cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zone Mapping of the Binding Domain of the Rat Low Affinity Nerve Growth Factor Receptor by the Introduction of Novel N-Glycosylation Sites

The binding of NGF (nerve growth factor) to the rat low affinity nerve growth factor receptor (p75NGFR) has been studied by site-directed mutagenesis of the receptor. Introduction of non-native N-glycosylation sites within the binding domain indicates that the second of the characteristic cysteine-rich repeats may be particularly important to NGF binding. Two mutants of the second repeat, S42N and S66N, are glycosylated and bind NGF at a drastically reduced level, while still maintaining a conformation recognized by the monoclonal antibody against p75, MC192. Alanine substitution at these sites does not affect NGF binding. Two other mutations that result in local structural changes in the second repeat also greatly decrease binding. One of these altered residues, Ser50, appears to play an essential structural role, since it cannot be replaced by Asn, Ala, or Thr without loss of both NGF binding and MC192 recognition on a Western. Glycosylation of selected sites in the other repeats has little effect on NGF binding or antibody recognition. The introduction of non-native N-glycosylation sites may provide a generally useful scanning technique for the study of protein-protein interactions.
Economic Impoverishment as a Health Risk: Methodologic and Conceptual Issues

Although economic impoverishment has long been recognized as a health risk, it has not generally been targeted as a modifiable risk factor. A number of methodologic and conceptual issues have impeded and obscured explanation of the nature and characteristics of the relationship between socioeconomic status and health. Further investigation is needed to address directional effects, confounding factors, and measurement difficulties. Conceptual representations of the links between economic impoverishment and health need to be clarified and expanded. Until this relationship is better understood, development of effective strategies to improve health for the economically disadvantaged will be problematic.
Morphological quantification of surface roughness

Morphological granulometric moments have proven useful for quantification and classification of image texture. This paper proposes using granulometries to provide a comprehensive description of surface roughness. To support this proposition it demonstrates that granulometric surface description includes much of the information carried by conventional roughness measures. It does so by using granulometric moments as inputs to a linear system to estimate six conventional surface roughness measures. The analysis is based on simulations in the framework of the Boolean-random-function model for surfaces. Features are obtained from both opening and closing granulometries. The granulometries are generated by computationally efficient one-dimensional linear and triangular structuring elements. This permits fast implementation using special-purpose algorithms. Estimators with granulometric inputs are designed on training data and applied to test data to analyze their effectiveness as estimators of conventional roughness measures. This is done for both simulated and real images.
Search for terrestrial planets with SIM Planet Quest

SIM is an astrometric mission that will be capable of 1 microarcsec relative astrometric accuracy in a single measurement of approx.1000 sec. The search for terrestrial planets in the habitable zone around nearby stars is one of the main science goals of the project. In 2001, NASA through the peer review process selected 10 key projects, two of which had as its goal, the search for terrestrial planets around nearby stars. The two teams, one led by G. Marcy (UC Berkeley) and one lead by M. Shao (JPL), have an extensive preparatory science program underway. This paper describes the status of this activity as well as the technology status of SIM's narrow angle astrometry capability, to reach 1 uas in a single epoch measure and its ability to average multiple epoch measurements to well below 1 uas.
INFLUENCE OF LIMITED PROTEOLYSIS WITH IMMOBILIZED OR SOLUBLE ENZYMES ON THE WHITENESS OF SKIM MILK

Limited proteolysis with milk clotting enzymes can increase the whiteness of skim milk. Porcine pepsin and chymosin were immobilized onto nonporous ceramic, glass, and controlled pore glass (CPG) beads. The enzymes were coupled to beads either directly or via crosslinker proteins. Pepsin, immobilized onto CPG beads via crosslinker proteins, exhibited the best properties with respect to enzymatic activity, stability, and whitening efficiency. The Hunter L value (whiteness) of this immobilized enzyme-treated skim milk was 79.5, which approached the whiteness of 1% fat milk. Immobilized proteases whitened skim milk more effectively than soluble proteases.
Renal vascular sclerosis is associated with inherited thrombophilias.

Vascular sclerosis is often seen in renal biopsies. It is usually associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, etc. However, whether inherited thrombophilic states such as factor V gene mutation, prothrombin gene mutation, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation are associated with the vascular sclerosis is not known. Renal biopsies that showed vascular disease were grouped into five groups: (1) diabetic patients, (2) hypertensive patients, (3) diabetic and hypertensive patients, (4) smokers, and (5) vascular sclerosis of unknown etiology (idiopathic renal disease). Renal biopsies with no vascular sclerosis were used as controls. Frozen tissue was analyzed for factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin G20210A mutation, and MTHFR C677T. Factor V Leiden mutation and prothrombin G20210A mutation was not seen in patients with diabetes, hypertension, or smoking, whereas MTHFR C677T polymorphism in these groups was not significant, compared to the controls. In the idiopathic renal disease group, three of the 17 patients (17.6%) had prothrombin G20210A mutation, two of the 17 patients (11.8%) had the factor V Leiden mutation, and five of the 17 (29.4%) were homozygous for the MTHFR C677T polymorphism. When the data were evaluated as a whole, 10 mutations were found in 17 patients ( P P
An integrated product returns model with logistics and marketing coordination

We develop an integrated approach for analyzing logistics and marketing decisions within the context of designing an optimal returns system for a retailer servicing two distinct market segments. At the operational level, we show that the optimal refund price is not unique. Moreover, it is such that if both market segments return a purchased product, then neither segment will receive a full money-back refund; and it is such that if one or both segments do not return a purchased product, then a refund premium over the purchase price is possible, but the refund premium will not be enough to offset a customer's total net cost of purchase and return. We also show that any improvement to the returns system that results in increased logistical efficiency or marketing effectiveness will be accompanied by an increase in the selling price of the product. At the strategic level, we show that if the retailer does not coordinate its logistics and marketing efforts to improve the overall returns system, then it will tend to over-invest in one of the functions and under-invest in the other. Finally, we illustrate how our model can be generalized to the case in which a customer's ex post valuation of the product falls along a continuum.
Urinary interleukin-18 is a marker of human acute tubular necrosis.

Abstract Background: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a mediator of ischemic acute tubular necrosis (ATN) in mice. Methods: IL-18 was measured in human urine to determine whether it might serve as a marker of ATN. Seventy-two patients, including healthy controls, patients with different forms of acute renal failure, and patients with other renal diseases, were studied. Results: Patients with ATN had significantly greater median urinary IL-18 concentrations than those with all other conditions: patients with ATN, 644 pg/mg creatinine (mean, 814 ± 151 [SE] pg/mg creatinine; P
Recurrent patterns of dual RB and p53 pathway inactivation in melanoma.

Two growth inhibitory hurdles that must be overcome by the evolving cancer cell include pathways regulated by RB and p53. In human melanoma cells, inactivation of a single locus, CDKN2A , can lead to abrogation of both RB and p53 functionality through loss of the two CDKN2A cognate transcripts—p16 and p14ARF, respectively. We thus set out to assess how recurrent patterns of genetic injury at three critical human melanoma loci— CDKN2A , TP53 , and CDK4 —cooperate to disrupt both RB and p53 pathways. Overall, 77.8% of the melanoma cell lines analyzed showed genetic evidence of dual RB and p53 pathway compromise; this percentage is even higher if protein expression loss is considered. Although homozygous deletion of all three critical CDKN2A exons (exons 1β, 1α, and 2) represent the most common mechanism, concurrent loss of CDKN2A Exon1 α and CDKN2A Exon1 β and simultaneous point mutagenesis of CDK4 and TP53 reflect alternative cassettes of dual inactivation. In cell lines with isolated CDKN2A Exon2 mutations, coincident alterations in TP53 or deletion of CDKN2A Exon1 β suggest that p16 transcript may be preferentially targeted over the p14ARF transcript as additional p53 pathway lesions are recruited. Moreover, predictive modeling of CDKN2A Exon2 missense mutations further suggests that the amino acid substitutions in this region negatively impact p16 to a greater extent than p14ARF. Taken together, our data point to a clear need in human melanoma cell lines, as in its murine counterpart, to disrupt both RB and p53 pathways and recurrent mechanisms may play into the unique genetic vulnerabilities of this tumor type.
Concepts of Space in Urban Design, Architecture and Art

in the author's view, a new approach to urban design, architecture and art. These contributions suggest that two basic categories of space must be distinguished: the physical and the mental. Mental space is shown not to have a one-to-one correspondence with the space that is part of the physical world, due to the mediation of various psychological and cultural factors. A concept of space may be said to originate in an observer's mind and is a structure that is imposed on the physical world. The author discusses how concepts of space have been found to differ on a cultural basis and he gives some examples of how they have influenced urban design, architecture and art in various cultures. To analyse this relationship further, mental space has been sub-divided into three major types: the biological, the symbolic and the mathematical. Specific examples are given of these as they have been embodied in the layout of towns, building design and painting.
Comparison of BD Directigen™ EZ RSV and Binax NOW® RSV tests for rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus from nasopharyngeal aspirates in a pediatric population

The BD Directigen EZ RSV (BD) assay and the Binax NOW RSV (BN) assays are lateral flow immunochromatographic assays used in the rapid diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. A prospective study was undertaken to compare the performance characteristics of the BD and BN assays using 99 fresh nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens from children. All specimens were cultured by tube cultures and R-mix shell vials. Culture-negative specimens that tested positive by 1 or both antigen tests were analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the presence of RSV nucleic acids. Specimens positive by culture and/or RT-PCR were considered true positives. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for BD were 90%, 94%, 94%, and 90%, respectively, and those for BN were 90%, 100%, 100%, and 90% respectively. The overall agreement between the 2 assays was 93% (confidence interval, 86.3-96.6%). Three specimens negative by both assays were positive by viral culture. The rapid lateral flow immunochromatographic assays were easy to perform and easy to interpret, and the results are available in less than 30 min. The reduced turnaround time offered by these assays is particularly useful in the rapid detection of RSV infections in children from outpatient settings.
Predictors of operative mortality and morbidity after infant heart transplantation

We retrospectively analyzed the impact of recipient, donor, and operative factors on the operative mortality and morbidity of 36 consecutive infant heart transplantations. Operative survival was excellent at 94%. Among 34 survivors, operative morbidity in 12 patients included acute severe allograft failure with or without prolonged ventilatory support. The cohort was characterized by age less than 4 months (32 of 36), a diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (29 of 36), and the use of circulatory arrest (27 of 36); these variables were colinear and could not be used to predict operative mortality or morbidity. None of the remaining recipient, donor, or operative characteristics predicted survival or acute severe allograft failure. A donor-to-recipient weight ratio greater than 2 and a circulatory arrest time greater than 39 minutes predicted the need for prolonged ventilatory support. Despite the need for aggressive or prolonged support after 12 of 36 transplantations, operative survival was high at 94% (34 of 36 procedures, 32 of 34 patients). The use of less restrictive donor criteria combined with aggressive management of acute allograft failure can result in excellent operative survival after infant heart transplantation.
Situational constraints on the achievement – performance relationship: a service sector study

The present study sought to extend our knowledge of the relationship between work values and job performance. Situational constraints were examined as moderators of the relationship between the value of achievement and performance in a service-sector field setting. In the present setting, sales promotions removed situational constraints on performance during three of the six time periods examined. In general, average levels of performance were higher, and there was greater variance in performance when situational constraints were removed. Situational constraints moderated the relationship between the value of achievement and objective performance dimensions, although effect sizes were modest. Further, the present study adds to the small group of studies that have found a direct relationship between achievement and performance in a field setting. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiple mechanisms controlling fatigue crack growth

Recognizing that fatigue is a two-parameter problem requiring two load parameters to define cyclic loads unambiguously, a unified approach has been developed to account for crack growth behaviour in terms of ΔK and K max . Since both driving forces govern the crack growth rate, any analysis based on either ΔK or K max will provide only partial information about the fatigue behavior of materials. It is shown that ΔK-K max plots and the associated crack growth trajectory maps reflect the basic mechanisms that contribute to crack growth in a material. These plots also provide a convenient basis to recognize the changes in the micromechanisms that can occur as a function of load ratio or crack growth rate, or both. Taking examples from the literature, crack growth trajectory maps are provided showing such changes in the governing mechanisms of crack growth. It is shown that the ΔK-K max approach is not an alternative to crack closure models, but it reflects the intrinsic material behaviour that must be understood before reliable crack prediction models can be developed.
Endothelial Cell-Surface Gp60 Activates Vesicle Formation and Trafficking via Gi-Coupled Src Kinase Signaling Pathway

We tested the hypothesis that the albumin-docking protein gp60, which is localized in caveolae, couples to the heterotrimeric GTP binding protein Gi, and thereby activates plasmalemmal vesicle formation and the directed migration of vesicles in endothelial cells (ECs). We used the water-soluble styryl pyridinium dye N-(3-triethylaminopropyl)-4-(p-dibutylaminostyryl) pyridinium dibromide (FM 1-43) to quantify vesicle trafficking by confocal and digital fluorescence microscopy. FM 1-43 and fluorescently labeled anti-gp60 antibody (Ab) were colocalized in endocytic vesicles within 5 min of gp60 activation. Vesicles migrated to the basolateral surface where they released FM 1-43, the fluid phase styryl probe. FM 1-43 fluorescence disappeared from the basolateral EC surface without the loss of anti-gp60 Ab fluorescence. Activation of cell-surface gp60 by cross-linking (using anti-gp60 Ab and secondary Ab) in EC grown on microporous filters increased transendothelial 125I-albumin permeability without altering liquid permeability (hydraulic conductivity), thus, indicating the dissociation of hydraulic conductivity from the albumin permeability pathway. The findings that the sterol-binding agent, filipin, prevented gp60-activated vesicle formation and that caveolin-1 and gp60 were colocalized in vesicles suggest the caveolar origin of endocytic vesicles. Pertussis toxin pretreatment and expression of the dominant negative construct encoding an 11–amino acid Gαi carboxyl-terminal peptide inhibited endothelial 125I-albumin endocytosis and vesicle formation induced by gp60 activation. Expression of dominant negative Src (dn-Src) and overexpression of wild-type caveolin-1 also prevented gp60-activated endocytosis. Caveolin-1 overexpression resulted in the sequestration of Gαi with the caveolin-1, whereas dn-Src inhibited Gαi binding to caveolin-1. Thus, vesicle formation induced by gp60 and migration of vesicles to the basolateral membrane requires the interaction of gp60 with caveolin-1, followed by the activation of the downstream Gi-coupled Src kinase signaling pathway.
Response of tracheal slowly adapting stretch receptors to longitudinal forces.

Abstract During breathing and various respiratoru maneuvers the trachea sustains significant longitudinal stresses which could be sensed by its mechanoreceptors. In this study we have measured the longitudinal motion and elongation of the trachea in supine, anesthetized dogs during quiet breathing and with occlusion of the upper airways and recorded the response of tracheal stretch receptors in each of the two conditions. The respiratory modulation of intrathoracic tracheal stretch receptors is essentially absent during airway occlusion when the elongation of the trachea becomes greater than in a quiet breath. We have also measured the response of tracheal stretch receptors to transmural pressure at different tracheal length, both statically and dynamically. When the trachea is elongated the receptors decreased their activity at higher positive pressures and remained unaffected with lower distending pressures, at zero transmural pressure and with collapsing pressures. These results indicate that the longitudinal forces applied to the trachea are not capable of changing the transducing properties of its stretch receptors over most of its pressure-volume range, only toward its TLC position their response appear to become attenuated.
Experimental Test of Local Hidden-Variable Theories.

We have measured the linear polarization correlation of the photons emitted in an atomic cascade of calcium. It has been shown by a generalization of Bell's inequality that the existence of local hidden variables imposes restrictions on this correlation in conflict with the predictions of quantum mechanics. Our data, in agreement with quantum mechanics, violate these restrictions to high statistical accuracy, thus providing strong evidence against local hidden-variable theories.
A privacy-preserving collaborative filtering scheme with two-way communication

An important security concern with traditional recommendation systems is that users disclose information that may compromise their individual privacy when providing ratings. A randomization approach has been proposed to disguise user ratings while still producing accurate recommendations. However, recent research has suggested that a significant amount of original private information can be derived from perturbed data in a randomization scheme. We suggest that a main limitation of the existing randomization approach is that perturbation is item-invariant--each item has a same perturbation variance. Based on this observation, we introduce a two-way communication privacypreserving scheme in which users perturb their ratings for each item based on the server's guidance instead of using an item-invariant perturbation. Compared to the existing randomization approach, our new scheme can help users disclose much less private information at the same recommendation accuracy level.
FORCED CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER DURING DENDRITIC CRYSTAL GROWTH: LOCAL SOLUTIONS OF NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

Abstract Numerical local solutions are obtained to the Navier-Stokes equations and energy equation for the region near the tip of a needle crystal growing in the presence of a forced flow in a melt of succinonitrile. The Navier-Stokes solution for P is essential identical with solutions using the Oseen viscous flow and Stokes flow approximation if the fluid Peclet number (Pe) is less than about 2. However, as Pe is increased, the solutions of the Stokes and Oseen viscous flow approximation overpredict the crystal Peciet number (P). The forced convection solution can be approximated by a power law form such that P=1·26St 1·06 pe 0·20 for 0·1<Pe<2·0. These forced convection solutions predict that the controlling mode of heat transfer changes when the growth velocity of the crystal is about the same as the convective velocity.
Two-Dimensional Echocardiographic Valve Measurements in Healthy Children: Gender-Specific Differences

The goal of this study was to create nomograms of echocardiographic two-dimensional valve dimensions based on a large group of children without heart disease. Children aged 0-18 years underwent standard echocardiographic evaluation. Referring diagnoses were chest pain, heart murmur, or syncope. Only patients with a structurally normal heart and normal systolic and diastolic function were included. All four valves were measured at their maximal dimensions. A total of 748 children (314 girls and 434 boys) met the inclusion criteria. Mean values and standard deviations were calculated, and z value nomograms based on body surface area were developed. Surprisingly, the boys had larger valve dimensions at all ages. These valve dimension differences were statistically significant for three of four valves even after adjustment for the differences in body sizes. The difference may be due to higher circulating blood volume in boys compared to that in girls. Because the differences are subtle, they reach statistical significance only when evaluated in a large group of subjects. Presented normal value data will be helpful in following cardiology patients and evaluating intervention strategy in patients with valve hypoplasia.
GLP--The application of a chart-parser to speech understanding: U. of Erlangen-Nuernberg, FRG

GLP is a general linguistic processor for the analysis and generation of natural language. It will be integrated into a speech understanding system for continuously spoken German language which is currently under development at the Computer Science Department, University of Erlangen-Nuernberg (Hein (1980) and this issue).
The Conformations of 17β-Estradiol (E2) and 17α-Estradiol as Determined by Solution NMR

The conformational structures of the hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) and the epimeric 17α-estradiol determined by solution NMR spectroscopy and restrained molecular dynamics calculations found a single low energy conformation.
Emotional deficits in psychopathy and sexual sadism: implications for violent and sadistic behavior

While both psychopaths and sexual sadists engage in acts of predatory violence, little empirical work has examined the relationship between the two disorders. This paper outlines the constructs of psychopathy and sexual sadism and reviews the literature investigating the emotional lives of individuals with these disorders, paying particular attention to how emotional deficits might facilitate instrumental violence. Specifically, it is hypothesized that the emotion recognition and emotional experience deficits found among psychopaths, and perhaps present in sexual sadists, may lead to deficits in their ability to empathize with others, resulting in an increased likelihood for perpetrating instrumental violence. The relationship between empathy and aggression in psychopaths and sexual sadists is discussed, and distinctions are drawn between the two disorders with respect to their capacities to experience cognitive and affective empathy on a global level. Gaps in the literature are identified and additional areas of inquiry are suggested.
Solid-phase extraction for the determination of tricyclic antidepressants in serum using a novel polymeric extraction sorbent

A fast and easy solid-phase extraction method was developed for the determination of amitriptyline, doxepin and their metabolites (nortriptyline and nordoxepin) in porcine serum matrix by high performance liquid chromatography. The spiked serum sample was pretreated with 2% phosphoric acid followed by a simple and rugged SPE procedure using OasisTM HLB extraction cartridges. The SPE method requires only one mL of simple solvent throughout the entire SPE process. High and reproducible recoveries were obtained even though the cartridges ran dry. For five replicate analyses, the average recoveries of parent tricyclic antidepressants and their metabolites were all greater than 94%, and the RSDs were all less than 4.0%.
What do students know anyway? High school graduates’ examination of standards and the responses of expert educators for educational equity

The standards movement in the US has ballooned over the past generation of education reforms to the extent that standards have become a prominent feature of the educational architecture. Most curriculum planning is informed by local, state, and/or interstate content area standards. While the 1980s central focus on the international competitiveness of US education has waxed and waned somewhat, the practice of comparative analysis has persisted. As such, there has been a steady rise in the debates regarding the achievement gap between White and non-Asian minority students. Educational reformers, politicians, reformers, and pundits have all taken varied positions regarding the effectiveness of the standards movement to ameliorate the polarization of achievement among these groups. Yet the voices of those at the epicenter of the teaching and learning process have often gone ignored and not heard from. This article addresses these perspectives to reveal that a national sample of high school graduates holds a particular assessment of standards with regard to equity, student learning, and educational quality. Expert educators’ responses to graduates’ perceptions are found equally important for guiding educational policy and improvement.
A theorem of the alternative with application to convex programming: Optimality, duality, and stability

Abstract In this study we present an important theorem of the alternative involving convex functions and convex cones. From this theorem we develop saddle value optimality criteria and stationary optimality criteria for convex programs. Under suitable constraint qualification we obtain a generalized form of the Kuhn-Tucker conditions. We also use the theorem of the alternative in developing an important duality theorem. No duality gaps are encountered under the constraint qualification imposed earlier and the dual problem always possesses a solution. Moreover, it is shown that all constraint qualifications assure that the primal problem is stable in the sense used by Gale and others. The notion of stability is closely tied up with the positivity of the lagrangian multiplier of the objective function.
The effect of crystallite orientation on the electric field induced α to δ crystal phase transition in poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Abstract Films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF2) in the α crystal phase were prepared so as to have a transcrystalline morphology. A preferred crystallite orientation (b-axis normal to film surfaces) exists as a consequence of this morphology. The morphology is a result of dense crystal nucleation at the film surfaces. The effect of crystallite orientation on the electric field induced transformation from the α to δ crystal phase of PVF2 was studied using transcrystalline films and uniaxially and biaxially oriented films. Crystallites of the α phase oriented with their a-axes aligned in the direction of the applied field transformed-to the δ phase much more readily than crystallites oriented with their b-axes aligned with the field. Crystallites having the latter orientation also transformed into amorphous material under the influence of the field, as well as into a new and uncharacterized crystal phase (the ξ phase).
Abstract 3319: Cell cycle regulation of glioblastoma progression by cord blood stem cells is mediated by downregulation of cyclin D1

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Normal progression of the cell cycle requires sequential expression of cyclins. Rapid induction of cyclin D1 and its associated binding with cyclin-dependent kinases, in the presence or absence of mitogenic signals, is considered a rate-limiting step during cell cycle progression through the G1 phase. In the present study, human umbilical cord blood stem cells (hUCBSC) co-cultured with glioblastoma cells (U251 and 5310) not only induced G0-G1 phase arrest, but also reduced the number of cells at the S and G2-M phases of the cell cycle. Western and FACS analyses of cell cycle regulatory proteins showed decreased expression levels upon treatment with hUCBSC. Co-localization experiments under in vivo conditions in nude mice brain xenografts with cyclin D1 and CD81 antibodies demonstrated decreased expression of cyclin D1 in the presence of hUCBSC. Treatment with hUCBSC decreased expression of the cyclin D1 and CDK4 complex as well as cyclin D1 and CDK6 complexes. However, there was no significant change in the CDK4 and CDK6 complex. Our results indicate that hUCBSC can attenuate uncontrolled cell cycle progression of glioma cells by downregulating the expression levels of cyclin D1 and its partner kinases CDK4 and CDK6 at the cell cycle level. Our data elucidate a model to regulate glioma cell cycle progression in which hUCBSC act to control cyclin D1 induction and its partner kinases, CDK4 and CDK6, by mediating cell cycle arrest via G0-G1 arrest. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3319. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3319
Molecular characterization of a saposin-like protein family member isolated from bovine lymphocytes.

Abstract Human and porcine T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells produce antibacterial proteins that belong to the saposin-like family of proteins (SAPLIP). The objective of this study was to determine if a bovine homolog of SAPLIP exists in lymphocytes that exhibit antibacterial activity. Following stimulation with IL-2, bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus was detected to some extent in most major subpopulations of T lymphocytes including CD4 + , CD8 + , CD3 + , and WC1 + γδ T lymphocytes. However, the majority of antibacterial activity was observed in the CD2 + CD3 − lymphocytes, which are similar phenotypically to NK cells. A partial sequence of a bovine SAPLIP was generated using low specificity primers designed from regions of homology between other SAPLIP including porcine NK-lysin and human granulysin. Enhanced expression of the bovine lysin gene was detected in mRNA isolated from IL-2–stimulated CD2 + CD3 − lymphocytes. The partial cDNA sequence was then used to make gene specific primers for a rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) procedure that provided repeatable 5′ and 3′ cDNA ends. By examining overlapping regions from the RACE procedure, full-length sequence information was obtained for the bovine lysin homologue. Conceptual translation of the cDNA demonstrated conserved similarities to known SAPLIP members. Further characterization of the bovine lysin may facilitate its use in protecting dairy cattle against bacterial infections.
Interfirm Information Linkages in an Economically Disadvantaged Region: An Empirical Perspective from Metropolitan Buffalo

The external information linkages of industrial firms in two sectors of Buffalo's manufacturing base—medical instruments, and chemicals—are examined. Survey data are presented which indicate a positive role for imported technical services in local product innovation, export activity, and technology diffusion. The data reveal that firms which import a substantial proportion of their external technical inputs hold a competitive advantage over their counterparts which depend solely on local suppliers. The data also reveal that larger manufacturers are more likely to import technical services than smaller firms. Evidence from the sample is then contrasted against recent empirical streams in the literature on producer services, regional growth, and industrial innovation. It is argued that urban centres with weak producer service endowment may in some instances import key inputs from other regions. On a more cautious note, it is suggested that this option may not be feasible for small manufacturers, many of whi...
Descriptive Representation and the Composition of African American Turnout

Though many studies have focused on African Americans' turnout levels in descriptively represented electoral districts, few have examined the composition of African-American turnout in these districts, compared to districts that are not descriptively represented. This study contends that descriptive representation should conditionally affect African Americans' political participation, given preference heterogeneity among this group. It then examines the extent to which the ideological orientations of African Americans condition the effect of their Representative's race in the 104th House on their probability of participating in the 1996 national election. The study finds that when liberal African Americans are descriptively represented, they are more likely to vote, while moderate and conservative African Americans are less likely to vote. These findings not only help to resolve prior studies' disparate conclusions concerning descriptive representation's participatory effects, but they also show that descriptive representation affects which African Americans' interests are communicated to elected officials through voting.
Sirolimus in pediatric transplant recipients

The side effects of calcineurin inhibitors (CI) have a unique spectrum in pediatric recipients of organ transplants. These include a lifelong risk of mortality due to sepsis, a nearly 5% risk of renal failure from protracted exposure to CI, and a significantly higher risk of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) when compared with adults (10% versus 2%). This led us to explore the use of the new antiproliferative immunosuppressant sirolimus (SRL) for rescue and primary immunosuppression in recipients of pediatric abdominal and thoracic organs at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Following initial success with SRL in 50 such children, we also explored its use for the elimination of tacrolimus (TAC) in patients experiencing toxicity and for maintenance immunosuppression in steroid-sparing regimens in liver transplantation. These early results suggest that sirolimus may hold promise as a primary immunosuppressive agent under defined protocol conditions. The salient features of our experience with SRL in over 85 children are summarized here.
Keller's conjecture for certain finite groups

In 1930, Keller [3] conjectured that in any tiling of Euclidean n-space by translates of the unit cube, some pair of translates share a face. In 1949, Hajos [2] reduced this conjecture to a certain statement about finite abelian groups. If G is a finite abelian group written additively, g is an element of G, and n 3 2 is an integer, we denote the set (0, g, . . . . (n 1) g} by L-s, nl. If A,, . . . . A, are subsets of G, we say that A, + ... + A, is a factorization of G if each element of G has exactly one representation as a sum a,+ ... +a,, where a,~A~for i= 1, . . . . m. Also, if B and C are subsets of G, we let B C denote the set of all differences b c between elements b E B and c E C. Hajos’ statement then says that for all finite abelian groups G, if H + [xi, r,] + ... + [x,, r,n] is a factorization of G, then for some iE { 1, . . . . m}, we have rixi~ HH. In this paper we adapt a method of Corradi and Szabo [l] to prove this form of Keller’s conjecture in two known cases and to prove it for two new classes of abelian groups.
Barriers to the adoption of an energy efficient technology

Abstract Solid state electronic ballasts promise significant energy savings in the lighting systems of large buildings. However, organizational factors and standard operating procedures may inhibit the adoption of this technology in the large, bureaucratic public and private sector organizations which represent the major potential users of this technology.
Mechanical ventilatory constraints in aging, lung disease, and obesity: perspectives and brief review.

ABSTRACTMechanical ventilatory constraints in aging, lung disease, and obesity: perspectives and brief review. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 31, No. 1(Suppl.), pp. S12-S22, 1999. One of the most difficult tasks of cardiopulmonary exercise testing is to determine the influence of ventilatory limitati
Inversion theory as applied to the optimisation of conductivity profile for PML absorbing boundary condition for FDTD code

A theoretical approach to obtain optimised profiles of the conductivity for the perfect matched layer (PML) absorbing boundary conditions is presented. The analytical expression recently introduced by the authors to estimate the error caused by the use of the PML backed by a metal plane as the absorbing boundary condition, has been minimised with respect to the conductivity profile following an inverse theory approach. The algorithm uses the Frechet derivative of the theoretical error expression, together with a simple regularisation technique in order to avoid the quasi-singularity intrinsic in the problem formulation. Results show that, following this approach, it is possible to easily obtain the conductivity profiles that render the performances of the absorbing boundary conditions comparable to, or better than, the best performance obtained for just a particular order of a more classic parabolic-like profile.
Volatile Components of the Cyanobacterium Oscillatoria perornata (Skuja)

Volatile compounds were identified from unialgal continuous cultures of the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria perornata. Steam distillates of the unialgal cultures were continuously extracted with pentane, and the pentane extracts were analyzed by GC-MS. Retention indices and mass spectral data were used to identify 15 components. Relative amounts of individual components were expressed as percent peak area relative to total peak area. The main volatile components were heptadecane (57.0%), 2-methylisoborneol (29.4%), and benzaldehyde (1.2%). Together with the previously known 2-methylisoborneol, which is the major cause of the musty off-flavor problem in catfish farming operations in Mississippi, other components identified were dimethyl disulfide (1.0%), dimethyl trisulfide (0.5%), and benzothiazole (0.6%). These compounds and their organoleptic characteristics are discussed in relation to their possible contributions to cultured catfish off-flavor problems.
Secondary and tertiary dendrite arm spacing relationships in directionally solidified Al-Si alloys

Secondary, λ2, and tertiary, λ3, dendrite arm spacings have been measured from Al-Si alloys which were directionally solidified as functions of growth velocity,V, temperature gradient,G, and composition,C o. Both λ2 and λ3 decreased as the imposed growth velocity and silicon concentrations were increased, and for each function a systematic variance in the rate was seen. Complications with measuring secondary arm spacings are shown and it was found that the tertiary arm data agree much better with coarsening theory, the implication being that λ3, when measurable, is a more representative and reliable measure of the solidification history than λ2.
Intracerebral hemorrhage related to cerebral amyloid angiopathy and t-PA treatment.

Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) has been approved as thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, but this agent can cause serious bleeding complications including intracerebral hemorrhages. Mechanisms underlying the development of these hemorrhages have not been clarified. We report a patient who developed two intracerebral hemorrhages shortly after receiving t-PA for the treatment of an acute myocardial infarction, and who was found to have cerebral amyloid angiopathy a autopsy. Staining of cortical sections with Congo red and an antibody directed against beta amyloid protein (A4 peptide) disclosed specific involvement of most of the subarachnoid and superficial cortical vessels in the region of the two hemorrhages. Based on the findings in this patient and in 6 additional patients reported recently, it is likely that cerebral amyloid angiopathy plays a pathogenic role in some intracerebral hemorrhages associated with the administration of t-PA. The cautious use of t-PA with heparin in patients who are elderly or demented may be advisable.
Establishment of Human Mesothelioma Cell Lines (MS-1, -2) and Production of a Monoclonal Antibody (Anti-MS) with Diagnostic and Therapeutic Potential

We have established and characterized two mesothelioma cell lines, MS-1 and MS-2, in four attempts at long-term culture of these cells. Both MS-1 and MS-2 cells consistently express cytokeratin and vimentin, and both have long, slender microvilli. The cells that grew indefinitely (MS-1, MS-2) had a higher DNA index and a higher nucleus:cytoplasm ratio than did those cells that failed to grow (MS-3, MS-4). All mesothelioma cells, both in short- and in long-term culture, responded to phorbol ester induction by displaying morphological differentiation, such as an increase in the number of microvilli. The distribution of vimentin and cytokeratin in the cells, however, remained the same regardless of the growth pattern or the phorbol-ester treatment of the cells. We have used MS-1 cells to produce a monoclonal antibody (anti-MS) that reacts with mesothelioma cells, but rarely with reactive or normal mesothelial cells or with cells of normal tissues. The antibody does not induce the modulation of antigen, and it causes no direct or complement-mediated cytotoxicity of MS-1 or MS-2 cells. If a toxin or an isotope conjugate of the antibody is used, it may be valuable in the near future to test it for use in immunoimaging or immunotherapy.
A Gaussian copula approach for the analysis of secondary phenotypes in case-control genetic association studies.

SUMMARY In many case–control genetic association studies, a set of correlated secondary phenotypes that may share common genetic factors with disease status are collected. Examination of these secondary phenotypes can yield valuable insights about the disease etiology and supplement the main studies. However, due to unequal sampling probabilities between cases and controls, standard regression analysis that assesses the effect of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) on secondary phenotypes using cases only, controls only, or combined samples of cases and controls can yield inflated type I error rates when the test SNP is associated with the disease. To solve this issue, we propose a Gaussian copula-based approach that efficiently models the dependence between disease status and secondary phenotypes. Through simulations, we show that our method yields correct type I error rates for the analysis of secondary phenotypes under a wide range of situations. To illustrate the effectiveness of our method in the analysis of real data, we applied our method to a genome-wide association study on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), where “cases” are defined as individuals with extremely high HDL-C level and “controls” are defined as those with low HDL-C level. We treated 4 quantitative traits with varying degrees of correlation with HDL-C as secondary phenotypes and tested for association with SNPs in LIPG, a gene that is well known to be associated with HDL-C. We show that when the correlation between the primary and secondary phenotypes is >0.2, the P values from case–control combined unadjusted analysis are much more significant than methods that aim to correct for ascertainment bias. Our results suggest that to avoid false-positive associations, it is important to appropriately model secondary phenotypes in case–control genetic association studies.
Protection of Sensitive Data based on Reducts in a Distributed Knowledge Discovery System

This paper discusses data confidentiality in a distributed knowledge discovery system (DKDS) . In particular, we provide a method that protects values of confidential attributes from being reveled by chase algorithm (Ras and Dardzinska, 2005) using reducts (Skowron and Rauszer, 1992). The method presented in this paper is intended for use in DKDS that the set of rules used by chase algorithm is not completely known in advance. Reduct is used to determine the optimal set of data to be additionally hidden.
Child abuse as an international issue

This paper provides a background and suggests a strategy for an international approach to policy development concerning child abuse. First, child abuse is defined in a way that makes it applicable across cultures and national boundaries as that portion of harm to children that results from human action that is proscribed, proximate and preventable. A number of other dimensions, such as the degree of social sanction or social censure, are outlined that also affect the likelihood that given harm will be regarded as child abuse. Cross-cultural research also reveals that certain categories of children--such as those in poor health, females, unwanted children and those born under difficult circumstances or with disvalued traits or under conditions of rapid socioeconomic change--are more vulnerable to maltreatment in many countries. The paper argues for a two-pronged international strategy that first urges individual countries to make a priority of the particular types of abuse that are in most urgent need of attention in their society as well as participating at the same time in a concerted international focus on three widely occurring forms of child abuse: parental child battering, selective neglect, and sexual abuse.
Genetic Approaches to Neural Circuits in the Mouse

To understand the organization and assembly of mammalian brain circuits, we need a comprehensive tool set that can address the challenges of cellular diversity, spatial complexity at synapse resolution, dynamic complexity of circuit operations, and multifaceted developmental processes rooted in the genome. Complementary to physics- and chemistry-based methods, genetic tools tap into intrinsic cellular and developmental mechanisms. Thus, they have the potential to achieve appropriate spatiotemporal resolution and the cellular-molecular specificity necessary for observing and probing the makings and inner workings of neurons and neuronal circuits. Furthermore, genetic analysis will be key to unraveling the intricate link from genes to circuits to systems, in part through systematic targeting and tracking of individual cellular components of neural circuits. Here we review recent progress in genetic tool development and advances in genetic analysis of neural circuits in the mouse. We also discuss future directions and implications for understanding brain disorders.