cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elimination of APP caspase cleavage site D664 attenuates Aβ-mediated synaptic depression

accumulating as intraand extracellular oligomers and deposits; (ii) fibrillar aggregates of hyper-phosphorylated protein tau in neuropil threads and tangles. It is generally accepted that AD-pathology and defects originate in the entorhinal cortex (ERC), spreading towards the hippocampus in later stages. It is surmised that amyloid and/or tau pathology can make use of the perforant pathway (PP) and the temporo-ammonic (TA) pathway. TA projects central to the CA1 of the hippocampus by axons originating in ERC layer III that end in the synapses of the stratum lacunosum moleculare (SLM). The SLM is thus considered as a region of major interest in AD. We observed that Nectin-3, a major cell-adhesionmolecule (CAM) for glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus, is lacking in the SLM of tau.P301L transgenic mice. Methods: We analyzed the defect in Nectin-3 in SLM by a multi-disciplinary approach, including functional, structural and biochemical methods. We analyzed levels of tau expression and phosphorylation in transgenic tau.P301L mice, and in the bigenic combination with GSK3s[S9A] (biGT mice)(Spittaels et al, 2000; Terwel et al, 2005, 2008). Results: Levels of CAM Nectin-3 are strongly decreased in CA1 SLM, assessed by immunohistochemistry in tau.P301L mice. Moreover, a similar selective decrease in Nectin-3 levels in SLMwas observed in the more acute viral AAV-model (Jaworski et al, 2009): already 10 days after intra-hippocampal injection of AAV-Tau. In-situ hybridization revealed that Nectin-3 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the lateral ERC layers II to V, in Tau.P301L mice, and in the hippocampus. Therefore it appears that Nectin-3 is present in both preand post-synaptic compartments, originating respectively in CA1 and ERC neurons. Further evidence stems from morphological changes in spines at light and ultra structural levels, in this central region of the hippocampus, that become evident prior to the occurrence of the fibrillar tauopathy. The spine maturation index in SLM is decreased in tau.P301L mice relative to wild-type mice and on par with that in CA1 stratum radiatum. Finally, myelinated axons in the SLM show extended disruption of their myelin sheets in tau.P301L mice, progressing with age, which appears linked to increased inflammation. Remarkably, this aspect is aggravated in the biGT mice, which suffer not only more intense SLM myelinization defects but also markedly earlier and more intense inflammation in the hippocampus and SLM. Conclusions:We observed that axons and synapses in the SLM, the major input region of the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus, is affected by expression of the protein tau in transgenic and in AAV-tau mouse models. The loss of synaptic Nectin-3 specifically marks the SLM, and could help explain why early functional memory defects are observed before the onset of the fibrillar tau-pathology in tau.P301L mice, in GSK3xtau.P301L mice and in AAV-tau injected mice.
CHEMICAL POTENTIAL AND MAGNETIZATION OF A COULOMB ISLAND

We consider variations of the low temperature chemical potential and magnetization of laterally confined two-dimensional interacting electrons in a strong magnetic field. Cases of axially symmetrical (a quantum dot) and strongly elongated (a quantum wire) spatial distributions of electron density are studied. We commonly refer to both types of systems as ``islands.'' The calculations are performed in the mean-field approximation. In this approximation the system consists of alternating regions of compressible and incompressible liquids. We are focusing on islands with typical widths b, which are much larger than the Bohr radius in a semiconductor ${\mathit{a}}_{\mathit{B}}$, and argue that the density profile is formed mainly by electrostatic forces, has a domelike shape, and changes only slightly in the whole range of magnetic fields. We calculated numerically the chemical potential and the magnetization as functions of the magnetic field and found them to be in sharp contrast to the conventional result for noninteracting electrons. We suggest a simple analytic theory adequately explaining these functional dependences. The results are compared with the experimental data.
Teaching Secondary Learning Disabled Students to the Mainstream1

Without effective cooperative planning between the learning disabilities teacher and the regular classroom teacher, the probability of successfully mainstreaming an LD adolescent into the regular c...
Fingerstick Helicobacter pylori antibody test: better than laboratory serological testing?

Fingerstick Helicobacter pylori antibody test: better than laboratory serological testing?
LP-Based Approaches to Stationary-Constrained Markov Decision Problems

Abstract We study a class of Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) under stationary constraints (particularly but not exclusively, chance constraints). Our model focuses on problems where the state space is finite but the control at each state may take real values. It is straightforward to formulate the problem as a constrained nonlinear optimization problem, but solving it requires either projection, penalty or gradient-based methods that may show slow convergence, particularly because this type of problems may not be strictly convex. In this paper we extend results that are known for the discrete control model and show that the solution of a binary randomized control problem is optimal under the assumption that the dependency on the control variable is linear. If the dependency is piecewise linear with several breakpoints, then the randomized problem is not equivalent to the original problem; however we show that a particular solution always exists that is also the solution to the original continuous problem. This special solution takes the form of a two-action control policy for each state. Solving each two-action randomized problem can be done in polynomial time by linear programming (LP). This leads to an efficient solution when the number of states is small, but for a large state space the complexity can be prohibitive. In a restricted yet interesting special case of piecewise linear, multiple actions setting where the actions are linearly ordered, we show that the problem can again be reduced to a single LP. To overcome the computational complexity in the general case, we propose an alternative approach that involves solving a sequence of linear programs modeling the stationary measure and the optimal solution concurrently. We conclude the paper by discussing future extensions of this framework to application settings where the state space is continuous as well.
Stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by serotonin in C6 glioma cells.

: 5-Hydroxytryptamine (serotonin or 5-HT) stimulated the incorporation of 32Pi into phosphatidylinositol (PI) but not into polyphosphoinositides in C6 glioma cells with an EC50 of 1.2 ± 10-7M. The phosphoinositide response was blocked by the 5-HT2 antagonists ketanserin and spiperone but inhibited only partly by methysergide and mianserin. Atropine, prazosin, and yohimbine did not block the response, whereas fluphenazine and haloperidol did so partially but also inhibited basal incorporation by ˜30%. The 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2 (di-n-propylamino)tetralin did not cause stimulation. Incubation with 5-HT (1 μM) for 1 h increased the incorporation of [2-3H]myo-inositol into all phosphoinositides but not into inositol phosphates (IPs). Li+ alone at 10 mM increased labeling in inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and trisphosphate (IP3), whereas labeling in IP and phosphoinositides remained unaltered. Addition of 5-HT had no effect on this increase. Mn2+ at 1 mM enhanced labeling in PI, PI-4-phosphate, lyso-PI, glycerophosphoinositol, and IP, but the presence of 5-HT again did not cause further stimulation. 5-HT also stimulated the release of IPs in cells prelabeled with [2-3H]myo-inositol, incubated with LiCl (10 mM) and inositol (10 mM), and then exposed to 5-HT (1 μM). Radioactivity in IP2 and IP3 was very low, was stimulated ˜50% as early as 30 s, and remained elevated for at least 20 min. Radioactivity in IP was at least 10 times as high as in IP3 but was increased only from 3 min on with a peak at 20 min, when the elevation was ˜40 times that in IP3. The EC50 value of 1.8 ± 10-7M was comparable with that obtained from 32Pi studies measuring labeled PI. Ketanserin and spiperone inhibited 5-HT-stimulated [2-3H]IP release with IC50 values of 3.1 ± 10-9 and 1.8 ± 10, -8M, respectively. This study demonstrates that phosphoinositide hydrolysis is enhanced by 5-HT in C6 glioma cells and that this phenomenon is linked to 5-HT2-like binding sites.
Comparison of the performances of overloaded elution and displacement chromatography for a given column

Abstract Using the semi-ideal model, chromatograms were calculated for the separation of a binary mixture on a given column by displacement and elution chromatography. The optimum conditions for the maximum production rate with or without a recovery yield constraint were determined using the simplex algorithm. Mixtures of relative retention 1.20 and 1.70 and relative composition 1:3 and 3:1 were considered. The maximum production rates achieved in both modes of chromatography are close. In all instances studied the ratio of the production rates of the two modes was between 0.5 and 2. Without a yield constraint, for the cases studied the recovery yield achieved in overloaded elution is much higher than that achieved in displacement chromatography. However, the concentration of the fraction collected in the displacement mode is one to two orders of magnitude higher than that of the fraction collected in the elution mode. The choice between the modes of operation will depend largely on the comparative economics of displacer recovery and fraction concentrations.
Psychosocial stress and infertility : Cause or effect?

Experimental, theoretical, psychological, and economic barriers have caused physicians to rely on biomedical treatments for infertility at the exclusion of more environmentally oriented ones (e.g., psychosocial stress therapy). An evolutionary model is described for the origin of reproductive failure, suggesting why mammals evolved to be reproductively responsive to the environment and why psychosocial stress should have an especially strong impact on fertility problems. A study of the causal role of psychosocial stress in infertility is then summarized. The paper concludes with implications for future directions for the treatment of infertility and related human reproductive problems.
Missing the boat: port city planning in Glasgow during World War II

The Second World War marked a decisive expansion of planning for port cities in Western Europe and the UK. The study of plans for Glasgow shows that planners failed to prepare for the modernisation...
Sociocultural causes of family violence: A theoretical comment

During the past decade, family violence has been increasingly reported and discussed by the mass media, as well as having become a subject of scholarly investigation in several academic disciplines. While there is an impressive number of empirical studies dealing with various aspects of family violence, they tend to focus on samples of the victims of such physical and sexual abuse. This paper seeks to supplement their findings by presenting a theoretical analysis of certain major sociocultural changes that have seriously weakened the moral standards that are the primary sociocultural deterrents of family and other interpersonal forms of violence. These changes include widespread residential mobility, the weakening of parental authority, and the impact of the themes of violence and sexuality that are emphasized by the mass media and popular culture.
Oxidative brain injury from extravasated erythrocytes after intracerebral hemorrhage

Abstract Intracerebral infusion of lysed erythrocytes causes brain edema without inducing ischemic cerebral blood flow. Reports have indicated that oxidative damage contributes to secondary brain injury in stroke. In the present study, we investigated whether erythrocyte lysis after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) might result in oxidative brain damage. This study had four parts. Male Sprague–Dawley rats received an infusion of autologous lysed erythrocytes into the right striatum. Control rats only had a needle insertion. Neurological deficits, brain water and ion contents were determined in the first part. In the second part, hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), copper/zinc SOD (CuZn-SOD) and protein carbonyl levels were determined by Western blot analysis. In the third part, immunohistochemistry was performed for HO-1. DNA damage was examined using DNA polymerase I-mediated biotin-dATP nick-translation (PANT) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) in the fourth part. Infusion of lysed RBCs induced marked edema in the ipsilateral striatum and profound neurological deficits. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry indicated that HO-1 was upregulated 24 h after infusion of lysed red blood cells. Both Mn-SOD and CuZn-SOD contents decreased, protein carbonyl levels increased in the ipsilateral striatum, and there was the appearance of PANT- and TUNEL-positive cells suggesting oxidative mechanisms in the erythrocyte-induced brain injury. In conclusion, oxidative stress caused by components of the lysed erythrocytes contributes to the brain injury after ICH.
An intraoral-extraoral combination prosthesis using an intermediate framework and magnets: a clinical report.

intraoral communication. Marunick et al1 classified midfacial defects into 2 major categories: midline midfacial defects, which include the nose and/or upper lip; and lateral defects, which include the cheek and orbital contents. Combinations of these 2 categories also exist. Acquired midfacial defects often present with severe disfigurement and functional impairment. Large defects that result from cancer treatment rarely are rehabilitated by surgical reconstruction alone; they usually require a facial prosthesis to restore function and appearance. In addition, an intraoral prosthesis such as an obturator is often needed to restore speech and swallowing. Fabrication of an extraoral facial prosthesis challenges the artistic ability of the prosthodontist. Retention of the prosthesis is also a difficult problem because of its size and weight; securing it in place can be a formidable task. This clinical report describes the rehabilitation of a large midfacial defect with a 3-piece prosthesis that included a sectional intraoral obturator–extraoral facial prosthesis and an intermediate retentive acrylic framework with the use of magnets.
Indigenous Bacteria from the Gut Microbiota Regulate Host Serotonin Biosynthesis

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract contains much of the body's serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), but mechanisms controlling the metabolism of gut-derived 5-HT remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the microbiota plays a critical role in regulating host 5-HT. Indigenous spore-forming bacteria (Sp) from the mouse and human microbiota promote 5-HT biosynthesis from colonic enterochromaffin cells (ECs), which supply 5-HT to the mucosa, lumen, and circulating platelets. Importantly, microbiota-dependent effects on gut 5-HT significantly impact host physiology, modulating GI motility and platelet function. We identify select fecal metabolites that are increased by Sp and that elevate 5-HT in chromaffin cell cultures, suggesting direct metabolic signaling of gut microbes to ECs. Furthermore, elevating luminal concentrations of particular microbial metabolites increases colonic and blood 5-HT in germ-free mice. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that Sp are important modulators of host 5-HT and further highlight a key role for host-microbiota interactions in regulating fundamental 5-HT-related biological processes.
Designing chemically selective microsensor arrays using ionic liquid doped ionomers

Development of techniques for designing microsensor arrays with high sensitivity and selectivity has been a continuing challenge in the field of chemical sensing. Typically, sensitivity defines the detection limit, the identification and differentiation of the various components in the gas mixtures is accomplished by the pattern of response, i.e. selectivity of the sensor array. In this study, the performance of four distinctly functionalized resonator-pixels is explored to show the capability of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as selective sorbent materials in designing microsensor arrays for the application of chemical detection and gas discrimination. The response of multi-pixel resonator array functionalized with a single solid ionomer matrix, DPA-PS:BP, but doped with various RTILs is used to obtain frequency and Q-factor responses upon exposure to multianalyte volatile organic compounds and its mixtures. The responses generated from the carefully selected RTIL-doped ionomer is then used to explore the uniqueness of the responses which can be used in the determination of components in organic vapor mixtures. For better discrimination of gas mixtures, the uniqueness of sensor response to analytes is utmost important factor to be considered. This paper presents the results on the integration of RTIL-doped ionomer system for discrimination of gases and vapors.
Strain-rate and strain-rate-history effects in several metals in torsion

A machine for testing thin-walled tubes in torsion at shear-strain rates up to 25/sec is described. Results of constant and variable-strain-rate tests are presented for 1100-0 aluminum, AISI 1020 steel, and 50-A titanium. Results indicate that 1100-0 aluminum is very slightly strain-rate sensitive, but steel and titanium are noticeably sensitive to both strain rate and strain-rate history. Variable-rate tests show that subsequent dynamic loading on a statically prestrained specimen causes an increase in the flow stress in steel and a decrease in the flow stress in titanium.
Peptide deformylase inhibitors: a survey of the patent literature

New antibiotics with new mechanisms of action are desperately needed, as clinically significant bacterial pathogens have not only acquired resistance to nearly all existing antibiotics, but also increasingly exhibit multi-drug resistance. Peptide deformylase (PDF), a highly conserved metalloproteinase, is an essential enzyme in the bacterial life cycle. It catalyses the removal of the terminal formyl group from the N-terminal methionine residue of the nascent bacterial polypeptide chain. Thus, inhibition of PDF, by interfering with the bacterial protein maturation process, is providing a promising new and exciting target for antibiotic therapeutic intervention without interfering with eukaryotic metabolism. Antibiotics based on PDF inhibition have the potential to provide the much needed antibacterial activity against most of the major drug-resistant pathogens and could play a significant role in the treatment of community-acquired upper respiratory tract infections. This review covers all the patenting a...
Comparison of carboplatin–paclitaxel to docetaxel–cisplatin-5–flurouracil induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer

Summary Objectives In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) has become an accepted induction chemotherapy regimen. However, carboplatin–paclitaxel (CT) regimens have shown comparable outcomes. Here, we compared the outcomes of patients treated with either TPF or CT as induction chemotherapy followed by definitive chemoradiation. Patients and methods We performed a single-institution retrospective analysis of patients with Stage III–IV HNSCC. From a database of 803 patients, we identified 143 patients treated with TPF or CT induction chemotherapy between 1999 and 2012. Results 53 patients and 90 patients received TPF or CT induction chemotherapy, respectively. The median follow-up was 18.9 months. The 1 year locoregional control was 80.5% for CT compared to 55.5% for TPF (HR 0.32, P = .0002). The 1 year progression free survival was 73.2% for CT compared to 60.7% for TPF (HR 0.57; P = .02). On multivariable analysis, CT remained significant for LRC (HR 0.28; P = 0.04). TPF induction chemotherapy was associated with worse renal toxicity as measured by peak creatinine increases during induction chemotherapy ( P = 0.001). TPF was also associated with a trend toward more chemotherapy dose reductions or changes in systemic agents during concurrent chemoradiation (43.4% for TPF vs. 27.8% for CT; P = 0.06). Conclusions Compared to TPF induction chemotherapy, CT induction chemotherapy had at least similar if not better LRC and PFS in patients while having less renal toxicity. Thus, CT induction chemotherapy may benefit patients with locally advanced HNSCC by facilitating adequate chemoradiation regimens that enhanced disease control.
Intelligent towers for electromagnetic showers

Abstract A modular gas tube calorimeter for the detection of high energy photons has been constructed and tested. The calorimeter is physically segmented into towers and can be configured to match the geometrical constraints of an experiment. Each tower has the anode signals from the gas tubes combined by a resistive network to give the transverse position and width of an electromagnetic shower in addition to its total energy.
An Evaluation Of Adenosine 3′, 5′-Cyclic Monophosphate-Dependent Protein Kinase Activity In Atopic Dermatitis

Activity of adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinase has been measured in the skin of normal controls, patients with non-atopic skin disorders, and those with atopic dermatitis. All samples analyzed displayed the presence of this enzymatic activity. However, the enzyme from the atopic skin did not seem to be dependent on cyclic AMP for activity. Whether this is due to an artifact of isolation of protein kinase or is indeed the true in vivo nature of the enzyme remains to be established.
In Situ Observation of the Role of Alumina Particles on the Crystallization Behavior of Slags

The confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) allows crystallization behavior in liquid slags to be observed in situ at high temperatures. Slags in the lime–silica–alumina–magnesia system are easily under cooled and it is possible to construct time temperature transformation (TTT) diagrams for this system. The presence of solid alumina particles in these liquid slags was studied to determine if these particles act as heterogeneous nucleation sites that cause the precipitation of solid material within slags. The introduction of alumina particles reduced the incubation time for the onset of crystallization and increased the temperature at which crystallization was observed in the slags to close to the liquidus temperature for the slag. Crystal growth rates are in a good agreement with Ivantsov' s solution of the problem of diffusion controlled dendritic growth. Alumina appears to be a potent nucleating agent in the slag systems that were studied.
Transient hepatic attenuation difference on computed tomography associated with hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Abstract Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare low-grade malignant vascular tumor with a clinical course between cavernous hemangioma and angiosarcoma. Several imaging findings have been described in EHEs. We report a case of an EHE which demonstrated an associated transient hepatic attenuation difference (THAD) on arterial-phase computed tomography examination. THAD associated with an EHE has not previously been reported. The presence of a THAD may be related to the propensity of this tumor for vascular invasion.
Evaluation of a dental office tobacco cessation program: Effects on smokeless tobacco use

We describe a randomized trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a smokeless tobacco cessation intervention delivered by dental hygienists as part of a patient's regularly scheduled cleaning visit. Seventy-five practices were randomized to continue their usual care (n=25; 239 smokeless tobacco using patients enrolled) or to receive training to provide a tobacco cessation intervention (n=50; 394 smokeless tobacco using patients enrolled). Patient reports indicated that the training program was successful in getting hygienists to implement the intervention. The intervention produced a strong effect on sustained quitting for smokeless tobacco users but had no impact on secondary outcomes, including unsuccessful quit attempts, future intent to quit using smokeless tobacco, and change in readiness to quit using. Frequency of smokeless tobacco use and receipt of specific components of the intervention, including the video and written materials, predicted sustained cessation. Since this intervention was delivered by dental hygienists as part of a patient's regularly scheduled cleaning visit, it is easily disseminable.
Extraction of lipids from flax processing waste using hot ethanol

The cuticle of flax stems contains lipids that provide a protective barrier to pathogens and control moisture loss. These lipids include wax esters and long chain fatty alcohols or policosanols. Cuticle fragments generated during several different fiber processing operations retain these lipid compounds that represent a potential co-product. Samples of flax shives (i.e., lignified core tissues), processing dust, and cuticular fractions recovered from enzyme retting waste water were extracted on a laboratory scale with hot ethanol to remove the lipid compounds. Ethanol extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography to determine the amount and type of lipids recovered. The results demonstrated that hot ethanol effectively extracted the lipid compounds from cuticle fragments in all these samples. When the extract was cooled, the longer chain wax esters (i.e., chain length of 44 carbon atoms or larger) precipitated and could be separated from the shorter chain lipid components (i.e., fatty alcohols and aldehydes less than 44 carbons). Similar results were obtained using absolute ethanol or 95% ethanol (aqueous). This technique provides a very economical method to recover lipid fractions as potential value-added co-product from flax processing waste.
Pleasure as a sign you can attend to something else: Placing positive feelings within a general model of affect

Positive feelings are considered within the framework of a general model of origins and functions of affect. This model treats affect as reflecting the error signal of a feedback loop managing rate of incentive-seeking (and threat-avoidant) behaviour. In this view, positive feelings represent a sign that things are going better than necessary and are presumed to induce coasting. A tendency to coast is seen as facilitating the shift of attention and effort to other behavioural domains, where they may be needed more or where unforeseen opportunities have arisen. Such a function for positive feelings would permit the person both to maintain satisfactory standing with regard to multiple goals and to take advantage of unforeseen opportunities, thus providing adaptive value. Comparisons are made to other recently developed ideas concerning the functions of positive feelings.
Survival and Straying of Hatchery Steelhead following Forced or Volitional Release

Abstract In this study, conducted over four release years, we compare the performance of hatchery steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss that were force-released (FR) from acclimation ponds with that of fish given a 2-week volitional release (VR). After fish were released into streams, we monitored smolt out-migration travel times and survival to Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags in a subsample of each release group. To better understand the out-migration characteristics of volitionally departing fish, we also captured and PIT-tagged fish as they exited ponds in the first and last 24 h of VR. Across all release groups, travel time was 3% faster for fish that were forced from acclimation ponds than for VR groups; however, the average survival of VR groups (65.0%) was significantly higher than that of FR groups (58.6%). On average, fish that departed acclimation ponds in the first 24 h of VR took 6 d longer to reach Lower Granite Dam and had lower survival (50.3%) t...
Motor-Driven Assembly of Dynamic, Self-Healing Lipid Nanotube Networks

Interconnected and highly reticulated lipid organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum play important roles in wide range of physiological processes. While these structures provide a matrix for organizing membrane constituents, the lumen represents a continuous nanofluidic network for the transport of proteins and small molecules throughout the cells. Here, we describe a system in which synthetic interconnected, millimeter-scale nanofluidic networks were formed from the cooperative interaction between phospholipid vesicles and motor protein-based transport. In this system, the energy-driven transport of microtubule filaments by kinesin motors provides a "pulling force" that acts on multilamellar liposomes, connected via biotin-streptavidin bonds, and results in the formation of highly bifurcated networks of lipid nanotubes. Moreover, the processing of microtubules by the motors enables self-healing within this system in which nanotubes are continuously elongating and collapsing while maintaining the overall network morphology. The size/shape of the networks can be further modulated by regulating microtubule surface density, as well as total amount and physical properties of the lipid. Once formed, we characterized the diffusivity of the lipids and the ability of these networks to support materials transport. Attachment of quantum dots to lipids within the networks suggests that the lipids remain highly fluid, and that particle transport closely follows a one-dimensional process when the particle density is low, and a single-file, one-dimensional process when particle density is high. Current work is focused on characterizing the connectivity of multi-vesicle networks and interstitial materials transport as a model system for studying biomolecular transport and communication.Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.
Lymphomagenesis and female-specific lethality in p53-deficient mice occur independently of E2f1.

Lymphomagenesis and female-specific lethality in p53 -deficient mice occur independently of E2f1
Identification and characterization of mutant clones with enhanced propagation rates from phage-displayed peptide libraries.

Abstract A target-unrelated peptide (TUP) can arise in phage display selection experiments as a result of a propagation advantage exhibited by the phage clone displaying the peptide. We previously characterized HAIYPRH, from the M13-based Ph.D.-7 phage display library, as a propagation-related TUP resulting from a G → A mutation in the Shine-Dalgarno sequence of gene II. This mutant was shown to propagate in Escherichia coli at a dramatically faster rate than phage bearing the wild-type Shine-Dalgarno sequence. We now report 27 additional fast-propagating clones displaying 24 different peptides and carrying 14 unique mutations. Most of these mutations are found either in or upstream of the gene II Shine-Dalgarno sequence, but still within the mRNA transcript of gene II. All 27 clones propagate at significantly higher rates than normal library phage, most within experimental error of wild-type M13 propagation, suggesting that mutations arise to compensate for the reduced virulence caused by the insertion of a lacZα cassette proximal to the replication origin of the phage used to construct the library. We also describe an efficient and convenient assay to diagnose propagation-related TUPS among peptide sequences selected by phage display.
Urinary galactitol and galactonate quantified by isotope-dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Abstract Background Measurements of urine galactitol have been used to monitor the adequacy of diet therapy in the treatment of galactosemia. We have devised a gas chromatographic mass spectrometry (GC/MS) isotope-dilution method for the simultaneous quantification of urine galactitol and another alternate pathway product, galactonate. Methods We prepared trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives and used d -[UL-13C]galactitol and d -[UL-13C]galactonate as the internal standard for GC/MS. Results obtained with this method were compared with those determined by the established GC method for galactitol and the NMR method for galactonate. Thirty-three normal urine specimens were analyzed by the isotope dilution technique for galactitol and galactonate. Results of galactitol in 6 of these urine specimens along with 18 from classic galactosemics and 19 variant galactosemics were compared with the established GC method. Results for galactonate in 15 urine specimens from galactosemics were compared to the established NMR technique. Results The method was linear up to 200 nmol with lower limits of detection of 1.1 nmol (1.75 mmol/mol creatinine) (Cr) and 0.8 nmol (1.28 mmol/mol Cr) for galactitol and galactonate, respectively. Intra- and Interassay imprecision ranged from 2.1–6.7% for galactitol and 3.5–8.0% for galactonate. The excretion of both metabolites was age dependent in both normal and galactosemics. In 12 normal urines from subjects under 1 year, values for galactitol ranged from 8–107 mmol/mol Cr, and in 7 over age 6, ranged from 2–5 mmol/mol Cr. Under 1 year, the range for galactonate was non-detectable to 231 and in the over 6 years group non-detectable to 25 mmol/mol Cr. In galactosemics under 1 year, the value for galactitol ranged from 397–743 and for galactonate 92–132 mmol/mol Cr while in nine patients over age 6 the range was 125–274 mmol/mol Cr for galactitol and 17–46 mmol/mol Cr for galactonate. Conclusions The GC/MS method enables the simultaneous determination of urine galactitol and galactonate and is precise and useful over the wide range of concentrations needed to assess the galactose burden in patients with galactosemia.
Adaptive task scheduling for providing event miss-ratio statistical assurances in wireless sensor networks

This paper addresses event miss-ratio statistical assurances for data gathering in cluster based dense wireless sensor networks. In line with recent commercial off-the-shelf sensor nodes, this paper considers sensor nodes with multiple sensing units and power modes of operation. Such sensor nodes are usually unable to process the data generated by multiple sensing units simultaneously, thereby resulting in event misses. We present an adaptive task scheduling protocol, called ASPEN, for providing event miss-ratio statistical assurances in wireless sensor networks. ASPEN consists of two coarse-grain task scheduling algorithms at the cluster-level and one fine-grain task scheduling algorithm at the node level. The first coarse-grain scheduling algorithm eliminates misses during event processing by assigning each sensor node the minimum number of event types to observe. The other coarse-grain scheduling algorithm enables accurate transfer of data from sensor node to the cluster-head for each event type while ensuring that less redundant data are transmitted. The proposed fine-grain scheduling algorithm determines the order of data processing for multiple sensing units, chooses appropriate power modes to avoid event misses, and takes the effect of environmental factors such as temperature on the sensing ability of the nodes into account. Simulation results show that, with sufficient node redundancy, ASPEN can provide statistical assurances for event miss-ratio while reducing the amount of event data transmitted up to 65%
Event-based simulation of fringe tracking in an optical interferometer

We present the architecture of a software package for simulating an interferometer system. The different components of the interferometer operate in parallel with each other and communicate on regular or semi-regular time-scales. It is important to get this simultaneity correct while simulating the system on a sequential computer. The following paper describes a event-based simulation architecture which makes this possible.
Phencyclidine and (+)-MK-801-induced circling preference: Correlation with monoamine levels in striatum of the rat brain

Phencyclidine (PCP; angel dust) is a drug of abuse known to produce a behavioral state in humans resembling schizophrenia/psychosis. PCP is a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist and produces a variety of behaviors in rats including circling. The behavioral effects of other noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists such as (+)-MK-801 are still being elucidated. Here, adult female rats were dosed with PCP (10 mg/kg, IP), or (+)-MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg, IP) and circling preference was recorded for 2 h before sacrifice to determine monoamine levels by HPLC/EC. Animals injected with PCP or (+)-MK-801 showed a preference to turn to the left (65% and 72%, respectively). PCP and (+)-MK-801 also produced a significant increase of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in whole striatum on both sides of the brain. Further dissection of the striatum into medioventral and dorsolateral regions revealed that HVA was increased bilaterally except in globus pallidus where we found significant increases in dopamine (DA), DOPAC, and HVA only on the left side after PCP and (+)-MK-801 administration. These data suggest that PCP and (+)-MK-801 produce a greater preference to turn left than right, a finding similar to that found in human psychosis. Furthermore, it is possible that this preference to turn toward the left hemispace is due to an asymmetry in dopamine function found in the globus pallidus after administration of PCP and similar drugs.
Suitability of Caspofungin for Aerosol Delivery: Physicochemical Profiling and Nebulizer Choice

Background: Aerosolized antifungal therapy is a promising route of drug delivery for pulmonary aspergillosis due to attainment of high localized concentrations. Caspofungin, a new antifungal agent with proven efficacy against invasive aspergillosis, has ideal potential for aerosolization. Study objective: To examine in vitro the suitability of caspofungin for aerosol administration by characterizing factors that influence efficacy and airway tolerance of aerosol delivery: physicochemical properties, aerodynamics of drug particles, and efficiency of nebulizing systems. Design: Physicochemical characteristics of caspofungin solutions (10 mg/mL and 30 mg/mL) were analyzed: osmolality, pH, viscosity, and surface tension. A time-of-flight aerosol spectrometer API Aerosizer was used to determine aerosol particle size and distribution. Drug output was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography assay. Nebulizer efficiency was measured by drug output and respirable fraction (percentage of aerosolized particles with a 1 to 5 μm aerodynamic diameter) and compared among three jet nebulizer/compressor systems: device 1, Micromist (Hudson RCI; Temecula, CA)/Pulmo-Aide (model 5650D; DeVilbiss; Somerset, PA); device 2, Sidestream MS 2400/Envoy model IRC 1192 (Invacare; Elyria, OH); and device 3, Pari LC Star/Proneb Ultra (Pari Respiratory Equipment; Midlothian, VA). Measurements and results: Caspofungin requires 0.9% NaCl rather than sterile water as the diluent and addition of 0.3N NaOH buffer to adjust acidity of solutions (pH 6.17 to 6.26) in order to achieve optimal physicochemical properties for airway tolerability (osmolality, 150 to 550 milliosmol per kilogram; chloride ion, 31 to 300 mmol/L; and pH 7.4). The drug output rate increased with higher concentrations of drug solution: device 1, 4.0 mg/min vs 12.5 mg/min; device 2, 5.4 mg/min vs 14.7 mg/min; and device 3, 2.3 mg/min vs 12 mg/min, respectively. The percentage of particles within the respirable range varies depending on device and concentration of drug solutions (10 mg/mL vs 30 mg/mL): device 1, 85% vs 38%; device 2, 44% vs 57%; and device 3, 83% vs 93%, respectively. Conclusion: Caspofungin solution with adjustments appears to have physicochemical and aerodynamic characteristics suitable for aerosolization when used with either the Pari LC Star/Proneb Ultra or Micromist/Pulmo-Aide devices. Further in vivo testing is warranted.
A continuation method for monotone variational inequalities

This paper presents a continuation method for monotone variational inequality problems based on a new smooth equation formulation. The existence, uniqueness and limiting behavior of the path generated by the method are analyzed.
A Versatile Radiometer For Infrared Emission Measurements Of the Atmosphere And Targets

A summary is given of several aspects of work required to evaluate the laser for a wide variety of preventive dentistry applications. Results for studies to determine maximum pulpal temperatures following laser absorption indicate that quite high energies can be tolerated by the enamel. Also, measurements of the hemispherical reflectance of tooth enamel show values near 50% in the visible region, diminishing to more desirable values in the near infrared. Initial experimental and theoretical studies for uptake enhancement of topically applied fluorides are also described briefly. Results of the theoretical model indicate that significant enhancement of uptake with heating is due to the increase of the diffusion coefficient with temperature. Experiments indicate an increase of uptake with heating, but some unusual characteristics are yet to be described. Lastly, inorganic materials development for possible durable pit and fissure sealants is touched upon here. While direct apatite sintering on the tooth does not appear promising because of the high temperatures required, thermosetting phosphate bonded sealants and liquid phase sintering may hold the answer.
Alerts of forest disturbance from MODIS imagery

Abstract This paper reports the methodology and computational strategy for a forest cover disturbance alerting system. Analytical techniques from time series econometrics are applied to imagery from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor to detect temporal instability in vegetation indices. The characteristics from each MODIS pixel's spectral history are extracted and compared against historical data on forest cover loss to develop a geographically localized classification rule that can be applied across the humid tropical biome. The final output is a probability of forest disturbance for each 500 m pixel that is updated every 16 days. The primary objective is to provide high-confidence alerts of forest disturbance, while minimizing false positives. We find that the alerts serve this purpose exceedingly well in Para, Brazil, with high probability alerts garnering a user accuracy of 98 percent over the training period and 93 percent after the training period (2000–2005) when compared against the PRODES deforestation data set, which is used to assess spatial accuracy. Implemented in Clojure and Java on the Hadoop distributed data processing platform, the algorithm is a fast, automated, and open source system for detecting forest disturbance. It is intended to be used in conjunction with higher-resolution imagery and data products that cannot be updated as quickly as MODIS-based data products. By highlighting hotspots of change, the algorithm and associated output can focus high-resolution data acquisition and aid in efforts to enforce local forest conservation efforts.
Strategies for recruitment and retention of foster families

Abstract Taking the position that social workers are prepared to develop useful foster care recruitment and retention strategies, this article describes the three phases of a Virginia based project “Strategies for Recruitment and Retention of Foster Care Families.” The research phase, the planning phase and the development of multi-media models for recruitment and retention are discussed. Principles for planning and implementation are presented as well as implications for a social work approach to developing a long-term recruitment and retention strategies.
EPIDEMIC MYCOPLASMAL CONJUNCTIVITIS IN HOUSE FINCHES FROM EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

In the winter of 1993–94, house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) with severe conjunctivitis (later shown to be caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum) were first observed in suburban Washington D.C. (USA) and adjacent states. Using a large network of volunteer observers in eastern North America, we were able to track the monthly prevalence of the disease between November 1994 and March 1997. Using the information on 24,864 monthly data forms, we describe the very rapid spread of the conjunctivitis epidemic through the eastern house finch population. The epidemic first expanded mainly north, probably carried along by house finches on their return migration, then mainly toward the southeast, and later west. By March 1997, conjunctivitis had been reported from most of the eastern range of the house finch. The prevalence of the disease seemed to fluctuate seasonally with increases in the fall, probably as a result of dispersing juveniles. House finch numbers decreased throughout winter in areas with cold winters an...
Investigating intrusion detection systems that use trails of system calls

Three intrusion detection systems that use trails of system calls have been investigated. The three techniques used to generate the pattern database have been adapted from sequence method, lookahead-pairs method and variable-length-with-overlap-relationship method. Testing against Trojan horse and denial of service attacks was analyzed. None of the systems is capable of defeating the system-call denial-of-service-attack. Modification is necessary to indicate maximum threshold value for the number of times a pattern may be contiguously repeated. Furthermore, Lookahead-pairs method had the best space cost performance with a window size less than 24.
A hydrogel actuated microdispensing device

In this paper, fabrication of a microdispensing device is demonstrated using stacked micromolding methods and liquid phase photopolymerization. By coupling a volume change of a pH responsive acrylic-acid hydroxymethacrylate (AA-HEMA) copolymer, pressure is generated to effectively empty a reservoir. The device reliably generated a pressure of 3500 N/m/sup 2/ with a stroke volume of 32.7 /spl mu/L.
Compilation of thermodynamic and phase information for the binary systems of molybdenum

The publication of the computation of molybdenum data has prompted a number of questions about the motivation for the project and general philosophy used in evaluating data. This article presents some general comments about the project and about the format of the compilations.
Vision for mobile robot localization in urban environments

This paper addresses the problem of mobile robot localization in urban environments. Typically, GPS is the preferred sensor for outdoor operation. However, using GPS-only localization methods leads to significant performance degradation in urban areas where nearby tall structures obstruct the clear view of the satellites. In our work, we use vision-based techniques to supplement GPS and odometry and provide accurate localization. The vision system identifies prominent linear features in the scene and matches them with a reduced model of nearby buildings, yielding improved pose estimation of the robot.
Basement Membranes: Cell Scaffoldings and Signaling Platforms

Basement membranes are widely distributed extracellular matrices that coat the basal aspect of epithelial and endothelial cells and surround muscle, fat, and Schwann cells. These extracellular matrices, first expressed in early embryogenesis, are self-assembled on competent cell surfaces through binding interactions among laminins, type IV collagens, nidogens, and proteoglycans. They form stabilizing extensions of the plasma membrane that provide cell adhesion and that act as solid-phase agonists. Basement membranes play a role in tissue and organ morphogenesis and help maintain function in the adult. Mutations adversely affecting expression of the different structural components are associated with developmental arrest at different stages as well as postnatal diseases of muscle, nerve, brain, eye, skin, vasculature, and kidney.