cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbial community structures in high rate algae ponds for bioconversion of agricultural wastes from livestock industry for feed production

Dynamics of seasonal microbial community compositions in algae cultivation ponds are complex. However, there is very limited knowledge on bacterial communities that may play significant roles with algae in the bioconversion of manure nutrients to animal feed. In this study, water samples were collected during winter, spring, summer, and fall from the dairy lagoon effluent (DLE), high rate algae ponds (HRAP) that were fed with diluted DLE, and municipal waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent which was included as a comparison system for the analysis of total bacteria, Cyanobacteria, and microalgae communities using MiSeq Illumina sequencing targeting the 16S V4 rDNA region. The main objective was to examine dynamics in microbial community composition in the HRAP used for the production of algal biomass. DNA was extracted from the different sample types using three commercially available DNA extraction kits; MoBio Power water extraction kit, Zymo fungi/bacterial extraction kit, and MP Biomedicals FastDNA SPIN Kit. Permutational analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) using distance matrices on each variable showed significant differences (P=0.001) in beta-diversity based on sample source. Environmental variables such as hydraulic retention time (HRT; P<0.031), total N (P<0.002), total inorganic N (P<0.002), total P (P<0.002), alkalinity (P<0.002), pH (P<0.022), total suspended solid (TSS; P<0.003), and volatile suspended solids (VSS; P<0.002) significantly affected microbial communities in DLE, HRAP, and WWTP. Of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified to phyla level, the dominant classes of bacteria identified were: Cyanobacteria, Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma-, Epsilon-, and Delta-proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Planctomycetes. Our data suggest that microbial communities were significantly affected in HRAP by different environmental variables, and care must be taken in extraction procedures when evaluating specific groups of microbial communities for specific functions.
The verb in Ak??se

Ak??se has a comparatively complex verb morphology for a Bantu language. Underlying forms for the different morphemes making up the verb are proposed, as well as a set of segmental and tonal rules necessary to account for the surface forms. The derivation of certain verb forms is discussed. Verbs have three different forms: the "free form", the "dependent subject form", and the "dependent non-subject form". The contexts in which these are used are described. This is followed by an overview of the grammatical categories (tense, aspect, mood, negation) present in the verb and the combination of these categories in individual verb forms. Finally, meanings and usages of all verb forms are presented.
Therapeutic plasmapheresis for hypertriglyceridemia-associated acute pancreatitis: case series and review of the literature.

Background:Severe hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is the third leading cause of acute pancreatitis (AP) in the United States. The current standard of care includes management of HTG using pharmacologica...
A Review Essay of The Big Stick: The Limits of Soft Power and the Necessity of Military Force by Eliot Cohen (New York: Basic Books, 2016) & War by Other Means: Geoeconomics and Statecraft by Robert D. Blackwill and Jennifer M. Harris (Boston: Harvard University Press, 2016)

This essay is a joint review of Eliot Cohen's, The Big Stick, and Robert Blackwill & Jennifer Harris', War by Other Means.
Abstract 1220: Coordinated chemical-genetics approach identifies PTP4A3-mediated regulation of colon cancer cell migration and extracellular matrix interactions

Aberrant regulation of protein phosphorylation is an exceedingly common driver of human cancers. It is notable that we understand much less about the role of protein tyrosine phosphatases in human malignancies compared to tyrosine kinases. The membrane-associated, intracellular, protein tyrosine PTP4A3 is highly overexpressed in multiple tumor types including colorectal cancer and has been associated with tumor metastases. We have, therefore, investigated the role of PTP4A3 in colon cancer migration and invasion. The Ptp4a3 gene was expunged from colon tumor cells derived from Ptp4a3 flox/flox mice and the resulting cells exhibited impaired migration, invasion, and colony formation compared to the wildtype isogenic cells. We characterized a potent, selective, and noncompetitive small molecule inhibitor of PTP4A3, JMS-631-053, which also disrupted colon cancer cell migration, invasion, and colony formation. PTP4A3 deletion increased the expression of extracellular matrix and adhesion genes, including the tumor suppressor Emilin 1. Expression of these extracellular matrix genes is mutually exclusive with PTP4A3 expression in tumors derived from patients with colorectal cancer. These chemical and biological reagents reveal a previously unknown communication between the intracellular PTP4A3 phosphatase and the extracellular matrix and support continued efforts to pharmacologically target PTP4A3 for cancer therapy. Citation Format: Kelley E. McQueeney, Joseph M. Salamoun, Isabella K. Blanco, Paula Pekic, Jennifer Ahn, Elizabeth R. Sharlow, Peter Wipf, John S. Lazo. Coordinated chemical-genetics approach identifies PTP4A3-mediated regulation of colon cancer cell migration and extracellular matrix interactions [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1220. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1220
Making sense and nonsense: Comparing mediated discourse and agential realist approaches to materiality in a preschool makerspace:

Two approaches to materiality (i.e. mediated discourse and agential realism) are compared to explore their usefulness in tracking literacies in action and artefacts produced during a play and desig...
CEO managerial ability and the marginal value of cash

Abstract This study examines whether the managerial ability of a chief executive officer (CEO) is associated with a marginal value of cash. We predict that more talented CEOs make better use of cash, creating the marginal value of cash. Using the managerial ability measures of Demerjian et al. (2012) and the cash value model developed by Faulkender and Wang (2006), we find that CEO managerial ability significantly increases the marginal value of cash. We also find that the effect of managerial ability on the marginal value of cash is generally greater for financially constrained firms. We further show that that the positive impact of managerial ability on the marginal value of cash is more evident for firms with higher levels of free cash flows and lower management entrenchment. Overall, our findings suggest that the market places a higher value on cash if the cash is managed by more able CEOs, which is consistent with the view that shareholders consider the ability of a CEO when they evaluate cash.
Status Epilepticus in Critically Ill Children

Status epilepticus (SE) is a common neurologic emergency managed in pediatric intensive care units, yet management is highly variable and treatment delays are common. Additionally, many seizures in critically ill children are electrographic-only, so continuous electroencephalographic (C-EEG) monitoring is required for identification. This chapter reviews the identification and management of SE in critically ill children.
Quantitative 3D assessment of flow in a printed hydrogel vascular phantom

While tissue-mimicking phantoms have been useful in the validation of ultrasonic equipment and image processing techniques, they are often restricted to simple vascular geometries due to limitations in fabrication techniques. To address this need, a novel technique has been employed to fabricate 3D-printed photo-curable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel constructs containing complex, small-scale (e.g., 100s of μm in diameter) vascular channels that can be imaged with ultrasound. In this study, we use color Doppler ultrasound to obtain 3D velocity vector fields through vascular geometries within hydrogel phantoms and compare these results to optical flow assessment and numerical modeling results.
Using Decision Analysis to Support Newborn Screening Policy Decisions: A Case Study for Pompe Disease.

Background: Newborn screening is a public health program to identify conditions associated with significant morbidity or mortality that benefit from early intervention. Policy decisions about which...
Numerical Investigation of Turbulent Kinetic Energy Dynamics in Chemically-Reacting Homogeneous Turbulence

In this work, we investigate numerically the temporal evolution of Turbulent Kinetic Energy (TKE) of a chemically-reacting n-heptane and air mixture in statistically Homogeneous Isotropic Turbulence (HIT). Our specific focus is on the concurrent view of TKE evolution in both physical and scale (Fourier) spaces to identify the impact of reaction-induced heat release on turbulence. The simulation parameters are selected to represent the combustion characteristics of heavy hydrocarbon fuels under engine conditions. Results indicate that pressure dilatation work dominates the TKE evolution during the period of strong heat release and its dominance is attributed to the strong volumetric dilatation associated with the presence of reaction fronts in physical space. Viscous dissipation and viscous dilatation terms become much stronger with increasing heat release, primarily due to the increase in strain-rate and dilatation at the vicinity of the reaction fronts, but their magnitudes are still small compared to that of pressure dilatation work. In addition, the analysis in Fourier space shows that pressure dilatation work dominates the evolution of TKE not only in the mean, but also over a wide range of scales. The spectrum of pressure dilatation shows a power-law behavior, which is a direct consequence of the localized sheet-like reaction fronts in physical space. It is also shown that viscous dissipation spectrum initially removes kinetic energy at small scales when heat release is weak, but starts to remove kinetic energy at intermediate and later at large scales due to the presence of localized reaction fronts during the strong heat release period. More interestingly, it is observed that the inter-scale kinetic energy transfer spectrum moves energy from less dissipative scales (small scales) to scales where kinetic energy is more effectively removed by viscous dissipation work (large scales) during the period of strong heat release, which indicates possible up-scale kinetic energy transfer in Fourier space.
Differing responses of red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and white abalone (H. sorenseni) to infection with phage-associated Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis.

The Rickettsiales-like prokaryote and causative agent of Withering Syndrome (WS)-Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis (Ca. Xc)-decimated black abalone populations along the Pacific coast of North America. White abalone-Haliotis sorenseni-are also susceptible to WS and have become nearly extinct in the wild due to overfishing in the 1970s. Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis proliferates within epithelial cells of the abalone gastrointestinal tract and causes clinical signs of starvation. In 2012, evidence of a putative bacteriophage associated with Ca. Xc in red abalone-Haliotis rufescens-was described. Recently, histologic examination of animals with Ca. Xc infection in California abalone populations universally appear to have the phage-containing inclusions. In this study, we investigated the current virulence of Ca. Xc in red abalone and white abalone at different environmental temperatures. Using a comparative experimental design, we observed differences over time between the two abalone species in mortality, body condition, and bacterial load by quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). By day 251, all white abalone exposed to the current variant of Ca. Xc held in the warm water (18.5 °C) treatment died, while red abalone exposed to the same conditions had a mortality rate of only 10%, despite a relatively heavy bacterial burden as determined by qPCR of posterior esophagus tissue and histological assessment at the termination of the experiment. These data support the current status of Ca. Xc as less virulent in red abalone, and may provide correlative evidence of a protective phage interaction. However, white abalone appear to remain highly susceptible to this disease. These findings have important implications for implementation of a white abalone recovery program, particularly with respect to the thermal regimes of locations where captively-reared individuals will be outplanted.
Failure analysis of distributed scientific workflows executing in the cloud

This work presents models characterizing failures observed during the execution of large scientific applications on Amazon EC2. Scientific workflows are used as the underlying abstraction for application representations. As scientific workflows scale to hundreds of thousands of distinct tasks, failures due to software and hardware faults become increasingly common. We study job failure models for data collected from 4 scientific applications, by our Stampede framework. In particular, we show that a Naive Bayes classifier can accurately predict the failure probability of jobs. The models allow us to predict job failures for a given execution resource and then use these failure predictions for two higher-level goals: (1) to suggest a better job assignment, and (2) to provide quantitative feedback to the workflow component developer about the robustness of their application codes.
Thoughts on World Education

Is it not basic to all assumptions, whether deity be interpreted in personal or in cosmic terms, that we are all creatures of the central principle of the creative process of the universe, hence rightful heirs of some measure of that very impulse: all men, all women, all children, all races, all creeds. It is with such reverence I address you all as friends.
Family and transplant professionals' views of organ recovery before circulatory death for imminently dying patients: A qualitative study using semistructured interviews and focus groups.

Donation before circulatory death for imminently dying patients has been proposed to address organ scarcity and harms of nondonation. To characterize stakeholder attitudes about organ recovery before circulatory death we conducted semistructured interviews with family members (N = 15) who had experienced a loved one's unsuccessful donation after circulatory death and focus groups with professional stakeholders (surgeons, anesthesiologists, critical care specialists, palliative care specialists, organ procurement personnel, and policymakers, N = 46). We then used qualitative content analysis to characterize these perspectives. Professional stakeholders believed that donation of all organs before circulatory death was unacceptable, morally repulsive, and equivalent to murder; consent for such a procedure would be impermissible. Respondents feared the social costs related to recovery before death were too high. Although beliefs about recovery of all organs were widely shared, some professional stakeholders could accommodate removal of a single kidney before circulatory death. In contrast, family members were typically accepting of donation before circulatory death for a single kidney, and many believed recovery of all organs was permissible because they believed the cause of death was the donor's injury, not organ procurement. These findings suggest that definitions of death and precise rules around organ donation are critical for professional stakeholders, whereas donor families find less relevance in these constructs for determining the acceptability of organ donation. Donation of a single kidney before circulatory death warrants future exploration.
Alcohol Availability Across Neighborhoods in Ontario Following Alcohol Sales Deregulation, 2013-2017.

Objectives. To examine the association between neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and alcohol availability before and after deregulation in 2015 of the alcohol market in Ontario, Canada.Method...
Latino Ethnicity, Immigrant Status, and Preference for End-of-Life Cancer Care.

Abstract Background: Little is known about how immigration status influences preference for life-extending care (LEC) at the end of life (EoL). Objective: The purpose was to determine how preferenc...
Photoreceptor function in heterozygotes with insertion or deletion mutations in the RDS gene.

Purpose. To understand the pathophysiology of human retinal degenerations caused by mutations in the peripherin/RDS gene. Methods. Three families with autosomal dominant retinal degeneration were found to have mutations in the peripherin/RDS gene. There were two frameshift mutations : a 1-base pair (bp) insertion at codon 32 and a 2-bp deletion at codon 193. For these mutations, the predicted proteins would be truncated by 303 and 131 amino acids, respectively. The third mutation would result in an 8-bp substitution for five nucleotides involving codons 67-69 and would be predicted to disrupt the second transmembrane domain of the protein. Heterozygotes were examined clinically and with rod and cone perimetry, dark adaptometry, and rod- and cone-isolated electroretinograms (ERGs). Results. Rod and cone sensitivity losses were present with perimetric testing in most patients ; patients with advanced disease in all three families showed more pericentral than peripheral field dysfunction. The kinetics of dark adaptation were abnormal in all patients. Rod and cone ERG a-waves were normal in maximum amplitude in three younger patients but were reduced in all others ; phototransduction was normal in most patients. There was equal loss of rod and cone a-wave amplitudes and equal elevation of rod and cone thresholds. Conclusions. Heterozygotes with these different peripherin/RDS gene mutations showed variation in clinical presentation but a similar pattern of receptor abnormalities. Results of visual function tests were consistent with a normal amount of rod and cone outer segment membrane in early disease, progressing to reduced outer segments at later stages. There was an equal effect on rod and cone photoreceptor function at all stages of disease. This functional phenotype may represent the human analogue of the rds/+ mouse.
Treatment of high fever in children

For children, fever is one of the most common symptoms.Especially for children under 5 years of age, the diagnosis and effective treatment of acute fever are beneficial to reduce the mortality of children.High fever, especially persistent fever and ultrahyperpyrexia are more dangerous for children.Mishandling may threat children.Patient′s mortality with high fever can be reduce through reasonable treatment.Through the knowledge of high fever, the evaluation of the clinical condition and the judgement of the laboratory, the high fever can be handled reasonably and effectively.And establishment of high fever treatment can help the clinical frontline better in diagnosing and treatmenting high fever. Key words: Child; High fever; Treatment; Path
Activation of mas restores hyperoxia-induced loss of lung epithelial barrier function through inhibition of apoptosis.

Background Neonatal therapy with a high concentration of oxygen (hyperoxia) is a known cause of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). BPD is characterized by increased pulmonary permeability and diffuse infiltration of various inflammatory cells. Disruption of the epithelial barrier may lead to altered pulmonary permeability and airways fluid accumulation. Mas receptor is a component of the renin angiotensin system and is the receptor for the protective endogenous peptide angiotensin 1-7. The activation of the Mas receptor was previously shown to have protective pulmonary responses. However, the effect of Mas receptor activation on epithelial barrier integrity has not been tested. Objective To determine the effects of hyperoxia with or without Mas receptor activation on epithelial cell barrier integrity. Design/methods Human epithelial cell line A549 was cultured on transwell polycarbonate porous membrane to confluence and treated with 95% oxygen (hyperoxia) for 72 hours with or without the Mas receptor agonist (AVE0991), or the apoptotic inhibitors Z-VAD-FMK or aurintricarboxylic acid. The cells were then challenged with Rhodamine labeled bovine serum albumin (Rh-BSA) on one side of the membrane. Fluorescent quantitation of Rh-BSA (albumin flux) was performed on the media in the other side of the membrane 3 hours later and was compared with 21% oxygen (Normoxia) control group. A549 cells were also cultured with or without AVE0991 in hyperoxia or normoxia and used for nuclear fragmentation apoptosis assay using propidium iodide staining. Results Hyperoxia induced an increase in albumin flux that was significantly prevented by AVE0991 treatment and by the apoptosis inhibitors. AVE0991 also significantly decreased the hyperoxia-induced nuclear fragmentation. Conclusion These results suggest that hyperoxia causes a disruption in the epithelial barrier integrity, and that this disruption is inhibited by the Mas receptor agonist AVE0991 through inhibition of epithelial apoptosis. These results reveal a novel potential drug for BPD and pulmonary edema treatment.
Mitigating contamination in LSS surveys: a comparison of methods

Future large scale structure surveys will measure the locations and shapes of billions of galaxies. The precision of such catalogs will require meticulous treatment of systematic contamination of the observed fields. We compare several existing methods for removing such systematics from galaxy clustering measurements. We show how all the methods, including the popular pseudo-$C_\ell$ Mode Projection and Template Subtraction methods, can be interpreted under a common regression framework and use this to suggest improved estimators. We show how methods designed to mitigate systematics in the power spectrum can be used to produce clean maps, which are necessary for cosmological analyses beyond the power spectrum, and we extend current methods to treat the next-order multiplicative contamination in observed maps and power spectra. Two new mitigation methods are proposed, which incorporate desirable features of current state-of-the-art methods while being simpler to implement. Investigating the performance of all the methods on a common set of simulated measurements from Year 5 of the Dark Energy Survey, we test their robustness to various analysis cases. Our proposed methods produce improved maps and power spectra when compared to current methods, while requiring almost no user tuning. We end with recommendations for systematics mitigation in future surveys, and note that the methods presented are generally applicable beyond the galaxy distribution to any field with spatial systematics.
The Association between Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Lung Cancer in a Population of Over 3 Million Patients

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are the most commonly prescribed anti-hypertensives with prior studies identifying a possible association between long-term use and increased rates of lung cancer. This study evaluated the potential association between the use of ACEIs and/or ARBs and the development of lung cancer in a large population using propensity matching. Methods: This was a population-based cohort study in a large healthcare system in three regions of the US. All adult patients who entered the Mayo Clinic health system from January 1, 2000 to April 30, 2018 with at least one year of follow-up were included. Pairwise propensity score matching was performed using demographics and comorbidities. Findings: 3,253,811 patients with median age of 59 (range 18-103) years old were included. The ACEI group had a higher freedom from lung cancer versus controls at 5, 10, and 15 years [15 year: 98.47% (CI95: 98.41%-98.54%) vs. 98.26% (CI95: 98.20%-98.33%)] while ARB had similar rates versus controls at all time points. For patients diagnosed with lung cancer, median all-cause survival was significantly higher in the ACEI [34.7 months (CI 95: 32.8-36.6)] and ARB (30.9 months (CI95: 28.1-33.8)] groups than the control group (20.6 months (CI95: 20.1-21.1). Interpretation: This is the largest analysis of lung cancer risk with ACEI and ARBs using patient data from three regions of the United States. This study demonstrates a decreased risk of lung cancer with ACEI use, no difference in risk with ARBs, and no difference in the lung cancer subtypes with ACEI or ARB usage versus controls using propensity score matching. Additionally, ACEI and ARB use was found to be associated with increased survival in those diagnosed with lung cancer. This study supports the continued use of ACEIs without concern for increasing the risk of lung cancer. Funding Statement: Grant Number UL1 TR000135 from the NIH Clinical and Translational Award for the search engine and not awarded to any authors. Declaration of Interests: All authors (SH, MW, RB, YD, AL, CB, ZL, PJ, and NP) report no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board approved this study
Racial/ethnic differences in postmenopausal breast cancer risk by hormone receptor status: the Multiethnic Cohort Study

There are racial/ethnic differences in the incidence of hormone receptor positive and negative breast cancer. To understand why these differences exist, we investigated associations between hormone-related factors and breast cancer risk by race/ethnicity in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study. Among 81 511 MEC participants (Native Hawaiian, Japanese American, Latina, African American and White women), 3806 estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and 828 ER- incident invasive breast cancers were diagnosed during a median of 21 years of follow-up. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to calculate associations between race/ethnicity and breast cancer risk, and associations between hormone-related factors and breast cancer risk by race/ethnicity. Relative to White women, ER+ breast cancer risk was higher in Native Hawaiians and lower in Latinas and African Americans; ER- disease risk was higher in African Americans. We observed interaction with race/ethnicity in associations between oral contraceptive use (OC; Pint .03) and body mass index (BMI; Pint .05) with ER+ disease risk; ever versus never OC use increased risk only in Latinas and positive associations for obese versus lean BMI were strongest in Japanese Americans. For ER- disease risk, associations for OC use, particularly duration of use, were strongest for African Americans (Pint .04). Our study shows that associations of OC use and obesity with ER+ and ER- breast cancer risk differ by race/ethnicity, but established risk factors do not fully explain racial/ethnic differences in risk. Further studies are needed to identify factors to explain observed racial/ethnic differences in breast cancer incidence.
Computer Analysis of Free Surface Well Flow

A mathematical analog of immiscible multiphase well flow, considering three compressible fluids—two liquids and one gas—is solved with fully implicit finite differences. A Newton iteration scheme is utilized to solve the system of nonlinear difference equations. The method is applied to free surface gravity well flow, including the effect of partial penetration. The importance of capillarity, of air dissolved in water, of water compressibility, as well as the effect of the multiphase flow approach upon the shape of the “free surface,” are analyzed.
Differentiation of Murine Bone Marrow Stem Cells in vitro: Long-Term Growth Promoted by a Lymphocyte-Derived Mediator

In attempts to induce differentiation of lymphoid cells from hematopoietic stem cells in vitro, the effects of allogeneic effect factor on the growth of murine bone marrow cultures were studied. Allogeneic effect factor is a soluble mediator derived from mixed secondary murine leukocyte cultures. For several weeks it supported the growth of bone marrow cultures, as indicated by the maintenance of stem cell activity, cellular proliferation, and heterogeneity. Another lymphokine, T cell growth factor, did not, Pre-T lymphocytes could be detected in these cultures for several weeks.
Electrophysiologic abnormalities in patients with eating disorders

Abstract The authors present a pattern of electrophysiologic abnormalities from a computer-analyzed, electroencephalogram (EEG) and averaged evoked potential (AEP) test battery used in the assessment of a group of patients with eating disorders. This finding may be correlated with non-suppression on the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). The authors also review the relevant EEG literature, and discuss the potential role of this test battery in the evaluation of this patient population.
The Importance of Social Learning and Critical Incident Stressors on Police Officers’ Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence

AbstractIntimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrated by police officers has been largely attributed to the unique critical incident stressors encountered in the field. While a large body of studies has documented a link between critical incident stressors and IPV among law enforcement, these studies have not examined whether experiencing child maltreatment and witnessing interparental violence also contribute to IPV perpetration. The current study uses data from the study Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland: 1997–1999 to examine the effects child maltreatment, interparental violence, and critical incident stressors have on IPV perpetration within a social learning and general strain framework. Results indicate that personally experiencing child maltreatment was associated with police officers perpetrating IPV later in life. In addition, women were more likely to report perpetrating IPV when compared to men. Studies that have not controlled for child maltreatment ma...
Homologous Recombination Contributes to the Repair of DNA Double-Strand Breaks Induced by High-Energy Iron Ions

Abstract To test the contribution of homologous recombinational repair (HRR) in repairing DNA damage sites induced by high-energy iron ions, we used (1) HRR-deficient rodent cells carrying a deletion in the RAD51D gene and (2) syngeneic human cells impaired for HRR by RAD51D or RAD51 knockdown using RNA interference. We found that in response to exposure to iron ions, HRR contributed to cell survival in rodent cells and that HRR deficiency abrogated RAD51 focus formation. Complementation of the HRR defect by human RAD51D rescues both enhanced cytotoxicity and RAD51 focus formation. For human cells irradiated with iron ions, cell survival was decreased, and in p53 mutant cells, the levels of mutagenesis were increased when HRR was impaired. Human cells synchronized in S phase exhibited a more pronounced resistance to iron ions compared with cells in G1 phase, and this increase in radioresistance was diminished by RAD51 knockdown. These results indicate a role for RAD51-mediated DNA repair (i.e. HRR) in rem...
β‐Amyloid1–40 Increases Expression of β‐Amyloid Precursor Protein in Neuronal Hybrid Cells

Studies of cell injury and death in Alzheimer's disease have suggested a prominent role for beta-amyloid peptide (beta-AP), a 40-43-amino-acid peptide derived from a larger membrane glycoprotein, beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP). Previous experiments have demonstrated that beta-AP induces cytotoxicity in a neuronal hybrid cell line (MES 23.5) in vitro. Here, we demonstrate that beta-APP mRNA content is increased 3.5-fold in 24 h after treatment with beta-AP1-40. Accompanying beta-AP1-40-induced cell injury, levels of cell-associated beta-APP and a C-terminal intermediate fragment are increased up to 15-fold, and levels of secreted forms of beta-APP and 12- and 4-kDa fragments are also increased. Application of beta-APP antisense oligodeoxynucleotide reduces both cytotoxicity and beta-APP expression. 6-Hydroxydopamine application or glucose deprivation causes extensive cell damage, but they do not increase beta-APP expression. These results suggest a selective positive feedback mechanism whereby beta-AP may induce cytotoxicity and increase levels of potentially neurotrophic as well as amyloidogenic fragments of beta-APP with the net consequence of further neuronal damage.
Myocardial myotonia in myotonic muscular dystrophy.

We sought to determine whether and to what degree myocardial myotonia might occur in myotonic muscular dystrophy. Cardiac involvement manifests itself chiefly as abnormalities of specialized tissues. Current echocardiographic techniques permit assessment of left ventricular diastolic filling properties and might detect subtle myocardial myotonia. Twenty patients (mean age 37 +/- 13 years) with myotonic muscular dystrophy were studied. Twenty normal subjects (mean age 34 +/- 12 years), served as controls. Each subject had two-dimensional targeted M-mode echocardiograms of the posterior left ventricular wall to measure the rate of early diastolic relaxation, which was defined as diastolic endocardial velocity maximum (DEVM). Global left ventricular function was quantified. Doppler recordings of mitral inflow measured peak E and A velocities, ratio of E to A (E/A), mitral deceleration time (DT) and isovolumic relaxation (IVR) time. Normal controls had DEVM = 19 +/- 3 cm/sec, IVR = 72 +/- 7 msec, E/A = 1.6 +/- 0.5, and DT = 193 +/- 18 msec. Two SDs below the mean normal DEVM was 13.3 cm/sec. Two patient groups emerged: group A (10 patients) had abnormally slow DEVM ( 13.2 cm/sec) with DEVM = 11 +/- 2 cm/sec and 20 +/- 4 cm/sec, respectively. Mitral inflow parameters showed a longer DT and IVR, with lower E/A ratios for group A versus group B, with DT = 203 +/- 48 msec and 175 +/- 21 msec, IVR = 87 +/- 15 msec and 74 +/- 7 msec, E/A = 1.7 +/- 0.7 and 2.3 +/- 0.9, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
13C NMR and molecular modeling studies of alginic acid binding with alkaline earth and lanthanide metal ions

Abstract The binding of the binary polyuronide alginic acid to alkaline earth (Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+) and lanthanide (La3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Eu3+, Tb3+) ions was studied by 13C NMR spectroscopy. Divalent metal ions showed a preference for GG blocks and an increase in the extent of binding with increasing ionic radius. Molecular modeling studies of calcium–alginate dimers support the assertion that this preference results from the secondary structure of alginic acid. Trivalent metal ions studied showed a preference for GG blocks and an increase in the extent of binding for both GG and MM blocks with increasing charge density. The contrast in the mode of interaction of the alkaline earth and lanthanide metal ions with alginic acid can be associated with differences in coordination number and/or waters of hydration remaining in the inner sphere of the lanthanide ions.
Fibronectin as a component of pseudophakic acellular membranes

Abstract Avidin-biotin immunohistochemical staining for fibronectin was used to study 17 aphahic intraocular lens implanted globes and 12 explanted intraocular lenses. Fibronectin was identified as a component of acellular pseudophakic membranes and was also observed within lens epithelial cells and macrophages.
Rat β1-Adrenergic Receptor Regulatory Region Containing Consensus AP-2 Elements Recognizes Novel Transactivator Proteins

Abstract β1-Adrenergic receptors (β1-ARs) serve as important regulators of central nervous system (CNS)-mediated behavior and several neural functions, including mood, memory, neuroendocrine control, and stimulation of autonomic function. Using β1-AR-luciferase reporter recombinants, we have previously determined that important β1-AR genetic elements controlling expression within the C6 glioma cell line are contained within the region −396 to −299, relative to the translational start site. By conducting progressive internal deletions of the rat β1-AR 5′ flanking region and with the use of β1-AR-luciferase recombinants, we have verified that this region contains the primary β1-AR promoter and/or major regulatory elements. To begin the identification of protein factors involved in β1-AR transcriptional activity conferred by this β1-AR region and flanking sequences, we conducted electrophoretic mobility shift assays using defined β1-AR DNA subregion probes. One probe (GS-1), encompassing the region −396 to −367, was found to produce two major and two minor mobility shift complexes when bound to nuclear extracts from the β1-AR expresser C6 cell line. UV-crosslinking of DNA–protein complexes, coupled with DNase I digestion, indicated that this β1-AR region interacts with one major protein of approximately 117 kDa molecular weight and additional minor proteins. GS-1 DNA–protein complexes were observed using β1-AR expresser tissues in the CNS, including cortex, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb. No DNA–protein complexes were observed when using nuclear extracts from β1-AR nonexpresser tissues; in some cases, using L6 cells, previously characterized to express little or no β1-ARs, a reduction in intensities of the DNA–protein complexes was observed. Competition experiments indicate that nuclear protein binds to one of two subregions within the GS-1 sequence that contain AP-2-like consensus elements. Recombinant AP-2 protein will bind to both the β1-AR GS-1 promoter fragment and commercially available AP-2 consensus element control probes. Interestingly, using antibody supershift and immunoblotting experiments, no supershifts were observed and the major 117-kDa protein was not immunoreactive to antibodies recognizing either AP-2α or AP-2β. These results support our contention that this β1-AR regulatory region contains AP-2 consensus elements that recognize novel transactivator proteins.
RNase one gene isolation, expression, and affinity purification models research experimental progression and culminates with guided inquiry-based experiments

This new biochemistry laboratory course moves through a progression of experiments that generates a platform for guided inquiry-based experiments. RNase One gene is isolated from prokaryotic genomic DNA, expressed as a tagged protein, affinity purified, and tested for activity and substrate specificity. Student pairs present detailed explanations of materials and methods and the semester culminates in a poster session. Experimental plans take into account the expense and time required to move from gene isolation to enzyme assays. This combination of instructor-guided and student-designed experiments is a manageable foray into guided inquiry-based learning in a biochemistry laboratory course, while providing a cohesive story and context for individual experiments.
ALTERATIONS OF VISUAL EVOKED RESPONSE IN THE PRESENCE OF HOMONYMOUS VISUAL DEFECTS.

Abstract The visual evoked response (VER) was studied by means of computer averaging in 32 normal subjects, nineteen patients without visual disorder but with unilateral cerebral lesions, and 30 patients with homonymous visual field defects. An early negative-positive-negative complex was recorded between laterally placed occipital electrodes and a vertex reference. Latencies were prolonged in the hemianopic patients. Some amplitude asymmetries were noted in the brain-damaged controls but were more pronounced in patients with visual defects. The recordings in the hemianopic patients were differentiated from those in both control groups by the presence of aberrant wave forms (2 cases); prolonged latencies (3 cases); and amplitude depression of greater then 50 per cent of the positive wave on the abnormal side (16 cases). Pathologic verification was obtained in three patients and demonstrated a correspondence between alterations in the VER and the presence of lessions of the geniculocalcarine system.
Plant regeneration from leaf segments of Datisca glomerata

Summary Datisca glomerata is a perennial plant with a herbaceous annual habit, that forms nitrogen-fixing root nodules in association with the microsymbiont Frankia sp. (Actinomycetales). Datisca offers an important possibility as a model system to study genetics and gene expression in an actinorhizal root nodule symbiosis. Neither regeneration by in vitro culture nor genetic transformation of Datisca have been reported to date. As the first step, we studied plant regeneration from leaf tissue of Datisca. In preliminary experiments with 16 treatments, the best regeneration media was MS + BA, 10 μM + NAA, 0.5 μM + phloridzin, 10 mg/l. The best regeneration efficiency ranged from 26 % to 33.3 %.
Identification, production, and use of polyol-responsive monoclonal antibodies for immunoaffinity chromatography.

Abstract Immunoaffinity chromatography is a powerful tool for purification of proteins and protein complexes. The availability of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has revolutionized the field of immunoaffinity chromatography by providing a continuous supply of highly uniform antibody. Before the availability of mAbs, the recovery of the target protein from immobilized polyclonal antibodies usually required very harsh, often denaturing conditions. Although harsh conditions are often still used to disrupt the antigen–antibody interaction when using a mAb, various methods have been developed to exploit the uniformity of the antigen–antibody reaction in order to identify agents or conditions that gently disrupt this interaction and thus result in higher recovery of active protein from immunoaffinity chromatography. We discuss here the use of a specific type of monoclonal antibody that we have designated “polyol-responsive monoclonal antibodies” (PR-mAbs). These are naturally occurring mAbs that have high affinity for the antigen under binding conditions, but have low affinity in the presence of a combination of low molecular weight hydroxylated compounds (polyols) and nonchaotropic salts. Therefore, these PR-mAbs can be used for gentle immunoaffinity chromatography. PR-mAbs can be easily identified and adapted to a powerful protein purification method for a target protein.
THE SOUTHERN AGRARIANS, PROGRESS, AND THE TRAGIC VOICE

In this argument the Agrarian role in the American political drama is not necessarily the specific one implied by the dichotomy: “Agrarian versus Industrial” (Twelve Southerners [1930] 1977, xxxviii), or the policist pronouncement“… that the culture of the soil is the best… and that therefore it should have the economic preference and enlist the maximum number of workers”(xlvii). Instead, this is an attempt to place them in a role similar to that played by Sophocles' Antigone—and Sophocles himself—juxtaposing them to the North's Creon. I argue that the Southern Agrarian “voice,” when heard properly, makes, possible the tragic sense, adjured by America's unequivocal attachment to modernity's gospel of progress. By positioning the Agrarians in such a way the goal is to point out a way of thinking about the political world, to create a sensibility that is only possible when their voice or another like it is heard properly and with its own timbre. If the project is successful, then two aims will be realized. First, the place and role of the Southern Agrarians in the history of American political thought will be made clearer. And secondly, the history of American political thought will have been employed in part as a kind of theoretical advocacy in the service of American political theory.
Integration of conceptual information

The integration of information model of Signal Detection Theory was tested in multiple observation conceptual discrimination tasks. Mean improvement in discriminability resulting from additional stimulus observations was consonant with theory when Ss produced a rating response after each stimulus observation, but fell short of theory when S judged the complete stimulus sets in a binary fashion.
Kinetic Behavior of Mn(III) Complexes of Pyrophosphate, EDTA, and Citrate

Aqueous complexes of Mn3+ ion with the ligands pyrophosphate (P2O74-), EDTA (C10H12O8N24-, ethylenediaminotetraacetate4-), or citrate (CIT3-, C6H5O73-) were prepared rapidly in solution by the general reaction: Mn(VII) + 4Mn(II)L + L→ 5Mn(III)L, where L is the ligand (in known excess). Different initial pH values of the complex solutions were obtained by prior addition of required acid, base, or buffer. Disappearance of Mn(III)L complex with time was monitored by light absorbance at appropriate wavelengths. Rates of loss for each Mn(III)L complex are found to depend on pH and the ratio [ligand]T/[Mn]T. Relative chemical time scales for Mn(III)L disappearance at neutral pH and similar ligand-to-metal ratios were manganese(III) pyrophosphate > manganese(III) citrate >> manganese(III) EDTA. The kinetic observations are interpreted as reflecting ligand hydrolysis and disproportionation in the case of pyrophosphate (a nonredox active compound), inner-sphere electron transfer from citrate to Mn3+, and both out...
In Memoriam Clifford L. Schrader (1937–2001), Chemical Educator Par Excellence

The life and career of veteran science teacher, educator, consultant, and articulate spokesman for science Clifford L. Schrader are recounted.
Contraceptive use by college dating couples: A comparison of men's and women's reports

Most research on contraceptive behavior has focused on individual women rather than on couples. A study of 101 college dating couples examined three issues that have been largely ignored in previous research: the applicability of Lindemann's (1974) stage model of contraceptive use to couples, agreement between partners in reports of contraceptive methods used, and boyfriend's characteristics as correlates of contraceptive use. Stages of contraceptive use were increasingly related to the women's prior sexual experience, and decreasingly related to the man's. Agreement on birth control methods was very high for reports of prescription methods at most recent intercourse, but low for reports of no birth control at first intercourse. Use of prescription methods at most recent intercourse was more strongly related to the women's social characteristics (father's education, religious background) than to the man's. Results suggest that focusing on women as individuals is a useful strategy for research on contraceptive use, at least for unmarried women.
Longitudinal increases in waist circumference are associated with HIV-serostatus, independent of antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND The relative contributions of the different classes of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV infection per se, and aging to body shape changes in HIV-infected patients have not been clearly defined in longitudinal studies. METHODS Since September 1999, men enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study have undergone measurements of body mass index (BMI) and body circumferences at each semi-annual visit. The effect of HIV-serostatus and cumulative exposure to the three major ART classes on changes in anthropomorphic measurements occurring between 1999 and 2004 among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected men were determined using linear mixed effects regression models. RESULTS At baseline, average BMI and circumference measurements were greater in HIV-uninfected men (n = 392) than HIV-infected men (n = 661) (BMI, 27.3 versus 25.3 kg/m; waist, 96.4 versus 90.2 cm; hip 101.3 versus 95 cm, thigh 54.1 versus 50.8 cm; arm 33.3 versus 31.7 cm, P < 0.001 for each comparison). Cumulative nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) exposure, but not protease inhibitor or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor exposure, was associated with statistically significant changes in BMI (-0.11 +/- 0.04 kg/m per year) and in circumferences of waist (-0.27 +/- 0.07 cm/year), hip (-0.24 +/- 0.05 cm/year), and thigh (-0.16 +/- 0.03 cm/year) over the 5 years of follow-up. Independent of ART exposure, HIV-infected men had a more rapid increase in waist circumference over the study interval than did the HIV-uninfected men (difference 0.33 +/- 0.15 cm/year, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION Cumulative NRTI therapy was associated with longitudinal decreases in body circumference measurements, whereas HIV-serostatus was associated with increases in waist circumference independent of ART.