cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autoantigen Immunization at Different Sites Reveals a Role for Anti-Inflammatory Effects of IFN-γ in Regulating Susceptibility to Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is induced in B10.PL (H-2u) mice by immunization with the immunodominant N-terminal epitope of myelin basic protein, Ac1-9. In the present study, we show that the site of immunization impacts disease incidence and severity. This effect is more marked in female mice than in males. Although immunization in the flanks is effective in eliciting disease, delivery of Ag in the footpad and tailbase results in poor induction. Analyses of the immune responses in female mice following different immunization regimens indicates that resistance to disease is accompanied by higher levels of IFN-γ and CD11b+Gr-1int myeloid cells. Such myeloid cells are known to have a suppressive function, and consistent with this knowledge, blockade of IFN-γ results in increased disease activity and decreased levels of splenic CD11b+Gr-1int cells. Conversely, injection of adjuvants (CFA or Pam3CSK4) in the footpad decreases experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis incidence and severity. Our study indicates that the site of immunization can impact the magnitude of the ensuing inflammatory response, and that at a certain threshold a protective, regulatory circuit can be elicited.
Rapidly progressive stage IVB mycosis fungoides treated with low-dose total skin electron beam therapy

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common subtype of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Normally, MF has an indolent course although patients can progress to an advanced disease state (stages IIB–IVB). Advanced-stage disease is typically aggressive, leaving patients with debilitating symptoms and a decreased quality of life. Moreover, advanced-stage MF often proves refractory to therapy and carries a very poor prognosis. Total skin electron beam (TSEB) therapy is a well-established and successful treatment for early stage MF; however, its efficacy dramatically decreases with advanced-stage disease. In fact, TSEB in advanced-stage MF is generally considered to be palliative. Current consensus guidelines recommend a dose of 30–36 Gy to be delivered in 8–10 weeks; however, limited studies exist to determine the ideal treatment in Stage IV MF. Herein, we describe a case of a 50-year-old male who developed rapidly progressive stage IVB (T3N3M1B0) MF and was treated with low-dose (24 Gy) TSEB over 8 weeks. The patient was not treated with any systemic therapy before starting TSEB due to the widespread nature and the speed of disease progression. Remarkably, our patient showed nearly complete (95%) response of his MF with no apparent side effects from radiation. Furthermore, he has remained in remission over 4 years, requiring only a small boost to a few “shadowed” areas. Our case illustrates the benefit of using TSEB in stage IV MF. Additionally, our experience shows that low-dose TSEB can occasionally be efficacious in stage IV disease.
Methodological Issues in Performance of SCI Clinical Trials

Spinal cord injury (SCI) research is at a crossroads for progressing into legitimate science for discovering a cure. To do this, the interventions designed by basic scientists must be applied by translational processes that are planned and performed with systematic standards. Any proposed intervention should be examined under the scrutiny of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. To support this requirement, the National Institutes of Health has specifically defined the components of a properly run clinical trial. Furthermore, all investigational results should be published according to the Consolidated Standard of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) group, which specifies reporting guidelines for researchers to use. Finally, when it comes to designing and reporting randomized clinical trials for SCI research, unique characteristics of this patient population must be considered to adhere to valid study investigation.
Opportunities in the Life Sciences

The purpose of this article is to review some recent developments in the life sciences area that are of interest to IEEE members, and to highlight IEEE's initiatives in the life sciences area.
Identification of DNA methylation differences during tumorigenesis by methylation-sensitive arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction

The ability to detect methylation changes associated with oncogenic transformation is of critical importance in understanding how DNA methylation may contribute to tumorigenesis. We have developed a simple and reproducible fingerprinting method called methylation-sensitive arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) to screen for DNA methylation changes. This technique relies on digesting genomic DNA with methylation-sensitive and -insensitive restriction enzymes (e.g., HpaII and MspI) prior to AP-PCR amplification. Matched normal and tumor DNAs were compared to identify differential methylation. After the PCR products were resolved on high-resolution polyacrylamide gels, regions of genomic DNA that showed hypo- and hypermethylation associated with tumors were detected. These fragments were then isolated, cloned, and sequenced. Novel CpG islands were found to be frequently hypermethylated in bladder and colon tumors. We have demonstrated that this technique is a rapid and efficient method that can be used to screen for altered methylation patterns in genomic DNA and to isolate specific sequences associated with these changes.
Information artisans: patterns of result sharing by information searchers

information search, information use, information artifacts, intermediaries, collaborative work We studied the uses of information search results by regular clients of professional intermediaries. We found that all of the participants in our study acted as intermediaries themselves, sharing information they had received from library searches with others in their work settings. There were four basic models of sharing: updating team members, consulting, broadcasting, and putting information into a shared archive. In many sharing scenarios, the library clients acted as information artisans, creating new artifacts by transforming and enhancing their search results before passing them on. When possible, the library clients delivered their new information artifacts in collaborative settings, to ensure that recipients understood and could apply the results and to allow opportunities for follow-up search requests. These observations suggest that new functionality is needed for information search systems, in order to support the analysis, manipulation, and packaging of search results and collaborative information delivery with intertwined communication and information components.
Aminoglycosides of D-pinitol. The 3-amino-3-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside, THE 3-acetamidino analog, and the 3,6-dideoxy-3,6-epimino-α-D-glucopyranoside

Abstract 3-Azido-2,4,6-tri- O -benzyl-3-deoxy-α- D -glucopyranosyl chloride (7) , prepared conventionally from the azido precursor 2 , was coupled with “diisopropylidene- D -pinitol” (8) to give the α- D -glucoside 9 in good yield, together with some β anomer. Removal of the O -benzyl groups from 9 and reduction of the azido group to −NH 2 were accomplished simultaneously. Further deprotection yielded 11 , a 3-amino-3-deoxy-α- D -glucoside of D -pinitol (1a) . Compound 11 was converted into the (impure) 3-acetamidino hydrochloride 12 . The synthesis of 3,6-epimino- D -glucosides was accomplished by ring closure of the 3- N -tosyl-6- O -tosyl intermediates 17 and 13 . The products, after deprotection, were methyl 3,6-dideoxy-3,6-epimino-β- D -glucopyranaside (20) and the novel 3,6-epimino analog 15 of the pinitol D -glucoside 11 .
Formation reconfiguration for mobile robots with network connectivity constraints

Future systems of networked autonomous vehicles, such as unmanned aerial or ground vehicles, may rely on peer-to-peer wireless communication to coordinate their actions. The physical formation of the network may need to be reconfigured at times based on the specified missions. However, reconfiguring the physical formation also impacts the link connectivity and hence the connectivity of the network. If the network is partitioned, the autonomous vehicles can no longer coordinate their movements, and the mission may fail. In this article, we discuss techniques to transform the formation of a system of autonomous vehicles while preserving network connectivity. Several different approaches to address this problem are presented, with the focus on a method that utilizes ideas from routing packets in networks. We also briefly discuss the problem of formation selection and give an example of formation optimization in which communication costs are minimized under constraints on preserving network connectivity and the amount of movement required.
TRiC’s tricks inhibit huntingtin aggregation

In Huntington's disease, a mutated version of the huntingtin protein leads to cell death. Mutant huntingtin is known to aggregate, a process that can be inhibited by the eukaryotic chaperonin TRiC (TCP1-ring complex) in vitro and in vivo. A structural understanding of the genesis of aggregates and their modulation by cellular chaperones could facilitate the development of therapies but has been hindered by the heterogeneity of amyloid aggregates. Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) and single particle cryo-electron tomography (SPT) we characterize the growth of fibrillar aggregates of mutant huntingtin exon 1 containing an expanded polyglutamine tract with 51 residues (mhttQ51), and resolve 3-D structures of the chaperonin TRiC interacting with mhttQ51. We find that TRiC caps mhttQ51 fibril tips via the apical domains of its subunits, and also encapsulates smaller mhtt oligomers within its chamber. These two complementary mechanisms provide a structural description for TRiC's inhibition of mhttQ51 aggregation in vitro. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00710.001.
Mathematical model for decision-making neural circuits controlling food intake

A mathematical model of two decision-making neural circuits for controlling food intake is presented. Results of some initial analog computer simulations are presented and demonstrate that the model exhibits stable steady states and thresholds for steady state transitions corresponding to experimentally observed behaviors characteristic of lateral and ventromedial hypothalamic interactions in food intake control. The relations of the model and simulations to experimental evidence are discussed.
Continuous-wave two-photon spectroscopy of the 1S-2S transition in hydrogen.

We have observed the $1S\ensuremath{-}2S$ transition in atomic hydrogen gas with a resolution of 5 parts in ${10}^{9}$ by Doppler-free two-photon spectroscopy, using multimilliwatt cw radiation near 243 nm generated by sum-frequency mixing. The experiment opens the way to substantial increases in the accuracy of the Rydberg constant, the electron/proton mass ratio, and the Lamb shift of the hydrogen $1S$ ground state.
Observations on Accounting Procedures and Urban-Size Problems: A Comment

This paper challenges the idea that city-size control strategies can be used to correct for interpersonal inequities. Doubts about the effectiveness of these strategies do not imply a commitment to unbridled economic growth. Neither input - output analysis nor national accounting systems is a suitable technique for evaluating Professor Johnson's 'welfare/illfare' model. Population-distribution policies are not the most efficient means of combatting negative externalities.
Uses of defatted and partially defatted peanut flours

Defatted peanut flour produced by direct solvent extraction and partially defatted peanut flours produced by mechanical pressing have many potential uses in foods. The defatted peanut flour has a high protein solubility and is light colored, practically tasteless, and odor free. The defatted peanut flour has been evaluated as: an additive to increase the protein content of foods such as bread and other baked goods, macaroni, pancakes, and puddings; an extender in meats such as meat loaf and frankfurters; and an aid in preparing skim and full-fat (fat added) milk-like drinks and ice creams. The characteristics of this flour also make it useful in the preparation of protein concentrates (by air classification) and protein isolates. The partially defatted flour, with about 55% oil removed, is ideal for preparing full-fat, milk like drinks and can also be used in baked goods, ice cream, meats, and so forth. This flour can also be toasted to different degrees for use in foods such as baked goods, in which a nutty flavor may be desired. The “over roasted” flour has potential for use as a cocoa diluent.
Asymptotic waveform evaluation for scattering by a dispersive dielectric object

The asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) method is applied to the moment-method solution of scattering by a dispersive dielectric object, resulting in an efficient technique for the calculation of the radar cross section over a specified frequency band. ©2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 24: 232–234, 2000.
Activation of PAK by HIV and SIV Nef: importance for AIDS in rhesus macaques

Abstract Background The primate lentiviruses, human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), encode a conserved accessory gene product, Nef. In vivo , Nef is important for the maintenance of high virus loads and progression to AIDS in SIV-infected adult rhesus macaques. In tissue culture cells expressing Nef, this viral protein interacts with a cellular serine kinase, designated Nef-associated kinase. Results This study identifies the Nef-associated kinase as a member of the p21-activated kinase (PAK) family of kinases and investigates the role of this Nef-associated kinase in vivo . Mutants of Nef that do not associate with the cellular kinase are unable to activate the PAK-related kinase in infected cells. To determine the role of cellular kinase association in viral pathogenesis, macaques were infected with SIV containing point-mutations in Nef that block PAK activation. Virus recovered at early time points after inoculation with mutant virus was found to have reverted to prototype Nef function and sequence. Reversion of the kinase-negative mutant to a kinase-positive genotype in macaques infected with the mutant virus preceded the induction of high virus loads and disease progression. Conclusions Nef associates with and activates a PAK-related kinase in lymphocytes infected in vitro . Moreover, the Nef-mediated activation of a PAK-related kinase correlates with the induction of high virus loads and the development of AIDS in the infected host. These findings reveal that there is a strong selective pressure in vivo for the interaction between Nef and the PAK-related kinase.
4583 Eus fna combined with flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry in the diagnosis of lymphoma.

AIM : To determine the yield of EUS FNA in patients with mediastinal and intraabdominal LN in whom the suspicion of lymphoma is raised. METHODS : From 1994 through 1999, 42 patients (19M, 23F) with LN on imaging studies or mucosal lesions on endoscopy suspicious for lymphoma underwent EUS. In sixteen patients (11 lymphomas and 5 benign disease), material collected at EUS FNA was submitted for flow cytometry and/or IC. Final diagnosis was based on clinical follow-up, repeat imaging studies and/or surgical findings. The mean follow-up in benign and lymphoma patients were respectively 21.7 and 5.7 months. RESULTS : A total of 22 patients with lymphoma and 15 with benign disease underwent EUS FNA of LN (5 gastric lymphoma patients did not have EUS FNA). Fifty-six LNs were examined (34 lymphoma, 22 benign). 13 patients had primary gastrointestinal lymphoma with LNs: esophageal (1), gastric (9), pancreas (2), and duodenum (1) and 9 patients had non gastrointestinal lymphoma: mediastinal (7) and intraabdominal (2). Benign LN: mediastinal (9) or intraabdominal (6). The median length of LNs in lymphoma and benign cases were 15 mm and 18 mm (p=0.8). Hypoechoic LNs were more likely in lymphoma cases (53% vs. 28%, p=0.02). The mean number of needle passes in lymphoma and benign cases were 5.8 and 5.0 (p=0.6). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EUS FNA ± flow cytometry/IC for lymphoma were 73% (16/22 lymphomas), 93% (14/15 benign) and 81%. In 8 patients who had failed prior biopsy procedures, EUS FNA diagnosed lymphoma in 6. Flow cytometry/IC were positive for lymphoma in 10 of 11 cases (7 of these had negative cytology) whereas cytology without flow cytometry/IC was positive in 6 out of 11 cases (91% vs 55%, p=0.19). Flow cytometry/IC was negative for lymphoma in 5/5 patients with benign disease. CONCLUSION : EUS FNA provides diagnostic cytology specimens for lymphoma. The standard use of flow cytometry/IC in patients with suspected lymphoma improves the yield of EUS FNA and may influence diagnostic workup and treatment decisions.
Manhood Seekers Camp: A Proposal for a Culturally-Centered Camp Intervention.

ABSTRACT This article addresses the need for therapeutic camps to support the disportionate number of African-American children in out of home foster care and group home placements. A brief review of literature on camp interventions and their failure to adequately address the influence of ethnicity and culture is provided. A pilot of a small culturally centered therapeutic camp intervention for African-American boys in foster care is reviewed and the impressions of the African-American male facilitators are described and discussed. Although limited sample size prohibited statistical analysis, results suggest the need to further evaluate innovative culturally-centered interventions that are designed to target traditional values and factors that influence positive African-American male development.
Recycling procurement strategies with variable yield suppliers

This paper addresses a procurement issue facing a polystyrene packaging manufacturer considering its optimal purchasing strategies between two suppliers—one providing virgin material, the other offering recycled material. We model a single-period scenario where each supplier sells product with a known yield distribution at market pricing. The manufacturer must choose whether to sole-source or dual-source, as well as determine how much material to purchase from each supplier to meet deterministic demand. Our results indicate that there is a range of prices from the recycled material supplier where dual-sourcing will lead to higher manufacturer profits compared to sole-sourcing. We show, based on the procurement strategy, the optimal quantities to purchase to maximize manufacturer’s expected profit.
Transdermal drug delivery: approaches and significance

Transdermal drug delivery systems deliver drugs through the skin as an alternative to oral, intravascular, subcutaneous, and transmucosal routes. Potential advantages of transdermal delivery include, but are not limited to, elimination of first-pass metabolism, steady delivery/blood levels, better patient compliance, reduced systemic drug interactions, possible dose intervention, avoidance of medically assisted drug administration, prolonged drug administration, and overall better therapeutic efficacy. Patches were the primitive form of transdermal drug delivery systems with conceptually simple engineering. The first representative of the transdermal drug delivery system patch design was Transderm-Scop ® to treat motion sickness. The success of the scopolamine transdermal system was followed by approval of the nitroglycerin, fentanyl, estradiol, nicotine, and testosterone transdermal systems. Inception of trans
Measuring Student Learning Using Initial and Final Concept Test in an STEM Course

Effective assessment is a cornerstone in measuring student learning in higher education. For a course in Numerical Methods, a concept test was used as an assessment tool to measure student learning and its improvement during the course. The concept test comprised 16 multiple choice questions and was given in the beginning and end of the class for three semesters. Hake's gain index, a measure of learning gains from pre- to post-tests, of 0.36 to 0.41 were recorded. The validity and reliability of the concept test was checked via standard measures such as Cronbach's alpha, content and criterion-related validity, item characteristic curves and difficulty and discrimination indices. The performance of various subgroups such as pre-requisite grades, transfer students, gender and age were also studied.
On-site detection of TNT with a portable fiber optic biosensor

A portable fiber optic biosensor was employed for on-site analysis of the explosive trinitrotoluene (TNT) in groundwater. Two military bases, Umatilla Army Depot and Naval Submarine Base Bangor, contain sites where the groundwater has been contaminated with TNT. Samples from monitoring wells at these sites were split and analyzed on-site using the fiber optic biosensor and in a laboratory by U.S. EPA SW-846 Method 8330 (reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography). The fiber optic biosensor is small (6.5 in. × 4.5 in. × 3.5 in., 2.5 lb), portable, and able to monitor four optical probes simultaneously. A competitive, fluorescent immunoassay was performed on the surface of the optical fiber probe. The fiber optic biosensor was able to detect 20 μg/L TNT in less than 16 min simultaneously on four probes.
Synergy between thrombin and serotonin in inducing vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation

Abstract Previous studies have indicated that apart from playing an important role in hemostasis and thrombosis, thrombin may also contribute to the development of post-angioplasty restenosis caused by the stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. Because thrombin generation in vivo is accompanied by platelet activation and release of smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth factors such as serotonin, we examined the possible interaction between these two compounds on VSMC proliferation. Thrombin (0.01 to 100 nmol/L), thrombin receptor–activating peptide (0.1 to 1000 μmol/L), and serotonin (5HT; 0.1 to 1000 μmol/L) increased tritiated thymidine incorporation into the DNA of canine aortic VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner. When thrombin and 5HT were added together at sub-threshold concentrations, they acted synergistically in inducing tritiated thymidine incorporation. These findings were paralleled by a 90% ± 5% increase in the cell number at 48 hours, as compared with a 37% ± 2% increase with 50 μmol/L serotonin and a 13% ± 3% increase with 0.1 nmol/L thrombin. We also demonstrated that a brief exposure to thrombin (1 hour) is sufficient to show its potentiating effect on serotonin. The mitogenic effect of serotonin and its synergistic interaction with thrombin on VSMC proliferation was abolished by serotonin type 2 receptor antagonist LY281067. Similarly, γ-hirudin—a direct thrombin inhibitor—blocked the mitogenic effect of thrombin and its synergistic interaction with serotonin. When LY281067 and γ-hirudin were used together, they abolished the mitogenic effects of both the agonists. Because clot-bound active thrombin can escape inactivation by anti-thrombin, this thrombin may potentiate the mitogenic effect of serotonin and keep the SMCs in a proliferative state for a long period of time. These findings support the use of 5HT2 receptor antagonists in combination with thrombin inhibitors in the prevention of SMC proliferation after coronary angioplasty. (J Lab Clin Med 1999;134:659-67)
Neonatal lupus: review of proposed pathogenesis and clinical data from the US-based Research Registry for Neonatal Lupus.

Congenitial heart block (CHB), a life-threatening manifestation of neonatal lupus, offers a unique opportunity to study the effector arm of immunity and define the pathogenicity of an autoantibody in mediating tissue injury. This review focuses on our recent in vitro model which supports a cascade from antibody insult to unchecked fibrosis. In brief, it is proposed that the fetal cardiac myocyte undergoes apoptosis which facilitates transfer of intracellular Ro and La antigens to the surface where they are bound by circulating maternal autoantibodies (anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La antibodies). Scavenging macrophages phagocytose these inadvertently "opsonized" cardiocytes, leading to the secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines, the latter of which transdifferentiate fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and thereby promote scarring. Immunohistologic study of a heart from a neonate dying of CHB supports this model in that macrophages and myofibroblasts were demonstrated. To facilitate both basic and clinica...
Impact of comorbidity on cognitive-behavioral therapy response in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the impact of psychiatric comorbidity on cognitive-behavioral therapy response in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Method Ninety-six youths with obsessive-compulsive disorder (range 7-19 years) received 14 sessions of weekly or intensive family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy. Assessments were conducted before and after treatment. Primary outcomes included scores on the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, response rates, and remission status. Results Seventy-four percent of participants met criteria for at least one comorbid diagnosis. In general, participants with one or more comorbid diagnoses had lower treatment response and remission rates relative to those without a comorbid diagnosis. The number of comorbid conditions was negatively related to outcome. The presence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and disruptive behavior disorders was related to lower treatment response rates, and the presence of disruptive behavior disorders and major depressive disorder were related to lower remission rates. Conclusions The presence of a comorbid disorder, particularly disruptive behavior, major depressive, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, has a negative impact on treatment response. Assessing for psychiatric disorders before treatment entry and treating these comorbid conditions before or during cognitive-behavioral therapy may improve final outcome. Comorbid anxiety or tic disorders do not seem to negatively affect response.
A general method for precalculation of parameters for sustained off resonance irradiation/collision-induced dissociation

Sustained off resonance irradiation (SORI) collision-induced dissociation (CID) is a commonly used method of collisionally activating ions for fragmentation in Fourier transform mass spectrometric experiments. To achieve the degree of fragmentation desired, both the irradiation frequency and amplitude must be optimized. This is a time-consuming procedure, particularly when the m/z values of the precursor ions vary over a broad range. We present an approach that simplifies this optimization by precalculating the irradiation frequency of the ions to be fragmented as a constant percentage of the reduced cyclotron frequency. Using this approach, the optimal amplitude was found to be significantly less dependent on the m/z value of the precursor ion, and therefore required little or no adjustment. This method considerably simplified optimization of SORI-CID for analysis of carbohydrates, glycoconjugates, and peptides over the mass range m/z 300–3500, requiring optimization of only a single experimental parameter, the irradiation amplitude, and only for the first MS/MS stage.
Anakinra's efficacy is variable in refractory gout: report of ten cases.

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of anakinra for patients with acute gout. Methods We reviewed the charts of 10 patients who received anakinra for urate crystal-induced arthritis at the Hospital for Special Surgery since 2007. Demographic information, comorbidities, short-term treatment outcomes, and subsequent flares were reviewed. Results Patients in our study had a high prevalence of comorbidities. All patients received corticosteroids before anakinra treatment. The mean number of anakinra injections was 3.2 per patient (100 mg subcutaneously per day). Six patients had a good response. Three patients had a partial response and 1 patient had no response. Nine patients had documented recurrent flares after discontinuing anakinra (ranging from 3 to 45 days after). Conclusion Anakinra is a therapeutic option for patients with acute urate crystal-induced arthritis who do not respond to or have a contraindication to traditional treatments. Although a short course of anakinra resulted in favorable outcomes for some of our patients, response rates were poorer in our study than in previously published reports, and relapses were common.
In Vitro Fermentation of Various Food Fiber Fractions

Dietary fiber fractions (DFF) were fermented in vitro with human fecal inocula to study fiber fermentability and production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Amylolytic and proteolytic enzyme treatment using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists enzymatic-gravimetric procedure reduced processed food fiber products to DFF by removing gastric enzyme-digestible (nonresistant) components. Total 24-h SCFA production from DFF decreased in the following order: fig > oat = soy > pea > apple > corn = wheat > pear. SCFA production was proportional to the fermentability of these fibers. Fermentation of DFF from fruits such as pear, apple, and fig produced low amounts of butyrate. In contrast, less acetate and more propionate and butyrate were produced by fermentation of oat and soy DFF. Major fiber constituents, resistant starch (RS), β-glucan, and pectin were also fermented. RS, isolated from starch, produced acetate more slowly than the starch. β-Glucan produced propionate and butyrate in higher amount...
Separation of solutes from aqueous solutions by contained liquid membranes

The hollow fiber contained liquid membrane (CLM) is a thin liquid film contained in the interstices of two sets of intermingled microporous hollow fine fibers. Organic CLM-s have been used here for the separation of solutes from an aqueous feed into an aqueous strip. Solutes studied are phenol and acetic acid. The separations are carried out in either hydrophilic or hydrophobic hollow fiber CLM permeator modules, using a variety of organic liquids (e.g., decanol, methyl isobutyl ketone, xylene) as membranes. First-order models have been developed to predict the overall solute transfer coefficients adequately. The transfer coefficient can be enhanced significantly when a chemical reaction is carried out on the strip side using NaOH. The advantages of the CLM structure include operational stability, independent control of membrane phase pressure, automatic replenishment of the lost membrane liquid, and absence of the need for preequilibration. These features are demonstrated here, even for systems with considerable aqueous-organic mutual solubilities.
A Social Indicator Model of a Health Services System

A social indicator model of the health services system serving the state of New Mexico is presented. The model specifies the causal relationships hypothesized as existing among a set of social, demographic, and economic variables known to be related to the supply and use of health manpower and facilities, and to the health status of a population. Inclusion of feedback into the model as well as lagged values of endogenous variables permits the examination of the dynamic behavior of the social system over time. Methods for deriving the reduced and final forms of the structural model are presented along with their equations. The structural and reduced form equations have been used to predict the consequences for one New Mexico county of state and federal policies that would affect the organization and delivery of health services. Early definitions limited social indicators to direct measures of welfare that are of normative interest (H.E.W., a, b; Tunstall). Campbell and Converse also emphasize the importance of defining social indicators that permit the assessment of changes in the quality of life that are relevant to policy formation. Recent discussions have proposed that social indicators be defined as components of a social systems model that describes a specific social process (Anderson, a; Land, a; Sheldon and Freeman; Wilcox and Brooks). Based on this definition Sheldon and Land, and Land (c) propose three distinct types of social indicators that measure social conditions. Output descriptive indicators are measures of the outcomes of a specific social process. These measures are directly relevant to the assessment of social problems and the evaluation of the efficacy of social programs. Other more general measures of social conditions are termed other descriptive indicators. Analytic indicators are viewed as components of the social process that result in the values of the output measures. McFarland (b) goes even farther in proposing that social indicator *I wish to thank the New Mexico Health and Social Services Department for providing morbidity and mortality data for this study. I also wish to acknowledge the assistance of Marsha Yaggie in the preparation and analysis of the data, and David Bartkus for many helpful suggestions.
443 Rabbit Anti-Thymocyte Globulin for the Management of BOS after Lung Transplantation

Rabbit Anti-Thymocyte Globulin for the Management of BOS after Lung Transplantation A.R. Wills, J.P. Baty, J.A. Iuppa, A.D. Patterson, E.P. Trulock, R. Hachem. Pharmacy, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO; Division of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Pulmonary & Critical Care, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Internet 2 Access Grid

Abstract Collaboration among universities, businesses, and the US government is essential to the success of the Internet 2 Initiative. However, face-to-face meetings are not always possible. The Access Grid provides the Internet 2 with the resources to enable remote collaboration among the research community. This effort extends the Alliance Computational Grid, a distributed high-speed computing environment that supports seamless resource integration and access (mcRae, 1997). The Access Grid effort has advanced audio and video applications and has increased Internet 2 collaboration.
Isolation of a Ve homolog, mVe1, and its relationship to verticillium wilt resistance in Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds

As a step toward greater understanding of the genetics of verticillium wilt resistance in plants, we report the sequencing of a candidate wilt resistance gene, mVe1, from the mint diploid model species, Mentha longifolia (Lamiaceae). mVe1 is a putative homolog of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) verticillium wilt (Ve) resistance genes. The mVe1 gene has a coding region of 3,051 bp. The predicted mVe1 protein contains a leucine-rich repeat domain, a common feature of plant disease resistance proteins. We compared 13 mVe1 alleles from three mint species. These alleles shared 96.2-99.6% nucleotide identity. We analyzed four M. longifolia populations segregating with respect to mVe1 alleles and wilt resistance versus susceptibility and found one association between mVe1 genotype and wilt phenotype. We conclude that mVe1 may play a role in mint verticillium wilt resistance, but variation for resistance in our segregating progenies is likely polygenic. Therefore, further investigations of mVe1 and identification of additional candidate genes are both warranted.
Recent advances in the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia.

The major advance in the psychopharmacology of schizophrenia has been the rediscovery of clozapine and the development of other novel antipsychotic drugs, all of which are superior to typical neuroleptic drugs with regard to extrapyramidal symptoms. Clozapine, the best studied of these agents, is also superior in efficacy with regard to psychopathology and cognitive function and has been shown not to cause tardive dyskinesia. A variety of other novel agents, e.g., risperidone, olanazpine, amperozide, seroquel, sertindole, zaprisidone and melperone, must be further studied to establish their efficacy relative to clozapine or the typical neuroleptics, or both. It is likely that these novel agents will displace the typical neuroleptic drugs as the primary treatment of schizophrenia.
Setting Reactions and Compressive Strengths of Calcium Phosphate Cements

Setting reactions and compressive strengths of a self-hardening calcium phosphate cement (CPC) were investigated. The CPC consists of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) and anhydrous dicalcium phosphate (DCPA). The cement specimens were prepared by mixing 0.7 g of the powder (TTCP 72.9 wt% + DCPA 27.1 wt%) with 0.175 mL of the liquid (25 mmol/L H3PO4 and 1.32 mmol/L sodium fluoride). The specimens were removed from the molds at pre-determined time intervals after being mixed, and their compressive strengths were measured. Immediately afterward, the fractured specimens were rapidly frozen in ethanol (-80 degrees C), lyophilized, and examined by powder x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that (1) hydroxyapatite was the only reaction product; (2) the reaction was nearly completed within four h, during which both the reaction product and compressive strength increased linearly with time, resulting in a strong correlation between the two; and (3) fully set CPC consisted primarily of small rod-like crystals and some platy crystals.
Mackinawite, Pentlandite, and Native Copper from the Newport Pallasite1

These minerals indicate strongly reducing conditions as well as extremely low sulphur fugacities within the Newport pallasite. They all formed at low temperatures (upper limit 580° C) and in the solid state. This is the first reported occurrence of mackinawite and pentlandite from a pallasitic meteorite; Cu is known from only one other pallasite. Microprobe analyses of a large Cu grain indicate its composition as 98·6 ± 0·5 %, Ni 2·0 ± 0·5, Fe below the limit of detection (∼0.3).
Modeling holistic fuzzy implication using co-copulas

Two related aggregation operators called copulas and co-copulas are introduced and various properties are described. The relationship, of these operators to t-norms and t-conorms is noted. Generalizations of these, respectively, called conjunctors and disjunctors, are introduced. We suggest the use of disjunctor operators for modeling the multi-valued implication operator in fuzzy logic. We point out that the selection of operators used in fuzzy logic, in addition to having appropriate pointwise properties, should be holistic, this requires consideration of the nature of the resulting fuzzy set as a whole. Focusing on the protoform of fuzzy modus ponens and looking at the information contained in the inferred fuzzy set we show that the use of co-copulas has some desirable properties. Taking advantage of the fact that the weighted sum of co-copulas is a co-copula we consider the problem of constructing customized implication operators.
A new 3D method of measuring bubble size distributions from vesicle fragments preserved on surfaces of volcanic ash particles

We have developed a novel method of measuring bubble size distributions from their remains expressed on the surfaces of volcanic ash particles. The morphology of the ash fragments retains a record of bubble size at the time of fragmentation in the curvature of the convex surfaces on the ash fragments. This curvature can be measured using stereo scanning electron microscopy (SSEM), and morphology can be represented using a digital elevation model (DEM) of ash particle surfaces. Due to the vagaries of the sensitivity of SSEM imagery to surface roughness, a three-point fit technique produces more robust results for curvature than a least-squares approach for curve-fitting of ellipsoids of revolution to ash surfaces. The method allows measurement of vesicles within a size range from one to over a million cubic microns. The inferred bubble size distributions so obtained can potentially provide valuable insights regarding magma dynamics and vesiculation that lead to the explosive eruptions that produce ash. An error analysis of the methodology indicates reasonably accurate reconstruction of bubble geometries and bubble size distributions (BSD). Accuracy is constrained primarily by the size of ash particles themselves since the mode of the BSD should be at least a standard deviation smaller than the dominant dimensions of the particles for robust results.
Restoration of Deactivation in N-truncated and LQTS HERG K+ Channel Mutants by a Recombinant N-terminal Region Fragment

The Human Ether-a-go-go Related Gene (HERG) encodes a voltage-activated K+ channel, which is a primary component of the cardiac delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr). Cardiac IKr contributes to the repolarization of the ventricular action potential by conducting an outward K+ current whose amplitude is determined, in part, by the closing (deactivation) rate of the channel. Deletion of the HERG N-terminus (amino acids 2-354) leads to a channel (N-truncated) with very rapid deactivation kinetics compared to wild-type HERG channels. To investigate how N-terminal interactions regulate gating, we constructed a genetically encoded N-terminal region fragment, and co-expressed cRNAs encoding N-truncated HERG and this fragment in Xenopus oocytes. Electrophysiological recordings from these cells showed channels with a significant increase in the time constant for deactivation over that of the N-truncated channels alone. The time constant was not significantly different from that of wild-type HERG channels. These results demonstrate a restoration of slow deactivation to the N-truncated channel by the N-terminal region fragment. Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments showed that the N-terminal region fragment and the N-truncated channel are in proximity at the cell membrane. Interaction of the N-terminal region fragment with the channel was also demonstrated using biochemical techniques. We next co-expressed the N-terminal region fragment with HERG channels bearing N-terminal mutations which have been shown to underlie Type II Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), a cardiac arrhythmia characterized by a prolongation of the ventricular action potential. The N-terminal region fragment recovered slow deactivation in these mutant channels. In summary, a recombinant N-terminal region interacted directly with N-truncated and LQTS mutant HERG channels to restore slow deactivation gating.
A step forward back to (induced) fetal

In this issue of Blood, Zhu et al examine signal transduction of hydroxyurea-induced γ-globin, implicating nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)–mediated activation of the secretion-associated and ras-related (SAR1) signaling protein, which in turn activates the G-protein-associated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/Jun pathway.1
A Lysosomal ATP-Sensitive Sodium Channel and its Regulation by Metabolism

Both plasma and organelle membranes are known to have ionic permeability, but the molecular basis for the organelle ion conductances and their regulations are poorly understood. Using whole organelle current- and voltage-clamp recording from enlarged endosomes and lysosomes, we characterized the endolysosomal ion conductances. The organelles are highly permeable to H+ and their relative Na+ permeability (PNa/PK) can change drastically up to 28-fold under various conditions. Voltage-clamp recordings revealed ion channels permeable to K+, H+, Na+ and/or Cl-. In endolysosomes from macrophages, cardiac myocytes and neurons, we found an ATP-sensitive Na+ channel (lysoNaATP). The channel pore is formed by two-pore channel proteins (TPCs), proteins with similarity to the 24 transmembrane-spanning (4x6TM) plasma membrane Na+ and Ca2+ channels but with only half the size (2x6TM). The ATP sensitivity of the channel requires mTORC1. When extracellular nutrients (amino acids in particular) are present, mTOR translocates onto lysosomal membranes where it closes the TPC channel in a kinase- and ATP-dependent manner. Using knockout mice lacking TPCs, we found that the channel controls lysosomal pH stability, couples cell's energy and metabolic status to lysosomal function, and is required for animal's physical endurance during food shortage.
Bubble growth rates at high Jakob numbers

Abstract Bubble growth rates were investigated experimentally to determine the effect of high Jakob number conditions. Comparison of the experimental data with existing theory for Jakob numbers ranging from 24 through 792 indicates that the shape of the bubble growth curve over the entire range investigated is best described by the t 1 2 variation predicted by the uniform superheat model. Reasonable agreement with the magnitude of the bubble growth data was obtained only for Jakob numbers less than 100. Above this value, the discrepancy between existing theory and experiment becomes increasingly greater. At a Jakob number of 792, theory predicts bubble diameters almost an order of magnitude greater than those found experimentally. The growth data over the entire range of Jakob numbers investigated were correlated by the expression D = 5 N 1 2 ja √(αt) . It is apparent however that serious shortcomings exist in current bubble growth theory and it is recommended that the theory be re-examined to determine the relative importance of dynamic effects, particularly at high Jakob numbers.
Maternal, paternal, and family health-related quality of life in the context of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations of disease activity and adolescent adjustment with parent and family health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among families of youths with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A secondary aim was to compare maternal and paternal perceptions of parent and family functioning. Ninety-five primarily Caucasian families (92 mothers and 43 fathers) of youths with IBD ranging in age from 11 to 18 participated. Most adolescents were diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and had been diagnosed with IBD for several years at the time of the study. Parents completed the PedsQL Family Impact Module, while youths completed the Pediatric Symptoms Checklist. Disease activity ratings were obtained from medical records. Multiple regression analyses suggested that disease activity was consistently associated with all father-reported outcomes and explained twice as much of the variance in father-reported parent and family HRQoL outcomes compared to mother-reported outcomes. In contrast, youth adjustment was consistently associated with all maternal outcomes but only one paternal outcome, and explained nearly twice as much variance in maternal-reported outcomes compared to paternal-reported outcomes. No significant differences between maternal and paternal reports of parent or family HRQoL were identified using independent samples t tests. Although mothers and fathers report similar individual and family HRQoL, the strength of associations between disease and youth adjustment factors with these outcomes differs somewhat by parent gender. Findings underscore the importance of examining maternal and paternal functioning separately and incorporating routine family assessment into the course of treatment.
Nanoscale tools for rapid and sensitive diagnosis of viruses

Viral infections are among the most common cause for presentation for medical care, but it remains difficult to obtain a specific diagnosis of viral infection. There is an urgent requirement for rapid, sensitive, specific and economical methods of virus detection. Recent developments in the field of nanotechnology have begun to impact the diagnostic arena. Nanoscale tools have been applied to the experimental detection of viruses with great promise. This article reviews recent studies in the use of nanotechnology for rapid diagnosis of viruses and discusses future developments in this area.