cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of discrete protein-surface interactions in scanning force microscopy adhesion force measurements

The potential for measuring specific molecular recognition forces between probe-bound ligands and surface-bound proteins using a scanning force microscope (SFM) has recently gained much attention. Generally, observed discontinuities in the SFM force-displacement curves are attributed to the breaking of discrete, specific affinity bonds. The present study on the molecular recognition system composed of surface-immobilized antifluorescyl IgG molecules and SFM probe-bound fluorescein ligands has demonstrated that similar intermittent discontinuities in the SFM force-displacement curves may in fact be largely due to nonspecific discrete interactions between the protein and the SFM probe. The mechanical behavior of the cantilever-spherical bead system used in this study is discussed, as it appears to cause a false indication of the separation distance between the surface and probe. The strong lateral interactions which result in "stick and slip"-like discontinuities seen in the adhesion curves are likely the result of localized adhesion due to the heterogeneous nature of proteins and the lack of molecular mobility allowed in the experimental system. The effect is magnified with increasing contact time between the protein and probe. Factors which may cause such anomalous behavior in a specific ligand-protein system are discussed in order to avoid misinterpretation of SFM adhesion measurements.
A multiple-pore-region concept to modeling mass transfer in subsurface media

Abstract Recent studies in soil science literature have strongly indicated the need to incorporate pore structures in near-surface mass transport modeling. There is increasing evidence suggesting that pore structures, such as fractures and macropores, facilitate the transport of water and solutes along a preferential flow path while water and solutes are moved into micropores and rock matrices concurrently. This study presents a conceptual model, a multiple-pore-region (or multi-region) concept, to account for pore structures as well as the resultant widely distributed pore water velocities in macroporous media. Pore regions can either be physically identified as discrete features, such as fractures and rock matrices, or be experimentally determined by separation of water retention curves according to pore classification schemes. A multi-region mechanism is proposed to account for the effect of local-scale and field-scale heterogeneities on mass transport under variably saturated conditions. Two numerical codes for subsurface fluid flow and solute transport have been developed with the multi-region concept, in which a firstorder mass exchange model is adopted to simulate the redistribution of pressure heads and solute concentrations among pore regions. The computer codes are used to demonstrate the applicability of the concept to fractured porous media, and to test a three-pore-region hypothesis using laboratory soil column tracer injection data. Based upon the parameters obtained from fitting multi-region and mobile-immobile models to these data, we successfully demonstrated that the former model has the advantage of maintaining consistent conceptual models over the latter under variably saturated conditions.
A selective repeat ARQ scheme for point-to-multipoint communications and its throughput analysis

Selective repeat automatic-repeat-request (ARQ) schemes with finite receiver buffer have been studied and analyzed extensively for point-to-point communications. In this paper, we propose a selective repeat ARQ scheme for point-to-multipoint communications where each receiver has a finite buffer size. A lower bound on the throughput efficiency of the proposed scheme is obtained. Computation of the lower bound and simulation of the scheme reveal that the ARQ scheme performs quite satisfactorily, particularly for channels with large round-trip delay and high data rate like the satellite channel. The proposed scheme outperforms the full-memory go-back-N scheme proposed by Gopal, et al. [13]. The scheme seems ideally suited for the case of a satellite operating in broadcast mode with many receivers.
Aminoglycoside toxicity--a survey of retinal specialists. Implications for ocular use.

• Surveyed members of the Retina, Macula, and Vitreous Societies reported 93 cases of macular infarction they believed to be related to administration of gentamicin sulfate; five, to administration of amikacin sulfate; and three, to administration of tobramycin sulfate. Most cases of infarction after administration of gentamicin occurred in eyes that received an intravitreous injection of 0.4 mg after vitrectomy, but a surprisingly high number, 17, occurred after injection of 0.1 or 0.2 mg, doses that are considered safe by many ophthalmologists. Four additional cases of infarction occurred in eyes that did not undergo vitrectomy after injection of 0.1 or 0.2 mg. Four of the five cases related to administration of amikacin occurred after intravitreous injection of 0.4 mg, and one of these four occurred in an eye that did not undergo vitrectomy. Twenty-three cases of macular infarction occurred in eyes that were treated with prophylactic subconjunctival injections of aminoglycosides after routine ocular surgery. Responses from this survey suggest that aminoglycoside-induced retinal infarction is widely recognized and more common than indicated from the small number of cases reported in the literature. The role of aminoglycosides in the prophylaxis of ocular infections and the management of endophthalmitis should be reevaluated.
Self-Focusing of Rayleigh Waves and Lamb Waves with a Linear Phased Array

A simple idea for self-focusing of a linear array has been extended to Rayleigh and Lamb waves. The self-focusing procedure first measures the backscattered signals for a first transmission by a single element of the array. A cross-correlation technique is used to determine the time-of-flight differences of the backscattered signals received by the elements of the array. These time delays are used to adjust the times of excitation of the elements for transmission focusing on the defect. Using the differences in arrival time once more, the backscattered signals after transmission focusing are aligned for reception focusing. Experimental results demonstrate the ability to self-focus on single defects. For multiple defects, the technique has been extended to focus on the defect that produces the largest backscattered signal.
Mercury and other heavy metals influence bacterial community structure in contaminated Tennessee streams

High concentrations of uranium, inorganic mercury [Hg(II)], and methylmercury (MeHg) have been detected in streams located in the Department of Energy reservation in Oak Ridge, TN. To determine the potential effects of the surface water contamination on the microbial community composition, surface stream sediments were collected 7 times during the year, from 5 contaminated locations and 1 control stream. Fifty-nine samples were analyzed for bacterial community composition and geochemistry. Community characterization was based on GS 454 FLX pyrosequencing with 235 Mb of 16S rRNA gene sequence targeting the V4 region. Sorting and filtering of the raw reads resulted in 588,699 high-quality sequences with lengths of >200 bp. The bacterial community consisted of 23 phyla, including Proteobacteria (ranging from 22.9 to 58.5% per sample), Cyanobacteria (0.2 to 32.0%), Acidobacteria (1.6 to 30.6%), Verrucomicrobia (3.4 to 31.0%), and unclassified bacteria. Redundancy analysis indicated no significant differences in the bacterial community structure between midchannel and near-bank samples. Significant correlations were found between the bacterial community and seasonal as well as geochemical factors. Furthermore, several community members within the Proteobacteria group that includes sulfate-reducing bacteria and within the Verrucomicrobia group appeared to be associated positively with Hg and MeHg. This study is the first to indicate an influence of MeHg on the in situ microbial community and suggests possible roles of these bacteria in the Hg/MeHg cycle.
Genome organization and phylogenetic relationship of Pineapple mealybug wilt associated virus-3 with family Closteroviridae members

The nucleotide sequence of Pineapple mealybug wilt associated virus-3 (PMWaV-3) (Closteroviridae: Ampelovirus), spanning seven open reading frames (ORFs) and the untranslatable region of the 3′ end was determined. Based on the amino acid identities with orthologous ORFs of PMWaV-1 (54%–73%) and PMWaV-2 (13%–35%), we propose PMWaV-3 is a new species in the PMWaV complex. PMWaV-3 lacks an intergenic region between ORF1b and ORF2, encodes a relatively small, 28.8 kDa, coat protein, and lacks a coat protein duplicate. Phylogenetic analyses were used to analyze seven different domains and ORFs from members of the family Closteroviridae. Two distinct clades within the recognized genus Ampelovirus were observed; one that includes PMWaV-3 and PMWaV-1 and several GLRaVs and another that includes PMWaV-2 and GLRaV-3, the type member of the genus Ampelovirus.
Techniques in unsedated endoscopy

Abstract The evolution of gastrointestinal endoscopy in the United States has led to the near-universal practice of performing all endoscopic procedures under conscious sedation. Performing endoscopy without sedation has intuitive benefits and may play a larger role in the future of endoscopic practice. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or esophagoscopy using small caliber endoscopes may be the most promising application of unsedated endoscopy. Most upper endoscopies are done for diagnostic purposes and such unsedated procedures may be completed in less than ten minutes. Unsedated EGD has been shown to be tolerable, feasible, and safe. Despite such reports, unsedated endoscopy has not gained widespread use in the United States. The goals of this chapter are to review the technical aspects of unsedated upper endoscopy in an attempt to promote its more widespread practice.
Mechanism-Based Mathematical Model for Gating of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors

We present a mathematical model for ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluR's) that is built on mechanistic understanding and yields a number of thermodynamic and kinetic properties of channel gating. iGluR's are ligand-gated ion channels responsible for the vast majority of fast excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system. The effects of agonist-induced closure of the ligand-binding domain (LBD) are transmitted to the transmembrane channel (TMC) via interdomain linkers. Our model demonstrates that, relative to full agonists, partial agonists may reduce either the degree of LBD closure or the curvature of the LBD free energy basin, leading to less stabilization of the channel open state and hence lower channel open probability. A rigorous relation is derived between the channel closed-to-open free energy difference and the tension within the linker. Finally, by treating LBD closure and TMC opening as diffusive motions, we obtain gating trajectories that resemble stochastic current traces from single-channel recordings and calculate the rate constants for transitions between the channel open and closed states. Our model can be implemented by molecular dynamics simulations to realistically depict iGluR gating and may guide functional experiments in gaining deeper insight into this essential family of channel proteins.
Finite-Difference Complex Wavevector Band Structure Solver for Nanophotonics Applications

A two-dimensional finite-difference complex wavevector band structure solver for nanophotonics applications is presented, and rigorous computation of modal properties within bandgaps of periodic devices, including mirror strength, is shown.
Vitamin D, Sunlight and Prostate Cancer Risk

Prostate cancer is the second common cancer in men worldwide. The prevention of prostate cancer remains a challenge to researchers and clinicians. Here, we review the relationship of vitamin D and sunlight to prostate cancer risk. Ultraviolet radiation of the sunlight is the main stimulator for vitamin D production in humans. Vitamin D's antiprostate cancer activities may be involved in the actions through the pathways mediated by vitamin D metabolites, vitamin D metabolizing enzymes, vitamin D receptor (VDR), and VDR-regulated genes. Although laboratory studies including the use of animal models have shown that vitamin D has antiprostate cancer properties, whether it can effectively prevent the development and/or progression of prostate cancer in humans remains to be inconclusive and an intensively studied subject. This review will provide up-to-date information regarding the recent outcomes of laboratory and epidemiology studies on the effects of vitamin D on prostate cancer prevention.
Flux loops: More new heavy particles in the Weinberg-Salam model☆

Abstract Extending Nambu's suggestion that there are stringlike classical solutions in the Weinberg-Salam model, we argue that these include closed tori of weak neutral (Z 0 ) flux.
Pollen distribution in marine sediments on the continental margin off northern California

Abstract Pollen analysis of 84 samples from surface sediment of the continental margin off northern California (between 38° and 39°N and 123° and 124°W) shows that the composition of pollen assemblages in this part of the North Pacific Ocean reflects the regional vegetation of the Russian River and other local drainage basins of the northern coast of California. Systematic trends in the quantitative and qualitative variations in these marine pollen assemblages show that fluvial and marine transport are important factors in determining the nature of pollen assemblages offshore. These conclusions are supported by the analyses of pollen in rivers of the north coast of California and in particulate matter collected in a mid-slope sediment trap.
The effect of bacteriophage T2 infection on the synthesis of transfer RNA in Escherichia coli

Abstract During the initial 5 minutes of T2 bacteriophage infection of Escherichia coli, there is substantial incorporation of labeled guanine into the transfer RNA (tRNA) fraction, strongly suggesting that new tRNA is synthesized early in infection. In this 5-minute period the amount of labeled guanine incorporated into the tRNA fraction of T2-infected bacteria is 23% of that in uninfected bacteria during an equivalent period. The tRNA fractions from T2-infected bacteria and uninfected bacteria were compared by pulse-labeling cultures of each for 5 minutes with 3H and 14C isotopes of guanine and partially resolving a mixture of the doubly labeled tRNA species by reversed phase chromatography. The chromatographic pattern of the labeled tRNA from uninfected cultures of E. coli was very similar to that of nonlabeled carrier tRNA from uninfected cultures. tRNA prepared from pulse-labeled T2-infected cultures of E. coli had a chromatographic pattern that was radically different from that of tRNA prepared from uninfected cultures. These results indicate either that the tRNA synthesized after T2 infection of E. coli represents species of tRNA entirely different from those made in uninfected bacteria, or that relative proportions of the different species made are greatly altered after phage infection, some being made preferentially and others in reduced amounts. Evidence is presented that a substantial amount of the material in the tRNA fraction made during T2 infection can accept amino acids.
A mathematical model predicting the minimum meniscus radius in mixed particles

The minimum meniscus radius occurring in the heat pipe determines the maximum capillary heat transport. The accurate prediction of minimum meniscus radii plays a key role in designing a highly efficient heat pipe cooling device. In the current investigation, a mathematical model predicting the minimum meniscus radius occurring in the sintered particles is developed. If the particle size distribution is given, the model can be used to predict the minimum meniscus radii in sintered particles.
Possible opioid receptor function changes in isolated atria of the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Abstract 1. 1. A comparison of the effects of various opioid peptides on the heart rates of self-paced right atria was made, as taken from spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. 2. 2. Beta-endorphin, dynorphin, met-enkephalin, DAGO and DADLE slightly decreased the spontaneously beating rate of all rat strains and ages, at 0.1 μM. Leu-enkephalin at 0.2 μM increased the spontaneous beating rate of SHR atria, but not that of atria from normotensive strains. 3. 3. SHR atria were somewhat more sensitive than WKY atria to norepinephrine (NE)-induced positive chronotropy, but the differences were not statistically significant. 4. 4. In the presence of mu, delta or kappa opioid receptor agonists, SHR atrial sensitivity to NE-induced chronotropy was enhanced at all ages studied. By contrast, NE chronotropy was not significantly altered by the opioids in normotensive rat atria. 5. 5. Based on the above results, all the three major opioid receptor subtypes (mu, delta and kappa) appear to be present in rat atria but the function of these receptors appears to be greater in SHR than in WKY and SD atria. 6. 6. The results suggest a possible involvement of altered opioid responsiveness in atria during hypertension development in SHR but the nature of this involvement appears to be complex and is not readily understandable on the basis of the present study.
Genistein, a component of soy, inhibits the expression of the EGF and ErbB2/Neu receptors in the rat dorsolateral prostate.

BACKGROUND Epidemiological reports suggest that Asians consuming a diet high in soy have a low incidence of prostate cancer. In animal models, soy and genistein have been demonstrated to suppress the development of prostate cancer. In this study, we investigate the mechanism of action, bioavailability, and potential for toxicity of dietary genistein in a rodent model. METHODS Lobund-Wistar rats were fed a 0.025–1.0-mg genistein/g AIN-76A diet. The dorsolateral prostate was subjected to Western blot analysis for expression of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, and of the EGF and ErbB2/Neu receptors. Genistein concentrations were measured from serum and prostate using HPLC-mass spectrometry. Body and prostate weights, and circulating testosterone levels, were measured. RESULTS Increasing concentrations of genistein in the diet inhibited tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins with molecular weights of 170,000 and 85,000 in the dorsolateral prostate. Western blot analysis revealed that the 1-mg genistein/g AIN-76A diet inhibited by 50% the expression of the EGF receptor and its phosphorylation. In rats fed this diet, serum-free and total genistein concentrations were 137 and 2,712 pmol/ml, respectively. The free and total genistein IC50 values for the EGF receptor were 150 and 600 pmol/g prostate tissue, respectively. Genistein in the diet also inhibited the ErbB2/Neu receptor. Body and dorsolateral prostate weights, and circulating testosterone concentrations, were not adversely effected from exposure to genistein in the diet for 3 weeks. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that genistein in the diet can downregulate the EGF and ErbB2/Neu receptors in the rat prostate with no apparent adverse toxicity to the host. The concentration needed to achieve a 50% reduction in EGF receptor expression can be achieved by eating a diet high in soy products or with genistein supplementation. Genistein inhibition of the EGF signaling pathway suggests that this phytoestrogen may be useful in both protecting against and treating prostate cancer. Prostate 37:36–43, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Islamophobia, the Israel Lobby and American Paranoia: Letter from America

The phenomenon of Islamophobia has now surfaced as a factor in American politics. While disturbing and damaging of people's lives and reputations, the phenomenon is not unique. It can be seen as but the latest eruption of paranoid political thinking that periodically arises in American history. In turn, seeing the fate of the nation threatened by conspiracies and anti-American elements is made easier and more destructive by high levels of ignorance and insularity among large numbers of Americans. This latest round of paranoid politics, coming now in the form of Islamophobia, was triggered by the attacks of 11 September 2001 and quickly exacerbated by American Zionist groups, both Jewish and Christian, whose dislike of Muslims also has a long history.
Clinical experiences with carbimazole (1-methyl-2-carbethoxy-thio-imidazole) in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

Although Lawson, Rimington and Searle (1) synthesized and showed the action of 1-methyl-2-carbethoxy-thio-imidazole (carbimazole) in rats and man in 1951 and found it to be slightly more potent than methimazole in inhibiting the thyroidal uptake of I131 in both rats and man, there have been remarkably few further reports of its activity to date (2–13). These cover clinical data for somewhat less than 500 patients. Moreover, two studies (8, 11) have been concerned solely with the recording of a single case of toxicity, presumably due to the drug. As a general rule, the rightful place of an antithyroid compound in the treatment of hyperthyroidism can rarely be settled until data from several thousand cases are critically analyzed. This seems to be particularly true for determining toxicity, and toxicity in relation to daily dose and duration of treatment. For these reasons, we are prompted to add a small series of cases to those already in the literature.
Positive peritoneal cytology predicts unresectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Abstract Background: Peritoneal cytology is clinically useful in gastric and gynecologic malignancies. Its role in pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains less well defined. Controversy exists as to the relationship between percutaneous fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the pancreas and shedding of malignant cells with the peritoneum. The aim of this study was to determine whether positive peritoneal cytology (PPC) predicts unresectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and impacts on overall survival. In addition, the study aimed to determine whether antecedent FNA increases the incidence of PPC. Study Design: Between January 1993 and June 1996, 228 patients with radiographically resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent laparoscopic staging. Specimens were taken from right and left upper quadrants at the beginning of laparoscopy. Various prognostic factors were analyzed. Results: PPC was identified in 34 patients (15%). Of patients that had an antecedent FNA, 20% had PPC, and 13% of those without an antecedent FNA had PPC (p = 0.22). The majority of patients with PPC had stage IV disease (26 of 34 [76%]) and only 8 (24%) had no evidence of metastases. Overall survival was significantly higher in patients with negative peritoneal cytology (NPC) compared with PPC (p Conclusions: PPC is associated with advanced disease and is highly specific in predicting unresectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, resulting in decreased survival. Antecedent FNA is not associated with an increased the incidence of PPC, nor does it significantly impact on overall survival.
Dysregulation of glutamate carboxypeptidase II in psychiatric disease

Abstract Experimental evidence is beginning to converge on an important role for dysregulation of glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) in schizophrenia. The goal of this study was to determine GCPII levels in postmortem brain specimens of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or unipolar depression and age-matched control subjects. We used N -[ N -( S )-1,3-dicarboxypropyl]carbamoyl]- S -3-[ 125 I]iodo- l -tyrosine ([ 125 I]DCIT), a high-affinity radioligand for GCPII, to probe for GCPII expression in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and mesial temporal lobe, two brain regions implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We found that GCPII levels measured by [ 125 I]DCIT quantitative autoradiography were significantly lower in the PFC and entorhinal cortex in patients with schizophrenia compared to age-matched controls. Patients with bipolar disorder also expressed significantly lower GCPII levels in PFC than controls. The decrease in [ 125 I]DCIT binding in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder remained significant after adjusting for drug abuse. A significant difference in GCPII levels was also observed between schizophrenia relative to bipolar disorder and depressed subjects in the hippocampus-stratum lucidum and between schizophrenia and bipolar in the CA2 region of the hippocampus, with bipolar and depressed subjects expressing higher levels of GCPII than subjects with schizophrenia. These differences in hippocampal GCPII levels may implicate differences in the etiologies of these mental disorders. In summary, this study demonstrates a regional dysregulation of GCPII expression in the brain of patients with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders and supports a hypoglutamatergic state of the former illness. GCPII may represent a viable therapeutic target for intervention in psychiatric disease.
P2L-6 Shock Wave Propagation with the KZK Equation

Numerical methods that solve the nonlinear parabolic wave (KZK) equation and satisfy the Rankine-Hugoniot relation for shock wave propagation at all attenuation strengths are described and characterized. By comparison with a known planar solution, it is demonstrated that current numerical methods in the time domain predict a shock front that is stationary relative to the propagation phase in the inviscid case and that the proposed method predicts the correct speed. These methods are then compared in the context of shock wave lithotripsy and high intensity focused ultrasound. At the focus, axisymmetric shock wave lithotripter simulations show that the proposed methods predict peak positive pressures that are 20% smaller, peak negative pressures that are 10% larger, and a full width half maximum that is 45% larger. High intensity focused ultrasound simulations for an axisymmetric transducer in water have even larger variations in peak positive pressures and intensity but smaller variations in peak negative pressure. Simulations from a rectangular transducer in tissue, where absorption is more prominent, exhibit smaller but significant variations in peak pressures and intensity
Reciprocal expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and cyclooxygenase-2 in human term parturition

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) is expressed in intrauterine tissues before active term human parturition, and that its repression is associated with up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Study Design Specimens were collected from women with term singleton pregnancies after spontaneous labor or cesarean section before labor, prepared for immunoblot and immunohistochemical analysis, and probed for PPAR-γ or COX-2. Results PPAR-γ expression was prominent in fetal membranes and placenta before active labor. After labor, PPAR-γ expression was significantly reduced in fetal membranes, but not in placenta. The ratio of COX-2:PPAR-γ was significantly elevated in fetal membranes with labor. PPAR-γ immunostaining was prominent in syncytiotrophoblast, extravillous cytotrophoblasts, and cells of the amnion and chorion. COX-2 immunostaining was abundant in the amnion and rare in the placenta. Conclusion PPAR-γ is highly expressed in term intrauterine tissues. In fetal membranes, PPAR-γ levels are reduced once active labor commences, coincidental with a relative increase in COX-2 expression.
Fractures of the triquetrum.

1. Fractures of the triquetrum occur infrequently. 2. Chip, flake, traction, or avulsion fractures of the dorsal aspect of the triquetrum often do not unite and may form a permanent ossicle; those that do unite usually take several months to do so. 3. Fissure and comminuted fractures of the main part of the triquetrum almost always unite without gross deformity; non-union is rare and aseptic necrosis apparently does not occur. 4. It must be emphasized that clinical or functional recovery usually occurs long before roentgenographic evidence of bony union is demonstrated.
Reliability of public information: predators provide more information about risk than conspecifics

Animals may acquire information about predatory threats via direct cues, clues from the predator, or indirect cues from predator-elicited alarm signals from conspecifics. Although direct detection of a predator is assumed to be a better indicator of risk, only three previous studies have directly contrasted the relative information content of conspecific alarm calls to predator sounds. Studied species typically reacted equally or stronger to conspecific alarm calls than to predator sounds, suggesting that an indirect cue may be a more reliable indicator of risk. We studied zenaida doves’, Zenaida aurita, responsiveness to predator sounds and conspecific alarm signals. When flushed, zenaida doves produced voluntary mechanical wing whistles, which we predicted to be alarm signals. Observing responses to wing flap playbacks with and without whistles, we found that doves increased vigilance significantly more to wing whistles than to wing flaps without whistles or control playbacks. These results indicate that conspecifics interpret wing whistles as alarm signals. We then conducted another playback experiment, which demonstrated that red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis, playbacks elicited higher levels of dove vigilance than conspecific wing whistles. Contrary to other species, zenaida doves seemingly consider predator vocalizations more informative than conspecific alarm signals. Therefore, the reliability of acoustic signals associated with predation risk may strongly influence prey responsiveness to direct and indirect cues.
Complex rearrangements in the evolution of hominoid chromosome XVII

Abstract A gene cluster located on chromosome 17 in the human genome was mapped by fluorescent in situ hybridization to the chromosomes of the great apes. In situ hybridization uses the base pairing complementarily of a labeled probe to establish its position on the chromosomes of a metaphase cell. In no case does the location of the U2 cluster in any of the great apes appear to be identical to that in the human. This implies that several rearrangements to chromosome 17 have accompanied the diversification of the large-bodied Hominoidea. These include one translocation and at least three inversions.
Selecting Interior Materials for Medical Treatment Settings: A Pragmatic Approach

When interior materials are chosen by strict performance criteria, the products themselves are often thought to limit design opportunities. This is a truism frequently applied to medical facility design. A case study is presented to demonstrate how a particular methodology, based upon a materials research approach, was used to set criteria and choose interior materials for a renal services center. The approach was a pragmatic one. Interior materials were selected, tested, and evaluated based upon the expertise of both medical staff and designers. This process strengthened, rather than restricted, the three-dimensional design of a functional and appropriate treatment setting.
A Gale Force Wind: Meaning Making by Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

This in-depth qualitative study explores how 16 resilient male survivors of serious childhood sexual abuse, representing a range of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, made meaning from their abuse experiences. Three main types of meaning making styles were identified in the narratives: meaning making through action, using cognitive strategies, and engaging spirituality. Meaning making through action included helping others and using creative expression to describe and process the abuse. Reasoning systems that helped survivors to understand why the abuse happened included developing a psychological framework for understanding the abuser or the role of the self in the abuse, using a sociocultural explanation, or developing a philosophical view. A few men made meaning through their spirituality. Meaning making styles seem to be related to experiences with therapy; the more experience these men had had with specialized trauma therapy, the more likely they were to make meaning by attempting to understand their perpetrators. In this study, men of color, regardless of socioeconomic class, were less likely than Caucasian men to have received specialized trauma therapy.
Absorption and Protein Biosynthesis of Threonine in the Chick

Abstract THE observation that a lysine deficiency increased threonine in the plasma of chicks has been reported (Richardson et al., 1965; Hill et al., 1961; and Gray et al., 1960). Charkey et al. (1954) suggested that threonine increased in plasma when tissue synthesis did not occur. Richardson et al. (1965) further stated that free threonine accumulated in the plasma and liver but negligible amounts accumulated in the muscle of chicks fed a protein free diet. The dietary requirement for this amino acid has been given for chicks (Krautman et al., 1958). This report deals with the absorption of threonine-UL-C14 from sites along the gastrointestinal tract and the biosynthesis and deposition of the labeled threonine in the liver, kidney and muscle tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS Absorption—In order to check the sites and rates of absorption of the threonine-UL-C14, anesthesized chicks in the 700 gram weight range were used. The birds were . . .
Concentric Interactive Group Model: A Unique Experience for Patients and Staff

PURPOSE. The purpose of this article is to describe the Concentric Interactive Group Model, a unique psychotherapeutic group therapy model, for the treatment of patients with difficulties related to aggression. In the first of three phases of the group, the patient discusses his/her aggression while staff observe; in the second phase, the staff discuss what occurred in the first phase while patients observe; and in the third and last phase, patients and staff discuss, clarify, and reinforce what was learned in the previous phases. CONCLUSIONS. The uniqueness of the model is in the opportunity it offers the patient to learn to manage aggression through both dialogue and observation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Nurses can use this observation and modeling as a potentially powerful intervention for addressing maladaptive aggressive behaviors in their patients.
Astasia-Abasia A Conversion Reaction Prognosis

Twenty-seven children and adolescents were diagnosed as having astasia-abasia on the basis of a conversion reaction between 1965 and 1979. Follow-up information was obtained by questionnaire or a telephone interview from all but one patient over periods ranging from 5 to 22 years. Twenty-two patients thought that they were in good health, but nine patients had some minor complaints, such as leg weakness or stomach pains. Major symptom substitution had not occurred. No organic illness had been missed. One patient was in psychiatric care, two additional patients seemed to have continued mental problems, and one patient was in jail after having killed his parents.
A Metalloprotease Secreted by the Type II Secretion System Links Vibrio cholerae with Collagen

Vibrio cholerae is autochthonous to various aquatic niches and is the etiological agent of the life-threatening diarrheal disease cholera. The persistence of V. cholerae in natural habitats is a crucial factor in the epidemiology of cholera. In contrast to the well-studied V. cholerae-chitin connection, scarce information is available about the factors employed by the bacteria for the interaction with collagens. Collagens might serve as biologically relevant substrates, because they are the most abundant protein constituents of metazoan tissues and V. cholerae has been identified in association with invertebrate and vertebrate marine animals, as well as in a benthic zone of the ocean where organic matter, including collagens, accumulates. Here, we describe the characterization of the V. cholerae putative collagenase, VchC, encoded by open reading frame VC1650 and belonging to the subfamily M9A peptidases. Our studies demonstrate that VchC is an extracellular collagenase degrading native type I collagen of fish and mammalian origin. Alteration of the predicted catalytic residues coordinating zinc ions completely abolished the protein enzymatic activity but did not affect the translocation of the protease by the type II secretion pathway into the extracellular milieu. We also show that the protease undergoes a maturation process with the aid of a secreted factor(s). Finally, we propose that V. cholerae is a collagenovorous bacterium, as it is able to utilize collagen as a sole nutrient source. This study initiates new lines of investigations aiming to uncover the structural and functional components of the V. cholerae collagen utilization program.
A calibrated advection‐aridity evaporation model requiring no humidity data

[1] A modified advection-aridity model was tested with 24 h averaged data from the First ISLSCP (International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project) Field Experiment-87 and the Cooperative Atmospheric-Surface Exchange Study (CASES) -97 experiments. Two modifications were made. First, the need for humidity measurements in the "drying power" term of the equation was circumvented by assuming the daily average specific humidity for a 24 h day is equal to the specific humidity at the minimum temperature during the day. When compared to measured latent heat fluxes, this modification resulted in no deterioration in advection-aridity estimates compared to versions using measured humidity. A second modification followed previous researchers by formulating the drying power in the Penman equation using Monin-Obukhov similarity (MOS) theory. However, this version calibrated kB -1 (≡In(z o /z ov ) by setting the Priestley-Taylor evapotranspiration rate equal (on average) to the Penman evapotranspiration on several moist days and solving for the value of kB -1 as the only unknown. The calibration involved no latent heat flux measurements. The results suggest that the advection-aridity model performs modestly better in the calibrated MOS version than with Penman's original wind function. Further investigation is recommended because MOS theory accounts for varying momentum roughness lengths, and the calibration was not done under ideal (well-watered or nearly saturated) conditions that deteriorated the results somewhat with the CASES data set.
A Proxy View of Quality of Domain Name Service, Poisoning Attacks and Survival Strategies

The Domain Name System (DNS) provides a critical service for the Internet -- mapping of user-friendly domain names to their respective IP addresses. Yet, there is no standard set of metrics quantifying the Quality of Domain Name Service (QoDNS), let alone a thorough evaluation of it. This article attempts to fill this gap from the perspective of a DNS proxy/cache, which is the bridge between clients and authoritative servers. We present an analytical model of DNS proxy operations that offers insights into the design trade-offs of DNS infrastructure and the selection of critical DNS parameters.Due to the critical role DNS proxies play in QoDNS, they are the focus of attacks including cache poisoning attack. We extend the analytical model to study DNS cache poisoning attacks and their impact on QoDNS metrics. This analytical study prompts us to present Domain Name Cross-Referencing (DoX), a peer-to-peer systems for DNS proxies to cooperatively defend cache poisoning attacks. Based on QoDNS, we compare DoX with the cryptography-based DNS Security Extension (DNSSEC) to understand their relative merits.
High Expression Rates of Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Induce Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress–Mediated β-Cell Apoptosis, a Characteristic of Humans With Type 2 but Not Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE —Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress–induced apoptosis may be a common cause of cell attrition in diseases characterized by misfolding and oligomerisation of amyloidogenic proteins. The islet in type 2 diabetes is characterized by islet amyloid derived from islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and increased β-cell apoptosis. We questioned the following: 1 ) whether IAPP-induced β-cell apoptosis is mediated by ER stress and 2 ) whether β-cells in type 2 diabetes are characterized by ER stress. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —The mechanism of IAPP-induced apoptosis was investigated in INS-1 cells and human IAPP (HIP) transgenic rats. ER stress in humans was investigated by β-cell C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression in 7 lean nondiabetic, 12 obese nondiabetic, and 14 obese type 2 diabetic human pancreata obtained at autopsy. To assure specificity for type 2 diabetes, we also examined pancreata from eight cases of type 1 diabetes. RESULTS —IAPP induces β-cell apoptosis by ER stress in INS-1 cells and HIP rats. Perinuclear CHOP was rare in lean nondiabetic (2.6 ± 2.0%) and more frequent in obese nondiabetic (14.6 ± 3.0%) and obese diabetic (18.5 ± 3.6%) pancreata. Nuclear CHOP was not detected in lean nondiabetic and rare in obese nondiabetic (0.08 ± 0.04%) but six times higher ( P < 0.01) in obese diabetic (0.49 ± 0.17%) pancreata. In type 1 diabetic pancreata, perinuclear CHOP was rare (2.5 ± 2.3%) and nuclear CHOP not detected. CONCLUSIONS —ER stress is a mechanism by which IAPP induces β-cell apoptosis and is characteristic of β-cells in humans with type 2 diabetes but not type 1 diabetes. These findings are consistent with a role of protein misfolding in β-cell apoptosis in type 2 diabetes.
Waves and Instabilities in Dusty Plasmas

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the experimental and theoretical work on waves and instabilities in dusty plasmas, performed by the group at the University of Iowa during the last decade. The work has generally proceeded along two parallel lines, with the same wave modes and instabilities being studied both in dusty plasmas and in plasmas with large percentages of negative ions. Because, in typical, laboratory dusty plasmas the dust grains are negatively charged, the close connection between wave phenomena in these plasmas and those in negative ion plasmas should not come as a surprise. Further, the chapter examines the effects of negatively charged dust grains on an ionization instability in plasmas of low degree of ionization, in which electrons are present which have an energy slightly above the ionization energy of the neutral gas.
Synthesis of α-SnWO4 thin-film electrodes by hydrothermal conversion from crystalline WO3

Abstract Thin film electrodes of the orthorhombic form of tin tungstate ( α -SnWO 4 ) were prepared using a hydrothermal method to convert thin films of WO 3 in aqueous SnCl 2 . The pH dependence of the growth mechanism was identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD patterns show complete conversion of WO 3 (s) to SnWO 4 (s) at pH 1, 4, and 7. SEM images reveal a morphology change from sponge-like platelets to sharp nanowires as the pH increases from 1 to 7. The α -SnWO 4 thin films were reddish brown in color, and display an indirect band gap of 1.9 eV by diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy. α -SnWO 4 is therefore solar-responsive, and a chopped light linear sweep voltammogram recorded under 100 mW/cm 2 AM1.5 simulated solar illumination in a pH 5 0.1 mol/L KP i buffer show a visible light response for photoelectrochemical water oxidation, producing 32 μA/cm 2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE.
Earth Radiation Science Seminars

Earth radiation budget experiments, instrumentation, computational methods, and the effect of increased CO2 on climate were discussed.
Time dependent pattern of cellular characteristics causing ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure in children.

Abstract Background Ventriculoperitoneal shunt obstruction remains a major problem in pediatric neurosurgery. We analyzed the tissue reaction to ventriculoperitoneal shunts and compared the histology versus time elapsed to shunt failure. Methods 85 ventricular catheter tissues samples obtained from 71 patients were reviewed along with time elapsed to shunt revision. Pathology reports of all tissue samples were divided into three categories: inflammatory based on the presence of lymphocytes, macrophages, and microglial cells; reactive based on the presence of fibro-connective tissue, reactive astrocytes, and Rosenthal fibers; and normal brain tissue based on presence of choroid plexus. These categories were then grouped according to time elapsed to shunt revision. Group I had those shunts revised Results The incidence of inflammatory type of histology was 44% (16/36) in group I, 22% (6/27) in group II, and 18% (4/22) in group III. The reactive histology was 42% (15/36) in group I, 67% (18/27) in group II, and 77% (17/22) in group III. There was a clear noted difference of incidence between inflammatory versus reactive histology between early shunt failure compared to late shunt failure. Incidence of normal brain tissue remained high in group I with 8%, 11% in group II, and none in group III. Conclusion Early shunt obstruction arises from pathologies different from those causing late shunt obstructions.
Protective environments and quality education in humanitarian contexts

Abstract This paper reflects the experience of the authors working in the field of humanitarian education during the last two decades. Important changes have been witnessed since the Central American crises of the seventies, the refugee focus of the eighties and the new UN vision of the complex emergency crisis of the nineties resulting from the post Cold War scenarios of humanitarian calamity. Using some selected case studies (Colombia, Northern Caucasus, Gujarat, India, Sierra Leone), the paper underlines the need for an integrated strategy of ‘child friendly spaces’. A central aspect of this strategy needs to address a humanitarian curriculum, where the concept of quality education needs to be reconsidered. The concept of quality in education in complex emergencies should ponder educational strategies able to provide the basic conditions for a rather sustainable process of support to a ‘healing school climate’. The support and logistics of basic elements for provision of a ‘healing school climate’ are required, with the same emphasis given “as a matter of fact” to aspects concerning the cognitive domain. The emphasis on recreation and play and the development of related creative activities and expression are as important as the support and provision of reading, writing, numeracy and “life skills”. Sharpening the tools of planning implementation and hands-on field evaluation of a rapid response of humanitarian education needs more effort and technical resources. More coordinating of field based training capacity for local educators should be orientated to that end, rather than the overstatement of general guidelines, international policy/strategy meetings and conferences.