cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of the Host's Immune Response to Plasmodium berghei by a Parasite‐Derived Immunosuppressive Factor

It is well known that Plasmodium-infected hosts are immunosuppressed, as show by their depressed immune responsiveness to a variety of antigens. It is not known, however, whether the immune response of malaria-infected animals to the malarial parasite itself is suppressed. The availability of a noninfectious, immunosuppressive factor (ISF) derived from Plasmodium berghei-infected rat erythrocytes made it possible to investigate this question. Mice infected with P. berghei and injected with the ISF had higher levels of parasitemia and shorter survival times than control mice that were similarly infected but were treated with control material derived from noninfected rat erythrocytes or with saline solution. Conversely, mice immunized against the ISF and then infected with P. berghei had lower parasitemias and longer survival times than mice immunized with the control material or with saline solution. We conclude that immunosuppression in murine malaria affects the course of malaria infection.
Interactive Growth Effects of Rare-Earth Nanoparticles on Nanorod Formation in YBa2Cu3Ox Thin Films

The controlled growth of self-assembled second-phase nanostructures has been shown to be an essential tool for enhancing properties of several composite oxide thin film systems. Here, the role of Y2O3 nanoparticles on the growth of BaZrO3 (BZO) nanorods is investigated in order to understand the mechanisms governing their self-assembly in YBa2Cu3O7–x (YBCO) thin films and to more fully control the resulting defect landscape. By examining the microstructure and current-carrying capacity of BZO-doped YBCO films, it is shown that the nanorod growth dynamics are significantly enhanced when compared to films double-doped with BZO and Y2O3 nanoparticles. The average nanorod length and associated critical current densities are found to increase at a significantly higher rate in the absence of Y2O3 nanoparticles when the growth temperature is increased. Using microstructural data from transmission electron microscopy studies and the response in critical current density, the interactive effects of multiple dopants that must be considered to fully control the defect landscape in oxide thin films are shown.
Frameshift mutagenesis of lambda prophage by 9-aminoacridine, proflavin and ICR-191

The changes in DNA base sequence induced in the lambda cI gene in an E. coli lysogen have been determined following mutagenesis by three acridine derivatives: 9-aminoacridine and proflavin, which bind reversibly to DNA; and ICR-191, which attaches covalently to DNA through a half-mustard group. For all three derivatives, most mutations are +1 and-1 frameshifts in runs of adjacent G:C pairs. The specificity of mutagenesis at various sites is similar for all three compounds. Prophage in mutL host cells, deficient in mismatch repair, are much more susceptible to mutagenesis by 9-aminoacridine. The induced mutations are also frameshifts, and the site specificity is the same as in lysogens of wild type cells. Thus, additions or deletions of single bases can be corrected by the mismatch repair system, but mismatch repair does not play an important role in determining the sequence specificity of the mutational events.
Vocabulary Instruction for Young, Diverse Learners

Literacy development, starting at the elementary level, is a fundamental approach for preparing students to achieve academically. This is especially true when addressing the learning needs of English language learners in U.S. schools. Vocabulary instruction plays a key role in the process. Research indicates how language proficiency negatively affects school-based learning experiences. This article highlights the instructional practices of a teacher in operationalizing vocabulary research into pragmatic strategies while teaching English language learners. It strengthens prior research suggesting that enriched oral language and vocabulary experiences directly correlate with improved learning and emphasizes the significance of high-quality vocabulary instruction for young children.
Body Mass Index, Weight Change, and Survival in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients in Connecticut Women

Evidence is emerging that obesiy and weight gain may affect the prognosis of several types of cancer. We investigated the impact of body mass index (BMI) as well as pre-and postdiagnosis weight changes on non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) prognosis. A cohort of 573 female incident NHL cases diagnosed during 1996–2000 in Connecticut was followed for a median of 7.8 yr. Self-reported height and weight at 3 time points before and after diagnosis were collected. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using proportional hazard models adjusting for factors believed to be associated with overall survival of NHL. Underweight (BMI < 18.5; HR = 2.84; 95% CI = 1.12–7.15) before diagnosis was associated with poorer survival compared to being normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25). Prediagnosis weight loss (HR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.02–1.97) and posttreatment weight loss (HR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.14–3.45) and weight gain (HR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.04–3.32) were associated with poorer survival. NHL patients who wer...
Efficient storage, computation, and exposure of computer-generated holograms by electron-beam lithography

An efficient storage format was developed for computer-generated holograms for use in electron-beam lithography. This method employs run-length encoding and Lempel–Ziv–Welch compression and succeeds in exposing holograms that were previously infeasible owing to the hologram’s tremendous pattern-data file size. These holograms also require significant computation; thus the algorithm was implemented on a parallel computer, which improved performance by 2 orders of magnitude. The decompression algorithm was integrated into the Cambridge electron-beam machine’s front-end processor.Although this provides much-needed ability, some hardware enhancements will be required in the future to overcome inadequacies in the current front-end processor that result in a lengthy exposure time.
Does gliding when pregnant select for larger females

For terrestrial vertebrates, gliding imposes unique constraints on the interaction of body mass and structural size, particularly with reference to minimizing wing loading. Females of gliding animals experience increases in wing loading during pregnancy or gravidity, and selection may favour increased structural size to compensate for the added mass. We tested whether pregnant southern flying squirrels Glaucomys volans had similar wing loading as males, and whether females with lower wing loading bore heavier litters, than those with greater wing loading. Males had greater wing loading than females, regardless of the latter's reproductive state (males: 38.4±3.62 N m−2, pregnant females: 30.7±4.21 N m−2 and non-pregnant females: 26.8±5.13 N m−2). The slope of the linear relationship between planar surface area and body mass was similar between pregnant females and males, however (F=0.383, P=0.322). Thus female flying squirrels may optimize their litter mass to minimize wing loading during pregnancy. Contrary to our prediction, females with greater wing loading had heavier litters than those with lower wing loading, which suggests reproductive output may be influenced by other ecological factors.
Dispersal of phytoplanktotrophic shipworm larvae (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) over long distances by ocean currents

Shipworms or Teredinidae may be dispersed either as adults in floating wooden objects or as pelagic larvae drifting near the sea surface. Five shipworm species, i.e., half of those having an amphi-Atlantic geographical distribution, are known also to have pelagic phytoplanktotrophic larvae which can be carried by ocean currents. From a series of 742 plankton samples taken from throughout the temperate and tropical North Atlantic Ocean, it can be shown that shipworm larvae are not uncommon in the open sea. Teredinid veligers were found in 19% of all samples taken. One species of larvae, identical in all details to that described by Rancurel (1965), is particularly prevalent and is tentatively identified as Teredora malleolus (Turton). A definitive identification will be possible only after the pelagic larvae of the other Atlantic species are known. The larvae of Teredora malleolus are found throughout the North Atlantic Gyre and the adjacent temperate and tropical seas, and from scattered records in the South Equatorial Current. Larvae of other unidentified Teredinidae species were also found. The distance that larvae may be transported depends upon the length of pelagic larval development and the velocity of the currents. From the known current velocities it can be shown that, even in a few weeks, larvae may be dispersed many hundreds of kilometers. The geographical distribution of shipworm larvae suggests that they are carried along the coasts of continents and even across ocean basins, and that this dispersal must be an important factor in the geographical distribution of the adult forms and in the maintenance of genetic continuity between populations otherwise isolated from one another.
Radial Etch Rate Nonuniformity in Reactive Ion Etching

A study was performed to determine some of the causes of the edge‐to‐center "bullseye" clearing pattern, in which the etch rate decreases monotonically from the wafer periphery to its center, observed when certain films are etched in a parallel‐plate reactive ion etching system. It was found that gradients in local reactant concentrations, with a higher number density present near the edge of the substrate than over the center, are largely responsible for the observed nonuniformity. The concentration gradients appear to come about as a consequence of two reactant generation phenomena and one loss mechanism. The reactant generation phenomena are: (i) the "hot spot," which the edge of the wafer may represent to the plasma, causing enhanced reactant generation there, and (ii) differences in capacitive coupling from the RF generator to the plasma between the wafer's location on the cathode and the rest of the cathode. Stronger coupling surrounding the wafer leads to increased production of reactant around the wafer compared to the area directly above it. The reactant loss mechanism is controlled by the relative etch rates of the wafer vs. the cathode material, the using cathodes which etch at an appreciable rate in the plasma was found to promote improved uniformity. Ion bombardment was found to be uniform across the surface of the wafer, and, consequently, etch processes which are strongly bombardment dependent were found to be uniform.
Study of the Structure and Chemical Nature of Porous Si and Siloxene by STM, AFM, XPS, and LIMA

In situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to examine the surface morphology of anodized p-Si(100) electrodes in F - -containing solutions. In addition to the formation of a mainly pitted and rough surface, in situ STM observation of anisotropic etching of Si(100) in dilute (1%) HF showed the formation of well-defined features, such as peninsulas, a 27 nm wide V-groove, and many protruding 5 nm wide micropyramids. High-resolution in situ STM resolved atomic features at the V-groove limiting (111) facets. Although this slightly etched Si sample contained no quantum pillars, it luminesced orange under UV irradiation, in the same way as a porous Si layer prepared by anodization in a more concentrated HF (1:1 HF:EtOH) solution
Evidence for ascending visceral nociceptive information in the dorsal midline and lateral spinal cord.

The effect of acute, mid-cervical spinal cord lesions on neuronal and reflex activity evoked by the noxious visceral stimulus, colorectal distension (CRD; 80 mmHg, 20 s), was determined in halothane-anesthetized rats. Extracellular recordings were performed of neurons stereotaxically located within the ventrobasal group of the thalamus and in the region of the medullary lateral reticular nucleus. CRD-evoked activity of thalamic neurons was attenuated by lesions of the dorsal midline, but minimally affected by lateral lesions of the spinal cord. In contrast, CRD-evoked activity of medullary neurons was attenuated by lateral lesions ipsilateral to the recording site, but minimally affected by contralateral lateral lesions or dorsal midline lesions. Pseudaffective visceromotor/cardiovascular responses were vigorous in rats with dorsal midline lesions and absent/attenuated in rats with bilateral lateral spinal lesions. This study presents evidence that visceral nociceptive information ascends in the spinal cord by both dorsal midline and lateral spinal pathways.
Cutting-Edge: Integrating Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Into a 4-Year Liberal Arts College

Cutting-Edge provides inclusion in college for students with intellectual disabilities (SWID). Cutting-Edge students attended college by taking undergraduate courses, resided in student housing, and engaged in student-life events as well as pursued community service, internships and employment. Undergraduate students were the best means to teach Cutting-Edge students about appropriate social activities and interactions. Undergraduate students were paired with Cutting-Edge students as peer mentors to teach Cutting-Edge students how to fit into the social network on campus. While attending the college, 79% of Cutting-Edge students lived away from their parents. Undergraduate students were surveyed about how comfortable they feel about being around SWID, and 96% indicated they either felt comfortable (59%) or very comfortable (37%).
Lateralized attentional abnormality in schizophrenia is correlated with severity of symptoms

Abstract Numerous studies have demonstrated a lateralized impairment of attention in schizophrenia. In this study, attention in schizophrenia is investigated with a task that involves centering a rod while blindfolded. Symptoms were rated on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) for each of the 20 schizophrenic subjects. The more symptomatic patients demonstrated a right-sided hemineglect compared to the less symptomatic patients (p = 0.013). Furthermore, the difference between more and less symptomatic patients was even more distinct when they were categorized by the BPRS schizophrenia subscale alone (p = 0.0025). These findings support the hypothesis that the pathophysiology of schizophrenia involves a lateralized defect in the control of attention, and that this defect is associated with the severity of symptoms. This raises the possibility that effects of neuroleptic medication may be asymmetric, which could account for some of the inconsistencies in studies of hemispheric dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Dextranase activity and auxin-induced cell elongation in coleoptiles of Avena

Abstract Dextranase activity, so far only found in microorganisms and animals, is found to be associated with coleoptiles of Avena . Dextranase breaks down α -glucans in which the glucose residues are mainly linked by α -1,6- linkages. This enzyme is found to be sensitive to the plant growth hormone, auxin. The cell walls of the coleoptiles, moreover, are found to contain dextran-like α -glucans which can be broken down by dextranase. This enzyme, therefore, seems to meet two main requirements of an intermediate in the plasticization of the cell wall in auxin-regulated cell elongation in coleoptiles.
Structure versus Function in Glaucoma: An Application of a Linear Model

PURPOSE To evaluate a linear model that relates the glaucomatous loss in retinal nerve fiber (RNFL) thickness, measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT), to the loss in sensitivity, measured with standard automated perimetry (SAP). METHODS Fifteen patients with asymmetrical glaucoma, whose better eye was normal or near normal (mean deviations better than -3 dB) on SAP, were tested. SITA 24-2 standard and OCT RNFL thickness measures were made on three to five different occasions and the mean values were obtained. For each eye, the mean SAP loss was calculated for an upper and lower arcuate field region by averaging the loss in relative sensitivity on a linear scale. The average RNFL thickness for corresponding arcuate sectors of the lower and upper optic disc was obtained for each eye. A linear model was fitted to the plots of RNFL thickness versus SAP loss. According to the linear model, the RNFL thickness R = s(o)T + b, where T is the SAP sensitivity loss relative to age-matched normal eyes (linear scale), (s(o) + b) is the RNFL thickness in the healthy/normal state (T = 1), and b is the residual RNFL thickness measured when all sensitivity and all axons are lost. RESULTS The model provided a reasonable fit to the data with best fitting values of (s(o); b) of (upper field: 80.6 microm; 50.5 microm) and (lower field: 67.4 microm; 50.5 microm) and (upper field: 78.8 microm; 54.9 microm; r = 0.82) and (lower field: 59.2 microm; 61.5 microm; r = 0.70) for two different methods of best fit. CONCLUSIONS A linear model that relates RNFL thickness to losses in SAP sensitivity describes the results for arcuate regions of glaucomatous visual fields. The linear model provides a framework for assessing the relative efficacy of structural and functional tests throughout the course of the disease.
LIGHTing the way for tumor immunity.

Stroma in tumors forms a barrier to immunity against cancer. New findings show that stimulating both stroma and T lymphocytes together leads to potent immunity against established tumors.
External triggering of plasmoid development at Saturn

[1] The Cassini spacecraft has encountered multiple plasmoids in Saturn's magnetotail thought to be produced by tail reconnection. However, single spacecraft measurements make it difficult to determine plasmoid size, where they form, the composition, and the geometry of the plasma sheet when plasmoids are produced. This paper examines these issues using 3D multifluid simulations of the Kronian magnetosphere. Plasmoids may develop in multiple sectors, form at different distances from the planet, and grow to sizes large relative to the system (∼25 RS), with varying widths and lengths. These plasmoids are composed primarily of water group ions and move downtail with speeds of ∼250 km/s (the local Alfven speed). The plasma sheet is hinged upward both prior to and following plasmoid formation. Plasmoids can be externally triggered by both flips in the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) as well as a pulse in the solar wind dynamic pressure.
Influence of Wheel Angular Deceleration Rate on Peak Braking Force on Wet Roads

Abstract The peak braking force produced by six tires was measured on three wetted surfaces at five different wheel lockup rates. It was found that the maximum braking force obtained from passenger car tires operated on wet surfaces can be significantly affected by wheel angular deceleration rate. The maximum difference between two values of peak braking force produced by two different lockup rates on the same tire was 33%. Tires with minimal tread patterns exhibited no sensitivity to changes in lockup rate.
Visualization of aerodynamically focused subsonic aerosol jets

Abstract The phenomenon of aerosol focusing in jets is illustrated by photographing the light scattered from 3 μm polystyrene spheres suspended in air accelerating at near atmospheric pressure through a thin plate orifice nozzle. The effect of varying particle inertia (Stokes number S) and percentage of sheath air surrounding the aerosol is studied for moderately compressible jets at Mach numbers ranging from 0.7 to 0.04. Jet Reynolds numbers ranged from 250 to 7500, corresponding to nearly inviscid flows for a thin plate orifice. Enrichments of the aerosol number density by factors of 300 or more are demonstrated in jets driven by a pressure difference of only 50 torr. Aerosol beam focal point widths as narrow as 1% of the nozzle diameter are observed.
Virtual reality: feasibility of implementation in a regional burn center.

Abstract Objective Burn care providers continue to search for non-pharmacologic adjuncts for pain control. Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to be a useful adjunct by reducing pain during burn care and therapy. The feasibility of implementation for clinical use (non-research related) has not been studied in a burn center. The purpose of this study was to determine staff resources needed to implement VR in a regional burn center. Methods Ten patients with burns participated in VR during occupational or physical therapy sessions. A portable computer and VR head mounted device (Proview VO35, Kaiser Electro-Optics, Inc.) and the “SnowWorld” software (Patterson and Hoffman, University of Washington) were used. Two staff members trained in the use of VR participated in each session in order to adhere to infection control policies. VR set-up time, patient instruction time, VR therapy time, and equipment cleaning time were recorded and rounded to the nearest minute. Results A mean of 59 staff time minutes (S.D. 18; range 29–85) were required for set-up, instruction, VR therapy, and cleaning. Set-up required the most time, averaging 23 min. Instruction, participation, and clean-up means were 6, 13, and 16 min respectively. Time for set-up decreased over time, however technical difficulties with the VR equipment accounted for most of the variability in the time required. Conclusions These results suggest VR requires a significant time commitment from staff for implementation. One clear disadvantage was the lack of on-site technical support for equipment troubleshooting. In the current healthcare environment where therapists and nurses are accounting for each minute, it would be difficult for smaller burn centers to allocate staff and resources to implement a VR program. Further research is needed to determine if VR benefits are worth the implementation costs.
Hydraulic Fracture Diagnostics

Fracture diagnostics can provide important information on fracture geometry that can be used to improve stimulation effectiveness and reduce costs. Several cost-effective diagnostics already exist, and the technology for obtaining a full image of the fracture is progressing to the point of practical application.
Crystal engineering in two dimensions: control of planar packing by design of new amphiphiles

Abstract Monolayers on mica of two rigid amphiphiles of specific cross-sectional geometry have been studied by atomic force microscopy and are ordered over micron scale areas. An interlocking amphiphile shows disruption into crystalline shards on transfer from the aqueous subphase. A chiral amphiphile retains its integrity when transferred from the intermediate pressure phase but exhibits catastrophic changes when transferred from the high pressure phase. The results imply that the interlocked amphiphile has the same structure for both aqueous and solid subphases. The phases exhibited by the chiral amphiphile on mica are probably not those observed on the aqueous subphase.
Branch growth and leaf numbers of red maple ( Acer rubrum L.) and red oak ( Quercus rubra L.): response to defoliation

Branch growth and leaf formation from terminal and from lateral buds of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and red oak (Quercus rubra L.) were measured in response to simulated insect defoliation. A single large branch representative of the crown of each tree was used for enumeration of growth and of bud numbers throughout three successive years of 0, 50, 75, and 100% leaf removal for the entire tree. Leaf number per tree for both species after the last year of defoliation was reduced in direct proportion to the severity of defoliation, in comparison to the predefoliation status of the trees. Bud number per tree for red maple, but not for red oak, was also reduced in proportion to severity of defoliation.
Parametric amplification and frequency up-conversion of high power RF pulses in nonlinear transmission lines

This publication proposes a new concept for high power RF/microwave pulse generation, up-conversion and amplification using nonlinear transmission lines with ferrites (or nonlinear dielectrics) that promote interaction of a high power RF wave with a co-propagating electromagnetic shock wave. This approach enables a multi-stage system in which frequency up-conversion and amplification occurs on each stage, allowing the accumulation of the energy in RF pulse from stage to stage.
Neuropathological and ultrastructural findings in two cases of subacute spongiform encephalopathy

This report deals with the clinical and neuropathological findings in two cases of subacute spongiform encephalopathy. Cerebral biopsies were performed in both cases and electron microscopy studies carried out.
New Congress, Old Climate Rhetoric?

Last month, members of the 112th Congress were sworn into office, making the composition of the new Congress very different from that of the 111th. Although the election is over, it remains unclear whether members of the new Congress will refrain from the vitriolic attacks of the 2010 campaign season long enough to legislate, or if the next two years, as many policy watchers inside the Beltway are speculating, will be dedicated instead to testing arguments for the 2012 elections. Early signals suggest the latter, replete with antiscience rhetoric, may be the case. The 112th Congress has at least 95 new members in the House of Representatives and 16 in the Senate. A number of these legislators won elections in part by championing ideas that will set some policy discussions back years. According to an assessment by the progressive group Think Progress, 35 of 46 Republicans in the Senate and 125 of 240 Republicans in the House have publicly questioned the science of global climate change. The newly elected legislators will not be the only roadblock to action, according to some advocates for issues ranging from federal investment in science to adoption of climate change policy. Some of the returning members of Congress have built long and storied careers on questioning science. Senator James Inhofe (R–OK) was recently profiled in the newspaper Roll Call. Reporter John Stanton wrote of Inhofe: “He boasted of his role at international climate change talks last year in Copenhagen, in which he was vilified by virtually the entire world. ‘It was really quite enjoyable,’ Inhofe only when God declares it’s time to be over,” Shimkus said during a 2009 congressional hearing. “Man will not destroy this Earth. This Earth will not be destroyed by a flood.” Meanwhile, Inglis asserted that many in South Carolina perceived his newly held position—that climate change is real—as a slip to “Satan’s side,” as he told Evan Lehmann of the New York Times/ClimateWire. Inglis further explained to Lehmann that his position that atmospheric warming is a scientific certainty was one of three “blasphemies” he committed. Failure to support President Bush’s troop surge in Iraq and support for President Bush’s Troubled Asset Relief Program were the other two. “For many conservatives, [supporting climate change] became the marker that you had crossed to Satan’s side—that you had left God and gone to Satan’s side on climate change... because many evangelical Christians in our district would say that it’s up to God to determine the length of Earth, and therefore, you are invading the province of God,” Inglis told Lehmann. In this newly divided government, in which the leaders of one chamber owe their political fortune to freshly minted conservatives seemingly at odds with some in their own party, only time will tell whether and how the issues of the day will be addressed.
Glial regulation of the cerebral microvasculature

The brain is a heterogeneous organ with regionally varied and constantly changing energetic needs. Blood vessels in the brain are equipped with control mechanisms that match oxygen and glucose delivery through blood flow with the local metabolic demands that are imposed by neural activity. However, the cellular bases of this mechanism have remained elusive. A major advance has been the demonstration that astrocytes, cells with extensive contacts with both synapses and cerebral blood vessels, participate in the increases in flow evoked by synaptic activity. Their organization in nonoverlapping spatial domains indicates that they are uniquely positioned to shape the spatial distribution of the vascular responses that are evoked by neural activity. Astrocytic calcium is an important determinant of microvascular function and may regulate flow independently of synaptic activity. The involvement of astrocytes in neurovascular coupling has broad implications for the interpretation of functional imaging signals and for the understanding of brain diseases that are associated with neurovascular dysfunction.
A Multiscale Parallel Computing Architecture for Automated Segmentation of the Brain Connectome

Several groups in neurobiology have embarked into deciphering the brain circuitry using large-scale imaging of a mouse brain and manual tracing of the connections between neurons. Creating a graph of the brain circuitry, also called a connectome, could have a huge impact on the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Although considerably smaller than a human brain, a mouse brain already exhibits one billion connections and manually tracing the connectome of a mouse brain can only be achieved partially. This paper proposes to scale up the tracing by using automated image segmentation and a parallel computing approach designed for domain experts. We explain the design decisions behind our parallel approach and we present our results for the segmentation of the vasculature and the cell nuclei, which have been obtained without any manual intervention.
An assessment of a 360-degree profiling sensor for object classification

Profiling sensor systems have been shown to be effective for detecting and classifying humans against animals. A profiling sensor with a 360 horizontal field of view was used to generate profiles of humans and animals for classification. The sensor system contains a long wave infrared camera focused on a smooth conical mirror to provide a 360 degree field of view. Human and animal targets were detected at 30 meters and an approximate height to width ratio was extracted for each target. Targets were tracked for multiple frames in order to segment targets from background. The average height to width ratio was used as a single feature for classification. The Mahalanobis distance was calculated for each target in the single feature space to provide classification results.
Transport of amino acids into the estrogen-primed uterus IV. Effects of sulfhydryl agents on the uptake in vitro☆

1. 1. Sulfhydryl agents have been found to stimulate uptakes of some amino acids by the immature rat uterus in vitro, and to inhibit the uptakes of others. Those whose uptakes were stimulated can enter the cells well by the L transport system for amino acids, while those inhibited use the A system. Uptake of 1-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (cycloleucine), which probably involves both systems, could be stimulated or inhibited, depending on the conditions. 2. 2. The results suggest that the uterus contains at least two kinds of groups that react with SH agents and are involved in amino acid transport. N-Ethylmalcimide combines relatively rapidly with one type, apparently involving the L system to produce stimulation of amino acid transport; but it combines more slowly with the other, the A system, to inhibit transport. 3. 3. The stimulation of amino acid uptake by estradiol, which probably involves the A system, can be inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide. This inhibition, however, is apparently not due to an action of N-ethylmaleimide to prevent a possible binding of the hormone to necessary uterine sites. 4. 4. The stimulation of amino acid uptake by N-ethylmaleimide appears to be independent of the stimulation by estradiol.
Delayed decay of the late receptor potential of monkey cones as a function of stimulus intensity.

Abstract The late receptor potential of cones decays rapidly, while that of rods decays very slowly. In response to intense brief stimuli, the decay of the cone response occurs after a delay; the amount of delay is approximately linear with the logarithm of stimulus intensity. Similar results have been obtained for the entire d-wave , which is the off-response in the electroretinogram of macaque monkeys. Since the rising phase of the d-wave is due to decay of the cone late receptor potential, while the falling phase is due to decay of a response from the inner nuclear layer, this suggests that decay of the cone late receptor potential can trigger off-responses from second order neurons.
Feeding effects of peroxidase on survivorship in Drosophila melanogaster

Since peroxidase activity in Drosophila tissue homogenates declines with age, it was hypothesized that augmentation of this oxidant defense enzyme would lead to increased survivorship. Fruit flies were fed four different dosages of horseradish peroxidase (HRP): 8, 0.8, 0.08, or 0.008 mg per 10 flies. Flies maintained on 0.8 and 0.08 mg of HRP throughout their life span had a significantly increased survivorship over controls. Flies fed the highest dosage of HRP (8 mg) had a significantly decreased survivorship compared to controls. Declining endogenous peroxidase activity may be a major factor contributing to cellular deterioration and aging in Drosophila melanogaster.
Concurrent multi-level arrays: Wait-free extensible hash maps

In this work we present the first design and implementation of a wait-free hash map. Our multiprocessor data structure allows a large number of threads to concurrently put, get, and remove information. Wait-freedom means that all threads make progress in a finite amount of time - an attribute that can be critical in real-time environments. This is opposed to the traditional blocking implementations of shared data structures which suffer from the negative impact of deadlock and related correctness and performance issues. Our design is portable because we only use atomic operations that are provided by the hardware; therefore, our hash map can be utilized by a variety of data-intensive applications including those within the domains of embedded systems and supercomputers. The challenges of providing this guarantee make the design and implementation of wait-free objects difficult. As such, there are few wait-free data structures described in the literature; in particular, there are no wait-free hash maps. It often becomes necessary to sacrifice performance in order to achieve wait-freedom. However, our experimental evaluation shows that our hash map design is, on average, 5 times faster than a traditional blocking design. Our solution outperforms the best available alternative non-blocking designs in a large majority of cases, typically by a factor of 8 or higher.
Comparison of neurobehavioral effects of methylmercury exposure in older and younger adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

It is widely recognized that the nature and severity of responses to toxic exposure are age-dependent. Using active avoidance conditioning as the behavioral paradigm, the present study examined the effect of short-term methylmercury (MeHg) exposure on two adult age classes, 1- and 2-year-olds to coincide with zebrafish in relatively peak vs. declining health conditions. In Experiment 1, 2-year-old zebrafish were randomly divided into groups and were exposed to no MeHg, 0.15% ethanol (EtOH), 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, or 0.3 μM of MeHg (in 0.15% ethanol) for 2 weeks. The groups were then trained and tested for avoidance responses. The results showed that older zebrafish exposed to no MeHg or EtOH learned and retained avoidance responses. However, 0.01 μM or higher concentrations of MeHg exposure impaired avoidance learning in a dose-dependent manner with 0.3 μM of MeHg exposure producing death during the exposure period or shortly after the exposure but before the avoidance training. In Experiment 2, 1-year-old zebrafish were randomly divided into groups and were exposed to the same concentrations of MeHg used in Experiment 1 for 2 weeks. The groups were then trained and tested for avoidance responses. The results showed that younger zebrafish exposed to no MeHg, EtOH, or 0.01 μM of MeHg learned and retained avoidance responses, while 0.1 or 0.3 μM of MeHg exposure impaired avoidance learning in a dose-dependent manner. The study suggested that MeHg exposure produced learning impairments at a much lower concentration of MeHg exposure and more severely in older adult compared against younger adult zebrafish even after short exposure times.
Reflectance measurements for black absorbers made of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes

Black coatings have important applications in space-borne infrared systems, absolute radiometers, and radiometric temperature measurements. Recently, researchers have demonstrated close-to-unity absorptance, with diffuse reflection, by using vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays. The present study deals with the optical properties of highly absorbing VACNT arrays, with surface features from diffuse to specular. Three CNT arrays were fabricated using a thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique with different growth conditions to produce highly aligned multi-walled CNT arrays. The bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs) were measured with a laser scatterometer at a wavelength of 635 nm. Sharp specular peaks can be seen from the BRDF plots for the relatively smooth sample; while for the relatively diffuse samples, the specular peaks are significantly lower. The directional-hemispherical reflectance (DHR) at wavelengths from 400 to 1000 nm was measured with an integrating sphere and a monochromator. Based on Kirchhoff's law, the absorptance was obtained from the DHR to be between 99.5% and 99.9% for all samples in the measured spectral region.
On elimination of the mercury pumping error effect in Mcleod gauges

Abstract A simple device consisting of a magnetic ball valve and condenser can be added to McLeod gauge manometers to obstruct the flow of mercury vapour from reservoir to cold trap thereby eliminating the pressure gradient between gauge and trap sustained by mercury streaming in conventional systems. The theory of the pumping error is considered, and a generalized low pressure diffusion model, of which the models of Takaishi and Gaede are limiting cases, is presented. Comparison of the modified gauge with a conventional one shows that the pumping error falls off more rapidly with increasing pressures than any of the models predict, but it approaches the high pressure limiting values obtained by taking the gradient to be constant in the region of Poiseuille flow.
Factor simplicity index and transformations

A scale-invariant index of factorial simplicity is proposed as a summary statistic for principal components and factor analysis. The index ranges from zero to one, and attains its maximum when all variables are simple rather than factorially complex. A factor scale-free oblique transformation method is developed to maximize the index. In addition, a new orthogonal rotation procedure is developed. These factor transformation methods are implemented using rapidly convergent computer programs. Observed results indicate that the procedures produce meaningfully simple factor pattern solutions.
Photoresist characterization and linearization procedure for the gray-scale fabrication of diffractive optical elements

We present a procedure for the characterization and the linearization of the photoresist response to UV exposure for application to the gray-scale fabrication of diffractive optical elements. A simple and reliable model is presented as part of the characterization procedure. Application to the fabrication of surface-relief diffractive optical elements is presented, and theoretical predictions are shown to agree well with experiments.
Trends in standard workup performed by pediatric subspecialists for the diagnosis of adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to identify trends in the clinical workup, diagnosis, and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome by pediatric endocrinologists, pediatric gynecologists, and adolescent medicine specialists. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary care medical center. Participants Females aged 11-18 y who were evaluated for PCOS from June 2009 to October 2011 were included. Any patients with coexisting diagnoses of other primary etiology for amenorrhea were excluded. Patients were identified by ICD-9 codes for PCOS, hypersecretion of ovarian androgens, irregular menses, hirsutism, oligomenorrhea, or amenorrhea. 261 patients were included: 144 from endocrinology, 9 from gynecology, and 108 from adolescent pediatric practices. Results There were no significant differences in the androgen labs ordered by the subspecialties. Gynecologists ordered pelvic ultrasonography for 89% (n = 8) of patients, compared to 9% (n = 10) by adolescent medicine specialists and 24% (n = 34) by endocrinologists (P Conclusions Inconsistent diagnosis and treatment strategies for young women with PCOS are evident among pediatric subspecialties, reflecting lack of standardized care for adolescents. Quantifying outcomes based on diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are important next steps.
Developing and Implementing a Resource Sharing Agreement: A Case Study of an Academic Health Sciences Library and a Specialized Hospital Library

Abstract In 2000, the University at Buffalo Health Sciences Library and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute's Mirand Library implemented a reciprocal agreement. This service agreement allowed the reduction of duplicate journal subscriptions at both libraries and provided enhanced document delivery services to their collections to support faculty, staff and student access. The agreement resulted in savings at both institutions that had encountered budget reductions and the increasing cost of medical journals, thus allowing both libraries to acquire unique print and electronic materials.
Role of architecture in the function and specificity of two Notch-regulated transcriptional enhancer modules.

In Drosophila melanogaster, cis-regulatory modules that are activated by the Notch cell–cell signaling pathway all contain two types of transcription factor binding sites: those for the pathway's transducing factor Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)] and those for one or more tissue- or cell type–specific factors called “local activators.” The use of different “Su(H) plus local activator” motif combinations, or codes, is critical to ensure that only the correct subset of the broadly utilized Notch pathway's target genes are activated in each developmental context. However, much less is known about the role of enhancer “architecture”—the number, order, spacing, and orientation of its component transcription factor binding motifs—in determining the module's specificity. Here we investigate the relationship between architecture and function for two Notch-regulated enhancers with spatially distinct activities, each of which includes five high-affinity Su(H) sites. We find that the first, which is active specifically in the socket cells of external sensory organs, is largely resistant to perturbations of its architecture. By contrast, the second enhancer, active in the “non-SOP” cells of the proneural clusters from which neural precursors arise, is sensitive to even simple rearrangements of its transcription factor binding sites, responding with both loss of normal specificity and striking ectopic activity. Thus, diverse cryptic specificities can be inherent in an enhancer's particular combination of transcription factor binding motifs. We propose that for certain types of enhancer, architecture plays an essential role in determining specificity, not only by permitting factor–factor synergies necessary to generate the desired activity, but also by preventing other activator synergies that would otherwise lead to unwanted specificities.
Zebrafish furin mutants reveal intricacies in regulating Endothelin1 signaling in craniofacial patterning

Endothelin1 (Edn1) signaling promotes ventral character to the facial skeleton. In zebrafish edn1 mutants, the ventral jaw structures are severely reduced and fused to their dorsal counterparts, with a loss of joints that normally form at an intermediate dorsal–ventral position. Loss of function at another locus, sturgeon, also yields joint losses, but only mild reductions in the ventral jaw structures. We show that sturgeon encodes one of two orthologs of Furin present in zebrafish, and that both furin genes may function partially redundantly to activate Edn1 signaling. Supporting this hypothesis, early expression of edn1-dependent genes is downregulated in sturgeon (furinA) mutants. Later in development, expression of most of these genes recovers to near wild-type levels in furinA mutants but not in edn1 mutants. The recovery explains the less severe furinA mutant skeletal phenotype and suggests that late gene expression is dependent on a critical level of Edn1 signaling not present in the more severe edn1 mutants. However, expression defects in the intermediate joint-forming domains in both mutants persist, explaining the joint losses observed later in both mutants. We further show that in both mutants the arches fail to correctly undergo ventral elongation before skeletogenesis begins and propose a model in which this failure is largely responsible for the loss of an Edn1-dependent compartmentation of the arch into the intermediate and ventral domains.
Response characteristics of specific thermoreceptive afferents innervating monkey facial skin and their relationship to human thermal sensitivity

Abstract The responses of thermoreceptive afferents to steady-state constant skin temperatures and temperature shifts were studied in rhesus monkeys by recording single fiber activity from fine dissected strands of the infraorbital nerve. Eighty-five warm and 134 cold fibers were identified by their specific sensitivity to warming and cooling of their receptive fields, which usually were restricted to single spots less than 1 mm in diameter. Warm fibers increased their firing rates with warming and decreased or ceased firing with cooling, while cold fibers showed an opposite behavior. Mean conduction velocity was 3.4 ± 1.7 m/s in warm fibers, and 9.0 ± 3.4 m/s in cold fibers. In response to constant skin temperatures in the innocuous temperature range below 43°C, warm fibers were active over the range of 30–42°C and showed maximum firing rates at 42°C. On the other hand, cold fibers were responsive to constant temperatures over the range of 20–42°C and their firing frequencies were maximal at 30°C and decreased as steady-state temperatures were raised or lowered. In addition, cold fibers exhibited periodic bursting activity when the temperature was below 35°C. The number of intraburst spikes in each burst increased as the constant temperature was