cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of vinblastine and colchicine on uptake and release of putative transmitters by synaptosomes and on brain actomyosin-like protein.

— The effects of several inhibitors, including vinblastine and colchicine, on the accumulation of a number of putative transmitters by a rat brain synaptosomal preparation and their subsequent release by excess K+ was examined. In addition, the effect of the alkaloids on the ATPase activity of the actomyosin-like protein, neurostenin, isolated from the synaptosomal preparation, was studied. The uptakes of radioactive glutamate, GABA, dopamine and norepinephrine were energy-dependent, as evidenced by their susceptibility to 0.01 mM carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (Cl-CCP), 01 mM ouabain and temperature. The active accumulations of GABA, dopamine and norepinephrine were also greatly inhibited by 1 mM6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), 01 mM mersalyl, 0.05–0.25mM vinblastine and 0.1–1.0 mM colchicine. Vinblastine was approximately 10-fold more potent (K1, −0.1 mM) than colchicine as an inhibitor. The release of actively accumulated dopamine or norepinephrine by excess K+ (increasing the [K+] from 5 to 30 mM) was inhibited somewhat when vinblastine was present during the entire incubation period. If the synaptosomes were preloaded with the radioactive compounds prior to addition of vinblastine, there was no discernible effect on the relative amount of material released by excess K+. However, the addition of inhibitor under the latter conditions caused a leakage of radioactivity into the medium even without excess K+ being present. Glutamate accumulation was somewhat different from that of GABA, dopamine or norepinephrine. Although it required energy for uptake, 6-OHDA, mersalyl, vinblastine or colchicine were not inhibitory. Studies of the oxidative metabolism of glutamate and GABA by this synaptosomal preparation indicated that the mechanisms of inhibition by vinblastine was not attributable to a metabolic effect. Both vinblastine and colchicine inhibited the Mg2+-stimulated, but not the Ca2+-activated ATPase of neurostenin. This effect was probably attributable to an interaction of the vinblastine with the neurin moiety of this actomyosin-like protein. We suggest that the inhibitory phenomena exhibited by vinblastine and colchicine in this synaptosomal preparation arose from the effect of these alkaloids on the neurin associated with the synaptic membrane.
Green-tea Polyphenols Downregulate Cyclooxygenase and Bcl-2 Activity in Acetaminophen-induced Hepatotoxicity

Acetaminophen (APAP) elicits hepatotoxicity via multifactorial pathways, including increased apoptosis, cyclooxygenase (Cox-2) generation, reactive metabolite release, and glutathione (GSH) depletion. We previously showed that mice that consumed different antioxidants in their diets were protected against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. We therefore further investigated the mechanisms by which green-tea polyphenols (GrTP) protect against APAP-induced hepatic damage. Mice were administered a diet supplemented with GrTP or vehicle for 5 consecutive days followed by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of a toxic dose of APAP or sham. APAP administration upregulated Cox-2 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) production and had an effect, albeit minor, on Cox-1 and Fas expression in hepatic tissue. GrTP supplementation normalized APAP induced Cox-2 expression and Bcl-2 activation (P < 0.01), as evidenced by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses. Similarly, APAP administration elicited marked depletion (99%) in hepatic reduced GSH (rGSH) and endogenous S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) concentrations (twofold) when compared with sham. APAP also caused severe centrilobular apoptosis and necrosis accompanied by leukocyte infiltration and marked elevations in the hepatic enzyme, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) released from damaged hepatocytes, and cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). GrTP improved hepatic histopathology (P < 0.01) and attenuated ALT activity (P < 0.05) and the depletion of rGSH (P < 0.05). In conclusion, GrTP supplementation attenuated hepatotoxicity by normalizing Cox-2 and Bcl-2 activation, suggesting a potential use for GrTP in treatng APAP toxicity.
Intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy in turbid media: disentangling effects of scattering and absorption.

The fluorescence from a turbid medium such as biologic tissue contains information about scattering and absorption, as well as the intrinsic fluorescence, i.e., the fluorescence from an optically thin sample of pure fluorophores. The interplay of scattering and absorption can result in severe distortion of the intrinsic spectral features. These distortions can be removed by use of a photon-migration-based picture and information from simultaneously acquired fluorescence and reflectance spectra. We present experimental evidence demonstrating the validity of such an approach for extracting the intrinsic fluorescence for a wide range of scatterer and absorber concentrations in tissue models, ex vivo and in vivo tissues. We show that variations in line shape and intensity in intrinsic tissue fluorescence are significantly reduced compared with the corresponding measured fluorescence.
On the linear independence of testing functions used in the method of moments

The question of the linear independence of testing functions used in the method of moments is studied. Using functional analysis a recent claim that certain testing functions are not linearly independnet is shown to be incorrect. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons. Inc.
Racial differences in pelvic floor muscle thickness in asymptomatic nulliparas as seen on magnetic resonance imaging-based three-dimensional color thickness mapping.

Objective The objective of the study was to compare levator and obturator thickness between asymptomatic black and white nulliparas using three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) color mapping. Study Design 3D color-mapped MRI of pelvic muscles were evaluated in 22 similar nulliparas (12 black, 10 white). Levator and obturator (OI) were divided into right and left. Levator was subdivided into puborectalis (PR) and ileococcygeus (IC) portions. Maximal thickness of each muscle was recorded and compared between groups. Nonparametric testing was applied, with significance at P = .05. Results Levator thickness was significantly greater in blacks bilaterally (median right PR, 8.5 vs 6.0 mm; P = .001; right IC, 6.5 vs 4.5 mm; P = .002; left PR, 9.5 vs 5.75 mm; P = .0002; left IC, 6.5 vs 5.75 mm; P = .02). Obturator thicknesses were similar (right OI, 20.0 vs 19.5 mm; left OI, 19.25 vs 19.25 mm; P = NS). Conclusion Significantly thicker levators but similar obturators were seen in black nulliparas, compared with white nulliparas. These levator differences may influence pelvic floor dysfunction risk. The clinical significance of these findings is under study.
The impact of advances in molecular genetics on the classification and diagnosis of liposarcoma

Abstract Advances in our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of human neoplasia have revolutionized the classification and diagnosis of tumours. This impact has been particularly profound in the field of sarcoma pathology. This article will summarize our current knowledge of the cytogenetic and molecular genetic basis of liposarcomas specifically, and will review the impact of advances in these fields on the classification and diagnosis of these tumours.
Brotherhood or brothers in the ‘hood’? Debunking the ‘educated gang’ thesis as black fraternity and sorority slander

In this article the author explores the controversial thesis that African American Collegiate Fraternities and Sororities, also known as Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs), are ‘educated gangs’. First, the author examines this polemic as a ‘truth claim’ and compares BGLOs and gangs through: (1) hazing; (2) rape and substance abuse; (3) social constructions of black masculinity and femininity; (4) social structure; and (5) cultural aesthetics. Second, the author finds the legitimacy of the ‘educated gangs’ thesis untenable due to the racist nature of the discourse itself. Third, the author argues that BGLOs are deemed ‘educated gangs’ via a nouveau ‘culture of poverty’ ideology, the exaction of ‘symbolic violence’, and the propagation and protection of a normative and pure whiteness that is constructed relationally to a demonized and vilified blackness.
Magnesium appetite in the rat

Rats modify their ingestive behaviour to correct deficiencies of minerals such as sodium and calcium. Here, we examined the effect of magnesium deprivation on the ingestion of MgCl2 and other solutions. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a nutritionally complete or magnesium-deficient diet and were then given 3.2, 10, 32, or 100mM MgCl2, 32mM CaCl2, 32mM NaCl, 10mM HCl, or 2.5mM saccharin, and their intake was measured for 24h in a two-bottle choice test with water. Within the first 5 min, magnesium-deprived subjects given 3.2, 32, or 100mM MgCl2 or 32mM CaCl2 drank significantly more of these solutions than did replete rats. In a separate study, rats fed replete, magnesium-deficient, or calcium-deficient diets were given a three-bottle choice between water, 32mM MgCl2, and 32mM CaCl2. The deprived rats preferred the solution that ameliorated their deficiency; for example, during the first 1h, the magnesium-deprived rats drank 3.1 +/- 0.5ml MgCl2 and 1.1 +/- 0.4ml CaCl2, whereas the calcium-deprived rats drank 1.8 +/- 0.5ml MgCl2 and 3.9 +/- 0.4ml CaCl2. Thus, magnesium deprivation leads to a compensatory appetite for magnesium, and the appetites for magnesium and calcium are distinct and specific. The rapid expression of magnesium appetite suggests that it depends in part on innate, gustatory factors.
Pulmonary Vasodilation in Acute and Chronic Heart Failure: Empiricism and Evidence

Pulmonary hypertension in heart failure is associated with exercise intolerance and adverse outcomes. With the availability of multiple drugs that cause pulmonary vasodilation and decrease pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary hypertension becomes an attractive therapeutic target. Out of several classes of medications, oral phosphodiesterase inhibitors emerge as the most promising in terms of symptomatic improvement, hemodynamic benefits, reverse cardiac remodeling, and functional capacity. Future trials will show whether the use of these drugs translates to decreased morbidity and mortality in heart failure.
Precursor supply for polyketide biosynthesis: the role of crotonyl-CoA reductase.

Abstract Crotonyl-CoA reductase (CCR), which catalyzes the reduction of crotonyl-CoA to butyryl-CoA, is common to most streptomycetes and appears to be inducible by either lysine or its catabolites in Streptomyces cinnamonensis grown in chemically defined medium. A major role of CCR in providing butyryl-CoA from acetate for monensin A biosynthesis has been demonstrated by the observation of a change in the monensin A/monensin B ratio in the parent C730.1 strain (50/50) and a ccr (encoding CCR) disruptant (12:88) of S. cinnamonensis in a complex medium. Both strains produce significantly higher monensin A/monensin B ratios in a chemically defined medium containing valine as a major carbon source than in either complex medium or chemically defined medium containing alternate amino acids. This observation demonstrates that under certain growth conditions valine catabolism may have a more significant role than CCR in providing butyryl-CoA. Such a process most likely involves an isomerization of the valine catabolite isobutyryl-CoA, catalyzed by the coenzyme B12-dependent isobutyryl-CoA mutase. Monensin labeling experiments using dual 13C-labeled acetate in the ccr-disrupted S. cinnamonensis indicate the presence of an additional coenzyme B12-dependent mutase linking branched and straight-chain C4 compounds by a new pathway.
Prolonged course of toxic shock syndrome associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins G and I.

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), which may be hfe-threatening, is defined by clinical and laboratory evidence of fever, rash, hypotension, and multisystem abnormalities in the absence of other causes. Most cases are nonmenstrual in origin. I-* Whereas Staphylococcus aureus TSS toxin-l causes the vast majority of menstrual cases, it causes only about half of other cases.” Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) were implicated in nonmenstrual TSS cases shortly after the role of TSS toxin-l was elucidated, and currently, SEs that are reported to be associated with TSS are SEs A, B, C, D, G, H, and I, with SE-B most commonly reported and SE-G and SE-I most recently reported, albeit the latter two with scant clinical details.2s4-8 The following case associated with SE-G and SE-I illustrates the consequences of these immunomodulatory pyrogenic toxin superantigens over a prolonged course, as well as pitfalls in their diagnosis and management.
Scanning Tunneling Microscope Images of Graphite Substrates Used in Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to elucidate the submicrometer defect structures on the graphite substrates used in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Images were obtained on pristine pyrolytic coated and uncoated polycrystalline graphite tubes and on pure pyrolytic graphite platforms. For comparison, images of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, not used in GFAAS, were also obtained. Polycrystalline tubes were characterized by disordered surfaces with extensive oxidation. Pyrolytic coated tubes and pure pyrolytic graphite platforms were characterized by scaled structures, Island columns, or smoothly varying contours. Scaled structures and island columns presented the greatest abundance of exposed carbon edge sites and seemed probable areas for analyte reactivity and intercalation. In areas displaying smoothly varying contours, atomic imaging revealed basal plane surface layers with moderate curvature but regular spacing between the carbon atoms within the layers. The results imply that the weak ordering between graphite layers along the c-axis does not preclude good atomic ordering within the layers, and this factor may be sufficient for discouraging analyte-substrate interactions.
Synthesis and characterization of niobia-containing aerogels

Niobium ethoxide was used as a precursor either by itself to impregnate a silica aerogel or in conjunction with tetraethyl orthosilicate to produce a mixed oxide aerogel. In contrast with bulk niobia, niobia in these samples did not crystallize into the high-temperature form even after calcination at 1273 K. Niobia-silica interactions, which apparently stabilized niobia from crystallization, also introduced acidity as shown by n-butylamine titration and infrared study of pyridine adsorption. Furthermore, niobia on silica was found to have stronger Bronsted acid sites than niobia in silica, in agreement with previous observations on samples prepared with more conventional methods. All these samples were also active in the isomerization of 1-butene.
Lymphocyte studies in congenital thymic dysplasia: The one-way stimulation test*

Lymphocytes from children with congenital thymic dysplasia were stimulated withmitomycin-C treated lymphocytes in the one-way stimulation test and with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Cells of a patient with the sex-linked form of congenital thymic dysplasia consistently responded to allogeneic lyphocytes although the response to PHA was usually negative. Lymphocytes of two other patients did not respond to any form of stimulation; conversion of the PHA response took place in one of these children after transfusion with maternal and fetal lymphoid cells and was followed by a fatal graft-versus-host disease. Plasma from these children supported the growth of normal lymphocytes adequately. By our methods the carrier state could not be detected in patient's relatives. There is suggestive evidence that lymphocyte response, as demonstrated by these in vitro tests, depends upon the integrity of the thymus. Failure to respond to PHA in the presence of a response to allogeneic cells suggests functional heterogeneity within the lymphoid system. Allogeneic stimulation may be more useful than PHA in the study of patients with congenital thymic dysplasia.
Idiots Savants, Retarded Savants, Talented Aments, Mono-Savants, Autistic Savants, Just Plain Savants, People with Savant Syndrome, and Autistic People Who Are Good at Things: A View from Disability Studies

People with a particular profile of strengths and weaknesses—typically involving prodigious skill in one area (such as calendar or arithmetical calculation, art, or music) and a general “mental deficiency”—have long been categorized as “idiots savants,” or with other, similar labels. It is the goal of this paper to dismantle this category in all of its terminological manifestations by deconstructing both the “idiocy” and the “savantism” that underpin it. In its place, I focus instead on people with autism, who typically have special interests and activities they pursue intensively and skillfully: people identified as savants are mostly autistic, and autistic people usually have some sort of special interest or skill. For the idiot savant, the savant skill is understood to emerge in spite of the general lack of intelligence. For the autistic person, the special interests or skills arise not in spite of the autism but precisely because of it : autism enables the skill; the skill makes the autism visible. Instead of enfreaking people as super-crips, I propose to celebrate them in a realistic mode, as autistic people who are good at things. Keywords: Idiot savant, savant syndrome, autism.
Exploring large graphs in 3D hyperbolic space

Drawing graphs as nodes connected by links is visually compelling but computationally difficult. Hyperbolic space and spanning trees can reduce visual clutter, speed up layout, and provide fluid interaction. This article briefly describes a software system that explicitly attempts to handle much larger graphs than previous systems and support dynamic exploration rather than final presentation. It then discusses the applicability of this system to goals beyond simple exploration. A software system that supports graph exploration should include both a layout and an interactive drawing component. I have developed new algorithms for both layout and drawing (H3 and H3Viewer). The H3Viewer drawing algorithm remains under development, so this article presents preliminary results. I have implemented a software library that uses these algorithms. It can handle graphs of more than 100,000 edges by using a spanning tree as the backbone for the layout and drawing algorithms.
FRETting mice shed light on cardiac adrenergic signaling.

See related article, pages 1084–1091 β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling in cardiac myocytes influences contractile and relaxation states in the heart. Classically, following hormone activation, β-AR preferentially couples with Gs, which in turn activates adenylyl cyclase and cAMP production. The predominant effector of cAMP, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), then phosphorylates many proteins important for cardiac function such as L-type calcium channels and phospholamban in the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. However, studies in myocytes have shown not all receptors that transduce signals via cAMP generate the same functional effects.1 These observations have led to the concept of cAMP compartmentation, which attributes the functional specificity and differential regulation to intricate spatial and temporal control of signaling molecules in the cAMP pathway. In this issue of Circulation Research , Nikolaev et al2 take another look at the differentially regulated β1 and β2-adrenergic signaling by using FRET-based cAMP imaging in adult cardiomyocytes, a method that is well suited for revealing the spatiotemporal complexity in cAMP signaling. Fluorescence ratio imaging of cAMP in living cells was first introduced 15 years ago with the development of a bimolecular indicator using fluorescent dye-tagged regulatory and catalytic subunits of PKA.3 This class of cAMP indicators has evolved to become genetically encodable with the use of green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants4,5 and in recent years, unimolecular with the use of single cAMP binding domain-containing proteins and protein fragments.6–8 Nikolaev et al add to our molecular toolbox with the development of yet another FRET-based cAMP sensor with new characteristics. This sensor uses the cAMP binding domain of the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated channel 2 (HCN2) as opposed to the binding domains from PKA or exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac), used in other FRET sensors. The resulting biosensor, HCN2-camps, maintains …
Patterns of DNA Methylation in Animals: An Ecotoxicological Perspective

DNA methylation refers to the addition of a methyl group to nucleotides within DNA. As with other epigenetic endpoints, patterns of DNA methylation are susceptible to alterations due to exposure to environmental stressors, including contaminants. These alterations can persist in the absence of the initial stressor as cells divide, and can even be inherited between generations if they occur in the germ line. Although our knowledge concerning patterns of DNA methylation in animals is increasing, there remains a gap in the literature when it comes to species outside of those typically used for biomedical research. Here, I review the literature relating to DNA methylation in an array of taxa (mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates) and discuss these data from an ecotoxicological perspective. The pattern and extent of DNA methylation is well conserved across species of vertebrates; methylation appears mainly on cytosine residues within a CpG context, and much of the genome is methylated, with the notable exception of cytosines within CpG islands in the promoters of genes. Highly methylated genes in vertebrates tend to be transcriptionally repressed. However, large differences occur between classes of vertebrates in terms of the timing and nature of reprogramming and genomic imprinting: epigenetic processes that establish patterns of DNA methylation in the early embryo and which are sensitive to environmental stress. In invertebrates, patterns of DNA methylation are extremely variable and differ significantly from the condition observed in vertebrates. Some invertebrate genomes exhibit no DNA methylation while others are methylated to a level that is comparable to vertebrates. Additionally, DNA methylation may have different functions in invertebrates, e.g., alternative splicing. This variability in basic patterns of DNA methylation among species during sensitive periods of development suggests that responses to epigenetically active environmental contaminants may be similarly variable. For example, the timing of exposure to a contaminant may be a critical factor when considered in the light of variable reprogramming schedules among species. With this in mind, I review data relating to the effects of contaminants on DNA methylation in animals, focusing on non-model organisms and on exposures in natural environments, when possible. An ecotoxicological perspective on patterns of DNA methylation in animals may improve our understanding of the range and diversity of epigenetic phenomena in the natural world.
Emission of long-range α-particles in the subthermal-, thermal-and resonance-neutron fission of 239Pu

Abstract An investigation has been made of the possible dependence of the binary-to-ternary fission ratio as well as of the energy distribution of the long-range α-particles emitted in the low-energy fission of 239 Pu on the energy of the incident neutron. To this effect a number of relative measurements have been made using three neutron filters covering, respectively, the subthermal-, thermal- and resonance-neutron regions. Furthermore, a measurement of the binary-to-ternary fission ratio has been performed for a reactor beam. The results obtained show no variation in the binary-to-ternary fission ratio or in the energy of the long-range α-particles for the energy intervals considered to within the precision of these measurements. The measurement with the reactor beam yielded a value of the binary-to-ternary fission ratio of 412 ± 11.
Overexpression of Netrin-1 Induces Neovascularization in the Adult Mouse Brain

Netrin-1 is a critical molecule for axonal pathfinding during embryo development, and because of its structural homology to the endothelial mitogens, it may share its effects on vascular network formation. Using an adeno-associated viral netrin-1 vector (AAV-NT-1) gene transfer, we demonstrated that netrin-1 was able to stimulate the proliferation and migration of human cerebral endothelial cells (HCECs) and human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) compared with the control (P<0.05), and could also promote HCEC tube formation on matrigel (P<0.05) in vitro. Moreover, netrin-1 hyperstimulation could promote focal neovascularization (P<0.05) in the adult brain in vivo. Unlike VEGF-induced microvessel increase, netrin-1-induced newly formed vessels showed an artery-like phenotype, with an intact endothelial cell monolayer surrounded by multiple cell layers, including smooth muscle cells and an astrocyte-connected outer layer. Our findings suggest that netrin-1 plays an important role in promoting blood vessel formation in the adult rodent central nervous system, and could have broad implication in cerebrovascular development and remodeling.
iCARE interaction assistant: a wearable face recognition system for individuals with visual impairments

This presentation demonstrates a working prototype of the iCare Interaction Assistant, a wearable assistive device based on research aimed at facilitating the social interactions of people who are blind or visually impaired. Using a tiny unobtrusive camera mounted inside the nose bridge of a pair of eyeglasses, this prototype is able to learn and recognize faces at a distances up to 10 feet, thus allowing the user to initiate conversations with persons in their vicinity, without waiting for others to approach them. Ongoing work is aimed at facilitating the subsequent verbal interaction by recognizing and interpreting non-verbal communication, including eye contact, facial expressions, emotions, and gestures.
Males responding to sperm competition cues have higher fertilization success in a soldier fly

Sperm competition has been demonstrated to be an important force shaping male behavior in a number of species. For example, males may prolong copulation duration when they perceive sperm competition to be high. Although male behavioral responses to sperm competition have been shown in several species, their effects on reproductive success have rarely been demonstrated. In the soldier fly Merosargus cingulatus, males prolong copulations when sperm competition is high and when mating with more fecund females. Here, I tested the hypothesis that this behavioral response results in higher reproductive success for males. I exposed males to different simulated levels of sperm competition (high or low male density at the oviposition site) then introduced a female. I allowed the pair to mate and the female to oviposit. I determined the percentage of offspring sired by the male using amplified fragment length polymorphism profiles. Sperm competition did not affect clutch size, but it did affect fertilization success: males under higher simulated sperm competition increased copulation duration and fertilized a higher percentage of a female’s egg clutch than did males under lower sperm competition. Key words: clutch size, fertilization success, postcopulatory sexual selection, soldier fly, sperm competition. [Behav Ecol]
Direct evaluation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm mediators in a chronic infection model

Biofilms contribute to Pseudomonas aeruginosa persistence in a variety of diseases, including cystic fibrosis, burn wounds, and chronic suppurative otitis media. However, few studies have directly addressed P. aeruginosa biofilms in vivo. We used a chinchilla model of otitis media, which has previously been used to study persistent Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae infections, to show that structures formed in vivo are biofilms of bacterial and host origin within a matrix that includes Psl, a P. aeruginosa biofilm polysaccharide. We evaluated three biofilm and/or virulence mediators of P. aeruginosa known to affect biofilm formation in vitro and pathogenesis in vivo--bis-(3',5')-cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP), flagella, and quorum sensing--in a chinchilla model. We show that c-di-GMP overproduction has a positive impact on bacterial persistence, while quorum sensing increases virulence. We found no difference in persistence attributed to flagella. We conclude from these studies that a chinchilla otitis media model provides a means to evaluate pathogenic mediators of P. aeruginosa and that in vitro phenotypes should be examined in multiple infection systems to fully understand their role in disease.
Role of Religion in the Lives of Latino Families of Young Children With Developmental Delays

We interviewed 250 parents of Mexican and Puerto Rican origin living in the United States who had young children with developmental delays to determine the role of religion in their lives. Quantitative results indicate that parents largely viewed themselves as religious, were affiliated with a formal religion, and participated in religious activities. Most parents viewed both church and faith as supportive, but faith was shown to provide more support. Repeated measures a analysis of variance found some intragroup variations in religious support and changes in support after learning of the child's condition. Thematic analysis revealed specific religious beliefs and practices parents viewed as supportive, and content and cultural models analyses indicated the religious frameworks by which parents interpreted their child's disability.
Role of sphingosine-1 phosphate in the enhancement of endothelial barrier integrity by platelet-released products.

In vitro and in vivo evidence indicates that circulating platelets affect both vascular integrity and hemostasis. How platelets enhance the permeability barrier of the vascular endothelium is not w...
Lives in Motion: Composing Circles of Self and Community in Japan

Lives in Motion: Composing Circles of Self and Community in Japan. Susan Orpett Long. ed. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1999. vii. 295 pp., tables, photographs, index.
Online Monitoring System for Performance Fault Detection

To achieve the exaFLOPS performance within a contained power budget, next generation supercomputers will feature hundreds of millions of components operating at low- and near-threshold voltage. As the probability that at least one of these components fails during the execution of an application approaches certainty, it seems unrealistic to expect that any run of a scientific application will not experience some performance faults. We believe that there is need of a new generation of light-weight performance and debugging tools that can be used online even during production runs of parallel applications and that can identify performance anomalies during the application execution. In this work we propose the design and implementation of a monitoring system that continuously inspects the evolution of running applications and the health of the system. To achieve minimum runtime overhead while maintaining the desired level of flexibility, we propose a decoupled approach in which accurate monitoring is performed at kernel-level while performance anomaly disambiguation and corrective actions are performed at user-level. We evaluate our monitoring system on a 32-core AMD Interlagos compute node: First, we show that the runtime overhead of the monitoring system is negligible (0-2%). Then we show how our system can be used to precisely identify performance faults in two different scenarios. In the first, we inject OS noise while in the second we simulate the execution of a data analytics application next to a scientific simulation.
Association of two variants in IL-1β and IL-1 receptor antagonist genes with multiple sclerosis

We studied the putative association of a C-->T polymorphism in exon-5 of IL-1beta and an 85 bp tandem repeat in intron-4 of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) genes with susceptibility to or outcome of MS. DNA from 122 cases from a population-based cohort in Olmsted County, MN who were previously categorized for disease severity and temporal course and 244 ethnically-matched controls were analyzed. There was no association between either polymorphism and disease susceptibility. Allele-2 of IL-1beta and allele-3 of the IL-1ra polymorphisms were associated with a favorable outcome (P=0.023 and P=0.030).
Dynamic Initialization Using Observations from a Hypothetical Network of Profilers

Abstract This paper presents results from a series of observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs), designed to test a dynamic initialization procedure for continuous assimilation of observations from a hypothetical network of profilers. A 40-km adiabatic mesoscale model was used to generate a set of simulated observations from a network of 77 wind profilers over the continental United States with a station separation of 360 km. These observations were then assimilated into an 80-km model during a 12-h preforecast integration through a Newtonian nudging technique. We found that dynamic initialization by nudging can successfully assimilate the time-continuous wind profiler observations into the model. The profiler data assimilation is effective in recovering mesoscale circulations which are not properly resolved by the observing network (due to inadequate horizontal resolution), while at the same time controlling the error growth for large-scale circulations. The impact is particularly significant in th...
Wee1 Kinase Inhibitor AZD1775 Radiosensitizes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Regardless of TP53 Mutational Status Through Induction of Replication Stress.

Purpose Wee1 kinase inhibitors are effective radiosensitizers in cells lacking a G 1 checkpoint. In this study we examined the potential effect of Wee1 kinase inhibition on inducing replication stress in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods and Materials Five independent datasets from the Oncomine database comparing gene expression in HCC compared to normal tissue were combined and specific markers associated with Wee1 sensitivity were analyzed. We then performed a series of in vitro experiments to study the effect of Wee1 inhibition on irradiated HCC cell lines with varying p53 mutational status. Clonogenic survival assays and flow cytometry using anti-γH2AX and phospho-histone H3 antibodies with propidium iodide were performed to study the effect of AZD1775 on survival, cell cycle, and DNA repair. Additionally, nucleoside enriched medium was used to examine the effect of altering nucleotide pools on Wee1 targeted radiation sensitization. Results Our analysis of the Oncomine database found high levels of CDK1 and other cell cycle regulators indicative of Wee1 sensitivity in HCC. In our in vitro experiments, treatment with AZD1775 radiosensitized and chemosensitized Hep3B, Huh7, and HepG2 cell lines and was associated with delayed resolution of γH2AX foci and the induction of pan-nuclear γH2AX staining. Wee1 inhibition attenuated radiation-induced G 2 arrest in the Hep3B ( TP53 null) and Huh7 ( TP53 mutant) cell lines but not in the TP53 wild-type cell line HepG2. Supplementation with nucleosides reversed the radiation-sensitizing effect of AZD1775 and reduced the amount of cells with pan-nuclear γH2AX staining after radiation. Conclusions Radiation sensitization with Wee1 inhibition occurs in cells regardless of their p53 mutational status. In this study we show for the first time that replication stress via the overconsumption of nucleotides plays an important role in AZD1775-induced radiation sensitization.
Aquamoose 3d: a constructionist approach to math learning motivated by artistic expression

Research has shown that students' interest in academics declines significantly with age, especially in the areas of math and science (Kahle et al., 1993; Wigfield, 1994; Wigfield & Eccles, 1992). One approach to combating this problem is by using new technologies to engage students who otherwise would not be interested in learning. In the AquaMOOSE project, 3D graphical technology is combined with a constructionist learning philosophy to create an environment where students can creatively explore new mathematical concepts. The AquaMOOSE socio-technical system has been developed using an iterative design process. Three formal studies were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the system, as well as several smaller scale evaluations. The first study was conducted during a six-week summer program where students were able to use the AquaMOOSE system during their free time. The second study explored different learning issues in the context of a comparison-class study at a local high school where one section learned about polar coordinates using standard curriculum materials and an equivalent section learned the same material using a curriculum designed specifically around the AquaMOOSE system. The final study of the AquaMOOSE system was in an eight-week after-school program at a local high school where a balance between structure and creative freedom was explored. In this thesis, the iterative design and evaluation of the AquaMOOSE socio-technical system is presented. Evidence from this process is used to suggest implications of using 3D technology and constructionist philosophy for teaching complex mathematical content. The findings presented address issues of using constructionist learning environments for complex content and the tradeoffs of using 3D technology for educational systems.
Girls in Real Life Situations: Group Counseling Activities for Enhancing Social and Emotional Development by Trice-Black, S., & Taylor, J. V.

Girls in Real Life Situation: Group Counseling Activities for Enhancing Social and Emotional Development is an ambitious compilation of gender-specific exercises to help girls of all ages learn ski...
STUDIES ON IMMUNIZATION WITH ORGAN-SPECIFIC HAPTENS.

SummaryThermostable, ethanol-insoluble fractions (BE fractions) of porcine brain and adrenal were shown to act as haptens in rabbit experiments. They failed to stimulate antibody response when injected by themselves intravenously. Complete Freund adjuvants, but not a protein carrier of foreign species origin, converted them into immunizing antigens. Animals exposed to preparatory Freund adjuvant immunization with small doses of BE preparations failed to produce detectable antibodies, but they became capable of responding with antibody formation to intravenous injections of BE preparations. Upon intravenous injections of a mixture of brain and adrenal BE, animals prepared with adrenal BE responded only to antigens present in adrenal BE and those prepared with brain BE responded only to antigens present in brain BE preparations. This pattern of an organ specific response was blurred in some animals after the tenth intravenous injection of the BE mixture.
A Patient With Pancytopenia, Intractable Epistaxis, and Metastatic Prostate Cancer: How Correct Diagnosis of Primary Hyperfibrinolysis Helps to Stop the Bleeding

Bleeding secondary to primary hyperfibrinolysis is a rare complication of prostate cancer. Because of the paucity of knowledge on the subject, diagnosis and treatment is difficult. Differential diagnosis with disseminated intravascular coagulation, another hematological complication of metastatic prostate cancer associated with bleeding, is important because of differences in management of the 2 conditions. We present the case of a patient with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer complicated by intractable bleeding due to primary hyperfibrinolysis successfully treated with tranexamic acid. Our case highlights the importance of primary hyperfibrinolysis recognition as a cause of bleeding in a patient with metastatic prostate cancer, which might lead to successful treatment and improvement in quality of life.
Hand-Assisted Robotic Surgery for Staging of Ovarian Cancer and Uterine Cancers With High Risk of Peritoneal Spread: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective This study aimed to determine surgical outcomes related to hand-assisted robotic surgery (HARS) for staging of ovarian cancer and uterine cancers with high risk of peritoneal spread and compare them to laparotomy and standard robotic-assisted surgery. Methods A retrospective cohort study of women undergoing staging for uterine and ovarian cancer between January 2011 and July 2013 at a major metropolitan teaching hospital was reviewed. Patients undergoing HARS were matched with patients undergoing staging laparotomy [exploratory laparotomy (XLAP)] for the same indications and with patients undergoing traditional robotic surgery (RS) for staging of endometrioid endometrial cancer. In HARS, a longer incision is used to allow palpation of the peritoneal surfaces, to exteriorize the small bowel, to examine the mesentery, and to perform omentectomy. Results One hundred five patients were analyzed (15 HARS, 45 RS, 45 XLAP). Compared with XLAP, HARS was associated with decreased blood loss (200 vs 400 mL, P = 0.011) and shorter hospital stay (1 vs 4 days, P Conclusions Hand-assisted robotic surgery allows for thorough visual and tactile assessment of peritoneal surfaces. It represents a safe alternative to laparotomy for staging of ovarian and uterine cancers with high risk of peritoneal spread. Long-term follow-up study is needed to determine oncologic adequacy of HARS.
Calcaneal Scoring as an Adjunct to Modified Oxford Hip Scores: Prediction of Contralateral Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis.

Background In 2 recent studies, modified Oxford hip scores of 16 through 18 have been shown to predict an extremely high risk of contralateral slipping in unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). However, the modified Oxford system is not widely used. This may be due, in part, to the complexity of the scoring system, difficulty in viewing all 5 radiographic features on a single x-ray and phenotypic variation in the features. Ossification of the calcaneal apophysis provides an osteologic marker of skeletal maturation in relation to peak height velocity and has been described previously. We examine the value of the calcaneal apophyseal ossification sequence for predicting modified Oxford hip scores. Methods We examined 279 pelvis and matching foot x-rays that were taken at the same session from 94 healthy children aged 3 to 18 years. A fellowship-trained pediatric orthopaedist determined the modified Oxford hip score for each hip radiograph. The calcaneal x-rays had been previously graded. Modified Oxford hip scores were compared with calcaneal scores for each set of matched hip and calcaneal x-rays. Results Stage 0 to 2 calcanei had 94% of corresponding hip radiographs rated as modified Oxford scores of 16 to 18. Stage 3 calcanei had 54% rated as 16 to 18 and 31% rated as scores 19 to 21. Stage 4 calcanei had 31% rated as scores 19 to 21, and 68% rated as scores 22 to 26. Stage 5 calcanei had 100% rated as 22 to 26. Using data from Popejoy and colleagues' study, the weighted risk of contralateral SCFE was 94% for calcaneal stage 0, 86.5% for calcaneal stage 1, 90.3% for calcaneal stage 2, 55.8% for calcaneal stage 3, 6.1% for calcaneal stage 4, and 0 for calcaneal stage 5. Conclusions Calcaneal stages 0 to 3 correspond entirely to modified Oxford scores indicating elevated risk of contralateral SCFE. The calcaneal scoring system has potential for adjunctive use with the modified Oxford score for prediction of contralateral SCFE.
The Juvenile Phase of Maize Sees Upregulation of Stress-Response Genes and Is Extended by Exogenous Jasmonic Acid

As maize (Zea mays) plants undergo vegetative phase change from juvenile to adult, they both exhibit heteroblasty, an abrupt change in patterns of leaf morphogenesis, and gain the ability to produce flowers. Both processes are under the control of microRNA156 (miR156), whose levels decline at the end of the juvenile phase. Gain of the ability to flower is conferred by the expression of miR156 targets that encode SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING transcription factors, which, when derepressed in the adult phase, induce the expression of MADS box transcription factors that promote maturation and flowering. How gene expression, including targets of those microRNAs, differs between the two phases remains an open question. Here, we compare transcript levels in primordia that will develop into juvenile or adult leaves to identify genes that define these two developmental states and may influence vegetative phase change. In comparisons among successive leaves at the same developmental stage, plastochron 6, three-fourths of approximately 1,100 differentially expressed genes were more highly expressed in primordia of juvenile leaves. This juvenile set was enriched in photosynthetic genes, particularly those associated with cyclic electron flow at photosystem I, and in genes involved in oxidative stress and retrograde redox signaling. Pathogen- and herbivory-responsive pathways including salicylic acid and jasmonic acid also were up-regulated in juvenile primordia; indeed, exogenous application of jasmonic acid delayed both the appearance of adult traits and the decline in the expression of miR156-encoding loci in maize seedlings. We hypothesize that the stresses associated with germination promote juvenile patterns of differentiation in maize.
Intravenous Drug Abuse by Patients Inside the Hospital: A Cause for Sustained Bacteremia

Patients with history of intravenous drug abuse are noted to be at risk of several infections including HIV, endocarditis, and other opportunistic infections. We report the case of a patient with sustained Bacillus cereus bacteremia despite use of multiple antibiotic regimens during his inpatient stay. Our case highlights the importance of high suspicion for active drug use inside the hospital in such patients. This is important in order to minimize unnecessary diagnostic workup and provide adequate treatment and safe hospital stay for these patients.
Osteoclast-Primed Foxp3+ CD8 T Cells Induce T-bet, Eomesodermin, and IFN-γ To Regulate Bone Resorption

Osteoimmunology arose from the recognition that cytokines produced by lymphocytes can affect bone homeostasis. We have previously shown that osteoclasts, cells that resorb bone, act as APCs. Cross-presentation of Ags by osteoclasts leads to expression of CD25 and Foxp3, markers of regulatory T cells in the CD8 T cells. Octeoclast-induced Foxp3(+) CD25(+) regulatory CD8 T cells (OC-iTcREG) suppress priming of CD4 and CD8 T cells by dendritic cells. OC-iTcREG also limit bone resorption by osteoclasts, forming a negative feedback loop. In this study, we show that OC-iTcREG express concurrently T-bet and Eomesodermin (Eomes) and IFN-γ. Pharmacological inhibition of IκK blocked IFN-γ, T-bet, and Eomes production by TcREG Furthermore, we show, using chromatin immunoprecipitation, NF-κB enrichment in the T-bet and Eomes promoters. We demonstrate that IFN-γ produced by TcREG is required for suppression of osteoclastogenesis and for degradation of TNFR-associated factor 6 in osteoclast precursors. The latter prevents signaling by receptor activator of NF-κB ligand needed for osteoclastogenesis. Knockout of IFN-γ rendered TcREG inefficient in preventing actin ring formation in osteoclasts, a process required for bone resorption. TcREG generated in vivo using IFN-γ(-/-) T cells had impaired ability to protect mice from bone resorption and bone loss in response to high-dose receptor activator of NF-κB ligand. The results of this study demonstrate a novel link between NF-κB signaling and induction of IFN-γ in TcREG and establish an important role for IFN-γ in TcREG-mediated protection from bone loss.