cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Speed, not magnitude, of knee extensor torque production is associated with self-reported knee function early after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

To examine the magnitude and speed of knee extensor torque production at the initiation of advanced anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction rehabilitation and the associations with self-reported knee function. Twenty-eight subjects who were 12 weeks post-ACL reconstruction and 28 age- and sex-matched physically active controls participated in this study. Knee extensor torque was assessed bilaterally with an isokinetic dynamometer at 60°/s. The variables of interest were peak torque, average rate of torque development, time to peak torque and quadriceps symmetry index. Knee function was assessed with the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC-SKF). Peak torque and average rate of torque development were lower on the surgical side compared to the non-surgical side and controls. Quadriceps symmetry index was lower in subjects with ACL reconstruction compared to controls. On the surgical side, average rate of torque development was positively correlated with IKDC-SKF score (r = 0.379) while time to peak torque was negatively correlated with IKDC-SKF score (r = −0.407). At the initiation of advanced ACL reconstruction rehabilitation, the surgical side displayed deficits in peak torque and average rate of torque development. A higher rate of torque development and shorter time to peak torque were associated with better self-reported knee function. The results suggest that the rate of torque development should be addressed during advanced ACL reconstruction rehabilitation and faster knee extensor torque generation may lead to better knee function. III.
Relationships between heat production, heat loss, and body temperature for rats with burn injuries between 26% and 63% of the body surface area.

Burn injury in man is characterized by increased body temperature proportional to burn wound size and may represent fever and/or hyperthermia. A nonseptic animal model used to study this phenomena has not been described. To test the hypothesis that large burn injuries in rats would produce increased body temperature, the rectal, skin, and body temperatures were sequentially measured and were calculated for rats in the control group and rats with burn injuries covering 26% to 63% of the body surface area [ or = 46% body surface area]. The group with burns covering > or = 46% of the body surface area had significantly higher rectal temperatures than did at least one other group on postburn days 7, 9, 11, 13, 18, and 20. On postburn days 7 and 11 this increase was significantly higher than that of all burn and control groups. Animals did not demonstrate any overt evidence of wound infection. These data do not establish a cause for increased body temperature after burn injury but suggest that a reproducible animal model may be possible for the study of the cause of increased body temperature after burn injury.
Re‐thinking the role of the beamstop at a synchrotron‐based protein crystallography beamline

A 1 mm vertical-profile X-ray beamstop has been designed to operate in the energy range 6–20 keV. The relationship between the beamstop-to-sample distance and air scatter is discussed with the intent of establishing criteria for optimal beamstop positioning during an experiment. Different choices for beamstop materials are described with respect to stopping power, fluorescence and scattering from the surface. Suggestions for improvements in beamstop design are presented which are applicable for future automation and equipment safety. All work was performed on the Structural Biology Center insertion-device beamline, 19ID, at the Advanced Photon Source.
Production of the catalytic core of human peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase (hPHMcc) in Escherichia coli

Abstract Most mammalian bioactive peptides possess a C-terminal amino acid amide moiety. The presence of the C-terminal amide is a significant impediment to the recombinant production of α-amidated peptides. α-Amidated peptides are produced in vivo by the enzymatic cleavage of a precursor with a C-terminal glycine residue. Peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase catalyzes the key step in the oxidation of the glycine-extended precursors to the α-amidated peptide. Herein, we detail the production of the catalytic core of human peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase (hPHMcc) in Escherichia coli possessing a N-terminal fusion to thioredoxin (Trx). Trx was fused to hPHMcc to enhance the yield of the resulting 52 kDa protein as a soluble and catalytically active enzyme. The Trx-hPHMcc-His 6 fusion was purified to homogeneity and exhibited steady-state kinetic parameters that were similar to purified rat PHMcc. The bacterial production of recombinant hPHMcc will foster efforts to generate α-amidated peptides by the co-expression of hPHMcc and the α-amidated peptide precursors in E. coli or the in vitro amidation of recombinantly expressed α-amidated peptide precursors.
Structure and filtration properties of melt blown polypropylene webs

Polypropylene melt blown webs have been studied in terms of the relationships among the processing conditions, structure, and filtration efficiency. The effects of the processing conditions on filtration efficiency to aerosolized latex particles, pore size, fiber diameter, and air permeability have been investigated. The melt blowing process conditions investigated in this study were die and air temperatures, die-to-collector distance, and attenuation air flow rate at the die. The filtration efficiency has been found to increase linearly as mean pore size decreased. The degree of fiber-entanglement increased, therefore, the pore size and air permeability decreased with increasing processing temperature, increasing air flow rate at the die, or decreasing die-to-collector distance. Average fiber diameter appeared to change little with die-to-collector distance, but decreased with increasing die temperature or with increasing air flow rate.
Relative Particle Motions of Fluid And Solid Phases In Porous Media: A Numerical Study of Seismic Scattering In Digitized Granular Models

In this paper, we examine the relationship between the relative particle motions of fluids and solids and the seismic signal received when compressional waves propagate through saturated porous materials. We use a rotated-staggered-grid finite difference modeling scheme to simulate elastic wave phenomena in a digitized 2D structural model obtained from micrographs of a loose beach sand. When considering ultrasonic wave propagation wave in models with explicit inclusion of granular structure, the heterogeneities of quartz and pores in size and shape lead to frequency-dependent seismic phenomena. By comparing the numerical results from models where three sources with different frequencies were used, we saw that (1) strong particle motions concentrate mostly in fluid; (2) significant variations in pressure are observed in the fluid; (3) during the dynamic process of wave propagation, relative particle motion of the fluid and solid phases induces stress concentration on the sharp tips and corner of grains; (4) coherent particle motion is generated by sources with low frequency content, while sources with higher frequencies induce disordered particle motions. Corresponding to these particle motions, less scattered energy is observed in cases with more coherent particle motion, and strong scattering is generated by disordered particle motion.
Alexandrite laser lithotripsy: clinical studies and utilization

Laser technology has been applied to intracorporeal lithotripsy for ureteral calculi at several different wavelengths. The most successful of these is the Alexandrite. Development through animal studies, FDA approval, and current use is examined. After 22 months and a study encompassing 175 procedures the device has demonstrated efficacy equal to or surpassing other laser and non-laser methods with equal or greater safety to adjacent soft tissue structures.
A model of ethnic perspective-taking ability applied to Mexican-American children and youth

Abstract A model is presented that characterizes a development of ethnic perspective-taking ability from preschool to early adulthood. This model was constructed from a model of social perspective-taking ability, previous research, and 97 interviews with Mexican-American children and youth aged 6 to 18 years. The proposed model is one of the first to integrate research on ethnic cognition in early childhood with research on racial/ethnic identity development during late adolescence and early adulthood. Five levels of ethnic perspective-taking ability applied to Mexican-American children are presented ranging from a physicaiistic perspective of ethnicity to a multicultural perspective of ethnicity.
Evidence supporting the memory disruption hypothesis of electro-convulsive shock action

Abstract Electroconvulsive shock (ECS) following training is known to disrupt performance on passive avoidance tasks. The effect is usually seen as evidence that ECS produces retrograde amnesia. Recently it was reported that if passive avoidance training was followed by a second footshock (FS) several hours after training, and then ECS, impaired avoidance was shown on subsequent testing. This was interpreted as showing that the training-ECS interval is not crucial, thus questioning the retrograde amnesia hypothesis. Our repetition of the double foot-shock studies, however, failed to replicate these observations. We did notice that the second FS made animals hyperactive, suggesting that this is not an appropriate procedure in passive avoidance studies. We then used a double foot-shock paradigm in a situation involving both passive avoidance and discriminated avoidance. The experimental animals moved more rapidly, but displayed no amnesia in their choice behavior. Amnesia was observed when ECS followed seconds after training. The results are in accord with the retrograde amnesia hypothesis.
THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE GLUCOSE UPTAKE AND GLUCOSE UTILIZATION OF ISOLATED RAT LENSES.

Separation of glucose transport into the lens and glucose utilization by the lens was achieved in isolated normal rat lenses by lowering the incubation temperature to the range 15–25°C. The possible implications of this finding are discussed.
Pathogens Drop the Hint: Don't Forget Phytoalexin Pathways

Many effectors secreted by pathogenic bacteria suppress host signal transduction pathways that activate host defense responses. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Zhou et al. (2011) now broaden that theme by demonstrating that HopZ1b from Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea causes degradation of a host enzyme directly involved in the synthesis of antimicrobial phytoalexin compounds.
Mulling over “muddling through” again

This paper presents a theoretical decisionmaking continuum as an aid to decision-dchg. The continuum is defined in tern of the range of alternatives searched, ranging from epsilon to infinity. ?he extremities of the continuum are respectively associated with incremental and rational-comprehensive decision theories. The roles of consensus and optimization as decision rules are explored in terms of their relation to the continuum It is noted that incrementalism is predicated upon the maximization of the consensus rule, whereas rational-comprehensive theory maximizes optimization. The probabilities of mxhizing each rule are expressed across the continuum, and a radius of low mxhiza tion is identified. In terms of the mdel, it is concluded that in order to avoid the danger of compromise (the radius of low maximization), it is necessary to first specify whether the problem posed demds an incremental or f'mdmental decision strategy, and to then apply the appropriate strategr. In light of the decision making mod...
Preoperative Anxiety Management, Emergence Delirium, and Postoperative Behavior

Preoperative anxiolysis is important for children scheduled for surgery. The nature of the anxiety depends on several factors, including age, temperament, past hospitalizations, and socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. A panoply of interventions effect anxiolysis, including parental presence, distraction, and premedication, although no single strategy is effective for all ages. Emergence delirium (ED) occurs after the use of sevoflurane and desflurane in preschool-aged children in the recovery room. Symptoms usually last approximately 15 minutes and resolve spontaneously. The Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium scale is used to diagnose ED and evaluate therapeutic interventions for ED such as propofol and opioids.
Edge-Based Data Structures for Solid Modeling in Curved-Surface Environments

CAD/CAM applications need quick and easy access to topological information about objects. Here, four structures for representing this information are evaluated for sufficiency, efficiency, and ease of implementation.
Fungal diseases of ferrets

Although fungal disease in ferrets is uncommon, a few cases have been documented, demonstrating that it should be on the clinician's rule out list, especially if the patient has a long-term illness that is not responding appropriately to antibiotics, as was the clinical presentation in many of these documented cases.
Shielding for fast neutron scattering experiments of high sensitivity

Abstract Design criteria are presented for the optimum shielding of the neutron detector in a fast neutron time-of-flight spectrometer-goniometer system. Special attention is devoted to the reduction of time-correlated and -uncorrelated background through the optimized design of massive shielding of the neutron detector. W shadow shielding, and double-truncated conical collimators. Low-background neutron time-of-flight spectra are presented and the significance for high-sensitivity neutron scattering experiments noted.
ELLIPSOMETER RECORDINGS OF CHANGES IN OPTICAL THICKNESS OF ADSORBED FILMS ASSOCIATED WITH SURFACE ACTIVATION OF BLOOD CLOTTING.

RECENT publications1–4 indicate that when blood comes into contact with glass, Factor XII is adsorbed and in turn adsorbs Factor XI. Much of the resulting ‘activation product’ can be recovered from, the adsorbing surface1,3, but other indirect evidence shows that measurable amounts are released4–7.
Accurate Determination of Length in a Routinely Obtained Picture

Length is a concept that is basic to the understanding of scene geometry. We consider the estimation of length based on its measurement y and all other prior information available. The prior probability law on lengths is one such consideration. If subjects of interest are discovered only after inspection of a routinely taken picture, then the probability law on their lengths is not flat but rather obeys a known unimodal shape. If b is the width of the square picture, the most probable length is 0·479b and the least probable are small lengths and those approaching 1·414b (the diagonal). Given this a priori preference for the length 0·479b, the minimum mean-square error (MMSE) estimate of length based on measurement y will be biased away from y and towards 0·479b. A Monte Carlo approach has been used to create typical ‘true’ length and measured length events in accordance with this scenario and with Gaussian noise in measurements y. Plots of MMSE estimated length against measured length, for given noise lev...
Regulation of the Na,K-ATPase activity of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells in defined medium by prostaglandin E1 and 8-bromocyclic AMP.

The role of PGE1 in regulating the activity of the Na+, K+ -ATPase in Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells has been examined. PGE1 increased the initial rate of ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake by MDCK cells, a process that continued to occur over a 5-day period The increase in the initial rate of ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake in MDCK cells treated with PGE1 could be explained by a 1.6-fold increase in the Vmax for ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake. The increase in the Vmax for ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake observed in MDCK cells under these conditions can be explained either by an increase in the number of active Na+ pumps, or by an increase in the efficiency of the Na+ pumps. Consistent with the former possibility is the observed increase in the number of ouabain binding sites, as well as the increase in Na+, K+-ATPase activity in cell lysates obtained from MDCK monolayers treated with PGE1. The involvement of cyclic AMP in mediating these effects of PGE1 on the Na+, K+-ATPase in MDCK cells is supported by: (1) the observation of similar effects in 8-bromocyclic AMP treated MDCK monolayts, and (2) a dramatic reduction of the stimulatory effects of PGE1 and 8-bromocyclic AMP on the Vmax for ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake, and on the number of ouabain binding sites in dibutyryl cyclic AMP resistant clone 3 (DBr 3) (which is defective in cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase activity). PGE1 independent MDCK monolayers exhibit both an increase in the Vmax for ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake and an increase in the number of ouabain binding sites in response to 8-bromocyclic AMP. Apparently, the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase defect in these PGE1 independent cells did not cause cellular cyclic AMP levels to be elevated to a sufficient extent to maximally increase the Na+, K+-ATPase activity in these variant cells. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Impact of natural IgM concentration on gene therapy with adenovirus type 5 vectors

Natural IgM inhibits gene transfer by adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) vectors. We show that polyreactive natural IgM antibodies bind to Ad5 and that inhibition of liver transduction by IgM depends on Kupffer cells. By manipulating IgM concentration in vivo, we demonstrate that IgM inhibits liver transduction in a concentration-dependent manner. We further show that differences in natural IgM between BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice contribute to lower efficiency of Ad5 gene transfer in BALB/c mice.
Photochemical reaction of halogenated xanthene dye with diaryliodonium salts

Abstract The photochemical reactions of ethyl erythrosin and ethyl eosin with diaryliodonium salts in acetonitrile were studied. All the photoproducts were isolated and identified, and the quantum yields measured. We demonstrate that the photochemical reactions are pure electron transfer processes; that the electron transfer is mainly from the triplet excited state of the xanthene dye to the diaryliodonium salt; and that this is immediately followed by the decomposition of the electron acceptor to aryl radicals and iodoaromatics. We demonstrate that there is no back electron transfer. The aryl radical formed either couples with a dye radical or displaces a halogen atom from the dye. The quantum yield of the reaction is dependent on the iodonium salt concentration. The maximum quantum yield for dye disappearance is 0.53 for ethyl erythrosin and 0.30 for ethyl eosin, respectively, at the dye concentration used.
True ambivalence: Child welfare workers' thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about kinship foster care

Abstract Despite generally positive research findings on kinship placement, rates of kinship foster care have risen only modestly. Because workers' thoughts and attitudes may influence their placement decisions, this article presents a content analysis of child welfare workers' responses during kinship foster care training. The analysis reveals that workers simultaneously have strong positive feelings toward kinship foster care along with negative reactions related to the greater time consumed by kinship foster care placements, the frequent difficulty of dealing with triangulation, the lack of clear and coherent policy regarding work with kin, and a resulting increased feeling of risk. These results extend and amplify prior findings. For example, prior studies have noted workers' difficulties with the frequently complicated family dynamics of kinship foster care. In this study, workers identified triangulation as the most difficult manifestation of those dynamics. The enormous time consumed and the frequent allegations made by family members during triangulation often caused workers to distrust family members and to worry that they could not adequately protect the child. The article includes numerous recommendations for training and changes in policy that would reduce worker anxiety and thus increase their effectiveness and willingness to work with kinship foster care.
Pilot-Plant Preparation of an αvβ3 Integrin Antagonist. Part 3. Process Research and Development of a Diisopropylcarbodiimide and Catalytic 1-Hydroxybenzotriazole Peptide Coupling†

Studies directed toward the process research, development, and scale-up preparation of the potential αvβ3 integrin antagonist 1 are described. A convergent approach is detailed wherein tetrahydropyrimidine hydroxybenzoic acid 2 is linked to the β-amino acid ester 3 via a diisoproylcarbodiimide, catalytic HOBt coupling reaction. Saponification of the resulting ethyl ester, isolation of the corresponding zwitterion, H3PO4 salt formation, crystallization, and acetonitrile-to-acetone exchange give rise to 1 as a crystalline monohydrate in 67% overall yield from 4.
The Snake Theorem for Unisolvent Families

The oscillation theorem of Karlin (the snake theorem) has been extended in a number of ways by Pinkus and others. We show that the theorem is valid for (almost) arbitrary unisolvent families where there are no continuity requirements on the upper and lower bounding functions. Under an essential additional hypothesis, the theorem is also true for varisolvent families. A number of applications to uniform approximation from unisolvent families and Chebyshev spaces are considered.
Low serum total cholesterol is associated with marked increase in mortality in advanced heart failure.

Background: Although hypercholesterolemia is a well-defined risk factor for morbidity and mortality in coronary artery disease, the relationship between cholesterol and heart failure (HF) has rarely been investigated. Methods: Cholesterol and lipoproteins were measured in 1,134 patients with advanced HF who presented to a single center for HF management and transplant evaluation. Patients were stratified into five groups based on quintiles of total cholesterol (TC) level, and differences in patient characteristics and survival were evaluated. Results: Patients with low TC had significantly lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), sodium, albumin, left ventricular ejection fraction, and cardiac output. The TC quintiles were similar in terms of HF etiology, hypertension, diabetes, and lipid-lowering therapy at time of referral. TC, LDL, HDL, and TG each predicted survival (P ≤.01) on univariate analysis, with improved survival at higher levels. After adjustment for risk factors using a Cox proportional hazards model, relative risks were 2.071, 1.369, 1.391, 1.006 for the first, second, third, and fourth TC quintiles, with quintile 5 as reference. Conclusions: Serum TC represents a novel prognostic factor for patients with advanced HF. Further studies are necessary to investigate a potential role of low cholesterol and lipoproteins in the pathophysiology of HF progression.
Estimated height, weight, and body mass index: implications for research and patient safety.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that weight influences patient care and outcomes. Health-care providers (HCPs) sometimes rely on patient self-reports or HCP estimates of height and weight. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of self-reported height and weight and HCP estimations of height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) classification when compared with measured height, weight, and calculated BMI. STUDY DESIGN: Attending physicians, residents, and nurses provided height and weight estimates along with BMI categorizations for 110 trauma patients at a large, teaching hospital with a Level I trauma center. Patients provided reports of their heights and weights. Measured heights and weights were obtained with appropriate calibrated devices, and BMIs were calculated. Estimates and categorizations were then compared with measured and calculated values. RESULTS: HCPs were 41% and 53% accurate in estimating height and weight, respectively. Self-reports had higher accuracy (69% and 92%, respectively) but still resulted in a BMI misclassification of 32%. Twenty-two percent of patient self-reports were unobtainable. When HCPs attempted to categorize a patient into a BMI group, the accuracy was 56%. Functioning, calibrated instruments for measuring height and weight were frequently unavailable in relevant hospital locations. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that HCPs' estimates of height, weight, and BMI category are highly inaccurate. Patient self-reports are better, but are unavailable at times. Objective measurements with calibrated instruments are necessary for accuracy in research studies and for patient safety in clinical practice. Efforts to ensure the availability of calibrated instruments may be necessary in the hospital setting.
Determination of 17, 21-dihydroxy-20-ketosteroids in blood plasma.

IN 1950 Porter and Silber (1) observed that a color reaction occurred if 17,21-dihydroxy-20-ketosteroids were exposed to a phenylhydrazinesulfuric acid solution. Utilizing this color reaction, Nelson and Samuels (2), Glenn and Nelson (3) and Reddy et al. (4) have published methods for the determination of adrenal steroids having a 17,21-dihydroxy-20-keto configuration. Since then, numerous publications have appeared dealing with adrenocortical physiology and pathology, using levels of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids as an index for these conditions. Marks and Leftin (5), however, were able to find butanol-extractable substances in human urine which gave rise to a positive Porter-Silber reaction without fulfilling the 17,21-dihydroxy-20-keto qualification. These findings raise an essential point of methodology: How much of the Porter-Silber chromogen in plasma or urine estimated by the simpler techniques may be ascribed to nonsteroidal material? Even with the Nelson and Samuels method as originally described, th...
THE IMPACT OF INTANGIBLES ON CONSUMERS’ QUALITY RATINGS USING THE STAR/DIAMOND TERMINOLOGY

The objective of this research was to determine if consumers utilized their interactions with a service provider while awarding the service establishment a star/diamond rating. A repeated measures experimental design was adopted and participants subject to four different service interaction manipulations. Participants were required to award star/diamond ratings to the establishment after each manipulation. The results show that individuals use their interaction to differentiate among the simulations irrespective of the tangible elements of the service setting. The study results reveal that personal interaction with the service provider forms an important component of star/diamond ratings. Implications for managers are discussed.
Sensorless control of BLDC motor from zero to low speed based on rotor saliency

A sensorless brushless DC (BLDC) control algorithm based on rotor saliency is proposed in this paper. A voltage pulse injection method is used for inductance measurement and the peak inductance current is measured through the salient phase to increase accuracy. Zero speed and arbitrary low speed sensorless operations can be achieved with the proposed algorithm. Finite element analysis method (FEM) simulations and experimental results are provided to verify the proposed control algorithm.
Engineering the next generation.

A silicon-based membrane for fuel cells offers significant advantages over Nafion-based membranes.
Experimental–computational estimation of rough fracture surface contact stresses

Abstract This paper presents the preliminary results of a technique for estimating the contact stress distribution on the rough surfaces of cracks which are partially closed and loaded in shear. Phase shifted speckle interferrometric measurements of the crack face opening and sliding displacements of a crack in a four-point-bend mixed-mode fracture specimen under quasi-static cyclic loading are used as the initial data. An iterative computational process determines acceptable fits of the initial displacement data and the corresponding crack face contact stresses, which are found from a numerical model of the specimen and loading. Contact stress results are presented from one specimen at two load increments which suggest that the roughness causes an increase in the contact length compared to flat and smooth surfaces. More importantly, as the extent of sliding increases, the effective frictional resistance becomes localized and is a strong function of position along the contact. This cannot be modeled by Coulomb friction with a single value of the coefficient of friction. These are the first results of their kind ever presented for the local displacement and contact stress distributions across rough interacting fracture surfaces.
A second gene encoding the mouse proteasome activator PA28β subunit is part of a LINE1 element and is driven by a LINE1 promoter

Abstract The PMSE2 gene encodes the β-subunit of the proteasome activator PA28 and, as shown by genomic Southern blot analysis, there probably exist four copies sharing sequence homology with PMSE2. Here, we report that in the mouse genome there exist two different chromosomal loci for PA28β, both of which are transcribed and and which encode a functional PA28β subunit. One of these represents the previously described PMSE2 gene possessing an intron-exon structure and a gamma interferon (IFNγ)-inducible promoter. The second one, named PMSE2b, which we describe here, exhibits all the characteristics of an expressed retrotransposon. Our data show that the PA28β retrotransposon is inserted into a transcriptional active LINE1 element and is driven by a LINE1 F-type monomer promoter as revealed by luciferase assays. The resulting PMSE2b mRNA encodes a protein which is indistinguishable from that encoded by the IFNγ-inducible PMSE2 gene. Since PA28 plays an important role in major histocompatibility complex class I antigen presentation, the implications for the mouse immune system through a constitutively expressed PA28β subunit and the biological relevance of this finding are discussed.
Saccharin-induced systemic acquired resistance against rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) infection in soybean: Effects on growth and development

We examined the effect of saccharin on the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) response of soybean to the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the causal agent of soybean rust. Plants were grown hydroponically in half-strength Hoagland’s solution and were challenged with the pathogen 1, 5, 10 and 15 d after treatment with 3 mM saccharin applied either as a foliar spray or a root drench at the 2nd trifoliate (V3) and early reproductive (R1) stages. Plants were destructively harvested and assessed for visible rust symptoms 2 wk after inoculation. Mode of saccharin application was a significant factor influencing the severity of rust infection. Saccharin applied as a root drench was more effective than the foliar spray treatment at inducing SAR, with increased resistance observed 1 d after application. Systemic protection against rust infection was still apparent 15 d after application of saccharin as a root drench. In contrast, foliar treatment with saccharin did not increase systemic protection until 15 d after treatment. When systemic protection was induced by the application of saccharin in either manner, there was no significant reduction of plant growth, except when plants were inoculated 15 d after the saccharin application as a root drench at the R1 stage of development.
Fusion Peptides from Oncogenic Chimeric Proteins as Putative Specific Biomarkers of Cancer

Chromosomal translocations encoding chimeric fusion proteins constitute one of the most common mechanisms underlying oncogenic transformation in human cancer. Fusion peptides resulting from such oncogenic chimeric fusions, though unique to specific cancer subtypes, are unexplored as cancer biomarkers. Here we show, using an approach termed fusion peptide multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry, the direct identification of different cancer-specific fusion peptides arising from protein chimeras that are generated from the juxtaposition of heterologous genes fused by recurrent chromosomal translocations. Using fusion peptide multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry in a clinically relevant scenario, we demonstrate the specific, sensitive, and unambiguous detection of a specific diagnostic fusion peptide in clinical samples of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, but not in a diverse array of benign lymph nodes or other forms of primary malignant lymphomas and cancer-derived cell lines. Our studies highlight the utility of fusion peptides as cancer biomarkers and carry broad implications for the use of protein biomarkers in cancer detection and monitoring.
Adult Atomoxetine Ingestions Reported to Texas Poison Control Centers, 2003–2005

Background:Limited information exists on outcomes from adult ingestions of atomoxetine reported to poison control centers.Objective:To identify factors that might affect the outcome of adult atomoxetine ingestions reported to poison control centers.Methods:Using adult ingestions of atomoxetine alone reported to Texas poison control centers during 2003–2005, the proportion of cases involving serious outcomes was determined for selected variables and evaluated for statistical significance by calculating the rate ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).Results:Of 64 cases identified, 9 (14%) involved serious outcomes. No serious outcomes were reported with a maximum dose of 100 mg or less. Serious outcomes were significantly more likely to occur with a maximum dose of more than 2 capsules (RR 8.25; 95% CI 1.48 to 83.58), where the circumstances of the exposures involved self-harm or malicious intent (RR 6.02; 95% CI 1.30 to 30.35) or when the patient was already at or en route to a healthcare facility wh...
Effect of pressure on the critical solution temperature of (methylcyclohexane + tetradecafluoromethylcyclohexane)☆

Abstract Kumaran, M.K. and Benson, G.C., 1983. Effect of pressure on the critical solution temperature of (methylcyclohexane + tetradecafluoromethylcyclohexane). Fluid Phase Equilibria, 11: 13-18. Experimental results are reported for the critical solution temperature of (methylcyclohexane + tetradecafluoromethylcyclohexane) as a function of pressure. Over the range 0.1 to 0.2 MPa, the variation is linear with a slope of 0.597 K MPa−1, in good agreement with an estimate derived from previous studies of the molar excess volume and molar excess enthalpy along the coexistence curve near the critical solution point.
Vascular endothelial dysfunction in aging: loss of Akt-dependent endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation and partial restoration by (R)-α-lipoic acid

Aging is the single largest risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which in turn are the leading cause of death of individuals over the age of 65 years. In part, this risk is due to a profound loss of vasomotor function of the major conduit arteries, primarily because of lower levels of endothelial-derived nitric oxide. The mechanisms involved in vascular dysfunction are not entirely understood, but age-related alterations in eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) activity appear to be a likely source of the aging lesion. However, age-related changes in cell signalling that ultimately affect eNOS phosphorylation and its activity have not been explored. Results in our laboratory indicate that levels of eNOS phosphorylation in aortas from aged F344xBN rats (28-30 months old) are almost 50% lower than in aortas from young animals (3 months old). Lower eNOS phosphorylation is directly attributable to loss of constitutive Akt/protein kinase B activity. The decline in eNOS phosphorylation can be partially restored by treating old rats with (R)-alpha-lipoic acid. These results thus suggest that age-related changes in eNOS phosphorylation may be a significant factor in the overall loss of vasomotor function in the elderly.
Basement Fault Configurations, Wyoming Province: ABSTRACT

For many basement-cored folds and related mountain flank faults in the Wyoming province, locally balanced cross sections can be constructed using structural relief and line lengths in the sedimentary cover rocks. By conserving the length of the upper basement surface, possible basement fault movement can be inferred. This faulting includes: (1) motion along a reverse fault which yields a folded upper basement surface, and (2) displacement distributed along a series of parallel basement faults. The sedimentary cover rocks are force folded and may be cut by mountain flank faults which place Precambrian rocks overlying either Paleozoic or Mesozoic rocks. Previously recognized thrusts, blind thrusts, rootless anticlines, and buckle folds in the cover rocks in adjacent basins re reinterpreted to represent thin-skinned deformation related to basement faulting. Where there is relative translation of the cover rocks, cross sections need not balance locally and the fault dips and basement geometries previously determined are in error. The fault dips calculated from locally balanced cross sections have been overestimated, and/or the displacement on the basement fault(s) has been underestimated. The displacement observed on mountain flank faults may be far less than the total displacement on the basement fault. In the simplest case, it may be possible to project the mountain flank fault downdip to infer the orientation and location of the basement fault(s) at depth. End_of_Article - Last_Page 950------------
Cutting Edge: Differential Regulation of Chemoattractant Receptor-Induced Degranulation and Chemokine Production by Receptor Phosphorylation

Phosphorylation of G protein-coupled receptors and the subsequent recruitment of β-arrestin play an important role in desensitization of receptor-mediated responses, including degranulation in leukocytes. In this study, we report that receptor phosphorylation also provides a stimulatory signal for CCR ligand 2 (CCL2) production. C3a stimulated degranulation in a basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cell expressing wild-type C3aR or a phosphorylation-deficient mutant (ΔST-C3aR). In contrast, C3a caused CCL2 production only in C3aR but not ΔST-C3aR cells. Furthermore, overexpression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 resulted in enhancement of both ligand-induced receptor phosphorylation and CCL2 production but inhibition of degranulation. Agonist activation of C3aR, but not ΔST-C3aR, led to the translocation of green fluorescent protein tagged β-arrestin 2 from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane. These data demonstrate that receptor phosphorylation, which provides a turn off signal for degranulation, is essential for CCL2 production.
Experimental assessment of the functional morphology of inflorescences of Daucus carota (Apiaceae): testing the 'fly catcher effect'

1. The functional significance of inflorescence morphology of Daucus carota L. (Apiaceae) was tested using an inflorescence manipulation experiment. Specifically, we sought to explain the role (if any) in pollination of the dark central floret of this species. 2. In central England, D. carota was found to be pollinated by a taxonomically wide range of insects that varied in their inflorescence visitation rates and in their pollen loads. There was also variation in abundance of some taxa between the 2 years of this study. 3. By removing the dark central floret and adding false florets we sought to affect pollinator visitation rates and seed set in a manner consistent with the ‘fly catcher effect’ hypothesis of Eisikowitch (1980). Taxa responded to these manipulations but not in ways that shed light on the adaptive role of the dark central floret. Seed set was likewise unaffected in any consistent way. 4. The role of the dark central floret remains an enigma. We speculate, following Darwin (1888), that the dark central floret may now be functionless and possibly represents a trait that has persisted long after its original function has been lost.
Cosmic ray neutron induced upsets as a major contributor to the soft error rate of current and future generation DRAMs

The system soft error rate (SSER) of 4M/16M DRAMs has been shown to be dependent on the cosmic ray neutron flux. A simple model and accelerated soft error rate (ASER) measurements made with an intense, high energy neutron beam support this result. The model predicts that cosmic ray neutron induced soft errors will become important at the 64M DRAM generation and beyond.
Learning a ranking from pairwise preferences

We introduce a novel approach to combining rankings from multiple retrieval systems. We use a logistic regression model or an SVM to learn a ranking from pairwise document preferences. Our approach requires no training data or relevance scores, and outperforms a popular voting algorithm.
Amino acid digestibility in canola, cottonseed, and sunflower products fed to finishing pigs.

Our objective was to determine the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and AA in soybean meal (SBM) and canola, cotton, and sunfl ower products fed to fipigs. Each of 8 barrows (aver- age initial BW = 106.6 ± 5.5 kg) were surgically fi tted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum. Pigs were allotted to an 8 × 8 Latin square design with 8 diets and 8 peri- ods. The 7 protein ingredients were canola seeds (CS), canola meal (CM), cottonseed meal (CSM), sunfl ower seeds (SFS), sunfl ower meal (SFM), dehulled sunfl ow- er meal (SFM-DH), and SBM, with each ingredient included as the sole source of AA in the diet. A N-free diet was used to estimate basal endogenous losses of AA. Among tested ingredients, SBM had the greatest (P < 0.05) SID of Lys, and CS had the least (P < 0.05) SID of Phe, Thr, and Tyr. The SID of all indispensable AA except Trp was less (P < 0.05) in CS than SBM, and CM had a greater (P < 0.05) SID of all indispensable AA except Arg, His, Lys, and Trp than CS. However, the SID of all indispensable AA except Arg and Trp were less (P < 0.05) in CM than in SBM. The SID of all indispensable AA except Arg and Trp also were less (P < 0.05) in CSM than in SBM, and the SID of Met was less (P < 0.05) in CSM than in all other ingredients. Among sunfl ower products, the SID of His, Leu, Phe, and Thr were less (P < 0.05) in SFM-DH than in SFS and SFM, and the SID of Ile, Met, and Val were less (P < 0.05) in SFM-DH than in SFS; however, for CP, Arg, Lys, and Trp, no differences among SFS, SFM, and SFM-DH were observed. The SID of all indispensable AA except Trp were less (P < 0.05) in SFM-DH than SBM, and the SID of His, Ile, Lys, Thr, and Val in SFM were also less (P < 0.05) than in SBM. Except for Lys, no differences between SBM and SFS were observed. In conclusion, the SID of most AA in CS, CM, CSM, SFM, and SFM-DH are less than in SBM.
Multistage affine parameter clustering for improved motion segmentation

We propose two key modifications to a recent motion segmentation algorithm developed by Wang and Adelson, which greatly improve its performance. They are: (i) the adaptive k- means clustering step is replaced by a merging step, whereby the hypothesis (affine parameters of a block) which has the smallest representation error, rather than the respective cluster center is used to represent each layer, and (ii) we implement it in multiple stages, where pixels belonging to a single motion model are labeled at each stage. Performance improvement due to the proposed modifications is demonstrated on real video clips.
Genetic and hormonal sensitivity to threat: Testing a serotonin transporter genotype×testosterone interaction

Summary Background Striking parallels are observed when comparing the literature on the 5-HTTLPR of the serotonin transporter gene ( SLC6A4 ) to the testosterone (T) literature on measures of stress reactivity and neural activity. Short (S) allele carriers and individuals higher in testosterone levels show exaggerated stress responses, amygdala hyperactivity, and reduction of amygdala–prefrontal cortex coupling when exposed to threat. Methods Three studies tested the hypothesis that higher T, S carriers would show increased cortisol responses to threat. Results Supporting the hypothesis, a T × 5-HTTLPR interaction was obtained across all studies. Threats to status via social exclusion (Study 1), cognitive/perceptual failure (Study 2), and physical competence (Study 3) all produced elevated cortisol levels in S carriers with higher T levels. An unexpected result was that 5-HTTLPR long (L) allele homozygotes with higher T showed lower cortisol levels in response to threat—a pattern of response that closely parallels that reported for psychopathic individuals. Finally, combining effect sizes across studies showed that the likelihood that these effects were due to Type 1 errors was quite low. Conclusions What emerges from these studies is a novel yet reliable, and synergistic relationship between 5-HTTLPR genotype and testosterone on stress reactivity, possibly conferring vulnerability for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders.
Early detection of Alzheimer's disease using nonlinear analysis of EEG via Tsallis entropy

A preliminary study by Sneddon et al. (2005) using visual working memory tasks coupled with quantified EEG (qEEG) analysis distinguished mild dementia subjects from normal aging ones with a high degree of accuracy. The present study hypothesizes that a simpler task such as having a subject count backwards mentally by ones can be coupled with qEEG to yield a similar degree of accuracy for classifying early dementia. The study focuses on participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and includes both a delayed visual match-to-sample (working memory) task and a counting backwards task (eyes closed) for comparison. The counting backwards protocol included 15 normal aging and 11 MCI participants, and the working memory task included 9 normal aging and 7 MCI individuals. The EEG data were quantified using Tsallis entropy, and the brain regions analyzed included the prefrontal cortex, occipital lobe, and the posterior parietal cortex. The counting backwards task had a sensitivity of 82%, a specificity of 73%, and an overall accuracy of 77% whereas the working memory task had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 89%, and an overall accuracy of 94%. The results suggest that simple tasks such as having a subject count backwards may distinguish MCI (p<;0.05) sufficiently to use as a rough screening tool, but psychophysical tasks such as working memory tests appear a potentially much more useful approach for diagnosing either MCI or very early Alzheimer's disease.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Collaborative Care Management of Depression Among Low-Income Patients With Cancer

Purpose To determine the effectiveness of the Alleviating Depression Among Patients With Cancer (ADAPt-C) collaborative care management for major depression or dysthymia. Patients and Methods Study patients included 472 low-income, predominantly female Hispanic patients with cancer age ≥ 18 years with major depression (49%), dysthymia (5%), or both (46%). Patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 242) or enhanced usual care (EUC; n = 230). Intervention patients had access for up to 12 months to a depression clinical specialist (supervised by a psychiatrist) who offered education, structured psychotherapy, and maintenance/relapse prevention support. The psychiatrist prescribed antidepressant medications for patients preferring or assessed to require medication. Results At 12 months, 63% of intervention patients had a 50% or greater reduction in depressive symptoms from baseline as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression scale compared with 50% of EUC patients (odds rati...