cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HIV treatment and prevention 2019: current standards of care.

Purpose of reviewThe purpose of this review is to summarize the current standards of care for both HIV treatment and HIV prevention in 2019.Recent findingsCurrent HIV treatment is started as soon as feasible in a person with HIV infection and consists of a three-drug oral daily antiretroviral regime
Nonhuman Primate Responses to Death

A key feature that seems to separate humans and other species is humans’ ability to conceive of death. Although other species also respond differently to deceased individuals in their groups, we do not yet know what they understand about what has happened or at what point, if ever, they understand that another individual is gone permanently. Moreover, in many cases, we do not even know the degree to which other species possess the concepts that are necessary to understand these abstract concepts (i.e., inevitability, self, other, agency, absence, metacognition, and the ability to mentally time travel). However, pinning this down is important for several reasons. First, if we are to understand how our own conceptions of and reactions to death evolved, we need to understand other species as well, even though they will not likely be the same as humans. On the flip side, understanding how other species respond to death will also inform our understanding of their cognition and behavior, providing a window into abilities that have been difficult to empirically measure. In this chapter, we first consider some of the necessary cognitive abilities for humans’ conception of death, then discuss the extant evidence in other species (primarily nonhuman primates), and end with a consideration of the challenges facing our understanding of death and how solving these will concurrently address similar challenges in other areas of comparative psychology.
BVA president, Daniella Dos Santos, responds.

Thank you for your feedback; we’re delighted that the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association support and endorse this important position. There are so many allied professions working with vets that it would …
Phenotypic plasticity, but not adaptive tracking, underlies seasonal variation in post-cold hardening freeze tolerance of Drosophila melanogaster

In temperate regions, an organism's ability to rapidly adapt to seasonally varying environments is essential for its survival. In response to seasonal changes in selection pressure caused by variation in temperature, humidity, and food availability, some organisms exhibit plastic changes in phenotype. In other cases, seasonal variation in selection pressure can rapidly increase the frequency of genotypes that offer survival or reproductive advantages under the current conditions. Little is known about the relative influences of plastic and genetic changes in short-lived organisms experiencing seasonal environmental fluctuations. Cold hardening is a seasonally relevant plastic response in which exposure to cool, but nonlethal, temperatures significantly increases the organism's ability to later survive at freezing temperatures. In the present study, we demonstrate seasonal variation in cold hardening in Drosophila melanogaster and test the extent to which plasticity and adaptive tracking underlie that seasonal variation. We measured the post-cold hardening freeze tolerance of flies from outdoor mesocosms over the summer, fall, and winter. We bred outdoor mesocosm-caught flies for two generations in the laboratory and matched each outdoor cohort to an indoor control cohort of similar genetic background. We cold hardened all flies under controlled laboratory conditions and then measured their post-cold hardening freeze tolerance. Comparing indoor and field-caught flies and their laboratory-reared G1 and G2 progeny allowed us to determine the roles of seasonal environmental plasticity, parental effects, and genetic changes on cold hardening. We also tested the relationship between cold hardening and other factors, including age, developmental density, food substrate, presence of antimicrobials, and supplementation with live yeast. We found strong plastic responses to a variety of field- and laboratory-based environmental effects, but no evidence of seasonally varying parental or genetic effects on cold hardening. We therefore conclude that seasonal variation in post-cold hardening freeze tolerance results from environmental influences and not genetic changes.
Education in an age of anger

We live in troubled and troubling times. The Americas are aflame with division, impeachment, charges of coups, and self-dealing. Authoritarianism is the rage from Manilla to Madrid. In this op-ed, ...
Innovative Approach to Moderating Risk of Nosocomial Infection During Anesthesia

Infection control concerns abound in the surgical anesthesia workstation placing patients and providers at significant, documented risk as a result of many factors including provider hand hygiene lapses, equipment design and complexity, and challenging disinfection. We performed a trial to mitigate cross-contamination involving 30 general anesthesia surgical cases matched 1:1 as control (no intervention) or intervention group (condom-like barriers to four anesthesia workstation components that are frequently touched and contaminated, and very difficult to disinfect). Wraps were removed at case end, then replaced with fresh ones before the start of the subsequent case. Baseline culture samples were obtained prior to the first surgical case of the day in each room, then performed on cases that followed in each room over a 3-day period. Baseline colony formation units density was equivalent in both conditions with total density significantly lower in the covered/wrapped (Mean Rank = 5.81) vs uncovered condition (Mean Rank = 11.19) at p
Case Report: Spontaneous Rupture of Inferior Epigastric Artery Masquerading as Inguinal Hernia.

Author(s): Sulkowski, Kathryn; Young, Christian | Abstract: Introduction: Spontaneous rupture of an inferior epigastric artery aneurysm is rare with very few cases reported in the medical literature. Although surgical options are available, this case was managed conservatively with outpatient management.Case Report: A 29-year-old male presented with right groin pain and swelling that was initially felt to be consistent with an incarcerated inguinal hernia. Further evaluation revealed spontaneous rupture of an inferior epigastric artery aneurysm. The patient was treated conservatively and was ultimately discharged home from the emergency department.Conclusion: Due to the similar clinical presentations, it was important to consider a broad differential to ultimately arrive at the correct diagnosis. In some reported cases of spontaneous epigastric artery aneurysm, surgical intervention was required for control of the bleeding. In our patient, however, conservative management was employed, and the patient was able to be safely discharged with close outpatient follow-up.
Electron transfer proteins in gut bacteria yield metabolites that circulate in the host

It has long been known that proteolytic Clostridia obtain their energy by coupling oxidative and reductive pathways for amino acid metabolism - the Stickland reaction. The oxidation of one amino acid is coupled with reduction of another, yielding energy in the former step and re-achieving redox balance with the latter. Here, we find that the gut bacterium, Clostridium sporogenes metabolizes amino acids through reductive pathways to produce metabolites that circulate within the host. Measurements in vitro indicate that reductive Stickland pathways are coupled to ATP formation, revealing their role in energy capture by gut bacteria. By probing the genetics of C. sporogenes, we find that the Rnf complex is involved in reductive amino acid metabolism. Rnf complex mutants are attenuated for growth in the mouse gut, demonstrating the importance of energy capture during reductive metabolism for gut colonization. Our findings reveal that the production of high-abundance molecules by a commensal bacterium within the host gut is linked to an energy yielding redox process.
Exploring how physician-educators approach politically charged topics with learners

CONTEXT Medical educators hold and encounter different beliefs and values on politically charged health-related topics such as reproductive rights and immigration. Their views on these topics have implications for how they approach them with learners, yet little work has explored medical educators' views and pedagogical approaches. In this study, we used Hess's approaches to controversial topics (avoidance, denial, privilege, balance) as a guiding conceptual framework to explore physician educators' views on and approaches to politically charged topics. We used this understanding to provide guidance on how best to address politically charged issues within medical education. METHOD We used a constructivist qualitative approach to explore medical educators' approaches to politically charged topics. We interviewed 37 physician educators from two medical schools in different regions of the United States. In these semi-structured interviews, we presented participants with vignettes depicting politically charged topics arising in an educational setting. Participants described and explained their response to each vignette. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using constructivist-oriented thematic analysis. RESULTS Participants were thoughtful about preparing learners for participation in a professional community that holds certain responsibilities to a politically and culturally diverse society. Although some adopted clear approaches on politically charged topics and declared their stance on the topic to learners, others took a balanced approach, focused only on the medical aspects and withheld their views. The context and location of practice played a role in the approaches participants adopted. Additionally, they had varied views on which topics had a place in medical education. CONCLUSION Our findings provide insights that can help guide medical educators and training programmes in decisions about their role in facilitating conversations about politically charged, health-related topics and helping learners form their own perspectives and approaches to such topics.
Exploring youth voices in a pre-college program: Implications for policy, practice & research.

Abstract Background Youth transitioning from foster care to college face multiple obstacles. Pre-college programs can promote college access for underrepresented students. The research on pre-college programs that prepare foster youth for college is limited. There is a paucity of research that illuminates youth voices in pre-college programs. Objective This article reviews key program components of a pre-college summer program designed specifically for youth transitioning from foster care, the National Social Work Enrichment Program (NSEP). Findings from a qualitative research study of NSEP are presented. Implications for policy, practice, and research for pre-college programs are discussed. Participants and setting Fourteen youth, who successfully completed NSEP and had enrolled in college following the program, participated in the study. Methods Participants completed semi-structured interviews via a video conferencing tool. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using NVivo 12. Results Thematic analysis captured youth voices, highlighted in the themes: college aspirations, college preparation, and community building. Results suggest NSEP youth aspired to enroll in college. Results also suggests that the NSEP experience helped to prepare youth for college and facilitated the development of community among participants. Conclusions Investment in pre-college programs could provide the right support and resources that youth need to transition from foster care to college. Pre-college programs provide an opportunity for youth to develop college readiness skills, build relationship skills, and grow personally. Further research on the efficacy of pre-college programs is needed.
An Overview of the Relevance of IgG4 Antibodies in Allergic Disease with a Focus on Food Allergens.

Antibodies of the IgG4 isotype are strongly associated with allergic disease but have several properties such as not precipitating with allergens, not activating complement and poor binding to Fcγ receptors that argue against a pro-inflammatory role. In keeping with that, IgG4 antibodies are a striking feature of the response to immunotherapy. In two naturally occurring situations IgG4 antibodies are common with low or absent IgE antibodies. The first example is children raised in a house with a cat and the second is eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). In many population-based cohorts, the ownership of a cat in early childhood is associated with a decreased prevalence of a cat allergy at age 10. The second example (i.e., EoE) is a novel form of food allergy that is not mediated by IgE and is related to consuming cow’s milk or wheat. In EoE, patients have IgG4 to milk proteins in high > 10 µg/mL or very high > 100 µg/mL titers. Enigmatically these patients are found to have deposits of IgG4 in the wall of their inflamed esophagus. The factors that have given rise to EoE remain unclear; however, changes in food processing over the past 50 years, particularly ultra-heat treatment and the high pressure homogenization of milk, represent a logical hypothesis.
Influence of Centrally Administered Taurine on Thermoregulation and Fever

One of the most striking and consistent effects of central administration of taurine is hypothermia. First observed in rats in 1972 by Sgaragli and Pavan (22), this effect has since been found to occur in several other species (Table 1). The relatively consistent finding of hypothermia among various mammalian species given taurine centrally in thermoneutral and cold environments indicates that taurine has a rather uniform and compelling influence on temperature control of homeotherms. In characterizing the nature of the influence of a substance on body temperature one of the first steps is to administer it at different ambient temperatures (3). When this was done using rats (22) and rabbits (12, Fig. 1) taurine caused hypothermia in thermoneutral environments, greater hypothermia in the cold and had no significant effect on body temperature in the heat. Similar effects of taurine have recently been observed in young and aged squirrel monkeys (Clark and Lipton, unpublished). However, in these experiments there was a small decrease in body temperature when taurine was given in a 30°C environment. This difference in response from that of other species may reflect a higher thermoneutral zone in the squirrel monkey.
Activation and Inhibition of the Activities of Bovine Liver Aconitase

Abstract A study has been made of factors which alter the activities of bovine liver aconitase. Activities studied were the conversion of isocitrate to cis-aconitate, isocitrate to citrate, and citrate to cis-aconitate. The maximum rates of these reactions are increased approximately 150, 50, and 0%, respectively, if the enzyme preparation, containing no detectable citrate, is aged for 18 to 20 hours at 4°. The same changes in the rates of reaction are observed in the presence of Cu++, 10-6 m, in 4 hours. When the enzyme preparation contained 3.0 µm citrate or 4 mm 1,2,3-propane tricarboxylic acid, activation by aging of the conversion of isocitrate to cis-aconitate did not occur. No change in the polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic pattern was observed upon aging of the enzyme even though activity of the preparation increased markedly. The degree of activation of aconitase has been found to be important in relation to observed inhibition of its activities. Prior to activation, the activities of aconitase were inhibited specifically by preliminary incubation with bicarbonate or fructose-6-P. The conversion of isocitrate to cis-aconitate was inhibited 58% in the presence of 47 mm bicarbonate while the conversion of citrate to cis-aconitate was inhibited more than 90%. Fructose-6-P inhibited the conversion of isocitrate to cis-aconitate by aconitase in a manner similar to bicarbonate. After activation, the conversion of isocitrate to cis-aconitate was not inhibited by bicarbonate or fructose-6-P. These results show the differential activation and inhibition of the activities of aconitase and provide evidence for the inhibition of aconitase specifically by bicarbonate and fructose-6-P.
Components separation technique and laparoscopic approach: a review of two evolving strategies for ventral hernia repair.

When faced with large ventral hernias, surgeons frequently must choose between higher incidence of recurrence after primary repair and higher incidence of wound complications after repair with mesh. The aim of this study is to compare early outcomes between laparoscopic repair (LR) and components separation technique (CST), two evolving strategies for the management of large ventral hernias. We reviewed 42 consecutive patients who underwent CST and 45 consecutive patients who underwent LR of ventral hernia defects of at least 12 cm 2 . Demographics, hernia characteristics, and short-term outcomes were compared between groups. Patients in the LR group were younger (53 ± 2 vs 68 ± 2 years, P < 0.0001), had greater body mass index (34 ± 2 vs 29 ± 1 kg/m 2 , P = 0.02), and had larger hernia defects (318 ± 49 vs 101 ± 16 cm 2 , P < 0.0001) than patients in the CST group. The LR resulted in shorter length of hospital stay (4.9 ± 0.9 vs 9.6 ± 1.8 days, P < 0.0001), lower incidence of ileus (7% vs 48%, P < 0.0001), and lower incidence of wound complications (2% vs 33%, P < 0.001) than the CST. Both techniques resulted in similar operative times, transfusion requirements, and mortality. Recurrences occurred in 7 per cent of patients at mean follow-up of 16 months in the CST group and 0 per cent at mean follow-up of 9 months after LR. The LR may have a short-term advantage over the CST in terms of incidence of ileus, wound complications, and hospital stay. Because of their unique advantage over traditional hernia repairs, both techniques may play a significant role in the future treatment of large ventral hernias. Adequate training will be essential for the safe and effective implementation of these techniques within the surgical community.
On the structure of the split octonion algebra

The known equivalence of special spinors and vector-scalar sets is discussed within the context of the algebra of the split octonions. One implication of this equivalence is that the usual Dirac spinor field can be recast as a vector-scalar field, and this construction is outlined. A process of structure constant factorization is illustrated by the realization of the split octonion multiplication constants (with respect to a spinor basis) as products of certain matrix generators and an arbitrary normalized spinor.
School-based opportunities for physical activity in West Virginia public schools.

Abstract Background. Schools have the unique potential to provide numerous opportunities for promoting physical activity. This article describes findings from a statewide survey of opportunities for physical activity in West Virginia (WV) schools. The purpose was to provide baseline data for two of the WV Healthy People 2010 objectives related to schools and youth to identify priorities for action. Method. Survey questions were adapted from the 2000 School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS), conducted by CDC. Random stratified sampling across school level and size resulted in a final sample of 296 elementary schools, 146 middle and junior high schools, and 124 high schools (total = 566). The overall response rate was 73%. Results. Eleven percent of elementary, 2% of middle or junior high, and 31% of senior high schools met the SHPP's criterion of providing daily physical education. Ninety-four percent of elementary schools reported offering daily recess. Overall, 42.3% of schools provided student and community access to indoor facilities outside of normal school hours, while 80.7% of schools provided access to outdoor facilities beyond normal school hours. Conclusions. Survey results are being used to target increased physical education in elementary schools and increased opportunities beyond physical education at all school levels.
Eye shape and activity pattern in birds

Many aspects of an animal's ecology are associated with activity pattern, the time of day when that animal is awake and active. There are two major activity patterns: diurnal, active during the day in a light-rich, or photopic, environment, and nocturnal, active after sunset in a light-limited, or scotopic, environment. Birds are also cathemeral, or equally likely to be awake at any time of day, or crepuscular, awake and active at dawn and dusk. Each of these activity patterns is associated with different levels of ambient light. This study examines how the morphology (size and shape) of the eye varies according to these different light environments for birds in a phylogenetic context. Activity pattern has a significant influence on eye shape and size in birds. Birds that are adapted for scotopic vision have eye shapes that are optimized for visual sensitivity, with larger corneal diameters relative to axial lengths. Birds that are adapted for photopic vision have eye shapes that are optimized for visual acuity, with larger axial lengths relative to corneal diameters. Birds adapted for scotopic vision also exhibit absolutely larger corneal diameters and axial lengths than do photopic birds. The results indicate that the light level under which the bird functions has a more significant influence on eye shape than phylogeny.
K-Theory and Algebraic Groups

The present paper is devoted to the description of certain interactions between the algebraic K-theory and the theory of algebraic groups. It consists of two parts. In the first part we consider an application of the algebraic K-theory to the rationality problem for algebraic groups. In the second part, conversely, we show how the theory of algebraic groups allows to compute K-groups of algebraic varieties with relatively large automorphism group.
Deliberative Democracy Discourse

Deliberative democracy discourse references a set of communication practices related to a conversational, dialogic model of democracy. This article reviews a broad range of ways that language and social interaction (LSI) scholars have conceptualized deliberative democracy discourse, including: a term for talk, a speech event, a genre of political rhetoric, a design enterprise, and a forum with particular discourse practices and strategies. Deliberative democracy theory provides LSI scholars with standards for evaluating discourse yet LSI scholars can also problematize the assumptions of deliberative theory. Finally, areas of future research are discussed. Keywords: citizenship; decision making; government; group communication; language and social interaction; design; political communication; public opinion; public participation
Teaching Mathematical Problem Solving to Middle School Students in Math, Technology Education, and Special Education Classrooms.

AbstractThis study compared two approaches for teaching sixth-grade middle school students to solve math problems in math, technology education, and special education classrooms. A total of 17 students with disabilities and 76 students without disabilities were taught using either enhanced anchored instruction (EAI) or text-based instruction coupled with applied problems (TBI). Results showed that both EAI and TBI students benefited from instruction in their math class, but EAI students were able to maintain and transfer what they learned in the technology education classroom several weeks later. The performance level of students with disabilities was low in both groups, but additional small-group instruction in special education settings helped several students with disabilities achieve at levels commensurate with their peers without disabilities.
Prevalence of Chronic Axial Pain, Inflammatory Back Pain, and Spondyloarthritis in Diagnosed Psoriasis

Objective To provide prevalence estimates for inflammatory back pain (IBP) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) in those subjects with psoriasis using 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Methods In the NHANES 2009–2010 sample set, 6,684 persons ages 20–69 years were screened for participation, and 5,103 answered questions regarding onset of back pain, location of pain, and functional limitations. Data set assembly and statistical analysis were performed using SASTM and SUDAAN software. SEs were estimated by Taylor series linearization. The equality of the prevalence estimates for selected variables was tested (univariately) at an alpha level of 0.05 using 2-sided Student's t-test with appropriate degrees of freedom. Results A total of 148 persons had self-reported medically diagnosed psoriasis. The psoriasis group versus the nonpsoriasis group had a significantly higher prevalence of axial pain using the 3-month duration criterion (31.1% versus 18.9%; P = 0.04) and alternating buttock pain (7.2% versus 2.4%; P = 0.03) and more frequently met IBP criteria from Berlin criteria 7b and 8a (P = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). The prevalence of SpA was significantly higher in the psoriasis group versus the nonpsoriasis group when using Amor or European Spondyloarthritis Study Group criteria (14.3% versus 1.5%; P < 0.001). Sudden onset of axial pain was significantly higher in the psoriasis group (23.3% versus 13.0%; P = 0.01). Conclusion There is a higher prevalence of lower axial pain, IBP, SpA, and alternating buttock pain associated with a prior diagnosis of psoriasis. These data may influence the way psoriasis patients are approached in primary care and specialty clinics.
Recombination during transformation as a source of chimeric mammalian artificial chromosomes in yeast (YACs)

Mammalian DNAs cloned as artificial chromosomes in yeast (YACs) frequently are chimeras formed between noncontiguous DNAs. Using pairs of human and mouse YACs we examined the contribution of recombination during transformation or subsequent mitotic growth to chimeric YAC formation. The DNA from pairs of yeast strains containing homologous or heterologous YACs was transformed into a third strain under conditions typical for the development of YAC libraries. One YAC was selected and the presence of the second was then determined. Co-penetration of large molecules, as deduced from co-transformation of markers identifying the different YACs, was > 50%. In approximately half the cells receiving two homologous YACs, the YACs had undergone recombination. Co-transformation depends on recombination since it was reduced nearly 10-fold when the YACs were heterologous. While mitotic recombination between homologous YACs is nearly 100-fold higher than for yeast chromosomes, the level is still much lower than observed during transformation. To investigate the role of commonly occurring Alu repeats in chimera formation, spheroplasts were transformed with various human YACs and an unselected DNA fragment containing an Alu at one end and a telomere at the other. When unbroken YACs were used, between 1 and 6% of the selected YACs could incorporate the fragment as compared to 49% when the YACs were broken. We propose that Alu's or other commonly occurring repeats could be an important source of chimeric YACs. Since the frequency of chimeras formed between YACs or a YAC and an Alu-containing fragment was reduced when a rad52 mutant was the recipient and since intra-YAC deletions are reduced, rad52 and possibly other recombination-deficient mutants are expected to be useful for YAC library development.
Origins of relative acidity: First and second period hydrides

The origins of the trends of relatively acidity across and between the first and second period hydrides (BH3, CH4, NH3, H2O, HF, AIH3, SiH4, PH3, H2S, and HCl) were investigated using molecular and subsystem quantum mechanics at the Hartree-Fock (HF)/6–31 + + G **//HF/6–31 + + G ** level of theory. The total deprotonation energies, Δ Eacid, are interpreted in terms of three component processes: Δ E1; deprotonation without electronic and nuclear relaxation; Δ E2, electronic relaxation within the acid geometry; and Δ E3, nuclear relaxation. Δ E1 is given from the electrostatic potential at the acidic proton, Δ E3 + Δ E2 (= Δ E*) is given from the calculated energy of the conjugate anion at the acid geometry. The increased acidity across a given period is shown to be already mostly an inherent property of the acid. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Epigenetic Instability in ES Cells and Cloned Mice

Cloning by nuclear transfer (NT) is an inefficient process in which most clones die before birth and survivors often display growth abnormalities. In an effort to correlate gene expression with survival and fetal overgrowth, we have examined imprinted gene expression in both mice cloned by nuclear transfer and in the embryonic stem (ES) cell donor populations from which they were derived. The epigenetic state of the ES cell genome was found to be extremely unstable. Similarly, variation in imprinted gene expression was observed in most cloned mice, even in those derived from ES cells of the same subclone. Many of the animals survived to adulthood despite widespread gene dysregulation, indicating that mammalian development may be rather tolerant to epigenetic aberrations of the genome. These data imply that even apparently normal cloned animals may have subtle abnormalities in gene expression.
The essential Smp3 protein is required for addition of the side-branching fourth mannose during assembly of yeast glycosylphosphatidylinositols.

The major glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) transferred to protein in mammals and trypanosomes contain three mannoses. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, however, the GPI transferred to protein bears a fourth, α1,2-linked Man on the α1,2-Man that receives the phosphoethanolamine (EthN-P) moiety through which GPIs become linked to protein. We report that temperature-sensitive smp3 mutants accumulate a GPI containing three mannoses and that smp3 is epistatic to thegpi11, gpi13, and gaa1 mutations, which normally result in the accumulation of Man4-GPIs, including the presumed substrate for the yeast GPI transamidase. The Smp3 protein, which is encoded by an essential gene, is therefore required for addition of the fourth Man to yeast GPI precursors. The finding that smp3 prevents the formation of the Man4-GPI that accumulates when addition of EthN-P to Man-3 is blocked in a gpi13 mutant suggests that the presence of the fourth Man is important for transfer of EthN-P to Man-3 of yeast GPIs. The Man3-GPI that accumulates in smp3 is a mixture of two dominant isoforms, one bearing a single EthN-P side branch on Man-1, the other with EthN-P on Man-2, and these isoforms can be placed in separate arms of a branched GPI assembly pathway. Smp3-related proteins are encoded in the genomes ofSchizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida albicans,Drosophila melanogaster, and Homo sapiens and form a subgroup of a family of proteins, the other groups of which are defined by the Pig-B(Gpi10) protein, which adds the third GPI mannose, and by the Alg9 and Alg12 proteins, which act in the dolichol pathway for N-glycosylation. Because Man4-containing GPI precursors are normally formed in yeast and Plasmodium falciparum, whereas addition of a fourth Man during assembly of mammalian GPIs is rare and not required for GPI transfer to protein, Smp3p-dependent addition of a fourth Man represents a target for antifungal and antimalarial drugs.
Comparison of three methods to quantify urinary aquaporin-2 protein

Comparison of three methods to quantify urinary aquaporin-2 protein. Background Urinary excretion of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) is measurable, and is regulated by renal vasopressin action in the principal cells of the collecting duct. To date, two methods [radioimmunoassay (RIA) and quantitative immunoblot analysis (IB)] have been used for quantitation of urinary AQP2 protein. However, the actual amount of urinary AQP2 measured has not been directly compared by the RIA and IB. Recently, we have established an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantitation of urinary AQP2. The purpose of our current study was to compare three different immunoassay methods for measurement of urinary AQP2. Methods After overnight dehydration, five normal subjects ingested an oral water load (20 mL/kg). Urine was collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after oral water loading. Urinary AQP2 protein was quantitated in each sample by using the RIA, IB, and ELISA, and the correlation coefficients were compared among three different methods. Results Values of urinary AQP2 at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after oral water loading for RIA, IB, and ELISA were, respectively (fmol/mg creatinine): 0 h: 266 ± 28, 405 ± 74, 294 ± 41; 1 h: 159 ± 59, 267 ± 147, 195 ± 95; 2 h: 48 ± 17, 19 ± 10, 38 ± 18; 3 h: 79 ± 18, 70 ± 24, 80 ± 15; 4 h: 147 ± 21, 161 ± 31, 136 ± 15. All values were shown as means ± SEM. There was a significant positive correlation between: the IB and ELISA ( r = 0.91, P r = 0.75, P r = 0.67, P Conclusions The results indicate that the newly developed IB and ELISA methods are useful for measurement of urinary AQP2 and have an excellent correlation.
Electronic Resources and Libraries, 2nd Annual Conference 2007 – a Final Perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the “Electronic resources and libraries” 2nd annual conference.Design/methodology/approach – Topics discussed include license management through the ERMS, vendor usage data, and reorganization at UCLA.Findings – The paper describes how Florida Gulf Coast University Libraries uses Serials solutions” ERMS to manage their electronic resources and their licences. It also describes the MaxData project, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and how UCLA reorganized their print and electronic groups.Originality/value – The paper offers valuable insights into topics presented at the conference.
Associations between the American College of Rheumatology pediatric response measures and the continuous measures of disease activity used in adult rheumatoid arthritis: a secondary analysis of clinical trial data from children with polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective To measure associations between the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) pediatric criteria for improvement and the continuous measures of disease activity used for rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients with polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods In this retrospective analysis of 2 etanercept trials, disease activity was calculated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months using the Disease Activity Score (DAS), the DAS based on 28 joints (DAS28), the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), and the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI). The ACR pediatric response and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response were also determined for the 3-month and 6-month evaluations. Data were analyzed in 94 patients with JIA independent of the treatment arm. Correlation coefficients between measures were calculated for each visit. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC of ROC) were calculated to assess the discriminative properties of the scores for the ACR pediatric response measures. Results The mean DAS, DAS28, CDAI score, and SDAI score were 3.7, 4.7, 30.8, and 36.4, respectively, at baseline, corresponding to high levels of disease activity (CDAI/SDAI) or moderate levels of disease activity (DAS/DAS28). At 3 months, the mean scores corresponded to low (DAS/DAS28) or moderate (CDAI/SDAI) disease activity. At 6 months, the mean scores corresponded to low disease activity (DAS/DAS28/CDAI) or moderate disease activity (SDAI). Most children met the criteria for a good or moderate EULAR response at 3 months and 6 months. The correlation between continuous outcome measures and each pediatric core set component was moderate to very good. The AUC of ROC values for each measure were high (range 0.76–0.98). Conclusion Good correlation and discriminative abilities were seen between the DAS, DAS28, CDAI, and SDAI for the ACR pediatric criteria for improvement. These disease activity measures may be useful for research and clinical care in polyarticular-course JIA.
ON DESIGN AND APPLICATION MAPPING OF A NETWORK-ON-CHIP(NOC) ARCHITECTURE

As the number of integrated IP cores in the current System-on-Chips (SoCs) keeps increasing, communication requirements among cores can not be sufficiently satisfied using either traditional or multi-layer bus architectures because of their poor scalability and bandwidth limitation on a single bus. While new interconnection techniques have been explored to overcome such a limitation, the notion of utilizing Network-on-Chip (NoC) technologies for the future generation of high performance and low power chips for myriad of applications, in particular for wireless communication and multimedia processing, has been of great importance. In order for the NoC technologies to succeed, realistic specifications such as throughput, latency, moderate design complexity, programming model, and design tools are necessary requirements. For this purpose, we have covered some of the key and challenging design issues specific to the NoC architecture such as the router design, network interface (NI) issues, and complete system-level modeling. In this paper, we propose a multi-processor system platform adopting NoC techniques, called NePA (Network-based Processor Array). As a component of system platform, the fundamental NoC techniques including the router architecture and generic NI are defined and implemented adopting low power and clock efficient techniques. Using a high-level cycle-accurate simulation, various parameters relevant to its performance and its systematic modeling are extracted and analyzed. By combining various developed systematic models, we construct the tool chain to pursue hardware/software design tradeoffs necessary for better understanding of the NoC techniques. Finally utilizing implementation of parallel FFT algorithms on the homogeneous NePA, the feasibility and advantages of using NoC techniques are shown.
Microdialysis without acetylcholinesterase inhibition reveals an age-related attenuation in stimulated cortical acetylcholine release

Aging-related differences in the ability of cortical cholinergic inputs to respond to local depolarization was assessed in young (3–6 months) and old (26–33 months) awake rats using in vivo microdialysis in the absence of an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Rats were perfused, using a within-subjects, repeated session design, with vehicle (aCSF) or K + (25, 50, 100 mM). Perfusion of K + resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cortical ACh efflux with comparable efflux seen between the two ages following 25 mM (50%) and 50 mM (100%) K + . In contrast, aged rats exhibited a marked attenuation (330%) in ACh efflux relative to young adult rats (650%). These data reveal aging-related decreases in the responsiveness of cortical cholinergic afferents, tested under physiologically relevant conditions, to local depolarization and may provide a neuronal mechanism contributing to the cognitive deficits reported in normal aging- and age-related pathological conditions. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
ISOLATION OF B VIRUS (HERPES GROUP) FROM THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM OF A RHESUS MONKEY

While passaging a recently isolated strain of poliomyelitis virus through a rhesus monkey, another virus was procured from its central nervous system. After intracerebral inoculation, the virus produced meningoencephalitis in monkeys, cotton rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits; after intracutaneous inoculation a necrotic skin lesion was produced in the monkey and rabbit and this was often followed by myelitis. The virus could also be passed in newborn mice less than 48 hours old and in chick embryos by inoculation of the chorioallantoic membrane. Immunological and host range studies revealed this virus to be related to the B virus originally described by Sabin and Wright in 1934 (1). To our knowledge this is the first record of B virus having been isolated from a monkey, and lends support to the inclusion of this agent as the simian member of the herpes group. The infection is not uncommon in monkey stocks, as revealed by the finding of antibodies to the virus in their sera. In the present series 9 of 44 monkeys gave positive antibody tests. Gamma globulin prepared in the United States in 1945, 1951, and 1953, as well as a certain proportion of sera from normal individuals in Bombay, India, and elsewhere, showed neutralizing activity against the new strain of B virus, and also to herpes simplex virus. This may be the result of the partial crossing which exists between the two viruses.
The Interaction of Dobutamine Hydrochloride and Heparin Sodium in Parenteral Fluids

AbstractDobutamine hydrochloride and heparin sodium have been reported to interact in large volume parenteral solutions. The potential for such interactions has been investigated in water, D5W and NS by microcalorimetry. A strong reaction is observed in water and D5W. No reaction is observed in NS and no incompatibility can be expected when the drugs are mixed in NS.
Electromyographic analysis of responses to third person intergroup threat.

ABSTRACTThis study attempts to replicate and extend the findings from Davis and Stephan’s (2011) article investigating facial electromyographic (EMG) responses to individually directed or group-directed realistic threat. Using news footage from the Columbine school shootings as a third-person threatening stimulus, participants were instructed to view the clips while considering how they felt during the original events (individually primed) or how students felt during the original events (group-primed). EMG analysis of activity levels of the medial frontalis and the corrugator supercilii indicated differential activation based on the instructions. Individually primed participants experienced more fontalis activity and group-primed participants experienced more corrugator supercilii activity. These findings replicated the Davis and Stephan results and extended it to a third person-based intergroup threat.
Diaphragmatic fiber type specific adaptation to endurance exercise

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that exercise training results in a significant improvement in the oxidative capacity of the mammalian diaphragm; however, limited data exist concernin g which diaphragmatic fiber types are metabolically altered due to training. To test the hypothesis that exercise training increases the oxidative capacity of diaphragmatic type I and IIa fibers only, we examinedthe effects of endurance training on the fiber type specific changes in oxidative capacity, cross-sectional area, and capillarity of the costal diaphragm. Female Fischer-344 rats (agc ca 180 days) were divided into either a sedentary control group (n = 6) or an exercise training group (n = 6). The trained animals exercised for 10 wks on a motor-driven treadmill (60 min·day−1; days·wk−1) at a work rate equal toca 55–65%s% Vo2max. Capillaries were identified histologically and fiber types determined using ATPase histochemistry. Fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in individual fibers were measured using a computerized image analysis system. Compared to control animals, training did not increase the capillary to fiber ratio in any diaphragm fiber typc (P > 0.05); however, training increased capillary density (capillary No. /CSA) in type lla fibers due to a reduction in cell CSA ifP > 0.05. Further, training resulted in significant ifp > 0.05 1 increases in total diaphragmatic SDH activity (Δ increase = 17.5%) and an increase in SDH activity in both type I (Δ increase = 14%) and lla fibers (Δ increase = 17.4%). In contrast, training did not alter (P > 0.05) SDH activity in type llb fibers. These data support the hypothesis that endurance training results in significant improvements in the oxidative capacity of type I and lla fibers in the costal diaphragm of rodents. However, the increase in relative SDH activity and capillary density in type lla fibers is achieved primarily via a reduction in fiber CSA.
Implications of artificial intelligence for end user use of online systems

At present the end user must often rely on an intermediary to make use of available online systems. Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the possibility of making systems accessible to a wider range of people. AI research is a branch of computer science which attempts to develop programs to enable computer systems to communicate more fluently, to explain why they have taken certain actions, to handle unforeseen situations, and to exhibit other similar signs of intelligent behavior. This paper reviews a number of studies which demonstrate how AI techniques can be applied in the design of end user‐oriented interfaces to existing online systems as well as in the development of future generations of online systems intended for the end user. Criteria proposed for user‐oriented systems are summarized and suggestions are given of the ways in which AI techniques may enable one to realize them. These criteria are found to focus on the language for man—machine communication and on approaches to delegating more aspects of the retrieval process to the system. Available technology such as intelligent terminals can be used to augment the interface of existing online systems by varying command languages and display formats. The features of two prototypes demonstrating this approach are described. AI work on man—machine communication and knowledge‐based systems which is likely to influence the design of future online systems is highlighted. Finally, Licklider's proposal for “procognitive systems” is recalled, and it is suggested that AI techniques provide indications of how such systems could eventually be built.
PTEN deficiency is a common defect in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

The biological hallmark of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is selective GM-CSF hypersensitivity. We hypothesized that PTEN protein deficiency might lead to insufficient negative growth signals to counter the hyperactive Ras signaling and therefore aid in the acceleration of the malignant transformation of JMML. In screening 34 JMML patients we found: (1) decreased PTEN protein in 67% of patients; (2) significantly lower PTEN mRNA levels in patients compared to controls (p<0.01); (3) a hypermethylated PTEN promoter in 77% of patients; and (4) constitutive-hyperactive Akt and MAPK in 55% and 73% of patients, respectively. These findings suggest that PTEN deficiency is very common in JMML and is in part due to hypermethylation of the PTEN gene promoter.
Purification and Kinetic Characterization of Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase from Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract Reimers, J. M., Huang, Q., Albe, K. R., and Wright, B. E. 1993. Purification and kinetic characterization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Dictyostelium discoideum. Experimental Mycology 17, 1-6. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Dictyostelium discoideum was purified 650-fold and kinetically characterized. The enzyme catalyzed the conversion of G6P + NADP to 6PG + NADPH stoichiometrically and irreversibly in vitro . The purified enzyme is specific for NADP. Michaelis constants for G6P and NADP were 0.040 and 0.011 m M , respectively. NADPH was found to be a competitive inhibitor with respect to NADP with a K i of 0.006 m M and a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to G6P. The data from initial velocity and product inhibition studies were consistent with a sequential mechanism.
Understanding the marginal impact of customer flexibility

We study the marginal impact of customer flexibility in service systems. We consider a queueing system with multiple parallel servers, in which a proportion of customers are flexible and can go to any server, while the remainder require service at a particular server. We show that the stationary expected waiting time is decreasing and convex in the proportion of flexible customers. We also show, for a related Inventory Model, in which servers are never idle and can build up inventory, that convexity holds in a strong sample-path sense. Our results reinforce the idea that a little flexibility goes a long way.