cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Method for Determination of Ureides in Soybean Tissues

The ureides allantoin and allantoic acid are important transport compounds of fixed nitrogen from soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) nodules to the plant tops. The objective of this research was to develop a colorimetric method for determination of ureides in soybean tissues. The 2,3-butanedione monoxime-thiosemicarbazide (BDM-TSC) method for urea was adapted for ureide analysis by adding an alkaline hydrolysis step and converting allantoin to allantoate before determination as urea. Water extracts of soybean tissue samples containing a wide range of ureide concentrations were analyzed by the proposed method and two alternative procedures. The alternative procedures included a volumetric method based on urease and a colorimetric method for ureide-derived glyoxylic acid. The proposed method was highly correlated (r = 0.99) to the two alternative methods. The proposed method was easier to perform than the two alternative methods and should be adaptable for use by microplate methods.
Reduction of composite contraction stress through non-bonded microfiller particles

Abstract Objectives . To determine the reduction in composite polymerization stress through the addition of non-bonded microfiller particles. Methods . Microfillers that were unsilanated, silanated, and treated with a nonfunctional silane were added to dental resin and to a small-particle composite. The contraction stress generated by these materials was measured by polymerizing them between glass plates mounted in a mechanical testing machine. The maximum force was recorded 15 min after photo-initiation. Results were analysed by ANOVA (analysis of variance)/Tukey's test ( p ≤0.05). Results . The addition of non-functional silanated microfillers to dental resin resulted in a significant 50% decrease in polymerization stress. The addition of unsilanated microfillers did not reduce the contraction stress. When added to small-particle composite, the unsilanated microfillers produced a significant 30% reduction in contraction stress compared to the composite containing silanated microfillers. The non-functional silanated microfillers did not reduce the contraction stress in the small-particle composite. Significance . The polymerization shrinkage of dental composite can impose high levels of stress on the tooth surfaces to which it is bonding. This contraction stress can lead to failure of bond formation with the surrounding tooth structure. Microfiller particles that are not bound to the resin matrix might provide sites for relief of internal stresses, significantly reducing contraction stress in dental composite.
Iron- and hemin-dependent gene expression of Porphyromonas gingivalis

Summary Although iron under anaerobic conditions is more accessible and highly reactive because of its reduced form, iron-dependent regulation is not well known in anaerobic bacteria. Here, we investigated iron- and hemin-dependent gene regulation in Porphyromonas gingivalis, an established periodontopathogen that primarily inhabits anaerobic pockets. Whole-genome microarrays of P. gingivalis genes were used to compare the levels of gene expression under iron-replete and iron-depleted conditions as well as under hemin-replete and hemin-depleted conditions. Under iron-depleted conditions, the expression of genes encoding proteins that participate in iron uptake and adhesion/invasion of host cells was increased, while that of genes encoding proteins involved in iron storage, energy metabolism, and electron transport was decreased. Interestingly, many of the genes with altered expression had no known function. Limiting the amount of hemin also resulted in a reduced expression of the genes encoding proteins involved in energy metabolism and electron transport. However, hemin also had a significant effect on many other biological processes such as oxidative stress protection and lipopolysaccharide synthesis. Overall, comparison of the data from iron-depleted conditions to those from hemin-depleted ones showed that although some regulation is through the iron derived from hemin, there also is significant distinct regulation through hemin only. Furthermore, our data showed that the molecular mechanisms of iron-dependent regulation are novel as the deletion of the putative Fur protein had no effect on the expression of iron-regulated genes. Finally, our functional studies demonstrated greater survivability of host cells in the presence of the iron-stressed bacterium than the iron-replete P. gingivalis cells. The major iron-regulated proteins encoded by PG1019–20 may play a role in this process as deletion of these sequences also resulted in reduced survival of the bacterium when grown with eukaryotic cells. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrated the utility of whole-genome microarray analysis for the identification of genes with altered expression profiles during varying growth conditions and provided a framework for the detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms of iron and hemin acquisition, metabolism and virulence of P. gingivalis.
Shaping an entertaining future at Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon established the Entertainment Technology Center. The ETC uses interdisciplinary cooperation to advance the boundaries of digital technology. The ETC strives to prepare students for careers involving digital media in the entertainment industry. The idea is to prepare students for real-world time constraints and deadlines. The ETC's interactive animatronics initiative seeks to create conversationally interactive, emotionally compelling animatronic figures. The ETC's project-oriented approach to teaching innovation has been well received by entertainment companies.
Hydrothermal liquefaction oil and hydrotreated product from pine feedstock characterized by heteronuclear two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and FT-ICR mass spectrometry

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) crude oil and hydrotreated product from pine tree farm waste (forest product residual, FPR) have been analyzed by direct infusion electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS) in both positive- and negative-ionization modes and high-resolution twodimensional heteronuclear 1H-13C NMR spectroscopy. FT-ICR MS resolves thousands of compounds in complex oils and provides unparalleled compositional details for individual molecules for identification of compound class (heteroatom content), type (number of rings plus double bonds to carbon or double bond equivalents (DBE) and carbon number (degree of alkylation). Heteronuclear 1H-13C NMR spectroscopy provides one-bond and multiple-bond correlations between pairs of 1H and 13C chemical shifts that are characteristic of different organic functional groups. Taken together this information provides a picture of the chemical composition of these oils. Pyrolysis crude oil product from pine wood was characterized for comparison. Generally, pyrolysis oil is comprised of a more diverse distribution of heteroatom classes with higher oxygen number relative to HTL oil as shown by both positive- and negative-ion ESI FT-ICR MS. A total of 300 N1, 594 O1 and 267 O2 compounds were observed as products of hydrotreatment. The relative abundance of N1O1, N1O2, N1O3, N2, N2O1, N2O2more » and O3 compounds are reduced to different degrees after hydrotreatment and other higher heteroatom containing species (O4-O10, N1O4, N1O5 and N2O3) are completely removed by hydrotreatment.« less
Statistical quantum electrodynamics of resonant atoms

Abstract This paper reviews the quantum statistical electrodynamics of resonant atoms: (a) the theory treats within the same formalism the independent atom quantum electrodynamics and the many-atom effects; (b) special emphasis given by phenomena associated with aggregates of like atoms in which resonant interactions are possible. To make the paper useful to a wide class of readers we included some details of field theory within the text.
Free precession of the comet Halley nucleus

Images1–3 of the comet Halley nucleus by the Vega and Giotto spacecraft and a compilation4 of recurring events show a 'rotation' period of roughly 2.2 days. In contrast, molecular emission intensities5 (C2 and CN) in the inner coma exhibit 7.4-day periodic variations. In this report the comet Halley nucleus is modelled dynamically as a rigid homogeneous ellipsoid with three unequal principal axes in torque-free rotation about its centre of mass. Two qualitatively-distinct, free-precessional modes are found, each exhibiting both 2.2-day and 7.4-day periodicities. As viewed from the nucleus, the two modes are distinguished by the closed path (called a polhode) that the end of the angular velocity vector traces with a period of 7.4 days (see Fig. 1). The long-axis mode has a polhode that encloses only the long principal axis of the nucleus. It reduces to a motion proposed by Sekanina6,7 when the minor axes are equal. However, because the polhode encloses the long axis in a long-axis mode, the resulting motion with a 7.4-day period around that axis conflicts8 with the Vega and Giotto images of the nucleus. The short-axis mode occurs when the minor axes are unequal and the polhode encloses only the short principal axis of the nucleus. The resulting motion is around the short axis and does not conflict with the spacecraft images.
At the Dawn of ‘Practice’ or Re-thinking the Nature and Role of Theology and Doctrine in the Church

‭Are theology and doctrine the names of the church’s life of worship and proclamation, or are they their foundations? Is it acceptable theologically to develop an understanding of theology and doctrine that would completely subordinate beliefs to practices to the point of completely functionalizing beliefs and turn theology and doctrine to mere way of life? In this paper, I address these important questions by displaying two attempts at understanding the nature and role of theology and doctrine. The first approach is exemplified in Kevin Vanhoozer’s proposal in The Drama of Doctrine, and Anthony Thiselton’s proposal in The Hermeneutics of Doctrine, while, the second approach is exemplified in Reinhard Hutter’s proposal in his valuable book Suffering Divine Things. By critiquing Vanhoozer’s and Thiselton’s approaches and siding with Hutter’s, I hope to stress that the accuracy of our understanding of the nature and role of theology and doctrine depends to a great and substantial extent on 1) how one understands theology’s relation to its primary subject matter, God, and 2) on the extent of the theologian’s belief that God, not just human talk about God, is the proper object of theology.‬
Correlations Among Somatic Cell Scores of Milk Within and Across Lactations and Linear Type Traits of Jerseys

Abstract Genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated for means of log 2 SCC (somatic cell scores) from the first 305 d, the first 75 d, the first 150 d, 76 to 305 d, and 151 to 305 d of lactation for first and second lactations using REML. Somatic cell scores from the Dairy Records Processing Center in Raleigh, North Carolina for 31,180 Jersey cows sired by 411 bulls were used for analyses. Correlations between sire evaluations for somatic cell scores from this study and linear type traits from the American Jersey Cattle Club were also calculated. The model used for analyses of the somatic cell score means included herd-year of calving, age at first calving, sire, and residual. Heritability estimates for the means ranged from .05 to .15 (.12 for 305-d mean for first lactation). Genetic correlations among the somatic cell score means within first and within second lactation were≥.79. The genetic correlation between the 305-d mean from first and second lactation was .90. The smallest genetic correlation across lactations was .68. Somatic cell scores measured at various times were under similar genetic control. Phenotypic correlations were usually much smaller than genetic correlations. Correlations were small between sire evaluations for somatic cell scores measured in first lactation and linear type traits; the largest correlations were between somatic cell scores and dairy form and between somatic cell scores and teat length. Most correlations between sire evaluations for somatic cell scores measured in second lactation and linear type traits were similar to the correlations between somatic cell scores in first lactation and linear type traits. However, in second lactation the negative correlations were larger between somatic cell scores and fore udder attachment and udder depth. Lower scores for dairy form (less angularity), shorter teats, tighter fore udders, and higher udders were associated with lower somatic cell scores, especially somatic cell scores measured in second lactation.
Evaluation of a treatment manual and workshops for disseminating, parent-child interaction therapy.

This study’s main purposes were to: (a) evaluate a treatment manual as a dissemination strategy, (b) compare two workshop formats for evidence-based treatment (EBT) training, and (c) provide preliminary data on therapist characteristics potentially associated with successful EBT adoption. Forty-two community-based clinicians were assigned to one of two training groups (didactic or experiential). Behavior observation and self-report data were collected at four time points. Results suggest that reading a treatment manual is useful, but not sufficient. Experiential and didactic training were equally effective in increasing knowledge, skill, and satisfaction; however, after a 2-day training, few participants demonstrated mastery of skills.
Organic-Capped ZnO Nanocrystals: Synthesis and n-Type Character

Wurtzite ZnO nanocrystals capped with trioctylphosphine oxide or alkylamines are synthesized and characterized. These ZnO nanocrystals can be made n-type either by electron transfer doping from reducing species in solution or by above band gap photoexcitation with a UV lamp. The n-type nanocrystals exhibit a strong intraband infrared absorption, an extensive bleach of the interband band-edge absorption, and a complete quenching of the photoluminescence.
Rhodococcus equi and cytomegalovirus pneumonia in a renal transplant patient: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Rhodococcus equi is a common cause of pneumonia in animals. Human infection is rare. Increasing number of cases are being reported in immunosuppressed individuals mostly associated with HIV infection, but also in solid organ transplant recipients and leukemia/lymphoma patients. We report on an adult male who developed pneumonia and gastroenteritis 4 mo after receiving a renal transplant. CT scan of the lungs showed a dominant 2.5-cm upper lobe lung mass and smaller bilateral nodules. He underwent a diagnostic bronchoscopy with fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the largest lung nodule. Smears showed histiocytic granulomatous inflammation, foamy macrophages, and acute inflammatory exudate. Scattered foamy macrophages displayed intracellular cocco-bacilli identifiable on Diff-Quik stain. A few cells with changes suggestive of viral inclusions were identified. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunostain was positive in the cell block sections. Lung cultures grew R. equi. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of coinfection with R. equi and CMV.
A New Ensemble Learning Method for Temporal Pattern Identification

Abstract In this paper we present a method for identification of temporal patterns predictive of significant events in a dynamic data system. A new hybrid model using Reconstructed Phase Space (MRPS) and Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is applied to identify temporal patterns. This method constructs phase space embedding by using individual embedding of each variable sequences. We also employ Hidden Markov Models (HMM) to the multivariate sequence data to categorize multi-dimensional data into three states, e.g. normal, patterns and events. A support vector machine optimization method is used to search an optimal classifier to identify temporal patterns that are predictive of future events. We performed two experimental applications using chaotic time series and natural gas usage series related to the natural gas usage forecasting problem. Experiments show that the new method significantly outperforms the original RPS framework and neural network method.
Diffusion-Accommodated Grain Boundary Sliding in a Polycrystal

A two-dimensional model for diffusional creep (Coble creep) and diffusion-accommodated grain boundary sliding in polycrystals has been developed. The results obtained for small symmetrical clusters of grains reproduce Spingarn and Nix's work (Acta Metall. 26, 1389 (1978)). For clusters of irregularly shaped grains the material deposition and removal rates, the fluxes along the grain boundaries, the grain boundary tractions as well as the grain boundary sliding rates are irregular and can all be calculated. 4 refs., 5 figs.
Book Review: The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Legal Rearch

This is a short review of a lengthy and excellent scholarly resource: The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Legal Research, published by the Oxford University Press, 2010.
Effects of Amino Acid Treatments on 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-Induced Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity in Mouse Epidermis In Vivo and In Vitro

We have compared the effects of several amino acid treatments on the induction of ornithine decarboxylase activity and the accumulation of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in mouse epidermis in vivo and in vitro. Incubation of isolated epidermal cells with mM concentrations of glycine, asparagine, glutamic acid, canavanine, arginine, and/or lysine inhibited dramatically the induction of ornithine decarboxylase activity by the tumor promoter. These remarkable inhibitory effects were concentration-dependent and additive. Arginine and its analog, canavanine, inhibited to the same degree TPA- induced ornithine decarboxylase activity, and potentiated to the same extent the inhibitory effects of glutamic acid, asparagine, and glycine on this enzyme. However, the inhibitory effects of arginine and canavanine were not additive. Similar alterations of tumor promoter-induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity were observed in vivo when 62.5 μmol of the amino acids were injected i.p. 2 h before the topical application of 8.5 nmol of TPA to mouse skin. The results suggest the possibility that treatments with glycine, asparagine, glutamic acid, and arginine, the amino acids that were the most effective in inhibiting the tumor promoter-induced accumulation of polyamines in vivo, may reduce the tumor-promoting ability of TPA.
A theoretical investigation of the low energy conformers of the isomers glycine and methylcarbamic acid and their role in the interstellar medium

We have theoretically investigated the low energy conformers of neutral glycine (NH2CH2COOH) and its isomer methylcarbamic acid (CH3NHCOOH) in the gas phase. A total of 16 different levels of the theory, including CCSD(T), MP2 and B3LYP methods with various Pople and Dunning type basis sets with and without polarization and diffuse functions were used. We found eight low energy glycine conformers, where the heavy atoms in three have a planar backbone, and four low energy methylcarbamic acid conformers all with non-planar backbones. Interestingly at all levels of theory, we found that the most stable methylcarbamic acid conformer is significantly lower in energy than the lowest energy glycine conformer. The MP2 level and single point CCSD(T) calculations show the lowest energy methylcarbamic acid conformer to be between 31 to 37 kJ mol−1 lower in energy than the lowest energy glycine conformer. These calculations suggest that methylcarbamic acid might serve as a precursor to glycine formation in the Interstellar Medium (ISM). We also report the theoretical harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, moment of inertia, rotational constants and dipole moments for all of the conformers. In order to understand how glycine or methylcarbamic acid might be formed in the ISM, larger calculations which model glycine or its isomer interacting with several surrounding molecules, such as water, are needed. We demonstrate that B3LYP method should provide a reliable and computationally practical approach to modeling these larger systems.
Boundary contour-based surface integration affected by color

The visual system represents occluded surfaces by integrating the visible and partially occluded fragments with reliance on surface boundary contours. Does surface integration also depend on color similarity? Using displays with aligned images, we found the visual system has a preference to integrate images with the same color to form occluded surfaces and construct illusory occluding surfaces. This results in enhanced shape discrimination of briefly presented stimuli, and a tendency to perceive global motion of the integrated fragments. The contribution of color to surface integration is observed both in equiluminous setting and in non-equiluminous setting, where achromatic contrast exists.
Curvature mode shape-based damage detection in composite laminated plates

Abstract There is a pressing need to develop effective techniques for structural health monitoring, so that the safety and integrity of the composite structures can be improved. The main objective of this study is to evaluate dynamics-based damage detection techniques for composite laminated plates using smart piezoelectric materials and modern instrumentation like scanning laser vibrometer (SLV). The study comprises of testing an E-glass/epoxy composite plate with an embedded delamination using two different actuator–sensor systems: (1) SLV with PZT (lead–zirconate–titanate) actuators (PZT-SLV), and (2) polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) sensors with PZT actuators (PZT-PVDF). The numerical finite element (FE) analysis is also performed to complement the damage detection. The experimental and numerical curvature mode shapes are primarily used to detect the presence, location, and size of the delamination. Three relatively new damage detection algorithms (i.e., simplified gapped smoothing method (GSM), generalized fractal dimension (GFD), and strain energy method (SEM)) are employed to analyze the experimental and numerical curvature mode shape data and uniform load surface (ULS) curvatures. From the damage detection outcomes, it is observed that the PZT-SLV system proves to be more convenient and effective, and it is capable of scanning a large number of points over the entire plate specimens; while the PZT-PVDF system, in which the curvature mode shapes are directly acquired, exhibits good sensitivity to damage. The damage detection algorithms like GSM, GFD and SEM based on the utilization of three consecutive mode curvatures (modes 3–5) and resulting ULS curvature successfully identify the presence, location, and relative size of delamination in the composite plate.
FDTD/GSM Analysis of Multilayered Periodic Structures With Arbitrary Skewed Grid

An efficient algorithm to compute the scattering properties of a multilayered periodic structure with an arbitrary skewed grid using a hybrid finite-difference time-domain/generalized scattering matrix technique is described. In this algorithm, the constant horizontal wavenumber approach for an arbitrary skewed grid is used to compute the scattering parameters of each periodic layer. A complete Floquet harmonic analysis of the periodic structure is presented, where propagation and evanescent behaviors of Floquet harmonics are studied. In addition, guidelines for higher order harmonics selection for certain layers separation is provided. The validity of this algorithm is verified through the good agreement of the numerical results with those obtained from time- and frequency-domain simulations for the entire structure. Furthermore, accurate results for well-known configurations such as frequency selective surfaces with an arbitrary skewed grid under different angles of incidence are obtained. This algorithm yields accurate results with less computational time and memory usage.
Land Scarcity and American Growth

Intuition tells us that the scarcity of space on the earth's surface should be closely tied both to population growth and to economic growth. Population growth should make land more scarce by raising the demand for food and private space and by raising the supply of labor, a factor of production that must cooperate with land. Intuition says that economic growth should tend to do the same, all things considered. The demand for food, a prime land-using product, would be expanded little by a rise in per capita incomes, but the rent on land should be bid up somewhat by the growth of other inputs into production, such as skills and man-made equipment. Intuition also suggests that land scarity should in turn retard the growth of population and per capita incomes. If space, privacy, and food are expensive, children should seem relatively costly. At the same time, higher space rents should mean slower economic growth than would be experienced if man could manufacture extra land cheaply.
The Pastoral Fallacy: An Editorial Fallacy?

I am astounded by your choice of "The Pastoral Fallacy" as a filler on page 589 of the October issue of Pediatrics!1 Why you have chosen to reprint a 1967 comment by Dornhorst and Hunter which reveals a total lack of understanding of our current concepts of comprehensive care in pediatrics is beyond my comprehension. It seems to me to be the gravest disservice to the development of comprehensive care programs (the systematic inclusion of psychosocial dynamics and personality development in the practice of pediatrics in a longitudinal fashion and on a community basis) to reprint the conception of two men who can only see comprehensive care as a reaction ". . . by those no longer able to keep abreast, to the technical complexities of modern medicine," and who feel that it is only the "more trivial disorders" which have an "inter-relation with emotional factors."
Cell motility driving mediolateral intercalation in explants of Xenopus laevis.

In Xenopus, convergence and extension are produced by active intercalation of the deep mesodermal cells between one another along the mediolateral axis (mediolateral cell intercalation), to form a narrower, longer array. The cell motility driving this intercalation is poorly understood. A companion paper shows that the endodermal epithelium organizes the outermost mesodermal cells immediately beneath it to undergo convergence and extension, and other evidence suggests that these deep cells are the most active participants in mediolateral intercalation (Shih, J. and Keller, R. (1992) Development 116, 887–899). In this paper, we shave off the deeper layers of mesodermal cells, which allows us to observe the protrusive activity of the mesodermal cells next to the organizing epithelium with high resolution video microscopy. These mesodermal cells divide in the early gastrula and show rapid, randomly directed protrusive activity. At the early midgastrula stage, they begin to express a characteristic sequence of behaviors, called mediolateral intercalation behavior (MIB): (1) large, stable, filiform and lamelliform protrusions form in the lateral and medial directions, thus making the cells bipolar; (2) these protrusions are applied directly to adjacent cell surfaces and exert traction on them, without contact inhibition; (3) as a result, the cells elongate and align parallel to the mediolateral axis and perpendicular to the axis of extension; (4) the elongate, aligned cells intercalate between one another along the mediolateral axis, thus producing a longer, narrower array. Explants of essentially a single layer of deep mesodermal cells, made at stage 10.5, converge and extend by mediolateral intercalation. Thus by stage 10.5 (early midgastrula), expression of MIB among deep mesodermal cells is physiologically and mechanically independent of the organizing influence of the endodermal epithelium, described previously (Shih, J. and Keller, R. (1992) Development 116 887–899), and is the fundamental cell motility underlying mediolateral intercalation and convergence and extension of the body axis.
Test quality and yield analysis using the DEFAM defect to fault mapper

This paper describes the DEFAM defect to fault mapper, and its use in test quality analysis and yield prediction. DEFAM analyzes the effects of spot defects in the manufacturing process on a design, and computes the probability of circuit faults that may occur. Unlike traditional tools, DEFAM exploits the design hierarchy to reduce the simulation effort needed. It also reports hierarchical faults that can be fed into a hierarchical fault simulator. Yield analysis results are given for designs of up to 164K transistors. Test quality analysis results are given for an adder module.
Adiponectin gene is expressed in multiple tissues in the chicken: food deprivation influences adiponectin messenger ribonucleic acid expression.

Adiponectin is a cytokine hormone originally found to be secreted exclusively by white adipose tissue. However, recent evidences suggest that adiponectin is also produced in brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. The present study investigatedtheexpressionofadiponectinmRNAinvarioustissues in the chicken. We also studied the effect of food deprivation on adiponectin gene expression in adipose tissue, liver, anterior pituitary gland, and diencephalon in the chicken. The open reading frame of chicken adiponectin cDNA consists of 735 nucleotides that were 65–68% homologous to various mammalian adiponectin cDNAs. The deduced amino acid sequence of chicken adiponectin contains 22 glycine-X-Y repeats (in which X and Y represent any amino acid) at the N-terminal end as found in the mammalian adiponectin. By RT-PCR and Northern analysis, we detected chicken adiponectin mRNA transcript in adipose tissue, liver, anterior pituitary gland, diencephalon, skeletal muscle, liver, kidney, ovary, and spleen but not in blood. Adiponectin mRNA expression in various tissues was quantitated using real-time quantitative PCR and found to be the highest in adipose tissue, followed by liver, anterior pituitary, diencephalon, kidney, and skeletal muscle. We also found that adiponectin mRNA quantity was significantly decreased after a 48-h food deprivation in adipose tissue, liver, and anterior pituitary gland but not in diencephalon. Our results provide novel evidence that, unlike mammals, adiponectin gene is expressed in several tissues in the chicken and that its expression is influenced by food deprivation. (Endocrinology 146: 4250–4256, 2005)
A lexically biased attentional set compensates for variable speech quality caused by pronunciation variation

Words are pronounced in multiple ways in casual speech, which from the perspective of information transmission can be viewed as distortions that the listener must overcome to recognise the word intended by the talker. Two experiments explored the proposal that the recognition of pronunciation variants is facilitated by a lexically biased attentional set, which listeners adopt to compensate for fluctuations in signal reliability. Lexical decision responses were collected to multi-syllabic words in which a phoneme in one of four positions was gradually altered to make it a nonword. In Experiment 1, attention was manipulated through instruction. In Experiment 2, a lexically biased attentional set was induced by altering the design of Experiment 1. Results suggest that attention modulates lexical acceptability, damping lexical influences when attention is focused on perceiving the speech signal veridically (i.e., as pronounced), and maximising lexical biases when attention is focused on ensuring successful me...
A charged ring model for classical OH−(aq) simulations

Abstract We propose a new ‘charged ring’ (CR) model to better represent the delocalized electron density of the oxygen atom of hydrated OH − in classical molecular simulations. This approach corrects a major defect of traditional point-charge models, which inaccurately predict that OH − accepts predominantly 5–6 hydrogen bonds in aqueous solution. Classical molecular dynamics simulations with the CR model of OH − result in ∼4 accepted H-bonds, in agreement with recent neutron diffraction data and ab initio molecular dynamics results. The observed competition between 3- and 4-coordinate OH − (aq) structures is also in good agreement with ab initio results.
Erythropoietin Modulates Cerebral and Serum Degradation Products from Excess Calpain Activation following Prenatal Hypoxia-Ischemia

Preterm infants suffer central nervous system (CNS) injury from hypoxia-ischemia and inflammation - termed encephalopathy of prematurity. Mature CNS injury activates caspase and calpain proteases. Erythropoietin (EPO) limits apoptosis mediated by activated caspases, but its role in modulating calpain activation has not yet been investigated extensively following injury to the developing CNS. We hypothesized that excess calpain activation degrades developmentally regulated molecules essential for CNS circuit formation, myelination and axon integrity, including neuronal potassium-chloride co-transporter (KCC2), myelin basic protein (MBP) and phosphorylated neurofilament (pNF), respectively. Further, we predicted that post-injury EPO treatment could mitigate CNS calpain-mediated degradation. Using prenatal transient systemic hypoxia-ischemia (TSHI) in rats to mimic CNS injury from extreme preterm birth, and postnatal EPO treatment with a clinically relevant dosing regimen, we found sustained postnatal excess cortical calpain activation following prenatal TSHI, as shown by the cleavage of alpha II-spectrin (αII-spectrin) into 145-kDa αII-spectrin degradation products (αII-SDPs) and p35 into p25. Postnatal expression of the endogenous calpain inhibitor calpastatin was also reduced following prenatal TSHI. Calpain substrate expression following TSHI, including cortical KCC2, MBP and NF, was modulated by postnatal EPO treatment. Calpain activation was reflected in serum levels of αII-SDPs and KCC2 fragments, and notably, EPO treatment also modulated KCC2 fragment levels. Together, these data indicate that excess calpain activity contributes to the pathogenesis of encephalopathy of prematurity. Serum biomarkers of calpain activation may detect ongoing cerebral injury and responsiveness to EPO or similar neuroprotective strategies.
Emerging enhanced imaging technologies of the esophagus: spectroscopy, confocal laser endomicroscopy, and optical coherence tomography.

Abstract Background Despite advances in diagnoses and therapy, esophageal adenocarcinoma remains a highly lethal neoplasm. Hence, a great interest has been placed in detecting early lesions and in the detection of Barrett esophagus (BE). Advanced imaging technologies of the esophagus have then been developed with the aim of improving biopsy sensitivity and detection of preplastic and neoplastic cells. The purpose of this article was to review emerging imaging technologies for esophageal pathology, spectroscopy, confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods We conducted a PubMed search using the search string “esophagus or esophageal or oesophageal or oesophagus” and “Barrett or esophageal neoplasm” and “spectroscopy or optical spectroscopy” and “confocal laser endomicroscopy” and “confocal microscopy” and “optical coherence tomography.” The first and senior author separately reviewed all articles. Our search identified: 19 in vivo studies with spectroscopy that accounted for 1021 patients and 4 ex vivo studies; 14 clinical CLE in vivo studies that accounted for 941 patients and 1 ex vivo study with 13 patients; and 17 clinical OCT in vivo studies that accounted for 773 patients and 2 ex vivo studies. Results Human studies using spectroscopy had a very high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of BE. CLE showed a high interobserver agreement in diagnosing esophageal pathology and an accuracy of predicting neoplasia. We also found several clinical studies that reported excellent diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for the detection of BE using OCT. Conclusions Advanced imaging technology for the detection of esophageal lesions is a promising field that aims to improve the detection of early esophageal lesions. Although advancing imaging techniques improve diagnostic sensitivities and specificities, their integration into diagnostic protocols has yet to be perfected.
Regulation of the Subcellular Localization of Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase in Response to Physiological Stresses and Sexual Differentiation in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

We describe regulation of the subcellular localization of cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) regulatory (Cgs1p) and catalytic (Pka1p) subunits in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe in response to physiological stresses and during sexual differentiation as determined by fluorescence microscopy of the Cgs1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) and Pka1-GFP fusion proteins, respectively. In wild-type S. pombe cells cultured to log phase under normal growth conditions, Cgs1p and Pka1p are concentrated in the nucleus and more diffusely present in the cytoplasm. Nuclear localization of both proteins is dependent on cAMP, since in cells lacking adenylate cyclase they are detectable only in the cytoplasm. In cells lacking Cgs1p or both Cgs1p and adenylate cyclase, Pka1p is concentrated in the nucleus, demonstrating a role for Cgs1p in the nuclear exclusion of Pka1p. Nuclear-cytoplasmic redistribution of Cgs1p and Pka1p is triggered by growth in glucose-limited or hyperosmotic media and in response to stationary-phase growth. In addition, both proteins are excluded from the nucleus in mating cells undergoing karyogamy and subsequently concentrated in postmeiotic spores. Cgs1p is required for subcellular redistribution of Pka1p induced by growth in glucose-limited and hyperosmotic media and during karyogamy but is not required for Pka1p redistribution triggered by stationary-phase growth or for the enrichment of Pka1p in spores. Our results demonstrate that PKA localization is regulated by cAMP and regulatory subunit-dependent and -independent mechanisms in S. pombe.
Fabrication and characterization of controlled release poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) millirods.

A compression-heat molding procedure was developed to fabricate poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) controlled release drug delivery devices for the local treatment of tumors. The drug delivery devices were designed in the shape of a cylindrical millirod (1.6-mm diameter, 10-mm length), which allows them to be implanted by a modified 14-gauge tissue biopsy needle into tumor tissues via image-guided interventional procedures. In this study, the prototype trypan blue-containing PLGA millirods were fabricated under a compression pressure of 4.6 x 10(6) Pa and different fabrication temperatures for 2 h. The scanning electron microscopy results showed complete polymer annealing for millirods fabricated at 80 and 90 degrees C, while the cross sections of the 60 and 70 degrees C millirods showed incompletely annealed PLGA microspheres and trypan blue powders. The density, flexural modulus, and release properties of the PLGA millirods were also characterized and compared. The average values of the density and flexural modulus of the millirods increased with an increase in fabrication temperature. The flexural modulus values of most PLGA millirods were above 1 x 10(8) Pa, which provides sufficient stiffness for implantation within the tumor tissue. In addition, a Delta c(p) method was developed to determine the loading density of trypan blue in the PLGA millirods by differential scanning calorimetry. Results from the Delta c(p) measurement showed that trypan blue was homogeneously distributed in the millirod. Release studies in phosphate-buffered saline showed that the release rate decreased for the millirods fabricated at higher temperatures. The times for the release of 50% trypan blue were 5, 25, 25, and 25 h for millirods fabricated at 60, 70, 80, and 90 degrees C, respectively. Millirods fabricated at 90 degrees C had the most reproducible release profiles. The results from this study established compression--heat molding as an effective method to fabricate controlled release PLGA millirods with sufficient mechanical strength and reproducible release profiles for local cancer therapy.
Missing links in GSK3 regulation.

The Wnt–GSK3–b-catenin pathway is central to proesses at many stages of development and is highly conerved between species (Wodarz and Nusse, 1998). It is a omplex pathway with branching outputs and alternative nputs at almost every step (Arias et al., 1999) and it herefore touches on many other regulatory systems. These eatures of Wnt–GSK–b-catenin signaling perhaps reflect ow ancient this pathway is evolutionarily (Gerhart, 1999), llowing time for the signaling apparatus to accrete addiions and variations. Its inappropriate activation is also linically important in many cancers (Polakis et al., 1999). Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is a central enzyme in his pathway. It was originally identified as a serine/ hreonine kinase involved in the regulation of glycogen by nsulin (Woodgett, 1990; Welsh and Proud, 1993) and is now mplicated in many different biological processes including umorigenesis, cell survival, and developmental patterning Fig. 1). Some of its roles in development were recently eviewed in this journal (Ferkey and Kimelman, 2000). SK3 is involved in a number of quite distinct signal ransduction pathways with different inputs and outputs e.g., Hunter, 1997). Thus, an intriguing and important uestion is how cross talk between these pathways is revented. Recent progress in studies of Wnt signaling has uggested some possible answers to this question. However, he mechanism by which Wnt actually regulates GSK3 is till unknown. In this regard, it is the questions that are just eginning to emerge.
Textual Allusions to Artifacts in Software-Related Repositories

Much of what is written about a software project is soon forgotten. Software repositories are full of valuable information about the project: Bug descriptions, check-in messages, email and newsgroup archives, specifications, design documents, product documentation, and product support logs contain a wealth of information that can potentially help software developers resolve crucial questions about the history, rationale, and future plans for source code. For a variety of reasons, developers rarely turn to these resources when trying to answer these questions. We are building a full-text search that encompasses multiple repositories. To effectively implement full-text search in the absence of hyperlinks we propose detecting textual allusions to software artifacts in natural-language prose. Allusions are shown to contribute a significant portion of the relationships represented in the graph.
A Description of Mature Oncicola venezuelensis (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) From A Feral House Cat In the U. S. Virgin Islands

Abstract A road-killed feral house cat from the U.S. Virgin Islands was parasitized by 87 acanthocephalans of the species Oncicola venezuelensis Marteau, 1977. The finding allowed for the documentation of a suitable definitive host for the species in the Virgin Islands and permits a more comprehensive description of the species, including the first of fully mature adults and completely formed eggs. Sexually mature males from the cat were 6.5–8.4 (8.0) mm long; gravid females were 13.2–18.3 (15.5) mm long. Fully formed eggs dissected from the trunk of females were 67–72 (69) µm long by 43–50 (47) µm wide. The life cycle of O. venezuelensis in the Virgin Islands is now apparent, i.e., termites serve as intermediate hosts, lizards and birds as paratenic hosts, and domestic cats as definitive hosts. Extra-intestinal infections in mongooses are likely incidental.
Detection of Ovarian Cancer Cells: Comparison of a Telomerase Assay and Cytologic Examination

Background: Telomerase is an enzyme essential for the normal replication of chromosomes. Telomerase activity is absent in most somatic cells in adults, but it is usually expressed in cancer cells, including ovarian carcinoma cells. Our principal goal was to compare the sensitivity of a telomerase assay, i.e., the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay, with that of cytologic examination in detecting cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity of patients with ovarian carcinoma. Methods : TRAP assays and cytologic examinations were performed on peritoneal washings and ascitic fluids from 42 patients with active ovarian carcinoma. Control specimens included washings from 29 patients with benign ovarian diseases and ascitic fluids from 14 patients with liver failure. We also evaluated the stability of telomerase in ascitic fluids left unprocessed at room temperature as well as the ability of the TRAP assay to detect cancer cells in mixtures containing large numbers of normal cells. Results: Specimens from 37 (88%) of the 42 patients with ovarian carcinoma tested positive for telomerase. Cytologic examination detected cancer cells in only 27 of the telomerase-positive specimens (i.e., in specimens from 64% of the 42 patients). This difference of 24% (95% confidence interval = 17%-30%) in sensitivity between the two tests was statistically significant (two-sided P = .002). Specimens from five of the patients with ovarian carcinoma were cytologically negative and telomerase negative. All 43 control specimens were cytologically negative, but the TRAP assay detected telomerase in two of them. Telomerase activity was detected in unprocessed samples left at room temperature for 5 days and in mixtures containing a small number of cancer cells and a 2000- to 10 000-fold excess of normal cells. Conclusions: Assaying for telomerase is more sensitive than cytologic examination in detecting cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity of patients with ovarian carcinoma.
How Should Textbooks Summarize the Status of Parapsychology? A Reply to Roig, Icochea, and Cuzzucoli (1991)

In contrast to Roig, lcochea, and Cuzzucoli (1991), we argue that textbook authors should maintain their generally skeptical description of parapsychology. We also argue that textbook authors may mislead readers when they say that future research will resolve the controversy.
Measuring The Evolution Of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) guide financial reporting. Although numerous opinions and standards have been issued over the past 45 years, there is little quantitative evidence concerning the degree of change in GAAP. The purpose of this study is to generate a quantitative understanding of the degree of evolution in GAAP since Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) 43. The results indicate that significant changes are occurring in GAAP. Less than 50% of the GAPP issued in the 1950s and in the 1960s remains in effect today. Furthermore, significant changes have occurred in GAAP issued within just the past 20 years. The primary implication is that GAPP is continually being reviewed and revised in response to investors and creditors changing information needs.