cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Restoration of central nervous system α-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity and therapeutic benefits in mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB mice by a single intracisternal recombinant adeno-associated viral type 2 vector delivery

Background Finding efficient central nervous system (CNS) delivery approaches has been the major challenge facing therapeutic development for treating diseases with global neurological manifestation, such as mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IIIB, a lysosomal storage disease, caused by autosomal recessive defect of α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NaGlu). Previously, we developed an approach, intracisternal (i.c.) injection, to deliver recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector to the CNS of mice, leading to a widespread periventricular distribution of transduction. Methods In the present study, we delivered rAAV2 vector expressing human NaGlu into the CNS of MPS IIIB mice by an i.c. injection approach, to test its therapeutic efficacy and feasibility for treating the neurological manifestation of the disease. Results We demonstrated significant functional neurological benefits of a single i.c. vector infusion in adult MPS IIIB mice. The treatment slowed the disease progression by mediating widespread recombinant NaGlu expression in the CNS, resulting in the reduction of brain lysosomal storage pathology, significantly improved cognitive function and prolonged survival. However, persisting motor function deficits suggested that pathology in areas outside the CNS contributes to the MPS IIIB behavioral phenotype. The therapeutic benefit of i.c. rAAV2 delivery was dose-dependent and could be attribute solely to the CNS transduction because the procedure did not lead to detectable transduction in somatic tissues. Conclusions A single IC rAAV2 gene delivery is functionally beneficial for treating the CNS disease of MPS IIIB in mice. It is immediately clinically translatable, with the potential of improving the quality of life for patients with MPS IIIB. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reconsidering the Role of Interaction and Input in Second Language Acquisition

This article reviews the findings of research on second language (L2) interaction from the perspective of L2 syntactic development. Previous studies provide us with a broad view of the grammatical nature of interaction. However, they have not revealed how interaction affects grammatical development, nor have they considered the specific relation between interactional structure and grammatical structure. I argue that in order to better understand the role of negotiated interaction in L2 syntactic development, it is necessary to examine the specific grammatical structures in interaction guided by the criteria of relevance, availability, accessibility, and effect. By examining interaction from a more focused perspective, that is, Universal Grammar triggers, one can ask precise questions about the grammatical characteristics of interaction and can make very specific recommendations about further study. More fine-tuned grammatical measures are needed to understand the grammatical characteristics of interaction and their effects on L2 syntactic development.
Light from the laboratory and the clinic on the causes of peptic ulcer

Abstract A review has been made of many observations made in the clinic, the operating room, and the laboratory, all of them throwing light on the mode of causation of peptic ulcers and on the ways in which such ulcers should, perhaps, be treated.
Relationship of somatic cells in quarter milk to type of bacteria and production.

Abstract Cows were milked with a quarter milker, and somatic cells were estimated on 874 quarters by the filter-DNA method. Mean cells were: 314,000 per milliliter for no infection; 900,000 per milliliter for Streptococcus agalactiae ; 1,625,000 per milliliter for Streptococcus uberis ; 1,498,000 per milliliter for Staphylococcus aureus ; 1,432,000 per milliliter for coagulase-negative, mannitol-positive staphylococci; and 356,000 per milliliter for micrococci infections. Mean somatic cells in quarters in which clinical mastitis had been reported previously were 1,120,000 per milliliter regardless of presence of bacteria at the time of sampling. Mean in quarters in which clinical mastitis had not been observed was 414,000 cells per milliliter regardless of presence of bacteria. A quadratic regression analysis revealed a loss in milk yield per quarter when somatic cell counts were elevated.
Transcriptional and epigenetic thresholds for entry to the T-cell developmental program

The T-cell development program is induced in hematopoietic progenitors by encounter with Notch ligands in the thymus. It is known that T-lineage transcription factors, TCF-1 (encoded by Tcf7) and GATA-3, are activated during the early stages of the response. With the activation of GATA-3, the cells lose access to the B-cell fate alternative. However, the cells still maintain a program of progenitor-associated gene expression including Tal1, Sfpi1, Hhex, Bcl11a, Gfi1b, Lyl1, and others. The cells expressing these progenitor-associated genes still appear to be uncommitted to the T-cell fate and include many that retain conditional access to nonlymphoid alternatives including dendritic cell and Gr-1+ Mac-1+ myeloid cell differentiation. The cells only become committed as they turn on another wave of T-cell genes, including the lineage-specific transcription factor Bcl11b. The individual steps in this process are slow, requiring multiple cell cycles per transition. Transcriptional perturbation, genomic analysis, and live-cell imaging experiments shed light on the staging of individual transitions in the process as well as the rate-limiting steps that yield the slow overall pace. We will present evidence for three specific regulatory thresholds that the cells must overcome: an initial PU.1-restricted threshold for the activation of definitive T-cell genes by Notch signals; a separate threshold, partly dependent on GATA-3, for the silencing of PU.1; and yet another, epigenetically controlled threshold for the activation of Bcl11b. The separation of these steps permits the system to adapt to radically different kinetic regimes in fetal and adult T-cell generation.
An aboveground–belowground assessment of ecosystem properties associated with exotic annual brome invasion

Exotic annual brome invasion has been well studied in western North American rangelands, particularly for Bromus tectorum L. invasion in sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) grasslands. We examined both aboveground and belowground properties in native sagebrush grassland and adjacent areas dominated by exotic annual bromes (B. tectorum L. and Bromus japonicus Thunb.) to better understand the fundamental ecological differences between native and invaded areas. Field sites were located in north central Wyoming, USA, and plots were established in areas that had been historically subject to wildfire and either (1) recolonized by native sagebrush grassland vegetation or (2) invaded by exotic annual bromes. We employed measures of vegetation community structure as well as soil physical, chemical, and microbiological properties. Plots with greater than 20 % exotic annual brome cover had significantly less cover of all native vegetation functional groups resulting in lower richness and evenness than native plots. Invaded plots also had low diversity plant communities that were continuous and uniform across space. Soils beneath invaded plant communities had higher infiltration rates, higher levels of total nitrogen, and a lower C/N ratio than the native soils. Invaded soils also had 90–96 % lower abundance of all soil microbial groups measured by phospholipid fatty acid. We conclude that areas dominated by exotic annual bromes display different aboveground and belowground properties compared to the native community, and these changes possibly include spatial and temporal shifts in soil resources and organic matter processing.
The Contralateral Knee Joint in Cruciate Ligament Deficiency

BackgroundPatients with unilateral ligament deficiency are believed to have altered kinematics of the contralateral knee, increasing the risk of contralateral joint injury. Therefore, the contralateral knees might not be a reliable normal kinematic control.PurposeTo compare the in vivo kinematics of the uninjured contralateral knees of patients with anterior or posterior cruciate ligament deficiency with knee kinematics of age-matched patients without joint injury.Study DesignControlled laboratory study.MethodsTen subjects with bilateral healthy knees, 10 patients with acute unilateral anterior cruciate ligament injury, and 10 with acute unilateral posterior cruciate ligament injury participated in this study. Kinematics were measured from 0° to 90° of flexion using imaging and 3-dimensional modeling.ResultsNo significant differences were found across the groups in all rotations and translations during weightbearing flexion (P > .9).ConclusionPatients with unilateral cruciate ligament deficiency did not a...
The dilemmas of internationalism: French syndicalism and the international labour movement, 1900–1914

(1993). The dilemmas of internationalism: French syndicalism and the international labour movement, 1900–1914. History of European Ideas: Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 697-698.
Increased fall risk is associated with elevated co-contraction about the ankle during static balance challenges in older adults

Falls are a leading contributor to disability in older adults. Increased muscle co-contraction in the lower extremities during static and dynamic balance challenges has been associated with aging, and also with a history of falling. Co-contraction during static balance challenges has not been previously linked with performance on clinical tests designed to ascertain fall risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between co-contraction about the ankle during static balance challenges with fall risk on a commonly used dynamic balance assessment, the Four Square Step Test (FSST). Twenty-three volunteers (mean age 73 years) performed a series of five static balance challenges (Romberg eyes open/closed, Sharpened Romberg eyes open/closed, and Single Leg Standing) with continuous electromyography (EMG) of bilateral tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles. Participants then completed the FSST and were categorized as ‘at-risk’ or ‘not-at-risk’ to fall based on a cutoff time of 12 s. Co-contraction was quantified with co-contraction index (CCI). CCI during narrow base conditions was positively correlated with time to complete FSST. High CCIs during all static balance challenges with the exception of Romberg stance with eyes closed were predictive of being at-risk to fall based on FSST time, odds ratio 19.3. The authors conclude that co-contraction about the ankle during static balance challenges can be predictive of performance on a dynamic balance test.
Peptide Regulatory Factors: CACHECTIN/TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR

The polypeptide hormone cachectin/tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a primary mediator in the pathogenesis of infection, injury, and inflammation, and in the beneficial processes of host defence and tissue homoeostasis. Depending on its concentration, duration of cell exposure, and presence of other mediators in the cellular environment, the net biological effects of this peptide regulatory factor may ultimately benefit or injure the host
Truvada PrEP: why I voted "yes".

On 10 May 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee met to consider the use of 2 antiretroviral drugs, tenofovir and emtricitabine (Truvada), for PrEP against H...
Creativity in the Classroom-A Collection of Case Studies in Linkage Synthesis

Abstract Presented herein are a few case studies in linkage design that have resulted from a mechanism synthesis course offered at Penn State. This graduate = level course, attended by seniors as well as graduate students, is the first and only discourse in the area offered at the present timw. This poses a certain challenge in presenting the course; to generate an enthusiasm for the art, and appreciation for the modern design techniques, a broad historical perspective of synthesis must be offered. This is followed by the introduction of some relatively modern techniques in linkage synthesis, e.g. the complex number method[1], the algebraic methods[2], and the current numerical methods[3], all with a predominantly computer-oriented character. No details on these methods are offered here, and the reader is urged to consult the above references for them. It should be pointed out that when these materials were introduced, students were found to effectively manipulate, and often combine, methods to seek creative solutions to their projects. All of the above is accomplished within one term. The projects are handled in groups of two or three students, ensuring that at least one possesses a significant FORTRAn coding prowess. This alleviates any undue frustrations and generally augments the efficiency of the group. An analysis method presented in [4], and supported by a computer program, is also available to students as an aid in performing a dynamic force analysis of planar mechanisms. The problem solutions presented here center around one dwell mechanism or another; the purpose, however, is to emphasize the curious means for arriving at the solutions. It should be remembered that available time does not permit students the luxury of comprehensive design as well as analysis, nor the fine-tuning to optimality.
Distributed Amplifiers: Practical Considerations and Experimental Results

The principle of distributed amplification has recently been proposed as a means for obtaining amplification with conventional vacuum tubes over very great bandwidths. Unlike conventional circuits, distributed amplifiers have an attainable gain-bandwidth product which is not limited by shunt capacitance associated with the vacuum tubes and circuit wiring. This paper cites experimental results which essentially corroborate the predictions based on first-order theory. It is pointed out that when extreme bandwidths are sought, these predicted characteristics are modified by several factors which are difficult to control in actual practice. Corrective methods are available, however, which permit a limited control over these modifying effects. These methods are discussed and their applications are illustrated by measurements on actual amplifiers with pass-bands on the order of 200 to 300 Mc.
Social Reactions to Disclosure of Sexual Victimization and Adjustment Among Survivors of Sexual Assault

How a support provider responds to disclosure of sexual victimization has important implications for the process of recovery. The present study examines the associations between various positive and negative social reactions to sexual assault disclosure and psychological distress, coping behavior, social support, and self-esteem in a sample of college women (N = 374). Social reactions to assault disclosure that attempted to control the survivor's decisions were associated with increased symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety and lower perceptions of reassurance of worth from others. Blaming social reactions were associated with less self-esteem and engagement in coping via problem solving. Social reactions that provided emotional support to the survivor were associated with increased coping by seeking emotional support. Contrary to expectations, social reactions that treated the survivor differently were associated with higher self-esteem. Implications are discussed.
Competition with differentiated products: A simulation analysis†

Abstract This paper analyses post-merger competition in a differentiated product market with a spatial simulation model. We find that the identity of the merger partner matters, because an anticompetitive effect can occur without collusion, if the two firms with the most similar products in a market merge. Moreover, collusion generates higher prices and holding the probability of collusion constant, these prices tend to exceed the comparable prices for a homogeneous market. The parameters of the model also affect the post-merger price increase with similar merger partners, inelastic demands, localized clusters of customers, and a sparse distribution of firms all leading to higher anticompetitive prices. We conclude that the current merger policy is reasonable in differentiated markets, but stress that attention must be given to the similarities of the products of the merging firms.
Formal Modeling and Verification of Security Property in Handel C Program

Multi-million gate system-on-chip SoC designs easily fit into today's Field Programmable Gate Arrays FPGAs. As FPGAs become more common in safety-critical and mission-critical systems, researchers and designers require information flow guarantees for the FPGAs. Tools for designing a secure system of chips SOCs using FPGAs and new techniques to manage and analyze the security properties precisely are desirable. In this work we propose a formal approach to model, analyze and verify a typical set of security properties-noninterference-of Handel C programs using Petri Nets and model checking. This paper presents a method to model Handel C programs using Predicate Transition Nets, a type of Petri Net, and define security properties on the model, plus a verification approach where security properties are checked. Three steps are used. First, a formal specification on the Handel C description using Petri Nets is extracted. Second, the dynamic noninterference properties with respect to the Handel C program statements are defined on the model. To assist in verification, a translation rule from the Petri Nets specification to the Maude programming language is also defined. Thus, the formal specification can be verified against the system properties using model checking. A case study of the pipeline multiplier is discussed to illustrate the concept and validate the approach.
What has become of the psychotherapy of schizophrenia

The psychotherapy of schizophrenia has undergone major changes in the past two generations and mirrors larger paradigmatic shifts in thinking about severe mental illness and its treatment. Despite being endangered acutely by fiscal crises in our current health care systems, the psychotherapy of schizophrenia continues to evolve in a healthy manner as advances are made in our understanding of schizophrenia.
Individual nutrient effects on length of gestation and pregnancy outcome

A dequate macronutr ient and micronutr ient intakes are associated with positive fetal outcome. However, ensuring the adequate micronutr ient intakes for both populations and individuals who are pregnant is fraught with difficulties. Appropriate assessment of micronutrient status is challenging. Differences in bioavailability of nutrients between animal and vegetable food sources o f nutrients and between food sources and supplements complicate efforts to accurately predict need or quantify intake. However, nutrient supplementation and altering dietary intake are viewed as relatively safe, inexpensive, and noninvasive interventions. Therefore, the potential for altering fetal outcome or gestation durat ion via nutri t ion intervention is of great interest. This article will review the effects of marine n-3 fatty acids, calcium, folate, and zinc on length of gestation and fetal outcome. Recent interest in these nutrients lies in their potential to alter durat ion of gestation or fetal outcome.
270 IS EGF A MEDIATOR OF GLUCOCORTICOID ACTION ON DEVELOPING FETAL LUNG

EGF is believed to enhance fetal lung maturation. We have examined the interactions between EGF and corticosteroids in ex-plants of fetal rat lung in a serum free organ culture system. EGF stimulated the incorporation of choline into phosphatidylcholine (PC) and disaturated PC (DSPC) in a dose dependent fashion with half the maximal effect occurring at 1.03 nM (6.31 ng/ml). There was also a 6 fold increase in acetate incorporation into phosphatidylglycerol. T3 and EGF together had an additive effect on choline incorporation into DSPC, whereas exposure to saturating doses of EGF plus dexamethasone (dex) had no greater effect than did dex alone, suggesting that the 2 agents act at similar metabolic sites. We further explored the interaction between EGF and dex. Dex increased the activity of cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase, the rate limiting enzyme of PC synthesis, but EGF had no effect on this enzyme. We also examined the influence of dex on EGF binding and separately that of EGF on glucocorticoid binding. EGF had no effect on specific cytoplasmic or nuclear glucocorticoid binding, but exposure to dex resulted in a 2 fold increase in specific EGF binding capacity. One of the ways in which corticosteroids stimulate lung maturation may be by increasing EGF binding capacity with subsequent amplification of EGF action.
Cryopreservation of the dinoflagellate symbiont of the octocoral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae

In this paper we describe a cryopreservation protocol followed by the culture of Symbiodinium sp. isolated from the Caribbean gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae as a potential renewable source of the dinoflagellate symbiont. Four different freezing protocols were designed: a controlled cooling device designed to cool at 1°C/min, a three-step protocol (−20°C for 2 h, −70°C for 2 h, liquid nitrogen-LN2), a two-step protocol (−70°C for 2 h, LN2), and a one-step protocol (LN2). All cells were stored in LN2 after cryopreservation. The cryoprotective agents (CPA) used were ethanol (EtOH) and methanol (MeOH) at 10 and 20%, and seawater (FSW) was used as a control. Viability measurements using cell counts showed that all cryopreservation protocols were relatively successful, and no trends were observed regarding freezing protocol or CPA used. After 19 weeks in culture the viability of samples which had high biomass was determined by the fluorescent assay CellTiter Blue™. The most viable cultures were those cryopreserved by a two-step protocol using 20% MeOH or 20% EtOH as a CPA. A genetic examination of the DNA of these samples using Symbiodinium-specific PCR primers confirmed that the composition of the culture had not changed. For the first time, we report that Symbiodinium sp. isolated from a gorgonian can be cryopreserved and subsequently cultured successfully.
Deterministic helper-objective sequences applied to job-shop scheduling

A Multiple Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA) applied to the Job-Shop Scheduling Problem has been shown in the past to perform better than a single objective Genetic Algorithm (GA). Helper-objectives, representing portions of the main objective, were used in the past to guide the MOEA search process. This paper explores additional understanding of helper-objective sequencing. The sequence in which helper-objectives are used is examined and it is shown that problem specific knowledge can be incorporated to determine a good helper-objective sequence. Results demonstrate how carefully sequenced helper-objectives can improve search quality. Explanations are provided for how helpers accelerate the search process by distinguishing between otherwise similar solutions and by partial removal of epistasis in one or more dimensions. Good helper-objective sequence appears to break epistasis early in a search which implies that it is important for helper-objective methods to examine the sequence of objectives.
Fabrication and performance of a flextensional microactuator

A flextensional microactuator has been designed and fabricated for the amplification of the small strain of the piezoelectric materials to achieve large displacements. Bulk PZT material available in the form of 500 µm thick polished substrate has been integrated with a precision micromachined silicon beam structure to achieve the clamped–clamped flextensional microactuator. A high strength, high precision (alignment) and low temperature (~200 °C) In/Sn solder bonding process has been developed and used for the fabrication of the flextensional microactuators. Actuators with physical dimensions of the flextensional structure ranging from 350 to 600 µm in length, 50 to 100 µm in width and 5 to 6 µm in thickness were fabricated. The measured static deflection characteristics of the silicon micromachined beam show a flextensional gain factor of 20 with a large amplitude stroke of ~8 µm when actuated using −100 V to 100 V. The bandwidth of the actuator was experimentally measured to be 265 kHz. The fabricated devices show good repeatability with a hysteresis pattern arising from the PZT characteristics. The bonding technique described here can be used for the precision integration of heterogeneous materials for MEMS device fabrication and their packaging.
Euler-Lagrange Relationship for Random Dispersive Waves

It is shown that the equations for the motion of a tagged fluid particle in a random wave field define a singular perturbation problem, characterized by a nonuniformity at large times. The uniformly valid asymptotic expansion to this problem, the Euler‐Lagrange relationship for random dispersive waves, is obtained. As an application of these general results, an integral representation of the solution is worked out for the case of vertically propagating random acoustic waves in an isothermal atmosphere. It is shown that the nonuniformity of medium leads to a wave generated diffusion process. The time and length scales over which the process is diffusive are determined, and a formula for the diffusion coefficient is presented.
Application of distributed control techniques to the adaptive secondary mirror of Cornell's Large Atacama Telescope

In this paper we apply, recently developed, distributed control techniques to the control of an adaptive secondary mirror. The control technique implemented uses the l2 induced norm as a performance criterion. A finite difference model for the mirror is developed using shift operators. We determine the necessary constants from the physical properties of the mirror, from the typical dimensions of such a system, and from our performance requirements for operating the telescope in the near infrared region.The closed loop system is simulated by modelling the deformable mirror in Abaqus, a commercial finite element software, and by implementing the controller in Matlab.
Activation of 3-Phosphoinositide-dependent Kinase 1 (PDK1) and Serum- and Glucocorticoid-induced Protein Kinase 1 (SGK1) by Short-chain Sphingolipid C4-ceramide Rescues the Trafficking Defect of ΔF508-Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (ΔF508-CFTR)

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is due to a folding defect in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common mutation, ΔF508, prevents CFTR from trafficking to the apical plasma membrane. Here we show that activation of the PDK1/SGK1 signaling pathway with C4-ceramide (C4-CER), a non-toxic small molecule, functionally corrects the trafficking defect in both cultured CF cells and primary epithelial cell explants from CF patients. The mechanism of C4-CER action involves a series of mutual autophosphorylation and phosphorylation events between PDK1 and SGK1. Detailed mechanistic studies indicate that C4-CER initially induces autophosphorylation of SGK1 at Ser(422). SGK1[Ser(P)(422)] and C4-CER coincidently bind PDK1 and permit PDK1 to autophosphorylate at Ser(241). Then PDK1[Ser(P)(241)] phosphorylates SGK1[Ser(P)(422)] at Thr(256) to generate fully activated SGK1[Ser(422), Thr(P)(256)]. SGK1[Ser(P)(422),Thr(P)(256)] phosphorylates and inactivates the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2. ΔF508-CFTR is thus free to traffic to the plasma membrane. Importantly, C4-CER-mediated activation of both PDK1 and SGK1 is independent of the PI3K/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. Physiologically, C4-CER significantly increases maturation and stability of ΔF508-CFTR (t½ ∼10 h), enhances cAMP-activated chloride secretion, and suppresses hypersecretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8). We suggest that candidate drugs for CF directed against the PDK1/SGK1 signaling pathway, such as C4-CER, provide a novel therapeutic strategy for a life-limiting disorder that affects one child, on average, each day.
Speaking the Language of Diversity: Spanish Fluency, White Ancestry, and Skin Color in the Distribution of Diversity Awards to Latinos

Two studies investigated the combined effects of cultural practices, ancestry, and phenotype on ethnic categorization and the distribution of resources to minorities. Perceivers formed impressions of Latino internship candidates who varied in Spanish language fluency, White/European ancestry, and skin color. Spanish fluency influenced the distribution of minority resources to all targets, but only influenced the Latino categorization of targets who had White/European ancestry. The effect of Spanish fluency on minority resource distribution was explained by the White/European target's Latino categorization and perceived commitment to minority communities. We discuss why factors beyond racial/ethnic categorization may matter in minority resource distribution decisions.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Localization in the Adult

Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been well studied in both developmental and pathological angiogenesis, its role in mature blood vessels is poorly understood. A growing body of observations, including the side effects of anti-VEGF therapies as well as the role of soluble VEGFR1 in preeclampsia, points to an important role for VEGF in maintenance of stable blood vessels. To better understand the potential function of VEGF in mature vessels, a survey of VEGF localization in adult mice was conducted. In adult VEGF-lacZ mice, VEGF was expressed in a cell-specific manner by cells overlying fenestrated and sinusoidal blood vessels, including podocytes, choroid plexus epithelium, and hepatocytes, as well as in tissues with high metabolic demands or with secretory functions, such as cardiac and skeletal myocytes, Leydig cells, prostatic epithelium, and salivary serous epithelium. VEGF was not detected in most endothelium but was specifically expressed by aortic endothelial cells where VEGFR2 was found to be phosphorylated, indicating an autocrine loop. Additionally, VEGFR2 was constitutively phosphorylated in the liver, lung, adipose, and kidney in vivo, providing evidence consistent with a role for VEGF in adult tissues. These observations support the concept that VEGF acts in the adult to stabilize mature vessels.
A comparison of classical and high dimensional harmonic balance approaches for a Duffing oscillator

The present study focuses on a novel harmonic balance formulation, which is much easier to implement than the standard/classical harmonic balance method for complex nonlinear mathematical models and algorithms. Both harmonic balance approaches are applied to Duffing's oscillator to demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches. A fundamental understanding of the difference between these two methods is achieved, and the properties of each method are analyzed in detail.
Reduced glucose uptake and Aβ in brain regions with hyperintensities in connected white matter.

Abstract Interstitial concentration of amyloid beta (As) is positively related to synaptic activity in animal experiments. In humans, As deposition in Alzheimer's disease overlaps with cortical regions highly active earlier in life. White matter lesions (WML) disrupt connections between gray matter (GM) regions which in turn changes their activation patterns. Here, we tested if WML are related to As accumulation (measured with PiB-PET) and glucose uptake (measured with FDG-PET) in connected GM. WML masks from 72 cognitively normal (age 61.7 ± 9.6 years, 71% women) individuals were obtained from T2-FLAIR. MRI and PET images were normalized into common space, segmented and parcellated into gray matter (GM) regions. The effects of WML on connected GM regions were assessed using the Change in Connectivity (ChaCo) score. Defined for each GM region, ChaCo is the percentage of WM tracts connecting to that region that pass through the WML mask. The regional relationship between ChaCo, glucose uptake and As was explored via linear regression. Subcortical regions of the bilateral caudate, putamen, calcarine, insula, thalamus and anterior cingulum had WM connections with the most lesions, followed by frontal, occipital, temporal, parietal and cerebellar regions. Regional analysis revealed that GM with more lesions in connecting WM and thus impaired connectivity had lower FDG-PET (r = 0.20, p
EFFECT OF IMMATURE AND OFF-COLORED SEEDS ON THE LIPID QUALITY OF MILLED FLAXSEED

The effect of visibly inferior flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) on the lipid quality of milled flaxseed was investigated. Flaxseed was aspirated and separated into low-, medium- and high-density fractions. All density fractions contained≤0.1% broken seed,≤0.4% contrasting seed and≤0.25% extraneous material. The low-density fraction contained the most immature (2.8%) and off-colored seed (4.1%). Immature seed had a lipid content of 40.8%, a peroxide value (PV) of 2.69 meq/kg and a free fatty acid (FFA) content of 1.06%. The off-colored seed had a lipid content of 38.1%, a PV of 5.79 meq/kg, and a FFA content of 1.89%. Hand-cleaned seed (averaged across fraction density) had a lipid content of 41.4%, a PV of 0.41 meq/kg and FFA content of 0.37%. The removal of seed defects improved flaxseed quality and improved lipid quality in the low-density fraction. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Lipid oxidation is a major concern when using milled flaxseed as a food ingredient. These results indicate the importance of removing off-colored and immature flaxseed. Seed lots that contain immature and off-colored seed likely will have poor lipid quality and, when milled, be more susceptible to lipid oxidation during storage than will seed lots free of immature and off-colored seed.
Impact of shallow buried objects on the spectral properties of terrain features

This paper presents preliminary results of an investigation into the impact of buried objects on the environmental properties and electro-optical spectral characteristics of terrain features. This study focused on the analyses of various sensor information, including hyperspectral and thermal data, collected under a limited set of circumstances; these analyses include laboratory measurements and theoretical computations. A digital terrain model incorporating the relevant physical processes was also constructed to support these investigations. These analyses are particularly relevant to the detection of landmines and the exploitation of hyperspectral sensor data in this application. Results from these analysis efforts will be presented along with example spectral data and computational results.
Cryotherapy for treatment of anogenital warts.

Human papillomavirus is a group of viruses that produce anogenital warts for which there is no cure. Untreated anogenital warts can spread and form large clusters that are bothersome, painful, and embarrassing to the patient as well as being a significant health risk. One of the infectious disease clinics of the authors'hospital sees an average of 200 HIV-positive individuals per month. Approximately 10% of these patients have anogenital warts. The attending physicians asked the clinical nursing staff if they would be willing to be trained to remove these warts using cryotherapy techniques, if patient efforts at other remedies failed. This request provoked a decision-making challenge for the staff. This article will describe the decision-making process and conclude with the procedure that was created as a result of the decision making.
The quantitative assay of serum chorionic gonadotropin in pregnancy, using the modified male frog technique.

THE discovery of chorionic gonadotropin and the elaboration of various laboratory procedures for its detection and mensuration led to many published observations concerning the occurrence of the hormone as well as the establishment of quantitative norms in pregnancy and the amounts present in certain pathologic conditions occurring in humans. In most instances these values lack universal applicability because of the diversity of unitage assigned to the hormone in the several institutions in which the observations were made. The direct transference, for example, of a mouse-uterus unit to a rabbit unit or an ovarian-hyperemia unit is not feasible from a practical standpoint. With the introduction of the male frog test for pregnancy at this institution and the subsequent modification of the test for quantitative procedures, it was considered expedient to adopt the practice of reporting results as International Units of chorionic gonadotropin per cubic centimeter of blood serum. This precluded the need for es...
Nocturnal serum growth hormone concentration is not augmented by short-term testosterone infusion in pubertal boys.

ABSTRACT: Chronic exposure to testosterone (T) increases growth hormone (GH) secretion. To determine whether acute exposure to T would also enhance GH secretion, we infused saline, followed 1 wk later by T, for 18-24 h at one-third the adult male production rate in 12 pubertal boys and at the adult male production rate in eight additional pubertal boys. Blood was obtained every 20 min for GH and every 30 min for T from 2000-0800 h. Though infusion significantly increased serum T concentrations in all 20 boys, mean GH concentration, GH pulse frequency, and GH pulse amplitude did not increase compared to the saline infusion night. The secretory dynamics of GH as a function of 3-h time blocks from 2000-0800 h were also determined in the eight boys who received the higher dose of T. The profile for mean GH concentration, pulse frequency, pulse amplitude, and peak area were not affected by acute infusion of T at concentrations sufficient to alter LH secretion. This suggests that, at least in pubertal boys, one must be exposed to T for a period longer than 12-18 h to induce increased GH secretion.
Microsecond rotational motions of eosin-labeled myosin measured by time-resolved anisotropy of absorption and phosphorescence

Abstract We have studied submicrosecond and microsecond rotational motions within the contractile protein myosin by observing the time-resolved anisotropy of both absorption and emission from the long-lived triplet state of eosin-5-iodoacetamide covalently bound to a specific site on the myosin head. These results, reporting anisotropy data up to 50 microseconds after excitation, extend by two orders of magnitude the time range of data on time-resolved site-specific probe motion in myosin. Optical and enzymatic analyses of the labeled myosin and its chymotryptic digests show that more than 95% of the probe is specifically attached to sulfhydryl-1 (SH 1 ) on the myosin head. In a solution of labeled subfragment-1 (S-1) at 4 °C, absorption anisotropy at 0.1 μs after a laser pulse is about 0.27. This anisotropy decays exponentially with a rotational correlation time of 210 ns, in good agreement with the theoretical prediction for end-over-end tumbling of S-1, and with times determined previously by fluorescence and electron paramagnetic resonance. In aqueous glycerol solutions, this correlation time is proportional to viscosity/temperature in the microsecond time range. Furthermore, binding to actin greatly restricts probe motion. Thus the bound eosin is a reliable probe of myosin-head rotational motion in the submicrosecond and microsecond time ranges. Our submicrosecond data for myosin monomers (correlation time 400 ns) also agree with previous results using other techniques, but we also detect a previously unresolvable slower decay component (correlation time 2.6 μs), indicating that the faster motions are restricted in amplitude. This restriction is not consistent with the commonly accepted free-swivel model of S-1 attachment in myosin. In synthetic thick filaments of myosin, both fast (700 ns) and slow (5 μs) components of anisotropy decay are observed. In contrast to the data for monomers, the anisotropy of filaments has a substantial residual component (26% of the initial anisotropy) that does not decay to zero even at times as long as 50 μs, implying significant restriction in overall rotational amplitude. This result is consistent with motion restricted to a cone half-angle of about 50 °. The combined results are consistent with a model in which myosin has two principal sites of segmental flexibility, one giving rise to submicrosecond motions (possibly corresponding to the junction between S-1 and S-2) and the other giving rise to microsecond motions (possibly corresponding to the junction between S-2 and light meromyosin). Both motions are slower and more restricted in filaments than in monomers. This study complements previous fluorescence and electron paramagnetic resonance studies by extending the time range and providing time-resolution, respectively, thus providing a more complete description of myosin rotational dynamics.
Decoding of tandem quadruplets by adjacent tRNAs with eight-base anticodon loops

To expand the genetic code for specification of multiple non-natural amino acids, unique codons for these novel amino acids are needed. As part of a study of the potential of quadruplets as codons, the decoding of tandem UAGA quadruplets by an engineered tRNALeu with an eight-base anticodon loop, has been investigated. When GCC is the codon immediately 5′ of the first UAGA quadruplet, and release factor 1 is partially inactivated, the tandem UAGAs specify two leucines with an overall efficiency of at least 10%. The presence of a purine at anticodon loop position 32 of the tRNA decoding the codon 5′ to the first UAGA seems to influence translation of the following codon. Another finding is intraribosomal dissociation of anticodons from codons and their re-pairing to mRNA at overlapping or nearby codons. In one case where GCC is replaced by CGG, only a single Watson–Crick base pair can form upon re-pairing when decoding is resumed. This has implications for the mechanism of some cases of programmed frameshifting.
GIS/Remote sensing techniques for resource management and biodiversity protection in mountainous regions

Biodiversity protection in mountainous regions requires effective fact-driven resource management techniques. Geoinformatic tools including GIS and remote sensing can be integrated to provide regional-scale data products across time for use in strategic and management level policymaking. Several principles are discussed to ensure that geoinformatics data and analysis can effectively contribute to resource management by clarifying issues and minimizing misinterpretation. A case study in the Chilean Andes elucidates these principles. Biological impacts of recent climate changes have not been equal across different ecosystems and stable forest ecosystems provide the best response to climate change. Geoinformatics is used to differentiate functional ecological groups and evaluate long-term resilience to climate change. Key-words : Chilean Andes; climate change; mountain ecosystems; geoinformatics; vegetation. DOI: 10.3126/botor.v6i0.2916 Botanica Orientalis - Journal of Plant Science (2009) 6: 93-99
ZEB1 is estrogen responsive in vitro in human foreskin cells and is over expressed in penile skin in patients with severe hypospadias.

Purpose: We determined the effect of estrogen on ZEB1 in vitro and tested the hypothesis that ZEB1 is over expressed in the penile skin of subjects with hypospadias.Materials and Methods: Hs68 cells, a fibroblast cell line derived from human foreskin, were exposed to 0, 1, 10 and 100 nM estrogen, and the expression level of ZEB1 was assessed using reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunocytochemical analysis. Next, preputial skin was prospectively collected from case and control subjects at hypospadias repair (37 cases) and circumcision (11). Hypospadias was classified as severe (13 cases) or mild (24) based on the position of the urethral meatus. ZEB1 expression was quantified using reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis.Results: Estrogen increased ZEB1 expression at the mRNA and protein levels in Hs68 cells in a concentration dependent fashion (p <0.01). Subjects with severe hypospadias had signif...
Elastic-wave scattering and Stoneley wave localization by anisotropic imperfect interfaces between solids

SUMMARY In this paper, elastic scattering and localization of guided waves on a thin anisotropic imperfect interfacial layer between two solids are studied. We have proposed a second-order asymptotic boundary condition approach to model such an interfacial layer. Here, using previous results, we derive simple stiffness-matrix representations of stress-displacement relations on the interface for the decomposed symmetric and anti-symmetric elastic motions. The stiffness matrices are given for an off-axis orthotropic layer or, equivalently, for a monoclinic interfacial layer. For the problem of scattering on such a thin anisotropic layer between identical isotropic semi-spaces the scattering matrices are obtained in explicit forms. Analytical dispersion equations for Stoneley-type interfacial waves localized in such a system are also given. Additional results are included for imperfect interfaces, such as fractured interfaces, modelled by spring boundary conditions. The applicability of the stiffness-matrix approach to the layer model is analysed by numerical comparison between the approximate and exact solutions. The numerical examples, which include reflection transmission on the interphase and dispersion curves of the interfacial waves, show that the stiffness-matrix method is a simple and accurate approach to describe wave interaction with a thin anisotropic interfacial layer between two solids.
Cell Envelope Perturbation Induces Oxidative Stress and Changes in Iron Homeostasis in Vibrio cholerae

The Vibrio cholerae type II secretion (T2S) machinery is a multiprotein complex that spans the cell envelope. When the T2S system is inactivated, cholera toxin and other exoproteins accumulate in the periplasmic compartment. Additionally, loss of secretion via the T2S system leads to a reduced growth rate, compromised outer membrane integrity, and induction of the extracytoplasmic stress factor RpoE (A. E. Sikora, S. R. Lybarger, and M. Sandkvist, J. Bacteriol. 189:8484-8495, 2007). In this study, gene expression profiling reveals that inactivation of the T2S system alters the expression of genes encoding cell envelope components and proteins involved in central metabolism, chemotaxis, motility, oxidative stress, and iron storage and acquisition. Consistent with the gene expression data, molecular and biochemical analyses indicate that the T2S mutants suffer from internal oxidative stress and increased levels of intracellular ferrous iron. By using a tolA mutant of V. cholerae that shares a similar compromised membrane phenotype but maintains a functional T2S machinery, we show that the formation of radical oxygen species, induction of oxidative stress, and changes in iron physiology are likely general responses to cell envelope damage and are not unique to T2S mutants. Finally, we demonstrate that disruption of the V. cholerae cell envelope by chemical treatment with polymyxin B similarly results in induction of the RpoE-mediated stress response, increased sensitivity to oxidants, and a change in iron metabolism. We propose that many types of extracytoplasmic stresses, caused either by genetic alterations of outer membrane constituents or by chemical or physical damage to the cell envelope, induce common signaling pathways that ultimately lead to internal oxidative stress and misregulation of iron homeostasis.