cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological study of kidney survival in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Epidemiological study of kidney survival in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Background It is unknown whether the substantial increase in research, identification of risk factors for renal progression, greater antihypertensive armamentarium including inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and enhanced educational information have impacted the progression of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) renal disease. Methods An epidemiological study involving 513 ADPKD subjects was performed. The hypothesis tested was that over two separate periods, 1985 to 1992 versus 1992 to 2001, a significant slowing of renal function loss in ADPKD patients would be demonstrated in association with improved blood pressure (BP) control and inhibition of the RAAS as instituted by their primary care physicians. Results ADPKD males and females in the later cohort (1992 to 2001) had longer mean and median survival times to ESRD than males and females in the earlier cohort (1985 to 1992). Analysis revealed that both males and females in the later cohort had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) values than males and females in the earlier cohort. ADPKD male and female patients in the later cohort used significantly more angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) than ADPKD male and female patients in the earlier cohort. Conclusions These results demonstrate a significant slowing of ADPKD renal progression in both male and female patients that was associated with a significantly lower MAP and increased use of ACEIs in the later cohort (1992 to 2001) as compared to the early cohort (1985-1992).
Multi-Layer Material Platforms for Reconfigurable Nanophotonic Structures

We present a hybrid material platform based on vertical integration of multiple silicon and/or silicon-nitride layers. Using these materials, we demonstrate compact, low-loss, and low-power reconfigurable resonance-based photonic devices with high power handling and fast reconfiguration.
Selective protection by stably transfected human ALDH3A1 (but not human ALDH1A1) against toxicity of aliphatic aldehydes in V79 cells

Toxic medium chain length alkanals, alkenals, and 4-hydroxyalkenals that are generated during lipid peroxidation are potential substrates for aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isoforms. We have developed transgenic cell lines to examine the potential for either human ALDH1A1 or ALDH3A1 to protect against damage mediated by these toxic aldehydes. Using crude cytosols from stably transfected cell lines, these aldehydes were confirmed to be excellent substrates for ALDH3A1, but were poorly oxidized by ALDH1A1. Expression of ALDH3A1 by stable transfection in V79 cells conferred a high level of protection against growth inhibition by the medium-chain length aldehyde substrates with highest substrate activity, including hexanal, trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-octenal, trans-2-nonenal, and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE). This was reflected in a parallel ability of ALDH3A1 to prevent depletion of glutathione by these aldehydes. Expression of hALDH3 completely blocked the potent induction of apoptosis by HNE in both V79 cells and in a RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line, consistent with the observed total prevention of HNE-protein adduct formation. Structure-activity studies indicated that the rank order of potency for the contributions of HNE functional groups to toxicity was aldehyde >/=C2=C3 double bond>>C4-hydroxyl group. Oxidation of the aldehyde moiety of HNE to a carboxyl by ALDH3A1 expressed in stably transfected cell lines drastically reduced its potency for growth inhibition and apoptosis induction. In contrast, ALDH1A1 expression provided only moderate protection against trans-2-nonenal (t2NE), and none against the other six-nine carbon aldehydes. Neither ALDH1A1 nor ALDH3A1 conferred any protection against acrolein, acetaldehyde, or chloroacetaldehyde. A small degree of protection against malondialdehyde was afforded by ALDH1A1, but not ALDH3A1. Paradoxically, cells expressing ALDH3A1 were 1.5-fold more sensitive to benzaldehyde toxicity than control V79 cells. These studies demonstrate that expression of class 3 ALDH, but not class 1 ALDH, can be an important determinant of cellular resistance to toxicity mediated by aldehydes of intermediate chain length that are produced during lipid peroxidation.
X-linked (recessive) hypomaturation amelogenesis imperfecta: A prosthodontic, genetic, and histopathologic report

A 16-year-old white girl requested esthetic restorations for her teeth. She was a manifesting heterozygote for the X-linked recessive form of amelogenesis imperfecta with hypomaturation defect. Lyonization theory states that in the somatic cells of female mammals, one of the two X chromosomes is randomly inactivated early in development. Therefore, females who are heterozygous for a given X-linked gene will be mosaic with varying proportions of cells in which only one of a particular pair of alleles is active. This mosaicism produced by lyonization ensures considerable phenotypic variability in the clinical expression of X-linked disorders. Histologic examination of the patient's extracted third molars demonstrated the expected lyonization effect. The patient received six porcelain laminate veneered crowns to restore her maxillary incisor and canine teeth. This article represents the first reported use of such restorations to alleviate the cosmetic and functional handicaps that accompany this genetic disease.
A comparison of taste test ratings, repeated consumption, and postconsumption ratings of different strengths of iced tea

One objective of this study was to compare taste test ratings with amounts consumed and postconsumption ratings made as iced teas of different strengths were repeatedly consumed. The second objective was to determine whether sensory specific satiety could be used as a rapid indicator of long term acceptability of the teas. Subjects first rated their liking of and the flavor intensity of several samples of lemon flavored iced tea. Two tea concentrations were selected from this test to represent distinctly different flavor intensities. Taste test liking ratings of the strong concentration were higher than those of the weak concentration. Subjects consumed either the strong or the weak iced tea ad lib on 20 different afternoons over a 2-month period and rated their liking of the tea after each session. We measured the amount of tea consumed each time. On repeated consumption the subjects liked the weaker tea better than the stronger tea. Subjects consumed about the same amount of each tea. A different group of 15 subjects participated in a sensory specific satiety study of the same two teas. Those subjects drank more of the weak tea than the strong tea.
How Hume’s Philosophy Informed Radical Behaviorism

The present paper analyzes consistencies between the philosophical systems of David Hume and B. F. Skinner, focusing on their conceptualization of causality and attitudes about scientific behavior. The ideas that Hume initially advanced were further developed in Skinner’s writings and shaped the behavior-analytic approach to scientific behavior. Tracing Skinner’s logical antecedents allows for additional historical and philosophical clarity when examining the development of radical behaviorism.
Maniplicons in ThinkerToy

ThinkerToy is a graphical environment for modeling decision support problems. It provides a tableau on which such problems as landscape planning, service scheduling, and statistical analysis can be modeled and analyzed. Normally, complex mathematical and statistical modeling techniques are needed to perform meaningful analysis. ThinkerToy uses graphical icons with concrete physical properties to replace mathematical relationships and properties. The key construct in this methodology is the ManiplIcon: an icon which is not just a pictorial representation, but also a semantic tool for building models which homorphically represent semi-structured problems.
Ka-band monolithic gain control amplifier

A monolithic gain control amplifier for Ka-band has been developed based on 0.25 micron-gate-length dual-gate FETs fabricated on ion-implanted material. A single-stage monolithic amplifier gives a gain of 6 dB at 31 GHz including fixture losses with a gain control range of over 20 dB. The device and IC design and fabrication are described.
Physical Education Teacher Education in the United States.

(1990). Physical Education Teacher Education in the United States. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 61, No. 2, pp. 41-45.
Cheddar cheese with increased polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract Cheddar cheese was made from milk of cows fed a diet supplemented with formaldehyde-treated safflower oil-casein particles. Cheeses containing 30% linoleic acid possessed body and flavor defects. These defects were less noticeable in cheese samples with 12 to 16% linoleic acid, but the cheese was significantly lower in flavor score and cheese flavor than the control. Process cheese, manufactured by blending lots of normal cheese with cheese containing increased polyunsaturated fatty acids to obtain a linoleic acid content of 10 to 12%, was liked as well by a consumer panel as commercial process cheese.
The Effect of Silicon and Manganese on the Oxidation Mechanism of Ni-20 Cr*

Additions of 3% silicon or manganese to Ni-20 Cr reduced the oxidation rate, whereas additions of 1% had little effect. Three percent silicon alloys formed an inner scale of SiO2, and 3% manganese alloys formed an inner spinel layer of essentially pure MnCr2O4. The experimentally determined solid-state growth rate of NiCr2O4 was about 1000 times slower than the growth rate for Cr2O3. It has been established that the protective layer on Ni-20 Cr (Nichrome alloys) is the spinel and not Cr2O3 as previously postulated. The mechanism for scale growth is discussed for Ni-20 Cr alloys.
“ANTI-REFLECTION” Coating for a Nonlinear Transmission to Total Reflection Switch

An anti-reflection dielectric coating is designed for a nonlinear interface between a linear and a nonlinear medium. Expressions for the required thickness and refractive indices are derived. It is shown that the appropriately coated system will allow low power light to be initially highly transmitted even for incident angles close to the critical angle for total reflection; the system will also perform the nonlinear transmission to total-reflection switching for high power light.
The MAPK pathway in melanoma.

Purpose of reviewAs understanding of molecular and genetic processes in cancer evolves, so does appreciation of tumor heterogeneity. Tumor profiling has expanded knowledge of relevant pathways, and their interplay. Similar to the revolution in breast cancer with the discovery and successful therapeu
Clinical implications of the extent of invasion of T3 esophageal cancer by endoscopic ultrasound.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is an accurate imaging modality for local staging of esophageal cancer. We aimed to determine if depth of tumor invasion beyond muscularis propria (MP), as determined by preoperative EUS, is predictive of tumor recurrence or survival (a positive change in mortality) in patients with T3 esophageal cancer. Methods: Records and images of all patients with T3 N1 M0 esophageal cancer staged with EUS at our institution between January 1999 and October 2003 were reviewed. EUS images were independently reviewed by five blinded endosonographers and tumors were classified as minimally invasive (invasion < 3 mm beyond MP) or advanced (invasion ≥ 3 mm beyond MP) T3 disease. Results: One hundred and sixty-five patients with esophageal cancer underwent EUS for staging and 39 patients with T3 N1 esophageal cancer were identified; 17 patients had minimally invasive T3 disease and 22 had advanced disease. All patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy followed by esophagectomy. Median follow up was 13 months. Adjusting for age and sex, minimally invasive disease was not associated with a statistically significant improvement in recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 0.88–2.41, P = 0.14) or mortality (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% CI: 0.49–1.78, P = 0.91). Conclusions: The extent of invasion of T3 esophageal cancer beyond MP, as determined by EUS, is not a significant predictor of tumor recurrence or mortality.
The atmospheric helium isotope ratio: Is it changing?

[1] We have compared the helium isotope ratio of samples of Pacific marine air collected over the 30-year period from 1973 to 2003 against a secondary geothermal gas standard and also against a running air standard. The results are consistent with zero rate of change for atmospheric 3He/4He. When the errors are taken into account, the rate of change in the air 3He/4He ratio is between −0.0102 and +0.0019 %/year. At the most this corresponds to a 0.3% change in the air 3He/4He ratio over the past 3 decades, which is at or below the detection limit of most laboratories. While there may be a small decrease in air 3He/4He due to anthropogenic release of 4He associated with use of fossil fuels, this decrease is not large enough to prevent the use of air helium as an isotopic standard.
The Protective Effect of Inhaled NO on Hyperoxic Lung Inflammation is Associated with an Inhibition of P-Selectin Expression in Lung Tissue. |[bull]| 1508

Pulmonary hypertension in newborns is commonly treated with a combination of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) and high concentrations of supplemental oxygen. Hyperoxia-induced lung injury is associated with inflammation, which in a variety of animal models is associated with upregulation of adhesion molecules crucial for the development of inflammation such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), P-selectin and E-selectin. We have previously shown that inhaled NO at 100 ppm reduces hyperoxia-induced lung inflammation in rats. Others have found that NO inhibits leukocyte adhesion through its inhibition of endothelial adhesion molecule expression. We therefore hypothesized that NO would inhibit the upregulation of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin in rats exposed to >95% O2. Lung tissue was obtained at 24, 48, 60 h from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to either >95%+ 100 ppm of inhaled NO or >95% oxygen alone. Lung samples were also taken from airbreathing rats and used as controls. Inflammatory cells were identified by staining with myeloperoxidase, and adhesion molecule expression was determined by Western blotting. We found an increase in lung interstitial neutrophils over time in hyperoxia (p<0.05), and a significant decrease in interstitial neutrophils at 48 (p<0.001), and at 60 (p<0.001) h of exposure to hyperoxia with NO. In the same lungs there was increased P-selectin, E-selectin, and ICAM-1 expression as a function of hyperoxia-exposure time (p<0.05), while inhaled NO led to a decrease in P-selectin upregulation (p<0.002) at 60 h. Inhaled NO had no statistically significant effect on E-selectin or ICAM-1 expression. In conclusion, inhaled NO may reduce hyperoxia-induced lung inflammation by decreasing the upregulation of P-selectin in lung tissue, and may exert a beneficial effect by modulating lung inflammation and adhesion molecule expression in hyperoxia-exposed lungs.Supported by NIH grant 5 P30 HD27823-04
Dijet measurements in pPb collisions

Abstract Results on dijet production in pPb collisions at 5.02 TeV are discussed with a focus on dijet pseudorapidity, η dijet , and centrality classification biases on it. The normalized η dijet distributions from data and from calculations with CT10 proton parton distribution function (pPDF) and with EPS09 nuclear parton distribution function (nPDF) are compared. Despite the agreement between data and theoretical calculations for an inclusive centrality selection, as the raw transverse energy deposited in the forward calorimeter (forward activity) increases, η dijet distribution shifts towards lead beam direction an amount that is larger than what would be expected from the impact parameter dependence of nPDFs. To understand the driving mechanism of this shift an additional measurement of 〈 η dijet 〉 as a function of forward activity in the lead direction is carried out in differential bins of forward activity in the proton direction. The shift is reduced by keeping forward activity in the proton direction in a narrow interval.
Statistical differentiation between self incompatibility and pseudo-self compatibility in Petunia hybrida Hort, using female and male coefficient of crossability

Discriminating styles (DS), pollen-mediated pseudo-self compatibility (PMPSC), and general pseudo-self compatibility (PSC) phenomena were investigated by re-analyzing data from Petunia hybrida where known S genotypes were used. This demonstrated how female coefficient of crossability (FCC)/male coefficient of crossability (MCC) scatter diagrams and regression analyses aid in identifying and quantifying PSC within an self incompatible (SI) population. One of the female testers was identified by statistics to be SI, not DS, in contrast to what was reported in the original report, where all the plants were assumed to have operating DS. In addition, none of the females expressed PMPSC. Based on regression analysis and chi-square tests, a threshold between 27% and 31% PSC was estimated to be necessary for expression of DS. The presence of DS was also required to test for the existence of PMPSC as reported previously. The upper left-hand quadrant of the FCC/MCC scatter diagram which contains all the deviants from the theoretical SI model, is the location expression of DS has been identified. Placement for PMPSC deviants is not possible, due to the interrelationship with DS. Percent PSC did not directly equate with the different types of PSC phenomena but was useful for identifying and ranking DS in female parents. The compatible tester used in this experiment did not always produce the highest outcross seed set with the females as expected. Therefore, due to the confounding effects of the different types of PSC, it is important to choose the compatible testers with care. Regression analyses of FCC/MCC values indicated that S2.2 and S1.2 male testers did not behave in a similar fashion to S1.1 testers. It is hypothesized that this disparity could be the result of the expression of a general PSC gene, different from the DS or PMPSC genes, which is linked to the S2 allele. Since these general PSC effects associated with the S2 allele are minor in comparison to DS and PMPSC, it was necessary to distinguish the difference using statistical analysis.
Future directions in cancer research: impact of the completion of the human genome.

The sequencing of the human genome will have a major impact on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and outcome of cancer. Progress will most likely occur in a stepwise fashion with the biggest initial impact in diagnosis and molecular targeting of new medicines. Advances in genomics and proteomics have already resulted in major findings that are facilitating earlier cancer diagnosis and disease stratification. New treatments that target specific pathways are well underway for many cancers and likewise, molecular analyses aimed at finding medicines with reduced toxicities are being conducted. Close interaction with the Food and Drug Administration will be very important to integrate these new technologies into product development and the approval of new medicines and diagnostics. Clearly, we are now approaching the era of personalized medicines in which one has the opportunity to maximize the efficacy and minimize the side effects of the cancer treatments. The ability to translate this new technology into improving cancer patient care and outcomes will require that scientists from academia, industry, and government work together closely to develop the framework and standards necessary to maximize the benefit of the human genome project.
Political involvement: A critique and a process‐oriented reformulation

This article critiques the hierarchy of effects research on involvement, arguing that the evidence does not support the notion that the order of communication effects differs under high and low involvement. It is also asserted that the hierarchy model has failed to specify the cognitive processes that underly low involvement and that this has resulted in a somewhat simplified view of low involvement processing. Focusing on political involvement, the article then proposes a process based model of political persuasion that asserts that under high involvement, political information is processed systematically or deeply, whereas a more peripheral processing strategy is invoked under low political involvement. Additional hypotheses are developed on the basis of the cognitive response approach and Fishbein and Ajzen's theory of reasoned action. Implications for political persuasion effects are subsequently discussed.
DOSAGE COMPENSATION IN DROSOPHILA AND THE 'COMPLEX' WORLD OF TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION

The purpose of this review is to draw attention to the mechanism of dosage compensation in Drosophila as a model for the study of the regulation of gene activity through the modulation of transcription. Dosage compensation resembles some mechanisms of transcriptional regulation, found in widely divergent organisms, that do not play a role in the activation of silent genes but determine the level of activity of genes that have been induced through the action of specific activators. It differs from other known regulatory mechanisms in that its effect is to achieve, on average, a twofold change in gene activity levels. This review introduces the notion that, in order to yield such a defined level of regulation, the mechanism of dosage compensation in Drosophila, and perhaps in Caenorhabditis as well, incorporates elements that govern both transcriptional enhancement and repression within the same multi-protein regulatory complex.
Who disseminates academic library information on Twitter

The purpose of this study is to investigate information dissemination by academic libraries through an analysis of retweet users on Twitter. Academic libraries have posted a variety of information for their patrons on Twitter; however, we know little about who has an interest in academic library tweets and to whom the information is disseminated. To this end, we explored a network of academic libraries by analyzing categories of users who are involved in retweet activity. The results show which user groups disseminate academic library information. We collected 571 retweets and 506 retweet users from 10 academic libraries' Twitter accounts, and categorized them into 12 groups. The results indicate that the primary groups disseminating the tweets of academic libraries are units within universities and students.
Numerical analysis of a novel straight polymer channel waveguide based variable optical attenuator

Variable optical attenuators (VOAs) play an important role in the wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) telecommunication networks. It is often necessary to use VOAs to perform functions as: (a) Dynamic channel balancing at MUX location; (b) Dynamic channel leveling at add/drop sites; (c) Receiver overload control; and (d) Optical channel blocking. In order to minimize the overall costs and optimize the performances, VOAs are sometimes required to be integrated with other optical components, such as a MUX/DEMUX, a detector array and etc. Planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology is the ideal technology platform for realizing this type of large-scale integrations. In this work, we propose a VOA design based on a simple straight polymer channel waveguide layout in order to provide the optimal optical performances with very low electric power consumptions and high fabrication yield. The fabrication of the proposed design will be in compatible with other polymer components on the same substrate. It is found from the simulation results that the design can offer high attenuation level with very low electrical power consumption. In addition, the simulation results demonstrate that the proposed VOA design can achieve very low polarization dependent loss and very good spectra flatness. All these performances would make the proposed VOA design very suitable for large-scale integration applications.
Sorption Isotherm-Sequential Extraction Analysis of Heavy Metal Retention in Landfill Liners

The chemical partitioning of heavy metals in soil materials is of great importance in risk assessment, landfill bottom liner design, and remedial investigation. The sorption characteristics of clayey calcareous sediments used to construct landfill bottom liners at four sites in southeastern Michigan were studied using a new method : combined sequential extraction-sorption isotherm analysis (CSSA). After spiking to simulate high levels of contamination, the sediments sorbed large quantities of Pb (∼1480-145 000 mg kg -1 ), Ni(∼750-8100 mg kg -1 ), and Cd (∼980-5070 mg kg -1 ). Sequential extraction data indicated that Pb and Ni were principally in a carbonate-occluded form, whereas Cd was mainly in an exchangeable form at high levels (>1000 mg kg -1 ) of contamination. These results suggest that Pb and Ni will be immobilized by the liner materials but Cd will probably be highly mobile. By applying sequential extraction analysis after spiking, Langmuir sorption isotherms were constructed successfully for most of the individually targeted phases. Thus, CSSA appears to be a promising method for predicting the attenuation capabilities of soils and sediments because it allows the sorption capacities of individual phases to be determined while together in a natural system.
Intratracheal injection of manganese superoxide dismutase-plasmid/liposome (Mnsod-pl) Protects normal lung but not orthotopic thoracic tumors from irradiation

Abstract Major complications following total body irradiation (TBI) prior to bone marrow transplantation (BMT) include pneumonitis and lung fibrosis. Our laboratory previously demonstrated that intratracheal (IT) injection of C57BL/6J mice with MnSOD-PL complex 24 hours before irradiation reduces organizing alveolitis/fibrosis and increases survival. To demonstrate that overexpression of the human MnSOD transgene in the lung would not protect lung tumors, C57BL/6J mice were injected at the carina with 5×10 5 orthotopic 3LL Lewis lung carcinoma cells 10 days before MnSOD-PL injection, and sacrificed 24 hrs later. Lungs were removed, orthotopic tumor isolated, RNA extracted, and nested RT-PCR performed with primers specific for the human MnSOD transgene. Expression of the human MnSOD transgene was detected in lung cells but not in orthotopic tumors. Tumor bearing mice that received MnSOD-PL + 1800 cGy showed a significant increase in survival compared to LacZ-PL + 1800 cGy or 1800 cGy alone. Pulmonary MnSOD-PL treatment may compliment TBI by not only protecting the lungs from irradiation but also by increasing tumor control.
National Survey of Volunteer Pharmacy Preceptors: Effects of Region, Practice Setting, and Population Density on Responses

Objectives: To survey volunteer pharmacy preceptors regarding experiential education and determine whether differences in responses relate to such factors as geographic region, practice setting, and population density. Methods: An online survey was sent to 4396 volunteer experiential preceptors. The survey consisted of 41 questions asking the preceptor to comment on the experiential education environment. Experiential education administrators from 9 schools of pharmacy administered the survey to their volunteer preceptors in all regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West) of the United States, in various pharmacy practice settings, and areas of differing population densities. Results: A total of 1163 (26.5%) preceptors responded. Regionally, preceptors in the West disagreed more than those in the Midwest and the South that they had enough time to spend with students to provide a quality experience and also required compensation less often than their counterparts in the Northeast and South. Concerning pr...
A new major histocompatibility complex class I b gene expressed in the mouse blastocyst and placenta.

Because of the role major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I b molecules may play during mouse embryonic development, we thought it would be interesting to search for additional MHC class I b molecules that might be expressed in preimplantation embryos, and in particular in the trophoblastic lineage. We therefore screened a mouse preimplantation blastocyst cDNA library for MHC class I sequences. This search led to the identification and characterization of a new MHC class I b gene, blastocyst MHC. Sequences identical to the exons and 3′ untranslated region of this gene have been found in many laboratory mouse strains, as well as in the related mouse species Mus spreciligus. The presence of this gene in mouse strains of different MHC class I haplotypes argues that blastocyst MHC is a unique, newly-described gene rather than a new allele of a previously described mouse MHC class I gene. Blastocyst MHC has the structure of an MHC class I b gene, with the six exons characteristic of T-region genes. It is linked to H2-D. The amino acid sequence encoded by this gene maintains all the features of a functional antigen-presentation domain. The blastocyst MHC gene, like the human class I b gene HLA-G, is expressed at the blastocyst stage and in the placenta, and may be the mouse analog for HLA-G.
Identification of uropathogenic Escherichia coli surface proteins by shotgun proteomics.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) cause the majority of uncomplicated urinary tract infections in humans. In the process of identifying candidate antigens for a vaccine, two methods for the identification of the UPEC surface proteome during growth in human urine were investigated. The first approach utilized a protease to ‘shave’ surface-exposed peptides from the bacterial cell surface and identify them by mass spectrometry. Although this approach has been successfully applied to a Gram-positive pathogen, the adaptation to Gram-negative UPEC resulted in cytoplasmic protein contamination. In a more direct approach, whole-cell bacteria were labeled with a biotin tag to indicate surface-exposed peptides and two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (2-DLC-MS/MS) was used to identify proteins isolated from the outer membrane. This method discovered 25 predicted outer membrane proteins expressed by UPEC while growing in human urine. Nine of the 25 predicted outer membrane proteins were part of iron transport systems or putative iron-regulated virulence proteins, indicating the importance of iron acquisition during growth in urine. One of the iron transport proteins identified, Hma, appears to be a promising vaccine candidate is being further investigated. The method described here presents a system to rapidly identify the outer membrane proteome of bacteria, which may prove valuable in vaccine development.
2-Deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase: isolation and characterization of proteins genetically modified in the active site region.

Abstract The effect of mutations on the biological function of an enzyme was examined using the deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase of Salmonella typhimurium . Kinetic data obtained with 8 missense proteins and 11 suppressed nonsense proteins suggested that the missense mutations occurred preferentially in the portion of the gene coding for at least part of the active site of the enzyme. The suppressed nonsense proteins were more severely affected in catalytic ability. Six mutant proteins were purified and covalently labeled with substrate and the binding sites were examined directly by fingerprint analyses of tryptic digests. Four of the five missense proteins examined showed alterations in the substrate binding site peptide. Suggestive evidence is presented for the clockwise transcription of the deoC gene.
Clinical and Polysomnographic Features of Sleep-Related Eating Disorder

BACKGROUND Sleep-related eating disorder is a recently described clinical syndrome that combines characteristics of both eating and sleep disorders. Nocturnal partial arousals are followed by rapid ingestion of food and subsequent poor memory for the episode. Only two case series examining this disorder have been published, and both are from the same sleep disorders center in a general hospital. METHOD The author describes 23 consecutive cases of sleep-related eating disorder that presented to the Sleep Disorders Center at McLean Hospital. All patients were administered at a standardized clinical sleep disorders evaluation followed by a semistructured interview to elicit information regarding characteristics of sleep-related eating disorder. Polysomnographic evaluation was performed on all patients with clinical histories of sleep-related eating disorder. RESULTS Eighty-three percent (N = 19) of the 23 patients were female. For most of the patients, the disorder had begun in adolescence (mean +/- SD = 21.6 +/- 10.9 years) and had been chronic, with a mean duration of 15.8 +/- 11.2 years. Nearly all patients reported eating on a nightly basis (1-6 times per night), and all episodes followed a period of sleep. All patients described their eating as "out of control," and two thirds stated that they "binged" during the night. Over 90% (21/23) reported their state at the time of nocturnal eating as "half-awake, half-asleep" or "asleep", and over 90% reported "consistent" or "occasional" amnesia for the event. Nearly half (11/23) of the sample were given a polysomnographic diagnosis of somnambulism. Thirty-five percent (8/23) had a lifetime eating disorder diagnosis. CONCLUSION Sleep-related eating disorder appears to be a relatively homogeneous syndrome combining features of somnambulism and daytime eating disorders. However, no current nosology accurately characterizes these patients. Physicians should be aware of the existence of the disorder and the value of referring patients with sleep-related eating disorder to a sleep disorders center.
Protein phosphorylation in isolated human adipocytes-adrenergic control of the phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase.

Abstract The effect of adrenergic agents on protein phosphorylation in human adipocytes was examined. Freshly isolated human fat cells were incubated with 32PO4 in order to label intracellular ATP, then treated with a variety of adrenergic and other pharmacologic agents. Treatment with the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol led to a significant increase in phosphate content of at least five protein bands (Mr 52, 53, 63, 67, 84 kDa). The increase in phosphate content of at least five partially inhibited by the α-2 agonist clonidine. Epinephrine, a combined α and β agonist, was less effective at increasing phosphate content of the proteins than was isoproterenol. Neither insulin nor the α-1 agonist phenylephrine had any discernible effect on the pattern of protein phosphorylation. The 84 kDa phosphorylated peptide band appears to contain hormone-sensitive lipase, a key enzyme in the lipolytic pathway which is activated by phosphorylation. These results are somewhat different than previously reported results for rat adipocytes, and represent the first report of overall pattern and adrenergic modulation of protein phosphorylation in human adipocytes.
Cardiorespiratory capacity of individuals with mental retardation including Down syndrome

This study evaluated the cardiorespiratory capacity of persons with MR with and without Down syndrome. Analyses of individual data records of maximal exercise tests with metabolic analyses were conducted on tests of 111 subjects (31 men and 16 women with DS; 35 men and 29 women without DS) from six participating centers. All centers used a walking treadmill protocol previously shown to produce valid and reliable maximal tests with this population. Peak oxygen uptake and peak minute ventilation were higher in men than in women (P < 0.006), and in subjects without DS (P < 0.006). Peak heart rate was also higher in subjects without DS (P < 0.006). Peak respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was higher in subjects without DS (P < 0.006). Using peak RER as a covariate did not change the results. An analysis of peak minute ventilation, heart rate and VO2 of subjects with a peak RER above 1.1 revealed the same results. These data show that individuals with mental retardation have low levels of peak VO2, consistent with low levels of cardiovascular fitness. Individuals with Down syndrome have even lower levels of peak VO2 than their peers without Down syndrome, a finding that is possibly mitigated by the lower peak heart rates of the individuals with Down syndrome.
Pattern regulation of mesoderm in transplanted and supernumerary limbs of the cockroach. I. The final morphology

Muscles, nerves, and tracheae were examined histologically in clusters of three limbs arising from single mesothoracic leg sockets in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. The three-limbed preparations were produced by amputating a normal legand replacing it with a contralateral leg from a donor animal, with the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis of the graft reversed relative to the A-P axis of the host. After a few molts, two supernumerary limbs develop from the host/graft junction, one anterior and one posterior to the graft. Three to nine months after the operation, femurs from the supernumerary and graft limbs possess identifiable muscles which are, however, not as well developed as those of normal limbs. Supernumerary coxae rarely possessidentifiable musculature, but distal regions of the transplant coxae contain muscles of nearly normal morphology. Near the host/graft junction, the coxal muscles are disorganized, producing a proximal to distal gradient in muscle organization within thecoxa. The extensive disorganization near the host/graft junction is primarily a result of the reversed axis, since in grafts of ipsilateral limbs without axis reversal, there is considerably less muscle disorganization near the host/graft junction. Large, nerves and large tracheae were often located in supernumerary and graft femurs and in graft coxae in approximately the same positions as in normal limbs.
High-field MRI and US evaluation of the pelvis in women with leiomyomas

Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and real-time transabdominal ultrasonography (US) were performed on 23 women with uterine leiomyomas. The uterus, ovaries, and cul de sac were evaluated. Accurate determination of uterine volume was possible in all cases by MRI, but was limited on US in uteri larger than 140 cc. Marked enlargement also prevented visualization of contour abnormalities in eight patients on US, but none on MRI. The endometrial stripe and junctional zone could not be adequately visualized in 21 23 US examinations, whereas they were identified in all 23 MRI (8 normal and 15 distorted). Individual leiomyomas were clearly depicted on 4 US and 19 MR scans, the smallest being 1.1 cm and 0.8 cm, respectively. Of the 31 fibroids present on MRI: 13 were intramural, 4 subserosal, and 14 submucosal. MRI successfully identified 44 46 ovaries as compared to 21 46 on US. Cul de sac fluid was noted in seven women by MRI alone. This data suggests that MRI is superior to US in examination of the entire pelvis in women with leiomyomas.
Mice lacking the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R -/-) exhibit impaired hippocampal-dependent learning.

Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid peptide produced by epithelial cells in the stomach which increases food intake. Hypothalamic ghrelin receptors are thought to play an important role in the regulation of energy balance. However, ghrelin receptors are also expressed in several extra-hypothalamic brain regions, including the hippocampal formation. Previous work from our lab and others suggest that ghrelin is important for learning and memory. Specifically, intra-hippocampal ghrelin administration increases memory retention in a Step-Down Passive Avoidance test and ghrelin-deficient mice exhibit attenuated performance of the Novel Object Recognition task. In the current study, we utilized ghrelin receptor-deficient mice (GHS-R -/-) to confirm that ghrelin-signaling is necessary for the acquisition of a hippocampal-dependent spatial memory task. Consistent with previous reports, GHS-R -/- mice weigh less and have reduced average food intake relative to wild-type (WT) controls. GHS-R -/- and WT mice ( n 's=8/group) were trained in a Morris water maze task. GHS-R -/- mice exhibited significantly increased escape latencies relative to their WT controls, supporting the conclusion that ghrelin receptor signaling is required for the acquisition of a truly hippocampal-dependent task. Additional studies examine the role of GSH-R in the acquisition of non-hippocampal dependent tasks including learned meal-initiation and conditioned fear. Overall, these data confirm and extend out previous findings that ghrelin is a key mediator of hippocampal-dependent learning processes.
Metamaterial absorber for the near-IR with curvilinear geometry based on Beziér surfaces

Infrared (IR) absorbers have been previously studied for use in narrow-band and multi-band applications. Here, we investigate a novel absorber structure based on an electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) metasurface with a curvilinear metallic screen. CMA-ES was employed to determine the coefficients used in the screen generation in order to successfully design an absorber for the near-IR.
Role of Collagen Matrix in Tumor Angiogenesis and Glioblastoma Multiforme Progression

Glioblastoma is a highly vascularized brain tumor, and antiangiogenic therapy improves its progression-free survival. However, current antiangiogenic therapy induces serious adverse effects including neuronal cytotoxicity and tumor invasiveness and resistance to therapy. Although it has been suggested that the physical microenvironment has a key role in tumor angiogenesis and progression, the mechanism by which physical properties of extracellular matrix control tumor angiogenesis and glioblastoma progression is not completely understood. Herein we show that physical compaction (the process in which cells gather and pack together and cause associated changes in cell shape and size) of human glioblastoma cell lines U87MG, U251, and LN229 induces expression of collagen types IV and VI and the collagen crosslinking enzyme lysyl oxidase and up-regulates in vitro expression of the angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor. The lysyl oxidase inhibitor β-aminopropionitrile disrupts collagen structure in the tumor and inhibits tumor angiogenesis and glioblastoma multiforme growth in a mouse orthotopic brain tumor model. Similarly, d-penicillamine, which inhibits lysyl oxidase enzymatic activity by depleting intracerebral copper, also exhibits antiangiogenic effects on brain tumor growth in mice. These findings suggest that tumor microenvironment controlled by collagen structure is important in tumor angiogenesis and brain tumor progression.
Null objects in Brazilian Portuguese

An analysis of null object constructions in colloquial Brazilian Portuguese is brought to bear on the theory of empty categories. Focusing on their properties in adjunct clauses, it is argued that at least some null objects must be analyzed as pro's, even though they are not morphologically identified. An empty topic variable approach (Huang, 1984) is argued to be empirically inadequate and to have no explanatory advantage over an analysis on which all null objects are pro's, in spite of the fact that there exist gaps in the distribution of null objects that appear to support the empty topic hypothesis. Brazilian Portuguese is shown to be a language that requires subject pro to be identified. It is suggested that object pro must also be identified and that the notion of what counts as identification must be broad enough to include the possibility of intrinsic specification of features. In the absence of identifying features on its govverning head, pro is predictably third person.
An Educational Laboratory for Digital Control and Rapid Prototyping of Power Electronic Circuits

This paper describes a new educational power electronics laboratory that was developed primarily to reinforce experimentally the fundamental concepts presented in a power electronics course. The developed laboratory combines theoretical design, simulation studies, digital control, fabrication, and verification of power-electronic circuits based on a set of hardware and software tools. The salient feature of the laboratory is that it takes the students through a step-by-step design, implementation, and digital control procedure for a set of power electronic circuits. A detailed description of the tools along with their use in the developed laboratory is presented.
The individual and combined toxicity of kojic acid and aflatoxin in broiler chickens.

The individual and combined effects of kojic acid and aflatoxin were studied in male broiler chicks (Peterson x Hubbard). The experiment had a two by two factorial arrangement of treatments with dietary treatments of 0 and 2,500 mg kojic acid/kg feed and 0 and 2.5 mg aflatoxin/kg feed. The broilers were obtained at 1 day of age and housed in electrically heated batteries with feed and water available for ad libitum intake until they reached 3 wk of age. The toxicity of kojic acid was characterized by significant (P less than .05) reductions in body weight, the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius, serum cholesterol concentration, and serum alkaline phosphatase activity, and by significant (P less than .05) increases in the relative weight of the pancreas, proventriculus, and gizzard, and serum concentrations of uric acid and triglycerides. Aflatoxicosis was characterized by significant (P less than .05) reductions in body weight, serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, cholesterol, and inorganic phosphorus, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase activity, and mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Significant (P less than .05) increases in the relative weight of the liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, proventriculus, and heart, and the serum pyruvic transaminase activity were also caused by aflatoxin alone. The only significant (P less than .05) interaction between kojic acid and aflatoxin, which can best be described as antagonistic, was seen through an increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. These data indicate that kojic acid is not an aflatoxin synergist at the levels used in the present study.
Microfilament‐membrane interactions in Xenopus myocytes

We used quick-freeze, deep-etch, rotary-replication transmission electron microscopy to determine at molecular resolution the organization of microfilaments at the cytoplasmic surface of the sarcolemma of Xenopus myocytes. We demonstrate that actin microfilaments interact with the sarcolemma in two distinct ways. In one, which resembled focal contacts in Xenopus fibroblasts [Samuelsson et al., 1993: J. Cell Biol. 122:485-496], bundles of microfilaments approached the sarcolemma at sites containing aggregates of membrane-associated particles. Immunogold cytochemistry showed that these particle aggregates contained vinculin, talin and beta 1-integrin. In the second, which covered most of the cytoplasmic surface of the sarcolemma, individual actin microfilaments formed an extensive, lattice-like array. Particle aggregates associated with this array of actin microfilaments also labeled with antibodies to vinculin, talin and beta 1-integrin. The unique, lattice-like association of actin microfilaments with the membrane in Xenopus myocytes suggests that the organization of actin filaments over most of the sarcolemma is distinct from focal contacts, mediating widespread associations of the actin cytoskeleton with the cytoplasmic membrane face.
Method for measuring ATP production in isolated mitochondria: ATP production in brain and liver mitochondria of Fischer-344 rats with age and caloric restriction

The production of ATP is vital for muscle contraction, chemiosmotic homeostasis, and normal cellular function. Many studies have measured ATP content or qualitative changes in ATP production, but f...