cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of response to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth

Background Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and death among nonanomalous neonates in the United States. Intramuscular 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate injections reduce the risk of recurrent prematurity by approximately one third. Unfortunately, prophylactic 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate is not always effective, and one-third of high-risk women will have a recurrent preterm birth, despite 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate therapy. The reasons for this variability in response are unknown. Previous investigators have examined the influence of a variety of factors on 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate response but have analyzed data that used a fixed outcome of term delivery to define progesterone response. Objective We hypothesized that the demographics, history, and pregnancy course among women who deliver at a similar gestational age with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for recurrent spontaneous preterm birth prevention differs when compared with those women who deliver later with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate and that these associations could be refined by the use of a contemporary definition of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate "responder." Study Design This was a planned secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal study of women with ≥1 previous documented singleton spontaneous preterm birth at Responders were defined as those with pregnancy that extended ≥3 weeks later with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate, compared with the delivery gestational age of their earliest previous spontaneous preterm birth. Data were analyzed with the use of chi-square test, t -test, and logistic regression. Results One hundred fifty-five women met the inclusion criteria. The 118 responders delivered later on average (37.7 weeks gestation) than the 37 nonresponders (33.5 weeks gestation; P P P = .031), and first-degree family history of spontaneous preterm birth (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.15–0.88; P = .024) were associated with response to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate. Because women with a penultimate preterm pregnancy were more likely to be 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate nonresponders, we performed an additional limited analysis examining only the 130 women whose penultimate pregnancy was preterm. In regression models, the results were similar to those in the main cohort. Conclusion Several historic and current pregnancy characteristics define women who are at risk for recurrent preterm birth at a similar gestational age, despite 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate therapy. These data should be studied prospectively in larger cohorts and combined with genetic and environmental data to identify women who are most likely to benefit from this intervention.
Intrasubject predictions of vocational preference: Convergent validation via the decision theoretic paradigm

Abstract The degree of convergent validity among four methods of identifying vocational preferences was assessed via the decision theoretic paradigm. Vocational preferences identified by Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI), a rating procedure, and ranking were compared with preferences identified from a policy-capturing model developed from an evaluation of graphically portrayed vocational stimuli. The results from the policy-capturing method showed greater convergent validity with the rating and ranking procedures than did the VPI. Predictions made by the policy models were also found to relate more strongly to expressed vocational preference than predictions made by the VPI. The construct of vocational identity was found to moderate the degree of convergent validity among the methods, in that there was greater convergence among methods for individuals high in vocational identity than low. Over 50% of the the cross-validated variance in vocational identity was explained by a five-variable model composed of both decision theoretic and occupational concepts. The results are discussed in the context of using the decision theoretic paradigm to examine vocational preference and vocational identity in ways which may overcome some of the problems associated with more traditional methods.
Enhanced Resolution Time-Domain Reflectometry for High Speed Channels: Characterizing Spatial Discontinuities with Non-ideal Stimulus

In the recent past, there has been steady growth in the data transfer rate of modern digital serial communication systems. Consequently, accurate characterization of high-speed signal transmission lines is necessary for ensuring high signal integrity. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) has been widely used in prior research to characterize high speed interconnect. The accuracy of the characterization depends on the sampling rate and the slew rate of the TDR input excitation signal. At high speeds it is not always possible to deliver "perfect" (impulse/step) TDR stimulus. In this paper, an algorithm is presented to compensate for the inherent distortion in nonideal TDR stimulus to improve the accuracy of interconnect characterization. The algorithm is applied to the problem of micro strip transmission line characterization for identifying discontinuities in signal interconnect. Hardware measurements validate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Experimental evidence for the origin of lead enrichment in convergent-margin magmas

IT has been proposed1–5 that the low Ce/Pb ratio of subduction-related basalts, relative to their oceanic counterparts, arises by the preferential transfer of lead to the mantle wedge (overlying the subducting slab) by non-magmatic processes. Fluxing of the mantle wedge by low-Ce/Pb fluids, generated by the dehydration of sub-ducted oceanic crust, is one mechanism favoured for this process (see, for example, ref. 5). Here we report the results of a series of high-pressure experiments, which confirm that low-Ce/Pb fluids coexist with the dominant mineral phases (garnet and clinopyroxene) produced during high-pressure dehydration of altered basalt. Our results show that the production of subduction-zone magmas from mantle sources fluxed by basalt-derived fluid is a mechanism by which relatively lead-rich, cerium-poor, mantle-derived material is added to the continents. The lead enrichment of the Earth's continental crust is thus a continuing process occurring at conver-gent margins.
Applications of a relative complexity metric for software project management

Abstract The relationships among the many software complexity metrics has made the use of these metrics somewhat untenable as project management tools. In this article, we develop the notion of a single metric, called relative complexity, which assigns a single value to each program in a program set to order the programs by their complexity. For a test data set, relative program complexity was established for 27 programs. These relative complexity data were then examined in relation to the time each of the programs spent in the debugging phase. A significant relationship was found between relative complexity and programming-debugging time as a measure of effort. It is also clear that the relative complexity metric is stable throughout the design process. It may serve as a leading indicator as to the set of programs that will require large amounts of system resources during the development and maintenance phases.
Computed tomography three-dimensional reconstruction in the diagnosis of traumatic renal artery thrombosis

A woman was a restrained passenger in a high-speed motor vehicle accident. On initial evaluation, the patient was found to be hemodynamically stable and complaining of leftsided abdominal and flank pain. Her hematocrit was 38% (normal 36% to 46%) and serum creatinine 0.9 mg/dL (normal 0.7 to 1.5), and the urinalysis was normal. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis with oral and intravenous contrast was performed (Fig. 1). CT demonstrated no perfusion to the left kidney, and the right kidney demonstrated prompt enhancement and excretion of contrast. Her only other injuries included a nasal fracture and left olecranon fracture. The patient was 5 hours postinjury and was treated nonoperatively because of the normally functioning right kidney. Her abdominal and flank pain resolved promptly and she was discharged 5 days after the injury with normal blood pressure and serum creatinine. A follow-up CT was performed 2 months later with three-dimensional reconstruction to image the renal vasculature (Fig. 2). Note the abrupt cutoff of the left main renal artery approximately 1 cm distal to its origin. At her 3-month follow-up visit, she was doing well with normal blood pressure.
Purpura fulminans due to protein S deficiency following chickenpox.

Summary We report a case of purpura fulminans associated with protein S deficiency following chickenpox in an 8-year-old boy.
Rapid Identification of Enzyme Variants for Reengineered Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Periwinkle

Summary Monoterpene indole alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle), such as the anticancer agents vinblastine and vincristine, have important pharmacological activities. Metabolic engineering of alkaloid biosynthesis can provide an efficient and environmentally friendly route to analogs of these synthetically challenging and pharmaceutically valuable natural products. However, the narrow substrate scope of strictosidine synthase, the enzyme at the entry point of the pathway, limits a pathway engineering approach. We demonstrate that with a different expression system and screening method it is possible to rapidly identify strictosidine synthase variants that accept tryptamine analogs not turned over by the wild-type enzyme. The variants are used in stereoselective synthesis of β-carboline analogs and are assessed for biosynthetic competence within the terpene indole alkaloid pathway. These results present an opportunity to explore metabolic engineering of "unnatural" product production in the plant periwinkle.
Commentary on why laryngeal stroboscopy really works: clarifying misconceptions surrounding Talbot's law and the persistence of vision.

Purpose The purpose of this article is to clear up misconceptions that have propagated in the clinical voice literature that inappropriately cite Talbot’s law (1834) and the theory of persistence of vision as the scientific principles that underlie laryngeal stroboscopy. Method After initial research into Talbot’s (1834) original studies, it became clear that his experiments were not designed to explain why stroboscopy works. Subsequently, a comprehensive literature search was conducted for the purpose of investigating the general principles of stroboscopic imaging from primary sources. Results Talbot made no reference to stroboscopy in designing his experiments, and the notion of persistence of vision is not applicable to stroboscopic motion. Instead, two visual phenomena play critical roles: (a) the flicker-free perception of light and (b) the perception of apparent motion. In addition, the integration of stroboscopy with video-based technology in today’s voice clinic requires additional complexities to...
Further analyses of the decadal-scale responses and trends in middle and upper stratospheric ozone from SAGE II and HALOE

Abstract. Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II) Version 6.2 ozone profiles are analyzed for their decadal-scale responses and linear trends in the middle and upper stratosphere from 1984 through 1998. The results are compared with those of SAGE II and of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) for 1991–2005, reported previously by Remsberg and Lingenfelser (2010). The regression model fit to the data includes a periodic 11- term, and it is in-phase with that of the 11-yr solar uv-flux throughout most of the latitude/altitude domain of the middle and upper stratosphere. Max minus min responses for the upper stratosphere are of order 2% from the HALOE time series that are in terms of mixing ratio versus pressure. Max minus min responses are of order 4% from SAGE II in terms of number density versus altitude and for both 1984–1998 and 1991–2005, even though the concurrent linear trend term coefficients are much different for the two time spans. However, the analyzed 11-yr response from the SAGE II data of 1984–1998 lags that of the uv-flux by 1 to 2 yr in the tropical middle stratosphere, most likely due to the effects of ENSO forcings that are not represented in the regression models. The linear ozone trends in the upper stratosphere for 1991 to 2005 are of the order of −2 to −3%/decade from SAGE II and 0 to −1%/decade from HALOE. Those differences in the ozone trends must be principally due to the associated temperature trends for the analyzed data.
Site-specific Transmission Electron Microscope Characterization of Micrometer-sized Particles Using the Focused Ion Beam Lift-out Technique.

Micrometer sized particles have been studied to show that a high-quality transmission electron microscope (TEM) specimen can be produced, without the use of embedding media, from a site-specific region of chosen particles using the focused ion beam (FIB) lift-out (LO) technique. The uniqueness of this technique is that site-specific TEM LO specimens may be obtained from particles and from regions which are smaller than the conventional approximately 10-20 mm x 5 mm x approximately 0.1 mm dimensions of the LO specimen. The innovative FIB LO procedures are described in detail and TEM images of electron transparent specimens obtained from specific micrometer-sized particles are presented.
An Aromatization Mechanism of Inactivation of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Aminotransferase for the Antibiotic l-Cycloserine

The mechanism of inactivation of pig brain γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) aminotransferase by the antibiotic l-cycloserine was investigated. l-Cycloserine is a time-dependent inactivator of GABA aminotransferase; no enzyme activity returns upon gel filtration or dialysis. Treatment of GABA aminotransferase with [14C]-l-cycloserine, followed by rapid gel filtration, gives enzyme containing l.l equiv of radioactivity bound. Dialysis or denaturation by acid, base, or urea releases the radioactivity. Inactivation of [3H]pyridoxal 5‘-phosphate (PLP)-reconstituted GABA aminotransferase with l-cycloserine followed by dialysis or denaturation also leads to the release of radioactivity from the enzyme. Both the released [14C]- and [3H]-labeled adducts comigrate by HPLC, suggesting that the inactivation adduct is a condensation product of l-cycloserine with the PLP coenzyme. By HPLC comparison, it was shown that the radiolabeled adduct is not PLP, PMP, PLP oxime, or 4-[3-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-(phosphooxymethyl)-4-pyridiny...
Major sperm protein as a diagnostic antigen for onchocerciasis.

Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is the second leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. In order to successfully control this disease, the development of efficient diagnostic tools as well as effective treatments is imperative. A number of proteins have been proposed as vaccine and diagnostic candidates, yet none have been successfully advanced to the point of general clinical use. We have prepared major sperm protein 2 (MSP2) from Onchocerca volvulus as a possible diagnostic antigen for onchocerciasis. Importantly, recombinant MSP2 is dimeric in solution, identical to α-MSP from the roundworm, Ascaris suum. A panel of sera obtained from Cameroonian individuals afflicted with onchocerciasis positively responded to the recombinant MSP2. Our data suggest that MSP2, like the previously described antigen Ov16, can be utilized as a diagnostic onchocerciasis antigen for monitoring the interruption of transmission.
Expression and rapid experience-dependent regulation of type-A GABAergic receptors in the songbird auditory forebrain.

GABAergic transmission influences sensory processing and experience-dependent plasticity in the adult brain. Little is known about the functional organization of inhibitory circuits in the auditory forebrain of songbirds, a robust model extensively used in the study of central auditory processing of behaviorally relevant communication signals. In particular, no information is currently available on the expression and organization of GABAA receptor-expressing neurons. Here, we studied the distribution and regulation of GABAA receptors in the songbird auditory forebrain, with a specific focus on α5, a subunit implicated in tonic inhibition and sensory learning. We obtained a zebra finch cDNA that encodes the α5-subunit (GABRA5) and carried out a detailed analysis of its expression via in situ hybridization. GABRA5 was highly expressed in the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM), caudomedial mesopallium, and field L2. Using double fluorescence in situ hybridization, we demonstrate that a large fraction of GABRA5-expressing neurons is engaged by auditory experience, as revealed by the song-induced expression of the activity-dependent gene zenk. Remarkably, we also found that α5 expression is rapidly regulated by sensory stimulation: 30 min of conspecific song playbacks significantly increase the number of GABRA5-expressing neurons in NCM, but not in other auditory areas. This effect is selective for α5, but not γ2 transcripts. Our results suggest that α5-containing GABAA receptors likely play a key role in central auditory processing and may contribute to the experience-dependent plasticity underlying auditory learning. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 71: 803–817, 2011
Relationship between Cognitive Perspective Taking and Teachers' Ratings of Children's Classroom Behavior in Grades One through Four

Summary The relationship was explored between cognitive perspective taking (the ability to infer another person's thoughts, attitudes, or intentions) and teachers' ratings of classroom behavior of 96 boys and girls in grades one through four. Good cognitive perspective taking skill was related to classroom behaviors that involved active peer interactions, particularly fighting/ quarrelling. This finding is interpreted as supporting Piaget's contention that the decline in egocentric reasoning is brought about through peer involvement. Although the present evidence suggests that cognitive perspective taking may be a cognitive prerequisite for various social behaviors, the investigation of the link between social cognition and social behavior would proceed more fruitfully if the motivational systems underlying the social behavior of interest could be identified and accurately assessed.
A direct measurement of particle-hole impurities in the ground state of 16O

Abstract The pickup reactions 16O(d, t)15O and 16O(d, 3He)15N were investigated at a deuteron energy of 20 MeV to allow a direct measurement of the two-particle-two-hole admixtures in the ground state wave function of 16O. The results give good evidence for the existence of such pair excitations with intensities comparable to those predicted by Brown and Green.
Analyses of quality assessment studies using CD45 for gating lymphocytes for CD3(+)4(+)%.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to assess whether laboratories which do not use CD45 for gating lymphocytes with three- (or four-) color flow cytometry (non-CD45 laboratories) for CD3+4+% and CD3+8+% do worse on quality assessment (QA) studies than laboratories which do use CD45 (CD45 laboratories). METHODS Data came from blood specimens donated by 62 donors (50 HIV-positive) assayed over 2 years (November, 1996-October, 1998) by 35 laboratories in the NIAID DAIDS Flow Cytometry QA Program. RESULTS Non-CD45 laboratories were significantly more likely to be classified as having unacceptable inter-laboratory results (far from the group median) than CD45 laboratories (5.6% vs 1.5%, P = 0.005 for CD3+4+%; 10.4% vs 5.0%, P = 0.007 for CD3+8+%). The intra-laboratory range of results on blinded replicates was significantly more likely to be deemed unacceptable (range >4%) in non-CD45 laboratories than in CD45 laboratories for CD3+8+% (14.5% vs 3.5%, P = 0.002) but not for CD3+4+% (2.6% vs 1.5%, P = 0.62). These differences in favor of CD45 gating were observed even though the non-CD45 laboratories had been doing three-color flow cytometry in the QA program significantly longer (P = 0.05) than the CD45 laboratories, and so would be expected to have fewer problems with the assay. CONCLUSIONS Laboratories which choose to use a single CD3/CD4/CD8 tube for immunophenotyping may be sacrificing both accuracy and reproducibility.Cytometry (Comm. Clin. Cytometry) 42:1–4, 2000 © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Partial separation of root exudate components and their effects upon the growth of germinated spores of AM fungi

Aseptic root exudates were collected from the liquid culture of roots of two host (Daucus carota and Lycopersicum esculentum) and one non-host plant (Beta vulgaris) of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Exudate was also collected from maize (Zea mays FRB6) seedlings which were grown hydroponically under aseptic conditions. Exudate fractions of host roots stimulated hyphal branching behind any actively growing hyphal tip of three AM fungi tested (Gigaspora gigantea, G. rosea, and Glomus intraradices). Fractionation patterns obtained from C18 Sepak cartridges loaded with carrot root exudates isolated from roots grown under various phosphorus regimes, TLC analyses, and solubility properties of fractionated components, indicated a range of hydrophilic to hydrophobic hyphal branching stimulators. The 50/70% methanol fraction from a C18 cartridge induced hyphal branching patterns of G. gigantea that were dose dependent and were identical to those observed when germinated G. gigantea spores were grown with host roots in dual culture. Exudate fractions from B. vulgaris inhibited hyphal tip growth, but inhibited hyphal tips formed recovery branches which would allow continued fungal growth. These recovery hyphae were also formed when germinated G. gigantea spores were grown in dual culture with sugar beet roots. The recovery branches induced by non-host roots and the prolific branching induced by host roots have ecological implications.
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase content in adipose tissue from obese and lean African American and white American women.

Abstract It has been demonstrated that the enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is present in adipose tissue, resulting in nitric oxide production and subsequent inhibition of lipolysis. A higher eNOS content has also been reported in the subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue of obese than in that of lean white men. Furthermore, a lower lipolytic rate in obese than in lean women and a lower lipolytic rate in African American (AA) than in white American (WA) women have been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to determine if eNOS protein content is higher in the subcutaneous and omental adipose tissues of obese than in those of lean women and if eNOS protein content is higher in the subcutaneous and omental adipose tissues of AA than in those of WA women. Whole tissue homogenates were prepared from frozen omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue samples obtained from lean and obese and AA and WA elective abdominal surgery patients and were analyzed for eNOS protein content using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The adipose tissue eNOS protein content was approximately 40% higher in obese than in lean individuals (omental, 326.9 ± 40.5 pg/mL lean and 445.3 ± 38.0 pg/mL obese; subcutaneous, 246.8 ± 20.8 pg/mL lean and 343.1 ± 19.0 pg/mL obese; P
Mentoring Making the Transition From Mentee to Mentor

The concept of mentoring originated at least as long ago as early Greek civilization. In Greek mythology, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War, he placed Mentor in charge of his palace and, more important, the care and upbringing of his son Telemachus. Mentoring often involves multiple individuals; it is of interest that some scholars argue that Mentor was ineffective and that it was Athena, when she disguised herself as Mentor, who provided the guidance that Telemachus needed in times of crisis. The term “mentor” as a trusted counselor or guide has become not only a description but also a goal. The widespread use of the term gained traction with the 1699 publication of a book by Francis Fenelon, Les Aventures de Telemaque . The journey that we have followed in this series of career development articles in Circulation should have as its apogee the transition of trainees from mentees to mentors. Guidance for trainees on selecting a mentor has been given by Bettmann1 in his article, “Choosing a Research Project and Research Mentor.” Mentoring is best described as a series of complex interactions between 2 individuals who have as their primary purpose the growth of the mentee, although this process often results in the personal and professional growth of both parties. Mentoring can involve a transfer of knowledge, of patterns of behavior, of skills, and of an approach to an accumulated body of information. It sets the stage for mentees to approach, define, and mold their future and to develop networks of peers, coinvestigators, and colleagues.2–4 In some ways, mentoring is not unlike parenting, prompting several observations: No one is born with the natural ability to become a parent; parenting skills must be learned through an iterative process in which there is both learning and teaching; the …
E2F Activators Signal and Maintain Centrosome Amplification in Breast Cancer Cells

Centrosomes ensure accurate chromosome segregation by directing spindle bipolarity. Loss of centrosome regulation results in centrosome amplification, multipolar mitosis and aneuploidy. Since centrosome amplification is common in premalignant lesions and breast tumors, it is proposed to play a central role in breast tumorigenesis, a hypothesis that remains to be tested. The coordination between the cell and centrosome cycles is of paramount importance to maintain normal centrosome numbers, and the E2Fs may be responsible for regulating these cycles. However, the role of E2F activators in centrosome amplification is unclear. Because E2Fs are deregulated in Her2(+) cells displaying centrosome amplification, we addressed whether they signal this abnormal process. Knockdown of E2F1 or E2F3 in Her2(+) cells decreased centrosome amplification without significantly affecting cell cycle progression, whereas the overexpression of E2F1, E2F2, or E2F3 increased centrosome amplification in MCF10A mammary epithelial cells. Our results revealed that E2Fs affect the expression of proteins, including Nek2 and Plk4, known to influence the cell/centrosome cycles and mitosis. Downregulation of E2F3 resulted in cell death and delays/blocks in cytokinesis, which was reversed by Nek2 overexpression. Nek2 overexpression enhanced centrosome amplification in Her2(+) breast cancer cells silenced for E2F3, revealing a role for the E2F activators in maintaining centrosome amplification in part through Nek2.
Improved Imaged-derived Input Function for Study of Human Brain FDG-PET

A reliable, semi-automated method for estimation of a minimally-invasive image-derived input function is validated for human [ 18 F]-fluoro deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) studies. Two time windows can be recognized in the time activity curve measured from a carotid artery region of interest (CA-ROI). During the first short window of very rapid change, the dominant contamination of the measured activity on the CA-ROI is due to partial volume effects. After this the measured activity is also contaminated by spillover of tracer from tissue to blood. Blood samples acquired at later times, free of both partial volume and spillover effects, avoid the contamination and are used to fit a functional form for the input. Appropriateness of this parameter dependent input is validated using data from 18 healthy subjects and contrasted against measured arterial blood samples, and with previously proposed representations [1]–[3]. Parameters defining the input function and micro parameters of each tissue cluster, (their rate constants K1, k2 and k3), [4], are estimated simultaneously using the compartmental model for FDG PET [5].
Dynamic network flow optimization models for air vehicle resource allocation

A weapon system consisting of a swarm of air vehicles whose mission is to search for, classify, attack, and perform battle damage assessment, is considered. It is assumed that the target field information is communicated to all the elements of the swarm as it becomes available. A network flow optimization problem is posed whose readily obtained solution yields the optimum resource allocation among the air vehicles in the swarm. Hence, the periodic reapplication of the centralized optimization algorithm yields the benefit of cooperative feedback control.
Cleavage of in vitro and in vivo formed lens protein cross-links by a novel cross-link breaker.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of N-phenacyl-4,5-dimethylthiazolium bromide (DMPTB), an advanced glycation end product (AGE) cross-link breaker, on lens protein cross-links formed in vitro and in vivo. DMPTB was synthesized and its structure confirmed by its NMR spectrum. To show whether DMPTB can inhibit AGE cross-linking, recombinant human αA-crystallin was glycated with glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) in the presence and absence of DMPTB. Reversal of the already formed cross-links was studied by treating pre-glycated αA-crystallin with DMPTB. The ability of DMPTB to cleave in vivo formed cross-links was ascertained by treating water-insoluble protein fractions from diabetic human lenses with this compound. Glycation of αA-crystallin with G6P showed several high molecular weight (HMW) protein bands on the SDSPAGE gel; DMPTB inhibited the formation of these HMW proteins. Molecular sieve HPLC confirmed the inhibition of formation of larger aggregates not separated by SDS-PAGE. Treatment of pre-glycated αA-crystallin with DMPTB gave evidence for the degradation of the already formed cross-linked HMW aggregates. Both molecular sieve HPLC and reverse-phase HPLC of the water-insoluble protein fractions from two diabetic human lenses showed that DMPTB could degrade a major portion of the cross-linked HMW aggregates to lower molecular weight proteins. This suggests that the cross-linked proteins in human lenses are formed predominantly by the advanced glycation process and cross-link breakers like DMPTB may have application for the intervention of protein cross-linking in the eye lens. (Mol Cell Biochem 243: 73–80, 2003)
Calcitonin gene-related peptide- and vascular endothelial growth factor-positive inflammatory cells in late-phase allergic skin reactions in atopic subjects.

Background Allergen-induced late-phase skin reactions are characterized by erythema and edema, but the vasoactive mediators involved remain unclear. Limited evidence from human studies suggests that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), potent vasodilator and permeability factors, respectively, are expressed by infiltrating inflammatory cells in certain allergic tissue reactions. Objective We sought to determine whether tissue swelling in allergen-challenged skin sites in atopic subjects is associated with the infiltration of CGRP + and VEGF + inflammatory cells. Methods Skin biopsy specimens were obtained from atopic subjects at various times after cutaneous allergen challenge and studied by means of single and double immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results CGRP-immunoreactive and CGRP mRNA–positive cell numbers were increased in biopsy specimens from sites of late-phase skin reactions compared with those at the control site ( P = .03 and P = .03, respectively). Their numbers paralleled the development and resolution of the edematous late-phase skin reaction, both peaking at 6 hours after allergen challenge. The majority of CGRP-immunoreactive cells were neutrophils and CD3 + cells, whereas eosinophils were CGRP negative. VEGF-immunopositive cell numbers were also increased in 6-hour biopsy specimens from late-phase skin reactions compared with those seen at control sites ( P = .001) with a lesser but significant response ( P = .008) at 24 hours. VEGF + cells were largely eosinophils, neutrophils, and CD68 + macrophages. Conclusions Late-phase skin reactions in atopic subjects were associated with the infiltration of inflammatory cells expressing CGRP and VEGF, suggesting that these vasoactive factors might play a role in the erythema and edema characteristic of allergic inflammation. They could also be considered targets in attempts to control allergic inflammation.
Diet of the Nonindigenous Asian Swamp Eel in Tropical Ornamental Aquaculture Ponds in West-Central Florida

Abstract The nonindigenous Asian swamp eel Monopterus albus is established in west-central Florida, where it invades tropical ornamental fish production ponds. The economically valuable ornamental fish industry (US$42 million in 2003) is dominated by the production of small-bodied fishes cultured at high densities in small, earthen ponds. Although introduced Asian swamp eels have been described as voracious predators of fish, to date there have been no published studies containing quantitative diet information on any of the introduced populations found in the USA. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the possible effect of nonnative Asian swamp eels on the aquaculture industry by analyzing the diets of Asian swamp eels that have invaded small ponds used for the culture of ornamental fishes. We examined 71 Asian swamp eels ranging from 94 to 864 mm in total length (TL) that were taken from ornamental aquaculture farms. Fifty-two percent lacked stomach contents; otherwise, prey were relatively small and...
On spatial smoothing for direction-of-arrival estimation of coherent signals

We present an analysis of a "spatial smoothing" preprocessing scheme, recently suggested by Evans et al., to circumvent problems encountered in direction-of-arrival estimation of fully correlated signals. Simulation results that illustrate the performance of this scheme in conjunction with the eigenstructure technique are described.
Efficient Activation of Viral Genomes by Levels of Herpes Simplex Virus ICP0 Insufficient To Affect Cellular Gene Expression or Cell Survival

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) ICP0 can effectively activate gene expression from otherwise silent promoters contained on persisting viral genomes. However, the expression of high levels of ICP0, as from ICP4− HSV type 1 (HSV-1) vectors, results in marked toxicity. We have analyzed the results of ICP0 expressed from an E1− E4− adenovirus vector (AdS.11E4ICP0) in which ICP0 expression is controlled from the endogenous adenoviral E4 promoter. In this system, the expression level of ICP0 was reduced more than 1,000-fold relative to the level of expression from HSV-1 vectors. This low level of ICP0 did not affect cellular division or greatly perturb cellular metabolism as assessed by gene expression array analysis comparing the effects of HSV and adenovirus vector strains. However, this amount of ICP0 was sufficient to quantitatively destroy ND10 structures as measured by promyelocytic leukemia immunofluorescence. The levels of adenovirus-expressed ICP0 were sufficient to activate quiescent viral genomes in trans and promote persistent transgene expression in cis. Moreover, infection of complementing cells with AdS.11E4ICP0 promoted viral growth and resulted in a 20-fold increase in the plaquing efficiency of d109, a virus defective for all five immediate-early genes. Thus, the low level expression of ICP0 from the E1− E4− adenovirus vector may increase the utility of adenovirus vectors and also provides a means to efficiently quantify and possibly propagate HSV vectors defective in ICP0. Importantly, the results demonstrate that the activation function of ICP0 may not result from changes in cellular gene expression, but possibly as a direct consequence of an enzymatic function inherent to the protein that may involve its action at ND10 resulting in the preferential activation of viral genomes.
Sensory attributes and acceptance of flavored soy nuts by college students

Abstract The objective of the project was to determine college students’ acceptance and preference of five flavors of soy nuts. Using a 9-point hedonic scale, 575 college students (335 students between 17–20 years) and (240 students between 21–30 years) evaluated 5 flavors of soy nuts for appearance, texture, flavor and overall acceptability. Regardless of sex, candy coated soy nuts were liked very much by both age groups, while unsalted soy nuts were the least accepted. Females and older students rated the overall appearance of the nuts higher than males and younger students. Simple effects tests showed mean ratings of the nuts for texture and flavor were significantly different for the younger and the older age groups. Nut preference based on purchasing of nuts showed both age groups and gender preferred candy coated soy nuts the most. Thus it appears that college student’s acceptability of soy nuts is based on flavor, texture, appearance as well as age of the students.
Enumeration and Functional Evaluation of Virus-Specific CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells in Lymphoid and Peripheral Sites of Coxsackievirus B3 Infection

Previous studies have suggested that coxsackievirus B (CVB) activates CD8 + T cells in vivo, but the extent of this activation and the antigen specificity of the CD8 + T cells remain uncertain. Furthermore, CVB-induced CD4 + T-cell responses have not been carefully investigated. Herein, we evaluate CD8 + and CD4 + T-cell responses both in a secondary lymphoid organ (spleen) and in peripheral tissues (heart and pancreas), using a recombinant CVB3 (rCVB3.6) that encodes well-characterized CD8 + and CD4 + T-cell epitopes. Despite reaching high levels in vivo, rCVB3.6 failed to trigger a marked expansion of CD8 + or CD4 + T cells, and T-cell activation was surprisingly limited. Furthermore, epitope-specific effector functions could not be detected using highly sensitive in vivo and ex vivo assays. Moreover, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I tetramer analysis indicated that our inability to detect CVB3-specific CD8 + T-cell responses could not be explained by the cells being dysfunctional. In contrast to naive T cells, epitope-specific memory CD8 + and CD4 + T cells proliferated markedly, indicating that both of the rCVB3.6-encoded epitopes were presented by their respective MHC molecules in vivo. These data are consistent with the observation that several CVB3 proteins can limit the presentation of viral epitopes on the surface of infected cells and suggest that the level of MHC/peptide complex is sufficient to trigger memory but not naive T cells. Finally, our findings have implications for the biological significance of cross-priming, a process thought by some to be important for the induction of antiviral CD8 + T-cell responses.
Target RNA capture and cleavage by the Cmr type III-B CRISPR–Cas effector complex

The effector complex of the Cmr/type III-B CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) system cleaves RNAs recognized by the CRISPR RNA (crRNA) of the complex and includes six protein subunits of unknown functions. Using reconstituted Pyrococcus furiosus Cmr complexes, we found that each of the six Cmr proteins plays a critical role in either crRNA interaction or target RNA capture. Cmr2, Cmr3, Cmr4, and Cmr5 are all required for formation of a crRNA-containing complex detected by native gel electrophoresis, and the conserved 5' repeat sequence tag and 5'-OH group of the crRNA are essential for the interaction. Interestingly, capture of the complementary target RNA additionally requires both Cmr1 and Cmr6. In detailed functional studies, we determined that P. furiosus Cmr complexes cleave target RNAs at 6-nucleotide (nt) intervals in the region of complementarity, beginning 5 nt downstream from the crRNA tag and continuing to within ∼14 nt of the 3' end of the crRNA. Our findings indicate that Cmr3 recognizes the signature crRNA tag sequence (and depends on protein-protein interactions with Cmr2, Cmr4, and Cmr5), each Cmr4 subunit mediates a target RNA cleavage, and Cmr1 and Cmr6 mediate an essential interaction between the 3' region of the crRNA and the target RNA.
Energetics of vinca alkaloid interactions with tubulin isotypes: Implications for drug efficacy and toxicity

A number of vinca alkaloids, including vincristine, vinblastine, and vinorelbine, are currently used in cancer chemotherapy. These three vinca alkaloids interact differently with a range of solid and hematologic tumors. To test the possibility that the tubulin isotype composition is an important determinant in antineoplastic efficacy, we determined thermodynamic parameters for vinca alkaloid interactions with purified b-tubulin isotypes, abII or abIII, as well as mixtures of abII and abIII, abII and abI&IV, or abIII and abI&IV (referred to as isotype-depleted tubulin) by quantitative sedimentation velocity. Vincristine-, vinblastine-, or vinorelbine-induced isotype self-association was studied at 25°C in 10 mM Pipes, pH 6.9, 1 mM MgSO4, and 2 mM EGTA in the presence of 50 µM GTP or GDP. For all three drugs, we observed no significant differences in overall affinities, K1K2 ,o r in GDP enhancement of purified isotypes compared to unfractionated tubulin, suggesting that differential antitumor efficacy observed clinically for these vinca alkaloids is not determined by tissue isotype composition. Small, but significant differences in the individual binding parameters, K 1 and K2, are found in the vincristine data. In the presence of vincristine and GTP, K 1, the affinity of drug for tubulin heterodimers, tends to be larger for purified abII- or abIII-tubulin compared to unfractionated tubulin. Furthermore, the apparent dimerization constant, K 2 , at physiologically significant drug concentrations is larger for these purified isotypes. WhenabII- and abIII-tubulin are combined, the cooperativity between drug binding and spiral formation approaches that of unfractionated PC-tubulin. These differences are not observed in the presence of vinblastine or vinorelbine. The differences found with vincristine may be implicated in the dose-limiting neurotoxicity found with this drug, but not found with vinblastine or vinorelbine. Cell. Motil. Cytoskeleton 39:107‐121, 1998. r 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Prescriptive authority for psychiatric clinical specialists: Framing the issues

Prescriptive authority is of increasing interest to advanced practice psychiatric nurses. A growing number of states have passed legislation authorizing prescriptive authority for this specialty group. In preparing for an orderly assimilation of this intervention into psychiatric nursing's existing scope of practice, it is important to understand some of the unique issues facing the specialty. This report provides an overview of prescriptive practice legislation, legal issues associated with prescribing psychotropic medication to psychiatric clientele, and prescriptive activities common to the specialty practice of psychiatry. Issues for the specialty of psychiatric nursing are reviewed and recommendations are offered for an action plan.
Semantic-based distributed i/o with the paramedic framework

Many large-scale applications simultaneously rely on multiple resources for efficient execution. For example, such applications may require both large compute and storage resources; however, very few supercomputing centers can provide large quantities of both. Thus, data generated at the compute site oftentimes has to be moved to a remote storage site for either storage or visualization and analysis. Clearly, this is not an efficient model, especially when the two sites are distributed over a wide-area network.Thus, we present a framework called "ParaMEDIC: Parallel Metadata Environment for Distributed I/O and Computing" which uses application-specific semantic information to convert the generated data to orders-of-magnitude smaller metadata at the compute site, transfer the metadata to the storage site, and re-process the metadata at the storage site to regenerate the output. Specifically, ParaMEDIC trades a small amount of additional computation (in the form of data post-processing) for a potentially significant reduction in data that needs to be transferred in distributed environments.
Changes seen in gut bacteria content and distribution with obesity: causation or association?

AbstractObjective: In the microbiota of both obese animals and humans there is an increased ratio of the gram positive Firmicutes to the gram negative Bacteroidetes (the obesity pattern). To assess if altering this ratio in animals and humans would prevent obesity or reduce body weight in the obese subject this review was preformed.Methods: A survey of all the available English language literature utilizing Medline on this topic was obtained and critically reviewed. The key words that were utilized were gut microbiota, diet and obesity.Results: In both humans and animals changes in diet, particularly the utilization of the high fat, high calorie Western diet, utilization of artificial sweeteners and disruption of the diurnal rhythm will quickly change the microbiota from a thin to an obese pattern. In animals, the transfer of an obese microbiota to germ free animals and thin animals results in obesity and the introduction of a lean microbiota will result in weight loss in obese animals. However, in humans...
Clientele Effects, REITs, and Acquisition Premiums

Executive Summary.Existing empirical studies indicate that transaction participants, or clienteles, can impact real estate prices. This study extends current research on the impact of transaction p...
Evidence for Placental HPV Infection in Both HIV Positive and Negative Women

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have previously been reported to infect epithelial trophoblast cells of the placenta. To investigate this possibility, 200 placental samples from Zambian women were separated into HIV+ and HIV- groups and tested for HPV by redundant primer PCR, using GP5+/GP6+ and CPI/CPII primer sets. Three HPV genotypes (HPV6, 16 and 90) were detected in placental samples. Whereas, 20 different HPV genotypes were detected in vaginal sampling of the same patients, suggesting that compartment specific sub-populations of HPV may exist. The incidence of HPV16 in placental samples was almost 2-fold greater in HIV+ women compared to HIV- (p = 0.0241). HPV16 L1 expression, detected by immunochemistry, was significantly higher in HIV+ than HIV- samples (p = 0.0231). HPV16 DNA was detected in the nuclei of trophoblast cells by in situ hybridization. Overall, these results suggest that HPVs infect the placenta and that HIV significantly influences these infections.
Working together apart: collaboration over the Internet by Judith S. Olson and Gary M. Olson

Olson, Judith S. and Olson, Gary M. (2014). Working Together Apart: Collaboration over the Internet. San Rafael: Morgan & Claypool Publishers, 151 pp. $30.00. Team-based research and work relies he...
Real Time Modeling and Simulation of Campus Microgrid for Voltage Analysis

Microgrids enable campus-scale facilities, like universities, or large corporations, a greater flexibility to manage their own distributed energy sources and in meeting their energy demands, even with power disturbances or outages in the grid. Simulation of these microgrids, which can disconnect or connect itself from the grid through a point of common coupling (PCC), yields insights into behavior of each load, if modeled in detail. Also, the simulation models are useful to investigate the effects of integrating new renewable generation in the distribution system. In this paper, the Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) is used to model the distribution system in real time and study the system dynamics in events of connection/disconnection to/from the main grid and disturbances. This paper reports results from simulation of a campus microgrid and its operation in several scenarios, by considering a representative model of the Washington State University campus electricity distribution system.