cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mice Chronically Exposed to Low Dose Ionizing Radiation Possess Splenocytes with Elevated Levels of HSP70 mRNA, HSC70 and HSP72 and with an Increased Capacity to Proliferate

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the enhanced proliferative activity of splenocytes induced by exposing mice to whole body, chronic, intermittent low doses of ionizing radiation is associated with an increase in the expression of stress protein genes. Mice were exposed to a gamma-irradiation protocol of 0, 0.04 or 0.10 Gy/day for 5 consequent days/week, for 4 weeks. Splenocytes were then assessed for their levels of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 mRNA, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD) mRNA, HSC70 (a constitutively-expressed isoform of HSP70) and HSP72 (an inducible isoform of HSP70), before and 1 day after mitogenic stimulation. Splenocytes from mice exposed to 0.04 Gy/exposure contained elevated constitutive levels of HSP70 mRNA, HSC70 and HSP72. These splenocytes responded to T, but not B, cell mitogens by further increasing their levels of HSP70 mRNA, HSC70 and HSP72 and by mounting a heightened proliferative response. However, an exposure of 0.10 Gy was ineffective. Thus, the constitutive levels of HSP70 mRNA, HSC70 and HSP72 and the mitogen-stimulated levels of HSC70 and HSP72 of splenocytes from mice exposed to 0.10 Gy/exposure were comparable with those of sham-irradiated mice. Moreover, their proliferative activity in response to mitogenic stimulation was also comparable with that of splenocytes from sham-irradiated mice.
Evaluation of Etest Method for Determining Isavuconazole MICs against Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans

We compared Etest with broth microdilution testing for isavuconazole activity against 92 Cryptococcus isolates. A 97.8% agreement was found between these methods, without major discrepancies (>2-well dilution difference). Our findings support the use of the Etest methodology as a reliable method for the determination of MICs against Cryptococcus spp.
Controlling space, controlling scale: migratory labour, free speech, and regional development in the American West

Abstract Using the Industrial Workers of the World's Denver, Colorado free speech struggle of 1913 as a starting point, this paper explores the relationship between the production of public space and the production of scale in the American West. Drawing on evidence from both union and local newspapers, the paper shows how the struggle to shape and control labor and capital mobility was simultaneously engaged in particular public spaces (and the right to use those spaces) and across vast reaches of the region. The paper shows that these struggles were decisive the determining the nature of regional development in the West.
Cytosine methylation of repeated sequences in eukaryotes: the role of DNA pairing

In eukaryotic genomes, methylation of cytosine residues commonly occurs in repetitive sequences. This methylation correlates with reduced gene expression and suppression of recombination, and is thus thought to serve as a genome-defense mechanism that guards against the deleterious effects of multicopy transposable elements and aberrant gene duplications. Analysis of methylation in fungi and plants suggests that the ability of DNA repeats to pair with one another is a key to their selection for methylation. Recent data have outlined the substrate requirements for the establishment and maintenance of methylation in eukaryotic repeated sequences. Substrate-methylation patterns could help us to understand the way in which methyltransferase enzymes recognize their substrates.
A genetic algorithm approach to policy design for consequence minimization

Abstract We characterize the policy design problem as an event network where a series of interrelated decisions are made in a sequential fashion. As such, each node represents a decision point and determines the next arc to be connected in the network. A key objective in designing new policies is the minimization of negative outputs (consequence minimization). To address this type of problem we have applied a genetic algorithm (GA) to generate multiple network configurations (policy alternatives) for evaluation by human decision-makers. Our approach differs from typical genetic algorithms because decision-maker participation has been intimately linked to the genetic search so that policies designed will simultaneously meet the objectives for which they have been designed and remain acceptable and implementable in practice. In this paper we construct a solid waste management example to illustrate the usefulness of our approach to policy design.
Do plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) or tissue plasminogen activator PAI-1 complexes predict complications in Type 1 diabetes: the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study.

Aims To examine the predictive power of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and the complexes it forms with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA–PAI-1) for the two major Type 1 diabetes (T1D) complications (coronary artery disease (CAD) and overt nephropathy) in the context of standard risk factors. Methods Observational prospective study of 454 participants with childhood onset (< 17 years) T1D, aged 18+ years at baseline. PAI-1 and tPA–PAI-1 were determined using ELISA methodology. Follow-up (6 years) was limited to 382 individuals for CAD and 294 individuals for overt nephropathy, after excluding baseline cases. Total, HDL and LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist–hip ratio (WHR), leucocyte count, Beck depression score and fibrinogen were also examined. Results The 56 incident cases of CAD had marginally lower PAI-1 and higher tPA–PAI-1 levels compared with those free of CAD. However, marginally higher PAI-1 and significantly higher tPA–PAI-1 (P = 0.04) levels were seen in those who developed nephropathy. After controlling for age, both PAI-1 and tPA–PAI-1 showed significant negative correlations with HDL-cholesterol, and positive correlations with triglycerides, WHR, HbA1 and fibrinogen. tPA–PAI-1 was also positively correlated with total and LDL-cholesterol. In multivariate analyses, neither PAI-1 nor tPA–PAI-1 was an independent predictor of CAD or overt nephropathy. Conclusions These results suggest little association between PAI-1 and later CAD in patients with T1D. However, tPA–PAI-1 complexes may be involved in the pathogenesis of overt nephropathy.
On ALT and Field Reliability: Challenges and Solutions

This paper presents a critical overview of the current state-of-the-art of Accelerated Reliability Tests (ALTs) and field reliability. Investigations have been focused on a few critical issues, including test philosophy, test physics, test procedure, and test statistics. It has been identified that there is a huge gap between ALT and field reliability. Challenges and solutions include bridging gap between deterministic and statistical approaches, identifying failure modes/mechanisms and their interaction, making scientific judgement of complicated ALT procedures, determining sample size and targeted failure rate for test plans, building databases of ALT and field reliability for knowledge discovery, and developing powerful and integrated tools for virtual qualification and reliability prediction.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Microcomputer manipulation and graphic display of molecular structures—II file structure and maintenance

Abstract A description of the file structures and utilities used to maintain a molecular structure data base is presented. The information in this data base is subsequently used by the program to draw projections of the three dimensional structure of molecules on an X-Y recorder. Details of the implementation of the file structure and utilities are presented in addition to the rationale behind the particular actions employed. Alternative methods of implementation are presented along with any trade-offs involved.
Real Kids, Real Risks: Effective Instruction of Students at Risk of Failure

Despite a decade of research on students at risk offailure, some educators have not altered their classrooms and teaching practice and so continue to encounter difficulties in teaching those students most at risk offailure. This case study of at-risk students in grade 8 examined perceptions about learning in a nonstandard classroom. A "technology lab" was designed around three research-based approaches to the educational environment: cooperative group work, authentic tasks and assessments, and appropriate use of technology. Researchers gathered input about the learning experiences provided by this facility. Responses show that students feel more motivated to learn, receive better grades, and accept more responsibility for their work in the lab environment.
Exotic Physics Searches at CMS

We summarize the results of several searches for evidence of new physics phenomena using proton-proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV delivered by the Large Hadron Collider at CERN and recorded by the CMS detector in 2011.
Use of clonidine in hernia patients: Intramuscular versus surgical site

Background and Objectives. This study was designed to determine if administration of clonidine in hernia patients enhances analgesia. It was also designed to determine whether administration directly in the surgical site further improves the analgesia. Methods. A randomized, double-blinded study was undertaken at a tertiary care hospital. Forty-five outpatients undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair by one of two surgeons (D.P. or M.A.) under local anesthesia with monitored anesthesia care were evaluated. Patients were invited to participate in this investigation at the time of the preoperative surgical visit. Patients who had a contraindication to the use of clonidine or who refused repair under local anesthesia with sedation were excluded. Patients were randomized to one of three groups: (a) clonidine 0.5 μg/kg intramuscularly and saline in the surgical site (mixed with the local anesthetic); (b) clonidine 0.5 μg/kg in the surgical site and saline intramuscularly; or (c) saline in both the surgical site and intramuscularly. The outcome measures included visual analog pain scores twice in the hospital, pain scores at rest and with movement 24 hours postoperatively, the time to first analgesic, and total analgesic requirement. Results. The pain scores were lower in both clonidine groups at 2 hours postoperatively than in the control group (P < .03). No difference was observed with respect to the time to first analgesic, 24-hour analgesic use, or 24-hour pain scores among the groups. Conclusions. When clonidine is administered to patients undergoing hernia repair, the 2-hour pain scores are lowered. No difference was exhibited when clonidine was administered intramuscularly or directly into the hernia site.
The Composition of Insect-Protected Cottonseed Is Equivalent to That of Conventional Cottonseed

Cotton plants have been developed that control the major lepidopteran insect pests of cotton by the stable introduction of a gene encoding an insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. These plants provide season-long protection against cotton bollworm, tobacco budworm, and pink bollworm. An important component of the safety and product assessment of these lines was the comparison of the nutrient and antinutrient levels in the seed both to the parental variety and to published values for other commercial cotton varieties. Compositional equivalence confirms the appropriateness of these cotton lines for use in food and feed products. The insect-protected lines and the parental control were shown to contain levels of nutrients comparable to those of other commercial varieties. Nutrients included protein, fat, carbohydrate, moisture, ash, amino acids, and fatty acids. The levels of the antinutrients gossypol, cyclopropenoid fatty acids, and aflatoxin in the seed from the insect-protecte...
Cisplatin and Doxorubicin Combination Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Canine Osteosarcoma: A Pilot Study

Sixteen dogs with histologically confirmed appendicular osteosarcoma were treated by amputation followed by cisplatin and doxorubicin chemotherapy. All dogs began chemotherapy within 24 hours of surgery. Cisplatin was administered at 50 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) concurrent with saline-induced diuresis. Doxorubicin was administered 24 hours later at 15 mg/m2 as a slow IV bolus. This protocol was given on a 21-day cycle for 4 cycles. No dose delays were required, but dose reduction of doxorubicin was required in 2 dogs because of neutropenia. Thoracic radiography was performed every 2 months after completion of therapy to monitor for metastatic disease. Two dogs were still alive and free from disease at the time of last contact (24 and 75 months, respectively). Postmortem examinations were performed on 13 of the 14 dogs that died. Eight of these dogs were euthanized because of metastatic osteosarcoma. Of the remaining 5 dogs, euthanasia was performed because of complications of idiopathic megaesophagus (n = 1), arthritis (n = 2), and hemangiosarcoma (n = 2). The median disease-free interval and survival times were 15.7 and 18 months, respectively. When compared to a historical group of 36 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma treated with surgery and 4 doses of cisplatin. both disease-free interval and overall survival were significantly longer in the study population (P < .015 and P < .007, respectively).
The Cl− ATPase pump

Abstract Seven widely documented mechanisms of chloride transport across plasma membranes are anion-coupled antiport, sodium symport, sodium potassium chloride symport, potassium chloride symport, proton-coupled symport, an electrochemical coupling process, and chloride channels. No direct genetic evidence has yet been provided for primary active chloride transport despite numerous reports of cellular Cl−-stimulated ATPases coexisting in the same tissue with uphill chloride transport that could not be accounted for by the four common active chloride transport processes. Cl−-stimulated ATPases are a common property of practically all biological cells with the major location being of mitochondrial origin. It also appears that plasma membranes are sites of Cl−-stimulated ATPase activity. Recent studies of Cl−-stimulated ATPase activity and chloride transport in the same membrane system, including liposomes, suggest a mediation by the ATPase in net movement of chloride up its electrochemical gradient across plasma membranes. Further studies, especially from a molecular biological perspective, are required to confirm a direct transport role to plasma membrane-localized Cl−-stimulated ATPases.
Three-dimensional control of engineered motile cellular microrobots

We demonstrate three-dimensional control with the eukaryotic cell Tetrahymena pyriformis (T. pyriformis) using two sets of Helmholtz coils for xy-plane motion and a single electromagnet for vertical motion. T. pyriformis is modified to have artificial magnetotaxis with internalized magnetite. Since the magnetic fields exerted by electromagnets are relatively uniform in the working space, the magnetite exerts only torque, without translational force, which enabled us to guide the cell's swimming direction while the swimming force is exerted only by the cell's motile organelles. A stronger magnetic force was necessary to steer cells to the z-axis, and, as a result, a single electromagnet placed just below our sample area is utilized for vertical motion. To track the cell's positions in the z-axis, intensity profiles of non-motile cells at varying distances from the focal plane are used. During vertical motion along the z-axis, the intensity difference from the background decreases while the cell size increases. Since the cell is pear-shaped, the eccentricity is high during planar motion, but lowers during vertical motion due to the change in orientation. The three-dimensional control of the live organism T. pyriformis as a cellular robot shows great potential to be utilized for practical applications in microscale tasks, such as target transport and cell therapy.
Stereoselective synthesis of a candoxatril intermediate via asymmetric hydrogenation

Abstract A four step synthesis of a chiral glutarate half ester intermediate, required for the preparation of candoxatril, has been developed from t-butyl acrylate. The key steps in this route include a stereoselective synthesis of a trisubstituted alkene and its asymmetric hydrogenation with a Ru-BINAP catalyst.
Genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms in cytokine genes using real-time PCR allelic discrimination technology.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), particularly those within regulatory regions of genes that code for cytokines often impact expression levels and can be disease modifiers. Investigating associations between cytokine genotype and disease outcome provides valuable insight into disease etiology and potential therapeutic intervention. Traditionally, genotyping for cytokine SNPs has been conducted using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), a low throughput technique not amenable for use in large-scale cytokine SNP association studies. Recently, Taqman® real-time PCR chemistry has been adapted for use in allelic discrimination assays. The present study validated the accuracy and utility of real-time PCR technology for a number of commonly studied cytokine polymorphisms known to influence chronic inflammatory diseases. We show that this technique is amenable to high-throughput genotyping and overcomes many of the problematic features associated with PCR-RFLP including post-PCR manipulation, non-standardized assay conditions, manual allelic identification and false allelic identification due to incomplete enzyme digestion. The real-time PCR assays are highly accurate with an error rate in the present study of <1% and concordance rate with PCR-RFLP genotyping of 99.4%. The public databases of cytokine polymorphisms and validated genotyping assays highlighted in the present study will greatly benefit this important field of research.
Modelling 3-D cutting dynamics with neural networks

Abstract Identification of 3-D cutting dynamics requires an expensive experimental set-up and complicated analysis. Recently, time series methods were used to model cutting dynamics. This approach allows a simpler experimental set-uup and estimates the discrete transfer functions used for simulation and/or calculation of frequency domain characteristics of the system. In this paper, the use of neural networks is proposed to model the 3-D cutting dynamics. Neural networks can be trained using the same experimental set-up used for the time series methods. However, several time series models (for different cutting speeds) can be represented with a single neural network, and cutting forces can be studied for varying cutting speed conditions. Also, four neural networks were used to store the frequency domain characteristics of the thrust direction cutting force. In this study, the estimation errors for the neural networks were less than 7% of the defined range (the difference between the maximum and minimum of the data).
A procedure to enhance auditory brainstem response reliability in unrestrained rats

We describe a procedure to record auditory evoked potentials in unrestrained rats. A key feature of this procedure is the attachment of a miniature speaker to the rat's head during recording, so that the distance between the speaker and the rat's ear is held constant. A speaker base is permanently attached to the acrylic supporting the electrode connector. This system enables the recording of reliable auditory evoked potentials over long periods of time with minimal concern for the rat's position or posture.
Nucleotide receptor signalling and the generation of reactive oxygen species

Elevated levels of extracellular nucleotides are present at sites of inflammation, platelet degranulation and cellular damage or lysis. These extracellular nucleotides can lead to the activation of purinergic (nucleotide) receptors on various leukocytes, including monocytes, macrophages, eosinophils, and neutrophils. In turn, nucleotide receptor activation has been linked to increased cellular production and release of multiple inflammatory mediators, including superoxide anion, nitric oxide and other reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the present review, we will summarize the evidence that extracellular nucleotides can facilitate the generation of multiple ROS by leukocytes. In addition, we will discuss several potential mechanisms by which nucleotide-enhanced ROS production may occur. Delineation of these mechanisms is important for understanding the processes associated with nucleotide-induced antimicrobial activities, cell signalling, apoptosis, and pathology.
Production and microtopography of bog bryophytes: response to warming and water-table manipulations

Boreal peatlands, which contain a large fraction of the world's soil organic carbon pool, may be significantly affected by changes in climate and land use, with attendant feedback to climate through changes in albedo, fluxes of energy or trace gases, and soil carbon storage. The response of peatlands to changing environmental conditions will probably be dictated in part by scale-dependent topographic heterogeneity, which is known to interact with hydrology, vegetation, nutrients, and emissions of trace gases. Because the bryophyte community can contribute the majority of aboveground production in bogs, we investigated how microscale topography affects the response of bryophyte species production and cover to warming (using overhead infrared lamps) and manipulations of water-table height within experimental mesocosms. We removed 27 intact peat monoliths (2.1-m2 surface area, 0.5–0.7 m depth) from a bog in northern Minnesota, USA, and subjected them to three warming and three water-table treatments in a fully crossed factorial design. Between 1994 and 1998, we determined annual production of the four dominant bryophyte taxa within three microtopographic zones (low, medium, and high relative to the water table). We also estimated species cover and calculated changes in topography and roughness of the bryophyte surface through time. Total production of all bryophytes, and production of the individual taxa Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum magellanicum, and Sphagnum Section Acutifolia, were about 100% greater in low microtopographic zones than in high zones, and about 50% greater in low than in medium zones. Production of bryophytes increased along the gradient of increasing water-table heights, but in most years, total production of bryophytes was negatively correlated with height above the set water table only for the wettest water-table treatment. Although bryophyte production was unaffected by the warming treatments, the bryophyte surface flattened in proportion to the degree of warming. These results indicate that production of bryophytes is driven most strongly by the absolute and relative height of the bryophyte surface above the water table. Predicted changes in water-table height commensurate with changes in surface temperature may thus affect both production and superficial topography of bryophyte communities.
The effects of the selective 5-HT(2C) receptor antagonist SB 242084 on learned helplessness in male Fischer 344 rats.

Rationale Rats exposed to an uncontrollable stressor demonstrate a constellation of behaviors such as exaggerated freezing and deficits in shuttle box escape learning. These behaviors in rats have been called learned helplessness and have been argued to model human stress-related mood disorders. Learned helplessness is thought to be caused by hyperactivation of serotonin (5-HT) neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and a subsequent exaggerated release of 5-HT in DRN projection sites. Blocking 5-HT2C receptors in the face of an increase in serotonin can alleviate anxiety behaviors in some animal models. However, specific 5-HT receptor subtypes involved in learned helplessness remain unknown.
Conducting ethical research in pediatrics: A brief historical overview and review of pediatric regulations

Achieving proper balance between the social good that comes from performing research that involves children and offering the appropriate level of protection to children who participate in research is a significant challenge. As investigators design and implement research protocols, they should be aware of the ethical and legal requirements that govern research with human participants. This is especially true of research that involves children and other vulnerable groups. The welfare of children participating in research depends on knowledgeable, caring, and responsible investigators who place the well-being of the research participant above all other aspects of the research project. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of the history of research involving children, to provide a basis for understanding the context within which the current federal regulations were written, and to provide an overview of the regulatory requirements that relate to research involving children. Good research is ethical research, and that requires investigators who take seriously the importance of participant welfare, meaningful informed consent, and respect for research participants.
Association Between GABRA1 and Drinking Behaviors in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism Sample

Background: A wealth of literature supports the role of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in neurobiological pathways contributing to alcohol dependence and related phenotypes. Animal studies have consistently tied rodent homologs of the GABAA receptor genes on human chromosome 5q to alcohol-related behaviors; however, human studies have produced mixed results. Family-based association analyses previously conducted in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) sample yielded no evidence of association with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder—fourth edition (DSM-IV) alcohol dependence and these genes. As a follow-up to that study, we examined several alcohol-related behaviors in the COGA sample as follows: (1) a broader definition of alcohol dependence, including DSM-III-R symptoms and Feighner criteria (referred to as COGA alcohol dependence); (2) withdrawal; (3) history of alcohol-induced blackouts; (4) level of response to alcohol; (5) age of onset of regular drinking; and (6) age at first drunkenness. Methods: Family-based association tests were conducted, using multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in each of the 4 GABAA receptor genes on chromosome 5q. Results: In GABRA1, we found evidence of association with several of the drinking behavior phenotypes, including COGA alcohol dependence, history of blackouts, age at first drunkenness, and level of response to alcohol. We did not find consistent evidence of association with the remaining genes and any of the phenotypes. Conclusions: We found evidence for association between GABRA1 and COGA alcohol dependence, history of blackouts, age at first drunkenness, and level of response to alcohol. These analyses suggest that efforts to characterize genetic contributions to alcohol dependence may benefit by examining alcohol-related behaviors in addition to clinical alcohol dependence diagnoses.
Inflammatory polypoid growths in the ear canal of cats.

The characteristic clinical and pathological features of polyps of the ear canal as seen in 12 cats at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital are described. In the authors' experience, and contrary to previous reports, inflammatory polyps are the commonest tumour of the feline ear and can be differentiated clinically from other neoplasms.
Likelihood ratio identities and their applications to sequential analysis

Abstract Wald's likelihood ratio identity was pivotal in his development of sequential analysis six decades ago. In particular, the error probabilities of Wald's sequential probability ratio test (SPRT), his weight function SPRTs and subsequent invariant SPRTs have simple closed-form approximations because the stopped likelihood ratio statistics in these tests have simple two-point distributions if excess over the boundary is ignored, and Wald's likelihood ratio identity expresses these probabilities as expectations of the stopped likelihood ratio statistics. This paper gives a review of how likelihood ratio identities have been applied to analyze much more complicated sequential testing and change-point detection problems in the past two decades, and uses certain results to address an open problem concerning the asymptotic optimality of sequential generalized likelihood ratio procedures. A brief survey of these procedures is also given.
A maximum likelihood latent variable regression model for multiple informants

Studies pertaining to childhood psychopathology often incorporate information from multiple sources (or informants). For example, measurement of some factor of particular interest might be collected from parents, teachers as well as the children being studied. We propose a latent variable modeling framework to incorporate multiple informant predictor data. Several related models are presented, and likelihood ratio tests are introduced to formally compare fit. The incorporation of partially observed subjects is addressed under a variety of missing data mechanisms. The methods are motivated by and applied to a study of the association of chronic exposure to violence on asthma in children.
The importance of nutrition topics among family medicine residents and faculty

Discussions about improving nutrition education for physicians focus upon the medical school curriculum (16). However, nutrition education during residency training could partially overcome insufficient nutrition instruction during medical school. Residency is an optimal time to educate physicians in applied clinical nutrition because newly learned nutrition knowledge can often be applied immediately in providing patient care. While the number of years spent in residency may equal or exceed the time spent in medical school, many residency programs provide little formal nutrition education. The literature contains articles about nutrition education during residency training (7-10), especially for family medicine residents (11-18). Family medicine residents and faculty have less than a "fair" nutrition knowledge base for patient care (19), and there is room for improvement in their nutrition skills (20-21). Because the range and depth of necessary nutrition knowledge vary for each medical specialty, a specialty-specific needs assessment can assist nutrition educators in planning nutrition training in a residency program. We conducted a survey of all residents and full-time faculty in one family medicine residency to assess their rating of the importance of 29 nutrition topics for providing good patient care. We drew the topics from prior studies (14-16) and from our experience in nutrition education and teaching family medicine. Respondents rated each topic on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 = very important and 5 = less important. Respondents specified 5 of the 29 topics they wanted to hear more about in the upcoming year as part of nutrition education in the residency. We a)so asked the age, sex, and number of years each respondent had been in the department. We compared the residents' and faculty's importance ratings using t-tests (22), recognizing a potential risk of type I error which might result from conducting multiple significance tests (23).
Radiosynthesis of PET radiotracer as a prodrug for imaging group II metabotropic glutamate receptors in vivo.

Abstract Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) have been implicated in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders in recent studies. As a noninvasive medical imaging technique and a powerful tool in neurological research, positron emission tomography (PET) offers the possibility to visualize and study group II mGluRs in vivo under physiologic and pathologic conditions. We synthesized a PET tracer, (S,S,S)-2-(2-carboxycyclopropyl)-2-(3-[11C]methoxyphenethyl) glycine dimethyl ester ([11C]CMGDE), as a prodrug for group II mGluRs, and studied its preliminary biological properties in Sprague-Dawley rats to visualize group II mGluRs. The microPET studies demonstrated that [11C]CMGDE readily penetrated into the brain and the radiotracer generated from [11C]CMGDE had fast reversible binding in the group II mGluRs rich regions including striatum, hippocampus and different cortical areas. Blocking studies with LY341495 showed 20–30% decrease of binding of the radiotracer generated from [11C]CMGDE in all brain areas with the highest decrease in the striatum 31.5 ± 3.2%. The results show [11C]CMGDE is the first PET tracer that is brain penetrating and can be used to image group II mGluRs in vivo.
Successful treatment of chronic tinea pedis (moccasin type) with terbinafine (Lamisil)

Terbinafine (Lamisil) is the first safe and effective orally active agent in a new family of antifungal drugs, the allylamines. The drug has a unique site of action on sterol synthesis due to its inhibition of squalene epoxidase. The drug is highly effective against dermatophytes in vitro, and in placebo controlled trials, it is effective both topically and orally against dermatophytes. In the study reported here, terbinafine has been compared to griseofulvin in patients with moccasin type tinea pedis. Terbinafine was given at 125 mg b.i.d. and griseofulvin was given at 250 mg (microsize) b.i.d. Thirty-six patients were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind study. Patients were evaluated weekly by mycological culture, microscopy and clinical signs and symptoms for 6 weeks during therapy and at follow-up 2 weeks later. Twenty-eight of the 36 patients were evaluable for drug efficacy. Twelve out of sixteen (75%) of the terbinafine group were mycologically and clinically cured by the end of therapy (6 weeks) and 14/16 (88%) were cured at the time of follow-up 2 weeks later. Two patients were mycologically cured, but moderate signs or symptoms were present at follow-up. In the griseofulvin-treated group 3/12 (27%) were cured at the end of treatment and 5/11 (45%) at follow-up evaluation. Follow-up after 6-15 months showed continued resolution of the terbinafine-treated patients, but relapse of infection in griseofulvin-treated patients. There were two side-effects during terbinafine treatment (one gastro-intestinal, one skin allergy), and no significant changes in haematological, hepatic enzyme or renal blood tests done weekly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Lacanian Explanation of Karon's and Villemoes's Successful Psychodynamic Approaches to Schizophrenia

In this article I use Lacan's early theory of schizophrenia as corrected by the School of Leuven. Early in his career Lacan argued that schizophrenic people have a defective relation to language. Vergote and several of his students--all from Leuven--point out that schizophrenics also have a defective relation to their bodies. Lacan calls the defective relation to language a defect in the symbolic and he calls defective relations to the body a defect in the imaginary. Repairing defects in the symbolic requires introducing in the emotional life of the patient the paternal function of the law. Repairing the imaginary requires the more maternal help of mirroring, affirming, and holding. I underline that the two forms of healing that need to occur in the treatment of schizophrenics seem contradictory. I then proceed to demonstrate that two therapists, Bertram Karon--a non-Lacanian--and Palle Villemoes--a Lacanian-artfully combine the two contradictory strategies which are theoretically required. The remainder of the article is then devoted to a summary and a discussion of the different methods developed by these two therapists. I demonstrate that both do healing work at the imaginary level and the symbolic level. Sometimes these two therapists explicitly point out that they make a shift in their healing work with the patient; sometimes they do not alert the reader that they do so. I claim that in the work of both therapists it is the contradictory work at the level of the imaginary and of the symbolic that is healing, not the therapeutic intervention at the imaginary alone or at the symbolic alone.
Computation as an intrinsic property

In an effort to uncover fundamental differences between computers and brains, this paper identifies computation with a particular kind of physical process, in contrast to interpreting the behaviors of physical systems as one or more abstract computations. That is, whether or not a system is computing depends on how those aspects of the system we consider to be informational physically cause change rather than on our capacity to describe its behaviors in computational terms. A physical framework based on the notion of “causal mechanism” is used to distinguish different kinds of information processing in a physically-principled way; each information processing type is associated with a particular causal mechanism. The causal mechanism associated with computation is pattern matching, which isphysically defined as the fitting of physical structures such that they cause a “simple” change. It is argued that information processing in the brain is based on a causal mechanism different than pattern matching so defined, implying that brains do not compute, at least not in the physical sense that digital computers do. This causal difference may also mean that computers cannot have mental states.
2-deoxy-D-glucose induced feeding: Relation to diet palatability

Abstract Adult male rats fed either ground Purina Laboratory Chow or the same diet adulterated with 0.5% quinine hydrochloride were tested for feeding in response to the administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG). Three doses of 2-DG were used, 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg of body weight. During a six-hr test period, rats given ground Purina Laboratory Chow ate significantly more following intraperitoneal (IP) injections of 250 and 500 mg/kg of 2-DG than following IP injections of physiological saline. Food intake of animals given Purina Chow also increased after administration of 750 mg/kg of 2-DG, but intake was not significantly different from that following saline injections. In contrast to rats maintained on the unadulterated diet, rats given quinine-adulterated chow did not increase intake over saline values during the six-hr test period following administration of 250 and 500 mg/kg of 2-DG, and actually decreased intake after injection of 750 mg/kg of 2-DG. Results are discussed with respect to the role of diet palatability in determining food intake in hungry animals.
A heterogeneous dictionary model for representation and recognition of human actions

In this paper, we consider low-dimensional and sparse representation models for human actions, that are consistent with how actions evolve in high-dimensional feature spaces. We first show that human actions can be well approximated by piecewise linear structures in the feature space. Based on this, we propose a new dictionary model that considers each atom in the dictionary to be an affine subspace defined by a point and a corresponding line. When compared to centered clustering approaches such as K-means, we show that the proposed dictionary is a better generative model for human actions. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of this model in efficient representation and recognition of human activities that are not available in the training set.
SIGNIFICANCE OF LANDFORMS IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN

An assemblage of landforms in a complex interlobate area in southeast Michigan may be used to identify the surficial contact between Saginaw and Huron-Erie drifts even though the sediments from both glacial lobes appear similar and cannot be reliably differentiated in the field. The correct placement of the boundary is confirmed by X-ray diffraction data for clay-sized particles from more than forty drift samples. This study demonstrates that in some instances morphology may equal or exceed the usefulness of rock-, soil-, and geologic-climate units for the determination of certain stratigraphic relationships.
Quantitative Analysis of Residual Detergent in Proteoliposomes by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract An infrared spectroscopic method has been developed to quantify the residual amount of detergent present in membranes, e.g., after reconstitution of a membrane protein in phospholipids. A detergent-specific band is selected in the ir spectrum and the intensity is ratioed against a phospholipid-specific band (around 1235 cm −1 ,ν as (P O)). This ratio shows a linear relation with the molar ratio of detergent of phospholipid, down to as low as 1 to 10. The new method is illustrated in two case studies, viz., tris(hydroxyethyl)ammonium cholate in Na + /K + -ATPase proteoliposomes and n -dodecyl-β-D-maltoside in rhodopsin proteoliposomes.
Structural basis of pH-dependent antibody binding by the neonatal Fc receptor

Background: The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) mediates the transcytosis of maternal immunoglobulin G(IgG) across fetal and/or neonatal tissues for the acquisition of passive immunity. In adults, FcRn is involved in the maintenance of high serum IgG levels. Both processes are mediated by pH-dependent IgG binding to FcRn –FcRn binds to IgG with nanomolar affinity at pH 6, but shows no detectable binding at pH 7.5. At pH 6, FcRn is more thermally stable and the dissociation rate of its light chain is an order of magnitude slower than at pH 8.0. Comparison of the structures of FcRn at pH 6.5 and pH 8 allows an analysis of the structural basis for the receptor's pH-dependent ligand binding and stability. Results: We have determined the structure of FcRn at pH 8 and compared it to a further refined version of the structure at pH 6.5. An extensive ordered carbohydrate structure is observed at both pH values. The two structures are very similar; thus the pH dependence of FcRn stability and affinity for IgG can be attributed to chemical properties of the structures themselves, rather than mechanisms that rely on conformational changes. The pH-dependent properties are mediated by electrostatic interactions involving histidine residues, which are more favorable for the protonated form of histidine that predominates at acidic pH values. Conclusions: No major conformational change is observed between the pH 6.5 and pH 8 structures of FcRn that could account for the differences in affinity for IgG. The pH dependence of IgG binding to FcRn can therefore primarily be attributed to titration of histidine residues on Fc that interact with anionic pockets on the receptor. The FcRn dimer, which is required for high affinity binding of IgG, is itself stabilized at acidic pH by histidine-mediated salt bridges and a sidechain rearrangement that creates a more favorable interaction with an anionic pocket at pH 6.5 relative to pH 8. FcRn dimerization is facilitated by reciprocal interactions in which carbohydrate from one receptor molecule binds to protein residues from the dimer-related receptor molecule to form a ‘carbohydrate handshake’.
PBK/TOPK interacts with the DBD domain of tumor suppressor p53 and modulates expression of transcriptional targets including p21

PBK/TOPK (PDZ-binding kinase, T-LAK-cell-originated protein kinase) is a serine-threonine kinase that is overexpressed in a variety of tumor cells but its role in oncogenesis remains unclear. Here we show, by co-immunoprecipitation experiments and yeast two-hybrid analysis, that PBK/TOPK physically interacts with the tumor suppressor p53 through its DNA-binding (DBD) domain in HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells that express wild-type p53. PBK also binds to p53 mutants carrying five common point mutations in the DBD domain. The PBK-p53 interaction appears to downmodulate p53 transactivation function as indicated by PBK/TOPK knockdown experiments, which show upregulated expression of the key p53 target gene and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 in HCT116 cells, particularly after genotoxic damage from doxorubicin. Furthermore, stable PBK/TOPK knockdown cell lines (derived from HCT116 and MCF-7 cells) showed increased apoptosis, G(2)/M arrest and slower growth as compared to stable empty vector-transfected control cell lines. Gene microarray studies identified additional p53 target genes involved in apoptosis or cell cycling, which were differentially regulated by PBK knockdown. Together, these data suggest that increased levels of PBK/TOPK may contribute to tumor cell development and progression through suppression of p53 function and consequent reductions in the cell-cycle regulatory proteins such as p21. PBK/TOPK may therefore be a valid target for antineoplastic kinase inhibitors to sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis and growth suppression.
Utilization of different soy products as affected by age in chicks

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the utilization of several different soy products at different ages in New Hampshire x Columbian male chicks. Six pens of eight chicks were fed dextrose-protein source diets (23% CP) containing 1 of 10 different protein sources from 0 to 21 d of age. Excreta were collected at 0 to 2, 3 to 4, 7, 14, and 21 d of age, and AMEn and amino acid (AA) digestibility were determined using acid-insoluble ash as a marker. Protein sources evaluated were as follows: Experiment 1--casein, soybean meal (SBM), soy protein concentrate (SPC), and soy protein isolate (SPI); Experiment 2-raw soyflakes, SBM, Williams 82 soybeans, heated Williams 82 soybeans, Kunitz-free soybeans (reduced trypsin inhibitor), lectin-free soybeans, and Kunitz/lectin-free soybeans. In Experiment 1, when comparing the MEn and AA digestibility values among diets at the same age, the ranking (from highest to lowest) for the four diets was casein, SPI, SPC, SBM. The MEn values increased (P < 0.05) with age for all four diets, with the increase being much smaller for the casein diet (3%) than the soy diets (mean increase of 13%). In Experiment 2, the SBM diet yielded the highest (P < 0.05) growth performance, MEn and AA digestibility values. The MEn and AA digestibility values of the Williams 82 soybeans, Kunitz-free soybeans, and lectin-free soybeans diets were much lower than those for the SBM diet. In general, the Kunitz/lectin-free soybeans yielded higher growth performance and MEn values than the Williams 82 soybeans, Kunitz-free soybeans, and lectin-free soybeans. The MEn values increased with age for most diets, and AA digestibility increased with age for the soyflake and Kunitz/ lectin-free soybean diets. Our results suggest there may be some potential benefits of feeding SPC or SPI during the first 1 to 3 wk posthatching and that underprocessed (under heated) soybeans should not be included in the diets of very young chicks.
ESOL Teachers´ Knowledge of Context as Critical Mediator in Curriculum Development.

This article presents findings from the first year of a 3-year qualitative case study investigating teacher knowledge and voice in an ESOL curriculum development project. Participants were nine elementary ESOL teachers, a school district coordinator, and a university researcher. This study engages the strand of research on teacher learning and knowledge that investigates the role of social and institutional context in teacher learning. This context includes both concrete and sociocultural factors: from the number of students and available materials to the values and ideologies that inform policies and practices. Findings indicate that teachers' knowledge of context served as a critical mediator in curriculum development in three principal ways: establishing trust and gaining access, articulating and defining needs and concerns, and identifying and critiquing political factors that affect teachers' work. I argue that contextualizing is a form of teacher praxis, an articulation of the theory-practice dynamic in which teachers consider a range of intricate contextual factors as they work to develop a conceptual framework that will inform their work. These findings can help teacher educators and others understand the role of context in teachers' knowledge production. If teacher educators hope to help ESOL teacher learners succeed in their classrooms and learning communities, they must acknowledge the complexity of those communities and the factors that affect successful negotiation in them.