cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Specificity of simple hormone response elements in androgen regulated genes

Androgen (AR) and glucocorticoid (GR) receptors recognize a family of 15 base pair partial palindromic hormone response elements (HRE). We have studied receptor interactions with several HREs from androgen regulated genes to determine their potential to mediate a selective androgen response. Synthetic oligonucleotides corresponding to the elements were analysed for receptor binding and steroid dependent transcriptional enhancer activities. Each HRE contained the 3′ half-site sequence (5′-TGTNCT-3′) of the glucocorticoid response element (GRE) consensus sequence. HREs that countained the 5′ half-site GRE consensus sequence (5′-A/GGNACA/G-3′) had the strongest and-rogen response element (ARE) and GRE activities. In methylation interference assays, AR and GR interacted with identical base contact sites in the response elements. Two elements that deviated from the GRE consensus sequence by a single optimal base in the 5′ half, had reduced ARE activity with no significant change in GRE activity and displayed lower binding of AR than GR in mobility shift assays using purified DNA binding domain peptides. Transfections with AR/GR and GR/AR chimeras containing the N-terminal domain of one receptor linked to the DNA-binding and C-terminal domains of the other suggested that N-terminal domain functions of GR also contributed to the greater GRE than ARE activities of the response elements.
Nonergodicity and light scattering from polymer gels

Dynamic light scattering from polymer gels is complicated by the fact that the scattering intensity and its time correlation function change as different parts of a sample are explored. This results from the nonergodicity of the sample---time averages are not the same as ensemble averages, the result of a finite rigidity that leads to constrained inhomogeneities. We demonstrate a direct technique for ensemble averaging (by moving the sample), present the experimental correlation function containing correlations that do not decay with time, and show that the light scattering results from a superposition of static scattering from immobile inhomogeneities and dynamic density fluctuations from ``gel modes.''
A temporal multi-view approach for audio key finding using adaboost

Audio key finding is an integral step in content-based music indexing and retrieval. In this paper, we present a system that combines ensemble learning with an existing model-based key finding algorithm: the Fuzzy Analysis Center of Effect Generator algorithm. We demonstrate the manner in which AdaBoost improves the accuracy of FACEG using a dataset containing 2785 audio excerpts of real performances composed by Bach and Mozart. Two sets of experiments were conducted: intra-system comparison examining the effect of different settings in FACEG/AdaBoost, and inter-system comparison comparing FACEG/AdaBoost with the key finding implementation in Music Information Retrieval (MIR) toolbox. When FACEG is executed to generate keys at multiple stopping points of the excerpt, AdaBoost with multi-views of tonal information improves key detection accuracy up to 35% on the challenging dataset and up to 21% on the entire dataset.
Hybrid Be´zier patches on sphere-like surfaces

Abstract We develop a method for interpolating scattered data on sphere-like based on a local triangular patch which is constructed from a blend of certain spherical Bernstein-Bezier polynomials introduced recently by Alfeld, Neamtu and Schumaker (1996). The method produces a C1 interpolant which matches values and derivatives, and is a natural analog of a planar method of Foley and Opitz (1992) and Goodman and Said (1991). We also show how the same approach can be used to construct a C2 quintic hybrid patch matching second derivative information as an analog of a planar method of Chang and Said (1995).
Expression of TNFα by muscle fibers in biopsies from children with untreated juvenile dermatomyositis : Association with the TNFα-308A allele

Abstract Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is the most common pediatric inflammatory myopathy. In patients with JDM, the A → G polymorphism in the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-308 promoter region (TNFα-308A) is associated with prolonged disease course and increased production of TNFα by peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( Arthritis Rheum. 43, 2368–2377, 2000). Magnetic resonance imaging directed biopsies from 21 white children with untreated JDM were evaluated for TNFα expression. Using monoclonal antibody to TNFα, fresh frozen sections were processed by the standard immunohistochemical technique. We investigated the association among the expression of TNFα by muscle fibers, disease activity, duration of untreated disease, and the TNFα-308 polymorphism. Untreated children with JDM who had the TNFα-308A allele had an increased number of TNFα stained muscle fibers than children with the TNFα-308G allele ( P = 0.001). There was no association with disease activity or duration of untreated disease. We speculate that muscle fiber production of TNFα provides a microenvironment in which TNFα acts synergistically with other mediators to prolong muscle fiber damage.
Developmental trends in speed of semantic memory retrieval

Abstract Speed of semantic memory retrieval has been implicated as an important component of developmental differences on a wide range of cognitive tasks, including verbal problem solving and memory for verbal materials. This article critically examines the evidence regarding developmental trends in speed of retrieval of semantic information with particular attention to the theoretical assumptions underlying the methods used in existing studies. Review of studies using simple naming latencies, name vs physical matching, and categorization times indicates that speed of semantic memory retrieval is not a simple, unitary ability but instead may vary with the kind of information accessed. In addition, speed of retrieval may be related to other factors such as age-related trends in use of strategies and organization of semantic memory. It is suggested that researchers have generally failed to focus on the time course of retrieval and consequently have neglected the role that active decision processes may play in the tasks used. Alternative methods that address the locus and possible causes of children's slower performance are suggested.
Enhancement of photon antibunching by passive interferometry.

Photon antibunching in intracavity second-harmonic generation and intracavity atomic absorption inside a high-Q optical cavity is discussed. A linearized description of quantum dynamics in the weak-field limit is used because the system size, as characterized by the number of photons n0 needed to probe the nonlinearity of the system, is often quite large for realistic parameters. In both cases standard results are recalled that demonstrate that antibunching is a small effect given by g(2)(0)-1≊-1/n0 for large values of n0. We show that when higher-order terms that are usually ignored in linearized treatments are retained, g(2)(0) satisfies the lower bound g(2)(0)≥0 even for small values of n0. It is further shown that by employing a high-Q cavity to suppress the coherent part of the spectrum of field fluctuations, perfect antibunching can be achieved even for large systems. Conditions under which this is possible are derived and curves are presented to illustrate the behavior.
Mechanical and thermal properties of physical vapour deposited alumina films Part II Elastic, plastic, fracture, and adhesive behaviour

Two mechanical characterization techniques were used to deduce the elastic, plastic, fracture, and adhesive properties of non-reactive physical vapour deposited alumina films of varying thickness on Al2O3-TiC substrates deposited at two different substrate biases. Depth-sensing indentation at both nano- and macroscopic load scales was used to determine the elastic and plastic properties of the films. Gravity-loaded Vickers indentation was performed to examine the fracture properties of the film and of the interface. Novel fracture mechanics models were developed to describe indentation-induced film fracture by channel cracks and indentation-induced interface delamination. The former model was used to determine the film toughness and the latter model was used to deduce the interfacial fracture resistance of the films and correctly predicted the effect of changing film thickness. Both models described the measured crack lengths with indentation load well and were used to identify the transition from radial and lateral cracking to channel and interfacial cracking.
Amino acid residues in Rag1 crucial for DNA hairpin formation

The Rag proteins carry out V(D)J recombination through a process mechanistically similar to cut-and-paste transposition. Specifically, Rag complexes form DNA hairpins through direct transesterification, using a catalytic Asp-Asp-Glu (DDE) triad in Rag1. How is sufficient DNA distortion introduced to allow hairpin formation? We hypothesized that, like certain transposases, the Rag proteins might use aromatic amino acid residues to stabilize a flipped-out base. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments and structural predictions, we identified residues in Rag1 crucial for hairpin formation. One of these, a conserved tryptophan (Trp893), probably participates in base-stacking interactions near the cleavage site, as do Trp298, Trp265 and Trp319 in the Tn5, Tn10 and Hermes transposases, respectively. Other residues surrounding the catalytic glutamate (YKEFRK) may share functional similarities with the YREK motif in IS4 family transposases.
In vitro studies of the rabbit immune system. VIII. The production of rabbit T cell growth factor (TCGF) and its relationship to mouse and human TCGF.

Rabbit spleen cells (1 × 106/ml) stimulated with Con A (2.5 μg/ml) begin producing T cell growth factor (TCGF) activity within 2–3 h at 37°C and reach a plateau after 20–24 h. Lymphocytes from the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) also produce TCGF activity but require higher lectin and/or cell concentrations for optimal production. TCGF generation by MLN can be improved by including a small proportion of spleen cells (10–40%). Rabbit lymphocytes also produce TCGF in serum-free, protein-free medium, but the Con A concentration must be reduced to 0.5–1.25 μg/ml. Rabbit TCGF activity eluted from gel filtration columns at a volume equivalent to ~15,000 molecular weight, similar to human TCGF activity. However, when rabbit, mouse and human TCGFs were compared for their ability to support proliferation by activated cells from the 3 species, rabbit and mouse TCGFs appeared more similar. In all cases, the homologous combinations of cells and TCGF were most efficient. Human TCGF would support some proliferative activity in all 3 cell types but rabbit and mouse TCGFs failed to support the growth of human cells.
Evolution and Topology in the Yeast Protein Interaction Network

The integrity of the yeast protein-protein interaction network is maintained by a few highly connected proteins, or hubs, which hold the numerous less-connected proteins together. The structural importance and the increased essentiality of these proteins suggest that they are likely to be conserved in evolution, implying a strong relationship between the number of interactions and their evolutionary distance to its orthologs in other organisms. The existence of this coherence was recently reported to strongly depend on the quality of the protein interaction and orthologs data. Here, we introduce a novel method, the evolutionary excess retention (ER), allowing us to uncover a robust and strong correlation between the conservation, essentiality, and connectivity of a yeast protein. We conclude that the relevance of the hubs for the network integrity is simultaneously reflected by a considerable probability of simultaneously being evolutionarily conserved and essential, an observation that does not have an equivalent for nonessential proteins. Providing a thorough assessment of the impact noisy and incomplete data have on our findings, we conclude that our results are largely insensitive to the quality of the utilized data.
Sonic dispersion of soil DTPA solution suspension as an extraction procedure for DTPA micronutrient test 1

Abstract To examine sonic dispersion as an extraction procedure for DTPA micronutrient test, soil DTPA solution suspensions were sonicated to extract Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu. The elements extracted after 15 or 60 seconds sonication were compared with those extracted after 1/2 or 2 hours shaking. The mean differences between Fe, Zn, Mn, or Cu extracted after 15 seconds sonication and those extracted after 1/2 hour shaking were not significant. However, the extractions obtained after 2 hours shaking were significantly higher than those obtained after 15 or 60 seconds sonication. The elements extracted after 15 or 60 seconds sonication correlated significantly with those extracted after 1/2 or 2 hours shaking. Therefore, 15 or 60 seconds sonication can replace 2 hours shaking in the extraction procedure for DTPA micronutrient test. However, 15 seconds sonication is more convenient than 60 seconds and does not require cooling of soil solution suspension during sonication. Therefore 15 seconds sonication ‐ a replac...
Characteristics of Gafchromic XRQA2 films for kV image dose measurement

Purpose: In this study, the relevant characteristics of the new Gafchromic XRQA2 film for its application in measuring kV cone beam computed tomography(CBCT)imagedoses were thoroughly investigated. Methods: The film was calibrated free in air to air kerma levels between 0 and 9 cGy using 120 kVp photon beams produced by the x-ray volume imager.Films were scanned using transmission and reflection scanning modes with the Epson Expression 10000 XL flat-bed document scanner. The impact of film size, region of interest for the analysis, scan uniformity, scan resolution, scan orientation and alternate scanning sides on the analysis process were investigated. Energy dependence, postirradiation growth of reflectance with time and irradiation angular dependence of the film were tested at different air kerma levels. Results: The net reflectance changed by ∼3% when the size of the film piece changed from 1 cm × 2 cm to 10 cm × 11 cm and changed by ∼1% when ROI changed from 0. 7 cm × 0. 7 cm to 8 cm × 8 cm, suggesting a good uniformity of the film. The film was successfully analyzed using the transmission scanning mode, calibration curves from both transmission and reflection scanning modes showed similar behavior. The calibration uncertainty was somewhat lower when the film was scanned using reflection mode (6% and 8% for reflection and transmission modes, respectively.) Higher scanning resolution came with increasing calibration uncertainty. The calibration uncertainty for reflection and transmission modes increased from ∼3.5% to 7% and from ∼3.5% to 9%, respectively when scanning resolution was changed from 50 to 400 dpi. Scanning the film on alternate sides using transmission mode led to variation of 16%–19% in the net optical density at doses commonly used for CBCT procedures. The film response changed by almost 10% when it was exposed to beams of two different energies (100 and 120 kVp.) Other features of the film such as film orientation, postexposure growth, and irradiation angular dependence were also investigated. Conclusions: The size of film piece and analysis ROI used for calibration slightly affected the film response. Both transmission and reflection scanning modes can be used to analyze the Gafchromic XRQA2, with the reflection mode having a somewhat lower calibration uncertainty. Scanning films on alternate sides using transmission mode significantly affects the optical density. The film response was shown to be energy dependent. The films reached stability in about 6 h after exposure. The film response was proven to be independent of irradiation angle except when the beam is parallel to the film surface.
Print-referencing techniques, implemented during a shared storybook-reading activity, hold promise for increasing the print-concept knowledge of preschoolers with language impairment1

1 Abstracted from: Lovelace, S., & Stewart, S. R. (2007). Increasing print awareness in preschoolers with language impairment using non-evocative print referencing. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 38, 16–30. Source of funding: Part of the first author's doctoral work at the University of Kentucky was funded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Extending generalizability theory to single-subject designs*

Generalizability theory offers versatile techniques for assessing the accuracy of any measurement strategy. To date, generalizability theory has been applied exclusively to group designs. This paper extends generalizability theory to single subject designs and considers potential problems in such applications. Unique subjects, idiosyncratic experimental conditions, autocorrelation, and drift are discussed as potential problems. Techniques are presented for handling these potential problems and an example illustrates some benefits of a generalizability study.
Leibniz on Compossibility

Leibniz’s well-known thesis that the actual world is just one among many possible worlds relies on the claim that some possibles are incompossible, meaning that they cannot belong to the same world. Notwithstanding its central role in Leibniz’s philosophy, commentators have disagreed about how to understand the compossibility relation. We examine several influential interpretations and demonstrate their shortcomings. We then sketch a new reading, the cosmological interpretation, and argue that it accommodates two key conditions that any successful interpretation must satisfy.
Coupling of gravity to matter viaSO(3, 2) gauge fields

We consider gravity from the quantum field theory point of view and introduce a natural way of coupling gravity to matter by following the gauge principle for particle interactions. The energy-momentum tensor for the matter fields is shown to be conserved and follows as a consequence of the dynamics in a spontaneously brokenSO(3, 2) gauge theory of gravity. All known interactions are described by the gauge principle at the microscopic level.
Empirical Scaling Relations

Early-type galaxies do not come in any shape, form, and color. Many of their observable properties obey tight correlations, also known as empirical scaling relations. The correlations are non-trivial, in the sense that they cannot be explained by simple physical or dimensional arguments. A subset of the empirical scaling relations connects baryonic observables with quantities that depend on the total gravitational potential of the galaxies, and thus on their dark matter content. These correlations are a fundamental testbed for our understanding of the formation and evolution of early-type galaxies, and, more in general, of the physical processes that determine the interplay between baryons and dark matter at galactic scales.
What the Human Genome Project hasn't told us: The epigenetics of development of esophageal squamous cell cancer

Development of the Human Genome Project (HGP) holds great promise for identifying causes and treatments of human disease. This promise is mostly unfulfilled but is spiced with the development of remarkable, almost astounding, new knowledge. The course from inception of the HGP to today was ‘‘rocky’’ at best and sadly dysfunctional at worst. Beginning in May of 1985 starting with a workshop to discuss sequencing the human genome held in Santa Fe, NewMexico, until the HGP was declared complete in April 2003, there were private enterprise, government involvement, and pseudo-government initiatives that contributed to ultimate public availability of the human genome. Today, the sequence of the DNA in the human genome is stored in databases available to anyone with access to the Internet. How the genome came to be publically available amounts to a ‘‘swashbuckling’’ clash that ultimately led to the first publication of the draft of the human genome by a publically funded entity, the University of California Santa Cruz, in 2000. Today, the ultimate price tag of the HGP is approximately $3 billion with more to come. So far, the return on this investment is modest. In fact, the more we learn about the human genome, the more levels of complexity become apparent. The article by Hsu and colleagues in this issue of the Journal is an example of this complexity. The realization that cancer progression required the participation of cellular genes provided one of several key rationales for embarking on the HGP in 1985. Cancer is ultimately a disease of unregulated gene expression. The reference human genome provided a building block for understanding the full spectrum of somatic changes leading to cancer. With increased understanding of the human genome and the transcription of genetic information, realization of the importance of epigenetic alterations in the transcription process surfaced. More specifically, study of cancer epigenetics identified epigenetic modifications to the genome of
Diagnostic accuracy of an intrathecal test dose in epidural analgesia

The authors evaluated the accuracy of an intrathecal test dose (TD) to rule out unintentional subarachnoid injection in a prospective and double-blind study. Twenty-nine unmedicated patients scheduled to receive continuous spinal analgesia for their surgical procedures entered the study. After placement of non-invasive monitoring (ECG, BP and SpO2), an intrathecal catheter was placed in the lumbar area. In the supine position 15 patients in the study group received lidocaine 45 mg + epinephrine 15 mg and 14 patients in the control group received normal saline 3 ml intrathecally. After the injection, a blinded observer assessed the presence of the following signs at one minute intervals for five minutes: sensory loss by pin-prick (P) over the lumbar and sacral dermatomes, ability to raise legs (R), and subjective feeling of warmth (W) and heaviness (H) over the lower limbs. For each sign the sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), and negative (-) and positive (+) predictive value (PV) were calculated. At four minutes SN reached 100% (CI 78-100%) for R and H, while only R obtained a SP of 93% (CI 66-100%). Using R as detector of intrathecal injection the -PV was 100% and the +PV 25% (assuming a 2% prevalence of unintentional spinal). We conclude that, with our test dose; (a) four minutes are needed to recognize signs of intrathecal injection; (b) leg-raising is a reliable sign; and (c) inquiring about other signs may only decrease the diagnostic accuracy of this test.
Testing a dual-process model of avoidant defenses

Research suggests that the defensive strategy used by people who score high on attachment-related avoidance when they encounter interpersonal threats involves two stages: automatic vigilance followed by effortful avoidance. In two studies we varied stimulus exposure times and cognitive load to determine how attention is regulated by avoidant individuals. Results indicate that avoidant individuals were vigilant toward contempt faces when the faces were presented for 100 ms but quickly disengaged from them when the faces were presented for 750 ms. Moreover, avoidant participants could disengage from contempt faces presented for 750 ms while rehearsing a simple 1-digit number, but not when rehearsing a 7-digit number, suggesting that avoidant disengagement is a cognitively effortful process. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Information Seeking Can Be Social

For reasons ranging from obligation to curiosity, users have a strong inclination to seek information from others during the search process. Search systems using statistical analytics over traces left behind by others can help support the search experience.
Administration of erythromycin before endoscopy in upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background/Aim: Erythromycin infusion before endoscopy in upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) has been hypothesized to aid in visualization and reduce the need for second-look endoscopy; however, the results have been controversial. To evaluate further, we performed a meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of erythromycin infusion before endoscopy in acute UGIB. Methods: Multiple databases were searched (March 2013). Only randomized controlled trials were included in the analysis. A meta-analysis for the effect of erythromycin or no erythromycin before endoscopy in UGIB were analyzed by calculating pooled estimates of primary (visualization of gastric mucosa and need for second endoscopy) and secondary (units of blood transfused, length of hospital stay, duration of the procedure) outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 (Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration). Results: Six studies (N = 558) met the inclusion criteria. Erythromycin infusion before endoscopy in UGIB demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in visualization of the gastric mucosa [odds ratio (OR) 3.43; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.81 to 6.50, P < 0.01] compared with no erythromycin. In addition, erythromycin infusion before endoscopy resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the need for a second endoscopy (OR 0.47; 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.83, P = 0.01), units of blood transfused (WMD − 0.41; 95% CI: −0.82 to −0.01, P = 0.04), and the duration of hospital stay (WMD − 1.51; 95% CI: −2.45 to −0.56, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Erythromycin infusion before endoscopy in patients with UGIB significantly improves visualization of gastric mucosa while decreasing the need for a second endoscopy, units of blood transfused, and duration of hospital stay.
Numerical computation of finite size scaling functions: An alternative approach to finite size scaling

Using single cluster flip Monte Carlo simulations we accurately determine new finite size scaling functions which are expressed only in terms of the variable x=${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{\mathit{L}}$/L, where ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{\mathit{L}}$ is the correlation length in a finite system of size L. Data for the d=2 and d=3 Ising models, taken at different temperatures and for different size lattices, show excellent data collapse over the entire range of scaling variable for susceptibility and correlation length. From these finite size scaling functions we can estimate critical temperatures and exponents with rather high accuracy even though data are not obtained extremely close to the critical point. The bulk values of the renormalized four-point coupling constant are accurately measured and show strong evidence for hyperscaling. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
The oxidation of Fe in the temperature range 450–550°C—II. The pressure range 10−3–760 torr

Abstract The oxidation of Fe at pressures in the range 10−3 to 760 torr was studied at temperatures from 450° to 550°C. The oxidation behaviour was strongly influenced by the degree of separation which occurred at the metal—oxide interface due to vacancy condensation. The kinetics were dependent on the gas pressure, which allowed increased oxidation at the higher pressures by enhancing the transfer of O2 through the α-Fe2O3 layer and permitting better contact to be made at the metal—oxide interface by plastic deformation of the oxide scale.
Militarism and Human Rights

Through an analysis of the impact of military spending on economic growth, the author argues that militarism and human rights are incompatible. Implementation of the economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights set out in the International Bill of Human Rights requires national mobilization of economic resources. If limited national capital is consumed in excessive military expenditures the feasibility of rights fulfilment diminishes. The article outlines initial public policies designed to limit militarism and to allow international human rights to serve as the cornerstone of domestic and foreign policy.
Mobilizing on the margin: How does interpersonal recruitment affect citizen participation in politics?

Abstract This study examines how interpersonal recruitment affects participation in demanding forms of political activity. Previous studies have argued that interpersonal recruitment causally affects participation. However, recruitment attempts are selectively targeted toward people with high participation potential. This implies that interpersonal recruitment may work simply because recruiters ask the people who would participate anyway. Using propensity score matching, I show that interpersonal recruitment has larger effects on non-electoral forms of participation than electoral ones such as campaign volunteer activity. I find little evidence that personal contact increases campaign donation. I also demonstrate that the effect of recruitment is not constant across individuals but varies by the propensity of being a recruitment target. Ironically, people who have less chance of receiving requests are more likely to be affected. I discuss the implications of these findings for declining and increasingly unequal political participation.
The Origin of the Young God: Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava

The "Kumarasambhava" of Kalidasa, probably composed about A.D. 400, is the greatest long poem in classical Sanskrit. The love story of the God and Goddess Shiva and Parvati, who are both lovers and cosmic principles, the poem is a paradigm of the union between male and female played out on the immense scale of supreme divinity.
Landau Fermi-liquid theory of NMR relaxation times

Landau Fermi-liquid theory has long been a standard method for describing the low-temperature behavior of the normal phase of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$. Here we review some of the known thermodynamic and transport results from the viewpoint of the fluctuation-response theorems. The fluctuation formulation is then applied to the case of nuclear-magnetic-resonance relaxation times, and from this a theoretical prediction is made for ${T}_{1}$ in normal liquid $^{3}\mathrm{He}$.
Sensor calibration methods: performance study

The calibration of a 2-D displacement sensor that suffers from nonlinearities and cross talking using an Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) is described. The ANN is used as a Pattern Associator that is trained to perform the mapping between the sensor''s readings and the actual sensed properties. For comparison purposes a few methods were explored: 1 ) A three-layer ANN with a different number of hidden units trained by the Back Propagation (BP) method 2) Cerebellar Model Arithmetic Computer (CMAC) with a fixed number of quantizing functions and 3) Polynomial curve fitting technique. The results of the calibration procedure and recommendations are discussed. 2.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Adenovirus Group II-Like Infection In Chukar Partridges (Alectoris chukar)

Seven live 5-to-6-wk-old chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) were examined because of increased lacrimation, swollen eyelids, and increased mortality. Gross lesions consisted of mildly enlarged and mottled white spleens, swollen eyelids with external scab formation, and watery intestinal contents. Microscopically, there were increased numbers of mononuclear phagocytic system cells in the spleen, some of which contained faintly staining basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies, blepharoconjunctivitis, enteritis associated with coccidia and crop mycosis. Transmission electron microscopy of the spleen revealed icosahedral virus particles 65 to 75 nm in diameter, consistent with the morphology of adenovirus. Three out of seven chukars were positive for hemorrhagic enteritis virus by serology.
Functional analysis of the C-terminal flanking sequence of platelet glycoprotein Ibα using canine-human chimeras

Platelet glycoprotein Ib-IX-V (GPIb-IX-V) mediates adhesion to von Willebrand factor (vWF) in (patho)physiological thrombus formation. vWF binds the N-terminal 282 residues of GPIbα, consisting of an N-terminal flank (His1–Ile35), 7 leucine-rich repeats (Leu36–Ala200), a C-terminal flank (Phe201–Gly268), and a sulfated tyrosine sequence (Asp269–Glu282). By expressing canine–human chimeras of GPIbα on Chinese hamster ovary cells, binding sites for functional anti-GPIbα antibodies to individual domains were previously mapped, and it was shown that leucine-rich repeats 2 to 4 were required for optimal vWF recognition under static or flow conditions. Using novel canine–human chimeras dissecting the C-terminal flank, it is now demonstrated that (1) Phe201-Glu225 contains the epitope for AP1, an anti-GPIbα monoclonal antibody that inhibits both ristocetin- and botrocetin-dependent vWF binding; (2) VM16d, an antibody that preferentially inhibits botrocetin-dependent vWF binding, recognizes the sequence Val226-Gly268, surrounding Cys248, which forms a disulfide-bond with Cys209; (3) vWF binding to chimeric GPIbα is comparable to wild-type in 2 chimeras in which the sixth leucine-rich repeat was of the same species as the first disulfide loop (Phe201-Cys248) of the C-terminal flank, suggesting an interaction between these domains may be important for optimal vWF binding; and (4) replacing the C-terminal flank second disulfide loop (Asp249-Gly268) in human GPIbα with the corresponding canine sequence enhanced vWF binding under static and flow conditions, providing the first evidence for a gain-of-function phenotype associated with the second loop of the C-terminal flank.
Inhibition of nitric oxide enhances ovine lentivirus replication in monocyte-derived macrophages

Ovine lentivirus (OvLV) also known as maedi-visna virus, infects and replicates primarily in macrophages. This investigation examined the role of nitric oxide in the replication of OvLV in cultured macrophages. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from OvLV-free sheep and cultured in Teflon coated flasks at a high concentration of lamb serum. The cells were subsequently infected with OvLV strain 85/34. OvLV replication was assessed under different experimental treatments by comparison of reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in culture supernatant. Cultures that were treated with exogenous nitric oxide via S-nitroso-acetylpenicillamine did not have altered levels of RT activity compared to cultures treated with the inactive control compound, acetylpenicillamine. However, blockage of nitric oxide production by treatment with aminoguanidine, a competitive inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), led to a significant rise in RT activity. This rise in RT activity was partially reversed in aminoguanidine treated cultures by l-arginine, the normal substrate for iNOS. Finally, the number of viral antigen producing cells was also quantified after aminoguanidine treatment and found to be significantly higher than untreated cultures. Collectively, these results indicate that nitric oxide is a negative regulator of OvLV replication in macrophages.
Family attributions and coping in the prediction of emotional adjustment in family members of patients with first-episode schizophrenia

Objective This study used a stress and coping framework to examine family members' emotional adjustment to caring for a patient with a first episode of schizophrenia. Method One family member providing primary assistance to each of 63 patients with a first episode of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder was interviewed shortly after patient hospitalization. Results Overall, family members showed evidence of reasonably good emotional adjustment. Select indices of poorer emotional adjustment by family members were linked to (i) attributions in which the patient's psychiatric problems were viewed as a result of the patient's moral failings or psychological problems from earlier life, (ii) coping that was avoidant and (iii) patient management strategies that involved conflict avoidance and authoritarianisdreasoning. Conclusion These findings are consistent with psychoeducational interventions that educate family members about psychiatric illness and assist them in their efforts to cope with and manage patient problems at home.
Pectus excavatum (“funnel breast”), a cause of impaired ventricular distensibility as exhibited by right ventricular pressure pattern

Abstract An extracardiac and extrapericardial cause for the typical pattern of right ventricular pressure, usually described as due to constrictive pericarditis, is reported.
Enhanced TLR4 reactivity following injury is mediated by increased p38 activation

Severe injury primes the innate-immune system for increased Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-induced proinflammatory cytokine production by macrophages. In this study, we examined changes in TLR4 signaling pathways in splenic macrophages from burn-injured or sham mice to determine the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for the increased TLR4 responsiveness. Using flow cytometry and specific antibodies, we first looked for injury-induced changes in the expression levels of several TLR-associated signaling molecules. We found similar levels of myeloid differentiation primary-response protein 88 (MyD88) and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-M (IRAK-M) and somewhat lower levels of total p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in burn compared with sham macrophages. However, with the use of antibodies specific for the phosphorylated (activated) forms of the three MAPKs, we found that macrophages from burn mice showed a twofold increase in purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated p38 activation as compared with cells from sham mice on days 1 and 7 post-injury, whereas ERK and SAPK/JNK activation was increased by burn injury only on day 1. Using the specific p38 inhibitor (SB203580), we confirmed that the increase in tumor necrosis factor alpha production by LPS-stimulated burn macrophages requires p38 activation. Although we demonstrated that injury increases macrophage TLR4 mRNA expression and intracellular expression of TLR4-myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2) protein, macrophage cell-surface expression of TLR4-MD-2 was not changed by burn injury. Our results suggest that the injury-induced increase in TLR4 reactivity is mediated, at least in part, by enhanced activation of the p38 signaling pathway.
Mexico Host Family Reactions to a Bilingual Chicana Teacher in Mexico: A Case Study of Language and Culture Clash

Abstract This study describes the attitudes of a middle-class Mexican family toward the Spanish of a Chicano bilingual teacher from Yuma, Arizona. She was among 10 U.S. first- and second-generation Chicano native Spanish-speaking bilingual teachers from Arizona who had participated in a five-week Mexico immersion program and who lived with Mexican families. During the first-week interviews with the investigators, she complained about “harsh reactions” toward her and her Spanish. This study demonstrates how the use of just a few stigmatized characteristics of Spanish are generalized by standard Spanish speakers to judge the speaker as uneducated and of low social status.
Binding interactions between the host cucurbit[7]uril and dendrimer guests containing a single ferrocenyl residue

The stability of the inclusion complexes formed between the host cucurbit[7]uril and dendrimers containing a single ferrocene residue is strongly affected by the solution pH and the growth of the dendrimer, reaching its highest values on the second and third generation dendrimers, whereas no complex is formed with the first generation compound.
Outcomes after endovascular intervention for chronic critical limb ischemia.

Objective This study evaluated outcomes after endovascular intervention (EVI) for chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI) by Rutherford category (RC) 4, rest pain; and 5, tissue loss. Methods The medical records of all EVI performed for RC-4 to RC-5 by vascular surgeons at a single institution during a 3-year period were reviewed for sustained clinical success (SCS), defined as Rutherford improvement score (RIS) 2 + , without target extremity revascularization (TER). The RC-5 group was evaluated for patency until healing and healing ≤4 months without recurrence or new ulceration. Secondary sustained clinical success (SSCS) was a RIS of 2 + with TER. The RC-5 group was evaluated for patency until healing and healing at any time during follow-up, without recurrent or new ulceration. Significance was established at the 0.05 level. Results Of 106 EVI performed for CLI, 78 (74%) were RC-5. There were 39 (37%) men. Mean age was 73 ± 12 years. Mean follow-up was 19 months (range, 1-44 months). RC-5 patients were significantly more likely than RC-4 to be diabetic (58% vs 32%; P = .020), dialysis dependent (14% vs 0%; P = .036), and to require distal EVI (53% vs 29%; P = .029). RC-4 patients were more likely to be current smokers (57% vs 32%; P = .023). At 24 months, survival was comparable, with RC-4 at 84% ± 8% vs RC-5 at 62% ± 7% ( P = .09), but limb salvage was significantly better for RC-4 (100%) vs RC-5 (83% ± 4%; P = .026), as was SCS (48% vs 21%; P = .006) and SSCS (85% vs 39%; P P = .036), congestive heart failure (CHF; OR, 3.62; 95% CI, 1.19-10.99; P = .023), and RC-5 (OR, 5.5; 95% CI, 2.4-30.3; P = .001). SSCS was 94% in RC-4 patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) or CHF and 10% in RC-5 with DM or CHF ( P P = .004). Conclusions RC-4 have fewer comorbidities, less advanced ischemia, and better outcome than RC-5. These groups should be evaluated individually. Limb salvage was acceptable, yet early wound healing without TER (SCS) occurred in only 21%. RC-5, DM, and CHF were predictors of poor SSCS. Careful selection of patients should improve outcome.
Substrate specificity of caeruloplasmin. Phenylalkylamine substrates.

Abstract Several phenylalkylamines have been examined as substrates for the copper-containing oxidase caeruloplasmin and it has been shown that the compounds most readily oxidized by this enzyme are those which contain a 3,4-dioxygenation pattern in the aromatic ring. Of these two oxygen atoms, one must be present as a free hydroxy group; the other may be either a hydroxy or methoxy group. A primary amino group may be substituted for one of these oxygen functions without loss of substrate activity. Monophenols are poor substrates for caeruloplasmin. Although the alkylamine side chain is essential for high substrate activity the distance between the basic group of the side chain and the aromatic nucleus is not critical, the higher homologues of dopamine being very good substrates for this enzyme. Monosubstitution at the α-carbon atom of the side chain has relatively little effect on substrate activity but disubstitution at this point markedly reduces substrate activity.
Behavioral and neuromorphological effects of triethyl tin bromide in adult rats.

Abstract The repeated administration of triethyl tin bromide (TET) (0, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/kg, po) to male rats produced dose- and time-dependent reductions in body weights and food and water consumption. Tests showed decreases in fore- and hindlimb grip strength and startle responsiveness. Histologic examination immediately after the 2-week dosing period showed that in all dose groups there was intramyelinic edema of major CNS white matter tracts, the severity of which varied according to the dose. Four weeks after cessation of TET dosing, body weights of the treatment groups had almost recovered to control group (0 mg/kg) values. These was complete recovery of food and water consumption. Retests for functional performance indicated complete recovery of all measures with the exception of continued reduction of startle responsiveness to an air puff stimulus. Histologic examination after the 4-week recovery period indicated that the 1.0 mg/kg dose group was indistinguishable from controls, while all of the 2.0 mg/kg dose group samples were still moderately edematous. These results demonstrate that specific behavioral tests can show toxic effects of TET in otherwise asymptomatic animals.
Screening for persistent organic pollutants: Techniques to provide a scientific basis for POPs criteria in international negotiations

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is currently coordinating negotiations to develop a binding global agreement by late in the year 2000 to prohibit, restrict, or reduce the production, use, or release of certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs are a small subset of organic chemicals whose characteristics of persistence in the environment, accumulation in biological organisms, and toxicity make them priority pollutants and environmental risks to humans and ecosystems. Under the UNEP negotiation, representatives are developing criteria and procedures for the addition of substances, guided by the initial list of 12 substances or substance groups selected for global action. It is therefore timely to investigate the scientific foundation for POPs screening criteria that have been used in other international, regional, and national programs, focusing on the properties of persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity, and long-range transport in a policy context. The theoretical, empirical, and...
Tightly-coupled navigation assistance in heterogeneous multi-robot teams

This paper presents the design and results of autonomous behaviors for tightly-coupled cooperation in heterogeneous robot teams, specifically for the task of navigation assistance. These cooperative behaviors enable capable, sensor rich ("leader") robots to assist in the navigation of sensor-limited ("simple") robots that have no onboard capabilities for obstacle avoidance or localization, and only minimal capabilities for kin recognition. The simple robots must be dispersed throughout a known, indoor environment to serve as a sensor network. However, because of their navigation limitations, they are unable to autonomously disperse themselves or move to planned sensor deployment positions independently. To address this challenge, we present cooperative behaviors for heterogeneous robots that enable the successful deployment of sensor-limited robots by assistance from more capable leader robots. These heterogeneous cooperative behaviors are quite complex, and involve the combination of several behavior components, including vision-based marker detection, autonomous teleoperation, color marker following in robot chains, laser-based localization, map-based path planning, and ad hoc mobile networking. We present the results of the implementation and extensive testing of these behaviors for deployment in a rigorous test environment. To our knowledge, this is the most complex heterogeneous robot team cooperative task ever attempted on physical robots. We consider it a significant success to have achieved such a high degree of system effectiveness, given the complexity of the overall heterogeneous system.
Tiny dancers: the integrin–growth factor nexus in angiogenic signaling

A vital step in growth factor–driven angiogenesis is the coordinated engagement of endothelial integrins with the extracellular matrix. The molecular mechanisms that partner growth factors and integrins are being elucidated, revealing an intricate interaction of surface receptors and their signaling pathways.
The Existentialism of Rollo May: An Influence on Trauma Treatment

This article reviews the life and work of Rollo May and his influence on the author’s development of applying existential therapy to treating traumatic stress. An examination of May’s worldview, theory, and therapeutic philosophy is presented. Considerable importance is placed on May’s theoretical foundations as they apply to treating combat veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The data presented in this article reveal the significance of utilizing existential therapeutic principles within a group format to help facilitate combat veterans’ recovery from the internal damage inflicted by PTSD.