cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physical imaging of void using ultrafast light in optical precision

This article shows the applications of ultrafast light in studying material optical properties and its application for rudimental imaging. Standard methods, when applied to the imaging, can not independently determine the material's thickness and index of refraction. The proposed method is fundamentally different from other imaging such as contrast difference in optical coherent tomography (OCT) or the peak-to-peak intensity ratio as in THz imaging to determine index of refraction and thickness. We show that the application of ultrafast techniques allows simultaneous measurements of material thickness and optical constants in optical precision from transmission measurements. Such finding invites new perspectives in imaging and other applicable disciplines.
Analysis of intracellular ribonucleotide pools in a drug‐treated human cancer cell line using capillary zone electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis was used to separate and identify intracellular ribonucleotides and nucleotide analogues from ribavirin- and guanine-treated HeLa cells, a human cervical carcinoma cell line. Nine ribonucleotides in HeLa cell extracts were identified and quantitated. In cell extracts, the average ATP/ADP ratio was 6.5 and the average energy charge of the HeLa cells was 0.92. In HeLa cells treated with guanine, the GTP pool increased to 309% of control values. When cells were treated with ribavirin, the GTP pool was reduced to 33% of nondrug treated controls. Ribavirin triphosphate reached levels of 113.25 nmols/107 cells, while ribavirin diphosphate reached levels of 4.96 nmols/107 cells.
On the passage of radiation through inhomogeneous, moving media. XIV. Poynting's theorem revisited.

Certain arguments by Ko and Chuang (1979) against Lerche's (1975) interpretation of Poynting's theorem for a moving medium with linear constitutive relations are rebutted. It is argued that the contentions of Ko and Chuang are misleading, at the very least, and devoid of original information. Ko and Chuang's ascription of the physical role played by various terms in Poynting's theorem are shown to be subjective and nonunique. It is concluded that the energy and momentum of an electromagnetic field can indeed be partitioned in an essentially arbitrary manner.
Analog neuromorphic computing enabled by multi-gate programmable resistive devices

Analog neural networks represent a massively parallel computing paradigm by mimicking the human brain. Two important functions that are not efficiently built by CMOS technology for their practical hardware implementations are weighting for synapse circuits and summing for neuron circuits. In this paper we propose the use of tunable analog resistances, such as multi-gate graphene devices, to efficiently enable these two functions. We design and demonstrate a complete analog neuromorphic circuitry enabled by such devices. Simulation results based on Verilog-A compact models for graphene devices confirm its functionality. We also provide experimental demonstration of our proposed graphene device along with projected circuit performance based on scaling targets. Our proposed design is suitable not only for the device example shown in this paper, but also for any beyond-CMOS technology that exhibits similar device characteristics.
Mutations in Flavobacterium johnsoniae gldF and gldG Disrupt Gliding Motility and Interfere with Membrane Localization of GldA

Flavobacterium johnsoniae moves rapidly over surfaces by a process known as gliding motility. The mechanism of this form of motility is not known. Four genes that are required for F. johnsoniae gliding motility, gldA, gldB, gldD, and ftsX, have recently been described. GldA is similar to the ATP-hydrolyzing components of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Tn4351 mutagenesis was used to identify two additional genes, gldF and gldG, that are required for cell movement. gldF and gldG appear to constitute an operon, and a Tn4351 insertion in gldF was polar on gldG. pMK314, which carries the entire gldFG region, restored motility to each of the gldF and gldG mutants. pMK321, which expresses GldG but not GldF, restored motility to each of the gldG mutants but did not complement the gldF mutant. GldF has six putative membrane-spanning segments and is similar in sequence to channel-forming components of ABC transporters. GldG is similar to putative accessory proteins of ABC transporters. It has two apparent membrane-spanning helices, one near the amino terminus and one near the carboxy terminus, and a large intervening loop that is predicted to reside in the periplasm. GldF and GldG are involved in membrane localization of GldA, suggesting that GldA, GldF, and GldG may interact to form a transporter. F. johnsoniae gldA is not closely linked to gldFG, but the gldA, gldF, and gldG homologs of the distantly related gliding bacterium Cytophaga hutchinsonii are arranged in what appears to be an operon. The exact roles of F. johnsoniae GldA, GldF, and GldG in gliding are not known. Sequence similarities of GldA to components of other ABC transporters suggest that the Gld transporter may be involved in export of some material to the periplasm, outer membrane, or beyond.
A Modified Speech Tracking Procedure as a Communicative Performance Measure

A modified speech tracking procedure was investigated to determine the effects of controlling connected discourse materials and of Specific prompting techniques on tracking rate and subjects' responses. In addition, comprehension was tested after subjects completed the tracking task. Two experiments were conducted with normally hearing subjects, one in which subjects tracked in an auditory plus noise condition and the second in which they tracked in a visual-alone condition. The results of these two experiments showed significant differences between tracking rates for controlled versus uncontrolled materials for both modalities, with higher tracking rates observed for the controlled materials. The use of specific prompting techniques reduced intertester variability in both modalities. Further, results indicated that comprehension ability and tracking skill are not perfectly related.
Combining noisy images of small crystalline domains in high resolution electron microscopy

A technique is presented for enhancing and combining electron microscope images of small clystalline areas. Phases obtained by Fourier transforming electron micrographs are merged with available more precise amplitudes, in a Fourier synthesis, to obtain a final estimated image. The procedure is illustrated with 42 individual images of the purple membrane from Halobacterium halobium. To show the power of combination, results based on 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 42 images are presented. An estimate based solely on the micrograph data, i.e. ignoring the precise amplitudes, is also presented and is seen to be notably poorer. The level of uncertainty of the final image is assessed by stimulating 10 final images and superposing the results.
Comment on "Determination of phonon dispersions from X-Ray transmission scattering: the example of silicon"

A Comment on the Letter by M. Holt, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 3317 (1999). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
Acquisition of large lexicons for practical knowledge-based MT

Although knowledge-based MT systems have the potential to achieve high translation accuracy, each successful application system requires a large amount of hand-coded lexical knowledge. Systems like KBMT-89 and its descendents have demonstrated how knowledge-based translation can produce good results in technical domains with tractable domain semantics. Nevertheless, the magnitude of the development task for large-scale applications with tens of thousands of domain concepts precludes a purely hand-crafted approach. The current challenge for the “next generation” of knowledge-based MT systems is to utilize on-line textual resources and corpus analysis software in order to automate the most laborious aspects of the knowledge acquisition process. This partial automation can in turn maximize the productivity of human knowledge engineers and help to make large-scale applications of knowledge-based MT an viable approach. In this paper we discuss the corpus-based knowledge acquisition methodology used in KANT, a knowledge-based translation system for multilingual document production. This methodology can be generalized beyond the KANT interlingua approach for use with any system that requires similar kinds of knowledge.
Changes in non-treated subjects over time: Data on a fear survey schedule and the test anxiety scale

Abstract With the increased application of behavior therapy to the treatment of phobias (Cooke, 1966; Lang and Lazovik, 1963; Rachman, 1959; Wolpe, 1958) and test anxiety (Emery and Krumboltz, 1967; Katahn, Strenger and Cherry, 1966; and Suinn, 1968). a need for measures to assess changes has developed. In response to this, the Fear Survey Schedule (Lang and Lazovik, 1963) and modifications of it (Geer, 1965; Wolpe and Lang, 1964; Wolpe and Lazarus, 1966) was constructed as an index of fears and generalized anxiety. The Test Anxiety Scale (Sarason, 1957) has been used as an index of test-taking anxiety (Katahn, Strenger and Cherry: Suinn, 1968). Although it is more desirable to obtain direct observational measures of improvement, questionnaire and self-rating scales have been shown to accurately reflect observed behaviors (Geer, 1965; Lanyon and Manosevitz, 1966). Careful research design requires that studies reporting improvements in scores over time include data on non-treated control subjects for comparison. However, this is not always feasible in clinical practice because of therapeutic demands. For example, Ihli and Garlington (1968) report on improvements in three treated groups as shown by significant decreases in fears and test anxiety scores, but no comparison was available with a non-treated group. Similarly, Cooke (1966) showed greater decreases in an anxious treated sample as compared with a non-treated sample, but there were only four Ss in the latter group. The purpose of this study was to provide normative information on a version of the Fear Survey Schedule and the Test Anxiety Scale regarding the improvements in scores occurring over time in a non-treated sample. This information will permit the clinician and the researcher to determine the minimum change in scores which could be expected because of the psychometric properties of the scales themselves. Decreases in scores on retesting would have to be greater than this minimum figure if the therapist is to conclude that significant therapeutic changes have occurred.
A New Season for Cardiac Troponin Assays: It’s Time to Keep a Scorecard

Advancements in cardiac troponin (cTn)1 assay technology have created a conundrum for clinicians and laboratory scientists, who must determine which assays are best for optimal patient care. Unfortunately, few resources are available to guide the medical and scientific communities in this regard. International guidelines (1)(2)(3) have defined an increased cTn above the 99th percentile limit as an abnormal result; what is lacking, unfortunately, is an approach to define this limit across the heterogeneity of the assays. In spite of the evidence-based literature demonstrating that cTn concentrations tend to increase in individuals >60 years old (4), 99th percentile reference limits are often determined across wide age ranges using subjects as old as 70 years (convenience samples). Further frustrating the problem of selecting relevant reference subjects, in clinically defined “normal” individuals without known cardiovascular disease, increased cTn concentrations are indicative of a significantly higher risk of death (4)(5). The occurrence of such individuals in reference populations may reflect inadequate screening for comorbidities at the time of sample acquisition. Given such problems, a majority of laboratories either accept the manufacturer’s reference limit from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared package insert, perform an underpowered normal range study to establish a reference limit, or accept a reference limit published in the literature. To validate cTn assays, however—to level the playing field for all users—is necessary for the best patient care. cTnI and cTnT are established as the standard biomarkers for the detection of myocardial injury and prognostic evaluation of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and without (1)(2)(3). The consensus guidelines from the Global Task Force for the Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (1) and the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (2), plus the updated American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines …
Examining the relative importance of spatial and nonspatial coexistence mechanisms.

Abstract: Much of the work on species coexistence has focused on the presence or absence of single mechanisms. Most theoretical frameworks, however, do not allow one to measure the strength of coexistence mechanisms, and so it has been difficult to determine the relative importance of each mechanism when multiple mechanisms are present. We present a model inspired by the California red scale system, in which two parasitoids coexist on a single, tree‐dwelling host‐scale insect. Previous work suggests that coexistence may be promoted both by intraguild predation (IGP) and by differing preferences for hosts on stems versus hosts on leaves (habitat preference). By applying an analytic framework that quantifies the strengths of spatial coexistence mechanisms, we are able to measure the individual contributions of IGP, habitat preference, and their interaction to maintaining coexistence. We find that habitat preference is much more effective at promoting coexistence in this model than in IGP. Furthermore, the e...
Focal surfaces of discrete geometry

The differential geometry of smooth three-dimensional surfaces can be interpreted from one of two perspectives: in terms of oriented frames located on the surface, or in terms of a pair of associated focal surfaces. These focal surfaces are swept by the loci of the principal curvatures' radii. In this article, we develop a focal-surfacebased differential geometry interpretation for discrete mesh surfaces. Focal surfaces have many useful properties. For instance, the normal of each focal surface indicates a principal direction of the corresponding point on the original surface. We provide algorithms to robustly approximate the focal surfaces of a triangle mesh with known or estimated normals. Our approach locally parameterizes the surface normals about a point by their intersections with a pair of parallel planes. We show neighboring normal triplets are constrained to pass simultaneously through two slits, which are parallel to the specified parametrization planes and rule the focal surfaces. We develop both CPU and GPU-based algorithms to efficiently approximate these two slits and, hence, the focal meshes. Our focal mesh estimation also provides a novel discrete shape operator that simultaneously estimates the principal curvatures and principal directions.
Supramolecular organization of photosynthetic membrane proteins in the chlorosome-containing bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus

The arrangement of core antenna complexes (B808-866-RC) in the cytoplasmic membrane of filamentous phototrophic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus was studied by electron microscopy in cultures from different light conditions. A typical nearest-neighbor center-to-center distance of ~18 nm was found, implying less protein crowding compared to membranes of purple bacteria. A mean RC:chlorosome ratio of 11 was estimated for the occupancy of the membrane directly underneath each chlorosome, based on analysis of chlorosome dimensions and core complex distribution. Also presented are results of single-particle analysis of core complexes embedded in the native membrane.
How Many Fiduciary Duties Are There in Corporate Law

Historically, there were two main fiduciary duties in corporate law, care and loyalty, and only the duty of loyalty was likely to lead to liability. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Delaware Supreme Court breathed life into the duty of care, created a number of intermediate standards of review, elevated the duty of good faith to equal standing with care and loyalty, and announced a unified test for review of breaches of fiduciary duty. The law, which once seemed so straightforward, suddenly became elaborate and complex. In 2006, in the case of Stone v. Ritter, the Delaware Supreme Court rejected the triadic formulation and declared that good faith was a component of the duty of loyalty. In this and other respects, Delaware seems to be returning to a bifurcated understanding of the law of fiduciary duties. I believe that this is a mistake. The law is inherently complex and much too important to be oversimplified. The current academic debate on the issue focuses on whether there should be two duties or three. In this article, I argue that the question is misleading and irrelevant, but that if it must be asked, the best answer is that there are five duties - one for each paradigm of enforcement. In defending this claim, I explain the true nature of fiduciary duties and provide a robust framework for the discussion, implementation, and development of the law.
Investor and (Value Line) Analyst Underreaction to Information About Future Earnings: The Corrective Role of Non-Earnings-Surprise Information

Prior research suggests that financial analysts' earnings forecasts and stock prices underreact to earnings news. This paper provides evidence that analysts and investors correct this underreaction in response to the next earnings announcement and to other (non-earnings-surprise) information available between earnings announcements. Our evidence also suggests that analysts and investors underreact to information reflected in analysts' earnings forecast revisions and that non-earnings-surprise information helps correct this underreaction as well. Controlling for corrective non-earnings-surprise information significantly increases estimates of the degree to which analysts' forecasting behavior can explain drifts in returns following both earnings announcements and analysts' earnings forecast revisions.
Sensitive issues in the classroom: teaching about HIV in the American Deep South

AbstractThis article describes my experience of teaching a course on the sociology of HIV/Aids to college undergraduate students in the American Deep South. Courses on HIV are generally held to be beneficial to students, but questions remain about how best to provide instruction on a sensitive topic, especially when HIV-related stigma intersects with social conservatism, racial disparities and high infection rates in the local context. Course objectives focused on: 1) raising student awareness about HIV, 2) helping students to develop a sociological imagination in relation to HIV, and 3) reducing HIV-related stigma. These goals were achieved through social theory and analysis in the classroom, followed by service learning and research in the community. The class taught me that a course on HIV/Aids could attract full enrolment in a socially conservative environment, that theory-based, direct learning techniques are valuable for raising awareness and challenging stereotypes, and that students often enjoy be...
Binding of the cSH3 domain of Grb2 adaptor to two distinct RXXK motifs within Gab1 docker employs differential mechanisms.

A ubiquitous component of cellular signaling machinery, Gab1 docker plays a pivotal role in routing extracellular information in the form of growth factors and cytokines to downstream targets such as transcription factors within the nucleus. Here, using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) in combination with macromolecular modeling (MM), we show that although Gab1 contains four distinct RXXK motifs, designated G1, G2, G3, and G4, only G1 and G2 motifs bind to the cSH3 domain of Grb2 adaptor and do so with distinct mechanisms. Thus, while the G1 motif strictly requires the PPRPPKP consensus sequence for high-affinity binding to the cSH3 domain, the G2 motif displays preference for the PXVXRXLKPXR consensus. Such sequential differences in the binding of G1 and G2 motifs arise from their ability to adopt distinct polyproline type II (PPII)- and 310-helical conformations upon binding to the cSH3 domain, respectively. Collectively, our study provides detailed biophysical insights into a key protein–protein interaction involved in a diverse array of signaling cascades central to health and disease. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of Tibolone and Conjugated Equine Estrogens Effects on Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis of Postmenopausal Monkeys

Background and Purpose— Tibolone is a tissue-specific compound that has favorable effects on bone and menopausal symptoms without stimulating endometrium or breast, but lowers concentrations of plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDLC). This study was designed to determine whether the HDL lowering with tibolone exacerbated common or internal carotid artery atherosclerosis and to evaluate tibolone treatment relative to conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) alone or in combination with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). Methods— Carotid artery atherosclerosis was compared in groups of surgically postmenopausal cynomolgus monkeys treated with CEE, CEE+MPA, or either of 2 doses of tibolone versus untreated monkeys. Results— Despite a 30% to 52% lowering of HDLC with tibolone, there was no significant effect on carotid artery atherosclerosis. CEE and CEE+MPA, however, inhibited carotid artery atherosclerosis by ≈60%. Conclusions— In surgically postmenopausal cynomolgus monkeys, CEE and CEE+MPA inhibited common and internal carotid artery atherosclerosis. Despite the potentially adverse effects of tibolone on HDLC, tibolone did not exacerbate atherosclerosis.
New Knowledge from Old Data: The Role of Standards in the Sharing and Reuse of Ecological Data

This article analyzes the experiences of ecologists who used data they did not collect themselves. Specifically, the author examines the processes by which ecologists understand and assess the quality of the data they reuse, and investigates the role that standard methods of data collection play in these processes. Standardization is one means by which scientific knowledge is transported from local to public spheres. While standards can be helpful, the results show that knowledge of the local context is critical to ecologists' reuse of data. Yet, this information is often left behind as data move from the private to the public world. The knowledge that ecologists acquire through fieldwork enables them to recover the local details that are so critical to their comprehension of data collected by others. Social processes also play a role in ecologists' efforts to judge the quality of data they reuse.
Methylation of FrzCD, a methyl-accepting taxis protein of Myxococcus xanthus, is correlated with factors affecting cell behavior.

Abstract Myxococcus xanthus, a nonflagellated gliding bacterium, exhibits multicellular behavior during vegetative growth and fruiting body formation. The frizzy (frz) genes are required to control directed motility for these interactions. The frz genes encode proteins that are homologous to all of the major enteric chemotaxis proteins, with the exception of CheZ. In this study, we characterized FrzCD, a protein which is homologous to the methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins from the enteric bacteria. FrzCD, unlike the other methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins, was found to be localized primarily in the cytoplasmic fraction of cells. FrzCD migrates as a ladder of bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, reflecting heterogeneity due to methylation or demethylation and to deamidation. FrzCD was shown to be methylated in vivo when cells were exposed to yeast extract or Casitone and demethylated when starved in buffer. We used the methylation state of FrzCD as revealed by Western blot (immunoblot) analyses to search for stimuli that are recognized by the frz signal transduction system. Common amino acids, nucleotides, vitamins, and sugars were not recognized, but certain lipids and alcohols were recognized. For example, the saturated fatty acids capric acid and lauric acid stimulated FrzCD methylation, whereas a variety of other saturated fatty acids did not. Lauryl alcohol and lipoic acid also stimulated methylation, as did phospholipids containing lauric acid. In contrast, several short-chain alcohols, such as isoamyl alcohol, and some other solvents caused demethylation. The relatively high concentrations of the chemicals required for a response may indicate that these chemicals are not the relevant signals recognized by M. xanthus in nature. Isoamyl alcohol and isopropanol also had profound effects on the behavior of wild-type cells, causing them to reverse continuously. Cells of frzB, frzF, and frzG mutants also reversed continuously in the presence of isoamyl alcohol, whereas cells of frzA, frzCD, or frzE mutants did not. On the basis of the data presented, we propose a model for the frz signal transduction pathway in M. xanthus.
The International Legal Regime Affecting Bioterrorism Prevention

For decades the international legal regime governing biological weapons was focused on limiting states' development, possession, and use of biological weapons. Though rogue states' interest in biological weapons remains a concern, a newer and perhaps more significant issue is the ability of non-state actors -- terrorists -- to develop and use bioweapons, with or without state assistance. This article provides a description and assessment of the existing international legal infrastructure regarding the prevention of bioterrorism, focusing on non-proliferation. Though primarily focused on the modern era's two major international legal mechanisms affecting bioterrorism -- the Biological Weapons Convention and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 -- other agreements are noted for completeness. Policy assessment of broader concepts of global governance of terrorism and bioterrorism, including discussion regarding the advent of extra-legal bioterrorism deterrence methods, are outside the scope of the article. Rather, it focuses on existing "binding" legal mechanisms that directly affect bioterrorism prevention. The article discusses the advantages and problems of each instrument as it is addressed, before concluding with comments regarding the current "net effect" of the cumulative legal mechanisms and offering brief recommendations for improvement.
Organism burden, toxin concentration, and lactoferrin concentration do not distinguish between clinically significant and nonsignificant diarrhea in patients with Clostridium difficile.

Abstract Clostridium difficile infection is often overdiagnosed in patients with mild diarrhea. We evaluated 4 biomarkers as surrogates for clinically significant diarrhea (≥3 episodes in 24hours) in 59 PCR-positive patients with and 59 PCR-positive patients without clinically significant diarrhea. Organism burden (median tcdB cycle threshold value, 26.9 versus 27.1, P =0.25) and toxin A and B concentrations (toxin A, median, 0 versus 0ng/mL, P =0.42; toxin B, median, 0 versus 0ng/mL, P =0.25) were not significantly different between patients with and without clinically significant diarrhea. Fecal lactoferrin concentrations were significantly increased in patients with clinically significant diarrhea (median, 99.0 versus 55.1μg/mL, P =0.05); however, lactoferrin could not sufficiently classify patients into those with and without clinically significant diarrhea. Interventions that limit C . difficile testing to patients with clinically significant diarrhea are needed to improve the positive predictive value of C . difficile diagnostics.
Acknowledged Dependence and the Virtues of Perinatal Hospice

Prenatal screening can lead to the detection and diagnosis of significantly life-limiting conditions affecting the unborn child. Recognizing the difficulties facing parents who decide to continue the pregnancy, some have proposed perinatal hospice as a new modality of care. Although the medical literature has begun to devote significant attention to these practices, systematic philosophical reflection on perinatal hospice has been relatively limited. Drawing on Alasdair MacIntyre's account of the virtues of acknowledged dependence, I contend that perinatal hospice manifests and facilitates virtues essential to living well with human dependency and vulnerability. For this reason, perinatal hospice deserves broad support within society.
The Effect of Religious and Spiritual Interventions on the Biological, Psychological, and Spiritual Outcomes of Oncology Patients: A Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract In addition to biomedical forms of treatment, many cancer patients have elected to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) of a spiritual or religious nature. However, the effectiveness of such spiritual and religious interventions is uncertain. Using a meta-ana-lytic approach, the present study synthesized available treatment-outcome studies on spiritual and religious interventions for cancer patients to determine the efficacy of such interventions. Effect sizes were calculated for three types of outcome measures: biological, psychological, and spiritual. The authors found that nondrug spiritual and religious interventions produced small to moderate effect sizes for treatment versus control comparisons and small effect sizes for pre— versus posttreatment comparisons. Studies that used psychedelic drugs to promote spiritual experiences produced large effect sizes for both treatment versus control and preversus posttreatment comparisons. Finally, they found that, overall, treatment versus...
Risk factors for febrile neutropenia and the utilization of pegfilgrastim in patients receiving chemotherapy for gynecologic malignancies

16063 Background: Recently published gudelines for the use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors define risk factors for the development of febrile neutropenia (FN) in patients receiveing chemo...
Sickle cell disease

Sickle Cell Disease is a life threatening genetic disorder that can currently only be cured by use of bone marrow and stem cell transplantation. Screening of hemoglobin-S and subsequent testing makes diagnosis certain for the nurse practitioner. Contraception can be challenging in this group of patients and warrants careful considerations. In addition to the clinical needs of patients with Sickle Cell Disease, attention and support to age and developmental stages of patients is warranted.
Dynamics of Cytosine Methylation in the Proximal Promoters of CYP3A4 and CYP3A7 in Pediatric and Prenatal Livers

Members of the human CYP3A family of metabolizing enzymes exhibit developmental changes in expression whereby CYP3A7 is expressed in fetal tissues, followed by a transition to expression of CYP3A4 in the first months of life. Despite knowledge about the general pattern of CYP3A activity in human development, the mechanisms that regulate developmental expression remain poorly understood. Epigenetic changes, including cytosine methylation, have been suggested to play a role in the regulation of CYP3A expression. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in cytosine methylation of the CYP3A4 and CYP3A7 genes in human pediatric and prenatal livers. The methylation status of cytosine-phospho-guanine dinucleotides was determined in 16 pediatric liver samples using methyl-seq and confirmed by bisulfite sequencing of 48 pediatric and 34 prenatal liver samples. Samples were separated by age into five groups (prenatal, < 1 year of age, 1.8-6 years, 7-11 years, and 12-17 years). Methyl-seq anaylsis revealed that cytosines in the proximal promoter of CYP3A7 are hypomethylated in neonates compared with adolescents (P < 0.001). In contrast, a cytosine 383 base pair upstream of CYP3A4 is hypermethylated in liver samples from neonates compared with adolescents (P = 0.00001). Developmental changes in methylation of cytosines in the proximal promoters of CYP3A4 and CYP3A7 in pediatric livers were confirmed by bisulfite sequencing. In addition, the methylation status of cytosine in the CYP3A4 and CYP3A7 proximal promoters correlated with changes in developmental expression of mRNA for the two enzymes.
Adolescents' reports of reproductive health education, 1988 and 1995.

Formal reproductive health education and communication with parents about reproductive health among males aged 15-19 were analyzed using data from the 1988 and 1995 National Surveys of Adolescent Males. Young mens reports of formal instruction were compared with reports by adolescent females from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. Between 1988 and 1995 formal reproductive health education became nearly universal among adolescent males: in 1988 93% of teenage males received some formal instruction compared with 98% in 1995. The percentage of teenage males who received instruction about AIDS increased from 73% to 97% and the proportion who received instruction about how to say no to sex increased from 58% to 75%. Adolescent males who had dropped out of school received significantly less reproductive health education than those who had stayed in school however. In addition the median age at initial instruction decreased from 14 to 13 years. Many males did not receive instruction prior to first intercourse with non-Hispanic blacks being significantly less likely than other males to receive education prior to first intercourse. In 1995 54% of Black males had received reproductive health education before they first had sex compared with 68% of Hispanic males and 76% of non-Hispanic White males. A smaller share of adolescent males than females received reproductive health education and males were less likely than females to receive instruction prior to first intercourse. During the last decade many types of formal reproductive health education for adolescents expanded. Further efforts should focus on assuring access to timely comprehensive and high-quality reproductive health education for all teenagers and reducing gaps in access related to race gender and school attendance. (authors)
Dispersal of the Sticktight Flea of Hens (Echidnophaga Gallinacea Westw.)

The animals which may serve as dispersal agents of the sticktight flea of hens ( Echidnophaga gallinacea Westw.) in North America and the hosts and distribution of this flea in the United States are considered in this paper.
1 OXIDIZED LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN DOWN-REGULATES INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR 1 RECEPTOR VIA ENHANCED GENERATION OF NITRIC OXIDE AND REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES IN HUMAN AORTIC SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS.

Increased apoptosis and depletion of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) plays an important role in atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability to rupture, a major cause of acute coronary events. We previously reported that the ability of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) to down-regulate insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) expression is a critical mediator of oxLDL-induced SMC apoptosis. OxLDL-induced IGF-1R down-regulation was dependent on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), namely peroxide and superoxide as measured by H2DCFDA and dihydroethidium fluorescence. However, an oxidative stress-inducing agent, paraquat (0-800 μM, up to 24 hours), did not stimulate IGF-1R down-regulation, suggesting that another downstream event was critical for receptor down-regulation. To explore mechanisms, we assessed the ability of oxLDL to induce nitric oxide (NO) generation in human aortic SMC culture using DAF-FM fluorescence. OxLDL (60 μg/mL, 4 hours) enhanced NO generation by 2.4-fold vs native LDL (nLDL) control (n = 8, p
Essaying Pynchon' s Politics

This anthology prints twelve papers from a Pynchon conference held in London in June 1998. Taken together, the papers represent a turn toward the "more overtly political readings" that have characterized Pynchon criticism "[s]ince the early 1990s," a trend identified by John M. Krafft in the volume's Forward (10). Indeed, what these essays have in common is an emphasis on gender, race, class, sexuality and nation in Pynchon's works; hence the subtitle, Reading from the Margins, which calls attention to these critics' writings about Pynchon's writings about groups marginalized in white male heterosexual ruling-class America. The book is organized into two sections of six essays each, a fairly rough division between "the body" and "the body politic" as these are represented in Pynchon. The editor, Niran Abbas, has provided an Introduction with a capsule summary of each essay, which can help guide readers to the particular subjects of most interest to them. This is a smart and stimulating group of essays, and in what follows I will try to give some sense of the arguments they broached and the questions they provoked in me. I take it as one sign of a book's success that its ideas are intriguing enough to incite a response from the reader.
Reconstruction of the war-damaged orbital region.

Orbital surgery performed in World Wars I and II and in intervening periods has enabled the military plastic surgeon to perform operative procedures that not only correct deformities but also result in rehabilitation of the patient.
Rhogtpase RAC2 Is Required for In Vivo Transformation Activity by P210 Bcr-Abl Fusion Oncogene.

Bcr-Abl, the translocation product of the Philadelphia chromosome implicated in human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), is a kinase affecting hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) behavior with respect to proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion and migration. Rho GTPases, particularly the Rac subfamily, have been shown to regulate these same cell functions in normal HSC and also regulate gene expression in many mammalian cells. BCR contains a “GTPase-activating protein” domain and a guanine nucleotide exchange domain, the latter or which is preserved in p210 Bcr-Abl. Since HSC functions regulated by Bcr-Abl and Rac are similar, we studied the potential involvement of Rac activation in Bcr-Abl signaling cascade. Human CML samples demonstrate baseline activation of Rac proteins that is reversed by in vitro treatment with STI571. To study the specific involvement of Rac2, we used a gene targeted mouse model with Rac2 null bone marrow. Using retovirus-mediated gene transfer, we introduced p210 Bcr-Abl in the MSCV vector into wild-type or Rac2−/− HSC/P and studied the behavior of these cells in vitro and in vivo. Irradiated recipient mice injected with LDBM cells transduced with p210 developed a uniformly fatal myeloproliferative syndrome (Median survival: 45 days, N=12), while mice injected with p210 transduced Rac2−/− LDBM cells (N=12, 2 independent exp.) had 100% survival and no development of leukocytosis, splenomegaly or organ infiltration of hematopoietic cells. These data suggest that Rac GTPases are critical for the transformation of HSC by Bcr-Abl and provide an additional therapeutic target for intervention in CML.
Circulating adipokines data associated with insulin secretagogue use in breast cancer patients.

Abstract Oral drugs stimulating endogenous insulin production (insulin secretagogues) may have detrimental effects on breast cancer outcomes. The data presented shows the relationship between pre-existing insulin secretagogues use, adipokine profiles at the time of breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and subsequent cancer outcomes in women diagnosed with BC and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The Pearson correlation analysis evaluating the relationship between adipokines stratified by T2DM pharmacotherapy and controls is also provided. This information is the extension of the data presented and discussed in “ Insulin use, adipokine profiles and breast cancer prognosis ” (Wintrob et al., in press) [1] .
Evidence for an Inhibitor-Blocking Antibody in an Acquired Hemophiliac.

Factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors have been classified as Type I, linear inactivation kinetics and complete inhibition of FVIII at saturation, or Type II, non-linear kinetics and residual FVIII activity. To investigate the hypothesis that "inhibitor-blocking antibodies" contribute to the characteristics of Type II inhibitors, mixing studies were performed between fractionated Type II antiserum and various Type I inhibitor preparations. Type II IgG fractions were tested for inhibitory capacity and ability to prevent inhibition mediated by inhibitors from other hemophiliacs. The IgG from Type II plasma (II) (29 BU, 8% FVIII) and several Type I plasmas ((I) plasmas) were fractionated with DEAE resin. Late-eluting Type II fractions (II):6 and (II):7, showed slight protection of FVIII from the inhibiting activity of several Type I plasmas and additive inhibition with others. When tested against Type I IgG fractions instead of type I plasmas, (II):6 and (II):7 provided significant protection of FVIII from the inhibitory action of some immunoglobulins and additive inhibition with others. When (II):6, which contained slightly less than 1 BU of inhibitory activity, was preincubated with normal plasma, it blocked about 3 BU of inhibitory activity in an equal volume of fraction (I):1; residual FVIII increased from 11.4% to 27.2%. IgG fraction (II):6 provided protection from DEAE fraction 2, (I):2, from another type I patient (residual FVIII went from 15.1% to 31.7%) but was additive with (I):4 from the same patient (residual FVIII went from 8.0% to 3.2%). Preincubation with (II):7 increased residual FVIII activity in normal plasma incubated with (I):1 from 10.1% to 20.7%. Fraction (II):7 was processed further by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenyl sepharose and two fractions, Phen(II):5 and Phen(II):6 provided significant protection of FVIII from inhibition by (I):1; residual FVIII activity increased from 11.5% to 34.1% and from 7.9% to 28.2%, respectively. DEAE fractions (II):6 and (II):7 were shown to contain anti-FVIII IgG. Depletion of mixtures of plasma or rFVIII and (II):6 with immobilized Protein A, reduced FVIII activity by 42.8% and 68.8%, respectively. In addition, adsorption of (II):6 with immobilized Protein A, eliminated its ability to block FVIII inhibition by (I):1. The co-existence of these antibodies in "acquired hemophiliac" plasma would contribute to the complex kinetics seen in these patients. If a sufficiently diverse panel of such blocking IgGs occurred naturally, or could be produced in the laboratory, and their interaction with the target antigen did not adversely affect the half-life, then these blocking antibodies might prove useful to alleviate the effects of inhibitory antibodies in hemophilia and other diseases.
Bioelectric regulation of innate immune system function in regenerating and intact Xenopus laevis.

Two key inputs that regulate regeneration are the function of the immune system, and spatial gradients of transmembrane potential (V mem). Endogenous bioelectric signaling in somatic tissues during regenerative patterning is beginning to be understood, but its role in the context of immune response has never been investigated. Here, we show that V mem levels modulate innate immunity activity in Xenopus laevis embryos. We developed an assay in which X. laevis embryos are infected with a uropathogenic microorganism, in the presence or absence of reagents that modify V mem, prior to the ontogenesis of the adaptive immune system. General depolarization of the organism’s V mem by pharmacological or molecular genetic (ion channel misexpression) methods increased resistance to infection, while hyperpolarization made the embryos more susceptible to death by infection. Hyperpolarized specimens harbored a higher load of infectious microorganisms when compared to controls. We identified two mechanisms by which V mem mediates immune function: serotonergic signaling involving melanocytes and an increase in the number of primitive myeloid cells. Bioinformatics analysis of genes whose transcription is altered by depolarization revealed a number of immune system targets consistent with mammalian data. Remarkably, amputation of the tail bud potentiates systemic resistance to infection by increasing the number of peripheral myeloid cells, revealing an interplay of regenerative response, innate immunity, and bioelectric regulation. Our study identifies bioelectricity as a new mechanism by which innate immune response can be regulated in the context of infection or regeneration. V mem modulation using drugs already approved for human use could be exploited to improve resistance to infections in clinical settings. Bioelectrical signaling in the African clawed frog modulates both resistance to infection and tail regeneration. Michael Levin at Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA, and colleagues have used genetic technologies and drug treatments to manipulate the bioelectrical properties of tissues in frog embryos. Reducing the electric gradient between the inside and outside of cells (depolarization) increased the embryos’ survival rate to bacterial infection, whereas increasing the resting potential (hyperpolarization) had the opposite effect. The authors found that serotonergic signaling and an increase in the number of myeloid cells underpin depolarization-induced immunity. Interestingly, embryos undergoing tail regeneration, which triggers depolarization, also showed increased resistance to infection. The role of bioelectrical signaling in both regeneration and immune response suggests that ion channel drugs, many already in medical use, could be useful for treating infection and severe physical injuries.
The Longitudinal Association Between Early Childhood Obesity and Fathers’ Involvement in Caregiving and Decision-Making

Objective Fathers have increased their involvement in child caregiving; however, their changing role in childhood obesity is understudied. This study assessed the longitudinal association between changes in obesity among children aged 2 to 4 years and changes in fathers' involvement with raising children. Methods Longitudinal data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort were used to conduct child fixed-effects linear and logistic regression analyses to assess the association between changes in childhood obesity-related outcomes (sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, screen time, BMI z score, overweight/obesity, obesity) and fathers' involvement with raising children (caregiving and influencing child-related decisions). Fixed-effects models control for all time-invariant characteristics. Analyses were controlled for time-varying confounders, including child age, maternal and paternal employment, and family poverty status. Results Children whose fathers increased their frequency of taking children outside and involvement with physical childcare experienced a decrease in their odds of obesity from age 2 to age 4. Obesity-related outcomes were not associated with fathers' decision-making influence. Conclusions Increases in fathers' involvement with some aspects of caregiving may be associated with lower odds of childhood obesity. Encouraging fathers to increase their involvement with raising children and including fathers in childhood obesity prevention efforts may help reduce obesity risk among young children.
IJIT: An API for Boolean Program Analysis with Just-in-Time Translation

Exploration algorithms for explicit-state transition systems are a core back-end technology in program verification. They can be applied to programs by generating the transition system on the fly, avoiding an expensive up-front translation. An on-the-fly strategy requires significant modifications to the implementation, into a form that stores states directly as valuations of program variables. Performed manually on a per-algorithm basis, such modifications are laborious and error-prone.
The Medical Management of Obesity

Although health practitioners traditionally have not been trained in the medical management of obesity, they attain expertise in the treatment of its comorbidities—those conditions associated with, exacerbated by, or even caused by obesity, such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative joint disease, cancers (endometrium, colon, renal cell, breast, and prostate), gout, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), polycystic ovary (PCO) syndrome, and other gynecologic conditions (Table 2-1).