cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pathobionts of the gastrointestinal microbiota and inflammatory disease

Our immune system is charged with the vital mission of identifying invading pathogens and mounting proper inflammatory responses. During the process of clearing infections, the immune system often causes considerable tissue damage. Conversely, if the target of immunity is a member of the resident microbiota, uncontrolled inflammation may lead to host pathology in the absence of infectious agents. Recent evidence suggests that several inflammatory disorders may be caused by specific bacterial species found in most healthy hosts. Although the mechanisms that mediate pathology remain largely unclear, it appears that genetic defects and/or environmental factors may predispose mammals to immune-mediated diseases triggered by potentially pathogenic symbionts of the microbiota. We have termed this class of microbes ‘pathobionts’, to distinguish them from acquired infectious agents. Herein, we explore burgeoning hypotheses that the combination of an immunocompromised state with colonization by pathobionts together comprise a risk factor for certain inflammatory disorders and gastrointestinal (GI) cancer.
Refined design method for sampled-data control systems: the pseudo-continuous-time (PCT) control system design

A refined design method, based upon known principles, is presented for the design of sampled-data SISO control systems. Based upon the Fourier analysis of a sampled signal and the Pade approximation, a sampled-data system may be approximated by a pseudo-continuous-time (PCT) control system. This approximation of a sampled-data system permits the use of continuous-time domain methods for designing cascade and/or feedback controllers based upon step-response specifications. When the rules governing the use of the Pade approximation and the Tustin transformation are satisfied, the PCT approach is a valuable technique for the design of sampled-data control systems, especially when the sampling time T is much smaller than 1 s. For T < 1 s, the accuracy needed in performing the calculations in the z-domain increases as T decreases. The same degree of accuracy is not required while designing the controller in the s-plane. A design technique based upon the use of the PCT system is presented along with examples. The associated controller implementation problems are discussed.
New approaches for catheterization and vascular access: the transhepatic technique

Abstract Thrombosis/obstruction of all of the conventional routes of central venous access is a potentially life-threatening problem in children with chronic disease. Patients who require diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization procedures, chronic hemodialysis, chemotherapy and total parenteral nutrition are dependent upon central venous catheters, but may exhaust the usual sites of access over a relatively short period of time. Several authors have reported the use of a novel percutaneous transhepatic technique to obtain central access for such children, when no other routes are available. This review examines the technique of obtaining central venous access using the transhepatic route, the indications for such an approach, the known experience to date, and several potential future applications.
Loss of RBPj in Postnatal Excitatory Neurons Does Not Cause Neurodegeneration or Memory Impairments in Aged Mice

Previous studies suggest that loss of γ-secretase activity in postnatal mouse brains causes age-dependent memory impairment and neurodegeneration. Due to the diverse array of γ-secretase substrates, it remains to be demonstrated whether loss of cleavage of any specific substrate(s) is responsible for these defects. The bulk of the phenotypes observed in mammals deficient for γ-secretase or exposed to γ-secretase inhibitors are caused by the loss of Notch receptor proteolysis. Accordingly, inhibition of Notch signaling is the main cause for untoward effects for γ-secretase inhibitors as therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, we wished to determine if loss of canonical Notch signaling is responsible for the age-dependent neurodegeneration observed upon γ-secrectase deficiency in the mouse brain. We generated postnatal forebrain-specific RBPj conditional knockout (cKO) mice using the CamKII-Cre driver and examined behavior and brain pathology in 12–18 month old animals. Since all four mammalian Notch receptor homologues signal via this DNA binding protein, these mice lack canonical Notch signaling. We found that loss of RBPj in mature excitatory neurons was well tolerated, with no evidence for neurodegeneration or of learning and memory impairment in mice aged up to 18 months. The only phenotypic deficit we observed in the RBPj-deficient mice was a subtle abnormality in olfactory preferences, particularly in females. We conclude that the loss of canonical Notch signaling through the four receptors is not responsible for age-dependent neurodegeneration or learning and memory deficits seen in γ-secretase deficient mice.
Coronary bioabsorbable magnesium stent: 15-month intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography findings

A 65-year-old man underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention for a stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD). As part of the PROGRESS study (designed as a first-in-man coronary study in 65 patients in seven European centres), a 3.5 × 15 mm magnesium-based bioabsorbable stent (Lekton Magic Stent, Biotronik, Bulach, Switzerland) was implanted achieving an excellent angiographic result. Fifteen months following the initial intervention, an exercise treadmill test to evaluate exertional dyspnoea was positive. Angiography revealed a new and separate lesion in the …
EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE COVALENT ATTACHMENTS ON IMMOBILIZED IRON(II)-1,10-PHENANTHROLINE COMPLEXES IN SILICA SOL-GELS

Transition metal complexes covalently attached to inert supports are attracting widespread interest for applications in catalysis, molecular devices, and sensors. We have studied the consequences of covalent attachment on ferroin ([Fe(phen-R)3]2+) ligand exchange reactions. Mixtures of complexes comprising molecules with zero, one, two, or three tethers were reacted with excess Ni2+ in sol−gel silicate media. Statistical analysis of the reactivity data reveals that the stability of the complexes varies aperiodically as a function of the number of tethers.
Open problems in analysis

The author presents in this paper a list of research problems in the following areas: (1) real and complex analysis; (2) functional analysis; (3) non‐Archimedean analysis. It is hoped that these problems will be of use to people working in these areas.
Estimating and computing density based distance metrics

Density-based distance metrics have applications in semi-supervised learning, nonlinear interpolation and clustering. We consider density-based metrics induced by Riemannian manifold structures and estimate them using kernel density estimators for the underlying data distribution. We lower bound the rate of convergence of these plug-in path-length estimates and hence of the metric, as the sample size increases. We present an upper bound on the rate of convergence of all estimators of the metric. We also show that the metric can be consistently computed using the shortest path algorithm on a suitably constructed graph on the data samples and lower bound the convergence rate of the computation error. We present experiments illustrating the use of the metrics for semi-supervised classification and non-linear interpolation.
Test anxiety and performance-avoidance goals explain gender differences in SAT-V, SAT-M, and overall SAT scores

Abstract This study uses analysis of co-variance in order to determine which cognitive/learning (working memory, knowledge integration, epistemic belief of learning) or social/personality factors (test anxiety, performance-avoidance goals) might account for gender differences in SAT-V, SAT-M, and overall SAT scores. The results revealed that none of the cognitive/learning factors accounted for gender differences in SAT performance. However, the social/personality factors of test anxiety and performance-avoidance goals each separately accounted for all of the significant gender differences in SAT-V, SAT-M, and overall SAT performance. Furthermore, when the influences of both of these factors were statistically removed simultaneously, all non-significant gender differences reduced further to become trivial by Cohen’s (1988) standards. Taken as a whole, these results suggest that gender differences in SAT-V, SAT-M, and overall SAT performance are a consequence of social/learning factors.
Automorphism theorems and half-range theory

Abstract In the Hilbert space approach to the linear transport equation (homogeneous slab configurations) the fundamental question of half-range theory concerns the existence of a bijective mapping of the underlying function space onto itself. In this article we discuss the existence and continuity properties of this mapping. We interpret the results in terms of conditions on the boundary data for half-space and finite slab boundary value problems.
Adaptation of hydrogenase in cell-free preparations from Chlamydomonas

Abstract It has been demonstrated that hydrogenase activity can arise by adaptation in cell-free extracts of two Chlamydomonas species. The extract is obtained by sonication of a whole cell suspension followed by centrifugation at 160,000 g for 1 hr. The time course of adaptation is similar to that obtained from whole cells. The pH optima for both the cell-free adapted hydrogenase and the adaptation process is 7·0. Adaptation does not occur below 2·5°. Unadapted extracts may be stored for at least 4 days at 0·5–2·5° under hydrogen and then adapted at 25°. Adaptation of cell-free extracts is not inhibited by light. Three hydrogenase isoenzymes from adapted cell-free extracts of Chlamydomonas sp. are obtained as bands by electrophoresis on polyacrilamide gel. They are identical to three of the five isoenzyme bands obtained from extracts of adapted whole cells of this organism. One hydrogenase band is obtained from adapted cell-free extracts of C. moewusii . It is identical to one of the three isoenzyme bands obtained from adapted whole cell extracts of the same species. Cell-free adapted preparations are more stable to air than either adapted whole cells or dried cell preparations from adapted whole cells. ATP may exhibit a regulatory effect on the adaptation process. Adaptation does not occur until the extract is devoid of ATP.
Regulation of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) mRNA in the rat adrenal medulla by corticosterone

Abstract In the adrenal medulla of adult rat, physiological levels of glucocorticoid hormones are required to maintain the catalytic activity of the epinephrine-synthesizing enzyme, phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT). The present study was undertaken to determine whether glucocorticoid regulation of PNMT occurs at the level of mRNA coding for PNMT. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were hypophysectomized (HPX) and killed after 2 weeks; pellets of corticosterone were implanted for 1, 3 or 7 days prior to killing. Determinations were made of plasma corticosterone levels, adrenal PNMT activity and PNMT mRNA levels by Northern gel analysis. HPX resulted in a decrease in plasma corticosterone to undetectable levels and decreases in PNMT activity and PNMT mRNA levels to 1 and 18% of the levels observed in sham rats, respectively. Corticosterone replacement produced high prolonged plasma levels of corticosterone which were 10 times those of sham rats, and significantly increased levels of PNMT activity and mRNA. However, corticosterone replacement failed to restore PNMT activity and mRNA levels fully. These results suggest that the maintenance of PNMT mRNA levels is dependent on maintaining corticosterone levels and supports the hypothesis that PNMT gene expression in the adrenal medulla is directly regulated by glucocorticoids produced by the adrenal cortex. However, the results also suggest that in the chronically HPX rat, factors in addition to naturally produced glucocorticoids are required for full restoration of PNMT mRNA levels.
Phosphorus in waters from sewage sludge amended lysimeters.

Abstract In surface waters, phosphorus (P) concentrations exceeding 0·05 mg liter−1 may cause eutrophic conditions. This study was undertaken to measure total P concentrations in runoff and tile drainage waters from land receiving either inorganic fertilizer or anaerobically digested sewage sludge. Total P was measured in runoff and tile drainage waters during 2 years of sample collections from instrumented, large-scale lysimeters planted to corn (Zea mays L.). During the 3 years prior to monitoring P concentrations, six of the lysimeter plots had been amended with anaerobically digested sewage sludge which supplied 5033 kg P per ha. Additional sludge applications supplied 1058 and 1989 kg P per ha during the first and second years of monitoring operations, respectively. Another six lysimeters were annually treated with fertilizer which included P applications amounting to 112 kg ha−1. For years 1 and 2, respectively, annual losses from lysimeters treated with sewage sludge were 4·27 and 0·35 kg P per ha in runoff and 0·91 from 0·91 and 0·51 kg Per P per ha in drainage waters. Parallel annual losses of P from lysimeters treated with superphosphate were 2·15 and 0·17 kg ha−1 in runoff and 0·53 and 0·35 kg ha−1 in tile drainage waters. Sludge applications did not significantly change absolute soil contents of organic P, but did decrease the per cent of total P present in organic forms. Sludge and soil, respectively, contained 21 and 36% of their total P contents in organic forms. In sludge and soil about 85 and 64% of their respective total inorganic P contents were associated with the Al and Fe fractions. Sludge applications significantly increased soil contents of P in the saloid (water-soluble plus P extracted with 1 N NH4Cl), Al, Fe and reductant soluble P fractions, but contents of Ca-bound P were not changed. Total P contents of the soil below a depth of 30 cm were not affected by sludge incorporated to a depth of about 15 cm by plowing.
Changes in Milk Products Sham Fed to Calves. III. Effects of Concentration of Fat

Abstract Liberation of volatile soluble fatty acids from sham-fed milk products (separated milk, 0.03% fat; whole milk, 4.4%; low-fat cream, 23%; and high-fat cream, 49%) and the accompanying changes in pH and bacterial counts were used as indicators of the lipolytic capacity of pregastric esterase in calves. Samples were collected for analysis immediately after sham feeding and serially during a subsequent ten-hour period of incubation at 38 C. The magnitude of lipolysis in the sham-fed products generally corresponded to the concentrations of fat therein. After two hours of incubation, the rate of change in the higher fat products declined markedly. During, terminal stages of incubation, acidity in sham-fed separated milk increased, apparently as a result of bacterial metabolism. Bacterial counts of the milk products increased as a result of contamination in sham feeding. During subsequent incubation, the numbers in whole milk and creams decreased, but subsequently increased. The decline probably was the result of toxicity of certain fatty acids. Pregastric esterase normally secreted by calves consuming whole milk seems to have the capacity to hydrolyze milk lipids in excess of quantities normally in the diet.
Evaluating the Potential for Environmental Quality Improvement in a Community Distressed by Manmade Hazards

Abstract As part of the process of understanding manmade environmental hazards and their impact on affected communities, this study explored the conditions at a waste disposal site in Staten Island, New York. Questionnaires were administered by mail to assess: (a) the range of socio-economic groups affected and their residential characteristics; (b) their awareness and perception of the conditions at the waste site; and (c) their willingness to pay to resolve the problems. The results showed high levels of environmental awareness among the residents. Specifically, air pollution and waste disposal were cited as the most significant problems affecting their community. In the search for alternatives, roughly half of the residents indicated their willingness to financially support programs aimed at improving the quality of their environment.
Collagenolytic activity associated with Bacteroides species and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

Collagenolytic activity was assessed in a variety of microorganisms with particular emphasis on members of the indigenous oral flora. Organisms were grown in complete and peptide depleted basal anaerobic broth. Cell sonicates and media preparations were assayed for collagenolytic activity using 14C-labelled collagen in solution and as fibrils. Assay reaction products were evaluated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. All tested species of Bacteroides, including B. gingivalis, B, melaninogenicus ss. melaninogenicus and intermedius, B. capillus, B. oris, B. thetaiotaomicron, and B. fragilis produced collagenase which was primarily associated with the cell fraction. Collagenolytic activity was also observed in both media and cell sonicates of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Strain 511. The Bacteroides and Actinobacillus enzymes were heat labile, inhibited by EDTA and human serum. Enzyme activity appeared to be enhanced when these organisms were grown in peptide depleted medium. Collagenase production by tested species of Bacteroides and A. actinomycetemcomitans (511) was unique among other members of the oral microflora including species of Fusobacterium, Actinomyces, Capnocylophaga, and Selenomonas, which did not demonstrate collagenolytic activity under the same cultural conditions.
Definability of types, and pairs of O-minimal structures

Let T be a complete O-minimal theory in a language L . We first give an elementary proof of the result (due to Marker and Steinhorn) that all types over Dedekind complete models of T are definable. Let L * be L together with a unary predicate P . Let T * be the L *-theory of all pairs ( N, M ), where M is a Dedekind complete model of T and N is an ⅼ M ⅼ + -saturated elementary extension of N (and M is the interpretation of P ). Using the definability of types result, we show that T * is complete and we give a simple set of axioms for T *. We also show that for every L *-formula ϕ ( x ) there is an L -formula ψ ( x ) such that T * ⊢ (∀ x )( P ( x ) → ( ϕ ( x ) ↔ ψ ( x )). This yields the following result: Let M be a Dedekind complete model of T . Let ϕ ( x, y ) be an L -formula where l ( y ) – k . Let X = { X ⊂ M k : for some a in an elementary extension N of M, X = ϕ ( a, y ) N ∩ M k }. Then there is a formula ψ ( y, z ) of L such that X = { ψ ( y, b ) M : b in M }.
Constrained data acquisition for mobile citizen science applications

The popularity and ubiquity of personal mobile computing devices' coupled with their powerful sensing capabilities' allow their application in the structured collection of data for societal benefit and science applications. Citizen scientists are willing users and active contributors to scientific research and applications, but if they gather data in an unconstrained or ad hoc manner, their efforts may be of little scientific value. In this paper, we present a user interface for a mobile device which is properly constrained to permit the gathering of valid scientific data. This helps to achieve the goal that any individual with a basic familiarity of the device (but not of the science) should be able to obtain useful data with little learning required. As a use case for this concept, we present a mobile application that allows user to collect location-stamped images to supplement satellite data for climate change research.
Linking interfacial chemistry of CO2 to surface structures of hydrated metal oxide nanoparticles: hematite

A better understanding of interaction with dissolved CO2 is required to rationally design and model the (photo)catalytic and sorption processes on metal (hydr)oxide nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous media. Using in situ FTIR spectroscopy, we address this problem for rhombohedral 38 nm hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles as a model. We not only resolve the structures of the adsorbed carbonate species, but also specify their adsorption sites and their location on the nanoparticle surface. The spectral relationships obtained present a basis for a new method of characterizing the microscopic structural and acid–base properties (related to individual adsorption sites) of hydrated metal (hydr)oxide NPs using atmospherically derived CO2 as a probe. Specifically, we distinguish two carbonate species suggesting two principally different adsorption mechanisms. One species, which is more weakly adsorbed, has an inner-sphere mononuclear monodentate structure which is formed by a conventional ligand-exchange mechanism. At natural levels of dissolved carbonate and pH from 3 to 11, this species is attached to the most acidic/reactive surface cations (surface states) associated with ferrihydrite-like surface defects. The second species, which is more strongly adsorbed, presents a mixed C and O coordination of bent CO2. This species uniquely recognizes the stoichiometric rhombohedral {104} facets in the NP texture. Like in gas phase, it is formed through the surface coordination of molecular CO2. We address how the adsorption sites hosting these two carbonate species are affected by the annealing and acid etching of the NPs. These results support the nanosize-induced phase transformation of hematite towards ferrihydrite under hydrous conditions, and additionally show that the process starts from the roughened areas of the facet intersections.
A Multiple-Beam Tuning-Fork Gyroscope With High Quality Factors

This paper reports on the design, fabrication, and testing of a multiple-beam tuning-fork gyroscope featuring high Quality factors (Q). A multiple-beam tuning-fork structure is designed to achieve high Qs in its drive mode and sense mode. The gyroscope is fabricated on a 30μm-thick SOI wafer using a one-mask fabrication process. The measured Qs of the fabricated gyroscope are 162,060 in the drive-mode and 85,168 in the sense mode at an operation frequency of 16.8kHz. Under a frequency split of 6Hz, the prototype device demonstrates a rate sensitivity of 0.02mV/°/sec.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Reasons for readmission in an underserved high-risk population: a qualitative analysis of a series of inpatient interviews.

Objective To gather qualitative data to elucidate the reasons for readmissions in a high-risk population of underserved patients. Design We created an instrument with 27 open-ended questions based on current interventions. Setting Yale-New Haven Hospital. Patients Patients at the Yale Adult Primary Care Center (PCC). Measurements We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews of patients who had four or more admissions in the previous 6 months and were currently readmitted to the hospital. Results We completed 17 interviews and identified themes relating to risk of readmission. We found that patients went directly to the emergency department (ED) when they experienced a change in health status without contacting their primary provider. Reasons for this included poor telephone or urgent care access and the belief that the PCC could not treat acute illness. Many patients could not name their primary provider. Conversely, every patient except one reported being able to obtain medications without undue financial burden, and every patient reported receiving adequate home care services. Conclusions These high-risk patients were receiving the formal services that they needed, but were making the decision to go to the ED because of inadequate access to care and fragmented primary care relationships. Formal transitional care services are unlikely to be adequate in reducing readmissions without also addressing primary care access and continuity.
Evolution of the Bonneville shoreline scarp in west-central Utah: Comparison of scarp-analysis methods and implications for the diffusion model of hillslope evolution

Abstract Wave-cut pluvial shoreline scarps are ideal natural experiments in hillslope evolution because the ages of these scarps are often precisely known and because they form with a range of heights, alluvial textures, and microclimates (i.e., orientation). Previous work using midpoint-slope methods on pluvial scarps in the Basin and Range concluded that scarp evolution is nonlinear and microclimatically controlled. The purpose of this study was to further examine the influence of scarp height, texture and microclimate in an attempt to calibrate a nonlinear model of scarp evolution. To do this, over 150 profiles of the Bonneville shoreline in the adjacent Snake and Tule Valleys, west-central Utah were collected and analyzed by fitting the entire scarp profile to diffusion-equation solutions, taking into account uncertainty in the initial scarp angle. In contrast to previous studies, this analysis revealed no evidence for nonlinearity or microclimatic control. To understand the reason for this discrepancy, we undertook a systematic study of the accuracy of each scarp-analysis method. The midpoint-slope-inverse method was found to yield biased results, with systematically higher diffusion ages for young, tall scarps. The slope-offset method is unbiased but has limited resolution because it requires many scarp profiles to yield a single diffusion age. A method that incorporates the full scarp profile and uncertainty in the initial scarp angle was found to be the most accurate technique. The application of the full-scarp method to the Bonneville shoreline supports the use of a linear diffusion model for scarps up to 20 m in height. Scarp orientation had no discernable effect on diffusivity values. Soil texture was found to have a weak but significant inverse relationship with diffusivity values.
BION web server

Motivation: Ions are essential component of the cell and frequently are found bound to various macromolecules, in particular to proteins. A binding of an ion to a protein greatly affects protein’s biophysical characteristics and needs to be taken into account in any modeling approach. However, ion’s bounded positions cannot be easily revealed experimentally, especially if they are loosely bound to macromolecular surface. Results: Here, we report a web server, the BION web server, which addresses the demand for tools of predicting surface bound ions, for which specific interactions are not crucial; thus, they are difficult to predict. The BION is easy to use web server that requires only coordinate file to be inputted, and the user is provided with various, but easy to navigate, options. The coordinate file with predicted bound ions is displayed on the output and is available for download. Availability: http://compbio.clemson.edu/bion_server/ Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. Contact: ealexov@clemson.edu
Asymptomatic Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Decreases Blood CD4+ T Cells by Accumulating Recirculating Lymphocytes in the Lymphoid Tissues

Declining blood CD4(+) T-cell counts mark the progress of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) disease in macaques and model the consequences of untreated human immunodeficiency virus infection in humans. However, blood lymphocytes are only a fraction of the recirculating lymphocyte pool, and their numbers are affected by cell synthesis, cell depletion, and distribution among blood and lymphoid tissue compartments. Asymptomatic, SIV-infected macaques maintained constant and nearly normal numbers of recirculating lymphocytes despite the decline in CD4(+) T-cell counts. Substantial depletion was detected only when blood CD4(+) T-cell counts fell below 300/microliter. In asymptomatic animals, changes in CD4(+) T-cell distribution were more important than lymphocyte depletion for controlling the blood cell levels.
THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF BULGING IN HAND‐MOLDED REFRACTORY SHAPES†

Bulging is a universal problem in the manufacture of large refractory shapes. It is discussed from the standpoint of molding, pressing, turning from the mold, drying, edging, firing, and air and gas pockets.
Prolyl isomerase Pin1 is highly expressed in Her2-positive breast cancer and regulates erbB2 protein stability

Overexpression of HER-2/Neu occurs in about 25–30% of breast cancer patients and is indicative of poor prognosis. While Her2/Neu overexpression is primarily a result of erbB2 amplification, it has recently been recognized that erbB2 levels are also regulated on the protein level. However, factors that regulate Her2/Neu protein stability are less well understood. The prolyl isomerase Pin1 catalyzes the isomerization of specific pSer/Thr-Pro motifs that have been phosphorylated in response to mitogenic signaling. We have previously reported that Pin1-catalyzed postphosphorylational modification of signal transduction modulates the oncogenic pathways downstream from c-neu. The goal of this study was to examine the expression of prolyl isomerase Pin1 in human Her2+ breast cancer, and to study if Pin1 affects the expression of Her2/Neu itself. Methods: Immunohistochemistry for Her2 and Pin1 were performed on two hundred twentythree human breast cancers, with 59% of the specimen from primary cancers and 41% from metastatic sites. Pin1 inhibition was achieved using siRNA in Her2+ breast cancer cell lines, and its effects were studied using cell viability assays, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Results: Sixty-four samples (28.7%) stained positive for Her2 (IHC 3+), and 54% (122/223) of all breast cancers stained positive for Pin1. Of the Her2-positive cancers 40 (62.5%) were also Pin1positive, based on strong nuclear or nuclear and cytoplasmic staining. Inhibition of Pin1 via RNAi resulted in significant suppression of Her2-positive tumor cell growth in BT474, SKBR3 and AU565 cells. Pin1 inhibition greatly increased the sensitivity of Her2-positive breast cancer cells to the mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin, while it did not increase their sensitivity to Trastuzumab, suggesting that Pin1 might act on Her2 signaling. We found that Pin1 interacted with the protein complex that contains ubiquitinated erbB2 and that Pin1 inhibition accelerated erbB2 degradation, which could be prevented by treatments with the proteasome inhibitor ALLnL. Conclusion: Pin1 is a novel regulator of erbB2 that modulates the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of erbB2. The overexpression of Pin1 in a majority of Her2-overexpressing breast cancer may contribute to maintain erbB2 levels. Pin1 inhibition alone and in conjunction with mTOR inhibition suppresses the growth of Her2+ breast cancer cells.
OLFACTORY STIMULATION OF BLOWFLIES BY HOMOLOGOUS ALCOHOLS

The response of the blowfly Phormia regina to stimulation by alcohols in the vapor phase has been investigated by means of an olfactometer which permitted quantitative control of stimulus concentration. The median rejection threshold was selected as a criterion of response. As was true in the case of contact chemoreception, the distribution of thresholds in the fly population is normal with respect to the logarithm of concentration. In terms of molar concentration the alcohols are rejected at logarithmically decreasing concentration as chain length is increased. Beyond decanol there is no further stimulation. When thresholds are expressed as pressures and plotted against saturated vapor pressures on logarithmic coordinates, the data fit a line the slope of which is not significantly different from 1; i.e., the thresholds vary directly with vapor pressure. Individual threshold values, however, deviate significantly from this line. and the deviation must be ascribed to other factors which have not as yet been identified. When thresholds are expressed as activities, all alcohols are equally stimulating. It appears that the limiting process of olfaction, at least in so far as the normal alcohols are concerned, may involve an equilibrium process. Conformity to this concept is most exact for intermediate members of the series.
Unexplained Cough in the Adult

Unexplained cough is a diagnosis of exclusion that should not be made until a thorough validated diagnostic evaluation is performed, specific and appropriate validated treatments have been tried and failed, and uncommon causes have been ruled out. When chronic cough remains troublesome after the initial work up, determine that a protocol has been used that has been shown to lead to successful results. If such a protocol has been used, next consider whether or not pitfalls in management have been avoided. If they have been, the frequency of truly unexplained chronic cough usually should not exceed 10%. While patients with truly unexplained coughs have an overly sensitive cough reflex, the mere presence of an overly sensitive cough reflex does not by itself explain why they do not get better, because most patients with chronic cough, even those who respond to treatment and get better, have demonstrable heightened cough sensitivity. Management options include referral to a cough clinic with interdisciplinary expertise, speech therapy, and self-limited trials of drugs, preferentially with those shown to be effective in randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trials in patients with unexplained chronic cough.
Histone mediated changes in morphology and confluent density of cultured cells.

Calf thymus histones and histone subfractions were added to media overlying subconfluent mouse fibroblast cells in culture. The histones caused significantly higher cell densities at confluence than control cultures and disruption of the normal ordered arrangement of cells. These changes were seen on application of histones to growing cells but not confluent cells and were reversed when the histones were removed and the cells replated with more growth area. The slightly lysine rich histone fraction had the greatest effect and the lysine rich fraction had the least effect on cell morphology and cell number at confluence. These effects could not be duplicated with other highly charged basic proteins.
Hydrophobic silver nanoparticles trapped in lipid bilayers: Size distribution, bilayer phase behavior, and optical properties

Background Lipid-based dispersion of nanoparticles provides a biologically inspired route to designing therapeutic agents and a means of reducing nanoparticle toxicity. Little is currently known on how the presence of nanoparticles influences lipid vesicle stability and bilayer phase behavior. In this work, the formation of aqueous lipid/nanoparticle assemblies (LNAs) consisting of hydrophobic silver-decanethiol particles (5.7 ± 1.8 nm) embedded within 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) bilayers is demonstrated as a function of the DPPC/Ag nanoparticle (AgNP) ratio. The effect of nanoparticle loading on the size distribution, bilayer phase behavior, and bilayer fluidity is determined. Concomitantly, the effect of bilayer incorporation on the optical properties of the AgNPs is also examined.
B4: experience with a globally-deployed software defined wan

We present the design, implementation, and evaluation of B4, a private WAN connecting Google's data centers across the planet. B4 has a number of unique characteristics: i) massive bandwidth requirements deployed to a modest number of sites, ii) elastic traffic demand that seeks to maximize average bandwidth, and iii) full control over the edge servers and network, which enables rate limiting and demand measurement at the edge.These characteristics led to a Software Defined Networking architecture using OpenFlow to control relatively simple switches built from merchant silicon. B4's centralized traffic engineering service drives links to near 100% utilization, while splitting application flows among multiple paths to balance capacity against application priority/demands. We describe experience with three years of B4 production deployment, lessons learned, and areas for future work.
A web-based interface to calculate phonotactic probability for words and nonwords in English.

Phonotactic probability refers to the frequency with which phonological segments and sequences of phonological segments occur in words in a given language. We describe one method of estimating phonotactic probabilities based on words in American English. These estimates of phonotactic probability have been used in a number of previous studies and are now being made available to other researchers via a Web-based interface. Instructions for using the interface, as well as details regarding how the measures were derived, are provided in the present article. The Phonotactic Probability Calculator can be accessed at http://www.people.ku.edu/~mvitevit/PhonoProbHome.html.
Śrī Harṣa contra Hegel: Monism, Skeptical Method, and the Limits of Reason

This essay identifies salient points of affinity and divergence in the monistic metaphysics and skeptical methodologies of the German idealist Hegel and the Indian Advaitin Śrī Harṣa. Remarkably, both Śrī Harṣa’s Khaṇḍanakhaṇṇakhādya (ca. 1170) and Hegel’s Phanomenologie des Geistes (1807) attempt to defend a monistic standpoint exclusively by means of a sustained critique of non-monistic philosophical positions. It is argued here, however, that Śrī Harṣa and Hegel diverge sharply in their specific views on the powers and limits of philosophy and on the precise nature of monistic reality. In stark contrast to Hegel, Śrī Harṣa rejects the very possibility of a philosophical justification of monism, since he claims that the non-dual reality of Brahman lies beyond reason. Moreover, while Hegel drives a wedge between thought and empirical praxis, Śrī Harṣa insists that how we think and reason depends on the nature of our mind, which is itself conditioned by how we live.
New Ultrastructural Analysis of the Invasive Apparatus of the Plasmodium Ookinete

Invasion of the mosquito midgut by the Plasmodium ookinete determines the success of transmission of malaria parasites from humans to mosquitoes and therefore, is a potential target for molecular intervention. Here, we show higher-resolution ultrastructural details of developing and mature P. gallinaceum ookinetes than previously available. Improved fixation and processing methods yielded substantially improved transmission electron micrographs of ookinetes, particularly with regard to visualization of subcellular secretory and other organelles. These new images provide new insights into the synthesis and function of vital invasive machinery focused on the following features: apical membrane protrusions presumptively used for attachment and protein secretion, dark spherical bodies at the apical end of the mature ookinete, and the presence of a dense array of micronemes apposed to microtubules at the apical end of the ookinete involved in constitutive secretion. This work advances understanding of the molecular and cellular details of the Plasmodium ookinete and provides the basis of future, more detailed mechanistic experimentation on the biology of the Plasmodium ookinete.
Searching for the perfect match: a comparison of free sorting results for images by human subjects and by latent semantic analysis techniques

Information visualization can improve the access and manipulation of digital data if it conforms to human expectations, and supports the particular interface, task, data, and user. Detailed usability studies are required to prove this assumption. The paper reports a usability study of the data analysis algorithm applied in the LVis, Digital Library Visualizer that spatially visualizes search results derived from user queries of digital library collections. In particular, it presents a comparison of free sorting results for image data done by 20 human subjects and the data analysis result derived via Latent Semantic Analysis from the textual image descriptions. The results of the study suggest that people, if asked to categorize with no constraints, will use features that are often derivable from textual metadata. Human clustering strategies and resulting demands for image browsing systems are discussed and future work is outlined.
MuSK controls where motor axons grow and form synapses

Motor axons approach muscles that are regionally prespecialized, as acetylcholine receptors are clustered in the central region of muscle before and independently of innervation. This muscle prepattern requires MuSK, a receptor tyrosine kinase that is essential for synapse formation. It is not known how muscle prepatterning is established, and whether motor axons recognize this prepattern. Here we show that expression of Musk is prepatterned in muscle and that early Musk expression in developing myotubes is sufficient to establish muscle prepatterning. We further show that ectopic Musk expression promotes ectopic synapse formation, indicating that muscle prepatterning normally has an instructive role in directing where synapses will form. In addition, ectopic Musk expression stimulates synapse formation in the absence of Agrin and rescues the lethality of Agrn mutant mice, demonstrating that the postsynaptic cell, and MuSK in particular, has a potent role in regulating the formation of synapses.
Burns from warming devices in anesthesia. A closed claims analysis

Background:Prevention of hypothermia is an important aspect of anesthetic management. Methods used for its prevention may, however, cause cutaneous burns. We reviewed the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Closed Claims Project database to determine if there were recurrent patterns of injur
DISPERSIVE ELECTRONIC EXCITATION TRANSPORT IN POLYMERIC SOLIDS AT AND NEAR ROOM TEMPERATURE

Abstract Time-resolved fluorescence depolarization is used to examine electronic excitation transport among naphthalene chromophores in a polymeric solid as a function of excitation wavelength between 300 and 50 K. The characteristics of the wavelength and temperature dependences reveal, for the first time, that dispersive transport occurs at and near room temperature. The rate of excitation transport depends on the wavelength of excitation. A theoretical treatment is able to reproduce the essential features of the wavelength and temperature dependences without recourse to adjustable parameters by avoiding the complexities of the relationship between the difference in energy of a pair of molecules and the pairwise transfer rate.
Processing of 0.7BaTiO3–0.3BiScO3 Solid‐Solution Coatings

Coatings with the 0.7BaTiO3–0.3BiScO3 solid-solution composition were formed on palladium and single-crystal (001) SrTiO3 substrates using a polymeric metal citrate precursor. Solutions of TiOCl2, Ba(NO3)2, Sc(NO3)3, and Bi(NO3)3 were mixed with citric acid and polymerized with ethylene glycol. Stable mixed-metal citrate solutions were formed at pH > 9 and used for coatings. The phase and composition of powders and coatings were characterized using DTA, TGA, SEM, TEM, and X-ray diffraction. Single-phase cubic 0.7BaTiO3–0.3BiScO3 solid solutions formed at 600°C. Coatings on Pd using precursors doped with 5 wt% lithium nitrate were dense after sintering at 950°C/1 h. Coatings without lithium nitrate required 1050°C/50 h to densify. Coatings on SrTiO3 heat-treated at 1150°C were dense but formed a (Sc,Ti)-rich second phase.
A Comparative Study of Lossless Compression Algorithms on Multi-spectral Imager Data

High resolution multi-spectral imagers are becoming increasingly important tools for studying and monitoring the earth. As much of the data from these multi-spectral imagers is used for quantitative analysis, the role of lossless compression is critical in the transmission, distribution, archiving, and management of the data. To evaluate the performance of various compression algorithms on multi-spectral images, we conducted statistical evaluation on datasets consisting of hundreds of granules from both geostationary and polar imagers. We broke these datasets up by different criteria such as hemisphere, season, and time-of-day in order to ensure the results are robust, reliable, and applicable for future imagers.
Integrin-mediated cell adhesion to fibronectin: initial binding and strengthening responses

Cell adhesion to fibronectin involves integrin receptor-ligand binding and adhesion strengthening, which includes integrin clustering, interactions with cytoskeletal components to form focal adhesions, and spreading. Because of the complex nature of the strengthening process, quantitative analyses of cell adhesion have been limited to initial events. In this study, we applied micropatterning methods to control focal adhesion size and decouple focal adhesion assembly from gross changes in cell morphology, allowing for rigorous analysis of adhesion strength independently of cell spreading and redistribution of adhesive structures. Microcontact printing was used to pattern arrays of circular adhesive islands within a non-adhesive background. Fibroblasts adhered to fibronectin-coated islands and remained nearly spherical. The cell-substrate contact area was constrained to the micropatterned domain and immunofluorescence staining revealed robust assembly of adhesive structures containing components associated with conventional focal adhesions. Cell adhesion strength to fibronectin-coated islands was quantified using a spinning disk device. Adhesion strength exhibited significant time- and adhesive area-dependent increases. Comparison of experiments for similar contact areas at different time points showed a 9-fold increase in adhesion strength over time, independently of cell spreading. This work provides an experimental framework for the functional analysis of focal adhesion components in physiological and pathological conditions.
The challenging patient with varicella-zoster virus disease

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation from latently infected ganglia causes multiple neurologic diseases. The most common is herpes zoster, which is frequently complicated by postherpetic neuralgia, meningoencephalitis, and vasculopathy, including VZV temporal arteritis, myelopathy, and retinal necrosis. All of these disorders can develop without rash. Importantly, VZV vasculopathy is emerging as a significant cause of TIAs and stroke. In particular, a subset of patients who present with symptoms and signs of giant cell arteritis (GCA), but whose temporal artery biopsies are GCA-negative, have multifocal VZV vasculopathy with temporal artery infection. Herein we focus on the specific diagnostic and therapeutic challenges that clinical neurologists encounter in diseases caused by VZV, discuss guidelines for zoster vaccine, and highlight molecular features of VZV latency with a focus on preventing the serious neurologic and ocular complications of VZV reactivation.
Binding site on human C-reactive protein (CRP) recognized by the leukocyte CRP-receptor.

C-reactive protein (CRP), the prototypical inflammatory acute phase reactant in humans, interacts with monocytes and neutrophils via a specific receptor. To map the site on CRP recognized by the CRP receptor (CRP-R), synthetic peptides corresponding to the surface region on each of the five identical subunits were tested as competitors vs. [125l]-CRP for cell binding. A peptide of residues 27–38 (TKPLKAFTVCLH) efficiently inhibited CRP binding when compared to other nonoverlapping peptides. This peptide was termed the cell-binding peptide (CB-Pep). The F(ab′)2 of an IgG Ab to the CB-Pep specifically inhibited CRP binding upon reacting with the ligand. Competitive binding studies with synthetic peptides truncated from either the NH2- or COOH-terminus of the CB-Pep revealed that the minimum length recognized by the CRP-R consisted of residues 31–36: KAFTVC. Conservative substitutions of residues within the CB-Pep indicated that the four residues AFTV were critical for CRP-R binding. The CB-Pep also inhibited induced superoxide generation by HL-60 granulocytes. The minimum length required for the inhibition was also KAFTVC; however, only Phe-33 and Leu-37 were critical residues in this assay. Anti-CB-Pep IgG Ab reacted more extensively with heat-modified CRP, suggesting that an altered conformation of CRP is preferentially recognized by the CRP-R. The results suggest that this contiguous sequence on a β-strand on one face of each of five subunits of the CRP pentamer serves as a unique recognition motif for inflammatory leukocytes. J. Cell. Biochem. 64:140–151. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.