cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of a Standard Cross-Specialty Workup for Diagnosis and Metabolic Screening of Obese Adolescents With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Abstract Purpose Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder. The used diagnostic criteria and screening for related metabolic disease in adolescent girls with PCOS vary with medical specialty, causing discrepancies in care. We sought to improve and standardize care to guidelines for adolescents with PCOS and obesity. Methods This is a quality improvement project in a multispecialty, tertiary care children’s hospital. Providers in Adolescent Medicine, Gynecology, Pediatric Endocrinology, and Endocrine-Metabolic clinics participated. Diagnostic testing and metabolic screening data were collected for new patient encounters with PCOS and obesity, with two improvement cycles from December 2012 to March 2017. Providers received education on diagnostics tests and metabolic screening recommendations, and electronic medical record tools were created. The number of diagnostic and metabolic screening tests ordered per cycle and per clinic were analyzed and compared with baseline. Results The preintervention cycle included 74 encounters—44 in Cycle 1 and 58 in Cycle 2. Diagnostic test completeness improved by Cycle 2 (46%–68%) for all clinics. Screening for metabolic disease only improved in Gynecology (27%–71%). Adolescent Medicine, Endocrinology, and Endocrine-Metabolic used note templates, and Adolescent Medicine and Gynecology used order sets. Note templates were associated with more diagnostic tests ordered in Endocrinology (30%–88%; p = .002). Conclusions Implementation of quality improvement measures improved the number of diagnostic and metabolic screening tests performed in new patient encounters for PCOS, although the most effective strategy varied by clinic type and electronic medical record habits. Similar efforts should be implemented to standardize care at other institutions.
Extensive splicing across the Saccharomyces genome

Pre-mRNA splicing is vital for the proper function and regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as a model organism for studies of RNA splicing because of the striking conservation of the spliceosome components and its catalytic activity. Nonetheless, there are relatively few annotated alternative splice forms, particularly when compared to higher eukaryotes. Here, we describe a method to combine large scale RNA sequencing data to accurately discover novel splice isoforms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using our method, we find extensive evidence for novel splicing of annotated intron-containing genes as well as genes without previously annotated introns and splicing of transcripts that are antisense to annotated genes. By incorporating several mutant strains at varied temperatures, we find conditions which lead to differences in alternative splice form usage. Despite this, every class and category of alternative splicing we find in our datasets is found, often at lower frequency, in wildtype cells under normal growth conditions. Together, these findings show that there is widespread splicing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, thus expanding our view of the regulatory potential of RNA splicing in yeast.
Text and Context of the Blaan’s Folk Literature

Blaans are one of the tribes that reside in Mindanao archipelago in the Philippines. This study collected, transcribed, classified, and analyzed Blaan folk literature in the barangays of Sinapulan and Eday in the municipality of Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. This also sought to identify the context that brought about the folk literature’s citation and identified the beliefs and practices embedded in these literary texts. These Blaan oral literature were transcribed and translated in Cebuano or Filipino by the informants and analyzed using Alan Dundes’ theory of analyzing folklore- through its text, and context. The gathered Blaan folk literature was classified as occasional songs, work songs, and prose narratives depicting legends, and creation stories. It was also found out that the folk literature was recited during important occasions like weddings, tribal assemblies either as a form of entertainment or a form of reminder for the members in the importance of tribal peace and unity as well as their role in protecting nature and their environment. This study also revealed that Blaan folk literature embodies the tribe’s values and ideals like generosity, courage, bravery, and traditions like the giving of dowry to their intended bride. They also valued nature and believed the Supreme Being, they call Dwata but whose traits are like the Christian god.
Long-Term Air Pollution and Blood Pressure in an African American Cohort: the Jackson Heart Study

Introduction African Americans are disproportionately affected by high blood pressure, which may be associated with exposure to air pollutants, such as fine particulate matter and ozone. Methods Among African American Jackson Heart Study participants, this study examined associations between 1-year and 3-year mean fine particulate matter and ozone concentrations with prevalent and incident hypertension at Visits 1 (2000–2004, n=5,191) and 2 (2005–2008, n=4,105) using log binomial regression. Investigators examined associations with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure using linear regression and hierarchical linear models, adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics. Analyses were conducted in 2017–2019. Results No associations were observed between fine particulate matter or ozone concentration and prevalent or incident hypertension. In linear models, an IQR increase in 1-year ozone concentration was associated with 0.67 mmHg higher systolic blood pressure (95% CI=0.27, 1.06), 0.42 mmHg higher diastolic blood pressure (95% CI=0.20, 0.63), and 0.50 mmHg higher mean arterial pressure (95% CI=0.26, 0.74). In hierarchical models, fine particulate matter was inversely associated with systolic blood pressure (−0.72, 95% CI= −1.31, −0.13), diastolic blood pressure (−0.69, 95% CI= −1.02, −0.36), and mean arterial pressure (−0.71, 95% CI= −1.08, −0.33). Attenuated associations were observed with 1-year concentrations and at Visit 1. Conclusions Positive associations were observed between ozone and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure, and inverse associations between fine particulate matter and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure in an African American population with high (56%) prevalence of hypertension. Effect sizes were small and may not be clinically relevant.
Rapid analysis of strigolactone receptor activity in a Nicotiana benthamiana dwarf14 mutant

ABSTRACT DWARF14 (D14) is an ɑ/β-hydrolase and receptor for the plant hormone strigolactone (SL) in angiosperms. Upon SL perception, D14 works with MORE AXILLARY GROWTH2 (MAX2) to trigger polyubiquitination and degradation of DWARF53(D53)-type proteins in the SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1-LIKE (SMXL) family. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate knockout alleles of the two homoeologous D14 genes in the Nicotiana benthamiana genome. The Nbd14a,b double mutant had several phenotypes that are consistent with the loss of SL perception in other plants, including increased axillary bud outgrowth, reduced height, shortened petioles, and smaller leaves. A ratiometric fluorescent reporter system was used to monitor degradation of SMXL7 from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtSMXL7) after transient expression in N. benthamiana and treatment with the strigolactone analog GR24. AtSMXL7 was degraded after treatment with GR245DS, which has the stereochemical configuration of SLs, as well as its enantiomer GR24ent-5DS . In Nbd14a,b leaves, AtSMXL7 abundance was unaffected by GR24. Transient coexpression of AtD14 with the AtSMXL7 reporter in Nbd14a,b restored the degradation response to GR24, but required an active catalytic triad. With this platform, we evaluated the ability of several AtD14 mutants that had not been characterized in plants to target AtSMXL7 for degradation.
Environmental injustice - Neighborhood characteristics as confounders and effect modifiers for the association between air pollution exposure and cognitive function

Background: Air pollution has been associated with cognitive decline among the elderly. Previous studies have not evaluated the simultaneous effect of neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (N-SES), which can be an essential source of bias. Objectives: We explored N-SES as a confounder and effect modifier in a cross-sectional study of air pollution and cognitive function among the elderly. Methods: We included 12,058 participants age 50+ years from the Emory Healthy Aging Study in Metro Atlanta using the Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI) score as our outcome, with higher scores representing worse cognition. We estimated 9-year average ambient carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations at residential addresses using a fusion of dispersion and chemical transport models. We collected census-tract level N-SES indicators and created two composite measures using principal component analysis and k-means clustering. Associations between pollutants and CFI and effect modification by N-SES were estimated via linear regression models adjusted for age, education, race and N-SES. Results: N-SES confounded the association between air pollution and CFI, independent of individual characteristics. We found significant interactions between all air pollutants and N-SES for CFI (p-values<0.001) suggesting that effects of air pollution differ depending on N-SES. Participants living in areas with low N-SES were most vulnerable to air pollution. In the lowest N-SES urban areas, interquartile range (IQR) increases in CO, NOx, and PM2.5 were associated with 5.4% (95%-confidence interval, -0.2,11.4), 4.9% (-0.4,10.4), and 9.8% (2.2,18.0) increases in CFI, respectively. In lowest N-SES suburban areas, IQR increases in CO, NOx, and PM2.5 were associated with higher increases in CFI, namely 13.4% (1.3,26.9), 13.4% (0.3,28.2), and 17.6% (2.8,34.5), respectively. Discussion: N-SES is an important confounder and effect modifier in our study. This finding could have implications for studying health effects of air pollution in the context of environmental injustice.
Association of a housing based individual socioeconomic status measure with diabetic control in primary care practices.

AIMS Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important variable that impacts healthcare outcomes. However, grouped SES data is not always representative of all members and it is difficult to obtain individual level data. A validated individual housing-based measure termed HOUSES is available, but has not been studied in diabetes. We hypothesize that patients in the lowest HOUSES quartile are associated with worse diabetic control as measured by the D5. METHODS A retrospective cohort study of 5463 patients with diabetes in 5 patient centered medical home practices in southeast Minnesota was conducted. HOUSES is a validated, standardized housing-based SES measure constructed from publicly available county assessor's office data. Diabetic control was assessed by the D5 (HgbA1c < 8, BP < 140/90, statin use, nonsmoking status, and antiplatelet therapy). RESULTS In the lowest HOUSES quartile, more patients had an uncontrolled D5 (56.4%) than any of the other quartiles (49.2%, 49.8%, 49.6% respectively, p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis shows the adjusted odds of D5 control for patients in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th HOUSES quartiles as opposed to the 1st quartile are 1.28, 1.21, and 1.20, respectively. CONCLUSION Lower SES as represented by the first quartile of HOUSES index, is associated with lower odds of D5 control and thus worse diabetic outcomes. Using the HOUSES index to identify these individuals in a patient centered medical home might prove useful in deciding where to focus diabetic control efforts.
Examining Factors that Affect Students’ Knowledge Sharing within Virtual Teams

the purpose of this study was to examine factors that might impact student knowledge sharing within virtual teams through online discussion boards. these factors include: trust, mutual influence, conflict, leadership, and cohesion. a path model was developed to determine whether relationships exist among knowledge sharing from asynchronous group discussions and the above five factors. Participants in this study were 149 undergraduate students from two online courses. Online interaction occurred via online discussion boards, email, wikis, journals and online chat rooms. a cor relation design was conducted to examine the nature of the relationship among knowledge sharing and the five identified factors. the findings indicate that mutual influence and cohesion have direct relationships with knowledge sharing. in addition, trust and leadership affect knowledge sharing mediated through cohesion. implications of the findings were discussed in the paper.
A framework for interoperability assessments in Systems of Systems and Families of Systems

Interoperability is a major concern for many organizations. For organizations to work effectively, the information systems supporting an organization must work together to realize the full potential of built-in capabilities. Furthermore, organizations are not isolated islands. They need to work with external entities, therefore the systems of an organization need to work together with the systems of other organizations. Accomplishing interoperability among various organizations is a difficult and costly problem, both in terms of time and money. Achieving interoperability is difficult because organizational systems are often conceived, specified, architected, designed, built and managed independently of one another. This is further complicated by the rapidly changing nature of information technology. Over the last few decades, many approaches have been taken to manage and ideally solve interoperability problems. Specifications of common standards, technical guidance, and common development processes and tools are among the most tried approaches to this end. Though some interoperability improvements have been made, these attempts have often not resulted in successfully interoperable systems. Today, interoperability still remains a major concern. This paper addresses the interoperability problem by improving interoperability assessments of Systems of Systems SoS and Families of Systems FoS. A precise and easy to use method for assessing a system's interoperability with other systems at early stages of system development will allow systems engineers and associated professionals to make informed decisions for better interoperability.
Images, Images, Images (Lecture Presentation and Discussion)

The role of images of information (charts, diagrams, maps, and symbols) for effective presentation of facts and concepts is expanding dramatically because of advances in computer graphics technology, increasingly hetero-lingual, hetero-cultural world target populations of information providers, the urgent need to convey more efficiently vast amounts of information, the broadening population of (non-expert) computer users, the decrease of available time for reading texts and for decision making, and the general level of literacy. A coalition of visual performance experts, human engineering specialists, computer scientists, and graphic designers/artists is required to resolve human factors aspects of images of information. The need for, nature of, and benefits of interdisciplinary effort are discussed. The results of an interdisciplinary collaboration are demonstrated in a product for visualizing complex information about global energy interdependence. An invited panel will respond to the presentation.
UMBILICAL ARTERY CATHETER (UAC) BLOOD SAMPLING DECREASES CONCENTRATIONS OF CEREBRAL TOTAL (tHb) AND OXYGENATED HEMOGLOBIN (O 2 Hb) IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS

UMBILICAL ARTERY CATHETER (UAC) BLOOD SAMPLING DECREASES CONCENTRATIONS OF CEREBRAL TOTAL (tHb) AND OXYGENATED HEMOGLOBIN (O 2 Hb) IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS
The `Map in the Head' metaphor

The "Map in the Head" metaphor states that knowledge of large-scale space is isomorphic to the information stored in a graphical map: That is, corresponding operations are used to store and retrieve information. The purpose of this essay is to look carefully at the "Map in the Head" metaphor to see the limits of its applicability. There are two types of experimental results that are difficult to accommodate within this metaphor. First, instead of being integrated into a single map, spatial knowledge can fall into disconnected components, with little or no relation between the components. Second, knowledge of routes (and other spatial facts) may be represented asymmetrically, so that a route can be followed in one direction but not in the other. The first set of results leads us to replace the simple "Map in the Head" with a more complex and sophisticated metaphor including separate metrical and topological components. The second set of results suggests that even the more sophisticated "Map in the Head" is...
Kinetics of some electron-transfer reactions in biological photosystems. I. Pulse radiolysis study of spinach ferredoxin reduction by the hydrated electron and CO−2 radical

Abstract The reduction of spinach ferredoxin by the CO − 2 radical and the hydrated electron (e − aq ) has been studied by pulse radiolysis in the pH range between 5.05 and 9.67. The reduction of oxidized spinach ferredoxin by both CO − 2 and e − aq was found to be essentially quantitative. The CO − 2 radical reduces spinach ferredoxin by a single second-order process at a rate k 5 = (6.2 ± 0.6) · 10 7 M −1 · s −1 . Reduction by e − aq follows a biphasic pathway. The first phase obeys second-order kinetics for the reduction of the cluster, k app = (9.4 ± 0.3) · 10 9 M −1 · s −1 . The second phase follows an intramolecular first-order reaction k B = (8.3 ± 1.7) · 10 2 s −1 which is observed as a further reduction of the active site. Spectral changes accompanying the reduction of oxidized spinach ferredoxin in the ultraviolet and visible range are discussed.
Nucleotides do not modulate rat luteocyte human chorionic gonadotropin responsiveness by inhibiting human chorionic gonadotropin binding

Abstract Nucleotide inhibition of 125 I-labeled human chorionic gonadotropin binding to luteocyte receptor was studied by investigating effects of nucleotides on the apparent equilibrium association constant ( K a ) and number of binding sites ( B max ), and on rate constants for association ( k +1 ) and dissociation ( k −1 , k −2 ). K a and B max were determined by various analyses of equilibrium binding data using washed 2000 g pellet of an ovarian homogenate from rats 7 days after pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin-human chorionic gonadotropin priming. Adenyl and guanyl nucleotides, as well as other nucleotides, lowered the K a of 125 I-labeled human chorionic gonadotropin binding to luteocyte receptor without affecting B max . The degree of inhibition was dose related at nucleotide concentrations greater than 10 −3 m. GTP and guanyl-5′-ylimidodiphosphate inhibitions were similar in the presence or absence of EDTA (1.25 × 10 −3 m). ATP and GTP lowered K a by slowing the rate of association. Inhibition of binding could not be demonstrated at lower nucleotide concentrations even when luteocyte membranes were purified partially by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. In light of the high nucleotide concentrations required to inhibit 125 I-labeled human chorionic gonadotropin binding and the inhibition by Mg 2+ and PP 1 at similar concentrations, the effect appears to be a nonspecific ionic effect. Therefore, in contrast to the glucagon-hepatocyte system, luteocyte human chorionic gonadotropin responsiveness does not appear to be modulated by nucleotide inhibition of human chorionic gonadotropin-receptor interaction.
Structure and process in interpersonal “distancing”

The present paper focuses on awho-why-where-when-how-what-whom structural model of interpersonal “distancing.” The term “distancing” denotes either approach or avoidance movement along an “intimacy-immediacy” dimension. This dimension itself is defined as an integration across proxemic, kinesic, paralinguistic, and linguistic interpersonal modalities. Parallels are drawn between the concepts of “intimacy” disequilibrium and cognitive dissonance; the latter deals with attitude-behavior discrepancies and the former with attraction-approach discrepancies. A compensatory model is expanded acrosswho's partners as well as across his sensory modalities, and the concept of “intimacy overload” is offered as a clarifying tool for the “social refractoriness” and “information overload” explanations appearing in various aspects of the literature.
Deep socialism? An interview with Arne Naess*

(1997). Deep socialism? An interview with Arne Naess. Capitalism Nature Socialism: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 69-85.
Physical properties of blue-green algae: ultracentrifugation and electron microscope studies.

The Feulgen-positive and envelope-free nucleoplasm ofAnabaena andGloeocapsa contains DNA filaments. When ultracentrifuged it is displaced between the maze of photosynthetic lamellae to form a continuous, flattened layer in the centripetal half of the cell. The absence of a mesosome and lack of attachment of the nucleoplasm to the plasmalemma make the method of duplication and separation of the genome to the progeny an enigma. In the centripetal end of ultracentrifugedAnabaena, the photosynthetic lamellae are somewhat stretched and sometimes broken. This condition suggests that the cortical positioned photosynthetic lamellae are tightly connected in several places along their surfaces to an undisplaced cortical cytoplasmic layer. It is uncertain whether or not they are also directly attached to the plasmalemma. A vesicle is often observed in the centripetal end of the cell; it probably represents for the most part, the contents of distorted intralamellar spaces. In ultracentrifugedGloeocapsa, the photosynthetic lamellae show little displacement. They appear attached, probably at their ends to the plasmalemma and, likeAnabaena andNostoc, they possess phycobilisomes which are not greatly affected by ultracentrifugation. Cells usually survive a centrifugal force greater than required to separate most nonliving protein systems. When subcultured, a redistribution of the displaced components usually occurs and growth is resumed.
Dual-axis electron tomography of biological specimens: extending the limits of specimen thickness with bright-field STEM imaging

Abstract The absence of imaging lenses after the specimen in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) enables electron tomography to be performed in the STEM mode on micrometer-thick plastic-embedded specimens without the deleterious effect of chromatic aberration, which limits spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio in conventional TEM. Using Monte Carlo calculations to simulate electron scattering from gold nanoparticles situated at the top and bottom surfaces of a plastic section, we assess the optimal acquisition strategy for axial bright-field STEM electron tomography at a beam-energy of 300 keV. Dual tilt-axis STEM tomography with optimized axial bight-field detector geometry is demonstrated by application to micrometer-thick sections of beta cells from mouse pancreatic islet. The quality of the resulting three-dimensional reconstructions is comparable to that obtained from much thinner (0.3-micrometer) sections using conventional TEM tomography. The increased range of specimen thickness accessible to axial STEM tomography without the need for serial sectioning enables the 3-D visualization of more complex and larger subcellular structures.
Dietary influences on rat hepatic and intestinal DT-diaphorase activity

DT-diaphorase (DTD) is a flavoprotein that catalyses the two-electron reduction of various redox dyes and quinones such as menadione and phylloquinone. It has been proposed that this enzyme may have a protective effect against cancer, as the two-electron reduction prevents the formation of toxic oxygen metabolites that may be generated as a result of the one-electron reduction catalysed by enzymes such as NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. The effects of a purified diet supplemented with either 25% Brussels sprouts, phylloquinone (2.5 or 25 ppm) or 250 ppm indole-3-carbinol on hepatic and intestinal DTD activity in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats have been determined. One group was fed on the purified diet and dosed with 3-methylcholanthrene (20 mg/kg), 24 hr before being killed. Hepatic DTD activity was increased 3-fold in the indole-3-carbinol group, 4.4-fold in the sprouts-fed animals and 8.2-fold in the 3-methylcholanthrene-treated animals. Neither level of phylloquinone affected hepatic DTD activity. Intestinal DTD activity was increased 2.1-fold in the indole-3-carbinol group, 3.7-fold in the sprouts-fed animals and 4.3-fold in the 3-methylcholanthrene group. In animals given 25 ppm phylloquinone, intestinal enzyme activity was 60% of the control level, while no effect was noted in those given 2.5 ppm phylloquinone. Although increases in the activities of intestinal xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes resulting from dietary influences are well documented, the increase in hepatic DTD activity seen in response to vegetable consumption has not been reported. The significance of these results in relation to the possible protective effects of dietary cruciferous vegetables against cancer is discussed.
Isolation and characterization of cold-regulated transcriptional activator LpCBF3 gene from perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

In plants, low temperatures can activate the CBF cold response pathway playing a prominent role in cold acclimation by triggering a set of cold-related gene expressions. CBF homologous gene, designated as LpCBF3, from a cold-tolerant perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) accession was identified. It carries the sequences for nuclear localization signal (NLS), AP2 DNA-binding domains and an acidic activation present in most of the plant CBF proteins. Southern analysis indicated the presence of three homologs of LpCBF3 gene in perennial ryegrass genome, and only one amino acid variation in LpCBF3 protein between cold-tolerant and -sensitive perennial ryegrass accessions. In their putative promoter regions, some differential regions were found. Northern blotting and RT-PCR analysis found that LpCBF3 reached the highest expression after 1.5 h of cold treatment (4°C). The COR homologous gene, a downstream gene of CBF, can be expressed in the plant stem of cold-tolerant perennial ryegrass accessions without cold treatment. Without cold treatment, the COR gene cannot be activated in cold-sensitive perennial ryegrass accessions. Cold treatment can prompt expression levels of COR homologous genes in both perennial ryegrass accessions. In transgenic Arabidopsis, the overexpression of LpCBF3 with the 35S promoter resulted in dwarf-like plants, later flowering and greater freezing tolerance.
Tissue-Specific Mitotic Bookmarking by Hematopoietic Transcription Factor GATA1

Tissue-specific transcription patterns are preserved throughout cell divisions to maintain lineage fidelity. We investigated whether transcription factor GATA1 plays a role in transmitting hematopoietic gene expression programs through mitosis when transcription is transiently silenced. Live-cell imaging revealed that a fraction of GATA1 is retained focally within mitotic chromatin. ChIP-seq of highly purified mitotic cells uncovered that key hematopoietic regulatory genes are occupied by GATA1 in mitosis. The GATA1 coregulators FOG1 and TAL1 dissociate from mitotic chromatin, suggesting that GATA1 functions as platform for their postmitotic recruitment. Mitotic GATA1 target genes tend to reactivate more rapidly upon entry into G1 than genes from which GATA1 dissociates. Mitosis-specific destruction of GATA1 delays reactivation selectively of genes that retain GATA1 during mitosis. These studies suggest a requirement of mitotic "bookmarking" by GATA1 for the faithful propagation of cell-type-specific transcription programs through cell division.
Effect of MPTP on dopaminergic neurons in the goldfish brain: a light and electron microscope study

The neurotoxin MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) causes a Parkinsonian syndrome in the goldfish (Carassius auratus), characterized by transient bradykinesia, the accumulation of MPP+ in the brain, and a decrease in the forebrain and midbrain content of catecholamines (Pollard et al., FASEB J., 6 (1992) 3108–3116). Using light and electron microscopy, we studied the effect of MPTP on the distribution and ultrastructure of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive, dopaminergic neurons, and on the ultrastructure of other selected areas of the goldfish brain. Goldfish were treated with MPTP (50 mg/kg) in the absence or presence of l-deprenyl (10 mg/kg) or clorgyline (10 mg/kg). In the medial part of the central telencephalon, the nucleus telencephali, pars medialis, MPTP caused a decrease in the number of TH-immunoreactive neurons and distortions in their labelling pattern. Electron microscopic observations showed that MPTP caused swelling of cell processes, changes in neuronal nuclear profiles, dilation of endoplasmic reticulum, intracellular vacuolization and membrane distortions, and degeneration of neuronal fibers in this brain area. MPTP also caused a small reduction and some diffuseness in the labelling of dopaminergic neurons in several diencephalic periventricular nuclei. Moreover, MPTP induced cell swelling and degeneration in the subependymal cell layers along the forebrain ventricles. In all areas, l-deprenyl appeared to partially prevent the MPTP-induced degenerative changes. We conclude that in the goldfish MPTP causes marked histochemical changes in selected dopaminergic brain systems coincident with the Parkinson-like locomotor and neurochemical deficits.
The sigma receptor as a ligand-regulated auxiliary potassium channel subunit

The sigma receptor is a novel protein that mediates the modulation of ion channels by psychotropic drugs through a unique transduction mechanism depending neither on G proteins nor protein phosphorylation. The present study investigated sigma receptor signal transduction by reconstituting responses in Xenopus oocytes. Sigma receptors modulated voltage-gated K+ channels (Kv1.4 or Kv1.5) in different ways in the presence and absence of ligands. Association between Kv1.4 channels and sigma receptors was demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation. These results indicate a novel mechanism of signal transduction dependent on protein-protein interactions. Domain accessibility experiments suggested a structure for the sigma receptor with two cytoplasmic termini and two membrane-spanning segments. The ligand-independent effects on channels suggest that sigma receptors serve as auxiliary subunits to voltage-gated K+ channels with distinct functional interactions, depending on the presence or absence of ligand.
Effects of Sonication and Edible Coating Containing Rosemary and Tea Extracts on Reduction of Peanut Lipid Oxidative Rancidity

Rancidity due to the lipid oxidation process is a critical factor influencing the quality of roasted peanuts. Sonication in combination with edible coatings added with plant extracts may extend the oxidative stability of peanuts. Peanuts were roasted at 178°C for 15 min, subjected to sonication in hexane for 10 min, and then coated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution mixed with rosemary, tea extracts, and α-tocopherol and stored at 35°C for 12 weeks. The oxidative stability of the samples was investigated by measuring the oxidative stability index. Reduction in oxidation of 66.1% and 10.4% was observed for samples roasted and coated with extracts of rosemary and tea, respectively, as compared to uncoated sample. However, the oxidative stability of samples roasted–sonicated and coated with extracts of rosemary and tea was improved by 100.7% and 28.1%, respectively, in relation to the control. Sonication beyond coating improved the oxidative stability of the samples mixed with rosemary, tea extracts, and α-tocopherol by 10.3%, 12.1%, 34.6%, and 17.7%, respectively. The L*, a*, and b* values indicated that the peanut coated with CMC mixed with rosemary, tea extracts, and tocopherol at different concentration levels did not have significant (P < 0.05) color change during the 12-week storage at 35°C.
Segmentation Of Range Images

An algorithm for segmenting range images of industrial parts is presented in this paper. Range images, are unique in that they directly approximate the physical surfaces of a real world 3-D scene. The segmentation of images ( range or intensity ) is based on edge detection or region growing techniques. The algorithm presented in this paper segments the range images by detecting discontinuities. There are three types of discontinuities in range images: jump, crease and smooth edges. The detection of a jump edge is relatively easy and can be obtained using edge detection techniques used for intensity images. The crease and smooth edges are difficult to detect especially in the presence of noise. Our approach is based on the analysis of the difference between the input and the filtered images. We show that, at an edge, the difference after Gaussian smoothing has a maxima in a direction perpendicular to the edge. The close connected regions are then obtained by eroding the image once and an iterative region growing least square fit is used to obtain the final segmented image. The performance of the proposed algorithm on a number of range images is presented.
The Challenges for Scientists in Avoiding Plagiarism

Although it might seem to be a simple task for scientists to avoid plagiarism and thereby an allegation of research misconduct, assessment of trainees in the Responsible Conduct of Research and recent findings from the National Science Foundation Office of Inspector General regarding plagiarism suggests otherwise. Our experiences at a land-grant academic institution in assisting researchers in avoiding plagiarism are described. We provide evidence from a university-wide multi-disciplinary course that understanding how to avoid plagiarism in scientific writing is more difficult than it might appear, and that a failure to learn the rules of appropriate citation may cause dire consequences. We suggest that new strategies to provide training in avoiding plagiarism are required.
Detection of antibodies to equine arteritis virus by enzyme linked immunosorbant assays utilizing GL, M and N proteins expressed from recombinant baculoviruses

Abstract Indirect enzyme linked immunosorbant assays (ELISAs) utilizing the three major structural proteins (M, N, and G L ) of equine arteritis virus (EAV) expressed from recombinant baculoviruses were developed. A large panel of sera collected from uninfected horses, and from animals experimentally and naturally infected with EAV or vaccinated with the modified live virus vaccine against equine viral arteritis, were used to characterize the humoral immune response of horses to the three major EAV structural proteins. The data suggest that the M protein was the major target of the equine antibody response to EAV. The responses of individual animals varied and ELISAs that utilized individual EAV structural proteins were not reliable for detecting antibodies in all sera that contained neutralizing antibodies to EAV. An ELISA based on a cocktail of all three EAV structural proteins, however, was used successfully to detect antibodies in most equine sera that were positive in the standard serum neutralization assay following natural or experimental EAV infection (100% specificity, 92.3% sensitivity). In contrast, this ELISA did not reliably detect antibodies in the sera of vaccinated horses. EAV frequently causes a persistent infection in stallions and all sera from carrier stallions evaluated in this study had obvious reactivity with the N protein, whereas seropositive non-carrier stallions, mares and geldings did not respond consistently to the N protein.
Influence of the pellicle on final photomask flatness

Photomask pellicles play an important role in determining final photomask flatness, which is important to photomask optical performance. This study explores the impact of the pellicle frame flatness and pellicle-to-mask adhesive on photomask flatness. In addition, the change in mask flatness as a function of time after pellicle mounting is studied. Implications of these results on photomask manufacture and photolithography are discussed.
A simple methodology for measuring profitability of on-farm storage pest management in developing countries

Abstract We present a simple financial model for storage researchers to measure the profitability of storage protection for marketing producers in developing countries. We examine the relationship between the value of a stored commodity and required price seasonality for profitable storage under a range of possible fixed costs of storage and opportunity costs of capital. The cost of storage protection has a larger effect on storage profitability with low value commodities such as maize, while the opportunity cost of capital has a larger effect on storage profitability of high value commodities such as cowpeas and common beans. An example is drawn with maize in Malawi, contrasting the profitability of storage protection with hermetic Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags versus government-subsidized chemical protectants. Results from this example show that while PICS bags financially outperform chemical protectants, profitability varies greatly both by year and region of the country. We additionally include a Microsoft Excel template and interactive website link along with an explanation of the financial model to facilitate incorporation of economics in storage research on insect losses and technology adoption.
The intraday speed of adjustment of stock prices to earnings and dividend announcements

Abstract This paper examines the effects of Broad Tape news releases of earnings and dividend announcements on three aspects of intraday stock price behavior: mean returns, return variance, and serial correlation in consecutive price changes. The initial price reaction is evident in the first pair of price changes following the release (i.e., within a few minutes, at most). The returns earned by simple trading rules dissipate within five to ten minutes, although significant returns are detected in the overnight period and at the opening of trading on the next day. Disturbances in the variance and serial correlation persist for several hours and extend into the following trading day. As a class, dividend announcements induce much less activity than do earnings, although the response to dividend changes is comparable to the earnings announcement effect.
Polymerization of some fluorine‐containing olefin oxides

The polymerization characteristics of six different fluorinated olefin oxides have been studied. The initial effort in this work was on the homopolymerization of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,3-butylene oxide. Attempts to polymerize this material have been made by mass polymerization over a broad temperature range using a number of different compounds as potential polymerization catalysts. Among these compounds were FeCl3, FeCl3 · 6H2O, AlCl3, a BF3-etherate complex, KOH, gamma radiation from a cobalt-60 source, a heterogeneous catalyst formed from aluminum triethyl and TiCl4, and a FeCl3-propylene oxide complex. All of the polymeric products obtained from these experiments were liquids of a relatively low molecular weight. The highest molecular weight polymers were obtained using FeCl3, AlCl3, and BF3. An attempt was subsequently made to determine the relative polymerizability of other, more highly substituted, fluorinated olefin oxides. These were 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,3-pentylene oxide, 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,3-isopentylene oxide, 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-4,5-hexylene oxide, 1,1,1,-2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-4,5-heptylene oxide, and 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-4,5-isoheptylene oxide. FeCl3 and AlCl3 were found to be effective catalysts for the mass polymerization of these materials to form liquid polymers. It was observed that the tendency to polymerize decreases in this group of compounds as the amount and complexity of substitution on the ethylene oxide nuclcus increases. All of these monomers are less reactive toward polymerization than is trifluorobutylene oxide; as a result, lower molecular weight products were formed in lower yields.
Characterization of disk vibrations on aluminum and alternate substrates

Aluminum disk platters in 3.5 inch disk drives have been shown to vibrate at their natural frequencies due to air flow excitation. This causes track misregistration that can limit the tracks per inch (TPI). This was shown to be a characteristic behavior of 95/spl times/0.8 mm aluminum disks. Measurement methods which are useful in characterizing disk vibrations are described. A laser doppler vibrometer, focused on the disk surface, is used as a velocity sensor to measure force hammer excited frequency response functions, spin-up waterfall plots, and constant speed power spectra. These measurement methods were used to characterize disk platter vibrations on aluminum and alternate substrates in 3.5 inch disk drives. Alternate substrates which have significantly higher stiffness to density ratios (specific stiffness), dramatically reduce the amplitude of these disk vibrations and may provide higher TPI capability.
Integrating internet assignments into a biochemistry/molecular biology laboratory course

A main challenge in educating undergraduate students is to introduce them to the Internet and to teach them how to effectively use it in research. To this end, an Internet assignment was developed that introduces students to websites related to biomedical research at the beginning of a biochemistry/molecular biology laboratory course. The basic sites introduced cover many subjects, include searching for specific DNA sequences, restriction enzyme mapping, RNA folding, analyzing three-dimensional protein images, and literature searches. These newly learned Internet skills are incorporated into other aspects of the laboratory course. In the example illustrated here, students sequence DNA inserts from randomly chosen bacterial colonies prepared from a human cDNA plasmid library. The obtained DNA sequence is used to search on-line data bases introduced in the initial Internet assignment to determine whether the cDNAs have already been identified. The sequencing “wet-lab” module, coupled with the Internet assignment, gives students experience in four areas. 1) purifying plasmid DNA, 2) performing restriction endonuclease digests on the plasmid DNA, 3) sequencing double-stranded DNA, and 4) comparison of obtained sequence data to known DNA sequences in the human genome data base in a way that simulates a research experience.
The effect of low calcium diet, mithramycin, and dichlorodimethylene bisphosphonate on humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy in nude mice transplanted with the canine adenocarcinoma tumor line (CAC-8).

The effect of a low calcium diet, mithramycin, or dichlorodimethylene bisphosphonate were evaluated in nude mice with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy associated with the transplanted canine adenocarcinoma (CAC-8). Low calcium (0.01%) diet significantly reduced serum calcium levels in hypercalcemic nude mice and reduced urine calcium excretion to control levels. Mithramycin (8 mg/kg) decreased serum calcium concentration and urine calcium excretion to the range of control non-tumor-bearing nude mice at day 5 after a single injection, but there was no change in the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts in lumbar vertebrae. Osteoclasts from CAC 8-bearing nude mice after mithramycin administration were decreased in size, had small ruffled borders, and increased relative size of clear zones. Dichlorodimethylene bisphosphonate (Cl2MDP) (45 mg/kg) partially reduced serum calcium concentration of hypercalcemic tumor-bearing nude mice, decreased urine calcium excretion to control levels, and markedly reduced the numbers of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts in lumbar vertebrae. Osteoclasts from Cl2MDP-treated nude mice were smaller and had a reduced frequency of ruffled borders than saline-treated hypercalcemic nude mice. In vitro bone resorption induced by CAC-8 extract was significantly reduced by C12MDP and mithramycin. The results of these investigations suggest that the hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria associated with HHM in nude mice with CAC-8 are the combined result of altered calcium homeostasis in the bone, kidney, and intestine. Chemotherapeutic agents that specifically affect only bone or feeding a low calcium diet alone may not completely ameliorate the hypercalcemia of HHM.
Production of HMG-3 by limited trypsin digestion of purified high-mobility-group nonhistone chromatin proteins.

Abstract Three related nonhistone protein (HMG-1, HMG-2 and HMG-E) have been purified from chicken erythrocyte chromatin without exposure to overt denaturing conditions, and subjected to limited proteolysis. When treated with trypsin, the three proteins exhibited similar patterns of degradation, as judged by SDS and acid/urea gel electrophoresis. In particular, the first product, P1 (a relatively stable intermediate in each digestion), was a protein analogous to HMG-3, a principal degradation product in preparations of calf thymus high-mobility-group proteins. At least in the case of HMG-E, the products formed by tryptic attack on P1 are the two individual DNA binding domains of HMG-E. P1 derived from HMG-E and one of the individual DNA binding domains of HMG-E were purified by chromatography on columns containing DNA-cellulose or phosphocellulose. The properties of these two portions of HMG-E are consistent with our recently postulated three-domain structure for HMG-1 and its homologs (Reeck, G.R., Isackson, P.J. and Teller, D.C. (1982) Nature 300, 76–78). Thus, P1 consists of two DNA-binding domains of approximately equal molecular weight covalently linked together. From chromatography on DNA-cellulose columns, it is clear that P1 binds to DNA more tightly than does HMG-E. The highly acidic C-terminal domain of HMG-E (which is removed by trypsin in generating P1) thus counteracts the DNA binding of the two other domains of HMG-E (at least in the protein's interaction with purifiec DNA).
Isolation of vitamin B12 from trichomycin fermentations.

The isolation of vitamin B12 from trichomycin fermentations has been described. The steps include adsorption on charcoal followed by elution, extraction with phenol-butanol, and chromatographic separation on Amberlite IRC-50 with 0.1N hydrochloric acid in 75% acetone. The eluate is passed through a column of Amberlite IR-4B to remove hydrochloric acid and finally crystallized as red needles from aqueous acetone.The counter-current distribution procedure is applied to the concentrated eluate of charcoal adsorbate for the determination of B12, B12b and B12-like materials. The crystals obtained by two procedures, with and without KCN treatment, are both found to be vitamin B12, and their ultraviolet and visible adsorption spectra, counter-current distribution curve are presented.