cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Iron status of suckling rats as influenced by maternal diet during gestation and lactation

1. Two experiments are reported. In Expt 1, pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats (200–220 g) were given purified diets containing 35, 75, 150 or 300 mg Fe/kg throughout gestation and lactation. In Expt 2, the levels of Fe given were 250 and 300 mg/kg diet. 2. Litters were standardized at birth to contain seven pups. On day 20 of lactation blood, milk, spleen and liver were collected for Fe analysis. 3. A dietary Fe concentration of 35 mg/kg maintained maximum weight gain, food intake, liver and spleen weight, haemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume in the growing maternal rat through 20 d of lactation. Dam liver and spleen Fe concentrations were maximized between 75 and 250 mg Fe/kg diet. 4. Pups (20-d-old) nursed by dams given 35 mg Fe/kg tended to have lower body and organ weights compared to other groups. Liver and spleen Fe concentrations increased with increasing maternal dietary Fe and were significantly increased between 150 and 250 mg Fe/kg.
Combined effects of Zn2+-chlorhexidine and Zn2+-cetylpyridinium chloride on caries incidence in partially desalivated rats

The effects of Zn2+ combined with either chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) on caries incidence in partially desalivated rats were investigated. Seven groups of 12 animals each received topical applications for 20 s with a saturated swab (0.2 ml) of the following aqueous solutions twice daily on weekdays (10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) and once daily during weekends (12 a.m.) for 5 wk: deionized water (placebo); 40 mM zinc acetate; 2.2 mM chlorhexidine diacetate; 4.4 mM CPC; 40 mM zinc acetate and 2.2 mM chlorhexidine diacetate; 40 mM zinc acetate and 4.4 mM CPC; and 20 mM NaF (positive control). Coronal caries was scored by the method of Keyes. All treatments except CPC alone resulted in significantly (P less than 0.05, ANOVA) less smooth-surface caries than did the placebo. NaF treatment resulted in significantly less smooth-surface caries than did Zn2+, chlorhexidine, CPC, and Zn(2+)-CPC. The inclusion of zinc ions did not significantly increase the caries-inhibitory efficacy of chlorhexidine (CH). The combination of Zn(2+)-CPC decreased smooth-surface scores significantly more than did CPC alone. Significant differences in sulcal-surface caries were not observed among the groups. Zn(2+)-CPC suppressed the Streptococcus sobrinus counts significantly more than did the separate agents. Animals treated with Zn(2+)-CH harbored the lowest populations of S. sobrinus.
Analyte identification in ion chromatography Electromigration governed chronoamperometric profiles

Abstract If a DC voltage is applied between two electrodes defining the boundaries of a small volume containing a stationary acid electrolyte, the resulting chronoamperogram is characteristic of the anion of the acid and can be used for identification purposes. Factors that effect the results obtained and their reproducibilities have been identified and studied using two 2-electrode cell designs. One parameter that affects the day-to-day reproducibility of the results and is relevant to the use of the technique as an adjunct to suppressed ion chromatography is the impurity level of the eluent. High purity electrodialytically generated eluents constitute one solution. To see if impurity problems could also be circumvented by an alternate experimental arrangement, a cell was devised in which the trapped eluite was subjected to electromigration using a third electrode and a high electric field. While the influence of the impurities on the chronoamperometric profile generated by the analyte ion of interest could be eliminated under the conditions of the present experiments, it is suggested that this design may be significant utility for future experiments, including tandem ion chromatography-capillary electrophoresis.
Repair Behaviors Used by Children with Hearing Loss.

The purpose of this study was to compare the repair behaviors used by children with hearing loss, between 4 and 9 years of age, as they responded to a stacked sequence of requests for clarification...
Is a High-Fat Diet an Aggravating Factor of Copper Deficiency, in the Rat, During Gestation? |[dagger]| 1513

A low Copper (Cu) diet has been shown to produce alterations in placental Cu transport and fetal Cu stores. Cu deficiency has been associated with lipid deposition in the rat dam and fetal liver. In the presence of free fatty acids in the lumen of the small intestine, Cu absorption is decreased. We hypothesized that a high fat intake in the dam may worsen fetal Cu status and alter (Fe) deposits. Pregnant rats were fed normal diets in the first half of gestation and then assigned to one of the following 4 diets during the second half of gestation: normal Cu and fat: ND; high fat, normal Cu: HFNCu; normal fat, low Cu: NFLCu; and high fat, low Cu: HFLCu. One day before delivery, dams were anesthetized, maternal and fetal plasma and tissues obtained. Maternal, fetal, and placental weights were indistinguishable between diets. Dams plasma Cu and placental Cu were lower in both LCu diets than in ND or the HFNCu groups. However, fetal plasma Cu was similar in all groups. Both dam and fetal liver Cu were lower in the LCu diets than in the NCu diets. HFLCu fetal liver Cu was marginally lower than in the NFLCu group (4.02±0.77 vs. 4.86±0.94 μg/g, p≅0.05). Moreover the fetal/maternal liver Cu ratios were higher in the ND (4.12±0.44) and in the HFNCu(4.15±0.27) than in the NFLCu (1.84±0.31, p<0.001) and the HFLCu (1.75±0.34, p<0.001). Dam liver Fe was higher in the ND than in the HFNCu group (61.4±4.4 vs. 49.7±3.4 μg/g, p<0.05) while fetal liver Fe was lower in all dietary treatments as compared to the ND group (ND: 135±8 μg/g; HFNCu: 107±8 μg/g, p<0.05; NFLCu: 101±7 μg/g, p<0.01; and HFLCu: 114±10 μg/g, p<0.05). In the HFLCu group fetal heart Fe was lower than in the ND(27.9±1.8 vs. 44.0±3.0 μg/g, p<0.005). These data indicate that a maternal high fat diet superimposed on Cu deficiency can potentially aggravate the effect of low Cu and further alter fetal Cu and Fe tissue stores.
Hepatitis C—virology and future antiviral targets

Abstract The hepatitis C virus is a single-stranded RNA virus with a genome approximately 9,000 nucleotides in length. The genome consists of a single, large open reading frame (ORF) and 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions. The highly conserved 5′ untranslated region is 341 nucleotides in length with a complex secondary structure and may function as an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES). The 3′ untranslated region is approximately 500 nucleotides in length and contains a hypervariable region, followed by a poly(U) sequence and a highly conserved 98-nucleotide element with a stable secondary structure. The ORF codes form a single polyprotein that is processed into as many as 10 polypeptides, including a capsid protein (core), two envelope proteins (El and E2), and nonstructural proteins (NS2, NS3, NS4, and NS5). Potentially suitable antiviral targets include the IRES, protease, helicase, and RNA polymerase. In vitro studies show that antisense oligonucleotides can inhibit the production of structural HCV proteins and may be therapeutically useful if the problems of stability and delivery can be solved. The binding of HCV envelope proteins to CD81, a potential receptor for viral entry into hepatocytes, has recently been described and also raises the possibility of agents to block the binding to CD81 or the entry of the virus into cells.
Specificity of bacteriophage Mu excision

To study the excision of bacteriophage Mu at the DNA sequence level, the Mu-derived phage λplacMu3 was transposed to the transcribed but non-translated leader region of a plasmid-borne tetracycline (tet) resistance gene. Revertants (excision products) were then selected by Tet+ restoration of Tet+ and characterized. Of 21 independent Tet+ revertants, 17 contained simple deletions of most or all of λplacMu3, while the other four contained more complex rearrangements in which one end of λplacMu3 had been transposed, and most of the prophage had been deleted. The deletion endpoints were found in short direct repeats in each of the complex rearrangements and in 11 of the 17 simple deletion excisants. The results suggest models of slipped mispairing of template and nascent DNA strands facilitated by proteins of the Mu transposition machinery.
Fully differential W ′ production and decay at next-to-leading order in QCD

We present the fully differential production and decay of a ${W}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ boson, with arbitrary vector and axial-vector couplings, to any final state at next-to-leading order in QCD. We demonstrate a complete factorization of couplings at next-to-leading order in both the partial width of the ${W}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ boson and in the full two-to-two cross section. We provide numerical predictions for the contribution of a ${W}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ boson to single-top-quark production, and separate results based on whether the mass of the right-handed neutrino ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{R}$ is light enough for the leptonic decay channel to be open. The single-top-quark analysis will allow for an improved direct ${W}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ mass limit of 525--550 GeV using data from run I of the Fermilab Tevatron. We propose a modified tolerance method for estimating parton distribution function uncertainties in cross sections.
Aortic replacement in the setting of bicuspid aortic valve: How big? How much?

Despite more than a decade of intense investigation, controversy persists regarding appropriate triggers for aortic replacement in the setting of bicuspid aortic valve. The difficulty is that the data are inescapably imperfect. Although we can count individuals with bicuspid valve who suffer dissection, we have an insufficient understanding of the true denominator of individuals at risk to calculate the probability of dissection for an individual patient. In addition, our own decision-making process is subject to "denominator neglect" or focus on the fact of the occurrence of the event rather than on the risk of the occurrence. Furthermore, the data are inherently incomplete given the asymmetric nature of outcomes information. Specifically, although we can see those who did or did not dissect among the patients not undergoing surgery, the converse is not true; the tragedy of prophylactic surgery is that one cannot distinguish those who have benefited through prevention of dissection from those who paid the price of surgery but in whom dissection would never have occurred. Finally, we have data for only some of the critical determinants of dissection. Structural failure occurs when stresses exceed strengths. Aortic diameter gives us some insight into stress but we have little information on the material strength of the aorta. Early indications that patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for bicuspid valve had a significant risk of aortic dissection were followed by laboratory data showing histologic, biochemical, and mechanical abnormalities supporting an aggressive approach to resection; however, more recent clinical studies call this into question.
The influence of field size upon the spatial frequency response of optokinetic nystagmus.

Abstract The range of target velocities that stimulate optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) was examined as a function of spatial frequency of drifting gratings and field size. OKN responded optimally to coarse gratings with upper spatial frequency limits of 16, 8 and 4 c/deg for 2°, 10° and 45° test fields respectively. These upper spatial frequency limits for optimal responses were related to spatial resolution of moving gratings at the edges of the test field. At low spatial frequencies OKN had an upper slow phase velocity limit that increased with field size. The upper velocity limit was influenced more by proximity of test field edges to the fovea than by test field area. The upper velocity limit was reduced at higher spatial frequencies by a constant temporal frequency limit of 24 Hz. This fixed temporal frequency limit was independent of field size and was related to the CFF for detecting moving gratings. Reduction of stimulus area increased apparent speed of low stimulus velocities and enhanced fast phase frequency of OKN. Pursuit OKN replaced involuntary OKN at stimulus velocities below a lower velocity limit. An empirically derived schematic was developed to describe the spatio-temporal stimulus space for OKN as limited by sensory and motor factors.
Climate models sensitive to tuning of cloud parameters

One of the largest sources of uncertainty in climate model projections of future warming is the effects of clouds. Clouds have both warming and cooling effects, and their interactions with aerosols are complex and not fully understood. To predict future climate using models, researchers commonly tune uncertain cloud parameters to fit current observations, then run the model to project future warming. However, as Golaz et al. show, the choice of parameterization can have a large effect on the simulated warming. The authors studied the effects of tuning cloud parameters in the CMIP5 GFDL CM3 model, a commonly used coupled climate model. They constructed two alternate configurations with plausible but different combinations of parameters. The different configurations showed only very slight differences in modern day climate, but their simulations of warming from preindustrial times to the present differed greatly. This indicates that climate model simulation results depend strongly on cloud parameterization. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1002/grl.50232, 2013)
A direct method for the stabilization of some locally damped semilinear wave equations

Abstract First, we consider a semilinear wave equation with a locally distributed damping in a bounded domain. Using the Carleman estimate, we devise an elementary proof of the exponential decay of the energy of this system. Afterwards we apply the same technique to the stabilization of the same type of equation in the whole space. Our proofs are constructive, and much simpler than those found in the literature. To cite this article: L. Tcheugoue Tebou, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 342 (2006).
Expression of c-myc changes during differentiation of mouse erythroleukaemia cells

The transforming gene of avian myelocytomatosis virus MC29, v-myc, causes a variety of malignancies in chickens. A cellular homologue, c-myc, has been implicated in B-cell malignancies in mice and humans but is also expressed in many normal cell types and may be important in the control of normal cell proliferation. c-myc is highly conserved in vertebrates. We have been investigating the relationship between c-myc expression and the terminal differentiation of cultured mouse erythroleukaemia (MEL) cells. We find that the level of c-myc messenger RNA shows a rapid biphasic change in MEL cells induced to differentiate by dimethyl sulphoxide or hypoxanthine. The changes occur during the first few hours of the differentiation programme and require active protein synthesis. These data suggest that changes in c-myc expression may be important in the irreversible commitment of MEL cells to terminal erythroid differentiation.
A possible case of coccidioidomycosis from the Los Muertos site, Tempe, Arizona

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease endemic to southwestern North America and parts of Central and South America. Coccidioidomycosis frequently disseminates to the human skeleton and produces mostly lytic skeletal lesions. However, this disease is infrequently described within archaeological populations. As a result, it is important to report potential cases in order to improve current understanding of the appearance and distribution of lesions resulting from coccidioidomycosis in archaeological specimens. This study describes skeletal lesions in an adult male recovered from the Los Muertos site, Tempe, Arizona (AD 500–1450). These lesions are present on the inferior border of the left scapular spine, the medial portion of the left first metacarpal head, and the medial portion of the right first metatarsal. The lesions are predominantly lytic with sclerotic and, in some cases, healed cortical bone distributed around their margins. Evidence of skeletal healing is recorded within the destructive focus of one lesion. Geographical information on pathogen endemism, overall lesion distribution, and agricultural-era Hohokom behaviour suggest that coccidioidomycosis is the most likely diagnostic option for these lesions. Mounting evidence for possible infections in the palaeopathological literature, combined with high frequencies of nutritional stress levels in endemic regions, suggests that coccidioidomycosis contributed at least moderately to morbidity in the American Southwest. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of morphine on responses of nucleus ventroposterolateralis neurons to colorectal distension in the rat.

Abstract In 71 halothane-anesthetized rats, we characterized the responses of single neurons in the nucleus ventroposterolateralis (VPL) of the thalamus to a noxious visceral stimulus (colorectal balloon distension; CRD) and studied the effects of intravenous morphine on these responses using standard extracellular microelectrode recording techniques. One hundred nine neurons were isolated on the basis of spontaneous activity. Sixty-four (59%) responded to CRD, of which 52 (81%) had excitatory and 12 (19%) had inhibitory responses. Neurons showed graded responses to graded CRD pressures (20–100 mmHg), with maximum excitation or inhibition occurring at 80 mmHg. Responses to noxious (pinch, heat) and innocuous (brush, tap) cutaneous stimuli were studied in 95 of the VPL neurons isolated. Eighty-three of these neurons (48 CRD responsive and 35 CRD nonresponsive) (87%) had cutaneous receptive fields, of which 96% were small and contralateral and 4% were large and contralateral or bilateral. Ninety-four percent of these neurons responded to both noxious and innocuous cutaneous stimulation, and 6% responded to only noxious stimulation. No neurons responded solely to innocuous stimulation. Cumulative doses of morphine (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg, i.v) produced statistically significant dose-dependent attenuation of neuronal responses to CRD. Naloxone (0.4 mg/kg, i.v.) reversed the effects of morphine. Morphine and naloxone had no significant effects on spontaneous activity. These data support the involvement of VPL neurons in visceral nociception and are consistent with a role of VPL in sensory-discriminative aspects of nociception.
Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma : A 10-year experience

Abstract Purpose: Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity. Of the few reported series, most indicate a dismal prognosis. In this report, the clinical presentation, histopathologic criteria used for diagnosis, mode of treatment, and outcome are evaluated in seven patients with SNUC. Materials and Methods: Seven patients with SNUC treated at the University of Cincinnati between 1983 and 1993 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Most of the patients presented with extensive local disease, and two patients also had cervical metastases. All except one were treated using a multimodality approach. Four of the seven patients died of disease (DOD), with a mean survival of only 11.5 months following treatment. Inability to eradicate local disease was responsible for treatment failure in all cases. Three patients have achieved short-term control of disease following combined therapy, but one is at high risk for recurrence. Conclusion: SNUC was associated with an overall poor prognosis in our series despite aggressive treatment. Control of local disease was the central therapeutic consideration. Intensive multimodality therapy is recommended for all patients with SNUC.
Evaluating Evidence of Discrimination in Multiethnic Housing Markets

Landlords and realtors occasionally are identified as causal agents in the creation or maintenance of segregated neighborhoods. The existence of racial/ethnic separation at local scales, however, is no sure proof of illegal discriminatory acts or intentions by housing market agents. Other factors can and do produce racial/ethnic separation within neighborhoods. Applied demographic analysis can play a part in clarifying what constitutes discrimination and in evaluating the statistical data used to screen for unlawful acts of discrimination within local housing markets. We report a study of tenancy and tenancy turnover in a group of apartment buildings located in a densely settled and ethnically diverse neighborhood in Los Angeles. Turnover in these buildings altered the ethnic mix of tenants, increasing the Asian proportion and decreasing the Hispanic proportion. We trace this change to two market processes that differentiate tenants economically and by differing prefer- ences for luxurious housing: (1) an upgrading of housing stock, which repositioned certain rental units at a higher price point; and (2) the market response to newly- available luxury units. These processes promote ethnically homogeneous apartment- building ''neighborhoods'' within an otherwise unsegregated ethnically diverse area.
Behavior of the Anchoring Strength Coefficient Near a Structural Transition at a Nematic Substrate Interface

Abstract A nearly symmetric alkoxyphenylbenzoate monomer is found to exhibit a transition from perpendicular to tilted alignment at a lecithin-treated glass substrate several degrees below the nematic-isotropic phase transition. By means of the Freedericksz transition the coefficient B of the anchoring energy has been obtained. It is found that B rapidly decreases, and the tilt susceptibility increases on approaching this transition.
Oxidation potentials correlate with conductivities of aromatic molecular wires.

Cyclic voltammetry determines first and second oxidation potentials of conducting diamines. The results show that unsubstituted and methyl-substituted molecules conduct electricity in partially pos...
Prediction of Cleavage Fracture in the Ductile-to-Brittle Transition Region of Pressure Vessel Steels: A Probabilistic Model

This paper presents a modified Weibull stress model, which accounts for the effects of plastic strain and stress triaxiality at the crack tip region. The proposed model is applied to predict cleavage fracture in a modified A508 pressure vessel steel. It is demonstrated that the Weibull modulus (m) remains constant in the temperature range considered, while the threshold Weibull stress (σw-min) decreases with an increase in temperature due to reduction of the yield stress and the scale parameter of the Weibull model (σu) increases with temperature reflecting the influences of temperature on both material flow properties and toughness. The proposed model accurately predicts the scatter of the measured fracture toughness data and the strong effects of constraint and temperature on cleavage fracture toughness.
Imaging of metal bioaccumulation in hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) rhizomes growing on contaminated soils by laser ablation ICP-MS.

Abstract Understanding Pb removal from the translocation stream is vital to engineering Pb hyperaccumulation in above ground organs, which would enhance the economic feasibility of Pb phytoextraction technologies. We investigated Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn distributions in Hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) rhizomes on shooting range soils by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), analyzing digested rhizomes, stems, and fronds using ICP-MS. Nutrients Cu and Zn concentrated in fronds while toxic elements Pb and Sb did not, showing potential Pb and Sb sequestration in the rhizome. Frond and rhizome concentration of Pb was 0.17 ± 0.10% and 0.32 ± 0.21% of dry biomass, respectively. The 208Pb/13C and 121Sb/13C determined by LA-ICP-MS increased from inner sclerotic cortex to the epidermis, while Pb concentrated in the starchy cortex only in contaminated sites. These results suggest that concentration dependent bioaccumulation in the rhizome outer cortex removes Pb from the vascular transport stream.
Influence of the thyroid and adrenal glands on the growth of the intestine of the suckling rat, and on the development of intestinal alkaline phosphatase and disaccharidase activities.

Previous investigations have shown that cortisone or thyroxine can promote maturation of the intestinal epithelium in rats hypophysectomized at six days of age. This indication that either the thyroid or the adrenocortical hormone can act in the absence of the other has been pursued by study of intestinal maturation in rats deprived of the thyroid or adrenal glands during the suckling period. At 24 days of age, rats that have been thyroidectomized at six days retain the short villi and low mitotic index characteristic of neonatal life. Thyroxine elevates the mitotic index; neither thyroxine nor cortisone promote lengthening of the villi, but both cause some deepening of the crypts. Duodenal alkaline phosphatase and jejunal maltase remain at very low levels, but sucrase, which is absent at six days, does appear in the thyroidectomized pups at 24 days. Thyroxine raises phosphatase and maltae activity to the normal 24-day level, but cortisone is only partly effective. Sucrase is raised above the normal maximum by cortisone but not by thyroxine. After adrenalectomy at 14 days, cortisone corrects deficiencies in villus height, crypt depth, and mitotic index, but thyroxine is without effect. Phosphatae, maltase, and sucrase activities rise only to subnormal levels in adrenalectomized pups. Thyroxine restores phosphatase activity to the control level, but is only partly successful in normalizing disaccharidase activities. Periodic acid-Schiff stainability of the brush border is weak in specimens deprived of either thyroid or adrenals. Both thyroxine and cortisone restore normal intensity after thyroidectomy; after adrenalectomy only cortisone was able to restore normal stainability. Plasma corticosteroid concentration is elevated by thyroxine only if the hypophysis is present. These results demonstrate that the intestinal epithelium is able to respond to each hormone in the absence of the other.
Effects of X-rays on Ag-DNA Complexes

SummaryEffects of 300 kVp X-radiation on silver(I)-complexed calf thymus DNA in neutral aqueous solution were determined by spectrophotometric and sedimentation methods. Complexed silver ion in the ratio of one Ag+: two DNA bases does not increase the radiosensitivity of DNA. Experiments with added N2O and alcohols implicate the hydroxyl radical as the most important damaging species in both native DNA and Ag+-bound DNA.
A three-dimensional architecture for a parallel processing photosensing array (silicon retina application)

A three-dimensional architecture for a photosensing array has been developed. This silicon based architecture consists of a 10*10 array of photosensors with 80- mu m diameter, through-chip interconnects to the back side of a 300- mu m*300- mu m pn-junction photodiode. The following processes were used to create this photosensitive architecture: (1) thermomigration of aluminum pads through an n-type silicon wafer; (2) creation of pn-junction photosensors on one side of the wafer; and (3) creation of aluminum pad ohmic contacts to the thermomigrated, through-chip interconnects and the substrate on the back side of the wafer. The electrical and optical characteristics of the three-dimensional architecture indicate that it should be well suited as a photosensing framework around which a 'silicon retina' could be built. >
Multicomponent properties of barley stripe mosaic virus ribonucleic acid.

Abstract RNA extracted from purified barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) was analyzed by density gradient centrifugation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All strains tested had a prominent 21.3 S RNA, which was separated into two components by gel electrophoresis. Most preparations of North Dakota 18 and Argentina Mild strains had an additional 19.5 S component, which was resolved into one or two RNA species by gel electrophoresis. Some preparations also contained variable amounts of two or three minor RNA components migrating slowly in gels; these components sedimented at about 30 S in sucrose gradients. The two 19.5 S components were more variable than other components, and occasionally one or both disappeared during virus subculture. Double-stranded RNA isolated from infected plants migrated more slowly in polyacrylamide gels than did single-stranded RNA isolated from purified virions, but both types of RNA from the same strain had the same number of major RNA components. The RNAs of BSMV migrated more slowly in gels than expected from their sedimentation rates if brome mosaic virus RNAs and barley ribosomal RNAs were used as standards, which suggests that BSMV RNAs and the standard RNAs differ in secondary configuration. Mixtures of the separated RNA components were more infectious than single components, which indicates that more than one RNA component was necessary to establish infection.
Clinical relevance of Flt1 and Tie1 angiogenesis receptors expression in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Angiogenesis, a complex process tightly controlled by several molecules including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) along with their receptors, plays a major role in the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. The expression and production of VEGF and bFGF have been documented in numerous solid tumors and hematopoietic neoplasms. Having recently shown increased expression of cellular VEGF in the leukemic cells of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) we decided to investigate the expression of angiogenic receptors Flt1 and Tie1. Levels of Tie1 and Flt1 proteins were measured in leukemic cells from 231 patients with B-cell CLL using Western blot analysis and solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). A strong correlation was found between Flt1 and Tie1 levels and white blood cell count (WBC) and absolute lymphocyte counts. Levels of Flt1 but not Tie1 correlated with levels of cellular VEGF. Interestingly, Tie1 correlated well with Rai stage (P=0.04). Flt1 and Tie1 did not correlate with survival, although when we evaluated the patients with early disease (Rai stage 0-II), higher levels of Tie1 but not of Flt1 correlated with worse survival. These data suggest that Tie1 plays a role in the early stages of B-cell CLL and as the disease progresses, the tumor cells become independent from the effects of Tie1. Further studies are now needed to dissect the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon.
Homologies of the anterior teeth in Indriidae and a functional basis for dental reduction in primates

In a recent paper Schwartz ('74) proposes revised homologies of the deciduous and permanent teeth in living lemuriform primates of the family Indriidae. However, new evidence provided by the deciduous dentition ofAvahi suggests that the traditional interpretations are correct, specifically: (1) the lateral teeth in the dental scraper of Indriidae are homologous with the incisors of Lemuridae and Lorisidae, not the canines; (2) the dental formula for the lower deciduous teeth of indriids is 2.1.3; (3) the dental formula for the lower permanent teeth of indriids is 2.0.2.3; and (4) decrease in number of incisors during primate evolution was usually in the sequence I3, then I2, then I1. It appears that dental reduction during primate evolution occurred at the ends of integrated incisor and cheek tooth units to minimize disruption of their functional integrity.
A framework for estimating causal effects in latent class analysis: Is there a causal link between early sex and subsequent profiles of delinquency?

Prevention scientists use latent class analysis (LCA) with increasing frequency to characterize complex behavior patterns and profiles of risk. Often, the most important research questions in these studies involve establishing characteristics that predict membership in the latent classes, thus describing the composition of the subgroups and suggesting possible points of intervention. More recently, prevention scientists have begun to adopt modern methods for drawing causal inference from observational data because of the bias that can be introduced by confounders. This same issue of confounding exists in any analysis of observational data, including prediction of latent class membership. This study demonstrates a straightforward approach to causal inference in LCA that builds on propensity score methods. We demonstrate this approach by examining the causal effect of early sex on subsequent delinquency latent classes using data from 1,890 adolescents in 11th and 12th grade from wave I of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Prior to the statistical adjustment for potential confounders, early sex was significantly associated with delinquency latent class membership for both genders (p = 0.02). However, the propensity score adjusted analysis indicated no evidence for a causal effect of early sex on delinquency class membership (p = 0.76) for either gender. Sample R and SAS code is included in an Appendix in the ESM so that prevention scientists may adopt this approach to causal inference in LCA in their own work.
Self assembled Cu nanowires on vicinal Si(001) by the E-beam evaporation method

This paper describes an experimental procedure for growing self assembled Cu nanowires on a 4° miscut Si(001) substrate with and without the native oxide layer by the e-beam evaporation method. The physical characteristics of the Cu nanowires were observed using an in situ and ex situ scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results are compared with Ag nanowires that were fabricated with the same procedure.
Characterizing the interaction between a fungal seed pathogen and a deleterious rhizobacterium for biological control of cheatgrass.

Abstract Two soil microorganisms have been shown to negatively affect the invasive species cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and have the potential to serve as biological control agents. The fungal pathogen Pyrenophora semeniperda kills mostly slow-germinating cheatgrass seeds and reduces the cheatgrass seedbank. It is naturally occurring within the western United States. The deleterious rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens D7 inhibits cheatgrass root elongation and seedling vigor. This paper characterized the interaction between the two microorganisms in order to determine if dual inoculations would provide more effective cheatgrass control. First, to determine the effect of P. fluorescens D7 on P. semeniperda activity, dormant cheatgrass seeds were exposed to the microorganisms in combination and alone. We found a slight increase in fungal infection with dual inoculations but a decrease in fungal-caused seed mortality. Second, to study the effect of P. semeniperda on P. fluorescens D7, non-dormant cheatgrass seeds were exposed to one or both microorganisms. We observed no increase in the inhibitory effect of P. fluorescens D7 with dual inoculations and in some cases saw less growth inhibition in the presence of both microorganisms. Overall, our findings suggest that there is no beneficial interaction between P. semeniperda and P. fluorescens D7 that provides improved cheatgrass control. Possible explanations include the production of antifungal metabolites by P. fluorescens D7, the production of antibiotics by P. semeniperda, or competition within the seed zone (i.e. spermosphere) for space or limited resources.
Term norm distribution and its effects on latent semantic indexing

Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) uses the singular value decomposition to reduce noisy dimensions and improve the performance of text retrieval systems. Preliminary results have shown modest improvements in retrieval accuracy and recall, but these have mainly explored small collections. In this paper we investigate text retrieval on a larger document collection (TREC) and focus on distribution of word norm (magnitude). Our results indicate the inadequacy of word representations in LSI space on large collections. We emphasize the query expansion interpretation of LSI and propose an LSI term normalization that achieves better performance on larger collections.
Left-Right Asymmetry in Pair Annihilation for Transversally Polarized Positrons

S>A left-right asymmetry of the photons in the electronpositron annihilation cross section is found for the case when only the incident positron is polarized. This asymmetry results from a radiative correction. ln the calculation the target electron is unpolarized and it is assumed that the polarizations of the resulting photons are not measured. The maximum asymmetry found is several parts in ten thousand. (auth)
Making the American Berdache: Choice or Constraint?

Romantic scholars have long assumed that native Americans entered the status of berdache by their own choice. Yet as this article shows, with the exception of the American Plains nations, those who assumed that status across the Western Hemisphere were infants or young children. Repeatedly, parents or communities forced this life-choice upon the young, mainly for purposes of familial or communal demographic balance. The present article reviews the evidence for those origins: beginning with the mostly male berdaches encountered by the Hispanic conquerors, continuing with the evidence from the northern extremes of the hemisphere, where Inuit berdaches were most often girls, and ending with the berdaches of the present-day United States where, again, male berdaches predominated. An analysis of the Plains berdaches shows that while they entered that status in adolescence rather than in childhood, they also were under constraint...of uniform visions staged and interpreted by elders.
The Influence on Palatability of Certain Grain Combinations, Fish Solubles and a Vitamin B12-Aureomycin Supplement in Poultry Rations

Abstract THERE are many reports in the literature concerning the influence of various grain combinations and ration supplements on the rate of growth, utilization of feed, and market grade of poultry; however, only a few of these investigations have been extended to include palatability studies. Previous reports from The Montana Agricultural Experiment Station have reviewed available literature and indicated the effects of certain grain combinations and of fish solubles or a vitamin B12-aureomycin supplement on weight gain, feed efficiency, mortality and market grades of turkeys and broilers (Halbrook et al., 1953, 1954a, b). This report concerns palatability studies on turkeys and broilers fed rations containing certain grain combinations and the effects of fish solubles and a vitamin B12-aureomycin supplement upon palatability. Maw (1935) reported that single grain rations of corn, barley, oats or wheat resulted in palatability ratings for cooked chickens in that order of preference. However, North (1941) reported that …
Determination of Bronchodilation in the Clinical Pulmonary Function Laboratory : Role of Changes in Static Lung Volumes

Improved airway resistance following bronchodilator inhalation is not always accompanied by improvement in forced expiratory flow. We studied 241 patients with airways obstruction to learn whether changes in static lung volumes (vital capacity and function residual capacity measured by body plethysmography [FRC B ]) would reveal bronchodilation not demonstrated by expiratory flow rates (the ratio of forced vital capacity at one second to the total forced vital capacity [FEV 1 /FVC]), and the forced expiratory flow for the midportion of the forced vital capacity (FEF 25–75% ). A significant fall in R aw occurred in 129 patients, 46 of whom had a significant increase in vital capacity (mean of + 465 ml ± 43, P B (mean of −763 ml ± 78 P 1 /FVC% or FEF 25–75% . We interpret these data to indicate that improvement in static lung volumes can reflect bronchodilation in the absence of improved expiratory flow.
Systolic Algorithnis for Local Operations on Images

Local operators, used in many image processing tasks, involve replacing each pixel in an image with a value computed within a local neighborhood of that pixel. Computing such operators at the video rate requires a computing power which is not provided by conventional computers. Though computationally expensive, local operators are highly regular. Thus, a VLSI implementation appears particularly appropriate. This correspondence presents systolic algorithms for tasks such as connected component determination, distance transform, and relaxation, which are defined in terms of local operators.
Laboratory evidence for a possible non-LTE mechanism of stratospheric ozone formation

Experimental evidence is given that supports the possibility of a previously unknown non-LTE mechanism for stratospheric ozone formation, (1) O[sub 3]+h[nu]([lambda] < 243nm)[yields]O[sub 2](X[sup 3][Sigma][sub g][sup [minus]],v[ge]26)+O([sup 3]P), (2) O[sub 2](X[sup 3][Sigma][sub g][sup [minus]],v[ge]26)+O[sub 2][yields]O[sub 3]+O([sup 3]P), (3) 2[times][O([sup 3]P)+O[sub 2]+M[yields]O[sub 3]+M], which could have a significant impact on the stratospheric ozone budget even if the quantum yield for production of highly vibrationally excited O[sub 2] in reaction (1), (averaged over all wavelengths shorter than 243nm) were as low as 0.2%. Stimulated emission pumping enabled preparation of individual vibrational states of O[sub 2](X[sup 3][Sigma][sub g][sup [minus]],19[le]v[le]27) and laser induced fluorescence was used to follow the time evolution of the prepared states and thereby determine the vibrational-state-specific total-removal rate-constants for relaxation by O[sub 2] and N[sub 2] at 295K. Self-relaxation shows a sharp threshold for enhanced relaxation near the energy of O[sub 2](X[sup 3][Sigma][sub g][sup [minus]], v=26) which is coincident with the energetic threshold for reaction (2). The magnitudes of the self-relaxation rate constants for O[sub 2](X[sup 3][Sigma][sub g][sup [minus]], v=26 and 27) are quantitatively consistent with the kinetic parameters of reaction (2). Relaxation by N[sub 2], while important for lower O[sub 2] vibrational states, is shown to be about 10more » and 200 times slower than self relaxation for v=26 and v=27, respectively. These are the first two vibrational states of O[sub 2] that could form O[sub 3] via reaction (2).« less
Ion Mobilities in Helium, Neon, and Argon

Measurements of the electron density as a function of time during the decay period of pulsed plasmas produced in helium, neon, and argon are reported. The values of the mobilities of positive ions in their parent gas, calculated from the rate of electron loss by ambipolar diffusion, are compared with those measured with the ion-transit-time methods. The values, consistent with data obtained with these two different measuring techniques, are ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}({\mathrm{He}}^{+})=10.7$, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}({{\mathrm{He}}_{2}}^{+})=16.2$, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}({\mathrm{Ne}}^{+})=4.1$, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}({{\mathrm{Ne}}_{2}}^{+})=6.5$, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}({\mathrm{Ar}}^{+})=1.6$, and ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}({{\mathrm{Ar}}_{2}}^{+})=1.9$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/V sec. The dependence on gas pressure of the efficiency of the cataphoretic segregation of neon impurity atoms in helium is demonstrated and explained.
Advanced EUS Imaging for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-fine needle aspiration remains the gold standard for diagnosing pancreatic malignancy. However, in a subset of patients, limitations remain in regards to image quality and diagnostic yield of biopsies. Several new devices and processors have been developed that allow for enhancement of the EUS image. Initial studies of these modalities do show promise. However, cost, availability, and overall incremental benefit to EUS-fine needle aspiration have yet to be determined.
An evaluation of the methods of fractiles, moments and maximum likelihood for estimating parameters when sampling air quality data from a stationary lognormal distribution

Abstract Air pollution control officials often make the simplifying assumption that air pollutant concentrations are independent samples from a stationary probability distribution. If the parent distribution really is stationary and correctly chosen, maximum likelihood estimation almost always will provide the best possible estimate of its parameters. However, the air pollution literature makes little if any mention of this fact and often suggests using the method of moments or the method of fractiles to estimate the parameters of an assumed distribution, and using the results for computing design values to determine the control level required to meet an air quality standard. No estimate is made in the air pollution literature of the magnitude of the difference produced by these different methods. This paper investigates the effectiveness of three different approaches for estimating parameters using a lognormal distribution as an example: (a) method of fractiles; (b) method of moments and (c) method of maximum likelihood. The error associated with each approach for computing emission controls is determined by sampling from a true stationary lognormal distribution using computer simulation. These results then are compared with a fourth approach, direct empirical linear rollback, in which no model is used and design values are calculated using raw observations. The latter approach often is used in practical situations by air pollution control personnel. In 100 simulated years at a site experiencing the same lognormally distributed air pollution in the precontrol state, the correct control level was 50%. The following control levels were calculated: Empirical rollback, 22–82%; Method of fractiles, 32–64%; Method of moments, 41–59% and Method of maximum likelihood, 46–54%, with most years very close to the true value of 50%. Thus, the maximum likelihood approach effectively reduces the variance by ‘filtering out’ the effect of random phenomena occurring during the year and would be the method of choice if the observations are indeed distributed as they are assumed.
FLUORESCENCE SPECTRAL CHANGES DURING THE FOLDING OF INTESTINAL FATTY ACID BINDING PROTEIN

Although large changes in fluorescence intensity are observed during the folding and unfolding of many proteins, it has been difficult to associate these changes with specific structures or with the environmental changes which a particular tryptophan may undergo during these processes. The fluorescence spectral changes that occur during the folding and unfolding of rat intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) are described here. The intermediate observed during unfolding had spectral characteristics similar to those of unfolded protein, but with somewhat higher intensity. Stopped-flow circular dichroism measurements during unfolding showed that little if any secondary structure was associated with this intermediate. During refolding, the initial fluorescence spectrum was not that of native or unfolded IFABP, suggesting that some structure with intermediate fluorescent properties had formed during the deadtime of mixing. The shape and intensity of this initial spectrum were dependent on the final urea concentration, becoming more native-like at lower final concentrations of denaturant. A simple model for refolding suggests that a portion of the protein molecules obtain native structure and fluorescent characteristics during the deadtime of mixing, and that the remaining protein molecules have spectral characteristics similar to those of the intermediate observed during unfolding. Lower final concentrations of denaturant cause a larger proportion of molecules to follow the rapid refolding pathway. Knowledge of the fluorescence spectral characteristics of the intermediates formed during the folding and unfolding of any protein will improve our understanding of the nature of these structures.