cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vivo rates of deaggregation of polyribosomes in normal and regenerating liver after the injection of pactamycin

Abstract The in vivo injection of 400 μg of pactamycin into normal and partially hepatectomized mice resulted in the rapid deaggregation of their liver polyribosomes and accumulation of ribosomal monomers. When nascent polypeptide chains were labelled in vivo, the accumulated monomers were free of protein radioactivity. The previous injection of cycloheximide prevented the deaggregation of polyribosomes. The proportion of polyribosomes relative to the total ribosome population was measured in normal and regenerating livers from 10–60 s after the injection of pactamycin. Their rate of deaggregation was the same in both situations and it was such as could be expected from the in vivo rate of translation measured by other means elsewhere. These results are taken as further evidence that the efficiency with which polyribosomes are utilized for protein synthesis is the same in normal and regenerating livers.
Adaptation in nonstationary applications

In the past decade, stochastic approximation procedures have influenced the design of systems in a variety of system theory applications. These applications are characterized by an uncertainty in the a priori knowledge of the environment in which the system must operate. Howeer, it has been assumed that the environment either is statistically stationary or evolves in a known fashion. In this study a modification of the Robbins-Monro procedure is considered for two classes of unknown nonstationaries. Asymptotic properties of the procedure are considered for both classes of nonstationarities.
Curriculum Development Through Delphi.

This article reports on the use of the Delphi method for curriculum design in higher education. The basic Delphi methodology is outlined along with possible goals and objectives in a Delphi study. The results of an actual case study in the use of the Delphi method for curriculum development are reported. Attention is given to the problem of selecting participants for a Delphi exercise, followed by recommendations for future research.
Costs of predator-induced phenotypic plasticity: A graphical model for predicting the contribution of nonconsumptive and consumptive effects of predators on prey

Defensive modifications in prey traits that reduce predation risk can also have negative effects on prey fitness. Such nonconsumptive effects (NCEs) of predators are common, often quite strong, and can even dominate the net effect of predators. We develop an intuitive graphical model to identify and explore the conditions promoting strong NCEs. The model illustrates two conditions necessary and sufficient for large NCEs: (1) trait change has a large cost, and (2) the benefit of reduced predation outweighs the costs, such as reduced growth rate. A corollary condition is that potential predation in the absence of trait change must be large. In fact, the sum total of the consumptive effects (CEs) and NCEs may be any value bounded by the magnitude of the predation rate in the absence of the trait change. The model further illustrates how, depending on the effect of increased trait change on resulting costs and benefits, any combination of strong and weak NCEs and CEs is possible. The model can also be used to examine how changes in environmental factors (e.g., refuge safety) or variation among predator–prey systems (e.g., different benefits of a prey trait change) affect NCEs. Results indicate that simple rules of thumb may not apply; factors that increase the cost of trait change or that increase the degree to which an animal changes a trait, can actually cause smaller (rather than larger) NCEs. We provide examples of how this graphical model can provide important insights for empirical studies from two natural systems. Implementation of this approach will improve our understanding of how and when NCEs are expected to dominate the total effect of predators. Further, application of the models will likely promote a better linkage between experimental and theoretical studies of NCEs, and foster synthesis across systems.
THE EFFECT OF FLOW ON MIXING AND PERFORMANCE OF RADIAL FLOW ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTORS

Abstract Flow patterns are quantified in three types of radial flow electrochemical cells: capillary gap cell (CGC), pump cell (PC) and the rotating electrolyzer (RE). Solutions for velocity profiles in the laminar flow regime are obtained by finite element analysis. These profiles are then used to analyze the convection and diffusion of an inert tracer and to examine methods for characterization of mixing in the various zones of the reactor. A general reactor simulation model is also developed.
When does a sentiment become an architectural concept? Otherness in Hejduk's Wall House 2

When we talk about architectural design we often draw a distinction between what is designed and how it is designed. The object of design can then be recognised as of a given function type, such as...
Environmental control of annual testicular cycles in the lizard Anolis carolinensis. 3. Temperature thresholds for photoperiodism.

Photo-sexual responses in Anolis carolinensis during the fall are highly temperature dependent and show distinct thermal thresholds. If body temperatures are maintained at 32°C (the species' preferred temperature), day lengths of 13 hours or more stimulate testicular growth, whereas day lengths of 12 hours or less inhibit recrudescence. The testis develops slowly and independently of day length at 25°C or below. With fluctuating body temperatures, photoperiodism depends on both the duration of daily heating to 32°C (the thermoperiod) and the level of nocturnal cooling. Photo-sexual responses occur with thermoperiods of eight hours or more when the nocturnal temperature is 20°C, but longer thermoperiods are required if nocturnal temperatures are reduced. There may be some equivalence between heat and light with regard to photo-sexual responses; the critical day length for photostimulation varies with temperature. Field observations of behavioral thermoregulation and climatic data for the lizards' habitat (around New Orleans, Louisiana) indicate that body temperatures are high enough to allow photoperiodism in September. Since the effective day length is 12 hours or less, testicular growth may be photoperiodically inhibited in September and early October. The natural onset of testicular growth in mid-October may be due to a reduction of thermoperiod and nocturnal temperatures which abolishes the photo-periodic responsiveness and to an inherent reduction in photosensitivity. Studies begun in January confirm that the completion of testicular recrudescence in the spring is determined largely by the elevation of body temperatures and is independent of day length. Testicular development is rapidly completed with only a few hours of daily heating to preferred levels (32°C) even if nights are cold (e.g., 12°C).
Simultaneous determination of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in baby foods and paprika by HPLC with fluorescence detection: a single-laboratory validation study.

Abstract Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungal origin, the major mycotoxins of food concern are aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. Due to the wide range of matrices susceptible to mycotoxin contamination, the possible co-occurrence, and the very wide range of concentration, validated versatile multi-mycotoxin and multi-matrix methods are strongly requested. A reversed phase HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in baby foods and paprika was set up. Three bulk samples were prepared according to commercial availability, one for paprika and for baby foods, two different bulks were set, a corn based and a multi-cereal based baby food. A single-laboratory validation was performed, for each investigated level ten analyses were performed, relative standard deviations of repeatability (RSDr) and recovery factors were calculated; RSDr values ranged from 2% to 10% for AFB1 and from 3% to 10% for OTA, while the recovery factors ranged from 86% to 96% for AFB1 and from 77% to 96% for OTA. The checked compliance of the RSDr and recovery with the values reported in the current EU Regulations confirmed the fitting for purpose of the method. Limit of detection and LoQ values of the method were respectively 0.002 and 0.020 μg/kg for AFB1 and 0.012 and 0.080 μg/kg for OTA in baby foods; and 0.002 and 0.200 μg/kg for AFB1 and 0.012 and 0.660 μg/kg for OTA in paprika. The current method represents a good example of the possibility of a multi-mycotoxin and/or a multi-matrix analysis depending on the laboratory research or official control purposes.
Transforming growth factor β-induced cell cycle arrest of human hematopoietic cells requires p57KIP2 up-regulation

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is one of few known negative regulators of hematopoiesis, yet the mechanisms by which it affects cell cycle arrest and stem cell quiescence are poorly understood. Induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p15INK4b (p15) and p21WAF1 (p21) is important for TGFβ-mediated cytostasis in epithelial cells but not in hematopoietic cells. Using primary human hematopoietic cells and microarray analysis, we identified p57KIP2 (p57) as the only cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor induced by TGFβ. Up-regulation of p57 mRNA and protein occurs before TGFβ-induced G1 cell cycle arrest, requires transcription, and is mediated via a highly conserved region of the proximal p57 promoter. The up-regulation of p57 is essential for TGFβ-induced cell cycle arrest in these cells, because two different small interfering RNAs that prevent p57 up-regulation block the cytostatic effects of TGFβ on human hematopoietic cells. Reduction of basal p57 expression by this approach also allows hematopoietic cells to proliferate more readily in the absence of TGFβ. p57 is a putative tumor suppressor gene whose expression is frequently silenced by promoter hypermethylation in hematologic malignancies. Our studies identify a molecular pathway by which TGFβ mediates its cytostatic effects on human hematopoietic cells and suggests an explanation for the frequent silencing of p57 expression.
Efficient approach to designing linear combination filters

Various linear combinations of simple matched spatial filters have been proposed in the literature to improve the discrimination in multiclass pattern recognition. It has been shown that all such approaches based on deterministic constraints can be modeled as similar matrix/vector problems, the only differences arising in the individual constraint vectors. Since the design of any of these linear combination filters (LCF) can be posed as a common matrix/vector problem, efficient iterative methods can be used to determine the LCFs. The application of one such method called the modified hyperplane (MHP) method for determining the LCF is described and its convergence behavior is numerically investigated for a set of seven patterns. It is shown that the MHP method yields correct LCFs (with rms error <0.1%) in less than ten iterations.
Evaluation in urban and industrial environments: the Docklands Light Railway, Lewisham Extension, London

Objectives This case history describes the use of information obtained from the initial desk-based engineering geological and geotechnical studies carried out as part of the design of civil engineering works for the Lewisham Extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) which was constructed in a heavily developed urban environment. The desk study aimed to make best use of available information in order to evaluate the terrain, limit the need for further ground investigation and provide geological and geotechnical information to the design teams as quickly as possible. A desk study is an integral part of terrain and site evaluation and, wherever possible, should be carried out in conjunction with a reconnaissance survey (or walk-over) of the site. Together they are likely to be of greatest value and most cost-effective when carried out early in the investigations for a proposed development. They can provide the project team with an early indication of the conditions at the site, such information being essential for master planning and concept design. As the project is advanced the desk study findings become the basis for the planning and interpretation of the subsequent more expensive and lengthy stage of physical investigation by (for example) boreholes and trial pits. Conceptually, it should be self-evident that it is cheaper to obtain and evaluate information that already exists than to obtain new investigation data. But this is not the only reason for carrying out desk studies. Their ability to recover information that cannot be obtained by other means is also very
Instructor Modeling and Online Question Prompts for Supporting Peer-Questioning during Online Discussion

This study investigates how the combination of instructor modeling and question prompts for peer-questioning influences students' online questioning and answering activities. Fourteen students in a turfgrass management online class at a large land-grant university participated in two three-week sessions of online discussion. Two randomly selected small groups (n = 6) received question prompts and instructor modeling while the other two discussion groups (n = 8) did not. Their online interactions (frequency, length, and type of questions) and selected follow-up telephone interviews were analyzed. The results of the descriptive statistics of students' online activities and the interview reveal that the instructor's participation in online discussion played a critical role in modeling students' questioning activities and in facilitating students' continuous use of the given online peer questioning guidance. Thus, the combination of instructor modeling and question prompts is more effective than providing eit...
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ZINC OXIDE TARGET CHEMISTRY

Zinc oxide targets irradiated with high energy protons at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) contain a number of radioactive spallation products in quantities large enough to warrant recovery. This paper describes methods for recovering {sup 7}Be, {sup 46}Sc, and {sup 48}V from such targets and offers suggestions on possible ways to recover additional isotopes. The proposed methods are based on traditional precipitation and ion exchange techniques, are readily adaptable to hot cell use, and produce no hazardous waste components. The products are obtained in moderate to high yields and have excellent radiopurity.
Impacts of hypersaline water on the biotransformation and toxicity of fenthion on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), striped bass (Morone saxatilis X Morone chrysops) and tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Abstract Hypersaline water derived from agricultural practices primarily in arid landscapes can impact fisheries in streams receiving run-off from fields. Previous studies have indicated significant elevation in the toxicity of thio-ether pesticides by hypersaline water in certain species of euryhaline fish due to enhanced formation of sulfoxide metabolites which may be more toxic than the parent compounds. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of salinity on the toxicity of the thio-ether organophosphate pesticide, fenthion in three species of euryhaline fish: rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), striped bass ( Morone saxatilis X Morone chrysops ), tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus ) and determine whether a relationship was observed between toxicity and enantioselective sulfoxidation. Stereochemical formation and total sulfoxide formation did not mirror acute toxicity in the three species exposed in fresh or hypersaline conditions. Mortality of striped bass and rainbow trout due to fenthion exposure was enhanced by hypersaline treatments and a trend towards increased toxicity was observed in tilapia. In liver microsomes of rainbow trout, inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP) caused a respective 7- and 3-fold increase in sulfoxide formation in liver microsomes fresh and saltwater fish, and a significant increase in the formation of the (+) R -sulfoxide. CYP inhibition also caused a significant elevation of the (+) R -sulfoxide in freshwater striped bass, but not in hypersaline-treated bass. The results indicated contribution by CYP in the sulfoxidation of fenthion as well as the formation of other metabolites in all three species. In summary, hypersaline conditions impacted fenthion toxicity under conditions that appeared to be independent of fenthion sulfoxide formation indicating a much more complex mechanism of action for compounds with phosphorothioate and thio-ether structural features potentially involving multiple oxidative pathways.
On forming variable set composites to summarize a block recursive model

Abstract A method, described by Coleman, for forming composite variables and estimating effects in block recursive models is explicated. It is shown that two sets of estimates need to be distinguished. Coleman's approach utilizes a mixture of the two sets and is useful for a specific application. For more general purposes one set of estimates is preferred to the other; empirical examples are given.
Still Living Without Identity: Reply to Trueman

In ‘Eliminating Identity: A Reply to Wehmeier’, Robert Trueman attacks my claim that a commitment to a binary relation of identity is logically unnecessary and philosophically undesirable. I show that his two most serious objections are unconvincing.
The history of spinal biomechanics

The history of spinal biomechanics has its origins in antiquity. The Edwin Smith surgical papyrus, an Egyptian document written in the 17th century BC, described the difference between cervical sprain, fracture, and fracture-dislocation. By the time of Hippocrates (4th century BC), physical means such as traction or local pressure were being used to correct spinal deformities but the treatments were based on only a rudimentary knowledge of spinal biomechanics. The Renaissance produced the first serious attempts at understanding spinal biomechanics. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) accurately described the anatomy of the spine and was perhaps the first to investigate spinal stability. The first comprehensive treatise on biomechanics, De Motu Animalium, was published by Giovanni Borelli in 1680, and it contained the first analysis of weight bearing by the spine. In this regard, Borelli can be considered the "Father of Spinal Biomechanics." By the end of the 19th century, the basic biomechanical concepts of spinal alignment and immobilization were well entrenched as therapies for spinal cord injury. Further anatomic delineation of spinal stability was sparked by the anatomic analyses of judicial hangings by Wood-Jones in 1913. By the 1960s, a two-column model of the spine was proposed by Holdsworth. The modern concept of Denis' three-column model of the spine is supported by more sophisticated testing of cadaver spines in modern biomechanical laboratories. The modern explosion of spinal instrumentation stems from a deeper understanding of the load-bearing structures of the spinal column.
Toward a Geocentric Framework of Trust: An Application to Organizational Trust

Integrating the typologies of trust dimensions and trust ideal-types with the new typologies of trust forms and trust bases, I propose a geocentric framework of trust in general and of organizational trust in particular. The typology of trust forms is built on the dimension of spatial strength to address the content of trust building from weak trust to strong trust and on the dimension of temporal stage to address the process of trust building from initial trust to mature trust. The typology of trust bases is built on the dimension of trust sources to address the bases of trust building from depersonalized sources to personalized sources and on the dimension of trust domains to address the bases of trust building from dyad domains to network domains. Together with its three pillars (trust-building mechanisms, leadership and trust-as-choice), the central theme of trust building connects all four trust typologies toward a geocentric framework that integrates and transcends the cultural values of the East and the West. This framework bears a special implication for theorizing about transaction cost and transaction value as a duality for interorganizational alliance.
Evaluation of switch jitter in a high pressure coaxial spark gap

Summary form only given. The design and jitter performance of a high-pressure, coaxial spark gap, triggered by field distortion of a center plane electrode is presented. Additional comparisons with trigatron style triggering are also presented. The switch was tested up to 100 pulses per second (pps) with a maximum switching voltage of 50 kV in nitrogen. Analysis will focus on jitter measurements taken over the full lifetime of the switch. This paper presents the results of this analysis. Specifically, switch jitter and lifetime are evaluated as a function of switch geometry as a whole and as a function of trigger electrode geometry.
Protrusive activity, mode and rate of locomotion, and pattern of adhesion of Fundulus deep cells during gastrulation

The mechanism of locomotion of deep cells of Fundulus heteroclitus was studied in vivo during gastrulation with the aid of time-lapse cinemicrography (Nomarski differential interference contrast optics), scanning electron microscopy of cells known to be moving at the time of fixation, and cell culture. These are our findings: (1) Deep cells usually move rapidly, at about 10–15 μm/min, regardless of whether they move by blebbing or spreading. Evidence suggests that this high speed is associated with weak adhesion of the trailing edge: it remains rounded, without large retraction fibers, and it advances continuously with advance of the leading edge, not sporadically, as it would if it adhered strongly. (2) In contrast, when stationary cells in close contact separate, they remain connected at first by large retraction fibers, suggesting strong punctate adhesions. (3) Fundulus deep cells appear to move in two ways: a) protrusion of blebs, followed by much cytoplasmic flow; b) spreading of lamellipodia, preceded by filopodia and frequent cell shortening. Locomotion by shortening of a long lobopodium is really a form of spreading movement, since the tip of a lobopodium always spreads. (4) Filopodia were not found except at the leading edge of a spreading lamellipodium and often spread themselves; perhaps filopodia and lamellipodia are interconvertible. (5) A lamellipodial margin may form undulations in vivo that move backward like ruffles in vitro. (6) At all times, whether stationary or moving, the surface of any given deep cell is smooth, raising unanswered questions concerning the source of surface for their rapid protrusive activity.
Partitioning of calcium, magnesium, and transition metals between olivine and melt governed by the structure of the silicate melt at ambient pressure

Olivine/melt partitioning of the transition metal cations, Fe2+, Mn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+, together with Mg2+ and Ca2+, has been examined experimentally as a function of melt composition at ambient pressure. Melt structure was inferred from bulk-chemical composition, existing structural data, and 57Fe resonant absorption Mossbauer spectroscopy. Under isothermal conditions, K D(i-Mg)olivine/melt = ( C i/ C Mg)olivine/( C i/ C Mg)melt, is an exponential function of melt NBO/T for i = Ca2+, Mn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+. For i = Fe2+, the relationship is parabolic with maximum K D(Fe2+-Mg)olivine/melt -values at NBO/T near 1. At constant melt NBO/T, K D(i-Mg)olivine/melt increases systematically with decreasing cation radius, an effect that is more pronounced the more polymerized the melt. The K D(i-Mg)olivine/melt is also a positive and linear function of Na/(Na + Ca) of Al-free melts. This latter effect results from changes in Qn-species abundance governed by Na/(Na + Ca) of the melts. The enthalpy of the exchange equilibrium, iolivine + Mgmelt = imelt + Mgolivine, derived from the temperature-dependence of K D(i-Mg)olivine/melt, is also a positive function of the ionic radius of the cation. The relationship of enthalpy to melt polymerization also depends on cation radius. The K D(Fe2+-Mg)olivine/melt does not, however, follow this trend possibly because the bond distance, d Fe2+-O, in the melts depends on melt composition. The cations examined in this study are network-modifiers in silicate melts at ambient pressure. The solution behavior of network-modifying cations in melts is governed by the extent of steric hindrance near nonbridging oxygen, which in turn affects the energetics of metal-nonbridging oxygen bonds. Those structure effects, in turn, are related to the type of Qn-species, their abundance, and on the Al-distribution between the Qn-species. It is suggested, therefore, that the observed variations of mineral/melt partition coefficients with melt composition can be understood by considering bulk polymerization (NBO/T), the distribution of Al3+ among coexisting Qn-species, and the distribution of network-modifying cations among nonbridging in these Qn-species.
Buyouts durch Private Equity-Gesellschaften

Als Franz Muntefering in seiner Funktion als Bundesvorsitzender der SPD im November 2004 zum ersten Mal mit der Kritik gegen die Anlagestrategie von Private Equity-Gesellschaften an die Offentlichkeit trat, fiel der Startschuss fur eine landesweite De-batte um die volkswirtschaftlichen Vor- und Nachteile von Ubernahmen durch Private Equity-Gesellschaften. Die von Muntefering benutzte Tiermetapher sollte der Diskus-sion ihren Namen geben: „Wir mussen denjenigen Unternehmern, die die Zukunftsfa-higkeit ihrer Unternehmen und die Interessen ihrer Arbeitnehmer im Blick haben, helfen gegen die verantwortungslosen Heuschreckenschwarme, die im Vierteljahres-takt Erfolg messen, Substanz absaugen und Unternehmen kaputtgehen lassen, wenn sie sie abgefressen haben.“ Ausgestattet mit Mitteln von Investoren, die seit dem Einbruch der Borsen Anfang 2000 Private Equity als neue Anklageklasse fur sich ent-deckt haben, drangen international agierende Private Equity-Gesellschaften verstarkt auf den deutschen Buyout-Markt. Das Investitionsvolumen der Ubernahmen belief sich im Jahre 2007 auf 3.284,7 Mio. € und hat sich damit seit 2005 (1.767,88 Mio. €) nahezu verdoppelt. Durch die Konzentration vieler Konzerne auf ihre Kernaktivita-ten, die Schwierigkeiten von Familienunternehmen bei der internen Nachfolgerege-lung und die Vielzahl an Unternehmen mit Finanzbedarf oder Insolvenzrisiko eroff-nen sich fur Private Equity-Gesellschaften standig neue Moglichkeiten in reife Unternehmen zu investieren. Es zeichnet sich ab, dass Beteiligungsgesellschaften eine immer grosere Rolle auf dem Finanzierungsmarkt einnehmen. Daher ist sowohl die Wirtschaft als auch die Politik auf wissenschaftlich fundierte Kenntnisse uber die damit einherge-henden Chancen und Gefahren fur die deutsche Volkswirtschaft angewiesen.
Ways of learning: Observational studies versus experiments

Manipulative experimentation that features random assignment of treatments, replication, and controls is an effective way to determine causal relationships. Wildlife ecologists, however, often must take a more passive approach to investigating causality. Their observational studies lack one or more of the 3 cornerstones of experimentation: controls, randomization, and replication. Although an observational study can be analyzed similarly to an experiment, one is less certain that the presumed treatment actually caused the observed response. Because the investigator does not actively manipulate the system, the chance that something other than the treatment caused the observed results is increased. We reviewed observational studies and contrasted them with experiments and, to a lesser extent, sample surveys. We identified features that distinguish each method of learning and illustrate or discuss some complications that may arise when analyzing results of observational studies. Findings from observational studies are prone to bias. Investigators can reduce the chance of reaching erroneous conclusions by formulating a priori hypotheses that can be pursued multiple ways and by evaluating the sensitivity of study conclusions to biases of various magnitudes. In the end, however, professional judgment that considers all available evidence is necessary to render a decision regarding causality based on observational studies.
HCO3− secretion in the esophageal submucosal glands

The mammalian esophagus has the capacity to secrete a HCO(3)(-) and mucin-rich fluid in the esophageal lumen. These secretions originate from the submucosal glands (SMG) and can contribute to esophageal protection against refluxed gastric acid. The cellular mechanisms by which glandular cells achieve these secretions are largely unknown. To study this phenomenon, we used the pH-stat technique to measure luminal alkali secretion in an isolated, perfused pig esophagus preparation. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize receptors and transporters involved in HCO(3)(-) transport. The SMG-bearing esophagus was found to have significant basal alkali secretion, predominantly HCO(3)(-), which averaged 0.21 +/- 0.04 microeq.h(-1).cm(-2). This basal secretion was doubled when stimulated by carbachol but abolished by HCO(3)(-) or Cl(-) removal. Basal- and carbachol-stimulated secretions were also blocked by serosal application of atropine, pirenzipine, DIDS, methazolamide, and ethoxzolamide. The membrane-impermeable carbonic anhydrase inhibitor benzolamide, applied to the serosal bath, partially inhibited basal HCO(3)(-) secretion and blocked the stimulation by carbachol. Immunohistochemistry using antibodies to M(1) cholinergic receptor or carbonic anhydrase-II enzyme showed intense labeling of duct cells and serous demilunes but no labeling of mucous cells. Labeling with an antibody to Na(+)-(HCO(3)(-))(n) (rat kidney NBC) was positive in ducts and serous cells, whereas labeling for Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchanger (AE2) was positive in duct cells but less pronounced in serous cells. These data indicate that duct cells and serous demilunes of SMG play a role in HCO(3)(-) secretion, a process that involves M(1) cholinergic receptor stimulation. HCO(3)(-) transport in these cells is dependent on cytosolic and serosal membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase. HCO(3)(-) secretion is also dependent on serosal Cl(-) and is mediated by DIDS-sensitive transporters, possibly NBC and AE2.
The Estimation of the Fourth-Order Cumulant for Dependent Data: Consistency and Asymptotic Normality

Let {Xi} be a stationary dependent random process with finite eight-order moments. For broad classes of processes (?-mixing and strongly mixing), we obtain the convergence in probability, with sharp rates, of the estimate of the fourth-order cumulant from n observations {Xi}i=1 n . We also establish the asymptotic distribution of the estimation error. The asymptotic expression of the variance is explicitly specified.
Long-term metabolic, endocrine, and neuropsychological outcome of hematopoietic cell transplantation for Wolman disease

Wolman disease is the infantile form of autosomal recessive acid lipase deficiency, typically presenting in early infancy with diarrhea, massive hepatosplenomegaly, failure to thrive, and calcification of adrenal glands. Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the only therapy reported to prevent hepatic failure and death, which without treatment occurs within the first year of life. We report a single institution's experience with HCT treatment of four Wolman patients, two of whom are long-term survivors (the longest survival reported to date, (4 and 11 years). Survivors showed resolution of diarrhea within weeks after engraftment, normalized hepatic function, improved hepatosplenomegaly, and in one patient normal adrenal function. The older patient has normal adaptive functions but mild to moderate neurocognitive deficiencies thought to be secondary to treatment and other medical problems. The younger patient has age-appropriate neurodevelopmental and adaptive abilities. We conclude that Wolman disease can be successfully treated with HCT, and that hepatic and cognitive function can be preserved with early diagnosis and timely referral to a transplant center.
Loss of RASSF2 Enhances Tumorigencity of Lung Cancer Cells and Confers Resistance to Chemotherapy

RASSF2 is a novel pro-apoptotic effector of K-Ras that is frequently inactivated in a variety of primary tumors by promoter methylation. Inactivation of RASSF2 enhances K-Ras-mediated transformation and overexpression of RASSF2 suppresses tumor cell growth. In this study, we confirm that RASSF2 and K-Ras form an endogenous complex, validating that RASSF2 is a bona fide K-Ras effector. We adopted an RNAi approach to determine the effects of inactivation of RASSF2 on the transformed phenotype of lung cancer cells containing an oncogenic K-Ras. Loss of RASSF2 expression resulted in a more aggressive phenotype that was characterized by enhanced cell proliferation and invasion, decreased cell adhesion, the ability to grow in an anchorage-independent manner and cell morphological changes. This enhanced transformed phenotype of the cells correlated with increased levels of activated AKT, indicating that RASSF2 can modulate Ras signaling pathways. Loss of RASSF2 expression also confers resistance to taxol and cisplatin, two frontline therapeutics for the treatment of lung cancer. Thus we have shown that inactivation of RASSF2, a process that occurs frequently in primary tumors, enhances the transforming potential of activated K-Ras and our data suggests that RASSF2 may be a novel candidate for epigenetic-based therapy in lung cancer.
Finding Messages in Bottles: Living Successfully with Stroke and Aphasia

AbstractThe question “What does it take to live successfully with stroke and aphasia?” was posed and answers were sought within already published accounts written by people living with aphasia. Published accounts that were identified as eligible and included in the study had to meet the following criteria: they had to be a published book or journal article that would be nationally available; they had to be authored or co-authored by a person with chronic aphasia due to stroke; and they had to be a personal narrative of some type. 28 publications meeting these criteria were identified through a search of bibliographic databases and websites, and 20 were available for analysis. 4 themes emerged. First, social support was identified as a critical factor in living successfully. Second, successful living appears to require an adaptation of one’s perception of self. Third, most of the writers of the accounts looked to the future and set new goals. Finally, all of the published accounts noted the importance of t...
Effect of Localized Prey Depletion on Prey Selectivity by Fish

Abstract I compared the prey consumption by bluegills Lepomis macrochirus feeding on two size-classes of Daphnia magna with the diets predicted by the apparent-size model of foraging. The diets of fish that were acclimated to the laboratory for only 1 or 2 weeks contained significantly more small prey than predicted, but the diets of fish acclimated to the laboratory for over 3 months were consistent with the predictions of the model. The less-acclimated fish fed closely together and mostly near the center of the arena. This localized feeding quickly depleted almost all the large prey from this area but left the large prey in other areas relatively untouched. The occurrence of localized feeding violated an assumption of the apparent-size model that all prey were distributed randomly throughout the foraging bout. The results of trials with poorly acclimated fish, therefore, could not be used to test the predictions of the model. The reduced feeding rate and prey selectivity in response to perceived risk, h...
Theoretical extension and operationalization of the bona fide group construct with an application to surgical teams

Abstract The field of small group communication has recently witnessed a shift toward the study of groups in naturalistic settings (see Frey, 1994a). Several authors have commented approvingly on this move, including Putnam and Stohl (1990), who admonish researchers to look to bona fide groups, those characterized by “stable yet permeable boundaries”; and “interdependence with context,”; as they leave the laboratory and enter field settings. This essay seeks to specify in detail what the operationalization of the concept of a bona fide group might involve; applies those operational concepts to surgical teams; and discusses theoretical, methodological, and research implications of this effort. We observe that operationalizing “stable yet permeable boundaries”; and “interdependence with context”; requires conceptual steps not fully articulated in the original description of bona fide groups. Building on the arguments that Putnam and Stohl have set forth, we argue that further study of “bona fide”; groups wi...
Pneumococcal Serotype Diversity among Adults in Various Countries, Influenced by Pediatric Pneumococcal Vaccination Uptake

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes differ in clinical manifestations among adults. Indirect effects of pediatric use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) affect rates of adult serotype-specific invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). To characterize PCV effect on adult serotype patterns, we reviewed the literature for differences in proportions and incidence matching the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) and 13-valent PCV within specified geographic and time conditions. For adult IPD serotype distribution before widespread pediatric PCV7 use, the median differential between the 23 and 13 serotypes was 16.3% in the core analysis. After pediatric PCV7 adoption, the median differential was 24.4% (P < .003).The median differential in IPD incidence among adults was 5.6 cases per 100 000 population before pediatric PCV7 use and 6.4 afterward (P = .52). The differential for the serotypes in alternate vaccines helps explain recent national recommendations for one or both vaccines in various populations. These differences may widen further, with more extensive pediatric uptake of higher-valence PCVs.
Critical Constructivist Research and Special Education Expanding Our Lens on Social Reality and Exceptionality

The field of special education is entering a multiparadigmatic stage, which the authors argue is a positive development in that multiple paradigms of inquiry provide unique perspectives capable of illuminating aspects of persistent and heretofore intractable problems. the authors describe four major paradigms adapted from burrell and morgan's (1979) sociological paradigms, focusing specifically on work currently under way in the field within a critical interpretivist paradigm. methodological and substantive implications for special education are discussed.
Modification of early dimethylhydrazine carcinogenesis by colonic mucosal hyperplasia.

The interaction of colonic mucosal hyperplasia with early 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) carcinogenesis was studied in random-bred NIH Swiss mice utilizing hyperplasia-inducing Citrobacter freundii . Mice inoculated with this bacterium developed significantly more DMH focal atypia than did mice without hyperplasia following a single dose of DMH (20 mg/kg). Mice with hyperplasia also developed DMH focal atypia with diminished doses of DMH (10 and 5 mg/kg), while normal mice did not. The effect of C. freundii on early DMH carcinogenesis was shown to be due to the hyperplasia rather than to a direct interaction of the bacterium with DMH. Focal atypia arose in high incidence 1 month after a single dose of DMH (20 mg/kg) but did not appear to progress to later stages of neoplasia, since significantly fewer atypia were present at 2 to 4 months among a randomized population. Colonic focal atypia may represent a reversible preneoplastic or precursor lesion as seen in other tissues, with features more aligned to neoplasia than to hyperplasia.
The obligatory role of endothelial cells in the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle by acetylcholine

Despite its very potent vasodilating action in vivo, acetylcholine (ACh) does not always produce relaxation of isolated preparations of blood vessels in vitro. For example, in the helical strip of the rabbit descending thoracic aorta, the only reported response to ACh has been graded contractions, occurring at concentrations above 0.1 muM and mediated by muscarinic receptors. Recently, we observed that in a ring preparation from the rabbit thoracic aorta, ACh produced marked relaxation at concentrations lower than those required to produce contraction (confirming an earlier report by Jelliffe). In investigating this apparent discrepancy, we discovered that the loss of relaxation of ACh in the case of the strip was the result of unintentional rubbing of its intimal surface against foreign surfaces during its preparation. If care was taken to avoid rubbing of the intimal surface during preparation, the tissue, whether ring, transverse strip or helical strip, always exhibited relaxation to ACh, and the possibility was considered that rubbing of the intimal surface had removed endothelial cells. We demonstrate here that relaxation of isolated preparations of rabbit thoracic aorta and other blood vessels by ACh requires the presence of endothelial cells, and that ACh, acting on muscarinic receptors of these cells, stimulates release of a substance(s) that causes relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle. We propose that this may be one of the principal mechanisms for ACh-induced vasodilation in vivo. Preliminary reports on some aspects of the work have been reported elsewhere.
Mouse Early Development: Molecular Basis

Elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in major aspects of pre- and post-implantation development in the mouse forms an essential foundation for preventing birth defects in humans. Keywords: blastocyst; gastrula; inner cell mass; node; trophectoderm
Analysis of the near-ultraviolet absorption and circular dichroic spectra of parsley plastocyanin for the effects of pH and copper center conformation changes

Abstract The absorption and circular dichroic (CD) spectra of parsley plastocyanin (PC) were measured in order to determine the effects of changes in primary amino acid sequence on both the copper center and protein components of the PC molecule. The near-ultraviolet (uv) absorption and CD spectra of parsley PC were found to be qualitatively similar to those of spinach, poplar, and lettuce PC, except for the near-uv CD spectrum of the reduced form at low pH (ca. pH 5.0). The CD spectrum of reduced parsley PC in the 250–265 nm wavelength region changes from positive to negative ellipticity upon reduction of pH, and is characterized by a pKa value of 5.7. This pKa value is the same as that for the protonation of the histidine 87 copper ligand, observed by NMR, and the change in conformation of the copper center. Similar processes are believed to occur in the other PC species at lower pH values. Thus, the pH-dependent perturbations of the near-uv CD spectra of reduced PC are interpreted as due to transitions in the reduced copper center. The increase in the near-uv absorption spectrum of reduced PC can be divided into pH-independent and pH-dependent portions. The pH-independent portion resembles the absorption spectrum of tetrahedral Cu(I) metallothionein, suggesting the presence of Cu(I)-Cys 84 and/or Cu(I)-Met 92 charge transfer transitions in the near-uv absorption spectra of reduced PC. The pH dependence of the absorption spectrum changes and the pH difference absorption spectrum indicate that tyrosine residues may contribute to at least a part of the pH-dependent portion of the absorption increase of reduced PC.
Survival Data for Canine Oral Extramedullary Plasmacytomas: A Retrospective Analysis (1996–2006)

In a 10-year period, extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMP) represented 5.2% of all oral tumors found in the dog (16/302). These 16 oral EMP comprised 28.5% of all EMP within the same time period. Eleven dogs died with a median survival time of 474 days. Five dogs remain alive at the time of this writing. Dogs without complete surgical removal of the EMP and no adjuvant therapy had a median survival time of 138 days. Oral EMP have a clinical behavior consistent with EMP arising from other tissues. They have no obvious correlation with multiple myeloma, and complete surgical resection may be curative.
Worst-case losses from a cylindrical calorimeter for solar simulator calibration

High-flux solar simulators consist of lamps that mimic concentrated sunlight from a field of heliostats or parabolic dish. These installations are used to test promising solar-thermal technologies for commercial potential. Solar simulators can be calibrated with cylindrical calorimeters, devices that approximate black body absorbers. Calorimeter accuracy is crucial to solar simulator characterization and maintenance. To discover the worst-case performance of a cylindrical calorimeter during flux measurement Monte Carlo ray tracing was coupled to finite volume simulations. Results indicated that the calorimeter can exhibit an observer effect that distorts the solar simulator flux profile. Furthermore, the proposed design was sensitive to changes in calorimeter optical properties, changes that can result from oxidation and/or photobleaching over time. Design fidelity and robustness were substantially improved through the use of a beveled (conical) calorimeter aperture.
Accelerating k-NN Algorithm with Hybrid MPI and OpenSHMEM

Machine learning algorithms are benefiting from the continuous improvement of programming models, including MPI, MapReduce and PGAS. k-Nearest Neighbors k-NN algorithm is a widely used machine learning algorithm, applied to supervised learning tasks such as classification. Several parallel implementations of k-NN have been proposed in the literature and practice. However, on high-performance computing systems with high-speed interconnects, it is important to further accelerate existing designs of the k-NN algorithm through taking advantage of scalable programming models. To improve the performance of k-NN on large-scale environment with InfiniBand network, this paper proposes several alternative hybrid MPI+OpenSHMEM designs and performs a systemic evaluation and analysis on typical workloads. The hybrid designs leverage the one-sided memory access to better overlap communication with computation than the existing pure MPI design, and propose better schemes for efficient buffer management. The implementation based on k-NN program from MaTEx toolkit with MVAPICH2-X Unified MPI+PGAS Communication Runtime over InfiniBand shows upi¾?to 9.0i¾?% time reduction for training KDD Cup 2010 workload over 512 cores, and 27.6i¾?% time reduction for small workload with balanced communication and computation. Experiments of running with varied number of cores show that our design can maintain good scalability.
Nonlinear Time-Dependent Model Of Recruitment And Derecruitment In Canine Lung Injury

Rationale Optimal settings of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), tidal volume (V ) and breathing rate in acute lung T injury (ALI) may improve gas exchange while minimizing the risk of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). In this study, we developed a nonlinear computational model of the canine lung incorporating stochastic, time-dependent recruitment and derecruitment of acini. Methods We transformed the asymmetrically branching canine airway tree of Horsfield et al. ( . 52: 21-26, 1982) J. Appl. Physiol into an equivalent parallel network consisting of over 150,000 individual pathways which preserved identical ventilation distribution. Each pathway consisted of an airway resistance subtended by a viscoelastic acinus with nonlinear pressure-volume relationship V = A – B exp(-kP), where A, B, and k are constants. The acini were characterized by unique opening and closing pressures, which were randomly distributed from 1 to 40 cm H O. 2 Recruitment and derecruitment were modeled as time-dependent processes characterized by stochastic velocity trajectories (Bates and Irvin, . 93: 705-713, 2002). After an initial recruitment breath to ~40 cm H O for J. Appl. Physiol 2