions when structural and procedural elements of community-building and course work were left unaddressed. Implications of this study suggest that we t...
Ionospheric and magnetospheric 'plasmapauses'

Abstract During August 1972, Explorer 45 orbiting near the equatorial plane with an apogee of ∼5.2 R e traversed magnetic field lines in close proximity to those simultaneously traversed by the topside ionospheric satellite ISIS 2 near dusk in the L range 2.0–5.4. The locations of the Explorer 45 plasmapause crossings (determined by the saturation of the d.c. electric field double probe) during this month were compared to the latitudinal decreases of the H + density observed on ISIS 2 (by the magnetic ion mass spectrometer) near the same magnetic field lines. The equatorially determined plasmapause field lines typically passed through or poleward of the minimum of the ionospheric light ion trough, with coincident satellite passes occurring for which the L separation between the plasmapause and trough field lines was between 1 and 2. Hence, the abruptly decreasing H + density on the low latitude side of the ionospheric trough is not a near earth signature of the equatorial plasmapause. Vertical flows of the H + ions in the light ion trough as detected by the magnetic ion mass spectrometer on ISIS were directed upward with velocities between 1 and 2 km s −1 near dusk on these passes. These velocities decreased to lower values on the low latitude side of the H + trough but did not show any noticeable change across the field lines corresponding to the magnetospheric plasmapause. The existence of upward accelerated H + flows to possibly supersonic speeds during the refilling of magnetic flux tubes in the outer plasmasphere could produce an equatorial plasmapause whose field lines map into the ionosphere at latitudes which are poleward of the H + density decrease.
The Ongoing Regulation of Generic Drugs

The Hatch–Waxman Act set the rules under which generic pharmaceutical products could compete with brand-name products. Richard Frank writes that market participants have responded to the regulations in ways that serve their own interests. Richard Frank discusses the law regulating generic drugs, the ways in which pharmaceutical manufacturers have responded to it, and its applicability to biologic agents. Dr. Frank is a professor of health economics at Harvard Medical School, Boston.
Asian American Studies: An Annotated Bibliography and Research Guide

Historical Perspectives General Works Marriage and Family Community and Organizations Culture, Communication, and Education Business, Economy, Employment, and Labor Nativism, Exclusion, and Race Relations Justice, Law, and Politics Immigration and Naturalization Acculturation, Assimilation, and Identity Religion Autobiography and Biography Local and Regional History Japanese Internment Contemporary Perspectives General Works Marriage and Family Community and Organizations Culture, Communication, and Mass Media Education and Language Learning Business, Economy, Employment and Labor Population and Demography Immigration and Refugees Acculturation, Adaptation, and Assimilation Stereotypes, Prejudice and Race Relations Counseling, Health, Social Services, and Mental Health Religion Asian American Women's Studies Bibliographies Indexes
Physical aging and dye diffusion in polysulfone below the glass transition temperature

Abstract : The effect of physical aging on the tracer diffusion coefficient D of camphorquinone in polysulfone is investigated. It is shown that if the sample is sufficiently annealed and physical aging is nearly complete, the temperature dependence of D will reflect the primary alpha-relaxation process of the host polymer. In the temperature range between T (= 185 deg C) and 165 deg C, D is found to be a function of time, and the time dependence of D is given by D = At(-)micron, with micron approximately equal to unity.
What outcomes matter to patients: a physician-researcher point of view.

Background. During the last quarter of the 20th century, it became feasible to measure and take into account the patient’s subjective preferences for health states and various outcomes. This has become increasingly relevant in the treatment of cancer, where patients are confronted with a life-threatening illness and may have varied treatment choices and outcomes. Objectives. To provide a framework for examining the outcomes that matter to patients from a clinician-researcher perspective. Considerations include the heterogeneity of the cancer patient population, the influence of the setting of care on patient outcomes, the range of outcomes that are often considered by patients and researchers, and possible study designs that should be considered to measure outcomes that are important to patients. The outcomes that matter to patients can broadly be classified into disease-focused and patient-focused outcomes. Conclusions. There are many challenges in the measurement of patient-focused outcomes, including consensus on what are the most important outcomes and the methods for their measurement. In addition, it is often difficult to integrate disease-focused and patient-focused outcomes in the same setting, particularly for use in clinical decision making. We need to develop some key strategies to enhance patient outcomes including (1) emphasis on evidence-based treatments whenever possible, as the best way of improving disease-focused outcomes; (2) the inclusion of patient preferences when different treatment alternatives provide equivalent disease-focused outcomes; and (3) the provision of adequate time for communication about disease-focused and patient-focused outcomes, with emphasis on the training of clinicians to facilitate these discussions.
The use of apheresis in immune renal disorders.

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is often associated with the presence of autoantibodies. Included in this group are the glomerulonephritides associated with anti-GBM antibody (Goodpasture's syndrome). IgA mesangial deposition (the renal component of Henoch-Schonlein purpura), lupus erythematosus, cryoglobulinemia and the antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated pauci-immune group. In each of these cases, apheresis may provide a therapeutically useful option. Apheresis has also been found useful in certain types of antibody-mediated transplant rejection and in lowering the levels of preformed cytotoxic antibodies which may preclude transplantation. Finally, there are renal diseases in which the immune component is less clearly involved with pathogenesis but for which apheresis may offer a clear benefit, such as in the renal failure associated with 'cast nephropathy' (multiple myeloma) or the recurrence of FSGS (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis) in transplanted kidneys. It is the purpose of this paper to review the evidence supporting the use of apheresis in immune-related diseases.
Differential Induction of Interleukin-10 in Monocytes by HIV-1 Clade B and Clade C Tat Proteins

The clade B human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) Tat (trans-acting regulatory protein) induces interleukin-10 (IL-10) production in monocytes. IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, down-regulates proinflammatory cytokines and suppresses the immune response, leading to a rapid progression from HIV-1 infection to AIDS. Nine clades of HIV-1 are responsible for the majority of infections worldwide. Recent studies demonstrate that different HIV-1 clades have biological differences in relation to transmission, replication, and disease progression. In this study, we show that the cysteine to serine mutation at position 31, found in >90% of HIV-1 clade C Tat proteins, results in a marked decrease in IL-10 production in monocytes compared with clade B Tat. Additionally, the C31S mutation found in C Tat is responsible for the inability of these Tat proteins to produce high IL-10 levels in monocytes due to its inability to induce intracellular calcium flux through L-type calcium channels. Moreover, we show that p38α/p38β and phosphoinositide 3-kinase are crucial to Tat-induced IL-10 production. These findings provide further evidence that HIV-1 clades differ in their biological properties that may impact HIV-1 pathogenesis and disease progression.
Substrate microtopography can enhance cell adhesive and migratory responsiveness to matrix ligand density.

The regulation of cell motility by ligand density on substrates with variable microtopography is not well understood. In this report, we studied the adhesion and motility behavior of HepG2 cells on microtextured poly(glycolic-co-lactic)acid (PGLA) copolymer substrates, whose surface bioactivity was differentially modified through the adsorption of 0-5.5 ng/cm(2) collagen. Microtextured PGLA substrates were fabricated as thin films with a uniform surface distribution of micropores of median size of 3.1 +/- 1.5 microm and three-dimensional root mean squared roughness of 0.253 microm. Even in the absence of collagen, cells on microtextured substrates responded to substrate topography by exhibiting a 200% increase in adhesion strength compared with untextured controls and ventral localization of the intracellular adhesion protein vinculin. Further enhancement in adhesion strength (420% over untextured, untreated substrates) was demonstrated with bioactivated, microtextured surfaces, indicating that cell adhesion responses to topography and surface ligand density were cooperative. Our motility studies of cells on untextured substrates adsorbed with different levels of collagen demonstrated that a classical biphasic relationship between the cell population averaged migration rate, mu, and the collagen ligand density was preserved. However, comparison of cell motility responses between untextured and microtextured substrates indicates that the motility versus ligand density curve shifted, such that equivalent levels of cell motility were achieved at lower ligand density on microtextured surfaces. Furthermore, the maximum mu values achieved on the microtextured substrates exceeded those on untextured substrates by twofold. Taken together, we show that the magnitude of subcellular scale microtexture of a polymer substrate can sensitize the cell motility responsiveness to substrate ligand concentration; we suggest that the underlying mechanisms involve alteration in the degree of cell-substrate adhesivity as well as changes in the nature of ligand-induced cell activation processes.
Specificity of accessory gland extracts. in three Delia fly species (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

. Extracts of testes and male accessory (paragonial) glands made from three species of Delia (onion fly {D.antiqua), seedcorn fly (D.platura), and cabbage fly (D.radicum)) were injected into conspecific virgin females. Extracts of paragonial glands, but not testes, from onion, seedcorn and cabbage fly males stimulated oviposition and suppressed mating when injected into conspecific virgin females. When extracts of paragonial glands from males of these species were injected into heterospecific virgin females, the extracts of D.antiqua and D.platura were fully cross-reactive with respect to oviposition; interspecific injection stimulated oviposition at the level of the conspecific mated controls. Injection of D.radicum extract fully activated the D.antiqua and D.platura ovipositional response. D.antiqua extract caused mating inhibition and partial oviposition in D.radicum; that of D.platura had no effect on either oviposition or mating inhibition in D.radicum. These results suggest that D.antiqua and D.platura are more closely related to one another than either is to D.radicum, and agree with published anatomically-based phylogenies and a genetic distance calculation based on eight enzyme loci. The occurrence of sex peptide cross-reactivity, though asymmetrical, between D.radicum versus D.antiqua and D.platura indicates that, functionally, sex peptides have changed little during the evolution of this genus. An emerging pattern of broad cross-reactivity within genera suggests that sex peptides are not an initiator of reproductive isolation.
Sociodemographic correlates of indoor allergen sensitivity among United States children.

Abstract Background: Exposure to indoor allergens is associated with asthma morbidity. Nationally, asthma morbidity disproportionately affects socially disadvantaged populations, but it is unclear whether exposure to indoor allergens follows a similar pattern. Objective: We sought to examine the national prevalences and demographic correlates of sensitivity to indoor allergens related to asthma. Methods: Analysis of a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 4164 United States children aged 6 to 16 years who participated in allergen testing in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1988 to 1994 was performed. The main outcome measures were sensitivity reactions to cockroach, dust mite, cat, and Alternaria alternata , as measured via skin prick testing. Results: Multivariate models, including sex, age, race-ethnicity, education, poverty, family history, region of country, housing age, crowding, and urban residence, revealed significant racial-ethnic disparities in sensitivity. Compared with white children, African American children had higher odds ratios (ORs) of cockroach or dust mite sensitivity (cockroach OR, 2.5 [95% CI, 1.9-3.2]; dust mite OR, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.0-1.7]), as did Mexican American children (cockroach OR, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.3-2.8]; dust mite OR, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.2-2.2]). African American children also had significantly higher odds of sensitivity to A alternata (OR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.5-2.8]). Conclusions: African American and Mexican American children are substantially more likely than white children to be sensitized to allergens important in asthma. Differences in indoor allergen sensitivity are consistent with racial differences in asthma morbidity. Along with other data, these findings suggest that racial disparities in housing, community, or both environmental factors play a role in determining national patterns of asthma morbidity. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;108:747-52.)
A method for the isolation of segments from the 5' ends of retrovirus RNA.

Abstract A method for the isolation of segments of any desired length from the 5′ end of retrovirus RNA has been tested. The method is based on selection of 5′-specific segments by hybridizing suitably fragmented genomic (35 S) RNA to mercurated strong stop cDNA followed by chromatography on sulfhydryl-agarose. The method has been shown to be effective for Akv viral RNA by observing the T1 oligonucleotide fingerprints of a 5′-enriched fraction. This fingerprint pattern is of lower complexity than that of total 35 S RNA, contains oligonucleotide spots that have previously been assigned as 5′ specific by conventional fingerprinting methods, and does not overlap with the pattern from 3′-specific RNA.
Aquatic Insect Community Structure in an Acidic and a Circumneutral Stream in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia

Abstract We conducted a one-year study of benthic macroinvertebrate communities on McGee Run and Files Creek, two second-order streams in eastern West Virginia. McGee Run has been affected by acidic precipitation and has a mean pH of 4.5. Files Creek lies in a buffered catchment and has a mean pH of 6.7. Nine samples were taken from riffle areas in each stream using an invertebrate box sampler during the four seasons. The benthic insect community of McGee Run was depressed in terms of richness compared with that of Files Creek, but density did not vary significantly between the two streams. Plecoptera and the shredder functional group dominated the community of acidic McGee Run, whereas Files Creek had a more even distribution of taxa and functional feeding groups.
Specificity of amiloride inhibition of hamster taste responses.

Amiloride, a blocker of epithelial sodium channels, was found to have significant effects on electrophysiological and behavioral taste responses in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Recordings from the whole chorda tympani nerve showed that amiloride rapidly, reversibly, and competitively inhibited responses to NaCl applied to the anterior tongue. The apparent dissociation constant for amiloride binding, extrapolated to zero NaCl concentration, was 10 nM, a value comparable to estimates for various transporting tight epithelia. Recordings from single chorda tympani nerve fibers showed that 10 μM amiloride completely inhibited responses of Na-selective N fibers but had minimal effect on responses of electrolyte-sensitive H fibers, even though both types of fibers responded well to 0.1 M NaCl. Sucrose responses were not affected by amiloride. Addition of 100 μM amiloride to 0.1 M NaCl consistently increased consumption of NaCl in two-bottle drinking tests. These data suggest that one mechanism by which the taste of NaCl is sensed, which does not require adsorption or a second messenger, involves entry of Na+ into taste bud cells through an amiloride-blockade sodium channel. Taste bud cells utilizing this mechanism exclusively activate N fibers, which are involved in the control of NaCl intake. A different mechanism for the detection of NaCl and other electrolytes is utilized by taste bud cells that activate H fibers.
Extraction of Proteins from Pacific Whiting Mince at Various Washing Conditions

Effects of salt concentrations and washing cycles on the extraction of proteins were evaluated. Sarcoplasmic proteins were readily soluble in water (0% NaCI) and removed in the initial washing steps. Myofibrillar proteins became relatively soluble and were lost during extensive washing. Control of water/meat ratio, washing time, and washing cycles was critical in reducing the loss of myofibrillar proteins. Washing with 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0% NaCl solutions reduced the loss of myofibrillar proteins. However, these solutions were not very effective in removing sarcoplasmic proteins even with increased washing cycles. High salt (2.0% NaCl) washing resulted in low removal of sarcoplasmic proteins and severe loss of myofibrillar proteins.
Angioosteohypertrophysyndrome with protein-losing enteropathy

Summary A child with the characteristic features ofthe angioosteohypertrophy syndrome and evidence of protein-losing enteropathy is presented. Studies indicate that intestinal lymphangiectasia was responsible for the gastrointestinal losses of protein and fat. A diet low in long-chain triglycerides and supplemented by medium-chain triglycerides effectively reversed the enteric losses.
Is there a place for serendipitous introductions

Mobile social matching systems have the potential to transform the way we make new social ties. Yet, there are many challenges as to how systems could utilize contextual data to support serendipitous introductions between strangers. I investigate how contextual factors influence people's motivations to meet new people and how opportunistic social matching system design can benefit from concepts like contextual rarity, oddity and sociability. My research will result in an enhanced understanding of people's context-dependent motivations to meet new people and will contribute a theoretical model that predicts contextually-relevant match opportunities and innovative design affordances for opportunistic social matching systems.
Correlates of Loneliness in Midlife and Older Gay and Bisexual Men

This study examined the correlates of psychosocial and behavioral factors on loneliness in midlife and older gay and bisexual men in South Florida. A community-based sample of 802 self-identified gay and bisexual men ages 40 to 94 years completed standardized measures of life orientation (optimism versus pessimism), internalized homonegativity, coping self-efficacy, and loneliness. Multivariate modeling successfully explained 45% of the variance in loneliness, which was significantly related to life orientation, coping self-efficacy, internalized homonegativity, and finding partners on the Internet (F = 96.140, df = 6, p < .001). The emphasis on skills building to increase coping self-efficacy and optimism and addressing the effects of internalized homonegativity may have lasting effects in reducing loneliness in older gay and bisexual men and thus improving their mental and physical well-being.
A high-order laminated plate theory with improved in-plane responses☆

In order to improve the accuracy of the in-plane responses of the shear deformable laminated composite plate theories, a new high-order laminated plate theory was developed based upon Reissner’s new mixed variational principle [Int. J. Num. Meth. Eng.20, 1366 (1984)]. To this end, a zig-zag shaped C0 function and Legendre polynomials were introduced into the approximate in-plane displacement distributions across the plate thickness. The accuracy of the present theory was examined by applying it to the cylindrical bending problem of laminated plates which had been solved exactly by Pagano [J. Comp. Mat.3, 398 (1969)]. A comparison with the exact solutions obtained for several symmetric and asymmetric cross-ply laminates indicates that the present theory accurately estimates in-plane responses, even for small span-to-thickness ratios.
THE USE OF OPTIMUM WINDOW SETTINGS IN LIQUID SCINTILLATION COUNTING

Quenching in liquid scintillation counting causes a decreased counting efficiency and a shift in the radionuclide pulse height distribution. This pulse height shift is toward lower counting windows and gives an apparent decrease in the decay energy of the radionuclide. It is necessary to adjust the counting windows to compensate for this pulse height shift in order to achieve optimum counting conditions. This results in a more accurate answer in a shorter period of time. This compensation is most critical when counting low activity or dual label samples. With low activity samples, the background count rate and its statistical accuracy must be considered when calculating the count rate of the sample. By adjusting the counting windows properly, the background can be minimized without sacrificing counting efficiency (optimum 12/B). In dual label samples there is always some percent of the higher energy radionuclide which contributes to the count rate in the lower energy radionuclide window. The percent of this spillover increases with increasing quench. This can lead to large errors in the dpm calculations. By adjusting the radionuclide counting windows according to the degree of quench, the percent spillover is kept at a minimum while maintaining the highest possible counting efficiency. This results in more accurate dpm values for both radionuclides.
Surgical management of cervical myelopathy dealing with the cervical-thoracic junction.

Abstract Background context The treatment of compressive cervical myelopathy is, in general, a surgical endeavor. Surgery involves decompression, often with an accompanying fusion with stabilization. The length of the fusion can vary and the decision regarding length of fusion is not always clear. Purpose This study explores the fundamental principles regarding the length of fusion at the cervicothoracic junction. Study design/setting A review of the literature regarding the anatomy and biomechanics of the cervicothoracic region is provided. Surgical approaches and indications for cervicothoracic junction region fusions are discussed. Fundamental guidelines for the decision-making process are provided. Conclusion The cervicothoracic region is a biomechanically complex region. Although there is little biomechanical data indicating the appropriate length of fusion, several fundamental guidelines may be followed to reduce the incidence of construct failure. A long fusion should not end at an apical vertebra nor at the cervicothoracic junction. Long cervical fusions should be extended to traverse the cervicothoracic junction to a neutral vertebra.
Application of neutron activation analysis to the investigation of natural and pollution aerosols

On attend generalement beaucoup de l'analyse par activation neutronique pour apporter des donnees sur les traces de metaux rencontrees dans les milieux atmospheriques pollues. Ces donnees devraient conduire a un projet de controle effectif de la pollution. On discute 5 articles de Colloque en tant qu'exemples de la nature des recherches sur la pollution de l'air, sur l'amĺioration des techniques analytiques pour aller au devant des besoins relatifs aux applications a l'environnement et sur la comparaison de techniques associees. L'experience de l'auteur de l'article et de ses collaborateurs est alors prise comme exemple des differentes applications qui peuvent etre faites de l'analyse par activation pour l'etude de traces metalliques dans la matiere speciale qu'est l'air urbain. Ceux qui pratiquent l'analyse par activation sont amenes a porter leur attention sur l'etude a grande echelle des problemes de l'environnement et a ne pas reduire leurs efforts aux seuls aspects analytiques.
Bioluminescent bioreporter sensing of foodborne toxins

Histamine is the primary etiological agent in the foodborne disease scombrotoxicosis, one of the most common food toxicities related to fish consumption. Procedures for detecting histamine in fish products are available, but are often too expensive or too complex for routine use. As an alternative, a bacterial bioluminescent bioreporter has been constructed to develop a biosensor system that autonomously responds to low levels of histamine. The bioreporter contains a promoterless Photorhabdus luminescens lux operon (luxCDABE) fused with the Vibrio anguillarum angR regulatory gene promoter of the anguibactin biosynthetic operon. The bioreporter emitted 1.46 times more bioluminescence than background, 30 minutes after the addition of 100mM histamine. However, specificity was not optimal, as this biosensor generated significant bioluminescence in the presence of L-proline and L-histidine. As a means towards improving histamine specificity, the promoter region of a histamine oxidase gene from Arthrobacter globiformis was cloned upstream of the promotorless lux operon from Photorhabdus luminescens. This recently constructed whole-cell, lux-based bioluminescent bioreporter is currently being tested for optimal performance in the presence of histamine in order to provide a rapid, simple, and inexpensive model sensor for the detection of foodborne toxins.
A clinicopathologic analysis of cryohypophysectomy in patients with advanced cancer

Serial sections of the sella turcica were obtained in 18 autopsy specimens of patients with advanced breast and prostatic carcinoma who had undergone extensive endocrine testing before and after cryoablation of the pituitary gland. Cryohypophysectomy, a techinque which requires neither craniotomy nor general anesthesia, resulted in 90 percent or greater destruction of the anterior lobe of the pituitary in 11 cases; destruction was complete in 3 cases. Persistence of human growth hormone following cryohypophysectomy was the most reliable indication of residual anterior pituitary function, but even this was an unreliable index when less than 10 percent of the pituitary gland remained viable. Withdrawal of corticosteroids resulting in an adrenal crisis following operation proved a poor technique to determine the adequacy of pituitary destruction. Length and extent of tumor remission did not seem to be dependent upon the degree of pituitary destruction. Based upon our experience with 60 patients having cryohypophysectomy for advanced carcinoma, CSF rhinorrhea and persistent diabetes insipidus each occurred in 10 percent of the cases.
Measurement Of Transient Gratings In Photopolymer Holograms

Holographic gratings recorded in photopolymer media are formed by mechanisms different from those that form gratings in silver halide media. Unlike the latent images formed in silver halide media (prior to chemical development), phase-only holograms in photopolymer media start to form almost immediately upon exposure. Measurement of the holographic grating growth with time provides information about the underlying photochemical and diffusion processes, and can also be useful in the control of exposure and processing. Experimental techniques for measuring the evolving grating are discussed, and illustrated with measurements made on Polaroid's DMP-128 photopolymer holographic recording material.
Understanding natural frequency and damping and how they relate to the measurement of blood pressure

The model that describes the physical behavior of a fluid-filled catheter-transducer blood pressure monitoring system is a simple mass-spring system. When the mass is displaced and then released, there results a characteristic motion calledsimple harmonic motion. The full description of this motion requires defining the concepts of undamped and damped natural frequency, as well as of damping itself. Once these concepts are defined and the mass-spring system clearly understood, their relevance to recording blood pressure measurement by fluid-filled catheters is explained. The apparent paradox of how damping can affect undamped natural frequency is clarified. Finally, impedance matching is explained in the context of how some damping devices work. Detailed mathematical proofs are relegated to an appendix.
Arrangement of the ϵ subunit in the Escherichia coli ATP synthase from the reactivity of cysteine residues introduced at different positions in this subunit

ECF1F0 has been purified from three mutants in which a Cys has been incorporated by site-directed mutagenesis in the epsilon subunit: these mutants are epsilon S10C, epsilon H38C and epsilon S108C, respectively. ECF1F0 from the mutant epsilon S10C had a 2-fold higher activity than wild-type enzyme, due to altered association of the epsilon subunit with the rest of the complex, and yet showed normal proton pumping function. The other two mutants had ATPase activities similar to wild-type enzyme. The introduced Cys was exposed for reaction with maleimides in epsilon S10C and epsilon S108C. In epsilon H38C, the introduced Cys reacted readily with N-ethylmaleimide in isolated ECF1, but was unavailable for reaction with this or other maleimides in ECF1F0. When this Cys at position 38 in the epsilon subunit was reacted with various maleimides in isolated ECF1 and then the ECF1 bound back to F0, the interaction between the two parts was perturbed. While ECF1F0 reconstituted with unmodified ECF1 functioned normally, enzyme with maleimide-reacted Cys-38 showed much reduced proton pumping, had only around 50% of the DCCD inhibition of unmodified or wild-type enzyme, and had a much higher LDAO activation (as much as 8.3-fold, c.f. 4-fold for wild type). Nucleotide-dependent conformational changes have been observed previously, in studies of ECF1 from the mutants epsilon S10C and epsilon S108C. Identical nucleotide-dependent structural changes were observed in cross-linking experiments with tetrafluorophenylazide maleimides when the intact ECF1F0 from these mutants was examined. Taken together, the Cys reactivity data and cross-linking results provide the orientation of the epsilon subunit in the enzyme complex.
High‐Throughput Bead‐Based Identification of Structure‐Switching Aptamer Beacons

We describe a new platform to identify structure-switching DNA beacon aptamers, which detect small molecules in a specific manner. By clonally amplifying a DNA library designed to fluoresce in response to binding events onto microbeads, aptamer beacons can be selected by stringent fluorescence-assisted sorting. We validated this method by isolating known and novel anti-steroid aptamers from two separate DNA libraries that were structurally enriched with three-way junctions. Importantly, aptamers were retrieved in only a few (three) rounds of selection by this approach and did not require further optimization, significantly streamlining the process of beacon development.
Apps4Africa: A new State Department public diplomacy initiative

Abstract In 2010 the U.S. State Department funded an “Apps4Africa” contest to encourage development of socially conscious mobile applications for Africa. The initiative marked a significant departure from traditional public diplomacy efforts to expand diplomatic outreach beyond traditional government-to-government relationships. This case study analyses Apps4Africa to reveal its appropriateness as a model for future efforts and concludes Apps4Africa succeeded primarily because it responded to the changing dynamics of the 21st Century.
Association of neck circumference and obesity status with elevated blood pressure in children

High blood pressure (BP) and overweight/obesity are increasingly prevalent in children. We examined the associations of excess weight indicators including neck circumference (NC) and body mass index (BMI) with high BP in children. We hypothesized that high NC is associated with elevated BP. We utilized cross-sectional anthropometric and BP data on 1058 children aged 6-18 years. Patients were classified into weight and NC categories according to published guidelines. Prehypertension was defined as systolic or diastolic BP levels between 90th and 95th percentile for gender, age and height. Hypertension signifies systolic and/or diastolic BP levels ≥ 95th percentile for age, gender and height. The prevalence of elevated BP was 29.2% (prehypertension=10.1%, hypertension=19.1%). The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 19.0 and 18.7%, respectively. Rates of wide NC increased progressively with BMI categories by 8.8, 29.4 and 68.7% among normal weight, overweight and obese children, respectively. Within each BMI category, the unadjusted odds ratio for elevated BP was significantly higher in children with wide NC than those with normal NC (normal weight OR=1.78 (1.0-3.1), P=0.04); overweight OR=2.74 (1.5-5.2), P=0.001); obese OR=2.44 (1.3-4.6), P=0.006)). Increasing NC and BMI are associated with elevated BP in children. Joint presence of wide NC and high BMI is associated with significantly high rates of elevated BP. NC measurement may be a helpful tool to detect the presence of elevated BP in children.
Menopausal symptoms and the risk of young-onset breast cancer

Abstract Background Women with menopausal symptoms have been reported to have reduced risk of breast cancer, possibly reflecting differences in endogenous hormone levels. We examined the associations between menopausal symptoms and breast cancer in women under age 50. Methods We carried out a sister-controlled case-control study, the Two Sister Study, comparing 1422 women with breast cancer diagnosed before age 50 and their 1669 sisters who were free of breast cancer and had enrolled in the prospective Sister Study cohort. History and age at first occurrence of menopause-associated symptoms (e.g. hot flashes, poor sleep or night sweats) were ascertained using computer-assisted telephone interviews. To equalise opportunity for exposure, we assessed exposures in relation to a sibship-based index age (the minimum of the age at diagnosis of the case sister and the age at interview of her control sister(s)), and estimated odds ratios using conditional logistic regression with adjustment for menopausal status and birth order. Findings Having had menopause-associated symptoms ( n = 706) prior to the index age was associated with reduced risk of young-onset breast cancer (odds ratio (OR), 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.40–0.61). Similar results were seen for hot flashes and for “other” menopausal symptoms. The association between menopausal symptoms and breast cancer risk was somewhat stronger for oestrogen receptor positive tumours than for oestrogen receptor negative tumours (heterogeneity p = 0.07). Menopausal status, age at menopause, BMI and hormone replacement therapy did not modify the associations, but the inverse association between menopausal symptoms and breast cancer attenuated with increasing index age ( p Interpretation Menopause-associated symptoms were associated with markedly reduced risk of young-onset breast cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm the association and elucidate possible pathways.
Functions of MUC16 in corneal epithelial cells.

Purpose The membrane-associated mucin MUC16, a heavily O-glycosylated transmembrane protein, is expressed by the ocular surface epithelia and localized on the tips of the surface microplicae. Although its functions in the ocular surface glycocalyx are unknown, it is thought that MUC16 provides a disadhesive barrier to the epithelial membrane. Two other membrane-associated mucins expressed by ocular surface epithelia, MUC1 and MUC4, are multifunctional and have signaling capabilities through their cytoplasmic tails and EGF-like domains, respectively. The MUC16 cytoplasmic tail has not been characterized, but, because it contains a polybasic amino acid sequence, it potentially interacts with the actin cytoskeleton through ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) actin-binding proteins. Methods The interaction of MUC16 with the actin cytoskeleton through ERMs was investigated using cytoplasmic tail peptides and ERM pull-down experiments. MUC16 functions were determined using RNA interference in immortalized human corneal-limbal epithelial (HCLE) cells. The effect of MUC16 knockdown on microplicae structure in HCLE cells was determined using scanning and immunoelectron microscopy. HCLE cells were incubated with rose bengal dye to measure the role of MUC16 in ocular surface barrier function. Binding of fluorescently labeled Staphylococcus aureus to HCLE cells was measured to determine the role of MUC16 in the protection of pathogen adherence on the ocular surface epithelium. Results MUC16 cytoplasmic tail peptides bound the N-terminus of ERMs, with no detectable binding of MUC1 and MUC4 peptides. No effect on surface membrane projections could be detected in HCLE cells after MUC16 suppression; however, HCLE cells incubated with rose bengal showed that exclusion of the dye was significantly reduced in cells with MUC16 suppression. In addition, S. aureus binding to HCLE cells was significantly increased with MUC16 suppression. Conclusions These results suggest that MUC16 is a multifunctional molecule linked to the actin cytoskeleton. The expression of MUC16 in the ocular surface glycocalyx helps provide a disadhesive protective barrier for the epithelial surface.
Regulation of Catalysis by the Smallpox Virus Topoisomerase

Abstract The poxvirus type IB topoisomerases catalyze relaxation of supercoiled DNA by cleaving and rejoining DNA strands via a pathway involving a covalent phosphotyrosine intermediate. Recently we determined structures of the smallpox virus topoisomerase bound to DNA in covalent and non-covalent DNA complexes using x-ray crystallography. Here we analyzed the effects of twenty-two amino acid substitutions on the topoisomerase activity in vitro in assays of DNA relaxation, single cycle cleavage, and equilibrium cleavage-religation. Alanine substitutions at 14 positions impaired topoisomerase function, marking a channel of functionally important contacts along the protein-DNA interface. Unexpectedly, alanine substitutions at two positions (D168A and E124A) accelerated the forward rate of cleavage. These findings and further analysis indicate that Asp168 is a key regulator of the active site that maintains an optimal balance among the DNA cleavage, religation, and product release steps. Finally, we report that high level expression of the D168A topoisomerase in Escherichia coli, but not other alanine-substituted enzymes, prevented cell growth. These findings help elucidate the amino acid side chains involved in DNA binding and catalysis and provide guidance for designing topoisomerase poisons for use as smallpox antivirals.
The erotic ape

Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape. byFrans de Waal.. Frans Lanting. University of California Press: 1997. Pp. 210. $39.95