cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of modulation of tyrosine phosphorylation on brush border enzyme activity in human Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells

Intestinal epithelial cell differentiation is closely regulated during normal cell renewal, maturation, and malignant transformation. Since tyrosine phosphorylation influences differentiation in other cell types and has been reported to vary between crypt cells to differentiated villus tip cells, we investigated the influence of tyrosine phosphorylation in colonocyte differentiation, by using human colonic Caco-2 cells as a model and expression of the brush border enzymes alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and dipeptidyl peptidase (DPDD) as differentiation markers. We studied three tyrosine kinase inhibitors with different modes of action and specificities, viz., genistein, erbstatin analog (EA), and tyrphostin, and the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate. AKP- and DPDD-specific activities were assayed in protein-matched cell lysates by synthetic substrate digestion. We also correlated the effects of these agents on brush border enzyme activity with tyrosine phosphorylation of phosphoproteins by Western blotting. Genistein (5–75 mg/ml) dose-dependently stimulated AKP and DPDD with a maximal stimulation at 75 mg/ml by 158.6± 17.5% and 228.6±37.1% of control values, respectively (n=12, P<0.001). The inactive analog genistin had no effect. Tyrphostin (25 mM) similarly stimulated AKP and DPDD by 138.6±6.6% and 131.8±1.5% of control values (n=12, P<0.001). Unexpectedly, EA (0.1–10 mM) had the opposite effect, inhibiting AKP- and DPDD-specific activity significantly at 10 mM with a maximal 14.8±6.4% and 26.5±2.5% of control values (n=12, each P<0.001). Sodium orthovanadate had a discordant effect on these two differentiation markers. Orthovanadate dose-dependently increased AKP to a maximal 188.5±16.1% of basal activity at 1.5 mM but decreased DPDD activity at 1.5 mM to 47.2±3.8% (n=9, P<0.001 each). The effects of each agent were preserved when proliferation was blocked with mitomycin C, suggesting that the modulation of phenotype by these agents was independent of any effects of proliferation. The tyrosine phosphorylation of several phosphoprotein bands was affected differently by these agents. In particular, the tyrosine phosphorylation of one 70-kDa to 71-kDa band was increased by genistein and tyrophostin but deceased by EA. The different effects of these modulators of tyrosine kinase activity raise the possibility that at least two independent enzymes or pathways regulating tyrosine phosphorylation modulate intestinal epithelial differentiation. Furthermore, tyrosine phosphorylation of the 70-kDa to 71-kDa phosphoprotein may be important in the intracellular signaling by which intestinal epithelial cell differentiation is controlled.
Changes in milk production with age and milking frequency.

Summary 1.Multiplicative age-correction factors for Holsteins were derived from 43,573 Herd Improvement Registry lactations of 5,374 cows milked twice daily and 5,627 cows milked thrice daily. These factors were based on comparisons of production by the same cows in consecutive lactations. The factors are shown in table 2. 2.The biases which culling of cows may cause in age correction factors are discussed. Several sets of factors for Holsteins are compared in figure 2. Figure 3 shows the actual HIR averages before and after correction of these factors. 3.The present findings agree well with the widely used Kendrick factors. The differences indicate that the following four points need attention whenever a revision of the Kendrick factors is made: (a)The Kendrick factors seem a bit too large at ages under 35 mo. Part of this might come merely from the higher persistency of heifers, since the present data included many lactations which went as long as 365 days. Part of it may have come from neglecting the difference between late first calvers and early second calvers in the smoothing when the Kendrick factors were prepared. (b)Some difference needs to be made between late first and early second calvers at those ages when records by both are present; i.e., at around 33 to 42 mo. This might be done rather simply by having a sharp discontinuity in the standard age-correction factors between 34 and 35 mo. and adding about 0.05 to the standard factor if the calving is a second one which occurred earlier than 35 mo., but subtracting about 0.04 from the standard factor if it is a first calving which occurred at ages later than 34 mo. (c)The Kendrick factors appear a bit too low at ages around 45 to 66 mo. The apparent difference is small but does have a little importance, because so many of the records on which cows are culled or are chosen to be the dams of herd sires are made at these ages. (d)The Kendrick factors seem decidedly too large at the older ages. 4.Because all of the commonly used age corrections remove most of the variance caused by age, their accuracy can be increased only a little by further changes. Since any changes involve much confusion and clerical labor, those which the present study indicates to be desirable should first be verified on other data, especially with respect to these points: (a)Is any material portion of them the peculiar result of the present data having included many lactations as long as 365 days? (b)Is the slope of the age curve really different enough in HIR and in DHIA data to need attention? (c)Is the explanation proposed here for the peculiar shape of the R curve at around 36 mo. really valid and is there any simpler and equally accurate device for adapting age corrections to it ? 5.Multiplying 3×records by 0.80 when they are first lactations and by 0.833 when they are later lactations is suggested for correcting them to the basis of twice-a-day milking. The data hint that the difference between 2×and 3×milking is even larger than 4: 5 at extremely young ages.
Norms for Five Parameters of Anger: How Do Incarcerated Adults Differ From the Community?

The present study generated normative data for anger in a forensic sample in comparison to a non-forensic sample. The former sample comprised 125 incarcerated adults from an adult detention center in a large metropolitan city and the latter consisted of 182 adult patrons of a public library within the same city. Anger was assessed using the Anger Parameters Scale which taps into five parameters: Frequency, Duration, Intensity, Latency, and Threshold. Significant differences were found between both samples on three of the five parameters: incarcerated individuals experienced anger more frequently, more intensely, and for longer periods of time than participants within the non-forensic sample. These findings indicate that certain specific aspects of anger experience require greater clinical attention when treating detainees. The modest but nonsignificant gender differences across these five parameters is consistent with previous research, thus making it appropriate for treatment to target the same parameter...
Expression and retinoic acid regulation of the zebrafish nr2f orphan nuclear receptor genes.

Background: The vertebrate nuclear receptor subfamily 2, group f (nr2f) genes encode orphan receptors that have the capacity to act as negative regulators of retinoic acid (RA) signaling. Results: We describe embryonic and larval expression of four of the six zebrafish nr2f genes, nr2f1a, nr2f1b, nr2f2, and nr2f5. These genes show highly regulated patterns of expression within the central nervous system, including in the developing hindbrain, as well as in the mesoderm and endoderm. We also investigated the role of RA and fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) signaling in regulating early nr2f gene expression. RA is not required for nr2f expression in the hindbrain; however, exogenous RA can repress this expression. Conversely, we find that RA positively regulates nr2f1a expression in trunk endoderm and mesoderm. Fgf signaling is not required for nr2f expression onset in the hindbrain; however, it may play a role in maintaining rhombomere-specific expression. Conclusions: We report detailed expression analysis of four nr2f genes in all three germ layers. The onset of nr2f expression in the hindbrain does not require RA or Fgf signals. Our finding that RA positively regulates nr2f1a expression in the trunk supports the possibility that Nr2fs function in a negative feedback loop to modulate RA signaling in this region. Developmental Dynamics 241:1603–1615, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sex Differences in Visual Recognition Memory: Support for a Sex-Related Difference in Attention in Adults and Children

The selectivity hypothesis of Meyers-Levy (1989) proposes that cognitive sex differences reflect underlying differences in information processing between males and females. Males are considered to be more likely to organize information in a self-related manner, whereas females are more likely to adopt a comprehensive approach to information processing. We tested this hypothesis in children (10-15 years) and adults using recognition memory tasks. Tests were devised which employed male-oriented objects, female oriented objects, or random objects. In both the child and adult samples, females performed significantly better than males on tests using random and female-oriented objects. Males performed at the level of females only when tested for recognition of male-oriented objects. These results demonstrate that this sex difference is present prior to puberty and support the concept of sex differences in information processing.
Spherical indentation of ductile power law materials

A procedure for extracting simple constitutive parameters from microindentation tests is described. The analysis used to interpret the indentation tests is based on the analysis of the spherical indentation test developed by Hill et al. for power law materials. Indentation tests are supplemented by scanning interference microscopy of the residual indented surface profiles and a method is suggested for using the residual surface profiles to estimate the actual contact surface. This, in turn, allows for the construction of the entire stress versus straun curve.
Data-dependent gradient quantization scheme for the acceleration of volume rendering

Volume rendering requires the use of gradient information used as surface normal information, for application of lighting models. However, for interactive applications on- the-fly calculation of gradients is too slow. The common solution to this problem is to quantize gradients of trivariate scalar fields and pre-compute a look-up table prior to the application of a volume rendering method. A number of techniques have been proposed for the quantization of normal vectors, but few have been applied to or adapted for the purpose of volume rendering. We describe a new data- dependent method to quantize gradients using an even number of vectors in a table. The quantization scheme we use is based on a tessellation of the unit sphere. This tessellation represents an 'optimally' distributed set of unit normal vectors. Staring with a random tessellation, we optimize the size and distribution of the tiles with a simulated annealing approach.
Indolent course of advanced neuroblastoma in children older than 6 years at diagnosis

BACKGROUND An early observation suggests that children older than 6 years of age at diagnosis of neuroblastoma constitute a favorable prognostic group. METHODS Kaplan-Meier plots of survival of all such patients diagnosed at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh 1975-1992 were compared with curves of concurrently treated patients with Stage IV disease who were 1-6 years of age at diagnosis ("younger patients"). Known prognostic features, including stage and primary site of disease, pattern of metastases, histopathology, MYCN gene amplification, and urinary catecholamine metabolite ratios, were reviewed. RESULTS Of 17 children diagnosed after the age of 6 years ("older patients"), 13 patients had Evans' Stage IV disease and 4 had Stage III disease. The median survival was 3.24 years (range, 0.63-15.04 years) for the entire cohort and 3.07 years for those children with Stage IV disease. This compared with a median survival of 1.05 years in 34 concurrent younger patients (P < 0.01). In most cases, disease in these older patients was characterized by a short-lived complete or partial remission followed by aggressive recurrent disease that was partially and only transiently chemo- or radiosensitive. Only 3 patients (2 with Stage IV disease) are in continuous complete remission at 3, 5 10/12, and 14 1/2 years from diagnosis. Although poor prognostic factors were common, including the presence of bony metastases (12/17), biopsy material from pretreatment tumor specimens demonstrated a single MYCN gene copy number in all patients and favorable histology in 15 of 16 samples. CONCLUSION Older children with neuroblastoma have a more indolent course than do younger patients, a finding that appears to be related to favorable histology and the absence of MYCN amplification. Examination of larger numbers of such patients from cooperative groups should lead to a better understanding of what appears to be a subset of pediatric patients with neuroblastoma who may benefit from specifically tailored treatment protocols.
The Frequency Interpretation in Probability

We formulate and discuss the notion of generic sequence (and random sequence) associated with a sequence of random variables. These are substantial generalizations of the notion of “collective” introduced by R. von Mises as an attempt to give an operational meaning to various probabilistic ideas. The definition of collectives lacked a precise formulation, and A. Church and others attempted to give a rigorous meaning to the theory by utilizing ideas from the theory of computability. Nevertheless, the theory had major flaws. Even though some important contributions to special cases were made by P. Martin-Lof, the whole circle of ideas has languished due to lack of generality. The theory presented in the present article resolves many of these problems, and provides a coherent framework for the relevant ideas.
Biochemical and clinical studies of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract Attempts were made to identify biochemical parameters that would characterize leukemic cells obtained from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia at early stages of the disease and with more aggressive phases. These studies included (a) the quantitative estimation of the ribonucleotide pool and of the ability of the cells to utilize de novo vs salvage metabolites; and (b) the measurement of the extent of metabolic activation of selected antimetabolits such as ara-C and 6 -MP. Cells obtained from the peripheral blood of six male patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were shown to possess a reduced ability to utilize de novo pathways of purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis as indicated by the lack of ATP and UTP formation from glycine and orotic acid, respectively. In one of these patients, however, although the cells initially lacked the ability of utilizing glycine and orotate, a progressive increase in TdR and glycine incorporation into nucleic acid was observed, and was found to reach a plateau within two months prior to death. In another patient, the ability of cells to utilize glycine for the formation of ATP was found to be coincident with the appearance of advanced and aggressive disease. Concurrent with these shifts from total reliance of cells on salvage pathways for nucleic acid synthesis, to at least partial dependence on de novo pathways, a change in the ribonucleotide profile was observed with a shift from lower to higher ATP/IMP ratios. In the four other patients studied, the clinical and the biochemical profiles were both stable and unchanged to date.
Variability of ultrahigh-range-resolution radar profiles and some implications for target recognition

Radar-based noncooperative target recognition (NCTR) can be attempted based on various types of radar signatures. One natural choice for such a signature domain is that of ultra-high range resolution (UHRR) profiles. These profiles provide a one-dimensional `map' of the target scatterers in the range dimension (with respect to the radar line of sight). Research in this area has shown that this signature domain seems to hold much promise, but that there are concomitant challenges that arise in connection with its exploitation. Radar waveform development, algorithm selection and development, data generation, and algorithm training and testing are all areas that can present acute challenges. This paper focuses on the issues related to the extreme variability that one may expect in UHRR signatures of fixed-wing targets. The degree of variability is quantified and it is shown that this extreme variability contributes to challenges related to algorithm development, training, and testing.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Quantum dot in a well infrared photodetectors for high operating temperature focal plane arrays

InAs quantum dots embedded in InGaAs quantum wells with InAlAs barriers on InP substrate grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition are utilized for high operating temperature detectors and focal plane arrays in the middle wavelength infrared. This dot-well combination is unique because the small band offset between the InAs dots and the InGaAs well leads to weak dot confinement of carriers. As a result, the device behavior differs significantly from that in the more common dot systems that have stronger confinement. Here, we present energy level modeling of our QD-QW system and apply these results to interpret the detector behavior. Detectors showed high performance with D* over 10 10 cmHz 1/2 /W at 150 K operating temperature and with high quantum efficiency over 50%. Focal plane arrays have been demonstrated operating at high temperature due to the low dark current observed in these devices.
Interactive fuzzy variables and fuzzy decisions

Abstract The role of interactive fuzzy variables in fuzzy decision analysis and the difficulties interactivity presents to the analysis are discussed. The vertex method introduced previously for computer processing of fuzzy data is extended to include interactive fuzzy variables. The discussion is illustrated using numerical examples from three main groups of problems commonly encountered in fuzzy decision analysis. Relation of present work with previously published efforts is also discussed.
The astrocyte as a component of the node of Ranvier

Abstract A number of recent studies have demonstrated the presence of astrocytic processes that contact the axon at nodes of Ranvier in the CNS. These studies suggest that, in addition to the axon and the myelin-forming oligodendrocyte, the perinodal astrocyte constitutes a third cell type participating in the formation of CNS nodes of Ranvier. However, the earlier studies left open the question of how the astrocyte is attached to the node. Recent immunocytochemical studies 1 have extended the observations on the perinodal astrocyte, and demonstrate that the Jl glycoprotein, a recently described 160 kDa molecule that has been postulated to play a role in cell-cell adhesion in the nervous system, is concentrated specifically at the interface between the perinodal astrocyte processes and the axons. These findings not only provide evidence for a biochemical specialization of the perinodal astrocyte processes, but also suggest a molecular mechanism by which the astrocyte interacts with the axon and its associated oligodendrocytes at the node.
Varenicline does not alter brain stimulation reward thresholds and reverses nicotine-facilitated thresholds in rats

The partial α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist, varenicline, shares some but not all preclinical effects of nicotine. This unique profile may be crucial to its effectiveness as a therapeutic aid for smoking cessation. The present study evaluated the ability of varenicline to alter brain stimulation reward (BSR) and to alter nicotine facilitation of BSR in a rate-independent intracranial self-stimulation discrete trial procedure. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were stereotaxically implanted with electrodes and trained to respond for direct electrical stimulation aimed at the medial forebrain bundle. Once stable thresholds were established, nicotine, varenicline, and mecamylamine were tested alone to determine their effects on BSR. Subsequently, challenge tests for nicotine facilitation of BSR with nonthreshold altering doses of varenicline and mecamylamine were conducted. This study demonstrated that nicotine dose- dependently facilitated BSR, whereas varenicline did not. Similarly to mecamylamine, varenicline reversed nicotine facilitation of BSR, suggesting that nAChRs mediate the effects of nicotine on BSR. Thus, specifically targeting α4β2 nAChRs inhibits the ability of nicotine to facilitate BSR. The efficacy of varenicline as a treatment for smoking cessation may be related to its unique ability to reduce the rewarding effects of nicotine while not producing rewarding effects alone, a critical consideration in effective drug replacement therapies. Drug Dev Res 72: 310–314, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Radiation hepatology of the rat: the effects of the proliferation stimulus induced by subtotal hepatectomy.

The effect of an 80 to 90% hepatectomy in stimulating proliferation immediately after irradiation of the liver was studied. A dose of 15 Gy was not lethal for animals with intact livers, but all animals with subtotal hepatectomies exposed to this dose died from apparent liver failure 28 to 60 days after exposure. To elucidate the mechanism for this mortality, plasma aspartate aminotransferase, retention of intravenous injected rose bengal, liver weight and liver hydroxyproline content were measured 0 to 90 days after 15 Gy irradiation of the liver to determine temporal changes in necrosis, function, mass and fibrosis, respectively, in animals with either intact livers or livers with subtotal resection. Irradiation of the liver had no significant effect on these parameters in animals with intact livers. In subtotally hepatectomized animals the same radiation dose that suppressed liver mass restoration significantly increased hepatocyte necrosis within 7 days, which was followed by increased liver hydroxyproline concentration and hepatic dysfunction. This radiation-induced temporal change in hepatic dysfunction correlated with increased concentration of hydroxyproline but not with liver mass, indicating that liver fibrosis was the cause of hepatic dysfunction. Since similar sequelae are produced in intact livers after higher doses and longer intervals aftermore » irradiation, the proliferation stimulus induced by partial hepatectomy must accelerate the expression of damage and lower the radiation tolerance of the liver. However, in subtotally hepatectomized animals radiation-induced hepatocyte necrosis precedes fibrosis, whereas the reverse is normally true for animals with intact livers. 35 refs., 5 figs.« less
On the modelling of transportation evacuation: an agent-based discrete-event hybrid-space approach

This paper develops an agent-based discrete-event simulation (AB-DES) modelling framework for transportation evacuation by integrating an event scheduling scheme into an agent-based method. This framework has a unique hybrid simulation space that includes a continuous space and a flexible-structured network. This hybrid space overcomes the cellular space limitation in cell-based evacuation models and provides flexibilities in simulating different evacuation scenarios. Based on this AB-DES framework, we create an evacuation AB-DES model using the Parallel DEVS (Discrete-EVent System specification) formalism. We develop an algorithm to employ the event-scheduling approach to eliminate time-step scheduling used in classic agent-based models. Experimental results show that the AB-DES model is significantly more efficient than a pure ABS model while keeping high model fidelity and the same model capabilities including agent cognitive capability, collision avoidance, and low agent-to-agent communication cost. The agents’ cognitive capability and autonomy property as well as the hybrid simulation space differentiate this AB-DES model from classic pure discrete-event models.
Psychiatric Symptoms and Quality of Life in Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis

Quality of life (QoL) has been recognized as an important outcome of schizophrenia treatment, yet the determinants of QoL for individuals with schizophrenia are not well known. Research has consistently found psychiatric symptoms to be negatively related to QoL, however, findings concerning the strength of these relationships have been mixed, making it difficult to determine the degree to which such symptoms are related to poor QoL. This research presents a systematic meta-analysis of studies examining the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and QoL in schizophrenia, in an effort to elucidate the determinants of QoL for this population. A total of 56 studies were extracted from literature searches of relevant databases for empirical reports published between 1966 and 2005 examining the relationship between positive, negative, and/or general psychiatric symptoms and QoL. Weighted effect size analyses revealed small relationships between psychiatric symptoms and QoL, with general psychopathology showing the strongest negative associations across all QoL indicators. Moderator analyses indicated that variation in effect sizes could be accounted for by differing operationalizations of QoL, study design, sample, and participant treatment setting. In particular, positive and negative symptoms were more strongly related to poor QoL among studies of schizophrenia outpatients, whereas general psychopathology showed a consistent negative relationship with QoL across all study samples and treatment settings. Implications for future research and treatment development are discussed.
Epidemiology of commercial rhesus monkey kidney cells contaminated with Coccidioides posadasii.

On 28 December 2012, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were notified of Coccidioides species contamination in commercially distributed tubes of rhesus monkey kidney (RhMK) cells from company A;
ADMET Polymerization as a Route to Functionalized Polycarbosilanes

It its now evident that ADMET chemistry can be employed to prepare a family of unsaturated carbosilane polymers containing a common backbone decorated with different alkoxysilane pendant groups, demonstrating the generality and potential utility of this chemistry. Four functionalized silicon containing dienes have been synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of the same parent diene monomer containing two reactive silicon-chlorine bonds. These new α,ω-diene monomers have been polymerized under ADMET conditions using the 2 nd generation Grubb's ruthenium catalyst, producing polymers with useful molecular weights. Variation of the pendant group results in differing chemical and physical properties of the resulting polymers. We believe this chemistry offers much to broaden the synthetic pathways to new organosilicon polymers.
Economic systems as cybernetically controlled networks of physical and biological processes

Theoretical concepts and principles for characterizing economic systems as networks of physical and biological material transformation processes with multilevel human cybernetic controlling mechanisms are presented. Transformation processes are represented mathematically by technically specific physical energy and skill-specific human time, with technologies as parameters. System boundaries can be defined and partitioned functionally for various analytical purposes: economic, engineering, management, or ecological. Interrelated opportunity sets for the exchange of resources, products, means of production, physical energy, and human time between enterprises are defined. Enterprises (individuals and groups of individuals) engage in four interrelated control activities. Social/political processes may use three generic control mechanisms. This structure provides a framework for investigating economic systems and their supporting natural systems, and the roles of technological and control innovation. >
Geographical Differences in the Use of the Corporation in American Manufacturing in 1899

Exploration of the data on the character of the ownership of manufacturing establishments presented in the 1900 Census volumes has revealed some challenging phenomena. Buried in this material, for example, is the somewhat unexpected information that the corporation was used extensively in manufacturing establishments in such localities as Arizona, Nevada, Washington, and California, but to a much smaller degree in places like New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, where by 1900 the corporation might be assumed to have become well established as a form of business organization.
Video browsing interfaces for the open video project

The Open Video Project is an on-going effort to develop an open source digital video collection that can be used by the research community and ultimately serve an even broader audience. The initial collection contains video or metadata for more than 1600 digitized video segments comprising nearly half a terabyte of content. Our primary goals for this project are to provide free digital video content to people doing a wide variety of research, to develop a collaborative research environment for people interested in digital video, and to provide a testbed for our own video browsing interface work. Each of these goals fit within a broader mission to understand how people think about, seek, and use digital video. This demonstration summarizes the current status of the project through a brief tour of the Open Video web site, describes our current work in developing surrogates to preview video segments, and shows an innovative video browsing interface we are developing.
Evidence for androgen independence of male mounting behavior in white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii)

Previous experiments have shown that expression of mounting behavior in sexually inexperienced, adult male white-crowned sparrows does not require elevated plasma levels of androgen; adult males maintained on nonstimulatory short days mount sexually receptive females. The experiments reported here demonstrate that (1) sexually inexperienced, prepubertal males maintained on nonstimulatory short days show very low mounting rates in response to female sexual displays; (2) these males exhibit high mounting rates when exposed to stimulatory long days but androgen treatment on short days is ineffective in stimulating high mounting rates; and (3) prepubertal castration has no effect on the expression of mounting behavior by photostimulated adult males. Thus, there is no evidence that mounting behavior of adult male white-crowned sparrows depends on androgen.
Differences in Body Fat of Six Inbred Lines of White Leghorns Derived from a Common Base Population

Abstract Genetic differences in body fat, body weight, follicle number, and egg production were found among six inbred lines of White Leghorn hens derived from a common outbred base population. High positive genetic correlations of body fat with body weight were found between inbred lines as well as between inbred parents and line-cross progeny. Heterosis of fatness, body weight, egg production, egg weight, and liver weight were observed. Large follicles and liver weight were unaffected by inbreeding and crossing of lines.
Advances in objective assessment of hand function and outcome

Almost 100 years ago, Ernest Amory Codman, a Boston surgeon, conceived of what he called ‘‘the end result idea,’’ which, he wrote, was ‘‘simply the common sense notion that every hospital should follow every patient it treats, long enough to determine whether or not the treatment has been successful, and then to inquire, if not, why not?’, with a view to preventing further failures in the future.’’ (Codman EA. The shoulder. Thomas Todd: Boston; 1934. p. xii.) This idea, now commonly referred to as evidence-based medicine, is the foundation on which the continuous im
Two experiences designing for effective security

In our research, we have been concerned with the question of how to make relevant features of security situations visible to users in order to allow them to make informed decisions regarding potential privacy and security problems, as well as regarding potential implications of their actions. To this end, we have designed technical infrastructures that make visible the configurations, activities, and implications of available security mechanisms. This thus allows users to make informed choices and take coordinated and appropriate actions when necessary. This work differs from the more traditional security usability work in that our focus is not only on the usability of security mechanism (e.g., the ease-of-use of an access control interface), but how security can manifest itself as part of people's interactions with and through information systems (i.e., how people experience and interpret privacy and security situations, and are enabled or constrained by existing technological mechanisms to act appropriately). In this paper, we report our experiences designing, developing, and testing two technical infrastructures for supporting this approach for usable security.
Small DNA pieces in C. elegans are intermediates of DNA fragmentation during apoptosis.

While studying small noncoding RNA in C. elegans, we discovered that protocols used for isolation of RNA are contaminated with small DNA pieces. After electrophoresis on a denaturing gel, the DNA fragments appear as a ladder of bands, ∼10 nucleotides apart, mimicking the pattern of nuclease digestion of DNA wrapped around a nucleosome. Here we show that the small DNA pieces are products of the DNA fragmentation that occurs during apoptosis, and correspondingly, are absent in mutant strains incapable of apoptosis. In contrast, the small DNA pieces are present in strains defective for the engulfment process of apoptosis, suggesting they are produced in the dying cell prior to engulfment. While the small DNA pieces are also present in a number of strains with mutations in predicted nucleases, they are undetectable in strains containing mutations in nuc-1, which encodes a DNase II endonuclease. We find that the small DNA pieces can be labeled with terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase only after phosphatase treatment, as expected if they are products of DNase II cleavage, which generates a 3′ phosphate. Our studies reveal a previously unknown intermediate in the process of apoptotic DNA fragmentation and thus bring us closer to defining this important pathway.
Serum retinol, the acute phase response, and the apparent misclassification of vitamin A status in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background: Serum retinol decreases transiently during the acute phase response and can thus result in misclassification of vitamin A status. Objective: Our objective was to determine the prevalence of acute phase response activation in a representative sample of the US population, identify the factors associated with this activation, and determine whether persons with an active acute phase response have lower serum retinol concentrations. Design: Data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) were analyzed. A serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration ≥ 10 mg/L indicated an active acute phase response. Results: Mean serum retinol was lowest in subjects aged < 10 y and increased with age. Concentrations were higher in males than in females aged 20‐59 y. The prevalence of a CRP concentration ≥ 10 mg/L was lowest in subjects aged < 20 y (≤ 4%) and increased with age to a maximum of nearly 15%. An elevated CRP concentration was 2.4-fold greater in females than in males aged 20‐59 y. Serum retinol was lower in subjects with elevated CRP concentrations. Conclusions: Serum retinol increases with age and males have higher mean values than do females aged 20‐59 y. The prevalence of a CRP concentration ≥ 10 mg/L also increases with age, is 2-fold greater in females than in males aged 20‐69 y, and is associated with common inflammatory conditions. Thus, inflammation appeared to contribute to the misclassification of vitamin A status in the NHANES III population, and serum CRP is useful in identifying subjects who may be misclassified. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72:1170‐8.
Implementing Instructional Adaptations for Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms A Literature Review

Examined are classroom teachers' perceptions and use of instructional adaptations in general education classes. General educators were found to be positive about the desirability/effectiveness and reasonability/feasibility of making instructional adaptations for students with disabilities. However, research also revealed that when these students are included in general education classrooms, their teachers are unlikely to alter their traditional whole-group instructional strategies in favor of specific individualized adaptations. In interpreting this inconsistency, we found that the literature identified lack of teacher training and limited school support as barriers to classroom teachers' being able to accommodate the individual needs of students in inclusive settings. Implications for practice and for future research are discussed.
Dynamics of sessile drops. Part 2. Experiment

High-speed images of driven sessile water drops recorded under frequency scans are analysed for resonance peaks, resonance bands and hysteresis of characteristic modes. Visual mode recognition using back-lit surface distortion enables modes to be associated with frequencies, aided by the identifications in Part 1 (Bostwick & Steen, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 760, 2014, pp. 5‐38). Part 1 is a linear stability analysis that predicts how inviscid drop spectra depend on base state geometry. Theoretically, the base states are spherical caps characterized by their ‘flatness’ or fraction of the full sphere. Experimentally, quiescent shapes are controlled by pinning the drop at a circular contact line on the flat substrate and varying the drop volume. The response frequencies of the resonating drop are compared with Part 1 predictions. Agreement with theory is generally good but does deteriorate for flatter drops and higher modes. The measured frequency bands agree better with an extended model, introduced here, that accounts for forcing and weak viscous effects using viscous potential flow. As the flatness varies, regions are predicted where modal frequencies cross and where the spectra crowd. Frequency crossings and spectral crowding favour interaction of modes. Modal interactions of two kinds are documented, called ‘mixing’ and ‘competing’. Mixed modes are two pure modes superposed with little evidence of hysteresis. In contrast, modal competition involves hysteresis whereby one or the other mode disappears depending on the scan direction. Perhaps surprisingly, a linear inviscid irrotational theory provides a useful framework for understanding observations of forced sessile drop oscillations.
Tubuloglomerular feedback in ACE-deficient mice

In these experiments, we used a strain of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) germline null mutant mice, generated by J. H. Krege and co-workers (J. H. Krege, S. W. M. John, L. L. Langenbach, J. B. Hodgin, J. R. Hagaman, E. S. Bachman, J. C. Jennette, D. A. O’Brien, and O. Smithies. Nature 375: 146–148, 1995), to examine the effect of chronic ACE deficiency on the magnitude of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) responses. The genotype was determined by PCR on DNA extracted from the tail and was verified after each experiment by assessment of the blood pressure response to an injection of ANG I. To assess TGF responsiveness, we determined the change in stop-flow pressure (PSF) caused by increasing NaCl concentration at the macula densa by using micropuncture techniques. When loop of Henle flow rate was increased from 0 to 40 nl/min, PSF fell from a mean of 42.3 ± 1.95 to 33.6 ± 2.09 mmHg (n = 6,P = 0.005) in wild-type mice (+/+), fell from 40.6 ± 2.35 to 38.6 ± 1.93 mmHg in heterozygous (+/−) mice (n = 7,P = ...
Generating global behaviors using deep knowledge of local dynamics

Even with powerful numerical computers, exploring complex dynamical systems requires significant human effort and judgment to prepare simulations and to interpret numerical results. This paper describes one aspect of a computer program, KAM, that can autonomously prepare numerical simulations, and can automatically generate high-level, qualitative interpretations of the quantitative results. Given a dynamical system, KAM searches in the phase space for regions where the system exhibits qualitatively distinct behaviors: periodic, almost-periodic, and chaotic motion. KAM uses its knowledge of dynamics to constrain its searches. This knowledge is encoded by a grammar of dynamical behavior in which the primitives are geometric orbits, and in which the rules of combination are orbit adjacency constraints. A consistency analysis procedure analogous to Waltz's constraint satisfaction algorithm is implemented. The utility of the approach is demonstrated by exploring the dynamics of nonlinear conservative systems with two degrees of freedom.
The House of Mouse and Beyond: Assessing the SEC's Efforts to Regulate Executive Compensation

What can or should be done, if anything, to address complaints that corporate executives are overpaid? This Article argues that with its proposed regulations on executive compensation, the Securities and Exchange Commission is making progress in the area of disclosure of executive compensation. The SEC, however, will not accomplish any substantial reform regarding compensation because shareholders do not have much of a role in establishing executive compensation packages and have little ability to challenge board decisions after receiving the mandated disclosure. Analyzing the Proposed Regulations and the Delaware Supreme Court decision In re Walt Disney Company Derivative Litigation, this Article explores how a gap has arisen in the area of executive compensation regulation. It demonstrates how state law regulates gross negligence, waste and, perhaps, bad faith, while federal law focuses on disclosure of certain compensation packages. The different focii of state and federal regulations leave a gap permitting behavior that might be adverse to shareholder interests, yet occur beyond the shareholders' ability to effectuate changes. Addressing this gap is important because, unlike routine board decisions, compensation decisions have characteristics that may compromise arms-length contracting. Additionally, while disclosure of compensation data is important, it is not the equivalent of merit review. If the SEC is truly committed to reforming executive compensation, it must address the gap in regulation remaining after In re Walt Disney Company Derivative Litigation. The SEC and states should work cooperatively to implement more meaningful corporate governance reform to ensure that shareholders both have the information necessary to make informed investment decisions and the ability to effect changes in company decision-making concerning executive compensation.
Gastrointestinal complications in renal transplant recipients

In a 16-year study, 101 gastrointestinal (GI) lesions (16 fatal) developed in 580 renal transplant recipients seen in the authors' institution. Lesions were seen at all levels of the GI tract, but colonic lesions were the most common (42 patients) and were fatal in 8. Segmental ischemic colitis was the single most common morphologic diagnosis (14 patients). Seven of these patients had an unusual syndrome that clinically, at surgery, and on gross examination resembled inflammatory bowel disease. Lesions were segmental; involved bowel was thickened and erythematous with creeping peritoneal fat. Histologically, mucosa adjacent to the frank necrosis showed simplification and striking epithelial atypia. Specific identifiable viral infections caused 28% of the GI complications in this series. This incidence is higher than that in other reported series. Most of these infections can be diagnosed from endoscopically obtained material. These findings have therapeutic implications.
Nontarget Effect of a Fungicide: Toxicity of Maneb to the Parasitoid Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Maneb, a widely used fungicide, was considerably more toxic to the parasitoid Microplitis croceipes Cresson than to the host Heliothis virescens (F.). Levels of 260 ppm maneb in the artificial diet of parasitized H. virescens reduced the percentage of emerged larvae spinning cocoons by 33%. Higher levels of 1,300 and 2,600 ppm maneb prevented or substantially reduced parasitoid emergence from the host. The ECso (concentration required to prevent 50% of the parasitoid population from reaching the adult stage) was estimated to be 325 ppm. Levels of maneb as high as 1,300 ppm did not affect rates of H. virescens pupation. These data suggest a potential incompatibility of maneb with insect pest management practices.
A search-based procedure for nonlinear real arithmetic

We present a new procedure for testing satisfiability (over the reals) of a conjunction of polynomial equations. There are three possible return values for our procedure: it either returns a model for the input formula, or it says that the input is unsatisfiable, or it fails because the applicability condition for the procedure, called the eigen-condition, is violated. For the class of constraints where the eigen-condition holds, our procedure is a decision procedure. We describe satisfiability-preserving transformations that can potentially convert problems into a form where eigen-condition holds. We experimentally evaluate the procedure on constraints generated by template-based verification and synthesis procedures.
The association between phthalates and metabolic syndrome: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2010

Higher exposure to certain phthalates is associated with a diabetes and insulin resistance, with sex differences seen. Yet, little is known about the association between phthalates and metabolic syndrome (MetS), particularly with consideration for differences by sex and menopausal status. We analyzed data from 2719 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2010 aged 20–80 years. Five urinary phthalate metabolites (MEP, MnBP, MiBP, MBzP, and MCPP) and DEHP metabolites were analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and were evaluated as population-specific quartiles. MetS was defined by National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III report criteria. Prevalence odds ratios (POR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders and stratifying by sex and menopausal status. Participants with MetS (32 % of the study population) had higher concentrations for all urinary phthalate metabolites. After full adjustment, higher DEHP metabolite concentrations were associated with an increased odds of MetS in men, but not women (adj. POR for men Q4 versus Q1: 2.20; 95 % CI: 1.32, 3.68 and adj. POR for women Q4 versus Q1: 1.50; 95 % CI: 0.89, 2.52). When evaluating by menopausal status, pre-menopausal women with higher concentrations of MBzP had close to a 4-fold increased odds of MetS compared to pre-menopausal women with the lowest concentrations of MBzP (adj POR: Q4 versus Q1: 3.88; 95 % CI: 1.59, 9.49). Higher concentrations of certain phthalate metabolites were associated with an increased odds of MetS. Higher DEHP metabolite concentrations were associated with an increased odds of MetS for men. In women, the strongest association was between higher concentrations of MBzP and MetS, but only among pre-menopausal women.