cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolism of aflatoxin b1 by rabbit and rat nasal mucosa microsomes and purified cytochrome P450, including isoforms 2a10 and 2a11

The nasal mucosa of some mammalian species are susceptible to the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent hepatocarcinogen, but little is known about the nasal enzymes involved in the metabolic activation of AFB1 or the metabolites produced. In the present study, the metabolism of AFB1 was studied with nasal microsomes from rats and rabbits and with several purified isozymes of rabbit P450 in a reconstituted enzyme system. The rates of AFB1-N7-guanine DNA adduct formation with rabbit and rat nasal microsomes are over 3- and 10-fold higher, respectively, than with liver microsomes from the same species. On the other hand, the rates of formation of AFM1 (9a-hydroxy-AFB1) and AFQ1 (3-hydroxy-AFB1) products known to be less toxic, are lower with nasal than with liver microsomes. Of particular interest, nasal microsomes produce high levels of six unidentified polar metabolites that are not formed by microsomes from liver or several other tissues. These same products are also generated by P450 NMa purified from rabbit nasal microsomes in a reconstituted system, but not by five other isozymes of cytochrome P450 (1A2, 2B4, 2E1, 2G1, 3A6) that are known to be present in nasal microsomes. AFB1-DNA adducts are formed by P450 NMa at a rate 3-fold higher than that by nasal microsomes. The DNA adducts are formed at much slower rates by P450s 2G1, 2B4, and 1A2, and adducts are not formed at measurable rates by P450s 2E1 and 3A6. Moreover, AFB1-DNA adduct formation is also catalyzed by cDNA-derived, heterologously expressed P450s 2A10 and 2A11, both of which are known to be present in the purified P450 NMa preparation. The K m and V max values of the two isozymes for DNA adduct formation are comparable to those for nasal microsomes. Furthermore, the formation of AFB1-DNA adducts by nasal microsomes is decreased by nicotine, a known inhibitor of P450 NMa. These data indicate that members of the P450 2A gene subfamily play an important role in the metabolic activation of AFB1 in rabbit and rat nasal mucosa and suggest a molecular basis for assessing the health risk associated with inhalation exposure to this procarcinogen in humans
On mean residence times in compartments

Abstract This paper is concerned with a set of parameters which measure the mean time a random particle resides in individual compartments in response to a given load distribution. These parameters are related to other time parameters and to each other.
Skew Hadamard matrices of Goethals-Seidel type

Goethals and Seidel have recently demonstrated the existence of skew Hadamard matrices of orders 36 and 52 by means of a new type of construction. Jennifer Wallis has obtained additional matrices of this type for all orders 4n, 3 < n < 25 and n odd. In the present paper, an infinite family of such matrices is derived. The main result states that if q is a prime power = 3(mod 8), then there exists a skew Hadamard matrix of order 4n = q + 1 that is of the Goethals-Seidel type.
Specific anti-antibodies.

Les anti-anticorps pourraient avoir des applications theerapeutiques dans certains etats allergiques, les maladies d'auto-immunisation et dans les greffes des tissues. Les auteurs montrent la possibilite de stimuler la formation des anti-anticorps specifiques contre les anticorps produits par des antigenes relativement simples comme l'albumine, le facteur Rh, le facteur rheumatoide et la streptolysine 0
The Lutropin/Choriogonadotropin Receptor-Induced Phosphorylation of the Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases in Leydig Cells Is Mediated by a Protein Kinase A-Dependent Activation of Ras

The pathways involved in activation of the ERK1/2 cascade in Leydig cells were examined in MA-10 cells expressing the recombinant human LH receptor (hLHR) and in primary cultures of rat Leydig cell precursors. In MA-10 cells expressing the recombinant hLHR, human choriogonadotropin-induced activation of ERK1/2 is effectively inhibited by overexpression of a cAMP phosphodiesterase (a manipulation that blunts the human choriogonadotropin-induced cAMP response), by addition of H89 (a selective inhibitor of protein kinase A), or by overexpression of the heat-stable protein kinase A inhibitor, but not by overexpression of an inactive mutant of this inhibitor. Stimulation of hLHR did not activate Rap1, but activated Ras in an H89-sensitive fashion. Addition of H89 to MA-10 cells that had been cotransfected with a guanosine triphosphatase-deficient mutant of Ras almost completely inhibited the hLHR-mediated activation of ERK1/2. We also show that 8-bromo-cAMP activates Ras and ERK1/2 in MA-10 cells and in primary cultures of rat Leydig cells precursors in an H89-sensitive fashion, whereas a cAMP analog 8-(4-chloro-phenylthio)-2'-O-methyl-cAMP (8CPT-2Me-cAMP) that is selective for cAMP-dependent guanine nucleotide exchange factor has no effect. Collectively, our results show that the hLHR-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in Leydig cells is mediated by a protein kinase A-dependent activation of Ras.
Snoring, mouth-breathing, and apnea trajectories in a population-based cohort followed from infancy to 81 months: a cluster analysis.

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to characterize phenotypes of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in early childhood that clinicians may find useful while monitoring symptom progression and associated SDB morbidity. Methods We performed a cluster analysis of SDB's primary symptoms: snoring, mouth-breathing, and apnea. Parents in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) reported SDB symptoms by questionnaire for their child at 6, 18, 30, 42, 57, 69, and 81 months of age. Participants were those from the original cohort exclusive of children with congental or other medical conditions predisposing growth aberrations or respiratory problems (i.e. cleft palate, heart surgery and associated conditions, genetic syndromes—primarily Down's, cancer or kidney conditions, celiac disease, congenital adrenal hyperplasia), missing SDB measures for ≥2 timepoints, or missing birth length plus 2 subsequent height measures. Results Five clusters emerged from 10,441 children and were characterized according to patterns of mean severity of SDB symptoms over time. “Normals” (50%) were asymptomatic throughout. The “late snores and mouth-breathing” cluster (20%) remained asymptomatic until 4 years old. The “early snores” (10%) and “early apnea” (10%) clusters had peak symptoms at 6 and 18 months, respectively. In “all SDB after infancy” (10%), symptoms peaked from 30 to 42 months and remained elevated. Exploratory analyses found that “early snores” were significantly shorter than “normals.” Associations with tonsillectomies and wheezing frequency supported external validation. Conclusions Cluster analysis has elucidated the dynamic multi-symptom expression of SDB. The utility of cluster analysis will be evaluated in future analyses to predict growth, cognition and behavior outcomes.
Atrial septal stent implant: atrial septal defect creation in the management of complex congenital heart defects in infants.

Objectives. Certain congenital heart defects require the creation of an unrestrictive atrial septal defect (ASD) to relieve atrial hypertension, to maintain systemic cardiac output, or to achieve adequate atrial mixing to improve systemic oxygen saturation. We describe a series of patients, ranging in age from 5 weeks to 17 months, in whom we implanted a stent across the atrial septum to create a lasting, unrestrictive interatrial communication. Methods. Five patients with left heart obstructive defects presented with severe left atrial hypertension. The patients weighed 3.5–10.1 kg. Patients 1 and 2 presented at 5 and 9 weeks of age, respectively. Patient 1 had a restrictive patent foramen ovale, and patient 2 had an intact atrial septum. Patients 3, 4, and 5 had previous cardiac surgery including atrial septectomy. At presentation, all patients were poor surgical candidates. Results. Using standard percutaneous technique, a premounted Palmaz–Genesis stent (Cordis Corporation) was implanted across the atrial septum in all 5 patients, using balloons ranging from 7 to 10 mm diameter. Each patient had a dramatic decrease in left atrial pressure and increased ASD diameter. All stented ASDs remained widely patent, confirmed by Doppler echocardiography, until elective surgical stent explant. Conclusion. Patients presenting beyond the neonatal period with left heart obstructive defects and intact atrial septum or restrictive ASD present a challenging problem. We report a safe and effective technique for relief of left atrial hypertension in infants using premounted intravascular stents. All patients had immediate marked hemodynamic improvement.
Relationship of hemoglobin A1C and mortality in heart failure patients with diabetes.

Objectives This study was designed to examine the relationship between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and adverse outcomes in diabetic patients with established heart failure (HF). Background Despite the common coexistence of diabetes and HF, previous studies examining the association between HbA1C and outcomes in this population have been limited and have reported discrepant results. Methods We assessed the association between increasing quintiles (Q1 to Q5) of HbA1C and risk of death or risk of HF hospitalization by conducting a retrospective study in a national cohort of 5,815 veterans with HF and diabetes treated in ambulatory clinics at Veterans Affairs medical centers. Results At 2 years of follow-up, death occurred in 25% of patients in Q1 (HbA1C ≤6.4%), 23% in Q2 (6.4% 9.0%). After adjustment for potential confounders, the middle quintile (Q3) had reduced mortality when compared with the lowest quintile (risk-adjusted hazard ratio: 0.73, 95% confidence interval: 0.61 to 0.88, p = 0.001). Hospitalization rates for HF at 2 years increased with increasing quintiles of HbA1C (Q1: 13.3%, Q2: 13.1%, Q3: 15.5%, Q4: 16.4%, and Q5: 18.2%), but this association was not statistically significant when adjusted for potential confounders. Conclusions The association between mortality and HbA1C in diabetic patients with HF appears U-shaped, with the lowest risk of death in those patients with modest glucose control (7.1%
Prey selection by coral.feeding butterflyfishes: strategies to maximize the profit

Factors that structure preferences among food corals were examined for the obligate coral-feeding butterflyfish Chaetodon multicinctus. In the field, fish show a simple repetitious pattern of foraging composed of (1) pre-encounter search for coral colonies, and (2) post-encounter inspection/orientation, bite, and consumption of polyps. Rose coral, Pocillopora meandrina, and the massive coral, Porites lobata, were taken in higher proportions than their percentage substrate cover, while finger coral, Porites compressa, was taken in lower proportion. Paired presentations of coral colonies in the lab gave similar results: Poc. meandrina was preferred over Por. lobata which was preferred over Por. compressa. Poc. meandrina tissue had the highest energy content, lowest handling time, and highest profitability. Energy content did not differ among Porites tissues, but handling time was greater and more inspective eye movements were made while foraging on the branched finger coral, Por. compressa. Experimental manipulation of coral colony morphology indicate preferences among Porites are most likely structured by handling costs. Predictions of a simple prey-choice foraging model are supported in the C. multicinctus system if abundance of the branched coral Por. compressa is estimated as that available to fishes rather than percentage substrate cover. The relative size and abundance of stinging nematocysts are also consistent with observed foraging patterns in the field, but await immunological confirmation. Coral-feeding butterflyfishes offer unique opportunities to test models of foraging ecology in reef fishes, and the direction of future studies is suggested.
Reaction of O2++ C8H10(Ethylbenzene) as a Function of Pressure and Temperature: A Study of the Collisional Stabilization of the Reactant Intermediate

Rate constants and branching fractions for the reaction of O2+ with C8H10 (ethylbenzene) have been measured in the recently upgraded turbulent ion flow tube (TIFT) and are reported here as a functi...
The gods are drinking milk! Word‐of‐mouth diffusion of a major news event in India

The diffusion of news tradition in past communication research highlights the key role of word‐of‐mouth interpersonal channels in the spread of information. This article investigates the process through which news about a mysterious event with ‘divine’ undertones diffused in India in September 1995. Our study suggests that the ‘dying’ news diffusion research tradition can be kept alive by exploring new independent and dependent variables and by using methodological triangulation.
In Situ Generated Colloid Transport of Cu and Zn in Reclaimed Mine Soil Profiles Associated with Biosolids Application

Areas reclaimed for agricultural uses following coal mining often receive biosolids applications to increase organic matter and fertility. Transport of heavy metals within these soils may be enhanced by the additional presence of biosolids colloids. Intact monoliths from reclaimed and undisturbed soils in Virginia and Kentucky were leached to observe Cu and Zn mobility with and without biosolids application. Transport of Cu and Zn was observed in both solution and colloid associated phases in reclaimed and undisturbed forest soils, where the presence of unweathered spoil material and biosolids amendments contributed to higher metal release in solution fractions. Up to 81% of mobile Cu was associated with the colloid fraction, particularly when gibbsite was present, while only up to 18% of mobile Zn was associated with the colloid fraction. The colloid bound Cu was exchangeable by ammonium acetate, suggesting that it will release into groundwater resources.
Genomic Abnormalities in Patients With Migraine and Chronic Migraine: Preliminary Blood Gene Expression Suggests Platelet Abnormalities

Background.—Migraine has strong genetic and environmental components and may also be a significant contributor to chronic migraine (CM). It is hypothesized that gene expression changes in peripheral blood cells can be used to detect the interaction of these influences. Objective.—Distinct genomic expression patterns for migraine and CM will be present. These genomic profiles will help clarify the interactions of inheritance and environment. This initial study begins to examine the feasibility of peripheral blood cell genomic analysis to assist in the understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine and CM. Methods.—Blood samples from patients were obtained either during an acute migraine or CM. Genomic expression patterns were analyzed using Affymetrix U95A microarrays. Results.—Expression patterns of 7 migraine and 15 CM patients were compared to four distinct control groups (total patients, n = 56) including healthy subjects. A group of platelet genes were upregulated in both migraine and CM samples. Different gene expression patterns were also seen between migraine and CM. A group of immediate early genes including c-fos and cox-2 were expressed at higher levels in migraine, whereas specific mitochondrial genes were expressed at higher levels in CM. Conclusions.—Increased expression of platelet genes in patients with migraine and CM suggests similar underlying pathophysiology. The differences seen between migraine and CM in other genes suggest an overlapping but not identical pathophysiology. Further genomic profiling studies will help define these relationships and provide further insights into headache pathogenesis.
Traumatic Brain Injury in the Pediatric Population

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common injury among children. Most TBIs are mild and do not require hospitalization. However, whether or not the patients require acute hospitalization, TBIs may have long-lasting consequences. There is little research on the nutrient needs of these patients, and recommendations are frequently based on data from adults with TBI. It is clear that calorie and protein needs are elevated with acute TBI. However, calorie needs are also decreased by therapies such as sedation, chemical paralysis, and barbiturate coma. Long-term calorie needs may be lower for "comatose" patients. Enteral feeding is preferred and possible for patients with TBI, though gastric feeding may be problematic in some patients. In the acute phase, patients with TBI can also have dysregulation of fluid and electrolyte balance, which may require alterations in nutrition care. Dysphagia is common after moderately severe TBI and requires a multidisciplinary approach for treatment. Future opportunities for research on pediatric TBI are numerous and may include ongoing clarification of macronutrient needs, as well as investigation into the roles of specific nutrients such as zinc, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds.
TRANSITION LAYER SOLUTIONS OF A HIGHER ORDER EQUATION IN AN INFINITE TUBE

∗Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-9305044. †Current address: IMA. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 56455
Voting on Floodplain Conservation: The Role of Public Values and Interactions along the Carson River, Nevada

Floodplain conservation initiatives frequently require public support and financing, yet little is known about public values and interactions with the rivers and their floodplains as they relate to voters' support. Using comparative analyses and logistic regression of data from a mail/Internet survey of registered voters along the Carson River, Nevada, we studied relationships between reported voting behavior and demographics, attitudes toward the future land use change, and interactions with the river. Our results indicate floodplain conservation efforts in historically agricultural areas may be most successful if land conservation initiatives include agricultural land and open space for riparian buffers between the river and urban developments. Additionally, improving water quality was important both to those supporting and those voting against floodplain conservation initiatives. We observed that boating, reading about local floodplain protection, following issues on neighboring rivers, and engaging in...
Structural controllability of multi-agent networks: Robustness against simultaneous failures

In this paper, structural controllability of a leader-follower multi-agent system with multiple leaders is studied from a graph-theoretic point of view. The problem of preservation of structural controllability under simultaneous failures in both the communication links and the agents is investigated. The effects of the loss of agents and communication links on the controllability of an information flow graph are previously studied. In this work, the corresponding results are exploited to introduce some useful indices and importance measures that help characterize and quantify the role of individual links and agents in the controllability of the overall network. Existing results are then extended by considering the effects of losses in both links and agents at the same time. To this end, the concepts of joint (r,s)-controllability and joint t-controllability are introduced as quantitative measures of reliability for a multi-agent system, and their important properties are investigated. Lastly, the class of jointly critical digraphs is introduced, and it is stated that if a digraph is jointly critical, then joint t-controllability is a necessary and sufficient condition for remaining controllable following the failure of any set of links and agents, with cardinality less than t. Various examples are exploited throughout the paper to elaborate on the analytical findings.
Spinal epidural empyema in seven dogs.

Objective-To characterize the clinical signs, diagnostic and surgical findings, and outcome in dogs with spinal epidural empyema (SEE). Study Design-Retrospective study. Animals-Seven dogs. Methods-Dogs with SEE between 1992 and 2001 were identified from a computerized medical record system. Inclusion criteria were: neurologic examination, vertebral column radiographs, myelography, antimicrobial culture and susceptibility of material collected surgically from the vertebral canal, a definitive diagnosis of SEE confirmed by surgery, and microscopic examination of tissue from the vertebral canal. Results-Common signs were lethargy, fever, anorexia, apparent spinal pain, and paraparesis/plegia. Common laboratory abnormalities were peripheral neutrophilia, and neutrophilic pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Three dogs had concurrent discospondylitis and 1 of these had vertebral luxation. On myelography, extradural spinal cord compression was focal (2 dogs), multifocal (3), or diffuse (2). Bacteria were isolated not from CSF but from blood, surgical site, pleural fluid, or urine in 6 dogs. Dogs were administered antibiotics and had surgical decompression by hemilaminectomy. Five dogs improved neurologically and had a good long-term outcome. Two dogs were euthanatized, 1 because of worsening of neurologic signs and pneumonia, and the other because of herniation of a cervical intervertebral disc 1 month postoperatively, unrelated to the SEE. Conclusion-Dogs with SEE may have a good outcome when treated by surgical decompression and antibiotic administration. Clinical Relevance-SEE should be included in a list of possible causes for dogs with fever, apparent spinal pain, and myelopathy.
Effects of laminin monoclonal antibodies on the development of cultured rat embryos.

Whole rat embryos (9.5 days of gestation) were exposed to six different monoclonal antibodies to laminin during 48 hr of culture. Four (LAM I, LAM V, 5A2, 9D2) of the six were teratogenic or lethal and two (LAM II, 5D3) were not toxic at comparable levels. Teratogenicity and lethality were not related to antibody level, subclass or affinity for whole laminin. Indirect immunofluorescence studies using mouse embryo sections revealed that the toxic antibodies bound in a diffuse manner, while the nontoxic antibodies showed distinct labeling of tissues. These observations suggest that previous varied responses seen in cultured rat embryos exposed to laminin antibodies obtained from humans, monkeys, and rats were the result of differences in the epitope specificity of those antibodies. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Extracellular matrix of sea urchin and other marine invertebrate embryos.

The extracellular matrix surrounding the sea urchin embryo (outer ECM) contains fibers and granules of various sizes which are organized in recognizable patterns as shown by ultrastructural studies, particularly stereoimaging techniques. The use of the ruthenium red method for retaining and staining the ECM, with modification of the Luft (Anatomical Record 171:347–368, 1971) method for invertebrate embryos, allows for the clarification of certain structures, particularly fiber compaction in the interzonal region, and microvillus-associated bodies. The inner ECM in the sea urchin embryo includes the basal lamina and blastocoel matrix. Stereoimages show that the fibers which are loosely distributed in the blastocoel matrix become compacted around the periphery of the blastocoel to form the basal lamina. The ruthenium red method was also used on a number of marine invertebrate embryos and larvae, representing different phyla, to facilitate comparisons between their surface coats. The similarities observed in the specimens shown suggest that ECMs are widely found on marine invertebrate eggs, embryos, and larvae, and that they resemble vertebrate ECMs and may, therefore, have similar functions.
P5.094 Evaluation of Gentamicin Susceptibility of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Isolates in Argentina

Introduction The effective treatment of infection by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) is critical for the individual patient management and essential in the control of gonorrhoea. The emergence of decreased susceptibility to third generation cephalosporins and its association with treatment failure in many regions of the world can quickly make them unsuitable as first-line therapy. Thus it becomes necessary to consider alternatives for future therapeutics. The aminoglycoside gentamicin, was chosen as an alternative treatment after the emergence of penicillinase-producers strains in Africa. This responds to its low cost, also due to the fact that it can be administered in a single dose of 240 mg and because studies showed cure rates of > 95%. Despite some treatment failure reports, gentamicin has proven successful in the treatment of gonococcal urethritis for many years. In Argentina, no susceptibility data are available. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of a total of 355 Ng isolates derived to our laboratory for susceptibility studies in 2011 from 13 provinces. MIC to gentamicin was determined by agar dilution method according to CLSI. We used Ng ATCC 49226 as control for dilutions of antibiotics, using the interpretation criteria reported in bibliography. Results Gentamicin susceptibility showed that 99.7% of Argentine isolates were in a narrow range of MIC (4–8 µg/ml) with 74.6% showing an MIC of 8 µg/ml. The MIC range was 4–16 µg/ml, MIC 50 and MIC 90 agreed 8 µg/ml. A 74.6% (265/355) isolates included in this study showed resistance to one or more of the following antibiotics: penicillin (36.3%), tetracycline (43.9%) and ciprofloxacin (48.4%). Conclusions The Argentine gonococcal population susceptibility to gentamicin is similar to that reported by other regions of the world. In vitro studies of regular assessment would be needed to ensure the effectiveness of gentamicin as alternative drug for the treatment of gonorrhoea.
Actein inhibits the Na+-K+-ATPase and enhances the growth inhibitory effect of digitoxin on human breast cancer cells

Abstract The Na+-K+-ATPase is a known target of cardiac glycosides such as digitoxin and ouabain. We determined that the enzyme also is a target of the structurally-related triterpene glycoside actein, present in the herb black cohosh. Actein’s inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity was less potent than that of digitoxin, but actein potentiated digitoxin’s inhibitory effect on Na+-K+-ATPase activity and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cell growth. We observed different degrees of signal amplification for the two compounds. Actein’s inhibitory effect on ATPase activity was amplified 2-fold for cell growth inhibition, whereas digitoxin’s signal was amplified 20-fold. Actein induced a biphasic response in proteins downstream of ATPase: low dose and short duration of treatment upregulated NF-κB promoter activity, p-ERK, p-Akt and cyclin D1 protein levels, whereas higher doses and longer exposure inhibited these activities. Actein and digitoxin may be a useful synergistic combination for cancer chemoprevention and/or therapy.
Positional cloning of novel skin-specific genes from the human epidermal differentiation complex.

The epidermal differentiation complex, located on human chromosomal band 1q21, contains at least 20 genes expressed during epidermal differentiation. We constructed a 1.2-Mb YAC contig spanning the SPRR and S100 gene clusters. Restriction mapping and FISH confirmed the colinearity of the contig with the genomic restriction map (A. Volz et al., 1993, Genomics 18:92-99). However, the YAC clones revealed several additional restriction sites not previously detected in genomic DNA, presumably due to CpG methylation. Making use of cDNA selection, we have identified three novel cDNAs, all of which map to the SPRR/IVL region. All three transcripts are expressed at high levels in normal and psoriatic skin, but not in cultured keratinocytes or in a variety of cell lines and human tissues. The molecular cloning of this region provides a valuable tool for identifying additional epidermal differentiation genes and for elucidating the relationship between chromatin structure and gene expression during terminal differentiation.
Cochlear nerve size evaluation in children with sensorineural hearing loss by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Purpose To determine differences in size of cochlear nerves among subjects with deafness due to connexin 26 (Cx26) mutations, subjects with deafness of unknown origin, and normal hearing subjects by sagittal high-resolution magnetic resonance (HRMR) imaging of the temporal bone. Materials and methods Cross-sectional and surface areas and volumetric measurements of the cochlear nerve and modiolus were made on HRMR images of the internal auditory canal (IAC) and inner ear in the 3 groups of children (groups 1, 2, and 3). Three-way comparisons of in vivo cochlear nerve measurements on HRMR imaging were made among 17 children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and no obvious etiology for the hearing loss (group 1), 7 children with profound SNHL due to a Cx26 mutation (group 2), and 10 normal hearing children (group 3). Results Children with profound SNHL of unknown cause and children with profound SNHL due to a connexin mutation displayed hypoplastic cochlear nerves as compared with normal controls. HRMR imaging of the temporal bone was accurately delineated potential problems with cochlear nerves in 2 of 17 instances where high-resolution computed tomography did not do so. Conclusions Accurate and specific measurements of the cochlear nerve and related structures is possible on HRMR imaging of the temporal bone. The size of the cochlear nerve is mildly hypoplastic in children with profound SNHL of unknown causes or children with a deafness-causing Cx26 mutation. HRMR imaging is superior to high-resolution computed tomography in the investigation of profound SNHL in children.
Biological and biochemical differences among ecotropic C-type RNA viral isolates chemically induced from C57BL/KA mouse embryo cells in vitro.

Abstract Several biological properties of the ecotropic viruses isolated after IUdR induction of C57BL/Ka mouse embryo cells in vitro were found to vary depending on the type of cell from which the viruses were recovered and their passage history in culture. The majority of the induced viral isolates were N-tropic. They could be separated into two classes on the basis of their XC plaque-forming ability and their electrophoretic mobility in SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The exogenous transfer to and propagation in C57BL/Ka fibroblasts of one N-tropic parent virus led to the appearance of a progeny virus population with N- and B-tropic activity and high plaque-forming ability. This preparation, which had B- and N-tropic activity, was either a heterogeneous mixture of N- and B-tropic particles or a heterozygote particle which contained N- and B-tropic genomes. After passage of limiting dilutions of that preparation in C57BL fibroblasts, a novel B-tropic virus was recovered which was distinct from other B-tropic fibrotropic viruses isolated previously from strain C57BL/Ka mice. This new isolate is believed to have originated from recombinational events which had taken place between the B-tropical viral genome endogenous to the C57BL/Ka fibroblasts and the exogenous N-tropic virus used to infect these cells.
Pediatric restrictive cardiomyopathy associated with a mutation in β-myosin heavy chain

Most children do not have a known cause of cardiomyopathy which limits the potential for disease-specific therapies. Of the different phenotypic presentations of cardiomyopathy, the restrictive form carries the poorest prognosis and has the lowest rate of identification of etiology. We present the first description of a beta-myosin heavy chain gene mutation in an infant with restrictive cardiomyopathy requiring cardiac transplantation. As demonstrated by three-dimensional protein structure modeling, the missense mutation is in a highly conserved amino acid at the critical binding region for the essential light chain. This case emphasizes that mutations in sarcomeric proteins, which are known to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in adults, may be associated with the development of restrictive physiology in childhood. Identification of the genetic basis of pediatric cardiomyopathy has important implications for management and genetic counseling.
Yeast HAP1 activator competes with the factor RC2 for binding to the upstream activation site UAS1 of the CYC1 gene

We show that the yeast HAP1 activator locus encodes a protein that binds in vitro to the upstream activation site, UAS1, of the CYC1 gene (iso-1-cytochrome c). Binding of wild-type HAP1 and truncated HAP1 derivatives to UAS1 is evident in crudely fractionated yeast extracts using the gel electrophoresis DNA binding assay. The binding of HAP1 in vitro, like the activity of UAS1 in vivo, is stimulated by heme. HAP1 binds to region B, one of two portions of UAS1 shown to be important by genetic analysis of the site. Surprisingly, HAP1 binds to the same sequence as a second factor, RC2. Both HAP1 and RC2 bind to the same side of the helix, and make similar but not identical major and minor groove contacts that span two full turns. An additional factor that binds to the second important part of UAS1, the region A factor (RAF), is also identified. A model depicting the interplay of HAP1, RC2, and RAF in the control of UAS1 is presented.
The effect of an orally active leukotriene (LT) antagonist YM-16638 on antigen-induced early and late airway responses in allergic sheep.

In this study we examined the effects of an orally active leukotriene (LT) antagonist YM-16638 [[5-[[3-(4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-2-propyl-phenoxy)propyl]thio]-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl]thio] acetic acid on antigen-induced early and late responses in allergic sheep. For all studies YM-16638 was administered via intragastric tube 1 h before airway challenge with Ascaris suum antigen. Six allergic sheep were challenged on four occasions (2 control and 2 drug trials) each greater than or equal to 14 days apart and the tests were conducted in the following order: control-1; YM-16638 30 mg/kg; control-2; YM-16638 10 mg/kg. Specific lung resistance (SRL) was used as an index of the airway response to antigen and was measured before and serially after antigen challenge. In both control trials antigen challenge resulted in significant early and late airway responses (i.e. increases in SRL); however, there was a significant difference between the peak late increases of SRL in control-1 (206%) and control-2 (115%) suggesting a carry-over effect of the 30 mg/kg dose of YM-16638. At both doses, YM-16638 reduced the early response and blocked the late response when compared to either control trial. These results suggest that sulfidopeptide LTs contribute to both antigen-induced early and late airway responses in allergic sheep.
Developing Patient-Centered Services, Part 2: Building a Hybrid Pharmacy Practice Model:

The Director's Forum series is edited by Robert Weber and Scott Mark and is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. We had originally planned a 2-part series on developing a pharmacy practice model that is patient centered; but because of the response, we have expanded the series to 4 parts. This month's article is the second in the series. This article provides the pharmacy director with a primer on the types, development, and implementation characteristics of pharmacy practice models.
Two-cue discrimination learning by pigtail monkeys

Twelve monkeys were given a discrimination between black vertical and white horizontal rectangles and then given preference tests with original positive and negative stimuli paired with white vertical, black horizontal, white and black diagonal rectangles, and white and black circles. Ss responded more to circles than to other preference stimuli early in preference testing but less later, suggesting a novelty effect. Preference for the reinforced brightness was significantly higher than for the reinforced orientation.
dictyBase—a Dictyostelium bioinformatics resource update

dictyBase (http://dictybase.org) is the model organism database for Dictyostelium discoideum. It houses the complete genome sequence, ESTs and the entire body of literature relevant to Dictyostelium. This information is curated to provide accurate gene models and functional annotations, with the goal of fully annotating the genome. This dictyBase update describes the annotations and features implemented since 2006, including improved strain and phenotype representation, integration of predicted transcriptional regulatory elements, protein domain information, biochemical pathways, improved searching and a wiki tool that allows members of the research community to provide annotations.
Microwave ablation with triaxial antennas tuned for lung: results in an in vivo porcine model.

Purpose: To prospectively determine in swine the size and shape of coagulation zones created in normal lung tissue by using small-diameter triaxial microwave antennas and to prospectively quantify the effects of bronchial occlusion and multiple antennas on the coagulation zone. Materials and Methods: The study was approved by the research animal care and use committee, and all husbandry and experimental studies were compliant with the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Twenty-four coagulation zones (three per animal) were created at thoracotomy in eight female domestic swine (mean weight, 55 kg) by using a microwave ablation system with 17-gauge lung-tuned triaxial antennas. Ablations were performed for 10 minutes each by using (a) a single antenna, (b) a single antenna with bronchial occlusion, and (c) an array of three antennas powered simultaneously. The animals were sacrificed immediately after ablation. The coagulation zones were excised en bloc and sectione...
A Defective Child is Born: A Study of Mothers of Newborns with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

Eleven mothers of children born with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus gave firsthand information about the problems they had during their first 7 postpartum days. Among the most heavily reported concerns were the fear that they had done something prenatally to cause the babies' defects and the pressure they felt to be brave and put up u good front. The study also revealed that while each of the mothers had fears und concerns typically attributed to mothers of defective newborns, only 3 of them were counseled regarding these feelings and only 6 were referred to community agencies for continuing assistance. Among other findings were that the majority of the respondents recommended placement in nonprivate rooms and that most of the women found comments like “You can always have another baby” to be useless and, in some cases, harmful. Recommendations made by the participants in the study may be valuable in planning the care of other mothers in similar circumstances.
Emergency Hospital Admissions for Cardiovascular Diseases and Ambient Levels of Carbon Monoxide Results for 126 United States Urban Counties, 1999–2005

Background— Evidence on risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospitalization associated with short-term exposure to outdoor carbon monoxide (CO), an air pollutant primarily generated by traffic, is inconsistent across studies. Uncertainties remain on the degree to which associations are attributable to other traffic pollutants and whether effects persist at low levels. Methods and Results— We conducted a multisite time-series study to estimate risk of CVD hospitalization associated with short-term CO exposure in 126 US urban counties during 1999–2005 for >9.3 million Medicare enrollees aged ≥65 years. We considered models with adjustment by other traffic-related pollutants: NO2, fine particulate matter (with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm), and elemental carbon. We found a positive and statistically significant association between same-day CO and increased risk of hospitalization for multiple CVD outcomes (ischemic heart disease, heart rhythm disturbances, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, total CVD)....
Self‐designed training for mental health advisory/governing boards

This paper describes and evaluates a training program designed for and by mental health advisory~governing board members. A group fo 14 persons representing 11 different boards and the major ethnic and economic groups in an urban community participated in program planning. This group selected the content, format, and intensity of the curriculum and suggested consultant~facilitators. A total of 40 trainees in four separate groups participated in the advisory~governing board curriculum. Participants gave superior ratings to each of the nine items evaluating the training session. Pre and post content-retention measures administered to two of the training groups indicated that each group significantly increased percent of answers correct. Respondents to the interviews stated that their training was useful and that it influenced member, board, and center functioning irrespective of years on board, type of board, officer status, and training group membership.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Bimodal Acoustic Agglomeration

The interaction between fly ash particles (first mode) and sorbent particles (second mode) in coal combustion processes is studied under the influence of a low frequency, high intensity acoustic field. The effect of bimodal acoustic agglomeration is evaluated in a numerical sensitivity analysis on parameters such as residence time in the combustion chamber and mass loading of the particle modes. An Acoustic Agglomeration Simulation Model (AASM) developed by Song at the Pennsylvania State University is used for these numerical studies. Experimental examinations carried out in a down-fired combustor show evidence of bimodal agglomeration and enhanced particle interaction under the influence of a low frequency (44 Hz), high intensity (160 dB) sound field. The results of the experiments are compared to the equivalent numerical studies and good agreement can be shown between the two sets of data.
Time related decay in prey antigens ingested by the predator Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) as detected by ELISA

Individual nymphs of the predaceous pentatomid Podisus maculiventris Say were each fed a single first instar Douglas Fir tussock moth larva, Orgyia pseudotsugata McDunnough, and held without further feeding at constant temperature for a known number of days before being frozen. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA, was used to examine these predators for the presence of prey antigens. The concentration of prey antigens in these predators declined at a linear rate over the 7 days they were held post-feeding. Detectable antigens remained in 50% of the predators after three days at 24°C. On the day in which the prey was consumed (day 0) only 80% of the unstarved predators had detectable prey antigens which suggests the possibility of instinctive killing of prey with little or no subsequent ingestion. The amount of prey antigen in molted and unmolted predators was not statistically distinguishable; although molting interrupts feeding, digestion of the antigen(s) employed in this study seems to be continuous.
Flow structure from an oscillating cylinder Part 1. Mechanisms of phase shift and recovery in the near wake

Cylinders of various cross-section were subjected to controlled oscillations in a direction transverse to the incident flow. Excitation was at frequency fe, relative to the formation frequency f*0 of large-scale vortices from the corresponding stationary cylinder, and at Reynolds numbers in the range 584 [les ] Re [les ] 1300. Modifications of the near wake were characterized by visualization of the instantaneous flow structure in conjunction with body displacement-flow velocity correlations.At fe/f*0 = ½, corresponding to subharmonic excitation, as well as at fe/f*0 = 1, the near wake structure is phase-locked (synchronized) to the cylinder motion. However, the synchronization mechanism is distinctly different in these two regimes. Near or at fe/f*0 = 1, the phase of the shed vortex with respect to the cylinder displacement switches by approximately π. Characteristics of this phase switch are related to cylinder geometry. It does not occur if the cylinder has significant afterbody.Over a wide range of fe/f*0, the perturbed near wake rapidly recovers to a largescale antisymmetrical mode similar in form to the well-known Karman vortex street. The mechanisms of small-scale (fe) vortex interaction leading to recovery of the large-scale (f0) vortices are highly ordered and repeatable, though distinctly different, for superharmonic excitation (fe/f*0 = n = 2, 3, 4) and non-harmonic excitation (non-integer values of fe/f*0).The frequency f0 of the recovered vortex street downstream of the body shows substantial departure from the shedding frequency f*0 from the corresponding stationary body. It locks-on to resonant modes corresponding to f0/fe = 1/n. This wake response involves strictly hydrodynamic phenomena. It shows, however, a resonant behaviour analogous to that of coupled flow-acoustic systems where the shear layer is convectively unstable
The self-cooling of charged particle beams in a straight line

A method of decreasing the beam emittance is considered using intrabeam Coulomb scattering of particles during the processes of beam formation and acceleration. The necessary conditions for efficient heat transfer from transverse degrees of freedom into longitudinal ones are formulated, and the principal limitations on the rate of cooling and achievable temperature are established. An example of the self-cooling is given for the case of a beam formed and accelerated in the space charge regime and in the presence of an external accompanying magnetic field. >
Psychophysical and Behavioral Characteristics of Olfactory Adaptation

Sensory adaptation allows organisms to reach behavioral equilibrium with the ambient environment and respond primarily to changes in stimulation. Given its functional significance, it is not surprising that adaptation in the olfactory system exhibits many of the same characteristics as adaptation in other sensory systems, including vision. Repeated or prolonged exposure to an odorant typically leads to stimulus-specific decreases in olfactory sensitivity to that odorant, but sensitivity recovers over time in the absence of further exposure. Psychophysical analysis shows that olfactory adaptation results in elevations in odor thresholds and in reduced responsiveness to suprathreshold stimulation. Further, the magnitude of the decrease and the time course of adaptation and recovery are dependent on the concentration of the odor and on the duration of exposure. It is generally agreed that olfactory adaptation can occur at multiple levels in the olfactory system and can involve both peripheral (receptor level) and more central (post-receptor) components. Evidence for peripheral and central involvement comes from studies showing that monorhinal stimulation results in adaptation in both the ipsilateral and contralateral nostril, although the degree of adaptation in the ipsilateral nostril is more profound and recovery is slower. Additional evidence for central involvement comes from studies that have found relatively small decreases in peripheral response following repeated stimulation despite substantial reductions in perceived intensity. Most psychophysical studies of adaptation, however, have not differentiated the peripheral and central processes. Although relatively few in number, studies of the parametric features of olfactory adaptation in both vertebrate (e.g. rat) and invertebrate (e.g. Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans) animal models appear to replicate the findings in psychophysical studies of adult humans. Despite the broad overall similarity of olfactory adaptation to adaptation in other sensory systems, olfactory adaptation exhibits some unique features. Adaptation in olfaction has been shown to be very long-lasting in some cases and may be modulated by the contribution of pre-neural events and physico-chemical properties of the odorant molecules that govern diffusion to receptor sites and post-receptor clearance.