cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The U.S. research university and the joint venture: Evolution of an institution

The U. S. research university, as an institution, has responded to changes in its environment, including significant participation with business firms in joint R&D ventures, in such a way as to preserve the essence of the academic ideal of disinterested pursuit of knowledge, although with some significant compromises. In an evolutionary sense, these responses have been characterized far more by adapations to external change than by conscious attempts to influence these changes.
Physiological Responses of Chickens to Variations in Air Temperature and Velocity

Abstract INCREASED air movement facilitates an increase in convective heat exchange between the body surface and the surrounding air which is roughly proportional to the square root of the air velocity (Whittow, 1965). Thus, alleviation of some of the effects of high ambient temperatures on chickens has been related to increased air movement (Lee et al., 1945; Wilson et al., 1957), and the growth rates of broilers raised in diurnally cycling hot environments have been shown to increase approximately with the square root of the air velocity in the range from 6 to 150 m.p.m. (meters per minute) (Drury, 1966). In birds, as the ambient temperature increases, respiratory evaporation becomes more important as a means of heat loss. When the deep body temperature reaches about 42°C., panting occurs, with respiratory frequency and minute volume increasing but amplitude and tidal volume decreasing (Whittow, 1965). Arterial pressure and vascular resistance are generally lowered . . .
A computerized tomographic analysis of the anatomy and pathological conditions of the posterior third ventricular region

Abstract The normal anatomical boundaries of the posterior third ventricular region as delineated by CT findings are described. The characteristic CT findings in a diverse group of lesions which involve this region are analyzed.
Spill evaluation of petroleum products in freezing ground

In North American cold regions, terrestrial spill-response tactics have evolved through clean-up experience with crude oil and refined petroleum products. Alaska has developed response tactics as guidelines for clean-up of petroleum-based spills. Generic application of any response tactic without regard for season, site-specific conditions, and equipment limitations can further damage an ecosystem. For example, the practice of igniting and burning petroleum product spilled onto frozen tundra without consideration of the anthropogenic effect on the surface energy balance may actually increase the vertical migration of the spilled product. Prior to application of any mitigation strategy to a release of petroleum product, the movement of the product through freezing soil needs to be better understood. Case studies are presented, and lessons learned from them are discussed.
Inverse decision theory with applications to screening and diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Abstract Objective Medical decision makers would like to use decision theory to determine optimal treatment strategies for patients, but this requires priors, likelihoods, and losses. It can be very difficult to specify a loss or utility function in a medical setting, especially when considering both patient health outcomes and economic costs. These issues led to the development of Inverse Decision Theory (IDT), which involves determining the set of losses under which a given decision rule is optimal. Methods We apply IDT to the current standard of care for the diagnosis and treatment of precancerous lesions to the cervix, using a Bayesian approach to estimate the probabilities associated with diagnostic tests and make inferences about the region of optimality. There are two ways in which Inverse Decision Theory can be useful: (i) if the decision rule of interest is optimal, then we obtain information about the losses for the optimal treatment strategy, and (ii) if the decision rule of interest is not optimal, then we characterize the losses under which it would be optimal, and assess whether or not it contains reasonable values of the losses. Results This paper introduces important clinical results: in particular, we find that the current standard of care for cervical precancer is probably not optimal, and a new decision rule which requires a confirmatory biopsy for all patients with a positive Pap smear test result is better. Conclusion We have developed a very general and flexible approach for evaluating treatment strategies that could prove useful in a variety of medical applications.
Understanding Biological Structures Through Exploring the Mechanical Response of Cell-Like Systems

The actin cytoskeleton provides mechanical support for the cell and influences activities such as cancer metastasis and chemotaxis. While their mechanical responses have been studied in vivo and in vitro, understanding the link between these two forms remains challenging. To explore this gap and further understand cell structure, we reconstructed the cell cytoskeleton in a membrane-like spherical liposome to mimic the cellular environment; this enables an artificial “cell like” system. Through this approach, we are pursuing a path to compare in vitro mechanics from a polymer physics perspective of individual actin filaments with the in vivo mechanics of a living cell [1]. A living cell contains many organelles, which are in a highly packed environment and require significant organization to function. The actin cytoskeleton provides both structural and organizational regulation that is essential for cellular response. Here, we first encapsulated G-actin into giant unilamellar vesicles through an electroformation technique and then polymerized them into actin filaments (F-actin) within individual vesicles. To probe their conformation, we visualized these vesicles with fluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy. We then used a tapping mode atomic force microscopy to determine the mechanical properties of these cell-like systems. These results provide insight into a wide range of fields and studies including polymer physics, cell biology, and biotechnology.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
MEN'S ADULTERY AS SICKNESS: METAPHOR, GENDER CATEGORIES AND THE DISCURSIVE CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER DIFFERENCES ON JAPANESE TELEVISION CONSULTATION PROGRAMS 1

This article describes how Japanese TV programs adopting a consultation framework construct different realities for women and men concerning a specific social phenomenon, namely adultery. To do so, two perspectives, the theory of metaphor promoted by George Lakoff and membership category analysis, are combined toward a discursive analysis which reveals that, in the case of men's adultery, advice givers typically shift responsibility away from men and instead scrutinize the behavior of women. In contrast, in the case of women's adultery, participants on the programs directly reprimand the female offenders, using metaphors and gender categories to emphasize the immorality of their actions and how those actions are detrimental to men. The implications of the analysis for the study of gender and language in general and, more narrowly, in Japan are discussed.
β-Lactamase-producing Branhamella catarrhalis causingotitis media in children

additional 24% are sensitive to the initial therapy, and the majority (57%) have bacteriologically negative middle-ear fluid. Clinical failure in the group without antimicrobial resistance is unexplained. The antimicrobial sensitivity of a given bacterial species is determined in vitro with a fixed inoculum of bacteria, usually in the range of 104 to 105 CFU/ml. If the inoculum exceeds 105 , the concentration of antibiotic required to inhibit the growth of the organism may increase considerably for common bacterial pathogens such as H. influenzae ~ and B. catarrhalis, 2 particularly if they are betalactamase producers. Colony counts in infected body fluids vary considerably. The cerebrospinal fluid in bacterial meningitis commonly has a concentration of bacteria that exceeds 106 and may even reach 108 CFU/ml; the density of bacteremias is usually < l03 CFU/ml. 4-6 In our study the concentration of bacteria in middle-ear fluid of patients with acute otitis media frequently exceeded 104 and occasionally 105 CFU/ ml. As expected, the Gram stain of middle ear fluid was positive in most instances when the colony count exceeded 104 CFU/ml. This observation is consistent with the fact that bacteria in a variety of body fluids (e.g., unspun urine, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid) are not usually easily detected unless they are present in concentrations approximately 105 CFU/ml? The absence of a more perfect correlation between the findings on Gram stain and colony count may be related to the quality of the middle-ear fluid. The volume delivered by a calibrated loop may be less reproducible when the fluid is thick and viscous. In patients with acute otitis media, clinical failures and persistent or recurrent effusions are poorly understood, particularly when tympanocentesis yields antibiotic-sensitive microorganisms. Noncompliance with orally administered antimicrobial regimens or inadequate duration of therapy may explain some instances of clinical failure. It could be speculated that initially high bacterial colony counts may be one of the factors determining outcome in the treatment of acute otitis media. We thank Helen Schorner for secretarial assistance.
Orienting eye movements and nystagmus produced by translation while rotating (TWR).

Sinusoidal translation while rotating at constant angular velocity about a vertical axis (translation while rotating, TWR) produces centripetal and translational accelerations along the direction of translation and an orthogonal Coriolis acceleration due to the translation in the rotating frame. Thus, a Coriolis acceleration is produced along the bitemporal axis when oscillating along the naso-occipital axis, and along the naso-occipital axis when oscillating along the bitemporal axis. Together, these components generate an elliptically rotating acceleration vector that revolves around the head in the direction of rotation at the frequency of oscillation. Here we studied the orienting and compensatory responses of rabbits during TWR. Combinations of centripetal and translational accelerations were held constant at 0.5 g, and oscillation frequencies were varied from 0.01–0.33 Hz. The amplitude of the Coriolis acceleration increased with the frequency of translation. Naso-occipital translation caused vergence and pitch at all frequencies and roll at higher frequencies, and bitemporal translation produced roll at all frequencies and vergence and pitch at higher frequencies. The sensitivity of each ocular orienting component to linear acceleration was comparable across the different oscillation frequencies. TWR also induced continuous yaw nystagmus with slow phase velocity in the direction of rotation of the acceleration vector. Thresholds for appearance of nystagmus were 0.05 Hz, corresponding to a Coriolis acceleration of 0.06 g. Mean slow phase velocity for a rotating linear acceleration vector produced by 0.5 g along the translation axis and 0.34 g of Coriolis acceleration along the orthogonal axis were ≈9°/s. Eye velocities during TWR were similar to those generated by off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR), but were opposite in direction with regard to head rotation, following the direction of the rotating acceleration vector in both paradigms. Both are produced by activation of velocity storage in the vestibular system. One important difference between TWR and OVAR is that the head is always upright with regard to gravity during TWR. We speculate that the brain may use these low amplitude rotating linear accelerations to generate eye velocities that help to orient gaze when making turns during normal locomotion.
Smooth nonparametric estimation of mean residual life

Abstract Smooth estimators of the Mean Residual Life function are constructed using complete and right censored data. Large sample properties of the proposed estimators are examined. Some numerical results are provided.
A Quantum Optics Laboratory for Teaching Quantum Mechanics

We have implemented quantum optics experiments with correlated-photons as labs for an undergraduate course on quantum mechanics. The experiments can be explained with the quantum mechanical algebra of a single quantum of light.
Vaccines and vaccine adjuvants as biological response modifiers.

Vaccines have been used successfully for many years to prevent death and morbidity from infectious diseases. In the last two decades major advances in the fields of genetics and immunology have allowed a significant increase in the use of immunomodulatory drugs in a broad range of pathologic conditions. This article reviews several uses of immunomodulating properties of vaccines, both old and new, with a focus on cancer and autoimmune diseases. Special emphasis is placed on the historical aspects and current applications of the bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine, the first vaccine to be used in cancer immunotherapy.
Differential regulation of multiple c-erbA expression by thyrotropin, insulin and insulin-like growth factor I in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells

Abstract Regulation of multiple c- erbA gene expression was studied in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells. Two species of erbA α (α1 and α2) mRNA and one species of erbA β (β1) mRNA were identified by Northern blot analysis. Withdrawal of thyrotropin (TSH), insulin and serum from the complete medium resulted in an increase in α1 and α2 erbA mRNA levels without altering the level of erbA β1 mRNA. Readdition of TSH, N 6 ,2′- O -dibutyryl cAMP or forskolin caused a transient reduction of α1 and α2 mRNA levels (75–90%) at 3–12 h. The α1 and α2 mRNA levels were restored at 24 h. The TSH action was dose-dependent showing the half-maximal effect at around 10 −9 M. Readdition of TSH did not show any effect on β1 mRNA level. The action of TSH was not dependent on ongoing protein synthesis but required ongoing transcription. Inhibitors of thyroid hormone biosynthesis, propylthiouracil and methylmercaptoimidazole, did not show any effect on TSH action. Readdition of insulin or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) caused a dose-dependent reduction of α1 and α2 mRNA levels without any effect on β1 mRNA level. Their action was slower than TSH and persistent. The actions of insulin and IGF-I were dependent on both ongoing translation and transcription. These results indicate that TSH and insulin/IGF-I reduce levels of c- erbA α1 and α2 mRNA possibly by two distinct mechanisms without altering c- erbA β1 mRNA level in FRTL-5 cells.
Testing a cancer meta spider

As in many other applications, the rapid proliferation and unrestricted Web-based publishing of health-related content have made finding pertinent and useful healthcare information increasingly difficult. Although the development of healthcare information retrieval systems such as medical search engines and peer-reviewed medical Web directories has helped alleviate this information and cognitive overload problem, the effectiveness of these systems has been limited by low search precision, poor presentation of search results, and the required user search effort. To address these challenges, we have developed a domain-specific meta-search tool called Cancer Spider. By leveraging post-retrieval document clustering techniques, this system aids users in querying multiple medical data sources to gain an overview of the retrieved documents and locating answers of high quality to a wide spectrum of health questions. The system presents the retrieved documents to users in two different views: (1) Web pages organized by a list of key phrases, and (2) Web pages clustered into regions discussing different topics on a two-dimensional map (self-organizing map). In this paper, we present the major components of the Cancer Spider system and a user evaluation study designed to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach. Initial results comparing Cancer Spider with NLM Gateway, a premium medical search site, have shown that they achieved comparable performances measured by precision, recall, and F-measure. Cancer Spider required less user searching time, fewer documents that need to be browsed, and less user effort.
Type of High School Biology Program and Its Effect on Student Attitude and Achievement in College Life Science.

A specially designed questionnaire and a modification of the “Science Classroom Activity Checklist” by L. H. Krockendorfer were used to categorize 299 life science students at the University of Iowa into two groups; those with high school biology backgrounds founded in the BSCS philosophy and those with traditionally oriented backgrounds. These groups were compared with respect to grade achievement in a college life science course, ratings of their background for the college course, and their attitude toward biology as established by their high school experience. With respect to inquiry and student-centered methods, texts were revealed as poor indicators of types of programs offered.
Determining the chromophore in the amylopectin-iodine complex by theoretical and experimental studies

A partial hydrolysis of amylose followed by the addition of iodine provides a spectrum almost identical to that of the amylopectin–iodine (API) complex suggesting the involvement of smaller “amylose-like” units in the API complex. Our theoretical studies on different polyiodine and polyiodide species suggest that a nearly linear I4 unit stabilized within the cavity of a small “amylose-like” helix is responsible for the characteristic API spectrum. Since there are 2.75 anhydroglucose residues (AGU) for every iodine atom in the amylose–iodine (AI) complex and a structural similarity exists between the API and the AI (amylose–iodine) complexes, we identify (C6H10O5)11I4 to be the chromophore in the API complex. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Conservation Reconsidered: Nature, Virtue, and American Liberal Democracy

Chapter 1 Preface Part 2 Conservationalists Chapter 3 Saving the Wilderness for Sacramental Use: John Muir Chapter 4 "With Utter Disregard of Pain and Woe:" Theodore Roosevelt on Conservation and Nature Chapter 5 Gifford Pinchot, Founder: A New Look at Breaking New Ground Chapter 6 Aldo Leopold's Human Ecology Part 7 Precursors Chapter 8 Charles Darwin and John Muir Chapter 9 The Mystery of Nature and Culture: Ralph Waldo Emerson Chapter 10 Henry David Thoreau Chapter 11 Frederick Law Olmstead: Civic Environmentalist Chapter 12 Afterword
Invasive fungal infections and antifungal therapies in solid organ transplant recipients

Summary This manuscript will review the risk factors, prevalence, clinical presentation, and management of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Primary literature was obtained via MEDLINE (1966–April 2007) and EMBASE. Abstracts were obtained from scientific meetings or pharmaceutical manufacturers and included in the analysis. All studies and abstracts evaluating IFIs and/or antifungal therapies, with a primary focus on solid organ transplantation, were considered for inclusion. English-language literature was selected for inclusion, but was limited to those consisting of human subjects. Infectious complications following SOT are common. IFIs are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates in this patient population. Determining the best course of therapy is difficult due to the limited availability of data in SOT recipients. Well-designed clinical studies are infrequent and much of the available information is often based on case-reports or retrospective analyses. Transplant practitioners must remain aware of their therapeutic options and the advantages and disadvantages associated with the available treatment alternatives.
A note on the mathematical theory of the effect of nervous stress on coronary thrombosis.

The “classical” view of formation of blood clots is that the disintegration of platelets releases thrombokinase which activates prothrombin into thrombin. The latter combining with fibrinogen produces fibrin, the substance of the clot. There is, however, ample evidence of hormonal and other biochemical factors as playing a role in the process of clotting. Through the necessity of a breakdown of platelets has been challenged, yet theirpresence is considered as necessary for clotting. Thefirst part of this paper is based on the assumption that either a breakdown or even an injury of a platelet produces thrombokinase. An injury is likely to occur due to collisions between platelets, between platelets and erythrocytes or between platelets and leukocytes. A probability is ascribed to the production of thrombokinase by a collision. Thus not every collision is effective. The frequency of those collisions is calculated according to classical physics. Inasmuch as mental stress usually causes vasoconstriction and therefore an increase of concentration of the formed elements of blood, the frequency of collisions and therefore the production of small amounts of thrombokinase increases with stress. If thrombokinase formed by the collision remains preserved and therefore accumulates in the blood, we arrive at an expression which gives us the necessary total duration of stress to produce thrombosis. According to that equation, even in the absence of stress, any individual if he lives long enough should eventually develop a thrombosis. If, however the thrombokinase is destroyed, then it is necessary that during a sufficiently short time enough effective collisions occur to increase the amount of thrombokinase to a danger level. With this picture we find only theprobability of a formation of a thrombus as a function of the intensity of stress and its duration. The probability remains finite event for zero stress, showing that even individuals who are always relaxed may develop thrombi. In the second part of the paper an outline of a biochemical approach is given. Inasmuch as we know very little about the biochemical mechanism involved, it is simply assumed that during a stress of intensityS and duration Δ there is a probability of a thrombosis occurring. Then by applying the theory of probabilities, an expression is derived giving the probability of occurrence of a thrombus after a given number of stress incidences. The expressions are different from those obtained from the first approach but lead basically to the same results. A comparison of both or of their combination, with available data may give indications as to which of the factors plays a preponderant part.
Stable Source for Plate Calibration

A recent study of a commercial low-pressure quartz mercury lamp1 reported by Childs2 indicated that, with some modification, it might be suitable as a source for emulsion calibration as ordinarily done for the photometry of emission spectra. Childs measured the absolute emission of the Hg 2537 A line and then determined the intensities of some 55 minor lines, from 5790 to 1942 A, relative to 2537 A. All his tests were made with an ac supply of about 300 V at 15 mA.
Complexes of a bio-molecule and a C60 cage

Abstract C 60 is the most important fullerene cage and glycine is the simplest representative of a backbone unit of a protein. In this paper, the structures and the energies of glycine–C 60 complexes were calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level DFT. It was found that the binding of glycine to C 60 generated a slightly unstable complex via its amino nitrogen, a moderately unstable complex via its hydroxyl oxygen, and a very unstable complex via its carbonyl oxygen. This indicates that fullerene cages might be unable to form stable bindings to proteins via their amino nitrogen, hydroxyl oxygen and carbonyl oxygen active sites.
THE AMINO-TERMINAL REGION OF THE LUTEINIZING HORMONE/CHORIOGONADOTROPIN RECEPTOR CONTACTS BOTH SUBUNITS OF HUMAN CHORIOGONADOTROPIN. II. PHOTOAFFINITY LABELING

The luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor, a seven-transmembrane receptor, is composed of two equal halves, the N-terminal extracellular exodomain and the C-terminal membrane-associated endodomain. Unlike most seven-transmembrane receptors, the exodomain alone is responsible for high affinity hormone binding, whereas signal is generated in the endodomain. These physical separations of hormone-binding and receptor activation sites are attributed to unique mechanisms for hormone binding and receptor activation of this receptor and its subfamily members. However, the precise hormone contact sites in the exodomain are unclear. In the preceding article (Hong, S., Phang, T., Ji, I., and Ji, T. H. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 13835-13840), a region immediately downstream of the N terminus of the exodomain was shown to be crucial for hormone binding. To test if the region interacts with the hormone, human choriogonadotropin (hCG) was photoaffinity-labeled with a peptide mimic corresponding to Gly18-Tyr36 of the receptor. This peptide mimic specifically photoaffinity-labeled both the alpha- and beta-subunits of hCG. Interestingly, hCGalpha was preferentially labeled. On the other hand, denatured hCG was not labeled, and a mutant analog of the peptide failed to label hCG. Furthermore, the affinity labeling was UV-dependent and saturable, indicating the specificity of the photoaffinity labeling. Our results indicate that the region of the exodomain interacts with hCG and that the contact points are near both subunits of hCG. Particularly, the alternate residues (Leu20, Cys22, and Gly24) are crucial for hCG binding. In addition, the results underscore the fact that there is a crucial hormone contact site outside of the popularly believed primary hormone-binding site that is composed of Leu-rich repeats and is located in the middle of the exodomain. Our observations are crucial for understanding the molecular mechanism through which the initial high affinity hormone binding leads to receptor activation in the endodomain.
Clinical Indicators Useful in Predicting Response to the Medical Management of Meniere's Disease

Objectives To identify factors that may correlate with responsiveness to medical management of Meniere's disease. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods The 1995 guidelines of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS) Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium were used for data acquisition and measuring clinical response. New patients with 2 years' follow-up were evaluated and grouped as either medically or surgically treated. Patients were e-cluded for inadequate follow-up or prior otological surgery. Dietary sodium restriction (<1500 mg/d) and a diuretic were employed initially. A compliance rating system was devised to evaluate diet adherence. Patients whose medical management failed were offered surgery. Results Of 65 patients reviewed, 29 patients qualified for analysis. Seventeen patients were treated medically (patients had either definite or possible Meniere's disease), and 12 patients required surgery. Patients with definite Meniere's disease were at a higher stage (based on audiogram) than patients with possible Meniere's disease (P = .002). Patients who required surgery for Meniere's disease were at a higher stage than patients with either definite or possible disease (P < .001). Patients with definite disease had lower compliance than patients with possible disease (P = .004), but both groups showed symptom improvement. Patients with possible disease had better control than patients with definite disease (P < .001). Hearing was stabilized in patients with possible disease and improved at 500 Hz in patients with definite disease (P = .04). Conclusions Sodium restriction and diuretic treatment response are correlated to clinical measures of Meniere's disease. Patients with possible Meniere's disease should be treated with aggressive medical therapy to prevent disease progression.
Donor and Recipient Hepatitis C Status in Lung Transplant

s S183 (n= 19) ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation support. The actuarial survival rates were respectively 89% (n= 162), 85,4% (n= 90), and 85,4% (n= 24) at 1, 2 and 3 years. Concerning High Emergency transplanted patients, the actuarial survival rates were respectively 80,5% (n= 34), 75,5% (n= 20), and 75,5% (n= 11) at 1, 2 and 3 years. Evolution of mean FEV1 was 76+/-19%, 81+/-22% and 69+/-26% at 1, 2 and 3 years. Conclusion: COLT is the largest study in Europe with such biocollection and prospective database. It allows establishing multicentric connections between European transplant centers, in order to identify a biological marker of CLAD. First clinical analysis of CF patients outcomes after bilateral lung transplantation are encouraging in term of morbi-mortality, even in the High Emergency LTR subgroup.
Oxidative Stress Inactivates Cobalamin-Independent Methionine Synthase (MetE) in Escherichia coli

In nature, Escherichia coli are exposed to harsh and non-ideal growth environments—nutrients may be limiting, and cells are often challenged by oxidative stress. For E. coli cells confronting these realities, there appears to be a link between oxidative stress, methionine availability, and the enzyme that catalyzes the final step of methionine biosynthesis, cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE). We found that E. coli cells subjected to transient oxidative stress during growth in minimal medium develop a methionine auxotrophy, which can be traced to an effect on MetE. Further experiments demonstrated that the purified enzyme is inactivated by oxidized glutathione (GSSG) at a rate that correlates with protein oxidation. The unique site of oxidation was identified by selectively cleaving N-terminally to each reduced cysteine and analyzing the results by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Stoichiometric glutathionylation of MetE by GSSG occurs at cysteine 645, which is strategically located at the entrance to the active site. Direct evidence of MetE oxidation in vivo was obtained from thiol-trapping experiments in two different E. coli strains that contain highly oxidizing cytoplasmic environments. Moreover, MetE is completely oxidized in wild-type E. coli treated with the thiol-oxidizing agent diamide; reduced enzyme reappears just prior to the cells resuming normal growth. We argue that for E. coli experiencing oxidizing conditions in minimal medium, MetE is readily inactivated, resulting in cellular methionine limitation. Glutathionylation of the protein provides a strategy to modulate in vivo activity of the enzyme while protecting the active site from further damage, in an easily reversible manner. While glutathionylation of proteins is a fairly common mode of redox regulation in eukaryotes, very few proteins in E. coli are known to be modified in this manner. Our results are complementary to the independent findings of Leichert and Jakob presented in the accompanying paper (Leichert and Jakob 2004), which provide evidence that MetE is one of the proteins in E. coli most susceptible to oxidation. In eukaryotes, glutathionylation of key proteins involved in protein synthesis leads to inhibition of translation. Our studies suggest a simpler mechanism is employed by E. coli to achieve the same effect.
Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor response to aerobic exercise in multiple sclerosis.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, support brain health through protective, regenerative and adaptive neural processes. In this study, we investigated whether exercise and exercise training would alter circulating BDNF and IGF-1 in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and matched controls. Twenty-two volunteers (MS (n = 11) and controls (n = 11)) matched in age, weight, body fatness and aerobic capacity (VO2peak) completed the study. Subjects cycled at 60% of VO2peak, three times per week for 8 weeks. Serum was analyzed for BDNF and IGF-1 at rest and BDNF after a standardized exercise bout at weeks 0, 4 and 8. Resting BDNF levels were lower in MS compared to controls at week 0 (p = 0.03) and only tended to be lower at week 8 (p = 0.07). BDNF increased at week 4 in MS subjects (p = 0.04) and returned to baseline at week 8. With acute exercise, BDNF decreased in both groups during the 3-hour post-exercise recovery period. Resting IGF-1 concentration was not significantly different between groups before or after training. Our study provides preliminary evidence that exercise may influence BDNF regulation in humans. Further research is needed to elucidate the impact of exercise on neurotrophin production, secretion and target tissue responses in humans.
Surface processes observed by high-resolution electron microscopy: Beam-induced transformation and reduction in a modified β-PbO2 crystal

Abstract Surface profile images of crystals of a modified β-PbO 2 produced by the leaching of Pb 3 O 4 with dilute nitric acid have been examined at high resolution in the electron microscope. The sum of evidence is that hydrogen is present in the modified β-PbO 2 structure. The latter can easily transform to the rutile-type β-PbO 2 . High-resolution surface profile imaging was used to study dynamic change in the surface of these crystals. In addition to apparent single-atom movement, cooperative movement of very large entities was observed. These mobile groups were invariably two lead atom layers thick corresponding to the repeat unit of the modified β-PbO 2 . The cooperative motions involved scores to hundreds of atoms. In addition, small crystals about 10 nm across (containing a few hundred atoms) were observed to migrate on the surface until they became accreted to the substrate crystal. These small crystals changed their shape while in motion and even reflected the defects of the substrate when they were accreted. Finally, evidence was found for substantial electron-beam-induced reduction of PbO 2 to lower oxides with a gross modification of the crystal profile.
Activity of a Vitamin B12 Concentrate for Chick Growth and Hatchability

Abstract Crystalline vitamin B12, isolated from liver by Rickes et al. (1948) was shown by Ott et al. (1948) to give response similar to the animal protein factor (APF ) required for chick growth. Preparations of a microbiologically produced material by Stokstad et al. (1948) have also been shown to be highly active as a source of APF, when measured by chick assay. A vitamin B12 ** concentrate (4.4 ug. of B12 per gram) was fed at a 1% level to APF depleted chicks to determine its effect upon chick growth and to APF depleted laying hens to determine the effect upon hatchability. The concentrate was used to supplement both a synthetic and a natural type chick diet. The synthetic diet contained alpha soybean protein, cerelose, soybean oil, salts, amino acids, and vitamins A, D, and B-complex supplements. The natural type diet contained wheat bran, ground corn, oats and wheat, soybean oil . . .
The β4 Integrin Subunit Rescues A431 Cells from Apoptosis through a PI3K/Akt Kinase Signaling Pathway

To study whether alpha6beta4 integrin regulates apoptosis, human A431 cells were plated on bacteria plates in the presence or absence of mAb beta4. In the absence of mAb beta4, A431 cells demonstrated morphological characteristics of apoptosis by 24 h and most cells died by 48 h. In contrast, in the presence of mAb beta4, cells remained viable, and at the end of 48 h, 70-80% of cells survived. Treatment of A431 cells with mAb beta4 resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of the p85 subunit of PI3 kinase; PI3 kinase activity increased within 15 min and peaked at 60 min. Stimulation of beta4 in A431 cells resulted in a time-dependent phosphorylation of Akt with a concomitant and parallel phosphorylation of Bad. Inactivation of PI3 kinase with inhibitors blocked the anti-apoptotic effect induced by mAb beta4. These are the first results to suggest that ligation of alpha6beta4 integrin protects cells from apoptosis through a PI3K/Akt kinase signaling pathway.
Comparison of Versant HBV DNA 3.0 and COBAS AmpliPrep-COBAS TaqMan assays for hepatitis B DNA quantitation: Possible clinical implications.

Abstract We compared two commercial assays for HBV DNA quantitation, Versant HBV 3.0, System 340 (bDNA; Bayer Diagnostics) and COBAS AmpliPrep–COBAS TaqMan HBV Test (TaqMan; Roche Diagnostics). Analytical sensitivity, calculated on WHO International Standard, predicted 95% detection rate at 11.4 and 520.2 IU/ml for TaqMan and bDNA, respectively. Specificity, established on 50 blood donor samples, was 100% and 84% for TaqMan and bDNA, respectively. When using clinical samples, HBV DNA was detected by TaqMan in 21/55 samples negative to bDNA. Mean values of HBV DNA obtained with bDNA were higher than those obtained with TaqMan (4.09 log 10 ± 1.90 versus 3.39 log 10 ± 2.41, p 0.5 log 10 , without association with HBV genotype. There was a good correlation for HBV DNA concentrations measured by the two assays ( r = 0.94; p pol region, where drug resistance mutations are located.
Activation in vitro of somatostatin receptor subtypes 2, 3, or 4 stimulates protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in membranes from transfected Ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells: coexpression with catalytically inactive SHP-2 blocks responsiveness.

Somatostatin receptors (sstr) subtypes 1–5 were transiently expressed in NIH 3T3 cells stably transformed with Ha-RasG12V to assess the ability of each receptor to stimulate protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity in vitro. Treatment of membranes from sstr2-, sstr3-, or sstr4-expressing cells with somatostatin-14 plus guanyl-5′-yl imidodiphosphate (GMPPNP) increased PTPase activity, and this stimulation was pertussis toxin-sensitive. Somatostatin alone, GMPPNP alone, or somatostatin plus GDP were ineffective under these conditions. sstr1 and sstr5 failed to increase PTPase activity although both receptors were expressed, as assessed by appearance of high-affinity binding sites for[ 125I-Tyr11]somatostatin-14. Somatostatin plus GMPPNP stimulated PTPase activity in vitro when sstr2 was coexpressed with wild type PTP1B or a Cys to Ser (C/S), catalytically inactive PTP1B or with wild type SH2-domain containing PTPase SHP-2. However, coexpression with catalytically inactive C/S SHP-2 abrogated this resp...
Functional localization in the cerebellum of the albino rat

Abstract In thirty-seven intact, unanesthetized albino rats, thirty-nine points in cortex and subjacent white matter of the cerebellum were stimulated (60-cycle sinewave) by means of permanently implanted electrodes. Stimulus strengths of 0.05 to 0.25 ma evoked slow, tonic movements which were chiefly bilateral and reciprocal in nature. Stimulation of the vermis on either side of the mid-line from central lobule caudally to nodulus elicited limb responses of ipsilateral flexion and adduction and contralateral extension and abduction (vermal-zone postural pattern). From the paravermal area (2 mm wide, longitudinal zone adjacent to vermis), a limb posture was evoked which was a mirror-image of that obtained from the vermis (paravermal-zone postural pattern). Limb movements following stimulation of hemispherical cortex lateral to the paravermal area were in general similar to those responses obtained from the vermis (lateralzone postural pattern). Therefore, the present experiment supports the longitudinal corticonuclear zone theory of cerebellar function. Nevertheless, there are differences between the responses obtained in the rat and those reported in the literature on other mammals. These differences concern chiefly the consistent inclusion of the contralateral limbs in the postures evoked from the paravermal and lateral cortical zones of the rat cerebellum. The theory is suggested and discussed that bilateral and reciprocal control of posture by the cerebellar hemispheric cortex is phylogenetically an old organization of cerebellar function and that the regulation of ipsilateral movements by the hemispheric cortex of the cerebellum represents a more recent specialization of cerebellar function.
Differences in tests of aniseikonia.

The New Aniseikonia Test (NAT), a hand-held direct-comparison test using red/green anaglyphs, has several potential advantages as a screener. We compared the validity of the NAT to that of the Space Eikonometer in three experiments: (1) aniseikonia was induced by calibrated size lenses in a doubleblind study of 15 normal subjects; (2) habitual aniseikonia was measured with both instruments in four patients; and (3) eight of the normal subjects were retested with a computer-video simulation of the NAT. The NAT underestimated induced aniseikonia by a factor of 3 in the normal subjects and underestimated habitual aniseikonia in four patients. The Space Eikonometer correctly measured the magnitude of induced aniseikonia in the normal subjects. The simulation test did not show underestimation in the eight normal subjects. We could not attribute the NAT's underestimation of aniseikonia to the red/green anaglyph method, printing error, psychophysical method, or the direct-comparison test format. We speculate that the NAT induces a different sensory fusion response to aniseikonia than do the other tests, and that this altered sensory fusion response diminishes measured aniseikonia. We conclude that the NAT is not a valid measure of aniseikonia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 33:20632067,1992 More than one million cataract operations are performed annually in the United States 1 , with most patients receiving intraocular implants. Of these pseudophakic patients, 41% may have symptoms attributable to aniseikonia, 2 making this condition a
Children with Both Asthma and Depression Are at Risk for Heightened Inflammation

Objective To test whether children and adolescents with co-occurring asthma and depression are at risk for elevated inflammation—concurrently and at the next assessment. Study design Up to 6 yearly assessments per person from the prospective, population-based Great Smoky Mountains Study (N = 1420) were used, covering children in the community aged 10-16 years old. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) was assayed from annual bloodspot collections and provided indicators of elevated inflammation at CRP > 1, CRP > 2, and CRP > 3 mg/L. Depression was assessed with the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment. Asthma was assessed using a form adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Health Interview Survey. Results Controlling common covariates of CRP, the co-occurrence of asthma and depression predicted heightened CRP—concurrently and at the next assessment. In turn, elevated CRP was relatively stable from one assessment to the next. Conclusions The co-occurrence of asthma and depression in childhood poses a risk for substantially elevated inflammation concurrently and over time, which could contribute to pathophysiological processes involved in the development of additional chronic diseases and also to asthma-related morbidity and mortality.
Prenatal Depression Effects and Interventions: A Review

This review covers research on the negative effects of prenatal depression and cortisol on fetal growth, prematurity and low birthweight. Although prenatal depression and cortisol were typically measured at around 20 weeks gestation, other research suggests the stability of depression and cortisol levels across pregnancy. Women with Dysthymia as compared to Major Depression Disorder had higher cortisol levels, and their newborns had lower gestational age and birthweight. The cortisol effects in these studies were unfortunately confounded by low serotonin and low dopamine levels which in themselves could contribute to non-optimal pregnancy outcomes. The negative effects of depression and cortisol were also potentially confounded by comorbid anxiety, by demographic factors including younger age, less education and lower SES of the mothers and by the absence of a partner or a partner who was unhappy about the pregnancy or a partner who was depressed. Substance use (especially caffeine use) was still another risk factor. All of these problems including prenatal depression, elevated cortisol, prematurity and low birthweight and even postpartum depression have been reduced by prenatal massage therapy provided by the women's partners. Massage therapy combined with group interpersonal psychotherapy was also effective for reducing depression and cortisol levels. Several limitations of these studies were noted and suggestions for future research included exploring other predictor variables like progesterone/estriol ratios, immune factors and genetic determinants. Further research is needed both on the potential use of cortisol as a screening measure and the use of other therapies that might reduce prenatal depression and cortisol in the women and prematurity and low birthweight in their infants.
Comparative chemosensation from receptors to ecology

Odour perception is initiated by specific interactions between odorants and a large repertoire of receptors in olfactory neurons. During the past few years, considerable progress has been made in tracing olfactory perception from the odorant receptor protein to the activity of olfactory neurons to higher processing centres and, ultimately, to behaviour. The most complete picture is emerging for the simplest olfactory system studied — that of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. Comparison of rodent, insect and nematode olfaction reveals surprising differences and unexpected similarities among chemosensory systems.
Decentralized Control of Unmanned Aerial Robots for Wireless Airborne Communication Networks

This paper presents a cooperative control strategy for a team of aerial robotic vehicles to establish wireless airborne communication networks between distributed heterogeneous vehicles. Each aerial robot serves as a flying mobile sensor performing a reconfigurable communication relay node which enabls communication networks with static or slow-moving nodes on gorund or ocean. For distributed optimal deployment of the aerial vehicles for communication networks, an adaptive hill-climbing type decentralized control algorithm is developed to seek out local extremum for optimal localization of the vehicles. The sensor networks estabilished by the decentralized cooperative control approach can adopt its configuraiton in response to signal strength as the function of the relative distance between the autonomous aerial robots and distributed sensor nodes in the sensed environment. Simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed decentralized cooperative control technique for robust communication networks.
Spatially Variant Contrast Enhancement Using Local Range Modification

Numerous adaptive contrast enhancement techniques have been developed to improve the visual utility of imagery. Most of these techniques involve the use of neighborhood operators, and some require manual input of scene-dependent functions to operate properly on different images. The local range modification (LRM) technique described in this paper does not involve neighborhood operators in the conventional sense of the word nor does it require design of scene-dependent functions, yet it yields results comparable to more computation-intensive techniques. In this paper, a unified description of the spatial filter-based adaptive contrast enhancement algorithms is presented. LRM is then described and qualitatively compared with the other algorithms in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and artifact generation.