cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
1725-P: Viral Insulins as Agonists and Antagonists on Insulin/IGF-1 Receptors

Recently, we identified four insulin/IGF-1 like peptides (VILPs) in the sequence of viruses belonging to the Iridoviridae family. These VILPs show up to 50% homology with the sequence of the human insulin/IGF-1. Moreover, the predicted tertiary structures and major receptor binding residues are conserved between the VILPs and insulin/IGF-1. Although these viruses are known to infect primarily fish, sequences of VILPs have been found in human blood and feces. VILPs can interact with the human and murine insulin and IGF-1 receptors and induce the activation of their downstream signaling. Functionally, VILPs are able to induce glucose uptake and cell proliferation. VILPs can be synthesized as a single-chain (SC) or double-chain (DC) peptides, i.e., more IGF-1 like or more insulin like structures. In the present study, we show that SC and DC forms of lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV-1) VILP interact differently with the human insulin and IGF-1 receptor. Competition binding assay reveals that SC is more potent than DC in binding to the IGF-1 receptor. In vivo, following i.p. injection in mice both LCDV-1 SC and DC produced similar mild decreases in blood glucose compared to insulin, even at a 166-fold excess. In vitro, however, DC LCDV1-VILP acts as a weak agonist to stimulation of IGF1R, whereas SC LCDV-VILP serves as a strong antagonism effect on the IGF-1 receptor. Thus, the activation of the IGF1R by IGF-1 is strongly repressed by the SC LCDV-1 VILP, even at equal concentrations. This antagonistic action of SC VILP is restricted to the IGF1R and does not affect insulin receptor. As a functional consequence of IGF1R blockade, SC LCDV-1 VILP inhibits IGF-1 stimulated migration of a cervical cancer cell line. In summary, we have shown that SC VILP may provide a novel inhibitor of IGF1R signaling and IGF-1 action on tumor cell migration, with minimal effects on glucose metabolism, thus providing a potentially unique reagent for treatment of IGF-1 sensitive tumors. Disclosure F. Moreau: None. B. Brandao: None. C. Cederquist: None. T.M. Batista: None. R. DiMarchi: Employee; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc. E. Altindis: None. C. Kahn: Advisory Panel; Self; ERX Pharmaceuticals, Kaleido Biosciences. Consultant; Self; AntriaBio, Flagship Pioneering, Sana-Cobalt.
Formulating and Solving Routing Problems on Quantum Computers

The determination of vehicle routes fulfilling connectivity, time, and operational constraints is a well-studied combinatorial optimization problem. The NP-hard complexity of vehicle routing problems has fostered the adoption of tailored exact approaches, matheuristics, and metaheuristics on classical computing devices. The ongoing evolution of quantum computing hardware and the recent advances of quantum algorithms (i.e., VQE, QAOA, and ADMM) for mathematical programming make decision-making for routing problems an avenue of research worthwhile to be explored on quantum devices. In this article, we propose several mathematical formulations for inventory routing cast as vehicle routing with time windows and comment on their strengths and weaknesses. The optimization models are compared from a quantum computing perspective, specifically with metrics to evaluate the difficulty in solving the underlying quadratic unconstrained binary optimization problems. Finally, the solutions obtained on simulated quantum devices demonstrate the relative benefits of different algorithms and their robustness when put into practice.
A hybrid Christian identity in Philippians 1:15–18

There have been various studies on the passage of Philippians 1:15–18 but there have been few studies on a hybrid aspect of Christian identity implicated in the passage. The aim of the study was to reveal a hybrid aspect of the passage. The socio-historical setting for the study was the Greco-Roman period. For this study, I employed rhetorical criticism, a socio-linguistic approach and an anthropological linguistic approach to the passage, as well as the analysis of the socio-historical and cultural background of the passage. As a result, I found that Paul, who retained his Jewish identity but embraced Christian identity, tried to suggest such a new kind of identity for the intended audience and their community. In this article, I argued that Paul as a hybrid personality urged the Christian community in Philippi to have distinguished Christian habitus and field in Philippians 1:15–18. In particular, Paul persuaded his intended audience or readers to acknowledge and accept even those preachers who had questionable intentions into their Christian community. Such an inclusive attitude was to make a clear distinction between the community and their traditional Greco-Roman socio-cultural background. Contribution: The research on Philippians 1:15–18 reveals a hybrid aspect of Christian identity implicated in the passage. This research would contribute to the biblical studies of the Hervormde Teologiese Studies journal through its rhetorical, socio-linguistic and anthropological approach to the biblical passage of Philippians 1:15–18.
Algorithm for flow of highly-concentrated emulsions through a narrow constriction

Abstract A multipole-accelerated 3D boundary-integral algorithm is developed to model pressure-driven flow of a highly-concentrated emulsion of many deformable drops through a periodic channel with tight constrictions. The drops are monodisperse, free from surfactant, and the Reynolds number is small for Stokes equations to apply. The channel surface consists of four solid panels: front and back parallel to each other, and band-like top and bottom panels with an arbitrary profile. The algorithm is for arbitrary channel aspect ratios, but the results are obtained for extreme cases, when the channel depth (front-back distance) is the same as the minimum channel height and both can be much smaller than the non-deformed drop diameter, making the drops flow as a monolayer. Strong hydrodynamic interactions (especially, drop-wall) necessitate very high surface resolutions combined with novel desingularization tools for the boundary integrals. Multipole acceleration gives, at least, two orders of magnitude gain over direct summations and facilitates long-time simulations, with many drop rearrangements. Examples for homoviscous emulsions with 40-92 drops in two types of channels at 80-90% drop volume fractions and different capillary numbers demonstrate single-file drop motion intermittent with pairs or triplets of drops in the constriction. Such squeezing interactions can result in extreme drop elongations, but are still not sufficient to promote breakup for the channel geometries, capillary numbers and drop confinements considered. Integral properties (the entire drop-phase and constriction flow velocities) are also analyzed.
Transient perceptual enhancements resulting from selective shifts of exogenous attention in the central fovea

Summary Exogenous attention, a powerful adaptive tool that quickly and involuntarily orients processing resources to salient stimuli, has traditionally been studied in the lower-resolution parafoveal and peripheral visual field. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 It is not known whether and how it operates across the 1° central fovea where visual resolution peaks. 5 , 6 Here we investigated the dynamics of exogenous attention in the foveola. To circumvent the challenges posed by fixational eye movements at this scale, we used high-precision eye-tracking and gaze-contingent display control for retinal stabilization. 7 High-acuity stimuli were briefly presented foveally at varying delays following an exogenous cue. Attended and unattended locations were just a few arcminutes away from the preferred locus of fixation. Our results show that for short temporal delays, observers’ ability to discriminate fine detail is enhanced at the cued location. This enhancement is highly localized and does not extend to the nearby locations only 16′ away. On a longer timescale, instead, we report an inverse effect: paradoxically, acuity is sharper at the unattended locations, resembling the phenomenon of inhibition of return at much larger eccentricities. 8 , 9 , 10 Although exogenous attention represents a mechanism for low-cost monitoring of the environment in the extrafoveal space, these findings show that, in the foveola, it transiently modulates vision of detail with a high degree of resolution. Together with inhibition of return, it may aid visual exploration of complex foveal stimuli. 11
Posterior Surgical Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Background Cervical spondylosis is now recognised as the leading cause of myelopathy and spinal cord dysfunction worldwide. Chronic spinal cord compression results in chronic inflammation, cellular apoptosis, and microvacular insufficiency, which are thought to the biologic basis for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).
Control of Soft Switching Solid State Transformer based on Lyapunov Energy Function for Three-phase AC-AC Power Conversion

The operation and control for a three-phase to three phase grid-connected solid state soft switching transformer based on Lyapunov energy function has been presented in this paper. Soft switching solid state transformer has been reported in various literature for dc−ac, dc−dc and also ac − ac applications. The overall structure of the converter is based on current source inverter type of topology with an intermediate high frequency transformer, thereby making it immensely difficult to control and operate optimally. In this paper, possibility of controlling such a converter based on Lyapunov energy function has been explored for power transfer between two points in an ac power system without intermediate dc link. Lyapunov energy function based control architecture provides global stability and better tracking performance over traditional control architectures. The proposed control architecture is verified via computer simulations based on MATLAB/Simulink and PLECS domain and various case study results are obtained to verify its efficacy.
Emotions, History of

While historians have long considered the role of emotions in the past, for example in biographies, the explicit study of past emotions and emotional standards has only been studied since 1980. The main emphasis in this field rests on determining points of change in emotional values, and explaining why they occur and what impact they have on individual behaviors and social institutions. Emotions history interacts strongly with anthropological and sociological study. While major areas of inquiry remain open (particularly in the history of societies other than Western Europe and the USA), important findings have focused on key shifts in emotional standards during the eighteenth century (for example, the rise of new definitions and valuations of love) and also during the second quarter of the twentieth century (in campaigns for a reduction of intensity in such emotions as grief, anger, and even love). Exploring the consequences of these changes, not only in personal but also in political life, and embellishing analysis through such additional techniques as comparative study, offer important channels for future research.
The size of the singular set in mean curvature flow of mean-convex sets

In this paper, we study the singularities that form when a hypersurface of positive mean curvature moves with a velocity that is equal at each point to the mean curvature of the surface at that point. It is most convenient to describe the results in terms of the level set flow (also called “biggest flow” [I2]) of Chen-Giga-Goto [CGG] and Evans-Spruck [ES]. Under the level set flow, any closed set K in R generates a one-parameter family of closed sets Ft(K) (t ≥ 0) with F0(K) = K. If the boundary of K is a smooth compact hypersurface, then so is the boundary of Ft(K) for t in some interval [0, ), and for such t’s the evolution coincides with motion by mean-curvature as defined classically by partial differential equations and differential geometry (as in [H1]). However, if K is compact, then the boundary of Ft(K) will necessarily become singular at some finite time. Our goal is to show that the singular sets are necessarily quite small. This we do provided the initial set K is compact and mean-convex in the sense that Ft(K) ⊂ interior(K) for all t > 0. In case M = ∂K is a smooth hypersurface, we have the following equivalent characterization of mean-convexity: K is mean-convex if and only if the mean-curvature of M with respect to the inward unit normal is everywhere non-negative. Given a compact set K, let K be the region in spacetime swept out by the Ft(K): K = {(x, t) ∈ R ×R : t ≥ 0, x ∈ Ft(K)}. (∗) A point X = (x, t) in the boundary of K is called a regular point if (1) X has a neighborhood in which K is a smooth manifold-with-boundary, and (2) the tangent plane to ∂K at X is not horizontal (i.e., is not R × [0]). Note that if X = (x, t) is a regular point, then in a neighborhood of x, Ft(K) is a smooth manifold-with-boundary in R. A point X = (x, t) in ∂K with t > 0 that is not a regular point is called a singular point.
Counterpart Theory Vindicated: A Reply to Merricks

The paper shows - contra what has been argued by Trenton Merricks - that counterpart theory, when conjoined with composition as identity, does not entail mereological essentialism. What Merricks's argument overlooks is that contingent identity is but one of the effects of grounding identity across possible worlds on similarity.
Isolation, Culture, and Fermentation Characteristics of Selenomonas ruminantium var. bryanti var. n. from the Rumen of Sheep

Large forms of Selenomonas sp. were isolated from the sheep rumen on a rumen fluid-glucose-agar medium by using a differential centrifugation technique to purify the inoculum. The cells from the six isolated strains were curved, gram-negative, strictly anaerobic crescents, and rapidly motile by flagella attached to the concave side of the cell. One or more of the volatile fatty acids were essential for growth. None of the strains produced indole or reduced nitrate. All strains grew on fructose, glucose, mannose, cellobiose, maltose, sucrose, and salicin. Fermentation end products from glucose were mainly lactate, acetate, propionate, and formate. Small amounts of succinate were formed. The final pH in a glucose medium ranged between 4.3 and 4.5. On the basis of the sugar fermentation characteristics and the capacity to form hydrogen sulfide from cysteine, it is suggested that one of the strains is a large form of Selenomonas ruminantium. The other five strains are designated S. ruminantium var. bryanti, var. n.
Visual Revelations: When Nothing Is Not Zero

A true saga of missing data, adequate yearly progress, and a Memphis charter school One of the most vexing problems in all of school evaluation is the issue of missing data. This manifests itself i...
Altered patterns of dynorphin immunoreactivity suggest mossy fiber reorganization in human hippocampal epilepsy

Dynorphin A(1–17), an opioid peptide that is normally present in the hippocampal mossy fiber system, was localized immunocytochemically in the hippocampal formation of control autopsy and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) specimens. In control tissue, dynorphin-like immunoreactive (Dyn- IR) structures were confined to the mossy fiber path and were most highly concentrated in the polymorph (hilar) region of the dentate gyrus. Very few Dyn-IR structures were present in the molecular and granule cell layers of the dentate gyrus. In contrast, in all TLE specimens, Dyn-IR elements were present in these layers. The extent of aberrant staining varied among the TLE specimens, and 2 major patterns were observed. The first was a relatively wide band of reaction product in the inner one-third to one-fourth of the molecular layer (8 cases), and the second was a more limited distribution of immunoreactive fibers and presumptive terminals in the granule cell and immediately adjacent supragranular regions (2 cases). The extent of aberrant Dyn-IR structures appeared to be related to the amount of cell loss in the polymorph and CA3 fields and to dispersion of the granule cell somata. Specimens processed with the Timm's sulfide silver method for heavy metals provided independent evidence for the distribution of mossy fibers. In both control and TLE specimens, the patterns of labeling were virtually identical to those of dynorphin localization. These findings suggest that sprouting of mossy fibers or their axon collaterals has occurred in hippocampal epilepsy and that the reorganized fibers contain at least one of the neuropeptides that are normally present in this system. Such fibers could form recurrent excitatory circuits and contribute to synchronous firing and epileptiform activity, as suggested in studies of experimental models of epilepsy.
A universal repository architecture using the OMG UML and MOF

This paper proposes an architecture for a universal object repository for enterprise metadata management that conforms to two key principles: Integration with distributed object/component architectures such as Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), Enterprise Java Beans (EJB) and Component Object Model (COM). Integration with metamodeling architectures and modeling standards defined in the object management group (OMG) meta object facility (MOF) and unified modeling language (UML) specifications. A summary of industry experience in integrating distributed objects and modeling technologies is also provided.
Arginine in Asthma and Lung Inflammation

Asthma, a complex chronic inflammatory pulmonary disorder, is on the rise despite intense ongoing research underscoring the need for new scientific inquiry. Using global microarray analysis, we recently discovered that asthmatic responses involve metabolism of arginine by arginase. We found that the cationic amino acid transporter (CAT)2, arginase I, and arginase II were particularly prominent among the allergen-induced gene transcripts. These genes are key regulators of critical processes associated with asthma, including airway tone, cell hyperplasia, and collagen deposition, respectively. Recent data suggest that arginase induction is not just a marker of allergic airway responses, but that arginase is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple aspects of disease. This review focuses on the current body of knowledge on L-arginine metabolism in asthma.
Dynamics of a system for migration from proliferative to dormant status

The behavior of a mathematical system for a population with two classifications, proliferative and dormant, is explored. The system exhibits a one-dimensional manifold of nonisolated steady states. Phase plane trajectories are calculated and analyzed, and a convergent power series solution is derived, illustrating the complexity inherent when even a basic nonlinearity is introduced into an ODE system. An application of this fundamental system toward the differentiation of neural progenitor cells is then presented, illustrating close agreement with the results of the full ODE system for the physical process.
Neuroendocrine and reproductive effects of contemporary-use pesticides.

Work in our laboratory has focused on the hypothesis that certain environmental contaminants will interfere with reproductive function because they disrupt the neuroendocrine regulation of gonadal ...
Effect of morphology on biaxial stress rupture of polyethylene

The relationship between biaxial stress-rupture behavior and polymer morphology has been investigated for a series of compression-molded disks of linear polyethylene. Rupture data were obtained over a range of temperatures on polymers of several melt indices that had been solidified at two rates. Two failure mechanisms were observed: one at high stress levels, which was ductile; the other at low stress levels, which was brittle. The stress level at which the mechanism changed from ductile to brittle decreased as the measurement temperature increased, as the melt index of the polymer increased, and as the rate or solidification decreased. It was shown that initial pressurization of the disks causes the formation of microscopic surface fissures along spherulite boundaries as well as within individual spherulites. The extensive growth of these fissures at high stress levels sufficiently raises the stress on the sound portions of the polymer to cause large-scale macroscopic drawing of the spherulites. At low stress levels the initially formed fissures grow by a localized drawing process at their ends. A macroscopic crack forms by a chance coalescence of a number of individually growing fissures. This process is more rapid in disks of polymer that form large spherulites when cooled slowly from the melt. The spherulite size in disks of polymer of low melt index is much smaller under the same conditions of cooling and is less sensitive to the cooling rate than in disks of polymer of high melt index. Annealing of rapidly cooled disks whose microstructure contains relatively small spherulites reduces the stress at which the failure mechanism changes without appreciably altering the spherulite size. Oxidation of the polymer also reduces the transition stress.
Ecological impacts of lead mining on Ozark streams: toxicity of sediment and pore water.

Abstract We studied the toxicity of sediments downstream of lead–zinc mining areas in southeast Missouri, using chronic sediment toxicity tests with the amphipod, Hyalella azteca, and pore-water toxicity tests with the daphnid, Ceriodaphnia dubia. Tests conducted in 2002 documented reduced survival of amphipods in stream sediments collected near mining areas and reduced survival and reproduction of daphnids in most pore waters tested. Additional amphipod tests conducted in 2004 documented significant toxic effects of sediments from three streams downstream of mining areas: Strother Creek, West Fork Black River, and Bee Fork. Greatest toxicity occurred in sediments from a 6-km reach of upper Strother Creek, but significant toxic effects occurred in sediments collected at least 14 km downstream of mining in all three watersheds. Toxic effects were significantly correlated with metal concentrations (nickel, zinc, cadmium, and lead) in sediments and pore waters and were generally consistent with predictions of metal toxicity risks based on sediment quality guidelines, although ammonia and manganese may also have contributed to toxicity at a few sites. Responses of amphipods in sediment toxicity tests were significantly correlated with characteristics of benthic invertebrate communities in study streams. These results indicate that toxicity of metals associated with sediments contributes to adverse ecological effects in streams draining the Viburnum Trend mining district.
Myosin VIII associates with microtubule ends and together with actin plays a role in guiding plant cell division

Plant cells divide using the phragmoplast, a microtubule-based structure that directs vesicles secretion to the nascent cell plate. The phragmoplast forms at the cell center and expands to reach a specified site at the cell periphery, tens or hundreds of microns distant. The mechanism responsible for guiding the phragmoplast remains largely unknown. Here, using both moss and tobacco, we show that myosin VIII associates with the ends of phragmoplast microtubules and together with actin plays a role in guiding phragmoplast expansion to the cortical division site. Our data lead to a model whereby myosin VIII links phragmoplast microtubules to the cortical division site via actin filaments. Myosin VIII's motor activity along actin provides a molecular mechanism for steering phragmoplast expansion.
HLA-G upregulation in pre-malignant and malignant lesions of the gastrointestinal tract

HLA-G belongs to the nonclassical MHC class Ib group of molecules and has been implicated in mediating immune-responsiveness in various cancerous and non-cancerous cell types. We have examined HLA-G expression in a number of human gastrointestinal malignancies, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, ampullary cancer, biliary cancer, and colorectal cancer by immunolabeling analysis. We used indices of 75% (diffuse) to subclassify lesions based on percentage of positive cell labeling. Across all cancer subtypes, 52–79% of lesions demonstrated expression of HLA-G, with up to 33% of lesions demonstrating diffuse (>75%) expression. In addition, we utilized the neoplastic progression model of colorectal cancer to evaluate HLA-G protein expression in normal colon, tubulovillous adenomas, invasive cancer, and liver metastases arising from colorectal cancer. Focal HLA-G expression was detected in regions of normal colon adjacent to sites of adenomatous and cancerous lesions, as well as in all stages of cancer progression. Overall, the percentage of diffusely (>75%) labeled lesions appeared increased in preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions, as compared to normal colon. Specifically, tubulovillous adnenomas demonstrated pronounced diffuse labeling in 58% of lesions examined. No correlation with HLA-G expression and CD4+ or CD8+ T cells was identified. We propose that HLA-G expression is upregulated in a large percentage of gastrointestinal lesions and may serve to mediate immuneresponsiveness in certain instances.
Defining and Determining Medical Necessity in Medicaid Managed Care

OBJECTIVES: In 2013, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a policy statement calling for pediatricians to be informed about the need for specific pediatric medical necessity language because children deserve “the intent embedded in Medicaid.” This study aims to explore the definitions and determinations of medical necessity in Medicaid Managed Care (MMC), document the relevant language used throughout Medicaid, and investigate whether the federal standard of medical necessity for children is replicated in related state documents. METHODS: We conducted a desk review of state statutes, model MMC contracts, and 2 provider manuals per state, for 33 states with a full-risk MMC model. RESULTS: The federal “to correct and ameliorate” standard was replicated in 100% of state regulations, 72% of MMC model contracts ( n = 13 of 18 MMC model contracts available online), and 54% of provider manuals ( n = 30 of 56 available and sampled online). Only 9 states had an explicit “preventive” pediatric medical necessity standard in their state regulations that exemplified “the intent imbedded in Medicaid.” CONCLUSIONS: The federal medical necessity standard for children is not replicated consistently within MMC programs from the state, to health plans, to network providers. Although the majority of the documents reviewed included the standard, the presence of the standard decreased by almost half between state-level and network-provider-level regulations. Having a single, explicitly defined pediatric medical necessity definition replicated at all levels of the health system would reduce confusion and increase the ability of pediatricians to apply the standard more uniformly.
The case for extended nuclear reactor operation

Greenhouse gas emission is a mounting problem that threatens the future production of electricity from both coal and natural gas. In 2006, 70% of domestic electricity generation relied upon fossil fuels. Projections by the Energy Information Agency1 show U.S. demand for electricity increasing 30% to 40% by 2030. Today nuclear power is the largest source of non-greenhouse-gas emitting energy generation and will be an important source of energy production in the future. This paper considers potential construction of new plants as well as the long-term prospects of existing nuclear power plants in the United States.
Gaucher's disease in the presence of normal glucocerebrosidase activity.

Abstract We encountered an infant with clinical and histopathologic features of Gaucher's disease (infantile, type 2) with normal glucocerebrosidase (d-glucosyl- N -acylsphingosine glucohydrolase, E.C.3.2.1.45) activity. Biochemical analysis was performed on leukocytes, cultured skin fibroblasts, and liver. Normal activity of glucocerebrosidase previously has been reported in an older child with juvenile onset (type 3) Gaucher's disease and attributed to a deficiency of a sphingolipid activator protein. These rare cases illustrate and expand our concept of Gaucher's disease and may have both diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Coherent Backscatter Communications Using Ambient Transmitters and Passive Radar Processing

A method of communications is presented based on the backscatter modulation of terrestrial digital television signals by low-complexity tags. The modulation is sensed by receivers implementing passive coherent detection algorithms similar to those used in passive radar. This method enables shared use of the UHF television band for low-data-rate applications. Analyses and experiments suggest the feasibility of this technique but also highlight the unique challenges for designing such a system.
Dynamic Models for Patient Education

Patient education has become an integral part of effective dental treatment.1 Prop­ erly educated patients are eager for and capable of that cooperation which may make the .difference between success and failure in treatment.2 Visual aids have long been known and utilized by the dental profession.3 The dynamic model combines both visual and tactile sensation. By utilizing patient par­ ticipation with these sensory appeals, the dynamic model can become an ideal aid toward perception and understanding of complex dental procedures. “ The effects may be arrived at mathematically,” Bar­ rett4 has stated, “ but actual illustrations make the conditions most readily under­ standable.” T o this end three dynamic models were constructed which can be used to present to the patient many phases of occlusal equilibration or adjustment and can also be used as aids in presenting the etiology, course, prognosis and treatment5 of peri­ odontal disease. Models with elastic materials repre­ senting the periodontal membrane have been used heretofore in the study of changes within the periodontal membrane as a result of stress applied to the teeth. Schwartz6 constructed models using rub­ ber bands to represent the periodontal membrane. The author later used rubber dam as the elastic material. Sorrin (with the author’s collaboration) constructed a model, utilizing sponge rubber as the elastic, illustrating both tension and com­ pression, which the earlier models lacked, in order to study and demonstrate perio­ dontal membrane changes resulting from occlusal stress. Barrett* used polarized light with a special photoelastic material representing the periodontal membrane to visualize exact sites of compression and tension. All of the models described, or any models that ingenuity can devise, are of value. The three models to be described are chosen for their wide scope of useful­ ness, their simplicity, and because they illustrate how to use such models rather than which models to use. These models are easily constructed out of materials which are available in every dental office or which can be pur­ chased readily. They all represent a tooth or teeth, constructed of cardboard or balsa wood, attached with staples to the periodontal membrane which is made of rubber dam and which is also attached with its own staples to the alveolar socket.
Millimeter wave signal transmission in optical fibers

This paper provides a brief description of several techniques used to efficiently transport millimeter-wave signals over optical fiber. Transmission of millimeter-wave signals is demonstrated using resonant modulation of monolithic semiconductor lasers, feedforward optical modulation, and by stabilization of the mode-locked frequency of a passively mode- locked laser using an optoelectronic phase-locked loop.
A Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study of Electrochemically Grown ZnS Monolayers on Au(111)

The structure and chemical composition of electrosynthesized ZnS thin films on Au(111) substrates was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The films were grown by alternating underpotential deposition and oxidative adsorption cycles of S and Zn from solution precursors (electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy, EC-ALE). Oxidative adsorption of the first layer of S results in a ( × )R30° adlattice on Au(111). In the initial Zn monolayer, XPS indicates the presence of SO42- derived from the supporting electrolyte. The coadsorbed SO42- can be chemically or electrochemically displaced by H2S(aq) or HS(aq)-, leading to the formation of ZnS. Atomically resolved STM images show the ZnS/Au(111) monolayer to be 6-fold symmetric with an interatomic spacing of 0.37 ± 0.01 nm. The structure of the deposit on the micrometer scale was also investigated by STM. The first complete EC-ALE cycle results in the formation of nanocrystallites of ZnS randomly distributed across...
Social housing of rats: Life-span effects on reaction time, exploration, weight, and longevity

Sprague-Dawley rats were housed throughout their lives either in group cages or singly in standard laboratory cages. Locomotor activity was observed at selected ages and, in addition, operant conditioning procedures were used with an extensively trained subset of the animals to study reaction time and fixed ratio responding. The major effect of prolonged isolation was to induce timidity and inactivity during open field and emergence tests. Responding by isolates was depressed relative to socially-housed animals at 13 and 19 months of age although the higher levels of the social animals progressively declined during tests at 19 and 25 months. By comparison, neither housing condition nor age (7 to 25 months) systematically influenced the well-practiced operant responses (response rates, postreinforcement pauses, reaction times, foreperiod responses). A serendipitous finding was that isolated animals tended to die at earlier ages, an outcome that may be related to the fact that isolates also tended to weigh more throughout the experiment.
A new vortex scheme for viscous flow

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to suggest a new way to discretize the viscous term of the Navier-Stokes equations, when they are approximated by a vortex method. The idea is to approximate the vorticity by convolving it with a cutoff function. We then explicitly differentiate the cutoff function to approximate the second-order spatial derivatives in the viscous term. We prove stability for the heat equation and give error estimates for the heat and the Navier-Stokes equations.
Addiction, Dopamine, and the Molecular Mechanisms of Memory

We thank Pier Piazza, Eric Nestler, Charles O'Brien, Howard Eichenbaum, and Eric Kandel for their helpful comments and criticisms of earlier versions of the manuscript.
A radar-radiometer surface soil moisture retrieval algorithm for SMAP

A soil moisture retrieval algorithm is presented whereby both radar and radiometer measurements are used simultaneously in an optimization scheme to retrieve for surface soil moisture in the presence of vegetation. Further, using fine-resolution radar measurements, a disaggregated brightness temperature product at the radar resolution is developed to reconcile the spatial resolution discrepancy between the two measurements. Numerical simulations are performed to synthesize SMAP data, and then via the method of Simulated Annealing, optimization is accomplished to retrieve high resolution soil moisture.
Flow, stocking density and treatment against Polydora spp : Influences on nursery growth and mortality of the oysters Crassostrea virginica and C. ariakensis

Abstract Triploid Suminoe oysters, Crassostrea ariakensis, are currently being considered for culture on the mid Atlantic coast of the USA. Despite studies comparing the performance of C. ariakensis with the native oyster, Crassostrea virginica, at the grow-out stage, growth and mortality of C. ariakensis and C. virginica have not been compared during nursery rearing in upwellers. If, as in grow-out bags, triploid C. ariakensis in upwellers grow at significantly faster rates than diploid C. virginica, they may suffer food limitation in intensive nursery systems at flows and densities where diploid C. virginica do not. If a consequence of the rapid growth of C. ariakensis is a thinner shell with greater susceptibility to boring worms, it may require potentially stressful treatment against Polydora spp. These hypotheses were tested in an orthogonal experiment, done in fall 2003, in which triploid C. ariakensis and diploid C. virginica were grown in upwellers with high (11.34×10−3 m3 s−1) or low flow (3.56×10−3 m3 s−1), that were treated or untreated against Polydora spp. (by hypersaline dip and drying) and stocked at high or low densities. In the first 2 weeks of the experiment, during which both species grew rapidly, growth of C. ariakensis was up to seven times greater than C. virginica. This difference was reduced in subsequent weeks, when water temperature began to decrease and rates of growth of each species slowed. Contrary to expectation, neither species displayed sizeable reductions in growth at high as compared to low density. Mortality of C. ariakensis was, however, 1–2% greater at high than low density. C. virginica appeared more susceptible to decreased growth at low flow, although the effect of flow in this experiment was small. Both species suffered greatest mortality when previously treated against Polydora spp. The treatment was, however, effective in reducing infestation, to which C. virginica, contrary to expectation, appeared most susceptible. Thus, it appears that similar conditions are suitable for the culture of triploid C. ariakensis in upwellers as for diploid C. virginica.
Cortical, but not posterior subcapsular, cataract shows significant familial aggregation in an older population after adjustment for possible shared environmental factors.

Purpose To quantify the risk for age-related cortical cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC) associated with having an affected sibling after adjusting for known environmental and personal risk factors. Design Sibling cohort study. Participants Participants in the ongoing Salisbury Eye Evaluation (SEE) study (n = 321; mean age, 78.1±4.2 years) and their locally resident siblings (n = 453; mean age, 72.6±7.4 years) were recruited at the time of Rounds 3 and 4 of the SEE study. Intervention/testing methods Retroillumination photographs of the lens were graded for the presence of cortical cataract and PSC with the Wilmer grading system. The residual correlation between siblings' cataract grades was estimated after adjustment for a number of factors (age; gender; race; lifetime exposure to ultraviolet-B light; cigarette, alcohol, estrogen, and steroid use; serum antioxidants; history of diabetes; blood pressure; and body mass index) suspected to be associated with the presence of cataract. Results The average sibship size was 2.7 per family. Multivariate analysis revealed the magnitude of heritability (h 2 ) for cortical cataract to be 24% (95% CI, 6%–42%), whereas that for PSC was not statistically significant (h 2 4%; 95% CI, 0%–11%) after adjustment for the covariates. The model revealed that increasing age, female gender, a history of diabetes, and black race increased the odds of cortical cataract, whereas higher levels of provitamin A were protective. A history of diabetes and steroid use increased the odds for PSC. Conclusions This study is consistent with a significant genetic effect for age-related cortical cataract but not PSC.
Distal limb anomalies, Robin sequence, and deletions in 4q31-->qter.

Menko et al. reported on a patient with Robin sequence, a deficiency of the left forearm, and a deletion of 4q33{r_arrow}qter. Several relevant articles have not been cited. Sarda et al. summarized these and other data and reported hand malformations in 17 of 19 cases with del(4)(q31qtr), 4 of 4 cases with del(4)(q32qter), 4 of 6 cases with del(4)(q33qter), as well as in their case with del(4)(q31.22q34.2). The interesting case of Menko et al. as well as many other published earlier show variable hand malformations in association with del(4)(q31qter). These hand malformations range from tapering of the fingers and clinodactyly to various reductions in finger or other distal limb bones. 7 refs.
Three-dimensional imaging technique using optical diffraction

This paper presents a novel fast and simple technique to measure three-dimensional (3D) objects. An integrated 3D camera is built, which features a motorized off-axis rotating aperture. A regular spot pattern projection adds texture onto smooth 3D objects. When rotating, the off-axis aperture translates depth information into blurred image diameter. The displacement of each spot between two arbitrary aperture positions reveals depth. A pseudo- correlation algorithm based on optical diffraction is proposed to measure spot displacement fast and accurately. When subtracting two consecutive images of a roughly Gaussian-shaped displaced spot, the normalized subtraction intensity peak height is directly proportional to the spot displacement. The peak height to displacement calibration curve is specifically defined by optical parameters of the imaging system. Proper combination of off-axis aperture location and magnification ratio determines the size of the measurement range. Experiment observations show that the calibration curve is highly smooth and sensitive to the spot displacement at sub-pixel level. Real-time processing is possible with only order of image size arithmetic operations. The proposed technique holds potential for various industrial machine vision applications.
Segregant-enhanced fracture in magnesium oxide

The fracture toughness of MgO has been studied as a function of the concentration of an intergranular LiF phase, added to enhance densification. The fracture toughness increases as lithium and fluorine are volatilized from the MgO while the fracture morphology changes from intergranular to transgranular. The data are interpreted with respect to competing embrittlement and crack-deflection toughening mechanisms, and a scheme is proposed for determining conditions for embrittlement and toughening.
Characteristics of an infinite life span diploid human fibroblast cell strain and a near-diploid strain arising from a clone of cells expressing a transfectedv-myc oncogene

Diploid human fibroblasts were transfected with a plasmid carrying a v-myc oncogene linked to the neo gene or with a vector control carrying a neo gene. Drug-resistant clones were isolated and subcultured as needed. All populations went into crisis and eventually senesced. But while they were senescing, viable-appearing clones were noted among the progeny of a transfected population that expressed the v-myc oncogene. After several months, these cells began replicating more rapidly. Karyotype analysis indicated that they were clonally derived since all of them had 45 chromosomes, including 2 marker chromosomes. This cell strain was designated MSU-1.1. Similar analysis showed that cells from an earlier passage were diploid. These cells were designated MSU-1.0. Both strains have undergone more than 200 population doublings since their siblings senesced, without any change in chromosome complement. Both strains express the v-myc protein and have the same integration site for the transfected v-myc and neo genes. The MSU-1.0 cells cannot grow without exogenously added growth factors. The MSU-1.1 cells grow moderately well under the same conditions and grow to a higher saturation density than MSU-1.0 cells. Since the chance of human cells acquiring an infinite life span in culture is very rare, the data suggest that MSU-1.1 cells are derived from MSU-1.0 cells. The expression of v-myc is probably required for acquisition of an infinite life span, since this phenotype did not develop in populations not expressing this oncogene. However, expression of v-myc is clearly not sufficient, since all of the progeny of the clone that gave rise to the MSU-1.0 cells expressed this oncogene, but the vast majority of them senesced.
Microbial metabolism and cometabolism of nitrophenols

Abstract A bacterium able to use p-nitrophenol as a carbon and energy source was isolated from soil by enrichment culture. Nitrite was formed in stoichiometric amounts from p-nitrophenol by the organism, and chloroform-treated resting cells generated 4-nitrocatechol from the same substrate. Cells grown on p-nitrophenol oxidized m-nitrophenol to nitrohydroquinone, but the organism did not use m-nitrophenol as a carbon source for growth.
Purification and characterization of a 28 kDa cytosolic inhibitor of cholesteryl ester hydrolases in rat testis

A 28 kDa inhibitory protein was purified from ratestis cytosol by sequential 40–65% ammonium sulfate precipitation, cation exchange chromatography, anion exchange chromatography, and preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The heat-stable, trypsin-labile protein exhibited nonenzymatic, concentration-dependent inhibition of testicular and pancreatic cholesteryl ester hydrolases at all stages of putification. Copurifying at each stage was a 26.5 kDa protein which comprised 25% of the mass of the two proteins. Polyclonal antibodies raised to either or both 28 kDa and 26.5 kDa proteins by direct injection of excised electrophoretic bands cross-reacted with both proteins on western blots, immunoprecipitated both proteins, and neutralized inhibitory activity. Amino acid compositions of the individual proteins electroeluted from SDS-polyacrylamide gels were different from those of other surface-active proteins of similar molecular weights. Both proteins exhibited identical pl of 4.8 on chromatofocusing columns and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Although the subcellular distribution of the 28 kDa protein is unknown, its testicular cytosolic concentration, calculated from the purified protein mass, was 8×10−9 mols/L, which probably underestimates the actual concentration by an order of magnitude. This is greater than the minimum concentration required forin vitro inhibition (10−9 mols/L), consistent with a physiological role for this protein.
Studies on antithiamine factor(s) in tissue of tuna and goatfish.

Es wurden Antithiaminwirkstoffe bei Hawaii-Fischen untersucht und gezeigt, dass die Antithiaminaktivitat nicht enzymatisch ist.
CCKA and 5-HT3 Receptors Interact in Anorectic Responses to Amino Acid Deficiency

Abstract Serotonin 3 (5-HT 3 ) receptors in the periphery mediate anorectic responses to the amino acid deficiency, which occurs after eating amino acid-imbalanced diets (IMB). However, other neurochemical systems, notably cholecystokinin (CCK), are known to affect food intake. We pretreated rats systemically with tropisetron, a 5-HT 3 receptor antagonist, alone and combined with antagonists of CCK A and CCK B receptors, and measured intake of an IMB. Devazepide, a CCK A receptor antagonist, appeared to interact with tropisetron in the anorectic responses to IMB, blunting the usual remediation of IMB anorexia by tropisetron. The CCK B receptor antagonist, L-365, 260, increased intake of both IMB and an amino acid-balanced basal diet (BAS) and did not interact with tropisetron. Our data suggest that activation of CCK A receptors is interactive with 5-HT 3 receptor activity in mediating IMB anorexia in the aminoprivic feeding model.
Syntheses and Tissue Distribution of 99mTc-Sulfonylureas

Four new tolbutamide analogs were prepared and evaluated as hypoglycemics. Hypoglycemic action was observed in two members of the class, and 99m-Tc-chelates were tested as potential radiopharmaceutical imaging agents.
Conformal gravity and the flatness problem

The radiation and matter-dominated cosmologies associated with fourth-order conformal Weyl gravity, a theory which is currently being explored as a candidate alternative to the standard second-order Einstein theory, are presented. The theory naturally yields an open though nonetheless recollapsing universe which can even oscillate indefinitely, which appears to possess no flatness problem, which has a cosmology which could potentially be created out of nothing, which is singularity free, and which does not appear to require any cosmological dark matter.