cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental Ecthyma Contagiosum (ORF)1

Ecthyma contagiosum (Orf, scabby mouth, contagious pustular dermatitis) is a virus infection of sheep and goats which is occasionally transmitted to man. Observation of an 18 year old girl (21) with the disorder aroused our interest in the virus and prompted the study of some of its properties. The purpose of this communication is to report the results of a series of experimental inoculations of the virus of ecthyma contagiosum into a number of different animal species. The order of the report will include (A) review of the literature pertaining to experimental ecthyma contagiosum (B) materials and methods (C) experimental disease in sheep (D) experimental disease in rabbits (E) negative inoculation experiments in mice, guinea pigs and the chorioallantoic membrane of the developing chick embryo (F) discussion and (G) conclusions.
To Be Or Not To Be: Mechanisms Of Regulation Of Stim1 By Its 3'utr In Breast Cancer

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions as a storehouse for intracellular calcium. STIM1, a calcium sensor, localizes mostly to the ER membrane. Following Ca2+ store depletion, STIM1 forms puncta that localize to the cortical ER and bind Orai1, a plasma membrane Ca2+ channel, to allow Ca2+ influx. This is the predominant pathway for Ca2+ influx in non-excitable cells and is referred to as Store-Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE). Mutations in STIM1 and Orai1 cause severe combined immunodeficiencies and are linked to several forms of cancers. Tight regulation of the levels of STIM1 and Orai1 is crucial for maintaining the subcellular levels of Ca2+ required for its numerous functions. We are interested in mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation of STIM1. We have developed a system that allows us to test miRNA-mediated regulation by transfecting different cell types using a GFP and a 3'UTR transcriptional fusion and GFP with no 3'UTR as a control. mCherry expressed from the same vector is used as an internal control of transfection efficiency. The stoichiometry of GFP and mCherry levels in the experimental conditions for Stim1 3' UTR was found to be significantly different from those in the control. Knockdown of Ago2, an important mediator of the miRNA pathway, by siRNA restored GFP expression from these constructs suggesting miRNA-mediated regulation. We have identified a miRNA that regulates Stim1 expression in HEK 293 (embryonic kidney), MCF7 (non-metastatic breast cancer) but not in MDA-MB231 (metastatic breast cancer) cell lines. The mechanisms by which this occurs will be discussed.
TRAF1 Coordinates Polyubiquitin Signaling to Enhance Epstein-Barr Virus LMP1-Mediated Growth and Survival Pathway Activation

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded oncoprotein Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP1) signals through two C-terminal tail domains to drive cell growth, survival and transformation. The LMP1 membrane-proximal TES1/CTAR1 domain recruits TRAFs to activate MAP kinase, non-canonical and canonical NF-kB pathways, and is critical for EBV-mediated B-cell transformation. TRAF1 is amongst the most highly TES1-induced target genes and is abundantly expressed in EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders. We found that TRAF1 expression enhanced LMP1 TES1 domain-mediated activation of the p38, JNK, ERK and canonical NF-kB pathways, but not non-canonical NF-kB pathway activity. To gain insights into how TRAF1 amplifies LMP1 TES1 MAP kinase and canonical NF-kB pathways, we performed proteomic analysis of TRAF1 complexes immuno-purified from cells uninduced or induced for LMP1 TES1 signaling. Unexpectedly, we found that LMP1 TES1 domain signaling induced an association between TRAF1 and the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), and stimulated linear (M1)-linked polyubiquitin chain attachment to TRAF1 complexes. LMP1 or TRAF1 complexes isolated from EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid B cell lines (LCLs) were highly modified by M1-linked polyubiqutin chains. The M1-ubiquitin binding proteins IKK-gamma/NEMO, A20 and ABIN1 each associate with TRAF1 in cells that express LMP1. TRAF2, but not the cIAP1 or cIAP2 ubiquitin ligases, plays a key role in LUBAC recruitment and M1-chain attachment to TRAF1 complexes, implicating the TRAF1:TRAF2 heterotrimer in LMP1 TES1-dependent LUBAC activation. Depletion of either TRAF1, or the LUBAC ubiquitin E3 ligase subunit HOIP, markedly impaired LCL growth. Likewise, LMP1 or TRAF1 complexes purified from LCLs were decorated by lysine 63 (K63)-linked polyubiqutin chains. LMP1 TES1 signaling induced K63-polyubiquitin chain attachment to TRAF1 complexes, and TRAF2 was identified as K63-Ub chain target. Co-localization of M1- and K63-linked polyubiquitin chains on LMP1 complexes may facilitate downstream canonical NF-kB pathway activation. Our results highlight LUBAC as a novel potential therapeutic target in EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders.
Bring It On: Angry Facial Expressions Potentiate Approach-Motivated Motor Behavior

Although many psychological models suggest that human beings are invariably motivated to avoid negative stimuli, more recent theories suggest that people are frequently motivated to approach angering social challenges in order to confront and overcome them. To examine these models, the current investigation sought to determine whether angry facial expressions potentiate approach-motivated motor behaviors. Across 3 studies, individuals were faster to initiate approach movements toward angry facial expressions than to initiate avoidance movements away from such facial expressions. This approach advantage differed significantly from participants' responses to both emotionally neutral (Studies 1 & 3) and fearful (Study 2) facial expressions. Furthermore, this pattern was most apparent when physical approach appeared to be effective in overcoming the social challenge posed by angry facial expressions (Study 3). The results are discussed in terms of the processes underlying anger-related approach motivation and the conditions under which they are likely to arise.
Quantum size effects in transport properties of metallic films

The confinement of electrons in small dimensions can lead to a discretization of energy levels. The associated quantum size effects in turn lead to an out-of-plane conductivity that shows nonanalytic behavior in the approach to the classical limit. The principal size dependence of the conductivity is \ensuremath{\sim}1/d for a film of thickness d; however, there is also a correction term that has an essential singularity in the small parameter l/d, where l is the mean free path in a bulk sample. Surface roughness in the film is introduced by establishing two physical length scales. Variations in d on length scales shorter than l are treated quantum mechanically by a suitable coordinate transformation. On the other hand, large-scale fluctuations which might reflect the presence of grains are incorporated classically by segmenting the film into independent units of length l. Impurity effects have also been included and in fact crossover behavior in the conductivity is found from a surface-dominated to an impurity-dominated regime. The transport coefficients---conductivity and thermopower---are found to show oscillations as a function of d with a period of half the Fermi wavelength.
UPDATE IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Topics covered in this Update include antimicrobial resistance, community-acquired pneumonia, and HIV infection.
Processing of refractory meteorite inclusions (CAIs) in parent-body atmospheres.

Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in refractory meteorites are shown to have been subject to partial melting during a suitably high gas density/small scale height regime arising during gasdynamic deceleration in a temporary atmosphere around an accreting parent body. The presence of dust in such an atmosphere would have increased the pressure gradient with height, lowering the boiloff rate, and permitting dust particles to become trapped in the partially melted material. CAIs may therefore be studied as probes of a primitive atmosphere.
Go Green, Get Healthy: An Agencywide Effort to Reduce Energy Use and Move the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention toward Sustainability

AbstractAmericans look to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lead by providing an example of healthy people in healthy environments. Recognizing the synergy between environmental health and personal health and well-being, the CDC formed the Go Green, Get Healthy (GGGH) initiative. The GGGH rolls healthier worksite initiatives, quality-of-work-life programs, and internal environmental protection efforts into a coordinated campaign for widespread cultural change with energy conservation as one of the major goals. The CDC hopes that this success will be a model for other agencies and organizations. The Office of Sustainability at the CDC actively engages the entire agency in environmental stewardship and specifically, energy conservation (in the GGGH initiative) by providing a vision with leadership support, education for every individual, effective communication methods, and a robust tracking system for comprehensive data and feedback. The campaign works effectively by breaking down the...
Thermal degradation and oxidation of polystyrene studied by factor-jump thermogravimetry

Abstract Factor-jump thermogravimetry has been used to study the activation energy of polystyrene degrading in a vacuum, in N 2 flowing at 4 mm/s and in N 2 O 2 mixtures. The results show the activation energy to be 44·9 ± 0·2 kcal/mole (188 ± 0·8 kJ/mole) for degradation above 350°C in vacuum or in flowing N 2 . This agrees well with work reported in 1949 by Jellinek 7 but with few results reported subsequently. The apparent activation energy for polystyrene losing weight above 280°C in an atmosphere of abundant O 2 is 21·5 ± 0·2 kcal/mole (90·2 ± 0·8 kJ/mole). In all cases where O 2 was deliberately introduced (partial pressures >4 mm Hg), the sample degraded to a black tar and the activation energy was ≤30 kcal/mole, depending on the amount of oxygen present and on the thermal history of the sample.
Mesophile versus thermophile: insights into the structural mechanisms of kinetic stability.

Abstract Obtaining detailed knowledge of folding intermediate and transition state (TS) structures is critical for understanding protein folding mechanisms. Comparisons between proteins adapted to survive extreme temperatures with their mesophilic homologs are likely to provide valuable information on the interactions relevant to the unfolding transition. For kinetically stable proteins such as α-lytic protease (αLP) and its family members, their large free energy barrier to unfolding is central to their biological function. To gain new insights into the mechanisms that underlie kinetic stability, we have determined the structure and high temperature unfolding kinetics of a thermophilic homolog, Thermobifida fusca protease A (TFPA). These studies led to the identification of a specific structural element bridging the N and C-terminal domains of the protease (the “domain bridge”) proposed to be associated with the enhanced high temperature kinetic stability in TFPA. Mutagenesis experiments exchanging the TFPA domain bridge into αLP validate this hypothesis and illustrate key structural details that contribute to TFPA's increased kinetic thermostability. These results lead to an updated model for the unfolding transition state structure for this important class of proteases in which domain bridge undocking and unfolding occurs at or before the TS. The domain bridge appears to be a structural element that can modulate the degree of kinetic stability of the different members of this class of proteases.
Identification of alternate 5' untranslated regions in the gene encoding Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase-Gr

Alternate 5' untranslated regions (UTR) of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase-Gr cDNA were identified by sequencing of anchored reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products. Three alternate 5' ends of the mRNA were spliced at the same point to a common 5' UTR. A 3-kb EcoRI-BamHI genomic DNA restriction fragment containing the alternate UTR and 5' flanking sequence was characterized by sequence analysis and identification of several potential transcriptional control elements.
EFFECT OF HYPERTONIC SODIUM NITRATE SOLUTIONS ON BLOOD PRESSURE OF RATS.

SummaryAdministration of NaNO3 solution to rats as their sole drinking fluid is accompanied by a significant elevation of systolic blood pressure. The threshold concentration for elevation of blood pressure lies between 0.15 and 0.175 m. Both concentration of NaNO3 solution and duration of treatment appear to be important factors in elevating blood pressure. Administration of NaNO3 is also accompanied by an increase in thyroid to body weight ratio.
The properties of clusters in the gas phase. IV - Complexes of H2O and HNOx clustering on NOx/-/

Thermodynamic quantities for the gas-phase clustering equilibria of NO2(-) and NO3(-) were determined with high-pressure mass spectrometry. A comparison of values of the free energy of hydration derived from the data shows good agreement with formerly reported values at 296 K. New data for larger NO2(-) and NO3(-) hydrates as well as NO2(-)(HNO2)n were obtained in this study. To aid in understanding the bonding and stability of the hydrates of nitrite and nitrate ions, CNDO/2 calculations were performed, and the results are discussed. A correlation between the aqueous-phase total hydration enthalpy of a single ion and its gas-phase hydration enthalpy was obtained. Atmospheric implications of the data are also briefly discussed.
How the principles of exercise physiology influence pelvic floor muscle training.

Abstract Clinicians have used pelvic floor muscle training as a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence for the past 50 years. Various protocols for training these muscles have been tested. Evidence has shown that strengthening the pelvic floor muscle can diminish, and sometimes eliminate, involuntary urine loss. The purpose of this article is to describe the principles of exercise physiology and the role these principles play in shaping pelvic floor muscle training regimens. Fundamental content regarding lower urinary tract physiology, specific to the pelvic floor muscles, and muscle fiber differentiation is presented to provide the foundation for a case study description of pelvic floor muscle training within the framework of these principles. (J WOCN 2001;28:150-5.)
Prevention-Oriented Infant Education Programs.

Abstract This paper reviews twelve experimentally-designed longitudinal studies of infant education. Without such early intervention, the disadvantaged infants who participated in these programs were predicted to become developmentally delayed. The interventions varied in their form, duration, and content, The major distinctions were between home or center-based programs and parent-oriented or child-oriented curricula. The magnitude of intellectual outcome scores seemed to relate to the intensity of the programs. Interventions that had more hours of contact with children and parents had more positive intellectual effects on the children, parents, and family life circumstances. Modest changes have been found in mother-child interaction patterns and quality of the home environment, although consistent measures have not been used across projects.
Search for Microörganisms of the Pleuropneumonia Group in Rheumatic and Non-Rheumatic Children

SummaryCultures on 30% ascitic fluid agar of material obtained by swabbing the eyes, nose, and throat of rheumatic and non-rheumatic children and a few adults failed to reveal any pleuro-pneumonia-like colonies. No success was encountered in additional attempts to isolate microorganisms of the pleuro-pneumonia group from the blood of children in the febrile phase of acute rheumatic fever or Still's disease, from the joint fluid during the first attack of rheumatic polyarthritis, and from rheumatic pericardial, myo-cardial, and valvular tissues obtained at necropsy. Cultures of 58 pairs of excised tonsils, however, yielded in 3 cases peculiar microscopic colonies (“X” colonies) which were 20 to 40 μ in size and strikingly similar to those of certain members of the pleuro-pneumonia group. The “X” colonies could not be passaged beyond the first generation, and their nature remains unknown.
Confidence-Based Method for Reliability-Based Design Optimization

An accurate input probabilistic model is necessary to obtain a trustworthy result in the reliability analysis and the reliability-based design optimization (RBDO). However, the accurate input probabilistic model is not always available. Very often only insufficient input data are available in practical engineering problems. When only the limited input data are provided, uncertainty is induced in the input probabilistic model and this uncertainty propagates to the reliability output which is defined as the probability of failure. Then, the confidence level of the reliability output will decrease. To resolve this problem, the reliability output is considered to have a probability distribution in this paper. The probability of the reliability output is obtained as a combination of consecutive conditional probabilities of input distribution type and parameters using Bayesian approach. The conditional probabilities that are obtained under certain assumptions and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method is used to calculate the probability of the reliability output. Using the probability of the reliability output as constraint, a confidence-based RBDO (C-RBDO) problem is formulated. In the new probabilistic constraint of the C-RBDO formulation, two threshold values of the target reliability output and the target confidence level are used. For effective C-RBDO process, the design sensitivity of the new probabilistic constraint is derived. The C-RBDO is performed for a mathematical problem with different numbers of input data and the result shows that C-RBDO optimum designs incorporate appropriate conservativeness according to the given input data.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Progesterone stimulation of HMG-CoA reductase activity in cultured cells.

Abstract In a previous study we showed that progesterone (PG) stimulated HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) activity in rat intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) incubated in the presence or absence of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) [1,2]. In the present study we examined further the mechanism of this stimulation. We observed that the stimulation of HMGR activity by PG was completely prevented by cycloheximide. Turnover studies utilizing immunoprecipitation of HMGR-labeled with [35S]methionine revealed that PG increased reductase activity by inhibiting HMGR degradation without affecting the synthesis of HMGR. The stimulation of HMGR activity by progesterone could be accounted for by a continuous synthesis of HMGR while its degradation was retarded. In the presence of LDL, the activity of HMGR in IEC-6 cells was effectively inhibited, however PG was able to stimulate HMGR in the presence of LDL. This effect was not due to an interference of normal cellular metabolism of LDL, since PG had no effect of the cellular uptake and lysosomal degradation of 125I-LDL. PG did not affect of the rate of lysosomal hydrolysis of [3H]cholesteryl noleate-LDL. The free [3H]cholesterol derived from [3H]cholesteryl linoleate-LDL moved to the cell membrane and effluxed to HDL3 in the medium at the same rate in the presence or absence of PG. Although PG did not affect LDL metabolism, pre-treatment of cells with LDL delayed the onset of HMGR stimulation by PG. In IEC-6 cells deprived of LDL for 24 h, the HMGR activity was stimulated immediately following PG addition. In cells pre-treated with LDL for 24 h, the stimulation was delayed by 4 h. Treatment of cells with 25-hydroxycholesterol completely prevented PG stimulation of HMGR activity. We propose that the stimulation of HMGR activity in the presence or absence of LDL is related to the ability of PG to attenuate the formation and/or action of intracellular HMGR repressor molecules which accelerate the degradation of HMGR.
A Study of Church Members During Times of Crisis

The purpose of the current study was to understand what church members experience during a situational crisis and identify the resources of social support that are helpful for them. By identifying the degree to which personal religious beliefs and participation in a particular congregation help people in crisis, this study sought to provide a foundation from which religious as well as mental health professionals can understand the psychological benefits of religious involvement. For the purposes of this research the investigators developed the “Crisis Appraisal and Coping Interview Protocol.” The research team collected interview data from 26 members of one Southern Baptist congregation within two weeks of a crisis event. Qualitative analysis identified several key themes that appeared which are discussed.
Effects of angiotensin II on phosphatidylinositide hydrolysis in rat brain

Abstract Angiotensin II has been coupled to the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositide in various peripheral tissues; however, little is yet known about its association in the central nervous system. Intracellular phosphatidylinositide was prelabeled by incubation with [3H]myo-inositol and the rate of hydrolysis determined by monitoring the rate of formation of [3H]inositol monophosphate. In hypothalamus, thalamus, septum and midbrain tissues, angiotensin II reduced the formation of [3H]inositol monophosphate and this effect was partially reversed by the presence of an angiotensin II antagonist, sarcosine, isoleucine angiotensin II. These data suggest that angiotensin II receptor stimulation may inhibit the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositide in the brain.
Assessment of ASTM D 4516 for evaluation of reverse osmosis membrane performance

Reverse osmosis membrane performance was evaluated using ASTM D 4516 and a modified form of the mass transfer coefficient (MTC) as described in the homogenous solution diffusion model (HSDM) on a common data set. Standardized salt passage and water production is used to compare both methods. ASTM D 4516 is based on normalized pressure over time for a given set of data, considers temperature only for water production but not for salt passage. The HSDM MTC is diffusion based and the HSDM considers variations in flux and recovery for salt passage. Normalization of the HSDM MTCs for temperature and pressure over time provided a universal assessment for the water and water quality for a specific diffusion controlled membrane. Assessment of water production was identical by either method, but assessment of salt passage was different. Salt passage determined by the ASTM method is dependent on actual net solute driving force, while HSDM determined salt passage is dependent on MTCs, flux, recovery, temperature, net solute driving force and changes in mass transfer over time. The HSDM MTC method of membrane evaluation is more versatile for assessment of membrane performance at varying sites and changing operation.
Protein carboxyl-O-methyltransferase activity in cultured C-1300 neuroblastoma cells

Abstract Protein carboxylmethyltransferase (PCM) has been identified in a variety of tissues derived from neural crest anlage, including in vivo C-1300 murine neuroblastoma (MNB). These observations have stimulated interest in further defining the role of PCM as a potential modulator of neoplastic cell behavior. The subcellular distribution and kinetic behavior of PCM have been characterized in a tissue culture line derived from the C-1300 murine neuroblastoma (clone NB41A3). The specific and total activities of PCM in the presence and absence of exogenous substrate were determined in subcellular fractions of MNB cells prepared by differential centrifugation. In the presence of exogenous substrate (+ gelatin), 40% of the total PCM activity was present in the 100,000 g supernatant fraction and 41% in the 800 g paniculate fraction, whereas the higher specific activity of PCM was present in the 100,000 g supernatant fraction. Enzyme activity measured in the absence of gelatin, which reflects the concentration of endogenous methyl acceptor proteins in a cell fraction, was negligible. This activity represented less than 1.6 and 0.4% of the total PCM activity present in the 800 g paniculate and 100,000 g soluble fractions respectively. Cytosolic PCM had an apparent K m of 13.9 × 10 −6 M for AdoMet and a V max of 33 pmoles per min per mg protein. Cytoplasmic PCM was inhibited competitively by S -adenosylhomocysteine( K i = 3.0 μM ) and its analogues, sinefungin ( K i = 1.7 μ M) and A-9145C ( K i = 0.2 μM). These data demonstrate that the specific activity of PCM was greatest in the soluble component of subcellular fractions prepared from cultured MNB cells. This distribution pattern of PCM is similar to that observed in the C-1300 MNB tumor grown in situ and in non-malignant neural tissues. In contrast to the latter tissues, cultured MNB cells exhibited low PCM activity when assayed in the absence of exogenous substrate.
Infrared photometry of Comet Bowell and other comets

Broad-band and intermediate-band infrared photometry of Comets Bowell, Elias, and Gunn is presented. The data for Comet Bowell show that the strongly depressed albedo near 3 microns observed by Campins and colleagues (1982) is very broad and extends at least to 4 microns. Scattering calculations indicate that existing infrared data do not provide direct, observational evidence for the presence of H2O ice. However, the material responsible for the 3-micron absorption observed by Campins and colleagues remains therefore unidentified.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection in large sessile lesions of the rectosigmoid: learning curve in a European center.

Background and study aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the colorectum is not currently a standard procedure. Few data are available from the Western world. The aim of the present study was to report on the first experiences and the learning curve of colorectal ESD in a European center. Patients and methods: A total of 82 rectosigmoid lesions were referred for ESD. Lesion characteristics, resection rates, procedure times, complications, and recurrences were recorded prospectively. Results were compared between three consecutive study periods in order to determine the learning curve. Results: Lesions were located in the rectum (86.6 %) and the sigmoid colon (13.4 %). Median diameter was 45.5 mm. Lesions were of Paris type 0-Is with pit pattern type V (n = 8), 0-IIa (n = 33), 0-IIa + Is (n = 36), and 0-IIa + IIc (n = 5). The malignancy rate in these groups was 100 %, 0 %, 14 %, and 20 %, respectively. ESD was possible in 76 lesions (92.7 %). En bloc resection rate and R0 resection rate were 81.6 % and 69.7 %, respectively. Median procedure time was 176 minutes. Between the three consecutive study periods, en bloc resection rate increased (60.0 %, 88.0 %, 96.2 %), R0 resection rate increased (48.0 %, 76.0 %, 84.5 %; P Conclusions: In the European setting, ESD in the distal colon is feasible with acceptable complication risks. Resection rates were not as high as those from Japanese studies; however, a clear learning curve could be shown. Colorectal ESD needs to be further evaluated, particularly in Europe where ESD experience is low.
Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor of the Chest Wall in a Patient With Jeune's Syndrome and Renal Transplant

Jeune's syndrome is a rare autosomal disorder characterized by osseous dysplasia, fetal respiratory distress, and renal failure in later life. We describe a 27-year-old man with Jeune's syndrome who underwent renal transplantation and 6 years later developed a sarcoma (primitive neuroectodermal tumor [PNET]) in the soft tissue of the chest wall, a principal site of dysplasia in this disorder.
Lyapunov-based versus Poincaré map analysis of the rimless wheel

Hybrids systems are combinations of continuous and discrete systems. The bouncing ball is an extensively studied hybrid system, for which many solid Lyapunov-based tools are now available. Toward applying these tools to walking robots, where a hybrid dynamical system framework is also a natural fit, the rimless wheel provides a salient dynamic model because it shares commonalities with both bouncing balls and two-legged robots. While much of existing locomotion research is based on Poincare analysis, in this paper we also study the rimless wheel using Lyapunov-based tools. Our results motivate future use of Poincare maps for certain hybrid systems and Lyapunov-based tools for more complicated walkers.
Amiodarone-Induced Refractoriness to Cardioversion

Excerpt Amiodarone, an antiarrhythmic agent under investigation in the United States, is generally thought to be extremely effective and safe (1, 2). Recent reports, however, indicate a significant...
X-ray-induced in vitro Neoplastic transformation of human diploid cells

Techniques have recently been developed to identify and score quantitatively neoplastic transformation caused by X rays in cultured cells derived from rodents1. Because of their relevance to estimates of human cancer risk, it is clearly desirable to carry out similar experiments with cultured cells of human origin. The present report describes for the first time the neoplastic transformation in vitro of human diploid cells by X-ray irradiation into cells which can progress in vitro into advanced stages of neoplastic development, namely, to form colonies in agar and give rise to tumours when injected into nude mice.
Detection of tumor-associated antigens in sera of canine cancer patients by monoclonal antibodies generated against canine mammary carcinoma cells

Two murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 1A10 and SB2, generated against a canine mammary carcinoma cell line, were used in a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) in canine serum samples. Sera were tested from disease-free dogs and from dogs diagnosed with mammary carcinoma, non-mammary carcinoma, sarcoma, benign mammary tumor, benign non-mammary tumor, or non-neoplastic disease. Serum antigen concentrations measured by ELISA were expressed as inhibitory units (IU). The upper limit of normal, defined as the mean plus 2 SD of the TAA concentration in disease-free dogs, was 20 IU with antibody 1A10 and 22 IU with antibody SB2. Compared with disease-free dogs, the frequency of TAA-positive sera was significantly greater (P < 0.05) among dogs with mammary or non-mammary carcinoma when tested with MAbs 1A10 or SB2, and also with sarcoma when tested with MAb SB2. Testing a serum sample with both antibodies rather than just one increased the sensitivity of the competitive ELISA for TAA detection. The presence of TAA in serum might serve as a useful marker for certain types of carcinomas or sarcomas in canine cancer patients.
Depression and symptomatic response among HIV-infected drug users enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of directly administered antiretroviral therapy.

Abstract Background. Depression is highly prevalent among HIV-infected injection drug users (IDUs) and has been associated with poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy and increased morbidity and mortality. Factors associated with changes in depressive symptoms among this group receiving antiretroviral treatment that have not been extensively evaluated. Methods. This post-hoc analysis of prospective clinical trial analyzes the factors associated with changes in depressive symptomatology using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale (CES-D) among HIV-infected IDUs enrolled in a prospective, six months randomized controlled trial of directly administered antiretroviral therapy (DAART) versus self-administered therapy. Results. Of the 127 evaluable IDUs enrolled in the study, 89 subjects (70%) had complete six-month follow-up data. Of these, 58 (63%) met baseline criteria for severe or major depressive disorder (MDD) using the CES-D. CES-D scores improved significantly from baseline to six ...
Complementary suppression of T cell activation by peritoneal macrophages and CTLA-4-Ig.

Abstract Peritoneal macrophages suppressed T lymphocyte activation by amino acid catabolism. CTLA-4-Ig complemented this form of suppression by blocking the costimulation of T cells. Inhibition of the amino acid catabolizing enzymes or blockade of the IFN γ signaling essential for macrophage-mediated suppression did not impact CTLA-4-Ig efficacy. Except for phytohemagglutinin, T cell responses to superantigen, mitogen, and anti-CD3 were further reduced when CTLA-4-Ig was combined with peritoneal macrophages. The combination of these complimentary forms of immune regulation potently suppresses adaptive immunity.
Quantum corrections to classical confinement

We study two models involving charged scalar fields in one space dimension, which have baglike properties at the classical level. Following conventional renormalization procedures, we find that either the first model becomes a free theory or else its spectrum becomes unbounded below depending on how one renormalizes. The second model also becomes a free theory with a particular choice of renormalization. In no case are we able to retain the classical confinement, although we can restore interactions by adding suitable counterterms to the Hamiltonian.
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Mortality in the United States, 1969 Through 1988

Background and Design: Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States. Despite its importance, patterns of mortality from this cause are poorly documented. Recent insights into sources of misclassification allow for more accurate estimation of these patterns. This investigation describes nonmelanoma skin cancer mortality in the United States during 1969 through 1988 on the basis of routine death certification and adjusts reported mortality data for two major sources of misclassification. Results: Nonmelanoma skin cancer mortality rates decreased by approximately 20% to 30% for both men and women and for both whites and blacks, although the decline among blacks was less consistent than among whites. Mortality was greater among men than among women and greater among whites than among blacks, although the most pronounced difference was between white men and the other three racial/ gender groups studied. Approximately 1200 deaths per year are attributable to nonmelanoma skin cancer. Conclusions: Nonmelanoma skin cancer mortality is diminishing despite increasing incidence. Mortality rates among blacks are extraordinarily high in comparison with their incidence rates. More careful attention to misclassification in mortality statistics is crucial for an accurate assessment of the public health burden of nonmelanoma skin cancer. ( Arch Dermatol. 1993;129:1286-1290)
Local Shear Deformation in Whole Cartilage Explants Determined by Texture Correlation

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent disease, afflicting 27 million people in the United States alone [1]. OA is commonly thought of as “wear and tear” of the joints caused by repeated compression and shear strains. The mechanical contribution to the onset and progression of OA is unknown; however, it is likely a result of an imbalance of cartilage homeostasis, represented by a shift in biochemical and mechanical factors that typically maintain healthy joints [2]. Cartilage homeostasis results in part from cellular mechanotransduction events, i.e. the conversion of mechanical stimuli into a biochemical response.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
The design and implementation of a new UNIX kernel

A project to produce a kernel-based, message-passing version of UNIX is described. The system is designed to be (1) useful in teaching operating systems, (2) easily changeable, (3) easily portable, and (4) a vehicle for studying the message-passing approach to operating systems design. The system calls normally handled by the UNIX kernel are handled by system processes, each of which operates in its own address space. Interprocess communication and process environment management is done by a small kernel. The design and implementation of the system are described. Message passing as a system design method is evaluated in this context and compared with the procedure call orientation of standard UNIX. The message-based design proved successful in creating a modular and understandable system.
Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi in raccoons from South Carolina and Georgia.

Trypanosoma cruzi,the causative agent of American trypanosomiasis or Chagas' disease, is of both medical and veterinary importance as is evidenced by chronic phase myocarditis in humans and dogs. Further, T. cruzihas been reported from over 20 species of wildlife reservoir hosts in the USA, with raccoons (Procyon lotor) and opossums (Didelphis virginiana) being the most common. Whereas previous studies on T. cruziin raccoons have included only culture and direct examination of blood, the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used in the current study to detect anti-T. cruziantibodies in the serum of raccoons. Of 221 raccoons trapped at 13 sites representing the five physiographic regions of South Carolina plus five sites in the Piedmont region of Georgia (from April 1997 to February 2000), 104 (47%) were seropositive. A higher seroprevalence in raccoons was observed in the coastal regions, with seroprevalence in the Lower Coastal Plain South (61%) being significantly higher than that in the ...
What it Means to be 98% Chimpanzee: Apes, People, and their Genes

The overwhelming similarity of human and ape genes is one of the best-known facts of modern genetic science. But what does this similarity mean? Does it, as many have suggested, have profound implications for understanding human nature? Well-known molecular anthropologist Jonathan Marks uses the human-versus-ape controversy as a jumping-off point for a radical reassessment of a range of provocative issue - from the role of science in society to racism, animal rights, and cloning. Full of interesting facts, fascinating personalities, and vivid examples that capture times and places, this work explains and demystifies human genetic science - showing ultimately how it has always been subject to social and political influences and teaching us how to think critically about its modern findings. Marks presents the field of molecular anthropology - a synthesis of the holistic approach of anthropology with the reductive approach of molecular genetics - as a way of improving our understanding of the science of human evolution. As he explores the intellectual terrain of this field, he lays out its broad areas of interest with issues ranging from the differences between apes and humans to the biological and behavioral variations expressed in humans as a species. Marks confronts head-on the problems of racial classification in science. He describes current theories about race and uses work in primatology, comparative anatomy, and molecular anthropology to debunk them. He also sheds new light on the controversial Great Ape Project, the Human Genome Diversity Project, and much more. This iconoclastic, witty, and extremely readable book illuminates the deep background of human variation and asks us to reconsider the role of science in modern society tools.
Specificite de la reaction a l'ortho—toluidine en milieu faiblement acide. Son application a la determination des activites saccharasique et trehalasique

Resume Some properties of the ortho-toluidine reaction in slightly acid medium have been studied. Thiourea and EDTA increase the sensitivity and specificity of the reaction. Some disaccharides, especially trehalose and sucrose, are not or very little hydrolysed. This reagent (with thiourea and EDTA) can be used to determine glucose liberated by trehalase or sucrase. An automatic procedure is described for the determination of these enzymatic activities. It has been compared to the glucose oxidase method and gives very closely related results.
Epoxy–lignin polyblends. III. Thermal properties and infrared analysis

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and IR analysis were performed on a nonviscous epoxy polymer system (EP) with Kraft lignin (L) up to 20%. Mixtures of EP with similar amounts of silica (S) as in EP–L polyblends were used as a reference system for the analyses performed. EP–L polyblends cured at room temperature exhibit a single Tg, a fact characteristic for the monophasic systems. One-step tensile storage modulus vs. temperature curves, and related one-peak tensile loss modulus vs. temperature curves were found for all the EP–L polyblends. At about 30°C the tensile storage modulus of EP does not change in the presence of lignin in amounts up to 20% by weight. All these showed that L is miscible with EP and it does not affect the crosslinking at room temperature. IR spectra led to similar conclusions. The gradual decrease of the peak values of tan δ with the amount of L in polyblends is due to an increase in the tensile storage modulus and a decrease of the tensile loss modulus at temperatures close to Tg. This fact is explained by a stronger bond between EP and L, which could be formed at higher temperatures. The DSC and DMA data are in agreement with the mechanical properties of EP–L polyblends, which were reported previously.
Transcript profiling identifies iqgap2(-/-) mouse as a model for advanced human hepatocellular carcinoma.

It is broadly accepted that genetically engineered animal models do not always recapitulate human pathobiology. Therefore identifying best-fit mouse models of human cancers that truly reflect the corresponding human disease is of vital importance in elucidating molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis and developing preventive and therapeutic approaches. A new hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mouse model lacking a novel putative tumor suppressor IQGAP2 has been generated by our laboratory. The aim of this study was to obtain the molecular signature of Iqgap2−/− HCC tumors and establish the relevance of this model to human disease. Here we report a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of Iqgap2−/− livers and a cross-species comparison of human and Iqgap2−/− HCC tumors using Significance Analysis of Microarray (SAM) and unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis. We identified the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway as the top canonical pathway dysregulated in Iqgap2−/− livers. We also demonstrated that Iqgap2−/− hepatic tumors shared genetic signatures with HCC tumors from patients with advanced disease as evidenced by a 78% mouse-to-human microarray data set concordance rate with 117 out of 151 identified ortholog genes having similar expression profiles across the two species. Collectively, these results indicate that the Iqgap2 knockout mouse model closely recapitulates human HCC at the molecular level and supports its further application for the study of this disease.
Precordial ST segment depression during acute inferior myocardial infarction: Early thallium-201 scintigraphic evidence of adjacent posterolateral or inferoseptal involvement

To investigate the myocardial perfusion correlates of precordial ST segment depression during acute inferior myocardial infarction, a rest thallium-201 scintigram and a closely timed 12 lead electrocardiogram were obtained within 6 hours of the onset of infarction in 44 patients admitted with their first acute inferior myocardial infarction. Thirty-six patients demonstrated precordial ST segment depression (group 1) and eight did not (group 2). A perfusion defect involving the inferior wall was present in all 44 patients. Additional perfusion defects of the adjacent posterolateral wall (n = 20), the ventricular septum (n = 9) or both (n = 6) were present in 35 of 36 patients from group 1 compared with only 1 of 8 patients from group 2 (p Thus, precordial ST segment depression during an acute inferior myocardial infarction is associated with thallium-201 scintigraphic evidence of more extensive involvement of the adjacent posterolateral or inferoseptal myocardial segments, which probably reflects the extent and pattern of distribution of the artery of infarction, rather than the presence of coexistent multivessel coronary artery disease or disease of the left anterior descending artery.
The Epistemological Argument Against Descriptivism

Strong descriptivism about proper names, as I will understand it, is the thesis that for every proper name N in the public language, and any competent speaker S who possesses N, there is a definite description the F that is semantically equivalent to N for S.' For the speaker, N and the F are synonymous. There are other versions of strong descriptivism. All of them take the semantic content of a proper name to be given by the content of a definite description. This formulation, with its relativization to speakers, allows strong descriptivism to avoid well-known problems associated with the view that there is a single definite description synonymous with N for all competent users of N. Weak descriptivism is the thesis that for every proper name N in the public language, and any competent speaker S possessing N, S associates some descriptive condition, being the F, with N, and that condition determines the referent of N. Weak descriptivism differs from strong descriptivism in that it does not require that, for the speaker, the descriptive condition is synonymous with the name.
Demonstration of 2-D wavelength-hopping time-spreading incoherent optical CDMA network by pulse carving of CW laser source

We demonstrated a two-user incoherent optical CDMA network operating at 2.488 GHz using pulse carving of CW laser source. The network has error free operation with two users at -6 dBm optical power and pseudorandom bit sequence of length 231-1.
Dose-related effects of a neonatal 6-OHDA lesion on SKF 38393- and m-chlorophenylpiperazine-induced oral activity responses of rats

Abstract Neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treatment of rats is associated with concurrent supersensitization of dopamine (DA) D1 and serotonin 5-HT1C receptors, for agonist-induced oral activity. The present study was conducted to determine if graded reduction of striatal DA content and/or graded elevation of striatal 5-HT content by 6-OHDA would alter sensitivity of either receptor type, and thereby influence oral activity responses to DA and 5-HT agonists. At 3 days after birth, groups of rats were pretreated with desipramine (20 mg/kg i.p.), 1 h before administration of a range of doses of 6-OHDA HBr (15, 30, 60, 100, 150 and 200 μg, i.c.v., salt form; half in each lateral ventricle) or the vehicle, saline (0.85%)-ascorbic acid (0.1%). Between 2 and 4 months, a series of challenge doses of SKF 38393 HCl (0.30 to 3.0 mg/kg i.p.) and m-chlorophenylpiperazine 2HCl (0.30 to 6.0 mg/kg i.p.; m-CPP 2HCl) were administered to each group of rats and oral activity was observed. Oral activity was determined for 1 min every 10 min during a 60-min period, starting 10 min after injection of agonist or vehicle. SKF 38393 dose-response curves demonstrated enhanced oral activity responses in rats lesioned neonatally with 150 or 200 μg of 6-OHDA. m-CPP dose-response curves demonstrated enhanced oral activity responses in these 2 groups of rats, as well as those lesioned neonatally with 100 μg of 6-OHDA. Striatal DA content was reduced by > 97% in these 3 groups of rats. Striatal 5-HT content was elevated by > 80% in rats treated neonatally with 150- or 200-μg doses of 6-OHDA, and by 50% in rats treated neonatally with the 100-μg dose of 6-OHDA. Lower doses of 6-OHDA produced less of an effect on striatal DA and 5-HT content. Regression analysis determined that both SKF 38393- and m-CPP-induced oral activities were most closely correlated with the magnitude of change in striatal content of DA. These findings demonstrate that 5-HT agonist responses can be enhanced when DA agonist responses are not enhanced. Also, in neonatal 6-OHDA-lesioned rats the extent of DA depletion vs. the extent of 5-HT elevation seems to be a critical factor in the enhanced behavioral effects of DA and 5-HT agonists.