cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The MRP Gene Associated with a Non-P-glycoprotein Multidrug Resistance Encodes a 190-kDa Membrane Bound Glycoprotein

HL60 cells isolated for resistance to Adriamycin (HL60/ADR) overexpress a 190-kDa ATP binding protein which has a minor sequence homology with P-glycoprotein. It has also been observed that HL60/ADR overexpress the MRP gene which was first identified as a component of a non-P-glycoprotein mediated multidrug resistance of H69/ADR cells [Cole et al. , Science (Washington DC), 258: 1650, 1992]. A complementary DNA of MRP has been cloned and based on the deduced sequence encodes a member of the superfamily of proteins which bind ATP and function in various transport processes [Cole et al. , Science (Washington DC), 258: 1650, 1992]. In view of this it was of interest to identify the protein encoded by MRP and determine if it may be related to p190. In the present study we have prepared antisera against three synthetic peptides which correspond to the deduced sequence of the MRP protein. Proteins reactive with the antisera have been examined in HL60/ADR cells using Western blot analysis. All antisera react with a 190 kDa protein contained in membranes of resistant but not sensitive cells. One antiserum used for further studies is not reactive with P-glycoprotein contained in membranes of HL60 cells isolated for resistance to vincristine. Analysis of subcellular fractions demonstrates that p190 is present primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum with lower levels also present in plasma membranes. Treatment of HL60/ADR cells with tunicamycin results in the appearance of a 165-kDa resistance associated protein which reacts with the antipeptide serum. The results of this study therefore demonstrate that the MRP gene encodes a 190-kDa membrane bound glycoprotein.
Chitinase-3 like-protein-1 (CHI3L1) expression associated with pulmonary inflammation accelerates breast cancer metastasis (TUM7P.960)

Disseminated metastasis accounts for a majority of breast cancer deaths. Recently, elevated serum levels of a glycoprotein known as chitinase-3 like-protein-1 (CHI3L1) has been correlated with poor prognosis in both breast cancer and asthmatic patients. We have combined mouse models of breast cancer and pulmonary inflammation to determine if CHI3L1 associated pulmonary inflammation accelerates metastasis. We found that allergic pulmonary inflammation significantly enhances primary tumor growth in 4T1, 4T07 and 67NR mammary tumors by 10-fold, while decreasing survival. 4T1 tumor bearers with allergic pulmonary inflammation showed a 100-fold increase in metastatic tumor formation. We also assessed CHI3L1 levels and myeloid cells in the lungs of wild type and CHI3L1 knockout mice with allergic pulmonary inflammation and 4T1 mammary tumors. CHI3L1 levels were higher in the lungs of mammary tumor bearers with allergic pulmonary inflammation and correlated with increased metastasis. Wild type mammary tumor bearers with allergic inflammation had higher numbers of myeloid cells in the lungs in comparison to CHI3L1 knockout tumor bearers with allergic pulmonary inflammation. CHI3L1 knockout mice tumor bearers had significantly fewer myeloid cells in the lungs, decreased tumor growth and metastasis, along with increased survival. We propose that increased CHI3L1 in the lungs attracts myeloid cells that promote tumor growth and breast cancer metastasis.
Keeping the Peace: Conflict Resolution and Peaceful Societies around the World

Keeping the Peace: Conflict Resolution and Peaceful Societies around the World. Graham Kemp and Douglas P. Fry, eds. New York: Routledge, 2004. 231 pp.
Hypoxia inducible factor-2α regulates the development of retinal astrocytic network by maintaining adequate supply of astrocyte progenitors

Here we investigate the role of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-2α in coordinating the development of retinal astrocytic and vascular networks. Three Cre mouse lines were used to disrupt floxed Hif-2α, including Rosa26CreERT2, Tie2Cre, and GFAPCre. Global Hif-2α disruption by Rosa26CreERT2 led to reduced astrocytic and vascular development in neonatal retinas, whereas endothelial disruption by Tie2Cre had no apparent effects. Hif-2α deletion in astrocyte progenitors by GFAPCre significantly interfered with the development of astrocytic networks, which failed to reach the retinal periphery and were incapable of supporting vascular development. Perplexingly, the abundance of strongly GFAP+ mature astrocytes transiently increased at P0 before they began to lag behind the normal controls by P3. Pax2+ and PDGFRα+ astrocytic progenitors and immature astrocytes were dramatically diminished at all stages examined. Despite decreased number of astrocyte progenitors, their proliferation index or apoptosis was not altered. The above data can be reconciled by proposing that HIF-2α is required for maintaining the supply of astrocyte progenitors by slowing down their differentiation into non-proliferative mature astrocytes. HIF-2α deficiency in astrocyte progenitors may accelerate their differentiation into astrocytes, a change which greatly interferes with the replenishment of astrocyte progenitors due to insufficient time for proliferation. Rapidly declining progenitor supply may lead to premature cessation of astrocyte development. Given that HIF-2α protein undergoes oxygen dependent degradation, an interesting possibility is that retinal blood vessels may regulate astrocyte differentiation through their oxygen delivery function. While our findings support the consensus that retinal astrocytic template guides vascular development, they also raise the possibility that astrocytic and vascular networks may mutually regulate each other's development, mediated at least in part by HIF-2α.
Cognitive styles and online behavior of novice searchers

Abstract Studies of online searching have acknowledged the existence of a wide variety in online search process and outcome variables among individual searchers. Identifying variables associated with these differences could influence the hiring and training of online searchers and impact the design of heuristics for expert systems for information retrieval. Novice searchers at Florida State University were studied to determine relationships between cognitive styles and five measures of online behavior. Results indicate a consistent relationship between placement in quadrants of the Learning Style Inventory and high and low mean group scores. Compared with online studies by Saracevic and Woelfl, however, the results from the FSU study are only partially confirmed.
New geometrical approach to Rainich-Misner-Wheeler theory

We introduce a new principal fiber bundle, the bundle of biframes, associated with the geometry of bivectors on spacetime. It is shown that the biframe bundle is a natural geometric arena for modeling the already unified theory of Rainich, Misner, and Wheeler (RMW). The structure equations for the bitorsion inherent in the biframe bundle lead to a generalization of Rainich's algebraic conditions for electromagnetic-type stress tensors which includes sources in a natural way. Besides the usual complexion vector of the RMW theory, an additional new complexion-type vector is found. The generalized algebraic conditions reduce to the usual RMW conditions in the special case of no sources.
Three-Dimensional Microstructural-Based Discrete Element Viscoelastic Modeling of Creep Compliance Tests for Asphalt Mixtures

Microstructural-based discrete element (DE) models have been used for a better understanding of asphalt pavement concrete since the late 1990s. Most current studies have been done with two-dimensional (2D) models. Moreover, elastic models are primarily employed for simulation of an asphalt matrix’s time-dependent behaviors. A 2D model is too simple to capture the complex microstructure of asphalt concrete, and an elastic model is not sufficient for simulating an asphalt matrix’s viscoelastic behaviors. Therefore, it is necessary to consider a three-dimensional (3D) viscoelastic model for microstructural-based DE simulation of asphalt mixture behaviors. Currently, it is easy to build such a 3D microstructural-based DE viscoelastic model using the existing techniques presented in the previous studies. A major challenge, however, is to reduce the computation time to run the 3D microstructural-based DE viscoelastic modeling process which is extremely time-consuming. The primary objective of this paper is to s...
Relationship of alcoholic hypertriglyceridemia to stage of liver disease and dietary lipid

To clarify contributions of alcoholic liver injury, dietary fat and acute ethanol intake to alcoholic hypertriglyceridemia, control subjects and alcoholics with fatty liver or cirrhosis were given a high fat meal with and without ethanol. The triglyceridemic response to the meal in patients with fatty liver (551.3±98.4 mgxhr/dl) was enhanced compared to controls (106.4±30.9) and characterized by increased fasting and postprandial pre-β lipoproteins. The cirrhotics' response (262.5±34.9) was characterized by minimal fasting and postprandial pre-β lipoproteins and increased postmeal chylomicrons. Ethanol added to the meal enhanced the lipemic response of controls, barely altered the response of patients with fatty liver, and decreased the response of cirrhotics. In an expanded group of alcoholic patients, the percentage of pre-β lipoproteins determined by electrophoresis reflected the degree of liver injury. Therefore, major determinants of alcoholic triglyceridemia are stage of liver injury and dietary lipid; electrophoretic determination of pre-β lipoproteins may indicate degree of alcoholic liver damage.
Maximal parabolic terms in the Selberg trace formula for SL(3, Z)⧹SL(3, R)/SO(3, R)

Abstract In this paper we study the contribution to the Selberg trace formula for SL(3, Z )⧹SL(3, R )/SO(3, R ) of orbital integrals coming from regular elements of a maximal parabolic subgroup of SL(3, Z ). Because the contribution is not convergent the integrals are truncated in the standard way and the rate of divergence is calculated. We show that these orbital integrals are reduced to orbital integrals of a slightly different function for hyperbolic elements coming from SL(3, Z ) intersected with a rank one subgroup of SL(3, R ).
Composite sampling: A novel method to accomplish observational economy in environmental studies: A monograph introduction

This monograph on composite sampling, co-authored by Patil, Gore, and Taillie provides, for the first time, a most comprehensive statistical account of composite sampling as an ingenious environmental sampling method to help accomplish observational economy in a variety of environmental and ecological studies. Sampling consists of selection, acquisition, and quantification of a part of the population. But often what is desirable is not affordable, and what is affordable is not adequate. How do we deal with this dilemma? Operationally, composite sampling recognizes the distinction between selection, acquisition, and quantification. In certain applications, it is a common experience that the costs of selection and acquisition are not very high, but the cost of quantification, or measurement, is substantially high. In such situations, one may select a sample sufficiently large to satisfy the requirement of representativeness and precision and then, by combining several sampling units into composites, reduce the cost of measurement to an affordable level. Thus composite sampling offers an approach to deal with the classical dilemma of desirable versus affordable sample sizes, when conventional statistical methods fail to resolve the problem. Composite sampling, at least under idealized conditions, incurs no loss of information for estimating the population means. But an important limitation to the method has been the loss of information on individual sample values, such as the extremely large value. In many of the situations where individual sample values are of interest or concern, composite sampling methods can be suitably modified to retrieve the information on individual sample values that may be lost due to compositing. In this monograph, we present statistical solutions to these and other issues that arise in the context of applications of composite sampling. The monograph is published in the Monograph Series: Environmental and Ecological Statistics , vol. 4, The authors are Patil, Ganapati P., Gore, Sharad D., Taillie, Charles with the monograph co-ordinates,1st Edition., 2011, XIII, 275 p. 47 illus., SpringerLink , Hardcover, > ISBN 978-1-4419-7627-7.
High titers of anti-epstein-barr virus DNA polymerase are found in patients with severe fatiguing illness

Forty-one patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), 76 healthy controls matched with the patient group for age range, sex, race, and socioeconomic class, and 22 symptomatic patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) had serum sampled for antibodies against 2 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) replicating enzymes. Abnormal liters of antibodies were found twice as often in CFS patients as controls (34.1% vs. 17.1%), with SAD patients having an intermediate frequency (27.3%). Stratifying for disease severity sharpened the differences considerably, with the sicker CFS and SAD patients having 52% and 50% abnormal tests, respectively; more mildly afflicted CFS and SAD patients had a frequency of abnormal tests in the normal range. Antibodies to EBV DNA polymerase (DNAP) were the more sensitive of the two tests in that they were positive in all cases but one. These findings suggest that antibodies against EBV DNAP may be a useful marker in delineating a subset of patients with severe fatiguing illness for appropriate treatment trials and for monitoring their outcomes. © 1994 Wiiey-Liss, Inc.
The uptake and subcellular localization of the peptide antibiotic edeine A in HeLa cells in suspension culture.

Abstract The uptake of [14C]thymidine, [14C]uridine and [14C]leucine by HeLa cells incubated in the presence of 1.52 μg/ml edeine A is inhibited by 7.5, 0 and 4%, respectively. Though edeine A has no gross cytopathic effect on HeLa cells, the peptide antibiotic enters the cells and 1 2 h after addition to cell cultures is found in the nuclei. After 6 h of incubation, the highest intracellular concentration of edeine is located in the nuclear fraction, but, after 12 h, a higher proportion is in the post-mitochondrial supernatant fraction where it is associated with protein components in the range of molecular weights of 20 000 and 9 500 D. In the nucleus most of the [14C]edeine is bound to the chromatin fraction after 2 h of incubation. Exhaustive deoxyribonuclease digestion of the chromatin fraction releases all the radioactivity into one ultraviolet absorbing peak, which sediments to a density of 20% sucrose. Exhaustive ribonuclease digestion of the chromatin fraction releases all the radioactivity into two ultraviolet absorbing peaks which sediment to a density of 20 and 40%, respectively; subsequent proteolytic digestion of the RNAse-treated chromatin fraction frees about 70% of the edeine A from the ultraviolet absorbing peaks. This suggests that intranuclear edeine A associates with proteins in the chromatin. The radioactivity was recovered from the enzymatically digested chromatin fractions and characterized as biologically active edeine A.
Immunohistochemical analysis of transferrin receptor: regional and cellular distribution in the hypotransferrinemic (hpx) mouse brain

The hypotransferrinemic (hpx) mouse mutant produces <1% of the normal circulating level of transferrin (Tf). Heterozygote animals of this strain (hpx/+) have approximately 50% of normal plasma Tf levels. In this study we examine the cellular and regional distribution of Tf receptor (Tf-R) in the brain of wild type, hpx/+ and mutant (hpx/hpx) mice. Also, using slot-blot (immunoblot) analysis, we describe the relative amount of Tf-R in brain microvessels of hpx/+ animals compared with wild type. Tf-R was seen primarily in neurons throughout the brains of wild type, hpx/+ and hpx/hpx animals. Gray matter areas immunoreacted more robustly than white matter areas. Oligodendrocytes and third ventricle tanycytes, both of which we have previously described as iron-positive, did not immunoreact for Tf-R. Tf-R immunohistochemical reaction in wild type, hpx/+ and hpx/hpx brains appeared similar. Immunoblot analysis of isolated cortical microvessels from wild type and hpx/+ animals revealed no upregulation of Tf-R expression in hpx/+ (relative to normal) despite a 50% decrease in circulating Tf levels. These results indicate that Tf-R is primarily expressed by neurons and that half normal levels of Tf (hpx/+) or transferrin supplementation (hpx/hpx) are apparently sufficient for normal expression and distribution of Tf-R. Because of the lack of circulating Tf, but unaltered Tf-R expression, hpx mice could serve as a model for delivery of therapeutic agents via the Tf/Tf-R system.
Identification of Listeria Species by Microarray-Based Assay

We have developed a rapid microarray-based assay for the reliable detection and discrimination of six species of the Listeria genus: L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii, L. innocua, L. welshimeri, L. seeligeri, and L. grayi. The approach used in this study involves one-tube multiplex PCR amplification of six target bacterial virulence factor genes (iap, hly, inlB, plcA, plcB, and clpE), synthesis of fluorescently labeled single-stranded DNA, and hybridization to the multiple individual oligonucleotide probes specific for each Listeria species and immobilized on a glass surface. Results of the microarray analysis of 53 reference and clinical isolates of Listeria spp. demonstrated that this method allowed unambiguous identification of all six Listeria species based on sequence differences in the iap gene. Another virulence factor gene, hly, was used for detection and genotyping all L. monocytogenes, all L. ivanovii, and 8 of 11 L. seeligeri isolates. Other members of the genus Listeria and three L. seeligeri isolates did not contain the hly gene. There was complete agreement between the results of genotyping based on the hly and iap gene sequences. All L. monocytogenes isolates were found to be positive for the inlB, plcA, plcB, and clpE virulence genes specific only to this species. Our data on Listeria species analysis demonstrated that this microarray technique is a simple, rapid, and robust genotyping method that is also a potentially valuable tool for identification and characterization of bacterial pathogens in general.
Levetiracetam: safety and efficacy in neonatal seizures.

Purpose: Neonatal seizures are common, especially in prematurity. Phenobarbital (PB) currently represents the antiepileptic drug (AED) of choice, despite being related to increased neuronal apoptosis in animal models and cognitive impairment in human subjects. Levetiracetam (LEV) may have a more favorable profile since it does not cause neuronal apoptosis in infant rodents. Methods: In a prospective feasibility study, LEV was applied as first-line treatment in 38 newborns with EEG-confirmed seizures, after ruling out hypoglycemia, hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia and pyridoxin dependency. Initial intravenous doses of 10 mg/kg LEV
Band Structure and Electronic Properties of Lithium Phosphide Li3P

Ab initio Hartree-Fock band structure calculations have been performed to study the electronic structure of Li3P in the hexagonal P6/mmm crystal structure. The total energy, band structure, density of states, and charge densities are computed. The band structure is very similar to that calculated for lithium nitride with a small indirect gap between Γ and K of 2 eV. However, the charge distribution in Li 3P is more anisotropic with a greater ionicity in the x-y plane compared to the c direction. This is also supported by a large calculated core level split of 6.5 eV of the Li ls core bands.
The Thermochemistry of Radical Polymerizations in the Gas-phase - a Theoretical Contribution

In this paper, we propose a simple model to predict the thermochemistry of free radical polymerizations in the gas phase. It consists of assuming that the heat of polymerization of a monomer A=B is equal to the enthalpy change of the process HABAH + A=B --> HABABAH. The heat of formation of species HABAH, A=B and HABABAH not yet experimentally determined are theoretically calculated using various ab initio methods of quantum chemistry. The enthalpies of polymerization of a series of monomers could be calculated in this way. They are generally in good agreement with the corresponding available experimental data. They could be also rationalized in terms of the stabilization energies of the monomers and the growing chains.
Hyperphagia is irrelevant for pheromonal emission in the rat

Abstract We addressed the question of whether hyperphagia is a precondition for the release of the maternal pheromone in the rat. Accordingly we tested for pheromonal emission in two kinds of hyperphagic females: one made hyperphagic through bilateral lesions of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH), the other “naturally” hyperphagic as an accompaniment of lactation. Only the lactating-females showed evidence of the pheromone. These data do not support the hypothesis that overeating and pheromonal emission are causally related. Additional data were presented to indicate that what might be essential for the appearance of the pheromone is an increase of biliary cholic acid.
Lack of benefit of pre-transplant locoregional hepatic therapy for hepatocellular cancer in the current MELD era

The potential for disease progression in patients awaiting liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has encouraged many centers to employ pre-transplant radiofrequency ablation or chemoembolization in an attempt to control tumor burden while patients are on the wait list. Despite general acceptance by the transplant community, few objective data demonstrate pre-transplant treatment efficacy or improved post-transplant outcomes in HCC patients listed with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) exception points. To evaluate the utility of pre-transplant therapy in the current MELD era, we retrospectively compared 31 treated patients (T) with 33 untreated (U) controls. Study endpoints included patient and disease-free survival, tumor recurrence, explant tumor viability, and the ability of MRI to detect viable tumor after therapy. Both cohorts had similar demographic, radiographic, and pathologic characteristics, although untreated patients waited longer for transplantation [119 (U) vs. 54 (T) days after MELD assignment, (P = .05); range: 1 day to 21 months]. Only 20% of treated tumors demonstrated complete ablation (necrosis) as defined by histologic examination of the entire lesion. Only 55% of lesions with histologic viable tumor were detected by MRI after pre-transplant therapy. After 36 months of follow-up, there was no difference between the treated and untreated groups in overall survival (84 vs. 91%), disease free survival (74% vs. 85%), cancer recurrence (23% vs. 12%), or mortality from cancer recurrence (57% vs. 25%) (P > 0.1). In conclusion, viable tumor frequently persists after pre-transplant locoregional therapy, and neoadjuvant treatment does not appear to improve post-transplant outcomes in the current MELD era. Liver Transpl 12:665–673, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.
Budget Change in Georgia Counties Examining Patterns and Practices

Despite the importance of budget reform and its seeming connections to the environment, few studies have analyzed the determinants of budget reform and the effects of environment on budget systems. This article presents a framework for understanding changes in local government budgetary process and format. Based on survey results from 100 of the 159 counties in Georgia, it examines empirically the effects of both internal and external factors on changing the budget system. The authors found that county managers and the external environment have a very strong influence on changing budget process and budget format. The article also identifies various perceived effects of budget changes.
Proton form factors from elastic electron-proton scattering

Absolute measurements of the elastic electron-proton cross section have been made with a precision of about 4% for values of the square of the four-momentum transfer, ${q}^{2}$, in the range 6.0 to 30.0 ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ and for electron scattering angles in the range 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 145\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. To within the experimental errors, it is found that the charge and magnetic form factors of the proton have a common dependence on ${q}^{2}$ when normalized to unity at ${q}^{2}=0$, and that an accurate representation of the behavior of the form factor and that of the cross sections themselves can be given in terms of a three-pole approximation to the dispersion theory of nucleon form factors.
What is a tweet worth?: measuring the value of social media for an academic institution

Determining the influence of organizational Twitter accounts is far from an exact science, although numerous companies (most prominently Klout) have recently sought to find appropriate metrics and algorithms. Klout, a company that measures influence on the social web, recently ranked Syracuse University (SU) as the No. 2 "Most Influential College on Twitter". While at first glance, Klout's ranking presents a flattering portrayal of SU's adept use of social media, we question if the Klout score has real substance, and actually reflects the effectiveness of SU's social media strategy. This paper explores the issue of how one assigns value to a tweet in the context of an academic institution from a survey of SU students on their motivation of Twitter use, behavior, and perception of value associated with a tweet. As users primarily read tweets to obtain interesting information, preliminary findings indicate that users in academic institutions are more concerned with the quality of tweet contents as opposed to how influential the institution is on Twittersphere.
Characteristics of 2N pollen producing triploid hybrids betweenSolanum stoloniferum and cultivated diploid potatoes

Segregants which produce 2n pollen were identified inSolanum stoloniferum and hybridized with 2n pollen producing cultivated diploids. A number of the resulting triploids produced 2n pollen, ranging from less than 1 up to 7.6%. Parallel spindles at Anaphase II were shown to be the probable meiotic mechanism responsible for 2n pollen production. Thus the genetic consequences are equivalent to first division restitution. This 2n pollen produced by triploids should facilitate transfer of genes from wild allotetraploids to cultivated tetraploids. There should be increased gene exchange between nonhomologous wild and cultivated genomes during microsporogenesis of the triploids. This methodology should have merit in crosses with allotetraploid species in the Series Longipedicellata and Acaulia.
Purification and characterization of multiple-charged forms of permethrin carboxylesterase(s) from the hemolymph of resistant Colorado Potato Beetle

Abstract Permethrin carboxylesterases (e.g., p I 4.2–4.8 CbEs) have been purified from the hemolymph of a permethrin-resistant strain of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata , through several chromatographic procedures in order to determine those proteins most responsible for the DEF-synergized aspect of resistance. The p I 4.8 CbE is a 46- to 48-kDa monomeric protein whereas the p I 4.5 CbE appears to be a 57- to 59-kDa dimeric protein. Both the p I 4.8 CbE and the p I 4.5 CbE are, in fact, composed of groups of multiple-charged forms. All p I 4.5–4.8 CbEs are glycoproteins but the charge heterogeneity is not associated with N -glycan moieties. A consistent tendency of increasing affinities for the p I 4.2–4.8 CbEs as the hydrophobicity of naphthyl substrate increased implicates that the catalytic sites of all the p I CbEs have hydrophobic properties. The hydrophobic catalytic site, however, is separate entity from the domain determining overall surface hydrophobicity of CbE as determined by hydrophobic interaction chromatography of the purified p I 4.5–4.8 CbEs. Overall, p I 4.8 CbE possessed the highest affinity and catalytic efficiency for all three naphthyl substrates tested and for permethrin. The hydrolysis rates for permethrin, however, were extremely low compared to those of the naphthyl substrates. Nevertheless, the over production and the high affinity toward hydrophobic substrates of the permethrin CbE in the hemolymph in the permethrin-resistant strain of Colorado potato beetle is likely to result in efficient hydrolysis of permethrin. In general, the P I 4.8 and 4.5 CbEs share a number of similarities in their biochemical properties and functional role in permethrin resistance despite their distinct molecular properties. The availability of highly purified and characterized forms of permethrin CbE will allow the development of efficient immunochemical and DNA-based diagnostics for the monitoring of permethrin resistance in field populations of beetles.
Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome: a diagnosis to consider in women with right upper quadrant pain.

■ ABSTRACT Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome—inflammation of the liver capsule associated with genital tract infection—occurs in up to one fourth of patients with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Classically presenting as sharp, pleuritic right upper quadrant pain, usually but not always accompanied by signs of salpingitis, it can mimic many other common disorders such as cholecystitis and pyelonephritis. ■ KEY POINTS Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis are
Improved Sensitivity of Nucleic Acid Database Searches Using Application-Specific Scoring Matrices

Scoring matrices for nucleic acid sequence comparison that are based on models appropriate to the analysis of molecular sequencing errors or biological mutation processes are presented. In mammalian genomes, transition mutations occur significantly more frequently than transversions, and the optimal scoring of sequence alignments based on this substitution model differs from that derived assuming a uniform mutation model. The information from sequence alignments potentially available using an optimal scoring system is compared with that obtained using the BLASTN default scoring. A modified BLAST database search tool allows these, or other explicitly specified scoring matrices, to be utilized in computationally efficient queries of nucleic acid databases with nucleic acid query sequences. Results of searches performed using BLASTN's default score matrix are compared with those using scores based on a mutational model in which transitions are more prevalent than transversions.
A computational study on design and performance issues of multi-agent intelligent systems for dynamic scheduling environments

Abstract Multi-Agent Intelligent Systems (MAIS) are loosely-coupled network of problem solving systems that, whenever needed, work together with each other to dynamically solve problems that none of the system can individually solve. Among the advantages of the MAIS, when compared to the centralized systems, are increased reliability, faster problem solving, decreased communication, and more flexibility. Learning to coordinate the actions is one of the most important task in MAIS. In the current research, we use a widely reported dynamic job shop scheduling simulation model that uses distributed genetic learning of job scheduling strategies (Pendharkar, P.C., 1997. Doctoral Dissertation, Graduate School, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; Pendharkar, P.C., 1998. Distributed learning of objectives for adaptive scheduling (in review); Pendharkar, P.C., Bhattacharyya, S., 1997. Multi-agent learning in distributed artificial intelligence. Proc. 2nd INFORMS Conference on Information Systems and Technology. San Diego, CA, p.156–163; Bhattacharyya, S., Koehler, G.J., 1997. Learning by objectives for adaptive shop-floor learning. Decision Sciences (to appear). Aytug, H., Koehler, G.J., Snowdon, J.L., 1994. Genetic learning of dynamic scheduling within a simulation environment, Computers and Operations Research, 21 (8), 909–925; Aytug, H., Bhattacharyya, S., Koehler, G.J., Snowdon, J.L., 1994. A review of machine learning in scheduling, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management 41 (2) ) and study the performance and design issues in multi-agents information systems for dynamic scheduling in manufacturing. Among the design issue and performance issues considered in this research are coordination between agents, number of agents, and frequency of learning. Our results indicate that coordination between agents, and learning frequency play a significant role in the performance of multi-agent intelligent systems.
Receptors for sheep red blood cells on human B lymphoid WI-L2 cells.

Abstract On the cultured human lymphoid cells WI-L2, which carry the traditional B cell markers—immunoglobulins, receptors for the Fc portion of IgG, and receptors for monkey red blood cells—the presence of T cell receptors was shown by the following points of evidence. (i) WI-L2 cells form rosettes with sheep red blood cells (SRBC), especially those treated with the sulfhydryl compound 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide or with neuraminidase. (ii) They specifically bind antibodies that block the rosette formation between T lymphocytes and SRBC. (iii) In rabbits, WI-L2 cells elicit the formation of antibodies which, after extensive absorption with B lymphoid cells, inhibit the rosette formation between T lymphocytes and SRBC and in conjunction with rabbit complement lyse only T lymphocytes. T-Cell receptors solubilized from WI-L2 cells by hypertonic salt extraction and partially purified by ultracentrifugation on a KBr gradient could not inhibit rosette formation between T lymphocytes and SRBC but did react with anti-T-cell receptor antibodies and were immunogenic.
Optimal Transmission over a Fading Channel with Imperfect Channel State Information

This paper considers a wireless channel when the probability distribution of fading is unknown and the transmitter has access to imperfect channel state information (CSI). Transmitted power and coding mode are adapted to the available imperfect CSI through the use of a backoff function in order to maximize the expected transmission rate subject to an average power constraint. Determination of the optimal power allocation and backoff function is a non-convex stochastic optimization problem with infinitely many variables. Despite its non-convexity, the duality gap of this problem has been shown to be null. Exploiting this property, we show that the optimal power allocation and channel backoff functions are uniquely determined by the optimal dual variable. This affords considerable simplification because the dual optimization problem is convex and one-dimensional -- whereas the original primal problem is non-convex and infinite-dimensional. Iterative algorithms that find the optimal power and backoff function based on imperfect CSI without having access to the channel probability distribution are further developed. Numerical results are provided to corroborate theoretical findings.
Loop vs. Shield: A competing risks analysis of IUD termination

Abstract A competing risks life table analysis of IUD termination in 167 women using the Lippes Loop and 407 women using the Dalkon Shield from a predominantly Black cohort in Washington, D.C. is presented. Parous Loop D users had a significantly greater 12-month gross risk of medical removals than the parous Standard size shield users (26.2/100 women vs. 11.6/100 women, p
Increased expression of 5-HT1B receptors in rat nucleus accumbens via virally mediated gene transfer increases voluntary alcohol consumption.

Abstract Serotonin 5-HT 1B receptors have been linked to alcoholism in humans and alcohol consumption in rodents. We hypothesize that these receptors, which are located on the axon terminals of nucleus accumbens' (NAcc) projection neurons, modulate alcohol reward mechanisms. To test this hypothesis, we measured ethanol consumption by rats that received bilateral microinjections of a viral vector producing 5-HT 1B overexpression (HA1B/GFP). Other groups received either control (GFP-only) herpes simplex viral vectors into the medial NAcc shell or were handled briefly with no surgery. All animals were housed singly and had continuous access to water, 6% ethanol, and 12% ethanol in their home cages both before and after surgery. There were no differences in the amount or rate of weight gain, amount of food eaten, or total fluid consumed. There were also no differences in the amount of ethanol consumed between groups prior to surgery. However, after surgery, the HA1B/GFP group consumed twice as much ethanol as the other groups. The main effect of total ethanol consumption was significant ( p p 1B expression in NAcc led to either greater reward or reduced aversive effects from the 12% ethanol, thereby leading to increased voluntary ethanol consumption.
A case of Down's syndrome, insulinoma and anorexia.

. The report describes a case of a 35-year-old female with Down's syndrome, insulinoma and anorexia. It is believed to be the first time such an association has been reported. Diagnostic and management problems are discussed with particular reference to people with a mental handicap.
Investigating the effects of soil moisture on thermal infrared land surface temperature and emissivity using satellite retrievals and laboratory measurements

Abstract This study investigates the effects of soil moisture (SM) on thermal infrared (TIR) land surface emissivity (LSE) using field- and satellite-measurements. Laboratory measurements were used to simulate the effects of rainfall and subsequent surface evaporation on the LSE for two different sand types. The results showed that the LSE returned to the dry equilibrium state within an hour after initial wetting, and during the drying process the SM changes were uncorrelated with changes in LSE. Satellite retrievals of LSE from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were examined for an anomalous rainfall event over the Namib Desert in Namibia during April, 2006. The results showed that increases in Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) derived soil moisture and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) rainfall estimates corresponded closely with LSE increases of between 0.08–0.3 at 8.6 µm and up to 0.03 at 11 µm for MODIS v4 and AIRS products. This dependence was lost in the more recent MODIS v5 product which artificially removed the correlation due to a stronger coupling with the split-window algorithm, and is lost in any algorithms that force the LSE to a pre-determined constant as in split-window type algorithms like those planned for use with the NPOESS Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). Good agreement was found between MODIS land surface temperatures (LSTs) derived from the Temperature Emissivity Separation (TES) and day/night v4 algorithm (MOD11B1 v4), while the split-window dependent products (MOD11B1 v5 and MOD11A1) had cooler mean temperatures on the order of 1–2 K over the Namib Desert for the month of April 2006.
Purification and amino acid analysis of an active site peptide from thymidylate synthetase containing covalently bound 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridylate and methylenetetrahydrofolate

Abstract Thymidylate synthetase forms a complex with 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridylate and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate in which a nucleophile of the enzyme is covalently attached to the 6-position of the nucleotide. Treatment of the complex with Pronase provides a small peptide to which both the nucleotide and cofactor are covalently attached. From amino acid analysis, it may be deduced that the amino acid which is covalently attached to 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridylate is threonine or histidine. Implications with regard to catalysis are discussed.
Enhancement of stress resistances and downregulation of Imd pathway by lower developmental temperature in Drosophila melanogaster

Ambient temperature affects the lifespan of cold-blooded organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster. To better understand what influences the lifespan of an adult fruit fly, we tested whether developmental temperature could affect stress responses used as surrogate markers for the aging process. When 2-day-old adult flies developed at two representative temperatures (18 °C and 25 °C) were challenged with three stresses (starvation, oxidation, and heat), both male and female flies developed at 18 °C exhibited stronger resistance to all three stresses compared to those developed at 25 °C. Nutrient composition analyses showed that fat, protein, and glycogen levels increased when male flies were developed at 18 °C. These differences in stress resistance by developmental temperature were sustained even between 30-day-old male flies of two groups aged at the same temperature. We also showed that development at a lower temperature represented by 18 °C significantly downregulates anti-microbial peptide genes, AttA and DptB, of Imd pathway.
Cutaneous Resurfacing with CO2 and Erbium: YAG Lasers: Preoperative, Intraoperative, and Postoperative Considerations

The development and integration of pulsed and scanned CO2 and erbium:YAG laser systems into mainstream surgical practice over the past years has revolutionized cutaneous resurfacing. These lasers are capable of delivering to skin high peak fluences to effect controlled tissue vaporization, while leaving an acceptably narrow zone of residual thermal damage. The inherent technological differences that exist between the two distant laser systems in terms of ablation depths, degree of thermal coagulation, and postoperative side-effects and complications guide patient selection and management. This article reviews the basic principles of CO2 and erbium:YAG laser resurfacing, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative patient considerations. Side-effects and complications encountered after laser resurfacing are discussed with specific guidelines provided on their appropriate management. Anticipated future developments and cutting-edge research endeavors in cutaneous laser resurfacing are also briefly outlined.
μSR study of spin-glass freezing in Y1−xUxPd3 and UPd4

Abstract Muon spin relaxation (μSR) measurements have been performed on polycrystalline specimens of Y 1− x U x Pd 3 with x =0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and on UPd 4 . Spin-glass-like magnetic order was observed in UPd 4 at T g ≅13 K and in Y 0.6 U 0.4 P d 3 at T g ≅12 K. The average static random internal field H int at the muon site is found to decrease very rapidly with U concentration x , indicating that the ordered static U moment rapidly disappears with decreasing U concentration around x ≅0.2. Our results are consistent with the conjecture that Kondo screening eliminates the magnetic moment around this concentration.
Gene-based association identifies SPATA13-AS1 as a pharmacogenomic predictor of inhaled short-acting beta-agonist response in multiple population groups

Inhaled short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) medication is commonly used in asthma patients to rapidly reverse airway obstruction and improve acute symptoms. We performed a genome-wide association study of SABA medication response using gene-based association tests. A linear mixed model approach was first used for single-nucleotide polymorphism associations, and the results were later combined using GATES to generate gene-based associations. Our results identified SPATA13-AS1 as being significantly associated with SABA bronchodilator response in 328 healthy African Americans. In replication, this gene was associated with SABA response among the two separate groups of African Americans with asthma (n=1073, P=0.011 and n=1968, P=0.014), 149 healthy African Americans (P=0.003) and 556 European Americans with asthma (P=0.041). SPATA13-AS1 was also associated with longitudinal SABA medication usage in the two separate groups of African Americans with asthma (n=658, P=0.047 and n=1968, P=0.025). Future studies are needed to delineate the precise mechanism by which SPATA13-AS1 may influence SABA response.
Electrochemical oxidation of aniline in a silica sol-gel matrix

Abstract Electrochemical oxidation of aniline encapsulated in a silica solid electrolyte prepared by a sol–gel process yielded products that were dependent on the pore size. An acid-catalyzed process that used tetramethyl orthosilicate as the precursor and aniline as a dopant yielded the silica. When the aging time was limited to one day so that a mesoporous solid was obtained, the potentiodynamic oxidation of aniline at a carbon fiber electrode resulted in the formation of polyaniline. With aging times of 3–5 days, microporous silica was obtained. In this electrolyte, the formation of dimers and other oligomers was observed by cyclic voltammetry. Evidence for these products was the presence of a quasi-reversible redox couple at 0.2 V vs Ag/AgCl that was previously related to oligomeric aniline by Raman spectroscopy. The results supported the hypothesis that the pore structure of sol–gel electrolytes can influence the pathways of electrode reactions therein.
Altered Turnover of Calcium Regulatory Proteins of the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum in Aged Skeletal Muscle

We have measured the in vivo protein turnover for the major calcium regulatory proteins of the sarcoplasmic reticulum from the skeletal muscle of young adult (7 months) and aged (28 months) Fischer 344 rats. From the time course of the incorporation and decay of protein-associated radioactivity after a pulse injection of [14C]leucine and correcting for leucine reutilization, in young rats, the apparent half-lives for calsequestrin, the 53-kDa glycoprotein, and ryanodine receptor are 5.4 ± 0.4, 6.3 ± 1.3, and 8.3 ± 1.3 days, respectively. A half-life of 14.5 ± 2.5 days was estimated for the Ca-ATPase isolated from young muscle. Differences in protein turnover associated with aging were determined using sequential injection of two different isotopic labels ([14C]leucine and [3H]leucine) to provide an estimate of protein synthesis and degradation within the same animal. The Ca-ATPase and ryanodine receptor isolated from aged muscle exhibits 27 ± 5% and 25 ± 3% slower protein turnover, respectively, relative to that from young muscle. In contrast, the 53-kDa glycoprotein exhibits a 25 ± 5% more rapid turnover in aged SR, while calsequestrin exhibits no age-dependent alteration in turnover. Statistical analysis comparing the sensitivity of various methods for discriminating different rates of protein turnover validates the approach used in this study and demonstrates that the use of two isotopic labels provides at least a 6-fold more sensitive means to detect age-related differences in protein turnover relative to other methods.
Functional differences between the major and minor claws of fiddler crabs (Uca, family Ocypodidae, Order Decapoda, Subphylum Crustacea): A result of selection or developmental constraint?

Abstract We studied the functional differentiation between the major and minor claws of fiddler crabs (Uca, family Ocypodidae) by means of a strain gauge apPARATUS and by morphometric estimates of claw function. In Uca pugnax, (Smith 1870) closing force is an approximately log-linear function of claw length, but the slope for minor claws is greater than that for the major claws, and the y-intercept for major claws is displaced upwards from that of the minor claw. The pattern of closure also differs: major claws impart rhythmic short pulls, whereas minor claws squeeze far more irregularly. The short pulls of the major claw correspond to rapid squeezes observed in videotapes of combat, whereas the irregular pulls of the minor claw match expectations for gathering particles and transferring them to the mouth parts. The mechanical advantage declines steadily with increasing major claw length. These results suggest that the evolution of form of the extremely large major claws in fiddler crabs involved functional shifts, as opposed to a developmentally constrained extrapolation in size of the minor claw.