cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coxsackievirus B4: in vitro genetic markers and virulence.

The relationship of virulence to mice of the coxsackievirus B4 prototype JBV strain and selected mutants to severalin vitro genetic markers has been examined. Markers studied include the t, d, DS, DEAE-D, and guanidine resistance (G), markers and a plaque size marker, here designated PS. The JVB strain was found to have the characteristics t−, d−, DS+, DEAE-D+, G−, PS+ and to be virulent when inoculated by the intraperitoneal route into suckling CD-1 mice (log titer/LD50=6.4/6.0). One naturally occurring mutant strain (characteristic = t−, d+, DS+, G−, PS+ was selected by terminal end point dilution and found to be virulent (log titer/LD50=7.0/6.0). Passage of the JVB population in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride (75 µg/ml) allowed selection of avirulent, guanidine resistant mutants with characteristics of t−, d−, DS+, DEAE-D+, G+. These mutants produced only small plaques (1.0–1.6 mm) and were designated PS−. The prototype and other selected strains that contained both large plaque and small plaque variants were characterized as PS+ and were invariably virulent. Although a variance in the d character has been demonstrated in some of the above strains, we conclude that virulence and thein vitro genetic markers t, d, DS, and DEAE-D are not related in our coxsackievirus B4 CD-1 mouse system. A relationship between plaque size (PS) and/or guanidine resistance (G+) of selected strains of coxsackievirus B4 and avirulence has been demonstrated in this system.
Preferential binding of the epidermal growth factor receptor to ganglioside GM3 coated plates.

Ganglioside GM3 has been shown to modulate epidermal growth factor receptor function. These observations have lead to the hypothesis that GM3 may bind to the epidermal growth factor receptor. An enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay was designed to test this hypothesis. In these experiments, receptor-rich vesicle preparations were incubated with ganglioside GM1 or GM3 coated 96-well microtiter plates and the amount of bound receptor was compared. Plates coated with GM3 consistently bound more epidermal growth factor receptor than did GM1 coated wells appeared to be specific and saturable. These results suggest that GM3 may modulate epidermal growth factor receptor function owing to a specific association of the two molecules.
PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE ANTERIOR HYPOPHYSIS OF VITAMIN ADEFICIENT RATS

SHORTLY AFTER the hypophysis was shown to be the source of gonad stimulating hormone(s), attempts were made to demonstrate that the production of these hormones could be modified. Thegonad stimulating po' tency of the gland can be demonstrated and assayed by implanting or inject'ing it into immature test animals thus superimposing the effect of the im' planted or injected g and upon the impotent gland of the test animal, effective dosages being marked by definite changes in the organs of reproduction. Using ovarian weights as a measurement of the effects of the treatment Engle (i) and Evans and Simpson (2) demonstrated that the hypophyses from castrate animals were much more potent than those from normal animals. Evans and Simpson also showed that the hypophyses from cryptorchid animals evoked a reaction intermediate between that caused by glands from normals and castrates. Similarly, Mason and Wolf (3) have produced evidence that a dietary deficiency of vitamin A caused an
Female red junglefowl choose to mate with multiple males

Abstract Although mixed paternity in broods of young is now known to occur in many species of birds, the question remains, does mixed paternity reflect only a male strategy, or might it not also be a reproductive strategy of females? To address this question female red junglefowl, Gallus gallus , in egg-laying condition were given the opportunity to mate repeatedly with either or both of two males, in the absence of male-male competition. Over the course of five mating trials nearly all females chose to mate with both available males, regardless of the appearance of the males' plumage. Similarly, although females are known to prefer males with larger combs, when the two males possessed combs of strikingly different sizes, most females mated with both individuals. These results suggest that in this species a female reproductive strategy is to obtain sperm from more than one male during production of a clutch of eggs.
Retention of nociceptor responses during deep barbiturate anesthesia in frogs.

Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) anesthetized with a large dose of thiopental (42.8 mg/kg) retained movement responses to nociceptor stimuli despite an average plasma drug level of 51 mg/l, of which 63% was bound to plasma proteins. This concentration, when corrected to include only unbound and uncharged drug, was 2-fold greater than those reported to abolish nociceptor response (NR) during surgical anesthesia in man. The median anesthetic dose (AD50) for loss of the righting reflex was 11.2 mg/kg by s.c. injection into the abdominal lymph sac; however, at 54.0 mg/kg, all frogs retained NRs, although otherwise deeply anesthetized. The ratio of NR-blocking dose to light AD was thus >4.8, as compared to <2 in mammalian studies. Whole body levels of thiopental determined at 3 h after intralymphatic injection showed that about half the injected drug had been eliminated by this time and that termination of anesthesia was chiefly due to drug elimination. Even though the pharmacokinetics of thiopental appears to differ markedly in frogs and men, the poor analgesia seen in the present study frequently has been reported during clinical barbiturate anesthesia. Since this deficiency is much more pronounced in the bullfrog than in man, its neurophysiological basis might profitably be studied using the bullfrog as a model; however, the high mortality associated with deep thiopental anesthesia in the frog should preclude its use as a practical anesthetic in amphibia.
Breakdown Physics of Low-Temperature Silicon Epitaxy Grown from Silane Radicals

We grow epitaxial silicon films on (100) Si wafers at low temperature $(l400\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C})$, from silane radicals, to understand the mechanisms of sudden epitaxy breakdown and simultaneous growth of amorphous and crystalline silicon phases. Surface roughness is below $0.7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ before breakdown and below $1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ in epitaxial regions persisting after breakdown, in contrast to the roughness-induced breakdown observed in molecular beam epitaxy from atomic Si. Spherical caps of hydrogenated amorphous Si (a-Si:H) breakdown cones protrude above the crystal surface, with each sphere centered on its cone apex. This means that the a-Si:H grows isotropically from impinging radicals with low surface mobility and that the a-Si:H growth rate is higher than the epitaxial growth rate. Similar physical mechanisms likely apply to nanocrystalline silicon film growth.
Combining information from similar experiments. I: Statistical issues

A general method for combining information from similar experiments is illustrated in the case where two independent experiments are designed to estimate a dose-response curve. By accounting for variability across experiments, the proposed method avoids inferential pitfalls such as extended forms of Simpson's paradox. The validity of the method is supported by seven fundamental assumptions about data from replicated experiments. In contrast, an example indicates that failing to reject a preliminary test of equal distributions is inadequate justification for pooling data from two experiments. Methods that account for the variability across experiments in terms of known covariates are also discussed.
Structure of a murine leukemia virus after disruption with tween-ether and comparison with two myxoviruses.

Abstract The effects of treatment with Tween-ether (TE) on physical and morphological properties of Rauscher leukemia virus (RLV) were studied and compared with those obtained on two myxoviruses (NDV and PR8 influenza virus). TE treatment readily produced viral disruption. The buoyant density of the released internal components was similar in all three cases, and greater than that of the intact virus. Electron microscopic study of intact and TE-treated virus was performed. (1) NDV easily released its characteristic nucleocapsid. PR8 influenza virus was more resistant to disruption and the internal component appeared as a coiled cylinder 70 A in diameter. (2) Preparations of intact Rauscher virus showed two types of virions: the “immature” type where two concentric shells were enclosed in the viral envelope, and the “mature” virion where a dense nucleoid was enclosed in the envelope. (3) Treatment with Tween-ether readily removed the envelope of RLV, as seen in thin sections of TE-treated preparations. (4) Ringlike profiles appeared in negatively stained preparations of the aqueous phase of RLV. These ring profiles were 750–850 A in diameter, 75 A thick, with two threads and a central circular core, 15–25 A in diameter. Morphological units and possible helical structure appeared in these structures which corresponded in size to the outer shell of the immature virions. (5) Dense, spherical bodies, 700–750 A in diameter, were also present in the aqueous phase. They represented the naked dense nucleoids of the mature virions. (6) Ribonuclease treatment performed on TE-treated RLV resulted in a significant decrease of the stainability of the naked nucleoids, the same treatment was ineffective on virus not treated by TE. (7) The structure of RLV has been envisioned and compared with that of other types of virus. The outer shell of the immature virion may represent the capsid of the virus, made up of a coiled cylinder. The genetic material appears to lie more internally in the inner shell. The structure of the mature virion results from the collapse of the two shells inside the envelope.
SPECIES RICHNESS OF CORAL ASSEMBLAGES: DETECTING REGIONAL INFLUENCES AT LOCAL SPATIAL SCALES

Coral assemblages are generally open to immigration from regional species pools and thus are regionally enriched rather than saturated with species. Previously we have documented the sensitivity of local richness in these assemblages to a number of regional factors including the size of the regional species pool. Here we focus on the local scale used to determine the local-regional richness relationship. We examine the sensitivity of local richness to regional richness and to two environmental variables (depth and habitat type) across a range of locality sizes. In general, local richness is sensitive to the envi- ronmental variables regardless of locality size. In contrast, it is relatively insensitive to regional richness in very small 1-m 2 quadrats but highly sensitive when sampled with 10-m line transects. Thus our analysis suggests a spatial threshold somewhere below 10 m for the detection of regional enrichment in coral assemblages. There are four biological mech- anisms that may allow regional effects to be expressed at this spatial resolution: (1) dis- turbance and slow recovery toward competitive equilibrium, (2) heterogeneous biological interactions involving aggregated resources, neighborhood competition, or nonrandom dis- persal among local neighborhoods, (3) spatially variable predation by specialists, and (4) probabilistic recruitment coupled with equal competitive ability. Empirical tests are now needed to discriminate among these mechanisms.
Comparison study on functional outcomes and perceived quality of life between all-inclusive and fee-for-service continuing care retirement communities.

Objective To examine the associations between 2 types of continuing care retirement communities' (CCRC) residents regarding physical function and perceived quality of life. Methods Cross-sectional study (n = 406). Eligibility criteria include age 65 years or older, residents of independent living units, and intact cognition (MMSE ≥ 24). All-inclusive CCRCs provide unlimited access to home health services and nursing home care as needed in return for the entry and monthly fee. Fee-for-service CCRCs offer home health and nursing home services at a full fee-for-service rate. Outcomes were functional status (ADLs and IADLs) and perceived quality of life. Multivariate regressions were used to examine the associations between residents of different types of CCRCs on selected outcomes while adjusting for covariates. Results The all-inclusive CCRC sample was more likely to be married (53.8% versus 33.4%; P P P = .0003), IADL (β = 0.57; P = .02) function than the all-inclusive group. There was no significant difference in perceived quality of life scores between the 2 groups. Conclusions Residents of both CCRCs reported equally good quality of life scores. Residents of the all-inclusive CCRC seem to have had better ADL and IADL function than the FFS CCRC residents. Prepaid home health services and nursing home care in the all-inclusive CCRC may facilitate ADL and IADL functional independence.
Regression of Atherosclerosis: Insights from Animal and Clinical Studies

Abstract Background Based on studies that date back to the 1920s, regression and stabilization of atherosclerosis in humans has gone from just a dream to one that is achievable. Review of the literature indicates that the successful attempts at regression generally applied robust measures to improve plasma lipoprotein profiles. Examples include extensive lowering of plasma concentrations of atherogenic apolipoprotein B and enhancement of reverse cholesterol transport from atheromata to the liver. Findings Possible mechanisms responsible for lesion shrinkage include decreased retention of atherogenic apolipoprotein B within the arterial wall, efflux of cholesterol and other toxic lipids from plaques, emigration of lesional foam cells out of the arterial wall, and influx of healthy phagocytes that remove necrotic debris as well as other components of the plaque. This review will highlight the role key players such as LXR, HDL and CCR7 have in mediating regression. Conclusion Although much progress has been made, there are many unanswered questions. There is, therefore, a clear need for preclinical and clinical testing of new agents expected to facilitate atherosclerosis regression with the hope that additional mechanistic insights will allow further progress.
Development of recombinant Streptomyces for biotechnological and environmental uses

Recombinant DNA techniques for manipulation of genes in Streptomyces are well developed, and currently there is a high level of activity among researchers interested in applying molecular cloning and protoplast fusion techniques to strain development within this commercially important group of bacteria. A number of efficient plasmid and phage vector systems are being used for the molecular cloning of genes, primarily those encoding antibiotic biosynthesis enzymes, but also for a variety of other bioactive proteins and enzymes of known or potential commercial value. In addition, cloning aimed at constructing specialized bioconversion strains for use in the production of chemicals from organic carbon substrates is underway in numerous laboratories. This review discusses the current status of research involving recombinant DNA technologies applied to biotechnological applications using Streptomyces. The topic of potential environmental uses of recombinant Streptomyces is also reviewed, as is the status of current research aimed at assessing the fate and effects of recombinant Streptomyces in the environment. Also summarized is recent research that has confirmed that genetic exchange occurs readily among Streptomyces in the soil environment and which has shown the potential for exchange between recombinant Streptomyces and native soil bacteria.
Hybrid Fuel Cell Heat Engines: Recent Efforts

A hybrid heat engine results from the fusion of a heat engine with a non-heat-engine based cycle (unlike systems). The term combined cycle, which refers to similar arrangements, is reserved for the combination of two or more heat engines (like systems). The resulting product of the integration of a gas turbine and a fuel cell is referred to here as a hybrid heat engine or “Hybrid” for short. The intent of this paper is to provide, to the gas turbine community, a review of the present status of hybrid heat engine technologies. Current and projected activities associated with this emerging concept are also presented. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is collaborating with other sponsors and the private sector to develop a Hybrid Program. This program will address the issues of technology development, integration, and ultimately the demonstration of what may be the most efficient of power plants in the world—the Hybrid System. In the Hybrid, the synergism between the gas turbine and fuel cell provides higher efficiencies and lower costs than either system can alone. Testing of the first hybrid concept has been initiated at the National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC). FuelCell Energy (FCE) will be testing its first hybrid in 2002. Honeywell’s hybrid program has just begun under the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA). SECA fuel cells will ultimately be hybridized with turbines. A competitive SECA solicitation is planned for conceptual studies in 2003. Industry teams will be selected in 2004 to further develop hybrid fuel cell systems.© 2001 ASME
The name of the father: conflict between Louis and Alexander Agassiz and the Embiotoca surfperch radiation

The surfperch genus Embiotoca currently comprises two species, Embiotoca jacksoni, the black surfperch, and Embiotoca lateralis, the striped surfperch. Originally, however, Louis Agassiz described a third species in the genus Embiotoca, the rainbow surfperch, Embiotoca caryi. This latter name was changed by Louis' son, Alexander, to Hypsurus caryi, a name that remains valid. In this study, new molecular data (3545 bp of DNA from four mitochondrial and two nuclear DNA regions) indicated that the rainbow surfperch should be retained within the genus Embiotoca, a result consistent with recent morphological data. Adaptive radiation combined with sexual selection resulting in rapid morphological changes in the rainbow surfperch may have contributed to the conflicting position of this species.
The effects of a gelatin hydrating solution on the newborn.

Summary 1. The ingestion of a gelatin (6 per cent), dextrose (3 per cent), and sodium chloride (0.5 per cent) solution reduces the initial weight loss of newborn by producing tissue hydration. This is occasionally manifested as edema, which is possibly due to sodium chloride retention. 2. The total plasma proteins are diminished during the neonatal period. 3. The plasma fibrin is low at birth, rises by the third day, and remains increased on the ninth day. The average values fall within the limits of the normal adult figures. They are not influenced by gelatin feedings taken for three days. 4. The gelatin solution does not influence the bleeding or clotting times; neither does it prevent dehydration fever. 5. The ingestion of the hydrating solution does not appear to be a physiologic or safe therapeutic procedure.
Subcellular Trafficking of the Nuclear Receptor COUP-TF in the Early Embryonic Cell Cycle

Abstract The nuclear receptor SpCOUP-TF is the highly conserved sea urchin homologue of the COUP family of transcription factors. Previous results from our laboratory demonstrated that SpCOUP-TF transcripts are localized in the egg and asymmetrically distributed in the early embryonic blastomeres (A. Vlahou et al., 1996, Development 122, 521–526). To examine the subcellular localization of SpCOUP-TF protein, polyclonal antibodies were separately raised against the divergent N-terminus as well as the conserved DNA-binding and ligand-binding domains. Immunohistochemical analyses suggest that SpCOUP-TF is a maternal protein residing in the cytoplasm of the unfertilized egg. After fertilization, and as soon as the two-cell-stage embryo, most of the receptor translocates from the cytoplasm to the cell nuclei. During the rapid embryonic cell division, SpCOUP-TF was found to shuttle from the interphase nuclear periphery to the condensed chromosomes in mitosis, in a cell-cycle-dependent manner. In an attempt to confirm these observations, the subcellular localization of myc-tagged human COUP-TF I introduced into the sea urchin embryo by RNA injection of fertilized eggs was examined. The pattern of human COUP-TF I subcellular localization, detected with a monoclonal myc antibody, recapitulated the essential features described for the endogenous SpCOUP-TF trafficking. Replacement of the N-terminus of the human receptor with the unique sea urchin N-terminus enhanced its localization to the nuclear rim during interphase. Deletion of the DNA-binding domain of human COUP-TF I resulted in loss of all aspects of nuclear periphery and chromosomal localization. Taken together these data suggest that SpCOUP-TF transcriptional activity is keyed on a cell-cycle-dependent mechanism that regulates chromosomal protein traffic.
Cluster formation and diffusion in a metal-hydrogen system

Abstract Hydrogen dissolved in transition metals at low temperature may form atomic clusters. Based on theoretical and experimental information on mixtures of liquid 3 He and liquid 4 He, we construct a cluster model for hydrogen and deuterium dissolved in metals. Using this cluster model, we obtain a semiphenomenological expression for the relative size of proton and deuteron clusters. Anomalous transport behavior and possible dependence of cluster formation on spin statistics are briefly discussed.
Salivary cortisol and psychopathology in children bereaved by the september 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Background Studies suggest that stressful events increase risk for childhood anxiety and depression and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation. This prospective longitudinal study evaluated relationships among severe psychosocial stress, psychiatric morbidity, and HPA axis function in children. Methods Forty-five children (mean age: 8.9 ± 2.9 years) suffering parent death from September 11, 2001 terror attacks and 34 nonbereaved children (mean age: 9.3 ± 2.5 years) were evaluated prospectively at 6-month intervals in this 2-year study. Assessments involved diagnostic interviews (Child Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia [K-SADS]) for psychopathology and 3 days of baseline salivary cortisol and a salivary dexamethasone suppression test for HPA axis function. Results Bereaved children, but not nonbereaved children, had significantly increased rates of psychiatric disorders involving anxiety disorders, especially posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), after September 11, 2001 compared with retrospective assessments before September 11, 2001. Morning (AM) and 4:00 pm baseline cortisol were significantly and persistently higher for bereaved than nonbereaved children. Compared with bereaved children without psychopathology, bereaved children with PTSD had significantly lower 4:00 pm baseline cortisol and significantly greater 4:00 pm cortisol suppression. Children with generalized anxiety disorder had significantly less AM cortisol suppression than children without psychopathology. Conclusions Children bereaved by sudden, unexpected parent death had persistent psychological dysfunction and HPA axis dysregulation in this study.
Non-diurnal E-layer variations at Washington, D.C.

Abstract Non-diurnal E-layer variations were examined using a noon-time centered seven-hour average of the minimum virtual height h′E and the ordinary wave critical frequency ƒ 0 E . These averages, \ th , and \ tf respectively, were computed for an eight-year period at Washington, D.C. \ tf was found to vary with the Zurich sunspot number R in accordance with previous studies. h ′ was found to be 101 km for an overhead sun and to increase with R. Variations in h ′ indicated a scale height between about 7 and 8 km. h ′ had no periodicities. \ tf had a strong 27-day periodicity between the maximum and minimum R and a very weak 27-day periodicity during the maximum and minimum R. Non-Chapman variations in \ tf and h were uncorrelated.
Advanced digital image archival system using MPEG technologies

Digital information and records are vital to the human race regardless of the nationalities and eras in which they were produced. Digital image contents are produced at a rapid pace from cultural heritages via digitalization, scientific and experimental data via high speed imaging sensors, national defense satellite images from governments, medical and healthcare imaging records from hospitals, personal collection of photos from digital cameras. With these mass amounts of precious and irreplaceable data and knowledge, what standards technologies can be applied to preserve and yet provide an interoperable framework for accessing the data across varieties of systems and devices? This paper presents an advanced digital image archival system by applying the international standard of MPEG technologies to preserve digital image content.
Effect of 7-day exposure to midazolam on electroencephalogram pharmacodynamics in rats: a model to study multiple pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships in individual animals.

The objective of this study was to determine the concentration-electroencephalogram (EEG) relationships for midazolam, a full-agonist benzodiazepine ligand, on multiple occasions in individual rats, and to examine the effect of chronic midazolam exposure on that relationship. Rats were chronically instrumented with venous and arterial cannulas, and cortical EEG electrodes. The rats received either: 7 days of midazolam 10 mg kg(-1) intravenously once a day (midazolam group); or midazolam on days 1 and 7 and vehicle on days 2-6 (vehicle group). Concentration-effect relationships were determined on days 1, 4 and 7 from multiple blood and EEG samples before and after the administration of the midazolam dose. The concentration-EEG effect relationships were consistent with a sigmoidal Emax (maximal effect) model. No differences in pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic parameters were found between day 1 and day 7 in either group. However, in the midazolam group, both the fraction unbound of midazolam in serum and the EC50 (concentration at half-maximal effect) for free midazolam increased from days 1-7 by 35 +/- 3% and 54 +/- 25%, respectively (means +/- s.d., P< 0.05). This may be related to decreased serum albumin levels in the midazolam group (-19+5%, P < 0.05) which, in turn, could be explained by the sedation associated with daily midazolam treatment. We concluded that concentration-EEG effect relationships can be studied on multiple occasions in individual animals, reducing animal use and variability. A modest degree of tolerance to midazolam was found with this paradigm, the effect only being evident after correction for the fraction unbound of midazolam.
The Importance of Impedance in Conduction Measurements

The problem of relating conduction measurements made using standard line impedance stabilization networks to real-world conduction levels is discussed. A recommendation is made for the development of a statistical evaluation technique based on impedance measurements.
Saturated chains of subsets and a random walk

Abstract A chain of subsets A1 ⊂ A2 ⊂ … ⊂ Ar ⊂- [n] = {1, 2, …, n} is said to be saturated if |Ai + 1 − Ai| = 1 for all i. For c ⩽ n + 1 we give an inductive construction in n which determines (1) the maximum number of disjoint saturated chains of c subsets each in [n], and (2) the minimum number of saturated chains of size at most c which cover all 2n subsets in [n]. We study the construction asymptotically as n → ∞. Let p(n, c) denote the proportion of the subsets in [n] belonging to chains of size c in the construction. If c=c(n)=o( n ) , then p(n, c) → 1. If c ∼ γ n , γ constant, then we prove in two different ways that p(n, c) approaches a constant which is a theta function depending on γ. The second proof involves a careful analysis of a one-dimensional random walk in which the transition probabilities differ only slightly, yet significantly, from the usual symmetric walk.
An orthotopic in vivo model of human pancreatic cancer

Abstract Background: Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal disease that frequently presents in advanced stages. For most patients, treatment with great clinical efficacy does not exist. Relevant in vivo models to test novel therapies are highly desirable. Methods: The human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line Panc-1 was injected intraperitoneally into SCID mice. The pattern of the resulting peripancreatic as well as metastatic disease was examined. Survival experiments after chemotherapy with gemcitabine or doxorubicin, and after immunotherapy with p53-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were performed. Results: All animals developed isolated pancreatic tumor implants within 48 hours after injection. After the formation of invasive pancreatic tumor nodules, peripancreatic and portal adenopathy developed, causing biliary obstruction. All tumor-bearing animals died of disease within 5 to 12 weeks. Survival after gemcitabine treatment and after p53-CTL injection was significantly prolonged, with some animals remaining tumor-free. Doxorubicin treatment did not yield extended survival, but led to significant toxicity. Conclusion: Intraperitoneal injection of Panc-1 cells into SCID mice produces a quasi-orthotopic tumor development model that shares many characteristics with human pancreatic cancer. The ease of cell injection, avoidance of cumbersome surgical intervention with its resulting mortality, and the reliable development of obstructive jaundice as a dependent comorbid factor render this a useful model for in vivo testing of novel therapeutic approaches to pancreatic cancer. Our initial therapeutic studies demonstrate that in vitro antitumor efficacy against Panc-1 cancer cells does not necessarily predict the in vivo response, highlighting the preclinical experimental value of this model. (Surgery 1999;126:562-7.)
A Topical Parathyroid Hormone/Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide Receptor Antagonist Stimulates Hair Growth in Mice

One of the biggest hurdles in developing peptides for the treatment of hair growth disorders is that there has been no effective method of delivering them topically. Murine hair growth can be stimulated with ip injections of the PTH/PTHrP receptor antagonist, PTH (7-34). We sought to determine whether we could deliver PTH (7-34) topically and achieve stimulation of hair growth. We prepared a topical cream by mixing PTH (7-34) into a liposome vehicle (Novasome A). We applied the cream daily to the backs of 5-wk-old female SKH-1 hairless mice for 1 wk. After the 1 wk of treatment, there was marked stimulation of hair growth in the SKH-1 hairless mice. Relative to controls, mice treated with PTH (7-34) had 216% longer hairs (P < 0.001), 40% more visible hairs (P < 0.001), and 43% more hair follicles stained with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (P < 0.01). A unique aspect of skin is the possibility to directly target it via topical treatment. Our study is the first to report the hair-stimulating effect of a PTH/PTHrP receptor antagonist topically applied to skin in vivo. Thus, we introduce a novel paradigm to develop topical PTH analogs for treating disorders of hair growth.
The spectral geometry of the Apollonian packing

On considere une collection finie de spheres a (n-1) dimensions qui ne se coupent pas dans S n . Si on les apparie d'une certaine facon, alors le groupe des transformations de Mobius engendre par ces appariements est appele un groupe de Schottky classique; c'est un groupe discret d'isometries d'espace hyperbolique H n+1 de dimension n+1, abstraitement isomorphe a un groupe libre. Sur S n , l'action est non discrete et a un ensemble limite Λ. On etudie la dimension de Hausdorff de Λ
Diets of early Miocene African hominoids

MOST reviewers of East African early Miocene apes have been impressed by their similarity, as an adaptive array, to living Cebidae. These apes are most frequently pictured as small to medium-sized cebid-like quadrupeds occupying arboreal1–6, fruit-and leaf-eating3,7,8, tropical rainforest9 niches. It has also been suggested that the decline in the diversity of apes in middle to late Miocene times was triggered by ecological competition from rapidly radiating cercopithecids9–11. In this report I examine the molar structure of early Miocene hominoids to see whether or not these species occupied a wide spectrum of fruit- and leaf-eating niches, similar to those of today's cercopithecids.
Prostaglandins may not mediate inhibition of gastric acid secretion by somatostatin in the rat.

The role of prostaglandins as mediators of the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on gastric acid secretion has been evaluated in conscious and anesthetized rats. The effect of somatostatin on bethanechol-stimulated gastric acid secretion was determined with or without indomethacin pretreatment. Prostaglandin synthesis inhibition (<90%) by indomethacin was verified with PGE2-generation assay on gastric mucosal tissue. In both conscious and anesthetized rats somatostatin significantly inhibited the stimulated acid output in the control and indomethacin pretreated groups. The present findings do not support a role for prostaglandins in the inhibition of gastric acid secretion by somatostatin in the rat.
US and Japan Should Engage Rising China and India

Globalization may yet repeal the Biblical adage that the poor will always be with us. But for now there are enough losers to go along with the winners that a slide back toward fragmentation and protectionism is a distinct possibility, as was also the case at the turn of the 20th century. Our contributors in this section offer their advice on how to make globalization work for everyone.
Activities of Glucose‐6‐phosphate, 6‐phosphogluconate, and Isocitrate Dehydrogenases from Leishmania donovani Cultivated at 25 and 37 C*

SYNOPSIS. The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) (EC No. 1.1.1.49), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD) (EC No. 1.1.1.44), and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD) (EC No. 1.1.1.42) from promastigotes of Leishmania donovani strain 3S grown at 25 C in modified Tobie's (mT) medium and from promastigotes of the 37 C-adapted substrain of this strain cultivated in the mT at 37 C were assayed at 25 and 37 C. At 25 C ICD from both the strain and the substrain had the highest, and PGD, the lowest activity; the activity of G-6-PD was intermediate, but much closer to that of ICD. Irrespective of the temperature of the assay, the activities of G-6-PD and ICD from the 37 C substrain were significantly higher than those of these enzymes from the parental strain; however, the activity of PGD from the 25 C strain was slightly higher than that of this dehydrogenase from the 37 C-adapted stock. No significant activity losses of G-6-PD and ICD from either the strain or the substrain were noted after incubation of the extracts in the presence of 0.25 M sucrose at 37 C for 2 hr. PGD was unstable in such extracts, but it could be rendered stable by the addition of 4 mM 6-phosphogluconate. G-6-PD was the least and ICD the most dependent on Mg2+ ions. In the 15–25 C range, the Q10 values of the enzymes from the 25 C strain were 2.83, 2.5, and 2.63 for G-6-PD, PGD, and ICD, respectively. These values for the respective enzymes in the 25–35 C range were 2.06, 1.67, and 1.62. The Q10 values of the enzymes from the 37 C substrain in the 15–25 C range were 2.06 for G-6-PD, 3.25 for PGD, and 2.77 for ICD; in the 25–35 C range, the corresponding values were 1.67, 1.46, and 1.83. Cultivation of the 37 C substrain at 25 C was accompanied by a drop in G-6-PD and ICD activities.
Muscle contraction and polymer-gel phase transitions

Artificial muscles typically contrast by a phase-transition. Muscle is thought to contract by a different mechanism - a filament-sliding mechanism in which one set of filaments is driven past another by the action of cyclically rotating cross-bridges. The concept is much like the mechanism of rowing. The evidence, however, is equally consistent with a mechanism in which the filaments themselves contract, much like the condensation of polymers during a phase-transition. Muscle contains three principal polymer types organized neatly into a characteristic framework All three polymers can shorten. The contributions of each filament may be designed to confer versatility, as well as sped and strength, on this biological machine. The principles of natural contraction may be useful in establishing optimal design principles for artificial muscles.
Authors’ Perceptions and Preferences Among Real Estate Journals: An Editors’ Note

As current editors of Real Estate Economics (REE) we feel it is our responsibility to offer our readers some comments regarding the preceding article by Gibler and Ziobrowski. Our comments are intended to convey our policy regarding publication of articles of this nature, as well as some relevant facts about the current publication process performance of the Journal.
The Entry-Level Doctor of Pharmacy Degree: Implications for Minority Pharmacists

The purpose of this article is to give the author's views on the B.S. vs. Pharm.D. debate from the perspective of the Dean of one of the four historically Black Colleges of Pharmacy. Data seem lo indicate that all colleges/schools of pharmacy offer or soon will offer the Pharm.D. degree in the near future. The rhetorical question and criticism by many in the pharmacy profession is whether or not all graduales need the Pharm.D. degree. The author concludes that they do, and the reason is lhey can better market themselves. The author states that he entry-level PharmD. program will have a sienilicant im~act on the African Americans and other minority pharmacists. It is predicted that given current trends, there may be a decline of African American and Hispanic pharmacy students enrolled as schools convert to the entry-level Pharm.D. The author concludes that minority pharmacists, in the future, without a Pharm.D. could face racial discrimination with the lack of a Pharm.D. being used as a potential "legitima...
Toward a theory of secure communications in a non-random environment

An open problem is to quantify the probability of a signal from a noisy environment when little is known about its signal generating properties. The signals can have a mix of random, correlated, and deterministic elements. The only operating assumption is that the larger system needed to generate the signal with a high probability, the less likely the signal. This paper considers a class of models that can reproduce a mix of random, correlated, and deterministic signals depending on the value of the model's parameters. The approach is to find the parameters that yield the maximum probability of generating a given signal. This maximum probability, because it uses the optimum parameters, is larger than the probability of generating the signal from a noisy environment.
Small-angle x-ray scattering studies of early-stage colloid formation by thermohydrolytic polymerization of aqueous zirconyl salt solutions

Early-stage processes involving the polymerization of zirconium species in aqueous solutions at elevated temperatures (∼100 °C) as well as colloid formation were studied. Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) data were analyzed via Guinier, “longrods,” and Porod plots to determine particle growth kinetics and morphology. Our SAXS data suggest that zirconium tetramers and octamers polymerize into larger clusters and elongated-rod-(or needle)-shaped primary particles, which have a length of a few nanometers and a radius of gyration of cross section between 4 and 5 A. Cube-shaped particles are aggregates of the needlelike primary particles. The transition from zirconium tetramer to a colloidal sol particle follows a mass-fractal growth (1 < fractal dimension, D <3)
Neural lateralization of vocal control in a passerine bird. II. Subsong, calls, and a theory of vocal learning

Male chaffinches deafened at three months of age produce as adults abnormal calls and subsong. These vocalizations develop as part of a plastic vocal ontogeny which culminates in song learning. In the adult bird, calls and subsong are under the dominant control of the left hypoglossus nerve. Section of this nerve after song crystallization leads to drastic changes in all vocalizations tested. Section of the right hypoglossus results in lesser modifications. These changes are not corrected with practice. When the left hypoglossus is sectioned in young birds before the onset of Spring subsong, the right hypoglossus assumes the dominant vocal role. The food-begging call of nestlings provides the first evidence in ontogeny for the asymmetrical vocal roles of both halves of the syrinx. This asymmetry of roles is further developed during the vocal stages leading to full song. It is theorized that these vocal stages are of the nature of sequential building blocks, and as such necessary prerequisites for normal song development. The observed ontogeny of hypoglossal dominance can be explained by three assumptions: (1) The left hypoglossus innervates its syringeal musculature before the right one does. (2) This primacy of innervation leads to greater vocal control at the onset of vocal ontogeny. (3) This initial bias is confirmed and further developed as a result of vocal learning.
The funnel that grew our cis major in the cs desert

Across the US, plummeting CS enrollments and disappointing student retention have caused serious concern in recent years. Yet, in the Spring of 2007, the Berea College faculty unanimously adopted a CIS major in response to the rise in enrollment in CS0 and retention into CS1. This paper details how using a funnel approach to attract students into the discipline via multiple CS0-level courses resulted in the exception to the trend.
A Graph-Based Semi-Supervised Learning for Question Semantic Labeling

We investigate a graph-based semi-supervised learning approach for labeling semantic components of questions such as topic, focus, event, etc., for question understanding task. We focus on graph construction to handle learning with dense/sparse graphs and present Relaxed Linear Neighborhoods method, in which each node is linearly constructed from varying sizes of its neighbors based on the density/sparsity of its surrounding. With the new graph representation, we show performance improvements on syntactic and real datasets, primarily due to the use of unlabeled data and relaxed graph construction.
Impact of preclinical exposure to organ donation on knowledge and attitudes of medical students.

Context—Medical students receive little exposure to organ donation and procurement programs.Objective—To describe a student-run elective and its effect on participants' knowledge about and attitudes toward organ donation.Intervention—Preclinical students interacted directly with donor families, organ recipients, and donation representatives; many participated in an organ procurement with the surgical team.Design—Between 2005 and 2007, 13 students who participated in the elective and a procurement were compared with 72 students who took the elective but did not participate in a procurement and with 22 control students. Students who participated in a procurement wrote reflections about their experience. In 2010, 15 first-year students who participated in the elective and a procurement and 59 randomly selected control students completed a previously validated measure.Outcome—Themes included awe, surgical procedures, learning opportunities, and brain death. Regardless of procurement participation, the electiv...
Harming through Protection

Peter Pronovost and other Johns Hopkins investigators helped 103 ICUs in 67 Michigan hospitals carry out a highly successful infection-control effort, only to run into major problems with federal regulators. Mary Ann Baily writes that the case demonstrates how some regulations meant to protect people risk harming them instead.
Primary Care Access Barriers as Reported by Nonurgent Emergency Department Users Implications for the US Primary Care Infrastructure

The objective was to explore variation by insurance status in patient-reported barriers to accessing primary care. The authors fielded a brief, anonymous, voluntary survey of nonurgent emergency de...
Flipping the switches: CD40 and CD45 modulation of microglial activation states in HIV associated dementia (HAD)

Microglial dysfunction is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of a number of neurodegenerative disorders including HIV associated dementia (HAD). HIV promotion of an M1 antigen presenting cell (APC) - like microglial phenotype, through the promotion of CD40 activity, may impair endogenous mechanisms important for amyloid- beta (Aβ) protein clearance. Further, a chronic pro-inflammatory cycle is established in this manner. CD45 is a protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor which negatively regulates CD40L-CD40-induced microglial M1 activation; an effect leading to the promotion of an M2 phenotype better suited to phagocytose and clear Aβ. Moreover, this CD45 mediated activation state appears to dampen harmful cytokine production. As such, this property of microglial CD45 as a regulatory "off switch" for a CD40-promoted M1, APC-type microglia activation phenotype may represent a critical therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of neurodegeneration, as well as microglial dysfunction, found in patients with HAD.
The Political Economy of Precision Farming

Precision farming (also known as variable-rate, prescription, site-specific, or soil-specific farming) is rapidly becoming the most touted of emerging technologies in American agriculture. Scarcely an issue of the mainstream agricultural print media is now published without at least some mention of the current applications of and new developments in precision farming. Precision farming-application of georeferencing technology [i.e., global positioning satellite system (GPS)] for purposes of data recording and navigational control for field operations-is increasingly hailed as a means of increasing production efficiency while simultaneously mitigating agricultural pollution. The claims surrounding precision farming-that capitalizing on extant agroecological heterogeneity, through a just-enough and just-in-time approach, will produce economic and environmental benefits simultaneously-are clearly very appealing. Further, we think it is very likely that precision farming and its variants will play a growing role in the restructuring of agricultural practices over the next several decades.
Monitoring nonlinear profiles using a wavelet-based distribution-free CUSUM chart

WDFTC is a wavelet-based distribution-free CUSUM chart for detecting shifts in the mean of a profile with noisy components. Exploiting a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) of the mean in-control profile, WDFTC selects a reduced-dimension vector of the associated DWT components from which the mean in-control profile can be approximated with minimal weighted relative reconstruction error. Based on randomly sampled Phase I (in-control) profiles, the covariance matrix of the corresponding reduced-dimension DWT vectors is estimated using a matrix-regularisation method; then the DWT vectors are aggregated (batched) so that the non-overlapping batch means of the reduced-dimension DWT vectors have manageable covariances. To monitor shifts in the mean profile during Phase II operation, WDFTC computes a Hotelling's T 2-type statistic from successive non-overlapping batch means and applies a CUSUM procedure to those statistics, where the associated control limits are evaluated analytically from the Phase I data. Exper...