cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contrasting impacts of invasive plants and human-altered landscape context on nest survival and brood parasitism of a grassland bird

Humans have altered grasslands in recent decades through crop conversion, woody encroachment, and plant invasions. Concurrently, grassland birds have experienced range-wide declines. Studies have reported effects of plant invasions and land conversion on nest ecology, but few have assessed relative impacts of these changes. We compared impacts of invasive plants and landscape context on nest survival of a grassland songbird, the dickcissel (Spiza americana). We also compared effects on parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and tested whether parasitism affects survival. From 2013–2016, we monitored 477 dickcissel nests. We measured nest-site vegetation (including woody plants, tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceous, and other invasive grasses) and measured landscape context at broad scales. Nest survival declined with increasing tall fescue cover at nest sites, and parasitism was more common at nests with greater fescue and woody cover. Some evidence suggested a negative effect of row-crop cover within 1000 m on nest survival, but no landscape patterns unambiguously affected survival. Woodland cover and wooded-edge prevalence were associated with reduced parasitism risk. Parasitized nests had smaller clutches, failed more frequently, and produced fewer fledglings than non-parasitized nests. Determining the impacts of invasive plants and other anthropogenic changes on grassland birds will aid in prioritizing management to improve habitat quality. Our results indicate that optimizing landscape context around habitats may not affect dickcissel nest survival strongly, except perhaps through effects on parasitism. In contrast, controlling tall fescue and shrubs within grasslands could benefit birds by increasing nest success and reducing parasitism.
Brief Report: Sex/Gender Differences in Symptomology and Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more prevalent in males than females. Previous research indicates females camouflage ASD symptoms more than males, potentially contributing to the difference in prevalence. This study investigated sex/gender differences in behavioral phenotypes in 17 males and 11 females with ASD, as well camouflaging in ASD, in an attempt to partially replicate findings from Lai et al. (Autism 21(6):690–702, 2017). Overall ASD symptoms were measured by the autism spectrum quotient (AQ). Mean AQ in females with ASD was higher than males with ASD, with the difference approaching statistical significance. Camouflaging was found to be more common in females with ASD, and not associated to social phobia. Furthermore, camouflaging correlated negatively with emotional expressivity in females, but not males, with ASD. These findings strengthen previous findings regarding camouflaging being more common in females and add to the literature on how camouflaging may be different in females versus males.
Multiscale Modeling of Cancer: An Integrated Experimental and Mathematical Modeling Approach

Part I. Theory: 1. Introduction 2. Biological background 3. Continuum tumor modeling: single phase 4. Analysis and calibration of single-phase continuum tumor models 5. Continuum tumor modeling: multiphase 6. Discrete cell modeling 7. Hybrid continuum-discrete models 8. Numerical schemes Part II. Applications: 9. Continuum tumor modeling: a multidisciplinary approach 10. Agent-based cell modeling: application to breast cancer.
Shell-Model Description of Lambda Hypernuclei

Empirical data on the spectra of light hypernuclei, especially the data from recent gamma-ray experiments, is used to constrain the parameters which govern the p(nucleon)s(Lambda) and p(nucleon)p(Lambda) two-body matrix elements that enter into shell-model calculations.
Oncologic Implications of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increases the risk for several types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as primary and second primary malignancies. HCV-infected patients with cancer, particularly those undergoing anticancer therapy, are at risk for development of enhanced HCV replication, which can lead to hepatitis flare and progression of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. Risk factors for HCV infection include injection drug use, blood transfusion, or solid organ transplantation before 1992, receipt of clotting factor concentrates before 1987, long-term hemodialysis, chronic liver disease, HIV positivity, and occupational exposure. Widely available direct-acting antivirals are highly effective against HCV and well tolerated. Identification of HCV-infected individuals is the essential first step in treatment and eradication of the infection. One-time screening is recommended for persons born from 1945 to 1965; screening is also recommended for persons with risk factors. Recently, a public health recommendation has been drafted to screen all adults age 18 to 79 years. Two oncology organizations recommend screening all patients with hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, and a recently published multicenter prospective study supports universal HCV screening for all patients with cancer. HCV screening entails testing for anti-HCV antibodies in serum and, when results are positive, HCV RNA quantitation to confirm infection. Direct-acting antiviral therapy eradicates HCV in almost all cases. Virologic cure of HCV prevents chronic hepatitis and progression to liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. HCV eradication also decreases the risk of developing HCV-associated primary and second primary malignancies, and it may allow HCV-infected patients access to important cancer clinical trials. Patients with HCV-related cirrhosis require lifelong surveillance for HCC, even after viral eradication.
Cerebellum-specific deletion of the GABAA receptor δ subunit alters anxiety-like, social and maternal behaviors without affecting motor performance

GABAA receptors containing the δGABAA subunit (δGABAARs) are involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes, such as sleep, pain, stress, anxiety-related behaviors, and postpartum depression. These extrasynaptically located, high affinity and slowly desensitizing receptors mediate tonic inhibition throughout the brain, including in granule cells (GCs) of the cerebellar input layer. However, the extent to which δGABAARs control the excitability of the cerebellar input layer and ultimately regulate behavior is unknown. We therefore deleted δGABAA subunits specifically from GCs and determined the behavioral consequences in mice. Deletion reduced tonic inhibition and increased input layer excitability, but remarkably, did not affect either locomotion or motor learning. Unexpectedly, δGABAA deletion heightened anxiety-like behaviors, and caused female-specific alterations in social and maternal behavior. Our findings establish that the cerebellar input layer is critical for regulating diverse behaviors that are relevant to psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders but were previously not associated with the cerebellum.
Implementation of a pilot parent-focused physical activity program with Latino families in a Head Start program

Introduction and Background. Physical activity (PA), even at young age, is associated with physical and psychological health. This study determined the feasibility of implementing a parent-led PA intervention and evaluated potential outcomes. Methods. Parent-child pairs from a Head Start center were randomized into intervention (N=20) and control (N=18) groups. All families received a bag of play equipment. Parents completed questionnaires assessing their own and their children’s PA, as well as self-efficacy, social control (SC), and social support (SS) regarding their provision of PA to their children. Parents in the intervention were trained in self-regulatory skills, facilitation of PA, and attended two playdates. Parents rated the playdates, activity sheet and equipment on a 5-point Likert scale. Results. Parents rated the playdates (M=4.9, SD=0.3), the activity sheet (M=4.7, SD=0.7) and the equipment bag (M=5, SD=0.0) highly. Child’s PA, parent’s moderate-to-vigorous PA, total PA, parental efficacy, SC, and SS showed no significant intervention effects. Overall, child and parent PA increased significantly over time (p=.02 for both). Conclusions. The intervention was positively received, with 90% completion rate and high ratings of the intervention materials. Longer interventions with more contact may be needed to influence potential outcomes.
Robotic Colorectal Surgery

The role of robotics in colon and rectal surgery has been established as an important and effective tool for the surgeon. Its inherent technologies have provided for increased visualization and ease of dissection in the minimally invasive approach to surgery. The value of the robot is apparent in the more challenging aspects of colon and rectal procedures, including the intracorporeal anastomosis for right colectomies and the low pelvic dissection for benign and malignant diseases.
Suicidality: An Evolutionary Concept Analysis.

Suicide is a preventable health problem. Multiple definitions and inconsistent use of the term suicidality can result in failure to properly recognize suicide risk and behavior and confuses suicide...
Designing Sub-20 nm Nanocarriers for Small Molecule Delivery: Interplay among Structural Geometry, Assembly Energetics, and Cargo Release Kinetics

Biological constraints in diseased tissues have motivated the need for small nanocarriers (10-30 nm) to achieve sufficient vascular extravasation and pervasive tumor penetration. This particle size limit is only an order of magnitude larger than small molecules, such that cargo loading is better described by co-assembly processes rather than simple encapsulation. Understanding the structural, kinetic, and energetic contributions of carrier-cargo co-assembly is thus critical to achieve molecular-level control and predictable in vivo behavior. These interconnected set of properties were systematically examined using sub-20 nm self-assembled nanocarriers known as three-helix micelles (3HM). Both hydrophobicity and the geometric packing parameter (GPP) dictate small molecule compatibility with 3HM alkyl tail core. Planar obelisk-like apomorphine and doxorubicin (DOX) molecules intercalated well within the 3HM core and near the core-shell interface, forming an integral component to the co-assembly, as corroborated by small angle X-ray and neutron-scattering structural studies. DOX promoted crystalline alkyl tail ordering, which significantly increased (+63%) the activation energy of 3HM subunit exchange. Subsequently, 3HM-DOX displayed slow-release kinetics (t1/2=40 h) at physiological temperatures, with ~50x greater cargo preference for the micelle core as described by two drug partitioning coefficients (micellar core/shell Kp1 ~24, and shell/bulk solvent Kp2 ~2). The geometric and energetic insights between nanocarrier and their small molecule cargos developed here will aid in broader efforts to deconvolute the interconnected properties of carrier-drug co-assemblies, and to understand nanomedicine behavior throughout all the physical and in vivo processes they are intended to encounter.
Trans-stereochemistry from the insertion of alkynes into a ruthenium - carbon bond of a bridging-phenyl ligand

Abstract The reaction of Ru5(μ5-C)(CO)13(μ-η2-Ph)[μ-Au(NHC)], 1, NHC = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl-imidazol-2-ylidene) with ethyne (C2H2) yielded the new compound Ru5(μ5-C)(CO)13[μ-η2-E-C(H)C(H)Ph][μ-Au(NHC)], 2 in 89 % yield. Compound 2 contains a square-pyramidal cluster of five ruthenium atoms with a carbido ligand in the base of the square pyramid and a bridging σ+π-coordinated 2-phenylvinyl ligand, μ−η2-E-CHCHPh, formed by an overall trans-insertion of the C2H2 into the Ru-C bond to the bridging η2-Ph ligand in 1. A similar reaction of 1 with phenylacetylene (PhC2H) yielded the new compound Ru5(μ5-C)(CO)13[μ-η2-E-C(Ph)C(H)Ph][μ-Au(NHC)], 3 in 96 % yield. Compound 3 contains a bridging σ+π-coordinated, η2-1,2-diphenylvinyl ligand, η2-E-C(Ph)C(H)Ph, formed by an overall trans-insertion of the molecule of PhC2H into the Ru-C bond of the bridging η2-phenyl ligand in 1. The phenyl ligand was shifted to the unsubstituted carbon atom of the PhC2H molecule.
A low-frequency buncher field-variation study on a 750 keV H- beam to increase Drift Tube Linac capture

Abstract Low-frequency (such as 16.77 MHz) RF bunchers are widely used in RF accelerator systems for longitudinal compression of pulses into a single RF bucket, which increases instantaneous beam intensity for time-dependent studies. In this study, the dependency of capture into a 201.25 MHz Drift Tube Linac (DTL) was measured as a function of gap voltage for a 16.77 MHz buncher on chopped H- beam (approximately 25 ns at 750 keV, 10 mA peak current). The multiparticle code PARMILA was used to simulate the phase-space distribution of the 10 mA, 750 keV, H- beam at the entrance to DTL with a wide range of the Low-Frequency Buncher (LFB) field (10 kV to 35 kV). The measurement and simulation indicated that the DTL capture could be dilute (reduced) for a non-optimized buncher field to a pre-configured beamline geometry. The data shows that changing the bunch field while keeping the incoming beam current and energy constant does not significantly alter the beam’s emittance. However, downstream beam capture into the DTL is changed for a non-optimized phase-space bunching distance with the buncher field.
Response to letter to editor regarding 'Anatomical characterization of the inferior petrosal sinus and adjacent cerebellopontine angle cistern for development of an endovascular transdural cerebrospinal fluid shunt'

We thank the authors for their interest in our study1 and would like to address the points that they raise in their letter to the editor.2 Based on preclinical and clinical testing of the endovascular shunt implant, we have determined that antiplatelet drugs are not required before the deployment of the device in the inferior petrosal sinus (IPS). As in other neurointerventional procedures, navigation of a modern low-profile catheter can be readily performed while on intravenous anticoagulation with reversal at the time of dural puncture. The described endovascular shunting device bears a proprietary heparin-based coating and is not intended to occlude or thrombose the IPS itself. Rather, the IPS is utilized as the path towards the cistern. Once connection between the IPS and the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cistern is established, the device allows flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via a low-profile tubular valved shunt directly to the internal jugular vein, without needing to rely on IPS patency. Piercing of the dura overlying the IPS is …
Analytical validation of a point-of-care test and an automated immunoturbidimetric assay for the measurement of canine C-reactive protein in serum.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein, which is used to evaluate and monitor the response of the innate immune system to a variety of inflammatory processes in the dog. The purpose of this study was to analytically validate a point-of-care assay (IDEXX Catalyst CRP Test) and an immunoturbidimetric assay (Gentian Canine CRP Immunoassay) for the measurement of serum CRP concentrations in dogs. These 2 assays (Catalyst, Gentian) were compared to a previously validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Tridelta Development EIA Canine CRP Assay). Linearity, precision, reproducibility, and accuracy were assessed using leftover serum samples. Agreement between assays was assessed using leftover serum samples and serum from clinically healthy dogs. Observed to expected ratios (O/E) for dilutional parallelism were 83.9 to 163.1% and 108.3 to 160.6% for the Catalyst and the Gentian assays, respectively. Coefficients of variation for intra-assay variability ranged from 6.4 to 9.5% for the Catalyst assay and 1.5 to 2.6% for the Gentian assay. Coefficients of variation for inter-assay variability ranged from 3.8 to 18.2% for the Catalyst assay and 4.5 to 5.8% for the Gentian assay. The mean O/E for recovery were 97.9% and 98.5% for the Catalyst and Gentian assays, respectively. Correlations between assays were as follows: Catalyst and Tridelta (R 2 = 0.76), Gentian and Tridelta (R 2 = 0.79), and Catalyst and Gentian (R 2 = 0.98). The Catalyst and Gentian assays are both acceptable for measuring CRP in dog serum, but their results are not directly comparable with the Tridelta assay.
How a Pandemic Improved My Teaching

This chapter will reflect on changes in a social work educator’s philosophy and strategies for teaching online asynchronous graduate social work courses during, and due to, the COVID-19 pandemic. After providing some background and context for the program and the courses, the author describes her experience of three pandemic semesters, each of which felt akin to a round of boxing. Each round had both similar and unique challenges. The solutions to these challenges reflected the author’s explicit and increased awareness and understanding of these issues using a trauma-informed perspective.
Risk assessment by dynamic representation of vulnerability, exploitation, and impact

Assessing and quantifying cyber risk accurately in real-time is essential to providing security and mission assurance in any system and network. This paper presents a modeling and dynamic analysis approach to assessing cyber risk of a network in real-time by representing dynamically its vulnerabilities, exploitations, and impact using integrated Bayesian network and Markov models. Given the set of vulnerabilities detected by a vulnerability scanner in a network, this paper addresses how its risk can be assessed by estimating in real-time the exploit likelihood and impact of vulnerability exploitation on the network, based on real-time observations and measurements over the network. The dynamic representation of the network in terms of its vulnerabilities, sensor measurements, and observations is constructed dynamically using the integrated Bayesian network and Markov models. The transition rates of outgoing and incoming links of states in hidden Markov models are used in determining exploit likelihood and impact of attacks, whereas emission rates help quantify the attack states of vulnerabilities. Simulation results show the quantification and evolving risk scores over time for individual and aggregated vulnerabilities of a network.
EPILOGUE: PATHWAYS INTO THE FUTURE OF INSECT IMMUNOLOGY

This chapter serves as a conclusion to the entire study and provides an afterword on the field of insect immunology. Potential fruitful areas of future research in insect immunology have been identified throughout the study. Identification of signaling pathways critical to non-self-recognition of parasites and pathogens represents an especially promising field that will challenge future investigators. These pathways are critical to determining whether the biotic agent is virulent or avirulent to the host. The evolutionary relationships and physiological interface between insect and mammalian immunity are especially complex in insect vectors that feed on vertebrate blood. Moreover, the bloodfeeding behavior of insect vectors of human and animal diseases offers a wealth of potential opportunities for controling rates of disease transmission among vertebrate hosts. To reduce rates of disease transmission, there are two opportunities to manipulate this bloodfeeding interface: at the point of feeding via injection of vector saliva into the vertebrate host, and within the gut of the arthropod vector to block the movement of the parasite/pathogen into the hemocoel and its ultimate transfer to the salivary glands. While psychoneuroimmunology is already an established field in vertebrate (particularly mammalian) immunology, such links have proved difficult to decipher in insects. The impact of putative hormonal factors on host immunocompetence has been a subject of much scientific speculation but minimal experimentation thus far in insect biology, although such influences are well established in vertebrates. Studies of relationships between insect host behavior and immunity have given rise to the newly emerging field of evolutionary immunology, which frames insect immunity in an ecological context.
In Brief: Environmental standards needed for offshore marine aquaculture

The U.S. Congress should enact legislation that sets strong environmental standards for offshore marine aquaculture, the Marine Aquaculture Task Force recommended in a recent report. Aquaculture now accounts for about half of all seafood consumed in the world, and the industry is rapidly growing and expanding into regions offshore (more than 3 nautical miles from the coast) that are controlled by the federal government. The task force, which was organized by researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, examined the risks and benefits of marine aquaculture. They proposed that the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration be appointed the lead agency responsible for regulation of offshore marine aquaculture and for providing incentives for research and development. The main environmental standard proposed by the task force was to limit farming only to native species with local genetics unless the potential harm of escaped fish to local populations would be negligible.
Duplication of the lantibiotic structural gene in M-type 49 group A streptococcus strains producing streptococcin A-M49.

Abstract Streptococcin A-M49 is produced by certain strains of M-type 49 group A streptococci. The structural gene for streptococcin A-M49 was cloned after hybridization with a probe containing the scnA lantibiotic structural gene. Sequence analysis revealed a duplication of the scnA gene; each gene (scnA' and scnA") encoded a 51-amino-acid prepeptide.
Toward topology dualism: improving the accuracy of AS annotations for routers

To describe, analyze, and model the topological and structural characteristics of the Internet, researchers use Internet maps constructed at the router or autonomous system (AS) level. Although progress has been made on each front individually, a dual graph representing connectivity of routers with AS labels remains an elusive goal. We take steps toward merging the router-level and AS-level views of the Internet. We start from a collection of traces, i.e. sequences of IP addresses obtained with large-scale traceroute measurements from a distributed set of vantage points. We use state-of-the-art alias resolution techniques to identify interfaces belonging to the same router. We develop novel heuristics to assign routers to ASes, producing an AS-router dual graph. We validate our router assignment heuristics using data provided by tier-1 and tier-2 ISPs and five research networks, and show that we successfully assign 80% of routers with interfaces from multiple ASes to the correct AS. When we include routers with interfaces from a single AS, the accuracy drops to 71%, due to the 24% of total inferred routers for which our measurement or alias resolution fails to find an interface belonging to the correct AS. We use our dual graph construct to estimate economic properties of the AS-router dual graph, such as the number of internal and border routers owned by different types of ASes. We also demonstrate how our techniques can improve IP-AS mapping, including resolving up to 62% of false loops we observed in AS paths derived from traceroutes.
The use of information in the Iringa Nutrition Programme

Abstract The Iringa Nutrition Programme (INP) in Tanzania is a community-based programme to improve the nutritional status of women and children. It differs from most other programmes of its size by employing a process approach to identify causes of and solutions to malnutrition at household and community levels. This process approach requires that households and communities be sensitized to the nature of malnutrition in society; that they be trained and supported in their efforts to identify local causes and solutions; and that they and the supporting administrative levels correctly perceive the roles and responsibilities each has for the persistence or reduction of malnutrition. Information on the nutritional status (weight-for-age) of children plays a central role in this process, as part of a simple, ongoing management information system. This information system is one of the best examples of ‘nutrition surveillance for programme management and evaluation’, but it departs from the conventional model of such a system in important ways. The principles developed in Iringa have recently been used to guide a review of experience with national surveillance systems in other countries, and to re-think the underlying theory of nutrition surveillance. This paper documents the principle lessons from Iringa and provides concrete suggestions for improving national-level surveillance in light of these lessons.
Opportunities For Learning: Course Sequences and Positional Advantages

Course sequences are strands of courses in particular content areas that span a student's educational career. Courses that are differentiated and sequentially organized, such as mathematics and science course sequences, create opportunities for positional advantages in a school's curricular structure. When students make a nonroutine change of schools – that is, transferring to a school outside of the regular attendance zone – they are at risk of changing their positional advantage. Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988–94 (NELS:88–94), we examine the educational outcomes of sequences and explore curricular dislocations within the context of school choice. We find that the strongest predictors of 12th-grade mathematics and science course sequences are a student's course sequences at 10th grade. With regard to outcomes, students in higher mathematics and science sequences show greater achievement gains. Furthermore, students in higher mathematics sequences are less likely to have behavior problems and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. Students who make a nonroutine change of schools are more likely to be in lower course sequences than students who do not transfer. Thus, course sequences in mathematics and science are tangible experiences with real consequences for students' lives during and beyond high school and are sensitive to transitions which disrupt the continuity of students' high school careers.
Networks of Collaboration among Scientists in a Center for Diabetes Translation Research

Background Transdisciplinary collaboration is essential in addressing the translation gap between scientific discovery and delivery of evidence-based interventions to prevent and treat diabetes. We examined patterns of collaboration among scientists at the Washington University Center for Diabetes Translation Research. Methods Members (n = 56) of the Washington University Center for Diabetes Translation Research were surveyed about collaboration overall and on publications, presentations, and grants; 87.5% responded (n = 49). We used traditional and network descriptive statistics and visualization to examine the networks and exponential random graph modeling to identify predictors of collaboration. Results The 56 network members represented nine disciplines. On average, network members had been affiliated with the center for 3.86 years (s.d. = 1.41). The director was by far the most central in all networks. The overall and publication networks were the densest, while the overall and grant networks were the most centralized. The grant network was the most transdisciplinary. The presentation network was the least dense, least centralized, and least transdisciplinary. For every year of center affiliation, network members were 10% more likely to collaborate (OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.00–1.21) and 13% more likely to write a paper together (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02–1.25). Network members in the same discipline were over twice as likely to collaborate in the overall network (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.40–3.15); however, discipline was not associated with collaboration in the other networks. Rank was not associated with collaboration in any network. Conclusions As transdisciplinary centers become more common, it is important to identify structural features, such as a central leader and ongoing collaboration over time, associated with scholarly productivity and, ultimately, with advancing science and practice.
Creating Tomorrow's Technologists: Contrasting Information Technology Curriculum in North American Library and Information Science Graduate Programs against Code4lib Job Listings.

This research study explores technology-related course offerings in ALA-accredited library and information science (LIS) graduate programs in North America. These data are juxtaposed against a text analysis of several thousand LIS-specific technology job listings from the Code4lib jobs website. Starting in 2003, as a popular library technology mailing list, Code4lib has since expanded to an annual conference in the United States and a job-posting website. The study found that database and web design/development topics continued to dominate course offerings with diverse sub-topics covered. Strong growth was noted in the area of user experience but a lack of related jobs for librarians was identified. Analysis of the job listings revealed common technology-centric librarian and non-librarian job titles, as well as frequently correlated requirements for technology skillsets relating to the popular foci of web design/development and metadata. Finally, this study presents a series of suggestions for LIS educators in order that they continue to keep curriculum aligned with current technology employment requirements.
Iron Content of Tissues in Exogenous and Endogenous Hemochromatosis

1. Tissues from patients with the endogenous and exogenous (trans-fusion) forms of hemochromatosis were analyzed for iron content and their values compared. 2. Tissues from patients with long-standing anemia were analyzed for iron content. 3. The values obtained in all cases overlap and tissue-iron analysis cannot be used to differentiate the two forms of hemochromatosis.
Folate cofactor biosynthesis by Plasmodium berghei. Comparison of folate and dihydrofolate as substrates.

SYNOPSIS. The ability of Plasmodium berghei to convert folate and dihydrofolate to folinate in vitro was investigated. Neither parasitized mouse erythrocytes nor free parasites synthesized more than trace amounts of folinate from folate under a wide variety of experimental conditions. Since disrupted cell preparations were no more efficient than whole cells, permeability barriers did not seem to be involved. However, dihydrofolate was a good substrate for the synthesis of folinate by uninfected and parasitized erythrocytes, and by free parasites. The reaction by parasitized erythrocytes required NADPH and dihydrofolate, and was inhibited by pyrimethamine, indicating the presence of dihydrofolate reductase in P. bergkei. It was postulated that P. berghei cannot utilize folate directly, since these experiments indicate that the cells lack a folate reductase. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that plasmodia synthesize folate cofactors de novo, and do not utilize exogenous folates.
Temporal Regulation of Foregut Development by HTZ-1/H2A.Z and PHA-4/FoxA

The histone variant H2A.Z is evolutionarily conserved and plays an essential role in mice, Drosophila, and Tetrahymena. The essential function of H2A.Z is unknown, with some studies suggesting a role in transcriptional repression and others in activation. Here we show that Caenorhabditis elegans HTZ-1/H2A.Z and the remodeling complex MYS-1/ESA1–SSL-1/SWR1 synergize with the FoxA transcription factor PHA-4 to coordinate temporal gene expression during foregut development. We observe dramatic genetic interactions between pha-4 and htz-1, mys-1, and ssl-1. A survey of transcription factors reveals that this interaction is specific, and thus pha-4 is acutely sensitive to reductions in these three proteins. Using a nuclear spot assay to visualize HTZ-1 in living embryos as organogenesis proceeds, we show that HTZ-1 is recruited to foregut promoters at the time of transcriptional onset, and this recruitment requires PHA-4. Loss of htz-1 by RNAi is lethal and leads to delayed expression of a subset of foregut genes. Thus, the effects of PHA-4 on temporal regulation can be explained in part by recruitment of HTZ-1 to target promoters. We suggest PHA-4 and HTZ-1 coordinate temporal gene expression by modulating the chromatin environment.
Ultrastructure of the development and subsequent breakdown of muscle in aneurogenic limbs (Ambystoma).

A study, mainly by electron microscopy, has been made on the forelimb musculature of Ambystoma opacum larvae following removal of the presumptive limb innervation in the embryo. In the aneurogenic limbs, early development and differentiation of striated muscle occurs at the same rate as in normal animals. At the time of nerve ingrowth into the normal limb, both myotubes and differentiated myofibers of small diameter are present. With the failure to make contact with nerves, the aneurogenic muscle does not advance beyond the early myofiber stage and soon (1–2 weeks) begins to show signs of atrophy. As has been described in studies of denervated adult muscle, the breakdown seems to be in two phases overlapping in time. In the first, a degenerative autolysis takes place, leading to loss of striation. There is dissolution of the Z bands, followed by disorder of the myofilaments. During this process there is evidence of fragmentation of the muscle fiber, both into nucleated and anucleate portions; waste sarcoplasm is thought to be discarded into the intercellular spaces. Interestingly enough, with the techniques used, no sign of lysosomes was noted and only a few macrophages were seen. The second phase of muscle breakdown is one with characteristics of atrophy, where single myofibers undergo gradual reduction in diameter. This process seems to take place by detachment of filaments from the periphery of the fibers and by their subsequent breakdown in the interfibrillary spaces. Late stages of muscle deterioration show large areas of cytoplasm containing scattered ribosomes, small vesicles, and a few mitochondria. The final picture is of densely stained irregular nuclei surrounded by a thin rim of cytoplasm; the intercellular spaces contain a considerable amount of fibrous material. The cartilage and skin of the aneurogenic limb appear normal even after the latest stages of muscle deterioration.
Investigational noncardiovascular uses of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors

Introduction: At the present time, inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) have Food and Drug Administration approval only for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary artery hypertension, for which their mechanism of action is vasodilation and augmentation of blood flow by impeding PDE5-mediated breakdown of cyclic guanosine monophosphate. However, these agents are also being investigated in a wide range of other potential medical and surgical applications for which current treatment options are limited and in which their mechanism of action may be the same as or different from their effects in the two approved indications. Even if only some of these potential applications prove useful, the effect on clinical practice could be far reaching. Areas covered: This literature review summarizes potential noncardiovascular uses of PDE5 inhibitors, with emphasis on clinical research. Topics include a variety of male genitourinary disorders other than erectile dysfunction: cutaneous ulcerations, ...
Hair in the vagina: a case series.

Background : Lack of estrogen after menopause can cause many changes in the lower genital tract of women, including involution of the introitus and collapse of the vestibule into the genital cleft. Cases : Six cases of hypoestrogenic women are described, with the unusual finding of entrapment of terminal hairs between agglutinated genital folds or in the vagina. In symptomatic cases, there were severe inflammatory changes accompanying these findings. The initial case prompted a lengthy and costly diagnostic process to no avail. A MEDLINE search yielded several cases of pilonidal disease of the clitoris in younger women, but no reports of hair in the vagina of postmenopausal women. Conclusions : This report is noteworthy because pilonidal disease in the lower genital tract of postmenopausal women is a less-known clinical entity. A hypothesis is offered based on its clinical similarity to pilonidal disease in the presacral area.
Cloning and Analysis of the Genes for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradationa

Bacterial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons initially proceeds through monooxygenase or dioxygenase attack on the aromatic ring. The dihydroxylated compounds formed are substrates for ring cleavage and further catabolism to tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. A number of microbial strains, both gram positive and gram negative, have been isolated that have the metabolic capability to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water. In addition, many of these strains have the ability to cometabolize structurally similar aromatic compounds that may not normally serve as metabolic inducers or as carbon sources. The genes from several of these strains have been cloned for the purpose of analyzing in more detail their structure and function. The cloned genes were used to determine the range of substrates that can be metabolized by the genetically encoded pathway. For instance, the cloned genes from Pseudomonas sp. XPW-2 placed in E. coli encoded for the oxidation of such polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as naphthalene, biphenyl, anthracene, phenanthrene, acenaphthylene, fluorene, fluoranthene, chrysene, and pyrene. The cloned genes were also used as genetic probes to determine the degree of homology, if any, there is between different microbial strains capable of degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These experiments indicated significant homology among the class of terrestrial naphthalene and phenanthrene-degrading strains. Nevertheless, little homology was seen across species lines or among strains capable of degrading higher molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This indicates that there is a diversity of genetically distinct pathways for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation.
A bioarchaeological study of plastered skulls from Anatolia: new discoveries and interpretations

Skull removal and the modelling of facial features on dry human skulls occurred in central Anatolia during the late Neolithic period (ca. 6000–5000 BC) at the site of Kosk Hoyuk. This paper describes significant new evidence for plastered and undecorated skulls from Kosk Hoyuk that is inconsistent with prior interpretations of these remains as that of an ancestor cult. Rather, this new evidence strongly suggests a funerary ritual in the Near East that focused on the skulls of males, females and children. It also highlights the need for continued bioarchaeological research on such skulls. This paper describes newly discovered plastered skulls and skulls that were cached but not necessarily decorated from Kosk Hoyuk, Turkey. It provides the archaeological context, visual description, and osteological analysis of the remains of 12 adult skulls, ten modelled and two plain. In addition, a plastered child's skull was reported in the past. A bioarchaeological study of the primary material indicates that the skulls of males and females were removed from their bodies after natural decomposition, without manual defleshing, followed by applications of plaster modelling. The skulls of both sexes and all ages were modelled in a similar manner, although crania of three females exhibited healed depressed fractures. Plastered skulls from Kosk Hoyuk were recovered along with funerary offerings of beads, bone tools, and possibly copper, and derived from a variety of intramural contexts. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stereokinetic effect and its relation to the kinetic depth effect

The stereokinetic effect (SKE) has been defined and studied by nested circular patterns rotating on a turntable. Circles must appear not to rotate as they revolve, which in turn results in their appearing to translate relative to one another. A powerful illusion of object depth results even though the individual circles do not undergo an appropriate foreshortening consistent with their apparent changes in slant. It is suggested and tested that the SKE is based on the changing positions between the nested contours despite the absence of any change within each contour, whereas the kinetic depth effect (KDE) entails both kinds of change. It follows that a turntable method of presentation is not necessary, and between-contour transformations can be simulated by computer animation. Displays consisting of simple translations were shown to evoke robust depth impressions as were patterns consisting of contours of varying shapes. Comparisons of the depth, compellingness, and rigidity of matched SKE and KDE displays are reported. The SKE is taken to be paradigmatic for how the visual system perceives depth when observing small object rotations that occur in everyday situations.
Remote sensing of mangrove biophysical characteristics

(1998). Remote sensing of mangrove biophysical characteristics. Geocarto International: Vol. 13, Geographical Applications of Satellite Remote Sensing, pp. 55-64.
Lateral Retinacular Release of the Patella

From October 1977 through January 1984, 2,330 arthroscopic procedures of the knee were performed by one of the authors (G.J.S.). Among these procedures, 35 lateral retinacular releases were performed through minimal, lateral incisions. Twenty-two knees in 22 patients were available for follow-up evaluation, and these cases were reviewed retrospectively. The average age of the patients at the time of surgery was 22.6 years. The average follow-up period was 48 months. The patients were divided into three subgroups on the basis of their preoperative diagnosis. Group I (eight knees) had a history of patellar dislocations; group II (seven knees) had recurrent patellar subluxation, identified by history and physical and radiographic examinations; and group III (seven knees) had patellar pain without a history of dislocations or subluxation and with no symptoms of instability. All of these patients underwent diagnostic arthroscopy and lateral retinacular release, as well as arthroscopic treatment of associated pathology. Postoperatively and at the time of followup, all patients were evaluated for pain, function and patellar instability. In 15 patients with a history of patellar dislocation or subluxation, 67% were found to have had significant improvement in their symptoms, which was borne out by the findings during physical examination. None was worse following treatment. Among the seven patients with no history of patellar dislocation or subluxation, only one of the seven had a satisfactory result. Based upon the findings of this study, it was concluded that arthroscopic lateral retinacular release is a reasonable, initial step in the surgical treatment of patellar dislocation or subluxation, resistant to conservative treatment. Its efficacy in cases of recalcitrant patellar pain without a history of instability is doubtful.
Host defense mechanisms of cephalopods

Abstract Humoral and cellular mechanisms of defense have been described for cephalopods, a relatively advanced group of mollusks. Typical of other mollusks, cephalopod agglutinins are the most documented component of humoral immunity. Lectins, which have agglutinating properties, have been described and characterized from octopuses. Agglutinins from cephalopod hemolymph have also been shown to agglutinate a variety of vertebrate red blood cells, as well as potential bacterial pathogens. Hemocytes are the primary component of cellular immunity. Although the hemocyte role in phagocytosis has been extensively studied in other mollusks, the mechanisms of phagocytosis have not been described extensively for cephalopods. Cephalopod hemocytes have phagocytic capabilities and may function in encapsulation and neutralization of foreign substances; however, the effects of environmental factors and the full extent of phagocytic capabilities of cephalopod hemocytes have not been reported. Hemocytes from cephalopods have a role in wound healing and inflammation which have been reported in detail by several investigators.
An unusual approach to Kepler's first law

Kepler’s first law of planetary motion states that the orbits of planets are elliptical, with the sun at one focus. We present an unusual verification of this law for use in classes in mechanics. It has the advantages of resembling the simple verification of circular orbits, and stressing the importance of Kepler’s equation.
Enteric GABA‐containing nerves projecting to the guinea‐pig inferior mesenteric ganglion modulate acetylcholine release.

1. The effect of GABA and GABA receptor-modulating drugs on release of [3H]acetylcholine was studied in the guinea-pig inferior mesenteric ganglion. 2. GABA caused a dose-dependent increase in [3H]acetylcholine release during stimulation of the lumbar colonic nerves. Muscimol (10 microM) and diazepam (5 microM) also increased [3H]acetylcholine release during stimulation of the lumbar colonic nerves whereas baclofen (10 microM) had no effect. 3. Bicuculline (20-100 microM) and picrotoxin (50 microM) alone reduced [3H]acetylcholine release during electrical stimulation of the lumbar colonic nerves whereas phaclofen (300 microM) had no effect. 4. Bicuculline (100 microM) significantly decreased whereas diazepam (5 microM) significantly increased distension-induced [3H]acetylcholine release. 5. Colonic distension significantly increased [3H]GABA release in the inferior mesenteric ganglion compared to basal periods when the colon was not distended. Distension-induced release of [3H]GABA resulted from active neuronal transmission from the colon to the inferior mesenteric ganglion, since perfusion of the inferior mesenteric ganglion with tetrodotoxin (1 microM) reduced basal release of [3H]GABA and abolished distension-evoked increases in the release of [3H]GABA. 6. In contrast to its excitatory effects on peripheral colonic afferent cholinergic nerves, exogenous GABA caused a dose-dependent decrease in [3H]acetylcholine release during electrical stimulation of the central lumbar splanchnic nerves. Baclofen (10 microM) also inhibited [3H]acetylcholine release whereas muscimol (10 microM) or diazepam (5 microM) had no effect. Phaclofen (300 microM) antagonized the inhibitory effects of exogenous GABA (10 microM) and of baclofen (10 microM). Bicuculline (100 microM), picrotoxin (50 microM) and phaclofen (300 microM) alone had no effect on [3H]acetylcholine release during splanchnic nerve stimulation. 7. Phaclofen (300 microM) increased [3H]acetylcholine release during simultaneous electrical stimulation of the lumbar colonic nerves and splanchnic nerves and when GABAA receptors were blocked by bicuculline (20 microM). 8. The data suggest that GABAA receptors facilitate release of acetylcholine from peripheral cholinergic mechanosensory nerves projecting from the colon to the inferior mesenteric ganglion and that GABAB receptors inhibit release of acetylcholine from central cholinergic nerves. Enteric GABA-containing nerves projecting to the inferior mesenteric ganglion are mechanosensory. Endogenous release of GABA may act on GABAA receptors to facilitate peripheral cholinergic mechanosensory transmission and/or on GABAB receptors to inhibit central cholinergic transmission.
Seeing into Books: Lessons from Rare Book School.

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine...