cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical detection of P-glycoprotein in tissues from horses afflicted with equine motor neuron disease

P-glycoproteins (P-gp) are transmemebrane glycoproteins associated with the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. The P-gp functions as an ATP-dependent transporter of a diverse xenobiotic and pharmologic compounds to effectively lower their intracellular concentration. As such, P-gp is believed to be a significant component of the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) in mammals. We carried out a study to investigate whether P-gp could be detected in normal and in horses afflicted with equine motor neuron disease (EMND). Fresh samples were harvested at necropsy from seven horses diagnosed with EMND and three control horses and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen until processing. The samples included tissues from the adrenal gland, kidney, liver, small intestine, brain stem, and spinal cord. These tissues were evaluated for P-gp immunoreactivity using monoclonal antibody (C494). Normal and EMND afflicted horses expressed the P-gp at similar levels in the adrenal cortex (100%), the renal proximal tubules (57%), and small intestinal enterocytes (60%). There was no significant difference in the P-gp expression rates between the EMND affected horses and controls. None of the liver and central nervous tissue samples exhibited any P-gp staining. The overall results of our investigation indicate that abundant P-gp expression can be detected in some of the equine tissues using the immunohistochemical methods. The ability to detect P-gp in equine tissues might help in determining its specific role in the etiology of EMND.
Diurnal variations in optical depth at Mars

Viking lander camera images of the Sun were used to compute atmospheric optical depth at two sites over a period of 1 to 1/3 martian years. The complete set of 1044 optical depth determinations is presented in graphical and tabular form. Error estimates are presented in detail. Otpical depths in the morning (AM) are generally larger than in the afternoon (PM). The AM-PM differences are ascribed to condensation of water vapor into atmospheric ice aerosols at night and their evaporation in midday. A smoothed time series of these differences shows several seasonal peaks. These are simulated using a one-dimensional radiative convective model which predicts martial atmospheric temperature profiles. A calculation combinig these profiles with water vapor measurements from the Mars Atmospheric Water Detector is used to predict when the diurnal variations of water condensation should occur. The model reproduces a majority of the observed peaks and shows the factors influencing the process. Diurnal variation of condensation is shown to peak when the latitude and season combine to warm the atmosphere to the optimum temperature, cool enough to condense vapor at night and warm enough to cause evaporation at midday.
Pressure Effect on the Density of Water

A simple two-state structural model has been shown capable of quantitatively unifying oxygen-related properties of liquid water. The key variables, which remain invariant among all properties studied, are the pressure-/temperature-dependent densities and fractional compositions of the two contributing structures. In this paper, the pressure dependence of these variables for different temperatures is evaluated from density measurements of water for pressures up to 8 kbar. Data derived earlier from isothermal compressibilities provided only the leading term in the steep pressure dependence of these quantities. This leading term is found here to provide a good representation of the density of water in the pressure range from 1 to 1026 bar for 0 ≤ t ≤ 40 °C. A correctly curved pressure dependence is introduced for the accurate description of pressure-dependent properties such as the refractive index of water and the pressure denaturation of proteins, where the experimental pressure range usually exceeds 1 kbar.
Effect of SP3/(SP2+SP3) Carbon Fraction on the Photoelectric Threshold and Electron Affinity of Diamond Films

We report a significant decrease in the photoelectric threshold of chemical vapor deposition grown diamond films as the fraction of sp 3 carbon to sp 2 plus sp 3 carbon in the films decreases. Raman spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are used to characterize the different forms of carbon in the films and the sp 3 /( sp 2 + sp 3 ) carbon fraction at the surface. We observe a decrease in the photoelectric threshold from 4.5 eV to 3.9 eV as the sp 3 /( sp 2 + sp 3 ) carbon fraction at the surface decreases from 71% to 55%. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy of the films shows that they have a negative electron affinity surface. Therefore, the work function of the films decreases from 4.5 eV to 3.9 eV. We propose that the decrease in photoelectric threshold is due to a decrease in the band gap of sp 2 - sp 3 carbon networks at the grain boundaries. The observed decrease in photoelectric threshold can be used to tailor the electronic properties of diamond films for specific applications.
Should Statin Therapy Be Allocated on the Basis of Global Risk or on the Basis of Randomized Trial Evidence

Current clinical guidelines recommend the use of a global risk assessment tool, such as those pioneered by the Framingham Heart Study, to determine eligibility for statin therapy in patients with absolute risk levels greater than a certain threshold. In support of this approach, several randomized trials have reported that patients with high absolute risk clearly benefit from statin therapy. Therefore, the guideline recommendations would seem intuitive and effective, albeit on the core assumption that the mortality and morbidity benefits associated with statin therapy would be greatest in those with high predicted absolute risk. However, if this assumption is incorrect, using predicted absolute risk to guide statin therapy could easily result in underuse in some groups and overuse in others. Herein, the authors question the utility of global risk assessment strategies based on the Framingham risk score for guiding statin therapy in light of current data that have become available from more recent and robust prospective randomized clinical trials since the publication of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Moreover, the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines do not support treatment of some patients who may benefit from statin therapy. In conclusion, the authors propose an alternative approach for incorporating more recent randomized trial data into future statin allocation algorithms and treatment guidelines.
Controlled mating, karyology, morphology, and sex-ratio in the Dendroctonus ponderosae complex.

Laboratory mating experiments and observations on developmental rate, karyology, and morphology confirm the recent synonymy of Dendroctonus monticolae Hopkins with D. ponderosae Hopkins, but establish the species integrity of D. jeffreyi Hopkins, also previously considered a synonym of ponderosae. D. monticolae from British Columbia and 8 California localities were interfertile and morphologically similar. D. ponderosae from Colorado were interfertile with monticolae from California, but their mean pronotal widths, 2.44 mm and 2.10 mm, respectively, and indices of pronotal punctation, 5.43 and 6.12, respectively, were very significantly different. D. monticolae and its hybrid with ponderosae showed the karyotypic formula 11AA + Neo-XY. D. jeffreyi is larger (pronotal width = 2.63 mm) and its pronotum less densely punctured (index = 4.19) than monticolae and ponderosae. The karyotype of jeffreyi is also 11AA + Neo-XY, but the Neo-X is usually constricted and 1.4 times longer than the Neo-Y while the Neo-X of monticolae is rarely constricted and only slightly larger than the Neo-Y. In addition, a tiny supernumerary chromosome was present in some jeffreyi. In reciprocal pairings of monticolae and jeffreyi, none of the 846 eggs laid by 21 monticolae females hatched, but 8 larvae and 1 sterile female resulted from 362 eggs laid by 10 jeffreyi females. Five pairings of jeffreyi and pondcrosae produced no brood. Several jeffreyi (control) pairings showed a marked reduction in egg hatchability and only female progeny were produced. A male-lethal factor attacking the embryos is suggested, but pedigree data are insufficient to determine whether chromosomal or cytoplasmic factors are involved.
Recent Advances in High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Manufacturing

Not enough attention has been devoted to developing the manufacturing processes required to transition fuel cell science into commercially viable products, despite clear recognition that cost and reliability are two key factors preventing more rapid introduction of the technology. Understandably, there is a natural reluctance of many companies to invest resources in manufacturing processes and systems for a product that is still evolving. Changes in materials, geometries, and even the basic fuel cell architecture can have profound effects on the viability of certain manufacturing processes and equipment. This situation suggests that modular flexible manufacturing processes be adopted to accommodate these uncertainties. Since 1999 researchers in the Center for Automation Technologies and Systems (CATS) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have focused on developing flexible manufacturing processes and systems for the manufacture of high temperature proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell components. One result has been a fully automated membrane and electrode assembly (MEA) pilot manufacturing line developed for BASF Fuel Cell, GmbH, formerly Pemeas, GmbH that has been operating since September of 2002. This pilot line has been designed as a highly flexible modular manufacturing system that is able to respond quickly and cost effectively to changes in product materials, geometries, and architectures. For example, the line has easily accommodated three generations of membrane materials and a broad range of MEA sizes and geometries. Because of this flexibility, short runs of prototype MEAs are feasible, and the pilot line is able to produce a high mix of a broad range of MEA sizes. The CATS research team continues to optimize manufacturing processes to provide in- creased capacity, consistency, reduced costs, and high product quality. This paper will describe the many challenges and risks associated with the development and implementation of an advanced manufacturing capability for high temperature PEM MEAs, and the continuing collaboration between the BASF Fuel Cell and the CATS. Specific examples of several technical challenges and the adopted solutions are presented, along with ongoing fuel cell manufacturing initiatives.
Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections: a review of epidemiology, clinical features, management, and prevention

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSA) infection is a global problem of epidemic proportions. Many of the patients who develop CAMRSA skin lesions do not have infection-associated risk factors. Abscess, abscess with accompanying cellulitis, and cellulitis are the most common presentations of cutaneous CAMRSA infection; occasionally, these CARMSA-related lesions are misinterpreted as spider or insect bites. Other manifestations of cutaneous CAMRSA infection include impetigo, folliculitis, and acute paronychia. The management of CAMRSA skin infection includes incision and drainage, systemic antimicrobial therapy, and adjuvant topical antibacterial treatment. In addition, at the initial visit, bacterial culture of the lesion should be considered. Direct skin-to-skin contact, damage to the skin surface, sharing of personal items, and a humid environment are potential mechanisms for the acquisition and transmission of cutaneous CAMRSA infection. Measures that strive to eliminate these causes are useful for preventing the spread of CAMRSA skin infection.
Challenge and Rechallenge: Drotrecogin alfa (activated)–Induced Prolongation of Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time in a Patient with Severe Sepsis

An 81-year-old woman with ischemic bowel underwent laparotomy with small-bowel resection and developed septic shock. She required broadspectrum antibiotics, norepinephrine, and mechanical ventilation. The patient received drotrecogin alfa (activated) 24 microg/kg/hour for a total of 67.5 hours. Coagulation parameters were monitored during her therapy. Significant increases in activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) during infusion led to two temporary discontinuations of the drug. Coagulation parameters decreased when the drug was held and increased with each rechallenge. The patient survived the episode and was discharged on postoperative day 27. Medical records of 26 other patients who received drotrecogin alfa (activated) at our institution from November 2001-August 2003 were reviewed retrospectively for coagulation parameters and bleeding rate. Of the 26 patients, nine (35%) were treatment compliant (>90% of the 96-hr course). Coagulopathy and bleeding resulted in early discontinuation in four (15%) and six (23%) patients, respectively. An increase in aPTT from baseline to during infusion of drotrecogin alfa (activated) was noted in 14 patients with complete data (p=0.56). A decrease in median platelet count from baseline to during infusion was noted in the six patients who bled during therapy (p=0.01). Two of these patients had platelet counts less than 30x10(3)/mm3 during administration. Drotrecogin alfa (activated) should be considered an anticoagulant. In postmarketing reports, clinically significant bleeding occurred more frequently than was noted in a large, randomized, multicenter trial. Patients receiving drotrecogin alfa (activated) should be closely monitored for prolongation of coagulation parameters. Temporary discontinuation of the drug should be considered when international normalized ratio is greater than 3.0, platelet count is less than 15x10(3)/mm3, and aPTT is greater than 100 seconds.
Ascertainment of intimate partner violence in women seeking legal protection

Background Brief questions are necessary for identification of women seeking emergency professional services for intimate partner violence (IPV), and for initiating dialogue with women presenting for care who have previously reported abuse. We compare three questions that inquire about physical and psychological abuse to the Conflict Tactics Scale, version 2 (CTS-2) in a cohort of women seeking legal protection for IPV. Methods A total of 448 urban women reporting IPV to police or the court system completed surveys at 8 weeks (baseline), and 5 and 10 months after the incident to assess IPV. Sensitivity and specificity of brief questions on physical assault/abuse (one question) and psychological abuse (two questions) were assessed at baseline and in the periods between baseline and follow-up, using items from the CTS-2 reflecting minor and severe physical and psychological IPV as reference standards. Results Compared to the CTS-2 severe items, the physical abuse question at baseline detected 93% of abused women, and the two psychological abuse questions 94%. Sensitivity varied at follow-up (74% to 95% for physical, and 89% to 90% psychological), but remained higher when the severe versus minor CTS-2 items were reference standards. Specificity was reasonable for the physical question compared to the severe CTS-2 section (77% to 95%), but was more varied for the psychological questions (29% to 74%). Conclusions Three brief questions reasonably identified women who experienced severe IPV and sought legal protection. The low specificity of the psychological questions suggests that women's abuse experience may not fit within the CTS-2 framework. The three questions should be considered for further testing in real-world settings as a tool for initiating conversation with women about abuse.
Synthesis and nicotinic activity of epiboxidine: an isoxazole analogue of epibatidine.

Abstract Synthetic (±)-epiboxidine (exo-2-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane) is a methylisoxazole analog of the alkaloid epibatidine, itself a potent nicotinic receptor agonist with antinociceptive activity. Epiboxidine contains a methylisoxazolyl ring replacing the chloropyridinyl ring of epibatidine. Thus, it is also an analog of another nicotinic receptor agonist, ABT 418 (( S )-3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole), in which the pyridinyl ring of nicotine has been replaced by the methylisoxazolyl ring. Epiboxidine was about 10-fold less potent than epibatidine and about 17-fold more potent than ABT 418 in inhibiting [ 3 H]nicotine binding to α 4 β 2 nicotinic receptors in rat cerebral cortical membranes. In cultured cells with functional ion flux assays, epiboxidine was nearly equipotent to epibatidine and 200-fold more potent than ABT 418 at α 3 β 4(5) nicotinic receptors in PC12 cells. Epiboxidine was about 5-fold less potent than epibatidine and about 30-fold more potent than ABT 418 in TE671 cells with α 1 β 1 γδ nicotinic receptors. In a hot-plate antinociceptive assay with mice, epiboxidine was about 10-fold less potent than epibatidine. However, epiboxidine was also much less toxic than epibatidine in mice.
Health professionals need a new perspective on cosmetic surgery

David B. Sarwer, PhD , is Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry and Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Cosmetic surgery has become increasingly popular among women (and men) from a variety of age, racial, and socioeconomic groups. The latest statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery indicate that more than 4.6 million cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures were performed in 1999.1 This represents a 66% increase in the total number of procedures just since 1998.1 The rapidly increasing popularity of cosmetic surgery means that internists, obstetrician-gynecologists, and many other health care professionals are being and will be called on to provide appropriate advice and guidance to their patients concerning cosmetic procedures. Thus, as I stated in recent testimony before a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel considering the safety and efficacy of saline-filled breast implants, …
Disruptive sexual selection in Colias eurytheme butterflies

Abstract Sexual selection on male pheromone composition in Colias eurytheme (Pieridae) butterflies has the remarkable effect of increasing the variability of this trait. Sexual selection on important traits is generally thought to have a strong stabilizing effect on intraspecific variation of those characters. In this species, however, the male courtship pheromone is highly variable in the relative proportions of its three chemical constituents. Stabilization and/or canalization of this polygenic character in a population is impeded by the disproportionate mating success of males in one portion of the character distribution with alba (white morph) females, and of those in the opposite portion with orange (colored morph) females.
An Approach for Evaluating Epoxy Adhesives for Use in Hybrid Microelectronic Assembly

An evaluation program is described for selecting epoxy adhesives for use in hybrid microelectronics assemblies. A simple, effective screening method has been devised which allows the selection of a minimum set of epoxy adhesives that provides all the essential adhesives functions. The final selection of the adhesives is verified by physical testing of the adhesives in selected typical applications. The importance of initially determining the explicit adhesive requirements of the user's hybrid assembly is stressed as a tool for selection of epoxies to be screened. Experimental details of the screening process are described. The selection of epoxies for evaluation is derived by a process of elimination from the experimental results
Synthesis of a perfluoroalkyl-substituted α-diimine by Sm-mediated reductive coupling

Abstract Samarium iodide mediates the reductive coupling of imidoyl iodide 1 to the corresponding enediamine 2 , which is oxidized by manganese dioxide to an N , N ′-diaryl-α-diimine 3 . Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that 2 crystallizes in the E , E -geometry, with a substantial nonplanarity of the NC–CN moiety, allowing a π-stacking interaction between the N -aryl rings. Unlike its 2,3-dimethyl analogue, 3 resists formation of chelates with palladium(II) or platinum(II).
Comparison of passive sensitization of skin and lung of human being and ileum and lung of monkey with sera of ragweed-sensitive patients

Abstract The chopped-lung technique with the use of human and monkey tissues for passive sensitization with human sera of subjects allergic to ragweed has been elaborated. The passive sensitization of the lung tissue could be demonstrated by means of histamine release. The chopped-lung technique was compared with two other techniques of tissue passive sensitization: the Schultz-Dale (S-D) test with monkey ileum and the Prausnitz-Kustner (P-K) test with human skin. It was demonstrated that most probably the same antibody participated in the passive sensitization of chopped monkey or human lungs, monkey ileum, and human skin. This antibody was heat labile. An evaluation was made of the tissue passive-sensitization techniques for the detection of reaginic antibodies. The S-D test is the most sensitive among the discussed techniques. The chopped-lung technique has a good reproducibility but is less sensitive. The classical P-K test is still the simplest method for measuring reagin but, theoretically, may be potentially harmful to the recipient.
COMPUTERIZATION OF PAPER-AND-PENCIL TESTS : WHEN ARE THEY EQUIVALENT ?

The cross-mode equivalence of paper-and-pencil (P&P) and computer-based clerical tests was examined. 411 undergraduate students at two large Midwestern universities were administered 10 timed clerical tests. Although Mead & Drasgow's (1993) meta-analysis found that speededness moderated cross-mode equivalence, the current study found no differences across modes between P&P tests and computer-based tests (CBTs). When speeded CBTs follow the same administration and response procedures as the P&P format, differences across modes can be minimized. Equivalence is discussed at three levels: parallel, r-equivalent, and congeneric. The statistical and practical implications of test equivalence are presented. Although structural equation modeling determined the tests to be congeneric, results showed only small distributional differences cross-modally. No differential validity across formats was found.
Synthesis of Amino Acids by the Heating of Formaldehyde and Ammonia

The heating of formaldehyde and ammonia yields a product that, on hydrolysis, is converted into seven amino acids: aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, proline, valine, glycine, and alanine. Glycine is the predominant amino acid. Inasmuch as formaldehyde and ammonia have been identified as compounds in galactic clouds, these experimental results are interpreted in a cosmochemical and geochemical context.
Simplified Prediction of Ply Steer in Radial Tires

Abstract Ply steer is a rolling contact phenomenon which manifests itself as a lateral force acting at the ground plane of a tire constrained in yaw or a change in slip angle of a tire free to yaw. It has long been known that radial tires generally exhibit greater ply steer than do bias tires. However, the only previously published quantitative analysis of this phenomenon considered the multi‐layer cord‐rubber composite by means of netting analysis, which is not very accurate at cord angles typical of radial tire belts. A simple, explicit expression is developed herein by combining modern composite laminate theory with two very simple, uniform‐stress‐state tire‐road contact models. The ply‐steer results predicted by the resulting expressions are compared with some experimental results and the agreement is found to be reasonably satisfactory.
Peristaltic flow of urine in the renal papillary collecting ducts of hamsters

Urine movements in the papillary collecting ducts were studied visually, in vivo, through the intact renal pelvic wall in anesthetized (Inactin 150 mg/kg) hamsters having a normal range of urine flow rates (0.5 to 3.8 microliters.min(-1).100 g of body wt-1). Urine was given a contrasting color by a continuous i.v. infusion of lissamine green (0.5 to 2%) in saline. The lower renal pelvis with about 1.3 mm of the renal papilla was illuminated with a fiber optic light, and the movements of urine in the medullary collecting ducts were observed and filmed through a dissecting microscope. Urine flow was determined indirectly by measuring changes in the urinary bladder diameter, and the rate of urine formation was manipulated by changing the rate of lissamine green-saline infusion. Urine, propelled by pelvic peristaltic waves, moved as discreet boluses in a pulsatile fashion through the papillary collecting ducts. The length of the urine boluses and the percent of time the papillary collecting ducts were in contact with urine increased in direct proportion to urine flow. At the lowest urine flow rate, the papillary collecting ducts (at 1.0 mm from the tip) were empty 94% of the time. The velocity (1.6 +/- 0.1 mm.sec-1) and frequency (12.6 +/- 0.5 contractions.min-1) of the pelvic peristaltic waves were not related to urine flow rate. The renal pelvic contractions were also observed to cause discontinuous blood flow in the vasa recta. In the context of Stephenson's mass balance equation for the concentration ratio of the kidney, the discontinuous fluid movements imposed by the renal pelvis may resulted in an increased urine concentrating ability.
Characterization of Alkaloids By Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is a useful new technique for structure determination of alkaloids in solution. Incredibly clean spectra of quinine, strychnine, solasodine, yohimbine, pentazocine and metazocine show only the protonated molecular ion. Increasing the repeller voltage leads to fragmentation showing structural information similar to EI. Non-basic alkaloids such as colchicine show much weaker M+H+ and M+Na+ ions.
The hydrolysis of insulin and human serum albumin in dilute hydrochloric acid.

Abstract Insulin, which contains two internally situated asparagine residues and one C-terminal asparagine residue, was used as a model compound to study the specificity of protein hydrolysis in dilute hydrochloric acid. Changes occurring in aspartic acid, ammonia (arising from the hydrolysis of amide bonds), and α-amino nitrogen were determined throughout the course of hydrolysis. The results indicated that quantitative cleavage of asparagine and glutamine amide bonds and aspartic acid peptide bonds occurred. Determinations of N-terminal residues in insulin partial hydrolyzates revealed that cleavage of some serine and threonine peptide bonds occurred, but no other unexpected N-terminal residues were noted. The fragmentation in dilute acid of the proteins of the albumin fraction of human serum was studied by measuring changes in the total α-amino nitrogen content of four subfractions of albumin partial hydrolyzates, and additional evidence concerning the specificity of dilute acid hydrolysis was obtained. A peptide was isolated in good yield from an albumin dilute acid hydrolyzate and was partially characterized.
On the continuous analog of Rakhmanov's Theorem for orthogonal polynomials

Abstract We obtain the continuous analogs of Rakhmanov's Theorem for polynomials orthogonal on the unit circle. Sturm–Liouville operators and Krein systems are considered. For a Sturm–Liouville operator with bounded potential q , we prove the following statement. If the essential spectrum and absolutely continuous component of the spectral measure fill the whole positive half-line, then q decays at infinity in the certain integral sense.
Cytokines as therapeutic targets for osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating, progressive disease of diarthrodial joints associated with the aging process. With the exception of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which inhibit cyclo-oxygenase-2, the enzyme responsible for prostaglandin biosynthesis in inflammation, no specific therapy based on fundamental intracellular pathways of chondrocytes and synoviocytes exists for the medical management of OA. At the molecular level, OA is characterized by an imbalance between chondrocyte anabolism and catabolism. Disruption of chondrocyte homeostasis primarily affects the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM), which is responsible for the biomechanical properties of the tissue. Recent evidence has implicated cytokines, among which interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, and IL-17 seem most involved in the OA process of cartilage destruction. The primary role of these cytokines is to modulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and cartilage ECM proteins. Cartilage repair that could restore the functional integrity of the joint is also impaired because chondrocytes in OA cartilage appear unable to respond to insulin-like growth factor-1 or respond abnormally to transforming growth factor-β. As these growth factors also modulate cytokine expression, they may prove useful in designing strategies for suppressing ‘chondrocyte activation’. Although cytokines and growth factors provide a potential therapeutic target for OA, it will be necessary to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms that cytokines employ to cause chondrocyte and synoviocyte dysfunction before ‘anti-cytokine’ therapy can be employed in the medical management of the disease.
Texture and Scale in Object-Based Analysis of Subdecimeter Resolution Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imagery

Imagery acquired with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has great potential for incorporation into natural resource monitoring protocols due to their ability to be deployed quickly and repeatedly and to fly at low altitudes. While the imagery may have high spatial resolution, the spectral resolution is low when lightweight off-the-shelf digital cameras are used, and the inclusion of texture measures can potentially increase the classification accuracy. Texture measures have been used widely in pixel-based image analysis, but their use in an object-based environment has not been well documented. Our objectives were to determine the most suitable texture measures and the optimal image analysis scale for differentiating rangeland vegetation using UAV imagery segmented at multiple scales. A decision tree was used to determine the optimal texture features for each segmentation scale. Results indicated the following: (1) The error rate of the decision tree was lower; (2) prediction success was higher; (3) class separability was greater; and (4) overall accuracy was higher (high 90% range) at coarser segmentation scales. The inclusion of texture measures increased classification accuracies at nearly all segmentation scales, and entropy was the texture measure with the highest score in most decision trees. The results demonstrate that UAVs are viable platforms for rangeland monitoring and that the drawbacks of low-cost off-the-shelf digital cameras can be overcome by including texture measures and using object-based image analysis which is highly suitable for very high resolution imagery.
Protein engineering of epoxide hydrolase from Agrobacterium radiobacter AD1 for enhanced activity and enantioselective production of (R)-1-phenylethane-1,2-diol.

DNA shuffling and saturation mutagenesis of positions F108, L190, I219, D235, and C248 were used to generate variants of the epoxide hydrolase of Agrobacterium radiobacter AD1 (EchA) with enhanced enantioselectivity and activity for styrene oxide and enhanced activity for 1,2-epoxyhexane and epoxypropane. EchA variant I219F has more than fivefold-enhanced enantioselectivity toward racemic styrene oxide, with the enantiomeric ratio value (E value) for the production of (R)-1-phenylethane-1,2-diol increased from 17 for the wild-type enzyme to 91, as well as twofold-improved activity for the production of (R)-1-phenylethane-1,2-diol (1.96 ± 0.09 versus 1.04 ± 0.07 μmol/min/mg for wild-type EchA). Computer modeling indicated that this mutation significantly alters (R)-styrene oxide binding in the active site. Another three variants from EchA active-site engineering, F108L/C248I, I219L/C248I, and F108L/I219L/C248I, also exhibited improved enantioselectivity toward racemic styrene oxide in favor of production of the corresponding diol in the (R) configuration (twofold enhancement in their E values). Variant F108L/I219L/C248I also demonstrated 10-fold- and 2-fold-increased activity on 5 mM epoxypropane (24 ± 2 versus 2.4 ± 0.3 μmol/min/mg for the wild-type enzyme) and 5 mM 1,2-epoxyhexane (5.2 ± 0.5 versus 2.6 ± 0.0 μmol/min/mg for the wild-type enzyme). Both variants L190F (isolated from a DNA shuffling library) and L190Y (created from subsequent saturation mutagenesis) showed significantly enhanced activity for racemic styrene oxide hydrolysis, with 4.8-fold (8.6 ± 0.3 versus 1.8 ± 0.2 μmol/min/mg for the wild-type enzyme) and 2.7-fold (4.8 ± 0.8 versus 1.8 ± 0.2 μmol/min/mg for the wild-type enzyme) improvements, respectively. L190Y also hydrolyzed 1,2-epoxyhexane 2.5 times faster than the wild-type enzyme.
Unimolecular Precursors to Binary Metal Sulfides: Mechanistic and Structural Correlations

The roles which ligand size and stability play in influencing solid-state thermolyses products and phases are developed for a group of metal thiolate compounds. The exploration includes Pb(SR){sub 2} [R = t-Bu, i-Bu, s-Bu], Cd(SR*){sub 2} [R* = i-Pr, t-Bu, Bz], ClHgSR** [R** = i-Pr, neo-Pent, Bz] and In(SR***){sub 3} [R*** = 2,4,6-(i-Pr){sub 3}C{sub 6}H{sub 2}, 2-CH{sub 3}O-5-CH{sub 3}C{sub 6}H{sub 3}, o-C{sub 6}H{sub 4}CH{sub 2}N(CH{sub 3}){sub 2}]. In several examples, the precursors have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. In most cases, solid-state decomposition products have been identified by XRPD, and volatile decomposition products have been identified by GC/MS. All precursors have been studied by TGA.
A Data Aware Admission Control Technique for Social Live Streams (SOLISs)

A SOcial LIve Stream, SOLIS, is a live stream produced by a device whose owner is sharing the stream with her friends, granting each friend to perform time shifted viewing for a pre-specified duration. The system buffers this chase data to facilitate its browsing and display. In the presence of many Solis, memory may overflow and prevent display of some chase data. This paper presents a novel data-aware admission control, DA-AdmCtrl, technique that summarizes chase data pro-actively to maximize the number of admissible SOLISs with no memory overflow. It is designed for use with multi-core CPUs and maximizes utility of data whenever the user's level of satisfaction (utility) with different data formats is available.
Selective neck dissection following adjuvant therapy for advanced head and neck cancer.

Background. In the past, surgeons believed that in order to eradicate regional disease, a radical or modified radical neck dissection was necessary. An evolution in surgical princi- ples and the popularization of primary chemoradiation has raised the questions regarding the role of neck dissection and the extent of neck dissection following therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of selective neck dissection (SND) for patients with N2 or N3 disease following treatment with primary radiation therapy or chemoradiation. Methods. A retrospective review of 58 patients with stage III or IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma was conducted. The primary sites included base of tongue (n 5 15), hypo- pharynx (n 5 12), tonsil (n 5 16), larynx (n 5 11), and unknown primary (n 5 4). Definitive treatment consisted of either concomi- tant chemoradiation (67.2%) or external beam radiation therapy (32.8%). In the monotherapy group, all patients received a total curative dose of 66 to 72 Gy in once-daily fractions of 180 to 200 cGy. The combined chemoradiation group received a similar radiation schedule and a 4-day continuous infusion of cisplatin (20 mg/m 2 /day) and 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m 2 /day). A planned SND of levels II to IV was performed on all the patients 3 to 6 weeks after completion of definitive medical therapy. Results. Seventy neck dissections were performed on 58 patients with advanced neck disease following radiation or che- moradiation. The median time of follow-up was 34 months (range, 9-71 months) following the neck dissection. Pathologi- cally, 22.4% (13/58) of the patients had viable tumor cells identi- fied in the neck dissection specimen. Seventy-two percent of the patients are currently alive, and 28% died as a result of distant disease, local or regional recurrence, or other causes. Of patients who died from distant disease, 11% had pathological evidence of residual tumor cells identified in the neck dissection specimen. Of patients who died from local or regional disease, 50% had pathological evidence of residual tumor cells identified in the neck dissection specimen. Conclusion. The rate of regional recurrence following SND is similar to reported rates following modified/radical neck dissec- tion. This suggests that SND provides an appropriate surgical option for advanced neck disease in select patients following adjuvant therapy. V C 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 31: 183-188, 2009
Exploiting Occluding Contours for Real-Time 3D Tracking: A Unified Approach

Model-based 3D object tracking is fast and robust using 3D edges. However, traditional edge-based approaches have difficulty handling occluding contours of curved surfaces, since they are not static model edges but change with the viewpoint. In this paper we propose a unified approach to edge-based tracking where 3D edges including occluding contours are utilized. This is achieved through an analysis of local surface differential geometry, which provides the foundation for incorporating occluding contours of curved surfaces into edge-based tracking. This approach uses a simple parametrization of both types of model edges within the same framework. The proposed method has been tested within the context of an existing edge-based tracking system. The system can track both types of model edges in a very fast and robust manner. Experimental results on both synthetic and real scenes are provided, which confirm that occluding contours improve real-time 3D tracking performance.
Structure and Agency in the Holocaust: Daniel J. Goldhagen and His Critics

A striking aspect of the so-called Goldhagen debate has been the bifurcated reception Hitler's Willing Executioners has received: the enthusiastic welcome of journalists and the public was as warm as the impatient dismissal of most historians was cool. This article seeks to transcend the current impasse by analyzing the underlying issues of Holocaust research at stake here. It argues that a deep structure necessarily characterizes the historiography of the Holocaust, comprising a tension between its positioning in universalism and particularism narratives. While the former conceptualizes the Holocaust as an human tragedy and explains its occurrence in terms of processes common to modern societies, the latter casts its analysis in ethnic and national categories: the Holocaust as an exclusively German and Jewish affair. These narratives possess important implications for the balance of structure and human agency in the explanation of the Holocaust: where the universalism narrative emphasizes the role of impersonal structures in mediating human action, the particularism narrative highlights the agency of human actors. Although historical accounts usually combine these narratives, recent research on the Holocaust tends in the universalist direction, and this bears on the sensitive issue of responsibility for the Holocaust by problematizing the common-sense notion of the perpetrators' intention and responsibility. Goldhagen is responding to this trend, but by retreating to the particularism narrative and employing an inadequate definition of intention, he fails to move the debate forward. It is time to rethink the concept of intention in relation to events like the Holocaust.
Identification of a hepatitis B virus S gene mutant in lamivudine-treated patients experiencing HBsAg seroclearance

Background & Aims: Seroclearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) is a rare event in chronic hepatitis B patients receiving lamivudine therapy. It is generally believed to be a benevolent sign, implicating clearance of viremia. The aim of this study is to examine the authenticity of this dogma. Methods: In a 5-year period, 11 patients treated with lamivudine experienced seroclearance of HBsAg. The clinical data were examined. The HBV S gene sequences derived from the patient’s serum samples before and after seroclearance of HBsAg were analyzed. Results: Serum HBV-DNA could be detected by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in all 11 patients, by 1-step PCR in 8, and by Cobas Amplicor HBV-DNA test (>200 copies/mL) in 5. A mutation hot spot, P120A in the S gene, was identified in 6 of the 11 patients. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments indicated that the Ausria-II RIA test failed to detect this mutant. Decreased sensitivity of detection was also observed when other monoclonal antibodies were applied. Conclusions: Seroclearance of HBsAg during lamivudine therapy may not indicate viral clearance. Specifically, it may be caused by a point mutation in the S gene, which results in detection failure. In such patients, further verification and follow-up using a sensitive HBV-DNA test are advised.
Like mother, like offspring: maternal and offspring wound healing correlate in snakes

SUMMARY Immune function early in life can be influenced by parental effects and the environment, but it remains unclear how these two factors may interact to influence immunocompetence. We evaluated maternal and environmental contributions to offspring healing ability in a viviparous reptile, the northern watersnake ( Nerodia sipedon ). We measured wound healing rates, a highly integrative and biologically relevant measure of innate immunity, of females and their offspring collected from sites contaminated with a toxic heavy metal and compared them with those of individuals from reference sites. We found that female watersnakes that healed the fastest produced offspring that also exhibited faster healing rates. However, we detected no influence of environmental pollution on maternal or offspring healing rates. To our knowledge, our study is the first to correlate maternal and offspring wound healing ability in a wild vertebrate.
Synthesis and Radioprotective Effect of Zinc(II) Complexes with Cysteamine, Cysteine and Mercaptopropionylglycine

Complexes of Zn(II) with radioprotective thiol ligands such as cysteamine, L-cysteine and N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine have been synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for cytotoxicity and radioprotective effect. Zn2(N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine)2 when given intraperitoneally at a dose of 14.1 mgkg−1, 30 min before whole-body γ-irradiation (9.0 Gy, 1 Gy min−1), resulted in 68% 30-day survival of CD2F1 mice. This radioprotection was significantly better than that afforded by equimolar doses of ZnCl2 (7%), by N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine (0%), or by a mixture of ZnCl2 and N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine (0%). Zn(cysteamine)2 and Zn(L-cysteine)2 afforded 14% and 7% survival of CD2F1 mice. These data show that the radioprotective effect of thiols such as N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine can be enhanced by complexation with Zn(II).
The CELLULOSE SYNTHASE-LIKE A and CELLULOSE SYNTHASE-LIKE C families: recent advances and future perspectives

The CELLULOSE SYNTHASE (CESA) superfamily of proteins contains several sub-families of closely related CELLULOSE SYNTHASE-LIKE (CSL) sequences, Among these, the CSLA and CSLC families are closely related to each other and are the most evolutionarily divergent from the CESA family. Significant progress has been made with the functional characterization of CSLA and CSLC genes, which have been shown to encode enzymes with 1,4-B-glycan synthase activities involved in the biosynthesis of mannan and possibly xyloglucan backbones, respectively. This review examines recent work on the CSLA and CSLC families from evolutionary, molecular, and biochemical perspectives. We pose a series of questions, whose answers likely will provide further insight about the specific functions of members of the CSLA and CSLC families and about plant polysaccharide biosynthesis is general.
Geologic Rationale for Hydrocarbon Exploration in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions

Sedimentary basins in the Caribbean and adjacent areas are assessed in terms of the plate-tectonic and paleogeographic history of the regions. Primary phases of development were rifting and passive margin development during Jurassic-Cretaceous drift of North from South America, and the Late Cretaceous to Recent relative eastwards migration of the Caribbean Plate from the eastern Pacific area to its present position between North and South America.
Measurements of spatiotemporal dynamics in a forced plane mixing layer

We present an approach combining temporal dynamical systems methods with newly proposed spatial coupling measures - namely, coherence and cross-bicoherence - to identify and quantitatively describe low-dimensional dynamics in transitional open flows. The approach is used to describe a forced mixing layer as a low-dimensional temporal dynamical system and interpret its transitional vortex dynamics. Experiments were performed in an initially laminar plane mixing layer inside an anechoic chamber using forcing of the fundamental instability only ; the forcing frequency and amplitude are used as control parameters. Dynamical invariants calculated show that vortex roll-up and the feedback-driven first two pairing dynamics are well-described by one periodic and at least two low-dimensional chaotic attractors ; a phase diagram delineating such dynamical states in the control parameter space is presented. The large spatial extents of these feedback-sustained states (verified using coherence and cross-bicoherence), spanning many instability wavelengths downstream, indicate spatial coupling ; feedback has also been experimentally verified. At a fixed forcing frequency, as the forcing amplitude is decreased, the spatially coupled, periodic second pairing dynamics becomes chaotic and spatiotemporal (inferred from decay of coherence and cross-bicoherence) ; the dynamics in the domain that includes the first pairing, however, remains temporal. This loss of spatial coupling is accompanied by a sudden increase in the attractor dimension, and suggests spatiotemporal chaos. The combination of dynamical systems theory and spatial measures seems to be a promising approach to probe spatiotemporal dynamics in other open flows as well.
PTPH1 Dephosphorylates and Cooperates with p38γ MAPK to Increase Ras Oncogenesis through PDZ-Mediated Interaction

Protein phosphatases are believed to coordinate with kinases to execute biological functions, but examples of such integrated activities, however, are still missing. In this report, we have identified protein tyrosine phosphatase H1 (PTPH1) as a specific phosphatase for p38γ mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and shown their cooperative oncogenic activity through direct binding. p38γ, a Ras effector known to act independent of its phosphorylation, was first shown to require its unique PDZ-binding motif to increase Ras transformation. Yeast two-hybrid screening and in vitro and in vivo analyses further identified PTPH1 as a specific p38γ phosphatase through PDZ-mediated binding. Additional experiments showed that PTPH1 itself plays a role in Rasdependent malignant growth in vitro and/or in mice by a mechanism depending on its p38γ-binding activity. Moreover, Ras increases both p38γ and PTPH1 protein expression and there is a coupling of increased p38γ and PTPH1 protein expression in primary colon cancer tissues. These results reveal a coordinative oncogenic activity of a MAPK with its specific phosphatase and suggest that PDZ-mediated p38γ/PTPH1 complex may be a novel target for Ras-dependent malignancies. Cancer Res; 70(7); 2901–10. ©2010 AACR.