cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The development of a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect human platelet factor 4.

BACKGROUND: Platelet factor 4 (PF4) is a marker for in vitro and in vivo tests of platelet (PLT) activation and α-granule secretion. PF4 is also a major CXC cytokine released during storage. Cytokines released during PLT storage are a potential cause of nonhemolytic transfusion reactions. Quantitative measurement of PF4 requires an assay that is both reliable and sensitive. To achieve this goal, a sensitive, cost-effective, sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed with commercially available antibodies to human PF4. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: An ELISA was developed for measuring PF4 from whole human PLTs or secreted from activated PLTs. Optimal concentrations of capture antibody, detection antibody, and enzyme-conjugate were determined with serial twofold dilutions of recombinant PF4. This assay was used to determine the ideal sample dilutions needed for reliable quantitation of PF4 in releasates or from whole PLT extracts. RESULTS: Serial dilutions of recombinant PF4 resulted in a sigmoid titration curve with a maximal sensitivity of 10 pg and a dynamic quantitative range from 100 to 2500 pg. This ELISA was used to measure secretion from permeabilized PLTs stimulated with free calcium. In a secretion experiment with 2.5 × 10|*bsup*|8|*esup*| PLTs per mL, samples required a 1:10-fold dilution to reliably evaluate α-granule release. CONCLUSION: The parameters described yield an ELISA method with low background and high sensitivity over a range of PF4 concentrations. Using the commercial reagents described makes this assay cost-effective and therefore suitable for analyzing multiple samples in the research setting.
Salinity tolerance of nine fine fescue cultivars compared to other cool-season turfgrasses

Abstract Seed germination, seedling development, and vegetative growth of nine fine fescues cultivars [‘Slender’ creeping red fescue ( Festuca rubra L. ssp. rubra and Festuca rubra L. ssp. trichophylla Gaud.), ‘Firefly’ and ‘Reliant IV’ hard fescue ( Festuca longifolia Thuill.), ‘Azure’ and ‘Marco Polo’ sheep fescue ( Festuca ovina L.), and ‘Intrigue’, ‘Columbia II’, ‘Ambrose’, and ‘Jamestown II’ chewing fescue ( Festuca rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaud.)] were determined under saline conditions (NaCl at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 g L −1 ) and compared to ‘Zoom’ perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.), ‘Stonewall’ tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and ‘Bewitched’ Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.). Salinity reduced final and daily germination rate. Similarly, seedling development (fresh weight, dry weight, and absolute water content) and vegetative growth (shoot and root dry weight and the longest root length) declined with increasing salinity levels. Daily germination rate, fresh weight and absolute water content, and root dry weight and the longest root length are more sensitive to salinity compared to other parameters during initial (germination and seedling development) and vegetative growth stages respectively; therefore, better indicators of salt tolerance. All fine fescue cultivars showed a constant ranking of relative salt tolerance at different growth stages. Overall, ‘Zoom’ perennial ryegrass, ‘Slender’ creeping red fescue, and ‘Stonewall’ tall fescue exhibited the most tolerance to high salt concentrations. However, limited variations existed in salinity tolerance among ‘Bewitched’ Kentucky bluegrass and the other fine fescue cultivars.
Jamaican Christian Missions and the Great Slave Rebellion of 1831–2

Late in 1831 a number of Jamaican slaves began a movement of passive resistance in which all work on the island was to be ended on 25 December. By the time that the subsequent chain of events had been played out, perhaps as many as a thousand slaves had died, although the official figures listed 207 killed during the ensuing insurrection and 312 executed in the aftermath. The white colonials immediately turned against the Baptist and Wesleyan missionaries, accusing them of fomenting the rebellion. As a result of this violent and-missionary reaction six Baptist missionaries were jailed, a Wesleyan was tarred, five Wesleyan chapels and ten Baptist chapels were destroyed, while the latter had another four chapels suffering partial destruction.
Revascularization after 3 hours of coronary arterial occlusion: effects on regional cardiac metabolic function and infarct size.

Abstract Two experimental series of closed chest dogs were compared: Group A (five dogs with 7 days of continuous occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery); and Group B (six dogs with 7 days of reperfusion after 3 hours of acute occlusion of the same artery). Hemodynamic measurements, ventricular wall motion, coronary sinus blood flow and regional metabolism in both coronary occluded and nonoccluded segments of the left ventricle were measured sequentially. The infarct size was characterized by detailed histopathologic analysis. In the control dogs (Group A), mechanical and metabolic function remained severely depressed after 7 days of occlusion, and mean infarct size was 31.6 percent. In Group B, significant mechanical and metabolic dysfunction developed during 3 hours of occlusion and did not improve during the 1st hour of reperfusion. However, after 7 days of reperfusion, function returned to near preocclusion level. Mean infarct size was 14.2 percent, but in two of the six dogs infarct size was 43 percent and 23 percent, respectively. The study confirmed the unstable character of the early phase of reperfusion, attributed to cell swelling, edema and hemorrhages that resulted in inadequate coronary reflow, arrhythmias and functional derangements. Prolonged reperfusion for 7 days reduced mean infarct size and improved cardiac function.
Identification of six open reading frames from a region of the Azotobacter vinelandii genome likely involved in dihydrogen metabolism.

Abstract We reported earlier the identification of two Azotobacter vinelandii open reading frames (ORFs), ORF1 and ORF2, downstream from the hydrogenase structural genes (Chen, J.C. and Mortenson, L.E. (1992) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1131, 122–124). Sequencing of 6008 base pairs of DNA immediately downstream from ORF2 revealed six additional ORFs (ORF3 through ORF8). All six ORFs are transcribed from the same DNA strand as that of the ORF1 and ORF2. Deduced amino acid sequences of ORF3 through ORF5, and those of ORF4, ORF5, ORF7 and ORF8 have strong homology with genes required for dihydrogen (H 2 ) metabolism in Rhodobacter capsulatus and in Escherichia coli , respectively. ORF4, ORF5, ORF6 and ORF8 would encode for polypeptides containing one or more ‘Cys-X-X-Cys’ motifs. The predicted products of ORF5 and ORF6 each contain a histidine-rich region, and the product of ORF5 also includes a ‘Cys-Thr-Val-Cys-Gly-Cys’ region near its aminoterminus. Implications of these findings with respect to metal binding, transport and incorporation, to hydrogenase assembly and to H 2 metabolism are discussed.
Evolutionary Differentiation of Fitness Traits Across Multiple Geographic Scales in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

ABSTRACT Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) is an invasive, container-inhabiting mosquito that was introduced into North America from Japan in 1985. Although previous studies using neutral biochemical markers have found high levels of population differentiation across both the North American and global distribution of Ae. albopictus, relatively little is known regarding evolutionary differentiation of life history traits underpinning fitness. We performed common-garden and line-cross experiments to examine the genetic differentiation of fitness (r')and underlying performance traits at three spatial scales: 1) local (among populations within Florida), 2) regional (between populations from Florida and New Jersey), and 3) long distance (between populations from Florida and Hawaii, Malaysia, and Japan). We found that North American populations (Florida and New Jersey) had lower fitness (r') than populations from outside North America (Hawaii, Malaysia, and Japan). Bivariate means of female, but not...
Science in the everyday world: Why perspectives from the history of science matter.

ABSTRACT The history of science is more than the history of scientists. This essay argues that various modern “publics” should be counted as belonging within an enlarged vision of who constitutes the “scientific community”—and describes how the history of science could be important for understanding their experiences. It gives three examples of how natural knowledge-making happens in vernacular contexts: Victorian Britain's publishing experiments in “popular science” as effective literary strategies for communicating to lay and specialist readers; twentieth-century American science museums as important and contested sites for conveying both scientific ideas and ideas about scientific practice; and contemporary mass-mediated images of the “ideal” scientist as providing counternarratives to received professional scientific norms. Finally, it suggests how humanistic knowledge might help both scientists and historians grapple more effectively with contemporary challenges presented by science in public spheres...
Alcohol dehydrogenase activity in the roots of marsh plants in naturally waterlogged soils

The aim of this work was to discover whether oxygen tensions in the roots of marsh plants in flooded soils are high enough to allow fully acrobic metabolism. Activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), a protein synthesised in anoxic plants, was measured in roots of marsh plants growing in habitats where the availability of oxygen to the roots would be expected to differ. Roots of Carex riparia in standing water had ADH activities about 2.5 times higher than those of phosphofructokinase, and comparable to ADH activities of Poa trivialis, Urtica dioica and Ranunculus repens roots in dry soil. Removal of the oxygen supply via aerenchyma to Carex roots caused a 30-fold increase in ADH activity relative to that of phosphofructokinase. There was no change in ADH activity with depth in Carex roots in waterlogged soil, but in Filipendula ulmaria roots activity was 14 times higher below 10 cm depth than near the surface. Urtica roots in waterlogged soil had alcohol dehydrogenase activities 26 times higher than roots in dry soil, but for Poa and Ranunculus roots this figure was only 1.7 and 4.2, respectively. These results indicate that the oxygen tensions in the roots of marsh plants in waterlogged soil differ considerably among species. Ethanol was the major product of fermentation in roots of all species studied. There was no correlation between ADH activity and the rate of ethanol production under anoxia of Urtica roots. The physiological significance of high ADH activities in roots is thus unclear.
Citing first publication.

In the interesting article about the pars plana clip (New World Medical, Rancho Cucamonga, CA) by Diaz Llopis et al,1 I noted that the authors attributed priority (first) publication about this device to a study published in 2006.2 We had a publication in 2005 about the pars plana clip,3 which was not cited in the references. The authors have made a useful contribution to the literature, but missed at least one article in their literature search! In general, claims for first publication should be made with caution, perhaps including the literature search protocol that was used to support such a claim.
Developing ICP-MS/MS for the detection and determination of synthetic DNA-protein crosslink models via phosphorus and sulfur detection

Various endogenous and exogenous agents drive the un-directed formation of covalent bonds between proteins and DNA. These complex molecules are of great biological relevance, as can derive in mutations, but are difficult to study because of their heterogeneous chemical properties. New analytical approaches with sufficient detection capabilities to detect and quantify these compounds can help to standardize study models based on synthesized standards. The use of atomic spectrometry can provide quantitative information on the DNA-protein cross-link reaction yield along with basic stoichiometry of the products, based on internal elemental tags, sulfur from Cys and Met amino acids, and phosphorus from the DNA. A new instrumental approach to remove isobaric and polyatomic interferences from 31P+ and 32S+ was developed recently, with state-of-the-art for interference removal that captures 31P+ in Q1; it reacts with O2 in an octopole collision-reaction cell generating 47PO+, therefore allowing detection in Q3 without 31NOH+/48Ca/47Ti interferences. Similarly, 32S+ is reacted to 48SO+, eliminating the polyatomic interferences at m/z = 32. In conjunction with the high resolving power of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), this newer technology was applied by to the product purification of a DNA-protein cross link model and some preliminary structural studies.
Dietary Inorganic Nitrate Alleviates Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity: Mechanisms and Implications

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most powerful and widely prescribed chemotherapeutic agents to treat divergent human cancers. However, the clinical use of DOX is restricted due to its severe cardiotoxic side-effects. There has been ongoing search for cardioprotectants against DOX toxicity. Inorganic nitrate has emerged as a bioactive compound that can be reduced into nitrite and nitric oxide in vivo and in turn plays a therapeutic role in diseases associated with nitric oxide insufficiency or dysregulation. In this review, we describe a novel concept of using dietary supplementation of inorganic nitrate to reduce DOX-induced cardiac cellular damage and dysfunction, based on our recent promising studies in a mouse model of DOX cardiotoxicity. Our data show that chronic oral ingestion of sodium nitrate, at a dose equivalent to ~400% of the Acceptable Daily Intake of the World Health Organization, alleviated DOX-induced left ventricular dysfunction and mitochondrial respiratory chain damage. Such cardioprotective effects were associated with reduction of cardiomyocyte necrosis/apoptosis, tissue lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial H(2)O(2) generation following DOX treatment. Furthermore, proteomic studies revealed enhanced cardiac expression of mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme - peroxiredoxin 5 in the nitrate-treated animals. These studies suggest that inorganic nitrate could be an inexpensive therapeutic agent for long-term oral administration in preventing DOX-induced cardiac toxicity and myopathy during the prolonged pathological process. Future clinical trials in the cancer patients undergoing DOX chemotherapy are warranted to translate these experimental findings into an effective new therapy in preventing the DOX-induced cardiomyopathy.
Sentence contexts as facilitators of noun pair learning in children

Abstract Fifth graders were asked to learn noun pairs embedded in sentence contexts varied in terms of verb voice and grammatical relations. Also, their ability to reproduce sentence contexts for nouns was examined. Recall was prompted with both first- and final-position nouns. Results indicated that variations in deep structure grammatical relations but not surface structure complexity influenced noun pair retrieval. Subjects' incidental memory for the deep structure of sentences was substantial, suggesting that learners were noticing and making use of the meaningful relations aroused between nouns by the contexts. Various sentence generative strategies involving verb voice and noun prompt position were noted.
Immunology of AAV-Mediated Gene Transfer in the Eye

The eye has been at the forefront of translational gene therapy largely owing to suitable disease targets, anatomic accessibility, and well-studied immunologic privilege. These advantages have fostered research culminating in several clinical trials and adeno-associated virus (AAV) has emerged as the vector of choice for many ocular therapies. Pre-clinical and clinical investigations have assessed the humoral and cellular immune responses to a variety of naturally occurring and engineered AAV serotypes as well as their delivered transgenes and these data have been correlated to potential clinical sequelae. Encouragingly, AAV appears safe and effective with clinical follow-up surpassing 5 years in some studies. As disease targets continue to expand for AAV in the eye, thorough and deliberate assessment of immunologic safety is critical. With careful study, the development of these technologies should concurrently inform the biology of the ocular immune response.
Expressing a Good Will: Kant on the Motive of Duty

Kant soutient la these selon laquelle la condition sine qua non d'une action moralement bonne consiste en ce que cette action ne soit motivee que par le devoir. L'A. se propose d'examiner deux critiques emises a l'encontre de cette theorie. La premiere accepte le fait que l'action motivee par le devoir soit moralement bonne mais elle refuse de limiter l'action moralement bonne a ce type d'actions. L'autre critique rejette simplement l'action motivee par le devoir comme condition de l'acte moral
Clustered charge-to-alanine mutagenesis of the vaccinia virus A20 gene: temperature-sensitive mutants have a DNA-minus phenotype and are defective in the production of processive DNA polymerase activity.

Although the vaccinia virus DNA polymerase is inherently distributive, a highly processive form of the enzyme exists within the cytoplasm of infected cells (W. F. McDonald, N. Klemperer, and P. Traktman, Virology 234:168–175, 1997). In the accompanying report we outline the purification of the 49-kDa A20 protein as a stoichiometric component of the processive polymerase complex (N. Klemperer, W. McDonald, K. Boyle, B. Unger, and P. Traktman, J. Virol. 75:12298–12307, 2001). To complement this biochemical analysis, we undertook a genetic approach to the analysis of the structure and function of the A20 protein. Here we report the application of clustered charge-to-alanine mutagenesis of the A20 gene. Eight mutant viruses containing altered A20 alleles were isolated using this approach; two of these, tsA20-6 and tsA20-ER5, have tight temperature- sensitive phenotypes. At the nonpermissive temperature, neither virus forms macroscopic plaques and the yield of infectious virus is <1% of that obtained at the permissive temperature. Both viruses show a profound defect in the accumulation of viral DNA at the nonpermissive temperature, although both the A20 protein and DNA polymerase accumulate to wild-type levels. Cytoplasmic extracts prepared from cells infected with the tsA20 viruses show a defect in processive polymerase activity; they are unable to direct the formation of RFII product using a singly primed M13 template. In sum, these data indicate that the A20 protein plays an essential role in the viral life cycle and that viruses with A20 lesions exhibit a DNA phenotype that is correlated with a loss in processive polymerase activity as assayed in vitro. The vaccinia virus A20 protein can, therefore, be considered a new member of the family of proteins (E9, B1, D4, and D5) with essential roles in vaccinia virus DNA replication.
Racial differences in coronary artery calcification are not attributed to differences in lipoprotein particle sizes: The Heart Strategies Concentrating on Risk Evaluation (Heart SCORE) Study

Background Lipoprotein particle levels and size distributions differ by race. As a group, blacks have less coronary artery calcification (CAC) than whites. We evaluated whether racial differences in CAC are explained by differences in lipoprotein levels and particle sizes. Methods A total of 721 blacks and 988 whites underwent measurement of fasting lipoprotein levels and particle sizes. There were 608 subjects who had CAC quantified by electron beam computed tomography. Distributions and interrelationships among lipoprotein levels, particle sizes, and CAC were evaluated by race and sex. Results Blacks had nominally higher adjusted high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (men, 51 vs 50 mg/dL; women, 63 vs 61 mg/dL; P = .05), lower intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (women only, 17 vs 18 mg/dL; P = .02), and significantly lower triglyceride levels (men, 116 vs 138 mg/dL; women, 103 vs 136 mg/dL; P P Conclusions Blacks have less CAC and more favorable lipoprotein profiles than whites. Racial differences in CAC are not attributable to differences in lipoprotein particle sizes. Future studies of mechanisms of race-related differences in CAC may enhance understanding of the pathophysiology of racial differences in cardiovascular disease.
Sensitivity comparison of sequential monadic and side-by-side presentation protocols in affective consumer testing.

ABSTRACT: The relative sensitivity of side-by-side and sequential monadic consumer liking protocols was compared. In the side-by-side evaluation, all samples were presented at once and evaluated together 1 characteristic at a time. In the sequential monadic evaluation, 1 sample was presented and evaluated on all characteristics, then returned before panelists received and evaluated another sample. Evaluations were conducted on orange juice, frankfurters, canned chili, potato chips, and applesauce. Five commercial brands, having a broad quality range, were selected as samples for each product category to assure a wide array of consumer liking scores. Without their knowledge, panelists rated the same 5 retail brands by 1 protocol and then 3 wk later by the other protocol. For 3 of the products, both protocols yielded the same order of overall liking. Slight differences in order of overall liking for the other 2 products were not significant. Of the 50 pairwise overall liking comparisons, 44 were in agreement. The different results obtained by the 2 protocols in order of liking and significance of paired comparisons were due to the experimental variation and differences in sensitivity. Hedonic liking scores were subjected to statistical power analyses and used to calculate minimum number of panelists required to achieve varying degrees of sensitivity when using side-by-side and sequential monadic protocols. In most cases, the side-by-side protocol was more sensitive, thus providing the same information with fewer panelists. Side-by-side protocol was less sensitive in cases where sensory fatigue was a factor.
Biochemical properties of the endothelium-derived growth factor: comparison to other growth factors.

Cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) can be maintained at saturation density for several weeks in the absence of serum. These cells retain viability and normal culture morphology, and continuously produce a growth factor for mesenchymally derived cells–the endothelium-derived growth factor (EDGF). The amount and specific activity of EDGF that is produced by BAEC under serum-free conditions remains constant for weeks. The levels of EDGF produced under these serum-free conditions is equivalent to levels produced in medium containing 5% plasma-derived serum. EDGF has been found to be trypsin sensitive, acetone and ammonium sulfate precipitable, and resistant to heat and sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment. Gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 in the presence of formic acid (1%) yields two major peaks of activity corresponding to proteins of apparent molecular weights of approximately 24,000 and 14,000 daltons. This chromatographic step affords a ten-to 12-fold purification with a combined recovery of greater than 85%. Unlike brain or pituitary fibroblast growth factor, EDGF activity is destroyed by dithiothreitol or periodic acid. EDGF is not a somatomedin since it exhibits no detectable sulfation activity in a porcine cartilage assay. EDGF is not inhibited by antiserum to epidermal growth factor and is capable of stimulating DNA synthesis in a 3T3 variant cell line that is nonresponsive to and lacks receptors for epidermal growth factor. The majority of EDGF activity does not behave like the platelet-derived growth factor during ion exchange chromatography. Antisera prepared in rabbits and in mice to human platelet-derived growth factor has little effect on bivine or human EDGF activity. These biochemical and immunological properties of EDGF indicate that it is distinct from several other well-characterized polypeptide growth factors.
Vascularized free fibular transfer combined with autografting for the management of fracture nonunions associated with radiation therapy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional results, rates of union, and complications associated with vascularized free fibular transfer combined with autografting for the treatment of nonunions in previously irradiated bone. Methods: Seventeen patients who had had eighteen vascularized free fibular transfers combined with autografting for the treatment of nonunion of a fracture in previously irradiated bone were included in this study. There were eleven female patients and six male patients. Eight patients had a bone neoplasm and nine, a soft-tissue neoplasm. The diagnosis was Ewing sarcoma in four patients; lymphoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma in two patients each; and cavernous hemangioma, metastatic breast carcinoma, reticulum-cell sarcoma, myxosarcoma, hemangiopericytoma, and fibrosarcoma in one patient each. The remaining patient had a soft-tissue tumor for which the diagnosis was not known. All patients received radiation therapy. The average dose was 5564 centigray. There were no recurrent tumors. The average interval between the radiation therapy and the original fracture was 111 months. The fracture was in the femur in thirteen patients, in the humerus in three, and in the tibia in one. All patients had operative or nonoperative treatment, or both, of the initial fracture, and two had iliac-crest bone-grafting after the initial open reduction and internal fixation procedure. The ages of the patients ranged from thirteen to eighty-two years at the time of the vascularized free fibular transfer. All fibular transfers were applied as onlay grafts because no nonunion was associated with a large segmental defect. Cancellous autogenous bone graft from the iliac crest was used as an additional graft at the proximal and distal junctions of the graft with the bone and at the fracture site in all patients. The average duration of follow-up after the vascularized free fibular transfer was fifty-seven months (range, twenty-eight to 112 months). Results: Sixteen of the eighteen fracture sites united, after an average of 9.4 months (range, three to twenty-four months). Thirteen patients had an excellent result, one had a good result, two had a fair result, and one had a failure of treatment. Four patients had an infection, including one who continued to have a nonunion. The other three patients had union after treatment with antibiotics, debridement, and removal of the hardware. Another patient who had a recalcitrant nonunion eventually required an above-the-knee amputation. Conclusions: On the basis of this review, we suggest that microvascular fibular transfer combined with autografting is an appropriate treatment option for difficult nonunions associated with previously irradiated bone.
Higher antihypertensive dose increases risk of falls in older people

Commentary on: Callisaya ML, Sharman JE, Close J, et al. Greater daily defined dose of antihypertensive medication increases the risk of falls in older people—a population-based study. J Am Geriatr Soc 2014;62:1527–33. The recent Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC-8) guidelines have relaxed the systolic blood pressure goal for adults over 60 years to <150 mm Hg.1 These guidelines were changed because of the lack of evidence that stricter control conferred more benefits than harms.2 Research by Callisaya et al explores if higher quantification of antihypertensive medications is associated with falls in older adults, an area where mixed results are seen in the literature. The study …
Specific Gravity of Turkey and Bobwhite Quail Eggs as Influenced by Time of Oviposition

Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine the relationship of time of oviposition to specific gravity of turkey and quail eggs. Eggs from one day's production were collected at 2-hr intervals from 264 individually caged Nicholas Large White turkey hens, 350 38-week-old, and 250 90-week-old Bobwhite quail. Collection was from 0700 through 1900 hr for the turkeys and at 0600 through 1800 hr for the quail. The collection procedure was repeated 2 weeks later for the turkeys and 1 week later for the quail. Specific gravity of turkey eggs gradually decreased from 0700 to 1300 hr. However, there was a large increase in specific gravity from 1300 to 1500 hr, and specific gravity was maintained at a high level until 1900 hr. Specific gravity of quail eggs increased from 0600 to 1800 hr for young hens.
MicroRNAs downregulate Bag of marbles to ensure proper terminal differentiation in the Drosophila male germline

In many adult stem cell lineages, the continuous production of functional differentiated cells depends on the maintenance of progenitor cells in an undifferentiated and proliferative state, as well as the subsequent commitment to proper terminal differentiation. In the Drosophila male germline stem cell (GSC) lineage, a key differentiation factor, Bag of marbles (Bam), is required for the transition from proliferative spermatogonia to differentiating spermatocytes. We show that bam mRNA, but not Bam, is present in spermatocytes, suggesting that bam is regulated post-transcriptionally. Consistent with this, repression of Bam accumulation is achieved by microRNAs via the bam 3′UTR. When the bam 3′UTR was substituted with the 3′UTR of a constitutively expressed α-Tubulin, Bam became stabilized in spermatocytes. Moreover, such a persistent expression of Bam in spermatocytes was recapitulated by specifically mutating the putative miR-275/miR-306 recognition site at the bam 3′UTR. In addition, overexpression of miR-275 or miR-306 in spermatogonial cells resulted in a delay of the proliferation-to-differentiation transition and resembled the bam loss-of-function phenotype, suggesting that these microRNAs are sufficient to downregulate Bam. Finally, the failure of Bam downregulation in spermatocytes affected spermatid terminal differentiation and resulted in increased male sterility. Our results demonstrate that microRNAs control the stem cell differentiation pathway through regulating Bam, the downregulation of which is crucial for proper spermatid terminal differentiation.
Kinetic characterization of the protein Z-dependent protease inhibitor reaction with blood coagulation factor Xa.

Protein Z-dependent protease inhibitor (ZPI) is a recently identified member of the serpin superfamily that functions as a cofactor-dependent regulator of blood coagulation factors Xa (FXa) and XIa. Here we show that ZPI and its cofactor, protein Z (PZ), inhibit procoagulant membrane-bound factor Xa by the branched pathway acyl-intermediate trapping mechanism used by other serpins, but with significant variations of this mechanism that are unique to ZPI. Rapid kinetic analyses showed that the reaction proceeded by the initial assembly of a membrane-associated PZ-ZPI-FXa Michaelis complex (KM 53 ± 5 nm) followed by conversion to a stable ZPI-FXa complex (klim 1.2 ± 0.1 s–1). Cofactor premixing experiments together with independent kinetic analyses of ZPI-PZ and factor Xa-PZ-membrane complex formation suggested that assembly of the Michaelis complex through either ZPI-PZ-lipid or factor Xa-PZ-lipid intermediates was rate-limiting. Reaction stoichiometry analyses and native PAGE showed that for every factor Xa molecule inhibited by ZPI, two serpin molecules were cleaved. Native PAGE and immunoblotting showed that PZ dissociated from ZPI once ZPI forms a stable complex with FXa, and kinetic analyses confirmed that PZ acted catalytically to accelerate the membrane-dependent ZPI-factor Xa reaction. The ZPI-FXa complex was only transiently stable and dissociated with a rate constant that showed a bell-shaped pH dependence indicative of participation of factor Xa active-site residues. The complex was detectable by SDS-PAGE when denatured at low pH, consistent with it being a kinetically trapped covalent acyl-intermediate. Together our findings show that ZPI functions like other serpins to regulate the activity of FXa but in a manner uniquely dependent on protein Z, procoagulant membranes, and pH.
Temporal Expression of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Virulence Genes in an In Vitro Model of Infection

The hallmark of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) infection is the ability of EPEC to cause attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions on intestinal epithelium. This event is reproducible in in vitro tissue culture models of infection. We used real-time PCR to measure transcription from several locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) operons (LEE1 to LEE5) and from bfp during a 5-h infection of HEp-2 cells with EPEC. We found that after the initial formation of A/E lesions, which occurs as early as 5 min postinfection, EPEC continues to increase transcription from LEE3 to LEE5 as well as from bfp. These levels are maximized by 3 h postinfection and remain constant throughout the course of infection. This increase in transcription from LEE3 to LEE5 occurs when LEE1 (ler) transcription is decreasing. EspA, EspB, intimin, Tir, and bundle-forming pilus expression is detectable during the entire 5-h infection. These results indicate that the EPEC genes involved in localized and intimate adherence are continually expressed after the initial stages of A/E lesion formation on host cells.
Numerical modeling of optical coherent transient processes with complex configurations—III: Noisy laser source

A previously developed numerical model based on Maxwell–Bloch equations was modified to simulate optical coherent transient and spectral hole burning processes with noisy laser sources. Random walk phase noise was simulated using laser-phase sequences generated numerically according to the normal distribution of the phase shift. The noise model was tested by comparing the simulated spectral hole burning effect with the analytical solution. The noise effects on a few typical optical coherence transient processes were investigated using this numerical tool. Flicker and random walk frequency noises were considered in accumulation process.
Nanoneedle: A multifunctional tool for biological studies in living cells

Studying biology in living cells is methodologically challenging but highly beneficial. Recent advances in nanobiotechnology offer exciting new opportunities to address this challenge. The nanoneedle technology, as an emerging technology that uses a cell membrane-penetrating nanoneedle to probe and manipulate biological processes in living cells, is expected to play an important role in this endeavor. Here we review the recent development and future direction of the nanoneedle technology for biological studies in living cells. The nanoneedle technology is shown to be powerful and versatile, and can offer numerous new ways to explore biological processes and biophysical properties of living cells with high spatial and temporal precision potentially reaching molecular resolution.
Post‐fire succession and 20th century reduction in fire frequency on xeric southern Appalachian sites

. We document post-fire succession on xeric sites in the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA and assess effects of 20th century reduction in fire frequency on vegetation structure and composition. Successional studies over 18 yr on permanent plots that had burned in 1976–1977 indicate that tree mortality and vegetation response varied with fuel load and fire season. In the first three years after fire, hardwood sprouts dominated tree regeneration. On sites where summer and autumn fires reduced litter depth to less than 1 cm, densities of shade-intolerant Pinus seedlings increased steadily over this period. 4 to 8 yr after fire, large numbers of newly established seedlings and sprouts had grown to 1 – 10 cm DBH. By year 18 growth of these saplings led to canopy closure on most sites. Herbaceous cover and richness peaked in the first decade after fire, then declined. On similar sites that had not burned in more than 50 yr, regeneration of shade-intolerant Pinus spp. and mean cover and richness of herbs were considerably lower than those observed on recently burned plots. Reconstructions of landscape conditions based on observed post-fire succession and 20th century changes in fire regime suggest that reductions in fire frequency circa 1940 led to substantial changes in forest structure and decreases in cover and richness of herbaceous species.
Predictors of High Defibrillation Threshold in the Modern Era

Introduction High defibrillation threshold (DFT) is a clinical problem in 1–8% of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implants. Some clinicians and investigators question whether the benefits of routine DFT testing outweigh the risks. Identification of the predictors of elevated DFT may allow selective application of DFT testing. However, the clinical characteristics of patients with high DFT in the modern era have not been well-defined. Methods All patients who underwent DFT testing in our institution during an 8-year period were reviewed for this retrospective study. High DFT was defined as less than a 10-J safety margin on initial testing. For each case, the two cases preceding and two cases following by the same implanter were selected as controls. Results Of the 2,138 patients who underwent DFT testing, 48 (2.2%) met criteria for high DFT. Compared to 192 control patients, patients with high DFT were more likely to be younger (P = 0.004), have nonischemic cardiomyopathy (P = 0.036), have a longer QRS interval (P = 0.026), and have a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 0.25 (P = 0.013). On multivariate analysis, only younger age (P = 0.016) and LVEF ≤ 0.25 (P = 0.010) remained statistically significant predictors of elevated DFT. Conclusions High DFT was identified in 2.2% of ICD implants in our institution in recent years. Although younger age and depressed LVEF predicts this problem, elevated DFT occurred in patients of all ages and ejection fractions. Elimination of routine DFT testing appears to be premature given the prevalence and unpredictability of elevated DFT.
Two populations of corticothalamic and interareal corticocortical cells in the subgranular layers of the mouse primary sensory cortices

The subgranular layers (layers 5 and 6) of primary sensory cortex provide corticofugal output to thalamus and they also project to the appropriate secondary sensory cortices. Here we injected two combinations of different color retrograde fluorescent markers in the thalamic and cortical targets of these layers from the three primary sensory cortices (somatosensory, auditory, and visual) in mice to examine the degree of overlap between corticothalamic and interareal corticocortical cells in the subgranular layers. We found that, for all three primary sensory cortices, double-labeled cells were extremely rare, indicating that corticothalamic and interareal corticocortical cells in the subgranular layers represent largely independent populations.
Coupled Patterns Between Fields of Dynamic Height and Bottom Pressure in the Japan/East Sea

Vertical coupling between shallow and deep mesoscale eddy processes in the southwestern Japan/East Sea is investigated using acoustic travel-time and bottom pressure measurements from a two-year deployment of an array of pressure-gauge-equipped inverted echo sounders. Canonical correlation analysis is applied to the simultaneously measured data to extract the coupled modes. The upper layer exhibits a migration of the Ulleung Warm Eddy, and correspondingly the deep potential vorticity in the Ulleung Basin adjusts in magnitude and sense to conserve potential vorticity. Coupling between meanders of strong upper currents and abyssal flows has been observed previously in the Gulf Stream during the Synoptic Ocean Prediction experiment. The evidence from our study strongly suggests that such coupling occurs also under much weaker flows.
Causal Effects of Regulatory, Organizational and Personal Factors on Ethical Sensitivity

Prior researchers have studied individual components of a theoretical decision-making model. This paper presents the results of a more complete study of the model components and presents limited support of theory. The study examines the relative importance of regulatory, organizational, and personal constructs on an individual's ethical sensitivity. Auditors from the major international accounting firms, located in two southeastern cities, are surveyed. Structural equation modeling is used to allow for the simultaneous evaluation of the three constructs of interest. The results indicate that the regulatory and organizational constructs are negatively correlated with the personal experience construct. The three constructs are not significant causal factors on ethical sensitivity. This result may be due to the manner in which ethical sensitivity is typically measured or may indicate that the complexity of the ethical decision-making process is not fully captured in the theoretical models. Thus, the models suggested in the prior literature and the results presented in prior studies of the individual components may need to be reconsidered.
High-field quench behavior and dependence of hot spot temperature on quench detection voltage threshold in a Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox coil

Small insert solenoids have been built using a multifilamentary Ag/Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox round wire insulated with a mullite sleeve (?100 ?m in thickness) and characterized in background fields to explore the quench behaviors and limits of Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox superconducting magnets, with an emphasis on assessing the impact of slow normal zone propagation on quench detection. Using heaters of various lengths to initiate a small normal zone, a coil was quenched safely more than 70 times without degradation, with the maximum coil temperature reaching 280 K. Coils withstood a resistive voltage of tens of mV for seconds without quenching, showing the high stability of these coils and suggesting that the quench detection voltage should be greater than 50 mV in order not to falsely trigger protection. The hot spot temperature for the resistive voltage of the normal zone to reach 100 mV increased from ?40??80 K while increasing the operating wire current density Jo from 89 A mm?2 to 354 A mm?2, whereas for the voltage to reach 1 V, it increased from ?60??140 K. This shows the increasing negative impact of slow normal zone propagation on quench detection with increasing Jo and the need to limit the quench detection voltage to <1 V. These measurements, coupled with an analytical quench model, were used to assess the impact of the maximum allowable detection voltage and temperature upon quench detection on the quench protection, assuming a limit of the hot spot temperature to <300 K.
Eddy Phase Speeds in a Two-Layer Model of Quasigeostrophic Baroclinic Turbulence with Applications to Ocean Observations

AbstractThe phase speed spectrum of ocean mesoscale eddies is fundamental to understanding turbulent baroclinic flows. Since eddy phase propagation has been shown to modulate eddy fluxes, an understanding of eddy phase speeds is also of practical importance for the development of improved eddy parameterizations for coarse resolution ocean models. However, it is not totally clear whether and how linear Rossby wave theory can be used to explain the phase speed spectra in various weakly turbulent flow regimes. Using linear analysis, theoretical constraints are identified that control the eddy phase speed in a two-layer quasigeostrophic (QG) model. These constraints are then verified in a series of nonlinear two-layer QG simulations, spanning a range of parameters with potential relevance to the ocean. In the two-layer QG model, the strength of the inverse cascade exerts an important control on the eddy phase speed. If the inverse cascade is weak, the phase speed spectrum is reasonably well approximated by th...
Development Time of Plagithmysus bilineatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) at Different Locations on the Island of Hawaii

Development time for Plagithmysus bilineatus Sharp was studied on the northeast slope of Mauna Loa, on the island of Hawaii. Host substrates (bolts and live stumps) of Metrosideros polymorpha (Gaudichaud) were monitored at four sites 305, 915, 1,274, and 1,707 m high. Mean development time ranged from 160 to 380 d and was significantly influenced by temperature, site, and host substrate. Longer development time was associated with lower temperatures, sites at higher elevations, and live host tissue. The estimating equation that included parameters for late instars, the pupal stage, and location explained 91% of the variation for development in bolts with a 95% prediction interval of 75 d. The best estimating equation for development in live stumps explained 76% of the variation, with a 95% prediction interval of 123 d.
Prevention of toxic effects of injected thromboplastin by thromboplastinase.

Summary1. Loss of potency of tissue thromboplastic suspensions due to “thrombo-plastinase” action results in a concomitant loss of toxicity. Loss of potency by boiling does not alter the toxicity of thromboplastin. It would appear that the lipid moiety of thromboplastin may be essential for the production of toxic reactions. 2. Prior intravenous injection of “thromboplastinase” into rabbits protected the animals against the otherwise morbid or lethal effects of subsequent injections of a minimal toxic dose of thromboplastin. Heat-inactivated “thromboplastinase’ did not induce this protection. 3. Active “thromboplastinase”, in doses up to 10 times that needed for protection, was observed to cause no untoward reactions in the animals. 4. The mechanism of the protective effect in vivo, seems to be different from the in vitro destruction of thromboplastin by “thromboplastinase”. The nature of this effect is presently under investigation.
Affects of Natural Spring Water on Blood Glucose in Diabetic Mice

Objective To examine the affect of natural spring water on blood glucose in diabetic and normol mice. Methods With tap water, mineral water and well water as controls, the study was conducted according to test methods of blood-glucose regulation. Result The natural spring water produced no effect on blood glucose and glucose tolerance in normal mice, but significantly reduced fasting、after-meal blood-glucose value and improved glucose tolerance in tetraoxypyrimidine-induced diabetic mice. Conclusion The natural spring water may modify blood glucose level, improve glucose tolerance in diabetic mice.