cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resistance and susceptibility to infection in inbred murine strains: IV. Effects of dietary zinc

Abstract Mice of several inbred strains have been fed diets containing either large amounts of zinc (300 ppm Zn), small amounts of zinc (5 ppm Zn), or routine laboratory mouse chow. When the mice are fed on a high-zinc diet, murine strains, such as C 3 H/HeJ, AKR/J, and CBA/CaJ, which are normally susceptible to infection with Candida albicans and which normally release low titers of migration-inhibition factor (MIF) in vivo into the circulation, become more resistant to infection with C. albicans and release higher titers of MIF in vivo into the circulation. In addition, their capacity to elicit delayed type hypersensitivity responses may be enhanced. When the mice are maintained on a low-zinc diet, murine strains, such as C 57 B1/ 10SNJ, which are normally resistant to infection with C. albicans and which normally release high titers of MIF in vivo into the circulation on appropriate antigenic challenge, become more susceptible to infection and release lower titers of MIF into the circulation. Under these conditions of low-zinc concentrations in the diet, their capacity to elicit delayed type hypersensitivity may be reduced. Thus, the concentration of zinc in the diet may have a pronounced effect on some in vivo parameters of cell-mediated immunity.
Composing software-defined networks

Managing a network requires support for multiple concurrent tasks, from routing and traffic monitoring, to access control and server load balancing. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) allows applications to realize these tasks directly, by installing packet-processing rules on switches. However, today's SDN platforms provide limited support for creating modular applications. This paper introduces new abstractions for building applications out of multiple, independent modules that jointly manage network traffic. First, we define composition operators and a library of policies for forwarding and querying traffic. Our parallel composition operator allows multiple policies to operate on the same set of packets, while a novel sequential composition operator allows one policy to process packets after another. Second, we enable each policy to operate on an abstract topology that implicitly constrains what the module can see and do. Finally, we define a new abstract packet model that allows programmers to extend packets with virtual fields that may be used to associate packets with high-level meta-data. We realize these abstractions in Pyretic, an imperative, domain-specific language embedded in Python.
The number of small blocks in exchangeable random partitions

Supposeis an exchangeable random partition of the positive integers andn is its restriction to {1, . . . , n}. Let Kn denote the number of blocks of �n, and let Kn,r denote the number of blocks ofn containing r integers. We show that if 0 < α < 1 and Kn/(n α l(n)) converges in probability to (1 − α), where l is a slowly varying function, then Kn,r/(n α l(n)) converges in probabil- ity to α( r − α)/r!. This result was previously known when the convergence of Kn/(n α l(n)) holds almost surely, but the result under the hypothesis of conver- gence in probability has significant implications for coalescent theory. We also show that a related conjecture for the case when Kn grows only slightly slower than n fails to be true.
Developing distributed group communication in pSR

Persistent SR (pSR) is an extended version of the distributed and concurrent programming language SR (Synchronising Resources). Concurrency is extended through persistence in pSR because resources can exist independently of a particular program execution and thus act as shared objects. The paper describes a new extension to pSR, the introduction of groups and group communications, and how they interact with persistent resources. The novelty of this work is that it incorporates groups into a high level programming language. The groups extension raises three issues: how are groups to be expressed at the language level, what are the semantics of group communications, and how are they to be maintained efficiently at the system level? A prototype is built in pSR to enable testing and development. Group semantic options are described and implementation strategies for the maintenance of groups at the system level in a persistent distributed environment are investigated with reference to IP multicast.
The Chemistry of Cooking Laboratory Exercises: A Perspective to Increase Chemistry and Biology Access to Students by Using Approachable Experiments

Teaching non-science majors science is a fundamental requirement in most universities. Many universities include a laboratory or experiential experience for each student as part of their science co...
Perceptions of student pharmacists on professionalism and social networking sites: A Rasch analysis

Abstract Background The use of social media by students in professional health programs has led to concerns about social networking site (SNS) content, and colleges and universities are deciding whether they should provide guidance for students regarding professional online content. Objective The primary objective was to evaluate the validity of an instrument used to assess student pharmacists’ comfort level and concerns regarding SNS. A secondary objective was to describe students’ perceptions of and concerns about specific SNS behaviors at one college of pharmacy. Methods In 2009, a 24-item questionnaire was distributed to students enrolled at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. The first section of the questionnaire (nine questions) asked students to indicate their level of agreement with specific SNS behaviors. The second section (eight questions) requested students to state their level of concern with specific unprofessional SNS behaviors. Rasch analysis was performed to assess reliability and validity. Results A total of 292 students submitted completed questionnaires (74% response rate). Facebook was the primary SNS used. Respondents indicated that they would not send a friend request to or accept a friend request from a faculty member. Students were most concerned about online posting of profanity and least concerned with online posting of unprofessional content affiliated with the pharmacy profession. Conclusions Student pharmacists were uncomfortable networking with faculty or future employers, and their lack of concern with the potential unprofessional online posts could raise some legal and ethical issues for colleges of pharmacy, especially those without a social media policy.
Reactions Involving Carbenes, Nitrenes, and Other Electron-Deficient Intermediates

The reactions to be described in this chapter have in common the formal involvement of even-electron intermediates having unfilled orbitals of low energy. The most familiar of these intermediates are carbonium ions. Sections 8.4 and 8.5 contain examples of fragmentation and rearrangement reactions of carbonium ions that are of synthetic value; the discussion of these reactions supplements the mechanistically oriented discussion presented in Part A, Chapter 5. Also important are the neutral divalent carbon and monovalent nitrogen species, carbenes and nitrenes, respectively.
Heart size and maximal cardiac output are limited by the pericardium.

We tested the hypothesis that the pericardium, by restricting heart size, limits maximal cardiac output and oxygen consumption. We studied 15 pigs. Five underwent maximal treadmill running before a...
Blood cultures: key elements for best practices and future directions

Bloodstream infections (BSI) cause significant morbidity and mortality among populations worldwide. Blood cultures (BCs) are regarded as the “gold standard” for diagnosis of bacteremia and are among the most important functions of the clinical microbiology laboratory. Significant changes in the methods and techniques of obtaining BCs have occurred since the first inception of BCs into clinical practice. Aside from significant improvements of established, conventional technology, new assays for diagnosis of bacteremia and fungemia, particularly those involving molecular techniques, are now available. BCs must be collected under sterile conditions and guidelines for appropriate collection, processing, and results reporting of BCs have been established. This review provides comprehensive information on optimal BC practices for laboratories, utilizing traditional approaches and emerging technology. As laboratories and clinicians must appreciate the key factors affecting the use of these techniques, improved communication between laboratory personnel and clinicians regarding such elements as duration of incubation, workup of contaminants and critical action value reporting will greatly improve the diagnostic approach to BSI.
Specific Inhibition of a Human Papillomavirus E2 Trans-Activator by Intracellular Delivery of Its Repressor

ABSTRACT Papillomaviruses are the causative agents of benign and malignant epithelial tumors of the skin and mucosa. They encode a DNA-binding protein, E2, that regulates viral transcription and replication, making it an important therapeutic target. By deleting the amino-terminal irans-activation domain of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E2 while retaining its carboxy-terminal DNA binding and dimerization domain, an E2 repressor (E2R) that efficiently inhibits transcriptional activation by full-length HPV E2 was generated. To deliver this repressor protein into animal cells, we have utilized the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein which itself is taken up efficiently into intact cells. Chimeras of E2R and the cellular uptake domain of Tat specifically inhibited E2-dependent reporter gene expression in COS-7 cells. Treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia cells having episomally replicating HPV-31 DNA with this Tat-E2R protein led to a dose-dependent loss of HPV DNA copies...
Finite sample properties of maximum likelihood estimator in spatial models

We investigate the finite sample properties of the maximum likelihood estimator for the spatial autoregressive model. A stochastic expansion of the score function is used to develop the second-order bias and mean squared error of the maximum likelihood estimator. We show that the results can be expressed in terms of the expectations of cross products of quadratic forms, or ratios of quadratic forms in a normal vector which can be evaluated using the top order invariant polynomial. Our numerical calculations demonstrate that the second-order behaviors of the maximum likelihood estimator depend on the degree of sparseness of the weights matrix.
High-speed travelling-wave BaTiO3 thin-film electro-optic modulators

The first successful realisation of high-speed travelling-wave BaTiO3 thin-film electro-optic waveguide modulators with 3 dB modulation bandwidth of 15 GHz at 1.55 µm wavelength is reported. Quasi-velocity-matched electrodes for BaTiO3 thin-film modulators are achieved by addition of a SiO2 buffer layer. Its microwave and electro-optic response are characterised.
Role of matrix vesicles in biomineralization.

Abstract Background Matrix vesicles have been implicated in the mineralization of calcified cartilage, bone and dentin for more than 40 years. During this period, their exact role, if any in the nucleation of hydroxyapatite mineral, and its subsequent association with the collagen fibrils in the organic matrix has been debated and remains controversial. Scope of Review This review summarizes studies spanning the whole history of matrix vesicles, but emphasizes recent findings and several hypotheses which have been recently introduced to explain in greater detail how matrix vesicles function in biomineralization. Major Conclusions It is now generally accepted that matrix vesicles have some role(s) in mineralization; that they are the initial site of mineral formation; that MV bud from the plasma membrane of mineral forming cells, but that they take with them only a subset of the materials found in the parent membrane; that the three proteins, alkaline phosphatase, nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase and annexin V have important roles in the process and that matrix vesicles participate in regulating the concentration of PPi in the matrix. In contrast, many open questions remain to be answered. General Significance Understanding the role of matrix vesicles in biomineralization will increase our knowledge of this important process.
Biorthogonal wavelet transform and compression of image data

A set of bi-orthogonal wavelet transforms are developed based on an extension of Sweldens; lifting method for variable support wavelet bases. The bi-orthogonal wavelet has advantages of compact support for both the transform and inverse transform process, and, like the Zernike and Legendre polynomials, can be designed to pass localized polynomial variations of orders m up to the limit, depending on the width of support of the lesser support width of either the wavelet or the scaling function. Features of this wavelet set include symmetry of the wavelet and scaling functions. The wavelet and scaling functions of a given order m are related to their pair of duals through simple relations involving position shifts and sign changes. A general method for producing transform functions is given, and results are shown for up to m equals 3, which treats up to 7th order polynomial insensitivity. The set of transforms is tested against a sample image and results show the possibilities for compression. It appears the lowest order wavelet yields the best performance for simple compression techniques on the image used. This m equals 0 transform shows the least degradation from truncation and tends to treat small regions effectively. Despite the advantages of higher order wavelets with respect to fluctuations, these tend to artificially create noise information which is passed on to the next processing stage.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Multiple Window Discrete Scan Statistics

In this article, multiple scan statistics of variable window sizes are derived for independent and identically distributed 0-1 Bernoulli trials. Both one and two dimensional, as well as, conditional and unconditional cases are treated. The advantage in using multiple scan statistics, as opposed to single fixed window scan statistics, is that they are more sensitive in detecting a change in the underlying distribution of the observed data. We show how to derive simple approximations for the significance level of these testing procedures and present numerical results to evaluate their performance.
An Interactive System for Processing PMS Two-Dimensional Imaging Probe Data

Abstract A system for interactively editing Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) two-dimensional (2-D) probe data, which has been processed using automated techniques is described. The system allows for reassignment of particle habits and sizes using a touch-screen computer terminal, which greatly simplifies editing of the processed 2-D data. This system, or simpler systems using graphics terminals alone, when used in conjunction with laboratory experiments that are being conducted to relate 2-D images to their actual (photograhic) shape, can lead to improvements in the interpretations from the data.
Cardiac myosin binding protein-C: redefining its structure and function

Mutations of cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) are inherited by an estimated 60 million people worldwide, and the protein is the target of several kinases. Recent evidence further suggests that cMyBP-C mutations alter Ca2+ transients, leading to electrophysiological dysfunction. Thus, while the importance of studying this cardiac sarcomere protein is clear, preliminary data in the literature have raised many questions. Therefore, in this article, we propose to review the structure and function of cMyBP-C with particular respect to the role(s) in cardiac contractility and whether its release into the circulatory system is a potential biomarker of myocardial infarction. We also discuss future directions and experimental designs that may lead to expanding the role(s) of cMyBP-C in the heart. In conclusion, we suggest that cMyBP-C is a regulatory protein that could offer a broad clinical utility in maintaining normal cardiac function.
Thermal-neutron capture by silicon isotopes

We have studied primary and secondary \ensuremath{\gamma} rays (46 in $^{29}\mathrm{Si}$, 107 in $^{30}\mathrm{Si}$, and 33 in $^{31}\mathrm{Si}$) following thermal-neutron capture by the stable $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$, $^{29}\mathrm{Si}$, and $^{30}\mathrm{Si}$ isotopes. Almost all of these \ensuremath{\gamma} rays have been incorporated into corresponding level schemes consisting of 12 excited levels in $^{29}\mathrm{Si}$, 28 in $^{30}\mathrm{Si}$, and 9 in $^{31}\mathrm{Si}$. In each case, the observed \ensuremath{\gamma} rays account for nearly 100% of all captures. The measured neutron separation energies for $^{29}\mathrm{Si}$, $^{30}\mathrm{Si}$, and $^{31}\mathrm{Si}$ are 8473.56\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04, 10609.24\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05, and 6587.40\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 keV, respectively. The measured thermal-neutron capture cross sections for $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$, $^{29}\mathrm{Si}$, and $^{30}\mathrm{Si}$ are 169\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4, 119\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3, and 107\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3 mb, respectively. In all three cases, primary electric-dipole (E1) transitions account for the bulk of the total capture cross section. We have calculated these E1 partial cross sections using direct-capture theory. The agreement between theory and experiment is satisfactory.
British anti-Lewisite (dimercaprol): An amazing history

Emergency physicians are familiar with British anti-Lewisite (BAL) because it is a heavy metal-chelating agent that is recommended in some cases of metal poisoning, especially arsenic. Although there are more modern chelating agents, the fact that BAL is still recommended and stocked by hospital pharmacies more than 60 years after its initial synthesis is itself remarkable. During World War II, BAL minimized the risk to the Allied infantry of injury or death from Lewisite, a very potent arsenic-based chemical warfare agent. Once developed, BAL revolutionized the treatment of heavy metal poisonings, both accidental and iatrogenic (eg, toxicity from treatment of arthritis with gold salts). In 1951, BAL was used to treat Wilson's disease with striking success. Today, BAL might again become prominent should terrorists or governments use Lewisite against civilians or military forces.
Engineering Nanoparticle Cluster Arrays for Bacterial Biosensing: The Role of the Building Block in Multiscale SERS Substrates

Noble metal nanoparticle cluster arrays (NCAs) are a novel class of engineered substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), in which the noble metal nanoparticles interact on multiple length scales to create a multiscale E-field cascade enhancement. In this work the role of the building block for the NCA performance is quantified. Periodic NCAs with constant cluster diameter (D = 200 nm) but variable nanoparticle diameter (d) and intercluster separation (A) were assembled on glass and their optical response and SERS enhancement were systematically characterized as a function of D, A, and d. An increase of d from 40 to 80 nm and simultaneous decrease of A from 200 to 50 nm led to an improvement of the ensemble averaged SERS enhancement factor by a factor of up to ∼8. The coefficient of variation (c v ) ofthe enhancement factors (G) is significantly lower for the d = 80 nm NCAs than for the d = 40 nm and d = 60 nm NCAs. Optimized (D = 200 nm, A = 50 nm, d = 80 nm) NCAs show the overall highest signal reproducibility of all investigated NCAs and random nanoparticle substrates and achieve effective single cell detection sensitivity.
Differential anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats

Unpleasant side effects of drugs of abuse often limit their repeated use; however, such effects may be attenuated in adolescents compared to adults. We investigated whether the anxiogenic, aversive, or locomotor effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) differ between adolescent and adult rats. We used the elevated plus maze (EPM) and light-dark tests of anxiety, the conditioned taste aversion and conditioned place aversion (CPA) tests of generalized aversion, and measures of stress hormone levels in serum to examine effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats. Locomotor activity was also recorded in the EPM, light-dark task, and CPA association sessions. In the EPM and light-dark tasks, THC was anxiogenic in both age groups, but the drug was more anxiogenic in adults than in adolescents. In the place and taste aversion tasks, THC was aversive in both ages, and at 1.25 and 5 mg/kg, was more aversive in adults than in adolescents. The locomotor response to THC, as measured in the anxiety tasks and CPA, affected adults more than adolescents. Multiple measures revealed a locomotor-decreasing effect in adults, whereas some measures suggested a small locomotor-increasing effect in adolescent rats. These results suggest that THC can have greater anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor-reducing effects in adult rats than in adolescent rats. These findings suggest an explanation for reduced marijuana use in adult humans compared to teenagers.
Alterations in phenotype and cell‐surface antigen expression levels of human monocytes: Differential response to in vivo administration of rhm‐csf or rhgm‐csf

We investigated, via multicolor flow cytometry, the in vivo effects of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) on cell size, frequencies, and expression of surface antigens on peripheral blood monocytes from melanoma patients treated concurrently with CSFs and tumor-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) R24. Recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhM-CSF) increased cell size, relative percentages of monocytes, percentages of CD14+, HLA-DQ+, CD11b+, and CD16+ monocytes, and cell-surface expressions of HLA-DR and CD11b; rhM-CSF also up-regulated cell-surface expression of CD14 on CD14brightCD16- monocytes. Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) increased cell size, percentages of CD14+, HLA-DQ+, and CD11b+ monocytes, and cell-surface expressions of HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, CD11b, and CD58. Relative percentages of monocytes and CD16+ cells and cell-surface expression of CD14 on CD14brightCD16- monocytes decreased. In addition, monocytes derived from patients treated with rhM-CSF showed functional activity when assayed in vitro for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). During treatment and coincident with increased CD16 expression, monocytes derived from rhM-CSF patients had enhanced levels of cytotoxicity towards melanoma target cells compared to healthy controls and to patients treated with rhGM-CSF.
The differential effects of weekly, monthly, and bimonthly administrations of the beck Depression Inventory-II: Psychometric properties and clinical implications

Research suggests that scores decrease over time when valid self-report depression instruments are administered repeatedly without intervention to nonclinical participants. Existing research has not addressed whether similar decreases occur with differential retest intervals and whether this decrease represents error or a “true” decrease in symptomatology. In the current study, nonclinical participants were randomly assigned to complete the Beck Depression Inventory-II at weekly, monthly, or bimonthly intervals. Scores were found to significantly decrease for the weekly administration group only. Lower scores were found to be the result of a measurement effect and the frequency of administration. Limitations as well as research and clinical implications are discussed.
Lattice and polynomial models for defect spinels. The MgO-AlO1.5 system

Abstract Spinel, MgAl2O4, dissolves excess AlO1.5 or MgO, so its thermodynamic properties must be known as functions of composition. These functions have been determined directly from published experimental data and from various lattice models. They are then expressed as a table of Redlich-Kister power series coefficients. Once the solids are modelled, the MgO-AlO1.5 liquids are fitted using the known phase equilibria data. The li'quid behavior is close to subregular, but five Redlich-Kister coefficients are required to fit the eutectic on the MgO side and the melting point of spinel. It is shown that the accepted MgO-AlO1.5 phase diagram is in error: the eutectic between spinel and corundum is well above the temperature reported by Rankin and Merwin. The value of 57.65 ± 8 kJ mol−1 for the heat of fusion of MgO is confirmed.
Chemical Biology and Biomedicine: Enkephalin-Derived Glycopeptide Analgesics

Pain relief has been sought since the earliest humans gathered plants for various poultices and potions. Alchemists, shamans, and contemporary consumers alike have all shared the desire for a compound or a biological preparation that alleviates pain. Hippocrates, ca. 500 BC, reported that ingestion of the broth of boiled willow tree bark (genus Salix) relieved pain. Over two millennia later, the pharmacologically active compounds in the bark were isolated and characterized. Laroux et al. isolated the analgesic salicin in 1829, and Piria et al. isolated salicylic acid in 1840. The first non-narcotic pharmaceutical for pain relief was Von Gerhardt’s acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) in 1853, which was commercialized by Felix Hofmann at Bayer in 1893 [1]. Since then many peripheral (non-narcotic) analgesics have been developed and commercialized (Fig. 1).
The Contribution of Neighborhood and Family Income to Developmental Test Scores over the First Three Years of Life

The effects of neighborhood and family income and family risk factors on developmental test scores at ages 1 through 3 are examined using a subsample (N = 347) from the Infant Health and Development Program. Beneficial effects of low numbers of risks were found for scores at ages 1 through 3. Family poverty was associated with lower scores at ages 2 and 3. Neighborhood affluence was associated with higher scores at age 3. The family risks-test score association at ages 1 through 3 and family income-test score association at ages 2 and 3 were mediated by home environment. Mediated effects were stronger for family income-test score associations at age 3 than for neighborhood income. Moderating effects of family risk on family and neighborhood income effects revealed an interaction between family poverty and risks for scores at age 3. Explanations for the early links between family risks and test scores and the later links between income and test scores are discussed.
D1 Dopamine Receptor Binding and mRNA Levels Are Not Altered After Neonatal 6-Hydroxydopamine Treatment: Evidence Against Dopamine-Mediated Induction of D1 Dopamine Receptors During Postnatal Development

: The role of dopaminergic innervation on the postnatal developmental expression of D1 dopamine receptors was investigated. Bilateral destruction of dopa-mine-containing neurons was achieved by treating rats intracisternally with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on postnatal day 3, and rats were killed on day 21. To ensure effective reduction of D1 receptor activation by residual dopamine, a group of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats was given twice daily injections of the D1 receptor antagonist SCH-23390, from day 4 to 20. D1 dopamine receptor binding was assessed in the caudate—putamen, nucleus accumbens, and olfactory tubercle by quantitative autoradiographic analysis of [3H]SCH-23390 binding. In addition, the relative amount of D1A receptor mRNA was assessed by in situ hybridization of a 35S-labeled riboprobe. In the developing rats, neither the amount of [3H]SCH-23390 binding nor the amount of D1A receptor mRNA was altered by 6-OHDA lesioning followed by chronic treatment with SCH-23390. Thus, bilateral destruction of dopamine-containing neurons and treatment with SCH-23390 in neonatal rats did not interfere with the developmental expression of D1 receptors or alter the levels of mRNA that code for this receptor protein. Treatment of intact rats with SCH-23390 from postnatal day 4 to 20 also did not alter [3H]SCH-23390 binding or levels of D1 receptor mRNA. However, adult rats treated chronically with SCH-23390 exhibited increased [3H]SCH-23390 binding but did not show a significant change in D1 receptor mRNA levels.
Local-level and global-level form characteristics in apparent-motion correspondence.

This study addressed the ‘correspondence’ problem of apparent-motion (AM) perception in which parts of a scene must be matched with counterparts separated in time and space. Given evidence that AM correspondence can be mediated by two distinct processes—one based on a low-level motion-detection mechanism (the Reichardt process), the other involving the tracking of objects by visual attention (the attention-based process)—the present study explored how these processes interact in the perception of apparent motion between hierarchically structured figures. In three experiments, hierarchical figures were presented in a competition motion display so that, across frames, figures were identical at either the local or the global level. In experiment 1 it was shown that AM occurred between locally identical figures. Furthermore, with the Reichardt AM component eliminated in experiments 3 and 4, no preference was obtained for either level. While evidence from previous studies suggests that form extraction for hier...
cAMP Enhances Estrogen-Related Receptor α (ERRα) Transcriptional Activity at the SP-A Promoter by Increasing Its Interaction with Protein Kinase A and Steroid Receptor Coactivator 2 (SRC-2)

Estrogen-related receptor (ERRalpha) plays a critical role in basal and cAMP-induced expression of the human surfactant protein-A (SP-A) gene in lung type II cells through direct binding to an ERR response element (ERRE, 5'-TGACCTTA-3') within its 5'-flanking region. Furthermore, protein kinase A (PKA) up-regulates ERRalpha activation of the hSP-A promoter. In the present study, using cultured human fetal lung type II cells, we observed that cAMP enhanced ERRalpha phosphorylation and nuclear expression levels. cAMP/PKA stimulation of ERRalpha activation of the SP-A promoter was blocked by the PKA inhibitor, H89, whereas the MAPK P38 inhibitor, SB203580, and the MAPK kinase inhibitor, PD98059, had negligible to modest effects. This suggests that cAMP acts selectively through PKA to increase ERRalpha transcriptional activity. Of several coactivators tested, steroid receptor coactivator 2 (SRC-2) had the most pronounced effect to increase ERRalpha transcriptional activity at the SP-A promoter; this was enhanced by cotransfection with PKA catalytic subunit (PKAcat). Interestingly, SRC-2, ERRalpha, and PKAcat in type II cell nuclear extracts interacted at the ERRE; this was enhanced by cAMP and inhibited by H89. cAMP increased in vivo binding of PKAcat and SRC-2 to the ERRE genomic region in lung type II cells. In mutagenesis studies, three serines (S87, S114, and S277) were found to be critical for PKA and SRC-2 induction of ERRalpha transcriptional activity. Collectively, these findings indicate that cAMP/PKA signaling enhances ERRalpha phosphorylation and nuclear localization, recruitment to the SP-A promoter, and interaction with PKAcat and SRC-2, resulting in the up-regulation of SP-A gene transcription.
Measurement of Adsorption Equilibria by the Zero Length Column (ZLC) Technique Part 2: Binary Systems

The extension of the ZLC isotherm measurement technique to the measurement of binary adsorption equilibria has been investigated experimentally. It is shown that, subject to certain obvious limitations, reliable binary adsorption equilibrium data can be obtained from analysis of the binary ZLC desorption curves. Separation factors are measured as a function of loading and adsorbed-phase composition for CO2−C2H4 and CO2−C3H8 on several cationic adsorbents (NaLSX, NaX, CaX, and CaA). All systems show strong energetic heterogeneities, leading to separation factors that decrease with loading. The experimental binary data for NaLSX are in good agreement with reported equilibrium data for these systems measured by conventional methods, thus providing direct experimental support for the new technique.
Transient response of a sphere to torsional loading— A head injury model

Abstract A mathematical model representation of the head subjected to torsional impact accelerations is investigated by seeking the transient response of a linear elastic sphere to a step acceleration about a diametrical axis. The displacement is prescribed to be zero at the surface of the sphere. Expressions for dynamic torsional displacement and shear stress in series form are obtained and computed. In addition, the linear viscoelastic response of the sphere is studied by using a superposition principle, and numerical results for a fluid Maxwell model are presented.
Abstract LB-256: S6K1 mediates glycolysis and apoptosis resistance in Pten deficient cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Pten loss and subsequent Akt activation promotes cell survival in human cancer cells through activation of glycolytic metabolism and repression of pro-apoptotic factors. Because sustained glycolysis is required for Akt dependent apoptosis resistance, we investigated the downstream signaling components that mediate Akt dependent increases in glycolysis in Pten-deficient cells. Loss of the ribosomal protein S6K1 in Pten-deficient cells prevented Akt-induced glycolysis and triggered Bax translocation and commitment to apoptosis. Inactivation of S6K1 was associated with decreased expression of the pro-glycolytic HIF1α transcription factor. Restoring HIF1α expression was sufficient to restore both glycolysis and cell survival in S6K1-deficient cells. Conversely, inhibiting HIF1α expression in Pten deficient cells resulted in decreased glycolysis and cell survival, mimicking the loss of S6K1. In vivo , S6K1 deficiency delayed the development of lethal disease in the Pten fl/fl Mx-1 Cre+ model of leukemia. Thus, together the data suggest that S6K1 is a useful target for counteracting the metabolic program that supports apoptosis resistance in Pten-deficient cancers. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-256. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-256
A fluorescence polarization procedure for the evaluation of the effects of cadmium and calcium on plasma membrane fluidity

Steady-state fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) incorporated into plasma membranes of parenchymal hepatocytes provides a simple method of monitoring the immediate interactions of divalent cations with these membranes. Excitation of the fluorescent probe with vertically polarized light and monitoring of the vertical and horizontal components of the emitted light during the excited state lifetime of the probe provides a measure of DPH rotation. Membrane fluidity is evaluated on the basis of rotation of the fluorescent probe. Direct measurements of intermolecular events within plasma membranes are obtained after perturbation by individual metals and metalloids or combinations thereof. This technique has been useful in monitoring the effects of increasing concentrations of calcium or of increasing concentrations of cadmium in the presence or absence of calcium. Interactions of plasma membranes with such divalent metal cations, as well as other toxic substances, probably represents the first step in the series of cytotoxic reactions manifested by parenchymal hepatocytes.
Abstract 5502: Metrics other than potency reveal systematic variation in responses to cancer drugs

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Most analyses of cellular responses to anti-cancer drugs focus on variation in potency (e.g. GI50 or IC50) under the assumption that potency is the most important difference between effective and ineffective drugs or sensitive and resistant cells. We took a multi-parametric approach involving analysis of additional features such as maximum effect (Emax), the slope of the dose-response curve (Hill Slope; HS), and the area under the curve (AUC). We found that a subset of these parameters varies in a systematic manner with cell line and another subset with drug class. For cell cycle inhibitors, Emax generally correlates with cell proliferation rate but this is not always true: Emax ∼ 0 for S-phase specific drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin across multiple cell lines. For drugs targeting the Akt/PI3K/mTOR pathway the slope of the dose-response curve is unusually shallow (HS << 1). Classical pharmacology has no ready explanation for this phenomenon but single-cell analysis showed that it correlated with significant and heritable cell-to-cell variability in the extent of target inhibition. We conclude that parameters other than potency should be considered in the comparative analysis of drug response, particularly at clinically relevant concentrations near and above IC50. Citation Format: Mohammad Fallahi-Sichani, Saman Honarnejad, Laura M. Heiser, Joe W. Gray, Peter K. Sorger. Metrics other than potency reveal systematic variation in responses to cancer drugs. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5502. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5502
Forecasting October–November Caribbean hurricane days

[1] October–November Caribbean hurricane activity can have profound impacts on the region through loss of life and devastation of property. Large-scale climate parameters associated with active late seasons in the Caribbean are investigated in this paper. Among the primary features that are noted are atmospheric and oceanic conditions typical of La Nina and a larger-than-normal Atlantic Warm Pool as well as reduced trade wind strength in the western tropical Atlantic. A two-predictor statistical model has been developed to forecast the number of hurricane days in the Caribbean during October–November. The first predictor is the July–September–averaged Nino 3.4 index, a measure of El Nino-Southern Oscillation, while the second predictor measures July–September–averaged sea surface temperatures in the western part of the tropical Atlantic extending into the Caribbean, which very closely correlates with the size of the Atlantic Warm Pool. These two predictors can hindcast approximately 58% of the variance in the number of October–November Caribbean hurricane days over the period from 1982 to 2010 when a drop-one cross validation procedure is applied. The predictors also correlate significantly with physical features in the Caribbean basin that are known to impact tropical cyclones. While these strong correlations between predictors and physical features extend back to an independent period from 1900 to 1981, the correlations between individual predictors and October–November hurricane days degrade considerably during the earlier period.
Post-sector beam deflection in time-resolved ion momentum spectrometry (trims)

Abstract Time-resolved ion momentum spectrometry is a technique that combines magnetic sector and time-of-flight analyzers to give energy-independent mass determination, enabling seperation of parent ions and products of metastable or collisionally activated dissociations. In the time-resolving stage of this mass spectrometer, ion packet formation by beam deflection is shown to be superior to that formed by ion source pulsing with simultaneous time and momentum resolutions of 650 and 500, respectively. Loss in detectability over that obtained using the magnetic sector without time resolution is only a factor of 65, despite using only 0.01% of the continuous beam. Precise beam intensity profiles as a function of magnetic field strength and arrival time are obtained.
Susceptibility of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) to Experimentally-Induced Fascioloides magna Infections

Three captive Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis), consisting of a female lamb, a yearling ram, and a 2½-yr-old castrated ram were inoculated orally with 50 (n = 1) or 100 (n = 2) metacercariae of Fascioloides magna in November 1991. All three sheep died from fluke infection on post-inoculation days 104, 140, and 197, respectively. Numbers of F. magna recovered were 3 (3%), 18 (36%), and 21 (21%). All flukes were immature and were recovered from liver (n = 36), lungs (n = 2), or peritoneal spaces (n = 4). Two white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), each were inoculated orally with 100 metacercariae at the same time as the bighorn sheep. Eggs of F. magna were detected in the feces of the deer on postinoculation days 199 and 211, respectively. Both deer remained healthy for the year-long experiment. Thus, bighorn sheep are susceptible to infection with F. magna and are likely to die within approximately 6 months of exposure.
A method for combined 3H and 14C autoradiography with a single emulsion tested in cultured mammalian cells

Abstract A single-gelatin expanded film method for double-isotope autoradiography is described. A preliminary classification based upon silver-grain distribution is used to assign labeled cells to 3 H only or with 14 C classes. Optical sectioning combined with grain counting is employed to obtain ratios for classifying cells labeled with 14 C into 14 C only and 3 H + 14 C classes. The method has been tested with CHO-K1 cells in plateau-phase cultures using two 24-h labeling periods. The experimental design allowed for independent estimation of the expected frequencies of label classes under conditions that provided a wide range of possible label levels and combinations. Previous methods have used time-consuming applications of two emulsion layers and exposures to distinguish between cells labeled with 3 H only or with 14 C and do not identify the 3 H + 14 C class. A single-gelatin expanded film requires only one exposure and permits all label classes to be determined by an objective grain-counting procedure.
Control Grid Motion Estimation for Efficient Application of Optical Flow

Motion estimation is a long-standing cornerstone of image and video processing. Most notably, motion estimation serves as the foundation for many of today's ubiquitous video coding standards including H.264. Motion estimators also play key roles in countless other applications that serve the consumer, industrial, biomedical, and military sectors. Of the many available motion estimation techniques, optical flow is widely regarded as most flexible. The flexibility offered by optical flow is particularly useful for complex registration and interpolation problems, but comes at a considerable computational expense. As the volume and dimensionality of data that motion estimators are applied to continue to grow, that expense becomes more and more costly. Control grid motion estimators based on optical flow can accomplish motion estimation with flexibility similar to pure optical flow, but at a fraction of the computational expense. Control grid methods also offer the added benefit of representing motion far more compactly than pure optical flow. This booklet explores control grid motion estimation and provides implementations of the approach that apply to data of multiple dimensionalities. Important current applications of control grid methods including registration and interpolation are also developed. Table of Contents: Introduction / Control Grid Interpolation (CGI) / Application of CGI to Registration Problems / Application of CGI to Interpolation Problems / Discussion and Conclusions
Identity-Congruent Communication in User Interface Design: The Case of Medically Underserved Smokers

Internet-delivered smoking cessation interventions have proven somewhat effective but with only limited participation of lower income African American smokers in evaluation studies. The current study examined this disparity through web interface development and preliminary usability evaluation of a smoking cessation user interface among low-income African American smokers. An identity-congruent approach was proposed to guide the development and usability evaluation of the No Smokin' Hood interface. To develop the interface, 9 focus groups (n = 56) were conducted to gather perceptions of the web as resource in quitting smoking and identity-related preference in using smoking cessation websites. Eight participants were then recruited into 90-min interviews held in the usability lab at a large Midwestern university. Findings represent qualitative thematic analyses of think-aloud responses, a desirability matrix, and debriefing questions. Findings suggest satisfaction with identity-congruent domains—personal,...
IUE's detection of tenuous SO2 frost on Ganymede and its rapid time variability

International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) observations of Ganymded demonstrate decade length or less temporal variations at a few discreet trailing side longitude regions. The temporal changes are seen in comparisons of IUE spectra from 1984-1986 with new IUE observations from 1996. Variations are observed on the trailing side associated with the new detection of SO 2 frost. A distinctive SO 2 frost spectral signature at 0.32 μm is detected in the 1984-1986 spectra of trailing side regions from 225° to 285° which are absent in corresponding 1996 measurements.
Solvent extraction and spectrophotometric d.etermination of metals with 1 -(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol

Abstract PAN(1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol) is proposed for the solvent extraction and spectrophotometric determination of manganese, iron, cadmium, mercury, gallium, and yttrium. The reagent, which is highly specific for iron, has been applied to the determination of iron in clay and anorthosite. The separation of yttrium from lanthanum and the separation of manganese from nickel were successful.
Comparison of visual function in fellow eyes after bilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

Purpose: Although previous studies have examined the risk of bilaterality of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), none have compared extensively the extent of visual loss between fellow eyes. The authors examined cases of bilateral NAION to determine the extent of vision loss in the second eye compared with that in the first eye. Methods: Thirty-one cases of bilateral NAION were reviewed. Variables included age, gender, and the presence of comorbid disease. Visual function was assessed by Snellen visual acuity, color vision, and pattern and mean deviation of the visual fields. Results: No correlation was detected between the extent or pattern of visual loss in fellow eyes. No significant difference in visual function existed between first and second eyes for the patients overall. Patients who retained better visual function in the second eye were significantly older than those who retained better visual function in the first eye (visual acuity, P = 0.0005; color vision, P = 0.07; mean deviation, P = 0.02). In patients older than 50 years of age (25 of 31 cases), the second eye had significantly better visual acuity ( P = 0.04) and less Humphrey visual field mean deviation ( P = 0.04) than the first eye. Conclusion: Visual function in the second eye correlated poorly with that of the first eye. Older patients with bilateral NAION retained better visual function in the second eye than in the first eye. For younger patients, the extent of visual loss in the second eye could not be predicted based on the visual loss in the first eye.