cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral evidence for host fidelity among populations of the parasitic wasp, Diachasma alloeum (Muesebeck)

The concept of "host fidelity," where host-specific mating occurs in close proximity to the oviposition site and location of larval development, is thought to impart a pre-mating isolation mechanism for sympatric speciation (sensu members of the genus Rhagoletis). The apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella, and the blueberry maggot fly, R. mendax, are morphologically similar sibling species thought to have speciated in sympatry by divergence of host plant association. Both of these fly species are attacked by the specialist braconid parasitoid, Diachasma alloeum. The current study demonstrates that both male and female D. alloeum exhibit a behavioral preference for the odor of the fruit of their larval Rhagoletis host species. Specifically, those D. alloeum emerging from puparia of R. pomonella are preferentially attracted to hawthorn fruit and those emerging from puparia of R. mendax are preferentially attracted to blueberry fruit. However, male D. alloeum reared from either R. pomonella or R. mendax were equally attracted to females originating from both Rhagoletis species. We suggest that the data herein present evidence for "host fidelity," where populations of D. alloeum exhibit a greater tendency to mate and reproduce among the host plants of their preferred Rhagoletis hosts. Furthermore, host fidelity may have resulted in the evolution of distinct host races of D. alloeum tracking the speciation of their larval Rhagoletis prey.
Mechanism of the pH-Induced Discontinuous Swelling/Deswelling Transitions of Poly(allylamine hydrochloride)-Containing Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films

The mechanism of the discontinuous swelling/deswelling transitions exhibited by polyelectrolyte multilayers containing poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) was examined by FT-IR spectroscopy, in-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM), and in-situ ellipsometry. Assembly pH was found to play a critical role in determining the postassembly pH-dependent swelling behavior of multilayers containing PAH. Multilayer films assembled at pH 8.5) are driven by changes in the degree of ionization of free amine groups of PAH that are established during multilayer assembly. The pH trigger points of these swelling/deswelling transitio...
A new synaptic player leading to autism risk: Met receptor tyrosine kinase

The validity for assigning disorder risk to an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) candidate gene comes from convergent genetic, clinical, and developmental neurobiology data. Here, we review these lines of evidence from multiple human genetic studies, and non-human primate and mouse experiments that support the conclusion that the MET receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) functions to influence synapse development in circuits relevant to certain core behavioral domains of ASD. There is association of both common functional alleles and rare copy number variants that impact levels of MET expression in the human cortex. The timing of Met expression is linked to axon terminal outgrowth and synaptogenesis in the developing rodent and primate forebrain, and both in vitro and in vivo studies implicate this RTK in dendritic branching, spine maturation, and excitatory connectivity in the neocortex. This impact can occur in a cell-nonautonomous fashion, emphasizing the unique role that Met plays in specific circuits relevant to ASD.
Evaluation of Alternatives for Two-Dimensional Linear Cascade Facilities

This paper presents two low-cost alternatives for turbine blade surface heat transfer and fluid dynamics measurements. These models embody careful compromises between typical academic and full-scale turbomachinery experiments and represent a comprehensive strategy to develop experiments that can directly test shortcomings in current turbomachinery simulation tools. A full contextual history of the wide range of approaches to simulate turbine flow conditions is presented, along with a discussion of their deficiencies. Both models are simplifications of a linear cascade: the current standard for simulating two-dimensional turbine blade geometries. A single passage model is presented as a curved duct consisting of two half-blade geometries, carefully designed inlet and exit walls and inlet suction. This facility was determined to be best suited for heat transfer measurements where minimal surface conduction losses are necessary to allow accurate numerical model replication. A double passage model is defined as a single blade with two precisely designed outer walls, which is most appropriate for flow measurements. The design procedures necessary to achieve a desired flow condition are discussed.
Forebrain circumventricular organs mediate salt appetite induced by intravenous angiotensin II in rats.

Abstract Two circumventricular organs, the subfornical organ (SFO) and organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT), may mediate salt appetite in response to acute intravenous infusions of angiotensin (ANG) II. Fluid intakes and mean arterial pressures were measured in rats with sham lesions or electrolytic lesions of the SFO or OVLT during an intravenous infusion of 30 ng/min ANG II. Beginning 21 h before the 90-min infusion, the rats were depleted of sodium with furosemide and given a total of 300 mg/kg captopril in 75 ml/kg water in three spaced gavages to block the usual salt appetite and to hydrate the rats. No other food or fluids were available for ingestion. Sham-lesioned rats drank 9.3±1.2 ml if 0.3 M NaCl alone was available and drank 8.9±1.6 ml of saline and 3.7±1.6 ml of water if both were available. Either SFO or OVLT lesions reduced the intakes of saline to
The chromatin structure of an actively expressed, single copy yeast gene

When the yeast galactokinase gene is not active (repressed, not expressed, quiescent), there is an exceptionally regular nucleosome array on coding sequence galactokinase chromatin, as shown by both denaturing and non-denaturing gel analysis of staphylococcal nuclease digests. Expression of the gene results in a limited smearing of the nucleosome repeat peaks and an increase in interpeak DNA, appearing as a regular ladder of DNA bands on denaturing gels. On non-denaturing gels the pattern is more complex and molecular weight dependent. These data suggest an increase in intracore particle DNA accessibility, allowing staphylococcal nuclease to digest throughout the nucleosome in expressed chromatin. Comparison to bulk chromatin and to an operationally inactive gene (35S rDNA) show that the alteration is specific to expressed chromatin. In contrast, DNase I shows no differences in the digestion of the gene specific chromatin in expressed or inactive states.
Slow luminescence emission from polymers with a hyperbolic decay law. A survey of commercial materials with an apparatus of wide aperture

A survey of 98 commercial polymers with an apparatus responding to a sample area of 20 cm2 revealed luminescence in about a third of them with a characteristic, hyperbolic decay extending over several minutes after brief irradiation with an incandescent source. The time dependence of the intensity was described well by the Debye—Edwards equation, of the form I = At−m, with m between 0.67 and 1.17 except for polyvinylcarbazole, with m = 1.76. In a few cases studied in more detail, the emission could be stimulated by wavelengths extending into the visible region, showed a negligible temperature dependence (6–40°C), and was little affected by removal of oxygen or water from the atmosphere around the samples. The source of the emission is ascribed to charge recombination of photoejected electrons from chromophores in the polymer structure or (in most cases) present as adventitious impurities which were not extractable in two cases. Nylon 6, which showed little emission alone, gave well-defined hyperbolic curves after heating in air or after addition of the fluorescent dye Benzoxanthene Yellow H2495.
Some varied dielectric properties of materials with the tetragonal tungsten bronze crystal structure

A variety of types of dielectric behaviour is observed in some chemically similar compounds having the crystal structure of tetragonal tungsten bronze. These include: (a) barium zirconium niobate, which, as a ferro-electric material, is unusual in having a higher than second-order transition to the para-electric state, i.e. in being a ferro-electric without a Curie point; (b) materials exemplified by barium zirconium tantalate, which has a permittivity of 90 and an unusually small temperature coefficient of permittivity over the range 25?500°C; (c) modified PbNb2O6, which, by controlled valency modification, can be caused to display a large positive temperature coefficient of resistivity. All of these types of dielectric behaviour have potential application in electronic circuit design.
The energy and width of paired nee'l walls in double layer M-R films

The energy and wall width of paired Neel walls are analytically examined. The walls studied are those which are perpendicular to the easy axes in double-layer MR (magnetoresistive) elements. Specifically, the material examined consisted of two 150-AA-thick magnetic layers separated by 50 AA. The anisotropy constant was assumed to be 20 Oe, the exchange constant 1.25*10/sup -6/ erg/cm, and the saturation magnetization 983 G/4 pi . Wall energies ranged from 0.03 erg/cm/sup 2/ to 1.8 erg/cm/sup 2/ as the total angle of rotation across the wall varied from 60 degrees to 270 degrees . Wall width ranged from 2.0 mu m to 0.5 mu m. The wall energies were found to be approximately one eighth of those of single-layer Neel walls. The wall widths were found to vary less with total wall angle than those encountered with a single-layer Neel wall. The paired Neel walls are generally wider than those for a single-layer film. >
Electrophoretic and molecular weight anomalies associated with broad bean polyphenoloxidase in SDS-PAGE electrophoresis

Abstract Purified broad bean polyphenoloxidase was subjected to electrophoresis under denaturing and partially denaturing conditions using five common SDS-PAGE electrophoresis systems. Boiled, but not reduced, samples showed a single major polypeptide of approximately 55 000 in all systems while boiled reduced samples showed two polypeptides of approximately 60 000–65 000 and 43 000–45 000. Samples which were not boiled or reduced showed variable M r and polypeptide composition in each system. Reduced and unboiled samples showed multiple polypeptides, some of which were the result of apparent proteolysis. Comparisons of the five electrophoretic systems indicated apparent M r differences and anomalous polypeptide patterns for the purified enzyme.
149. Epigenetic Alterations and an Increased Frequency of Micronuclei in Women With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM), is characterized by chronic widespread pain, fatigue and cognitive/mood disturbances, and leads to reduced workplace productivity and increased health care/disability expenses. To determine if acquired epigenetic/genetic changes are associated with FM, we compared the frequency of spontaneously occurring micronuclei (MN) and genome-wide methylation patterns in women with FM (N = 10) to those seen in comparably aged healthy controls (N = 42 [MN]; N = 8 [methylation]). The mean MN frequency of women with FM (51.4 + 21.9) was significantly higher than that of the controls (15.8 ± 8.5) (χ2 =45.552; df = 1; p = 1.49 × 10−11). Significant differences (N = 69 sites) in methylation patterns were also observed between cohorts. The majority of the differentially methylated (DM) sites (91%) were attributable to increased values in the women having FM. The DM included significant biological clusters involved in neuron differentiation/nervous system development, skeletal/organ system development, and chromatin compaction. Genes associated with DM sites whose function has particular relevance to FM included (but are not limited to) BDNF, NAT15, HDAC4, PRKCA, RTN1, and PRKG1. These results support the need for future research to further examine the potential biological pathway of epigenetic and acquired chromosomal alterations as a correlate, or possible biological mechanism, leading to/resulting from FM.
CD10 facilitates the diagnosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma from primary adrenal cortical neoplasm in adrenal fine-needle aspiration.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) frequently metastasizes or invades the adrenal gland. Metastatic RCC is often difficult to differentiate from primary adrenal cortical neoplasm (ACN) in an adrenal fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Recently, CD10 immunoreactivity was observed in more than 90% of RCC, but none in primary ACN. To facilitate the accurate diagnosis of metastatic RCC in adrenal FNA, we retrospectively studied the cytomorphology and CD10 immunohistochemistry in 20 cases of FNA specimens, including 10 cases of adrenal FNA (six cases of metastatic RCC and four cases of primary ACN) and 10 cases of primary RCC. Cytomorphologically, several overlapping features were observed between primary ACN and metastatic RCC, including: abundant clear cytoplasm, often with microvesicles, large nuclei with prominent nucleoli, bare nuclei, and prominent vascularity. Immunostaining for CD10 was positive in 9/10 cases of primary RCC, 5/6 cases of metastatic RCC in the adrenal gland, and 0/4 cases of primary ACN. Our study indicates that: 1) an accurate diagnosis of ACN in FNA specimens can often be difficult due to overlapping cytomorphologic features with RCC, and 2) CD10 immunostaining is helpful in separating metastatic RCC from a primary ACN and can reliably be performed on a cytologic sample. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2002;27:149–152. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Galim LL/EH polymict breccia: Evidence for impact‐induced exchange between reduced and oxidized meteoritic material

Galim is a polymict breccia consisting of a heavily shocked (shock stage S6) LL6 chondrite, Galim (a), and an impact-melted EH chondrite, Galim (b). Relict chondrules in Galim (b) served as nucleation sites for euhedral enstatite grains crystallizing from the impact melt. Many of the reduced phases typical of EH chondrites (e.g., Si-bearing metallic Fe-Ni; Ti-bearing troilite) are absent. Galim (b) was probably shock-melted while in contact with a more oxidized source, namely, Galim (a); during this event, Si was oxidized from the metal and Ti was oxidized from troilite. Galim (a) contains shock veins and recrystallized, unzoned olivine. The absence of evidence for reduction in Galim (a) may indicate that the amount of LL material greatly exceeded that of EH material; shock metamorphism may have taken place on the LL parent body. Shock-induced redox reactions such as those inferred for the Galim breccia appear to be restricted mainly to asteroids because the low-end tail of their relative-velocity distribution permits mixing of intact disparate materials (including accretion of projectiles of different oxidation states), whereas the peak of the distribution leads to high equilibration shock pressures (allowing impact-induced exchange between previously accreted, disequilibrated materials). Galim probably formed by a two-stage process: (I) accretion to the LL parent body of an intact EH projectile at low relative velocities, and (2) shock metamorphism of the assemblage by the subsequent impact of another projectile at significantly higher relative velocities.
Classroom note: A note on beta function, parseval identity, and a family of integrals in non-parametric regression

A family of integrals over infinite intervals appears frequently in the statistical literature on non-parametric regression. This note presents two simple transform methods, based on beta function and Parseval identity, to explicitly evaluate these integrals. These methods will benefit researchers and practitioners working in non-parametric regression, whenever they encounter similar types of problems to solve.
Determinants of infarct size in reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUNDExperimental animal studies have demonstrated that myocardium at risk, residual collateral flow, and duration of coronary artery occlusion are important determinants of final infarct size. The present study examined these variables in patients with acute myocardial infarction in relation to final infarct size.METHODS AND RESULTSMyocardium at risk was assessed with hexakis(2-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile) technetium (I) (99mTc sestamibi) in 89 patients with first-time myocardial infarction (anterior, 48 patients; inferior, 41 patients). All patients had successful reperfusion therapy with either intravenous thrombolysis (32 patients) or primary coronary angioplasty (57 patients) within 24 hours of the onset of chest pain (4.7 +/- 3.9 hours; range, 0.5-21.5 hours) documented by coronary angiography. 99mTc sestamibi was injected intravenously before reperfusion therapy, and tomographic imaging was performed 1-6 hours later. Myocardium at risk was quantitated for each patient and expressed as a percent...
Identification of two Ia-like alloantigens on rabbit B lymphocytes.

Alloimmunizations with rabbit lymphoid cells have resulted in the identification of two cell-surface alloantigens, Ia1 and Ia2. These antigens reside on nearly all B cells; few, if any thymus cells or T cells of mesenteric lymph nodes bear these antigens. Genetic studies showed that Ia1 and Ia2 molecules appear to be controlled by allelic genes at a locus closely linked to the MHC. Immunochemical analyses revealed that Ia1 and Ia2 are glycoproteins and that each is composed of two polypeptide chains of molecular weights of 28 000 and 30 000–32 000. Thus, the alloantigens identified by these two antisera appear to be Ia-like molecules.
Measurements Versus Predictions for Rotordynamic Characteristics of a Flexure Pivot-Pad Tilting Pad Bearing in an LBP Condition at Higher Unit Loads

Dynamic and static performance data are presented for a 117 mm diameter flexure-pivot tilting pad bearing in a load-between-pad configuration for speeds between 6000 and 12000 rpm and unit loads between 1–2.2 MPa. The present work is a continuation of 2005 tests on the same bearing by Al-Ghasem and Childs with unit loads at 0–1 Mpa. The rotordynamic coefficients are measured via a test rig that uses hydraulic shakers to excite the bearing stator. A psuedo-random excitation method is used to measure the complex direct and cross-coupled dynamic stiffness coefficients over a frequency range. The real and imaginary parts of coefficients are curve fitted to produce a constant-coefficient [K][C][M] bearing model. For the static load direction y, the direct added-mass coefficient Myy was needed to model the bearing’ “frequency dependence”. The direct unloaded mass coefficients Mxx was generally near zero. The analytical model generally predicted the correct trends for the change in rotordynamic coefficients with increasing loads but did not predict the measured orthotropy between results in the loaded and unloaded directions.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Cumulative and Continuous Laser Vaporization Synthesis of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Nanohorns

The conditions for the scaled synthesis of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and single wall carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) by laser vaporization at high temperatures are investigated and compared using in situ diagnostics. An industrial Nd:YAG laser (600 W, 1–500 Hz repetition rate) with tunable pulse widths (0.5–50 ms) is utilized to explore conditions for high-yield production. High-speed videography (50000 frames/s) of the laser plume and pyrometry of the target surface are correlated with ex situ high resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis of the products for pure carbon targets and carbon/catalyst targets to understand the effects of the processing conditions on the resulting nanostructures. Carbon is shown to self-assemble into single-wall nanohorn structures at rates of ∼1 nm/ms, which is comparable to the catalyst-assisted SWNT growth rates. Two regimes of laser ablation, cumulative ablation by multiple pulses and continuous ablation by individual pulses, were explored. Cumulative ablation with spatially overlapping 0.5-ms pulses is favorable for the high yield and production rate of SWNTs at ∼6 g/h while continuous ablation by individual long laser pulses (∼20 ms) at high temperatures results in the highest yield of SWNHs at ∼10 g/h. Adjustment of the laser pulse width is shown to control SWNH morphology.
Structure-Based Design of Phospholamban Mutants for Gene Therapy

We are using structural biology, molecular biology, physiology, gene delivery and preclinical testing to develop an optimized gene-therapy approach for the treatment of heart failure (HF). A key abnormality in HF is defective function of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Deficient Ca2+ uptake during relaxation, associated with a decrease in activity of SR Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a), has been identified in failing hearts from both humans and animal models. SERCA activity is regulated by phospholamban (PLB), a small membrane protein that partially inhibits SERCA in the absence of β-adrenergic phosphorylation of PLB. Our approach combining structure-function analysis of PLB and the direct detection of PLB-SERCA interactions relies on (a) fluorescence to show that SERCA inhibition can be relieved without dissociation of PLB, (b) magnetic resonance to define the structural dynamics of PLB's functional interaction with SERCA, and (c) establishing structure-based computational design principles to produce PLB mutants (PLBM) binding tightly to SERCA but having decreased inhibitory potency. We have obtained evidence that non-inhibitory PLB mutants S16E or L31A are capable of competing with WT-PLB to reverse SERCA inhibition. We are currently testing the physical and functional interaction between SERCA and optimized PLBM. Based on positive in vitro results, rAAV is used to test PLBM in rodent and porcine HF models for in vivo efficacy.
Electric-magnetic duality of conformal gravitation

Abstract Euclidean Weyl gravity, like Yang-Mills theory, can be expressed in terms of electric and magnetic field variables. The action is the square of “dual” combinations which can be reached by one-to-one transformations from the underlying metric variables. This property does not hold for Einstein or generic quadratic actions, as it rests on conformal invariance. As in Yang-Mills, Weyl self-dual spaces are automatically solutions of the field equations.
Estimating Effect Sizes in Genome-Wide Association Studies

Knowledge about the proportion of markers without effects (p0) and the effect sizes in large scale genetic studies is important to understand the basic properties of the data and for applications such as the control of false discoveries and designing adequately powered replication studies. Many p0 estimators have been proposed. However, high dimensional data sets typically comprise a large range of effect sizes and it is unclear whether the estimated p0 is related to the whole range, including markers with very small effects, or just the markers with large effects. In this article we develop an estimation procedure that can be used in all scenarios where the test statistic distribution under the alternative can be characterized by a single parameter (e.g. non-centrality parameter of the non-central chi-square or F distribution). The estimation procedure starts with estimating the largest effect in the data set, then the second largest effect, then the third largest effect, etc. We stop when the effect sizes become so small that they cannot be estimated precisely anymore for the given sample size. Once the individual effect sizes are estimated, they can be used to calculate an interpretable estimate of p0. Thus, our method results in both an interpretable estimate of p0 as well as estimates of the effect sizes present in the whole marker set by repeatedly estimating a single parameter. Simulations suggest that the effects are estimated precisely with only a small upward bias. The R codes that compute the effect estimates are freely downloadable from the website: http://www.people.vcu.edu/~jbukszar/.
Resonant Raman effect of I2 dissolved in solution

Abstract We report measurements of the visible absorption and Raman intensity dispersion of I 2 molecules dissolved in chloroform. The absorption spectrum is adequately by means of a simple model for the excited state vibrational wave function. The model gives relatively unsatisfactory fits to the Raman dispersion data but is used to discuss how more precise calculations might proceed.
Transport and Resuspension of Fine Particles in a Tidal Boundary Layer near a Small Peninsula

The authors present a theory on the transport and resuspension of fine particles in a tidal boundary layer when the ambient tidal flow is nonuniform due to a peninsula along the coastline. As a first step toward better physical understanding the authors adopt the model of constant eddy viscosity and a horizontal seabed. Attention is focused on a peninsula whose horizontal dimension is much smaller than the tidal wave length but larger than the tidal excursion length. General expressions of shear-induced dispersivities and convection velocity are derived in terms of the ambient flow field. Nonuniformity in the horizontal flow is found to have profound effects on the spatial variation of the dispersion tensor as well as the horizontal convection velocity. Two numerical examples are given for a semicircular peninsula: one for a particle cloud released near the peninsula over a nonerodible seabed, and one for the resuspension over an erodible belt around the peninsula.
On Coping and Defending: Applying Bruner's Personal Growth Principles to Working with Gifted/Talented Students:

Dealing succesfully with the changes and challenges associated with public recognition of giftedness is crucial for bright and talented students. In this article the authors critically examine popular approaches for working with gifted students in affective areas. They present two systems for helping gifted students handle the social-emotional tasks involved in actualizing their abilities and Explore implications of these systems for persons closely involved with gifted/talented students.
Improved detectability and signal strength for rotating phase fluorescence immunoassays through image processing

Fluorescence immunoassays based on rotating solid phase have shown promise of lowered detection limits, among other advantages. However, intrinsic background distortion effects have limited their utility. Here, novel image processing strategies are used to minimize these effects and improve the estimate of concentration and lower the detection limit. This initial demonstration of a new processing capability is performed on data for a protein, myoglobin, which is a biomarker for acute myocardial infarction. For these data, compared with published results, the detection limit is improved by a factor of approximately one hundred (to 700 fM), which is competitive with or better than other immunoassay strategies (ELISA, for example) that are fully developed. This work suggests that image and video processing technologies can provide a valuable alternative approach to biochemical detection and concentration estimation.
Coarsening of Pt Nanoparticles in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells upon Potential Cycling

Two different Pt/C samples (Pt/Vulcan and Pt/C-high-surface- area) were subject to potential cycling between 0.6V and 1.0V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, where significant platinum area loss was found. Both cycled MEA cathode samples were examined and compared in detail by glancing angle X-ray powder Diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to reveal processes responsible for observed platinum loss. TEM data and analyses of pristine and cycled Pt/C catalyst and cross-sectional MEA cathode samples unambiguously confirmed that coarsening of platinum particles occurred via two different processes as reported recently1: i) Ostwald ripening on carbon at the nanometer- scale; and ii) diffusion of soluble platinum species in the ionomer phase at the micrometer-scale, chemical reduction of these species by cross-over H2 molecules and precipitation of platinum particles in the cathode ionomer phase.
Photometric Properties Of The Texas MkII Electrographic Camera

We have investigated three aspects of the performance of the MkII Camera for stellar photometry: (1) intrinsic errors from plate to plate; (2) variations in sensitivity across the field; and (3) the extent of color transformations required and their stability with time. All evaluations were performed using plate material obtained at the telescope. Although the detector in this case was an electrographic camera, the techniques described can be used with any panoramic detector system. Briefly, the general conclusions from this evaluation are: Relative magnitudes and colors can be determined to an accuracy of 0.02 magnitude over a 2-magnitude range in the non-sky-limited case. Only simple aperture integration algorithms need be used, and flat-field and geometric distortion corrections are not necessary to obtain reliable results with the camera. Color transformations are on the order of 0.1 mag/mag, and are quite stable in time and reproducible from cathode to cathode.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Steroid hormone effects on the proliferation of human ovarian surface epithelium in vitro

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The histologically bland-appearing epithelium of the human ovary is responsible for approximately 90% of ovarian cancers. Capitalizing on our ability to propagate this tissue in vitro, we have begun to characterize the steroid hormone responsiveness of the human ovarian surface epithelium. STUDY DESIGN: Primary cultures of the human ovarian surface epithelium are characterized as normal epithelium on the basis of morphologic features, normal karyotype, and immunohistochemistry demonstrating AE1AE3 cytokeratin positivity and factor VIII negativity. Estrogen and progestin receptors were quantitatively analyzed with a standard receptor-ligand binding assay. Cellular proliferation in response to 1 × 10 −7 mol/L 17β-estradiol, progesterone, dihydrotestosterone, and dexamethasone were assessed by means of cell counts and a tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay. RESULTS: Scatchard analyses identified 8.8 × 10 3 estrogen receptors per cell in the premenopausal human ovarian surface epithelium cells, whereas the postmenopausal cells were negative for estrogen receptors. A total of 3.2 to 13.0 × 10 3 progestin receptors per cell was identifed, with variable progestin recetor expression in the postmenopausal cells. No significant effect on cell growth could be demonstrated as a result of any of the steroid hormones investigated under the study conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of estrogen and progestin receptors in human ovarian surface epithelium cells may be related to menopausal status. Steroid hormones, however, did not influence cell proliferation under these experimental conditions
BAD-Dependent Regulation of Fuel Metabolism and KATP Channel Activity Confers Resistance to Epileptic Seizures

Neuronal excitation can be substantially modulated by alterations in metabolism, as evident from the anticonvulsant effect of diets that reduce glucose utilization and promote ketone body metabolism. We provide genetic evidence that BAD, a protein with dual functions in apoptosis and glucose metabolism, imparts reciprocal effects on metabolism of glucose and ketone bodies in brain cells. These effects involve phosphoregulation of BAD and are independent of its apoptotic function. BAD modifications that reduce glucose metabolism produce a marked increase in the activity of metabolically sensitive K(ATP) channels in neurons, as well as resistance to behavioral and electrographic seizures in vivo. Seizure resistance is reversed by genetic ablation of the K(ATP) channel, implicating the BAD-K(ATP) axis in metabolic control of neuronal excitation and seizure responses.
A Study of the Language Choices of Middle School Children

The purpose of this study was two-fold: to examine the language choices made by sixth and ninth grade children during a structured dialogue, and to evaluate the usability of a classification in categorizing these responses. Three types of questions were asked to each subject by an examiner. The question types used were definitive, empirical and evaluative. Five questions were asked to each subject, resulting in 15 questions per examiner-subject interaction. A classification system consisting of nine categories was developed for the purpose of cataloging the subjects' responses to the 15 questions. The classification system was found to be effective in two ways: (1) the number of categories was sufficient to handle the subjects' responses to questions; and (2) the interscorer reliability of the independent judges was high. Results indicate the existence of descriptive similarities and differences in the way school-age children answer questions during a structured dialogue.
Perceptual Development in the Profoundly Deaf as Related To Early Reading

This study sought to investigate the development of the process whereby deaf subjects attend to the orthographic structure of tachistoscopically presented verbal materials. Two stimulus sets (half structured, half unstructured) and two factorial designs were used to study the perception of words and letter sequences by 108 deaf and hearing Ss matched at three grade levels of word reading (grades 1,2, and 4). It was found that both the deaf and the hearing were influenced by orthographic structure at the earliest levels. Unlike earlier findings, this study showed that the hearing enjoyed no overall superiority in this task, a difference discussed in terms of matching procedures. In addition, the Ss x Materials interaction was significant at the fourth-grade level, with these older deaf children performing as well on structured items and better on unstructured items than the hearing.
Ilea: inter-language analysis across java and c

Java bug finders perform static analysis to find implementation mistakes that can lead to exploits and failures; Java compilers perform static analysis for optimization.allIf Java programs contain foreign function calls to C libraries, however, static analysis is forced to make either optimistic or pessimistic assumptions about the foreign function calls, since models of the C libraries are typically not available. We propose ILEA (stands for Inter-LanguagE Analysis), which is a framework that enables existing Java analyses to understand the behavior of C code. Our framework includes: (1) a novel specification language, which extends the Java Virtual Machine Language (JVML) with a few primitives that approximate the effects that the C code might have; (2) an automatic specification extractor, which builds models of the C code. Comparing to other possible specification languages, our language is expressive, yet facilitates construction of automatic specification extractors. Furthermore, because the specification language is based on the JVML, existing Java analyses can be easily migrated to utilize specifications in the language. We also demonstrate the utility of the specifications generated, by modifying an existing non-null analysis to identify null-related bugs in Java applications that contain C libraries. Our preliminary experiments identified dozens of null-related bugs.
Barriers and Supports to Postsecondary Transition Case Studies of African American Students With Disabilities

Upon exiting high school, some African American students with disabilities experience difficulty accessing disability support services and appropriate accommodations. Many of these difficulties in access can be traced to high school transition planning as the source. To understand the underlying transitional barriers and sources of support, case studies were developed to examine the experiences of African American students with disabilities as they secured accommodations from disability services. The following themes resulting from the data were evident within the student portraits: (a) students believed deficit-ideologies undermined attempts at self-determination; (b) students emphasized the importance of adequate information prior to transition; and (c) students often refused to access services due to competing cultural identities. The theoretical frameworks of social and cultural capital were used to explore the transitional experiences of postsecondary African American students with disabilities.
Time Dependent Accretion Flows in the AM Her Systems

We consider time dependent accretion onto white dwarfs with strong magnetic fields. For certain conditions this flow is unstable and leads to large periodic variations in the hard X-ray luminosity. If the magnetic field is large enough, electron cyclotron radiation will stabilize the flow. We also discuss the probable observational appearance of the oscillations found in our calculations.
Model for Evaporation of a Grain‐Boundary Phase

The surface profile which develops in the vicinity of a grain boundary precipitate in the course of evaporation is calculated. It is shown that the presence of the grain boundary precipitate affects the profile significantly if the product of the width of the grain boundary precipitate and the ratio of the evaporation rates of the unperturbed surface and the grain boundary precipitate is larger than one.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Language in Epilepsy

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has revolutionized our understanding of functional networks and cerebral organization in both normal and pathological brains. In the present review, we describe the use of fMRI for mapping language in epilepsy patients prior to surgical intervention including a discussion of methodological issues and task design, comparisons between fMRI and the intracarotid sodium amobarbital test, fMRI studies of language reorganization, and the use of fMRI laterality indexes to predict outcome after anterior temporal lobectomy.
The plasma membrane calcium pump: not just another pretty ion translocase

Key words: ATPase/membrane calcium pumpIntroduction: general considerations of the membranecalcium pumping ATPase familyThree distinct calcium pumping ATPase systems now areknown to be present in animal cells (for review, see MacLen-nan et al., 1992; Shull et al, 1992; Carafoli and Stauffer,1994). The plasma membrane Ca
The Construction and Operation of Thoria Resistor‐Type Furnaces

This paper describes in detail the construction, operation, and approximate cost of furnaces heated with oxide resistors of the Nernst filament type consisting essentially of thoria. The furnaces have been operated at temperatures up to 2050°C., with an atmosphere of air in the heating chamber.
Androgen receptor agonism promotes an osteogenic gene program in preadipocytes

Androgens regulate body composition by interacting with the androgen receptor (AR) to control gene expression in a tissue-specific manner. To identify novel regulatory roles for AR in preadipocytes, we created a 3T3-L1 cell line stably expressing human AR. We found AR expression is required for androgen-mediated inhibition of 3T3-L1 adipogenesis. This inhibition is characterized by decreased lipid accumulation, reduced expression of adipogenic genes, and induction of genes associated with osteoblast differentiation. Collectively, our results suggest androgens promote an osteogenic gene program at the expense of adipocyte differentiation.
Studies of Breaking-Stress Distributions: Part I: The Weak-Link Theory and Alternate Models

Since the chain-type weak-link theory was first proposed by Pierce in 1926, many items in the literature have referred to it in one form or another. There has, however, been little extensive testing of this theory for either yarns or individual fibers. In this paper, the hazard function is used as a sensitive test for the data of Pierce on cotton yarns, those of Moreton on carbon filaments, and data gathered in the authors' laboratory on viscose rayon filaments. In each of these cases, it is shown that the theory does not apply. Alternate models are proposed and the most tractable of these is discussed in detail. Parameters in this model are estimated for the viscose rayon data.
The NetScript active network system

NetScript is a language system for dynamically programming and deploying protocol software in an active network. NetScript programs are packet flow processors composed out of dataflow components. They can be dynamically dispatched to remote nodes, composed with installed software, and executed to enhance node functions. NetScript has proven useful for implementing a variety of practical network systems including Internet protocol (IP) routers, firewalls, protocol analyzers, traffic shapers, load balancers, various queuing disciplines, intrusion detection systems, Web transport protocols, and IP telephony systems. The paper illustrates the principal concepts of NetScript with an example application, an active IP router that is dynamically extended to provide firewall protection.
Changing ventilation rates in U.S. offices: Implications for health, work performance, energy, and associated economics

This paper provides quantitative estimates of benefits and costs of providing different amounts of outdoor air ventilation in U.S. offices. For four scenarios that modify ventilation rates, we estimated changes in sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, work performance, short-term absence, and building energy consumption. The estimated annual economic benefits were $13 billion from increasing minimum ventilation rates (VRs) from 8 to 10 L/s per person, $38 billion from increasing minimum VRs from 8 to 15 L/s per person, and $33 billion from increasing VRs by adding outdoor air economizers for the 50% of the office floor area that currently lacks economizers. The estimated $0.04 billion in annual energy-related benefits of decreasing minimum VRs from 8 to 6.5 L/s per person are very small compared to the projected annual costs of $12 billion. Benefits of increasing minimum VRs far exceeded energy costs while adding economizers yielded health, performance, and absence benefits with energy savings.
Elastic-light scattering for the characterization of respirable aerosols

The latest technologies for measuring the elastic-light scattering patterns of respirable aerosols in real time are discussed. A technique for post-processing the data is presented which is useful in distinguishing among certain types of aerosols.
Somatostatin-containing neurons in the rat brain: widespread distribution revealed by immunocytochemistry after pretreatment with pronase.

Immunocytochemical staining after controlled proteolytic treatment of the sections with pronase revealed widespread distribution of neuronal cell bodies with somatostatin- like immunoreactivity (SLI) in the rat forebrain. SLI-positive neurons were found in regions of the neocortex, the pyriform cortex, the cingulate cortex, the striatum, the olfactory tract and tubercle, the nucleus accumbens, the septum, and the hypothalamus. These results are consistent with previous radioimmunoassay findings and suggest the presence of large somatostatin-like (possibly precursor) molecules in the neurons stained for SLI after pronase treatment.
Acute encephalopathy and intractable seizures in a 10-year-old boy

We report a 10-year-old child with Robinow's syndrome who had a 2-week history of headaches and dizziness. On the day of admission, he developed a focal onset seizure with rapid secondary generalization. The seizures were intractable despite adequate doses of benzodiazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital, requiring a pentobarbital drip. Continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring showed persistence of the epileptiform discharges for 13 days. Cerebrospinal fluid and brain biopsy studies were unrevealing. Mycoplasma pneumonia titers showed elevation of both immunoglobulins G and M that doubled during the tenth hospital day. High-dose methylprednisolone was begun, and within 12 hours of initiation the patient sat up and began to follow commands appropriately. The overall EEG background markedly improved. Central nervous system Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection should be suspected in patients with an encephalopathy of unclear etiology.
Glycosylated Porphyrins, Phthalocyanines, and Other Porphyrinoids for Diagnostics and Therapeutics.

for Diagnostics and Therapeutics Sunaina Singh,*,†,∥ Amit Aggarwal,*,†,∥ N. V. S. Dinesh K. Bhupathiraju,*,‡ Gianluca Arianna,‡ Kirran Tiwari,‡ and Charles Michael Drain‡,§ †Department of Natural Sciences, LaGuardia Community College of the City University of New York, Long Island City, New York 11101, United States ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10065, United States The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
Development of Biomimetic and Bioactive 3D Nanocomposite Scaffolds for Osteochondral Regeneration

Osteochondral tissue is composed of ordered and random biological nanostructures and can, in principal, be classified as a nanocomposite material. Thus, the objective of this research is to develop a novel biomimetic biphasic nanocomposite scaffold via a series of 3D fabricating techniques for osteochondral tissue regeneration. For this purpose, a highly porous Poly(caprolactone) (PCL) bone layer with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2)-encapsulated Poly(dioxanone) (PDO) nanospheres and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite was photocrosslinked to a Poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate (PEG-DA) cartilage layer containing transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-encapsulated PLGA nanospheres. Novel tissue-specific growth factor-encapsulated nanospheres were efficiently fabricated via a wet co-axial electrospraying technique. Integration and porosity of the distinct layers was achieved via co-porogen leaching and ultraviolet (UV) photocrosslinking of water soluble poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and <150 um sodium chloride salt particles providing greater control over pore size and increased surface area. Our in vitro results showed significantly improved human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) adhesion and differentiation in bone and cartilage layers, respectively. In addition, we are working on developing a novel table top stereolithography (SL) apparatus for the manufacture of custom designed 3D biomimetic scaffolds with incorporated growth factor encapsulated nanospheres for osteochondral defect repair. Our early-stage SL development has illustrated good corroboration between computer-aided design (CAD) and manufactured constructs with controlled geometry. The ultimate goal of the novel tabletop SL system is the manufacture of patient-specific implantable 3D nanocomposite scaffolds for osteochondral defect repair. The current SL system developed in our lab allows for efficient photocrosslinking of two novel nanocomposite polymeric materials for the manufacture of three-dimensional (3D) osteochondral constructs with good spatiotemporal control of growth factor release in addition to exhibiting similar mechanical properties to that of the native tissues being addressed.
The Media Diet Imbalance Score: A Measure of Aggregate Media Diet

ABSTRACTAs media options continue to expand in both quantity and variety and move to new media platforms, consumers’ media diets are becoming increasingly varied and complex. This complexity calls for a more nuanced method of quantifying media consumption that goes beyond the binary like-minded or cross-cutting categories currently used in studies of selective exposure. We develop a measure that captures the full diversity of content in an individual’s media diet, the media diet imbalance score, by adapting Brader, Tucker, and Therriault’s (2014) measure of sociodemographic cross-pressures. Our method allows for research on important aspects of the current media environment that are impossible with existing measures, and it is less labor intensive than previous strategies for measuring selective exposure.