cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromosomal instability in Streptomyces avermitilis: major deletion in the central region and stable circularized chromosome

The chromosome of Streptomyces has been shown to be unstable, frequently undergoing gross chromosomal rearrangements. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear, with previous studies focused on two chromosomal ends as targets for rearrangements. Here we investigated chromosomal instability of Streptomyces avermitilis, an important producer of avermectins, and characterized four gross chromosomal rearrangement events, including a major deletion in the central region. The present findings provide a valuable contribution to the mechanistic study of genetic instability in Streptomyces. Thirty randomly-selected "bald" mutants derived from the wild-type strain all contained gross chromosomal rearrangements of various types. One of the bald mutants, SA1-8, had the same linear chromosomal structure as the high avermectin-producing mutant 76-9. Chromosomes of both strains displayed at least three independent chromosomal rearrangements, including chromosomal arm replacement to form new 88-kb terminal inverted repeats (TIRs), and two major deletions. One of the deletions eliminated the 36-kb central region of the chromosome, but surprisingly did not affect viability of the cells. The other deletion (74-kb) was internal to the right chromosomal arm. The chromosome of another bald mutant, SA1-6, was circularized with deletions at both ends. No obvious homology was found in all fusion sequences. Generational stability analysis showed that the chromosomal structure of SA1-8 and SA1-6 was stable. Various chromosomal rearrangements, including chromosomal arm replacement, interstitial deletions and chromosomal circularization, occurred in S. avermitilis by non-homologous recombination. The finding of an inner deletion involving in the central region of S. avermitilis chromosome suggests that the entire Streptomyces chromosome may be the target for rearrangements, which are not limited, as previously reported, to the two chromosomal ends.
Confinement regulates complex biochemical networks: initiation of blood clotting by "diffusion acting".

This study shows that environmental confinement strongly affects the activation of nonlinear reaction networks, such as blood coagulation (clotting), by small quantities of activators. Blood coagulation is sensitive to the local concentration of soluble activators, initiating only when the activators surpass a threshold concentration, and therefore is regulated by mass transport phenomena such as flow and diffusion. Here, diffusion was limited by decreasing the size of microfluidic chambers, and it was found that microparticles carrying either the classical stimulus, tissue factor, or a bacterial stimulus, Bacillus cereus, initiated coagulation of human platelet-poor plasma only when confined. A simple analytical argument and numerical model were used to describe the mechanism for this phenomenon: confinement causes diffusible activators to accumulate locally and surpass the threshold concentration. To interpret the results, a dimensionless confinement number, Cn, was used to describe whether a stimulus was confined, and a Damkohler number, Da2, was used to describe whether a subthreshold stimulus could initiate coagulation. In the context of initiation of coagulation by bacteria, this mechanism can be thought of as “diffusion acting”, which is distinct from “diffusion sensing”. The ability of confinement and diffusion acting to change the outcome of coagulation suggests that confinement should also regulate other biological “on” and “off” processes that are controlled by thresholds.
Calcifying fibrous tumor of the spine.

Objective Calcifying fibrous tumor is a rare, benign soft-tissue tumor of unknown etiology, characterized by hyalinized collagenous fibrous tissue with psammomatous or dystrophic calcification and focal lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate known to involve different organ systems. Involvement of the spine and the presence of metaplastic ossification previously have not been reported. Intervention We report a 44-year-old female with progressive nontraumatic flank pain. Imaging revealed a left-sided retroperitoneal calcified mass attached to L5 body with no evidence of extension into the neural foramina, nearby vascular structures, or psoas muscle. The patient had an en bloc resection of the tumor via the transabdominal approach. A pathologic diagnosis of calcifying fibrosis with metaplastic ossification of the spine was reported. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and there is no recurrence after 18 months of follow-up. Conclusion Calcifying fibrous tumor, a rare benign soft tissue tumor must be considered in the differential diagnosis of a retroperitoneal calcified mass closely associated with the spinal column. Spine surgeons should be aware of this rare pathologic disease entity and although its natural history is not clear, marginal excision is usually adequate.
Electrochemical Characterization of Vanadium Oxide Nanostructured Electrode

Films consisting of a vanadium pentoxide ! i.e., V2O5" phase formed within a rubbery block copolymer were developed for their potential use as nanocomposite cathodes in lithium rechargeable batteries. Films were prepared by sol-gel synthesis from vanadyl triisopropoxide precursor in poly! oligooxyethylene methacrylate" -block-poly! butyl methacrylate" , incorporating LiCF3SO3 and carbon black as conductivity additives. The morphology of the films was examined using electron microscopy, and their electrochemical performance was assessed by galvanostatic cycling. An all-solid-state battery comprising a polymer-based cathode and a block copolymer electrolyte was cycled repeatedly. The capacity was measured to be 40 mAh/g and found to be limited by the conductivity of the polymer electrolyte. A comparison between a nanocomposite cathode and a control cathode with the same carbon:vanadium oxide ratio demonstrated higher rate capability for the nanocomposite sample when paired with a liquid electrolyte. This study demonstrates the potential utility of block copolymers in the fabrication of high-surface-area cathodes for lithium batteries.
Ectopic expression of retinoic acid early inducible-1 gene (RAE-1) permits natural killer cell-mediated rejection of a MHC class I-bearing tumor in vivo

In 1986, Karre and colleagues reported that natural killer (NK) cells rejected an MHC class I-deficient tumor cell line (RMA-S) but they did not reject the same cell line if it expressed MHC class I (RMA). Based on this observation, they proposed the concept that NK cells provide immune surveillance for "missing self," e.g., they eliminate cells that have lost class I MHC antigens. This seminal observation predicted the existence of inhibitory NK cell receptors for MHC class I. Here, we present evidence that NK cells are able to reject tumors expressing MHC class I if the tumor expresses a ligand for NKG2D. Mock-transfected RMA cells resulted in tumor formation. In contrast, when RMA cells were transfected with the retinoic acid early inducible gene-1 gamma or delta (RAE-1), ligands for the activating receptor NKG2D, the tumors were rejected. The tumor rejection was mediated by NK cells, and not by CD1-restricted NK1.1(+) T cells. No T cell-mediated immunological memory against the parental tumor was generated in the animals that had rejected the RAE-1 transfected tumors, which succumbed to rechallenge with the parental RMA tumor. Therefore, NK cells are able to reject a tumor expressing RAE-1 molecules, despite expression of self MHC class I on the tumor, demonstrating the potential for NK cells to participate in immunity against class I-bearing malignancies.
Projection of septal organ receptor neurons to the main olfactory bulb in rats.

The septal organ of Masera is a distinct patch of olfactory epithelium on the septal wall of the nasal cavity. It lies ventral to the main olfactory receptor sheet. Central projections of the septal organ to the main and/or accessory olfactory bulb were studies with puncate HRP injections into the posterior dorsomedial olfactory bulb of rat pups. Injection sites encompassed 2--8% of the main olfactory bulb glomeruli and some injection sites were confined to the accessory olfactory bulb glomeruli. The distribution of receptor neurons in the septal organ that were labeled as a result of retrograde transport from the injection sites was determined. Olfactory receptor neurons were labeled in septal organs of those animals with injection sites confined to the main olfactory bulb. Subsequent to the posterior dorsomedial bulbar injections of this study, labeled receptor neurons were preferentially located in the posterior portion of the septal organ and were clustered about a plane dorsal to the plane bisecting the organ. Injections confined to the accessory olfactory bulb only labeled vomeronsal organ receptor neurons. Thus it is likely that the main olfactory bulb and not the accessory olfactory bulb is the bulbar terminus of septal organ receptor neurons. To date, experimental evidence suggests that the septal organ system may comprise an anatomically and functionally unique chemosensory pathway for odor detection.
Destriping GOES images by matching empirical distribution functions

Abstract The current and future geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are designed to produce visible images of the earth with linear arrays of eight detectors. Because the imaging instruments are not calibrated radiometrically in orbit, differences among instrument gains associated with the different detectors may cause artificial stripes to appear in the images. In the data processing on the ground, the images are “normalized” to remove the stripes. Images from future geostationary satellites, GOES I-M, will be normalized by the method of matching empirical distribution functions (EDFs). In this paper we report on a study of EDF matching with data from GOES-7. The technique was used to generate a normalization look-up table from data taken on 18 May 1988, and the table was applied to image data obtained 2 weeks later, on 1 June 1988. This removed the stripes from the image. The technique is expected to be even more effective with data from GOES I-M because of improvements in instrumentation.
Interpersonal problem solving, externalizing behavior, and social competence in preschoolers : A knowledge-performance discrepancy ?

A modified interpersonal problem-solving paradigm was developed to discriminate between response access/production and response availability in preschoolers. Examination of the sequence of preschoolers' solutions to hypothetical interpersonal dilemmas revealed increased competence in response to directive probes, suggesting that children possessed knowledge about prosocial problem solving that was not reflected in their spontaneous behavior. Similar patterns emerged in nonsymptomatic youngsters and those with externalizing behavior problems, but the latter group showed overall deficits. Social problem-solving styles predicted teacher ratings of children's behavioral and social adjustment. Conceptual, methodological, and applied implications of the findings are discussed.
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpu protein: a potential regulator of proteolysis and protein transport in the mammalian secretory pathway.

Abstract HIV-1 Vpu is a small transmembrane phosphoprotein of 16 kDa which performs critical roles in CD4 proteolysis and virus release. Previous studies have demonstrated that Vpu-induced degradation of CD4 occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and that the proteolytic process is sequence specific requiring both the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of CD4. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Vpu expression on the intracellular membrane trafficking pathway of mammalian cells. In singly transfected cells, the HIV envelope glycoproteins and vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV G) were properly transported to the cell surface undergoing oligosaccharide modifications characteristic of their movement through the Golgi complex. In contrast, the cell surface delivery of glycoproteins was severely impeded in cells expressing Vpu. Biochemical analyses revealed that Vpu expression blocked the transfer of proteins from the ER–Golgi complex to the plasma membrane in a dose- and protein-dependent manner. Soluble gp120 exhibited extreme transport defects in the presence of Vpu, whereas transmembrane proteins (e.g., gp160, VSV) responded only moderately to wild-type Vpu. To gain insight into Vpu-mediated transport inhibition, we performed mutational analysis of the CK-2 phosphorylation sites (serines at 52 and 56) in the Vpu protein. CK-2 phosphorylation of Vpu has been shown to regulate the activity of the protein in reactions that involve the proteolysis of CD4 in the ER. We demonstrate here that the phosphorylation mutant is defective in both sequence-specific degradation of VRE-containing substrates and the transport inhibition of gp120 and VSV-G in the secretory pathway. Thus, these experiments have revealed that Vpu-mediated proteolysis and transport inhibition are mechanistically coupled requiring the same structural elements of the Vpu protein in both processes. We propose that the primary effect of Vpu expression is to impede the secretion process and then access glycoproteins bearing the VRE for Vpu-mediated proteolysis in the ER of mammalian cells.
Independent depressive mechanisms of GABA and (±)-8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin hydrobromide on young rat spinal axons

Abstract We compared the effect of GABA and the serotonin receptor agonist (±)-8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT) on compound action potential amplitudes, latency, and conduction velocity in the spinal cord isolated from young (eight to 13-day-old) Long-Evans hooded rats. Supramaximally activated conducting action potentials and extracellular K + activity were recorded with microelectrodes from the cuneatus-gracilis fasciculi and corticospinal tract. In the cuneatus-gracilis fasciculi, 8-OH-DPAT (10 −4 M) significantly reduced response amplitudes by 26.1 ± 10.3%, (mean ± S.D., P t -test, n = 27) and increased latencies bvy 20.3 ± 7.9% ( P −4 M) reduced amplitudes by 31.7 ± 15.0% ( P P −4 M) depressed response amplitudes by 18.9 ± 9.6% ( P P −4 M) reduced amplitudes by 16.4 ± 7.5% ( P P + /K + -ATPase inhibitor ouabain (10 −6 M) markedly enhanced the depressive GABA effects from 27.9 ± 12.0% to 49.4 ± 24.5%, ( P These results suggest that GABA and serotonin agonists depress axonal excitability through different and independent mechanisms.
Hatching plasticity under complex conditions: responses of newt embryos to chemical and mechanical stimuli from egg and larval predators

Environmentally cued hatching plasticity is a common attribute of the eggs of oviparous organisms that has been especially well studied in amphibians. Nevertheless, this process has been largely overlooked in species with complex natural histories. We exposed embryos of the rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) to chemical and mechanical stimuli from multiple potential threats, including caddisfly larvae, a major predator on the egg stage of newts. Newt embryos did not exhibit hatching plasticity toward chemical cues from any treatment but, contrary to prediction, did delay hatching in response to mechanical stimuli from an egg predator. Observations of predation by caddisfly larvae on recently hatched newt embryos indicate that caddisflies may prey on multiple life history stages of T. granulosa. The results of this study indicate that hatching plasticity may be a complicated phenomenon in some taxa and that additional factors, such as toxicity of eggs or larvae and maternal behavior, may play an important role in the evolution of this phenomenon.
CKAP2 is a spindle-associated protein degraded by APC/C-Cdh1 during mitotic exit.

We reported here an efficient and generally applicable genomic analysis that uses transcriptional profiling to identify candidate substrates of regulatory enzymes, such as kinases and ubiquitin ligases. We applied this strategy to the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), a ubiquitin ligase that controls sister chromatid separation and exit from mitosis. We found that a microtubule-associated protein, CKAP2, is a substrate of APC/C and demonstrated that ubiquitination and degradation of CKAP2 in vitro require a KEN-box and is mediated by Cdh1, an activator of APC/C. We showed that the levels of CKAP2 fluctuated across the cell cycle in culture cells, high in mitosis and low during mitotic exit. Overexpression of Cdh1 reduced the levels of CKAP2 in a KEN-box-dependent manner, while knockdown of Cdh1 increased the half-life of CKAP2. CKAP2 associated with centrosomal microtubules in late G2, but only after the separation of the duplicated centrosomes. During mitosis, CKAP2 associated with spindle poles and with spindle microtubules from prophase through anaphase and dis-appeared from microtubules during cytokinesis. The function of CKAP2 during mitosis does not seem essential, as efficient knockdown of CKAP2 neither altered the cell cycle distribution of the cells, nor generated observable mitotic defects. On the other hand, ectopic expression of either the wild-type or a non-degradable CKAP2 led to a mitotic arrest with monopolar spindles containing highly bundled microtubules. We concluded that CKAP2 is a physiological substrate of APC/C during mitotic exit and that a tight regulation of the CKAP2 protein level is critical for the normal mitotic progression.
Vibrational coherence in electron transfer: an exactly solvable model

Abstract The exact solution for a transition probability in vibrationally modulated electron transfer is found by employing three independent methods based on: (a) a path integral technique, (b) direct diagonalization of the Hamiltonian by a unitary transformation, and (c) Keldysh–Green’s function techniques. We also consider a solution in the noninteracting blip approximation (NIBA). The comparative analysis reveals that the NIBA is valid at longer times, small reorganization energy, high temperatures, and for small transition matrix elements, Δ 0 , while at large Δ 0 the NIBA provides relaxation rates as much as twice greater. When Δ 0 =0, the NIBA transition probability difference oscillates in time with the frequency ∼ E r kT/ℏ 2 exhibiting incorrect behavior. At low temperatures, the exact solution yields power-law evolution. The NIBA solution exhibits incorrect behavior at small values of Δ 0 . At larger transition matrix elements, the NIBA practically yields a correct description, i.e. the decay in accordance with the exact solution while the coherent oscillations reveal some phase shift at longer times. An important case of several mode modulation is also studied. The Fourier analysis of the transition probability provides useful information of the vibrational couplings and frequencies. In general, the Fourier spectrum of the transition probability is the sum of the contributions from the harmonics with the frequencies |Δ 0 +∑ i=0 n (±)k i ω i | (k i =0,1,2,3,…) , where ω i is a modulating frequency. Thus, a generally used assumption about coincidence of coherence and vibrational frequencies appears to be incorrect.
Exploring (un)common ground: Communication and literature in a health care setting

In this article, a claim is made for the usefulness of integrating communicative and literary analysis as a way of studying the symbolic and pragmatic aspects of human relationships. Using this interdisciplinary approach, a course has been designed to teach practitioner‐patient communication to students in the health professions through the application of theory to literary “case studies.”; The major communication concepts emphasized are content and relationship, symmetrical and complementary interchanges, and rhetorical sensitivity. Literary concepts which are highlighted include narration, symbolism, and the reader‐text relationship. An analysis of a scene from The Elephant Man demonstrates this pedagogical approach. Conceptual and methodological implications for each discipline which grow out of this collaboration are explored.
Formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the preovulatory rabbit follicle: role of prostaglandins and steroids.

Abstract The preovulatory increase in follicular prostaglandins (PG) stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) is dependent upon 3′–5′ cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and is essential for ovulation. It has been proposed that follicular PG stimulate a second rise in cAMP, independent of LH. This study examined the temporal relationships among PGE 2 , PGF 2 α 6-keto-PGF 1 α, estradiol-17β, progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione and the biphasic increases of cAMP in follicles of rabbits. Does received indomethacin (IN, 20 mg/kg, i.v.; n = 30) or phosphate buffer (C; n = 30), 0.5 h before 50 ug of LH. At laparotomy at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 or 8 h after LH, blood was collected from each ovarian vein and two follicles per ovary were aspirated of fluid and excised. Plasma and follicular tissue and fluid were assayed for PG and steroids. Tissue and fluid were assayed for cAMP. In C does, cAMP (pmol/follicle) in tissue increased from 11.3 at 0 h to 14.2 at 0.5 h, decreased at 1 h (5.4) and increased linearly through 8 h to 14.5. In IN-treated does, cAMP remained high from 0.5 (13.2) to 2 h (16.3), decreased at 4 h (7.9) then increased again by 8 h (15.5). Indomethacin decreased all PG in follicular tissue but 6-keto-PGF 1 α rose after 2 h, whereas PGE 2 and PGF 2 α did not. Estradiol-17β, progesterone, and androstenedione did not vary with treatment; testosterone was increased (P 2 or PGF 2 α may terminate the first phase of cAMP production, rather than initiate the second phase.
On stabilizability of LTI systems across a Gaussian MAC channel

In this paper, the problem of stabilizing two scalar plants across a Gaussian multiple access channel (MAC) is addressed. Both states are encoded separately and sent across a shared MAC channel to a joint decoder/controller. A necessary condition for stabilizing such a system in the mean square sense is obtained using information-theoretic tools. This condition establishes the relationship between the magnitude of the unstable eigenvalues and the capacity region of Gaussian feedback multiple-access channel. A time-division encoding scheme along with a switched linear control law is proposed to achieve a rate region that is sufficient for stabilizability. The problem is studied both under the assumption that the two encoders can cooperate by sharing information and that they cannot.
Evaluation of Heterotic Patterns among Caribbean and Tropical ✕ Temperate Maize Populations

The integration of tropical maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm into template breeding programs has been difficult and slow. More information on performance of temperate ✕ tropical populations and their heterotic combinations is needed. This study was conducted to compare heterotic patterns among four populations. Two, a Caribbean flint and a Caribbean dent, are useful in the tropics and have potential for temperate areas; the other two are temperate ✕ tropical populations adapted to the tropics. The four populations, their diallel crosses and reciprocals, and a commercial hybrid check were grown in two locations in Puerto Rico during two winter-season environments. The best heterotic combination among the four populations was between the Caribbean flint and dent. The best-yielding population per se was the temperate ✕ tropical population of Reid (Group B) heterotic pattern. The Caribbean flint population had highly significant negative maternal effects for yield. Both reciprocal crosses of the temperate ✕ tropical populations were low yielding. The results indicated that, for temperature breeding programs, both Caribbean populations should be useful for improving Corn Belt maize. Joint contribution of USDA-ARS and Journal Paper no. J-14188 of the Iowa Agric. and Home Econ. Exp. Stn., Project no. 2778.
Perception of Tempo Modulation by Listeners of Different Levels of Educational Experience

This study was designed to investigate the similarities and differences in how listeners with different levels of educational experience demonstrate perception of tempo modulation in music using a Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI). Subjects (N = 210) were divided into seven education-level groups of 30 subjects each. Musical experience ranged from minimal through extensive. Melodies gradually increased or decreased in tempo from a beginning rate of 112 beats per minute (bpm). Rates heard in accelerating examples were 120 bpm, 128 bpm, 136 bpm, 144 bpm, 152 bpm, and 160 bpm. Rates heard, in decelerating examples were 104 bpm, 96 bpm, 88 bpm, 80 bpm, 72 bpm, and 64 bpm. Change scores demonstrating perception of tempo modulation were calculated from the midpoint of the CRDI and were compared by group and tempo. Subjects' responses were significantly different among degrees of tempo change in increasing and decreasing examples. Significant differences were also found among subject groups for both i...
FRAX and Risk of Vertebral Fractures: The Fracture Intervention Trial

The validity of the WHO 10-yr probability of major osteoporotic fracture model (FRAX) for prediction of vertebral fracture has not been tested. We analyzed how well FRAX for major osteoporotic fractures, with and without femoral neck BMD (FN BMD), predicted the risk of vertebral fracture. We also compared the predictive validity of FRAX, FN BMD, and prevalent vertebral fracture detected by radiographs at baseline alone or in combination to predict future vertebral fracture. We analyzed data from the placebo groups of FIT (3.8-yr follow-up, n = 3221) with ORs and areas under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves (AUC). FRAX with and without FN BMD predicted incident radiographic vertebral fracture. The AUC was significantly greater for FRAX with FN BMD (AUC = 0.71) than FRAX without FN BMD (AUC = 0.68; p = 0.002). Prevalent vertebral fracture plus age and FN BMD (AUC = 0.76) predicted incident radiographic vertebral fracture as well as a combination of prevalent vertebral fracture and FRAX with FN BMD (AUC = 0.75; p = 0.76). However, baseline vertebral fracture status plus age and FN BMD (AUC = 0.76) predicted incident radiographic vertebral fracture significantly better than FRAX with FN BMD (AUC = 0.71; p = 0.0017). FRAX for major osteoporotic fractures (with and without FN BMD) predicts vertebral fracture. However, once FN BMD and age are known, the eight additional risk factors in FRAX do not significantly improve the prediction of vertebral fracture. A combination of baseline radiographic vertebral fracture, FN BMD, and age is the strongest predictor of future vertebral fracture.
Direct Measurement of the Lethal Isotherm for Radiofrequency Ablation of Myocardial Tissue

Background—The lethal isotherm for radiofrequency catheter ablation of cardiac myocardium is widely accepted to be 50°C, but this has not been directly measured. The purpose of this study was to di...
Ultrastructural Localization of Dendritic Messenger RNA in Adult Rat Hippocampus

An ultrastructural examination of mRNA within adult rat CA1 hippocampal dendrites was conducted using two different methods. The messages for the α and β forms of the calcium–calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II were localized in ultracryosections using silver-intensified gold detection of isoform-specific oligonucleotide probes. Labeling for both isoforms was observed within the cell bodies and proximal dendrites of pyramidal neurons, but only the α form was observed in more distal dendrites. Unfortunately, the morphological preservation of the tissue was not sufficient to determine the localization of labeling relative to subcellular features such as denritic spines. To address this issue, a preembedding peroxidase-based method was developed, resulting in better preservation of the neuropil. The total population of polyadenylated [poly(A)] mRNA was localized in hippocampus using a biotinylated poly(dT) probe. Poly(A) mRNA was present in the nucleus and throughout the cell body of all hippocampal cells and within isolated dendrites and glial processes within the neuropil. Within pyramidal neurons, labeling was distributed in a longitudinal pattern in proximal apical dendrites. More distally, the amount of labeling diminished, and smaller foci of labeling were observed, particularly near the plasma membrane. Concentrated labeling was present at the base of dendritic spines and, less frequently, near synapses onto the dendritic shaft. These results suggest that dendritic mRNA is found in the vicinity of postsynaptic sites and provide additional evidence that local protein synthesis may play an important role in establishing and maintaining synaptic specializations.
Expression of Functional Plasmodium falciparum Enzymes Using a Wheat Germ Cell-Free System

One decade after the sequencing of the Plasmodium falciparum genome, 95% of malaria proteins in the genome cannot be expressed in traditional cell-based expression systems, and the targets of the best new leads for antimalarial drug discovery are either not known or not available in functional form. For a disease that kills up to 1 million people per year, routine expression of recombinant malaria proteins in functional form is needed both for the discovery of new therapeutics and for identification of targets of new drugs. We tested the general utility of cell-free systems for expressing malaria enzymes. Thirteen test enzyme sequences were reverse amplified from total RNA, cloned into a plant-like expression vector, and subjected to cell-free expression in a wheat germ system. Protein electrophoresis and autoradiography confirmed the synthesis of products of expected molecular masses. In rare problematic cases, truncated products were avoided by using synthetic genes carrying wheat codons. Scaled-up production generated 39 to 354 μg of soluble protein per 10 mg of translation lysate. Compared to rare proteins where cell-based systems do produce functional proteins, the cell-free yields are comparable or better. All 13 test products were enzymatically active, without failure. This general path to produce functional malaria proteins should now allow the community to access new tools, such as biologically active protein arrays, and lead to the discovery of new chemical functions, structures, and inhibitors of previously inaccessible malaria gene products.
Ultralow-Power Electronics for Cardiac Monitoring

Ultralow-power electronics for cardiac monitoring make possible the development of new light-weight and low-cost devices that are ideal for long-term medical measurements and home-based tele-monitoring services. Nowadays, these devices are seen as a critical technology for reducing health-care costs. In this paper, we present several methods for reducing power consumption while retaining the precision necessary for cardiac monitoring. In particular, we describe a micropower electrocardiograph, an ultralow-power pulse oximeter, an ultralow-power phonocardiograph, an integrated-circuit switched-capacitor model of the heart, and an ultracompact and efficient lithium-ion battery charger. These components are, to our knowledge, currently the most power-efficient or minimal-size designs present in the literature in each respective category.
Ladies Are Seen, Not Heard: Language Socialization in a Southern, African American Cosmetology School

This article examines language socialization among African American cosmetology students. To constitute themselves as hair experts, freshman and senior students learn to distinguish between specialized and lay hair terminology, avoid loud talking, and ask clients' diagnostic questions. Students also reframe textbook metacommunicative theories using personal narrative, role-play, and “mother wit.” Findings from this ethnographic and discourse analytic study highlight the actual processes through which students learn to speak as and hence, become “hair experts.” Data further reveal how language learning is shaped by students' cultural and communal contexts.
Homocysteine and the Risk of Dementia

Featured Article: Seshadri S, Beiser A, Selhub J, Jacques PF, Rosenberg IH, D'Agostino RB, et al. Plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. N Engl J Med 2002;346:476–83.3 In the late 1990s, I was working in a tertiary-care academic medical center in India and running a dementia clinic that had enrolled 120 patients in its first year. India is a country where centuries ago the influence of Buddhism and Jainism had persuaded a large proportion of the population to adopt a vegetarian diet; many others simply could not afford meat or fish. Perhaps as a consequence, as many as a fourth of the patients with dementia (and many without it) had low circulating vitamin B12 concentrations, but correcting this deficiency did not improve their dementia. Nor did most of them have macrocytic anemia, peripheral neuropathy, or other clinical signs of vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12, along with folate and B6, are essential cofactors in the conversion of homocysteine, a …
Cyber Bullying: Overview and Strategies for School Counsellors, Guidance Officers, and All School Personnel

Cyber bullying or bullying via information and communications technology tools such as the internet and mobile phones is a problem of growing concern with school-aged students. Cyber bullying actions may not take place on school premises, but detrimental effects are experienced by victims of cyber bullying in schools. Tools used by cyber bullies are presented and the impact on victims is discussed. Intervention strategies for school counsellors, guidance officers, and school personnel to adopt with students and parents are presented.
An economic model: value of antimicrobial-coated sutures to society, hospitals, and third-party payers in preventing abdominal surgical site infections.

Background While the persistence of high surgical site infection (SSI) rates has prompted the advent of more expensive sutures that are coated with antimicrobial agents to prevent SSIs, the economic value of such sutures has yet to be determined. Methods Using TreeAge Pro, we developed a decision analytic model to determine the cost-effectiveness of using antimicrobial sutures in abdominal incisions from the hospital, third-party payer, and societal perspectives. Sensitivity analyses systematically varied the risk of developing an SSI (range, 5%–20%), the cost of triclosan-coated sutures (range, 25/inch), and triclosan-coated suture efficacy in preventing infection (range, 5%–50%) to highlight the range of costs associated with using such sutures. Results Triclosan-coated sutures saved 1,071 per SSI prevented for hospitals and third-party payers, respectively; SSI risk, 5%; efficacy, 10%). Conclusions Our results suggest that switching to triclosan-coated sutures from the uncoated sutures can both prevent SSIs and save substantial costs for hospitals, third-party payers, and society, as long as efficacy in preventing SSIs is at least 10% and SSI risk is at least 10%.
Singular or plural? Children's knowledge of the factors that determine the appropriate form of count nouns.

Two experiments investigated the factors that govern children's use of singular and plural forms of count nouns. Experiment 1 used an elicited production task to investigate whether children use referential and/or syntactic information to determine the form of the count nouns when the two sources of information conflict (e.g. each x, one of the xs), as well as when the linguistic context does not provide any constraint on the form of the noun, but the referential context does (e.g. the dog(s)). 48 children, aged 1;9 to 5;6, participated in Experiment 1. The results suggest that even the youngest children can use referential information when relevant, and can ignore referential information when necessary. Children did, however, show a tendency to make errors with the quantifier each in non-partitive contexts, and a developmental trend was found in the use and avoidance of each in non-partitive contexts. Experiment 2, an act out task, provided a second test of the role of referential information in children's use of singular and plural forms. Experiment 2 also investigated children's appreciation of the semantic distinction between each and all. 48 children, aged 1;8 to 5;6, participated in Experiment 2. A weak sensitivity to the semantic distinction between the two quantifiers as well as the syntactic context in which they were used was found. The results of the two experiments suggest that, from the beginning, children approach the task of learning when to use singular and plural forms of count nouns on the basis of morphosyntactic, semantic, and referential properties of utterances, rather than initially using only one of these types of information.
Vatted dreams: neurophilosophy and the politics of phenomenal internalism

Despite much social-scientific work on the neurosciences, little ethnographic and historical attention has been paid to the field of neurophilosophy. Yet anthropologists studying brain research occasionally critique neurophilosophers for reducing the mind to the brain while affirmatively citing philosophers of mind who present the mind as emerging from interactions between brain, body, and environment. This article examines the ostracized camp of so-called ‘phenomenal internalists’ – neurophilosophers who believe that consciousness can supervene on the brain alone. This ontological commitment is driven by certain existential and political experiences from false awakenings to disenchantment with the counterculture of the 1970s. But it also draws from neuroscientific research on the dreaming brain. The inquiry concludes with a plea to anthropologists to attend to relations of detachment, both social and neural, and to reconsider their own ontological commitment to externalism in the light of dream research. Reves en fut : la neurophilosophie et la politique de l'internalisme phenomenologique Resume Alors que les sciences sociales se sont abondamment penchees sur les neurosciences, la neurophilosophie n'a attire que peu d'attention ethnographique ou historique. Pourtant, les anthropologues qui etudient le cerveau critiquent parfois les neurophilosophes, qu'ils accusent de reduire l'esprit au cerveau, tout en citant avec vigueur des philosophes de l'esprit qui presentent celui-ci comme le produit des interactions entre le cerveau, le corps et l'environnement. L'auteur examine ici le camp tant denigre des « internalistes phenomenologiques », des neurophilosophes qui pensent que la conscience peut survenir uniquement dans le cerveau. Cet engagement ontologique s'appuie sur certaines experiences existentielles et politiques, des faux eveils au desenchantement d'avec la contre-culture des annees 1970. Dans le meme temps, il emprunte aussi a la recherche neuroscientifique sur le cerveau pendant le reve. L'examen se conclut par un plaidoyer pour que les anthropologues s'interessent aux relations de detachement, social aussi bien que neural, et reexaminent leur propre engagement ontologique envers l'externalisme, a la lueur des recherches sur le reve.
Management of Patella Tendon Disruptions in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Extensor mechanism disruptions are an unwelcome complication of primary and especially revision total knee arthroplasty. Management of these disruptions can be extremely challenging, and often fraught with disappointing results. While the previous chapter addressed quadriceps disruptions, this chapter will focus on management of patella tendon disruptions in total knee arthroplasty. Without question, the optimal method of management for extensor mechanism disruptions in total knee arthroplasty is to avoid them. Even though several types of extensor mechanism repairs will be discussed herein, none can offer results comparable to a repair that is not needed. Therefore, every possible effort should be made to prevent them. This is especially important to bear in mind when planning a TKR for a patient with increased risk for extensor mechanism complications. Those at high risk include patients who are obese, have poor preoperative motion, have had prior surgery about the tibial tubercle or patella tendon, have a connective tissue disorder, or have other metabolic conditions that may compromise their soft tissues.
Effect of myocardial perfusion pattern on frequency and severity of mitral regurgitation in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is common with coronary artery disease as altered myocardial substrate can affect valve performance. Single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) enables assessment of myocardial perfusion alterations. This study examined perfusion pattern in relation to MR. A total of 2,377 consecutive patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease underwent stress MPI and echocardiography within 1.6 ± 2.3 days. MR was present on echocardiography in 34% of patients, among whom 13% had advanced (moderate or more) MR. MR prevalence was higher in patients with abnormal MPI (44% vs 29%, p <0.001), corresponding to increased global ischemia (p <0.001). Regional perfusion varied in left ventricular segments adjacent to each papillary muscle: adjacent to the anterolateral papillary muscle, magnitude of baseline and stress-induced anterior/anterolateral perfusion abnormalities was greater in patients with MR (both p <0.001). Adjacent to the posteromedial papillary muscle, baseline inferior/inferolateral perfusion abnormalities were greater with MR (p <0.001), whereas stress inducibility was similar (p = 0.39). In multivariate analysis, stress-induced anterior/anterolateral and rest inferior/inferolateral perfusion abnormalities were independently associated with MR (both p <0.05) even after controlling for perfusion in reference segments not adjacent to the papillary muscles. MR severity increased in relation to magnitude of perfusion abnormalities in each territory adjacent to the papillary muscles, as evidenced by greater prevalence of advanced MR in patients with at least moderate anterior/anterolateral stress perfusion abnormalities (10.7% vs 3.6%), with similar results when MR was stratified based on rest inferior/inferolateral perfusion (10.4% vs 3.0%, both p <0.001). In conclusion, findings demonstrate that myocardial perfusion pattern in left ventricular segments adjacent to the papillary muscles influences presence and severity of MR.
Preventing Leakages of Business Secrets from Encrypt Data Stored in the Cloud

For all sound reasons, more and more organizations are deploying their databases to the cloud as a viable option as part of their nowadays system architecture. Since we cannot be sure that our database access would never be compromised, data encryptions of various forms and levels have become the utmost techniques used to prevent malicious parties, internal or external, from inspecting an organization's data, in transit or at rest. However, in this short paper we will show that, despite the fact that encryptions can be very effective in hiding information contained in individual records, they may be rendered ineffective in protecting business secrets embedded in aggregated date, such as the number of customers. We will also propose simple and effective counter measures to prevent leakages of such business secrets.
See for Yourself: Perception Is Attuned to Morality

Perception appears preferentially attuned to moral content [1]. Despite the centrality of both morality and perception in cognitive science, little work has attempted to bridge these fields. Research on moral perception has the potential to inform our understanding of morality and perception, and may have important consequences for policy.
On the geometry of transport in phase space I. Transport in k -degree-of-freedom Hamiltonian systems, 2≤k≤∞

Abstract Over the past several years the effect of geometrical structures such as KAM tori, resonance zones, and cantori on phase space transport in two-degree-of-freedom Hamiltonian systems has been studied. In three-degree-of-freedom systems and higher, these structures no longer form complete or partial barriers to transport in the sense that they or their associated stable and unstable manifolds are no longer codimension one in the level set of the Hamiltonian. In this paper we show that in the (2 k −1)-dimensional level sets of the Hamiltonian of a class of k -degree-of-freedom Hamiltonian systems the (2 k −2)-dimensional stable and unstable manifolds of normally hyperbolic invariant (2 k −3)-dimensional spheres form partial barriers to transport. Under certain conditions, we show that lobes and turnstiles can be formed from such geometrical structures in a way that is exactly analogous to the situation for two-degree-of-freedom Hamiltonian systems. Considering a foliation of the level set of the Hamiltonian into disjoint regions separated by such partial barriers, we can then give exact formulas for the transport of volumes of phase space throughout the different regions based on the dynamics of these generalized lobes and turnstiles. On the other hand, despite the fact that these partial barriers are codimension one, for k -degree-of-freedom systems, k ≥3, they may not intersect in such a way so as to divide the phase space.
Investigation of possible pumpkin seeds and ginger effects on gastrointestinal nematode infection indicators in meat goat kids and lambs

Abstract In four experiments, 77 naturally-infected Boer crossbred kids and 28 artificially-inoculated Katahdin lambs were used to evaluate the effect of pumpkin seeds (Exp 1; 21 kids), ginger or pumpkin seed drench (Exp 2; 30 kids) and pumpkin seed oil (Exp 3 and 4: 28 lambs and 26 kids, respectively) on gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) indicators. In all experiments, kids and lambs were placed in individual pens and received pre-weighed rations of a commercially pelleted meat goat or sheep diet daily. In Exp 1, kids were supplemented with ground pumpkin seeds (PUM; n = 10) mixed into feed daily at a rate of 5 g/kg body weight (BW) or were not supplemented (CON; n = 11) for 21 days. In Exp 2, kids were orally drenched with water (CON; n = 10), 5 g pumpkin seed/kg BW (PUM; n = 10) or 3 g ginger/kg BW (GIR; n = 10) every other day for 42 days. In Exp 3, lambs were orally drenched with 2 ml/kg water (CON; n = 7), 2.0 ml/kg BW pumpkin seed oil once every 7 days (PUM1; n = 10), or 2.0 ml/kg BW pumpkin seed oil daily for 3 out of every 7 days (PUM2; n = 11) for 28 days. In Exp 4, kids were orally drenched with 2 ml/kg water (CON; n = 13), or 2.0 ml/kg BW pumpkin seed oil (PUM; n = 13) every other day for 35 days. In all experiments, BW, daily feed intake and blood and fecal samples were collected every 7 days. All animals in Exp 2 were harvested at a USDA-inspected abattoir and abomasal and small intestinal contents were collected for total worm counts. The FEC were similar for treatments in all experiments. Treatment influenced PCV ( P 0.05) only in Exp 1 and 4. In Exp 2, at harvest, there was a tendency ( P = 0.08) for CON animals to have a higher number of total GIN than GIR-treated animals, but PUM-treated animals were intermediate. BW were similar for treatments in Exp 1, 2 and 3 while CON animals in Exp 4 had a greater BW than PUM-treated animals on day 7 only and were similar thereafter (treatment by day interaction, P 0.05). In these studies, pumpkin and ginger treatments administered were not effective in reducing FEC in meat goat kids or lambs.
Imaging the role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor progression and metastasis

The use of fluorescent proteins for imaging in vivo, pioneered by our laboratory, revolutionalized the in vivo study of cancer in mouse models to visualize tumor growth and progression. With the use of multiple colored fluorescent proteins, we developed imaging of the tumor microenvironment (TME) by color-coding cancer and stromal cells, and demonstrated the essential role of tumor-associated host cells in tumor progression and metastasis. Color-coded imaging of the TME has also enabled important discoveries of its cellular components.