cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global molecular epidemiology of HIV: understanding the genesis of AIDS pandemic.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the classification and distribution of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) genotypes and the biological and public health implications of genetic variability of this pathogen. Global dissemination of HIVs represents a dramatic and deadly example of recent genome emergence and expansion. Recent studies revealed that a pandemic HIV strain, HIV‐1 group M, began its expansion in human population during early 20th century, it has been diversifying rapidly, now comprising a number of different subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs), and that new recombinant strains are arising continually, becoming a powerful force in global HIV‐1 spread. Studies also provide information to delineate the mechanism of viral evolution and for the studies on biological features of HIV strains related to pathogenecity and disease progression. However, the biological significance of the global diversity of HIV‐1 strains remains to be defined. Although the immune correlates for protection are still incompletely understood, the extensive variation of HIVs could probably be important in the formulation of the vaccine immunogens.
Hansen-Hurwitz Estimator†‡

The Hansen–Hurwitz estimator is a design-based procedure for estimating population totals or means when sampling is with replacement. Its strength lies in its approach incorporating unequal sampling probabilities to provide an estimator that is more precise than many alternative estimators. It is commonly used for cluster sampling, stratified probability sampling, and adaptive sampling designs. A very common use of the estimator is for cluster sampling designs in which clusters are selected proportional to size. Keywords: cluster sampling; sampling with replacement; estimation; probability proportional to size; probability sampling
Recurrent neuro-fuzzy systems

In this paper we introduce a new architecture called recurrent neuro-fuzzy (RNF) system which enhances the modeling capabilities of fuzzy systems with the dynamic behavior of recurrent neural networks (RNN). In a general sense, the architecture of RNF is similar to other adaptive neuro-fuzzy systems. It has a rule-base, a database, an inference engine, and a learning mechanism. In this paper we will emphasize those portions which are different that other approaches, specifically, the construction and operation of recurrent rules and the learning mechanism which is used in determination and adaptation of system parameters. The fundamental concepts of the RNF system are demonstrated using a two-link robot example.
Tinea corporis confined to irradiated skin. Radiation port dermatophytosis.

Background. Radiation port dermatophytosis (RPD) is an uncommon condition in which patients receiving radiation therapy concurrently have tinea corporis that is confined primarily to the irradiated skin. Methods. The case of a 33-year-old man is reported who was receiving cobalt-60 radiation therapy for a nasopharyngeal carcinoma. During therapy, a dermatophyte infection developed in the treated field. Results. Including this patient, there have been only three cases of RPD reported in the world literature. The clinical characteristics of patients with RPD are reviewed. The diagnosis, management, and pathogenesis of this condition are discussed. Conclusions. Because the cutaneous manifestations of RPD may be misinterpreted clinically as acute radiation-induced dermatitis, this condition may be more prevalent than the paucity of published reports suggests.
Analysis of stromal signatures in the tumor microenvironment of ductal carcinoma in situ.

Recent advances in the study of the tumor microenvironment have revealed significant interaction between tumor cells and their surrounding stroma in model systems. We have previously shown that two distinct stromal signatures derived from a macrophage (CSF1) response and a fibroblastic (DTF-like) response are present in subsets of invasive breast cancers and show a correlation with clinical outcome [1, 2, 3]. In the present study we explore whether these signatures also exist in the stroma of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). We studied the signatures by both gene expression profile analysis of a publically available data set of DCIS and by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on a tissue microarray of DCIS and invasive breast cancer cases. Both the gene expression and immunohistochemical data show that the macrophage response and fibroblast expression signatures are present in the stroma of subsets of DCIS cases. The incidence of the stromal signatures in DCIS is similar to the incidence in invasive breast cancer that we have previously reported. We also find that the macrophage response signature is associated with higher grade DCIS and cases which are ER and PR negative, whereas the fibroblast signature was not associated with any clinicopathologic features in DCIS. A comparison of 115 matched cases of DCIS and invasive breast cancer found a correlation between the type of stromal response in DCIS and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) within the same patient for both the macrophage response and the fibroblast stromal signatures (P = 0.03 and 0.08, respectively). This study is a first characterization of these signatures in DCIS. These signatures have significant clinicopathologic associations and tend to be conserved as the tumor progresses from DCIS to invasive breast cancer.
Reactant dynamics in catalytic fluidized bed reactors with flow reversal of gas in the emulsion phaset

Abstract In the present study both the steady-state and transient behavior of reactant gas in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor are analytically investigated with the occurrence of flow reversal of emulsion phase gas. The model developed contains no adjustable constants and no major two-phase theory assumptions. In addition, the concept of local flow reversal of emulsion phase gas and emulsion phase de-gassing coefficients are introduced. The transient behavior of reactant gas as a function of the extent of flow reversal of gas, rate constant and reaction order, and operating superficial gas velocity is discussed. Finally, model predictions are shown to compare favorably to various reported experimental results including the division of gas flow analysis, steady-state axial concentration profiles, overall conversions, and cumulative residence time distributions.
FGF-10 is expressed at low levels in the human prostate.

BACKGROUND. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are known to play an important role in the growth of normal prostatic epithelial cells. FGF-10 is a secreted growth factor that binds to FGF receptor-2 IIIb, which is expressed in prostatic epithelial cells and thus can potentially act as a growth factor for these cells. Prior work has indicated that FGF10 may play an important role in the development of the rat prostate, but its role in the adult human prostate is unclear. METHODS. Expression of FGF10 in human prostate tissue and primary cultures of prostatic epithelial and stromal cells was assessed by reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and Northern blotting. Growth response to FGF10 was assessed by the addition of recombinant FGF-10 to primary cultures of prostatic epithelial and stromal cells. RESULTS. FGF10 is expressed at levels detectable by RT-PCR and can act as a growth factor for prostatic epithelial cells, but is not active as a growth factor for stromal cells. However, FGF10 is expressed at extremely low levels relative to FGF7, which has a similar biological activity. CONCLUSIONS. While FGF10 may play a role in prostatic development, it is unlikely to play a major role in prostate growth in normal or hyperplastic adult human prostate, due to its extremely low expression compared to FGF7.
Backbone-branched DNA building blocks for facile angular control in nanostructures.

Nanotechnology based on the highly specific pairing of nucleobases in DNA has been used to generate a wide variety of well-defined two- and three-dimensional assemblies, both static and dynamic. However, control over the junction angles to achieve them has been limited. To achieve higher order assemblies, the strands of the DNA duplex are typically made to deviate at junctions with configurations based on crossovers or non-DNA moieties. Such strand crossovers tend to be intrinsically unstructured with the overall structural rigidity determined by the architecture of the nanoassembly, rather than the junction itself. Specific approaches to define nanoassembly junction angles are based either on the cooperative twist- and strain-promoted tuning of DNA persistence length leading to bent DNA rods for fairly large nano-objects, or de novo synthesis of individual junction inserts that are typically non-DNA and based on small organic molecules or metal-coordinating ligand moieties. Here, we describe a general st...
A Retrospective Comparison of the Incidence of Bacterial Infection Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Autograft Versus Allograft

Purpose To compare the incidence of bacterial infection in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with autograft versus allograft. Methods We completed a retrospective medical record review of ACL reconstructions performed at our institutions between 2001 and 2005. These included 170 autograft, 628 allograft, and 3 combined autograft/allograft reconstructions. Data collection included patient demographics, comorbidities, preoperative antibiotics, fixation type, and the occurrence of deep postoperative infection. Results Of the 801 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction, 6 (0.75%) developed a confirmed deep infection. There were 2 confirmed deep infections in 170 autograft reconstructions (1.2%) compared with 4 confirmed deep infections in 628 allograft reconstructions (0.6%). Multivariate analysis revealed that ACL reconstruction using autograft had a nearly twice the risk of infection compared to allograft reconstructions (adjusted odds ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.16 to 12.94). Conclusions This study failed to find a higher rate of deep bacterial infection in ACL reconstructions when allograft tissue was used. We therefore feel that surgeons should consider allograft tissue as an alternative to autograft when there is a concern about donor-site morbidity, or for revision reconstructions. Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic retrospective comparative study.
Embryonic requirements for ErbB signaling in neural crest development and adult pigment pattern formation

Vertebrate pigment cells are derived from neural crest cells and are a useful system for studying neural crest-derived traits during post-embryonic development. In zebrafish, neural crest-derived melanophores differentiate during embryogenesis to produce stripes in the early larva. Dramatic changes to the pigment pattern occur subsequently during the larva-to-adult transformation, or metamorphosis. At this time, embryonic melanophores are replaced by newly differentiating metamorphic melanophores that form the adult stripes. Mutants with normal embryonic/early larval pigment patterns but defective adult patterns identify factors required uniquely to establish, maintain or recruit the latent precursors to metamorphic melanophores. We show that one such mutant, picasso, lacks most metamorphic melanophores and results from mutations in the ErbB gene erbb3b , which encodes an EGFR-like receptor tyrosine kinase. To identify critical periods for ErbB activities, we treated fish with pharmacological ErbB inhibitors and also knocked down erbb3b by morpholino injection. These analyses reveal an embryonic critical period for ErbB signaling in promoting later pigment pattern metamorphosis, despite the normal patterning of embryonic/early larval melanophores. We further demonstrate a peak requirement during neural crest migration that correlates with early defects in neural crest pathfinding and peripheral ganglion formation. Finally, we show that erbb3b activities are both autonomous and non-autonomous to the metamorphic melanophore lineage. These data identify a very early, embryonic, requirement for erbb3b in the development of much later metamorphic melanophores, and suggest complex modes by which ErbB signals promote adult pigment pattern development.
Enhanced hydrogen absorption kinetics for hydrogen storage using Mg flakes as compared to conventional spherical powders

Practical challenges of metal hydrides for hydrogen storage such as magnesium hydride, lie predominantly in improving hydrogen absorption kinetics and capacity. Approaches to improving kinetics of Mg commonly include changing particle geometry, reducing crystallite size and coating with catalytic transition metals such as Ni. This study is aimed at improving the hydrogen storage kinetics and capacity of Mg by a novel approach utilizing high aspect ratio powders (thin metal flakes with large diameters) coated with a Ni nano-catalyst. A high speed orbiting ball media (HSOBM) processor was utilized to fabricate the flake-shaped materials. Mg flakes effectively coated with Ni nano-catalyst using dry mechanical coating were found to possess more favorable hydrogen absorption/desorption characteristics and improved hydrogen storage capacity than traditional spherical particles. Geometric shape was shown to be a vital factor in hydrogen absorption kinetics and its effects proved to be dominant over those of crystallite size.
Termination of dietary treatment of phenylketonuria

Two phenylketonuric children are presented who were on a phenylalanine restricted diet from early infancy until the ages of 4 years and 2 months and 2 years and 10 months, respectively. Dietary treatment has been discontinued for almost 3 years and no deterioration had been noted in their satisfactory mental development. Psychological assessments were done by Dr. M. P. Mulvaney, Dr. M. Walsh, Dr. J. McKenna and Miss B. Dunne. Chromatography was carried out in Professor E. J. Conway’s Department, University College, Dublin, EEG Records were interpreted by Dr. J. GKirker and Mr. F. Donovan..
Radiosensitization of hypoxic tumor cells in vitro by nitric oxide

Purpose: The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on the radiosensitivity of SCK tumor cells in oxic and hypoxic environments m vitro were studied. Methods and Mater-h& NO was delivered to cell suspensions using the NO donors 2,2-diethyl-l-nitroso-oxyhydrazine sodium a& (DEA/NO), and a spermhte/nitric oxide complex (SPER/NO), which release NO at h&lives of 2.1 mitt and 39 min at pH 7.4, respectively. The cells were suspended in media containing DEA./NO or SPBR/ NO for varying lengths of time under oxic or hypoxic conditions, irradiated, and the clonogenicity determined. Remits: Both compotmds markedly radiosensitized the hypoxic cells. The drug enhancement r&os (DBR) for 0.1, 1.0, and 2.0 mM DEA/NO were 2.0,2.3 and 3.0, respectively, and those for 0.1, 1.0, aud 2.0 mM SPER/NO were l&2.3, and Zg, respectively. Aerobic cells were not radiosensitized by DEMO or SPRIVNO. When DEA/ NO and SPERAUO were incubated in solution overnight to allow release of NO, they were found to have no radiosensitizing effect under hypoxic or oxic conditions indicating the sensitization by the NO donors was due to the NO molecule released from these drugs. At the higher concentrations, SPER/NO was found to be cytotoxic in aerobic conditions but not in hypoxic conditions. DEAN0 was only slightly toxic to the ceils in both aerobic and hypoxic conditions. Con&sions: NO released from NO donors DEA/NO and SPER/NO is as effective as oxygen to radiosensitize hvpoxic cells in vitro. Its application to the radiosensitization of hypoxic celb in solid tumors remains to be investigated. Copyright 0 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.
Development and real-time implementation of auto white balancing scoring algorithm

This paper presents the development and real-time implementation of an autowhite balancing algorithm named scoring. The spectral distributions of the Macbeth reference colors together with the spectral distributions of several color temperature light sources are used to set up a number of reference color points in the CbCr color space. A number of representative color points are obtained from a captured image by using a previously developed multi-scale clustering algorithm. A match is then established between the reference set of colors and the representative set of colors. The matching scheme generates the most likely color temperature under which the image is captured. Furthermore, this paper discusses the real-time implementation of the developed auto white balancing algorithm on the TI TMS320DSC platform, a power-efficient single-chip processor that has been specifically designed for digital still cameras. It is shown as to how the algorithm is modified to allow a processing rate of 30 frames/s.
Parental stress, coping, and attachment in families with an 18-month-old infant

Abstract Competing data exist regarding the influence of child care arrangements on infant social development. Yet, a large amount of within-group variability for both nonmaternally cared for infants and infants cared for in their homes by their mothers has been found with regard to such social developmental outcomes as attachment. The present study assessed coping as a mediator in the relationship between parenting stress and attachment for 32 families consisting of a mother, father, and their 18-month-old infant. The Attachment Q-Set, Parenting Stress Index, and Ways of Coping were administered. Parenting stress was significantly associated with insecure attachment to mothers and fathers. It was indicated that psychological separation (due to stress) more than actual physical separation (due to child care arrangements) may be a salient variable in considering the impact of child care on the relationship between infants and their parents. Positive reappraisal, as a coping strategy, was related to substantial reductions in the associations between parenting stress and attachment security. Although the results are not causal, implications for prevention efforts were suggested based on the coping strategies that were adaptive in mediating parenting stress versus those that were not.
Determination of iodine in urine, using epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis (EINAA), at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR)

There is currently great interest in iodine as a micro nutrient. Both high and low intakes have been associated with thyroid cancer incidence. Development of dietary iodine monitors is needed to supplement the use of dietary recall methods which have not been well validated for iodine. In this study, 30 pooled urine samples, from ethnic groups on various islands in the South Pacific, were analyzed for iodine using epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis (EINAA).
Twelve Years of Visualization Research at Microsoft

Summary form only given. Microsoft Research has been involved in a variety of visualization research efforts over the last twelve years. In this talk, the author summarizes the various threads of research, which include task management, personal information management, software visualization, business visualization, community visualization, graph and tree visualization, and visual analytics for homeland security. The author also gives demonstrations of key prototypes that have been built. One of the key challenges throughout this work has been developing effective means of evaluation of visualization techniques. The author summarizes what we have learned about evaluation methods. Finally, the author summarizes some basic lessons learned about what visualization techniques are most effective across all of these research efforts.
Channel error propagation in adaptive TV coders

Abstract DPCM coders with adaptive predictors are used and compared with nonadaptive DPCM coders for processing composite color television signals. The transmission error propagation for different predictors both adaptive and fixed is investigated. Propagation of transmission noise is dependent on the type of prediction and on the location of noise, i.e., whether in a uniform region or in an active region. By introducing leak in predictor output and/or predictor function, it is shown that error propagation can be significantly reduced. The leaky predictors not only attenuate and/or terminate the channel error propagation but also improve the predictor performance based on quantitative evaluation such as peak value and mean-square-error. In order to protect the high picture quality from error propagation, an error-correcting code is needed.
The use of locally optimal trajectory management for base reaction control of robots in a microgravity environment

A locally-optimal trajectory management (LOTM) approach is analyzed, and it is found that care should be taken in choosing the Ritz expansion and cost function. A modified cost function for the LOTM approach is proposed which includes the kinetic energy along with the base reactions in a weighted and scale sum. The effects of the modified functions are demonstrated with numerical examples for robots operating in two- and three-dimensional space. It is pointed out that this modified LOTM approach shows good performance, the reactions do not fluctuate greatly, joint velocities reach their objectives at the end of the manifestation, and the CPU time is slightly more than twice the manipulation time.
Historical entitlement and the practice of bequest: Is there a moral right of bequest?

Entitlement theorists claim that bequest is a moral right. The aim of this essay is to determine whether entitlement theorists can, on their own grounds, consistently defend that claim. I argue that even if there is a moral right to self-appropriated property and to engage in inter vivos transfers, it is a mistake to contend that there exists an equivalent moral right to make a bequest. Taxing or regulating bequest does not violate an individual’s moral rights because, regardless of whether bequest safeguards certain interests, those interests are not the interests of a living, morally inviolable being. Instead, they are the interests of a deceased entity that has lost the ability to track what it values and pursue projects in accord with those values – a quality that by entitlement theorists’ own arguments renders persons morally significant and deserving of rights in the first place.
Sulfhydryls-a new factor in frost resistance. I. Changes in SH content during frost hardening.

It has been known for some time (6), that there are at least two distinct factors in frost hardinessA: cell sap concentration or sugar content, and B: physicochemical properties of protoplasm. The first must be in some way associated with enzyme activity, since it results from either a starch-sugar conversion or an accumulation of photosynthate in the form of sugar. The second seems to be dependent on protein hydration. Enzyme activation is in many cases associated with SH, and protein hydration depends on the number of polar groups and therefore perhaps on SH. These facts led to the hypothesis that SH might be quantitatively related to frost hardiness, and to the following investigation of that hypothesis. Although there is no record in the literature of an investigation of the relation of SH to frost hardiness there is one report of a relation to drought resistance (4). Since frost hardiness is usually correlated witlh drought hardiness (6), this might be considered as evidence in favor of a relationship between SH and frost hardiness. Unfortunately, no attempt was inade to measure the drought resistance of the several strains of loblolly pine used other than to accept the order "well established by field experiment". The only attempt to measure desiccation resistance in the laboratory failed to yield any relationship to the field determined resistance. This agrees with Parker (7), who could not detect any better ability of the more drought resistance coniferous species to recover from a low leaf moisture than in the case of the less drought resistant species. There was, however, a greater ability to retain a high moisture content. In other words, the available evidence indicates that the drought resistance involved in the above investigation was avoidance rather than tolerance and therefore unrelated to frost resistance.
Measurements of Solar Extreme Ultraviolet and X-Rays from Rockets by Means of a CoS O 4 :Mn Phosphor

The presence of solar extreme ultraviolet and x-rays at high altitudes in the atmosphere was detected by means of a thermoluminescent phosphor, CaS${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$:Mn, which was not sensitive to wavelengths above 1340A. Samples of the phosphor were flown in V-2 rockets and exposed to sunlight. By means of filters of Be, LiF, and Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, response was measured in the wavelength bands 0-8A, 1050-1340A, and 1230-1340A. X-rays were observed on one flight which reached 128 km, during which a sudden ionospheric disturbance occurred. Wavelengths between 1050 and 1340A were observed on all four flights and reached as low as 80-90 km. A tentative value of 0.04 microwatt/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ was calculated for the total intensity in the solar spectrum in the range 1050-1240A, which includes the Lyman alpha-line of hydrogen, at an altitude level somewhere between 82 and 127 km. A similar value for the range 1230-1340A was 0.02 microwatt/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. A comparison of the responses of the phosphor strips flown without filters and those with filters indicated that radiation between 795 and 1050A reaches the region 82-127 km with an intensity well above that produced by a 6000\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K blackbody sun.
INTERNAL-EXTERNAL CONTROL AS A DETERMINANT OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

The aim of the present investigation was to examine the relationship between Rotter's (1966) internal-external control dimension (I-E) and academic achievement. Although no previous investigators have reported significant associations between these two variables (Eisenman & Platt, 1968), it seems a logical extension of the perceived locus of control dimension that internals would manifest more achievement-striving behavior than externals, who feel they have little control over their environment. Accordingly, it was predicted that internally controlled college students would obtain significantly higher quality point averages than their externally controlled counterparts. The I-E scale was administered to several sections of introductory psychology at Villanova University. From the total pool of Ss who responded to this questionnaire (N = 483), 31 males and 10 females who scored on the internal end of the scale (18 to 23) and 76 males and 22 females who scored on the external end (0 to 9) were selected. The measure of S's academic achievement was taken to be cumulative quality point average (QPA), retrieved for each S from the university's computer science center. Insofar as the over-all OPA means for males (2.48) and females (2.41) did not . . differ significantly, data were analyzed for sexes combined. Internals and externals were separately assigned to one of three a prior; QPA categories (3.00 to 4.00; 2.00 to 2.99; 1.00 to 1.99) and the resulting frequency data (I-E X QPA) yielded a x2 of 2.98 (df = 2, p < .250) indicating only marginal support for the prediction. Two distinct possibilities may account for the lack of relationship berween the I-E and academic achievement variables. First, and along the same lines as suggested by Rotter (1966), there may be an overabundance of college Ss who have arrived at an external view of the world as a defense against failure but who were initially highly competitive. Thus, externals would still maintain comparatively strong achievement motivauon in clearly structured competitive situations but defensively account for failure by externally controlled attitudes. Second, the I-E dimension is probably not generalizable across situations, and in the highly structured academic achievement situation there is probably more specificity determining QPA than in other kinds of competitive situations. In either event, subsequent research should attempt to clarify the interaction of personality factors and academic achievement.
Increased mortality in adults with a history of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: A population-based study

Objective To assess mortality in a population-based cohort of adults with a history of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Methods The Rochester Epidemiology Project database was used to identify all cases of JRA diagnosed among Rochester, Minnesota residents under the age of 16 between January 1, 1960 and December 31, 1993. Fifty-seven patients in this cohort are now adults (ages 18–53 years, mean age 34.3 years), and this subgroup was contacted for a long-term followup study. The average length of followup from the time of diagnosis was 25.6 years. Results Four deaths occurred in this cohort of 57 adults with a history of JRA. All 4 deceased patients had other autoimmune illnesses and died of complications of these diseases. The observed frequency of 4 deaths was significantly greater (P < 0.0026 by one-sample log-rank test) than the 1 death that would be expected among Minnesota whites of similar age and sex, and corresponds to a mortality rate of 0.27 deaths per 100 years of patient followup compared with an expected mortality rate of 0.068 deaths per 100 years of followup in the general population. Conclusion The results indicate a significant, unexpected increase in mortality in this population-based cohort of adults with a history of JRA in comparison with the rate in the general population. The deaths in this group were all associated with other autoimmune disorders, suggesting that special emphasis should be given to the diagnosis and treatment of other autoimmune diseases, including immunodeficiencies, in JRA patients. The frequency of deaths in this cohort suggests that JRA patients are at substantial risk for mortality, and highlights the need for longitudinal followup and care into adulthood.
Osteopontin: A potential biomarker for successful allergen immunotherapy

Abstract Rationale Both biomarkers and regulatory mechanisms related to successful allergen immunotherapy remain undefined. To clarify these further, we have investigated patterns of gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of venom allergic patients pre and post venom immunotherapy (VIT). Methods Gene-chip array analysis was performed to identify differential gene expression in the PBMCs of 3 study groups: (1): 3 subjects not on VIT (no-VIT); (2): 3 subjects on VIT for Results Gene clustering analysis of expression profiles identified a unique cluster of genes with lower levels of expression for OPN in the “no VIT” group as compared to the “VIT”, and particularly the “disc-VIT” groups. These osteopontin expression profiles results were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. A significantly higher level of serum OPN was measured in the “disc-VIT” group as compared to the “no VIT” group (n=17 in each group; p Conclusions OPN is reportedly involved in Th1-associated immune responses. Our data support OPN's use as a biomarker and possibly a regulatory molecule in allergen immunotherapy.
Further experience with gastric stimulation to treat drug refractory gastroparesis.

Background: Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) has been introduced for patients with gastroparesis refractory to pharmacological therapy. Methods: From April 1998 until November 2001, 55 patients underwent GES implantation at Kansas University Medical Center. All patients had prolonged gastric retention of a solid meal by scintigraphy at baseline. The etiologies were diabetes mellitus in 39, related to previous surgery in 9, and idiopathic in 7. Symptoms were graded using a 5-point scale and quality of life was assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire. Body mass index and nutritional parameters were monitored. Hemoglobin A1C was measured in the diabetic patients. Results: Total symptom scores and the physical and mental composite scores of quality of life improved significantly. On average, gastric emptying did not change. Body mass index and body weight increased significantly. And days spent in hospital admissions were significantly decreased. At 1 year, diabetic patients experienced reduced hemoglobin A1C. Four devices were removed. One patient died of a pulmonary embolus postoperatively. Conclusions: In a large series of patients with gastroparesis, GES significantly improved symptoms and quality of life. © 2003 Excerpta Medica, Inc. All rights reserved.
Inhibition of guinea pig lordosis behavior by the phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) inhibitor SKF-64139: Mediation by α noradrenergic receptors

Experiments were undertaken to determine whether the steroid-dependent lordosis response of female guinea pigs is under adrenergic control. In initial experiments, treatment with the centrally active phenylethanolomine N-methyltransferase (PNMT; the enzyme catalyzing methylation of norepinephrine to epinephrine) inhibitor SKF-64139 inhibited lordosis behavior induced by estradiol-17 beta benzoate plus progesterone. SKF-29661, a PNMT inhibitor that does not cross the blood-brain barrier, did not affect lordosis. However, no detectable epinephrine was found in brain or spinal cord of drug- or vehicle-treated guinea pigs. This suggests that epinephrine neuronal systems do not exist in the guinea pig CNS. In agreement with this idea, the inhibitory effects of SKF-64139 on lordosis were found to be primarily attributable to the blockade of alpha noradrenergic receptors rather than to PNMT inhibition. Two lines of evidence support this conclusion. First, using in vitro receptor binding techniques, SKF-64139 was found to have a relatively high affinity for alpha 1 and particularly alpha 2 receptors in guinea pig forebrain. Second, presumably through competitive inhibition of SKF-64139 binding to alpha receptors, treatment with clonidine (an alpha receptor agonist) overrode the inhibitory effects of SKF-64139 on lordosis. Taken together, these findings indicate the possible absence of epinephrine neuronal systems in guinea pig brain and reemphasize the importance of alpha receptors in regulating steroid-dependent lordosis behavior in this species.
The corpus luteum of the guinea pig. IV. Fine structure of macrophages during pregnancy and postpartum luteolysis, and the phagocytosis of luteal cells.

Little information is available on the ultrastructure of macrophages in the corpus luteum or their importance in the regression of luteal tissue. In the present study, the fine structure of activated luteal macrophages during pregnancy and the postpartum period was examined by electron microscopy of guinea pig ovaries fixed by vascular perfusion. In these corpora lutea, macrophages can readily be distinguished from luteal cells. Activated macrophages typically display three prominent inclusions in their cytoplasm: (1) heterophagic vacuoles, (2) distinctive large dense inclusions, and (3) large and small electron-lucent vacuoles. In addition, they contain numerous smaller lysosome-like dense bodies. Activated macrophages in corpora lutea also characteristically show many surface protrusions, such as processes, folds or pseudopodia, which often occur in close contact with nearby luteal cells. Generally, nuclei of macrophages are irregular in shape and display a dense border of heterochromatin, thus differing from those of luteal cells. Macrophages seem to be most abundant in regressing corpora lutea, where they commonly display heterophagic vacuoles containing recognizable luteal cell fragments, evidence that these phagocytes ingest senescent luteal cells. The digestion of luteal cell components in heterophagic vacuoles presumably gives rise to the distinctive large dense inclusions typically seen in macrophages. The findings of this study indicate that macrophages play a central role in luteolysis by phagocytizing luteal cells or their remnants. They therefore appear to bring about the reduction in volume of the corpus luteum that occurs as this tissue regresses. These results taken together with those previously published (Paavola, 1978) further indicate that breakdown of the corpus luteum during postpartum luteolysis in guinea pigs involves both autophagy and heterophagy.
A Cell-permeable, Activity-based Probe for Protein and Lipid Kinases

Protein and lipid kinases are two important classes of biomedically relevant enzymes. The expression and activity of many kinases are known to be dysregulated in a variety of diseases, and proteomic tools that can assess the presence and activity of these enzymes are likely to be useful for their evaluation. Because many of the mechanisms by which protein kinases can become unregulated involve post-translational modifications or changes in protein localization, they can only be detected by examining protein activity, sometimes within the context of the living cell. Wortmannin is a steroid-derived fungal metabolite that covalently inhibits both protein and lipid kinases. Here we describe the synthesis of three wortmannin derivatives, biotin-wortmannin, BODIPY-wortmannin, and tetramethylrhodamine-wortmannin. We demonstrate that these reagents exhibit reactivity similarly as wortmannin and react with members of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and PI3-kinase related kinase families in cellular lysates. Moreover, in some cases these reagents can differentiate between the active and inactive forms of the enzyme, indicating that they are activity-based probes. The reagents also exhibit complementary properties. The biotin-wortmannin reagent is effective in the isolation of labeled proteins; all three can be used for protein labeling, and BODIPY-wortmannin is cell-permeable and can be used to label proteins within cells.
Tallgrass prairie soil fungal communities are resilient to climate change

Climate models for central United States predict increasing temperatures and greater variability in precipitation. Combined, these shifts in environmental conditions impact many ecosystem properties and services. Long-term climate change experiments, such as the Rainfall Manipulation Plots (RaMPs), can be used to address soil community responses to simultaneous manipulation of temperature and temporal variability in precipitation. The RaMPs experiment is located in a native tallgrass prairie at the Konza Prairie Biological Station and has been operational since 1998 providing the potential to address responses to long-term environmental manipulations. To test whether community composition, richness, or diversity respond to environmental change, more than 40 000 fungal amplicons were analyzed from soil samples collected in 2006. The data suggest that soil fungal communities are compositionally resilient to predicted environmental change. This is the case both for the community composition overall as inferred from ordination analyses as well as analyses of variance for each of the most common Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs). However, while this study suggests compositional resilience, further studies are required to address functional attributes of these communities and their responses to environmental manipulations.
Identification and Assessment of Community College Peer Institution Selection Systems

This paper identifies and assess the current status of community college peer institution selection systems. Five questions were posited: What are the impetuses for conducting institutional compara...
Effect of various agents and physical damage on giant cell formation in bovine aortic endothelial cell cultures

Abstract Giant bovine aortic endothelial cells (mononucleated and multinucleated), morphologically identical to cells previously described in situ in damaged vessel walls and in various diseased states, can be increased in numbers in culture by treatment with 1 × 10−6 M epinephrine, 1 × 10−6 M nicotine sulfate, 1.2 × 10−6 M 7-ketocholesterol, or 1 × 10−8 M β-estradiol. Lower levels of epinephrine (1 × 10−9 and 1 × 10−12 M) decreased the rate of giant cell formation but had little effect on the number found in cultures at confluency when compared with 10−6 M epinephrine. However, 1 × 10−6 M serotonin suppressed the formation of giant cells. Cells scraped from confluent monolayers of normal endothelial cell cultures are replaced with the denuded area by giant endothelial cells. Cultures treated daily for 5 days with epinephrine, 7-ketocholesterol, nicotine sulfate, and β-estradiol contained large nonrandom patches of giant cells at confluency. Within 1 to 2 days after cultures reached confluency, giant cells underwent necrosis and apparent cell death, leaving sparse or denuded areas in the confluent monolayers sheets. Treatment of such cultures with bovine platelets resulted in the interaction of platelets with an extensive meshwork of exposed microfibrillar material within these holes. These results demonstrate that normal bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture can be induced under restricted experimental conditions to undergo morphological changes. Such conditions and the resulting formation of giant endothelial cells are consistent with those which give rise to giant endothelial cells in vivo. This investigation suggests that endothelial cell cultures could be a useful model for the study of the pathogenesis of various vascular disease states.
Full-dimensional potentials and state couplings and multidimensional tunneling calculations for the photodissociation of phenol

We present an improved version of the anchor points reactive potential (APRP) method for potential energy surfaces; the improvement for the surfaces themselves consists of using a set of internal coordinates with better global behavior, and we also extend the method to fit the surface couplings. We use the new method to produce a 3 × 3 matrix of diabatic potential energy surfaces and couplings for the photodissociation of phenol as functions of 33 nonredundant internal coordinates. The diabatic potential matrix is based on two kinds of calculations at a sequence of anchor points along the O–H dissociation coordinate: (1) fourfold way diabatic calculations based on MC-QDPT/jul-cc-pVDZ calculations for the potential energy surfaces and diabatic couplings as functions of the O–H bond stretch, C–O–H bond angle, and C–C–O–H torsion and for the diabatic couplings as functions of the nine out-of-plane phenoxyl distortion coordinates and (2) M06-2X/jul-cc-pVDZ density functional Hessian calculations for the potentials along the 30 vibrational coordinates of the phenoxyl group. The potential energy surfaces and couplings are used to calculate and characterize adiabatic surfaces and conical intersections, and the resulting equilibrium geometries, vibrational frequencies, and vertical excitation energies are in good agreement with available reference data. We also calculate the geometries of the minimum energy conical intersections. The surfaces and couplings are used for full-dimensional tunneling calculations of the adiabatic photodissociation rate, i.e., the rate of O–H bond fission following photoexcitation. Finally we use the couplings to provide indicators of which vibrational modes are effective in promoting dissociation.
Assessing burn wound depth using in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

There is no accurate noninvasive method for differentiating between partial-thickness and full-thickness cutaneous burn wounds. Full-thickness burns (FTB) result in slower resorption of wound edema than partial thickness burns (PTB). Since proton NMR parameters, particularly the T1 relaxation time, correlate with tissue water content (TWC), the present study determined whether proton NMR could distinguish PTB from FTB. An area of upper dorsum (∼ 15% BSA) of 35 adult rats was immersed in boiling water for either 3 sec (PTB) or 10 sec (FTB). In 10 control rats, the same area was immersed in room temperature water. Rats were sacrificed at either 3 or 48 hr after burn, and skin samples were analyzed to determine spin-lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) relaxation times. TWC was then measured gravimetrically by desiccation. Both T1 and T2 times significantly correlated with TWC (T1: r = 0.74, P 0.001). At 48 hr postburn the T1, T2, and TWC of the PTB group had decreased to control values (P > 0.05), while all FTB parameters remained significantly elevated as compared to both the control and the 48-hr PTB parameters (P < 0.001). In vitro NMR measurements distinguish PTB from FTB in this rat model within 48 hr. These data provide a basis for investigating in vitro NMR techniques for the noninvasive assessment of burn wound depth.
Hippocampal dysfunction in schizophrenia: association with brain-derived neurotrophic factor genotype

Hippocampal dysfunction in schizophrenia: association with brain-derived neurotrophic factor genotype
Behavior, genetics and biochemistry of an allele of the mutant mouse spastic, spaAlb

A new autosomal recessive mutation, characterized by an early defect in righting reflex and stiffened gait, progression to severe spasticity, tremor and rigidity, and death before weaning, appeared spontaneously on the C57BL/6 background. It was shown to be an allele of the mutant spastic spa, and shall be known as spaAlb. Mutant levels of [3H]strychnine binding are less than 10% of control levels in the brainstem and spinal cord. Autoradiographic examination of the distribution of [3H]strychnine binding sites in the mutant confirm a greatly reduced level of binding compared to control in all areas of the spinal cord, brainstem, and midbrain.
Cyclosporin A protects striatal neurons in vitro and in vivo from 3-nitropropionic acid toxicity.

The neuroprotective properties of cyclosporin A (CsA) are mediated by its ability to prevent mitochondrial permeability transition during exposure to high levels of calcium or oxidative stress. By using the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP), the present study assessed whether CsA could protect striatal neurons in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, 3NP produced a 20-30% reduction of striatal glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive (GAD-ir) neurons. A single treatment with CsA protected GAD-ir neurons from 3NP toxicity at lower (0.2 or 1.0 microM), but not at higher (5.0 microM) doses. Similar findings were seen when the cultures were treated twice with cyclosporin. In vivo experiments used the Lewis rat model of Huntington's disease (HD) in which a low 3NP dose was delivered subcutaneously through an osmotic minipump. Rats received unilateral or bilateral intrastriatal saline injections to disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and facilitate CsA reaching vulnerable neurons. In the first experiment, CsA treated 3NP-lesioned rats displayed significantly more dopamine-and adenosine-3;, 5;-monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP32-ir) neurons ipsilateral to BBB disruption compared to the contralateral intact striatum, indicating that disruption of the BBB maybe necessary for CsA's neuroprotective effects. In the second experiment, stereological counts of DARPP32-ir neurons revealed that CsA protected striatal neurons in a dose-dependent manner following bilateral disruption of the striatal BBB. Rats treated with the higher (15 or 20 mg/kg) but not lower (5 mg/kg) doses of CsA displayed greater numbers of DARRP32-ir striatal neurons relative to vehicle-treated 3NP-lesioned rats. Thus, under conditions in which CsA can gain access to striatal neurons, significant protection from 3NP toxicity is observed. Therefore, CsA or more lipophilic analogues of this compound, may be of potential therapeutic benefit by protecting vulnerable neurons from the primary pathological event observed in HD.