cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential expression analysis of Trichoderma virens RNA reveals a dynamic transcriptome during colonization of Zea mays roots.

Trichoderma spp. are majorly composed of plant-beneficial symbionts widely used in agriculture as bio-control agents. Studying the mechanisms behind Trichoderma-derived plant benefits has yielded tangible bio-industrial products. To better take advantage of this fungal-plant symbiosis it is necessary to obtain detailed knowledge of which genes Trichoderma utilizes during interaction with its plant host. In this study, we explored the transcriptional activity undergone by T. virens during two phases of symbiosis with maize; recognition of roots and after ingress into the root cortex. We present a model of T. virens – maize interaction wherein T. virens experiences global repression of transcription upon recognition of maize roots and then induces expression of a broad spectrum of genes during colonization of maize roots. The genes expressed indicate that, during colonization of maize roots, T. virens modulates biosynthesis of phytohormone-like compounds, secretes a plant-environment specific array of cell wall degrading enzymes and secondary metabolites, remodels both actin-based and cell membrane structures, and shifts metabolic activity. We also highlight transcription factors and signal transduction genes important in future research seeking to unravel the molecular mechanisms of T. virens activity in maize roots. T. virens displays distinctly different transcriptional profiles between recognizing the presence of maize roots and active colonization of these roots. A though understanding of these processes will allow development of T. virens as a bio-control agent. Further, the publication of these datasets will target future research endeavors specifically to genes of interest when considering T. virens – maize symbiosis.
Predicting Attrition Among Hospice Volunteers.

To explore those factors predicting continued involvement among hospice volunteers, this study collected data from questionnaires distributed among 53 individuals who were hospice volunteers, to in...
Novel Insights into Dietary Phytosterol Utilization and Its Fate in Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera L.)

Poor nutrition is an important factor in global bee population declines. A significant gap in knowledge persists regarding the role of various nutrients (especially micronutrients) in honey bees. Sterols are essential micronutrients in insect diets and play a physiologically vital role as precursors of important molting hormones and building blocks of cellular membranes. Sterol requirements and metabolism in honey bees are poorly understood. Among all pollen sterols, 24-methylenecholesterol is considered the key phytosterol required by honey bees. Nurse bees assimilate this sterol from dietary sources and store it in their tissues as endogenous sterol, to be transferred to the growing larvae through brood food. This study examined the duration of replacement of such endogenous sterols in honey bees. The dietary 13C-labeled isotopomer of 24-methylenecholesterol added to artificial bee diet showed differential, progressive in vivo assimilation across various honey bee tissues. Significantly higher survival, diet consumption, head protein content and abdominal lipid content were observed in the dietary sterol-supplemented group than in the control group. These findings provide novel insights into phytosterol utilization and temporal pattern of endogenous 24-methylenecholesterol replacement in honey bees.
Fully automated radiosynthesis and quality control of estrogen receptor targeting radiopharmaceutical 16α-[18F]fluoroestradiol ([18F]FES) for human breast cancer imaging.

Abstract 16α-[18F]Fluoroestradiol ([18F]FES) is the most successful estrogen receptor (ER) targeting radiopharmaceutical to date. [18F]FES has been extensively used for positron emission tomography (PET) to assess the ER expression in breast cancer and to monitor the response of breast cancer to antiestrogen therapy. To address local investigator needs for [18F]FES-PET, we sought to adapt established literature methods to our in-house multi-purpose 18F-radiosynthesis module for [18F]FES production. Here we describe facile fully automated radiosynthesis and quality control (QC) of [18F]FES using our home-built automated multi-purpose 18F-radiosynthesis module. [18F]FES was produced via two-step-one-pot synthesis using cyclic sulfate precursor, and purified by semi-preparative reversed-phase (RP) high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a C18 column followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with a C18 Plus Sep-Pak cartridge trap/release formulation. The overall synthesis time was 75–80 min, and the radiochemical yield was 30–35% decay corrected to end of bombardment (EOB), based on H[18F]F. The radiochemical purity was >99%, and the molar activity (Am) was 182–470 GBq/μmol at EOB. The [18F]FES dose meets all QC criteria for clinical use, and is suitable for clinical PET study of breast cancer.
Meta-analysis: Pharmacologic Treatment of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Objective To examine the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRB) in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Method We searched PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL to identify all double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials that examined the efficacy of pharmacological agents in the treatment of ASD and measured RRB as an outcome. Our primary outcome was the standardized mean difference in rating scales of RRB. Results We identified 64 randomized, placebo-controlled trials involving 3,499 participants with ASD. Antipsychotics significantly improved RRB outcomes compared to placebo (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.28, 95% CIs = 0.08−0.49), z = 2.77, p = .01) demonstrating a small effect size. Larger significant positive effects on RRB in ASD were seen in individual studies with fluvoxamine, buspirone, bumetanide, divalproex, guanfacine, and folinic acid that have not been replicated. Other frequently studied pharmacological treatments in ASD including oxytocin, omega-3 fatty acids, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and methylphenidate did not demonstrate significant benefit in reducing RRB compared to placebo (oxytocin: SMD = 0.23, 95% CI = −0.01 to 0.47, z = 1.85, p = .06; omega-3 fatty acids: SMD = 0.19, 95% CI = −0.05 to 0.43, z = 1.54, p = .12; SSRI: SMD = 0.09, 95% CI = −0.21 to 0.39, z = 0.60, p = .56; methylphenidate: SMD = 0.18, 95% CI = −0.11 to 0.46, z = 1.23, p = .22). Conclusion The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that currently available pharmacological agents have at best only a modest benefit for the treatment of RRB in ASD, with the most evidence supporting antipsychotic medications. Additional randomized controlled trials with standardized study designs and consistent and specific assessment tools for RRB are needed to further understand how we can best help ameliorate these behaviors in individuals with ASD.
CD28 Regulates Metabolic Fitness for Long-Lived Plasma Cell Survival

Summary Durable humoral immunity against epidemic infectious disease requires the survival of long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). LLPC longevity is dependent on metabolic programs distinct from short-lived plasma cells (SLPCs); however, the mechanistic basis for this difference is unclear. We have previously shown that CD28, the prototypic T cell costimulatory receptor, is expressed on both LLPCs and SLPCs but is essential only for LLPC survival. Here we show that CD28 transduces pro-survival signaling specifically in LLPCs through differential SLP76 expression. CD28 signaling in LLPCs increased glucose uptake, mitochondrial mass/respiration, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Unexpectedly, CD28-mediated regulation of mitochondrial respiration, NF-κB activation, and survival was ROS dependent. IRF4, a target of NF-κB, was upregulated by CD28 activation in LLPCs and decreased IRF4 levels correlated with decreased glucose uptake, mitochondrial mass, ROS, and CD28-mediated survival. Altogether, these data demonstrate that CD28 signaling induces a ROS-dependent metabolic program required for LLPC survival.
Neoliberalizing negawatts: Governance of energy efficiency as accumulation strategy

Abstract Energy efficiency represents a financial threat to energy companies. This paper examines how investor-owned electricity companies in North Carolina have turned the threat of energy efficiency – or “negawatts” – into a new arena of accumulation. They have done this by exploiting features of the North Carolina Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS), a law passed in 2007 that encourages energy efficiency. I argue that under REPS, electricity companies have positioned themselves, counter-intuitively, as the primary producers of less of their main product. As such, these companies have been awarded high rates of return for creating energy efficiency projects. This paper builds on previous research into how environmental crises like climate change have been turned into new opportunities for accumulation in the neoliberal era. It focuses on neoliberal accumulation in an understudied system (electricity), socio-nature (energy efficiency), and political economic context (the regulated monopoly). Through reregulation, REPS creates negawatts as a new monopoly product for IOUs, contrary to what might be expected from previous research on green neoliberalism which often emphasizes the processes of commodification. This case study offers insights into the kinds of accumulation tactics that may occur in other regulated monopoly political economic contexts. Illuminating these tactics can inform more equitable and sustainable energy efficiency policies and programs by focusing attention on the need for transparency, alternative energy efficiency producers, and diverse energy efficiency programs aimed at reducing energy poverty.
Societies in Transition in Early Greece: An Archaeological History

Situated at the disciplinary boundary between prehistory and history, this book presents a new synthesis of Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Greece, from the rise and fall of Mycenaean civilization to the emergence of city-states in the Archaic period. These centuries saw the growth and decline of varied political systems and the development of networks across local, regional, and Mediterranean scales. As a groundbreaking study of landscape, interaction, and sociopolitical change, Societies in Transition in Early Greece systematically bridges the divide between the Mycenaean period and the Archaic Greek world to shed new light on an often-overlooked period of world history. “This book reconfigures our understanding of early Greece on a regional level, beyond Mycenaean ‘palaces’ and across temporal boundaries. Alex Knodell’s sophisticated arguments enable a fresh reading of the emergence of early Greek polities, revealing the microregions that put to the test overarching ‘Mediterranean’ models. His detailed study makes a convincing return to a comparative framework, integrating a ‘small world’ network and its trajectory with the larger picture of ancient complex societies.” SARAH MORRIS, Steinmetz Professor of Classical Archaeology and Material Culture, University of California, Los Angeles “A comprehensive, thoughtful treatment of the time period before the crystallization of the ancient Greek city states.” WILLIAM A. PARKINSON, Curator and Professor, The Field Museum and University of Illinois at Chicago “An important and must-read account. The strength of this book lies in its close analysis of the important different regional characteristics and evolutionary trajectories of Greece as it transforms into the Archaic and, later, the Classical world.” DAVID B. SMALL, author Ancient Greece: Social Structure and Evolution ALEX R. KNODELL is Associate Professor of Classics and Director of the Archaeology Program at Carleton College. In Greece, he codirects the Small Cycladic Islands Project and the Mazi Archaeological Project.
The role of epistasis in determining the fitness landscape of HIV proteins

The rapid evolution of HIV is constrained by interactions between mutations which affect viral fitness. In this work, we explore the role of epistasis in determining the fitness landscape of HIV for multiple drug target proteins, including Protease, Reverse Transcriptase, and Integrase. Epistatic interactions between residues modulate the mutation patterns involved in drug resistance with unambiguous signatures of epistasis best seen in the comparison of a maximum entropy sequence co-variation (Potts) model predicted and experimental HIV sequence ``prevalences" when expressed as higher-order marginals (beyond triplets) of the sequence probability distribution. In contrast, the evidence for epistasis based on experimental measures of fitness such as replicative capacity is weak; the correspondence with Potts model ``prevalence"-based predictions is obscured by site conservation and limited precision. Double mutant cycles provide in principle one of the best ways to probe epistatic interactions experimentally without reference to a particular background, and we find they reveal that the most strongly interacting mutations in HIV involve correlated sets of drug-resistance-associated residues, however the analysis is complicated by the small dynamic range of measurements. The use of correlated models for the design of experiments to probe viral fitness can help identify the epistatic interactions involved in mutational escape, and lead to better inhibitor therapies.
Recommendations and Cross-selling: Pricing Strategies when Personalizing Firms Cross-sell

Recommender systems enable firms to target customers with products and services that better match their needs, as well as cross-sell products and services. Considering these factors in markets with...
Measuring Anticipated Loss of Aging Parents: Development of the Parent Anticipatory Loss Scale.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Research indicates non-caregiving adult children with aging parents experience anticipatory loss for parents that consists of feelings of gratitude, sadness, and worry. The purpose of this research was to develop the Parent Anticipatory Loss Scale. METHODS Interview data from non-caregiving adult children and extant literature formed the basis for creating items measuring three components of Parent Anticipatory Loss. Expert content validity was established prior to administering the survey to a convenience sample of non-caregiving (N = 315), mostly Caucasian (n = 182, 57.6%) men (n = 202, 63.9%). The crowdsourcing platform, Mechanical Turk, provided an innovative method for sample recruitment. RESULTS Questions were eliminated as indicated during analysis, yielding a 19-item scale (α = 0.93) with three subscales (α = 0.897 for Gratitude, α = 0.841 for Sadness, and α = 0.833 for Worry). Exploratory factor analysis (Varimax rotation) showed gratitude accounted for 46% of the variance, with sadness and worry accounting for 9.5% and 5.3%. CONCLUSIONS The Parent Anticipatory Loss scale demonstrates good initial reliability and validity and can be used to measure anticipatory loss for aging parents. Further testing with cross cultural samples is warranted.
Preclinical Speech Science: Anatomy, Physiology, Acoustics, Perception

Written in a user-friendly style by three distinguished scientists/editors/clinicians, who have taught the course to thousands of students at premier educational programs, the scope of the book is all-inclusive, comprehensively covering anatomy, physiology, acoustics, perception, and swallowing. The book represents a quantum leap forward toward preparing speech-language pathologists in training to understand importance of the science that underpins their work and provides framework for approaching the evaluation and management of each of their future clients. This text provides all that instructors need to ensure that their students are fully ready for the clinical practicum training. Describes scientific principles explicitly, and in translational terms that emphasize their relevance to clinical practice. Features original illustrations and artwork designed to be instructive learning tools customized by a single illustrator and are largely in full color. Includes clinical scenarios woven into the text to emphasize the relevance of the concepts presented and focus the discussion on humanistic values. Rich with analogies that aid thinking about processes from different perspectives. Features "sidetracks" that relate interesting historical and contemporary facts to the discipline of speech science. Provides a framework for conceptualizing the uses, subsystems, and levels of observation of speech production, speech, and swallowing. Ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses preparing students for clinical study.
Tunable Photoconducting Emitters and Detectors of Free Space Terahertz Radiation

We describe a tunable terahertz beam system composed of narrowband photoconducting dipole emitters and detectors which can be used for nonlinear spectroscopy in the far-infrared.
Theoretical analysis of SnO/sub 2/ nanobelt thermal conductivity

Analysis of SnO/sub 2/ nanobelt thermal conductivity data is performed by two methods: the adjustable cutoff Callaway method, and the real dispersion method. Analyses suggest a possible enhancement of the Umklapp scattering rate of 3 to 6 times that in the bulk material, although hotspots or other contact effects are not ruled out as alternative effects affecting the curves. The thermal conductivity of a 37 nm thick SnO/sub 2/ nanobelt was measured. In this paper we show two different, preliminary analyses of the data. An appendix briefly explains the approaches used in the analyses.
Abstract 3584: Analysis of colorectal intratumoral genetic heterogeneity by high efficiency and rapid deep targeted sequencing

Metastasis is the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer. Metastatic disease lethality is often the result of cancer progression despite treatment. Therapeutic resistance is seen nearly in all cases of metastatic cancer. Genetic studies relying on deep sequencing have shown that many cancers are genetically heterogeneous as a result of diverse clonal populations with delineating and unique set of mutations. Several studies suggest that resistance mutations are present in tumors before the start of treatment and via evolution, clonal populations expand under therapeutic selection. However, these minor allelic mutations that define clonal populations are not typically detectable with typical sequencing coverage (20-50X) employed in whole genome approaches. Relying on an innovative programmable targeting method that enables us to rapidly configure nearly any region of the human genome and efficiently sequence cancer genomes, we are determining the extent of intratumoral genetic heterogeneity and clonal diversity in colorectal cancer. Our study involves over 120 patients with available clinical data and a subset of matched tumors indicative of tumor progression (e.g. tumor-normal, premalignant-malignant, malignant-metastasis). Via an integrative analysis of TCGA, COSMIC and other genomic data sets of colorectal cancer, we identified the top ranking 53 cancer genes prone to mutation and associated with advanced colorectal cancer by. These top genes are found in known cancer pathways such as the WNT and RAS/RAF pathway and we are analyzing the exons of these genes for mutations, insertions and deletions with a sequencing depth of at least 1000x. Preliminary results have shown that we can readily reach sequencing depths of 7000x with our automated targeting approach and that a minimal sequencing depth of 1000x will enable detection of aberrations present in the sample below 1%. Samples are being analyzed for the overall level of heterogeneity and correlation of clonal mutations to clinical outcome. For optimal personalized treatment of cancer patients, the analysis of intratumoral genetic heterogeneity may be useful in predicting treatment response and metastatic potential of any given primary colorectal cancer. Citation Format: Erik S. Hopmans, Hojoon Lee, Laura Miotke, Rowza Tur Rumma, Sue Grimes, John M. Bell, Hanlee P. Ji. Analysis of colorectal intratumoral genetic heterogeneity by high efficiency and rapid deep targeted sequencing. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3584. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3584
Discrete-Time Rigidity-Constrained Optical Flow

An algorithm for optical flow estimation is presented for the case of discrete-time motion of an uncalibrated camera through a rigid world. Unlike traditional optical flow approaches that impose smoothness constraints on the flow field, this algorithm assumes smoothness on the inverse depth map. The computation is based on differential measurements and estimates are computed within a multi-scale decomposition. Thus, the method is able to operate properly with large displacements (i.e., large velocities or low frame rates. Results are shown for a synthetic and a real sequence.
Coastal watershed management across an international border in the Tijuana River watershed

[1] The paper develops and applies a game theoretic model of upstream and downstream countries to examine cooperative and noncooperative strategies of a common watershed. The application to the Tijuana River watershed shared by the United States and Mexico provides quantification of the strategies for internalizing water quality externalities to upstream and downstream originating from sedimentation. Results show that different transfer payments, such as the Chander/Tulkens cost sharing rule and the Shapley value, imply the size of the existing transfer from downstream to upstream could increase the amount currently allocated.
Challenges and priorities for patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura and their physicians

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a disorder of too few platelets (termed thrombocytopenia), the smallest of the circulating blood cells. ITP is defined as isolated thrombocytopenia with no clinically apparent associated conditions or other causes of thrombocytopenia, such as congenital/hereditary thrombocytopenias, drug-induced thrombocytopenia, or autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus [1,2]. “Isolated” thrombocytopenia implies that the red blood cells and white blood cells are normal in number and appearance. The function of blood platelets is to provide initial hemostasis in response to vessel injury, creating a plug to prevent bleeding. Hemostasis is a term to describe prevention of bleeding. If blood vessel injury is small and superficial, the platelet plug is sufficient to stop bleeding. If the vessel injury is extensive, platelets can provide only an initial, temporary seal; permanent hemostasis of larger wounds requires plasma coagulation factors (such as antihemophilic factor and fibrinogen) to provide a strong fibrous matrix to strengthen the platelet plug [3]. Therefore the health problem of patients with ITP, and perhaps their only problem, is a risk for excessive bleeding. The normal platelet concentration in blood is 150,000–350,000 × 10 /L. Like many body functions, the normal number of platelets far exceeds the minimum requirement to provide effective hemostasis. A platelet count of 50,000 × 10 /L is sufficient to stop excessive bleeding following major trauma, surgery, or childbirth. A platelet count of 10,000–20,000× 10/L is sufficient to prevent spontaneous bleeding
Passive immunotherapy of cancer in animals and man

Publisher Summary Immunologic manipulations to control tumor growth can essentially be divided into passive and active categories. Passive immunotherapy refers to approaches in which immunologic reagents, such as serum, cells, or cell products that are thought to have antitumor activity, are administered to a tumor-bearing host. This chapter reviews recent studies of the use of passive immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer in animals and man. Immune depression in cancer patients has been well documented and attempts to actively stimulate both nonspecific and specific antitumor immune reactions in cancer patients is generally let down by intrinsic defects in the ability of the host to respond. The passive administration of immune reagents can be capable of reacting against the tumor independent of the host's immune competence. Therefore, passive therapy is regarded as an attractive area of investigation in tumor immunotherapy. The chapter summarizes the existing information concerning the use of subcellular products, such as immune RNA or transfer factor, in the treatment of animal and human malignancy. It is noted that because of immunodepression caused by cancer treatments, passive immunotherapy is considered independent of host immune competence, and is therefore an ideal candidate for inclusion in combined-modality approaches to cancer therapy.
Migration and Foreign Aid

When it comes to linkages between migration and the global allocation of foreign development assistance, the size of the immigrant population from a recipient country residing in a donor country is an important determinant of dyadic aid commitments. Two complementary hypotheses probe this relationship. First, donors use foreign aid to achieve their broader immigration goals, targeting migrant-sending areas to increase development and decrease the demand for entry into the donor country. Second, migrants already residing in the donor country mobilize to lobby for additional aid for their homeland. Empirical tests on a large sample of country pairs made up of twenty-two donors and more than 150 recipients over the period 1993 to 2008 show robust support for these hypotheses
A triple gene mutant of BoHV-1 administered intranasally is significantly more efficacious than a BoHV-1 glycoprotein E-deleted virus against a virulent BoHV-1 challenge.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) causes respiratory infections and abortions in cattle, and is an important component of bovine respiratory disease complex, which causes a considerable economic loss worldwide. Several efforts have been made to produce safer and more effective vaccines. One of these vaccines is a glycoprotein E (gE)-deleted marker vaccine which is currently mandated for use in EU countries. In the present study, we have constructed a three-gene-mutated BoHV-1 vaccine virus (UL49.5 luminal domain residues 30–32 and cytoplasmic tail residues 80–96 deleted, gE cytoplasmic tail- and entire Us9-deleted) and compared its protective vaccine efficacy in calves after intranasal vaccination with that of a gE-deleted virus. Following vaccination, both the triple mutant and gE-deleted vaccine virus replicated well in the nasal epithelium of the calves. The vaccinated calves did not show any clinical signs. Four weeks post-vaccination, the animals were challenged intranasally with a virulent BoHV-1 wild-type virus. Based on clinical signs, both the gE-deleted and triple mutant group were protected equally against the virulent BoHV-1 challenge. However, based on the quantity and duration of nasal viral shedding, virus neutralizing antibody and cellular immune responses, the triple mutant virus vaccine induced a significantly better protective immune response than the gE-deleted virus vaccine. Notably, after the virulent BoHV-1 challenge, the triple mutant virus vaccinated group cleared the challenge virus three days earlier than the BoHV-1 gE-deleted virus vaccinated group.
More accurate algorithms for iterative 3-dimensional reconstruction

A work-in-progress report is presented dealing with several methods of iterative 3-dimensional reconstruction that are more accurate than the usual methods, and the behavior of a number of algorithms upon varying the number of iterations, the number of projections, the counts per projection, and the field of view of the detector.
A DBMS architecture for prudent managers

Abstract The investment required to use data base technology forces ADP managers to consider carefully DBMS selection and its risks. A manager must consider actions which will anticipate and control future costs. By combining the framework proposed in the ANSI/X3/SPARC Study Group final report with the CODASYL DBMS specifications and adding the administrative control of standards, a manager would have a database environment that offers sufficient flexibility to realize DBMS benefits from existing technology while minimizing later costs in converting to improved technology.
Subunit organization and reversal-associated movements in the flagellar switch of Escherichia coli.

Bacterial flagella contain a rotor-mounted protein complex termed the switch complex that functions in flagellar assembly, rotation, and clockwise/counterclockwise direction control. In Escherichia coli and Salmonella, the switch complex contains the proteins FliG, FliM, and FliN and corresponds structurally with the C-ring in the flagellar basal body. Certain features of subunit organization in the switch complex have been deduced previously, but details of subunit organization in the lower part of the C-ring and the molecular movements responsible for motor switching remain unclear. In this study, we use cross-linking, binding, and mutational experiments to examine subunit organization in the bottom of the C-ring and to probe movements that occur upon switching. The results show that FliN tetramers alternate with FliM C-terminal domains to form the bottom of the C-ring in an arrangement that closely reproduces the major features observed in electron microscopic reconstructions. When motors were switched to clockwise rotation by a repellent stimulus, cross-link yields were altered in a pattern indicating relative movement of FliN and FliMC. These results are discussed in the framework of a structurally grounded hypothesis for the switching mechanism.
Acetylcholinesterase in the human retina.

Abstract The distribution of cholinesterase activity in the human retina was evaluated using histochemical methods. The butyrylcholine esterase (BuChE) inhibitor tetraisopropylpyrophosphoramide was used to localize acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the AChE inhibitor BW284c51 was used to localize BuChE activity, and eserine was used to inhibit all cholinesterase activity in control incubations. We have found specific AChE activity in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) andBuChE activity is apparently associated with blood vessels at the light microscopic level. At the electron microscopic level, AChE reaction product is seen both at apparently synaptic and manifestly non-synaptic sites. Reaction product is found adjacent to neural processes in the IPL; these processes have an ultrastructure characteristic of amacrine cells. Although reaction product is seen adjacent to bipolar, ganglion and Muller cells, it is only present where they come into contact with apparent amacrine cell profiles. Using longer incubations, reaction product is found in the perikarya of cells with the morphology and position of amacrine and displaced amacrine cells. There is also some evidence for AChE activity adjacent to lateral processes at a rare type of rod synapse in the outer plexiform layer. The observations reported here strengthen the evidence for cholinergic neurotransmission in the human retina.
The Human Aminophospholipid-Transporting ATPase Gene ATP10C Maps Adjacent to UBE3A and Exhibits Similar Imprinted Expression

Maternal duplications of the imprinted 15q11-13 domain result in an estimated 1%–2% of autism-spectrum disorders, and linkage to autism has been identified within 15q12-13. UBE3A, the Angelman syndrome gene, has, to date, been the only maternally expressed, imprinted gene identified within this region, but mutations have not been found in autistic patients. Here we describe the characterization of ATP10C, a new human imprinted gene, which encodes a putative protein homologous to the mouse aminophospholipid-transporting ATPase Atp10c. ATP10C maps within 200 kb distal to UBE3A and, like UBE3A, also demonstrates imprinted, preferential maternal expression in human brain. The location and imprinted expression of ATP10C thus make it a candidate for chromosome 15–associated autism and suggest that it may contribute to the Angelman syndrome phenotype.
Preheating in New Inflation

During the last ten years a detailed investigation of preheating was performed for chaotic inflation and for hybrid inflation. However, nonperturbative effects during reheating in the new inflation scenario remained practically unexplored. We investigate preheating in new inflation, using a combination of analytical and numerical methods. We find that the decay of the homogeneous component of the inflaton field and the resulting process of spontaneous symmetry breaking in the simplest models of new inflation usually occurs almost instantly: for the new inflation on the GUT scale it takes only about 5 oscillations of the field distribution. The decay of the homogeneous inflaton field is so efficient because of a combined effect of tachyonic preheating and parametric resonance. At that stage, the homogeneous oscillating inflaton field decays into a collection of waves of the inflaton field, with a typical wavelength of the order of the inverse inflaton mass. This stage usually is followed by a long stage of decay of the inflaton field into other particles, which can be described by the perturbative approach to reheating after inflation. The resulting reheating temperature typically is rather low.
The immunization-induced antibody response to the Anaplasma marginale major surface protein 2 and its association with protective immunity.

Many vector-borne pathogens evade clearance via rapid variation in their immunogenic surface expressed proteins. This is exemplified by Anaplasma marginale, a tick-borne bacterial pathogen that generates major surface protein 2 (Msp2) variants to provide for immune escape and allow long-term pathogen persistence. In contrast to persistence following infection, immunization with a surface protein complex, which includes Msp2, induces a response that prevents infection upon challenge. We hypothesized that the immune response induced by immunization altered the anti-Msp2 antibody repertoire as compared to that induced during infection, shifting the immune response toward conserved and thus broadly protective epitopes. The antibody response to the conserved (CR) and hypervariable (HVR) regions encoded by the full set of msp2 variant alleles was determined for immunized animals prior to challenge and non-immunized, infected animals. While both groups of animals had a similar antibody repertoire in terms of breath and magnitude, the titers to the Msp2 CR were strongly correlated (p < 0.005) with control of bacteremia only in the infected animals. Among the immunized animals, there was no correlation between the breadth or magnitude of the anti-Msp2 antibody response and either complete protection from infection or control of bacteremia. This is consistent with separate immunologic mechanisms being responsible for control of bacteremia in infected animals as compared to immunized animals and suggests that conserved outer membrane proteins other than Msp2 are responsible for the complete clearance observed following challenge of vaccinees.
Factors affecting the identification of independent storm events

Abstract No standard method exists for identifying independent precipitation events for storm-based precipitation analyses. Two methods using Coshocton, Ohio data are compared in this study (the rank correlation and exponential methods), along with an investigation of factors affecting the minimum dry-period duration between storms (termed the “critical duration”). The exponential method gives higher critical duration estimates than the rank correlation method. The effect of sampling interval of the data on critical duration is small for both methods. Consequently, readily available hourly data may be used to estimate the critical duration. Year-to-year, seasonal and spatial variability in critical duration estimates are found to be great. About ten years of data are required to compute reliable estimates of critical duration. The exponential method is suggested for use.
An unexpected journey: lysine methylation across the proteome.

The dynamic modification of histone proteins by lysine methylation has emerged over the last decade as a key regulator of chromatin functions. In contrast, our understanding of the biological roles for lysine methylation of non-histone proteins has progressed more slowly. Though recently it has attracted less attention, e-methyl-lysine in non-histone proteins was first observed over 50 years ago. In that time, it has become clear that, like the case for histones, non-histone methylation represents a key and common signaling process within the cell. Recent work suggests that non-histone methylation occurs on hundreds of proteins found in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and with important biomedical implications. Technological advances that allow us to identify lysine methylation on a proteomic scale are opening new avenues in the non-histone methylation field, which is poised for dramatic growth. Here, we review historical and recent findings in non-histone lysine methylation signaling, highlight new methods that are expanding opportunities in the field, and discuss outstanding questions and future challenges about the role of this fundamental post-translational modification (PTM).
3He and 2H measurements and what they tell us about cosmic ray propagation in the galaxy

Abstract We have compared new observations of the 3 He 4 He and 2 >H 4 He ratios in cosmic rays made by the I-Max experiment with calculations of the interstellar production of secondary 3He and 2H. Within an uncertainty of ±10% these measurements imply an interstellar path length that is the same as that required to produce the observed cosmic ray B C ratio. Thus cosmic ray He nuclei must have generally the same propagation history as heavier nuclei such as C, O and Fe. More subtle effects related to the actual path length distribution of the different primary species, which could provide information on the source distribution and how the diffusion varies with distance above the galactic plane, for example, will require that the cross sections into 3He and 2H — both in interstellar space and in the atmosphere be known to within a few percent.
On the Distribution of Single Molecule Line Widths in Low-Temperature Glasses

Abstract We discuss a theoretical model for describing the spectral dynamics (fluctuating transition frequency) of individual chromophores in solids. We show that analysis, with this model, of line width distributions resulting from experiments on many individual chromophores in glasses may provide a discriminating test of the “two-level system” model of glasses.
Assembly of Acidic Amphiphiles into Inverted Hexagonal Phases Using an l-Alanine-Based Surfactant as a Structure-Directing Agent†

Several taper-shaped, Bronsted acidic amphiphiles containing an amide linkage near the headgroup were synthesized with the goal of generating acidic, inverted hexagonal (HII) lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) phases that can be stabilized by polymerization. These polymerizable acidic amphiphiles were synthesized by reacting the acyl chloride of 3,4,5-tris(11‘-acryloxyundecyloxy)benzoic acid with several amino acids (l-alanine, β-alanine, l-phenylalanine) and 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid. Of these derivatives, only the l-alanine derivative (1) was found to form the HII phase, using N,N-dimethylformamide as the hydrophilic solvent. To our knowledge, this is one of the rare examples (if not the only example) of a Bronsted acidic amphiphile capable of forming a high-curvature LLC phase. Monomer 1 was also found to be able to direct the formation of the other amide-containing acidic derivatives into the HII phase when blended together. IR analysis revealed that intermolecular amide H-bonding near the headgroup play...
Importance of the MbtH-like protein TioT for production and activation of the thiocoraline adenylation domain of TioK

The 3-hydroxyquinaldic acid (3HQA) chromophores of thiocoraline are essential for the biological DNA bisintercalating function of this antitumor agent. The 3HQA units are also proposed to play a critical role in the resistance mechanism of the thiocoraline-producing organism against this natural product. Because of their important functions, there is a great interest in understanding the 3HQA formation from L-Trp. The first proposed committed steps during 3HQA biosynthesis consist of conversion of L-Trp into L-Trp-AMP by the adenylation domain of TioK followed by installation of the activated amino acid onto the thiolation domain of this didomain enzyme. However, testing this series of events has been hindered by the inability to heterologously express soluble TioK. Here, we demonstrated that the MbtH-like protein TioT is required for production and activation of TioK. With soluble functional TioK in hand, we established the amino acid substrate profile and kinetically characterized this enzyme. By site-directed mutagenesis of TioT, we also investigated the significance of three Pro residues that are universally conserved in MbtH-like proteins.
Water in silicate glasses: An infrared spectroscopic study

Infrared and near-infrared transmission spectra have been taken on 19 volcanic and synthetic silicate glasses with known H2O contents (0.06–6.9 wt. %). Absorption peaks were observed at wavelengths of 1.41 μm, 1.91 μm, 2.22 μm, 2.53 μm, and 2.8 μm. These peaks have been attributed to the first overtone of the OH stretching vibration, the combination stretching+bending mode of H2O molecules, the combination stretching+bending mode of X-OH groups, a combination mode of the fundamental OH stretch+a low energy lattice vibration, and the fundamental OH stretching mode, respectively. Molar absorptivities of the peaks have been determined to be 0.2, 1.8, 1.0, 0.9, and 67 l/mol-cm. These values apply over the full range of glass compositions studied (albite, rhyolite, basalt).
Do antibodies recognize amino acid side chains of protein antigens independently of the carbon backbone

In an effort to understand the structural basis for antigen mimicry by internal image antibodies, we determined the variable (V) region sequences of two mouse mAbs that mimic the rabbit Ig a1 allotype. The results showed that while the mAb light chains did not contain any allotype-related residues, both heavy chain V regions contained within complementarity-determining region 2 an unusual sequence homologous to the nominal antigen but in opposite orientation with respect to the carbon backbone. The ability of the internal image reversed sequence to express an a1-like determinant was tested directly by producing synthetic peptides that corresponded to the presumed antigenic regions of rabbit Ig and the mAb internal images, respectively. Although the two peptides presented the homologous residues in opposite orientations, they both completely inhibited at similar concentrations the binding of rabbit Ig to anti-a1 antibody. Conservative substitutions in the peptide sequence identified a paired Thr and Glu as being critical for expression of the a1 epitope. These findings indicate that antibodies can recognize the molecular environments created by amino acid side chains independently from the orientation of the protein carbon backbone.
Effects of Light, Surface Sterilization, and Fungicides on the Germination of Black Huckleberry Seeds

Abstract Germination tests were conducted on seeds of black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceumDouglas ex Hooker) to determine the effects of light exposure, surface sterilization, and fungicides. In total darkness, approximately 2% of seeds germinated. A single 24-h exposure to fluorescent light increased the rate to 37.4%. Daily exposure to 12 h of light for 77 d produced average germination rates of 78.6%. Surface sterilization in diluted household bleach (0.5% sodium hypochlorite) eliminated contamination by microorganisms without reducing germination percentages, but altered the germination versus time curves by shortening the lag period between sowing and radicle emergence. Treating seeds with captan or mancozeb fungicides increased the time necessary for germination and reduced the percentages of seeds that germinated. Light exposure is required for maximum seed germination. For germination trials where only maximum cumulative germination percentages are of interest, surface sterilization with blea...
Gene amplification and gene correction in somatic cells

Abstract We used gene transfer to identify frequent genetic rearrangements responsible for activating mutant genes in mammalian cells. We transformed an aprt − tk − cell with a plasmid containing a wild-type aprt gene and a truncated, promoterless tk gene. Transformants that integrate a single copy of this plasmid exhibit the aprt + phenotype but remain tk − . Tk + variants result from 20 to 50 fold amplification of the linked plasmid along with significant lengths of flanking DNA. They produce aberrant transcripts such that multiple genes are required to generate sufficient enzyme to convert the cell to the tk + phenotype. One striking feature of the amplified aprt + tk + clones is the frequency (10 −4 ) at which aprt − tk + mutants appear. These phenotypic requirements are such that the tk gene must remain amplified while all the amplified aprt genes become inactivated. The structure of the amplified DNA indicates that within aprt − cells, all amplified units bear identical mutations. These data suggest that these cells possess an efficient correction mechanism that maintains sequence homogeneity among repeated genetic elements.
Aerosol dynamics and the synthesis of fine solid particles

Aerosol dynamics (AD) is the discipline that deals with changes in particle size distributions in space and time. AD is based on (1) certain fundamental principles embodied in a set of equations, (2) experimental methods and instrumentation and (3) numerical and computational methods. Over the last few decades, AD has emerged as an enabling discipline in the design of aerosol reactors employed in the gas phase synthesis of fine powders, the characterization of particle emissions from sources such as coal-fired power plants and the atmospheric aerosol. The development of basic AD concepts since early in the 20th century is traced to the present. Major gaps that remain in the field and likely advances over the next few years are discussed. Although accurate predictions of particle size from first principles are difficult to make in practical applications, AD principles can be used to explain trends in product properties for flame and laser ablation reactors that operate under very different temperatures and quench rates.
Isolation of items and the stimulus suffix effect

Thirty Ss heard and serially recalled 36 different nine-digit series. The recall cue was a buzzer, the wordzero read in the same voice that read the first seven digits, or the wordzero read in a voice different from the one that read the first seven digits. In half the series, all nine digits were read in the same voice. The final two digits of the remaining series were isolated by having them read in a voice different from the one that read the first seven digits. Zero suffixes disrupted recall of the terminal digits more than the buzzer (the stimulus suffix effect) and had a greater degrading effect when they were in the same voice as the final two digits than when the zero suffixes and the final digits were read in different voices. Isolated digits were more likely to be recalled than nonisolated digits. Results suggest the importance of perceptual analysis in both the stimulus suffix effect and the isolation effect.
Mind Your Body

Ever wondered why yawning is contagious? What about why some golfers, even the professionals, are dogged by the yips? Why do we not overtly feel the clothes that we are wearing on our bodies as we move around through everyday life? Why do drivers wince with pain when they scrape their cars against a brick wall?