cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epigenetic methylation in Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Molecular ageing and novel biomarkers for treatment response

BACKGROUND Treatment failure in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is common. We hypothesize that DNA methylation differs between patients by treatment response to topical steroids (oral viscous budesonide), thus offering the potential to inform targeting therapies. OBJECTIVE We sought to identify differentially methylated sites and affiliated genes in pre-treatment oesophageal cells between responders and non-responders and test for accelerated epigenetic ageing in oesophageal cells of EoE patients. METHODS DNA was extracted from prospectively collected and biobanked oesophageal biopsies from 36 Caucasian treatment naive EoE patients at diagnosis. Methylation assays were completed using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Normalized β values for each CpG site were tested (t test) for differential methylation. Further, 353 CpG probes were used to estimate epigenetic age for each patient and a linear regression model tested whether chronologic age and epigenetic age differed. Epigenetic age results were confirmed in an independent cohort of healthy controls. RESULTS Eighteen CpG sites were differentially methylated by treatment response (P < .00001). The mean epigenetic age and chronological age were 56.1 ± 11.1 and 36.7 ± 12.3 years, a mean age difference of 19.3 ± 5.2 years (P < .0001); accelerated ageing was not observed in the oesophageal cells of healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE EoE patients that respond versus do not respond to treatment have differences in their methylation profile, including enrichment of genes in pathways consistent with cellular injury and repair due to environmental stress and cell adhesion and barrier integrity. EoE also appears to accelerate cellular ageing. Whether treatment can arrest or reverse accelerated epigenetic ageing and the implications for long-term disease progression is important areas for future research.
Health Care in the Age of Mass Incarceration: A Selective Course for Medical Students in Their Preclinical Years.

Introduction While medical school curricula increasingly address health disparities, content regarding health care for persons impacted by incarceration is a persistent and notable gap. There is a ...
maars: Tidy Inference under the 'Models as Approximations' Framework in R

Linear regression using ordinary least squares (OLS) is a critical part of every statistician's toolkit. In R, this is elegantly implemented via lm() and its related functions. However, the statistical inference output from this suite of functions is based on the assumption that the model is well specified. This assumption is often unrealistic and at best satisfied approximately. In the statistics and econometrics literature, this has long been recognized and a large body of work provides inference for OLS under more practical assumptions. This can be seen as model-free inference. In this paper, we introduce our package maars ("models as approximations") that aims at bringing research on model-free inference to R via a comprehensive workflow. The maars package differs from other packages that also implement variance estimation, such as sandwich, in three key ways. First, all functions in maars follow a consistent grammar and return output in tidy format, with minimal deviation from the typical lm() workflow. Second, maars contains several tools for inference including empirical, multiplier, residual bootstrap, and subsampling, for easy comparison. Third, maars is developed with pedagogy in mind. For this, most of its functions explicitly return the assumptions under which the output is valid. This key innovation makes maars useful in teaching inference under misspecification and also a powerful tool for applied researchers. We hope our default feature of explicitly presenting assumptions will become a de facto standard for most statistical modeling in R.
Everything I Do is for Them: Motivations of African American Women Entrepreneurs in Apparel/Retail

In this paper, we report on the motivations of African American women entrepreneurs concerning their lived experiences, as they consider and conduct aspects of their Apparel/Retail businesses. Data collection took place through in-depth interviews with thirteen African American women entrepreneurs. One major theme with two sub-themes was developed from the data. The theme revealed that African American women entrepreneurs viewed their Apparel/Retail businesses as a means of contributing to their communities. Our analysis suggested that gaining a better understanding of the entrepreneurial motivations of African American women entrepreneurs provides insight into creating more equitable and inclusive entrepreneurship initiatives. Essentially, their entrepreneurial motivations indicate how they can be further supported given their experiences in Apparel/Retail businesses.
ApoE4 and Aβ Oligomers Reduce BDNF Expression via HDAC Nuclear Translocation

Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) is a major genetic risk factor for several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Epigenetic dysregulation, including aberrations in histone acetylation, is also associated with AD. We show here for the first time that ApoE4 increases nuclear translocation of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in human neurons, thereby reducing BDNF expression, whereas ApoE3 increases histone 3 acetylation and upregulates BDNF expression. Amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers, which have been implicated in AD, caused effects similar to ApoE4. Blocking low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1) receptor with receptor-associated protein (RAP) or LRP-1 siRNA abolished the ApoE effects. ApoE3 also induced expression of protein kinase C e (PKCe) and PKCe retained HDACs in the cytosol. PKCe activation and ApoE3 supplementation prevented ApoE4-mediated BDNF downregulation. PKCe activation also reversed Aβ oligomer- and ApoE4-induced nuclear import of HDACs, preventing the loss in BDNF. ApoE4 induced HDAC6-BDNF promoter IV binding, which reduced BDNF exon IV expression. Nuclear HDAC4 and HDAC6 were more abundant in the hippocampus of ApoE4 transgenic mice than in ApoE3 transgenic mice or wild-type controls. Nuclear translocation of HDA6 was also elevated in the hippocampus of AD patients compared with age-matched controls. These results provide new insight into the cause of synaptic loss that is the most important pathologic correlate of cognitive deficits in AD.
Heats of formation for Fe(CO)n (n=1–4)

Abstract The dissociation energies of Fe(CO) n ( n =2–4) are computed using correlation consistent basis sets and the CCSD(T) approach. The dissociation energies are extrapolated to the CBS limit and are corrected for core–valence (CV), scalar relativistic, spin–orbit, zero-point, and thermal effects. Our iron carbonyl bond strengths agree with experiment within the respective error bars. We use our dissociations energies at 298 K to obtain the heats of formation of Fe(CO) n ( n =1–4).
Data mining approaches for intrusion detection

In this paper we discuss our research in developing general and systematic methods for intrusion detection. The key ideas are to use data mining techniques to discover consistent and useful patterns of system features that describe program and user behavior, and use the set of relevant system features to compute (inductively learned) classifiers that can recognize anomalies and known intrusions. Using experiments on the sendmail system call data and the network tcpdump data, we demonstrate that we can construct concise and accurate classifiers to detect anomalies. We provide an overview on two general data mining algorithms that we have implemented: the association rules algorithm and the frequent episodes algorithm. These algorithms can be used to compute the intra-and inter-audit record patterns, which are essential in describing program or user behavior. The discovered patterns can guide the audit data gathering process and facilitate feature selection. To meet the challenges of both efficient learning (mining) and real-time detection, we propose an agent-based architecture for intrusion detection systems where the learning agents continuously compute and provide the updated (detection) models to the detection agents.
Association of surfactant protein A polymorphisms with otitis media in infants at risk for asthma

Otitis media is one of the most common infections of early childhood. Surfactant protein A functions as part of the innate immune response, which plays an important role in preventing infections early in life. This prospective study utilized a candidate gene approach to evaluate the association between polymorphisms in loci encoding SP-A and risk of otitis media during the first year of life among a cohort of infants at risk for developing asthma. Between September 1996 and December 1998, women were invited to participate if they had at least one other child with physician-diagnosed asthma. Each mother was given a standardized questionnaire within 4 months of her infant's birth. Infant respiratory symptoms were collected during quarterly telephone interviews at 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Genotyping was done on 355 infants for whom whole blood and complete otitis media data were available. Polymorphisms at codons 19, 62, and 133 in SP-A1, and 223 in SP-A2 were associated with race/ethnicity. In logistic regression models incorporating estimates of uncertainty in haplotype assignment, the 6A4/1A5haplotype was protective for otitis media among white infants in our study population (OR 0.23; 95% CI 0.07,0.73). These results indicate that polymorphisms within SP-A loci may be associated with otitis media in white infants. Larger confirmatory studies in all ethnic groups are warranted.
Malate Dehydrogenases of Ox Kidney

Isolation of malate dehydrogenase from ox kidney mitochondria consists of repeated salt and ethanol fractionation and DEAE + CM cellulose chromatography of an extract of mitochondrial acetone powder, resulting in 150-fold purification and 60% recovery. Molecular and catalytic properties of the isoenzymes of both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic origin are compared in terms of modifiability by phosphate and 1 mM oxalacetate.
Surrogate markers for time-varying treatments and outcomes.

Background:A surrogate marker is a variable commonly used in clinical trials to guide treatment decisions when the outcome of ultimate interest is not available. A good surrogate marker is one where the treatment effect on the surrogate is a strong predictor of the effect of treatment on the outcome. We review the situation when there is one treatment delivered at baseline, one surrogate measured at one later time point, and one ultimate outcome of interest and discuss new issues arising when variables are time-varying.Methods:Most of the literature on surrogate markers has only considered simple settings with one treatment, one surrogate, and one outcome of interest at a fixed time point. However, more complicated time-varying settings are common in practice. In this article, we describe the unique challenges in two settings, time-varying treatments and time-varying surrogates, while relating the ideas back to the causal-effects and causal-association paradigms.Conclusion:In addition to discussing and ex...
Comment on Ferejohn and Shipan's “Congressional Influence on Bureaucracy”

John Ferejohn and Charles Shipan consider an issue central to the field of administrative law: the interrelationship between the three branches of government in producing public policy. Executive branch agencies do not perfectly represent the president's will. Rather, they are constrained by the possibility that Congress may pass laws restricting their discretion. Since congressional committees serve an agenda-setting function, they will not introduce legislation if they prefer the agency's policy to the law that would be enacted by Congress. Thus agencies take account of the positions of the relevant oversight committees. Judicial review can further constrain agency behavior if the courts can void executive action. The possibility of a presidential veto and of its override by a two-thirds vote interjects an additional strategic consideration into the choices of bureaucracies, courts, and committees. Congress will seek veto-proof bills, not ones that reflect the median preference of members. Ferejohn and Shipan model the courts as just one more political actor with a set of policy goals. The judges, however, are not able to impose their own preferences when reviewing legislation. Instead, in the FerejohnShipan model, when judges strike down an agency action, the prestatutory status quo prevails. Congressional action may follow such an invalidation. According to Ferejohn and Shipan, the courts act strategically by predicting the impact of their decisions on subsequent congressional action.
The operational phase-space of the edge plasma and its sensitivity to magnetic topology in Alcator C-Mod

Abstract The range of ‘edge plasma states’ (i.e., the combination of densities, temperatures and gradients in the scrape-off layer near the separatrix) accessible to a tokamak are highly restricted. Experiments in Alcator C-Mod suggest that this restriction is a consequence of electromagnetic fluid drift turbulence (EMFDT), which sets the cross-field transport levels; plasma states are constrained to lie in a narrow region of EMFDT ‘phase-space’ defined by poloidal beta gradient ( α MHD ) and normalized plasma collisionality. Recent experiments have investigated this behavior over an increased parameter range in lower- and upper-null (LSN/USN) discharges. L-mode edge pressure gradients are found to exhibit clear sensitivity to magnetic topology, favoring higher α MHD for LSN compared to USN. These variations may be caused, in part, by the different edge plasma flow patterns in LSN versus USN. Such flows arise from a ballooning-like transport drive and can produce a topology-dependent modulation in the toroidal plasma rotation.
Patterns of cerebrospinal fluid catechols support increased central noradrenergic responsiveness in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Background: High cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) norepinephrine (NE) concentrations in aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could reflect decreased NE clearance from central nervous system (CNS) extracellular fluid or increased release of NE into CNS extracellular fluid. Measuring CSF concentrations of the intraneuronal NE metabolite dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), an estimate of NE clearance, and the NE precursor dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPA), an estimate of NE biosynthesis, can help differentiate these mechanisms. Methods: NE, DHPG, and DOPA were determined by HPLC in CSF and plasma obtained following yohimbine, clonidine, and placebo. Ten AD, 10 older, and 11 young subjects were studied. Results: CSF DOPA following yohimbine was higher in older and AD than in young subjects. CSF DHPG did not differ among groups. Plasma DOPA following yohimbine was higher in AD than in young subjects. Conclusions: During alpha-2 adrenoreceptor blockade in both aging and AD, there are increased responses of CNS NE biosynthesis and release with unchanged CNS NE clearance. This pattern is consistent with partial loss of CNS noradrenergic neurons with compensatory activation of remaining CNS noradrenergic neurons. Given the marked loss of locus coeruleus (LC) noradrenergic neurons in AD, achievement of high CSF NE suggests particularly prominent compensatory activation of remaining LC neurons in this disorder.
Roughness effects in turbulent pipe flow

Mean flow measurements are presented for fully developed turbulent pipe flow over a Reynolds number range of .
Semi-lunar cyclicity of neurotransmitter-like substances in the CNS of periplaneta americana (L.)

Abstract 1. 1. Midday ethanol extracts of cockroach nervous tissues were made and assayed for cardio-acceleratory activity. 2. 2. Extracts were made of supraesophageal, subesophageal, first thoracic and the last four abdominal ganglia. 3. 3. Extract activity appeared to reach peak levels in relation to full and new moon with the subesophageal ganglion extracts showing the most pronounced relationship. 4. 4. These lunar-related highs of activity extractable from nervous tissue seem to correspond to lunar-related haemolymph (and blood) lows reported earlier for cockroaches (and mice and humans).
Being white, being good: white complicity, white moral responsibility and social justice pedagogy

Barbara Applebaum, 2010 New York, Lexington Books $15.00 (hbk), 221 pp. ISBN 978-0-7391-4491-6 Barbara Applebaum began her journey, which became the premise for this book, by asking the question, ‘...
The California gold rush: A study of emerging property rights

For over 2000 years political philosophers, historians, anthropologists, and sociologists have sought an explanation for the emergence of private property rights (I). More recently, economists have joined in the search (2). This paper was written to present some of my own ideas on the subject, ideas which hopefully the reader will regard as an advance in our understanding of a complex subject. The concept of property rights is not an easy one to define unambiguously. The key to understanding it is probably to be found in the notion of exclusivity. For an individual or group of individuals to claim a right to some property they must first be able to exclude all other potential claimants. With the competition excluded, the individual can then decide how the property will be used and who shall get the income derived from it. Of less importance, but generally included in the concept of property right, is the notion of transferability. This means that the owner of the exclusive rights can transfer them to someone else in exchange for the exclusive rights to other property. Of course, the right to exclude must precede the right to transfer, because without the former there would be nothing to transfer. Still, what does it mean to have a right? The right to use a property, to derive income from it, and to exchange it all refer to future events, and future events are uncertain. Therefore, to say that an individual has a right is to say that he has some expectation that his decision regarding the use of some property is in fact how it will actually be used. In order to render this definition operational it is necessary to identify some observable variable to serve as a proxy for expectations. The one I have chosen is an explicit contract (3). In this contract, two or
Astronomical Science with Adaptive Optics at the W. M. Keck Observatory

ABSTRACT.The first refereed science papers based on data with the Keck II natural guide star (NGS) and laser guide star (LGS) adaptive optics (AO) system were published in 2000 January and 2005 May, respectively. As of the end of 2012 a total of 260 refereed science papers have been published based on Keck NGS AO data and 152 with the Keck LGS AO system. This paper provides an overview of the first dozen years of scientific productivity with Keck AO and the lessons that can be drawn from this experience. The performance and limitations of the existing Keck AO systems are also discussed along with the technical developments currently underway to improve the scientific reach of these systems. The Keck AO capabilities are in high demand by a broad science community, a community that has expanded as new capabilities, especially LGS AO, have been added.
Extended field irradiation for cervical cancer based on surgical staging

Abstract Surgical staging was done in 355 patients with carcinoma of the cervix. Periaortic node biopsies, peritoneal cytology, and/or biopsy were obtained to determine the need of extended field irradiation. Forty-one patients received extended field irradiation. On review, 38 of these patients were shown to have cancer in the periaortic nodes or peritoneal cavity. Of these patients, 5 have survived longer than 5 years, 3 with metastatic cancer in the periaortic nodes and 2 in the peritoneal cavity. Irradiation to extended fields was 4500 rad or less for the first 17 patients. Since then 5100 rad has been delivered at the rate of 850 rad per week. The incidence of bowel complications was not excessive, utilizing a suture technique to exclude small bowel from the pelvis. Control of the cancer occurred in one patient with massive metastatic periaortic disease. A safe and effective dosage level for radiation therapy has been established with the described limited surgical exploration.
Descriptions of New Species of Leucotrichiinae (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from Brazil

Two new species of Hydroptilidae (Trichoptera) from Brazil are described: Betrichia alibrachia sp. n. and Leucotrichia bicornuta sp.n. Both genera are members of the subfamily Leucotrichiinae. Illustrations of male genitalia are provided with each description. These additions bring the total world fauna of Betrichia to 9 species and Leucotrichia to 29 species.
Turkish and its challenges for language processing

We present a short survey and exposition of some of the important aspects of Turkish that have proven challenging for natural language processing. Most of the challenges stem from the complex morphology of Turkish and how morphology interacts with syntax. We also provide a short overview of the major tools and resources developed for Turkish natural language processing over the last two decades.
Identifying gene disruptions in novel balanced de novo constitutional translocations in childhood cancer patients by whole-genome sequencing.

Identifying gene disruptions in novel balanced de novo constitutional translocations in childhood cancer patients by whole-genome sequencing
Trends in medical care and survival from stroke

Abstract Using data from two national surveys in the United States, the National Hospital Discharge Survey and the National Health Interview Survey, we examined whether the incidence of stroke (based on hospitalization rates), theprevalence of stroke, and disability due to stroke had changed. Discharge rates remained virtually constant from 1970 through 1990. At the same time, the proportion of patients who were treated with surgery or other diagnostic procedures increased from 15 to 57% and the proportion who were discharged dead decreased from 20 to 8%. The data suggest that the incidence has not decreased. Hospitalization rates for stroke have changed very little over the past 20 years. Further, neither the prevalence nor the burden of stroke appear to have increased.
Simulation of hot oxygen effects on ground-based Fabry-Perot determinations of thermospheric temperatures

[1] The response of a ground-based Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) to predicted non-Maxwellian energy distributions of atomic oxygen in the F region is calculated. Analysis of the simulated profiles shows that the high-energy component of the non-Maxwellian profiles has a modest effect on ground-based measurements, raising the temperature derived from the Doppler-broadened profiles above that of the thermosphere in the 630 nm emission region. The effect is small compared to the uncertainties for an individual measurement but could be significant when large numbers of profiles are averaged in an attempt to reduce uncertainties in the determinations. However, the effect cannot account for the >100 K difference between the FPI determinations and values derived from empirical models such as the Mass Spectrometer Incoherent Scatter model.
Polarized triton experiments on the five-nucleon system

Angular distributions of the analyzing power, polarization function, and polarization transfer coefficient K/sub y//sup prime//sub y/ at E/sub t/ = 10.5 MeV for the /sup 2/H(t, n)/sup 4/He reaction have been measured. In addition, K/sub y//sup prime//sub y/(0degree) data for energies between 6 and 14 MeV have been obtained. Both neutron and charged particle detection were used in these measurements. Also, an angular distribution of the analyzing power for the elastic scattering process /sup 2/H(t, t)/sup 2/H at 10.5 MeV is presented. Comparisons with predictions of an R-matrix analysis of the five-nucleon system are included. (AIP)
Continuous flow solar thermal pasteurization of drinking water: Methods, devices, microbiology, and analysis

The ability to simply and robustly pasteurize drinking water would present tremendous worldwide human health benefits. Ingestion of unsafe drinking water is a leading cause of sickness and death in the developing world. A simple method to use concentrated solar power is presented here with two complimentary numerical models. The first model allows a prediction of water temperatures within the concentrator and enables a user to vary operating parameters to assess the impact on the temperatures. The second model relates the temperatures to pathogen inactivation kinetics so that predictions of pathogen populations can be made. It is found that with a modest size system that includes a parabolic trough concentrator, a thermally activated valve, and a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, near complete pathogen inactivation can be achieved. Comparisons are made between simulated and experimentally determined temperatures. The comparison demonstrates the veracity of the model.
Detergent solubilized and molecular weight estimation of tumor specific surface antigen from SV40 virus transformed cells.

Mild detergent treatment of SV40 transformed mouse embryo fibroblasts, followed by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation of solubilized proteins and rate zonal centrifugation in a sucrose gradient, provided direct and rapid determination of the sedimentation coefficient (4S) of tumor specific surface antigen(s) (TSSA), as detected by an antibody dependent, cell lysis assay. A molecular weight range of 50,000–60,000 was estimated for the TSSA. These results agree with those also obtained from Sephadex G-150 exclusion chromatography.
The effects of enactive encoding, type of movement, and imagined perspective on memory of dance

The present experiments examine the importance of the availability of verbal descriptions and internal motor representations on memory of self-performed tasks, or the SPT effect, by varying the commonality of the actions (Experiments 1 and 2) and the knowledge of the performers (dancers vs. nondancers, Experiment 2). In addition, the effects of the perspective one adopts during imagination was assessed by manipulation of whom the subjects imagined performing (self vs. other, Experiment 1) and of how they imagined themselves performing (Experiment 2). Results suggest that the availability of verbal descriptions and motor representations are not essential for the production of an SPT effect, since subjects demonstrated an SPT effect for uncommon movements (Experiment 1). Furthermore, the availability of verbal descriptions and motor representations does not guarantee an SPT effect; dancers did not exhibit this effect (Experiment 2). Finally, the perspective one adopts during imagining affects memory performance in that whom one imagines (self vs. other) has a significant effect (Experiment 1).
Improving sol-gel YBa2Cu3O7-δ film morphology using high-boiling-point solvents

The effect of high-boiling-point solvent addition on the morphology of low-p(O2) processed, sol-gel YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) films is discussed. Proper selection and addition of a high-boiling-point solvent prevents film roughening during precursor pyrolysis, while permitting at least a tenfold reduction in pyrolysis time compared to standard film processing in air or O2. Use of such solvents appears to increase film plasticity, avoiding elastic compressive stress related buckling. High-quality YBCO films on 〈100〉 LaAlO3 with a critical current density (Jc) ∼ 3–4 MA/cm2 at 77 K, are routinely crystallized with this new sol-gel process. Diethanolamine-based, sol-gel YBCO films deposited on sol-gel SrTiO3-buffered 〈100〉 Ni have Jc(77 K) > 1 MA/cm2, demonstrating a route toward all-sol-gel superconducting wires.
Effect of pressure on the rate of corrosion of metals in high subcritical and supercritical aqueous systems

Abstract A theory is developed for the effect of pressure on the rates of chemical and corrosion reactions in high subcritical and supercritical aqueous systems, with emphasis on the contributions from activation, system compressibility (volumetric concentration), and chemical dissociation. The theory shows that for high subcritical temperatures ( 300 ° C °C), all three contributions are important, but that at supercritical temperatures (T
Empirical Analysis of the Yield Curve: The Information in the Data Viewed through the Window of Cox, Ingersoll, and Ross

This paper uses recent advances in Bayesian estimation methods to exploit fully and efficiently the time-series and cross-sectional empirical restrictions of the Cox, Ingersoll, and Ross model of the term structure. We examine the extent to which the cross-sectional data (five different instruments) provide information about the model. We find that the time-series restrictions of the two-factor model are generally consistent with the data. However, the model’s cross-sectional restrictions are not. We show that adding a third factor produces a significant statistical improvement, but causes the average time-series fit to the yields themselves to deteriorate.
Erratum to: Adrenal hypofunction from histoplasmosis: a literature review from 1971 to 2012.

We would like to amend our previous submission by clarifying the suspected country of origin, if applicable, to each reported case of adrenal histoplasmosis listed in the supplementary table. Also we would specifically like to correct the erroneous number of cases reported from Belgium, which was inadvertently combined with other cases reported in Europe. The PubMed literature search of “adrenal histoplasmosis” between 1971 and 2012 yielded a total of 230 cases, including 111 reports of adrenal insufficiency (48.3 %). All changes are reflected in the revised index enclosed.
Zinc, Immune Plasticity, Aging, and Successful Aging: Role of Metallothionein

The capacity of the remodeling immune responses during stress (immune plasticity) is fundamental to reach successful aging. We herein report two pivotal models to demonstrate the relevance of the immune plasticity in aging and successful aging. One model is represented by the circadian rhythms of immune responses; the other one is the immune responses during partial hepatectomy/liver regeneration (pHx). The latter is suggestive because it mimics the immunosenescence and chronic inflammation 48 hours after partial hepatectomy in the young through the continuous production of IL-6, which is the main cause of immune plasticity lack in aging. The constant production of IL-6 leads to abnormal increments of zinc-bound metallothionein (MT), which is, in turn, unable in zinc release in aging. As a consequence, low zinc ion bioavailability appears for thymic and extrathymic immune efficiency, in particular, of liver NKT cells bearing TCR gd. The remodeling during the circadian cycle and during pHx of zinc-bound MT confers the immune plasticity of liver NKT gamma delta cells and NK cells in young and very old age, not in old age. Therefore, zinc-bound MT homeostasis is crucial in conferring liver immune plasticity with subsequent successful aging.
Influences of forest roads on the spatial pattern of wildfire boundaries

Although many studies have examined fire ignition and fire spread, the cessation of fire is largely unexplored at a landscape scale. Therefore, we sought to examine the effects of forest roads on fire boundary locations. We analysed six fires within the Wenatchee National Forest in Washington State. Geographic Information System datasets of fire boundaries and environmental variables were obtained from government agencies. Case points were sampled on the fire boundaries, and five matching control points were sampled inside the fire boundary for each case. Matched case–control logistic regression was performed to identify the environmental differences between each case and its set of control points. We found that for four of the fires, fire boundaries were significantly closer to roads than to random control points. Various terrain and vegetation attributes were also correlated with fire boundary locations. In the fires where road effects were significant, they had stronger effects than any of the other environmental constraints on fire boundary locations. These results suggest that road effects on fire cessation should be incorporated more explicitly into landscape-level assessment of wildfire risk and analyses of fuel treatment effectiveness.
PTH/PTHrP receptor delays chondrocyte hypertrophy via both Runx2-dependent and -independent pathways.

Abstract The transcription factor, Runx2, promotes chondrocyte hypertrophy, whereas parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) delays this process. To examine whether PTHrP suppresses chondrocyte hypertrophy via Runx2-dependent or -independent pathways, Runx2 expression and chondrocyte differentiation were analyzed using bones from embryonic limbs of wild type and Runx2(−/−) mice. Treatment of cultured rudiments with PTH dramatically suppresses Runx2 mRNA levels in hypertrophic chondrocytes. PTH-induced delay of chondrocyte hypertrophy was observed in cultured tibiae from both Runx2(−/−) and wild-type embryos. This delay was also seen after PTH administration to limbs from wild type and Runx2(−/−) mice expressing Runx2 in chondrocytes via a collagen 2 promoter-driven transgene. To further explore Runx2-dependent and -independent effects of PTHrP, we examined embryonic tibiae and femurs from littermates null for PTHrP, Runx2, or both genes. Runx2(−/−) femurs exhibited no vascular invasion or chondrocytes expressing collagen type X or osteopontin mRNA. In contrast, Runx2(−/−)/PTHrP(−/−) mice exhibited limited vascular invasion and some chondrocytes expressing collagen X or osteopontin mRNA. In both tibia and femur, Runx2(−/−)/PTHrP(−/−) mice exhibited expanded regions of proliferating chondrocytes when compared to the same regions in PTHrP(−/−) mice. These data indicate that the delayed hypertrophy induced by PTHrP is mediated by both Runx2-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
Testing the Assumption of Constant Relative Yield Total in Replacement Series Experiments

The Relative Crowding Coefficient (RCC) is a common measure of interspecific competition in a replacement series experiment. However, the interpretation of RCC depends upon the validity of an assumed functional relationship in total species yield. We develop inference procedures based upon the Relative Yield Total (RY T), a function of species yields in mixture and monoculture plantings, that may be utilized to assess the plausibility of the species yield functional form under which RCC is a reasonable metric of interspecific competition. The performance of the proposed RYT inference procedures is evaluated on the basis of a simulation study. Using the proposed methodology, we conduct RYT inference in a replacement series experiment of bahiagrass ( Paspalum notatum ) and smutgrass (Sporobolus indicus). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljastats.v5i4.7783
Microvascular platforms for the study of platelet-vessel wall interactions

Platelets interact with the endothelium to regulate vascular integrity and barrier function, mediate inflammation and immune response, and prevent and arrest hemorrhage. In this review, we describe existing tools to study the flow-dependent interactions of platelets with the vessel wall. We also discuss our work on building engineered microvessels to study the roles of platelets on endothelial barrier function, endothelial sprouting, and thrombus formation on both quiescent and stimulated endothelium. In particular, we will show the advantage of using a cell-remodelable system in the studies of platelet-vessel wall interactions.
Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver in an adult: Radiologic diagnosis

A case of mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver in a 30-year-old female is reported. Ultra-sonography, computed tomography, and hepatic angiography demonstrated the presence of a large, mixed cystic and solid mass within the liver, suggesting the diagnosis of a mesenchymal hamartoma. At surgery, the tumor proved to be unresectable.
Low-dose dobutamine echocardiography detects reversible dysfunction after thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUNDDysfunction after thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction (MI) may be reversible. Early after myocardial infarction, both reversible and irreversible injury may be manifested by regional wall motion abnormalities. Improved wall thickening during dobutamine infusion (dobutamine-responsive wall motion) may accurately identify reversibly injured segments.METHODS AND RESULTSTo determine whether dobutamine-responsive wall motion accurately detects reversible postischemic dysfunction irrespective of infarct location, multistage (baseline, 4 and 12 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, and peak) dobutamine echocardiography (DE) was performed within 7 days of thrombolytic therapy. Resting echocardiography was repeated > or = 4 weeks after MI, and reversible dysfunction was defined as improved wall motion. The accuracy of dobutamine-responsive wall motion was compared with that of signs of early reperfusion, non-Q-wave MI, and peak creatine kinase (CK). Sixty-three patients underwent DE without complication...
PHYTOCHROME IN GREEN‐TISSUE: PARTIAL PURIFICATION and CHARACTERIZATION OF THE 118‐KILODALTON PHYTOCHROME SPECIES FROM LIGHT‐GROWN Avena sativa L.*

— The predominant, immunochemically-detectable phytochrome polypeptide rapidly extracted directly into boiling sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing buffer from fresh or freeze-dried green Avena tissue has an apparent molecular mass of 118 kilodaltons (kDa). This result indicates that the 118-kDa phytochrome species obtained from green Avena by extraction and rapid processing under non-denaturing conditions in previous studies was not derived by partial proteolysis of a larger polypeptide present in the cell. Additional data do, however, demonstrate the presence in green tissue homogenates of proteolytic activity that can cause a = 6-kDa reduction in apparent molecular mass and a blue-shift in the Pfr absorbance maximum of phytochrome during handling. This proteolytic activity contrasts with that previously encountered in etiolated tissue in that it is not inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, but is inhibited by iodoacetamide and leupeptin. This result indicates that the activity is associated with a thiol-like protease. A partial purification procedure that incorporates the use of iodacetamide and a novel chromatographic step is described for green-tissue phytochrome. This procedure provides 50% recovery with a 90-fold enrichment of phytochrome relative to the initial extract in which the chromoprotein is 0.003% of the total soluble protein. The final fraction is apparently free of proteolytic activity. Immunoblot analysis of this fraction demonstrates that the predominant immunoreactive band has a monomeric molecular mass of 118 kDa. Comigration of this band with a band exhibiting zinc-induced fluorescence on blots of the partially purified preparations verifies that the 118-kDa species is the principal tetrapyrrole-bearing polypeptide present. Spectral properties of the final fraction are identical to those published for crude green-tissue extracts, indicating the stability of the molecule's spectral properties throughout the procedure. Size exclusion chromatography under nondenaturing conditions shows that the 118-kDa phytochrome species from green tissue comigrates with the dimeric, etiolated-tissue molecule, and is therefore suggestive of similar quaternary structure. Together these data reinforce previous conclusions that the predominant phytochrome molecule present in the living cells of green tissue is resolvable as a 118-kDa species, distinct from the well-characterized 124-kDa molecule from etiolated tissue (Tokuhisa et al., 1985, Planta 164, 321–332), and indicate that the partial purification protocol described here sustains the green-tissue phytochrome in its native state throughout the procedure.
Reconnaissance study of erosion and deposition produced by the flood of August 1955 in Connecticut

A large area in the valley bottoms in Connecticut was inundated by the flood of August 1955. Relative to the total area flooded that part permanently modified by the flow was surprisingly small. Although great in some places, the distribution of these permanent modifications of channel and flood plain was spotty. Erosion of the channel and valley bottom appears to have been most severe in narrow, steep valleys. Environments of deposition were diverse. They appeared to be related to rate and direction of flow, quantity and size of sediments locally available, and in some cases to the presence of vegetation. Most of the coarse sediment deposited in the valley appears to have been derived from local sources such as valley walls and terraces composed of glacial outwash and till and flood plains containing considerable gravel. Fine sand predominated in most of the sediment deposited. Considering the magnitude of the runoff, the quantity of fine sediment transported or deposited by the flood was small. The maximum observed concentration was 473 parts per million in Scantic River at Broad Brook. Newly deposited fine sediments are thin or absent on the flood plains of many valleys which were beneath 20 ft of slow-moving flood waters. The paucity of deposition in such ideal depositional environments also indicates that the flow did not have a high concentration of fine sediments. A number of boulders five to seven feet in diameter were moved by flood waters in reaches in which smaller gravels were undisturbed. Severe erosion in the uplands was minor. In this reconnaissance we saw little evidence of newly formed gullies and no areas of severe sheet erosion. This was the case in both woodland and pasture land. Large amounts of subsurface flow and relatively unerodible ground are presumed to be responsible for the absence of erosion.
Cognitive imbalance and antisocial personality characteristics

A cognitive imbalance, in which intellectual functioning is elevated in the performance area in comparison to verbal IQ, has been posited as an antecedent condition in relation to antisocial behaviors. The current investigation was based on the notion of a developmental arrest in which verbal, analytical, controlling brain processes (analogous to verbal IQ) fail to develop commensurately with the more impulsive actions mediated by the motor areas of the cerebral cortex (analogous to performance IQ). The simple verbal IQ performance IQ discrepancy index used in prior studies was reformulated as a causal theoretical model consisting of shared and unique performance IQ variance. The participants were 325 adults including 141 prison inmates. They were administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) and the Psychopathic Deviate (Pd) and Mania (Ma) scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). These were the manifest (measured) variables in the model tested by means of structural equation modeling procedures. Several statistical indices suggested an excellent model-data congruence.
Investigations of the interaction and phase transfer to a TiO2 surface of water soluble dyes with polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and multivariate least squares analysis

Abstract Interactions of polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes (PSCs) with the ionic dyes phenol red (PR) and bromothymol blue (BB) and the adsorption of these dyes to a TiO2 surface were studied using ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. The PSC consisted of the polyelectrolyte sodium polystyrene-4-sulfonate (PSS) and the surfactant cetylpyridinium bromide monohydrate (CPBM). For the studies involving PR the PSC began to extract the PR from solution at an absolute mol ratio of CPBM to PSS greater than 300:1 but more CPBM needs to be added to the solution to maximize the removal of the PR. The number of PR molecules per PSC was calculated to be 20 ± 2 for solutions of 5 × 10−7 M PSS and 11 ± 1 for 1 × 10−6 M PSS. For the PR experiments the number of CPBM molecules per PSC was calculated to be 250 ± 20 for 5 × 10−7 M PSS solutions and 300 ± 20 for 1 × 10−6 M PSS solutions. For studies involving BB the PSC begins to extract the BB from solution at an absolute mole ratio of CPBM to PSS of greater than 280:1. Unlike the PR this extraction is essentially complete for the BB by an absolute mole ratio of CPBM to PSS of 320:1 indicating that the BB interacts more strongly with the PSC than does the PR. The number of BB molecules per PSC was calculated to be 20 ± 2 for solutions of 5 × 10−7 M PSS and the number of CPBM molecules per PSC was calculated to be 300 ± 20 for 5 × 10−7 M PSS solutions. The Δ(ΔG) between the complex formed with the BB and the PR was estimated to be −1.6 ± 0.4 kJ/mol. The aggregation behavior of the CPBM and PSS in the absence of the dyes was found to be drastically different compared to the studies with the dyes present. In the absence of either dye the number of CPBM molecules per PSC was calculated to be 150 ± 10 for 5 × 10−7 M PSS.
The smallest carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase. A single catalytic subdomain catalyzes all three partial reactions.

Abstract Escherichia coli carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase (CPSase) is comprised of a 40-kDa glutaminase (GLN) and a 120-kDa synthetase (CPS) subunit. The CPS subunit consists of two homologous domains, CPS.A and CPS.B, which catalyze the two different ATP-dependent partial reactions involved in carbamoyl phosphate synthesis. Sequence similarities and controlled proteolysis experiments suggest that the CPS subdomains consist, in turn, of three subdomains, designated A1, A2, A3 and B1, B2, B3 for CPS.A and CPS.B, respectively. Previous studies of individually cloned CPS.A and CPS.B from E. coli and mammalian CPSase have shown that homologous dimers of either of these “half-molecules” could catalyze all three reactions involved in ammonia-dependent carbamoyl phosphate synthesis. Four smaller recombinant proteins were made for this study as follows: 1) A1-A2 in which the A3 subdomain was deleted from CPS.A, 2) B1-B2 lacking subdomain B3 of CPS.B, 3) the A2 subdomain of CPS.A, and 4) the B2 subdomain of CPS.B. When associated with the GLN subunit, A1-A2 and B1-B2 had both glutamine- and ammonia-dependent CPSase activities comparable to the wild-type protein. In contrast, the 27-kDa A2 and B2 recombinant proteins, which represent only 17% of the mass of the parent protein, were unable to use glutamine as a nitrogen donor, but the ammonia-dependent activity was enhanced 14–16-fold. The hyperactivity suggests that A2 and B2 are the catalytic subdomains and that A1 and B1 are attenuation domains which suppress the intrinsically high activity and are required for the physical association with the GLN subunit.
Optimization-Based Strong Coupling Procedure for Partitioned Analysis

AbstractThe concept of partitioning a complex engineering problem into smaller, manageable components and investigating each individual component autonomously has been in use for many decades. Such partitioning approaches, however, rely on strong and occasional unwarranted assumptions regarding the interactions among different engineering components. Fluid and structure interaction, soil and structure interaction, and human and structure interaction are but a few of the many such partitioned analyses commonly needed in civil engineering applications. Recently, there has been a growing interest in combining the expertise developed separately in traditionally distinct fields to obtain a holistic treatment of engineering problems. Such holistic treatment would ultimately yield not only more realistic and accurate analyses of coupled systems but also improved optimality in engineering designs. This growing interest has resulted in development of mathematical coupling procedures for conjoining multiple, separa...