cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SOCS-1 Mimetics Protect Mice against Lethal Poxvirus Infection: Identification of a Novel Endogenous Antiviral System

The suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS-1) protein modulates cytokine signaling by binding to and inhibiting the function of Janus kinases (JAKs), ErbB, and other tyrosine kinases. We have developed a small tyrosine kinase inhibitor peptide (Tkip) that binds to the autophosphorylation site of tyrosine kinases and inhibits activation of STAT transcription factors. We have also shown that a peptide corresponding to the kinase-inhibitory region of SOCS-1, SOCS1-KIR, similarly interacts with the activation loop of JAK2 and blocks STAT activation. Poxviruses activate cellular tyrosine kinases, such as ErbB-1 and JAK2, in the infection of cells. We used the pathogenesis of vaccinia virus in C57BL/6 mice to determine the ability of the SOCS-1 mimetics to protect mice against lethal vaccinia virus infection. Injection of mice intraperitoneally with Tkip or SOCS1-KIR containing a palmitate for cell penetration, before and at the time of intranasal challenge with 2 x 10(6) PFU of vaccinia virus, resulted in complete protection at 100 microg. Initiation of treatment 1 day postinfection resulted in 80% survival. Administration of SOCS-1 mimetics by the oral route also protected mice against lethal effects of the virus. Both SOCS1-KIR and Tkip inhibited vaccinia virus transcription and replication at early and possibly later stages of infection. Vaccinia virus-induced phosphorylation of ErbB-1 and JAK2 was inhibited by the mimetics. Protected mice mounted a strong humoral and cellular response to vaccinia virus. The use of SOCS-1 mimetics in the treatment of poxvirus infections reveals an endogenous regulatory system that previously was not known to have an antiviral function.
“The Bitter With the Sweet”: Older Adults’ Strategies for Handling Ambivalence in Relations With Their Adult Children

This research adds to recent discussions of intergenerational ambivalence by analyzing accounts of relations with adult children from focus group interviews with older parents. When discussing their adult children, participants reveal strong desires for both autonomy and connection, leading to ambivalence about receiving assistance from them. They define themselves as independent but hope that children’s help will be available if needed. They are annoyed by children’s over protectiveness but appreciate the concern it expresses. They use a variety of strategies to deal with their ambivalent feelings, such as minimizing the help they receive, ignoring or resisting children’s attempts to control, withholding information from children to maintain clear boundaries, seeking others as confidants, and rationalizing children’s unavailability. They actively strive for a balance in their relationships with children. The authors interpret their findings in relation to their children’s styles of offering help and disc...
Clear Cell Ependymoma in a Dog

A 13-year-old, mixed breed dog presented with a 1-month history of seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a 2.2 × 1.0 × 0.9 cm ovoid and elongate cystic mass within the white matter of the left frontal lobe extending caudally from the cribriform plate to the rostral left lateral ventricle. Three fractions of stereotactic radiotherapy were administered and resulted in reduction of the volume of the tumour; however, the clinical signs failed to improve. On post-mortem examination, a single mass 1.5 × 0.3 × 1 cm was found within the left frontal lobe. It consisted of gelatinous, grey, friable tissue bordering a central empty cavity. Microscopical evaluation revealed polygonal neoplastic cells with distinct cytoplasmic borders and one or more intracytoplasmic solid, brightly eosinophilic, sharply defined globules. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100 but were negative for pan cytokeratin, vimentin, olig-2 and synaptophysin. Ultrastructurally, neoplastic cells had dense whorls of intracytoplasmic intermediate filaments and were connected by multiple intermittent long zonula adherens-type junctions. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of clear cell ependymoma was made. This is the first report of this subtype in the dog.
Intercellular junctions and exocytosis in the vas deferens of Ascaris

The membranes of the secretory vas deferens cells in Ascaris were examined using freeze-fracture and lanthanum impregnation techniques. The detection of gap junctions and apical septate junctions extends the knowledge of the occurrence of these intercellular junctions to include the Nematoda. Membrane reorganization resulting in exocytosis was also observed in vas deferens cells from male worms recovered in copula. The membrane alterations include the absence of microvilli at the site of membrane fusion concomitant with the focal clearance of intramembranous particles from both lumenal and secretory granule membranes. This study provides evidence to support a second membrane fusion mechanism in the same experimental animal.
Control of Heteroepitaxy in Sol-Gel Derived LiNbO3 Thin Layers

Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) in single crystal form is useful for the fabrication of acoustooptic and active waveguide devices. In this paper, the feasibility of integrating LiNbO3 thin layers on sapphire is reported. The performance of signal modulators, surface acoustic wave devices, and second harmonic generators relies on control of crystallographic orientation, so a thin-layer deposition method must meet high standards of crystallographic perfection and optical quality. Solution deposition of lithium niobium ethoxide was evaluated on (110) and (006) sapphire substrates for heteroepitaxy. Atomic force microscopy was used to determine the development of microstructure during the transition from the amorphous to crystalline state. Slab waveguides were formed and evaluated for optical quality and loss. Optical losses in the TEo mode of 500nm (110) LiNbO3 thin layers were determined to be 6 dB/cm. Preliminary results are given for the heteroepitaxial growth of α-Ga2O3 buffer layers.
Selenium compounds modulate the activity of recombinant rat AsIII-methyltransferase and the methylation of arsenite by rat and human hepatocytes

Formation of methylated metabolites is a critical step in the metabolism of inorganic arsenic or selenium. We have previously shown that under conditions of a concurrent exposure sodium selenite inhibits methylation of arsenite by cultured rat hepatocytes. Here, we compare the effects of sodium selenite and mono-, di-, and trimethylated selenium compounds on the methylation of arsenite by purified recombinant rat As(III)-methyltransferase (Cyt19) and by primary rat and human hepatocytes. Among these compounds, sodium selenite was the most potent inhibitor of the methylation of arsenite by the recombinant enzyme (K(i) = 1.4 microM) and by cultured cells. In both systems, methylseleninic acid was an order of magnitude less potent an inhibitor (K(i) = 19.4 microM) than was sodium selenite. Dimethylselenoxide and trimethylselenonium iodide were weak activators of recombinant As(III)-methyltransferase activity but were weak inhibitors of arsenite methylation in hepatocytes. These data suggest that selenite, rather than its methylated metabolites, is responsible for inhibition of arsenite methylation in cultured hepatocytes and that inhibition may involve direct interactions between selenite and As(III)-methyltransferase.
The Federal Tax Implications of Redating Stock Option Grant Dates and Exercise Dates

Backdating of stock option grants is receiving substantial investigative attention by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and the Internal Revenue Service. The redating of stock options has significant potential economic and legal implications to executives, employees, and shareholders of the granting firms. Accordingly, this topic is of considerable current interest in both the academic and popular press. In this paper, we discuss the tax implications of manipulating stock option grant and exercise dates, review the tax treatment of stock option and stock purchase plans including I.R.C. §162(m) and I.R.C. §409A implications, and present a real world example illustrating the potential economic magnitude of this problem to both the option grantees and the option granting firms.
Restoration of scene information reflected from a non-specular surface

A recently published experiment called "dual photography" exploits Helmholtz reciprocity by illuminating a scene with a pixilated light source and imaging other parts of that scene with a camera so that light transport between every pair of source-to-camera pixels is measured. The positions of the source and camera are then computationally interchanged to generate a "dual image" of the scene from the viewpoint of the source illuminated from the position of the camera. Although information from parts of the scene normally hidden from the camera are made available, this technique is rather contrived and therefore limited in practical applications since it requires access to the path from the source to the scene for the pixilated illumination. We propose this limitation may be relieved and additional scene information may be recovered if the scattering properties of media in the scene are known. To this end, we have shown through simulation and experimentation that information not directly visible to either the camera or the source, but illuminated by a source scattered off another part of the scene, may be recovered in limited initial cases. This paper discusses the technique of using the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of a non-specular medium to allow a camera collocated with a laser source and scattered off that medium to recover scene information not directly visible to the camera.
Chemoreception of sucrose and amino acids in second and fourth instars of the spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

We examined the responses of some gustatory neurons in various contact-chemoreceptor sensilla of second-instar larvae of the spruce budworm. These included the L1 and L2 sensilla on the maxillary palp, and the LST and MST sensilla on the galea. Our objective was to determine whether there were differences in the physiological characteristics of individual neurons between the early and late larval instars. Changes were observed in both some sugar-sensitive and amino acid-sensitive neurons. We also confirmed the presence of a water-sensitive neuron in the L2 sensillum. Our findings are discussed in relation to changes that occur during the development of both the host plant and the insect. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to examine the responses from contact-chemoreceptor sensilla of very young second-instar caterpillar larvae.
Tunable high-quality-factor interdigitated (Ba, Sr)TiO3 capacitors fabricated on low-cost substrates with copper metallization

Interdigitated capacitors containing the field-tunable ferroelectric Ba0.75Sr0.25TiO3, polycrystalline alumina substrates, and copper metallization have been fabricated. Dielectric layers were prepared by magnetron sputtering, while the Cu metallization was evaporated. The dielectric tunability of the Ba0.75Sr0.25TiO3 was 40% at an applied electric field of 12 V/μm. This corresponds to a 3-μm electrode gap width and a 35 V dc bias. Low-frequency (1 MHz) loss tangent measurements indicate a dielectric Q (quality factor) of ∼100 while microwave measurements reveal a zero bias device Q of ∼30 at 26 GHz. These values are comparable or superior to numerous reports of barium strontium titanate interdigitated capacitors prepared using single crystalline substrates and noble metallization. As such, this technology is significantly less expensive and more amenable to large-volume manufacturing.
Effects of heating on the emanation rates of radon-222 from a suite of natural minerals

Abstract The emanating power of radon provides information on the internal structure of a mineral and the radiation damage caused by the decay of 238U, 235U and 232Th (and their daughters) that are present in the mineral. The concentration of 222Rn in groundwater is primarily controlled by the concentration of U and Th in the underlying rocks, as well as the emanation coefficient for that particular rock. The variations in the emanation coefficient for 222Rn caused when subsurface rocks are subjected to tectonic forces results in changes in 222Rn in groundwater. Increased emanation rates of radon from a mineral grain can potentially alter the 238U–206Pb, 235U–207Pb and 232Th–208Pb chronological clocks. We have measured radon emanation coefficients on a suite of minerals comprised of one oxide (uraninite), three silicates (thorite, zircon, and cerite) and one phosphate (monazite) at room temperature and after heating at 200°C and 600°C. Annealing of some of the nuclear tracks within a mineral significantly reduces the emanation rates of radon in these minerals, suggesting that the tracks created by decay events serve as conduit pathways for the release of 222Rn. Higher emanation rates of 222Rn from mineral grains that are surrounded by liquid as compared to air indicate that a major portion of the escaping 222Rn in air gets embedded into adjacent mineral grains and/or opposite walls of a pore.
Liver transplantation in Ohio

Abstract Background. Since its inception in 1984, the Ohio Solid Organ Transplantation Consortium has tracked liver transplantation outcomes for its five member institutions. Presented herein is a 12-year summary of this data analyzed to determine whether, with increasing experience, outcomes have improved in a cost-effective manner. Methods. Between July 1984 and June 1996, 1,063 liver transplants were performed in Ohio in 943 patients (772 adults and 171 children), of which 943 were primary and 120 were retransplants (13%). Outcome comparisons were made for three eras: 1984–1988, 1988–1992, and 1992–1996. Results. The percentage of urgent (United Network for Organ Sharing status 1 and 2) transplants has decreased (62% to 41%), whereas that of homebound patients has increased (38% to 59%). Average time on the waiting list has increased from 39 to 165 days, and the average length of stay has decreased from 44 to 27 days. Patient survival at 1-year increased in each era (64%, 80%, and 82%, respectively). Although actual hospital charges have remained relatively constant, they have decreased substantially when compared in 1985 dollars as corrected for inflation. Conclusions. Patients undergoing liver transplantation in Ohio are now listed earlier in the course of their disease and wait longer for their transplant, but enjoy a better chance of survival, have a shorter hospital stay, and a relatively less expensive operation. These data indicate that with increased experience, the Ohio Solid Organ Transplantation Consortium liver transplantation teams perform liver transplantation in a more cost-effective manner.
Building a Strong Foundation: Using a Computer Simulation in an Introductory Management Course:

This article examines how computer-based management simulations can help meet the objectives of the introductory management course. Seven criteria are developed to evaluate the appropriateness of simulations for the introductory management course. Using these criteria, the authors evaluate 11 currently available computer-based simulations that (a) address a broad array of issues including production, marketing, human resources, and accounting and (b) allow team play. Finally, suggestions for course design are offered to facilitate the integration of a computer simulation into an introductory management course.
Two Effects of Cytokinin on the Auxin Requirement of Tobacco Callus Cultures

Cytokinin affects the requirement for auxin of a strain of tobacco callus (Nicotiana tabacum) which is cytokinin-autotrophic when grown on Murashige and Skoog medium with 11.4 mum of indole-3-acetic acid but requires cytokinin 6-(3-methyl-2-butenylamino)purine (i(6) Ade) when grown on the same medium with <3 mum indole-3-acetic acid. As the exogenous concentration of cytokinin (i(6) Ade) is increased, the concentration of indole-3-acetic acid required for growth is decreased. A second effect of cytokinin, observed sporadically in cultures with 2.5 mum or 5 mum i(6) Ade, is the transformation of some of the callus pieces to auxin-autotrophic growth. Strains, both callus-forming and bud-forming tissues, that arise in this manner are not permanently altered in their auxin requirement because subcultures on medium without cytokinin still require exogenous auxin.
Effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Mitral Valve Tenting

Obstructive apneas produce high negative intrathoracic pressure that imposes an afterload burden on the left ventricle. Such episodes might produce structural changes in the left ventricle over time. Doppler echocardiograms were obtained within 2 months of attended polysomnography. Patients were grouped according to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): mild/no obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; AHI <15) and moderate/severe OSA (AHI ≥15). Mitral valve tenting height and area, left ventricular (LV) long and short axes, and LV end-diastolic volume were measured in addition to tissue Doppler parameters. Comparisons of measurements at baseline and follow-up between and within groups were obtained; correlations between absolute changes (Δ) in echocardiographic parameters were also performed. After a mean follow-up of 240 days mitral valve tenting height increased significantly (1.17 ± 0.12 to 1.28 ± 0.17 cm, p = 0.001) in moderate/severe OSA as did tenting area (2.30 ± 0.41 to 2.66 ± 0.60 cm(2), p = 0.0002); Δtenting height correlated with ΔLV end-diastolic volume (rho 0.43, p = 0.01) and Δtenting area (rho 0.35, p = 0.04). In patients with mild/no OSA there was no significant change in tenting height; there was a borderline significant increase in tenting area (2.20 ± 0.44 to 2.31 ± 0.43 cm(2), p = 0.05). Septal tissue Doppler early diastolic wave decreased (8.04 ± 2.49 to 7.10 ± 1.83 cm/s, p = 0.005) in subjects with moderate/severe OSA but not in in those with mild/no OSA. In conclusion, in patients with moderate/severe OSA, mitral valve tenting height and tenting area increase significantly over time. This appears to be related, at least in part, to changes in LV geometry.
Centroid-moment tensor solutions for July–September 1991

Centroid-moment tensor solutions are presented for 142 earthquakes that occurred during the third quarter of 1991. The solutions are obtained using corrections for aspherical structure represented by a whole mantle shear velocity model, SH8/U4L8, of Dziewonski and Woodward.
Modeling Oxygen concentration in skeletal muscle

A new approach to modeling oxygen transport in skeletal muscle is presented that has the potential to include the interactions of a large number of capillaries. Oxygen concentration in tissue does not differ significantly from that in nearby capillaries, but the concentration in a capillary can be found only through a consideration of the interaction with other capillaries and the surrounding tissue. We therefore begin with an analysis of the oxygen concentration in the tissue surrounding a single capillary. By matching the concentration in adjacent tissue regions, we determine the interaction among capillaries. From this, two universal constants emerge that permit the capillary concentrations to be determined rather easily, without further consideration of the complex solution obtained for the tissue.
Perceptions of Barriers Concerning Effective Online Teaching and Policies: Florida Community College Faculty

This study's purpose was to examine the perceptions of Florida's full-time community college faculty members who teach by distance learning concerning the ten policy areas set forth by Berge and Muilenburg (2000). Focus group sessions indicated that faculty members felt certain barriers related to their online experiences. Faculty time and compensation, which deals with how much time faculty members spend and how much they are compensated, seemed to be the greatest barrier while access seemed to cause faculty members the least amount of concern. But factors such as training, size of the institutions, and complexity of the programs seemed to play a role in their perceptions.
Making the cut: central roles of intramembrane proteolysis in pathogenic microorganisms

Cleavage of membrane proteins by intramembrane proteases can release effector domains that carry out a range of cellular functions. In higher eukaryotes, the functions of such proteases are well characterized. However, the importance of such proteases in unicellular organisms is only recently being appreciated. In this article, Sin Urban reviews the recent advances in our understanding of how intramembrane proteases play pivotal parts in a range of pathogenic microorganisms.
Improving the large scale purification of the HIV microbicide, griffithsin

Griffithsin is a broad spectrum antiviral lectin that inhibits viral entry and maturation processes through binding clusters of oligomannose glycans on viral envelope glycoproteins. An efficient, scaleable manufacturing process for griffithsin active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is essential for particularly cost-sensitive products such as griffithsin -based topical microbicides for HIV-1 prevention in resource poor settings. Our previously published purification method used ceramic filtration followed by two chromatography steps, resulting in a protein recovery of 30%. Our objective was to develop a scalable purification method for griffithsin expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants that would increase yield, reduce production costs, and simplify manufacturing techniques. Considering the future need to transfer griffithsin manufacturing technology to resource poor areas, we chose to focus modifying the purification process, paying particular attention to introducing simple, low-cost, and scalable procedures such as use of temperature, pH, ion concentration, and filtration to enhance product recovery. We achieved >99% pure griffithsin API by generating the initial green juice extract in pH 4 buffer, heating the extract to 55°C, incubating overnight with a bentonite MgCl2 mixture, and final purification with Capto™ multimodal chromatography. Griffithsin extracted with this protocol maintains activity comparable to griffithsin purified by the previously published method and we are able to recover a substantially higher yield: 88 ± 5% of griffithsin from the initial extract. The method was scaled to produce gram quantities of griffithsin with high yields, low endotoxin levels, and low purification costs maintained. The methodology developed to purify griffithsin introduces and develops multiple tools for purification of recombinant proteins from plants at an industrial scale. These tools allow for robust cost-effective production and purification of griffithsin. The methodology can be readily scaled to the bench top or industry and process components can be used for purification of additional proteins based on biophysical characteristics.
Enumeration of words by their number of mistakes

Consider all words in {1,...,n}. A fixed set of words is labeled as the set of ''mistakes''. A generating function for the number of words with m"11's,...,m"nn's and k mistakes is given. This generalizes a result of Gessel who considered the case where all the mistakes are two-lettered. A similar result has been independently obtained by Goulden and Jackson.
Photoregulated Gene Expression in Human Cells With Light-Inducible Engineered Transcription Factors

Systems for controlling gene expression in mammalian cells have a wide range of applications in medicine, biotechnology and basic science. An ideal gene regulatory system would allow for precise and specific control over the magnitude and kinetics of gene expression in space and time, while also exerting minimal influence on other genes and cellular components. Several gene regulatory systems have been developed in which orthogonal transcription machinery from prokaryotes or insects has been imported into mammalian cells and used to control the expression of a specific gene. Despite the transformative impact of these systems in biomedical and biological research, several limitations of these technologies restrict the scope of possible applications. For example, gene expression in these systems is controlled by a freely diffusible small molecule, such as an antibiotic or steroid. Consequently, it is not possible to achieve spatial control over gene expression within cell culture, tissues, or whole organisms. This is in contrast to natural mechanisms of biological regulation in which spatial control is critical, such as developmental patterning and tissue morphogenesis. Second, dynamic gene regulation requires the removal of these small molecules, which may be slow, laborious, and/or impractical for a particular application. To overcome these limitations, we have engineered an optogenetic system in which the magnitude of gene expression in human cells can be finely tuned by photoregulated synthetic transcription factors.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Long-term effects of neonatal ischemic-hypoxic brain injury on sensorimotor and locomotor tasks in rats

Abstract Perinatal ischemia and/or hypoxia in humans are major risk factors for neurologic injury that often manifest as sensorimotor and locomotor deficits throughout development and into maturity. In these studies, we utilized an established model of neonatal ischemic-hypoxia that creates unilateral striatal, cortical, and hippocampal damage (Rice III, J.E., Vanucci, R.C. and Brierley, J.B., Ann. Neurol., 9 (1981) 131–141)) to investigate sensorimotor and locomotor deficits in these animals during development and as adults. Sensorimotor deficits were examined by measuring the amount of time that the animals were able to remain on a rotating treadmill. Locomotor abnormalities were assessed by measuring apomorphine-induced rotational asymmetry. Following the neonatal ischemic-hypoxic episode, at 3–9 weeks of age, animals were not able to remain on the treadmill as long as their normal littermate controls. In addition, these animals demonstrated an abnormal, ipsiversive rotational asymmetry in response to systemic administration of apomorphine. When these animals reached adulthood, the degree of atrophy in specific regions of the damaged hemisphere was quantified using measurements of cross-sectional area. The mean cross-sectional area of the striatum was decreased by 29%, the sensorimotor cortex area by 26%, and the dorsal hippocampus cross-sectional area was approximately 6% of its normal size. These data suggest that this rodent model of neonatal ischemic-hypoxic brain injury results in cerebral atrophy and long-lasting sensorimotor and locomotor deficits. These particular behavioral tasks may be used in future studies to assess locomotor and sensorimotor deficits following neonatal ischemic-hypoxic brain injury.
Assessing the psychometric properties of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) in US college students

Internet addiction is a growing concern; however, both a clear understanding of the mechanisms driving problematic behaviors and a gold standard instrument for assessing symptoms are lacking. The purpose of this study was to perform a psychometric analysis of the most widely used screening instrument, the Young Internet Addiction Test (IAT), using a sample of US college students. 215 (70% response rate) undergraduate college students were recruited from two US universities to complete an online version of the IAT. Using exploratory factor analysis, two factors were extracted, "dependent use" and "excessive use" which together explained 91% of the total variance. Participants who scored into the problematic user category of the IAT scored items on the dependent use scale an average of 0.8 ± 1.5 points higher and items on the excessive use scale an average of 1.4 ± 1.5 points higher than participants who scored in the average user category. Results suggest that Internet addiction symptoms may cluster into two separate components, dependent and excessive use. Further, the IAT appears to be a valid instrument for assessing Internet addiction in US college students.
Parental subjective reactions to perceived temperament behavior in their 6- and 24-month-old children

Abstract Parents' subjective reactions to specific temperament-related behaviors perceived in their young children were assessed in this study as a means of obtaining a parental perspective on the definition of easiness/difficultness. Mothers and fathers of 60 children, either 6 or 24 months old, completed a standardized temperament questionnaire and, subsequently, a follow-up questionnaire that requested ratings of how pleasing they found specific behaviors representing the New York Longitudinal Study (NYLS) easy/difficult dimensions. The highest correlations between temperament ratings and pleasure ratings, for both mothers and fathers, were obtained for Mood and Adaptability, indicating the significance of these dimensions for parents. Examination of the possible moderating effects of child classification variables (age, birth order, and gender) on these relationships indicated that, in general, correlations between temperament and pleasure ratings are not different under different child conditions. The implications of these results for the construct of easiness/difficultness are discussed.
Effect of Amino Acid Substitutions in the Rad50 ATP Binding Domain on DNA Double Strand Break Repair in Yeast

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad50-Mre11-Xrs2 complex plays a central role in the cellular response to DNA double strand breaks. Rad50 has a globular ATPase head domain with a long coiled-coil tail. DNA binding by Rad50 is ATP-dependent and the Rad50-Mre11-Xrs2 complex possesses DNA unwinding and endonuclease activities that are regulated by ATP. Here we have examined the role of the Rad50 Walker type A ATP binding motif in DNA double strand break repair by a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches. Replacement of the conserved lysine residue within the Walker A motif with alanine, glutamate, or arginine results in the same DNA damage sensitivity and homologous recombination defect as the rad50 deletion mutation. The Walker A mutations also cause a deficiency in non-homologous end-joining. As expected, complexes containing the rad50 Walker A mutant proteins are defective in ATPase, ATP-dependent DNA unwinding, and ATP-stimulated endonuclease activities. Although the DNA end-bridging activity of the Rad50-Mre11-Xrs2 complex is ATP-independent, the end-bridging activity of complexes containing the rad50 Walker A mutant proteins is salt-sensitive. These results provide a molecular explanation for the observed in vivo defects of the rad50 Walker mutant strains and reveal a novel ATP-independent function for Rad50 in DNA end-bridging.
Interactions of thyrotropin releasing hormone, its metabolites and analogues with endogenous and exogenous opiates.

Abstract 1. 1. The interactions of thyrotropin releasing hormone, its metabolites and synthetic analogues with acute and chronic effects of endogenous and exogenous opiates have been described. 2. 2. The endogenous and exogenous opiates are represented by β-endorphin and morphine, respectively. The pharmacological effects of opiates include analgesia, temperature effects, respiratory depression, catalepsy, locomotor activity, opiate receptor binding, tolerance, and physical dependence. 3. 3. Thyrotropin releasing hormone and related compounds appear to (a) antagonize hypothermia, respiratory depression, locomotor depression and catalepsy but not the analgesia induced by opiates, (b) inhibit the development of tolerance to the analgesic effect but not to the hypothermic effect of opiates, (c) inhibit the development of physical dependence on opiates as evidenced by the inhibition of development of certain withdrawal symptoms, and (d) suppress the abstinence syndrome in opiate dependent rodents. 4. 4. Thyrotropin releasing hormone does not interact with the opiate receptors in the brain. 5. 5. Potential therapeutic applications of thyrotropin releasing hormone and its synthetic analogues in counteracting some of the undesirable effects of opiates are discussed.
Starlikeness of polynomials and finite Blaschke products

The radius of starlikeness for polynomial mappings and fi- nite Blaschke products with zeroes distributed at equal angles around a circle centered at the origin, as well as the case in which zeroes are concentrated at a single point, are considered, and sharp bounds are obtained. Results expressing the radius of starlikeness of an arbitrary polynomial or Blaschke product in terms of the magnitudes of the zeroes are also given. These are also sharp.
Bridging Home and School through Multiple Intelligences

(1996). Bridging Home and School through Multiple Intelligences. Childhood Education: Vol. 72, No. 3, pp. 164-166.
The absolute abundance of the lithium isotopes in natural sources

The absolute abundance of the lithium isotopes in natural sources from North America and Africa has been determined. The absolute 6Li/7Li ratio from thirteen spodumene samples was found to be 0.08182 ± 0.00033. This ratio for a batch of reagent Li2CO3 was found to be 0.d07926 and for Li2NaPO4 from Searle's Lake was found to be 0.07957. Considering the thirteen spodumene samples to represent the principal commercial sources of lithium, an atomic weight of 6.9403 ± 0.0005 is calculated for the element on the basis of these absolute abundances and values for the nuclidic masses.
Do prices reflect market fundamentals in real estate markets

The purpose of this article is to examine prices on land and REIT shares for possible evidence of deviations from market fundamentals, the underlying economic forces. Models of market fundamentals are developed from the intertemporal capital asset pricing model so that risk aversion and a stochastic investment opportunity set can be incorporated in the analysis. The approach in this article is to compare ex post values of actual discounted cash flows with prices and to test whether the price series are unbiased predictors of the future discounted cash flows. Several tests of the relationship are presented, and the results suggest that prices of real estate investment trusts and prices of farm land do not always reflect fundamental value.
Assessment and diagnosis of nicotine dependence in mental health settings

This study evaluated the frequency of documented assessment of smoking status and the diagnosis of nicotine dependence in a random sample of 153 mental health records and 152 medical records. The results indicated that tobacco use was routinely documented in the mental health records (88%) and medical records (87%). However, a diagnosis of nicotine dependence was given in only 2% of the mental health records (1/49) and 7% of the medical records (2/30) for those patients with documented regular tobacco use. These results suggest that clinicians do not routinely diagnose Nicotine Dependence even when diagnostic criteria are met.
Strategies to Modulate Immune Responses: A New Frontier for Gene Therapy

The success of gene therapy strategies to cure disease relies on the control of unwanted immune responses to transgene products, genetically modified cells and/or to the vector. Effective treatment of an established immune response is much harder to achieve than prevention of a response before it has had a chance to develop. However, preventive strategies are not always effective in avoiding immune responses, thus the use of drugs to induce immunosuppression (IS) is required. The growing discovery of novel drugs provides a conceptual shift from using generalized, moderately intensive immunosuppressive regimens towards a refined approach to attain the optimal balance of naive cells, effector cells, memory cells, and regulatory cells, harnessing the natural tolerance mechanisms of the body. We review several strategies based on transient IS coupled with gene therapy for sustained immune tolerance induction to the therapeutic transgene.
Influence of diterpene resin acids on feeding and growth of larch sawfly, Pristiphora erichsonii (Hartig)

Diterpene resin acids significantly affect consumption rates, feeding efficiencies, and growth rates of the larch sawfly,Pristiphora erichsonii (Hartig) when topically applied to their natural food, tamarackLarix laricina (DuRoi) K. Koch. Abietic acid, neoabietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, and isopimaric acid significantly reduced consumption rates, feeding efficiencies, and growth rates. Sandaracopimaric acid reduced growth and efficiency but did not influence consumption rate. Two-way analysis of variance indicates a significant interaction between chemical and concentration for growth rate, feeding efficiency, and consumption rate. This interaction indicates that increasing chemical concentrations do not influence the larch sawfly in a uniform manner, supporting the concept of concentration-dependent biological activity of allelochemics.
Meta-Analysis of Long-term Results of Randomized Trials of the Impact of Adjuvant Radiation on Overall, Metastasis-Free, and Biochemical Recurrence-Free Survival for pT3N0 or Margin-Positive Prostate Cancer

Honoraria; Ferring, ASTRA-Zeneca, G.E. G. Consultant; Arista Molecular, Astellas, Bayer, Ferring. H. Travel Expenses; Arista Molecular, Astellas, Bayer, Ferring. N. Royalty; UpToDate, Springer. Q. Leadership; American Cancer Society. D. Hunt: None. C.A. Lawton: None. I. Hsu: None. R.A. Lustig: None. M. Seider: None. J.U. Christopher: None. C.R. Thomas: None. W.U. Shipley: None. H. Sandler: None.
Going Home Again: Transitioning Youth to Families After Group Care Placement

This paper presents results from the transitioning youth to families intervention, which aimed to promote family care for youth served in group care programs in the child welfare system. The intervention was conducted in two counties in a Mid-Atlantic state. The effort encompassed administrative case review and family involvement meetings. We assessed the effect of the intervention in promoting placement in family settings within 12 months. We also explored other effects of the intervention identified by participants. Using propensity score matching with administrative data to compare one-year placement settings for the intervention counties and non-intervention counties, a higher rate of family reunification was identified for youth in the treatment counties. To provide a richer contextual understanding of the effects of the intervention, thematic analysis of open-ended comments from youth and caregiver participants was conducted. These resulting themes provided further understanding of the value of the intervention especially in the areas of planning for the transition, improving youth insight about placement options, and the importance of family involvement. Participants also made recommendations for how to enhance the intervention and promote the transition of youth from group care to family settings. Overall, the effect of the intervention in transitioning youth to family settings was nominal; however unanticipated benefits of engaging youth and family in the transition process were noted. From this evaluation, we provide suggestions for future research and the development of effort to transition youth from group care settings.
Command detection and classification in tongue drive assistive technology

Tongue Drive System (TDS) is a new assistive technology that enables individuals with severe disabilities such as those with spinal cord injury (SCI) to regain environmental control using their tongue motion. We have developed a new sensor signal processing (SSP) algorithm which uses four 3-axial magneto-resistive sensor outputs to accurately detect and classify between seven different user-control commands in stationary as well as mobile conditions. The new algorithm employs a two-stage classification method with a combination of 9 classifiers to discriminate between 4 commands on the left or right side of the oral cavity (one neutral command shared on both sides). Evaluation of the new SSP algorithm on five able-bodied subjects resulted in true positive rates in the range of 70–99% with corresponding false positive rates in the range of 5–7%, showing a notable improvement in the resulted true-false (TF) differences when compared to the previous algorithm.
IGF-I Receptor Is Required for the Anabolic Actions of Parathyroid Hormone on Bone

We showed that the IGF-IR–null mutation in mature osteoblasts leads to less bone and decreased periosteal bone formation and impaired the stimulatory effects of PTH on osteoprogenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. Introduction: This study was carried out to examine the role of IGF-I signaling in mediating the actions of PTH on bone. Materials and Methods: Three-month-old mice with an osteoblast-specific IGF-I receptor null mutation (IGF-IR OBKO) and their normal littermates were treated with vehicle or PTH (80 μg/kg body weight/d for 2 wk). Structural measurements of the proximal and midshaft of the tibia were made by μCT. Trabecular and cortical bone formation was measured by bone histomorphometry. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were obtained to assess the effects of PTH on osteoprogenitor number and differentiation. Results: The fat-free weight of bone normalized to body weight (FFW/BW), bone volume (BV/TV), and cortical thickness (C.Th) in both proximal tibia and shaft were all less in the IGF-IR OBKO mice compared with controls. PTH decreased FFW/BW of the proximal tibia more substantially in controls than in IGF-IR OBKO mice. The increase in C.Th after PTH in the proximal tibia was comparable in both control and IGF-IR OBKO mice. Although trabecular and periosteal bone formation was markedly lower in the IGF-IR OBKO mice than in the control mice, endosteal bone formation was comparable in control and IGF-IR OBKO mice. PTH stimulated endosteal bone formation only in the control animals. Compared with BMSCs from control mice, BMSCs from IGF-IR OBKO mice showed equal alkaline phosphatase (ALP)+ colonies on day 14, but fewer mineralized nodules on day 28. Administration of PTH increased the number of ALP+ colonies and mineralized nodules on days 14 and 28 in BMSCs from control mice, but not in BMSCs from IGF-IR OBKO mice. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the IGF-IR null mutation in mature osteoblasts leads to less bone and decreased bone formation, in part because of the requirement for the IGF-IR in mature osteoblasts to enable PTH to stimulate osteoprogenitor cell proliferation and differentiation.
The inclination of modern jurists to associate lawyers with doctors: Plato's response inGorgias 464?465

From the turn of the century, jurists have tended to associate lawyers with doctors as professionals and tried to ground this association in an analogy between law and medicine. Paradoxically, such comparisons suggest that American law and medicine are not analogous, while an analogy proposed by Plato illumines more fundamental respects in which law and medicine might be truly analogous.
COMMUNICATION PATTERNS AND PROBLEMS OF PREGNANCY

Communication patterns of women who had never been pregnant were compared with those of women who had two or more unplanned pregnancies. Results of a questionnaire assessing communication skills, social orientation and involvement, self-disclosure, physical accessibility, and verbal defensiveness, completed by 56 women attending family planning clinics, suggest that communicative inadequacies may contribute to repeated contraceptive failure.
Hypertrophic neuropathy in a dog.

Postmortem examination of a twelve-year-old dog with a history of relapsing paresis revealed widespread nerve enlargement. The hypertrophic nerves contained numerous onion buld formations and areas of mucoid degeneration. The clinical and pathologic features in this case were compared to those reported in inherited and acquired forms of hypertrophic neuropathy in man.
Directing the growth of highly aligned gold nanorods through a surface chemical amidation reaction.

This paper describes the seed-mediated growth of highly aligned gold nanorods (Au NRs) over large areas directly on a Si(100) surface. The Si(100) surface is NH2-functionalized with (aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) followed by a DCC-catalyzed surface amidation reaction with acetic acid. After exposure to a gold nanoparticle (Au NP) “seed” solution, chemical seed-mediated growth of the surface-bound seeds via reduction of AuCl4- by ascorbic acid in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide leads to the growth of highly aligned Au NRs on the surface. About 80% of the NRs are aligned in the same direction within a ±30° range. Au NRs account for 19% of the nanostructures with average aspect ratio (AR) of ∼20. The alignment direction did not correlate with the atomic arrangement of the Si(100) crystal since it varied over different regions of the sample, rotating by 90° from top to bottom of an approximately 5 mm sample. Si crystallinity may still be important since alignment is not observed on amorph...
Community Types and Social Indicator Rates

To explore and test the Durkheimian proposition that social morphology determines communities’ social indicator levels, this research introduces an improved method for identifying community types and relates them to disability rates and problematic pregnancies. A factor analysis of Mapquest data for 283 villages in western New York State produced four factors: services, satellite villages, regional centers, and college centers. The factor scores were then used in regression models of two disability criteria—work limitation and work curtailment—along with teenage pregnancies. The disability criteria coefficients were significantly negative for satellite and college villages and for service and regional villages that are near cities. A plausible explanation for these correlations is that the cost of living deters residence by disabled people. In the hinterland, people with disabilities tend to concentrate in regional centers with a large hospital and a veterans organization. Positive associations were found...
Examination of the content of individualism/collectivism scales in cultural comparisons of the USA and Japan

The definitions of individualism/collectivism and the content of scale items used to assess them could explain the lack of cross-cultural differences reported in some research. Specifically, existing scales may not adequately assess expected cultural differences. In study 1, a new scale was given in Japan and the USA. Three factors were identified in both cultures. Japanese scored higher on the others focus factor but scored lower on the helping others factor than the US Americans. In study 2, a forced choice version replicated results in study 1. In studies 3 and 4, the factor structure and cultural differences were replicated and the convergent and the divergent validities of the scale were examined. Results indicate that Japanese may be more others oriented depending on the item content.