cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of cholinergic nerves in dog intestine by adenine nucleotides

Abstract ATP, ADP, adenosine and AMP, but not adenine, inosine, or GMP, caused dose-related intestinal cotnractions when injected as intra-arterial bolus doses in vascularly perfused isolated segments of dog small bowel. The stimulatory effects of these agents were decreased by receptor densitization during exposure to high concentrations of ATP. ATP-induced contractions were also decreased by tetrodotoxin or atropine and after depletion of neuronal acetylcholine content by hemicholinium. Depolarizing doses of nicotine blocked responses to ATP, but nicotinic receptor blockade with tetraethylammonium did not. It is concluded that ATP stimulates dog intesine by release of endogenous acetylcholine from intramural neural elements as a result of action upon non-nicotinic receptors.
Brain atrophy and magnetization transfer ratio following methylprednisolone in multiple sclerosis: short-term changes and long-term implications.

Background: The short-term effect of corticosteroids on MRI measures of multiple sclerosis (MS) is not well understood and may have a significant impact when using these quantitative measures to evaluate disease activity and changes following other therapeutic interventions. Objective: To determine the impact of a course of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) on quantitative measures of disease activity and tissue injury in MS patients. Methods: We prospectively measured brain parenchymal fraction (BPF), magnetization transfer ratio (MTR, lesional and whole brain), and lesion volumes on nine weekly brain MRI studies in ten MS patients receiving a course of IVMP. A group of nine MS patients not receiving IVMP served as controls. Results: In comparison to untreated controls, BPF declined over the eight weeks following IVMP treatment (P<0.02). BPF decline was most prominent in patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS, P<0.03), and was not seen in relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients. Short-term change ...
New approach to inter-slice coding of magnetic resonance images

In this paper we present an inter-slice coding scheme for magnetic resonance (MR) image sequences which is based on a triangular matching technique. This scheme provides a powerful tool for MR image sequence compression since there exists a great deal of deformation between contiguous slices of 3D MR data. The proposed inter-slice coding scheme takes advantage of triangular deformation to remove redundancies in the third dimension. A residual image is formed by estimating and compensating for the triangular deformation in the previous slice, and subtracting this from the original slice. The DCT is used to de-correlate the residue signal. DC components are encoded losslessly using DPCM and Huffman codes. Different banks of entropy-constraint scalar quantizers are designed for the AC components. Each AC coefficient is encoded using an appropriate scalar codebook subject to a bit-allocation procedure. The new inter-slice coding scheme is tested on an MR heart sequence. It shows superior results over intra-slice and other inter-slice schemes. The compressed images displayed on the monitor are imperceptible from the original at our lowest bit-rates.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Klippel-Feil syndrome in association with a craniocervical dermoid cyst presenting as aseptic meningitis in an adult: case report

Intracranial tumors associated with Klippel-Feil syndrome usually occur in children, with spinal tumors being more common in adults affected by the syndrome. A rare case of a dermoid cyst at the craniocervical junction presenting as aseptic meningitis in an adult with Klippel-Feil syndrome is described. A review of the literature on tumors associated with this syndrome is also presented.
New management tools for the successful tourism manager

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to outline some new managerial tools for the tourism industry. The thesis pursued here is that the managers of service operations face a number of challenges distinctly different from those encountered by managers of goods-producing activities; and therefore that tourism managers require management technologies designed for their special needs. Services and service delivery, i.e. service production, differ in their essential nature from goods and manufacturing processes. These differences are outlined and then the management implications and new insights for tourism are drawn out. These insights relate mainly to tourism operations management and the marketing of tourism.
THE INCIDENCE OF SEMINOMA AND EXPRESSION OF CELL ADHESION MOLECULE CD44 IN CRYPTORCHID BOYS AND INFERTILE MEN

AbstractPurpose: The incidence of seminoma in men with cryptorchid testes is a contentious issue among physicians. Nevertheless, a positive correlation has been shown between the susceptibility for seminoma in patients with the oligo-asthenoteratospermia syndrome and in those with cryptorchid testes.Materials and Methods: We histologically examined 5,231 biopsies from 3,867 patients, including 1,121 men with the oligo-asthenoteratospermia syndrome, 218 men with azoospermia and 2,528 boys with cryptorchidism. Testicular tissue embedded in Epon was analyzed by light microscopy, fluorometry, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Cell adhesion molecule CD44 was detected using a monoclonal antibody in all biopsies of patients suspected of having carcinoma in situ.Results: The incidence of seminoma was identical in boys with cryptorchidism and infertile men with the oligo-asthenoteratospermia syndrome but it was significantly higher than in the normal population. All biopsies were analyzed by a single i...
Fast consolidation of ceramic powders

Very fast densification of ceramic powders (alpha-alumina, aluminum nitride, and YBCO superconducting oxides) using prior electric discharge before resistance sintering leads to microstructures that retain the particle size of the starting powders. The time taken to achieve near-theoretical density can be as little as 5 min and usually not more than 15 min. The short time is the principal reason for arresting possible grain growth and the electric discharge step may perhaps be responsible for sweeping off impurities from powder surfaces, thus giving clean grain boundaries in the sintered material. In the YBCO powders the surface effect appears to create a filamentary layer that gives unexpectedly high (240 to 300 K) resistivity onsets and diamagnetic behavior.
A special higher order finite-element method for scattering by deep cavities

A special higher order finite-element method is presented for the analysis of electromagnetic scattering from a large, deep, and arbitrarily shaped open cavity. This method exploits the unique features of the finite-element equations and, more importantly, the unique features of the problem of scattering by a large and deep cavity. It is designed in such a manner that it uses minimal memory, which is proportional to the maximum cross section of the cavity and independent of the depth of the cavity, and its computation time increases only linearly with the depth of the cavity. Furthermore, it computes the scattered fields for all angles of incidence without requiring significant additional time. The technique is implemented with higher order tetrahedral and mixed-order prism elements, both having curved sides to allow for accurate modeling of arbitrary geometries. Numerical results show that higher order elements yield a remarkably more accurate and efficient solution for scattering by three-dimensional (3-D) cavities. Of the two kinds of element, the mixed-order prism is optimal for the proposed special solver.
p27kip1 Protein Levels Reflect a Nexus of Oncogenic Signaling during Cell Transformation

SV40 small t-antigen (ST) collaborates with SV40 large T-antigen (LT) and activated rasv12 to promote transformation in a variety of immortalized human cells. A number of oncogenes or the disruption of the general serine-threonine phosphatase protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) can replace ST in this paradigm. However, the relationship between these oncogenes and PP2A activity is not clear. To address this, we queried the connectivity of these molecules in silico. We found that p27 was connected to each of those oncogenes that could substitute for ST. We further determined that p27 loss can substitute for the expression of ST during transformation of both rodent and human cells. Conversely, knock-in cells expressing the degradation-resistant S10A and T187A mutants of p27 were resistant to the transforming activities of ST. This suggests that p27 is an important target of the tumor-suppressive effects of PP2A and likely an important target of the multitude of cellular oncoproteins that emulate the transforming function of ST.
Offset along the San Andreas fault of Eocene strata from the San Juan Bautista area and western San Emigdio Mountains, California

Analyses of Eocene strata that rest on gabbroic basement rocks in the western San Emigdio Mountains and northernmost Gabilan Range indicate that the 2 sequences have been offset right-laterally 305–320 km along the San Andreas fault. In both areas, basal shallow-marine conglomerate of Penutian age grades upward into shale of Ulatisian and Narizian age that was deposited at bathyal water depths in a basin with access to open ocean. Additional similarities in the upper Eocene and Oligocene stratigraphic units suggest original contiguity of the depositional basins. The inferred offset indicates that the Salinian block was attached to western California by at least early Eocene time. The longer distances of northward transport of the Salinian block that are suggested by preliminary paleomagnetic data from upper Mesozoic granitic rocks and Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene strata must have occurred during Paleocene or earlier time.
Nasal reconstruction 150 years ago: Aesthetic and other problems

Plastic surgeons today are understandably concerned with the final “aesthetic” results in totally reconstructed noses, no matter how many procedures are necessary to achieve results in this fascinating surgery. Many of us take the modern techniques of reconstructive nasal surgery for granted. Most of us do not have a very thorough knowledge of the history of our specialty, and we are unaware of the problems that faced the plastic surgeon 150 years ago or more, when reconstructive surgery of the nose was first introduced into Europe. Among all the many problems that confronted the surgeon in those days, the “aesthetics” of the reconstructed nose were bothersome and not always satisfactory, as can be seen in the writings of Dieffenbach [7, 18–20] and his contemporaries.
Natriuretic peptides and remodeling in heart failure.

Since the discovery of the cardiac hormone atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) by DeBold and coworkers in 1981 [1], the field of natriuretic peptides has advanced significantly, with translation of new knowledge to the clinical practice of heart failure (HF). This new knowledge has underscored the importance of cardiorenal mechanisms that contribute to optimal cardiovascular homeostasis. Work has also established direct myocardial actions broadening their therapeutic potential beyond renal mechanisms. Indeed, one such therapeutic target is cardiac remodeling and fibrosis based upon the unique cardiorenal protective properties. The objective of this article is to review new insights into the use of natriuretic peptides as novel therapeutic agents for cardiorenal protection in progressive HF, which serves to limit cardiac remodeling and fibrosis and thus the progression of HF.
Argentina's blockbuster movies and the politics of culture under neoliberalism, 1989-98

The film industry in Argentina has witnessed a recent `boom' in commercial blockbuster movies that is bringing audiences back to see national films. These high budget productions are produced in pa...
Some haem protein-linked pyridine nucleotide oxidation systems in Rhodospirillium rubrum

Ammonium sulfate fractionation of a crude citrate extract obtained from lyophilized cells of R. rubrum, a facultative photoheterotrophe, yields a soluble enzyme preparation which contains “bound” bacterial cytochrome c (“cytochrome c2”) and variant heme protein (“RHP”). The following light-insensitive reactions, enzymically-catalyzed by this preparation, have been noted: (a) TPNH oxidase (b) DPNH oxidase (c) TPNH-cytochrome c2 reductase (d) DPNH-cytochrome c2 reductase (e) TPNH-RHP reductase (f) DPNH-RHP reductase (g) TPNH-2,6-DCPI reductase and (h) DPNH-2,6-DCPI reductase. The reaction between DPNH and 2,6-DCPI indicates 1o-fold purification of the enzyme with respect to the initial crude extract. Using this preparation, some characteristics of these catalyzed reactions have been determined. The evidence obtained from studies of heat inhibition and variations with pH suggests that reactions (g) and (h) are catalyzed by different enzymes, the latter being much more reactive. The rates of oxidase reactions (a) and (b) are very small, being 1300 and 150 respectively of those found for DPNH and TPNH using 2,6-DCPI as H-acceptor. The bound RHP is rapidly oxidized, whereas cytochrome c2 is only partially oxidized when the enzyme preparation is aerted. When DPNH is added in air, only cytochrome c2 is reduced. Under anaerobic conditions, both endoegenous heme proteins are reduced to the maximum extent, but at different rates. These preliminary studies are in accord with an oxidation scheme in which dehydrogenation of the substrate DPNH proceeds via RHP to both cytochrome c2 and oxygen as hydrogen acceptors.
The effects of text presentation format on reading comprehension and video game performance

Reading comprehension influences applied task performance in a video game.Text presentation method influenced affect toward the task.Semantic chunking of text may aid applied task performance than RSVP.RSVP may be more engaging for learning than traditional text formats. The military has used video games to help geographically distributed military teams develop specific skills in a safe, controlled environment. Military trainers have also used hand-held devices and rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) of text and graphics for training and mission planning. This research continued previous work investigating the influence of RSVP of intelligence reports on task performance, reading comprehension, and affect. Seventy-eight participants moved through a video game to find a target avatar as quickly as possible based on intelligence reports. There were two presentation styles (RSVP or traditional) and two intelligence formats (content-relevant words or full sentences). Differences in task performance, reading comprehension, and affect occurred as a function of text presentation. Participants in the RSVP group found the medic more quickly when reading full sentences than when reading only content words. Individuals reading traditional text of content words scored higher on comprehension tests than when reading either RSVP format. Participants also found RSVP tasks to be more challenging and more engaging than traditional text formats. These results suggest researchers and trainers should continue to investigate RSVP to determine its applicability for training other skills.
Evaluation of Intraocular and Orbital Pressure in the Management of Orbital Hemorrhage: An Experimental Model

Objective To evaluate orbital pressure (OP), intraocular pressure (IOP), and the effectiveness of canthotomy, cantholysis, and septolysis using an experimental orbital hemorrhage model. Methods Expired whole blood was injected into the retrobulbar space of 10 human cadaver orbits. At 1-mL increments, OP, IOP, and globe position were documented. The mean (SD) time interval between the injections was 84 (36) seconds. Following injection of 22 mL, lateral canthotomy, cantholysis, and septolysis were performed. An additional 10 mL of blood was then injected. Results After injecting 22 mL of whole blood, mean (SD) OP and IOP were 68.4 (32.2) and 71.5 (19.1) mm Hg, respectively. The OP and IOP correlated closely throughout the experiment, with a mean (SD) difference of 11.4 (4.9) mm Hg (Pearson coefficient, 0.97). Following canthotomy, cantholysis, and septolysis, there was a mean (SD) decrease of 48.0 (27.2) mm Hg (70%) and 50.0 (18.1) mm Hg (59%) in OP and IOP, respectively. With additional injection of 10 mL of blood, OP and IOP increased rapidly. Conclusions The IOP and OP rose in direct proportion to the volume of whole blood injected; OP lagged behind IOP by 11 mm Hg, and surgical release of the orbit reduced OP by 70%. This effect was short-lived in the setting of continued simulated hemorrhage.
Broken necks from diving accidents: a summer epidemic in young men.

Four years (1970 to 1973) of experience in the management of fractured cervical spine from diving accidents is examined with reference to clinical findings, radiology, prognosis, and socioeconomic aspects.
History From Our Textbooks: Boring, Langfeld, and Weld's Introductory Texts (1935-1948+)

Textbooks attempt to present a comprehensive portrayal of a subject matter. Introductory psychology textbooks provide un overview of contemporary psychology. Reviewing the texts of an earlier period may provide a portrait of psychology of that period without the bias of our present time. This article reports the results of an actuarial analysis of three editions of the Boring, Langfeld, and Weld introductory texts published between 1935 and 1948. These editions are compared with contemporary introductory psychology texts
Radar target modeling: a geometric theory of diffraction (GTD)-based approach

A new approach to scattering center extraction is developed based on a model derived from the geometric theory of diffraction (GTD). For stepped frequency measurements at high frequencies, this model is better matched to the physical scattering process than the Prony or discrete Fourier transform modeling methods. In addition, the GTD-based model extracts more information about the scattering centers, allowing partial identification of scattering center geometry in addition to determining energy and downrange distance. We derive expressions for the Cramer-Rao bound of this model; using these expressions we analyze the behavior of the new model as a function of scatterer separation, bandwidth, number of data points, and noise level. We compare these results with those for the Prony model. Additionally, a maximum likelihood algorithm for the model is developed. Estimation results using data measured on a compact range are presented to validate the proposed modeling procedure.
Free association in sex education: understanding sexuality as the flow of thought in conversation and curriculum

This paper draws on the theory and method of free association in psychoanalysis to frame an investigation of the content, structure, and function of the thinking expressed in conversations about sexuality and sexual health. The investigation emerges from an ongoing three-year study of the way adolescents, teachers, and peer sex educators negotiate and interpret the language of abstinence and the emotional terrain of sexuality in everyday speech and interaction. Through close readings of a film and related focus group data, the paper calls for attention to free associative movements of thought in sex education conversations. It argues that fostering free association in sex education will make room for the translation of sexuality into thought about the contours of sexuality in experience.
The influence of daminozide and maleic hydrazide on growth and net photosynthesis of silver maple and American sycamore seedlings

Abstract One-year-old seedlings of silver maple ( Acer saccharinum L.) and American sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis L.) were treated with daminozide [butanedioic acid mono (2,2-dimethylhydrazide)] or maleic hydrazide (1,2-dihydro-3,6-pyridazine dione) via stem injection. Six weeks after treatment with maleic hydrazide, plants of both species were shorter, had less leaf area and less total dry weight than untreated plants. During the same period, daminozide reduced plant height and leaf area of treated maple seedlings while reducing leaf area and total dry weight of treated sycamore. Daminozide had no influence on height of sycamore or total dry weight of silver maple. Both chemicals caused a decrease in net photosynthesis; however, seedlings injected with daminozide overcame this effect 2–3 weeks after treatment.
Hysteresis in Crystallization of Stretched Vulcanized Rubber from X-Ray Data Correlation with Stress-Strain Behavior and Resilience

Abstract 1. For sample H, with high modulus and high resilience, there is a greater crystallizing tendency above 350 per cent for the first cycle and above 400 per cent after previous flexing. 2. Both H and L have narrow loops, which indicate an approach to reversibility in the formation and deformation of crystalline regions above 400 per cent for the first and later cycles. 3. The crystallization of H is greatly enhanced above 400 per cent after the first cycle of stretching and retraction; L remains essentially unchanged by previous history over this range; this is analogous to the much greater change in the stress-strain loop from the first to third cycles for H, as compared with L. 4. At elongations below 400 per cent for the first cycle and 350 per cent for subsequent cycles, L has a far greater hysteresis or tendency to retain the crystalline arrangement, and this greatly increases after the first cycle, so that the fiber interferences persist on retraction to elongations 150 per cent below the elo...
A history of M.S. and Ph.D. programs offered by schools and colleges of optometry in North America

This paper gives an overview of the history of M.S. and Ph.D. graduate programs offered by schools and colleges of optometry. It also highlights some of the contributions of Henry Hofstetter to graduate education.
Bayesians, frequentists, and scientists

Broadly speaking, nineteenth century statistics was Bayesian, while the twentieth century was frequentist, at least from the point of view of most scientific practitioners. Here in the twenty-first century scientists are bringing statisticians much bigger problems to solve, often comprising millions of data points and thousands of parameters. Which statistical philosophy will dominate practice? My guess, backed up with some recent examples, is that a combination of Bayesian and frequentist ideas will be needed to deal with our increasingly intense scientific environment. This will be a challenging period for statisticians, both applied and theoretical, but it also opens the opportunity for a new golden age, rivaling that of Fisher, Neyman, and the other giants of the early 1900s. What follows is the text of the 164th ASA presidential address, delivered at the awards ceremony in Toronto on August 10, 2004.
Use of the rapid/shallow breathing index as an indicator of patient work of breathing during pressure support ventilation

Abstract Background. Measuring patient work of breathing (WOBpt) has been suggested to provide safe, aggressive weaning from mechanical ventilation. We compared WOBpt and pressure-time-product (PTP) to routine weaning parameters [breath rate (f), tidal volume (VT), frequency/tidal volume ratio (f/VT)] at different levels of pressure support ventilation (PSV). Methods. Fifteen patients in the surgical intensive care unit requiring prolonged weaning (more than 3 days) were entered in the study. A balloon-tipped esophageal catheter was placed and position confirmed by inspection of pressure and flow waveforms. Each patient was randomly assigned to breathe with 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm H2O of PSV. After 30 minutes, 40 breaths were recorded and analyzed. Measurement of WOBpt, PTP, f, VT and f/VT were made using the Bicore CP-100 monitor. Mean values for each parameter were calculated. PTP and WOBpt were plotted against f/VT to determine correlation coefficient. Results. PTP, WOBpt, and f/VT decreased in a stepwise fashion as PSV was increased. The f/VT correlated most closely with WOBpt (r = 0.983) and PTP (r = 0.972). Monitoring f alone also correlated with WOBpt (r = 0.894) and PTP (r = 0.881). All patients were weaned from the ventilator (mean duration, 22 ± 5.9 days). Nine patients required tracheostomy before final liberation from the ventilator. Conclusions. Direct measurement of WOBpt is invasive, expensive, and may be confusing to clinicians. Monitoring f/VT may be useful when changing PSV during weaning.
Influence of Vitamin D2 Percentage on Accuracy of 4 Commercial Total 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Assays

To the Editor: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D)1 is the most appropriate marker for monitoring vitamin D storage status. The 2 major forms of 25-OH-D [25-OH-D2 (D2) and 25-OH-D3 (D3)], differ slightly in molecular structures but have essentially the same physiological activity. Therefore, both D2 and D3 should be measured to assess vitamin D status. At our laboratory, 42% of patient samples submitted for vitamin D testing contain D2. Recognizing the ability of an assay to quantify both the D3 and D2 forms equally is therefore crucial. The analytical performance of several total 25-OH-D assays approved by the US Food and Drug Administration is well documented (1); however, information is limited on how D2 affects assay accuracies. Le Goff et al. (2) demonstrated the inconsistency between several assays in their cross-reactivities toward D2. The size of their study was small, however, and the range of D2 percentages (D2%) was unknown. We used a larger sample size than previous studies and a D2% interval of 1.3%–91.2% [3.4–95.1 ng/mL (8.5–238 nmol/L)] and evaluated the influence of D2% on the accuracies of the following assays: DiaSorin Liaison, Abbott Architect, Roche Cobas, and Siemens Centaur. We developed and validated a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay as the reference method. Samples were prepared for the LC-MS/MS assay by mixing with internal standard (D3- d 6/D2- d 6), ZnSO4 solution, and methanol; liquid–liquid …
Using Entertainment Media to Inform Student Affairs Teaching and Practice Related to Sex and Gender.

This chapter presents several strategies for teaching about sex and gender using entertainment media and explores critical issues related to content development, the delivery process, and evaluation methods.
Implementation of a Fault-Diagnosis Algorithm for Induction Machines Based on Advanced Digital-Signal-Processing Techniques

In this paper, a complete cross-correlation-based fault-diagnostic method is proposed for real-time digital-signal-processor (DSP) applications that cover both the fault-monitoring and decision-making stages. In practice, a motor driven by an inverter or utility line is run at various operating points where the frequency, amplitude, and phase of the fault signatures vary unexpectedly. These changes are considered to be one of the common factors that yield erroneous fault tracking and unstable fault detection. In this paper, the proposed algorithms deal with the ambiguities of line-current noise or sensor-resolution errors and operating-point-dependent threshold issues. It is theoretically and experimentally verified that a motor fault can be continuously tracked when the sensor errors are within a limited range through the adaptively determined threshold definition of noise conditions. The offline experiments are performed via Matlab using actual line-current data obtained by a data-acquisition system. These results are verified on a DSP-based motor drive in real time where drive sensors and a digital signal processor are employed both for motor-control and fault-diagnostic purposes.
Electric field stimulation of excitable tissue

Examines the transmembrane voltage response of an unmyelinated fiber to a stimulating electric field from a point current source. For subthreshold conditions, analytic expressions for the transmembrane potential, v/sub m/, are developed that include the specific effects of fiber-source distance, h, and time from the onset of the stimulus, T. Suprathreshold effects are determined for two examples by extending the analytical results with a numerical model. The v/sub m/, response is a complex evolution in time, especially for small h, that differs markedly from the "activating function". In general, the subthreshold response is a good predictor of the wave shape of the suprathreshold v/sub m/ but a poor predictor of its magnitude. The subthreshold response also is a good (but not a precise) predictor of the region where excitation begins. >
Adrenergic responses of baroreceptive cells in the nucleus tractus solitarii of the rat: a microiontophoretic study.

Abstract Anatomical and pharmacological evidence suggests a role for catecholamines (CAs) in the modulation of the baroreceptor reflex within the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). Single neurons in the NTS of the rat were studied for their responses to activation of the baroreceptor reflex and to iontophoretic administration of dopamine, norepinephrine (NE), and epinerphrine (EPI) to determine the relationship between the effects of baroreflex activation and CA application on baroreceptive neurons in the vagal sensory nucleus. Of 269 cells studied, 104 (38.7%) exhibited decreases and 41 cells (15.2%) showed increases in firing rate in response to baroreflex activation, while the remaining 124 neurons showed no response. All 3 CAs inhibited spike activity in the majority (68.5%) of NTS cells. These inhibitory effects on spontaneous firing were observed regardless of the response profile of a particular neuron to baroreflex activation. The inhibitory effects of NE and EPI on NTS neuronal activity were specifically blocked by the α-adrenergic receptor antagonist tolazoline, but not by the β-adrenergic antagonist sotalol. These results indicate that CAs may interact at several sites within the NTS to influence baroreflex integration, and that the effects of NE and EPI on neuronal activity are mediated by an α-adrenergic receptor.
Cop talk and media use

This article reports on the ways police officers in their everyday conversations reference the entertainment media.
Navigation of an autonomous underwater vehicle(AUV) using robust SLAM

This paper will present a robust extended Kalman filter (REKF) applied to the navigation of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) using robust Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) techniques. Conventional Kalman Filter methods suffer from the assumption of Gaussian noise statistics, which often lead to failures when these assumptions do not hold. Additionally, the linearization errors associated with the implementation of the standard EKF can also severely degrade the performance of the localization estimate. Currently, Stochastic Mapping provides a framework for the concurrent mapping of landmarks and localization of the vehicle with respect to the landmarks. However, the Stochastic Map is essentially an augmented EKF with the limitations thereof. This research addresses the linearization and Guassian assumption errors as they relate to the SLAM problem by proposing a new method, Robust Stochastic Mapping. The Robust Stochastic Map uses a Robust EKF (REKF) in order to address these limitations through the implementation of the bounded H ∞ norm. Simulated data are presented to illustrate the advantage of the localization using the proposed estimation procedure.
Cellular Stoichiometry of the Components of the Chemotaxis Signaling Complex

The chemotactic sensory system of Escherichia coli comprises membrane-embedded chemoreceptors and six soluble chemotaxis (Che) proteins. These components form signaling complexes that mediate sensory excitation and adaptation. Previous determinations of cellular content of individual components provided differing and apparently conflicting values. We used quantitative immunoblotting to perform comprehensive determinations of cellular amounts of all components in two E. coli strains considered wild type for chemotaxis, grown in rich and minimal media. Cellular amounts varied up to 10-fold, but ratios between proteins varied no more than 30%. Thus, cellular stoichiometries were almost constant as amounts varied substantially. Calculations using those cellular stoichiometries and values for in vivo proportions of core components in complexes yielded an in vivo stoichiometry for core complexes of 3.4 receptor dimers and 1.6 CheW monomers for each CheA dimer and 2.4 CheY, 0.5 CheZ dimers, 0.08 CheB, and 0.05 CheR per complex. The values suggest a core unit of a trimer of chemoreceptor dimers, a dimer (or two monomers) of kinase CheA, and two CheW. These components may interact in extended arrays and, thus, stoichiometries could be nonintegral. In any case, cellular stoichiometries indicate that CheY could be bound to all signaling complexes and this binding would recruit essentially the entire cellular complement of unphosphorylated CheY, and also that phosphatase CheZ, methylesterase CheB, and methyltransferase CheR would be present at 1 per 2, per 14, and per 20 core complexes, respectively. These characteristic ratios will be important in quantitative treatments of chemotaxis, both experimental and theoretical.
A Precise Yet Efficient Memory Model For C

Verification for OO programs typically starts from a strongly typed object model in which distinct objects/fields are guaranteed not to overlap. This model simplifies verification by eliminating all ''uninteresting'' aliasing and allowing the use of more efficient frame axioms. Unfortunately, this model is unsound and incomplete for languages like C, where ''objects'' can overlap almost arbitrarily. Sound verification for C therefore typically starts from an untyped memory model, where memory is just an array of bytes. The untyped model, however, adds substantial annotation burden, and reasoning in the untyped model is computationally expensive. We propose a sound, typed semantics for C that provides the annotational and computational advantages of the typed object model while remaining sound and complete for C. We maintain a predicate identifying where the ''valid'' objects are, and introduce invariants and proof obligations that guarantee that the valid objects are suitably antialiased, and that (almost) all objects appearing in the program are valid. We describe the implementation of this approach in VCC (a sound verifier for C being used to verify the Microsoft Hypervisor) and the resulting performance gains.
Switch from capsid protein import to adenovirus assembly by cleavage of nuclear transport signals

Replication and assembly of adenovirus occurs in the nucleus of infected cells, requiring the nuclear import of all viral structural proteins. In this report we show that nuclear import of the major capsid protein, hexon, is mediated by protein VI, a structural protein located underneath the 12 vertices of the adenoviral capsid. Our data indicate that protein VI shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm and that it links hexon to the nuclear import machinery via an importin α/β-dependent mechanism. Key nuclear import and export signals of protein VI are located in a short C-terminal segment, which is proteolytically removed during virus maturation. The removal of these C-terminal transport signals appears to trigger a functional transition in protein VI, from a role in supporting hexon nuclear import to a structural role in virus assembly.
Cerium oxide as a silver decolorizer in dental porcelains.

Abstract Objectives. Silver-base alloys are known to produce an esthetically unpleasant yellow–green tint in the dental porcelain when making PFM restorations. Cerium oxide is used in dental porcelains to simulate the natural fluorescence found in human dental enamel, and has also been used in the glass industry as a decolorizer. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of CeO2 additions on the resistance of dental porcelain to staining from silver contamination. Methods. Five batches of porcelain were prepared according to Weinstein et al. (1962) with 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 wt% additions of CeO2. To determine the resistance of these porcelains to silver staining, 0.10 wt% additions of the silver oxides were triturated into the prepared CeO2 porcelains prior to sample fabrication. This procedure provided a more quantitative method of staining than firing directly on silver alloys. Silver oxide was added in two valance states as Ag2O and AgO to test for any possible effects on staining. Samples were pressed into a 17 mm diameter mold, and fired to 960°C under vacuum. Three additional samples were prepared from the non-cerium porcelain frit to produce a non-stained control group. Color measurements were made with a spectrophotometer on the ten experimental groups and the control group. The CIE L*a*b* color difference, ΔE*, was calculated between the control and the experimental groups. Results. There was a significant decrease in the silver staining of dental porcelains when CeO2 additions of 0.10 wt% or greater were used. Significance. Cerium oxide additions in the range of 0.10 to 0.20 wt% caused a three-fold reduction in the staining of dental porcelain samples which had been doped with 0.10 wt% of AgO or Ag2O.
Design of inquiry-oriented science labs: impacts on students’ attitudes

Background: Changes in lab style can lead to differences in learning. Two inquiry-oriented lab styles are guided inquiry (GI) and problem-based (PB). Students’ attitudes towards lab are important to consider when choosing between GI and PB styles during curriculum design. Purpose: We examined the degree to which lab experiences are explained by a GI or a PB lab style vs. students’ attitudes towards specific aspects of the experience, reflected by perceived excitement (exc), difficulty (dif), time efficiency (eff) and association between lab and lecture material (help). Sample: Approximately 1000 students attending first-semester, college biology lab for science majors at the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA, participated in the study. Design and method: In 2007, two labs were run as GI and one as PB. Formats were switched in 2008. Attitudes were assessed with a post-semester survey. Results: Only the four attitude variables (not lab style) had a strong relationship with overall lab rating which was ...
Regulation and Function of Escherichia coli Sugar Efflux Transporter A (SetA) during Glucose-Phosphate Stress

Accumulation of certain nonmetabolizable sugar-phosphates (including α-methyl glucoside-6-phosphate) in Escherichia coli is growth inhibitory and elicits the glucose-phosphate stress response. The transcription factor SgrR activates transcription of the small RNA SgrS under stress conditions. SgrS represses translation of mRNAs encoding sugar transporters. The sgrR and sgrS genes are located directly upstream of setA, and this gene organization is conserved in numerous enteric species, prompting the hypothesis that SetA contributes to the glucose-phosphate stress response. SetA is a proton motive force-driven efflux pump capable of transporting various sugars and sugar analogs in vitro. This study demonstrates that setA expression is induced in response to glucose-phosphate stress, and this requires SgrR. Under stress conditions, setA is cotranscribed with sgrS from the sgrS promoter. A setA mutant exhibits a growth defect under stress conditions that can be complemented by setA in trans, suggesting that SetA contributes to the optimal cellular recovery from stress. Despite previous in vitro evidence that SetA can promote efflux of the stress-causing glucose analog α-methyl glucoside, in vivo data in this study indicate that SetA is not the major efflux pump responsible for removal of α-methyl glucoside under stress conditions.
Estrogen Synthesis in Fetal Sheep Brain: Effect of Maternal Treatment with an Aromatase Inhibitor

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the fetal lamb brain has the capacity to aromatize androgens to estrogens during the critical period for sexual differentiation. We also determined whether administration of the aromatase-inhibitor 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD) could cross the placenta and inhibit aromatase activity (AA) in fetal brain. Eight pregnant ewes were utilized. On Day 50 of pregnancy, four ewes were given ATD-filled Silastic implants, and the other four ewes received sham surgeries. The fetuses were surgically delivered 2 wk later (Day 64 of gestation). High levels of AA (0.8‐1.4 pmol/ h/mg protein) were present in the hypothalamus and amygdala. Lower levels (0.02‐0.1 pmol/h/mg protein) were measured in brain stem regions, cortex, and olfactory bulbs. The MichaelisMenten dissociation constant (Km) for aromatase in the fetal sheep brain was 3‐4 nM. No significant sex differences in AA were observed in brain. Treatment with ATD produced significant inhibition of AA in most brain areas but did not significantly alter serum profiles of the major sex steroids in maternal and fetal serum. Concentrations of testosterone in serum from the umbilical artery and vein were significantly greater in male than in female fetuses. No other sex differences in serum steroids were observed. These data demonstrate that high levels of AA are found in the fetal sheep hypothalamus and amygdala during the critical period for sexual differentiation. They also demonstrate that AA can be inhibited in the fetal lamb brain by treating the mother with ATD, without harming fetal development. aromatase, behavior, Cyp19, early development, estradiol, neuroendocrinology, sexual differentiation, testosterone
Intrusion Detection: A Survey

This chapter provides the overview of the state of the art in intrusion detection research. Intrusion detection systems are software and/or hardware components that monitor computer systems and analyze events occurring in them for signs of intrusions. Due to widespread diversity and complexity of computer infrastructures, it is difficult to provide a completely secure computer system. Therefore, there are numerous security systems and intrusion detection systems that address different aspects of computer security. This chapter first provides taxonomy of computer intrusions, along with brief descriptions of major computer attack categories. Second, a common architecture of intrusion detection systems and their basic characteristics are presented. Third, taxonomy of intrusion detection systems based on five criteria (information source, analysis strategy, time aspects, architecture, response) is given. Finally, intrusion detection systems are classified according to each of these categories and the most representative research prototypes are briefly described.
The molecular architecture of glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase

Glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, also referred to as UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase or UGPase, catalyzes the formation of UDP-glucose from glucose-1-phosphate and UTP. Not surprisingly, given the central role of UDP-glucose in glycogen synthesis and in the production of glycolipids, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans, the enzyme is ubiquitous in nature. Interestingly, however, the prokaryotic and eukaryotic forms of the enzyme are unrelated in amino acid sequence and structure. Here we describe the cloning and structural analysis to 1.9 Aresolution of the UGPase from Escherichia coli. The protein is a tetramer with 222 point group symmetry. Each subunit of the tetramer is dominated by an eight-stranded mixed b-sheet. There are two additional layers of b-sheet (two and three strands) and 10 a-helices. The overall fold of the molecule is remarkably similar to that observed for glucose-1- phosphate thymidylyltransferase in complex with its product, dTDP-glucose. On the basis of this similarity, a UDP-glucose moiety has been positioned into the active site of UGPase. This protein/product model predicts that the side chains of Gln 109 and Asp 137, respectively, serve to anchor the uracil ring and the ribose of UDP-glucose to the protein. The b-phosphoryl group of the product is predicted to lie within hydrogen bonding distance to the e-nitrogen of Lys 202 whereas the carboxylate group of Glu 201 is predicted to bridge the 29 -a nd 39-hydroxyl groups of the glucosyl moiety. Details concerning the overall structure of UGPase and a comparison with glucose-1-phosphate thymidylyltransferase are presented.
Ovarian androgens in parabiotic rats.

The rat ovary, in its normal site or implanted in a male which was castrated birth, produces considerable amounts of androgen if placed under the influence of the high gonadotrophin levels established in parabiosis with a castrate. Under such conditions residual prostatic tissue in females is stimulated, apparently to a maximum, and ventral prostates of male castrates bearing an ovarian implant are increased at least 5 fold above the castrate level. Under the above experimental conditions ovaries display interstitial and thecal luteinization along with corpora lutea formation.Extensive granulosa development eventually leads to granulosa-cell tumor formation. The role of the hypophyseal gonadotrophins as well as the ovarian medullary elements in androgen production is discussed. ANDROGEN production by ovaries is a normal occurrence in the human and in many animal species. The yellow bill color of female starlings during the reproductive season was shown to be an expression of high androgen secretion (1).
Observer gender and observation bias in animal behaviour research: experimental tests with red-backed salamanders

Most studies of animal behaviour are based on direct observations of behaviour in a natural or laboratory context. While the potential for observation biases has often been discussed, there have been few quantitative analyses of the kinds of biases that may affect behavioural data. We used multiple observers of aggression and foraging behaviour in red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, to investigate observation biases related to the gender of the observer. We divided observers so that half were aware of the sex of the salamanders and the other half were kept blind to salamander sex. We then used comparisons between blind and unblind treatments to determine the magnitude of observation biases. We found little evidence for bias due to differential perception of male and female animals by men and women observers (‘gender identification bias’) for any of the behaviours examined. Although the expectations of men and women about salamander behaviour did sometimes differ, we also found no evidence that observers' expectations affected their observations of salamander behaviour. However, for one component of aggressive behaviour and one component of foraging behaviour, men observed higher overall frequencies of behaviour than did women, regardless of the sex of the salamander. Additionally, for three components of aggressive behaviour, both men and women recorded greater frequencies of behaviour when they were aware of the sex of the salamander than when they were unaware of the salamanders' sex. For two components of foraging behaviour, there were no significant biases with respect to the observers' gender or their knowledge of the sex of the salamander. These results suggest that observation biases with respect to observer gender may exist for some behavioural variables, and that these biases may be relatively subtle. Although conducting blind experiments may eliminate some types of bias, our results suggest that behaviours should also be carefully screened for consistency and repeatability prior to formal data collection, even for blind experiments.