cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental chemical exposures and human epigenetics

Every year more than 13 million deaths worldwide are due to environmental pollutants, and approximately 24% of diseases are caused by environmental exposures that might be averted through preventive measures. Rapidly growing evidence has linked environmental pollutants with epigenetic variations, including changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs. Environ mental chemicals and epigenetic changes All of these mechanisms are likely to play important roles in disease aetiology, and their modifications due to environmental pollutants might provide further understanding of disease aetiology, as well as biomarkers reflecting exposures to environmental pollutants and/or predicting the risk of future disease. We summarize the findings on epigenetic alterations related to environmental chemical exposures, and propose mechanisms of action by means of which the exposures may cause such epigenetic changes. We discuss opportunities, challenges and future directions for future epidemiology research in environmental epigenomics. Future investigations are needed to solve methodological and practical challenges, including uncertainties about stability over time of epigenomic changes induced by the environment, tissue specificity of epigenetic alterations, validation of laboratory methods, and adaptation of bioinformatic and biostatistical methods to high-throughput epigenomics. In addition, there are numerous reports of epigenetic modifications arising following exposure to environmental toxicants, but most have not been directly linked to disease endpoints. To complete our discussion, we also briefly summarize the diseases that have been linked to environmental chemicals-related epigenetic changes.
Male-biased sex ratios, female promiscuity, and copulatory mate guarding in an aggregating tropical bug,Dysdercus bimaculatus

The ecological and social bases of the mating system of the seed-feeding bug, Dysdercus bimaculatus(Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae), were studied in the lab and in aggregations at the host tree, Sterculia apetala(Malvales: Malvaceae), in Panama. On theoretical grounds, two factors are predicted to be of importance in determining the evolution of male mating tactics in Ms species: the operational sex ratio and the probability that undefended females will mate with other males, subjecting the gametes of deserters to sperm competition. Results of a study of a related species suggested that sperm displacement is probably substantial. Adult sex ratios at numerous sites were significantly male biased, and females whose mates were removed remated before oviposition (i. e., sperm utilization). These results predict that a mate defense tactic is likely to be superior to a nondefense tactic. The biological significance of the parameters is supported by observations that captive pairs often remained in copulafor several days, until just before oviposition. However, substantial variation in copulation duration was also observed, and possible causes of this variation are considered. Causes of male biased adult sex ratios were investigated by monitoring demographic changes within a single aggregation over 2 months. Both female juvenile and adult mortality rates were greater than male. In addition, dissections of reproductive adults showed that the flight muscles of females, but not males, had histolyzed, so that female reproduction is physiologically limited to a single site. Greater rates of immigration among both mature and young males suggests that an excess of males may also be found in the populations of bugs that subsequently colonize other host plants, so that female scarcity is typical of aggregations in all stages of development. The evolution of sex-limtied flight muscle histolysis may be explained by greater patchiness of females than males as mating resources, plus a lower energetic benefit/cost ratio of histolysis for males.
The miR-200 family determines the epithelial phenotype of cancer cells by targeting the E-cadherin repressors ZEB1 and ZEB2

Cancer progression has similarities with the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) found during embryonic development, during which cells down-regulate E-cadherin and up-regulate Vimentin expression. By evaluating the expression of 207 microRNAs (miRNAs) in the 60 cell lines of the drug screening panel maintained by the Nation Cancer Institute, we identified the miR-200 miRNA family as an extraordinary marker for cells that express E-cadherin but lack expression of Vimentin. These findings were extended to primary ovarian cancer specimens. miR-200 was found to directly target the mRNA of the E-cadherin transcriptional repressors ZEB1 (TCF8/δEF1) and ZEB2 (SMAD-interacting protein 1 [SIP1]/ZFXH1B). Ectopic expression of miR-200 caused up-regulation of E-cadherin in cancer cell lines and reduced their motility. Conversely, inhibition of miR-200 reduced E-cadherin expression, increased expression of Vimentin, and induced EMT. Our data identify miR-200 as a powerful marker and determining factor of the epithelial phenotype of cancer cells.
ADSORPTION OF INFLUENZA VIRUS ON CELLS OF THE RESPIRATORY TRACT.

A study of the reaction between influenza virus and the cells of the excised and perfused ferret lung has yielded the following results: (1) The cells of the lung rapidly adsorbed large amounts of intratracheally inoculated virus. (2) After a short interval the pulmonary cells began spontaneously to release the adsorbed virus, and in the case of influenza B the release was 75 per cent complete after 5 hours. (3) The Lee strain was more completely released from pulmonary cells after 5 hours than was the PR8 strain. (4) After the cells released the adsorbed virus they appeared incapable of adsorbing virus as before. (5) When the mouse-infecting capacity of the virus had been done away with by heat or formalin, the virus was adsorbed by the pulmonary cells but was not released. In all except the last of the characteristics listed the interaction between influenza virus and the pulmonary cells closely resembles that between influenza virus and avian red blood cells. In the living ferret inhaled influenza virus was also rapidly adsorbed by the lung, but in a very short time the adsorbed virus which at first could be readily eluted (after perfusion and excision of the lung) became so much more firmly fixed as not to be released by this method. Free virus could not be demonstrated in the living ferret until 24 hours after the animal had been exposed to the inoculum. On the basis of these and previous experiments it is postulated that the destruction of a specific receptor substance,—which may involve an enzymatic reaction,—may be a necessary preliminary event in the parasitism of susceptible cells by influenza virus.
A Performance Evaluation Of Three High-Fidelity Streak Cameras

Several scientific programs at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) require instrumentation that can capture optical signals with high fidelity. Typically, they require high temporal resolution, high spatial resolution, and high dynamic range. The instrument of choice for most of these multichannel, data-recording applications is the optical streak camera. We have evaluated three optical streak camera systems under similar conditions: (1) the EGG (2) an in-house (LLNL) design, with an ITT F4157 streak tube that operates in the extraction mode; and (3) a Thomson-CSF model TSN 506 streak camera, with an ITT F4157 streak tube that also operates in the extraction mode. All three systems were found to be capable of time response better than 40 ps FWHM, a dynamic range of greater than 100, and spatial resolution greater than 5 line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm). The experimental setup and plots of results are presented and discussed.
Genetic (Co)Variation for Life Span in Rhabditid Nematodes: Role of Mutation, Selection, and History

The evolutionary mechanisms maintaining genetic variation in life span, particularly post-reproductive life span, are poorly understood. We characterized the effects of spontaneous mutations on life span in the rhabditid nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans and C. briggsae and standing genetic variance for life span and correlation of life span with fi tness in C. briggsae . Mutations decreased mean life span, a signature of directional selection. Mutational correlations between life span and fi tness were consistently positive. The average selection coeffi cient against new mutations in C. briggsae was approximately 2% when homozygous. The pattern of phylogeographic variation in life span is inconsistent with global mutation – selection balance (MSB), but MSB appears to hold at the local level. Standing genetic correlations in C. briggsae refl ect mutational correlations at a local scale but not at a broad phylogeographic level. At the local scale, results are broadly consistent with predictions of the “ mutation accumulation ” hypothesis for the evolution of aging.
Adaptive Evolution of Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 during Growth on a Nonnative Carbon Source, l-1,2-Propanediol

Laboratory adaptive evolution studies can provide key information to address a wide range of issues in evolutionary biology. Such studies have been limited thus far by the inability of workers to readily detect mutations in evolved microbial strains on a genome scale. This limitation has now been overcome by recently developed genome sequencing technology that allows workers to identify all accumulated mutations that appear during laboratory adaptive evolution. In this study, we evolved Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 with a nonnative carbon source, l-1,2-propanediol (l-1,2-PDO), for ∼700 generations. We found that (i) experimental evolution of E. coli for ∼700 generations in 1,2-PDO-supplemented minimal medium resulted in acquisition of the ability to use l-1,2-PDO as a sole carbon and energy source so that the organism changed from an organism that did not grow at all initially to an organism that had a growth rate of 0.35 h−1; (ii) six mutations detected by whole-genome resequencing accumulated in the evolved E. coli mutant over the course of adaptive evolution on l-1,2-PDO; (iii) five of the six mutations were within coding regions, and IS5 was inserted between two fuc regulons; (iv) two major mutations (mutations in fucO and its promoter) involved in l-1,2-PDO catabolism appeared early during adaptive evolution; and (v) multiple defined knock-in mutant strains with all of the mutations had growth rates essentially matching that of the evolved strain. These results provide insight into the genetic basis underlying microbial evolution for growth on a nonnative substrate.
Impedance matrix localization produces a sparse moment method matrix

Basis and testing functions for moment-method calculations that make the resulting matrix sparse are discussed. Recent numerical results have verified theoretical predictions that a moment-method matrix with N/sup 2/ elements can be replaced by one with 100N nonzero elements. This technique is unlike some other techniques (e.g. k-space, differential equation, etc.) in that this is done without increasing N from its usual moment-method value. This technique also differs from many of these techniques (e.g. k-space. Rokhlin's factorization, etc.) because the resulting matrix is truly sparse, permitting solutions using efficient preconditioners for iterative techniques and possibly sparse direct techniques. For large moment-method problems (N>10000), the resulting savings in memory and execution time are both greater than a factor of 100. This impedance matrix localization technique applies to any moment-method formulation. >
Leadership Substitutes: Their Factorial Validity in Educational Organizations.

This study examines the internal-consistency reliability, and factorial validity of the Substitutes for Leadership Questionnaire (Kerr, 1977) in an educational setting. This instrument, which was modified slightly to reflect school roles and tasks, measuring 13 contextual factors (characteristics of staff, teaching, and the organization structure) known as leadership substitutes which are hypothesized to have an interaction effect in the relationship between hierarchical leader behaviors and subordinate performance and attitudes. Survey data were collected from teachers in a sample of 47 schools. These data support Kerr's original formulation on leadership substitutes for 11 of the original 13 factors.
Set Relations in Social Research: Evaluating Their Consistency and Coverage

Because of its inherently asymmetric nature, set-theoretic analysis offers many interesting contrasts with analysis based on correlations. Until recently, however, social scientists have been slow to embrace set-theoretic approaches. The perception was that this type of analysis is restricted to primitive, binary variables and that it has little or no tolerance for error. With the advent of ‘‘fuzzy’’ sets and the recognition that even rough set-theoretic relations are relevant to theory, these old barriers have crumbled. This paper advances the set-theoretic approach by presenting simple descriptive measures that can be used to evaluate set-theoretic relationships, especially relations between fuzzy sets. The first measure, ‘‘consistency,’’ assesses the degree to which a subset relation has been approximated, whereas the second measure, ‘‘coverage,’’ assesses the empirical relevance of a consistent subset. This paper demonstrates further that set-theoretic coverage can be partitioned in a manner somewhat analogous to the partitioning of explained variation in multiple regression analysis.
KNOWLEDGE-GUIDED CLASSIFICATION OF COASTAL ZONE COLOR IMAGES OFF THE WEST FLORIDA SHELF

A knowledge-guided approach to automatic classification of Coastal Zone Color images off the West Florida Shelf is described. The approach is used to identify red tides on the West Florida Shelf, as well as areas with high concentration of dissolved organic matter such as a river plume found seasonally along the West Florida coast over the middle of the shelf. The Coastal Zone Color images are initially segmented by the unsupervised Multistage Random Sampling Fuzzy c-Means algorithm. Then, a knowledge-guided system is applied to the centroid values of resultant clusters to label case I, case II waters, a dilute river plume ("green river"), and red tide. The domain knowledge base contains information on cluster distribution in feature space, as well as spatial information such as bathymetry data. Our knowledge base consists of a rule-guided system and an embedded neural network. From 60 images, after training the system, this procedure recognizes all 15 images which contained a river plume and 45 images without. The system can correctly classify 74% of the pixels that belong to the river plume, which provides a substantial advantage to users looking for offshore extensions of riverine influence. Red tides are also successfully identified in a time series of images for which ground truth confirmed the presence of a harmful bloom.
Co-occurring traumatic brain injury and acute spinal cord injury rehabilitation outcomes.

Abstract Macciocchi S, Seel RT, Warshowsky A, Thompson N, Barlow K. Co-occurring traumatic brain injury and acute spinal cord injury rehabilitation outcomes. Objective To determine the impact of co-occurring traumatic brain injury (TBI) on functional motor outcome and cognition during acute spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Design Prospective, longitudinal cohort. Setting Single-center National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research SCI Model System. Participants Persons aged 16 to 59 years (N=189) admitted for acute SCI rehabilitation during the 18-month recruitment window who met inclusion criteria. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures FIM Motor Scale (Rasch transformed) and acute rehabilitation length of stay (LOS). Results In the tetraplegia sample, co-occurring TBI was not related to FIM Motor Scale scores or acute rehabilitation LOS despite having negative impacts on memory and problem solving. Persons with paraplegia who sustained co-occurring severe TBI had lower admission and discharge FIM Motor Scale scores and longer acute rehabilitation LOS than did persons with paraplegia and either no TBI or mild TBI. Persons with paraplegia and severe TBI had lower functional comprehension, problem solving, and memory and impairments on tests of processing speed compared with persons with paraplegia and no TBI, mild TBI, and moderate TBI. Persons with paraplegia and co-occurring mild and moderate TBI had equivalent acute rehabilitation motor outcomes and cognitive functioning compared with persons with paraplegia and no TBI. Conclusions This study provides evidence that persons aged 16 to 59 years with paraplegia and co-occurring severe TBI had worse motor outcomes and longer acute rehabilitation LOS than did persons with paraplegia and no TBI. Impairments in processing speed, comprehension, memory, and problem solving may explain suboptimal motor skill acquisition. Research with larger samples is required to determine whether mild and moderate TBI impact acute rehabilitation motor outcomes and LOS.
Survey of bottled waters for perchlorate by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and ion chromatography (IC)†

Perchlorate has been identified in ground and surface waters around the USA including some that serve as supplies for drinking water. Because perchlorate salts are used as solid oxidants in rockets and ordnance, water contamination may occur near military or aerospace installations or defense industry manufacturing facilities. This ion has been added to the Environmental Protection Agency's Contaminant Candidate List and the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. Concern over perchlorate has prompted many residents in affected areas to switch to bottled water; however, bottled waters have not previously been examined for perchlorate contamination. Should the EPA promulgate a regulation for municipal water systems, US law requires the Food and Drug Administration to take action on bottled water. Methods will therefore be required to determine perchlorate concentrations not only in tap water, but also in bottled waters. Ion chromatography (IC) is the primary technique used for its analysis in drinking water, but it does not provide a unique identification. Confirmation by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) can serve in this capacity. The ESI-MS method can be applied to these products, but it requires an understanding of matrix effects, especially of high ionic strength that can suppress electrospray. When using methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) as the extraction solvent, the ESI-MS method can reach lower limits of detection of 6 ng ml −1 for some bottled waters. However, dilution required to negate ionic strength effects in mineral waters can raise this by a factor of 10 or more, depending on the sample. Decyltrimethylammonium cation (added as the bromide salt) is used to produce an ion pair that is extracted into MIBK. After extraction, the sum of the peak areas of the ions C10H21NMe3(Br)(ClO4)− (m/z = 380) and C10H21NMe3(ClO4)2− (m/z = 400) is used to quantitate perchlorate. Standard additions are used to account for most of the matrix effects. In this work, eight domestic brands and eight imported brands of bottled water were comparatively analyzed by the two techniques. For comparison, a finished potable water known to contain perchlorate was also tested. None of the bottled waters were found to contain any perchlorate within the lower limit of detection for the IC method. Recoveries on spiked samples subjected to the IC method were ≥98%. Published in 2000 for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
High throughput characterization of the optical properties of compositionally graded combinatorial films

Compositionally graded combinatorial films have been characterized by a high throughput automated spectroscopic reflectometer. The data from this instrument were used to map the thickness and index of refraction of the compositionally varying films. Combinatorial films produced by dual-beam, dual-target pulsed laser deposition and characterized with the reflectometer include the BaTiO3‐SrTiO3 system on silicon (dielectric and ferroelectric films). In addition, combinatorial Au/Ni electrical contacts on n-GaN/sapphire produced by electron-beam (e-beam) vaporization have been characterized with the spectroscopic reflectometer. The Au/Ni/n-GaN/sapphire structures were characterized both as-deposited and after annealing at 400 8C for 60 s in flowing argon. # 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V. PACS: 78.40; 07.60.H; 78.66
Photoinduced Intermolecular Electron Transfer in Micelles: Dielectric and Structural Properties of Micelle Headgroup Regions

Photoinduced intermolecular (donor/acceptor) electron transfer is studied both experimentally and theoretically for donors and acceptors located in the headgroup region of micelles. Fluorescence up-conversion and fluorescence yield measurements were performed to characterize photoinduced electron transfer from N,Ndimethylaniline (DMA) and N,N-dimethyl-1-naphthylamine (DMNA) to octadecylrhodamine B (ODRB) in three types of aqueous micelle solutions: dodecyl-, tetradecyl-, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB, TTAB, and CTAB, respectively). The data were analyzed with a detailed theory that assumes a Marcus distance-dependent rate constant. Because DMA, DMNA, and ODRB reside in the headgroup region of the micelles, the theory includes diffusion of the molecules in this region of the micelles. The micelles are modeled as a spherical core of low dielectric constant surrounded by a spherical shell headgroup region with intermediate dielectric properties, which in turn is surrounded by water. An analytical theory, which accounts for geometrical and dielectric properties of the three-region micelle environment, is used to calculate the solvent reorganization energy and free energy of transfer. To fit the data, the three-region dielectric model is necessary, and the dielectric constant of the micelle headgroup region of each micelle can be approximately determined. In addition, including local structure is required to fit the data, yielding some information about molecular organization in the headgroup region.
The use of relational pyramid representation for view classes in a CAD-to-vision system

A CAD-to-vision system with applications in robot guidance, docking and tracking, and inspection tasks is being developed. The goal of the system is to start with CAD models from a geometric modeling system, convert to models that are appropriate for object recognition in vision, and use these vision models for online vision tasks. The vision models consist of two parts: a three-dimensional component, and a set of two-dimensional structures called view classes, each of which relates back to the three-dimensional component. A view class represents a range of views of the object that have similar features in similar relationships. The definition of a view class, its representation as a relational pyramid, and an algorithm for rapidly selecting the view class that best matches an unknown view of the object are discussed. >
Evaluation of Column Flotation in the Downstream Processing of Fermentation Products: Recovery of a Genetically Engineered α‐Amylase

Flotation is a simple, inexpensive, and versatile unit operation with a largely unexplored potential in biotechnology. There is a general lack of research concerning biotechnological applications in this area, especially in the recovery of fermentation products. Moreover, the few reports in the literature do not consider the modern concept of column flotation as practiced in the mineral industry. We report herein the application of column flotation for the recovery of a Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase expressed in Escherichia coli by the use of a food-grade polymer, (hydroxypropyl)methylcellulose (HPMC), and ammonium sulfate. First, the enzyme was removed from the liquid phase by partition to a salted-out HPMC phase. The enzyme-containing polymer flocs were then floated from the liquid. Recovery of active enzyme was as high as 90%, with throughput as high as 94 m3/(h.m2). The floatability of the enzyme from a periplasmic extract was higher than extracellular enzyme in the broth due to the presence of depressors of molecular weight lower than 10,000 in the broth.
INVERTEBRATES THAT AESTIVATE IN DRY BASINS OF CAROLINA BAY WETLANDS

Abstract Water levels fluctuate widely in Carolina bay wetlands and most dry periodically. Aquatic organisms inhabiting these wetlands have the capacity to either resist desiccation or to recolonize newly flooded habitats. The objective of this study was to determine which invertebrates aestivate in the soil of dry Carolina bays and to describe how differences in habitat affect the composition of aestivating invertebrates. Eight Carolina bays located on the Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, South Carolina, USA were examined for this study. Although all of the wetlands dried seasonally, three of the wetlands were relatively wet (inundated 47–92% of the year on average), one was intermediate, and four were relatively dry (inundated 20% of year on average). Sections of soil were removed from each bay during August and November when all sites were dry, placed into tubs, flooded, and covered with fine mesh. Invertebrates were sampled from the water biweekly for four weeks. Invertebrate assemblages were con...
Axitinib for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma is a cancer that results from a genetic inactivation of the VHL tumor suppressor gene leading to an upregulation of VEGF. Targeted therapies against VEGF receptors have piqued substantial interest among clinicians and researchers, and these drugs are now the standard of care in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. One of these VEGF receptor inhibitors, axitinib, has been shown to be a superior second-line therapy when compared with sorafenib. Although axitinib has clinical activity and a manageable safety profile in patients with treatment-naive metastatic renal cell carcinoma, utility in the front-line setting is area of ongoing investigation. Another area of ongoing research is dose titration of axitinib to achieve the maximum clinical benefit. Interestingly, the axitinib-related side effect of hypertension has shown to be associated with more favorable clinical outcomes. This article describes the development of axitinib and discusses the current indications for clinical use in the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Pilot Trial of Interleukin-2 With Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor for the Mobilization of Progenitor Cells in Advanced Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing High-Dose Chemotherapy: Expansion of Immune Effectors Within the Stem-Cell Graft and Post–Stem-Cell Infusion

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether administration of interleukin-2 (IL-2) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) improves mobilization of immune effector cells into the stem-cell graft of patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and autografting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a trial of stem-cell mobilization with IL-2 and G-CSF in advanced breast cancer patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, and carboplatin and stem cells followed by IL-2. The trial defined immune, hematologic, and clinical effects of IL-2 in this setting. RESULTS: Of 32 patients enrolled, nine received G-CSF alone for mobilization. Twenty-one of 23 patients mobilized with IL-2 plus G-CSF had stem cells collected with more mononuclear cells than those receiving G-CSF (19.3 v 10.4 × 108/kg; P = .006), but fewer CD34+ progenitor cells (6.9 v 22.0 × 106/kg; P = .049). The IL-2 plus G-CSF–mobilized patients had greater numbers of activated T (CD3+/CD25+) cells (P = .009), natural killer (NK; C...
Effect of Increase in Physical Fitness on Mental Ability following Physical and Mental Stress

Abstract In order to test the hypothesis that an increase in physical fitness has a positive effect on the ability of individuals to perform complex mental tasks following physical and mental stress, 55 male college students were selected in random fashion from a group of students who were required to take a course in physical fitness. These students then were administered a series of mental tasks following a low intensity period of physical and mental exertion. Then the fitness of 29 of the students was systematically increased over a 12-week period while the other 26 students acted as controls and were not registered in any physical education course. The testing procedure was repeated at the end of the 12 week period. In no between-groups comparisons did any significant differences arise in favor of the experimental groups. However, it was found within each group that a significant relationship existed between the degree of fitness improvement and the degree of mental task improvement from pretest to po...
Hyperparathyroid genes: sequences reveal answers and questions.

ABSTRACT Objective: To review hyperparathyroid syndromes and genes. Methods: Pertinent original studies from the literature are discussed. Results: Six main hyperparathyroid syndromes are recognized; 5 are from germline mutations in 4 genes — CASR, MEN1, RET, and HRPT2. Each hyperparathyroid syndrome was first described around 1965; the main gene for each syndrome was identified about 30 years later. Gene identification addressed clinical issues. (1) Testing for mutation carriers among affected probands or among unaffected relatives is more robust than prior methods, which were based on syndromal traits such as serum calcium. (2) Interpreting a gene test (RET) could guide an important intervention; other gene tests could yield useful information for patients and physicians. (3) Proving the roles of each gene (in particular, MEN1 somatic mutations) provided insights about contributions to many common tumors. (4) Clarifying molecular pathways and drugs led, for example, to the CASR-aided development of calcimimetic and calcilytic drugs. (5) Explaining novel features, such as the CASR gene encoding a membrane calcium-sensing receptor and its mutations resulting in nonsuppressed parathyroid hormone secretion uncoupled from proliferation, characterized familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia. (6) Disclosing probands without an identifiable mutation promoted searches for other syndromal genes. Subsequently, rare multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-like families were shown to have inactivating germline mutations, first of p27 and subsequently of p15, p18, or p21. Conclusion: The next frontier in mutation detection is arriving, with possible sequencing of the whole exome or even the whole genome for 1 case or 1 tumor at an affordable cost. (Endocr Pract. 2011;17[Suppl 3]:18-27) Abbreviations: Ca-SR = calcium-sensing receptor; CDKI = cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor; FHH = familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia; FIH = familial isolated hyperparathyroidism; HPT-JT = hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome; MEN 1 = multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1; MEN 2A = multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A; NSHPT = neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism
Prediction of daily ratings of psychosocial functioning: can ratings of personality disorder traits and functioning be distinguished?

Current categorical and dimensional conceptualizations of personality disorder (PD) typically confound pathological PD traits with distress and impairment (dysfunction). The current study examines whether dimensions of personality pathology and psychosocial dysfunction can be psychometrically distinguished. To that end, we collected self-report ratings of personality pathology and dysfunction at baseline, along with daily ratings of dysfunctional behavior over ten consecutive days. Correlations revealed substantial overlap between traits and dysfunction measured at baseline. However, follow-up hierarchical regressions revealed that baseline dysfunction ratings incrementally predicted daily dysfunction ratings after accounting for personality trait ratings, suggesting that traits and dysfunction are at least partially differentiable. However, the incremental effects were stronger for some dysfunction domains (i.e., Self-Mastery and Basic Functioning) than for others (Well-Being and Interpersonal), suggesting that maladaptive trait measures are more confounded with the latter types of impairment. These findings suggest that distinguishing maladaptive PD traits from functioning in PD classification systems likely is more difficult than would be expected, a finding that has important implications for the competing Section II and Section III conceptualizations of PD presented in DSM-5.
Modeling Vulnerable Urban Populations in the Global Context of a Changing Climate

Climate change, an increase in overall average temperature and frequency of extreme weather events, will influence human populations and exert stress on the current and future built environment. Most contemporary climate models indicate that climate change will have heterogeneous impact globally, and its effects are expected to be more severe in urban centers. This is due to the increased density of human populations, materials used to construct the urban area, and land-use practices therein (O’Neill et al., 2010). There are numerous health stressors present in urban locations, such as the urban heat island (UHI) effect and pollution, despite proximal access to health services. Understanding the effects of climate change on human health will become a central focus of the public health community in the twenty-first century. The anticipated consequences of climate change are not yet fully realized, but increased local risk disparities are apparent and will require a multidisciplinary paradigm of investigation to successfully identify vulnerable populations and mitigate both environmental and social impacts. This chapter highlights several environmental and disease processes which are expected to be impacted by a changing climate. Following this introduction, a methodology of determining vulnerability using state-of-the-art data acquisition and computational techniques is illustrated. Therefore, this chapter aims to be an introduction to climate effects on human health and to the vulnerability modeling of these effects.
Significance of the signaling transduction and gene transcription aberrations of T lymphocytes in diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is a classic systemic autoimmune disease.T cells from patients SLE exhibit several discrete and specific defects that alter signaling pathways,the gene expression pattern and behavior upon stimulation.Rewiring of the CD3 complex and aggregation of surface-membrane lipid rafts grant SLE T cells a lower activation threshold and distort the ensuing signaling events.Additionally,increased expression of adhesion molecules within aggregated lipid rafts guides them to target organs. Aberrant cell signaling causes altered transcription factor expression and abnormal DNA-methylation patterns that lead to skewed gene expression.The result is an abnormally functioning T cell that exhibits several molecular alterations that can be exploited as therapeutic or diagnostic markers.
Racial analyses of longer-stay nursing home residents with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES Compare profiles of African Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS) to White residents with MS one year after admission to a nursing facility. METHODS We used all admission assessments recorded in the national Minimum Data Set (MDS) from 1999 to 2001 as well as all MDS annual assessments recorded from 2000 to 2002. We matched admission assessments with first annual assessment for 3632 White residents with MS and 461 African-American residents with MS. RESULTS African Americans with MS were admitted at a significantly younger age and with more aid to daily living (ADL) dependence and cognitive dysfunction than Whites with MS one year after admission. Despite significantly poorer physical performance, cognitive function, and more medical comorbidities, African Americans with MS did not receive significantly more therapies or medications than White residents with MS after one year in the facility. CONCLUSIONS Basic differences in MS expression and progression in African Americans appear to have to do with both genetic and environmental factors. Further study will help to clarify the reasons for these differences.
Osteoblastoma of the humerus associated with type-I Gaucher's disease. A case report.

We report a unique case of juxtacortical osteoblastoma of the humeral shaft, which simulated the appearance of an extraosseous extension of Gaucher-cell deposits. The tumour was treated successfully by curettage and bone grafting. We can find no previous report of this association between osteoblastoma and Gaucher’s disease.
The Significance of Anti-Platelet Antibodies Associated with Antibiotic Use, A Descriptive Analysis.

Abstract 4470 Introduction Antibiotics (Abx) have been implicated in immune thrombocytopenia via drug dependent platelet antibodies (DDPA). Our institution has had a DDPA assay available since 1994 which is used to guide clinical decisions. We performed a retrospective review to determine the significance of DDPA. Methods We reviewed the medical records of patients (pts) who tested positive for abx DDPA between 1994 and 2006 and performed a descriptive analysis. Detection of DDPAs was performed using a previously described, modified solid phase red cell adherence assay that detects hapten or immune complex reactions. Results A total of 71 pts were included in this analysis. Multiple classes of abx were tested. Platelet nadir was 1 abx positive for DDPA. Of those with >1 abx tested (n=45), 14 (31%) had all tested abx positive. 53% of abx testing took place on or after the abx stop date and 32% of abx tested were administered for Conclusions Antibiotic DDPA testing is usually performed in ill pts with multiple medical complications and comorbidities. Abx were stopped for concern of DDPA in a number of pts for whom typical immune thrombocytopenia was not present or alternative explanations could be found. Though some pts exhibited improvement in platelet count after abx were stopped, a clear understanding of which pts may benefit from DDPA testing could not be determined based on the retrospective nature of this study and the complexity of pts histories. Further research is necessary to clarify the clinical applicability of DPPA testing. Disclosures: Szczepiorkowski: Cersus Corporation: Research Funding; CaridianBCT: Research Funding; BASF: Research Funding; Terumo Corporation: Research Funding; Fenwel, Inc - Scientific Advisory Board: Research Funding.
Transcriptional Regulation of Human Cytosolic Sulfotransferase 1C3 by Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ in LS180 Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells

Cytosolic sulfotransferase 1C3 (SULT1C3) is the least characterized of the three human SULT1C subfamily members. Originally identified as an orphan SULT by computational analysis of the human genome, we recently reported that SULT1C3 is expressed in human intestine and LS180 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells and is upregulated by agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α and γ. To determine the mechanism responsible for PPAR-mediated upregulation, we prepared reporter plasmids containing fragments of the SULT1C3 5′-flanking region. During initial attempts to amplify a 2.8-kb fragment from different sources of human genomic DNA, a 1.9-kb fragment was sometimes coamplified with the expected 2.8-kb fragment. Comparison of the 1.9-kb fragment sequence to the published SULT1C3 5′-flanking sequence revealed an 863-nt deletion (nt −146 to −1008 relative to the transcription start site). Transfection analysis in LS180 cells demonstrated that PPARα, δ, and γ agonist treatments induced luciferase expression from a reporter plasmid containing the 2.8-kb but not the 1.9-kb fragment. The PPAR agonists also activated a 1-kb reporter containing the 863-nt deletion region. Computational analysis identified three peroxisome proliferator response elements (PPREs) within the 863-nt region and serial deletions and site-directed mutations indicated that the most distal PPRE (at nt −769) was essential for obtaining PPAR-mediated transcriptional activation. Although agonists of all three PPARs could activate SULT1C3 transcription, RNA interference analysis indicated the predominance of PPARγ. These data demonstrate that the PPARγ regulatory network includes SULT1C3 and imply that this enzyme contributes to the control of such PPARγ-regulated intestinal processes as growth, differentiation, and metabolism.
Examples of Micro-components' Fabrication

筆者らは, 多結晶シリコンを構造材とする櫛形アクチュエータと電気めっき法による金属を構造材とするモータの二つのマイクロコンポーネンツの試作, 実験を行ってきた.以下にそれらの試作に関して報告するものである.まず, 多結晶シリコンを構造材とする櫛形アクチュエータでは, 印加電圧の低減を目指し, 酸化マイクロマシニング, ポストリース・ポジショニングと呼ばれる二つの手法を提案した.試作された共振型櫛形アクチュエータの電極間ギャップは0.3 [μm] で, 印加電圧11.5 [V] 時に±5.2 [μm] の共振振幅を記録した.非共振型櫛形アクチュエータは11.1 [V] 印加時に3.6 [μm] の変位を静的に実現した.同時に変位と印加電圧の自乗との間のリニアな関係も観測した.次に, 多結晶シリコンに比べて厚い構造が可能な電気めっき法により形成されたニッケルを構造材とするモータでは, 歩留まりの向上・摩擦の低減を目指し, シリコン基板を犠牲層として等方的なドライエッチングによりリリースし, 針状のベアリングの形成する手法を提案した.試作されたモータは10, 000 [rpm] を越える高速回転を実現した.
Ruxolitinib as Salvage Therapy in Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

Abstract We describe our retrospective clinical experience with ruxolitinib for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients. Ruxolitinib was administered orally at 5 mg twice daily for children ≥ 25 kg or 2.5 mg twice daily if
Understanding Acid-Base Disturbances

The physiologic principles of blood pH, Pco2, and bicarbonate homeostasis provide a suitable basis for a systematic approach to the interpretation of acid-base disturbances. Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of the four classic acid-base disorders follows.
Cultural influences on emotional expression: Implications for intercultural communication

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the relationship between culture and the communication of emotional states during intercultural communication. There are at least six primary emotions­­­—anger, fear, surprise, sadness, disgust, and happiness—which are usually considered to be physiologically based and expressed similarly across cultures. Secondary emotions, such as pride, guilt, and shame arise culturally through participation in the sociocultural environment and tend to vary based on age, gender, and culture. Intercultural communication examines the situation in which a message is encoded in one culture for consumption in another culture. The correct interpretation of verbal and nonverbal messages encoded in another culture is largely dependent upon one's proficiency in social perception and experience in intercultural communication. The chapter discusses several significant cultural dynamics that affect the display of emotion and ultimately intercultural communication. These diverse aspects of culture are (1) display rules, (2) antecedent events, (3) individual-collectivism and power distance, (4) context, (5) nonverbal communication, and (6) language
Multilayer geospatial analysis of water availability for shale resources development in Mexico

Mexico's government enacted an energy reform in 2013 that aims to foster competitiveness and private investment throughout the energy sector value chain. As part of this reform, it is expected that extraction of oil and gas via hydraulic fracturing will increase in five shale basins (e.g. Burgos, Sabinas, Tampico, Tuxpan, and Veracruz). Because hydraulic fracturing is a water-intensive activity, it is relevant to assess the potential water availability for this activity in Mexico. This research aims to quantify the water availability for hydraulic fracturing in Mexico and identify its spatial distribution along the five shale basins. The methodology consisted of a multilayer geospatial analysis that overlays the water availability in the watersheds and aquifers with the different types of shale resources areas (e.g. oil and associated gas, wet gas and condensate, and dry gas) in the five shale basins. The aquifers and watersheds in Mexico are classified in four zones depending on average annual water availability. Three scenarios were examined based on different impact level on watersheds and aquifers from hydraulic fracturing. For the most conservative scenario analyzed, the results showed that the water available could be used to extract between 8.15 and 70.42 Quadrillion British thermal units (Quads) of energy in the typical 20–30 year lifetime of the hydraulic fracturing wells that could be supplied with the annual water availability overlaying the shale areas, with an average across estimates of around 18.05 Quads. However, geographic variation in water availability could represent a challenge for extracting the shale reserves. Most of the water available is located closer to the Gulf of Mexico, but the areas with the larger recoverable shale reserves coincide with less water availability in Northern Mexico. New water management techniques (such as recycling and re-use), more efficient fracturing methods, shifts in usage patterns, or other water sources need to be identified to allocate water for hydraulic fracturing without affecting current users (e.g. municipal, irrigation, industrial, and environmental flows).
Racial/ethnic sleep disparities in US school-aged children and adolescents: a review of the literature

Sleep is essential for optimal health, well-being, and cognitive functioning, and yet nationwide, youth are not obtaining consistent, adequate, or high-quality sleep. In fact, more than two-thirds of US adolescents are sleeping less than 8 hours nightly on school nights. Racial and ethnic minority children and adolescents are at an increased risk of having shorter sleep duration and poorer sleep quality than their white peers. In this review, we critically examined and compared results from 23 studies that have investigated racial/ethnic sleep disparities in American school-aged children and adolescents ages 6-19 years. We found that White youth generally had more sufficient sleep than minority youth, Hispanics had more than Blacks, and there was inconclusive evidence for Asians and other minorities. Recommendations for researchers include the following: (1) explore underlying causes of the disparities of these subpopulations, with a particular interest in identifying modifiable causes; (2) examine factors that may be impacted by racial/ethnic sleep disparities; (3) use a multidimensional approach to measuring sleep disparities; and (4) examine how beliefs about sleep are patterned by race/ethnicity. Understanding sleep disparities can inform interventions, policies, and educational programs to minimize sleep disparities and their impact on health, psychological, and educational outcomes.
Langer's axillary arch: a frequent but rarely discussed anatomical variant in the radiologic literature

The axillopectoral muscle is a rarely discussed variant of muscular anatomy of the axilla, with various clinical implications. We report a case of a 7-year-old girl with multiple genetic and developmental abnormalities who presented with asymmetrical right axillary bulging of unknown etiology. MRI demonstrated a small accessory axillary muscle, known as Langer’s axillary arch and/or the axillopectoral muscle. Other than soft-tissue asymmetry, the patient experienced no additional related symptoms. However, this is an important variant to be aware of, as it can easily be discovered on imaging and may be a causative agent for various upper extremity symptoms that may resolve with appropriate recognition and surgical intervention.