cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Additional evidence that the cell-associated immune system is the primary host defense against measles (rubeola).

Indirect evidence, such as the ability of agammaglobulinemic children to respond normally to measles and the inability of thymic-deficient children to survive measles led Burnet to postulate that the cell-associated immune system is the primary host defense against measles. Using a classical leukocyte culture system, which measures 3 H-thymidine incorporation as its endpoint, we have recently described an in vitro assay for lymphocyte responsiveness to measles complement fixation antigen (CFA) that has allowed us to study this question directly. Two pediatric residents who had negative HIA titers against measles and who had frequent exposure to measles were tested using this assay. Neither resident has had clinical measles or atypical measles syndrome. Both subjects displayed strong cellular responsiveness to measles in this system. We feel that the lymphocyte responsiveness to measles CFA seen in these residents is the in vitro correlate of their clinical protection against measles and offers additional evidence for the fundamental role of cell-associated immunity in the host's response to common viral infections.
Purification and Properties of the Heme- and Iron−Sulfur-Containing Heterodisulfide Reductase from Methanosarcina thermophila†

The heterodisulfide reductase (HDR) from Methanosarcina thermophila was purified to homogeneity from acetate-grown cells. In the absence of detergents, HDR consisted of an eight-protein complex with hydrogenase activity. However, when HDR was purified in the presence of 0.6% Triton X-100, a two-subunit (53 and 27 kDa) high specific activity (∼200 units mg-1) enzyme was obtained that lacked hydrogenase activity. Sedimentation equilibrium experiments demonstrated that HDR has a molecular mass of 206 kDa and a high partial specific volume (0.9 cm3/g), indicating that the purified protein contains a significant amount of bound lipid. Like the HDR from Methanosarcina barkeri [Kunkel, A., Vaupel, M., Heim, S., Thauer, R. K., and Hedderich, R. (1997) Eur. J. Biochem. 244, 226−234], it was found to contain two discrete b-type hemes in the small subunit and two distinct [Fe4S4]2+/1+ clusters in the large subunit. One heme is high-spin and has a high midpoint potential (−23 mV), whereas the other heme apparently is...
Graph mappings and Poincaré duality

We give a new geometric description for a compact, oriented, pseduo-manifold X of the Poincare duality map from the integral cohomology of X to the integral homology of X. Our construction takes a multi-valued Lipschitz map on X with values in a sphere Sn to its geometric-measure-theoretic graph in X × Sn and then to the slice of this graph as an integral cycle on X. This construction is compatible with analogous constructions on algebraic cocycles on projective varieties employed by the authors and others.
Correlation of ultrasonic attenuation with pathologic fat and fibrosis in liver disease.

Abstract The attenuation coefficient in two groups ( n 1 = 70; n 2 = 59) of pathologically graded in vitro human liver specimens was measured over a frequency range from 1.25-8.0 MHz and fitted to a power law model. The slopes of the power law curves at 5 MHz were correlated with pathological scores for fat in Group I, which consisted of normal and fatty livers (no fibrosis); they were also correlated with the pathological score for fibrosis in Group II, which consisted of normal and fibrotic livers (no intracellular fat). Significant ( p −1 MHz −1 (fat grade) −1 behavior (mean ± s.d.), while the fibrotic liver group exhibited approximately a 0.11 ± 0.01 dB cm −1 MHz −1 (fibrosis grade) −1 behavior. These results may explain some of the conflicting literature in this area, and suggest that attenuation may in principle be used for screening for liver disease, but not for differentiation between fatty and fibrotic conditions.
Costus spicatus tea failed to improve diabetic progression in C57BLKS/J db/db mice, a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract Aim of the study Costus spicatus Sw. (Costaceae) is a prominent medicinal herb used by Dominicans in the Dominican Republic and the United States for the treatment of diabetes, a growing epidemic in the Hispanic community. An ethnobotanical survey of the Dominican community in New York City revealed the popular use of a tea from the insulina plant to treat hyperglycemia. Insulina was identified as Costus spicatus. We tested the ability of a tea made from the leaves of Costus spicatus to alter glucose homeostasis in C57BLKS/J (KS) db/db mice, a model of obesity-induced hyperglycemia with progressive beta cell depletion. Materials and methods From 6 to 16 weeks of age, Experimental and Control animals (n = 6/5) were given ad lib access to Costus spicatus tea or water, respectively. Results Weight gain and progression of hyperglycemia and insulinopenia between the Experimental and Control groups were statistically indistinguishable. There was no difference between groups in average fed or fasting glucose and insulin concentrations. Intraperitoneal (IP) insulin tolerance testing after the 10-week study period showed that Costus spicatus tea consumption did not alter insulin sensitivity. Conclusions These data suggest that at the dose given, tea made from Costus spicatus leaves had no efficacy in the treatment of obesity-induced hyperglycemia. More investigation is needed to more fully explore dosages and the possible utility and biological activity of this common Dominican herbal remedy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Synthesis and behavior of poly(vinyl chloride)‐based latex interpenetrating polymer networks

Poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(butadiene–co–acrylonitrile) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN's) were synthesized in latex form. Dynamic mechanical spectroscopy as a function of temperature revealed that the glass transitions of the individual networks were broadened and in some cases spanned the entire temperature range between the two individual polymer transitions. This was interpreted to indicate extensive but incomplete mixing between the two networks. Depending on overall composition, the cast or molded films were either plastic or tough elastomers at room temperature. Some aspects of phase continuity and structure, including a graded core-shell model, are discussed.
CLP-induced impairment of innate immune function is caused by exposure to the cecal lumenal contents and not the tissue trauma or tissue ischemia/necrosis components

When mice are subjected to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa challenge 5 days after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), clearance of the Pseudomonas is diminished when compared to sham mice. The object of this study was to determine which component(s) of CLP contributed to the impairment of the innate immune response. Mice subjected to either trauma alone or cecal ischemia/necrosis alone did not have impaired ability to clear a subsequent Pseudomonas challenge (determined by colony-forming units (cfu's) after culture of spleen tissue). However, mice subjected to abdominal contamination with heat-killed cecal contents had reduced ability to clear the subsequent Pseudomonas challenge. In contrast to normobiotic mice, neither CLP performed in germ-free mice nor abdominal contamination of mice with cecal contents from germ-free mice adversely affected clearance of a subsequent Pseudomonas challenge. These data suggest that suppressed immune function after CLP is due to exposure to microbial ligands within the cecal lumen rather than tissue trauma, ischemia, or necrosis. However, suppression of immune function did not appear to be due to exposure to LPS as TLR4-deficient mice subject to abdominal contamination with cecal contents had diminished clearance of a Pseudomonas challenge similar to that seen in wild-type mice.
Neonatal Neutrophils with Prolonged Survival Exhibit Enhanced Inflammatory and Cytotoxic Responsiveness

Apoptosis is critical to the resolution of inflammation, as it promotes the removal of neutrophils (PMN) by the reticuloendothelial system. In contrast, PMN persistence characterizes the early stages of chronic inflammation. Adult PMN with delayed senescence retain some functionality, although this has not been described for neonatal PMN. We hypothesized that neonatal PMN with prolonged survival retain cytotoxic and inflammatory function. To test one aspect of inflammatory function, we determined surface CD11b expression on 0-h and 24-h PMN after chemotactic formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (fMLP) stimulation. Although fMLP induced a greater percentage up-regulation of CD11b on 0-h adult PMN, this was similar between nonapoptotic cord blood and adult PMN at 24 h. Furthermore, percentage up-regulation of CD11b was more robust for 24-h than for 0-h cord blood PMN. In contrast, there was no difference in responsiveness between 0-h and 24-h adult PMN. In studies of cytotoxic potential, we determined the expression of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated cord blood and adult PMN at 0 h and in 24-h nonapoptotic PMN, using the dihydrorhodamine 123 assay. Stimulated cord blood PMN generated more ROI than did adult PMN at both 0 h and 24 h; in addition, ROI levels in 24-h cord blood PMN were similar to those of 0-h adult PMN. We conclude that PMN with prolonged survival retain specific cytotoxic and inflammatory functions, and these are enhanced in cord blood PMN. We speculate that neonatal PMN with prolonged survival have the functional capacity to contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders.
On formulating equations for plume spreads for near-surface releases

Recent concerns about effects of automobile emissions on the health of people living close to roads have motivated an examination of models to estimate dispersion in the surface boundary layer. This examination led to new formulations for horizontal and vertical plume spread described in Venkatram et al. (2013). Concentration estimates based on the proposed plume spread equations compare well with data from both the Prairie Grass experiment (Barad, 1958) as well as the recently conducted Idaho Falls experiment (Finn et al., 2010). This paper describes a simpler approach to deriving the new equations proposed in the earlier paper.
Surgery in malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Background Because of their rarity and indolent nature, optimal management of malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to review a series of patients with these tumors and investigate the role of surgery in the treatment. Methods A retrospective study of 73 patients (ages 24–86 years; 36 women) undergoing treatment at a tertiary academic medical center was performed. Patient demographics, diagnostic tests, operations, pathologic findings, adjuvant treatments, and survival were reviewed. Results Seventy-four percent of patients had advanced disease with hepatic metastases and 30% had functional tumors. Fifty-seven percent of the patients underwent pancreatic resections. Two 60-day mortalities occurred and the postoperative complication rate was 27%. Overall 5-year survival rate was 44%. There was no difference in survival between patients with functional and nonfunctional tumors. Patients undergoing resection, even in metastatic disease, had better survival than patients who had no resection (60% vs. 30%, P = 0.025). Recurrence occurred in 20% of patients who underwent a curative resection. Conclusion Patients with malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors commonly present with advanced disease. Although, curative resection is not frequent, survival benefit may be obtainable with aggressive surgical management even in the face of metastatic disease. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;96:397–403. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Transference of Heat in Cooled Metal

MY attention has just been called to two communications to your journal, entitled “Transference of Heat in Cooled Metal.” The first, by M. Henry Bourget, appears in the issue of June 30, and the second, by Mr. Albert T. Bartlett, in the issue of September 1.
Simultaneous effects of potassium, rutin and temperature on performance of Manduca sexta caterpillars

The simultaneous effects on an insect herbivore (third instar tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta (L.): Sphingidae) of temperature (daytime temperatures of 20 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C), a mineral that may play a role in plant defense (potassium) and a common allelochemical (rutin) were examined in a factorial experiment. To manipulate potassium levels, a modified diet with limited plant material was used as the base and KCl and rutin added. Temperature affected efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD), time to head-capsule slippage, stadium duration, relative consumption rate (RCR) and relative growth rate (RGR) but not food consumed, biomass gained and approximate digestibility (AD). Potassium concentration influenced all of the variables except AD, time to head-capsule slippage (HCS), duration of the stadium and percent of stadium time to HCS. Rutin impacted negatively on all of the variables except food consumed. Compared to larvae on the non-rutin diets, fewer larvae fed rutin survived through molt initiation to ecdysis and fewer successfully completed ecdysis. Temperature and rutin had interactive effects for AD, ECD, RCR, RGR, time to HCS, and percent of stadium required to reach HCS. Rutin and potassium had interactive effects for biomass gained, RCR, ECI, time to HCS, duration of stadium, and percent of stadium required to reach HCS. Comparison of larval responses on an average potassium concentration (3.1%) versus high concentration (6.1%) showed that at the low daytime temperature increasing potassium concentration depressed biomass gained, but at the warmer temperatures potassium concentration had little effect unless rutin was present. In addition, potassium concentration had little impact on ECI unless rutin was present. These results indicate that significant interactive effects occur among temperature, potassium and rutin, and thus suggest that such interactive effects on larval performance may be common under field conditions, which are characterized by varying temperature and different concentrations of minerals and allelochemicals in hostplants.
Program evaluation using event history analysis

Abstract Event history analysis examines events, the duration of time between events, the likelihood of events occuring, and the pacing of events. Programs with such diverse goals as obtaining employment, abstaining from drugs, reducing reincarceration, or increasing the likelihood of graduating from high school can be evaluated using an event history analysis. This article presents an overview of event history analysis, explains how event history analysis can be used in program evaluation, and describes how it was used to study a welfare-to-work program.
Studies on the selective toxicity of guanazole in mice.

Abstract Guanazole ( 3,5 -diamino- 1,2,4 -triazole (GZ), an antileukemic agent effective against acute myelocytic leukemia, seems to exert its action through inhibition of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase. Using recently developed technique for drug infusion in unrestricted mice, 5–30 mg/ml guanazole was infused at a rate of 0.2–0.3 ml/hr in normal mice and mice bearing leukemia L 1210 or a subline resistant to guanazole (L1210/GZ). Incorporation of 14 C -uridine (UR) into DNA was considerably reduced in spleen, thymus and bone marrow; incorporation of 3 H -thymidine was reduced to a much greater extent in these tissues. The inhibition of precursor incorporation was dependent on the concentration of guanazole used and was somewhat correlated to the intracellular drug concentration in different tissues. This inhibition was in the following order: L 1210 spleen > normal spleen > L1210/GZ spleen. Analysis of free intracellular ribonucleotide pools indicated the presence of a high IMP and a low ATP pool in normal spleen, and a moderate IMP and a high ATP pool in spleen infiltrated by cells from either leukemia; this profile resembled that observed in intraperitoneally growing L 1210 cells. Guanazole infusion resulted in the reversion of pools profile from that characteristic of L 1210 spleen to that of normal spleens. The morphological form and microscopic characteristics of L 1210 spleen from mice treated with GZ also resemble those of spleen from non-leukemic mice. Study of in vitro uptake of guanazole in leukemia L 1210 , indicated that the transport occurred by a passive diffusion process. In the subline, L1210/GZ, the initial rate of uptake was 1/3rd to 1/4th of that in the parent line. This suggested that a generalized change in membrane architecture is likely to have accurred in L1210/GZ. The results of this study are consistent with the idea that in different tissues in mice, the mechanism of action of guanazole is dependent upon inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase, whereas its selectivity of action is dependent upon differences in uptake.
Imaging of the pancreas with computed tomography.

Abstract In this paper we present our experience with computerized tomographic imaging of the pancreas, both in normal and abnormal conditions. Eighty patients were studied for evaluation of pancreatic disease. A further 50 patients, all with a normal pancreas, were studied for abnormalities of other abdominal organs and served as the control group. Helpful signs in establishing the diagnosis of carcinoma of the pancreas were mass effect within the pancreas, alteration of organ contour and obliteration of retroperitoneal fat planes. We found that differentiation from pancreatitis or retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy may at times be difficult. Our results showed that in 22 out of 23 patients with proven normal pancreas, the pancreas size on the CT display was within the adopted normal range. In 30 patients with proven carcinoma of the pancreas, a pancreatic mass was seen in 25 (83%). Computerized tomography is clearly a valuable method for viewing both normal pancreatic anatomy and anatomical variations and pathologies.
Generalized real numbers in constructive mathematics

Abstract Two extensions of the real number system, one given by uppercuts the other by lowercuts, are developed within a constructive framework. The first includes distances to arbitrary subsets, the second includes norms of arbitrary bounded linear operators. The intuitive meaning of comparing such quantities to ordinary real numbers is preserved. Difficulties with encompassing both kinds of numbers in a single system are considered.
Diffraction Efficiency of Computer-Generated Volume Holograms Directly Written with a Femtosecond Laser

We demonstrate computer-generated volume holograms fabricated by femtosecond laser micromachining. The design is based on a scalar diffraction model. The structures are tested numerically and experimentally for angular and frequency dependence.
Development of transgenic chickens expressing bacterial β-galactosidase

Replication-defective retroviral vectors are efficient vehicles for the delivery of exogenous genes, and they may be used in the generation of transgenic animals. The replication-defective retroviral SNTZ vector carrying the lacZ gene with a nuclear localized signal was injected into the subgerminal cavity of freshly laid eggs. Subsequently, the eggs were allowed to hatch, and the chickens were screened for the lacZ gene by using the polymerase chain reaction. Eight of 15 male chickens that survived to sexual maturity contained the lacZ gene in their semen. Subsequently, these males were mated with wild-type female chickens. From one of the eight lacZ-positive G(0) males, two lacZ-positive male chickens were produced from a total of 224 G(1) progeny for a germline transmission rate of 0.89%. Both G(1) male chickens carrying the lacZ gene were mated with wild-type female chickens and 46.5% of the G(2) progeny contained the lacZ gene, which is consistent with the expected Mendelian 50% ratio for a heterozygous dominant allele. The product of the lacZ gene, nuclear localized beta-galactosidase, was expressed in primary myoblast cultures derived from G(2) chickens, and it was also expressed in whole G(2) chicken embryos.
Adolescent writing and writing instruction: introduction to the special issue

In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on literacy and adolescents. This hasbeen spurred in part by concerns that the majority of students in the United States donot read or write well enough to meet grade-level demands (see reports from Leeet al., 2007; National Center for Education Statistics, 2012; Salahu-Din, Persky, M National Commission on Writing, 2004).These concerns have led to calls to improve the literacy skills of adolescents. In2004, for example, the Carnegie Corporation of New York sponsored a document,Reading Next, which proposed a list of promising practices for effective adolescentreading programs (Biancarosa & Snow, 2004). The push to make reading instructiona larger and more integral part of the national reform agenda with adolescents wasreiterated and expanded in short order by other voices interested in educationalpolicy (see ACT, 2007; International Reading Association, 2006).At the same time that policy makers were advocating for more readinginstruction in the secondary grades, a push also began to make writing and writinginstruction more prominent. In 2003, The National Commission on Writing releasedthe report, The Neglected ‘‘R’’, which argued that writing must be placed ‘‘squarely
Differential expression of genes in the vir regulon of Streptococcus pyogenes is controlled by transcription termination.

Streptococcal C5a peptidase (SCP), encoded byscpA inStreptococcus pyogenes, is a surface molecule which is able to cleave and inactivate the chemotactic factor C5a. ThescpA gene is part of thevir regulon and subject to positive regulation by the Mga protein. It is down-regulated compared to another Mga-activated gene,emm. A chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene was used to measurescpA promoter activity. Previous work had shown that when a large portion of thescpA promoter region was deleted, expression of CAT increased relative to the wild-type. This deleted region was found to contain an inverted repeat. In this study we show that the inverted repeat in the leader mRNA is the site of transcription termination, which down-regulates expression ofscpA. This is a novel mechanism for regulation of gene expression inS. pyogenes. A specific deletion of the inverted repeat in thescpA promoter-CAT reporter construct was made using inverse PCR. Expression was measured from single-copy chromosomal integrants. When the inverted repeat was deleted, expression increased. Furthermore, Northern hybridization confirmed the existence of a truncated transcript, consistent with a transcription termination mechanism.
Characteristics of operant control of centrally evoked potentials in rats

Abstract Rats were trained to increase and/or decrease the amplitude of one component of visual cortex evoked potentials. The potentials were elicited by shock of the optic chiasm. Operant control was demonstrated with both fixed and random interstimulus intervals. However, animals were better able to decrease than increase the evoked component amplitude. Significant amplitude changes were seen only in the prespecified evoked component. Potentials recorded from the contralateral visual cortex tended to show changes related to those at the trained site. These data were discussed in relation to previous research involving the operant control of peripheral evoked potential components, and in relation to arousal hypotheses utilized in other feedback studies.
GMSK co-channel demodulation

Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) is a modulation method used by GSM phone networks and the Automatic Identification System (AIS) used by commercial ships. Typically these systems transmit data in short bursts and accomodate a large number of users by time, frequency and power management. Co-channel interference is not a problem unless the system is heavily loaded. This system load is a function of the density of users and the footprint of the receiver. We consider the problem of demodulation of burst GMSK signals in the presence of severe noise and co-channel interference. We further examine the problem of signal detection and blind estimation and tracking of all of the parameters required in the demodulation process. These parameters include carrier frequency, carrier phase, baud rate, baud phase, modulation index and the start and duration of the signal.
Aortic to right ventricular shunt for pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum

Acute or chronic myocardial ischemia may develop in patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and right ventricular-dependent coronary circulation. In such cases an aorta to right ventricle shunt may be used to reverse this ischemia. This report summarizes our experience with the placement of an aortic to right ventricular shunt in 5 patients. The shunts were made of Gore-Tex and ranged from 4 mm to 8 mm. Associated procedures were bidirectional Glenn (n = 2) and Fontan (n = 2). All 5 patients survived the procedure with documented early graft patency and no evidence of ischemia.
Complete covalent structure of a human IgA1 immunoglobulin

The complete covalent structure has been determined for a human myeloma IgA1 immunoglobulin. This protein has unique features in the amino acid sequence and disulfide bridge structure of the variable (V) and constant (C) regions of both the alpha heavy and the lambda light chains, and in the number and loci of oligosaccharides. Whereas C region domains of heavy chains have evolved independently over eons, recent isotypic variations have occured in lambda light chains and possibly in alpha heavy chains.
Synthesis and characterization of a stable, label-free optical biosensor from TiO2-coated porous silicon

A nanoscale layer of TiO2 is coated on the inner pore walls of a porous silicon (PSi) film by room-temperature infiltration of a TiO2 sol-gel precursor and firing at 500 °C. The PSi:TiO2 composite films are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectral analysis (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and reflective interferometric Fourier transform spectroscopy (RIFTS). The analysis indicates that TiO2 conformally coats the inner pore surfaces of the PSi film. The film displays greater aqueous stability in the pH range 2-12 relative to a PSi:SiO2 surface. A label-free optical interference immunosensor based on the TiO2-coated PSi film is demonstrated by real-time monitoring of the physical adsorption of protein A, followed by the specific binding of rabbit anti-sheep immunoglobulin (IgG) and then specific capture of sheep IgG. The time to achieve equilibrium for the physical adsorption of protein A on the surface of TiO2-coated PSi film is significantly greater than that of PSi film. The specificity of the protein A and rabbit anti-sheep IgG construct on the sensor is confirmed by tests with non-binding chicken IgG. The sensitivity of the immunosensor is shown to be 8210 ± 170 nm/refractive index unit (RIU).
Neurosensory differences after wire and rigid fixation in patients with mandibular advancement

Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to compare the frequency and severity of nerve damage with rigid and wire fixation in patients participating in a prospective, randomized clinical trial. Patients and Methods: One hundred twenty-six patients who required a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and mandibular advancement were randomly assigned to receive either rigid or wire fixation. Tactile sensation in the mental nerve region bilaterally was determined presurgically and throughout the subsequent 2 years by using monofilament detection and brush stroke direction. Neurosensory levels were compared between the types of fixation over time. Results: Evaluation with monofilament detection showed no significant difference between types of fixation throughout the 2-year follow-up. However, brush stroke determination showed significantly greater hypesthesia with rigid compared with wire fixation from 8 weeks through 2 years postoperatively. Conclusion: Rigid fixation resulted in more anesthesia in the mental nerve distribution than wire fixation when tested with brush stroke direction. However, increased anesthesia was not present when measured with monofilament determination. © 2000 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Serotonin Function and Risk for Alcoholism in Boys with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Data in animals and adults indicate that central serotonergic (5-HT) function may be involved in the development of alcohol abuse. Despite this, studies exploring this mechanism in individuals at risk for alcoholism are scant. This study used a fenfluramine (FEN) challenge procedure to investigate the relationship between risk for alcoholism and 5-HT function in 7- to 11-year-old boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The prolactin (PRL) and cortisol (CORT) responses to FEN were examined in 10 sons of alcoholic fathers (FA+) and 30 sons of nonalcoholic fathers (FA−). The FA+ group had a significantly greater CORT, but not PRL, response to FEN relative to the FA− group. The discrepancy between the CORT and PRL responses may be due to the different mechanisms that underlie their 5-HT stimulated release. This suggests that, among ADHD boys, those at familial risk for alcohol abuse may differ from those who are not at risk in 5-HT function.
Enhanced recursive feature elimination

For classification with small training samples and high dimensionality, feature selection plays an important role in avoiding overfitting problems and improving classification performance. One of the commonly used feature selection methods for small samples problems is recursive feature elimination (RFE) method. RFE method utilizes the generalization capability embedded in support vector machines and is thus suitable for small samples problems. Despite its good performance, RFE tends to discard "weak" features, which may provide a significant improvement of performance when combined with other features. In this paper, we propose an enhanced recursive feature elimination (EnRFE) method for feature selection in small training sample classification. Our experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the original RFE in terms of classification accuracy on various datasets.
Attosecond Ti:Sapphire pulse train phase noise

Optical pulse trains from solid-state mode-locked lasers are expected to exhibit extremely low levels of phase noise. An optical measurement technique demonstrates an integrated phase noise of 20 as, 10 MHz to 4 kHz.
Five in situ observations of live oarfish Regalecus glesne (Regalecidae) by remotely operated vehicles in the oceanic waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico

As part of the SERPENT Project, five observations of apparently healthy oarfish Regalecus glesne by remotely operated vehicles are reported from the northern Gulf of Mexico. Regalecus glesne were observed between 2008 and 2011 at depths from within the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones. These observations include the deepest verified record of R. glesne (463-492 m) and the first record of an arthropod ectoparasite (isopod).
Involved in mankind: a survey of some aspects of international dentistry.

Nineteen organizations responded to a survey on the extent of their involvement with foreign dental aid. Many of the groups are religiously oriented; others are independent groups. The surveyed organizations have served 119 countries with some type of aid—equipment, supplies, or treatment, or a combination of these. Many of the groups seek volunteer dentists to serve with their projects overseas.
Soluble egg antigen-stimulated T helper lymphocyte apoptosis and evidence for cell death mediated by FasL(+) T and B cells during murine Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Granuloma formation around schistosomal eggs is induced by soluble egg antigens (SEA) and mediated by the activity of CD4+ Th lymphocytes and their cytokines. Regulation of the inflammatory Th cell response during infection is still insufficiently understood. The hypothesis of this study was that activation-induced cell death (AICD) of CD4+ T cells is involved in the immune inflammatory response. This study investigated the dynamics of splenic and granuloma CD4+ Th cell apoptosis and Fas ligand (FasL) expression during the acute and chronic stages of murine schistosomal infection. Enhanced apoptosis of freshly isolated CD4+ Th lymphocytes commenced after egg deposition and persisted during the peak and modulated phases of granuloma formation. After oviposition, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ splenocytes and granuloma cells expressed elevated levels of FasL but FasL expression declined during the downmodulated stage of infection. In culture, SEA induced splenic and granuloma CD4+ T-cell apoptosis and stimulated expression of FasL on splenic but not granuloma CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD19+ B cells. SEA-stimulated splenocytes and granuloma cells preferentially lysed a Fas-transfected target cell line. Depletion of B cells from SEA-stimulated splenic cultures decreased CD4+ T cell apoptosis. Coculture of purified splenic B cells with CD4+ T cells and adoptive transfer of purified B cells indicated that antigen-stimulated B cells can kill CD4+ Th cells. However, CD4+ T cells were the dominant mediators of apoptosis in the granuloma. This study indicates that AICD is involved in the apoptosis of CD4+ T cells during schistosomal infection.
Dynamic power management of multiprocessor systems

Power management is critical to power-constrained real-time systems. In this paper, we present a dynamic power management algorithm. Unlike other approaches that focus on the tradeoff between power and performance, our algorithm maximizes power utilization and performance. Our algorithm considers a dynamic environment, allowing for changes in the available energy and adapting system parameters such as operating voltage, frequency, and the number of processors. In our algorithm, we divide the power management problem into three subproblems: i) initial power allocation to minimize wasted energy and avoid the undersupplied power situation, ii) system parameter computation based on the allocated power that maximizes the performance for a given power budget, and iii) dynamic update of the power and system parameters in run time. The simulation results of the algorithm for a satellite system using eight Processor-In-Memory (PIM) processors is presented.
Paired-end sequencing of Fosmid libraries by Illumina

Eliminating the bacterial cloning step has been a major factor in the vastly improved efficiency of massively parallel sequencing approaches. However, this also has made it a technical challenge to produce the modern equivalent of the Fosmid- or BAC-end sequences that were crucial for assembling and analyzing complex genomes during the Sanger-based sequencing era. To close this technology gap, we developed Fosill, a method for converting Fosmids to Illumina-compatible jumping libraries. We constructed Fosmid libraries in vectors with Illumina primer sequences and specific nicking sites flanking the cloning site. Our family of pFosill vectors allows multiplex Fosmid cloning of end-tagged genomic fragments without physical size selection and is compatible with standard and multiplex paired-end Illumina sequencing. To excise the bulk of each cloned insert, we introduced two nicks in the vector, translated them into the inserts, and cleaved them. Recircularization of the vector via coligation of insert termini followed by inverse PCR generates a jumping library for paired-end sequencing with 101-base reads. The yield of unique Fosmid-sized jumps is sufficiently high, and the background of short, incorrectly spaced and chimeric artifacts sufficiently low, to enable applications such as mapping of structural variation and scaffolding of de novo assemblies. We demonstrate the power of Fosill to map genome rearrangements in a cancer cell line and identified three fusion genes that were corroborated by RNA-seq data. Our Fosill-powered assembly of the mouse genome has an N50 scaffold length of 17.0 Mb, rivaling the connectivity (16.9 Mb) of the Sanger-sequencing based draft assembly.
Generating patient-specific dosimetry phantoms with whole-body diffeomorphic image registration

This work describes a protocol for creating a population of pediatric, patient specific, computational dosimetry phantoms. Pediatric CT data are mapped to a detailed adult template using multi channel (MC) - large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping (LDDMM) applied to whole body images. Challenges are studied and overcome using 2D LDDMM applied to simulated phantoms. The protocol involves automatic placement of landmarks, landmark based affine and LDDMM registration, followed by 4 applications of MC-LDDMM, with successively decreasing smoothness constraints. Deformed adult organ surfaces typically agree with pediatric organ surfaces within 1–2 voxels (∼2.3 mm).
Closure of the meridional overturning circulation through Southern Ocean upwelling

The meridional overturning circulation of the ocean plays a central role in the climate and its variability. This Review of recent studies emphasizes the importance of wind-driven upwelling in the Southern Ocean for global ocean circulation.
Using generalized markup and SGML for reverse engineering graphical representations of software

As part of the ongoing research of Auburn University's GRASP (Graphical Representations of Algorithms, Structures and Processes) project, a markup language has been designed and prototyped to facilitate the automatic generation of static program visualizations from source code. Specifically, the latest release of the GRASP/Ada tool uses a markup language called GRASP-ML as the basis for automatically generating control structure diagrams from Ada source code. This markup language is described, and its role in reverse engineering with GRASP/Ada is explained. Finally, promising future work is outlined and discussed.
Mid‐ and low‐latitude prompt‐penetration ionospheric zonal plasma drifts

We have used ion drift observations from the DE-2 satellite to determine the latitudinal variation and the temporal evolution of mid- and low-latitude prompt penetration zonal plasma drifts driven by magnetospheric electric fields. Our results indicate that sudden increases in convection lead to predominantly westward perturbation drifts which decrease equartorwards and have largest amplitudes in the dusk-midnight sector. The diurnal perturbation drift patterns shift to later local times with increasing storm time and decay to new quasi-equilibrium values in about 2 hours, as the ring current readjusts to the new polar cap potential. The daily and latitudinal variations and temporal evolution of the DE-2 prompt penetration drifts are generally in good agreement with predictions from the Rice Convection Model, although the experimental results show larger amplitudes and longer shielding time constants.
Comparative gene expression analysis of avian embryonic facial structures reveals new candidates for human craniofacial disorders

Mammals and birds have common embryological facial structures, and appear to employ the same molecular genetic developmental toolkit. We utilized natural variation found in bird beaks to investigate what genes drive vertebrate facial morphogenesis. We employed cross-species microarrays to describe the molecular genetic signatures, developmental signaling pathways and the spectrum of transcription factor (TF) gene expression changes that differ between cranial neural crest cells in the developing beaks of ducks, quails and chickens. Surprisingly, we observed that the neural crest cells established a species-specific TF gene expression profile that predates morphological differences between the species. A total of 232 genes were differentially expressed between the three species. Twenty-two of these genes, including Fgfr2, Jagged2, Msx2, Satb2 and Tgfb3, have been previously implicated in a variety of mammalian craniofacial defects. Seventy-two of the differentially expressed genes overlap with un-cloned loci for human craniofacial disorders, suggesting that our data will provide a valuable candidate gene resource for human craniofacial genetics. The most dramatic changes between species were in the Wnt signaling pathway, including a 20-fold up-regulation of Dkk2, Fzd1 and Wnt1 in the duck compared with the other two species. We functionally validated these changes by demonstrating that spatial domains of Wnt activity differ in avian beaks, and that Wnt signals regulate Bmp pathway activity and promote regional growth in facial prominences. This study is the first of its kind, extending on previous work in Darwin's finches and provides the first large-scale insights into cross-species facial morphogenesis.
Exchange-Rate Volatility in Latin America and its Impact on Foreign Trade

Abstract This paper investigates empirically the impact of real exchange-rate volatility on the export flows of eight Latin American countries over the quarterly period 1973–2004. Estimates of the cointegrating relations are obtained using different cointegration techniques. Estimates of the short-run dynamics are obtained for each country utilizing the error-correction technique. The major results show that increases in the volatility of the real effective exchange rate, approximating exchange-rate uncertainty, exert a significant negative effect upon export demand in both the short-run and the long-run in each of the eight Latin American countries. These effects may result in significant reallocation of resources by market participants.
Origin of the high-temperature fraction of C2 chondrites

The coarse-grained fraction of C2 chondrites is composed mostly of single crystals and aggregates of crystals of Mg-rich olivine and pyroxene. They do not possess compelling textural evidence of being the solidification products of rapidly-quenched molten droplets. Metal inclusions in the silicates contain 3.82-8.88 mole% Ni, 0.16-0.70% Co, 0.17-1.07% Cr, and up to 5.70% P. Thermodynamic calculations show that alloys of these compositions may be condensates from the solar nebula. The implication is that the high-temperature fraction of C2 chondrites consists mostly of high-temperature condensates.
Adult mouse basal forebrain harbors two distinct cholinergic populations defined by their electrophysiology

We performed whole-cell recordings from basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in transgenic mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein under the control of choline acetyltransferase promoter. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons can be differentiated into two electrophysiologically identifiable subtypes: early and late firing neurons. Early firing neurons (70%) are more excitable, show prominent spike frequency adaptation and more susceptible to depolarization blockade, a phenomenon characterized by complete silencing of the neuron following initial action potentials. Late firing neurons (30%), albeit being less excitable, could maintain a tonic discharge at low frequencies. In voltage clamp analysis, we have shown that early firing neurons have a higher density of low voltage activated calcium currents. These two cholinergic cell populations might be involved in distinct functions: the early firing group being more suitable for phasic changes in cortical acetylcholine release associated with attention while the late firing neurons could support general arousal by maintaining tonic acetylcholine level.
Effects of the Multi-Switch Excitation on the Responsiveness of a Blumlein Line

This paper investigates the effects that multi-switch excitation has on the response of a parallel-plate Blumlein line. In particular, it tests a practical limit on the number of switches beyond which no change is observed. The results are shown in terms of the pulse width, shape, and the maximum electrical field inside the line. Finally, nonuniform switch spacing is studied to determine any further benefit.
Martha Dickinson Bianchi: War Poet

The article recovers poet Martha Dickinson Bianchi, niece of Emily Dickinson, who served in the Amherst, Massachusetts, branch of the Red Cross and tended wounded soldiers in New York City at the end of World War I. Two previously unpublished poems reflect American despair in the aftermath of the war.
Chemokines and asthma: redundancy of function or a coordinated effort?

Peribronchial inflammation (1–3) and exaggerated bronchospastic responses to antigen-specific and nonspecific stimuli (airways hyperresponsiveness [AHR]) are the pathologic and physiologic cornerstones of the asthmatic syndrome. Eosinophils are believed to play an important role in these responses, as tissue eosinophilia is a common feature in asthmatic airways, and eosinophils have been demonstrated to cause mucosal injury and likely contribute to the generation of altered lung physiology. The initiation and maintenance of allergic airway inflammation is mediated by poorly defined mechanisms. Even more confounding is the appreciation that different immunologic processes mediate different facets of asthma and that various types of inflammatory responses differentially contribute to the multiple features manifested by asthmatic patients. This is reflected in studies that suggest that, in addition to eosinophils, other cells — including mast cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils — contribute to asthma pathogenesis (4–6). As a result, it has been difficult to design specific, inflammation-based therapeutic interventions for this disorder. Recent studies, however, have added to our understanding of the role of chemokines and chemokine receptors in the generation of eosinophilic and noneosinophilic airway inflammatory responses. This has begun to provide an appreciation of the complex levels of organization of airway inflammatory responses, and may help to identify novel therapeutic options.
A Simple Recurrence Within the $3$-adics and Mixed-Radix $\textbf{2}$-adics of the 3x+1 Accelerated First-Inverse Map

This article analyzes the $3x+1$ Accelerated First-Inverse map: we will consider the functional powers of the function $\mathcal{B}: Z_3 \to Z_3$ defined as $$ \mathcal{B}\left(3q+r\right) = \begin{cases} 3q, & r = 0\\ \notag 4q+1, & r = 1\\ \notag 2q+1, & r = 2 \end{cases} $$ where $3q+r \in Z_3$. The values of the functional powers are not the primary focus of these analyses; this paper investigates the properties of their quotients. For any sequence of functional powers $(n_u)_{u\geq 0}$ where $n_u = 3q_u+r_u$, we will study the $p$-adic expansions and shifts ($p\in\{2,3\}$) of the sequence of quotients $(q_u)_{u\geq 0}$. The main result of this paper is a simple recurrence over the set $\{0,1,2,3\}$ for computing the $3$-adic and mixed-radix $\textbf{2}$-adic canonical expansions and shifts of the quotients that arise in the orbits of the function $\mathcal{B}$.
Is Greener Whiter? The Sustainable Slopes Program and the Voluntary Environmental Performance of Western Ski Areas

This study analyzes the initial implementation of the Sustainable Slopes Program a voluntary environmental initiative established by the U.S. National Ski Areas Association in partnership with federal and state government agencies. Our findings indicate that participation of western ski areas in the Sustainable Slopes Program is related to institutional pressures in the form of enhanced federal oversight and higher state environmental demands exerted by state agencies, local environmental groups and public opinion. The analysis also suggests that, despite these institutional pressures, participant ski areas appear to be correlated with lower third-party environmental performance ratings. This behavior seems to reflect the lack of specific institutional mechanisms to prevent opportunism in the current design of the Sustainable Slopes Program. That is, the program does not involve specific environmental standards, lacks third-party oversight, and does not have sanctions for poor performance.