cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Novel Missense Mutation in the Nuclear Factor-κB Essential Modulator (NEMO) Gene Resulting in Impaired Activation of the NF-κB Pathway and a Unique Clinical Phenotype Presenting as MRSA Subdural Empyema

We describe a previously unreported 437 T→G missense mutation producing a V146G substitution in the first coiled-coil (CC1) domain of nuclear factor-κB essential modulator (NEMO) in a 9-month-old boy with ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency who presented with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus subdural empyema. We performed in vitro experiments to determine if this novel mutation resulted in impaired NF-κB signaling. IκBα phosphorylation experiments were performed using a Jurkat T cell line lacking endogenous NEMO expression that was transfected with vectors containing either the wild type or the patient’s V146G mutation. The cells were stimulated with TNF-α to activate the NF-κB pathway. Phosphorylated IκBα was detected by immunoblotting with anti-phospho-IκBα antibodies. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patient were stimulated with TNF-α or anti-CD3 and anti-CD28. Impaired IκBα degradation was detected using antibodies against the IκBα protein. While TNF-α stimulation resulted in IκBα phosphorylation in NEMO-deficient Jurkat cells reconstituted with wild-type NEMO, cell transfected with the V146G mutant exhibited a 75% reduction in phospho-IκBα. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patient showed impaired degradation of IκBα after stimulation when compared with normal controls. The patient’s V146G mutation results in impaired NF-κB activation in vitro. The mutation extends the known N-terminal boundary within the CC1 domain that produces an ectodermal dysplasia phenotype, and defines an infectious susceptibility previously unappreciated in ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency (methicillin-resistant S. aureus subdural empyema), broadening the clinical spectrum associated with the disease.
High-resolution measurement of resonances in e − O 2 scattering by electron time-of-flight spectroscopy

Resonances in the $e\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ total cross section in the energy range 50-300 meV were studied with a high-resolution ($\ensuremath{\Delta}El10$ meV) electron time-of-flight spectrometer. Each vibrational resonance was found to have a well-resolved doublet structure, which has not previously been observed, and which is due to spin-orbit coupling in the $^{2}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{g}$ ground state of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. The spin-orbit coupling constant of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ was measured to be $|A|=20\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 \mathrm{meV}=161\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}16 {\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, in agreement with theoretical estimates. On an energy scale established from the measured electron flight times, the energy of the center of the ${v}^{\ensuremath{'}}=4$ resonance was measured to be 91 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 5 meV. This value is in agreement with a recent photodetachment measurement of the electron affinity of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, and with a previously observed accidental coincidence between the $v=3$ level of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and the ${v}^{\ensuremath{'}}=8$ level of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. The electron time-of-flight spectrometer is described in detail.
Comparing the treatment patterns of patients with schizophrenia treated with olanzapine and quetiapine in the Pennsylvania Medicaid population.

ABSTRACTObjective: Compare treatment patterns for patients with schizophrenia treated with olanzapine versus quetiapine in the Pennsylvania Medicaid population.Methods: Patients (18–64 years) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (ICD-9-CM: 295.xx) and treated with olanzapine or quetiapine were identified from the Pennsylvania Medicaid claims database (1999–2003). Patients were continuously enrolled in the 12-month pre- and 12-month post-initiation periods. To control for selection bias, propensity score method with optimal matching algorithm was used to match patients from the two treatment groups. The key study outcomes including rates of augmentation, polypharmacy, discontinuation, and switching were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Medication possession ratio and use of concurrent psychotropic drugs were also compared between the two groups.Results: A total of 2321 quetiapine and 6929 olanzapine patients were identified. In all, 2321 pairs of patients were matched between the two groups and ...
Determination of the half-life of41Ca from measurements of Antarctic meteorites

Accelerator mass spectrometry is utilized to determine the half-life of Ca-41 from the decrease of its concentration with terrestrial age in five Antarctic meteorites and a recent fall. The meteorites were selected on the basis of their Cl-36 concentrations, which showed a span of terrestrial ages of about 600 ka, and on the basis of other cosmogenic nuclide concentrations which indicated that the meteorites had small preatmospheric sizes, and sufficiently long irradiation times in space that the concentrations of Ca-41 and Cl-36 were in secular equilibrium prior to the meteorites' fall to earth. The half-life of Ca-41 is determined at 103 + or - 7 ka. Topics discussed include the effects of undersaturation (short exposure time in space), shielding (the samples are from the interior of a large meteorite), and weathering on the cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in meteorites.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatment of premature infants; application of a computerized decision support system

The predictions of a computerized decision-support system (CDSS) are compared to clinical data obtained from a group of premature infants. The infants were suffering from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and were treated by the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. The predictions of the CDSS are found to be in general agreement with clinical measurements. The CDSS is also used to determine the effect of low level oxygen treatment on arterial oxygen pressure if the infant?s oxygenation is low despite CPAP therapy. Based on the computational results, application of low levels of supplemental inspired fraction of oxygen ( F IO 2 ) would result in significant improvement in oxygenation of premature infants provided such treatment is carefully controlled to avoid hyperoxemia. A computerized decision support system could give estimations of blood gases of infants on CPAP.A computerized decision support system could accurately predict improvement in oxygenation by supplemental oxygen if the infant under CPAP therapy was hypoxemic.Computerized decision support systems can be used as helpful tools to analyze infants' ventilation data.
Effects of Arfaptin 1 on Guanine Nucleotide-dependent Activation of Phospholipase D and Cholera Toxin by ADP-ribosylation Factor

Arfaptin 1, a approximately 39-kDa protein based on the deduced amino acid sequence, had been initially identified in a yeast two-hybrid screen using dominant active ARF3 (Q71L) as bait with an HL-60 cDNA library. It was suggested that arfaptin 1 may be involved in Golgi functions, since the FLAG-tagged protein was associated with Golgi membranes when expressed in COS-7 cells and could be bound to Golgi in vitro in an ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)- and GTPgammaS-dependent, brefeldin A-inhibited fashion. Arfaptin 2, found in the same two-hybrid screen as arfaptin 1, is 60% identical in amino acid sequence and may or may not have an analogous function. We now report some effects of arfaptin 1 on ARF activation of phospholipase D and cholera toxin ADP-ribosyltransferase. Arfaptin 1 inhibited activation of both enzymes in a concentration-dependent manner and was without effect in the absence of ARF. Two ARF1 mutants that activated the toxin, one lacking 13 N-terminal amino acids and the other, in which 73 residues at the N terminus were replaced with the analogous sequence from ARL1, were not inhibited by arfaptin, consistent with the conclusion that arfaptin interaction requires the N terminus of ARF. This region has also been implicated in phospholipase D activation, but whether the two proteins interact with the same structural elements in ARF remains to be determined. Arfaptin inhibition of the action of ARF5 and ARF6 was less than that of ARF1 and ARF3; its effects were less on nonmyristoylated than myristoylated ARFs. Arfaptin effects on guanine nucleotide binding by ARFs were minimal whether or not a purified ARF guanine nucleotide-exchange protein was present. These findings indicate that arfaptin acts as an inhibitor of ARF actions in vitro, raising the possibility that it has a similar role in vivo.
Obstetric fistula in low-income countries

Abstract Objective To identify, survey, and systematically review the current knowledge regarding obstetric fistula as a public health problem in low-income countries from the peer-reviewed literature. Methods The Medline and Science Citation Index databases were searched to identify public health articles on obstetric fistula in low-income countries. Quantitative evidence-based papers were reviewed. Results Thirty-three articles met the criteria for inclusion: 18 hospital-based reviews; 6 on risk factors/prevention; 4 on prevalence/incidence measurement; 3 on consequences of obstetric fistula; and 2 on community-based assessments. Conclusion Obstetric fistula has received increased international attention as a public health problem, but reliable research on the burden of disease and interventions is lacking.
Toxic Synergism Between Aflatoxin and T-2 Toxin in Broiler Chickens

Abstract The individual and combined effects of aflatoxin and T-2 toxin were studied in male broiler chicks (Hubbard × Hubbard). The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial design with dietary treatments of 0 and 2.5 μg/g aflatoxin and 0 and 4.0 μg/g T-2 toxin. The broilers were obtained at 1 day of age and housed in electrically heated batteries with feed and water available ad libitum until they reached 3 wk of age. Aflatoxicosis in this study was characterized by a significant (P
Evaluation of effects of low-dose aspirin administration on urinary thromboxane metabolites in healthy dogs

Objective—To evaluate markers of in vivo platelet function (urinary 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 [11-dehydroTXB2] and 2,3-dinorTXB2) and assess their response to administration of 2 commonly used dosages of aspirin in healthy dogs. Animals—20 healthy dogs. Procedures—Urine was collected prior to aspirin administration and on the morning following the last evening administration. Twenty dogs received aspirin (1 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) for 7 consecutive doses. After a washout period of 5 months, 10 dogs received a single dose of aspirin (10 mg/kg, PO). Concentrations of urinary thromboxane metabolites 11-dehydroTXB2 and 2,3-dinorTXB2 were measured via ELISA, and values were normalized to urine creatinine concentration. Results—Median baseline 11-dehydroTXB2 concentrations were 0.38 ng/mg of creatinine (range, 0.15 to 1.13 ng/mg). Mean ± SD baseline 2 at a 3-dinorTXB2 concentrations were 6.75 ± 2.77 ng/mg of creatinine. Administration of aspirin at a dosage of 1 mg/kg, PO, every 24 hours for 7 days did not significa...
SU-FF-I-157: Activity Quantification of Micro PET Imaging Using Hollow Spheres in a Small ECT Phantom

Purpose: To evaluate quantification of F‐18 activity distribution in Micro PET images of a set of hollow spheres inserted in a small ECT phantom. Method: Six hollow spheres (Data Spectrum Micro Spheres: diameter: 12.43, 9.89, 7.86, 6.23, 4.95 and 3.95 mm) in a cylindrical phantom (net volume: 110 mL with cold rods insert) were injected with F‐18 and imaged using a Micro PET scanner (Rodent R4. Concorde Microsystems). Hollow sphere activities were prepared in one syringe for the same activity concentration and measured with a dose calibrator as 153, 102, 52, 22, 19 and 7 uCi respectively. Two sets of images were acquired using the same protocol. Second imaging started 65 minutes after completion of the first scan to compare dead time effect. Each 20‐minute scan was set to reduce statistical fluctuation. Image reconstruction used a 3‐D reprojection method with Fourier rebinning. Region of interests of the hollow spheres were defined manually on the 1st scan and then copied to the 2nd image for consistency. Result: True count rate dropped from 445 kcps, 44% dead time (1st scan) to 280 kcps, 27% dead time (2nd scan). About 5.5% decrease was due to dead time. Significant partial volume effect appeared for spheres with diameter less than 6 mm. Recovery coefficient curve was generated for quantification of brain image of rats. Total activities in the spheres were consistent with both images, and agreed with readings from the dose calibrator. Conclusion: Phantom imaging could be used to generate recovery curve and calibration factors that are necessary for quantification of small animal scans. Partial volume effect starts when the object size is much greater than the cameraspatial resolution that is measured with point or line source in air.
The rise and fall of civil unions: lessons from the Connecticut legislature's abandonment of gay and lesbian citizens.

On April 20, 2005, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell signed into law “An Act Concerning Civil Unions” (Public Act No. 05–10, 2005). That Act did two things: First, it afforded to qualifying same-sex couples many of the rights and benefits that the state makes available to married heterosexual couples. Second, it “defended” heterosexual marriage by defining marriage as involving one man and one woman. Although it might seem that the legislature was moving in an obviously correct direction, its decision to establish a statutory scheme consigning same-sex couples to civil unions was integral to the ideological exclusion of gays and lesbians from marriage and, thereby, implied that they are unfit for family life. The Democrats' and Republicans' focus was on the formal equality guaranteed by the civil union legislation. But the heart of the legislation is disenfranchisement. Connecticut lawmakers placed the stamp of legitimacy on a policy that officially excluded lesbians and gays from full membership in civil...
Increased Methane Emissions by an Introduced Phragmites australis Lineage under Global Change

North American wetlands have been invaded by an introduced lineage of the common reed, Phragmites australis. Native lineages occur in North America, but many populations have been extirpated by the introduced conspecific lineage. Little is known about how subtle changes in plant lineage may affect methane (CH4) emissions. Native and introduced Phragmites were grown under current and predicted future levels of atmospheric CO2 and nitrogen(N) pollution in order to understand how CH4 emissions may vary between conspecific lineages. We found introduced Phragmites emitted more CH4 than native Phragmites, and that CH4 emissions increased significantly in both with CO2+N treatment. There was no significant difference in CH4 production potentials, but CH4 oxidation potentials were higher in soils from the introduced lineage. Intraspecific plant responses to resource availability changed CH4 emissions, with plant density, root mass, and leaf area being significantly positively correlated with higher emissions. The absence of CO2-only or N-only effects highlights a limitation on the generalization that CH4 emissions are proportional to plant productivity. Our data suggest that intraspecific changes in plant community composition have important implications for greenhouse emissions. Furthermore, global change-enhanced invasion by introduced Phragmites may increase CH4 emissions unless these factors cause a compensatory increase in carbon sequestration.
The conserved currents for the Maxwellian field

We classify the conserved currents for the Maxwellian field. There are four families: (1) the classical currents derived using Noether's theorem from conformal invariance (2) certain Noetherian currents based on translations in field space, (3,4) two more kinds not equivalent to any Noetherian form.
Heart-healthy hypertrophy.

Exercise induces growth of heart muscle cells and heart size. A new report in Cell (Bostrom et al., 2010) suggests that mice also respond to exercise with increased cardiac myocyte proliferation, and the molecular regulators of this pathway are linked to maladaptive and pathologic responses to cardiac stresses such as pressure overload.
Protogalaxy interactions in newly formed clusters - Galaxy luminosities, colors, and intergalactic gas

The role of protogalaxy interactions in galactic evolution is studied during the formation of galaxy clusters. In the early stages of the collapse, coalescent encounters of protogalaxies lead to the development of a galactic luminosity function. Once galaxies acquire appreciable random motions, mutual collisions between galaxies in rich clusters will trigger the collapse of interstellar clouds to form stars. This provides both a source for enriched intracluster gas and an interpretation of the correlation between luminosity and color for cluster elliptical galaxies. Other observational consequences that are considered include optical, X-ray, and diffuse nonthermal radio emission from newly formed clusters of galaxies.
Interaction coefficients in the iron-carbon-titanium and titanium-silver systems

A liquid Fe-C-Ti system was studied by establishing an iso-titanium-activity state for ternary samples at 1600 °C through the medium of a bath of liquid silver which permits diffusion of titanium only. From the two iso-titanium-activity lines obtained, the self-interaction coefficients of titanium and interaction coefficients of carbon on titanium in liquid iron were estimated:eTiTi = 4.67, ρTiTi = 0.32, eTiC = −11.94, ρTiC = −4.52, ρTiTi,C = −9.96 An experimental study has been made of the distribution of titanium between liquid silver and liquid iron at 1600 °C. By the use of the interaction coefficients of titanium and rTio in liquid iron, the thermodynamic parameters of titanium in liquid silver were determined asrTioAg = 2.44 X 10−3, (eTiTiAg = −6.17, (ρTiTi)Ag = −16.3
Vaccine INDs: review of clinical holds

A sponsor developing a vaccine or related product for clinical study in the U.S. must submit an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Evaluation of information submitted to the IND may prompt a clinical hold, for reasons described in 21 CFR 312.42. Our review of clinical hold letters issued to sponsors during a 2-year period identified the most often cited reason for a clinical hold, insufficient information (21 CFR 312.42 (b) (1) (iv)), and indicated that the majority of INDs were specifically deficient in clinical information. In addition, sponsors who sought formal pre-IND advice decreased the likelihood of their resulting IND being placed on clinical hold.
Anyons in the presence of static disorder.

Anyons in the presence of static disorder and external magnetic field are considered. An effective action in terms of gauge fields and Q Hermitian matrixes with replica indices and frequency indices is constructed. The effective-field theory for transport of anyon quantum Hall (AQH) effect is obtained. A one-to-one mapping between the plateaus in the integral quantum Hall (IQH) effect and the AQH effect is established. This relation is absent in the metallic case. The localization length and critical exponents are found to be the same for the AQH and IQH case
An implementation for accessing twitter across challenged networks

We describe the challenges, design decisions, and implementation details behind a proof-of-concept application that uses social networking to demonstrate the feasibility behind Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN) principles. For the main platform, we use DTN2, an implementation of DTN protocols designed for experimentation, production, and deployment. Although this application is specific to Twitter, it is easily modifiable to adapt to other social networks.
Cell-Specific, Activatable, and Theranostic Prodrug for Dual-Targeted Cancer Imaging and Therapy

Herein we describe the design and synthesis of a folate–doxorubicin conjugate with activatable fluorescence and activatable cytotoxicity. In this study we discovered that the cytotoxicity and fluorescence of doxorubicin are quenched (OFF) when covalently linked with folic acid. Most importantly, when the conjugate is designed with a disulfide bond linking the targeting folate unit and the cytotoxic doxorubicin, a targeted activatable prodrug is obtained that becomes activated (ON) within the cell by glutathione-mediated dissociation and nuclear translocation, showing enhanced fluorescence and cellular toxicity. In our novel design, folic acid acted as both a targeting ligand for the folate receptor as well as a quencher for doxorubicin's fluorescence.
Compensatory Renal Hypertrophy in Fasted and Fasted-Refed Rats

SummaryFollowing uninephrectomy rats were fed, fasted, or fasted (24 hr) and refed (24 hr) until the time of removal of the second kidney. Fasting for 24 hr with subsequent refeeding did not appreciably affect the process of compensatory hypertrophy or the increase in fatty acid oxidation by cortical homogenate of the hypertrophied kidney. Fasting for 48 hr after uninephrectomy not only blocked both processes, but even resulted in renal weight loss and a decrease in palmitate oxidation. The relationship between hypertrophy and fatty acid oxidation noted in this and previous studies is discussed.
Observation Errors in Sociological Surveys: a Model and a Method

In sociological surveys, respondents occasionally give false answers to factual questions which inquire if the respondent has some attribute. The social scientist may wish to correct estimates of the proportion of respondents having the attribute or he may wish to know the amount of error which is occurring in his survey. These two objectives can be achieved by a probabilistic model which assumes (1) that respondents have some probability of giving false information, and (2) that if respondents are queried about the attribute on two or more occasions, among those with the attribute, there is statistical independence in their responses, as is also the case for those without the attribute. With further simplifying assumptions, the social scientist can estimate the probability ofgiving false information and the true proportion of respondents with the attribute.
Chromatographic interfaces for supersonic jet spectroscopy

Abstract Until recently, applications of supersonic jet spectroscopy to chemical analysis have been plagued by relatively poor detection limits and the lack of suitable interfaces to standard chromatographic techniques. Supersonic jet nozzles based upon new technologies have been developed which permit low picogram detection limits to be obtained and provide convenient interfaces for capillary gas chromatography. Extension of these methods to liquid and supercritical fluid chromatography may also be possible.
Inferring species distributions in the absence of occurrence records: An example considering wolverine (Gulo gulo) and Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in New Mexico

Abstract Information about geographic distributions is required for species conservation and management. Ultimately, this information is derived from records of occurrence. However, the reliability and availability of occurrence records are variable. A conceptual framework for evaluating the reliability of occurrence records is provided. Only records associated with physical evidence, especially a museum voucher specimen, are considered verified. However, errors in species identification or location are possible even for verified records. In addition, biases exist in occurrence records because they generally are collected haphazardly. Other sources of bias include sampling error associated with small areas or range limits and aspects of the species’ biology that make it unlikely to be documented. A practical method is provided for interpreting a species’ distribution in a particular area given a paucity of reliable occurrence records. Factors that must be considered for including such areas of interest within the range of a species include: (1) plausible reason for the paucity of records; (2) continuous suitable habitat between the area of interest and localities of reliable occurrence; and (3) absence of biogeographic breaks in the distribution of other organisms with similar evolutionary histories. The possible distribution of wolverine (Gulo gulo) and Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in New Mexico provides a case study of this approach. It is concluded that the mountains of north-central New Mexico should be considered within the natural range of wolverine and Canada lynx.
Preface: An Ernstfest Festschrift: Mineralogy and petrology of high P/T terranes, P-T-ometry, and experimental phase relations

This special issue of the American Mineralogist honors W. Gary Ernst, in recognition of his many original and influential contributions to the mineralogical sciences. Much of it derives from presentations made at the MSA-sponsored “Ernstfest,” in the single largest theme session that the Geological Society of America has ever hosted. For three days at the 2003 Annual GSA meeting in Seattle, Gary’s students, fellows, colleagues, friends and admirers gathered under the Ernsteque rubric, “Phase Relations, High P/T Terrains, P-T -ometry, and Plate Pushing.” Fifty-eight talks and forty-four posters were presented, all of them linked to something Gary has described, opined, measured or mapped. (Remarkably, Gary stayed awake during the whole thing.) The subjects of these papers plumbed the depths and ranged the globe—and even reached out to the petrotectonics of Venus. Presenters came from and discussed every continent on Earth. This prodigious intellectual tribute was too voluminous and too diverse to be properly served by any one publication venue, so in addition to this compilation in American Mineralogist of papers centered on mineralogy and petrology, two other special Ernst volumes are slated to appear, one …
Optical Low-Coherence Reflectometry to Enhance Monte Carlo Modeling of Skin

Optical low-coherence reflectometry and confocal microscopy images were taken of the rat dorsal skin flap window model. Blood vessel depths and diameters measured with the two techniques, and preparation thickness determined from reflectometry images, are in reasonable agreement with measurements from histologic sections. Blood vessels appear as areas of low signal when constant-depth reflectometry images are taken at a depth near the center of a vessel, whereas they appear bright when taken close to the blood–dermis boundary. Doppler shift plus increased light absorption in blood, and the blood–dermis index of refraction mismatch, are discussed as possible causes of the dark- and bright-appearing vessels, respectively. One reflectometry image was used to generate an input grid for a novel Monte Carlo analysis program that is capable of determining the light distribution and heat generation @J/m3# within complex blood vessel geometries. The feasibility of imaging skin blood vessel accurately with optical low-coherence tomography, and using the acquired knowledge of blood vessels structure to create more realistic Monte Carlo analyses is demonstrated by the results of the study.
Allosteric heat shock protein 70 inhibitors rapidly rescue synaptic plasticity deficits by reducing aberrant tau.

Background The microtubule-associated protein tau accumulates in neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies, the most common being Alzheimer's disease. One way to treat these disorders may be to reduce abnormal tau levels through chaperone manipulation, thus subverting synaptic plasticity defects caused by tau's toxic accretion. Methods Tauopathy models were used to study the impact of YM-01 on tau. YM-01 is an allosteric promoter of triage functions of the most abundant variant of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) family in the brain, heat shock cognate 70 protein (Hsc70). The mechanisms by which YM-01 modified Hsc70 activity and tau stability were evaluated with biochemical methods, cell cultures, and primary neuronal cultures from tau transgenic mice. YM-01 was also administered to acute brain slices of tau mice; changes in tau stability and electrophysiological correlates of learning and memory were measured. Results Tau levels were rapidly and potently reduced in vitro and ex vivo upon treatment with nanomolar concentrations of YM-01. Consistent with Hsc70 having a key role in this process, overexpression of heat shock protein 40 (DNAJB2), an Hsp70 co-chaperone, suppressed YM-01 activity. In contrast to its effects in pathogenic tauopathy models, YM-01 had little activity in ex vivo brain slices from normal, wild-type mice unless microtubules were disrupted, suggesting that Hsc70 acts preferentially on abnormal pools of free tau. Finally, treatment with YM-01 increased long-term potentiation in tau transgenic brain slices. Conclusions Therapeutics that exploit the ability of chaperones to selectively target abnormal tau can rapidly and potently rescue the synaptic dysfunction that occurs in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies.
Determination of methacrylonitrile in serum using gas chromatography and flame ionization detection.

Abstract A gas chromatographic method is described for the quantitation of methacrylonitrile in serum. Methacrylonitrile was extracted from rat serum with diethyl ether and then quantified using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector and a 60-m megabore column coated with polyethylene glycol polymer. The recoveries obtained following a one-step extraction with diethyl ether varied from 60% at 3.2 μg/ml to 70% at 80 μg/ml. The coefficient of variation for the analysis ranged from 2.5% at 400 μg/ml to 15.0% at 3.2 μg/ml.
Effects of reduced time in bed on daytime sleepiness and recovery sleep in fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Objectives : Fibromyalgia (FM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with sleep disturbance and daytime sleepiness. We sought to determine whether sleep homeostatic mechanisms are blunted in FM by assessing the effects of reduced time in bed (4 h) on next day sleepiness and recovery sleep. Methods : Fifty women (18 with FM, 16 with RA, and 16 HC) had a baseline 8 h time-in-bed (TIB) and Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) the following day, and 3–7 days later bedtime was reduced (4 h) followed by MSLT and an 8 h TIB recovery night. Results : Following reduced bedtime the MSLT was reduced relative to baseline in the FM group by an amount (4.3 +/− 4.8 min) similar to that of the RA (3.1 +/− 5.2 min) and HC (4.8 +/− 3.1 min) groups. Relative to the baseline on the recovery night the FM group showed increased sleep efficiency (83.7 +/− 7.8 to 88.1 +/− 9.2%) relative to the RA (83.9 +/− 8.6 to 80.9 +/− 13.3%) and HC (90.1 +/− 5.0 to 87.4 +/− 7.6%) groups due primarily to reduced wake after sleep onset. The groups did not differ in recovery night sleep stages with the exception that the FM group showed REM rebound (21.6 +/− 6.5 to 25.2 +/− 6.0%), which was not found in the RA (20.4 +/− 7.4 to 17.8 +/− 6.5%) or HC (16.6 +/− 6.6 to 17.5 +/− 6.0%) groups. Conclusions : Compared to RA and HC, people with FM responded to reduced bedtime with a comparable increase in sleepiness and greater recovery sleep efficiency, suggesting that homeostatic sleep mechanisms are functional in FM. People with FM uniquely showed REM rebound on recovery from reduced bedtime suggesting underlying REM pressure.
Levels of dissociation and nonsuicidal self-injury: a quartile risk model.

Extant research indicates that dissociation may act as a risk factor for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), but the data are mixed. In this study, 75 university and community females ages 18–35 were assessed for rates of normative, clinical, and severely clinical dissociation as well as for NSSI. Significant differences in normative dissociation were found between the control group and the group reporting a history of NSSI. In addition, normative dissociation—but not clinical or severely clinical dissociation—was found to be significantly associated with NSSI in this sample. Considering this finding in the context of the existing literature, we propose a quartile risk model of dissociation and NSSI as a new approach to the influences of levels of dissociation on NSSI risk.
Improved Laboratory Transition Probabilities for Neutral Chromium and Redetermination of the Chromium Abundance for the Sun and Three Stars

Branching fraction measurements from Fourier transform spectra in conjunction with published radiative lifetimes are used to determine transition probabilities for 263 lines of neutral chromium. These laboratory values are employed to derive a new photospheric abundance for the Sun, log (Cr )☉ = 5.64 ± 0.01 (σ = 0.07). The individual Cr I solar abundances do not exhibit any trends with line strength nor with excitation energy, and there were no obvious indications of departures from LTE. In addition, oscillator strengths for singly ionized chromium recently reported by the FERRUM Project are used to determine log (Cr )☉ = 5.77 ± 0.03 (σ = 0.13). Transition probability data are also applied to the spectra of three stars: HD 75732 (metal-rich dwarf), HD 140283 (metal-poor subgiant), and CS 22892-052 (metal-poor giant). In all of the selected stars, Cr I is found to be underabundant with respect to Cr II. The possible causes for this abundance discrepancy and apparent ionization imbalance are discussed.
Women’s Carework in Low-Income Households The Special Case of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

This article presents qualitative interview data to explore the health-related carework of low-income women caregivers with special-needs children and the implications of carework for women’s financial security. The author documents “direct” and “advocacy” carework as two types of caregiving that low-income women carry out in the context of declining government resources for poor disabled children. The author shows that the unique demands of carework responsibilities and the conditions of low-wage work combine to limit caregivers’ employment and education options as well as their long-term prospects for financial stability.
Detection of Candida albicans DNA with a yeast-specific primer system by polymerase chain reaction

The in vitro and in vivo selectivity and sensitivity of a yeast-specific primer system was investigated. A two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used: the first amplified a 245-bp fragment of the gene for cytochrome P450L1A1 and the second a product of 193 bp. This nested PCR produced an approximately 1000-fold increase in the sensitivity of the test for Candida albicans DNA compared with the first primer pair. The lower level of sensitivity of the test in physiological saline and tissue homogenate was about 10 C. albicans cells ml-1. On the other hand, the sensitivity of the nested PCR method was reduced by a factor of more than 1000 when C. albicans was fixed with 4% formalin. After i.v. injection of different doses of C. albicans into mice, the yeast could be demonstrated in blood and in six different organs. The nested PCR was to some extent more sensitive than culturing for the detection of the yeast in the specimens of organs such as lung, cardiac muscle, liver, kidneys and brain. In contrast, in blood and spleen the culture was superior to the PCR technique used. Nested PCR is thus a useful additional method for the demonstration of yeasts.
Very heavily electron-doped CrSi2 as a high performance high temperature thermoelectric material

We analyze the thermoelectric behavior, using first principles and Boltzmann transport calculations, of very heavily electron-doped CrSi2 and find that at temperatures of 900?1250?K and electron dopings of 1?4???1021?cm?3, thermopowers as large in magnitude as 200??V?K?1 may be found. Such high thermopowers at such high carrier concentrations are extremely rare, and suggest that excellent thermoelectric performance may be found in these ranges of temperature and doping.
Phosphohistone H3 expression correlates with manual mitotic counts and aids in identification of “hot spots” in fibroepithelial tumors of the breast☆

Classification of mammary fibroepithelial tumors (FETs) relies on assessment of mitotic activity, among other histopathologic parameters. Routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) mitotic counts can be subjective and time consuming. Difficulty may arise in identifying "true" mitoses for a variety of reasons. Phosphorylation of histone H3 protein (PHH3) is correlated with mitotic chromatin condensation. The utility of PHH3 immunohistochemical staining to identify mitoses has been demonstrated in multiple organ systems. In this study, we examined the utility of PHH3 in assessing mitotic activity in FETs and compared PHH3- with H&E-determined mitotic counts. PHH3-stained mitoses were readily identifiable at ×10 magnification and allowed for rapid identification of mitotic "hot spots." Median mitotic counts/10 high-power fields for fibroadenoma, benign phyllodes tumor, borderline phyllodes tumor (BlnPT), and malignant phyllodes tumor (MPT) were 0, 0.5, 4.25, and 9, respectively on H&E, and 0, 0.75, 4.5, and 8, respectively for PHH3. Among all FETs, there was a strong positive correlation between H&E- and PHH3-determined mitotic counts (r=0.91, P<.001). Using PHH3, 2 cases would be reclassified, both from BlnPT to MPT. PHH3-determined counts correlated with H&E-determined counts in FETs. Using PHH3, a small number of cases were reclassified from BlnPT to MPT, for which treatment is similar. Although H&E-determined counts remain the criterion standard for assessing mitotic activity in FETs, PHH3 may be a useful adjunctive tool in some cases and is helpful in identifying mitotic hot spots.
A Decentralized Content-based Aggregation Service for Pervasive Environments

This paper presents a content-based decentralized information aggregation service for pervasive environments. The service provides a uniform query interface where aggregation queries are specified using content descriptors in the form of keywords, partial keywords, wildcards and ranges. The service guarantees that all data that matches a complex/range query was located and aggregated in an efficient and scalable way. The design of the aggregation service uses a decentralized aggregation trie along with a distributed and decentralized query engine. The deployment and experimental evaluation of the aggregation service are also presented. Evaluations include simulations as well as experiments using deployments on local-area network at Rutgers and wide-area PlanetLab testbed
Comparison of intravenous ketorolac and alfentanil as supplements to propofol anesthesia for diagnostic panendoscopy

Abstract Study Objective: To determine if ketorolac tromethamine is an acceptable alternative to alfentanil as a supplement to propofol for diagnostic panendoscopy. Design: Randomized, double-blind study. Setting: University medical center. Patients: 40 patients scheduled for panendoscopy and laryngeal tissue biopsy. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either alfentanil 14.5 μg/kg or ketorolac 1.0 mg/kg in a double-blind fashion, 5 to 10 minutes before induction of general anesthesia. Measurements and Main Results: Heart rate (HR) and noninvasive blood pressure (BP) were measured and recorded before and immediately after injection of the study drug, after laryngoscopy for the endotracheal tube placement, and after initiation of diagnostic panendoscopy. Bleeding in the operative field was rated by the endoscopist. Observation from discontinuation of the propofol infusion and nitrous oxide inhalation to eye opening, head lifting, and orientation to time and place was observed and recorded. The presence of stridor after extubation, and pulse oximeter-determined arterial blood oxyhemoglobin saturation immediately after extubation and 5 minutes later, were noted. In the recovery room, the ability to tolerate oral fluids, sit, stand, and walk were recorded. Supplementation with ketorolac provides faster recovery from anesthesia as evidenced by shorter time to eye opening, head lifting, and orientation to time and place. However, no intergroup differences were found in measured intraoperative variables (BP and HR following laryngoscopy, tracheal intubation, diagnostic panendoscopy, and tissue biopsy). Operative site bleeding was comparable in both groups. The variables reflecting street readiness and the incidence of nausea and vomiting were statistically comparable. Conclusion: Supplementation of propofol anesthesia with ketorolac is an efficacious alternative to supplementation with alfentanil. The faster recovery in the ketorolac group is explained by the mostly peripheral effect of this drug, whereas the slow decline in the alfentanil concentration at the effective site may be responsible for slower emergence from anesthesia.
Superluminous X-ray emission from the interaction of supernova ejecta with dense circumstellar shells

For supernova (SN) powered by the conversion of kinetic energy into radiation due to the interactions of the ejecta with a dense circumstellar shell, we show that there could be X-ray analogues of optically superluminous SNe with comparable luminosities and energetics. We consider X-ray emission from the forward shock of SN ejecta colliding into an optically thin circumstellar material (CSM) shell, derive simple expressions for the X-ray luminosity as a function of the circumstellar shell characteristics, and discuss the different regimes in which the shock will be radiative or adiabatic, and whether the emission will be dominated by free–free radiation or line cooling. We find that even with normal SN explosion energies of 10 51 erg, there exist CSM shell configurations that can liberate a large fraction of the explosion energy in X-rays, producing unabsorbed X-ray luminosities approaching 10 44 erg s −1 events lasting a few months, or even 10 45 erg s −1 flashes lasting days. Although the large column density of the circumstellar shell can absorb most of the flux from the initial shock, the most luminous events produce hard X-rays that are less susceptible to photoelectric absorption, and can counteract such losses by completely ionizing the intervening material. Regardless, once the shock traverses the entire circumstellar shell, the full luminosity could be available to observers.
No Child Left Behind: "Neglecting Excellence".

This article is neither a study nor a review; rather, it is a thought piece from a contributing editor concerning issues associated with the state of gifted child education, as it exists today in the shadow of the effects of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The primary purpose of this article is to stimulate thought, discussion, and action concerning the effects of NCLB on gifted child education. Seven effects are highlighted, namely, a remedial, deficit‐based emphasis; teaching what it tested; delivering a standard, one‐size fits all education to diverse students; increased numbers of dropouts; educators afraid to teach; cheating; and unsubstantiated alternatives. A change in focus, questioning, and appropriate educational actions are suggested.
Activation-dependent phases of T cells distinguished by use of optical tweezers and near infrared Raman spectroscopy.

Abstract Near-infrared Raman spectroscopy may provide a highly sensitive, noninvasive means to identify activation status of leukocytes. The purpose of the current study was to establish Raman spectroscopic characteristics of T cell activation. Activation of the RsL.11 T cell clone in vitro with Con A resulted in specific decrements in band intensities at 785, 1048, 1093, and 1376 cm −1 but did not alter a majority of other band intensities including those at 1004 cm −1 (phenylalanine) and 1660 cm −1 (amide bonds). Activation-dependent decrements in these band intensities occurred subsequent to IL-2 production and correlated closely with T cell blastogenesis. Activation-dependent decrements in these band intensities were not strictly a function of cell size because the same observations were noted in size-controlled comparisons of resting and activated T cells. Like the RsL.11 clone, freshly isolated thymocytes that were activated by Con A or IL-2 showed decrements in particular emissions. These findings indicate that near-infrared Raman spectroscopy can be used as a noninvasive technique to reveal the activation status of single living T cells.
A Complete System for High-Speed Navigation of Prescribed Routes

This paper presents an approach that achieves robust high-speed navigation of prescribed routes. We present the mechatronic and software considerations that resulted in two robots that have completed over 4000 km of autonomous navigation of trails and off-road terrain at an average speed of approximately 30 km/h, with sustained top speeds of 55 km/h
Condition/event signal interfaces for block diagram modeling and analysis of hybrid systems

A block diagram methodology is introduced for modeling hybrid systems with well-defined continuous-time signal connections between the discrete and continuous subsystem blocks. This facilitates the construction of models of hybrid systems using standard tools for computer-aided system analysis, design, and simulation. The problem of creating strictly discrete models of the complete hybrid system dynamics is considered using the formalism of condition/event signals and systems. A new approach to capturing continuous system dynamics in discrete models is proposed based on existing technology for Boolean function representation and analysis. The approach is illustrated for a standard chemical process. >
Hyperphosphorylation of the Rotavirus NSP5 Protein Is Independent of Serine 67 or NSP2, and the Intrinsic Insolubility of NSP5 Is Regulated by Cellular Phosphatases

The NSP5 protein is required for viroplasm formation during rotavirus infection and is hyperphosphorylated into 32- to 35-kDa isoforms. Earlier studies reported that NSP5 is not hyperphosphorylated without NSP2 coexpression or deleting the NSP5 N terminus and that serine 67 is essential for NSP5 hyperphosphorylation. In this report, we show that full-length NSP5 is hyperphosphorylated in the absence of NSP2 or serine 67 and demonstrate that hyperphosphorylated NSP5 is predominantly present in previously unrecognized cellular fractions that are insoluble in 0.2% sodium dodecyl sulfate. The last 68 residues of NSP5 are sufficient to direct green fluorescent protein into insoluble fractions and cause green fluorescent protein localization into viroplasm-like structures; however, NSP5 insolubility was intrinsic and did not require NSP5 hyperphosphorylation. When we mutated serine 67 to alanine we found that the NSP5 mutant was both hyperphosphorylated and insoluble, identical to unmodified NSP5, and as a result serine 67 is not required for NSP5 phosphorylation. Interestingly, treating cells with the phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A permitted the accumulation of soluble hyperphosphorylated NSP5 isoforms. This suggests that soluble NSP5 is constitutively dephosphorylated by cellular phosphatases and demonstrates that hyperphosphorylation does not direct NSP5 insolubility. Collectively these findings indicate that NSP5 hyperphosphorylation and insolubility are completely independent parameters and that analyzing insoluble NSP5 is essential for studies assessing NSP5 phosphorylation. Our results also demonstrate the involvement of cellular phosphatases in regulating NSP5 phosphorylation and indicate that in the absence of other rotavirus proteins, domains on soluble and insoluble NSP5 recruit cellular kinases and phosphatases that coordinate NSP5 hyperphosphorylation.