cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of amyloid precursor protein is associated with degeneration, decreased viability, and increased damage caused by neurotoxins (prostaglandins A1 and E2, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide) in differentiated neuroblastoma cells

Inflammatory reactions are considered one of the important etiologic factors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Prostaglandins such as PGE2 and PGA1 and free radicals are some of the agents released during inflammatory reactions, and they are neurotoxic. The mechanisms of their action are not well understood. Increased levels of beta-amyloid fragments (Abeta40 and Abeta42), generated through cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP), oxidative stress, and proteasome inhibition, are also associated with neurodegeneration in AD brains. Therefore, we investigated the effect of PGs and oxidative stress on the degeneration and viability of cyclic AMP-induced differentiated NB cells overexpressing wild-type APP (NBP2-PN46) under the control of the CMV promotor in comparison with differentiated vector (NBP2-PN1) or parent (NBP2) control cells. Results showed that differentiated NBP2-PN46 cells exhibited enhanced spontaneous degeneration and decreased viability in comparison with differentiated control cells, without changing the level of Abeta40 and Abeta42. PGA1 or PGE2 treatment of differentiated cells caused increased degeneration and reduced viability in all three cell lines. These effects of PGs are not due to alterations in the levels of vector-derived APP mRNA or human APP holoprotein, secreted levels of Abeta40 and Abeta42, or proteasome activity. H2O2 or SIN-1 (an NO donor) treatment did not change vector-derived APP mRNA levels, but H2O2 reduced the level of human APP protein more than SIN-1. Furthermore, SIN-1 increased the secreted level of Abeta40, but not of Abeta42, whereas H2O2 had no effect on the level of secreted Abeta fragments. Both H2O2 and SIN-1 inhibited proteasome activity in the intact cells. The failure of neurotoxins to alter APP mRNA levels could be due to the fact that they do not affect CMV promoter activity. These results suggest that the mechanisms of action of PGs on neurodegeneration are different from those of H2O2 and SIN-1 and that the mechanisms of neurotoxicity of H2O2 and SIN-1 are, at least in part, different from each other.
Numerical solution of the separating flow due to an obstruction

The steady separated flow due to an obstruction in a two-dimensional channel is studied through the numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations using finite difference techniques. The characteristics of the separated flow behind the obstruction are obtained up to a Reynolds number of 1500. The flow patterns, vorticity contours and total pressure contours are presented. The effects of Reynolds number, height of obstruction, thickness of obstruction and the inlet velocity profile are investigated.
Lethal limits and the zoogeography of the faunal assemblages of Coastal Carolina waters

The offshore waters of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA, is an area of dynamic encounter between the northerly flowing, warm waters of the Gulf Stream and the southerly flowing, colder water of the Virginia coastal current. The faunal assemblages north of the Cape and those associated with a reeflike formation southe of the Cape in the Gulf Stream are distinct, each having predominantly cold- or warm-water affinities. To assess the zoogeographical significance of temperature, high and low thermal limits of both adult and larvae of species from these 2 regions were determined. Lethal salinity limits of the first stage zoeae of a few Crustacea were determined. In general, southern affinity species survived higher temperatures than northerly displanced species. In some cases, species with overlapping distributional limits had different thermal tolerances, which could be correlated with differential microhabitat selection. Many of the southern affinity species could not survive low temperatures which were characteristic of either the water mass northe of Cape Hatteras (4 °C) or the waters between the Gulf Stream and the shore (10 °C). A few species were able to seasonally acclimate to temperature extremes. Zoeae of reef species are the least resistant to both low temperature and low salinity.
Assessing the Dynamics and Mechanics of the Cell Membrane

Thermally and actively driven cell membrane fluctuations are known to be readouts for the nanomechanical interaction between the cortical cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane and the membrane. In this study, we developed a non-contact method to measure cell surface fluctuations through measurements of resistance between a microelectrode tip and the cell membrane. The system resolution was < 2 nm tested by using 2-10 Hz sinusoidal piezo stage motion with amplitudes ranging from 2 nm to 100 nm. We found that endothelial cells exhibited local membrane fluctuations of ∼20 nm at a number of characteristic frequencies. To determine the role of actin in membrane fluctuation, we treated cells with 2 μM of actin depolymerizing drug, cytochalasin D, and we found that actin depolymerization increased in fluctuation amplitude up to 2 times at all frequencies. Finally, to determine role of ATP in membrane fluctuations, we treated cells with ATP depletion drug cocktail which consisted of 25nM Antimycin A + 2mg/ml 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose, and we found that ATP depletion abolished all membrane fluctuations. Therefore, actin cytoskeleton and dynamic processes facilitated by ATP may modulate membrane functions through mechanical effects on membrane fluctuations
Sharing our body and blood: organ donation and feminist critiques of sacrifice.

Feminist analysis of cultural mythology surrounding organ donation offers a critical perspective on current U.S. transplant policy. My argument is three-pronged. First, I argue that organ donation is appropriately understood as a sacrifice. Structurally, donation accords both to general and to specifically Christian archetypes of sacrifice. The characterization of donation as sacrifice resonates in the cultural psyche even though it is absent in public rhetoric. Second, I characterize widespread feminist concerns about the over-glorification of sacrifice. These concerns provide a helpful framework for considering whether the sacrifice of organ donation is over-glorified in our culture. Third, I consider several specific aspects of organ recruitment and organ allocation. Each demonstrates an over-glorification of sacrifice that leads to a dangerous "routinization" of sacrifice. None of these excesses are addressable without due attention to the symbolic import of organ donation and transplantation. I close by suggesting lessons my analysis offers to Christian churches who support donation, to the discourse of bioethics, and to the general public.
Introduction to the special series do good fences really make good neighbors?: Challenges and solutions for behavior therapy from nonbehavioral arenas

This series provides five examples of strength gained through integration of behavior therapy with areas traditionally viewed as antithetical to behavioral methods. First, contributions from behavior therapy to the assessment of clinical progress both in psychotherapy and in pharmacological treatment are considered, the role of behavior therapy in Managed Mental Health Care is examined. Next, the contributions of psychometric and developmental theory to the assessment and treatment of childhood disorders are considered. Each paper documents that such integration can evolve unique solutions to problems faced by practitioners, yet each poses additional challenges to behavioral research and practice for the future.
Rook domains, Latin squares, affine planes, and error-distributing codes

A problem originally suggested in the context of genetic coding leads naturally to the concept of {\em rook packing} and {\em error-distributing codes}. It is shown how various concepts in the theory of Latin squares, and also in coding theory, are best expressed in the form of questions about the placing of rooks on k -dimensional hyperchessboards of side n . A new species of combinatorial design suggested by this is the concept of {\em optimal coloring}. It is shown that the optimal colorings in certain cases correspond to duals of desarguian projective planes. Light is thereby shed on the problems of the existence of both finite projective planes and close-packed single-error-correcting codes. In particular, the existence of a certain close-packed nonbinary single-error-correcting code, listed by Golay as the first unknown case, has been ruled out by a well-known result concerning Latin squares.
Analysis of the Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) Study

The Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study is the first nationally representative survey of diabetes in India. It aims to provide national and regional counts of diabetes and prediabetes and also of cardiovascular risk factors. This ambitious and complex survey uses robust sampling techniques, standardized methods, appropriate quality assurance, and a three-phase data collection. However, the survey should be completed within a reasonable time span to avoid a differential effect of secular trends on regional estimates. A high response rate and low missing values must also be ensured. Reliance on capillary whole blood glucose (CBG) for the diagnosis of hyperglycemic states is a limitation of the survey. However, this is a reasonable compromise given the practical challenges of such a large study. Despite a good correlation between CBG and venous plasma glucose (VPG), the use of CBG may misclassify glycemic status. A better characterization of the CBG-VPG relationship, and the performance of CBG for detecting hyperglycemia, using a much larger sample, seems therefore advisable. This should be possible given that venous blood has been collected on a sizeable subset of participants. The Indian Council of Medical Research and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation deserve praise for this massive undertaking, which will highlight areas for policy action and establish a national framework for noncommunicable disease (NCD) surveillance. The ICMR-INDIAB survey lays the foundation for effective NCD prevention and control and for applied public health research.
Evidence of form II RubisCO (cbbM) in a perennially ice-covered Antarctic lake

The permanently ice-covered lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, harbor microbially dominated food webs. These organisms are adapted to a variety of unusual environmental extremes, including low temperature, low light, and permanently stratified water columns with strong chemo- and oxy-clines. Owing to the low light levels during summer caused by thick ice cover as well as 6 months of darkness during the polar winter, chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms could play a key role in the production of new carbon for the lake ecosystems. We used clone library sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR of the gene encoding form II Ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase to determine spatial and seasonal changes in the chemolithoautotrophic community in Lake Bonney, a 40-m-deep lake covered by c. 4 m of permanent ice. Our results revealed that chemolithoautotrophs harboring the cbbM gene are restricted to layers just above the chemo- and oxi-cline (≤ 15 m) in the west lobe of Lake Bonney (WLB). Our data reveal that the WLB is inhabited by a unique chemolithoautotrophic community that resides in the suboxic layers of the lake where there are ample sources of alternative electron sources such as ammonium, reduced iron and reduced biogenic sulfur species.
Anxiety management training and anger control for type A individuals

The present study sought to explore whether training Type A coronary-prone individuals in stress management would result in a diminution of Type A behaviors. The effectiveness of a single-method approach that focused specifically on anger management was tested. Results showed that the treatment, a modified version of Suinn's Anxiety Management Training, was associated with significant reductions in Type A inventory (Jenkins Activity Survey) scores. Two possible explanations for the results were entertained. First, Type A subjects may have experienced a sense of increased control over potentially threatening person-environment transactions which decreased the need for Type A coping behaviors. And second, the program may have caused Type A subjects to become hypersensitive to the uncomfortable symptoms of stress, and since some Type A behaviors induce stress, Type B behavior may have been negatively reinforced by symptom reduction. It was concluded that the most promising therapeutic target for change may be anger/hostility and that a narrow-focus single-method approach may be the most efficient and effective strategy for modifying coronary-prone behaviors.
17.1%-Efficient multi-scale-textured black silicon solar cells without dielectric antireflection coating

In this work we present 17.1%-efficient p-type single crystal Si solar cells with a multi-scale-textured surface and no dielectric antireflection coating. Multi-scale texturing is achieved by a gold-nanoparticle-assisted nanoporous etch after conventional micron scale KOH-based pyramid texturing (pyramid black etching). By incorporating geometric enhancement of antireflection, this multi-scale texturing reduces the nanoporosity depth required to make silicon ‘black’ compared to nanoporous planar surfaces. As a result, it improves short-wavelength spectral response (blue response), previously one of the major limiting factors in ‘black-Si’ solar cells. With multi-scale texturing, the spectrum-weighted average reflectance from 350- to 1000-nm wavelength is below 2% with a 100-nm deep nanoporous layer. In comparison, roughly 250-nm deep nanopores are needed to achieve similar reflectance on planar surface. Here, we characterize surface morphology, reflectivity and solar cell performance of the multi-scale textured solar cells.
Timing driven gate duplication: complexity issues and algorithms

Delay optimization is a fundamental goal in logic synthesis. This paper presents gate duplication as a strategy for performance optimization. Many timing optimization strategies have been proposed over the past few years. In the past few years, the research community has looked at gate duplication extensively as a method of reducing the cut-set of partitions. Strategies of logic duplication for cut-set minimization have been suggested. The strength of gate duplication as a cut-set minimizing strategy has been demonstrated. However applicability of this strategy in reducing the circuit delay has not been studied in detail. In this paper we prove the problem of partitioning a set of fanouts between a gate and it's replica (both gates have the same fanins) such that the required time constraint at the input pin is met, to be NP-Complete. Hence even the local optimization by gate duplication problem (formally defined later) is also NP-Complete. We then present an algorithm for gate duplication which is based on the dynamic programming approach. Since the problem of partitioning a set of fanouts between a node and it's replica is NP-Complete, we use a heuristic for making this decision which is optimal under specific conditions. We report delay improvements as high as 8% over highly optimized results generated by SIS. The rest of this paper is organized as follows. Section 2 deals with the delay model and provides basic definitions. Section 3 reviews the complexity of the global gate duplication problem. Section 4 presents the proof of NP-Completeness for the local gate duplication problem. Section 5 describes a heuristic for gate duplication in detail, followed by results in Section 6. This is followed by some observations and conclusion in Section 7.
Blindsight and consciousness

Implications for understanding consciousness are considered by focusing on two behaviors whose mutual disparity indicates blindsight. Among the topics are: (a) the basis on which people report seeing something in particular; (b) two interpretations of blindsighted subjects' forced-choice guessing as affected by perceptual judgments outside subjects' awareness or as based on "pure perceptual knowledge" of which subjects have awareness, though this "knowledge" is nonconsciously acquired; (c) whether blindsight is "behavior divorced from awareness"; and (d) an interpretation of blindsight as a matter of responding to internal occurrences.
Output Analysis Capabilities of Simulation Software

Although most simulation practitioners are aware that output analysis is of extreme importance in a discrete-event system simulation, many are not versed in the process for conducting that analysis. Hence, it is not unusual that a simulationpractitioner will conduct just one replication of the simulation, and provide the resulting measure-of-performance as the estimated response. Point estimates like this can be very dangerous, since they represent but one of many possible values of an experiment when random variation is present. It is much more appropriate to provide a statistical confidence interval, as a minimal form of output analysis.This article uses an example that describes a context in which variation in output performance measures can occur. The actual output from a simulation of that example system is used to develop confidence intervals.The output features of simulation software are briefly described. This is followed by a listing of these same output features and their availability on five si...
Chemical modification of 5-[125I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine toxicity in mammalian cells in vitro.

Purpose : To address the cytotoxic effects of DNA-incorporated 125 I in Chinese hamster V79 lung fibroblasts under various scavenging conditions. Methods : The toxic effects of DNA-incorporated 5-[ 125 I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (125 IdUrd) were assessed by the colony-forming assay with cells incubated in medium containing serum and/or dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). Experiments were carried out at 0.3 or -135°C. Results : When 125 I decays were accumulated at 0.3°C in 10% serum 0, 5 or 10% DMSO, no radioprotection was afforded by 5% DMSO, while the dose modification factor (DMF) for 10% DMSO was 2.0. For cells accumulating decays at 135°C in the presence of 5 or 10% serum, DMSO was radioprotective (DMF= 1.8-1.9). D 0 obtained at each serum concentration correlated strongly (R =0.999) with the scavenging capacity of DMSO. Under these experimental conditions, 10% serum is ~3.6 times more protective than 5% serum. Conclusions : The contribution of indirect mechanisms to the toxicity of 125 I decaying within mammali...
The preoptic hypothalamus and basal forebrain play opposing roles in the descending modulation of sleep and wakefulness in infant rats

Recent findings in infant rats suggest that the preoptic area (POA) and/or basal forebrain (BF) contribute to developmental changes in sleep and wake organization between postnatal day 2 (P2) and P9. To examine the contributions of these forebrain areas to sleep and wakefulness, separate lesions of the POA or BF, or combined lesions (POA + BF), were performed at P9, and precollicular transections were performed at P2. In addition, modafinil, a drug of unknown mechanism of action the effects of which on sleep and wakefulness have been hypothesized to result from inhibition of POA activity, was administered at P2 and P9. Finally, extracellular neuronal activity was recorded from the POA and BF. POA lesions decreased sleep bout durations and increased wake bout durations. BF lesions inhibited sleep bout durations to a lesser extent, while leaving wake bout durations unaffected. POA + BF lesions produced a combination of these effects, resulting in short bouts of sleep and wakefulness similar to those of transected P8 rats. Even at P2, transections decreased sleep bout durations. The finding, however, that the sleep-inhibiting and wake-promoting effects of modafinil were more potent at P9 than at P2 suggests increasing sleep-wake modulation by the POA between these two ages. Finally, neuronal recordings confirmed the presence of state-dependent neurons within the infant POA and BF. We propose that the POA, in addition to promoting sleep, inhibits wakefulness via direct and indirect inhibitory connections with wake-promoting neurons in the BF, and that this inhibitory influence increases across early development.
Merit pay raises and organization-based self-esteem

We developed and tested a theory of the relationship between merit pay raises and organization-based self-esteem (OBSE) in a longitudinal study of hospital employees. We predicted that the positive relationship between merit pay raise size and OBSE would be stronger when pay-for-performance (PFP) perceptions were high and predicted further that this interaction would be stronger among older employees. As predicted, merit pay raises were not related to OBSE levels for younger employees, but, among older employees, larger merit raises increased OBSE when PFP perceptions were high and decreased OBSE when PFP perceptions were low. Implications of the study for merit pay theory and practice are addressed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Dimension of the Frontier of Planar Brownian Motion

Let $B$ be a two dimensional Brownian motion and let the frontier of $B[0,1]$ be defined as the set of all points in $B[0,1]$ that are in the closure of the unbounded connected component of its complement. We prove that the Hausdorff dimension of the frontier equals $2(1 - \alpha)$ where $\alpha$ is an exponent for Brownian motion called the two-sided disconnection exponent. In particular, using an estimate on $\alpha$ due to Werner, the Hausdorff dimension is greater than $1.015$.
Effect of mechanical convection on the partitioning of an anionic iodinated contrast agent in intact patellar cartilage

To determine if mechanical convection accelerates partitioning of an anionic contrast agent into cartilage while maintaining its ability to reflect the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content in contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of cartilage. Bovine patellae (N = 4) were immersed in iothalamate and serially imaged over 24 h of passive diffusion at 34°C. Following saline washing for 14 h, each patella was serially imaged over 2.5 h of mechanical convection by cyclic compressive loading (120N, 1 Hz) while immersed in iothalamate at 34°C. After similar saline washing, each patella was sectioned into 15 blocks (n = 60) and contrast concentration per time point as well as GAG content were determined for each cartilage block. Mechanical convection produced 70.6%, 34.4%, and 16.4% higher contrast concentration at 30, 60, and 90 min, respectively, compared to passive diffusion (p < 0.001) and boosted initial contrast flux 330%. The correlation between contrast concentration and GAG content was significant at all time points and correlation coefficients improved with time, reaching R2 = 0.60 after 180 min of passive diffusion and 22.5 min of mechanical convection. Mechanical convection significantly accelerated partitioning of a contrast agent into healthy cartilage while maintaining strong correlations with GAG content, providing an evidence-based rationale for adopting walking regimens in CECT imaging protocols. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:1333–1340, 2014.
Direct estimation of per nucleotide and genomic deleterious mutation rates in Drosophila

Spontaneous mutations are the source of genetic variation required for evolutionary change, and are therefore important for many aspects of evolutionary biology. For example, the divergence between taxa at neutrally evolving sites in the genome is proportional to the per nucleotide mutation rate, u (ref. 1), and this can be used to date speciation events by assuming a molecular clock. The overall rate of occurrence of deleterious mutations in the genome each generation (U) appears in theories of nucleotide divergence and polymorphism, the evolution of sex and recombination, and the evolutionary consequences of inbreeding. However, estimates of U based on changes in allozymes or DNA sequences and fitness traits are discordant. Here we directly estimate u in Drosophila melanogaster by scanning 20 million bases of DNA from three sets of mutation accumulation lines by using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography. From 37 mutation events that we detected, we obtained a mean estimate for u of 8.4 x 10(-9) per generation. Moreover, we detected significant heterogeneity in u among the three mutation-accumulation-line genotypes. By multiplying u by an estimate of the fraction of mutations that are deleterious in natural populations of Drosophila, we estimate that U is 1.2 per diploid genome. This high rate suggests that selection against deleterious mutations may have a key role in explaining patterns of genetic variation in the genome, and help to maintain recombination and sexual reproduction.
Impact of Scenario-Based Customer Process Flow on Emotion and Satisfaction

This paper tries to explore the effect of customer process flow on customer emotion and satisfaction employing three restaurant service presenting fruits process with the help of scenario-based empirical research method. Using the analysis technique of mean, ANOVA, multiple comparisons, it concludes that customer emotion and satisfaction level of presenting fruits in pre-dinner is higher than those in in-dinner and post-dinner, which provides empirical evidence for improving restaurant service process, and then this paper provides good revelation and reference in building customer process flow consciousness and effectively designing customer process flow.
The Effects of Three Nonoxynol-9 Preparations on Vaginal Flora and Epithelium

To evaluate the effects of nonoxynol-9 (N-9) on the vaginal flora and epithelium, 48 women (16 in each group) were evaluated by use of quantitative vaginal cultures and colposcopy. at baseline and at 0.5, 4, 24, 48, and 72 h after insertion of one of three N-9 preparations (4% gel [Conceptrol], 3.5% gel [Advantage-24], or a 28% vaginal contraceptive film). The proportion positive for H2O2+ or H2O2- lactobacilli did not change significantly with any of the preparations, but lactobacilli concentrations decreased transiently. Both the proportion of women with Gardnerella vaginalis and the concentration of G. vaginalis decreased transiently. The proportion of women with Escherichia coli increased with the 4% gel, and the concentration increased with all preparations. The number with anaerobic gram-negative rods increased, although the concentrations decreased. Symptoms and colposcopic abnormalities were rare. Changes in levels of vaginal bacteria were transient after single applications of N-9, but adverse effects may be enhanced with frequent, chronic use.
FreeMAC: framework for multi-channel mac development on 802.11 hardware

Exponential growth in the number of wireless devices that operate in the limited unlicensed frequency spectrum necessitates the next generation of radio devices to be reconfigurable and sensitive to changes in network conditions and spectrum availability. Most modern wireless devices offer increased software programmability and control over radio communication parameters. Since a large portion of the MAC protocol is implemented in software, with the firmware providing a set of functional primitives, it is possible to design and implement alternate MAC protocols in real testbeds equipped with commodity 802.11 devices. This paper describes FreeMAC, a reconfigurable MAC protocol development framework that enables the design and implementation of a general class of multi-channel MAC protocols on a typical Linux system. FreeMAC provides support for frequent channel switching and fine control over the timing of packet transmissions. We also propose a mechanism to reduce the latency in the scheduling of periodic operations of a software MAC protocol that have strict timing requirements. Results from our six node testbed indicate that using our approach, the scheduling latency of slot transitions in a TDMA-style MAC can be improved by up to an order of magnitude, with minimal overhead. FreeMAC also exports a number of radio configuration parameters as API functions to enable cross layer interactions among wireless networking protocols. As a proof of concept, we implement a simple multi-channel TDMA MAC on our testbed to demonstrate the utility of FreeMAC as a development framework.
Developmental Biology of an Exotic Scale, Acutaspis albopicta (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)

Acutaspis albopicta (Cockerell) is one of seven exotic scale species detected on shipments of ‘Hass’ avocados entering California from Mexico. Here, we present the results of experiments to elucidate basic life history parameters of this species. The scale only reproduces sexually with unmated females producing no offspring. Unmated females survived up to 14 wk after settling on host fruits, whereas males survived for up to 62 h, with the majority dying within 46 h after emergence. Females laid a mean of 52.0 ± 2.8 eggs (range, 5–171 eggs). Lower humidity (50%) was detrimental to the survival of male scales compared with high humidity (75%), especially during the pupal stage. The optimal temperature for development of both sexes was 25°C. At this temperature, females developed from first instars to adults in ≈28 d, whereas males emerged from their pupal cases after ≈37 d. The adjusted lower developmental thresholds for females and males were 13.2 and 13.4°C, respectively. The upper developmental threshold for both females and males was ≈32°C. Total development from first instar to adult female was 329 degree days and to emerged male, 433 degree days.
Dead-End Hollow-Fiber Ultrafiltration for Recovery of Diverse Microbes from Water

Dead-end ultrafiltration (DEUF) is an alternative approach to tangential-flow hollow-fiber ultrafiltration that can be readily employed under field conditions to recover microbes from water. The hydraulics of DEUF and microbe recovery for a new DEUF method were investigated using 100-liter tap water samples. Pressure, flow rate, and temperature were investigated using four hollow-fiber ultrafilter types. Based on hydraulic performance, the Asahi Kasei REXEED 25S ultrafilter was selected for microbe recovery experiments. Microbe recovery experiments were performed using MS2 bacteriophage, Enterococcus faecalis, Clostridium perfringens spores, and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. Microbes were recovered from ultrafilters by backflushing using a surfactant solution. Average flow rates were 2.1 liters/min for 100-liter water samples having turbidities of 0.28 to 4.3 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), and no evidence of appreciable filter clogging was observed. The DEUF average recovery efficiencies for each study analyte in tap water were as follows: for E. faecalis, 93% ± 16%; for MS2, 57% ± 7.7%; for C. perfringens spores, 94% ± 22%; and for C. parvum, 87% ± 18%. Average microbe recoveries for tap water amended with surface water (average turbidity = 4.3 NTU) were as follows: for E. faecalis, 78% ± 12%; for MS2, 73% ± 13%; for C. perfringens, 57% ± 21%; and for C. parvum, 83% ± 21%. These data demonstrate that DEUF is an effective method for recovering diverse microbes from water and should be a useful tool for field-based environmental investigations.
Ingenuity and Uneasiness About Group Psychotherapy in University Counseling Centers

Group psychotherapy in university counseling centers has evolved to treat a variety of problems that college students experience, and several counseling centers now have vibrant group treatment and training programs. Prospective group members and many therapists, however, continue to feel uneasy about group therapy. This mutually shared uneasiness stems from a fear of public exposure about revealing one's vulnerabilities or lack of competence. If left unexamined, this uneasiness can inhibit the use of group therapy as a major treatment modality.
The beetle family Carabidae of Costa Rica: The genus Epikastea Liebke of the Plochonida Group, with new Neotropical species and notes on their way of life (Insecta: Coleoptera, Lebiini, Agrina)

Genus Epikastea Liebke 1936, of the Plochionida Group of Subtribe Agrina, Lebiini, with six species is revised. Subtribe Agrina consists of those species formerly included in the Subtribe Calleidina. The species of Epikastea Liebke 1936 are diagnosed, described, and illustrated. One species occurs in Costa Rica; five are new South American species and are here assigned to this genus. The five new species described are: Epikastea biolat Erwin, n. sp. (PER , MADRE DE DIOS, Rio Manu, BIOLAT Biodiversity Station, Pakitza Guard Station, 356m, 11 56 47 S, 071 17 00 W), Epikastea grace Erwin, n. sp. (PER , LORETO, Samiria River, Camp Manco Capac, 04 43 0 S, 074 18 0 W), Epikastea mancocapac Erwin, n. sp. (PER , LORETO, Samiria River, Camp Manco Capac, 04 43 0 S, 074 18 0 W), Epikastea piranha Erwin, n. sp. (ECUADOR. ORELLANA, Hauorani Territory, Camp Pira a, 0 39' 25.685" S, 76 27' 10.813" W), Epikastea poguei Erwin, n. sp. (PER , MADRE DE DIOS, Rio Manu, BIOLAT Biodiversity Station, Pakitza Guard Station, 356m, 11 56 47 S, 071 17 00 W). A definition of the Plochionida Group and an identification key to the Western Hemisphere genera included are provided. A key to the known species of Epikastea Liebke is given. Distribution data are provided for all species and a map is provided for the Costa Rican taxon. Adults of Epikastea Liebke have been found on rotting logs in rainforests and fogged from the canopy of tropical trees and palms.
Alcohol consumption was adversely associated with dental caries but not periodontal disease in a Swedish study.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Association between alcohol consumption and dental health. Jansson L. J Clin Periodontol 2008;35(5):379-84. Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence. Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable. Purpose/Question To study the association of alcohol consumption with dental health in a sample from Stockholm, Sweden. Source of Funding Government—Foundation of H.M. King Gustav V and H.M. Queen Victoria, Stockholm, Sweden. Type of Study/Design Retrospective cohort study.
Drosophila virilis oskar transgenes direct body patterning but not pole cell formation or maintenance of mRNA localization in D. melanogaster

The Drosophila melanogaster gene oskar is required for both posterior body patterning and germline formation in the early embryo; precisely how oskar functions is unknown. The oskar transcript is localized to the posterior pole of the developing oocyte, and oskar mRNA and protein are maintained at the pole through early embryogenesis. The posterior maintenance of oskar mRNA is dependent upon the presence of oskar protein. We have cloned and characterized the Drosophila virilis oskar homologue, virosk, and examined its activity as a transgene in Drosophila melanogaster flies. We find that the cis-acting mRNA localization signals are conserved, although the virosk transcript also transiently accumulates at novel intermediate sites. The virosk protein, however, shows substantial differences from oskar: while virosk is able to rescue body patterning in a D. melanogaster oskar- background, it is impaired in both mRNA maintenance and pole cell formation. Furthermore, virosk induces a dominant maternal-effect lethality when introduced into a wild-type background, and interferes with the posterior maintenance of the endogenous oskar transcript in early embryogenesis. Our data suggest that virosk protein is unable to anchor at the posterior pole of the early embryo; this defect could account for all of the characteristics of virosk mentioned above. Our observations support a model in which oskar protein functions both by nucleating the factors necessary for the activation of the posterior body patterning determinant and the germ cell determinant, and by anchoring these factors to the posterior pole of the embryo. While the posterior body patterning determinant need not be correctly localized to provide body patterning activity, the germ cell determinant may need to be highly concentrated adjacent to the cortex in order to direct pole cell formation.
Personality and Perceived Health in Spousal Caregivers of Patients with Lung Cancer: The Roles of Neuroticism and Extraversion

Purpose. Family members' responsibilities for patients with cancer have increased dramatically over the past decade and will likely continue to rise. Given that caregiving is associated with declines in self-care, there is a need for research on caregivers' perceptions of their own health. The purpose of this study was to examine whether personality is associated with four self-report perceived health items from the SF-36. Methods. The sample consisted of 114 spouses of lung cancer patients who completed cross-sectional measures as part of a larger cohort study on adjustment to the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. Predictors of interest were Neuroticism and Extraversion scores from the NEO-FFI. Covariates were age, gender, conscientiousness, depressive symptoms, and objective illness burden. Results. Multivariate analyses revealed that caregivers with higher Extraversion scores were less likely to respond affirmatively to the item "I expect my health to get worse" (OR = 0.90, p < 0.05). Neuroticism was associated with poorer perceived health (ORs from 1.11 to 1.12, p's < 0.05). Conclusions. The present cross-sectional findings suggest that personality is associated with responses to SF-36 perceived health items beyond what can be accounted for by objective illness burden and other covariates. The potential overestimation of health among extraverted caregivers may have implications for their health outcomes.
Neurotrophic factor control of satiety and body weight

Energy balance--that is, the relationship between energy intake and energy expenditure--is regulated by a complex interplay of hormones, brain circuits and peripheral tissues. Leptin is an adipocyte-derived cytokine that suppresses appetite and increases energy expenditure. Ironically, obese individuals have high levels of plasma leptin and are resistant to leptin treatment. Neurotrophic factors, particularly ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), are also important for the control of body weight. CNTF can overcome leptin resistance in order to reduce body weight, although CNTF and leptin activate similar signalling cascades. Mutations in the gene encoding BDNF lead to insatiable appetite and severe obesity.
Genomes of diverse isolates of the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus.

The marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is the numerically dominant photosynthetic organism in the oligotrophic oceans, and a model system in marine microbial ecology. Here we report 27 new whole genome sequences (2 complete and closed; 25 of draft quality) of cultured isolates, representing five major phylogenetic clades of Prochlorococcus. The sequenced strains were isolated from diverse regions of the oceans, facilitating studies of the drivers of microbial diversity—both in the lab and in the field. To improve the utility of these genomes for comparative genomics, we also define pre-computed clusters of orthologous groups of proteins (COGs), indicating how genes are distributed among these and other publicly available Prochlorococcus genomes. These data represent a significant expansion of Prochlorococcus reference genomes that are useful for numerous applications in microbial ecology, evolution and oceanography.
Epileptogenicity of Cortical Dysplasias and Tumors

The epileptogenic characteristic of focal cortical dysplasias and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors explored by depth electrodes and stereoelectroencephalography is quantified using an epileptogenicity index, in a study of 36 patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy at Universite de la Mediterranee and other centers in Marseille and Rennes, France.
Application of gastrointestinal decompression after different types of surgical gastrectomy

Objective To investigate the effect of gastrointestinal decompression on different surgical gastrectomy.Methods One hundred patients underwent gastrointestinal decompression after different surgical gastrectomy were selected,and were divided into four groups according to the different method of gastrectomy. Group A: 45 cases of subtotal gastric resection +gastroduodenostomy; group B: 19 cases of subtotal gastric resection + gastrojejunostomy; group C: 15 cases of proximal gastrectomy; group D: 21 cases of total gastrectomy. The gastric drainage volume,anus exhausting time,gastric tube detaining time,postoperative nausea and vomiting,abdominal distension was analyzed. Results The differences of gastric drainage volume,abdominal distention and gastric tube detaining time were statistically significant among the four groups( P 0. 05); but the degree of postoperative nausea and vomiting,anus exhausting time had no statistically significant differences among the four groups( P 0. 05). Conclusion Application of gastrointestinal decompression after different surgical gastrectomy should be selected the high-risk cases as the relief object,and in the timing of indwelling stomach tube to the right,in order to reduce or avoid the occurrence of postoperative discomfort and complications.
Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Testis With Confirmed ALK-1 Gene Rearrangement

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare tumor with low malignant potential that is characterized by a proliferation of myofibroblastic spindle cells in an inflammatory milieu. The tumor has been …
Factors influencing murine embryo bioassay: effects of proteins, aging of medium, and surgical glove coatings.

The 2-cell murine embryo bioassay as quality control for human in vitro fertilization (IVF) was used to evaluate the effects of protein supplements, medium aging, and surgical glove coatings. Ham's F-10 medium (GIBCO, Grand Island, NY) without protein supplementation supported growth of the 2-cell embryos to blastocysts. Addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA), fetal cord serum (FCS), or maternal serum (MS) did not enhance or reduce the blastulation rates (medium alone, 89.4%; BSA, 86.4%; FCS, 90%; MS, 74.7%). Unsupplemented Ham's F-10 medium was found to contain three major peaks of approximately 50,000 daltons and several minor peaks, analyzed on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and sodium sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), suggesting the presence of protein(s) in the medium itself. The storing of medium up to 425 days at 4°C affected neither the HPLC profile nor its ability to support embryo growth (blastulation rates: fresh, 84%; stored 150 to 425 days, 77.7%). The coating of surgical gloves affected embryo growth. Both talc-coated (TC) and "talc-free," starch-coated (SC) surgical gloves were found to be progressively embryotoxic when they touched the medium for increasing lengths of time, compared with uncoated latex (UL) gloves and untouched control medium. Quality control of medium preparation and handling in murine embryo bioassay is reemphasized, with requirements for protein supplementation, use of fresh medium, and possible contamination with even talc-free, SC surgical gloves reevaluated.
An essay on predictability in choice-of-law doctrine and implications for a Third Conflicts Restatement

Both Restatements of the Conflict of Laws have been controversial. The First, completed in 1934, enshrined territorial rules, such as the law of the place of the injury (lex loci delicti) governing tort cases. The First Restatement was under immediate attack, principally the Legal Realists. As the American Conflicts Revolution, which grew out of academic writings (most importantly those of Brainerd Currie) began to take hold in U.S. courts in the 1960's work was underway on a Second Restatement, which was published in 1971. With choice of law doctrine in chaos, restating U.S. law was an impossible task, though the drafters attempted to bring the competing theories under the roof of "the most significant relationship" test. Although a majority of U.S. courts purport to follow the Second Restatement, their over-reliance on its very general sections has made results malleable and unpredictable. This article looks at various choice-of-law codifications and argues that there are lessons to be learned from them that would make choice of law more predictable. The unpredictability of results in interstate cases is exacting a heavy toll on litigants and courts and an important goal of the Third Restatement should be to restore some order to the chaos.
Serological Analysis of Two Monoclonal Antibodies: One Detecting an DRw53 Supertypic Determinant and One Detecting a New Supertypic Determinant Related to HLA-DR7

Two cytotoxic monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), PL3 (IgG3) and PL2 (IgG2a), were produced by immunization with an HLA-DR7 homozygous cell line, PLH. Their serological specificities were determined by binding assays and by complement-dependent microcytotoxicity on an extensive cell panel.
Advances in the Discovery of New Antimalarials

Malaria is a major parasitic infection that affects more than half of the world's population and causes over a million deaths each year. The resistance developed by the parasites to traditional drugs and decreasing effectiveness of insecticides towards mosquito vectors is seriously hindering malaria control programs. Discovery of new antimalarial agents or improving the effectiveness of existing ones is therefore urgently needed to face the health threat from this infection. This chapter gives a comprehensive overview of malaria epidemiology, with particular emphasis on progress made in the drug development efforts during the last decade. Modes of action of each class of drugs or the biosynthetic pathways they target, and details regarding drug resistance and prospects of combination therapy are discussed.
Comparison of Monocyte Human Leukocyte antigen-DR Expression and Stimulated Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Production as Outcome Predictors in Severe Sepsis: A Prospective Observational Study

Identifying patients in the immunosuppressive phase of sepsis is essential for development of immunomodulatory therapies. Little data exists comparing the ability of the two most well-studied markers of sepsis-induced immunosuppression, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR expression and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-ɑ) production, to predict mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to compare HLA-DR expression and LPS-induced TNF-ɑ production as predictors of 28-day mortality and acquisition of secondary infections in adult septic patients. A single-center, prospective observational study of 83 adult septic patients admitted to a medical or surgical intensive care unit. Blood samples were collected at three time points during the septic course (days 1–2, days 3–4, and days 6–8 after sepsis diagnosis) and assayed for HLA-DR expression and LPS-induced TNF-ɑ production. A repeated measures mixed model analysis was used to compare values of these immunological markers among survivors and non-survivors and among those who did and did not develop a secondary infection. Twenty-five patients (30.1 %) died within 28 days of sepsis diagnosis. HLA-DR expression was significantly lower in non-survivors as compared to survivors on days 3–4 (p = 0.04) and days 6–8 (p = 0.002). The change in HLA-DR from days 1–2 to days 6–8 was also lower in non-survivors (p = 0.04). Median HLA-DR expression decreased from days 1–2 to days 3–4 in patients who developed secondary infections while it increased in those without secondary infections (p = 0.054). TNF-ɑ production did not differ between survivors and non-survivors or between patients who did and did not develop a secondary infection. Monocyte HLA-DR expression may be a more accurate predictor of mortality and acquisition of secondary infections than LPS-stimulated TNF-ɑ production in adult medical and surgical critically ill patients.