cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of intraprostatic metabolism of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) using a microdialysis technique

Abstract Objectives. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) inhibits prostate cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. We used a prostate microdialysis technique to better understand the intraprostatic pharmacokinetics of calcitriol, which in turn would facilitate planning for systemic calcitriol therapy in patients with prostate cancer. Methods. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 5 μg of calcitriol intravenously. Animals were either intact (group 1, n = 6) or castrated (group 2, n = 3). Prostate microdialysis was performed by perfusing Krebs solution through a 5-mm linear probe. Effluents were collected hourly from 0 to 20 hours or until death. Serum was collected at baseline and at the end of the experiment. Serum was also obtained from untreated rats at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after intraperitoneal injection of calcitriol. Calcitriol levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results. The average baseline intraprostatic level of calcitriol in prostate dialysate in intact rats was 21.1 pg/mL (±7.5); it was 88 pg/mL (±98.4) after calcitriol administration. In castrated animals, the values were 16.6 pg/mL (±5.3) and 25.3 pg/mL (±10.7). Two peaks in intraprostatic calcitriol levels were observed after intravenous administration: at less than 6 hours after injection and at more than 13 hours after injection. The mean total calcitriol exposure (area under the concentration versus time curve) in the prostate was 297.6 (±159) pg/hr/mL (intact) and 272.7 (±123.6) pg/hr/mL (castrated). The baseline serum levels were 0.1 to 1 ng/mL and reached a peak of more than 100 ng/mL within 1 hour of intraperitoneal injection. Conclusions. This technique permits real-time measurement of intraprostatic pharmacokinetics of calcitriol. The ratio of the intraprostatic area under the concentration versus time curve to the serum area under the concentration versus time curve of calcitriol was less than 1:100. Hence, within 24 hours of calcitriol administration, only a fraction (less than 1%) of the serum level is detectable in prostatic tissue. A bimodal peak in intraprostatic calcitriol levels is observed. This technique could be used to determine the tissue levels of calcitriol more accurately and to conduct additional studies to better elucidate the effects of castration on the intraprostatic pharmacokinetics of calcitriol.
Abstract 1261: Targeting IL-11Rα inhibits osteosarcoma pulmonary metastasis in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Osteosarcoma is the most common primary tumor of bones. In the past three decades treatment paradigms and survival rates have not improved. While osteosarcoma clinical phenotype has been well characterized, the underlying tumor molecular biology remains unclear. We have previously demonstrated that IL-11Rα is overexpressed in primary and metastatic osteosarcoma. Recently investigators identified that IL-11 and IL-11Rα play a role in the development of metastasis in breast and gastrointestinal cancer. However the role of IL-11/IL-11Rα signaling in osteosarcoma is unknown. Using in vitro and in vivo osteosarcoma models we investigated the role of IL-11/IL-11Rα in osteosarcoma metastasis. The purpose of our study is to determine the effect of the knockdown of IL-11Rα in osteosarcoma. We stably knocked down IL-11Rα expression in a highly metastatic osteosarcoma cell line, using a lentiviral short hair-pin (shRNA) based approach. Knockdown of IL-11Rα led to inhibition of STAT-3(Tyr705) protein phosphorylation, cell growth, migration, invasion and colony formation in vitro. To determine the role of IL-11Rα in osteosarcoma tumorigeniesis and metastasis, we used an orthotopic metastatic model. In this model, mice injected with KRIB-IL-11Rα shRNA cells developed significantly less metastasis than control mice injected with KRIB control shRNA (P<0.01). The relevance of our data to human conditions was studied by immunohistochemical staining of IL-11Rα protein in human osteosarcoma biopsy samples containing primary tumor and lesions, significant difference (p<0.01) in expression distribution between primary and metastatic osteosarcoma lesions and a trend toward an impact on survival was noted. In conclusion, we showed that IL-11Rα plays an important role in the development of metastasis in osteosarcoma and blockade of this axis may inhibit the formation of metastasis and may provide an excellent target for the treatment of osteosarcoma. Citation Format: Valerae O. Lewis, Eswaran Devarajan, Dennis PM Hughes. Targeting IL-11Rα inhibits osteosarcoma pulmonary metastasis in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1261. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1261
Estimates of particle formation and growth in coal-fired boiler exhaust—I. Observations

Abstract Data collected in plumes from coal-fired cyclone boilers are examined to determine particle formation and growth. The emphasis is on fine particles (diameters of 0.2–2 m) most likely to influence plume opacity. For the boilers examined, these particles consist primarily of water-sulfuric acid droplets formed from emitted SO 3 . Observations in plumes from SO 2 -scrubbed and non-scrubbed boilers, under various operating conditions (with different coal types and SO 3 control methods), are used to interpret the influence of operating conditions on plume opacity. Results suggest that the plume particle size distribution is a complex function of boiler operating conditions. Particle concentrations in the critical size range affecting opacity do vary with the magnitude of SO 3 emissions, but absolute concentrations are generally less than expected. These data provide the basis for testing, as described in a companion paper, the performance of a plume particle model.
CARBOHYDRATE CHANGES WITHIN THE NEEDLES OF PINUS PONDEROSA AND PSEUDOTSUGA TAXIFOLIA.

The ability of most coniferous trees and of certain other plants to retain their foliage over several seasons has attracted considerable attention among botantists. This interest is especially keen concerning those plants subjected to extremely cold winters, and which, with rare exceptions, must possess the property of cold resistance, at least during the actual duration of the periods of subzero temperatures. It has long been known, even by the layman, that such coniferous needles are not, in general, resistant to cold during the warmer months of the year. Consistent studies of the seasonal variations in the physiology of a plant, as well as parallel studies of the variations in the habitat-factors, are necessary to reach an understanding of that species' ability to survive under the environmental conditions representing a given habitat. It has long been recognized that the polysaccharides in leaves, under certain climatic conditions, are converted into the simpler saccharides, and vice versa, by what appears to be the shifting of an equilibrium by means of enzymatic activities. These seasonal variations in the amount and chemical nature of food reserves in the cells of evergreen leaves are in themselves of physiological significance. Although many workers have contributed much important data on this subject, including carbohydrate, osmotic pressure, and pH measurements, our actual information is still fragmentary. This problem was undertaken to ascertain the quantitative fluctuations of various classes of carbohydrates in Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga taxifolia needles throughout the more or less dormant season, and to determine a possible relationship between the saccharide fluctuations and the temperature changes.
New Evidence on Youth Smoking Behavior based on Experimental Price Increases

The high youth smoking prevalence remains an important public policy challenge into the 21st century. This study applies a unique approach to analyzing the impact of cigarette prices on youth smoking cessation by evaluating reactions among high school students to several alternative hypothetical price increases. It concludes that many young smokers believe that they would quit smoking or decrease their smoking intensity in response to a cigarette price increase. The estimated price elasticity of cessation is between 0.930 and 0.895. The results indicate that youth expect to change their smoking behavior even when the price change is relatively small. However, the behavioral change is most dramatic among those exposed to the largest price increases, suggesting a sustained impact of higher price on cigarette consumption. (JEL I18)
Magnetic resonance imaging-based relationships between neck muscle cross-sectional area and neck circumference for adults and children

Background Computer models and human surrogates used to study the forces and motion of the human neck under various loading conditions are based solely on adult data. Pediatric computer models and dummy surrogates used to improve the safety of children could be improved with the inclusion of previously unavailable pediatric muscle data.
Optimal design of piezoelectric materials for vibration damping in mechanical systems

This paper examines two different techniques for vibration control in mechanical systems using piezoceramics: the first one is based on a pure collocated damping control and the second uses resonant circuit shunting. Optimization techniques are used to determine the best design parameters with respect to performance indexes, which are associated with the dynamical behavior of the system, when several natural frequencies are present in the frequency band. The methodology presented in this paper is focused on the design aspects of vibration control devices and it can be extended to more complex structures.
Improving the Odds Through the Collaboration Success Wizard.

Collaboration has become a dominant mode of scientific inquiry, and good collaborative processes are important for ensuring scientific quality and productivity. Often, the participants in these collaborations are not collocated, yet distance introduces challenges. There remains a need for evaluative tools that can identify potential collaboration problems early and provide strategies for managing and addressing collaboration issues. This paper introduces a new research and diagnostic tool, the Collaboration Success Wizard (CSW), and provides two case studies of its use in evaluating ongoing collaborative projects in the health sciences. The CSW is designed both to validate and refine existing theory about the factors that encourage successful collaboration and to promote good collaborative practices in geographically distributed team-based scientific projects. These cases demonstrate that the CSW can promote reflection and positive change in collaborative science.
APS Response to Nonspherical Particles and Experimental Determination of Dynamic Shape Factor

A method to determine the dynamic shape factor of an aerosol from cascade impactor and aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) distribution measurements is presented and demonstrated. The response of the TSI, Inc., APS to nonspherical, porous particles is derived after the fashion of Wang and John. This method does not require microscopy or chemical analytical techniques and as such is an improvement over previous methods. *This work was supported by the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and was performed at Sandia National Laboratories, which is operated for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract Number DE-AC04-76DP00789.
Outpatient Care: The Modern Chaplains' New Impact in Healthcare Reform

(1994). Outpatient Care: The Modern Chaplains' New Impact in Healthcare Reform. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 83-108.
The dual nature of the supernova remnant G351.2 + 0.1

The Galactic SNR G351.2 + 0.1 has been imaged at frequencies of 1.4, 5, and 15 GHz. The images reveal a source composed of two distinct components: a broken elongated shell measuring 4 x 6 arcmin and a central core about 15 arcsec in diameter. The two components are spectrally distinct. The shell has a nonthermal spectrum (alpha = -0.4) typical for Galactic SNRs, while the central core has an inverted spectrum (alpha = +0.27). The central core may be an analog of the Crab Nebula (a synchrotron nebula powered by a pulsar), but if so it is not typical of such objects.
Acute limb ischemia secondary to myositis-induced compartment syndrome in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Myositis, while uncommon, develops more frequently in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. We report a case of acute lower leg ischemia caused by myositis in such a patient. Urgent four-compartment fasciotomy of the lower leg was performed, which decompressed the compartmental hypertension and reversed the arterial ischemia. This case underscores the importance of recognizing compartment syndrome as a cause of acute limb ischemia.
A note on income tax evasion, labor supply, and nonlinear tax schedules

Abstract The existing literature on income tax evasion lays claim to two important implications: one is that higher tax rates induce greater income declarations and the other is that increases in gross income induce a fall in the fraction of income declared. The purpose of this paper is to examine the robustness of these results with respect to three modifications of the standard model. The first involves relaxing the assumption of linear income tax schedules. The second modification is to consider an alternative form for the penalty function. Thirdly, we consider the consequences of the tax payer making a joint hours of work-income declaration decision.
A study of visualization and addiction treatment

Using a quasiexperimental design, in an intensive outpatient chemical dependency treatment program, this research compared a psychoeducational addiction treatment group with an intervention that combined progressive relaxation and visualization in a group setting. The progressive relaxation and visualization treatment consisted of six hour-long sessions that replaced psychoeducation treatment groups over the space of a 3-week period. The visualization group and the psychoeducation treatment groups were compared via pretest and posttest instruments to examine the impact of treatments on levels of emotional arousal, self-efficacy, and coping resources. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Situational Confidence Questionnaire (SCQ), and the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) were used as part of the standardized measures. A total of 76 participants were involved in this study, which was conducted over an 8-month period. (As they entered treatment, participants were assigned to groups in a fashion that would maintain equivalency of group size.) Statistical tests determined that the nonrandomly assigned treatment groups were not significantly different from each other at the outset of the treatment interventions, t-tests and multivariate analysis of variance and covariance (MANOVA/MANCOVA) were used to examine the results of the study. The t-tests revealed that there were significant pretest/posttest differences (p < .05) for both groups on almost all the dependent measures. MANCOVA, using pretest levels of the dependent measures as the covariate, did not reveal significant differences between the two groups (i.e., both groups showed equal levels of improvement on the posttest measures). Also, there were outcome differences for individuals who achieved greater degrees of relaxation and increased involvement in visualization session. In conclusion, both psychoeducation and visualization treatments were equally effective in producing positive effects. Although there is little empirical research that evaluates the effectiveness of psychoeducation treatment provided by chemical dependency treatment programs, these findings support that psychoeducation treatment is producing positive treatment effects. Further research is needed to assess the incremental benefit of using visualization as an adjunct to psychoeducation treatment.
Frequently asked questions by hospitalists managing pain in adults with sickle cell disease

Pain is the predominant medical presentation to hospitalists for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Dramatic treatment gains of SCD in childhood have resulted in more adults now requiring hospitalization than children. This has created new challenges to improve the quality of hospital care for SCD. The evidence base for pain management in SCD is lacking. We therefore offer some evidence and our informed opinion to answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) about pain management by hospitalists caring for adults with SCD. The most common questions center around defining a crisis; selecting and managing opioids; distinguishing between opioid tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction or misuse; determining appropriateness of discharge; and avoiding lengthy or recurrent hospitalizations. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011. © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Spectral response and propagational instability for pump-probe propagation in a two-level medium.

The interaction of a strong nearly resonant cw pump laser and a weak cw probe laser in a medium consisting of two-level atoms was studied by numerical integration of the Maxwell-Bloch equations. With propagation into the optically thick medium, the numerically calculated probe gain spectrum deviates substantially from one calculated by a four-wave-mixing formulation of coupled-wave theory with an undepleted pump. For probe frequencies inside the modified gain region, the laser field, initially in an unstable steady-state condition, evolves to a stable solution of the sine-Gordon equation.
Scattering of Low-Energy Electrons by Excited Sodium Atoms Using a Photon and Electron Atomic Beam Recoil Technique

A new method for measuring cross sections for the scattering of electrons by laser-excited atoms is described. It is a generalization of the atomic-beam recoil technique, taking advantage of the recoil of atoms during resonant photon interactions to spatially separate excited from nonexcited atoms. A preliminary value for the total cross section for the scattering of electrons by the 3/sup 2/P/sub 3///sub 2/(m/sub F/=3) state of sodium at 4.4 eV is presented. (AIP)
Analytical and physical modeling program for the NASA Lewis Research Center's Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT)

An effort is currently underway at the NASA Lewis Research Center to rehabilitate and extend the capabilities of the Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT). This extended capability will include a maximum test section Mach number of about 0.9 at an altitude of 55,000 ft and a -20 F stagnation temperature (octagonal test section, 20 ft across the flats). In addition, the AWT will include an icing and acoustic research capability. In order to insure a technically sound design, an AWT modeling program (both analytical and physical) was initiated to provide essential input to the AWT final design process. This paper describes the modeling program, including the rationale and criteria used in program definition, and presents some early program results.
Power Ratings for NCAA Division II Football

There is an abundance of entities that disseminate power ratings for NCAA Division I-A and I-AA football teams. This is not true for the NCAA Division II level. Statistical data on all NCAA Divisions II football games for two years were examined to develop a rating system. Several statistical techniques were performed on the data. Ultimately, the ratings were based on won-lost percentage, margin of victory, strength of schedule, and quality wins. Results are given for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Ratings for the 2002 season for Divisions I-A and I-AA are also given using the techniques developed.
Nonlinear Cord‐rubber Composites

Abstract An analytical method is proposed for the prediction of load‐deflection and stress‐strain relations in two‐dimensional elastomeric composites where the properties are highly nonlinear. Such materials are represented by various textile cords used as reinforcements in a rubber matrix. The analytical procedure involves a forward prediction process for simultaneous nonlinear equations and can readily be implemented for automated computer use. Experiments on nonlinear tubes are reported and computation of load‐deflection relationships observed in those experiments are compared with experimental data. The predictions generally agree with the observed behavior.
Incorporating personality into the investment model: Probing commitment processes across individual differences in narcissism

The investment model (Rusbult, 1980) proposes that commitment is maintained by three mechanisms: Satisfaction, perceived quality of alternatives, and investment. Research suggests that the influence of these mechanisms is largely constant across a variety of individual differences and relational contexts. However, no published research has tested this with respect to personality. The present study did so using the personality trait of narcissism. The results suggest that narcissism indeed moderates the investment model (i.e., mechanisms had greater influence on commitment in highly narcissistic individuals). Discussion focuses on the implications of these results for narcissism, commitment, and the investment model. Also discussed is the importance of identifying and examining additional moderators of the investment model. Suggestions for future research are provided.
From the Editor of Sexuality and Disability: Special Issue—A Look at Sexuality and Medical Concerns in Turkey

As we start a new year, we have the opportunity to learn about current issues regarding sexuality and medical conditions in Turkey. In 2010, the population of Turkey was estimated to be 73.7 million, with a relatively young population that includes 26.6 % within the 0–14 age range. The population growth from 1990 to 2008 has been reported to be 16 million or 29 %. The literature on sexuality has been increasing over the years in efforts to provide knowledge and awareness, guidance towards standards of care for assessment and intervention, as well as, the enhancement of clinical and educational programs already in place. In the March 2013 issue, examples of front-line topics include Sexual Dysfunction in women after Renal Transplantation; looking at sexual satisfaction and loneliness levels in patients with Hemodialysis in a Muslim community; Gynecological Cancer; Sexual Dysfunction and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; the relationships between Sexual FunctionBody Image-Body Mass Index among women; Vaginal Dryness and impact upon health in addition to Sexual Function; Obesity and Sexual Dysfunction; relationship between depression and perception of sexuality in patients with Type II Diabetes; Premenstrual and Menstrual complaints and suitable coping strategies in university settings to improve quality of life and school performance; Sexuality and Nursing Process—A literature review. Sexuality and Disability continues to provide original impact articles addressing the mental health and medical aspects of sexuality in relation to rehabilitation, hospital, academic and community settings, publishing up-to-date articles, case studies, clinical practice reports, reviews, featured articles, historical articles, special grand rounds topics, brief research reports and survey data reports. Value benefit is provided to authors through worldwide electronic exposure and professional access, while readership gains from scholarly contributions to advance the field through research, best-practice and educational articles. The refined lens of individual contributions from the local and international community continues to deliver a wealth of information on the topic of sexuality and disability for the reader. Thank you for joining us.
Religion and inequality: the lasting impact of religious traditions and institutions on welfare state development

A strong correlation exists between inequality and religion, such that societies marked by high inequality are more religious than those with more egalitarian income distributions. What explains this correlation? Insecurity theory argues that high inequality generates intense insecurities, leading the poor to seek shelter in religion for both psychological and material comfort. This article develops an alternative perspective that reverses the chain of causality. It argues that religious institutions and movements frequently resist both the centralization of state power and socialist efforts to organize the working class. As a result, powerful religious movements constrain state-led efforts to provide social protection, increasing income inequality. Analysis of the historical record and contemporary data from 19 Western democracies reveals strong evidence that past periods of church-state conflict shaped the size and structure of welfare state institutions and, by extension, contemporary patterns of inequality.
Reduced renin expression and altered gene transcript profiles in multicystic dysplastic kidneys.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Some patients with multicystic dysplasia experience hypertension in infancy which can be clinically improved with simple nephrectomy. Little is known of the role of renin in multicystic dysplasia and therefore, we studied renin expression in nonhypertensive multicystic dysplasia and compared it with hypertensive multicystic dysplasia. Additionally, global gene transcript profiles were studied in nonhypertensive multicystic dysplasia.Materials and Methods: Tissue from 12 patients with multicystic dysplasia without hypertension and 2 patients with hypertensive multicystic dysplasia were compared to normal metanephric mid-term and neonatal kidneys. Renin expression was studied by immunohistochemistry. CD-68, a marker for macrophages, was applied to slides previously stained with renin. GeneChip (Affymetrix, Southern Oaks, California) microarray analysis was performed using total RNA from 2 nonhypertensive multicystic dysplastic kidneys and normal newborn kidney as control.Results: Strong ren...
Geometrically finite groups, Patterson-Sullivan measures and Ratner's ridigity theorem

The rigidity properties of the horospherical foliations of geometrically finite hyperbolic manifolds are investigated. Ratner's theorem generalizes to these foliations with respect to the Patterson-Sullivan measure. In the spirit of Mostow, we prove the nonexistence of invariant measurable distributions on the boundary of hyperbolic space for geometrically finite groups. Finally, we show that the frame flow on geometrically finite hyperbolic manifolds is Bernoulli.
Endoluminal treatment of type IA endoleak with Onyx

Type IA endoleaks associated with endovascular aortic aneurysm repair are typically treated with endovascular adjuncts. Technical failure results when such maneuvers are unsuccessful, and endograft removal may, unfortunately, become necessary. The novel management of a recalcitrant type IA endoleak using the artificial embolization device, Onyx (Micro Therapeutics Inc, Irvine, Calif) is presented for the case of a nonagenarian with prohibitive surgical risk after conventional techniques had failed.
Triterpenoids CDDO-Methyl Ester or CDDO-Ethyl Amide and Rexinoids LG100268 or NRX194204 for Prevention and Treatment of Lung Cancer in Mice

We tested members of two noncytotoxic classes of drugs, synthetic oleanane triterpenoids and rexinoids, both as individual agents and in combination, for the prevention and treatment of carcinogenesis in a highly relevant animal model of lung cancer. Lung adenocarcinomas were induced in A/J mice by injection of the carcinogen vinyl carbamate. Mice were fed drugs in diet, beginning 1 week after the carcinogen challenge for prevention or 8 weeks later for treatment. The number, size, and severity of tumors in the lungs were then evaluated. In the prevention studies, the triterpenoids CDDO-ethyl amide and CDDO-methyl ester reduced the average tumor burden (ATB) in the lungs 86% to 92%, respectively, compared with the controls, and the rexinoid LG100268 (268) reduced ATB by 50%. The combination of CDDO-ethyl amide and 268 reduced ATB by 93%. We show for the first time that these drugs also were highly effective for treatment of experimental lung cancer, and all triterpenoid and rexinoid combinations reduced ATB 85% to 87% compared with the control group. The triterpenoids also potently inhibited proliferation of VC1 mouse lung carcinoma cells and directly interacted with key regulatory proteins in these cells. In contrast, the rexinoids had little antiproliferative activity in VC1 cells but were potent inhibitors of the toll-like receptor pathway in macrophage-like cells. Triterpenoids and rexinoids are multifunctional, well-tolerated drugs that target different signaling pathways and are thus highly effective for prevention and treatment of experimental lung cancer.
Observation of Atomic Antihydrogen

We report the background-free observation of atomic antihydrogen, produced by interactions of an antiproton beam with a hydrogen gas jet target in the Fermilab Antiproton Accumulator. We measure the cross section of the reaction $\overline{p}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{H}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}p$ for $\overline{p}$ beam momenta between 5203 and 6232 MeV/ $c$ to be $1.12\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.14\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.09$ pb.
Critical Role of CD4 T Cells in an Antibody-Independent Mechanism of Vaccination against Gammaherpesvirus Latency

We have previously demonstrated that it is possible to effectively vaccinate against long-term murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV68) latency by using a reactivation-deficient virus as a vaccine (S. A. Tibbetts, J. S. McClellan, S. Gangappa, S. H. Speck, and H. W. Virgin IV, J. Virol. 77:2522-2529, 2003). Immune antibody was capable of recapitulating aspects of this vaccination. This led us to determine whether antibody is required for vaccination against latency. Using mice lacking antigen-specific antibody responses, we demonstrate here that antibody and B cells are not required for vaccination against latency. We also show that surveillance of latent infection in normal animals depends on CD4 and CD8 T cells, suggesting that T cells might be capable of preventing the establishment of latency. In the absence of an antibody response, CD4 T cells but not CD8 T cells are required for effective vaccination against latency in peritoneal cells, while either CD4 or CD8 T cells can prevent the establishment of splenic latency. Therefore, CD4 T cells play a critical role in immune surveillance of gammaherpesvirus latency and can mediate vaccination against latency in the absence of antibody responses.
Increased neuronal expression of neurokinin-1 receptor and stimulus-evoked internalization of the receptor in the rostral ventromedial medulla of the rat after peripheral inflammatory injury.

This study examined possible mechanisms by which Substance P (Sub P) assumes a pronociceptive role in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) under conditions of peripheral inflammatory injury, in this case produced by intraplantar (ipl) injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). In saline- and CFA-treated rats, neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) immunoreactivity was localized to neurons in the RVM. Four days after ipl injection of CFA, the number of NK1R-immunoreactive neurons in the RVM was increased by 30%, and there was a concomitant increase in NK1R-immunoreactive processes in CFA-treated rats. Although NK1R immunoreactivity was increased, tachykinin-1 receptor (Tacr1) mRNA was not increased in the RVM of CFA-treated rats. To assess changes in Sub P release, the number of RVM neurons that exhibited NK1R internalization was examined in saline- and CFA-treated rats following noxious heat stimulation of the hind paws. Only CFA-treated rats that experienced noxious heat stimulation exhibited a significant increase in the number of neurons showing NK1R internalization. These data suggest that tonic Sub P release is not increased as a simple consequence of peripheral inflammation, but that phasic or evoked release of Sub P in the RVM is increased in response to noxious peripheral stimulation in a persistent inflammatory state. These data support the proposal that an upregulation of the NK1R in the RVM, as well as enhanced release of Sub P following noxious stimulation, underlie the pronociceptive role of Sub P under conditions of persistent inflammatory injury. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:3037–3051, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of ossification of the posterior rim of acetabulum in the developing hip and its impact on the assessment of femoroacetabular impingement.

Background: Many radiographic indices that are used to assess adolescents for femoroacetabular impingement rely on an ossified posterior acetabular wall. A recent study identified a secondary ossification center in the posterior rim of the acetabulum, the ossification of which may affect perceived acetabular coverage. The purpose of this study was to characterize ossification of the posterior rim of the acetabulum with use of a longitudinal radiographic study and quantify its impact on the radiographic assessment of femoroacetabular impingement. Methods: In this study, we utilized a historical collection of annual radiographs made in a population of healthy adolescents. Six hundred and twelve anteroposterior radiographs of the left hip of ninety-eight patients were reviewed to identify the appearance, duration, and fusion of the secondary ossification center in the posterior rim of the acetabulum. The center-edge angle was then measured before appearance and after fusion of the secondary ossification center in a subset of ten patients who had <5° of rotation on all radiographs. Results: The secondary ossification center in the posterior rim was identified in seventy-three of the ninety-eight subjects, with no significant difference between the sexes. The mean patient age at the time of radiographic appearance of this secondary ossification center was fourteen years for males and twelve years for females. The mean duration of radiographic appearance was ten months for both sexes. Serial center-edge angles were measured in a subset of ten patients, and they increased during posterior rim ossification by a mean of 4.1°. Conclusions: The secondary ossification center in the posterior rim of the acetabulum (the posterior rim sign) is a common radiographic finding that reliably appears for ten months around the time of triradiate closure. Posterior rim ossification led to a mean increase of 4° of perceived acetabular coverage through the center-edge angle. Given the narrow margin between normal coverage (33° to 36°) and acetabular overcoverage (>40°), the use of radiographs in adolescents with incompletely ossified hips may lead to misinterpretation of acetabular coverage. In patients with open triradiate cartilage, magnetic resonance imaging may be considered for the assessment of femoroacetabular impingement. Clinical Relevance: The posterior rim ossification sign is a normal finding in adolescent hip development and has important implications for the proper evaluation of femoroacetabular impingement.
Analysis of substructural variation in families of enzymatic proteins with applications to protein function prediction.

Background: Structural variations caused by a wide range of physico-chemical and biological sources directly influence the function of a protein. For enzymatic proteins, the structure and chemistry of the catalytic binding site residues can be loosely defined as a substructure of the protein. Comparative analysis of drug-receptor substructures across and within species has been used for lead evaluation. Substructure-level similarity between the binding sites of functionally similar proteins has also been used to identify instances of convergent evolution among proteins. In functionally homologous protein families, shared chemistry and geometry at catalytic sites provide a common, local point of comparison among proteins that may differ significantly at the sequence, fold, or domain topology levels. Results: This paper describes two key results that can be used separately or in combination for protein function analysis. The Family-wise Analysis of SubStructural Templates (FASST) method uses all-against-all substructure comparison to determine Substructural Clusters (SCs). SCs characterize the binding site substructural variation within a protein family. In this paper we focus on examples of automatically determined SCs that can be linked to phylogenetic distance between family members, segregation by conformation, and organization by homology among convergent protein lineages. The Motif Ensemble Statistical Hypothesis (MESH) framework constructs a representative motif for each protein cluster among the SCs determined by FASST to build motif ensembles that are shown through a series of function prediction experiments to improve the function prediction power of existing motifs. Conclusions: FASST contributes a critical feedback and assessment step to existing binding site substructure identification methods and can be used for the thorough investigation of structure-function relationships. The application of MESH allows for an automated, statistically rigorous procedure for incorporating structural variation data into protein function prediction pipelines. Our work provides an unbiased, automated assessment of the structural variability of identified binding site substructures among protein structure families and a technique for exploring the relation of substructural variation to protein function. As available proteomic data continues to expand, the techniques proposed will be indispensable for the large-scale analysis and interpretation of structural data.
Mapping Race: Historicizing the History of the Color-Line

This study examines scholarship about the global color-line. It unfolds in two sections. The first traces how understandings of race and racism were encoded within university environments in the mid-twentieth century. The second shows how this epistemology influenced early academic comparisons of the United States and South Africa in the 1980s and why the literature diversified in the post-apartheid era.
Evaluating consumer knowledge of alternative agricultural commodities: The case of IPM produce

Nearly 32% of consumers surveyed at four supermarkets and one private direct market in New Jersey reported having prior awareness of integrated pest management (IPM). However, knowledge of IPM does not appear homogeneous across all demographic segments. This study empirically evaluates which socioeconomic characteristics suggest that a consumer will be more likely to have existing knowledge of IPM. Results indicate that those who had higher levels of education, had visited a farmers' market within the previous five years, had no children, grew fruits and vegetables at home, were female, or had regularly used media reports about food safety were more likely to claim awareness of IPM.
Differential associations of social support and social connectedness with structural features of social networks and the health status of older adults.

Objective: This study explores the extent to which the constructs of social support and social connectedness differ in terms of their associations with the structural characteristics of social netw...
SOCIAL ASPECTS OF NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE1

ABSTRACT During the last decade, Fairmount, a small area in Philadelphia's inner city, has changed from a working-class neighborhood with a strong Europeanethnic flavor to a revitalized, “fashionable” area with many young professionals. One step in the transition was the exclusion of blacks from the neighborhood. The influx of newcomers to Fairmount has altered traditional social patterns, and for some residents resulted in a declining quality of neighborhood life.
Potential mechanisms for the hypothesized link between sunshine, vitamin D, and food allergy in children

Epidemiologic data suggest that the incidence of food allergy (FA) is increasing among children, yet a satisfactory model of its pathogenesis remains elusive. FA is the consequence of maladaptive immune responses to common and otherwise innocuous food antigens. Concurrent with the increase in FA is an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) caused by several factors, especially decreased sunlight/UVB exposure. There is growing appreciation of the importance of the pleiotropic hormone vitamin D in the development of tolerance, immune system defenses, and epithelial barrier integrity. We propose a "multiple-hit" model in which VDD in a developmentally critical period increases susceptibility to colonization with abnormal intestinal microbial flora and gastrointestinal infections, contributing to abnormal intestinal barrier permeability and excess and inappropriate exposure of the immune system to dietary allergens. A compounding effect (and additional "hit") of VDD is the promotion of a pro-sensitization immune imbalance that might compromise immunologic tolerance and contribute to FA. We propose that early correction of VDD might promote mucosal immunity, healthy microbial ecology, and allergen tolerance and thereby blunt the FA epidemic in children.
Influence of estrous cycle and gonadal hormone depletion on nociception and opioid antinociception in female rats of four strains.

Abstract Evidence suggests that gonadal hormones can modulate sensitivity to nociceptive stimuli and opioid antinociception. However, cross-study comparisons addressing the nature of this modulation have been complicated by a number of methodologic factors, including the use of different rodent strains and opioids. The present study examined the influence of estrous cycle and gonadal hormone depletion (ovariectomy) on thermal nociception and opioid antinociception in female F344, Lewis, Long Evans, and Wistar rats. Estrous cycle-dependent differences in nociceptive sensitivity were not observed in any of the strains. Ovariectomy decreased nociceptive sensitivity relative to their intact female counterparts. In normal cycling females, morphine and buprenorphine were generally most potent in metestrus and proestrus and least potent in estrus. The magnitude of these differences was consistently larger with buprenorphine. Ovariectomy increased the antinociceptive potency of morphine and buprenorphine, with this effect also being larger with buprenorphine. These data suggest that in adult females of a number of rat strains, estrous cycle and gonadal hormone depletion modulate the antinociceptive potency of opioids, with the magnitude of this effect being dependent on the type of opioid. In contrast, depletion of gonadal hormones, but not estrous cycle, modulates thermal nociceptive sensitivity in adult female rats. Perspective Gonadal hormones influence opioid antinociception, and this effect is apparent across different genetic backgrounds. These results suggest that the phase of the menstrual cycle might alter the effectiveness of certain opioids administered to relieve pain in women.
Chronic metabolic acidosis reduces urinary oxalate excretion and promotes intestinal oxalate secretion in the rat

Urinary oxalate excretion is reduced in rats during a chronic metabolic acidosis, but how this is achieved is not clear. In this report, we re-examine our prior work on the effects of a metabolic acidosis on urinary oxalate handling [Green et al., Am J Physiol Ren Physiol 289(3):F536-F543, 2005], offering a more detailed analysis and interpretation of the data, together with new, previously unpublished observations revealing a marked impact on intestinal oxalate transport. Sprague-Dawley rats were provided with 0.28 M ammonium chloride in their drinking water for either 4 or 14 days followed by 24 h urine collections, blood-gas and serum ion analysis, and measurements of (14)C-oxalate fluxes across isolated segments of the distal colon. Urinary oxalate excretion was significantly reduced by 75% after just 4 days compared to control rats, and this was similarly sustained at 14 days. Oxalate:creatinine clearance ratios indicated enhanced net re-absorption of oxalate by the kidney during a metabolic acidosis, but this was not associated with any substantive changes to serum oxalate levels. In the distal colon, oxalate transport was dramatically altered from net absorption in controls (6.20 ± 0.63 pmol cm(-2) h(-1)), to net secretion in rats with a metabolic acidosis (-5.19 ± 1.18 and -2.07 ± 1.05 pmol cm(-2) h(-1) at 4 and 14 days, respectively). Although we cannot rule out modifications to bi-directional oxalate movements along the proximal tubule, these findings support a gut-kidney axis in the management of oxalate homeostasis, where this shift in renal handling during a metabolic acidosis is associated with compensatory adaptations by the intestine.
Effect of mate size on maternal reproductive effort in the convict cichlid Amatitlania siquia

The differential allocation hypothesis predicts individuals will increase their reproductive investment when mated to a high quality partner. In many species of fish with biparental care females prefer large males due to the males' greater ability to raise more offspring to independence. I examined the relationship between mate quality, parental care and number of offspring in a natural population of convict cichlids Amatitlania siquia. The frequency of frontal displays by females was positively correlated with male standard length. Additionally, as males increased in length relative to their mate, females increased the frequency of chases towards predators, while males decreased the number of displays towards brood predators. This trade-off in parental effort within a pair due to mate quality is a key prediction of differential allocation. The number of offspring was correlated with male, but not female, standard length. These results support the differential allocation hypothesis in that females offered more parental care to offspring of a larger male, while their mates decreased the amount of care they provided. Additionally, females benefited in terms of number of offspring by pairing with higher quality mates. Increased female investment may provide an incentive to ensure male care and maintain pair bonding, which could lead to greater reproductive success through increased offspring sur- vival (Current Zoology 58 (1): 66-72, 2012).
RNA Modifications: A Mechanism that Modulates Gene Expression

Accuracy in the flow of genetic information from DNA to protein, or gene expression, is essential to the viability of an organisms. Pre-mRNA splicing and protein translation are two major steps in eukaryotic gene expression that necessitate the production of accurate gene products. Both processes occur in large complexes, consisting of both proteins and noncoding RNAs. Interestingly, the RNA components contain a large number of posttranscriptional modifications, including 2'-O-methylation and pseudouridylation, which are functionally important. In this chapter, we highlight the functional aspects of the modifications of spliceosomal snRNA and rRNA and provide a framework for understanding how posttranscriptional modifications are capable of influencing gene expression.