cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of VEGF expression to amino acid deprivation and inducers of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Purpose Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in initiation of the angiogenesis that leads to proliferative retinopathy. Several environmental conditions and chemical agents that influence the expression of VEGF can also cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The hypothesis for the current study was that expression of VEGF is responsive to conditions that cause ER stress, including amino acid deprivation. Methods Confluent cultures of a human retinal pigmented epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) were deprived of amino acids or treated with chemical inducers of ER stress. Treatment with cobalt was used to mimic hypoxia-induced expression of VEGF. Northern blot analysis was used to measure intracellular VEGF mRNA, and ELISA was used to measure secreted VEGF protein. Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) mRNA levels were compared with those of VEGF. Glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA was used as a control. Results Conditions and chemical agents known to activate ER stress response (ERSR) pathways also induced the expression of VEGF. Deprivation of amino acids in the culture medium increased VEGF mRNA expression by 1.3- to 6-fold. Glucose deprivation or treatment of ARPE-19 cells with tunicamycin, brefeldin A, the calcium ionophore A23187, or thapsigargin increased the expression of VEGF mRNA in these cells by 8- to 10-fold. Expression of GRP78 mRNA was well correlated with that of VEGF mRNA under all conditions. These treatments also increased the secretion of VEGF protein by up to twofold. The increase in VEGF mRNA level in response to glutamine deprivation was rapid (greater than 10-fold) and was observed in a physiologically relevant range of glutamine concentrations. The half-life of VEGF mRNA was increased 2.5-fold by glutamine starvation. Conclusions These results indicate that VEGF is an ER stress-responsive gene and suggest that cells can respond to nutrient deprivation by increasing VEGF expression through both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms.
3D Food Printing: A Taste of the Future.

One of the core competencies in the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) education standards is for students to achieve competency in communication skills (that is, oral and written communication, listening, interviewing, and so on). According to the IFT guidelines, by the time students graduate, they should not only be able to search for and condense information, but also be able to “communicate technical information to a nontechnical audience.” The Education, Extension and Outreach Division of IFT sponsors a writing competition for undergraduate students to bring attention to and promote the development of communication skills. It has been shown that employees/entry-level scientists who can communicate technical and nontechnical concepts succinctly will be in a better position to achieve management status after entering the work force. Monetary prizes are awarded to the authors of the top 3 papers. A revised version of the winning entry is published in the Journal of Food Science Education for dissemination to a worldwide audience.
Differential Item Functioning

Differential item functioning (DIF) occurs when individuals at the same level on the trait(s) or construct(s) being assessed but from different subpopulations have unequal probabilities of attaining a given score on the item. Methods for investigating DIF have been developed for both dichotomously and polytomously scored items. These methods may be classified by whether they condition on an unobserved or observed variable. Item response theory, logistic regression, Mantel–Haenszel, and SIBTEST procedures for dichotomously scored responses and their extensions to polytomous responses are currently the most widely used methods for detecting DIF. Keywords: differential item functioning; item bias
Alu: Structure, Origin, Evolution, Significance, and Function of One-Tenth of Human DNA

Publisher Summary Human repeats have been largely identified and cataloged, accounting for a substantial fraction of the genome. Repetitive sequences are ubiquitously interspersed with single-copy sequences throughout the genome. Interspersed repeats are largely composed of only four distinct families (Alu, LINE 1, MIR, and MaLR), which together comprise 10 to 15% of the entire genome. Alu and LINE 1 subfamilies of different evolutionary ages have different degrees of retrotranspositional activity. This chapter focuses on Alu repeats. Although Alus exemplify many properties of both human and nonhuman repeats, their amplification raises unsolved problems in retroposition. A young Alu subfamily appeared by simple drift of its founder, providing a model for the continual turnover of active repeat-sequence families. Repetitive sequences, ubiquitously distributed throughout the genome, cause various genetic effects. Unequal crossing-over among interspersed repeats duplicates or deletes sequences, thereby, mutating genes. Ubiquitous, homologous repeats, such as Alu, might serve as frequent sites for unequal homologous crossing-over, consequently scrambling their flanking direct repeats.. Unequal Alu–Alu crossing-over duplicates, deletes, or scrambles genetic information. Alu–Alu crossing-over within the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene duplicates exons, thereby, inactivating the gene product, leading to hypercholesterolemia.
Extrapolative Analysis of Fast-Switching Free Energy Estimates in a Molecular System

We perform an extrapolative analysis of "fast-growth" free-energy-difference (�F) estimates of a computer-modeled, fully-solvated ethane↔methanol transformation. The results suggest that extrapolation can greatly reduce the systematic error inF estimated from a small number of very fast switches. Our extrapolation procedure uses block-averages of finite-data estimates, and appears to be particularly useful for broad, non-Gaussian distributions of data which produce substantial systematic errors with insufficient data. In every tested case, the extrapolative results were better than direct estimates.
A minimum Sobolev norm technique for the numerical discretization of PDEs

Partial differential equations (PDEs) are discretized into an under-determined system of equations and a minimum Sobolev norm solution is shown to be efficient to compute and converge under very generic conditions. Numerical results of a single code, that can handle PDEs in first-order form on complicated polygonal geometries, are shown for a variety of PDEs: variable coefficient div-curl, scalar elliptic PDEs, elasticity equation, stationary linearized Navier-Stokes, scalar fourth-order elliptic PDEs, telegrapher's equations, singular PDEs, etc.
Palaeodistribution modelling does not support disjunct Pleistocene refugia in several Central American plant taxa

Aim We combine evidence from palaeoniche modelling studies of several tree species to estimate the extent of Central American forest during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). In particular, we ask whether the distributions of these species are likely to have changed since the LGM, and whether LGM distributions coincide with previously proposed Pleistocene refugia in this area. Location Central American wet and seasonally dry forests. Methods We developed ecological niche models using two simulations of Pleistocene climate and occurrence data for 15 Neotropical plant species. We focused on palaeodistribution models of three ‘focal’ tree species that occur in wet and seasonally dry Central American forests, where recent phylogeographic data suggest Pleistocene differentiation coincident with previously proposed refugia. We added predictions from six wet-forest and six seasonally dry-forest obligate plant species to gauge whether Pleistocene range shifts were specific to habitat type. Correlation analyses were performed between projected LGM and present distributions, LGM distributions and previously proposed refugia. We also asked whether modelled palaeodistributions were smaller than their current extents. Results According to our models, the ranges of the study species were not reduced during the LGM, and did not correlate with refugial models, regardless of habitat type. Relative range sizes between present and LGM distributions did not indicate significant range changes since the LGM. However, relative range sizes differed overall between the two palaeoclimate models. Main conclusions Many of the modelled palaeodistributions of study species were not restricted to refugia during the LGM, regardless of forest type. While constrained from higher elevations, most species found suitable habitat at coastal margins and on newly exposed land due to lowered sea levels during the LGM. These results offer no corroboration for Pleistocene climate change as a driver of genetic differentiation in the ‘focal’ species. We offer alternative explanations for genetic differentiation found in plant species in this area.
An investigation of the comprehension and production of requests in normal and language-disordered children

Abstract The ability to comprehend and produce requests was investigated in a group of 15 3–5-yr old normally developing children and 15 5–7-yr-old language-disordered children. The requests were examined under two conditions: 1) during observations in a naturalistic setting; 2) while participating in an experimental task. An important developmental shift in the ability to accurately discriminate between polite and less-polite requests occured between the ages of 3 and 4 yr for the normals and 5 and 6 yr for the language-disordered children. There appears to be preliminary support for the hypothesis of an underlying pragmatic deficit influencing the communicative performance of some children in this population, accounting for differential abilities in producing, comprehending, and modifying requesting strategies to fit a given communicative situation.
The effect of a pulmonary rehabilitation program on self-efficacy, perception of dyspnea, and physical endurance.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of attendance at an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (OPR) program on changes in self-efficacy, perception of dyspnea, and exercise endurance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: Single-group, pretest and posttest design. SETTING: A moderate sized, urban private hospital in western New York. PATIENTS: Sixty patients with a diagnosis of COPD. Their ages ranged from 35 to 82 years (mean ± SD = 65 ± 0.75 years). OUTCOME MEASURE: Scores on the COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) and the Dyspnea Scale and distance walked (feet) on the 12-minute walking-distance test (12 MD). INTERVENTION: The OPR consisted of an educational component and exercise training. Methods to increase self-efficacy were integrated into the rehabilitation program. Preprogram and postprogram measurements were obtained on the CSES, the Dyspnea Scale, and the 12 MD. RESULTS: Paired t tests were used to examine the differences in mean scores between preprogram and postprogram results on the CSES, the Dyspnea Scale, and the 12 MD. There was a significant difference between preprogram and postprogram scores on the CSES (p CONCLUSIONS: An OPR can improve self-efficacy or confidence in participants'ability to manage or avoid breathing difficulty. Improvement in self-efficacy also may be a factor in decreased perception of dyspnea and increased exercise endurance. Methods to increase self-efficacy expectations with education and exercise training provide an approach to assist persons with COPD to manage their breathing difficulty more effectively. Further studies using a randomized experimental, control design are needed to provide more conclusive direction with regard to effective methods in pulmonary rehabilitation. (Heart Lung® 1997; 26: 15–22.)
Mean stress relaxation during cyclic straining of high strength aluminum alloys

Cycle-dependent relaxation may alter mean stress values and thus affect fatigue crack initiation life. This phenomenon is an issue both for accuracy of estimated fatigue lives and for the success of methods of intentionally introducing beneficial mean stresses. Although rigorous plasticity theories may describe cycle-dependent relaxation, it is not feasible to incorporate their complex mathematics into strain-based life estimates when loading histories contain millions of cycles. Empirical models are, on the other hand, more numerically efficient and, therefore, for the present purpose, constitute a better choice for modeling this transient phenomenon. Experiments have been performed to study mean stress relaxation in aluminum alloys 7075-T6511 and 7249-T76511. Preliminary tests were also conducted on alloy 7475-T651. Two empirical models are used to illustrate the experimentally observed cycle-dependent relaxation.
Cortico-amygdala coupling as a marker of early relapse risk in cocaine-addicted individuals.

Addiction to cocaine is a chronic condition characterized by high rates of early relapse. This study builds on efforts to identify neural markers of relapse risk by studying resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) in neural circuits arising from the amygdala; a brain region implicated in relapse-related processes including craving and reactivity to stress following acute and protracted withdrawal from cocaine. Whole-brain resting-state fMRI connectivity (6 min) was assessed in 45 cocaine-addicted individuals and 22 healthy controls. Cocaine-addicted individuals completed scans in the final week of a residential treatment episode. To approximate preclinical models of relapse-related circuitry separate seeds were derived for the left and right basolateral (BLA) and corticomedial (CMA) amygdala. Participants also completed the Iowa Gambling Task, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Cocaine Craving Questionnaire, Obsessive Compulsive Cocaine Use scale, Temperament and Character Inventory and the NEO-PI-R. Relapse within the first 30 days post-treatment (n = 24) was associated with reduced rsFC between the left CMA and ventromedial prefrontal cortex/rostral anterior cingulate cortex (vmPFC/rACC) relative to cocaine-addicted individuals who remained abstinent (non-relapse, n = 21). Non-relapse participants evidenced reduced rsFC between the bilateral BLA and visual processing regions (lingual gyrus/cuneus) compared to controls and relapsed participants. Early relapse was associated with fewer years of education but unrelated to trait reactivity to stress, neurocognitive and clinical characteristics or cocaine use history. Findings suggest that rsFC within neural circuits implicated in preclinical models of relapse may provide a promising marker of relapse risk in cocaine-addicted individuals. Future efforts to replicate the current findings and alter connectivity within these circuits may yield novel interventions and improve treatment outcomes.
Fused Silica Capillary Column Gas Chromatography with Tandem Flame Ionization-photoionization Detection for the Characterization of in Situ Coal Gasification By-products

Abstract A photoionization detector (PID) is relatively more sensitive to aromatic than aliphatic compounds, whereas a flame ionization detector (FID) responds sensitively to all hydrocarbons. Their simultaneous use in a tandem arrangement provides a means of differentiating between aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons separated by gas chromatography. Employed in combination with fused silica columns having superior separation properties, this detector system provides a powerful tool for the characterization of complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds. This application requires a special PID which is gas-tight and has a low volume. Such a system is described for the characterization of organic by-products of in situ coal gasification.
Mechanisms of Incontinence and Retention after Orthotopic Neobladder Diversion

Abstract Objectives. To define the mechanism of incontinence and retention after orthotopic neobladder diversion. Methods. The results of urodynamic and endoscopic evaluations were assessed in 19 patients (15 men and 4 women). Mean age and postoperative follow-up were 58.3 years and 19.6 months, respectively. Seventeen patients (15 men, 2 women) presented with the sole complaint of nocturnal incontinence, and 2 women presented with retention. Evaluations included voiding and continence history, pelvic examination (for women), postvoid residual, uroflowmetry, triple-lumen video-urodynamic study, and cystourethroscopy. Results. Among patients with incontinence, 11 (65%) were found to have a primary failure-to-store problem as a result of either reservoir or sphincter failure. Four patients (24%) had a primary failure-to-empty problem, and 2 (11%) had features of both. The predominant etiology of voiding difficulty was the inability to relax the external urethral sphincter adequately during Valsalva’s maneuver. Of the 2 women who presented with retention, one had obstructing mucosal folds at the neobladder opening and both demonstrated anterior vaginal wall prolapse on pelvic examination. Conclusions. The mechanism of incontinence and retention after orthotopic neobladder diversion can vary. Carefully performed urodynamic and endoscopic assessments can define the underlying etiology and may serve as a guide for proper treatment selection.
Cannabinoid-induced enhancement and depression of cat monosynaptic reflexes

Abstract A study of the effects of Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol ( Δ 9 -THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on the spinal monosynaptic pathway in unanesthetized spinal cats was undertaken in order to elucidate potential mechanisms of the convulsant and anticonvulsant actions of these cannabinoids. To this end, the effects of the drugs on pre- and posttetanic monosynaptic responses were compared with those of phenytoin (PHT). The data indicated that small doses of Δ 9 -THC enhanced both pre- and posttetanic potentials, a result which suggests that excitatory effects on synaptic transmission may contribute to the convulsant action of the drug. Relatively large doses of Δ 9 -THC, on the other hand, and all doses of CBD depressed the reflex, as did PHT; such depression may account, at least partially, for the anticonvulsant effects of the cannabinoids. The present study provides direct evidence that the cannabinoids produce both excitatory and depressant effects on central synaptic transmission; such results are consistent with the well-documented effects of the cannabinoids on CNS excitability.
A Simple Mixer/Jet Cell for Raman Spectroscopic Studies

In biological applications of resonance Raman spectroscopy it is frequently desirable to reduce the instantaneous and long-term power density of the focused laser beam in order to preserve the sample. Both flowing sample methods and laser beam defocusing techniques have been used successfully by various groups to minimize damage to photolabile samples. The use of flowing sample cells under conditions in which sample recycling is practical has the additional advantage that long acquisition times can be achieved with fairly minimal sample consumption. Nonetheless, the flowing cells described to date are most useful when both fairly large volumes of sample are available and recirculation is feasible. Recirculation is often not possible if the sample of interest is an unstable reaction intermediate, and such an application requires rapid mixing of the precursor compounds. A further consideration with Raman flow cells involves the sample containment technique in the scattering volume. Quartz capillaries are often used, but with these, quartz scattering is severe in the low-frequency region, where it overlaps vibrational modes of the sample and makes their detection difficult. Several groups have avoided this problem by arranging their flowing cells so that the sample forms a free jet in air in the scattering volume. A notable example of this is the microdroplet mixing technique developed by Kincaid and co-workers that uses continuous wave excitation and both rapid mixing and Raman scattering in air.
Association of body mass index and outcomes after major lung resection

OBJECTIVES: Obesity has been thought to predispose patients to excess morbidity after lung resection because of decreased diaphragm excursion, reduced lung volumes and relative immobility. We assessed the relationship of body mass index (BMI) to acute outcomes after major lung resection. METHODS: Information from our database of lung resections was evaluated for the period 1980–2011. Univariate analysis for adverse events (pulmonary, cardiovascular, other and overall) was used to select variables for inclusion in multivariate logistic regression analyses. Missing values were imputed. BMI was categorized as underweight (<18.5), normal (18.5–24.9), overweight (25–29.9), obese (30–34.9) and very obese (≥35). RESULTS: Among 1369 patients, there were 703 males (51%) and the mean age was 62 ± 11 years. Complications included the following: pulmonary 12%, cardiovascular 15%, other 16%, mortality 5% and any 29%. The incidence of complications decreased during each decade of study (40, 30, 26, 20%; P< 0.0001) and the incidence of obese/very obese increased during the same intervals (11, 22, 30, 25%; P= 0.0007). Adjusting for age, performance status, coronary artery disease, smoking status, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, forced expiratory volume in 1 s and operation year, being overweight/obese/very obese did not increase the risk of postoperative complications in any category. In fact, patients in this group showed a lower rate of cardiovascular complications than those with BMI ≤25 (odds ratio (OR): 0.72; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51–1.00; P= 0.048). However, being underweight was importantly associated with an increased risk of pulmonary complications (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3–4.9; P= 0.0087) and of operative mortality (OR: 2.96; 95% CI: 1.28–6.86; P= 0.011). CONCLUSION: Being overweight or obese does not increase the risk of complications after major lung resection. In contrast, patients who are underweight are at significantly increased risk of pulmonary complications and mortality. Knowledge of the relationship of BMI to perioperative risk for major lung resection is essential in proper risk stratification.
Sialic acid is incorporated into influenza hemagglutinin glycoproteins in the absence of viral neuraminidase.

Abstract We have analyzed the pronase-derived glycopeptides of the hemagglutinin glycoproteins expressed from SV40 vectors carrying cloned cDNA copies of the HA gene and of HA isolated from influenza virions (A/Jap/305/57). The glycopeptides derived from the HA glycoprotein obtained from cloned genes were heterogeneous, ranging in size from 3800 to 2800 dallons. Upon treatment with neuraminidase, sialic acid was released from the glycopeptides and their size was reduced to 2900–2400 daltons. However, under the same conditions, no sialic acid was detected in the virion HA. The presence of sialic acid was confirmed by monosaccharide analysis of the HA glycoprotein derived from products of cloned genes. These results support the idea that during replication of influenza virus, the viral neuraminidase cleaves sialic acid from the HA glycoprotein in infected cells.
Separate oligosaccharide determinants mediate interactions of the low-molecular-weight salivary mucin with neutrophils and bacteria.

The low-molecular-weight human salivary mucin (MG2) coats oral surfaces, where it is in a prime location for governing cell adhesion. Since oligosaccharides form many of the interactive facets on mucin molecules, we examined MG2 glycosylation as it relates to the molecule's adhesive functions. Our previous study of MG2 oligosaccharide structures showed that the termini predominantly carry T, sialyl-T, Lewisx (Lex), sialyl Lex (sLex), lactosamine, and sialyl lactosamine determinants [Prakobphol, A., et al. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 4916-4927]. In addition, we showed that sLex determinants confer L-selectin ligand activity to this molecule. Here we studied adhesive interactions between MG2 and cells that traffic in the oral cavity: neutrophils and bacteria. Under flow conditions, neutrophils tethered to MG2-coated surfaces at forces between 1.25 and 2 dyn/cm2, i.e., comparable to the shear stress generated at the tooth surface by salivary flow ( approximately 0.8 dyn/cm2). MG2 was also found in association with neutrophils isolated from the oral cavity, evidence that the cells interact with this mucin in vivo. Since MG2 serves as an adhesion receptor for bacteria, the MG2 saccharides that serve this function were also identified. Seven of 18 oral bacteria strains that were tested adhered to MG2. Importantly, six of these seven strains adhered via T antigen, sialyl-T antigen, and/or lactosamine sequences. No adherence to Lex and sLex epitopes was detected in all the strains that were tested. Together, these results suggest that distinct subsets of MG2 saccharides function as ligands for neutrophil L-selectin and receptors for bacterial adhesion, a finding with interesting implications for both oral health and mucin function.
Role of material property gradient and anisotropy in thermoelectric materials

It was recently discovered that inclusions, fatigue damage and other types of material imperfections and defects in metals can be nondestructively detected by noncontacting magnetic measurements that sense the thermoelectric currents produced by directional heating and cooling. Since detection of small defects in thermoelectric materials is ultimately limited by intrinsic thermoelectric anisotropy and inhomogeneity of the material to be inspected, a thorough study is required on their impact on the nondestructive capability. Therefore, in this investigation the induced electric current densities and thermal fluxes are first derived for a steady line heat source in an inhomogeneous and anisotropic thermoelectric material. The exact closed-form solutions are obtained by converting the original problem into two inhomogeneous Helmholtz equations via eigenvalue/eigenvector separation. The material properties are assumed to vary exponentially in the same manner in an arbitrary direction. For the corresponding homogeneous but anisotropic material case, we also present an elegant formulation based on the complex variable method. It is shown that the induced magnetic fields can be expressed in a concise and exact closed form for a line heat source in an infinite homogeneous anisotropic material and in one of the two bonded anisotropic half-planes. Our numerical results demonstrate clearly that both property anisotropy and gradient in thermoelectric materials can significantly influence the induced thermoelectric currents and magnetic fields.
Nonlocal effects in helicon wave propagation in a superlattice

Abstract Dispersion relations have been obtained on the basis of linear response theory for helicon waves propagating parallel to a magnetic field applied along the axis of a superlattice. Numerical applications have been made to a Kronig-Penney model and the preliminary results clearly indicate nonlocal effects.
Cosmic-ray streaming and anisotropies

The paper is concerned with the differential current densities and anisotropies that exist in the interplanetary cosmic-ray gas, and in particular with a correct formulation and simple interpretation of the momentum equation that describes these on a local basis. Two examples of the use of this equation in the interpretation of previous data are given. It is demonstrated that in interplanetary space, the electric-field drifts and convective flow parallel to the magnetic field of cosmic-ray particles combine as a simple convective flow with the solar wind, and that there exist diffusive currents and transverse gradient drift currents. Thus direct reference to the interplanetary electric-field drifts is eliminated, and the study of steady-state and transient cosmic-ray anisotropies is both more systematic and simpler.
Oil and Gas Geology of North-Central Texas: ABSTRACT

In this area of more than 42,800 square miles more than 2,615,653,966 barrels of oil have been produced from Paleozoic rocks. Sandstone, conglomerate, and carbonate reservoirs have oil and gas accumulations in both stratigraphic and structural traps. Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Mississippian, Pennsylvanian, and Permian rocks reaching a total maximum thickness of about 19,000 feet prevail in the area. Pennsylvanian and Permian strata contain remarkable carbonate reefs of various kinds which if completely encased in shale form excellent oil and gas traps. Major structural features include the Bend arch, Electra arch, Muenster arch, Fort Worth basin, Baylor basin, Fort Chadburne fault zone, Concho arch, and End_Page 123------------------------------ the buried Ouachita Mountain overthrust belt. Gently dipping surface strata of Permian, Pennsylvanian, and Cretaceous rocks mask most of the deep subsurface structure. End_of_Article - Last_Page 124------------
Choline sulfokinase of penicillium chrysogenum: Partial purification and kinetic mechanism

Abstract Choline sulfokinase (3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS):choline sulfotransferase, EC 2.8.2.6) was purified approximately 30-fold from the mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum . The K m for PAPS is 12 μ m . The enzyme is remarkably specific for the adenosine 3′,5′ (or 2′-5′)-diphosphate moiety. 3′,5′-ADP (PAP) has a K i of 2.5 to 14 μ m (depending on the choline concentration) whereas the K i values of 3′-AMP, 5′-AMP, and 5′-ADP are at least 300-fold higher. The enzyme is also highly specific for choline ( K m = 17 μ M). Of a number of other amino alcohols tested, none were potent inhibitors and only dimethylaminoethanol served as a reasonably good substrate ( K m = 800 μm V = 35% of V with choline). Triethylaminoethanol was a significantly poorer substrate ( K m = 2800 μ M; V = 2% of V with choline). The purified enzyme is relatively stable when stored frozen in the presence of 25% sucrose. In the absence of sucrose, the maximum activity decreases and the K m for choline increases. (The K m for PAPS remains constant.) The age-inactivated enzyme can be restored to full activity (original V and K m for choline) by a 10-min preincubation with 50 m m mercaptoethanol. However, prolonged incubation (24 h) with 50 m m mercaptoethanol results in irreversible denaturation. Initial velocity studies established that the enzyme follows a sequential kinetic mechanism. Product inhibition studies suggest a rapid equilibrium random binding sequence. Choline- O -phosphate (a dead-end inhibitor) is linearly competitive with choline and a linear mixed type inhibitor with respect to PAPS. Choline analogs lacking the alcohol (or ester) group (e.g., trimethylammonium, neurine, chlorocholine) are competitive dead-end inhibitors with respect to choline but are uncompetitive with respect to PAPS. Thiocholine is a linear mixed type inhibitor with respect to PAPS, but the reciprocal plots are almost parallel. These results suggest that the analogs lacking an oxygen atom have a negligible affinity for the free enzyme and bind predominantly to the enzyme-PAPS complex.
Influence of Olfactory Innervation on Neurogenesis in the Developing Olfactory Bulb of the Frog, Xenopus laevisa

: Previous research on development of the Xenopus olfactory bulb from our laboratory has shown that mitral cells begin to differentiate after olfactory axons make contact with the olfactory bulb, and the number of olfactory axons is correlated with the number of mitral cells throughout development. In embryos, removal of all afferent innervation before the mitral cells begin to differentiate results in a failure of the bulb to form; removal of half the olfactory axons, results in development of half the normal number of mitral cells. At larval stages, transection of the olfactory nerve results in a decrease in the number of neurons in the olfactory bulb. Thus, the olfactory axons play a major role in stimulating or maintaining development of the olfactory bulb neurons. Since we have found that neurogenesis in the bulb continues through metamorphosis, the goal of the current study was to determine whether olfactory axons influence cell genesis and/or neuronal maturation in the larval olfactory bulb. To study cell genesis, we cut the olfactory nerves, and 6 days later, injected the animals with [3H]thymidine. After 6 hr, the animals were killed and the tissue was processed for autoradiography. The number of labeled cells in the ventricular zone of the olfactory bulb was determined in every fifth section through the bulb in control and experimental animals. There was no statistical difference (Mann-Whitney rank sum test) in the number of labeled ventricular cells between controls and experimentals. Thus, olfactory axon innervation does not appear to play a role in precursor cell division during larval development. To study the influence of olfactory axon innervation on the ability of newly generated neurons to mature, we followed the same procedures. However, the animals were killed 21 days after the [3H]thymidine injection. The results from this experiment showed that there are many fewer labeled mitral cells in the experimental animals at 21 days. Together these results suggest that sensory deafferentation influences mitral cell differentiation or survival even during late stages of larval development.
Phase II trial of adjuvant pelvic radiation "sandwiched" between ifosfamide or ifosfamide plus cisplatin in women with uterine carcinosarcoma.

Objective Uterine carcinosarcoma (CS) is a rare uterine tumor with an extremely poor prognosis. In the adjuvant setting, efficacy has been shown with radiotherapy (RT), systemic chemotherapy, or both. This is the first report describing the efficacy and toxicity of adjuvant ifosfamide or ifosfamide plus cisplatin “sandwiched” with RT in patients with surgically staged and completely resected uterine carcinosarcoma.
Rating Level and Accuracy as a Function of Rater Personality

We investigated the predictability of rating level and two measures of rating accuracy from rater Agreeableness (A) and Conscientiousness (C) scores of the Five Factor Model. One hundred and twenty-six students made peer ratings after participating in several group exercises under conditions designed to emulate the modal peer rating system in which raters had low accountability for their ratings. Scores were correlated with average rating level (r=.18, p<.05) and both measures of rating accuracy (p<.05) and C scores were correlated with rating level (−.20, p<.05) and both measures of rating accuracy (p<.05). As suggested by Bernardin, Villanova, and Cooke (Journal of Applied Psychology, 85, 232–236, 2000), raters who were both more agreeable and less conscientious made the most lenient and least accurate ratings. Contrary to Yun, Donahue, Dudley, and McFarland (International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 13, 97–107, 2005), more agreeable raters also tended to rate the least effective performers more leniently than did other raters.
DICHOTOMOUS BRANCHING IN MAMMILLARIA (CACTACEAE)

Cruciate dichotomous branching is a regular phenomenon in at least two species of cacti: Mammillaria perbella and M. parkinsonii, and there is exomorphic evidence that it occurs in other species of this genus. The specimens examined showed no obvious changes in the phyllotaxy of the two shanks derived by dichotomy. In the ecologically and morphologically specialized Cactaceae, it is quite unlikely that dichotomous branching represents the retention of a primitive character. It is furthermore improbable that it is of taxonomic value above the species level. ALTHOUGH DICHOTOMOUS BRANCHING of roots, stems, and compound leaves is well known among lower vascular plants, it is extremely rare among angiosperms and has never been reported for gymnosperms. As Tomlinson, Zimmermann, and Simpson (1970) have shown, the occurrence of dichotomy cannot be assumed from external evidence alone; in many arborescent monocotyledons pseudodichotomy results from sympodial growth. Thus far, the only substantiated case of dichotomy among dicotyledons occurs during inflorescence initiation in species of Asclepias (Nolan, 1969), and here the forking of the shoot apex that results in a peduncle meristem and the continuation of the shoot meristem is unequal. There appear to be no confirmed examples of vegetative dichotomy among dicotyledons and none in which branching is equal. Nevertheless, there is exomorphic evidence of equal dichotomy in certain species of Mammillaria, and it has been reported as such by taxonomists (Craig, 1945). Histological confirmation of the phenomenon is the purpose of this article.
Broadband surface electromagnetic wave spectroscopy

Abstract Broadband generation and spectroscopic detection of infrared surface electromagnetic waves (SEW's) are reported from 600 to 1800 cm -1 . For KReO 4 coated metal samples a sharp absorption line near 1000 cm -1 is used to compare the SEW and surface reflection spectroscopy (SRS) techniques. The integrated optical density of the absorption line is an order of magnitude larger with SEW spectroscopy than with SRS.
Atomic spectrometric detectors for flow-injection analysis

Abstract The distinction between liquid chromatography and flow injection analysis is discussed in terms of the underlying concepts, the performance characteristics and the hardware involved. For the last aspect, attention is focused on the role of the detector and the development of spectroscopic detectors for these techniques is discussed. The limitations of atomic spectrometric detectors are discussed for the three most widely used techniques, flame atomic absorption spectrometry, plasma spectrometry and electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry, and the recent literature concerned with the use of these techniques for chromatographic detectors is summarized. The use of flow-injection methods to extend the capabilities of the techniques, particularly as far as detection limits and matrix interferences are concerned, is discussed. These topics are illustrated by a detailed review of relevant papers from 1988 and 1989. It is concluded that there is a considerable sustained research effort in this field.
Quantitative changes in rat pituitary neurosecretory material in altered adrenocortical function.

The concentration of CAH-positive (“neurosecretory”) material in the infundibular process was studied as a function of time, by means of an objective, photodensitometric method, in rats subjected to: brief faradic stimulation, splenectomy, bilateral adrenalectomy, or adrenal enucleation. A slight (10%) initial depletion (most rapid after faradization), followed by return to normal levels within 24 hours, was observed in all four experiments. A marked (25%) secondary depletion, 2 weeks post-operatively, characterized the animals with regenerating adrenals, to the exclusion of the other surgically treated groups. In a discussion of these results, no conclusion could be drawn concerning a possible relationship between histologically observable neurosecretory material in the neural lobe, and pituitary-adrenocortical activation.
A study of neodymium substituted yttrium iron garnet

Abstract Yttrium Iron Garnet (3Y2O3, 5Fe2O3), a ceramic magnetic material, belongs to the ferrite family. This research has made a study of this garnet in which a portion of the yttrium has been replaced with neodymium, causing a ferro rather than a ferri magnetic alignment of moments. Precision determination of lattice parameters showed that 1.95 Nd could substitute for Y. Electrical and magnetic evaluations were made for several substituted compositions. Resitivities were 107 − 1011 Ω-cm, depending on processing. For the NdYIG series, the maximum Curie temperature was 295°C, and the maximum saturation magnetization was 2100 G. The initial permeability, μ0, varied from twenty-four to thirty-eight depending on composition.
miwi, a Murine Homolog of piwi, Encodes a Cytoplasmic Protein Essential for Spermatogenesis

The piwi family genes are crucial for stem cell self-renewal, RNA silencing, and translational regulation in diverse organisms. However, their function in mammals remains unexplored. Here we report the cloning of a murine piwi gene (miwi) essential for spermatogenesis. miwi encodes a cytoplasmic protein specifically expressed in spermatocytes and spermatids. miwi(null) mice display spermatogenic arrest at the beginning of the round spermatid stage, resembling the phenotype of CREM, a master regulator of spermiogenesis. Furthermore, mRNAs of ACT (activator of CREM in testis) and CREM target genes are downregulated in miwi(null) testes. Whereas MIWI and CREM do not regulate each other's expression, MIWI complexes with mRNAs of ACT and CREM target genes. Hence, MIWI may control spermiogenesis by regulating the stability of these mRNAs.
Surpassing nature: rational design of sterile-surface materials

The rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens and recalcitrance of biofilm infections present a formidable challenge to combating infectious diseases. There are numerous disinfectants and antiseptics for treating materials in hospitals and community settings, and devices such as catheters impregnated with anti-infectives have been introduced into practice. However, there are many limitations of materials impregnated with a leaching antibacterial agent. Recently, non-leaching, permanent, sterile-surface materials have been developed in which one end of a long-chained hydrophobic polycation containing antimicrobial monomers is attached covalently to the surface of a material, for example, cotton or plastic. The polymeric chain allows the antimicrobial moieties to permeate into, and kill, the cells of the pathogen. These sterile-surface materials kill both air- and waterborne pathogens and are not susceptible to existing resistance mechanisms.
Gene therapy approaches for multiple myeloma

Several different myeloma gene therapy approaches are currently being explored, seeking to impact on the disease process in diverse ways. Therapeutic benefit may result from destroying the myeloma cells directly, provoking an antimyeloma cell immune response, interfering with the paracrine growth signaling pathways between osteoclasts and myeloma cells, or genetically manipulating hematopoietic progenitors or mature T cells in a stem cell transplantation setting. Encouraging progress in each of these areas is being fueled by the development of improved viral and nonviral gene transfer vectors.
Intraluminal involvement of the larynx and trachea by thyroid cancer

Abstract Involvement of the larynx and trachea by thyroid cancer extensive enough to cause an intraluminal mass is rare. In a sixty year period at the Mayo Clinic, only eighteen patients (of 2,000 with thyroid cancer) had involvement that required surgical intervention. Of these eighteen, fifteen were forty years old or older. Seven patients had follicular carcinoma; six, papillary carcinoma; four, anaplastic carcinoma; and one, medullary carcinoma. Seven patients had tracheostomy; seven, laryngectomy; three, partial removal of the larynx or trachea; and one, bronchoscopy and partial removal of the tumor for biopsy. Of the eighteen patients, two died during tracheostomy, seven lived three months to three years after operation, one lived five and a half years, and seven are still alive nine months to eight years after operation. One of the patients was lost to follow-up study. Of the ten patients who have died, two died of causes unrelated to the thyroid cancer. Of the seven surviving patients, six had laryngectomy, and one had partial laryngectomy.
Lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension: patient selection and maintenance therapy while awaiting transplantation

Although lung transplantation is considered a definitive treatment of patients with advanced pulmonary vascular disease and pulmonary hypertension, advances in the success of the medical management of patients with pulmonary hypertension make it less clear as to when to refer a patient for transplantation. Coumadin anticoagulation is associated with improved survival in all patients, and calcium channel blockers therapy with improved survival in very select patients. Chronic prostacyclin represents a newer therapy that seems to have a dramatic impact on patients' functional class and survival. As improvements continue in the medical management in pulmonary hypertension, and in survival of patients undergoing lung transplantation, the guidelines for patient selection should be constantly evolving.
Capacitance and spreading resistance of a stripe line

Abstract The conformal transformation method for finding the capacitance and spreading resistance of a stripe line on a semiconductor device has been described in three previous publications. We show that two of these studies are exact and one is approximate.
H-Infinity Design for Parametric Uncertain System

This paper deals with the Hscrinfin robust controller design for parametric uncertain system. The conservatism of earlier works in the literature is analyzed and an efficient method using the critical direction theory is shown to be less conservatism, which introduces substantial increase for the stabilizable uncertainty using Hscrinfin. Finally, examples are presented to illustrate the proposed approach
Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Polymeric System Bearing a Benzophenone Borate Salt as a New Photoinitiator for UV Curing1

Polymeric photoinitiators bearing benzophenone triphenylbutyl borate salt as the side chain have been synthesized and characterized and their activity measured in the photoinitiated polymerization of a bifunctional monomer, diethylene glycol diacrylate. The results were compared with a low-molecular weight model compound. At lower concentrations of the requisite benzophenone moiety, the highest activity was observed for the model compound, while at higher concentrations the homopolymer was superior. For both cases, the lowest photoinitiation activity was observed with significant induction period for copolymers with methyl methacrylate when compared to the homopolymer. The results are discussed in light of the microenvironment of the initiator fragments in the polymeric systems.
Disease modeling in multiple sclerosis: Assessment and quantification of sources of variability in brain parenchymal fraction measurements

The measurement of brain atrophy from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an established method of estimating disease severity and progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). Most commonly reported in the form of brain parenchymal fraction (BPF), it is more sensitive to the degenerative component of the disease and shows progression more reliably than lesion burden. Typically, the reliability of BPF and other morphometric measurements is assessed by evaluating scan-rescan experiments. While these experiments provide good estimates of real-life error related to imperfect patient repositioning in the MRI scanner, measurement variance due to physiological and reversible pathological fluctuations in brain volume are not taken into account. In this work, we propose a new model for estimating variability in serial morphometry, particularly the BPF measurement. Specifically, we attempt to detect and explicitly model the remaining sources of error to more accurately describe the overall variability in BPF measurements. Our results show that sources of variability beyond subject repositioning error are important and cannot be ignored. We demonstrate that scan-rescan experiments only provide a lower bound on the true error in repeated measurements of patients' BPF. We have estimated the variance due to patient repositioning during scan-rescan (sigma(sr)(2) = 3.0e-06), variance assigned to physiological fluctuations (sigma(p)(2) = 5.74e-06) and the variance associated with lesion activity (sigma(les)(2) = 1.09e-05). These variance components can be used to determine the relative impact of their sources on sample size estimates for studies investigating change over time in MS patients. Our results demonstrate that sample size calculations based exclusively on scan-rescan variability (sigma(sr)) are likely to underestimate the number of patients required. If the physiological variability (sigma(p)) is incorporated in sample size calculations, the required sample size would increase by a factor of 5.69 based on standard t-test sample size calculation.