cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distinct mechanisms of the human mitoribosome recycling and antibiotic resistance.

Ribosomes are recycled for a new round of translation initiation by dissociation of ribosomal subunits, messenger RNA and transfer RNA from their translational post-termination complex. Here we present cryo-EM structures of the human 55S mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome) and the mitoribosomal large 39S subunit in complex with mitoribosome recycling factor (RRFmt) and a recycling-specific homolog of elongation factor G (EF-G2mt). These structures clarify an unusual role of a mitochondria-specific segment of RRFmt, identify the structural distinctions that confer functional specificity to EF-G2mt, and show that the deacylated tRNA remains with the dissociated 39S subunit, suggesting a distinct sequence of events in mitoribosome recycling. Furthermore, biochemical and structural analyses reveal that the molecular mechanism of antibiotic fusidic acid resistance for EF-G2mt is markedly different from that of mitochondrial elongation factor EF-G1mt, suggesting that the two human EF-Gmts have evolved diversely to negate the effect of a bacterial antibiotic. High-resolution cryo-EM structures and biochemical analyses of the human mitoribosome, in complex with mitochondria-specific factors mediating mitoribosome recycling, RRFmt and EF-G2mt, offer insight into mechanisms of mitoribosome recycling and resistance to antibiotic fusidic acid.
Maternal Hyperglycemia Induces Changes in Gene Expression and Morphology in Mouse Placentas.

Background Pregestational diabetes complicates one million pregnancies in the United States and is associated with placental dysfunction. Placental dysfunction can manifest as stillbirth, spontaneous abortions, fetal growth restriction, and preeclampsia in the mother. However, the underlying mechanisms of placental dysfunction are not well understood. Objective We hypothesize that maternal hyperglycemia disrupts cellular processes important for normal vascular development and function. Study Design Hyperglycemia, defined as a non-fasting glucose concentration of >250 mg/dL was induced in eight-week-old female CD1 mice by injecting a one-time intraperitoneal dose of 150mg/kg streptozotocin. Control mice received an equal volume of normal saline. Hyperglycemic and control females were mated with CD-1 males. At Embryonic Day 17.5, the pregnant mice were euthanized. Sixty-eight placentas were harvested from the six euglycemic dams and twenty-six placentas were harvested from three hyperglycemic dams. RNA was extracted from homogenized placental tissue (N=12/group; 2-4 placentas per litter of each group). Total RNA was prepared and sequenced. Differentially expressed genes that were >2-fold change was considered significant. Placentas (9-20/group) were fixed in paraffin wax and sectioned at 6 μm. Cross-sectional areas of placental zones were evaluated using slides stained for hematoxylin and eosin, glycogen, collagen, proliferation and apoptosis. Quantification of staining intensity and percent positive nuclei was done using Leica Image Hub Data software. Data were compared between the control and experimental group using t-tests. Values of p < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results The average maternal blood glucose concentrations for control and diabetic dams were 112+/-24 and 473+/-47 respectively (p<0.0001). A higher rate of resorptions was noted in the hyperglycemia exposed placentas compared to euglycemic exposed placentas (24% vs 7%; p=0.04). A total of 24 RNA libraries (12/group) were prepared. Placentas from hyperglycemic pregnancies exhibited 1374 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The 10 most significantly differentially expressed genes are Filip 1, Prom 2, Fam 78a, Pde4d, Pou3f1, Kcnk5, Dusp4, Cxcr4, Slc6a4 and D430019H16Rik. Their corresponding biologic functions are related to chemotaxis, ossification, cellular and vascular development. Histologically, we found that hyperglycemia exposed placentas demonstrated increased proliferation, apoptosis, and glycogen content and decreased collagen deposition. Conclusion There was a higher rate of resorptions in the pregnancies of hyperglycemic dams. Pregestational diabetes resulted in significant changes in placental morphology, including increased glycogen content in the spongiotrophoblast, decreased collagen deposition, increased apoptosis and proliferation in the junction zone. Maternal diabetes causes widespread disruption in multiple cellular processes important for normal vascular development and sets the platform for placenta dysfunction.
Feasibility of Harmonic Motion Imaging Using a Single Transducer: In Vivo Imaging of Breast Cancer in a Mouse Model and Human Subjects

Harmonic motion imaging (HMI) interrogates the mechanical properties of tissues by simultaneously generating and tracking harmonic oscillation using focused ultrasound and imaging transducers, respectively. Instead of using two transducers, the objective of this work is to develop a single transducer HMI (ST-HMI) to both generate and track harmonic motion at “on-axis” to the force for facilitating data acquisition. In ST-HMI, the amplitude-modulated force was generated by modulating excitation pulse duration and tracking of motion was performed by transmitting tracking pulses interleaved between excitation pulses. The feasibility of ST-HMI was performed by imaging two elastic phantoms with three inclusions (N = 6) and comparing it with acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging, in vivo longitudinal monitoring of 4T1, orthotropic breast cancer mice (N = 4), and patients (N = 3) with breast masses in vivo . Six inclusions with Young’s moduli of 8, 10, 15, 20, 40, and 60 kPa were embedded in a 5 kPa background. The ST-HMI-derived peak-to-peak displacement (P2PD) successfully detected all inclusions with $\text{R}^{2}=0.93$ of the linear regression between the P2PD ratio of background to inclusion versus Young’s moduli ratio of inclusion to background. The contrasts of 10 and 15 kPa inclusions were higher in ST-HMI than ARFI-derived images. In the mouse study, the median P2PD ratio of tumor to non-cancerous tissues was 3.0, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.7 at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks post-injection of the tumor cells, respectively. In the clinical study, ST-HMI detected breast masses including fibroadenoma, pseudo angiomatous stromal hyperplasia, and invasive ductal carcinoma with a P2PD ratio of 1.37, 1.61, and 1.78, respectively. These results indicate that ST-HMI can assess the mechanical properties of tissues via generation and tracking of harmonic motion “on-axis” to the ARF. This study is the first step towards translating ST-HMI in clinics.
Design Vulnerability Analysis

Due to globalization, designs are vulnerable to Trojan insertion at any stage of their development. Third-party intellectual properties (IPs) are pervasive throughout high-level implementation. Their details are not delivered most of the time; therefore, IPs may stealthily deviate from the designers’ determined specifications. Rouge designers or manufacturers far from the design house can tamper with synthesized designs by inserting extra gates or deleting some gates. It is also possible for circuit masks to be manipulated in foundries, changing these circuits’ characteristics. Consequently, analyzing the vulnerability of a circuit to Trojan insertion at different levels is a key step towards trusted-design development [1].
Nonuniform Diffusion of Suspended Sediment

In a recent study, Apmann and Rumer analyzed the nonuniform diffusion of suspended sediment in an open-channel flow. Experiments were performed for the situation in which a uniform open-channel flow enters from a region of rigid bottom to a region of sediment-laden bottom. The gradual development of concentration profiles is studied by measurements across the depth and along the flow direction. Theoretical calculations were also made on the basis of an approximate convective-diffusion equation; and the predicted concentration profiles agreed well with experiments. A numerical method of finite differences was used while the possibility of analytical solutions was apparently overlooked. In view of the significance of their work in extending the validity of the diffusion model for sediment suspensions, it seems worthwhile to present herein an analytical solution by Laplace transform. An approximate formula for the development region is derived from the Laplace inversion integral, which is indistinguishable in accuracy from the computer results.
Aspirin versus acetaminophen: a comparative view.

As we have heard during this conference, there has been a surge in the medical literature during the past few years in the area of acetaminopher overdose. The index of suspicion in the United States prior to 1973 was low, but, judging from case reports and other literature, it is now receiving appropriate concern. For example, the national study reported here, involving treatment of acetaminophen overdose with acetylcysteine, has captured 416 patients in the first 12 months; approximately 25% of these were toxic by plasma acetaminophen level measurements. Clearly, physicians are aware of the problem and are beginning to deal with it in a more appropriate manner. As the British have shown previously, acetaminophen overdoses have correlated directly with the increased availability in the marketplace. In the United States, salicylate has a 71% share of dosage units on the market today, while acetaminophen has a 29% share. Great Britain, with a population about one-fourth that of the United States, has basically the same number of individuals using acetaminophen even though the percentages are reversed, with acetaminophen having a 75% share. There are major economic factors involved in any comparison of salicylate and acetaminophen. While physicians are educated through peerreviewed medical literature, the public is not. Manufacturers of salicylates in this country are clearly aware of the loss of their market share, and the public has been inundated with advertisements. New products such as Bayer Nonaspirin indicate manufacturers9 anxious awareness of the potential market shift in the direction already achieved in Great Britain.
Preventing the Development of Struggling Readers: Comprehension Instruction in the Science Classroom

Comprehension of text is developmental in that it begins with a child’s ability to listen and make sense of language. Though listening comprehension is often the predecessor towards reading comprehension; some children maintain difficulties in listening comprehension throughout schooling and into adulthood. Scaffolding plays an important part of a student’s learning, as teachers can gradually extend a student’s ability to understand texts of increasing difficulty and abstract content. The direct instruction of comprehension strategies such as the think-aloud facilitate the development of listening and reading comprehension simultaneously. This quasi-experimental study investigated the effectiveness of using a think-aloud strategy to improve students’ reading comprehension in science within a kindergarten classroom. Results depict that using think-alouds as a during-reading activity significantly increases a student’s comprehension in science class as compared to the control group. Findings provide relevant information about employing think-alouds as an instructional tool for teachers in the primary grade levels.
Chapter 11 Caveolin Proteins in Cardiopulmonary Disease and Lung Cancers

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses caveolin proteins in cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancers. Three caveolin (Cav) isoforms have been identified in the heart. Cav-3 is found at the myocyte sarcolemmal membrane and within intercalated disks, while Cav-1 and Cav-2 are expressed in the vascular endothelium and cardiac fibroblasts. Caveolin proteins are also highly expressed in the lungs. Although all three caveolin isoforms are identified in the lungs, Cav-1 is found in many cell types of the lungs, such as endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, bronchial epithelial cells, and alveolar type I pneumocytes. Cav-1 plays an important role in the development of the lungs, as its alpha isoform can be detected in primitive pulmonary blood vessels as early as the 10th embryonic day. Two Cav-1 mRNAs, a full-length and a 5' variant, which translate into the alpha and beta isoforms, respectively, can also be detected at embryonic day 12. The chapter also explains cardiopulmonary phenotypes of caveolin-deficient mice.
Celiac syndrome; the relationship of celiac disease, starch intolerance, and steatorrhea.

Summary The classical picture of celiac disease is believed to result from a deficiencyof multiple nutritional factors complicating and resulting from a basic constitutional disease. The steatorrhea of celiac disease is transitory, and with intensive vitamin and dietary therapy it disappears within two months; it is viewed as a complication of celiac disease due to a specific deficiency and comparable in this regard to rickets or scurvy. A consistent and objectively demonstrable characteristic of the basic disease is a deficiency of pancreatic amylase, associated with an excess of starch in the feces when starch is fed and clinical intolerance to dietary starch. In uncomplicated cases the presenting symptom is the occurrence of repeated bouts of diarrhea with large, foul, pale, foamy stools and an enlarged abdomen. These bouts are usually initiated by an upper respiratory infection. The symptoms respond to a diet high in protein, low in starch, and abundant in vitamins. The classical picture of celiac disease with steatorrhea is the result of a multiple deficiency state superimposed on the basic disease under adverse circumstances. An attempt is made to evaluate other phenomena of the disease with respect to whether they are part of the primary defect or a result of secondary nutritional deficiency. There is suggestive evidence that the difficulty in protein metabolism, shown by the high requirement for dietary protein and a tendency to hypoproteinemia on a normal diet, may be an expression of the basic disease.
Comparison of stranded and non-stranded RNA-seq transcriptome profiling and investigation of gene overlap

While RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) is becoming a powerful technology in transcriptome profiling, one significant shortcoming of the first-generation RNA-seq protocol is that it does not retain the strand specificity of origin for each transcript. Without strand information it is difficult and sometimes impossible to accurately quantify gene expression levels for genes with overlapping genomic loci that are transcribed from opposite strands. It has recently become possible to retain the strand information by modifying the RNA-seq protocol, known as strand-specific or stranded RNA-seq. Here, we evaluated the advantages of stranded RNA-seq in transcriptome profiling of whole blood RNA samples compared with non-stranded RNA-seq, and investigated the influence of gene overlaps on gene expression profiling results based on practical RNA-seq datasets and also from a theoretical perspective. Our results demonstrated a substantial impact of stranded RNA-seq on transcriptome profiling and gene expression measurements. As many as 1751 genes in Gencode Release 19 were identified to be differentially expressed when comparing stranded and non-stranded RNA-seq whole blood samples. Antisense and pseudogenes were significantly enriched in differential expression analyses. Because stranded RNA-seq retains strand information of a read, we can resolve read ambiguity in overlapping genes transcribed from opposite strands, which provides a more accurate quantification of gene expression levels compared with traditional non-stranded RNA-seq. In the human genome, it is not uncommon to find genomic loci where both strands encode distinct genes. Among the over 57,800 annotated genes in Gencode release 19, there are an estimated 19 % (about 11,000) of overlapping genes transcribed from the opposite strands. Based on our whole blood mRNA-seq datasets, the fraction of overlapping nucleotide bases on the same and opposite strands were estimated at 2.94 % and 3.1 %, respectively. The corresponding theoretical estimations are 3 % and 3.6 %, well in agreement with our own findings. Stranded RNA-seq provides a more accurate estimate of transcript expression compared with non-stranded RNA-seq, and is therefore the recommended RNA-seq approach for future mRNA-seq studies.
GENETICS OF HEMOGLOBIN IN THE DEER MOUSE, PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS. II. MULTIPLE ALLELES AT REGULATORY LOCI

Deer mice are polymorphic for electrophoretic hemoglobin phenotypes showing one, two, or three bands. Within the multibanded phenotypes, there is considerable variation in the hemoglobin partitioning, defined as the fraction of total hemoglobin made up by the secondary and tertiary bands. In subspecies sonoriensis, for example, hemoglobin partitionings range from 0.03 to 0.38. The inheritance of partitioning values is under remarkably strict genetic control. The genetic variation is additive and the narrow heritability is close to 1.0. The inheritance data can be modeled in precise detail by postulating multiple-allele polymorphisms at globin regulatory loci. Comparison of simulated versus actual inheritance data demonstrates that the so-called null structural alleles actually produce functional globins.—The genetic controls in Peromyscus may be analogous to those in primates. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms effecting the regulation are unknown. Different subspecies of P. maniculatus show strikingly different arrays of partitioning values, but the role of natural selection in maintaining the quantitative polymorphisms remains obscure.
Measurement of blood pressure in the brachial and posterior tibial arteries using the Doppler method

5. Moorhead, P. S., Nowell, P. C., Mellman, W. J., Battips, D. M., and Hungerford, D. A.: Chromosome preparations of leukocytes cultured from human peripheral blood, Exp. Cell Res. 20: 613, 1960. 6. Morishima, A., Grumbach, M. M., and Taylor, J. H.: Asynchronous duplication of human chromosomes and the origin of sex chromatin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 48:1: 756, 1962. 7. O'Riordan, M. L., Robinson, J. A., Buckton, K. E., and Evans, H. J.: Distinguishing between the chromosomes involved in Down's syndrome (trisomy 21) and chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph') by fluorescence, Nature 230: 167, 1971. 8. Uchida, I. A., and Lin, C. C.: Fluorescent staining of human chromosomes: Identification of some common aberrations, Can. Med. Assoc. J. 105: 479, 1971. 9. Federman, D. D., Davidoff, F. M., and OueIlette, E.: Presumptive Y/D translocation in mixed gonadal dysgenesis, J. Med. Genet. 4: 36, 1967. 10. Noel, B., Emerit, I., Luciani, J. M., and Quack, B. A.: A familial Y/autosome translocation in man, Clin. Genet. 2: 1, 1971. 11. Nakagome, Y., Smith, H. D., and Soukup, S. W.: A presumptive Y-autosome translocation in a boy with congenital malformations, Am. J. Dis. Child. 116: 205, 1968. 12. Buhler, E. M., Muller, H., and Stalder, G.: A strongly fluorescing abnormal chromosome in a malformed child, Humangenetik 12: 64, 1971. 13. Jacobs, P.: Structural abnormalities of the sex chromosomes, Br. Med. Bull. 25: 94, 1969. 14. Borgaonkar, D. S., and Hollander, D. H.: Quinacrine flourescence of the human Y chromosome, Nature 230: 52, 1971. 15. Robinson, J. W., and Bfickton, K. E.: Flourescence of variant and abnormal Y chromosomes, Chromosoma 35: 342, 1971.
A Theoretical Formalism for Aggregation of Peroxidized Lipids and Plasma Membrane Stability During Photolysis

The objective of this investigation was to examine, from a theoretical perspective, the mechanism underlying the lysis of plasma membranes by photoinduced, chemically mediated damage such as is found in photolysis. Toward this end, a model is presented which relates the membrane lifetime to the thermodynamic parameters of the membrane components based upon the kinetic theory of aggregate formation. The formalism includes a standard birth/death process for the formation of damaged membrane components (i.e., peroxidized lipids) as well as a terminating condensation process for the formation of aggregates of peroxidized plasma membrane lipids. Our theory predicts that 1) the membrane lifetime is inversely correlated with predicted rate of membrane damage; 2) an upper limit on the duration of membrane damage exists, above which the mean and variance of the membrane lifetime is independent of further membrane damage; and 3) both the mean and variance of the time of membrane lifetime distribution are correlated with the number of sites that may be damaged to form a single membrane defect. The model provides a framework to optimize the lysis of cell membranes by photodynamic therapy.
Multichamber Integrated Deposition System For Silicon Based Dielectric Films

This paper discusses the design and operation of a multichamber integrated processing system with in situ surface analysis capabilities. The system has been designed specifically for the deposition of silicon based dielectric thin films by the process of remote plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor deposition (Remote PECVD), and for the formation of microelectronic device heterostructures. In order to achieve these objectives the system includes the following: (1) two substrate-introduction load-lock chambers; (2) a semiconductor substrate processing chamber; (3) a dielectric deposition chamber, specifically configured for the remote PECVD process; (4) a surface analysis chamber including Reflection High Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES); and (5) inter-chamber substrate transfer in a UHV compatible environment. We will discuss the deposition chamber in some detail and describe the way in which it is designed to meet the requirements for the Remote PECVD process reactions. We also describe an auxiliary deposition/analysis system, which provides both deposition process diagnostics, Mass Spectrometry (MS) and Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES), and thin film deposition by Remote PECVD. These two systems taken together have provided a research capability for: (1) identifying the deposition process reactions; and (2) fabricating elementary microelectronic device structures, such as MOS and/or MIS capacitors.
Pathophysiology of diabetes. A review of selected recent developments and their impact on treatment.

Recent developments in epidemiology, physiology, anatomy and molecular biology have greatly increased our knowledge of the aetiology and immunological mechanisms involved in diabetes mellitus. This understanding has, in turn, facilitated progress in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Language attitudes in an Anglo-Hispanic context: The role of the linguistic landscape

Abstract Using the verbal-guise technique, 190 Anglo and Hispanic adolescents listened to and evaluated a series of Anglo- and Hispanic-accented speakers reading an ethnically neutral radio announcement across a broad range of seven judgmental dimensions. Anglo-accented speakers were evaluated more favorably across all dimensions, although the effect was attenuated for Hispanic raters. The reported linguistic landscape of the raters was also investigated to determine its role in predicting language attitudes. While this had no effect on Anglo raters, the linguistic landscape significantly affected Hispanic ratings; the more Spanish the perceived local climate (e.g., in terms of road signs, media available), the less favorably Anglo-accented speakers were rated, whereas the more English their perceived landscape, the more favorably Anglo speakers were rated.
Enhanced Monitoring Improves Pediatric Transport Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: The “golden-hour” concept has led to emphasis on speed of patient delivery during pediatric interfacility transport. Timely intervention, in addition to enhanced monitoring during transport, is the key to improved outcomes in critically ill patients. Taking the ICU to the patient may be more beneficial than rapid delivery to a tertiary care center. METHODS: The Improved Monitoring During Pediatric Interfacility Transport trial was the first randomized controlled trial in the out-of-hospital pediatric transport environment. It was designed to determine the impact of improved blood pressure monitoring during pediatric interfacility transport and the effect on clinical outcomes in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and moderate-to-severe head trauma. Patients in the control group had their blood pressure monitored intermittently with an oscillometric device; those in the intervention group had their blood pressure monitored every 12 to 15 cardiac contractions with a near-continuous, noninvasive device. RESULTS: Between May 2006 and June 2007, 1995, consecutive transport patients were screened, and 94 were enrolled (48 control, 46 intervention). Patients in the intervention group received more intravenous fluid (19.8 ± 22.2 vs 9.9 ± 9.9 mL/kg; P = .01), had a shorter hospital stay (6.8 ± 7.8 vs 10.9 ± 13.4 days; P = .04), and had less organ dysfunction (18 of 206 vs 32 of 202 PICU days; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Improved monitoring during pediatric transport has the potential to improve outcomes of critically ill children. Clinical trials, including randomized controlled trials, can be accomplished during pediatric transport. Future studies should evaluate optimal equipment, protocols, procedures, and interventions during pediatric transport, aimed at improving the clinical and functional outcomes of critically ill patients.
Hepatic glutathione S-transferase activity and aflatoxin B1-induced enzyme altered foci in rats fed fractions of brussels sprouts

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the liver cytosol detoxication enzymes, glutathione S-transferases (GSTases) as well as gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) foci induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB) were changed by feeding weanling rats diets containing brussels sprouts, a glucosinolate fraction of brussels sprouts (extract), or a non-glucosinolate fraction (residue). All 3 of these diets induced high levels of hepatic GSTase specific activity as compared to purified-basal diet fed control rats. The brussels sprouts and the extract treatments, but not the residue dietary treatment, inhibited hepatic GGT foci induced by AFB. Thus, glucosinolates and non-glucosinolate fractions of brussels sprouts induce hepatic enzymes involved in detoxication mechanisms but the non-glucosinolate compound(s) apparently are not involved in all chemical carcinogen metabolic processes.
Erythema multiforme-like eruptions associated with etretinate therapy.

Summary Mucocutaneous side-effects from etretinate are common and are usually dose-dependent, whereas hypersensitivity drug eruptions are rare. Two patients are described in whom erythema multiforme-like eruptions appeared several days after oral intake of etretinate. In one patient etretinate rechallenge again produced the skin eruption. A brief review of the less common skin manifestations of etretinate therapy is provided.
THE EFFECTS OF PATIENT EDUCATION ON PATIENT COGNITION AND DISEASE-RELATED ANXIETY

A rheumatoid arthritis patient education program was developed with objectives of increasing patient knowledge base and improving health status. Forty-six rheumatoid arthritis outpatients entered a three-session multidisciplinary education program. Each client was given a cognitive test and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS) before, immediately after, and at remote follow-up. Data were analyzed to determine the effect of age and disease duration on clients' ability to benefit from group education. The effect of the program on physical and psychosocial parameters was also assessed. There was a significant increase in average cognitive scores between pre- and post-tests which remained at one month follow-up testing. Pre-test cognitive scores correlated positively with disease duration. At immediate post-test a correlation between anxiety scores and physical parameters was seen, which was not present on pre- or follow-up testing. No correlation was found between increase in cognitive scores and overall health status. Multivariate analysis of the AIMS test showed significant improvement in total health score at remote testing. Depression scores significantly improved from post to remote follow-up testing. This study suggests that one 'side effect' of patient education may be a transient worsening of psychological status in patients with greatest disease involvement.
A simple derivation of the coding theorem and some applications

Upper bounds are derived on the probability of error that can be achieved by using block codes on general time-discrete memoryless channels. Both amplitude-discrete and amplitude-continuous channels are treated, both with and without input constraints. The major advantages of the present approach are the simplicity of the derivations and the relative simplicity of the results; on the other hand, the exponential behavior of the bounds with block length is the best known for all transmission rates between 0 and capacity. The results are applied to a number of special channels, including the binary symmetric channel and the additive Gaussian noise channel.
Virulence and competitive ability in an obligately killing parasite

Mixed infections are thought to have a major influence on the evolution of parasite virulence. During a mixed infection, higher within-host parasite growth is favored under the assumption that it is critical to the competitive success of the parasite. As within-host parasite growth may also increase damage to the host, a positive correlation is predicted between virulence and competitive success. However, when parasites must kill their hosts in order be transmitted, parasites may spend energy on directly attacking their host, even at the cost of their within-host growth. In such systems, a negative correlation between virulence and competitive success may arise. We examined virulence and competitive ability in three sympatric species of obligately killing nematode parasites in the genus Steinernema. These nematodes exist in a mutualistic symbiosis with bacteria in the genus Xenorhabdus. Together the nematodes and their bacteria kill the insect host soon after infection, with reproduction of both species occurring mainly after host death. We found significant differences among the three nematode species in the speed of host killing. The nematode species with the lowest and highest levels of virulence were associated with the same species of Xenorhabdus, indicating that nematode traits, rather than the bacterial symbionts, may be responsible for the differences in virulence. In mixed infections, host mortality rate closely matched that associated with the more virulent species, and the more virulent species was found to be exclusively transmitted from the majority of coinfected hosts. Thus, despite the requirement of rapid host death, virulence appears to be positively correlated with competitive success in this system. These findings support a mechanistic link between parasite growth and both anti-competitor and anti-host factors.
Cl- channels in basolateral TAL membranes. XIV. Kinetic properties of a basolateral MTAL Cl- channel

Cl - channels in basolateral TAL membranes. XIV. Kinetic properties of a basolateral MTAL Cl - channel. Background This article reports studies on the kinetics of chloride (Cl - ) conductance in Cl - channels fused into bilayers from basolaterally enriched vesicles from rabbit outer medulla. A considerable body of evidence indicates that these channels represent rbClC-Ka, a 77kDa kidney-specific protein of the ClC family of Cl - channels. rbClC-Ka, a candidate channel for mediating net Cl - absorption in the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL), has been cloned from rabbit outer medulla and localized by immunofluorescence to basolateral membranes of the MTAL. Thus, this is the first account, to our knowledge, of the kinetics of ion permeation through a renal Cl - channel mediating net basolateral Cl - absorption in the thick ascending limb of Henle (TALH), and this channel may represent rbClC-Ka. Methods The electrophysiological properties of these channels were studied by fusing basolaterally enriched MTAL vesicles into planar bilayer membranes. Results Cl - conductance through these channels was concentration dependent and saturable. The relationship between g Cl (pS) and symmetrical aqueous Cl - concentrations could be expressed in terms of the Michaelis equation with a limiting conductance (G max Cl , pS) of 114pS at infinitely high aqueous Cl - concentrations and a K 1/2 of 163mm Cl - . A log-log plot of the conductance-Cl - concentration relations, in the nonsaturating Cl - concentration range, had a slope of 0.91, that is, virtually unity. The relatively impermeant anion I - produced a voltage-dependent conductance blockade that could be overcome at high electric field strengths. Conclusions The experimental data described earlier here fulfill the traditional criteria for a first-order process with a single Cl - ion occupying these channels at a given time. Although the channels may contain multiple ion binding sites, the latter function, in integral kinetic terms, as a single rate-limiting locus.
Learning on the Job: Understanding the Cooperative Education Work Experience

Cooperative learning programs in Ontario provide on the job learning experiences for students. This paper analyzes three cases of student work placements described in extensive interviews with students, teachers and co-workers. Some students had enjoyed their work experience while others had not. When the student experiences were situated in the socially organized work processes of the work sites, the diverse experiences were found to have a common theme. When students are able to participate in and make sense of the work process, their work placement experience was seen to be useful for making future employment decisions. Where students were marginal to the work process, their lack of knowledge often translates into an unpleasant work experience and decisions about employment based on an experience of failure. This article suggests that our understanding of student learning on the job would be strengthened by a focus on the socially organized work process.
Evaluation of the effects of hydrodissection with antimitotics using a rabbit model of Soemmering's ring formation.

Background: Regeneration/proliferation of lens material within the capsular bag still is the most frequent complication after cataract surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effects of hydrodissection with low doses of antimitotics on the overall regeneration/proliferation of lens material in rabbit eyes, using a model allowing the lens material to be confined to the equatorial region of the capsular bag, facilitating its quantification. Methods: Twelve albino rabbits underwent bilateral phacoemulsification. Their eyes were randomized to receive 0.4 cc of balanced salt solution, 5-fluorouracil (12.5 mg/mL) or mitomycin C (0.1 mg/mL) during hydrodissection. They were left aphakic, so the capsulorhexis would fuse with the posterior capsule postoperatively. After 4 weeks, killing/enucleation was performed. Regeneration/proliferation of lens material within the equatorial capsular bag (Soemmering’s ring) was graded from the Miyake–Apple view (0–4). Its area was also calculated (µm2) from direct measurements performed on histological sections. Results: The capsulorhexis margin fused with the peripheral posterior capsule, so the central posterior capsule remained clear. There was no significant difference among the groups (Kruskal–Wallis test) regarding Soemmering’s ring gross grading (P = 0.511), number of lens epithelial cell layers lining the inner surface of the capsular bag (P = 0.310) and Soemmering’s ring microscopic cross-sectional area (P = 0.638). Conclusions: The effect of different solutions on after-cataract should be assessed in terms of overall regeneration/proliferation of lens material within the capsular bag, in addition to posterior capsule opacification. When administered in low doses during hydrodissection, 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C did not show a significant inhibitory effect on after-cataract formation in rabbit eyes.
Mixed Convection in a Horizontal Porous Duct With a Sudden Expansion and Local Heating From Below

Results are reported for an experimental and numerical study of forced and mixed convective heat transfer in a liquid-saturated horizontal porous duct. The cross section of the duct has a sudden expansion with a heated region on the lower surface downstream and adjacent to the expansion. Within the framework of Darcy`s formulation, the calculated and measured Nusselt numbers for 0.1 < Pe < 100 and 50 < Ra < 500 are in excellent agreement. Further, the calculated Nusselt numbers are very close to those for the bottom-heated flat duct. This finding has important implications for convective heat and mass transfer in geophysical systems and porous matrix heat exchangers. The calculations were also carried out for glass bead-packed beds saturated with water using non-Darcy`s formula. The streamlines in the forced convection indicate that, even with non-Darcy effects included, recirculation is not observed downstream of an expansion and the heat transfer rate is decreased but only marginally.
Incidence of Heart Failure or Cardiomyopathy After Adjuvant Trastuzumab Therapy for Breast Cancer

Objectives The purpose of this study was to estimate heart failure (HF) and cardiomyopathy (CM) rates after adjuvant trastuzumab therapy and chemotherapy in a population of older women with early-stage breast cancer. Background Newer biologic therapies for breast cancer such as trastuzumab have been reported to increase HF and CM in clinical trials, especially in combination with anthracycline chemotherapy. Elderly patients, however, typically have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and have been underrepresented in trastuzumab clinical trials. Methods Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data from 2000 through 2007, we identified women 67 to 94 years of age with early-stage breast cancer. We calculated 3-year incidence rates of HF or CM for the following mutually exclusive treatment groups: trastuzumab (with or without nonanthracycline chemotherapy), anthracycline plus trastuzumab, anthracycline (without trastuzumab and with or without nonanthracycline chemotherapy), other nonanthracycline chemotherapy, or no adjuvant chemotherapy or trastuzumab therapy. HF or CM events were ascertained from administrative Medicare claims. Poisson regression was used to quantify risk of HF or CM, adjusting for sociodemographic factors, cancer characteristics, and cardiovascular conditions. Results We identified 45,537 older women (mean age: 76.2 years, standard deviation: 6.2 years) with early-stage breast cancer. Adjusted 3-year HF or CM incidence rates were higher for patients receiving trastuzumab (32.1 per 100 patients) and anthracycline plus trastuzumab (41.9 per 100 patients) compared with no adjuvant therapy (18.1 per 100 patients, p Conclusions HF or CM are common complications after trastuzumab therapy for older women, with higher rates than those reported from clinical trials.
Telepractice Experiences in a University Training Clinic

Telepractice is a rapidly growing means of providing remote speech-language pathology and audiology services to clients. The primary advantage of telepractice in speech-language therapy is that it ...
Advanced technology and the Space Shuttle /10th Von Karman Lecture/.

Selected topics in technology advancement related to the space shuttle are examined. Contributions from long-range research prior to the advent of the 'shuttle-focused technology program' of the past 3 years are considered together with highlights from the latter. Attention is confined to three of the shuttle's seven principal technology areas: aerothermodynamics/configurations, dynamics/aeroelasticity, and structures/materials. Some observations are presented on the shuttle's origin, the need to sustain advanced research, and future systems that could emerge from a combination of shuttle and non-shuttle technology advancements.
Factors associated with serum leptin in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background and aims: Serum leptin levels are elevated in patients with kidney failure. Data on the associations of serum leptin and on the relationship of leptin with both kidney function and inflammation, are limited in patients with reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We evaluated the independent associations of serum leptin in patients with reduced GFR. Material and methods: Serum leptin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in samples from 798 participants of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study. Multivariable analysis was used to evaluate the independent effects of kidney function and CRP on leptin levels. Results: Median (interquartile range) of serum leptin was 9.1 ng/ml (14.0). Female gender, higher percent body fat, higher insulin levels, older age, lower GFR and higher CRP were associated with higher serum leptin levels and explained 51% of the variability in the logarithm of serum leptin levels. After adjusting for the other variables, a 10 ml/min/1.73 m 2 lower GFR was associated with 6% higher mean serum leptin levels. Percent body fat and gender, explained 45% of the variability in serum leptin levels. Conclusions: Level of kidney function and CRP are associated with serum leptin in patients with reduced GFR. However, there is a stronger association between serum leptin and indices of body fat and gender in patients in the earlier stages of chronic kidney disease. 50% of the variability remains unexplained in patients with reduced GFR.
Videoendoscopic evaluation of the mare's uterus: III. Findings in the pregnant mare.

Summary During a 5-year period 65 Pony and 20 Thoroughbred pregnant mares were subjected to videoendoscopic hysteroscopy from 10 to 266 days of gestation. The aims of these examinations were to 1) observe foetal and placental development in vivo (60 Pony and 10 Thoroughbred mares); 2) eliminate one of unicornuate twin conceptuses (9 Thoroughbred mares); 3) recover embryonic foetal and placental tissues non-surgically for experimental purposes (47 Pony mares); 4) induce focal separation of the placenta in late gestation as an experimental model of placentitis (5 pony mares and 1 Thoroughbred mare). It was possible to view the embryo and all constituent extra-embryonic membranes of the conceptus between Days 10 and 87 of gestation without having to perforate the allantochorion. This allowed study of physiological processes such as the coordinated uterine contractions responsible for conceptus motility between Days 7 and 17, active foetal movements, which began as early as Day 34, and invasion of chorionic girdle cells into the endometrium, which occurred between Days 34 and 38. From Day 90, vision of the foetus was reduced or prevented by the increased thickness of the allantochorion. Transendoscopic recovery of the conceptus was successful in all of 10 mares under 30 days of gestation, whereas only 10 of 18 attempts between Days 30 and 45 produced the conceptus without resorting to uterine lavage after initial rupture of the allantochorion. All 9 attempts to eliminate one of unilateral twin conceptuses were unsuccessful and the technique was abandoned as clinically unsuitable. Nevertheless, 9 of 22 (41%) single conceptuses remained viable after one or more hysteroscopic examinations. This did not seem to be influenced by a variety of anti-abortion treatments administered.
The thermodynamics of hydrogen and hydrogen-methane mixtures

Thermodynamic perturbation theory is applied to the calculation of the thermodynamics of hydrogen and hydrogen-X mixtures. Quantum corrections to O(ℏ2) are included, and perturbation methods are used to estimate the mean squared torque and mean squared force on a molecule. These methods are tested by comparison with molecular dynamics results for the hydrogen model used in the theory. The theoretical calculations show that the method is satisfactory for temperatures above 80–130 K, the precise temperature depending on the density and property considered. Comparisons are made with experimental data for pure hydrogen and for hydrogen-methane mixtures.
Mannosylation of glycoproteins and dolichol derivatives in fibroblasts from patients with cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Increased incorporation of mannose into endogenous glycoprotein fractions has been found in whole cell lysates and crude membrane preparations of cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with cystic fibrosis (1.3–2.3-times normal) when GDP[14C]mannose served as the mannosyl donor. In contrast, the incorporation of mannose from GDPmannose into lipid fractions containing dolichol phosphate and dolichol pyrophosphate oligosaccharides as well as the incorporation of mannose from dolichol phospho[3H]mannose into both glycoproteins and dolichol derivatives were not significantly different among cell preparations from patients with cystic fibrosis and normal controls. Mannosyltransferase activity toward exogenous glycoproteins as well as the activities of soluble and membranous α-mannosidase and β-mannosidase appeared to be normal and could not account for the observed differences. The altered incorporation of mannose into endogenous glycoprotein may reflect changes in glycosylation processes other than mannosylation.
Faraday Rotation Effect in Extragalactic Radio Sources

Cooper and Price1 have shown that the polarization of radio emission measured at three different points in the radio source Centaurus A rotated progressively with increasing wave-length. They found the rate of rotation to be proportional to the square of the wave-length. This fact suggested to Cooper and Price a direct explanation in terms of Faraday rotation in a magneto-ionic medium. Recently, Gardner and Whiteoak2 measured the polarization of 18 radio sources at different wave-lengths in order to investigate whether Faraday rotation was present. All the sources showed the quadratic dependence of polarization position-angle on wave-length characteristic of Faraday effect. In the discussion of their results, Gardner and Whiteoak suggested the possibility that some of the Faraday rotation occurs in our Galaxy (Fig. 1 in ref. 2).
The role of phospholipase C and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation.

Abstract Background Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration both contribute to the formation of intimal hyperplasia. Phospholipase C (PLC) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) are ubiquitous signaling proteins that mediate multiple cellular events. In this study, we investigate the role of PLC and PI3-K in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and extracellular matrix protein (ECM) induced SMC proliferation and migration. Material and methods Proliferation of human saphenous vein SMC was assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation. SMC migration was evaluated using a microchemotaxis chamber. U-73122 was used as a general inhibitor for PLC, and D609 and ET-18-OCH3, respectively, were used to block the isotypes of PLC, phosphatidylcholine- (PC-), and phosphatidylinositol- (PI-) specific PLC. PI3-K activity was inhibited using two selective inhibitors, LY-294002 and wortmannin. Results PDGF and Type 1 collagen (CN-I) stimulated SMC proliferation, whereas PDGF and four distinct extracellular matrix proteins CN-I, Type 4 collagen (CN-IV), fibronectin (FN), and laminin (LN) stimulated SMC migration. Both isotypes of PLC as well as PI3-K were necessary for PDGF- and CN-I-induced proliferation. Signaling for migration, however, was more specific. Of the various signaling proteins studied, only PI-PLC was necessary for PDGF-induced SMC migration. Conversely, PI3-K was the only signaling protein necessary for SMC migration in response to ECM proteins. Conclusion The signaling pathways necessary for PDGF- and CN-I-induced SMC proliferation involve both isotypes of PLC as well as PI3-K. The signaling pathways used by growth factors and ECM to stimulate SMC migration are more selective. Understanding the intracellular signaling pathways required for SMC proliferation and migration may allow the development of tools to selectively block intimal hyperplasia.