cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accommodation in Crystalens Intraocular Lens

Wavefront aberrometry of 25 eyes of patients with Crystalens accommodating intraocular lenses was measured with during distance and near viewing. Increases in coma and spherical aberrations were correlated with lower power, more flexible lenses.
Toward a Relational Language of Process

Following theories that language shapes consciousness and identity and therefore prefigures all forms of social relationship, this article argues that the static, discrete, hierarchical language of bureaucracy and positivist science does not serve well to explain process-oriented concepts of collaboration or to guide participatory practice. To become fully process oriented—to support a collaborative participatory process of inclusive, egalitarian, and relational self-governance—we need new language to restructure our consciousness, identity, and social relations, language that would be holistic, nondiscrete, nonbinary, nonhierarchical, and gerundial. This article explores the possibility of such a language, drawing from diverse process-oriented sources—including quantum physics and pre-Socratic, Eastern, feminist, and indigenous worldviews—that offer surprising corroboration of process language that could reshape the dominant Western worldview to align philosophically with collaborative self-governance. H...
Bacterial Cyclic AMP-Phosphodiesterase Activity Coordinates Biofilm Formation

Biofilm-related infections are a major contributor to human disease, and the capacity for surface attachment and biofilm formation are key attributes for the pathogenesis of microbes. Serratia marcescens type I fimbriae-dependent biofilms are coordinated by the adenylate cyclase, CyaA, and the cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-cAMP receptor protein (CRP) complex. This study uses S. marcescens as a model system to test the role of cAMP-phosphodiesterase activity in controlling biofilm formation. Herein we describe the characterization of a putative S. marcescens cAMP-phosphodiesterase gene (SMA3506), designated as cpdS, and demonstrated to be a functional cAMP-phosphodiesterase both in vitro and in vivo. Deletion of cpdS resulted in defective biofilm formation and reduced type I fimbriae production, whereas multicopy expression of cpdS conferred a type I fimbriae-dependent hyper-biofilm. Together, these results support a model in which bacterial cAMP-phosphodiesterase activity modulates biofilm formation.
Tenets for Developing Quality Measures for Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy Services

During the past several years, the emphasis on quality in health care has been evolving. Alongside this evolution of change has been the advancement of clinical pharmacy services in ambulatory care settings. Although they share importance, both health care quality and ambulatory clinical pharmacy services have progressed and moved in their own directions. Nevertheless, in today's evolving health care landscape, collaboration among providers, including pharmacists, must occur to enhance quality. Pharmacy services must improve quality to be a sustainable health care service. This White Paper provides a rationale and structure that unite health care quality and ambulatory clinical pharmacy services. By applying national principles of quality measurement, this paper proposes five tenets to consider when developing measures for clinical pharmacy services in the ambulatory care setting: comprehensive, accountable, scientifically sound, feasible, and usable. Definitions of each tenet are presented. This paper uses exemplary literature on ambulatory clinical pharmacy services including diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, chronic lung disease, hypertension, anticoagulation, and heart failure to provide a context for the tenets and a discussion of their use. This paper also describes issues pertaining to health care quality and related costs using similar exemplary literature. Finally, a discussion is presented on both the opportunities and the challenges of measuring quality for ambulatory clinical pharmacy services. Issues related to the tenets, including shared accountability for health care quality, availability of comprehensive data to assess quality outcomes, feasibility of collecting and reporting quality, and the need for additional rigorous scientific evaluation of ambulatory clinical pharmacy services, are described.
The Comparison of Three Renal Tumor Scoring Systems: C-Index, P.A.D.U.A., and R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry Scores

Abstract Background and Purpose: The centrality-index (C–Index), preoperative aspects and dimensions used for anatomic (P.A.D.U.A.) classification, and radius.exophyic/endophytic.nearness.anterior/posterior.location (R.E.N.A.L.) nephrometry schemes were developed as standardized scoring systems (SS) to quantify anatomic characteristics of kidney tumors. The objective of this study was to establish reliability and assess relationships between these three SS and perioperative and postoperative variables. Patients and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed in 101 patients who underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. The nephrometry schemes were correlated with intraoperative and postoperative parameters using Spearman correlations. In addition, interobserver reliability was assessed on 50 of the patients by interclass correlations comparing the scores assigned by two residents and one fellow who reviewed preoperative CT studies of these patients. Results: The interobserver correlation was 0.8...
Effect of chronic ethanol ingestion on intestinal metabolism and mutagenicity of benzo(α)pyrene

Abstract Chronic ethanol ingestion in male rats causes an increase in cytochrome P-450 content and in the activity of microsomal benzo(α)pyrene hydroxylase in the upper intestinal mucosa. Intestinal microsomes from ethanol fed rats also exhibit an enhanced capacity to activate the ubiquitous procarcinogen benzo(α)pyrene to a mutagen. These findings could be of relevance with respect to the increased incidence of cancer in the alcoholic.
Glycogen: The forgotten cerebral energy store

The brain contains a significant amount of glycogen that is an order of magnitude smaller than that in muscle, but several-fold higher than the cerebral glucose content. Although the precise role of brain glycogen to date is unknown, it seems affected by focal activation, neurotransmitters, and overall electrical activity and hormones. Based on its relatively low concentration, the role of brain glycogen as a significant energy store has been discounted. This work reviews recent experimental evidence that brain glycogen is an important reserve of glucose equivalents: (1) glial glycogen can provide the majority of the glucose supply deficit during hypoglycemia for more than 100 min, consistent with the proposal that glial lactate is a fuel for neurons; (2) glycogen concentrations may be as high as 10 micromol/g, substantially higher than was thought previously; (3) glucose cycling in and out of glycogen amounts to approximately 1% of the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglc) in human and rat brain, amounting to an effective stability of glycogen in the resting awake brain during euglycemia and hyperglycemia, (4) brain glycogen metabolism/concentrations are insulin/glucose sensitive; and (5) after a single episode of hypoglycemia, brain glycogen levels rebound to levels that exceed the pre-hypoglycemic concentrations (supercompensation). This experimental evidence supports the proposal that brain glycogen may be involved in the development of diabetes complications, specifically impaired glucose sensing (hypoglycemia unawareness) observed clinically in some diabetes patients under insulin treatment. It is proposed further that brain glycogen becomes important in any metabolic state where supply transiently cannot meet demand, such conditions that could occur during prolonged focal activation, sleep deprivation, seizures, and mild hypoxia.
Heparin induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis

Abstract Heparin remains the most commonly used parenteral medication in hospitalized patients. Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and heparin induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis syndrome or the white clot syndrome are important complications of heparin use. This article provides an indepth review of the etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management options in patients with HIT. Clinical problems associated with HIT such as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and venous gangrene are described. The management options of HIT patients during cardiac interventional procedures and coronary surgery as well as recent advances in therapeutic options are summarized. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, Vol. 42, No. 4 (January/February), 2000: pp 247-260
Ethical issues in the clinical application of fMRI: Factors affecting the validity and interpretation of activations

The ability of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to localize activations in a single patient, along with the safety and widespread availability of this methodology, has lead to an increasing use of fMRI for clinical purposes such as pre-surgical planning. As methodology continues to improve and more experience with fMRI in the clinical setting is acquired, clinical functional neuroimaging will likely have an increasing influence over patient care. Therefore, ethical use of fMRI, as with other medical techniques, requires understanding the factors impacting the interpretation of the methodology. Issues affecting the validity and interpretation of clinical functional neuroimaging, including effects of altered hemodynamic response function, head motion, and structural changes in the brain, are reviewed. The distinction between correlated and necessary activation in a clinical context is discussed. Different types of statistical errors in fMRI analysis are described, along with their consequences to the patient. Finally, for the future of clinical fMRI development, the need for normative patient data, as well as standardized tasks, scan protocols, and data analyses, is discussed.
Induction of sensitivity to activation‐induced death in primary CD4+ cells: A role for interleukin‐2 in the negative regulation of responses by mature CD4+ T cells

We examine the requirements for converting naive, mature CD4+ cells from an activation-induced death (AID)-resistant to a -sensitive phenotype. Priming for sensitivity to AID can be divided into two steps. The first is a mitogen/CD3-dependent, cyclosporin-sensitive signal and the second a cytokine-dependent, cyclosporin-insensitive one. Under these conditions, interleukin (IL)-2, but not IL-4, IL-7 or IL-15, the receptors of which share a common receptor gamma chain, is capable of providing the cytokine signal for inducing sensitivity to AID. Increased expression of the low-affinity IL-2R alpha chain (CD25) is associated with acquisition of AID sensitivity and antibodies to CD25 block acquisition of AID sensitivity in the presence of IL-2. As with T cell hybridomas, AID is dependent on both CD95 and CD95 ligand (CD95L) expression, but unlike hybridomas, the sensitive and resistant phenotypes of primary CD4+ cells cannot be distinguished by levels of CD95 expression, functional CD95L nor the fraction of cells in cycle. The results suggest that the unique function of IL-2 is to regulate proteins, either not important or constitutively regulated in T cell hybridomas, that are essential for cell-autonomous suicide of activated CD4+ cells. These experiments provide a mechanism for the recent observations of chronic lymphoproliferation and autoimmune disease in mice with null mutations in IL-2 or CD25.
Attachment State Shifts Viability Versus Cooling Rate (Inverted U Curve) During Freezing for Human Dermal Fibroblasts

A large number of studies in cryobiology have focused on understanding the underlying biophysics at the cellular level to help predict survival outcome after cryopreservation or cryosurgery. While this behavior is increasingly well studied and understood in cells gaps remain in our understanding of how cells in tissues behave which can hamper freezing applications in tissues. This study compares freezing behavior in cells in suspension vs. attached (a model tissue) state to investigate any differences in cellular behavior in these two states.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Polarography of some phenylmercury amide and imide compounds

Several amide and imide compounds of phenylmercury were prepared and their stability studied polarographically under different conditions. The half-wave potentials of these compounds were found to be identical, within experimental error, to the decomposition potential of phenylmercuric hydroxide, suggesting a ready hydrolysis in each case. Other characteristics of the polarograms were also compared. Polarograms of mixtures of the coordinating compounds with phenylmercuric hydroxide in molar ratios greater than 1:1 were obtained. An increase in the half-wave potentials to greater negative values in the case of the amides of higher molecular weight and also succinimide indicates a greater binding of these compounds with phenylmercury as contrasted with the amides of lower molecular weight which did not shift the half-wave potentials under the conditions employed.
The influence of cytochalasin B on the response of adrenal tumor cells to ACTH and cyclic AMP.

Abstract Cytochalasin B inhibits increase in steroid synthesis by mouse adrenal tumor cells (Y-1), produced either by ACTH or cyclic AMP. Basal levels of steroid synthesis are not decreased and the inhibitor acts by decreasing the response of the side-chain cleavage step (cholesterol → pregnenolone) to ACTH. Inhibition is reversible and is seen in medium without glucose. These observations suggest that microfilaments may play a role in the response of adrenal cells to ACTH.
Some non-battery applications of solid electrolytes and mixed conductors

Abstract Some of the many possible non-battery applications of both solid electrolytes and mixed-conducting materials for both scientific and technological purposes are reviewed.
Producing organ donors.

Organ transplantation is one of the greatest technological achievements of modern medicine, but the ability of patients to benefit from transplantation is limited by shortages of transplantable organs. The median waiting time for patients placed on the kidney transplant waiting list is over three years. Median waiting times for hearts and livers are seven months and two years, respectively. From 1995 to 2005, the number of patients placed on the waiting list for organ transplants grew at an annualized rate of 4 percent per year. As a result of the growth in the demand for organs, many observers have questioned whether the current system is capable of providing enough transplantable organs. Transplant physicians and policymakers are seriously debating proposals to pay donors and their families and to change the legal regime governing the process of obtaining consent to donation. This paper provides an overview of the rules and practices that govern the organ procurement system and reviews proposals to increase donation rates, with a focus on deceased donors.
Randomized, controlled trial of standard, large-capacity versus jumbo biopsy forceps for polypectomy of small, sessile, colorectal polyps

Background Polypectomy with cold biopsy forceps is a frequently used technique for removal of small, sessile, colorectal polyps. Jumbo forceps may lead to more effective polypectomy because of the larger size of the forceps cup. Objective To evaluate the efficiency of cold jumbo biopsy forceps compared with standard forceps for polypectomy of small, sessile, colorectal polyps. Design Randomized, controlled trial. Setting Outpatient endoscopy center. Patients This study involved 140 patients found to have at least one eligible polyp defined as a sessile polyp measuring ≤6 mm. Intervention Polypectomy with cold biopsy forceps. Main Outcome Measurements Complete visual polyp eradication with one forceps bite. Results In 140 patients, a total of 305 eligible polyps were detected (151 removed with jumbo forceps and 154 with standard forceps). Complete visual eradication of the polyp with one forceps bite was achieved in 78.8% of the jumbo forceps group and 50.7% of the standard forceps group ( P P = .62). The withdrawal time for visual inspection of the colon and time to perform polypectomies were significantly shorter in the jumbo forceps group (mean 21.43 vs 18.23 minutes; P = .02). Limitations Lack of blinding to the type of forceps used. Conclusion The jumbo biopsy forceps is superior to the standard forceps in removing small, sessile polyps. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT00855790.)
Substance P-like immunoreactive neurons are depleted in Alzheimer's disease cerebral cortex.

Abstract We studied the morphology and distribution of substance P-like immunoreactive elements in normal and Alzheimer's disease brain with a monoclonal anti-substance P antibody. Bands of prominent terminal-like staining were found in the dentate gyrus of normal brain. Multipolar substance P-immunoreactive neurons were seen in dentate polymorphic layer and CA4 and prominent fiber staining was present in the CA fields of the hippocampus and adjacent allocortex. Reactive perikarya, concentrated in deep cortex and infracortical white matter, were found in all isocortical regions. Greatest density was in frontal and parietal association cortex; lowest in visual cortex. Fiber density was generally greatest in layers I and II. In Alzheimer's disease, staining intensity was reduced in the dentate gyrus. Hilar neurons were unaffected but other CA field neurons were distorted with pruned dendritic trees. Isocortical perikarya and fibers were significantly depleted and distorted in all regions. Globular deposits consisting of distorted neuntes or dissolving perikarya were frequently seen. Double staining methods showed that the vast majority of isocortical, but not hippocampal, substance P-like immunoreactive neurons are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase-positive. Despite the modest quantitative depletion of substance P in Alzheimer's disease cortex as measured by radioimmunoassay compared to somatostatin, there is a significant depletion of substance P-like immunoreactive perikarya. This disparity may be due to persistence of afferent projections which make a major contribution to substance P concentrations in cerebral cortex or to the high substance P content of dystrophic fibers in Alzheimer's disease cortex.
A preliminary assessment of the sensitivity of air quality in California to global change

A regional air quality model was used to quantify the effect of temperature, humidity, mixing depth, and background concentrations on ozone (O3) and airborne particulate matter during three air quality episodes in California. Increasing temperature with no change in absolute humidity promoted the formation of O3 by +2 to +9 ppb K−1 through increased reaction rates. Increasing temperature with no change in relative humidity increased predicted O3 concentrations by +2 to +15 ppb K−1 through enhanced production of hydroxyl radical combined with increased reaction rates. Increasing mixing depth promoted the formation of O3 in regions with an over-abundance of fresh NO emissions (such as central Los Angeles) by providing extra dilution. Increasing temperature with no change in absolute humidity reduced particle water content and promoted the evaporation of ammonium nitrate at a rate of −3 to −7 μg m−3 K−1. Increasing temperature with no change in relative humidity maintained particle water content and moderated ammonium nitrate evaporation rates to a maximum value of −3 μg m−3 K−1 during warmer episodes and increased ammonium nitrate condensation by +1.5 μg m−3 K −1 during colder episodes. Increasing mixing depth reduced the concentration of primary particulate matter but increased the formation of secondary particulate matter in regions with an over-abundance of fresh NO emissions. O3 transported into California from upwind areas enhanced the formation of particulate nitrate by promoting the formation of N2O5 and HNO3 at night. A 30 ppb increase in background O3 concentrations (roughly doubling current levels) increased maximum PM2.5 concentrations by +7 to +16 μg m−3 even when temperature was simultaneously increased by +5 K with no change in absolute humidity (most unfavorable conditions for nitrate formation).
Cyclic Fatigue in Ceramics: A Balance between Crack Shielding Accumulation and Degradation

Cyclic fatigue growth rates in R-curve ceramics have been observed to depend very strongly on the maximum applied stress intensity, K{sub max}, and only weakly on the stress intensity range, {Delta}K. This behavior is rationalized through measurement of crack wake shielding characteristics as a function of these fatigue parameters in a gas-pressure-sintered silicon nitride. In particular, evidence for a mechanical equilibrium between shielding accumulation by crack growth and shielding degradation by frictional wear of sliding interfaces is found for steady-state cyclic fatigue. This equilibrium gives rise to a rate law for cyclic fatigue. The data suggest that the accumulation process is the origin of the strong K{sub max} dependence, and that the degradation process is the origin of the weak {Delta}K dependence. These features are shown to be related to the ``cyclic`` R-curve and to the cyclic crack opening displacement, respectively.
Computations of Flapping Flow Propulsion for Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Design

Three-dimensional unsteady computations of the flow past a flapping and deforming fin are performed. The computed unsteady lift and thrust force-time histories are validated with experimental data and are in good agreement. Several fin parametric studies are performed for a notional unmanned underwater vehicle. The parametric studies investigated the force production of the fin as a function of varying the flexibility, the bulk amplitude of fin rotation, the vehicle speed, and the fin stroke bias angle. The results of these simulations are used to evaluate the hydrodynamic performance of the vehicle and to support controller development. Computations are also performed to map out the hydrodynamic characteristics of a new test vehicle, designed and built at Naval Research Laboratory to demonstrate the hovering and low-speed maneuvering performance of a set of actively controlled curvature fins.
Resilience of forested wetlands located in the southeastern United States: Demonstration of a soil perturbation index

This study examined the usefulness of soil organic matter (SOM), total organic carbon (TOC), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and total phosphorus (TP) as indicators of resilience in forested wetlands located within southeast Virginia, USA. These data were also examined as standards for reference wetlands before and after timber harvesting and for comparisons of mature and early successional stages. Results indicate that the wetland soils in this study seem to be relatively resilient to perturbation. Soil total phosphorus was significantly greater in the 0- and 0.5-year stages than the 5-, 8-, and 14-year stages (p<0.05). Although there were no significant differences in SOM, TOC, and TKN levels before and after timber harvest or between early and mature successional stages, there were consistent trends that may prove beneficial in determining reference standards. A Soil Perturbation Index was developed by combining all four parameters for soils collected in the Chowan River watershed to determine extent of deviation from the biogeochemical reference. Using the model developed in this study, biogeochemical functions decrease after harvesting, with the low point reached at approximately 8 to 9 years after human alteration. This index predicts that it would take 16–17 years for SOM, TOC, TKN, and TP to return to pre-harvest conditions. Perturbation indices could be used for assessment of human impacts, restoration projects, and mitigation of wetlands. We maintain that a Soil Perturbation Index can be one useful component of an index of biotic integrity for wetland ecosystems.
The prevention of cutaneous necrosis following extravasation of hypertonic saline and sodium tetradecyl sulfate.

background. Most authors have recommended treating extravasation during sclerotherapy by infiltrating the area with 0.9% sodium chloride and/or procaine. objective. To evaluate interventions in the prevention of necrosis following intradermal injection of 23.4% sodium chloride and 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate. methods. Following intradermal 23.4% sodium chloride (Study I) or 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate (Study II), subjects (Sprague-Dawley rats) received either no treatment or injections of 0.9% sodium chloride, sterile water, 1% procaine, or hyaluronidase. Groups were compared regarding incidence and size of necrosis. results. In study I, hyaluronidase treated groups had significantly fewer and smaller areas of necrosis than other groups. In study II, the hyaluronidase group developed significantly fewer ulcers than the 0.9% sodium chloride group. The 0.9% sodium chloride group had significantly larger ulcers than other groups. conclusion. In the model studied, hyaluronidase was the only effective treatment in the prevention of necrosis. Following 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate, 0.9% sodium chloride was associated with larger ulcers than other groups.
Pharmacological characterization of voltage-clamped catfish rod horizontal cell responses to kainic acid.

Abstract Excitatory amino acid-induced currents were examined in voltage-clamped rod horizontal cells dissociated from the catfish retina. The cells responded to glutamate (GLU) and the GLU analogues kainate (KA), quisqualate (QA), and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), while N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) produced inconsistent responses. Of the effective agonists, only KA produced large, concentration-dependent current responses. While QA, AMPA, GLU, and NMDA were poor agonists, these compounds were able to block rod horizontal cell responses to KA. The rank order potency for this inhibition was: QA > AMPA ⩾ l -GLU ⪢ d -GLU = NMDA . Several excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists were also able to inhibit rod horizontal cell responses to KA. The rank order potency for the inhibition by the compounds tested was: kynurenate > cis-piperidine-dicarboxylic acid ⪢ d,l -α-amino-adipate. Comparison of the potency of several ligands to inhibit rod and cone horizontal cell responses to KA suggested similarities in the KA binding sites of both cell types.
CASCAM—An automated system for sculptured surface cavity machining

Abstract A systematic procedure that automatically generates machining processes for sculptured surface cavity machining is presented. The work proposed here includes the evaluation of machining information, decision for machining process strategy, automatic cutter selection, and cutter path generation. Machining information is first evaluated by considering the cavity geometric shape, removal volume, and constraints of machining. A decision on the process strategy is determined based on the machining information evaluated. Then the procedures of machining the cavity are decided. The cutter selection is automatically determined by considering geometric constraints, the maximum material removal rate in the roughing process and the minimum cutter movement with the required accuracy in the finishing process. The roughing process is approached by some arbitrary-shape pocketing procedures combined with islands on the cutting planes. Cutter movements and cutter selection are optimized by considering the global information of machining conditions on adjacent cutting planes. A system called cascam has been developed to prove the feasibility of the proposed concept.
The effect of fibril length and architecture on the accessibility of reducing ends of cellulose Iα to Trichoderma reesei Cel7A

The origin of the recalcitrance of cellulose fibrils to enzymatic hydrolysis is still poorly understood. In this study we examined the role of cellulose fibril lengths and fibril architecture, i.e. the fibrillar structure from lateral association of cellulose microfibrils, on the accessibility to a reducing-end specific cellobiohydrolase, Trichoderma reesei Cel7A (TrCel7A). Cellulose Iα fibrils from Gluconacetobacter xylinus and Cladophora aegagropila showed contrasting digestibility by TrCel7A. Where the bacterial cellulose (BC) fibrils from G. xylinus were rapidly hydrolyzed to near completion by TrCel7A (>99 %) in 120 h, under identical reaction conditions, TrCel7A hydrolysis of the algal cellulose (AC) fibrils from C. aegagropila was slow and limited (~30 %). Mechanically decreasing fibril lengths and increasing average reducing end concentrations by high intensity ultrasonication did not affect the hydrolysis rates of either BC or AC by TrCel7A. Moreover, ultrasonicated AC remained significantly less digestible by TrCel7A than BC despite higher available reducing-end concentrations. In contrast to previous observations of extensive fibrillation of BC by TrCel7A hydrolysis, AC fibrils subjected to hydrolysis by TrCel7A remained associated. The hydrolysis of AC fibrils by TrCel7A roughened the topography of the fibril surfaces in a manner suggesting erosion of microfibrils at the fibril surface. We speculate that the compact cross-sections of the AC microfibrils result in tightly associated fibrils that hinder enzyme access to available reducing ends while the flat, ribbon cross section of the BC microfibrils result in more loosely associated fibrils that more easily dissociate during hydrolysis to improve accessibility and overall digestibility by TrCel7A.
Characterization of the Transcription Profile of Adeno-Associated Virus Type 5 Reveals a Number of Unique Features Compared to Previously Characterized Adeno-Associated Viruses

We report the initial characterization of adeno-associated virus type 5 (AAV5) RNAs generated following viral infection and the construction of a replicating infectious clone of AAV5. While the basic transcription profile of AAV5 was similar to that of AAV2, there were also significant differences. Mapping of the AAV5 transcripts demonstrated an efficient transcription initiation site within the AAV5 inverted terminal repeat (ITR), and mapping of the AAV5 intron revealed that it is considerably smaller than that of AAV2. Furthermore, in contrast to the case for AAV2, neither the Rep protein nor additional adenovirus gene products were required to achieve efficient promoter activity and pre-mRNA splicing following transfection of an AAV5 rep/cap plasmid clone lacking the ITRs into 293 cells. Perhaps most surprisingly, RNAs generated from both the AAV5 P7 and P19 promoters were efficiently polyadenylated at a site lying within the intronic region in the center of the genome. Because P7- and P19-generated transcripts are polyadenylated at this site and not spliced, Rep78 and Rep52 were the only Rep proteins detected during AAV5 infection.
The effects of pargyline, scopolamine, and imipramine on territorial aggression in the convict cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum).

Scopolamine, pargyline, and imipramine reduce territoral aggression in the convict cichlid. Imipramine is effective at much lower doses than either scopolamine or pargyline. None of the drugs affected activity or predation/feeding, indicating that the observed drug effects are relatively specific.
Membrane gas transfer of methane and carbon dioxide in submerged coal deposits

Membrane degassing technology may prove to be a viable alternative to current coal bed methane recovery. The proposed approach involves supplying a CO2 sweep gas to membrane fibres placed directly ...
Strength duration curve for epicardial left ventricular stimulation.

Background:The strength duration curve for endocardial stimulation has been extensively studied. Little information is available on the left ventricular epicardial strength duration curve. In view of the large number of patients treated with resynchronization therapy, left ventricular epicardial stimulation parameters have practical importance. Methods:Twelve patients who underwent implant of a biventricular defibrillator were available for at least 4 months of follow up and accurate determination of strength duration curves were studied. Strength duration curves were constructed at 30 days (subacute phase) and 4 or more months (chronic phase) after the implant for right ventricular endocardial, left ventricular epicardial unipolar, and left ventricular bipolar stimulation. The goal was to determine the chronaxie, which correlates with the most economical stimulation. Results:There was no significant difference between the right ventricular endocardial and left ventricular epicardial bipolar chronaxie (P = 0.57 subacute and 0.6 chronic) or right ventricular endocardial and left ventricular unipolar chronaxie (P = 0.93 subacute and 0.92 chronic). Most chronaxie values were lower than the factory default values. Conclusion:The left ventricular unipolar or bipolar epicardial chronaxie is not significantly different from the right ventricular endocardial chronaxie. Both values are lower than the pulse duration used as default setting in most devices as well as in clinical practice. Individual determination of the chronaxie could lead to energy savings.
Polyphloretin Phosphate, an Antagonist of Thyrotropin Action: Evidence for an Interaction with the Hormone Rather than the Receptor*

Polyphloretin phosphate (PPP) is known to be an inhibitor of bovine TSH (bTSH)-induced stimulation of the thyroid in both in vivo and in vitro assays. The present studies were undertaken to delineate the mechanism of these effects. A high molecular weight PPP preparation strongly inhibited both the binding of 125I-labeled bTSH ([125I]bTSH) to human thyroid membranes and the stimulation of adenylate cyclase evoked by bTSH therein. Inhibition of bTSH-induced adenylate cyclase activity by PPP was evident both in the absence and the presence of NaCl (150 mMJ in the incubation medium. Incubation of membranes with PPP, followed by its removal, did not affect subsequent binding of [125I]bTSH, indicating that PPP did not bind firmly to or damage the TSH receptor. Gel chromatography on Sephadex G-100 revealed that [125I]bTSH incubated with PPP eluted earlier than [126I]bTSH alone, indicating that PPP had formed a higher molecular weight complex with [125I]bTSH. This effect could be prevented by the addition of an ...
HOW UNCLEAR TERMS AFFECT SURVEY DATA

Although writing clear questions is accepted as a gen- eral goal in surveys, procedures to ensure that each key term is consistently understood are not routine. Researchers who do not adequately test respondent understanding of questions must as- sume that ambiguity will not have a large or systematic effect on their results. Seven questions that were drawn from questions used in national health surveys were subjected to special pretest procedures and found to contain one or more poorly defined terms. When the questions were revised to clarify the definition of key terms, significantly different estimates resulted. The impli- cation is that unclear terms are likely to produce biased esti- mates. The results indicate that evaluation of survey questions to identify key terms that are not consistently understood and defining unclear terms are ways to reduce systematic error in survey measurement.
Exploiting 3-D Models for Low-Resolution Motion Analysis

Motion analysis combined with a 3-D scene model allows the identification as humans of moving objects at extremely low resolution. Basic concepts and results of analyses are presented.
Lymphotoxin-α-Dependent Spleen Microenvironment Supports the Generation of Memory B Cells and Is Required for Their Subsequent Antigen-Induced Activation

Lymphotoxin α-deficient (LTα −/− ) mice show dramatically reduced IgG responses after either primary or secondary immunizations with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). When splenocytes from SRBC-primed wild-type donor mice were infused into irradiated naive wild-type recipient mice, they generated a robust memory IgG response, but not when infused into LTα −/− recipients, indicating that the microenvironment that develops in LTα −/− mice is incompetent to support the activation of this memory response. When irradiated wild-type mice were reconstituted with splenocytes from primed LTα −/− donors and then challenged with the same immunizing Ag, no memory response was observed, indicating further that memory cells could not be generated in the LTα −/− environment. To address which lymphocyte subsets were impaired in the LTα −/− mice, we performed reconstitution experiments using a hapten/carrier system and T cells and B cells from different primed donors. There was no detectable defect in either the generation or expression of memory T cells from LTα −/− donors. In contrast, B cells were not primed for memory in the microenvironment of LTα −/− mice. Additionally, primed wild-type memory B cells could not express a memory IgG response in the LTα −/− microenvironment. Thus, splenic white pulp structure, which depends on the expression of LTα for its development and maintenance, is needed to support the generation of memory B cells and to permit existing memory B cells to express an isotype switched memory Ig response following antigenic challenge.
Population and environmental effects on the size-fecundity relationship in a common grasshopper across an aridity gradient

Abstract Body size is of primary interest to biologists because of its often positive correlation with fitness, in particular fecundity. The size-fecundity relationship is well established both within and among species. However, little is known about how the size-fecundity relationship differs among populations of the same species or whether it differs in response to environmental conditions experienced by a single population. This study examines the size-fecundity relationship in the pallid-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis pallidipennis: Acrididae, Oedipodinae) among seven populations that extend along an aridity gradient in the southwestern United States. Results showed a positive relationship between body size of field-caught females and precipitation along the gradient, but only among those populations that receive less than 12 cm rainfall a year. There was a positive relationship between body size and the number of mature oocyte in the ovaries and with the number of hatchlings. Potential fecundity, ...
Unintended Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Consequences of Group Assignments

Pedagogical strategies can be thought of as a set of stimuli placed in students’ environment to influence their cognition, affect, and behavior. The design of strategies such as group assignments a...
NVisionIP: an interactive network flow visualization tool for security

Security engineers are being overwhelmed with data from the network monitoring tools. A tool is needed that would allow security engineers to view information about the entire network. In addition, the tool must allow the security engineers to use their background knowledge and intuition. NVisionIP, a tool developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, provides a visualization of a class B network. Following the visual information seeking mantra ("overview first, zoom and alter then details-on-demand"), NVisionIP provides a visualization of an entire class B network, then allows users to drill down and gather more details about the hosts on the network. Combining the visualization and data processing capabilities of computers and the intuition and reasoning capabilities of humans, NVisionIP is a tool that allows security engineers to detect and stop attacks on networks.
Screwing the Pooch: Legitimizing Accounts in a Zoophilia On-line Community

This article seeks to extend existing research that addresses how deviant individuals use Internet technology to communicate accounts that neutralize hostile labels associated with their behaviors. Data were collected from a message board dedicated to zoophilia; the sample was comprised of 4,983 individual posts drawn from 87 discussion threads. Findings suggest that the posters routinely justify their actions through the production of neutralizing accounts. In particular, three new types of accounts were documented: appeals to enlightenment, claims of cultural diffusion, and neutralization by comparison.
Oral care and bacteremia risk in mechanically ventilated adults.

Objective Transient bacteremia occurs in healthy populations from toothbrushing. With the high incidence of bacteremia in the intensive care unit and toothbrushing as an oral care method, this study examined the incidence and clinical significance of transient bacteremia from toothbrushing in mechanically ventilated adults. Methods Prospective pre- and post-test with all subjects (N = 30) receiving a toothbrushing intervention twice per day (up to 48 hours). The planned microbial analysis used DNA typing to identify organisms from oral and blood cultures collected immediately before, 1 minute, and 30 minutes after the interventions. Results Seventeen percent of subjects had oral cultures that were positive for selected pathogens before the first toothbrushing intervention. None of the subjects had evidence of transient bacteremia by positive quantitative blood cultures before or after the toothbrushing interventions. Patient characteristics were not statistically significant predictors for systemic inflammatory response syndrome, length of hospital stay, or length of intubation. Conclusion The toothbrushing intervention did not induce transient bacteremia in this patient population.
Combating HIV stigma in health care settings: what works?

The purpose of this review paper is to provide information and guidance to those in the health care setting about why it is important to combat HIV-related stigma and how to successfully address its causes and consequences within health facilities. Research shows that stigma and discrimination in the health care setting and elsewhere contributes to keeping people, including health workers, from accessing HIV prevention, care and treatment services and adopting key preventive behaviours.
Novelty detection for a neural network-based online adaptive system

The appeal of including biologically inspired soft computing systems such as neural networks in complex computational systems is in their ability to cope with a changing environment. Unfortunately, continual changes induce uncertainty that limits the applicability of conventional verification and validation (V&V) techniques to assure the reliable performance of such systems. At the system input layer, novel data may cause unstable learning behavior, which may contribute to system failures. Thus, the changes at the input layer must be observed, diagnosed, accommodated and well understood prior to system deployment. Moreover, at the system output layer, the uncertainties/novelties existing in the neural network predictions also need to be well analyzed and detected during system operation. Our research tackles the novelty detection problem at both layers using two different methods. We use a statistical learning tool, support vector data description (SVDD), as a one-class classifier to examine the data entering the adaptive component and detect unforeseen patterns that may cause abrupt system functionality changes. At the output layer, we define a reliability-like measure, the validity index. The validity index reflects the degree of novelty associated with each output and thus can be used to perform system validity checks. Simulations demonstrate that both techniques effectively detect unusual events and provide validation inferences in a near-real time manner.
Retinoblastoma Protein Interacts with ATF2 and JNK/p38 in Stimulating the Transforming Growth Factor-β2 Promoter

Abstract Two highly related transcription factors, ATF2 and ATFa, enhance the activity of the Transforming Growth Factor β2 (TGF-β2) promoter via a partial cAMP response element in transfected CHO cells. The retinoblastoma protein (Rb) also activates this promoter and enhances the stimulatory effects of ATF2 but causes near extinction of the effects of ATFa. The site on Rb required for its effects alone and in combination with the ATFs has been mapped mainly to the A/B pockets but the C pocket is also implicated. Whereas MKK7 or JNK expression enhances the actions of both ATFs, MKK6 or p38 expression only augments the effects of ATF2. Immunoprecipitation with Rb antibodies of lysates from transfected cells brings down expressed ATF2 but not ATFa. Expressed JNK and p38 are also found in the anti-Rb immunoprecipitates. ATF2 antibodies bring down expressed Rb, JNK and p38 and expression of Rb enhances the immunoprecipitation of both JNK and p38 by ATF2 antibodies. The results suggest that Rb is acting as a matchmaker by bridging either JNK or p38 with their common substrate ATF2 and, hence, facilitating its activation. Consistent with this suggestion, expression of Rb enhances the phosphorylation of ATF2 in CHO cells.
Making findbugs more powerful

To find bugs in software, a number of automated techniques have been developed over years. In recent years the research on finding bugs are being considered with utter importance as the automated detection of bugs plays a momentous role to minimize the cost of testing software. Findbugs is a widely used bug finding tool for java that supports plug-in architecture for adding new bug detectors. We have explored the already detected bug patterns and noticed that there are a number of bug patterns that are yet not detected by findbugs. Thus, our research is a momentous step to make findbugs more reliable and effective. We have written bug detectors to detect 8 different bug patterns. Our analysis and experiments have identified 4 bug patterns that are never detectable by findbugs. We have tested our bug patterns with PMD and have found that PMD cannot detect those bug patterns that our bug detectors can detect. We have run a number of popular applications to test the effectiveness of our bug detectors and our results show that our detectors can successfully detect the bug patterns they aim for and the percentage of false positive, reported by our detector is 15.45% that is much less than the percentage of false positive reported by findbugs.
Laminar Neural Field Model of Laterally Propagating Waves of Orientation Selectivity

We construct a laminar neural-field model of primary visual cortex (V1) consisting of a superficial layer of neurons that encode the spatial location and orientation of a local visual stimulus coupled to a deep layer of neurons that only encode spatial location. The spatially-structured connections in the deep layer support the propagation of a traveling front, which then drives propagating orientation-dependent activity in the superficial layer. Using a combination of mathematical analysis and numerical simulations, we establish that the existence of a coherent orientation-selective wave relies on the presence of weak, long-range connections in the superficial layer that couple cells of similar orientation preference. Moreover, the wave persists in the presence of feedback from the superficial layer to the deep layer. Our results are consistent with recent experimental studies that indicate that deep and superficial layers work in tandem to determine the patterns of cortical activity observed in vivo.
Local to global compatibility on the eigencurve

We generalise Coleman’s construction of Hecke operators in families to define an action of GL2(Apf ) on the space of overconvergent p-adic modular forms, extending the classical construction. Using this we construct a family of “p-adic automorphic representations” of GL2(Apf ) on the Coleman-Mazur eigencurve. We compare this with the natural family of Galois representations carried by the eigencurve using the local Langlands correspondence and deduce local to global compatibility away from a discrete subset, extending results of Carayol.