cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time-dependent photoionization and fluorescence line emission in gamma-ray burst environments

If γ -ray bursts (GRBs) are associated with dense star-forming regions, photoelectric absorption by the circumburster material (CBM) will occur. As the burst evolves, the surrounding material is photoionized, leading to fluorescence line emission and reduced photoelectric absorption opacity. We have numerically simulated this problem, accounting for all relevant microscopic processes. We find that if GRBs are hosted in a quasi-isotropic surrounding medium, photoionization of the CBM leads to a constant but weak level of delayed fluorescence line emission on timescales of weeks to months after the GRB. A temporally evolving Fe K edge absorption feature can serve as diagnostic tool for redshift measurements.
Correspondence principle for the quantum net

Finkelstein's suggestion for a flexible logic is taken up in the context of his causal net theory. We interpret on the net certain concepts that are first expressed in terms of the canonical “flexible logic” of the macroscopic world, namely, the logic of sheaves over the manifold model, here taken to be flat. From this we infer a correspondence principle in the form of a simple (model-dependent) semantics which translates certain concepts between the purely quantum world of the net and the familiar classical-quantum hybridized world of the macroscopic model. As an application, we derive and solve the reticular version of the massless Dirac equation by analyzing the Dirac operator on the net, where its behavior is easily apprehended.
Infrared aerosol extinction from visible and near-infrared light scattering.

The capability to scale from short-wavelength scattered light measured by several hypothetical instruments to IR aerosol extinction coefficients is evaluated in this simulation. Instruments consisting of a forward-scatter meter, integrating nephelometer, and combinations thereof are exposed to a large number of maritime aerosols with size distributions weighted by their frequency of occurrence. Statistical analysis of the wavelength scaling shows that particular two-channel scattering instruments give estimates of IR extinction for wavelengths between 1.06 and 10.6 μm with an accuracy of ≤10%. A forward-scattering instrument gives an output proportional to particle volume and extinction at 10.6 μm.
A small-volume thin-layer spectroelectrochemical cell for the study of biological components.

Abstract A small-volume (∼60 μl) spectroelectrochemical cell was constructed and characterized.The working electrode is An minigrid, and the spectral window is from 170 nm to 2 μm. The solution is held in a thin layer around the working electrode, providing the advantages of thin-layer electrochemistry. The cell can be constructed from common materials in about 6-h working time. The cell also has flow-through and vacuum capabilities, with only minor modifications. Characterization of the cell was done by cyclic voltammetry and coulometry on ferri-ferrocyanide and spectroelectrochemistry on cytochrome c and o-tolidine. The optical and electrochemical windows of this cell, as well as its convenient and versatile operation, make it useful for the study of a wide variety of biological redox components.
Correlation of glucose concentrations in maternal serum and amniotic fluid in high-risk pregnancies.

Objective We sought to determine whether a correlation exists between maternal serum glucose and amniotic fluid glucose in high-risk pregnancies. Study Design We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study of 60 patients, between 15 and 38 weeks' gestation, undergoing amniocentesis between March 2006 and April 2007. Participants underwent amniocentesis with evaluation of amniotic fluid glucose and maternal finger stick glucose. Data were collected on maternal demographics, gestational age, presence of diabetes or chorioamnionitis, use of betamethasone, and body mass index. Statistical analyses included Spearman ρ correlations. Results A positive correlation was found between maternal serum glucose and amniotic fluid glucose (r = 0.401, P P P Conclusion Maternal hyperglycemia directly influences amniotic fluid glucose levels and may result in an elevated amniotic fluid glucose value.
Synthesis of [3H]- and -[14C]-labelled sulprostone (CP-34,089/ZK-57,671)☆

Abstract The synthesis of N-methanesulfonyl 16-phenoxy-ω-tetranor PGE2 carboxamide (sulprostone — CP-34,089/ZK-57,671) labeled with tritium and carbon-14 is described. Sulprostone labeled with tritium in the phenoxy moiety by means of catalytic hydrogenolysis was obtained in a 17% radiochemical yield with a specific activity of 1.0 Ci/mmol. The methanesulfonamide-14C derivative of sulprostone was prepared from methyl-14C iodide in an 11.8% radiochemical yield having a specific activity of 18.8 mCi/mmol.
Effect of process zone microcracks on the mechanics of brittle-matrix fiber composites

Etude mecanique des composites a matrice ceramique renforces de fibres de carbone ou SiC. On a cherche a etablir une formulation theorique valable pour les regions de la matrice proches de la pointe d'une fissure, sous charge en mode I et prenant en compte deux effets renforcants: l'absorption d'energie par les fibres qui restreint la propagation de fissure; la microfissuration dans les regions a haute concentration de contraintes, telles que la pointe des macrofissures
Reaction patterns of TRAP and DBA.44 in hairy cell leukemia, hairy cell variant, and nodal and extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas.

Context The differential diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) includes HC variant (HC-V) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). There is a high sensitivity of combined DBA.44/TRAP-positivity (+) in confirming HCL. A previous study of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma showed DBA.44+ in 10%, TRAP+ in 29%, and DBA.44+/TRAP+ in 5%. Objective We now study nodal MZL (NMZL) and HC-V. Design Two HCL, 2 HC-V, 3 MZL of bone marrow (BM), 2 MZL versus B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (BCL, NOS) of BM, and 4 NMZL and 5 extranodal MZL (EMZL) were stained with DBA.44 and TRAP and reviewed for staining pattern/intensity. Results DBA.44 intensely stained all cells in 2/2 HCL, 1/2 HC-V, and 1 EMZL; intensely stained >20% of neoplastic cells (NCs) in 7 MZLs (1 BM, 3 NMZL, and 3 EMZL); and was negative/stained 20% of NCs in 1 MZL versus BCL, NOS-BM, 1 MZL-BM, and 1 EMZL; and was negative in the remainder (1 HC-V, 2 MZL-BM, 1 MZL vs. BCL, NOS-BM, the 4 NMZL, 3 EMZL) in which it was able to be performed. There was combined DBA.44+/TRAP+ in 2/2 HCL, 1/2 HCV, 1/3 MZL-BM, and 1/5 EMZL. Only 1 case (MZL vs. BCL, NOS-BM) was TRAP+/DBA.44-. Conclusions Although combined intense, diffuse TRAP+/DBA.44+ is highly sensitive for HCL, it is not entirely specific, and may be observed in HC-V and EMZL, further supporting a histogenetic relationship between these entities.
Effects of microenvironmental extracellular pH and extracellular matrix proteins on angiostatin's activity and on intracellular pH.

Abstract Antiangiogenic agents target migratory and proliferative endothelial cells (EC) in the process of forming new vessels, resulting in growth inhibition or cell death. Here we have shown that the antiangiogenic activity of angiostatin on EC is enhanced in culture when the microenvironmental extracellular pH (pH e ) is reduced to levels similar to that of many tumors. In a migration/scratch assay and during tube formation, angiostatin in combination with reduced pH e synergistically resulted in an increased EC death—an effect not seen with either stimulus individually. Lowering of pH e decreased intracellular pH (pH i ), and a further lowering of pH i occurred when low pH e was combined with angiostatin. These data suggest that low pH e plays a role in the relative specificity and efficacy of angiostatin for tumor neovasculature and indicate roles for both pH e and pH i in the mechanism of angiostatin action. A receptor for angiostatin, the α-subunit of ATP synthase, was found on the surface of EC. We show that cell surface receptor distribution is increased on Matrigel, a basement-like matrix, as opposed to fibronectin or RGD peptide substrates, and redistributed to a more punctuate appearance at low pH e . Furthermore, positive cell surface histochemical staining for α-ATP synthase was blocked by preincubation with angiostatin. These data indicate that substrate and pH e are critical parameters in the evaluation of this antiangiogenic substance, and probably for others as well.
Abstract P4-07-03: Rapamycin and Dalotuzumab in combination inhibit parental and endocrine resistant breast cancer cells.

The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is involved in breast cancer resistance to endocrine therapy. Inhibitors of mTOR have been shown to have benefit for patients with ER positive tumors that have developed endocrine therapy resistance. Inhibition of mTOR triggers a negative feedback loop resulting in enhanced phosphorylation of Akt and subsequent breast cancer cell proliferation via the IGF signaling pathway. Therefore, blockade of both IGF-1R and mTOR may be necessary to completely suppress this pathway. Our laboratory studied the effect of dual inhibition of mTOR and IGF-1R with rapamycin and dalotuzumab respectively on parental and endocrine resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cell tumorigenesis. Immunoblotting demonstrates parental MCF-7L cells treated with rapamycin alone demonstrate increased phosphorylation of Akt. Inhibition of phosphorylation of Akt can be achieved with combined treatment with rapamycin and dalotuzumab at concentrations of 5 nM and 2 µg/mL respectively. In addition to inhibition of pAkt, combined treatment inhibits phosphorylation of S6K1 and the translational repressor protein, 4eBP1. Furthermore, MTT proliferation assay and soft agar assay demonstrate inhibition of parental cell proliferation and colonization respectively with combined rapamycin and dalotuzumab treatment. In order to examine the effect of combination therapy in endocrine resistant cell lines, we established tamoxifen resistant (TamR) and long term estrogen deprived (LTED) cell lines. TamR cells were generated by culturing MCF-7L cells in the presence of tamoxifen for more than 1 year. LTED cells were generated by culturing MCF-7L cells in the absence of estrogen for more than 6 months. Proliferation of TamR and LTED cells treated with rapamycin at a concentration of 5nM and dalotuzumab at a concentration of 2µg/mL in combination was significantly inhibited. We conclude that combination of IGF1R and mTOR inhibition might be necessary to inhibit endocrine resistant breast cancers. Ongoing clinical trials will test this combination of drugs. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-07-03.
The forms of power and the forms of cities: building on Charles Tilly

Chuck Tilly’s late work on coercion, capital, and trust is provocative when applied to changes in urban form. Extending those categories for use in tracing the history of conflicts in cities about how development should be handled highlights the changing roles of economic and physical and cultural power, and the growing importance of trust in these processes. This is a speculative article with a political hope. The speculation is around the potential of using an expanded version of key categories of Charles Tilly’s to create a framework for understanding the nature of change in the form of cities over time. The political hope is to use that framework to illuminate the possibilities of social change in cities today in the direction of social justice.
A method to Generate Biomimetic Superhydrophobic Engineering Surfaces

A versatile hybrid processing method that combines electrostatic deposition of microparticles and subsequent anisotropic plasma etching is described that can generate superhydrophobic engineering surfaces with tunable bimodal roughness and a thin hydrophobic fluorocarbon film. These surfaces exhibit contact angles with water of more than 160°.
Treating Childhood Traumatic Grief: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the potential efficacy and specific timing of treatment response of individual child and parent trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for childhood traumatic grief (CTG), a condition in which trauma symptoms impinge on the child's ability to successfully address the normal tasks of grieving. Method Twenty-two children and their primary caretakers received a manual-based 16-week treatment with sequential trauma- and grief-focused interventions. Results Children experienced significant improvements in CTG, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive, anxiety, and behavioral problems, with PTSD symptoms improving only during the trauma-focused treatment components and CTG improving during both trauma- and grief-focused components. Participating parents also experienced significant improvement in PTSD and depressive symptoms. Conclusions The timing of improvements in CTG and PTSD symptoms lends support to providing sequential trauma- and grief-focused interventions and to the concept that CTG is related to but distinct from PTSD. The results also suggest the benefit of individual treatment for CTG and for including parents in the treatment of CTG. Randomized, controlled trials are needed to further test the efficacy of this treatment model.
Generalized monotonicity, integral conditions and partial survival.

An interesting paper of Vance and Coddington concerning the scalar equation x˙=xf (t, x) is improved by a drastic weakening of the assumptions. Surprising as it may seem, this weakening simplifies the analysis and leads to stronger conclusions. An extension to scalar inequalities of similar structure is applied to a large class of vector equations describing the evolution of n interacting species. Thus we obtain new criteria for extinction and for partial survival, in the sense that each of the separate species may come arbitrarily close to extinction but the population as a whole does not.
Photoluminescent carbogenic nanoparticles directly derived from crude biomass

We present an environmentally benign, energy efficient and readily scalable approach to synthesize photoluminescent carbogenic nanoparticles directly from soft tissue biomass. Our approach relies on the pyrolytic decomposition of grass that gives rise to the formation of well-defined nanoparticles. The carbogenic nanoparticles can be readily surface modified, generating a series of highly selective photoluminescent materials that exhibit remarkable stability upon prolonged exposure to aggressive, high-temperature, high-salinity environment.
Activated Notch2 Signaling Inhibits Differentiation of Cerebellar Granule Neuron Precursors by Maintaining Proliferation

In the developing cerebellar cortex, granule neuron precursors (GNPs) proliferate and commence differentiation in a superficial zone, the external granule layer (EGL). The molecular basis of the transition from proliferating precursors to immature differentiating neurons remains unknown. Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway regulating the differentiation of precursor cells of many lineages. Notch2 is specifically expressed in proliferating GNPs in the EGL. Treatment of GNPs with soluble Notch ligand Jagged1, or overexpression of activated Notch2 or its downstream target HES1, maintains precursor proliferation. The addition of GNP mitogens Jagged1 or Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) upregulates the expression of HES1, suggesting a role for HES1 in maintaining precursor proliferation.
Namibian‐De Beers state‐firm relations: cooperation and conflict

This article argues that state‐firm relations are an increasingly important fact of international relations. Using a version of the obsolescing bargain model, it empirically examines the relations between Namibia and De Beers, particularly the bargaining that has occurred since independence. The authors conclude that Namibian independence markedly altered both the bargaining power and interests of the two sides. Independence gave Namibia the ability to create more effective legislation and economic structures to limit and guide its domestic diamond industry. At the same time changes in the international diamond world, particularly the growing challenge from Russia, weakened De Beers’ bargaining power and increased its need to solidify its African base. Once Swapo became the government, its interests also changed markedly. Before independence Swapo viewed the mining of its diamonds as an unmitigated form of exploitation by De Beers. After independence it needed De Beers’ technology, investments and access ...
Characterization of 3'hExo, a 3' exonuclease specifically interacting with the 3' end of histone mRNA

The 3' end of mammalian histone mRNAs consisting of a conserved stem-loop and a terminal ACCCA interacts with a recently identified human 3' exonuclease designated 3'hExo. The sequence-specific interaction suggests that 3'hExo may participate in the degradation of histone mRNAs. ERI-1, a Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of 3'hExo, has been implicated in degradation of small interfering RNAs. We introduced a number of mutations to 3'hExo to identify residues required for RNA binding and catalysis. To assure that the introduced mutations specifically target one of these two activities of 3'hExo rather than cause global structural defects, the mutant proteins were tested in parallel for the ability both to bind the stem-loop RNA and to degrade RNA substrates. Our analysis confirms that 3'hExo is a member of the DEDDh family of 3' exonucleases. Specific binding to the RNA requires the SAP domain and two lysines located immediately to its C terminus. 3'hExo binds with the highest affinity to the wild-type 3' end of histone mRNA, and any changes to this sequence reduce efficiency of binding. 3'hExo has only residual, if any, 3' exonuclease activity on DNA substrates and localizes mostly to the cytoplasm, suggesting that in vivo it performs exclusively RNA-specific functions. Efficient degradation of RNA substrates by 3'hExo requires 2' and 3' hydroxyl groups at the last nucleotide. 3'hExo removes 3' overhangs of small interfering RNAs, whereas the double-stranded region is resistant to the enzymatic activity.
Neural control of the hearts in the leech, Hirudo medicinalis

1. Bilateral pairs of heart accessory neurons (HA cells) have been identified on the ventral surface of the fifth and sixth segmental ganglia ofHirudo medicinalis. These neurons are rhythmically active and fire in a metastable phase relation to the heartbeat central pattern generator and heart activity. 2. The HA neurons project into the contralateral roots of their own ganglion and innervate the contralateral heart. The HA neurons of the fifth ganglion (HA (5) cells) send axons into the contralateral anterior connectives and branch in several more anterior ganglia to form axons that project into the contralateral roots. The HA(6) neurons are similar but their intersegmental projection is directed posteriorly. 3. The HA neurons receive rhythmic inhibitory synaptic input directly from the neurons of the heartbeat central pattern generator (HN interneurons). The HA cells also receive excitatory synaptic input, which can be spontaneous or driven by discharge in N mechanosensory cells. 4. The HA neurons can induce myogenic activity in quiescent hearts and accelerate the rhythm of hearts that are already myogenic. The HA neurons can also increase the beat tension in hearts that are entrained by phasic excitatory drive from heart motor neurons (i.e. the activity of the heartbeat central pattern generator). These influences, are mediated by tonic activity in the HA neurons. 5. The HA neurons appear to modulate the myogenic properties and contractile strength of the hearts.
Histochemistry of the Reproductive Systems of Armadillidiuim Vulgare (Latreille) and Porcellionides Pruinosus (Brandt) (Isopoda)

The ova of A. vulgare and P. pruinosus are characterized by the presence of perinuclear glycogen spherules and peripheral proteid yolk in A. vulgare. The follicle cells are not thought to be nutritive. The ovarian epithelium is rich in neutral mucopolysaccharide. The secretory nature of the androgenic gland is confirmed. The high alkaline phosphatase level indicates a probable merocrine type of secretion in the androgenic gland. The secretion is probably polypeptide or protein. Rather than being nutritive, the testicular nurse cells probably are involved in producing microtubules which surround the sperm. The giant cells of the seminal vesicle and vas deferens phagocytize the microtubules formed in the testis and secrete carbohydrate into the lumen.
Low-noise phase imaging by hybrid uniform and structured illumination transport of intensity equation

We demonstrate a new approach to the transport of intensity equation (TIE) phase retrieval method which uses structured illumination to improve low-frequency noise performance. In the hybrid scheme, two phase images are acquired: one with uniform and one with sinusoidal grating illumination intensity. The former preserves the high spatial frequency features of the phase best, whereas the latter dramatically increase the response at low spatial frequencies (where traditional TIE notoriously suffers). We then theoretically prove the design of a spectral filter that optimally combines the two phase results while suppressing noise. The combination of uniformly and structured illuminated TIE (hybrid TIE) phase imaging is experimentally demonstrated optically with a calibrated pure phase object.
Associations of serum and dietary magnesium with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, insulin, and carotid arterial wall thickness: The aric study

The objective of this study was to examine the relationships of serum and dietary magnesium (Mg) with prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, fasting insulin, and average carotid intimal-medial wall thickness measured by B-mode ultrasound. A cross-sectional design was used. The setting was the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study in four US communities. A total of 15,248 participants took part, male and female, black and white, aged 45-64 years. Fasting serum Mg, lipids, fasting glucose and insulin were measured; as was usual dietary intake by food frequency questionnaire and carotid intima-media thickness by standardized B-mode ultrasound methods. The results showed that serum Mg levels and dietary Mg intake were both lower in blacks than whites. Mean serum Mg levels were significantly lower in participants with prevalent CVD, hypertension, and diabetes than in those free of these diseases. In participants without CVD, serum Mg levels were also inversely associated with fasting serum insulin, glucose, systolic blood pressure and smoking. Dietary Mg intake was inversely associated with fasting serum insulin, plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Adjusted for age, race, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and field center, mean carotid wall thickness increased in women by 0.0118 mm (p = 0.006) in diuretic users and 0.0048 mm (p = 0.017) in nonusers for each 0.1 mmol/l decrease in serum Mg level; the multivariate association in men was not significant. In conclusion, low serum and dietary Mg may be related to the etiologies of CVD, hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.
Osteoid Osteoma of the Thumb: A Case Report

Osteoid osteoma is a rare occurrence in the hand, and only a small percentage affects the thumb and distal phalanges. An 18-year-old right-hand-dominant man presented to our office with an approximately 1-year history of left thumb pain without any history of trauma. He had seen several doctors previously and undergone multiple diagnostic tests with no definitive diagnosis. Plain radiographs and computed tomography at our institution were consistent with the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma. The patient was treated with surgical excision of the lesion without bone grafting. The diagnosis of osteoid osteoma was confirmed by pathology. At 6 months follow-up, the patient showed complete resolution of pain and full restoration of hand function. This case demonstrates that osteoid osteoma should not be forgotten as a differential diagnosis in patients with finger pain, especially in individuals who have not yet or just recently have reached skeletal maturity.
HMG-box domain stimulation of RAG1/2 cleavage activity is metal ion dependent

RAG1 and RAG2 initiate V(D)J recombination by assembling a synaptic complex with a pair of antigen receptor gene segments through interactions with their flanking recombination signal sequence (RSS), and then introducing a DNA double-strand break at each RSS, separating it from the adjacent coding segment. While the RAG proteins are sufficient to mediate RSS binding and cleavage in vitro, these activities are stimulated by the architectural DNA binding and bending factors HMGB1 and HMGB2. Two previous studies (Bergeron et al., 2005, and Dai et al., 2005) came to different conclusions regarding whether only one of the two DNA binding domains of HMGB1 is sufficient to stimulate RAG-mediated binding and cleavage of naked DNA in vitro. Here we test whether this apparent discrepancy is attributed to the choice of divalent metal ion and the concentration of HMGB1 used in the cleavage reaction. We show here that single HMG-box domains of HMGB1 stimulate RAG-mediated RSS cleavage in a concentration-dependent manner in the presence of Mn2+, but not Mg2+. Interestingly, the inability of a single HMG-box domain to stimulate RAG-mediated RSS cleavage in Mg2+ is overcome by the addition of partner RSS to promote synapsis. Furthermore, we show that mutant forms of HMGB1 which otherwise fail to stimulate RAG-mediated RSS cleavage in Mg2+ can be substantially rescued when Mg2+ is replaced with Mn2+. The conflicting data published previously in two different laboratories can be substantially explained by the choice of divalent metal ion and abundance of HMGB1 in the cleavage reaction. The observation that single HMG-box domains can promote RAG-mediated 23-RSS cleavage in Mg2+ in the presence, but not absence, of partner RSS suggests that synaptic complex assembly in vitro is associated with conformational changes that alter how the RAG and/or HMGB1 proteins bind and bend DNA in a manner that functionally replaces the role of one of the HMG-box domains in RAG-HMGB1 complexes assembled on a single RSS.
Design of a high performance volume visualization system

Visunlizing three dimensional discrete datasets has been a topic of many research projects and papers in the past decade. We discuss the issues that come up when designing a whole computer system cnpable of visualizing these datasets in real time. We explain the three way chicken and egg problem and discuss HewlettPackard’s effort at breaking it with the Voxelator API extensions to OpenGL. We enumerate what a good hardware design should accomplish, We discuss what system issues are important and show how to integrate volume visualization hardware in one of Hewlett-Packard’s graphics accelerators, the VISUALIZE-48XP. We show why the Voxelator is an efficient and well designed API by explnining how various existing hardware engines will easily tit into the Voxelator framework. CR
METEORITIC MATERIAL FROM THE WOLF CREEK, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, CRATER (CN =– 1278, 192)*

This paper contains a preliminary description of the surface features and physical characteristics of two of the three largest masses of meteoritic material so far recovered at the Wolf Creek Crater. An account is given also of the remarkably complex internal structure revealed by slicing the specimens in question.
Geographic and Compositional Variability of Ceramic Resources in Northern New England

Approaches to ceramic analysis in northern New England have historically followed a normative approach to describing form and decoration. Further, these analyses have, with few exceptions, been limited to addressing questions of culture history and chronology. Recent analysis of pottery from the Woodland and Contact periods as well as natural clay deposits from Vermont and New Hampshire serves as a case study in how regional archaeologists may move beyond simplistic questions of “Who?” and “When?” and begin to pursue the “How?” and “Why?” To that end, these data are discussed in terms of technological choices and transmission of cultural knowledge across generations.
Synthetic αVβ3 Antagonists Inhibit Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I-Stimulated Smooth Muscle Cell Migration and Replication1

Porcine aortic smooth cells respond to insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) with increases in DNA synthesis and cell migration. Because ligand occupancy of the αVβ3 integrin has been shown to be necessary for IGF-I to stimulate maximal increases in both processes, we determined whether synthetic αVβ3 antagonists could inhibit IGF-I-stimulated actions on this cell type. Low-molecular-weight compounds that had been selected based on their ability to compete with vitronectin for binding to purified human αVβ3 in vitro were analyzed for their ability to compete with 125I-kistrin (a known ligand for porcine αVβ3) for binding to porcine αVβ3. Nine compounds were screened, and five were found to be potent competitive inhibitors. The most potent compound, SC-69000, resulted in 88% competition at 10−7 m and was nearly equipotent with echistatin. The compounds that were the most potent inhibitors of kistrin binding were tested for their capacity to inhibit the cell migration response to IGF-I. Three compounds cause...
Culturally educated questioning: Toward a skills-based approach in multicultural counselor training.

Abstract Increased resources are being committed to the multicultural training of counselors. Despite these gains, training continues to focus almost exclusively on the acquisition of cultural awareness and culture-specific knowledge. Valuable though they are, awareness and knowledge, the authors argue, do not necessarily result in effective multicultural counseling skill. Therefore, it is recommended that current training models be modified to include techniques through which cultural knowledge can be synthesized into effective counseling interventions. Specifically, it is suggested that programs stress the need to conduct cultural assessments of clients using what the authors term “culturally educated questioning”: empirically rooted inquiry designed to elicit from clients clinically relevant cultural data. The benefits of culturally educated questioning, including its safeguards against cultural stereotyping, are discussed.
Immunizations for pediatric dialysis patients.

Children maintained on chronic dialysis are at sign risk for infection, and although the burden of vaccine-preventable disease in this population has not been fully documented, primary care of these patients should include careful compliance with the routine childhood immunization schedule. There have been considerable changes in this schedule in recent years, and an update is provided. In addition the supplemental vaccines for pneumococcal and influenza vaccines are discussed. Where available, data regarding vaccine response in children on dialysis are presented.
A genotoxic screen: rapid analysis of cellular dose-response to a wide range of agents that either damage DNA or alter genome maintenance pathways

SNP analysis has come to the forefront of genomics since the mouse and human genomes have been sequenced. High throughput functional screens are necessary to evaluate these sequence databases. Described here is a genotoxic screen: a rapid method that determines the cellular dose-response to a wide range of agents that either damage DNA or alter basic cellular pathways important for maintaining genomic integrity. Importantly, a single person utilizing standard tissue culture equipment may perform these assays composed of 20 agents that attack genomic integrity or maintenance at many different levels. Thus, a small lab may perform this screen to determine the integrity of a wide range of DNA repair, chromatin metabolism, and response pathways without the limitations of investigator bias. A genotoxic screen will be useful when analyzing cells with either known genetic alterations (generated directly by the investigator or derived from individuals with known mutations) or unknown genetic alterations (cells with spontaneous mutations such as cancer-derived cells). Screening many genotoxins at one time will aid in determining the biological importance of these altered genes. Here we show the dose-response curves of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and HeLa cells exposed to 20 genotoxic agents. ES cells were chosen since they are amenable to genetic alteration by the investigator. HeLa cells were chosen since they were derived from cancer and are commonly used. Comparing the dose-response curves of these two cell lines show their relative sensitivity to these agents and helps define their genotoxic profile. As a part of phenomics, a large genotoxic profile database for cancer-derived cells, when integrated with other databases such as expression profiles and comparative genomic hybridization, may aid in maximizing the effectiveness of developing anti-cancer protocols.
Structural evidence for induced fit as a mechanism for antibody-antigen recognition

The three-dimensional structure of a specific antibody (Fab 17/9) to a peptide immunogen from influenza virus hemagglutinin [HA1(75-110)] and two independent crystal complexes of this antibody with bound peptide (TyrP100-LeuP108) have been determined by x-ray crystallographic techniques at 2.0 A, 2.9 A, and 3.1 A resolution, respectively. The nonapeptide antigen assumes a type I beta turn in the antibody combining site and interacts primarily with the Fab hypervariable loops L3, H2, and H3. Comparison of the bound and unbound Fab structures shows that a major rearrangement in the H3 loop accompanies antigen binding. This conformational change results in the creation of a binding pocket for the beta turn of the peptide, allowing TyrP105 to be accommodated. The conformation of the peptide bound to the antibody shows similarity to its cognate sequence in the HA1, suggesting a possible mechanism for the cross-reactivity of this Fab with monomeric hemagglutinin. The structures of the free and antigen bound antibodies demonstrate the flexibility of the antibody combining site and provide an example of induced fit as a mechanism for antibody-antigen recognition.
Somatosensory Evoked Potentials Help Prevent Positioning-Related Brachial Plexus Injury during Skull Base Surgery:

ObjectiveEvaluate the use of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) monitoring to detect positioning-related brachial plexus injury during skull base surgery.Study DesignProspective cohort observational study.SettingUniversity Hospital.Subjects and MethodsPatients undergoing skull base surgery had a focused neurologic exam of the brachial plexus performed before and after surgery. Under stable anesthesia, brachial plexus SSEP values were obtained before and after surgical positioning. Significant SSEP changes required a readjustment of arm or neck positions. SSEPs were assessed every 30 minutes. If changes were noted, position was readjusted and SSEPs were reassessed until surgical completion. Demographic data, neurologic exams, SSEP latency, and amplitude values were recorded. Persistent changes were correlated with postoperative neurologic findings.ResultsSixty-five patients, 15 to 77 years old, were studied. Six patients (9.2%) developed SSEP amplitude changes after positioning (average amplitude decre...
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Increases Concentrations of Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Encoding Cytochrome P450 Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme in Primary Cultures of Porcine Granulosa Cells*

FSH is the primary hormonal inducer of ovarian follicle maturation and a critically important regulator of steroidogenesis in granulosa cells. We examined possible molecular mechanisms subserving FSH action by assessing concentrations of cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage (P450scc) mRNA in porcine granulosa cells maintained in serum-free culture. Cellular concentrations of specific P450scc mRNA were measured by Northern blot hybridization using a 32P-labeled 1- kilobase porcine cDNA clone. Specificity was tested by estimating the granulosa cell mRNA content of the constitutively expressed enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Steroidogenesis was evaluated by measuring concomitant progesterone accumulation in the culture medium. Treatment with ovine FSH (100 ng/ml) increased P450scc mRNA concentrations in a time-dependent fashion, with significant effects on both P450scc mRNA concentrations and progesterone accumulation by 4 h and a maximal increase (8- to 10- fold) at 48 h. FSH do...
A lack of interference effects in recognition memory

In two recognition experiments, subjects’ study of a list of 50 words was followed by interpolated learning in which (1) the length of time required to present a given number of interpolated words varied and (2) the number of interpolated words varied but the time was held constant. Forced-choice recognition of the original 50 study words occurred immediately after interpolated learning. In the first experiment, there was some evidence that forgetting (between 3 and 12 min) was due to the number of interpolated items (interference). The second experiment dealt with retention interval between 0 and 3 min. Forgetting was observed across the 3 min, but there was no evidence that the number of interpolated items influenced this forgetting.
US army land condition-trend analysis (LCTA) program

The US Army Land Condition-Trend Analysis (LCTA) program is a standardized method of data collection, analysis, and reporting designed to meet multiple goals and objectives. The method utilizes vascular plant inventories, permanent field plot data, and wildlife inventories. Vascular plant inventories are used for environmental documentation, training of personnel, species identification during LCTA implementation, and as a survey for state and federal endangered or threatened species. The permanent field plot data documents the vegetational, edaphic, topographic, and disturbance characteristics of the installation. Inventory plots are allocated in a stratified random fashion across the installation utilizing a geographic information system that integrates satellite imagery and soil survey information. Ground cover, canopy cover, woody plant density, slope length, slope gradient, soil information, and disturbance data are collected at each plot. Plot data are used to: (1) describe plant communities, (2) characterize wildlife and threatened and endangered species habitat, (3) document amount and kind of military and nonmilitary disturbance, (4) determine the impact of military training on vegetation and soil resources, (5) estimate soil erosion potential, (6) classify land as to the kind and amount of use it can support, (7) determine allowable use estimates for tracked vehicle training, (8) document concealment resources, (9) identify lands that require restoration and evaluate the effectiveness of restorative techniques, and (10) evaluate potential acquisition property. Wildlife inventories survey small and midsize mammals, birds, bats, amphibians, and reptiles. Data from these surveys can be used for environmental documentation, to identify state and federal endangered and threatened species, and to evaluate the impact of military activities on wildlife populations. Short- and long-term monitoring of permanent field plots is used to evaluate and adjust land management decisions.
Mycobacterium bovis nom. nov.

ABSTRACT The agent of bovine tuberculosis has been recognized at various times as a species or as a subspecies in the genus Mycobacterium Lehmann and Neumann. Although the organism is closely related to M. tuberculosis (Zopf) Lehmann and Neumann, the two species are clearly distinguished on the basis of differences in their rates of growth, pathogenicity for certain animals, and biochemical reactions. To date, however, none of the scientific names applied to the bovine tubercle bacillus has been validly published. It was recommended by the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Nomenclature of Bacteria that the name Mycobacterium bovis (a name frequently used for this organism but not validly published) be reintroduced for this organism. Consequently, we propose Mycobacterium bovis as the name for the bovine tubercle bacillus and provide a description of the organism, together with a designation and description of the neotype strain (ATCC 19210; W. D. Yoder 18802–887).
Orbital "shanking": a unique prison injury.

The purpose of this paper is to describe orbitocranial penetration due to “shanking”, a common mode of assault in prison facilities. We report the case of a prisoner who presented with orbital apex syndrome 5 days after an assault. He died 9 days after surgical removal of the “shank” due to a presumed ruptured traumatic aneurysm. Physicians who evaluate prisoners must maintain a high index of suspicion for penetrating injuries. The entrance site is often inconspicuous and the history may be limited in this unique population.
Hybrid interconnects using silicon/FR-4 substrates for board-level 10 Gb/s signal broadcasting

An opto/digital interconnect prototype for board-level 1times4 optical-to-digital signal broadcasting operating at 10 Gb/s per channel over an interconnect distance of 10 cm is demonstrated. An improved 1 times4 multimode interference (MMI) splitter at 1550 nm with linearly-tapered output facet is heterogeneously integrated with 4 p-i-n photodetectors (PDs) on a silicon (Si) bench. The Si bench itself is hybrid integrated onto an FR-4 printed-circuit board (PCB) with 4 receiver channels. A novel fabrication/integration approach demonstrates the capability of simultaneously aligning multiple polymer waveguides with multiple optoelectronic (OE) devices during the waveguide fabrication process. The combined excess loss of the MMI splitter and the mirror loss per channel is less than 3.5 dB and the entire system is fully functional at 10 Gb/s
Scanning and tracking dynamic objects with commodity depth cameras

The 3D data collected using state-of-the-art algorithms often suffers from various problems, such as incompletion and inaccuracy. Using temporal information has been proven effective for improving the reconstruction quality; for example, KinectFusion [21] shows significant improvements for static scenes. In this work, we present a system that uses commodity depth and color cameras, such as Microsoft Kinects, to fuse the 3D data captured over time for dynamic objects to build a complete and accurate model, and then tracks the model to match later observations. The key ingredients of our system include a nonrigid matching algorithm that aligns 3D observations of dynamic objects by using both geometry and texture measurements, and a volumetric fusion algorithm that fuses noisy 3D data. We demonstrate that the quality of the model improves dramatically by fusing a sequence of noisy and incomplete depth data of human and that by deforming this fused model to later observations, noise-and-hole-free 3D models are generated for the human moving freely.
Literature-based biomedical image classification and retrieval

Literature-based image informatics techniques are essential for managing the rapidly increasing volume of information in the biomedical domain. Compound figure separation, modality classification, and image retrieval are three related tasks useful for enabling efficient access to the most relevant images contained in the literature. In this article, we describe approaches to these tasks and the evaluation of our methods as part of the 2013 medical track of ImageCLEF. In performing each of these tasks, the textual and visual features used to represent images are an important consideration often left unaddressed. Therefore, we also describe a gradient-based optimization strategy for determining meaningful combinations of features and apply the method to the image retrieval task. An evaluation of our optimization strategy indicates the method is capable of producing statistically significant improvements in retrieval performance. Furthermore, the results of the 2013 ImageCLEF evaluation demonstrate the effectiveness of our techniques. In particular, our text-based and mixed image retrieval methods ranked first among all the participating groups.
Ground-Based Remote Sensing of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer: 25 Years of Progress

The role of ground-based remote sensors in boundary-layer research is reviewed, emphasizing the contributions of radars, sodars, and lidars. The review begins with a brief comparison of the state of remote sensors in boundary-layer research 25 years ago with its present-day status. Next, a summary of the current capabilities of remote sensors for boundary-layer studies demonstrates that for boundary-layer depth and for profiles of many mean quantities, remote sensors offer some of the most accurate measurements available. Similar accuracies are in general not found for most turbulence parameters. Important contributions of remote sensors to our understanding of the structure and dynamics of various boundary-layer phenomena or processes are then discussed, including the sea breeze, convergence boundaries, dispersion, and boundary-layer cloud systems. The review concludes with a discussion of the likely future role of remote sensors in boundary-layer research.
Bean leaf growth response to moderate ozone levels

Abstract The middle leaflet from the first trifoliate leaf of pinto bean plants ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) was subjected to various ozone levels for both 12 and 24 h to show moderate oxidant injury. Rates of leaf expansion were used as criteria to measure the effects of ozone at three leaflet positions. Growth analysis included Y -intercepts indicating growth after day 1, growth after day 3, and regression line slopes between days 1 and 7 after the beginning of the experiments. Slopes of growth rate regression lines differentiated untreated leaflets from leaflets exposed to a 0·60 ppm-h (0·05 ppm for 12 h) dose. Growth rates of plants exposed to 1·20 ppm-h (either 0·05 ppm for 24 h, or 0·10 ppm for 12 h) were distinguishable from untreated plants within three days. Basal leaf portions showed the most differential ozone response compared with lateral and tip positions.
Realistic models of stochastically varying hyperfine interactions caused by vacancy diffusion in L12-structured compounds

Perturbed angular correlation spectroscopy (PAC) is an attractive method for fundamental studies of diffusion because of the possibility to observe directly atomic scale defects involved in a diffusion process. Previous work investigated under what experimental conditions one could observe a contribution to a PAC spectrum that clearly could be attributed to a vacancy in L12-structured compounds for the special case of self-diffusion. This has since been extended in the present work to consider the case of impurity diffusion and to explore whether or not distant vacancies or configurations with multiple vacancies affect PAC spectra significantly.