cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tobacco ringspot virus Found in the Cardboard Cycad (Zamia furfuracea) in Florida

Zamia furfuracea (Zamiaceae) is native of coastal Mexico. It is a popular houseplant and easy to grow outdoors in warm climates. In November 2005, a plant of Z. furfuracea, originally from Texas, was received at the Division of Plant Industry in Gainesville, FL. The plant had numerous chlorotic spots on the leaves that eventually became necrotic. Leaves were ground in phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) with Carborundum and used to inoculate a host range that included Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. quinoa, Gomphrena globosa, Datura stramonium, and Nicotiana benthamiana. Systemic symptoms were seen in C. quinoa (necrotic lesions), G. globosa (stunting), D. stramonium (chlorotic ringspots), and N. benthamiana (wavy line patterns) 1 to 2 weeks after inoculation. C. amaranticolor showed only small necrotic local lesions. In further host range studies, systemic infections of Beta vulgaris, D. metaloides, Lactuca sativa, N. clevelandii, Pisum sativus, Petunia hybrida, Zinnia elegans (symptomless), and Cucumis sativa were observed. However, no infection of Zea mays, Verbena hybrida, Glycine max, Phaseolus vulgaris, Catharanthus roseus, Arachis hypogaea, Trifolium spp., Vigna unguiculata, Vicia faba or Digitalis spp. was detected. Inclusions observed in leaf strips of N. benthamiana and D. stramonium indicated a possible infection of this plant with a nepovirus (1). A 337-bp fragment was amplified from total RNA isolated from an inoculated D. stramonium using reverse transcription-PCR with nepovirus group primers provided by Agdia Inc. (Elkhart, IN). Sequence analysis indicated that the nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) sequences of the fragment were 89 to 91% and 91 to 95% identical, respectively, to sequences of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene for Tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV) contained in GenBank (Accession Nos. U50869 and AJ698718). This region was only 50% (nt) and 38% (aa) identical to Cycas necrotic stunt virus (GenBank Accession No. NC_003791), a nepovirus previously reported to infect cycads (2). The original plant, symptomatic inoculated hosts, and the symptomless zinnia tested positive by double-antibody sandwich-ELISA using commercially available antiserum for TRSV (Agdia, Inc.), further confirming the presence of TRSV. Although the virus infecting Z. furfuracea has a more restricted host range than that reported for TRSV, the serology and gene sequence indicates that this virus is a unique isolate of TRSV. References: (1) J. R. Edwardson and R. G. Christie. University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Bull. 894. 1996. (2) S. S. Han et al. Arch. Virol. 147:2207, 2002.
Exposure to Power Frequency Magnetic Fields and Risk of Breast Cancer in the Upper Cape Cod Cancer Incidence Study

Investigators used a population-based case-control study to evaluate the relationship between breast cancer risk and exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields from various sources. There was no increase in breast cancer risk associated with (a) holding a job with high (odds ratio [OR] = 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.4, 3.4) or medium (OR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.5, 1.7) exposure to magnetic fields; (b) living in a home heated electrically (OR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.7, 1.4); or (c) sleeping with an electric blanket (OR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.7, 1.4). There was a nonsignificant 50% increase in risk for subjects who lived within 152 m (500 ft) of an electricity transmission line or substation (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 0.6, 3.3). Although limited by small numbers and exposure misclassification, the data in this study did not support the hypothesis that exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields increases the risk of breast cancer in women.
Microsatellite diversities and gene flow in the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans s.l.

Abstract Tsetse flies occupy discontinuous habitats and gene flow among them needs to be investigated in anticipation of area-wide control programs. Genetic diversities were estimated at six microsatellite loci in seven Glossina morsitans submorsitans Newstead (Diptera: Glossinidae) populations and five microsatellite loci in six G. m. morsitans Westwood populations. Nei's unbiased diversities were 0.808 and 76 alleles in G. m. submorsitans and 0.727 and 55 alleles in G. m. morsitans. Diversities were less in three laboratory cultures. Matings were random within populations. Populations were highly differentiated genetically. Populations were strongly subdivided, as indicated by fixation indices (FST) of 0.18 in G. m. morsitans and 0.17 in G. m. submorsitans. 35% of the genetic variance in G. m. submorsitans was attributed to differences between populations from The Gambia and Ethiopia. All available genetic evidence suggests that genetic drift is much greater than gene flow among G. morsitans s.l. populations.
Intraspecific Measurements of Photorespiration

The relative magnitudes of (a) CO(2) compensation concentration, (b) zero CO(2) intercept of the CO(2) response curve, (c) O(2) suppression of net photosynthesis, (d) differential (12)CO(2) and (14)CO(2) uptake, and (e) (14)CO(2) efflux into CO(2)-free air were determined in the dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties Michelite-62 (M-62) and Red Kidney (RK). In comparing the two varieties for each of the above processes, there were three categories of response, M-62 > RK, M-62 = RK, and M-62 < RK. Since these processes did not give the same relative difference for the two varieties being studied, it was concluded that these phenomena cannot validly be used to estimate the magnitude of photorespiration, although they do identify its presence. The results suggest that photorespiration is but one component of O(2) inhibition of net photosynthesis and that photorespiration itself has two or more component metabolic pathways.
Interchromosomal Interactions and Olfactory Receptor Choice

The expression of a single odorant receptor (OR) gene from a large gene family in individual sensory neurons is an essential feature of the organization and function of the olfactory system. We have used chromosome conformation capture to demonstrate the specific association of an enhancer element, H, on chromosome 14 with multiple OR gene promoters on different chromosomes. DNA and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments allow us to visualize the colocalization of the H enhancer with the single OR allele that is transcribed in a sensory neuron. In transgenic mice bearing additional H elements, sensory neurons that express OR pseudogenes also express a second functional receptor. These data suggest a model of receptor choice in which a single trans-acting enhancer element may allow the stochastic activation of only one OR allele in an olfactory sensory neuron.
Design of a Cyclopropyl Quinone Methide Reductive Alkylating Agent. 2

A cyclopropyl quinone methide is formed by elimination of a leaving group from an appropriately functionalized hydroquinone. The presence of a carbon spacer results in the formation of a fused ring rather than the classic methide species. Discussed herein is cyclopropyl quinone methide formation from a pyrido[1,2-a]indole ring system. Both nucleophilic and electrophilic attack on the fused cyclopropane ring results in pyrido[1,2-a]indole and azepino[1,2-a]indole products. The stereoelectronic effect plays less a role in the relatively flexible pyrido[1,2-a]indole system compared to its role in the pyrrolo[1,2-a]-indole system. A 13C label on the fused cyclopropane ring permitted the rapid identification of complex rearrangement products observed in this study.
SOLID STATE REACTIONS BETWEEN PD AND SI INDUCED BY HIGH ENERGY BALL MILLING

Solid state reactions induced by high energy ball milling between Pd and Si have been studied. X-ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry have been used to characterize the resulting phases. During milling, Pd and Si react by diffusion to form different phases depending on the Si content in the starting mixture. With a low Si content of 19 at. %, an amorphous phase forms of the same composition. On continued milling, this amorphous phase partially crystallizes into Pd9Si2 and Pd2Si compounds. With the Si content equal to or higher than 33 at. %, no amorphous phases were observed. Instead, the Pd2Si phase is produced. For powder composition corresponding to the stoichiometric compound Pd2Si (33 at. % Si), the Pd2Si forms and remains stable during further milling. With Si content equal to or higher than 50 at. %, the initially produced Pd2Si is destabilized by a reaction with the remaining Si to form PdSi, which is a metastable phase at the temperature of ball milling. It is very unlikely that an amorphous phase of a composition equal to or higher than 33 at. % Si could be produced by ball milling in the Pd-Si system. This is because the Pd2Si phase forms very easily through the reaction between Pd and Si, and this reaction competes effectively with glass formation.
STUDIES ON PULMONARY EDEMA II. THE PATHOGENESIS OF NEUROPATHIC PULMONARY EDEMA

1. Guinea pigs die shortly after bilateral cervical vagotomy, even when continuous artificial respiration effected through a tracheal cannula is carried out. Death is caused by severe pulmonary edema and congestion. 2. Direct observation of the lungs after bilateral vagotomy demonstrates that pulmonary edema develops gradually and increases slowly in amount and severity. Congestion precedes and accompanies the development of the edema. 3. Neuropathic pulmonary edema in the guinea pig is caused by disturbance to or abolition of the pulmonary vasomotor nerves. 4. The evidence obtained by experiments on animals suggests that neuropathic pulmonary edema in man is caused by disturbances, either central or peripheral, to the vasomotor control of the pulmonary vessels.
Soil pH Variation Within a Soil. I. pH Variation in Soil Pores Observed in a Column-Leaching Method

Abstract The traditional method for determining soil pH is to measure the pH of mixed soil samples. The resulting measured soil pH as an average is used to represent the unsampled neighborhood. This average cannot really represent the actual soil pH value if spatially dependent heterogeneity of soil properties exists among the samples. The objective of this study was to develop a more complete understanding of soil pH in soil that had been acidified by use of nitrogen fertilizer. The soil samples obtained from the Van Rockel vineyard in Temecula, CA were taken to run a designed column-leaching test from four random test sites with two replicates per site at the depths of 0–30 cm, 30–60 cm, and 60–90 cm. The pH variation in soil pores was observed periodically through several column-leaching tests. When unsieved soil samples in an air-dried state were used to observe the changes in soil pH as shown by a column-leaching procedure, soil pH values during leaching increased gradually with elapsed time in a thi...
The Preparation and Properties of Aluminum Nitride Films

Aluminum nitride films have been deposited on silicon substrates at 800-1200 C by the pyrolysis of an aluminum trichloride-ammonia complex, AlCl3.3NH3, in a gas flow system. The deposit was transparent, tightly adherent to the substrate, and was confirmed to be aluminum nitride by X-ray and electron diffraction techniques. The deposited aluminum nitride films were found to be polycrystalline with the crystallite size increasing with increasing temperature of deposition. Other properties of aluminum nitride films relevant to device applications, including density, refractive index, dissolution rate, dielectric constant, and masking ability, have been determined. These properties indicate that aluminum nitride films have potential as a dielectric in electronic devices.
Studies toward the Synthesis of Spirolide C: Exploration into the Formation of the 23-Membered All-Carbon Macrocyclic Framework

The synthesis of two complex subunits en route to spirolide C is described. A key alkyllithium addition to an aldehyde joins the fragments, which are advanced in order to investigate a ring-closing metathesis to form the 23-membered all-carbon macrocyclic framework.
Curing studies of the meta, para and 50/50 mixed isomers of the ethyl ester of 4,4'-oxydianiline/pyromellitic dianhydride polyamic acid

Abstract The cure behaviour of the ethyl ester derivatives of 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA)/pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) poly(amic acid) to the corresponding imide was investigated using isothermal and dynamic mass spectroscopy, FT-Raman spectroscopy and density gradient column analysis. Both the rate cure and per cent conversion were dependent on the isomer composition, occurring in the order para >meta > 50/50 mixed isomer at temperatures below 275°C. This order holds both for amorphous solid samples and samples cast from N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solution. With increasing isothermal temperatures or ramp speeds of the dynamic mass spectroscopy scans, the imidization rates and per cent conversions of all three isomers converged. The cure kinetics were also found to be dependent on the presence of solvent. The temperature of the maximum rate of cure in the dynamic mass spectroscopy data decreased with increasing solvent content and the temperature range over which imidization occurred narrowed by 300% for samples cast from NMP solution compared with solid samples precipitated from solution. The presence of NMP directly affected the cure by plasticizing the films. In addition, the narrowing of the imidization temperature range occurred even if there was complete removal of NMP before the onset of imidization, suggesting that the morphology of the films or the orientational alignment of the chains was changed by prior annealing in NMP, perhaps due to mesophase formation.
Cognition and screening for hearing loss in nursing home residents.

Abstract Objectives To compare hearing screening results using pure tones and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) with nursing home residents who have dementia and explore the relationship of hearing impairment and cognitive function using the Mini- Mental Status Evaluation (MMSE). Design and Setting A correlational design was implemented to evaluate residents in a large inner city nursing home. Participants One hundred one nursing home residents 65–108 years. Measurements DPOAEs and pure tone screenings were conducted at 30 dB HL and 40 dB HL at 1, 2, and 3 kHz. Pure tone thresholds at 1, 2, and 3 kHz were obtained. The MMSE was administered to all participants. Results Results showed that all residents failed the DPOAE screen, 97.1% failed at 30 dB HL, and 90.0% failed at 40 dB HL. Kendall's tau, phi correlation, linear by linear association, and χ 2 results indicated no significant relationship for any of the screening protocols and cognitive status other than a significant finding with left ear screening at 40 dB HL. Logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals who passed the screen had better MMSE scores. Results of the t test and Mann-Whitney U test revealed a significant difference in cognitive function for residents with a mild hearing loss compared with those with a more significant hearing loss. Conclusion For screening nursing home residents, 40 dB HL screening level or DPOAEs can be used. The significant finding that residents with greater than a mild hearing loss have poorer cognitive function reinforces the importance of identifying residents with a hearing loss and providing rehabilitation and follow-up.
Activity-dependent influences are greater for fibers in rat medial gastrocnemius than tibialis anterior muscle.

Skeletal muscles are highly adaptive to changes in loading or activation. A model of neuromuscular inactivity (spinal cord isolation, SI) was used to determine the role of activity-independent and -dependent neural influences on the size and myonuclei number in type-identified fibers of a fast extensor (medial gastrocnemius, MG) and flexor (tibialis anterior, TA) rat muscle. Fibers were categorized based on myosin heavy chain isoform composition. Four days after SI, all fiber types tended to atrophy and lose myonuclei, with the percent loss of myonuclei being disproportionately less than the decrease in fiber size. At 60 days after SI, all fiber types in MG and the fastest fibers in TA were significantly smaller and had fewer myonuclei than control. The disproportionate amount of atrophy resulted in a smaller myonuclear domain. These effects were greater in MG than TA, indicating that activity-dependent influences were greater in the extensor than flexor. The smaller myonuclear domains after a period of chronic inactivity suggest the presence of intrinsic mechanisms operating to maintain the genetic material necessary to recover from atrophic conditions. Muscle Nerve, 2005
Multiple sclerosis. Part I: Neuro-ophthalmic manifestations

Purpose of review This update includes topics relating to multiple sclerosis (MS) for the ophthalmologist. Recent findings Interest in the ophthalmology of MS is highlighted by the substantial amount of original research presented at recent medical conferences. At the 2008 World Congress on Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, 33 of 898 abstract presentations related to ophthalmology. The most represented topics were optical coherence tomography (OCT) and radiology of the visual system (19/33 posters). The 2009 North American neuro-ophthalmologic society (NANOS) conference featured MS-related topics in 6 of 24 platform presentations. This article reviews recent advancements in the neuro-ophthalmology of MS. Summary Multiple sclerosis results in various ophthalmic abnormalities. Optic neuritis is the most widely studied visual disturbance in MS, but other unusual visual manifestations such as Charles Bonnet syndrome or the Pulfrich phenomenon also occur. OCT is used to measure thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer. Because thinning of this layer in MS represents axonal loss, OCT is being used to evaluate neuroprotective treatments. The efferent visual system, in particular the medial longitudinal fasciculus pathway, may be a way to measure body temperature-induced changes in MS.
Theory of the magneto-optic kerr-effect in NiUSn

Abstract An ab initio calculation of the electronic structure, optical conductivity and magneto-optic Kerr-effect is reported for the C 1 b phase compound NiUSn. Full relativistic spin-orbit interaction and spin polarization have been incorporated. The half-metallic behavior found earlier for this material has been effectively preserved with the inclusion of full spin-orbit coupling. The double polar Kerr angle, 2φ, is calculated to be about 10° in the infrared in about 4° in the visible spectrum and is found to be due to interband transitions.
Cultivation of Borrelia hermsi

A medium has been developed which permits the isolation and growth of Borrelia hermsi, an organism that causes relapsing fever.
Second-Order Phase-Lock-Loop Acquisition Time in the Presence of Narrow-Band Gaussian Noise

Phase-lock acquisition time of a perfect (proportional plus integral control) second-order phase-lock loop (PLL) in the presence of narrow-band Gaussian noise is studied by means of computer simulation. 100 nonoverlapping sequences of pseudorandom noise are generated. In the presence of each noise sequence, phase-lock acquisition is simulated at each of five pairs of initial phase error φ 0 and initial frequency error φ 0 . For each (\phi_{0},\phi_{0}) with each noise sequence, phase-lock acquisition is simulated at nine different ratios of signal-to-noise energy at the PLL input. If the PLL phase detectors were linear rather than sinusoidal, the range of PLL output signal-to-noise ratios simulated would extend from 4 to 50 dB. The 4500 acquisitions of phase lock simulated are represented by 45 distribution functions that explicitly indicate the effect of PLL output signal-to-noise ratio on PLL phase-lock acquisition time.
Pasteurella multocida toxin type D serological assay as an alternative to the toxin neutralisation lethality test in mice.

Abstract The objective of this work was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies against Pasteurella multocida toxin type D, that correlated to a mouse lethality test. Currently, the mouse lethality test is one of several tests used world-wide to evaluate serological responses in animals immunised with vaccines containing toxoids. The mouse lethality test involves injecting mice with a mixture of toxin and test serum sample (from animals that have been vaccinated with a toxoid), and then determining antibody titre of the test serum from the number of mice that survive. Thus, the titre calculated is based on the neutralising activity of the test serum. The mouse lethality test requires large numbers of animals and causes severe distress to the animals. Organisations world-wide are working towards alternatives to animals in the development and control of biological products for human and veterinary use. Additionally, the mouse lethality test is labour-intensive, costly and lacks robustness and may be difficult to reproduce between different technicians. We have developed a double sandwich ELISA to measure anti- P. multocida toxoid type D antibodies in swine serum. Sera from swine immunised with vaccines containing type D toxoid showed good correlation to the mouse lethality assay (Spearman analysis=0·94 and Pearson analysis=0·84). When compared to the mouse lethality test, titres obtained using the ELISA format had higher correlation with protective immunity (i.e., lower turbinate atrophy) following challenge with virulent P. multocida . The ELISA assay is more robust, reproducible and costs less than the mouse lethality assay; and it complements efforts to reduce the use of animals in testing.
APPLICATION OF REGRESSION ANALYSIS FOR IDENTIFYING FACTORS THAT AFFECT SEASONAL TRAFFIC FLUCTUATIONS IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

Traffic variations occur at different time scales—time of day, day of week, and season of the year. Among the known temporal fluctuations of traffic stream, seasonal variation is probably of the most concern in traffic monitoring. In the current practice of the Florida Department of Transportation, district offices determine seasonal factor categories from a group of selected permanent telemetry traffic monitoring sites and assign them to short-term traffic count sites for estimating annual average daily traffic. Assignment of short-count sites to factor groups is based largely on their spatial proximity to a permanent traffic count site and engineering judgment. Although location may be an important factor, this process may be oversimplified and somewhat subjective. Regression analyses for estimating seasonal factors shed light on the factors contributing to seasonal changes in traffic volumes. The method could reduce the subjectivity of current practice either by allowing seasonal factors to be estimate...
Vaccine protection by live, attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus in the absence of high-titer antibody responses and high-frequency cellular immune responses measurable in the periphery

An attenuated derivative of simian immunodeficiency virus strain 239 deleted of V1-V2 sequences in the envelope gene (SIV239ΔV1-V2) was used for vaccine/challenge experiments in rhesus monkeys. Peak levels of viral RNA in plasma of 10 4 to 10 6.5 copies/ml in the weeks immediately following inoculation of SIV239ΔV1-V2 were 10- to 1,000-fold lower than those observed with parental SIV239 (∼10 7.3 copies/ml). Viral loads consistently remained below 200 copies/ml after 8 weeks of infection by the attenuated SIV239ΔV1-V2 strain. Viral localization experiments revealed large numbers of infected cells within organized lymphoid nodules of the colonic gut-associated lymphoid tissue at 14 days; double-labeling experiments indicated that 93.5% of the virally infected cells at this site were positive for the macrophage marker CD68. Cellular and humoral immune responses measured principally by gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot and neutralization assays were variable in the five vaccinated monkeys. One monkey had responses in these assays comparable to or only slightly less than those observed in monkeys infected with parental, wild-type SIV239. Four of the vaccinated monkeys, however, had low, marginal, or undetectable responses in these same assays. These five vaccinated monkeys and three naive control monkeys were subsequently challenged intravenously with wild-type SIV239. Three of the five vaccinated monkeys, including the one with strong anti-SIV immune responses, were strongly protected against the challenge on the basis of viral load measurements. Surprisingly, two of the vaccinated monkeys were strongly protected against SIV239 challenge despite the presence of cellular anti-SIV responses of low-frequency and low-titer anti-SIV antibody responses. These results indicate that high-titer anti-SIV antibody responses and high-frequency anti-SIV cellular immune responses measurable by standard assays from the peripheral blood are not needed to achieve strong vaccine protection, even against a difficult, neutralization-resistant strain such as SIV239.
A Mössbauer spectroscopy study of nanoscale Ge–Sn dispersions prepared by ball milling

Nanoscale mixtures of Ge/Sn, a nominally immiscible binary system, prepared by mechanical attrition have been studied by 119Sn Mossbauer spectroscopy. The Mossbauer measurements in general reveal two sites for the Sn atoms, a tetragonal β–Sn site and another site designated as “A”. The β-Sn integrated intensity decreases in magnitude with Ge concentration, 1 – x, in Ge1−xSnx as the second A-site intensity increases. The isomer shift and the small/negligible quadrupole splitting of site A suggests it represents Sn in solid solution in the Ge lattice. This in turn represents a large (12–24 at. %) nonequilibrium solid solubility of Sn in Ge prepared by mechanical milling, compared to the equilibrium value of <1.0 at. %. Oxidation of the Sn was detected by Mossbauer spectroscopy at Sn-poor concentrations (x ⋚ 0.10) when the milling vial was not totally free of oxygen (i.e., milling in impure argon). This may be due to rapid oxidation of finely divided Sn film particles possessing a large surface-to-volume ratio at these compositions.
HBM stress of no-connect IC pins and subsequent arc-over events that lead to human-metal-discharge-like events into unstressed neighbor pins

HBM ESD stress of no-connect pins is demonstrated to result in widely varying arc events. These arc events, in conjunction with the output capacitance of the HBM ESD tester, result in high magnitude current waveforms into neighboring pins. There is no clear specification to control these arc events and, therefore, stress of no-connect pins has been found to give no meaningful data for product immunity to HBM ESD.
Gestational Weight Gain: Now and the Future

Since shortly before the release of the 2009 Institute of Medicine report, Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines ,1 there has been an explosion of research around the amount of weight a woman gains during her pregnancy. For the mother herself, the more weight she gains during pregnancy, the harder it is to return to her prepregnancy weight. Retaining more weight postpartum, especially among women who are already overweight or obese, can lead to lifelong obesity and its cardiovascular consequences. Excessive weight gain in subsequent pregnancies can accentuate this pattern. Furthermore, a higher body mass index (BMI) at the start of a subsequent pregnancy is associated with increased risk of adverse health outcomes for the baby in both short and long term. Article see p 1381 Higher amounts of gestational weight gain can also lead to adverse health consequences in the child. It has long been known that the more the mother gains, the larger the newborn baby. With the advent of the obesity epidemic, epidemiological studies have recently turned to the question of the extent to which gestational weight gain predicts longer-term weight-related outcomes. Given that most cohorts do not have decades of follow-up, the bulk of the research to date has examined outcomes in childhood and adolescence. Most of these studies have shown what we expected—the more the weight gain during pregnancy, the higher the BMI or risk for obesity in the offspring.2–6 In addition to the scarcity of long-term follow-up, few studies have measured cardiometabolic outcomes, and only 1 previous study had done so in adulthood. Among 21-year-old Australian men and women, …
Evidence for an interaction between ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and the 26S proteasome.

The targeting of proteolytic substrates is accomplished by a family of ubiquitin-conjugating (E2) enzymes and a diverse set of substrate recognition (E3) factors. The ligation of a multiubiquitin chain to a substrate can promote its degradation by the proteasome. However, the mechanism that facilitates the translocation of a substrate to the proteasome in vivo is poorly understood. We have discovered that E2 proteins, including Ubc1, Ubc2, Ubc4, and Ubc5, can interact with the 26S proteasome. Significantly, the interaction between Ubc4 and the proteasome is strongly induced by heat stress, consistent with the requirement for this E2 for efficient stress tolerance. A catalytically inactive derivative of Ubc4 (Ubc4C86A), which causes toxicity in yeast cells, can also bind the proteasome. Purified proteasomes can ligate ubiquitin to a test substrate without the addition of exogenous E2 protein, suggesting that the ubiquitylation of some proteolytic substrates might be directly coupled to degradation by the proteasome.
Cooperative target localization using heterogeneous unmanned ground and aerial vehicles

This paper describes our on-going efforts toward developing heterogeneous, cooperative systems technologies. In particular, we present the role of unmanned mobile ground systems (robots) in a heterogeneous sensor network, consisting of two unmanned aircraft, a mobile ground robot, and a set of four stationary ground sensors, performing an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission. The unmanned mobile ground robot is equipped with an infrared (IR) sensor, the aircraft and the stationary ground sensors use optical cameras and radio frequency (RF) detectors, respectively. The primary responsibility of the mobile ground robot is to verify the identity of a target based on its IR signature. In addition, the mobile ground robot also assists with the sensor network's overall target localization estimation efforts by sharing its IR sensor-based target location measurements with members of the sensor network. Our analysis and field experiments demonstrated scalability and effectiveness of our approach.
Structural Determinants for Geometry and Information Decoding of tRNA by T Box Leader RNA

T box riboswitches are cis-acting RNA elements that bind to tRNA and sense its aminoacylation state to influence gene expression. Here, we present the 3.2 A resolution X-ray crystal structures of the T box Stem I-tRNA complex and tRNA, in isolation. T box Stem I forms an arched conformation with extensive intermolecular contacts to two key points of tRNA, the anticodon and D/T-loops. Free and complexed tRNA exist in significantly different conformations, with the contacts stabilizing flexible D/T-loops and a rearrangement of the D-loop. Using a designed T box RNA/tRNA system, we demonstrate that the T box riboswitch monitors the length and orientation of two essential contacts. Length or orientation mismatches engineered into the T box riboswitch and tRNA disrupt the complex, whereas simultaneous insertion of full helical turns realigns the interfaces and restores interaction between artificially elongated T box riboswitch and tRNA molecules.
Dietary supplement polypharmacy: an unrecognized public health problem?

Excessive and inappropriate use of medications, or ‘polypharmacy’, has been recognized as a public health problem. In addition, there is growing use of dietary supplements in the United States; however, little is known about the patterns of supplement use. Recent reports in the literature of cases of excessive or inappropriate use of herbal dietary supplements leading to the term ‘polyherbacy’. The clinical vignettes described in this article highlight the need for further research on the nature and extent of multiple and inappropriate dietary supplement use or ‘dietary supplement polypharmacy’. Clinical interviewing and population surveys both address this issue in complementary ways, and provide a further understanding of dietary supplement use patterns.
Exhaustion of Cytotoxic Effector Systems May Limit Monoclonal Antibody-Based Immunotherapy in Cancer Patients

The CD20 mAb ofatumumab (OFA) induces complement-mediated lysis of B cells. In an investigator-initiated phase II trial of OFA plus chemotherapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), OFA treatment promoted partial CLL B cell depletion that coincided with reduced complement titers. Remaining CLL B cells circulated with bound OFA and covalently bound complement breakdown product C3d, indicative of ongoing complement activation. Presumably, neither complement- nor effector cell-based mechanisms were sufficiently robust to clear these remaining B cells. Instead, almost all of the bound OFA and CD20 was removed from the cells, in accordance with previous clinical studies that demonstrated comparable loss of CD20 from B cells after treatment of CLL patients with rituximab. In vitro experiments with OFA and rituximab addressing these observations suggest that host effector mechanisms that support mAb-mediated lysis and tumor cell clearance are finite, and they can be saturated or exhausted at high B cell burdens, particularly at high mAb concentrations. Interestingly, only a fraction of available complement was required to kill cells with CD20 mAbs, and killing could be tuned by titrating the mAb concentration. Consequently, maximal B cell killing of an initial and secondary B cell challenge was achieved with intermediate mAb concentrations, whereas high concentrations promoted lower overall killing. Therefore, mAb therapies that rely substantially on effector mechanisms subject to exhaustion, including complement, may benefit from lower, more frequent dosing schemes optimized to sustain and maximize killing by cytotoxic immune effector systems.
Generative hierarchical models for image analysis

A probabilistic grammar for the groupings and labeling of parts and objects, when taken together with pose and part-dependent appearance models, constitutes a generative scene model and a Bayesian framework for image analysis. To the extent that the generative model generates features, as opposed to pixel intensities, the "inverse" or "posterior distribution" on interpretations given images is based on incomplete information; feature vectors are generally insufficient to recover the original intensities. I will argue for fully generative scene models, meaning models that in principle generate actual digital pictures. I will outline an approach to the construction of fully generative models through an extension of context-sensitive grammars and a re-formulation of the popular template models for image fragments. Mostly I will focus on the problem of constructing pixel-level appearance models. I will propose an approach based on image-fragment templates, as introduced by Ullman and others. However, rather than using a correlation between a template and a given image patch as an extracted feature.
A Teflon Granuloma Presenting as an Endotracheal Nodule

A 55-year-old woman underwent bronchoscopic evaluation for hemoptysis. A small polypoid endotracheal nodule was discovered approximately 2.0 cm distal to the left true vocal cord. The lesion was sampled with a cytologic brush. Epithelioid histiocytes and numerous giant cells with asteroid bodies were seen, and there was abundant intracellular refractile material of irregular shape. Review of the medical history revealed that the patient had undergone Teflon injection of a paralyzed left true vocal cord. A diagnosis of Teflon granuloma was made.
Rotordynamic Coefficients for Partially Tapered Annular Seals: Part I—Incompressible Flow

The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the axial and circumferential directions with no separation, and is modeled by Hirs' turbulent lubrication equations. Linearized zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio
Pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI): a new tool for evaluating pediatric dysphonia.

Summary Purpose The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) is widely used and accepted into adult clinical practice. The present study was initiated to adapt the VHI to the pediatric population and to validate it in the form of a parental proxy. Methods The initial modification of the adult VHI involved changing the language of the statements to reflect a parent's responses about their child and eliminating questions that would not relate to children. It was administered in conjunction with 10 open-ended questions regarding the impact of the child's voice quality on overall communication, development, education, social and family life. The pVHI was then modified in content and language, and the final 23-item parental proxy product was used for the validation process. The modified pVHI was administered to two groups of patients following IRB approval from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Results Normative data was obtained from 45 parents of healthy children. The group consisted of 21 males, age ranges 3–12 years old. The mean scores of the total pVHI and its subscales are: functional (F) 1.47, physical (P) 0.20, emotional (E) 0.18 and total (T) 1.84. The test group consisted of 33 guardians of children presenting for a voice evaluation pre- or post-laryngotracheal reconstruction. This group differed greatly from the control group on each subscale and total score. The mean scores of the airway group were as follows: F 13.94, P 15.48, E 12.15 and T 41.58. Test–retest reliability of the total pVHI score was measured using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The scores were 0.95, 0.77, 0.79 and 0.82, respectively. A correlation matrix for pVHI subscore and total score showed significance, with results similar to those reported for the original adult VHI. Conclusions The aim of the present study was to modify the VHI to serve a similar role in the evaluation of the effects of dysphonia on the pediatric population. The statistical results reveal a high correlation between the VHI and the pVHI. The pVHI provides a high internal consistency and test–retest reliability. This tool will be utilized to follow a child's development following surgical, medical and behavioral interventions.
Current Training and Continuing Education Needs of Preschool and School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists Regarding Children With Cleft Lip/Palate

Purpose The purpose of this study was to obtain information regarding the education and experience of preschool and school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) regarding the assessment and treatment of children born with cleft lip and/or palate and to determine their continuing education needs in this area. Method A 16-item mixed-methods survey to collect quantitative and qualitative data was distributed via postal mail to a geographically diverse random sample of 565 preschool and school SLPs. Results The response rate was 59%. With an average of 15.93 years in practice, respondents reported that they infrequently saw children with cleft lip/palate. When treating these children, respondents wanted communication with the cleft–craniofacial team, accessible continuing education through Web sites and conferences, and clinically practical information relevant to the school setting. Conclusion When assessing and treating a low-incidence population such as children with cleft-related communication disorde...
Modeling of Microcrack Damaged Composite Plates Undergoing Nonlinear Bimodular Flutter Oscillations

Numerical methods to investigate the e utter response and aeroelastic stability of plates made of composite materials, wherein microcracking occurs in the matrix material, are presented. The analytical modeling of the modulus reduction due to microcracks is based on a self-consistent method with a two-phase model and yields reduced moduli of the composites as functions of the crack density distribution. Both a e nite difference and a e nite element formulation are presented for two-dimensional laminated plates in supersonic e ow. From the numerical results, it is shown that the microcracking in composites results in a loss of aeroelastic stability through nonlinear bimodular oscillation as well as by a direct reduction in the bending stiffness. For three-dimensional e utter problems, however, reduction in thetorsionalrigidity and changes in elasticcouplings may furtherdecrease the stability.
Cervical spine flexion patterns.

Lateral projection flexion and extension radiographs of the cervical spine are stress views. They are necessary to evaluate unstable ligamentous injury, which may not be apparent on neutral unstressed films. As there is very little literature on the proper evaluation of these radiographic views, we reviewed 150 consecutive cases from our Emergency Department to define patterns of flexion. Four significantly different patterns emerged. No flexion at any level was seen in 24.7% of patients. A single flexion angle was seen in 24.7%. Two flexion angles, usually at consecutive levels, were present in 29.3% of patients, and 21.3% had three or more flexion angles. Correlation with clinical data suggests that attempted flexion with no significant angle or a single angle is abnormal and may indicate soft tissue (ligament or muscle) injury. Three or more flexion angles are thought to represent a normal pattern. The most common pattern, two flexion angles at consecutive levels, has not been previously described. We believe this pattern indicates less than full flexion and can be seen in individuals without significant injury and in those limited by mild soft-tissue injury.
GATA-4 and GATA-6 Transcription Factors: Expression, Immunohistochemical Localization, and Possible Function in the Porcine Ovary

The expression and localization of GATA-4 and GATA-6 mRNAs and proteins were assessed in porcine ovaries at different stages of the estrous cycle. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses revealed that GATA-4 and GATA-6 transcripts and proteins were strongly expressed in granulosa cells isolated from antral follicles, intact antral follicles, corpora hemorrhagica (CH), and midluteal phase corpora lutea (CL). Immunoblot analyses showed two predominant proteins with molecular masses of approximately 53 and 55 kDa for GATA-4 and one 55-kDa protein for GATA-6. Immunohistochemical studies revealed GATA-4 and GATA-6 nuclear staining in granulosa cells of healthy primordial and primary antral follicles and antral follicle of various sizes. The percentage of immunopositive thecal cell nuclei increased with follicular development. In CH and CL, luteal cells displayed nuclear immunoreactivity for both transcription factors. Regressing CL showed a decrease in GATA-immunopositive cells. Immunoreactivity for GATA-4 and GATA-6 was present in most blood vessels. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, nuclear protein extracts isolated from granulosa cells and CL exhibited both GATA4 and GATA-6 binding to a GATA consensus oligonucleotide, with GATA-4 the predominant binding protein. GATA-4 and GATA-6 DNA binding was elevated in granulosa cell nuclear extracts from preovulatory (8‐10 mm) follicles. Cotransfection of primary cultures of luteinizing granulosa cells with GATA-4 or GATA-6 expression vectors increased the activity of the porcine steroidogenic acute regulatory protein gene promoter significantly but did not significantly activate the inhibin a gene promoter. The detection of GATA-4 and GATA-6 mRNAs and proteins in porcine ovaries and the identification of at least one possible target gene may help to establish roles for these GATA factors in follicular development and luteal function. corpus luteum, follicle, gene regulation, granulosa cells, ovary
Randomized Cross-Over Trial of Progenitor-Cell Mobilization: High-Dose Cyclophosphamide Plus Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) Versus Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Plus G-CSF

PURPOSE: Patient response to hematopoietic progenitor-cell mobilizing regimens seems to vary considerably, making comparison between regimens difficult. To eliminate this inter-patient variability, we designed a cross-over trial and prospectively compared the number of progenitors mobilized into blood after granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) days 1 to 12 plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) days 7 to 12 (regimen G) with the number of progenitors after cyclophosphamide plus G-CSF days 3 to 14 (regimen C) in the same patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients were randomized to receive either regimen G or C first (G1 and C1, respectively) and underwent two leukaphereses. After a washout period, patients were then crossed over to the alternate regimen (C2 and G2, respectively) and underwent two additional leukaphereses. The hematopoietic progenitor-cell content of each collection was determined. In addition, toxicity and charges were tracked. RESULTS: Regimen C (...
Effect of respiratory muscle weakness on P0.1 induced by partial curarization

Mouth occlusion pressure 0.1 s after onset of inspiration (P0.1) reflects central respiratory drive (CRD), but its dependence on respiratory muscle strength is unknown. To clarify this relationship, we produced progressive levels of respiratory muscle weakness by infusion of d-tubocurarine in eight supine spontaneously breathing normal subjects. Hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR) was measured before curarization and at mild (mean inspiratory effort 62 +/- 3% of control), moderate (42 +/- 3%), and severe (23 +/- 1%) weakness. At the severe level of weakness 1) supine functional residual capacity was not significantly changed from base line, 2) the percent of base-line slope of delta P0.1/delta PCO2 (122 +/- 27%) was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) than that for change in expired minute ventilation (delta VE)/delta PCO2 (39 +/- 10%), 3) the percent of base-line delta P0.1/delta VE (381 +/- 46%) during HCVR was significantly increased (P less than 0.01), 4) the P0.1 response was significantly increased from base line at two out of three specific levels of PCO2 while the VE was unchanged or significantly decreased, and 5) peak inspiratory resistance did not significantly change. Thus P0.1, unlike VE, did not decrease with even severe respiratory muscle weakness. Indeed, P0.1 increased at two out of three levels of PCO2 under circumstances when higher CRD is expected. One potential explanation for the results is that P0.1 may at least qualitatively reflect CRD up to the level of severe respiratory muscle weakness attained in this study.