cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the in vivo function of the zebrafish fragile X gene family

Fragile X Syndrome is the leading cause of inherited mental retardation in humans. This X-linked disorder results from underexpression of the Fragile X mental retardation related protein(FMR1P) due to expansion and hypermethylation of a CGG trinucleotide repeat in the 5V UTR region of the Fragile X gene(fmr1). Fmr1 has two autosomal homologs, fxr1 and fxr2, which together comprise a family of highly conserved RNAbinding proteins thought to be involved with mRNA transport and translation, although their precise function(s) in development have not been determined. Expression analyses of these three zebrafish genes have been conducted by this laboratory and others. We have begun an analysis of the in vivo role of the Fragile X gene family in early zebrafish development through the use of morpholino(mo) oligonucleotide knockdowns. We are injecting 1–8 cell stage zebrafish embryos with mo-derived anti-sense reagents designed against the translation start sites of the three zebrafish Fragile Xrelated genes. Injected embryos are assayed for gross morphologic defects, as well as changes in organization of the nervous system through detection of axon tracts with anti-acetylated tubulin antibody. The well-described development of the early zebrafish nervous system, along with the ability to study dose-dependent inactivation of these target sequences individually and in combination should be powerful tools to help discern the in vivo function(s) of the Fragile X gene family in development.
Using Pascal for numerical analysis

The data structures and control structures of Pascal enhance the coding ability of the programmer. Recent proposed extensions to the language further increase its usefulness in writing numeric programs and support packages for numeric programs.
A meshless numerical method based on the local boundary integral equation (LBIE) to solve linear and non-linear boundary value problems

Abstract Meshless methods for solving boundary value problems have been extensively popularized in recent literature owing to their flexibility in engineering applications, especially for problems with discontinuities, and because of the high accuracy of the computed results. A meshless method for solving linear and non-linear boundary value problems, based on the local boundary integral equation method and the moving least squares (MLS) approximation, is discussed in the present article. In the present article, the implementation of the LBIE formulation for linear and non-linear problems with the linear part of the differential operator being the Helmholtz type, is developed. For non-linear problems, the total formulation and a rate formulation are developed for the implementation of the presently proposed method. The present method is a true meshless one, as it does not need domain and boundary elements to deal with the volume and boundary integrals, for linear as well as non-linear problems. The “companion solution” is employed to simplify the present formulation and reduce the computational cost. It is shown that the satisfaction of the essential as well as natural boundary conditions is quite simple, and algorithmically very efficient in the present LBIE approach, even when the non-interpolative MLS approximation is used. Numerical examples are presented for several linear and non-linear problems, for which exact solutions are available. The present method converges fast to the final solution with reasonably accurate results for both the unknown variable and its derivatives in solving non-linear problems. No post processing procedure is required to compute the derivatives of the unknown variable [as in the conventional boundary element method and field/boundary element method, as the solution from the present method, using the MLS approximation, is already smooth enough. The numerical results in these examples show that high rates of convergence with mesh refinement for the Sobolev norms ‖·‖ 0 and ‖·‖ 1 are achievable, and that the values of the unknown variable and its derivatives are quite accurate.
T-cell clones derived by CD3 stimulation from hepatitis C virus explanted liver tissue are not representative of dominant clones present in vivo☆

Liver tissue from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related end-stage disease contains T-cell infiltrates. The goal of this study is to determine whether CD4 T-cell clones established in vitro using an antigen-independent technique from explanted liver tissue (n = 3) are representative of dominant clones present in vivo. T-cell receptor (TCR) use by intrahepatic CD4 T cells was assessed by spectratype analysis. Clones were established from single CD4 T cells by culturing in vitro with anti-CD3 and interleukin-2 (n > 25 per patient). TCR genes expressed by each clone were identified by sequencing. When identical clones were isolated, the original spectratype was analyzed further to determine whether the clone was a dominant T-cell expansion in vivo. Evidence for clonal expansions was found in all patients by spectratyping. T cells expressing the same TCRBV genes used for spectratyping were cloned in vitro. Duplicate clones expressing the same TCR genes were observed in 2 patients. Confirmation that clones established in vitro matched those present in vivo was obtained for 2 clones. Many dominant clones identified by spectratyping did not proliferate in vitro. Although spectratyping suggested the widespread accumulation of clonal expansions in HCV-related end-stage liver disease, clones established in vitro using anti-CD3 were poorly representative of dominant clones present in vivo. Although cloning with anti-CD3 has the advantage of generating T-cell clones not biased a priori toward a specific antigen, modified cloning strategies will need to be developed to expand those clones that appear dominant in end-stage organs.
Characteristic time-stepping or local preconditioning of the Euler equations

A derivation is presented of a local preconditioning matrix for multidimensional Euler equations, that reduces the spread of the characteristic speeds to the lowest attainable value. Numerical experiments with this preconditioning matrix are applied to an explicit upwind discretization of the two-dimensional Euler equations, showing that this matrix significantly increases the rate of convergence to a steady solution. It is predicted that local preconditioning will also simplify convergence-acceleration boundary procedures such as the Karni (1991) procedure for the far field and the Mazaheri and Roe (1991) procedure for a solid wall.
Concise and high-yield synthesis of T808 and T808P for radiosynthesis of [18F]-T808, a PET tau tracer for Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract The authentic standard T808 and its corresponding mesylate precursor T808P were synthesized in six steps using ethyl vinyl ether and trichlorocetyl chloride as starting materials. The overall chemical yields of T808 and T808P were 35% and 52%, respectively. [18F]-T808 was synthesized from T808P by the nucleophilic substitution with K[18F]F/Kryptofix 2.2.2 and isolated by HPLC combined with solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification in 35–45% radiochemical yield with 37–370 GBq/μmol specific activity at end of bombardment (EOB).
THE MULTIVARIABLE ALEXANDER POLYNOMIAL AND MODERN KNOT THEORY

This note is a summary of several recent works (by the author and collaborators) that study the Conway-Alexander link invariant in the light of quantum groups and topological quantum field theories. Their purpose is to understand connections between “modern” knot theory and more classical topological concepts.
THE KINETIC ISOTOPE EFFECT IN THE PHOTOCHLORINATION OF METHANE

The kinetic isotope effect for the photochemically initiated chlorination of methane-d/sub 2/ was determined. The value is k /sub H//k/sub D/ = 12.1 at 0 deg C, and the variation with temperature is given by k/sub H//k/sub D/= 1.09 exp (1300/RT). The results are considered in terms of a semiempirical potential energy surface, and the general subject of the magnitudes of primary kinetic isotope effects is discussed. (auth)
Aldosterone, C-reactive protein, and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide are associated with the development of metabolic syndrome and longitudinal changes in metabolic syndrome components: findings from the Jackson Heart Study.

Objective Several pathomechanisms are implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS), most of which have not been investigated in African Americans (AAs). We examined the contribution of a selected panel of biomarkers to the development of MetS in Jackson Heart Study (JHS) participants in this investigation. Research design and methods We evaluated 3,019 JHS participants (mean age, 54 years; 64% women) with measurements for seven biomarkers representing inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [CRP]), adiposity (leptin), natriuretic pathway (B-natriuretic peptide [BNP]), adrenal pathway (cortisol and aldosterone), and endothelial function (endothelin and homocysteine). We related the biomarker panel to the development of MetS on follow-up and to longitudinal changes in MetS components. Results There were 278 (22.9%) of 1,215 participants without MetS at baseline who had development of new-onset MetS at follow-up. The incidence of MetS was significantly associated with serum aldosterone (P=0.004), CRP (P=0.03), and BNP (P for trend=0.005). The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) per SD increment of log biomarker were as follows: 1.25 (1.07-1.45) for aldosterone, 1.20 (1.02-1.43) for CRP, and 1.54 (1.07-2.23) and 1.91 (1.31-2.80) for low and high BNP quartiles, respectively. Aldosterone was positively associated with change in all MetS risk components, except low HDL cholesterol and waist circumference. CRP concentration was significantly and directly associated with change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and waist circumference but inversely associated with HDL cholesterol. For BNP, we observed a U-shape relation with SBP and triglycerides. Conclusions Our analysis confirms that, in AAs, higher circulating aldosterone and CRP concentrations predict incident MetS. The nonlinear U-shape relation of BNP with MetS and its components has not been reported before and thus warrants replication.
Analysis of Doubly Refracting Materials in a Quasicircular Polariscope

The fractional fringe order in a photoelastic experiment is readily determined by Tardy’s method of compensation, which requires the knowledge of orientation of the principal-stress directions at the point of question. The orientation is given by an isoclinic parameter in a plane polariscope and may be in error since isoclinics are not generally distinct and narrow.It is shown, by considering the intensity expression for the transmitted light in a quasicircular polariscope, that there is no simple relationship between the angle of rotation of the analyzer, the relative retardation introduced by the stressed model, and the condition for the extremum of transmitted light when the polarizing axes of the polarizer and analyzer are not parallel to the principal-stress directions before rotating the analyzer. In fact, the relationship is complicated for an arbitrary orientation of the polarizing axes; the retardation condition for the extreme values of the transmitted light is independent of rotation of the analyzer when the polarizing axes are inclined at 45° to the direction of the principal stresses.In practice, when the errors of aligning the polarizing axes with the principal-stress directions are small, such that the squares and higher powers may be omitted, Tardy’s compensation technique gives accurate results.
Resource requirements for fault-tolerant quantum simulation: The ground state of the transverse Ising model

We estimate the resource requirements, the total number of physical qubits and computational time, required to compute the ground-state energy of a one-dimensional quantum transverse Ising model (TIM) of $N$ spin-1/2 particles, as a function of the system size and the numerical precision. This estimate is based on analyzing the impact of fault-tolerant quantum error correction in the context of the quantum logic array architecture. Our results show that a significant amount of error correction is required to implement the TIM problem due to the exponential scaling of the computational time with the desired precision of the energy. Comparison of our results to the resource requirements for a fault-tolerant implementation of Shor's quantum factoring algorithm reveals that the required logical qubit reliability is similar for both the TIM problem and the factoring problem.
Prediction of stock market turning points

This study investigates possible systematic relationships between the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and its price/earnings (P/E) ratio, its dividend yield (D/P) ratio, and the Federal Funds Rate. Weekly data for this study were obtained fromTechnical Trends andBarrons covering a time period from February 23, 1985 to September 23, 1994. It was found that the P/E ratio led the market by about eight months with a correlation coefficient of 0.35, the D/P ratio led the market by 21 months with a correlation coefficient of 0.55, and that the Funds Rate led the market by five months with a correlation coefficient of −0.33.
A technique for predicting in‐stream flow requirements of benthic macroinvertebrates

SUMMARY. A total of 225 benthic samples was taken at various riffles along the Tongue River in Montana during three separate weekly intervals in 1975. For each sample, depth, current velocity, substrate microprofile, turbulence (Froude number), and the number and kind of species present were considered. The conditions of highest faunal diversity were 75–125 cm/s current velocity at 20–40cm depth. The optimum condition appeared to be 76 cm/s at a depth of 28 cm over medium cobble substrates. The centroids for optimum conditions of depth and current velocity for thirty-six common macroinvertebrates are also presented. Representative diagrams of the tolerance ranges of some common invertebrate species are presented. Rhithrogena hageni Eaton was chosen as the indicator species since its tolerances closely matched those of the highest community diversity. The presence of Rhithrogena in future samples would indicate maintenance of adequate flow conditions for the present benthic community. A method for applying these data to produce a minimum flow recommendation is discussed. If the optimum conditions can be plotted on composite hydrologic maps of depth and velocity in riffle areas at various discharges, one can predict the discharge at which the optimum conditions are eliminated and, thus, the recommended minimum discharge.
P 230. Third generation controllable pulse parameter transcranial magnetic stimulation device

Introduction Commercially available transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) devices induce electric field (E-field) pulses with damped cosine shape and provide very limited control over the pulse parameters. Furthermore, conventional TMS devices consisting of a single power stage cannot produce rapid bursts ( Objectives To summarize the cTMS3 device capabilities and compare it to conventional TMS and other cTMS devices. Materials and methods The coil current and electric field were measured with a Rogowski current sensor and a search coil, respectively. Results cTMS3 uses a circuit topology with two energy storage capacitors and four controllable switches. It can generate rapid-rate (⩽50 Hz) trains of mono/bi/polyphasic near-rectangular electric field pulses with adjustable amplitude (maximum capacitor voltages of 1 kV and 2.6 kV), pulse width (phase duration of 10 μs to over 200 μs), and directionality (positive/negative phase amplitude ratio range of 1–52). In contrast to earlier cTMS devices, in cTMS3 the pulse phases can assume 4 possible electric field levels, proportional to either of the two capacitor voltages, the capacitor voltage difference, or 0. Thus, cTMS3 can produce waveforms with a staircase shape that can approximate conventional sinusoidal current pulses ( Fig. 1 ). To counteract the loss of capacitor charge in rapid pulse bursts, the pulse width of the second and subsequent pulses can be increased, allowing their stimulation strength to be equal or even higher than the first pulse ( Fig. 2 ). In Fig. 2 , the voltage on the two energy storage capacitors is reduced by 2% and 17%, respectively, after the first pulse, but the second pulse is 67% longer than the first pulse. Consequently, the strength of the second pulse, as measured by modeled neural membrane depolarization (membrane time constant = 196 μs) is 45% higher than the first pulse. Thus, paired-pulse paradigms, where the second pulse can have higher strength than the first pulse, can be implemented. Similarly, increasing the pulse width in a rapid burst of pulses can enable quadripulse stimulation. Conclusions cTMS3 offers flexibility of pulse shape adjustment unparalleled in other available TMS devices. The combination of high energy efficiency of the near rectangular pulses, pulse energy recovery, and pulse width control allow the generation of rapid bursts of pulses with equal or even increasing strength that can implement paired-pulse and quadripulse stimulation. These features could extend the capabilities of TMS as a research and diagnostic tool, and could enable optimization of the stimulus in therapeutic interventions.
The network structure of silicone release coatings

Silicone release coatings are used by the pressure-sensitive adhesive industry for labeling applications. A background discussion of silicone release coatings is presented. Methodology for determining the network structure of photolytically cured systems prepared by the cationic ring opening polymerization of an epoxy silicone fluid is described. Under typical polymerization conditions, these networks contain no unreached epoxides and have very low degrees of polymerization (D p), indicating that termination is competitive with propagation. A method has also been developed to determine the network structure of thermally cured systems prepared by the platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation of silicone vinyl compounds with silicone hydrides. The nature of the cross-links and the types of residual functionality have been determined and the systems have been shown to undergo a postcure.
Group Counseling with Learning Disabled Children Effects of Social Skills and Relaxation Training on Self-Concept and Classroom Behavior

Children identified as learning disabled often have concurrent emotional and interpersonal difficulties. Beyond their academic difficulties, a “spiral'' can occur in which others' perceptions of the child's behaviors and the child's self-perception interact, enhancing the likelihood of the child's expecting and then experiencing social failures. This study examined the effects of two group-counseling approaches –-social skills and relaxation training–-on LD children's self-concept and on their in-class behavior, as assessed by their teachers. Forty six first- and second-grade LD children were randomly assigned to one of three conditions–-social skills, relaxation training, or no treatment control. Scores from the Primary Self-concept Inventory and the Walker Problem Behavior Identification Checklist indicated that the Social Skills group had more positive social self-concept scores than the other groups, though there was no difference on personal self or intellectual self, while the relaxation training gr...
Bhabha Among the Clinicians: Introduction

In this introduction I propose the value of reading Homi Bhabha's Location of Culture (1994) for its clinical and theoretical insights and utility for psychoanalysts. I look at how Bhabha's work influences my own thinking about development, about nostalgia and loss, about hybridity, and about cultural alienation and resistance. I introduce 6 essays which examine questions of migration; trauma; intergenerational transmission of loss and exile; and matters of gender inside and outside the canonical, cultural context drawing for their inspiration and influence from Homi Bhabha's work.
Plasma Neutrophil Elastase and Elafin Imbalance Is Associated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Development

Background We conducted an exploratory study of genome-wide gene expression in whole blood and found that the expression of neutrophil elastase inhibitor (PI3, elafin) was down-regulated during the early phase of ARDS. Further analyses of plasma PI3 levels revealed a rapid decrease during early ARDS development. PI3 and secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) are important low-molecular-weight proteinase inhibitors produced locally at neutrophil infiltration site in the lung. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that an imbalance between neutrophil elastase (HNE) and its inhibitors in blood is related to the development of ARDS. Methodology/Principal Findings PI3, SLPI, and HNE were measured in plasma samples collected from 148 ARDS patients and 63 critical ill patients at risk for ARDS (controls). Compared with the controls, the ARDS patients had higher HNE, but lower PI3, at the onset of ARDS, resulting in increased HNE/PI3 ratio (mean = 14.5; 95% CI, 10.9–19.4, P<0.0001), whereas plasma SLPI was not associated with the risk of ARDS development. Although the controls had elevated plasma PI3 and HNE, their HNE/PI3 ratio (mean = 6.5; 95% CI, 4.9–8.8) was not significantly different from the healthy individuals (mean = 3.9; 95% CI, 2.7–5.9). Before the onset (7-days period prior to ARDS diagnosis), we only observed significantly elevated HNE, but the HNE-PI3 balance remained normal. With the progress from prior to the onset of ARDS, the plasma level of PI3 declined, whereas HNE was maintained at a higher level, tilting the balance toward more HNE in the circulation as characterized by an increased HNE/PI3 ratio. In contrast, three days after ICU admission, there was a significant drop of HNE/PI3 ratio in the at-risk controls. Conclusions/Significance Plasma profiles of PI3, HNE, and HNE/PI3 may be useful clinical biomarkers in monitoring the development of ARDS.
The lobster shaw gene: cloning, sequence analysis and comparison to fly shaw

We cloned and sequenced the cDNA for the shaw gene, encoding a voltage-dependent potassium (K+) channel, from the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus. The deduced amino acid sequence has a high degree of homology to the Drosophila melanogaster Shaw protein. In addition, lobster Shaw has several putative sites for post-translational modifications.
Capital Mobility and Source-Based Taxation of Capital Income in Small Open Economies

This paper examines the taxation of capital income in a small open economy that faces a highly elastic supply of internationally mobile capital and increasing tax competition. The analysis considers a wide variety of additional factors that affect the determination of capital income taxation policy, including the desire to tax economic rents earned by foreign and domestic firms, the desire to take advantage of any treasury transfer effects, the role played by transfer pricing and other financial accounting manipulations by foreign multinationals, the need for a backstop to the personal income tax and various political concerns. The paper evaluates several potential income and consumption-based tax reforms in this context.
Functional brain organization for visual search in ASD.

Although previous studies have shown that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) excel at visual search, underlying neural mechanisms remain unknown. This study investigated the neurofunctional correlates of visual search in children with ASD and matched typically developing (TD) children, using an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging design. We used a visual search paradigm, manipulating search difficulty by varying set size (6, 12, or 24 items), distractor composition (heterogeneous or homogeneous) and target presence to identify brain regions associated with efficient and inefficient search. While the ASD group did not evidence accelerated response time (RT) compared with the TD group, they did demonstrate increased search efficiency, as measured by RT by set size slopes. Activation patterns also showed differences between ASD group, which recruited a network including frontal, parietal, and occipital cortices, and the TD group, which showed less extensive activation mostly limited to occipito-temporal regions. Direct comparisons (for both homogeneous and heterogeneous search conditions) revealed greater activation in occipital and frontoparietal regions in ASD than in TD participants. These results suggest that search efficiency in ASD may be related to enhanced discrimination (reflected in occipital activation) and increased top-down modulation of visual attention (associated with frontoparietal activation). (JINS, 2008, 14, 990–1003.)
Isoprostanes and related products of lipid peroxidation in neurodegenerative diseases

Lipid peroxidation is a major outcome of free radical-mediated injury to brain, where it directly damages membranes and generates a number of oxidized products. Some of the chemically and metabolically stable oxidation products are useful in vivo biomarkers of lipid peroxidation. These include the isoprostanes (IsoPs) and isofurans (IsoFs), derived from arachidonic acid (AA), and neuroprostanes (NeuroPs), derived from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We have shown increased levels of IsoPs, NeuroPs, and IsoFs in diseased regions of brain from patients who died from advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Parkinson's disease (PD). Increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of IsoPs are present in patients with AD or Huntington's disease (HD) early in the course of their illness, and CSF IsoPs may improve the laboratory diagnostic accuracy for AD. In contrast, quantification of IsoPs in plasma and urine of AD patients has yielded inconsistent results. These results indicate that brain lipid peroxidation is a potential therapeutic target early in the course of AD and HD, that CSF IsoPs may aid in the assessment of anti-oxidant experimental therapeutics and laboratory diagnosis of AD.
Consumer perceptions of visible tattoos on service personnel

Purpose – It is proposed that visible tattoos on service personnel may be used as a clue by consumers in predicting service process and outcome. This paper aims to explore this general hypothesis by investigating consumer perceptions of tattooed service employees and whether they vary by type of service rendered, the age of the perceiver, and whether the perceiver has a tattoo or not.Design/methodology/approach – A quota sample of age‐grouped subjects reported their perceptions of the appropriateness of visible tattoos on service personnel in nine different occupations as well as their inferences about tattooed people on five personal traits.Findings – Overall, visible tattoos on white‐collar workers were deemed inappropriate while similar tattoos on blue‐collar workers were viewed as appropriate. Respondents (both young and old and tattooed versus non‐tattooed) believed financial services workers should not have visible tattoos. Older subjects held a more unfavorable view of tattooed people, in general, ...
A 28mW WCDMA/GSM/GPRS/EDGE transformer-based receiver in 45nm CMOS

A transformer-based receiver designed in 45nm CMOS that meets WCDMA, GSM, GPRS, and EDGE system requirements is presented. The receiver requires no interstage SAW filters and consumes 20mA from 1.4V. The use of a transformer at the LNA output helps achieve high linearity by lowering the voltage swing while simultaneously providing current gain. The analog back end is implemented with two cascaded gain stages and a 2nd order ΣΔ ADC. The receiver has a gain of 60dB, noise figure of 3.0dB and an IIP2 of ≫+50dBm on both I+Q channels. The die area is 1.35mm2 for 4 bands.
Encephalization Quotients and Life-History Traits in the Sirenia

Relative brain size in the Sirenia is unusually small. Encephalization quotients are 0.27 for Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus) and 0.38 for dugongs (Dugongs (Dugong dugon). Estimates for Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) range from 0.12 to 0.19. These values are among the lowest known for recent mammals, and seemingly have changed little since the Eocene. A body plan specialized for the aquatic environment does not account for low encephalization quotients; values are substantially less than predicted based on cetacean or pinniped allometry. Life-history, ecological, and behavioral traits of the Sirenia are typical of relatively large-brained species. Low quality food and a low metabolic rate, however, are characterisitic of the Sirenia and other small-brained mammals. Acting through prolonged postnatal growth, selection also likely favored large body size in the Sirenia without a correlated increase in brain size
Espaces productivement de Fréchet

Resume Les espaces topologiques dont le produit avec chaque espace fortement de Frechet est de Frechet sont caracterises de facon interne. Ceci resout un probleme reste longtemps ouvert. Pour citer cet article : F. Jordan, F. Mynard, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 259–262.
ROLE OF METFORMIN IN EARLY STAGES OF HEART FAILURE: ROME HF STUDY

Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem in the United States. Heart failure itself leads to insulin resistance and the role of medication that has effect on insulin resistance has not been well studied. We hypothesized metformin, an insulin sensitizer, may delay the progression of heart
SURVEY OF RENDEZVOUS PROGRESS

Emergency rendezvous requirements of the apollo/ lem mission from a historical, nontechnical point of view
Open Sesame! Coxsackieviruses Conspire to Trespass the Tight Junctional Gate

In the January 13 issue of Cell, Coyne and Bergelson describe an "Open sesame!" strategy developed by coxsackieviruses to invade the organism through the intestinal epithelium. The strategy involves coopting intrinsic signaling abilities of the apical GPI-anchored protein DAF to open the tight junction barrier, gain access to the primary receptor CAR, and activate virus internalization by a caveolin-dependent pathway.
Ectoparasites of wild canids from the Gulf Coastal Prairies of Texas and Louisiana.

Three tick, 1 louse and 2 mite species were recovered from 19 wild canids, including 5 Red Wolves ( Canis rufus gregoryi ), 6 Coyotes ( Canis latrans ), and 8 Red Wolf × Coyote hybrids, from the Gulf Coastal Prairies of southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. An additional 386 canids, including Red Wolves, Coyotes, Red Wolf × dog hybrids, and Red Wolf × Coyote hybrids, were examined from 1974 through 1979 for sarcoptic mange. Ectoparasites recovered from wild canids included Amblyomma americanum (7% of hosts infected), Amblyomma maculatum (80%), Ixodes scapularis (1.3%), Trichodectes canis (7%), Sarcoptes scabiei (9%), and Demodex sp. (0.3%). This is the first report of a species of Demodex in a wild canid host and the first definitive report of S. scabiei from these hosts in Texas. The 34 cases of sarcoptic mange encountered in this study demonstrated varying degrees of alopecia, scabby encrustations, slate-gray discoloration, and thickening of the skin. A female Red Wolf with mange and several captive Red Wolves suffering from sarcoptic mange were treated by shampooing with Mycodex® pet shampoo with lindane followed by application of benzyl benzoate with lindane. This treatment was successful in curing most severe infections of sarcoptic mange and the single case of demodectic mange in these hosts. The ramifications of ectoparasitism, especially mange, in these hosts are discussed.
QRS voltage measurements in autopsied men free of cardiopulmonary disease: A basis for evaluating total QRS voltage as an index of left ventricular hypertrophy

Use of total 12-lead QRS electrocardiographic voltage as a criterion for left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy has been of recent interest. Although upper and lower limits of QRS voltage for individual electrocardiographic leads have been reported in clinically healthy men and women, the upper limit of total 12-lead QRS voltage has not been established in adults free of cardiopulmonary disease by clinical and necropsy criteria. Therefore, the total QRS voltage from all 12 electrocardiographic leads was determined in 30 autopsied men known to be free of cardiopulmonary disease by clinical assessment and by a special cardiac examination using postmortem coronary angiography and chamber partition determination of LV weight. Gross heart weight, LV weight and total QRS voltage are reported. Comparisons were made between disease-free patients and previously reported patients with aortic valve stenosis, aortic regurgitation and cardiac amyloidosis with respect to total QRS voltage and gross heart weight. Total QRS voltage and gross heart weight were significantly greater in patients with severe aortic stenosis (mean 245 mm) and severe aortic regurgitation (mean 274 mm) than in our patients (mean 127 mm). Total QRS voltage was significantly less, whereas gross heart weight was significantly greater in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (mean 101 mm) than in our normal subjects (mean 127 mm). These data provide a basis for evaluating the total 12-lead QRS voltage as a criterion for LV hypertrophy.
Cholecystokinin-8 increases Fos-like immunoreactivity in myenteric neurons of the duodenum and jejunum more after intraperitoneal than after intravenous injection.

Abstract The objective of this study was to measure the relative efficacy and potency of cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) given by intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intravenous (i.v.) injection to stimulate Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) in neurons of the myenteric plexus in the duodenum and jejunum. The subjects for his experiment were 40 male Sprague–Dawley rats divided into eight treatment groups ( n = 5 rats per treatment). Four groups of rats were injected with 5, 10, and 40 μg/kg sulfated CCK-8 and saline (control) i.p., and the remaining groups with the same treatments i.v. We then detected Fos-LI, a marker for neuronal activation, in the myenteric plexus of the duodenum and jejunum, in response to the previous doses and routes. All of the CCK-8 doses administered by both routes increased Fos-LI in the myenteric plexus of the duodenum and jejunum significantly more than saline did. Although both routes were efficacious in increasing Fos-LI, CCK-8 i.p. was significantly more potent than CCK-8 i.v. These data provide immunohistochemical evidence that i.p. administration of CCK-8 is a more potent stimulant of Fos-LI in the neurons of the myenteric plexus of the duodenum and jejunum than i.v. injection.
Virtual cardioscopy : Interactive endocardial visualization to guide RF cardiac ablation

Cardiac arrhythmias are a debilitating, potentially life threatening condition involving aberrant electrical activity in the heart which results in abnormal heart rhythm. Virtual cardioscopy can play an important role in minimally invasive treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Second and third generation image-guidance systems are now available for the treatment of arrhythmias using RF ablation catheters. While these 3D tools provide useful information to the clinician, additional enhancements to the virtual cardioscopy display paradigm are critical for optimal therapy guidance. Based on input from clinical collaborators, several key visualization techniques have been developed to enhance the use of virtual cardioscopy during cardiac ablation procedures. We have identified, designed and incorporated several visual cues important to successful virtual cardioscopy. These features include the use of global reference maps, parametric mapping, and focused navigation and targeting using abnormal electro-physiologic activity. Our virtual cardioscopy system is designed for real-time use during RF cardiac ablation procedures. Several unique visualizations from our virtual cardioscopy system will be presented. Evaluation of the system with phantom and animal studies will be presented. This research is supported by grant EB002834 from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health.
Synthesis and Aggregation of a Conjugated Helical Molecule

Described are an improved method to synthesize helicenebisquinone 1 and an efficient method to resolve its enantiomers and those of other helicenebisquinones by separating derived camphanate esters. The union of p-benzoquinone and the bis(triisopropylsilylenol ether) of a 2,7-diacetyl-4,5-dialkoxynaphthalene gives the helicene skeleton in 56% yield. Molecules of nonracemic 1 aggregate when their dodecane solutions are concentrated to 5 × 10-4 M or more. Chloroform dissociates the aggregates. Aggregation is characterized by enhanced circular dichroisms and g values, red-shifted UV−vis absorptions, increased specific rotations, increased light scattering at an absorption frequency, and, as reported previously, fluorescence emissions that shift to the red, 1H NMR resonances that shift upfield, and organization of the pure material into fibers. The CD and UV−vis absorption spectra of spin-coated films are similar to those of concentrated solutions in dodecane, but the g values are higher. The specific rotatio...
Slippery slopes: Understanding gradients and asymmetries in development.

The joint meeting of the Society for Developmental Biology and the Inter- national Society of Developmental Biologists gave a rich look at the cur- rer,t state of developmental biology*. Wi~.h approximately one thousand par- ticipants and a huge diversity of talks and posters of very high quality, it is difficult to do anything here but skim the surface of the interesting work presented (see Box 1 ). This review will focus therefore primarily on one broad theme of the meetiqg - the impor- tance of asymmetries in development. Understanding how asymmetries are established, maintained and read out is a central subject in developmental biology. Asymmetries are essential at the levels of the unicellular organism (for example to compartmentalize cel- lular processes and mediate asymmet- ric cell division), of the single cell in multicellular organisms (for example to maintain stem cells ~and apical-basal polarity in epithelia) and of the whole organism (in orienting the basic body axes and defining organ primordia).
Central projections of anuran optic nerves penetrating hindbrain or spinal cord regions of the neural tube

Abstract To identify parameters of optic tract growth that may be independent of the region of the CNS in which the tract develops, eye primordia of embryonic Rana pipiens were transplanted to a variety of ectopic locations adjacent to the hindbrain and spinal cord. Longitudinal growth direction, cross-sectional growth position and possible termination sites of ectopic optic tracts from transplanted eyes were analyzed in serial section autoradiographs following intraocular injection of [ 3 H]proline. Sixteen animals ranging in age from Taylor and Kollros Stage I 32 to one month postmetamorphosis were used in this study. The analysis revealed that retinal ganglion cell axons are capable of growing in both rostral and caudal directions within all regions of the hindbrain and spinal cord. Within comparable regions of the hindbrain and spinal cord, all ectopic optic tracts were located in identical cross-sectional positions. The positions were always subadjacent to the pial surface of the CNS and contiguous to regions of the neural axis in which sensory fiber tracts are normally found. Possible termination sites of ascending ectopic optic tracts were detected within sensory regions of the hindbrain and posterior midbrain tegmentum. However, there was no consistent selection of particular regions of termination. No ectopic optic nerve fibers extended significantly beyond the hindbrain-midbrain junction and no fibers could be traced to the optic tecta.
ON STOCHASTIC ORDERS FOR THE LIFETIME OF A k -OUT-OF- n SYSTEM

Let tk|n denote the lifetime of a k-out-of-n system, where the n components have independent lifetimes Ti with completely arbitrary distribution Fi, i = 1,..., n. It is shown that tk+1|n ≤hr tk|n, tk|n ≤hr tk−1|n−1, and tk|n−1 ≤hr tk|n if Ti ≤hr Tn, i = 1,..., n − 1; tk+1|n ≤rh tk|n, tk−1|n ≤rh tk|n, and tk|n ≤rh tk−1|n−1 if Tn ≤rh Ti, i = 1,..., n − 1. These results are available in the literature for the special case of Fi's being absolutely continuous. Also, even in this case, the proofs are often tedious and use the concept of “totally positive of order infinity in differences of k.” In contrast, the proofs given here are simple and elegant and do not use the above concept.
Neuroglycopenic and other symptoms in patients with insulinomas.

Abstract PURPOSE: To characterize neuroglycopenic symptoms in the clinical presentation of patients with insulinomas. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed islet cell adenomas or carcinomas were identified at a single institution. Patient symptoms and clinical features of the insulinomas were obtained by retrospective medical record review with special attention to neuroglycopenic and autonomic symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 59 patients, 51% were female. Patients' ages ranged from 17 to 79 years (median 55) at the time of surgery. The interval from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis ranged from 1 month to 30 years (median 24 months). Most patients were diagnosed within 1 to 5 years (53%). Prior diagnoses included neurologic disorders (64%), especially seizure disorders (39%); 7 (12%) patients were treated with antiseizure medications. All patients had neuroglycopenic symptoms including confusion (83%) and personality change or bizarre behavior (64%). Amnesia for hypoglycemia was common (41%). Autonomic symptoms (83%) were usually diaphoresis (69%) or tremulousness (24%). Food ingestion relieved symptoms in 71% of patients; 39% reported weight gain. CONCLUSIONS: Despite improving diagnostic techniques, the diagnosis of an insulinoma is often delayed. Careful inquiry about neuroglycopenic symptoms from patients and persons who know them well is necessary whenever hypoglycemia due to endogenous hyperinsulinemia is a clinical consideration. A history of neuroglycopenic symptoms should suggest the diagnosis of hypoglycemia associated with a hyperinsulinemic state.
“Link rot” limits the usefulness of web‐based educational materials in biochemistry and molecular biology*

The differential stability of biochemistry and molecular biology Web page resources based on their domain designation is described. Many teachers have been excited by the potential enrichment of placing hyperlinks to Internet distributed educational resources within the class materials available to their students. However, there seems to be a belated realization that such hyperlinked resources are not necessarily stable and often disappear, causing frustration for both instructor and students. We recently developed three graduate-level biochemistry and molecular biology courses for distance delivery to high school teachers that relied heavily on such Web-based distributed resources. The 515 hyperlinked Web pages in these courses represent a set of authentic science education resources that were monitored for 24 months since their creation (August 2000). During this time, over 20% of the URLs have been victims of “link rot,” becoming nonviable, moving without automatic forwarding, or having their content changed.
Feminism, Social Policy, and Long‐Acting Contraception

The authors apply a feminist approach to two social debates over the use of Norplant. A woman convicted of child abuse was offered the use of Norplant as a condition of parole. She would have had to remain in jail had she opted to not accept the method. While such an offer may be justified the authors find it to be harmful and disrespectful to women. In order to justify offering long-term contraception as a condition of probation it would have to be clear that the future benefits were quite significant and unlikely to be obtained through other less harmful or disrespectful methods. The second debate involves CURE a clergy group in East Baltimore which has raised concerns about the use of Norplant among teenagers. The group argues that Black society sees the birth of a baby as a joyous occasion and that the majority White culture in the US may not understand Black culture. As such the majority culture should stay out of the procreational decision making and activities of the minority community. The feminist view of the authors however is that although many Black girls choose to have babies their mothers and grandmothers are saddled with much of the burden of rearing them. This male clergy which has spoken for the African American community actually may not understand what women want. Although the clergy which comprises CURE may be interpreting many of the communitys values correctly Black women may have other interests which are being poorly served by their interpretation.
Some Properties of the Parallel Plate Spark Counter I

A parallel plate spark counter was constructed to provide a uniformly sensitive avalanche volume for the detection of ionizing radiation. It is shown that such a counter avoids the random delay errors inherent in counters with cylindrical geometry.The spark counter provides a pulse of several hundred volts with a rise time of 3 \ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ second, requiring no additional amplification for detection. The recovery times show a marked dependence on the cathode material and, while they may be several seconds long for some materials, recovery times of the order of one millisecond have been obtained with the use of lead and tin cathodes.The problem of high resolution counting and also the problem of reducing the recovery time in spark counters is discussed.
Validation of a "Kane's Dynamics" Model for the Active Rack Isolation System

Many microgravity space-science experiments require vibratory acceleration levels unachievable without active isolation. The Boeing Corporation's Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS) employs a novel combination of magnetic actuation and mechanical linkages, to address these isolation requirements on the International Space Station (ISS). ARIS provides isolation at the rack (international Standard Payload Rack, or ISPR) level. Effective model-based vibration isolation requires (1) an isolation device, (2) an adequate dynamic (i.e., mathematical) model of that isolator, and (3) a suitable, corresponding controller, ARIS provides the ISS response to the first requirement. In November 1999, the authors presented a response to the second ("A 'Kane's Dynamics' model for the Active Rack Isolation System", Hampton and Beech) intended to facilitate an optimal-controls approach to the third. This paper documents the validation of that high-fidelity dynamic model of ARIS. As before, this model contains the full actuator dynamics, however, the umbilical models are not included in this presentation. The validation of this dynamics model was achieved by utilizing two Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) software tools: Deneb's ENVISION, and Online Dynamics' AUTOLEV. ENVISION is a robotics software package developed for the automotive industry that employs 3-dimensional (3-D) Computer Aided Design (CAD) models to facilitate both forward and inverse kinematics analyses. AUTOLEV is a DOS based interpreter that is designed in general to solve vector based mathematical problems and specifically to solve Dynamics problems using Kane's method.
Controlling Life: From Jacques Loeb to Regenerative Medicine

In his 1987 book Controlling Life: Jacques Loeb and the Engineering Ideal in Biology, Philip Pauly presented his readers with the biologist Jacques Loeb and his role in developing an emphasis on control of life processes. Loeb's work on artificial parthenogenesis, for example, provided an example of bioengineering at work. This paper revisits Pauly's study of Loeb and explores the way current research in regenerative medicine reflects the same tradition. A history of regeneration research reveals patterns of thinking and research methods that both echo Loeb's ideology and point the way to modern studies. Pauly's work revealed far more than we readers realized at the time of its publication.