cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Specific Interaction of Gαi3 with the Oa1 G-Protein Coupled Receptor Controls the Size and Density of Melanosomes in Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Author(s): Young, Alejandra; Jiang, Meisheng; Wang, Ying; Ahmedli, Novruz B; Ramirez, John; Reese, Benjamin E; Birnbaumer, Lutz; Farber, Debora B | Abstract: BackgroundOcular albinism type 1, an X-linked disease characterized by the presence of enlarged melanosomes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and abnormal crossing of axons at the optic chiasm, is caused by mutations in the OA1 gene. The protein product of this gene is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) localized in RPE melanosomes. The Oa1-/- mouse model of ocular albinism reproduces the human disease. Oa1 has been shown to immunoprecipitate with the Gαi subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins from human skin melanocytes. However, the Gαi subfamily has three highly homologous members, Gαi1, Gαi2 and Gαi3 and it is possible that one or more of them partners with Oa1. We had previously shown by in-vivo studies that Gαi3-/- and Oa1-/- mice have similar RPE phenotype and decussation patterns. In this paper we analyze the specificity of the Oa1-Gαi interaction.MethodologyBy using the genetic mouse models Gαi1-/-, Gαi2-/-, Gαi3-/- and the double knockout Gαi1-/-, Gαi3-/- that lack functional Gαi1, Gαi2, Gαi3, or both Gαi1 and Gαi3 proteins, respectively, we show that Gαi3 is critical for the maintenance of a normal melanosomal phenotype and that its absence is associated with changes in melanosomal size and density. GST-pull-down and immunoprecipitation assays conclusively demonstrate that Gαi3 is the only Gαi that binds to Oa1. Western blots show that Gαi3 expression is barely detectable in the Oa1-/- RPE, strongly supporting a previously unsuspected role for Gαi3 in melanosomal biogenesis.ConclusionOur results identify the Oa1 transducer Gαi3 as the first downstream component in the Oa1 signaling pathway.
A Preliminary Study on Oxygen Saturation Levels of Patients During Periodontal Surgery with and without Oral Conscious Sedation Using Diazepam

Background: Stress and anxiety alter respiratory rate and thereby alter oxygen saturation in the blood. Management of psychological stress in the dental office may help maintain blood gas homeostasis. One method of stress management is through the use of preoperative oral sedation. Methods: The study population consisted of 13 patients scheduled to receive two quadrants of periodontal surgery at two different appointments. A randomized split-mouth crossover design was used with one quadrant of surgery involving preoperative oral sedation (diazepam) and local anesthetic, and the second using local anesthetic only. Oxygen saturation was monitored by pulse oximetry, which recorded the number of times saturation dropped below 95% in a given time period. Data were recorded at 5 time periods: 1) baseline; 2) from time of anesthetic administration to 20 minutes into surgery; 3) 21 to 40 minutes; 4) 41 to 60 minutes; and 5) 61 to 80 minutes into the surgery. Data were analyzed by a two-factor repeated measures AN...
Breast Cancer Internet Information

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in North America and Europe. Every woman is at risk. The two most important risk factors are being female and getting older. The earlier breast cancer is found, the more likely it can be cured. This article describes Web sites that provide information about prevention, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and coping with breast cancer.
Holographic Beam Shaping For Optical Heterodyne Arrays In Laser Radars

Laser systems using coherent optical heterodyne detection of signals have recently become interesting for a variety of applications including imaging, communications, spectroradiometry, and optical/infrared radar. In a number of these applications it is advantageous to use arrays of detectors to increase angular, snatial, or spectral coverage. Arrays permit this coverage to be increased Tqhile maintaining or reducing requirements on scanner systems, laser pulse rates, and individual detector bandwidths. This paper describes a neviirliolor-,raphic technique for performing the beam shaping in amplitude and phase which is required for high signal-to-noise and high resolution array performance. In this paper we review the holographic beam shaping concept as annlied to heterodyne arrays and its relation to laser radar systems. Experimental results are presented for holographic beam shaping devices using both linear and binary recording techniques.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Acoustic temporal modulation detection and speech perception in cochlear implant listeners

The goals of the present study were to measure acoustic temporal modulation transfer functions (TMTFs) in cochlear implant listeners and examine the relationship between modulation detection and speech recognition abilities. The effects of automatic gain control, presentation level and number of channels on modulation detection thresholds (MDTs) were examined using the listeners’ clinical sound processor. The general form of the TMTF was low-pass, consistent with previous studies. The operation of automatic gain control had no effect on MDTs when the stimuli were presented at 65 dBA. MDTs were not dependent on the presentation levels (ranging from 50 to 75 dBA) nor on the number of channels. Significant correlations were found between MDTs and speech recognition scores. The rates of decay of the TMTFs were predictive of speech recognition abilities. Spectral-ripple discrimination was evaluated to examine the relationship between temporal and spectral envelope sensitivities. No correlations were found betw...
Variation of fat distribution in pectoral muscles of chickens with hereditary muscular dystrophy.

SummaryThe accumulation of lipids in pectoral muscles of New Hampshire chickens with muscular dystrophy occurred in a centralized zone through the long axis of the muscle. The concentration of fat decreased toward the periphery of the muscle. The fat distribution pattern remained constant in birds 16 to 60 weeks of age, and did not conform to vascular or neurologic patterns in the pectoralis. Fat infiltration appears to be an index of muscle fiber destruction.
Presbyopia: An animal model and experimental approaches for the study of the mechanism of accommodation and ocular ageing

During the last hundred years, observations on normal and a few aniridic human eyes, together with population studies on the age-dependent decline in accommodative amplitude, resulted in the formulation of theories of human accommodation, and led to the concept that presbyopia is an inevitable consequence of ageing. However, such studies failed to substantiate these theories and concepts or to reveal the fundamental mechanisms of accommodation and its age-dependent loss. Detailed understanding of these mechanisms and the environmental, dietary, and behavioural factors that may influence the development of presbyopia will require controlled studies and, in some cases, invasive experimental manipulations that can only be achieved through the use of an animal model. This paper reviews some of the evidence indicating that the rhesus monkey is a highly suitable primary animal model for such studies, as well as for studies on other aspects of ocular ageing, and reviews some of the techniques and experimental approaches that have already been adapted or developed for such studies.
Molecular genetics of human color vision: the genes encoding blue, green, and red pigments

Human color vision is based on three light-sensitive pigments. The isolation and sequencing of genomic and complementary DNA clones that encode the apoproteins of these three pigments are described. The deduced amino acid sequences show 41 +/- 1 percent identity with rhodopsin. The red and green pigments show 96 percent mutual identity but only 43 percent identity with the blue pigment. Green pigment genes vary in number among color-normal individuals and, together with a single red pigment gene, are proposed to reside in a head-to-tail tandem array within the X chromosome.
Review article: the intersection of mucosal pathophysiology in HIV and inflammatory bowel disease, and its implications for therapy

SummaryBackground The immunopathology of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and HIV in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can be viewed as ends of a spectrum with IBD being associated with ‘immune excess’ and HIV with ‘immune paucity’ within the GI tract. Aim To review the pathophysiology of IBD and HIV as they intersect in the gut immune system. Methods A search was conducted in PubMed using defined keywords ‘IBD, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, HIV, innate immunity, mucosal layer, macrophage, cytokine, dendritic cells, adaptive immunity, CD4, T cells, Th1, Th2, natural killer T cells (NKT)'. Results Both the mucosal innate defence and adaptive immunity are profoundly affected by IBD and HIV. The pathophysiology of IBD and HIV with regard to mucosal barrier, macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells, NKT cells and T-cell subsets is distinct yet closely interwoven. There is limited information on the clinical manifestations of patients who have both IBD and HIV. However, recent studies suggest that the clinical course of IBD may be attenuated by concurrent HIV infection – a premise that is reasonably supported by what is known of their pathophysiology. Conclusions It is apparent that through specific pathophysiological mechanisms, HIV is capable of attenuating inflammation in IBD. In the absence of experimental models, further clinical studies are necessary to better understand patients with concurrent disease and decipher the clinical and mechanistic relationship between HIV and IBD at mucosal surfaces. Such studies are critical to guide therapeutic decisions in the management of patients with IBD infected with HIV.
Frictional–collisional constitutive relations for granular materials, with application to plane shearing

Within a granular material stress is transmitted by forces exerted at points of mutual contact between particles. When the particles are close together and deformation of the assembly is slow, contacts are sustained for long times, and these forces consist of normal reactions and the associated tangential forces due to friction. When the particles are widely spaced and deformation is rapid, on the other hand, contacts are brief and may be regarded as collisions, during which momentum is transferred. While constitutive relations are available which model both these situations, in many cases the average contact times lie between the two extremes. The purpose of the present work is to propose constitutive relations and boundary conditions for this intermediate case and to solve the corresponding equations of motion for plane shear of a cohesionless granular material between infinite horizontal plates. It is shown that, in general, not all the material between the plates participates in shearing, and the solutions for the shearing material are coupled to a yield condition for the non-shearing material to give a complete solution of the problem.
CD52 ligation induces CD4 and CD8 down modulation in vivo and in vitro

Summary To successfully induce donor-specific tolerance after immune depletion, it is essential to understand the residual and recovering immune system in the context of the depleting agent because the properties of such a recovering immune system differ based on the depleting agent used. In this study, we investigate the phenotypic and functional characteristics of T cells exposed to Campath-1H in vivo and in vitro. Recovering T cells demonstrated down modulated surface CD4 and CD8 (by flow cytometry) for up to 45 days after Campath-1H administration. Additionally, these T cells had an activated phenotype. To determine whether this CD4/8 down modulation was due to T-cell activation only or in part due to Campath-1H, whole blood from healthy volunteers was exposed to Campath-1H and the surviving lymphocytes isolated. Flow cytometry revealed a dose-dependent down modulation of CD4/8 without T-cell activation. Additionally, these Campath-1H-treated T cells were immunocompetent as indicated by increased surface CD69 and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production following stimulation by soluble anti-CD3 mAb. In conclusion, Campath-1H by itself down modulates surface CD4 and CD8 without activating T cells.
Surgery Is an Essential Component of Multimodality Therapy for Patients with Locally Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Background Experience with neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CXRT) has raised questions regarding the additional benefit of surgery after locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma patients achieve a clinical response to CXRT. We sought to quantify the value of surgery by comparing the overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of trimodality-eligible patients treated with definitive CXRT vs. CXRT followed by esophagectomy.
Direct drive of flapping wings under resonance with instantaneous wing trajectory control

In this study, we present a motor-driven flapping-wing actuator, designed to operate at its resonant frequency using a torsion spring. The wing is driven by a DC motor directly through gear transmission. Linear torsion springs mounted on the load shaft creates restoring torque when the wing is displaced from its mid-stroke position. The actuator dynamics is obtained using system identification. The flapping motion of the wing is achieved by closed-loop motor control, for example, tracking a sinusoidal wave with the frequency tuned to match the resonant frequency of the system. PID and LQR controllers are applied for instantaneous wing kinematics tracking: A PID controller is able to precisely track the trajectory with relatively large control input; on the other hand, a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) achieves large flapping amplitude with small input effort. We show that the mechanism is able to track sinusoidal motions with different amplitude, bias and frequencies with relatively large range by changing the springs, therefore generating roll and pitch torques that can be used for flight control. Then a Hopf oscillator based central pattern generator is also shown to be an alternative trajectory to track. The proposed wing actuation mechanism provides an at-scale wing testing platform for flapping wing micro aerial vehicles.
Monte carlo simulations of adsorption equilibria at states near bulk fluid phase boundaries

Abstract We discuss the use of Monte Carlo simulations to study adsorption on solid surfaces from fluids and fluid mixtures at states near to coexistence boundaries of the bulk fluid. The work is focused primarily upon the relationship between the adsorption isotherms and the nature of the contact between the coexisting fluid phases and the solid surface, and the behavior associated with the occurrence of wetting transitions in the system. Previously we have used Monte Carlo simulations in an ensemble with constant normal pressure to study prewetting transitions in adsorption from a single component undersaturated vapor in the approach to saturation. In this paper we present comparisons of our simulations results with predictions from density functional theory. We also discuss the use of simulations to determine more precisely the conditions for phase equilibrium at the prewetting transition through determination of the surface tension at the fluid-solid interface. p] We present results which extend these studies to the case of adsorption from a liquid mixture with a miscibility gap. In this work we have considered a symmetric Lennard-Jones mixture (σ11 = σ22 = σ12; e11 = e22 = e,e12 = 0.75e). We describe Monte Carlo simulations of this mixture in contact with a wall which preferentially adsorbs one of the components. At several temperatures below the consolute temperature we studied adsorption at the solid surface for various compositions in the approach to coexistence from the phase rich in the weakly adsorbed component. Within the limited precision of the results obtained thus far, the system shows behavior suggesting complete wetting at higher temperatures and partial wetting at lower temperatures. Density functional theory predicts a first order wetting transition with a prewetting line for this system.
Occupational injuries and medication use

Recent medication use of 3,394 members of the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound (GHC) diagnosed with an incident work-related injury was compared to that of two controls selected from the GHC membership and matched on age, gender, and Standard Industrial Classification Code of their employer. Medication use was determined from the GHC pharmacy data base. The injuries of the cases included 496 fractures or dislocations, 2,728 open wounds, crushing injuries, or superficial injuries, 176 burns, and 64 internal or intracranial injuries. The risk of injury was elevated among users of antihistamines [odds ratio (OR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-1.9], antibiotics (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0-1.5), and diabetes medications (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.9-1.9). The patterns of risk were similar for males and females, but varied by type of injury. No consistent associations between use of antidepressants, antianxiety medication, or narcotics and work-related injury were observed. The use of some medications, or conditions requiring medications, may contribute to the risk of a work-related injury.
A Ranking Procedure for Partial Discriminant Analysis

Abstract A rank procedure developed by Broffitt, Randles, and Hogg (1976) is modified to control the conditional probability of misclassification given that classification has been attempted. This modification leads to a useful solution to the two-population partial discriminant analysis problem for even moderately sized training sets.
Recipient NK cell inactivation and intestinal barrier loss are required for MHC-matched graft-versus-host disease

Previous studies have shown a correlation between pretransplant conditioning intensity, intestinal barrier loss, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) severity. However, because irradiation and other forms of pretransplant conditioning have pleiotropic effects, the precise role of intestinal barrier loss in GVHD pathogenesis remains unclear. We developed GVHD models that allowed us to isolate the specific contributions of distinct pretransplant variables. Intestinal damage was required for the induction of minor mismatch [major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched] GVHD, but was not necessary for major mismatch GVHD, demonstrating fundamental pathogenic distinctions between these forms of disease. Moreover, recipient natural killer (NK) cells prevented minor mismatch GVHD by limiting expansion and target organ infiltration of alloreactive T cells via a perforin-dependent mechanism, revealing an immunoregulatory function of MHC-matched recipient NK cells in GVHD. Minor mismatch GVHD required MyD88-mediated Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling on donor cells, and intestinal damage could be bypassed by parenteral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration, indicating a critical role for the influx of bacterial components triggered by intestinal barrier loss. In all, the data demonstrate that pretransplant conditioning plays a dual role in promoting minor mismatch GVHD by both depleting recipient NK cells and inducing intestinal barrier loss.
Identification and Modeling of Co-Rhythmic Genes from Micro-array Time Series Data ⋆

Abstract ‘Circadian Rhythm’ is a biological phenomenon observed in a large number of organisms ranging from unicellular bacteria to human beings. In this paper, transcriptome data from Cyanothece, a photosynthetic cyanobacteria, has been analyzed for the purpose of discovering genes whose expressions are rhythmically close (co-rhythmic). Subsequently we study if these rhythms can be modeled, up to phase, using a cascade of three phase oscillators. One of the phase oscillator in the network is derived from the model of a ‘limit cycle oscillator’ using KaiC protein (the master clock). We conclude that ‘Circadian Rhythms in Cyanothece transcriptome data can be dynamically modeled up to phase using a single master clock derived from limit cycle oscillator using KaiC protein cascaded with a pair of interconnected phase oscillators'. Biologically substrates of the phase oscillators are presently unknown.
Synchronization of action potentials during low-magnesium-induced bursting

The relationship between mono- and polysynaptic strength and action potential synchronization was explored using a reduced external Mg2+ model. Single and dual whole cell patch-clamp recordings were performed in hippocampal cultures in three concentrations of external Mg2+. In decreased Mg2+ medium, the individual cells transitioned to spontaneous bursting behavior. In lowered Mg2+ media the larger excitatory synaptic events were observed more frequently and fewer transmission failures occurred, suggesting strengthened synaptic transmission. The event synchronization was calculated for the neural action potentials of the cell pairs, and it increased in media where Mg2+ concentration was lowered. Analysis of surrogate data where bursting was present, but no direct or indirect connections existed between the neurons, showed minimal action potential synchronization. This suggests the synchronization of action potentials is a product of the strengthening synaptic connections within neuronal networks.
Higher-order analysis of the photorefractive effect for large modulation depths

In an extension of earlier work by Moharam et al. [ J. Appl. Phys.50, 5642 ( 1979)], we use a perturbation scheme to obtain a higher-order expression for the steady-state photorefractive effect at large modulation depths and moderate applied electric fields. The expression is applicable for paraelectric crystals for which there is no photovoltaic effect and under conditions of weak coupling. The dependence of the size of the correction term on modulation depth, concentration of donor–trap sites, and applied field is discussed. Comparison of both the first-order and the second-order theories to the Kukhtarev model, valid for small modulation depths, allows the range of validity to be quantified for certain regimes.
Status of the SSC superconducting magnet program

The Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) is a proposed proton-proton collider designated to achieve collisions with 20 TeV per beam. In the SSC, protons are accelerated and stored in two storage rings that are stacked one on top of the other in an underground tunnel 83 km in circumference. In each collider ring the protons are kept in a roughly elliptical orbit by two types of magnets: dipoles, which bend the proton orbit into a closed loop, and quadrupoles, which deflect the protons back toward the central orbit when they diverge from it. Both types of magnets use high-current superconducting coils to meet the SSC design requirements. A dipole field of 6.6 T was chosen as a compromise between the need for the highest practical field and the limits of superconducting technology. The author reviews the work done on the SSC dipole. Topics discussed are cable development and production, cryostat design, cold mass design, and model magnet testing. >
Radiation Effects on Distortion Characteristics of Power GaAs MESFET Amplifiers

A nonlinear MESFET model that explains the degradation in power GaAs MESFET amplifier third order intermodulation distortion (IM3) characteristics following neutron irradiation is presented. The model verifies the experimental data and shows that the significant increase in IM3 observed at a neutron fluence of 1.4 × 1015 n/cm2 and higher is mainly due to the non-linearity in device transconductance gm and output conductance go. The model also indicates that IM3 is dominated by the device gm or go non-linearity depending on applied gate bias.
Effects of different diets and dietary restriction on perinatal endogenous DNA adducts. Time dependence of oxidative and presumptive nonoxidative lesions

Type II I-compounds (indigenous DNA adducts) denote a class of bulky oxidative DNA lesions that are detectable by 32P-postlabeling and represent useful biomarkers of DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. Their levels are increased in tissue DNA under pro-oxidant conditions, for example, as previously shown, in newborn rat organs. Here we have investigated whether the maternal diet affects perinatal type II I-compound levels. Pregnant F344 rats were fed Purina-5001 natural-ingredient or AIN-93G purified diet from day 11 of gestation. Type II I-compounds were measured in liver DNA at three different developmental stages, i.e., fetus, and 24 h and 9 days postnatally. Higher adduct levels were detected in the Purina-5001 group at each stage. In a second experiment, pregnant F344 rats were subjected to dietary restriction (DR) (by 40%; Purina-5001) from day 12 of gestation. At 24 h postpartum hepatic type II I-compound levels were decreased compared to parallel ad libitum (AL) fed controls. As an unrelated observation, fetal lung, but not liver, kidney, and skin DNA contained a different pattern of nonpolar, apparently nonoxidative adducts, which were not diet-dependent. These spots were not detectable 24 h after birth and were observed at much reduced levels and only in a few samples at 9 days. The main results show for the first time that the maternal nutrition modulated levels of oxidative lesions in fetal and neonatal DNA, but the underlying mechanisms (e.g., differences in metal or caloric content of the diets) still need to be determined. The dietary effects were apparently transmitted through both placenta and the mother's milk.
Concept or Computation: Students' Understanding of the Mean.

In statistics, and in everyday life as well, the arithmetic mean is a frequently used average. The present study reports data from interviews in which students attempted to solve problems involving the appropriate weighting and combining of means into an overall mean. While mathematically unsophisticated college students can easily compute the mean of a group of numbers, our results indicate that a surprisingly large proportion of them do not understand the concept of the weighted mean. When asked to calculate the overall mean, most subjects answered with the simple, or unweighted, mean of the two means given in the problem, even though these two means were from different-sized groups of scores. For many subjects, computing the simple mean was not merely the easiest or most obvious way to initially attack the problem; it was the only method they had available. Most did not seem to consider why the simple mean might or might not be the correct response, nor did they have any feeling for what their results represented. For many students, dealing with the mean is a computational rather than a conceptual act. Knowledge of the mean seems to begin and end with an impoverished computational formula. The pedagogical message is clear: Learning a computational formula is a poor substitute for gaining an understanding of the basic underlying concept.
Crystal structure of a synthetic triple-stranded alpha-helical bundle

The x-ray crystal structure of a peptide designed to form a double-stranded parallel coiled coil shows that it is actually a triple-stranded coiled coil formed by three alpha-helices. Unlike the designed parallel coiled coil, the helices run up-up-down. The structure is stabilized by a distinctive hydrophobic interface consisting of eight layers. As in the design, each alpha-helix in the coiled coil contributes one leucine side chain to each layer. The structure suggests that hydrophobic interactions are a dominant factor in the stabilization of coiled coils. The stoichiometry and geometry of coiled coils are primarily determined by side chain packing in the solvent-inaccessible interior, but electrostatic interactions also contribute.
Methods for solving inverse problems for radiation transport—an update

Abstract Recent analytical results of both time-dependent and time-independent methods are surveyed for inferring the albedo of single scattering and the coefficients of the Legendre expansion of the angle-dependent scattering law. Also presented are some new equations and new approximate solution techniques for the time-independent method that may help reduce the poor conditioning of the numerical solution of the formal ly-exact equations.
Integrating sphere simulation: application to total flux scale realization

A method is proposed for realizing the total flux scale of light sources by use of an integrating sphere with an opening to introduce a known amount of flux from a luminous intensity standard or a spectral irradiance standard lamp placed outside the sphere. Computer simulations were made on several models of an integrating sphere, designed to compare the total flux of a test lamp inside the sphere with the flux introduced from an external source. I describe the theory and algorithm of the simulation, present the results of the simulation for varying conditions of sphere geometry such as size and location of the baffles, internal source, and wall reflectance, and predict that one of the models has sufficient accuracy to calibrate lamps for total flux.
High taurine levels in the Solemya velum symbiosis.

Abstract 1. 1. To compare biochemical differences between bivalves with and without endosymbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria, specimens of Solemya velum, a bivalve species known to contain bacterial endosymbionts, and the symbiont-free soft-shelled clam Mya arenaria, were collected from the same subtidal reducing sediments during October and November 1988. 2. 2. Total and free amino acid compositions were determined for both species. Protein-bound amino acids were calculated as the difference between total and free amino acids. In addition, stable isotope ratios of the total and free amino acids of each species were measured to determine potential sources for these molecules. 3. 3. Both species had similar total hydrolyzable- and protein-bound amino acid compositions; approximately 50% of the protein-bound amino acids were essential amino acids. In S. velum, the small size of the digestive system suggests that these amino acids are probably synthesized by the endosymbiotic bacteria and translocated to the animal tissue. The δ13C and δ15N ratios of the amino acids are very similar to the isotope ratios previously found in both the endosymbionts and whole tissues of S. velum. The relative and absolute amounts of free amino acids are very different in the two species. In S. velum, the absolute concentrations of taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, were greater than the total free amino acid concentrations found in other bivalves. 4. 4. The δ34S ratios of the free amino acids of S. velum, which were predominantly composed of taurine, were extremely negative (−17.2ℵ) suggesting that taurine is synthesized using sulfur originally derived from external reduced sulfur sources, such as pore water sulfides. The possible roles for taurine in this animal-bacteria symbiosis are discussed.
Inter-organizational digital divide: Civic groups’ media strategies in the Trinity River Corridor Project

This study’s goals are 1) to investigate how leaders of civic groups make decisions about using new and social media versus older media forms of media, and 2) to reexamine major theses on the social effects of new media equipped with a better understanding of civic groups’ internal decision-making. To explore these issues, we conducted interviews with leaders of eight civic groups involved in the Trinity River Corridor development project in Dallas, TX. We also interviewed local journalists, and analyzed the eight civic groups’ web sites, social media sites, and blogs, as well as blogs that linked to the groups’ sites. We find that new and social media were used mainly by organizations that were not directly involved in major political actions, and that for the two groups most directly involved in political actions, the wealthier and more powerful group was better connected to other organizations that did use new and social media. The findings reveal a sharp digital divide between networks of civic organizations.
A preliminary investigation of the time tunnels display design technique

Abstract Two forms of decision support were evaluated using a simulated process control task environment. The time tunnel display design concept provides temporal (historical) information about the value of variables and relationships over time using perspective geometry and the depth plane. The compensated level variable is a quickened display that provides estimates of system state that is not confounded by counter-intuitive and time-delayed thermodynamic effects. These two forms of decision support were applied factorially (present, absent) to produce four experimental conditions. The results for system control and fault detection tasks indicate that display quickening improved performance significantly while the time tunnel displays did not. The results for data extraction tasks (reporting the values of system variables) were dependent upon the quality of the mapping between properties in the domain and visual features in the display. Methodological factors that may have influenced the results are considered and subsequent evaluations of the time tunnels design technique, using alternative methodologies, are discussed. It is concluded that the time tunnels display design concept has potential as a form of decision support and is worthy of additional research efforts.
Using Portfolios for Assessment in the College Personal Health Course.

Abstract Outcome-based assessment has been the subject of much discussion recently within the education profession. Much of the discussion has focused on the assessment of academic achievement of school age children and youth. Another area of interest has been the assessment of the professional competencies of students graduating from colleges and universities. Little has been reported, however, in the literature relative to outcome-based assessment of students in nonprofessional college level courses such as personal health, sexuality, and drug education. The purpose of this article is to present background information on the outcome or performance-based assessment approach, including use of portfolios, and to examine the feasibility of using portfolios for assessment in university personal health classes. Implications for course planning, instruction, and evaluation are subsequently offered.
Pityrosporum pachydermatis "canis" as a major cause of otitis externa in dogs.

Summary: Twenty-five dogs of different breeds having otitis externa of one or both ears as well as 10 dogs with clinically apparent healthy ears were examined ideologically. The yeast, Pityrosporum pachydermatis “canis” was isolated from 18 cases (72%). In 16 cases, the organism constituted the sole isolate (64%) and in the other two cases, its growth predominated the associated organism. Its isolation from the control ears was limited to 4 cases (40 %) with a noticeable weak growth population. The predominating existence of Pit. pachydermatis “canis” in association with the infected ears seems to emphasize a significant role of such an organism in the establishment of otitis externa in dogs. The isolated strains of Pit. pachydermatis “canis” showed in vitro sensitivity to nystatin. Using the plate serial dilution method, the drug exerted a fungicial effect against all of the isolated strains at a concentration of 20 μg/ml medium (1: 50,000) a lesser concentration of 10 μg/ml medium (1:100,000) proved to act fungicidal on most the tested strains. Under the condition of the concentration-time exposure procedure, nystatin exhibited a fungicidal activity against all strains at a concentration of 10μg/ml in 96 hours. All of the infected cases were cured using panalog. Zusammenfassung: 25 Hunde verschiedener Arten mit Otitis externa eines oder beider Ohren sowie 10 Hunde mit klinisch anscheinend gesunden Ohren als Kon-trolle wurden mykologisch untersucht. Die Hefe Pityrosporum pachydermatis “canis” wurde bei 18 Fallen (72%) isoliert. Bei 16 Fallen (64%) machte sie die ein-zigen Isolate aus und in weiteren 2 Fallen uberwog das Wachstum dieser Hefe vor dem der begleitenden Organismen. Bei den Kontrollfallen wurde Pityrosporum pachydermatis “canis” viermal (40%) nachgewiesen. Das vorherrschende Auftreten von Pityrosporum pachydermatis “canis” in Ver-bindung mit der Gehorgangsinfektion scheint die Rolle derartiger Organismen fiir die Entstehung von Otitis externa bei Hunden zu betonen. ie isolierten Stamme von Pityrosporum pachydermatis “canis” zeigten in vitro Empfindlichkeit gegenuber Nystatin. Bei Verwendung der Plattenreihenverdunnungsmethode ubte das Mittel gegen alle getesteten Stamme bei einer Konzentration von 20 μg/ml Nahrboden (1:50 000) eine pilzabtotende Wirkung aus. Eine geringere Konzentration von 10 μg/ml Nahrboden (1:100 000) ubte immer nodi eine fungi-zide Wirkung auf die meisten der getesteten Stamme aus. Unter den Bedingungen der Zeit-Konzentrations-Exposition-Methode wirkte Nystatin gegen alle gepruften Stamme pilzabtotend bei einer Konzentration von 10μg/ml in 96 Stunden. Alle erkrankten Falle wurden durch Behandlung mit Panalog ausgeheilt
Petite unification of quarks and leptons

A general discussion of a quark-lepton unification characterized by the gauge group ${G}_{S}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}{G}_{W}$ with two coupling constants ${g}_{S}$ and ${g}_{W}$ and by the unification mass scale $M={10}^{5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1}$ GeV is presented. The choice of ${G}_{W}$ is quite restricted by the measured value of ${{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}}_{W}$. The minimal model of such a unification turns out to be $\mathrm{SU}{(4)}_{\mathrm{PS}}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{L}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{R}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{{L}^{\ensuremath{'}}}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{{R}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$, where the first three factors constitute the well-known Pati-Salam group. The presence of $\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{{L}^{\ensuremath{'}}}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{{R}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$ is required by the measured value of ${{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}}_{W}$ and it implies the existence of mirror fermions whose masses may range from 20-30 GeV to a few TeV. The lightest mirror fermion might be relatively long lived when compared to an ordinary sequential heavy fermion. The model accommodating all known quark and lepton generations gives the correct ${{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}}_{W}\ensuremath{\approx}0.22$ and at the same time can be made consistent with the experimental bounds on rare transitions induced by leptoquark exchanges.
Identification of Voiceless Fricatives by High Frequency Hearing Impaired Listeners.

Identification of voiceless fricatives was investigated in five subjects having steep hearing losses above 1000 Hz. Sixteen consonant-vowel test syllables were formed by combining each of the voice...
Rebuttal to “Beyond MTTDL: A Closed-Form RAID-6 Reliability Equation”

A recent article on the reliability of RAID-6 storage systems overlooks certain relevant prior work published in the past 20 years and concludes that the widely used mean time to data loss (MTTDL) metric does not provide accurate results. In this note, we refute this position by invoking uncited relevant prior work and demonstrating that the MTTDL remains a useful metric.
Reactive Oxygen Species and EGR-1 Gene Expression in Surgical Postoperative Peritoneal Adhesions

Postoperative peritoneal adhesions are common and serious complications of general abdominal and gynecological surgery that can lead to chronic abdominal pain, small-bowel obstruction and infertility. The specific pathophysiology of peritoneal adhesions remains elusive and current treatment is relegated to prevention through meticulous surgical technique and protective physical barriers, gels and solutions. We have reported that reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated by phagocytic cells at the site of tissue injury, serve as major signaling molecules regulating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and subsequent wound repair. We hypothesized that peritoneal adhesions are a product of over-healing surgical wounds and that, like in wound healing, ROS are implicated in their pathogenesis. We examined the presence of footprints of ROS and the ROS-inducible angiogenic factor VEGF in human adhesion tissue. An experimental model of peritoneal adhesion was established in rodents to study of the dynamics of ROS-induced gene expression during de novo adhesion tissue formation. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated presence of ROS/oxidant and macrophages in human peritoneal tissue. The presence of ROS and ROS-sensitive transcription factor EGR-1 was also evident in an experimental rodent peritoneal adhesion model. Along with ROS, VEGF, and a large number of mature and immature CD31/vWF positive blood vessels were present in the adhesion tissue. These observations are not consistent with the contention that adhesions are non-functional scar tissue. The newly developed rodent model of adhesion may present a useful approach to reproducibly and objectively study molecular mechanisms underlying the dynamic process of de novo adhesion tissue formation.
Charles Henry Woolbert: The link between speech art and speech science

Charles Henry Woolbert is a seminal figure in the early development of the contemporary speech field as a strong and independent discipline. His unique role as a transitional figure between the elocutionists and contemporary theorists is examined in this study. Emphasis is placed upon the theoretical underpinnings of his work, and upon his foreshadowing of future developments in the speech communication field.
Threshold conditions for a diffusive model of a myelinated axon

This paper develops and uses comparison principles to study the time evolution of solutions to problems of the form $$\begin{gathered} v_t = v_{xx} - gv,{\text{ for }}x \in \mathbb{R}\backslash \mathbb{Z}{\text{ (}}g{\text{ = constant),}} \hfill \\ v_t = f\left( v \right) + v_x \left( {n + ,t} \right) - v_x \left( {n - ,t} \right),{\text{ for }}x = n \in \mathbb{Z} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ . Such a system models an infinite myelinated axon with discrete, excitable nodes spaced unit distant apart.
Rheology and dynamics of sheared arrays of colloidal particles

Concentrated suspensions of colloidal particles undergo dynamical microstructural transitions under shear. During the transition from oscillating face-centered cubic twin structures to sliding layer structures, the system can exhibit hysteretic and discontinuous rheology as the shear rate is varied. We capture this behavior with a dynamic simulation of a sheared lattice of non-Brownian spherical particles with screened electrostatic interactions and hydrodynamic interactions determined using the Stokesian dynamics approximation. Rheological data are determined for a range of volume fractions, electrostatic screening lengths and shear rates or shear stresses. In controlled stress simulations, static yield stresses are observed. In controlled shear rate simulations of certain lattice orientations, plateau viscosities are observed at high and low shear rates with a high to low shear rate plateau viscosity ratio ranging from 1.4 to 2.2. Large viscosity transitions with hysteretic-like rheology are observed only in controlled shear rate simulations of face-centered cubic (111) layers sheared parallel to the 〈211〉 direction with full representation of the hydrodynamic particle interactions. Rheological curves collapse when stresses are scaled by the elastic modulus and shear rates by the elastic modulus divided by the high-shear-rate limiting viscosity. The magnitude of the hysteretic viscosity jump and the scaled critical stresses match experimental values.
A positive cross-regulation of HER2 and ER-α36 controls ALDH1 positive breast cancer cells

Accumulating evidence supports the theory that breast cancer arises from a subpopulation of mammary stem/progenitor cell which posses the ability to self-renew. However, the involvement of estrogen signaling in regulation of breast cancer stem/progenitor cells has not been fully established, mainly because expression and function of ER-α in breast cancer stem cells remains controversial. Previously, our laboratory cloned a variant of ER-α, ER-α36, and found that ER-α36-mediated non-genomic estrogen signaling plays an important role in malignant growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells. In this study, we found that ER-α36 was highly expressed in ER-negative breast cancer SK-BR-3 cells and mediated non-genomic estrogen signaling such as activation of the MAPK/ERK signaling in these cells. Knock-down of ER-α36 expression in these cells using the shRNA method diminished their responsiveness to estrogen and significantly down-regulated HER2 expression. HER2 signaling activated ER-α36 transcription through an AP1 site in the ER-α36 promoter and ER-α36 physically interacted with HER2. We also found that ER-α36 is highly expressed in a subset of SK-BR-3 cells that was positive for ALDH1, a breast cancer stem cell marker, and knock-down of ER-α36 expression reduced the population of ALDH1 positive cells. Our results thus demonstrated that ER-α36 positively regulates HER2 expression and the population of ALDH1 positive breast cancer cells, and suggested that non-genomic estrogen signaling mediated by ER-α36 is involved in maintenance and regulation of breast cancer stem cells.
The Interplay between Value and Relatedness as Bases for Metacognitive Monitoring and Control: Evidence for Agenda-Based Monitoring.

Two experiments are reported examining how value and relatedness interact to influence metacognitive monitoring and control processes. Participants studied unrelated and related word pairs, each accompanied by point values denoting how important the items were to remember. These values were presented either before or after each pair in a between-subjects design, and participants made item-by-item judgments of learning (JOLs) predicting the likelihood that each item would be remembered later. Results from Experiment 1 showed that participants used value and relatedness as cues to inform their JOLs. Interestingly, JOLs increased as a function of value even in the after condition in which value had no impact on cued recall. Participants in Experiment 2 were permitted to control study time for each item. Results showed that value and relatedness were simultaneously considered when allocating study time. These results support a cue-weighting process in which JOLs and study time allocation are based on multiple cues, which may or may not be predictive of future memory performance, and complements the agenda-based regulation model of study time (Ariel, Dunlosky, & Bailey, 2009) by providing evidence for agenda-based monitoring.
NOVEL NONTHERMAL METHODS TO REDUCE VIBRIO VULNIFICUS IN RAW OYSTERS

Vibrio vulnificus is a foodborne pathogen associated with consumption of raw oyster. No scientific data is available on postharvest treatments of oyster by ultrasound, ozone, and organic acids. This study was designed to investigate the effects of these treatments on inactivation of V. vulnificus naturally present in the in-shell or half-shelled oysters. In in-shell oysters, these treatments were not effective in reducing the number of this pathogen. Half-shelled oysters treated with ultrasound, and ozone in 2% saline for 30 min had 1 and 1.5 log less V. vulnificus, respectively (P<0.05). Treatment of half-shelled oysters by 50 and 100% lemon juice, 5 % citric acid, 10% citric acid, or vinegar for 30 min resulted in a significant reduction (2-4 log) in the numbers of V. vulnificus (P<0.05). Although these methods significantly reduced the population of V. vulnificus in raw oysters, they were not able to reduce the numbers of this pathogen to acceptable level (<3 MPN/g).