cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Tissue Factor Gene Expression in Human Monocytic and Endothelial Cells

Tissue factor (TF) is inducibly expressed within the vasculature by monocytes and endothelial cells. Transcriptional activation of the TF gene in these two cell types by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or cytokines appears to be regulated by a common mechanism. Functional studies identified a 56-bp LPS response element which contains two AP-1 sites and a kappaB site. Assembly of a multiprotein complex composed of Fos-Jun and c-Rel-p65 heterodimers is required to induce TF gene transcription. Inhibiting proteolytic degradation of IkappaBalpha prevents nuclear translocation of c-Rel-p65 heterodimers and blocks inducible TF expression in monocytic and endothelial cells.
SIEVE: a performance debugging environment for parallel programs

Abstract This paper describes a new approach to designing performance analysis tools for parallel processing systems. A primary contribution of this work is to explore the way in which application source code structure can be incorporated into an interactive, programmable event trace analyzer. Event histories are organized as a temporal, relational data base. The user interface is based on a simple two dimensional spreadsheet metaphor that provides a direct and flexible view of the data base and also provides a simple but powerful interactive graphics facility.
Immunoregulatory activity of a T-cell receptor alpha chain demonstrated by in vitro transcription and translation.

Abstract Previous studies from our laboratory and those of others suggested the possibility that the T-cell antigen receptor alpha (TCR alpha) chain from some T cells can be released in a soluble form and can have antigen-specific immunoregulatory activity. We have analyzed this phenomenon by in vitro transcription and translation (IVTT) of a cDNA encoding a TCR alpha chain (A1.1 TCR alpha) suspected of having such activity. We found that TCR alpha, but not TCR beta, protein produced in this way showed antigen-specific regulatory activity in an in vitro immune-response assay. Protein derived from truncated forms of the A1.1 TCR alpha cDNA had activity providing that, in addition to the variable (V) and joining (J) regions of the alpha chain (VJ alpha), at least the first 25 amino acids of the alpha chain of the constant (C) region (C alpha) were present. Addition of an irrelevant protein sequence to the VJ alpha failed to impart activity to the molecule, suggesting that the C alpha requirement is not simply for stabilization of the resulting protein. These results are discussed in the context of other recent studies on the immunoregulatory activity of soluble TCR alpha molecules, and the possible physiological relevance of these observations is considered.
Thermonuclear processes and accretion onto neutron star envelopes - X-ray burst and transient sources

A Lagrangian, fully implicit, one-dimensional hydrodynamic computer code is used to investigate the evolution of thermonuclear runaways in the thick accreted hydrogen-rich envelopes of 1.0-solar-mass neutron stars having radii of 10 km and 20 km. The simulations produce outbursts that range in time scale from about 2000 seconds to more than a day. For the 10-km study, the peak effective temperature is 3.3 x 10 to the 7th K, and the peak luminosity is 2 x 10 to the 5th solar luminosities. The 20-km neutron star produces a peak effective temperature and luminosity of 5.3 x 10 to the 6th K and 5.9 x 10 to the 2nd solar luminosities. Also investigated are the effects of changes in the rates of the O-14(alpha, proton) and O-15(alpha, gamma) reactions on the evolution. Hydrodynamic expansion on the 10-km neutron star produces a precursor lasting about 10 to the -6th sec. The evolution of a gas cloud impacting the surface of a 20-km, 1-solar-mass neutron star is studied in an attempt to simulate the magnetospheric gate model of the X-ray burst sources.
America's Disorganized Organicists

Images of good organic urban and regional physical form vary from extreme decentralization to mile-high megastructures-and almost everything in between. The problem with this disparity is that organic spatial theory appears so flexible as to be meaningless. This in turn undermines its authority as a basis for setting reliable planning standards and its usefulness as a basis for practical action. This article describes the major concepts of organic philosophy and organic planning theory. It then investigates, compares, and contrasts eleven American theorists in order to find the causes of the wide variety. It concludes with a summary interpretation of these causes and introduces options for changing the situation.
Parameterized modeling of spatially varying optical blur

Optical blur due to lens aberrations and defocus has been demonstrated in some cases to be spatially varying across the image plane. However, existing models in the literature for the point-spread function (PSF) corresponding to this blur are either parameterized and spatially invariant or spatially varying but ad-hoc and discretely defined. A parameterized model is developed and presented for a spatially varying PSF due to lens aberrations and defocus in an imaging system. The model is motivated from an established theoretical framework in physics and is demonstrated to be able to unify a set of hundreds of PSF observations across the image plane into a single 10-parameter model. The accuracy of the model is demonstrated with simulations and measurement data collected by two separate research groups.
Averaging theory and low-dimensional models for chemical reactors and reacting flows

Abstract A novel approach based on the Liapunov–Schmidt technique of bifurcation theory is presented for the spatial averaging of a class of convection–diffusion–reaction models. It is used to derive low-dimensional averaged models for different types of homogeneous and catalytic reactors, as well as coupled homogeneous–heterogeneous systems. For the homogeneous isothermal case, the averaged models consist of a pair of balance equations for each species Aj in terms of the mixing-cup (Cj,m) and spatially averaged (〈Cj〉) concentrations. The first (global) equation traces the evolution of Cj,m with residence time while the second (local) equation, which is independent of the reactor type, gives the local concentration gradient as a difference between Cj,m and 〈Cj〉 in terms of the local variables (such as species diffusivities, shear and reaction rates). For the wall-catalyzed reaction case, the averaged models are described by a pair of equations for each species in terms of Cj,m and the surface concentration Cj,s and are similar to the classical two-phase models of catalytic reactors. For the coupled homogeneous–heterogeneous case, the averaged models consist of three balance equations for each species in terms of Cj,m, 〈Cj〉 and Cj,s, and contain four mass transfer or exchange coefficients. The accuracy, convergence and the region of validity of the averaged models are examined for some special cases. Finally, the usefulness of the averaged models in predicting the reactor behavior is illustrated with an example for each of the three cases, homogeneous, heterogeneous and coupled homogeneous–heterogeneous case.
Optimizing sensor movement planning for energy efficiency

Conserving the energy for motion is an important yet not-well-addressed problem in mobile sensor networks. In this article, we study the problem of optimizing sensor movement for energy efficiency. We adopt a complete energy model to characterize the entire energy consumption in movement. Based on the model, we propose an optimal trapezoidal velocity schedule for minimizing energy consumption when the road condition is uniform; and a corresponding velocity schedule for the variable road condition by using continuous-state dynamic programming. Considering the variety in motion hardware, we also design one velocity schedule for simple microcontrollers, and one velocity schedule for relatively complex microcontrollers, respectively. Simulation results show that our velocity planning may have significant impact on energy conservation.
Investigations of nano- and macro-wear of magnetic tape head materials

The nano- and macro-wear characteristics of calcium titanate, single crystal ferrite and polycrystalline ferrite were investigated using nano-scratch testing and wear bar testing. Nano- and micro-indentations were made to determine nano- and micro-hardness, and nano-scratch testing was used to evaluate relative wear rates on the nano-scale. The macro-wear characteristics of the various head materials against metal particle tapes was investigated as a function of tape speed using wear bars mounted in a DLT tape drive. The micro-indentation method was used to investigate wear of the head/tape interface in a linear tape drive. The results from nano- and macro-wear tests were analysed and correlated with the microstructure of the materials.
Pulmonary resistance and methods of humidification in acute pulmonary failure.

In order to evaluate the effects of ultrasonic nebulization on airway resistance in respiratory failure, ten patients requiring mechanical ventilation for acute pulmonary failure were each ventilated with two humidification systems, one producing inspired air saturated with water vapour at 35° C, the other nebulizing water droplets ultrasonically. There was no statistically significant difference in pulmonary resistance at inspira tory flow rates of 40, 60, and 80 1/min. A separate comparison between humidifiers in those patients with the highest resistances did not reveal any difference in response to method of humidification. In contrast to studies in other contexts, these data fail to show any significant difference, from the standpoint of effects on resistance, in the use of ultrasonic mist humidification during mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure.
Canonical Wnt signaling modulates Tbx1, Eya1, and Six1 expression, restricting neurogenesis in the otic vesicle.

To understand the mechanism by which canonical Wnt signaling sets boundaries for pattern formation in the otic vesicle (OV), we examined Tbx1 and Eya1-Six1 downstream of activated β-catenin. Tbx1, the gene for velo-cardio-facial syndrome/DiGeorge syndrome (VCFS/DGS), is essential for inner ear development where it promotes Bmp4 and Otx1 expression and restricts neurogenesis. Using floxed β-catenin gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) alleles, we found Tbx1 expression was down-regulated and maintained/enhanced in the two mouse mutants, respectively. Bmp4 was ectopically expressed and Otx1 was lost in β-catenin GOF mutants. Normally, inactivation of Tbx1 causes expanded neurogenesis, but expression of NeuroD was down-regulated in β-catenin GOF mutants. To explain this paradox, Eya1 and Six1, genes for branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome were down-regulated in the OV of β-catenin GOF mutants independently of Tbx1. Overall, this work helps explain the mechanism by which Wnt signaling modulates transcription factors required for neurogenesis and patterning of the OV. Developmental Dynamics 239:1708–1722, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Pharmacogenetics of alcoholism: a clinical neuroscience perspective

Twin and adoption studies have shown that the heritability of alcoholism may be as high as 50–60% [1]; however, the neuropathophysiology of alcoholism and its underlying genetic architecture is complex and remains largely elusive to scientists in the field. Pharmacogenetics has the potential to aid in the identification of genetic markers for alcoholism risk and treatment response in that the introduction of a CNS drug narrows the genetic focus to those systems involved in the drug’s metabolism and efficacy (pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics). In this editorial, we briefly discuss the pharmacogenetics of alcohol as a drug, the pharmacogenetics of alcoholism treatment, and provide a series of recommendations for future research.
Generalizations of P. Lévy's inversion theorem

Abstract We extend the Levy inversion formula for the recovery of a bounded measure over R from its Fourier-Stieltjes transform to bounded complex-valued, orthogonally scattered Hilbert space-valued, and spectral projection operator-valued measures over any first countable locally compact Abelian group. All our results are direct generalizations of known inversions for R .
Cloning, expression, and mapping of ribonucleases H of human and mouse related to bacterial RNase HI

Abstract We identified two human sequences and one mouse sequence in the database of expressed sequence tags that are highly homologous to the N-terminal sequence of eukaryotic RNases H1. The cDNAs for humanRNASEH1and mouseRnaseh1were obtained, their nucleotide sequences determined, and the proteins expressed inEscherichia coliand partially purified. Both proteins have RNase H activityin vitroand they bind to dsRNA and RNA–DNA hybrids through the N-terminal conserved motif present in eukaryotic RNases H1. TheRNASEH1gene is expressed in all human tissues at similar levels, indicating that RNase H1 may be a housekeeping protein. The humanRNASEH1and mouseRnaseh1cDNAs were used to isolate BAC genomic clones that were used as probes for fluorescencein situhybridization. The human gene was localized to chromosome 17p11.2 and the mouse gene to a nonsyntenic region on chromosome 12A3. The chromosomal location and possible disease association of the humanRNASEH1gene are discussed.
Sensitivity analysis of population growth rates estimated from cladoceran chronic toxicity tests

Four variables–mean brood size, day of first reproduction, longevity and per capita rate of increase (r)–were compared in four 70-d chronic toxicity tests in which Daphnia pulex were exposed to cadmium or copper in continuous and pulsed exposures. With these data we asked the question: Is the population-level variable (r) more sensitive than the three organism-level variables (mean brood size, day of first reproduction and longevity) as an indicator of toxicant stress? We define two variables to be equally sensitive if, for both variables, differences between treatments and the control have statistical significance levels in the same probability range. In these four tests, none of the four variables was consistently the most sensitive. We also evaluated the sensitivity of r by simulating shorter test durations, delays in reproduction and less frequent observation schedules. Simulated test durations of less than 21 d produced biased underestimates of r and increased coefficients of variation of the estimates of r relative to the 70-d values; simulated 1- and 2-d delays in reproduction also produced biased underestimates of r. However, estimates of r computed for a simulated Monday-Wednesday-Friday observation schedule did not differ significantly from estimates of r computed for a daily observation schedule. We conclude that although the estimator of per capita rate of increase is not always the most sensitive statistic that can be computed from cladoceran chronic toxicity test data, it can be useful for evaluating apparently conflicting effects of pollutants on survival and reproduction, as occurred in the copper continuous-exposure toxicity test.
The transcriptional repressor JHDM3A demethylates trimethyl histone H3 lysine 9 and lysine 36.

One of two papers in this issue that identifies enzymes capable of demethylating a tri-methyl group from Lys 9 of histone H3 — a mark required for the establishment of heterochromatin and previously considered to be stable. JHDM3A, a member of the JMJD2 enzyme family, can disrupt heterochromatin structure when overexpressed and may function in euchromatin to regulate transcription.
Flight Test Results of the Earth Observing-1 Advanced Land ImagerAdvanced Land Imager

The Advanced Land Imager (ALI) is the primary instrument on the Earth Observing-1 spacecraft (EO-1) and was developed under NASA's New Millennium Program (NMP). The NMP mission objective is to flight-validate advanced technologies that will enable dramatic improvements in performance, cost, mass, and schedule for future, Landsat-like, Earth Science Enterprise instruments. ALI contains a number of innovative features designed to achieve this objective. These include the basic instrument architecture, which employs a push-broom data collection mode, a wide field-of-view optical design, compact multi-spectral detector arrays, non-cryogenic HgCdTe for the short wave infrared bands, silicon carbide optics, and a multi-level solar calibration technique. The sensor includes detector arrays that operate in ten bands, one panchromatic, six VNIR and three SWIR, spanning the range from 0.433 to 2.35 μm. Launched on November 21, 2000, ALI instrument performance was monitored during its first year on orbit using data collected during solar, lunar, stellar, and earth observations. This paper will provide an overview of EO-1 mission activities during this period. Additionally, the on-orbit spatial and radiometric performance of the instrument will be compared to pre-flight measurements and the temporal stability of ALI will be presented.
Developmental features of calcium oxalate crystal sand deposition in Beta vulgaris L. Leaves

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaf has a layer of cells extended laterally between the palisade parenchyma and spongy mesophyll that develop numerous small crystals (crystal sand) within their vacuoles. Solubility studies and histochemical staining indicate the crystals are calcium oxalate. The crystals are deposited within the vacuoles early during leaf development, and at maturity the cells are roughly spherical in shape and 2 to 3 times larger than other mesophyll cells. Crystal deposition is preceeded by formation of membrane vesicles within the vacuole. The membranes are synthesizedde novo in the vacuole and have a typical trilaminate structure as viewed with the TEM. The membranes are formed within paracrystalline aggregates of tubular particles (6–8nm outer diameter) as membrane sheets, but are later organized into chambers or vesicles. Calcium oxalate is then precipitated within the membrane chambers. The tubular particles involved in membrane synthesis are usually present in the vacuoles of mature crystal cells, but in very small amounts.
Ribosomal RNA diversity predicts genome diversity in gut bacteria and their relatives

The mammalian gut is an attractive model for exploring the general question of how habitat impacts the evolution of gene content. Therefore, we have characterized the relationship between 16 S rRNA gene sequence similarity and overall levels of gene conservation in four groups of species: gut specialists and cosmopolitans, each of which can be divided into pathogens and non-pathogens. At short phylogenetic distances, specialist or cosmopolitan bacteria found in the gut share fewer genes than is typical for genomes that come from non-gut environments, but at longer phylogenetic distances gut bacteria are more similar to each other than are genomes at equivalent evolutionary distances from non-gut environments, suggesting a pattern of short-term specialization but long-term convergence. Moreover, this pattern is observed in both pathogens and non-pathogens, and can even be seen in the plasmids carried by gut bacteria. This observation is consistent with the finding that, despite considerable interpersonal variation in species content, there is surprising functional convergence in the microbiome of different humans. Finally, we observe that even within bacterial species or genera 16S rRNA divergence provides useful information about average conservation of gene content. The results described here should be useful for guiding strain selection to maximize novel gene discovery in large-scale genome sequencing projects, while the approach could be applied in studies seeking to understand the effects of habitat adaptation on genome evolution across other body habitats or environment types.
"Calongea", a new genus of truffles in the Pezizaceae (Pezizales)

Healy, R.A., Bonito, G. & Trappe, J.M. 2009. Calongea, a new genus of truffles in the Pezizaceae (Pezizales). Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 66S1: 25-32. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS and LSU rDNA of Pachyphloeus species from Europe and North America revealed a new truffle genus. These molecular analyses plus sequences downloaded from a BLAST search in GenBank indicated that Pachyphloeus prieguensis is within the Pezizaceae but well outside of the genus Pachyphloeus. Morphological differences in the peridial and glebal hyphae and spores distinguish this genus from Pachyphloeus. We here propose the monotypic new genus Calongea, with the type species C. prieguensis comb. nov., in honor of Prof. Francisco de Diego Calonge, who has long studied the truffle fungi of Spain and participated in describing the type species of Calongea.
Inference for a Linear Functional of Cumulative Hazard Function Via Empirical Likelihood

Owen (1988, 1990) constructed a confidence interval for a general functional without censoring. Linear functional of cumulative hazard function provides a flexible choice for medical researchers to assess effectiveness of treatments, which include (a) partial mean lifetime, (b) distribution function, and (c) cumulative hazard function. In this article, we consider two linear functionals of cumulative hazard function (a) and (b), and derive simultaneous confidence bands for them based on independent right-censored data. Our approach extends essentially without change to (c) as well. Our approach is formulated in terms of empirical likelihood and the simultaneous confidence band is very useful to describe the overall shape of the linear functional. The proposed method is illustrated with simulation and real data examples.
Antibodies to myelin-associated glycoprotein (anti-Mag) in IgM amyloidosis may influence expression of neuropathy in rare patients

We have examined whether antibodies to myelin-associated glycoprotein (anti-MAG) influence neuropathy occurrence and phenotype in primary (AL IgM) amyloidosis. Anti-MAG and the cross-reacted sulfoglucuronyl paragloboside antibodies (SGPG) were studied in 46 patients with IgM amyloidosis (21 with polyneuropathy), and 21 matched IgM MGUS (monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance) controls without neuropathy. We assessed the occurrence, phenotype of neuropathy, and attributes of nerve conduction and their relation to antibody activity. Twenty of 46 patients with IgM amyloidosis (7 with and 13 without polyneuropathy) had elevation of anti-MAG or SGPG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two of the polyneuropathy patients with IgM amyloidosis had antibodies to MAG based on Western blot (WB) positivity. One of these patients, with the highest anti-MAG titer, had a painful sensory ataxia, with prominent demyelination, and amyloid deposition in sural nerve. The other anti-MAG WB-positive amyloid patient had an axonal neuropathy and dysautonomia. Low levels of anti-MAG antibodies were found in 12 of 21 IgM MGUS controls without neuropathy (mean follow-up, 11 years). We conclude that finding serum anti-MAG antibodies does not exclude the diagnosis of primary amyloidosis. They do not appear to affect the occurrence or expression of polyneuropathy, except possibly in occasional cases with WB positivity.
Technique for atmospheric rate chemistry calculations

The possibility that predictions of atmospheric photochemistry/transport models are sensitive to uncertainties in reaction rates and other inputs stresses the need for rapid numerical integration schemes in rate photochemistry problems. Reducing the computational burden has a major merit in facilitating sensitivity studies to assess the effect of uncertainties on predicted ozone diminutions from NOx (NO + NO2) in the exhaust plume of SST engines. The paper discusses the validity of an algorithmic approach to integration of rate chemistry problems in combustion, developed by Rubel and Baronti for an approximate calculation of the production rate of the i-th chemical species involved. An analysis of two projected SST engines confirms the validity of the proposed algorithm. Because of the relative arithmetical simplicity, it may be easier to treat diffusion rate chemistry calculations using the Rubel and Baronti approximation than would be possible by other approaches.
The physical and chemical properties of circumstellar envelopes

An overview is given of recent results on some basic properties of the circumstellar envelopes of evolved stars. The focus is on well studied examples which illustrate envelopes of different types and at different stages of evolution. The close connection between the physical and chemical properties of the envelopes is emphasized.
On the uniform sampling of a sinusoidal signal

It is generally accepted that a monochromatic signal such as sin 2 pi Wt (W>0) must be sampled at a uniform rate greater than the ostensible Nyquist rate of 2W samples per to effect a reconstruction of the signal. It is shown that a sinusoid of frequency W Hz is completely determined by its samples taken at the uniform rate of 2r samples per second, where r>0 is arbitrary subject only to the restriction that W not=kr for any positive integer k. In particular, a pure sinusoid may be sampled uniformly without loss of information at arbitrarily small rates. >
An example of stepwise refinement of distributed programs: quiescence detection

We propose a methodology for the development of concurrent programs and apply it to an important class of problems: quiescence detection. The methodology is based on a novel view of programs. A key feature of the methodology is the separation of concerns between the core problem to be solved and details of the forms of concurrency employed in the target architecture and programming language. We begin development of concurrent programs by ignoring issues dealing with concurrency and introduce such concerns in manageable doses. The class of problems solved includes termination and deadlock detection.
III. Historiography and the Media Historian

(1993). III. Historiography and the Media Historian. American Journalism: Vol. 10, No. 3-4, pp. 17-25.
Corrugation gratings for fast integrated complementary metal-oxide semiconductor photodetectors: implementation and diffraction analyses

We present simulation experiments to show the feasibility of using a corrugation grating structure at the silicon–silicon dioxide interface to reduce photon-absorption depth and therefore to improve response times for shallow p-n junction photodiodes for use in the optical interconnection of very-large-scale-integrated circuits. A fabrication method that uses standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor fabrication steps is presented for generating the grating structure. Simulations show reduction in 1/e photon-penetration depth to one half the value that is expected with no grating.
Biochemical and genomic characterization of terpene synthases in Magnolia grandiflora.

Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia) is a primitive evergreen tree that has attracted attention because of its horticultural distinctiveness, the wealth of natural products associated with it, and its evolutionary position as a basal angiosperm. Three cDNAs corresponding to terpene synthase (TPS) genes expressed in young leaves were isolated, and the corresponding enzymes were functionally characterized in vitro. Recombinant Mg25 converted farnesyl diphosphate (C15) predominantly to β-cubebene, while Mg17 converted geranyl diphosphate (C5) to α-terpineol. Efforts to functionally characterize Mg11 were unsuccessful. Transcript levels for all three genes were prominent in young leaf tissue and significantly elevated for Mg25 and Mg11 messenger RNAs in stamens. A putative amino-terminal signal peptide of Mg17 targeted the reporter green fluorescent protein to both chloroplasts and mitochondria when transiently expressed in epidermal cells of Nicotiana tabacum leaves. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that Mg25 and Mg11 belonged to the angiosperm sesquiterpene synthase subclass TPS-a, while Mg17 aligned more closely to the angiosperm monoterpene synthase subclass TPS-b. Unexpectedly, the intron-exon organizations for the three Magnolia TPS genes were different from one another and from other well-characterized TPS gene sets. The Mg17 gene consists of six introns arranged in a manner similar to many other angiosperm sesquiterpene synthases, but Mg11 contains only four introns, and Mg25 has only a single intron located near the 5′ terminus of the gene. Our results suggest that the structural diversity observed in the Magnolia TPS genes could have occurred either by a rapid loss of introns from a common ancestor TPS gene or by a gain of introns into an intron-deficient progenote TPS gene.
Identification of Translational Activators of Glial Glutamate Transporter EAAT2 through Cell-Based High-Throughput Screening: An Approach to Prevent Excitotoxicity

Excitotoxicity has been implicated as the mechanism of neuronal damage resulting from acute insults such as stroke, epilepsy, and trauma, as well as during the progression of adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Excitotoxicity is defined as excessive exposure to the neurotransmitter glutamate or overstimulation of its membrane receptors, leading to neuronal injury or death. One potential approach to protect against excitotoxic neuronal damage is enhanced glutamate reuptake. The glial glutamate transporter EAAT2 is the quantitatively dominant glutamate transporter and plays a major role in clearance of glutamate. Expression of EAAT2 protein is highly regulated at the translational level. In an effort to identify compounds that can induce translation of EAAT2 transcripts, a cell-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed using a primary astrocyte line stably transfected with a vector designed to identify modulators of EAAT2 translation. This assay was optimized for high-throughput screening, and a library of approximately 140,000 compounds was tested. In the initial screen, 293 compounds were identified as hits. These 293 hits were retested at 3 concentrations, and a total of 61 compounds showed a dose-dependent increase in EAAT2 protein levels. Selected compounds were tested in full 12-point dose-response experiments in the screening assay to assess potency as well as confirmed by Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and glutamate uptake assays to evaluate the localization and function of the elevated EAAT2 protein. These hits provide excellent starting points for developing therapeutic agents to prevent excitotoxicity.
Effect of bacterial pneumonia on lung simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication in alcohol consuming SIV-infected rhesus macaques.

Background: Opportunistic infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons have been shown to increase the rate of HIV replication. In populations where prophylaxis against Pneumocystis pneumonia is utilized, bacterial pneumonia is now the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in HIV+ patients. Our prior studies have shown that chronic alcohol consumption in demarcated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques increases plasma viral load set point and accelerates progression to end-stage acquired immune deficiency syndrome. While chronic alcohol abuse is well known to increase the incidence and severity of bacterial pneumonia, the impact of alcohol consumption on local and systemic SIV/HIV burden during lung infection is unknown. Therefore, we utilized the macaque SIV infection model to examine the effect of chronic ethanol (EtOH) feeding on SIV burden during the course of pulmonary infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most commonly identified etiology of bacterial pneumonia in HIV+ and HIV persons in developed countries. Methods: Alcohol was administered starting 3 months before SIVmac251 inoculation to the end of the study via an indwelling intragastric catheter to achieve a plasma alcohol concentration of 50 to 60 mM. Control animals received isocaloric sucrose. Four months after SIV infection, the right lung was inoculated with 2 9 10 6 CFU S. pneumoniae. Results: Leukocyte recruitment into the lung, pulmonary bacterial clearance, and clinical course were similar between EtOH and control groups. While plasma SIV viral load was similar between groups postpneumonia, chronic EtOH-fed macaques showed a prolonged increase in SIV RNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Alveolar macrophages isolated from EtOH-fed macaques 1 day postpneumonia showed greater nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-jB) activation. Conclusions: This study indicates that chronic EtOH feeding results in enhanced local, but not systemic, SIV replication following pneumococcal pneumonia. Increased NF-jB activity in the setting of chronic EtOH ingestion may play a mechanistic role in this observation.
Mass identification of negative ions in excimer-laser-irradiated triethylamine: atomic rearrangements in electron attachment to highly excited states

Abstract Efficient negative-ion formation via electron attachment to triethylamine (TEA) laser-excited to energies above its ionization potential had been reported; however, the evidence for negative-ion formation was indirect, and the identities of the negative ions were not known. In this Letter, we describe an apparatus where the negative (and positive) ions produced in a gas cell via laser irradiation can be extracted to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer for mass identification and present the results obtained for excimer-laser-irradiated TEA. It is shown that extensive atomic rearrangements can occur in dissociative electron attachment to highly excited states of polyatomic molecules.
Expansion and Contraction of the Chloroplast Inverted Repeat in Apiaceae Subfamily Apioideae

Abstract Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) restriction site maps for 113 species of Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) and the allied families Araliaceae and Pittosporaceae were constructed for two enzymes and examined for variation in position of JLB, the junction between the large single copy and inverted repeat regions that is typically contained within the ribosomal protein S10 operon. With the exception of one large clade in Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae, all species possess a JLB indistinguishable from that found in the vast majority of angiosperms. Within this large clade, however, at least one expansion and seven different contractions of the IR relative to the tobacco JLB were detected, each ranging in size from ∼1–16 kb. Five of the junction shifts are parsimony informative, and three support major clades delimited in earlier phylogenetic studies. In light of cladograms based on previous studies of restriction site and DNA sequencing data, the IR appears to have expanded and contracted a minimum of ten times during t...
Determining energy expenditure in preterm infants: comparison of 2H(2)18O method and indirect calorimetry

The doubly labeled water (2H(2)18O) method used to estimate total energy expenditure (EETotal) is particularly sensitive to analytic error in preterm infants, because of their high percentage of bo...
Prefab interface development and the problem of ease

To elaborate on a recent tweet by Dan Cederholm of the development studio, SimpleBits, and author of the standards-focused Bulletproof Web Design, current web development practice, with its many device, format, and user contingencies, is creating an ever-expanding and increasingly complex geography for novice web writers and developers to navigate and learn. For a novice to output the ceremonial "Hello world" in 2013 is to greet a world of web writing barely comparable to the inline-styled, table-formatted, and JavaScript-leery World Wide Web which many veteran developers first learned.
Individualized Computer Investigations for Multivariable Calculus

In [1], Sheldon Gordon described several investigations that he has calculus students perform on polynomials whose coefficients are determined by the digits of the students’ social security numbers. He remarks that the use of individualized projects are designed to get the students to take a personal interest in the topic under study and that the students seem to enjoy these types of investigations. In this note I would like to build upon this theme by describing a project that I have used in multivariable calculus classes. The goal of the project is to investigate a function of two variables built from the student’s social security number. First the student is asked to take each of the nine digits of the number and compute its value mod 3 (to keep the digits small). Writing the new number as ABC-DE-FGHI, the student constructs a function by substituting the digits into the expression
Refinement of the Bousso-Engelhardt area law

Past holographic screens are codimension-one surfaces of indefinite signature that are foliated by marginally antitrapped surfaces called leaves. Future holographic screens are defined similarly except with marginally trapped leaves. Bousso and Engelhardt recently showed that the leaves of past and future holographic screens have monotonic area. We prove a stronger area law that shows that subregions of leaves also have monotonic area. For every past and future holographic screen, there exists a family of leaf-orthogonal curves called the fibration of the screen. Any region in a leaf can be translated along the fibration to a leaf of larger area. Our result states that the area of the subregion grows as it is translated.
Study on the community mode of prevention and control of imported infectious diseases of respiratory tract inChaoyang District,Beijing

Objective :To retrospectively evaluate imported respiratory infectious disease prevention and control system from perspective of the centers for disease control and prevention personnel and to provide the basis for prevention and control strategies for similar imported respiratory infectious area. Methods :The methods of questionnaire and focus group interviews were combined. The questionnaire survey was conducted on staff participating in infectious diseases work. Focus group interviews were conducted on key informants,mainly about the respiratory epidemic prevention and control training,health education,property assignment,case and contact person management,and cooperation of the relevant departments of Chaoyang District. Results :Chaoyang District has established the imported respiratory infectious disease prevention and control system and the network,but some of the specific details of the work still need to be adjusted. Conclusion:The prevention and control system of Chaoyang District has the ability to deal with the imported respiratory infectious diseases effectively. It is suggested to further clarify the responsibilities of stakeholders and adjust the internal work mechanism in order to respond to a potential pandemic more effectively.
Validation of landscape suitability indices for Black Terns (Chlidonias niger) in the U.S. Great Lakes region

ABSTRACT Remotely sensed land cover data enable characterization of avian habitat over large spatial scales, which can be applied to regional conservation planning. Black Terns (Chlidonias niger) have been declining in the U.S. Great Lakes region for decades. Although causes of the decline are not well understood, habitat loss and degradation are viewed as major barriers to recovery. The Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture, a partnership for bird conservation in the Upper Midwest, developed a landscape suitability index for the wetland-breeding Black Tern based on remotely sensed land cover to choose habitat to enhance or restore. We tested the validity of this index and compared it to an alternative index we constructed from results of field surveys. Over 2 breeding seasons, we surveyed for presence of Black Tern breeding colonies in 158 wetlands across the Great Lakes region and compared our findings with predictions of the existing index. We used our first season of surveys, nu...
[Cr3O(O2CCH2CH3)6(H2O)3]NO3·H2O (Cr3) Toxicity Potential in Bacterial and Mammalian Cells.

Chromium(III) has generally been considered to be essential for proper carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and, despite recent evidence to the contrary, chromium(III)-containing compounds remain one of the most popular commercial dietary supplements. Cr3, or [Cr3O(O2CCH2CH3)6(H2O)3]NO3·H2O, is a trivalent chromium compound that is a promising chromium nutritional supplement. Studies with Cr3 have indicated that it is non-toxic in developmental and short- and long-term exposure studies in rodents, but the safety of this compound to chromosomes and cells has not been explored. The current study evaluates the mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, and clastogenicity of Cr3 in bacterial and mammalian cells and compares these results with similar studies using the bestselling Cr(III) nutritional supplement, chromium picolinate (CrPic). The mutagenicity of CrPic and Cr3 was tested in Escherichia coli FX-11 and Salmonella typhimurium (TA 98 and TA 100). Cytotoxicity was measured as a decrease in plating efficiency relative to controls after treatment with Cr3 and CrPic for 24 h in CHO K1 cells. Clastogenicity was measured by counting the number of metaphases damaged and of the total number chromosomal aberrations in CHO K1 cells. Mutagenesis assays in E. coli and S. typhimurium were negative. All treatments of Cr3 produced ≥ 84% plating efficiency except 80 μg/cm2, which reduced the plating efficiency to 62%. Cr3 at any treatment level did not produce a significant increase in the number of cells with abnormal metaphases, while treatments using ≥ 40 μg/cm2 of CrPic elevated the number significantly. These data suggest that Cr3 is significantly less mutagenic in bacteria cells and less clastogenic in CHO K1 cells, while CrPic is clastogenic in CHO K1 cells.
Myocardial CT Perfusion: A Review of Current Modalities, Technology, and Clinical Performance

This review describes the current techniques for CT myocardial perfusion, reviews the current literature, and discusses future directions for CT perfusion. Myocardial CT perfusion (CTP) is an emerging technology for evaluation of myocardial ischemia and infarction, and has the benefit of having both morphologic (coronary CT angiography) and physiologic (CTP) measures in the same setting. CTP has primarily been developed as an adjunct to coronary CT angiography in an effort to improve diagnostic performance, specifically in patients with luminal coronary artery disease. The principle of CTP is to estimate myocardial blood after an iodinated contrast bolus on a single image (static CTP) or with subsequent contrast enhancement over time (dynamic CTP). Either CTP modality is usually combined with vasodilator stress studies to improve accuracy for ischemia. Delayed CTP imaging also allows for assessment of myocardial viability, as contrast is retained in infarcted tissue. Finally, dual energy CTP studies allow for specific imaging of the iodinated contrast, potentially improving contrast resolution. The performance characteristics of CTP have been compared and found to generally be as good as or better than standard of care, such as nuclear, echocardiography, and invasive measures. However, there are substantial heterogeneity of protocols and limited data on patient outcomes which limits widespread use. Future studies designed to assess these opportunities may lead to wider clinical adoption of this promising new technology. Myocardial perfusion computed tomography shows great promise to add in the noninvasive diagnosis of ischemia and infarction, although heterogeneity in protocols and limited outcome data need to be addressed prior to adoption of CT perfusion as a viable diagnostic modality.
Joint \(\nu \)+\(\bar{\nu }\) Oscillation Analysis: Results

The results of a joint \(\nu + \bar{\nu }\) oscillation fit in T2K, with data amounting to \(1.45 \times 10^{21}\) protons on target at the far detector, are presented and discussed in this chapter.
Evaluation of a Ku-band radar hydrometeor classifier by comparison with S-band radar and aircraft data

Compared to traditional single-polarization radar, dual-polarization radar can provide more information about different hydrometeor sizes, shapes and their distribution. However, most of the previous studies were devoted to S or C band frequencies since they are standard operating frequencies in many countries. In this paper, we demonstrate the application of Ku-band dual-polarization radar for hydrometeor identification. The derived hydrometeor types are cross compared with collocated Sband products and images collected by the airborne probe. Results show that the Ku-band radar has great potential for characterization of precipitation microphysics and identifying different hydrometeor phases.
Pancreatic cancer cell detection by targeted lipid microbubbles and multiphoton imaging

Surgical resection of pancreatic cancer represents the only chance of cure and long-term survival in this common disease. Unfortunately, determination of a cancer-free margin at surgery is based on one or two tiny frozen section biopsies, which is far from ideal. Not surprisingly, cancer is usually left behind and is responsible for metastatic disease. We demonstrate a method of receptor-targeted imaging using peptide ligands, lipid microbubbles, and multiphoton microscopy that could lead to a fast and accurate way of examining the entire cut surface during surgery. Using a plectin-targeted microbubble, we performed a blinded in-vitro study to demonstrate avid binding of targeted microbubbles to pancreatic cancer cells but not noncancerous cell lines. Further work should lead to a much-needed point-of-care diagnostic test for determining clean margins in oncologic surgery.
Patterns of Association Between Oral Health Status and Subsistence: A Study of Aboriginal Skeletal Populations from the Tennessee Valley Area

The purpose of th i s study i s to i dent i fy subs i s tence a s soc i ated d i fferences i n cari es, peri odontal d i sease and attri t ion between two aborog i na l s ke l eta l samp l es from the Tennessee Va l l ey a rea . The hunter/gather samp l e empl oyed i n th i s s tudy dates from the Archa i c peri od ( 6000-500 B . C. ) a nd i s composed of i nd i v i dua l s from the Eva ( 6BN12 ), Cherry ( 84BN74 ) and Anderson ( 40WM9 ) s i tes . The Mi s s i s s i pp i an Dal l as focus ( 13001500 A. D . ) s i te of Toqua ( 40MR6 ) practi ced ma i ze agri cu l ture . Contrasts i n car i es frequency, l ocation on the tooth, and d i stri but ion a l ong t he tooth row were read i l y apparent . Cerv i ca l cari e s i n the posterior tooth row characteri zed t h e Archa i c samp l e . The pattern i s attri buted to the comb i ned effects of food i mpact i on and a ttri t ion expos i ng the vu l nerab l e cerv i x to bacteri a l ly produced demi nera lyzed aci ds . The Mi s s i s s i ppi an samp l e i s cha ra teri zed not on ly by a greater ca ri es frequency, but a wi de range of l ocations on the tooth a nd i n the tooth row . Attri t ion rates di ffer d rama t i ca l l y between the two samp l es . Th i s i s attri buted to the d i fference i n the amount of food process i ng undertaken between the two subs i s tence systems . Contrast­ i ng anterior to posterior wear gradi ents were not i dent i fi ed between the Archa i c and f4i s s i ss i pp i an samp le s . I t was hypothes i zed that i n a vari ed phys i ca l envi ronment, such as that i nhab i ted by the Archa i c sampl e , the sel ecti ve pressure was to u se the anteri or teeth as a tool . Anterior tooth wea r forms i nd i cati ve of tooth use, d i fferent i a ted the two samp l es . A un i que wea r form i n the Mi s s i s s i pp i an samp l e was i denti fied .