cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract B059: Can health system engagement facilitate greater utilization of genetic tests to predict cancer risk? A health disparities exploration of national survey data

Funding: Susan G. Komen ® GTDR16376189 Objective: To estimate the effect health system engagement on a woman’s awareness of and decision to complete a genetic test to predict cancer risk. Background: Young African American women face a higher risk of breast cancer mortality than white women. To mitigate this disparity, clinicians have developed predictive risk assessment and stratified screening protocols based on genetic tests. However, African American women have historically been under represented in genetic test utilization. If the trend of low genetic test participation continues, potential health gains from precision medicine will be limited or unrealized, further expanding the Black/White breast cancer mortality disparity. Significance: While previous investigators have made numerous attempts to better understand the Black/White disparity in genetic testing, this study directly analyzes racial disparities in genetic test exposure and utilization through health system engagement using the latest population-level survey dataset. Methods: Data was obtained from the nationally representative, cross-sectional National Health Interview Surveys for years 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. Outcomes included: 1) awareness of a genetic test; 2) genetic test utilization, conditional on awareness; 3) discussing a genetic test with a medical provider; and 4) unconditional genetic test utilization. Weighted odds ratios were calculated by a series of multivariate logistic regression models. Independent variables included various socioeconomic and demographic indicators, as well as health system factors. Results: White women with a usual place of medical care held significantly higher odds of genetic test awareness and of discussing a genetic test with a medical provider (OR = 2.16, p Citation Format: Jason T Semprini, Olufunmilayo Olopade. Can health system engagement facilitate greater utilization of genetic tests to predict cancer risk? A health disparities exploration of national survey data [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B059.
OctSurf: Efficient hierarchical voxel-based molecular surface representation for protein-ligand affinity prediction

Abstract Voxel-based 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been applied to predict protein-ligand binding affinity. However, the memory usage and computation cost of these voxel-based approaches increase cubically with respect to spatial resolution and sometimes make volumetric CNNs intractable at higher resolutions. Therefore, it is necessary to develop memory-efficient alternatives that can accelerate the convolutional operation on 3D volumetric representations of the protein-ligand interaction. In this study, we implement a novel volumetric representation, OctSurf, to characterize the 3D molecular surface of protein binding pockets and bound ligands. The OctSurf surface representation is built based on the octree data structure, which has been widely used in computer graphics to efficiently represent and store 3D object data. Vanilla 3D-CNN approaches often divide the 3D space of objects into equal-sized voxels. In contrast, OctSurf recursively partitions the 3D space containing the protein-ligand pocket into eight subspaces called octants. Only those octants containing van der Waals surface points of protein or ligand atoms undergo the recursive subdivision process until they reach the predefined octree depth, whereas unoccupied octants are kept intact to reduce the memory cost. Resulting non-empty leaf octants approximate molecular surfaces of the protein pocket and bound ligands. These surface octants, along with their chemical and geometric features, are used as the input to 3D-CNNs. Two kinds of CNN architectures, VGG and ResNet, are applied to the OctSurf representation to predict binding affinity. The OctSurf representation consumes much less memory than the conventional voxel representation at the same resolution. By restricting the convolution operation to only octants of the smallest size, our method also alleviates the overall computational overhead of CNN. A series of experiments are performed to demonstrate the disk storage and computational efficiency of the proposed learning method. Our code is available at the following GitHub repository: https://github.uconn.edu/mldrugdiscovery/OctSurf .
Therapeutic Potential of α-Crystallins in Retinal Neurodegenerative Diseases

The chaperone and anti-apoptotic activity of α-crystallins (αA- and αB-) and their derivatives has received increasing attention due to their tremendous potential in preventing cell death. While originally known and described for their role in the lens, the upregulation of these proteins in cells and animal models of neurodegenerative diseases highlighted their involvement in adaptive protective responses to neurodegeneration associated stress. However, several studies also suggest that chronic neurodegenerative conditions are associated with progressive loss of function of these proteins. Thus, while external supplementation of α-crystallin shows promise, their potential as a protein-based therapeutic for the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases remains ambiguous. The current review aims at assessing the current literature supporting the anti-apoptotic potential of αA- and αB-crystallins and its potential involvement in retinal neurodegenerative diseases. The review further extends into potentially modulating the chaperone and the anti-apoptotic function of α-crystallins and the use of such functionally enhanced proteins for promoting neuronal viability in retinal neurodegenerative disease.
Case 25-2021: A 48-Year-Old Man with Fatigue and Leg Swelling.

A Man with Fatigue and Leg Swelling A 48-year-old man with alcohol use disorder was admitted because of weight gain, fatigue, and swelling in both legs. Sixteen months earlier, he had been hospital...
Natural disasters and fiscal drought

This paper examines to what extent slowdowns in economic growth are compounded by widening fiscal deficits and corresponding pressures on public debt after natural disasters. We rely on ifo GAME database (Felbermayr and Groeschl (2014)) that contains exogenous measures of physical disaster intensity, well suited for causal analysis. Empirical results suggest that natural disasters lead not only to output losses but also to further deterioration of countries’ fiscal positions. Moreover, a disaster in the top 1-percentile of the disaster index distribution increases government debt by almost 9 percent of GDP, while the top 5-percentile worst disasters cause the debt-to-GDP ratio to rise by at least 0.5 percent. Local projection estimates indicate that the adverse effects persist in the medium term, not only on impact. Finally, countries with larger agricultural sectors tend to experience stronger economic distress. In addition, we use a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model to explain how extreme events initiated in the weather-dependent agricultural sector propagate in the economy. Based on Gallic and Vermandel (2020), the model features farmers endowed with land with time-varying productivity subject to economic and weather conditions. Simulation results exhibit the climate-fiscal nexus existence and highlight the role of structural resilience in limiting the impact of natural disasters.
The Relationship between Stream Chemistry and Watershed Land Cover Data in the Mid-Atlantic Region, U.S.

In order to investigate the relationship between stream chemistry and watershed land cover at the regional scale, we analyzed data from 368 wadeable streams sampled in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. during spring 1993–1994. Study sites were selected using a probability sample and the digitized version of the 1:100,000 scale USGS map stream network as the sample population. Both classified Thematic Mapper (TM) and USGS Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) data were used to quantify land cover in the study watersheds. On average, the most common land cover was forest (77%) followed by agriculture (20%), and urban (1%). Multiple regression analysis showed that concentrations of Cl−, nutrients, acid neutralization capacity, and base cations were the analytes most strongly related to watershed land cover. Despite large differences in resolution and age of the TM and LULC data sources, similar results were obtained with the two sources. Using a greater number of land cover subclasses did not greatly improve the land cover-chemistry relationships. Ecoregions with predominantly forested land cover had weaker relationships than ecoregions with more agricultural and/or urban land cover. In studies or databases without land cover information, Cl− concentration is a good surrogate indicator for general human disturbance in the watershed.
DamIP: Using Mutant DNA Adenine Methyltransferase to Study DNA‐Protein Interactions In Vivo

DamIP is a new method for studying DNA-protein interaction in vivo. A mutant form of DNA adenine methyltransferase (DamK9A) from E. coli is fused to the protein of interest and expressed. The fusion protein will bind to target binding sites and introduce N-6-adenine methylation in nearby sites in the genomic DNA. Methylated DNA fragments are enriched with an antibody against N-6-methyladenine and used for further analysis, e.g. real-time PCR, microarray or high-throughput sequencing. This method is simple and does not require either protein-DNA crosslinking or a specific antibody to the protein of interest. This unit describes the application of this method for the identification of DNA binding sites in vivo.
Antibody engineering: the use of Escherichia coli as an expression host.

The hypervariable loops of an antibody molecule are supported on the relatively conserved beta-sheeted frameworks of the heavy- and light-chain variable domains (designated VH and VL domains, respectively). Residues within and flanking these loops interact with antigen and confer the specificity and affinity of antigen binding on the immunoglobulin molecule. Thus, the isolation and expression of VH and VL domain genes are of particular interest both for analysis of the determinants of antibody specificity and for generation of fragments with binding affinities for use in therapy and diagnosis. The PCR can now be used to isolate diverse repertoires of antibody VH and VL domain genes from antibody-producing cells from different species, including humans and mice. The genes can be expressed as either secreted or surface-bound Fv or Fab fragments, using Escherichia coli expression systems, and the desired antigen-binding specificity screened for or, preferably, selected. The use of E. coli as an expression ho...
Quantum efficiency harmonic analysis of exciton annihilation in organic light emitting diodes

Various exciton annihilation processes are known to impact the efficiency roll-off of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs); however, isolating and quantifying their contribution in the presence of other factors such as changing charge balance continue to be a challenge for routine device characterization. Here, we analyze OLED electroluminescence resulting from a sinusoidal dither superimposed on the device bias and show that nonlinearity between recombination current and light output arising from annihilation mixes the quantum efficiency measured at different dither harmonics in a manner that depends uniquely on the type and magnitude of the annihilation process. We derive a series of analytical relations involving the DC and first harmonic external quantum efficiency that enable annihilation rates to be quantified through linear regression independent of changing charge balance and evaluate them for prototypical fluorescent and phosphorescent OLEDs based on the emitters 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran and platinum octaethylporphyrin, respectively. We go on to show that, in most cases, it is sufficient to calculate the needed quantum efficiency harmonics directly from derivatives of the DC light versus current curve, thus enabling this analysis to be conducted solely from standard light-current-voltage measurement data.
Defect in 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate synthesis in brachymorphic mice. I. Characterization of the defect.

Biosynthesis of the undersulfated proteoglycan found in brachymorphic mouse (bm/ bm) cartilage has been investigated. Similar amounts of cartilage proteoglycan core protein, as measured by radioimmune inhibition assay, and comparable activity levels of four of the glycosyltransferases requisite for synthesis of chondroitin sulfate chains were found in cartilage homogenates from neonatal bm/bm and normal mice, suggesting normal production of glycosylated core protein acceptor for sulfation. When incubated with 35S-labeled 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS), bm/bm cartilage extracts showed a higher than control level of sulfotransferase activity. In contrast, when synthesis was initiated from ATP and 35SO42−, mutant cartilage extracts showed lower incorporation of 35SO42− into endogenous chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (19% of control level) and greatly reduced formation of PAPS (10% of control level). Results from coincubations of normal and mutant cartilage extracts exhibited intermediate levels of sulfate incorporation into PAPS and endogenous acceptors, suggesting the absence of an inhibitor for sulfate-activating enzymes or sulfotransferases. Degradation rates of 35S]PAPS and of 35S-labeled adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (APS) were comparable in bm/bm and normal cartilage extracts. Specific assays for both ATP sulfurylase (sulfate adenylyltransferase; ATP:sulfate adenylyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.4) and APS kinase (adenylylsulfate kinase; ATP:adenylylsulfate 3′-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.25) showed decreases in the former (50% of control) and the latter (10–15% of control) enzyme activities in bm/bm cartilage extracts. Both enzyme activities were reduced to intermediate levels in extracts of cartilage from heterozygous brachymorphic mice (ATP-sulfurylase, 80% of control; APS kinase, 40–70% of control). Furthermore, the moderate reduction in ATP sulfurylase activity in bm/bm cartilage extracts was accompanied by increased lability to freezing and thawing of the residual activity of this enzyme. These results indicate that under-sulfation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan in bm/bm cartilage is due to a defect in synthesis of the sulfate donor (PAPS), resulting from diminished activities of both ATP sulfurylase and APS kinase, although the reduced activity of the latter enzyme seems to be primarily responsible for the defect in PAPS synthesis.
Affinity adsorbent preparation

Abstract Dichloro-s-triazinyl-agarose and a model analogue, 2-methoxy-4,6-dichloro-s-triazine, were prepared and found to hydrolyze readily. Key hydrolysis products were tiltrated potentiometrically and found to be acidic. Formation of such ionic groups was avoided by performing nucleophilic displacement reactions in non-aqueous media in the presence of an efficient base. The choice of base was critical since most of those typically used in acyl-halide type reactions formed insoluble adducts with trichloro-s-triazine in organic solvents. Remaining triazinyl chlorides of the activated support could be displaced rapidly and quantitatively in stepwise fashion by nucleophiles in organic solution.
Nonlinear, Statistical and Applied Physics of Solitary Wave-like Objects in Granular Systems

We consider a simple problem that of a horizontal alignment of identical grains, and insure that the grains are in gentle mutual contact and held between two rigid fixed end walls. Grain‐grain interactions are intrinsically nonlinear according to the Hertz law and hence no sound waves can propagate through this alignment. The discussions here concern the solitary wave nature of propagation of any perturbation and its subsequent dispersion in the same vein as we probe the dispersion of a perturbation in linear response theory in statistical physics. We show that a perturbed granular alignment exhibits both decaying and growing solitary waves and can indeed reach an equilibrium‐like state. We suggest that this equilibrium‐like state may not be the equilibrium state commonly reached in thermodynamics and statistical physics. Moving beyond the effort to develop a deeper understanding of the energy transport problem in granular systems, we discuss a new application of a granular alignment system, that of drive...
Direct computation of qualitative 3D shape and motion invariants

The author shows that the sign of the normal curvature in a given direction at a given point in the image can be computed from a simple difference of slopes of line-segments in one image. Using this result, local surface patches can be classified as convex, concave, parabolic (cylindrical), hyperbolic (saddle point) or planar. At the same time the translational component of the optical flow is obtained, from which the focus of expansion can be computed. In addition, the axes of principal curvature and the axes of zero curvature are obtained. >
Disruption of actin organization by cytochalasin D does not impair biliary secretion of organic anions in the rat

The bile canaliculi of hepatocytes contract spontaneously, and it is hypothesized that this canalicular motility provides a propulsive force for normal intrahepatic bile flow. Cytochalasin disrupts actin polymerization, inhibits contraction, and decreases bile flow. We investigated whether this cholestasis was associated with impaired canalicular secretion. Isolated rat hepatocyte doublets, with and without incubation with 2 mumol/L cytochalasin D (cytD), were superfused, under first-order conditions, to steady state with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled glycocholic acid (FITC-GC) and carboxy-4',5'-dimethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFD), which are fluorescent substrates for the bile acid and the nonbile acid organic anion transport pathways, respectively. Fluorescent microscopic images were quantified and the data analyzed by noncompartmental and compartmental kinetic methods. cytD dilated the canalicular spaces fivefold but did not change the proportion of doublets that secreted either probe. Cytochalasin did not affect the mean cellular transit times of FITC-GC (2.8 and 2.5 minutes for control and cytochalasin-treated groups, respectively) and of carboxy-4',5'-dimethylfluorescein (3.8 and 3.7 minutes, respectively). Analysis with a three-compartment model gave estimates of the rate constants for canalicular secretion: 0.21 +/- 0.04 and 0.22 +/- 0.03 min-1 in control and treated cells, respectively, for FITC-GC, and 0.14 +/- 0.01 and 0.16 +/- 0.02 min-1, respectively, for carboxy-dimethylfluorescein. When kinetics are first-order, the canalicular secretion of organic anions is not altered by actin disruptive agents, suggesting that actin filaments do not modulate the function or distribution of these transporters. This suggests that impaired contractility rather than impaired canalicular secretion is the mechanism of cytD-induced cholestasis.
International comparison of satellite winds — An update

Abstract Winds obtained from geostationary satellites are compared with each other and with rawinsondes. These comparisons serve as a periodic quality check of satellite cloud motions (or winds) set up by the CGMS (Coordination for Geostationary Meteorological Satellites). Differences are taken between colocated cloud motions observed by adjacent satellites in areas of overlapping coverage (Type 1) and between colocated rawinsondes and cloud motions within the field of view of each individual satellite (Type 2). Among colocated satellite winds (Type 1) RMS vector difference of high clouds rarely exceed 10 mps and of low clouds, 6 mps. But, among colocated cloud and balloon vectors (Type 2), RMS vector differences are large. At high levels, differences range from 12 to 40 mps for GMS (Geostationary Meteorological Satellite) winds and from 10 to 18 mps for GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) winds. The greater disagreement of satellite winds with rawinsonde winds than with each other is attributed in large part to error in the assignment of cloud height especially in the presence of strong vertical shear and to a lesser extent on time differences between cloud and balloon measurements. Both Type 1 and 2 comparisons suffer from separations in distance (tolerated for purposes of establishing “colocation”) between cloud and balloon in the presence of strong horizontal shear. The discrepancy existing between GMS and GOES differences with rawinsondes is attributed primarily to differing techniques of height assignment. At low levels satellite winds departed from balloon winds by a RMS vector difference of about 6 to 9 mps which approached or exceeded the mean wind speed itself. This problem is attributed chiefly to the uncertainty of wind levels controlling the motion of the various low cloud types.
Transient absorption in a cadmium monoiodine laser discharge

Abstract Transient absorption spectroscopy has been used to examine the active region of an ultraviolet-preionized, discharge pumped cadmium monoiodide ( 114 CdI) laser. Having an active length of 50 cm and a gas mixture composed of He, N 2 and 114 CdI 2 vapor, the discharge was probed by a short pulse (∼0.6 μs) Xe lamp in conjunction with an optical multichannel analyzer. In addition to the 5 3 P → 6 3 S 1 lines of Cd, CdH molecules were observed in absorption (X 2 Σ → A 2 Π) but not in emission . Also, a broad band exhibiting distinct undulatory structure and peaking near 454 nm is reported and tentatively attributed to CdI.
Prader-Willi-like syndrome in a patient with an Xq23q25 duplication.

We report on a 24-year old woman with an Xq duplication and findings suggestive of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Her birth weight was at the 3rd centile and her birth length was less than the 3rd centile. She was hypotonic and had a weak cry as an infant. There were no feeding difficulties, although her mother reports that as an infant, she was “small for her age.” Excessive weight gain began between 3 and 4 years. The patient's development was delayed and she received special education. She has a history of hiding food. She has a sleep disturbance disorder and inappropriate social behavior. At the age of 24 years her height was below the 5th centile and weight >>95th centile. She has physical findings typical of PWS, skin picking, and speech articulation defects. Cytogenetic analysis showed a 46,X,dup(X)(q23q25) karyotype. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) studies using a chromosome X painting probe demonstrated that the rearrangement was intrachromosomal. The X-chromosome fold scoring technique was used to determine the X inactivation pattern and indicated that some cells expressed the abnormal X chromosome. Results of FISH studies using the SNRPN probe localized to 15q11q13 and DNA studies using the PW71B and SNRPN probes were normal. The duplicated X chromosome, random X inactivation pattern, and the negative molecular studies for PWS indicate that the abnormal X chromosome is the basis of this patient's phenotype. This patient emphasizes the importance of obtaining a karyotype even when a syndrome diagnosable by molecular methods is strongly suspected. Am. J. Med. Genet. 80:227–231, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Role of Echocardiography in Hemodynamic Assessment in Heart Failure

Echocardiography now is recommended as the most useful diagnostic test for routine evaluation and management of heart failure. This article reviews the role of echocardiography (M-mode, two-dimensional, spectral, and tissue Doppler) for qualitative and quantitative hemodynamic assessment of the patient who has heart failure. It highlights the echocardiographic parameters that have the most diagnostic and/or prognostic relevance for patients who have advanced heart failure. The importance of right heart failure and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is increasingly recognized, and therefore the echocardiographic evaluation of these conditions is emphasized also.
Spinal cord stimulation modulates activity of lumbosacral spinal neurons receiving input from urinary bladder in rats.

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine whether spinal cord stimulation (SCS) modulates activity of lumbosacral spinal neurons receiving input from the urinary bladder. Extracellular potentials of L6–S2 spinal neurons were recorded in pentobarbital anesthetized, paralyzed and ventilated male rats. SCS (50 Hz, 0.2 ms, 3–5 min, 90% motor threshold) was applied on the dorsal column of L2–L3 and C1–C2 segments and significantly reduced excitatory responses of 18/25 (72%) and 13/19 (68%) lumbosacral neurons to noxious urinary bladder distension (UBD, ≥1.0 ml, 20 s), respectively. SCS affected spinal neurons with either high- or low-threshold responses to UBD. These results suggested that SCS might have a potential therapeutic effect for patients with hypersensitivity and/or pain of cystitis and other urinary bladder disorders.
Changes in the activity of hydroxycinnamyl CoA: quinate hydroxycinnamyl transferase and in the levels of chlorogenic acid in potatoes and sweet potatoes stored at various temperatures

Abstract A large increase in the activity of hydroxycinnamyl CoA:quinate hydroxycinnamyl transferase (CQT) occurred in potatoes stored at 0 and 2° and such an increase was prevented by storage at either 5 or 10°. The increase was most rapid in potatoes stored at 0° where it reached a maximum after 28 days and then declined slowly during storage for up to 6 months. Accompanying these changes in CQT were transitory increases in p -coumarate CoA ligase and PAL which occured during the first few weeks of storage at 0° and during this period there was nearly a two fold increase in the chlorogenic acid content of the tissue. The increase in chlorogenic acid did not occur at 10° when the increases in PAL, ligase and CQT were also prevented. The increase in CQT was reversed when tubers stored at 0° for 14 days were returned to 10° and this warming up period prevented further increase in CQT on return to 0°. The increase in CQT at 0° was prevented if the air in the storageatmosphere was replaced by N 2 , 1 % O 2 or 10–15% CO 2 . Similar increases in CQT, ligase and chlorogenic acid occurred in sweet potatoes stored at 7.5° but were prevented by storage at 15°. The role of PAL, ligase and CQT in the control of chlorogenic acid accumulation in these commodities and the significance of changes in their activities in relation to physiological changes at low temperatures are discussed.
Determining interval type-2 fuzzy set models for words using data collected from one subject: Person FOUs

This paper provides a new methodology for determining a word's interval type-2 fuzzy set model using only one subject, a Person FOU. It uses interval end-point uncertainty intervals instead of only the end-point intervals. Such uncertainty intervals are relatively easy to collect and they do not introduce methodological uncertainties during the data-collection process. This new method is applied to ten probability words. Person FOUs are obtained for these words, and the robustness of this new method to the choice of the probability distribution that is assigned to the interval end-point uncertainty intervals is examined and demonstrated.
Cigarette smoking and small irregular opacities

A survey of chemical workers by chest roentgenograms was designed to determine whether exposure to acrylic dust and/or cigarette smoking was associated with diffuse abnormalities suggestive of pneumoconiosis. The films were examined without knowledge of dust exposure or smoking habits. The International Labour Office (ILO) classification and standard films were used. Workers with exposure to asbestos were excluded. There was no relation between prevalence of abnormalities and exposure to dust. Among 181 workers 28 had s and/or t small irregular opacities with profusion of 0/1 (23), 1/0 (three), or 1/1 (two). These findings were present in 20% of smokers compared with 2.2% of non-smokers. The prevalence increased with increasing age to 31.6% among smokers aged 50-64. Prevalence was 10% among ex-smokers of cigarettes. Among current cigarette smokers, prevalence was 5.3% in those who smoked less than one pack per day, 31.3% in heavier cigarette smokers, and 52.9% in 17 heavy cigarette smokers aged 50-64. Profusions of 0/1 and 1/0 are classified as "suspect" pneumoconiosis according to the ILO guidelines. The data in this study indicate that such abnormalities are directly related to age and smoking habits among workers not exposed to hazardous dust.
Clinical lessons learned from the International Research Symposium on Ankyloblepharon-Ectodermal Defects-Cleft Lip/Palate (AEC) syndrome.

The International Research Symposium on ankyloblepharon-ectodermal defects-cleft lip/palate (AEC) Syndrome, that was supported by the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED) through a grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and the National Institutes of Health Office of Rare Diseases (NIH-ORD), brought together physicians, scientists, and 23 individuals affected by AEC syndrome from 13 families. Eighteen of the AEC-affected individuals were enrolled in an IRB-approved protocol through Baylor College of Medicine. Enrolled participants had clinical evaluations by multiple subspecialists, and additionally submitted blood for mutational analysis and skin specimens for pathologic evaluation. One of the goals of the conference was to define clinical and pathologic findings for improved diagnostic criteria, with the hope of determining genotype–phenotype correlations that might aid in predicting prognosis or directing therapeutics. What we found was wide interfamilial and intrafamilial variability in the manifestations of the syndrome. We were unable to identify any specific genotype–phenotype correlations. This may relate to our small sample size or other unknown epigenetic factors that are also at play in the expression and manifestation of the syndrome in specific individuals. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Intrinsic, inherent, and observed kinetic data with immobilized enzymes: The concept of rotational masking.

In this communication, the phenomenon we call rotational masking, results when the substrate molecule, after having diffused to the microenvironment of the active site, experiences a rotational steric hindrance, primarily due to interaction with the support, as it attempts to bind at the site. We believe rotational masking to be an important concept, and through this communication we qualitatively establish the criteria for when data should be called rotationally masked. A clear delineation of what phenomena (i. e., diffusion, rotation, partitioning) are actually disguising the intrinsic kinetics of an immobilized enzyme is necessary if a biocatalyst/support system is to be engineered to remove their parasitic effects
Preferred model selection in the validation of scales involving hierarchical dependencies among learning tasks

Abstract This study illustrates a process for selecting a preferred model in the validation of hierarchical learning scales. The study examined the test performance of 100 8- to 11-year-old children on subtraction tasks involving variations in borrowing. The results indicated that tasks including various types of borrowing were equivalent and that the ability to substract without borrowing was prerequisite to subtraction involving borrowing. The study showed that it is necessary to test the fit of alternative models to the data, to assess statistically the improvement of one model over another, and to consider model parsimony in order to arrive at a preferred model. In addition, it demonstrated the necessity of testing for nonprerequisite relations in hierarchy validation.
An unusual case of aggressive systemic mastocytosis with associated refractory plasma cell myeloma

Introduction According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, systemic mastocytosis (SM) is considered a myeloproliferative neoplasm. SM comprises clonal neoplastic proliferation of mast ells in 1 or multiple organs and can have an indolent or aggressive linical course. Criteria for the diagnosis of SM include 1 major riterion (multifocal dense infiltrate of mast cells in tissue sections 15 mast cells in clusters in sections from bone marrow or extrautaneous organs]) and 4 minor criteria ( 25% spindle, immature, r atypical mast cells in tissue sections or bone marrow aspirate mears, detection of KIT mutation, expression of CD2 and/or D25 in neoplastic mast cells, and total serum tryptase levels persisently exceeding 20 ng/mL) (the last criterion is not valid if there is an ssociated clonal myeloid disorder). One major and 1 minor criteria r 3 minor criteria are required to establish the diagnosis of SM. Whether SM is considered indolent or aggressive (the 2 main types of
Expression of Storage Protein Genes in Developing Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seeds : Correlation of RNA Accumulation and Protein Synthesis

Ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis in developing wheat kernels have been studied through in vivo labeling of wheat heads in culture. In INIA 66R wheat labeled with [5-3H]uridine for 24-hour periods between 9 and 33 days after flowering, the total rate of RNA accumulation in endosperm/testa pericarp tissues was highest in the youngest seeds, and declined with increasing seed age. In contrast, the rate of accumulation of poly(A)+ RNA approximately doubled between 12 and 15 days after flowering, reached a maximum between 15 and 18 days, and declined to half the maximum rate by 24 days. Protein synthetic capacity, measured by in vitro translation of extracted seed RNA, increased in a developmental pattern similar to that of poly(A)+ RNA accumulation, but remained near maximal through 24 days after flowering. Gliadins were prominent in the in vitro translation products. When seed protein was labeled in vivo with l-[3H]leucine, extracted, and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a significant change in the protein synthesis profile was apparent between 12 and 15 days after flowering, and was coincident with a marked increase in storage protein synthesis. Qualitatively similar characteristics were exhibited by the cultivar Cheyenne, although in a shorter developmental period. These results are consistent with a direct relation between levels of mRNA and rates of protein synthesis in developing wheat seeds, with a relatively long storage protein mRNA lifetime, and with control of storage protein gene expression primarily at the level of mRNA transcription.
A Practical Guide to Needs Assessment, 2nd Edition

Kavita Gupita, updated and expanded by Catherine M. Sleezer and Darlene F. Russ-Eft San Francisco, Pfeiffer, 2007, ISBN-13: 978-0-7879-8272-0 If you are like me, you are always looking for a new to...
Leukocyte Antigen-related Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Negatively Regulates Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Apoptosis *

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis, a hallmark of advanced atherosclerotic lesions. Transient oxidation and inactivation of protein-tyrosine phosphatases play a critical role in cellular response to ROS production. However, the function of leukocyte antigen-related (LAR) protein-tyrosine phosphatase in ROS signaling is not known. To determine the expression of LAR in ROS-induced apoptosis, we investigated hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death and signaling in aortic VSMCs from wild-type and LAR-/- mice. Histone-associated DNA fragmentation and caspase-3/7 activity were significantly enhanced, mitochondrial membrane integrity was compromised, and cell viability was significantly decreased following H2O2 treatment in LAR-/- VSMCs compared with wild-type cells. Stronger and sustained increase in autophosphorylation and activity of Fyn, an Src family tyrosine kinase, was observed in LAR-/- cells compared with wild-type cells following H2O2 treatment. LAR binds to activated Fyn in H2O2-treated VSMCs, and recombinant LAR dephosphorylates phosphorylated-Fyn in vitro. In addition, LAR deficiency enhanced H2O2-induced phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). PP2, a Fyn-specific inhibitor, blocked JAK2, STAT3, and p38 MAPK activation and significantly attenuated apoptosis induced by H2O2. AG490, a JAK2-specific inhibitor, significantly attenuated H2O2-induced apoptosis, and blocked H2O2-induced activation of STAT3, but not p38 MAPK in both wild-type and LAR-/- VSMCs. Attenuation of Fyn expression by short hairpin RNA significantly decreased H2O2-induced downstream signaling and apoptosis in VSMCs. Together, these data indicate that LAR regulates Fyn/JAK2/STAT3 and Fyn/p38 MAPK pathways involved in ROS-induced apoptosis.
Axon initiation and growth cone regeneration in cultured motor neurons.

Abstract Axon initiation in cultured neurons from embryonic ciliary ganglia involves a process in which cell surface motile activity gradually becomes restricted to sites of growth cone formation. Once frank growth cones have commenced to move outward, away from the soma, the broad connecting isthmus of cytoplasm connecting the growth cone to the soma rounds up to form the base of the definitive axon. Motile activity usually does not occur along the sides of axons or of somas. When axons are cut using sharp blades, ruffling and microspike activity are seen on both proximal and distal stumps within times as short as 3–10 min. On rare occasions, portions of the somal surface may also display ruffling and motile activity. It is concluded that the capacity to generate new growth cones and cell surface movements characteristic of locomotion is widely distributed through axoplasm and the neuron.
Differences in American and Korean Evaluations of One-Year Age Differences.

This study examined the extent to which a one-year difference in age can influence college students' reported communicative behaviours in both the USA and South Korea. Korean students differentiated themselves far more than their American counterparts from other students one-year older or younger than themselves. The former reported that students one-year younger should show respect and be careful about their language use to others one-year older than them whilst also contending that those one-year older should show respect to those one-year younger. A compelling way of explaining such cultural differences in sensitivity to age is proposed through relativity theory in that Koreans may have a stronger tendency for seeing, thinking and acting in relativistic terms. Furthermore, the finding that Korean students contend that they have to be respectful towards others one-year younger than themselves can be better explained by relativity than recourse to any individualism-collectivism distinction.
Direct ultrasensitive electrical detection of DNA and DNA sequence variations using nanowire nanosensors

The development of electrically addressable, label-free detectors for DNA and other biological macromolecules has the potential to impact basic biological research as well as screening in medical and bioterrorism applications. Here we report two-terminal silicon nanowire electronic devices that function as ultrasensitive and selective detectors of DNA. The surfaces of the silicon nanowire devices were modified with peptide nucleic acid receptors designed to recognize wild type versus the ΔF508 mutation site in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor gene. Conductance measurements made while sequentially introducing wild type or mutant DNA samples exhibit a time-dependent conductance increase consistent with the PNA−DNA hybridization and enabled identification of fully complementary versus mismatched DNA samples. Concentration-dependent measurements show that detection can be carried out to at least the tens of femtomolar range. This nanowire-based approach represents a step forward for direct, label-fr...
Conditions of the talus in the runner.

The anatomy and biomechanics of the talus in its rela tionship with ankle and subtalar joints expose it to increased stresses and forces in the runner. Many injuries to the talus, such as stress fractures, antero lateral compression syndromes, osteochondral Stage I and II lesions, and posterior compartment fractures can be treated with consecutive methods initially. Surgical treatment is indicated if these problems become chronic or in the conditions of osteochondral Stage III and IV lesions, anterior impingement syndrome, or sympto matic or trigonum fractures.
Mating and oviposition behaviour of rice hispa, Dicladispa armigera (Olivier) (Coleopetra: Chrysomelidae).

Rice hispa, [Dicladispa armigera (Olivier] attained its sexual maturity on 3.06± 0.16 days after emergence as adult. The adult female mated irregularly more than once during her life time and mating period and frequency decreased with the age. Rice hispa mated 1–4 time in a day and it continued without any break for 6.1± 0.41 days with duration 2.03± 0.09h per copulation and spent 17.80± 2.01days in mating with utilizing 91.30± 6.74h in their life with a frequency of 47.30± 6.49. The eggs were laid singly within the epidermal layers of leaves and maximum oviposition occurred during night time (23: 00–03: 00h). The pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period were 3.60± 0.16, 14.10± 2.18 and 17.00± 1.54 days, respectively. The male adult was short lived 25.10± 3.02 days as compared to female 34.70± 1.81 days.
Helium Core Flash and TIP of The Red Giant Branch Distances

The luminosity at which the helium core flash is triggered in low-mass stars is well understood to be largely independent of the mass and/or the chemical composition of the layers surrounding the degenerate He core. The bolometric luminosity at core flash is then expected to be a standard candle of relatively high stellar luminosity and having low dispersion. Empirical evidence suggest that, for a wide range of atmospheric metallicities, the emergent I-band flux shares the low dispersion in luminosity predicted by theory. The early history of using the brightest stars in globular clusters as distance indicators is reviewed and contrasted with the modern, tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) method currently being employed extensively in the determination of extragalactic distances. Recent applications of the TRGB method are also reviewed. Finally, comparisons are made with the Cepheid distance scale, and prospects for future applications are outlined.
The products of the mdrla and mdrlb genes from multidrug resistant murine cells have similar degradation rates

Abstract Two vinblastine-resistant sublines of the murine macrophage-like cell line J774.2, J7.V1-1 and J7.V3-1, overproduce unique forms of P-glycoprotein that are encoded by distinct mdr genes, mdr lb and mdr la, respectively. Degradation rates of the two P-glycoprotein isoforms were measured by immunoprecipitation of P-glycoprotein. The half-life of immunoprecipitable P-glycoprotein from J7.V1-1 cells was 16.8 ± 0.5 hours and from J7.V3-1 cells, 17.4 ± 0.5 hours. This rate was not influenced by the presence of vinblastine in the growth medium. The data indicate that P-glycoproteins derived from distinct genes have similar degradation rates.
Concerning stimulation by high external potassium and calcium injection of the ouabain-insensitive sodium efflux in barnacle muscle fibers

The behavior of the ouabain-insensitive Na efflux in barnacle muscle fibers toward external high K and injection of Ca2+ has been further investigated. Raising Ke to 100 mM after the injection of 0.25 M or 0.1 M GTPNa2 results in a biphasic stimulatory response: the initial response is prompt in onset and small but transitory, whereas the delayed response is large and sustained. This second stimulatory phase is reduced markedly by injecting EGTA but not by PKI. Raising Ke to 100 mM in the presence of the 2 xanthine derivatives, viz. PMX and IAX, leads to a sustained stimulatory response of the ouabain-insensitive Na efflux which is halved by injecting PKI but unaffected by injecting EGTA. Injection of 0.1 M or 0.5 M CaCl2 in the presence of PMX and IAX leads to a sustained stimulatory response, which is almost completely abolished by injecting PKI but unaffected by injecting EGTA. These results confirm the earlier finding that the response of the ouabain-insensitive Na efflux to high Ke in fibers preinjected with GTPNa2 is biphasic and that the delayed second stimulatory phase is sustained rather than transitory. The ability of injected EGTA to only partially reverse the delayed response suggests that a fall in myoplasmic pCa is not the sole factor governing the kinetic picture. The experiments with PMX and IAX strongly suggest that cAMP is involved in the termination of the Ca2+ message.
Photoacoustic cell for liquids and solids: Generalization of one-dimensional models

The theory of the photoacoustic signal from a gas-filled sample cell is reconsidered, and it is shown that the results obtained from one-dimensional models are more generally applicable. In particular, for typical experimental conditions, a simple modification of the composite piston model presented previously gives an expression for the signal in any nonresonant cell.
Nanotechnology Applications in Surgical Oncology

Surgery is currently the most effective and widely used procedure in treating human cancers, and the single most important predictor of patient survival is a complete surgical resection. Major opportunities exist to develop new and innovative technologies that could help the surgeon to delineate tumor margins, to identify residual tumor cells and micrometastases, and to determine if the tumor has been completely removed. Here we discuss recent advances in nanotechnology and optical instrumentation, and how these advances can be integrated for applications in surgical oncology. A fundamental rationale is that nanometer-sized particles such as quantum dots and colloidal gold have functional and structural properties that are not available from either discrete molecules or bulk materials. When conjugated with targeting ligands such as monoclonal antibodies, peptides, or small molecules, these nanoparticles can be used to target malignant tumor cells and tumor microenvironments with high specificity and affinity. In the “mesoscopic” size range of 10–100 nm, nanoparticles also have large surface areas for conjugating to multiple diagnostic and therapeutic agents, opening new possibilities in integrated cancer imaging and therapy.
A bismuth germanate gamma-ray spectrometer with a plastic anticoincidence shield

Abstract Response functions to photons in the energy range of 4.4–26.6 MeV have been obtained for a 7.6 × 7.6 cm BGO scintillator surrounded by a 5.1 cm thick well-type anticoincident shield. An AmBe source and various (p, γ) reactions provided the gamma-rays. The energy resolutions obtained varied from 8.4% (fwhm) at Eγ = 4.4 MeV to 6.6% at 21.0 MeV. The efficiency of the system has been determined by using the 12C(p, γ)13N reaction near Ep(Eγ) = 14.24 (15.07) MeV. In addition, the response function has been obtained for 18 MeV gamma-rays from the 40Ca(n, γ)41Ca reaction using 10 MeV neutrons produced via the 2H(d, n)3He reaction.
Urea sensor based on iridium dioxide electrodes with immobilized urease

Abstract An. iridium dioxide electrode with immobilized urease is useful as a potentiometric detector for pH changes resulting from hydlolysis of urea at the electrode suface. Electrodes constructed by urease entrapment in a poly(vinyl chloride) film are superior to electrodes with urease covalently immobilized to the oxide layer via a cyanuric chloride linkage. Logarithmic response is obtained for the dip-coated electrode over the range 5 × 10 -5 –5 × 10 -3 M urea with a slope of –51 mV/decade. The slope remains constant for approximately 12 days. Recoating a stripped electrode with PVC-urease has essentially no effect on the slope.