cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification and characterization of a 5′-nucleotidase from Zea mays microsomes

Abstract A 5′-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) from Zea mays seedling shoot microsomes has been purified 125-fold to apparent homogeneity. The enzyme is competitively inhibited by cAMP (Ki = 5.2 μM) and is also inhibited by adenosine in a noncompetitive manner (Ki ⪕ 57 μM). The inhibition by adenosine allowed us to distinguish the specific 5′-nucleotidase activity from that of nonspecific acid phosphatase activity in crude tissue homogenates. When an assay base on that observation is used, about half of the total 5′-nucleotidase activity in a crude homogenate is estimated to be associated with the microsomal membranes. The microsomal enzyme has been solubilized and purified. Estimates from gel filtration and from gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecylsulphate suggest that the enzyme is composed of two subunits of Mr 24 500 and 25 500. The purified enzyme is specific for nucleoside monophosphates, with the activity assayed with p-nitrophenyl phosphates, α- and β-glycerol phosphates and ribose-5-phosphate ranging from 0 to 3% of that with 5′-AMP. Km values for purine nucleotides are somewhat lower than for pyrimidine nucleotides. Divalent cations had no effect on the enzyme activity. A possible role for the enzyme in nucleotide pool size regulation is discussed.
Low Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-2 Expression Is Responsible for Increased Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 Phosphorylation in Mesangial Cells from Mice Susceptible to Glomerulosclerosis

Mesangial cells (MC) isolated from glomerulosclerosis-prone ragged, olygosyndactilism, pintail (ROP) mice retain a stable phenotype after exposure to elevated glucose concentrations, whereas MC from glomerulosclerosis-resistant C57BL/6 (C) mice do not. In NOD and db/db mice, the stable phenotype induced by diabetes consists of autocrine activation of the IGF-I signaling pathway. We hypothesized that high ambient glucose activates the IGF-I pathway in ROP but not in C MC. MC were propagated in either 6 or 25 mm glucose. Isolated murine glomeruli were used to confirm in vitro experiments. 25 mm glucose induced increased insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 phosphorylation in ROP but not C MC. However, IGF-I, IGF-I receptor, and IRS-1 protein levels were induced by exposure to 25 mm glucose in both cell lines. This occurred without a change in IGF-I binding sites, suggesting a role for IGF binding protein (IGFBP). ROP MC and glomeruli expressed less IGFBP-2 than C MC and glomeruli. Addition of exogenous IGFBP-2 partially blunted the effect of 25 mm glucose on IRS-1 phosphorylation in ROP MC. Renal biopsies from patients with diabetic nephropathy also showed markedly decreased IGFBP-2 expression when compared with patients without nephropathy. In summary, glucose induces IRS-1 phosphorylation in MC isolated from ROP mice susceptible to glomerulosclerosis. IGFBP-2 expression was low in ROP MC and glomeruli from patients with diabetic nephropathy, suggesting that this may represent a new marker of susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy. Finally, addition of exogenous IGFBP-2 in ROP MC partially blunted the effect of high glucose on IRS-1 phosphorylation and might have a protective role.
The encephalopathy associated with murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

: Mice infected with the LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus (MuLV) develop an immune deficiency syndrome together with an encephalopathy characterized by impairments in spatial learning and memory. These cognitive deficits are evident before the appearance of neuron loss and lymphoid cell invasion of the brain. Nonetheless, a prominent gliosis and a variety of neurochemical changes precede the development of cognitive deficits. The neurochemical abnormalities include significant decreases in striatal Met-enkephalin and substance P (but not somatostatin), increases in concentrations of quinolinic acid and platelet-activating factor, and alterations in brain fyn kinase. At this stage of the infection, some of these neurochemical changes can be reversed by glutamate receptor antagonists, cytokine inhibitors, and anti-retroviral agents. In later stages of the infection, however, the infected mice develop irreversible neuronal loss, invasion of hematopoietic cells, and increased viral burden in the CNS. In addition, motor-neuron dysfunction (hindlimb paralysis, weakness, and ataxia) and seizures are sometimes observed during the late stages of infection. Thus, the LP-BM5 MuLV-infected mouse is a useful model for studying the chronology of neurodegenerative changes, ranging from reversible neuron dysfunction to irreversible neuron loss, that are associated with retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency.
Live attenuated polio vaccine and the risk of intussusception.

Aims Since suspicion has been raised that administration of an oral live attenuated rotavirus vaccine may increase the risk of intussusception in young children, there has been concern about the possible effects of oral polio vaccine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between oral attenuated polio vaccine and intussusception in children below the age of 1 year. Methods We conducted a nested case-control analysis based on data from the General Practice Research Database which encompassed 133 children who developed documented intussusception during the first year of life and 515 controls. Results The time from oral polio vaccine to the index date was similar in cases and controls. Relative risk estimates for intussusception ranged from 0.7 (95% CI 0.2, 2.1) for babies whose last oral polio vaccine was given 29-35 days before their index date to 1.0 (95% CI 0.4, 2.3) for those whose last oral polio vaccine was given 15-21 days before their index date (compared with babies vaccinated more than 43 days before their index date). Conclusions There is no suggestion that oral polio vaccine increases the risk for intussusception.
The amniotic fluid index, single deepest pocket, and two-diameter pocket in normal human pregnancy.

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to determine normative values for amniotic fluid index, single deepest pocket, and 2-diameter pocket across gestation. Study Design: Fifty patients with normal pregnancies at each gestational age between 14 and 41 weeks' gestation were recruited prospectively and scanned once. Data were transformed into logarithmic (base 10) values for analysis. Polynomial regression equations were used to predict the normal values for amniotic fluid index, single deepest pocket, and 2-diameter pocket across gestational age and to predict the weekly percentage changes. Results: The mean amniotic fluid index, single deepest pocket, and 2-diameter pocket values were significantly lower among patients at P 2 ) were significantly different ( P 24 cm, single deepest pocket >8 cm, or 2-diameter pocket >50 cm 2 ) was also diagnosed with significantly different ( P Conclusions: This is the largest prospective study to date to provide normative data for each of three ultrasonographic techniques used to assess amniotic fluid volume. The single deepest pocket appears to be the preferable method, because its use is least likely to lead to the false-positive diagnosis of either oligohydramnios or hydramnios. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:1581-8.)
The scientific basis for using surveillance and risk factor data to reduce nosocomial infection rates

Research over the past 20 years has demonstrated that an active programme of surveillance with feedback of surgical wound infection rates to surgeons can reduce subsequent rates by 30-40%. For surveillance data and feedback to be meaningful and influential, however, certain rigorous methodological principles must be observed. First, surveillance data must be collected in an accurate, efficient and confidential manner. This requires written definitions of infection, regular clinical case-finding, post-discharge follow up for short-staying patients, and computer storage, analysis and reporting of the data in coded form that does not publicly identify individuals. Second, the variation in intrinsic risk of the patients of the various surgeons must be controlled for by stratifying the final infection rates on a multivariate risk index, which combines the traditional classes of wound contamination with measures of intrinsic patient susceptibility. This can be accomplished with a relatively small commitment of time by the Infection Control Nurse with the aid of sophisticated computer software that is now available.
Cybercrimes against critical infrastructures: a study of online criminal organization and techniques

A nation’s critical infrastructure (CI) includes those socio‐economic entities (transportation, telecommunications, water supply systems) that are crucial to its everyday functioning and security. ...
The etiological agent of cytoplasmic incompatibility in Culex pipiens.

Abstract All individuals of Culex pipiens (wide sense) which have been examined were infected with Wolbachia pipientis . Larvae reared in tetracycline were freed of these symbiotes and remained free (aposymbiotic) in future generations. When males were freed of their symbiotes, they no longer displayed incompatibility. Aposymbiotic males were compatible with all females, whether infected or not. Aposymbiotic females, on the other hand, laid fertile eggs after mating with aposymbiotic males, but not after mating with normal males. Most eggs laid by aposymbiotic females after mating with normal males showed no development at all, even though the females had been inseminated.
Tensile-strained AlGaAsP and InGaAsP-(AlGa)/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/P quantum well laser diodes for TM-mode emission in the wavelength range 650 </spl lambda/<850 nm

TM-polarized laser emission is demonstrated at wavelengths longer than 650 nm, for (AlGa)/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/P-based laser diodes. These structures contain tensile-strained AlGaAsP or InGaAsP quantum well active regions, which are capable of spanning a wavelength range of roughly 650-850 nm, for TM-mode lasers on GaAs substrates. This represents an extension of the wavelength range available from typical GaInP-(AlGa)/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/P lasers, where the requirement for biaxial tension limits the TM-mode wavelengths to less than 650 nm. In addition, compared to AlGaAs confining structures, the high-bandgap (AlGa)/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/P confinement structure used here makes AlGaAs(P) active regions feasible at shorter wavelengths, with good performance maintained for 670 >
Evaluation of the YSI 2300 glucose analyzer: Algorithm-corrected results are accurate and specific

Abstract Objectives: To insure commutability (equivalence) between whole blood and plasma glucose values and to assess potential interferences in glucose oxidase methods. Design and Methods: We compared plasma glucose results by the Ektachem 700 analyzer to glucose results on whole blood by the Nova Stat Profile 6, and by the YSI 2300, both without hematocrit correction (YSI unc ) and with two different hematocrit (Hct) corrections. The two correction methods were: (a) whole blood results multiplied by 1.11 (YSI 1.11 ), and (b) whole blood results corrected for Hct with the programmed YSI algorithm (YSI cor ). Several compounds were tested for interference. Results: 88% of YSI cor results agreed with plasma results within ±5%, and 78% of Nova and 74% of YSI 1.11 results were within this limit. YSI cor results were unaffected by Hct and were valid even when erythrocyte size was abnormal. At low Hct, Nova results were falsely decreased, while YSI 1.11 results were falsely elevated. The Ektachem was most affected by ascorbic acid, and the Nova was especially affected by acetaminophen. Conclusions: The YSI algorithm-corrected whole blood glucose results were commutable with plasma results and the YSI was unaffected by the compounds tested, including acetaminophen and acetylsalicylic acid.
Phase space representation of pseudo oscillator

We introduce a pseudo-diagonal representation of an operator and discuss some of its applications to the phase space formulation of a pseudo-oscillator.
Shamanism: An Inquiry into the History of the Scholarly Use of the Term in English-Speaking North America

In this paper, I discuss the results of a large-scale archival and data base research project that investigated the history of the scholarly use of the terms shamanism and shaman in English-speaking North America. This was done to provide a historical grounding in the hope of arriving at an operationally sound definition of the term. Twomajor findings emerged from the data: first, current uses of the terms shamanism and shaman are inadequate for any discussion of the phenomenon from a historical perspective; second, the terms shamanism and shaman have been widely used in English-speaking North America by researchers, scholars, scientists, and lay people for more than a 100 years, and the use of the term has changed greatly in this time, complicating any possibility of arriving at an agreed-upon operational definition. I discuss these two research findings and how they fit into contemporary uses of the terms, concluding that current definitions and understandings of this phenomenon are unduly circumscribed, largely the result of historical research orientations. I then suggest future research questions and call for a concise, workable understanding of the phenomenon of shamanism.
DIFFUSION IN SATURATED SOIL. II: RESULTS FOR COMPACTED CLAY

The effective diffusion coefficients, \ID\N*, of three anions (Br\u-, Cl\u-, and I\u-) and three cations (Cd²\u+, K\u+, and Zn²\u+) diffusing in two compacted clay soils, kaolinite and Lufkin clay, are measured. The ions are contained in a simulated waste leachate. The effects of molding water content and method of compaction on the measured \ID\N* values are evaluated for kaolinite. The calculated \ID\N* values varied between 4 × 10\u-¹\u0 m²/s and 2 × 10\u-\u9 m²/s and, based on the results for chloride diffusion in kaolinite, are relatively insensitive to molding water content and compaction method. The measured \ID\N* values for Cl\u- and Br\u- in kaolinite are in excellent agreement with previous studies, but the \ID\N* values for the cations are relatively high. High \ID\N* values for the cations are attributed to nonlinear adsorption behavior at relatively high concentrations and to the possibility of chemical precipitation of the heavy metal species (Cd²\u+ and Zn²\u+). Also, \ID\N* values determined from reservoir concentrations typically are higher than \ID\N* values determined from soil concentration profiles.
Novel association of APC with intermediate filaments identified using a new versatile APC antibody

As a key player in suppression of colon tumorigenesis, Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) has been widely studied to determine its cellular functions. However, inconsistencies of commercially available APC antibodies have limited the exploration of APC function. APC is implicated in spindle formation by direct interactions with tubulin and microtubule-binding protein EB1. APC also interacts with the actin cytoskeleton to regulate cell polarity. Until now, interaction of APC with the third cytoskeletal element, intermediate filaments, has remained unexamined. We generated an APC antibody (APC-M2 pAb) raised against the 15 amino acid repeat region, and verified its reliability in applications including immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence in cultured cells and tissue. Utilizing this APC-M2 pAb, we immunoprecipitated endogenous APC and its binding proteins from colon epithelial cells expressing wild-type APC. Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we identified 42 proteins in complex with APC, including β-catenin and intermediate filament (IF) proteins lamin B1 and keratin 81. Association of lamin B1 with APC in cultured cells and human colonic tissue was verified by co-immunoprecipitation and colocalization. APC also colocalized with keratins and remained associated with IF proteins throughout a sequential extraction procedure. We introduce a versatile APC antibody that is useful for cell/tissue immunostaining, immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation. We also present evidence for interactions between APC and IFs, independent of actin filaments and microtubules. Our results suggest that APC associates with all three major components of the cytoskeleton, thus expanding potential roles for APC in the regulation of cytoskeletal integrity.
Linear accelerator radiosurgery for nonvestibular schwannomas.

BACKGROUND: Nonvestibular schwannomas are uncommon tumors of the brain often treated by surgical resection. Surgery may be associated with high morbidity. OBJECTIVE: We present a series of nonvestibular schwannomas treated with linear accelerator radiosurgery during a 19-year period. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent treatment of nonvestibular schwannomas at the University of Florida with linear accelerator radiosurgery between August 1989 and February 2008. Forty-nine patients underwent treatment during the study period, and 6 were lost to follow up. The mean age was 51 years (range, 17-82 years), 39% had previous surgical resection, and 67% presented with preradiosurgery cranial nerve deficits. There were 25 trigeminal, 18 jugular foramen, 2 facial, 2 oculomotor, 1 hypoglossal, and 1 high cervical schwannomas. The median tumor volume was 5.3 mL (range, 0.3-24.5 mL), treated with a median dose of 1250 cGy (range, 1000-1500 cGy). Study endpoints were actuarial local tumor control and neurological outcome. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were available for a median follow-up of 37 months (range, 6-210 months). Actuarial local tumor control was 97% at 1 year, 91 % at 4.5 years, and 83% at 5 years. There were 4 new cranial nerve deficits (9%) including facial numbness (2 patients), anesthesia dolorosa (1 patient), and facial weakness (1 patient). Thirty-nine percent had documented clinical and/or symptomatic improvement. There were no other morbidity and no mortality with treatment. CONCLUSION: Radiosurgery for nonvestibular schwannomas offers good actuarial local tumor control and has superior morbidity compared with surgical resection. This is the largest linear accelerator radiosurgical series, and the second largest radiosurgical series reported to date.
Acidification and anadromous fish of Atlantic estuaries

The Hudson River Foundation convened a conference to evaluate evidence pertaining to the roles played by acid deposition and stream acidification in the decline of anadromous fish populations along the Atlantic coastal plain. The stimuli for the conference were that (1) some populations of Atlantic salmon, American shad, hickory shad, alewives, blueback herring and striped bass as well as a few species resident in coastal streams (yellow perch and white perch) are in a state of severe decline along portions of the east coast of North America; (2) several of these species have declined more or less simultaneously since about 1970; and (3) severe episodic pH depressions are observed in some streams of the Chesapeake Bay system. For example, the pH of Lyons Creek decreased from 7.0 to 5.9 in 1 hr during a rain event, returning to 7.0 a day later. After discussing several possible mechanisms for these observations, the conferees agreed that a combination of factors including stream and river acidification, toxic metals and organic compounds, eutrophication and overfishing appears to be contributing to the reduction in fish stocks. The essential point resulting from the conference is that the acid deposition hypotheses for stream acidification and declines of anadromous fish populations, a potential mechanism that has received very little attention heretofore, was shown to be viable for these coastal areas. Specific recommendations for research were agreed upon by the conferees.
Effects of Solvents on the Electrical Resistance of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) on Textiles

The chemical resistance of Poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) was tested in both organic and inorganic solvents including Chloroform, DMSO, Xylene, THF, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride. PEDOT was synthesized via the vapor-phase polymerization and coated on PET/cotton, cotton and polyester textile substrates. Electrical resistances of the PEDOT were measured both before and after chemical treatments. The morphological changes after treatments were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The PEDOT coated fabrics demonstrated excellent chemical-resistant property since its electrical resistance maintained on the order of magnitude of 100 ohm after treatment in almost all the solvents except NaOH with which a remarkable increasing of electrical resistance occurred due to disappearing PEDOT from the substrate indicating its potential to be a good solvent for PEDOT.
Influence of left ventricular function on outcome of patients treated with implantable defibrillators

BACKGROUND The outcomes of patients treated with implantable defibrillators were compared between patients with left ventricular ejection fraction greater than or equal to 30% and less than 30%. METHODS AND RESULTS Of 68 consecutive patients treated with implantable defibrillators, 40 patients (group 1) had left ventricular ejection fraction greater than or equal to 30%, and 28 patients (group 2) had left ventricular ejection fraction less than 30%. Sudden death, surgical mortality, nonsudden arrhythmia-related death (death within 24 hours after an arrhythmic event despite initial termination of the arrhythmia by the implantable defibrillator), total arrhythmia-related death (including sudden death, surgical death, and nonsudden arrhythmia-related death), and total cardiac death were compared between the two groups. Surgical mortality was 4.4% (0% in group 1, 11% in group 2). During the follow-up of 31 +/- 27 months, actuarial survival rates free of events were 97%, 97%, and 97% in group 1 and 96%, 91%, and 82% in group 2 at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, for sudden death (p = NS); 97%, 97%, and 97% in group 1 and 85%, 81%, and 72% in group 2 at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, for sudden death and surgical mortality (p less than 0.05); 97%, 97%, and 97% in group 1 and 82%, 78%, and 70% in group 2 at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, for total arrhythmia-related death (p less than 0.05); and 95%, 95%, and 95% in group 1 and 82%, 69%, and 57% in group 2 at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, for total cardiac death (p less than 0.05). Four (57%) of seven nonsudden cardiac deaths during the initial 36-month follow-up period were causally related to arrhythmia (three surgical deaths and one arrhythmia-related nonsudden death). CONCLUSIONS The outcome of patients treated with implantable defibrillators is strongly influenced by the degree of left ventricular dysfunction. In group 1 patients, surgical mortality, sudden death, and total cardiac death are rare. In group 2, sudden death rate may not be markedly different from that of group 1 patients. However, the risk of therapy (surgical mortality) is high. Many nonsudden cardiac deaths are causally related to arrhythmia (surgical mortality or nonsudden arrhythmia-related death). Therefore, the survival rate free of total arrhythmia-related death is significantly lower in group 2 (70% versus 97% in group 1 at 3 years). Further studies are needed to determine the roles of defibrillator therapy and other therapies in various clinical settings.
Clinical evaluation of 252Cf neutron intracavitary therapy for primary endometrial adenocarcinoma

Background. A pilot feasibility study of the neutron-emitting radioisotope 252Cf was done on patients with uterine adenocarcinoma and medically inoperable disease or unfavorable G3 histologic findings. Methods. 252Cf intracavitary therapy was combined with 40–45 Gy of fractionated whole-pelvis photon therapy. In select patients, hysterectomy was performed. Results. Thirty-one patients with Stage I–III adenocarcinoma of the corpus uteri were treated with 252Cf neutron brachytherapy. The patients treated often were in poor general medical condition and had multiple chronic medical illnesses for which conventional radiation and surgery usually would not be recommended. 252Cf allowed short implant treatment time (hours), was usable in a small number of insertions (the average number of insertions was two), and was useful for treating large volume tumors. Stage and grade of the tumor were important determinants of patient survival. The 5-year actuarial survival was 83% for patients with Stage I disease but only 37% for those with Stage II disease (primarily adenosquamous cell carcinomas). The 5-year survival was 100% for patients with Grade 1 tumors, 88% for those with Grade 2 tumors, and 21% for those with Grade 3 tumors. Conclusion. 252Cf neutron brachytherapy was found to be an effective and well-tolerated therapy for endometrial carcinoma. The excellent therapeutic efficacy and good patient tolerance make it suitable for additional evaluation in future Phase II-III trials.
Parental Intention to Support Video Game Play by Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine parental attitudes regarding engagement with video games by their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and whether attitudes vary based on...
Sodium-potassium-dependent ATPase. III. Cytochemical localization during the reversal of in utero induced galactose cataracts in rat

Our previous ultrastructural cytochemistry and spectrophotometric studies of the adult Sprague Dawl ey rat ocular lens exhibited a decrease in the level of ouabain-sensitive Na-K-ATPase activity during galactose-induced cataractogenesis. Most of the enzyme activity was reinstated 130-days following the switch to a galactose-free diet after the establishment of cataracts in the animals. At this stage, however, a small nuclear opacity remained and normal Na-K-ATPase activity was not reestablished. In contrast, in in utero induced cataracts (through maternal feeding of galactose during pregnancy) the opacity was completely reversed 30-days postpartum. Results on Na-K-ATPase activity levels and localization in lenses of the newborn undergoing the cataract reversal process are presented in the present report. Methods reported by Ernst (1972) for cytochemical localization and quantisation of this enzyme were used for this study. The electron-dense reaction product for Na-K-ATPase was located and confined to lat...
Favorable outcome after infusion of coagulase-negative staphylococci-contaminated peripheral blood hematopoietic cells for autologous transplantation.

Abstract Bacterial contamination of peripheral blood hematopoietic cells collected for autologous bone marrow transplantation occurs sporadically. Although transfusion of contaminated hematopoietic cells without adverse clinical sequelae has been reported, detailed guidelines for transfusing cells with contamination are not available. We report a case of autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation that necessitated using multiple aliquots of peripheral blood hematopoietic cells known to be contaminated with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus bacteria. Prophylactic intravenous antibiotic therapy was given with the infusion of contaminated hematopoietic cells. The patient had positive results on a blood culture, but engraftment was successful, and serious adverse effects did not occur. With appropriate microbial identification and prophylactic antibiotic therapy, contaminated hematopoietic products can be safely infused when necessary with a good clinical outcome.
Long-term Clarithromycin Decreases Prednisone Requirements in Elderly Patients With Prednisone-Dependent Asthma

Prolonged use of prednisone is associated with serious side effects, such as osteoporosis, particularly among elderly individuals. Macrolide antibiotics exhibit anti-inflammatory effects that are distinct from their antimicrobial properties. Thus, the purpose of this case report is to describe the effects of prolonged treatment with clarithromycin, 500 mg bid, in reducing prednisone requirements in three elderly patients with prednisone-dependent asthma. Three patients (one woman and two men) aged 63 to 69 years, who had been treated with 5 to 10 mg prednisone daily for at least the last 12 months, were given clarithromycin, 500 mg bid. They were followed regularly for changes in daily prednisone dose, spirometry, quality of life, and adverse events. The prednisone dose was tapered in a stepwise fashion at each clinic visit. Within 3 to 6 months of initiation of treatment with clarithromycin, and throughout the 12-month follow-up, two of three patients discontinued prednisone therapy, while the third patient displayed increased spirometry readings and noted an increasingly better quality of life. Pulmonary function tests were stable or improved over this time period, with no reported adverse events, including increased rate of infections. One patient relapsed upon discontinuation of clarithromycin therapy but has since responded to re-initiation of treatment. Long-term oral clarithromycin may have a role in reducing prednisone requirements in elderly patients with prednisone-dependent asthma.
An Equation Relating the Diffuse Reflectance of Weakly Absorbing Powdered Samples to the Fundamental Optical Parameters

By representing a powdered sample as a collection of rough-surfaced spherical particles of uniform diameter, an equation was derived which relates the diffuse reflectance to the index of refraction, absorption coefficient and particle diameter. The equation, which is extremely simple in form for convenient application, is applicable for weakly absorbing powdered samples. It was tested by the use of published experimental data.
Transient analysis of a suddenly-opening crack in a coupled thermoelastic solid with thermal relaxation

For a semiinfinite crack that opens in an unbounded thermoelastic solid initially at rest under uniform plane-strain tension at uniform temperature, the governing equations contain as special cases the Fourier model, and two thermal relaxation models with, respectively, one and two relaxation times. Integral transforms reduce the initial/mixed boundary value problem to a Wiener‐Hopf equation. Its solution produces analytical expressions for temporal transforms of normal stress and temperature change near the crack edge. For 4340 steel, numerical inversions allow comparisons of the crack edge stress for the three thermoelastic models with the isothermal result, and temperature change at the crack edge for the two thermal relaxation models with the Fourier model result. Calculations indicate that thermoelasticity has a mild relaxation effect on the stress, and that temperature changes for the thermal relaxation model are much larger than those that arise for the Fourier model just after the crack opens. After a time interval in the order of a nanosecond, however, the Fourier changes are larger, although the deviation is minuscule.
Decentralized control of robot manipulators via state and proportional-integral feedback

Asymptotic regulation to a constant set-point by state feedback, and PI (proportional integral) control is considered for n-link multibody systems. Global asymptotic stability of these regulators is shown using Lyapunov's direct methods. The main contribution is the exclusion of explicit gravity cancellation. The implication of the above is the ensuing robustness of the controllers to parameter and payload variations. Furthermore, it is shown that the controllers can be implemented in a decentralized manner at each joint despite the nonlinear interconnections among the joints. >
Expression cloning for arsenite-resistance resulted in isolation of tumor-suppressor fau cDNA: possible involvement of the ubiquitin system in arsenic carcinogenesis

Arsenic is a human carcinogen whose mechanism of action is unknown. Previously, this laboratory demonstrated that arsenite acts as a comutagen by interfering with DNA repair, although a specific DNA repair enzyme sensitive to arsenite has not been identified. A number of stable arsenite-sensitive and arsenite-resistant sublines of Chinese hamster V79 cells have now been isolated. In order to gain understanding of possible targets for arsenite’s action, one arsenite-resistant subline, As/R28A, was chosen as a donor for a cDNA expression library. The library from arsenite-induced As/R28A cells was transfected into arsenite-sensitive As/S5 cells, and transfectants were selected for arsenite-resistance. Two cDNAs, asr1 and asr2, which confer arsenite resistance to arsenite-hypersensitive As/S5 cells as well as to wild-type cells, were isolated. asr1 shows almost complete homology with the rat fau gene, a tumor suppressor gene which contains a ubiquitin-like region fused to S30 ribosomal protein. Arsenite was previously shown to inhibit ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. These results suggest that the tumor suppressor fau gene product or some other aspect of the ubiquitin system may be a target for arsenic toxicity and that disruption of the ubiquitin system may contribute to the genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of arsenite.
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) microarrays

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell surface proteins involved in transmitting extracellular signals to the interior of the cell. These membrane-spanning proteins constitute one of the most important families of drug targets. Despite their importance, the power and utility of microarray technology has not been extended to GPCRs or other membrane proteins because of issues due to immobilization - these proteins typically need to be embedded in membrane environment to maintain their native conformations. This paper describes the fabrication of GPCR microarrays by conventional robotic pin-printing and demonstrates straightforward assays for screening of ligands on these arrays. GPCRs, obtained as membrane preparations form cell lines over-expressing particular GPCRs, were arrayed using a quill-pin printer. The arrays were incubated with solutions of labeled cognate ligands and unlabeled compounds, and imaged using a fluorescence scanner. The assays conducted were designed to test: (i) the specificity of ligand binding among different families of GPCRs; (ii) the selectivity of ligand binding and inhibition among different members of a GPCR family; (iii) the affinity of ligand binding. The results showed highly selective binding of ligands to arrays of receptors, with affinities similar to those reported in the literature and obtained suing other techniques. This demonstration of membrane-protein arrays and associated assays overcomes a fundamental limitation in protein microchip technology - the lack of practical microarray based methods for membrane proteins.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A shape-independent method for pedestrian detection with far-infrared images

Nighttime driving is more dangerous than daytime driving-particularly for senior drivers. Three to four times as many driving-related deaths occur at night than in the daytime. To improve the safety of night driving, automatic pedestrian detection based on infrared images has drawn increased attention because pedestrians tend to stand out more against the background in infrared images than they do in visible light images. Nevertheless, pedestrian detection in infrared images is by no means trivial-many of the known difficulties carry over from visible light images, such as image variability occasioned by pedestrians being in different poses. Typically, several different pedestrian templates have to be used in order to deal with a range of poses. Furthermore, pedestrian detection is difficult because of poor infrared image quality (low resolution, low contrast, few distinguishable feature points, little texture information, etc.) and misleading signals. To address these problems, this paper introduces a shape-independent pedestrian-detection method. Our segmentation algorithm first estimates pedestrians' horizontal locations through projection-based horizontal segmentation and then determines pedestrians' vertical locations through brightness/bodyline-based vertical segmentation. Our classification method defines multidimensional histogram-, inertia-, and contrast-based classification features. The features are shape-independent, complementary to one another, and capture the statistical similarities of image patches containing pedestrians with different poses. Thus, our pedestrian-detection system needs only one pedestrian template-corresponding to a generic walking pose-and avoids brute-force searching for pedestrians throughout whole images, which typically involves brightness-similarity comparisons between candidate image patches and a multiplicity of pedestrian templates. Our pedestrian-detection system is neither based on tracking nor does it depend on camera calibration to determine the relationship between an object's height and its vertical image locations. Thus, it is less restricted in applicability. Even if much work is still needed to bridge the gap between present pedestrian-detection performance and the high reliability required for real-world applications, our pedestrian-detection system is straightforward and provides encouraging results in improving speed, reliability, and simplicity.
A Psychogenetic Perspective on Children's Understanding about Letter Associations during Alphabet Book Readings:

This study examined two preschoolers' understandings about letter associations during repeated alphabet book read alouds with their parents from a Piagetian perspective. Data for the present investigation was excerpted from a larger study in which six preschoolers, ages 3½ to 4½, read seven picture storybooks and two alphabet books three times each in a multiple baseline design over approximately a 30-day period. Applying the principles of Piaget's clinical or inquiry method, a qualitative analysis of the two children's responses to their parents' prompts or use of the formulaic phrase " is for " showed that neither one associated representative letters with the beginning sounds of names or other appropriate words. Letters were either associated indiscriminately with objects in the pictures or with words in the oral dialogue, irrespective of their beginning sounds. A psychogenetic theory of alphabet book reading is postulated where children first associate letters with any pictured object, then with selected words in the oral text, and only later with initial sound segments. Implications for research and practice regarding the slow evolution of metalinguisti c differentiatio n at the phoneme level and the influence of genre on parent-child discourse are offered.
Time and Frequency Domain Representations of Futures Prices as a Stochastic Process

Abstract Speculative markets have often been characterized as exhibiting random price behavior where prices tend to move in a series of unconnected steps. The hypothesis of random behavior in commodity markets is investigated by three tests of randomness for a total of 167 futures contracts representing a variety of commodities. The autocorrelation function, spectral density function, and integrated period-ogram are estimated for each futures contract. The empirical results indicate that futures price behavior cannot generally be characterized by a simple random walk model, though several commodities appear to yield random behavior.
Impacts of renewables obligation with recycling of the buy-out fund

Tradable green certificate (TGC) or renewables obligation (RO) programs typically include a buy-out option, but only in the UK the buy-out fund is redistributed back to the suppliers who have submitted the certificates. We show that when the buy-out fund is redistributed, the supply of renewable energy responds positively to the market conditions and renewables target. Without it, the buy-out rate is equivalent to a maximum price. However, redistribution of the buy-out fund may induce strategic behavior from producers who have market power. We analyze the impacts of market power and integration on the supply of conventional and renewable energy under the RO program with the buy-out fund recycled, and devise some empirical tests to predict these impacts. Policy implications of this study are discussed with special reference to the new FiT CfD system.
Evaluation of Production Systems for Progeny of Beef Sires with Higher Marbling Expected Progeny Differences

ABSTRACT Two experiments evaluated higher-marbling, expected progeny difference (EPD) Angus sires on progeny growth, carcass traits, and meat composition. In trial 1, 40 progeny of sires with either high or low EPD for marbling were evaluated for feedlot performance, disposition score, carcass traits, palatability, and fat composition. Half of the cattle in each marbling group were harvested at an estimated 1.0 cm s.c. fat, and the remainder were harvested at an estimated 1.5 cm s.c. fat. In trial 2, 20 steers from high-marbling EPD sires were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments prior to entering a feedlot: 1) weaned at 170 d of age and backgrounded for 40 d; 2) weaned at 170 d of age; 3) weaned at 212 d of age and backgrounded for 40 d; or 4) weaned at 212 d of age. All steers were harvested at an estimated 1.25 cm s.c. fat. In trial 1, marbling score was significantly different for sire group. Percentage USDA choice carcasses and YG were different for sire and harvest groups (P
Cardiac Myosin-binding Protein C and Troponin-I Phosphorylation Independently Modulate Myofilament Length-dependent Activation

β-Adrenergic stimulation in heart leads to increased contractility and lusitropy via activation of protein kinase A (PKA). In the cardiac sarcomere, both cardiac myosin binding protein C (cMyBP-C) and troponin-I (cTnI) are prominent myofilament targets of PKA. Treatment of permeabilized myocardium with PKA induces enhanced myofilament length-dependent activation (LDA), the cellular basis of the Frank-Starling cardiac regulatory mechanism. It is not known, however, which of these targets mediates the altered LDA and to what extent. Here, we employed two genetic mouse models in which the three PKA sites in cMyBP-C were replaced with either phospho-mimic (DDD) or phospho-null (AAA) residues. AAA- or DDD-permeabilized myocytes (n = 12-17) were exchanged (~93%) for recombinant cTnI in which the two PKA sites were mutated to either phospho-mimic (DD) or phospho-null (AA) residues. Force-[Ca(2+)] relationships were determined at two sarcomere lengths (SL = 1.9 μm and SL = 2.3 μm). Data were fit to a modified Hill equation for each individual cell preparation at each SL. LDA was indexed as ΔEC50, the difference in [Ca(2+)] required to achieve 50% force activation at the two SLs. We found that PKA-mediated phosphorylation of cMyBP-C and cTnI each independently contribute to enhance myofilament length-dependent activation properties of the cardiac sarcomere, with relative contributions of ~67 and ~33% for cMyBP-C for cTnI, respectively. We conclude that β-adrenergic stimulation enhances the Frank-Starling regulatory mechanism predominantly via cMyBP-C PKA-mediated phosphorylation. We speculate that this molecular mechanism enhances cross-bridge formation at long SL while accelerating cross-bridge detachment and relaxation at short SLs.
Abstract P3-05-14: Modeling chemoendocrine therapy for ER+/p53wt luminal breast cancer

Background ER+ breast cancers are predominantly p53 wildtype (wt). Despite this genotype, these cancers are relatively resistant to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in the presence of estrogen. Thus, current clinical practice is to administer hormonal therapy and chemotherapy sequentially rather than concurrently. Using the ER+/p53wt cell line MCF-7, we previously demonstrated that ER bound by either the ER agonist estradiol or partial antagonist tamoxifen inhibits the expression of a set of proapoptotic p53 target genes, whereas the full ER antagonist fulvestrant, a selective ER downregulator (SERD), removes the ER-mediated suppression of these genes, sensitizing breast cancer cells to p53-mediated cell death .We hypothesize that effective chemoendocrine therapy requires complete ER antagonism resulting in ER downregulation, increased p53 activity, and ultimately apoptosis. Methods: To model mechanisms of tumor sensitivity and resistance to therapy in vivo, therapeutic experiments were performed in immunodeficient mice bearing ER+/p53wt tumor xenografts derived from a 61-year-old African-American female with grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. The mice were randomly assigned to the following treatment groups: A) fulvestrant B) tamoxifen, C) doxorubicin, D) fulvestrant plus doxorubicin, E) tamoxifen plus doxorubicin, and F) control. Tumors were measured weekly for 42 days to determine treatment effects on growth. In addition, RNA was harvested from tumors at an early time point for RNA sequencing to determine genes regulated by the treatments. Results: Combination therapy comprising doxorubicin plus fulvestrant resulted in tumor regression compared with single-agent or doxorubicin plus tamoxifen treatment, which inhibited the growth of tumors but did not lead to their regression. Conclusions: Current paradigms for the treatment of ER+ breast cancer either in the adjuvant or advanced setting have involved the sequential use of endocrine therapy and chemotherapy. This protocol is partially based on evidence of potential antagonism between tamoxifen and chemotherapy as observed in early studies. Our published work in vitro and the preclinical study presented here suggest that complete ER antagonism with SERDs such as fulvestrant is required to overcome the ability of ER to block p53-mediated apoptosis. Our results suggest treatments involving fulvestrant concurrent with chemotherapies involving p53 activation should be considered for the treatment of patients with ER+/p53wt breast cancer. Citation Format: Shiliang A Cao, Elgene Lim, Myles Brown, Shannon T Bailey. Modeling chemoendocrine therapy for ER+/p53wt luminal breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-05-14.