cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Foxf1 +/- mice exhibit defective stellate cell activation and abnormal liver regeneration following CCl4 injury.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that haploinsufficiency of the splanchnic and septum transversum mesoderm Forkhead Box (Fox) f1 transcriptional factor caused defects in lung and gallbladder development and that Foxf1 heterozygous (+/−) mice exhibited defective lung repair in response to injury. In this study, we show that Foxf1 is expressed in hepatic stellate cells in developing and adult liver, suggesting that a subset of stellate cells originates from septum transversum mesenchyme during mouse embryonic development. Because liver regeneration requires a transient differentiation of stellate cells into myofibroblasts, which secrete type I collagen into the extracellular matrix, we examined Foxf1 +/− liver repair following carbon tetrachloride injury, a known model for stellate cell activation. We found that regenerating Foxf1 +/− liver exhibited defective stellate cell activation following CCl 4 liver injury, which was associated with diminished induction of type I collagen, α–smooth muscle actin, and Notch-2 protein and resulted in severe hepatic apoptosis despite normal cellular proliferation rates. Furthermore, regenerating Foxf1 +/− livers exhibited decreased levels of interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), delayed induction of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) levels, and aberrantly elevated expression of transforming growth factor β1. In conclusion, Foxf1 +/− mice exhibited abnormal liver repair, diminished activation of hepatic stellate cells, and increased pericentral hepatic apoptosis following CCl 4 injury. (H EPATOLOGY 2003;37:107-117.)
Effectiveness of computer-based instruction: An updated analysis.

A meta-analysis of findings from 254 controlled evaluation studies showed that computer-based instruction (CBI) usually produces positive effects on students. The studies covered learners of all age levels -- from kindergarten pupils to adult students. CBI programs raised student examination scores by 0.30 standard deviations in the average study, a moderate but significant effect. Size of effect varied, however, as a function of study feature. Effects were larger in published rather than unpublished studies, in studies in which different teachers taught experimental and control classes, and in studies of short duration. CBI also produced small but positive changes in student attitudes toward teaching and computers, and it reduced substantially the amount of time needed for instruction.
Linked-tetrahedra spin chain: Exact ground state and excitations

A particular quasi-one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet, which falls into a large and well-known class of models with simple dimerized ground states, is shown to have some especially appealing properties. For S=1/2 spins, all excited states are strictly localized, and may be identified with the states of collections of finite, open, S=1 chains.
The inversion effect in infancy: The role of internal and external features

The present work examined the changing role of inner and outer facial features in the recognition of upright and inverted faces in 5-, 7-, and 9-month-olds. Study 1 established that the "inversion effect" (impaired recognition of an inverted face) was present in infants as young as 5 months. In Study 2, internal and external features were inverted separately. Disrupting the internal configuration by inversion impaired recognition at all ages; disrupting the external configuration impaired recognition only at 5-months. In Study 3, an upright familiar face was paired with one having either novel internal or novel external features. The results confirmed that the 5-month-olds used only the external features to recognize faces, whereas older infants were as adept at using internal features as external ones. These findings suggest a shift, after 5 months, away from dependence on external features for face recognition and toward greater reliance on internal ones.
Classification of solar flares and the relationship between the first and second phases

A large data base on solar flares obtained during the last solar maximum years makes it necessary to revise the views on the relationship between the impulsive phase and the second phase of flares. Contrary to the view most popular before the launch of the Solar Maximum Mission, it is now known that relativistic electrons and gamma-ray-producing protons and ions are accelerated during the impulsive phase. Because flares producing nuclear gamma-rays are different from ordinary flares, it is concluded that additional processes take place in gamma-ray-line flares. Recent studies have shown that flares with gradual hard X-ray time profiles not only produce nuclear gamma-rays during the impulsive phase but also develop full-fledged second-phase phenomena. It is proposed that filament eruption plays a key role in gamma-ray-line flares. When an erupting filament interacts with an overlaying flare loop, relativistic electrons and energetic protons are produced during the impulsive phase. When the erupting filament fully distends the overlying flare loop, full-fledged second-phase phenomena, such as shocks, interplanetary energetic particles, mass ejections and etc. are observed. When the overlying flare loop is compact and strong enough to suppress the activated filament, gamma-rays are emitted during the first phase but no second-phase phenomena occur.
Metal-organic frameworks for removal of Xe and Kr from nuclear fuel reprocessing plants.

Removal of xenon (Xe) and krypton (Kr) from process off-gases containing 400 ppm Xe, 40 ppm Kr, 78% N2, 21% O2, 0.9% Ar, 0.03% CO2, and so forth using adsorption was demonstrated for the first time. Two well-known metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), HKUST-1 and Ni/DOBDC, which both have unsaturated metal centers but different pore morphologies, were selected as novel adsorbents. Results of an activated carbon were also included for comparison. The Ni/DOBDC has higher Xe/Kr selectivities than those of the activated carbon and the HKUST-1. In addition, results show that the Ni/DOBDC and HKUST-1 can adsorb substantial amounts of Xe and Kr even when they are mixed in air. Moreover, the Ni/DOBDC can successfully separate 400 ppm Xe from 40 ppm Kr and air containing O2, N2, and CO2 with a Xe/Ke selectivity of 7.3 as indicated by our breakthrough results. This shows a promising future for MOFs in radioactive nuclide separations from spent fuels.
LBSN 2009 Workshop Report: International Workshop on Location Based Social Networks (Seattle, Washington - November 3, 2009)

Social networking services have become extremely popular in recent years, especially among young people. However, they are still rooted in the virtual world. People usually need to sit behind a desktop computer to upload photos, write blogs and communicate with friends. The development of wireless networks and location sensing technologies have made it easier to track and share personal location information on the fly. By adding the location dimension, we can bring social networking back from the virtual world into real life and allow real-life experiences to be shared in a more convenient way. We define Location Based Social Networks (LBSN) as social network services where people can track and share location related information with each other, via either mobile or desktop computers. As location is one of the most important aspects for people's everyday lives, many novel application scenarios can be supported by LBSN. For example, we can collect and share more trustworthy location recommendations within LBSN and use them to rank interesting locations, discover new places, people and activities.
Hydrogenic impurity states in quasi-two-dimensional electron-gas systems.

We use the local-spin-density-functional method to study theoretically hydrogenic impurity states in a quantum-well structure containing a quasi-two-dimensional free-electron gas. We find through numerical studies that over a wide range of free-electron density there is a doubly occupied spin-degenerate electron-bound state for an impurity ion located at the center of the quantum well. This ground state with two bound electrons is shown to be sensitive both to the position of the impurity ion and to the free-electron density. We have also calculated the transition energies from the ground state to excited states with the application of the transition-state technique.
Rice hurts the stomach by its stickiness.

Rice masses remove mucus from the stomach and duodenum as the sticky starch binds the sticky mucus, weakening the defense against acid and pepsin which may in turn cause heartburn and ulcer. Such unwanted effect can be avoided by taking enough water with rice meal as water converts rice masses into slurry.
Reducing theoretical uncertainties for exclusive Higgs-boson plus one-jet production at the LHC

We resum a class of large Sudakov logarithms affecting Higgs boson production in the exclusive one-jet bin at the LHC. We extend previous results by calculating the full one-loop soft function for this process, which extends the accuracy of the resummation to include the leading three logarithmic corrections at each order in the QCD coupling constant. We match this result to the next-to-leading order cross section and present a detailed numerical study assuming realistic LHC cuts. Careful attention is paid to the matching procedure, and to the theoretical uncertainties induced by residual scale variation. We find that the matched NLL'+ NLO cross section has significantly smaller uncertainties than the fixed-order result, and can be used to alleviate the theoretical errors hindering current Higgs analyses at the LHC.
Net energy: Results for small-scale hydroelectric power and summary of existing analyses

Abstract The net energy ratios of most small-scale (≤ 25 MWe) hydroelectric demonstration projects are in the range of 10 to 12:1. This ratio compares quite favorably with ratios for thirteen other electric technologies. Of the eight nonelectric technologies summarized, natural gas systems yield the most net energy and systems producing alcohol from crops yield the least.
Governance Around Quality of Care at Hospitals that Disproportionately Care for Black Patients

BACKGROUND Hospital boards of directors can play a pivotal role in improving care, yet we know little about how the boards of hospitals that disproportionately serve minority patients engage in this issue.
Synthesis and characterization of osmium(II) complexes incorporating polypyridyl bridging ligands

Abstract A series of osmium(II) compounds have been prepared which contain the polypyridyl bridging ligands 2,3-bis(2′-pyridyl)pyrazine (dpp), 2,3-bis(2′-pyridyl)quinoxaline (dpq) and 2,3-bis(2′-pyridyl)benzoquinoxaline (dpb). The compounds [Os(bpy) 2 (dpp)](PF 6 ) 2 , [Os(bpy) 2 (dpq)](PF 6 ) 2 and [Os(bpy) 2 (dpb)](PF 6 ) 2 (bpy=2,2′-bipyridine) have been synthesized and their electrochemical and spectroscopic properties have been studied and are reported herein. The complexes show absorbances throughout the visible region of the spectrum. The potential of the first electrochemical reduction as well as the energy of the lowest energy metal to ligand charge transfer excited state (MLCT) are found to be dependent upon the nature of the bridging polypyridyl ligand. This combined with the fact that the bridging ligands are more easily reduced than bipyridine support the assignment of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) as arising from a bridging ligand based π * orbital.
Comparison of hard-cylinder and screened Coulomb interactions in the modeling of supercoiled DNAs.

A 1000 base pair (bp) model supercoiled DNA is simulated using spherical screened Coulomb interactions between subunits on one hand and equivalent hard-cylinder interactions on the other. The amplitudes, or effective charges, of the spherical screened Coulomb electrostatic potentials are chosen so that the electrostatic potential surrounding the middle of a linear array of 2001 subunits (31.8 A diameter) closely matches the solution of the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation for a cylinder with 12 A radius and the full linear charge density of DNA at all distances beyond the 24 A hard-core diameter. This superposition of spherical screened Coulomb potentials is practically identical to the particular solution of the cylindrical linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation that matches the solution of the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation at large distances. The interaction energy between subunits is reckoned from the effective charges according to the standard DLVO expression. The equivalent hard-cylinder diameter is chosen following Stigter's protocol for matching second virial coefficients, but for the full linear charge density of DNA. The electrostatic persistence length of the model with screened Coulomb interactions is extremely sensitive to the (arbitrarily) chosen subunit length at the higher salt concentrations. The persistence length of the hard-cylinder model is adjusted to match that of the screened Coulomb model for each ionic condition. Simulations for a superhelix density σ = -0.05 using a spherical screened Coulomb interaction plus a 24 A hard-cylinder core (SCPHC) potential indicate that the radius of gyration of this 1000 bp DNA actually undergoes a slight increase as the NaCl concentration is raised from 0.01 to 1.0M. Thus, merely softening the potential from hard-cylinder to screened Coulomb form does not produce a large decrease in radius of gyration with increasing NaCl concentration for DNAs of this size. Radii of gyration, static structure factors, and diffusion coefficients obtained using the equivalent hard-cylinder (EHC) potential agree well with those obtained using the SCPHC potential in 1.0M NaCl, but in 0.1M NaCl the agreement is not as good, and in 0.01M NaCl the agreement is definitely unsatisfactory. These conclusions differ in significant respects from those obtained in previous studies. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 42: 455–470, 1997
Reactivation of corpora allata in pharate adult Manduca sexta

Abstract The stage at which corpora allata (CA) of Manduca sexta regain the capability for juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis during adult development was determined by a transplantation assay and in vitro experiments with CA of adults and pharate adult stages 8 through 11. Stage 10, 11, and adult female CA induced a larval molt when transplanted into allatectomized day 0 4th-instar larvae of M. sexta. Stage 8 and 9 female and all male CA were inactive. Labelling with [methyl-3H]methionine showed that female CA in vitro regained the ability to produce JH during stage 11. JH production was substantially increased by allatotropin (Mas-AT, and a synthetic analogue, ATAA) and exogenous farnesoic acid (FA). When [14C]acetate was used as the tracer, JH acid production in vitro was detected in stage 11 and adult male and female CA; female CA produced also JH. Stage 9 and 10 CA were inactive. With [14C]propanoate as the labelled precursor and stimulation with ATAA, stage 10 female CA produced (labelled) JH-II acid, and late stage 11 female CA both JH-II acid and JH-II. Adult male CA produced only JH-II acid. At stage 8, female CA were able to convert [14C]FA to JH-III acid, and at stage 10, [3H]farnesol to JH-III acid.
Time course of expression of neuropeptide Y, calcitonin gene‐related peptide, and NADPH diaphorase activity in neurons of the developing murine bowel and the appearance of 5‐hydroxytryptamine in mucosal enterochromaffin cells

Serotoninergic and cholinergic neurons are known to appear earlier in the ontogeny (day E12) of the murine gut than those containing substance P or vasoactive intestinal peptide (day E14). It has also been demonstrated that proliferating neural precursors coexist with mature neurons in developing enteric ganglia. These observations have led to the hypotheses that peptidergic neurons develop later than those that utilize small molecule neurotransmitters and that the activity of early developing neurons may affect the phenotypic expression of coexisting neuroblasts. As a partial test of these hypotheses we studied the phenotypic expression of neurons recognized by antisera to neuropeptide Y (NPY) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and of those visualized by the histochemical demonstration of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase activity. NADPH diaphorase activity, which is coexpressed with NPY immunoreactivity in all submucosal and many myenteric neurons, was first found on day E11 in clusters of cells in the dorsal mesogastrium. These cells also expressed neurofilament reactivity and thus were developing along a neuronal lineage. Enteric neurons that expressed NADPH diaphorase activity were visualized in the stomach one day later, on day E12. At this time, NADPH diaphorase-containing cells could no longer be demonstrated in the dorsal mesogastrium. NPY immunoreactivity first appeared in the wall of the bowel on day E12, when it was seen in cells in the presumptive stomach. By day E13, the entire length of the bowel contained NPY-immunoreactive neurons. Cells that displayed NADPH diaphorase activity were found at this time at both ends of the alimentary tract, but did not appear in the ileum until day E18. In contrast, CGRP immunoreactivity could not be detected anywhere in the gut until day E17, but by day E18 all regions of the bowel contained CGRP-immunoreactive neurons. Endogenous 5-HT was first detected at day E16 in mucosal epithelial cells in all segments of the gut except the stomach, where it appeared at day E18. The NPY/NADPH diaphorase set of neurons thus develop before the acquisition of a detectable level of endogenous 5-HT or enteric neural 5-HT receptors (which arise in the foregut at day E14). These observations demonstrate that enteric neurons that express small molecule neurotransmitters do not necessarily develop earlier than peptidergic neurons as a class; however, various types of enteric neurons do appear in a sequential order.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Changes in the Pelvic Anatomy After an IMRT Treatment Fraction of Prostate Cancer

Purpose: To quantify the three-dimensional variations of pelvic anatomy after a single treatment fraction. Methods and Materials: Forty-six prostate cancer patients underwent computed tomography (CT) scanning with an in-room CT-on-rail system, before and immediately after one intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) session. To study the soft-tissue anatomy changes, the pre- and post-treatment CT images were registered using the bony structure with an in-house image registration software system. The center of volume for both the prostate and seminal vesicles was used to assess the relative displacement of the same structure after the treatment fraction. Results: During one treatment fraction (21 ± 4 min), both the prostate and seminal vesicles showed statistically significant systematic trends in the superior and anterior directions of the patient's anatomy. The net increase in bladder volume was huge (127 ± 79 cm 3 ), yet this change did not translate into large target displacements. Although the population mean displacements in either direction were 1.3 ± 2.9 mm for the prostate and 1.2 ± 4.1 mm for the seminal vesicles in the anterior direction, a few patients had displacements as large as 8.4 mm and 15.6 mm, respectively. These large displacements correlated strongly ( p Conclusion: The observed intrafraction variations in anatomy during prostate IMRT sessions suggest that, for any given fraction, the organ motion and volume changes can potentially lead to compromised target coverage in about 15% of patients in whom the prostate position shifted >4 mm.
Development and Testing of a Laboratory Spray Table Methodology to Bioassay Simulated Levels of Aerial Spray Drift

The objective of this work was to develop a repeatable methodology for bioassaying simulated levels of aerially applied glyphosate at deposition levels ranging from 1/3 to 1/100 of labeled rate at droplet sizes of 100 μm in a spray table environment. These drift deposition levels are consistent with downwind drift measurements out to 200 m seen in previous field studies focusing on quantitative drift assessment. Additionally, full rate applications were included for comparative purposes. The deposition levels were obtained by varying nozzle traverse speed and plant location under the nozzle. Ten replications were conducted at each targeted rate applying glyphosate to container grown-plant samples. Deposition was measured on Mylar cards through fluorometric analysis. Plant health measures [height and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)] were taken at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after treatment. An equal number of nontreated control plants were analyzed alongside treated plants. Deposition and plant health data were used to generate dose-response relationships. Dose-response curves relating change in plant height and change in measured NDVI values corresponding to deposition levels were generated. This methodology is one that can be implemented across a wide variety of plant and pesticide combinations. Collected data from this and future studies will be tested under field conditions and ultimately be included in application decision support systems that integrate spray drift modeling results with established dose-response relationships.
Specification Tests Based on the Heterogeneous Generalized Gamma Model of Duration: With an Application to Kennan's Strike Data

In this paper, tests for neglected heterogeneity and functional form misspecification of some commonly used parametric distributions are derived within a heterogeneous generalized gamma model. It is argued that the conventional test of heterogeneity may not be valid when the underlying hazard function is misspecified. Hence, if the estimated hazard function is deemed restrictive, tests for functional form misspecification should accompany any test of heterogeneity. An empirical illustration based on Kennan's (1985) model of strikes is used to show that incorrect inferences may be drawn, as in a number of previous analyses, if the relevant restrictions are not tested jointly.
1,3-Dipropionyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene

In the mol­ecule of the title compound, C15H20O2, the two propionyl groups are in unusual positions with the two carbonyl groups in syn orientation relative to each other and bent at angles of 94.3 (3) and 93.6 (2)° away from the central methyl group.
Microscopic quantum mechanics of the p = ρ universe

We present a complete quantum mechanical description of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe with equation of state $p=\ensuremath{\rho}$. We find a detailed correspondence with our heuristic picture of such a universe as a dense black hole fluid. Features of the geometry are derived from purely quantum input.
Changes in Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in plaque in relation to the initiation of dental caries in negro children

Abstract Over a period of 18 months, a study was made of dental plaques and caries on three selected tooth surfaces in 12 Negro children, ages 7–9. Although the mean number of Streptococcus mutans increased with time on each of the three surfaces, it remained much higher in the pits and fissures than on the buccal and approximal surfaces. The initiation of caries tended to be preceded by elevated numbers of both Strep. mutans and lactobacilli. However, the lactobacilli became a sizeable proportion of the plaque microbiota only after the appearance of caries. Caries frequently occurred in the absence of lactobacilli, but not in the absence of Strep. mutans.
Expression of the RET proto-oncogene is regulated by TFAP2C in breast cancer independent of the estrogen receptor.

Background The RET proto-oncogene is expressed as part of the estrogen receptor (ER) cluster in breast cancer. We sought to determine if TFAP2C regulates Ret expression directly or indirectly through ER.
Transmitted/Founder Hepatitis C Viruses Induce Cell-Type- and Genotype-Specific Differences in Innate Signaling within the Liver

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to persistence in the majority of cases despite triggering complex innate immune responses within the liver. Although hepatocytes are the preferred site for HCV replication, nonparenchymal cells (NPCs) can also contribute to antiviral immunity. Recent innovations involving single-genome amplification (SGA), direct amplicon sequencing, and phylogenetic inference have identified full-length transmitted/founder (T/F) viruses. Here, we tested the effect of HCV T/F viral RNA (vRNA) on innate immune signaling within hepatocytes and NPCs, including the HepG2 and Huh 7.5.1 cell lines, a human liver endothelial cell line (TMNK-1), a plasmacytoid dendritic cell line (GEN2.2), and a monocytic cell line (THP-1). Transfection with hepatitis C T/F vRNA induced robust transcriptional upregulation of type I and III interferons (IFNs) within HepG2 and TMNK-1 cells. Both the THP-1 and GEN2.2 lines demonstrated higher type I and III IFN transcription with genotype 3a compared to genotype 1a or 1b. Supernatants from HCV T/F vRNA-transfected TMNK-1 cells demonstrated superior viral control. Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) transfected with genotype 3a induced canonical pathways that included chemokine and IFN genes, as well as overrepresentation of RIG-I (DDX58), STAT1, and a Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) network. Full-length molecular clones of HCV induce broad IFN responses within hepatocytes and NPCs, highlighting that signals imparted by the various cell types within the liver may lead to divergent outcomes of infection. In particular, the finding that HCV genotypes differentially induce antiviral responses in NPCs and PHH might account for relevant clinical-epidemiological observations (higher clearance but greater necroinflammation in persistence with genotype 3). IMPORTANCE Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become a major worldwide problem, and it is now the most common viral infection for which there is no vaccine. HCV infection often leads to persistence of the virus and is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cancer, and cirrhosis. There are multiple genotypes of the virus, and patients infected with different viral genotypes respond to traditional therapy differently. However, the immune response to the virus within the liver has not been fully elucidated. Here, we determined the responses to different genotypes of HCV in cell types of the liver. We found that the immune response varied according to both cell type and HCV genotype, leading to a more pronounced induction of inflammatory pathways after exposure to certain genotypes. Therefore, inflammatory pathways that are being robustly activated by certain HCV genotypes could lead to more severe damage to the liver, inducing diverse outcomes and responses to therapy.
Pulmonary aspiration of enteral feedings: A model for prevention

As a cost-saving measure, more adults now receive complex home health care services each year. One such service is the safe administration of enteral feedings through a gastrostomy tube for adults with significant neurologic impairments. These adults are at high risk for pulmonary aspiration caused by gastroesophageal reflux of formula and gastric acids. Analysis of the etiol ogy and pathophysiology of pulmonary aspiration, pneumonitis, and pneumonia helps to estab lish a care plan for prevention. Key words: enteral feeding, pulmonary aspiration, prevention, home health care
Evaluation of candidate spermatogonial markers ID4 and GPR125 in testes of adult human cadaveric organ donors.

The optimal markers for human spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are not known. Among the genes recently linked to SSCs in mice and other animals are the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor ID4 and the orphan G-protein coupled receptor GPR125. While ID4 and GPR125 are considered putative markers for SSCs, they have not been evaluated for co-expression in human tissue. Further, neither the size nor the character of the human spermatogonial populations that express ID4 and GPR125, respectively, are known. A major barrier to addressing these questions is the availability of healthy adult testis tissue from donors with no known reproductive health problems. To overcome this obstacle, we have employed healthy testicular tissue from a novel set of organ donors (n=16; aged 17-68 years) who were undergoing post-mortem clinical organ procurement. Using immunolabeling, we found that ID4 and GPR125 are expressed on partially overlapping spermatogonial populations and are more broadly expressed in the normal adult human testis. Additionally, we found that expression of ID4 remained stable during aging. These findings suggest that ID4 and GPR125 could be efficacious for identifying previously unrecognized human spermatogonial subpopulations in conjunction with other putative human stem cell markers, both in younger and older donors.
Gastroschisis and Hirschsprung's disease : A rare combination

The authors report on a neonate with gastroschisis repaired at birth who later had abdominal distension, emesis, feeding intolerance, and an abnormal stooling pattern. Total colon and partial small bowel aganglionosis (TCAS), or Hirschsprung's disease, was diagnosed subsequently. This is the first report of this combination of gastrointestinal anomalies. J Pediatr Surg 36:638-640.
Functional antagonism between endogenous mouse growth hormone (GH) and a GH analog results in dwarf transgenic mice.

A dwarf transgenic mouse (DTM) line has been established in which mice express relatively high levels of a mutated bovine (b) GH gene. This bGH analog binds to mouse liver membrane preparations with an affinity similar to that of wild-type bGH. The mean growth ratio of these mice is approximately 0.7 relative to that of their nontransgenic littermates. Serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels of DTM were found to be approximately half those in nontransgenic litter-mates. Liver GH receptor levels were up-regulated in DTM or wild-type bGH transgenic mice. Pituitary GH levels were negatively correlated with serum IGF-I concentrations. Wild-type bGH transgenic mice contain relatively high serum IGF-I and low pituitary GH levels, whereas DTM possess low serum IGF-I and high pituitary GH levels. The decrease in serum IGF-I resulting from the interaction between the bGH analog, the endogenous mouse GH, and GH receptor(s) apparently leads to a dwarf phenotype. These data suggest that this bGH analog has ...
Molecular mechanisms of selector gene function and evolution

Selector proteins regulate the formation and identity of animal body regions, organs, tissues, and cell types. Recent studies have focused on the regulation of the DNA binding and transcriptional regulatory activity of this special class of transcription factors. Elucidation of the architecture of selector-regulated target gene enhancers and gene networks, and comparative studies of selector protein function are providing important insights into the evolution of development and morphology.
A fast algorithm for the solution of the time-independent Gross--Pitaevskii equation

A new efficient numerical method for the solution of the time-independent Gross-Pitaevskii partial differential equation in three spatial variables is introduced. This equation is converted into an equivalent fixed-point form and is discretized using the collocation method at zeros of Legendre polynomials. Numerical comparisons with a state-of-the-art method based on propagating the solution of the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation in imaginary time are presented.
Synthesis, Structure, and Activities of an Oral Mucosal α-Defensin from Rhesus Macaque

The oral cavity is an environment challenged by a large variety of pathogens. Consequently, the antimicrobial peptides expressed in that environment are interesting as they evolved to defend against a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi. Here we report the discovery of new α-defensins from rhesus macaque oral mucosa and determine the first α-defensin structure from that species. The new peptides were identified by sequencing of reverse transcriptase-PCR products obtained from oral mucosal tissues, disclosing three mucosal α-defensins, termed rhesus macaque oral α-defensins (ROADs). The peptide corresponding to fully processed ROAD-1 was synthesized, subjected to folding/oxidation conditions, and purified. ROAD-1 was active against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans in a concentration-dependent manner. We determined the structure of ROAD-1 using NMR spectroscopy and find that the synthetic peptide adopts the canonical disulfide pairing and α-defensin fold. The antimicrobial mechanism of defensins has been correlated with their ability to disrupt and permeabilize the cell envelope, activities that depend on the surface features of the folded peptide. Although ROAD-1 maintains the defensin fold, the oral defensin displays distinct surface features when compared with other α-defensin structures.
The position of interphase chromosomes and late replicating DNA in centromere and telomere regions of Allium cepa L.

Chromosomes in G1, S, G2 and early prophase of Allium cepa root tip nuclei are oriented in the same position as telophase chromosomes. The centromeric heteroehromatin is aggregated in a chromocenter at one side of the nucleus, the telomeres scattered at the opposite side. Telomeres appear to associate with other telomeres in interphase in a roughly two by two fashion. Telomere-centromere DNA is late replicating. These results support the conclusion that chromosomes in higher organisms frequently maintain their telophase orientation from the end of telophase, during interphase and well into the next prophase.
A study by scanning electron microscopy of magnetic head-disk interface sliding

Abstract A test apparatus was designed and built which would allow direct observations of a sliding experiment between a magnetic tape and a ceramic head material. The tests were performed inside the chamber of a scanning electron microscope. The resulting observations and energy-dispersive analysis are discussed in this paper.
Temporal and photoregulated expression of five tomato phytochrome genes

Quantitative measurements of the absolute amounts of mRNAs transcribed from each of five phytochrome genes (PHYA, PHYB1, PHYB2, PHYE, PHYF) throughout the life cycle of a tomato plant and in response to changes in ambient light conditions are reported here. From their lowest level in unimbibed seed, all five transcripts increase by from 10- to 1000-fold during the first 24 h following the onset of imbibition, both in continuous darkness and in a greenhouse. In a greenhouse and on a whole-plant basis, all continue to increase throughout day 6, after which all but PHYE decline over the next week to a plateau at about one-half of the maximal value. PHYE mRNA differs in that in continues to increase in abundance during the first 2-3 weeks and thereafter remains at that maximal level. In adult plants, on a whole-plant basis and in decreasing order of abundance, PHYA, PHYB1, PHYE, PHYB2, and PHYF transcripts were present at approximately 120, 40, 40, 15, and 8 mumol microgram-1 of poly(A)(+)-enriched RNA, respectively. The data are consistent with the demonstrated roles of phytochromes A and B1 during seedling development and lead to the suggestion that phytochrome E might have a more important role in mature plants. Somewhat unexpectedly, PHYA and PHYB2 expression patterns are very similar. In seedlings, PHYA and PHYB2 exhibit the greatest increase in expression following a light-to-dark transition, as well as the greatest decrease following a dark-to-light transition. PHYA and PHYB2 are also similar in that both exhibit comparable variation on a natural diurnal cycle, while PHYB1 also exhibits variation but with a markedly different phase. The diurnal variation in expression of PHYA, PHYB1 and PHYB2 is consistent with the possibility that one or more of the phytochromes they encode is important with respect not only to photoperiodic behavior but also to the regulation of other events whose photosensitivity varies during a diurnal cycle.
POLYRIBOSYLPHOSPHATE (PRP) REVACCINATION TO PREVENT INVASIVE HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE B (HIB) IN CHILDREN FIRST IMMUNIZED AT 18–20 MOS OF AGE

PRP vaccination (vax) of 18 mo old children at high risk for contracting invasive Hib disease is recommended by the ACIP. The timing of revax of such children has not been studied. Thus far, 30 children have been stratified according to their postvax anti-PRP antibody (Ab) level (determined by radioantigen binding assay) following PRP vax at 18-20 mo then sequentially assigned to 3 groups with comparable distribution of Ab levels to receive revax at 24, 30 or 36 mo of age; each group had children who had failed to respond to primary vax with PRP ( 30% rise in Ab titer), and the % with presumed protective postvax Ab level (defined as >1.0 μg/ml)for each vaccine group were as follows: GMT's rose in both the 24-27 mo and the 30-33 mo groups; proportional rises were, as expected, more frequent in the latter. Adequate responses to revax were seen in some children who initially appeared to be “intrinsically” unresponsive to PRP vax.
Multicast Authentication over Lossy Channels

Authentication is critical to ensure the origin of a multicast stream. To avoid computationally expensive signature operations on each packet, conventional schemes divide a multicast stream into blocks, associate each block with a signature, and spread the effect of the signature across all the packets in the block through hash chains or codes. However, most of them suffer from drawbacks such as vulnerability to packet loss and authentication latency at the sender and/or receivers. Unlike the block-based approach, we develop a novel Multicast Authentication scheme based on Batch Signature (MABS). In particular, each packet is attached with a signature, and a receiver authenticates any number of packets simultaneously by verifying their signatures through only one verification operation. We propose three implementations of MABS including two new batch signature schemes based on BLS and DSA and show they are more efficient than the batch RSA signature scheme. MABS is perfectly resilient to packet loss and completely eliminate the authentication latency at the sender and receivers.
The Effect of Trace Amount of H2S on CO2 Corrosion Investigated by Using the EIS technique

A project has been initiated with the aim of extending the model to cover the effect of H 2 S on CO2 corrosion. This report covers one of the main building blocks necessary to complete the mechanistic CO2/H2S corrosion model, namely, electrochemistry of API 5L X65 carbon steel CO2 corrosion in the presence of small amounts of H2S (≤340ppm). The corrosion process monitored by Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) showed a significant decrease in corrosion rate in the presence of H2S due to the metal surface coverage by a sulfide film. This sulfide film was identified as mackinawite by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Since the experimental results suggested that the mechanism is a retardation of the charge transfer process, the surface coverage was calculated from the corrosion rate. The Langmuir-type adsorption isotherm was successful in modeling the surface coverage by mackinawite in the presence of trace amounts of H2S.
Accurate Passive Location Estimation Using TOA Measurements

Localization of objects is fast becoming a major aspect of wireless technologies, with applications in logistics, surveillance, and emergency response. Time-of-arrival (TOA) localization is ideally suited for high-precision localization of objects in particular in indoor environments, where GPS is not available. This paper considers the case where one transmitter and multiple, distributed, receivers are used to estimate the location of a passive (reflecting) object. It furthermore focuses on the situation when the transmitter and receivers can be synchronized, so that TOA (as opposed to time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA)) information can be used. We propose a novel, Two-Step estimation (TSE) algorithm for the localization of the object. We then derive the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) for TOA and show that it is an order of magnitude lower than the CRLB of TDOA in typical setups. The TSE algorithm achieves the CRLB when the TOA measurements are subject to small Gaussian-distributed errors, which is verified by analytical and simulation results. Moreover, practical measurement results show that the estimation error variance of TSE can be 33 dB lower than that of TDOA based algorithms.
K-Best Suffix Arrays

Suppose we have a large dictionary of strings. Each entry starts with a figure of merit (popularity). We wish to find the k-best matches for a substring, s, in a dictinoary, dict. That is, grep s dict | sort -n | head -k, but we would like to do this in sublinear time. Example applications: (1) web queries with popularities, (2) products with prices and (3) ads with click through rates. This paper proposes a novel index, k-best suffix arrays, based on ideas borrowed from suffix arrays and kdtrees. A standard suffix array sorts the suffixes by a single order (lexicographic) whereas k-best suffix arrays are sorted by two orders (lexicographic and popularity). Lookup time is between log N and sqrt N.
Probing the connection between cluster and bulk electronic structure of InP using vacuum ultraviolet anion photoelectron spectroscopy

Vacuum ultraviolet photoelectron (PE) spectra of InxP � ðx ¼ 2–13Þ clusters were measured to probe the evolution of their electronic structure with size. The spectra of smaller (x 6 6) clusters show numerous discrete electronic features, with fewer seen for x ¼ 7 and 8. For xP 9, the PE spectra comprise two broad peaks resembling the first two valence bands of the InP bulk photoemission spectrum and calculated density of states. Electronic structure calculations show that the character of the electronic states contributing to the two bands in the cluster PE spectra is similar to that in the bulk photoemission spectrum. 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Diabetes Mellitus and Vascular Disease

Obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes mellitus are associated with a substantially increased prevalence of hypertension, cardiovascular (CVD), and chronic renal disease. The prevalence of hypertension in patients who have type 2 diabetes mellitus is up to 3 times higher than in patients without diabetes mellitus. Further, the coexistence of hypertension in diabetic patients greatly enhances their likelihood of developing CVD and chronic kidney disease.1–4 Indeed, studies conducted in the Framingham population with diabetes mellitus1 indicated that the presence of hypertension in these participants was a resulting risk factor for the presence of CVD. This data and other studies suggest a 2-fold increased risk of CVD events and deaths in diabetic persons with hypertension compared with those with normal blood pressures. The increased association between hypertension and diabetes mellitus can be explained, in part, by the presence of a maladaptive interaction of factors, such as excessive caloric intake/decreased activity and associated insulin resistance (IR), chronic activation of the renin–angiotensin (Ang II)–aldosterone system (RAAS), the sympathetic nervous system, and abnormalities of innate immunity, inflammation, and oxidative stress1–21 (Figure). The epidemic of obesity and sedentary lifestyle, and the aging of populations worldwide have contributed to the current high prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Figure. Systemic and metabolic factors that promote coexistent diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular, and chronic kidney disease. Hypertension is more common in diabetic patients than in the general population.1–4 In the Strong Heart Study, baseline measurements which independently predicted incident hypertension, included waist circumference, elevations in baseline systolic blood pressure, and left ventricular mass and diabetes mellitus.2 Further, a recent longitudinal Japanese study of 5198 subjects showed that parental hypertension has an age-independent impact on both male and female offspring in elevations in blood pressure, plasma glucose, and triglyceride …
Non-Probabilistic Factor of Safety

In this chapter we first illustrate some difficulties associated with probabilistic calculations of the reliability. It appears that these and other difficulties are either overlooked or pushed under the rug, as it were, by the probabilistic analysts. Then the alternative approach called ‘convex modeling’ is presented, and the safety factor’s associated definition is suggested.
Fine-structure collision strengths and line ratios for [Ne v] in infrared and optical sources

New collisions’ strengths for the mid-infrared (mid-IR) and optical transitions in Ne V are presented. Breit–Pauli-R-Matrix calculations for electron impact excitation are carried out with fully resolved near-threshold resonances at very low energies. In particular, the fine-structure lines at 14 and 24 μm due to transitions among the ground state levels 1s 2 2s 2 2p 33 P0,1,2, and the optical/near-ultraviolet lines at 2973, 3346 and 3426 A transitions among the 3 P0,1,2, 1 D2, 1 S0 levels are described. Maxwellian-averaged collision strengths are tabulated for all forbidden transitions within the ground configuration. While some significant differences are found for both the far infrared and the optical transitions compared to previous results, computed line emissivity ratios are in good agreement, but change rapidly in the low temperature range Te < 10 000 K. An analysis of the 14/24 μm ratio in low-energy-density (LED) plasma conditions reveals considerable variation; the effective rate coefficient may be dominated by the very low energy behaviour rather than the Maxwellian-averaged collision strengths. Computed values suggest a possible solution to the anomalous mid-IR ratios found to be lower than theoretical limits observed from planetary nebulae and Seyfert galaxies. While such LED conditions may be present in infrared sources, they might be inconsistent with photoionization equilibrium models.
Evaluation of the Integrated Database Network System (IDNS) SmartGene software for analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences for identification of Nocardia species.

16S rRNA gene sequences of 102 Nocardia isolates were analyzed using the Integrated Database Network System (IDNS) SmartGene centroid database. A total of 76% of the isolates were correctly identified. Discordant identifications were due to inadequate centroid length (3 species), inaccurate or insufficient entries in the public databases (5 species), and heterogeneous sequences among members of a species (1 species).
H as a Measure of Complexity of Social Information Processing

Many studies have used H (a measure of unpredictability derived from information theory) to quantify the complexity of descriptions of persons across multiple roles. Interpreting these studies is problematic, though, because H confounds unpredictability across roles (which is typically the construct of interest) and unpredictability within roles (which is simply a function of the proportion of traits endorsed). The need to control for unpredictability within roles was highlighted by 3 demonstration studies in which controlling for unpredictability within roles eliminated relations between well-being and H. I also show how, controlling for unpredictability due to the number of traits endorsed and number of roles described, H provides a unique measure of role dependence and independence. However, H does not measure the type of role overlaps that would predict "spillover effects" between roles; therefore, I recommend an alternative index of role similarity for future research on spillover effects.