cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of skeletal muscle regeneration

We have studied the effect of adding extra satellite cells or soluble factors from crushed muscle on regeneration of minced fragments from rat tibialis muscle. The muscle mince was wrapped in an artificial epimysium to prevent adhesions and cell immigration from adjacent muscles. Regeneration was quantitatively assessed by electrophoretic determination of the muscle-specific form of creatine kinase. Control minces exhibited three periods of change in creatine kinase activity during a 7-week regeneration period. Activity fell rapidly during the first week, then rose gradually from 1-3 weeks and increased more rapidly from 3-7 weeks. To augment the original complement of myogenic cells, satellite cells were isolated from the contralateral muscle, purified by density gradient centrifugation, and expanded in culture for 3 days before adding to the muscle mince. The added cells resulted in a 3-fold enhancement of creatine kinase activity throughout the regeneration period. Soluble muscle extract incorporated into a collagen matrix also stimulated regeneration when added to muscle mince. The extract accelerated the rate of creatine kinase increase during the 1-3 week period beyond that observed in the control or cell augmented mince, suggesting that factors in the extract may facilitate revascularization or reinnervation. The specific activity of creatine kinase was increased in regenerates augmented with both cells and extract, indicating that the effects enhance primarily myogenic processes.
The pattern of grainfall deposition in the lee of aeolian dunes

A simple model for the deposition pattern in the lee of aeolian dunes is presented that relies heavily upon a recently developed understanding of aeolian saltation. Grainfall deposition at any position on the lee face is the result of all saltation trajectories that leave any point on the surface of the dune upwind of the brink with sufficient initial velocity to travel the intervening distance. The deposition rate at any position on the lee slope is obtained by integrating over all combinations of initial position and required velocity, the velocity being weighted by its probability density. The resulting calculated total deposition rate patterns show distinct maxima on the order of one to a few decimetres from the brink, beyond which deposition rates fall off roughly exponentially. An important length scale emerges that characterizes this decay with distance from the brink, the length increasing with wind velocity, and decreasing with grain diameter. It is shown that this length scale is on the order of one metre for typical grain size and wind conditions. That this is typically smaller than the length of the lee slope is what gives rise to the oversteepening and eventual avalanching of the lee sides of aeolian dunes. The position of a pivot point on the lee slope may be predicted, separating source regions from accumulation regions for grainflow avalanche deposits. The calculated patterns provide not only a means for quantitative interpretation of active and fossil dune grainfall deposits, but they provide the initial geometry for grainflow avalanches. The initial failures should coincide with the steepest gradient in grainfall deposition, slightly downslope from the grainfall maximum.
Changes in teaching of nontechnical skills, knowledge, aptitudes, and attitudes at US colleges and schools of veterinary medicine between 1999 and 2009

Objective—To identify changes in the teaching of nontechnical skills, knowledge, aptitudes, and attitudes (SKAs) at US colleges and schools of veterinary medicine between 1999 and 2009. Design—Cross-sectional survey. Sample—All 28 US colleges and schools of veterinary medicine. Procedures—An electronic questionnaire was sent to the entire study population. Results were compared with published results of a similar survey performed in 1999 of colleges and schools of veterinary medicine in the United States and Canada. Results—A 100% response rate was achieved. All respondents were found to offer at least 1 course related to SKAs in 2009, compared with 94% (29/31) of respondents in 1999. A total of 110 such courses were documented, compared with 47 in 1999. In 2009, 26 of the 28 (93%) colleges and schools had at least 1 course related to SKAs that was required, compared with 17 of the 31 (55%) respondents to the 1999 survey. Courses were most commonly incorporated in years 1 and 3 of the curriculum and were ...
Structural stability of PbS films as a function of temperature

Abstract PbS films are used as a Pb 2+ -ion selective sensor and IR detector. However, this material fails at an elevated temperature. In order to get insight of the origin of its failure, we performed high temperature structural studies of PbS films using high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction. At normal temperature and pressure (NTP), PbS film has an face centered cubic lattice and is in rock-salt (B1) structure. At NTP, the band gap of this film is 0.45 eV. Our studies show that at ∼375 K, PbS film undergoes a subtle structural transition from rock-salt (B1) to zinc-blende (B3) structure. This B3-phase of PbS film is found to be metastable. In order to correlate our findings on structural transition with the conducting characteristics, we performed a four-point probe electrical resistivity measurement on the B3-phase of PbS films. In contrast to a band gap of 0.45 eV in B1-phase, our results show that the band gap in B3-phase is 0.127 eV, less by a factor of ∼3.5. Based on our present investigation, we conjecture that the temperature induced structural transition of PbS film into a metastable B3-phase having a reduced energy band gap is the origin of the failure of PbS film as an Pb 2+ -ion selective sensor and IR detector at high temperature.
Baseband signal compression in wireless base stations

To comply with the evolving wireless standards, base stations must provide greater data rates over the serial data link between base station processor and RF unit. This link is especially important in distributed antenna systems and cooperating base stations settings. This paper explores the compression of baseband signal samples prior to transfer over the above-mentioned link. We study lossy and lossless compression of baseband signals and analyze the cost and gain of each approach. Sample quantizing is proposed as a lossy compression scheme and it is shown to be effective by experiments. With QPSK modulation, sample quantizing achieves a compression ratio of 4:1 and 3.5:1 in downlink and uplink, respectively. The corresponding compression ratios are 2.3:1 and 2:1 for 16-QAM. In addition, lossless compression algorithms including arithmetic coding, Elias-gamma coding, and unused significant bit removal, and also a recently proposed baseband signal compression scheme are evaluated. The best compression ratio achieved for lossless compression is 1.5∶1 in downlink. Our simulations and over-the-air experiments suggest that compression of baseband signal samples is a feasible and promising solution for increasing the effective bit rates of the link to/from remote RF units without requiring much complexity and cost to the base station.
Role of CAR and PXR in xenobiotic sensing and metabolism

Introduction: The xenobiotic detoxification system, which protects the human body from external chemicals, comprises drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters whose expressions are regulated by pregnane X receptor (PXR) and the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). The progress made in a large number of recent studies calls for a timely review to summarize and highlight these key discoveries. Areas covered: This review summarizes recent advances in elucidating the roles of PXR and CAR in the xenobiotic detoxification system. It also highlights the progress in understanding the regulation of PXR and CAR activity at the post-translational levels, as well as the structural basis for the regulation of these two xenobiotic sensors. Expert opinion: Future efforts are needed to discover novel agonists and antagonists with species and isoform selectivity, to systematically understand the regulation of PXR and CAR at multiple levels (transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational levels) in respon...
Dynamically Heterogenous Partitions and Phylogenetic Inference: An Evaluation of Analytical Strategies with Cytochrome b and ND6 Gene Sequences in Cranes

ki ctes over whether molecular sequence data should be partitioned for phylogenetic analysis often confound two types of heterogeneity among partitions. We distinguish historical heterogeneity (i.e., different partitions have different evolutionary relationships) from dynamic heterogeneity (i.e., different partitions show different patterns of sequence evolution) and explore the impact of the latter on phylogenetic accuracy and precision with a two-gene, mitochondrial data set for cranes. The well-established phylogeny of cranes allows us to contrast tree-based estimates of relevant parameter values with estimates based on pairwise comparisons and to ascertain the effects of incorporating different amounts of process information into phylogenetic estimates. We show that codon positions in the cytochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 genes are dynamically heterogenous under both Poisson and invariable-sites + gamma-rates versions of the F84 model and that heterogeneity includes variation in base composition and transition bias as well as substitution rate. Estimates of transition-bias and relative-rate parameters from pairwise sequence comparisons were comparable to those obtained as tree-based maximum likelihood estimates. Neither rate-category nor mixed-model partitioning strategies resulted in a loss of phylogenetic precision relative to unpartitioned analyses. We suggest that weighted-average distances provide a computationally feasible alternative to direct maximum likelihood estimates of phylogeny for mixed-model analyses of large, dynamically heterogenous data sets.
Architectural considerations in the design of WDM-based optical access networks

Abstract We describe a WDM-based optical access network architecture for providing broadband Internet services. The architecture uses a passive collection and distribution network and a configurable Feeder network. Unlike earlier papers that concentrate on the physical layer design of the network, we focus on higher layer architectural considerations. In particular we discuss the joint design of the electronic and optical layers including: WDM Medium Access Control protocols; the choice of electronic multiplexing and switching between the IP and WDM layers; joint optical and electronic protection mechanisms; network reconfiguration algorithms that alter the logical topology of the network in response to changes in traffic; and traffic grooming algorithms to minimize the cost of electronic multiplexing. Finally we also discuss the impact of the optical topology on higher layer protocols such as IP routing, TCP flow control and multi-layer switching.
Message-based cellular peer-to-peer grids: foundations for secure federation and autonomic services

We examine the creation of peer-to-peer Grids in which autonomous Grid components (Gridlets) may be federated into dynamic Grid collections. We examine two important aspects of these systems: federated security and autonomic considerations. As we discuss, both may be implemented using a messaging system as a substrate. Messaging systems provide the means of bridging Gridlet realms, organizing access control areas, and providing autonomic building blocks like discovery, reliability, resilience, and robustness of the peer-to-peer Grid.
On the components of rabbit lens -crystallin

Abstract This paper reports attempts to obtain a homogeneous component of rabbit eye lens -crystallin and the partial characterization of five fractions from -crystallin. 1. 1) The fractionation of -crystallin into eight components using CM-cellulose chromatography and a combined ionic strength-pH gradient is described. 2. 2) Five components were examined for their C-terminal amino acids before and after succinylation. Their polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns and amino acid compositions were determined. Tryptic-peptide maps of the reduced, aminoethylated and cyanogen bromide-cleaved components were prepared. 3. 3) Despite considerable fractionation, it did not appear that any of the components examined were homogeneous. However, there were striking similarities in amino acid composition, tryptic-peptide maps, and C-terminal amino acids. Our results are in general agreement with those of Bjork (5) for bovine -crystallin. 4. 4) We suggest the several components of -crystallin arise from minor, non-lethal evolutionary alterations in primary structure.
An investigation into the effects of various platings on the film coefficient during nucleate boiling from horizontal tubes

Abstract Tests were conducted using stainless-steel tubes heated electrically from which nucleate boiling took place. These tests were repeated when the tubes had been plated with a thin layer of different materials. Plating materials used were copper, zinc, tin, nickel, cadmium, and chromium. It was found that the presence of the plating resulted in a change in the film coefficient by as much as 200 to 300 per cent in the case of copper or zinc. An analytical solution was obtained for the action of a single bubble on a flat plate. From this solution it is concluded that the effect of the plating material is not due solely to its thermal properties.
Weathering Relationships Between Gibbsite, Kaolinite, Chlorite, and Expansible Layer Silicates in Selected Soils from the Lower Mississippi Coastal Plain*

Clays from two Reddish-Brown Lateritic soils from the southern Mississippi Coastal Plain were fractionated and the mineral associations and weathering transformations were examined. The clays were found to be dominated by well-chloritized expansible layer silicates, gibbsite and kaolinite, with smaller amounts of quartz, mica and anatase. The abundance of gibbsite appeared to be related to the presence of expansible layer silicates and to soil pH variations. This mineral and kaolinite were found in appreciable amounts in even the finest clay fractions. Quartz and mica decreased to insignificant amounts with soil depth and decreasing particle size whereas gibbsite content of the clays rose suggesting an interrrelationship between these minerals.
MO‐D‐224A‐06: Fast Monte Carlo‐Based Computation of ASi‐EPID Dose Images for IMRT Treatment Field Through Phantom

Purpose: During‐treatment IMRTdosimetric verification can be accomplished with exit dose portal dosimetry; however, differential beam hardening and patient scatter radiation results in inaccuracies in invariant kernel‐based calculation methods. The purpose of this study is to develop an accurate, yet efficient Monte‐Carlo (MC) based algorithm to predict during treatmentdosimetric aSi‐EPID images to compare with measured images for plan delivery quality assurance.Method and Materials: To compute EPIDimages, the VMC++ MC algorithm is used to transport particles through the patient geometry. Particles exiting the patient are scored into 19 energy‐differential fluence‐matrices at the EPID surface. Computed EPIDimages are generated by summing the contributions of each fluence‐matrix convolved with MC generated mono‐energetic energy deposition kernels. Kernel‐based method validation was performed for open, MLC‐blocked, intensity test‐pattern and a prostate‐IMRT field with and without a 20 cm thick phantom by comparing with full MC computation of EPIDimages. Additionally, the prostate‐IMRT plan was computed through a pelvic phantom. A cone‐beam CT of the pelvic phantom was used for dose computation particle transport. Comparison metrics include image profiles and gamma‐metric evaluation. Results: For the test fields, kernel‐based methods had >95% of voxels with γ 99.1% with a 2%, 2mm criteria with respect to the MC‐calculated fields. For the pelvic phantom, 92.6% of pixels had γ<1 for 1%, 1mm criteria. The systematic discrepancy(∼0.5%) is well below the statistical uncertainty(∼3%). Conclusion: The kernel‐based convolution method is comparable in accuracy with full MC while requiring substantially less computation time than a full MCEPID simulation. Image computation time is independent of MC statistical precision and adds <1min to the MC simulation time. Comparison of measured images with MC‐computed portal images may be a practical method to perform during‐treatment dose validation. Conflict of Interest: Supported in‐part by Varian Medical Systems.
Congenital hemihypertrophy of the face: Impersonator of childhood facial tumors

Abstract Congenital facial hemihypertrophy is an uncommon defect which can masquerade as some other disorder. Lymphangioma, hemangioma, neurofibromatosis, congenital lipoma and adipose hamartoma were initial diagnoses of the cheek mass in our two cases. Careful reassessment revealed enlargement of all of the left craniofacial bones and many of the soft tissue landmarks of the face and mouth. This, coupled with the precocius development of the left teeth, led to the correct diagnosis. In addition to hemihypertrophy, one of our patients had a probable leptomeningocele, and the other had congenital giant lipomas of the trunk and left lower limb.
Recent Development of Ultrafast Thermoelasticity

ABSTRACT Ultrafast deformation is caused by intense heating of femtosecond lasers that involve ultrafast energy exchange between electrons and metal lattices in the femto- to picosecond domain. This work outlines unique features including interactions between T-waves and stress waves in the femtosecond domain and the hot-electron blast that can destroy cold lattices before they become thermally excited. Dominating groups are identified to characterize the ultrafast thermomechanical response.
Effects of maternal nutrient restriction followed by realimentation during early and midgestation on beef cows. I. Maternal performance and organ weights at different stages of gestation

The objectives were to evaluate the effects of nutrient restriction during early to midgestation followed by realimentation on maternal performance and organ mass in pregnant beef cows. On d 30 of pregnancy, multiparous, nonlactating cows (initial BW = 620.5 ± 11.3 kg and BCS = 5.1 ± 0.1) were assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: control (CON; 100% NRC; n = 18) and restricted (RES; 60% NRC; n = 30). On d 85, cows were slaughtered (CON, n = 6; R, n = 6), remained on control (CC; n = 12) and restricted (RR; n = 12), or were realimented to control (RC; n = 11). On d 140, cows were slaughtered (CC, n = 6; RR, n = 6; RC, n = 5), remained on control (CCC, n = 6; RCC, n = 5), or were realimented to control (RRC, n = 6). On d 254, all remaining cows were slaughtered. Cows were weighed before slaughter and all maternal organs were dissected and weighed. The diet consisted of grass hay to meet 100 or 60% NEm recommendations for fetal growth and to meet or exceed recommendations for other nutrients. At d 85 slaughters, BW and empty BW (EBW) were not affected (P ≥ 0.84) by maternal nutrition. However back fat was decreased (P = 0.05) in RES vs. CON cows. Large intestine and abomasum mass were increased (P ≤ 0.05) in RES cows vs. CON. At d 140, BW was decreased (P = 0.05) and EBW tended to be decreased (P = 0.10) in RRC cows vs. CCC and RCC being intermediate. Liver mass was decreased (P = 0.02) in RR vs. CC with RC being intermediate. Ruminal mass was decreased (P = 0.003) in RR vs. CC and RC cows. At d 254, BW and EBW were similar (P ≥ 0.78) across treatments. We observed partial changes in maternal weight and organ masses due to different lengths of maternal nutrient restriction followed by realimentation. It appears that the dam undergoes some adaptations during an early to midgestation nutrient restriction and becomes more efficient in the utilization of nutrients after being realimented and as gestation advances.
SU-GG-I-41: Experiences of ACR Accreditation with Philips Brilliance CT Series

Purpose: To illustrate physics phantom testing for Philips Brilliance CT series ranging from 16‐slice detector configuration to newly developed iCT technology. Method and Materials: Gammex 464 ACR CT Accreditation Phantom was used to collect phantom images and FDA CTdosimetry phantoms were used for radiation dosimetry measurements on Philips Brilliance 16, 40, 64, and iCT scanners.Results: Brilliance 64 and Brilliance iCT scanners have coverage of 4 cm and 8 cm scan length respectively. Due to cone beam reconstructions, to measure CT numbers on the ACR CT Accreditation Phantom correctly, it is very important to align the inner laser to the center of Module 1, as stated in the Phantom Testing Instructions. To set up scanning protocols, Philips Brilliance series use mAs/slice, similar to the effective mAs on some other systems, calculated as the product of tube current and tube rotation time for axial scans, and further divided by the helical pitch for helical scans. Therefore, the mAs displayed on images has already taken into the effect of pitch for helical cases. The mA used to measure radiation dosimetry with axial scans in Section 9 through 11 will be different from the mA recorded in Table 1 of the Site Scanning Data Form for helical scans. Special attentions also are needed for the head protocols in Brilliance 16 through 64 scanners, because these axial scans uses 420° rotation angle for the X‐ray tube, the actual tube rotation time is 1/6 more than the time per rotation recorded in Table 1. Accordingly, the mA used in Section 9 for adult head needs to be adjusted to be 1/6 more than the mA recorded in Table 1 as well. Conclusion: Special attentions are needed to scan ACR CT Accreditation Phantom on volume CT.
Activation of rat liver pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphate kinase.

Abstract The activity of the pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphate kinase (ATP:dCMP phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.4.14) from rat liver is dependent upon the presence of sulhydryl-reducing agents. Addition to the inactive enzyme of 2-mercaptoethanol (5 mM), a reagent specific for cleavage of disulfide bonds, effects a reduction in molecular weight from approx. 53 000 to 17 000, measured by molecular sieve chromatography. This low molecular weight form is partially active in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol (5 mM). In absence of 2-mercaptoethanol, the low molecular weight form is inactive. Higher concentrations of 2-mercaptoethanol (50 mM) fully reactivate the CMP(ATP) kinase activity followed by dCMP(ATP) and CMP(dCTP) kinase activities in a sequential manner, without further change in molecular weight. Alkylation by iodoacetamide of the enzyme at different stages of reactivation in dithiothreitol suggests an ordered appearance of the various enzyme activities. Furthermore, iodoacetamide inactivates the fully active enzyme. Thioredoxin was found to activate the enzyme in a manner similar to 2-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol. These results are consistent with the interpretation that the mechanism of activation of the enzyme involves cleavage of inter- and intramolecular disulfide bonds.
Role of regulatory T cells in human diseases.

The discovery of regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) that are actively involved in maintaining immune tolerance has led to new insights into mechanisms of tolerance breakdown in human diseases, including those resulting from allergic, autoimmune, or infectious causes. Congenital deficiency of CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding Foxp3 triggers a syndrome of lymphoproliferation and myeloproliferation, autoimmunity, and allergic dysregulation, whereas deficient allergen-specific Treg cell responses have been associated with a number of allergic and autoimmune disorders. Tolerization to allergens and autoantigens is associated with augmentation of Treg cell numbers and suppressive function, suggesting the manipulation of Treg cell activity as a potential strategy for future therapeutic interventions in allergic and autoimmune diseases.
In vivo evidence from an Agrostis stolonifera selection genotype that chloroplast small heat-shock proteins can protect photosystem II during heat stress

Previous in vitro experiments indicated that chloroplast small heat-shock proteins (sHsp) could associate with thylakoids and protect PSII during heat and other stresses, possibly by stabilizing the O2-evolving complex (OEC). However, in vivo evidence of sHsp protection of PSII is equivocal at present. Using previously characterized selection genotypes of Agrostis stolonifera Huds. that differ in thermotolerance and production of chloroplast sHsps, we show that both genotypes contain thylakoid-associating sHsps, but the heat-tolerant genotype, which produces an additional sHsp isoform not made by the sensitive genotype, produces a greater quantity of chloroplast and thylakoid sHsp. Following a pre-heat stress to induce sHsps, in vivo PSII function decreased less at high temperatures in the tolerant genotype. Differences in PSII thermotolerance in vivo were associated with increased thermotolerance of the OEC proteins and O2-evolving function of PSII, and not with other PSII proteins or functions examined. In vivo cross-linking experiments indicated that a greater amount of sHsp associated with PSII proteins during heat stress in the tolerant genotype. PSII was the most thermosensitive component of photosynthetic electron transport, and no differences between genotypes in the thermotolerance of other electron transport components were observed. These results indicate that in vivo chloroplast sHsps can protect O2 evolution and the OEC proteins of PSII during heat stress.
Comparison of two algorithms in the automatic segmentation of blood vessels in fundus images

Effective timing and treatment are critical to saving the sight of patients with diabetes. Lack of screening, as well as a shortage of ophthalmologists, help contribute to approximately 8,000 cases per year of people who lose their sight to diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of new cases of blindness [1] [2]. Timely treatment for diabetic retinopathy prevents severe vision loss in over 50% of eyes tested [1]. Fundus images can provide information for detecting and monitoring eye-related diseases, like diabetic retinopathy, which if detected early, may help prevent vision loss. Damaged blood vessels can indicate the presence of diabetic retinopathy [9]. So, early detection of damaged vessels in retinal images can provide valuable information about the presence of disease, thereby helping to prevent vision loss. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two blood vessel segmentation algorithms. Methods: Fifteen fundus images from the STARE database were used to develop two algorithms using the CVIPtools software environment. Another set of fifteen images were derived from the first fifteen and contained ophthalmologists' hand-drawn tracings over the retinal vessels. The ophthalmologists' tracings were used as the "gold standard" for perfect segmentation and compared with the segmented images that were output by the two algorithms. Comparisons between the segmented and the hand-drawn images were made using Pratt's Figure of Merit (FOM), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and Root Mean Square (RMS) Error. Results: Algorithm 2 has an FOM that is 10% higher than Algorithm 1. Algorithm 2 has a 6%-higher SNR than Algorithm 1. Algorithm 2 has only 1.3% more RMS error than Algorithm 1. Conclusions: Algorithm 1 extracted most of the blood vessels with some missing intersections and bifurcations. Algorithm 2 extracted all the major blood vessels, but eradicated some vessels as well. Algorithm 2 outperformed Algorithm 1 in terms of visual clarity, FOM and SNR. The performances of these algorithms show that they have an appreciable amount of potential in helping ophthalmologists detect the severity of eye-related diseases and prevent vision loss.
Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of 10-N-Substituted Acridones as Novel Chemosensitizers in Plasmodium falciparum

A series of novel 10-N-substituted acridones, bearing alkyl side chains with tertiary amine groups at the terminal position, were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for the ability to enhance the potency of quinoline drugs against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites. A number of acridone derivatives, with side chains bridged three or more carbon atoms apart between the ring nitrogen and terminal nitrogen, demonstrated chloroquine (CQ)-chemosensitizing activity against the MDR strain of P. falciparum (Dd2). Isobologram analysis revealed that selected candidates demonstrated significant synergy with CQ in the CQ-resistant (CQR) parasite Dd2 but only additive (or indifferent) interaction in the CQ-sensitive (CQS) D6. These acridone derivatives also enhanced the sensitivity of other quinoline antimalarials, such as desethylchloroquine (DCQ) and quinine (QN), in Dd2. The patterns of chemosensitizing effects of selected acridones on CQ and QN were similar to those of verapamil against various parasite lines with mutations encoding amino acid 76 of the P. falciparum CQ resistance transporter (PfCRT). Unlike other known chemosensitizers with recognized psychotropic effects (e.g., desipramine, imipramine, and chlorpheniramine), these novel acridone derivatives exhibited no demonstrable effect on the uptake or binding of important biogenic amine neurotransmitters. The combined results indicate that 10-N-substituted acridones present novel pharmacophores for the development of chemosensitizers against P. falciparum.
Polymyxin B Resistance and Biofilm Formation in Vibrio cholerae Are Controlled by the Response Regulator CarR

Two-component systems play important roles in the physiology of many bacterial pathogens. Vibrio cholerae's CarRS two-component regulatory system negatively regulates expression of vps (Vibrio polysaccharide) genes and biofilm formation. In this study, we report that CarR confers polymyxin B resistance by positively regulating expression of the almEFG genes, whose products are required for glycine and diglycine modification of lipid A. We determined that CarR directly binds to the regulatory region of the almEFG operon. Similarly to a carR mutant, strains lacking almE, almF, and almG exhibited enhanced polymyxin B sensitivity. We also observed that strains lacking almE or the almEFG operon have enhanced biofilm formation. Our results reveal that CarR regulates biofilm formation and antimicrobial peptide resistance in V. cholerae.
Accurate forward road geometry estimation for collision warning applications

This paper describes a new model and method for accurate estimation of forward path geometry of an automobile. In this work, the forward geometry is modeled by two contiguous clothoid segments with different geometries, but continuous curvature across the transition between them. This results in a closed-form parametric expression of the same polynomial order as previous models. A recursive estimation method based on the new road model is also described. The performance evaluation of the proposed method on various simulated road geometries and comparisons with previous approaches demonstrate the feasibility and higher accuracy of the proposed method. This higher accuracy comes without a concomitant increase in computational cost or/and sensitivity to noise. The high accuracy estimation of forward path or road geometry is directly useful in applications that rely on detecting targets in the forward path of the host vehicle, e.g., adaptive cruise control and automotive collision warning.
The Diversity of the Pectolytic Fluorescent Pseudomonads

A significant proportion of the bacteria that cause soft rot in plants and in harvested fruit and vegetables are pectolytic fluorescent pseudomonads. These bacteria have been traditionally called Pseudomonas marginalis by plant bacteriologists. Stanier, Palleroni and Doudoroff placed two of these strains in Biotype II of P. fluorescens. Subsequent work by other workers has shown that only about half of isolated pectolytic strains fit into Biotype II of P. fluorescens, and that some fit descriptions of other species such as P. viridiflava, P. putida and P. cichorii. The concept of P. marginalis as a distinct, definable species must be reexamined.
Evaluation of Two Live, Cold-Passaged, Temperature-Sensitive Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines in Chimpanzees and in Human Adults, Infants, and Children

Two live-attenuated, cold-passaged (cp), temperature-sensitive (ts) candidate vaccines, designated cpts530/1009 and cpts248/955, were attenuated, genetically stable, and immunogenic in chimpanzees and were highly attenuated for human adults. In respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-seropositive children, cpts530/1009 was more restricted in replication than cpts248/955. In seronegative children, 10 4 pfu of cpts248/955 was insufficiently attenuated, and a high titer of vaccine virus was shed (mean peak titer, 10 4.4 pfu/mL), whereas 10 4 pfu of cpts530/1009 was relatively attenuated and restricted in replication (mean peak titer, 10 2.0 pfu/mL). At a dose of 10 5 pfu, cpts530/1009 was immunogenic in seronegative children (geometric mean titer of RSV neutralizing antibodies, 1:724). Transmission of either vaccine to seronegative placebo recipients occurred at a frequency of 20%-25%, Of importance, vaccine viruses recovered from chimpanzees and humans were ts. In contrast to previous studies, this study indicates that live attenuated RSV vaccines that are immunogenic and phenotypically stable can be developed. Additional studies are being conducted to identify a live RSV vaccine that is slightly more attenuated and less transmissible than cpts530/1009.
De nouveaux rôles pour l’ADN topo-isomérase I

L’ADN topo-isomerase I eucaryote est une enzyme nucleaire dont le role essentiel est de supprimer les contraintes de torsion de l’ADN au cours des processus de replication et de transcription. La decouverte de son activite de proteine kinase, de sa grande similitude avec des enzymes de recombinaison de l’ADN, et de sa capacite de « reconnaitre » une grande variete de lesions de l’ADN, a permis d’envisager de nouveaux roles pour cette enzyme. Nous discuterons en particulier le role potentiel de la topo-isomerase I dans la signalisation des dommages de l’ADN aux systemes de mort cellulaire.
Clinical prognostic factors associated with outcome in patients with renal cell cancer with prior tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immunotherapy treated with everolimus

Abstract Background The mTOR inhibitor, everolimus, is approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, prognostic models are needed to determine the patients who would most benefit from this therapy. We have developed a model based on clinical parameters and patient stratification into risk groups to predict patients with RCC who will derive the most benefit from treatment with everolimus. Methods We assessed retrospective data on 57 patients with RCC who received everolimus after previous treatment with immunotherapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors to identify prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In the original phase II study, patients received 10 mg of everolimus daily without interruption and were assessed every other week for the first 8 weeks on therapy and every 4 weeks thereafter. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate OS and PFS. Univariate and multivariate analyses were constructed using the Cox proportional hazards model and a stepwise procedure to validate the data. Results We grouped patients according to risk: 0 prognostic factors indicated favorable risk, 1 to 2 factors intermediate risk, and≥3 factors poor risk. We found notable differences in median OS (29.6 mo for favorable risk, 14.3 mo for intermediate risk, and 7.2 mo for poor risk). Three risk factors (prior radiation treatment, no lung metastasis present at the start of treatment, and lymphocytes 1.5×upper limit of normal, alkaline phosphatase>120 U/l, and lymphocytes Conclusions Our prognostic model includes 3 readily available clinical parameters for PFS and 4 readily available clinical parameters for OS to help stratify patients into poor, intermediate, and favorable prognosis groups for the treatment of everolimus in clear cell RCC. These intriguing results warrant further study in a larger patient population to validate the findings.
Experimental Investigation of a High Pressure Ratio Aspirated Fan Stage

The experimental investigation of an aspirated fan stage designed to achieve a pressure ratio of 3.4:1 at 1500 ft/sec is presented in this paper. The low-energy viscous flow is aspirated from diffusion-limiting locations on the blades and flowpath surfaces of the stage, enabling a very high pressure ratio to be achieved in a single stage. The fan stage performance was mapped at various operating speeds from choke to stall in a compressor facility at fully simulated engine conditions. The experimentally determined stage performance, in terms of pressure ratio and corresponding inlet mass flow rate, was found to be in good agreement with the three-dimensional viscous computational prediction, and in turn close to the design intent. Stage pressure ratios exceeding 3:1 were achieved at design speed, with an aspiration flow fraction of 3.5 percent of the stage inlet mass flow. The experimental performance of the stage at various operating conditions, including detailed flowfield measurements, are presented and discussed in the context of the computational analyses. The sensitivity of the stage performance and operability to reduced aspiration flow rates at design and off design conditions are also discussed.
Chlamydia trachomatisσ28 recognizes the fliC promoter of Escherichia coli and responds to heat shock in chlamydiae

The rpsD gene of Chlamydia trachomatis encodes the alternative σ factor σ 28, which bears strong homology to many bacterial σ factors, including Escherichia coli σ 28 and Bacillus subtilis σ B and σ D. Recently, a σ 28 promoter was identified upstream of the late-cycle-expressed gene hctB, which encodes the Chlamydia-histone-like protein 2 ( Yu & Tan, 2003 ). In this study it is shown that the product of chlamydial rpsD is an E. coli σ 28 homologue. It was found that recombinant chlamydial σ 28, in combination with E. coli core RNA polymerase, initiates transcription in vitro from the E. coli σ 28-dependent promoter of fliC. It was also demonstrated that the recombinant chlamydial σ 28 does not recognize major σ factor σ 70-consensus-like sequences in vitro. In C. trachomatis-infected cells, two rpsD transcripts were detected with 5′ ends located 18 (transcript I) and 54 bp (transcript II) upstream of the translational initiation codon at 16 and 30 h post-infection. When the temperature of cultures infected with C. trachomatis was shifted from 35 to 42 °C, the rpsD transcript I increased dramatically. The levels of chlamydial σ 28, relative to EF-Tu, were greater throughout the exponential growth phase of the reticulate body, but lower late in the developmental cycle. These data support the hypothesis that σ 28 plays a role in the regulatory network that allows chlamydiae to survive changes in its environment, enabling it to complete its unique developmental cycle.
Entrepreneurial and Buyer-Driven Local Wine Supply Chains: Case Study of Acres of Land Winery in Kentucky

The Kentucky wine industry has grown rapidly over the past decade as farmers diversify from tobacco to alternative enterprises. The objectives of this paper are to; (i) describe the conversion of a family-owned tobacco farm into a fledgling wine enterprise (ii) identify market competitive and coordination strategies being used by an emerging winery, (iii) determine key challenges facing the development of a small winery and (iv) recommend future studies for improving the performance of local wine supply chains. The paper is based on a case study of Acres of Land winery in Kentucky and it uses qualitative data collected during visits to the farm in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The case study shows the development of the winery and the organization of the local wine supply chain. Results indicate that Acres of Land winery is fully vertically integrated and actively pursues both competitive and risk management strategies. The winery faces challenges such as “dry county” restrictions, government licensing requirements, changing consumer preferences, and growing industry competition.
War, Empire, and Democracy: Three New Examinations of Some Dominant Forces of the Twentieth Century

America's Mission. The United States and the Worldwide Struggle for Democracy in the Twentieth Century. By Tony Smith. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994. Pp. 455. $24.95.) Century of War: Politics, Conflict, and Society Since 1914. By Gabriel Kolko. (New York: The New Press, 1994. Pp. 546. $29.95.) The Vulnerability of Empire. By Charles A. Kupchan. (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1994. Pp. 527.)
The Definition and Choice of Environmental Commodities for Nonmarket Valuation

Economic analyses of nature must somehow define the “environmental commodities” to which values are attached. This paper articulates a set of principles to guide the choice and interpretation of nonmarket commodities. We describe how complex natural systems can be decomposed consistent with what can be called “ecological production theory.” Ecological production theory - like conventional production theory - distinguishes between biophysical inputs, process, and outputs. We argue that a systems approach to the decomposition and presentation of natural commodities can inform and possibly improve the validity of nonmarket environmental valuation studies. We raise concerns about the interpretation, usefulness, and accuracy of benefit estimates derived without reference to ecological production theory.
Anticytokine therapy for osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease that involves degeneration of articular cartilage, weakening of the subchondral bone and limited intra-articular inflammation manifested by synovitis. Since the pathogenesis of OA involves multiple aetiologies, including mechanical, biochemical and genetic factors, it has been difficult to identify unique targets for therapy. Current pharmacological interventions focus primarily on improving symptoms. The rationale for the use of anticytokine therapy in OA is based on evidence from studies in vitro and in vivo that interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha are the predominant pro-inflammatory and catabolic cytokines involved in the initiation and progression of articular cartilage destruction. Since the increased levels of catabolic enzymes, prostaglandins, nitric oxide (NO) and other markers in OA fluids and tissues appear to be related to elevated levels of IL-1 and TNF-alpha, therapies that interfere with the expression or actions of these cytokines are most promising. Other cytokines that are anti-inflammatory and are often detected, paradoxically, in OA tissues are also potential therapeutic agents for counteracting the cartilage destruction in OA. Identification of methods for early diagnosis is of key importance, since therapeutic interventions aimed at blocking or reversing structural damage will be more effective when there is the possibility of preserving normal homeostasis. At later stages, cartilage tissue engineering with or without gene therapy will also require anticytokine therapy to block damage to newly repaired cartilage. This review will focus on experimental approaches currently under study that may lead to elucidation of effective strategies for therapy in OA, with special emphasis on anticytokine therapy.
A simulation environment for evaluation of Integrated Alerting and Notification (IAN) concepts

In order to pursue solutions that simultaneously increase the flight crew's ability to avoid, detect, and recover from unexpected events while also providing countermeasures to pilot error, an onboard Hazard and Integrity Monitor (HIM) function as well as an Integrated Alerting and Notification (IAN) function have previously been proposed to detect and assess hazards, and issue integrated and prioritized alerts and notifications to the flight crew. The objective of these functions is to mitigate hazards introduced by the operators, the application of automation, and the environment. This paper presents a simulation environment developed for verification and validation of the HIM and IAN concepts. This simulation environment models aircraft communication, navigation, surveillance, and health reporting systems and sensors, along with their respective error models. The environment allows for test and evaluation of HIM and IAN concepts under varying sensor and data link configurations and can easily be interface with human-in-the-loop simulators as well. Because of its flexibility of the onboard avionics configurations, this simulation environment can also be used to test other new avionics sensors and algorithms. This paper will discuss the functionality of this simulation environment including avionics properties, data structures, interfaces, and operational modes. Finally, this paper will describe an experiment being prepared on the Research Flight Deck (RFD) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center (LaRC) that will use this simulation environment in a human-in-the-loop study.
Colorectal cancer cells – Proliferation, survival and invasion by lysophosphatidic acid

Colorectal cancer (CRC) develops through a series of genetic modifications that transforms normal colonic epithelium to an adenoma and then ultimately adenocarcinoma. A body of evidence suggests that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a potent inducer of cancer progression at multiple levels. However, the pathological significance and mechanisms of LPA-mediated effects in the intestinal tract have only recently drawn interests. CRC cells have aberrant LPA receptor expression and LPA enhances proliferation, survival, and invasion of CRC cells, implying LPA and its signaling pathways as potential targets for anti-cancer therapies. The mechanisms of fostering CRC by LPA include dysregulation of transcription factors, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and angiogenic factors. This review provides a brief summary of recent advance on the effects of LPA on CRC cells.
Hierarchical mixture models: a probabilistic analysis

Mixture models form one of the most widely used classes of generative models for describing structured and clustered data. In this paper we develop a new approach for the analysis of hierarchical mixture models. More specifically, using a text clustering problem as a motivation, we describe a natural generative process that creates a hierarchical mixture model for the data. In this process, an adversary starts with an arbitrary base distribution and then builds a topic hierarchy via some evolutionary process, where he controls the parameters of the process. We prove that under our assumptions, given a subset of topics that represent generalizations of one another (such as baseball → sports → base), for any document which was produced via some topic in this hierarchy, we can efficiently determine the most specialized topic in this subset, it still belongs to. The quality of the classification is independent of the total number of topics in the hierarchy and our algorithm does not need to know the total number of topics in advance. Our approach also yields an algorithm for clustering and unsupervised topical tree reconstruction. We validate our model by showing that properties predicted by our theoretical results carry over to real data. We then apply our clustering algorithm to two different datasets: (i) "20 newsgroups"[19] and (ii) a snapshot of abstracts of arXiv {2} (15 categories, ~240,000 abstracts). In both cases our algorithm performs extremely well.