cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T cell activation and inhibition by cholera toxin and its B subunit

Cholera toxin (CT) and its B subunit (CT-B) are potent oral immunogens in vivo, although both strongly inhibit polyclonal lymphocyte activation in vitro. In order to help understand this paradox, we have studied the activation of CT-B specific T cells in vitro. CT-B subunit primed PLN T cells were used as responders, Con A stimulated PEC as antigen presenting cells (APC), and various forms of CT-B as antigen. There was a marked difference in the activation of CT-specific T cells when different forms of CT-B were used. Native CT-B did not stimulate T cell proliferation when co-cultured with primed T cells and APC’s; in contrast, denatured CT-B or CT-B blocked by Gml ganglioside stimulated well. The degree of proliferation was proportional to the dose of antigen and APC’s in the cultures, was antigen-specific, and was H-2 restricted. APC’s from high responder strains to CT were significantly more effective than were APC’s from low responder strains in presenting CT-B to F1 T cells. Addition of native CT-B to co-cultures of primed T cells plus denatured CT-B inhibited the CT-B specific proliferative response. Thus the inhibitory properties of CT-B and CT extends even to T cells specific for CT itself. The nature of this inhibition was further investigated using phorbol myristic acetate (PMA) and ionomycin as polyclonal activators, which trigger the two arms of the phosphatidylinositol system. CT-B inhibited T-cell proliferation induced by PMA and ionomycin and the kinetics of such inhibition indicate that CT-B and CT affect late events in T-cell activation. The inhibition occurred also after relatively brief pulses of CT. The CD8 T cell subset was more sensitive to inhibition than was the CD4. We conclude that, because of these inhibitory properties, processing of CT to non-binding molecular forms or fragments in vivo must be an important prerequisite for the induction of an immune response to CT.
Clinical applications of control systems models: The neural integrators for eye movements.

Abstract The first models that were proposed to account for the neural control of eye movements applied a classic control systems approach, including feedback, and measured system responses to sinusoidal and transient stimuli. Although such models provided many insights, their limitations were quickly recognized, such as their inability to account for anticipatory responses. Another question was whether models with lumped transfer functions could usefully represent a population of neurons, in which individual units were shown to encode a spectrum of different signals, including resting discharge rates and noise. Recent trends have been towards neural network models and Bayesian operators, which account for observed properties such as the variability of responses and predictive behavior, but often puzzle clinicians by their complexity and non-intuitive operations. We propose that, since all models are incomplete, it makes sense to select the simplest model that can address the topic of interest. We examine two aspects of abnormal ocular motor control, affecting the common integrator for eye movements, and the vestibular velocity storage mechanism. In both cases, we show how classic control systems provided substantial insights into clinical disorders—such as gaze-evoked nystagmus and periodic alternating nystagmus—as well as suggesting new questions, experiments, and potential treatments.
Student Perceptions and Use of Technology-Mediated Text and Screencast Feedback in ESL Writing

Abstract In an effort to expand understanding of the impact of technology choices in giving feedback, this exploratory study investigates the efficacy of screencast and text feedback given to 12 students over four assignments in an intermediate ESL writing course. Employing a series of six surveys in conjunction with screencast observations, draft comparisons, and a small group interview, it provides insight into student perceptions and use of technology-mediated screencast and text feedback. Results suggest that while students found utility in both screencast and text feedback, screencast video feedback was preferred for its efficiency, clarity, ease of use and heightened understanding. Observations supported these student assertions as students working with screencast feedback took less time to revise, remained in the target language and did not need to ask clarification questions, which was not the case with the text feedback. Successful changes were made at similar rates for both types of feedback with screencast resulting in a slightly, but not significantly, higher average percentage of successful global changes. To consider feasibility, the study also compared the length of time to create each feedback file, finding that video feedback offered a 33% time savings.
Amplifying mTORC2 signals through AMPK during energetic stress

Growth factors activate mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) through poorly defined mechanisms to modulate cell metabolism. In this issue of Science Signaling, Kazyken et al. now report that AMPK directly activates mTORC2 during energetic stress to enhance cell survival.
Data structures from an empirical standpoint

Data structures is a well known course taught in most computer science departments. This course typically includes a study of the most conventional data structures and their associated algorithms. Complexity of the algorithms is often a major focus of the course. To facilitate the student's understanding of the algorithms and their complexity, three projects are proposed. This paper concerns itself with an empirical approach to these projects. In addition to the usual knowledge gained from performing these projects, students learn an analytical technique that can be applied to many algorithms and to research.
Microbiota in viral infection and disease in humans and farm animals

The influence of the microbiota on viral infection susceptibility and disease outcome is undisputable although varies among viruses. The purpose of understanding the interactions between microbiota, virus, and host is to identify practical, effective, and safe approaches that target microbiota for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases in humans and animals, as currently there are few effective and reliable antiviral therapies available. The initial step for achieving this goal is to gather clinical evidences, focusing on the viral pathogens-from human and animal studies-that have already been shown to interact with microbiota. The subsequent step is to identify mechanisms, through experimental evidences, to support the development of translational applications that target microbiota. In this chapter, we review evidences of virus infections altering microbiota and of microbiota enhancing or suppressing infectivity, altering host susceptibility to certain viral diseases, and influencing vaccine immunogenicity in humans and farm animals.
Reliability of acoustic radiation force impulse shear wave elastography in the evaluation of liver stiffness in morbidly obese patients.

Purpose To evaluate technical and patient-related factors that can affect the reliability of acoustic radiation force impulse shear wave elastography (ARFI-SWE) in morbidly obese patients. Methods A prospective single-center study was performed on 41 patients (32 females, 78%) presenting for preoperative evaluation for bariatric surgery. ARFI-SWE was performed using a 6 to 1.5 MHz curved (6C1) transducer. Hepatic steatosis was mild, moderate, severe, and absent in 24.4%, 12.2%, 43.9%, and 19.5% of patients, respectively. Interquartile range/median (IQR/M) ranged from 0.05 to 2.07 (0.78 ± 0.56 m/s). Twenty patients (48.7%) had reliable measurements (IQR/M 1.34 m/s (clinically significant fibrosis) in 25 of 41 patients (61%) and >2.2 m/s (advanced fibrosis) in 19 patients (46%). Results Median SWV was correlated with body mass index (BMI; correlation coefficient [CC] = .37; 95% CI, 0.07-0.61; P-value = .03) and skin-to-liver capsule distance (SLD) (CC = .38; 95% CI, 0.09-0.62; P-value = .01). IQR/M was higher in patients with BMI > 40 (0.24 ± 0.11 vs 0.39 ± 0.25, P-value = .031) and SLD > 3 cm (0.46 ± 0.27 vs 0.23 ± 0.08, P-value = .001), and there was higher number of unreliable examinations among patient with SLD > 3 cm (16/23 vs 5/18, P-value = .01). Conclusion ARFI-SWE is technically more challenging among patients with higher BMI and SLD, resulting in a higher number of unreliable studies, which highlights the need for further advancement of ARFI technology.
New World, New Church: the theology of the emerging church movement: by Hannah Steele, London, SCM Press, 2017, 259+vii pp., £25.00 (PBK), ISBN: 9780334054900

When interest in ‘emerging’ forms of church exploded during the first decade of this century, apologists and detractors in the evangelical sphere moved quickly to opposing corners. Sharp criticism ...
School Counseling District Supervisors’ Experiences and Perceptions Regarding School Counselor Preparation for Practice:

District-level school counseling supervisors assist with school counselors’ induction into the school counseling field; however, related research is lacking. As a result, we conducted an explorator...
Reducing a Barrier to Entry: The 120/150 CPA Licensing Rule

In the United States, one of the most common state-level occupational licensing requirements is education. Education requirements for certified public accountants (CPAs) in many states have increased over the past few decades, but recently a few states have reduced their educational requirement to sit for the CPA exam. Using data from 2006 to 2016, we separately examine the effects of relaxing or strengthening educational requirements on the number of first-time candidates sitting for the CPA exam and on candidate performance. Our results indicate that a reduction in the number of credit hours required to sit for the CPA exam increases the number of candidates, while an increase in the number of prerequisite hours reduces the number of candidates (the latter effect is sensitive to the inclusion of control variables). We also find no relationship between changes in CPA exam requirements and pass rates or scores. Hence, requiring 150 h instead of 120 acts as a barrier to entry for potential CPAs with no accompanying increase in candidate quality.
Suicide mortality and related behavior following calls to the Veterans Crisis Line by Veterans Health Administration patients

Objectives To assess outcomes for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients following calls to the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). Methods 158,927 VHA patients had an initial VCL call in 2010-2015 with documented identifiers. Multivariable proportional hazards regressions assessed risks of suicide and suicide-related behavior through 12 months. Covariates included age, sex, region, mental health encounters in the prior year, time of day, weekday/weekend status, call outcome, and responder determination of caller risk. Results Annualized suicide rates per 100,000 within 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were 797, 520, 387, and 298, respectively. Average age was 49.9 (SD = 15.2), 86.5% were male, 68.6% received mental health encounters in the prior year, and 5.9% had calls categorized as at high risk. Adjusting for covariates, suicide risk was greater among male callers and those with calls categorized as at high or moderate risk. Conclusions Veterans Crisis Line serves a high-risk population at a critical time. Rates were particularly high within one month and remained substantially elevated through 12 months. Findings have directly informed ongoing efforts to enhance coordination between VCL and VHA to support suicide prevention.
Validation of a penetrating captive bolt device with air-channel pithing as a single-step method for euthanasia of cattle in mass depopulation situations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of a penetrating captive bolt device with a built-in low pressure air-channel pithing as a single-step method for humane euthanasia of cattle in a mass depopulation scenario. Currently, the only single step methods of euthanasia approved for use in cattle are gunshot or barbiturate overdose both of which are impractical for mass depopulation situations.
Parallel Accelerated Stokesian Dynamics with Brownian Motion

Abstract We present scalable algorithms to simulate large-scale stochastic particle systems amenable for modeling dense colloidal suspensions, glasses and gels. To handle the large number of particles and consequent many-body interactions present in such systems, we leverage an Accelerated Stokesian Dynamics (ASD) approach, for which we developed parallel algorithms in a distributed memory architecture. We present parallelization of the sparse near-field (including singular lubrication) interactions, and of the matrix-free many-body far-field interactions, along with a strategy for communicating and mapping the distributed data structures between the near- and far field. Scaling to up to tens of thousands of processors for a million particles is demonstrated. In addition, we propose a novel algorithm to efficiently simulate correlated Brownian motion with hydrodynamic interactions. The original Accelerated Stokesian Dynamics approach requires the separate computation of far-field and near-field Brownian forces. Recent advancements propose computation of a far-field velocity using positive spectral Ewald decomposition. We present an alternative approach for calculating the far-field Brownian velocity by implementing the fluctuating force coupling method and embedding it using a nested scheme into ASD. This straightforward and flexible approach reduces the computational time of the Brownian far-field force construction from O ( N l o g N ) 1 + | α | to O ( N l o g N ) .
MO-F-CAMPUS-T-04: Development and Evaluation of a Knowledge-Based Model for Treatment Planning of Lung Cancer Patients Using Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)

Purpose: To describe the development of a knowledge-based treatment planning model for lung cancer patients treated with SBRT, and to evaluate the model performance and applicability to different planning techniques and tumor locations. Methods: 105 lung SBRT plans previously treated at our institution were included in the development of the model using Varian’s RapidPlan DVH estimation algorithm. The model was trained with a combination of IMRT, VMAT, and 3D–CRT techniques. Tumor locations encompassed lesions located centrally vs peripherally (43:62), upper vs lower (62:43), and anterior vs posterior lobes (60:45). The model performance was validated with 25 cases independent of the training set, for both IMRT and VMAT. Model generated plans were created with only one optimization and no planner intervention. The original, general model was also divided into four separate models according to tumor location. The model was also applied using different beam templates to further improve workflow. Dose differences to targets and organs-at-risk were evaluated. Results: IMRT and VMAT RapidPlan generated plans were comparable to clinical plans with respect to target coverage and several OARs. Spinal cord dose was lowered in the model-based plans by 1Gy compared to the clinical plans, p=0.008. Splitting the model according to tumor location resulted in insignificant differences in DVH estimation. The peripheral model decreased esophagus dose to the central lesions by 0.5Gy compared to the original model, p=0.025, and the posterior model increased dose to the spinal cord by 1Gy compared to the anterior model, p=0.001. All template beam plans met OAR criteria, with 1Gy increases noted in maximum heart dose for the 9-field plans, p=0.04. Conclusion: A RapidPlan knowledge-based model for lung SBRT produces comparable results to clinical plans, with increased consistency and greater efficiency. The model encompasses both IMRT and VMAT techniques, differing tumor locations, and beam arrangements. Research supported in part by a grant from Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto CA.
Heredity of Restless Legs Syndrome in a Pregnant Population

ABSTRACT Objective To synthesize published research on genetic and heredity findings related to restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a pregnant population. Data Sources PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases and reference lists from published articles. Study Selection Literature searches were conducted for primary research studies published in English on the genetic and heredity findings of RLS in pregnant populations. Data Extraction Study characteristics and findings related to genetic and heredity aspects of RLS in a pregnant population. Data Synthesis Five data‐based articles met the criteria for study inclusion. Study findings comprised Level‐2 and Level‐3 evidence. Four of the five studies were larger population studies and contained a subset of pregnant participants. Parity and family history were important predictors of RLS proband status. Probands reported symptoms were often initiated during or after pregnancy. Conclusions Symptoms of RLS for female probands are often initiated during pregnancy or after childbirth. A history of RLS in a previous pregnancy and family history of RLS were strong predictors of RLS in the current pregnancy. Future research on genetic associations of RLS in pregnancy is warranted.
Partial Hydatidiform Mole

Hydatidiform moles are nonneoplastic proliferations of the villous trophoblasts, with two distinct subtypes: complete and partial hydatidiform moles (PHMs). While they share some basic features, that is, hydropic placenta/chorionic villi and trophoblastic hyperplasia, partial and complete moles have significant differences in their genetic composition, clinical presentation, histomorphology, and the subsequent risk of developing persistent gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). At the genetic level, PHMs are typically diandric monogynic triploid gestations, most often arising from two sperms fertilizing an egg. Complete moles on the other hand are most commonly diploid or tetraploid and are entirely paternally derived.
Pipeline Structural Health Monitoring Using Macro-fiber Composite Active Sensors

The United States economy is heavily dependent upon a vast network of pipeline systems to transport and distribute the nation's energy resources. As this network of pipelines continues to age, monitoring and maintaining its structural integrity remains essential to the nation's energy interests. Numerous pipeline accidents over the past several years have resulted in hundreds of fatalities and billions of dollars in property damages. These accidents show that the current monitoring methods are not sufficient and leave a considerable margin for improvement. To avoid such catastrophes, more thorough methods are needed. As a solution, the research of this thesis proposes a structural health monitoring (SHM) system for pipeline networks. By implementing a SHM system with pipelines, their structural integrity can be continuously monitored, reducing the overall risks and costs associated with current methods. The proposed SHM system relies upon the deployment of macro-fiber composite (MFC) patches for the sensor array. Because MFC patches are flexible and resilient, they can be permanently mounted to the curved surface of a pipeline's main body. From this location, the MFC patches are used to monitor the structural integrity of the entire pipeline. Two damage detection techniques, guided wave and impedance methods, were implemented as part of the proposed SHM system. However, both techniques utilize the same MFC patches. This dual use of the MFC patches enables the proposed SHM system to require only a single sensor array. The presented Lamb wave methods demonstrated the ability to correctly identify and locate the presence of damage in the main body of the pipeline system, including simulated cracks and actual corrosion damage. The presented impedance methods demonstrated the ability to correctly identify and locate the presence of damage in the flanged joints of the pipeline system, including the loosening of bolts on the flanges. In addition to damage to the actual pipeline itself, the proposed methods were used to demonstrate the capability of detecting deposits inside of pipelines. Monitoring these deposits can prevent clogging and other hazardous situations. Finally, suggestions are made regarding future research issues which are needed to advance this research. Because the research of this thesis has only demonstrated the feasibility of the techniques for such a SHM system, these issues require attention before any commercial applications can be realized.
Low latency anonymity with mix rings

We introduce mix rings, a novel peer-to-peer mixnet architecture for anonymity that yields low-latency networking compared to existing mixnet architectures. A mix ring is a cycle of continuous-time mixes that uses carefully coordinated cover traffic and a simple fan-out mechanism to protect the initiator from timing analysis attacks. Key features of the mix ring architecture include decoupling path creation from data transfer, and a mechanism to vary the cover traffic rate over time to prevent bandwidth overuse. We analyze the architecture with respect to other peer-to-peer anonymity systems – onion routing and batching mixnets – and we use simulation to demonstrate performance advantages of nearly 40% over batching mixnets while protecting against a wider variety of adversaries than onion routing.
Cinema-Class Digital Content Distribution via Optical Networks

To transmit and display high quality movies via optical networks, a new Super High Definition (SHD) digital cinema distribution system with the resolution of 8-million pixel is developed. Its image quality is four times of HDTV in resolution, and enables us to replace conventional 35mm films. This system is based on JPEG 2000 coding technology and transmits high quality digital cinema over high-speed IP networks. All digital cinema data are continuously transmitted at up to 500 Mbps. This system opens the door to the next generation of cinema-class digital content distribution over optical networks.
Website detection using remote traffic analysis

Recent work in traffic analysis has shown that traffic patterns leaked through side channels can be used to recover important semantic information. For instance, attackers can find out which website, or which page on a website, a user is accessing simply by monitoring the packet size distribution. We show that traffic analysis is even a greater threat to privacy than previously thought by introducing a new attack that can be carried out remotely. In particular, we show that, to perform traffic analysis, adversaries do not need to directly observe the traffic patterns. Instead, they can gain sufficient information by sending probes from a far-off vantage point that exploits a queuing side channel in routers. To demonstrate the threat of such remote traffic analysis, we study a remote website detection attack that works against home broadband users. Because the remotely observed traffic patterns are more noisy than those obtained using previous schemes based on direct local traffic monitoring, we take a dynamic time warping (DTW) based approach to detecting fingerprints from the same website. As a new twist on website fingerprinting, we consider a website detection attack, where the attacker aims to find out whether a user browses a particular web site, and its privacy implications. We show experimentally that, although the success of the attack is highly variable, depending on the target site, for some sites very low error rates. We also show how such website detection can be used to deanonymize message board users.
Modified switched power convertor with zero ripple

A modified power conversion scheme suitable for switched mode converters which addresses the problem of output ripple without incurring an appreciable loss of efficiency is presented. An analog controlled current source is used to inject a current into the load which is equal and opposite to the ripple current due to the switching circuit. The control system ensures that most of the load current is supplied by the switch, and that the current through the controlled current source is limited to small values. In this way high efficiency is maintained. A modified DC-to-DC buck convertor based on this principle has been designed, analyzed, and implemented yielding good agreement with the theory. >
Constituents of Eugenia sandwicensis with potential cancer chemopreventive activity.

Abstract A triterpenoid, 3β- cis - p -coumaroyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid ( 1 ), and two natural products, 3β- trans - p -coumaroyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid ( 2 ) and 23- trans - p -coumaroyloxy-2α,3β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid ( 3 ), were isolated from a chloroform-soluble extract of the stems of Eugenia sandwicensis , along with 10 known compounds. Of these compounds, 2 showed significant inhibitory activity (79.2% at 4 μg/ml) in a 7,12-dimethylbenz[ a ]anthracene-induced mouse mammary organ culture assay system of relevance to cancer chemoprevention. Gallic acid was isolated as an antioxidative constituent of an ethyl acetate-soluble extract of E. sandwicensis stems. Isolates 1 – 3 were characterized on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence.
The direction of bilateral transfer depends on the performance parameter

To acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the learning benefits associated with bilateral transfer and to gain knowledge of possible mechanisms behind bilateral transfer, we investigated the transfer direction of several parameters which are assumed to represent important features of movement control in a visuo-motor task. During the study, participants learned a multidirectional point-to-point drawing task in which the visual feedback was rotated 45° and the gain was increased. Performance changes of the untrained hand in movement time, trajectory length, normalized jerk, initial direction error, ratio of the primary sub-movement time to the total movement time, and the accuracy of the aiming movement after the primary sub-movement were investigated as indices of learning from bilateral transfer. The results showed that performance parameters related to the initial production of the movement, such as the initial direction, ratio of primary sub-movement to the total movement time, and movement accuracy after the primary sub-movement, only transferred to the non-dominant, while hand performance variables related to the overall outcome, such as movement duration, movement smoothness, and trajectory length, transferred in both directions. The findings of the current study support the basic principle of the "dynamic dominance model" because it is suggested that overall improvements in the non-dominant system are controlled by trajectory parameters in visuo-motor tasks, which resulted in transference of the afore mentioned production parameters to rather occur to the non-dominant hand as opposed to transference to the dominant hand.
The specificity of symbiosis: Pony fish and luminescent bacteria

Luminescent bacteria isolated from light organs of seven different species (3 genera) of fishes of the family Leiognathidae were subjected to taxonomic analysis. Of the 733 isolated all but seven were identified as Photobacterium leiognathi; the others are considered to be either chance contaminants of the sampling procedure or transients within the organ. In most fish, the luminous organ appeared to contain a single predominating strain of P. leiognathi with small numbers of one to three other strains of the same species, differing by only one or two characters.
A nineteenth-century Islamic gaze at the legal roots of Western prosperity and Islamic law: Mustashār ad-Dowla's One Word

One Word 1 is a new, bilingual edition of the daring legal message of Mīrzā Yūsuf Khān Mustashār ad-Dowla Tabrīzī (?–1895), the 19th-century liberal-minded progressive Persian bureaucrat. The book ...
Using Voltage-Clamp Fluorometry Technique to Study the Mechanism of the Cooperativity Between Hv Channel Subunits

In the immune system, the activity of voltage-gated proton channels has been shown to play a key role in the charge compensation for the electron extrusion by NADPH oxidase during respiratory burst in phagocytes. In addition, this channel was also found in many other cell types including lung airway epithelia cells, sperms and high metastatic breast cancer cells, in which they have been implicated in the phathology of asthma, pH dependent spermatozoa and tumor metastasis, respectively. It was not until 2006 that two independent groups discovered the genes coding for the voltage-gated proton (Hv) channels. It was shown that the Hv channel is a dimer and that there is a strong coopertivity between two subunits during activation of this channel. However, how the two subunits in Hv channels cooperatively activate the channel and to what extent this coopertivity affect the channel activation are unknown. In this study, we investigate the detailed molecular mechanism of coopertivity in the dimeric Hv channel by using the combination of two electrodes voltage clamp (TEVC) and voltage clamp fluorometry (VCF). We measure the voltage sensor movement and pore opening of each subunit in a linked-dimer that has two subunits with different activation voltage ranges. Thereby we can determine how one subunit affects the other subunit during voltage sensor movement and pore opening.
Neovaginal Malignant Melanoma Following Surgery and Radiation for Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The causal link between therapeutic irradiation and malignant melanoma has not been firmly established. The authors report a novel case of a malignant melanoma arising from a therapeutically irradiated neovagina reconstructed from skin flaps following radical vulvectomy with inguinal lymph node dissection 16 years earlier. The diagnosis was established by light microscopy and immunohistochemical staining. Reports of melanoma arising from sites of previous radiation therapy are reviewed. Our observations suggest that therapeutic radiation may be a factor in the development of malignant melanoma, particularly in non-sun-exposed areas, including the genital tract.
Collaborative representation, sparsity or nonlinearity: What is key to dictionary based classification?

Recent studies have suggested that the critical aspect of sparse representation-based classification (SRC) is collaborative representation, rather than sparsity. This has given rise to fast collaborative representation-based classification using 2-norm regularized least squares (CRC-RLS). This paper digs deeper into the difference between SRC and CRC-RLS. We show that linear coding schemes such as CRC-RLS share a common pairwise boundary class B. Moreover, the corresponding pairwise classifiers can be realized by quadratic SVMs. Using three datasets, we show empirically that collaborative representations are not always required, and that a quadratic SVM has superior generalization over CRC-RLS, with fast classification times. However, SRC exhibits the best prediction accuracy. This leads us to posit that the nonlinear coding of SRC is a key attribute.
Effect of bile acids and pH on the release of enteropeptidase in man

Bile acids increase the release of human enteropeptidase as well as other brush-border enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase) from duodenal mucosa, as had been shown earlier in experimental animals. The action of bile acids is independent of their known enhancing effect on enteropeptidase activity. The pH of duodenal juice is an important, hitherto unrecognized, factor in the release mechanism of brush-border enzymes. All of the above enzymes tested were released to a markedly greater extent at pH 8.2 than 6.3, regardless of the presence or absence of bile acid. Contrary to some results obtained with animal tissue, by other investigators, our experiments with human duodenal mucosa indicate that enteropeptidase, under all conditions tested, is released at a rate considerably greater than that for alkaline phosphatase or leucine aminopeptidase. The looser association of enteropeptidase with cellular components relative to that of other brush-border enzymes, as indicated by our observations, may be related to the unique function of enteropeptidase as the trigger enzyme of protein digestion.
On auto-calibration algorithms for a forest growth simulation model

Forest growth simulation models are useful in evaluating the effects of management practices and climate changes in terrestrial ecosystems, however their successful application requires accurate calibration of model parameters. We have implemented here a stepwise line search (SLS), Gibbs sampling (GS) and preclustering based strength Pareto algorithm (K-SPEA2) to find an optimal set of parameters.
Induction of peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase activity by nerve growth factor in PC12 cells

Pheochromocytoma PC12 cells grown in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF) undergo marked neuronal differentiation. During this process gene expression is altered, resulting in the activation of genes specific for neuronal properties, including the gene encoding neuropeptide Y (NPY). Here we sought to determine whether NGF also induces the activity of peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) (EC1.4.17.3). PHM catalyzes the rate limiting step in the formation of α-amidated NPY from its glycine extended precursor, a posttranslational modification essential for biologic activity. PC12 cells were grown with or without NGF and assayed for PHM activity under optimal conditions. Whole cell extracts, medium and soluble and membrane bound fractions were assayed; total cellular PHM activity was found to be primarily membrane bound (fivefold greater than in soluble) and very little activity was released into the medium. Compared to control cells, PHM activity was increased significantly by NGF by 24 h but not before 4 h exposure. Through kinetic analysis, it was determined that the NGF-induction of PHM was a result of an increase inV max with no change inK m. It was found that the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (DEX), decreased basal PHM activity and prevented its induction by NGF. Cotreatment with DEX for up to 7 d, however, did not dramatically alter the pronounced changes in cell morphology that occurred in response to NGF. These findings indicate that NGF and glucocorticoids exert reciprocal control over the activity of PHM in PC12 cells. As such, the process of differentiation in PC12 cells is a model for studying the mechanisms that coordinate the expression and activity of peptide processing enzymes with the regulation of their substrates and products.
Uptake and retention of 14C-Aroclor 1254 in the amphipod, Gammarus tigrinus, fed contaminated fungus, Fusarium oxysporum.

Food chain transfer of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was studied by feeding contaminated fungus,Fusarium oxysporum, to the amphipod,Gammarus tigrinus, both isolated from the Hudson River. Apparent distribution coefficients (μg PCB/g dry wt. fungus // μg PCB/g medium) of 1.14–1.33 × 103 were determined when14C-Aroclor 1254 at 0.007 μg/g was added to 4-day old fungal growth for 24 hr. InG. tigrinus fed contaminated fungus, cross-gut PCB assimilation was indicated. Rapid PCB uptake occurred with a constant level achieved between 9 and 24 hr. Over a period of 144 hr, 57% of accumulated PCBs were eliminated. The results suggest that dietary uptake may contribute substantially to PCB levels inGammarus.
Distress Vocalizations of Young in Two Subspecies of Peromyscus Maniculatus

Vocalizations of young Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii and P. m. gracilis in an acute cold stress situation were studied by tape recording and spectrographic analysis. Vocalizations consisted of regularly patterned sequences of sounds; typically a series of two to five short pulses of 0.1 to 0.2 seconds' duration was separated by short pauses of 0.07 to 0.15 seconds, and each series of pulses was followed by a longer pause of 0.5 to 5.0 seconds. The series was then repeated. The dominant frequency of the pulses ranged from 3.6 to 26.5 kilocycles and usually showed an initial rise and terminal fall in frequency. Subspecific and age differences were found for several parameters of the vocalizations. The physiological basis and possible behavioral significance of the vocalizations are discussed.
Effects of feature characteristics and ordering in the performance of an object recognition system

Substantial performance gains (classification speed) are obtained in object recognition systems for large object databases if the database is pre-screened. This pre-screening process is carried out by applying successive screening filters to the database to obtain a reduced set (candidate) of objects. These filters operate on object features eliminating those objects whose features do not resemble in some sense the unknown object. The result is a reduced set of objects over which, measures of similarity are applied to obtain the unknown object's final classification. It has been observed that the order in which these screening filters are applied to the database has a noticeable effect on the size of the resulting candidate set. Additionally, the way that a particular feature partitions the pattern space (number of partitions) and the distribution of the pattern classes among the different partitions, have also substantial effects on the size of the resulting candidate set. This paper investigates the classification performance variations for different feature ordering schemes as well as the effects of the pattern distributions on the partitions in relation to the filter ordering. Experimental results showing the effects of different combinations of feature ordering and pattern partition distribution are also included.
Lichen planus pemphigoides: Report of a case with oral lesions

Lichen planus pemphigoides is a rare condition characterized by the coexistence of lichen planus and bullous pemphigoid. Oral lesions have been reported but have not been studied immunopathologically. We describe a 59-year-old white man with cutaneous and oral lesions of lichen planus pemphigoides. Biopsies were done on these lesions, and the specimens were examined by routine light microscopy and immunofluorescent techniques. Fine keratotic striae on the anterior buccal mucosa were clinically consistent with oral lichen planus. Perilesional tissue associated with ulceration of the posterior buccal mucosa showed histologic and immunopathologic changes consistent with bullous pemphigoid.
Effects of Surface-Deposited Nanocrystalline Chromite Thin Films on the Performance of a Ferritic Interconnect Alloy

LaCrO 3 -based nanocrystalline thin films, substituted with Sr and Zn and coated onto a Fe-26 atom % Cr Ebrite alloy were evaluated at 750-900°C as potential enhancers of oxide properties in ferritic alloy interconnects of a solid oxide fuel cell. It was found that at 750°C the coatings provided (i) lower oxidation rates, (ii) increased electrical conductivity, (iii) protection during 24 h cycling and at least 2375 h of isothermal oxidation, and (iv) a fine-grained and uniform oxide microstructure. Although after oxidation at 850°C the grains grew substantially and the scale seemed to be overgrowing the film, conductivity and oxidation rates still matched that of the uncoated sample. Tensile tests showed that the coating improved scale adhesion after a 100 h oxidation at 850°C. At 900°C, the film was still capable of blocking 70% of the Cr that evaporated from an uncoated Ebrite substrate.
Buoyant density of Escherichia coli is determined solely by the osmolarity of the culture medium

In previous studies, we had shown that the buoyant density of Escherichia coli is determined by the osmolarity of the growth medium by varying the osmolarity of the medium with NaCl or sucrose. However, the buoyant density of the cells always exceeded that of the growth medium. Here we determined the effect of medium with a buoyant density greater than the expected buoyant density of cells by adding Nycodenz to Luria broth. Percoll gradients of cells were analyzed by laser light scattering. The buoyant density for 125- and 375-mOsM-grown cells was 0.002 g/ml and 0.003 g/ml more, respectively, for cells grown in the presence of Nycodenz than those grown without Nycodenz, while the buoyant density of 250-mOsM-grown cells was 0.005 g/ml less for cells grown in the presence of Nycodenz than those grown without Nycodenz. Cells grown in 500-mOsM medium with or without Nycodenz had the same buoyant density. The buoyant density of cultures grown in defined medium was the same as those grown in rich medium, with only the medium osmolarity correlating to buoyant density. We conclude from these experiments that neither buoyant density nor chemical make-up of the medium determines the buoyant density of cells grown in that medium. Only the medium osmolarity determines cell buoyant density, suggesting that E. coli has no mechanisms to sense buoyant density.
Cavity-modified spontaneous emission: From Rabi oscillations to exponential decay

We revisit the problem of spontaneous emission by a two-level system in a cavity, concentrating in particular on those aspects associated with the finite propagation time of light between the atom and the cavity boundaries. We find that spontaneous emission always occurs first at the free space rate and there is then an abrupt change in these dynamics when light reflected by the cavity mirrors returns to the atom, leading to interference effects that result either in an enhancement or a reduction of this rate or in a periodic exchange of excitation between the atom and the cavity field. From this point of view, reversible spontaneous emission in terms of single-mode ``vacuum Rabi oscillations'' can be interpreted as resulting from the interference between the multimode partial waves reflected at the cavity mirrors and the instantaneously radiated light. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Comparison of the Proliferative Capacity of Human Corneal Endothelial Cells from the Central and Peripheral Areas

PURPOSE. To compare the relative proliferative capacity between human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) cultured from the central and peripheral areas of the cornea. METHODS. Human corneas were divided into two groups based on donor age (younger group, ≤30 years of age; older group, ≥50 years of age). Corneas were trephined, and Descemet's membrane with HCECs was stripped from the central (0 - 6.75 mm) and peripheral (6.75-9.5 mm) areas. HCECs were then isolated from Descemet's membrane and cultivated. An equal number of passage-1 endothelial cells from each area were seeded, and the number of cells was determined at various times after seeding. Doubling times of cells from each area were compared. The antibody against minichromosome maintenance-2 (MCM2) protein was tested for replication competence. RESULTS. Morphologically, HCECs from the central area were similar to cells from the peripheral area. The doubling time (in hours) of HCECs from the central area was 35.20 in the younger group (n = 4) and 54.54 in the older group (n = 4) and from the peripheral area, 29.37 in the younger group and 46.23 in the older group. There was no significant difference (younger: P = 0.515; older: P = 0.222) between the central and peripheral area in each age group. MCM2-positive cells were consistently observed in cultures from the central, as well as peripheral, area. There was no significant difference (younger: P = 0.929; older: P = 0.613) in the percentage of MCM2-positive cells between these two areas in either age group. Even though there was no significant difference, there was a tendency toward increased doubling time and decreased percentage of MCM2 in the central area of the older group. CONCLUSIONS. These results indicate that corneal endothelial cells from both the central and peripheral areas retain potential proliferative capacity.
Fish in studies of aging.

Information obtained from studies of wild fish was assembled which illustrated the flexibility of growth and reproductive responses to environmental changes. Emphasis was given to the effects of food availability and space restriction, since these factors have been manipulated in laboratory studies and might be profitably used again. The use of fish as experimental animals in aging and growth was discussed.
The Relationship of Retinol Binding Protein 4 to Changes in Insulin Resistance and Cardiometabolic Risk in Overweight Black Adolescents

Objective To assess, among overweight non-hispanic black adolescents the relationship of changes in plasma retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) over 3 years to changes in insulin resistance (IR) and 4 associated cardiometabolic risks. Study design Nested, retrospective study of 51 overweight, post-pubertal non-Hispanic black participants in the Princeton School District Study. Participants were in the top (worsening IR) or bottom (improved IR) quartile for 3-year change in IR. RBP4 was measured by quantitative Western blot with frozen plasma. Regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, and adiposity (baseline and change). Three measures of adiposity were assessed (waist circumference, body mass index, and weight) in separate regression models. Results RBP4 increased in one third (n = 17). In logistic regression analyses, increased RBP4 was associated with significantly higher odds of worsening as opposed to improved IR independent of age, sex, or adiposity. Odds ratios were 5.6 (weight, P = .024), 6.0 (BMI, P = .025) and 7.4 (waist circumference, P = .015). Initial RBP4 (β = 0.81, P = .005) and change in RBP4 (β = 0.56, P = .046) also predicted change in triglycerides, but not change in high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol, or fibrinogen. Conclusion This retrospective cohort study provides evidence that RBP4 may be a mechanism through which obesity influences insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia in overweight postpubertal black youth and suggests utility of RBP4 as a biomarker of risk.
Regional Magnetic Fields as Navigational Markers for Sea Turtles

Young loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from eastern Florida undertake a transoceanic migration in which they gradually circle the north Atlantic Ocean before returning to the North American coast. Here we report that hatchling loggerheads, when exposed to magnetic fields replicating those found in three widely separated oceanic regions, responded by swimming in directions that would, in each case, help keep turtles within the currents of the North Atlantic gyre and facilitate movement along the migratory pathway. These results imply that young loggerheads have a guidance system in which regional magnetic fields function as navigational markers and elicit changes in swimming direction at crucial geographic boundaries.
A cardiac catheter device forremoval of plastic catheter emboli from children's hearts

Summary Embolization of fragments of indwellingplastic catheters is an all too frequent complication of this technique. Only the type of catheter that is radiopaque from end to end should be used. Should embolization occur to the heart or great veins, it is possible to remove the fragment without thoracotomy with a simple device fashioned from a standard cardiac catheter and a standard spring wire. The method is applicable to children.