cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dendritic cells: potential triggers of autoimmunity and targets for therapy.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are often referred to as the body’s sentinels, constantly guarding against pathogens.1–3 In this role they are the antigen presenting cell that primes naive T cells in vivo.4 DCs also help maintain tolerance to “self” substances through multiple mechanisms that include T cell deletion and anergy as well as the generation of regulatory T cells.5–7 This dual role in regulating both immune responses and immune tolerance suggests that DCs are likely to have a role in autoimmune diseases such as lupus. The possibilities include presentation of “self” antigens as immunogens, a failure to delete autoreactive T cells, overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, and inadequate induction of regulatory T cells. As noted below, insights into these pathogenetic mechanisms in lupus are beginning to emerge. It is also clear that at least some of these activities of DCs can be manipulated through pharmacological agents.8,9 It has been thought for a long time that regulatory T cells are related to the pathogenesis of lupus.10,11 Now, at the forefront of this consideration is the possibility that DCs play a critical role in balancing the array of autoreactive T cells with a corresponding set of regulatory T cells.12 It is clear that immature DCs induce deletional tolerance of autoreactive T cells in the periphery.13–15 However, the original concept that immature DCs are responsible for tolerance and mature DCs induce immune responses has given way to a more complex scenario in which DCs in different states of maturation are able to induce CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells.16,17 In this paper, my aim is to consider the possibility that the maturation of DCs might be manipulated in such a way as to either enhance regulatory T cell generation or diminish priming of …
Juvenile autoimmune thyroiditis and mitral valve prolapse.

An increased incidence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) has been reported in adult patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of MVP in children and adolescents with juvenile autoimmune thyroiditis (JAT). Cardiac echo studies using M-mode, 2D, and Doppler examinations were performed on 23 patients (21 females, 2 males). The patients were studied at a median age of 12 years (range 5–20 years). Only one patient was found to have evidence suggestive of MVP, an incidence (4.3%) similar to that seen in the normal pediatric population. We, therefore, conclude that the incidence of MVP in children and adolescence with JAT is not increased.
Protein Arcs May Form Stable Pores in Lipid Membranes

Electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images of cholesterol-dependent cytolysins and related proteins that form large pores in lipid membranes have revealed the presence of incomplete rings, or arcs. Some evidence indicates that these arcs are inserted into the membrane and induce membrane leakage, but other experiments seem to refute that. Could such pores, only partially lined by protein, be kinetically and thermodynamically stable? How would the lipids be structured in such a pore? Using the antimicrobial peptide protegrin-1 as a model, we test the stability of pores only partially lined by peptide using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations in POPC and POPE/POPG membranes. The data show that, whereas pure lipid pores close rapidly, pores partially lined by protegrin arcs are stable for at least 300 ns. Estimates of the thermodynamic stability of these arcs using line tension data and implicit solvent calculations show that these arcs can be marginally stable in both zwitterionic and anionic membranes. Arcs provide an explanation for the observed ion selectivity in protegrin electrophysiology experiments and could possibly be involved in other membrane permeabilization processes where lipids are thought to participate, such as those induced by antimicrobial peptides and colicins, as well as the Bax apoptotic pore.
Adriamycin induces protein oxidation in erythrocyte membranes.

Adriamycin is an anthracycline antineoplastic agent whose clinical effectiveness is limited by severe side effects, including cardiotoxicity. A current hypothesis for adriamycin cardiotoxicity involves free radical oxidative stress. To investi- gate this hypothesis in a model system, we applied the technique of immunochemical detection of protein carbonyls, known to be increased in oxidized proteins, to study the effect of adriamycin on rat erythrocyte membranes. Erythrocytes obtained from adriamycin-treated rats demonstrated an increase of carbonyl formation in their membrane proteins. Yet, in separate experiments when adriamycin was incubated with rat erythrocyte ghosts, there was no significant increase of membrane protein carbonyls detected. In contrast, isolated erythrocytes incubated with an adriamycin-Fe)' complex exhibited a robust carbonyl incorporation into their membrane proteins in a time-dependent manner. The level of carbonyl formation was dependent upon the concentration of Fe3+ known to form the adriamycin-Fe3+ complex. When the time course between protein carbonyl formation and lipid peroxidation was compared, protein carbonyl detection occurred earlier than lipid peroxidation as assayed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation. These results are consistent with the notion that oxidative modification of membrane proteins may contribute to the development of the acute adria- mycin-mediated toxicity.
Acetolysis applied to microscopical honey analysis.

Abstract A microscopical honey analysis method that is being used to process honey samples from Mississippi (USA) is introduced. The method incorporates the acetolysis schedule and allows collection of quantitative and qualitative data in one procedure. Advantages and problems associated with acetolysis in processing honey samples from southeastern USA are reviewed.
Random matrices, fractional statistics, and the quantum Hall effect

The fractional-statistics Laughlin picture of the quantum Hall effect is reformulated as a random-matrix problem. This reformulation connects two large sets of results, and should lead to simplifications for both analytical and numerical studies.
Age and Rate of Acquisition of Second Language for Academic Purposes.

The study reported in this article analyzed the length of time required for 1,548 advantaged limited English proficient (LEP) students to become proficient in English for academic purposes while receiving instruction in English in all subject areas. Variables included were age on arrival, English proficiency level upon arrival, basic literacy and math skills in the native language upon arrival, and number of years of schooling in English. Second language and content-area achievement were measured by students' performance on the Science Research Associates tests in reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The results indicated that LEP students who entered the ESL program at ages 8–11 were the fastest achievers, requiring 2–5 years to reach the 50th percentile on national norms in all the subject areas tested. LEP students who entered the program at ages 5–7 were 1–3 years behind the performance level of their LEP peers who entered the program at ages 8–11, when both groups had the same length of residence. Arrivals at ages 12–15 experienced the greatest difficulty and were projected to require as much as 6–8 years to reach grade-level norms in academic achievement when schooled all in the second language. Whereas some groups may reach proficiency in some subjects in as little as 2 years, it is projected that at least 4–8 years may be required for all ages of LEP students to reach national grade-level norms of native speakers in all subject areas of language and academic achievement, as measured on standardized tests.
Solution structure of a wedge-shaped synthetic molecule at a two-base bulge site in DNA.

The solution structure of the complex formed between an oligonucleotide containing a two-base bulge (5'-CACGCAGTTCGGAC.5'-GTCCGATGCGTG) and DDI, a designed synthetic agent, has been elucidated using high-resolution NMR spectroscopy and restrained molecular dynamic simulation. DDI, which has been found to modulate DNA strand slippage synthesis by DNA polymerase I [Kappen, L. S., Xi, Z., Jones, G. B., and Goldberg, I. H. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 2166-2173], is a wedge-shaped spirocyclic molecule whose aglycone structure closely resembles that of the natural product, NCSi-gb, which strongly binds to an oligonucleotide containing a two-base bulge. Changes in chemical shifts of the DNA upon complex formation and intermolecular NOEs between DDI and the bulged DNA duplex indicate that agent specifically binds to the bulge site of DNA. The benzindanone moiety of DDI intercalates via the minor groove into the G7-T8-T9.A20 pocket, which consists of a helical base pair and two unpaired bulge bases, stacking with the G7 and A20 bases. On the other hand, the dihydronaphthalenone and aminoglycoside moieties are positioned in the minor groove. The aminoglycoside, which is attached to spirocyclic ring, aligns along the A20T21G22 sequence of the nonbulged strand, while the dihydronaphthalenone, which is restrained by the spirocyclic structure, is positioned near the G7-T8-T9 bulge site. The aminoglycoside is closely aligned with the dihydronaphthalenone, preventing its intercalation into the bulge site. In the complex, the unpaired purine (G7) is intrahelical and stacks with the intercalating moiety of DDI, whereas the unpaired pyrimidine (T8) is extrahelical. The structure of the complex formed by binding of the synthetic agent to the two-base bulged DNA reveals a binding mode that differs in important details from that of the natural product, explaining the different binding specificity for the bulge sites of DNA. The structure of the DDI-bulged DNA complex provides insight into the structure-binding affinity relationship, providing a rational basis for the design of specific, high-affinity probes of the role of bulged nucleic acid structures in various biological processes.
An ultraviolet crosslink in the hammerhead ribozyme dependent on 2-thiocytidine or 4-thiouridine substitution

The hammerhead domain is one of the smallest known ribozymes. Like other ribozymes it catalyzes site-specific cleavage of a phosphodiester bond. The hammerhead ribozyme has been the subject of a vast number of biochemical and structural studies aimed at determining the structure and mechanism of cleavage. Recently crystallographic analysis has produced a structure for the hammerhead. As the hammerhead is capable of undergoing cleavage within the crystal, it would appear that the crystal structure is representative of the catalytically active solution structure. However, the crystal structure conflicts with much of the biochemical data and reveals a catalytic metal ion binding site expected to be of very low affinity. Clearly, additional studies are needed to reconcile the discrepancies and provide a clear understanding of the structure and mechanism of the hammerhead ribozyme. Here we demonstrate that a unique crosslink can be induced in the hammerhead with 2-thiocytidine or 4-thiouridine substitution at different locations within the conserved core. Generation of the same crosslink with different modifications at different positions suggests that the structure trapped by the crosslink may be relevant to the catalytically active solution structure of the hammerhead ribozyme. As this crosslink appears to be incompatible with the crystal structure, this provides yet another indication that the active solution and crystal structures may differ significantly.
Convective Building of a Pycnocline: Laboratory Experiments

Abstract The convective building of a pycnocline is examined using a laboratory model forced by surface fluxes of saline water at one end and fresh water at the other. A deep recirculation evolves in the tank, which homogenizes the interior fluid by repeated passes through the dense, descending plume. A thin, fresh surface layer develops and modifies the effective buoyancy flux into the dense plume, causing the interior velocities to fall to an intermediate-time minimum. Adding bottom topography under the dense source greatly reduces the amount of entrainment that the descending plume undergoes. In this case, the tank fills with a deep, heavy layer, which causes the plume to “lift off” the bottom of the tank and detrain at successively higher depths in the water column. A simple numerical “plume” model shows that this cannot be a steady state, as it is not in diffusive balance; the plume must eventually return to the bottom of the tank and ventilate the interior waters. Adding rotation increases the surfa...
Neural basis of single-word reading in Spanish-English bilinguals

Brain imaging studies have identified a left-lateralized network of regions that are engaged when monolinguals read. However, for individuals who are native speakers of two languages, it is unclear whether this pattern of activity is maintained across both languages or if it deviates according to language-specific properties. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate single-word processing in Spanish and in English in 12 proficient early Spanish-English bilinguals matched in skill level in both languages. Word processing in Spanish engaged the left inferior frontal and left middle temporal gyri. Word processing in English activated the left inferior frontal, middle frontal, and fusiform gyri extending to inferior temporal gyrus and the right middle temporal gyrus extending into superior temporal sulcus. The comparison of reading in Spanish greater than reading in English revealed involvement of the left middle temporal gyrus extending into the superior temporal sulcus. English greater than Spanish, however, demonstrated greater engagement of the left middle frontal gyrus extending into the superior frontal gyrus. We conclude that although word processing in either language activates classical areas associated with reading, there are language-specific differences, which can be attributed to the disparity in orthographic transparency. English, an orthographically deep language, may require greater engagement of the frontal regions for phonological coding, whereas Spanish allows increased access to semantic processing via the left middle temporal areas. Together, these results suggest that bilinguals will show adjustments to the typical neural representation of reading as necessitated by the demands of the orthography.
Emerging powers as normative agents: Brazil and China within the UN development system

Institutions are frequently thought of as ‘socialising’ member states into pre-established norms. However, this influence is not necessarily a one-way street; members can also affect institutions, whether individually or collectively. This article analyses the behaviour of two emerging powers – Brazil and China – within the field of international development. What roles have these two states played in shaping global development norms? The article examines the key motivations, positions, and initiatives taken by Brazil and China, with special reference to the UN development system (unds). Whereas Brazil and China’s early behaviour within the unds diverged significantly, in the post-cold war period both have become increasingly interested in – and capable of – influencing UN norms. However, despite greater involvement in UN development negotiations, these countries’ leverage in normative debates originates outside of the unds, through their South–South cooperation programmes. The current diversification of ...
Depletion Performance of Volumetric High-Pressured Gas Reservoirs

Methode de prediction du pourcentage de recuperation des reservoirs volumetriques de gaz a haute pression, a partir des donnees initiales sur le reservoir. La methode, basee sur une solution d'incrementation de l'equation de bilan de matiere, permet aussi d'estimer le gaz initial en place a partir des donnees precoces de production. Ce modele, compare a trois autres plus anciens, a ete applique avec succes a un cas de terrain
Macromolecular properties of isomeric chondroitin sulfates

Abstract 1. 1. Three isomeric chondroitin sulfates of connective tissue, CS-A, CS-B, and CS-C, are found to be linear polyelectrolytes with similar chain configuration-charge relationships. 2. 2. Clear distinction of these substances as molecular individuals with isomeric repeating units is established by comparison of molecular constants and physical properties and confirmed by infra-red analyses. 3. 3. Molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity, solubility, electrophoretic mobility, and potentiometric titration data are reported.
Change and Stability in the Ideology of Scottish Nationalism

Changes in the nature of Scottish nationalist ideology over a 30-year period are studied by means of a content analysis of 90 documents from the Scottish Nationalist Party. Frequency, position, and connectivity of themes within the ideology were measured. It appears that the party is becoming less radical and less culturally and economically oriented. The ideology is described as more complex, oppositional, and incestuous than formerly. The retreat from militancy is seen to stem from a historic need to avoid division within the party and as a strategy to attract a broader range of voters. This dilution of ideology is a major cause of the party's decline.
Iterative Image Restoration Algorithms

This tutorial paper discusses the use of successive-approximation-based iterative restoration algorithms for the removal of linear blurs and noise from images. Iterative algorithms are particularly attractive for this application because they allow for the incorporation of prior knowledge about the class of feasible solutions, because they can be used to remove nonstationary blurs, and because they are fairly robust with respect to errors in the approximation of the blurring operator. Regularization is introduced as a means for preventing the excessive noise magnification that is typically associated with ill-posed inverse problems such as the deblurring problem. Iterative algorithms with higher convergence rates and a multistep iterative algorithm are also discussed. A number of examples are presented.
Love the one you're with: proximity determines paternity success in the barnacle Tetraclita rubescens

A species' mating system sets limits on the strength of sexual selection. Sexual selection is widespread in dioecious species, but is less well documented in hermaphrodites, and may be less important. We used four highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to assign paternity to broods of the hermaphroditic eastern Pacific volcano barnacle Tetraclita rubescens. These data were used to describe the species' mating system and to examine factors affecting male reproductive success. Tetraclita can sire broods over distances of 11.2 cm, but proximity to the sperm recipient had a highly significant effect on the probability of siring success. There was no effect of body size or the mass of male reproductive tissues on siring success. Broods showed relatively low frequencies of multiple paternity; even at high densities, 75% of broods had only one father. High frequencies of single-paternity broods imply either that this species does not compete via sperm displacement, or that sperm displacement is extremely effective, potentially explaining the lack of a positive relationship between male investment and paternity. In addition, there was low variance in siring success among individuals, suggesting a lack of strong sexual selection on male traits. Low variance among sires and the strong effect of proximity are probably driven by the unusual biology of a sessile copulating species.
Spontaneous proliferation of H2M-/- CD4 T cells results in unusual acute hepatocellular necrosis

Naive CD4 T cells are triggered to undergo spontaneous proliferation, a proliferative response induced in response to homeostatic stimulation, when exposed to severe lymphopenic environments. They spontaneously acquire proinflammatory effector phenotypes, playing a major role in inducing chronic inflammation in the intestine that is believed to be induced by T cell recognition of commensal antigens. While the antigens inducing the T cell responses and inflammation are being extensively investigated, the role of clonality of T cells involved in this process remains poorly understood. In this study, we utilized naive CD4 T cells isolated from B6 H2M−/− mice, in which MHCII molecules are complexed with a single CLIP molecule, and examined spontaneous proliferation and intestinal inflammation of CD4 T cells expressing limited T cell receptor repertoire diversity. We found that H2M−/− CD4 T cells undergo robust spontaneous proliferation, differentiate into IFNγ-producing Th1 type effector cells, and, most unexpectedly, induce severe acute hepatocellular necrosis. T cell interaction with MHCII molecule on cells of hematopoietic origin was essential to induce the pathology. Interestingly, B cells are fully capable of preventing necrotic inflammation via IL-10-independent and B7-H1-dependent mechanism. This could be a useful animal model to examine T cell-mediated liver inflammation and B cell-mediated immune regulation.
Immunogenicity of novel consensus-based DNA vaccines against avian influenza

The frequency of H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks in China and Eastern Europe has raised concern in the world health community regarding the potential for an influenza pandemic. Efforts to monitor the disease will only provide minimal warning in a global society, and steps must be taken to prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with past pandemics. The current stockpiling of antibody-inducing "bird flu" vaccines assumes the strain that emerges will be the same as strains currently circulating. We propose a novel consensus-based approach to vaccine development, employing a DNA vaccine strategy that can provide more highly cross-reactive cellular immunity against lethal influenza infection. We show such constructs can induce strong cellular immunity against H5 influenza antigens.
Flame lengths under ceilings

The evaluation of hazards from developing room fires often requires a knowledge of flame lengths developed by burning objects. Procedures for estimating flame lengths have been available only for vertical plume fires, where there is no flame impingement on the room ceiling. Calculational procedures are developed for approximate calculation of flame lengths when part of the flame flow is along the ceiling. Four common geometries are treated: unbounded ceiling, plume near corner, plume in corner and one-directional corridor spread. Ceiling flame lengths are calculated by use of the assumption that the total air entrained up to the flame tip is the same for ceiling flow as for the free fire. Comparison with limited experimental data suggests potential for prediction in full-scale room fires.
Dynamically reconfigurable multiprocessor system for high-order-bidirectional-associative-memory-based image recognition

In this paper a high-order bidirectional associative memory (HOBAM) based image recognition system and a dynamically reconfigurable multiprocessor system that achieves real- time response are reported. The HOBAM has been utilized to recognize corrupted images of human faces (with hats, glasses, masks, and slight translation and scaling effects). In addition, the HOBAM, incorporated with edge detection techniques, has been used to recognize isolated objects within multiple-object images. Successful recognition rates have been achieved. A dynamically reconfigurable multiprocessor system and parallel software have been developed to achieve real-time response for image recognition. The system consists of Inmos transputers and crossbar switches (IMS C004). The communication links can be dynamically connected by circuit switching. This is the first time and the transputers and crossbar switches are reported to form a low-cost multiprocessor system connected by a switching network. Moreover, the switching network simplifies the design of the communication in parallel software without handling the message routing. Although the HOBAM is a fully connected network, the algorithm minimizes the amount of information that needs to be exchanged between processors using a data compression technique. The detailed design of both hardware and software are discussed in the paper. Significant speedup through parallel processing is accomplished. The architecture of the experimental system is a cost-effective design for an embedded system for neural network applications on computer vision.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Photoactivated Psoralens Elicit Defense Genes and Phytoalexin Production in the Pea Plant

In the pea plant (Pisum sativum), compounds that intercalate into DNA induce the production of ∼20 major proteins similar to the pattern induced during nonhost disease resistance to the bean fungal pathogen, Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli. The pea phytoalexin, pisatin, as well as RNA homologous to several disease-resistance response (DRR) genes accumulate following treatment with these compounds. Psoralen was chosen to characterize this interaction further because it intercalates into DNA and, following irradiation with 365 nm UV light (UV365), forms covalent bonds with pyrimidines on either or both strands of DNA. This produces monoadducts or cross-links, respectively. Dose experiments showed that 60 μg/mL 4′-aminomethyl-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen followed by 18 J/cm2 UV365 was sufficient to produce an accumulation of pisatin similar to that produced in response to the fungus. Under these inducing conditions, there was an average of 0.19 adducts per kb of pea genomic DNA. The accumulation of pisatin and the RNA of several DRR genes by psoralen required photoactivation, which suggests that covalent binding to DNA was necessary for induction. As the promoters of several putative fungal-induced pea genes contain long stretches of d(AT)n, which is the preferred psoralen photobinding site, restriction fragments spanning DRR genes were examined after in vivo psoralen treatment. The rate of crosslinking was compared between fungal-induced and noninduced genes using a modified Southern blot analysis. Implications of the induction of the DRR due to psoralen binding are discussed.
The Domestic Fruits of Diplomacy: Mediation and Presidential Approval

Abstract The notion that national leaders use foreign policy actions for domestic political benefit is widely accepted in the foreign policy literature, but has only been studied with regard to foreign policy involving the use of force. Literature on third-party mediation has emerged separately and has not taken mediators’ domestic political motivations and constraints into account when explaining mediation occurrence and outcomes. Diplomatic efforts such as mediation should be appealing to leaders seeking to impress their domestic audience because it provides them with a low risk opportunity to appear competent to their domestic audience. While mediation is a regular occurrence in US foreign policy, its public visibility varies greatly. However, models of presidential media coverage suggest that media outlets are likely to pay a disproportionate amount of attention to presidents and their high level surrogates while engaging in diplomacy overseas. The article proposes that the higher the profile of the official an administration sends to mediate a crisis overseas, the greater the increase in the president’s approval rating. Additionally, the public’s attentiveness to foreign policy should condition the effect of a high profile mediator on presidential approval. As foreign policy becomes more salient to the public, the effect of a higher profile mediator on presidential approval should be greater. Empirical results support the argument.
Dental microwear and diet in Venezuelan primates.

Recent microwear analyses have demonstrated that wear patterns can be correlated with dietary differences. However, much of this work has been based on analyses of museum material where dates and locations of collection are not well known. In view of these difficulties, it would be desirable to compare microwear patterns for different genera collected from the same area at the same time. The opportunity to do this was provided by the collections of the Smithsonian Venezuelan Project (Handley, 1976), in which multiple primate genera were collected from the same humid tropical forest sites within the same month. The monkeys represent a wide range of dietary preferences, and include Saimiri, Cebus, Chiropotes, Ateles, Aotus, Pithecia, and Alouatta. As in previous microwear analyses, epoxy replicas were prepared from dental impressions, as described by Rose (1983) and Teaford and Oyen (1989). Two micrographs were taken of facet 9 on an upper second molar of each specimen. Computations and analyses were the same as described by Teaford and Robinson (1989). Results reaffirm previously documented differences in dental microwear between primates that feed on hard objects versus those that do not—with Pithecia and Alouatta at the extremes of a range of microwear patterns including more subtle differences between species with intermediate diets. The subtle microwear differences are by no means easy to document in museum samples. However, additional results suggest that 1) the width of microscopic scratches may be a poor indicator of dietary differences, 2) large and small pits may be formed differently, and 3) there are very few seasonal differences in dental microwear in the primates at these humid tropical forest sites. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of oxygen concentration on the development of two-cell mouse embryos.

UNTIL recently, studies on early mammalian embryos were relatively infrequent because of difficulties in obtaining material and in maintaining the viability of the embryos. New methods for routine collection and culture1 have partially overcome these obstacles and several specific biochemical requirements for growing mouse embryos in vitro have been determined2–6. Using these methods, we have determined the oxygen concentration required by mouse embryos developing in vitro.
Conformational changes in plasminogen, their effect on activation, and the agents that modulate activation rates — a review

Summary This review was prompted by the increasing volume of observations relating to the modulation of plasminogen activation by a variety of agents of biological significance. Most of these agents accelerate activation by both tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA), but some slow it down. Many of them either modify the apparent affinity of plasminogen to the activators, or the velocity of catalysis, or both, and in some cases they affect the two parameters in seemingly contradictory fashion. In many of the cases the effects are satisfactorily accounted for by stabilization of one or the other of the plasminogen conformations, but often they are due to direct effects on the activators themselves. The effect requires the continued presence of the ‘modulator’ during activation, which means that catalysis is carried out by a ternary complex consisting of the activator, plasminogen and the modulator. The most significant part of the complex mechanism of modulation appears to be the manipulation — by the modulator — of the conformational state of plasminogen. It is the apparent ease of the conformational transition in plasminogen, to be discussed below, which allows the large variety of structurally diverse molecules to select and stabilize the conformation of their choice and thereby modulate the kinetics of activation. This effect is specific in that it is restricted to the process of activation: in the majority of the cases the modulators have no measurable effect on plasmin action. This does not necessarily mean that they do not interact with plasmin, only that the C-terminal active site region of plasmin is not responsive to events taking place in the N-terminal kringle-rich region of the molecule. A recent review by Ponting et al summarizes the current information on the structure of plasminogen.
Structural aberrations of the long arm of chromosome no. 22: Report of a family with translocation t(11;22) (q25;q11)*

A chromosomal translocation t(11;22) (q25;q11) is described in a family. Four members, in two generations, had the same translocation but showed phenotypic variation. Case reports of chromosome aberrations involving the long arm of chromosome 22 associated with and without chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are reviewed. It appears that the distal segment of the long arm of chromosome 22 is either translocated or deleted, resulting in congenital anomalies, presumably due to chromosome imbalance. In other instances, a specific breakpoint on 22q results in the origin of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) associated with CML.
Neuronal activity recorded from the spinal dorsal horn of physiologically intact, awake, drug-free, restrained cats: a preliminary report

A newly developed technique was used to record extracellular single unit activity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of physiologically intact, awake, drug-free, restrained cats. Activity of low threshold neurons in the intact animal differs from activity in spinal cord-transected animals in that there is little or no spontaneous activity present in the intact preparation. These data suggest important differences between the intact and spinal cord-transected preparations.
Social anhedonia and aggressive behavior

Abstract The inability to derive pleasure from social relationships, or social anhedonia, is associated with both psychopathology and impaired social functioning. Much of the research on social anhedonia (SA) has focused on its role in psychosis proneness (or schizotypy), which is the predisposition toward psychosis. Recent research suggests that SA may be related to aggression, but it is unclear whether this association is explained by the overlap between SA and positive aspects of schizotypy, namely perceptual aberrations (PA) and magical ideation (MI). The purpose of this study was to determine if SA uniquely predicts aggression in a nonclinical sample using a multi-modal approach to assess aggression. One hundred twenty undergraduates (60 men and 60 women) completed the Chapman psychosis proneness scales and self-report and behavioral measures of aggression. Results suggest that PA and MI were correlated with self-reported history of aggression, but that SA uniquely predicted provoked aggressive behavior observed in the laboratory. SA was also found to predict aggressive behavior over and above the effects of gender, anger and hostility. The results suggest that SA, and possibly low positive affect more broadly, may be associated with an increased risk of aggression in response to provocation.
Dynamic Infrared Linear Dichroism Study of Poly( p -phenylene vinylene) and Its Precursor

Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) has many interesting electrical properties, particularly anisotropic conductivity upon uniaxial stretching, because of its delocalized pi-electron system. In this study we have investigated the mid-infrared response of PPV and PPV-precursor films subjected to modulated uniaxial strain in order to study the degree of molecular motions and their time dependence during deformation. These studies have used a step-scan infrared spectrometer in conjunction with a piezo-driven in situ Polymer Modulator™. The viscoelastic properties are monitored simultaneously with the dynamic infrared vibrational response to the applied perturbation. The major molecular vibrations associated with the stretching of the precursor and of PPV have been identified and their time-dependence studied by using both phase-spectral and two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) approaches. It has also been shown that the precursor, at ambient temperatures, is elastic in nature. However, after the introduction of conjugation on the backbone via conversion to PPV, the material becomes more viscous; the change is evident at both the microscopic and macroscopic levels.
The identification of radiolytic decomposition products from tributyrin

In order to facilitate the detection of radiolytic products of triglycerides which may be of higher molecular weight than their precursor, a low molecular weight triglyceride, tributyrin, was selected as a model system, and gel permeation chromatography was used to effect their separation. The irradiation treatment was conducted under vacuum at 50 Mrad. Radiolytic products were collected by a precolumn technique for the highly volatile compounds; a combination of cold finger distillation and gel permeation for the less volatile fractions and finally gel permeation chromatography of the residue after distillation for the higher molecular weight compounds. A large number of compounds expected on the basis of previous work were identified in the present work from irradiated tributyrin. In addition, the techniques employed permitted the identification of several new compounds. These include butanetriol triesters, erythritol tetraesters, and other polyglycol polyesters.
An echocardiographic study of myocardial performance and baroreceptor reflexes in preterm neonates: Cardiovascular response to head up tilting to 30 and 60 degrees. 141

Background: The development of myocardial performance and baroreceptor responses in preterm infants is not clear. Purpose: To evaluate myocardial performance and baroreceptor reflexes in stable convalescent preterm infants using 2D, M-mode and Doppler echocardiography at supine, 30° & 60°. Methods: 14 preterm infants with gestational age (GA) (mean ± SD) 31 ± 3.8 wks.(range 25-35.5 wks.), birth weight of 1811 ± 790 g. (range 520-3260 g.) studied. All infants studied in supine, 30° and 60° head up positions. Heart rate(HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), O2 saturation, transcutaneous O2 and CO2 monitored during test.Results: We found a progressive improvement in myocardial functioning with increasing GA. A linear increase in stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) was seen with increasing GA (slope ± SE, b=0.021± 0.006, p=0.001). The left ventricular ejection time (LVET) increased with GA (slope b=2.5 ± 1.29, p=0.06). Likewise the end systolic wall stress (ESWS) increased significantly with GA (slope b=3.16 ± 1.02, p=0.0036). GA had no effect on velocity of circumferential fiber shortening(VCFS) (p=0.16) and left ventricular filling pattern as seen by early / late atrial doppler flow velocity ratios (E/A) (p=0.72). An inverse relationship was found between VCFS and ESWS (slope b= -0.0197 ± 0.008, p=0.003). GA had a significant effect on HR (p=0.007), SBP (p=0.029), left ventricular end diastolic dimensions (LVEDD) (p=0.0002) and left ventricular end systolic dimensions (LVESD) (p=0.001).
The Role of Auxin Metabolism in Root Meristem Regeneration by Pinus lambertiana Embryo Cuttings

Since the existence of root promoting substances that consist of a complex between auxin and another molecule has been suggested, we have examined the role of auxin conversion products in root regeneration by Pinus lambertiana embryo cuttings. Auxin conversion products were detected using radioactive forms of the auxins IAA (indoIe-3-acetic acid), NAA (a-napthaleneacetic acid) and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). 10−7M NAA was more effective than 10−6M IAA at promoting rooting, yet it formed conversion products much less rapidly. Also continuous exposure to IAA was necessary for optimum root formation. Based on these and other findings, we conclude that free auxin, and not the conversion products we detected, is essential to root meristem formation.
ALLERGEN IMMUNOTHERAPY AND AVOIDANCE

Classic symptoms of allergic rhinitis were recognized by Bostock 4b in the early 1800s, but their cause was unknown. Further observation suggested that pollen caused the hay fever symptoms and that the mucous membranes and the skin of hay-fever–sensitive patients react differently from those of normal individuals. 38 Immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis began in the early 1900s. Curtis conducted some of the first experiments in this area when he immunized patients with grass pollen vaccines. 10 In 1911, Noon prepared pollen extracts based on the weight of the pollen. These extracts were administered subcutaneously at 1- to 2-week intervals. He observed that patients receiving injections of grass pollen extract had diminished ocular allergen challenge reactions; the response to the administration of these allergens was dose dependent; and large doses of allergen extracts could provoke a systemic reaction. 25 Freeman and Cook later reported most patients with favorable outcomes following pollen immunotherapy. 9,13 Immunotherapy antigens expanded to include molds, trees, weeds, house dust mites, and stinging insects. Studies have confirmed the relationship between IgE-mediated sensitivity and nasal/airway responsiveness. In 1931, the Joint Committee of Survey and Standardization set standards for immunotherapy materials and methods. 30a Over the next several decades, controlled studies were done to define the role of allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, insect anaphylaxis, and asthma. 26 The mechanisms of the allergic response have been defined over the past several decades. The passive transfer of serum from an allergic person to a nonallergic person was characterized by the Prausnitz-Kustner reaction. 32 Reaginic antibodies were identified by radioimmunoassay. Ishizaka and Ishizaka isolated the reaginic antibody, and the World Health Organization (WHO) named it IgE. 17 Later studies showed a seasonal rise in IgE antibodies in pollen sensitive patients, and clarified T-cell and B-cell cooperation in the production of IgE antibodies. 31
Higher Education Trust, Rank and Race: A Conceptual and Empirical Analysis

This study involved an analysis of faculty trust in a large southwestern institution. After reviewing the literature, we identified a valid and reliable instrument, the Higher Education Faculty Trust Inventory, to measure higher education faculty trust in administrators, colleagues, and students. We then used this instrument to gauge various aspects of faculty trust, and we found significant trust differences among professors of varying academic ranks (i.e., adjunct, assistant, associate, and full professor). We found, however, no significant trust differences in regard to race. Finally, we discuss the findings within a context of implications for future research and practice in higher education.
Economic analysis of prevaccination serotesting compared with presumptive immunization for polio, diphtheria, and tetanus in internationally adopted and immigrant infants.

BACKGROUND. No consensus exists about whether to conduct prevaccination serotesting or to presumptively vaccinate internationally adopted and immigrant infants with inactivated polio (IPV) and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) immunizations. OBJECTIVE. To study the clinical and economic outcomes from a societal perspective of prevaccination serotesting in a hypothetical 12-month-old internationally adopted or immigrant infant. DESIGN AND METHODS. A decision analysis model was developed comparing presumptive vaccination with IPV versus serotesting for poliovirus type 1, 2, and 3 antibodies followed by vaccination in unprotected patients. A similar decision analysis model was developed comparing presumptive vaccination with DTaP versus serotesting for diphtheria and tetanus toxoid antibodies. The main outcome measures were cost per patient protected from polio, diphtheria, and tetanus. RESULTS. Compared with presumptive immunization, prevaccination serotesting for polio increases the cost per patient from $57 to $62 and decreases the percentage of patients protected against polio from 95.3% to 94.0%. Serotesting for diphtheria and tetanus increases the cost per patient from $62 to $119 and increases the percentage of patients protected against both diphtheria and tetanus from 91.5% to 92.3%. Presumptive immunization with DTaP costs less and is more clinically effective than serotesting if >80% of patients do not complete the full vaccine series or if antibody seroprevalence to both diphtheria and tetanus is <51%. CONCLUSIONS. Presumptive immunization for polio improves outcomes and saves costs compared with prevaccination serotesting in internationally adopted and immigrant infants. The results for DTaP are less definitive, although immunization is the preferred strategy in populations with poor vaccine compliance or low seroprevalence of antibodies to diphtheria and tetanus.
Ultrastructural and associated observations on clinical cases of mastitis in cattle.

Abstract An ultrastructural study on bovine bacterial mastitis is described. Eight naturally occurring cases were examined. The ultrastructural changes included alterations to secretory cells ranging from reduced activity, through loss of continuity of cell membrane and degeneration of organelles, to complete cytolysis. Polymorphonuclear inflammatory cells were observed, together with deposition of fibrin as bundles of fibrils, and milk protein particles and neutrophil granules lying free in supporting connective tissue. Lumenal contents included inflammatory cells, reduced numbers of milk protein particles and lipid, together with cellular debris. The results, including the efficacy of sampling methods in electron microscopy of the bovine mammary gland, are discussed.
Wireless technologies and accessibility for people with disabilities: findings from a policy research instrument.

The near universal deployment in the United States of a wide variety of information and communications technologies, both wired and wireless, creates potential barriers to use for several key populations, including the poor, people with disabilities, and the aging. Equal access to wireless technologies and services can be achieved through a variety of mechanisms, including legislation and regulations, market-based solutions, and awareness and outreach-based approaches. This article discusses the results of policy research conducted by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) using policy Delphi polling methodology to probe stakeholders' opinions on key access barrier issues and to explore potential policy responses. Participants included disability advocates, disability/wireless technology policy makers, and product developers/manufacturers. Respondent input informed subsequent development of potential policy initiatives to increase access to these technologi...
A Model for Estimating Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tag Antenna Efficiencies for Interval-Specific Emigration Rates

Abstract Our goal was to understand movement and its interaction with survival for populations of stream salmonids at long-term study sites in the northeastern United States by employing passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and associated technology. Although our PIT tag antenna arrays spanned the stream channel (at most flows) and were continuously operated, we are aware that aspects of fish behavior, environmental characteristics, and electronic limitations influenced our ability to detect 100% of the emigration from our stream site. Therefore, we required antenna efficiency estimates to adjust observed emigration rates. We obtained such estimates by testing a full-scale physical model of our PIT tag antenna array in a laboratory setting. From the physical model, we developed a statistical model that we used to predict efficiency in the field. The factors most important for predicting efficiency were external radio frequency signal and tag type. For most sampling intervals, there was concordance be...