cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MDS/MPN with ringed sideroblasts and thrombocytosis, and secondary or concurrent mastocytosis: case report and literature review

Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis (MDS/MPN with RS-T), which exhibits both an increased number of marrow ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis, is a rare disorder classified as one of the newly established forms of MDS/MPN in the WHO 2016 classification. Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a heterogeneous group of neoplasms characterized by growth and accumulation of both cytologically and immunophenotypically abnormal mast cells in one or more body organ systems. SM can occur as a separate neoplasm but commonly is associated with other clonally related myeloid neoplasms. Herein, we present a 78-year-old female with a clinical history of fatigue, dyspnea, and a compression fracture of L5. Her peripheral blood, bone marrow aspirate, and biopsy laboratory workup show features of myelodysplasia with ring sideroblasts, thrombocytosis, and clusters of mast cells in the bone marrow biopsy. Pathogenic c-KIT, MPL, and SF3B1 genes are identified by the molecular study. We present this case to point out a rare combination of systemic mastocytosis and MDS/MPN with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis. It is not known if the best treatment should be focused on the systemic mastocytosis or the accompanying MDS/MPN.
Abstract 14676: Landmark-based Functional Computed Tomography Reveals Diminished Left Atrial Appendage Contraction During Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction: The formation of thrombus in the left atrial appendage (LAA) and risk for systemic embolization may result in part from stasis and poor blood volume emptying during atrial fibrillatio...
A Convergence of Tick-Transmitted Diseases within the Lyme Disease Transmission Cycle

This chapter provides a description of the three zoonotic diseases now known to be transmissible to humans by the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis (also known as Ixodes dammini). The convergence of these and other organisms within the Lyme disease transmission cycle may represent a clinical challenge as well as a scientific opportunity to study the immunologic interactions of pathogens in a naturally occurring model of coinfection and cotransmission. Because the three infections may require different approaches to therapeutic management, development of an understanding of the natural history of infection with Babesia and Ehrlichia spp. may become critical to understanding their importance in the Lyme disease transmission cycle. Application of broad-range PCR and other pathogen discovery techniques has the potential to expand the litany of pathogens known to be transmitted by deer ticks, with the ultimate goal of clarifying the role of the known and perhaps soon-to-be-known cold-zone pathogens within the transmission cycle of Lyme disease. White-footed mice appear to be a reservoir for all three of these known human pathogens (Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Babesia) and are commonly coinfected themselves. Further research is necessary to define the full complement of microbial agents involved in the Lyme disease transmission cycle and to elucidate further the possible immunologic interactions of these pathogens.
Absence of EBV in Reed-Sternberg Cells in Many Cases of Hodgkin’s Disease

Hodgkin’s disease is unique among malignancies in that the malignant cells, Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants, usually make up less than 1% of the tumor mass. Investigation of the biology of Reed-Sternberg cells has been impeded by the polymorphous background of benign infiltrating cells. Thus, although there were numerous anecdotal reports of infectious mononucleosis progressing to Hodgkin’s disease (1), and epidemiologic studies showing that persons with infectious mononucleosis were up to three times more likely to develop Hodgkin’s disease than controls (2), the first studies of Hodgkin’s tissue to look for the EBV genome were negative (3,4). Subsequent studies using cloned probes and Southern blot hybridization have shown EBV DNA to be present in 16–30% of Hodgkin’s disease cases and have shown the EBV infected cell population to be monoclonal in character (5–7). In situ hybridization studies have suggested that the EBV genome is localized to the Reed-Sternberg cells and not to cells in the polymorphous infiltrate (5,7,8). We have applied two sensitive techniques to examine Hodgkin’s disease specimens to determine whether EBV is present in every case of Hodgkin’s disease or only in a subset of cases. These studies demonstrate that EBV is not present in the malignant cells in many cases of Hodgkin’s disease.
The Differential Impact of Beliefs on Intentions to Try and Intentions to Adopt Cigarettes

Intentions to try a cigarette were predicted significantly better by the Ajzen and Fishbein model when the attitudinal and normative components were operationalized in terms of beliefs specifically related to “trying than when operationalized by beliefs specifically related to “smoking,” and intentions to smoke were predicted significantly better by the model when the components were operationalized in terms of beliefs related to “smoking” than when operationalized by beliefs related to “trying.” The magnitude of the differences was so small however that Fishbein’s suggestions for improvements in the content of smoking prevention programs, aimed at adolescents, do not appear to be warranted.
Skin tumor promotion: a comparative study of several stocks and strains of mice.

Topical application of some chemical carcinogens will induce skin tumors on mice. In general, most chemical carcinogens have to be given repeatedly to induce a large number of tumors (complete carcinogenesis). Skin tumors also can be induced by the sequential application of a single subthreshold dose of a carcinogen (initiation phase) followed by repeated treatment with a noncarcinogenic promoter (promotion phase). This second procedure employing initiation and promotion is referred to as two-stage carcinogenesis.
Harvard Business School Executive Education: Balancing Online and Offline Marketing

How does a small business set its online media budget? The HBS Executive Education Division can be viewed as a small-to-medium sized business unit with annual revenues of $107 million. As we watch it change its culture, practices, and organization from offline to online marketing, we have an opportunity not simply to see the metrics used in online marketing budget allocation, but also the stresses involved in the birth of a new go-to-market culture.
Repurposing FDA approved drugs against the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans.

The high cost and prolonged timeline of new drug discovery and development are major roadblocks to creating therapies for infectious diseases. Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is the most common cause of fatal fungal infections in humans and costs $2–4 billion dollars to treat in the US alone. To accelerate drug discovery, we screened a library of 1581 existing FDA approved drugs, as well as drugs approved abroad, for inhibitors of C. albicans. The screen was done on YPD yeast growth media as well as on the serum plate assay developed in this study. We discovered that fifteen drugs, all which were originally approved for treating various infectious and non-infectious diseases, were able to kill Candida albicans. Additionally, one of those drugs, Octodrine, displays wide-spectrum anti-microbial activity. Compared to other selected anti-Candida drugs, Octodrine was shown to be one of the most effective drugs in killing serum-grown Candida albicans without significantly affecting the survival of host macrophages and skin cells. This approach is useful for the discovery of economically viable new therapies against infectious diseases.
A health sciences library liaison project to support biotechnology research.

Suite a l'initiative de creation d'un centre national d'information en biotechnologie de la Bibliotheque Nationale de Medecine (NLM-National Library of Medecine), le HAM-TMC (Houston Academy of Medecine-Texas Medical Center) a decide d'apporter un soutien et un developpement special a la biotechnologie en ouvrant un poste de bibliothecaire assurant un service d'information aupres de clients effectuant des recherches en biotechologie. Les raisons du developpement de l'industrie biotechnologique a Houston sont exposees et les activites de liaison et les nouveaux clients du HAM-TMC sont presentes
The effect of area ratio on the flow distribution in liquid cooling module manifolds for electronic packaging

Abstract The proper selection of the geometry of a manifold is important to obtain a uniform coolant distribution which is necessary to eliminate local hot spots in a liquid cooling module for electronic packaging. The effect of an area ratio, defined as ratio of the total channel cross-sectional area to the dividing flow header cross-sectional area, on the coolant distribution in a parallel flow manifold was studied numerically for a Reynolds number of 50, a typical flow condition observed in the electronic packaging. Of the three area ratios (4,8, and 16), the case of AR =4 produced the best coolant distribution. However, the flow rate in the last channel was 2.75 times that in the first channel. It is concluded that the area ratio is one of the most important parameters affecting the coolant distribution and should be carefully examined in the design of a liquid cooling module.
Solution of a system of dual integral equations.

The solution of a presented system of differential equations with initial values is shown to satisfy a system of dual integral equations of a type appearing in the study of axisymmetric problems of potential theory. Of practical interest are possible applications in biomechanics, particularly, for the case of trauma due to impact.
CPM2: A core model for product data

The initial core product model (CPM), developed at NIST for the support of in-house research projects, has been extended to create CPM2, intended to support a broad range of information relevant to product lifecycle management. CPM2 is a generic, abstract model with generic semantics. CPM2 gives equal status to three aspects of a product or artifact: its function, its form, and its behavior. Thus, CPM2 can support functional reasoning about a product in the conceptual stages of design, the recording and the modeling of its behavior in the postdesign stages as well as the "traditional" design phases. Three levels of CPM2 models, denoted as the conceptual, intermediate, and implementation models, are described. Extensions of the initial CPM are briefly presented. The facilities in CPM2 for building experimental intermediate systems are demonstrated and a short illustrative example is given. The full practical evaluation of CPM2 will require the development and use of implementation models.
Application Software Standardization ... CERN as an Example

A method of standardizing universally useful software is discussed using CERN as an example of one such standard which is successful. A two-level standard is suggested wherein the lower level is coded in assembler at each participating site and tends to be subroutines which perform elementary tasks. The second level consists of routines which solve more complex data handling or mathematical problems. Numerical results showing the triple benefit of smaller programs, faster programs while maintaining transportability is given.
Perception, True Opinion and Knowledge in Plato's Theaetetus

Several years ago Mr. J. Xenakis proposed an interpretation of some aspects of the passage in the Theaetetus in which the thesis that sLa 'tFc is cx'L0atOLq receives its final refutation (184B4186E12).1 Although I agree in the main with his interpretation, I believe that it can be supported more strongly. Thus an analysis of this passage is the first task of this paper. But on the basis of that analysis, I want to show also how this passage is related to what follows in the dialogue, the long discussion beginning with the thesis that knowledge is true opinion but turning almost immediately to a discussion of the nature and possibility of false opinion and ending with the wax block and aviary models (187A1-200D4).2 The criticism of the thesis that enL r'pn is aOt-aLa begins with the distinction between what the soul apprehends through the senseorgans and what it apprehends "by itself". Whatever Plato's views about the soul might be at his writing of the Theaetetus, he wants to distinguish between those characteristics which the soul apprehends through the sense-organs and those characteristics which are called "common to everything" (&rl 7raaL xoLvov -184C4-5). In spite of his expressed desire to be precise (184 C 1-7), Plato has some difficulties and ambiguities in his terminology. His general point is to show that knowledge cannot be equated with aX'LaOcGL4. But he does speak, on the one hand, of what the soul "perceives" (odaO&voXuCXL -184E8-185A2) when he talks about the particular objects of the various senses, e.g. colors, tastes, sounds, etc. On the other hand he also speaks of what the soul "perceives" (again xLaOCXVO[LCXL -185 C8) when he talks about the XOLVa, characteristics which are somehow different from those apprehended via the individual sense-organs. The ambiguity in aLsaO%vo[LaL leaves two questions to be answered.
Age-dependent usage of double-strand-break repair pathways.

Summary A DNA double-strand break (DSB) can be repaired by any of several alternative and competing mechanisms. The repaired sequences often differ from the original depending on which mechanism was used so that the cell's "choice" of repair mechanism can have profound genetic consequences. DSBs can accumulate with age [1, 2], and human diseases that mimic some of the effects of aging, such as increased susceptibility to cancer, are associated with certain defects in DSB repair [3, 4]. The premeiotic germ cells of Drosophila provide a useful model for exploration of the connection between aging and DNA repair because these cells are subject to mortality and other age-related changes [5], and their DNA repair process is easily quantified. We used Rr3, a repair reporter system in Drosophila [6], to show that the relative usage of DSB repair mechanisms can change substantially as an organism ages. Homologous repair increased linearly in the male germline from 14% in young individuals to more than 60% in old ones, whereas two other pathways showed a corresponding decrease. Furthermore, the proportion of longer conversion tracts (>156 bp) also increased nearly 2-fold as the flies aged. These findings are relevant to the more general question of how DNA damage and repair are related to aging.
Disposable gendine antimicrobial gloves for preventing transmission of pathogens in health care settings.

Background Transmission of organisms by contact of gloves with surfaces following contact with a pathogen source has been recognized as an important vector for pathogenesis of health care-associated infections. In these cases, the gloves protect the wearer from contact with the pathogenic organisms; however, this personal protection can facilitate the wearer unwittingly becoming a carrier of the pathogens from one location to another. A novel gendine (combination of chlorhexidine and gentian violet) antiseptic coating for the external surface of the glove was developed as a potential intervention to prevent this mode of transmission. Methods We characterized the ability of the coating to rapidly kill bacterial and fungal pathogens within 1 minute of contact with the glove surface. The International Organization of Standardization 22196 concentrated inoculum contact testing methodology was followed. Results The gendine-coated gloves were able to fully eradicate multidrug-resistant organisms included methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , vancomycin-resistant enterocci , multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase producing. In addition, Candida albicans , Candida glabarata , and 2 pathogenic Escherichia coli strains commonly associated with invasive gastroenteritis were also fully eradicated within 1 minute of contact. The gendine coating did not adversely impact the finish or integrity of the disposable gloves. Conclusion The highly efficacious gendine-coated antimicrobial gloves potentially provide an additional means of protection against horizontal transmission of common pathogens in a hospital setting.
An angiographic sign of cerebellar tonsillar herniation.

A new angiographic sign for cerebellar tonsillar herniation, which is demonstrated on anteroposterior roentgenograms is described. This sign consists of stretching of the hemispheric branches of the PICA that are pulled down toward the edge of the foramen magnum.
Do the short-term effects of a high-quality preschool program persist?

Abstract We investigate the persistence of short-term effects of a high-quality school-based pre-kindergarten program in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We analyze third-grade reading and math scores for two cohorts of students eligible to participate in pre-kindergarten in 2000–2001 and 2005–2006, using boosted regression and propensity score matching to select a comparison group of local students who did not participate in the pre-K program. For the early cohort, we find no evidence of persistence of early gains. For the late cohort, we find that early gains persist through third grade in math but not reading, and for boys but not for girls. We discuss possible reasons for the pattern of findings, though our study design does not allow us to identify the causal mechanisms of persistence.
Selectivity of 1-phenylimidazole as a ligand for cytochrome P-450 and as an inhibitor of microsomal oxidation

Equilibrium dialysis studies established that 1-[4'-(3H)-phenyl]imidazole (PI) was bound to hepatic microsomal suspensions from control, phenobarbital (PB)- and 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC)-treated rats and that the binding was directly related to the cytochrome P-450 content. Computer-assisted Scatchard plot analysis of the binding data indicated the existence of two major types of microsomal binding sites in both control and induced rats, one with a high affinity (Ka approximately 1.5 X 10(7) M-1) and the other with a low affinity (Ka approximately 5 X 10(5) M-1) for PI. The binding of PI to the highly purified, individual cytochrome P-450s that constituted the major forms from the PB- and beta-naphthoflavone (beta NF)-induced rats exhibited affinities similar to the high and low affinity binding sites observed in microsomal suspensions. The two types of PI binding sites were characteristic of two classes of cytochrome P-450, and the major cytochrome induced by PB and 3MC (or beta NF) were each associated with one of these two classes. In concurrence with this, it was shown that, although PI was an excellent inhibitor of aromatic hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity in PB-induced rats, it exhibited little or no inhibitory activity towards AHH activity in 3MC-induced animals.
Recurrent Syncope for Over a Decade due to Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation

A 35-year-old man had a history of recurrent syncope for more than a decade. During a witnessed episode, an ambulatory electrocardiographic recording showed ventricular flutter/fibrillation that lasted for 2½ minutes and terminated spontaneously without adverse neurologic sequelae. No structuralheart disease and no possible etiologic factor for the ventricular tachyarrhythmia was found. The patient received an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Review of the literature suggests that the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator is a valid option in idiopathic ventricular fibrillation in young individuals to avoid the potential risk of recurrent cardiac arrest.
Discrete Morse theory for complexes of 2-connected graphs

Abstract Using the discrete Morse theory of R. Forman, we find a basis for the unique nonzero homology group of the complex of 2-connected graphs on n vertices. This answers a question of V. Vassiliev which arises in his study of knot invariants.
Ecological Study of the Ptiliid Myrmecocole, Limulodes Paradoxus Matthews.

The occasion for this study arose when I discovered on August 7 a small colony of Aphaenogaster fulva aquia Emery[1][1] entrenched under a moist board in my yard. On closer examination a number of minute beetles were seen running about with the ants in the confusion of the opened nest. On one of the brood piles a number of the beetles were found clustered. Consequently a part of the nest was removed for laboratory observation. [1]: #fn-1
Valuation of education and crime neighborhood characteristics through hedonic housing prices

This article studies households' valuation of neighborhood amenities through analysis of housing as a bundle of structural and neighborhood characteristics. Using statistical techniques, hedonic prices, or incremental values in the market, can be imputed to each element of the bundle. Twelve variables describe neighborhood crime; twenty-one variables describe neighborhood schools. Together with structural variables, they significantly and substantially explain house prices in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The technique is also shown to provide a market framework for approximating the benefits of localized neighborhood improvements.
Anomalous paleomagnetic directions in late tertiary andesitic intrusions of the Cauca depression, Colombian Andes

Abstract Late Tertiary hypabyssal intrusions of the northern Cauca depression in the northwest Andes of Colombia provide anomalous paleomagnetic declinations of approximately northwest trend. Individual tectonic rotation mechanisms of folding or faulting alone are incapable of accounting for the observed dispersed inclinations in the northwestern trend. Combinations of mechanisms, including regional shear, folding, and thrusting, may explain the anomalous paleomagnetic vector directions.
Arsenic sorption and redox transformation on iron‐impregnated ordered mesoporous carbon

Ordered mesoporous carbon has been actively investigated for its potential applications as catalyst supports, electrochemical materials and gas separation media. In this study, we tested an iron-modified ordered mesoporous carbon (FeOMC) for its ability to adsorb arsenic from the aqueous phase. The FeOMC synthesis involved the preparation of an ordered silica template SBA-15, in situ polymerization of acrylic acid in the template, carbonization and template removal to obtain the ordered mesoporous carbon, and iron impregnation. Batch experiments showed that the pH level of the solution had a major impact on arsenic sorption. Further, we found that the presence of anions (i.e. PO43− and SiO32−) could significantly decrease the sorption of both arsenate and arsenite. Arsenite oxidation to arsenate was observed in alkaline solutions, with or without anions being present. The oxidation of arsenite was attributed to both direct and catalytic reactions with the surface functional groups on the ordered mesoporous carbon. Adsorption of arsenic on FeOMC could be well explained by the surface complexation model. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence for split bands in Ni-Fe from specific heat, g-factor, and magnetostriction data

Abstract In the “split-band” model each alloy component has its own 3d band distinct on the energy scale from the 3d bands of other components. Applying this model to f.c.c. Ni-Fe, we calculate numerically the electronic density of states, the total orbital angular momentum, and the orbital angular momentum of electrons at the Fermi level. The results suggest that these quantities should exhibit anomalies when the Fermi level passes through the boundary between the nickel band and the iron band. This prediction is confirmed by experimental data.
Velocity of Sound in Vegetable Oils

The velocity of sound in seven vegetable oils has been measured to an accuracy of ± 0.3 ms−1. The different values of the velocities are correlated on the basis of composition. Average values for the temperature coefficient of velocity, at room temperature, and for the dispersion between 2 and 10 MHz are also given.
Unique adhesion testing and MSL modeling

An unique adhesion testing was developed, in which a corner edge of a mold compound was adhered to a lead frame on a diagonal line while making 90° rotation, in addition, mechanical loading was applied to the corner of interfacial edge between dissimilar materials in three point bend tests. The integrated stress modeling during reflow considered five types of modeling, moisture diffusion during moisture preconditioning and reflow, thermal modeling, hygro-mechanical modeling, thermo-mechanical modeling, and vapor pressure modeling for interfacial adhesion strength in three point bend tests and also interfacial delamination in packages. k1, k2, and θ were used as parameters of interfacial adhesion strengths and package delamination. The comparison of all stress integration versus thermal expansion mismatching induced thermal stress was studied for k1, k2 and θ at the interface between mold compound and lead frame. Parameters of interfacial adhesion, k1, k2 and θ, obtained from 3P bend tests were compared with delamination in packages.
Review of "A Reader's Guide to Agent Literacy by Marie A. Bienkowski".

Those of us who are newly arrived on the agent scene have a variety of books available with which to increase our agent vocabulary. In this article, I provide a short review of five books related to agent research. I also discuss several overview papers and the recently published proceedings of the 1997 Autonomous Agents conference. Rather than providing an in-depth, critical analysis of these books (most of which are edited collections of papers), I describe their overall approach, attitude, and quality. These books are not ones that I chose from an exhaustive search of all potentially relevant available books but are those that quality publishers of AI/philosophy texts provided to me for review or those that I purchased for my own education. I have not selected books that treat only one aspect of agent operation in detail (e.g., Rosenschein & Zlotkin, 1994) in order that I may present you with books that significantly expand your agent literacy.
IR Spectroscopy: An Introduction Helmut Gunzler and Hans-Ulrich. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley, 2002, 376 pp., $45.00. ISBN 3-527-28896-1.

Infrared spectroscopy offers many attractive features for clinical measurements, such as reagent-less, noninvasive, nondestructive, and multicomponent analysis of complex samples. Recent reports have demonstrated the potential utility of infrared and near-infrared spectroscopy for measurements in treated and untreated samples of blood and other specimen of clinical interest. This monograph provides an excellent introduction to infrared spectroscopy for the interested laboratorian. Topics cover the basic concepts of infrared spectroscopy, along with the fundamental basis of both qualitative and quantitative measurements. In addition to the reports noted above, major contributions are provided by H. Michael Heise from the Institute of Spectrochemistry and Applied Spectroscopy in Dortmund, Germany. Initial chapters focus on the molecular basis of infrared absorption spectroscopy and the instrumentation …
Prenatal cocaine exposure potentiates paroxetine-induced desensitization of 5-HT2A receptor function in adult male rat offspring.

Abstract This study investigated the ability of prenatal exposure to cocaine to alter serotonin 2A (5-HT 2A ) receptor function and paroxetine-induced desensitization of 5-HT 2A receptor function in rat offspring. Following exposure to saline or (−)cocaine (15 mg/kg, s.c., b.i.d.), during gestational days 13–20, adult male offspring were treated with either saline or paroxetine (10 mg/kg/day, i.p. 14 days). Eighteen hours post-treatment, changes in the stimulation of oxytocin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone by (−)4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine (DOI, 0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg, s.c.) and in 5-HT 2A receptor densities were determined. Prenatal cocaine exposure did not alter 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated neuroendocrine responses or 5-HT 2A receptor densities. In contrast, paroxetine treatment reduced cortical 5-HT 2A receptors (18–25%) and desensitized 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated oxytocin responses in both offspring groups. Furthermore, in cocaine offspring, paroxetine produced an inhibition of 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated increase in plasma ACTH levels and a greater attenuation of the oxytocin responses to (−)DOI. Paroxetine-induced reductions in body weight gain (−8.8%) were comparable in both offspring groups. These data, demonstrating that prenatal exposure to cocaine potentiates paroxetine-induced desensitization of 5-HT 2A receptor function, may be clinically relevant with respect to treating mood disorders in adults exposed in utero to cocaine.
A Ca2+-ATPase from rat paratoid gland plasma membranes has the characteristics of an ecto-ATPase

A Ca(2+)-ATPase with an apparent Km for free Ca2+ = 0.23 microM and Vmax = 44 nmol Pi/mg/min was detected in a rat parotid plasma membrane-enriched fraction. This Ca(2+)-ATPase could be stimulated without added Mg2+. However, the enzyme may require submicromolar concentrations of Mg2+ for its activation in the presence of Ca2+. On the other hand, Mg2+ could substitute for Ca2+. The lack of a requirement for added Mg2+ distinguished this Ca(2+)-ATPase from the Ca(2+)-transporter ATPase in the plasma membranes and the mitochondrial Ca(2+)-ATPase. The enzyme was not inhibited by several ATPase inhibitors and was not stimulated by calmodulin. An antibody which was raised against the rat liver plasma membrane ecto-ATPase, was able to deplete this Ca(2+)-ATPase activity from detergent solubilized rat parotid plasma membranes, in an antibody concentration-dependent manner. Immunoblotting analysis of the pellet with the ecto-ATPase antibody revealed the presence of a 100,000 molecular weight protein band, in agreement with the reported ecto-ATPase relative molecular mass. These data demonstrate the presence of a Ca(2+)-ATPase, with high affinity for Ca2+, in the rat parotid gland plasma membranes. It is distinct from the Ca(2+)-transporter, and immunologically indistinguishable from the plasma membrane ecto-ATPase.
Generating contrast in hyperpolarized 13C MRI using ligand–receptor interactions

We report the imaging of β-cyclodextrin–benzoic acid binding at 14T using hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance (MR). Benzoic acid was polarized using a dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) approach and combined with β-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution. As anticipated, decreases in the spin–lattice relaxation constant (T1) were observed with decreases in the ligand–receptor ratio. The calculated log K was approximately 1.7, similar to previously reported binding constants. Hyperpolarized [1-13C] benzoic acid was used to interrogate solutions of variable β-cyclodextrin concentrations, with the mixtures imaged at 14T using a 3D frequency-selective MR sequence. Differences in β-cyclodextrin concentration were easily visualized. These results suggest that hyperpolarized 13C MR could be used in vivo to determine the presence and density of receptors for a given ligand–receptor pair.
Catching a GEF by its tail.

The activation of Rho GTPases is mediated by guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which catalyze the exchange of GDP for GTP. Rho-GEFs are a very diverse family, with >70 members in humans. Bioinformatics analysis of the human Rho-GEFs shows that ∼40% contain a putative PDZ-binding motif at the C-terminus. PDZ domains are protein–protein interaction domains that act as scaffolds to concentrate signaling molecules at specialized regions in the cell. We propose that the interaction between Rho-GEFs and PDZ-domain proteins is a general mechanism that controls Rho-GEF targeting and activation, helping to restrict and concentrate the exchange activity to appropriate subcellular destinations. Here, we summarize recent data that highlight the importance of these interactions in Rho-GEF regulation.
Predicting Failure in Composite Laminates Using Dissipated Energy

We present a method for evaluating the damage in and failure of fiber reinforced composite materials. The method is based on dissipated energy and has three major components: (i) a relationship between the strain in the material and the magnitude of the dissipated energy density, (ii) a model that relates the dissipated energy density to matrix damage and fiber failure inside the material, and, accordingly, reduces the elastic properties of the material, and (iii) a nonlinear finite element code for calculating the strain at each point in the material taking into account the degradation of the stiffness as damage occurs. The method provides the parameters of interest, namely, the regions of matrix damage and fiber failure, the load-displacement curve, the failure load, and the failure displacement. Tensile, shear, and four point bend tests were performed with S-glass/epoxy solid coupons as well as with coupons containing a central hole. The load-displacement curves, failure loads, and failure displacement...
The crystallization and morphology of melt-miscible polymer blends

The morphology and kinetics of crystallization from melt-miscible blends is reviewed for binary systems in which either one or both polymer components are crystallizable. In systems in which one component (component A) crystallizes first, the other component (B) may reside finally between spherulites, between growth arms (composed of a stack of A crystalline lamellae), or between crystal lamellae of A. The kinetics of component redistribution dictates which site must become primary. It is shown that the diffusivity D of the components in the melt and the velocity V of spherulite growth combine through the diffusion length δ = D/V to define the final location for component B and to also define whether spherulite propagation will be linear or parabolic in time. When crystallization of both components proceeds concurrently, by forming spherulites of A and of B, the spherulites are prone to interpenetrate or to form concentric spherulites. Cooperative crystallization, in which the kinetics of a rapidly crystallizing component and a slowly crystallizing component are both affected such that the two crystallize nearly simultaneously, is discussed. Finally, the competition between liquid-liquid phase separation and crystallization in systems with either an upper or lower critical solution temperature is reviewed.
Modeling the effects of cooling rate, hydrogen content, grain refiner and modifier on microporosity formation in Al A356 alloys

Cast Aluminum-Silicon alloys are used in numerous automotive and industrial weight sensitive applications because of their low density and excellent castability. The presence of trapped gas and or shrinkage pores in certain locations within castings has been shown to influence fatigue life. These micromechanical defects can be found most anywhere in a casting depending on processing conditions. A large amount of porosity located in the center of the cast material thickness may have no effect on mechanical properties or fatigue performance. A smaller, isolated pore near a surface may have a significant impact on mechanical properties. Hence, it is important to develop a comprehensive model to predict the size, location and distribution of microporosity in castings. In this work, we model the effect of various casting process parameters on microporosity formation for aluminum A356 alloy castings. The process parameters include cooling rate, hydrogen content, grain refiner and modifier. The proposed two-dimensional model predicts the size, morphology and distribution of microporosity at a given location in the casting. The method couples a mathematical model of porosity evolution with a probabilistic grain structure prediction model. The porosity evolution model is based on the simultaneous solution of the continuity and momentum equations for the metal and the mass conservation equation for the dissolved gas. The nucleation and growth of grains are simulated with a probabilistic method that uses the information from a heat transfer simulation, i.e. temperature and solid fraction, to determine the transition rules for grain evolution. The simulation results correlate well with experimental observation of porosity in cast structures.
Specific Regulation of IRS-2 Expression by Glucose in Rat Primary Pancreatic Islet β-Cells *

Insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2) plays a critical role in pancreatic beta-cells. Increased IRS-2 expression promotes beta-cell growth and survival, whereas decreased IRS-2 levels lead to apoptosis. It was found that IRS-2 turnover in rat islet beta-cells was rapid, with mRNA and protein half-lives of approximately 90 min and approximately 2 h, respectively. However, this was countered by specific glucose-regulated IRS-2 expression mediated at the transcriptional level. Glucose (> or = 6 mM) increased IRS-2 mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner, reaching a maximum 4-fold increase in IRS-2 mRNA and a 5-6-fold increase in IRS-2 protein levels at > or = 12 mM glucose (p < or = 0.01). Glucose (15 mM) regulation of islet beta-cell IRS-2 gene expression was rapid, with a significant increase in IRS-2 mRNA levels within 2 h that reached a maximum 4-fold increase by 4 h. IRS-2 protein expression in beta-cells followed that of IRS-2 mRNA. Glucose metabolism was necessary for increased IRS-2 expression in beta-cells. Moreover, inhibition of a glucose-induced rise in islet beta-cell cytosolic [Ca2+]i prevented an increase in IRS-2 expression, indicating this was Ca2+-dependent. The glucose-induced rise in IRS-2 levels correlated with increased IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation and downstream activation of protein kinase B. These data indicate that fluctuations of glucose in the normal physiological range (5-15 mM) promote beta-cell survival via regulation of IRS-2 expression and a subsequent parallel protein kinase B activation. Given that the onset of type-2 diabetes is marked by loss of beta-cells, these data further the idea that controlled IRS-2 expression in beta-cells could be a therapeutic means to promote beta-cell survival and delay the onset of the disease.
Second-sound-like spin density wave in a ferromagnetic insulator

Abstract A theory is given for the propagation of the Mz component of magnetization along a ferromagnetic insulator rod under conditions where the Curie temperature is in the low temperature domain.
Can observational training substitute motor training in preventing backward balance loss after an unexpected slip during walking

A person's awareness of potential slippery walking conditions induces a cautious gait pattern. The purposes of this study were to determine whether neuromechanical changes associated with such cognitive conditioning are sufficient to alter the outcome of a slip and whether the effects of such conditioning are comparable to those of motor training. Prior to their own first slip exposure, 18 young subjects watched videos and slides demonstrating where and how the slip would occur and how people adapted to repeated-slip exposure (observe). The outcomes of the first slip exposure experienced by another 16 subjects who did not receive any such information were used as controls (naive). The latter subjects subsequently experienced an additional 23 slips and thus served in a dual-role as the motor training group (motor). Gait stability as measured against backward loss of balance (BLOB) was obtained for pre- and postslip instances. A protective step landing posterior to the slipping-limb identified each BLOB outcome. The observe group had a greater postslip stability and lower slip displacement and velocity than the naive group. However, such effects were insufficient to prevent balance loss (100% BLOB). The motor group showed significantly better performance on the last training slip (0% BLOB) than did the observe group. The results indicated that updating the cognitive centers of the CNS with awareness and perceptual knowledge through observational training can yield tangible benefits. Nonetheless observation could not replace the task-specific motor training that adaptively updated the internal representations of stability limits for prevention of BLOB.
Projected social distances from mental patient related items by male and female volunteers and nonvolunteers.

A figure-placement procedure was used to measure projected social distances which students (N = 179) perceived between themselves and several stimulus objects. Subjects (N = 72) applying for a college volunteer program placed themselves significantly closer to “mental patient,” “retardate,” and related stimuli than did nonvolunteering subjects. No differences were found with control stimulus items. Although volunteers were similar to nonvolunteers, the critical difference between them was the projected distances they placed between themselves and “mental patient” and related stimuli. Dividing the data by sex showed that among nonvolunteers, males placed themselves significantly farther than females from “retardate,” “mental patient,” and to a lesser degree from “mental hospital.” For the male nonvolunteers, stimulus items, conveying a negative affect, elicited greater projected social distances than did the responses to stimulus objects conveying a positive or neutral affect.
Global Bio-optical Algorithms for Ocean Color Satellite Applications: Inherent Optical Properties Algorithm Workshop at Ocean Optics XIX; Barga, Italy, 3–4 October 2008

Ocean color measured from satellites provides daily global, synoptic views of marine inherent optical properties (IOPs). IOPs, namely, the spectral absorption and scattering characteristics of ocean water and its dissolved and particulate constituents, describe the contents of the upper ocean mixed layer, information critical to furthering scientific understanding of biogeochemical oceanic processes such as carbon exchanges, phytoplankton dynamics, and responses to climatic disturbances. As such, the international ocean color community has invested significant effort in improving the regional and global quality of satellite-derived IOP products.
BOOTSTRAP ANALYSIS OF PHYLOGENETIC TREES DERIVED FROM DNA HYBRIDIZATION DISTANCES

Genetic distances measured by DNA-DNA hybridization experiments are subject to inherent levels of measurement imprecision that may limit the resolution of estimated phy- logenetic trees. This type of error is reflected by the variance of replicate pairwise comparisons of OTUs within cells of the distance matrix. We propose an application of the bootstrap method to gauge the effects of such imprecision in phylogenetic reconstruction. Pseudoreplicate distance matrices are generated by resampling the original data with replacement, and phylogeny esti- mates are made for each pseudoreplicate matrix using a least-squares pairwise algorithm; the process is repeated many times to produce a distribution of possible trees. The frequency of occurrence of specific clades in this distribution measures the resolving power of the original measured distances. This procedure does not assay the effects of inaccuracy (bias) in measured distances, but, in conjunction with a jackknife approach for resampling OTUs, provides a means for quantitative assessment of the robustness of trees estimated from DNA hybridization dis- tances. (Bootstrap analysis; DNA-DNA hybridization; DNA hybridization distances; measure- ment imprecision.) Felsenstein (1983) provided an impor- tant insight into the science of phyloge- netic inference with his distinction be- tween procedures that estimate phylogeny (i.e., most current tree-finding algorithms) and those that constitute statistical tests of phylogenetic hypotheses. The growth in sophistication and popularity of numerical tree-building methods has taken place without a concomitant development of sound statistical approaches for assessing
Convective instabilities in a closed vertical cylinder heated from below. Part 2. Binary gas mixtures

Non-reactive binary gas mixtures (Xe + He, SiCl 4 + H 2 ) have been investigated for convective instabilities in closed vertical cylinders with conductive walls heated from below. Critical Rayleigh numbers N i Ra for the onset of various convective modes (including the onset of marginally stable and periodic flow) have been determined with a high resolution differential temperature sensing method. It is found that the second component can significantly alter the hydrodynamic state of the fluid compared to the monocomponent behaviour. Considerably lower critical thermal Rayleigh numbers for steady and time dependent convective modes are observed. The Xe : He system shows stable oscillatory modes similar to those observed in monocomponent gases (periodic disturbances of the mean flow, T 0 ≈ 5 s) from N Ra = 713 to 780, where a new mode with T 0 = 15 s sets in. The frequency of these slower temperature oscillations can be fitted by an equation of the form f 2 = k ’( N Ra − N 0 Ra ) where k ’ and N 0 Ra are constants, which supports the contention that these oscillations are the result of vertical vorticity. For SiCl 4 : H 2 the high frequency oscillations occur only as a transient mode eventually evolving into the low frequency mode characteristic of binary gas mixtures. This low frequency state is degenerate with a stable time-independent state over a considerable range of N Rα. Finite amplitude perturbations can lead to (1) transient oscillatory phenomena accompanied by reorientations of the roll cells with mean periods of 3–5 min; and (2) stable oscillatory flow at N Ra 's considerably below N osc Rα. The unique behaviour of these binary fluids is tentatively assigned to thermal diffusion.
Factors influencing reactivity of thermal H(T) atoms with solids. I. Physical effects

sum The effects of surface area and the nature of the surface were investigated for samples labeled by the microvave discharge activation (MDA) - tritium atom technique. When labeling powdered samples of different chemical structure the crude specific activity (prior to purification) was shown to increase linearly with t he specific area (m2/g) although the final specific a ctivity of the purified compound was found to be dependent on the chemical nature of reacting sample. Samples deposited on high surface area, microporous membrane filters, showed large i ncreases in specific activities compared to the l abeling of powdered samples. In this case the specific activity was found to be a function of sample thickness (mg/m2) reaching a maximum when the amount of sample was less than or equal to a monolayer on the filter surface and decreased as the reciprocal of the sample weight when a monolayer was exceeded. Finally, a survey of the labeling p roperties of 20 selected filters using L-proline as a model compound was carried out. Cellulosic (hydrophilic) filters were found in general to yield labeled proline of the highest specific activities whereas the hydrophobic (vinyl, fluorocarbon, etc.) yielded the lowest. It was also found that the specific activity of most (15 of 20) of the filters was linearly related to tritium "yield" (X tritium recovered in proline after purification) in the labeled p roline.