cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rheological properties of rennet casein-whey protein gels prepared at different mixing speeds

Abstract The rheological properties at small (oscillatory shear) and large (uniaxial compression) deformations of heat-induced gels (80 °C for 20 min, pH 7.3) containing 25% rennet casein (RCN), 2.5% disodium phosphate and 0%, 2.3% or 6.3% of whey protein isolate (WPI) were measured for samples cooked in a torque-rheometer at mixing speeds within a range of 20–200 rpm (shear rates: ∼15–230 s −1 ). In addition, microstructure analyses were performed, separately staining RCN and WPI, by Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM). Both small and large deformation tests indicated that increasing addition of WPI prior to the cooking process of RCN resulted in gels exhibiting higher storage and deformability moduli than WPI-free samples. Increasing shear rates during cooking also affected the rheological properties of RCN–WPI gels, and stronger gels were formed as the shear rate during cooking was increased. Despite the data dispersion among replicates, the effect of shear rate on gel strength were evident for RCN gels with 6.3% WPI and relatively clear for gels with 2.3% WPI; however, the trend was uncertain for WPI-free RCN gels. Possible explanations for this observation are that when increasing WPI levels in the presence of RCN and heat, disulfide-thiol exchange reactions between denatured WPI and κ-casein (κ-CN) are increased and possibly promoted by shear rate, resulting in stronger and more cross-linked gel structure. CSLM results were not conclusive to support this hypothesis.
Real-Time Condition Assessment of RAPTOR Telescope Systems

AbstractThe RAPid Telescopes for Optical Response (RAPTOR) observatory network consists of several ground-based, autonomous, robotic, astronomical observatories primarily designed to search for astrophysical transients called gamma-ray bursts. To make these observations, however, the RAPTOR telescopes must remain in peak operating condition at a high duty-cycle. Currently, the telescopes are maintained in an ad hoc manner, often in a run-to-failure mode. The required maintenance logistics are further complicated by the fact that many of the observatories are situated in remote locations. To ameliorate this situation, an effort has been initiated to develop a structural health monitoring (SHM) system capable of real-time, remote assessment of the RAPTOR telescopes. This paper summarizes the results from that effort. Common damage scenarios are identified to guide the instrumentation of the telescope system. A comprehensive analysis of the data acquired during experimental testing is then presented, highlig...
AGONIST-INDUCED AFFINITY ALTERATIONS OF A CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM α-BUNGAROTOXIN RECEPTOR1

Abstract— The ability of cholinergic agonists to block the specific interaction of α-bungarotoxin (α-Bgt) with membrane-bound sites derived from rat brain is enhanced when membranes are preincubated with agonist. Thus, pretreatment of α-Bgt receptors with agonist (but not antagonist) causes transformation of sites to a high-affinity form toward agonist. This change in receptor state occurs with a half-time on the order of minutes, and is fully reversible on dilution of agonist. The results are consistent with the identity of α-Bgt binding sites as true central nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Furthermore, this agonist-induced alteration in receptor state may represent an in vitro correlate of physiological desensitization. As determined from the effects of agonist on toxin binding isotherms, and on the rate of toxin binding to specific sites, agonist inhibition of toxin binding to the high-affinity state is non-competitive. This result suggests that there may exist discrete toxin-binding and agonist-binding sites on central toxin receptors.
Fluorometric assay for 1-deoxyfructose.

Abstract A sensitive fluorometric assay has been developed for the measurement of 1-deoxyfructose in biological fluids. Samples containing 1-deoxyfructose are incubated with an equal volume of 0.01 m 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid in 5.0 m phosphoric acid in a boiling-water bath for 15 min. The fluorescent product has an emission maximum at 502 nm and an excitation maximum at 396 nm. Fluorescence is proportional to 1-deoxyfructose concentrations over a range from 0.002 to 1.0 m m . The method can be used to detect as little as 0.03 μmol of 1-deoxyfructose in deproteinized blood and in urine and no interference is observed with glucose, fructose, pyruvate, or ketone bodies. The method will also detect 1-deoxytagatose, 2-deoxyaldohexoses, and -pentoses, 2,5-anhydromannose, and a number of 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-mono- or bis(hydroxymethyl)furans. The fluorescence properties of the products formed from all of the above compounds are similar suggesting structural similarities of the adducts formed and possible mechanistic similarities of the reactions involved.
Age-specific, deterministic model of predator-prey populations: application to Isle royale

A deterministic model is proposed for the description of predator-prey systems in which the prey has an age-specific vulnerability to predation. The model is developed on the basis of observations of the moose and wolf populations of Isle Royale, Michigan. The moose are divided into three groups, the very young, the adults, and the very old or sick. The three groups have different vulnerability to predation by a single population of wolves. The model incorporates a saturation effect for the moose population and a satiation effect for the wolf population. It appears to reproduce quite well the almost monotonic trend toward equilibrium observed since the arrival of wolves on the island.
Abstract 3074: Identification of a predominant pattern of co-regulation among kinetochore genes; prospective regulatory elements, and association with genomic instability

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The NCI-60 cell line panel is the most extensively characterized set of cells in existence. It provides multiple forms of data on different cancer types, and has been used extensively as a screening tool for drug discovery. Previously, the potential of this panel has not been applied to the fundamental cellular processes of chromosome segregation. In the current study, we used data from multiple microarray platforms accumulated for the NCI-60 to characterize an expression pattern of genes involved in kinetochore assembly. This analysis revealed that 17 genes encoding the constitutive centromere associated network of the kinetochore core (the CCAN complex) plus four additional genes with established importance in kinetochore maintenance (CENPE, CENPF, INCENP, and MIS12) exhibit similar patterns of expression in the NCI-60, suggesting a mechanism for co-regulated transcription of these genes which is maintained despite the multiple genetic and epigenetic rearrangements accumulated in these cells (such as variations in DNA copy number and karyotypic complexity). Several potential regulatory influences are identified for these genes, including transcription factors and microRNAs. Thus, our results provide a template for experimental studies on regulation of genes encoding kinetochore proteins, the process that, when aberrant, leads to the aneuploidy that is a hallmark of many cancers. We propose that the comparison of expression profiles in the NCI-60 cell line panel could be a tool for the identification of other genes groups whose products are involved in the assembly of organelle protein complexes. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3074. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3074
Effect of the Thyroid State on Myocardial Contractility and Ventricular Ejection Rate in Man

Although the circulatory changes in various thyroid states are well known, the alterations of myocardial contractility of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have remained controversial. The changes in the length of the ejection time (ET) and isovolumic contraction time (ICT) are used as indicative of alterations in inotropic state of the myocardium. Isovolumic contraction time, ejection time, and pre-ejection period were measured externally in 10 normal, 13 hyperthyroid, and five hypothyroid subjects. Cardiac outputs, mean rate of left ventricular ejection index, and predicted ejection times were calculated. More shortening of ICT and ET in hyperthyroid and more prolongation of these intervals in hypothyroid subjects than could be attributed to other factors were interpreted as indicative of increased and decreased myocardial contractility, respectively. Catecholamine depletion in hyperthyroid subjects with adequate administration of intramuscular reserpine induced no changes in cardiac output and oxygen ...
Recent advances in neuroblastoma.

Purpose of review Although there have been recent advances with multimodal therapy, treatment of neuroblastoma remains a clinical challenge. Despite the identification of several genetic features, there has not been a significant increase in 5-year survival in the last decade. This review will highlight the current operative strategies along with new research developments aimed at improving survival. Recent findings The goal of surgical intervention in the early stages of neuroblastoma is complete curative resection. In advanced-stage disease, tissue biopsy for staging is the initial goal. In recent years, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is considered in carefully selected patients. Recent advances in neuroblastoma research have focused on tyrosine kinase inhibition, differentiation, pathway inhibition, and immunotherapy. Several of these targets have shown promising results in vivo and are currently under investigation for potential clinical trials. Summary New information on the importance of cell signaling and the targeting of specific genes of interest are providing key insights into neuroblastoma. Only through the discovery of novel treatment strategies made available through the advancement of research will neuroblastoma be survivable for patients with advanced-stage disease.
Pathogenic role of the renin-angiotensin system in modulating radiation-induced late effects.

ith ongoing improvements in cancer therapy and health are, the population of long-term cancer survivors continues o grow: 62% of adult and 77% of pediatric cancer patients urvive beyond 5 years. For these long-term cancer surviors, late effects remain a significant risk. The National ancer Institute has identified long-term survival from caner as one of the new areas of public health emphasis, articularly the study of late effects (National Cancer Instiute’s Plans and Priorities for Cancer Research: http://plan. ancer.gov/promise.shtml). Given the increasing population f long-term survivors, the need to mitigate or treat late ffects has emerged as a primary area of radiation biology esearch (1, 2). Classically, late delayed injury due to tissue irradiation as viewed as due solely to a reduction in the number of urviving clonogens of either parenchymal (3) or vascular 4) target cell populations. Radiation-induced late normal issue injury was inevitable, progressive, and untreatable. In he last decade or so, data have been generated suggesting hat this hypothesis is overly simplistic. Radiation-induced ate effects are now viewed in terms of dynamic, multicelular interactions between multiple cell types within a paricular organ (5–9) that can be modulated (10). Normal cells re no longer viewed as silent partners, merely dying as they ttempt to divide, but as active players in a dynamic and rchestrated, albeit limited, response to injury. In general, irradiating late-responding normal tissues eads to an acute inflammatory response characterized by ctivation of stress-sensitive kinases, transcription factors 11), and increased production of inflammatory cytokines 12). This is followed by an aberrant chronic inflammatory/ ound healing response that develops over months to years, n which vascular and parenchymal cell dysfunction and cell oss, associated with chronic overproduction of particular
Interfacial Effects on the Reinforcement Properties of Polymer−Organoclay Nanocomposites

Interfacial effects play a major role in the formation of organic polymer−smectite clay nanocomposites. As little 2 mol % Na+ cations on the exchange sites of a short-chain alkylammonium smectite clay completely inhibits exfoliation of the silicate nanolayers in an epoxy matrix.
Heavy baryon mixing in chiral perturbation theory

We discuss the SU(3) and heavy quark spin-symmetry-breaking mixing between the {Xi}{sub c} and {Xi}{sub c}{sup {prime}} charmed baryons. Chromomagnetic hyperfine interactions are the leading source of spin-symmetry breaking and together with the SU(3)-breaking mass differences between the lightest pseudo Goldstone bosons gives the leading contribution to the mixing. Such contributions are computed in chiral perturbation theory and compared to quark model expectations. We also compute the leading contribution to the semileptonic decay {Xi}{sub b}{r_arrow}{Xi}{sub c}{sup {prime}}l{bar {nu}}{sub l} at zero recoil, and find that it is an order of magnitude smaller than naive power counting would suggest. It appears that {Xi}{sub b}{r_arrow}{Xi}{sub c}{sup {prime}}l{bar {nu}}{sub l} is dominated by incalculable counterterms, and we discuss the implications for quark models based on the essential role of hyperfine interactions. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Administration of Human Leukocyte Interferon in Herpes Zoster. I. Safety, Circulating Antiviral Activity, and Host Responses to Infection

levels > 100 units/ml were obtained more rapidly and were sustained longer after im administration. When an injection was given im on three successive days, peak daily titers rose progressively, suggesting accumulation in tissues. The rate of rise of varicella-zoster complement-fixing antibodies and the titers of interferon in vesicular fluid and cell counts in the patients treated with interferon did not differ significantly from those of a group of control patients. The only adverse side effect of treatment with interferon was fever of 38 C-40 C after injections. Assays of cerebrospinal fluid and urine specimens generally failed to demonstrate significant titers of interferon during periods when serum levels were known to be >100 units/ml. The average level of circulating interferon attained by either the im or iv route was higher than reported levels in naturally occurring human viral diseases and was approximately 17 times the minimal inhibitory concentration for varicellazoster virus in human cell culture.
Analytic modelling methodology for analysis of energy consumption for ISO 18000-7 RFID networks

Active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) networks consist of battery powered RFID tags. These tags have a lifetime limited by the on-board battery. Energy consumption of such a network is a critical metric. Future RFID networks are projected to continue to increase in size, eventually containing thousands or millions of nodes. Current simulation methods require evaluation of all entities resulting in extremely long execution time for large networks such as RFID networks. Simulations are a useful tool for designers to select the best design alternative for a given network. This paper presents a general framework and method that reduces the order of a given network providing a relatively simple tractable model. The energy consumption of this reduced order network can then be found quickly and efficiently. This order reduction method allows the designer to quickly analyse the design space and selects the best alternative for the network in question.
An Ultra-High Resolution Tandem Fabry-Perot Etalon Cylindrical Beam Volume Hologram Spectrometer

We have designed a compact spectrometer by cascading a simple Fabry-Perot etalon and a cylindrical beam volume hologram. This spectrometer results in a two-dimensional spatial-spectral mapping in the output plane with ultra-high resolution.
MUSHI: Toward Multiple Level Security cloud with strong Hardware level Isolation

Multiple Level Security (MLS) has always been a center of focus since the usage of computers in military and intelligence systems. Extensive studies have been done on how to utilize virtualization technologies to provide multiple level secured execution in the cloud, yet the general assumption is that all components in the cloud service provider are trusted. With the advanced persistent threats currently faced by the military and intelligence community, it is unrealistic to assume complex information systems can remain trustworthy all the time. In this work, we present MUltiple level Security cloud with strong Hardware level Isolation (MUSHI), a novel framework that can provide hardware level isolation and protection to individual guest virtual machine (VM) execution. With MUSHI, a user can maintain confidentiality and integrity of her VM in a multicore environment even in the presence of malicious attacks from both within and outside the cloud infrastructure.
A COMPARISON OF THE U.S. EPA FIFRA GLP STANDARDS WITH THE U.S. FDA GLP STANDARDS FOR NONCLINICAL LABORATORY STUDIES

In the early 1980's both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration were receiving studies on the products that they regulate that were unscientifically sound, some even being fraudulent. Studies were being submitted that had not been done under sound scientific practice; data were missing; necessary documentation to reconstruct the study, also known as an audit trail, was not in place, it was this evidence that lead to the Good Laboratory Practice Standards (GLPs) being codified and becoming regulation. The GLPs were meant to assure that studies submitted to the agencies for the registration of products for which they were responsible would protect the environment, and, the safety and health of the public.
Preoperative nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for prostate specific membrane antigen predicts non-organ confined disease in radical prostatectomy specimens

The aim of this study was to access the utility of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for prostatic specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in predicting non-organ confined (NOC) disease in final radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens. Nested RT-PCR for PSMA was performed on the blood of 33 patient candidates for RP, 20 patients with untreated metastatic disease and 20 healthy men. The final pathology report on the 33 RP patients was compared with the RT-PCR results and Partin nomograms. In the RP group, 4/18 patients with confined disease and 9/15 with NOC disease had positive RT-PCR assays. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for RT-PCR were 60%, 77.7%, 69% and 70%, respectively. The Partin tables for this group of patients showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 75%, 71%, 60% and 83%, respectively. P-values for the Partin tables and the RT-PCR assay were respectively 0.014 and 0.037. RT-PCR of PSMA has an independent predictive value and could help predict NOC disease in clinically localized prostate cancers, but is still less efficient than Partin tables.
Land use change and carbon exchange in the tropics: I. Detailed estimates for Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, and Bolivia

Our group, composed of modelers working in conjunction with tropical ecologists, 3 has produced a simulation model that quantifies the net carbon exchange between tropical vegetation and the atmosphere due to land use change. The model calculates this net exchange by combining estimates of land use change with several estimates of the carbon stored in tropical vegetation and general assumptions about the fate of cleared vegetation. In this report, we use estimates of land use and carbon storage organized into sixlife zone (sensu Holdridge) categories to calculate the exchange between the atmosphere and the vegetation of four tropical countries. Our analyses of these countries indicate that this life zone approach has several advantages because (a) the carbon content of vegetation varies significantly among life zones, (b) much of the land use change occurs in life zones of only moderate carbon storage, and (c) the fate of cleared vegetation varies among life zones. Our analyses also emphasize the importance of distinguishing between temporary and permanent land use change, as the recovery of vegetation on abandoned areas decreases the net release of carbon due to clearing. We include sensitivity analysis of those factors that we found to be important but are difficult to quantify at present.
Enantiospecific synthesis of [1‐3H]‐(+)‐pseudoephedrine hydrochloride

The naturally occurring dextrorotary enantiomer (+)-pseudoephedrine, 1, was synthesized (1) in the [3H]-labelled form with specific activity 17.5 Ci/mmol suitable for development of a radioimmunoassay procedure. The chirally specific route from L-alanine to [1-3H]-d-pseudoephedrine hydrochloride was based on the use of α-amino acids as chiral educts for asymmetric products as developed by Rapoport.
Controlling light by light with three-level atoms inside an optical cavity.

We present our experimental demonstration of controlling the cavity output intensity of one laser beam with the intensity of another laser beam in a composite system consisting of a collection of three-level ?-type rubidium atoms and an optical ring cavity. When the intensity of the controlling beam is modulated with a square waveform, the cavity output power switches on and off (with a distinction ratio better than 20:1) between two steady-state values. This all-optical switching effect is the result of combined absorption and enhanced Kerr nonlinearity near resonance in such three-level atomic systems because of atomic coherence and can find applications in optical communication and optical computation.
Green fluorescent protein: A perspective

A brief personal perspective is provided for green fluorescent protein (GFP), covering the period 1994–2011. The topics discussed are primarily those in which my research group has made a contribution and include structure and function of the GFP polypeptide, the mechanism of fluorescence emission, excited state protein transfer, the design of ratiometric fluorescent protein biosensors and an overview of the fluorescent proteins derived from coral reef animals. Structure-function relationships in photoswitchable fluorescent proteins and nonfluorescent chromoproteins are also briefly covered.
Pulmonary Vein Exit-Block During Radio-Frequency Ablation of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

A 34-year-old man with a history of labile hypertension was referred for focal ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). The patient reported multiple episodes of palpitations since his late teens. Documentation of palpitations in the months preceding ablation had revealed AF. At electrophysiological study, there was no inducible supraventricular tachycardia, although dual AV nodal physiology was present. There was no evidence of an accessory pathway. During the study, AF developed. Cardioversion was attempted numerous times, with early recurrence of AF …
Satellite-detected fluorescence reveals global physiology of ocean phytoplankton

Abstract. Phytoplankton photosynthesis links global ocean biology and climate-driven fluctuations in the physical environment. These interactions are largely expressed through changes in phytoplankton physiology, but physiological status has proven extremely challenging to characterize globally. Phytoplankton fluorescence does provide a rich source of physiological information long exploited in laboratory and field studies, and is now observed from space. Here we evaluate the physiological underpinnings of global variations in satellite-based phytoplankton chlorophyll fluorescence. The three dominant factors influencing fluorescence distributions are chlorophyll concentration, pigment packaging effects on light absorption, and light-dependent energy-quenching processes. After accounting for these three factors, resultant global distributions of quenching-corrected fluorescence quantum yields reveal a striking consistency with anticipated patterns of iron availability. High fluorescence quantum yields are typically found in low iron waters, while low quantum yields dominate regions where other environmental factors are most limiting to phytoplankton growth. Specific properties of photosynthetic membranes are discussed that provide a mechanistic view linking iron stress to satellite-detected fluorescence. Our results present satellite-based fluorescence as a valuable tool for evaluating nutrient stress predictions in ocean ecosystem models and give the first synoptic observational evidence that iron plays an important role in seasonal phytoplankton dynamics of the Indian Ocean. Satellite fluorescence may also provide a path for monitoring climate-phytoplankton physiology interactions and improving descriptions of phytoplankton light use efficiencies in ocean productivity models.
Parallel processing of natural language parsers.

In this paper we describe an implementation of a parallel parser for natural language. We first indicate why these applications are typically hard to parallelize. We then present a work stealing approach for symmetric shared-memory multiprocessors that minimizes overhead by dynamically controlling the granularity of work distribution. In addition, we will explain how we deal with concurrent access of the centralized chart.
Tourism Urbanization in the United States

The rapid growth of the tourism industry over the past 50 years has had a number of important consequences. One of these is the evolution of entire metropolitan areas heavily dependent on tourism, a phenomenon Mullins calls tourism urbanization. Such urban centers include Las Vegas and Orlando in the United States, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast in Australia, and Cancun in Mexico. Studies of tourism-dependent cities outside the United States have shown them to differ symbolically and socially from more traditional metropolitan areas. The author evaluates the effects of tourism on American metropolitan areas and determines whether tourism-dependent cities in the United States are similar to those elsewhere. The author found two distinct types of tourism urbanization in the United States. One type specializes in "sun, sand, and sea" tourism, and the other specializes in highly capital-intensive tourist attractions. The two types of tourist cities exhibit different social structures, and both differ i...
Validity of Observer Ratings of the Five-Factor Model of Personality Traits: A Meta-Analysis

Conclusions reached in previous research about the magnitude and nature of personality-performance linkages have been based almost exclusively on self-report measures of personality. The purpose of this study is to address this void in the literature by conducting a meta-analysis of the relationship between observer ratings of the five-factor model (FFM) personality traits and overall job performance. Our results show that the operational validities of FFM traits based on observer ratings are higher than those based on self-report ratings. In addition, the results show that when based on observer ratings, all FFM traits are significant predictors of overall performance. Further, observer ratings of FFM traits show meaningful incremental validity over self-reports of corresponding FFM traits in predicting overall performance, but the reverse is not true. We conclude that the validity of FFM traits in predicting overall performance is higher than previously believed, and our results underscore the importance of disentangling the validity of personality traits from the method of measurement of the traits.
Time Delay in Minimax Optimization of Unimodal Functions of One Variable

A minimax search plan is developed for locating the maximum of a one dimensional unimodal function when a time delay occurs between the placement of an experiment and the result. The optimal search plans, among all the plans which place only one experiment at each unit of time, are determined for time delays of one and two periods. These plans are optimal in the sense that for a required final interval of uncertainty, they have the largest possible starting interval. Discrete variable lattice versions of these plans are also given, as well as plans for when the number of experiments is unknown initially. When more than one experiment can be made at each unit of time, a variant of block search is more efficient.
Alkane activation on crystalline metal oxide surfaces.

Advances in the fundamental understanding of alkane activation on oxide surfaces are essential for developing new catalysts that efficiently and selectively promote chemical transformations of alkanes. In this tutorial review, we discuss the current understanding of alkane activation on crystalline metal oxide surfaces, and focus mainly on summarizing our findings on alkane adsorption and C–H bond cleavage on the PdO(101) surface as determined from model ultrahigh vacuum experiments and theoretical calculations. These studies show that alkanes form strongly-bound σ-complexes on PdO(101) by datively bonding with coordinatively-unsaturated Pd atoms and that these molecularly adsorbed species serve as precursors for C–H bond activation on the oxide surface. In addition to discussing the binding and properties of alkane σ-complexes on PdO(101), we also summarize recent advances in kinetic models to predict alkane dissociation rates on solid surfaces. Lastly, we highlight computations which predict that the formation and facile C–H bond activation of alkane σ-complexes also occurs on RuO2 and IrO2 surfaces.
Weighted multiplicity adjustments for animal carcinogenicity tests

Sparse data is a difficulty in the analysis of animal carcinogenicity data: it is difficult to detect effects when the background tumor rates are low. The widely used "Haseman rule" and its variants provide more power to tests with low background rates, while maintaining a degree of control over the global false positive rate. In this article we explore the use of these rules, finding global error rates that are unacceptably high for many animal carcinogenicity studies. We provide alternative weighting methods that correct the deficiencies of the Haseman rule, and apply them to carcinogenicity data from a pharmaceutical company.
Mallomonas nieringii sp. nov., a new species of Synurophyceae from a suite of ponds on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

A new species of Mallomonas, M. nieringii sp. nov., is described from a small, poorly buffered, acidic locality on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Cells are covered with uniquely sculptured scales, each scale of which may possess a single bristle. Cell, scale and bristle morphology all indicate that this new species should be placed within the series Punctiferae of the section Punctiferae, which now has four recognized species and one variety. Scales of the apical ring are highly asymmetric in design, each with a forward projecting triangular shaped spine. Collectively, the triangular shaped extensions of the apical ring of scales surround a single emergent flagellum. Body scales resemble those of Mallomonas punctifera and M. transsylvanica in shape and general morphology, but differ in lacking distinct secondary ribbing on the shield. Mallomonas nieringii was found in six waterbodies all situated within a small geographic area on the outer tip of the Cape Cod peninsula.
MED25 Is a Mediator Component of HNF4α-Driven Transcription Leading to Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic Beta-Cells

Unique nuclear receptor Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4α (HNF4α) is an essential transcriptional regulator for early development and proper function of pancreatic s-cells, and its mutations are monogenic causes of a dominant inherited form of diabetes referred to as Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young 1 (MODY1). As a gene-specific transcription factor, HNF4α exerts its function through various molecular interactions, but its protein recruiting network has not been fully characterized. Here we report the identification of MED25 as one of the HNF4α binding partners in pancreatic s-cells leading to insulin secretion which is impaired in MODY patients. MED25 is one of the subunits of the Mediator complex that is required for induction of RNA polymerase II transcription by various transcription factors including nuclear receptors. This HNF4α-MED25 interaction was initially identified by a yeast-two-hybrid method, confirmed by in vivo and in vitro analyses, and proven to be mediated through the MED25-LXXLL motif in a ligand-independent manner. Reporter-gene based transcription assays and siRNA/shRNA-based gene silencing approaches revealed that this interaction is crucial for full activation of HNF4α-mediated transcription, especially expression of target genes implicated in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Selected MODY mutations at the LXXLL motif binding pocket disrupt these interactions and cause impaired insulin secretion through a ‘loss-of-function’ mechanism.
Engulfing losers by winners in cancer: do cancer stem cells catch eat-me signals from noncancer stem cells?

glioma stem cellsEach year, more than 1.6 million people in the USA are diagnosed with new cancers, and this number has been continuously increasing for decades. Most of the targeted therapeutics tested thus far have shown lit -tle or limited sustained survival benefit. The failure to achieve a cure may include the presence of self-renewing, highly tumori-genic cancer stem cells (CSCs) contributing to therapeutic resistance and invasion into normal tissues. Targeting CSCs is prob-ably mandated to inhibit tumor growth and sensitize tumors to conventional thera -pies. In a tumor mass, however, CSCs are tightly associated with other cells including non-CSCs and stromal cells. Nonetheless, molecular mechanisms for the intercellu-lar communication remain largely elusive. Recent studies in both mammalian and nonmammalian system have raised a pos-sible novel concept that cellular competi-tion between CSCs and non-CSCs may induce engulfment of non-CSCs by CSCs. The ultimate goals of CSC-directed medi -cal research include the establishment of a new concept of intercellular competition within tumors to better clarify the mecha -nism of tumor heterogeneity and targeted therapies for molecules responsible for a gain of resistance to current therapies. This concept, if proven true, would challenge the current research and clinical practice hurdles, thereby creating a firm path to development of a novel strategy to target the newly identified cellular alterations in cancers.Future perspectiveDevelopment of effective therapies for cancers is a challenging endeavor due to the highly aggressive and therapy-resist-ant nature of cancer
Management of elevated blood cholesterol in the psychiatric patient: What's new in the guidelines?

Compared with the general adult population, patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have a 1.5 to 2.8 fold increase in mortality rates. This increase in mortality is multifactorial, including both natural causes and suicide. Additionally, antipsychotic medications have been associated with several adverse effects, including weight gain, hyperlipidemia, and the onset of diabetes. These adverse effects can place patients at risk for metabolic syndrome and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Regular monitoring and treatment of risk factors for ASCVD, including hyperlipidemia, should be provided in clinical practice. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recently published updated recommendations for the management of cholesterol to reduce ASCVD. These national guidelines, based on a large body of clinical trials, describe 4 specific patient populations at high risk for ASCVD that should be considered candidates for therapeutic lifestyle changes and pharmac...
Pediatric and Adolescent Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors: The Road to Collaboration

During the past 35 years, survival rates for children with extracranial malignant germ cell tumors (GCTs) have increased significantly. Success has been achieved primarily through the application of platinum-based chemotherapy regimens; however, clinical challenges in GCTs remain. Excellent outcomes are not distributed uniformly across the heterogeneous distribution of age, histologic features, and primary tumor site. Despite good outcomes overall, the likelihood of a cure for certain sites and histologic conditions is less than 50%. In addition, there are considerable long-term treatment-related effects for survivors. Even modest cisplatin dosing can cause significant long-term morbidities. A particular challenge in designing new therapies for GCT is that a variety of specialists use different risk stratifications, staging systems, and treatment approaches for three distinct age groups (childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood). Traditionally, pediatric cancer patients younger than 15 years have been treated by pediatric oncologists in collaboration with their surgical specialty colleagues. Adolescents and young adults with GCTs often are treated by medical oncologists, urologists, or gynecologic oncologists. The therapeutic dilemma for all is how to best define disease risk so that therapy and toxicity can be appropriately reduced for some patients and intensified for others. Further clinical and biologic insights can only be achieved through collaborations that do not set limitations by age, sex, and primary tumor site. Therefore, international collaborations, spanning different cooperative groups and disciplines, have been developed to address these challenges.
Origin Of The Ayer granodiorite in the Lowell area, Massachusetts

The elongate stock of Ayer granodiorite exposed north and west of Lowell, Massachusetts, is reasonably typical of the many bodies of granitic rocks in the central and north-central parts of the State. It lies within a terrane composed predominantly of steeply tilted, thinly inter bedded quartzite and biotite schist, and many of its structural relations superficially suggest for it a metasomatic origin, involving the quiet replacement of preexisting bedded and foliated rocks by invading fluids of magmatic derivation. The elongation of the stock and a distinct foliation characteristic of the granodiorite itself are both essentially conformable with country-rock structure, and the contacts, wherever seen, also appear to be concordant. This general parallelism is further emphasized by a consistent orientation of numerous tabular inclusions, the edges of most of which have been obscured by reaction with the igneous material. Moreover, apparent transitions from country-rock into granodiorite in a direction parallel to their structural trends occur at several places. Dikes and lenses of pegmatite are abundant within and adjacent to the granodiorite body.
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis as a mimicker of neoplasia.

Despite the efforts for control and eradication of tuberculosis, new cases of the disease are diagnosed daily. The diagnosis of tuberculosis is easily made when the classical features of pulmonary necrotizing granulomatous inflammation are seen. However, extrapulmonary lesions may clinically and radiographically mimic a neoplastic process, and this may lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment. We studied 6 patients by aspiration biopsy, all recent immigrants and immunocompetent, who presented with weight loss and fatigue. Of these, 5 patients had a mass. One patient presented with a lytic lesion of bone. In all cases the clinical diagnosis was neoplasia. In all aspirates, the smears showed necrotic debris with neutrophils. No neoplastic cells or granulomas were seen. All cases were signed out descriptively with no specific diagnosis. A search for acid-fast organisms leading to the correct diagnosis of tuberculosis was prompted by clinical investigations that revealed pulmonary lesions, or by repeat aspiration biopsy, which showed granulomatous inflammation. Tuberculosis when present in atypical forms is still a challenging diagnosis. The finding of necrotic debris in a needle biopsy without the clinical signs of an abscess should prompt a search for acid-fast bacilli, since the correct diagnosis will eliminate a needless surgical procedure and will lead to timely and appropriate therapy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;30:82–87. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Adolescents, adults and rewards: comparing motivational neurocircuitry recruitment using fMRI.

Background: Adolescent risk-taking, including behaviors resulting in injury or death, has been attributed in part to maturational differences in mesolimbic incentive-motivational neurocircuitry, including ostensible oversensitivity of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) to rewards. Methodology/Principal Findings: To test whether adolescents showed increased NAcc activation by cues for rewards, or by delivery of rewards, we scanned 24 adolescents (age 12–17) and 24 adults age (22–42) with functional magnetic resonance imaging while they performed a monetary incentive delay (MID) task. The MID task was configured to temporally disentangle potential reward or potential loss anticipation-related brain signal from reward or loss notification-related signal. Subjects saw cues signaling opportunities to win or avoid losing $0, $.50, or $5 for responding quickly to a subsequent target. Subjects then viewed feedback of their trial success after a variable interval from cue presentation of between 6 to17 s. Adolescents showed reduced NAcc recruitment by reward-predictive cues compared to adult controls in a linear contrast with non-incentive cues, and in a volume-of-interest analysis of signal change in the NAcc. In contrast, adolescents showed little difference in striatal and frontocortical responsiveness to reward deliveries compared to adults. Conclusions/Significance: In light of divergent developmental difference findings between neuroimaging incentive paradigms (as well as at different stages within the same task), these data suggest that maturational differences in incentive-motivational neurocircuitry: 1) may be sensitive to nuances of incentive tasks or stimuli, such as behavioral or learning contingencies, and 2) may be specific to the component of the instrumental behavior (such as anticipation versus notification).
Recent beauty results from CDF and the Run-II upgrades

This paper reports on the most recent results from the Collider Detector Facility (CDF) from 110 pb{sup -1} of data taken at the Fermilab Tevatron from 1992 to 1995. Improved measurements of B meson spectroscopy, lifetimes, and searches for new particle states are presented. Evidence for the effectiveness of same side tagging techniques in the context of mixing measurements is shown with applicability for CP violation studies in Run-II explained. The planned upgrades of importance to {ital b} physics for Run-II are briefly detailed with an emphasis on the expected physics reach in Run-II by CDF.
The structural characterization of bacterioferritin, BfrA, from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a deadly disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Like most bacterial pathogens, iron acquisition, regulation, and storage are critical for its survival. Due to the poor solubility of iron under physiological conditions, both eukaryotes and prokaryotes possess ferritins, large protein complexes that store iron and keep it bioavailable. Mtb encodes for two ferritin homologs: a heme-containing bacterioferritin (Mtb-BfrA) and a non-heme eukaryotic-like ferritin (Mtb-BfrB). A conserved feature of bacterioferritins is the presence of a heme group at the interface between two subunits of each dimer that is related by a non-crystallographic two-fold axis. The structure of a selenomethionine derivative of Mtb-BfrA was previously reported (PDB ID: 2WTL); however, a proposed heme degradation product was modeled into the heme-binding site, as electron density for intact heme was not observed. Here, the purification and structure determination of recombinant Mtb-BfrA is reported. As-isolated Mtb-BfrA from Escherichia coli is not fully heme loaded. However, the absorption spectrum features suggest binding of intact heme. In an attempt to fully complement Mtb-BfrA with heme, two different methodologies are described. Electronic spectroscopy and structure determination were used to confirm varying amounts of intact bis-methionine coordinated heme to Mtb-BfrA. We also report that increased heme incorporation only slightly increases Mtb-BfrA ferroxidase activity. Finally, the cognate partner of Mtb-BfrA is proposed to be a putative encoded gene which is located approximately 300 bps upstream of Mycobacterium tuberculosisbfrA, homologous to the cognate partner of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterioferritin, a 7 kDa ferrodoxin Bfd.
Radiorecurrent Prostate Cancer: An Emerging and Largely Mismanaged Epidemic

Radiation as primary treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer (PCa) is widely and increasingly utilized throughout much of the world via both external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy. Tremendous variations in its utilization exist both within and across countries and are largely unsupported by data to explain such discrepancies. Controversy remains regarding the efficacy of radiation therapy (RT) for PCa, especially considering that at least 25% of patients will have a positive biopsy following therapy. Nevertheless, local failure as defined by a postradiation biopsy showing histologic evidence of persistent cancer correlates with disease-free survival and metastasis, so the temptation to ignore biopsy findings in otherwise healthy patients appears to be imprudent [1]. Unfortunately, up to one-third of radiation patients will receive secondary treatment for cancer recurrence, indicating that long-term efficacy for RT is far from assured [2]. Compared to radical prostatectomy, RT is associated with a more than two-fold likelihood of cancer-specific mortality in the nonrandomized but well-controlled Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE) data [3]. Despite this, the lower immediate morbidity of RT compared to prostatectomy, combined with physician and patient choice, led approximately one-fourth of patients to undergo either EBRT or brachytherapy in that representative American registry. One-fourth of the 217 730 new cases of PCa in the United States predicted by the American Cancer Society in 2010 [4] would translate into 54 433 American patients radiated (with EBRT, brachytherapy, or their combination) annually. Furthermore, a conservative calculation of a 25% failure ratemeans that there are at least 13 608 new radiorecurrent PCa patients in the United States annually and many times that throughout the world. In
How Discriminatory Policies Affect Interethnic Violence : A Cross-National, Group-Level Analysis

Discriminatory policies are government-enacted policies mandating that certain goods, services, or opportunities be withheld from members of specific ethnic groups. Discriminatory policies are in place in many countries throughout the world today, sometimes enacted with the intent of reducing the likelihood of interethnic violence. But evidence on how discriminatory policies affect interethnic violence is inconclusive. In this study, how different forms of discriminatory policies affect interethnic violence is examined using data on over 200 groups from more than 100 countries. Performing the analyses at the group level, using minority groups as units of analyses, reveals that discrimination-particularly political discrimination-has a significant positive effect on the likelihood the groups will be engaged in interethnic violence, controlling for important group- and country-level factors. The implications of these findings for understanding different perspectives in the literature on conflict and violence are discussed