cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxidant-induced apoptosis is mediated by oxidation of the actin-regulatory protein cofilin

Physiological oxidants that are generated by activated phagocytes comprise the main source of oxidative stress during inflammation. Oxidants such as taurine chloramine (TnCl) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) can damage proteins and induce apoptosis, but the role of specific protein oxidation in this process has not been defined. We found that the actin-binding protein cofilin is a key target of oxidation. When oxidation of this single regulatory protein is prevented, oxidant-induced apoptosis is inhibited. Oxidation of cofilin causes it to lose its affinity for actin and to translocate to the mitochondria, where it induces swelling and cytochrome c release by mediating opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP). This occurs independently of Bax activation and requires both oxidation of cofilin Cys residues and dephosphorylation at Ser 3. Knockdown of endogenous cofilin using targeted siRNA inhibits oxidant-induced apoptosis, which is restored by re-expression of wild-type cofilin but not by cofilin containing Cys to Ala mutations. Exposure of cofilin to TnCl results in intramolecular disulphide bonding and oxidation of Met residues to Met sulphoxide, but only Cys oxidation causes cofilin to induce mitochondrial damage.
Interrelationships among biological activity, disulfide bonds, secondary structure, and metal ion binding for a chemically synthesized 34-amino-acid peptide derived from α-fetoprotein

Abstract A 34-amino-acid peptide has been chemically synthesized based on a sequence from human α-fetoprotein. The purified peptide is active in anti-growth assays when freshly prepared in pH 7.4 buffer at 0.20 g/l, but this peptide slowly becomes inactive. This functional change is proven by mass spectrometry to be triggered by the formation of an intrapeptide disulfide bond between the two cysteine residues on the peptide. Interpeptide cross-linking does not occur. The active and inactive forms of the peptide have almost identical secondary structures as shown by circular dichroism (CD). Zinc ions bind to the active peptide and completely prevents formation of the inactive form. Cobalt(II) ions also bind to the peptide, and the UV-Vis absorption spectrum of the cobalt–peptide complex shows that: (1) a near-UV sulfur-to-metal-ion charge-transfer band had a molar extinction coefficient consistent with two thiolate bonds to Co(II); (2) the lowest-energy visible d–d transition maximum at 659 nm, also, demonstrated that the two cysteine residues are ligands for the metal ion; (3) the d–d molar extinction coefficient showed that the metal ion–ligand complex was in a distorted tetrahedral symmetry. The peptide has two cysteines, and it is speculated that the other two metal ion ligands might be the two histidines. The Zn(II)– and Co(II)–peptide complexes had similar peptide conformations as indicated by their ultraviolet CD spectra, which differed very slightly from that of the free peptide. Surprisingly, the cobalt ions acted in the reverse of the zinc ions in that, instead of stabilizing anti-growth form of the peptide, they catalyzed its loss. Metal ion control of peptide function is a saliently interesting concept. Calcium ions, in the conditions studied, apparently do not bind to the peptide. Trifluoroethanol and temperature (60°C) affected the secondary structure of the peptide, and the peptide was found capable of assuming various conformations in solution. This conformational flexibility may possibly be related to the biological activity of the peptide.
Topics in Gamma Ray Astronomy

Observations of gamma rays from solar flares, gamma ray bursts, the Galactic center, galactic nucleosynthesis, SS433, and Cygnus X-3, and their effects on astrophysical problems are discussed. It is observed that gamma ray spectra from solar flares are applicable to the study of particle acceleration and confinement and the determination of chemical abundances in the solar atmosphere. The gamma ray lines from the compact galactic object SS433 are utilized to examine the acceleration of jets, and analysis of the gamma ray lines of Cygnus X-3 reveal that particles can be accelerated in compact sources to ultrahigh energies.
Enhancement of cell type specificity by quantitative modulation of a chimeric ligand.

Evolution modulates the quantitative characteristics of protein interactions and often uses combinations of weak interactions to achieve a particular specificity. We addressed how quantitative optimization might be used in the design of multidomain proteins, using a chimera containing epidermal growth factor (EGF) as a cell targeting element and interferon-α-2a (IFNα-2a) to initiate signal transduction. We first connected EGF and IFNα-2a via a linker that allows both ligands to bind to their receptors on a cell surface and then incorporated a series of mutations into the IFNα-2a portion that progressively decrease both the on rate and the dissociation constant of the IFNα-2a-IFNα receptor 2 (IFNAR2) interaction. Using this strategy, we designed chimeric proteins in which the activation of the IFNα receptor in HeLa, A431, and engineered Daudi cells depends on the presence of EGF receptor on the same cell. The mutant chimeric proteins also inhibited proliferation of IFNα-sensitive cells in an EGF receptor-dependent manner. These results provide insights into the quantitative requirements for specific binding to multisubunit receptors and illustrate the value of a quantitative approach in the design of synthetic-biological constructs.
A giant right atrial myxoma presenting as acute pulmonary emboli.

Atrial myxomas account for over 50% of primary cardiac tumours associated with an overall mortality rate of 20% primarily due to embolic phenomena. Less than 15% myxomas occur in the right atrium and grow to a significant size before producing symptoms. Pulmonary embolism is a serious complication of right …
Mechanisms of neutrophil-mediated tissue injury

Neutrophil-mediated tissue injury (NMTI) is a prominent mechanism of host autodestruction. It is defined by a sequence of events including neutrophil adherence and sequestration, diapedesis, activation, and secretion of toxic compounds. Knowledge of this sequence is valuable because it outlines points at which intervention may be sought. A limitation of these studies comes in the misunderstanding and misapplication of the tests used to analyze these events. We now realize that neutrophil adherence, sequestration, diapedesis, and secretion of toxic compounds can each occur alone without promoting generalized tissue injury. NMTI is a normally localized process that has gone systemically awry. Influencing this system must be selective and controlled because the inflammatory system is a critical component of host defense. As we gain insight into the pathophysiology of NMTI, we hope to find new avenues for therapeutic intervention in critical care.
Formation of Y-Node Using the Primitive Y-Node Concept

A very efficient and intuitively pleasing algorithm for the formation of nodal admittance matrices is presented. The procedure is completely general and allows the accurate manipulation of distributed and non-bilateral components. It is free from most numerical difficulties, even when Ynod is singular, and it is easy to implement. It is basea on the concept of "primitive Ynode." matrices. A known but not widely publicized recursive method for finding primitive Y in distributed mutually coupled untransposed ines is presented. Ways of handling ideal transformers are described. Examples are given.
Signatures of quantum behavior in single-qubit weak measurements.

With the recent surge of interest in quantum computation, it has become very important to develop clear experimental tests for ``quantum behavior'' in a system. This issue has been addressed in the past in the form of the inequalities due to Bell and those due to Leggett and Garg. These inequalities concern the results of ideal projective measurements, however, which are experimentally difficult to perform in many proposed qubit designs, especially in many solid-state qubit systems. Here, we show that weak continuous measurements, which are often practical to implement experimentally, can yield particularly clear signatures of quantum coherence, both in the measured correlation functions and in the measured power spectrum.
Fractal analysis of eight glacial cycles from an Antarctic ice core

Abstract A rescaled range analysis was performed on recent electrical measurements of a deep ice core obtained from Dome C, Antarctica, representing a continuous 7 40 000 year record of the Earth’s climate. It is shown that two measures of the electrical conductivity of the ice surface, both d.c. conductance and 100-kHz dielectric profile, exhibit fractal behavior over 3 orders of magnitude in ice depth. Positive Hurst exponents of 0.795 and 0.848 were calculated for the d.c. conductance and dielectric profile, respectively.
Electrophysiological and contractile responses of canine atrial tissue to adrenocorticotropin.

Abstract The direct extra-adrenal actions of adrenocorticotropin 1–39 (ACTH) on electrical (E) and mechanical (M) characteristics of canine atrial tissues (AT) were investigated in in vitro experiments. One hundred twenty-five mU/ml of ACTH 1–39 significantly augmented the catecholamine induced positive inotropism as seen by shortening the time to peak tension (10.6%, p =0.01) and increasing peak isometric tension (3.5 times, p =0.001). Effects on the M responses were inhibited by propranolol (10 −6 M) (P). ACTH did not significantly modify action potential E or M parameters during cholinergic receptor antagonism or alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonism. Existence of a specific ACTH receptor was demonstrated using 125 I radioiodinated ACTH 1–24. Significant binding of 125 I-ACTH to AT was observed. Intracellular C-AMP levels were also measured in AT using radioimmunoassay. Tissues were exposed to 125 mU/ml ACTH 1–39 plus combinations of norepinephrine (10 −6 M) (NE) and P. ACTH alone did not elevate intracellular C-AMP levels. NE increased C-AMP levels were not further increased by ACTH. Exposure to antagonist returned elevated C-AMP levels to control values. In conclusion (1) ACTH augments the NE induced M positive inotropism of the beta adrenergic receptor system, (2) ACTH specifically binds to AT and (3) ACTH does not utilize the C-AMP second messenger system.
Physical and Photophysical Characterization of a BODIPY Phosphatidylcholine as a Membrane Probe

Lipids containing the dimethyl BODIPY fluorophore are used in cell biology because their fluorescence properties change with fluorophore concentration (C.-S. Chen, O. C. Martin, and R. E. Pagano. 1997. Biophys J. 72:37-50). The miscibility and steady-state fluorescence behavior of one such lipid, 1-palmitoyl-2-(4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-pentanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PBPC), have been characterized in mixtures with 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SOPC). PBPC packs similarly to phosphatidylcholines having a cis-unsaturated acyl chain and mixes nearly ideally with SOPC, apparently without fluorophore-fluorophore aggregation. Increasing PBPC mole fraction from 0.0 to 1.0 in SOPC membranes changes the emission characteristics of the probe in a continuous manner. Analysis of these changes shows that emission from the excited dimethyl BODIPY monomer self quenches with a critical radius of 25.9 A. Fluorophores sufficiently close (< or =13.7 A) at the time of excitation can form an excited dimer, emission from which depends strongly on total lipid packing density. Overall, the data show that PBPC is a reasonable physical substitute for other phosphatidylcholines in fluid membranes. Knowledge of PBPC fluorescence in lipid monolayers has been exploited to determine the two-dimensional concentration of SOPC in unilamellar, bilayer membranes.
Full-length ADAMTS-1 and the ADAMTS-1 fragments display pro- and antimetastatic activity, respectively

The exact role of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-1 (ADAMTS-1) and the underlying mechanism of its involvement in tumor metastasis have not been established. We have now demonstrated that overexpression of ADAMTS-1 promotes pulmonary metastasis of TA3 mammary carcinoma and Lewis lung carcinoma cells and that a proteinase-dead mutant of ADAMTS-1 (ADAMTS-1E/Q) inhibits their metastasis, indicating that the prometastatic activity of ADAMTS-1 requires its metalloproteinase activity. Overexpression of ADAMTS-1 in these cells promoted tumor angiogenesis and invasion, shedding of the transmembrane precursors of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF) and amphiregulin (AR), and activation of the EGF receptor and ErbB-2, while overexpression of ADAMTS-1E/Q inhibited these events. Furthermore, we found that ADAMTS-1 undergoes auto-proteolytic cleavage to generate the NH2- and COOH-terminal cleavage fragments containing at least one thrombospondin-type-I-like motif and that overexpression of the NH2-terminal ADAMTS-1 fragment and the COOH-terminal ADAMTS-1 fragment can inhibit pulmonary tumor metastasis. These fragments also inhibited Erk1/2 kinase activation induced by soluble heparin-binding EGF and AR. Taken together, our results suggest that the proteolytic status of ADAMTS-1 determines its effect on tumor metastasis, and that the ADAMTS-1E/Q and the ADAMTS-1 fragments likely inhibit tumor metastasis by negatively regulating the availability and activity of soluble heparin-binding EGF and AR.
Accelerated development of uroporphyria in mice heterozygous for a deletion at the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase locus

Three weeks after a single dose of irondextran and Aroclor 1254, mice maintained continuously on δ-aminolevulinic acid supplemented drinking water showed significantly elevated levels of hepatic uroporphyrin and depressed (25% of normal) uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (URO-D) activity. Depressed URO-D activity was paralleled by the ability of heat denatured cytosol to inhibit rhURO-D activity. Mice heterozygous for a targeted disruption at the URO-D locus (URO-D+/−) exhibited half the URO-D activity of homozygous controls prior to treatment. After treatment, these animals showed URO-D activity and rhURO-D inhibitory activity comparable to similarly treated wild type (URO-D+/+) mice but with significantly greater uroporphyrin accumulation. With only 10 days of treatment, URO-D+/− but not URO-D+/+ mice showed changes similar in magnitude to those seen after 21 days. Prior to treatment, URO-D genotype did not influence overall hepatic P450 concentration in either sex and there was no significant difference between sexes. The treatment regimen significantly elevated P450 in animals of either URO-D genotype and in both sexes, although the induction response at the 10-day point was attenuated in URO-D+/− mice. From differences in the CO absorbance maximum, and by P450 activity analysis, this attenuated induction response resulted from an attenuation of the CYP2B not the CYP1A induction. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 15:287–293, 2001
Effect of number of daily trials on serial learning and performance in rats

In two experiments, rats received 40 repetitions of the decreasing series of number of .045-g food pellets 14-7-3-1-0 over successive runs in a runway. In Experiment 1, Group 4 received four daily trials, each consisting of one repetition of the series, and Group 1 received a single daily trial. In Experiment 2, Group 4 received four daily trials and Group 2 received two daily trials. In both experiments, learning to anticipate and to run slowly to the 0-pellet element was an increasing function of number of daily trials. At the end of Experiment 1, Group 1 was shifted to four trials per day for an additional 3 days of training but showed no improvement. This result suggests that the poor anticipation of 0 pellets in Group 1 was due to a learning deficit, not merely to a performance deficit. That is, the use of multiple daily trials appears to facilitate the learning of a serial task.
New IQ demodulator development in diagnostic equipment for fusion energy research

New IQ demodulator, which will be used in the reflectometry system, was developed for the Alcator C-Mod experiments. Because the demodulator itself is a 4 mm × 4 mm integrated circuit chip and has very wide operational bandwidth (0.7 GHz – GHz), it can be mounted on a circuit board with its low frequency IQ outputs connecting directly to gain control and dc offset adjustment circuits. This whole circuitry is realized on a 4′×2.5″ printed circuit board and can be well tailored to meet the requirements for any type of data collection system. Since the RF and LO ports are operated at very narrow bandwidth in this application, single stub match circuits are designed to improve the ports matching as well as serve as a single pole filter.
Solid-phase synthesis of oligomeric deoxynucleic guanidine (DNG): A polycationic analogue of DNA

DNG is a DNA analogue wherein the negatively charged phosphate backbone linkages have been replaced by achiral positively charged guanidinium linkages and has high affinity for complimentary DNA. The synthesis of these compounds in solution phase has been severely limited due to diminishing yields and solubility limitations. For the first time, an efficient solid-phase synthesis for oligomeric is reported.
Nebulium and Hydrogen in New Stars

IN a recent paper (NATURE, Jan. 28, p. 136) S. R. Pike pointed out that the condition of coexistence of O++ and H lines in the spectra of new stars leads to a density of the order 10-7 gm./c.c., which is directly opposed to the current ideas that forbidden transitions can occur only at very low densities, as determined, for example, by C. T. Elvey (NATURE, Jan. 7, p. 12) using the ‘expanding shell’ theory of novae. Since Mr. Pike's arguments are equally applicable to the spectra of planetaries, it seems of importance to analyse the subject further and to find the probable way out of the difficulty. I think that the real cause of the discrepancy mentioned is involved in the use of Saha's formula, which holds only in thermodynamic equilibrium, and of course cannot be applied to the gaseous shells as produced by the expansion of novae or those of planetary nebulae, because in these cases the exciting radiation is extremely diluted; a more general ionisation formula is to be used.
Cognitive Training Decreases Motor Vehicle Collision Involvement of Older Drivers

Objectives To test the effects of cognitive training on subsequent motor vehicle collision (MVC) involvement of older drivers. Design Randomized, controlled, multisite, single-blind clinical trial. Setting Community-dwelling seniors at four U.S. sites: Birmingham, Alabama; Baltimore, Maryland; Indianapolis, Indiana; and State College, Pennsylvania. Participants Nine hundred eight older drivers (mean age 73.1; 18.6% African American) who were randomized to one of three cognitive interventions or a control condition. Interventions Up to 10 sessions of cognitive training for memory, reasoning, or speed of processing. Measurements State-recorded MVC involvement up to 6 years after study enrollment. Results Speed-of-processing and reasoning training resulted in lower rates of at-fault collision involvement over the subsequent approximately 6-year period than controls. After adjusting for age, sex, race, education, mental status, health, vision, depressive symptoms, and testing site, participants randomized to the speed-of-processing and reasoning interventions had an approximately 50% lower rate (per person-mile) of at-fault MVCs than the control group (rate ratio (RR) = 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.34-0.96 for speed of processing), and (RR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.27-0.92 for reasoning). There was no significant difference observed for the memory group. Conclusion Cognitive speed-of-processing and reasoning training resulted in a lower at-fault MVC rate in older drivers than in controls. Considering the importance of driving mobility, the costs of crashes, and the benefits of cognitive training, these interventions have great potential to sustain independence and quality of life of older adults. More research is needed to understand the effects of different types and quantities of training.
The ketogenic diet: an appropriate first-line therapy?

There are 28 anticonvulsants currently being used worldwide for the treatment of epilepsy, many of them introduced in the past 15 years. Older anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, phe...
An Animal Model of Gastric Ulcer Due to Bacterial Gastritis in Mice

Conventional female BalbC mice were inoculated with Gastrospirillum-like bacteria in mouse gastric homogenate or in 5.0-microns filtrate of gastric homogenate. The bacteria were originally isolated from cheetahs with gastritis. The mice were killed 6 months, 7 months, or 1 year after inoculation. All mice became infected with Gastrospirillum-like bacteria that were confined to the gastric mucosa. Control mice, given either sterile Brucella broth, 0.22-microns filtrate of infected gastric homogenate, or uninfected gastric homogenate did not become infected with bacteria. Lesions in infected mice included severe lymphoplasmacytic gastritis (26/26 infected mice), gastric epithelial hyperplasia (25/26 infected mice), and gastric ulceration (11/26 infected mice). Neutrophilic inflammatory cell infiltrates were inconsistent. None of the uninfected control mice had Gastrospirillum-like bacteria, gastritis, gastric epithelial hyperplasia, or gastric ulceration. These results implicate Gastrospirillum-like bacteria from cheetahs in the pathogenesis of gastric ulceration. This model will be useful in investigating the mechanisms of gastric ulceration associated with bacterial gastritis.
Alterations of central nervous system protein synthesis in response to spinal cord hemisection

This investigation explores the central nervous system protein-synthetic responses to hemisection of the spinal cord. Adult male rats hemisected at mid T2 were given intravenous injections of 14C-leucine at 0.7, 30, or 70 days postoperative. Four hours later the T1, T2, T3, and C6 segments of the spinal cord and right and left samples of somatomotor and occipital cortex were removed, weighed, and frozen. These samples were later homogenized and subjected to trichloroacetic acid (TCA) separations. Protein-synthetic activity was expressed as the ratio of the specific activity of the TCA precipitable proteins to the specific activity of the TCA free amino acid pool. In the spinal cord samples protein-synthetic activity was greater than in controls at 7 and 30 days postoperative in the T2 segment and at 30 days postoperative in the C6 and T3 segments. In the cortical samples protein-synthetic activity was greater than in controls in the right and left somatomotor cortex at 30 days postoperative, while it was less than in controls in the left somatomotor cortex at 70 days postoperative. Thus, T2 hemisection leads to initial increases and subsequent decreases in protein-synthetic activity in both spinal cord and somatomotor cortex. These results are discussed in terms of possible regenerative neural reactions occurring in the central nervous system following spinal cord injury.
Extremely elevated relative risk of paraffin lamp oil exposures in Orthodox Jewish children.

Background. In observance of the Sabbath and other religious holidays, many Orthodox Jews maintain a burning lamp that uses paraffin lamp oil as fuel. Unintentional pediatric exposure to paraffin lamp oil, a hydrocarbon, is typically by ingestion and carries a risk of aspiration with subsequent pneumonitis. This investigation was prompted by an apparent increase in paraffin lamp oil exposures during the Jewish Sabbath, from sunset Friday until sunset Saturday, noted by the staff of our regional poison control center. Objective. In this investigation, we retrospectively reviewed all exposures to paraffin lamp oil occurring in our large city in children Results. During these 25 months, 45 cases met inclusion criteria, and all were ingestions. Orthodox Jews accounted for 32 cases (71%), 4 cases (9%) occurred in children who were not Orthodox Jews, and demographic data were unavailable in 9 cases (20%). Twenty-four cases (53%) occurred within 10 hours before or during the Jewish Sabbath or Jewish religious holidays. The relative risk of Orthodox Jewish children to ingest paraffin lamp oil, calculated by using census data, is 374 times that of other children. Conclusions. Public health authorities and caregivers of Orthodox Jewish children should be cognizant of this phenomenon. Educational efforts directed toward both Orthodox Jews and the general public aimed at preventing paraffin lamp oil exposures are warranted.
VOLTAGE-DEPENDENT IONIC CURRENTS IN THE VENTROMEDIAL ECLOSION HORMONE NEURONS OF MANDUCA SEXTA

The ventromedial cells (VM cells) of the moth Manduca sexta belong to a peptide hormone signaling hierarchy that directs an episodic and stereotyped behavior pattern, ecdysis. The VM cells respond to declining ecdysteroid titers at the end of the final larval molt with a transcription-dependent decrease in spike threshold and the abrupt release of the previously stockpiled neuropeptide, eclosion hormone (EH). This report describes whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of acutely isolated VM cell somata made to identify membrane currents that may underlie the increase in VM cell excitability during EH release and that may contribute to abrupt peptide release. There were at least three voltage- and time-dependent conductances in the VM cells. The inward current was carried exclusively by a voltage-dependent inward Ca(2+) current (I(Ca)), and the outward currents were a combination of a Ca(2+)-dependent outward K(+) current (I(K(Ca))) and a transient, voltage-dependent outward K(+) current, the A current (I(A)). In current-clamp recordings, the currents present in the acutely isolated somata were sufficient to generate membrane properties similar to those observed in the VM cells in situ. This study represents the first step toward characterization of the mechanisms underlying the abrupt release of EH stores from the VM cells preceding ecdysis.
Response to coral reef calcification: carbonate, bicarbonate and proton flux under conditions of increasing ocean acidification

We respond to the comment ‘Coral reef calcification: carbonate, bicarbonate and proton flux under conditions of increasing ocean acidification’ by Jokiel [[1][1]], who uses our data [[2][2]] to test his ‘proton flux hypothesis’, which accounts for the negative effect of ocean acidification (
Why did you choose that person over me? Ingroup rejection and attributions to discrimination☆

Abstract The present research examined the attributions that people make when an individual rejects a member of his or her own group in favor of a member of an outgroup (i.e., ingroup rejection). Study 1 showed that Latinos rejected by an ingroup member (perpetrator) made more attributions to discrimination than Whites under similar circumstances. Study 2 showed that Latinos made more attributions to discrimination for ingroup rejection when the perpetrator was Latino as compared to when the perpetrator was White, whereas Whites' attributions to discrimination were relatively low regardless of perpetrator's ethnicity. Study 3 showed that priming loyalty norms increased attributions to discrimination among Latinos in response to ingroup rejection, but not in response to outgroup rejection. This research brings a new perspective to discrimination research by focusing on intragroup rejection and nonprototypical cases of discrimination.
Catheter-Directed Interventions for Acute Iliocaval Deep Vein Thrombosis

Acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is associated with significant morbidity in the form of acute limb-threatening compromise from phlegmasia cerulea dolens, development of the postthrombotic syndrome (PTS), and even death secondary to pulmonary embolism. Initial therapy for DVT is anticoagulation, which inhibits thrombus propagation but lacks the thrombolytic properties to facilitate active thrombus removal. The existing thrombus burden can cause increased venous hypertension from occlusion as well as damage to venous valves by initiating an inflammatory response, which can ultimately result in PTS in up to half of patients on anticoagulation. The manifestations of PTS include leg pain, swelling, lifestyle-limiting venous claudication, skin hyperpigmentation, venous varicosities, and, in rare cases, venous stasis ulcers. Furthermore, patients with iliocaval DVT and large, free-floating thrombus are at an increased risk for pulmonary embolism despite adequate anticoagulation. Early attempts at thrombus removal with surgical thrombectomy or systemic thrombolysis or both demonstrated reductions in the incidence of PTS but were of limited utility owing to their invasiveness and increased risk of bleeding complications. New minimally invasive endovascular therapies, such as pharmacomechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis, have been proposed, which focus on rapid thrombus removal while decreasing the rate of bleeding complications associated with systemic therapy. This article provides an overview of the current pharmacomechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis protocol utilized at the Mount Sinai Hospital for acute iliocaval DVT.
Production of human cells expressing individual transferred HLA-A,-B,-C genes using an HLA-A,-B,-C null human cell line.

We detail in this report the characterization of a human B-lymphoblastoid cell line, .221, that does not express endogenous HLA-A, HLA-B, or HLA-C class I Ag due to gamma-ray-induced mutations in the HLA complex. Mutant .221 is characterized by: 1) complete absence of HLA-A,-B,-C mRNA transcripts and alpha-chains, and 2) intracellular expression of two non-A,-B,-C class I alpha-chains with an abundance less than or equal to 1% of normal HLA-A,-B,-C expression on similar cells. However, transferred HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C genomic genes are expressed as cell surface Ag in amounts similar to expression of the same endogenous genes in human B-lymphoblastoid cells. The amount of class I transcript produced from transferred class I genes is roughly proportional to the number of gene copies but, in every case studied, post-transcriptional processes limited cell surface Ag expressions to amounts approximately normal for the cell type. The ability of mutant .221 to express quantitatively normal amounts of transferred class I genes suggests that: 1) it can serve as a recipient for, and then express, any cloned HLA-A,-B, or -C gene that would normally be expressible in human B-lymphoblastoid cells; 2) the absence of a background of HLA-A,-B,-C Ag permits its use for studying the expression of normal non-A,-B,-C class I genes and of class I genes that have mutations; 3) mutant .221 can be used to create human cells that express on their surfaces just one defined class I Ag encoded by a transferred class I gene.
Asynchronous Growth of the Canine Radius and Ulna: Surgical Correction following Experimental Premature Closure of the Distal Radial Physis

Marked lameness and elbow incongruity occurred in seven 21-week-old dogs following experimental premature closure of the distal radial physis at 10 weeks of age. Midradial transverse osteotomies and bone plate stabilization performed on five dogs resulted in marked reduction of elbow incongruity and forelimb lameness. Two dogs had no surgery and served as controls for the surgical procedure. At 50 weeks of age the proximal radial articular surface was displaced 5.3 mm farther from the coronoid process in control dogs as compared to dogs having transverse radial osteotomy. Markedly worse clinical, radiographic, and pathologic changes in the control group demonstrated the importance of reestablishing and preserving elbow congruity when treating asynchronous growth of the canine forelimb caused by premature closure of the distal radial physis. The technique described is recommended as one method to treat premature distal radial physeal closure clinically.
Maturation of human cyclin E requires the function of eukaryotic chaperonin CCT

Cyclin E, a partner of the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk2, has been implicated in positive control of the G1/S phase transition. Whereas degradation of cyclin E has been shown to be exquisitely regulated by ubiquitination and proteasomal action, little is known about posttranscriptional aspects of its biogenesis. In a yeast-based screen designed to identify human proteins that interact with human cyclin E, we identified components of the eukaryotic cytosolic chaperonin CCT. We found that the endogenous CCT complex in yeast was essential for the maturation of cyclin E in vivo. Under conditions of impaired CCT function, cyclin E failed to accumulate. Furthermore, newly translated cyclin E, both in vitro in reticulocyte lysate and in vivo in human cells in culture, is efficiently bound and processed by the CCT. In vitro, in the presence of ATP, the bound protein is folded and released in order to become associated with Cdk2. Thus, both the acquisition of the native state and turnover of cyclin E involve ATP-dependent processes mediated by large oligomeric assemblies.
Community Reinforcement Approach in the Treatment of Opiate Addicts

The authors studied the efficacy of the community reinforcement approach (CRA) as compared to standard counseling in opiate-dependent patients on methadone maintenance. One hundred eighty subjects were randomized to three treatment conditions: standard, CRA, and CRA with relapse prevention (CRA/RP). Of these, 151 subjects were followed up 6 months after intake. Since few of the RP sessions had been concluded at the 6-month follow-up, the two CRA groups were combined for analyses. Weekly urinalysis drug screens and Addiction Severity Index (ASI) scores at intake and 6 months were compared. The combined CRA groups did significantly better than the standard group in the following areas: consecutive opiate-negative urinalysis (3 weeks), and the 6-month ASI drug composite score. These results support the benefit of adding CRA strategies to the treatment of patients who are opiate dependent and on methadone maintenance. Because of insufficient treatment exposure to RP at the 6-month follow-up, the additive effect of RP could not be adequately evaluated; further follow-up will be required.
Lucha Libre and Cultural Icons: Identity Formation for Student Success at HSIs

This chapter examines the importance of culturally relevant imagery and representation and identity development curriculum for college students. It calls for higher education institutions to embrace cultural strengths as an asset rather than a deficit.
Parameter Bias from Unobserved Effects in the Multinomial Logit Model of Consumer Choice

Abstract Over the past two decades, validation of choice models has focused on predictive validity rather than parameter bias. In real-world validation of choice models, true parameter values are unknown, so examination of parameter bias is not possible. In contrast, the main focus of this study is parameter bias in simulated scanner-panel choice data with known parameter values. Study of parameter bias enables the assessment of a fundamental issue not addressed in the choice modeling literature—the extent to which the logit choice model is capable of distinguishing unobserved effects that give rise to persistence in observed choices (e.g., heterogeneity and state dependence). Although econometric theory provides some information about the causes of bias, the extent of such bias in typical scanner data applications remains unclear. The authors present an extensive simulation study that provides information on the extent of bias resulting from the misspecification of four unobserved effects that receive fr...
Perfect Statistical Symmetrization of a Heterofunctional Ligand Induced by Pseudo-Copper Trimer in an Expanded Matrix of HKUST-1

The rare coexistence of the copper monomer and paddle-wheel dimer in the same crystal framework creates an apparent linear pseudocopper trimer configuration that induces an unprecedented equalization of pyridyl and carboxyl functionality in a heterofunctional pyridyl dicarboxylate ligand, leading to an intriguing assembly into a highly symmetrical porous framework, despite the low symmetry of the ligand. The material shows a total CO2 uptake of 55 cm3/g at 1 atm and 273 K.
Morphology and Taxonomic Use of Ephemeroptera Eggs

Mayfly eggs possess 4 main morphological features which may be used for taxonomic purposes: chorionic sculpturing, polar cap(s), accessory attachment structures, and micropylar devices. A new and simple technique is described for observing these structures. A detailed morphological description of the egg is presented, including terminology for the parts of the micropylar device. The eggs were found useful for generic or specific determinations for the Heptageniidae, Leptophlebiidae, Caenidae, Ephemeridae, and Polymitarcidae; and of doubtful value for the Ephemerellidae, Tricorythidae, and Potamanthidae. Their value in taxonomy is not now assessible for the Siphlonuridae and Ametropodidae.
What If They See Me Miss? Nuances of Teaching in a Movement-Based Environment

This article describes aspects of the physical education context that set it apart from other instructional contexts. While physical educators share numerous attributes with other teachers — for example, a love of children and a commitment to their content area — many distinctions exist, as well. The nature of physical education is such that instruction occurs in a physically active environment. This dynamic environment is filled with structures and features that contribute to its uniqueness. Those features are the expectation of movement, the potential for physical injury, the public nature of physical education, the physical environment, the emotional context, large class sizes, and group work/teamwork/role-taking. Unfortunately, often the most powerful memories that people have of physical education are negative ones, such as being chosen last or having to perform in front of others. Decisions made at the district and state level sometimes result in the marginalization of physical educators. This artic...
On the Analysis of Generic Space and the Mapping in Conceptual Integration

In conceptual integration theory,Fauconnier conducted a rather intensive study of input spaces and the mappings onto Blend Space.The generic space,which was mentioned in vague terms,which remains ambiguous to the role and its relation with Blend Space in the course of conceptual integration.Through analysis of the on-line mental process of meaning construction and the integration of some specific expressions and constructions,our research point out that the use to hatch the new conception.Generic space is the place where the generic conceptual frame and content,which arise from semantic elements and constructions in Input Spaces,which come into being.The mapping from generic space onto blend space results from cognitive process of experience and Blend Space is the site for the extemalization of the generic conceptual frame and content.
Educational Intervention in Primary Care Residents' Knowledge and Performance of Hepatitis B Vaccination in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVES Although guidelines recommend hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization for adults with diabetes mellitus (DM), vaccination rates remain low. Our aim was to evaluate knowledge and practice regarding HBV and to assess the effectiveness of a multifaceted educational program. METHODS Primary care residents (n = 244) at three academic institutions were surveyed about various aspects of HBV. Residents at one training program were then randomly assigned to an educational intervention (E) (n = 20) and control group (C) (n = 19). The E group received a focused didactic lecture and periodic e-mail reminders with immediate feedback. We compared knowledge scores before and after the intervention. Chart audits were conducted to evaluate the residents' behavior. RESULTS A total of 103 (42%) residents responded to the survey. The survey indicated that residents lacked the necessary knowledge and risk assessment skills concerning HBV in patients with DM. In the controlled trial of the E intervention, both groups had similar baseline knowledge scores. The E group had a significant increase in the immediate postintervention knowledge scores from a mean of 29% at baseline to 70% (P < 0.001) that was sustained 6 months postintervention (65%; P < 0.001). In the C group, 6-month postintervention scores were not different from baseline (38% vs 29%). No significant differences were observed in documentation skills. CONCLUSIONS A combined educational program was effective in enhancing knowledge about HBV and vaccination in DM but had limited influence on physicians' practice. Further study incorporating system changes along with educational initiatives is required to improve clinical practice.
Brief Report: The Electrophoretic Mobility of Erythrocytes of Patients with Malignant Tumors

The electrophoretic mobilities of erythrocytes of 123 patients with benign surgical conditions and 55 patients with malignant disorders were determined. There was no appreciable difference between the mobilities of the two groups. In our hands microelectrophoresis of washed, untreated erythrocytes is not a useful tool in the diagnosis of human malignancies.
Formation of the Human Fibrinogen Subclass Fib420: Disulfide Bonds and Glycosylation in Its Unique (EChain) Domains

COS cell transfection has been used to monitor the assembly and secretion of fibrinogen molecules, both those of the subclass containing the novel E chain and those of the more abundant subclass whose  chains lack E’s globular C-terminus. That region, referred to as the EC domain, is closely related to the ends of β and γ chains of fibrinogen (βC and γC). Transfection of COS cells with E, β, and γ cDNAs alone results in secretion of the symmetrical molecule (Eβγ)2, also known as Fib420. Cotransfection with cDNA for the shorter  chain yielded secretion of both (βγ)2 and (Eβγ)2 but no mixed molecules of the structure E(βγ)2. Exploiting the COS cells’ fidelity with regard to Fib420 production, identification was made of the highly conserved Asn667 as the sole site of N-linked glycosylation in the E chain. No evidence from Cys → Ser replacements was found for interchain disulfide bridges involving the four cysteines of the EC domain. However, for fibrinogen secretion, the E, β, and γ subunits do exhibit different requirements for integrity of the two intradomain disulfide bridges located at homologous positions in their respective C-termini, indicating dissimilar structural roles in the process of fibrinogen assembly. © 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.
SU-G-IeP2-07: Investigation of 3D-Printed Phantoms for Synthetic CT Benchmarking in An MR-Only Workflow

Purpose: As we move toward MR-only treatment planning, a need exists to develop multi-modality phantoms to benchmark synthetic CT (synCT) generation. We evaluated candidate materials for CT/MR compatible 3D printed phantoms to support MR-only planning. Methods: Overall, 14 different 3D printing molding thermoplastic and UV photopolymer products were evaluated. Product samples (5.35 cm diameter disks) were obtained of urethane and silicone products of varying durometer: ClearFlex (50 and 95), Task 12, Smooth-Cast (45D, 60–61D), ReoFlex (20 through 60), VytaFlex 10, Flex Foam-iT! 17 urethane products as well as DragonSkin 10 and SORTA-Clear 18 silicone rubbers. Standard clinical sequences (T1-weighted FFE, T2-weighted TSE, and balanced turbo field echo) were acquired on a 1.0T open bore MR-simulator. An ultra-short echo-Dixon sequence (TE1= 0.144s) was obtained to identify bone materials for our synCT pipeline. Irregular objects and organs were segmented from CT images and 3D printed using ABS and UV photopolymers. CT images were acquired and compared to MR. Results: ClearFlex, Task, Smooth-Cast, and Flex Foam-iT! products could not be visualized for any MR sequence. No urethane products were visible using T2-weighted images. VytaFlex 10 (CT range: −2 to 18HU) and Reoflex 20, 30, and 40 (CT range: −35 to −3HU) provided appreciable signal in both T1 and bTFE signals, while ReoFlex 50 and 60 (CT ranges: 8 to 35HU) provided distinguishable signal only in UTE images, thus rendering these materials as possible bone surrogate candidates. Silicone rubbers (DragonSkin 10 (CT range: 185 to 218HU) and SORTA-Clear 18 (CT range: 201 to 224HU)) were visible for all MR sequences used in our synCT pipeline. Irregular objects yielded appreciable signal in MR images with close congruence to CT. Conclusion: Several candidate materials, including bone surrogates, were identified for 3D printed phantoms. Future work includes characterizing MR relaxation properties and performance at other field strengths. The submitting institution has research agreements with Philips Healthcare. Research sponsored by a Henry Ford Health System Internal Mentored Grant.
Circular Dichroism of Collagen and Related Polypeptides

Circular dichroism (CD) spectra are used extensively for studying the conformation of proteins and polypeptides. The correlation of certain spectral features with well-defined peptide conformations has been used to develop computational procedures for conformational analysis (Perczel et al., 1992; Johnson, 1992; Venyaminov et al., 1993). While these procedures yield reasonable estimates of the fractions of a helix, 13 strand and sheet as well as various types of bends present in a test polypeptide, significant fractions are often ascribed “random” or “other” conformations. In these computations, conformations related to structures rich in imino peptide bonds are seldom taken into account. The imino-rich scleroprotein type I collagen and other members of the collagen gene family account for over one-third of the total protein content in the vertebrate body. The conformation of collagen is related to the polyproline II helix. There is growing evidence that many globular proteins may contain small domains with collagenlike structure (Ananthanarayanan et al., 1987; Adzhubei and Sternberg, 1993, 1994). Collagen, polyproline II, and related synthetic polypeptides exhibit CD spectra that appear to be similar to the spectra of many globular proteins in the so-called random coil conformation arising from the collapse of stabilizing interactions.
Sharpening an Ore-type version of the Corrádi–Hajnal theorem

Corradi and Hajnal (Acta Math Acad Sci Hung 14:423–439, 1963) proved that for all $$k\ge 1$$ and $$n\ge 3k$$ , every (simple) graph G on n vertices with minimum degree $$\delta (G)\ge 2k$$ contains k disjoint cycles. The degree bound is sharp. Enomoto and Wang proved the following Ore-type refinement of the Corradi–Hajnal theorem: For all $$k\ge 1$$ and $$n\ge 3k$$ , every graph G on n vertices contains k disjoint cycles, provided that $$d(x)+d(y)\ge 4k-1$$ for all distinct nonadjacent vertices x, y. Very recently, it was refined for $$k\ge 3$$ and $$n\ge 3k+1$$ : If G is a graph on n vertices such that $$d(x)+d(y)\ge 4k-3$$ for all distinct nonadjacent vertices x, y, then G has k vertex-disjoint cycles if and only if the independence number $$\alpha (G)\le n-2k$$ and G is not one of two small exceptions in the case $$k=3$$ . But the most difficult case, $$n=3k$$ , was not handled. In this case, there are more exceptional graphs, the statement is more sophisticated, and some of the proofs do not work. In this paper we resolve this difficult case and obtain the full picture of extremal graphs for the Ore-type version of the Corradi–Hajnal theorem. Since any k disjoint cycles in a 3k-vertex graph G must be 3-cycles, the existence of such k cycles is equivalent to the existence of an equitable k-coloring of the complement of G. Our proof uses the language of equitable colorings, and our result can be also considered as an Ore-type version of a partial case of the Chen–Lih–Wu Conjecture on equitable colorings.