cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromatographic Degradation of Phloridzin

Phloridzin, the main phenolic glucoside in apple leaves, has been found to undergo transformation during chromatography. When chromatographed repeatedly in ammoniacal solvents, at least 2 new derivatives appeared. One of these was identified as phloretic acid. When bioassayed in the presence of indole-3-acetic acid this substance behaved as though it promoted the destruction of the auxin. Comparative bioassay with naphthaleneacetic acid suggested that phloretic acid acts on indoleacetic acid destruction via stimulation of indoleacetic acid oxidase. However, at low concentration and in presence of a small amount of phloridzin it also showed a synergistic effect with indoleacetic acid. A substance with the same characteristics was obtained directly from apple leaves, which are known to contain phloridzin when the extracts were chromatographed only once in the same (alkaline) solvent. While not completely confirmed, this suggests that phloretic acid is normally present in apple leaves, where it may affect growth there by promoting indoleacetic acid oxidation.
Five Enablers for Mobile 2.0

Web 2.0 is a collection of browser-based Internet technologies that enables anyone with an inexpensive computer and a decent network connection to join what the author calls the Internet Commons - a place where users can create elaborate multimedia expressions of their thoughts, opinions, and feelings, as well as link to and comment on those creations. Mobile 2.0 is being heralded as a successor to Web 2.0, extending its capabilities to mobile devices while coping with their limitations and leveraging the opportunities of location-based computing.
Evaluating variations on a student motivational strategy

A motivational system that rewards students partly based on the higher of their scores on frequent short quizzes or on block exams has been in place for the past four years in the EE service courses at the University of Kansas. These courses are offered to majors in mechanical and aerospace engineering in spring semesters and to majors in civil, architectural, and petroleum engineering in fall semesters. Papers presented by the author at recent FIE Conferences have described this successful motivational strategy but only for two EE service courses offered once each during the academic year. The motivational model was extended in the 2009–2010 academic year with interesting results to courses for majors in electrical and computer engineering. In this paper, six different courses (sophomores to seniors) are examined to demonstrate the effects of varying parameters in the model. In addition to the levels of students, variations are examined for widely different class sizes, class times of the day, fixed or variable percentages for the higher score components, numbers and lengths of blocks per term, fixed or unannounced schedules for short quizzes, policies on excused absences from the short quizzes, and exemptions for the final exam. Comparisons for these six courses reveal a remarkably consistent and simple motivational format that can be applied to undergraduate classes: (1) Explain the system so that its advantages are clear to each student, (2) Keep it simple to avoid confusion, and (3) Meet student expectations for those taught by the same professor in previous courses.
Multiple Growth Factor Induction of a Murine Early Response Gene That Complements a Lethal Defect in Yeast Ribosome Biogenesis

Abstract Identification of the transcriptionally activated targets of receptor tyrosine kinases is critical to understanding biologic programs directing both normal and neoplastic growth. To elucidate these molecular processes, we identified genes induced by a potent mesenchymal mitogen, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Using differential display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technology, we isolated a novel growth factor-induced cDNA, San5. San5 transcript induction occurred within 60 min in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and proceeded in the presence of cycloheximide. Maximal induction of the San5 transcript occurred between 8 and 16 h, concurrent with passage of fibroblasts through G1. San5 message was potently induced by PDGF AA and BB and acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, all strong activators of fibroblast proliferation, but not by epidermal growth factor and interleukin-4. In a murine hematopoietic progenitor cell line, San5 transcript induction strictly correlated with [3H]thymidine uptake. Isolation and sequencing of the murine San5 cDNA revealed amino acid sequence homology to yeast Nop5p, a nucleolar protein required for pre-rRNA processing and ribosome assembly. Strikingly, SAN5 was able to rescue a nop5 null mutant, implicating SAN5 in the process of ribosome biogenesis. Consistent with this result, SAN5 was localized to the nucleolus in both yeast and mouse. Thus, San5 may provide a link between growth factor receptor activation and the cellular translational machinery.
CYSTEINE 707 IS INVOLVED IN THE DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVE SITE OF RAT 10-FORMYLTETRAHYDROFOLATE DEHYDROGENASE

The enzyme, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (10-FTHFDH) (EC 1.5.1.6) catalyzes both the NADP(+)-dependent oxidation of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate and CO2 and the NADP(+)-independent hydrolysis of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate and formate. The COOH-terminal domain of the 10-FTHFDH (residues 417-902) shows a 46% identity with a series of NAD(+)-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenases (EC 1.2.1.3). All known members of the aldehyde dehydrogenase family and 10-FTHFDH have a strictly conserved cysteine (Cys-707 for 10-FTHFDH), which has been predicted to be at the active site of these enzymes. Rat liver 10-FTHFDH was expressed in a baculovirus system, and site-directed mutagenesis has been used to study the role of cysteine 707 in the activity of 10-FTHFDH. 10-FTHFDH with alanine substituted for cysteine at position 707 had no dehydrogenase activity, while hydrolase activity and binding of NADP+ were unchanged. Light scattering analysis revealed that wild type and mutant 10-FTHFDH exist as tetramers. We conclude that cysteine 707 is directly involved in the active site of 10-FTHFDH responsible for dehydrogenase activity, and there is a separate site for the hydrolase activity.
TIMP-1 antisense gene transfection attenuates the invasive potential of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and inhibits tumor growth in vivo

Abstract Background TIMP-1 overexpression decreases the invasive potential of pancreatic cancer cells. By tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 antisense gene transfection, we expected to produce aggressive pancreatic cancer cells with increased in vitro and in vivo invasive potential. Methods PANC-1 cells were transfected with either TIMP-1 gene (CD-1), antisense TIMP-1 gene (AS-3), or empty vector (MB-3). The in vitro cell growth kinetics and invasive potential of each cell line were compared. Total and active matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 levels were determined. Each cell line was then implanted in athymic mice and the resultant tumors were compared for size, weight, MMP activity, and TIMP-1 expression. Results TIMP-1 modulation did not affect cell proliferation in vitro, but its underexpression and, to a lesser extent, overexpression resulted in attenuated tumor growth in vivo. AS-3 cells showed marked decreases in cell invasion and MMP-2 activity in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion TIMP-1 manipulation, particularly underexpression, greatly reduces the invasive potential of pancreatic cancer by limiting MMP-2 activity without affecting in vitro cell growth. TIMP-1 is a reasonable molecular target in pancreatic cancer therapy.
Preparation of capacitor’s electrode from cassava peel waste

Cassava peel was used as the precursor for activated carbon-based electrodes which were then prepared by a combination of chemical and physical activation. The surface of the activated carbon was treated with the oxidative chemical agents, 98 wt.% H(2)SO(4), 65 wt.% HNO(3), and 30 wt.% H(2)O(2) solutions. The surface modification had no significant effect on the specific surface area, but greatly influenced the surface chemistry of the carbons. The presence of oxygen-containing groups increased the polarity and hydrophilicity of activated carbon, and thus improved the performance of the activated carbon-based electrode. As a result, the specific capacitance of the HNO(3) modified AC-electrode reached 264.08F/g, an increase of 72.6% compared to the original one. The results indicate that cassava peel waste can potentially be applied as a raw material for the production of low cost-high performance activated carbon electrode materials for Electric Double Layer Capacitors (EDLCs).
Pattern and types of non-saphenous vein reflux:

Venous reflux often originates from saphenous trunks and their tributaries. In about 10% of the patients reflux derived from non-saphenous veins (NSV) such as those located in the buttock, postero-lateral thigh, vulva, lower posterior thigh, popliteal fossa, knee or along the peripheral nerves such as the tibial and sciatic nerve. It is also important to note that patients who had saphenous vein stripping or ablation have higher odds of presenting with NSV reflux. The majority of patients with NSV reflux have varicose veins and lower extremity oedema; however, about 10% of those patients present with skin damage. This paper analyses the patterns and types of NSV reflux for diagnosis and treatment purposes.
Energy use and implications for efficiency strategies in global fluid-milk processing industry

The fluid-milk processing industry around the world processes approximately 60% of total raw milk production to create diverse fresh fluid-milk products. This paper reviews energy usage in existing global fluid-milk markets to identify baseline information that allows comparisons of energy performance of individual plants and systems. In this paper, we analyzed energy data compiled through extensive literature reviews on fluid-milk processing across a number of countries and regions. The study has found that the average final energy intensity of individual plants exhibited significant large variations, ranging from 0.2 to 12.6 MJ per kg fluid-milk product across various plants in different countries and regions. In addition, it is observed that while the majority of larger plants tended to exhibit higher energy efficiency, some exceptions existed for smaller plants with higher efficiency. These significant differences have indicated large potential energy-savings opportunities in the sector across many countries. Furthermore, this paper illustrates a positive correlation between implementing energy-monitoring programs and curbing the increasing trend in energy demand per equivalent fluid-milk product over time in the fluid-milk sector, and suggests that developing an energy-benchmarking framework, along with promulgating new policy options should be pursued for improving energy efficiency in global fluid-milk processing industry.
MALE SCENT-PRODUCING STRUCTURES IN Colias BUTTERFLIES Function, Localization, and Adaptive Features

During successful courtship in sulfur butterflies, virgin females respond to males by assuming a stationary posture and extending the abdomen ventrally from between the hindwings, thereby permitting copulation. In the clouded sulfur,Colias philodice Godard, this response was used in a laboratory bioassay to confirm the existence of a male chemical signal demonstrated by a previous worker and to document the signal's behavioral function and source. The male scent is shown to be required, in part, to reliably elicit abdominal extension and to be emitted from a patch of cells and scales associated with the dorsal surface of the male hind wing near the wing base. Experiments also show that evaporation of the signal is reduced when the source is covered by the forewing as it is at rest and in flight. These data, coupled with other information on male chemical signals in sulfur butterflies and other Lepidoptera, suggest that in sulfurs the morphology and chemistry of the scent glands along with the behavior of the male are structured in a way that minimizes the evaporative loss of scent from the wings when the male is not courting females.
Infected aortic aneurysms.

Abstract Salmonella organisms have been responsible for half of the reported cases of infected aortic aneurysms, although other bacteria have been incriminated. This is the second reported case in which Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus apparently infected an inflammatory aortic aneurysm. In this 70-year-old man the organism was isolated and treated prior to resection of the aneurysm and inline grafting. Specific antibiotic therapy was continued for 8 weeks postoperatively. Examination and CT scans obtained after 9 months of follow-up reveal no evidence of recurrent infection. (J VASC SURG 1985;2:597-9.)
Symptomatic ileofemoral DVT after onset of oral contraceptive use in women with previously undiagnosed May-Thurner Syndrome

Objective May-Thurner syndrome is characterized by left common iliac obstruction secondary to compression of the left iliac vein by the right common iliac artery against the fifth-lumbar vertebra. This anatomic variant results in an increased incidence of left-sided deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Furthermore, while a preponderance of left-sided DVT has been demonstrated in women during pregnancy and oral contraceptive use, patients are not typically screened for this condition after developing a left-sided DVT. As anticoagulation alone is ineffective for DVT treatment in the setting of May-Thurner anatomy, more aggressive treatment is warranted. Failure to diagnosis this condition predisposes these women to the unnecessary risks of recurrent DVT and post-thrombotic syndrome. Methods We present the occurrence of 7 adolescent patients with previously undiagnosed May-Thurner syndrome who presented with DVT after the initiation of oral contraceptive steroids (OCP) use. All 7 patients elected to proceed with mechanical thrombolysis/catheter based thrombolysis followed by endovascular stenting and were postoperatively treated with 6 months of warfarin. Results Mean patient age was 18.3 ± 3.3 years (range, 16-24 years). Mean time to presentation after initiation of OCP was 5 weeks (range, 2-10 weeks). Mean time to intervention was 16.8 days (range, 10-24 days). All patients were treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Our rate of intraoperative clot resolution was 100%. All 7 patients were treated with self expanding nitinol stents after angioplasty of the iliac vein stenosis with resolution of the stenotic segment. Primary stent patency is 100% (7/7). Mean follow-up time is 13 ± 13.84 months (range, 6-42 months). There have been no long-term complications related to surgical treatment or anticoagulation. All 7 patients have experienced resolution of left leg swelling and pain and have no evidence of post-thrombotic syndrome or DVT recurrence to date. Conclusions Women on OCPs presenting with left-sided iliofemoral DVT should be screened for hypercoagulable disorders and underlying May-Thurner anatomy. Treatment of May-Thurner syndrome should include thrombolysis/thrombectomy and anticoagulation for current DVT in addition to angioplasty and stenting of the underlying obstruction.
Computing independent sets in graphs with large girth

It is shown that the well-known independent set problem remains NP-complete even when restricted to graphs which contain no cycles of length less than cnk where n is the number of vertices in the graph, and c and k are constants satisfying c>0 and 0≤k<1. A polynomial time approximation algorithm for this problem is also examined.
Assault on the Left: The FBI and the Sixties Antiwar Movement

The 279th Meeting of the National Security Council The New Left and the Emergence of Anti-Vietnam War Protest The New Left and the Confrontation at Columbia Firestorm in Chicago January-June 1969 The New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam and the Vietnam Moratorium Committee Cambodia, Kent State, Etc. The End of the New Left COINTELPRO Selected Bibliography Index
Long-term follow-up of dysrhythmias following the Mustard procedure

Earlier reports have suggested that the incidence of dysrhythmias after the Mustard procedure can be reduced if the sinoatrial node (SAN) is protected during surgery. To determine if these initial differences continue after longer follow-up, we examined all ECGs available for three groups of patients operated upon from January, 1965, through December, 1977. Group A included 37 patients who survived the operation prior to January, 1972, when surgical modifications were initiated to protect the SAN; group B included 44 patients available for follow-up who were operated upon from 1972 through 1974; and group C consisted of the 39 patients available for follow-up operated upon from 1975 to 1977. Dysrhythmias were classified as passive (failure of initiation or propagation of the SAN impulse), active (atrial flutter or supraventricular tachycardia), or atrioventricular (AV) conduction defects. Results were expressed as the incidence per number of different rhythms during follow-up intervals. The incidence of sinus rhythm in groups B and C (80%) was much greater than in group A (27%) during the first 2 years. However, after 8 years, less than 50% of the rhythms were sinus. Both brady- and tachydysrhythmias were common. Seven patients (6%) required pacemaker insertion for symptomatic sick sinus syndrome. Therefore despite efforts to protect the sinus node, late occurring dysrhythmias remain a significant problem in the postoperative Mustard patient.
Effects of brace stiffness on performance of structures with supplemental Maxwell model‐based brace–damper systems

Shear-type buildings with Maxwell model-based brace–damper systems are studied in this paper with a primary emphasis on the effects of brace stiffness. A single-story building with a viscous damper installed on top of a Chevron-brace is first investigated. Closed-form solutions are derived for the simple structure, relating the brace stiffness and damper coefficient to the targeted reduction in response displacement or acceleration. For a given brace stiffness, the solution is minimized to give a set of formulae that will allow the optimal damper coefficient to be determined, assuring the desired performance. The model is subsequently extended to multistory buildings with viscous dampers installed on top of Chevron-braces. For a targeted reduction in the mean square of the interstory drift, floor acceleration or base shear force, the minimum brace stiffness and optimal damper coefficients are obtained through an iterative procedure. The response reduction, which signifies the improved performance, is achieved by a combination of brace stiffness and viscous damper coefficients, unlike conventional approaches where damper coefficients are typically optimized independent of brace stiffnesses. Characteristics of multi-degree-of-freedom systems are studied using a 2-story and a 10-story buildings where the effects of brace stiffness on the overall performance of the building can be quantified. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biological activity of tacrolimus (FK506) and its metabolites from whole blood of kidney transplant patients

Abstract FK506 (tacrolimus, Prograf) is a 23-membered ring, 822 dalton macrolide of fungal origin discovered in 1984 in Tsukuba, Japan.1,2 This novel immunosuppressant agent is approved in the US, Europe, and Japan for prevention of allograft rejection in liver transplant patients and is in clinical trials in kidney transplantation. FK506 is metabolized by cytochrome P450 systems, specifically cytochrome P450 3A, to at least four major metabolites (first generation) and at least nine total metabolites.3–8 The primary site of FK506 metabolism is the liver. In vitro, the predominant metabolite was 13-O-demethyl FK506 (M-I) and less common metabolites were O-demethylated at the 31- and 15-positions (M-II and M-III, respectively) and hydroxylated at the 12 position (M-IV).7 Secondary metabolism appeared to involve activity by the same mechanisms at other sites on the molecule (M-V, M-VI, and M-VII) and 31-O-demethylation and oxidation/ fusion at carbons 19–22.8 Two immunoassays, based on the same murine anti-FK506 monoclonal antibody, were developed to monitor FK506 concentrations in blood or plasma: an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)9 and a microparticle enzyme immunoassay (IMx; Abbott Laboratories).10 A potential problem with immunoassays was cross-immunoreactivity of metabolites with the antibody, making the assay results nonpredictive of immunosuppressant activity. Metabolites M-II, M-III, M-IV, and M-V crossreacted with the antibody (109%, 90.5%, 8.8%, and 92.2%, respectively compared with FK506), whereas M-I, M-II, M-IV, M-VI, and M-VIII had varying immunosuppressant activity (6.4%, 100%, 3.5%, 1.3%, and 0.7%, respectively).8 We have previously reported on the metabolic profile of FK506 in liver transplant patients and subjects with hepatic dysfunction.11 In this study, blood obtained from kidney transplant subjects was analyzed by HPLC-ELISA to determine the concentrations of FK506 and its immunoreactive metabolites. In addition, the HPLC fractions were reacted with ConA to determine the extent to which they contributed to overall immunosuppressant effects.
A Retrospective Analysis of Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer Patients Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy Followed by Surgery or Surgery Alone

Background We conducted an institutional review of patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer who had complete pretreatment and surgical staging to identify variables predictive of outcome. Methods From 1993 through 2002, 286 patients presented for surgical therapy of esophageal cancer. Of these, 176 patients met criteria for review including pretreatment endoscopic ultrasound stages IIA through IVA and a transthoracic surgical approach with "two-field" lymph node dissection. This cohort was primarily male (84.7%, n=149) with adenocarcinoma (88.6%, n=156), and 101 patients (57.3%) demonstrated endoscopic ultrasound stage III or IVA. Results Eighty-five (48.3%) patients presented to surgery after receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy, and 91 (51.7%) underwent surgery alone. Both groups were well matched with respect to comorbidities and pretreatment stage. Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation demonstrated a nonsignificant trend toward increased operative mortality and nonfatal morbidity. The overall median survival was 16.8 months, and there was no survival difference comparing patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery or surgery alone ( p = 0.82). The subset of 25 patients (29.4%) demonstrating a complete pathologic response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy however had superior survival (median survival=57.6 months, p Conclusions These data support the use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation for locally advanced esophageal cancer as the subset of patients who demonstrate a complete pathologic response experienced significantly better survival.
God and the Natural World: Religion and Science in Antebellum America

In his revisionist evaluation, Conser reveals the strategies by which a diverse group of influential Protestant theologians energetically reconciled pre-Darwinian science with traditional Christian beliefs and, in doing so, shaped the antebellum discussion of science and religion. 10 halftone illustrations.
Seasonal environments, episodic density compensation and dynamics of structure of chiropteran frugivore guilds in Paraguayan Atlantic forest

Seasonal environmental variation experienced in the subtropics may contribute substantially to dynamics of community structure. This is particularly true for Neotropical bats because the geographic terminus of most families occurs there. Paraguayan Atlantic forest provides an ideal opportunity to evaluate effects of seasonality on structure of communities; it exhibits notable spatial and seasonal environmental variation and lies near the edge of the geographic distribution of most tropical bat species occurring there. We examined seasonality of bat populations and communities as well as correspondence to seasonal environmental conditions in eastern Paraguay. Most species exhibited lower abundances in the cool than in the warm season. Nonetheless, magnitude of differences was species-specific. Accordingly, highly significant differences between warm and cool seasons existed regarding species composition, evenness and diversity. Moreover, consistent with competition theory, magnitude of positive correlation between morphological distance and abundance and hence degree of structure was greater in the cool than warm season. Across the New World, seasonality assumes various forms (i.e. cold winters, dry and wet seasons) suggesting that better understanding of mechanistic bases of bat community structure in general may come from seasonal perspectives.
CYCLIC CHANGES IN THE CELL SURFACE I. Change in Thymidine Transport and Its Inhibition by Cytochalasin B in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

Cytochalasin B (CB) shows a marked concentration-dependent inhibition of the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into Chinese hamster ovary cells. This inhibition was shown to result from an inhibition of thymidine uptake, not from an inhibition of DNA synthesis. Cells normally acquire the capacity to transport thymidine as they move from the G1 stage of the cell cycle into the S phase. If CB is added to cells while they are in G1, they do not acquire the ability to transport thymidine as they enter S. However, the addition of CB to cells that are already in S has no effect on their ability to transport thymidine. These results are discussed in terms of a model in which elements involved in thymidine transport enter the cell surface membrane as the cells move from G1 to S. It is proposed that CB prevents this structural transition by binding to the cell surface.
Probabilistic latent semantic indexing

Probabilistic Latent Semantic Indexing is a novel approach to automated document indexing which is based on a statistical latent class model for factor analysis of count data. Fitted from a training corpus of text documents by a generalization of the Expectation Maximization algorithm, the utilized model is able to deal with domain{specific synonymy as well as with polysemous words. In contrast to standard Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) by Singular Value Decomposition, the probabilistic variant has a solid statistical foundation and defines a proper generative data model. Retrieval experiments on a number of test collections indicate substantial performance gains over direct term matching methods as well as over LSI. In particular, the combination of models with different dimensionalities has proven to be advantageous.
How Large Should the Sample be? A Question with no Simple Answer? or...

A recurring problem in behavioral science research is that of determining the appropriate sample size before conducting a research investigation. The more common approaches to this problem have been to apply indiscriminantly the formulae used in survey research without considering the factors necessary for using these formulae. The most important of these factors is the Effect Size. In this paper, tables for the appropriate sample sizes are presented and discussed in the context that the determination of the Effect Size must precede the determination of the sample size.
Role of crosstalk between phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in artery-vein specification

Functional and structural differences between arteries and veins lie at the core of the circulatory system, both in health and disease. Therefore, understanding how artery and vein cell identities are established is a fundamental biological challenge with significant clinical implications. Molecular genetic studies in zebrafish and other vertebrates in the past decade have begun to reveal in detail the complex network of molecular pathways that specify artery and vein cell fates during embryonic development. Recently, a chemical genetic approach has revealed evidence that artery-vein specification is governed by cross talk between phosphoinositide 3-kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signaling in artery-vein specification. We discuss recent findings on the signaling pathways involved in artery-vein specification during zebrafish development and compare and contrast these results to those from mammalian systems. It is anticipated that the complementary approaches of genetics and chemical biology, involving a variety of model organisms and systems, will lead to a better understanding of artery-vein specification and possibly to novel therapeutic approaches to treat vascular diseases.
A testing methodology framework

The authors present a testing methodology framework which attempts to provide guidance in testing technique selection and application. The framework defines several testing levels with complementary technique groups defined for each level. Each testing technique group is a collection of testing techniques with a common objective and emphasis. In addition, several categories of testing metrics are defined which can be utilized to increase testing effectiveness. The proposed testing methodology framework was initially developed to satisfy the diverse project needs of one organization. The methodology framework, however, is expandable and can be customized to meet the needs of other organizations and updated to reflect technology improvements in the testing area. >
The cytoarchitectural organization of the human parabrachial nuclear complex

The cytoarchitecture of the parabrachial nuclear complex in adult and infant human brain was studied. Lying in the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum, surrounding the superior cerebellar peduncle, this complex in several mammalian species is interconnected with autonomic centers in the medulla oblongata, hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, and cortex. Postmortem human brain tissue was stained for Nissl substance and fiber tracts with a modified Kluver-Barrera stain. Examination of the tissue revealed distinct medial and lateral subdivisions, similar to descriptions in other mammals. The organization of the parabrachial complex was more obvious in the infant tissue than the adult, because of less myelination of the large fibers of the adjacent superior cerebellar peduncle and lateral lemniscus. Within the lateral parabrachial nucleus, 7 distinct subgroups of cells were identified on the basis of their location and staining characteristics. These were named according to their location in the parabrachial complex and were the central, superior, interstitial, dorsal, dorsolateral, lateral, and ventrolateral. Two subnuclei were found within the medial parabrachial nucleus, the dorsomedial and ventromedial. Additionally, neurons within the superior cerebellar peduncle were arranged in cellular bridges running between the lateral and medial subdivisions. These data suggest that the parabrachial complex in the human brain is organized cytoarchitecturally, similar to other mammals, however, this organization is obscured with increasing myelination in adulthood.
In vitro characterization of rat bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and their precursors

Although the rat is commonly used for basic immunology and transplantation research, phenotypic and functional characterization of rat dendritic cells (DCs) lags behind similar studies in the human and mouse. Therefore, these features were examined using DCs propagated from cultures of rat bone marrow maintained in a medium supplemented with granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor. Analysis of cytospin preparations of cultured cells showed that DCs arise from OX7+ myelomonocytic precursors. Typical mature rat DCs were morphologically similar to their mouse and human counterparts and expressed major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II (common part determinant of Ia), OX62 (integrin molecule), OX7 (CD90), ICAM-1 (CD54), and CTLA4 counterreceptor, but were negative for OX8 (CD8), OX19 (CD5), W3/25 (CD4), and ED2, a rat macrophage marker. Functional analysis of OX62+ sorted DCs showed that they could effectively present the soluble antigen ovalbumin to naive T cells in vitro. A combination of anti-MHC class II monoclonal antibody and CTLA4-immunoglobulin inhibited allostimulatory ability more effectively than either reagent alone. Implications for studying the role of DCs in immune responses in the rat are discussed.
Microfluidic platelet function analyzer for shear-induced platelet activation studies

Platelet function is suggestive of pathological conditions in heart related diseases. With current insufficient prognostic devices, we see the need for a device to assess complete platelet function. This work presents our preliminary microfluidic device for the analysis of shear-induced platelet activation, which is crucial in studying the pathological role of platelets. In our novel device, the polydimethylsiloxane microchannels were coated using a novel layer-by-layer self-assembly technique to provide controlled nanometer-thick layers of fibrinogen. Anticoagulated platelet rich plasma labeled with a fluorescein isothiocyanate-tagged anti-GpIIb/IIIa-antibody was passed through these microchannels and several experimental runs for different shear rates were carried out. Finally, fluorescence assays confirmed the activation of platelets in the microchannels for various shear rates. Control experiments showed that the extent of adhesion on bare PDMS surfaces was less than on the surfaces assembled with fibrinogen. Based on image processing, the extent of platelet adhesion to the fibrinogen substrate was determined for each of the shear rates. The extent of adhesion (/spl phi/) was modeled as a third order polynomial in shear rate for substrate fibrinogen.
Differential regulation of osteogenic marker gene expression by Wnt-3a in embryonic mesenchymal multipotential progenitor cells

Abstract The Wnt family of secreted glycoproteins plays an integral role in embryonic development and differentiation. To explore the role of Wnt's in one aspect of differentiation, namely osteogenesis, we employed a retroviral gene transfer approach to express Wnt-3a in the multipotent murine embryonic mesenchymal cell line C3H10T1/2. We found that expression of Wnt-3a in these cells had a significant, positive effect on cell growth in serum-containing medium, in that the cells grew to very high densities compared to the control cells. Additionally, apoptosis was markedly inhibited by Wnt-3a. However, when the cells were grown in serum-deficient medium, the Wnt-3a-expressing cells arrested efficiently in G1 phase, indicating that serum growth factors were needed in addition to Wnt-3a for enhanced proliferation. Wnt-3a-expressing cells exhibited high levels of alkaline phosphatase gene expression and enzymatic activity, but did not show any matrix mineralization. Unexpectedly, basal expression of bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin, and osteopontin were markedly inhibited by Wnt-3a, as were other known target genes of Wnt-3a, such as Brachyury, FGF-10, and Cdx1. When Wnt-3a-expressing cells were treated with osteogenic supplements in the presence of BMP-2, alkaline phosphatase gene expression and activity were further elevated. Additionally, BMP-2 was able to reverse the inhibitory effect of Wnt-3a on osteocalcin and osteopontin gene expression. These results indicate that while Wnt-3a represses basal expression of some osteogenic genes, this repression can be partially reversed by BMP-2. Finally, the enhanced gene expression of alkaline phosphatase induced by Wnt-3a could be effectively suppressed by the combined action of dexamethasone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 . These data show for the first time that Wnt-3a has an unusual effect on multipotential embryonic cells, in that it enhances cellular proliferation and expression of alkaline phosphatase, while it represses most other marker genes of osteogenic differentiation.
Recalling a Witnessed Event Increases Eyewitness Suggestibility The Reversed Testing Effect

People's later memory of an event can be altered by exposure to misinformation about that event. The typical misinformation paradigm, however, does not include a recall test prior to the introduction of misinfor- mation, contrary to what real-life eyewitnesses encounter when they report to a 911 operator or crime-scene officer. Because retrieval is a powerful memory enhancer (the testing effect), recalling a witnessed event prior to re- ceiving misinformation about it should reduce eyewitness suggestibility. We show, however, that immediate cued re- call actually exacerbates the later misinformation effect for both younger and older adults. The reversed testing effect we observed was based on two mechanisms: First, immediate cued recall enhanced learning of the misinfor- mation; second, the initially recalled details became particularly susceptible to interference from later misin- formation, a finding suggesting that even human episodic memory may undergo a reconsolidation process. These results show that real-life eyewitness memory may be even more susceptible to misinformation than is currently envisioned.
Ambiguity and the Timecourse of Racial Perception

Two studies examined early perceptual processing and explicit racial categorization of racially ambiguous faces. Participants viewed racially ambiguous faces as well as faces of Whites, Asians, and Blacks while event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded. Initial perceptual processes, indexed by ERP components occurring within 200 ms of stimulus onset, showed that racially ambiguous faces were differentiated from Asian and Black but not White faces. Later in processing, around 500 ms after stimulus onset, racially ambiguous faces were differentiated from White faces. However, the racially ambiguous faces were still perceived more similarly to Whites than to Asians or Blacks. Finally, explicit social categorization reflected the ambiguity of the faces. These results highlight the complex nature of racial perception, and the importance of understanding how the growing population of multiracial individuals is perceived.
Improvement in pulmonary hemodynamics during intravenous epoprostenol (prostacyclin): A study of 15 patients with moderate to severe portopulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension associated with increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and occurring in the setting of portal hypertension is referred to as "portopulmonary hypertension." Intravenous epoprostenol (prostacyclin) is a potent pulmonary and systemic vasodilator with antithrombotic properties. It can decrease PVR and pulmonary artery pressure in patients with primary (idiopathic) pulmonary hypertension. Using right-heart catheterization, we evaluated the acute pulmonary hemodynamic effects of intravenous epoprostenol in patients with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure [MPAP] >/=35 mm Hg) associated with clinical manifestations of portal hypertension. Effects of long-term infusion of epoprostenol were also evaluated. We studied 15 consecutive patients with portopulmonary hypertension; 14 underwent acute administration of epoprostenol, and no significant side effects were noted. Ten patients received continuous epoprostenol (range, 8 days-30 months). Acute changes in PVR (-34% +/- 18%), MPAP (-16% +/- 10%), and cardiac output (CO) (+21 +/- 18%), were statistically significant (P <.01). Long-term use of epoprostenol further lowered PVR (-47% +/- 12% from baseline and -31% +/- 22% from the acute change; P <.05) in the 6 patients restudied by right-heart catheterization. Death occurred in 6 of 10 (60%) of those receiving long-term epoprostenol. In moderate to severe portopulmonary hypertension, intravenous epoprostenol resulted in a significant improvement (both acute and long-term) in PVR, MPAP, and CO. Potential adverse effects on portal hypertension and implications for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), however, require further study.
A nano grating tunable mems optical filter for high-speed on-chip multispectral fluorescent detection

We report a microelectromechanical (MEMS) tunable optical filter and its integration in a fluorescence microscope for high speed on-chip spectral measurements. This integration allows for measurements of any fluorescence sample placed onto the microscope stage. We demonstrate the system capabilities by taking spectral measurements of multicolor fluorescent beads and fluorescently labeled cells passing through a microfluidic cytometer. The system has applications in biological studies where the measurement of multiple fluorescent peaks is restricted by the detection method’s speed and sensitivity.
Development of an aciclovir implant for the effective long-term control of herpes simplex virus type-1 infection in Vero cells and in experimentally infected SKH-1 mice

Human herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is treatable with oral doses of an antiviral agent such as aciclovir (ACV), a drug that has poor bioavailability. An alternative for delivering ACV would employ a long-lived subcutaneous implant that would allow for near zero-order drug delivery kinetics. This study aimed to develop an implant composed of a matrix of silicone and ACV that is capable of sustained long-term release of ACV. Once the implants had been created, release of ACV from the implants was determined and quantified in vitro using a spectrophotometric assay for the drug. Solvent-exposed surface area of the implant (2.86 mm(2), 6.28 mm(2), 34.62 mm(2) and 100.48 mm(2)) had a significant effect on release kinetics, whereas temperature (37 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 4 degrees C) and pH (6.0, 7.0 and 8.0) did not. The implants were also used successfully to suppress HSV-1 (KOS)-induced cytopathic effect in cultured Vero cells. The implants protected HSV-1-infected SKH-1 mice from viral reactivation (n = 37; P = 0.0367) via ultraviolet light compared with mice that were untreated (n = 37). Furthermore, mice that received silicone-only implants had no lowered risk of reactivation (n = 34; P = 0.7268), demonstrating the antiviral efficacy of the ACV implants.
Technological diffusion through cascading niche markets: Residential fuel cells in the United States

Subsidy programs for new energy technologies are by motivated by the experience curve: Increased adoption of a technology leads to learning and economies of scale that lower costs. There is a need for improved models of technological diffusion in order to inform choices in subsidy programs. In this research we explore how geographic variability in factors that determine the economic performance of an energy technology (e.g. fuel prices, climate) affects the progression of a technology through its experience curve. The notion of a cascading experience curve is that regions with favorable economic conditions serve as the basis to build scale and reduce costs so that the technology becomes attractive in new regions. We demonstrate this idea through a case study of residential solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for combined heating and power in U.S. states. Residential scale systems are not yet available, but are under development by industry and also supported through federal subsidies.
Fundraising and public relations: a comparison of programme concepts and characteristics

This study compares characteristics of successful academic unit fundraising programmes and successful public relations programmes. Using interviews and surveys it explores whether academic unit fundraisers value the roles and responsibilities that align with identified strategic-managerial and historical-technical characteristics in public relations, whether demographic differences affect the role perception of the fundraisers, and whether the universities provide support for programme excellence. The results indicate that the fundraising programmes exhibit most of the characteristics of successful public relations programmes and that the academic units in which these fundraisers work provide support for them to do excellent fundraising. Demographics do not affect the results significantly. The data lead to questions for further study, including: How should fundraisers balance the benefit of having donors involved in programmes they support, with the university's need to retain autonomy and set its own priorities? Do excellent fundraising programmes strengthen relationships between alumni and universities? Do alumni with stronger relationships with the university contribute more, or more often, than those with less strong relationships? Copyright © 2002 Henry Stewart Publications
Dietary Exposure to Whey Proteins Alters Rat Mammary Gland Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Gene Expression during Postnatal Development

We have found that AIN-93G diets made with whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) reduce 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced tumor incidence in Sprague-Dawley (Harlan) rats relative to those fed a diet with casein (CAS). Herein, we replicated these findings in another Sprague-Dawley substrain (Charles River) and examined whether WPH protective effects were associated with altered mammary gland differentiation status and expression of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome ten (PTEN). Mammary tumor incidence was lower in DMBA-treated rats fed WPH than in those fed CAS. Mammary glands of WPH- and CAS-fed rats were isolated at weaning [postnatal day (PND) 21-28] and at an early adult stage (PND 50-53) and analyzed for proliferative (proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunoreactivity), apoptotic (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxy-UTP nick-end labeling), and differentiation (beta-casein) indices, as well as for PTEN mRNA and protein levels. PND 50-53 rats fed WPH showed decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis in mammary structures, coincident with increased mammary beta-casein gene expression, decreased terminal end-bud numbers, and increased ductal lengths, relative to same-age CAS-fed rats. When challenged with DMBA for 24 h, mammary glands of PND 53 CAS-fed rats had decreased cell survival in both terminal end buds and ductal epithelium, while the mammary glands of WPH-fed rats were not altered from pre-DMBA levels. At 7 d post-DMBA, mammary glands of CAS- and WPH-fed rats exhibited comparable apoptotic indices. Mammary PTEN expression was higher in WPH- than in CAS-fed rats at PND 21-28, but was not different in young adults fed either diet. Results demonstrate that dietary WPH advances mammary gland differentiation during neonatal development and suggest that the transiently increased expression of the pro-apoptotic signal PTEN during a sensitive developmental window may partly underlie the cancer protective effects of WPH.
Characterization and Performance Analysis of LPCVD Germanium-on-Silicon C-Band Photodiodes

Spatially-resolved photoresponse and bias-dependent modulation measurements of large area vertically-illuminated germanium photodiodes are presented. These measurements are compared with finite-element device simulations to theorize possible sources of performance limitations revealed by different measurement conditions.
Falls in older persons

Falls are a common problem for older persons and result in significant mortality and morbidity. Most are caused by multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors that have cumulative effects on mobility. Preventive interventions are aimed, first, at identifying and assessing fall risk and, second, at attempting to reduce those risks. Language: en