cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes with age in carbohydrate-protein complexes of protein polysaccharide light fraction of rat costal cartilage.

SummaryCarbohydrate protein complexes of costal cartilage of rats, aged 3-4, 6, 10-13, and 20-27 months, were extracted with water and precipitated with EtOH in the presence of potassium acetate. The PPL was extracted with 0.15 M NaCl and separated into CMP and GP by the addition of (NH4)2SO4 to 55% saturation. Ultracentrifugal analysis revealed that the CMP fraction consisted of approximately 90% 1.4 S and 10% 3.0 S components and the GP fraction was made up of equal amounts of 2.8 S and 3.8 S components. The protein: polysaccharide ratios are approximately 1:3 and 1:0.5 for CMP and GP, respectively. With increasing age, there were highly significant decreases of protein, uronic acid, hexose, and hexosamine in the PPL fraction. After separation of CMP and GP, this change is seen only in the CMP fraction.
Pyrazinoylguanidine Downregulates the Glucose Fatty-Acid Cycle in Hypertensive, Hyperinsulinemic Diabetic Patients

Eight hypertensive patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were administered the experimental drug pyrazinoylguanidine (PZG) either alone or in combination with calcium-channel or beta-blockers. This treatment appeared to "downregulate" the glucose fatty acid cycle and reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressures and mean body weight. Patients served as their own controls in this dose-escalation study, which included placebo treatment (baseline) 3 weeks, 300 mg PZG for 3 weeks and 600 mg for 3 weeks. PZG reduced increased serum concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA), glucose, and triglycerides (TG). TG concentrations correlated inversely with serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations. The beta-blockers used by several patients increased their FFA, glucose, insulin and TG concentrations, as well as blunting their response to PZG. The calcium-channel blockers exerted these effects to a much lesser extent. PZG reduced or abolished glycosuria, related to PZG's capacity to decrease hyperglycemia. Withdrawal of PZG restored glycosuria, as blood sugar increased. PZG was well tolerated. No patient reported any adverse effect or missed a weekly clinic visit (12 weeks). PZG deserves further study as supplementary and/or replacement therapy in NIDDM patients who are hypertensive and hyperlipidemic.
Toxic phospholipases D of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, C. ulcerans and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum: cloning and sequence homology

The genes encoding toxic phospholipases D (PLD) from Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Cp)biovar equi and C. ulcerans (Cu) have been cloned and sequenced. The deduced proteins are 307 amino acids (aa) in length and include a putative signal sequences of 26-aa. A molecular mass of 31.2 and 31.0 kDa and pI values of 8.84 and 6.73 are predicted for the secreted (mature) proteins from Cp and Cu, respectively. Comparison of the deduced primary structure of the two proteins to those of the PLD produced by Cp biovar ovis and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum (Ah) revealed that the four enzymes share 64-97% identity. The aa sequences of this group of proteins were unique when compared to the sequences of other phospholipases in GenBank and were found to share only small regions of homology with other proteins, including two conserved domains of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PD). The similarity of PLD from Cp biovar equi, Cu and Ah to the PLD of Cp biovar ovis suggests that these enzymes may act as virulence determinants.
A simple modification of the Flory-Huggins theory for polymers in non-polar or slightly polar solvents

Abstract Starting from the concept of free volume dissimilarity, a simple modification of the non-combinatorial part of the Flory—Huggins equation is proposed. According to this modification, a new relation is derived to calculate the activity of a solvent in mixture with a polymer. It contains two empirical parameters, whose values can be determined by regressing binary vapour—liquid experimental data. The proposed equation has been applied to several binary systems which can be grouped in three classes of mixtures: non-polar/non-polar, non-polar/polar and polar/polar. Satisfactory results have been obtained in the case of non-polar or slightly polar mixtures, however, for strongly polar systems, the new equation is inadequate. The proposed modification of the Flory—Huggins theory is particularly suitable for engineering calculations.
Transcriptomic and Genetic Analysis of Direct Interspecies Electron Transfer

The possibility that metatranscriptomic analysis could distinguish between direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) and H-2 interspecies transfer (HIT) in anaerobic communities was investigated by comparing gene transcript abundance in cocultures in which Geobacter sulfurreducens was the electron-accepting partner for either Geobacter metallireducens, which performs DIET, or Pelobacter carbinolicus, which relies on HIT. Transcript abundance for G. sulfurreducens uptake hydrogenase genes was 7-fold lower in cocultures with G. metallireducens than in cocultures with P. carbinolicus, consistent with DIET and HIT, respectively, in the two cocultures. Transcript abundance for the pilus-associated cytochrome OmcS, which is essential for DIET but not for HIT, was 240-fold higher in the cocultures with G. metallireducens than in cocultures with P. carbinolicus. The pilin gene pilA was moderately expressed despite a mutation that might be expected to repress pilA expression. Lower transcript abundance for G. sulfurreducens genes associated with acetate metabolism in the cocultures with P. carbinolicus was consistent with the repression of these genes by H2 during HIT. Genes for the biogenesis of pili and flagella and several c-type cytochrome genes were among the most highly expressed in G. metallireducens. Mutant strains that lacked the ability to produce pili, flagella, or the outer surface c-type cytochrome encoded by Gmet_2896 were not able to form cocultures with G. sulfurreducens. These results demonstrate that there are unique gene expression patterns that distinguish DIET from HIT and suggest that metatranscriptomics may be a promising route to investigate interspecies electron transfer pathways in more-complex environments.
Streptococcal wall component OK432 restores sensitivity of non-obese diabetic (NOD) thymocytes to apoptotic signals.

Aims/hypothesis. The streptococcal wall component, OK432, prevents diabetes in NOD mice and BE rats by elimination of effector cells. Based on the knowledge of a link between autoimmunity and resistance of immune cells to elimination by apoptosis, we investigated whether OK432 treatment restored the sensitivity of NOD lymphocytes to apoptotic signals centrally (thymus) or peripherally (spleen) or both and we examined the pathways for the enhanced apoptosis rate. Methods. We treated NOD mice with OK432 (0.1 mg/kg i.p. weekly from 21 to 70 days). Apoptosis was measured by TUNEL 16 h after cyclophosphamide (70 mg/kg) and 24 h after dexamethasone (0.2 mg/mouse). Real time quantitative RT-PCR was used to investigate changes in gene expression. Results. Thymocyte apoptosis levels after cyclophosphamide were restored by OK432 treatment to levels observed in C57BL/6 mice: in NOD males apoptosis increased from 8 +/- 1% to 18 +/- 5 % (p < 0.05) compared with 20 +/- 4% in C57BL/6 males, and in NOD females from 6 +/- 2% to 11+/-2% (p < 0.05) compared with 12 +/- 2% in C57BL/6 females. The dexamethasone-induced thymocyte apoptosis rate was equally restored by OK432 treatment (58 +/- 4% vs 41 +/- 3 % in control males (p < 0.0005) and 39 +/- 5% vs 26 +/- 3% in control females (p < 0.05)]. No change in apoptosis levels was on the contrary observed in splenocytes after OK432 treatment. By RT-PCR analysis of a panel of apoptosis-related genes in thymocytes we showed a down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL and c-myc by OK432 treatment. Conclusions/interpretation. Our data suggest that OK432 prevents diabetes in NOD mice by better elimination of effector cells through increased sensitivity to apoptotic signals centrally in the thymus.
Attribution of Seasonal and Regional Changes in Arctic Moisture Convergence

Abstract Spatial and temporal changes in high-latitude moisture convergence simulated by the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Climate System Model, version 3 (CCSM3) are investigated. Moisture convergence is calculated using the aerological method with model fields of specific humidity and winds spanning the periods from 1960 to 1999 and 2070 to 2089. The twenty-first century incorporates the A2 scenario from the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios. The model’s realism in reproducing the twentieth-century moisture convergence is evaluated by comparison with values derived from the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40). In the area north of 75°N, the simulated moisture convergence is similar to observations during summer, but it is larger in winter, spring, and autumn. The model also underestimates (overestimates) the mean annual moisture convergence in the eastern (western) Arctic. Late twenty-first century annual, seasonal, and regional changes are determined by applying a self-organizing ...
Characterization of the Transition-State Structures and Mechanisms for the Isomerization and Cleavage Reactions of Uridine 3‘-m-Nitrobenzyl Phosphate

The transition-state structures and mechanisms of the isomerization to the 2‘-isomer and cleavage reactions of uridine 3‘-m-nitrobenzyl phosphate to m-nitrobenzyl alcohol and a 2‘,3‘-cyclic UMP at 86 °C and at pH 2.5, 5.5, and 10.5 have been characterized through kinetic isotope effects. The 18O primary isotope effect of 1.0019 ± 0.0007 and the secondary isotope effect of 0.9904 observed for the cleavage reaction at pH 2.5 are consistent with a neutral phosphorane-like transition-state structure. The cleavage and isomerization reactions at pH 2.5 proceed through a neutral phosphorane intermediate. The 18kbridge and 18knonbridge of unity measured for the pH-independent isomerization reaction at neutral pH support a stepwise mechanism with a monoanionic phosphorane intermediate. The primary and secondary isotope effects of 1.009 ± 0.001 and of 0.9986 ± 0.0004 observed for the pH-independent cleavage reaction are consistent with either a stepwise mechanism through a monoanionic phosphorane intermediate or wi...
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE MULTISTRESS RESPONSE GENE DDR2 FROM SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Abstract The DDR2 gene is a multistress response gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is transcriptionally activated by more than thirteen xenobiotic agents and environmental or physiological stresses. The DDR2 gene encodes a small hydrophobic 61 amino acid polypeptide located on chromosome XV adjacent to the SPE2 locus. Disruption alleles of the DDR2 gene have been constructed and these ddr2 Δ mutants show no defect in heat shock recovery or thermotolerance and appear normal for DNA damage sensitivity and mutagenesis.
NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON THE CHLOROMONADOPHYCEAE: VACUOLARIA VIRESCENS AND GONYOSTOMUM SEMEN12

SUMMARY Unialgal, nonaxenic cultures of Vacuolaria virestcens Cienkowsky were grown in soil-water medium, in simple salt solutions with added peat and soil extract, and in synthetic medium. Doubling times in different media were determined: maximum growth rate (doubling time = 46.0 hr) was obtained in continuous light (210 ft-c) at 24 ± I C. Gonyostomum semen (Ehrenberg) Diesing was isolated from a natural population and grown in soil-water medium and a synthetic medium. Other techniques that have been used for culturing chloromonadophycean algae are reviewed.
Oscillations in exchange coupling and magnetoresistance in metallic superlattice structures: Co/Ru, Co/Cr, and Fe/Cr.

We report the discovery of antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling and enhanced saturation magnetoresistance in two new metallic superlattice systems, Co/Cr and Co/Ru. In these systems and in Fe/Cr superlattices both the magnitude of the interlayer magnetic exchange coupling and the saturation magnetoresistance are found to oscillate with the Cr or Ru spacer layer thickness with a period ranging from 12 \AA{} in Co/Ru to \ensuremath{\simeq}18--21 \AA{} in the Fe/Cr and Co/Cr systems.
Infrared-ultraviolet double-resonance spectroscopy of OH in a flame

We have experimentally investigated three types of two-color techniques for the detection of the hydroxyl radical using an infrared laser to pump individual ground-state rovibrational transitions and an ultraviolet laser to probe electronic transitions from the pumped intermediate levels. Signal scaling relations and saturation studies are compared for the following techniques: two-color laser-induced fluorescence (TC-LIF), polarization spectroscopy (TC-PS), and resonant four-wave mixing (TC-RFWM). Collisional effects are observed, but the time resolution set by the 1.5-ns laser pulses is not sufficient to determine state-to-state energy transfer rates in an atmospheric pressure flame.
Majorization for CRFs and Latent Likelihoods

The partition function plays a key role in probabilistic modeling including conditional random fields, graphical models, and maximum likelihood estimation. To optimize partition functions, this article introduces a quadratic variational upper bound. This inequality facilitates majorization methods: optimization of complicated functions through the iterative solution of simpler sub-problems. Such bounds remain efficient to compute even when the partition function involves a graphical model (with small tree-width) or in latent likelihood settings. For large-scale problems, low-rank versions of the bound are provided and outperform LBFGS as well as first-order methods. Several learning applications are shown and reduce to fast and convergent update rules. Experimental results show advantages over state-of-the-art optimization methods.
Liquid metal extraction of Nd from NdFeB magnet scrap

This research involves using molten magnesium (Mg) to remove neodymium (Nd) from NdFeB magnet scrap by diffusion. Mg was melted over pieces of NdFeB scrap and held at temperatures in the range 675–705 °C for 2–8 h. The Mg was allowed to solidify, and the castings were then sectioned and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and chemical analysis. Nd was found to have diffused out of the solid scrap into the molten Mg. The thickness of the diffusion layer was measured, the diffusion of Nd through the NdFeB scrap into liquid Mg was described, and the diffusion coefficient of Nd in liquid Mg was estimated.
Fast read-only transactions in replicated databases

The authors present a propagation mechanism, called the commit propagation mechanism (CPM), which increases the availability of data for read-only transactions. The proposed mechanism is piggy-backed on the messages used in the two-phase commit protocol. The CPM was combined with the standard quorum protocol in two different replicated database systems. In a fully replicated database, CPM allows any read-only transaction to execute locally at a single site without the need for any communication overhead. In a partially replicated database, CPM either ensures that the set of copies residing at a site are mutually consistent, or indicates which copies violate such consistency. >
The Impact of Pharmaceutical Services in Community and Ambulatory Care Settings: Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research

OBJECTIVE:TO review and evaluate research on pharmaceutical services in community and ambulatory care pharmacy settings, specifically study designs and patient outcome measures, and to provide recommendations to improve future research on pharmaceutical services in community and ambulatory care pharmacy settings.DATA SOURCE:English-language articles were identified by searching MEDLINE (1966-December 1998) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-December 1998), using a combination of search terms: pharmacist services, pharmacist interventions, community pharmacy, ambulatory care, primary care, and patient outcomes. Relevant studies were selected based on article abstracts.DATA EXTRACTION:From each relevant study, we extracted the study objectives, sample size, study period, study design, major tasks performed by pharmacists, and economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes (ECHO). Results were tabulated separately for research on community pharmacy and ambulatory care pharmacy settings.RESULTS:We ...
Plane-strain fracture toughness of epoxies at different loading rates

The plane-strain fracture toughness of two common epoxy systems of different ductility were determined at different loading rates, according to ASTM E 399 for metallic materials. The ASTM standard was applicable, but underestimated slightly the specimen thickness required for KIc. KIc decreased with an increasing loading rate and with an increasing yield stress. The fracture surfaces were all very smooth as long as plane-strain conditions prevailed.
Age-dependent effects of repeated amphetamine exposure on working memory in rats

Cognitive dysfunction is a hallmark of chronic psychostimulant misuse. Adolescents may have heightened risk of developing drug-induced deficits because their brains are already undergoing widespread changes in anatomy and function as a normal part of development. To address this hypothesis, we performed two sets of experiments where adolescent and young adult rats were pre-exposed to saline or amphetamine (1 or 3mg/kg) and subsequently tested in a prefrontal cortex (PFC)-sensitive working memory task. A total of ten injections of AMPH or saline (in control rats) were given every other day over the course of 19 days. After rats reached adulthood (>90 days old), cognitive performance was assessed using operant-based delayed matching-to-position (DMTP) and delayed nonmatching-to-position (DNMTP) tasks. DNMTP was also assessed following challenges with amphetamine (0.3-1.25mg/kg), and ketamine (5.0-10mg/kg). In experiment one, we also measured the locomotor response following the first and tenth pre-exposure to amphetamine and after an amphetamine challenge given at the conclusion of operant testing. Compared to adult-exposed groups, adolescents were less sensitive to the psychomotor effects of amphetamine. However, they were more vulnerable to exposure-induced cognitive impairments. For example, adolescent-exposed rats displayed delay-dependent deficits in accuracy, increased sensitivity to proactive interference, and required more training to reach criterion. Drug challenges produced deficits in DNMTP performance, but these were not dependent on pre-exposure group. These studies demonstrate age of exposure-dependent effects of amphetamine on cognition in a PFC-sensitive task, suggesting a heightened sensitivity of adolescents to amphetamine-induced neuroplasticity.
EFFECTS OF SODIUM LACTATE ON OXYGEN TOXICITY IN THE RAT.

Summary Sodium lactate increases survival when administered daily to rats exposed to 98 per cent oxygen. It is suggested that the mechanism of lactate protection may be related to alterations in the redox state of pyridine nucleotides.
Association of low-activity MAOA allelic variants with violent crime in incarcerated offenders

The main enzyme for serotonin degradation, monoamine oxidase (MAO) A, has recently emerged as a key biological factor in the predisposition to impulsive aggression. Male carriers of low-activity variants of the main functional polymorphism of the MAOA gene (MAOA-uVNTR) have been shown to exhibit a greater proclivity to engage in violent acts. Thus, we hypothesized that low-activity MAOA-uVNTR alleles may be associated with a higher risk for criminal violence among male offenders. To test this possibility, we analyzed the MAOA-uVNTR variants of violent (n = 49) and non-violent (n = 40) male Caucasian and African-American convicts in a correctional facility. All participants were also tested with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) to assess their levels of childhood trauma exposure, impulsivity and aggression, respectively. Our results revealed a robust (P < 0.0001) association between low-activity MAOA-uVNTR alleles and violent crime. This association was replicated in the group of Caucasian violent offenders (P < 0.01), but reached only a marginal trend (P = 0.08) in their African American counterparts. While violent crime charges were not associated with CTQ, BIS-11 and BPAQ scores, carriers of low-activity alleles exhibited a mild, yet significant (P < 0.05) increase in BIS-11 total and attentional-impulsiveness scores. In summary, these findings support the role of MAOA gene as a prominent genetic determinant for criminal violence. Further studies are required to confirm these results in larger samples of inmates and evaluate potential interactions between MAOA alleles and environmental vulnerability factors.
The Sustainability of Political Democracy: Lessons from South America

Recent literature emphasizes the fragility of newly emerging democracies and the importance of economic performance to their survival. The analysis reevaluates this conventional wisdom and tests a ...
Sparse kernel SVMs via cutting-plane training

We explore an algorithm for training SVMs with Kernels that can represent the learned rule using arbitrary basis vectors, not just the support vectors (SVs) from the training set. This results in two benefits. First, the added flexibility makes it possible to find sparser solutions of good quality, substantially speeding-up prediction. Second, the improved sparsity can also make training of Kernel SVMs more efficient, especially for high-dimensional and sparse data (e.g. text classification). This has the potential to make training of Kernel SVMs tractable for large training sets, where conventional methods scale quadratically due to the linear growth of the number of SVs. In addition to a theoretical analysis of the algorithm, we also present an empirical evaluation.
POMC peptides in adrenal maintenance and function.

Adult mouse mutants homozygous for an engineered proopiomelanocortin (POMC) null allele lack morphologically distinct adrenal glands and circulating adrenal hormones (Yaswen et al. Nature Medicine 1999; 5:1066). To understand the basis for this adrenal defect, we compared the development of adrenal primordia in POMC null and littermate controls. While POMC null mutants are born with morphologically normal adrenal glands, they exhibit two defects: first, they do not release corticosterone upon stimulation with exogenous ACTH; and second, their adrenals regress with age and eventually disappear. Reconstitution of POMC null mutants with ACTH does not rescue structure or function. However, neonatal adrenals transplanted to adrenalectomized wild-type littermates are maintained and functional, while wild-type adrenals transplanted to adrenalectomized mutant littermates are not. From these observations we conclude that POMC peptides are not required for prenatal adrenal development nor for postnatal differentiation. POMC peptides in addition to, or other than, ACTH are required for maintenance of adrenal structures and for permitting corticosterone production and/or release upon ACTH stimulation.
Bald Eagle Predation of a White-Tailed Deer Fawn

Abstract Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) is an adaptable predatory bird that commonly captures live prey, but regularly scavenges. Large mammalian prey (e.g., Odocoileus virginianus [White-tailed Deer]) have been observed in Bald Eagle diets, but were considered scavenged. To our knowledge, Bald Eagle predation of a live ungulate has only been reported once, and occurred in Menominee County, MI. In June 2009, we captured and radiocollared a female White-tailed Deer fawn (2.7 kg) in the south-central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The fawn was last radiolocated alive 8 h after release in a short-height (20–30 cm) grassland field along a river approximately 570 m from an eagle nest. Estimated time of mortality of the fawn was 10 h post release. Approximately 27 h post release, 2 legs, >50% fawn hide, and the radiocollar were present in the nest along with 2 eagle nestlings (estimated age 9–10 wks). We believe this was a possible predation event based on the 8-h period between fawn relocations, fawn move...
Sequential production of two different polyesters in the inclusion bodies of Pseudomonas oleovorans.

Abstract When Pseudomonas oleovorans was grown on a mixture of 5-phenylvaleric acid, PVA, and nonanoic acid, NA, the reserve polyester produced included both a homopolymer and a copolymer. The homopolymer poly-3-hydroxy-5-phenylvalerate, PHPV, contained only 3-hydroxy-5-phenylvalerate units, while the copolymer contained the same long chain 3-hydroxyalkanoates as those present in the copolymer poly-3-hydroxynonanoate, PHN, which is produced from nonanoic acid alone. The intracellular location of each of these polymers was determined by selective staining of the inclusion body granules with ruthenium tetraoxide and examination by transmission electron microscopy showed that both types of polyesters occurred in the same granule. PHN was present in the center of the granule, while PHPV accumulated around the PHN in the inclusion body. The proteins associated with the inclusion bodies were separated using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In all cases, two different polymerase enzymes of molecular weight 59 and 55 KDa were present, indicating that the same polymerase enzyme system was responsible for the production of both PHN and PHPV. Attempts were made to produce a random copolymer containing both alkyl and phenylalkyl repeat units by varying the growth conditions, but a mixture of PHN and PHPV was always produced instead
Structural insight into nucleotide recognition by human death-associated protein kinase.

Death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a member of the Ca2+/calmodulin-regulated family of serine/threonine protein kinases. The role of the kinase activity of DAPK in eukaryotic cell apoptosis and the ability of bioavailable DAPK inhibitors to rescue neuronal death after brain injury have made it a drug-discovery target for neurodegenerative disorders. In order to understand the recognition of nucleotides by DAPK and to gain insight into DAPK catalysis, the crystal structure of human DAPK was solved in complex with ADP and Mg2+ at 1.85 A resolution. ADP is a product of the kinase reaction and product release is considered to be the rate-limiting step of protein kinase catalytic cycles. The structure of DAPK–ADP–Mg2+ was compared with a newly determined DAPK–AMP-PNP–Mg2+ structure and the previously determined apo DAPK structure (PDB code 1jks). The comparison shows that nucleotide-induced changes are localized to the glycine-rich loop region of DAPK.
GABARAP: Lessons for Synaptogenesis

The clustering of neurotransmitter receptors at the postsynaptic terminals is a critical requirement for efficient neurotransmission and neuronal communication. This process is facilitated by adaptor proteins, which bridge the postsynaptic receptors and the underlying cytoskeleton. One such molecule, the GABAA receptor-associated protein, GABARAP, was identified as a potential linker between GABAA receptors and microtubules. GABARAP belongs to an expanding family of proteins that are implicated in a variety of intracellular transport processes. GABARAP has been shown to interact with myriad binding partners, including the gamma2 subunit of the GABAA receptor, tubulin and microtubules, the N-ethyl maleimide sensitive factor, gephyrin, and the transferin receptor. The recent determination of the GABARAP crystal structure has revealed individual GABARAP domains, motifs, and surface regions involved in specific protein-protein interactions. Currently, a more general role is emerging for GABARAP, including shipping GABAA receptors to and from the cell surface, organizing them into postsynaptic clusters, and regulating the steady-state receptor density.
Concomitant analysis of osteoblastlike cell migration and proliferation on a serum-enriched growth surface

Osteoblastlike cell migration and accompanying proliferation on a growth surface precoated with fetal calf serum (FCS) was quantified using a modification of the chemotactic model of Alessandri et al. (1983) and autoradiography. Culture dishes were precoated with 1%, 10%, or 100% FCS and were overlaid with agar. Three-millimeter-diameter wells were cut and first-passage osteoblastlike cells in serum-free medium were seeded into the wells. At 12 and 48 hours, outward migration was quantified by measuring (1) the distance osteoblastlike cells had migrated peripheral to the well margin, and (2) the number of osteoblast-like cells peripheral to the well margin. The data indicated that the migration of osteoblast-like cells was related to time and FCS concentration. More cells migrated a further distance at 48 hours than at 12 hours. In addition, with greater FCS concentrations, osteoblastlike cell migration increased; 3H-thymidine pulse labelling showed no incorporation of label into osteoblastlike cells at 12 hours. However, pulse labelling after 48 hours demonstrated that a small number of nuclei peripheral to the well margin were labelled. The data suggest that proliferation contributes negligibly to the population of osteoblastlike cells peripheral to the well margin. The appearance of osteoblastlike cells peripheral to the well margin is due primarily to migration.
CyberKnife radiosurgery for inoperable stage IA non-small cell lung cancer: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography serial tumor response assessment

To report serial 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) tumor response following CyberKnife radiosurgery for stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with biopsy-proven inoperable stage IA NSCLC were enrolled into this IRB-approved study. Targeting was based on 3-5 gold fiducial markers implanted in or near tumors. Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) were contoured using lung windows; margins were expanded by 5 mm to establish the planning treatment volumes (PTVs). Doses ranged from 42-60 Gy in 3 equal fractions. 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed prior to and at 3-6-month, 9-15 months and 18-24 months following treatment. The tumor maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was recorded for each time point. Twenty patients with an average maximum tumor diameter of 2.2 cm were treated over a 3-year period. A mean dose of 51 Gy was delivered to the PTV in 3 to 11 days (mean, 7 days). The 30-Gy isodose contour extended an average of 2 cm from the GTV. At a median follow-up of 43 months, the 2-year Kaplan-Meier overall survival estimate was 90% and the local control estimate was 95%. Mean tumor SUVmax before treatment was 6.2 (range, 2.0 to 10.7). During early follow-up the mean tumor SUVmax remained at 2.3 (range, 1.0 to 5.7), despite transient elevations in individual tumor SUVmax levels attributed to peritumoral radiation-induced pneumonitis visible on CT imaging. At 18-24 months the mean tumor SUVmax for controlled tumors was 2.0, with a narrow range of values (range, 1.5 to 2.8). A single local failure was confirmed at 24 months in a patient with an elevated tumor SUVmax of 8.4. Local control and survival following CyberKnife radiosurgery for stage IA NSCLC is exceptional. Early transient increases in tumor SUVmax are likely related to radiation-induced pneumonitis. Tumor SUVmaxvalues return to background levels at 18-24 months, enhancing 18F-FDG PET/CT detection of local failure. The value of 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging for surveillance following lung SBRT deserves further study.
Biopatterning for label-free detection

We present a biopatterning technique suitable for applications which demand a high degree of surface cleanliness, such as immobilization of biological recognition elements onto label-free biosensors. In the case of label-free biosensing, the mechanism of signal transduction is based on surface bound matter, making them highly sensitive to surface contamination including residues left during the biopatterning process. In this communication we introduce a simple, rapid processing step that removes 98% of the residues that often remain after standard parylene lift-off patterning. Residue-free parylene biopatterning is combined with microfluidics to localize biomolecule immobilization onto the sensing region and to enable multiplexed biopatterning. We demonstrate the applicability of this method to multiplexed label-free detection platforms by patterning nucleic acid capture probes corresponding to the four different serotypes of Dengue virus onto parallel 1D photonic crystal resonator sensors. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are used to quantify surface cleanliness and uniformity. In addition to label-free biosensors, this technique is well suited to other nanobiotechnology patterning applications which demand a pristine, residue-free surface, such as immobilization of enzymes, antibodies, growth factors, or cell cultures.
Semantic video and image retrieval: state of the art and challenges

In this tutorial we will discuss the history, the state of art, and the future of semantic image and video retrieval. The process of image description consists of extracting the global image characteristics, recognizing the image-objects, and assigning semantics to these objects. The image data can be treated as physical image representation and its meaning as a logical image representation. The logical representation includes methods for describing the image and image-objects characteristics and the relationships among the image objects. Several visual descriptors exist for representing the physical content of an image, such as the MPEG-7 standard [2]. Historically, semantic retrieval was frequently based on computer vision. To reduce the semantic gap, the low-level content-based media features are frequently being converted to high-level concepts or terms.
A low power 1.3GHz dual-path current mode Gm-C filter

A class-AB, dual path building block for Gm-C filter that has high linearity and high PSRR is presented. The class-AB action provides good linearity and gm/Id while the dual path approach solves the PSRR problem associated with conventional class-AB OTA. A current-mode 4th order Butterworth filter designed using the proposed building block in 0.13 mum CMOS technology provides 54.2 dB IM3 and 52 dB SNR in 1.3 GHz bandwidth while consuming as low as 24 mW. It occupies 0.1 mm2.
The Photograph Not as Proof but as Limit

Photographs have been doctored, falsified, and manipulated since their invention, yet the notion that a pictured person is somehow captured by a photographic image persists. The myth of indexicality—the legacy of photograph as trace, as having a special relationship to the real—runs throughout photography discourse, specifically discourse about photographs of suffering and how viewers might respond ethically to them. In this chapter, Roland Barthes’s Camera Lucida and the work of artists Josh Azzarella and Trevor Paglen are taken as examples of an alternative view of photography as limit rather than proof. Different approaches to ‘unknowability’ and mystery then frame this limit as a resource for ethical responses to images of suffering. The chapter argues for a view of photography as a mode of representation that fails to capture its subjects and that also makes its failure visible. Photography exists at the limits of representation, revealing there is more to the subject than can be contained by the image. Understanding photography in this way provides resources for constructing a mode of looking that maintains a form of otherness based on unknowability. Instead of turning the other into whom or what viewers want or need them to be, viewers are challenged by the other’s otherness—by the fact that he or she can never fully be known—and it is out of this mystery that the possibility for ethical relationship emerges.
Salmonella typhimurium neuraminidase acts with inversion of configuration.

When the time course of the hydrolysis of identical solutions of p-nitrophenyl N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminide by Salmonella typhimurium neuraminidase is monitored by u.v. and by its optical rotation, the rotation change is synchronous with, or even marginally in advance of, the absorbance change. In experiments under the same conditions with influenza-virus neuraminidase, known to react with retention of configuration [Chong, Pegg, Taylor and von Itzstein (1992) Eur. J. Biochem. 207, 335-343], the rotation change is much slower than the absorbance change. The inverting, presumably single-displacement, mode of action of the S. typhimurium enzyme follows from these observations, and the position (92.5% beta) of the slowly established mutarotational equilibrium of N-acetylneuraminic acid [Friebolin, Kunzelmann, Supp, Brossmer, Keilich and Ziegler (1981) Tetrahedron Lett. 22, 1383-1386].
The PowerPoint and the Glory: An Ethnography of Pulpit Media and Its Organizational Impacts

Scholars of religious communication are vitally interested in the impacts of media on religion. At the same time, scholars of organizational communication have intensely studied the impacts of media on organizations. Since much religious communication occurs in organizational settings, the literature on the organization-media interface offers productive frameworks for analyzing the religion-media interface. This article draws from the author's ethnographic fieldwork to narrate four cases of evangelical churches whose radically different uses of PowerPoint for worship and leadership communication are driven by their respective organizational identities and impact congregational dynamics in divergent ways. PowerPoint, though a simple technology, inhabits the churches' sacred space and amplifies their central discourse. The cases are analyzed via frameworks from organization studies to elicit how the churches' PowerPoint usage transforms organizational hierarchies and processes, dynamically interacts with or...
Polyneuropathie – Ätiologie, Geschlechterverteilung und Altersdurchschnitt in Ost-Österreich, eine retrospektive Datenanalyse an 278 Patienten

Polyneuropathien (PNP) sind disseminierte Storungen des peripheren Nervensystems, welche mit beeintrachtigten Funktionen mehrerer peripherer Nerven in klinisch ahnlicher Symptomatik einhergehen. Die PNP zahlt zu den haufigsten neurologischen Erkrankungen und tritt sehr oft als Begleit- oder Zweiterkrankung auf, dieser Umstand macht sie epidemiologisch schwer fassbar. Da es in Osterreich diesbezuglich noch keine aussagekraftigen Studien gibt, mussen daher Daten und Zahlen, basierend auf den statistischen Analysen aus anderen Landern, insbesondere Deutschland, ebenso wie diagnostische Methoden und Schemata, ubernommen werden. Unsere Studie stellt somit einen Vergleich gegenuber diesen Analysen dar. Es wurden 505 Patientenbriefe von PatientInnen mit der Abschlussdiagnose „Polyneuropathie“ bzw. „Polyneuropathie (nicht naher benannt), Neuropathie ohne nahere Angabe“ die im Zeitraum von 01.01.2006 bis 31.12.2010 im Neurologischem Zentrum Rosenhugel, KH Hietzing stationar aufgenommen waren, analysiert. Schlussendlich wurden 278 Patienten, mit einer manifesten Polyneuropathie (PNP), in die retrospektive Datenanalyse eingeschlossen. Als Ausloser einer PNP wurden 18 Diagnosen definiert, die teils an vorangegangen Studien angelehnt sind und teils in kleineren Subgruppen zusammengefasst wurden. Es zeigte sich ein erwarteter Uberhang der diabetischen PNP (31,7%), sowie der trotz hohem diagnostischen Aufwand atiologisch ungeklarten Polyneuropathien (16,2%), gefolgt von der alkoholischen PNP (12,2%). Als letzte grosere Gruppe wurde die multifaktoriell-verursachte PNP (9,4%) erfasst, wobei auch hier sehr haufig Diabetes und Alkohol in Kombination mitve­rursachend wirkten, jedoch nicht als einzelne Ursache festgemacht werden konnten. Weiters wurde das Patientenkollektiv auf Geschlechterverteilung und Altersdurchschnitt untersucht. Hier zeigte sich ein 2:1 Uberhang der Manner gegenuber den Frauen sowie ein durchschnittliches Erkrankungsalter von 65 Jahren beider Geschlechter.
Framing Photographic Ethnography: A Case Study

This article retraces the emergence of visual ethnography before deconstructing the uses of photographic evidence gathered for my book Changing Works: a visual ethnography of industrializing agricu...
Management of Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) in Patients Undergoing Chimeric Antigen Receptor Modified (CAR) T-Cell Therapy Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT)

Background: Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) provides graft-versus-disease effect with less treatment related toxicity, making allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) available to more recipients. The objective was to describe the etiology and spectrum of non-relapse mortality (NRM) following RIC HSCT for myeloid neoplasms. Methods: After due IRB approval, consecutive patients, who underwent RIC HSCT for myeloid neoplasms between 2000 and 2014 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester were identified. RIC regimens were melphalan/fludarabine or busulfan/fludarabine. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was per institutional standards. Cause of mortality was retrospectively analyzed through clinical documentation. Results: 200 patients, 125 (63%) males, median age 60 (range, 18 to 72) underwent RIC HSCT for myeloid neoplasms (AML, 59% [77% in CR]; MDS, 30% [52%without excess blasts]; myelofibrosis, 7.5%; and CML 3.5%). At last follow-up, 102 (51%) patients had died. Median follow-up was 14 months (range, 0-111). Of the 102 patients, 41 (40%) patients had disease relapse (AML, 28 [61% in prior CR]; MDS, 11[72% with prior excess blasts]); and myelofibrosis, 2 (5%). NRM was documented in 59 (58%) of 102 patients that had died and 2 patients were lost to follow-up. In 54 (92%) of the 59 patients, death was attributed to transplant-related complications (sepsis, 11 [20%]; multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and sepsis, 10 [19%]; respiratory failure secondary to infection, 5 [9%]; acute GVHD, 9 [17%]; chronic
Selective Crystallization of A-SI:H Films on Glass

We have found that an oxygen plasma exposure of a-Si:H films can cause these films to crystallize with a much lower thermal-budget than that required for the same a-Si:H films without this plasma exposure. Based on this unique finding, a selective area crystallization process has been developed to successfully form patterned polycrystalline Si films. In this study, 1500 A PECVD a-Si:H films were first covered by 500 A sputtered SiO2 which was then patterned by lithography to form various islands covered by the SiO2. These patterned films were exposed to an oxygen plasma and were then thermally annealed in a furnace at 600 °C for 6 hours. After this annealing it was found that the islands covered by SiO2 during the oxygen plasma treatment remained a-Si while the oxygen plasma exposed regions were crystallized completely. Both XRD and TEM were used to establish the existance of these controlled regions of a-Si and poly-Si in these films.
Reciprocity, Bilateralism, and Economic ‘Hostages’: Self-enforcing Agreements in International Trade

Recent emphases on reciprocity, bilateralism, retaliation, and regulatory restrictions (e.g., pollution, health, and safety standards) in US trade policy have been viewed as serious threats to the liberalization of international trade which characterized the post-World War II period. This paper explores a different interpretation, arguing that the bilateralism, reciprocity, and regulatory standards which have been viewed as moves toward protectionism can also be seen as mechanisms for dealing with the enforcement problem inherent in trade agreements in the presence of costly negotiation, costly enforcement, and strong protectionist constituencies. Trade policy among large economies has aspects resembling a ‘prisoners' dilemma’ because each country has an incentive to engage in opportunistic behavior by reneging on its commitments to liberalization. In the absence of effective third-party enforcement, a ‘self-enforcing agreement’, which through its terms automatically imposes substantial costs on any party guilty of noncompliance, may be one viable means of enforcement. Reciprocity, bilateralism, and regulatory standards can serve to facilitate self-enforcing agreements.
Inhibiting angiogenesis in malignant gliomas

Abstract Malignant gliomas (MGs) produce multiple factors that stimulate angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. The tumor-associated blood vessels are characterized by markedly abnormal structure and function, and these unusual features present an opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Recently, preliminary clinical trials using several classes of angiogenesis inhibitor in patients with MG have demonstrated encouraging efficacy and tolerability. Many other antiangiogenic agents are currently under investigation. However, the survival improvements observed to date in patients with MG have been modest, indicating that significant challenges remain with this therapeutic approach. In this chapter, we review the biology of angiogenesis, the spectrum of angiogenesis inhibitors being studied, and the clinical experience with antiangiogenic agents in the context of MG. We also discuss major issues that will be critical for further successful development of antiangiogenic compounds in MG, including the need to identify predictive biomarkers and to understand the mechanisms of escape from antiangiogenic therapy.
RESEARCH ON 3-ROLL CROSS WEDGE ROLLING OF STEPPED SHAFT

In the paper, the research on the quality of rolled stepped shaft for overcoming geometrical limitation and standard design of 3-roll cross wedge rolling mill is reported. The results show the product quality is good, the geometrical limitation can be overcome and the parameters of standard design of rolling mill are obtained.
High-Cycle Fatigue Properties of Three Kinds of Turbine Rotor Steel

The high-cycle fatigue experiments were carried out for 25Cr2MoVA steel, 25Cr2Mo1VA steel and 40 Cr steel, which complied with the manufacture of rotor's technical specifi cations. The P-S-N curves of three kinds of steel were fi tted based on the unlimited fatigue's semi-logarithmic model and the morphology of fatigue fracture was analyzed. The results show that the fatigue limits of strength of 25Cr2MoVA steel, 25Cr2Mo1 VA steel and 40 Cr steel were 465 MPa, 455 MPa and 460 MPa, respectively, when the fatigue cycle was 108 times. With the decrease of stress the fatigue lives of three kinds of steel increased continuously, and the P-S-N curves showed a slow trend of decline, but there was no signifi cant platforms. For 25Cr2 Mo VA steel, 25Cr2Mo1 VA steel and 40 Cr steel, the crack initiated from the material surface and propagated radially. The dimple feature was showed in the transient fracture zone for 25Cr2 Mo VA steel and 25Cr2Mo1 VA steel, whose toughness was all better than that of 40 Cr steel. The rotor with 25Cr2 Mo VA steel was safer and more reliable than the other two materials when they suffered subsynchronous oscillation
Hydroxyl radical quenching agents protect against DNA breakage caused by both 365-nm UVA and by gamma radiation.

The ability of hydroxyl radical (.OH) scavengers to reduce DNA breakage in isolated DNA from Bacillus subtilis by either gamma radiation or monochromatic radiation in the UVA region (365 nm) was examined by comparing dose reduction factors (the ratio of dose required to induce n DNA breaks in the absence to the presence of quencher). Previous data have demonstrated that acetate, formate, azide, and mannitol protect supercoiled DNA against gamma-radiation-induced ssb (single-strand breaks-relaxation of supercoil by first nick) in close agreement with the rate at which their solutions quench .OH. Here we show that these quenchers also protect against 365-nm-induced ssb. The ratios for protection against 365-nm induced DNA ssb in isolated B. subtilis DNA by the four quenchers are also in proportion to their ability to quench .OH. In view of the diverse chemical nature of the quenchers and the wide range of concentrations involved, these findings are evidence that both these radiations may induce ssb in DNA via a common step that might involve .OH.