Shadow allometry: Estimating tree structural parameters using hyperspatial image analysis

We present a novel approach to generating regional scale aboveground biomass estimates for tree species of the Lake Tahoe Basin using hyperspatial (< 1 m² ground resolution) remote sensing imagery. Tree crown shadows were identified and delineated as individual polygons. The area of shadowed vegetation for each tree was related to two tree structural parameters, diameter-at-breast height (DBH) and crown area. We found we could detect DBH and crown area with reasonable accuracy (field measured to image derived cross correlation results were 0.67 and 0.77 for DBH and crown area, respectively). Furthermore, the counts of the delineated polygons in a region generated overstory stem densities validated to manually photointerpreted stem densities (photointerpreted vs. image-derived stem densities correlation was 0.87). We demonstrate with accurate classification maps and allometric equations relating DBH or crown area to biomass, that these crown-level parameters can be used to generate regional scale biomass estimates without the signal saturation common to coarse-scale optical and RADAR sensors.     

N-terminal EFRH sequence of Alzheimer's beta-amyloid peptide represents the epitope of its anti-aggregating antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies 6C6 and 10D5 raised against the N-terminal of beta-amyloid peptide interfere with the formation of beta-amyloid and trigger reversal to its non-toxic components. The epitopes of these antibodies were localized employing a library composed of filamentous phage displaying random combinatorial hexapeptides. Among 44 positive phage-clones, selected from the library by both antibodies, 40 clones carried the consensus sequence EFRH. These EFRH phage-clones bind specifically mAbs 6C6 or 10D5 with an apparent binding constant of approximately 10(-9) M. The peptide EFRH inhibits binding of mAbs 6C6 or 10D5 to beta-amyloid peptide in affinities identical to those obtained. with the peptides corresponding to positions 1-9, 1-16 and 1-40 of beta-peptide. These findings confirm that the peptide EFRH which is located at positions 3-6 within beta-amyloid peptide represents the sequential epitope of mAbs 6C6 and 10D5.     

New one-step process for preparation of microporous composite polysulfone/polyurethane hollow-fiber membranes

Microporous composite polysulfone/polyurethane hollow-fiber membranes were prepared by using a low reactivity polyurethane prepolymer in the casting solution and precipitating the membrane in a precipitation solution containing a polymerization catalyst. The catalyst was used to promote the polymerization of prepolymer at the membrane/precipitation solution interface causing formation of an interfacial interpenetrating polymer network. As a result, an ultra-thin layer of hydrophilic polysulfone/ polyurethane composite polymer was constituted in situ on the surface of the polysulfone microporous substrate during membrane formation. Membranes with nominal pore sizes ranging from 0.1–0.45 μm were prepared using this technique. The resulting membranes exhibited excellent fluxes and very low protein adsorption characteristics.     

Chronic expression of P-selectin on endothelial cells stimulated by the T-cell cytokine, interleukin-3

P-selectin expressed on the surface of endothelium mediates leukocyte adhesion in vitro and rolling in vivo. Several inducers of cell-surface P-selectin expression on endothelial cells (EC) have previously been identified, all of which yield transient cell-surface expression of P-selectin lasting minutes to a few hours. We now show that a T-lymphocyte product, interleukin-3 (IL-3), stimulates the long-term endothelial cells (HUVEC). IL-3 induced cell-surface P-selectin expression in two phases. An initial peak at 10 minutes was followed by a prolonged upregulation beginning 16 hours after IL-3 addition and lasting at least 4 days. The level of P-selectin expression induced by IL-3 added for 48 hours was similar to that induced by treatment of HUVEC for 10 minutes with thrombin, and the effect of adding IL-3 for 48 hours followed by thrombin for 10 minutes was additive. Induction of cell-surface P-selectin expression by IL-3 was blocked by pretreatment of EC with a blocking monoclonal antibody against the IL-3 receptor alpha-chain. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and a mutant form of IL-3 with decreased potency did not induce cell-surface P-selectin expression after 48 hours' incubation with HUVEC, suggesting that the effect was specific to IL-3. The increase in cell-surface P-selectin expression occurring after 16 hours of incubation with IL-3 was accompanied by a similar prolonged increase in the steady-state mRNA level that was not observed at 10 minutes after IL-3 addition. As T-lymphocyte infiltration is a hallmark of chronic inflammation, our observations suggest that the secretion of IL-3 by T lymphocytes may serve to maintain the inflammatory state during chronic inflammation.     

Limbal cell autograft transplantation for severe ocular surface disorders

OBJECTIVE: To determine if poor dietary intake can explain the cobalamin-related abnormalities often seen in the elderly. DESIGN: Prospective laboratory survey with a follow-up dietary assessment. SETTING: Social centers for the elderly and an outpatient clinic. SUBJECTS: Ninety-five free-living subjects >60y old with abnormal or suspicious findings in cobalamin-related tests and 78 subjects >60y old with normal results. INTERVENTIONS: Serum cobalamin, methylmalonic acid and homocysteine determinations to assess cobalamin status and a one year food-frequency questionnaire to assess cobalamin intake. RESULTS: Only three of the 173 subjects (1.7%), one of whom had normal cobalamin status, ingested <2 microg cobalamin/d, the Recommended Daily Allowance. Sixty-nine subjects (39.9%) ingested <6 microg/d, but they did not have more abnormal serum cobalamin or metabolite values than those ingesting >6 microg. Ordering all subjects by quintiles according to cobalamin intake revealed no significant trends or differences in any of the serum values either. Moreover, arranging subjects by results of tests of cobalamin status showed that the subjects with abnormal cobalamin status did not differ in cobalamin intake from those with normal cobalamin status, although they did differ in use of supplements. Finally, cobalamin intake, with or without supplements, did not correlate with serum cobalamin or metabolite levels. The absence of any association between cobalamin status and intake contrasts sharply with the significant correlation between folate intake and folate status (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency of mildly abnormal cobalamin status in the elderly cannot be attributed to poor intake of cobalamin. Nondietary explanations, such as malabsorption and other phenomena, must always be sought to explain mild cobalamin deficiency in the elderly.     

Lethal infection of newborn mice, caused by hepatitis C virus

Intracerebral infection of mice aged 2-3 days with hepatitis C virus (HCV) from chronically infected suckling mouse brain cultures and porcine embryo cells resulted in the death of animals after 12-14 days. Repeated passages of HCV in animals decreased the incubation period to just 3-4 days. Blood serum of surviving mice collected during the 4th week postinfection contained antiHCV antibodies detected by enzyme immunoassay and hemagglutination inhibition test. The results are proof of creation of a new in vivo model of experimental HCV infection.     

Clinical picture and dynamics of psychopathologic disorders in subacute leuko-and panencephalitis

The report contains the results of clinico-dynamic studies of mental disorders in patients with Schilder's leukoencephalitis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis after van-Bogart. The authors come to the conclusion that only parallel comparisons of the psychopathological symptomatology with focal neurological signs and a simultaneous study of the EEG and other paraclinical indices may facilitate the differential diagnosis of encephalitis.     

Temporal versus spatial information processing theories of hippocampal function.

Several articles by A. H. Black, L. Nadel, J. O'Keefe, and their co-workers (1974, 1975, 1976, 1979) propose that the primary function of the hippocampus is to process spatial information. Although the spatial information processing view of hippocampal function accounts for much of the available data, it cannot account for the data from the classically conditioned rabbit nictitating membrane response preparation. The present article reviews these data and suggests that the hippocampus is involved in the processing of temporal as well as spatial information. (46 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)