cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alleviation of constant-light-induced photoreceptor degeneration by adaptation of adult albino rat to bright cyclic light.

PURPOSE. To further test the hypothesis that light-adaptation-mediated photoreceptor protection works through inhibition of apoptosis by activation and/or upregulation of neuroprotective molecules. METHODS. Albino rats were born and raised in 5-lux cyclic light (12 hours OFF and ON). At 8 weeks of age, animals were adapted to 400-lux cyclic light for different periods. Light damage was induced by exposure to constant light for 1 day at an illumination of 1700 lux. Animals were killed, and their eyes were removed for morphometric and biochemical analysis. TUNEL assay was used to evaluate photoreceptor cell apoptosis and Western blot analyses were used to determine the levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and caspase-3. RESULTS. Exposure of dim-reared rats to constant light for 1 day dramatically increased TUNEL-positive cells in the outer nuclear layer. Adaptation to 400-lux bright cyclic light for 4 days significantly reduced TUNEL-positive cells induced by exposure to constant light, which correlated with a significant increase in bFGF expression. Compared with control retinas, caspase-3 levels were not changed by exposure to constant light or after adaptation to 400 lux. There was a significant increase in nNOS level in the constant-light- exposed group, but not in the group adapted to 400-lux bright light before exposure to constant light. CONCLUSIONS. The retina of the adult rat can rapidly upregulate neuroprotective mechanisms when switched from dim to bright cyclic light. Identification of the molecules involved in this process may allow rational development of therapeutic approaches to treat retinal degenerative diseases.
Parental age effects in Drosophila pseudoobscura.

Abstract Two independent descents have been continued in three populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura which differed in their chromosomal arrangements: CH/AR, CH/CH and AR/AR. Selection was based upon the age of the parents at reproduction, namely 5–10-day-old and 4-week-old parents; the lines which were derived have been termed respectively T and B. So far, no difference of chromosomal polymorphism is apparent between the two lines of the CH/AR population. Flies issued from lines repeatedly reproduced with old parents (B) live longer than flies from young parental age descent (T). Although physiological effects of parental aging on the longevity of the offspring have been demonstrated several times, a selection effect should also be involved. T and B flies in which the second chromosome has been made isogenic still retain a slight but significant difference of longevity. The role of genes with late deleterious expression, as a possible factor of aging is chiefly considered.
Treatment with dexamethasone of androgen excess in adolescent patients

Fourteen hirsute girls, ages 12 to 22 years (mean ± SO: 17.2 ± 2.6 years), in whom 21-hydroxylase deficiency was excluded by a 1-hour intravenous α1-24 corticotropin test, were evaluated by a 4-day dexamethasone test and then treated With a bedtime dose of dexamethasone (0.5 mg in 10 patients, 0.25 mg in four) for 0.6 to 3.4 years (1.3 ± 0.8 years). Hirsutism decreased in four patients, did not change In nine, and increased in one. Of the 10 patients with irregular menses, only three developed regular cycles while taking dexamethasone. During long-term dexamethasone therapy, serum levels of testosterone decreased from 102 ± 22 to 72 ± 27 ng/dL, free testosterone from 35 ± 11 to 19 ± 8 pg/mL, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate from 396 ± 138 to 171 ± 101 µg/dL. Although free testosterone decreased to
Vocal intensity in falsetto phonation of a countertenor: An analysis by synthesis approach

An analysis by synthesis paradigm was implemented to model glottal airflow and vocal tract acoustics for the falsetto phonation of a trained countertenor. Changes in vocal intensity were measured as a function of subglottal pressure, open quotient of the time-varying glottal airflow pulse, and formant tuning. The contributions of laryngeal adduction (open quotient of the glottal flow pulse) and of formant tuning to intensity change were derived from modeled data. The findings were: (1) Subglottal pressure accounted for almost 90% of the variation in SPL in falsetto phonation. (2) The open quotient of the glottal flow pulse was remarkably constant in these falsetto phonations, and thus did not affect vocal intensity significantly. (3) Formant tuning occurred in two out of nine possibilities for the vowel /a/. These instances did not support the concept of systematic exploitation of formant tuning.
Monoids with sub-log-exponential free spectra

Abstract A classic result from the 1960s states that the asymptotic growth of the free spectrum of a finite group G is sub-log-exponential if and only if G is nilpotent. Thus a monoid M is sub-log-exponential implies M ∈ G nil ¯ , the pseudovariety of semigroups with nilpotent subgroups. Unfortunately, little more is known about the boundary between the sub-log-exponential and log-exponential monoids. The pseudovariety EDA consists of those finite semigroups satisfying ( x ω y ω ) ω ( y ω x ω ) ω ( x ω y ω ) ω ≈ ( x ω y ω ) ω . Here it is shown that a monoid M is sub-log-exponential implies M ∈ EDA . A quick application: a regular sub-log-exponential monoid is orthodox. It is conjectured that a finite monoid M is sub-log-exponential if and only if it is G nil ¯ ∩ EDA , the finite monoids in EDA having nilpotent subgroups. The forward direction of the conjecture is proved; moreover, the conjecture is proved for S 1 when S is completely (0)-simple. In particular, the six-element Brandt monoid B 2 1 (the Perkins semigroup) is sub-log-exponential.
A finite element method for interface problems in domains with smooth boundaries and interfaces

This paper is concerned with the analysis of a finite element method for nonhomogeneous second order elliptic interface problems on smooth domains. The method consists in approximating the domains by polygonal domains, transferring the boundary data in a natural way, and then applying a finite element method to the perturbed problem on the approximate polygonal domains. It is shown that the error in the finite element approximation is of optimal order for linear elements on a quasiuniform triangulation. As such the method is robust in the regularity of the data in the original problem.
A finite-difference heat conduction method applicable during surfacerecession.

IT^OR more than a decade, reinforced plastic materials have -T been used extensively to protect vital structural elements from severe aerodynamic heating, encountered when vehicles move through the earth's atmosphere at high velocities. In these environments the materials undergo sublimation, melting, or ablation at the exposed surface. Therefore, the analysis and optimum design of a vehicle structure requires theoretical methods not only for predicting the net aerodynamic heat input and the protective material performance, but also for accurately calculating the heat transfer in the vehicle skin for transient conditions where the heated surface is receding. This heat-transfer procedure should possess simplicity of formulation and flexibility in the application of conditions such as variable recession rate and receding surface temperature. The theoretical procedure should apply to multilayer walls, and should require a minimum of computer time. The procedure described herein is applicable to subliming processes and the method has the aforementioned four characteristics. In order to restrict the length of the discussion and to allow comparisons with special exact solutions, several simplifying assumptions were employed. First, the one-dimensional recession-conduction equations were limited to a homogeneous flat plate where the receding surface is located, between the
Detection of PCB adducts by the 32P-postlabeling technique.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether lower chlorinated biphenyls would be bioactivated to electrophilic metabolites by microsomes alone or in combination with peroxidase. Monochloro- ...
Preoperative leuprolide acetate combined with Interceed* optimally reduces uterine adhesions and fibrosis in a rabbit model.

Abstract Objective To determine the optimal approach to prevent adhesions comparing leuprolide acetate (GnRH-a), Interceed (oxidized regenerated cellulose; Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc., New Brunswick, NJ), and a combination of leuprolide with Interceed in a rabbit uterine horn adhesion model. Design Prospective, randomized, blinded study. Setting Certified animal care facility. Animal(s) Twenty-eight sexually mature, female New Zealand White rabbits. Intervention(s) Animals were prospectively randomized (by number generator) to receive GnRH-a or saline. After 6 weeks, standard surgical manipulations were performed at three sites in each uterine horn by [1] suture, [2] unipolar cautery, and [3] superficial abrasion. Interceed was applied over one randomly assigned uterine horn only. Six weeks after surgery, uterine adhesions were assessed visually, and tissue fibrosis was assessed by histology. Main outcome measure(s) Presence or absence of adhesions and microscopic tissue fibrosis. Result(s) Gonadotropin–releasing hormone agonist significantly decreased adhesions, whereas Interceed alone did not reduce adhesions. However, GnRH agonist plus Interceed was the most effective measure to reduce tissue fibrosis. Conclusion(s) Preoperative GnRH-a is more effective than Interceed in preventing surgical adhesions in the rabbit uterine horn. However, preoperative GnRH-a plus Interceed may provide optimal results in this animal model, because microscopic tissue fibrosis is minimized with this combination.
Venture capital approaches to value creation: Contracting and deal structure†

This special issue is focused on the viability of venture capital, which depends not only on the ability to address information gaps and incentive issues, but also on the opportunity cost of alternative financing sources and on regulatory and institutional constraints, which vary across countries, industries, and over time.
Antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate prevents defective bradykinin-stimulated calcium accumulation and nitric oxide activity following exposure of endothelial cells to elevated glucose concentration

Previous studies from our laboratory suggest that reactive oxygen contributes to diminished bradykinin-stimulated calcium accumulation in endothelial cells exposed to elevated glucose concentrations. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), in preventing defects in intracellular calcium signalling and nitric oxide (NO) activity in endothelial cells exposed to elevated glucose concentration. We show that PDTC prevented the elevated glucose-induced impairment in bradykinin-stimulated calcium accumulation without changing the normal calcium accumulation in response to ionomycin. Furthermore, the impaired cyclic GMP in RFL-6 detector cells (an index of NO activity) generated by bradykinin-stimulation of high glucose-exposed endothelial cells was restored to normal by pretreatment with PDTC. These studies support a role of reactive oxygen in elevated glucose-induced defects in calcium signalling and NO activity by endothelial cells and that antioxidants may be useful in preventing this defect.
NEW ORAL LINGUIFORM PROJECTIONS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED NEURONS IN THE THIRD-STAGE INFECTIVE LARVA OF THE PARASITIC NEMATODE OESOPHAGOSTOMUM DENTATUM

The infective larvae (L3i) of the nematode parasite of swine, Oesophagostomum dentatum, are passively ingested by their hosts. The L3i exhibit certain behaviors that are probably selected to increase the likelihood of ingestion, by strategic positioning in the environment. The larvae show positive geotactic behavior and respond to temperature variations in their environment, as shown by their behavior on a thermal gradient. To investigate neuronal control of this behavior, we initiated a study of the structure of the amphidial neurons of this parasite. The same number and types of neuronal dendritic processes are found in the amphids of the O. dentatum L3i as in those of its close relatives Haemonchus contortus and Ancylostoma caninum. Well-developed dendritic processes of wing cells are located in the amphidial sheath cells, these being similar to wing cells AWA in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans but actually more extensive. Similar to its close relatives just mentioned, and C. elegans as...
Mechanisms of fire spread

Mechanisms involved in many types of fire spread are described in a manner that sacrifices accuracy for the purpose of emphasizing general aspects of the underlying heat-transfer, fluid-flow and chemical-kinetic phenomena. Consideration is given to conditions for transition from one mode of propagation to another. Research on fire spread has been pursued intensively in recent years, and in the present contribution at attempt is made to provide a framework within which various studies can be placed. Entries to current literature are provided. Areas of apparent importance that do not seem to have been emphasized are suggested.
Educating Teachers about Managing Classrooms and Students.

Abstract The author defines instruction, classroom management, student socialization, and disciplinary intervention as functions commonly performed by teachers, and suggests guidelines for educating teachers in the latter three functions. A knowledge base reflecting established scientific findings exists to inform teacher education concerning classroom management. No such knowledge base exists concerning student socialization and disciplinary intervention, but principles reflecting a consensus of expert opinion can be identified. The author argues for sustained focus on a single integrated approach, taught as an action system that includes attention not only to propositional knowledge (concerning principles of effective management) but also to procedural knowledge (of how to implement these principles) and conditional knowledge (of when and why to implement them). Other recommended elements include conceptual change teaching designed to confront and correct inappropriate attitudes or beliefs that students may bring with them; emphasizing the basics by concentrating on the most commonly occurring classroom teaching situations; and developing skills as much as possible through the apprenticeship approach (modeling, coaching, scaffolding/fading) but supplementing this as needed with didactic instruction in basic concepts and skills, structured classroom observation and student teaching experiences, and use of case materials and simulation exercises as substitutes for field experiences that cannot be included in the program.
Aging Effects on the Startle Response and Startle Plasticity in Fischer F344 Rats

The effects of aging on acoustic and airpuff startle reactivity, acoustic and airpuff startle habituation, acoustic and cross-modal (light-acoustic) prepulse inhibition (PPI), and fear-potentiated startle (FPS) were examined using 3- (Y: young), 11- (AD: adult), 17- (MA: middle-aged), and 22- (O: old) month-old Fischer F344 rats. AD rats had the highest acoustic startle reactivity with the Y and MA rats showing smaller and comparable startle levels. The O rats had diminished startle reactivity, with over a 65% reduction in responding. Airpuff startle reactivity was comparable in the Y and AD groups, while the MA and O groups had 40% and 80% reductions in airpuff startle respectively. There was an age-related increase in airpuff startle habituation. Acoustic and cross-modal PPI were reduced significantly in O rats when compared to other age groups. Finally, there were no effects of age on FPS. In summary, these studies suggest that in Fischer F344 rats, there are age-associated differences in startle reactivity, startle habituation, and PPI, but no aging effect on FPS.
Characteristics of rabbit globin mRNA purification by oligo(dT) cellulose chromatography.

Abstract We have purified rabbit globin mRNA using oligo(dT)-cellulose and sucrose gradient centrifugation. Both α- and β-globulin mRNA molecules behave heterogeneously with respect to their elution properties during chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose. Those fractions eluted at the lowest ionic strength are most active in directing cell-free globin biosynthesis. By making use of hybridization with synthetic [3H]DNA complementary to globin mRNA, we have shown that this technique can be used to quantitate the extent of mRNA purification. Thus, globin mRNA is approximately 90-fold purified from reticulocyte polysomal RNA and originally constituted slightly more than 1% of the polysomal RNA. Since more than 98% of the globin mRNA sequences are bound to oligo(dT)-cellulose, we suggest that most polysomal globin mRNAs contain a poly (A)-rich region and that this region is not of uniform length nor preponderately associated with either the α- or β-globin mRNAs. In addition, we observe that the 9S globin mRNA most resistant to dissociation from oligo (dT)-cellulose is most active in directing globin biosynthesis.
Cylophosphamide Treatment of Gnotobiotic Mice congenitally infected with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus

MICE with congenital lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus infection eventually manifest expanding lesions of the lymphoreticular system which results in glomerulonephritis1. The age-incidence and the intensity of the disease seem to vary among mouse strains, which possibly differ in host levels of viraemia, or antibody response, or both2. Germfree mice, congenitally infected with LCM virus (LCM mice), developed virus-related lesions which indicated hyperactivity of immunological mechanisms; and this was characterized by depletion of cortical thymocytes, swollen lymph nodes and spleens with very large germinal zones, infiltrations of many organs with lymphoid cells (including plasma cells), hypergammaglobulinaemia and degenerative kidney changes3,4.
Research Units of Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) autism network randomized clinical trial of parent training and medication: one-year follow-up.

Objective To follow up on a three-site, 24-week randomized clinical trial (N = 124) comparing antipsychotic medication alone (MED) with antipsychotic medication plus parent training in the behavior management (COMB) of children with autism spectrum disorders and severe behavior problems. The COMB treatment had shown a significant advantage for child behavioral noncompliance ( p = .006, d = 0.34), irritability ( p = .01, d = 0.48), and hyperactivity/noncompliance ( p = .04, d = 0.55) with a lower medication dose. Method One year after each participant's termination, the authors mailed an assessment packet with a return-addressed envelope; a telephone call alerted the family. Failure to return packets within 1 month elicited another contact and offers to resend. Results Eighty-seven of 124 families (70.2%) participated in the follow-up. The improvement difference between treatments attenuated from after treatment to follow-up for noncompliance ( d = 0.32 to 0.12) and irritability ( d = 0.46 to 0.03). The follow-up differences were nonsignificant (the noncompliance difference also was nonsignificant after treatment for these 87 families). Sixty-seven percent of the COMB group and 53% of the MED group were still taking risperidone, the original study medication. Most needed dose adjustments or additional medication, and the COMB group no longer had a significantly lower dose. All COMB families but only 39% of MED families reported seeking parent training after treatment. Improvements in daily living skills during treatment predicted noncompliance improvement at follow-up for the COMB children, but noncompliance deterioration and especially hyperactivity/noncompliance deterioration for the MED children. Conclusions The study treatment experience/familiarity greatly influenced the follow-up treatment: those who had received parent training reported seeking it, whereas those who had not received it tended not to seek it. The superiority of COMB over MED after treatment attenuated by more than half at follow-up.
Acreage Response and Demand for Processing Tomatoes in California

A theory of contracting is developed to show how acreage and price might be determined in the raw tomato market. The paper estimates the structural parameters of the acreage response and demand for processing tomatoes facing California growers. Several hypotheses of leadership pricing are tested. Results show that the California processing industry can be characterized as a competitive industry, since the leadership pricing as observed is consistent with the competitive pricing. Acreage response is shown to be price elastic. The adoption of the tomato harvester is found to have a significant impact on acreage response.
Human melanoma growth in the peritoneal cavity of the athymic mouse—A model for in vivo study of cell-mediated immunity

Intraperitoneal injections of 2 X 10(7) SH-Me cells (human metastatic melanoma cells)( to 20 Balb/c nu/nu mice (Group A) and 1 X 10(7) cells to 20 mice (Group B) were performed. All animals were studied clinicopathologically. Five animals in Group A were sacrificed serially, revealing marked tumor growth of the melanoma within the peritoneal cavity. These tumors grew in multiple nodular configurations and tumor ascites was present by the third week. The remaining 15 animals in Group A were allowed to progress and seven subsequently died with mouse viral hepatitis (MVH). These animals had suppressed tumor growth. The remaining eight animals died of peritoneal carcinomatosis with survival time of 24.1 +/- 5.0 days. Eight of the animals in Group B died of mouse viral hepatitis while the remainder died of peritoneal tumor without distant metastasis. Survival time in these animals was 23.8 +/- 2.6 days. Both 2 X 10(7) and 1 X 10(7) tumor cells injected intraperitoneally will constantly produce tumor nodules in non-MHV-infected nude mice with similar survival. This experimental model has proven useful for in vivo study to assess the immunoreactivity of melanoma patient cells reactive against target tumor cells.
Protein structure along the order-disorder continuum.

Thermal fluctuations cause proteins to adopt an ensemble of conformations wherein the relative stability of the different ensemble members is determined by the topography of the underlying energy landscape. “Folded” proteins have relatively homogeneous ensembles, while “unfolded” proteins have heterogeneous ensembles. Hence, the labels “folded” and “unfolded” represent attempts to provide a qualitative characterization of the extent of structural heterogeneity within the underlying ensemble. In this work, we introduce an information-theoretic order parameter to quantify this conformational heterogeneity. We demonstrate that this order parameter can be estimated in a straightforward manner from an ensemble and is applicable to both unfolded and folded proteins. In addition, a simple formula for approximating the order parameter directly from crystallographic B factors is presented. By applying these metrics to a large sample of proteins, we show that proteins span the full range of the order–disorder axis.
Strong Correlation Between Statistical Transmembrane Tendency and Experimental Hydrophobicity Scales for Identification of Transmembrane Helices

Direct physical chemistry measurements of the hydrophobicity of amino acids or their derivatives have often been used to estimate the propensity of amino acids to participate in transmembrane helices. In this short note, it is found that there is a very high degree of correlation (r = 0.944-0.965) between an average physical chemistry hydrophobicity scale (an average of scales derived, e.g., from the solubility of amino acid derivatives in organic solvents versus water or their binding to hydrophobic particles) and the statistically based transmembrane tendency scale (derived from the relative abundance of residues in known transmembrane and soluble protein sequences (Zhao and London, Protein Sci 15:1987-2001, 2006)). This correlation indicates that, other than hydrophobicity, amino acid properties/interactions that promote or inhibit transmembrane helix formation in a specific membrane protein largely cancel out when averaged over all transmembrane sequences. In other words, other than hydrophobicity, there are no properties of a specific amino acid residue within a hydrophobic segment that have a strong systematic effect upon transmembrane helix formation independent of the remainder of the sequence in that hydrophobic segment. However, proline is an exception to this rule.
A Conserved Active Site Tyrosine Residue of Proline Dehydrogenase Helps Enforce the Preference for Proline over Hydroxyproline as the Substrate

Proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) catalyzes the oxidation of l-proline to Δ-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate. PRODHs exhibit a pronounced preference for proline over hydroxyproline (trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline) as the substrate, but the basis for specificity is unknown. The goal of this study, therefore, is to gain insight into the structural determinants of substrate specificity of this class of enzyme, with a focus on understanding how PRODHs discriminate between the two closely related molecules, proline and hydroxyproline. Two site-directed mutants of the PRODH domain of Escherichia coli PutA were created: Y540A and Y540S. Kinetics measurements were performed with both mutants. Crystal structures of Y540S complexed with hydroxyproline, proline, and the proline analogue l-tetrahydro-2-furoic acid were determined at resolutions of 1.75, 1.90, and 1.85 A, respectively. Mutation of Tyr540 increases the catalytic efficiency for hydroxyproline 3-fold and decreases the specificity for proline by factors of 20 (Y540S) and...
A comparison of inexpensive statistical packages for microcomputers running MS-DOS

The purpose of the present paper is to describe and compare some inexpensive software packages that calculate a variety of statistics on microcomputers running MS-DOS. For each package, hardware requirements, program capabilities, limitations, accuracy, error handling, and other features are considered.
Second head and neck cancers and tobacco usage.

Abstract Objectives: To examine the relative incidence of second primary carcinomas in patients who continued smoking compared with those who had ceased smoking. Methods: This is a retrospective study based on review of the Wake Forest University—Baptist Medical Center Tumor Registry for the years 1985 through 2000. Ninety-one patients who had had an index head and neck tumor and who developed a second independent head and neck primary tumor, were identified. These cases were grouped into synchronous (different sites within 6 months) and metachronous (different site after 6 months or same site after 3 years) second tumors and were examined with respect to smoking history—specifically whether smoking had continued or ceased after the diagnosis of the index tumor. Results: Of the 91 patients identified with double head and neck tumors, 88 were tobacco users. Comprising the group of 54 patients with metachronous second primaries were 51 smokers—25 who had continued and 26 who had ceased tobacco use. Of the 26 patients who had quit smoking but had developed a second primary, 13 had stopped smoking even before the index primary had been diagnosed. The remaining 13 had stopped when the index primary was treated. Conclusions: A review of 91 patients with double head and neck primary tumors indicate no difference in the frequency of second tumors developing in a group of patients who continued to smoke after diagnosis of their index cancers relative to patients who stopped smoking. This finding suggests a critical cellular level of cumulative and persistent damage. Methods to reverse this genetic alteration are hypothesized to be potentially more significant than smoking cessation efforts in preventing subsequent head and neck cancers. (Am J Otolaryngol 2003;24:24-27. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.)
TAXONOMIC REVIEW OF THE ANT GENUS PSEUDOLASIUS (FORMICIDAE: FORMICINAE) IN THE AFROTROPICAL REGION

The ant genus Pseudolasius in the Afrotropical region is reviewed. Two species are considered valid, P. bufonus and P. weissi, and diagnostic morphological characters are provided for each. Scanning electron micrographs are provided for each species, and the male genitalia of P. bufonus are illustrated for the first time. Four species are synomized with P. weissi: P. bayonii new synonym, P. bucculentus new synonym, P. gowdeyi new synonym, and P. weissi sordidus new synonym.
Geologic vs. geographic constraints on cement resources

Abstract This study evaluates the importance of geologic and geographic factors in constraining the location of limestone mining operations for the production of cement in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Cities and their infrastructure require abundant cement, which is manufactured from limestone and other quarry products, but expansion of cities limits the locations of these operations. Possible locations of limestone and cement operations are controlled by geologic factors including distribution and mineralogy of geologic formations as well as depth of overburden, and geographic factors including location of wetlands, cities, and other surface features that preclude development of quarries and manufacturing operations. Overlay analysis was used to evaluate the importance of these factors. Results show that, although limestone underlies about a third of the region, almost 50 percent of this limestone is unavailable for quarrying due to coverage by the built environment, protected natural areas, or excessive overburden thickness. When characteristics such as limestone quality are also accounted for, accessible resources shrink to as little as 2 percent of the total land area. Although the remaining 2 percent of land area may supply local needs for some years, geologic factors clearly must be included in long-term regional land use planning.
Projection of phrenic nerve afferents to the cat sensorimotor cortex

Abstract The projection of phrenic nerve afferents to the sensorimotor cortex was studied in cats. The results of these experiments demonstrate that stimulation of phrenic nerve afferents elicits cortical evoked potentials (CEPs) in the sensorimotor cortex of cats. Cortical foci for CEPs classified as primary were found in areas 3b, 3a and 4γ. These foci were located medial to forelimb and lateral to hindlimb afferent representations in the sensorimotor cortex.
Sex differences in children's attributions for success and failure on math and spelling tests

Sex differences in children's attributions for success and failure were tested on a group of 165 fifth and sixth graders taking a regularly scheduled math and spelling test in their classroom. Pretest questionnaires measured students' self-perceptions of competence in the subject and their performance expectations on the test. Questionnaires, given after the corrected tests were returned, assessed students' actual performance, subjective ratings of success, attributions for the cause of their success or failure, and performance expectations for future tests. Results indicated that sex differences existed in math but not in spelling: compared to girls, boys perceived themselves to be more competent and did better on the math test. Boys were also less likely to attribute failure on the math test to lack of ability and more likely to attribute success to ability than were girls.
Fas ligand expression in esophageal carcinomas and their lymph node metastases.

BACKGROUND Although esophageal adenocarcinomas (EADCA) have been shown to have substantially reduced or absent Fas expression, the status of Fas ligand (FasL) in these tumors, especially adenocarcinomas, is largely unknown. METHODS Using immunohistochemistry, the authors investigated FasL expression in sections of formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue from 13 EADCA. They also studied sections of 15 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCA) and of lymph node metastases from 7 EADCA and 4 ESCCA. The percentage of FasL positive cells in each tumor was recorded. FasL expression in EADCA was compared with that in ESCCA and with lymph node status. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test. RESULTS No specific staining pattern was seen in adenocarcinomas. In ESCCA, FasL was often located in the cells at the periphery of tumor nests. All (100%) of EADCA showed FasL expression in greater than 25% of the cancer cells, and all were associated with lymph node metastasis. Fifty-three percent of ESCCA showed FasL expression in greater than 25% of the cancer cells and 33% had lymph node metastasis. Expression of FasL in greater than 25% of tumor cells was associated with a significantly higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (P=0.0001). All lymph node metastases from esophageal carcinomas showed FasL immunoreactivity in greater than 50% of the metastatic tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS FasL expression in greater than 25% of cancer cells correlates with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinomas. All cancer metastases in lymph nodes express FasL in >50% of the cells. These findings indicate that FasL plays an important role in the immune evasion and metastasis of esophageal carcinomas. Cancer 2000;88:524–8. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Tight junction protein expression and barrier properties of immortalized mouse brain microvessel endothelial cells

Understanding the molecular and biochemical mechanisms regulating the blood-brain barrier is aided by in vitro model systems. Many studies have used primary cultures of brain microvessel endothelial cells for this purpose. However, primary cultures limit the generation of material for molecular and biochemical assays since cells grow slowly, are prone to contamination by other neurovascular unit cells, and lose blood-brain barrier characteristics when passaged. To address these issues, immortalized cell lines have been generated. In these studies, we assessed the suitability of the immortalized mouse brain endothelial cell line, bEnd3, as a blood-brain barrier model. RT-PCR and immunofluorescence indicated expression of multiple tight junction proteins. bEnd3 cells formed barriers to radiolabeled sucrose, and responded like primary cultures to disrupting stimuli. Exposing cells to serum-free media on their basolateral side significantly decreased paracellular permeability; astrocyte-conditioned media did not enhance barrier properties. The serum-free media-induced decrease in permeability was correlated with an increase in claudin-5 and zonula occludens-1 immunofluorescence at cell-cell contracts. We conclude that bEnd3 cells are an attractive candidate as a model of the blood-brain barrier due to their rapid growth, maintenance of blood-brain barrier characteristics over repeated passages, formation of functional barriers and amenability to numerous molecular interventions.
Distributed Coordination Control of Multiagent Systems While Preserving Connectedness

This paper addresses the connectedness issue in multiagent coordination, i.e., the problem of ensuring that a group of mobile agents stays connected while achieving some performance objective. In particular, we study the rendezvous and the formation control problems over dynamic interaction graphs, and by adding appropriate weights to the edges in the graphs, we guarantee that the graphs stay connected.
Estimation in linear models with censored data

SUMMARY Three methods for linear regression with censored data are considered, that of Buckley & James (1979), a proposed simpler nonparametric method and a normal model for censored data. A new estimator for the variance of the error term in Buckley & James's (1979) procedure is proposed and simulations comparing the three methods are described. Many methods have been proposed for handling regression problems in which the dependent variable may be censored. We focus on three methods for the linear model Y= XT3 + E. Two methods are nonparametric so that the distribution of E is unspecified, while the third assumes that E is normally distributed. The nonparametric methods are analogous to the expectation maximization, EM, algorithm, introduced by Dempster, Laird & Rubin (1977), which is broadly applicable for computing maximum likelihood estimates. In ? 2 we discuss each of these methods and propose a new estimator of the variance of E for the Buckley-James method. In ? 3 we give simulation results which compare the three methods.
Propapoptotic effects of NF-kappaB in LNCaP prostate cancer cells lead to serine protease activation.

LNCaP prostate cancer cells are resistant to induction of apoptosis by γ-irradiation and partially sensitive to TNF-α or FAS antibody, irradiation sensitizes cells to apoptosis induced by FAS antibody or TNF-α. LNCaP cell clones stably expressing IκBα super repressor were resistant to apoptosis induced by death ligands in the presence or absence of irradiation. IκBα super repressor expression also increased clonogenic survival after exposure to TNF-α+irradiation, but had no effect on survival after irradiation alone. IκBα super repressor expression blocked the increase of whole cell and cell surface FAS expression induced by TNF-α, but did not effect induction of FAS expression and cell surface FAS expression that resulted from irradiation. In cells expressing IκBα super repressor there was diminished activation of caspases-8 and -7 and diminished production of proscaspases-8 and -7, usually required for death induction in LNCaP cells. Peptide inhibitors of caspase activation complemented the IκBα super repressor inhibition of apoptosis, but peptide inhibitors of serine proteases had no effect on LNCaP cells expressing IκBα super repressor. Moreover, cleavage of a serine protease substrate was induced by treatment of LNCaP cells with TNF-α and irradiation. The data suggest that in LNCaP cells NF-κB mediates a proapoptotic pathway that leads to activation of proapoptotic serine proteases.
Differential expression of alpha-actin mRNA and immunoreactive protein in brain microvascular pericytes and smooth muscle cells.

Hypertension has been linked to opening of the blood-brain barrier and may be related to the expression of the smooth muscle alpha-actin gene in contractile cells at the brain microvasculature. However, the cellular origin (i.e., endothelial cells, pericytes, smooth muscle cells) of the alpha-actin mRNA in the brain microvasculature is not clearly identified. Therefore, we investigated the abundance of actin mRNA by Northern blot analysis in isolated brain microvessels and in brain microvascular endothelial or pericytes in tissue culture. All samples showed the characteristic 2.1 kb transcript corresponding to cytoplasmic beta and gamma isoform mRNA. The 1.7 kb transcript corresponding to smooth muscle alpha-actin was detected in freshly isolated bovine brain microvessels, in primary cultures of brain microvascular pericytes, or endothelial cells; the latter cultures contain both endothelial cells and pericytes. The alpha-actin mRNA was absent in a cloned bovine brain endothelial cell line. The relative abundance of the alpha/(beta + gamma) actin transcript ratio was: cultured pericytes > freshly isolated microvessels > endothelial primary. The cellular distribution of the smooth muscle alpha-actin immunoreactive protein was studied by immunocytochemistry in cytospun/methanol-fixed isolated bovine brain microvessels with a monoclonal antibody directed to the amino-terminal decapeptide of the smooth muscle alpha-actin isoform. This antibody reacted strongly with precapillary arterioles of isolated microvessels, whereas no immunostaining was observed in either capillary endothelial cells or in pericytes. In conclusion, the alpha-actin mRNA is expressed in brain microvascular pericytes in tissue culture, but the immunoreactive alpha-actin protein is not expressed in brain microvascular pericytes in vivo. These data suggest that either 1) alpha-actin gene expression is induced in capillary pericytes in tissue culture or 2) alpha-actin mRNA in brain capillary pericytes in vivo is subject to translational repression resulting in no detectable alpha-actin protein under normal conditions.
The responsive system: a new challenge for AI

I'm developing a responsive system as an intelligent front-end for computer-based management application programs. I intend for the responsive system to observe and understand the user, and interpret and carry out the user's wishes. I use the Management System Model (MSM) to provide a conceptual background to the responsive system. I operationalize the concept of a responsive system from three approaches: observing the human world, comparing responsiveness to other terms, and representing it in the MSM. I built a prototype, called MSLTRAIN, to accomplish the operational objectives of a responsive system. I'm improving MSLTRAIN through experiments meant to extract the meaning of responsiveness and to include that meaning in the MSLTRAIN system. The philosophy of operational responsiveness is evolving through experiment based on iterative design and the critical incident tool idea. Implementing a responsive system requires lots of artificial intelligence (AI) concepts and features. The new challenge for AI is to reason out and learn responsiveness — a human trait not easily found, let alone learned.
Representing the Effect of Crystallographic Texture on the Anisotropic Performance Behavior of Rolled Aluminum Plate

Rolled aluminum alloys are known to be anisotropic due to their processing histories. This paper focuses on measuring and modeling monotonic and cyclic strength anisotropies as well as the associated anisotropy of the elastic/elastic-plastic transition of a commercially-available rolled plate product. Monotonic tension tests were conducted on specimens in the rolling plane of 25.4 mm thick AA 7075-T6 plate taken at various angles to the rolling direction (RD). Fully-reversed tension/compression cyclic experiments were also conducted. As expected, the authors found significant anisotropy in the back-extrapolated yield strength. They also found that the character of the elastic/elastic-plastic transition (knee of the curve) to be dependent on the orientation of the loading axis. The tests performed in RD and TD (transverse direction) had relatively sharp transitions compared to the test data from other orientations. They found the cyclic response of the material to reflect the monotonic anisotropy. The material response reached cyclic stability in 10 cycles or less with very little cyclic hardening or softening observed. For this reason, they focused their modeling effort on predicting the monotonic response. Reckoning that the primary source of anisotropy in the rolled plate is the processing-induced crystallographic texture, they employed the experimentally-measured texture of themore » undeformed plate material in continuum slip polycrystal plasticity model simulations of the monotonic experiments. Three types of simulations were conducted, upper and lower bound analyses and a finite element calculation that associates an element with each crystal in the aggregate. They found that all three analyses predicted anisotropy of the back-extrapolated yield strength and post-yield behavior with varying degrees of success in correlating the experimental data.« less
WU and KI polyomavirus infections in pediatric hematology/oncology patients with acute respiratory tract illness

Background WU and KI polyomaviruses (PyV) were discovered in 2007 in respiratory tract samples in adults and children. Other polyomaviruses (BKPyV and JCPyV) have been associated with illness in immunocompromised patients, and some studies suggest a higher prevalence of WUPyV and KIPyV in this population.
Ventilation during CPR: Two-rescuer standards reappraised

Current American Heart Association standards for ventilation during two-rescuer CPR recommend that a 0.8- to 1.2-L breath be delivered in 0.5 second after every fifth chest compression. Delivering a high-volume breath over a brief inspiratory time (TI) may lead to hypoventilation and gastric insufflation in victims with an unprotected airway. We reasoned that lengthening TI would lower peak inspiratory pressure and peak inspiratory flow rate, and thus improve lung inflation. To study this possibility, a mechanical model of the airway and upper gastrointestinal tract was designed. A ventilator delivering a sinusoidal wave form was used to simulate artificial ventilation. A 0.8-L breath was delivered at 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 seconds at three lung compliances (CLs). Also, the effect of lengthening TI was studied with increased airway resistance. Lengthening TI improved lung inflation and decreased gastric insufflation at all CLs, but more so with normal CL than with decreased CL. This study demonstrates the need for evaluating alternative ventilatory patterns with longer TI during CPR.
Incorporating Job Predictions into the SEAGrid Science Gateway

This paper describes the process of incorporating predictions of job queue wait times and run times into a Science Gateway. Science Gateways that integrate multiple resources can use predictions of queue wait times and run times to advice users when they choose where a job is executed or in an automated resource selection process. These predictions are also critical in executing workflows were it isn't feasible to have users specify where each task executes and the workflow management system therefore has to perform resource selection programmatically. SEAGrid science gateway has partly integrated the estimation of wait time prediction based on Karnak prediction service and is in the process of extending this to run time prediction.
Relation of the leukocyte count to recurrent cardiac events in stable patients after acute myocardial infarction

Increasing evidence implicates inflammation as a risk factor for coronary artery disease. We determined whether an elevated leukocyte count is associated with an increased risk of death or reinfarction in stable patients with a past acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The current analysis is a substudy of the Multicenter Diltiazem Postinfarction Trial, which investigated the effect of diltiazem on mortality and reinfarction in 2,466 patients hospitalized for AMI. We included 1,294 patients in whom a leukocyte count was obtained 6 months after the index AMI. The composite end point of reinfarction or death was used as the primary end point of the study and reinfarction or cardiac death was used as a secondary end point. The study population was divided into 4 quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) based on the leukocyte count. During a mean follow-up period of 25 months, 163 patients reached the primary end point: 8.7%, 10.9%, 14.0%, and 16.7%, in Q1, Q2, Q3, and, Q4 respectively (p = 0.01). After adjusting for potential covariates, Cox proportional-hazards analysis revealed that an increased leukocyte count was associated with an increased risk of both the primary end point (hazard ratio/1 quartile increase in leukocyte count, 1.26; p = 0.003; 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.47) and secondary end point (hazard ratio, 1.18/1-quartile increase; p = 0.05; 95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.40). In conclusion, an increased leukocyte count measured in the stable post-AMI period is associated with an increased risk of cardiac events. These findings indicate that the leukocyte count may be another marker of an atherosclerotic inflammatory process that contributes to cardiac events in postinfarction patients.
Optimal Urban Plans

This paper develops a model of optimal urban structure which combines data from hedonic regressions with a version of the assignment model. It is proposed that the data be updated in such a way tha...