cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cell Cycle Regulators in Stem Cells

Adult stem cells have defined therapeutic roles evident in clinical bone marrow transplantation. The promise of broader therapeutic use for adult stem cells has been fueled by the controversial finding that cells derived from one tissue type may display phenotypic characteristics of other tissue types under appropriate environmental cues ( Blau et al., 2001 ). Therapeutic efficacy of stem cells in part depends on their proliferation; therefore, strategies to manipulate them require understanding of their cell cycle control. A significant hurdle restricting broader use of adult stem cells is their limited number and differentiation in response to proliferative stimuli, thus compromising ex vivo expansion efforts. Cell cycle regulators play key roles in this process ( D'Urso et al., 1990 ). In this chapter, we do not intend to detail the biochemical pathways of general cell cycle regulation because they were largely obtained from other model systems and have been extensively reviewed elsewhere ( Pardee, 1989 ; Sherr, 1996 ; Sherr, 2000 ; Sherr and Roberts, 1999 ). Instead, we focus on the distinct cell cycle kinetics in stem cell populations and its molecular base exemplified by the defining roles of the CKIs in murine HSCs. Admittedly, those studies do not give the whole picture with regard to how the cell cycle in stem cells is controlled. Nevertheless, they underscore the importance of further investigation of other cell cycle regulators in stem cell biology and offer new paradigms for therapeutic manipulations of stem cells.
Abstract 2879: Profiling of lung microbial communities in lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Background: The composition and structure of site-specific microbiota have recently been described as a biomarker associated with a variety of high impact diseases including cancer. This study sought to identify lung microbial signatures in smokers with lung cancer (LC) and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Material and Methods: We employed 16S rRNA gene compositional analysis to compare the microbiota in Optimal Cutting Temperature (OCT) embedded biopsies of lung-tissue from 30 smokers, including 10 patients with LC only, 10 patients with COPD only, and 10 patients with both LC and COPD, selected from a longitudinal study of COPD exacerbation conducted in Houston, Texas, during 2005 to 2012. Results: Microbial signatures calculated based on the 16S rRNA gene data showed that patients with COPD only presented a very distinct microbial structure defined by a significantly lower Shannon Diversity Index compared to patients with LC only (P = 0.04), and patients with both LC and COPD (P = 0.003), suggesting lower bacterial richness and evenness. Furthermore, biopsies from patients with COPD only were characterized by an increased prevalence of Acinetobacter (P < 0.0001) and Acidovorax (P < 0.0001), and a lower prevalence of Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Ruminococcus species compared to patients with LC only and those with both LC and COPD. However, patients with both COPD and LC were indistinguishable from those with LC only. Conclusions: This study is the first and largest to examine the composition of the lung microbiome in smokers with LC and/or COPD. Specific bacterial signatures were identified in patients with LC only and those with both COPD and LC demonstrating that the lung microbiome can be used as a biomarker for the two diseases. Altogether, we observed altered lung microbiota of COPD and LC, but whether this is involved in disease causation or is a consequence of host selection remains unclear. Citation Format: Yanhong Liu, Nadim J Ajami, Matthew C Wong, Michael Scheurer, E. Susan Amirian, Joseph F Petrosino, Margaret R Spitz, Melissa L Bondy, Farrah Kheradmand. Profiling of lung microbial communities in lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2879. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2879
Computational identification of p53 response elements: Evaluating the (f)utility of comparative genomics approaches

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 1550 The p53 tumor suppressor gene encodes a transcription factor that coordinates cellular responses to DNA damage and stress. Although the human p53 binding site is well-characterized, some genes have consensus-poor p53 response elements (REs) that are nevertheless both necessary and sufficient for transactivation. In such scenarios, comparative genomics is often employed to enhance identification of functional gene regulatory sequence. We evaluated this approach by examining the degree of conservation in 61 experimentally-validated human p53 REs across the canine, murine, and primate lineages. Surprisingly, the average p53 response element is no more conserved than background genomic sequence suggesting that it may evolve to satisfy each species’ unique needs in a changing environment. The common practice of filtering p53 RE predictions by murine conservation would not only increase the false positive rate, but cause numerous bona fide binding sites to be missed. Examination of interspecific sequence diversity as a function of position in the p53 consensus sequence revealed an unexpected excess of diversity in apoptosis-regulating sites, which indicates that they may have been under positive selection for mutation throughout mammalian evolution. Given this, comparative genome analysis between human sequences and their equivalents in a panel of old and new world monkeys may be a promising direction to enhance human p53 binding site prediction accuracy. Overall our analysis cautions against the status quo use of multi-species genome information for prediction of functional regulatory regions. Studies that rely on computational methods to identify functional regulatory regions should ensure that their choice of genomic data is relevant to the selection pressure on those motifs.
Decreasing‐Cost Industry

A decreasing cost industry is defined. Keywords: long run cost curves; economies of scale; economic profit
Proposed gag-encoded transcriptional activator is not necessary for Rous sarcoma virus replication or transformation.

Abstract It has been reported that gene expression directed by the long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) is trans activated by a protein encoded in an alternate reading frame within the RSV gag gene (S. Broome and W. Gilbert, Cell 40:537-546, 1985). We have made specific mutations to test the role of the putative transcriptional activator in RSV replication. Termination codons were created within the alternate reading frame coding for the trans activator, and the mutations were introduced into an infectious RSV plasmid. We were unable to demonstrate specific trans activation of the RSV long terminal repeat by either wild-type or mutant RSV plasmids in transient cotransfection assays. Experiments using mutant or wild-type RSV-infected chick embryo fibroblasts indicated that the proposed RSV transcriptional activator was not required for viral replication or transformation and did not increase steady-state levels of viral RNA.
The influence of maintenance system reliability and maintainability characteristics on plant availability

Several Markov probability models are developed to evaluate the impact of maintenance system availability on the overall plant. The models considered included the case when the maintenance equipment is under repair when a failure occurs on process equipment. The situation in which the maintenance equipment is operated in a degraded condition (i.e., longer times are required to complete repairs) is examined. >
The Story of NLRB v. Truitt Manufacturing Co. and NLRB v. Insurance Agents' International Union: The Duty to Bargain in Good Faith

This book chapter discusses two classic Supreme Court cases from the 1950's that explore the contours of the obligation to bargain in good faith: NLRB v. Truitt Manufacturing Co. and NLRB v. Insurance Agents' International Union. In the Truitt case, the Supreme Court held that the obligation to bargain in good faith requires an employer to open its books to the union when the employer refuses a request for a wage increase on the basis that such an increase will drive the employer out of business. In the Insurance Agents' case, the Supreme Court held that union slow-down tactics were consistent with the union's obligation to bargain in good faith even though these tactics were not protected by the NLRA. These two cases are considered together because their seemingly inconsistent holdings illustrate the tension in the NLRA between regulating the conduct of collective bargaining to promote the parties' ability to bargain cooperatively in industrial peace, while still allowing the recourse to economic weapons that is necessary for the process of collective bargaining. This chapter offers the stories behind these two great cases, the arguments the lawyers made on behalf of their clients, how these cases were resolved by the Board and the courts, and some of the theory behind what it means to bargain in good faith.
Ontology-Driven Induction of Decision Trees at Multiple Levels of Abstraction

Most learning algorithms for data-driven induction of pattern classifiers (e.g., the decision tree algorithm), typically represent input patterns at a single level of abstraction - usually in the form of an ordered tuple of attribute values. However, in many applications of inductive learning - e.g., scientific discovery, users often need to explore a data set at multiple levels of abstraction, and from different points of view. Each point of view corresponds to a set of ontological (and representational) commitments regarding the domain of interest. The choice of an ontology induces a set of representatios of the data and a set of transformations of the hypothesis space. This paper formalizes the problem of inductive learning using ontologies and data; describes an ontology-driven decision tree learning algorithm to learn classification rules at multiple levels of abstraction; and presents preliminary results to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Activation of Hexose Transport by Concanavalin A in Isolated Brown Fat Cells EFFECTS OF CELL SURFACE MODIFICATION WITH NEURAMINIDASE AND TRYPSIN ON LECTIN AND INSULIN ACTION

Abstract Direct activation of the fat cell d-glucose transport system by the lectin concanavalin A was studied using a rapid filtration procedure which monitors 3-O-[3H]methylglucose uptake in isolated brown fat cells. Transport of this non-metabolized d-glucose analogue, which occurs by facilitated diffusion, was linear for 5 or more min, temperature-dependent, and inhibited by unlabeled d-glucose, phlorizin, and cytochalasin B. Concanavalin A mimicked the stimulatory effect of insulin on initial rates of 3-O-methylglucose transport, whereas the lectin did not modify the equilibrium distribution of sugar. Marked agglutination of brown fat cells accompanied the lectin effects on transport. Experiments with l-[14C]glucose, which enters the cells by simple diffusion, indicated that the effect of concanavalin A was specific for the d-glucose transport system. Incubation of brown fat cells with 0.5 mg per ml of trypsin for 15 min at 37° almost completely inhibited the response of fat cell 3-O-methylgucose transport to insulin but had little or no effect on concanavalin A action or control transport rates. Under these conditions trypsinization had no effect on 125I-concanavalin A binding to fat cell surface receptors nor on lectin-mediated agglutination of these cells. The data are thus consistent with our previous suggestion that the physiological activity of this lectin in fat cells is mediated by receptor moieties distinct from those involved in insulin action. Digestion of cells with 200 µg per ml of neuraminidase abolished the stimulatory effects of both the lectin and insulin on 3-O-methylglucose transport. In addition, this treatment completely prevented agglutination of brown fat cells by concanavalin A without a detectable diminution of the 125I-concanavalin A bound to these cells. Bovine submaxillary mucin but not the glycoprotein conalbumin which is devoid of sialic acid blocked the actions of neuraminidase on insulin-stimulated hexose transport as well as agglutination of cells by the lectin. The data suggest that sialic acid moieties of fat cell membrane components play an important role in membrane events involved in lectin-mediated cell agglutination and hexose transport activation which occur subsequent to lectinreceptor binding. It is thus possible that the modulation of the glucose transport system by the lectin is dependent upon the same cell surface events which mediate its agglutination of cells.
Effects of anticoagulants and contemporary blood collection containers on aluminum, copper, and zinc results.

Laboratory analysis is used to evaluate both deficiency and excess of trace elements (1). The intravascular concentrations of many of these elements are maintained within narrow limits. For this reason, preanalytical loss of analyte and spuriously high values attributable to contamination are concerns. Blood collection, processing, and storage before analysis are critical for accurate trace element analysis. Decreased concentrations of analytes may result from adsorption onto collection container surfaces or from the use of anticoagulants that complex metals (2)(3). Sources of contamination include patient clothing and skin; blood collection materials, including needles, anticoagulants, stoppers, serum separators, and glass containers; and particulate matter in laboratory air. Aluminum, copper, and zinc are three metallic elements commonly monitored by the clinical laboratory. Although aluminum may have a physiological role in the action of a few enzymes, such as succinic dehydrogenase and porphobilinogen synthase, it is typically monitored to evaluate toxicity in patients subjected to hemodialysis for renal failure (3)(4). These patients may be exposed to high aluminum concentrations in their treatment regimen but lack an efficient physiological means to remove this element. Aluminum accumulation may lead to dialysis encephalopathy and osteomalacia. Toxicity is known to occur at concentrations >100 μg/L, although symptoms may occur at 60 μg/L or lower in dialysis patients (3)(5). Because aluminum is ubiquitous and pervasive, contamination is a serious concern for the analytical laboratory. Falsely high concentrations measured in contaminated specimens may affect clinical decisions. Copper is an essential trace element necessary for the function of several enzymes involved in electron transport, free radical defense, and other biological oxidation-reduction reactions (1). Copper has a role in iron metabolism and is an important indicator of Wilson disease and Menkes kinky hair syndrome. Copper concentrations vary with age, gender, and ethnic group. Zinc is an …
CD28 costimulation and parasite dose combine to influence the susceptibility of BALB/c mice to infection with Leishmania major.

Infection with Leishmania major in BALB/c mice is accompanied by the development of a nonprotective Th2-type response. It has previously been shown that disease progression, and the activation of a Th2-type response, can occur in the absence of CD28 costimulation following the inoculation of high numbers of L. major promastigotes. In this study, we show that in the absence of CD28-B7 interactions, BALB/c mice can spontaneously resolve their infections following the inoculation of low numbers of parasites. BALB/c CD28 +/+ and CD28 −/− mice were inoculated with 250, 500, and 750 metacyclic parasites. The CD28 −/− mice controlled their lesions, whereas the wild-type (WT) mice developed progressive nonhealing infections. Resistance to infection was associated with reduced numbers of parasites in the CD28 −/− mice compared with the WT mice. Infection of the CD28 −/− mice resulted in the activation of a Th1-type response as evidenced by increased levels of mRNA for IFN-γ and reduced levels of message for IL-4 and IL-10 in draining lymph nodes compared with those in WT mice. Healing of infected CD28 −/− mice could also be ablated with anti-CD4 Ab treatment or treatment with anti-IFN-γ Ab. In addition, healed CD28 −/− mice were resistant to a challenge infection with L. major. These results suggest that CD28 costimulation influences the in vivo activation of a Th2-type response in a manner that is dependent on the size of the parasite inoculum.
Dental students' knowledge about elder abuse and neglect and the reporting responsibilities of dentists

Dentists are in a unique position to detect elder abuse and neglect. Approximately 75 percent of all physical domestic violence results in injuries to the head, neck, and/or mouth area, clearly visible to the dental team during examinations and treatment. The goal of this project was to gather a comprehensive understanding of predoctoral dental students' perceptions of the culture of abuse and neglect and their level of fluency regarding their rights and responsibilities as mandated reporters. This article aims to inform dental educators of dental students' level of awareness of elder abuse and neglect in order to highlight content areas to be addressed in dental school curricula and clinical training. A twenty-four-item survey was administered to 291 predoctoral dental students at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry. The results are organized into three general areas: prior training and education; perceptions of the culture of abuse and neglect; and knowledge of mandated reporter legal responsibilities and protections. Overall, this study found that most students do not feel adequately trained to report a case of elder abuse. Data from this study suggest that dental students need education on the psychosocial aspects of older adulthood, as well as training in detecting and reporting elder abuse.
POLIOVIRUS 2C PROTEIN DETERMINANTS OF MEMBRANE BINDING AND REARRANGEMENTS IN MAMMALIAN CELLS

Poliovirus protein 2C is a 329-amino acid-protein that is essential for viral RNA synthesis and may perform multiple functions. In infected cells, it is associated with virus-specific membrane vesicles. Recombinant 2C protein expressed in transfected cells has been shown to associate with and induce rearrangement of the intracellular membrane network. This study was designed to map the determinants of membrane binding and rearrangement in the 2C protein. Computer-assisted analysis of the protein sequence led to a prediction that the protein folds into a structure composed of three domains. Expression plasmids that encode each or combinations of these predicted domains were used to examine the abilities of the partial protein sequences to associate with intracellular membranes and to induce rearrangement of these membranes in HeLa cells. Biochemical fractionation procedures suggested that the N-terminal region of the protein was required for membrane association. Electron microscopic and immunoelectron microscopic observation showed that both the N- and C-terminal regions, but not the central portion, of 2C protein interact with intracellular membranes and induce major changes in their morphology. The central portion, when fused to the N-terminal region, altered the specific membrane architecture induced by the N-terminal region, giving rise to vesicles resembling those observed during poliovirus infection.
PERSISTENCE OF DIMERIZATION AND ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR IN THE ABSENCE OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR

Dimerized and enzymatically active epidermal growth factor receptor, in the presence of saturating epidermal growth factor (EGF), was passed over a column containing an immunoadsorbent for EGF. The...
Level-Spacing Distribution in Small Asymmetric Particles

We present the analytical theory of the spacing between the neighboring energy levels in the spectrum of asymmetric micro-particles. We show the evidence of the level repulsion in the limit of small spacings, and explain this level repulsion by the phenomenon of Chaos Assisted Tunneling.
Tolerance of Snakehead Channa striatus to Ammonia at Different pH

Tolerance of snakehead Channa striatus to ammonia was tested at three pH levels (8.0, 9.0. and 10.0) in experimental tanks. At pH 8.0, ammonia LC50 estimates for snakehead at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h were >205.7, >203.5, 152.6, and 107.3 mg total ammonianitrogen (TAN)/L (or >10.3, >10.2, 7.6, and 5.4 mg NH3-N/L), respectively. At pH 9.0, ammonia LC50 estimates at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h were >52.4, 62.8, 56.1, 43.4 mg TAN/L (or >18.0, 21.6, 19.3, and 14.9 mg NH3-N/L), respectively. At pH 10.0, ammonia LC50 estimates at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h were 25.7, 21.6, 20.3, and 18.7 mg TAN/L (or 21.6, 18.1, 17.1, and 15.7 mg NH3-N/L). respectively. Our data indicate that the tolerance of snakehead to ammonia was associated with pH. Thus, we recommend that snakehead should not be subjected to prolonged exposures of NH3-N concentration more than 0.54 ma at pH 8.0, more than 1.49 mg/L at pH 9.0, or more than 1.57 mg/L at pH 10.0.
A Decade of Laparoscopic Appendectomy: Presentation of 1026 Patients with Suspected Appendicitis Treated in a Single Surgical Department

ABSTRACT Background: The laparoscopic approach for suspected appendicitis is increasingly gaining acceptance. Nevertheless, the discussion on its safety, efficacy, indications, and diagnostic accuracy remains open. Methods: During the decade 1993–2003, 1026 patients with suspected appendicitis were approached by laparoscopy. Sixty-three patients (6.1%) had chronic recurrent symptoms. Data were collected retrospectively and analyzed. There were 587 female and 439 male patients. Fertile women were compared to all other patients with respect to the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy. Results: Conversion rate was 0.55%. Median operating time was 26 minutes. Overall complication rate was 5.7%, consisting mostly of minor complications. There were no major intraoperative complications. Wound infections and intra-abdominal abscesses were reviewed separately and were 1.1% and 0%, respectively. Diagnosis could be established via laparoscopy in 89% of all patients, 85.4% of fertile women, and 93.1% of patients excep...
A finite analytic method for solving the 2-D time-dependent advection–diffusion equation with time-invariant coefficients☆

Abstract Difficulty in solving the transient advection–diffusion equation (ADE) stems from the relationship between the advection derivatives and the time derivative. For a solution method to be viable, it must account for this relationship by being accurate in both space and time. This research presents a unique method for solving the time-dependent ADE that does not discretize the derivative terms but rather solves the equation analytically in the space–time domain. The method is computationally efficient and numerically accurate and addresses the common limitations of numerical dispersion and spurious oscillations that can be prevalent in other solution methods. The method is based on the improved finite analytic (IFA) solution method [Lowry TS, Li S-G. A characteristic based finite analytic method for solving the two-dimensional steady-state advection–diffusion equation. Water Resour Res 38 (7), 10.1029/2001WR000518] in space coupled with a Laplace transformation in time. In this way, the method has no Courant condition and maintains accuracy in space and time, performing well even at high Peclet numbers. The method is compared to a hybrid method of characteristics, a random walk particle tracking method, and an Eulerian–Lagrangian Localized Adjoint Method using various degrees of flow-field heterogeneity across multiple Peclet numbers. Results show the IFALT method to be computationally more efficient while producing similar or better accuracy than the other methods.
Social Need, Public Response: The Volunteer Professional Model for Human Services Agencies and Counselors

This article describes a model process of assessment and integration that allows community agencies and professional counselors to engage in more effective volunteer activity.
Dietary-restraint status-modulated satiety responses in women.

Dietary restraint, a measure of the conscious control a person exerts over their eating to control body weight, has been associated with altered satiety responses. We report results showing that women with high dietary restraint exhibited aberrant satiety responses in two laboratory-based studies. In one study, we tested the effects of a proprietary, gel-forming drink, ingested twice per day, on food intake. In the second, we tested the effects of two daily doses (10 g) of encapsulated l -phenylalanine (Phe) on food intake. Overweight and obese women (total n=61) with a range of dietary restraint scores (2 – 20) were tested. Significant interactions of dietary-restraint and condition were found in both studies. The effects were especially pronounced when subjects were classified on the basis of rigid restraint, a subscale of the dietary-restraint measure defined by a more rigid approach to controlling food intake. Women with low rigid restraint scores consumed 12% less energy over the day in response to consumption of the gel-fiber beverage versus an equicaloric, low-fiber control. Similarly, in the second experiment, women with low rigid scores consumed 11% less daily energy with ingestion of Phe versus an equicaloric control. No effect of condition (fiber or Phe) was found for women classified as high in rigid restraint. These experiments provide further evidence that high dietary restraint is associated with altered satiety responses and suggest that restricting food intake may have untoward consequences for appetite regulation. Supported by McNeil Nutritionals, LLC.
Development and evaluation of a set of group delay standards

Group delay standards of 15,30, and 60 ns have been developed at JPL. Calibration data provided by NBS and others are presented and compared. Calibrations were performed at microwave frequencies of 2113,2295, and 8415 MHz as well as at a baseband modulation frequency of 500 kHz. The uncertainties of the measurement and effects of dispersion and cable reflections are discussed.
Molecular Source Tracking of Bioaerosols in the Quarantined Katrina Flood Zone

The emergency response following hurricanes Katrina and Rita included massive pumping and aeration operations to reduce biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of floodwaters trapped within the city of New Orleans. Such engineering operations aerosolized tremendous quantities of water as microdroplets, which in turn increased the potential for waterborne microorganisms to partition into the atmosphere. To determine if remediation efforts significantly impacted local airborne microbe populations, or resulted in aerosolization of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, we performed direct microscopy, broad spectrum PCR, and DNA sequencing analysis on paired air and water samples collected in the immediate vicinity of turbulent pumping and aeration operations throughout flooded New Orleans. We report here that remediation activities following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita did not significantly impact bioaerosol ecology proximal to large engineering works, which promoted floodwater aerosolization. With exception to the ...
Effect of water temperature on growth and nutrient utilization of sunshine bass (Morone chrysops ♀×Morone saxatilis ♂) fed diets containing different energy/protein ratios

Abstract An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of dietary energy/protein (E/P) ratio on the growth of fingerling sunshine bass (about 3–4 g/fish) held at water temperatures of 26.7 and 32.2°C. Six semipurified diets were prepared combining three protein levels (35%, 40% and 45%) and two lipid levels (5% and 15%) to yield E/P ratios of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 kcal estimated available energy/g protein. Fish were held in 110-l aquaria (25 fish/tank), supplied with continuous flow of filtered, fresh water. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of fish and fed to satiation twice a day for 8 weeks. Feed consumption decreased with increasing dietary E/P ratio. Growth and nutrient utilization were significantly higher in fish maintained at 26.7°C than those held at 32.2°C. Feed efficiency (FE), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and protein conversion efficiency (PCE) were optimum at a dietary E/P ratio of 9 kcal/g protein. Whole-body lipid deposition and intraperitoneal fat accumulation (IPF ratio) increased as dietary lipid increased. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) changed differently at these two temperatures but HSI and liver glycogen at each temperature were positively correlated. At 32.2°C liver glycogen deposition was positively correlated with dietary carbohydrate (dextrin) levels. The higher feed consumption and lower energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of fish held at 32.2°C indicates an increased energy requirement for maintenance and/or activity in these fish.
SU-GG-T-80: Comparisons of Measured Doses Using Ion Chamber and Matrixx for IMRT-QA

Purpose: To investigate the accuracy of measured dose with the MatriXX for IMRT‐QA. Method and Materials: An ionization chamber (PTW N31002) and a MatriXX (IBA Dosimetry) were used for measurements. The MatriXX was calibrated at the reference point (CAX, d max, 100‐cm SSD, 10×10 cm2 field) and was frequently checked for stability. IMRT‐QA plans were prepared with a Pinnacle TPS. The calculation points in IMRT‐QA plans were located in a low dose gradient region, and planned dose was 200 cGy. Dose to the calculation point was measured by the ionization chamber in solid water and then separately by the MatriXX. In order to rule out output fluctuations of the linac, we measured the machine output under calibration conditions after each IMRT‐QA measurement and normalized the reading at the calculation point to that at the calibration reference point to obtain measured dose at the calculation point. Raw data obtained with MatriXX were interpolated linearly to find the dose at the calculation point. Results: The difference between outputs measured by the chamber and by the calibrated MatriXX for a static 10×10 cm2 field at the reference point was less than 1%. For the 13 patient plans studied, comparisons show that the dose obtained by MatriXX was always greater than that by the chamber in solid water. The chamber readings agreed with the MatriXX readings on average within 2.1%. The range of agreement was 0.4% to 4.6%. Gamma analysis for all cases had >98% of the points within 3% or 3 mm agreement for relative dose distributions. Conclusion: Differences between doses measured by MatriXX and ionization chamber for the same QA‐plan were observed. For 13 QA‐plans, dose from MatriXX was 2.1% greater on average than that from an ionization chamber. Identification of the origin of this discrepancy requires further investigation.
Dissociation between cortisol and adrenal androgen secretion in patients receiving alternate day prednisone therapy

To evaluate the hypothesis that chronic, low dose, alternate day prednisone treatment may suppress adrenal androgen secretion without causing long term suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis we studied seven patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who had been taking low dose (5-20 mg), alternate day prednisone therapy for at least 1 yr. Basal and ovine CRH (oCRH)-stimulated plasma ACTH, cortisol, and adrenal androgen levels were measured 12 h (day on) and 36 h (day off) after the most recent dose of prednisone, and the results were compared to those in seven age- and sex-matched normal subjects. The patients' basal ACTH and cortisol levels did not differ significantly from those in the normal subjects on either the day on or the day off prednisone treatment. By contrast, their basal adrenal androgen levels were significantly decreased compared to those in normal subjects on both the day on and the day off prednisone (P less than 0.05). The patients' oCRH-stimulated ACTH and cortisol levels on the day off prednisone did not differ from normal levels, but were significantly blunted during the day on prednisone (P less than 0.05). In contrast, the patient's oCRH-stimulated adrenal androgen levels were significantly decreased during both the day off and the day on prednisone (P less than 0.05). These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that chronic alternate day prednisone therapy, at doses close to or below replacement, suppresses adrenal androgen levels without long term suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Based upon these findings, we postulate that an alternate day regimen of prednisone might maintain the benefits while reducing the risks of glucocorticoid therapy of adrenal hyperandrogenism.
Double-cropping with winter camelina in the northern Corn Belt to produce fuel and food

Abstract Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) can be used as oilseed feedstock for biofuels. Recently, it was shown that fall-seeded winter camelina can be successfully grown in the upper Midwest USA and may be harvested early enough in the following summer to allow producing a second crop. Double-cropping may offer a profitable means of producing a dedicated biofuel crop without jeopardizing food security. To our knowledge no published information exists on exploring double-cropping with winter camelina. Therefore, a 2-yr field study was conducted between 2007 and 2009 in west central Minnesota to evaluate the agronomic and economic viability of producing short-season cultivars of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], oilseed sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), and forage millet (Setaria italica L.) after winter camelina in conventionally tilled and no-tilled soil. In most instances, yields of camelina and the second crop in the double-crop sequence differed between years but not by tillage practice. Averaged over both years, total oil yields for the camelina–soybean and camelina–sunflower sequences were 704 and 1508 L ha−1. Compared to conventionally produced mono-crops, on average, double-crop soybean and sunflower yielded 82% and 72% of their mono-cropped counterparts, respectively. As expected, double-crop production costs were greater than for conventional mono-crops. However, in 2009 if camelina prices were similar to canola, net returns for double-crop camelina and soybean were $172–352 ha−1 higher than for soybean alone, with highest double-crop net returns for conventional tillage. Furthermore, double-crop soybean seed protein content was little affected by late seeding, while double-crop sunflower oil content averaged over both years was about 13% lower than conventional sunflower sown at an optimum time. A winter camelina-food or -forage crop double-cropping system may be viable for the upper Midwest USA.
VERBAL PRODUCTIVITY AND EXPRESSION OF PRIMARY PROCESS

The effects of verbal fluency upon the production of primary-process thinking on the Holtzman Inkblot Test as scored by the Holt system were investigated for a group of 49 male university students. Increasing verbal productivity resulted in a significant increase in primary-process scores in both high and low primary-process groups, selected on the basis of a trial of unlimited verbal productivity. In addition there were consistent significant differences in primary-process scores comparing the high and low primary-process groups at different levels of fluency. The importance of considering the level of verbal fluency when using scores from inkblot records in discussed.
Purification of the (Na+ + K+)-adenosine triphosphatase from human renal tissue.

Abstract (Na + + K + )-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) was purified from human cadaver renal tissue and exhibited a linear reaction rate with time. 100 g of whole kidney would yield 1–3.5 mg protein with a specific activity of 50–200 mol · kg −1 · h −1 for (Na + + K + )-ATPase . The preparation was completely inhibited by 100 μM ouabain with a K i of 1.8 μM. K+-dependent phosphatase increased during purification of (Na + + K + )-ATPase to 7.8 mol · kg −1 · h −1 . There was no detectable Mg2+-ATPase in the final preparation. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis yielded three protein peaks of 117 000, 92 500, and 56 000 daltons. The peptide band corresponding to 92 500 daltons underwent an Na+-dependent phosphorylation with [γ- 32 P]ATP . The band at 56 000 daltons stained for glycoprotein. The K m for ATP was 0.38 mM and that for Mg2+ was 0.5 mM. The formation of ADP and inorganic phosphate from ATP was stoichiometric. The K m for Na+ in the presence of 20 mM K+ was 16 mM and the K m for K+ in the presence of 100 mM Na+ was 1.5 mM. The temperature optimum was 51°C and the pH optimum was 7.0. (Na + + K + )-ATPase in whole homogenate, microsomes, and NaI-treated microsomes exhibited a slowing of reaction rate (non-linearity) with time such that the enzyme was inactive by 10–15 min of reaction. This non-linearity was eliminated during purification. The significance is discussed.
Evaluation of the Nonin 8600V Veterinary Pulse Oximeter in Anesthetized Horses

Summary SpO2 values from the Nonin 8600V veterinary pulse oximeter, using a lingual clip-type, transmittance sensor applied to the tongue, were compared to directly-measured SaO2 values from a co-oximeter, calibrated for equine blood, in 5 halothane-anesthetized horse. Normocapnia was maintained with controlled ventilartion. The inspired oxygen concentration was varied by mixing nitrogen in oxygen to obtain SpO2 readings of approximately 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 92, and 100%. At the time of each SpO2 recording, an arterial blood sample was collected for immediate analysis of SaO2. A total of sixty paired measurements were made. The results showed excellent data correlation with a bias (precision) of 0.55 (2.57) and an R-value of 0.98 over the entire SaO2 range tested. Based on these findings, the Nonin 8600V veterinary pulse oximeter, with the lingual sensor, performed accurately and reliably, and appears to be suitable for clinical use in anesthetized horses. (Vet Emerg & Crit Care, 1999: 13–18)
Expression of carbohydrate binding protein 35 in human fibroblasts: Variations in the levels of mRNA, protein, and isoelectric species as a function of replicative competence

We have compared the expression and localization of carbohydrate binding protein 35 (CBP35) in human SL66 fibroblasts of different replicative capacities. When serum-starved, quiescent young (passage 11, corresponding to approximately 18 cumulative population doublings) SL66 cells were treated with serum, there was a marked stimulation in the expression of CBP35. This was revealed both by an increase in the percentage of cells positively stained with anti-CBP35 under immunofluorescence and by an increase in the amount of the protein in immunoblots, as well as by an increase in the level of accumulated mRNA in Northern blots. The rise in the expression of CBP35 in proliferating cells was manifested most clearly in the nuclear fraction, with elevation in the levels of the nonphosphorylated (pI8.7) protein, as well as the phosphorylated (pI8.2) derivative. In contrast, older (passage 27-35, 55-68 cumulative population doublings) cultures of SL66 fibroblasts appear to have lost the normal proliferation-dependent regulation of CBP35 expression. The level of CBP35 was high in quiescent high-passage cells and decreased somewhat after serum stimulation. Furthermore, the unphosphorylated (pI 8.7) form of the lectin could not be detected in either the nucleus or the cytoplasm of high-passage SL66 cells. Finally, the level of the mRNA for CBP35 was high in quiescent cultures of high-passage cells, but undetectable 17 h after serum stimulation. These results establish that the expression of CBP35 becomes altered as human fibroblasts acquire reduced replicative capacity.
Effect of agricultural policy on succession decisions of farm households

Policymakers, economists, and researchers have recently been interested in assessing the impact of farm program payments on the growth and survival of farm businesses. Planning for succession is an integral part of managing a farm business. This study uses farm-level data to investigate the impact of government farm policy and farm growth on both succession decisions and the likelihood of intra-family transfers of the farm business. Results indicate that succession decisions are significantly influenced by government farm policy, farm wealth, age, and educational attainment of current farm operators. Results show that off-farm work by operators and spouses and regional location are positively correlated with non-family farm succession decisions. On the other hand, farm ownership, educational attainment, and marital status of the operator increase the likelihood of family-based succession decisions. However, in the presence of retirement income from other sources such as pension, parents are less likely to have a family successor.
Angiotensin II receptor antagonist ameliorates renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis caused by unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Angiotensin II receptor antagonist ameliorates renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis caused by unilateral ureteral obstruction. Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) results in tubulointerstitial fibrosis of the obstructed kidney (OBK). In this study we report that a specific angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor antagonist, SC-51316, ameliorates the expansion of the renal cortical interstitium in the OBK of the rat at five days of UUO. This is similar to the effect of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, enalapril. SC-51316 (20 mg/liter in the drinking water) or enalapril (200 mg/liter in the drinking water) was administered beginning 24 hours before UUO and continued through five days after UUO. The relative volume of the tubulointerstitium (Vv) was measured by a point-counting method, and monocyte/macrophage infiltration, alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and collagen type IV (collagen IV) protein deposition were examined histologically using specific antibodies. We also examined the mRNA levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and collagen IV by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In untreated rats with UUO, Vv was remarkably expanded; collagen IV and αSMA protein deposition in the interstitium and PCNA labeling of nuclei were increased. These changes were significantly ameliorated by administration of an ACE inhibitor or an Ang II receptor antagonist. A monocyte/macrophage infiltration was evident in the OBK of untreated or Ang II receptor antagonist treated rats but was greatly reduced in the OBK of rats given enalapril. Increased expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and collagen IV mRNA was blunted (40 to 75%) by the administration of Ang II receptor antagonist or enalapril. The Ang II receptor antagonist or the ACE inhibitor did not affect the contralateral kidney of rats with UUO or the control kidney of normal rats. This study indicates that the renin-angiotensin system has a major role in the pathogenesis of the tubulointerstitial fibrosis of obstructive nephropathy. The tubulointerstitial fibrosis of obstructive nephropathy is most likely mediated by an increased level of Ang II in renal tissue.
A supplementary sample non-parametric empirical Bayes approach to some statistical decision problems.

SUMMARY When an estimating problem is routine, it is often possible to consider the parameter being estimated as a random variable. The data obtained to estimate previous values of the parameter then contain information which can be used to advantage in estimating the present parameter. Besides these data it is assumed that there are supplementary estimates of the previous parameters, perhaps in the form of customer feedback. All the probability distributions are assumed to be unknown. The estimating procedure given here is shown to be asymptotically optimal, and by a Monte Carlo example to have good small sample properties.
Noonan syndrome associated with neuroblastoma: a case report

We report a case of a child with Noonan phenotype and incidental radiographic findings of mediastinal neuroblastoma. Recent studies have reported an increased association of Noonan syndrome with some malignancies, and the case we present here is the first reported case to our knowledge of an association of neuroblastoma with Noonan syndrome.
Bactericidal Antibody after Colonization with Neisseria meningitidis

Immunity to meningococcal disease is correlated with the presence of bactericidal antibody in serum. The role of the carrier state in stimulating production of bactericidal antibody was studied by obtaining samples of serum from military recruits before and after colonization with Neisseria meningitidis. The sera from 38 men, all of whom harbored meningococci that could not be grouped serologically, were assayed for bactericidal activity against their homologous carrier strains and selected pathogenic strains of groups A, B, C, and Y. Among these men, 38.9% developed antibody to their own strain; the proportion of those developing antibody to selected pathogenic strains of groups A, B, C, and Y was 20.6%, 52%, 47.8%, and 7.9%, respectively. These studies indicate that colonization of the nasopharynx of adults with nongroupable meningococci, which rarely cause disease, can be a potent stimulus to the production of bactericidal antibody, not only against the carrier's own nongroupable strain, but also against selected strains of known pathogenicity. These observations support the role of the nongroupable carrier state in developing and maintaining natural immunity to meningococcal disease.
Trivia: Mundane, Arcane or Inane

What was the older daughter's name on Father Knows Best? Who hit the ball that Willy Mays miraculously caught in the 1954 World Series? Who was Goldwater's running mate in 1964? These questions are less than earth‐shattering; in fact they are labeled as ‘trivia.’ But that does not mean that they are unimportant. Ask any librarian who has ever spent a half‐hour cross‐checking lists to find the one performer who won the Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy.
Effects of hypernatraemia in the central nervous system and its therapy in rats and rabbits.

1. We studied the effects of acute (1 or 4 h) and chronic (1 week) hypernatraemia (plasma [Na+], 170-190 mM) on brain histology, and brain water and solute contents in rats and rabbits. 2. In rabbits with acute hypernatraemia, there was significant loss of intracellular brain water, with increases in brain [Na+ + K+], amino acid concentration, and undetermined solute (idiogenic osmole). After 1 week of recovery, brain intracellular water content had returned to normal. 3. In hypernatraemic rats there was myelinolysis of brain white matter, with karyorrhexis and necrosis of neurons. 4. Hypernatraemic rabbits were treated with 77 mM NaCl (i.v.) to normalize plasma [Na+] over 4-24 h intervals. Therapy of either acute or chronic hypernatraemia resulted in significant brain oedema because brain osmolality failed to decrease at the same rate as plasma osmolality. 5. It is concluded that: (a) untreated hypernatraemia results in brain lesions demonstrating myelinolysis and cellular necrosis; (b) normalization of hypernatraemia over 4-24 h results in cerebral oedema, due primarily to failure of brain amino acids and idiogenic osmoles to dissipate as plasma [Na+] is decreased to normal.