cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TRAF3: a novel tumor suppressor gene in macrophages

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3), a member of the TRAF family of cytoplasmic adaptor proteins with E3 ligase activity, is ubiquitously expressed in various cell types of the immune system. It is shared for signaling by a variety of adaptive and innate immune receptors as well as cytokine receptors. Previous studies examining conditional TRAF3-deficient mouse models that have the Traf3 gene specifically deleted in B lymphocytes or T lymphocytes have revealed the diverse and critical in vivo functions of TRAF3 in adaptive immunity. Although in vitro evidence points to a pivotal and indispensable role for TRAF3 in type I interferon production induced by pattern recognition receptors in macrophages and dendritic cells, the in vivo functions of TRAF3 in the innate immune system had long remained unclear. Three laboratories have recently addressed this gap in knowledge by investigating myeloid cell-specific TRAF3-deficient (genotype: TRAF3flox/floxLysM+/Cre) mice. The new evidence together demonstrates that specific ablation of TRAF3 in myeloid cells leads to inflammatory diseases, altered progression of diabetes, and spontaneous development of different types of tumors and infections in mice. These new findings indicate that TRAF3 acts as an anti-inflammatory factor and is required for optimal innate immunity in myeloid cells. Strikingly, the new evidence also identifies TRAF3 as a novel tumor suppressor gene in macrophages and other myeloid cells. In this review, we discuss and summarize the new findings and current knowledge about the multi-faceted regulatory roles and complex signaling mechanisms of myeloid cell TRAF3 in inflammation, innate immunity, and tumor development.
Hemihypertrophy : Concepts and controversies

Hemihypertrophy is best defined as asymmetry between the right and left sides of the body to a greater degree than can be attributed to normal variation. This asymmetry often appears as a difference in the size or length of the extremities, but it may also involve the head, trunk, and internal organs. It is often extremely difficult to distinguish hemihypertrophy from normal variation. However, this distinction is very important because young children who have hemihypertrophy are at increased risk of malignant intra-abdominal tumors, such as Wilms tumor or hepatoblastoma9,21,22,24,27,29,31,47,60. The increased risk of neoplasia has led to the controversial recommendation of frequent abdominal ultrasound screening designed to detect the tumor at the earliest possible stage2,12,16,25. The orthopaedic literature regarding hemihypertrophy has focused primarily on the treatment of discrepancy between the lengths of the lower limbs and has only superficially acknowledged link between hemihypertrophy and cancer in children4,37,38,45. Even the most recent pediatric and pediatric orthopaedic textbooks mention this association only briefly if at all8,42,59. The objectives of the present review were to describe the clinical features of hemihypertrophy and its related syndromes, to focus on the relationship between hemihypertrophy and malignant tumors in children, and to discuss the controversy surrounding the frequent abdominal ultrasound screening that is recommended for this group of patients. Hemihypertrophy occurs when a limb or one side of the body enlarges asymmetrically compared with the contralateral limb or side beyond the limits of normal variation. This enlargement may affect only the soft tissues, but it ordinarily involves both the soft tissues and the underlying skeleton. Although …
Abstract 2944: Decline in arylsulfatase B (N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase) leads to increased expression of the transmembrane glycoprotein GPNMB

The enzyme arylsulfatase B (ARSB; N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase), which removes 4-sulfate groups from chondroitin-4-sulfate (C4S) and dermatan sulfate, is reduced in malignant human epithelial breast, colonic, and prostate cells and tissues. Lower ARSB immunohistochemical scores have been associated with shorter intervals to recurrence in paired cases of prostate cancer and with propensity for metastasis in malignant colonic cells. The transmembrane glycoprotein GPNMB has been shown to be increased in malignant melanoma, glioblastoma multiforme, and mammary carcinoma, and is a target of antibody therapy in triple-negative breast cancers. In the ARSB-deficient mouse, cDNA microarray of prostate tissue demonstrated 9.53-fold increase in expression of GPNMB, compared to age- and gender- matched C57BL/6J wild-type controls. Measurements by ELISA of GPNMB protein in the ARSB-null mouse liver and prostate tissues showed significant increases, compared to C57BL/6J wild-type controls. In the liver of female ARSB-deficient mice, the gpnmb increased to 47.1 ± 5.7 ng/mg protein from 8.5 ± 1.2 ng/mg protein in the control mouse liver (n=5 in each group), and similar six-fold increases occurred in the male ARSB-null mouse liver. Prostate gpnmb increased more that three-fold, and serum levels in female and male null mice were significantly greater. When ARSB was silenced by siRNA in the normal human prostate stromal cell line (WPMY-1), GPNMB increased from 3.6 ± 0.3 ng/mg protein to 18.3 ± 1.1 ng/mg protein, and in the normal human prostate epithelial cell line (WPE1-NB14) from 4.8 ± 0.4 to 24.7 ± 1.6 ng/mg protein. Similarly in the human hepatic cell line, HepG2, GPNMB increased greater than five-fold. Decline in ARSB leads to increased chondroitin-4-sulfation and reduced galectin-3 binding to C4S, enabling increased nuclear translocation of galectin-3. We have shown that the increase in nuclear galectin-3 following decline in ARSB impacts on transcriptional events mediated by AP-1 in human epithelial cells, including increases in HIF-1α and versican. However, in the prostate stromal and epithelial cell lines, AP-1 inhibitors, including a c-Jun mimetic peptide and an oligonucleotide inhibitor of c-Fos DNA-binding, did not reduce the increase in GPNMB expression that followed ARSB silencing. Although the mechanism for the decline in GPNMB expression is unknown at this time, the findings support a critical role for ARSB in vital cell processes and suggest that ARSB may be useful as a therapeutic target in malignancy. Citation Format: Sumit Bhattacharyya, Leo Feferman, Joanne Kramer Tobacman. Decline in arylsulfatase B (N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase) leads to increased expression of the transmembrane glycoprotein GPNMB. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2944. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2944
Flow cytometric analysis of g1 exit kinetics in asynchronous l1210 cell cultures with the constant transition probability model.

Following addition of mitotic inhibitors to asynchronous cultures of mouse lymphoid cell line L1210, the rate of cell exit from G1 phase accelerates during the first 2–3 hr then declines with apparent first order kinetics. The simplest mathematical model that calls for biphasic G1 exit kinetics is the two-state model with constant transition probability. It posits an exponential distribution of residence times in the first state, which is wholly contained in the G1 phase, and a fixed duration, Tb, for the rest of the cycle. We derive the distribution of expected times-to-division predicted by the model for a population in exponential steady state growth, and integrate this to obtain the predicted G1 exit curve for the blocked population as a function of two parameters, Tb and the population doubling time, Td. The experimental exit curves were fractions of the population remaining below an early S phase DNA content threshold, as a function of time after adding Colcemid, vincristine or vinblastine to exponentially growing cultures. Doubling times were determined from the rate of accumulation of blocked cells in G2 + M. An iterative method was then used to obtain a least-squares fit of Tb and an observational parameter, Tt, representing the average time-to-division of cells at the chosen DNA threshold. The fitted G1 exit curves match the data well, showing that the constant transition probability model is a useful mathematical description of the G1 kinetics of these cells. The method described is a convenient way to estimate the parameters of this model for asynchronous, exponentially growing populations.
Genus-level taphonomic variation within cladid crinoids from the Upper Pennsylvanian Barnsdall Formation, northeastern Oklahoma

Previous comparative taphonomic studies have convincingly demonstrated that the taphonomic state of crinoid fossils is controlled largely by paleoenvironmental processes and constructional morphology. While taphonomic variability among depositional facies has a long history of investigation, the degree to which preservational heterogeneity is controlled by crinoid morphology has only recently been addressed and only at relatively coarse levels. Most studies to date have focused on taphonomic variability at the subclass or ordinal level, with little documentation of lower level taphonomic variation within a single crinoid subclass. A remarkably diverse, abundant, and well-preserved crinoid fauna, recovered from a single mudstone interval within the Upper Pennsylvanian (Missourian) Barnsdall Formation in northeastern Oklahoma, midcontinent North America, provides a unique opportunity to examine taphonomic trends among poteriocrine cladid crinoids at refined taxonomic levels. Genus-level variations in specimen completeness, axis of compaction, arm position, and features attributed to decay and scavenging are observed within this assemblage and taphonomic trends related primarily to the size of individuals are detected. These results indicate that taphonomic variability extends at least to genus level within the subclass Cladida. Understanding this variability is important in interpreting the genesis and nature of crinoid-bearing units, as minor variations in morphology, ethology, and scavenger preferences impart unexpected biostratinomic heterogeneity to Copan crinoid fauna that would otherwise be difficult to explain. Taphonomic variability at low taxonomic levels and the influence of preferential scavenging should be accounted for in future crinoid taphonomic grade studies, particularly in Pennsylvanian and younger deposits, in order to avoid taphonomic assumptions that may be overly broad.
Dendritic cell sarcoma of the thyroid.

Background Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) arises from nonlymphatic antigen-presenting cells found in lymph node B-cell follicles. This extremely rare tumor, which usually arises in lymph nodes, does occur in extranodal head and neck sites such as the tonsil and soft palate. Methods A retrospective review of the patient followed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 1993 to the present was performed. Conclusions This is the first reported case of an FDCS of the thyroid. A review of the literature provides useful information to aid in detection, treatment, and outcome of this unusual soft tissue malignancy. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 21: 273–275, 1999.
Vascular damage correlates between heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antibody-mediated disorders of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome have remarkably similar clinical presentations, both of which can progressively result in severe vascular and thrombotic disorders. We hypothesized that the mechanism of platelet activation as occurs in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia may also occur in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome particularly at the vascular wall, that endothelial injury may be similar in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, and that these alterations may be caused by related antibodies. Antibody titers and vascular endothelial damage in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome were studied in plasma samples collected from normals (n = 17), heparin-induced thrombocytopenia patients (n = 15), antiphospholipid antibody syndrome patients (n = 30), and patients clinically diagnosed with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and heparin-induced thrombocytope...
Aortoenteric fistula identified by clinical ultrasound.

Abstract Background Aortoenteric fistula is a rare but serious cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Early diagnosis and definitive treatment with fistula repair may improve patient outcomes. We report the use of point-of-care ultrasound to identify an aortoenteric fistula in a patient presenting with abdominal pain and shock. Case Report A 78-year old man presented to the Emergency Department with abdominal pain and 5 days of minimal hematochezia. He was hypotensive and had diffuse abdominal tenderness. Point-of-care ultrasound was performed, demonstrating an abdominal aortic aneurysm with a hypoechoic projection into a segment of bowel abutting the aorta. Color flow was present through the structure, consistent with an aortoenteric fistula. After resuscitation with red blood cells, computed tomography was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Clinical ultrasound has a well-established role in the detection of aortic aneurysm. This case illustrates that point-of-care ultrasound can also be used to rapidly identify an aortoenteric fistula and expedite timely care and surgical evaluation.
The Advisor, a Fuzzy Knowledge-Based System for Rapid Instrumentation and Control Using a Taguchi-Based Quality Function: Part I — Theory

Part II of this paper describes the implementation of The Advisor in selecting a load motor system for a motor failure design project. Specifically, the Motor Advisor is used to select a load motor, motor driver and motor controller for an accelerated brushless DC motor platform design. The optimal solution from the Motor Advisor is compared with and is shown to be better than equipment previously selected for that application. The ranked solutions show good tradeoffs between application requirements and user preferences as a result of using the new Quality Function described in Part I.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Effect of forced expiration upon finger and pulse volume.

Summary1. Twelve records of the effect of a deep, forced expiration on finger pulse volume were obtained from six subjects. In four of these records a ballistocardiogram was recorded simultaneously. In 5 other tracings total finger volume changes were recorded.2. In all cases the pulse volume and total finger volume (when recorded) decreased immediately following the deep forced expiration. Average duration of diminution was 16 seconds for pulse volume and 24 seconds for total finger volume.3. The absence of a simultaneous decrease in corresponding ballistocardiogram beats suggests that the observed finger changes were due to reflex arteriolar constriction, possibly initiated by abdominal presso-receptors in the great veins or mesentery.
Initial water quantification results using neutron computed tomography

Neutron computed tomography is an important imaging tool in the field of non-destructive testing and in fundamental research for many engineering applications. Contrary to X-rays, neutrons can be attenuated by some light materials, such as hydrogen, but can penetrate many heavy materials. Thus, neutron computed tomography is useful in obtaining important three-dimensional information about a sample's interior structure and material properties that other traditional methods cannot provide. The neutron computed tomography system at the Pennsylvania State University's Radiation Science and Engineering Center is being utilized to develop a water quantification technique for investigation of water distribution in fuel cells under normal conditions. A hollow aluminum cylinder test sample filled with a known volume of water was constructed for purposes of testing the quantification technique. Transmission images of the test sample at different angles were easily acquired through the synthesis of a dedicated image acquisition computer driving a rotary table controller and an in-house developed synchronization software package. After data acquisition, Octopus (version 8.2) and VGStudio Max (version 1.2) were used to perform cross-sectional and three-dimensional reconstructions of the sample, respectively. The initial reconstructions and water quantification results are presented.
Wide-field-of-view Schmidt-sphere imaging collimator

A collimator was required to qualify the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) instrument of the EO-1 new millennium satellite for focus, MTF measurements, and distortion. It was used during assembly of the instrument and during thermal cycling while the instrument was in a vacuum tank. It had to be diffraction-limited over a 3 X 3 degree field of view and over a waveband of 400 to 2500 nm, have no obstruction, and have a virtual exit pupil that could be imaged onto the entrance pupil of the telescope. To satisfy these requirements the collimator, external to the vacuum tank, was built comprising a spherical mirror with exit pupil at its center of curvature, a full-aperture beamsplitter in collimated space, and a single lens to flatten the field. The optical layout and method of verifying collimation will be presented as well as optical performance, of interest since no corrector plate could be used as in the usual Schmidt camera configuration.
Self-Assembly of Alkylammonium Chains on Montmorillonite: Effect of Chain Length, Head Group Structure, and Cation Exchange Capacity

The structure and dynamics of alkylammonium-modified montmorillonites with different cation exchange capacity (CEC), ammonium head groups, and chain length is investigated by molecular dynamics simulation for a large set of structures and compared to a wide array of experimental data. In the 44 systems, the relationship between computational (molecular dynamics) and experimental data (X-ray, IR, NMR, and DSC) was found to be very complementary. Much of the properties appear to be dictated through the inorganic−organic interface, which in addition to electrostatic interactions involves hydrogen bonds between primary ammonium head groups (NH3+−R) and oxygen on the silicate surface (O···H distance ∼150 pm) or flexibly attached quaternary ammonium head groups (NMe3+−R) of higher lateral mobility (O···H distance ∼290 pm). The gauche content is a function of the packing density of the head groups on the surface, the preferred orientation of the head groups, and the interlayer density of the alkyl chains. These ...
Genetic susceptibility to substance dependence

Despite what is often believed, the majority of those who experiment with substances with a dependence potential do not develop dependence. However, there is a subpopulation of users that easily becomes dependent on substances, and these individuals exhibit pre-existing comorbid traits, including novelty seeking and antisocial behavior. There appears to be a genetic basis for the susceptibility to dependence and these comorbid traits. Animal studies have identified specific genes that can alter susceptibility to dependence and response to novelty. The mechanisms underlying the genetic susceptibility to dependence and response to novelty are complex, but genetic susceptibility plays a significant role in the transition from substance use to dependence and from chronic use to addiction. We discuss two models to explain how genetic variations alter dependence susceptibility. Identification of the specific genes involved in these processes would help to identify individuals that are vulnerable to dependence/addiction and to devise novel treatment strategies.
Comparison of bacteria isolated from blood, tissues and feces of x-irradiated mice.

SummaryA serological comparison of bacteria isolated from the blood, tissues and feces of X-irradiated mice has been made. Three species of organisms were studied in this manner: Proteus mirabilis, Paracolobactrum colt-forme and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results indicate that the organisms found in the blood and organs of the X-irradiated mice were serologically identical to bacteria of the same species found in the feces.
Seismic reflection dispersion due to wave-induced fluid flow in heterogeneous reservoir rocks

We have investigated the impact of wave-induced fluid flow, including Biot flow and mesoscopic flow, on the signatures of seismic reflectivity in heterogeneous reservoir rocks. We have incorporated the dynamic poroelastic responses of mesoscopic flow into the classical Biot theory. The resulting effective Biot media could capture the characteristics of velocity dispersion and wave attenuation in heterogeneous poroelastic media. On the basis of this effective Biot media, an approach was developed to compute the poroelastic reflection at arbitrary angles and frequencies from the boundary of two heterogeneous porous media. The computed poroelastic reflections not only depended on the elastic properties’ contrast and incident angle, but also relied on the fluid mobility and observational frequency. For a typical sand-shale reflector, with the given rock and fluid properties, we found that the effect of mesoscopic flow causes Pwave reflection amplitude variations with the frequency being as high as 40% and a maximum phase shift as high as 16° at the seismic exploration frequency band. In addition, it was found that the amplitudevariation with offset intercept and the gradient at the poroelastic interface were impacted by the mesoscopic flow and had a decreasing trend with frequency. Therefore, ignoring the impact of mesoscopic flow could possibly lead to uncertainty in seismic imaging as well as quantitative interpretation of reservoir properties. In comparison, the Biot flowinduced seismic dispersion effect, which occured at a very highfrequency range, was almost negligible.
Multistage Pulsed-Power Electron Accelerators

Pulse power developments in high-current linear accelerators (RADLAC I) and low impedance water transmission lines (PBFA I) are reviewed. The design of Hermes III, a 1.1 MA, 15 MV linear accelerator based on these technologies is discussed and initial data on the development of this accelerator is presented.
Human neonatal dendritic cells are competent in MHC class I antigen processing and presentation.

Neonates are clearly more susceptible to severe disease following infection with a variety of pathogens than are adults. However, the causes for this are unclear and are often attributed to immunological immaturity. While several aspects of immunity differ between adults and neonates, the capacity of dendritic cells in neonates to process and present antigen to CD8+ T cells remains to be addressed. We used human CD8+ T cell clones to compare the ability of neonatal and adult monocyte-derived dendritic cells to present or process and present antigen using the MHC class I pathway. Specifically, we assessed the ability of dendritic cells to present antigenic peptide, present an HLA-E–restricted antigen, process and present an MHC class I-restricted antigen through the classical MHC class I pathway, and cross present cell-associated antigen via MHC class I. We found no defect in neonatal dendritic cells to perform any of these processing and presentation functions and conclude that the MHC class I antigen processing and presentation pathway is functional in neonatal dendritic cells and hence may not account for the diminished control of pathogens.
Butyl isocyanide as a probe of the activation mechanism of soluble guanylate cyclase. Investigating the role of non-heme nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a physiologically relevant activator of the hemoprotein soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). In the presence of NO, sGC is activated several hundredfold above the basal level by a mechanism that remains to be elucidated. The heme ligand n-butyl isocyanide (BIC) was used to probe the mechanism of NO activation of sGC. Electronic absorption spectroscopy was used to show that BIC binds to the sGC heme, forming a 6-coordinate complex with an absorbance maximum at 429 nm. BIC activates sGC 2-5-fold, and synergizes with the allosteric activator YC-1, to activate the enzyme 15-25-fold. YC-1 activates the sGC-BIC complex, and leads to an increase in both the Vmax and Km. BIC was also used to probe the mechanism of NO activation. The activity of the sGC-BIC complex increases 15-fold in the presence of NO, without displacing BIC at the heme, which is consistent with previous reports that proposed the involvement of a non-heme NO binding site in the activation process.
Spintronics using Si

The spin polarization of carriers in a direct-gap semiconductor is readily quantified by measuring the circular polarization of the recombination light luminescence. However, in silicon, owing to its indirect band-gap, such a direct connection between spin polarization and luminescence has been conspicuously absent. This missing link is established with a theory that provides intuitive relations for phonon-assisted optical transitions between the conduction and valence band edges. The theory is applied to explain recent experiments on spin injection in silicon and further elucidate its desirable spin-dependent properties.
Energy and angular distributions of excited rhodium atoms ejected from the rhodium (100) surface

Multiphoton resonance ionization spectroscopy has been used to determine the polar-angle and the kinetic-energy distribution of Rh atoms desorbed from the ion-bombarded Rh{100} surface in the fine-structure components of the ${\mathit{a}}^{4}$${\mathit{F}}_{\mathit{J}}$ ground-state multiplet (J=9/2 and 7/2). The overall behavior is found to be very similar to that observed for higher-lying metastable levels. The energy distribution of the metastable level ${(}^{4}$${\mathit{F}}_{7/2}$ with excitation energy of \ensuremath{\sim}0.2 eV) is found to be broader than the ground-state ${(}^{4}$${\mathit{F}}_{9/2}$) distribution. The energy distribution of the excited ejected atoms is shown to depend mainly on the electron configuration of the excited state. The measured spectra have also been used to investigate the dependence of the excitation probability on the emission velocity. It is shown that the excitation probability depends strongly on this parameter, approaching an exponential dependence on the reciprocal of the normal component of velocity at higher velocities (g5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{5}$ cm/sec).
Relationship between glucose oxidation and FFA concentration in septic cancer-bearing patients.

Glucose oxidation is inhibited in severely ill patients. The present investigation was designed to study the relationship between glucose tissue uptake, glucose oxidation, and FFA concentration in septic cancer-bearing patients. The influence of glucose infusion alone (3.9 mg x kg-1 x min-1), followed by a euglycemic clamp with the same glucose load, on oxidation of glucose, plasma FFA concentration, and lipid oxidation were measured in eight septic cancer-bearing patients. During infusion of 3.9 mg glucose x kg-1 x min-1 glucose tissue uptake was 4.6 +/- 0.3 mg x kg-1 x min-1, glucose oxidation 0.5 +/- 0.2 mg x kg-1 x min-1, FFA concentration 377 +/- 52 mumol x L-1, and lipid oxidation 2.0 +/- 0.2 mumol x kg-1 x min-1. During the euglycemic clamp glucose tissue uptake was 4.4 +/- 0.3 mg x kg-1 x min-1, glucose oxidation rose to 1.8 mg x kg-1 x min-1 (.001 less than P less than .01), FFA concentration dropped to 202 +/- 23 mumol x L-1 (P less than .001), and lipid oxidation to 1.2 +/- 0.2 mumol x kg-1 x min-1 (.001 less than P less than .01). Nonprotein respiratory quotient rose from 0.73 +/- 0.02 to 0.85 +/- 0.02 (.001 lessmore » than P less than .01); 11% +/- 5% of the total amount of glucose taken up by the tissues was oxidized during infusion of glucose alone and increased to 42% +/- 6% during the euglycemic glucose clamp. It is concluded that in septic cancer-bearing patients glucose oxidation is inhibited during infusion of 3.9 mg glucose x kg-1 x min-1, even when expressed as percentage of glucose tissue uptake. With insulin, glucose tissue uptake was not influenced, but glucose oxidation expressed as percentage of glucose tissue uptake was normalized.« less
Futurology of brand management

‘Networked markets are beginning to self-organise faster than the companies that have traditionally served them. Thanks to the web, markets are becoming better informed, smarter and more demanding of qualities missing from most business organisations’. This is a quote from the website of cluetrain.com which comprises many of the points the author has been speaking on and writing on for the last few years — but it encompasses the New (or Digital) Economy as well. This paper examines what changes might be seen in the world of Brand Management in the next 10 years and how technology, Total Customer Experience and Customer Relationship Management all come together, for the benefit of the customer, and in the wider dimension of Intellectual Asset Management (IAM).
Regional diastolic dysfunction in individuals with left ventricular hypertrophy measured by tagged magnetic resonance imaging--the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Background Impairment of global diastolic function is considered to be the mechanism of congestive heart failure in individuals with preserved systolic left ventricular (LV) function. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is known to be a risk factor for congestive heart failure with preserved systolic function, and this process may begin as a regional process. We investigated whether regional LV diastolic function measured by magnetic resonance tagging is altered in asymptomatic participants of the MESA with LVH and preserved systolic LV function. Methods Regional systolic and diastolic strain rates were calculated from strain data in 218 participants of the MESA study. Circumferential strain was calculated from the midwall layer of the septum, anterior, lateral, and inferior walls at mid-LV level. Global LV function measures were studied by magnetic resonance imaging in 4291 MESA participants. Left ventricular hypertrophy for men and women was defined from the MESA population using previously established Framingham criteria. Results Global systolic function was slightly less in the LVH (ejection fraction=0.66 ± 0.10) versus the non-LVH group (ejection fraction=0.69 ± 0.07, P −1 ) compared with the non-LVH group (2.2 ± 1.1 s −1 , P Conclusions Left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with regional diastolic dysfunction in individuals without evidence of clinical cardiovascular disease and preserved systolic function. Magnetic resonance imaging tagging provides detailed quantification of regional diastolic function noninvasively.
Brownian dynamics simulation of charge transport in ion channels

In this work, we study the suitability of a P3M force field scheme coupled with a Brownian dynamics simulation engine for the accurate modelling of charge transport in ion channels. The proposed simulation algorithm (Aboud et al 2004 J. Comput. Electron. 3 117–33) is briefly discussed, and its validation for the electrodynamic description of aqueous solutions (Marreiro et al 2005 J. Comput. Electron. 4 179–83; 2006 J. Comput. Electron. at press) is presented. The algorithm is applied to the simulation of ion channel systems where the influence of the dielectric representation and the diffusion coefficients are computed and compared to experimental (Van Der Straaten et al 2003 J. Comput. Electron. 2 29–47) and simulated (Van Der Straaten et al 2003 J. Comput. Electron. 2 29–47; Miedema et al 2004 Biophys. J. 87 3137–47) data. The results show that while the bulk parameters do not correctly apply to the channel, the model can be refined by a careful choice of parameters in order to yield accurate charge transport properties while remaining extremely effective from the computational viewpoint.
Purification of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase of Plasmodium lophurae.

Abstract Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) was isolated from the malarial parasite, Plasmodium lophurae . The apparent p I , as determined by chromatofocusing, was 7.6. The native molecular weight was 79 000. The pH profile of HGPRT exhibited a broad pH optimum. With hypoxanthine as substrate maximal activity was achieved from pH 6.0–10.0, and with guanine as substrate maximal activity occurred from pH 7.5–9.5. The enzyme exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics with all substrates. The K m values 3.8 μM (hypoxanthine), 2.4 μM (guanine), 6.2 μM (6-mercaptopurine), 7.6 μM (6-thioguanine), and 360 μM 38-azahypoxanthine). 6-Thioinosine, 9-β-arabinofuranosylhypoxanthine, 6-chloropurine, xanthine and azaguanine were inhibitors of the P. lophurae enzyme. From the substrate and inhibitor data it appears that the sixth position on the purine ring plays a major role in enzyme activity.
Measures used in studies of informed decision making about cancer screening: a systematic review.

Interventions to promote informed decision making (IDM) for cancer screening are increasingly common. The resulting body of literature provides an opportunity for a systematic review of measures in use. We searched standard databases for intervention trials and other studies of screening decisions and decision aids, finding 2,110 unique citations (most with abstracts) that we reduced to 104 full-text articles; 36 studies met inclusion criteria (prostate = 20, colorectal = 9, breast = 6, cervical = 1). Two independent coders abstracted data on study characteristics, constructs, and measures. Our findings revealed that most studies measured screening (or intention) and knowledge; fewer measured recommended IDM-related constructs and none measured all outcomes proposed for evaluating IDM interventions. Validity and reliability of measures received inadequate attention in study reports, and conceptual overlap exists among measures. Few IDM measures have been developed/carefully adapted from treatment measures and tested for cancer screening or in diverse populations. We recommend that new and in-progress studies emphasize outcomes beyond knowledge—participation in decision making according to personal preference, satisfaction with the process, and consistency between decisions and values. Also needed is better use of theory to guide conceptualization and operation-alization of measures, greater attention to reliability and validity (particularly in diverse populations), more thorough reporting of sources and operating characteristics of measures, and increased emphasis and resources focused on these issues by funders, researchers, and journal editors.
Temperature and mepiquat chloride effects on cotton canopy architecture

(...) An experiment was conducted to determine the crop responses to temperature in naturally lighted, temperature- and CO 2 -controlled plant growth chambers. The experiment was conducted at five temperatures and measurements were made of several plant parameters. A preliminary experiment showed that mepiquat chloride (MC) caused a dramatic reduction in plant height and number of main-stem nodes. (...)
Spin assignments in 59Ni from the 58Ni(d, p)59Ni reaction

Abstract Angular distributions of the vector analyzing power and the absolute cross section were measured for the 58 Ni(d, p) 59 Ni reaction at a deuteron energy of 10 MeV. The observed j -dependence of the vector analyzing power allowed unambiguous spin assignments for the following states in 59 Ni with excitation energies in MeV : 0.0, 3 2 − ; 0.341, 5 2 − ; 0.465, 1 2 − ; 0.879, 3 2 − ; 1.303, 1 2 − ; 1.686, 5 2 − ; 3.454, 3 2 − ; 3.858, 3 2 − ; 4.495, 5 2 + . The data are well reproduced by DWBA calculations employing deuteron and proton optical model parameters obtained from analyses of elastic scattering cross sections and polarizations. A tentative spin assignment of 9 2 + is made for the level at 3.061 MeV. A 5 2 + assignment to the level at 3.538 MeV is suggested on the basis of the empirical behavior of the j -dependence of the vector analyzing power for l = 2 transitions. Measurements of the vector analyzing power for the four low-lying 59 Ni states formed by l = 1 transfer were made for angles from 2.5° to 15° using a magnetic spectrograph. A very strong j -dependence was observed for these far-forward-angle measurements in agreement with DWBA predictions.
On the micrometeorology of surface hoar growth on snow in mountainous area

Profiles of temperature and humidity are calculated for a snow surface being cooled by outgoing radiation assuming no wind. These suggest that fog would necessarily form to block the cooling and, even in the absence of fog, the diffusion of water vapor to the surface could not account for observed rates of surface hoar growth. Therefore turbulent transfer to an interfacial sublayer with a very large temperature gradient must occur at least intermittently. In mountainous areas, gravity drainage of air over the interfacial sublayer probably accounts for the turbulence since air currents from a regional pressure gradient appear to transfer enough heat to the surface to prevent surface hoar growth. The vapor must diffuse through a 1 mm interfacial sublayer until the crystals reach a sufficient height to interact with the drainage wind.
A micro-model of internal supply forecasting for technical manpower planning

Abstract The manpower planning process includes forecasting the future demand for manpower and the future internal supply of manpower and then developing action plans which will balance supply and demand. Many of the models which exist for forecasting internal supply are for periods of one year or longer, which makes them inappropriate for many project planning and short term human resource management applications. This paper presents an easily implemented short-range (12-month horizon) model for forecasting internal supply. Time series analysis techniques are used to identify seasonal patterns and trends which exist in the determinants of internal supply. These are employed in the development of an internal supply forecast at both the aggregate firm level and at the individual skill group level. Feasibility of the model is demonstrated using empirical data. Output of the model is useful for further manpower planning.
A cost analysis of ranked set sampling to estimate a population mean

Ranked set sampling (RSS) can be a useful environmental sampling method when measurement costs are high but ranking costs are low. RSS estimates of the population mean can have higher precision than estimates from a simple random sample (SRS) of the same size, leading to potentially lower sampling costs from RSS than from SRS for a given precision. However, RSS introduces ranking costs not present in SRS; these costs must be considered in determining whether RSS is cost effective. We use a simple cost model to determine the minimum ratio of measurement to ranking costs (cost ratio) necessary in order for RSS to be as cost effective as SRS for data from the normal, exponential, and lognormal distributions. We consider both equal and unequal RSS allocations and two types of estimators of the mean: the typical distribution-free (DF) estimator and the best linear unbiased estimator (BLUE). The minimum cost ratio necessary for RSS to be as cost effective as SRS depends on the underlying distribution of the data, as well as the allocation and type of estimator used. Most minimum necessary cost ratios are in the range of 1–6, and are lower for BLUEs than for DF estimators. The higher the prior knowledge of the distribution underlying the data, the lower the minimum necessary cost ratio and the more attractive RSS is over SRS. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CARBON CARBON BOND FORMATION ON METAL-OXIDES - FROM SINGLE-CRYSTALS TOWARD CATALYSIS

Previous work in our laboratory indicated that carbonyl metathesis of aldehydes can be accomplished as a gas-solid reaction on a reduced TiO2(001) single crystal under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). This reaction requires the presence of cations in lower oxidation states on the surface, but does not require Ti0 as suggested by previous studies in the liquid phase. In the course of attempts to carry out this reaction catalytically, TPD experiments on TiO2 single crystals and powders were conducted. In addition to the aldolization of acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde, carbonyl metathesis of acetaldehyde to butene was observed. Benzaldehyde TPD on reduced TiO2 powder gave substantial amounts of styrene (PhCH=CH2) which is most likely formed by disproportionation of stilbene (PhCH=CHPh), the metathesis product observed in single crystal studies. Addition of Ti metal to titania resulted in the formation of large amounts of toluene (by unimolecular reduction) rather than stilbene or styrene (by bimolecular reductive coupling). More importantly, it was possible to form 1-phenylpropene (PhCH=CH-CH3), a cross-coupling product, by the co-metathesis of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde on reduced titania, ceria and iron oxide powders during TPD at atmospheric pressure. These studies represent an extension of stoichiometric reactions observed on single crystals in UHV toward novel catalysis. While carbonyl metathesis has still not been accomplished catalytically, its observation during TPD of aldehydes on dihydrogen-reduced oxides has demonstrated the feasibility of each of the steps required to close a catalytic cycle.
Synthesis and characterization of new cationic hexacoordinate silanes.

The reaction of N,N,N‘,N‘,N‘ ‘-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (pmdeta) with HSiCl3 and H2SiCl2 in dry CH2Cl2 affords the novel cationic intermolecular hexacoordinate silanes [pmdeta·HSiCl2]+Cl- (1) and [pmdeta·H2SiCl]+Cl- (2), respectively. The addition of N,N,N‘,N‘,N‘ ‘-pentaethyldiethylenetriamine (pedeta) to a solution of HSiCl3 in dry CH2Cl2 gives the redistribution product formulated as the salt [pedeta·H2SiCl]+Cl- (3) and SiCl4. Treatment of H2SiCl2 with pedeta and N,N,N‘,N‘,N‘ ‘,N‘ ‘‘-hexamethyltriethylenetetramine (hmteta) produces [pedeta·H2SiCl]+Cl- (3) and [hmteta·H2SiCl]+Cl- (HCl) (4). In 4, the fourth amine is not bonded to silicon. Reactions of 2, 3, and 4 with NaBPh4 give the ion exchange products [pmdeta·H2SiCl]+BPh4- (5), [pedeta·H2SiCl]+BPh4- (6), and [hmteta·H2SiCl]+BPh4- (HCl) (7), respectively. The salts 1, 5, 6, and 7 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Most notable is that the cations in 1, 5, 6, and 7 are slightly distorted octahedra in which two hydroge...
Buckling of Stiffened Antisymmetric Laminated Plates

AbstractThe analytical strip method (ASM) is extended in this paper to the buckling analysis of antisymmetric laminated composite plates with bending-extension coupling. A system of three equations of equilibrium governing the buckling response of antisymmetric laminated composite plates is reduced to a single eighth-order partial differential equation, expressed in terms of a displacement function. This equation is then solved analytically to generate the critical value of the in-plane forces (Nx, Ny) for antisymmetric cross-ply and angle-ply laminated and stiffened composite plates. The effects of various parameters, including plate aspect ratio, plate orthotropicity ratio, beam rigidity, and plate bending-extension coupling on the critical values of Nx and Ny on antisymmetric laminated composite plates are discussed. The results derived using the ASM are presented in tabular and graphical forms and compare very well with ones derived using finite-element analysis.
The Use of Divalent Metal Ions by Type II Topoisomerases

Type II topoisomerases are essential enzymes that regulate DNA under- and overwinding and remove knots and tangles from the genetic material. In order to carry out their critical physiological functions, these enzymes utilize a double-stranded DNA passage mechanism that requires them to generate a transient double-stranded break. Consequently, while necessary for cell survival, type II topoisomerases also have the capacity to fragment the genome. This feature of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic enzymes, respectively, is exploited to treat a variety of bacterial infections and cancers in humans. All type II topoisomerases require divalent metal ions for catalytic function. These metal ions function in two separate active sites and are necessary for the ATPase and DNA cleavage/ligation activities of the enzymes. ATPase activity is required for the strand passage process and utilizes the metal-dependent binding and hydrolysis of ATP to drive structural rearrangements in the protein. Both the DNA cleavage and ligation activities of type II topoisomerases require divalent metal ions and appear to utilize a novel variant of the canonical two-metal-ion phosphotransferase/hydrolase mechanism to facilitate these reactions. This article will focus primarily on eukaryotic type II topoisomerases and the roles of metal ions in the catalytic functions of these enzymes.
Origin of subsurface water at Cajon Pass, California

Samples of water and associated gases were collected from the Cajon Pass well using downhole samplers, and from the pipe stands at the completion of drill stem tests. The fluids were recovered from fracture systems in granitic rocks from two test intervals located at 1,829 to 1,905 m and 1,829 to 2,115 m. The intervals were initially cleaned by circulating into the hole fresh water and water spiked with fluorescein. Results of δD and δ18O values of formation water from this well and groundwater wells in the area indicate a meteoric origin, but recharge areas probably had higher elevations than that of the well or the recharge occurred in Pleistocene time when the mean annual temperatures were 3 - 6°C lower than at present. The large differences in the δD and δ18O values of formation water indicate isolation of water within relatively proximal fracture systems. The isotope values of formation water plot on the Global Meteoric Water Line implying little water-rock interaction.
Chemosensory orientation to food by a Hawaiian goatfish ( Parupeneus porphyreus , Mullidae)

The roles of olfaction and gustation in feeding arousal and food locating behavior are described for the first time for a marine teleost. The external taste sense located on the chin barbels of the goatfish mediates both arousal and searching in response to diluted prey homogenate and rinse of intact live prey. Electrophysiological monitoring of the barbel nerve (VII) reveals a sensitivity to amino acids dominant in prey tissues, but not to those present in trace amounts.
What Theorists Do

This essay explores the different ways of doing theory. Using highly structured, strongly causal, and proposition-based "grand theory" as a reference point, I describe and provide examples of three alternative approaches: critical theory, heuristic theory, and inter-textual theory. My intent is to encourage urban theorists to pay as much attention to how they theorize as they do to the meaning of "the urban."
Inheritance of Soybean Aphid Resistance in PI 567541B and PI 567598B

In a previous study, two soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] plant introductions (Pls), PI 567541B and PI 567598B, were found to possess antibiosis-type resistance to the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura). Plants with antibiosis resistance negatively interfere with the reproduction of the aphid and thus control the insect effectively. Field studies were conducted to determine the inheritance of antibiosis resistance in PI 567541B and PI 567598B. The two resistant Pls were crossed with one or two susceptible soybean lines and the F 1 and F 2 plants and F 2:3 families were evaluated for aphid resistance. All F 1 plants were found to be susceptible to soybean aphids. The plants in seven F 2 populations segregated in a 15:1 susceptible/ resistant ratio, which is the expected ratio for a trait controlled by two recessive genes. The F 23 families also segregated in a 15:1 susceptible/resistant ratio. Therefore, the segregation data suggest that two major recessive genes are involved in the resistance in PI 567541B and PI 567598B. This information will be useful to breeders for designing efficient breeding schemes for developing soybean cultivars with antibiosis resistance to aphids.