cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvement of interferon‐γ sialylation in Chinese hamster ovary cell culture by feeding of N‐acetylmannosamine

Because the presence of sialic acid can extend circulatory lifetime, a high degree of sialylation is often a desirable feature of therapeutic glycoproteins. In this study, the incomplete intracellular sialylation of inter- feron-g (IFN-g), produced by Chinese hamster ovary cell culture, was minimized by supplementing the culture medium with N-acetylmannosamine (ManNAc), a direct intracellular precursor for sialic acid synthesis. By intro- ducing 20 mM ManNAc into the culture medium, incom- pletely sialylated biantennary glycan structures were re- duced from 35% to 20% at the Asn 97 glycosylation site. This effect was achieved without affecting cell growth or product yield. The intracellular pool of CMP-sialic acid, the nucleotide sugar substrate for sialyltransferase, was also extracted and quantified by HPLC. Feeding of 20 mM ManNAc increased this intracellular pool of CMP-sialic acid by nearly thirtyfold compared with unsupplemented medium. When radiolabeled ManNAc was used to trace the incorporation of the precursor, it was found that supplemental ManNAc was exclusively incorporated into IFN-g as sialic acid and that, at 20 mM ManNAc feeding, nearly 100% of product sialylation originated from the supplemental precursor. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Bio- technol Bioeng 58: 642-648, 1998.
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials correlate with morphological changes in Gunn rat pups.

Abstract The relationship of brainstem structure and function in bilirubin encephalopathy is incompletely understood. The present experiments compare quantitative measures of brainstem structures with brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) in infant jaundiced (jj) and nonjaundiced (Nj) Gunn rats. Ten jj's from 4 litters were injected with sulfadimethoxine at 11–12 days of age to raise their brain bilirubin concentration. Littermate controls were jj's given saline, and Nj's given sulfadimethoxine or saline. At 15–17 days of age BAEPs were recorded, and rats were prepared for histological examination, as was reported in the previous paper (Conlee and Shapiro. 1991). Significant differences between groups were seen for BAEP wave I latency ( P = 0.002), I–II interwave interval ( P = 0.001), and amplitudes of waves I, II, III, and IV (each P P ≦ 0.001). The highest correlations were BAEP I–II interwave interval and amplitude of waves I and II with cochlear nucleus volume ( r = −0.78, 0.71 and 0.70, respectively, P P P P
Numerical analysis of a finite cylindrical pellet model in solid-gas reactions

A two-dimensional grain model has been developed to describe solid-gas reactions in a cylindrical pellet of finite length. The grains are assumed to be spherical. Numerical solutions of the model have been compared to infinite cylinder solutions, infinite slab solutions, and the approximate infinite cylinder and infinite slab solutions developed by Szekely et al. (Szekely J., Evans J. W. and Sohn H. Y., Gas—Solid Reactions. Academic Press, New York 1976). Pellet sizes and reactor conditions under which one or more of these solutions is valid have been indicated. The accuracy of the other models depends on whether they are to be used to determine rate constants from initial rate data or whether they are to be used to relate conversion to time. When the Theile-type reaction modulus σL = L[3(1 - e0)K/Dearg]12, has a value 2.2 with a cylinder half-length of L = 0.2 cm and a cylinder radius of Rp = 0.8 cm the conversion levels after about 8 min are 40% by an infinite slab model, 50% by the 2-D model and 65% by the approximate infinite slab solution. If one determines a rate constant from the initial slope of the rate curve, then the infinite slab model gives a value 14% high. The approximate infinite slab solution is inappropriate for the latter purpose. Similar results are obtained when the cylinder radius is much smaller than the half-length. Pellets with Rp/L > 4 or <0.25 can be described by infinite slab or infinite cylinder models, respectively, if the diffusional resistance is not large.
Canonical correlation analysis as an ordination technique

Canonical correlation analysis seeks linear axes that reveal the joint structure of two matrices. Potentially, CCA could be a valuable technique for ordination and analysis of dual matrices of community and environmental measurements. Performance of CCA was tested with simulated and real vegetational data. CCA was found to have stringent requirements for linearity, and consequently to have little value for ordination. Indirect ordination of community data by reciprocal averaging, followed by interpretation of environmental relationships of the axes, should generally be more effective.
Constructing CPG Site-Specific Interstrand Locks for Single-Molecule Epigenetic Detection in a Nanopore

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic regulation of gene transcription. Locus-specific DNA methylation can be used as biomarkers in various diseases including cancer. Most current methods are for genome-wide methylation analysis, but clinical diagnostics demands simple, low cost and quantitative approach for determining methylation states at individual CpG sites in a gene fragment. The nanopore is providing an excellent single-molecule platform for genetic and epigenetic exploration. Using the nanopore single-molecule sensor, we identified that divalent Mercury ion (Hg2+) can selectively bind a single uracil-thymine mismatch (U-T) in a dsDNA. The Hg2+ binding creates a reversible interstrand lock, called MercuLock, which enhances the hybridization strength by two orders of magnitude. Such MercuLock cannot be formed in a 5-methylcytosine-thymine mismatch (mC-T). By nanopore detection of dsDNA stability, single bases of uracil 5-methylcytosine can be distinguished. Since uracil is converted from cytosine by bisulfite treatment, cytosine and 5'-methylcytosine can be discriminated. We have demonstrated multiple CpG methylation analysis of a CpG island in the cancer-derived p16 gene. This single-molecule assay has potential in detection of epigenetic cancer biomarkers in biofluids, with an ultimate goal for early diagnosis of cancer.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Craniometaphyseal Dysplasia Associated with Hydrocephalus: Case Report

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia is a rare disorder of bone characterized by widening of the metaphysis of the long bones and thickening of the cranial vault and base, facial bones and mandible. A variety of neurologic abnormalities cause by osseous overgrowth of the cranial base and subsequent narrowing of the neural foramina have been reported: hearing and visual loss, long tract signs, vertigo and syncope. Hydrocephalus has not previously been reported with craniometaphyseal dysplasia. We present the case of a 6-year-old boy with this association and discuss possible causes.
Chemical Alarm Signalling in Terrestrial Salamanders: Intra- and Interspecific Responses

Chemical alarm cues are known to be important in mediating predator avoidance in a variety of taxonomic groups. The purpose of this study was to test whether three species of salamanders that co-occur in the coastal mountains of Oregon utilize chemical alarm cues in predator avoidance. In laboratory experiments, Western redback salamanders, Plethodon vehiculum, and Southern torrent salamanders, Rhyacotriton variegatus, exhibited an avoidance response to stimuli from injured conspecifics, while Dunn's salamanders, Plethodon dunni did not. Additional experiments demonstrated interspecific alarm responses. P. vehiculum and R. variegatus responded to each other's alarm cues but did not respond to the alarm cues of allotopic long-toed salamanders, Ambystoma macrodactylum. For R. variegatus, this is despite the fact that they are more closely related to the allotopic species (A. macrodactylum) than to the syntopic species (P. vehiculum). Thus phylogeny alone may not explain patterns of cross-species alarm responses. Instead, interspecific alarm responses may occur between syntopic species that belong to the same prey guild (i.e. those species that co-occur spatially and temporally and are exposed to the same suite of predators).
Visualization of the dynamics of fibrin clot growth 1 molecule at a time by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy

Individual fluorescently labeled fibrin(ogen) molecules and their assembly to make a clot were observed by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). We used the bleaching of the fluorescent labels to determine the number of active fluorophores attached nonspecifically to each molecule. From the total intensity of bleaching steps, as single-molecule signature events, and the distribution of active labeling, we developed a new single-molecule intensity calibration, which accounts for all molecules, including those “not seen.” Live observation of fibrin polymerization in TIRFM by diffusive mixing of thrombin and plasma revealed the real-time growth kinetics of individual fibrin fibers quantitatively at the molecular level. Some fibers thickened in time to thousands of molecules across, equivalent to hundreds of nanometers in diameter, whereas others reached an early stationary state at smaller diameters. This new approach to determine the molecular dynamics of fiber growth provides information important for understanding clotting mechanisms and the associated clinical implications.
Performance Optimization in Cloud Computing Environment

Performance optimization of Cloud Computing Environment is about making the components in the cloud to meet the component level requirements and customer expectations. It is aimed at increasing the performance of a cloud service at a minimum cost depending on various constraints. Performance optimization looks at improving the performance of various factors like • Disk performance • Throughput • Response to customer's queries • High availability • Scalability • Instance on-boarding • Network bandwidth • Metering and billing process • Monitoring and Capacity • General Tuning Guidelines This paper discusses the optimization in each of the above areas, in addition to the discussion on other factors.
Why Can't My Procedures Start On Time?

Despite OR practice improvements, approximately 50% of second or subsequent surgical procedures will not start on time because of procedure duration overruns caused by preceding procedures. Operating room scheduling that uses reliable historical data about specific surgeon and procedure combinations and computerized scheduling systems can minimize overruns. Statistical variability in procedure durations, however, implies that one-half of the procedures will run longer than the calculated mean, resulting in wait times for time-scheduled surgeons and their patients. Managers must understand the tradeoffs between the competing goals of surgical throughput and decreasing patient wait times in their efforts to optimize the OR schedule.
Enhanced hydrogen adsorption in ordered mesoporous carbon through clathrate formation

Abstract Ordered mesoporous carbons were synthesized with a soft-template approach and modified with a water and tetrahydrofuran mixture having a H2O/THF molar ratio of 17:1 as potential adsorbent media for hydrogen storage. Hydrogen adsorption equilibrium on the carbon adsorbents was measured gravimetrically at 270 K and hydrogen pressures up to 163 bar. Enhanced hydrogen adsorption was observed on the carbon adsorbents doped with 0.5 wt.% and 0.75 wt.% of H2O/THF due to the combined effects of hydrogen adsorption on the carbon surface and formation of a binary H2–H2O–THF clathrate. Hydrogen adsorption capacities on the carbon adsorbents doped with 0.5 wt.%, 0.75 wt.% of H2O/THF, and the pure carbon at 270 K and 163 bar are 0.747 wt.%, 0.646 wt.% and 0.585 wt.%, respectively. The hydrogen adsorption isotherms on all the doped carbon adsorbents are of typical Type III and can be well correlated by the Freundlich equation. A desorption hysteresis loop was observed on the carbon adsorbents doped with 0.5 wt.% and 0.75 wt.% of H2O/THF, which was probably caused by the pore size difference during the adsorption and desorption steps.
The prevalence of and factors associated with chronic atrial fibrillation in Medicare/Medicaid-eligible dialysis patients

Atrial fibrillation is an important comorbidity with substantial therapeutic implications in dialysis patients but its prevalence varies in different studies. We used a database that includes patients in the United States on hemodialysis who were eligible for government assistance with prescription drugs. We then used ICD-9 codes from billing claims in this database to identify patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine adjusted prevalence odds ratios for associated factors. Of 63,884 individuals, the prevalence of chronic atrial fibrillation was 7%. The factors of age over 60 years, male, Caucasian, body mass index over 25kg/m 2 , coronary artery disease, and heart failure were all significantly associated with chronic atrial fibrillation. Prevalence rates, particularly in younger patients, were far higher than those reported in an age group–matched nondialysis population. Thus, given its clinical impact, future efforts are needed to examine risk factors for adverse outcomes in chronic atrial fibrillation, and to identify appropriate management strategies for this disorder, as well as opportunities for quality improvement in this vulnerable population.
Woodrow Wilson’s public relations: Wag the Hun∗

Abstract Communicators, unlike most military leaders, understood World War I was a totally new, mechanized, mass conflict. Populations must be mobilized, “taught” to hate and fight the evil enemy, respond emotionally to atrocities, even if invented or exaggerated. Opinion would be industrialized following the declaration of war in April 1917; President Woodrow Wilson authorized the Committee of Public Information, more popularly known for its leader George Creel. Creel’s inflammatory efforts and his rhetoric wagged the Hun, transforming a once highly respected ethnic group into one feared, reviled, and spied on. Creel’s committee used every means of communications available to conscript opinion, to control, centralize, and censor all information. Most later leaders of public relations were involved: Edward Bernays, Carl Byoir, and Ivy Lee in the Red Cross. Criticism of the committee’s and Wilson’s efforts is justified, but so are such questions as how do you galvanize forces to defeat your enemy? And as critical as one can rightly be of Wilson, he was the only major world leader trying to talk, not to kill. Marion K. Pinsdorf is Senior Fellow in Communications at Fordham’s Graduate School of Business.
Retinal mechanisms of visual latency

Abstract The time-course of light-induced potential changes was measured transretinally as a function of flash intensity in the eyecup preparation of dark-adapted Bufo marinus. The electroretinogram (ERG) as indexed by the peak amplitude of the a-wave. and the latency of the a-wave onset yielded action spectra matching that of the red rod pigment (λmax at 502 nm) at low intensities near threshold, but at higher intensities there was evidence of intrusion from the single and principal short-latency, longwave cones (λmax at 575 nm). With uniform illumination of the retina with monochromatic (λ = 502 nm) flashes to isolate the red rod system over a range of 5 log units from threshold to saturation of the a-wave. the latency of the b-wave onset and the latency of the a-wave peak varied linearly with the latency of the a-wave onset. All three measures could be described by linear functions of the inverse cube root of flash intensity, or equivalently by the equation: tmin/t=I1/3(I1/3 + σ1/3). For the mass receptor potential (MRP) isolated with excess Mg2+. the initial segment and functional form of the time-course did not differ from that obtained for the a-wave at the same saturating intensity. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the dominant mechanism controlling visual latency lies in the photoreceptors and that subsequent proximal transformations of the time-course are linear.
Cholinergic and adrenergic receptors on mouse cardiocytes in vitro.

Abstract The effects of adrenergic and cholinergic receptor agonists and antagonists on single and clustered mouse cardiocytes in culture have been studied. Cardiocytes were obtained from mice, ranging in ages from 9 days in utero to 1 day postpartum, and were grown in culture for 2–14 days. Single isolated cells of every age tested possessed the ability to respond both via a muscarinic cholinergic receptor to the cholinergic agonist, carbamylcholine, and via α- and β-adrenergic receptors to norepinephrine and epinephrine. Thus, cholinergic and adrenergic receptors are simultaneously present on the same cell. Cardiocyte clusters had considerably higher sensitivity to both autonomic agents, but, because of the extensive functional specializations between cells, the localization of functional receptors to specific cells could not be made. [ 3 H]Alprenolol, a potent β-adrenergic receptor antagonist, and [ 3 H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([ 3 H]QNB), a potent muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist, were used to localize β-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors by autoradiography. Quantitation of the muscarinic ACh receptor gave ∼800 sites/μm 2 , a value comparable to that for the nicotinic ACh receptor on primary skeletal muscle in culture. Electrophysiological and fine-structural studies confirmed the myocardial nature of these cells.
Prophylactic chlorhexidine oral rinse decreases ventilator-associated pneumonia in surgical ICU patients.

Background: Pneumonia is one of the most common nosocomial infections in hospitalized patients. The risk of nosocomial pneumonia increases with age, severity of acute illness and preexisting co-morbid conditions. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) significantly increases morbidity, length of stay, resource utilization and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine whether adherence to a ventilator weaning protocol (WP) and the use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CH) oral rinse for oral hygiene would decrease the incidence of VAP in surgical ICU patients. Methods: A prospective study was conducted over a period of 10 months (October 1998-July 1999) in surgical ICU patients requiring mechanical ventilation (n = 95). During the first 5 months, a WP was applied to all patients requiring mechanical ventilation. During the following 5 months, a CH 0.12% oral rinse administered twice daily was added to the protocol, initiated on ICU admission in all intubated patients. The data collection included age,...
Galileo trajectory design

The Galileo spacecraft was launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis on October 18, 1989. A two-stage Inertial Upper Stage propelled Galileo out of Earth parking orbit to begin its 6-year interplanetary transfer to Jupiter. Galileo has already received two gravity assists: from Venus on February 10, 1990 and from Earth on December 8, 1990. After a second gravity-assist flyby of Earth on December 8, 1992, Galileo will have achieved the energy necessary to reach Jupiter. Galileo's interplanetary trajectory includes a close flyby of asteroid 951-Gaspra on October 29, 1991, and, depending on propellant availability and other factors, there may be a second asteroid flyby of 243-Ida on August 28, 1993. Upon arrival at Jupiter on December 7, 1995, the Galileo Orbiter will relay data back to Earth from an atmospheric Probe which is released five months earlier. For about 75 min, data is transmitted to the Orbiter from the Probe as it descends on a parachute to a pressure depth of 20–30 bars in the Jovian atmosphere. Shortly after the end of Probe relay, the Orbiter ignites its rocket motor to insert into orbit about Jupiter. The orbital phase of the mission, referred to as the satellite tour, lasts nearly two years, during which time Galileo will complete 10 orbits about Jupiter. On each of these orbits, there will be a close encounter with one of the three outermost Galilean satellites (Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto). The gravity assist from each satellite is designed to target the spacecraft to the next encounter with minimal expenditure of propellant. The nominal mission is scheduled to end in October 1997 when the Orbiter enters Jupiter's magnetotail.
Extreme weather events may not be tied to loss of Arctic sea ice

One of the most tangible effects of global climate change has been the unprecedented loss of Arctic sea ice in the latter half of the twentieth century. Since the late 1970s, Arctic sea ice has decreased by more than 7.5% per decade. Recent studies suggest that the loss of sea ice can increase the frequency of “blocking,” i.e., weather patterns that can lead to prolonged extreme weather events such as drought or flooding.
Environmental interactions in high-temperature fatigue crack growth of Ti-1100

The crack growth behavior of Ti-1100 is investigated for loading frequencies ranging from 30 to 0.0031 Hz at temperature levels extending from 23 °C to 650 °C in both air and vacuum environments. Two types of time-dependent damage mechanisms have been identified: oxidation and creep effects. It is concluded that the effect of oxidation on the crack growth acceleration is rapidly developed and only weakly dependent on total cycle time. Creep effects, on the other hand, are dominant at low frequencies in both air and vacuum and are loading rate dependent. The degree of contribution of each of these two damage modes during the steady state growth region has been phenomenologically determined by examining the frequency dependence on the exponent and coefficient parameters of the Paris-type crack growth equation. It is found that these parameters are largely determined by the extent of the viscoplastic response of the crack tip region below a specific, environment-sensitive transition loading frequency. Furthermore, the physical mechanisms involved in the environment-affected damage are identified with the nature of crack tip plastic work input as a function of loading frequency. The influence of frequency and environment on the anomalous appearance of pronounced stage I/stage II knee regions is also discussed with respect to closure levels and creep transient response.
Consciousness and the Exclusivity of Function

A traditional problem that arises for defenders of materialist theories of mind is that of accounting for the nature and existence of consciousness. In a recent article ('On the Function of Consciousness,' Mind, XCL (I982), pp. 423-429) Peter Mott has attempted to bring this problem to bear in a forceful way against functionalist theories of mind. Mott argues that the truth of functionalism is incompatible with consciousness's having any function performed by a brain mechanism. If Mott's argument were to succeed, then the functionalist would indeed be hard pressed to say what function consciousness would have. One novel aspect of Mott's discussion is that he appeals neither to characteristics of consciousness nor to features of brain mechanisms but, instead, to the nature of function itself. In particular, he makes use of the claim that function is exclusive. In this discussion I shall argue that Mott's argument is not conclusive for several reasons. First of all, the key premise of that argument, that function is exclusive, faces serious difficulties. Further, one can show that Mott's argument is compatible with consciousness and a brain mechanism's jointly sharing a function. Finally, if one allows the functionalist to follow a strategy which Mott grants the identity theorist, then the functionalist seems to be able to circumvent Mott's argument.
Erratum: N-tert-Butyl-2-methyl-propanamide. Corrigendum.

The name of one of the authors in the paper by Kluge et al. [Acta Cryst. (2011), E67, o2143] is corrected.
A NEW SPECIES OF PROTOVENTURIA ON LEAVES OF VACCINIUM MACROCARPON

Protoventuria barriae sp. nov. (Pleosporales; Venturiaceae) forms leaf spots on Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) in North America. The leaf spot is characterized by conspicuous dark brown subcuticular hyphae and a transient reddening of otherwise healthy-appearing leaf tissue. Pseudothecia develop on dead or dying leaf tissue, usually in leaf litter. The fungus produces large, verruculose ascospores enveloped in a thick gelatinous sheath.
Noonan on contraception and abortion.

KIE: In his 1970 book, The Morality of Abortion: Legal and Historical Perspectives (Harvard University Press), John T. Noonan argued that abortion is impermissible because of the great likelihood that fetuses will become moral agents that can feel and reason. He also implied that certain forms of contraception are morally permissible because of the small likelihood that spermatozoa will develop into thinking, feeling moral agents. Strasser contends that Noonan's reasoning is faulty in the case of abortion because he confuses the probability of killing a being that certainly has rights with the certainty of killing a being that will probably have rights and, in the case of contraception, because he argues as if the aim is to kill a single spermatozoan rather than all of the spermatozoa in an ejaculate.
Toxicity of Nerium oleander in the Monkey (Cebus apella)

The toxic effects of Nerium oleander were evaluated in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) by examination of clinical signs, hematologic and serum chemical values, and gross and microscopic lesions. Dr...
Impact Assessment of Technologies that Mitigate Adverse Circumstances: The Case of Disease Resistant Beans in Honduras

Constructing appropriate counterfactual scenarios is an ongoing challenge for impact assessment of agricultural research. Using farm-level survey data from Honduras, this paper adapts the Heckman two-step procedure to construct the counterfactual to resistant variety (RV) bean yields by predicting imputed traditional variety yields of RV users.
Computer aided design of a broaching process

Abstract A broach is a cutting tool which is composed of a series of a single point cutting edges or teeth which extend from a rigid bar. The profitability of a broaching operation depends on the broach design parameters and the manner in which the broach is operated. This paper describes a computer aided design process which simultaneously solves for: (1) the optimal design parameters for the broach, and (2) the optimal operating parameters for the broaching process.
Progressive preoperative pneumoperitoneum for hernias with loss of domain.

Acting as a pneumatic tissue expander, progressive preoperative pneumoperitoneum (PPP) pressurizes the abdomen to prepare patients with giant hernias and loss of domain for hernia repair. We review our experience with PPP. Between 2006 and 2008, a prospective hernia database revealed nine patients who underwent PPP prior to hernia repair. Mean patient age was 54 years (41-68) and mean BMI was 31.3 kg/m2 (25.2-36.5). Patients had prophylactic vena cava filters and intraperitoneal catheters placed. Over a mean 22.4 days (7-64), patients received 7.6 (3-13) injections of air. PPP complications included death from pulmonary mycetoma (1), deep venous thrombosis and acute renal failure (1), port infection (1), kinked catheter requiring reoperation (1). Seven patients underwent successful hernia repair; open ventral (6) and laparoscopic inguinal (1). Defect size averaged 387 cm 2 (110-980) with a mesh size of 420 cm 2 (180-1200). Operative time averaged 256 minutes (175-330) with a mean blood loss of 157 ml (50-500). Post-hernia repair length of stay was 10.3 days (4-22). Hernia repair complications included ventricular tachycardia (1) and hernia recurrence (1). PPP has an acceptable risk, and for patients with large hernias and loss of domain, it may be a useful adjunct prior to definitive hernia repair.
Accelerating evolution via egalitarian social learning

Social learning is an extension to evolutionary algorithms that enables agents to learn from observations of others in the population. Historically, social learning algorithms have employed a student-teacher model where the behavior of one or more high-fitness agents is used to train a subset of the remaining agents in the population. This paper presents ESL, an egalitarian model of social learning in which agents are not labeled as teachers or students, instead allowing any individual receiving a sufficiently high reward to teach other agents to mimic its recent behavior. We validate our approach through a series of experiments in a robot foraging domain, including comparisons of egalitarian social learning with baseline neuroevolution and a variant of student-teacher social learning. In a complex foraging task, ESL converges to near-optimal strategies faster than either benchmark approach, outperforming both by more than an order of magnitude. The results indicate that egalitarian social learning is a promising new paradigm for social learning in intelligent agents.
Molecular and Phenotypic Characterization of Vibrio navarrensis Isolates Associated with Human Illness

We characterized 18 Vibrio isolates, including 15 recovered from human clinical specimens, and found that they clustered with two previously characterized Vibrio navarrensis isolates in a phylogenetic analysis. Four of the 18 strains may represent a new Vibrio species, distinct from V. navarrensis. The potential role of V. navarrensis in human disease needs further investigation.
Identification and characterization of alternative exon usage linked glioblastoma multiforme survival

Background Alternative exon usage (AEU) is an important component of gene regulation. Exon expression platforms allow the detection of associations between AEU and phenotypes such as cancer. Numerous studies have identified associations between gene expression and the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The few consistent gene expression biomarkers of GBM that have been reported may be due to the limited consideration of AEU and the analytical approaches used. The objectives of this study were to develop a model that accounts for the variations in expression present between the exons within a gene and to identify AEU biomarkers of GBM survival.
Price Discovery and Dissemination of Private Information by Loan Syndicate Participants

We delineate key channels through which flows of confidential information to loan syndicate participants impact the dynamics of information arrival in prices. We isolate the timing of private information flows by estimating the speed of price discovery over quarterly earnings cycles in both secondary syndicated loan and equity markets. We identify borrowers disseminating private information to lenders relatively early in the cycle with firms exhibiting relatively early price discovery in the secondary loan market, documenting that price discovery is faster for loans subject to financial covenants, particularly earnings-based covenants, for borrowers who experience covenant violations, for borrowers with high credit risk, and for loans syndicated by relationship-based lenders or highly reputable lead arrangers. We then ask whether early access to private information in the loan market accelerates the speed of information arrival in stock prices. We document that the stock returns of firms identified with earlier private information dissemination to lenders indeed exhibit faster price discovery in the stock market, but only when institutional investors are involved in the firm’s syndicated loans. Further, the positive relation between institutional lending and the speed of stock price discovery is more pronounced in relatively weak public disclosure environments. These results are consistent with institutional lenders systematically exploiting confidential syndicate information via trading in the equity market.
Using the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Approach in Childhood Obesity Prevention

Childhood and adolescent obesity has increased drastically in the past 30 years. While this is troubling, there is also evidence of large disparities among certain ethnic groups such as African American and Hispanic children and adolescents. The Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Model emphasizes a collaborative, co-learning, mutually beneficial, and community-partnered approach to research. Unique aspects of this model include viewing community members as equal partners in non-hierarchical teams, working together in a strengths-based, action oriented research process. This review consists of an investigation of the CBPR approach, its important tenets, and why such an approach may be more effective for childhood and adolescent obesity intervention program development, especially in stratified communities.
Secondary microkeratome-induced flap interference with the pathway of the primary flap

Abstract Purpose To report a flap-related complication that occurs when a secondary microkeratome pass interferes with the pathway of a complicated first microkeratome pass. Design Small, retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. Participants Three patients. Methods In three cases, each patient experienced a different flap-related complication with the original surgery, followed by interference of a secondary flap with the primary. The first patient experienced a free cap, followed by an interference of the secondary flap at the nasal portion of the free cap. The second patient experienced a buttonhole, followed by secondary flap interference in the superior quadrant adjacent to the buttonhole. The third patient experienced a decentered flap originally, followed by secondary flap interference temporally. Main outcome measures Visual result after secondary microkeratome-induced flap-related complications. Results All three patients had poor best spectacle-corrected visual acuity on the first postoperative day, with subsequent visual recovery. All three patients had induced flattening on keratometry along the axis where stromal tissue was removed. In addition, two patients required multiple enhancements to achieve desired visual outcomes. Conclusions Complications related to the primary microkeratome pass add further risk for complications to arise during a second microkeratome pass. A secondary microkeratome pass should be attempted only if the original flap cannot be identified, if it is the result of primary flap complication, or if the desired treatment zone is notably larger than the diameter of the original flap. Intraoperative pachymetry of the residual stromal bed should be performed routinely. It is important to examine the stromal bed closely for loose or displaced slivers of tissue and to remove them before excimer treatment.
Sonic Hedgehog Promotes Rod Photoreceptor Differentiation in Mammalian Retinal Cells In Vitro

The hedgehog gene family encodes secreted proteins important in many developmental patterning events in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the Drosophila eye disk, hedgehog controls the progression of photoreceptor differentiation in the morphogenetic furrow. To investigate whether hedgehog proteins are also involved in the development of the vertebrate retina at stages of photoreceptor differentiation, we analyzed expression of the three known vertebrate hedgehog genes. We found that Sonic hedgehog and Desert hedgehog are expressed in the developing retina, albeit at very low levels, whereas Indian hedgehog ( Ihh ) is expressed in the developing and mature retinal pigmented epithelium, beginning at embryonic day 13. To determine whether hedgehog proteins have activities on developing retinal cells, we used an in vitro system in which much of retinal histogenesis is recapitulated. N-terminal recombinant Sonic Hedgehog protein (SHH-N) was added to rat retinal cultures for 3–12 d, and the numbers of retinal cells of various phenotypes were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. We found that SHH-N caused a transient increase in the number of retinal progenitor cells, and a 2- to 10-fold increase in the number of photoreceptors differentiating in the cultures when analyzed with three different photoreceptor-specific antigens. In contrast, the numbers of retinal ganglion cells and amacrine cells were similar to those in control cultures. These results show that Hedgehog proteins can regulate mitogenesis and photoreceptor differentiation in the vertebrate retina, and Ihh is a candidate factor from the pigmented epithelium to promote retinal progenitor proliferation and photoreceptor differentiation.
Increased Risk of Second Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury for Female Soccer Players

Objectives:Female athletes are an at-risk population for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, with rates of injury significantly higher than the general population. Few studies have reported on...
In Vitro Import of Cytochrome c Peroxidase into the Intermembrane Space: Release of the Processed Form by Intact Mitochondria

Cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) is a nuclearly encoded hemoprotein located in the intermembrane space (IMS) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria. Wild-type preCCP synthesized in rabbit reticulocyte lysates, however, was inefficiently translocated into isolated mitochondria and was inherently resistant to externally added proteases. To test whether premature heme addition to the apoprecursor was responsible for the protease resistance and the inability to import preCCP, site-directed mutagenesis was used to replace the axial heme ligand (His175) involved in forming a pseudo-covalent link between the heme iron and CCP. Mutant proteins containing Leu, Arg, Met, or Pro at residue 175 of mature CCP were sensitive to proteolysis and were imported into isolated mitochondria as judged by proteolytic processing of the precursor. The inhibition of wild-type CCP translocation across the outer membrane may result from the inability of the heme-containing protein to unfold during the translocation process. Although the protease responsible for cleaving preCCP to its mature form is believed to be located in the IMS, most of the processed CCP was located in the supernatant rather than the mitochondrial pellet. Since the outer membranes were shown to be intact, the anomalous localization indicated that preCCP may not have been completely translocated into the IMS before proteolytic processing or that conformationally labile proteins may not be retained by the outer membrane. Proteolytic maturation of preCCP also occurred in the presence of valinomycin, suggesting that the precursor may be completely or partially translocated across the outer mitochondrial membrane independent of a potential across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Noncytotoxic Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) variants localize CPE intestinal binding and demonstrate a relationship between CPE-induced cytotoxicity and enterotoxicity.

Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) causes the symptoms of a very common food poisoning. To assess whether CPE-induced cytotoxicity is necessary for enterotoxicity, a rabbit ileal loop model was used to compare the in vivo effects of native CPE or recombinant CPE (rCPE), both of which are cytotoxic, with those of the noncytotoxic rCPE variants rCPE D48A and rCPE168-319. Both CPE and rCPE elicited significant fluid accumulation in rabbit ileal loops, along with severe mucosal damage that starts at villus tips and then progressively affects the entire villus, including necrosis of epithelium and lamina propria, villus blunting and fusion, and transmural edema and hemorrhage. Similar treatment of ileal loops with either of the noncytotoxic rCPE variants produced no visible histologic damage or fluid transport changes. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong CPE or rCPE168-319 binding to villus tips, which correlated with the abundant presence of claudin-4, a known CPE receptor, in this villus region. These results support (i) cytotoxicity being necessary for CPE-induced enterotoxicity, (ii) the CPE sensitivity of villus tips being at least partially attributable to the abundant presence of receptors in this villus region, and (iii) claudin-4 being an important intestinal receptor for CPE. Finally, rCPE168-319 was able to partially inhibit CPE-induced histologic damage, suggesting that noncytotoxic rCPE variants might be useful for protecting against some intestinal effects of CPE.
Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid: evaluation of postoperative results.

IT IS well known that there is a marked difference in the rate of growth and clinical behavior of the various histologic types of thyroid carcinoma. The largest histologic group, namely papillary carcinomas, consists of slowly growing neoplasms whose natural history is now well understood. The role of the surgeon in the treatment of this form of carcinoma is well established. Extensive local surgical procedures may be combined with dissection of cervical lymph nodes, or even with radical dissection of mediastinal lymph nodes. Additional histologic types of thyroid carcinoma, more malignant than the papillary form but of relatively slow growth, include the more or less circumscribed or encapsulated carcinoma variously called “malignant adenoma” or follicular and alveolar carcinoma. In this group, metastasis may occur by lymphatics to regional nodes or by the blood stream, particularly to bone. Hurthle-cell carcinomas, frequently encapsulated, make up a fairly well recognized histologic group, as do solid a...
Theory of ferromagnetism in planar heterostructures of (Mn,III)-V semiconductors

A density-functional theory of ferromagnetism in heterostructures of compound semiconductors doped with magnetic impurities is presented. The variable functions in the density-functional theory are the charge and spin densities of the itinerant carriers and the charge and localized spins of the impurities. The theory is applied to study the Curie temperature of planar heterostructures of III-V semiconductors doped with manganese atoms. The mean-field, virtual-crystal and effective-mass approximations are adopted to calculate the electronic structure, including the spin-orbit interaction, and the magnetic susceptibilities, leading to the Curie temperature. By means of these results, we attempt to understand the observed dependence of the Curie temperature of planar $\ensuremath{\delta}$-doped ferromagnetic structures on variation of their properties. We predict a large increase of the Curie temperature by additional confinement of the holes in a $\ensuremath{\delta}$-doped layer of Mn by a quantum well.
Implementing Strategic Planning Capabilities Within the Mars Relay Operations Service

Since the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER), Spirit and Opportunity, began their travels across the Martian surface in January of 2004, orbiting spacecraft such as the Mars 2001 Odyssey orbiter have relayed the majority of their collected scientific and operational data to and from Earth. From the beginning of those missions, it was evident that using orbiters to relay data to and from the surface of Mars was a vastly more efficient communications strategy in terms of power consumption and bandwidth compared to direct-to-Earth means. However, the coordination between the various spacecraft, which are largely managed independently and on differing commanding timelines, has always proven to be a challenge. Until recently, the ground operators of all these spacecraft have coordinated the movement of data through this network using a collection of ad hoc human interfaces and various, independent software tools. The Mars Relay Operations Service (MaROS) has been developed to manage the evolving needs of the Mars relay network, and specifically to standardize and integrate the relay planning and coordination data into a centralized infrastructure. This paper explores the journey of developing the MaROS system, from inception to delivery and acceptance by the Mars mission users.
Controlling Eutrophication along the Freshwater–Marine Continuum: Dual Nutrient (N and P) Reductions are Essential

Expanding human activities along the freshwater to marine continuum of coastal watersheds increasingly impact nutrient inputs, nutrient limitation of primary production, and efforts to reduce nutrient over-enrichment and eutrophication. Historically, phosphorus (P) has been the priority nutrient controlling upstream freshwater productivity, whereas nitrogen (N) limitation has characterized coastal waters. However, changing anthropogenic activities have caused imbalances in N and P loading, making it difficult to control eutrophication by reducing only one nutrient. Furthermore, upstream nutrient reduction controls can impact downstream nutrient limitation characteristics. Recently, it was suggested that only reducing P will effectively control eutrophication in both freshwater and coastal ecosystems. However, controls on production and nutrient cycling in estuarine and coastal systems are physically and chemically distinct from those in freshwater counterparts, and upstream nutrient management actions (exclusive P controls) have exacerbated N-limited downstream eutrophication. Controls on both nutrients are needed for long-term management of eutrophication along the continuum.
Instructional Scaffolding for Online Courses

Instructional scaffolding is a process by which an instructor supports a student in executing a learning task. Designers of virtual learning environments are challenged with replacing the verbal and visual scaffolding present in face-to-face classes for their online students. This paper describes how to build scaffolding in online interactive graduate courses.
Nebulized Albuterol Delivery in a Model of Spontaneously Breathing Children With Tracheostomy

BACKGROUND: Nebulized therapy is commonly used in spontaneously breathing tracheostomized patients, despite a lack of recommended devices and techniques. I compared albuterol dose delivered to a model of spontaneously breathing children with tracheostomy, using different nebulizers, tracheostomy tube sizes, inhalation techniques, and breathing patterns. METHODS: A tracheostomy model was connected in series to a breathing simulator, with a filter interposed. I simulated the breathing patterns of a 16-month-old child and 12-year-old child, and tested tracheostomy tubes with internal diameters of 3.5 mm and 5.5 mm. Albuterol nebulizer solution (2.5 mg/3 mL) was used. A breath-enhanced nebulizer (Pari LC Plus), a breath-actuated nebulizer (AeroEclipse), and a nebulizer that continuously delivers aerosol (Up-Draft II Opti-Neb) were operated for 5 min at 6 L/min with wall air. The Up-Draft II was tested with T-piece and mask interfaces, with an extension tube, and with and without assisted breathing (every breath and every other breath). The amount of albuterol delivered was analyzed via spectrophotometry. Particle size distribution was measured with a cascade impactor. RESULTS: The Pari LC Plus was more efficient than the Up-Draft II or AeroEclipse. Assisted breathing with the Up-Draft II with extension increased albuterol delivery with every other breath (second best device/configuration), being superior to every breath technique. Adding an extension tube increased delivered albuterol. T-piece was more efficient than mask. Breathing patterns with larger tidal volume increased albuterol delivery. Tracheostomy size had less impact on drug delivery. Mass median aerodynamic diameter decreased by 48–74% when passing through the tracheostomy tubes, and 0.8% of the nominal dose was deposited in the tracheostomy tube. CONCLUSIONS: Albuterol delivery in a model of spontaneously breathing children with tracheostomy is influenced by type of device and configuration, use of assisted breathing, breathing pattern, and tracheostomy tube size. Mass median aerodynamic diameter significantly decreases during passage through a tracheostomy tube.
A Highly Stable Evanescently-Coupled Fiber Semiconductor Laser

A hybrid fiber-semiconductor laser employing evanescent coupling between a novel photonic band-gap waveguide and a single-mode fiber is presented. High spectral purity, easy packaging, and low temperature dependence are notable features of these systems