cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clathrin-mediated transport: assembly required

Maintenance of the structural and functional organization of eukaryotic cells requires the correct targeting of proteins and lipids to their final destinations. This workshop focused on the mechanisms that mediate the formation of transport intermediaries, which carry cargo between intracellular compartments and the plasma membrane. The formation of transport vesicles is a highly complex process requiring the coordinated and selective recruitment of lipids, transmembrane proteins and their lumenal cargo, and the sorting machinery components that are required for vesicle transport and fusion with acceptor compartments. Although different types of transport vesicles have been described, clathrin‐coated vesicles (CCVs), which mediate endocytosis from the plasma membrane, are the best characterized and are therefore often considered a model for transport‐intermediary formation. Recently, the resolution of the structure of several coat‐component domains through X‐ray crystallography and the identification of new regulatory proteins has greatly advanced our understanding of CCV formation and function. Selected highlights from these and other recent studies that were presented at the meeting are the subject of this report. ### Formation and function of the clathrin scaffold In the mid‐1970s, the isolation of CCVs by density centrifugation allowed B. Pearse (Cambridge, UK) to purify clathrin, one of the main components of these structures (Pearse, 1976). The assembly unit of clathrin, commonly referred to as the ‘triskelion’, consists of three heavy chains (∼190 kDa) and three light chains (∼30 kDa) that oligomerize to form three‐dimensional (3D) polygonal lattices, or cage‐like structures (Fig 1). Clathrin heavy chains can be sub‐divided into five structurally and functionally distinct regions: an aminoterminal globular domain; a highly flexible linker region composed of short α‐helices; a distal segment; a proximal segment and a carboxy‐terminal domain, which mediates the trimerization of the clathrin chains (reviewed in Brodsky, 2001). The heavy‐chain proximal domain has a superhelical structure composed of clathrin heavy‐chain repeats of ten short α‐helices and contains …
Factors that may explain observed associations between trivalent influenza vaccination and gastrointestinal illness in young children.

Abstract Background Previously published studies reported an increased risk of gastrointestinal illness in the 14 days following trivalent influenza vaccination (TIV) in young children. While gastrointestinal illness may be a true adverse effect of TIV, other factors may influence this observed association, such as seasonal illness patterns and children being exposed to gastrointestinal pathogens at medical visits. The objective of this study was to examine factors influencing the association between TIV and gastrointestinal illness. Specifically, using data from a previous influenza vaccine safety study, we examined the association between medical encounters without TIV and gastrointestinal illness. Methods Using electronic health record (EHR) data from 6 managed care organizations (MCOs), we identified medically attended gastrointestinal illness cases among children 24–59 months in the 2002–2006 influenza seasons. We matched each case to four controls on sex, birthdate (month/year), MCO, influenza season, and presence of a chronic condition. We then looked 1–14 days prior to the index date (gastrointestinal illness diagnosis date) to determine whether the child had a medical encounter. We excluded previous medical encounters with gastrointestinal-related diagnoses or TIV. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results We identified 2062 gastrointestinal illness cases and matched them to 8248 controls. We observed increased odds of gastrointestinal illness within 14 days after a medical encounter (odds ratio = 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7–2.2) among children without chronic conditions. Among children with chronic conditions, the odds ratio was 3.9 (95% CI: 2.5–6.2). Conclusions We demonstrated that another exposure related to vaccination, medical visits, is also associated with increased odds for gastrointestinal illness. This study highlights challenges of interpreting results from observational vaccine safety studies when there are co-occurring exposures, and the importance of investigating confounding in EHR data, which are an essential resource for vaccine safety research.
Localization of common cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition epitopes on Simian papovavirus sv40 and human papovavirus JC virus T antigens

Human papovavirus JC virus (JCV) and Simian virus 40 (SV40) tumor or T antigens demonstrate considerable sequence homology which is reflected by antibody cross-reactivity. This similarity raised the possibility that JCV and SV40 T antigen also might contain common cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) recognition epitopes. In this study we identified and mapped such sites on the JCV T antigen. C57Bl/6 cell lines transformed by JCV/SV40 T antigen chimeras were generated and tested for susceptibility to lysis by five H-2b restricted SV40-specific CTL clones: Y-1, Y-2, Y-3, Y-4, and Y-5. These CTL clones recognize specific epitopes within amino acids 205-219 (site I), 220-233 (sites II and III), 369-511 (site IV), and 489-503 (site V) on SV40 T Ag, respectively. The results show that sites I, II, III, and IV (recognized by CTL clones Y-1, Y-2, Y-3, and Y-4, respectively) represent common epitopes on SV40 and JCV T antigens. CTL clone Y-5 failed to recognize JCV T antigen indicating that CTL can discriminate between the two antigenically related T antigens.
De-globalisation and deforestation in colonial Africa: closed markets, the cattle complex, and environmental change in north-central Namibia, 1890-1990.

Models of environmental change derived from the Nature–Culture dichotomy posit a pre-colonial state of Nature subsistence economy that is penetrated by a colonial market economy Culture. In the modernisation paradigm of environmental change, the interaction is seen as positive: (natural) resources are more effectively used. In the declinist and inclinist paradigms, the result is environmental degradation. The history of cattle in the Angolan-Namibian border region between 1890 and 1990, however, complicates the resulting unilinear Nature-to-Culture narratives of environmental change. In fact, the region's cattle were a global market commodity before the colonial conquest; only during and because of colonial rule did cattle become a resource for local subsistence. Colonial officials and experts who by their own admittance were unwilling and unable to ‘modernise’ the cattle sector raised the alarm over overgrazing, deforestation, and desertification. Yet there is little evidence to support their claims of s...
Biology of Cicadulina leafhoppers and epidemiology of maize streak virus disease in West Africa

Studies have been conducted in Nigeria on biology of Cicadulina leafhopper vectors of maize streak virus (MSV), the role of indigenous grasses as reservoirs of virus and vectors, and on incidence and severity of MSV in relation to maize varietal susceptibility/resistance levels. Cicadulina populations peak before rains end in the savanna and after the rains in the forest zone. The proportion of viruliferous leafhoppers increases as the season progresses. C. mbila is the predominant vector species; four other species are less common. Off-season survival of MSV and vectors occurs in riverine areas in grasses and in areas with hydromorphic soils where maize is grown during the dry season. However, streak found in many grasses in Nigeria is not readily transmissible to susceptible field maize. Weeds most likely to perpetuate an epidemiologically-competent MSV maize strain are Axonopus compressus (an introduced perennial), Brachiaria lata and Setaria barbata (indigenous annuals). MSV epidemics occur only in ye...
Adapted Physical Education and Therapeutic Recreation in Schools

Adapted physical education is a mandated service, whereas therapeutic recreation and traditional recreation are considered related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In this article, the authors describe the distinctions between the services, recognition of need for referral, methods of assessment, sample Individualized Education Program goals with short-term objectives and/or benchmarks, strategies for the classroom teachers, and interventions and service delivery models typically used by physical education teachers and recreational therapists.
A Qualitative Study of the Interplay Between Privilege and Oppression

In this qualitative study, the authors explored how an individual's privileged social or cultural group statuses (e.g., being White, male, or heterosexual) may work in combination with an individual's oppressed group statuses (e.g., being African American, a woman, or lesbian/gay/bisexual) in shaping the individual's multicultural experiences. En este estudio cualitativo, los autores exploraron coomo la posicion social o cultural privilegiada de una persona (por ejemplo, ser Blanco, hombre, o heterosexual) puede trabajar en combinacion con las posiciones oprimidas del grupo a quien pertenece el individuo (por ejemplo, ser Africano Americano, mujer, olesbiana/gay/bisexual) cuando se estan formando las experiencias multiculturales del individuo.
Efficacy and safety of aerosolized tobramycin in cystic fibrosis.

Aerosolized tobramycin has been extensively used in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in order to directly deliver the antibiotic to the endobronchial site of infection, and decrease toxicity by limiting systemic absorption. Aerosolized tobramycin doses ranging from 80 mg twice or three times daily to 600 mg three times daily have been used in various clinical trials. At an 80-mg dose, preservation of pulmonary function with little or no improvement over the baseline was reported. Tobramycin, nebulized at 600 mg three times daily, significantly improved clinical and pulmonary functions and reduced the density of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the sputum. No ototoxicity or nephrotoxicity was reported at either dose. TOBI, a tobramycin solution for inhalation, received Food and Drug Administration approval for maintenance treatment of P. aeruginosa lung infections in CF patients at least 6 years of age. Patients received TOBI nebulize 300 mg of tobramycin every 12 hr daily for 28 days, followed by 28 days off the drug in alternating cycles. In phase III trials, TOBI improved pulmonary function and decreased sputum density of P. aeruginosa compared to placebo. Serum creatinine was minimally, transiently elevated in both groups. More patients in the TOBI group reported voice alterations. All reports of tinnitus were in the TOBI group. An increased risk of emergence of resistant strains of P. aeruginosa was noted at all doses, after prolonged use.
Effects of optical component surface figure errors on resolving powers of soft X-ray grating monochromators☆

Abstract We derive the general relationships linking the resolving power λ/Δλ to the figuring accuracy of the optical components for any soft X-ray monochromator. The result is anti-intuitive. It is seen that the figuring is more forgiving the more grazing the optic because of the dispersion term. We analyze existing monochromator designs in the light of these arguments.
Soil organic matter formation and sequestration across a forested floodplain chronosequence

Successional changes in soil organic matter formation and carbon sequestration across a forested floodplain chronosequence were studied at the Savannah river site, National Environmental Research Park, SC, US. Four floodplain sites were selected for study, three of which are in various stages of recovery from impact due to thermal effluent discharge. The fourth is a minimally disturbed reference site. Forest floor organic matter increases rapidly during early secondary succession, with a maximum of 657 g/m2 and decreasing to 338 g/m2 during the later seral stages. Carbon content in the forest floor also reflected this pattern, with levels greatest during early succession and declining thereafter. Changes in carbon pools of the forest floor are primarily driven by changing levels of forest floor biomass in the various stages of succession, rather than element concentrations. The composition of the forest floor from the various stages differed markedly. The percent herbaceous material declined during succession from 74% in an early stage to <1% in the latest seral stage. Conversely, the amount of woody foliage increased from 6.7 to more than 70% in late succession. Measures of the degree of transformation of forest floor litter to soil organic matter using the lignocellulose index (LCI) did not differ between stages of succession. Percent lignin and percent cellulose of the forest floor were similar between stages and ranged from 13.8–16.3, and 30.4–32.5%, respectively. Carbon content of the mineral soil increased with successional stage of the floodplain chronosequence. Soil carbon content ranged from 15.6 kg/m2 per 0.7 m in the earliest stage of succession to 55.9 kg/m2 in late succession. Regression analyses indicated that it may take over 50 years for carbon levels to reach 75% of that of the reference site. The evidence also suggests that soil structure was disrupted by the disturbance, producing a greater proportion of microaggregates in early seral stages. The formation of soil macroaggregate structure, which may facilitate the accrual of carbon, appears to be occurring slowly.
Cia5a Regulates the Synovial Expression of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines, Proteases, and Nuclear Receptors

Background: The Cia5a locus regulates disease severity and joint damage in pristane-induced arthritis (PIA). Synovial transcriptome differences between DA (severe disease) and DA.F344(Cia5a) congenic rats (mild disease) could facilitate the identification of the Cia5a gene and point to novel pathways involved in the regulation of arthritis severity and joint damage. Methods: RNA from DA (n=6) and DA.F344 (Cia5a) (n=8) synovial tissue collected 21 days post-PIA was used for cRNA transcription and labeling. Samples were hybridized to RatRef-12 BeadChips (21,922 genes), scanned on a BeadArray reader, and normalized using BeadStudio 2.0 (Illumina). Genes with a difference between DA and DA.F344 (Cia5a) of ≥1.5-fold and P value≤0.01 (t-test) were used for pathway detection analyses using IPA 5.5.1 (Ingenuity) and NCBI databases. Results: A total of 8029 genes were expressed in all DA.F344(Cia5a) and DA samples. A total of 1416 genes were significantly up-regulated in DA, including cytokines (Il18 and Ltb), cytokine receptors (Ifngr1, Ifngr2, and Il17ra), innate immunity mediators (Tlr2, Fcer1g, Fcgr3a, and Ncf1), proliferation and survival genes (Apaf1, Casp3, and Cdc2), and proteases (Mmp3, Mmp14, and Mmp19). A total of 1281 genes were up-regulated in synovial samples from DA.F344(Cia5a) congenics, including nuclear receptors (Pparg, Lxra, Lxrg, Rxrg, and Rora) and lipid metabolism genes. A total of 83 differentially expressed genes mapped to the Cia5a interval. Conclusions: F344 alleles at Cia5a are associated with significant reduction of inflammatory and proliferative gene expression signatures observed in DA, and with increased expression of anti-inflammatory nuclear receptors. These observations suggest a potential role for the Cia5a gene in maintaining synovial homeostasis and limiting the synovial inflammatory response that contributes to articular damage.
Enhanced TV as brand extension: TV viewers' perception of enhanced TV features and TV commerce on broadcast networks' web sites

(2001). Enhanced TV as brand extension: TV viewers' perception of enhanced TV features and TV commerce on broadcast networks' web sites. International Journal on Media Management: Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 202-213.
Numerical solution for subcritical flows by a transonic integral equation method

The method presented makes use of a division of the region of integration into closed rectangular elements. The velocity is taken to be constant in each element. The integral equation is reduced to a matrix equation which can be solved by an appropriate iteration approach. The derivation and solution of the matrix equation are discussed and the matrix elements are considered. The described concepts were implemented for a nonlifting parabolic-arc airfoil.
The CoA-independent transacylase in PAF biosynthesis: tissue distribution and molecular species selectivity.

Abstract Microsomal membranes from six different rat tissues (spleen, lung, kidney, brain, testis, and liver) were found to possess CoA-independent transacylase activity that could both acylate lyso -[ 3 H ] PAF (1-[ 3 H ] hexadecyl -2- lyso -sn- glycero -3- phosphocholine ) and then deacylate the 1-[ 3 H ] hexadecyl -2- acyl -sn- glycero -3- phosphocholine product via the transacylation of added exogenous 1-alk-1′-enyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine. Platelet-activating factor ( 1-[ 3 H ] hexadecyl -2- acetyl -sn- glycero -3- phosphocholine ) was produced when acetyl-CoA was added to the spleen microsomes during generation of lyso-[3H]PAF by the transacylases. More extensive studies with subcellular fractions from spleen revealed that, in addition to microsomes, the transacylase activities were also present in the 15 000 × g membrane fraction but not in the cytosol. Analysis of molecular species of 1-[ 3 H ] hexadecyl -2- acyl -sn- glycero -3- phosphocholine before and after addition of 1-alk-1′-enyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine as the acyl acceptor demonstrated a high selectivity for polyunsaturated fatty acids (> 3 double bonds/acyl group) in both the acylation and deacylation processes that occurred in testicular microsomal membranes. The transfer of acyl groups by the transacylase appeared to be equally effective for either arachidonic or docosapentaenoic(n − 6) fatty acids, whereas linoleic and oleic fatty acids were not transferred from 1-[ 3 H ] hexadecyl -2- acyl -sn- glycero -3- phosphocholine following the addition of 1-alk-1′-enyl-2-yso-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine. Similar experiments with the membrane fraction of undifferentiated HL-60 cells showed that arachidonic acid supplementation of intact cells enhanced both the CoA-independent transacylation of lyso-[3H]PAF and the subsequent deacylation of 1-[ 3 H ] hexadecyl -2- acyl -sn- glycero -3- phosphocholine caused by addition of 1-alk-1′-enyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine. Differentiation of the HL-60 cells into a neutrophil-like form had no effect on the transacylase activity. Our results indicate the PAF-related transacylase is widely distributed among tissues and, although highly selective for polyunsaturated acyl groups, does not discriminate selectively among the polyunsaturates.
The Indirect Effects of Parent Psychopathology on Offspring Affective Disorder Through Difficulty During the Leaving Home Transition

The current study examined risk for young adult affective disorder in the children of parents with alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and tested whether negative experiences during the leaving home transition mediated this effect. Using multiple reporter data from a high-risk community sample, the current study included 346 emerging adults (M = 21.97 years old; 49% female, 72% non-Hispanic Caucasian, and 47% with at least one alcohol-disordered parent) from a large metropolitan area. We found that offspring of parents with AUDs were more likely to have negative experiences during the leaving home transition, which in turn predicted increased risk of affective disorders in adulthood. Parents with alcohol disorders may attempt to limit their children’s independence from the family of origin or fail to appropriately scaffold their leaving home transition, which is an important developmental task, placing children of alcohol-disordered parents at greater risk of affective disorders in adulthood.
Diminished prolactin reserve with myotonic dystrophy

Isolated deficiency of prolactin secretion is an uncommon condition of unknown clinical significance. A unique case of prolactin deficiency in association with myotonic dystrophy is described. It is unlikely that absence of prolactin is responsible for the clinical features associated with myotonic dystrophy, since two other patients with myotonic dystropy did not have prolactin deficiency.
On the similarity of country endowments

Abstract We study the production side of the Heckscher–Ohlin model empirically. The evidence we present suggests that the endowments of countries around the world are too dissimilar for all countries to be able to produce the same set of goods. In contrast, the endowments of the rich OECD countries are sufficiently similar, so that these countries do not have to specialize in different subsets of goods. Our findings have implications for a variety of issues ranging from the trade and wages debate to economic development. Our analysis relies on the lens condition of Deardorff [Journal of International Economics 36 (1994) 167–175] that compares country endowments with sectoral factor inputs. We mainly focus on the production factors capital and labor. We test the robustness of the results with different data sets and with corrections for international differences in productivity and human capital. We confirm the similarity of the developed OECD countries with skilled and unskilled labor data. We also investigate in detail the implications of measurement error and sectoral aggregation.
Enacting and Justifying Local Reforms: Implications for Understanding Change in Educational Organizations.

This article argues that the processes of enactment and justification comprise two key, underdeveloped aspects of sensemaking theory as applied to educational organizations. Enactment and justification are illustrated using examples drawn from a school that significantly changed the way in which it coordinated reading instruction. Examples drawn from the school demonstrate that teachers and administrators enacted an environment around reading instruction and singled out various aspects of their redesign efforts to justify the expansion of their continually developing reading program. The ways in which enactment and justification can be used to better understand change processes in educational organizations are discussed.
Lysine 188 of the catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) plays no role in specificity at base pair 7 of the DNA half site

Abstract Two similar, but not identical, models have been proposed for the amino acid-base pair contacts in the CAP-DNA complex ('model I,' Weber, I. and Steitz, T., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81, 3973-3977, 1984; 'model II,' Ebright, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81, 7274-7278, 1984). The most important difference between the two models involves Lys188 of CAP. Model I predicts that Lys188 of CAP makes a specificity determining contact with base pair 7 of the DNA half site. In contrast, model II predicts that Lys188 makes no contact with base pair 7 of the DNA half site. In the present work, we have used site-directed mutagenesis to replace Lys188 of CAP by Asn, an amino acid unable to make the putative contact. We have assessed the specificities of the following proteins, both in vitro and in vivo: wild-type CAP, [Asn188]CAP, [Val181]CAP, and [Val181;Asn188]CAP. The results indicate that Lys188 makes no contribution to specificity at base pair 7 of the DNA half site. We propose, contrary to model I, that Lys188 makes no contact with base pair 7 of the DNA half site.
Luminal Stimuli Acutely Sensitize Visceromotor Responses to Distension of the Rat Stomach

Inflammation can enhance responses to different stimuli consistent with the development of hypersensitivity. To determine whether sequentially applied stimuli interact, we determined visceromotor responses (VMR) to gastric distension, measured at baseline and 60 min after instillation of saline, glycocholic acid (GCA) or ethanol through a gastrostomy in controls and rats with gastric ulcers. In another series of experiments, chemicals were administered before and 60 min after repeated distension of the stomach. Ethanol, but not saline or GCA, increased VMR in controls with a more significant rise in rats with gastric ulcerations. GCA increased responses to gastric distension in controls, whereas GCA and ethanol enhanced responses to gastric distensions in rats with gastric ulcers. Responses to saline, GCA, or ethanol were not affected by repeated noxious distension of the stomach. Luminal stimuli can trigger visceromotor responses and sensitize gastric afferents to mechanical stimulation, thus potentially contributing to dyspeptic symptoms.
Micromachined Air-Lifted Pillar Arrays for Terahertz Devices

Micromachined air-lifted pillar arrays have been designed, fabricated, and characterized in the range of 1-3 THz. The pillar arrays consist of high-aspect-ratio epoxy structures defined by ultraviolet lithography followed by sputtered metallization. A Bruker 113v Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) system has been used to characterize the fabricated air-lifted pillar arrays for both p-( E-field parallel to the plane of incidence) and s-( E-field perpendicular to the plane of incidence) polarized incident waves. Measurement results are verified using resonant frequency calculation and Floquet mode simulation. In the p -polarization measurement, the pillar arrays with a diameter of 5 μm, and heights of 28, 39, 54, and 60 μm show quarter wavelength resonant frequencies at 2.16, 1.81, 1.46, and 1.38 THz, respectively, as predicted. Since the air dielectric architecture has no dielectric loss, it would enable highly power efficient terahertz devices such as a monopole antenna, a frequency selective surface, and an electromagnetic absorber.
Derivation of a New Force Field for Crystal-Structure Prediction Using Global Optimization: Nonbonded Potential Parameters for Hydrocarbons and Alcohols

A new procedure has been developed for deriving accurate nonbonded potential parameters for crystal-structure prediction. The method consists of two steps. First, an initial set of potential parameters is derived by fitting to ab initio interaction energies of dimers. Second, this initial set is refined to satisfy the following criteria: the parameters should reproduce the observed crystal structures and sublimation enthalpies accurately; the observed crystal structure should correspond to the global or to one of the lowest-energy minima of the potential. These goals are achieved by applying our new global optimization-based method for deriving nonbonded potential parameters (J. Phys. Chem. B 2003, 107, 712), which consists of a force-minimization and a vector Monte Carlo [VMC] method, to information about the potential energy surface of the crystal. The procedure enables one to obtain the best possible set of parameters for crystal-structure prediction for a given form of the potential. The computed non...
Polishing porcelain veneers: an SEM and specular reflectance analysis

Abstract Techniques for placement of etched porcelain laminate veneers require that the glazed porcelain veneer be cemented prior to finishing and polishing. Finishing the veneer margins corrects the inherent marginal defects but results in removal of the glaze from the porcelain. This invites a poor tissue response unless the porcelain can be polished to a smooth surface. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and specular reflectance, the surface texture of autoglazed porcelain was compared with that of polished porcelain. Emphasis was placed on those instruments which are suitable for gingival and interproximal finishing. Finishing with a fine diamond instrument followed only by diamond polishing paste produced an unacceptable surface. A finish equal or superior in smoothness to glazed porcelain was achieved through the use of a series of finishing grit diamonds (Micron Finishing System) followed by a 30-fluted carbide bur and diamond polishing paste. Other finishing combinations produced surface textures which were not as smooth as glazed porcelain, but which were better than that attained by the diamond polishing paste alone.
Correlation of R2 with total iron concentration in the brains of rhesus monkeys.

Purpose To estimate the relationship between R2 = 1/T2 as measured with a double echo spin echo sequence and total iron concentration in gray matter structures in the brains of aging rhesus monkeys. Materials and Methods Using a 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) imager, we collected double echo spin echo images of the brains of 12 female rhesus monkeys aged between 9 and 23 years. From the double echo images, the transverse relaxation rate R2 = 1/T2 was calculated in selected gray matter regions. After the animals were euthanized, their brains were excised and tissue punches were taken of the substantia nigra, globus pallidus, and gray matter regions of the cerebellum. Some of the tissue punches were assayed for total iron using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results The range of tissue iron concentration spanned from 15 to 450 μg/g wet weight, with the highest levels in the globus pallidus and the lowest levels in the cerebellum. The results show that R2 was highly correlated with the total iron concentration and that the relationship between R2 and tissue iron concentration appeared to depend upon the iron concentration. For concentrations above approximately 150 μg/g wet weight, R2 increased with a sensitivity of 0.0484 ± 0.0023 second−1(μg/g)−1. In contrast, where the iron concentration was below 150 μg/g, R2 increased at 0.0013 ± 0.0073 second−1(μg/g)−1. The bilinear behavior may reflect changes with age in the relative amounts of iron distributed diffusely and in granular form in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra. Histological sections of the tissues stained for iron and ferritin support this hypothesis and indicate that the distribution of ferritin is similar to the distribution of iron. Conclusion This study reaffirms the value of measuring the MR relaxation rate R2 for a noninvasive estimate of iron content in the brain and identified limitations in the relationship at low tissue iron concentrations. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;21:118–127. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Electromagnetic Fields of Hertzian Dipoles in Layered Media of Moderate Thickness Including the Effects of All Modes

Fast numerical methods are developed to compute the electromagnetic fields of Hertzian dipole of layered media (layered medium Green's function) of moderate thickness for the entire distance range. The method consists of using a fast all modes (FAM) method of determining all mode locations in the complex plane. The modes include surface wave modes, leaky wave modes, and improper modes. For the case of layer thickness of one wavelength, it requires only 0.12 CPU seconds as preprocessing to determine 400 mode locations accurately in the complex plane using a Pentium IV 3.2 GHz PC with Matlab. The mode locations are required only to be computed once. The numerical modified steepest descent method (NMSP) is then used to compute the steepest descent integral with all the pole proximities extracted and accounted for by using incomplete error functions. With the extraction of the poles, the NMSP requires no more than six quadrature points to compute fields at distances larger than 0.02 wavelength. The CPU per distance point based on the FAM/NMSP method is less than 3 ms for all distance ranges. The accuracy of the method has been confirmed to within 0.2% from the benchmark calculations of the half-space extraction method.
Chained fusion of discrete and continuous epipolar geometry with odometry for long-term localization of mobile robots

This paper presents a sensor fusion implementation to improve the accuracy of robot localization by combining multiple visual odometry approaches with wheel and IMU odometry. Discrete and continuous Homography Matrices are used to recover robot pose and velocity from image sequences of tracked feature points. The camera's limited field of view is addressed by chaining vision-based motion estimates. As feature points leave the field of view, new features are acquired and tracked. When a new set of points is needed, the motion estimate is reinitialized and chained to the previous state estimate. An extended Kalman filter fuses measurements from the robot's wheel encoders with those from visual and inertial measurement systems. Time varying matrices in the extended Kalman filter compensate for known changes in sensor accuracy, including periods when visual features cannot be reliably tracked. Experiments are performed to validate the approach.
Visualizing social interaction in open source software projects

Open source software projects such as Apache and Mozilla present an opportunity for information visualization. Since these projects typically require collaboration between developers located far apart, the amount of electronic communication between them is large. Our goal is to apply information visualization techniques to assist software engineering scientists and project managers with analyzing the data. We present a visualization technique that provides an intuitive, time-series, interactive summary view of the social groups that form, evolve and vanish during the entire lifetime of the project. This visualization helps software engineering researchers understand the organization, structure, and evolution of the communication and collaboration activities of a large, complex software project.
Application of high-performance anion-exchange chromatography–pulsed amperometric detection for measuring carbohydrates in routine daily filter samples collected by a national network: 1. Determination of the impact of biomass burning in the upper Midwest

[1] Biomass burning is one of the major sources of organic carbon aerosols. However, there is limited information on the temporal and spatial variability for the impact of biomass burning in most regions of the United States, including the upper Midwest. In an attempt to obtain information on these variabilities, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) was employed to measure the smoke marker levoglucosan (and various other carbohydrates) on archived daily Federal Reference Monitor (FRM) Teflon filter samples from the PM2.5 NAAQS compliance monitoring network. Levoglucosan data, along with measurements of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and potassium, from the analysis of FRM samples collected at 10 sites in the upper Midwest from March 2004 through February 2005 are presented. Results suggest that WSOC contains a substantial regional component, summer levoglucosan is dependent on both horizontal and vertical transport of fire emissions, and potassium revealed no clear pattern associated with biomass burning impacts. The contribution of organic carbon due to primary biomass burning particle emissions ranged on average from about 5 to 35%, suggesting that for this study in the upper Midwest, >50% of the WSOC is from secondary organic aerosol rather than biomass burning. In a second paper the results from the measurements of the other carbohydrates that HPAEC-PAD analysis can determine are discussed to investigate their sources and trends.
Proteins ZNF198 and SUZ12 are down-regulated in hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein-mediated hepatocyte transformation and in HBV replication.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major etiologic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis, involving effects of chronic liver inflammation and of the weakly oncogenic HBV X protein (pX). pX-mediated hepatocyte transformation requires Polo-like kinase1 (Plk1) activity, but the mechanism is not fully understood. We identified by a genome-wide short hairpin RNA (shRNA) library screen the genes zinc finger, MYM-type 2 (ZNF198) and suppressor of zeste 12 homolog (Drosophila) (SUZ12) whose protein depletion rescues pX-expressing cells from DNA damage-induced apoptosis. ZNF198 and SUZ12 are components of chromatin remodeling complexes and associate with promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies. Knockdown of ZNF198 and SUZ12 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) reduced p53 stability and DNA repair, rescued pX-expressing hepatocytes from DNA damage-induced apoptosis, and increased pX-induced polyploidy and oncogenic transformation, suggesting ZNF198 and SUZ12 have a role in pX-mediated transformation. Interestingly, during pX-mediated transformation the protein but not messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of ZNF198 and SUZ12 progressively decreased, whereas Plk1 levels increased. Inhibition of Plk1 activity restored protein levels of ZNF198 and SUZ12. In addition, transfected Polo-box-domain (PBD) of Plk1 coimmunoprecipitated with ZNF198 and SUZ12, suggesting that these proteins are Plk1 substrates. Elevated Plk1 and reduced protein levels of ZNF198 and SUZ12 were also observed in human liver cancer cell lines derived from HBV-related tumors and in the presence of HBV replication. Importantly, knockdown by siRNA of ZNF198 and SUZ12 enhanced HBV replication. Conclusion: Reduced protein levels of ZNF198 and SUZ12 and elevated Plk1 occur during pX-mediated hepatocyte transformation in human liver cancer cell lines, as well as during HBV replication, underscoring the significance of these genes both in HBV-mediated HCC pathogenesis and HBV replication. We propose Plk1 activity down-regulates ZNF198 and SUZ12, thereby enhancing both HBV replication and pX-mediated oncogenic transformation. (HEPATOLOGY 2011)
An application for interactive video abstraction

This paper proposes a novel system that can automatically create an optimal and nonrepetitive summarization and support different user requirements for video browsing and content overview by outputting both the optimal set of key frames and a summarized version of the original video with the user-specified time length. Comparing our approach to video abstraction with another algorithm, we demonstrate that our approach is fast and produces an effective video summary.
Ca2+ regulatory mechanisms of exercise protection against coronary artery disease in metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Chronic exercise attenuates coronary artery disease (CAD) in humans largely independent of reductions in risk factors; thus major protective mechanisms of exercise are directly within the coronary ...
Fabrication and Composition Control of NiTi Shape Memory Thin Films for Microactuators

Microactuators fabricated with NiTi thin films take advantage of the shape memory effect’s large energy density (∼5-10 joules/cm3) and high strain recovery (∼8%). Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) designed with these actuators can serve as biosensors, micro-fluidic pumps or optical switches. However, the fundamental mechanical properties of these shape memory NiTi films have not been fully characterized with micro-scale test structures. Equiatomic NiTi thin films were deposited by co-sputtering NiTi and Ti targets with the intension of fabricating such test structures. Dual cathodes allowed direct control of the film composition by adjusting the Ti cathode power. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) quantified the film composition relative to pure standards. A thin (∼50 nm) chromium film on a pure silicon substrate created excellent film adhesion. Oxidized Si wafers did not bond with the Cr and NiTi films. This deposition method enabled control of film composition and the necessary adhesion.
Effects of Particle Size, Casing Diameter, and Addition of Emulsions and Residual Nitrite on Quality Attributes of Cooked Salami

Cooked salami was manufactured from raw materials of two particle sizes (6.5 and 13.0 mm) with and without the addition of 25% meat batter, and stuffed into two sizes of casings (64 and 90 mm). A fourth variable, three levels of added nitrite (110, 220, and 440 ppm) was also included in the experimental design. Increasing the particle size and casing diameter resulted in less shrinkage and a firmer product. The use of 25% added meat batter reduced shrinkage but made a softer product upon heat processing than without meat batter added. Neither sensory nor textural properties were significantly influenced (p < 0.05) by the level of nitrite added. Levels of residual nitrite decreased upon storage of the product up to 14 days.
Single-trial analysis of the auditory N100 improves separation of normal and schizophrenia subjects

The N100 component of the auditory evoked potential (EP) has been recently used to study sensory gating deficits in schizophrenia subjects compared to normal controls. Previously, we used selective averaging to show phase synchronization differences in brain activity between the two populations. In this study, we employed our recently developed iterative independent component analysis (iICA) procedure to measure single-trial EPs in the context of a double-stimulus paradigm. Using the amplitude and latency of the N100 components of the first and second stimuli responses obtained from iICA and four different classification algorithms we were able to accurately classify subjects with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In contrast, the same amplitude and latency features computed from average EPs provided only 69% classification accuracy, with 63% sensitivity and 75% specificity, respectively. We conclude that inter-trial temporal variability plays a significant role in the well-known sensory gating deficits found in schizophrenia patients.
The Utility of Intravenous Acetaminophen in the Perioperative Period

Intravenous acetaminophen (IVA) has rapid and effective analgesic properties. Recent studies have shown several benefits of using IVA perioperatively. However, due to its relatively high cost and limited clinical data concerning its efficacy compared with other agents, physicians are hesitant to use IVA in the perioperative period. This brief review examines the utility of this medication in the perioperative period and highlights future areas of clinical and epidemiological research regarding its use.
Diagnostic Yield of Emergency Department Arch-to-Vertex CT Angiography in Patients with Suspected Acute Stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our aim was to investigate how often relevant diagnostic findings in an arch-to-vertex CTA scan, obtained specifically as part of the acute stroke CT protocol, are located in the head, neck, and upper chest regions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiology reports were reviewed in 302 consecutive patients (170 men, 132 women; median ages, 66 and 73 years, respectively) who underwent emergency department investigation of suspected acute stroke between January and July 2010. Diagnostic CTA findings relevant to patient management were recorded for the head, neck, and chest regions individually. Additionally, the contributions to the total CTA scan effective dose were estimated from each of the 3 anatomic regions by using the ImPACT CT Dose Calculator. RESULTS: Of the 302 patients, 161 (54%) had relevant diagnostic findings in the head; 94 (31%), in the neck; and 4 (1%), in the chest. The estimated contributions to the total CTA scan dose from each body region, head, neck, and upper chest, were 14 ± 2%, 33 ± 5%, and 53 ± 6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Most clinically relevant findings are in the head and neck, supporting inclusion of these regions in arch-to-vertex CTA performed specifically in patients with acute stroke in the emergency department. Further studies are required to investigate extending the scan to the upper chest because only 1% of patients in our study had clinically relevant findings in the mediastinum, yet half the CTA effective dose was due to scanning in this region.
Reuniting Children in Foster Care with Their Biological Parents

to the foster care system are reported in this article. The fo cus is on the relationship be tween case management and community services in foster care and the outcome of the reunification of children with their biological parents. Impli cations of the findings for fos ter care practice are discussed. AN EMPHASIS on early planning . toward permanent placements for children in foster care resulted
Understory Colonization of Eucalyptus Plantations in Hawaii in Relation to Light and Nutrient Levels

Exotic tree plantations may serve as catalysts for native forest regeneration in agriculturally degraded landscapes. In 2001, we evaluated plant species regeneration in the understory of a 7-year-old experimental Eucalyptus saligna forest in Hawaii approximately 1 year after the cessation of 5 years of herbicide. These forests were organized in a 2 3 2–factorial design of planting density (1 3 1– or 3 3 3–m spacing) and fertilization (unfertilized control and regular fertilization), which resulted in varying resource availabilities. We found that understory biomass was highest under high light conditions, regardless of fertilization treatment, whereas species richness was lowest under fertilized 1 3 1–m plots. The understory was dominated by species exotic to Hawaii. The most common tree species, the noxious weed Citharexylum caudatum, was particularly successful because high light–saturated photosynthesis rates and a low light compensation point allowed for high growth and survival under both light conditions. To assess longer-term recruitment patterns, we resurveyed a portion of this site in 2006 and also surveyed five Eucalyptus plantations in this region of Hawaii that differed in age (5–23 years), species (E. saligna, E. grandis, E. cloeziana, E. microcorys), and management (experimental, industrial, nonindustrial stewardship); all were established on previous agricultural sites within approximately 3 km of native-dominated forest. Again, very few native species were present in any of the stands, indicating that within certain landscapes and for native species with certain life history traits, exotic plantations may be ineffective nursery ecosystems for the regeneration of native species.
Performing the Open: Actors, Animals, Philosophers

Three scenes of performance, corresponding to a parallel effort by Giorgio Agamben in his critique of the “anthropological machine,” suggest a strategy of “negative mimesis” to counter the stubborn anthropocentrism of the Western philosophical tradition.
Color digital echo/Doppler image presentation.

Abstract Arterial occlusive disease in peripheral blood vessels can be evaluated with an ultrasound scanning system designed to generate real-time cross sectional tissue images and to assess the character of blood flow at any point using multi-gate Doppler methods. A new-generation echo/Doppler system. Duplex scanner IV, incorporates digital display technology to store both echo target location and flow velocity parameters for color composite imaging. Many display formats are possible. In B -mode format echographic tissue images are supplemented with flow information acquired at a specific point in time over 20–30 cardiac cycles by a slow spatial sweep of the Doppler beam in the region of interest. Image storage also makes possible a novel M/Q-mode presentation wherein anatomical interfaces and flow velocities are detected along a single line of sight and displayed as a function of time.
Diabetic severity and risk of kidney stone disease

Background The prevalence of kidney stone disease is rising along with increasing rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and metabolic syndrome.
Recent advances in the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology

This article highlights some of the research in cardiac molecular biology in progress in the Department of Cardiology at Children's Hospital. It provides a sampling of investigative approaches to key questions in cardiovascular development and function and, as such, is intended as an overview rather than a comprehensive treatment of these problems. The featured projects, encompassing four different "model" systems, include (1) genetic analysis of the mef2 gene required for fruit fly cardial cell differentiation, (2) cardiac-specific homeobox factors in zebrafish cardiovascular development, (3) mouse transgenic and gene knockout models of cardiac potassium ion channel function, and (4) mapping and identification of human gene mutations causing long QT syndrome.