cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A lectin, peanut agglutinin, as a probe for the extracellular matrix in living neuromuscular junctions

The extracellular matrix plays important roles in the differentiation of synapses. To identify molecules concentrated specifically in the synaptic extracellular matrix, fluorescently-labelled lectins were applied to neuromuscular junctions. A lectin, peanut agglutinin (PNA), stains the neuromuscular region selectively and irreversibly (up to at least 3 weeksin situ), outlining the periphery of the nerve terminal arborization in the frog. Snake neuromuscular junctions also stain intensely with fluorescent PNA, while mouse diaphragm staining is faint. At the electron microscopic level, the reaction products of horseradish peroxidase-conjugated PNA are found primarily in the extracellular matrix flanking Schwann cells in the frog endplate regions. Fluorescently labelled PNA does not affect synaptic potentials and can serve as a simple stain for correlating functional studies of living neuromuscular junctions. Moreover, it can be combined with a presynaptic dye to observe nerve terminals and synaptic extracellular matrix in the same junctionsin situ. This report reveals the existence of synapse-specific carbohydrates associated with Schwann cell extracellular matrix in the frog neuromuscular junction. The specific binding and its physiological compatibility make PNA a useful probe for further investigation of synaptic differentiation, plasticity and maintenance.
Structural variations among the kinesins

Members of the kinesin family of motor proteins are assembled from kinesin-related polypeptides that share conserved 'motor' domains linked to diverse 'tail' domains. Recent work suggests that tail diversity underlies the differences in quaternary structure observed among native kinesin holoenzymes.
Heterogeneity of factor IX in therapeutic factor IX concentrates

Abstract Rabbit antibody to human factor IX was used to investigate the factor IX antigenic content and electrophoretic mobility of commercial products as well as experimental “activated products”. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis of all concentrates showed a 1.2–3 fold increased antigenic content/unit factor IX clotting activity when compared to plasma. Two dimensional crossed immunoelectrophoresis of standard Factor IX concentrates produced a single sharp peak whether electrophoresed in Ca2+ or EDTA containing buffer. “Activated” concentrates produced a dome shaped precipitin arc. The addition of plasma to standard factor IX concentrates yielded a marked shoulder only when the electrophoresis was run in EDTA. This effect could not be reproduced by the addition of antithrombin III (AT-III). The addition of plasma to some “activated” products revealed an even more pronounced heterogeneity whether in Ca2+ or EDTA and the addition of AT-III in the same products produced a second precipitin peak. These results indicate that at least three forms of factor IX exist in Factor IX concentrates. The absence of detectable AT-III reacting material in the standard concentrates is a priori evidence of the absence of major amounts of IXa, whereas the presence of AT-III reacting material in the “activated” concentrates is evidence of biologically active material.
Mechanisms driving groundwater flow near salt domes

Groundwater flow near salt domes is complex because groundwater is subject to a variety of driving forces including the release of geopressured fluids, large lateral density gradients, and regional hydraulic head gradients. The complexity of this environment is born out by recent geochemical and geophysical observations that indicate the occurrence of upward groundwater flow near some salt domes. In order to evaluate the relative importance of different mechanisms driving groundwater flow near salt domes, the authors have developed a numerical model that couples groundwater flow, heat transport, and transport of dissolved salt, and accounts for salt diapirism. The calculations indicate that upward groundwater flow can occur as the result of thermal convection when the regional background salinity is greater than 15 weight percent, a value typical of many areas of the south Louisiana salt dome province. For lower background salinities, dissolution causes salt-laden groundwater near the dome to sink, leading to depressed isotherms. While the release of geopressured fluids is difficult to quantify, it remains a likely mechanism for driving upward groundwater flow near some salt domes.
A More Diversified Petroleum Engineering Education for New Energy Challenges

Although the most diversified petroleum engineering program possible should be provided for our undergraduates, such a program cannot be at the expense of our current core programs. An undergraduate curriculum emphasizing basic science and engineering is our best assurance that our graduates can contribute to society in spite of cyclic demand for petroleum engineers. Petroleum engineering departments and the profession should anticipate the need for engineers to develop alternative energy sources, but this is not expected to affect petroleum engineering programs significantly before the turn of the century. These changes, when they do come, most likely will and should occur first in graduate programs.
Enhanced expression of the osteoblastic phenotype on substrates that modulate fibronectin conformation and integrin receptor binding.

Abstract Integrins represent the primary mechanism of cell-extracellular matrix interactions and control cell morphology, proliferation, and differentiation. We have previously shown that substrate-dependent modulation of adsorbed fibronectin (Fn) conformation alters α5β1 integrin binding to Fn and directs C2C12 myoblast proliferation and differentiation (Mol. Biol. Cell 10 (1999) 785). The model substrates used in these experiments were bacteriological (untreated) polystyrene (B), tissue culture polystyrene (T), and type-I collagen-coated T (C). In the present study, we examined MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cell differentiation on Fn-coated B, T, and C substrates. Immunofluorescence staining revealed substrate-dependent differences in integrin α5β1 binding and clustering into focal adhesions (C>T>B), consistent with our previous integrin binding analysis. Alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization showed substrate-dependent differences (C>T>B, p
Therapy of Cryptococcosis with a Combination of Flucytosine and Amphotericin B

In a prospective study from May 1971 to November 1973, 20 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcosis were treated for six weeks with a combination of amphotericin B (20 mg daily) intravenously and flucytosine (150 mg/kg daily) orally. Fifteen patients has culturally docummented Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis, and three died of infection early in therapy. Of the remaining 12 patients, eight were alive and well eight to 34 months after therapy, and four died of other causes. None of the surviving patients has relapsed. Hematologic complications developed in nine patients, three of whom had no underlying lymphoreticular disorder or therapy with known cytotoxic agents. Renal insufficiency of mild degree occurred in only six patients. A shorter period of hospitalization and reduction in toxicity of amphotericin B suggest that combined therapy is a safe and efficacious alternative to other regimens.
Advances in high-resolution ultrasound-modulated optical tomography in biological tissues

We present an extension of our work on implementation of high-resolution ultrasound-modulated optical tomography that, based on optical contrast, can image several millimeters deep into soft biological tissues. A long-cavity confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer, which provides a large etendue and a short response time, was used to detect the ultrasound-modulated coherent light that traversed the scattering biological tissue. Using 15-MHz ultrasound, light absorbing structures placed >3 mm below the surface of chicken breast tissue were imaged with high contrast. The resolutions along the axial and lateral directions with respect to the ultrasound propagation direction were better than 70 um and 120 um, respectively. The resolutions can be scaled down further by using higher ultrasound frequencies. This technology is complementary to other imaging technologies, such as confocal microscopy and optical-coherence tomography, and has potential for broad biomedical applications.
Surface culture of fetal mammalian brain cells: Effect of subculture on morphology and choline acetyltransferase activity

Cells from brains of fetal rats were grown in surfece cell culture for up to 46 days and were subjected to two subculturing cycles with mild trypsin treatment. The cells maintained their characteristic morphology into third passage, and some putative neurons developed the ability to abhere directly to plastic surfaces. The specific activity of choline acetyl-transferase reached higher levels in third than in first passage cultures. An increase of at least 34-fold was obtained in the total activity of enzyme, the major increments occurring during first and third passages. The data suggest that choline acetyltransferase-producing cells may be capable of multiplication in culture.
Hormone-Induced Alterations in Nonhistone Protein: Methylation and Phosphorylation in Sciara coprophila

Methylation and phosphorylation of chromosomal nonhistone protein (NHP) has been demonstrated in the salivary gland cells of diptera [5, 7] and implicated in the control of gene expression [35, 36]. Furthermore, hormones can stimulate methyl and phosphoryl side chain metabolism and thus enhance template activity. Salivary glands from late fourth instar female larvae of Sciara coprophila (cortisone-supplemented and normal diet) were incubated in 3H-uridine (10 μCi/ml), 3H-thymidine (10 μCi/ml), 3H-methyl-methionine (20 μCi/ml), 35S-methionine (10 μCi/ml) and 32P-orthophosphate (1 mc/ml), for varying time periods, to measure RNA synthesis, DNA synthesis, methylation, protein synthesis and phosphorylation, respectively. Following selective extraction of lipid, histone and nucleic acids, glands were prepared for light microscope autoradiography. A more specific labelling pattern, as well as increased grain number on particular bands, interbands and bulbs, was noted on chromosomes from cortisone-fed larvae incubated in 3H-methyl-methionine for 1 min when compared with larvae on the standard diet. Cortisone also increased RNA synthesis and nucleoprotein phosphorylation, but not DNA or protein synthesis. In summary, cortisone enhances the specificity and degree of NHP methylation and phosphorylation at discrete chromosomal loci, i.e. alterations in side chain metabolism which may be responsible for increased RNA synthesis.
DCEMRI.jl: A fast, validated, open source toolkit for dynamic contrast enhanced MRI analysis

We present a fast, validated, open-source toolkit for processing dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) data. We validate it against the Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA) Standard and Extended Tofts-Kety phantoms and find near perfect recovery in the absence of noise, with an estimated 10–20× speedup in run time compared to existing tools. To explain the observed trends in the fitting errors, we present an argument about the conditioning of the Jacobian in the limit of small and large parameter values. We also demonstrate its use on an in vivo data set to measure performance on a realistic application. For a 192 × 192 breast image, we achieved run times of <1 s. Finally, we analyze run times scaling with problem size and find that the run time per voxel scales as O(N1.9), where N is the number of time points in the tissue concentration curve. DCEMRI.jl was much faster than any other analysis package tested and produced comparable accuracy, even in the presence of noise.
Harmonicity of functions satisfying a weak form of the mean value property

Let \(\Omega \subset {\Bbb R}^n\) be a smooth domain and let \(u \in C^0(\Omega ).\) A classical result of potential theory states that¶¶\(-\kern-5mm\int\limits _{S_{r}(\bar x)} u(x)d\sigma (x)=u(\bar x)\)¶¶for every \(\bar x\in \Omega \) and \(r>0\) if and only if¶¶\(\Delta u=0 \hbox { in } \Omega.\)¶¶Here \(-\kern-5mm\int\limits _{S_{r}(\bar x)} u(x)d\sigma (x)\) denotes the average of u on the sphere \(S_r(\bar x)\) of center \(\bar x\) and radius r. Our main result, which is a “localized” version of the above result, states:¶¶Theorem. Let \(u\in W^{2,1}(\Omega )\) and let \(x\in \Omega \) be a Lebesgue point of \(\Delta u\) such that¶¶\(-\kern-5mm\int\limits _{S_{r}(\bar x)} u d \sigma - \alpha =o(r^2)\)¶¶for some \(\alpha \in \Bbb R\) and all sufficiently small \(r>0.\) Then¶¶\(\Delta u(x)=0.\)
Cognitive performance in hypotensive persons with spinal cord injury

Background Due to sympathetic de-centralization, individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), especially those with tetraplegia, often present with hypotension, worsened with upright posture. Several investigations in the non-SCI population have noted a relationship between chronic hypotension and deficits in memory, attention and processing speed and delayed reaction times.
Role of RANTES in experimental cardiac allograft rejection.

The host response to alloantigen results in upregulation of Class II MHC antigens and associated cytokine production (especially IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)) as well as lymphocytic infiltration and cellular activation which leads to graft damage/destruction. RANTES (Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed and presumably Secreted) is a member of the β subfamily (CC) of chemokines and has been shown to function as a lymphocyte chemoattractant. We now describe the requirement for RANTES in cardiac heterotopic allograft (brown Norway into Lewis rats) rejection in rats. By Northern blot analysis, mRNA could be detected in allografts at 6 and 8 days post-transplantation but not in isogenic (Lewis) grafts. RANTES protein could be demonstrated by Western blot analysis in homogenates from allografts at day 8 but not at day 0 and could not be identified in isogenic cardiac transplants. By immunostaining, RANTES protein was present in mononuclear cells of allografts at day 6 but was absent in the isogenic transplants. When rats were treated with anti-RANTES serum, there was a significant delay in rejection time (cessation of beating) of the allografts. These data demonstrate that expression of RANTES in rat cardiac allografts is linked to the rejection phenomenon.
A model for the discharge kinetics and plasma chemistry during plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of amorphous silicon

A model for the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a‐Si:H) in rf and dc discharges is presented. The model deals primarily with the plasma chemistry of discharges sustained in gas mixtures containing silane (SiH4). The plasma chemistry model uses as input the electron impact rate coefficients generated in a separate simulation for the electron kinetics and therefore makes no a priori assumptions as to the manner of power deposition. Radical densities and contributions to film growth are discussed as a function of gas mixture, electrode separation, and locale of power deposition, and comparisons are made to experiment. A compendium of reactions and rate constants for silane neutral and ion chemistry is also presented.
In Vivo Magnetic Enrichment, Photoacoustic Diagnosis, and Photothermal Purging of Infected Blood Using Multifunctional Gold and Magnetic Nanoparticles

Bacterial infections are a primary cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Bacteremia is a particular concern owing to the possibility of septic shock and the development of metastatic infections. Treatment of bacteremia is increasingly compromised by the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains, creating an urgent need for alternative therapy. Here, we introduce a method for in vivo photoacoustic (PA) detection and photothermal (PT) eradication of Staphylococcus aureus in tissue and blood. We show that this method could be applicable for label-free diagnosis and treatment of in the bloodstream using intrinsic near-infrared absorption of endogenous carotenoids with nonlinear PA and PT contrast enhancement. To improve sensitivity and specificity for detection of circulating bacteria cells (CBCs), two-color gold and multilayer magnetic nanoparticles with giant amplifications of PA and PT contrasts were functionalized with an antibody cocktail for molecular targeting of S. aureus surface-associated markers such as protein A and lipoprotein. With a murine model, the utility of this approach was demonstrated for ultrasensitive detection of CBCs with threshold sensitivity as low as 0.5 CBCs/mL, in vivo magnetic enrichment of CBCs, PT eradication of CBCs, and real-time monitoring of therapeutic efficacy by CBC counting. Our PA-PT nano-theranostic platform, which integrates in vivo multiplex targeting, magnetic enrichment, signal amplification, multicolor recognition, and feedback control, could be used as a biological tool to gain insights on dissemination pathways of CBCs, infection progression by bacteria re-seeding, and sepsis development and treatment, and could potentially be feasible in humans, especially using bypass schematic.
ON THE EIGENVALUES OF ZAKHAROV-SHABAT SYSTEMS ∗

We consider the eigenvalues of a Zakharov--Shabat system on the real line with a complex-valued L1 potential and show that $\pi/2$ is the threshold L1 norm of the potential for the formation of eigenvalues. We obtain best possible lower bounds on the number of eigenvalues for a real potential of one sign. This lower bound is exact for the class of single lobe potentials, that is, positive potentials with a single local maximum that is also global.
Purification and Characterization of a Mannose-Specific Lectin from Shallot (Allium ascalonicum) Bulbs

A new mannose-binding lectin was isolated from shallot (Allium ascalonicum) bulbs by affinity chromatography on an immobilized D-mannose column. The lectin (A. ascalonicum agglutinin, AAA) appeared homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 4.3 and gave a single protein band with an apparent M(r) of 11 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a single symmetrical peak of 11 kDa by gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-200 HR column, indicating that AAA exists as a monomeric protein at neutral pH under the gel filtration condition employed. However, chemical cross-linking studies revealed that some degree of self-association of the lectin molecules occurs and that the lectin exists in solution as a mixture of monomers and oligomers. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium dialysis data showed the presence of one carbohydrate binding site for Man (alpha 1-3) Man-alpha-O-Me per monomer, with Ka = 1.62 x 10(4) M-1. The carbohydrate-binding properties of the purified AAA were investigated by quantitative precipitation and hapten inhibition assays. Purified AAA precipitated asialofetuin, asialotransferrin, asialothyroglobulin, asialoorosomucoid, as well as their agalacto derivatives, but did not precipitate either sialylated glycoproteins or mucins. AAA also reacted strongly with the highly branched yeast mannan obtained from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Of the monosaccharides tested only D-mannose was a hapten inhibitor of the AAA-asialofetuin precipitation system, whereas D-glucose, D-altrose, D-talose, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine, and derivatives of D-mannose, including 2-deoxy-, 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-, 3-deoxy-, and 6-deoxy-D-mannose were noninhibitors. These results suggest that the presence of equatorial hydroxyl groups at the C-3 and C-4 positions, an axial hydroxyl group at the C-2 position, and a free hydroxyl group at the C-6 position of the pyranose ring are the most important loci for the binding of D-mannose to AAA. Of the oligosaccharides tested, the best inhibitors were oligosaccharides containing terminal Man(alpha 1-6) [Man(alpha 1-3)]Man groups. Oligosaccharides containing either Man(alpha 1-3)Man or Man(alpha 1-6)Man units were also moderately good inhibitors of the AAA-asialofetuin precipitation system. These results indicate that AAA has an extended carbohydrate-binding site, which is most complementary to a branched mannotriosyl residue, i.e., Man(alpha 1-6)[Man(alpha 1-3)]Man.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Preclinical animal models for testing iPSC/ESC-based heart therapy

Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell (ESC/iPSC) technologies offer an unprecedented possibility of devising cell replacement therapies for numerous disorders, including cardiovascular diseases. Studies are progressively investigating whether ESC or iPSC can serve to restore physiological function of diseased hearts in vivo. However, the animal model, the population of ESC/iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and the delivery technique need to be optimized before these cells can be used effectively for cell replacement therapy. In this review, we describe the potential applications, limitations and challenges of iPSC- and ESC-based heart therapies in preclinical animal models.
A new-fangled FES-k -Means clustering algorithm for disease discovery and visual analytics

The central purpose of this study is to further evaluate the quality of the performance of a new algorithm. The study provides additional evidence on this algorithm that was designed to increase the overall efficiency of the original k-means clustering technique--the Fast, Efficient, and Scalable k-means algorithm (FES-k-means). The FES-k-means algorithm uses a hybrid approach that comprises the k-d tree data structure that enhances the nearest neighbor query, the original k-means algorithm, and an adaptation rate proposed by Mashor. This algorithm was tested using two real datasets and one synthetic dataset. It was employed twice on all three datasets: once on data trained by the innovative MIL-SOM method and then on the actual untrained data in order to evaluate its competence. This two-step approach of data training prior to clustering provides a solid foundation for knowledge discovery and data mining, otherwise unclaimed by clustering methods alone. The benefits of this method are that it produces clusters similar to the original k-means method at a much faster rate as shown by runtime comparison data; and it provides efficient analysis of large geospatial data with implications for disease mechanism discovery. From a disease mechanism discovery perspective, it is hypothesized that the linear-like pattern of elevated blood lead levels discovered in the city of Chicago may be spatially linked to the city's water service lines.
Site-specific and density-dependent extinction of prey by schooling rays: generation of a population sink in top-quality habitat for bay scallops.

Bay scallops (Argopecten irradians concentricus) are patchily distributed on two dominant spatial scales: (1) geographically restricted to highly saline marine lagoons, and (2) locally abundant within such lagoons only in relatively discrete beds of seagrass habitat. In the Cape Lookout lagoonal system of North Carolina, adult bay scallop abundance in the most densely occupied seagrass bed (Oscar Shoal) exhibits repeatable declines from up to 70 m–2 to near zero in a 2- to 4-week period during late summer. This crash is completed before fall spawning can be initiated, thereby creating a population sink in what is the singly most productive patch of habitat. Field experiments conducted in the summers of 1996 and 1998 demonstrated that the seasonal extinction of bay scallops on Oscar Shoal can be prevented by the erection of 1-m2 stockades, made of 50-cm-high vertical poles, spaced every 25 cm, which inhibit access by cownose rays. Because these stockades were porous to emigration and physical transport, and open to access by all other predators of adult scallops, predation by migrating cownose rays is the only viable explanation for the crash. Consequently, the natural predation process in this system achieves the reproductive extinction of prey in the habitat patch of highest productivity. Over 7 years of observation, the mortality rate in this patch increased with summer density, reaching the asymptote of 100% at 10 m–2. The site-specific habitat selection by schools of rays may be based on prey density, which could render this example representative of a widespread generator of population sinks in habitat patches of high quality. The virtual extinction of scallops within Oscar Shoal despite nearby patches with relatively high density may be related to the highly efficient feeding behavior of schools and the high vulnerability of bay scallops in a context of multiple alternative prey types.
The Role of Semantic Context and Memory in the Acquisition of Novel Nouns

Three studies assessed the ability of 2-year-olds to use semantic context to infer the meanings of novel nouns and to retain those meanings a day later. In the first experiment, 24 2-year-olds heard novel nouns in sentences that contained semantically constraining verbs (e.g., "Mommy feeds the ferret"). They chose from a set of four novel object pictures to indicate the referent. Children learned a majority of the novel words. However, they occasionally failed to choose the correct object even when they understood the verb. Experiment 2 examined whether this was due to an inability to identify some of the pictures of novel objects. Experiment 3 tested 24 2-year-olds' memory for the newly learned nouns following a 24 hr delay and found significant retention. Results are discussed in terms of learning mechanisms that facilitate vocabulary acquisition in young children.
Von Willebrand factor, ADAMTS-13, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Abstract Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a severe, occlusive, microvascular "thrombotic microangiopathy" characterized by systemic platelet aggregation, organ ischemia, profound thrombocytopenia, and erythrocyte fragmentation. Failure to degrade "unusually large" (UL) von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers as they are secreted from endothelial cells probably causes most cases of familial TTP, acquired idiopathic TTP, thienopyridine-related TTP, and pregnancy-associated TTP. The emphasis in this review is the pathophysiology of familial and acquired idiopathic TTP. In each of these entities, there is a severe defect in the function of a plasma enzyme, VWF-cleaving metalloprotease (ADAMTS-13), that normally cleaves hyper-reactive ULVWF multimers into smaller and less adhesive VWF forms. In familial TTP, mutations in the ADAMTS13 gene cause absent or severely reduced plasma VWF-cleaving metalloprotease activity. Acquired idiopathic TTP, in contrast, is the result in many patients of the production of autoantibodies that inhibit the function of ADAMTS-13. Established, evolving, and some of the unresolved issues in TTP pathophysiology will be summarized.
Carbonate to Siliciclastic Transitional Facies in Tectonic Delta Complex--Basal Upper Devonian of East-Central New York State: ABSTRACT

In an early stage of building of the Devonian Catskill delta complex of New York state, a submarine topographic high developed 100 km offshore. On the landward side of the high, in an intermittently subsiding trough, sediment from an eastern source terrane accumulated as a landward-thickening and coarsening lithosome (Gilboa Formation) of interlensing gray siltstone and shale and very fine-grained sandstone with subordinate coquinite lenses. Locally abundant in the lithosome are ball-and-pillow structures, thin conglomerates, trace fossils, fossil seed ferns, sole markings, shallow cross-bedding, laminations, and ripple marks. The high was a barrier to clastic influx. On its seaward side, a carbonate lithosome (Tully Formation) formed. This formation has been subdivided i to facies including: abraded calcarenite, chamoside oolite, skeletal calcilutite, barren shaly calcilutite, mound calcilutite, back-mound calcilutite, and encrinite. The effect of combined intermittent subsidence in the basin-margin trough and variation in rate of terrigenous influx is well expressed in the seaward part of the siliciclastic lithosome. Rapid subsidence and low terrigenous influx finally resulted in a short-lived carbonate transgression across the barrier prior to overwhelming of the shelf by terrigenous influx. End_of_Article - Last_Page 270------------
Unionism and changing employee views toward work

Using data from the 1977 Quality of Employment Survey and the 1984 Union Image Survey, this paper examines the changing importance of satisfaction with job elements that are not traditionally the focus of union activity (e.g., advancement, autonomy, interesting work) in the decision to unionize. The results provide modest evidence of an increase in the importance of satisfaction with these job elements as a determinant of union voting intent. Unions may achieve greater organizing success by giving more attention to such themes.
The effect of rosuvastatin in a murine model of influenza A infection.

Rationale: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as rosuvastatin may have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects that may reduce the severity of influenza A infection. We hypothesized that rosuvastatin would decrease viral replication, attenuate lung injury, and improve mortality following influenza A infection in mice. Methods: C57Bl/6 mice were treated daily with rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg/day) supplemented in chow (or control chow) beginning three days prior to infection with either A//Udorn/72 [H3N2] or A/WSN/33 [H1N1] influenza A virus (1610 5 pfu/ mouse). Plaque assays were used to examine the effect of rosuvastatin on viral replication in vitro and in the lungs of infected mice. We measured cell count with differential, protein and cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, histologic evidence of lung injury, and wet-to-dry ratio on Day 1, 2, 4, and 6. We also recorded daily weights and mortality. Results: The administration of rosuvastatin had no effect on viral clearance of influenza A after infection. Weight loss, lung inflammation and lung injury severity were similar in the rosuvastatin and control treated mice. In the mice infected with influenza A (A/WSN/33), mortality was unaffected by treatment with rosuvastatin. Conclusions: Statins did not alter the replication of influenza A in vitro or enhance its clearance from the lung in vivo. Statins neither attenuated the severity of influenza A-induced lung injury nor had an effect on influenza A-related mortality. Our data suggest that the association between HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and improved outcomes in patients with sepsis and pneumonia are not attributable to their effects on influenza A infection.
In vivo effects of T-2 mycotoxin on synthesis of proteins and DNA in rat tissues

Rats were given an ip injection of T-2 mycotoxin (T-2), the T-2 metabolite, T-2 tetraol (tetraol), or cycloheximide. Serum, liver, heart, kidney, spleen, muscle, and intestine were collected at 3, 6, and 9 hr postinjection after a 2-hr pulse at each time with [14C]leucine and [3H]thymidine. Protein and DNA synthesis levels in rats were determined by dual-label counting of the acid-precipitable fraction of tissue homogenates. Rats given a lethal dose of T-2, tetraol, or cycloheximide died between 14 and 20 hr. Maximum inhibition of protein synthesis at the earliest time period was observed in additional rats given the same lethal dose of the three treatments and continued for the duration of the study (9 hr). With sublethal doses of T-2 or tetraol, the same early decrease in protein synthesis was observed but, in most of the tissues, recovery was seen with time. In the T-2-treated rats. DNA synthesis in the six tissues studied was also suppressed, although to a lesser degree. With sublethal doses, complete recovery of DNA synthesis took place in four of the six tissues by 9 hr after toxin exposure. The appearance of newly translated serum proteins did not occur in the animals treated with T-2 mycotoxin or cycloheximide, as evidenced by total and PCA-soluble serum levels of labeled leucine. An increase in tissue-pool levels of free leucine and thymidine in response to T-2 mycotoxin was also noted. T-2 mycotoxin, its metabolite, T-2 tetraol, and cycloheximide cause a rapid inhibition of protein and DNA synthesis in all tissue types studied. These results are compared with the responses seen in in vitro studies.
Basic principles associated with gene therapy of cancer

Advances in gene delivery systems have made possible the development of strategies to eradicate cancers via genetic manipulation. Although the strategy of ‘gene therapy’ remains in its infancy, experimental tumour models have produced encouraging results and have demonstrated that tumour growth or development can be altered by genetic manipulations. Investigators are hopeful that current and future human trials will confirm the role of these modalities in cancer treatment. This review focuses on several aspects of gene therapy that provide clinicians with a framework to understand the rationale and basic principles underlying current gene therapy protocols being conducted for cancer treatment. The relative merits of different gene delivery systems and the mechanisms underlying clinical gene therapy strategies are reviewed. In addition, we discuss the relevance of these new techniques to the oncologic surgeon.
Blockade of tyramine-induced responses by short-acting 2-halogenoethylamines in the rat vas deferens

A comparative study was made of the blockade of responses of the rat vas deferens to Norepinephrine (NE) and tyramine (TYR) by short-acting 2-halogenoethylamines (2-HEA). The recovery of NE-induced responses after blockade by 2-HEA was rapid and complete within 120 min. The recovery of responses to TYR was considerably slower and remained incomplete (<50%) at the end of 180 min. Pretreatment of tissues by cocaine (10−5M/5 min) or TYR (5×10−4M/5 min) prior to exposure to 2-HEA did not alter the magnitude of initial blockade or recovery of NE-induced responses but increased the magnitude of TYR-induced responses. Pretreatment by Desipramine (DMI) did not protect TYR-induced responses from blockade by 2-HEA. In control tissues, cocaine (10−5M/10 min) was devoid of any effect on TYR-induced responses while DMI produced concentration-dependent inhibitory effects lasting for 180 min.
SU-E-T-526: Is the Marker Matching Method Adequate for Daily Setup of Pelvic Fields in Prostate Irradiation?

Purpose: It is common practice to implant fiducial markers and to perform daily setups based on these markers in delivering radiation to prostate. When the pelvic nodes are also treated, the fields are significantly larger and extend superiorly. Will it still prove adequate to align these fields based on the marker matching method? Alternatively, if we choose to align the fields relative to bony anatomy, will the prostate PTV be adequately covered? The current study attempts to carefully examine these problems. Methods: We choose to use a 2D/2D match for the pelvic nodal irradiation and to use marker matching for the cone‐downs. Daily orthogonal setup KV images for 20 patients, over the course of pelvic nodal irradiation ranging from 25 to 28 treatment, are first matched to bony anatomy, then to contours of the markers, which are delineated during the planning process. The differences between these two methods were recorded and analyzed. This study assumes that a perfect alignment to the bony anatomy can be achieved. The images showing obvious pelvis tilt were excluded from this study and the misalignment of the patient in coronal direction is corrected by applying pedestal rotation. A total of 466 image pairs were studied. Results: Analysis showed that 121 out of 466 cases (26%) needed pedestal rotation ranging from 0.1° to 2.4°, which cannot be picked up using the marker matching method. Additionally we discovered that the percentage of cases that prostate shifted by more than 5mm, relative to bony anatomy, was 7.73%, 1.07% and 0.0% in the vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions respectively. Conclusions: Marker matching is inadequate for large pelvic field alignment. Pelvic fields should be aligned relative to bony anatomy and, then, if the mismatch between the markers and their corresponding contours exceeds a predetermined threshold, table shifts should be adjusted to compensate.
The Implications of the Succession Crisis in the Soviet Union for East-West Relations

The period since the death of Stalin has been characterized by rather marked changes of Soviet policy both internally and externally. The assumption of this paper is that these policy changes are largely dictated by the situation in which the members of the top elite contending for power find themselves, and are necessary expedients without which they might have found themselves involved in more problems than they could handle. The main elements of Soviet external commitments at the time of Stalin's death are generally familiar: a military adventure in Korea being fought by proxy which had to be supplied; the maintenance of power in an extensive satellite area; and a generally aggressive posture toward the West which involved the Soviet government in a vast armaments race. These commitments required large economic expenditures which could not but help to aggravate the sources of internal pressure which will be discussed shortly, and they were dependent upon a steady control over various instruments of coercion which the very nature of the succession crisis brought into question. The effectiveness of these exter-
Malignant melanoma of the anorectal region.

The charts of 15 patients with malignant melanoma of the anorectal region treated at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in the period 1975–1991 were reviewed. All the lesions except one developed at the pectinate line, in the area of transitional mucosa. Two of the patients at the time of initial presentation had distant metastases. Of the remaining 13, 8 were treated with abdominoperineal resection (APR) and 5 with local excision (LE). The incidence of local recurrence was 50% in the LE group and 22% in the APR group. Patients treated with APR had a 25%, 5-year survival rate compared with 0% for those treated with LE, although one of the latter group died 55 months following LE due to unrelated causes without recurrence. The median survival of those with LE was 15.7 months and of those with APR 13.7 months. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Single crystal growth of cadmium manganese selenides with controlled carrier concentration

Abstract Single crystal boules of Cd1−xMnxSe with x = 0.01, 0.05, and 0.10 have been grown by a modified Bridgeman method using 5% excess selenium to lower the melting point. A technique has been developed for the growth of high quality, single grain boules with demonstrated uniform manganese distribution. Free carriers have been introduced in a controlled fashion by adding gallium to the melt and annealing crystal slices in cadmium vapor. Reproducible carrier concentrations from 2 × 1017 to 2 × 1018cm−3 have been achieved.
Understanding apparent DNA flexibility enhancement by HU and HMGB architectural proteins.

Abstract Understanding and predicting the mechanical properties of protein/DNA complexes are challenging problems in biophysics. Certain architectural proteins bind DNA without sequence specificity and strongly distort the double helix. These proteins rapidly bind and unbind, seemingly enhancing the flexibility of DNA as measured by cyclization kinetics. The ability of architectural proteins to overcome DNA stiffness has important biological consequences, but the detailed mechanism of apparent DNA flexibility enhancement by these proteins has not been clear. Here, we apply a novel Monte Carlo approach that incorporates the precise effects of protein on DNA structure to interpret new experimental data for the bacterial histone-like HU protein and two eukaryotic high-mobility group class B (HMGB) proteins binding to ∼ 200-bp DNA molecules. These data (experimental measurement of protein-induced increase in DNA cyclization) are compared with simulated cyclization propensities to deduce the global structure and binding characteristics of the closed protein/DNA assemblies. The simulations account for all observed (chain length and concentration dependent) effects of protein on DNA behavior, including how the experimental cyclization maxima, observed at DNA lengths that are not an integral helical repeat, reflect the deformation of DNA by the architectural proteins and how random DNA binding by different proteins enhances DNA cyclization to different levels. This combination of experiment and simulation provides a powerful new approach to resolve a long-standing problem in the biophysics of protein/DNA interactions.
Do specific nucleotide bases constitute the centromere

Abstract It is becoming increasingly clear that the underlying base composition of the DNA located in the centromere region is vastly different in different organisms. The chromosomes of related species or even the various chromosomes and perform similar functions. The present communications proposes that the physical properties of the centromere are not due to its base composition but due to stereophysical make-up of the DNA segment constituting the centromere. This unique make up might reflect some physical parameter, like curvature, of the DNA present in the centromere constriction. It is further proposed that a proteinaceous factor, centromerase, is responsible for holding the centromeres as one unit until meta-anaphase.
Synthesis of myoglobin by muscle polysomes

Abstract 1. Polysome preparations derived from muscle, but not from liver, of the duck brought about incorporation of uniformly 14 C-labeled lysine into antibody-detectable myoglobin in vitro . This synthesis of myoglobin accounted for approximately 5–9% of the total soluble protein synthesis demonstrable in this system. 2. Tetrameric, pentameric and hexameric polysomes seemed to be the active components in myoglobin synthesis. 3. The efficiency of myoglobin synthesis per unit of polysomes in the standard cell-free system was the same in preparations obtained from immature and adult ducks, although approx. 8 times as much polysomal material could be isolated from immature muscle. 4. Myoglobin (0.06–0.08 mM) produced slight, though consistent, stimulation of myoglobin synthesis. Concentrations of myoglobin above 0.15 mM inhibited myoglobin synthesis in vitro . There was no detectable effect of these concentrations of added myoglobin on total protein synthesis measured as a whole, however. 5. The combination of reduced polysome content, and reduced efficiency may account for the reduced synthetic ability of adult muscle, for myoglobin, compared to immature muscle.
Optimized dynamic rotation with wedges

Dynamic rotation is a computer-controlled therapy technique utilizing an automated multileaf collimator in which the radiation beam shape changes dynamically as the treatment machine rotates about the patient so that at each instant the beam shape matches the projected shape of the target volume. In simple dynamic rotation, the dose rate remains constant during rotation. For optimized dynamic rotation, the dose rate is varied as a function of gantry angle. Optimum dose rate at each gantry angle is computed by linear programming. Wedges can be included in the optimized dynamic rotation therapy by using additional rotations. Simple and optimized dynamic rotation treatment plans, with and without wedges, for a pancreatic tumor have been compared using optimization cost function values, normal tissue complication probabilities, and positive difference statistic values. For planning purposes, a continuous rotation is approximated by static beams at a number of gantry angles equally spaced about the patient. In theory, the quality of optimized treatment planning solutions should improve as the number of static beams increases. The addition of wedges should further improve dose distributions. For the case studied, no significant improvements were seen for more than 36 beam angles. Open and wedged optimized dynamic rotations were better than simple dynamic rotation, but wedged optimized dynamic rotation showed no definitive improvement over open beam optimized dynamic rotation.
923-7 Infarct Artery Patency does not Prevent LV Remodeling

Prior studies suggest that an occluded infarct-related artery (IRA) is a risk factor for progressive LV remodeling following AMI. The purpose of this study was to determine whether LV dilatation also occurred in patients with patent IRAs. Serial echocardiograms at baseline and at 1 year (1 Y) were obtained in 420 SAVE patients, of whom 185 (44.0%) had a pre-randomization cardiac catheterization reviewed by a central Core laboratory. A patent IRA was present in 145 (78.4%) of these patients with both catheterization and echo data. Catheterization occurred an average of 4.4 ± 4.2 days post AMI. Patent IRA patients were 55 ± 11 years old, and 76.6% male. Ejection fraction was 31.3% ± 5.8. Echo LV size echo was expressed as end diastolic area (EDA). and end systolic area (ESA). LV dilatation occurred in the overall group (baseline EDA 69.1 ± 11.8, 1 Y 73.3 ± 13.1, P l 0.001; baseline ESA 48.6 ± 10.9, 1 Y 53.1 ± 14.2, P l 0.001). Randomization to placebo (PLA, n = 67) or captopril (CAP, n = 78) occurred 3 – 16 days post AMI. There was a trend for less LV dilatation in captopril-treated patients. PLA CAP P EDA change 5.6 ± 8.1 3.1 ± 7.7 0.06 ESA change 5.6 ± 7.8 3.6 ± 9.0 0.15 Although the occluded IRA is a known risk factor for LV remodeling, this study demonstrates that LV enlargement can occur in patients with patent IRAs.
A Program for Kids: Success-oriented Physical Education

(1993). A Program for Kids: Success-oriented Physical Education. Childhood Education: Vol. 69, No. 3, pp. 133-137.
Interferon Inducible Transmembrane Protein 3 (IFITM3) Restricts Reovirus Cell Entry

Reoviruses are double-stranded RNA viruses that infect the mammalian respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. Reovirus infection elicits production of type I interferons (IFNs), which trigger antiviral pathways through the induction of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Although hundreds of ISGs have been identified, the functions of many of these genes are unknown. The interferon-inducible transmembrane (IFITM) proteins are one class of ISGs that restrict the cell entry of some enveloped viruses, including influenza A virus. One family member, IFITM3, localizes to late endosomes, where reoviruses undergo proteolytic disassembly; therefore, we sought to determine whether IFITM3 also restricts reovirus entry. IFITM3-expressing cell lines were less susceptible to infection by reovirus, as they exhibited significantly lower percentages of infected cells in comparison to control cells. Reovirus replication was also significantly reduced in IFITM3-expressing cells. Additionally, cells expressing an shRNA targeting IFITM3 exhibited a smaller decrease in infection after IFN treatment than the control cells, indicating that endogenous IFITM3 restricts reovirus infection. However, IFITM3 did not restrict entry of reovirus infectious subvirion particles (ISVPs), which do not require endosomal proteolysis, indicating that restriction occurs in the endocytic pathway. Proteolysis of outer capsid protein μ1 was delayed in IFITM3-expressing cells in comparison to control cells, suggesting that IFITM3 modulates the function of late endosomal compartments either by reducing the activity of endosomal proteases or delaying the proteolytic processing of virions. These data provide the first evidence that IFITM3 restricts infection by a nonenveloped virus and suggest that IFITM3 targets an increasing number of viruses through a shared requirement for endosomes during cell entry.