cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulatory role of the second gelsolin-like domain of Caenorhabditis elegans gelsolin-like protein 1 (GSNL-1) in its calcium-dependent conformation and actin-regulatory activities.

Caenorhabditis elegans gelsolin-like protein-1 (GSNL-1) is an unconventional member of the gelsolin family of actin-regulatory proteins. Unlike typical gelsolin-related proteins with three or six G domains, GSNL-1 has four gelsolin-like (G) domains (G1–G4) and exhibits calcium-dependent actin filament severing and capping activities. The first G domain (G1) of GSNL-1 is necessary for its actin-regulatory activities. However, how other domains in GSNL-1 participate in regulation of its functions is not understood. Here, we report biochemical evidence that the second G domain (G2) of GSNL-1 has a regulatory role in its calcium-dependent conformation and actin-regulatory activities. Comparison of the sequences of gelsolin-related proteins from various species indicates that sequences of G2 are highly conserved. Among the conserved residues in G2, we focused on D162 of GSNL-1, since equivalent residues in gelsolin and severin are part of the calcium-binding sites and is a pathogenic mutation site in human gelsolin causing familial amyloidosis, Finish-type. The D162N mutation does not alter the inactive and fully calcium-activated states of GSNL-1 for actin filament severing (at 20 nM GSNL-1) and capping activities (at 50 nM GSNL-1). However, under these conditions, the mutant shows reduced calcium sensitivity for activation. By contrast, the D162N mutation strongly enhances susceptibility of GSNL-1 to chymotrypsin digestion only at high calcium concentrations but not at low calcium concentrations. The mutation also reduces affinity of GSNL-1 with actin monomers. These results suggest that G2 of GSNL-1 functions as a regulatory domain for its calcium-dependent actin-regulatory activities by mediating conformational changes of the GSNL-1 molecule. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Insights into the allosteric regulation of Syk association with receptor ITAM, a multi-state equilibrium

The phosphorylation of interdomain A (IA), a linker region between tandem SH2 domains of Syk tyrosine kinase, regulates the binding affinity for association of Syk with doubly-phosphorylated ITAM regions of the B cell receptor. The mechanism of this allosteric regulation has been suggested to be a switch from the high-affinity bifunctional binding, mediated through both SH2 domains binding two phosphotyrosine residues of ITAM, to a substantially lower-affinity binding of only one SH2 domain. IA phosphorylation triggers the switch by inducing disorder in IA and weakening the SH2-SH2 interaction. The postulated switch to a single-SH2-domain binding mode is examined using NMR to monitor site-specific binding to each SH2 domain of Syk variants engineered to have IA regions that differ in conformational flexibility. The combined analysis of titration curves and NMR line-shapes provides sufficient information to determine the energetics of inter-molecular binding at each SH2 site along with an intra-molecular binding or isomerization step. A less favorable isomerization equilibrium associated with the changes in the SH2-SH2 conformational ensemble and IA flexibility accounts for the inhibition of Syk association with membrane ITAM regions when IA is phosphorylated, and refutes the proposed switch to single-SH2-domain binding. Syk localizes in the cell through its SH2 interactions, and this basis for allosteric regulation of ITAM association proposes for the first time a phosphorylation-dependent model to regulate Syk binding to alternate receptors and other signaling proteins that differ either in the number of residues separating ITAM phosphotyrosines or by having only one phosphotyrosine, a half ITAM.
Symptomatic Cardiac Events Following Radiation Therapy for Left-Sided Breast Cancer: Possible Association with Radiation Therapy—Induced Changes in Regional Perfusion

Our group has demonstrated that tangential radiation therapy (RT) to the left breast or chest wall can cause perfusion changes in the anterior myocardium. We assess if RT-induced perfusion changes are associated with the development of symptoms consistent with cardiac dysfunction. Between 1998 and 2001, 114 patients were enrolled into an institutional review board-approved prospective study and had pre-RT and serial post-RT (range, 6-24 months) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans to assess changes in regional cardiac perfusion. Thirty-one patients were excluded. The incidence of cardiac symptoms in patients with and without RT-induced perfusion defects was compared using a 2-tailed Fisher's exact test. With a median follow-up of 16 months (range, 6-24 months), 10 of 83 evaluable patients had > or = 1 episode of transient chest pain, occurring 0-14 months after RT (median, 6 months). The rates of chest pain in the patients with and without new perfusion defects were 9 of 31 and 1 of 52, respectively (P = 0.0004). A similar result was found when patients were segregated based on the use of chemotherapy. Two of these 10 cases were diagnosed as pericarditis. No patient had myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure. Cardiac symptoms occur more frequently in patients with perfusion abnormalities by SPECT after RT than in patients with normal SPECT scans, suggesting that such perfusion defects may be clinically significant. One confounding factor is that women who know they have RT-induced perfusion defects may be more likely to report episode of chest pain. Long-term follow-up will be necessary to better assess the clinical significance of RT-induced perfusion defects.
Effects of venous infusion of gaseous CO2 on cardiac output of dogs.

SummaryCardiac output was measured in dogs before, during, and after intravenous infusion of gaseous CO2. Slight decreases in output occurred but not great enough to indicate a significant impairment in blood flow through the pulmonary system. Infused CO2 moves rapidly into the expired gas. Lowered oxygen saturation of blood following infusion of CO2 can be explained in part by Bohr effect. However, this does not account entirely for level of oxygen unsaturation and something more than Bohr effect seems involved.
Activation of the central melanocortin system contributes to the increased arterial pressure in obese Zucker rats

We have previously demonstrated that leptin-mediated activation of the central nervous system (CNS) melanocortin system reduces appetite and increases sympathetic activity and blood pressure (BP). ...
An Empirical Model of Human Aspiration in Low-Velocity Air Using CFD Investigations

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was performed to investigate the aspiration efficiency of the human head in low velocities to examine whether the current inhaled particulate mass (IPM) sampling criterion matches the aspiration efficiency of an inhaling human in airflows common to worker exposures. Data from both mouth and nose inhalation, averaged to assess omnidirectional aspiration efficiencies, were compiled and used to generate a unifying model to relate particle size to aspiration efficiency of the human head. Multiple linear regression was used to generate an empirical model to estimate human aspiration efficiency and included particle size as well as breathing and freestream velocities as dependent variables. A new set of simulated mouth and nose breathing aspiration efficiencies was generated and used to test the fit of empirical models. Further, empirical relationships between test conditions and CFD estimates of aspiration were compared to experimental data from mannequin studies, in...
Effect of aminoguanidine on the frequency of neuroaxonal dystrophy in the superior mesenteric sympathetic autonomic ganglia of rats with streptozocin-induced diabetes

Aminoguanidine, which prevents formation of advanced glycation end products and is a relatively selective potent inhibitor of the inducible (versus constitutive) isoform(s) of nitric oxide synthase, has been reported to ameliorate structural and functional abnormalities in peripheral somatic nerves in rats with streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. In the present studies, the effects of aminoguanidine treatment on ultrastructural changes in the autonomic nervous system of rats with STZ-induced diabetes were examined. The frequency of neuroaxonal dystrophy, the neuropathological hallmark of sympathetic autonomic neuropathy in diabetic rats, increased 9- to 11-fold in the superior mesenteric ganglia of 7- and 10-month STZ-diabetic rats compared with that in age-matched controls. Administration of aminoguanidine continuously from the time of induction of diabetes at a dose equal to or in excess of that providing a salutary effect in the diabetic somatic peripheral nervous system did not alter the severity of diabetes as assessed by plasma glucose level, 24-h urine volume, and levels of glycated hemoglobin. Chronic aminoguanidine therapy did not diminish the frequency or affect the ultrastructural appearance of neuroaxonal dystrophy in diabetic or age-matched control rat sympathetic ganglia after 7 or 10 months of continuous administration. Our findings (under these experimental conditions) do not support a role for aminoguanidine-sensitive processes in the development of sympathetic neuroaxonal dystrophy in diabetic rats. Glycation-linked aminoguanidine-insensitive processes, however, such as the formation of early glucose adducts (Schiff bases and Amadori products) with intracellular and/or extracellular proteins and amine-containing lipids, superoxide anion generation during subsequent autoxidation of these glucose adducts, and non-glycative processes, remain potential pathogenetic mechanisms for diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
Introduction to the Digital Innovation Minitrack

The goal of this minitrack is to offer a venue for research that focuses on digital innovation, broadly defined. This includes research into unique and specific effects of digital technologies on different forms of organizational innovation. In particular, new forms of service offerings, products, or ways of organizing processes that did not exist before the availability of large scale digitalization.
Contar a vida, pensar a história: experiências na utilização das fontes orais no ensino da história

O artigo tem como objetivo refletir sobre os depoimentos orais como fontes para o estudo e o ensino da historia e mostrar experiencias de trabalho com fontes orais no ensino fundamental e no superior. Metodologicamente, abordamos a incorporacao, ao oficio do historiador, das fontes orais como documentos e, consequentemente, o que podemos esperar deste tipo de fonte. Discutimos sobre a incorporacao das fontes orais ao ensino de historia em todos os graus de ensino e apresentamos exemplos de experiencias de aplicacao das fontes orais em sala de aula.
Effects of Model Performances on Music Skill Acquisition and Overnight Memory Consolidation.

This study was designed to investigate the extent to which the presentation of an auditory model prior to learning a novel melody affects performance during active practice and the overnight consol...
Designing Triggers with Trigger-By-Example

One of the obstacles that hinder database trigger systems from their wide deployment is the lack of tools that aid users in creating trigger rules. Similar to understanding and specifying database queries in SQL3, it is difficult to visualize the meaning of trigger rules. Furthermore, it is even more difficult to write trigger rules using such text-based trigger rule languages as SQL3. In this paper, we propose TBE (Trigger-By-Example) to remedy such problems in writing trigger rules visually by using QBE (Query-By-Example) ideas. TBE is a visual trigger rule composition system that helps the users understand and specify active database triggers. TBE retains benefits of QBE while extending features to support triggers. Hence, TBE is a useful tool for novice users to create simple triggers in a visual and intuitive manner. Further, since TBE is designed to hide the details of underlying trigger systems from users, it can be used as a universal trigger interface.
Pulmonary Stenosis in Infants and Young Children

Twenty-four patients less than 3 years old underwent operation for pulmonary stenosis. Pulmonary dysplasia was diagnosed preoperatively in only 4 patients; in 20 patients the lesion was categorized simply as pulmonary stenosis. At operation, more severe valve deformities were often present in patients less than 2 years of age. Preoperative evaluation did not reveal the extent of the deformity in 7 additional patients. The deformities included not only valvular dysplasia (thickened redundant valve cusps) but also supravalvular and annular abnormalities. Relief of obstruction was obtained only when all components of the obstructive abnormality were relieved. Patch angioplasty of the right ventricular outflow tract was necessary in 13 patients with complex morphology. Valvotomy was effective only for pulmonary stenosis due to pure commissural fusion. A spectrum of the morphology of pulmonary stenosis is recognized, with more complex lesions than simple commissural fusion identified in younger children. The more complex lesions may require more extensive operations (outflow tract patch) to completely relieve the obstructive pathological condition in the outflow tract.
Broad-band passive 90&#176; RC hybrid with low component sensitivity for use in the video range of frequencies

A practical 90° hybrid covering the frequency range from 200 Hz to 2 MHz for single-sideband modulation and demodulation can be constructed using cascaded RC lattice networks. A differential phase shift within ± 6° of 90° can be maintained using 5 percent components.
Development and validation of an appearance motivation attitudes scale for sun protection

A reliable two-factor instrument measuring appearance motivation attitudes for sun protection was developed using a longitudinal sample of beachgoers. At baseline, data on sun protection and appearance motivation attitudes were collected on 2324 individuals. Principal components analyses (PCA) indicated a two-factor solution measuring attitudes toward tan attractiveness and skin protection with only 2 items loading on the skin protection factor. At 12-months, the instrument was revised and shortened but including 3 new skin protection items. Split-half analyses were conducted to further refine and develop the instrument. PCA on half of the sample revealed a two-factor solution, which was confirmed using structural equation modeling on the remaining half. This resulted in a two correlated-factor, 10-item measure. Each factor was summed to create two scales. Both scales were internally consistent and demonstrated good external validity, correlating with sun protection specific Transtheoretical model variabl...
Rel/NF-κB and IκB proteins: an overview

Rel/NF-kappa B proteins constitute a family of structurally-related transcription factors that are regulated by interaction with a family of regulatory proteins, the I kappa B proteins. In this review, we will familiarize the reader with the known Rel/NF-kappa B and I kappa B molecules, and will discuss the types of interactions that occur between these proteins to regulate their function. In addition, we will describe what is known about the structure of Rel/NF-kappa B transcription complexes on DNA. Lastly, we will discuss the wide variety of biological stimuli and conditions which activate NF-kappa B and the genes whose expression are regulated by this family of transcription factors.
The Clinical Potential of Exhaled Breath Analysis For Diabetes Mellitus

Various compounds in present human breath have long been loosely associated with pathological states (including acetone smell in uncontrolled diabetes). Only recently, however, the precise measurement of exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aerosolized particles was made possible at extremely low concentrations by advances in several analytical methodologies, described in detail in the international literature and each suitable for specific subsets of exhaled compounds. Exhaled gases may be generated endogenously (in the pulmonary tract, blood, or peripheral tissues), as metabolic by-products of human cells or colonizing micro-organisms, or may be inhaled as atmospheric pollutants; growing evidence indicates that several of these molecules have distinct cell-to-cell signaling functions. Independent of origin and physiological role, exhaled VOCs are attractive candidates as biomarkers of cellular activity/metabolism, and could be incorporated in future non-invasive clinical testing devices. Indeed, several recent studies reported altered exhaled gas profiles in dysmetabolic conditions and relatively accurate predictions of glucose concentrations, at least in controlled experimental conditions, for healthy and diabetic subjects over a broad range of glycemic values. Optimization of this methodology and validation in large-scale trials under a wider range of conditions is needed to determine its true potential to transition into practical clinical use.
30-meter-diameter telescope in space

A large area telescope of diameter 30 meters may be constructed as a set of multiple parallel coelostats, with flat mirrors feeding into a single telescope forming multiple images. These images may then be recombined into a single image. The flat mirror array must be separated by over a kilometer from the combining telescope. In space this requires that the two portions should preferably maintain a fixed direction and similar spacing between them during an exposure. A low consumable method suitable for a Lagrangiun halo orbit would be to use solar radiation pressure for controlled balance relative to the gravitational field for station keeping, and for attitude control. Arrangements of controllable solar sails are discussed and shown to have sufficient thrust.
Presidential Influence Versus Agency Characteristics in Explaining Policy Implementation

We posit three rival models of policy implementation in the realm of civil rights: presidential influence, bureaucratic discretion, and prior activities. The first model, presidential influence, works better than the bureaucratic discretion or prior activities models. In fact, as modified in the analysis, presidential influence explains half of the adjusted variance in civil rights cases filed but just under a quarter of adjusted variance in cases closed. A combined model using the most powerful variables from each of the three models improved predictability only slightly and only for cases filed. The findings were encouraging, particularly when one considers the major problems that occur when analyzing data at the agency level.
Abstract 5077: Common, germline genetic variants within the Wnt/beta-catenin stem cell pathway as determinants of multiple myeloma risk

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy in the US being diagnosed in over 20,500 individuals each year. The etiology of MM remains unclear and little is known regarding the effect of common, germline genetic variants on MM risk. Towards this, we investigated polymorphisms in the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway as predictors of risk. This pathway is an essential regulator of hematopoietic and cancer stem cells and has been shown to be aberrantly activated in MM cells. A total of 171 variants were genotyped in 409 MM cases and 410 age, gender, and ethnicity-matched healthy controls. In the main effect analysis, 10 polymorphisms were significantly associated with risk, of which eight associations were supported by bootstrap analysis with over 80% of the re-samplings reaching P Citation Format: Michelle A. T. Hildebrandt, Yuanqing Ye, Yeling Zhou, Robert Orlowski, Xifeng Wu. Common, germline genetic variants within the Wnt/beta-catenin stem cell pathway as determinants of multiple myeloma risk. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5077. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5077
Design of frequency modulated waveforms via the Zak transform

This paper introduces a new technique for designing frequency modulated waveforms that have ambiguity functions with desirable properties, such as strong peaking at the origin and low sidelobes. The methods employed involve signal design in the Zak transform space, as well as the use of stationary phase arguments in the analysis of ambiguity functions.
A non-recursive algorithm for classifying the states of a finite Markov chain

Abstract We present an algorithm for classifying the states of a Markov chain. The algorithm is non-recursive and as such is extremely easy to code in programming languages without recursive capabilities.
Family Composition, Parental Involvement and Young Children's Academic Achievement

This study examined whether first‐, second‐, and third‐grade students’ achievement in language and mathematics was affected by factors from both the family context, including family size, number of adult caregivers, and parents’ educational level, and the type of school related activities practised by parents. Participants in the study were 333 students (grades 1‐3) whose parents had completed and returned a questionnaire designed to measure parents’ attitude toward school and the extent of their involvement in school related activities. Academic achievement was related to measures of family composition (family size, number of adult caregivers, and parents’ educational level). After controlling for race and gender, parents’ educational level was associated with the students’ scores on achievement tests. Furthermore, students whose parents engaged in learning activities at home were more likely to obtain higher achievement (language) scores. The study lends support to current practices commonly found in ea...
Phosphorylation facilitates the integrin binding of filamin under force.

Filamins are actin binding proteins that contribute to cytoskeletal integrity and biochemical scaffolds during mechanochemical signal transductions. Structurally, human filamins are dimers composed of an actin-binding domain with 24 immunoglobulin (Ig)-like repeats. In this study, we focus on the recently solved high-resolution crystal structure of Ig-like repeats 19–21 of filamin-A (IgFLNa-R19–R21). IgFLNa-R19–21 is of marked importance because it contains the binding site for integrins and facilitates the dynamic ability of filamin-A to communicate with the extracellular environment. However, the structure of filamin-A shows an interesting domain arrangement where the integrin binding site on IgFLNa-R21 is hindered sterically by IgFLNa-R20. Thus, a number of hypotheses on the regulation of filamin-A exist. Using molecular dynamics simulations we evaluated the effects of two primary regulators of filamin-A, force and phosphorylation. We find that a tensile force of 40 pN is sufficient to initiate the partial removal of the autoinhibition on the integrin binding site of IgFLNa-R21. Force coupled to phosphorylation at Ser2152, however, affords complete dissociation of autoinhibition with a decreased force requirement. Phosphorylation seems to decrease the threshold for removing the IgFLNa-R20 β-strand inhibitor within 300 ps with 40 pN tensile force. Furthermore, the molecular dynamic trajectories illustrate phosphorylation of Ser2152 without force is insufficient to remove autoinhibition. We believe the results of this study implicate filamin-A as a tunable mechanosensor, where its sensitivity can be modulated by the degree of phosphorylation.
Cocaine-induced hyperactivity and sensitization are dependent on GSK3

Abstract Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is a critical mediator of many intracellular signaling systems. The activity of GSK3 is regulated by several kinases, with inactivation occurring via phosphorylation of the inhibitory serine-21 (α-isoform) and serine-9 (β-isoform) residues. Here, we investigated whether acute cocaine administration regulates GSK3 activity and if inhibition of GSK3 by valproate or the selective GSK3 inhibitor SB 216763 would attenuate cocaine-induced behaviors in mice. Mice injected with cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) showed a reduction in the phosphorylation of GSK3β in the caudate putamen, reflecting an increase in the activity of the kinase. To assess the role of GSK3 in cocaine-induced hyperactivity, mice were pretreated with valproate (50–300 mg/kg, i.p.), SB 216763 (0.25–7.5 mg/kg, i.p.), or the appropriate vehicle prior to saline or cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p.). Valproate or SB 216763 produced significant dose-dependent reductions in cocaine-induced ambulatory and stereotypic activity. Repeated administration of cocaine can result in an augmentation of the locomotor-stimulatory effects of the drug, a phenomenon referred to as sensitization. Mice pretreated with SB 216763 (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) prior to daily cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) for 5 days showed a significant attenuation of the development of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization following a cocaine challenge on day 13. These results indicate that cocaine activated GSK3β in the caudate putamen and that pharmacological inhibition of GSK3 reduced both the acute behavioral responses to cocaine and the long-term neuroadaptations produced by repeated cocaine, therefore suggesting a role for GSK3 in the behavioral and neurochemical manifestations associated with cocaine exposure.
Pleiotropic action of the murine quaking locus: Structure of the qkv allele

The spontaneous allele quakingviable (qkv) exerts effects on myelination and spermiogenesis. The defects generated by qkv were not separated in a multilocus mapping cross that provided a mapping resolution of 0.1 centiMorgans (cM). Furthermore, no distortions suggestive of a large chromosomal anomaly associated with qkv were apparent. One plausible interpretation is that the quaking locus contains more than one functional domain, either organized into overlapping genes or expressed by alternative splicing mechanisms. The cloning needed to analyze this locus will be enhanced by the very high resolution of the meiotic mapping cross reported here. The recombinational distances on this qkv map were compressed compared with those previously reported in a high-resolution map for qk1–1, an embryonic lethal allele of quaking induced by ethylnitrosourea. Additional crosses confirmed prior reports that the sex and the genetic background of the heterozygous parent can affect recombinational distances. These joint effects on recombination are strong enough to account for the discrepancy between the two maps. This variability of two-factor map values leads to the preferred multilocus map-building protocol discussed in the accompanying paper.
Crossroads of public art, nature and environmental education

This paper explores how environmental education through ecological art can help students develop creativity, critical thinking, and an arts-informed notion of being a citizen of the world. In illustrating the importance of uncovering the relationship between environmental education and ecological art, the paper examines how this may be used to promote intellectual development, inspiration, and a greater consciousness about social and environmental issues. Through a discussion of examples of classroom projects and processes that integrate art into the curriculum, the paper examines how teachers can use the work of ecological artists to help students learn to ask questions and examine contextual information about ecological art, which are argued to be essential for engagement and motivation. The paper also discusses how infusing ecological art into environmental education can help individuals develop a greater sense of connection with nature both within and beyond the classroom setting.
Automated midline shift and intracranial pressure estimation based on brain CT images

In this paper we present an automated system based mainly on the computed tomography (CT) images consisting of two main components: the midline shift estimation and intracranial pressure (ICP) pre-screening system. To estimate the midline shift, first an estimation of the ideal midline is performed based on the symmetry of the skull and anatomical features in the brain CT scan. Then, segmentation of the ventricles from the CT scan is performed and used as a guide for the identification of the actual midline through shape matching. These processes mimic the measuring process by physicians and have shown promising results in the evaluation. In the second component, more features are extracted related to ICP, such as the texture information, blood amount from CT scans and other recorded features, such as age, injury severity score to estimate the ICP are also incorporated. Machine learning techniques including feature selection and classification, such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs), are employed to build the prediction model using RapidMiner. The evaluation of the prediction shows potential usefulness of the model. The estimated ideal midline shift and predicted ICP levels may be used as a fast pre-screening step for physicians to make decisions, so as to recommend for or against invasive ICP monitoring.
Determination of host range in relation to systematics forPeristenus stygicus [Hym.: Braconidae], A parasitoid ofMiridae

Peristenus stygicusLoan develops inMirinae speciesLygus hesperus,Knight,L. lineolaris, (Palisot de Beauvois) andPolymerus basalis (Reuter),Orthotylinae speciesLabopidicola geminata (Johnston),Phylinae speciesPseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter) and partially develops in the mirineDichrooscytus sp. The parasitoids attackMicrophylellus maculipennis (Knight) (Phylinae) and another orthotyline species, but do not develop in these.Taedia johnstoni (Knight) (Mirinae), 2 species ofBrycorinae and 3 species ofLygaeidae are not acceptable as hosts. Olfactometer studies show the parasites are significantly more attracted to lygus nymphs whenPhaseolus vulgaris L. is present than either the nymphs or bean alone. Host color, mobility, size, previously infested plant material, and host plant species are rejected as host selection criteria.
Discrimination of dementia with lewy bodies from Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease using the clock drawing test.

AbstractObjectiveThe authors' objective was to examine the ability of the Clock Drawing Test to discriminate Dementia with Lewy bodies from Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease.BackgroundRecent advances in medical treatments for dementia underscore the importance of differentiating among dementia
The adaptive optics point-spread function at moderate and high Strehl ratios

We describe the symmetries present in the monochromatic point-spread function (PSF) corrected by an adaptive optics (AO) system to Strehl ratios of about 60% or greater. We expand the PSF in powers of the Fourier transform of the phase disturbance over an arbitrarily shaped and apodized entrance aperture. We show that for traditional unapodized aperture geometries, bright speckles pinned to the bright Airy rings are part of an antisymmetric first order perturbation of the perfect PSF (we make no assumptions about the symmetries of the aperture). This first order term redistributes power within each bright ring, but contributes no power in regions where the perfect image would have no light because it is modulated by the square root of the perfectly corrected PSF. It also vanishes at the center of the image. There are two symmetric second degree terms, one is negative at the center, and is also modulated by the perfect Airy field strength--it reduces to the Marechal approximation at the center of the PSF. The other second degree term is non-negative everywhere, zero at the image center, and is responsible for the extended halo--it limits the dynamic range in the dark portions of the image. These features can be exploited by appropriate telescope and instrument design, observing strategies, and data reduction methods to improve the dynamic range of AO observations.
Association of Ipsilateral Head Turning and Dystonia in Temporal Lobe Seizures

We evaluated head turning in 239 complex partial seizures (CPS) with or without generalization in 32 patients with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Head turns occurred in 187 seizures of 31 patients, more than once in 71 seizures. The first head turn was ipsilateral to the focus in 162 seizures (87%), with a mean latency of 22 s, as compared with 83 s for contralateral first head turns. Concomitant dystonic posturing of the arm occurred with 71% of all ipsilateral head turns and with 16% of all contralateral head turns. The mean difference in absolute latency between the first head turn and concomitant dystonic posturing was 6 s. Examination of all instances of concomitant head turning and dystonic posturing (160) showed them to be contralateral to each other in 154 (96%). Furthermore, the dystonia was contralateral and head turning was ipsilateral to the focus in 149 (93%). Forty-one seizures secondarily generalized, with transitional tonic head deviation contralateral to the focus in 35. Early head turning suggests an ipsilateral temporal seizures focus, particularly when associated with contralateral dystonic posturing. Similar mechanisms may account for both. Tonic head deviation preceding secondary generalization probably has a different mechanism.
Listening Comprehension as a Function of Cognitive Complexity: A Research Note.

Implicit in the conceptualization of listening as human information processing is the assumption that comprehension is dependent, in part, upon an individual's level of cognitive complexity. That assumption was tested in two separate studies. Results indicate that high‐complex subjects comprehend more listening material than do their cognitively simpler counterparts.
Detection of Xenoestrogens in Serum after Immunoprecipitation of Endogenous Steroidal Estrogens

In this article we report a simple and efficient method for detecting nonsteroidal estrogens in a biologic sample. This method uses polyclonal antibodies to estradiol (E2) to immunoprecipitate these major biologically active steroidal estrogens, leaving behind the nonsteroidal estrogens, which are then detected in a cell-based transcriptional activation bioassay for estrogen receptor agonist. The immunoprecipitation method efficiently removed 99% of radiolabeled E2 and estrone (E1) from human serum. In experiments in which supraphysiologic concentrations of E2 and E1 to human serum, all of the immunoreactive estrogens were still removed by the immunoprecipitation protocol. We carried out an in vivo validation study of this method in which we treated female macaques with the xenoestrogen nonylphenol (NP), during the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. We used blood samples collected before and after treatment to evaluate and characterize endogenous and exogenous serum estrogens. An immunoassay for E2 did not detect the NP in treated monkeys. The cell-based bioassay also did not detect the estrogenic activity of NP because of its saturation by the endogenous serum steroidal estrogens. However, when steroidal estrogens were removed by immunoprecipitation, we detected the estrogenic activity of NP in the bioassay. Thus, this approach is appropriate for detecting exogenous, nonsteroidal estrogens in serum samples.
Low-Level Inversions over the Tropical Pacific—Thermodynamic Structure of the Boundary Layer and the Above-Inversion Moisture Structure

Abstract The structure of the boundary layer over a broad region of the equatorial Pacific is studied using dropwinsonde measurements made in January, February, May and June of 1979. Low-level inversions of sufficient strength to inhibit deep convection are found to be present in more than 50% of the soundings. These inversions appear to play a critical role in regulating convective activity over the central and eastern Pacific. The tops of the inversions have an average pressure level of approximately 300 mb and show little latitudinal or longitudinal variation. The majority of the inversion soundings (approximately 70%) have a reversal in the mixing ratio profile (qreversal) above the inversion that appears as a dry layer at the top of the inversion layer capped by a relatively moist layer. This moist layer is on the average 2 g kg−1 more moist than the corresponding soundings that have no qreversal. No systematic regional or temporal variations in the frequency of occurrence of the qreversal or the str...
A New Look at the Physiological Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology in which the adverse vascular effects are perpetuated by activity which causes pain, and by cooling of the body. These conditions stimulate a reflex sympathetic neurovascular response, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which interferes with the circulation and nutrition of the synovea, the periarticular bone and the connective tissues around the joints. The reflex sympathetic dystrophy causes arteriolar construction reducing blood flow through the capillaries, dilatation of arteriovenous anastomoses bypassing the capillary beds, venous constriction causing venous congestion and backflow into the capillaries with stasis and edema. As a result of this dystrophic response the oxygenation and nutrition of the joints is diminished, stasis causes a retention of metabolites, the pO2 and pH are decreased, the pCO2 increased, and edema persists in the area. All of these responses aggravate and prolong the inflammation. Removal of the critical stimuli of mechanical pain and cold allows a more normal circulation and the inflammation subsides. This response in bone promotes osteoporosis. In connective tissue the dystrophic response produces edema with increased fibrosis or distortion of tissues in the presence of prolonged stretch.
Abstract 576: Novel compounds from Allspice (Pimenta dioica) inhibit breast cancer growth by autophagy induction

Background: Breast Cancer (BrCa) ranks second as cause of cancer death in women, causing 40,000 deaths in 2010. Recent studies have shown that novel plant-derived compounds used as dietary chemopreventive agents prolong survival and reduce breast cancer deaths. Lack of mechanism of action and limited bioavailability are the leading concerns for adopting natural dietary compounds as chemopreventive or adjuvant therapeutic agents against breast and other cancers. We identified several likely anti-cancer compounds from water extract of Allspice, the unripe berries of Pimenta dioica (Jamaican pepper). The compounds limit the growth of breast cancer cells by novel mechanism and may synergize with main-stream cancer therapeutics. Methods: An aqueous extract of Certified-organic Allspice (AAE) was prepared and a solution of suitable strength was tested on several BrCa cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB231, SKBr3) for potential inhibition of proliferation, autophagy and estrogen-receptor inactivation using commonly used analytical techniques. Potential effect on estrogen receptor levels and transcriptional activities were determined using quantitative-real time PCR, promoter luciferase assay and immunoblotting. Results: AAE reduced the viability and clonogenic growth of BrCa cells (IC50α100μg/ml) with limited activity (50% less toxicity in quiescent cells). AAE induced cell-death was only associated with several characteristics of autophagy, including increase in acidic vesicular organelle content, levels of GFP-LC3-positive puncta, and LC3-II protein level. Knockdown of ATG-7 gene expression by siRNA partially prevented AAE-induced cell death by 40%. Autophagy was induced by Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress but not changes in ATP levels. Further, AAE caused inhibition of mTOR signaling pathway and enhanced cytotoxicity combined with mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin. Furthermore, AAE reduced Estrogen Receptor-α protein as well mRNA levels in ERα positive-BrCa cell lines MCF-7 and T47D. The decrease in ERα protein level was only partially rescued by proteasome inhibitor MG132, indicating AAE accelerates ERα protein degradation. Activity based purification combined with chemical identification strategies resulted in identification of one compound Ericifolin, and several compounds in a highly enriched fraction exhibiting same properties as that of AAE. Conclusion: We showed the anti-cancer effects of aqueous extract of Allspice on BrCa cells, which includes anti-proliferation by inducting autophagy after AAE treatment and ERα downregulation which has promising clinical application for BrCa treatment. [Grant Support: R01 CA156776-01and Sylvester Cancer Center (BLL)]. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 576. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-576
Collagen X expression in oviduct tissue during the different stages of the egg laying cycle

The purpose of this investigation was to study the expression of type X collagen in the hen's oviduct. Type X collagen is a short-chain collagen that is present in the fibers of eggshell membranes, and there is evidence to suggest that it contributes to structural integrity. In situ hybridization and Northern blot analysis were used to study the expression of this important matrix constituent. The results demonstrated that gene expression was predominantly in the tubular gland cells of the isthmus segment of the oviduct. In contrast to observations with other matrix proteins, such as parathyroid hormone-related peptide and osteopontin, gene expression did not fluctuate with the position of the egg in the oviduct.
Marginal stability of d-wave superconductors.

Abstract Thermal conductivity of Bi2Sr2Ca(Cu1−xNix)2O8 high-temperature superconductor display a low-temperature anomaly. It manifests itself as a sharp reduction of the thermal conductivity of the samples at a temperature T ∗ c ≈200 mK. We interpret this anomaly as an indication of a marginal stability of the dx2−y2 due to interaction with the spins of magnetic impurities. We suggest that dx2−y2+idxy state forms below T ∗ c .
Irrational Linear Forms in Prime Variables

Abstract We apply a recent refinement of the Hardy–Littlewood method to obtain an asymptotic lower bound for the number of solutions of a linear diophantine inequality in three prime variables. Using the same ideas, we are able to show that a linear form in two primes closely approximates almost all real numbers lying in a suitably discrete set.
Prognosis and Treatment of Spinal Cord Astrocytoma

Purpose To identify the prognostic factors for spinal cord astrocytoma and determine the effects of surgery and radiotherapy on outcome. Methods and Materials This retrospective study reviewed the cases of consecutive patients with spinal cord astrocytoma treated at Mayo Clinic Rochester between 1962 and 2005. Results A total of 136 consecutive patients were identified. Of these 136 patients, 69 had pilocytic and 67 had infiltrative astrocytoma. The median follow-up for living patients was 8.2 years (range, 0.08–37.6), and the median survival for deceased patients was 1.15 years (range, 0.01–39.9). The extent of surgery included incisional biopsy only (59%), subtotal resection (25%), and gross total resection (16%). Patients with pilocytic tumors survived significantly longer than those with infiltrative astrocytomas (median overall survival, 39.9 vs. 1.85 years; p p = 0.07; infiltrative, 19 vs. 30 months, p = 0.14). Postoperative radiotherapy, delivered in 75% of cases, gave no significant survival benefit for those with pilocytic tumors (39.9 vs. 18.1 years, p = 0.33) but did for those with infiltrative astrocytomas (24 vs. 3 months; Wilcoxon p = 0.006). On multivariate analysis, pilocytic histologic type, diagnosis after 1984, longer symptom duration, younger age, minimal surgical extent, and postoperative radiotherapy predicted better outcome. Conclusion The results of our study have shown that histologic type is the most important prognostic variable affecting the outcome of spinal cord astrocytomas. Surgical resection was associated with shorter survival and thus remains an unproven treatment. Postoperative radiotherapy significantly improved survival for patients with infiltrative astrocytomas but not for those with pilocytic tumors.
Towards development of chemosensors and biosensors with metal-oxide-based nanowires or nanotubes.

Abstract The emerging nanotechnology has opened new exciting opportunities to explore analytical applications of the freshly prepared nanostructured materials. Among them, metal-oxide-based nanowires or nanotubes attracted great attention due to their one-dimensional (1D) morphology, extraordinary physical and chemical properties, which offer great promise in the development of chemical sensing or biosensing, facilitating the great improvement of the selectivity and sensitivity of the current methods. In this review, the recent advances in the development of sensors including gas sensors, humidity sensors, and immunosensors using semiconducting metal-oxide-based nanowires or nanotubes are highlighted. Titanate (H2Ti3O7) nanotubes are of multilayered structures with a nanometer-scale inner-core cavity exposed to the outer surface and display different oxidation states with possible redox-activity, which make them attractive for sensing. Therefore, the use of titanate nanotubes for the development of electrochemical sensors is overviewed. Finally, the prospects and challenge in the further exploration of nanoscaled sensors are discussed.
Stardust in meteorites: A link between stars and the Solar System

Ultimately, all of the solids in the Solar System, including ourselves, consist of elements that were made in stars by stellar nucelosynthesis. However, most of the material from many different stellar sources that went into the making of the Solar System was thoroughly mixed, obliterating any information about its origin. An exception are tiny grains of preserved stardust found in primitive meteorites, micrometeorites, and interplanetary dust particles. These μm- and sub-μm-sized presolar grains are recognized as stardust by their isotopic compositions, which are completely different from those of the Solar System. They condensed in outflows from late-type stars and in SN ejecta and were included in meteorites, from which they can be isolated and studied for their isotopic compositions in the laboratory. Thus these grains constitute a link between us and our stellar ancestors. They provide new information on stellar evolution, nucleosynthesis, mixing processes in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and supernovae, and galactic chemical evolution. Red giants, AGB stars, Type II supernovae, and possibly novae have been identified as stellar sources of the grains. Stardust phases identified so far include silicates, oxides such as corundum, spinel, and hibonite, graphite, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, titanium carbide, and Fe-Ni metal.