cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Study of the Association Between Crohn's Disease and Psychiatric Illness

Abstract This study is an examination of the association between Crohn's disease and psychiatric illness using careful gastrointestinal evaluation, a structured psychiatric interview of known reliability and validity, and explicit diagnostic criteria for psychiatric illness. A proband sample of 50 subjects with Crohn's disease was obtained from a university clinic and a private clinic. Fifty control subjects with chronic medical illnesses obtained from the same two clinic sources were also examined. Compared with controls, a significantly greater number of the patients with Crohn's disease met criteria for some psychiatric disorder at some time in their lives, and a significantly greater number had a diagnosis of depression. A greater number of the probands reported obsessional or phobic symptoms, and the mean number of obsessional symptoms was higher in probands than in controls. We found no evidence of an interaction between psychiatric disorder and Crohn's disease. The significance of the discovered association for the treatment and natural history of Crohn's disease is discussed.
Computation of optical flow using a neural network

A method for computing optical flow using a neural network is presented. Usually, the measurement primitives used for computing optical flow from successive image frames are the image-intensity values and their spatial and temporal derivatives, and tokens such as edges, corners, and linear features. Conventional methods based on such primitives suffer from edge sparsity, noise distortion, or sensitivity to rotation. The authors first fit a 2-D polynomial to find a smooth continuous image-intensity function in a window and estimate the subpixel intensity values and their principal curvatures. Under the local rigidity assumption and smoothness constraints, a neural network is then used to implement the computing procedure based on the estimated intensity values and their principal curvatures. Owing to the dense measured primitives, a dense optical flow with subpixel accuracy is obtained with only a few iterations. Since intensity values and their principle curvatures are rotation-invariant, this method can detect both rotating and translating objects in the scene. Experimental results using synthetic image sequences demonstrate the efficacy of the method. >
The Ah Locus: Biochemical Basis for Genetic Differences in Brain Tumor Formation in Mice

Allelic differences at the Ah locus are shown to exist in the mouse brain. This finding probably explains inbred mouse strain differences in polycyclic hydrocarbon tumorigenesis of the brain described more than 35 years ago and may be important in understanding the etiology of genetic differences in certain human intracranial neoplasms.
The Use of “;Axis-vectors”

THE effort to popularise the elements of vector algebra is commendable. The power and the direct insight conferred by the use of vector quantities should be sought consistently in the study of physics; and it is true that the introduction of these methods has been needlessly postponed. But it lies in the very nature of such benefits that they are not to be secured except upon tenable grounds and as the result of a continuous argument. If a particular quantity is to be classed with vectors, that cannot be done upon a basis which is reducible to the bare statement: “This magnitude may be represented by a straight line of given direction and length; therefore it is a vector.” Witness, for example, moment of inertia, which is not properly a vector, although its magnitude can be associated with a rotation-axis. Vector quantities must be subject to the process of “geometrical addition”; there is a total obtainable as the vector sum of constituent parts. This is equivalent to saying that there is a greatest value Q (resultant) for one direction, and that the law of orthogonal projection applies. Thus the value Q1 for any other direction mtst satisfy the equation Q1 =; Q cos (Q1, Q). This projective property must be proved somehow in each case.
Superoxide Dependence of the Toxicity of Short Chain Sugars

Erythrose inhibited the growth of a sodA sodB strain of Escherichia coli under aerobiosis; but did not inhibit anaerobic growth of the sodA sodB strain, or the aerobic growth of the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-competent parental strain. A SOD mimic protected the sodA sodB strain against the toxicity of erythrose as did the carbonyl-blocking reagents hydrazine and aminoguanidine. Three carbon sugars, such as glyceraldehyde and dihydroxy acetone, and the two carbon sugar glycolaldehyde, were similarly toxic in an O-2-dependent manner. An unidentified dialyzable component in E. coli extract augmented the oxidation of short chain sugars, and this was partially inhibitable by SOD. The toxicity of the short chain sugars appears to be because of an O-2-dependent oxidation to alpha, beta-dicarbonyl compounds. In keeping with this view was the O-2-independent toxicity of methylglyoxal.
The incidence of environmental degradation: a case study of acid mine drainage

Abstract Externality is known to exist when the decision-maker, whose activity affects others' utility levels or enters their production functions, does not receive (pay) in compensation for this activity an amount equal in value to the resulting (marginal) benefits or costs to others. Acid-mine water linked to coal extraction in Northern Appalachia, is an example used in this study. This paper looks at four different parties which are being affected by acid mine drainage under four different scenarios. The parties are (1) the coal industry; (2) electric utility users; (3) the general tax paying public; and (4) displaced recreationists. The corresponding scenarios are: (1) the general tax cut; (2) rebates to electric users; (3) compensation to the displaced recreationists; and (4) regulatory cut back. Equity concerns have lead to the conclusion that, although each policy option achieves economic efficiency, compensation of displaced recreationists is the preferred option if the policy makers are able to stop the migration of the new recreationists in the area.
The Lie derivative as a canonical morphism

Abstract First, there is a proper definition of a canonical morphism for a given principal G bundle over some smooth manifold. A complete description is given of all canonical morphisms attached to the linear frame bundle (which involves frames having first-order contact with the manifold). Second, the Lie derivative is shown to be a canonical morphism for the quadratic frame bundle (this comprises frames with second-order contact). As a practical application, one obtains an explicit, coordinate-free description of the Lie derivative on any tensor bundle. Simultaneously, there appears a natural method of generating connections on any tensor bundle from a given connection on the tangent bundle.
Poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase activity during bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in hamsters.

Bleomycin damages cellular DNA and is a potent inducer of pulmonary fibrosis. It has been shown to act through a superoxide-mediated mechanism. We are interested in determining the biochemical mechanisms involved in fibrosis and in this preliminary study we have examined the temporal relationship between early biochemical events associated with DNA damage and fibrosis, in lungs of hamsters after administration of 0.75 unit of bleomycin. The activities of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase, an enzyme associated with DNA repair, inducible superoxide dismutase (SOD) and prolyl hydroxylase as well as the tissue levels of NAD+ and hydroxyproline in the lung were determined. All three enzyme activities expressed as per milligram DNA or per lung, increased upon bleomycin treatment over the saline-administered controls. Lung poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase activity which is sensitive to DNA breaks, increased first (24% over control in 1 day, P < 0.0001), attained the maximum value on the 5th day (952% over control, P < 0.0001), and started to decline thereafter and approached near the control value on 14th day. Bleomycin treatment induced a rapid change in the level of lung NAD+. After 1 day the level of NAD+ was reduced by 42% compared to the control (P < 0.001), further declined to 65% (P < 0.001) on the 3rd day, and stayed at that level until the 7th day. On the 14th day, however, the NAD+ level was still lower (29%, P < 0.05) but approaching the value in the control animals. The activity of prolyl hydroxylase showed significant increase on the 3rd day (50% over control, P < 0.0001) after bleomycin administration. The enzyme activity continued to increase until the end of the experiment (490% of control, P < 0.0001, on Day 14). The content of undialyzable hydroxyproline, a marker for collagen, was also increased significantly in the lung tissue on the 3rd day (30% over control, P < 0.05), continued to increase and reached the highest level on the 14th day (71% over control, P < 0.001). A significant increase in the activity of SOD (19% over control, P < 0.001) was seen on the 5th day which continued to increase and attained the highest value on Day 14 (115% over control, P < 0.0001). These data indicate that poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis in the lung is increased upon bleomycin administration and suggest that the toxicity of the drug in vivo is mediated through damage to cellular DNA which initiates a DNA repair response in the lung.
Angiopreventive Efficacy of Pure Flavonolignans from Milk Thistle Extract against Prostate Cancer: Targeting VEGF-VEGFR Signaling

The role of neo-angiogenesis in prostate cancer (PCA) growth and metastasis is well established, but the development of effective and non-toxic pharmacological inhibitors of angiogenesis remains an unaccomplished goal. In this regard, targeting aberrant angiogenesis through non-toxic phytochemicals could be an attractive angiopreventive strategy against PCA. The rationale of the present study was to compare the anti-angiogenic potential of four pure diastereoisomeric flavonolignans, namely silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A and isosilybin B, which we established previously as biologically active constituents in Milk Thistle extract. Results showed that oral feeding of these flavonolignans (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) effectively inhibit the growth of advanced human PCA DU145 xenografts. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that these flavonolignans inhibit tumor angiogenesis biomarkers (CD31 and nestin) and signaling molecules regulating angiogenesis (VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, phospho-Akt and HIF-1α) without adversely affecting the vessel-count in normal tissues (liver, lung, and kidney) of tumor bearing mice. These flavonolignans also inhibited the microvessel sprouting from mouse dorsal aortas ex vivo, and the VEGF-induced cell proliferation, capillary-like tube formation and invasiveness of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. Further studies in HUVEC showed that these diastereoisomers target cell cycle, apoptosis and VEGF-induced signaling cascade. Three dimensional growth assay as well as co-culture invasion and in vitro angiogenesis studies (with HUVEC and DU145 cells) suggested the differential effectiveness of the diastereoisomers toward PCA and endothelial cells. Overall, these studies elucidated the comparative anti-angiogenic efficacy of pure flavonolignans from Milk Thistle and suggest their usefulness in PCA angioprevention.
Heterotopic ossification following primary total knee arthroplasty.

Ninety-eight consecutive primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) in 70 patients were retrospectively evaluated for heterotopic ossification (HO). A radiographic classification was devised based on the extent and location of the ectopic bone. Twenty-five knees (26%) in 19 patients developed HO. Eight of 11 patients (73%) with preexisting heterotopic bone at other sites developed HO in the index knee. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that advanced HO was associated with restricted knee motion. Eight knees with advanced HO had a mean 14 degrees decrease in postoperative, as compared with preoperative, knee flexion (P < .05). For all patients with HO, mean lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) was significantly elevated compared with a matched control group not developing HO (P < .05). Heterotopic ossification following primary TKA correlates with a limitation of postoperative knee flexion and is predicted by increased lumbar BMD. Preoperative measurement of spinal BMD may identify those patients at risk for HO and allow for the institution of preoperative prophylaxis and modification of postoperative rehabilitation to optimize functional outcome following TKA.
A L-[3H]glutamate binding site on glia: an autoradiographic study on implanted astrocytes.

Abstract In the present study cultured astrocytes were implanted into the inferior colliculus of rats to create an astrocyte-enriched field that could be examined autoradiographically. The presence of the astrocytes was confirmed with anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFA) immunocytochemistry. We report the presence of a chloride-dependent glutamate binding site on the implanted astrocytes. In the presence of chloride, the specific glutamate binding detected in the implant area was 5-fold greater than that found in a corresponding contralateral region. When the chloride was replaced with acetate, glutamate binding to the astrocytes decreased by more than 80%. The chloride-dependent binding to the astrocytes was insensitive to inhibition by kainic acid (KA) and N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) and sensitive to quisqualate, l -aspartate, l -2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate, and l -α-aminoadipate. The pharmacology of the binding was very similar to that of the in vitro glutamate binding to membranes from cultured astrocytes and to that of a chloride-dependent transport system identified in a glioma cell line. We conclude that the interaction of glutamate with astrocytes is an important component of the total glutamate binding observed in brain slices.
Orientation development and crystallization in melt spinning of fibers

A critical review is presented of the development of orientation and crystallization in melt spinning. Methods of characterizing fiber structure are described. The development of molecular orientation in flow and approaches to the representation of crystallization in melt spinning processes are considered. Detailed critiques of the literature are given for the melt spinning of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(ethylene terephthalate), nylon-6, and nylon-66. Emphasis is given to the problems of spinline crystallization, polymorphism, orientation development, and crystalline morphology. The important role of spinline stress in determining structure development is emphasized. The influence of high speeds on melt spun fiber structure is described.
Meta-analysis of thalamic size in schizophrenia.

Background: This article presents a meta-analysis of thalamic size reduction in schizophrenia. Methods: Reviewed studies were based on magnetic resonance imaging or postmortem material and included measures of thalamic volume or thalamic area in schizophrenic patients and comparison subjects. Meta-analysis I was based on absolute thalamic values (not controlled for overall brain size), and Meta-analysis II evaluated thalamic size adjusted for brain size. Results: Meta-analysis I included data from 15 studies (485 schizophrenic subjects and 500 control subjects). Twelve (80%) of the studies had negative effect sizes, which is consistent with the hypothesis that thalamic size is smaller in schizophrenic subjects compared to control subjects. The composite effect size was −0.29 (p < .0001; without outliers: −0.41, p < .0001). Meta-analysis II included data from 11 studies (313 schizophrenic patients and 434 control subjects). Ten (91%) of the studies had negative effect sizes. The composite effect size was −0.35 (p < .0001; without outlier: −0.30, p < .0001). Conclusions: Both meta-analyses indicate a statistically significant, small-to-moderate effect size for thalamic size reduction in schizophrenia; however, the effect size for thalamic size reduction is modest in comparison to that of other structural abnormalities noted in schizophrenia.
Spinal mast cell tumor in a dog

A 6-year-old, spayed female rottweiler was referred for left forelimb lameness followed by tetraparesis. A mast cell tumor compressing the spinal cord at the level of the sixth cervical to first thoracic (C6–T1) vertebrae was diagnosed based on cervical myelography and necropsy findings. This was considered a primary extracutaneous mast cell tumor, as no evidence of disease was found elsewhere. This is the first report of a primary mast cell tumor in this location.
Nanoparticle-targeted photoacoustic cavitation for tissue imaging

Photoacoustic tomography is a non-invasive imaging technique based on the detection of broadband acoustic emissions generated by the absorption of light in tissue. This technique utilises the high contrast of optical imaging with high resolution from ultrasound imaging. However, the ability to detect these emissions above the noise level ultimately limits the depth to which imaging can be performed. Introduction of light-absorbing gold nanoparticles can improve the signal-to-noise ratio in tissue, through greater optical absorption and targeting specific cell populations, thereby enhancing contrast and the ability to delineate tissue types. For sufficiently high laser fluence incident on a nanoparticle, a transient vapour cavity is formed and undergoes inertial collapse, generating a broadband emission and possibly additional contrast. However, the laser fluence required to achieve this typically exceeds the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) for tissue. Through the combination of ultrasonic and optical pulses, the light and sound thresholds required to repeatedly generate inertial cavitation were reduced to 11.1 mJ/cm2 and 1.5 MPa respectively. Experiments employed a transparent acrylamide gel possessing a small (<600 μm) spherical region doped with 80 nm diameter gold nanoparticles and simultaneously exposed to pulsed laser light (532 nm) and pulsed ultrasound (1.1 MHz). The amplitude of broadband emissions induced by both light and sound exceeded that produced by light alone by almost two orders of magnitude, thereby facilitating imaging a deeper depth within tissue. 2D images of doped regions generated from conventional photoacoustic and ultrasound-enhanced emissions are presented and compared.© (2010) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Back to basics: The tornado, Nature's most violent wind: Part 2 — Formation and current research

This second article in the series continues our discussion of tornadoes. Part 1 (Snow and Wyatt 1997) characterised tornadoes, provided information about structure and wind speed, and argued that they are truly an international phenomenon. This part focuses on what is known (and not known) about how tornadoes form, and closes with a brief discussion of current research activity. For the last 50 years, meteorologists have been exploring tornadoes, aiming for a better understanding of how nature produces these swirling columns and how their high-speed winds interact with the built environment an extensive discussion of current understanding can be found in Church et al. (1993). The goals of this research, as well as increasing knowledge about an intriguing phenomenon, are to develop more effective monitoring and warning techniques, and to establish design criteria and safety procedures to ensure the survival of those unfortunate enough to have a ‘close encounter’ with a tornado.
So many children left behind: Segregation and the impact of subgroup reporting in no child left behind on the racial test score gap

Although the No Child Left Behind Act was intended to help “all students meet high academic standards,” it is focused on subgroups of low-achieving students. The authors analyze the possible impact of the legislation's requirement for performance reporting by racial subgroup in light of the considerable racial segregation in U.S. schools. In particular, using data on elementary and middle schools in New York State, the authors show that the schools are so highly segregated that more than half are too homogeneous to report test scores for any racial or ethnic subgroups. In addition, they show that the racial achievement gap is greatest across segregated schools rather than within integrated ones. The authors analyze the characteristics of schools that are and are not accountable for subgroups, finding that urban schools and large schools are particularly likely to be accountable, and conclude with implications for the reach of the law and for incentives for school segregation.
Mechanisms of He∗(21S) quenching on oxygen-covered Ni(111) surfaces

Abstract Ni(111) surfaces exposed to 0.8 L O2 and 3.3 L O2 were studied using He∗(21S) metastable quenching spectroscopy (MQS). The electron spectrum from the fully covered surface (3.2 L O2) showed that quenching takes place by ionization of the He∗(21S) followed by Auger neutralization of the ion rather than by Penning ionization as has been observed for other adsorbates. The chemisorbed oxygen spectrum on a partially covered surface changes with temperature between 90 and 200 K, and this is attributed to a phase transition in the chemisorbed oxygen layer.
Langmuir Revisited: Using Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy To Determine Monolayer Structure At Liquid Interfaces

Over the past several years, this laboratory has adapted external reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy to the study of conformation-sensitive vibrational modes in amphiphilic monolayers at the air-water (NW) interface. It has proven possible to investigate the surface pressure-induced first order thermodynamic phase transition of phospholipid monolayer films at the A/W interface using this technique. The IR results to date indicate that this phase transition is accompanied by a change in conformational order in the hydrocarbon portion of the molecule and suggests that the monolayer is heterogeneous and biphasic in character, with coexistence of molecular domains throughout the phase transition. More recently, we have explored the charged, hydrophilic head group region of the amphiphilic monolayer and the interaction of sub-phase ions and pH with the molecule's interfacial ionic groups. The spectra obtained of the head group region in the monolayer films clearly indicate that the relevant vibrational modes are sensitive to hydration and protonation of the ionic groups in the monolayer. These results strongly suggest that the external reflection technique described here has the requisite sensitivity to probe questions involving complex physical chemistry and interfacial structure in amphiphilic monolayer films at the A/W interface and may be useful in describing the detailed molecular structure of such films.
Assessment of responses to cochlear implant stimulation at different levels of the auditory pathway.

This paper reviews characteristics of both the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) and analogous measures of cortically evoked responses (CAEP) to electrical stimulation in cochlear implant users. Specific comparisons are made between the two levels of processing for measures of threshold, growth of responses with increasing stimulus level, changes in stimulation electrode and, finally, in temporal response properties. The results are interpreted in a context that ECAPs primarily reflect the characteristics of the electrode-neural interface for an individual ear. CAEPs clearly are dependent on those peripheral responses but also reflect differences in central processing among individual implant users. The potential applicability of combined measures in clinical situations is discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled .
TGF-β can leave you breathless

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a ubiquitous and multifunctional cytokine, is central to the evolution and modulation of host defense. Early on, TGF-beta was recognized for its chemotactic and pro-inflammatory properties, but then identification of its powerful suppressive activities focused attention on dissecting its mechanisms of immune inhibition. Just as quickly as TGF-beta-mediated regulation of a population of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells became the rage, a surprising finding that TGF-beta was the impetus behind a subset of pro-inflammatory T helper (Th)17 cells brought back a re-emphasis on its broader ability to dictate inflammatory events. Emerging evidence indicates that much remains to be discovered regarding the complex and intertwined roles of TGF-beta in inflammation, T cell lineage commitment, antibody generation, immune suppression, and tolerance. While it may appear that TGF-beta has multiple, ill-defined, contradictory and overlapping modes of activity that are impossible to unravel, the current excitement for dissecting how TGF-beta controls immunity defines a challenge worthy of pursuit. The lung is particularly vulnerable to the influences of TGF-beta, which is produced by its immune and non-immune cell populations. In its absence, lung pathology becomes lethal, whereas TGF-beta overproduction also has untoward consequences, potentially leaving one breathless, and underscoring the paradoxical, but essential contribution of TGF-beta to tissue and immune homeostasis.
Effect of Protein Dynamics upon Reactions that Occur in the Heme Pocket of Horseradish Peroxidase

Free base and Pd porphyrin derivatives of horseradish peroxidase show long-lived excited states that are quenched by the presence of the peroxidase inhibitor, benzhydroxamic acid. The relaxation times of the excited-state luminescence and the rates of the quenching reaction for these derivatives of peroxidase were monitored as a function of pH, temperature, and viscosity with the view of examining how protein dynamics affect the quenching reaction. As solvent viscosity increases, the rate decreases, but at the limit of very high viscosity (i.e., high glycerol or sugar glass) the quenching still occurs. A model is presented that is consistent with the known structure of the enzyme−inhibitor complex. It is considered that the inhibitor is held at an established position but that solvent-dependent and independent motions allow a limited diffusion of the two reactants. Since there is a steep dependence upon distance and orientation, the diffusion toward the favorable position for reaction enhances the reactio...
Burn injury-related anesthetic emergencies

Summary Anesthesia for burn patients is challenging since these victims usually present with hemodynamic instability and relatively high fluid and metabolic requirements. Nevertheless, adequate knowledge of early and late pathophysiologic changes associated with this type of injury and an organized approach will lead to safe management and avoidance of complications, and thus a decrease in morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, it is essential to have knowledge about alterations in pharmacologic responses of such patients during administration of drugs in the perioperative period. Anesthetic management must be guided by the pathophysiology of burn trauma. Finally, burn victims, like many other trauma patients, have multiple needs. Therefore, a team approach, with involvement from nurses, intensivists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social service workers, physical therapists, nutritionists, and respiratory therapists, is essential.
Solubilization and fluorescence behavior of petroleum sulfonate containing microemulsions

The effects of various oils and alcohols on the brine solubilization and fluorescence behavior of oil-external microemulsions were investigated. At a critical electrolyte concentration, referred to as optimal salinity, the brine solubilization capacity of microemulsions containing petroleum sulfonate is maximum for C6–C10 oils and C4–C7 alcohols. Moreover, at this salinity, the fluorescence intensity was found to be maximal. As the chain length of oil is increased, the optimal salinity increased for all the alcohols studied. However, the increase in optimal salinity was much greater for water-soluble alcohols than for pentanol, hexanol or heptanol. The brine solubilization limit decreased as the oil chain length increased for microemulsions containing n-butanol and iso-butanol. The solubilization behavior is explained in terms of solubility of alcohols in various phases of microemulsions and the ability of the aqueous phase to solubilize surfactant molecules from the interface. The fluorescence behavior is explained by higher surface charge density around the water droplet near optimal salinity. A simple correlation is given between the solubilization and fluorescence behavior of microemulsions that is independent of type and chain length of the alcohols or hydrocarbons.
Intellectual Property Rights Protecting the Creation of New Knowledge Across Cultural Boundaries

Communicated concepts of property ownership, including intellectual property, depend on cultural values and norms. In many parts of the world, conceptual private ownership lacks definitive regulations that apply in the Western world. This lack of cultural parallelism reflects and engenders significant problems in an age where growing technological advances spread ideas and devices across cultural boundaries bringing philosophical, financial, and other practical concerns that create questions about the role of local norms in governing international transference of innovations. Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are the focus of enormous contemporary international diplomatic efforts to the business of innovative technology and the artistic arena of music, literature, and art. This article briefly outlines the historical development of Western IPRs, illustrates many problems from a non-ethnocentric study of the topic.
Genetic influences on prepulse inhibition of startle reflex in humans

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a suppression of the startle reflex that occurs when an intense startling stimulus is preceded by a weaker 'prepulse' stimulus. PPI deficits have been implicated in the biological bases of schizophrenia and some other neuropsychiatric disorders and proposed as a possible biological marker (endophenotype) for genetic studies. However, little is known about the genetic determination of PPI in humans. We examined acoustic eye-blink startle reflex and PPI in 142 young female twins (40 monozygotic and 31 dizygotic pairs) and conducted a biometrical genetic analysis using structural equation modeling. PPI showed significant heritability suggesting that over 50% of PPI variance in this sample can be attributed to genetic factors. Baseline startle magnitude showed higher heritability (about 70%).
MHC class II expression and antigen presentation by human endometrial cells.

It has been demonstrated previously that mixed cell suspensions from the female reproductive tract consisting of human epithelial and stromal cells were capable of presenting foreign antigen to autologous T cells. There have been, however, no reported studies examining antigen presentation by isolated epithelial cells from the human female reproductive tract. It is now shown that freshly isolated epithelial cells from the uterine endometrium constitutively express MHC class II antigen and that class II was upregulated on cultured epithelium by interferon gamma (IFNγ). Using a highly purified preparation, it was demonstrated that these epithelial cells were able to process and present tetanus toxoid recall antigen driving autologous T cell proliferation. Cells isolated from the basolateral sub-epithelium stroma were also potent antigen presenting cells in this model system. Thus, isolated endometrial epithelial cells were able to directly process and present antigen to T cells and may be responsible for the transcytosis and delivery of antigen to professional antigen presenting cells found in the sub-epithelial stroma.
Generation of tunable, femtosecond-time-scale VUV pulses by four-wave difference-frequency mixing in xenon

A practical method for generating femtosecond-time-scale VUV pulses in the spectral range 150 - 200 nm is discussed. The method is based upon four-wave difference-frequency mixing in Xe ((omega) 3 equals 2(omega) 1 - (omega) 2). One can utilize a two-photon resonance in Xe to increase the VUV output energy by almost two orders of magnitude by choosing the beam at (omega) 1 to be a KrF-excimer-amplified ultrashort pulse. This resonantly-enhanced mixing process is utilized to generate is congruent to 4-(mu) J, femtosecond- time-scale, pulses at is congruent to 156 nm, suitable for use as seed pulses to test the ultrafast amplification characteristics of F2-discharges.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A prototype expert system for selecting control charts

The emergence of expert systems provides new insight to specialists in manufacturing as a means of solving problems in their domains. The solutions of most manufacturing problems are not deterministic and many alternate courses of action exist. In this paper, the structure of a prototype expert system, which provides support to the process or quality engineer in the selection of the proper type of control charts to use in tracking the state of the process, is explained. The functionality and operation procedures for executing this system are demonstrated on sample consultations and evolvement of the system in time to reinforce existing input knowledge bases is described.
Disagreement leads to complete learning: Sequential choice with continuous types☆

Abstract Players with observable, continuous payoff types choose actions sequentially. Players update beliefs about the payoff-relevant state of nature using private signals and information about previous signals in the history of types and actions. Heterogeneity in preferences ensures complete learning.
Cell-surface expression of L-selectin (CD62L) by blood lymphocytes: correlates with affective parameters and severity of panic disorder.

The surface immune phenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was examined in 30 patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder and in 10 normal controls by immunostaining and cytofluorimetry. Patients with panic disorder and controls showed comparable numbers of PBL and no differences in the percentages of blood T-cells, B-cells, or NK-cells. The PBL in panic disorder patients showed a trend toward enrichment for “naive” CD45RA+ T-lymphocytes (35.0 ± 7.6 vs. 28.7 ± 9.8, P = 0.09) and significant enrichment for cells expressing CD62L (L-selectin, 22.9 ± 5.9 vs. 14.6 ± 6.3, P = 0.002), a lymphocyte homing receptor that mediates binding to lymph node endothelium. Increased expression of CD62L correlated directly with the global severity of illness, Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A) and Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) scores. Although in the normal range, plasma cortisol levels were significantly increased in patients with panic disorder (P = 0.003) with respect to controls and correlated with the expression of CD62L by PBL. We conclude that the peripheral blood in panic disorder shows phenotypic changes that may reflect diminished cell activation in vivo. Depression and Anxiety 11:31–37, 2000.© 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Multiple-Analyte Fluoroimmunoassay Using an Integrated Optical Waveguide Sensor

A silicon oxynitride integrated optical waveguide was used to evanescently excite fluorescence from a multianalyte sensor surface in a rapid, sandwich immunoassay format. Multiple analyte immunoassay (MAIA) results for two sets of three different analytes, one employing polyclonal and the other monoclonal capture antibodies, were compared with results for identical analytes performed in a single-analyte immunoassay (SAIA) format. The MAIA protocol was applied in both phosphate-buffered saline and simulated serum solutions. Point-to-point correlation values between the MAIA and SAIA results varied widely for the polyclonal antibodies (R2 = 0.42−0.98) and were acceptable for the monoclonal antibodies (R2 = 0.93−0.99). Differences in calculated receptor affinities were also evident with polyclonal antibodies, but not so with monoclonal antibodies. Polyclonal antibody capture layers tended to demonstrate departure from ideal receptor−ligand binding while monoclonal antibodies generally displayed monovalent bi...
The MIs system: non-MHC genes that encode strong T-cell stimulatory determinants

Abstract In general, only products of MHC genes strongly stimulate naive T cells. However, in mice a set of determinants encoded by MIs loci provide even stronger stimulatory signals for T cells. It is reasonable to suppose that these determinants, recognized by T cells at extremely high precursor frequency, may serve important functions in the immune system. For this reason, MIs -specific T-cell activation has generated a great deal of interest: here, Ryo Abe and Richard Hodes review recent advances in the understanding of the MIs system and discuss the influence of MIs expression of T-cell repertoire selection.
The Racial Components of "Race-Neutral" Crime Policy Attitudes

Past studies have found evidence of a connection between race and crime in the minds of many white Americans, but several gaps remain in our knowledge of this association. Here, a multimethod approach was used to examine more closely the racial component of whites’ support for ostensibly race-neutral crime policies. Conventional correlational analysis showed that negative stereotypes of African Americans—specifically, the belief that blacks are violent and lazy—are an important source of support for punitive policies such as the death penalty and longer prison terms. A survey experiment further showed that negative evaluations of black prisoners are much more strongly tied to support for punitive policies than are negative evaluations of white prisoners. These findings suggest that when many whites think of punitive crime policies to deal with violent offenders, they are thinking of black offenders.
Subspace self-collision culling

We show how to greatly accelerate self-collision detection (SCD) for reduced deformable models. Given a triangle mesh and a set of deformation modes, our method precomputes Subspace Self-Collision Culling (SSCC) certificates which, if satisfied, prove the absence of self-collisions for large parts of the model. At runtime, bounding volume hierarchies augmented with our certificates can aggressively cull overlap tests and reduce hierarchy updates. Our method supports both discrete and continuous SCD, can handle complex geometry, and makes no assumptions about geometric smoothness or normal bounds. It is particularly effective for simulations with modest subspace deformations, where it can often verify the absence of self-collisions in constant time. Our certificates enable low amortized costs, in time and across many objects in multi-body dynamics simulations. Finally, SSCC is effective enough to support self-collision tests at audio rates, which we demonstrate by producing the first sound simulations of clattering objects.
MASS SPLITTINGS WITHIN BARYON CHARGE MULTIPLETS

Calculations were made of the effect upon the mass splittings within each isobaric multiplet of a phenomenological boson mass difference. It was possible to sum the diagrams to all orders in the strong couplings but the results are only valid to first order in the mass difference. These results can be compactly expressed as derivatives with respect to the intermediate masses of a function related to the proper sell energy. The second-order perturbation results are calculated. (auth)
Towards Traffic Benchmarks for Empirical Networking Research: The Role of Connection Structure in Traffic Workload Modeling

Networking research would be well served by the adoption of a set of traffic benchmarks to model network applications for empirical evaluations; such benchmarks are common in many other areas of computing. While it has long been known that certain aspects of modeling traffic, such as round trip time, can dramatically affect application and network performance, there is still no agreement as to how such components should be controlled within an experiment. In this paper we advance the discussion of standards for empirical networking research by demonstrating how certain components of network traffic, such as the structure of application data exchanges within a TCP connection, can have a larger impact on the results obtained through experimentation than other dimensions of traffic such as round-trip time. Such findings point to the pressing need for traffic benchmarks in networking research. Through testbed experiments performed with synthetically generated network traffic from two very different traffic sources, and using several models of TCP connection structure, we demonstrate the strong effects of connection structure in traffic workload modeling on performance measures such as queue length at routers, number of active connections in the network, user response times, and connection durations.
From TWA to PEC

Abstract We respond to commentaries by Brown, Tinsley, Hesketh, Tenopyr, Morrow, Murphy, and Blau on TWA-related research reported by Dawis, Dohm, and Jackson, Bizot and Goldman, Breeden, and Lawson and find many useful suggestions for future research. The commentators see the biggest weakness of TWA as its failure to forge links with various related research literatures, in particular, those in personality and industrial-organizational psychology. Suggestions toward revising TWA were offered. Some of these suggestions have already been incorporated in PEC theory, which is the expansion of TWA to apply to other, nonwork areas of life.
Is Your Class About Something? Guiding Principles for Physical Education Teachers

Abstract Quality programs need to focus on a purpose, or vision, and guiding principles can help to establish that focus.
The architecture of the active surface control system of the Large Millimeter Telescope

One of the fundamental design principles of the LMT is that its segmented primary surface must be active: the position and orientation of each of the segments must be moved in order to maintain the precise parabolic surface that is required by the specifications. Consequently, a system of actuators, one at the corner of each segment, is used to move the segments to counteract surface deformations attributed to gravity or thermal effects. A new control system was designed and built within the project to implement an active surface at the LMT. The technical concept for the active surface control system is to provide a set of bus boxes with built-in control and I/O capabilities to run four actuators each. Bus boxes read the LVDT sensor position and limit switch status for each actuator and use this information to drive the actuator’s DC motor, closing the position loop. Each bus box contains a DC power supply for the electronics, a second DC power supply for the motors, an embedded controller with I/O to close the position loop, and a custom printed circuit board to condition the LVDT signals and drive the motors. An interface printed circuit board resides in each actuator providing a single connector access to the LVDT, the motor, and the limit switches. During the fall of 2013, 84 bus boxes were commissioned to control the 336 actuators of the inner three rings of the telescope. The surface correction model was determined using holography measurements and the active surface system has been in regular use during the scientific observation at the LMT.
Distinct modes of cell death induced by different reactive oxygen species: amino acyl chloramines mediate hypochlorous acid-induced apoptosis.

Abstract Oxidants derived from inflammatory phagocytes compose a key element of the host immune defense system and can kill mammalian cells by one of several different mechanisms. In this report, we compare mechanisms of cell death induced in human B lymphoma cells by the inflammatory oxidants superoxide, H2O2, and HOCl. The results indicate that the mode of cell death induced depends on the nature of the oxidant involved and the medium in which the cells are treated. When human Burkitt's lymphoma cells are exposed to superoxide anion, generated as a flux from xanthine and xanthine oxidase, the cells die by a non-apoptotic mechanism (pyknosis/necrosis) identical to that seen when cells are treated with a bolus of reagent H2O2. Addition of superoxide dismutase has no effect, whereas catalase is completely protective, indicating that exogenously generated superoxide kills cells entirely through its dismutation into H2O2. In contrast, cells treated in culture media with reagent HOCl die largely by apoptosis. HOCl-induced apoptosis is mediated by aminoacyl chloramines generated in the culture media and can be mimicked by treatment of cells with taurine chloramine or with long lived chloramines generated from modified Lys or Arg. The results suggest that in a physiological milieu in which O and H2O2 are the main oxidants being formed, the principal form of cell death may be necrotic, and under inflammatory conditions in which HOCl is generated, apoptotic cell death may predominate.
Confronting stillbirths and newborn deaths in areas of conflict and political instability: a neglected global imperative

AbstractBackground:Despite considerable improvements in reproductive and newborn health throughout the world, relatively poor outcomes persist in areas plagued by conflict or political instability.Objectives:To assess the contribution of areas of conflict and instability to global patterns of stillbirths and newborn deaths and to identify opportunities for effective intervention in these areas.Methods:Analysis of the available data on stillbirths and neonatal mortality in association with conflict and governance indicators, and review of epidemiological and political literature pertaining to the provision of health and public services in areas of conflict and instability.Results:Of the 15 countries with the highest neonatal mortality rates in the world, 14 are characterized by chronic conflict or political instability. If India and China are excluded, countries experiencing chronic conflict or political instability account for approximately 42% of all neonatal deaths worldwide. Efforts to address adverse ...
Cubic theta functions

Abstract The theory of the cubic theta function ∑ q m 2 + m n + n 2 z 1 m z 2 n is developed analogously to the theory of the classical Jacobian theta functions. Many inversion formulas, addition formulas, and modular equations are derived, and these results extend previous work on cubic theta functions.
Graphene in the sky and beyond

With the premium placed on strong, lightweight structures, carbon materials have a long history of use in aerospace applications. Graphitized carbon and carbon/carbon composites are used in thermal protection systems and heat shields, carbon fiber composites in aircraft, and more recently, carbon nanotubes have been used on spacecraft. As the newest member of this family of materials, graphene also has a number of interesting properties that intersect with unique aerospace requirements. Despite its many attractive properties, graphene-based structures and systems, like any other material used in aerospace, must clear a number of hurdles before it will be accepted for use in flight structures. Carbon fiber, for example, underwent a development period of several decades between initial discovery and large-scale application in commercial aircraft.
Cardiac function and heart failure.

I had the pleasure working with Drs. Jonathan Abrams, Howard A. Cohen, Sudhir S. Kushwaha, and Eric S. Williams to develop the specific contributions in the broad field of cardiac function and heart failure to be presented as original work at these Scientific Sessions. With the assistance of other