cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brucine lethality in mice

Brucine (2,3-dimethoxystrychnidin1 O-one), an alkaloid originally isolated by Pelletier and Caventou in 1819 from the dry ripe seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica L. (Loganiaceae), has long been characterized as strychnine-like in regard to its pharmacologic and toxicologic effects but less potent than strychnine (Sax and Lewis, 1989). Mays (1887) was the first to demonstrate that there were pharmacologic differences between these two alkaloids, with brucine showing a local anesthetic effect on mucous membranes. While the toxicity indices for strychnine in most laboratory animal species are readily available (Sax and Lewis, 1989), comparable figures are generally lacking for brucine. Morrison and Bliss (1932) concluded from subcutaneous studies of sulfate salts in rabbits, cats and dogs that the potency of brucine was 0.022-0.028 times that of strychnine. In mice, the intravenous ‘toxic’ dose for brucine sulfate was reported to be 33 mg/kg (Wanat, 1931) but this paper did not define the criteria for ‘toxic’ and it is unclear whether the reported figure was for the base or salt. Sandberg and Kristianson (1970), using citrate salts of brucine, reported a subcutaneous LDso in mice for brucine base to be
Activation of AMPA receptors inhibits prolactin and estradiol secretion and delays the onset of puberty in female rats.

Previous experiments have evidenced the neuroendocrine role of AMPA receptors. Present studies were carried out to obtain information on the role of these receptors in the control of the onset of puberty. To this end, female rats were i.c.v. injected with vehicle or AMPA (agonist of AMPA receptors: 0.1 or 0.5 nmol/day) between 26 and 30 days (Experiment 1), or 30 and 34 days (Experiment 2) of age. Serum concentrations of PRL, LH and estradiol were measured before drug administration, 10 min after the last injection, at vaginal opening (VO) and at first estrus (FE) presentation. In both experiments, AMPA administration inhibited PRL and estradiol secretion without affecting LH release. When AMPA was administered between 26 and 30 days a significant delay in the day of vaginal opening was observed. These results confirmed the inhibitory effect of AMPA on PRL secretion and suggests a role of AMPA receptors in the control of puberty onset.
Deoxycoformycin toxicity in mice after long-term treatment

Deoxycoformycin, a tight-binding inhibitor of the enzyme adenosine deaminase, is a potent lymphocytotoxic agent. To examine the effect of deoxycoformycin on mouse tissues the drug was administered IP either by single or by repeated injections at one of two dose levels (0.2 or 10.0 mg/kg). Treatment with repeated injections at the higher dose caused retardation of growth and increases in lung and splenic mass. Body temperature, hematocrit, and total leukocyte count remained constant. Single injections at the lower dose caused complete inhibition of adenosine deaminase in liver and blood, and partial inhibition in jejunum and spleen, but at the higher dose complete inhibition of the enzyme in all tissues was obtained. Dosage appeared to have no effect on the rate of recovery of the deoxycoformycin-inhibited enzyme but marked tissue differences were observed. The enzymic activity recovered rapidly in jejunum (100% in 1 day) but slowly in other tissues (after 28 days, about 60% in spleen and liver; about 85% in kidney and blood, and 100% in lungs). These observations suggest that the recovery of inhibited enzyme depends largely upon the rate of proliferation of cells and protein synthesis. These tissue differences in recovery rates may play a role in the pharmacological and chemotherapeutic behavior of this drug.
Making Magazine Covers That Visually Count: Learning to Summarize With Technology

A step-by-step guide helps teachers direct 9- to 11-year-olds as they summarize what they are reading by creating magazine covers. In this activity, young readers use visual images and multiple graphics to connect important ideas, synthesize those ideas, and capture the big picture of a text. The article outlines the theory and research in support of learning to summarize. It highlights how the magazine-cover activity motivates learners, integrates technology into instruction, and expands readers' ability to summarize and make meaning.
Environmental geology: A hazard in its own right?

Environmental geology and its more restricted counterpart, urban geology, are defined. Their development since the early 1970s is assessed with respect to needed research in the fields of natural hazards and disasters. Some pitfalls of the environmental geology approach to hazards are pointed out, and it is suggested that the subject would benefit from certain alterations in its aims and scope: principally towards a closer identification with the similar field of natural hazards.
A role for C/EBPδ in human surfactant protein A(SP-A) gene expression

Abstract C/EBPδ, a member of the leucine zipper transcription factor family, is expressed at higher levels in the lung than in any other tissue. We detected C/EBPδ mRNA and protein in NCI-H441 cells, a cell line derived from a human adenocarcinoma that produces surfactant protein A (SP-A). NCI-H441 cells were exposed to phosphorothioate-substituted antisense oligonucleotides directed against C/EBPδ. After exposure to the oligonucleotides, cells were harvested, total RNA prepared, and levels of mRNA for C/EBPδ, SP-A and a control, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), were quantified from Northern blots. An oligonucleotide that overlapped the translational start was effective in reducing C/EBPδ mRNA. Oligonucleotides that corresponded to regions upstream and downstream from the translational start were not as effective. The loss of C/EBPδ was accompanied by a decrease in the level of SP-A mRNA. The overlapping oligonucleotide was tested more extensively. After 72 h, antisense oligonucleotide at 3 and 5 μM reduced the level of C/EBPδ mRNA and protein by 50% or more as compared with sense and scrambled controls. The SP-A mRNA level was reduced even more, by about 75%. GAPDH mRNA was not affected. We conclude that C/EBPδ plays a role in the regulation of SP-A gene expression.
Diffuse optical tomography with time-gated perturbation Monte Carlo method

Diffuse optical tomography using perturbation Monte Carlo method can overcome the drawback inherent to the classical model based on the diffusion equation for pre-clinical applications. The combined use of information from different time gates enables image reconstruction with accurate quantification and reducing the crosstalk between the absorption and the scattering coefficients. In this work, we apply this approach to solve an inverse problem of a 3D mouse model, and investigate the benefit to incorporate the time-resolved data into the optical reconstruction for quantitative functional imaging.
Adhesive Bonding of Various Materials to Hard Tooth Tissues: XIII Synthesis of a Polyfunctional Surface-Active Amine Accelerator

Surface-active amine polymerization accelerators can be prepared by the reaction of poly-epoxy resins with the sodium salt of N-phenylglycine and N-methyl-p-toluidine. These materials are expected to promote adhesion through complexation with surface calcium (or other metal ions), utilizing several chelating groups per molecule, and by functioning as polymerization accelerators for dental resins; they can also function as catalysts for the anionic polymerization of cyanoacrylate monomers.
Juvenile survival of a planktonic insect: effects of food limitation and predation

SUMMARY 1 An experiment was conducted to investigate potential impacts of food limitation and copepod predation on juvenile survival of Chaoborus purtctipennis. We tested the hypotheses that: (i) juvenile survival of Chaoborus is influenced more by copepod predation than by starvation in a productive environment, and (ii) food limitation and predation interact to affect survival. 2 Effects of food concentration (approximately 800, 1400 and 2300 microzooplankton 1-−1) and predator density (0, 1 and 2 Mesocydops edax 1-−1) on Chaoborus development and survival were evaluated using a 3 × 3 factorial design. Jars containing lake water, the appropriate food and predator treatments, and two Chaoborus (<12h old) were rotated on a plankton wheel at 25°C. Survival and developmental stage were monitored daily until all individuals had either died or moulted to instar II. 3 Predation by Mesocydops was the major source of mortality, causing 87.5% of Chaoborus deaths over all treatments. Chaoborus mortality was significantly higher in treatments with Mesocydops (67–100%) than in predator-free treatment (0–13%). 4 Development time was significantly longer in the low-density food treatment than in the highest food treatment. 5 No significant interaction between food limitation and predation was detected. 6 These results suggest that predation by copepods may limit recruitment of juvenile Chaoborus in productive lakes.
Initial leader velocities during intracloud lightning: Possible evidence for a runaway breakdown effect

[1] Using three-dimensional lightning mapping observations, the initial leaders of intracloud flashes have been found to start at a median speed of about 1.6 × 105 m s−1 and to decelerate during the first 10–15 ms of the discharge. The results disagree with the predictions that the speed should increase with time as the developing leader shorts out an increasing potential difference in the storm. The observations can be explained if the flash initiation region is preconditioned in some manner to give a high initial speed and if the preconditioning decays with time and/or decreases with distance to give the observed speed decrease. Such preconditioning could be the result of ionization and excited molecules produced by energetic electron avalanches.
A study in comparative nutrition

Abstract 1. (1) Experiments with representatives of thirteen phyla are presented for preliminary examination of the thesis that representative species from all phyla of life mey be reared on a single syntype diet. A more detailed examination is made of the phylum Chordata, especially in the class Mammalia. The second purpose of the work is a corollary of the thesis, “If a species cannot be reared on the diet, new principles of nutrition may be indicated”. 2. (2) Non-fastidious microogranisms, plants and higher invertebrates survived, grew and reproduced well when fed this diet; however, difficulty was encountered in maintaining many of the lower invertebrates (sponges, coelenterates and platyhelminthes). 3. (3) Guppies fed the diet grew at a rate equal to that of guppies fed commercial food or a synthetic-type diet containing liver and yeast. Work with Amphibia and Reptilia was less successful and may indicate that new principles of nutrition might be learned in the feeding of frogs, turtles or alligators. The basic problem here may well be one of behaviour (appetite) rather than nutritive requirements. The diet appeared to be quite satisfactory for representatives of the class AVes: turkeys, ducks and chickens grew and feathered well and reproduction was obtained in chickens. 4. (4) Representatives of various orders of Mammalia were found to grow well on the diet. Opossums, dogs, kittens, monkeys, hamsters, rats, rabbits and pigs grew well and appeared healthy during the experimental period. Mice were maintained through four generations. Guinea pigs grew satisfactorily during the first generation and reproduced on the diet. To allow proper growth in lambs the diet had to be modified. 5. (5) The results indicate that syntype diets used for laboratory animals may be used for many other species. Diet may thus be considered a unit variable in biological research with non-fastidious organisms.
Pathways to technology transfer and adoption: achievements and challenges (mini-tutorial)

Producing industrial impact has often been one of the important goals of academic or industrial researchers when conducting research. However, it is generally challenging to transfer research results into industrial practices. There are some common challenges faced when pursuing technology transfer and adoption while particular challenges for some particular research areas. At the same time, various opportunities also exist for technology transfer and adoption. This mini-tutorial presents achievements and challenges of technology transfer and adoption in various areas in software engineering, with examples drawn from research areas such as software analytics along with software testing and analysis. This mini-tutorial highlights success stories in industry, research achievements that are transferred to industrial practice, and challenges and lessons learned in technology transfer and adoption.
In vitro development of preimplantation porcine nuclear transfer embryos cultured in different media and gas atmospheres

This study investigated the effect of culture media and gas atmospheres on the development of porcine nuclear transfer embryos. Oocytes derived from a local abattoir were matured for 42-44 h and enucleated. Fetal fibroblasts were prepared from a Day 35 porcine fetus. Confluent stage fetal fibroblasts were introduced into the perivitelline space of enucleated oocytes. Fusion and activation were induced simultaneously with two direct current (1.2 kV/cm for 30 micros) in 0.3 M mannitol medium. For parthenogenetic activation, the same pulses were used. In Experiment 1, parthenogenetically activated oocytes were cultured in North Carolina State University-23 (NCSU-23), Porcine Zygote Medium-3 (PZM-3), or Beltsville Embryo Culture Medium-3 (BECM-3). Parthenogenetically activated oocytes cultured in PZM-3 had a higher (P < 0.05) developmental rate to the blastocyst stage (15.2% versus 3.7-9.6%) as compared to BECM-3 or NCSU-23. The number of nuclei in Day 6 blastocysts was higher (P < 0.05) in PZM-3 (23.6) and NCSU-23 (21.4) than BECM-3 (14.2). In Experiment 2, parthenogenetically activated oocytes were cultured in NCSU-23 under a gas atmosphere of 5% CO(2) in air for 6 days (T1), 5% CO(2), 5% O(2), 90% N(2) for 6 days (T2), 5% CO(2) in air for 3 days, then 5% CO(2), 5% O(2), 90% N(2) for 3 days (T3), or 5% CO(2), 5% O(2), 90% N(2) for 3 days, then 5% CO(2) in air for 3 days (T4). Blastocyst formation rates were not different among treatments (12.9 =/-3.6 %, 13.5 +/- 4.2%, 10.8+/-2.4%, and 12.6+/-2.7%, respectively). However, T2 (36.7+/-2.9) and T3 (33.8+/-3.0) resulted in more nuclei per blastocyst than T1 (23.2+/-2.1) or T4 (26.0+/-2.1 ). In Experiment 3, reconstructed porcine nuclear transfer (NT) embryos were cultured in NCSU-23 or PZM-3 under a gas atmosphere of 5% CO(2) in air or 5% CO(2), 5% O(2), 90% N(2). Developmental rates to blastocyst stage for porcine NT embryos cultured in NCSU-23 under a gas atmosphere of 5% CO(2) in air or 5% CO(2), 5% O(2), 90% N(2) were 7.2+/-1.4% and 12.3+/-1.4%, and the number of nuclei was 12.2=/-0.8% and 19.4+/-1.0, respectively. NT embryos cultured in PZM-3 under a gas atmosphere of 5% CO(2) in air or 5% CO(2), 5% O(2), 90% N(2) had developmental rates to blastocyst stage of 18.8+/-1.9 %, and 17.8+/-3.8% the nuclei number was 20.9 +/- 1.9 and 21.9+/-3.3, respectively. NT embryos cultured in NCSU-23 had a higher developmental rate to the blastocyst stage in 5% CO(2), 5% O(2), 90% N(2) than in 5% CO(2) in air (P < 0.05). Regardless of gas atmospheres, NT embryos cultured in PZM-3 had a higher developmental rate (18.3 =/- 1.7% versus 16.9 +/- 1.2%) and nuclei number (21.4 +/-1.8 versus 16.9 +/- 1.2) than in NCSU-23 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a gas atmosphere of 5% CO(2), 5% O(2), 90% N(2) supported a higher development rate of porcine NT embryos than 5% CO(2) in air when the porcine NT embryos were cultured in NCSU-23. Furthermore, regardless of atmosphere, PZM-3 supported a higher development rate of porcine nuclear transfer embryos than NCSU-23.
Should Left Ventricular Assist Device Be Standard of Care for Patients With Refractory Heart Failure Who Are Not Transplantation Candidates? Left Ventricular Assist Devices Should Not Be Standard of Care for Transplantation-Ineligible Patients

At 40 years of age, the lifetime risk of developing heart failure (HF) is 1 in 5 for men and women in the United States. Approximately half of patients who are ultimately diagnosed with HF will die within 5 years1; the associated morbidity, hospitalization rate, and loss of functional capacity are more difficult to calculate. Among the 5 million American patients currently living with HF, it is estimated that 200 000 patients have American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association stage D or refractory HF, resulting in markedly diminished functional status and survival.1,2 In 2012, 2 therapies are available to potentially prolong survival and to improve quality of life for end-stage HF patients: heart transplantation and long-term mechanical circulatory support in the form of a ventricular assist device (VAD). For permanent mechanical support, also referred to as destination therapy (DT), the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the HeartMate II (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, CA) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in January 2010. This device supports only the left ventricle; no biventricular device is approved for long-term therapy at this time. Response by Mehra and Domanski on p 3094 Many advanced HF patients are not appropriate candidates for transplantation or permanent LVAD because of comorbid conditions or age. After excluding these patients, clinicians must critically evaluate individual patient eligibility for transplantation or VAD. The indications for and complications expected after each procedure are increasingly recognized as distinct; the skills needed by clinicians who must care for these 2 types of patients are garnered in 2 complementary but separate experiential care settings. The therapies are neither equivalent in historical experience and outcomes nor interchangeable. Transplantation has been available for decades, with well-documented selection criteria, management protocols, and outcomes. As we begin to understand how to appropriately …
Particle size measurements in sprays

Current emphasis on improving performance and reducing emissions in direct injection compression injection (Diesel) engines demands detailed understanding of high pressure transient sprays. Combustion studies require quantitative information, specifically local droplet sizes and velocities, throughout the spray field. The turbulent and unpredictable nature of the sprays complicates the analysis. Most tools currently available for spray analysis provide qualitative information over a large field of view or quantitative information at a single point in the spray field. This paper discusses the implementation of a diffraction-based diagnostic capable of determining particle size information over the full field. This diagnostic and particle image velocimetry together can provide a spatial map of local particle sizes and velocities in the spray.
Robot Futures, by Illah Reza Nourbakhsh. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2013. 160 pp. $26.95 hardcover. ISBN 9780262018623 (hardcover).

Illah Reza Nourbakhsh opens the preface to Robot Futures by recounting his serendipitous first viewing of the film Star Wars, an experience he describes as formative for both his career and that of...
Extraction and Quantitative Analysis of Elemental Sulfur from Sulfide Mineral Surfaces by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A simple method for the quantitative determination of elemental sulfur on oxidized sulfide minerals is described. Extraction of elemental sulfur in perchloroethylene and subsequent analysis with high-performance liquid chromatography were used to ascertain the total elemental sulfur resulting from the oxidation of arsenopyrite, pyrite, marcasite, chalcopyrite, and chalcocite under various conditions. An initial pretreatment to remove any sulfur already present on the mineral surface created a chemically clean surface and guaranteed that any elemental sulfur observed was the result of the laboratory oxidation experiments. Because the extraction method and chromatographic analysis are performed ex situ and are not constrained by the parameters of the experimental oxidation reaction, the method can be used for the quantification of elemental sulfur after any laboratory experiment.
Strategic Financial Communication

Strategic communication emerges in many forms. In fact, any purposeful communications to advance a particular mission can be called “strategic communication” (Hallahan, Holtzhausen, van Ruler, Verc...
Encoding and Decoding Rape News: How Progressive Reporting Inverts Textual Orientations

This case study traces hegemony in action by revealing aspects of the struggle over sexual assault discourse in the related moments of encoding, text, and decoding. The study suggests that meaningf...
β2⁎ and β4⁎ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression changes with progressive parkinsonism in non-human primates

Autoradiography was used to investigate nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) binding in the brains of two groups of macaque monkeys with parkinsonism produced by different types of MPTP exposure: animals with cognitive deficits but no motor symptoms (motor-asymptomatic) and animals with typical motor symptoms of parkinsonism (motor-symptomatic). Motor-asymptomatic animals had no significant changes in [125I]epibatidine binding to beta2*-beta4* nAChRs and [125I]A85380 binding to beta2* nAChRs in cognition-related cortical regions such as Broadman's area 46, orbitofrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate sulcus and the hippocampus, but binding of both radioligands was decreased 70-80% in the caudate and putamen. Motor-symptomatic animals had decreases in beta2* and beta4* nAChR in the principal sulcus (40-60%), anterior cingulate sulcus (30-55%), and orbitofrontal cortex (30-41%), but not in the hippocampus, plus significant decreases in binding (70-80%) in the caudate and putamen. These results suggest that while nAChR expression is similarly decreased in the striatum of motor-asymptomatic and motor-symptomatic MPTP-treated monkeys, there are differences in beta2* and beta4* nAChR expression in cortical regions in these two conditions. Therefore, our data suggest that a therapeutic strategy based on nAChR agonist administration that might improve cognition in early PD patients may, due to a changing nAChR profile, have little or no effect on the same symptoms in more advanced patients.
A retrospective study of aplastic pancytopenia in the dog: 9 cases (1996-2003).

Background Aplastic pancytopenia is defined by the presence of pancytopenia in blood and a hypocellular bone marrow with the hematopoietic space replaced by adipose tissue. Several causes of acquired aplastic pancytopenia are known; however, in some cases, an underlying cause is never determined. Objective The objective of this retrospective study was to identify the incidence, potential causes, and outcome of aplastic pancytopenia in dogs. Methods Bone marrow cytologic and core biopsy reports were reviewed to identify dogs diagnosed with aplastic pancytopenia between July 1, 1996 and June 30, 2003. Four-hundred eighty-six bone marrow reports that included aspirate and core biopsy evaluations were reviewed. Signalment, treatment given, previous and current disease conditions, clinical signs of disease, clinical laboratory data, therapy, response to therapy, and survival time were recorded. Results Nine dogs (1.85% of bone marrow samples reviewed) met the criteria for inclusion. Two dogs (22%) had associated diseases that included monocytic ehrlichiosis and Sertoli cell tumor. In 7 dogs (78%), the cause of aplastic pancytopenia could not be definitively determined, although an idiosyncratic drug reaction to griseofulvin was suspected in 1 of the dogs. The median age of dogs diagnosed with aplastic pancytopenia was 3.2 years, and apparent breed or sex predilection was not identified. Median HCT, total WBC count, and platelet count on the day of presentation were 21.8%, 1.0 x 10(3)/microL, and 2.0 x 10(3)/microL, respectively. Six of 9 dogs diagnosed with aplastic pancytopenia died or were euthanized within 21 days. Two dogs had complete hematologic recovery. One dog was living 3 years after diagnosis, but hematologic recovery was never documented. Conclusions Aplastic pancytopenia is diagnosed infrequently and idiopathic aplastic pancytopenia may account for up to 67% or more of canine cases. Although the prognosis is guarded, some dogs with aplastic pancytopenia recover.
Transcriptional regulation of bone formation by the osteoblast-specific transcription factor Osx

Bone formation is a complex developmental process involving the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts. Osteoblast differentiation occurs through a multi-step molecular pathway regulated by different transcription factors and signaling proteins. Osx (also known as Sp7) is the only osteoblast-specific transcriptional factor identified so far which is required for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Osx knock-out mice lack bone completely and cartilage is normal. This opens a new window to the whole research field of bone formation. Osx inhibits Wnt pathway signaling, a possible mechanism for Osx to inhibit osteoblast proliferation. These reports demonstrate that Osx is the master gene that controls osteoblast lineage commitment and the subsequent osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. This review is to highlight recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of bone formation by Osx.
Stimulatory Effect of Insulin on 5α-Reductase Type 1 (SRD5A1) Expression through an Akt-Dependent Pathway in Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Elevated levels of 5α-reduced androgens have been shown to be associated with hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia, the leading causes of ovulatory dysfunction in women. 5α-Dihydrotestosterone reduces ovarian granulosa cell proliferation by inhibiting FSH-mediated mitogenic signaling pathways. The present study examined the effect of insulin on 5α-reductase, the enzyme that catalyses the conversion of androgens to their 5α-derivatives. Granulosa cells isolated from immature rat ovaries were cultured in serum-free, phenol red-free DMEM-F12 media and treated with different doses of insulin (0, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 μg/ml) for different time intervals up to 12 h. The expression of 5α-reductase type 1 mRNA, the predominant isoform found in granulosa cells, showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in response to the insulin treatment up to 12 h compared with control. The catalytic activity of 5α-reductase enzyme was also stimulated in a dose-depended manner (P < 0.05). Inhibiting the Akt-dependent signaling pathway abolished the insulin-mediated increase in 5α-reductase mRNA expression, whereas inhibition of the ERK-dependent pathway had no effect. The dose-dependent increase in 5α-reductase mRNA expression as well as catalytic activity seen in response to insulin treatment was also demonstrated in the human granulosa cell line (KGN). In addition to increased mRNA expression, a dose-dependent increase in 5α-reductase protein expression in response to insulin was also seen in KGN cells, which corroborated well with that of mRNA expression. These results suggest that elevated levels of 5α-reduced androgens seen in hyperinsulinemic conditions might be explained on the basis of a stimulatory effect of insulin on 5α-reductase in granulosa cells. The elevated levels of these metabolites, in turn, might adversely affect growth and proliferation of granulosa cells, thereby impairing follicle growth and ovulation.
Modeling Attributes from Category-Attribute Proportions

Attribute-based representation has been widely used in visual recognition and retrieval due to its interpretability and cross-category generalization properties. However, classic attribute learning requires manually labeling attributes on the images, which is very expensive, and not scalable. In this paper, we propose to model attributes from category-attribute proportions. The proposed framework can model attributes without attribute labels on the images. Specifically, given a multi-class image datasets with N categories, we model an attribute, based on an N-dimensional category-attribute proportion vector, where each element of the vector characterizes the proportion of images in the corresponding category having the attribute. The attribute learning can be formulated as a learning from label proportion (LLP) problem. Our method is based on a newly proposed machine learning algorithm called $\propto$SVM. Finding the category-attribute proportions is much easier than manually labeling images, but it is still not a trivial task. We further propose to estimate the proportions from multiple modalities such as human commonsense knowledge, NLP tools, and other domain knowledge. The value of the proposed approach is demonstrated by various applications including modeling animal attributes, visual sentiment attributes, and scene attributes.
Bcl-2 family members localize to tobacco chloroplasts and inhibit programmed cell death induced by chloroplast-targeted herbicides

In mammalian cells, apoptosis is often mediated via organelles. While apoptotic-like cell death occurs in plants, the mechanistic details are unresolved. Transgenic tobacco plants have been generated that harbour selected animal anti-apoptotic genes. Subcellular fractionation followed by western blot analysis indicated that chloroplasts serve as a location for these animal anti-apoptotic proteins in addition to the established mitochondrial location. To explore the functional significance of this observation, tobacco plants were treated with three chloroplast-directed herbicides. Wild-type plants died and exhibited features associated with apoptosis. Transgenic plants survived and did not show any apoptotic-like characteristics. Moreover, the herbicide-induced apoptotic-like cell death was light requiring. It was concluded that chloroplasts may be involved in mediating certain types of plant programmed cell death.
Five-level five-phase PWM signal generation using FPGA

This paper presents a method and implementation of sinusoidal PWM waveform generation for a five-phase five-level converter using FPGA technology. Multilevel converters have the advantage of higher power rating and lower harmonic distortion. The disadvantage is the increased number of switches which need to operate in parallel. FPGAs are the ideal choice in these applications as they offer massive parallelism besides being field-programmable. The algorithm presented in this paper uses relatively few logic elements with no complex mathematical operations that can be implemented in simple low cost FPGAs. The algorithm is implemented in Verilog HDL language and simulated with Quartus II software. Finally, the compiled program is tested using Altera DE2 board that uses Cyclone II FPGA device.
Fluid supported lipid bilayers containing monosialoganglioside GM1: a QCM-D and FRAP study.

Abstract In an effort to use model fluid membranes for immunological studies, we compared the formation of planar phospholipid bilayers supported on silicon dioxide surfaces with and without incorporation of glycolipids as the antigen for in situ antibody binding. Dynamic light scattering measurements did not differentiate the hydrodynamic volumes of extruded small unilamellar vesicles (E-SUVs) containing physiologically relevant concentrations (0.5–5 mol%) of monosialoganglioside GM1 (GM1) from exclusive egg yolk l -α-phosphatidylcholine (egg PC) E-SUVs. However, quantifiable differences in deposition mass and dissipative energy loss emerged in the transformation of 5 mol% GM1/95 mol% egg PC E-SUVs to planar supported lipid bilayers (PSLBs) by vesicle fusion on thermally evaporated SiO 2 , as monitored by the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) technique. Compared to the 100 mol% egg PC bilayers on the same surface, E-SUVs containing 5 mol% GM1 reached a ∼12% higher mass and a lower dissipative energy loss during bilayer transformation. PSLBs with 5 mol% GM1 are ∼18% heavier than 100 mol% egg PC and ∼11% smaller in projected area per lipid, indicating an increased rigidity and a tighter packing. Subsequent binding of polyclonal immunoglobulin G anti-GM1 to the PSLBs was performed in situ and showed specificity. The anti-GM1 to GM1 ratios at equilibrium were roughly proportional to the concentrations of anti-GM1 administered in the solution. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was utilized to verify the retained, albeit reduced lateral fluidity of the supported membranes. Five moles percentage of GM1 membranes (GM1 to PC ratio ∼1:19) decorated with 1 mol% N -(Texas Red sulfonyl)-1,2-dihexadecanoyl- sn -glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine (Texas Red DHPE) exhibited an approximately 16% lower diffusion coefficient of 1.32 ± 0.06 μm 2 /s, compared to 1.58 ± 0.04 μm 2 /s for egg PC membranes without GM1 ( p
Real-time detection of single-molecule DNA compaction by condensin I.

Abstract Background: Condensin is thought to contribute to large-scale DNA compaction during mitotic chromosome assembly. It remains unknown, however, how the complex reconfigures DNA structure at a mechanistic level. Results: We have performed single-molecule DNA nanomanipulation experiments to directly measure in real-time DNA compaction by the Xenopus laevis condensin I complex. Condensin can bind to the nanomanipulated DNA in the absence of ATP, but it compacts the DNA only in the presence of hydrolyzable ATP. Linear compaction is evidenced by a reduction in the end-to-end extension of nanomanipulated DNA. The reaction results in total compaction of the DNA (i.e., zero end-to-end extension). Discrete and reversible DNA compaction events are observed in the presence of competitor DNA when the DNA is subjected to weak stretching forces ( F = 0.4 picoNewton [pN]). The distribution of step sizes is broad and displays a peak at ∼60 nm (∼180 bp) as well as a long tail. This distribution is essentially unaffected by the topological state of the DNA substrate. Increasing the force to F = 10 pN drives the system toward step-wise reversal of compaction. The distribution of step sizes observed upon disruption of condensin-DNA interactions displays a sharp peak at ∼30 nm (∼90 bp) as well as a long tail stretching out to hundreds of nanometers. Conclusions: The DNA nanomanipulation assay allows us to demonstrate for the first time that condensin physically compacts DNA in an ATP-hydrolysis-dependent manner. Our results suggest that the condensin complex may induce DNA compaction by dynamically and reversibly introducing loops along the DNA.
An epidemiological study of pesticide exposures in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Pesticide incidents reported to the Pittsburgh Poison Center were followed up with a standard interview. Comparison of the statistical evaluation of these interviews with other regional and national studies indicated that the Allegheny County experience is representative of accidental pesticide exposures in an urban area. Remarkably high frequencies were observed for children less than 2 years old exposed to attractive formulations, for children of 2 to 5 years exposed to stored products, and for adults exposed during applications. Seasonal differences were also noted. Childhood exposures, especially to rodent and ant baits, were often unnecessarily treated.
An overview of the design and conduct of the BATTLE trials

Our increasing knowledge of biomedicine and genomics for human malignancies has placed us within reach of achieving personalized cancer medicine. The Biomarker-integrated Approaches of Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer Elimination (BATTLE)-1 trial was the first completed, prospective biopsy-mandated, biomarker-based, adaptive randomized clinical trial for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The ongoing BATTLE-2 trial continues to search for effective targeted therapies by further refining the clinical trial design. The BATTLE program has demonstrated the feasibility and promise of novel biomarker-based clinical trial platforms, which has moved us one step closer to personalized medicine. In this paper, we describe the design and conduct of the BATTLE trials, summarize the main findings, and report the experiences and lessons learned from our pursuit of developing targeted therapies in cancer.
An Absolute Reflectometer for Use at Low Temperatures

A low-temperature reflectometer has been designed and built for use with the Cary 14 spectrophotometer, which enables absolute specular reflectance measurements to be made down to 2000 A at near-liquid helium temperature. Results are given principally for measurements on silver chloride to compare with earlier work.
Individual and temporal variability in the courtship behavior of White-ruffed Manakins (Corapipo altera), a species with facultative cooperative displays

ABSTRACT Investigation of the ecological and evolutionary basis for the often-intriguing courtship behavior of animals requires that we understand the patterns of variation inherent in such behaviors. The courtship displays of the White-ruffed Manakin (Corapipo altera) are not well-known, and previously published descriptions and interpretations of displays conflict with one another. We studied the reproductive behavior of C. altera during 6 breeding seasons, observing 72 display courts (mean 29 ± 2.5 courts annually) for a total of 2688 hr. We updated the behavioral characterization of C. altera by reconciling 8 previous ethologies and describing 2 new behavioral elements, vouchering all with audio and video recordings. We evaluated evidence for the occurrence of male–male cooperation and characterized the physical attributes and temporal dynamics of displays and display courts. We found strong evidence of cooperation among males; 32% of displays for females were highly coordinated displays performed by ...
Rapid, low temperature microwave synthesis of novel carbon nanotube-silicon carbide composite

Abstract Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) incorporated into ceramic matrices are known to impart enhanced mechanical, thermal and electrical properties to the composites formed. Current procedures for their synthesis face challenges, such as, the non-uniform dispersion of the SWNTs and their damage during high temperature processing in a reactive environment. These have led to poor interfacial matrix to SWNT adhesion and the ineffective utilization of the unique properties of the nanotubes. Here we report a rapid, low temperature microwave-induced reaction to create a novel nanoscale silicon carbide (SiC)–SWNT composite. The reaction, which was completed in 10 min, involves the decomposition of chloro-trimethylsilane and the simultaneous nucleation of nanoscale SiC spheres on the SWNT bundles. The bulk composite is a branched tree-like structure comprised of three-dimensionally arrayed SiC–SWNTs. The uniqueness of this approach lies in the formation of a ceramic directly on the SWNTs, rather than physical mixing, or the growth of nanotubes in a ceramic matrix.
Continuous Heartbeat Monitoring Using Evolvable Block-based Neural Networks

This paper presents continuous heartbeat monitoring using evolvable block-based neural networks (BbNNs). An evolutionary algorithm is used to optimize the structure and weights of BbNN simultaneously. A BbNN, trained with the Hermite transform coefficients and a time interval between the two neighboring R peaks of ECG signal, promises a patient-specific heartbeat monitoring system. BbNNs reconfigure the structure and internal weights to cope with individual differences and the changes in physical conditions. Simulation results using the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database demonstrate a high accuracy of 98.7% on average for the classification of ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs), being a substantial improvement over conventional techniques.
Growth factor and cytokine gene expression in mechanically strained human osteoblast-like cells: implications for distraction osteogenesis.

Abstract Objective: An understanding of bone cellular biology is a basic necessity to understanding events such as distraction osteogenesis. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of continuous cyclic mechanical stretch as a fundamental event in distraction osteogenesis on the expression of 3 bone growth factors, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and 2 cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1 (IL-1) and 6 (IL-6) in human osteoblast-like cells. Material and Methods: A human osteoblast-like cell line, SaOS-2, capable of forming a ground substance and mineralizing it, was maintained. Cells were transferred to 6-well plates with flexible silicon bottoms grown to confluence and either subjected to tensile stretch for different time intervals or used as the control group. RNA was isolated to conduct Northern blot analysis for the expression of 3 bone growth factors, transforming TGF-β1, IGF-1, bFGF, and 2 cytokines, IL-1 and IL-6. Results: After 8 hours, mRNA for TGF-β1 and IGF-1 increased in the experimental group, whereas bFGF decreased but cytokines IL-1 and IL-6 were not affected. At 16 hours, TGF-β1, IGF-1, and bFGF showed increased levels of mRNA; IL-6 showed a slight increase. After 24 hours, TGF-β1, IGF-1, bFGF, and IL-6 had increased mRNA levels. IL-1β did never show significant alterations in mRNA production as compared with the control. Conclusion: Tensile stretch on osteoblast-like cells alter local regulation of bone formation, increasing the expression of bone growth factors, whereas catabolic cytokines are unaffected. These findings suggest a direct effect of mechanical strain on osteoblasts and may be the driving factors of bone growth during distraction. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2000;90:147-54)
Positron attachment to molecules

At incident positron energies below the threshold for positronium atom formation annihilation rates for molecules are much larger than those expected on the basis of simple two-body collisions. We now understand that this phenomenon is due to positron attachment to molecules mediated by vibrational Feshbach resonances. This attachment enhances greatly the overlap of the positron and the molecular electron wave functions and hence increases the probability of annihilation. Annihilation spectra as a function of incident positron energy yield measurements positron-molecule binding energies. Using this technique, to date, positron-molecule binding energies for thirty molecules have been measured. This paper presents a brief review of our current understanding of this process, the significance of these results, and outstanding questions for future research. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Characterization of Foxp2 and Foxp1 mRNA and protein in the developing and mature brain

Foxp2 and Foxp1 are recently identified members of the Fox family of winged-helix/forkhead transcription factor genes. A recent study has found that mutations in human FOXP2 produce a severe language disorder. Since Foxp2 appears to be important in language, we wanted to explore the expression of this gene and a homologous gene, Foxp1, in the developing brain. In the present study, we investigated the time course and localization of Foxp2 and Foxp1 mRNA and protein expression in the developing and adult mouse using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Foxp2 and Foxp1 are expressed as early as E12.5 and persist into adulthood. Foxp2 and Foxp1 were most highly expressed in the developing and mature basal ganglia. Expression of Foxp2 was also observed in the cerebral cortex (layer 6), cerebellum (Purkinje neurons), and thalamus. Foxp1 expression was observed in the cerebral cortex (layers 3-5), hippocampus (CA1), and thalamus. Very little ventricular zone expression was observed for Foxp2 and Foxp1 and the expression of both of these genes occurred following neuronal migration, suggesting a role for these genes in postmigratory neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrated the expression of FOXP2 in human fetal brain by RT-PCR, in the perisylvian area of the left and right cerebral hemispheres, as well as in the frontal and occipital cortices. Overall, the widespread expression of Foxp2 in the developing brain makes it difficult to draw specific conclusions about which areas of Foxp2 expression are critical to human language function.
Better to burn out than it is to rust: coordinating cellular redox states during aging and stress

Both the protein homeostasis (proteostasis) and the oxidation/reduction (redox) environment of the cell play critical roles in disease‐ and age‐associated decline, yet the relationship between the two remains mysterious. In this issue of The EMBO Journal , Kirstein et al (2015) show that both the cytosol and the ER shift their redox states in response to proteotoxic stress and that stress in one compartment can alter redox state in the other. Moreover, proteotoxic stress can induce changes in redox state across tissues, suggesting that an organism‐wide surveillance mechanism modulates cellular redox environment.
Atypical Fusion Peptide of Nelson Bay Virus Fusion-Associated Small Transmembrane Protein

A 10-kDa nonstructural transmembrane protein (p10) encoded by a reovirus, Nelson Bay virus, has been shown to induce syncytium formation (34). Sequence analysis and structural studies identified p10 as a type I membrane protein with a central transmembrane domain, a cytoplasmic basic region, and an N-terminal hydrophobic domain (HD) that was hypothesized to function as a fusion peptide. We performed mutational analysis on this slightly hydrophobic motif to identify possible structural requirements for fusion activity. Bulky aliphatic residues were found to be essential for optimal fusion, and an aromatic or highly hydrophobic side chain was found to be required at position 12. The requirement for hydrophilic residues within the HD was also examined: substitution of 10-Ser or 14-Ser with hydrophobic residues was found to reduce cell surface expression of p10 and delayed the onset of syncytium formation. Nonconservative substitutions of charged residues in the HD did not have an effect on fusion activity. Taken together, our results suggest that the HD is involved in both syncytium formation and in determining p10 transport and surface expression.
The effect of organic nitrogen supplement on the utilization of different sources of detritus1

A particulate organic nitrogen supplement was added to two detrital materials (red macroalga Grnciluriu j’o2iiJeru and marsh grass Spurtinu ulternijloru) and its effect on their utilization by the polychaete Cupitellu cupitutu was investigated with isotope tracer techniques. With the decay-resistant Spartina, added nitrogen had no effect on the oxidation or the net incorporation of Spartina carbon by the worms. With easily decomposable GruciZuriu detritus there was an exponential increase in both oxidation and net incorporation with increasing nitrogen, Added organic nitrogen had no effect on the microbial biomass associated with Snutiinu detritus but resulted in an increase with GruciZuriu detritus. ‘Nitrogen enrichment by microbial activity is not the only regulator of nutritional value of detritus to macroconsumers. The extent to which the substrate can be broken down and utilized by associated microbes and macrodetritivores also influences the nutritional quality of detritus to macroconsumers.