cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CYTOTAXONOMIC STUDIES IN ELEOCHARIS SUBSER. PALUSTRES: CENTRAL UNITED STATES TAXA'

A B S T R A C T Comparative chromosomal and morphological studies indicate that four species are present in the area surveyed. Eleocharis smallii Britt. is primarily diploid with 2n = 16, although sporadic polyploids with 2n = 36 also occur. E. macrostachya Britt. is morphologically similar with unstable polyploid numbers ranging around 2n = 38 and multivalents and univalents present in meiosis. E. xyridiformis Fern. & Brack., a species generally synonymized with E. macrostachya, is shown to be a morphologically distinct species with 2n = 18, 19, and 20. The 19-chromosome types are trisomic for one of the long chromosomes, the three homologs pairing in meiosis as a large chain trivalent. The trivalent separates equationally in the first division and preferentially in the second so that only 9- or 10-chromosome pollen grains containing an extra chromosome are formed. Trisomic cytotypes may potentially produce normal (18), reconstituted trisomics (19), or tetrasomic (20) plants, although tetrasomics have not been found. The 20-chromosome cytotype is not the expected tetrasomic, as it is karyotypically distinct from either the 18 or 19 cytotypes. In all species somatic mutations including translocations, translocation-retranslocations, and chromosome fragmentation (agmatoploidy) have been observed of which the significance, if any, has not been determined. ELEOCHARIS R. BR. is a genus within the tribe Scirpeae of the family Cyperaceae. H. K. Svenson, the monnographer of the genus, established a number of series and subseries. The series Palustriformes Svens. includes the two subseries Palustres (C. B. Clarke) Svens. and Truncatae Svens.
Summary of available data for cholesterol in foods and methods for its determination.

Daniel P. Schwartz, referee. B.S., New Mexico State University; M.S., West Virginia University; Ph.D., Ohio State University. Senior Research Chemist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Philadelphia. A search of the literature has been conducted on the cholesterol content of foods and on the methods for its determination. The amount of cholesterol in food is important because of its possible relationship to the onset of atherosclerosis in humans. Cholesterol is present primarily in foods of animal origin. The main sources in the American diet are eggs, poultry, dairy products, fish and seafood, and meat products. Only a few samples of these products have been analyzed. In many cases there is a wide range in cholesterol values for samples analyzed. Much of the research was conducted many years ago. The most commonly used methods were gravimetric or colorimetric. In many cases the samples investigated were not adequately described. Cholesterol was often determined without isolati...
DFT Study of Cycloparaphenylenes and Heteroatom-Substituted Nanohoops

Nanohoops are macrocycles formed of aromatic rings linked in a 1,4′ fashion. Cycloparaphenylenes 1 and nitrogen analogues formed from the building blocks pyridinyl (2), pyrazinyl (3), pyridazinyl (4), and pyrimidinyl (5) are examined at B3LYP/6-31G(d). The nanohoops contain 3−24 repeat units. The strain energy of the nanohoops exponentially decreases with the number of building blocks n, and this strain strongly correlates with the bend angle at the ipso carbons. Nitrogen substitution reduces the o,o′ steric interactions between neighboring rings. Nanohoops 3 and 5 have ribbon-like structure with dihedral angles between neighboring rings near zero. Nanohoops 5 are the least strained and, with their ribbon structure, are suggested as synthetic targets for possible interesting bulk properties and structures.
Effects of gamma irradiation on the catalytic activity of zinc oxide and chromic oxide for the decomposition of methanol

Abstract The effect of gamma radiation on the catalytic activity of an n- and a p -type semi-conductor catalyst was determined. The reaction studied was the vapor-phase decomposition of methanol under continuous flow conditions. Under dose rates ranging from 80,000 to 450,000 r/hr an increase in the catalytic activity of the n -type zinc oxide catalysts and a decrease in activity of the p -type chromic oxide catalysts were observed. The degree of change was related to the inherent p -type chromic oxide catalysts were observed. The degree of change was related to the inherent activity of the catalyst (when not subjected to irradiation). A “saturation” effect of irradiation appeared to exist. Low inherent activity n -type catalysts approached the activity of a high inherent activity n -type catalyst when subjected to γ-radiation. All p -type catalysts approached the same level of activity when exposed to γ-radiation.
Influence of glucose dosage on interpretation of intravenous glucose tolerance tests in lean and obese cats.

Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTTs) are used in cats and other species to assess insulin sensitivity. Several dosages have been reported but the dosage that maximally stimulates insulin secretion in cats has not been determined nor has it been compared in lean and obese animals. IVGTTs were performed in 4 lean and 4 obese spayed female cats with 5 glucose dosages: 0.3 (A), 0.5 (B), 0.8 (C), 1.0 (D). and 1.3 (E) g/kg body weight (BW). Each cat received each dosage in a random design. The glucose disposal rate was significantly different only between lean and obese cats at the highest glucose dosage. The area under the curve for insulin increased significantly among A, B, C, and D in lean and among A, B, and C in obese cats but not between D and E in lean and among C, D, and E in obese cats. Baseline insulin secretion was significantly higher (P = .03) and 1st peak insulin secretion was approximately 50% lower in obese as compared to lean cats (P = .03). Lean but not obese cats reached baseline insulin concentrations at all dosages at 120 minutes. We conclude that the glucose dosage for maximal insulin secretion is 1.0 g/ kg BW in lean and 0.8 g/kg BW in obese cats, supporting routine use of 1 g/kg BW to maximally stimulate insulin secretion regardless of body composition. Obese cats showed an abnormal insulin secretion pattern, indicating a defect in insulin secretion with obesity and insulin resistance.
Effectiveness of budesonide nebulising suspension compared to disodium cromoglycate in early childhood asthma.

ABSTRACTObjective: The optimal treatment for early childhood asthma remains controversial. Budesonide (BUD) has shown superiority over placebo in infants, and over disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) in children aged > 2 years. The aim of this double-blind, randomised, parallel-group study was to compare the effectiveness of nebulised BUD and DSCG in asthmatic children aged < 36 months.Research design and methods: 82 infants (mean age 18.0 months [range, 11.6–31.2 months]) with suspected asthma (three exacerbations of dyspnoea and wheezing during the past 12 months, with one or more exacerbations in the past 3 months) were treated for 3 months with nebulised BUD (Pulmicort Respules) 0.5 mg/2 mL bid or DSCG 20 mg/2 mL tid. Follow-up was at 6 months. * Pulmicort and Respules are registered trade names of the AstraZeneca group of companiesMain outcome measures and results: Patients treated with BUD had a lower exacerbation rate than DSCG-treated patients after 3 months of treatment (5.4% vs. 31.7%; p = 0.003) and t...
Control of Aggression by Singing in Crickets

Ethologists developed the idea that many animal species evolved mechanisms to control aggression among their members. This control is by the use of signals to reduce the probability of attacks by the opponent before injurious or lethal combats occur. Although there are observations that are best explained by the theory, no direct experimental evidence has been presented. We report here one type of experimental evidence that seems to fit the theory.
Erosion Rate Testing at High Temperature of Alloys and Coatings for Use in Turbomachinery

Because of the serious consequences of turbomachinery erosion on their performance and life, it is important to have reliable methods for predicting their erosion when solid particles are ingested with the incoming flow. This is a very challenging problem since turbomachinery erosion is affected by many factors such as blade passage geometry, blade row location, rotational speed flow conditions, blade material and particles’ characteristics. Several studies which are essential to predicting blade surface erosion intensity and pattern, have been conducted at the University of Cincinnati’s Propulsion Laboratory over the past twenty-five years. This paper describes only some of the work done on erosion testing at high temperatures and velocities for different materials and coatings. The testing has been performed with a special high temperature erosion wind tunnel which simulates the aerodynamic conditions on the blades. The coated substrates reveal one order of magnitude less wear compared to some commercial non-CVD coatings on the same alloys. This study demonstrates that some coatings provide an excellent erosion resistance to INCO 718, LNCO 738, MAR-246, X-40 and Tungsten Carbide.Copyright © 1998 by ASME
Reply to: "Is the pathway of energy metabolism modified in advanced cirrhosis?".

To the Editor: We would like to thank Ganapathy-Kanniappan et al., for relating to our work to suggest an interesting hypothesis for the origin of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Based on the recent and historical findings that HCC is associated with elevated glycolysis [1, 2], they propose an interesting hypothesis that metabolic adaptations in early stages of liver cirrhotic hepatocytes could be linked to the origin of tumorigenesis in liver and that end-stage failing cirrhotic hepatocytes undergoes metabolic adaptations leading to HCC. However, the mechanistic links between liver cirrhosis and HCC are unclear and identification of pathways connecting both remains elusive. The focus of our recent work was the study of adaptive energy metabolic changes during liver cirrhosis to understand hepatic failure in the terminal stages of chronic injury [3]. Even though the letter to the editor from Ganapathy-Kanniappan et al., is not completely related to the study we designed, it is recognized that liver cirrhosis is considered as a precursor to HCC. In addition to hepatocytes, it is important to consider the role of the tumor microenvironment in regulating the metabolism of cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that cells in the tumor microenvironment generate energy rich metabolites (e.g., lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate) that are used by cancer cells for meeting their energetic demand through mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle [4, 5]. Based on the compelling recent results [6], one possibility is that microenvironment may induce metabolic transformations in early cirrhotic hepatocytes and when in contact with stromal cells to sustain their nutrient demand. Early cirrhotic hepatocytes may alter the surrounding cells metabolic phenotype to secrete high-energy metabolites for their energetic requirements. Metabolic alterations and adaptations are thus an exciting area of investigation.
Synthesis and β-Adrenergic Activities of R-Fluoronaphthyloxypropanolamine

Purpose. Many biogenic amines where an aromatic proton is substituted with fluorine have exhibited pharmacological properties that are dependent on the position of fluorine on the aromatic ring. For example, 6-fluoroepinephrine is selective for α-adrenergic receptors whereas the 2-fluoroisomer is selective for β-receptors. Aryloxypropanolamines are β-receptor agonists or antagonists, depending on the aryl group and its substituents. We therefore hypothesized that fluorine substitution on the aromatic ring could lead to significant biological effects in this class. A target with fluorine on naphthyl group of a known β-antagonist was chosen for investigation.
Best practices in shock wave lithotripsy: a comparison of regional practice patterns.

Objective To evaluate regional differences in adaptation of best practice recommendations for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) across 4 distinct geographic regions. Methods A retrospective study was performed using a prospective database maintained by a mobile lithotripsy provider (ForTec Medical, Streetsboro, OH). SWL cases performed in Ohio, Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin, Florida, and New York were included. Treatment parameters evaluated included treatment rate, use of a power ramp-up protocol, use of a pretreatment pause after the initial 100 shocks, ancillary procedures, and need for retreatment. Regional and physician-specific patterns were examined. Statistical analyses using chi-square and analysis of variance were performed with a significance of P Results Data from 2240 SWL procedures were included in the study. Overall adaptation of power ramp-up protocols and treatment rates were high (93% and 93%), whereas use of pause was lower (75%, P Conclusion The recommendations for slower shock wave rates and power ramp protocols have reached high penetration in urologic practices; however, the more recent recommendation for a pause after the initial 100 shocks has been less uniformly implemented. Inconsistencies in regional adaptation of best practices may identify opportunities for further education.
Analysis of Functional Motions in Brownian Molecular Machines with an Efficient Block Normal Mode Approach: Myosin-II and Ca2+-ATPase

The structural flexibilities of two molecular machines, myosin and Ca2+-ATPase, have been analyzed with normal mode analysis and discussed in the context of their energy conversion functions. The normal mode analysis with physical intermolecular interactions was made possible by an improved implementation of the block normal mode (BNM) approach. The BNM results clearly illustrated that the large-scale conformational transitions implicated in the functional cycles of the two motor systems can be largely captured with a small number of low-frequency normal modes. Therefore, the results support the idea that structural flexibility is an essential part of the construction principle of molecular motors through evolution. Such a feature is expected to be more prevalent in motor proteins than in simpler systems (e.g., signal transduction proteins) because in the former, large-scale conformational transitions often have to occur before the chemical events (e.g., ATP hydrolysis in myosin and ATP binding/phosphorylation in Ca2+-ATPase). This highlights the importance of Brownian motions associated with the protein domains that are involved in the functional transitions; in this sense, Brownian molecular machines is an appropriate description of molecular motors, although the normal mode results do not address the origin of the ratchet effect. The results also suggest that it might be more appropriate to describe functional transitions in some molecular motors as intrinsic elastic motions modulating local structural changes in the active site, which in turn gets stabilized by the subsequent chemical events, in contrast with the conventional idea of local changes somehow getting amplified into larger-scale motions. In the case of myosin, for example, we favor the idea that Brownian motions associated with the flexible converter propagates to the Switch I/II region, where the salt-bridge formation gets stabilized by ATP hydrolysis, in contrast with the textbook notion that ATP hydrolysis drives the converter motion. Another useful aspect of the BNM results is that selected low-frequency normal modes have been identified to form a set of collective coordinates that can be used to characterize the progress of a significant fraction of large-scale conformational transitions. Therefore, the present normal mode analysis has provided a stepping-stone toward more elaborate microscopic simulations for addressing critical issues in free energy conversions in molecular machines, such as the coupling and the causal relationship between collective motions and essential local changes at the catalytic active site where ATP hydrolysis occurs.
Student-Focused Coaching: A Model for Reading Coaches

There has been rapid growth in the number of reading coaches working in schools to support teachers as they develop students' literacy skills. However, few approaches to coaching seem to link to relevant and informative research. The authors' research-based model, Student-Focused Coaching, incorporates aspects of several coaching strategies and is sufficiently multifaceted to cover the wide variety of tasks that coaches are typically called upon to perform.
The effects of 1 kW class arcjet thruster plumes on spacecraft charging and spacecraft thermal control materials

Arcjet thrusters are soon to be used for north/south stationkeeping on commercial communications satellites. A series of tests was performed to evaluate the possible effects of these thrusters on spacecraft charging and the degradation of thermal control material. During the tests the interaction between arcjet plumes and both charged and uncharged surfaces did not cause any significant material degradation. In addition, firing an arcjet thruster benignly reduced the potential of charged surfaces to near zero. >
Arousals in sleep-disordered breathing: patterns and implications.

Study objective To describe the whole spectrum of electroencephalographic (EEG) transients associated with the termination and recovery of obstructed respiratory events and, thus, widen the recognized spectrum of arousal phenomena from sleep. Design Retrospective review of diagnostic polysomnograms. Setting American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)-accredited multidisciplinary sleep disorders center. Patients 17 patents with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing. Interventions None. Measurements and results Nasal airflow using a nasal-cannula-pressure-transducer system and oral flow by a thermistor were used to score apneas and hypopneas; the latter included flow-limitation events. The EEG patterns that crested or occurred within 2 to 3 seconds of respiratory recovery were recorded, and posthoc categories were created for the purpose of tabulation ranging from an AASM 3-second arousal to a single K-complex with no electromyographic increase. Chi-square statistic was calculated to assess the difference in EEG patterns at event termination between apneas and hypopneas. Score-rescore agreement was tested. Apneas were significantly more likely to be associated with a 3-second arousal than were hypopneas, but all types of EEG change were seen with both types of events. Spindles were rarely seen with arousal-linked K-complexes. The majority of events in rapid eye movement sleep were terminated with visible electromyography tone increase. Conclusions The spectrum of EEG change associated with the termination of respiratory events identified by using a nasal-cannula-pressure-transducer system is wider than that recognized as arousal phenomena by the 1992 AASM criteria. Scoring arousals with the 3-second rule may falsely minimize the apparent impact of abnormal breathing on sleep. The time may be right to update arousal recognition rules.
Assessing the airways

Spirometry is the best test to detect airway obstruction, categorize the severity of obstructive lung diseases, and objectively measure changes in severity because of disease progression or treatment. However, peak flow may be helpful to rule out moderate to severe airway obstruction and for home monitoring in some patients with asthma.
The importance of the lumpectomy surgical margin status in long term results of breast conservation

Background. The impact of the surgical margin status on long term local control rates for breast cancer in women treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy is unclear. Methods. The records of 289 women with 303 invasive breast cancers who were treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy from 1972 to 1992 were reviewed. The surgical margin was classified as positive (transecting the inked margin), close (less than or equal to 2 mm from the margin), negative, or indeterminate, based on the initial biopsy findings and reexcision specimens, as appropriate. Various clinical and pathologic factors were analyzed as potential prognostic factors for local recurrence in addition to the margin status, including T classification, N classification, age, histologic features, and use of adjuvant therapy. The mean follow-up was 6.25 years. Results. The actuarial probability of freedom from local recurrence for the entire group of patients at 5 and 10 years was 94% and 87%, respectively. The actuarial probability of local control at 10 years was 98% for those patients with negative surgical margins versus 82% for all others (P = 0.007). The local control rate at 10 years was 97% for patients who underwent reexcision and 84% for those who did not. Reexcision appears to convey a local control benefit for those patients with close, indeterminate, or positive initial margins, when negative final margins are attained (P = 0.0001). Final margin status was the most significant determinant of local recurrence rates in univariate analysis. By multivariate analysis, the final margin status and use of adjuvant chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors. Conclusions. The attainment of negative surgical margins, initially or at the time of reexcision, is the most significant predictor of local control after breast-conserving treatment with lumpectomy and radiation therapy. Cancer 1995; 76:259–67.
High Throughput Screening of Signal Transduction Mutants With Luciferase Imaging

A detailed procedure for high throughput genetic screening of hormone and environmental stress signal transduction mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana is described. The screen was carried out with mutagenized plants expressing the firefly luciferase reporter under control of a cold, osmotic stress, and absciscic acid responsive promoter. A thermoelectrically cooled CCD camera was used to detect luminescence emitted by the plants in response to stresses or ABA. Advantages of the screening procedure include high throughput, capability to identify low as well as high expression mutants and employment of a highly sensitive but affordable imaging system and software. This procedure can be used to study complex signal transduction networks in higher plants.
Analysis of the fluoride effect on the phase-selective growth of TlBa2Ca2Cu3O9−x thin films: Phase evolution and microstructure development

Phase-selective growth of TlBa2Ca2Cu3O9−x films is greatly enhanced by annealing chemical vapor deposition derived BaCaCuO(F) precursor films in the presence of TlF. Nucleation of superconducting phases (≥840 °C under O2) progresses in the order 2212 → 2223 → 1212 → 1223. Annealing at 855 °C results in well-defined platelet grains, a significant number of which are a-axis oriented. Residual fluoride is not detectable at any stage of the annealing process. Thin films synthesized by TlF annealing differ markedly from films processed in the presence of Tl2O3 with Tc = 103 K and Jc > 105 A/cm2 (5 K, 4.5 T).
Symbiont‐Induced Strain‐Specific Lethal Effect in Amoebae

The cytosol fraction of a symbiont-bearing strain of Amoeba proteus exerted a lethal effect when injected into symbiont-free amoebae of the original strain. The lethal factor appeared to be a protein with a molecular weight of over 200,000. While the effect of the lethal factor on the nucleus was reversible, the host cytoplasm was permanently damaged so that it could not form a viable cell when combined with a normal nucleus.
A Prospective Study of the Factors Shaping Antibody Responses to the AS03-Adjuvanted Influenza A/H1N1 Vaccine in Cancer Outpatients

Purpose. To identify the determinants of antibody responses to adjuvanted influenza A/H1N1/09 vaccines in a cohort of cancer outpatients. PatientsandMethods.Patientswithcancerandcontrols were enrolled in a prospective single-center field study. Two doses of AS03-adjuvanted pandemic influenza vaccine were administered to patients and one dose was administered to controls. Antibody responses were measured using hemagglutination inhibition and confirmed by microneutralization. Geometric mean titers (GMTs) and seroprotection rates (defined as GMTs >40) were compared. Results. Immunizations were safe and well tolerated in 197 cancer patients (lymphoma, 57; glioma, 26; lung or head and neck, 37; gastrointestinal, 41; breast, 36) and 138 controls. Similar seroprotection rates (82.3% versus 87%) and GMTs (336.9 versus 329.9) were achieved after two doses of adjuvanted vaccine in cancer patients and one dose in controls. Univariate analyses identified older age, priorimmunizationagainstseasonalinfluenza,lymphoma, CD4 count, active chemotherapy, and rituximab and steroid treatments as being associated with weaker antibody responses. However, only age and chemotherapy plus rituximab remained independent determinants of vaccine responses in multivariate analyses. Conclusions. Two doses of AS03-adjuvanted influenza vaccine elicited potent antibody responses in most cancer patients despite ongoing chemotherapy, with the exception of rituximab-induced B-cell depletion. Oncology patients treated in an outpatient setting benefit from preventive vaccination against influenza with adjuvanted vaccines. The Oncologist 2012;17:436–445
Why does the rapid delivery of drugs to the brain promote addiction

It is widely accepted that the more rapidly drugs of abuse reach the brain the greater their potential for addiction. This might be one reason why cocaine and nicotine are more addictive when they are smoked than when they are administered by other routes. Traditionally, rapidly administered drugs are thought to be more addictive because they are more euphorigenic and/or more reinforcing. However, evidence for this is not compelling. We propose an alternative (although not mutually exclusive) explanation based on the idea that the transition to addiction involves drug-induced plasticity in mesocorticolimbic systems, changes that are manifested behaviourally as psychomotor and incentive sensitization. Recent evidence suggests that rapidly administered cocaine or nicotine preferentially engage mesocorticolimbic circuits, and more readily induce psychomotor sensitization. We conclude that rapidly delivered drugs might promote addiction by promoting forms of neurobehavioural plasticity that contribute to the compulsive pursuit of drugs.
Religion and Secrecy After September 11

Security concerns since September 11, 2001 have raised new issues concerning relations between religious communities and government. Many of these involve the perception that religions (especially, at the moment, Islam) may engage in secret, illicit activities beyond the view of others, including the state. The new security environment requires an examination of the related concepts of secrecy and privacy as they apply to religion, as well as the historical record of earlier periods when some American religions such as Catholicism and Mormonism were considered dangerous. Of particular significance has been the 2002 change in Department of Justice guidelines that permits FBI surveillance of religious organizations, which, while presently impacting the Muslim community, presents potentially broad new problems in church-state interaction.
Parental correlates of drug use among young Puerto Rican adults.

A study was conducted by interview with 635 young Puerto Rican adults in Puerto Rico. Half of the sample were selected as high risk of heroin involvement, half as low risk. Parent-child relationships and parental usage of alcohol and cigarettes were related to five indices of heroin involvement. For boys, maternal acceptance was negatively associated with having ever tried heroin. Higher levels of maternal control were associated with lesser heroin use, never having tried heroin, less knowledge of heroin-related vocabulary, and fewer friends who had used heroin. Being the mother's favorite child was associated with less approval of heroin use. For boys, paternal acceptance was related to less knowledge of heroin vocabulary. Higher levels of paternal control went with less heroin use, less knowledge of heroin vocabulary, never having tried heroin, and few friends who used heroin. Paternal discipline was related to fewer friends using heroin. For girls, maternal control was associated with less knowledge of...
Risk of Fungemia Due to Rhodotorula and Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Rhodotorula Isolates

Rhodotorula infections occur among patients with immunosuppression and/or central venous catheters. Using standardized methods (NCCLS M27-A), we determined the antifungal susceptibilities of 10 Rhodotorula bloodstream infection isolates. Patient information was collected for clinical correlation. The MICs of amphotericin B and posaconazole were the lowest, and the MICs of triazoles and echinocandins were higher than those of other antifungal agents.
Myocardin Is Sufficient for a Smooth Muscle-Like Contractile Phenotype

Background— Myocardin (Myocd) is a strong coactivator that binds the serum response factor (SRF) transcription factor over CArG elements embedded within smooth muscle cell (SMC) and cardiac muscle cyto-contractile genes. Here, we sought to ascertain whether Myocd-mediated gene expression confers a structural and physiological cardiac or SMC phenotype. Methods and Results— Adenoviral-mediated expression of Myocd in the BC3H1 cell line induces cardiac and SMC genes while suppressing both skeletal muscle markers and cell growth. Immunofluorescence microscopy shows that SRF and a SMC-like cyto-contractile apparatus are elevated with Myocd overexpression. A short hairpin RNA to Srf impairs BC3H1 cyto-architecture; however, cotransduction with Myocd results in complete restoration of the cyto-architecture. Electron microscopic studies demonstrate a SMC ultrastructural phenotype with no evidence for cardiac sarcomerogenesis. Biochemical and time-lapsed videomicroscopy assays reveal clear evidence for Myocd-induced SMC-like contraction. Conclusion— Myocd is sufficient for the establishment of a SMC-like contractile phenotype.
Biological interaction networks are conserved at the module level

Orthologous genes are highly conserved between closely related species and biological systems often utilize the same genes across different organisms. However, while sequence similarity often implies functional similarity, interaction data is not well conserved even for proteins with high sequence similarity. Several recent studies comparing high throughput data including expression, protein-protein, protein-DNA, and genetic interactions between close species show conservation at a much lower rate than expected. In this work we collected comprehensive high-throughput interaction datasets for four model organisms (S. cerevisiae, S. pombe, C. elegans, and D. melanogaster) and carried out systematic analyses in order to explain the apparent lower conservation of interaction data when compared to the conservation of sequence data. We first showed that several previously proposed hypotheses only provide a limited explanation for such lower conservation rates. We combined all interaction evidences into an integrated network for each species and identified functional modules from these integrated networks. We then demonstrate that interactions that are part of functional modules are conserved at much higher rates than previous reports in the literature, while interactions that connect between distinct functional modules are conserved at lower rates. We show that conservation is maintained between species, but mainly at the module level. Our results indicate that interactions within modules are much more likely to be conserved than interactions between proteins in different modules. This provides a network based explanation to the observed conservation rates that can also help explain why so many biological processes are well conserved despite the lower levels of conservation for the interactions of proteins participating in these processes. Accompanying website: http://www.sb.cs.cmu.edu/CrossSP
Designing Authentic Undergraduate Research Experiences in a Single-Semester Lab Course

The importance of a robust undergraduate research experience has been demonstrated time and again. However, too few undergraduates engage in genuine research and leverage this opportunity. Here, I present a laboratory course in cell and molecular biology that is designed to mimic a true research project. Students work through a 10-step experimental design culminating in the construction, expression, and visualization of microtubules fused to green fluorescent protein in baker's yeast. The steps of this project include the isolation of the tubulin gene from yeast genomic DNA, the cloning of that gene into an expression vector, the amplification of this plasmid in E. coli, and the expression of fluorescent tubulin in yeast. Controls and validation steps are embedded throughout the project, as they would be in a genuine research project. This laboratory course more closely resembles a one-semester undergraduate research experience than a typical lab course. However, because this course reaches a much larger number of students compared with undergraduate research opportunities, it provides students with a valuable research experience that remains confined to the scheduled time block of a typical lab course. In this way, many of the benefits of research are experienced by a large number of undergraduates.
Xenopus Smad8 acts downstream of BMP-4 to modulate its activity during vertebrate embryonic patterning

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) participate in the development of nearly all organs and tissues. BMP signaling is mediated by specific Smad proteins, Smad1 and/or Smad5, which undergo serine phosphorylation in response to BMP-receptor activation and are then translocated to the nucleus where they modulate transcription of target genes. We have identified a distantly related member of the Xenopus Smad family, Smad8, which lacks the C-terminal SSXS phosphorylation motif present in other Smads, and which appears to function in the BMP signaling pathway. During embryonic development, the spatial pattern of expression of Smad8 mirrors that of BMP-4. We show that an intact BMP signaling pathway is required for its expression. Overexpression of Smad8 in Xenopus embryos phenocopies the effect of blocking BMP-4 signaling, leading to induction of a secondary axis on the ventral side of intact embryos and to direct neural induction in ectodermal explants. Furthermore, Smad8 can block BMP-4-mediated induction of ventral mesoderm-specific gene expression in ectodermal explants. Overexpression of Smad8 within dorsal cells, however, causes patterning defects that are distinct from those reported in BMP-4-deficient embryos, suggesting that Smad8 may interact with additional signaling pathways. Indeed, overexpression of Smad8 blocks expression of Xbra in whole animals, and partially blocks activin signaling in animal caps. In addition, Smad8 inhibits involution of mesodermal cells during gastrulation, a phenotype that is not observed following blockade of activin or BMPs in Xenopus. Together, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that Smad8 participates in a negative feedback loop in which BMP signaling induces the expression of Smad8, which then functions to negatively modulate the amplitude or duration of signaling downstream of BMPs and, possibly, downstream of other transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family ligands.
Receptor Mediated Endocytosis of EGF in a Cell Free System

Endocytosis of many essential nutrients and growth factors is mediated by transmembrane receptors which bind to coated pits and are internalized via clathrin coated vesicles (for a recent review see Smythe and Warren). The receptors can be classified on the basis of whether ligand binding is required to promote efficient internalization. For example, the nutrient hormone receptors LDL and Tfn are internalized efficiently in the absence of ligands whereas EGF stimulates the endocytosis of the EGF receptor. These observations imply that the factors responsible for the efficient endocytosis of receptors maybe different for different classes of receptors.
Hepatic erythropoietin production in the lead-poisoned rat.

Extrarenal erythropoietin production is increased above normal in lead-injected rats exposed to hypoxia either immediately after or 1 day after nephrectomy. Extrarenal erythropoietin production in lead-poisoned rats is actinomycin D sensitive, and the major extrarenal site of production or activation of the hormone in normal or lead-poisoned anephric rats is the liver.
Democracy and Transparency

Andrew Walker, Head of the House of Commons Fees Office, made headlines when he was quoted during the recent Parliamentary expense account scandal as having said that "transparency will damage democracy." That he did is indicative of the assumption that transparency in government and democracy go hand in hand. Perhaps most obviously symbolized by the glass dome on the new German Reichstag building, this assumption has become all the stronger with the proliferation of various communications technologies, which have putatively opened up the processes of government to observation and thus control by citizens. Bearing in mind Machiavelli's assertion to his eponymous prince that people judge by what they see, and that what they see is what the successful prince wants them to see, I will question this assumption on several levels. While some argue that transparency is in tension with governmental efficiency and seek to limit it, I will ask whether transparency is either achievable or desirable for democracy and suggest that the illusion of transparency offered by the internet and communication technologies generally may be more dangerous to democracy than is the presumption of political power's opacity.
Traumatic pseudoaneurysm resulting from ruptured outflow graft due to disconnection of HeartMate II LVAD Bend Relief

Abstract We report a rare case of a 59-year-old male who presented with a pulsating pseudoaneurysm 15 months after placement of a HeartMate II left ventricular assist device (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA, USA). Computed tomography and echocardiogram imaging and surgical exploration revealed that bend relief spontaneously detached from the outflow conduit, and the sharp edges of the snap ring component of the bend relief caused perforation to the outflow graft. Learning objective: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are of growing popularity within the field of cardiology as a means of bridge to transplant and as a destination therapy. This case highlights a rare, but potentially fatal complication of a popular LVAD, the HeartMate II. Since this case report, the US Food and Drug Administration has released a statement of this particular complication, and Thoratec has made changes to the design. However, many patients still have the older model in place, and are at risk of this rare but potentially fatal complication.>
Abstract TP94: Brain-computer Interface Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation As A Novel Approach To Improving Foot-drop After Stroke

INTRODUCTION: Foot-drop commonly affects gait after stroke, and current physiotherapy is incompletely effective. Orthoses are often used but benefits disappear on removal. The post-stroke brain has...
Photoswitchable Nanocarrier with Reversible Encapsulation Properties

An amphiphilic dendritic polymer with polyethylenimine (PEI) as the hydrophilic core, steric ester (STA) as the hydrophobic shell, and azobenzene (AZO) groups as the photoswitchable moieties was synthesized via amidation reaction. The synthesized dendritic macromolecule was characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), FT-IR spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). With alternating UV and visible-light irradiation, azobenzene moieties of polyethylenimine-steric ester-azobenzene (PEI-STA-AZO) undergo a reversible isomerization between the cis and trans state. The encapsulation tests demonstrated that PEI-STA-AZO with trans-isomer is not capable of encapsulating anionic guests, whereas the one with cis-isomers is able to encapsulate the anionic guests from the aqueous solution to the organic layer. Molecular modeling by Spartan was utilized to explain the special encapsulation property of PEI-STA-AZO. Azobenzene groups functioned as a reversible “photo-switch” in the dendritic guest–host sy...
Hybrid Large-Eddy / Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Simulation of Mach 8.3 Flow over a Flat Plate

Hybrid large-eddy / Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (LES/RANS) simulations of a Mach 8.3 flat-plate boundary layer are conducted to establish an inflow condition for future simulations of a crossing shock interaction. The general hybrid LES/RANS approach involves the use of flow-dependent blending functions to couple Menter’s SST RANS model with Yoshizawa’s one-equation subgrid model. Several modifications to the original concept are tested, with goals being to control the position of the time-averaged LES/RANS juncture within the boundary layer and the sharpness of the transition. Turbulent structures are initiated and sustained through application of a recycling / rescaling technique, applied to the fluctuation fields. (Xiao, et al., AIAA Journal, Vol. 41, No. 8). The results show that some variants of the hybrid LES/RANS procedures successfully convert an initial steady RANS boundary layer to an unsteady boundary layer with nearly the same energy content. This feature is believed to be crucial in future hybrid simulations of three-dimensional shock / boundary layer interactions.
IDC Re-Engineering Phase 2 System Requirements Document V1.3.

This System Requirements Document (SRD) defines waveform data processing requirements for the International Data Centre (IDC) of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). The IDC applies, on a routine basis, automatic processing methods and interactive analysis to raw International Monitoring System (IMS) data in order to produce, archive, and distribute standard IDC products on behalf of all States Parties. The routine processing includes characterization of events with the objective of screening out events considered to be consistent with natural phenomena or non-nuclear, man-made phenomena. This document does not address requirements concerning acquisition, processing and analysis of radionuclide data but includes requirements for the dissemination of radionuclide data and products.
Rapid cold-hardening of Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophiladae) during ecologically based thermoperiodic cycles.

In contrast to most studies of rapid cold-hardening, in which abrupt transfers to low temperatures are used to induce an acclimatory response, the primary objectives of this study were to determine (i) whether rapid cold-hardening was induced during the cooling phase of an ecologically based thermoperiod, (ii) whether the protection afforded was lost during warming or contributed to increased cold-tolerance during subsequent cycles and (iii) whether the major thermally inducible stress protein (Hsp70) or carbohydrate cryoprotectants contributed to the protection afforded by rapid cold-hardening. During the cooling phase of a single ecologically based thermoperiod, the tolerance of Drosophila melanogaster to 1 h at −7 degrees C increased from 5 +/− 5% survival to 62.5 +/− 7.3% (means +/− S.E.M., N=40-60), while their critical thermal minima (CTmin) decreased by 1.9 degrees C. Cold hardiness increased with the number of thermoperiods to which flies were exposed; i.e. flies exposed to six thermoperiods were more cold-tolerant than those exposed to two. Endogenous levels of Hsp70 and carbohydrate cryoprotectants were unchanged in rapidly cold-hardened adults compared with controls held at a constant 23 degrees C. In nature, rapid cold-hardening probably affords subtle benefits during short-term cooling, such as allowing D. melanogaster to remain active at lower temperatures than they otherwise could.
15 T-HELPER 2 LYMPHOCYTE-EXPRESSED NKG2A SUPPRESSES INTERLEUKIN-4 SECRETION UPON CD3/CD28/HLA-E COSTIMULATION: A NOVEL MECHANISM FOR T-HELPER 2 DOMINANCE IN ASTHMA.

Purpose Asthma exacerbations are frequently associated with viral infections. Many of these viruses cause a marked decrease in antigen-presenting cell MHC class I production. We have previously identified a potential mechanism linking the T-helper type 2 (T H 2) cytokine preponderance seen in acute asthma and this viral-mediated event. That is, NKG2A was identified as the only known ligand for MHC class I (ie, HLA-E) expressed by activated T H 2 lymphocytes. Therefore, we aimed to measure T H 2 cell effector function upon T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation in the presence and absence of HLA-E, intending to imitate the reduction in MHC class I seen with respiratory viral infections. Methods Human monocytes and T H 2 cells were negatively purified from healthy volunteers using previously validated antibody cocktails. T H 2 cells were cultured in media containing anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 in the presence (or absence) of autologous monocytes, which served as HLA-E presenters. Four-color flow cytometry was performed. Analyses with FlowJo 5.7 were carried out after back-gating on CD3 + CD4 + cells. Paired t -tests measured statistical significance using SPSS 14. Results T H 2 isolates were > 95% pure CD3 + CD4 + CD8 - cells and > 84% pure T H 2 cells. Monocyte isolates were > 90% pure. Flow studies of activated T H 2 cells showed mean ± SE (mean fluorescence intensity) NKG2A + of 11.4 ± 0% (15.4 ± 0.1) and intracellular IL-4 + of 4.4 ± 0% (153.4 ± 0.1). In the presence of monocytic HLA-E, activated T H 2 lymphocytes showed NKG2A + of 11.2 ± 0% (35.6 ± 0) ( p
Expression and regulation of the cystic fibrosis gene during rat liver regeneration.

Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) are responsible for cystic fibrosis. The CFTR gene has recently been identified and encodes a 6.5-kb mRNA transcript. Rec...
Metrics based security assessment (MBSA): combining the ISO 17799 standard with the systems security engineering capability maturity model (SSE-CMM)

This research introduces the Metrics Based Security Assessment (MBSA) as a means of measuring an organization's information security maturity. It argues that the historical (i.e., first through third generations) approaches used to assess/ensure system security are not effective and thereby combines the strengths of two industry proven information security models, the ISO 17799 Standard and the Systems Security Engineering Capability Maturity Model (SSE-CMM), to overcome their inherent weaknesses. Furthermore, the authors trust that the use of information security metrics will enable information security practitioners to measure their information security efforts in a more consistent, reliable, and timely manner. Such a solution will allow a more reliable qualitative measurement of the return achieved through given information security investments. Ultimately, the MBSA will allow professionals an additional, more robust self-assessment tool in answering management questions similar to: "How secure are we?"
Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics to Flow Ratings at Prototype Spillways and Weirs. II: Framework for Planning, Data Assessment, and Flow Rating

AbstractTraditionally, flow-rating formulas for hydraulic structures are calibrated and validated with data comprising field measurements of discharge, water stages, and operational settings monitored in near real time. Lack of sufficient field measurements that include all flow types and cover the full operational ranges has been a major constraint in developing reliable flow ratings for prototype hydraulic structures. A companion paper introduced a plausible method that relies on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to generate accurate flow data that complements field measurements for flow rating analysis. In this paper, a general framework for applying CFD in flow rating is proposed, which includes planning of CFD simulations, assessing CFD flow data, and improving existing flow ratings using a hybrid data set of field-measured and CFD-simulated flows. Finally, two case studies of flow rating for spillways and weirs carried out to demonstrate the proposed framework are presented. Results sho...