cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The SpEGF III Gene Encodes a Member of the Fibropellins: EGF Repeat-Containing Proteins That Form the Apical Lamina of the Sea Urchin Embryo

We have identified a gene in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus that encodes a protein with multiple epidermal growth factor(EGF)-like motifs. The SpEGF III cDNA sequence predicts a 570 amino acid protein with a complex domain structure similar to that of the fibropellins--the protein products of the SpEGF I gene. A putative hydrophobic leader sequence is followed by an EGF-like motif, a domain similar to complement Cls, seven tandem EGF-like repeats, and a carboxy terminal domain similar to avidin. The 2.9-kb SpEGF III mRNA is expressed from a single copy gene. SpEGF III mRNA is present at low levels in unfertilized eggs and during early cleavage, then rapidly increases in abundance between late morula and mesenchyme blastula stages to maximal levels maintained through subsequent stages. Polyclonal antisera from SpEGF III fusion proteins reveal that the protein is a 100-kDa fibropellin which is present in unfertilized eggs but does not accumulate substantially until the mesenchyme blastula stage. The protein is localized to the apical lamina, a structurally complex component of the extracellular matrix that is made up of three major proteins, two of which are the differentially spliced products of SpEGF I. The size and localization of the SpEGF III protein, and the results of immunoprecipitation assays which reveal that it is tightly associated with the products of SpEGF I, indicate that it is the third major protein component of the apical lamina. The timing of SpEGF III protein accumulation is coincident with an increase in the structural complexity of the apical lamina, and with the developmental period when the apical lamina plays an important role in gastrulation.
Hypersensitivity lung disease presumptively due to Cephalosporium in homes contaminated by sewage flooding or by himidifier water

Two cases of hypersensitivity lung disease apparently caused by home environment contamination with Cephalosporium have been identified. In one case repeated flooding of the home with sewer water appeared to be important in maintaining an environment contaminated with Cephalosporium, and in the other case a contaminated humidifier appeared to be the source. Both patients had chronic respiratory symptoms remitting during absence from the home, and both presented problems in diagnosis. In both cases cultures of the home environment or humidifier and serum antibody studies indicated Cephalosporium as the antigenic source responsible for the airway disease. An inhalation challenge in one case was positive, adding further evidence for Cephalosporium as the antigenic source and etiologic agent. In both cases complete remission followed moving from the home. Cephalosporium is reported as an apparent antigenic source for home contamination resulting in significant chronic pulmonary morbidity.
Genetics and pathological mechanisms of Usher syndrome

Usher syndrome (USH) comprises a group of autosomal recessively inherited disorders characterized by a dual sensory impairment of the audiovestibular and visual systems. Three major clinical subtypes (USH type I, USH type II and USH type III) are distinguished on the basis of the severity of the hearing loss, the presence or absence of vestibular dysfunction and the age of onset of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Since the cloning of the first USH gene (MYO7A) in 1995, there have been remarkable advances in elucidating the genetic basis for this disorder, as evidence for 11 distinct loci have been obtained and genes for 9 of them have been identified. The USH genes encode proteins of different classes and families, including motor proteins, scaffold proteins, cell adhesion molecules and transmembrane receptor proteins. Extensive information has emerged from mouse models and molecular studies regarding pathogenesis of this disorder and the wide phenotypic variation in both audiovestibular and/or visual function. A unifying hypothesis is that the USH proteins are integrated into a protein network that regulates hair bundle morphogenesis in the inner ear. This review addresses genetics and pathological mechanisms of USH. Understanding the molecular basis of phenotypic variation and pathogenesis of USH is important toward discovery of new molecular targets for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of this debilitating disorder.
Khawa Karpo: Tibetan Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation

Review of Khawa Karpo: Tibetan Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation . Jan Salick and Robert K. Moseley. 2012. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. Pp. 273. US$55 (paperback). ISBN 978-1-935641-06-3.
Further studies on F1-ATPase inhibition by local anesthetics

We have measured the inhibitory potencies of several local anesthetics (procaine, lidocaine, tetracaine and dibucaine) and related compounds (chlorpromazine, procainamide and propranolol) on the ATPase activities of bovine heart submitochondrial particles and purified F1 extracted from these particles. All of these agents cause inhibition of ATPase in F1 as well as in submitochondrial particles. A linear relationship is found between the log of the octanol/water partition coefficients and the log of the concentrations required for 50% inhibition of F1. Sedimentation velocity ultracentrifugation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that 1.0 mM tetracaine caused partial dissociation of the F1 complex. Complete reversibility of the enzyme inhibitory effects was demonstrated, however. This work shows that local anesthetics can affect protein structure and enzyme activity without the mediation of lipid.
Some Thoughts About Two Dimensionality and Cuprate Superconductivity

In 1964, the year in which the present author obtained his doctorate, the highest known transition temperature Tc to the superconducting state was around 20 K. In that year, Professor Vitaly Ginzburg made a striking prediction; building on the work of Little [1], who had proposed a purely electronic mechanism to raise Tc, he predicted [2] that transition temperatures of the order of room temperature would indeed some day be achieved, and moreover that this was most likely to happen in a strongly layered (quasi-two-dimensional) system (rather than in the one-dimensional systems that Little had considered). As is well known, both these predictions were verified 22 years later, when transition temperatures over 90 K (subsequently raised to over 160 K) were realized in a class of cuprate materials whose most striking structural feature is indeed their metallic CuO2 planes separated by much less conducting materials. I would like, therefore, to devote this brief essay to the question: What is the role, in the genesis of high-temperature superconductivity in the cuprates, of the quasi-two-dimensionality of the CuO2 planes? In particular, I shall be interested in the question (which has, of course, already attracted much attention in the literature): why, in the various homologous cuprate series (T1, Hg, Bi, etc.) does Tc show a characteristic and reproducible dependence (see below) on the number n of CuO2 planes per multilayer? Let me start with a couple of remarks about the raw data. First, it seems to be a rather general observation, not confined to the cuprates, that compared to other materials in their general class, strongly layered materials have rather high transition tempera-
A Master Control System for Nuclear Physics Instrument Systems

A versatile master control system for nuclear physics instrumentation systems is described which is designed to act as an interface between the instruments and an on-line computer or programmable control system. The system utilizes diode-pin matrix boards at each instrument to route command signals over a set of program lines which are common to all instruments. Thus an output control command signal from one instrument can be routed via any program line to control command inputs of any other instruments.
Determination of the location of the mental foramen: a critical review.

Abstract Introduction The mental foramen (MF) is an important landmark to consider during surgical endodontic procedures. The purpose of this review article was to discuss the variety of techniques that have been developed to determine the location of the MF, to make recommendations for the current best technique available, and to discuss upcoming technologies. Methods Articles that have addressed the location of the MF were evaluated for information pertinent to include in this review. Results Different technologies have been used to help operators determine the clinical location of the MF. Most of the techniques have shortcomings such as magnification, radiation, and cost. Cone-beam computed tomographic imaging is the best current available imaging technology to determine the accurate location of the MF, but it has shortcomings such as radiation, cost, and not being real time, which means the data must be interpreted at a later time than when the information was computed. Conclusions In the future, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound technologies seem to provide promising noninvasive imaging techniques.
Disruption of dystroglycan-laminin interactions modulates water uptake by astrocytes

Cerebral edema is a serious complication of ischemic brain injury. Cerebral edema includes accumulation of extracellular fluid due to leakage of the brain’s microvessel permeability barrier, and swelling of astrocytes as they absorb water from the extracellular space. Expression of matrix adhesion receptors in brain microvessels decreases in ischemic stroke; this contributes to increased microvessel permeability and detachment of astrocytes from the extracellular matrix (ECM). Since loss of the astrocyte adhesion receptor dystroglycan has been associated with disrupted polarization of ion and water channels, we hypothesized that adhesion of astrocytes to the ECM contributes to regulation of water uptake, and that disruption of matrix adhesion impairs the ability of astrocytes to direct water transport. To test this hypothesis, the capacity of astrocytes to take up water was measured using a fluorescence self-quenching assay under both oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) and direct antibody-mediated blockade of α-dystroglycan. Both conditions decreased the rate of water uptake. Moreover, inhibiting proteolytic cleavage of dystroglycan that occurs in OGD abrogated the effect of OGD, but not direct blockade of α-dystroglycan, indicating that interfering with dystroglycan-matrix binding itself affects water uptake. Activation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) by OGD was dependent on α-dystroglycan binding, and inhibition of ERK activity with U0126 abrogated the loss of water uptake following OGD. These studies demonstrate for the first time that water uptake in astrocytes is regulated by dystroglycan-dependent signaling associated with matrix adhesion. This presents a novel potential approach to the treatment of cerebral edema.
Depression in black and white women: The role of marriage and socioeconomic status

The degree to which the relationship between race and depression in US black and white women is modified by socioeconomic and marital status was investigated. Data on 534 black and 836 white women, 25 to 64 years old, obtained from the 1986 Americans' Changing Lives national survey were utilized. Depression was measured by the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Poverty status and education were used as indicators of socioeconomic status (SES). For both black and white women, the prevalence of depression was higher among those with lower as compared to higher SES, and among the unmarried as compared to the married. The unstratified, age-adjusted odds of depression for black women was twice that for white women (odds ratio (OR) = 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7 to 2.8); however, when stratified by poverty status, race effects were observed for nonpoor (OR = 2.2; 95% CI, 1.6 to 3.0) but not for poor women (OR = 1.3; 95% CI, 0.7 to 2.1). Race effects were also more pronounced among married (OR = 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.9) than unmarried women (OR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.4). Controlling for known confounders did not alter these results. Additional analyses revealed that the black excess risk for depression was concentrated among higher SES, married women, with marital difficulties appearing to pay a major role in their elevated depression scores.
Analysis and correction of pressure wave distortion in fluid-filled catheter systems.

Dynamic characteristics of a variety of catheters and their dependence on various operating parameters are presented. Careful flushing of the catheter with degassed water or saline considerably improves the performance of these systems. The operating temperature, number of catheter uses, and average transmural pressure difference do not have a significant effect. The error due to catheter distortion in commonly used left ventricular performance indices (end diastolic pressure, peak systolic pressure, maximum dp/dt and Vmax) was assessed. On the basis of these results, it is shown that the natural frequency of the catheter system must be greater than 40 Hz to produce results accurate to 10%. The experimental data were used to develop a semi-empirical model for the catheter transducer system. This model was used in the design of an analog compensator to further improve the dynamic characteristics of the catheter transducer system. The compensator requires only two parameter settings, catheter natural freque...
Role of Sentiment in Message Propagation: Reply vs. Retweet Behavior in Political Communication

This paper examines the role of sentiment in information propagation. We make use of political communication in the Twitter space, and relate emotion expressions in a message to the degrees of responses generated by the message. We also compare differences between user reply vs. retweet behavior with respect to sentiment variables. The current results indicate that that degree of emotion expressions in twitter messages can affect the number of replies generated as well as retweet rates. Due to the difference in the nature of endorsement (retweet) vs. responses (replies or conversation), some of the variables present opposite roles in explaining the degree of responses the message receives. We expect these results will help generating a predictive model of message propagation.
Grounded: Practicing What We Preach

In this article we explore the challenges faced by teacher educators who struggle with the emotional and intellectual distance between their work in the university setting and the K-12 classroom. W...
Solubilized Cellulose and Dehydrated Potato Extract in Cooked, Low-fat Comminuted Beef

The optimal level of use of NP-5, a dehydrated potato extract, and solubilized cellulose (SC), a highly functional form of cellulose in a comminuted beef product was determined so what holding capacity (WHC), cooking yield and resistance to rancidity would be maximized. NP-5 was a very effective antioxidant and water binding ingredient at 1.5%. Addition of SC resulted in a more moist product and improved the cooking yield compared to the control. Addition of NP-5 and SC resulted in extended overall storage stability. La teneur optimale d'extrait de pomme de terre deshydratee (NP5) et de cellulose solubilisee dans un produit a base de viande de boeuf hachee est determinee. La capacite de retention d'eau, le rendement a la cuisson, la resistance au rancissement doivent etre maximum. NP5 est un bon antioxydant. L'ajout de NP5 ou de cellulose solubilisee permet d'ameliorer la stabilite du produit.
Towards a History of Presence: Husserl’s Intersubjectivity and Rouch’s Montage

Abstract This paper proposes a new phenomenological approach to social history by clarifying, critiquing and developing key insights from Husserl’s late work. First, it clarifies how Husserl began to refute phenomenology’s so-called solipsism and ahistoricality by advancing a concept of history that integrates subjective, intersubjective and communal organizations of experience. This concept, his “history of presence”, can be called a “temporal mode of oriented constitution”. Its value is to show how a single recursive series of determinations organizes a diverse set of epistemic norms, personal memories, and intersubjective apperceptions. As we analyze each moment of this series, the history of presence emerges as highly relevant to social inquiry, inasmuch as it highlights the roles of intersubjective awareness and shared “world-time”. Second, however, the paper shows that Husserl grounded his history, not in this self-other-world triad, but in metaphysical foundations. By falling back on an atemporal principle of identity, Husserl’s thirst for Cartesian certainty obscured some of his insights. To develop these, the paper concludes with a new look at Les maitres fous, a famous and controversial ethnographic film by Jean Rouch. Much of Rouch’s film echoes Husserl’s own problems, but Rouch’s use of montage replaces metaphysics with rhythm, identity with alterity, hegemony with mimicry, harmonious perception with dissonant yet generative apperception. Thus, Rouch dramatizes Husserl’s relevance to the phenomenology of social history. This paper’s internal critique and cross-cultural juxtaposition of Husserl’s late work portrays such relevance more accurately than Derrida’s uncharitable “metaphysics of presence” critique.
Internal Waves, Dynamic Instabilities, and Turbulence in the Equatorial Thermocline: An Introduction to Three Papers in this Issue

Abstract Appearing in this issue of the Journal of Physical Oceanography are three papers that present new observations of a distinct, narrow band, and diurnally varying signal in temperature records obtained in the low Richardson number shear flow above the core of the equatorial undercurrent. Moored data suggest that the intrinsic frequency of the signal is near the local buoyancy frequency, while towed data indicate that the horizontal wavelength in the zonal direction is 150–250 m. Coincident microstructure profiling shows that this signal is associated with bursts of turbulent mixing, it seems that this narrowband signal represents the signature of instabilities that ultimately cause the turbulence observed in the equatorial thermocline. Common problems in interpreting the physics behind the signature are discussed here.
Delay analysis for forward signaling channels in wireless cellular network

We consider connection-oriented wireless cellular networks. Such second generation systems are circuit-switched digital networks which employ dedicated radio channels for the transmission of signaling information. A forward signaling channel is a common signaling channel assigned to carry the multiplexed stream of paging and channel-allocation packets from a base station to the mobile stations. Similarly, for ATM wireless networks, paging and virtual-circuit-allocation packets are multiplexed across the forward signaling channels as part of the virtual-circuit set-up phase. The delay levels experienced by paging and channel-allocation packets are critical factors in determining the efficient utilization of the limited radio channel capacity. A multiplexing scheme operating in a "slotted mode" can lead to reduced power consumption at the handsets, but may in turn induce an increase in packet delays. Focusing on forward signaling channels, we present schemes for multiplexing paging and channel-allocation packets across these channels, based on channelization plans, access priority assignments and paging group arrangements. For such multiplexing schemes, we develop analytical methods for the calculation of the delay characteristics exhibited by paging and channel-allocation packets. The resulting models and formulas provide for the design and analysis of forward signaling channels for wireless network systems.
Co-design of fully integrated 60GHz CMOS digital radio in QFN package

The past few years has witnessed the emergence of CMOS based circuits operating at millimeter wave-frequencies. Co-design of fully integrated 60 Ghz CMOS single chip digital radio with low cost QFN package is the promise for high volume low cost fabrication, opening huge commercial markets. As standardization efforts catalyzed the interest and investment of industry and agencies, one can be assured of ubiquitous millimeter-wave technology in the consumer electronic market place in the fairly near future.
Empathic Accuracy: When does the Perceiver-Target Relationship Make a Difference?

This study sought to determine whether a friend-observer who eavesdrops on a friend-interactant's initial conversation with a stranger will be more accurate in inferring the friend-interactant's thoughts and feelings than will either the stranger-interaction partner or a stranger-observer. The empirical answer in this case was `no', suggesting that the meaning context established in the interactants' initial conversation was generic rather than esoteric (i.e. it did not uniquely benefit the empathic accuracy of the friend-observer). The findings also revealed, however, that nearly half of the variance in the perceivers' empathic accuracy scores was accounted for by differences in the overall `readability' of the various targets; and that, contrary to the cultural stereotype regarding the superiority of `women's intuition', there was no reliable sex difference in the perceivers' empathic accuracy scores. The discussion focused on the conditions in which the hypothesized empathic advantage of the friend-obs...
RLIP76 regulates HIF-1 activity, VEGF expression and secretion in tumor cells, and secretome transactivation of endothelial cells

This study was undertaken to reveal the mechanisms by which RLIP76 regulates endothelial cell angiogenic responses. RLIP76 is an effector of the angiogenic modulator, R-Ras. RLIP76 is overexpressed in many tumors, required for tumor angiogenesis, and blockade of RLIP76 results in tumor regression in multiple models. We report here that RLIP76 was required for expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in carcinoma and melanoma cells. Conditioned medium derived from RLIP76-depleted tumor cells, but not control knockdown cells, could not stimulate proliferation, migration, or Matrigel cord formation in endothelial cell cultures, which indicates that RLIP76 regulates angiogenic components of the tumor cell secretome. Recombinant VEGF added to conditioned medium from RLIP76-knockdown tumor cells restored these endothelial cell functions. Transcriptional activity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), which drives VEGF expression, was blocked in RLIP76-depleted tumor cells. RLIP76 was required for PI3-kinase activation, known to regulate HIF-1, in these cells. However, HIF-1α expression and nuclear localization were unaffected by RLIP76 knockdown, which suggests that RLIP76 regulates HIF-1 at the functional level. Thus, RLIP76 regulates tumor cell transactivation of endothelial cells via control of VEGF expression and secretion, providing a new important link in the mechanism of tumor cell induction of angiogenesis.—Lee, S., Goldfinger, L. E. RLIP76 regulates HIF-1 activity, VEGF expression and secretion in tumor cells, and secretome transactivation of endothelial cells.
Fulminant Tuberculosis Complicating Pregnancy in a Patient Infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The incidence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women and in pregnancy has been increasing. This increase has been paralleled by a rise of tuberculosis cases. We present the first reported case of miliary-meningeal tuberculosis presenting in pregnancy in an HIV-infected patient. A 29-year-old G2P2002 intravenous heroin and cocaine user presented after delivering a viable girl en route to the hospital. Her immediate postpartum course was complicated by a Staphylococcus aureus septicemia and presumed acute fatty liver of pregnancy. After initial improvement, the patient acutely became obtunded and went into respiratory failure. A chest roentgenogram showed findings compatible with miliary tuberculosis. Despite antituberculous therapy, her condition worsened, and she died on hospital day 6. Cultures of her blood and cerebrospinal fluid eventually grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This case illustrates how tuberculosis can have an unusually aggressive course in the presence of two imm...
A polynomial approximation scheme for machine scheduling on uniform processors: using the dual approximation approach

In this paper we present a polynomial approximation scheme for the minimum makespan problem on uniform parallel processors. More specifically, the problem is to find a schedule for a set of independent jobs on a collection of machines of different speeds so that the last job to finish is completed as quickly as possible. We give a family of polynomial-time algorithms {A∈} such that A∈ delivers a solution that is within a relative error of e of the optimum. The technique employed is the dual approximation approach, where infeasible but superoptimal solutions for a related (dual) problem are converted to the desired feasible but possibly suboptimal solution.
Social Network Extraction from Texts: A Thesis Proposal

In my thesis, I propose to build a system that would enable extraction of social interactions from texts. To date I have defined a comprehensive set of social events and built a preliminary system that extracts social events from news articles. I plan to improve the performance of my current system by incorporating semantic information. Using domain adaptation techniques, I propose to apply my system to a wide range of genres. By extracting linguistic constructs relevant to social interactions, I will be able to empirically analyze different kinds of linguistic constructs that people use to express social interactions. Lastly, I will attempt to make convolution kernels more scalable and interpretable.
Hyporesponsiveness to the immunosuppressant effects of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol.

AbstractDelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and Δ8-THC have previously been shown to suppress humoral immunity in mice. The purpose of these investigations was to determine whether a hyporesponsiveness develops to the immunosuppressive effect of Δ8-THC. BALB/c mice were administered 60 mg/kg Δ8-THC i.p. 2 days after an i.p. immunizing dose of sheep erythrocytes (sRBC). Significant inhibition of direct hemolytic plaqueforming cells (PFC)/spleen was observed on days 3–6, with peak day of inhibition occurring on day 4. The effective inhibiting dose 50 (ED50) measured on peak day of response was 40 mg/kg for PFC/106 spleen cells and 38 mg/kg for PFC/spleen. When mice were pretreated daily for 5 days with different doses of Δ8-THC, similar ED50's were detected. Under this pretreatment regimen, 5 or 10 mg/kg produced no immunosuppression. Daily treatment with 5 or 10 mg/kg Δ8-THC for 5 days prior to sRBC and varying doses of Δ8-THC administered 2 days after sRBC resulted in significantly higher ED50's and inc...
Mugshot Exposure Effects: Retroactive Interference, Mugshot Commitment, Source Confusion, and Unconscious Transference

More than 25 years of research has accumulated concerning the possible biasing effects of mugshot exposure to eyewitnesses. Two separate metaanalyses were conducted on 32 independent tests of the hypothesis that prior mugshot exposure decreases witness accuracy at a subsequent lineup. Mugshot exposure both signifi cantly decreased proportion correct and increased the false alarm rate, the effect being greater on false alarms. A mugshot commitment effect, arising from the identifi cation of someone in a mugshot, was a substantial moderator of both these effects. Simple retroactive interference, where the target person is not included among mugshots and no one in a mugshot is present in the subsequent lineup, did not signifi cantly impair target identifi cation. A third metaanalysis was conducted on 19 independent tests of the hypothesis that failure of memory for facial source or context results in transference errors. The effect size was more than twice as large for "transference" studies involving mugshot exposure in proximate temporal context with the target than for "bystander" studies with no subsequent mugshot exposure.
Influence of Time-of-Flight Kernel Accuracy in TOF-PET Reconstruction

In the reconstruction of data from time-of-flight (TOF) PET systems, the timing resolution is assumed to be known accurately; in iterative reconstruction, it is included in the system model, typically as a Gaussian function. The width of the reconstruction TOF kernel is taken to be equal to the measured coincidence timing resolution (tau). If tau changes (e.g., as a function of count rate), the TOF kernel used in reconstruction will not accurately model the measured data. The goal of this work was to assess the effect of using an inaccurate value of tau in the reconstruction TOF kernel. The Alderson phantom with 10-mm hot spheres was imaged on the Philips Gemini TF PET/CT system (585-ps intrinsic timing resolution). Distributions of hot spheres in 27- and 35-cm diameter warm cylinders were also simulated (trues only) for 300- and 600-ps timing resolutions. The data were reconstructed using up to 20 iterations of TOF-OSEM with 20 chronological subsets. For simulated data, reconstruction with a TOF kernel 10-25% narrower than tau led to a 3-12% decrease in contrast for all sphere sizes at the same background noise level because sphere events were misplaced due to the finite timing accuracy. Using a reconstruction TOF kernel 10-25% wider than tau resulted in a 3-7% increase in contrast. Even wider reconstruction kernels led to still higher contrasts for kernel widths up to 2-3 times tau, although at the cost of increased reconstruction time and slower convergence rates. For kernel widths greater than 3tau, the performance decreased, as the reconstruction approached the non-TOF algorithm. These trends were also observed with the measured data, although much less pronounced. The results indicate that contrast/noise performance is fairly insensitive to inaccuracies in the reconstruction TOF kernel, provided that it is not narrower than the actual timing resolution of the data.
The centrality of RNA for engineering gene expression.

Synthetic biology holds promise as both a framework for rationally engineering biological systems and a way to revolutionize how we fundamentally understand them. Essential to realizing this promise is the development of strategies and tools to reliably and predictably control and characterize sophisticated patterns of gene expression. Here we review the role that RNA can play towards this goal and make a case for why this versatile, designable, and increasingly characterizable molecule is one of the most powerful substrates for engineering gene expression at our disposal. We discuss current natural and synthetic RNA regulators of gene expression acting at key points of control – transcription, mRNA degradation, and translation. We also consider RNA structural probing and computational RNA structure predication tools as a way to study RNA structure and ultimately function. Finally, we discuss how next-generation sequencing methods are being applied to the study of RNA and to the characterization of RNA's many properties throughout the cell.
GRB 021211 as a Faint Analog of GRB 990123: Exploring the Similarities and Differences in the Optical Afterglows

We present BVR(sub c)JHK(sub s) photometry of the optical afterglow of the gamma-ray burst GRB 021211 taken at the Magellan, MMT, and WIYN observatories between 0.7 and 50 days after the burst. We find an intrinsic spectral slope at optical and near-infrared wavelengths of 0.69 +/- 0.14 at 0.87 days. The optical decay during the first day is almost identical to that of GRB 990123 except that GRB 021211's optical afterglow was intrinsically approximately 38 times fainter and the transition from the reverse shock to the forward shock may have occurred earlier than it did for GRB 990123. We find no evidence for a jet break or the cooling break passing through optical frequencies during the first day after the burst. There is weak evidence for a break in the J-band decay between 0.89 and 1.87 days which may be due to a jet. The optical and infrared data are consistent with a relativistic fireball where the shocked electrons are in the slow cooling regime and the electron index is 2.3 +/- 0.1. The burst appears to have occurred in a homogeneous ambient medium. Our analysis suggests that the jet of GRB 021211 may have a small opening angle (1.4 deg-4.4 deg) and that the total gamma-ray energy is much less than the canonical value of 1.33 x 10(exp 51) erg. If, this is the case then most of the energy of the burst may be in another form such as a frozen magnetic field, in supernova ejecta, or in a second jet component. The host galaxy of GRB 021211 is subluminous and has a star formation rate of at least 1 solar mass/yr.
Possible role of increased blood viscosity in the hemodynamics of systemic hypertension

It has long been recognized that the viscosity of a fluid contributes importantly to the resistance to its flow. For .150 years, the Poiseuille equation has drawn attention to resistance to flow in a tube as directly related to the viscosity of the fluid as well as the tube’s geometry. 1 In contrast to the extensive studies of vascular geometry in hypertension, relatively little attention has been paid to the possible contribution of altered blood viscosity to elevated vascular resistance in systemic hypertension. A few studies have reported elevated levels of whole blood viscosity (WBV) in patients with essential hypertension.2‐5 However, as with all studies comparing clinical patients with recruited normal volunteers, it is uncertain whether subject selection may have influenced results. Specifically, it is unclear whether WBV is higher in unselected patients with essential hypertension than in apparently normal adults from the same population. Furthermore, it is also unknown whether the elevation in WBV is proportionate to the increase in peripheral resistance in such patients and thereby could play a role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.6
Industrial Relations in the U.S. Automobile Industry: An Illustration of Increased Decentralization and Diversity

This paper traces the evolution of employment relations in the U.S. auto industry over the post World War II period with particular emphasis on recent developments. There is a strong movement toward growing variation in employment relations within both the assembly and parts sectors of the auto industry. Variation appears both through the spread of more contingent compensation and team systems of work organization. There is also wide variety across plants and industry segments in basic employment systems including low wage, human resource, Japanese-oriented, and joint team-based approaches. Declining unionization is a particularly strong influence in the parts sector although nonunion operations have now spread to the assembly sector. While these trends are well illustrated by developments in the auto industry, they are trends common to other parts of the U.S. economy.
The MedSeq Project: A randomized trial of integrating whole genome sequencing into clinical medicine

Background: Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is already being used in certain clinical and research settings, but its impact on patient well-being, health-care utilization, and clinical decision-making remains largely unstudied. It is also unknown how best to communicate sequencing results to physicians and patients to improve health. We describe the design of the MedSeq Project: the first randomized trials of WGS in clinical care. Methods/Design: This pair of randomized controlled trials compares WGS to standard of care in two clinical contexts: (a) disease-specific genomic medicine in a cardiomyopathy clinic and (b) general genomic medicine in primary care. We are recruiting 8 to 12 cardiologists, 8 to 12 primary care physicians, and approximately 200 of their patients. Patient participants in both the cardiology and primary care trials are randomly assigned to receive a family history assessment with or without WGS. Our laboratory delivers a genome report to physician participants that balances the needs to enhance understandability of genomic information and to convey its complexity. We provide an educational curriculum for physician participants and offer them a hotline to genetics professionals for guidance in interpreting and managing their patients’ genome reports. Using varied data sources, including surveys, semi-structured interviews, and review of clinical data, we measure the attitudes, behaviors and outcomes of physician and patient participants at multiple time points before and after the disclosure of these results. Discussion: The impact of emerging sequencing technologies on patient care is unclear. We have designed a process of interpreting WGS results and delivering them to physicians in a way that anticipates how we envision genomic medicine will evolve in the near future. That is, our WGS report provides clinically relevant information while communicating the complexity and uncertainty of WGS results to physicians and, through physicians, to their patients. This project will not only illuminate the impact of integrating genomic medicine into the clinical care of patients but also inform the design of future studies.
The risks of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use in infertile women: a review of the impact on fertility, pregnancy, neonatal health and beyond

Study question What is the current literature on the safety and efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use in infertile women? Summary answer There is little evidence that infertile women benefit from taking an SSRI, therefore they should be counseled appropriately about the risks and be advised to consider alternate safer treatments to treat depressive symptoms. What is known already SSRI use is associated with possible reduced infertility treatment efficacy as well as higher rates of pregnancy loss, preterm birth, pregnancy complications, neonatal issues and long-term neurobehavioral abnormalities in offspring. Study design, size, duration Review of existing literature. Participants/materials, setting, methods We conducted a review of all published studies that evaluate females with depressive symptoms who are taking antidepressant medications and who are experiencing infertility. Main results and the role of chance Antidepressant use during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of miscarriage, birth defects, preterm birth, newborn behavioral syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and possible longer term neurobehavioral effects. There is no evidence of improved pregnancy outcomes with antidepressant use. There is some evidence that psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy as well as physical exercise, is associated with significant decreases in depressive symptoms in the general population; research indicates that some forms of counseling are effective in treating depressive symptoms in infertile women. Limitations, reasons for caution Our findings are limited by the availability of published studies in the field, which are often retrospective and of small size. Wider implications of the findings Practitioners who care for infertility patients should have a thorough understanding of the published literature so that they can adequately counsel their patients. Study funding/competing interest(s) None.
Ecto-5′ Nucleotidase (CD73)-Mediated Adenosine Generation and Signaling in Murine Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73) catalyzes the terminal phosphohydrolysis of 5'-adenosine monophosphate and is widely expressed on endothelial cells where it regulates barrier function. Because it is also expressed on lymphocytes, we hypothesized that it modulates vascular immune regulation under homeostatic conditions and dysregulation under stress conditions such as cardiac allotransplantation. In a heterotopic cardiac allotransplantation model, CD73 deficiency in either donors or recipients resulted in decreased graft survival and the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy, suggesting a contribution of CD73 on both graft-resident and circulating cells in vasculopathy pathogenesis. Vascular perturbations incited by lack of CD73 included loss of graft barrier function and diminished graft expression of the A(2B) adenosine receptor (A(2B)AR), with a concordant exacerbation of the acute inflammatory and immune responses. The importance of CD73 in modulating endothelial-lymphocyte interaction was further demonstrated in allomismatched in vitro coculture experiments. Either genetic deletion or pharmacological blockade of CD73 increased transendothelial lymphocyte migration and inflammatory responses, suggesting that CD73 plays a critical role to suppress transendothelial leukocyte trafficking through its enzymatic activity. In addition, antagonism of A(2B)AR caused a significant increase in vascular leakage, and agonism of A(2B)AR resulted in marked prolongation of graft survival and suppression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy development. These data suggest a new paradigm in which phosphohydrolysis of adenosine monophosphate by CD73 on graft-resident or circulating cells diminishes transendothelial leukocyte trafficking and mitigates inflammatory and immune sequelae of cardiac transplantation via the A(2B)AR.
Gene transfection enhanced by ultrasound exposure combined with drug treatment guided by gene chip analysis.

Purpose: Heterogeneous bioeffects have been reported in previous studies of ultrasound-mediated gene delivery. The goal of this study is to identify the differences between cells that take up plasmid DNA (pDNA) after sonication but are not transfected and cells that similarly take up pDNA but are transfected. We used these findings to select drugs that regulate intracellular processes expected to enhance gene transfection in combination with US.Materials and Methods: Gene expression among DU145 human prostate cancer cells after ultrasound-mediated transfection was analyzed using Affymetrix GeneChip Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Arrays. Drug treatments suggested by the microarray analysis were combined with US exposure to regulate the corresponding intracellular processes. Cell viability and transfection efficiency were determined by flow cytometry to analyze the effects of US combined with drug treatment.Results: Genes such as GADD45α (growth arrest and DNA-damage inducible, alpha) and Topoisomerase IIα were...
Fever and Granulocytopenia: A Viewpoint from an Academic Setting

The optimal management of the febrile neutropenic patient continues to be controversial (Pizzo and Meyers 1989). There are numerous factors which must be taken into account when making recommendations for empiric therapy (Talcott et al. 1988; Pizzo et al. 1984). These factors include the age of the patient and the underlying diagnosis, the type of induction regimen used to treat the underlying disease, the presence of concomitant illnesses (i.e., renal/cardiac/hepatic), the expected duration of neutropenia, the nature and duration of prior infectious episodes, the clinical clues which exist to suggest a source for the neutropenic fever, and the expected organisms and their resistance patterns within that particular hospital. Clearly, if prospective clinical trials of antibiotic regimens are available, patients should be entered into such trials (Table 1).
Third-party classification: Exposing likeness between satellites dishes, troll figurines and mass-produced bedspreads in a Romanian local museum

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to foreground the ways in which material objects emerged as a kind of classificatory force during a visit to a local museum in rural Romania. It considers ways in which classification both influences and is influenced by the spatio-temporal assemblages of things. Design/methodology/approach – Visual and textual ethnographic field data collected to document the museum tour are interpreted using a phenomenological approach. Jane Bennett’s agency of assemblage is used to contextualize these instants of interruption within the space/time arrangements of objects within the museum. Findings – The “marginal” category of translator commentary emerged during data coding to reveal “instants of interruption.” These instants exhibited classificatory tendencies that revealed relationships between seemingly disparate elements. As such, the translator acted as a kind of third-party classificatory force that illuminated how relationships between physical assemblages of things in the...
Cord Blood Ferritin and Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 Levels in Neonates

Context: Elevated levels of the phosphate-regulating hormone, fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) are associated with skeletal and cardiovascular disease. Levels of FGF-23 are elevated in neonates, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Iron deficiency is a recently described stimulus for FGF-23 production. Objective: To test the hypothesis that lower fetal iron status, as measured by lower cord blood ferritin, is independently associated with elevated FGF-23 levels in neonates. Design and Participants: This is a cross-sectional study of 64 full-term, healthy neonates. Setting: This study took place in a university-based, tertiary care center. Main Outcome Measures: Plasma levels of second generation C-terminal FGF-23 (cFGF-23) and intact FGF-23 (iFGF-23). Results: Levels of cFGF-23 ranged from 108 to 7508 reference units (RU)/ml (median, 824 RU/ml), and iFGF-23 from undetectable (<8.5) to 135.4 pg/ml (median, <8.5 pg/mL). Ferritin ranged from 58 to 719 ng/ml (mean, 203 ng/ml). Lower cord blood ferrit...
Experimental Investigation of Rate-Dependent Inner Hysteresis Loops in PZT

The rate-dependence of piezoelectric materials resulting from the kinetics of domain switching is an important factor that needs to be included in realistic modeling attempts. This paper provides a systematic study of the rate-dependent hysteresis behavior of a commercially available PZT stack actuator. Experiments covering full as well as minor loops are conducted at different loading rates with polarization and strain recorded. In addition, the creep behavior at different constant levels of the electric field is observed. This provides evidence of kinetics being characterized by strongly varying relaxation times that can be associated with different switching mechanisms.
The 1987 Superstition Hills earthquake sequence: Strains and tilts at Piñon Flat Observatory

Abstract We describe observations at Pinon Flat Observatory of preseismic, co-seismic, and postseismic strain and tilt changes associated with the Superstition Hills earthquake sequence of 24 November 1987. The data come from two long-base strainmeters, one long-base tiltmeter, and a borehole dilatometer. Co-seismic offsets were seen for the two largest earthquakes; these offsets roughly agree with those from a dislocation in a half-space, though with disagreements at the 30 per cent level, suggesting some error in one or more of the co-seismic observations. For the main shock, the moment deduced from the offsets is 5 to 6 × 10 25 dyne-cm, less than that found from the seismic data. No precursive strain changes were seen. For the 8 hr before the main shock, any strain changes were less than the instrument noise level (1 per cent of the co-seismic strain); during the last 1000 sec before this earthquake, any precursory strains must be less than 0.5 per cent of the co-seismic amount. Postseismic strain during the 2 hr after the main shock was about 10 per cent of the co-seismic strain.
A Single Blood Culture for Confirmation of the Diagnosis of Neonatal Septicemia

A retrospective study of 366 neonates from whom blood was drawn and cultured revealed 56 infants with positive cultures. Twenty-eight neonates were considered to have septicemia, and a single blood culture provided satisfactory confirmation of the septicemia in each of these cases.