cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spin-echo MRI underestimates functional changes in microvascular cerebral blood plasma volume using exogenous contrast agent.

While most functional MRI studies using exogenous contrast agent employ gradient-echo (GE) signal, spin echo (SE) imaging would represent an attractive alternative if its detection power were more comparable with GE imaging. This study demonstrates that SE methods systematically underestimate functional changes in microvascular cerebral blood plasma volume (CBV), so that SE detection power in brain tissue cannot match that provided by GE signal. Empirically, the in vivo response of SE-CBV was about 40% smaller than that of GE-CBV in rat brain at low basal values of CBV, a result that is consistent with physics predictions under the simplifying assumption of uniform vessel dilation. However, increasing values of basal CBV were associated with monotonically increasing mean vessel sizes and monotonically decreasing GE to SE ratios of functional changes in CBV (fCBV). This result suggests the presence of large but weakly reactive conduit vessels at high basal values of CBV. Hence, we conclude that GE imaging is the method of choice for functional MRI (fMRI) using exogenous contrast agent in most cases, although SE methods may represent a more spatially linear representation of underlying neural activity that becomes most apparent in regions with high basal CBV, such as the cortical surface. Magn Reson Med 58:769–776, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Kinetic and mechanical analysis of live tube morphogenesis.

Ribbon is a nuclear Broad Tramtrack Bric-a-brac (BTB) -domain protein required for morphogenesis of the salivary gland and trachea. We recently showed that ribbon mutants exhibit decreased Crumbs and Rab11-coincident apical vesicles and increased apical Moesin activity and microvillar structure during tube elongation. To learn how these molecular and morphological changes affect the dynamics of tubulogenesis, we optimized an advanced two-photon microscope to enable high-resolution live imaging of the salivary gland and trachea. Live imaging revealed that ribbon mutant tissues exhibit slowed and incomplete lumenal morphogenesis, consistent with previously described apical defects. Because Moesin activity correlates with cortical stiffness, we hypothesize that ribbon mutants suffer from increased apical stiffness during morphogenesis. We develop this hypothesis through mechanical analysis, using the advantages of live imaging to construct computational elastic and analytical viscoelastic models of tube elongation, which suggest that ribbon mutant tubes exhibit three- to fivefold increased apical stiffness and twofold increased effective apical viscosity. Developmental Dynamics 237:2874–2888, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Detection of uranium from cosmos-1402 in the stratosphere.

The nuclear reactor from the Soviet radar reconnaissance satellite, Cosmos-1402, reentered the earth9s atmosphere on 7 February 1983 and disintegrated over the South Atlantic Ocean. The reactor was powered by approximately 50 kilograms of uranium-235 (235U). In an effort to determine the fate of the reactor core, a series of aerosol samples were collected at altitudes between 27 and 36 kilometers in the Northern Hemisphere approximately 1.1 years later by high-altitude balloons. At an altitude of 36 kilometers a 53 ± 20 percent excess in the 235U concentration was measured. The total excess of 235U in the stratosphere was calculated to be 44 ± 15 kilograms.
Notable Reduction in Illegitimate Integration Mediated by a PPT-deleted, Nonintegrating Lentiviral Vector

Nonintegrating lentiviral vectors present a means of reducing the risk of insertional mutagenesis in nondividing cells and enabling short-term expression of potentially hazardous gene products. However, residual, integrase-independent integration raises a concern that may limit the usefulness of this system. Here we present a novel 3′ polypurine tract (PPT)-deleted lentiviral vector that demonstrates impaired integration efficiency and, when packaged into integrase-deficient particles, significantly reduced illegitimate integration. Cells transduced with PPT-deleted vectors exhibited predominantly 1–long terminal repeat (LTR) circles and a low level of linear genomes after reverse transcription (RT). Importantly, the PPT-deleted vector exhibited titers and in vitro and in vivo expression levels matching those of conventional nonintegrating lentiviral vectors. This safer nonintegrating lentiviral vector system will support emerging technologies, such as those based on transient expression of zinc–finger nucleases (ZFNs) for gene editing, as well as reprogramming factors for inducing pluripotency.
A Modified Conception of Mechanisms

In this paper, I critique two conceptions of mechanisms, namely those put forth by Stuart Glennan (Erkenntnis 44:49–71, 1996; Philosophy of Science 69:S342–S353, 2002) and Machamer et al. (Philosophy of Science 67:1–25, 2000). Glennan’s conception, I argue, cannot account for mechanisms involving negative causation because of its interactionist posture. MDC’s view encounters the same problem due to its reificatory conception of activities—this conception, I argue, entails an onerous commitment to ontological dualism. In the place of Glennan and MDC, I propose a “modified conception” of mechanisms, which (a) obviates the problem of negative causation by reinterpreting MDC’s activities according to a “descriptivist” account, and (b) avoids MDC’s problem by postulating a monistic ontology of entities. Thus, by solving these problems, my modified conception offers a cogent, more adequate alternative to Glennan’s and MDC’s conceptions of mechanisms.
CP violation, horizontal symmetry and the Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix

Abstract It is pointed out that in order to have CP violation in horizontal, generation mixing, interactions, while the Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix itself is real, a very specific structure is required for the unitary matrices that relate weak to mass eigenstates. Implications for the structure of quark mass matrices are also discussed.
Progressive Alignment and Discriminative Error Correction for Multiple OCR Engines

This paper presents a novel method for improving optical character recognition (OCR). The method employs the progressive alignment of hypotheses from multiple OCR engines followed by final hypothesis selection using maximum entropy classification methods. The maximum entropy models are trained on a synthetic calibration data set. Although progressive alignment is not guaranteed to be optimal, the results are nonetheless strong. The synthetic data set used to train or calibrate the selection models is chosen without regard to the test data set, hence, we refer to it as "out of domain." It is synthetic in the sense that document images have been generated from the original digital text and degraded using realistic error models. Along with the true transcripts and OCR hypotheses, the calibration data contains sufficient information to produce good models of how to select the best OCR hypothesis and thus correct mistaken OCR hypotheses. Maximum entropy methods leverage that information using carefully chosen feature functions to choose the best possible correction. Our method shows a 24.6% relative improvement over the word error rate (WER) of the best performing of the five OCR engines employed in this work. Relative to the average WER of all five OCR engines, our method yields a 69.1% relative reduction in the error rate. Furthermore, 52.2% of the documents achieve a new low WER.
Toward a handheld laser range scanner: integrating observation-based motion compensation

Although laser range sensors based on sequential scanning can provide accurate measurements in stable operation, the recovered surface geometry becomes noisy and distorted when sensors are hand-held. To compensate for camera motion, some currently existing prototypes integrate a positioning device. Unfortunately, these may not be accurate and fast enough. To circumvent this problem, a method that can compensate for motion distortion is proposed. The principle consists in using the measured shape geometry as a reference frame in 3-D space. The method is based on the collection of a redundant set of crossing profiles. Each surface profile is measured in a very short period of time such that distortion of the profile is negligible. It is assumed that the perturbation error due to motion, affects inter-profile positioning only. Then, the set of rigid crossing profiles are fitted together by moving them such as to minimize the profile intersection spacings. Experiments show that errors in the geometry can be reduced to the order of magnitude of the sensor error. The method can be integrated in the design of a hand-held sensor or as a complementary post-processing stage for improving measurement accuracy when using a sensor positioning device.
A quantitative approach to nonlinear process design rule scaling [VLSI]

This paper describes a quantitative methodology for selecting nonlinear design rule scale factors that provide the most cost-efficient improvements in IC performance and area. The methodology includes identifying the design rules which have the greatest impact on the scaling objective and analyzing the area and performance improvements as these rules are scaled through a range of practical scale factors. Power and delay improvement data are then combined with die cost estimates to produce a cost/benefit ratio, a quantitative metric for design rule scaling cost-efficiency. The slopes and inflection points of cost/benefit vs. scale factor plots will guide process engineers in selecting scale factors for the various design rules. This procedure is repeated using the results of one iteration as the starting point for the next. The cost/benefit analysis methodology is demonstrated by comparing embedded static RAMs implemented in a complementary GaAs (CGaAs/sup TM/) process. The SRAMs are generated by a process-independent, optimizing SRAM compiler which can create SRAM macrocells for any complementary technology. A cost/benefit analysis of the CGaAs design rules shows that when operating under a fixed spending cap for process scaling research, development, and capital equipment acquisition, nonlinear scaling can provide greater improvements in area and performance than linear scaling. The results also show that for a 0.5 /spl mu/m CGaAs process to be fabricated in high volume, the first scaling step should be a 30% reduction of the source drain area and via/metal pitch, gate metal to ohmic spacing, and gate metal spacing design rules.
The influence of abuse on pregnancy intention.

The preliminary investigation of the relationship of abuse to unintended pregnancy was conducted using focus group data. The two separate focus groups were held in Middle Atlantic urban and Southern urban. Results indicated the connections between relationship abuse and unintended pregnancy through partners control of contraception and the mans desire to have a child. Besides the lack of using contraception seemed to be related to the male partners definition for manhood. Mens refusal in using condoms contributes female partners risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Moreover women in the focus groups suggest that health care professionals need to be assessed for abuse.
The spectrum of Saturn from 1990 to 2230 cm−1 ; Abundances of AsH3, CH3D, CO, GeH4, NH3, and PH3

An analysis is presented of the abundances and vertical distributions of all known absorbers in the 5-micron spectrum of Saturn, in view of previously unpublished observations, synthetic spectra of each atmospheric constituent, and an atmospheric model for synthesizing Saturn's spectrum in order to make comparisons with observations. The model used encompasses the abundances of all gaseous absorbers, their vertical distributions, clouds, and the thermal and reflected solar components of planetary flux. A coherent understanding is in this way obtained of both the many variables affecting Saturn's 5-micron spectrum and the similarities between Jupiter and Saturn.
Third-party endorsements of CEO quality, managerial discretion, and stakeholder reactions

Abstract Research on the influence of third-party endorsements of CEO quality generally does not account for the context in which such signs manifest. To address this limitation, the present study examines how a CEO's level of managerial discretion shapes boards' and shareholders' responses to external endorsements of his or her quality. Managerial discretion refers to the range of strategic options that executives have at their disposal in a given business context. The findings indicate that boards only react to CEO endorsements in high-discretion settings, and this reaction is positive (i.e., more pay). In contrast, shareholders – regardless of discretion levels – positively respond to CEO endorsements in the short-term, while these responses become more equivocal over the time. These results suggest that – at least in the short term – directors more adeptly interpret and respond to external information about CEO quality than shareholders.
The gut is a motor of organ system dysfunction.

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is the leading cause of death in surgical intensive care units (ICU). The intestine plays a central role in this process. The intestinal epithelium maintains a physical barrier to prevent microbial invasion while concomitantly modulating an immune component, which activates host defenses to eliminate invading pathogens. These barrier and immune functions of the intestinal epithelium coexist with its equally critical mission of maintaining an optimal environment for absorption of nutrients and maintenance of electrolyte balance. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract and its associated mesenteric lymphatics present the body’s largest absorptive surface that is exposed to foreign antigens, microbes, and other potentially injurious elements. The dual functions of selective absorption and constant protection make the GI tract both critical to the body’s functioning and vulnerable to infection in situations of physiologic stress. Understanding some of the factors that control these processes will enable the clinician to recognize emerging risks and potentially preempt a gut-driven cascade of progressive organ dysfunction and failure.
A Free Energy Model for Hysteresis in Ferroelectric Materials

This paper provides a theory for quantifying the hysteresis and constitutive nonlinearities inherent to piezoceramic compounds through a combination of free energy analysis and stochastic homogenization techniques. In the first step of the model development, Helmholtz and Gibbs free energy relations are constructed at the lattice or domain level to quantify the relation between the field and polarization in homogeneous, single crystal compounds which exhibit uniform effective fields. The effects of material nonhomogeneities, polycrystallinity, and variable effective fields are subsequently incorporated through the assumption that certain physical parameters, including the local coercive and effective fields, are randomly distributed and hence manifestations of stochastic density functions associated with the material. Stochastic homogenization in this manner provides low-order macroscopic models with effective parameters that can be correlated with physical properties of the data. This facilitates the ide...
Parameters affecting the chain extension and branching of PET in the melt state by polyepoxides

This article describes the chemical modification of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a variety of compounds containing reactive glycidyl group(s). Four different modifiers, namely, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA), N,N′-bis[3(carbo-2′,3′-epoxypropoxy) phenyl] pyromellitimide (BGPM), triglycidyl glycerol (TGG), and triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC) were compared for their reactivity toward PET in the melt phase. It was found that the presence of tertiary nitrogen in the structure of the epoxide modifiers plays the role of in-built catalyst for their reaction with the end groups of PET. TGIC as a modifier was selected for the detailed investigation of the simultaneously occurring degradation and chain extension/branching reactions in a batch-melt mixer. The reactions were followed by torque changes, analyzing the products for residual carboxyl content, and by determining insoluble content. It is shown that the rate of the reactive modification of PET melt by TGIC depends upon stoichiometry, temperature, rate of shear, and the chemical composition and the molecular weight (MW) of the PET resin. In general, the results indicate an increase in melt viscosity and insoluble content, whereas an overall decrease in carboxyl content occurs, as defined by the choice of mixing conditions and stoichiometry. Analysis of the batch kinetic data can be useful to define the process requirements for carrying out the reactive modification in continuous extrusion equipment. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 643–652, 2003
Interplay between proliferation and differentiation within the myogenic lineage

In muscle cells, as in a variety of cell types, proliferation and differentiation are mutually exclusive events controlled by a balance of opposing cellular signals. Members of the MyoD family of muscle-specific helix-loop-helix proteins which, in collaboration with ubiquitous factors, activate muscle differentiation and inhibit cell proliferation function at the nexus of the cellular circuits that control proliferation and differentiation of muscle cells. The activities of these myogenic regulators are negatively regulated by peptide growth factors and activated oncogenes whose products transmit growth signals from the membrane to the nucleus. Recent studies have revealed multiple mechanisms through which intracellular growth factor signals may interfere with the functions of the myogenic regulators. When expressed at high levels, members of the MyoD family can override mitogenic signals and can cause growth arrest independent of their effects on differentiation. The ability of these myogenic regulators to inhibit proliferation of normal as well as transformed cells from multiple lineages suggests that they interact with conserved components of the cellular machinery involved in cell cycle progression and that similar types of regulatory factors participate in differentiation and cell cycle control in diverse cell types.
Application of irreversible thermodynamics to a functional description of the tumor cell membrane.

The permeability of the membranes of several strains of Ehrlich mouse ascites tumor cells to a series of homologous glycols was analyzed with equations from irreversible thermodynamics. Experimental data were fitted to the appropriate equations of Kedem and Katchalsky by means of an analog computer and values for σ, Lp, and ωRT were calculated. These parameters would become part of a functional profile of the membrane of the tumor cell. The glycols cross the membrane with energies of activation ranging from 16 kcal/mole for ethylene glycol to 20 kcal/mole for triethylene glycol. Entropies of activation ranged from 17 to 27 entropy units. This analysis provided several additional dividends. It is one of the few examples with a mammalian cell where the kinetics of non-electrolyte transport have been described completely by the equations of irreversible thermodynamics. It has provided the means to distinguish how much of the transport occurred through porous paths in the membrane and how much involved solution within the matrix of the membrane. Finally, several tumor cell populations have been distinguished through these functional properties of their membranes.
A Man of Feeling, A Man of Colour: James Forten and the Rise of African American Deliberative Rhetoric

This study examines the rhetorical practice of James Forten, an African American activist of the early republic. Focusing on four texts written between 1800 and 1832 for white audiences and considering Forten9s efforts to align white readers with the plight of both free and enslaved American blacks, I explore pathos (particularly as conceived by eighteenth-century Scottish rhetoricians), the suppliant ethos, appeals based on Pennsylvania and U.S. legal and political traditions, and arguments addressing the practical concerns of the audience. Through such analysis, I demonstrate Forten9s pioneering role in the development of African American deliberative rhetoric.
Observation of optical k∼0 high-Q Fano resonances in macroscopic photonic crystal slabs

In an infinite periodic PhC slab, due to symmetry considerations, Fano resonances at k=0 completely decouple from the external world and their radiative quality factors become infinite despite lying above the light line. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the existence of such resonances at k∼0.
The Impact of Bowel Cleansing on Follow-Up Recommendations in Average-Risk Patients With a Normal Colonoscopy

The Impact of Bowel Cleansing on Follow-Up Recommendations in Average-Risk Patients With a Normal Colonoscopy
The glass transition of organic liquids confined to small pores

Abstract The glass-transition temperatures, Tg, of organic liquids confined to small pores were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The Tg was measured as a function of pore size in controlled pore glasses (CPG) having pore diameters in the range of 40–730 A. The surface of the glass was treated with hexamethyldisilazane to promote wetting by the organic liquids studied (o-terphenyl and benzyl alcohol). Glasses formed in the pores had a lower Tg than in the bulk and the reduction in Tg increased as the pore size decreased. For example, the depression of the glass transition temperature, ΔTg, of benzyl alcohol in 40 A and 85 A pores was 7.2 K and 3.1 K, respectively. The magnitude of ΔTg also depends on the material; e.g. for o-terphenyl in the 85 A pores, ΔTg was 8.8 K versus 3.1 K for benzyl alcohol. In general, it was noted that ΔTg was considerably less than for the depression of the crystalline melting point, ΔTm, studied in related work. For example, for benzyl alcohol in the 85 A pores, ΔTm was ∼ 25 K and ΔTg was ∼ 3 K.
Volatile abundances in basaltic glasses from seamounts flanking the East Pacific Rise at 21°N and 12–14°N

Volatiles in glasses from seamounts flanking the East Pacific Rise (EPR) in the vicinity of 21°N and 12–14°N were analyzed by high-temperature mass spectrometry. Compared to mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) magmas erupted at the spreading axis of the EPR at 21°N, the seamount magmas are commonly enriched in H2O, Cl, F and S (at the same Mg#). Water and Cl abundances range from 0.111 to 1.021 wt.% and 0.003 to 0.226 wt.%, respectively. The wide range in abundances is consistent with the diversity of magmas erupted by these seamounts as indicated previously from major and rare-earth element data. H2O shows a strong linear positive correlation with K2O content [H2O = 0.45 (±0.04) K2O + 0.22 (±0.03) with RMS error of 0.09]. Based on H2OK2O-ratios and K2O abundances the glasses separate into three distinct groups: highly volatile-enriched alkalic/transitional, enriched tholeiitic, and depleted tholeiitic. Ratio-ratio plots of incompatible elements (LaSm vs. K2OH2O) indicate that these seamount magmas can all be related by the mixing of enriched and depleted source materials.
Demonstration of serum precipitin to brain ganglioside.

STUDIES on the structure of brain ganglioside, a macromolecular glycolipid which occurs in high concentration in cerebral grey matter, suggested that this material might be suited to function at membrane surfaces, since it possesses both carbohydrate and lipid moieties structurally so arranged that the molecule could bridge hydrophylic and lipophylic phases1. Further investigation of the properties of this substance2,3 demonstrated that it interacted with certain viruses, both in vitro and in vivo, in a manner suggesting that it is utilized by infecting viruses as a natural receptor substance in the cell. In a membrane-active system, the clam heart, it was found to have stimulatory effect in very low concentration4. The presence of hexos-amine and hexose constituents in brain ganglioside relates it structurally to the blood group substances5. For these reasons it became of interest to determine whether antisera might be prepared to brain ganglioside.
A new strategy to rapidly evaluate kinetics of glucuronide efflux by breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2).

Purpose The efflux transporter breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) plays an important role in excretion of anionic drugs and metabolites including glucuronides in humans.
A molecular dynamics study of the OH stretching vibrational spectrum of liquid water

Abstract A classical molecular dynamics (CMD) study has been carried out to investigate the OH stretching spectrum of liquid water. The potential used is the simple point charge model modified to include anharmonic vibrational potentials. A series of CMD runs were made for a system of 100 water molecules. Spectral functions for infrared, Raman and inelastic neutron scattering were directly computed from the trajectories of the CMD. The computed spectral band shapes are in good qualitative agreement with experimentally measured spectra.
Comparison of measured suspended sediment concentrations with suspended sediment concentrations estimated from Landsat MSS data

Abstract Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) data for 27 dates between January 1983 and June 1985 for Moon Lake in Coahoma County, Mississippi, were analysed to determine if Landsat MSS digital data could be used to estimate suspended sediment concentrations in the surface waters of a small agricultural lake. Field measurements of suspended sediment concentration in the surface water and other water quality variables were available for five locations in Moon Lake within 0 to 13 days of each of the 27 Landsat overpass dates. Pixel values, radiance and reflectance measurements from Landsat MSS data from 14 scenes were compared with field data and used to develop simple and multiple regression equations to estimate suspended sediment concentration in the surface water of the lake. The best equations were used to estimate the suspended sediment concentrations for the 13 other Landsat scenes. The coefficient of determination for the relationship between measured and estimated suspended sediment concentrations ...
Increased lysosomal uptake of methotrexate-polyglutamates in two methotrexate-resistant cell lines with distinct mechanisms of resistance.

Abstract Methotrexate (MTX) resistance in mitoxantrone-selected MCF7/MX cells and in MTX-selected CEM/MTX cells is associated with reduced drug accumulation, albeit caused by different mechanisms. In addition, in both resistant cell lines the proportion of active long-chain MTX-polyglutamate (MTX-PG) metabolites is reduced relative to that in the respective parental cell line. Previous studies by others have implied that increased lysosomal uptake could affect the rate of MTX-PG hydrolysis, and hence the length distribution of the polyglutamate chains. However, in the two cell line pairs studied, the number of lysosomes per cell was not different between the corresponding parental and resistant cells. Instead, we observed a two- to three-fold increased facilitative uptake of MTX-Glu 4 by the lysosomes from these two independently derived MTX-resistant cell lines, compared to uptake by lysosomes from their corresponding parental cells. Enhanced lysosomal uptake of MTX-Glu 4 was reflected in an increased maximal uptake velocity, without a change in the apparent substrate affinity. In addition, the rate of MTX efflux from lysosomes from CEM/MTX cells was two-fold faster than from lysosomes from CEM cells. Consistent with this observation, the relative amount of short-chain MTX-Glu 1+2 species, as a fraction of the total amount of all MTX-Glu 1−4 species combined, was only half as large in lysosomes from CEM/MTX cells as in lysosomes from CEM cells. Together, these results suggest the possibility that increased lysosomal uptake, and hence enhanced sequestration of MTX-PGs in resistant cells, contributes to the development of high-level MTX resistance by decreasing the cytosolic levels of MTX-PGs.
For Your Consideration: Models for Digital Music Distribution in Libraries

One question raised repeatedly at gatherings of music librarians is, “How do we handle sound recordings that are only available as downloads from a publisher?” In recent years, some publishers have...
Are natural hazards and disaster losses in the U.S. increasing

More than 35 major Presidential disaster declarations, including those for hurricanes Katrina and Rita, already have been declared across the United States in 2005. This is a harbinger of another costly year for natural disasters. While losses from the 2004 hurricane season are still being tallied, estimates suggest that each Florida hurricane last year was responsible for more than $5 billion in damages (http://www.ncdc.gov/oa/reports/billionz. html). This year (2005) may prove to be the costliest ever. To see whether the years 2004–2005 are unique or are the continuation of an increasing trend in disaster losses over time, spatial and temporal trends in natural hazards losses for the United States (1960–2003) were examined and compared with the geographic patterns of Presidential disaster declarations.
Prevention of thrombin-induced motoneuron degeneration with different neurotrophic factors in highly enriched cultures.

Previous reports have shown that neuronal and glial cells express functionally active thrombin receptors. The thrombin receptor (PAR-1), a member of a growing family of protease activated receptors (PARs), requires cleavage of the extracellular amino-terminus domain by thrombin to induce signal transduction. Studies from our laboratory have shown that PAR-1 activation following the addition of thrombin or a synthetic thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP) induces motoneuron cell death both in vitro and in vivo. In addition to increasing motoneuron cell death, PAR- 1 activation leads to decreases in the mean neurite length and side branching in highly enriched motoneuron cultures. It has been suggested that motoneuron survival depends on access to sufficient target-derived neurotrophic factors through axonal branching and synaptic contacts. However, whether the thrombininduced effects on motoneurons can be prevented by neurotrophic factors is still unknown. Using highly enriched avian motoneuron cultures, we show here that alone, soluble chick skeletal muscle extracts (CMX), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) significantly increased motoneuron survival compared to controls, whereas nerve growth factor (NGF) did not have a significant effect on motoneuron survival. Furthermore, cotreatment with muscle-derived agents (i.e., CMX, BDNF, GDNF) significantly prevented the death of motoneurons induced by alpha-thrombin. Yet, non-muscle-derived agents (CNTF and NGF) had little or no significant effect in reversing thrombin-induced motoneuron death. CMX and CNTF significantly increased the mean length of neurites, whereas NGF, BDNF, and GDNF failed to enhance neurite outgrowth compared to controls. Furthermore, CMX and CNTF significantly prevented thrombin-induced inhibition of neurite outgrowth, whereas BDNF and GDNF only partially reversed thrombin-induced inhibition of neurite outgrowth. These findings show differential effects of neurotrophic factors on thrombin-induced motoneuron degeneration and suggest specific overlaps between the trophic and stress pathways activated by some neurotrophic agents and thrombin, respectively.
Dynamic interaction between the heart and its sympathetic innervation following T5 spinal cord transection.

Midthoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with enhanced sympathetic support of heart rate as well as myocardial damage related to calcium overload. The myocardial damage may elicit an enha...
Initial results of the effects of diuresis on gadolinium enhancement in MR imaging of the abdomen.

Abstract Rationale and Objectives The authors performed this study to assess the effects of furosemide-induced diuresis on paramagnetic contrast material enhancement at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the kidney, liver, spleen, and psoas muscle. Materials and Methods Twenty-five patients (average age, 44.9 years; age range, 23–74 years; 13 men, 12 women) who were suspected of having unilateral renal hydronephrosis received 0.1 mmol/kg contrast material with a standardized injection and imaging protocol to assess organ signal intensity at 0–5 minutes after injection. All patients had a normal serum creatinine level. Imaging was performed with a 1.5-T magnet by using a fat-suppressed fast spoiled gradient-echo pulse sequence and a 70° flip angle. Eight patients received 40 mg of furosemide 10 minutes before contrast material injection. Results The areas of the renal cortical and medullary signal intensity curves minus baseline in the unilateral normal kidneys were significantly greater in the group who received furosemide (P = .026 and P = .037, respectively). The areas of the renal cortical and medullary signal intensity minus baseline in the unilateral hydronephrotic kidneys were also significantly greater in the group that received furosemide (P = .036 and P = .026, respectively). There was a statistically significant increase in splenic enhancement (P = .02) and a tendency for increased liver (P = .09) and psoas muscle (P = .08) enhancement. Conclusion Furosemide-induced diuresis appears to potentiate the cortical and medullary MR renogram, as well as the MR splenogram. A rapid shift in water compartmentalization from the intracellular to the extracellular space and increased renal water content with diuresis are possible explanations.
Increased apoptosis of CD45RO- T cells with aging.

Abstract Increasing susceptibility to infectious and autoimmune phenomena have long been recognized to accompany advancing age in otherwise healthy individuals. Recently animal models of aging have suggested that age-associated immune dysfunction may correlate with defects in T cell apoptosis. We have examined activation-induced apoptosis defects in human peripheral T cells from young individuals (mean age=31±3 years old) compared to aged individuals (mean age=67±8 years old). Following in vitro activation of T cells with PHA and IL-2, apoptosis was measured in T cell subsets using 7-amino actinomycin D (7-AAD) staining and analysis via three colour flow cytometry. There was no significant difference in apoptosis of the total CD3+ T cell population at early and late time points. Interestingly, increased apoptosis in the CD3+ CD45RO− T cell population of older adults was observed by culture day 6. While the total number of CD3+ CD45RO− cells was not different between young ( 65 years) individuals, 32% of these cells did not undergo apoptosis in younger individuals while only 10% of these cells avoided this fate in older individuals. These results suggest that accumulation of CD45RO+ T cells may occur in aged subjects due in part to preferential elimination of CD45RO− cells with activation. Furthermore, as new or continued immune response requires differentiation of CD45RA+ T cells to CD45RO+ T cells after activation, increased apoptosis instead of survival in aged individuals could lead to observed T cell immune deficiency.
Advances in Internet and interconnectivity of networks

Internet has traditionally been an educational and research oriented network with global access. In modern times, with computer communications being practical, Internet offers an interconnecting medium for data, information, and file transfer. In addition, services and tools are being continuously added to the Internet and the network operation is being constantly upgraded and made more and more reliable. Internet has been steadily expanding not only in academic and research circles, but also in the industrial and commercial areas. For example, it is a simple matter of conversing with another user on the Internet for immediate exchange of information in banking and other financial operations. In addition, considerable effort is being spent to make the Internet more interactive for integrated voice and data services. From a system point of view Internet provides end to end digital connectivity. Also, being a driven network at the higher layers, Internet tends to be more fault than the original architecture. The advances in Internet, and associated applications are summarised.
Imaging characteristics of androgen insensitivity syndrome

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), also known as testicular feminization, is a genetic disorder which leads to lack of response to androgens caused by a defect in the androgen receptor. It is relatively uncommon and is usually diagnosed through clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, physical exam, radiological imaging, and genetic analysis. Our case is a middle-aged woman with complete AIS and demonstrates the importance of the various imaging modalities that are implemented in initially diagnosing and assisting in surgical management.
Mortality Differentials in a Metropolitan Area

The purpose of this study is to describe and interpret the ecology of mortality in a metropolitan area in terms of the structure of population aggregates. Explanations for both the statistical distribution of mortality rates and the processes by which individuals become mortality cases are considered. The data are analyzed according to socioeconomic status, ShevkyBell social rank and family status, geographical mobility, racial status, and residential conditions. Several hypotheses are suggested in interpretation of the research findings, based on (1) social change, (2) population drift, (3) genetic inheritance, (4) interaction problems, (5) cultural differences, (6) differentials in medical assistance, (7) adoption of the sick role, and (8) societal reaction. Finally, it is suggested that the pursual of a dual research strategy of rates and individual behavior will ensure a more integrated and comprehensive sociological theory of mortality. M o ortality rates provide an indication of the health status of population aggoregates and in turn, provide clues to the social structure and processes of area populations. It has been established in several ecological studies that mortality and various other health indicies vary according to a number of population characteristics. A principal finding in several localities lhas been that mortality rates are inversely related to the socioeconomic status of populations.' A major need, hoowever, is a framework which provides an interpretation of the relationships. Researchers have been content in finding associatiolns between a number of characteristics and mortality rates. The result has been that the significance of the mortality differentials has been missed. The present study is focused on the ecological distribution of mortality in a metropolitan area and an attempt is made to understand mortality differential in terms of the structure of population aggregates. Explanlations for both the statistical distribution of mortality and the processes by which individuals become mortality cases are considered.2 The aim is to put order into the findings as well as to describe them. Several hypotheses are suggested in interpretation of the research findings, based on (1) social change, (2) population drift, (3) genetic inheritance, (4) interaction problenis, (5) cultural differences, (6) differentials in medical assistance, (7) adoption of the sick role, and (9) societal reactioln. These ideas will be considered in greater detail after the researcl-h findings have been presented.
Civil death: An examination of ex-felon disenfranchisement and reintegration:

In the state of Florida, when someone is found guilty of a felony crime they forfeit the right to vote, serve on a jury, and run for elected office. These civil rights are lost regardless of whethe...
Current Normative Concepts in Conservation

A plethora of normative conservation concepts have recently emerged, most of which are ill- defined: biological diversity, biological integrity, ecological restoration, ecological services, ecological rehabili- tation, ecological sustainability, sustainable development, ecosystem health, ecosystem management, adap- tive management, and keystone species are salient among them. These normative concepts can be organized and interpreted by reference to two new schools of conservation philosophy, compositionalism and function- alism. The former comprehends nature primarily by means of evolutionary ecology and considers Homo sapi- ens separate from nature. The latter comprehends nature primarily by means of ecosystem ecology and con- siders Homo sapiens a part of nature. Biological diversity, biological integrity, and ecological restoration belong primarily in the compositionalist glossary; the rest belong primarily in the functionalist glossary. The former set are more appropriate norms for reserves, the latter for areas that are humanly inhabited and ex- ploited. In contrast to the older schools of conservation philosophy, preservationism and resourcism, composi- tionalism and functionalism are complementary, not competitive and mutually exclusive. As the historically divergent ecological sciences—evolutionary ecology and ecosystem ecology—are increasingly synthesized, a more unified philosophy of conservation can be envisioned.
Continual hashing for efficient fine-grain state inconsistency detection

Transaction-level modeling (TLM) allows a designer to save functional verification effort during the modular refinement of an SoC by reusing the prior implementation of a module as a golden model for state inconsistency detection. One problem in simulation-based verification is the performance and bandwidth overhead of state dump and comparison between two models. In this paper, we propose an efficient fine-grain state inconsistency detection technique that checks the consistency of two states of arbitrary size at sub- transaction (tick) granularity using incremental hashes. At each tick, the hash generates a signature of the entire state, which can be efficiently updated and compared. We evaluate the proposed signature scheme with a FIR filter and a Vorbis decoder and show that very fine-grain state consistency checking is feasible. The hash signature checking increases execution time of Bluespec RTL simulation by 1.2% for the FIR filter and by 2.2% for the Verbis decoder while correctly detecting any injected state inconsistency.
Ceramide signaling in apoptosis

The sphingomyelin pathway is a ubiquitous, evolutionarily conserved signaling system initiated by hydrolysis of the plasma membrane phospholipid sphingomyelin to generate ceramide. Ceramide acts as a second messenger in activating the apoptotic cascade. Diverse cytokine receptors and environmental stresses utilize ceramide to signal apoptosis. In several cell systems ceramide links to the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c-jun kinase (JNK) cascade to signal apoptosis. The engagement of the sphingomyelin pathway in signaling apoptosis is tightly regulated by anti-apoptotic control mechanisms, and the balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic systems determines the magnitude of the apoptotic response in vitro and in vivo. This review describes the known elements and molecular ordering of ceramide-mediated apoptosis and the anti-apoptotic mechanisms that regulate its expression. Understanding of pro- and anti-apoptotic signaling involved in ceramide-mediated apoptosis and the modes of their co-ordinated function may yield opportunities for pharmacological interventions with potential for clinical applications.
Viral targeting of interferon regulatory factor-3 and type I interferon gene transcription

Successful host defense against viruses depends on rapidly mounted defense mechanisms, which include the release of type I interferons (IFN)α/β and the transcription of IFN-stimulated genes. IFN limits viral replication and activates adaptive immunity. Much progress has now been made in delineating how the type I IFN response is triggered upon infection by different viruses. Progress in this regard relates to the identification of distinct families of pattern recognition receptors involved in the detection of viral nucleic acids, the discovery of adapter molecules, which couple signaling from these receptors to downstream effectors, and the characterization of key kinases responsible for the phosphorylation-induced activation of the IFN regulatory factors that control IFN gene transcription. In turn, we are learning that viruses encode a diversity of sophisticated mechanisms to block IFN induction at each of these levels and/or counteract IFN activity, thereby supporting viral replication and neutralizing...
Robustness of the t Test Applied to Data Distorted from Normality by Floor Effects

In calculus, plaque, and gingivitis trials, measures are taken on subjects both prior to the use of an active treatment and after its use. When the trial is short-term, or when a cleaning of the mouth takes place after the baseline measurement, distributions of such measures (e.g., the Volpe-Manhold score or the Loe and Silness scale) are approximately normally distributed above zero but also can have a proportion of subjects who attain scores of zero. When the effects of an active treatment are compared with those of a control, the two-independent-sample t test can be applied to outcome scores or to differences between the baseline and outcome scores. Robustness of these t tests, in the presence of distributions "distorted" from normality as described, was investigated by computer simulation. In general, both t tests produced actual significance levels which were close to nominal significance levels, even in the presence of small samples and distributions in which as many as 50% of the subjects attained scores of zero.
Value of thrombomodulin immunostaining in the diagnosis of mesothelioma

Aims Even with the benefit of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy, the differential diagnosis between epithelial mesothelioma and pulmonary adenocarcinoma is often difficult. In most instances, the diagnosis of mesothelioma must be reached by the use of immunohistochemical markers that react with adenocarcinomas, but not with mesotheliomas. The purpose of this study is to determine the value of thrombomodulin (TM) as a positive marker for mesothelioma when distinguishing epithelial pleural mesothelioma from pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Methods and results TM was expressed in 28 (80%) of 35 epithelial pleural mesotheliomas, but only five (10.9%) of 46 pulmonary adenocarcinomas had appreciable reactivity for this marker. Conclusion It is concluded that TM can be useful in separating pulmonary adenocarcinoma from epithelial mesothelioma, but it should be used only in conjunction with other immunohistochemical markers that are currently employed in distinguishing between these two types of malignancies.
Marginalized population Monte Carlo

Population Monte Carlo is a statistical method that is used for generation of samples approximately from a target distribution. The method is iterative in nature and is based on the principle of importance sampling. In this paper, we show that in problems where some of the parameters are conditionally linear on the remaining parameters, we can improve the computational efficiency of population Monte Carlo by generating samples of the nonlinear parameters only and marginalizing the linear parameters. We demonstrate the marginalized population Monte Carlo on the problem of frequency estimation of closely spaced sinusoids.