cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 604: Olfactomedin 4 inhibits prostate stem/progenitor cells growth through regulating the hedgehog signaling pathway

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA The olfactomedin 4 gene (OLFM4) plays critical tumor suppressor roles in human and murine prostate cancer. We have previously reported that loss or reduce of OLFM4 expression is associated with the progression of human prostate cancer. We further found that loss of Olfm4 leads to prostate neoplastic progression in the Olfm4-knockout mouse model. To study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neoplastic progression of the prostate, we have performed gene chip microarray and quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis to compare Olfm4 knockout with wild-type mouse prostate. The gene-expression signature of prostate tissues from Olfm4-deficient mice revealed significant changes for genes associated with neoplastic progression. In this study, we further detected that hedgehog signaling-pathway components are up-regulated in Olfm4-knockout mice. Since hedgehog signaling pathways are involved in regulating prostate stem/ progenitor cell proliferation, we performed sphere formation analysis with Olfm4 mutant mouse prostate and found that loss of Olfm4 increased proliferative abilities of prostate stem/progenitor cells. Interestingly, administration of human OLFM4 protein and cyclopamine, a specific inhibitor of Shh-signaling pathway, into the sphere culture media reduced Olfm4-deficient mouse prostate stem/progenitor cell growth. To extend the observation from the mouse model, we established OLFM4-GFP fusion stably expressing cell clones by using human prostate cancer cell lines PC-3, 22RV1 and DU145. We found significant inhibition of sphere and colony formation in OLFM4 expressing cells compared with vector expressing control cells. The expression levels of Shh signaling pathway components were significantly inhibited in OLFM4 expression cells compared to vector expressing control cells. To detect whether or not OLFM4 down regulates the Shh signaling pathway through interaction with Shh protein, we performed co-immunopricipitation in 293T and PC-3 OLFM4 stably expressing cells. We found that OLFM4 directly interacts with Shh protein. We then carried out Gli- reporter assay using 293T and prostate cancer cells. We demonstrated that expression of OLFM4 inhibited Gli-reporter activity in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that OLFM4 inhibits prostate stem/progenitor cells growth by mediating the Shh signaling pathway through a direct interaction of OLFM4 with Shh protein. Citation Format: Hongzhen Li, Wenli Liu, Weiping Chen, Jianqiong Zhu, Chu-Xia Deng, Griffin P. Rodgers. Olfactomedin 4 inhibits prostate stem/progenitor cells growth through regulating the hedgehog signaling pathway. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 604. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-604
Red cell isozymes in the Eastern Carolines.

Four populations of islanders (Ponapeans, Mokilese, Pingelapese, and Kusaieans) in the Eastern Caroline Islands have been surveyed for variability in red cell acid phosphatase, phosphoglucomutase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, adenylate kinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The following gene frequencies were observed: Pa = 0.0904, PGM21 = 0.1015, and PGDB = 0.0259. No genetic variation was encountered in the AK and G6PD systems.
Mechanisms of Hearing Loss in Neurofibromatosis Type 2

Introduction: Patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) develop bilateral cochleovestibular schwannomas (CVSs) that cause binaural deafness in most individuals. Hearing loss occurs in an unpredictable manner and the underlying mechanisms are not known. To gain insight into the pathophysiologic basis for hearing loss in NF2, we performed a prospective cross-sectional study of untreated ears in NF2 patients. Methods: One hundred consecutive NF2 patients in a prospective natural history study were included. Clinical and audiometric data were analyzed for treatment naive ears. In addition to standard MR-imaging sequences, alterations in intralabyrinthine protein content were determined utilizing high resolution FLAIR, the presence of cochlear aperture obstruction was determined by examining 3D T2 sequences, and endolymphatic hydrops was identified on delayed post- contrast FLAIR sequences. Results: Eighty-nine ears harboring 84 untreated CVSs in 56 consecutive NF2 patients (age 30616 years) were analyzed. Thirty-four (38%) ears had varying degrees of hearing loss. Elevated intralabyrinthine protein was identified in 70 (75%) ears by FLAIR MR-imaging and was strongly associated with the presence of hearing loss (32/34 hearing loss ears; 94%)(Fisher's exact test; P=.005). Elevated intralabyrinthine protein was associated with the presence of CVS-associated cochlear aperture obstruction (64 of 67 ears with elevated protein; 96%)(Fisher's exact test; P,0.0001) in both normal and hearing loss ears. Elevated intralabyrinthine protein was not identified in ears without CVS (5 ears). While larger tumor size was associated with hearing loss (P=0.006), 16 hearing loss ears (47%) harbored CVSs less than 0.5 cm 3 , including 14 ears (88%) with block of the cochlear aperture and elevated protein. Discussion: These findings are consistent with a model in which hearing loss develops as a result of cochlear aperture obstruction and accumulation of intralabyrinthine protein. MRI based identification of elevated intralabyrinthine protein may help identify the ear at-risk for developing hearing loss.
Synthetic approaches to Fe(II) complexes of the bulky phosphine PtBu2Me

Abstract Reaction of anhydrous FeCl3 with PtBu2Me in alcohol gives [HPtBu2Me][FeCl3(PtBu2Me)], a salt with a tetrahedral Fe(II) anion hydrogen bonded (via Cl) to the P–H proton of the cation. Reaction of FeCl2(CO)4 with PtBu2Me in benzene, followed by workup gives FeCl2(PtBu2Me)2, a tetrahedral molecule with a crystallographic C2 axis and Fe–Cl=2.260(1) A and Fe–P=2.506(1) A and an unusually small P–Fe–P angle of 106.38(3)°.
A biological thin specimen microprobe quantitation procedure that calculates composition and ϱχ

Abstract A quantitation procedure has been developed for electron probe analysis of thin biological samples. The procedure is based on established metallurgical techniques and uses conventional mineralogical standards. The procedure utilizes a computer program that has been designed for flexibility and ease of operation. No assumptions about specimen characteristics are required. In addition to calculating specimen composition, the program also calculates specimen ϱχ. If specimen thickness is known, these values can be used to calculate molarities within the analyzed volume (grams per 1000cm3 of tissue). the error in quantitation is within ±20%.
Photophysical Properties of Endohedral Amine-Functionalized Bis(phosphine) Pt(II) Complexes as Models for Emissive Metallacycles

The photophysical properties of bis(phosphine) Pt(II) complexes constructed from 2,6-bis(pyrid-3-ylethynyl) aniline and 2,6-bis(pyrid-4-ylethynyl) aniline vary significantly, even though the complexes differ only in the position of the coordinating nitrogen. By capping the ligands with an aryl bis(phosphine) Pt(II) metal acceptor, the photophysical properties of the two isomeric systems were directly compared, revealing that the low-energy absorption and emission bands of the two systems were separated by 30 nm (1804 cm–1) and 39 nm (1692 cm–1), respectively. From the analysis of time-dependent density functional (TD-DFT) calculations and excited-state lifetime measurements, it was determined that the nature of the Pt–N bond in the HOMO and the sums of the radiative (krad) and nonradiative (knr) rate constants were significantly different in the two systems. As the dominant nonradiative decay pathway in aniline systems is relaxation from the triplet state through intersystem crossing (ISC), the difference...
Some observations on the solution composition of Gilman reagent (“R2CuLi”)

Abstract Low temperature oxidations of mixed diaryl cuprates prepared from both Cul and CuBr (with and without additives) offer insight regarding the manner in which halide ion influences coupling reactions of these reagents.
Syndecan-2 Is Expressed in the Microvasculature of Gliomas and Regulates Angiogenic Processes in Microvascular Endothelial Cells *

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from the existing vasculature and is necessary for tumor growth. Syndecan-2 (S2) is highly expressed in the microvasculature of mouse gliomas. When S2 expression was down-regulated in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (MvEC), this inhibited cell motility and reduced the formation of capillary tube-like structures in vitro. Pro-angiogenic growth factors and enzymes up-regulated during glioma tumorigenesis stimulated shedding of the S2 ectodomain from endothelial cells in vitro. The effect of shed S2 on angiogenic processes was investigated by incorporating recombinant S2 ectodomain (S2ED) into in vitro angiogenesis assays. S2ED promoted membrane protrusion, migration, capillary tube formation, and cell-cell interactions. We therefore propose that S2 is necessary for angiogenesis of MvEC, proangiogenic factors expressed during glioma progression regulate S2 shedding, and shed S2 ectodomain may increase endothelial cell angiogenic processes.
Strategic resource-based view of the competitive aspects of e-learning systems

Online education is a shift in the world of education, made possible by advances in technology. Technologies such as the accessibility of PCs and the internet have made distance learning possible, practical, and profitable. Due to the general growth in knowledge-based workers, the demands for higher education and advanced degrees have skyrocketed. In addition to the skyrocketing demand, the price of tuition has been far outpacing inflation. One of the key players in the advancement of online, for-profit education is the Apollo Group, Inc. and its subsidiary the University of Phoenix Online. The University of Phoenix is the most recognised and aggressive player of any of the online schools. Through the viewpoint of the Resource-based View of the Firm, online and traditional delivery systems were strategically compared and contrasted with specific recommendations for practitioners for engaging in such e-learning initiatives.
Synthesis of [14C]-pargyline {N-methyl-N-([1-14C]-propargyl)benzylamine} with the radioactive label on the propargyl group

A one-pot reaction scheme leading to 14C-labeled pargyline (N-methyl-N- propargylbenzylamine) where in the radioactive label from [14C]-formaldehyde is synthetically incorporated into the methylene group of the propargyl side chain is described. Thus, [14C]-formaldehyde (aqueous solution) is condensed in solvent dioxane with N-methyl-benzylamine and mono-trimethylsilylacetylene in the presence of cupric acetate dihydrate at elevated temperatures (85–86°) for 24 hrs. The Mannich condensation product is then desilylated and the radiolabeled pargyline is purified by partitioning in ether from acid and base followed by flash chromatography, and isolated as the hydrochloride. The radioactive yield is 58%. This method should be generally applicable for the incorporation of radioactive label into the propargyl methylene group of other drugs containing a propargyl side chain.
Pediatrics and child sexual abuse: where we've been and where we're going.

Those of us in pediatrics who take a special interest in child abuse have had a unique opportunity to watch an important body of knowledge develop. Our challenge for the next century is to continue to build our knowledge base, to train young physicians in the care of abused and neglected children, and to remain committed to the concept that every child in this country deserves a wholesome, healthy childhood. Language: en
Oxidative stabilities of soybean oils that lack lipoxygenases

Lipoxygenase (LOX)-null soybean lines that lack LOX 2, or LOX 2 and 3, and contain normal (8.0–8.6%) or low (2.0–2.8%) linolenate (18∶3) amounts were evaluated for their oil qualities and storage stabilities. Soybean oils of six genotypes were extracted by both laboratory-scale and pilot-plant systems and were refined, bleached, and deodorized in the laboratory. Citric acid was added to oils during the cool-down stage of deodorization. Two replications, separated at the point of conditioning, were evaluated for each genotype. Under storage conditions of 55–60°C in the dark, soybean oils with low 18∶3 contents were significantly (P<-0.05) more stable as measured by peroxide values than were oils with normal 18∶3 contents, regardless of the LOX content of the beans. The volatile analysis showed few differences between oils with low and high 18∶3 contents or among oils from beans that lack different LOX enzymes. After 16 d of storage, the amount of 1-octen-3-ol was significantly greater in oils with low 18∶3 content, and soybean oils from beans with normal LOX content had a significantly (P<-0.05) lower amount of 1-octen-3-ol than did the oils that lacked LOX enzymes. Storage at 35°C under light showed no differences in volatile amounts or sensory evaluations after 14 d of storage. During storage, peroxide values tended to be lower in oils from beans with normal 18∶3 content and in oils from beans with normal LOX content. Generally, the abscence of LOX 2 or LOX 2 and 3, although having a small effect on lipid oxidation, was not as important to oil quality as was the 18∶3 content.
Patching Up Broken Hearts: Cardiac Cell Therapy Gets a Bioengineered Boost

Preclinical and clinical studies for cardiac cell therapy have only seen moderate success due to poor engraftment and survival of transplanted cells. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Ye et al. (2014) employ a growth-factor-loaded fibrin patch and show improved cardiovascular cell survival after cell transplantation into a porcine model of ischemia reperfusion.
Microfluidic Smectite-Polymer Nanocomposite Strip Sensor for Aflatoxin Detection

Aflatoxins can cause seriously toxic and carcinogenic effects on human health. Current detection methods include immunoaffinity-based assays and high performance liquid chromatography. In this paper, we report a novel aflatoxin detection array based on smectite-polyacrylamide nanocomposite and a new fluorometeric quantification method. Two concentration levels (20-80 ppb/5-15 ppb) of aflatoxin B1-spiked corn extraction solutions are tested. Microfluidic channels are used to reduce the diffusion length and time of aflatoxin adsorption. By using incident intensity modulation, a simpler fluorometric quantification of aflatoxin concentration on sub-100 ppb levels is achieved with a hand-held 365-nm ultraviolet lamp.
SU-E-CAMPUS-J-05: Extracting Patient-Specific Radiobiological Parameters From Tumor Regression for Biologically-Based Adaptive Radiation Therapy of Head and Neck Cancer

Purpose: Biologically‐based treatment planning is often hindered by the lack of reliable model parameters, especially for an individual patient. The purpose of this study is to extract patient‐specific radiobiological parameters based on tumor volume regression observed during radiation therapy (RT) delivery. Methods: Tumor regression data were obtained from daily diagnostic‐quality CTs acquired during IGRT using a CT‐on‐rails (CTVision, Siemens) for 28 patients with head and neck cancers who were treated with IMRT to 70Gy in 2Gy fractions with concurrent chemotherapy. A two‐component model built under the assumption that tumor cells comprise both radiosensitive and radioresistant components was proposed and used to analyze the tumor regression data. The model consists of 4 parameters: radiobiological parameter (as), potential doubling time for the radiosensitive cells (Td), initial fraction of radioresistant cells (h) and the disintegration half‐life of radiation‐damaged cells (TDis). These paramters for a particular patient were estimated by fitting the model to the tumor regression data observed in the early part of the treatment course for the patient, then, tested by comparing the clinical data with the model predictions of tumor regression for the rest of treatment based on the parameters estimated from the early part of the treatment. Results: The proposed model with the newly estimated patient‐specifc model parameters predicts individual tumor regression reasonably well. Significant variations of the model parameters were found between patients. For example, for the patient data studied, as varies between 0.07 to 0.22 Gy‐1, Td changes from 2.4 to 13.4 days, h is about 50%, and TDis varies between 0.5 and 10 days. Conclusions: The tumor regression observed in the early part of IGRT for head neck cancer can be used to estimate patient‐specific radiobiological parameters, which may be used for biologically‐based adaptive replanning for the remaining part of the treatment.
THE EFFECT OF RETAIL PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES ON SALES

This article reports the formulation and results of a multiple equation econometric model to relate retail sales by brand and package size to retail promotional variables for a branded, frequently purchased grocery product. Primary emphasis is placed on the formulation of the model as opposed to the results obtained from its use.
Emerging targets: Molecular mechanisms of cell contact-mediated growth control

Emerging targets: Molecular mechanisms of cell contact-mediated growth control. Contact inhibition of cell proliferation evokes a unique cellular program of growth arrest compared with stress, age, or other physical constraints. The last decade of research on genes activated by cell-cell contact has uncovered features of transmembrane signaling, cytoskeletal reorganization, and transcriptional control that initiate and maintain a quiescent phenotype. This review will focus on mechanisms controlling contact inhibition of cell proliferation, highlighting specific gene expression responses that are activated by cell-cell contact. Although a temporal framework for imposition of these mechanisms has not yet been well described, contact inhibition of cell proliferation clearly requires their coordinated function. Novel targets for intervention in proliferative disorders are emerging from these studies.
Root-lesion nematodes reduce yield of intolerant wheat and barley.

Root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus neglectus and P. thornei) are widely distributed and substantially reduce grain yields in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-producing regions of the Pacifi c Northwest (PNW). Th e objective of this research was to determine if wheat and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars diff er in tolerance to these nematode species. Field experiments were conducted by comparing yields in untreated and nematicide-treated plots over 3 yr at two locations infested with either P. neglectus or P. thornei. Yield improvements from nematicide application ranged from 9 to 40% for spring cereals and 6 to 17% for winter cereals. Phenotypic tolerance responses diff ered (P < 0.01) among 45 cultivars of spring cereals but not among 22 and 45 cultivars of winter cereals. Tolerance ratings were assigned to spring cereals. Th is is the fi rst report of wheat and barley tolerances to rootlesion nematodes in North America. Variability within data sets was used to estimate that 40 and 56 comparisons (experiments × replications) would be required to assign tolerance ratings at the 95% confi dence interval for spring and winter cereals, respectively. Cultivar reactions in these tests, production and economic statistics for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and surveys of Pratylenchus in these states were used to estimate that P. neglectus and P. thornei reduce region-wide yields as much as 5% annually, equaling 361 Gg (361,000 metric tons) valued at $51 million. It was concluded that this yield-based screening procedure was impractical for routine screening but added emphasis to the importance of these root parasites in regions with low precipitation.
Improve transient frequency response by adjusting generators' over frequency relays

Defense plan strategies are designed to avoid major blackout in electrical power systems and to keep frequency and voltage of the system within the acceptable limits. In some cases, islanding occurs as a result of lines cascading tripping, which leads to an over frequency situation in excess generation areas. This paper introduces a control strategy to maintain the frequency of the system within the generation protection limits in the excess generation islands. This strategy adopts intentional time delay coordination for generators tripping time. A number of appropriate generators can be tripped to decrease the frequency of the islands. A partial blackout in the western area of Libyan network is taken as a real case study. NEPLAN program is used in this study to reconstruct the incident and evaluate the performance of the new strategy.
Deglaciation explains bat extinction in the Caribbean

Ecological factors such as changing climate on land and interspecific competition have been debated as possible causes of postglacial Caribbean extinction. These hypotheses, however, have not been tested against a null model of climate-driven postglacial area loss. Here, we use a new Quaternary mammal database and deep-sea bathymetry to estimate species–area relationships (SARs) at present and during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) for bats of the Caribbean, and to model species loss as a function of area loss from rising sea level. Island area was a significant predictor of species richness in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and Lesser Antilles at all time periods, except for the Lesser Antilles during the LGM. Parameters of LGM and current SARs were similar in the Bahamas and Greater Antilles, but not the Lesser Antilles, which had fewer estimated species during the LGM than expected given their size. Estimated postglacial species losses in the Bahamas and Greater Antilles were largely explained by inferred area loss from rising sea level in the Holocene. However, there were more species in the Bahamas at present, and fewer species in the smaller Greater Antilles, than expected given island size and the end-Pleistocene/early Holocene SARs. Poor fossil sampling and ecological factors may explain these departures from the null. Our analyses illustrate the importance of changes in area in explaining patterns of species richness through time and emphasize the role of the SAR as a null hypothesis in explorations of the impact of novel ecological interactions on extinction.
Association of FTO Gene Variants With Adiposity in African-American Adolescents

The prevalence of obesity continues to increase significantly, with the largest rise in the African-American adolescents. Genetic contributions to obesity are being identified with the advent of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Specifically, variants of the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene have been associated with obesity in populations of European descent. The studies in African Americans have been inconclusive. To further evaluate the association of the FTO gene and adiposity in African Americans, we genotyped 47 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including seven SNPs previously reported to be significant in the literature in a cohort consisting of 561 non-Hispanic white and 497 African-American individuals. Analysis of our data showed 17 SNPs to be associated with BMI Z-score (BMI-Z) in our study population. The strongest association was found in the African Americans. The most significant SNP was rs8057044, which was associated with BMI-Z in the African Americans (P = 0.00054). SNP rs9939609 was found to be significant in the non-Hispanic white population (P = 0.028). Our data confirm the association between FTO and adiposity suggesting that FTO is a childhood obesity susceptibility gene. Our data also identify a novel SNP of the FTO gene (rs8057044) that is associated with measures of adiposity in the African-American population.
CD45 Isoform Expression in Microglia and Inflammatory Cells in HIV‐1 Encephalitis

CD45 is a membrane tyrosine phosphatase that modulates the function of the hematopoietic cells. In vitro, agonist antibodies to CD45RO or CD45RB isoforms have been shown to suppress microglial activation, but whether microglia in vivo express these isoforms in HIV encephalitis (HIVE) is unknown. Brain sections from control and HIVE were immunostained for CD45 isoforms using exon-specific antibodies (RA, RB, RC and RO). RA and RC were limited to rare lymphocytes, while RB expression was robust in microglia and inflammatory cells. RO was low in control microglia, but increased in HIVE. RO was also localized to macrophages and CD8+ T cells. Targeting CD45 in vivo with isoform-specific antibodies remains a therapeutic option for neuroinflammatory diseases.
Partially coupled anisotropic fracture model for aluminum sheets

Abstract The objective of the present paper is to incorporate the effect of plastic anisotropy on the fracture modeling of aluminum alloy 6061-T 6 sheets. Six different types of tests were performed to fracture, including tensile tests on classical dog-bone specimens, flat specimens with cutouts, plane strain grooved specimens, and punch indentation tests on circular blanks. A limited number of shear/tension tests on butterfly specimens were performed on a dual-actuator loading frame. Plastic properties were determined from the dog-bone tensile tests, and were verified by the remaining tests. It was found that the sheets exhibited little planar anisotropy but substantial out-of-plane anisotropy, characterized by the Lankford parameter, r. A comprehensive numerical analysis of the experiments revealed that the Hill 1948 quadratic anisotropic yield model is able to describe, with good accuracy, the plastic response of all five types of tests. Fracture surface strains were measured using a digital image correlation system. Average fracture strains were determined by measuring post-fracture thickness reduction. Local fracture strains were determined by means of an inverse engineering method involving matching the displacement to fracture from numerical simulations to those measured. Possible discrepancies between the magnitudes of the fracture strain in the three above methods are discussed. Based on the previous experience of the investigating team, the experimental fracture data were analyzed within the realm of the three-parameter Modified Mohr–Coulomb fracture model. Using the plane stress anisotropic plasticity equations, the calibrated fracture model was then transformed to the space of the equivalent strain to fracture and stress triaxiality. An alternative representation of the fracture locus in the space of principal strains was also constructed. Other important factors influencing the form of the fracture locus, such as mesh-size effect and solid versus shell representation, were also investigated.
Incidental Detection of Cancer Predisposition Gene Copy Number Variations by Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization

We describe 2 pediatric patients who presented to medical genetics clinic for evaluation and were incidentally found via array comparative genomic hybridization to have pathogenic copy number variations of cancer predisposition genes. We subsequently reviewed 3554 previous array comparative genomic hybridization results to estimate the frequency of similar incidental findings.
The Multiple Alignment Algorithm for Metabolic Pathways without Abstraction

Computational problems associated with metabolic pathways have been extensively studied in computational biology. The problem of aligning multiple metabolic pathways is very challenging. Tohsato et al.’s algorithm for aligning multiple metabolic pathways is based on similarities between enzymes, however, a metabolic pathway consists of three types of entities: reactions, compounds, and enzymes. In this paper, we propose the first algorithm for the problem of aligning multiple metabolic pathways based on the similarities among reactions, compounds, enzymes, and pathway topology. First, we compute a weight between each pair of like entities in different input pathways based on the entities’ similarity score and topological structure using the methods by Ferhat Ay et al.. We then construct a weighted k-partite graph for the reactions, compounds, and enzymes. We extract a mapping between these entities by solving the maximum-weighted k-partite matching problem by applying a novel heuristic algorithm. By analyzing the alignment results of multiple pathways in different organisms, we show that the alignments found by our algorithm correctly identify common sub networks among multiple pathways.
Two axis image-based measurement and control for scanning probe microscopes

In this paper, a method for the image-based position measurement of both lateral axes of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) is presented. SPM systems have applications in a broad range of fields, but the operation speed of these devices is limited due to the resonant nature of the nanopositioner (typically piezoelectric) used to position the SPM probe above the sample surface. To overcome this issue a number of feedback and feedforward controllers have been successfully applied. One difficulty in applying these controllers is that they typically require probe-position sensors, which have a number of difficulties including limited resolution and sensor integration. To address these sensor issues, an image-based sensing method, capable of simultaneous measurement of both lateral positions (x and y) of the SPM, is presented and used to enable feedforward control. Specifically, in this method, the trajectory followed while imaging at high-speeds can be determined by analyzing the acquired image. This measured trajectory can then be used to develop a feedforward input that will compensate for the SPM dynamics. To verify the method, simulation results are presented.
Understanding another stigma: Comment on Elliott, Ziegler, Altman, and Scott

This paper examines Elliott, et al.’s article on dimensions of stigmata and their effects on social interaction. It is contended that the authors have overlooked an important type of stigma in their classification and definition of stigma — “the stigma of excellence”. The characteristics of this form of stigma are presented, and a call is made for the authors to rework their model so that it may apply to the stigma of excellence as it applies to negative stigmata.
A Minimal Model of Signaling Network Elucidates Cell-to-Cell Stochastic Variability in Apoptosis

Background Signaling networks are designed to sense an environmental stimulus and adapt to it. We propose and study a minimal model of signaling network that can sense and respond to external stimuli of varying strength in an adaptive manner. The structure of this minimal network is derived based on some simple assumptions on its differential response to external stimuli. Methodology We employ stochastic differential equations and probability distributions obtained from stochastic simulations to characterize differential signaling response in our minimal network model. Gillespie's stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA) is used in this study. Conclusions/Significance We show that the proposed minimal signaling network displays two distinct types of response as the strength of the stimulus is decreased. The signaling network has a deterministic part that undergoes rapid activation by a strong stimulus in which case cell-to-cell fluctuations can be ignored. As the strength of the stimulus decreases, the stochastic part of the network begins dominating the signaling response where slow activation is observed with characteristic large cell-to-cell stochastic variability. Interestingly, this proposed stochastic signaling network can capture some of the essential signaling behaviors of a complex apoptotic cell death signaling network that has been studied through experiments and large-scale computer simulations. Thus we claim that the proposed signaling network is an appropriate minimal model of apoptosis signaling. Elucidating the fundamental design principles of complex cellular signaling pathways such as apoptosis signaling remains a challenging task. We demonstrate how our proposed minimal model can help elucidate the effect of a specific apoptotic inhibitor Bcl-2 on apoptotic signaling in a cell-type independent manner. We also discuss the implications of our study in elucidating the adaptive strategy of cell death signaling pathways.
Tetrahydrobiopterin in the Prevention of Hypertonia in Hypoxic Fetal Brain

Objective: Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency is one of the causes of dystonia at birth. We hypothesized that BH4 is a developmental factor determining vulnerability of the immature fetal brain to hypoxic-ischemic injury and subsequent motor deficits in newborns. Methods: Pregnant rabbits were subjected to 40-min uterine ischemia and fetal brains were investigated for global and focal changes in BH4. Newborn kits were assessed by neurobehavioral tests following vehicle and sepiapterin (BH4-analog) treatment of dams. Results: Naive fetal brains at 70% gestation (E22) were severely deficient for BH4 compared to maternal and other fetal tissues. BH4 concentration rapidly increased normally in the perinatal period with the highest concentrations found in the thalamus compared to basal ganglia, frontal, occipital, hippocampus and parietal cortex. Global sustained 40-min hypoxia-ischemia depleted BH4 in E22 thalamus and to a lesser extent in basal ganglia, but not in the frontal, occipital and parietal regions. Maternal supplementation prior to hypoxia-ischemia with sepiapterin increased BH4 in all brain regions and especially in the thalamus, but did not increase the intermediary metabolite, 7,8-BH2. Sepiapterin treatment also reduced incidence of severe motor deficits and perinatal death following E22 hypoxia-ischemia. Interpretation: We conclude that early developmental BH4 deficiency plays a critical role in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Increasing brain BH4 via maternal supplementation may be an effective strategy in preventing motor deficits from antenatal hypoxia-ischemia.
Quantitative analysis of H2O+Coma images using a multiscale MHD model with detailed ion chemistry

Abstract The observation of ions created by ionization of cometary gas, either by ground-based observations or by in situ measurements can give us useful information about the gas production and composition of comets. However, due to the interaction of ions with the magnetized solar wind and their high chemical reactivity, it is not possible to relate measured ion densities (or column densities) directly to the parent gas densities. In order to quantitatively analyze measured ion abundances in cometary comae it is necessary to understand their dynamics and chemistry. We have developed a detailed ion–chemical network of cometary atmospheres. We include production of ions by photo- and electron impact-ionization of a background neutral atmosphere, charge exchange of solar wind ions with cometary atoms/molecules, reactions between ions and molecules, and dissociative recombination of molecular ions with thermal electrons. By combining the ion–chemical network with the three-dimensional plasma flow as computed by a new fully three-dimensional MHD model of cometary plasma environments (Gombosi et al. 1996) we are able to compute the density of the major cometary ions everywhere in the coma. The input parameters for our model are the solar wind conditions (density, speed, temperature, magnetic field) and the composition and production rate of the gas. We applied our model to Comet P/Halley in early March 1986, for which the input parameters are reasonably well known. We compare the resulting column density of H 2 O + with ground-based observations of H 2 O + from DiSanti et al. (1990). The results of our model are in good agreement with both the spatial distribution and the absolute abundance of H 2 O + and with their variations with the changing overall water production rate between two days. The results are encouraging that it will be possible to obtain production rates of neutral cometary constituents from observations of their ion products.
A Case Report: Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum (Hamman's Syndrome)

Spontaneous pnemomediastinum is a rare medical condition which usually occurs in young male patients with a history of inhalational drug use. Chest pain and dyspnea are common presenting symptoms, and precordial crunching sound on auscultation synchronous with heartbeats is a characteristic sign of this condition. Also known as Hamman’s syndrome, it is usually self- limiting and without any complication or recurrence.
Phorbol esters increase MLC phosphorylation and actin remodeling in bovine lung endothelium without increased contraction

Direct protein kinase C (PKC) activation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) results in the loss of endothelial monolayer integrity in bovine lung endothelial cells (EC) but produces barrier enhancement in human lung endothelium. To extend these findings, we studied EC contractile events and observed a 40% increase in myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation in bovine endothelium following PMA challenge. The increase in PMA-mediated MLC phosphorylation occurred at sites distinct from Ser19/Thr18, sites catalyzed by MLC kinase (MLCK), and immunoblotting with antibodies specific to phosphorylated Ser19/Thr18 demonstrated profound time-dependent Ser19/Thr18 dephosphorylation. These events occurred in conjunction with rearrangement of stress fibers into a grid-like network, but without an increase in cellular contraction as measured by silicone membrane wrinkling assay. The PMA-induced MLC dephosphorylation was not due to kinase inhibition but, rather, correlated with rapid increases in myosin-associated phosphatase 1 (PPase 1) activity. These data suggest that PMA-mediated EC barrier regulation may involve dual mechanisms that alter MLC phosphorylation. The increase in bovine MLC phosphorylation likely occurs via direct PKC-dependent MLC phosphorylation in conjunction with decreases in Ser19/Thr18 phosphorylation catalyzed by MLCK due to PMA-induced increases in PPase 1 activity. Together, these events result in stress fiber destabilization and profound actin rearrangement in bovine endothelium, which may result in the physiological alterations observed in these models.
Ideology and the Affective Structure of Whites’ Racial Perceptions

The present study tests the hypothesis that deviations from "affective bipolarity" in the relationship between the positive and negative dimensions of whites' stereotypes of blacks—such as racial ambivalence—should be stronger among conservatives. Across two dif- ferent data sets (the 2000 National Election Study and the 1991 National Race and Politics Study) and three different methodologies (heteroske- dastic regression, confirmatory factor analysis, and a regression analysis of attitude-ambivalence scores), this hypothesis was supported. Further analyses indicated that the relationship between conservatism and ambivalent perceptions of blacks was mediated by conflict between humanitarian and individualistic concerns in the racial context, but not in the abstract. The study of racial perceptions has developed into one of the most fruitful areas of social science research on racial and ethnic attitudes. Among other things, research on stereotypical perceptions of various racial and ethnic groups has documented their content (Devine and Elliott 1995; Schuman et al. 1997; Sniderman and Carmines 1997), their origins (Fiske 1998), and their impact on information processing (for reviews see Blair 2001; and Fiske 1998). More recently, researchers have also begun to take an interest in the relationship between the positive and negative dimensions of whites' stereo- typical perceptions of blacks. Although positive and negative stereotypical perceptions are perhaps most easily thought of as "bipolar" or "reciprocally related"—with the acceptance of positive perceptions implying the rejection of negative perceptions and vice versa—research differs as to whether this is
Marker genotypes and population admixture and their association with body weight, height and relative body mass in United States federal bison herds.

Elucidating genetic influences on bison growth and body composition is of interest, not only because bison are important for historical, cultural, and agricultural reasons, but also because their unusual population history makes them valuable models for finding influential loci in both domestic cattle and humans. We tested for trait loci associated with body weight, height, and bison mass index (BMI) while controlling for estimated ancestry to reduce potential confounding effects due to population admixture in 1316 bison sampled from four U.S. herds. We used 60 microsatellite markers to model each phenotype as a function of herd, sex, age, marker genotypes, and individual ancestry estimates. Statistical significance for genotype and its interaction with ancestry was evaluated using the adaptive false discovery rate. Of the four herds, two appeared to be admixed and two were nonadmixed. Although none of the main effects of the loci were significant, estimated ancestry and its interaction with marker loci were significantly associated with the phenotypes, illustrating the importance of including ancestry in the models and the dependence of genotype–phenotype associations on background ancestry. Individual loci contributed ∼2.0% of variation in weight, height, and BMI, which confirms the utility and potential importance of adjusting for population stratification.
Dermatomyositis: an overview of recent progress with emphasis on dermatologic aspects.

Important points regarding DM and C-ADM are as follows: C-ADM is a working functional designation for patients having the skin-only and skin-predominant subsets of DM, amyopathic DM, and hypomyopathic DM. C-ADM seems to have approximately 10% the incidence of classic DM in whites and possibly a higher incidence in Asians. Some patients who present with C-ADM, with or without subclinical laboratory abnormalities, can slowly progress to develop symptomatic muscle weakness over a period of years, whereas others go for 10 to 20 years and longer without the appearance of muscle weakness. C-ADM patients are at risk for potentially life-threatening complications of classic DM, such as interstitial lung disease, which may occur in up to 10% of C-ADM patients. This risk seems to be even greater in some ethnic subgroups (e.g., Japanese). C-ADM patients may also be at increased risk for internal malignancy and until further studies are carried out to confirm the statistical significance of this association, all such patients should have a thorough evaluation for internal malignancy, identical to the approach currently used in classic DM patients. Dermatologists are in the best position initially to diagnose C-ADM patients and can contribute greatly to their overall management and quality of life. Ongoing vigilance is required, however, for complications that can arise in C-ADM patients including potentially fatal interstitial lung disease, internal malignancy, delayed onset of muscle weakness from myositis, and complications of systemic drug therapy. Topical therapy with broad-spectrum sunscreens, anti-inflammatories, and antipruritics should be maximized during the initial management of the cutaneous manifestations of either classic DM or C-ADM. Single-agent or combined aminoquinoline antimalarial therapy represents the safest initial form of systemic therapy for DM-specific skin disease occurring in any clinical setting; however, this approach tends to be less effective in general than for cutaneous LE. There is a theoretical rationale for and limited preliminary successful anecdotal experience with the use of anti-TNF-alpha therapy in refractory cases of classic DM and C-ADM. Cautious systematic clinical trials in this area should be considered.
The Role of Iron in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C

Increased hepatic iron content may be observed in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, and may contribute to disease severity. The presence of hemochromatosis gene mutations is associated with increased hepatic iron accumulation and may lead to accelerated disease progression. Hepatic iron depletion has been postulated to decrease the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis C. It is possible that iron depletion stabilizes or improves liver histology and slows disease progression in these individuals. The present article reviews the prevalence and risk factors for hepatic iron overload in chronic hepatitis C, with emphasis on the available data regarding the efficacy of iron depletion in the treatment of this common liver disease.
Measures for Professional Aspects of the Financial Helping Relationship

This chapter contains scales, indexes, and one-item measures, designed to help financial planning and counseling researchers and practitioners assess the help-seeking preferences of individuals. The chapter contains instruments related to financial planner communication skills, trust, relationship factors, commitment, and advice, as well as help seeking attitudes of individuals who make daily financial decisions at the household level. These instruments can be used in both research and practice. A description of each scale, index, and one-item measure is provided. Descriptive information includes background information on the sample norm, as well as the reliability and validity of each instrument.
Tuning Ionic Transport in Memristive Devices by Graphene with Engineered Nanopores

Memristors, based on inherent memory effects in simple two-terminal structures, have attracted tremendous interest recently for applications ranging from nonvolatile data storage to neuromorphic computing based on non-von Neumann architectures. In a memristor, the ability to modulate and retain the state of an internal variable leads to experimentally observed resistive switching (RS) effects. Such phenomena originate from internal, microscopic ionic migration and associated electrochemical processes that modify the materials’ electrical and other physical properties. To optimize the device performance for practical applications with large-size arrays, controlling the internal ionic transport and redox reaction processes thus becomes a necessity, ideally at the atomic scale. Here we show that the RS characteristics in tantalum-oxide-based memristors can be systematically tuned by inserting a graphene film with engineered nanopores. Graphene, with its atomic thickness and excellent impermeability and chemi...
Bacterial oxidation of salicylate and related antirheumatic phenolic acids.

Summary1. The oxidation by bacteria of salicylate, gentisate, and 2:3-dihydroxyben-zoate has been examined with the technic of simultaneous adaptation. 2. Catechol appears to be an intermediate in the oxidation of salicylate. 3. Organisms grown on gentisate and 2:3-dihydroxybenzoate show no adaptation to any likely known intermediates. 4. It is suggested that the oxidation of gentisate may be analogous to that of homogentisate, with formation of a straight-chain β-diketo-dicarboxylic acid.