cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of monoclonal antibody–IRDye800CW bioconjugates in the resection of breast cancer

Abstract Background Complete surgical resection of breast cancer is a powerful determinant of patient outcome, and failure to achieve negative margins results in reoperation in between 30% and 60% of patients. We hypothesize that repurposing Food and Drug Administration–approved antibodies as tumor-targeting diagnostic molecules can function as optical contrast agents to identify the boundaries of malignant tissue intraoperatively. Materials and methods The monoclonal antibodies bevacizumab, cetuximab, panitumumab, trastuzumab, and tocilizumab were covalently linked to a near-infrared fluorescence probe (IRDye800CW) and in vitro binding assays were performed to confirm ligand-specific binding. Nude mice bearing human breast cancer flank tumors were intravenously injected with the antibody–IRDye800 bioconjugates and imaged over time. Tumor resections were performed using the SPY and Pearl Impulse systems, and the presence or absence of tumor was confirmed by conventional and fluorescence histology. Results Tumor was distinguishable from normal tissue using both SPY and Pearl systems, with both platforms being able to detect tumor as small as 0.5 mg. Serial surgical resections demonstrated that real-time fluorescence can differentiate subclinical segments of disease. Pathologic examination of samples by conventional and optical histology using the Odyssey scanner confirmed that the bioconjugates were specific for tumor cells and allowed accurate differentiation of malignant areas from normal tissue. Conclusions Human breast cancer tumors can be imaged in vivo with multiple optical imaging platforms using near-infrared fluorescently labeled antibodies. These data support additional preclinical investigations for improving the surgical resection of malignancies with the goal of eventual clinical translation.
Speak Truth and Shame the Devil: An Ethnodrama in Response to Racism in the Academy

This ethnodrama examines how two African American women experience racism in the academe. Both scholars examine the social/political context of racism in higher education and its manifestation in institutional practices. Both authors seek to “speak truth and shame the devil” by examining institutional responses to the racism they encounter in their courses. The authors conclude by sharing how educational leaders, particularly chairs, deans, and other academics can address racism institutionally.
The Theory/Applications Balance in Management Pedagogy: Where Do We Stand?

Business schools are expected to be "professional" in the sense that their mission is primarily to prepare people to practice their skills in the business world. Various critics, however, claim that management professors overemphasize theory and research and neglect the practice and applications students need to transfer classroom theory to the world of practice. This study compared an earlier sample with a more recent sample of Academy of Management members concerning the relative emphasis they believed should be placed on theory and applications in management pedagogy and the techniques they used to bring applications into the classroom. Current respondents believed that more emphasis should be placed on applications than the earlier respondents. An unexpected finding, however, was that the more recent respondents reported a lower mean usage of pedagogical techniques that are appropriate for developing students' ability to apply course concepts than the previous group. Possible reasons for these incongr...
A quantitative model for software engineering trends

Many decision-makers in industry, government and academia routinely make decisions whose outcome depends on the evolution of software technology trends. Even though the stakes of these decisions are usually very high, decision makers routinely depend on expert opinions and qualitative assessments to model the evolution of software technology; both of these sources of decision-making information are subjective, are based on opinions rather than facts, and are prone to error. In this paper, we report on our ongoing work to build quantitative models of the evolution of software technology trends. In particular, we discuss how we took specific evolutionary models and merged them into a single (general-purpose) model. The original specific models are derived empirically using statistical methods on trend data we had collected over several years, and have been validated individually; in this paper we further validate the generic (general-purpose) model.
Statistical emission of complex nuclear fragments

Abstract A statistical formalism for the rapid calculation of the multiplicities, spectra and angular distributions of fragments emitted from a highly excited nucleus is presented. Special emphasis is placed on the role of the angular momentum in these processes and a comparison with other approaches is provided.
Effects of an exercise program to increase hip abductor muscle strength and improve lateral stability following stroke: a single subject design.

Background and purpose Persons with lower extremity weakness following stroke often demonstrate difficulty with weight transfer and paretic lower extremity loading. These deficits, in turn, can lead to problems with lateral stability, or the ability to control movement of the center of mass in the frontal plane. The primary aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of an individualized home exercise program in improving hip abductor muscle strength and lateral stability in a subject with chronic stroke. Methods An A-B-A treatment-withdrawal single-subject design was used. The subject was a 70-year-old male who had experienced a left hemispheric stroke 36 months prior to initiation of the study. Bilateral hip abductor muscle strength, single limb stance (SLS), timed 360 degrees turn, Step Test, and 10-m walk at self-selected and fast speeds were recorded at regular intervals during the baseline (A-I), treatment (B), and treatment-withdrawal (A-2) phases. The home exercise program in the B phase consisted of lower extremity weight bearing and weight transfer activities and exercise on a lateral training device 3 to 5 times a week for 6 weeks. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) were administered at the completion of each phase and at 6-week follow-up. Data were analyzed using visual analysis and the split-middle method of trend estimation. Results Mean levels of all measures improved from A-1 to B phases, with significant increases in trend for hip abductor muscle strength and SLS bilaterally. Most improvements were maintained during the treatment-withdrawal (A-2) phase and at follow-up. Conclusion A home exercise program that includes exercise on a lateral training device shows promise for producing increases in hip abductor muscle strength and accompanying improvements in some measures of physical performance and disability in persons with chronic stroke.
Finite-amplitude waves in cylindrical lined ducts

A second-order uniformly valid expansion is obtained for nonlinear waves propagating in a cylindrical duct lined with a point-reacting acoustic material that consists of a porous sheet followed by honey-comb cavities and backed by the impervious walls of the duct. The effect of the liner is taken into account by coupling the waves in the duct with those in the liner. As in the two-dimensional case, the nonlinearity increases the attenuation rate at all frequencies except in narrow bandwidths around the resonant frequencies, irrespective of the geometrical dimensions of the liner or the acoustic properties of the porous sheet.
Psychosocial predictors of attitudes toward physician empathy in clinical encounters among 4732 1st year medical students: a report from the CHANGES study.

Abstract Objective Medical school curricula intended to promote empathy varies widely. Even the most effective curricula leave a significant group of students untouched. Pre-existing student factors influence their response to learning experiences. We examined the individual predictors of first semester medical students’ attitudes toward the value of physician empathy in clinical encounters. Methods First year students (n = 4732) attending a stratified random sample of 49 US medical schools completed an online questionnaire that included measures of dispositional characteristics, attitudes and beliefs, self-concept and well-being. Results Discomfort with uncertainty, close-mindedness, dispositional empathy, elitism, medical authoritarianism, egalitarianism, self-concept and well-being all independently predicted first year medical students’ attitudes toward the benefit of physician empathy in clinical encounters. Conclusion Students vary on their attitude toward the value of physician empathy when they start medical school. The individual factors that predict their attitudes toward empathy may also influence their response to curricula promoting empathic care. Practice implications Curricula in medical school promoting empathic care may be more universally effective if students’ preexisting attitudes are taken into account. Messages about the importance of physician empathy may need to be framed in ways that are consistent with the beliefs and prior world-views of medical students.
Small Mammal Populations of an Old-Field Chronosequence: Successional Patterns and Associations with Vegetation

We sampled the small mammal fauna of 18 successional old-fields, aged 2–57 years since abandonment from agriculture, and examined patterns of diversity and abundance along successional and productivity gradients. Through time, vegetational standing crop, cover, litter, and plant species composition changed, but vegetational physiognomy did not; thus, we examined small mammal populations within a grassland chronosequence. Small mammal densities were low and were not strongly associated with successional time. Species richness and density, however, were strongly associated with vegetational standing crop and nitrogen content. Peromyscus leucopus densities were best correlated with variability in vegetation ( SD vegetational biomass), whereas density of Microtus pennsylvanicus and Sorex cinereus were best correlated with vegetational nitrogen content. Overall, the data suggest that the diversity and abundance of small mammals were limited by nitrogen.
Molecular anisotropy effects in carbon K -edge scattering: Depolarized diffuse scattering and optical anisotropy

Some polymer properties, such as conductivity, are very sensitive to short- and intermediate-range orientational and positional ordering of anisotropic molecular functional groups, and yet means to characterize orientational order in disordered systems are very limited. We demonstrate that resonant scattering at the carbon $K$ edge is uniquely sensitive to short-range orientation correlations in polymers through depolarized scattering at high momentum transfers, using atactic polystyrene as a well-characterized test system. Depolarized scattering is found to coexist with unpolarized fluorescence and to exhibit pronounced anisotropy. We also quantify the spatially averaged optical anisotropy from low-angle reflectivity measurements, finding anisotropy consistent with prior visible, x-ray absorption, and theoretical studies. The average anisotropy is much smaller than that in the depolarized scattering and the two have different character. Both measurements exhibit clear spectral signatures from the phenyl rings and the polyethylenelike backbone. Discussion focuses on analysis considerations and prospects for using this depolarized scattering for studies of disorder in soft condensed matter.
Anterior cerebral asymmetry and the nature of emotion

This article presents an overview of the author's recent electrophysiological studies of anterior cerebral asymmetries related to emotion and affective style. A theoretical account is provided of the role of the two hemispheres in emotional processing. This account assigns a major role in approach- and withdrawal-related behavior to the left and right frontal and anterior temporal regions of two hemispheres, respectively. Individual differences in approach- and withdrawal-related emotional reactivity and temperament are associated with stable differences in baseline measures of activation asymmetry in these anterior regions. Phasic state changes in emotion result in shifts in anterior activation asymmetry which are superimposed upon these stable baseline differences. Future directions for research in this area are discussed.
Alcohol dehydrogenase thermostability variants in Drosophila melanogaster: comparison of activity ratios and enzyme levels.

Representatives of five allozymic classes of Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase have been compared with respect to their activity levels on two alcohol substrates, quantities of ADH protein, and stability in crude extracts. Within each allozymic class, strains from widely diverse geographic locations differ in their enzyme activity levels but are identical for a measure known as “activity ratio,” which is obtained by dividing the average activity reading on isopropanol by that obtained with ethanol. They are also similar in the rate at which ADH activity declines in crude extracts held at 25°C. For several of the fast-resistant and fast-moderate strains, differences in ADH activity are associated with differences in the amount of enzyme present. The catalytic efficiencies of the fast-resistant forms are considerably lower than those of the fast-moderate allozymes. The origin and persistence of the rare but ubiquitous fast-resistant allozyme is discussed.
Ankle, knee, and hip moments during standing with and without joint contractures: simulation study for functional electrical stimulation

Joint contractures have been one of the contraindications for use of functional electrical stimulation for standing in paraplegic patients. A simulation study using a three-segment link mechanical model of the human body was performed to calculate the muscle moments at the ankles, knees, and hips during standing with and without having joint contractures. The knee and hip angles were varied in 5 degrees increments, whereas the ankle angles were varied in 1 degree increments. It was assumed that energy efficient posture was obtained with the least sum of the squared moments of the ankles, knees, and hips joints by the muscles. Ankles at 5 degrees of dorsiflexion, knees at 0 degrees, and hips at 15 degrees of extension resulted in the most energy efficient posture without joint contractures. The muscle moments increased with the increase in angle of contractures. The joint contractures at ankle angles > or = 6 degrees of plantar flexion, knee angles > or = 20 degrees of flexion, and/or hip angles > or = 20 degrees of flexion produce a potentially unstable posture. These findings suggest that some degree of joint contractures can be tolerated in paraplegic patients using functional electrical stimulation for standing.
Clinically nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid dedifferentiation: Natural history and outcomes after surgical resection with curative intent.

Abstract Purpose Renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid dedifferentiation (sRCC) is an aggressive malignancy associated with a poor prognosis. Although existing literature focuses on patients presenting with metastatic disease, characteristics and outcomes for patients with localized disease are not well described. We aimed to evaluate postnephrectomy characteristics, outcomes, and predictors of survival in patients with sRCC who presented with clinically localized disease. Patients and methods An institutional review board–approved review from 1986 to 2011 identified 77 patients who presented with clinically localized disease, underwent nephrectomy, and had sRCC in their primary kidney tumor. Clinical and pathologic variables were captured for each patient. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were calculated for all patients and those who had no evidence of disease (NED) following nephrectomy, respectively. Comparisons were made with categorical groupings in proportional hazards regression models for univariable and multivariable analyses. Results OS for the entire cohort ( n = 77) at 2 years was 50%. A total of 56 (77%) patients of the 73 who has NED following nephrectomy experienced a recurrence, with a median time to recurrence of 26.2 months. On multivariable analysis, tumor stage, pathologically positive lymph nodes, and year of nephrectomy were significant predictors of both OS and recurrence-free survival. Limitations include the retrospective nature of this study and relatively small sample size. Conclusions Long-term survival for patients with sRCC, even in clinically localized disease, is poor. Aggressive surveillance of those who have NED following nephrectomy is essential, and further prospective studies evaluating the benefit of adjuvant systemic therapies in this cohort are warranted.
Simulation modeling of the vessel traffic in Delaware River: Impact of deepening on port performance

Abstract This paper deals with simulation modeling of the vessel traffic in Delaware River. The purpose is to study the impact of deepening on the navigational efficiency in the River. In this regard, vessel calls to terminals, lightering and barge operations, tidal and navigational rules in the River, terminal and anchorage properties as well as vessel profiles are considered in the model. The simulation model is specifically built to be able to perform scenario and policy analyses as well as a comprehensive risk analysis of the Delaware River and Bay area. This paper investigates effects of deepening on port performance measures. The statistics tracked in this respect are the overall port and terminal utilization, port times and terminal calls, anchorage visits and delays based on various vessel visits, categories and movements.
Non-perturbative effects in e+e− annihilation in quantum chromodynamics

Abstract We study the change of one two-point function of hadronic electromagnetic currents in the presence of background gauge fields. It is found that it has the asymptotic behavior of 1/q4 as compared to ln(-q2) behavior from the bare fermion loop contribution. The effects of the non-perturbative vacuum in QCD on the two-point function is studied in an explicit calculation. We obtain the same qualitative behavior as in our general discussion. The effects on the total hadronic e+e− annihilation is also discussed. We find that the effect ΔRI/R is of the order of o(1/q4) or O(1/q6). This may explain the precocious scaling in the e+e− annihilation.
Galen and Astrology: A Mésalliance?

The author examines the question of Galen's affinity with astrology, in view of Galen's extended astrological discussion in the De diebus decretoriis (Critical Days). The critical passages from Galen are examined, and shown to be superficial in understanding. The author performs a lexical sounding of Galen's corpus, using key terms with astrological valences drawn from the Critical Days, and assesses their absence in Galen's other works. He compares Galen's astrology with the astrology of Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, and evaluates their respective strategies of scientific reasoning. Three types of inference are introduced and applied to Galen's astrology. Finally, he concludes that the empirical side of Galen's science does not depend upon astrological methods or concepts, but that these were introduced for their rhetorical effect in presenting his new medical methodology. It is suggested that continued attention to Galen's astrology has obscured the truly important empirical scientific method that Galen developed.
The ClC-3 Cl−/H+ Antiporter Becomes Uncoupled at Low Extracellular pH

Adenovirus expressing ClC-3 (Ad-ClC-3) induces Cl(-)/H(+) antiport current (I(ClC-3)) in HEK293 cells. The outward rectification and time dependence of I(ClC-3) closely resemble an endogenous HEK293 cell acid-activated Cl(-) current (ICl(acid)) seen at extracellular pH <or= 5.5. ICl(acid) was present in smooth muscle cells from wild-type but not ClC-3 null mice. We therefore sought to determine whether these currents were related. ICl(acid) was larger in cells expressing Ad-ClC-3. Protons shifted the reversal potential (E(rev)) of I(ClC-3) between pH 8.2 and 6.2, but not pH 6.2 and 5.2, suggesting that Cl(-) and H(+) transport become uncoupled at low pH. At pH 4.0 E(rev) was completely Cl(-) dependent (55.8 +/- 2.3 mV/decade). Several findings linked ClC-3 with native ICl(acid); 1) RNA interference directed at ClC-3 message reduced native ICl(acid); 2) removal of the extracellular "fast gate" (E224A) produced large currents that were pH-insensitive; and 3) wild-type I(ClC-3) and ICl(acid) were both inhibited by (2-sulfonatoethyl)methanethiosulfonate (MTSES; 10-500 microm)-induced alkanethiolation at exposed cysteine residues. However, a ClC-3 mutant lacking four extracellular cysteine residues (C103_P130del) was completely resistant to MTSES. C103_P130del currents were still acid-activated, but could be distinguished from wild-type I(ClC-3) and from native ICl(acid) by a much slower response to low pH. Thus, ClC-3 currents are activated by protons and ClC-3 protein may account for native ICl(acid). Low pH uncouples Cl(-)/H(+) transport so that at pH 4.0 ClC-3 behaves as an anion-selective channel. These findings have important implications for the biology of Cl(-)/H(+) antiporters and perhaps for pH regulation in highly acidic intracellular compartments.
Coherent optical pulse evolution in a CO2 amplifier

Abstract The coherent reshaping of short duration (2–5 nsec) CO 2 laser pulses in a low-pressure (∽ 5 torr), longitudinal discharge CO 2 amplifier is experimentally studied in the linear regime for a variable number of gain lengths (α L ≲7). Single pulses grow considerably in duration as well as amplitude in agreement with theoretical considerations. Analysis of the observed pulse evolution is used to obtain the transverse relaxation parameter T 2 . Zero-degree pulses {∫ +∞ -∞ E ( z , t ) d t = 0} are observed to terminate much of the long tail which occurs in single-pulse amplification. Off-resonant amplification of short-duration pulses is shown to lead to dramatic changes in the zero-degree pulse evolution. Numerical calculations relating to pulse amplification in the nonlinear regime for high-pressure CO 2 amplifiers are also presented.
Nitric oxide: the Jekyll and Hyde of gut inflammation.

We studied the effects of seven day treatment with the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitorN G-nitro-l-arginine (l-NAME), administered in the drinking water (100 μg/mlad lib) of female guinea pigs. The effects of NOS inhibition were evaluated in naive animals and in guinea pigs with ileitis induced by intraluminal trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). After 7 days, animals were anesthetized, a sterile saline lavage injected into an ileal loop and removed after 30 min for analysis. In naive guinea pigs,l-NAME caused a marked increase in ileal myeloperoxidase activity and conversion of the mucosa from an absorptive to a secretory state. TNBS-treated guinea pigs had a similar, marked increase in granulocyte infiltration and a mucosal secretory response. However, in contrast to naive animals,l-NAME treatment was anti-inflammatory, reverting all responses to the basal state. We conclude that intestinal nitric oxide serves an antiinflammatory role under basal conditions, whereas in the TNBS model of chronic ileitis, nitric oxide is a critical mediator of gut injury.
Motor-Carrier Regulation and its Economic Bases

Introduction, 604. — Circumstances under which motor-carrier regulation has developed, 606. — Characteristics which explain the regulation of railroads and other utilities largely absent, 608. — Restriction of entrance must be distinguished from other phases of regulation, 613. — Such restriction only partially explained by the nature of the industry, 615. — Protection of railway interests the dominant consideration, 620. — Delicate problems involved in granting of certificates of convenience and necessity, 625. — Difficulties and dangers of regulation exemplified by motor freight regulation, 632. — The theory of special highway use improperly reflected in motor-carrier regulation and taxation, 639. — Conclusion, 646.
Simultaneously selecting normal populations close to a control

Abstract We study the problem of selecting populations close to a control from among k normal populations using the parametric empirical Bayes approach. A Bayes selection rule is derived, which depends on certain parameters. When those parameters are unknown, using the empirical Bayes idea, we first present estimators, based on information collected from the k populations for the unknown parameters. Then, mimicking the behavior of the Bayes selection rule, an empirical Bayes selection rule is constructed. The relative regret Bayes risk is used as a measure of performance of the empirical Bayes selection rule. It is shown that the relative regret Bayes risk of the proposed empirical Bayes selection rule converges to zero at a rate of order O( k −1 ). A simulation study is also carried out to investigate the performance of the proposed empirical Bayes selection rule for small to moderate values of k .
A Self-Research Method for Small Groups

Recently we had the opportunity to formulate and manage a research project in which a small group examined and analyzed its own experience. It was a new venture for us and we found little in the way of existing models or examples in methodological texts to guide us. Yet, groups, whether committees, or project teams, or departments of corporations, are frequently directed to review their work and identify their strengths and weaknesses. We wondered, could such a process be done with substantial rigor, enough so that it would qualify as self-research? If so, what would that process look like, and in what situations would it be useful?
Environmental Education in Virginia Schools: A Teacher Survey

(1983). Environmental Education in Virginia Schools: A Teacher Survey. The Journal of Environmental Education: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 17-21.
Inside Afghanistan 23 Years after the Soviet Withdrawal

Twenty-three years have passed since the Soviet Union withdrew its forces from Afghanistan and, after 11 years of the United States’ (US) military involvement in that country, the war between Afghan insurgent groups and the US-led coalition forces is raging with no side winning. More than 11 years later, Afghanistan remains divided and ethnic tensions are worsening. If the ongoing military, political and economic policies in Afghanistan continue and Pakistan remains a safe haven for Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, the future may soon drastically tilt against the ineffective and corrupt Afghan government and its foreign supporters. This study is mainly based upon 33 years of observations, in-depth interviews with Afghans in their local languages and an extensive study of recent developments inside Afghanistan and its neighboring countries, especially Pakistan and Iran.
Do Neotropical peccary species (Tayassuidae) function as ecosystem engineers for anurans

The concept of ecosystem engineering has catalysed novel approaches and models for non-trophic species interactionsandecosystemfunctions.Ecosystemengineersphysicallymodifyabioticandbioticenvironments,thereby creating new habitats that can be colonized by a new suite of species. In the Peruvian Amazonas, we tested whether peccaries (Tayassuidae) function as ecosystem engineers by creating and maintaining wallows. Such wallows could be critical aquatic habitats and breeding sites for anuran species during dry seasons. We compared hydroperiods of 21 peccary wallows and 13 naturally formed ponds across three dry seasons and found that wallows had a consistently higher mean water surface area than ponds. We also examined the pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature, and found no significant differences in these parameters between water bodies. Wallows had a significantly higher density of tadpoles, metamorphs and adult anurans, as well as higher β-diversity and species richness than ponds. This study not only provides thefirst systematic evidence of the ecosystem engineering processes of peccaries, but also reveals the positive consequences of such for anuran species.
Congenital aural atresia.

Congenital aural atresia is an unusual anomaly that is difficult to surgically correct. Altered anatomical landmarks, especially of the facial nerve, and variability of the middle ear configuration, contribute to the difficulty of the procedure. In addition, the unpredictable healing process can make for variable outcomes. Choosing appropriate candidates for surgical repair minimizes risks and enhances patient care. This report reviews the outcome with evaluation and management of 17 patients with congential aural atresia. Surgical techniques for repair, including use of a hydroxylapatite canal wall prosthesis to help reconstruct the posterior canal wall are described. As expected, patients with less severe anomalies had better postoperative hearing results
From Every Direction: Guilt, Shame, and Blame Among Parents of Adolescents with Co-occurring Challenges

This article explores the results of a qualitative inquiry into guilt, blame, and shame as experienced by parents of children with co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges. These interviews represent both the lived experience of parents, as well as the perspective of clinicians who work with these families. The parent–clinician alliance is taken as a central context for considering how these experiences may affect the dynamics of the helping relationship. Analyses of these results suggest that guilt, blame, and shame are often experienced by parents and have important implications for engagement and therapeutic processes. Parents associate feelings of blame with interactions from a number of helping professionals and connect personal characteristics, parenting behaviors, and relationship issues with experiences of shame and guilt surrounding their children’s behavioral health challenges. Finally, the information that is shared across these interviews is used to guide the development of a number of practice guidelines for social workers who work with families of adolescents that experience co-occurring mental health and substance use issues.
Telecommunications and education in the USA

Abstract The author examines the use of technology and telecommunications in various subsectors of education. Included in the examination are metropolitan communications networks for education, costs and economies of scale, and the federal role in technological innovation in education. He concludes with recommendations for additional studies aimed at achieving increased social benefits from the use of technology in education within metropolitan areas.
Lipoxygenase activity in ripening tomato fruit pericarp tissue

Abstract To determine what role, if any, lipoxygenases might play in the ripening of tomato fruit, the activities ofthese enzymes were characterized and measured during fruit development. Two distinct lipoxygenase activities were identified by their pH optima and their sensitivity to the lipoxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), in tomato fruit pericarp tissue during ripening. Both activities increased sharply during early ripening stages and decreased after the fruit had ripened fully. Polypeptides with cross-reactivity to pea seed anti-lipoxygenase B antiserumwere detected in ripening pericarp by immunoblotting at times which closely paralleled the observed rise in lipoxygenase activity seen during the development of the tomato fruit. Heterogeneity in the M r of these polypeptides and associated changes in the ratio of lipoxygenase activities at different pH optima were observed during ripening andupon storage of tomato fruits.
Loss of chromosome arms 3p and 9p and inactivation of P16INK4a in normal epithelium of patients with primary lung cancer

The accumulation of genetic alterations in the respiratory epithelium may give rise to cancer and often is accompanied by a series of histologic alterations over a period of several years. Recent studies have identified some molecular alterations in histologically normal-appearing epithelium among patients with lung cancer. To extend these observations, we investigated clonal genetic alterations by using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis and immunohistochemistry in 69 biopsy samples of histologically normal-appearing bronchial epithelium from 22 patients with or without lung cancer. Thirty-seven biopsy specimens from 13 patients were examined for loss of 3p14, and 48 biopsy specimens from 18 patients were examined for loss at 9p21 by FISH. P16INK4a expression was analyzed in 54 biopsy samples from 19 patients. In at least one biopsy specimen from five of the13 patients with primary lung cancer, FISH or immunohistochemistry detected loss of the 3p14 or 9p21 region. In contrast, no alterations were detected for the same regions in the nine patients without primary lung cancer. Our results support the concept that the normal epithelial surface of large bronchi of patients with lung cancer has molecular changes suggestive of the outgrowth of numerous clonal foci. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cytoprotective Signaling Associated with Nitric Oxide Upregulation in Tumor Cells Subjected to Photodynamic Therapy-like Oxidative Stress

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) employs photoexcitation of a sensitizer to generate tumor-eradicating reactive oxygen species. We recently showed that irradiating breast cancer COH-BR1 cells after treating with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA, a pro-sensitizer) resulted in rapid upregulation of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS). Apoptotic cell killing was strongly enhanced by an iNOS inhibitor (1400W), iNOS knockdown (kd), or a NO scavenger, suggesting that NO was acting cytoprotectively. Stress signaling associated with these effects was examined in this study. ALA/light-stressed COH-BR1 cells, and also breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells, mounted an iNOS/NO-dependent resistance to apoptosis that proved to be cGMP-independent. Immunocytochemistry and subcellular Western analysis of photostressed COH-BR1 cells revealed a cytosol-to-nucleus translocation of NF-κB which was negated by the NF-κB activation inhibitor Bay11. Bay11 also enhanced apoptosis and prevented iNOS induction, consistent with NF-κB involvement in the latter. JNK and p38 MAP kinase inhibitors suppressed apoptosis, implicating these kinases in death signaling. Post-irradiation extent and duration of JNK and p38 phosphorylation were dramatically elevated by 1400 W or iNOS-kd, suggesting that these activations were suppressed by NO. Regarding pro-survival stress signaling, rapid activation of Akt was unaffected by 1400 W, but prevented by Wortmannin, which also enhanced apoptosis. Thus, a link between upstream Akt activation and iNOS induction was apparent. Furthermore, p53 protein expression under photostress was elevated by iNOS-kd, whereas robust Survivin induction was abolished, consistent with p53 and Survivin being negatively and positively regulated by NO, respectively. Collectively, these findings enhance our understanding of cytoprotective signaling associated with photostress-induced NO and suggest iNOS inhibitor-based approaches for improving PDT efficacy.
Assessment of Simplified Linear Dynamic Analysis of a Multispan Skew Bridge on Steel-Reinforced Elastomeric Bearings

The dynamic response of a three-span reinforced concrete deck on steel girder skew bridge supported by elastomeric bearings is investigated both experimentally and analytically. The case study presents modal parameter estimates obtained from a large-scale field deployment of accelerometers supported under a wireless sensor network. Through output-only system identification, the natural frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes are extracted for the first 20 structural poles. Linear dynamic analysis of the bridge through three-dimensional finite-element analysis is then performed to provide a comparison between the response estimate predicted under the minimum requirements of multimode spectral analysis dictated by the AASHTO design specifications and the in-service dynamic response. Linear elastic bearing stiffness in the compressive, shear, and flexural states is estimated using independent design specifications set forth by AASHTO and Standards Australia, and modeled with idealized fixity. The case study concludes that linear dynamic analysis provides a well-correlated, yet conservative estimate of multimodal displacement for bridges supported by steel-reinforced elastomeric bearings when bearing stiffness is defined by using either design specification.
Effects of Glucocorticoid Administration on Aldosterone Excretion and Plasma Renin in Normal Subjects, in Essential Hypertension and in Primary Aldosteronism

ABSTRACT The raised aldosterone excretion occurring in salt depleted normal subjects and in patients with primary aldosteronism was significantly suppressed by hydrocortisone administration. During sodium depletion, a lesser fall in aldosterone excretion was also produced by dexamethasone in all normal subjects and some of the patients with essential hypertension. Glucocorticoids sometimes produced a slight depression of plasma renin activity both in normal subjects and in patients with essential hypertension. These slight and inconsistent effects on plasma renin level were not thought to be the major cause of the observed suppression of aldosterone. Differences in mineralocorticoid activity, though not apparent from external balances, might explain the more consistent suppression of aldosterone produced by hydrocortisone as compared with dexamethasone. Other possible reasons for the glucocorticoid-induced decreases in aldosterone excretion were considered; it was concluded that neither ACTH suppression n...
Serotonin stimulation of the period of in vitro LHRH release is estradiol dependent.

Abstract The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) has well known effects on the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) which may be estrogen and photoperiod dependent. An in vitro superfusion system was used to assess the potential role of 5-HT and photoperiod in modulating the release of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) from the mediobasal-suprachiasmatic-preoptic area (MBH-POA-SCN) in the ovariectomized (OVX) and OVX estradiol (E 2 ) implanted rat model of LH release. Regularly cycling female Holtzman strain rats, maintained on a photoperiod of 0500–1900 or 0100–1500 hr light were OVX, and silastic capsules containing estradiol-17 beta (150 μg/ml) or sesame oil implanted SC. Two days later the rats were killed at 1000 hr and the MBH-POA-SCN isolated. Tissue was superfused in vitro with Krebs-Ringer-Phosphate buffer (KRP) for 2 hours followed by 3 hours of KRP with intermittent superfusion of 5-HT at increasing concentrations: 1 × 10 −10 M (1st hour), 1 × 10 −8 (2nd hour), 1 x 10 −6 M (3rd hour). Superfusate was collected every 10 min for the entire 5 hour incubation period and LHRH measured by RIA with the following results. In the OVX rat 5-HT significantly ( p 0 .05 ) increased the period of LHRH pulses and decreased the release of LHRH compared to control superfusions, while in the OVX E 2 rat 5-HT significantly ( p 0 .05 ) decreased the period of LHRH release and increased the release of LHRH. In another series of experiments the tissue was perfused for 2 hours with KRP, 2 hours with 1 x 10 −8 M 5-HT, and 2 hours with KRP. 5-HT again significantly increased ( p 0 .05 ) the period of LHRH pulses from tissue derived from the OVX rat and decreased the period ( p 0 .05 ) of LHRH pulses in tissue from the OVX E 2 -treated rat. However, in the OVX-treated rat LHRH release was also increased ( p 0 .05 ) during the first hour of 5-HT superfusion. Photoperiod had no significant effect on the release of LHRH from OVX- and OVX E 2 -treated rats. However, the effect of 5-HT in modulating the frequency of LHRH release may be related to the presence of E 2 in the rat and could serve as one mechanism in vivo to coordinate the release of LHRH with endocrine cues.
Xiaocheng Gu (1930-2012)

Xiaocheng Gu, a crystallographer and professor emeritus, in the College of Life Sciences, Peking University, died on November 3, 2012, from complications of kidney cancer. Professor Gu was born on February 13th, 1930 in Shanghai, China. Professor Gu attended Peking University, the Department of Plant Sciences, for her bachelor's degree (1948-1952). She obtained advanced training in protein crystallography in the Department of Chemistry, Peking University (1961-1964). Like most of the intellectuals in China during that period, Professor Gu's scientific career was interrupted by the “Cultural Revolution” from 1966 through 1976. From 1978 to 1984, Professor Gu was the Deputy Chairperson, Department of Biology, Peking University. In 1985, she became the Chairperson of the same department, a position that she served until 1992. In 1995, she became Professor Emeritus.
Nature of the individual Ca2+ binding sites in Ca2+-regenerated bacteriorhodopsin

The binding constants, K 1 and K 2 , and the number of Ca 2+ ions in each of the two high affinity sites of Ca 2+ -regenerated bacteriorhodopsin (bR) are determined potentiometrically at different pH values in the range of pH 3.5–4.5 by using the Scatchard plot method. From the pH dependence of K 1 and K 2 , it was found that two hydrogen ions are released for each Ca 2+ bound to each of the two high affinity sites. Furthermore, we have measured by a direct spectroscopic method the association constant, K s , for the binding of Ca 2+ to deionized bR, which is responsible for producing the blue to purple color change. Comparing the value of K s and its pH dependence with those of K 1 and K 2 showed that the site corresponding to K s is to be identified with that of K 2 . This is in agreement with the conclusion reached previously, using a different approach, which showed that it is the second Ca 2+ that causes the blue to purple color change. Our studies also show that in addition to the two distinct high affinity sites, there are about four to six sites with lower binding constants. These are attributed to the nonspecific binding in bR.
Studies on unimolecular layers of modified proteins. I. Bovine serum albumin and its acetyl derivatives

Abstract The surface-chemical character of unimolecular layers of bovine serum albumin and some of its derivatives has been studied. Limiting area, molecular weight, flexibility of polypeptide chains, and ease of unfolding protein molecules are discussed in relation to chemical structure. In these experiments, Trurnit's technique of spreading protein onto the water surface has been successfully used to attain quick equilibration of unimolecular layers, consisting of completely unfolded protein molecules.
Transport of dibasic amino acids by human erythrocytes

Abstract We have characterized the transport of dibasic amino acids in human erythrocytes by measuring the influx, outflux, and steady-state concentrations of 14 C-dibasic acids in vitro . L-Lysine influx is inhibited by L-arginine and L-ornithine but not by L-cystine. L-Lysine, L-arginine, and L-ornithine, but not L-cystine or D-lysine, exhibit transconcentration effects on L-lysine transport. The major features of dibasic amino acid transport in human erythrocytes are that it is temperature dependent, incapable of uphill transport, and not dependent on extracellular sodium or potassium concentrations or on energy derived from cellular metabolism. Kinetic studies show that lysine transport in human erythrocytes comprises two saturable (carrier-mediated) processes operating in parallel: one is a high-affinity, low-capacity process that predominates at low lysine concentrations; the other is a low-affinity, high-capacity process that predominates at higher lysine concentrations.
Attachment Strength of Listeria monocytogenes and its Internalin-Negative Mutants

A single cell of Listeria monocytogenes attached on food contact surfaces can be a potential source of cross-contamination in a food-processing plant. To see whether internalin A (InlA) and B (InlB), major surface proteins on L. monocytogenes, play a significant role in the attachment process, wild-type L. monocytogenes EGD (LM_EGD) and its isogenic internalin-negative mutants (LM_EGDΔinlA, LM_EGDΔinlB, and LM_EGDΔinlAB) were used to determine attachment strength on inert glass surface. Western blot analysis using InlA and InlB antibodies confirmed the absence of InlA in LM_EGDΔinlA, InlB in LM_EGDΔinlB, and both InlA and InlB in LM_EGDΔinlAB. Regardless of initial attachment numbers, LM_EGD which expressed both InlA and InlB proteins exhibited the strongest attachment strength while the double mutant (LM_EGDΔinlAB) exhibited the weakest. The two single mutants (LM_EGDΔinlA and LM_EGDΔinlB) that expressed only one type of the internalins were shown to have intermediate attachment strength. These results suggest that both InlA and InlB expression play a significant role in the attachment strength of L. monocytogenes on glass surface.
Event dissemination via group-aware stream filtering

We consider a distributed system that disseminates high-volume event streams to many simultaneous monitoring applications over a low-bandwidth network. For bandwidth efficiency, we propose a group-aware stream filtering approach, used together with multicasting, that exploits two overlooked, yet important, properties of monitoring applications: 1) many of them can tolerate some degree of "slack" in their data quality requirements, and 2) there may exist multiple subsets of the source data satisfying the quality needs of an application. We can thus choose the "best alternative" subset for each application to maximize the data overlap within the group to best benefit from multicasting. We provide a general framework that treats the group-aware stream filtering problem completely; we prove the problem NP-hard and thus provide a suite of heuristic algorithms that ensure data quality (specifically, granularity and timeliness) while preserving bandwidth. Our evaluation shows that group-aware stream filtering is effective in trading CPU time for bandwidth savings, compared with self-interested filtering.
Expression of kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) in relation to necrosis and apoptosis during the early stages of Cd-induced proximal tubule injury

Cadmium (Cd) is a nephrotoxic industrial and environmental pollutant that causes a generalized dysfunction of the proximal tubule. Kim-1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is normally not detectable in non-injured kidney, but is up-regulated and shed into the urine during the early stages of Cd-induced proximal tubule injury. The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between the Cd-induced increase in Kim-1 expression and the onset of necrotic and apoptotic cell death in the proximal tubule. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 0.6 mg (5.36 μmoles) Cd/kg, subcutaneously, 5 days per week for up to 12 weeks. Urine samples were analyzed for levels of Kim-1 and the enzymatic markers of cell death, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alpha-glutathione-S-transferase (α-GST). In addition, necrotic cells were specifically labeled by perfusing the kidneys in situ with ethidium homodimer using a procedure that has been recently developed and validated in the Prozialeck laboratory. Cryosections of the kidneys were also processed for the immunofluorescent visualization of Kim-1 and the identification of apoptotic cells by TUNEL labeling. Results showed that significant levels of Kim-1 began to appear in the urine after 6 weeks of Cd treatment, whereas the levels of total protein, α-GST and LDH were not increased until 8–12 weeks. Results of immunofluorescence labeling studies showed that after 6 weeks and 12 weeks, Kim-1 was expressed in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubule, but that there was no increase in the number of necrotic cells, and only a modest increase in the number of apoptotic cells at 12 weeks. These results indicate that the Cd-induced increase in Kim-1 expression occurs before the onset of necrosis and at a point where there is only a modest level of apoptosis in the proximal tubule.