cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization of agricultural pest management I: Biological and mathematical background

Abstract This three part study investigates the application of optimization techniques especially dynamic programming to decision making in agricultural pest management. The development of insect control programs that use a minimum of environmentally disruptiveinsecticides is emphasized. Part 1 discusses the biological, chemical and integrated pest control methods presently being used and also reviews some of the mathematical models of population ecology that have been developed.
Bias in dental research can lead to inappropriate treatment selection

The first RCT was instituted in the early 1950s, evaluating streptomycin and bed rest compared with bed rest alone for tuberculosis. This research design has become the reference standard for comparative evaluations of therapies because of its prospective nature and the ability to control bias. Because it is easier to conduct observational studies, they have often been inappropriately substituted for the better experimental study designs. Since the 1950s, however, readers of the medical literature have slowly come to demand quality clinical research to assist them in caring for their patients. Dentists are somewhat behind their medical colleagues in using the strongest research designs to answer clinical questions. In dentistry, observational studies with convenience samples of patients have been commonly used. It is often argued that few dental ailments affect a person's life as negatively as most medical maladies; therefore, experimental rigors are not required of dental research. Although most dental care does not involve life-and-death issues, dentists are as eager as physicians to offer their patients optimal care. Optimal care is best defined through nonbiased research strategies.
The Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (Syk) Regulates Alzheimer Amyloid-β Production and Tau Hyperphosphorylation

We have previously shown that the L-type calcium channel (LCC) antagonist nilvadipine reduces brain amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation by affecting both Aβ production and Aβ clearance across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Nilvadipine consists of a mixture of two enantiomers, (+)-nilvadipine and (−)-nilvadipine, in equal proportion. (+)-Nilvadipine is the active enantiomer responsible for the inhibition of LCC, whereas (−)-nilvadipine is considered inactive. Both nilvadipine enantiomers inhibit Aβ production and improve the clearance of Aβ across the BBB showing that these effects are not related to LCC inhibition. In addition, treatment of P301S mutant human Tau transgenic mice (transgenic Tau P301S) with (−)-nilvadipine reduces Tau hyperphosphorylation at several Alzheimer disease (AD) pertinent epitopes. A search for the mechanism of action of (−)-nilvadipine revealed that this compound inhibits the spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). We further validated Syk as a target-regulating Aβ by showing that pharmacological inhibition of Syk or down-regulation of Syk expression reduces Aβ production and increases the clearance of Aβ across the BBB mimicking (−)-nilvadipine effects. Moreover, treatment of transgenic mice overexpressing Aβ and transgenic Tau P301S mice with a selective Syk inhibitor respectively decreased brain Aβ accumulation and Tau hyperphosphorylation at multiple AD relevant epitopes. We show that Syk inhibition induces an increased phosphorylation of the inhibitory Ser-9 residue of glycogen synthase kinase-3β, a primary Tau kinase involved in Tau phosphorylation, by activating protein kinase A, providing a mechanism explaining the reduction of Tau phosphorylation at GSK3β-dependent epitopes following Syk inhibition. Altogether our data highlight Syk as a promising target for preventing both Aβ accumulation and Tau hyperphosphorylation in AD.
Optimal Resource Use Over Time with an Application to Ground Water

This paper is concerned with optimal allocation over time of a single resource which is either fixed in supply or only partially renewable at a point in time. Some resources which fall in this category are mineral deposits, ground water, petroleum, wildlife, and fish. A functional equation is obtained from a dynamic programming formulation of the problem. This functional equation is used to derive approximate decision rules for resource use as a function of current supply. The results are applied to ground water storage control and tested empirically by comparison with a decision rule obtained by detailed numerical methods.
Altered slow wave activity in major depressive disorder with hypersomnia: a high density EEG pilot study

Hypersomnolence in major depressive disorder (MDD) plays an important role in the natural history of the disorder, but the basis of hypersomnia in MDD is poorly understood. Slow wave activity (SWA) has been associated with sleep homeostasis, as well as sleep restoration and maintenance, and may be altered in MDD. Therefore, we conducted a post-hoc study that utilized high density electroencephalography (hdEEG) to test the hypothesis that MDD subjects with hypersomnia (HYS+) would have decreased SWA relative to age- and sex-matched MDD subjects without hypersomnia (HYS-) and healthy controls (n=7 for each group). After correction for multiple comparisons using statistical non-parametric mapping, HYS+ subjects demonstrated significantly reduced parieto-occipital all-night SWA relative to HYS- subjects. Our results suggest hypersomnolence may be associated with topographic reductions in SWA in MDD. Further research using an adequately powered prospective design is indicated to confirm these findings.
A Novel Basis for Capsid Stabilization by Antiviral Compounds

Picornaviruses are inactivated by a family of hydrophobic drugs that bind at an internal site in the viral capsid and inhibit viral uncoating. A basis for the capsid stabilization previously unrecognized is revealed by molecular dynamics simulations of the antiviral drug WIN52084s bound to a hydrophobic pocket of solvated human rhinovirus 14. Isothermal compressibilities of the complex and human rhinovirus 14 without the antiviral drug calculated from density fluctuations show that the presence of WIN52084s increases the compressibility of the viral capsid near the antiviral drug. This counterintuitive result is understandable on the basis of the empirical evidence of thermal melting temperatures and protein-folding entropies of globular proteins. Based on this evidence, we propose that a larger compressibility from drug binding confers greater thermal stability to capsid proteins by increasing the conformational entropy of capsids, thereby diminishing the entropy gain with uncoating. We suggest that compressibility is fundamental to the structural integrity of viral capsids and that examination of compressibility and antiviral activity will provide insights into the disassembly process.
Immunohistochemical localization of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase in rat liver

Abstract NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (NADPH-cytochrome reductase, EC 1.6.2.4), the flavoprotein which is responsible for the NADPH-dependent reduction of cytochromes P-450 in hepatic microsomes, has been localized immunohistochemically at the light microscopic level in rat liver. Localization was achieved through the use of sheep antiserum to rat hepatic microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase in an unlabeled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. Parenchymal cells throughout the liver lobule were found to be stained positively for NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, although the intensity of immunostaining was slightly greater in the centrilobular regions. Immunostaining for NADPH-cytochrome c reductase was not detected in Kupffer cells, connective tissue cells, or in cells of the hepatic vasculature.
Primary Cultures of Embryonic Chick Lens Cells as a Model System to Study Lens Gap Junctions and Fiber Cell Differentiation

A major limitation in lens gap junction research has been the lack of experimentally tractable ex vivo systems to study the formation and regulation of fiber-type gap junctions. Although immortalized lens-derived cell lines are amenable to both gene transfection and siRNA-mediated knockdown, to our knowledge none are capable of undergoing appreciable epithelial-to-fiber differentiation. Lens central epithelial explants have the converse limitation. A key advance in the field was the development of a primary embryonic chick lens cell culture system by Drs. Sue Menko and Ross Johnson. Unlike central epithelial explants, these cultures also include cells from the peripheral (preequatorial and equatorial) epithelium, which is the most physiologically relevant population for the study of fiber-type gap junction formation. We have modified the Menko/Johnson system and refer to our cultures as dissociated cell-derived monolayer cultures (DCDMLs). We culture DCDMLs without serum to mimic the avascular lens environment and on laminin, the major matrix component of the lens capsule. Here, I review the features of the DCDML system and how we have used it to study lens gap junctions and fiber cell differentiation. Our results demonstrate the power of DCDMLs to generate new findings germane to the mammalian lens and how these cultures can be exploited to conduct experiments that would be impossible, prohibitively expensive and/or difficult to interpret using transgenic animals in vivo.
Ascorbate- and hemoglobin-dependent brain chemiluminescence

It has been indicated recently that ascorbic acid is responsible for the hemoglobin-mediated oxidative damage to the central nervous system (Sadrzadeh & Eaton, J. Clin. Invest. 82:1510-1515, 1988). In this paper we describe the changes in chemiluminescence accompanying hemoglobin- and ascorbate-dependent oxidative injury to brain tissue. Addition of either hemoglobin (15 microM) or ascorbate (1 or 2 mM) to rat brain homogenates stimulated spontaneous chemiluminescence in a synergistic manner. This increase in chemiluminescence was inhibited by desferrioxamine indicating that free iron was involved in the reactions leading to lipid peroxidation. Preincubation with ascorbate oxidase inhibited both spontaneous and hemoglobin-dependent chemiluminescence, suggesting that ascorbate was required for the reactions leading to lipid peroxidation. Supplementation with aminotriazole (an irreversible inhibitor of the catalase-H2O2 complex) increased chemiluminescence in a time-dependent manner, as catalase reacted with accumulated H2O2, suggesting that ascorbic acid has a dual action being involved in the production of H2O2 and also maintaining Fe in the reduced state to catalyze a Fenton-like reaction. The excited species responsible for the chemiluminescence were partially characterized by adding specific fluorescent energy acceptors: dibromoanthracene (DBA) and diphenylanthracene (DPA). Both DBA and DPA stimulated chemiluminescence several-fold indicating that triplet and singlet species are responsible for the observed chemiluminescence. Excited singlet carbonyls (identified with DPA) may be produced during the collision of two ROO.. Singlet oxygen may also be generated during the same reaction. It decays to the triplet state (emitting chemiluminescence at 634 nm) and reacts with double bonds producing dioxetanes, which may breakdown generating triplet carbonyls (identified with DBA).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Far Infrared Analysis Of The HgTe-CdTe Superlattice

The unusual properties of the HgTe-CdTe superlattice (SL), and its potential as an infrared detector material, make it worth study. Growth of this SL is a complex process so that good characterization is essential. Important structural and electronic properties appear in the region 10-250 cm-1, making far infrared spectroscopy a powerful probe. We show how reflectivity spectra analyzed by a simple, effective theory give Hg content in the nominal CdTe layers, layer thicknesses, effective mass, and the HgTe-CdTe valence band offset. We get m*/m° = 0.010 and 0.022 for dHgTe/dcdTe = 80 A/40 A, and 0.013 and 0.044 for dHgTe/d CdTe = 64 A/60 A, at 78 and 300K respectively. We obtain a valence band offset of 300 meV for the 80 A/40 A SL.
Regimes of Information: Land Use, Management, and Policy

Socio-ecological systems are inherently complex. One source of complexity is the uncertainties involved in the decisions and behaviors of human actors that determine how landholdings are managed. Land management decisions are often influenced by diverse factors and considerations. Particularly significant among these are (1) the sources of information land managers utilize with their perceived quality, reliability, and accessibility; (2) the social networks of the decision maker with their pertinent history, appeal, and authority; and (3) the interests, resources, and prior experiences of individual decision makers. This degree of diversity and uncertainty gives rise to behaviors that cannot be entirely explained in terms of rational choice or any variation thereof. How can we best understand and explain these behaviors, as spatial but also social and informational, in land-use decision making? This article presents the case of land management in a county in the Midwest United States to develop a conceptu...
Teratogenic compounds of veratrum californicum (durand) - VI

Abstract The teratogenic steroidal alkaloid, cyclopamine, from Veratrum californicum responsible for cyclopian and related central nervous system malformations in sheep was investigated. Data from i.r., NMR, mass spectrometry and other means identified cyclopamine as 11-deoxojervine.
Effect of interstimulus interval and heterogeneity of difference on same-different judgments of visual patterns

Subjects judged whether two single lines or matrices of slashes, separated by an interstimulus interval (ISI) ranging from .25 to 3 sec, were identical or different. A long ISI, by increasing internal noise, was expected to produce more spurious mismatches than matches and thus prompt more rechecking of different pairs. However, with a long ISI the fast-same effect was eliminated, whereas false-different errors abounded. The data were fitted by a model that permitted inertia in adjusting the criterion for rechecking. However, intermixing (vs. blocking) trials on ISI in Experiment 2, which ought to have retarded criterion adjustment, did not further reduce the rechecking of spurious mismatches. Consistent with the noisy-operator theory, increasing the heterogeneity of difference (external noise) in Experiments 3 and 4 increased false-same errors.
Diffuse domain walls and intersecting flat directions

It is shown that novel kinds of cosmological structures can arise if there are flat (or almost flat) directions of the scalar potential that intersect each other, as happens in some simple supersymmetric models. One example is {open_quotes}diffuse domain walls{close_quotes} whose energy density is only of order T{sup 4}. It is shown that as the universe expands the scale of the domains themselves remains of the order of the horizon scale, while the energy in the diffuse walls remains a roughly fixed fraction of the energy in matter. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
A shutter-based line-imaging system for single-shot raman scattering measurements of gradients in mixture fraction

A line-imaging system is described that uses a high-speed, rotating shutter, to reject background luminosity and allow one-dimensional Raman scattering measurements to be obtained without the limitations in dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio that are associated with image intensifiers. The rotating shutter replaces the entrance slit of an imaging spectrograph, which is combined with a cryogenically cooled, backilluminated CCD array. This system was developed for the purpose of obtaining simultaneous single-shot measurements of the major species concentrations, the mixture fraction, and the gradients of these scalars along a line in turbulent non-premixed flames, including those with simple hydrocarbon fuels. The performance of the shutter-based system was demonstrated through experiments in a laminar jet flame having the same fuel composition (25% CH4 and 75% air) used in previous experiments on piloted jet flames. Time-averaged, high-resolution spectra are presented to document the nature of hydrocarbon fluorescence interference in such flames. Single-shot measurements are obtained using on-chip binning to form superpixels, a process that minimizes instrument noise. The demonstration experiment made use of f/3.45 collection optics and 450 mJ/pulse of laser energy at 532 nm. The precision of the measurement of species concentrations, the mixture fraction, and the radial gradient of mixture fraction in the laminar flame is analyzed in terms of signal-to-noise ratios and standard deviations. This analysis indicates that planned experiments using f/2 optics and approximately 2.6 J/pulse should yield relative standard deviations of the conditional scalar dissipation of roughly 13% at xst=10s−1 and 6% at Xst=160 s−1. This level of precision will be useful in validating models for conditional scalar dissipation in turbulent nonpremixed flames.
Transgenic overexpression of connexin50 induces cataracts

To examine the effects of increased expression of Cx50 in the mouse lens, transgenic mice were generated using a DNA construct containing the human Cx50 coding region and a C-terminal FLAG epitope driven by the chicken βB1-crystallin promoter. Expression of this protein in paired Xenopus oocytes induced gap junctional currents of similar magnitude to wild type human Cx50. Three lines of transgenic mice expressing the transgenic protein were analyzed. Lenses from transgenic mice were smaller than those from non-transgenic littermates, and had cataracts that were already visible at postnatal day 1. Expression of the transgene resulted in a 3- to 13-fold increase in Cx50 protein levels above those of non-transgenic animals. Light microscopy revealed alterations in epithelial cell differentiation, fiber cell structure, interactions between fiber cells and areas of liquefaction. Scanning electron microscopy showed fiber cells of varying widths with bulging areas along single fibers. Anti-Cx50 and anti-FLAG immunoreactivities were detected at appositional membranes and in intracellular vesicles in transgenic lenses. N-cadherin, Cx46, ZO-1 and aquaporin 0 localized mainly at the plasma membrane, although some N-cadherin and aquaporin 0 was associated with the intracellular vesicles. The abundance and solubility/integrity of αA-, αB-, β- and γ-crystallin were unaffected. These results demonstrate that transgenic expression of Cx50 in mice leads to cataracts associated with formation of cytoplasmic vesicles containing Cx50 and decreased or slowed epithelial differentiation without major alterations in the distribution of other integral membrane or membrane-associated proteins or the integrity/solubility of crystallins.
The magnitude of the somatosensory cortical activity is related to the mobility and strength impairments seen in children with cerebral palsy

The noted disruption of thalamocortical connections and abnormalities in tactile sensory function has resulted in a new definition of cerebral palsy (CP) that recognizes the sensorimotor integration process as central to the motor impairments seen in these children. Despite this updated definition, the connection between a child's motor impairments and somatosensory processing remains almost entirely unknown. In this investigation, we explored the relationship between the magnitude of neural activity within the somatosensory cortices, the strength of the ankle plantarflexors, and the gait spatiotemporal kinematics of a group of children with CP and a typically developing matched cohort. Our results revealed that the magnitude of somatosensory cortical activity in children with CP had a strong positive relationship with the ankle strength, step length, and walking speed. These results suggest that stronger activity within the somatosensory cortices in response to foot somatosensations was related to enhanced ankle plantarflexor strength and improved mobility in the children with CP. These results provide further support for the notion that children with CP exhibit, not only musculoskeletal deficits, but also somatosensory deficits that potentially contribute to their overall functional mobility and strength limitations.
The retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold interferes with the infectivity of herpes simplex virus

Abstract Fluoro-Gold has been used previously to identify those trigeminal ganglion cells that innervate the central cornea. To examine the effects of Fluoro-Gold treatment on infection and spread of HSV in vivo, we measured the number of plaque forming units recovered from trigeminal ganglia 3 or 5 days after corneal scratch and inoculation with Fluoro-Gold and HSV. Treatment with Fluoro-Gold reduced the amount of virus recovered after retrograde transport 63% at 3 days and 28% at 5 days after inoculation. When we examined trigeminal ganglion sections from animals treated with HSV and Fluoro-Gold, we found the number of neurons double labeled with antibodies that recognize HSV and Fluoro-Gold was only 13% of all Fluoro-Gold labeled neurons. This was significantly fewer cells that we had anticipated, on the basis of double labeling experiments with wheat germ agglutinin combined with Fluoro-Gold. The effects of varying doses of the retrograde tracer, Fluoro-Gold on Herpes simplex virus (type 1) (HSV) infectivity were also assayed in vitro using a standard viral plaque assay. At 1 × 10−3 mg/ml Fluoro-Gold there was no effect on the number of plaque forming units. At 5 × 10−1 mg/ml the number of plaques was reduced about 67%. We conclude that Fluoro-Gold interferes with productive HSV infection in vivo and in vitro after retrograde transport of HSV by neurons.
Ureteropyeloscopy: the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to upper tract urothelial tumors

Rigid transurethral ureteropyeloscopy allows many standard cystoscopic procedures to be extended into the upper urinary tract, including endoscopic diagnosis, surveillance, and occasionally primary treatment. This endoscopic method has been used to investigate 59 patients suspected to have urothelial malignancies of the ureter or renal pelvis. Of the 54 patients in whom the procedure was successfully completed (90%), 27 were found to have urothelial tumors of the ureter or renal pelvis. Nephroureterectomy was subsequently performed in 6 of these patients and segmental ureterectomy in 3 patients, enabling pathologic correlation with the endoscopic mapping. However, in 16 patients, ureteroscopy and biopsy revealed apparently localized, low-grade tumors which were treated by ureteroscopic fulguration or resection. The latter patients and the 3 patients who underwent segmental ureterectomy have undergone endoscopic surveillance every 3 months (average follow-up 16 months). The technique of ureteropyeloscopy permits endoscopic access into the ureter and renal pelvis enabling tissue diagnosis and better preoperative cancer staging without surgical exploration. Although follow-up is short, selected patients with low-grade tumors may be treated primarily by endoscopic means.
Stability and transportability of biosolid colloids through undisturbed soil monoliths

Abstract This study evaluated the stability of water-suspended biosolid colloids fractionated from municipal and agricultural wastes and their transportability through undisturbed soil monoliths. The aim of the study was to assess potential risks posed by dispersed biosolid colloid particles as carriers of contaminants associated with organic waste amendments applied to soils. All biosolid colloids showed remarkable stability over a wide range of pH conditions, with 50–90% remaining in suspension after 24 h. Lime-stabilized biosolid colloids (LSB) were more stable than poultry manure (PMB) and aerobically digested (ADB) biosolid colloids, with pH and organic matter (OM) content being the dominant factors influencing colloid stability. However, increased colloid stability did not always result in greater transportability. In spite of their higher overall stability, LSB colloids showed low transportability potential through undisturbed soil monoliths averaging C / C 0 , probably due to carbonate dissolution and increased ionic interaction with the soil matrix. The ADB and PMB colloids, with the highest OM content, exhibited increased mobility, particularly through soils with significant macroporosity. Breakthrough curves were mostly irregular, suggesting considerable macropore flow and increased interaction with the soil matrix. Eluent pH and EC fluctuations appeared to mainly affect LSB colloid transport, while the mobility of the remaining biosolid colloids was maintained over a wide range of ionic conditions. The findings of this study suggest that some biosolid colloids derived from soil-applied agricultural or municipal wastes may exhibit considerable mobility through soil macropores with potential to migrate to great distances in subsoil environments. Considering the high surface charge and electronegativity of these colloids, they may be a significant vector for hydrophobic contaminant transport and pollution of groundwater resources.
Choline import into chloroplasts limits glycine betaine synthesis in tobacco: analysis of plants engineered with a chloroplastic or a cytosolic pathway.

Abstract The biosynthesis of the osmoprotectant glycine betaine (GlyBet) is a target for metabolic engineering to enhance stress resistance in crops. Certain plants synthesize GlyBet in chloroplasts via a two-step oxidation of choline (Cho). In previous work, a chloroplastic GlyBet synthesis pathway was inserted into tobacco (which lacks GlyBet) by expressing spinach choline monooxygenase (CMO). The transformants had low CMO enzyme activity, and produced little GlyBet (⩽70 nmol g −1 fresh wt). In this study, transfor- mants with up to 100-fold higher CMO activity showed no further increase in GlyBet. In contrast, tobacco expressing a cytosolic GlyBet synthesis pathway accumulated significantly more GlyBet (430 nmol g −1 fresh wt), suggesting that subcellular localization influences pathway flux. Modeling of the labeling kinetics of Cho metabolites observed when [ 14 C]Cho was supplied to engineered plants demonstrated that Cho import into chloroplasts indeed limits the flux to GlyBet in the chloroplastic pathway. A high-activity Cho transporter in the chloroplast envelope may therefore be an integral part of the GlyBet synthesis pathway in species that accumulate GlyBet naturally, and hence a target for future engineering.
The incidence of second neoplasms following megavoltage radiation for pediatric tumors

From 1953 to 1975, 330 children received megavoltage for benign or malignant tumors. Fourteen subsequently developed second neoplasms. The 30-year cumulative incidence of second neoplasms was 9.6%. The incidence of second malignant neoplasms may be lower following megavoltage radiation than following orthovoltage radiation.
Using Long-Timescale Molecular Dynamics Simulations to Benchmark Enhanced Sampling Methods

All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is a valuable technique for providing detailed information about the dynamics of biomolecules, but its computational expense can often be prohibitive. This limitation has motivated the development of “enhanced sampling” simulation methods - purely algorithmic changes to conventional MD that aim to accelerate the sampling of configurational states. Although many such methods are available, relatively few systematic studies of their performance have been done. Quantitative claims about the performance of enhanced sampling simulations are typically limited to (i) comparisons with conventional MD simulations of small, model systems, which may present qualitatively different sampling challenges than complex biological systems, or (ii) comparisons with experimental data, which may be complicated by discrepancies between the actual experimental conditions and the modeling of those experimental conditions in the enhanced sampling simulation, including errors in the physical model, or force field, used in simulation. An effective alternative approach to quantifying performance of enhanced sampling methods would be to compare the results they obtain on complex biological systems directly to those obtained by conventional MD simulations using the same force field. Here, we use long-timescale conventional MD simulations to assess the performance of certain commonly used enhanced sampling methods in accelerating the sampling of protein conformational changes, protein folding, and ligand binding.
A sharp error estimate for the numerical solution of multivariate dirichlet problem

For the multidimensional Dirichlet problem of the Poisson equation on an arbitrary compact domain, this study examines convergence properties with rates of approximate solutions, obtained by a stan...
Note on Hazard Elimination

This correspondence is concerned with the study of static hazards in combinational systems by means of ( n, k, i) trees and digraphs [1],[2].
The Role of Race in Forecasts of Violent Crime

This paper addresses the role of race in forecasts of failure on probation or parole. Failure is defined as committing a homicide or attempted homicide or being the victim of a homicide or an attempted homicide. These are very rare events in the population of individuals studied, which can make these outcomes extremely difficult to forecast accurately. Building in the relative costs of false positives and false negatives, machine learning procedures are applied to construct useful forecasts. The central question addressed is what role race should play as a predictor when as an empirical matter the majority of perpetrators and victims are young, African American, males.
Infectious papillomavirus in the vapor of warts treated with carbon dioxide laser or electrocoagulation: Detection and protection

Papillomavirus DNA has been reported recently in the vapor (smoke plume) derived from warts treated with carbon dioxide laser; this raises concerns for operator safety. We therefore have studied a group of human and bovine warts to define further the potential risk of wart therapy and to test whether a surgical mask could reduce exposure. Half of each wart was treated with carbon dioxide laser and the other half with electrocoagulation. The vapor produced by each form of therapy was collected with a dry filter vacuum apparatus and analyzed for the presence of papillomavirus. Vapor from human plantar warts was analyzed for the presence of human papillomavirus DNA, because there is no infectivity assay for human papillomavirus. Of plantar warts treated, five of eight laser-derived vapors and four of seven electrocoagulation-derived vapors were positive for human papillomavirus DNA. Greater amounts of papillomavirus DNA were usually recovered in the laser vapor than in the electrocoagulation vapor from the same wart. Bioassay readily detected infectious bovine papillomavirus in the vapor from bovine warts treated with either modality; more virus was present in laser-derived material. A surgical mask was found capable of removing virtually all laser- or electrocoagulation-derived virus, strongly suggesting that such masks can protect operators from potential inhalation exposure to papillomavirus.
Secure Management of Biomedical Data With Cryptographic Hardware

The biomedical community is increasingly migrating toward research endeavors that are dependent on large quantities of genomic and clinical data. At the same time, various regulations require that such data be shared beyond the initial collecting organization (e.g., an academic medical center). It is of critical importance to ensure that when such data are shared, as well as managed, it is done so in a manner that upholds the privacy of the corresponding individuals and the overall security of the system. In general, organizations have attempted to achieve these goals through deidentification methods that remove explicitly, and potentially, identifying features (e.g., names, dates, and geocodes). However, a growing number of studies demonstrate that deidentified data can be reidentified to named individuals using simple automated methods. As an alternative, it was shown that biomedical data could be shared, managed, and analyzed through practical cryptographic protocols without revealing the contents of any particular record. Yet, such protocols required the inclusion of multiple third parties, which may not always be feasible in the context of trust or bandwidth constraints. Thus, in this paper, we introduce a framework that removes the need for multiple third parties by collocating services to store and to process sensitive biomedical data through the integration of cryptographic hardware. Within this framework, we define a secure protocol to process genomic data and perform a series of experiments to demonstrate that such an approach can be run in an efficient manner for typical biomedical investigations.
Numbers, Distribution, and Movements of a Raccoon Population in a Suburban Residential Community

A population of raccoons ( Procyon lotor lotor ) was studied in the village of Glendale, a suburban residential community near Cincinnati, Ohio. The 234.1-hectare (ha) study area is approximately 64 percent residential and 1 percent business district, with the remainder being woods and fields. There are approximately 1.1 people and 0.6 housing units/ha. Although Glendale is surrounded by other residential and industrial areas, it was an excellent habitat for raccoons. During the 2-year study, 150 raccoons were live-trapped a total of 237 times. In addition, five raccoons were radio-tracked an average of 13.2 nights each. One hundred and sixty raccoons were estimated present on the study area in 1973–74, a density of one raccoon per 1.46 ha. Raccoon density was higher in the northern section of the study area than in the south due to (1) the character of the surrounding areas, and (2) the better habitat offered by wooded areas, garden plots, and available water. The average trap-determined “minimum home range” for 46 raccoons was 5.1 ha and the mean greatest distance traveled for 94 raccoons was 391.5 meters (m). The “minimum home ranges” averaged 5.5 times as long as wide. Radio telemetry showed that animals used linear travel routes going to and coming from the feeding areas. The comparatively small and narrow home ranges are attributed to high population density, an abundance of food, and the linear components of an urban habitat.
Water proton spin saturation affects measured protein backbone 15N spin relaxation rates

Abstract Protein backbone 15 N NMR spin relaxation rates are useful in characterizing the protein dynamics and structures. To observe the protein nuclear-spin resonances a pulse sequence has to include a water suppression scheme. There are two commonly employed methods, saturating or dephasing the water spins with pulse field gradients and keeping them unperturbed with flip-back pulses. Here different water suppression methods were incorporated into pulse sequences to measure 15 N longitudinal T 1 and transversal rotating-frame T 1 ρ spin relaxation. Unexpectedly the 15 N T 1 relaxation time constants varied significantly with the choice of water suppression method. For a 25-kDa Escherichia coli . glutamine binding protein (GlnBP) the T 1 values acquired with the pulse sequence containing a water dephasing gradient are on average 20% longer than the ones obtained using a pulse sequence containing the water flip-back pulse. In contrast the two T 1 ρ data sets are correlated without an apparent offset. The average T 1 difference was reduced to 12% when the experimental recycle delay was doubled, while the average T 1 values from the flip-back measurements were nearly unchanged. Analysis of spectral signal to noise ratios ( s / n ) showed the apparent slower 15 N relaxation obtained with the water dephasing experiment originated from the differences in 1 H N recovery for each relaxation time point. This in turn offset signal reduction from 15 N relaxation decay. The artifact becomes noticeable when the measured 15 N relaxation time constant is comparable to recycle delay, e.g., the 15 N T 1 of medium to large proteins. The 15 N relaxation rates measured with either water suppression schemes yield reasonable fits to the structure. However, data from the saturated scheme results in significantly lower Model-Free order parameters (〈 S 2 〉 = 0.81) than the non-saturated ones (〈 S 2 〉 = 0.88), indicating such order parameters may be previously underestimated.
“Flush‐Free Niacin”: Dietary Supplement May Be “Benefit‐Free”

This report describes a patient with coronary artery disease who was instructed to take extended-release niacin to treat low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and instead purchased "flush-free niacin" available at the pharmacy. There was no significant change in his lipids. Once the patient switched to extended-release niacin, the anticipated beneficial effects were seen. The article reviews the composition of flush-free niacin, its purported and real lipid effects, and warns against the effects of misleading marketing.
B LYMPHOCYTE DYSFUNCTION IN HOMOSEXUAL MEN AND IN CHILDREN WITH THE ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)

B LYMPHOCYTE DYSFUNCTION IN HOMOSEXUAL MEN AND IN CHILDREN WITH THE ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)
A chaperone cascade sorts proteins for posttranslational membrane insertion into the endoplasmic reticulum.

Tail-anchored (TA) proteins are posttranslationally inserted into either the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or the mitochondrial outer membrane. The C-terminal transmembrane domains (TMDs) of TA proteins enable their many essential cellular functions by specifying the membrane target, but how cells process these targeting signals is poorly understood. Here, we reveal the composition of a conserved multiprotein TMD recognition complex (TRC) and show that distinct TRC subunits recognize the two types of TMD signals. By engineering mutations in a mitochondrial TMD, we switch over its TRC subunit recognition, thus leading to its misinsertion into the ER. Biochemical reconstitution with purified components demonstrates that TRC tethers and enzymatically activates Get3 to selectively hand off ER-bound TA proteins to Get3. Thus, ER-bound TA proteins are sorted at the top of a TMD chaperone cascade that culminates with the formation of Get3-TA protein complexes, which are recruited to the ER membrane for insertion.
The use of interferometry in the study of rotorcraft aerodynamics

The application of interferometry techniques to analysis of aerodynamic flows on rotorcraft is reviewed, with emphasis on those studies which give insight into the character of the complex flows on helicopter rotor blades. In particular, blade-vortex interaction, dynamic stall, and transonic flow on rotor blades are reviewed, showing how interferometry offers new insight into the basic flow characteristics of these flows and presenting some of the correlations that have been made with the results of computational analysis.
Development of an analytical reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography assay for transforming growth factor β3

Abstract Transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3) is a dimeric protein (Mr 25 444) which regulates the proliferation of epithelial cells. A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for TGF-β3 in order to investigate the solution stability of TGF-β3. Peak width and retention time were evaluated as a function of (1) the initial percent of acetonitrile, (2) the gradient slope, (3) the percentage of trifluoracetic acid, and (4) column temperature. By varying the above conditions, particularly temperature, it was possible to reduce retention times and peak widths by a factor of 2 and 6, respectively. The observed temperature effects on peak width were consistent with the concept that conformational changes can be induced in the protein during the chromatographic migration. A balance was found between on-column degradation and improved peak width at elevated temperatures. The final assay was found to be linear over a 10–150 μg/ml drug range with a correlation coefficient of 0.998 and acceptable reproducibility (R.S.D. 2.09%, n = 6). The assay has been useful for monitoring drug loss in ongoing stability studies; however, it was found to have poor resolving power when certain stressed samples of TGF-β3 were applied, suggesting that complimentary assay methodologies must be developed.
Analysis of the Beta‐Tubulin Gene and Morphological Changes of the Microsporidium Anncaliia algerae both Suggest Albendazole Sensitivity

The Microsporidium, Anncaliia algerae, an obligate intracellular parasite, has been identified as an opportunistic human pathogen, but treatment has not been evaluated for infections with this organism. Albendazole, an antitubulin polymerization drug used against parasitic worm infections, has been the medication of choice used to treat some microsporidial infections affecting humans, with varying results ranging from clearing infection (Encephalitozoon) to resistance (Enterocytozoon). This study illustrates the effect of albendazole treatment on A. algerae infection in Rabbit Kidney (RK13) cells and Human Fetal Lung (HFL-1) fibroblasts. Albendazole appears to have an attenuating effect on A. algerae infection and albendazole's IC50 in RK13 cells is 0.1 μg/ml. Long-term treatment inhibits up to 98% of spore production, but interrupting treatment reestablishes the infection without new exposure to the parasite as supported by microscopic observations. The parasite's beta-tubulin gene was purified, cloned, and sequenced. Five of the six specific amino acids, associated with benzimidazole sensitivity, are conserved in A. algerae. These findings suggest that A. algerae is sensitive to albendazole; however, the organism is not completely cleared from cultures.
A Bayesian network approach to predicting nest presence of the federally-threatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus) using barrier island features

a b s t r a c t Sea-level rise and human development pose significant threats to shorebirds, particularly for species that utilize barrier island habitat. The piping plover (Charadrius melodus) is a federally-listed shorebird that nests on barrier islands and rapidly responds to changes in its physical environment, making it an excellent species with which to model how shorebird species may respond to habitat change related to sea-level rise and human development. The uncertainty and complexity in predicting sea-level rise, the responses of barrier island habitats to sea-level rise, and the responses of species to sea-level rise and human development necessitate a modeling approach that can link species to the physical habitat features that will be altered by changes in sea level and human development. We used a Bayesian network framework to develop a model that links piping plover nest presence to the physical features of their nesting habitat on a barrier island that is impacted by sea-level rise and human development, using three years of data (1999, 2002, and 2008) from Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland. Our model performance results showed that we were able to successfully predict nest presence given a wide range of physical conditions within the model's dataset. We found that model predictions were more successful when the ranges of physical conditions included in model development were varied rather than when those physical conditions were narrow. We also found that all model predictions had fewer false negatives (nests predicted to be absent when they were actually present in the dataset) than false positives (nests predicted to be present when they were actually absent in the dataset), indicating that our model correctly predicted nest presence better than nest absence. These results indicated that our approach of using a Bayesian network to link specific physical features to nest presence will be useful for modeling impacts of sea-level rise or human-related habitat change on barrier islands. We recommend that potential users of this method utilize multiple years of data that represent a wide range of physical conditions in model development, because the model performed less well when constructed using a narrow range of physical conditions. Further, given that there will always be some uncertainty in predictions of future physical habitat conditions related to sea-level rise and/or human development, predictive models will perform best when developed using multiple, varied years of data input.
Formation, maintenance, and functional uncoupling of connections between identified Helisoma neurons in situ.

Previous work with identified Helisoma neurons has characterized an array of neuroplastic responses to axotomy that include the generation of new neuritic outgrowth, the reinnervation of target organs, and the formation of new electrical synapses. These responses are not random, but rather occur in a precise, predictable manner under a variety of culture conditions. The present investigation demonstrates that specific identified neurons display similar neuroplastic “behavior” within the living animal. In response to in situ nerve crushes, neurons B4 and B5 generate new neuritic outgrowth, neuron B4 functionally reinnervates the salivary glands, and new electrical synapses form between the left and right neurons B5. The in situ paradigm employed in the present experiments made it possible to examine responses to axotomy over longer periods than in earlier studies with organ cultures. New B5R-B5L connections, previously found to be stable over the short term in culture, gradually decreased in strength in situ, and the cells effectively uncoupled by 8 weeks after axotomy. This uncoupling did not depend upon target reinnervation and occurred in the continued presence of neurites in the buccal commissure. It is suggested that the stability of new connections is related to whether the connection previously existed in the unperturbed nervous system. The similarities between the ability of identified neurons to grow and to form synaptic connections in situ and in culture suggests that neurons are endowed with a specific program of regenerative responses that can be expressed reliably in a wide variety of environmental conditions.
Ensemble: enriching communities and collections to support education in computing

Ensemble is a new NSF NSDL Pathways project working to establish a distributed digital library for computing education. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation. The project includes the CSTA portal for teaching materials for teachers in schools.
Focusing properties of a micromachined electron lens

The probe forming capability of a microfabricated silicon electrostatic electron lens is under investigation. The lens measures 7 mm by 9 mm by 1.64 mm and consists of three silicon electrodes separated by Pyrex optical fibers. A test structure was designed to house the micromachined lens and a commercially available electron emitter as well as deflectors and an electron detector. Images of a 1000 mesh gold TEM wire grid at a working distance of 4 mm are being obtained at magnifications greater than 10,000 X. Data from the images will be analyzed to estimate the quality of the electron beam.