cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein B48, the Structural Component of Chylomicrons, Is Sufficient to Antagonize Staphylococcus aureus Quorum-Sensing

Serum lipoproteins (LP) are increasingly being recognized as dual purpose molecules that contribute to both cholesterol homeostasis and host innate defense. In fact, very low LP levels are associated with increased risk of bacterial infection in critically ill patients. In this respect, we reported that apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100), the 4536 amino acid structural protein of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) produced by the liver, limits Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis. S. aureus uses quorum-sensing (QS) via the accessory gene regulator (agr) operon and an autoinducing peptide (AIP) to coordinate expression of over 200 virulence genes. ApoB100 prevents agr activation by binding and sequestering secreted AIP. Importantly, human serum LP are produced not only by the liver, but are also produced by enterocytes, in the form of chylomicrons, during uptake of dietary lipids. In contrast to apoB100 in VLDL, human enterocytes use apoB48, the N-terminal 2152 amino acids (48%) of apoB100, as the structural component of chylomicrons. Interestingly, enteral feeding of critically ill patients has been associated with decreased risk of infectious complications, suggesting chylomicrons could contribute to host innate defense in critically ill patients when serum LP production by the liver is limited during the acute phase response. Therefore, we hypothesized that apoB48 would be sufficient to antagonize S. aureus QS. As expected, isolated apoB48-LP bound immobilized AIP and antagonized agr-signaling. ApoB48- and apoB100-LP inhibited agr activation with IC50s of 3.5 and 2.3 nM, respectively, demonstrating a conserved AIP binding site. Importantly, apoB48-LP antagonized QS, limited morbidity and promoted bacterial clearance in a mouse model of S. aureus infection. This work demonstrates that both naturally occurring forms of apolipoprotein B can antagonize S. aureus QS, and may suggest a previously unrecognized role for chylomicrons and enterocytes in host innate defense against S. aureus QS-mediated pathogenesis.
Size of free groups in varieties generated by finite groups

The number of distinct n-variable word maps on a finite group G is the order of the rank n free group in the variety generated by G. For a group G, the number of word maps on just two variables can...
Prospective cost analysis of early video capsule endoscopy versus standard of care in non-hematemesis gastrointestinal bleeding: a non-inferiority study.

AbstractBackground and aim: A non-inferiority cost analysis was performed to assess if the early capsule approach would incur higher costs than the standard of care approach in patients presenting ...
Carcass chilling method effects on color and tenderness of bison meat.

Abstract Carcasses were conventionally (C, n = 9) or vascularly chilled using the Rinse & Chill® process (RC; n = 9). Muscles (Longissimus lumborum, LL; Triceps brachii, TB) were processed (LL, steaks; TB, ground), packaged (polyvinyl chloride, PVC; vacuum, VAC), and displayed or stored dark. Measurements included color, purge, pH, sarcomere length, shear force, and cooking loss. Data were analyzed as a split plot design with carcass chilling treatment as whole plot and display day as split plot. Data were analyzed separately by packaging method. RC increased (P
Mary Shelley / Transmedia Creatures: Frankenstein’s Afterlives

Angela Wright’s Mary Shelley and Francesca Saggini and Anna Enrichetta Soccio’s Transmedia Creatures: Frankenstein’s Afterlives have, on the surface, such different aims and audiences that reviewin...
Reproductive intentions in childless female adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

Objective To examine the association between prior cancer treatments, medical comorbidities, and voluntary childlessness in reproductive-age women who are survivors of cancers diagnosed as adolescents and young adults (AYA survivors). Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting Participants were recruited from California and Texas cancer registries, fertility preservation programs, and cancer advocacy groups. Patient(s) Women (n = 413) ages 18–40 who were diagnosed with cancer between ages 15 and 35, completed primary cancer treatments, had at least one ovary, and were nulliparous. Intervention(s) Cancer treatment gonadotoxicity and medical comorbidities. Main Outcome Measure(s) Voluntary childlessness. Result(s) The mean age of survivors was 31.8 years (SD, 4.9) with a mean of 6.5 years (SD, 4.4) since cancer diagnosis. Breast (26%), thyroid (19%), and Hodgkin lymphoma (18%) were the most common cancers. Twenty-two percent of the cohort was voluntarily childless. Medical comorbidities, cancer diagnosis, prior surgery, prior chemotherapy, and prior gonadotoxic treatments were not significantly associated with voluntary childlessness. In adjusted analysis, survivors of older reproductive age (adjusted odds ratio = 2.97 [1.71–5.18]) and nonheterosexual participants (adjusted odds ratio = 4.71 [2.15–10.32]) were more likely to report voluntary childlessness. Conclusion(s) A moderate proportion of AYA cancer survivors are voluntarily childless, but reproductive intentions were not related to cancer type or cancer treatments. AYA survivors of older age and nonheterosexual identification were more likely to be voluntarily childless. These data support assessing reproductive intentions and tailoring reproductive care such as fertility and contraception counseling that is appropriate for a survivor’s intentions.
Circuits and Architectures for In-Memory Computing-Based Machine Learning Accelerators

Machine learning applications, especially deep neural networks (DNNs) have seen ubiquitous use in computer vision, speech recognition, and robotics. However, the growing complexity of DNN models have necessitated efficient hardware implementations. The key compute primitives of DNNs are matrix vector multiplications, which lead to significant data movement between memory and processing units in today's von Neumann systems. A promising alternative would be colocating memory and processing elements, which can be further extended to performing computations inside the memory itself. We believe in-memory computing is a propitious candidate for future DNN accelerators, since it mitigates the memory wall bottleneck. In this article, we discuss various in-memory computing primitives in both CMOS and emerging nonvolatile memory (NVM) technologies. Subsequently, we describe how such primitives can be incorporated in standalone machine learning accelerator architectures. Finally, we analyze the challenges associated with designing such in-memory computing accelerators and explore future opportunities.
TRENDS: Creating Parties in Congress: The Emergence of a Social Network:

This article examines the creation of political parties in Congress with a focus on ties between emerging party leaders and members, 1789–1802. Using an egocentric selection model, we examine who J...
Stigma as a Barrier to Participant Recruitment of Minority Populations in Diabetes Research: Development of a Community-Centered Recruitment Approach.

Background: The development of evidence-based care geared towards Black and Latina women living with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes is contingent upon their active recruitment into clinical interventions. Well-documented impediments to recruitment include a historical mistrust of the research community and socioeconomic factors that limit awareness and access to research studies. Although sociocultural and socioeconomic factors deter minorities from participating in clinical research, it is equally important to consider the role of stigma in chronic disease intervention studies. Objective: We aim to share our discovery of diabetes-related stigma as an underrecognized impediment to recruitment for the Women in Control 2.0 virtual diabetes self-management education study. Methods: Our initial recruitment plan used traditional strategies to recruit minority women with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, which included letters and phone calls to targeted patients, referrals from clinicians, and posted flyers. After engaging a patient advisory group and consulting with experts in community advocacy, diabetes-related stigma emerged as a prominent barrier to recruitment. The study team reviewed and revised recruitment scripts and outreach material in order to better align with the lived experience and needs of potential enrollees. Results: Using a more nuanced, community-centered recruitment approach, we achieved our target recruitment goal, enrolling 309 participants into the study, exceeding our target of 212. Conclusions: There is a need for updated recruitment methods that can increase research participation of patients who experience internalized diabetes stigma. To address disparities in minority health, further research is needed to better understand diabetes-related stigma and devise strategies to avert or address it.
They Saw It Coming: Rising Trends in Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidality in Creative Students and Potential Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis

Previous research has established that creative adolescents are generally low in neuroticism and as well-adjusted as their peers. From 2006 -2013, data from cohorts of creative adolescents attending a counseling laboratory supported these results. Clinical findings of increased anxiety, depression, and suicidality among creative students in 2014 led the researchers to create three studies to explore these clinical findings. Once artifactual causes of these changes were ruled out, a quantitative study was conducted. Study 1, an analysis of mean differences of pre-2014 and post-2014 cohorts showed that post-2014 cohorts scored significantly higher in Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, and Conscientiousness and lower in Extraversion on Big Five inventories. Regression analyses suggested that while Neuroticism was associated with gender, Conscientiousness and Grade Point Average for the earlier group, Neuroticism in the post 2014 groups was related to complex interplay of all personality dynamics except Agreeableness. In the qualitative Study 2, focus groups of 6-10 students, for a total of 102 participants were queried about the reasons they perceived for increased anxiety and depression in creative students. Increased achievement pressures and awareness of environmental and social problems were major sources of external stressors; perfectionism and desire to fulfill expectations of others were the primary sources of internal stress. The authors suggest that creative students’ openness to experience and advanced knowledge made it possible for these students to see the potential for environmental and social crises and respond to their inability to solve these problems with anxiety and depression. Study 3 was a qualitative study that followed up 19 participants from the post-2014 cohort to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and creativity. While the majority perceived a negative effect of the pandemic on their mental health, most also produced a surprising variety of creative works during that time. In conclusion, rapid changes in the lives of creative adolescents since 2014 suggest that scholars focus on current cohorts and the ways in which adolescent personality is shaped by internal expectation and external pressures and global events. Despite the pandemic, creative young people continued to create.
Regulating Climate Risks and Liability Risks: “Breaking the Tragedy of the Horizon, Climate Change and Financial Stability

The implications of COVID developments for monetary policy will certainly extend beyond the increased use of digital platforms and payments. The current environment is also focused on smart green techniques and green initiatives aimed at promoting a transition to a net zero based carbon emissions economy. During the onset of the pandemic, it was initially thought that carbon emissions would fall drastically – given the impact of the pandemic, not only on the airlines industry, but also as a result of “Stay at Home” measures imposed by jurisdictions, which even made it illegal to drive to certain places, where purposes for doing so were unjustified. However, the pandemic has also witnessed unprecedented levels in digital subscriptions, online sales and marketing – also fueled through digital payments and the use of digital platforms and distributed ledger technologies in facilitating cashless payments – cash, namely bank notes and coins, also being considered to be a medium of COVID transmission. Coupled with attributes such speed, convenience and ease, the need for financial inclusion has also become an objective in facilitating the era of innovative digital means of payments. As well as considering the current implications of measures that have been instigated to address the impacts of the pandemic, drawing from past and current lessons from selected jurisdictions, this paper also considers why the transition to a net zero carbon economy may prove more challenging than may first appear. However, jurisdictional differences and historical developments will play a part in determining how sustainable certain implemented policies and measures are – as well as in facilitating a transition to normality. This presentation will seek to demonstrate that depending on the structure of financial regulation which operates in different jurisdictions, as well as whether common law principles of tort law apply in these jurisdictions in addressing liability risks, it will be feasible, realistic and possible to break the tragedy of the horizon.
Statistical Error in Dimension Estimators

The statistical error in an estimate of the correlation dimension based on a sample of N points (e.g., from a time series) generically scales as O(\(1/\sqrt N \)). The coefficient of the \(1/\sqrt N \) term can be related to the variance over the attractor of the pointwise mass function. In many cases, the coefficient is small, and for very particular examples the coefficient is zero. In the latter case, anomalously precise O(1/N) scaling is obtained. These results are shown to have practical implications for computing the dimension of an attractor from a time series.
Gravitropic Signaling in Plants

The direction of gravity represents a fundamental signal that plants use to shape their growth and development. In the simplest description of this phenomenon, roots grow down and shoots grow up; however, closer examination reveals that different plant organs such as the individual branches of a tree, maintain different angles to gravity, their ‘gravitropic set-point angle’. When displaced from this orientation, plant organs have the ability to redirect growth to regain their preferred angle through the process of gravitropism. The starch-statolith hypothesis describes the cellular mechanism whereby plants can sense the direction of gravity and so regulate growth in response to this signal. The sedimentation of dense starch-filled amyloplasts within specialised sensory cells is thought to generate an as yet undefined directional biochemical signal. This signalling system then modulates transport of the plant hormone auxin resulting in its accumulation and the localisation of growth that leads to the gravitropic response. Key Concepts: Plants sense the direction of gravity and regulate growth of roots and shoots using this information. Directional growth in response to gravity is known as gravitropism. Different organs can use gravitropism to maintain different genetically defined angles, or gravitropic set-point angles, relative to the gravity vector. Sensing the direction of gravity is achieved by dense starch-filled amyloplasts sedimenting in specialised sensory cells, called statocytes. The statocytes are the columella cells of the root cap and the endodermal cells in the shoot. Sedimentation of amyloplasts generates an initial biochemical signal within the statocytes that has yet to be defined. Signalling within the statocytes triggers redistribution of transporters for the hormone auxin to the plasma membrane on the lower side of the cell. Asymmetrical activity of auxin transport causes this hormone to accumulate on the lower side of the root or shoot. Auxin promotes cell elongation in shoots and inhibits this process in roots. Differential cell elongation between one side of an organ and the other causes the root to bend downwards and the shoot upwards. Keywords: amyloplast; auxin; columella; endodermis; gravitropism; gravitropic set-point angle; plastid; root cap; statocyte; statolith
The Properties of Thyroglobulin XVII. THE DIFFERENTIAL REACTIVITY OF THE MONOIODOTYROSYL AND DIIODOTYROSYL RESIDUES IN THYROGLOBULIN WITH N-ACETYL IMIDAZOLE

Native and iodinated thyroglobulin and human serum albumin were allowed to react with N-acetyl imidazole under mild conditions, and the degree of O-acetylation of protein tyrosyl and iodotyrosyl residues was estimated by spectrophotometric titration. In both proteins, almost all of the diiodotyrosyl residues, whether formed in vitro or in vivo, react with N-acetyl imidazole. In contrast, more than half of the monoiodotyrosyl residues are unreactive. The increase in the thyroxine to triiodothyronine ratio in thyroglobulin with increasing iodine content can be explained by the rapid increase in the diiodotyrosine to monoiodotyrosine ratio that occurs above a few tenths per cent iodine, and by the greater reactivity of the diiodotyrosyl residues.
Evaluation of Compounds in Primary Human Islet Cell Culture

Theidentificationofnovelsmallmoleculesthatpromotepancreaticbeta-cellproliferation is an important approach to therapeutic discovery for diabetes. Because human islets are not easy to culture, and attach poorly to plates, it had not been feasible to run highthroughput phenotypic assays in these cells. Therefore, most laboratories have turned to rodent islets for ease of culture and accessibility. However, rodent islets are not physiologically similar to human islets, either in terms of islet architecture or endocrine cell interactions within the islet, and data generated in rodent islets do not typically translate to human islet biology. To address this challenge, we developed a human islet culture system for high-throughput screening using a thymidine analog, EdU, to detect beta-cell replication during screening. Simultaneous monitoring of EdU incorporation and beta cell numbers provides a robust assay for beta-cell replication, and is now becoming a standard protocol enabling screening in human islets. Curr. Protoc. Chem. Biol. 6:157-168 C � 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Rapid Isolation of Phosphoribosyladenosine Triphosphate Synthetase and Comparison to Native Enzyme

Phosphoribosyladenosine triphosphate (PR-ATP) synthetase, the first enzyme in the biosynthesis of histidine, prepared by previously published methods from Salmonella typhimurium is shown to be contaminated by histidase. Construction of a bacterial strain deleting histidase but producing high levels of PR-ATP synthetase is reported. A new rapid isolation procedure based on two unique solubility properties which obviate use of chromatography columns gave pure enzyme in high yield. Stability properties of the enzyme were studied and three sets of conditions under which the enzyme may be stored for months without loss of activity or histidine sensitivity were found. Immunological studies demonstrated an interesting difference between the PR-ATP synthetase in a crude bacterial extract and the purified enzyme.
Posterior Gastropexy (Hill Repair): Surgical Legacy Technique

This chapter describes the use of posterior gastropexy in the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. This operation has largely been supplanted by various fundoplication procedures but remains of occasional use in highly selected cases.
In situ dielectric spectroscopy for water detection on the lunar surface

Abstract Published literature suggests that water ice might be unambiguously detected in the presence of background contaminants by developing a frequency swept sensor to obtain the dielectric spectrum. Such a sensor could be incorporated into the tip of a spike and driven into the lunar regolith to detect moisture as a function of depth. A sensor was created to test this concept for varying concentrations of ice in lunar soil simulant under vacuum conditions. Ice relaxation occurs at frequencies well below 1 Hz at temperatures present on the Lunar surface, making it difficult to distinguish ice from the surrounding regolith. So, a heating element was incorporated with the sensor to capture the dielectric spectra as the ice warms, allowing the relaxation to be detected in a shorter period of time. The test results show the ability of this sensor to detect the presence of varying quantities of ice in the soil simulant and the need for more complex non-linear mixing models to quantify the amount of ice present in the mixture.
Theory of resonant tunneling in a variably spaced multiquantum well structure: An Airy function approach

A theoretical study of resonant tunneling in multilayered heterostructures is presented based on an exact solution of the Schroedinger equation under the application of a constant electric field. By use of the transfer matrix approach, the transmissivity of the structure is determined as a function of the incident electron energy. The approach presented herein is easily extended to many layer structures where it is more accurate than other existing transfer matrix or Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) models. The transmission resonances are compared to the bound-state energies calculated for a finite square well under bias using either an asymmetric square-well model or the exact solution of an infinite square well under the application of an electric field. The results show good agreement with other existing models as well as with the bound-state energies. The calculations were then applied to a new superlattice structure, the variably spaced superlattice energy filter, which is designed such that under bias the spatial quantization levels fully align. Based on these calculations, a new class of resonant tunneling superlattice devices can be designed.
Influence of spin-orbit scattering on the Kondo effect

Abstract It is shown that the spin-orbit interaction in the conduction electron system induces a spin-flip rate of the localized spin in the exchange model. This rate is calculated and its relation with experimental results discussed.
Use of outdoor freshwater pond microcosms: I. Microcosm design and fate of pyridaben.

An outdoor freshwater microcosm study was conducted in which pyridaben, an insecticide-miticide, was directly applied to water to determine its fate and biological effects on an aquatic community. The following paper describes the design, specific techniques, and fate of pyridaben in microcosms including model prediction of the estimated environmental concentration, whereas the subsequent paper describes the responses of biota. An analysis of variance design was used with four treatments in which pyridaben was applied as an aqueous suspension (75% wettable powder) at three concentrations (0.34, 3.4, 34.0 μg/L) plus an untreated control to 24 microcosm tanks (23 m3). Each treatment was replicated six times. Pyridaben was applied to each microcosm once in April and once in May 1993 to simulate actual crop application. The Exposure Analysis Modeling System predicted that as a result of a drift (5.0%) exposure scenario, the half-life of pyridaben in water was 30 to 34 h. The model also predicted negligible concentrations of pyridaben in sediment after drift. Surface runoff was not considered an important source of pyridaben to aquatic systems, because the Pesticide Root Zone Model predicted a maximum runoff concentration of 0.1 μg/L. The half-life in microcosm water for the low, middle, and high treatment concentrations for both applications ranged from 11.8 to 28.5 h. After both applications at 3.4 μg/L, pyridaben was not detected in sediment within 24 h, whereas at 34.0 μg/L the half-life of pyridaben in sediment was 9.8 d.
178 ASSOCIATION OF REYE'S SYNDROME AND CARDIOMYOPATHY

Seven children (aged 3½-15 years) consecutively admitted, with the diagnosis of Reye's were evaluated for cardiac dysfunction by echocardiography, EKG and serum enzymes. The preceding viral disease was varicella in 6 and influenza A in 1. Two died and had microscopic myocarditis. All had normal LD1 and CPK-MB isoenzymes. In addition, a retrospective study of 17 cases of fatal varicella demonstrated microscopic myocarditis in 11. In none of the 11 children was myocarditis recognized prior to death. This study suggests that the heart is a significant target organ in Reye's syndrome, particularly when preceded by varicella, and its function must be considered in the care of these children.
Omission and Repetition by Faulting.: ABSTRACT

Misleading statements are commonly seen regarding omission and repetition of beds by faulting both in wells and in outcrop, and the speaker has been unable to find in the literature any adequate discussion of the problem. The most glaring oversight in the past has been failure to recognize the importance of ground slope on repetition and omission. While the discussion applies principally to strike faults, it would also be appropriate for oblique faults. The problem is simple in vertical holes, for reverse faults repeat and normal faults omit section, except, where beds dip steeper than the fault, the opposite takes place. In outcrop the effects are more complex due to the presence of ground slope. Factors influencing the results are the direction and amount of dip of (1) the fault, (2) the beds, (3) the ground slope, and (4) the kind of the fault (normal or reverse). For any fault, either repetition or omission can occur at the surface depending on the ground slope. Thus, it can not be determined from repetition or omission alone whether a fault is normal or reverse in well or outcrop. An illustration is shown classifying the twelve possibilities based on the location of the ground surface with respect to the angle formed by the intersection of the beds with the fault. The classification fails in the case of folded and inverted beds, variations in ground slope beyond the limits of the classification, and in places in the case of absolutely vertical or horizontal beds or faults. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2775------------
Zero Divisors Among Digraphs

A digraph C is called a zero divisor if there exist non-isomorphic digraphs A and B for which \({A \times C \cong B \times C}\) , where the operation is the direct product. In other words, C being a zero divisor means that cancellation property \({A \times C \cong B \times C \Rightarrow A \cong B}\) fails. Lovasz proved that C is a zero divisor if and only if it admits a homomorphism into a disjoint union of directed cycles of prime lengths.Thus any digraph C that is homomorphically equivalent to a directed cycle (or path) is a zero divisor. Given such a zero divisor C and an arbitrary digraph A, we present a method of computing all solutions X to the digraph equation \({A \times C \cong X \times C}\) .
A soluble peroxidase in heart and skeletal muscle of rat and mouse.

Several peroxidase isozymes have been demonstrated in the 0.25 M sucrose-soluble portion of mouse and rat heart and skeletal muscle. Isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel was used to show that the peroxidatic activity is not due to hemoglobin, catalase, or cytochrome c. No true peroxidase activity was detected in either the soluble or insoluble fraction of mouse liver, kidney, brain, spleen, or lung.
Precision Phase Meter

A precision electromechanical phase meter has been developed to record slow, continuous phase variations often encountered in radio-propagation research. The phase meter will follow phase variations up to several complete cycles unambiguously and small phase variations as fast as 1 cps.
Inhibition of polystyrene ignition by tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate and dicumyl peroxide

The first pyrolysis products evolved from polystyrene which contains bromine additive alone are three to seven times richer in bromine than the original plastic. This initial burst is thought to inhibit the ignition. The addition of dicumyl peroxide increases the inhibition still more. It has been suggested that this occurs because the peroxide concentrates the evolution of bromine into some particularly crucial period where it can poison the ignition still more. Hindersinn, however, attributed the effect of peroxide to its degradation of the hot polymer. The polymer appears more flame resistant by most test methods because its melt is more fluid and drips more easily. This paper shows that the peroxide has little effect on the evolution of bromine, supporting Hindersinn's views.
Use of floating zone melting technique for the growth of niobium bicrystals

Abstract A method of growing bicrystals of high melting point bcc metals using a floating zone technique is described. The method utilizes a special seeding procedure in which a Y-shaped seed for the bicrystal is made from a partially split single crystal. Large niobium bicrystals of specified orientations (0.63 cm in diameter and over 10 cm in length) have been grown by this method.
Who Really Pays for Medicaid: Intended and Unintended Consequences of the Matching Grant

The goal of the Medicaid intergovernmental matching grant is to stimulate state spending while achieving some level of beneficiary and taxpayer equity. This study uses the Current Population Survey...
An ecdysterone-responsive puff site in Drosophila contains a cluster of seven differentially regulated genes

We have determined the molecular organization of an ecdysterone-responsive puff site in Drosophila melanogaster. The 71E puff site contains a tightly linked cluster of at least seven genes within a neighborhood of 10 × 103 base-pairs. All the genes are expressed in a tissue-specific manner in either the larval or the prepupal salivary gland. However, these genes can be divided into two groups on the basis of their temporal pattern of transcription. Six of the genes are expressed only in prepupal salivary glands and are arranged as three divergently transcribed pairs. Nestled within this region is one gene expressed primarily in late third-instar salivary glands. We conclude that this developmentally complex puff site contains six members of the ecdysterone-induced “late”-gene set and one member of the ecdysterone-regulated “intermolt”-gene set. Additional complexity is found at the transcript level: a heterogeneously sized population of RNA molecules arises from each of the seven genes.
The eggshell of the cherry fly Rhagoletis cerasi.

One of the major pests in Greek cherry orchards is the cherry fly Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera: Tephritidae). In order to complete our comparative work on the chorion assembly of other representatives of the fruit flies (e.g. Ceratitis capitata and Dacus oleae) we studied eggshell morphogenesis in the cherry fly. The oocyte is surrounded by several distinct layers which are produced during choriogenesis. The eggshell consists of the vitelline membrane, a fibrous layer of possible water-proofing function, an innermost chorionic layer, endochorionic and exochorionic layers. The endochorion shows a branched configuration with irregular cavities, and the exochorion consists of inner and outer layers for better embryo protection. At the anterior region of the follicle, the hexagonal borders of the follicle cells are created by endochorionic material, covered by both inner and outer exochorion. This area resembles the D. melanogaster chorionic appendages and therefore can serve for plastron respiration. The structural results support the phylogenetic relationships among the tephritids (Rhagoletis is closer to Ceratitis than Dacus). The presence of peroxidase in the endochorion, detected by diaminobenzidine, is consistent with the eggshell hardening at the end of choriogenesis, following the same pattern with the other fruit flies studied so far. Two major chorionic proteins are found both in R. cerasi and in C. capitata and therefore general conclusions can be drawn from this study, concerning the pattern of choriogenesis, which all dipteran insects follow, in order to create a resistant and functional eggshell, and the high conservation of the proteinaceous components of the chorion among species in the order.
Analysis of an algorithm for distributed recognition and accountability

Computer and network systems are vulnerable to attacks. Abandoning the existing huge infrastructure of possibly-insecure computer and network systems is impossible, and replacing them by totally secure systems may not be feasible or cost effective. A common element in many attacks is that a single user will often attempt to intrude upon multiple resources throughout a network. Detecting the attack can become significantly easier by compiling and integrating evidence of such intrusion attempts across the network rather than attempting to assess the situation from the vantage point of only a single host. To solve this problem, we suggest an approach for distributed recognition and accountability (DRA), which consists of algorithms which “process”, at a central location, distributed and asynchronous “reports” generated by computers (or a subset thereof) throughout the network. Our highest-priority objectives are to observe ways by which an individual moves around in a network of computers, including changing user names to possibly hide his/her true identity, and to associate all activities of multiple instances of the same individual to the same networkwide user. We present the DRA algorithm and a sketch of its proof under an initial set of simplifying albeit realistic assumptions. Later, we relax these assumptions to accommodate pragmatic aspects such as missing or delayed “reports”, clock skew, tampered “reports”, etc. We believe that such algorithms will have widespread applications in the future, particularly in intrusion-detection systems.
Crystallography of a Photocycle Intermediate

In their report “Energy transduction on the nanosecond time scale: Early structural events in a xanthopsin photocycle” (20 Mar., p. 1946), Benjamin Perman et al . discuss how proteins change when light energy is converted into a chemical signal in a halophilic phototrophic bacterium ([1][1]). It
Symptom Complex is Associated with Transplant Coronary Artery Disease and Sudden Death/Resuscitated Sudden Death in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients

Background Transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD) is a common sequela of heart transplantation. Symptom complexes associated with TCAD have not been well described. The purpose of this study was to determine if somatic complaints are associated with TCAD in pediatric heart transplant recipients. Methods We reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent heart transplantation at our institution from November 1984 to December 2000. TCAD was defined as any interval narrowing of coronary arteries by angiography since the previous study or at least 50% luminal obstruction of 1 or more coronary arteries by histologic examination of explanted or autopsied hearts. Results Ninety-nine patients received heart transplants, and follow-up data were available in 80. Sixty-six patients met study criteria. Complaints of abdominal (82%), chest (45%), abdominal and chest (27%), and arm (9%) pain were made by 22 (33%) of 66 patients, and TCAD was present in 27 (41%). Of the 22 patients with pain, TCAD was present in 18, for a positive predictive value of 82% (95% confidence interval [CI] 60%–95%). The relative risk of TCAD being present in patients with a history of pain was 4 times that of patients without pain (p Conclusions The symptom complex of abdominal, chest and/or arm pain is strongly associated with the presence of TCAD and sudden death or resuscitated sudden death in pediatric heart transplant recipients.
Association for Cultural Equity

ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURAL EQUITY, http://www.culturalequity.org/index.php “It still remains for us to learn how we can put our magnificent mass communications technology at the service of each and e...
Distribution of projection angles for single-axis-tilt electron microscope tomography of extended thin planar specimens

SUMMARY An optimized distribution of tilt angles for tomography of specimens of non-circular cross-section is derived and tested with reconstructions of a phantom model.
Down‐Regulation of Protein Kinase C by Parathyroid Hormone and Mezerein Differentially Modulates cAMP Production and Phosphate Transport in Opossum Kidney Cells

We examined the effects of prolonged exposure to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the protein kinase C (PKC) activator mezerein (MEZ) on cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production, PKC activity, and Na 1 dependent phosphate (Na/Pi) transport in an opossum kidney cell line (OK/E). A 5 minute exposure to PTH stimulated, whil ea6h incubation reduced, cAMP production. Na/Pi transport was maximally inhibited under desensitizing conditions and was not affected by reintroduction of the hormone. MEZ pretreatment (6 h) enhanced PTH-, cholera toxin (CTX)-, and forskolin (FSK)-stimulated cAMP production, suggesting enhanced Gsa coupling and increased adenylyl cyclase activity. However, PKA- and PKC-dependent regulation of Na/Pi were blocked in MEZ-treated cells. The PTH-induced decrease in cAMP production was associated with a reduction in membrane-associated PKC activity while MEZ-induced increases in cAMP production were accompanied by decreases in membrane and cytosolic PKC activity. Enhanced cAMP production was not accompanied by significant changes in PTH/PTH related peptide (PTHrP) receptor affinity or number, nor was the loss of Na/Pi transport regulation associated with changes in PKA activity. The results indicate that down-regulation of PKC by PTH or MEZ differentially modulates cAMP production and regulation of Na/Pi transport. The distinct effects of PTH and MEZ on PKC activity suggest that agonist-specific activation and/or down-regulation of PKC isozyme(s) may be involved in the observed changes in cAMP production and Na/Pi transport. (J Bone Miner Res 1997;12:1223‐1230)
A Weighting Analogue to Pair Matching in Propensity Score Analysis

Propensity score (PS) matching is widely used for studying treatment effects in observational studies. This article proposes the method of matching weights (MWs) as an analog to one-to-one pair matching without replacement on the PS with a caliper. Compared with pair matching, the proposed method offers more efficient estimation, more accurate variance calculation, better balance, and simpler asymptotic analysis. A statistical test for the misspecification of the PS model is proposed for balance checking purposes. An augmented version of the MW estimator is developed that has the double robust property, that is, the estimator is consistent, if either the outcome model or the PS model is correct. The proposed method is studied in simulations and illustrated through a real data example.
Fact or speculation? How a feminist perspective can help students understand what archaeologists know and why they think they know it

Si somos serios respecto la importancia de la educacion publica y la comunicacion, entonces necesitamos considerar la pedagogia de la arqueologia. Ensenar a los universitarios sobre arqueologia tendra mas exito cuando los temas sobre metodo, teoria, y etica se senalan como aspectos integrados y centrales de la practica arqueologa. Tomando ejemplos de mi experiencia en la ensenanza en varias instituciones academicas norteamericanas, yo senalo como la investigacion inspirada por el feminismo sirve como un metodo pedagogico practico para ensenar a los estudiantes las realidades del diseno de investigacion, el uso de multiples lineas de evidencia, y verificacin de las interpretaciones.
Fetal tracheal occlusion in the rat model of nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia: tracheal occlusion reverses the arterial structural abnormality.

Abstract Background/Purpose: The high mortality rate of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is ascribed generally to pulmonary hypoplasia and persistent pulmonary hypertension characterized by associated pulmonary arterial structural changes. Prenatal tracheal occlusion (TO) accelerates lung growth, but the effect of TO on pulmonary arterial structure in CDH has not been well defined. The authors hypothesized that TO could reverse the pulmonary arterial structural changes observed in CDH. To address this hypothesis, we utilized the nitrofen-induced rat model of CDH to examine the effect of TO on pulmonary arterial morphology of CDH lungs. Methods: Left-sided CDH was induced by administering 100 mg of nitrofen to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats on day 9 of gestation. TO was performed on day 19, and the fetuses were harvested on day 21.5 of gestation. After the ductus arteriosus was ligated, the pulmonary arteries were injected with a barium-gelatin mixture, and the lungs were inflation fixed. Coronal sections of the lungs were stained with elastin van Gieson. External diameter (ED), internal diameter (ID), and medial and adventitial wall thickness of the pulmonary arteries were measured using a computer image analyzer, and the percent medial thickness (%MT) and adventitial thickness (%AT) were calculated. The lungs from nitrofen-exposed fetuses with left-sided CDH (CDH group), trachea-occluded left-sided CDH (CDH+TO group), non-CDH (non-CDH group), and normal fetuses (normal group) were compared. Results: The %MT was significantly increased in all sizes of arteries in CDH compared with non-CDH and normal groups ( P P P P P Conclusions: TO in hypoplastic CDH lung can reverse the pulmonary arterial structural changes that are seen in the nitrofen-induced fetal rat model of CDH. These data suggest that TO may reduce pulmonary vascular reactivity, and the risk of postnatal persistent pulmonary hypertension observed in human neonates with severe CDH. J Pediatr Surg 36:839-845. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Work-Related Fatalities in the People's Republic of China

Over the past several decades, work-related fatal incident reporting in China has become faster, more publicly accessible and, hence, a potentially more valuable process in support of the decision-making and enforcement actions of the government and safety professionals. A study was conducted to examine the characteristics of work-related fatalities in the People's Republic of China (PRC) available from the State Work Accident Briefing (SWAB) system. Injury incident records related to industries other than coal mining were downloaded from the SWAB system (April 2001 to March 2003). The findings were compared with a previously published regional work fatality study in China, data from the U.S. Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, and estimates from the International Labor Organization (ILO). During the 2-year period, 1538 work-related events (7046 worker fatalities) were recorded. Collisions (25.6%), drownings (14.6%), and structural collapses (12.5%) were the most frequently reported fatal events. Colli...
TH‐C‐201C‐01: Quantification of Breast Density Using MRI and CT in Postmortem Breasts

Purpose: To compare breast density measurements from cone‐beam CT and breast MRI using a fuzzy C‐means clustering technique. Methods and Materials: Twenty pairs of post‐mortem breasts were scanned with MRI and cone‐beam CT. The cone‐beam CTsystem was constructed using a standard x‐ray tube a rotation stage and a flat panel detector. The imaging technique for CT was 80 kVp 0.16 mAs and 921 frames spanning 360 degrees. Each scan used a total of 147 mAs. MR images were acquired with an Aurora 1.5T dedicated breast MRIsystem. The MRI and CT data were processed with a fuzzy C‐means clustering technique. Six clusters were used to categorize the image gray levels into 6 different categories. The operator specified which clusters corresponding glandular and adipose by comparing the “clustered” images and the raw images. The images were then segmented into glandular and adipose regions. Results: Breast weight calculated using MRI (W MRI ) and CT (W CT ) image data were related to the measured weight (W S ) as W MRI = 0.89W S + 50 (R2=0.99) and W CT = 0.99W S −14 (R2=0.997) respectively. Breast density computed from CT (D CT ) was related to densities computed from MRI (D MRI ) as D MRI = 0.96D CT + 0.0009 (R2 = 0.98). Conclusion: Breast density measurements using cone‐beam CT and breast MRI were highly correlated.
Biological control of Oligonychus perseae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on avocado: I. evaluating release timings, recovery and efficacy of six commercially available phytoseiids

Abstract Releases of six different species of phytoseiid mites (Galendromus annectens, G. helveolus, G. pilosus, G. occidentalis, Neoseiulus californicus, and Typhlodromus rickeri) at a rate of 2000 per tree were evaluated for their ability to control Oligonychus perseae on avocados in California. We tested two different release timings (early and late) to determine the effect of prey density on predator establishment rates, predator population growth, and suppression of O. perseae. The early release was initiated when 25% of sampled leaves were infested with one or more adult O. perseae. We failed to recover predators four weeks after this release. A second early release was subsequently made when 75% of sampled leaves were infested with one or more adult O. perseae. Five out of six phytoseiid species were recovered following this release (G. pilosus did not establish). Densities of G. helveolus and N. californicus increased following the second early release and peaked 8 and 10 weeks post release, respe...
Early Evidence of Acheulean Settlement in Northwestern Europe - La Noira Site, a 700 000 Year-Old Occupation in the Center of France

The human settlement of Europe during Pleistocene times was sporadic and several stages have been recognized, both from paleaoanthropological and archaeological records. If the first phase of hominin occupation (as early as 1.4 Ma) seems mainly restricted to the southern part of the continent, the second phase, characterized by specific lithic tools (handaxes), is linked to Acheulean settlements and to the emergence of Homo heidelbergensis, the ancestor of Neanderthals. This phase reached northwestern Europe and is documented in numerous sites in Germany, Great Britain and northern France, generally after 600 ka. At la Noira (Brinay, Central France), the Middle Pleistocene alluvial formation of the Cher River covers an archaeological level associated with a slope deposit (diamicton). The lithic assemblage from this level includes Large Cutting Tools (LCTs), flakes and cores, associated with numerous millstone slabs. The lithic series is classified as Acheulean on the basis of both technological and typological analyses. Cryoturbation features indicate that the slope deposits and associated archaeological level were strongly frozen and disturbed after hominin occupation and before fluvial deposition. Eight sediment samples were dated by the electron spin resonance (ESR) method and the weighted average age obtained for the fluvial sands overlying the slope deposits is 665±55 ka. This age is older than previous chronological data placing the first European Acheulean assemblages north of 45th parallel north at around 500 ka and modifies our current vision of the initial peopling of northern Europe. Acheulean settlements are older than previously assumed and the oldest evidences are not only located in southern Europe. La Noira is the oldest evidence of Acheulean presence in north-western Europe and attests to the possibility of pioneering phases of Acheulean settlement which would have taken place on a Mode 1-type substratum as early as 700 ka. The lithic assemblage from la Noira thus provides behavioral and technological data on early Acheulean occupation in Europe and contributes to our understanding of the diffusion of this tradition.