cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional Analysis of the 60-Nucleotide Duplication in the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Buenos Aires Strain Attachment Glycoprotein

ABSTRACT There are two subgroups of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), A and B, and within each subgroup, isolates are further divided into clades. Several years ago, multiple subgroup B isolates which contained a duplication of 60 nucleotides in the glycoprotein (G) gene were described. These isolates were given a new clade designation of BA based on the site of isolation, Buenos Aires, Argentina. BA RSV strains have since become the predominant circulating clade of RSV B viruses. We hypothesized that the duplicated region in G serves to enhance the function of G in the virus life cycle. We generated recombinant viruses that express a consensus BA G gene or a consensus BA G gene lacking the duplication (G Δdup ). We determined that the duplicated region functions during virus attachment to cells. Additionally, we showed that in vitro , the virus containing the duplication has a fitness advantage compared to the virus without the duplication. Our data demonstrate that the duplicated region in the BA strain G protein augments virus attachment and fitness. IMPORTANCE Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important pathogen for infants for which there is no vaccine. Different strains of RSV circulate from year to year, and the predominating strains change over time. Subgroup B RSV strains with a duplication in the attachment glycoprotein (G) emerged and then became the dominant B genotype. We found that a recombinant virus harboring the duplication bound more efficiently to cells and was more fit than a recombinant strain lacking the duplication. Our work advances a mechanism for an important natural RSV mutation.
Transcription from a spleen necrosis virus 5' long terminal repeat is suppressed in mouse cells.

To determine the block(s) to spleen necrosis virus (SNV) replication in mouse cells, we studied the expression of a dominant selectable marker, neo, or a gene whose product is easily assayed, the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene, in SNV-derived and murine leukemia virus-derived vectors. Using transient (CAT) and stable (Neor phenotype) transfection assays, we showed that the SNV promoter was used in mouse cells only when the 39 SNV long terminal repeat (LTR) was absent. Infection of mouse cells with recombinant SNV viruses was 1% as efficient as infection of permissive dog (D17) cells. The SNV proviruses in mouse cells appeared normal by Southern blot analysis, indicating that their integration probably occurred by normal mechanisms. S1 nuclease analyses of Neor mouse cell clones, each harboring a single recombinant SNV provirus, showed that the selected (internal) promoter was active, but that the 59 SNV LTR promoter was not. However, in the rare (less than 10(-6)) Neor colonies in which expression of the 59 LTR was selected, both promoters were active. Thus, the block to SNV infection of mouse cells is at least at two levels; one is a 100-fold-decreased efficiency at some step(s) up to and including integration, and the other is at transcription. Images
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of cisplatin and etoposide plus megestrol acetate/placebo in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a North Central Cancer Treatment Group study.

PURPOSEMegestrol acetate has been reported to improve appetite and quality of life and to decrease nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer anorexia/cachexia. The present trial was formulated to evaluate the impact of megestrol acetate on quality of life, toxicity, response, and survival in individuals with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer who received concomitant chemotherapy.PATIENTS AND METHODSPatients were randomized to receive megestrol acetate 800 mg/d orally or placebo. In addition, all patients were scheduled to receive a maximum of four cycles of cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy. Quality of life was self-assessed at entry onto study, with every cycle of chemotherapy, and 4 months thereafter with a linear visual analog scale. Toxicity was evaluated by patient questionnaire and investigator reports.RESULTSA total of 243 eligible patients were randomized. Those who received megestrol acetate had increased nonfluid weight gain (P = .004) and significantly less nausea (P = .0002) and vomi...
Saccharomyces cerevisiae U14 small nuclear RNA has little secondary structure and appears to be produced by post-transcriptional processing.

Yeast U14 small nuclear (sn) RNA is required for normal processing of rRNA. The sequence and folding properties of U14 were analyzed in the present study, with the aim of defining the structures of natural U14 subspecies and characterizing the folding properties of free U14 RNA. Natural U14 was determined to consist of four subspecies of 125-128 nucleotides, none containing a 5'-cap structure. Length heterogeneity occurs at both ends and is presumed to reflect post-transcriptional processing of U14 precursors. Results from nuclease and chemical probing revealed that U14 has surprisingly little secondary structure overall. Three essential sequence elements conserved among all U14 RNAs occur in regions that are largely single-stranded, i.e. box C, box D, and a 13-nucleotide segment complementary to 18 S rRNA; a non-essential 14-nucleotide sequence complementary to 18 S rRNA is also unpaired. Two non-conserved segments required for activity are part of a stably folded 32-base domain that is unique to yeast U14. Finally, a 5'-, 3'-stem shown earlier to be required for U14 accumulation appears to exist only in precursors to U14 and not in protein-free mature RNA. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of U14 synthesis and function.
Increased mast cell degranulation within thalamus in early pre-lesion stages of an experimental model of Wernicke's encephalopathy.

A large increase in the number and percentage of degranulating mast cells was observed within thalamus of rats after 6-7 days of thiamine deficiency (TD). No mast cells were detected in the inferior olivary and lateral vestibular nuclei, which are also severely damaged by TD. After 11-12 days of TD, the number of ED2 immunopositive macrophages increased in thalamus. In the brainstem nuclei, an increase in the number of macrophages occurred much earlier in treatment (i.e. day 6). An increase in GFAP-positive astrocytes within thalamus occurred after the changes in mast cells and prior to the increase in macrophages. In brainstem, reactive astrocytes appeared along with the increase in macrophages. These data suggest that mast cell degranulation is a very early response induced by TD, and the resultant release of cytokines and other chemical mediators may play critical roles in both the early vascular damage and eventual tissue destruction within thalamus, but not within brainstem. These results also suggest that macrophages and reactive astrocytes may play more direct roles in the pathogenesis of brainstem lesions.
Presynaptic modulation of sympathetic neurotransmission in rat left ventricle slices: effect of pressure overload.

The purpose of this study was to establish the rat left ventricle (LV) tissue slice system for examination of norepinephrine (NE) release from sympathetic nerve terminals. Moreover, initial experiments were performed to use the LV tissue slice system to examine differences in NE uptake and release following cardiac pressure overload induced by abdominal aortic constriction (AC). Kinetic parameters (Vmax, Km) for the specific uptake of [3H]-NE demonstrated high affinity (Km, 1.94 ± 0.83 μM) and moderate capacity uptake (Vmax, 182 ± 6 fmol/mg/weight/min). Following 10 days of pressure overload, the Vmax for [3H]-NE uptake was significantly reduced (by 46%) in LV slices from AC rats compared to sham-operated (SO) controls.
Meta-analysis: does lidocaine gel before flexible cystoscopy provide pain relief?

OBJECTIVE To consolidate previous reports and conduct a meta-analysis to draw further conclusions on the efficacy of the instillation of lidocaine gel before flexible cystoscopy, as it has had varying efficacy in several randomized controlled studies. METHODS We reviewed previous reports cited in PubMed, Biosis and the Cochrane Library, identified by a professional librarian searching for English language-only randomized controlled studies involving the keywords, lidocaine, cystoscopy, gel and pain, yielding 14 studies. Ten studies were excluded as they provided no comparison with appropriate control groups or contained insufficient data for analysis. Attempts to contact the authors of these studies yielded no additional data. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. RESULTS Four studies were included in the analysis, two double-blind and two single-blind, totalling 411 male patients. Three of the studies found no statistical improvement and one study found a statistically significant improvement in pain relief using lidocaine gel. Studies varied on the quantity of gel instilled and on the dwell time of gel before cystoscopy. The meta-analysis found that subjects who received anaesthetic-impregnated gel were 1.7 times more likely not to experience moderate to severe pain (<2, 3 or 30, based on the scale used; odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1–2.8) than subjects who did not have intraurethral instillation of gel. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that intraurethral instillation of lidocaine gel vs plain lubricating gel reduces the likelihood of moderate to severe pain during flexible cystoscopy.
Attributes of Non-Hispanic Blacks That Use Chiropractic Health Care: A Survey of Patients in Texas and Louisiana

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe non-Hispanic blacks that use chiropractic health care to better understand this underserved demographic.
gsa1 Is a Universal Tetrapyrrole Synthesis Gene in Soybean and Is Regulated by a GAGA Element

Expression of plant tetrapyrroles is high in photosynthetic tissues and in legume root nodules in the form of chlorophyll and heme, respectively. The universal tetrapyrrole precursor δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is synthesized from glutamate 1-semialdehyde (GSA) by GSA aminotransferase in plants, which is encoded by gsa. Immunoblot analysis showed that GSA aminotransferase was expressed in soybean leaves and nodules, but not in roots, and that protein correlated with enzyme activity. These observations indicate that GSA aminotransferase expression is controlled in tetrapyrrole formation and argue against significant activity of an enzyme other than the well described aminotransferase for GSA-dependent ALA formation. gsa mRNA and protein were induced in soybean nodules, and their activation was temporally intermediate between those of the respective early and late genes enod2 and lb. A GSA aminotransferase gene, designated gsa1, was isolated and appears to be one of two gsa genes in the soybean genome. gsa1 mRNA accumulated to high levels in leaves and nodules, but not in uninfected roots as discerned with a gsa1-specific probe. Message levels were higher in leaves from etiolated plantlets than in mature plants, and expression in the former was slightly elevated by light. The expression pattern of gsa1 mRNA was qualitatively similar to that of total gsa. The data strongly suggest that gsa1 is a universal tetrapyrrole synthesis gene and that a gsa gene specific for a tissue, tetrapyrrole, or light condition is unlikely. The gsa1 promoter contained a genetic element found in numerous Drosophila melanogaster genes; the so-called GAGA element displayed single-stranded character in vitro and formed a complex with nuclear factors from nodules and leaves but not from roots. From these observations we infer that the GAGA element is involved in the transcriptional control of gsa1.
Regulation of cerebrospinal fluid [K+] in the spiny dogfish, squalus acanthias

Abstract 1. 1. Mean normal potassium concentrations of dogfish (Squalus acanthias) plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were 4·5 mequiv./kg H2O, respectively. 2. 2. Following periods of 3–8 hr of hyperkalemia, CSF [K+] increased only slightly, from the normal value of 3·5 to 3·8 mequiv./kg H2O. This demonstrates regulation of CSF [K+]. 3. 3. Potassium concentrations of plasma and CSF from fish sampled after 5–15 min out of water were elevated significantly. This observation may explain high values reported recently for these concentrations.
Measurement of stress-induced Ca2+ pulses in single aequorin-transformed tobacco cells

Signaling patterns measured in large cell populations are the sum of differing signals from separate cells, and thus, the detailed kinetics of Ca(2+) pulses can often be masked. In an effort to evaluate whether the cytosolic Ca(2+) pulses previously reported in populations of elicitor- and stress-stimulated tobacco cells accurately represent the pulses that occur in individual cells, a study of single cell Ca(2+) fluxes in stress-stimulated tobacco cells was undertaken. Individual aequorin-transformed cells were isolated from a tobacco suspension culture and placed directly on a sensitive photo-multiplier tube mounted in a dark chamber. Ca(2+)-dependent luminescence was then monitored after stimulation with hypo- or hyper-osmotic shock, cold shock, or defense elicitors (oligogalacturonic acid and harpin). Hypo-osmotic shock induced a biphasic Ca(2+) transient in 67% of the single cells tested that exhibited similar kinetics to the biphasic pulses measured repeatedly in 1ml cell suspensions. In contrast, 33% of the stimulated cells displayed Ca(2+) flux patterns that were not previously seen in cell suspension studies. Additionally, because only 29% of the cells tested responded with measurable Ca(2+) pulses to oligogalacturonic acid and 33% to the harpin protein, we conclude that not all cells in a suspension are simultaneously sensitive to stimulation with defense elicitors. In contrast, all cells tested responded with an immediate Ca(2+) influx after cold or hyperosmotic shock. We conclude that in many cases the Ca(2+) signaling patterns of single cells are accurately represented in the signaling patterns of large populations, but that single cell measurements are still required to characterize the Ca(2+) fluxes of the less prominent cell populations.
Selective inhibition of urea transport by oxidizing agents. Evidence for a site of inhibition behond the generation of cyclic AMP.

Urea and water transport across the toad bladder epithelial cell appears to take place through independent vasopressin-stimulated pathways. Agents such as chromate, for example, when added to the luminal bathing medium, inhibit urea transport without inhibiting osmotic water flow, providing evidence for such independent pathways. In the present study, selective inhibition of urea transport is shown for permanganate and methylene blue, which, like chromate, are oxidizing agents. Permanganate inhibits urea transport irreversibly, while methylene blue acts reversibly. Not all oxidizing agents are inhibitory; perchlorate, peroxide and ferricyanide have no effect on urea transport or water flow. Permanganate and chromate both act at a point beyond the generation of cyclic AMP, since they continue to inhibit urea transport in bladders treated with exogenous cyclic AMP, 8-bromoadenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate, and a combination of cyclic AMP and theophylline. These findings suggest that selective inhibition of urea transport can be brought about by oxidation of one or more components in its transport pathway, and that, in the case of chromate and permanganate, these components may be in the luminal membrane itself.
Operating Room Fatigue: Is Your Twentieth Surgical Knot as Strong as Your First?

Objective This study aimed to determine the tensile strength in a series of 20 consecutively tied knots. Knot tying is a universally used technique in surgical procedures, and as such, knot integrity and security are essential. Study Design Twenty was the number of knots chosen as this is the average number of knots required for a vaginal hysterectomy. We used 0-0 gauge, nonexpired, polyglactin 910 to tie 20 knots in succession with less than 20 seconds rest between knots. The knots were tied without a surgeon's knot and 4 additional square knots (1 = 1 = 1 = 1 = 1). The knots were tied by 2 obstetrician/gynecologists investigators over the period of 2 weeks to minimize fatigue. The sutures were then soaked in 0.9% sodium chloride for 60 seconds and subsequently transferred to a Chatillon LTCM-100 tensiometer (Ametek, Largo, Florida) where the tails were cut to 3 mm length. The force required to break the knots was recorded. To detect a difference over time while maintaining power of 80% with a type I error rate of 5%, a minimum of 17 series of knots were needed (thus, 340 total knots after tying 20 knots per series). To buffer against unanticipated variability in the tensile strengths over time, we rounded the number of knot series up to 20, so a total of 400 knots were tied. Results A total of 800 knots were tied. All the sutures broke at the knot and 36% untied. For analyses, the data for each series of knots were collapsed into quarters (ie, knots 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, and 16–20). A repeated-measures analysis of variance found that there were no statistically significant differences between the four quartiles (p = 0.87). A paired samples t-test comparing the first knots in each series with the last knots in each series showed no difference (p = 0.99). Similarly, a paired samples t-test comparing the first 10 knots to the last 10 knots showed no difference over time (p = 0.8). To determine whether there was a change in likelihood of knots coming untied, as more knots were tied, Cochran's Q was used to look across the entire series of 20 knots. This analysis of proportions coming untied revealed no differences over time (p = 0.61). To compare across quarters, a Friedman test was used and similarly showed no change over time (p = 0.92). The different investigators were controlled for in the analysis as a covariate, which turned out to be statistically significant, p = 0.003. Conclusions Under laboratory conditions, the order of knots tied does not change the tensile strength of the material. This would infer that fatigue does not influence the tensile strength for a series of 20 knots; however, additional studies with a larger number of knots series may be warranted.
Childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and diagnoses of depressive and anxiety disorders in adult psychiatric outpatients

Although a number of theorists have hypothesized a link between negative experiences during childhood (e.g., abuse) and the presence of psychopathology in adults, little is known about the relative specificity of childhood emotional, physical, or sexual abuse to different forms of psychopathology. In this study, we hypothesized that adult psychiatric outpatients' reports of childhood emotional abuse would exhibit a specific relationship with diagnoses of depression. Analyses partially supported our hypothesis. Specifically, diagnoses of major depression were significantly more strongly related to reports of childhood emotional abuse than to physical or sexual abuse. However, the same effect was observed for social phobia. In addition, patients with major depression reported equivalent levels of childhood emotional abuse as patients with social phobia, but lower levels of emotional abuse than those with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Assignment of absolute configuration to an improved enantioselective naproxen selector

Assignment of absolute configuration to a recently developed chiral selector useful in the separation of the underivatized enantiomers of naproxen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is described. Circular dichroism, 1H NMR, and X-ray diffraction have been used to confirm the original assignment which was based solely upon elution orders from HPLC chiral stationary phases. All of these techniques agree in the assignment of the (S,S) absolute configuration to the enantiomer of the chiral selector which associates preferentially with (S)-naproxen. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
FAIR TRADE IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND UNFAIR: REJOINDER

This is a rejoinder to a criticism of Henderson (2008) by Alastair Smith. Our conclusion is that Henderson's basic case, although nicked around the edges by developments since the original was written, still stands. Moreover, we point out that Smith's criticism of Henderson's point that Fair Trade could help kill the banana actually supports Henderson's case. Finally, Smith's proposed ‘trade, not aid’ solution does not contradict Henderson (2008). Refusing to buy Fair Trade coffee and other products and, instead, buying quality coffee and other products would not reduce trade, as Smith seems to imply.
Air pollution and health – The views of policy makers, planners, public and private sector on barriers and incentives for change

Abstract Introduction Traffic volume and urban air quality has not improved in Scotland in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the barriers and incentives to reducing the risk of traffic-related air pollution and protecting physical and general wellbeing. Method Semi-structure interviews where held with professionals from the key environmental organisations involved in policy, planning, implementation and lobbying for improvements in air quality. Results The most frequent barrier identified was the lack of integrated planning between housing developments – shopping – schools - employment centres – and transport systems (e.g. roads, footpaths, cycle lanes, public transport options). The next most frequent barrier was the lack of personal or business choices that might facilitate an increase in active and public transport uptake. Almost as important was the perceived lack of understanding amongst the public about the health risks associated with air pollution, and the lack of voice for vulnerable people, particularly children. The top three incentives for change mirrored the key barriers with proposals for subsidising public transport and coordinating services to make it a more feasible option; improve public understanding; and address the planning and infrastructure fragmentation. Conclusion A lack of progress in reducing air pollution may be related to the invisibility of the problem both in health and economic terms. There is a disconnect between planning and development priorities at a national and local level which means vehicular transport is still the most efficient and cost effective option for personal and business transport. What is needed is political commitment to align policies and use both hard (punitive) measures and soft (behaviour choice) measures to reduce traffic-related air pollution in urban areas and protect and improve health. To address this real time, linked air pollution and health impact information must be made widely available.
‘Il deputato della bellezza’. Gabriele D'Annunzio's aesthetic politics in the fin-de-siècle crisis

Two aspects of Gabriele D'Annunzio's tenure in parliament (1897–1900) are explored. The first concerns the means with which literary fame could be converted into political capital in fin-de-siecle Italy. By studying D'Annunzio's strategy, an attempt is made to define the features of his aesthetic politics. Relying methodologically on the sociological study of intellectuals, the article contributes to the historiographical/theoretical debate regarding the forms of anti-utilitarian politics that emerged throughout late-nineteenth-century Europe, including the central role of revolutionary nationalism. The second aspect relates to the interaction between D'Annunzio's strategy and the broader picture of the crisi di fine secolo. In following the anti-liberal evolution of the regime, attention is focused on the institutional constraints and affordances that help explain D'Annunzio's apparently surprising ralliement to the radical Left.
Winter rainfall interception by two mature open‐grown trees in Davis, California

A rainfall interception measuring system was developed and tested for open-grown trees. The system includes direct measurements of gross precipitation, throughfall and stemflow, as well as continuous collection of micrometeorological data. The data were sampled every second and collected at 30-s time steps using pressure transducers monitoring water depth in collection containers coupled to Campbell CR10 dataloggers. The system was tested on a 9-year-old broadleaf deciduous tree (pear, Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’) and an 8-year-old broadleaf evergreen tree (cork oak, Quercus suber) representing trees having divergent canopy distributions of foliage and stems. Partitioning of gross precipitation into throughfall, stemflow and canopy interception is presented for these two mature open-grown trees during the 1996–1998 rainy seasons. Interception losses accounted for about 15% of gross precipitation for the pear tree and 27% for the oak tree. The fraction of gross precipitation reaching the ground included 8% by stemflow and 77% by throughfall for the pear tree, as compared with 15% and 58%, respectively, for the oak tree. The analysis of temporal patterns in interception indicates that it was greatest at the beginning of each rainfall event. Rainfall frequency is more significant than rainfall rate and duration in determining interception losses. Both stemflow and throughfall varied with rainfall intensity and wind speed. Increasing precipitation rates and wind speed increased stemflow but reduced throughfall. Analysis of rainfall interception processes at different time-scales indicates that canopy interception varied from 100% at the beginning of the rain event to about 3% at the maximum rain intensity for the oak tree. These values reflected the canopy surface water storage changes during the rain event. The winter domain precipitation at our study site in the Central Valley of California limited our opportunities to collect interception data during non-winter seasons. This precipitation pattern makes the results more specific to the Mediterranean climate region. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photoemission for Xe physisorbed on W(100): Evidence for surface crystal- field effects

Photoemission spectra at $h\ensuremath{\nu}=21.2$ eV reveal two $5p$ levels for xenon physisorbed on a tungsten (100) surface. The spin-orbit splitting of the two levels and their intensity ratio correspond closely to gas-phase measurements, while the $5{p}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ peak is significantly broadened with respect to the $5{p}_{\frac{1}{2}}$. We interpret the broadened structure as an unresolved doublet resulting from splitting the Xe $5{p}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ states in the tungsten-surface crystal field.
Lozenge Tilings with Gaps in a 90° Wedge Domain with Mixed Boundary Conditions

We consider a triangular gap of side two in a 90° angle on the triangular lattice with mixed boundary conditions: a constrained, zig-zag boundary along one side, and a free lattice line boundary along the other. We study the interaction of the gap with the corner as the rest of the angle is completely filled with lozenges. We show that the resulting correlation is governed by the product of the distances between the gap and its three images in the sides of the angle. This provides evidence for a unified way of understanding the interaction of gaps with the boundary under mixed boundary conditions, which we present as a conjecture. Our conjecture is phrased in terms of the steady state heat flow problem in a uniform block of material in which there are a finite number of heat sources and sinks. This new physical analogy is equivalent in the bulk to the electrostatic analogy we developed in previous work, but arises as the correct one for the correlation with the boundary.
Exploring Hispanic American Involvement in Community Leadership through Volunteerism

Executive Summary The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the Hispanic American involvement in community leadership roles through volunteerism. Twenty Hispanic Americans were intervie...
Characterization of a third major SINE family of repetitive sequences in the galago genome

In addition to the Alu family of short interspersed repetitive DNA elements (SINEs), we have previously characterized one other repetitive DNA family (Type II) in the prosimian, Galago crassicaudatus. We present here a detailed analysis of seventeen members of a third galago SINE family designated as the Monomer family. Both the Monomer and Type II families are shown to be specific for the galago genome as compared to other primates, including another prosimian, the lemur. Moreover, in vitro transcription of galago SINEs suggests that the Monomer and Type II families have appreciably stronger RNA polymerase III promoters than does the Alu family. This agrees with the promoter sequence for each of these SINE families, in that the Monomer and Type II family promoters are more closely related to the RNA polymerase III promoter consensus sequence than is the Alu family promoter. These promoter strength analyses also correlate with copy number and sequence divergence analyses, which suggests that the SINE families with the strongest promoters have been amplified most recently in the galago genome.
Induction of micronuclei by X-radiation in human, mouse and rat peripheral blood lymphocytes.

The study compared the radiosensitivity of human, rat and mouse peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) by analyzing micronuclei (MN) in cytochalasin B-induced binucleated (BN) cells. For each species and dose 4-ml aliquots of whole blood were X-irradiated to obtain doses of 38, 75, 150 or 300 cGy. Controls were sham-irradiated. After exposure to X-rays, mononuclear leukocytes were isolated using density gradients and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium containing phytohemagglutinin to stimulate mitogenesis. At 21 h cytochalasin B was added to produce BN PBLs, and all cultures were harvested at 52 h post-initiation using a cytocentrifuge. Significant dose-dependent increases in the percentage of micronucleated cells and the number of MN per BN cell were observed in all three species. The linear-quadratic regression curves for the total percentage of micronucleated cells for the three species were similar; however, the curve for the mouse PBLs had a larger quadratic component than either of the curves for the rat or human PBLs. Although the correlation between the percentage of cells with MN and those with chromosome aberrations was high (r squared > 0.95), the mouse and rat PBLs were over twice as efficient as human PBLs in forming MN from presumed acentric fragments. These datamore » indicate that the induction of MN in BN cells following ionizing radiation is similar in human, rat and mouse PBLs, but care must be taken in using the MN results to predict frequencies of cells with chromosomal aberrations.« less
Brain-gut interactions between central vagal activation and abdominal surgery to influence gastric myenteric ganglia Fos expression in rats.

We previously showed that medullary thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) or the stable TRH agonist, RX-77368 administered intracisternally induces vagal-dependent activation of gastric myenteric neurons and prevents post surgery-induced delayed gastric emptying in rats. We investigated whether abdominal surgery alters intracisternal (ic) RX-77368 (50 ng)-induced gastric myenteric neuron activation. Under 10 min enflurane anesthesia, rats underwent an ic injection of saline or RX-77368 followed by a laparotomy and a 1-min cecal palpation, or no surgery and were euthanized 90 min later. Longitudinal muscle/myenteric plexus whole-mount preparations of gastric corpus and antrum were processed for immunohistochemical detection of Fos alone or double labeled with protein gene-product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT). In the non surgery groups, ic RX-77368 induced a 17 fold increase in Fos-expression in both gastric antrum and corpus myenteric neurons compared to saline injected rats. PGP 9.5 ascertained the neuronal identity of myenteric cells expressing Fos. In the abdominal surgery groups, ic RX-77368 induced a significant increase in Fos-expression in both the corpus and antrum myenteric ganglia compared with ic saline injected rats which has no Fos in the gastric myenteric ganglia. However, the response was reduced by 73–78% compared with that induced by ic RX 77368 without surgery. Abundant VAChT positive nerve fibers were present around Fos positive neurons. These results indicate a bidirectional interaction between central vagal stimulation of gastric myenteric neurons and abdominal surgery. The modulation of gastric vagus-myenteric neuron activity could play an important role in the recovery phase of postoperative gastric ileus.
Limits to the effectiveness of the 1990 anti-illiteracy campaign in promoting literacy among women in a rural Chinese community

Abstract Although Chinese mass literacy campaigns are generally considered to have been successful in reducing illiteracy rates, there is little evidence that past or current anti-illiteracy campaigns have enabled rural Chinese women to acquire enduring and productive reading and writing capabilities. An ethnographic case study of adult literacy education and literacy practices conducted in a rural township in southeastern China during the 1990 anti-illiteracy campaign revealed fundamental constraints on the effectiveness of campaign methods in promoting literacy among local women.
Anharmonicity of the lowest-frequency A 1 (TO) phonon in PbTiO 3

Detailed Raman studies of the optical phonons in high-quality single-crystal ${\mathrm{PbTiO}}_{3}$ indicate that the mode energies and symmetry assignments in the literature [G. Burns and B. Scott, Phys. Rev. B 7, 3088 (1973)] must be revised. In this study, all k\ensuremath{\simeq}0 optical-phonon modes are directly observed and are shown to obey rigorously the Raman selection rules. The angular dependence of the phonon frequencies indicates that the energy of the lowest-frequency ${\mathit{A}}_{1}$(TO) mode is higher than the energy of the lowest-frequency E(LO) mode at 300 K. This indicates that these two k\ensuremath{\simeq}0 modes will cross at elevated temperature. The ${\mathit{A}}_{1}$(TO) mode exhibits an anomalous line shape, which we attribute to the anharmonic nature of the lattice. The phonon frequencies determine the clamped dielectric constants, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathit{a}}$(0) and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathit{c}}$(0), using the Lydanne-Sachs-Teller relation. These values, when compared to those obtained from impedance measurements, indicate no dielectric dispersion in ${\mathrm{PbTiO}}_{3}$ between the MHz region and the Raman region.
Creating a Computer Simulator as a CS1 Student Project

This paper presents experiences with creating a computer simulator as a student project in a CS1 course. Each student writes the simulator using C++ during the last ten weeks of the course. The project consists of a simulated memory, and simple CPU simulator including a machine language. Additionally, students implement an assembly language and a simple high-level language with associated compiler. The course has no programming prerequisite and can be taken to fulfill a general education requirement or as the first course for students majoring in computer science or information systems. Integrating such a project in an entry level course has a number of benefits as well as challenges. The project acts as a vehicle that engages students in a breadth of computer science topics, leading into discussions of theoretical considerations, languages, and computing devices. The project components provide an active learning environment. Students are introduced to numbering systems, number conversions, and numeric representations. The computer architecture components include introductions to main memory, CPU, and memory access techniques. The transition from and motivations for, the utilization of machine languages, assembly languages and high-level languages are demonstrated with the implementation of the project. Beginning students are given opportunity to practice programming and problem solving on a project of significant complexity. The biggest challenge is organization. Management of such a project requires a well-defined plan.
Clinical Insights Gained From Eight New Cases and Review of Reported Cases With Jeune Syndrome (Asphyxiating Thoracic Dystrophy)

Jeune syndrome, originally described as asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy by Jeune et al. [Jeune et al. (1955); Arch Fr Pediatr 12:886-891], is an autosomal recessive osteochondrodysplasia with characteristic skeletal abnormalities, and variable renal, hepatic, pancreatic, and retinal complications. We present eight patients, including two brothers with Jeune syndrome, and an extensive review of 118 cases in the published literature with the purposes of: (1) defining the clinical and radiological diagnostic criteria for Jeune syndrome; (2) comparing our cases to those in the literature meeting the documented clinical and radiological findings of Jeune syndrome, in order to: (3) provide an accurate clinical characterization of Jeune syndrome with frequency of associated complications and outcome data. In order to estimate the frequency of phenotypic abnormalities in Jeune syndrome as precisely as possible, we did not include reports in the literature with incomplete descriptions of the radiologic and clinical findings, nor those reports having additional findings overlapping with other syndromes. We found that the occurrence of renal, hepatic, and ophthalmologic complications is variable; does not correlate with severity of the skeletal phenotype; nor is it predictable even with the presence of a well-defined skeletal phenotype, as in this study. Based upon these cases with Jeune syndrome, renal and hepatic abnormalities occur in approximately 30% of cases, with renal failure occurring in 38% of those with kidney involvement. Eye abnormalities are reported in 15%, but it is unclear whether this represents under-ascertainment. There is a 1.2:1 ratio between living and deceased patients; a respiratory cause of death is most common, occurring almost exclusively in those less than 2 years of age, and a renal etiology accounts for all deaths between the ages of 3-10 years of age. There is a paucity of affected individuals reported in the literature greater than age 20 years, and a lack of longitudinal data to obtain accurate data on morbidity and mortality of Jeune syndrome at older ages. This study provides a well-defined group of patients with Jeune syndrome with delineation of the frequency of associated findings, which may form a basis for current and future genotype-phenotype studies.
Lack of comutagenicity by norharman and other compounds on revertants induced by photolabeling with 2-azido-9-fluorenone oxime

Abstract Mutations were induced by photolabeling 2-azido-9-fluorenone oxime in Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA1538. Since the critical adducts were formed directly by the photogenerated nitrene, metabolic activation was bypassed. The bacteria themselves possessed the deep rough cell wall and uvr B − mutations, thereby minimizing comutagenic effects resulting from transport or DNA repair. This technique thus permitted detection of comutagenicity resulting from altneration in the binding of the mutagen to its critical receptor. No compound tested increased mutagenicity. Cholic acid had no effect at low dose, but inhibited mutagenicity at 10 −4 M, while trans -retinol had no effect at any concentration. Harman, norharman and ethidium reduced the number of mutants only slightly at concentrations from 10 −6 to 10 −5 M.
Characterization of a Transient TCF/LEF-Responsive Progenitor Population in the Embryonic Mouse Retina

PURPOSE. High mobility group (HMG) transcription factors of the T-cell-specific transcription factor/lymphoid enhancer binding factor (TCF/LEF) family are a class of intrinsic regulators that are dynamically expressed in the embryonic mouse retina. Activation of TCF/LEFs is a hallmark of the Wnt/catenin pathway; however, the requirement for Wnt/-catenin and noncanonical Wnt signaling during mammalian retinal development remains unclear. The goal of the study was to characterize more fully a TCF/LEF-responsive retinal progenitor population in the mouse embryo and to correlate this with Wnt/-catenin signaling. METHODS. TCF/LEF activation was analyzed in the TOPgal (TCF optimal promoter) reporter mouse at embryonic ages and compared to Axin2 mRNA expression, an endogenous readout of Wnt/-catenin signaling. Reporter expression was also examined in embryos with a retina-specific deletion of the -catenin gene (Ctnnb1), using Six3-Cre transgenic mice. Finally, the extent to which TOPgal cells coexpress cell cycle proteins, basic helixloop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, and other retinal cell markers was tested by double immunohistochemistry. RESULTS. TOPgal reporter activation occurred transiently in a subpopulation of embryonic retinal progenitor cells. Axin2 was not expressed in the central retina, and TOPgal reporter expression persisted in the absence of -catenin. Although a proportion of TOPgal-labeled cells were proliferative, most coexpressed the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27/Kip1. CONCLUSIONS. TOPgal cells give rise to the four earliest cell types: ganglion, amacrine, horizontal, and photoreceptor. TCF/ LEF activation in the central retina does not correlate with Wnt/-catenin signaling, pointing to an alternate role for this transcription factor family during retinal development. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009;50:432‐440) DOI:10.1167/iovs.082270
Zinc phosphate glass surfaces studied by XPS

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of zinc phosphate glasses with compositions between 30 and 50 mol% P2O5 were used to determine the influence of systematically varied P2O5 content on the oxygen bonding of the glass network. Oxygen 1s spectra of zinc phosphate glasses are described in terms of bridging and non-bridging oxygens which are separated by 1.5 eV. The orthophosphate-like oxygen bonding is obtained for binary zinc phosphate glass containing 33 mol% P2O5. The bonding becomes progressively metaphosphate-like with increasing P2O5 content and is correlated with the relative proportions of bridging and non-bridging oxygens.
A cumulative damage model for bone fracture

A mathematical model is presented to describe the combined time-dependent and cycle-dependent fracture characteristics of devitalized cortical bone. Failure is interpreted based on a linear-life fraction rule, which accounts for cumulative creep and fatigue damage under arbitrary loading histories. The model is successful in describing the influence of loading rate on monotonic tensile strength, the time to failure in constant stress creep-fracture tests, and bone fracture in zero-tension and tension-compression cyclic loading. The possible implications of the model to in vivo bone fracture, deformity, and remodelling in response to various loading histories are considered.
Imaging of long gap esophageal atresia and the Foker process: expected findings and complications

Long gap esophageal atresia (EA) is characterized by esophageal segments that are too far apart for primary anastomosis. Surgical repair utilizing interposition grafts or gastric transposition are often employed. The Foker staged lengthening procedure is an alternative surgical method that utilizes continuous traction on the esophagus to induce esophageal growth and allow for primary esophageal anastomosis. This pictorial review presents the step-by-step radiographic evaluation of the Foker procedure and illustrates the radiographic findings in the most commonly encountered complications in our cohort of 38 patients managed with this procedure from January 2000 to June 2012.
Natural parameterizations of flame structure and heat release in lean premixed CH4/air combustion

Abstract In reduced-order modeling of premixed combustion, a major concern is whether chemistry submodels capture flame characteristics over a broad range of mixture stoichiometries and reactant temperatures. In order to adapt to local temperature level and stoichiometry, models require a suitable parameterization. Post-processing of a large database of adiabatic laminar flame simulations reveals that characteristic temperatures within premixed flames can be collapsed to self-similar structures throughout the lean and ultra-lean premixed regime. The collapse depends on the parameterization, where adiabatic flame temperatures T ad and stoichiometry Φ are identified as natural primary and secondary parameters, respectively. Furthermore, parameterizations of chemical source terms are superior to parameterizations of species profiles, as they allow for a differentiation of chemical processes from transport processes. A comparison of flame characteristics at low and high T ad illustrates that reaction pathways and resulting contributions to the heat release by individual reactions shift according to the temperature level, whereas flames with comparable T ad have similar flame structures that are almost independent of initial temperatures and stoichiometries.
Physiological roles of A and C fiber inputs to the spinal dorsal horn of Macaca mulatta.

Abstract Studies of responses in dorsal horn cells to A and C fiber stimulation and to cutaneous stimuli were made by analyzing central interactions of volleys evoked by stimulating different cutaneous nerve fiber groups, and by analyzing responses of dorsal horn cells denervated of either their A or C-fiber input. The first set of experiments showed that the inhibitory period elicited by Aβγ stimulation reduced excitatory effects from all cutaneous afferents, a result consistent with the gate control theory. The C fiber inhibitory effects reduced spontaneous firing and spikes only in Aδ prolonged discharges. Facilitatory effects from Aδ and C fiber stimulation were potentiated up to a point by increasing stimulation rate. Aδ prolonged discharge inhibited C evoked spikes. If the onset of Aδ and C prolonged discharge was simultaneous, their central effects were facilitated. The second set of experiments showed that L-7 dorsal horn cells selectively denervated of their A input responded normally to sural C fiber stimuli. Adequate stimuli were always of a noxious or nearly noxious character. Responses to adequate stimuli generally had longer latencies than could be predicted from C fiber conduction velocity. Neurons denervated of incoming C fibers responded to narrow ranges of low level mechanical stimuli. Cells with Aβγδ input showed typical prolonged discharges upon sural stimulation and had wider dynamic ranges than cells with only Aβγ input. Small fiber connections to dorsal horn cells extend their dynamic ranges. Both central inhibition and facilitation can result from maximal stimulation of either A or C fibers without necessity of interaction between effects of these two groups.