cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of the acquired bicuspid aortic valve with rheumatic disease of atrioventricular valves.

Abstract The acquired bicuspid valve has been considered by some to be a result of rheumatic endocarditis. The distinction between congenital and acquired bicuspid aortic valves has been reported.1,2 Even more has been reported on the causes of aortic stenosis3–6 and regurgitation.7,8 When aortic stenosis is associated with mitral (and tricuspid) valvular disease, the etiology of the aortic stenosis is usually attributed to rheumatic fever.3,9,10 Although one of us3 has attributed the acquired bicuspid aortic valve to rheumatic fever, we could not find specific confirmation or denial from others regarding this question. Accordingly, starting with specimens having an acquired bicuspid aortic valve, we examined the atrioventricular valves for the presence of rheumatic stigmata. This was done with the idea that the findings might, as circumstantial evidence, provide an answer to the question regarding a cause of acquired bicuspid aortic valve. The acquired bicuspid aortic valve is characterized by commissural fusion at 1 aortic valve commissure such that 2 cusps are converted into the conjoined cusp.2,10 The fusion of 2 adjacent hemicusps results in a raphe that is as tall as the free edges of the cusps. This is in contrast to the classic raphe of congenital bicuspid aortic valve1,11 in which the upper aspect of the raphe is usually distinctly below the level of the free edges of the cusps. Also, in some examples of acquired bicuspid aortic valve one may observe elements of the 2 cusps that have been fused.
Another Slant on the Oblique Effect in Drawings and Paintings

Latto and Russell-Duff (2002) showed that artists used more horizontal and vertical than oblique lines in museum paintings, concluding that this preference was a reflection of the traditional (presumably neurogically mediated) “oblique effect.” Alternative explanations, however, could be that oblique orientations have a unique status as a result of artistic training and tradition, and/or that a quadrilateral frame may induce such preferences, and/or that most of the paintings were representational, and the real world is more horizontal and vertical than oblique. Sixty-three undergraduates drew two pictures, one representational and the other abstract, on circular sheets of paper. Fewer oblique than horizontal or vertical lines were used in representational drawings. However, for abstract pictures there was no difference among the three orientations. Similar results occurred for line length. The average extent to which line angles departed from oblique was significantly less for abstract than representatio...
Proteasomal Activity in Placentas from Women with Preeclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Implications for Expression of HIF-α Proteins

Hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1alpha and -2alpha (HIF-alpha) proteins and regulated genes are increased in preeclamptic (PE) placentas. Although placental hypoxia likely stabilizes HIF-alpha proteins, we previously reported that there is also a defect in oxygen-dependent reduction of HIF-alpha proteins in PE relative to normal pregnant (NP) placentas that could contribute to their over-expression. After a 4-h exposure to 2% oxygen, placental villous explants were exposed to 21% oxygen over 90 min. As assessed by Western analysis, the defective oxygen-dependent reduction of HIF-1alpha protein in villous explants from PE placenta was unaffected by the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. However, after incubation with the proteasomal inhibitor, clasto-lactacystin, oxygen-dependent reduction of HIF-1alpha protein was markedly and similarly impaired in the villous explants from both normal and PE placentas. Thus, impairment of protein degradation rather than increased synthesis causes inadequate oxygen-dependent reduction of HIF-1alpha protein in PE placentas. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed comparable association of HIF-1alpha with von Hippel Lindau (VHL) protein in placentas from NP and PE women. Furthermore, prolyl hydroxylase-3 protein was appropriately upregulated in the PE placentas as determined by Western analysis paralleling the increases of HIF-alpha proteins. These results suggest that molecular events leading to the formation of the HIF-1alpha:VHL:ubiquitin ligase complex are most likely not impaired in PE placentas. Finally, proteasomal trypsin, chymotrypsin, and peptidyl glutamyl-like activities were significantly reduced by approximately 1/3 in PE placentas by using specific peptide substrates coupled to a fluorescent tag. Unexpectedly, however, they were even further decreased in placentas from normotensive women delivering growth restricted babies >37 weeks gestation-placentas which do not have elevated HIF-alpha proteins. In conclusion, accumulation of HIF-alpha proteins in PE placentas may occur as a consequence of both increased formation secondary to relative ischemia/hypoxia and reduced degradation after reperfusion/oxygenation consequent to proteasomal dysfunction. In contrast, in placentas from normotensive women delivering growth restricted babies >37 weeks gestation, proteasomal activity, albeit markedly reduced, is adequate to cope with degradation of HIF-alpha proteins, which have not been increased by an hypoxic environment.
Binary vectors partially determined by linear equation systems

Abstract We address problems of the general form: given a J -dimensional binary (0- or 1-valued) vector a , a system of E of linear equations which a satisfies and a domain D ⊂ R J which contains a , when is a the unique solution of E in D? More generally, we aim at finding conditions for the invariance of a particular position j , 1 ⩽ j ⩽ J (meaning that b j = a j , for all solutions b of E in D. We investigate two particular choices for D: the set of binary vectors of length J (integral invariance) and the set of vectors in R J whose components lie between 0 and 1 (fractional invariance). For each position j , a system of inequalities is produced, whose solvability in the appropriate space indicates variance of the position. A version of Farkas' Lemma is used to specify the alternative system of inequalities, giving rise to a vector using which one can tell for each position whether or not it is fractionally invariant. We show that if the matrix of E is totally unimodular, then integral invariance is equivalent to fractional invariance. Our findings are applied to the problem of reconstruction of two-dimensional binary pictures from their projections (equivalently, (0, 1)-matrices from their marginals) and lead to a “structure result” on the arrangement of the invariant positions in the set of all binary pictures which share the same row and column sums and whose values are possibly prescribed at some positions. The relationship of our approach to the problem of reconstruction of higher-dimensional binary pictures is also discussed.
cAMP-response elements in Aplysia creb1, creb2, and Ap-uch promoters : Implications for feedback loops modulating long term memory

The Aplysia genes encoding for cAMP-response element-binding protein 1 (CREB1), CREB2, and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase (Ap-uch) have been implicated in the formation of long term memory. However, nothing is known about the promoter regions of these genes or the transcription factors that regulate them. We cloned the promoter regions of creb1, creb2, and Ap-uch and identified a canonical cAMP-response element (CRE) in the promoter region of creb1. Variants of the canonical CRE were identified in all three promoters. TATA boxes and C/EBP-binding motifs are also present in the promoter regions of these genes. Promoter immunoprecipitation assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that CREB1 and CREB2 bind to the promoter regions of creb1 and creb2, suggesting that feedback loops modulate the formation of long term memory. In a positive feedback loop, phosphorylated CREB1 might induce its own gene via CREs. In support of this suggestion, treatment with serotonin enhanced binding of CREB1 to its promoter region and increased mRNA levels of creb1. Levels of Ap-uch mRNA also increased in response to serotonin; however, binding of CREB1 or CREB2 to the promoter region of Ap-uch was not detected. The finding that the promoter region of creb2 has a CRE raises the intriguing possibility that its expression is regulated by CREB1 and/or CREB2. CREB2 may repress its own gene, forming a negative feedback loop, and CREB2 up-regulation via CREB1 may limit the activity of the CREB1-mediated positive feedback loop.
Yeast K1 killer toxin forms ion channels in sensitive yeast spheroplasts and in artificial liposomes.

Abstract The patch-clamp technique was used to examine the plasma membranes of sensitive yeast spheroplasts exposed to partially purified killer toxin preparations. Asolectin liposomes in which the toxin was incorporated were also examined. Excised inside-out patches from these preparations often revealed at 118 pS conductance appearing in pairs. The current through this conductance flickered rapidly among three states: dwelling mostly at the unit-open state, less frequently at the two-unit-open state, and more rarely at the closed state. Membrane voltages from -80 to 80 mV had little influence on the opening probability. The current reversed near the equilibrium potential of K+ in asymmetric KCl solutions and also reversed near O mV at symmetric NaCl vs. KCl solutions. The two levels of the conductance were likely due to the toxin protein, as treatment of spheroplasts or liposomes with extracellular protein preparations from isogenic yeasts deleted for the toxin gene gave no such conductance levels. These results show that in vivo the killer-toxin fraction can form a cation channel that seldom closes regardless of membrane voltage. We suggest that this channel causes the death of sensitive yeast cells.
Failure to rescue trends in elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair between 1995 and 2011

Objective Factors affecting mortality after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair have been extensively studied, but little is known about the effects of the shift to endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) vs open repair on failure to rescue (FTR). This study examines the impact of treatment modalities on FTR for elective AAA surgery during the years 1995 to 2011. Methods Data for 491,779 patients undergoing elective AAA surgery were collected from Medicare files. Patient demographics, comorbidities, hospital volume, and repair type were collected. Primary outcome was FTR: the percentage of deaths in patients who had a complication within 30 days of surgery. Data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Patients undergoing AAA surgery have become progressively more complex, with 84.96%, 89.33%, 93.76%, and 95.72% presenting with one or more comorbidities in 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2011, respectively. Despite this, overall FTR after AAA surgery was stable from 1995 to 2000 ( P = .38) and decreased from 2.68% to 1.58% between 2000 and 2011 ( P P = .03) and then stabilized at 0.88% ± 0.9% after 2007 ( P = .45). Unlike for EVAR, FTR for open repair remained stable at 3.06% ± 0.17% to 2.74% ± 0.16% from 1995 to 2000 ( P = .38) but increased to 4.51% ± 0.21% in 2011 ( P P P Conclusions The success in AAA surgery of rescuing patients from 30-day mortality after a complication is associated with increased volume of EVAR. This increased success can also be attributed to the improved FTR outcomes and complication rates when surgeries are performed at high-volume hospital centers.
Hole mobility enhancements and alloy scattering-limited mobility in tensile strained Si/SiGe surface channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors

Strained Si-based metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) are promising candidates for next-generation complementary MOS (CMOS) technology. While electron mobility enhancements in these heterostructures have been thoroughly investigated, hole mobility enhancements have not been explored in as much detail. In this study, we investigate the dependence of hole mobility in strained Si MOSFETs on substrate Ge content, strained layer thickness, and channel composition. We show that hole mobility enhancements saturate at virtual substrate compositions of 40% Ge and above, with peak mobility enhancements over twice that of coprocessed bulk Si devices. These results represent peak hole mobilities above 200cm2/V-S. Furthermore, we demonstrate that hole mobility in strained Si/relaxed Si0.7Ge0.3 heterostructures displays no strong dependence on strained layer thickness, indicating that strain is the primary variable controlling channel mobility in strained Si p-type MOSFETs (p-MOSFETs). We then ...
Formulation and a solution of the diffusion-deposition-resuspension problem

A reformulation of the diffusion-deposition-resuspension problem is presented which starts from convective diffusion equations for the air and surface concentrations, coupled by two interfacial boundary conditions. A number of the available parameterizations of the boundary conditions are reviewed and interrelated. Time- and x-dependent solutions are obtained for the vertically-averaged air and surface concentrations, coupled with rates of resuspension and deposition, and the influence of y and z diffusion are estimated.
Resisting Disability, Claiming HIV: Introducing the Ability Contract and Conceptualizations of Liberal Citizenship

This paper interrogates the ambiguity of disability identification for women living with HIV, drawing on a nine-month field research project where participants formed a book group, reading memoirs about chronic episodic conditions such as HIV, lupus, MS, and chronic depression, and discussed their relationships to disability. In investigating this ambiguity, this paper re-reads Social Contract Theory, primarily the work of John Locke, Mills, Pateman, and Winnubst, to introduce the Ability Contract. Social Contract Theory can provide us with an understanding of labor’s centrality in the construction of the liberal subject, which implicitly shapes construction of dis/ability. Several scholars have written about Social Contract Theory’s applicability to gendered subjects and racialized subjects, but few scholars have used dis/ability to interrogate Social Contract Theory. This project looks at John Locke to argue that his understanding of labor, utility and waste, and the predictability of what will be produced, is a result of understanding one’s bodily boundaries. The Ability Contract is this triad of labor-utility-predictability that is foundational to liberal subjectivity. Disability upsets this construction of liberal subjectivity, which in turn, enables an unstable negotiation of identity that extends Chicana feminist theorist Chela Sandoval’s theorization differential consciousness. For women living with HIV, disability identification is useful for accessing temporary assistance but ultimately, the women who participated in this nine-month book group, disidentified with disability through a negotiation of labor. Through the Ability Contract, and the centrality of labor-utility-predictability, we can understand that a stable identification with disability is a privilege dependent upon male-bodied whiteness.
A third-order sliding-mode controller for DC/DC converters with constant power loads

Incorporating a medium-voltage DC (MVDC) integrated power system is a goal for future surface combatants and submarines. In a MVDC shipboard power system, DC/DC converters are commonly employed to supply constant power to electric loads. These constant-power loads have a characteristic of negative incremental impedance, which may cause system instability during disturbances if the system is not properly controlled. This paper proposes a third-order sliding-mode controller (SMC) for DC/DC buck converters with constant-power loads. The SMC is able to stabilize the DC power systems over the entire operating range in the presence of significant variations in the load power and input voltage. The proposed SMC is validated by simulation studies in MATLAB/Simulink for stabilizing a DC/DC buck converter as well as a MVDC shipboard power system with constant-power loads for different operating conditions with significant variations in the load power and supply voltage.
Partitioning social networks for time-dependent queries

The most common type of queries in online social networks are news feeds of friends' recent activities. These queries involve the retrieval of multiple small records generated by different users in the network, and the results are time dependent. Hash-based horizontal partitioning of data results in accesses at multiple servers, which significantly affects throughput and response time. Partitioning of social network data is difficult because of the power-law degree distribution of the friendship graph, and the time dependency of queries and user activities. The power-law degree distribution results in a tremendous amount of extra storage for replication-based partitions, and the time dependency makes query-driven partitioning ineffective. We propose to partition not only the spatial network of social relations, but also in the time dimension so that users who have communicated in a given period are grouped together. We build an activity prediction graph to capture relationships with strong activity and serve as the basis for partitioning. New nodes occurring in the current period are added greedily. We test the partitioning results with emulation of Facebook page downloads, and show that our algorithm achieves 10 times better data locality than hash-based horizontal partitioning algorithms. We show the quality of activity prediction by observing that the algorithm with prediction achieves 80% data locality of that with perfect knowledge of the current period.
Determination of volatile organic selenium compounds from the Maillard reaction in a selenomethionine-glucose model system.

In the past, biomedicine, toxicology, and other related disciplines have made some progress with regard to the detrimental and beneficial effects of selenium in biological systems. Therefore, it is...
Length-slow Chalcedony after Sulphate Evaporite Minerals in Sedimentary Rocks

IN a study of authigenic silica in the Cretaceous Edwards Limestone of Travis County, Texas, J. S. P.1 noted in passing that some of the chalcedony had a peculiar 60° grid structure and was also length-slow as tested by insertion of the gypsum plate; this is in contrast to normal chalcedony which is length-fast. (In this context, “length-slow” means that the slower polarized light component produced in double refraction is the one vibrating parallel to the crystal length; “length-fast” can be defined similarly for the faster component.) These chalcedony masses, which grade outward into megaquartz, came from an area of collapse structures apparently caused by solution of gypsum/anhydrite- nodules with some replacement by authigenic silica. West2 has also found length-slow chalcedony in Jurassic evaporitic deposits in England. It therefore seemed possible that there was a connexion between length-slow chalcedony and sulphate evaporite minerals and comprehensive literature search revealed more examples of length-slow chalcedony—all associated with evaporites.
Ionic surface masking for low background in single- and double-stranded DNA-templated silver and copper nanorods

A straightforward procedure is presented for the fabrication of single-stranded DNA-templated silver nanorods and double-stranded DNA-templated copper nanorods with a low background of nonspecific metallic deposition. Alkali metal cations with high affinity for SiO2 are used to passivate the silicon surface, creating a physical and an electrostatic barrier against nonspecific silver or copper cation adsorption and subsequent metal deposition. For silver nanorods synthesized from single-stranded DNA, this ionic masking strategy leads to a 51% reduction in the number of nonspecifically deposited nanoparticles and an even greater decrease in their dimensions. For DNA-templated copper nanorods this surface blocking approach decreases the number of nonspecifically deposited nanoparticles by 74%. The demonstration of the use of single-stranded DNA as a template for nanorod fabrication is an important step toward the creation of nanoscale circuits by combining DNA metallization with direct surface hybridization of oligonucleotide-coupled, electronically active nanostructures at predetermined positions on single-stranded DNA.
Intravital Microscopy Reveals Differences in the Kinetics of Endocytic Pathways between Cell Cultures and Live Animals

Intravital microscopy has enabled imaging of the dynamics of subcellular structures in live animals, thus opening the door to investigating membrane trafficking under physiological conditions. Here, we sought to determine whether the architecture and the environment of a fully developed tissue influences the dynamics of endocytic processes. To this aim, we imaged endocytosis in the stromal cells of rat salivary glands both in situ and after they were isolated and cultured on a solid surface. We found that the internalization of transferrin and dextran, two molecules that traffic via distinct mechanisms, is substantially altered in cultured cells, supporting the idea that the three dimensional organization of the tissue and the cues generated by the surrounding environment strongly affect membrane trafficking events.
A Theory of Gravity Wave Absorption by a Boundary Layer

Abstract A one-layer model of the atmospheric boundary layer (BL) is proposed to explain the nature of lee-wave attenuation and gravity wave absorption seen in numerical simulations. Two complex coefficients are defined: the compliance coefficient and the wave reflection coefficient. A real-valued ratio of reflected to incident wave energy is also useful. The key result is that, due to horizontal friction, the wind response in the BL is shifted upstream compared to the phase of disturbances in the free atmosphere. The associated flow divergence modulates the thickness of the BL so that it partially absorbs incident gravity waves. A simple expression is derived relating the reflection coefficient to the attenuation and wavelength shift of trapped lee waves. Results agree qualitatively with the numerical simulations, including the effects of increased surface roughness and heat flux.
Short-term intubation after ingestion of Nicotiana glauca

Nicotiana glauca ( family Solanaceae), a plant species of wild tobacco known as tree tobacco, is native to South America but has been widely introduced on several continents. It is considered a weed or an invasive species in the southwestern and southern states. The active ingredient is a pyridine
Effect of trazodone and fluoxetine pretreatment upon fenfluramine- and apomorphine-induced hyperthermia in the rabbit

Summary We have studied the influence of the new antidepressant trazodone upon fenfluramine- and apomorphine-induced hyperthermia in the rabbit and compared these drug interactions with those of fluoxetine, a known serotonin uptake inhibitor. Both trazodone and fluoxetine reduced the hyperthermic response to fenfluramine and both drug pretreatments also markedly enhanced apomorphine-induced hyperthermia. Our data lend support to previous in vitro observations that trazodone might act through selective inhibition of the serotonin uptake process.
Surface Analytical Techniques in Solid-State Particle Characterization for Predicting Performance in Dry Powder Inhalers

The pulmonary route is of interest for both effective local therapy for respiratory and lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis, and systemic administration of drugs, such as proteins and peptides. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are devices through which a dry powder formulation of drug is delivered via the pulmonary route. The DPIs are highly efficient but complicated systems, the performance of which relies on many aspects, including aerodynamic diameter of the powder formulation, particle density, bulk density, surface morphology and composition, particle shape, interparticulate cohesive forces between drug particles and interparticulate adhesive forces between drug and carrier particles. Among them, surface morphology of both drug particles and carrier particles within the formulation is a very important factor in determining the interparticulate contact area and forces, aerosolization efficiency and subsequent lung deposition. Techniques that have been applied to study surface properties of solidstate particles in DPIs include atomic force microscopy, micro- and nanothermal analysis, inverse gas chromatography and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This paper reviews different aspects of DPIs, with emphasis on their surface properties and influence on aerosol performance, and the techniques that are utilized to examine their surface properties.
Air Quality, Climate, and Policy: A Case Study of Ozone Pollution in Tucson, Arizona

This article addresses the need to better understand the complex interactions between climate, human activities, vegetation responses, and surface ozone so that more informed air-quality policy recommendations can be made. The impacts of intraseasonal climate variations on ozone levels in Tucson, Arizona from April through September of 1995 to 1998 are determined by relating variations in ozone levels to variations in atmospheric conditions and emissions of ozone's precursor chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), and by determining month-specific atmospheric conditions that are conducive to elevated ozone levels. Results show that the transport of ozone and its precursor chemicals within the Tucson area causes the highest ozone levels to be measured at a downwind monitor. The highest ozone levels occur in August, due in part to the presence of the North American monsoon. Atmospheric conditions conducive to elevated ozone concentrations differ substantially between the arid...
Experimental congenital cytomegalovirus labyrinthitis and sensorineural hearing loss

Cytomegalovirus is a leading cause of human congenital viral infection and hearing loss. The pathogenesis of human congenital cytomegalovirus infection is poorly understood. We have developed a reproducible model of congenital cytomegalovirus-induced sensorineural hearing loss in guinea pigs. This report reviews our previously published results and provides additional new information about this model.
Altered B Cell Homeostasis and Toll-Like Receptor 9-Driven Response in Type 1 Diabetes Carriers of the C1858T PTPN22 Allelic Variant: Implications in the Disease Pathogenesis

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease caused by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells by autoreactive T cells. Among the genetic variants associated with type 1 diabetes, the C1858T (Lyp) polymorphism of the protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene alters the function of T cells but also of B cells in innate and adaptive immunity. The Lyp variant was shown to diminish interferon production and responses upon Toll-like receptor stimulation in macrophages and dendritic cells, possibly leading to uncontrolled infections as triggers of the diabetogenic process. The aim of this study was to unravel the yet uncharacterized effects that the variant could exert on the immune and autoimmune responses, particularly regarding the B cell phenotype, in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of diabetic patients and healthy controls in basal conditions and after unmethylated bacterial DNA CpG stimulation. The presence of the Lyp variant resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of transitional B cells in C/T carriers patients and controls compared to C/C patients and controls, in C/T carrier patients compared to C/C controls and in C/T carrier patients compared to C/C patients. A significant reduction in the memory B cells was also observed in the presence of the risk variant. After four days of CpG stimulation, there was a significant increase in the abundance of IgM+ memory B cells in C/T carrier diabetics than in C/C subjects and in the groups of C/T carrier individuals than in C/C individuals. IgM− memory B cells tended to differentiate more precociously into plasma cells than IgM+ memory B cells in heterozygous C/T subjects compared to the C/C subjects. The increased Toll-like receptor response that led to expanded T cell-independent IgM+ memory B cells should be further investigated to determine the putative contribution of innate immune responses in the disease pathogenesis.
Who will care for the alcoholic patient.

Excerpt To the editor: In his editorial, "What is Alcoholism Research?" (Ann Intern Med85:821-823, 1976), Dr. Gordis states that treatment of alcoholism has not improved in any important way in 25 ...
Acquisition of a flicker discrimination in the cortically blind cat

Abstract A cat was given training in lever pressing until he would press either of two levers for a milk reward. His visual cortex was then removed and he was given training in the discrimination of IPS from a steady light. The discrimination was learned postoperatively, and transfer to higher frequencies of IPS was possible up to 40 c/s. In the light of previous studies, this finding is interpreted as demonstrating a non-striate mechanism active in the acquisition of this discrimination, the mechanism acting in parallel with the visual cortex.
Competition Between Negative Acting YY1 versus Positive Acting Serum Response Factor and Tinman Homologue Nkx-2.5 Regulates Cardiac α-Actin Promoter Activity

Transcription of sarcomeric α-actin genes is developmentally regulated during skeletal and cardiac muscle development through fine-tuned control mechanisms involving multiple cooperative and antagonistic transcription factors. Among the cis-acting DNA elements recognized by these factors is the sequence CC(A/T)6GG of the serum response element (SRE), which is present in a number of growth factor-inducible and myogenic specified genes. We recently showed that the cardiogenic homeodomain factor, Nkx-2.5, served as a positive acting accessory factor for serum response factor (SRF) and together provided strong transcriptional activation of the cardiac α-actin promoter. In addition, Nkx-2.5 and SRF collaborated to activate the endogenous murine cardiac α-actin gene in 10T1/2 fibroblasts, by a mechanism that involved coassociation of SRF and Nkx-2.5 on intact SREs of theα -actin promoter. Here, we show that the second SRE of the avian cardiac α-actin promoter served as a binding site for Nkx-2.5, SRF, and zinc ...
fMRI item analysis in a theory of mind task

Conventional analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data compare the brain's response to stimulus categories (e.g., pictures of faces, stories about beliefs) across participants. In order to infer that effects observed with the specific items (a particular set of pictures or stories) are generalizable to the entire population (all faces, or all stories about beliefs), it is necessary to perform an "item analysis." Item analyses may also reveal relationships between secondary (non-hypothesized) features of the items and functional activity. Here, we perform an item analysis on a set of stories commonly used for localizing brain regions putatively involved in Theory of Mind (ToM): right and left temporo-parietal junction (RTPJ/LTPJ), precuneus (PC), superior temporal sulcus (STS) and medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). We address the following questions: Do brain regions that comprise the ToM network respond reliably across items (i.e. different stories about beliefs)? Do these brain regions demonstrate reliable preferences for items within the category? Can we predict any region's response to individual items, by using other features of the stimuli? We find that the ToM network responds reliably to stories about beliefs, generalizing across items as well as subjects. In addition, several regions in the ToM network have reliable preferences for individual items. Linguistic features of the stimuli did not predict these item preferences.
Mating type inheritance in the Suctorian, Tokophrya quadripartita

Summary In Tokophrya quadripartita mating type inheritance follows a pattern characteristic of determination by a single gene or chromosome. Two mating types are found. Following conjugation synclones are uniform in mating type, the 2 parental types occurring with equal frequencies. The frequencies are not affected by temperature or the age of clones at the time of mating. Mating type inheritance in T. quadripartita closely parallels that of T. lemnarum .
Two-Stage Regression and Multilevel Modeling: A Commentary

These articles demonstrate, in several different examples, the effectiveness of two-level regression: the procedure of fitting several separate regression models, and then fitting a second, higher-level, regression to the estimated coefficients (for example, fitting a separate regression model to survey data from each of several countries, then regressing the coefficient estimates on country-level predictors). For simplicity, we will refer to the first- and second-level units as ‘‘persons’’ and ‘‘countries,’’ respectively, but our points apply more generally.
SU‐GG‐T‐144: Dosimetric Effect of Using Non‐Flat Photon Beam to Create Conventional Open Fields and Standard Phantom IMRT Plans

Purpose: Removing the flattening filter from a photon beam creates a forward peaked intensity profile with a higher dose rate at the central axis, which can be an attractive feature for SBRT and IMRT. The purpose of this project is to understand the impact of using unflattened photon beams to create a conventional square field and various standard IMRT phantom plans by comparing those plans using a flattened beam. Method and Materials: A conventional 10×10 cm2 square field was created by a non‐flat beam with multiple segments. Furthermore, five standard phantom structure sets from the AAPM TG 119 were downloaded for this study, including multitarget, prostate, head and neck, easy C‐Shape, and hard C‐Shape. Planning constraints from TG119 were used as a guide for planning, using a 6MV non‐flat beam from a Siemens Oncor and a 6MV flat beam from a Siemens Artiste. Results: The 10×10 cm2 open field was matched using a non‐flat beam with three segments and 21.7% more monitor units. Using both flat and non‐flat beams, all IMRT plans met the plan acceptance criteria of the target coverage and organ at risk sparring. The plan conformality indices were comparable while keeping complexity of the plans (measured by the number of segments) the same. However, non‐flat beam plans increased monitor units by 0.5% to 32.0% when compared to the corresponding plans with flat beams. The largest increase in monitor units was observed in the plan with a large “plain” target (multitarget). Plans for a concave “irregular” target (C‐Shape) result in similar monitor units. Conclusion: A non‐flat beam can produce equivalent dose distributions to a traditional flat beam. The increase in monitor units is needed when the pointed dose profile is projected onto a flat target. Conflict of Interest: This research is partly supported by Siemens Medical Solutions
Correlation of margin status and extraprostatic extension with progression of prostate carcinoma.

RESULTS. The overall margin positivity rate was 29%. Seventy-two patients (19%) had only positive surgical margins without evidence of EPE (“surgical incision”), 53 (14%) had only EPE, 37 (10%) had both, and 215 (57%) had neither. Positive margins were correlated with the finding of EPE (P 5 0.003). Progression free survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 88% and 67%, respectively. In univariate analysis, preoperative PSA concentration, positive surgical margins, Gleason grade, cancer volume, and DNA ploidy were significant in predicting progression (P values, ,0.001, ,0.001, 0.01, 0.007, and ,0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, margin status and DNA ploidy were independent predictors of progression (relative risk for margin status, 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1‐3.4; P 5 0.03; relative risk for DNA ploidy, 5.1; 95% CI, 2.4 ‐10.9; P , 0.001). Among patients with positive margins, 5-year progression free survival was 78% for those with negative EPE and 55% for those with positive EPE. CONCLUSIONS. Surgical margin status and DNA ploidy were independent predictors of progression after radical prostatectomy. To improve cancer control, adjuvant therapy may be considered for patients with positive surgical margins or nondiploid cancer. Cancer 1999;86:1775‐ 82. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
The role of AP-1 in matrix metalloproteinase gene expression

In an effort to understand the mechanism of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) induction, lapine synoviocytes were isolated and incubated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and autocrine “cell-activating factors” (CAF), agents which significantly increase MMP mRNA abundance. AP-1 complexes, formed by c-fos and c-jun which bind to 5′ residues of the MMP genes, seem causally related to MMP gene expression in response to PMA. However, although AP-1 DNA binding activity is strongly induced following exposure of synoviocytes to CAF, MMP gene expression in response to CAF does not correlate well with AP-1 activity and is not inhibited by antisense DNA to fos and jun. We hypothesize that there is a CAF-response factor involved in MMP gene expression and that this factor competes with the binding of the AP-1 complex to its target response element.
Numerical studies of backscattering enhancement of electromagnetic waves from two-dimensional random rough surfaces with the forward-backward/novel spectral acceleration method.

The forward–backward method with a novel spectral acceleration algorithm (FB/NSA) has been shown to be a highly efficient O(Ntot) iterative method of moments, where Ntot is the total number of unknowns to be solved, for the computation of electromagnetic (EM) wave scattering from both one-dimensional and two-dimensional (2-D) rough surfaces. The efficiency of the method makes studies of backscattering enhancement from moderately rough impedance surfaces at large incident angles tractable. Variations in the characteristics of backscattering enhancement with incident angle, surface impedance, polarization, and surface statistics are investigated by use of the 2-D FB/NSA method combined with parallel computing techniques. The surfaces considered are Gaussian random processes with an isotropic Gaussian spectrum and root-mean-square surface heights and slopes ranging from 0.5λ to λ and from 0.5 to 1.0, respectively, where λ is the EM wavelength in free space. Incident angles ranging from normal incidence up to 70° are considered in this study. It is found that backscattering enhancement depends strongly on all parameters of interest.
Rejected bullies or popular leaders? The social relations of aggressive subtypes of rural african american early adolescents.

Teacher assessments of interpersonal characteristics were used to identify subtypes of rural African American early adolescents (161 boys and 258 girls). Teacher ratings of interpersonal characteristics were used to identify popular and unpopular aggressive subtypes for both boys and girls. Unpopular aggressive youths did not have elevated levels of rejected sociometric status but were more likely to have lower levels of peer-perceived social prominence and social skills. Conversely, popular aggressive youths were more likely to be disliked by peers even though they were perceived by peers as socially prominent and socially skilled and were identified by teachers as highly involved in extracurricular activities. Both popular and unpopular aggressive youths tended to associate with others who had similar levels of peer-perceived popularity.
The Host Response in Gingival Crevicular Fluid: Potential Applications in Periodontitis Clinical Trials

Traditional clinical variables of periodontal pathology have only limited value as indicators for future disease progression in patients with adult periodontitis. Consequently, other aspects of the periodontal lesion are being examined for their diagnostic utility. Analysis of the host response in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) is among the most intensely studied of these new diagnostic approaches. Specific indicators of the humoral immune response, cellular immune response, and acute inflammatory response have been identified in GCF. The relationship of indicators of the humoral immune response to active periodontal disease is equivocal. Specific indicators of the cellular immune response in GCF may ultimately prove to be important diagnostically, but the relationship of any specific marker to active periodontal disease has not been reported. In contrast, the acute inflammatory response in GCF has been extensively studied and a number of factors appear to be associated with an increased risk for future disease progression. Indicators of enhanced polymorphonuclear leukocyte activity, (lysosomal β-glucuronidase, lysosomal collagenase), Prostaglandin E2 , and an indicator of acute tissue destruction (the cytoplasmic enzymes aspartate aminotransferase) have been associated with the occurrence of clinical attachment loss. An example of the application of a GCF marker in a periodontitis clinical trial is provided by describing the relationship of lysosomal βglucuronidase in GCF at baseline and 2 weeks following root planing and scaling to the occurrence of disease activity during the following 6 months. Persistently elevated levels of this enzyme were related to clinical attachment loss. The positive, negative, and total predictive values for β-glucuronidase as an identifier of clinical attachment loss were 86%, 71%, and 76%, respectively. The accumulated evidence suggests that inclusion of a GCF-based determination of the acute inflammatory response in periodontitis clinical trials is justified. The information obtained may provide both a quantitative assessment of the host response and a measure of how effective the therapy is in reducing the risk of future clinical attachment loss. J Periodontol 1992; 63:1117-1123.
Frequent hypomethylation of multiple genes overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

To investigate the relationship between DNA hypomethylation and gene overexpression in pancreatic cancer, we analyzed the methylation status of a subset of 18 genes previously identified by global gene expression studies as overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with normal pancreas. For comparison, we determined the methylation status of 14 genes not known to be overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. Methylation-specific PCR analysis revealed that 19 of these 32 genes were methylated at their 5′ CpGs in normal pancreas. We then analyzed these 19 genes for their methylation pattern in pancreatic cancers and found that all 7 of the genes ( claudin4 , lipocalin2 , 14-3-3 σ, trefoil factor2 , S100A4 , mesothelin , and prostate stem cell antigen ) that were overexpressed in the neoplastic cells of pancreatic cancers and not expressed in normal pancreatic duct displayed a high prevalence of hypomethylation in pancreatic cancer cell lines and primary pancreatic carcinomas. By contrast, only 1 of 12 genes not overexpressed in pancreatic cancer demonstrated hypomethylation ( P = 0.0002). In pancreatic cancer cell lines that retained methylation of 1 or more of the 7 aforementioned overexpressed and hypomethylated genes, treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine or with trichostatin A, either alone or in combination, almost invariably reactivated the transcription of each of these 7 genes. These results indicate that gene hypomethylation is a frequent epigenetic event in pancreatic cancer and is commonly associated with the overexpression of affected genes.
The resolution of global imbalances: Soft landing in the North, sudden stop in emerging markets?

The paper shows that the increase in the US current account deficit since 1997 was financed by Emerging Market economies, EMs. Since 2001 a large share of the funding was carried out by the official sector, taking mostly the form of accumulation of international reserves. The paper argues that (1) if official funding is stopped or reversed, the private sector in EMs is likely to provide offsetting funds, preventing the US to go through a Sudden Stop episode; and (2) in the unlikely event that global saving collapses, the brunt of the adjustment is likely to be borne by EMs, e.g., through Sudden Stops, and flight to quality likely to ensure the US a smooth transition, i.e., a soft landing.
Formation of the Enhanced-V Infrared Cloud-Top Feature from High-Resolution Three-Dimensional Radar Observations

The responsible mechanism for the formation of the enhanced-V infrared cloud-top feature observed above tropopause-penetrating thunderstorms is not well understood. A new method for the combination of volumetric radar reflectivity from individual radars into three-dimensional composites with high vertical resolution (1km) is introduced and used to test various formation mechanisms proposed in the literature. For analysis, a set of 89 enhanced-V storms over the eastern continental United States are identified in the 10-yr period from 2001 to 2010 using geostationary satellite data. The background atmospheric state from each storm is determined using the Interim ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) and radiosonde observations. In conjunction with the infrared temperature fields, analysis of the radar data in a coordinate relative to thelocationoftheovershootingconvectivetopandinaltitudesrelativetothetropopausesuggeststhataboveanvil (stratospheric) cirrus clouds are the most likely mechanism for the formation of the enhanced V.
Long-Term Weight Maintenance after an Intensive Weight-Loss Program

Objective: This prospective study assessed long-term weight maintenance of patients completing an intensive very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) weight-loss program.Subjects: Individuals who had completed the 12-week core education program and lost ≥10 kg were recruited.Results: Of 154 eligible subjects, follow-up weights were obtained at ≥2 years in 112 subjects (72.7%, 72 women, 40 men). Subjects had an average initial body mass index of 37.3 kg/m2 and an average weight loss of 29.7 kg in five months. Six hundred and forty-five follow-up weights (median, five per subject) were obtained over two to seven years of follow-up from clinic visits (70%) and self-report by telephone or mail (30%). Subjects regained an average of 2.5% per month of their lost weight during the first two to three years of follow-up; however, their weight stabilized over the next four years. Subjects regained an average of 73.4% of their weight loss during the first three years. The average weight loss maintained for 112 subjects was 22.8%...
Low-loss high-Q optical bandstop filter based on chalcogenide glass grating structures

We have proposed to make use of the low-loss characteristic of chalcogenide glass material for infrared filter applications. A stop-band chalcogenide filter design based on a grating structure was presented. The study shows that by varying the grating's geometric structure, the bandwidth can be adjusted and the resonant frequency can be fine-tuned. However, high-Q characteristics can only be realized with thicker grating structures. This initial investigation indicates that a chalcogenide glass stop-band filter can achieve reflectances higher than 90% at infrared wavelengths.