cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Involvement of the low‐affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) in apoptosis of differentiated PC12 cells

Although the function of the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) has not yet been clearly established, there is increasing evidence to suggest that it may play a role in determining cell viability independent of an interaction with Trk receptors. In the present study, the ability of both neurotrophins and antibodies against the p75NTR to rescue differentiated PC12 cells from apoptotic death induced by serum withdrawal was examined. The results demonstrate that both nerve growth factor and a polyclonal antibody to the p75NTR effectively rescued cells from apoptosis. In contrast, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a monoclonal p75NTR antibody (192-IgG), and non-immune IgG failed to rescue the differentiated PC12 cells. These results support the hypothesis that the p75NTR can mediate survival of differentiated PC12 cells after removal of trophic support independent of Trk receptor activity. These data also demonstrate that occupancy of p75NTR only by specific ligands results in protection against cell death invoked by removal of trophic support. This may be due to select activation of specific intracellular cascades which are modulated by p75NTR in a ligand-specific manner. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Potential risk factors for rape in three ethnic groups

This article describes the frequency of possible risk factors that emerged during a cross-cultural study of psychosocial response to sexual assault among African-American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white women presenting for treatment at a major urban rape treatment center. Of 881 victims screened, 51% had no observable risk factors while 49% fell into categories of variables that previous research has associated with increased vulnerability. Included were mental disability (psychiatric or developmental), a prior history of rape or incest, tourist or visitor status (site unfamiliarity), and homelessness. Ethnic groups differed significantly in these categories, suggesting socioeconomic and cultural variables that may affect rape statistics and that should be taken into account in rape prevention programs in the community.
Use of RUNX2 Expression to Identify Osteogenic Progenitor Cells Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

We generated a RUNX2-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) reporter system to study osteogenic development from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Our studies demonstrate the fidelity of YFP expression with expression of RUNX2 and other osteogenic genes in hESC-derived osteoprogenitor cells, as well as the osteogenic specificity of YFP signal. In vitro studies confirm that the hESC-derived YFP(+) cells have similar osteogenic phenotypes to osteoprogenitor cells generated from bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells. In vivo studies demonstrate the hESC-derived YFP(+) cells can repair a calvarial defect in immunodeficient mice. Using the engineered hESCs, we monitored the osteogenic development and explored the roles of osteogenic supplements BMP2 and FGF9 in osteogenic differentiation of these hESCs in vitro. Taken together, this reporter system provides a novel system to monitor the osteogenic differentiation of hESCs and becomes useful to identify soluble agents and cell signaling pathways that mediate early stages of human bone development.
Design of an inductive proximity sensor using a two-coil planar transformer

Here we present results for a new inductive proximity sensor that makes use of two coupled coils, forming a planar transformer, fabricated on a micromachined membrane. Macroscopic proximity sensors based on eddy-current techniques are currently commercially available. However, their design is not conducive to scaling inductor. When such an inductor is scaled down and made planar, the inductance decreases while the resistance of the coil increases dramatically. This dictates that the sensor be operated at much higher frequencies for which the inductance of the coil dominates its resistance. In our new two-coil design a signal is applied across the primary coil and a significant sensitivity to the gap to the 'target' plate is seen in the phase difference between the primary and secondary output. This phase change is largely invariant with change in coil resistance (due to either temperature change or change due to scaling to IC levels), allowing operation at lower frequencies than that required for a single coil proximity sensor. By fabricating the transformer on the back side of a micromachined membrane, the coil is protected from the environment, while the deleterious effect of the silicon substrate on inductance is eliminated.
Interaction of antibody with antigen immobilized on polystyrene latex beads: characterization by density gradient centrifugation.

Abstract Isopycnic banding by density gradient centrifugation was used to measure density changes in complexes formed by the interaction between antigen and antibody immobilized on polystyrene latex beads (diameter, 0.109 ± 0.0025 μm). Measurements of density changes allowed calculation of the interacting masses under the given experimental conditions. Interaction equilibrium constants and free energy change for two sets of reactions, bovine IgG and anti-bovine IgG (rabbit) IgG and rabbit IgG and anti-rabbit IgG (goat) IgG systems, were calculated from isopycnic banding density gradient centrifugation runs. The procedure demonstrates a new method of obtaining quantitative information on antigen-antibody interactions.
Bronwen Martin and Felizitas Ringham, Key terms in semiotics

Bronwen Martin and Felizitas Ringham, Key terms in semiotics. London & New York: Continuum, 2006. Pp. 288. Pb $19.95.In Key terms in semiotics, Martin & Ringham more than deliver on their title's promise, situating a well-chosen glossary of key terms and concepts between a brief introduction to semiotic theory and its history, and 12 short essays on key thinkers in, or important to, semiotics. The book also includes a bibliography of key texts in semiotics, along with an example of semiotic analysis.
Modulation of the Internal Aldimine pKa's of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate Synthase and Aspartate Aminotransferase by Specific Active Site Residues†

The active sites of the homologous pyridoxal phosphate- (PLP-) dependent enzymes 1 -aminocyclopropane- I -carboxylate (ACC) synthase and aspartate aminotransferase (AATase) are almost entirely conserved, yet the pK a 's ofthe two internal aldimines are 9.3 and 7.0, respectively, to complement the substrate pK a 's (S-adenosylmethionine pK a = 7.8 and aspartate pK a = 9.9). This complementation is required for maximum enzymatic activity in the physiological pH range. The most prominent structural difference in the active site is that Ile232 of ACC synthase is replaced by alanine in AATase. The I232A mutation was introduced into ACC synthase with a resulting 1.1 unit decrease (from 9.3 to 8.2) in the aldimine pK a , thus identifying Ile232 as a major determinant of the high pK a of ACC synthase. The mutation also resulted in reduced k c a t (0.5 vs 11 s - 1 ) and k c a t /K m values (5.0 x 10 4 vs 1.2 x 10 6 M - 1 s - 1 ). The effect of the mutation is interpreted as the result of shortening of the Tyr233-PLP hydrogen bond. Addition of the Y233F mutation to the I232A ACC synthase to generate the double mutant I232A/Y233F raised the pK a from 8.2 to 8.8, because the Y233F mutation eliminates the hydrogen bond between that residue and PLP. The introduction of the retro mutation A224I into AATase raised the aldimine pK a of that enzyme from 6.96 to 7.16 and resulted in a decrease in single-turnover k m a x (108 vs 900 s - 1 for aspartate) and k m a x /K m a p p (7.5 x 10 4 vs 3.8 x 10 5 M - 1 s - 1 ) values. The distance from the pyridine nitrogen of the cofactor to a conserved aspartate residue is 2.6 A in AATase and 3.8 A in ACC synthase. The D230E mutation introduced into ACC synthase to close this distance increases the aldimine pK a from 9.3 to 10.0, as would be predicted from a shortened hydrogen bond.
868 A PRACTICAL METAPHASE MARKER OF THE INACTIVE X CHROMOSOME

The ability to identify the inactivated X chromosome with routine G- or Q-banding would have broad clinical and research applicability. We recently reported that the inactivated X frequently bends or folds in region Xql3Xq21 (Flejter et al, Am J Hum Genet 36:218, 1984). The fold occurs in about 88% of prometaphase, 50% of early metaphase, 30% of midmetaphase, and 10% of late metaphase inactive X's. In prometaphase, the site of folding includes Xq11.2 and Xq13.3, infrequently extending to Xq21.1. An omega-shaped loop is frequently formed between sub-bands Xq11.2 and Xq13.3. It is paradoxical that the inactive X is the only chromosome identifiable in interphase, yet in metaphase it cannot be distinguished from its active homolog. The specific inactivation-associated fold at region Xq1 resolves that paradox and is a useful marker of the inactive X. 1. The KOP translocation, t(X; 14)(q13; q32), has nearly all of Xq translocated to 14q (Allerdice et al, Am J Med Genet 2:223, 1978). Cell line GM0074 has one normal 14, one Xq-, two der (14) chromosomes, and a Y. One der(14) folded in 10/18 cells scored, confirming translocation of the inactivation center adjacent to 14q distal. 2. Metaphase cells from other primates had a specific fold in the same region as in the human X: at Xq13-Xq21 in 2 gorillas, 1 chimp, 2 pygmy chimps, 1 orang, 1 baboon, 1 rhesus and 1 stump-tail monkey. This is further evidence for evolutionary conservation of the X chromosome. One chimpanzee exhibited the fold at Xq24; we suspect a pericentric inv in this individual. We have not seen a frequent fold in the X of a bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus), or rat kangaroo (Potorous tridactylis). 3. Regarding the relationship of X inactivation and intelligence in fra(X)(q28) carriers, we observe that in cells of normal carriers the fold was mostly on the fragile X-positive chromosome, whereas in cells of an affected carrier the fold was mostly on the fragile X-negative chromosome. This is evidence that inactivation of the fragile X chromosome is positively correlated with intelligence in carriers.
Coronary artery bypass grafting with unanticipated fibrosing mediastinitis

Coronary artery bypass grafting in the setting of superior vena caval obstruction due to unanticipated fibrosing mediastinitis is described. Intraoperative decisions regarding the management of this unusual patient are discussed.
Evidence for retro-translocation of pokeweed antiviral protein from endoplasmic reticulum into cytosol and separation of its activity on ribosomes from its activity on capped RNA.

Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) is a single-chain ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) that binds to ribosomes and depurinates the highly conserved α-sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) of the large subunit rRNA. Catalytic depurination of a specific adenine has been proposed to result in translation arrest and cytotoxicity. Here, we show that both precursor and mature forms of PAP are localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in yeast. The mature form is retro-translocated from the ER into the cytosol where it escapes degradation unlike the other substrates of the retro-translocation pathway. A mutation of a highly conserved asparagine residue at position 70 (N70A) delays ribosome depurination and the onset of translation arrest. The ribosomes are eventually depurinated, yet cytotoxicity and loss of viability are markedly absent. Analysis of the variant protein, N70A, does not reveal any decrease in the rate of synthesis, subcellular localization, or the rate of transport into the cytosol. N70A destabilizes its own...
Gastrointestinal symptomatic outcomes of laparoscopic and open gastrectomy

AIM: To compare the laparoscopic and the open gastrectomy approaches for short term morbidity, length of hospital stay and also long term gastrointestinal symptoms. METHODS: Patients who have undergone gastrectomy had their medical records reviewed for demographic data, type of gastrectomy, short term morbidity, and length of hospital stay. Patients were contacted and asked to complete the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). The GSRS measures three domains of GI symptoms: Dyspepsia Syndrome (DS) for the foregut (best score 0, worse score 15), indigestion syndrome (IS) for the midgut (best score 0, worse score 12), and bowel dysfunction syndrome (BDS) for the hindgut (best score 0, worse score 16). Statistical analysis was done using the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: We had complete data on 32 patients: 7 laparoscopic and 25 open. Of these, 25 had a gastroenteric anastomosis and 6 did not. The table shows the results as medians with interquartile range. Laparoscopic gastrectomy had a better score than open gastrectomy in the DS domain (0 vs 1, P = 0.02), while gastrectomy without anastomosis had a better score than gastrectomy with anastomosis in the IS domain (0 vs 1, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients have little adverse gastrointestinal symptoms and preserve good gastrointestinal function after undergoing any type of gastrectomy. Laparoscopic approach had better dyspepsia and foregut symptoms. Performing an anastomosis led to mild adverse midgut and indigestion effects
Redistribution of NaV1.8 in Uninjured Axons Enables Neuropathic Pain

The underlying mechanisms of neuropathic pain are poorly understood, and existing treatments are mostly ineffective. We recently demonstrated that antisense mediated “knock-down” of the sodium channel isoform, NaV1.8, reverses neuropathic pain behavior after L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL), implicating a critical functional role of NaV1.8 in the neuropathic state. Here we have investigated mechanisms through which NaV1.8 contributes to the expression of experimental neuropathic pain. NaV1.8 does not appear to contribute to neuropathic pain through an action in injured afferents because the channel is functionally downregulated in the cell bodies of injured neurons and does not redistribute to injured terminals. Although there was little change in NaV1.8 protein or functional channels in the cell bodies of uninjured neurons in L4 ganglia, there was a striking increase in NaV1.8 immunoreactivity along the sciatic nerve. The distribution of NaV1.8 reflected predominantly the presence of functional channels in unmyelinated axons. The C-fiber component of the sciatic nerve compound action potential (CAP) was resistant (>40%) to 100 μm TTX after SNL, whereas both A- and C-fiber components of sciatic nerve CAP were blocked (>90%) by 100 μm TTX in sham-operated rats or the contralateral sciatic nerve of SNL rats. Attenuating expression of NaV1.8 with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides prevented the redistribution of NaV1.8 in the sciatic nerve and reversed neuropathic pain. These observations suggest that aberrant activity in uninjured C-fibers is a necessary component of pain associated with partial nerve injury. They also suggest that blocking NaV1.8 would be an effective treatment of neuropathic pain.
Voltage-controlled dissipation in the quantum Hall effect in a laterally constricted two-dimensional electron gas.

We have observed controlled, low-voltage breakdown of the quantum Hall effect in GaAs-${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$As heterostructures with lateral constrictions a few micrometers in width. The breakdown characteristics show structure at voltages corresponding to the cyclotron energy for even filling factors or the exchange-enhanced Zeeman energy for odd filling factors. Analysis of these results in terms of a simple model implies that the dissipation process involves interlevel as well as intralevel scattering, and therefore that large potential gradients must be present in the two-dimensional electron gas. We interpret structure at multiples of the cyclotron energy for even filling factors in terms of a multiple-current-path model.
Two Satellite Image Sets for the Training and Validation of Image Processing Systems for Defense Applications

Many image processing algorithms utilize the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) to provide efficient compression and near-perfect reconstruction of image data. Defense applications often require the transmission of data at high levels of compression over noisy channels. In recent years, evolutionary algorithms (EAs) have been utilized to optimize image transform filters that outperform standard wavelets for bandwidth-constrained compression of satellite images. The optimization of these filters requires the use of training images appropriately chosen for the image processing system's intended applications. This paper presents two robust sets of fifty images each intended for the training and validation of satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) reconnaissance image processing algorithms. Each set consists of a diverse range of subjects consisting of cities, airports, military bases, and landmarks representative of the types of images that may be captured during reconnaissance missions. Optimized algorithms may be "overtrained" for a specific problem instance and thus exhibit poor performance over a general set of data. To reduce the risk of overtraining an image filter, we evaluate the suitability of each image as a training image. After evolving filters using each image, we assess the average compression performance of each filter across the entire set of images. We thus identify a small subset of images from each set that provide strong performance as training images for the image transform optimization problem. These images will also provide a suitable platform for the development of other algorithms for defense applications. The images are available upon request from the contact author.
Optical dephasing of chromophores in an organic glass: picosecond photon echo and hole burning experiments

Abstract The homogeneous optical dephasing time T 2 for the organic glass system resorufin in ethanol is measured by picosecond two-pulse photon echoes from 1.5 to 11.4 K. A non-power law temperature dependence of T 2 is measured. Non-photochemical hole burning (NPHB) linewidths are four times broader than the homogeneous linewidth, demonstrating that additional factors contribute to NPHB.
Histone Acetyltransferase Inhibitor Anacardic Acid Causes Changes in Global Gene Expression during In Vitro Plasmodium falciparum Development

To better understand the role of histone lysine acetylation in transcription in Plasmodium falciparum, we sought to attenuate histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity using anacardic acid (AA). We showed that AA reversibly and noncompetitively inhibited the HAT activity of recombinant PfGCN5. To a lesser extent, AA inhibited the PfGCN5 activity in parasite nuclear extracts but did not affect histone deacetylase activity. AA blocked the growth of both chloroquine-sensitive and -resistant strains, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of approximately 30 microM. Treatment of the parasites with 20 microM of AA for 12 h had no obvious effect on parasite growth or gross morphology but induced hypoacetylation of histone H3 at K9 and K14, but not H4 at K5, K8, K12, and K16, suggesting inhibition of the PfGCN5 HAT. Microarray analysis showed that this AA treatment resulted in twofold or greater change in the expression of 271 (approximately 5%) parasite genes in late trophozoites, among which 207 genes were downregulated. Cluster analysis of gene expression indicated that AA mostly downregulated active genes, and this gene pool significantly overlapped with that enriched for H3K9 acetylation. We further demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation and real-time PCR that AA treatment reduced acetylation near the putative promoters of a set of downregulated genes. This study suggests that the parasiticidal effect of AA is at least partially associated with its inhibition of PfGCN5 HAT, resulting in the disturbance of the transcription program in the parasites.
Altered Creatine Kinase Adenosine Triphosphate Kinetics in Failing Hypertrophied Human Myocardium

Background— The progression of pressure-overload left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) to chronic heart failure (CHF) may involve a relative deficit in energy supply and/or delivery. Methods and Results— We measured myocardial creatine kinase (CK) metabolite concentrations and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis through CK, the primary energy reserve of the heart, to test the hypothesis that ATP flux through CK is impaired in patients with LVH and CHF. Myocardial ATP levels were normal, but creatine phosphate levels were 35% lower in LVH patients (n=10) than in normal subjects (n=14, P<0.006). Left ventricular mass and CK metabolite levels in LVH were not different from those in patients with LVH and heart failure (LVH+CHF, n=10); however, the myocardial CK pseudo first-order rate constant was normal in LVH (0.36±0.04 s−1 in LVH versus 0.32±0.06 s−1 in normal subjects) but halved in LVH+CHF (0.17±0.06 s−1, P<0.001). The net ATP flux through CK was significantly reduced by 30% in LVH (2.2±0.7 μmol · g−1 · ...
Distortion in angle-modulated links induced by ripple in fiber-Bragg-grating reflectance and delay characteristics

Ripple in the reflectance and delay characteristics of a linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating is shown to produce significant distortion in a wide-band angle-modulated fiber-optic link. Experimental results for a 7-GHz 39.4-km link where dispersion is compensated with a linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating show that the residual ripple in both the reflectance and delay contributes to harmonic and intermodulation distortion. Numerical modeling shows that the distortion is dominated by the random component of the delay ripple. The distortion is further quantified as a function of the ripple, the modulation index, and the modulation frequency.
Some inequalities relating different measures of divergence between two probability distributions

This note presents new inequalities relating different divergence measures in the family of "convex likelihood-ratio expectation" measures of Csiszar (1967), Ali and Silvey (1966), and especially in the single-parameter family of "AM-GM" divergence measures. The most prominent result is that /spl theta//sup 2//spl les/ 1/4 J, where /spl theta/ is the Bhattacharyya angle of divergence (a true distance metric), and J is the symmetric cross-entropy. A pair of "log /spl Gamma/" divergences is also introduced and related to the cross-entropies I and J.
Development of cellular magnesium nano-analysis in treatment of clinical magnesium deficiency.

A novel technique, using energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EXA tm), for noninvasive intracellular (i.c.) measurement of magnesium [Mg 2+] i has now been accomplished and proven to be a valuable tool in multiple aspects of normal as well as pathological magnesium metabolism. Since only 1% of total body Mg 2+ is found in the intravascular space, serum levels of Mg 2+ give little information about a patient’s overall Mg 2+ status with respect to this essential mineral. Using the EXA tm analysis it has shown been determined that Mg 2+ levels are significantly reduced in many physiological states which may lead to serious pathological conditions [15]. Description of the methodology and examples of data as well as potential applications will focus on intracellular (i.c.) [Mg 2+] i determinations obtained in cells from subjects with cardiovascular disease (CVD) syndromes related to Mg 2+ deficiency. Examples of the application of EXA tm evaluation include examination of intracellular magnesium and other min...
Recovery potential after postnatal shoulder paralysis. An animal model of neonatal brachial plexus palsy.

Background: Injury to the brachial plexus during birth results in paralysis of the upper extremity in as many as one in 250 births and can lead to substantial functional deficits in the shoulder. The goal of this study was to characterize the development of bone and joint deformities in paralyzed neonatal shoulders and to assess the improvement of these deformities after muscle function recovery with use of an animal model. Methods: Intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin were used to paralyze the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and posterior deltoid of the left shoulders of mice at birth. Seventy mice were divided into three groups: Botox, recovery, and normal. The twenty-five mice in the Botox group received botulinum toxin injections until they were killed. The twenty mice in the recovery group received botulinum toxin injections for different durations and then were allowed injection-free recovery periods until they were killed. The twenty-five mice in the normal group received saline solution injections until they were killed. Radiographs were used to measure shoulder and elbow contractures. Microcomputed tomography was used to examine anatomical parameters of the supraspinatus muscle, humerus, and scapula. Results: The Botox group showed bone and joint deformities including delayed mineralization and flattening of the humeral head, hypoplasia, and introversion (i.e., anteversion) of the humerus, contractures of the shoulder and elbow, hypoplasia of shoulder muscles, hypoplasia of the scapula, and hypoplasia and retroversion of the glenoid. In the recovery group, a significant trend toward normal properties was observed with longer recovery periods (p < 0.05). However, only soft-tissue contractures of the shoulder and elbow were resolved completely with the longest recovery period. Conclusions: This mouse model successfully simulates human neonatal brachial plexus palsy, reproducing most of the bone and joint deformities found in the human condition. The deformities started to develop early in the postnatal period in the paralyzed shoulders and progressed with longer durations of paralysis. Early restoration of muscle function completely resolved the soft-tissue contractures of the shoulder and elbow. However, osseous deformities of the humerus and scapula were never resolved completely. These findings demonstrate the time-dependence of reversibility of musculoskeletal deformities in developing shoulders with neurological deficits. Clinical Relevance: The information in this study provides the basis for further study of the mechanisms and factors influencing upper-extremity musculoskeletal development.
Neural basis for a heritable phenotype: differences in the effects of apomorphine on startle gating and ventral pallidal GABA efflux in male Sprague–Dawley and Long–Evans rats

Rationale Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle is a measure of sensorimotor gating that is heritable and deficient in certain psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats are more sensitive to PPI disruptive effects of dopamine (DA) agonists at long interstimulus intervals (60–120 ms) and less sensitive to their PPI-enhancing effects at short (10–30 ms), compared with Long–Evans (LE) rats. These heritable strain differences in sensitivity to the PPI disruptive effects of DA agonists must ultimately reflect neural changes "downstream" from forebrain DA receptors.
Supersymmetry on a lattice

We develop Lagrangian and Hamiltonian lattice formulations of the Wess-Zumino model which preserve the superalgebra. We check that the lattice model passes into the continuum model in the zero-lattice-spacing limit, and obtain various perturbative results (nonrenormalization, effective-potential loop expansion) on the lattice. We study the phase structure with the one-loop effective potential and find dynamical symmetry breaking at large coupling in two dimensions, but not in four dimensions. Separately, we evaluate the strong-coupling limit in the Hamiltonian formulation and confirm the accuracy of the one-loop effective-potential predictions. Our methods should apply to certain other supersymmetric theories.
Estimation of Corrosion Initiation Time in Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns: How to Incorporate Spatial and Temporal Uncertainties

AbstractDeterioration of reinforced concrete structures has been a subject of interest for the researchers, practicing engineers, and decision makers who work on the reliability assessment and safety evaluation of civil infrastructure systems. Over the last two decades, several studies have approached this subject and developed numerical and experimental methods to quantify the extent of deterioration over time. The studies completed to date, however, lack the comprehensive probabilistic approach needed to consider the uncertainties involved in the deterioration of structural components during their service life. To address this issue, the current study develops a computational framework that examines the time-dependent effects of multiple environmental stressors on the integrity of structural components. This framework takes into account the mutual interactions of all exposure factors and provides a reliable estimate of the extent of penetration of deteriorating agents into concrete. Given the capabiliti...
Production and Ecological Significance of Yeast Cell Wall-Degrading Enzymes from Oerskovia

Motile actinomycetes capable of degrading walls of viable yeast cells were isolated from soil and identified as Oerskovia xanthineolytica. A lytic assay based on susceptibility of enzyme-treated cells to osmotic shock was developed, and 10 of 15 strains of O. xanthineolytica, Oerskovia turbata, and nonmotile Oerskovia- like organisms from other collections were found to possess yeast lytic activities. All lytic strains produced laminaranase and alpha-mannanase, but the amounts, determined by reducing group assays, were not proportional to the observed lytic activities. The Oerskovia isolates demonstrated chemotactic, predatory activity against various yeast strains and killed yeasts in mixed cultures. Of 15 carbon sources tested for production of lytic enzyme, purified yeast cell walls elicited the highest activity. Glucose repressed enzyme production and caused cells to remain in the microfilamentous and motile rod stages of the Oerskovia cell cycle. Crude lytic activity was optimal at pH 5.6 to 7.0 and inactivated by heating for 6 min at 50 degrees C. Partial purification by isoelectric focusing showed that all lytic activity was associated with four beta-(1-->3)-glucanases. The absence of protein disulfide reductase, N-acetyl-beta-d-hexosaminidase, and phosphomannanase in crude preparations indicated that the principal enzyme responsible for yeast wall lysis was a beta-(1-->3)-glucanase that produced relatively little reducing sugar from yeast glucan.
The Utility of Futility

See related article, pages 2410–2414. In this issue, Palesch et al1 discuss the single-arm, phase II futility study design and illustrate how its use might have avoided 3 large (and costly) but negative phase III therapeutic trials for ischemic stroke patients. The authors offer strong arguments to support their conclusion that use of this design as a strategy in phase II development “could permit the testing of a wider array of promising treatments at a fraction of the cost of taking all treatments directly to phase III trials.” In a nutshell, they argue that there is utility in futility testing. Although common in early-phase oncology trials, the futility study (single- or double-armed) may be less familiar to readers of this journal, and careful scrutiny of the design, especially of the formulation of null and alternative hypotheses, is worthwhile. Briefly, in a futility study, the null hypothesis states that the experimental therapy is sufficiently promising to warrant definitive, phase III testing, whereas the alternative hypothesis states that the experimental therapy lacks the prespecified superiority. Thus, the futility design reverses the logical status of null and alternative hypotheses as most often formulated in the traditional efficacy design. Whereas in the latter design, sufficient evidence is required to declare a therapeutic effect statistically significant, in the futility design, there is a presumption of benefit, and sufficient evidence is required to declare a significant shortfall from that benefit, such that it would be futile to proceed to large-scale testing with the given therapy. The authors argue that this formulation, with its null presumption of benefit, is appropriate in phase II research on the grounds that of the 2 types of error that can be committed—declaring a truly superior therapy futile or declaring a truly nonsuperior therapy worthy of continued testing—the former is …
A Framework for Extrusion Detection Using Machine Learning

Machine learning deals with the issue of how to build programs that improve their performance at some task through experience. Machine learning algorithms have proven to be of great practical value in a variety of application domains. They are particularly useful for (a) poorly understood problem domains where little knowledge exists for the humans to develop effective algorithms; (b) domains where there are large databases containing valuable implicit regularities to be discovered; or (c) domains where programs must adapt to changing conditions. Not surprisingly, the field of Cyber space turns out to be a fertile ground where many software security problems could be formulated as learning problems and approached in terms of learning algorithms. This paper deals with the subject of applying machine learning in extraction detection. In the paper, we present our research work on design and implementation of an extrusion detection system for information security of big companies. The result shows a potential in real-world applications.
Homologous DNA sequences on the virulence plasmids of pathogenic Yersinia and Salmonella dublin Lane.

Yersinia and Salmonella harbour plasmids that encode traits important for virulence, enabling both pathogenic genera to survive and grow in cells of the reticulo-endothelial organs during systemic infections. We have detected DNA homology between the Salmonella dublin virulence plasmid pSDL2 and the plasmids of the pathogenic Yersinia species pestis, pseudotuberculosis, and enterocolitica. Three regions of pSDL2 were found to share homology with the virulence plasmid pIB1 of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Two separate hybridizing segments mapped within the previously characterized 6.4 kb vir region of pSDL2 in the SalI B fragment. The third homologous region involved the replicon of pIB1, which hybridized to the SalI C2 fragment of pSDL2. The virulence plasmid pCD1 from Y. pestis showed similar homology with the three regions of pSDL2. Homologies to the vir and SalI C2 regions of pSDL2 were also found on plasmids from Yersinia enterocolitica serotypes 0:9, 0:3 and 0:5, 27. The discovery of separate homologous regions on the virulence plasmids of Salmonella and Yersinia suggests a distant evolutionary relationship.
What do vegetarians in the United States eat

Background: Dietary patterns and nutrient intakes of vegetarians in a nationally representative survey have not been described. Objective: We sought to profile and compare nutrient and food consumption patterns of self-defined vegetarians and nonvegetarians in a representative sample of the US population. Design: Data from 13 313 participants (age: ≥6 y) in the Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII) 1994-1996, 1998 were used to compare vegetarian and nonvegetarian dietary patterns. Self-defined vegetarians and nonvegetarians were those who responded positively or negatively, respectively, to the question "Do you consider yourself to be a vegetarian?" The vegetarian and nonvegetarian groups were further characterized as "no meat" or "ate meat" on the basis of a consumption cutoff of 10 g meat/d reported on 2 nonconsecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Results: Self-defined vegetarians whose recalls did not include meat represented 0.9% of this nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized persons residing in the United States. Compared with nonvegetarians who ate meat, self-defined vegetarians aged ≥ 20 y had lower body mass indexes regardless of whether they ate meat. Diets of self-defined vegetarians tended to be lower in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and higher in fiber than did the diets of nonvegetarians who ate meat. Self-defined vegetarians whose recalls contained no meat consumed more grains, legumes, vegetables (green leafy and yellow), fruit. and wine, whereas those who ate meat consumed more fruit than did nonvegetarians. Conclusion: Self-defined vegetarians may consume red meat, poultry, or fish. However, their dietary patterns are generally healthier than are those of nonvegetarians.
Commentary: Statistical analysis or biological analysis as tools for understanding biological causes

‘The Analysis of Variance and the Analysis of Causes’ 1 was a paper of its time. The problem it addressed was how the observed variation in phenotype among human individuals and groups was analysed in an attempt to separate and assign ‘importance’ to the roles of genetic and environmental variation. It dealt with the conceptual errors involved in the formulation of the problem and in the understanding of
WUP: A parser based on word usage

A parsing algorithm designed to deal with the syntactical irregularity of most words is described. The algorithm, which is based on the notion of syntactical usage of a word, uses a simple grammar that indicates the structure of a sentence up to the main verb. A stack containing nonterminal symbols and another stack holding the actions corresponding to the nonterminals are initialized using the grammar. After initialization the contents of the stacks are dictated by the usage of the words encountered while parsing a sentence. >
Tea talk: violent measures in the discursive practices of Sri Lanka's estate tamils

At the most manifest level, this paper is about agricultural and agronomic terminology as found in the discourse of Tamil-speaking workers on Sri Lanka's tea plantations or tea estates, as they are called there. My use of the terms agricultural and agronomic in this context is admittedly idiosyncratic. In the tea estates of Sri Lanka, two kinds of agricultural (in the unmarked sense) terminology are in use, one belonging to managerial agriculture and the other to folk agriculture. But by and large, the tea estate is the regime of managerial agriculture. Whereas in village India, folk agriculture prevails. I call the class of terms belonging to managerial agriculture, agronomic terminology, and reserve the term “agricultural terminology” for the domain of folk agriculture. By analyzing four communicative events that I observed and recorded on tea estates in Sri Lanka, I attempt to show how these two terminological worlds interact. The nature of that interaction is such that the dominant terminology of agronomy may be seen to be deconstructed by the subdominant terminology of village agriculture.
Theory of Fresnel Images. I. Plane Periodic Objects in Monochromatic Light

A theory of Fresnel images is presented. Only the Fresnel images of plane periodic objects viewed in monochromatic light are considered. The theory is in agreement with the experimental and computer research available in the literature. Photographs of Fresnel images of gratings are shown to verify certain aspects of the theory.
A rabbit osteomyelitis model to simulate multibacterial war wound infections.

ABSTRACTA challenge facing military caregivers is the presence of multidrug-resistant infection in extremity wounds. Most frequently identified resistant strains are methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), and Acinetobacter baumannii (AB). We adapted an existing osteomyelitis model to simulate an infected extremity wound for antibiotic testing. New Zealand White Rabbits (n = 95) were divided into 6 inoculation groups for infection with MRSA, KP, PA, and AB alone, and in multibacteria infections. Sodium morrhuate was injected into the left tibia to simulate blast wound trauma, then the respective bacteria or combination of pathogens, and finally sterile saline were injected. Colony-forming units for the mono-organism groups showed that AB, KP, or PA alone at 107 colony-forming units per mL (CFUs/mL) was effective for rabbit osteomyelitis induction. Colony-forming units for the multiorganism groups showed that the combination of AB (107 CF...
Teachers' Geoscience Career Knowledge and Implications for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences.

This study examines discrepancies between geoscience career knowledge and biology career knowledge among Mississippi science teachers. Principals and in-service teachers were also surveyed about th...
Quality of Care and Quality of Life in Nursing Facilities: What?s Regulation Got to Do With It?

The American nursing home industry is pervasively regulated today. This article suggests that current and future nursing home residents may best be served by examining the value of regulation with a healthy skepticism, rather than automatically assuming regulation?s superiority to other potential approaches that are aimed at the same ultimate goals. Specifically, this article reviews the relatively sparse, but nevertheless helpful, literature that examines the impact of nursing home regulation. The regulatory approach is subjected to the developing analytical lens of "therapeutic jurisprudence," which, in other contexts, has asked whether legal "reforms" truly help or hurt intended beneficiaries when all relevant factors are taken into account.
Elevated Levels of Microbial Translocation Markers and CCL2 Among Older HIV-1–Infected Men

The aging of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected population obligates a focus on the interaction between aging, comorbid conditions, and HIV-1. We recruited a cohort of HIV-1-infected men aged ≤ 35 years or ≥ 50 years who were receiving fully suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). We analyzed plasma markers of inflammation; T-cell activation, exhaustion, proliferation; and innate cellular subsets and functional capacity. Levels of lipopolysaccharide and the plasma marker of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 were significantly elevated in older HIV-infected men despite comparable cellular phenotypes. Compared with similarly age-stratified uninfected subjects, older HIV-1-infected adults were also more frequently in the upper quartile of soluble CD14 expression.
Sibling Violence and Children Hospitalized for Serious Mental and Behavioral Health Problems

Violence between siblings is prevalent, can have long-lasting negative effects, and yet it is often dismissed as normal. This study explores sibling violence (SV) documented in medical records of children hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. Retrospective chart review was conducted of all medical records of children ages 5 years to 12 years, living with a sibling in the home, admitted during the 2007 calendar year to a northwestern psychiatric hospital that serves a five state area (N = 135). Using a data collection tool, quantitative and qualitative data were extracted from the charts, and descriptive statistical analysis was used to identify patterns and trends. The records showed that 103 (76%) of the 135 patients perpetrated SV and 30 (22%) were victims of SV. Many of the patients perpetrating SV were also violent toward themselves and toward peers, mothers, and teachers. The majority of patients did not have a psychiatric diagnosis that included violent behavior as a criterion and most of the pati...
A scalable algorithm for compiler-placed staggered checkpointing

To make progress in the face of possible system failures, long-running parallel applications often checkpoint, or save their state, so they can resume execution. Many current checkpointing techniques require user input, impose run-time performance penalties, or result in all processes checkpointing synchronously which leads to network and file system contention, again resulting in significant performance penalty. This paper presents an algorithm to perform compiler-placed staggered checkpointing, where process checkpoints are placed at compile-time at different places in the application text, thereby reducing contention for the network and file system. Identifying staggered checkpoints is algorithmically challenging since the number of possible solutions is enormous—it grows as L , where L is the number of possible checkpoint locations and P is the number of processes—and the number of desirable solutions is relatively small. But our algorithm successfully places staggered checkpoints in parallel applications that use tens of thousands of processes. On benchmarks, our algorithm generates and places checkpoints that improve performance by an average of 35% over the current technique.
Reproduction of the Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris) in South Florida

Reproduction of marsh rabbits ( Sylvilagus palustris ) in sugarcane in the vicinity of Belle Glade, Florida, was studied from September 1968 through August 1969. Rabbits more than 9 months old were considered to be the reproductive segment of the population. Pregnant females were collected throughout the year; however, a definite cycle was evident in pregnancy rates with increasing or high reproduction from December through June. Anestrous females were found during all months. Mean female reproductive characteristics were as follows: ovulation rate, 3.09 ova per pregnancy; preimplantation loss, 0.23 ova per litter; partial litter resorption, 0.09 embryos per litter; implantation rate, 2.82 embryos per pregnancy; estimated potential annual productivity, 14 to 19 young per female. Total litter resorption was observed in only two females. Testes weights and the diameter of seminiferous tubules showed a definite seasonal cycle similar to, but preceding by about 1 month, the female breeding cycle. Males judged fertile were present in all months. Mean reproductive characteristics of 12 parous juvenile (6 to 9 months old) females were as follows: ovulation rate 2.73, ovum loss 0.44, and implantation rate 2.40. Most juvenile males were judged to be fertile from December through May.
Reconceiving myself: challenging conundrums and creating feminist community psychology.

SUMMARY This narrative describes how contexts in which I grew up influenced my pursuit of feminist community psychology and my work in a master's level community psychology program. Grappling inside and outside with longings that appear contradictory and contradictions that others do not experience has fueled passionate engagement with life and work. Growing up an Irish Catholic girl in the Midwest U.S. post World War II era informed and constrained my relational and vocational choices. Participation in consciousness raising and informal community building initiatives opened opportunities for personal, professional and political growth. These intensely personal interconnected stories describe conundrums that I experienced and the ways in which they were reconceived and repaired in the process of creating self, work and community.