cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Human Herpesvirus 8 Homolog of Epstein-Barr Virus SM Protein (KS-SM) Is a Posttranscriptional Activator of Gene Expression

Homologs of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) SM protein exist in several human and nonhuman herpesviruses. Structure and function differ significantly among these proteins. We have cloned and characterized the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) gene, KS-SM, which is homologous to the EBV SM and herpes simplex virus ICP27 genes, from an HHV8-infected primary effusion lymphoma. KS-SM is shown to be a posttranscriptional activator of gene expression in cotransfection studies. KS-SM activated gene expression in a gene-specific, promoter-independent manner. In particular, KS-SM enhanced the expression of KDR/flk-1, a receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in cotransfection studies. Since expression of KDR/flk-1 is increased in Kaposi's sarcoma and HHV8-infected cell cultures and VEGF enhances the proliferation of HHV8-infected cells, KS-SM may play a pathogenic role in Kaposi's sarcoma.
Estradiol-17β-Induced Morphometric Changes in Chick Embryo Femurs

The influence of exogenous estradiol-17 beta (E2) on chick embryo femur morphology was assessed. Fertile chicken eggs were air cell injected with 18.75, 37.5, or 75 micrograms E2/.1 ml distilled water: ethanol (7:3, v/v) on Days 10, 12, and 14 of incubation. Controls received vehicle only (.1 ml) on the same days. On Day 16 of incubation, right femurs were excised, and midshaft cross sections were examined by light microscopy. Structural differences were quantified using a computerized histomorphometric technique. Injection of E2 produced significant (P less than .01) dose-dependent elevations in mean femur total osseous tissue area, bone matrix area, percent of matrix surfaces covered by osteoblasts, and percent of matrix area occupied by osteocytes when compared with controls. Estradiol was ineffective in inducing medullary bone formation in chick embryo femurs. We conclude that E2 is involved in bone matrix formation processes in chick embryos. The lack of medullary bone formation upon E2 treatment in chick embryos is perhaps an indication that, as in growing (immature) birds, it is likely that endogenous testosterone levels in Day 16 chick embryos are insufficient to support medullary bone growth.
The advantages of social foraging in downy woodpeckers

Abstract I investigated the advantages gained by downy woodpeckers (Picoides pubescens) which join mixed-species winter flocks. Woodpeckers foraging alone showed high levels of vigilance as measured by head-cocking rates, and low feeding rates. Woodpeckers foraging with one or two flock members showed intermediate rates of head-cocking and feeding, while woodpeckers foraging with flocks of three or more birds showed low head-cocking rates and high feeding rates. Although local enhancement and copying may contribute to the woodpeckers' increased foraging efficiency in a flock, these do not appear to be the main factors. As downy woodpeckers spend less time on vigilance, they devote more time to foraging, thereby increasing their foraging efficiency
Influence of dissipation on the Landau-Zener transition.

The quantum dynamics of the Landau-Zener transition in a dissipative environment is studied and analytical results for the transition probability are given in terms of temperature, coupling strength, and the Landau-Zener time. For short Landau-Zener time there is no effect of dissipation. In the oppotise limit we distinguish various temperature regimes: The adiabatic limit is shown to be restricted to low temperatures and no effect of dissipation is present at zero temperature. At intermediate temperatures thermal transitions dominate for weak coupling and high temperatures correspond to the strong-coupling limit.
Infrared detectors in the next millennium

IR radiation was discovered less than 200 years ago by Herschel. This century, along with many other technical advances, IR technology has made incredible progress. Where is this technology headed. What will drive the progress and what will limit it. What will not change in the third millennium. And what changes are anticipated in the next ten to twenty years.
Prediction of acetaminophen concentrations in overdose patients using a Bayesian pharmacokinetic model

A pharmacokinetic program using population-based parameter estimates and a Bayesian forecasting model was retrospectively evaluated for predicting acetaminophen serum concentrations in overdose patients. Dynamic disposition factors known to affect acetaminophen disposition (emesis, activated charcoal, N-acetylcysteine, etc.) were included in the program. Twenty six patients who reported an acetaminophen ingestion of at least 70 mg/kg within 24 h of presentation to the hospital and had at least one measured acetaminophen concentration were included. Prediction of initial acetaminophen concentrations using only population-based parameter estimates resulted in a percent mean error (%ME) and percent mean absolute error (%MAE) of 9.3 and 42.2, respectively. Using only the initial concentration as feedback, the Bayesian forecasting model accurately predicted the second acetaminophen concentration (%ME = 4.0, %MAE = 23.6). The Bayesian model also accurately predicted all concentrations within 8 h of the ingestion (%ME = 10.6, %MAE = 24.0). The prediction of concentrations between 2 to 4 h and 4 to 4.5 h after ingestion with only population-based parameter estimates resulted in %ME of 17.0 and 13.2, respectively, and %MAE of 36.5 and 35.1, respectively. Our data suggests that acetaminophen serum concentrations occurring within the first 4.5 h after ingestion can be reliably predicted by the set of population-based parameter estimates evaluated. Once a single acetaminophen concentration is available, the Bayesian forecasting model can accurately predict subsequent concentrations within the first 8 h after an acetaminophen ingestion.
Improved breakdown voltage in GaAs MESFETs utilizing surface layers of GaAs grown at a low temperature by MBE

A metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) utilizing surface layers of GaAs grown at a low temperature by MBE (LT GaAs) under the gate electrode has been fabricated. The high trap density of LT GaAs reduces the surface fields of the FET, suppresses gate leakage, and increases the gate-drain breakdown voltage without sacrificing current drive capability. An undoped AlAs layer is incorporated between the LT GaAs layer and the channel as a barrier to the diffusion of excess As from the LT GaAs layer to the channel. A 74- mu m-gate-width device demonstrated an improved breakdown voltage of 34.85 V with a g/sub m/ of 144 mS/mm and an I/sub dss/ of 248 mA/mm. >
Dopamine function and the efficiency of human movement

To sustain successful behavior in dynamic environments, active organisms must be able to learn from the consequences of their actions and predict action outcomes. One of the most important discoveries in systems neuroscience over the last 15 years has been about the key role of the neurotransmitter dopamine in mediating such active behavior. Dopamine cell firing was found to encode differences between the expected and obtained outcomes of actions. Although activity of dopamine cells does not specify movements themselves, a recent study in humans has suggested that tonic levels of dopamine in the dorsal striatum may in part enable normal movement by encoding sensitivity to the energy cost of a movement, providing an implicit "motor motivational" signal for movement. We investigated the motivational hypothesis of dopamine by studying motor performance of patients with Parkinson disease who have marked dopamine depletion in the dorsal striatum and compared their performance with that of elderly healthy adults. All participants performed rapid sequential movements to visual targets associated with different risk and different energy costs, countered or assisted by gravity. In conditions of low energy cost, patients performed surprisingly well, similar to prescriptions of an ideal planner and healthy participants. As energy costs increased, however, performance of patients with Parkinson disease dropped markedly below the prescriptions for action by an ideal planner and below performance of healthy elderly participants. The results indicate that the ability for efficient planning depends on the energy cost of action and that the effect of energy cost on action is mediated by dopamine.
Pulse Doppler Map Matching

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images obtained in real time on a moving vehicle can provide a means for obtaining fix data for the vehicle navigation system. Reference features are located in the SAR images through the use of map matching techniques, with each match providing a measurement of range and range rate to a known reference point. Three matches or fixes made in different directions can provide data for a complete position and velocity determination. A map matching technique has been developed for use with SAR images that utilizes a reference template that encodes only the shape (and not the difficult-to-predict image intensity levels) of the selected reference feature. Through an adaptive and localized normalization of the sensed image pixel amplitudes a matching metric is computed that is a strong function of the degree of shape match of the sensed image and the reference template but is only weakly dependent on the image intensity and contrast. This results in the reference feature being acquired and located with high probability even in the presence of computing features with possibly higher contrast. The map matching algorithm is described and results of theoretical analysis of its performance characteristics are presented with specific attention given to the effects of scene scintillation or speckle in the sensed imagery. The algorithm has been used on a large data base of SAR imagery with good success. Several examples are included to indicate typical performance for both urban and rural environments.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Intradomain and interdomain QoT-aware RWA for translucent optical networks

Physical impairments in long-haul optical networks mandate that optical signals be regenerated within the (so-called translucent) network. Being expensive devices, regenerators are expected to be allocated sparsely and must be judiciously utilized. Next-generation optical-transport networks will include multiple domains with diverse technologies, protocols, granularities, and carriers. Because of confidentiality and scalability concerns, the scope of network-state information (e.g., topology, wavelength availability) may be limited to within a domain. In such networks, the problem of routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) aims to find an adequate route and wavelength(s) for lightpaths carrying end-to-end service demands. Some state information may have to be explicitly exchanged among the domains to facilitate the RWA process. The challenge is to determine which information is the most critical and make a wise choice for the path and wavelength(s) using the limited information. Recently, a framework for multidomain path computation called backward-recursive path-computation (BRPC) was standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force. In this paper, we consider the RWA problem for connections within a single domain and interdomain connections so that the quality of transmission (QoT) requirement of each connection is satisfied, and the network-level performance metric of blocking probability is minimized. Cross-layer heuristics that are based on dynamic programming to effectively allocate the sparse regenerators are developed, and extensive simulation results are presented to demonstrate their effectiveness.
Synthesis of simian virus 40 chromosomes in nuclear extracts from dihydroxyanthraquinone-treated cells

Abstract The effect of dihydroxyanthraquinone (DHAQ), a new antitumor drug, on mammalian chromosome replication was investigated using simian virus 40 (SV40) as a model system. The maximum effect of inhibition on viral DNA synthesis was observed within 30–40 min after the addition of the drug. The extent of inhibition of viral DNA synthesis appeared to be directly related to the number of viral replicons which interact with DHAQ molecules in vivo. No apparent strand breakage of SV40 DNA was observed in infected cells treated with DHAQ ranging from 0.3 to 10 μM. However, strand breakage was induced upon cell lysis presumably by released nuclease. Repair of the damaged SV40 chromosomes in vitro resulted in the synthesis of completed supercoiled SV40 DNA. This repair synthesis was mostly confined to the region containing the replication origin of SV40 DNA as judged by the digestion of DNA with restriction endonucleases Hin dII and Hin dIII. Since SV40 DNA sequences close to the origin of replication are not complexed with histones to form a nucleosome structure, the results suggested that DHAQ may disturb chromosome structure by interacting preferentially to the nucleosome-free regions and causing the aberrant gene duplication and expression.
Physician's Workstation with Real-Time Performance

A general framework for real-time manipulation-of 3D objects from-medical data sets promises physicians a powerful new tool.
Comparison of substrate specificity of alcohol dehydrogenases from human liver, horse liver, and yeast towards saturated and 2-enoic alcohols and aldehydes.

Abstract The saturated and 2-enoic primary alcohols and aldehydes, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-hexanol, phenylmethanol, 3-phenyl-1-propanol, 2-propen-1-ol, 2-buten-1-ol, 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol, 2-hexen-1-ol, 3-phenyl-2-propen-1-ol, ethanal, 1-propanal, 1-butanal, 1-hexanal, phenylmethanal, 3-phenyl-1-propanal, 2-propen-1-al, 2-buten-1-al, 2-hexen-1-al, and 3-phenyl-2-propen-1-al, have been compared under uniform conditions as substrates for the alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes from horse and human liver and from yeast. Kinetic constants (Km arid V) have been measured for each of the substrates with each of the enzymes; equilibrium constants for the various alcohol-aldehyde pairs have also been estimated. The results obtained emphasize the similarities of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase to horse and human liver alcohol dehydrogenase, showing the specificity of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase to be less restricted than formerly believed. In general, the 2-enoic alcohols are better substrates for all three alcohol dehydrogenases than their saturated analogs; on the other hand, saturated aldehydes are better substrates than the 2-enoic aldehydes. Based on these various findings, it is suggested that a more likely candidate than ethanol for the physiological substrate of alcohol dehydrogenase in mammalian systems may well be an unsaturated alcohol, although the wide variety of substrates catalyzed at high rates is not incompatible with a general detoxifying function for alcohols or aldehydes, or both, by alcohol dehydrogenase.
ANTIBODY RESPONSES OF RED WOLVES TO CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS AND CANINE PARVOVIRUS VACCINATION

Twenty captive red wolves (Canis rufus), including 16 intended for release into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove, Tennessee (USA), and four housed at Knoxville Zoological Gardens, Inc., Knoxville, Tennessee, were evaluated for immunologic response to vaccination between June 1994 and April 1995. Wolves were vaccinated with modified-live (MLV) canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV2). Sera were collected, and immunofluorescent staining was performed for determination of immunoglobulin titers (CDV IgM, CDV IgG, and CPV2 IgG). A capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed for validation purposes, to confirm the reactivity of our standard diagnostic reagents with red wolf serum. All wolves produced a measurable antibody response to CDV and CPV2 vaccination. Titers against CDV and CPV2 varied widely among individual wolves, but between-litter differences in mean titers were not significant. No consistent response between the degree of response to CDV versus CP...
Engineering the Competition: Affirmative Action as Subsidized Mobility

Equality of opportunity, or equality of individuals in a competition to reach unequal positions, has emerged as a fundamental cultural value over the course of American history. However, the ability of individuals to achieve desired occupations and statuses is limited by the structure of available opportunities and by the social origins of individuals. Affirmative action is an effort to engineer equality of opportunity by government intervention to promote the upward mobility of individuals with disadvantaged backgrounds. In the past, this effort has been directed primarily at compensating for the historical consequences of slavery and racial discrimination, but more recently socio-economic affirmative action has taken on the task of compensating for all disadvantages of social origin. This attempt faces several serious problems, though. It assumes that government is capable of continually re-engineering the competition. Beyond that, it aims at directing everyone toward a relatively small number of socially desired positions, promoting chronic shortages in the less-desired but necessary occupations.
Grower reported pesticide poisonings among Florida citrus fieldworkers.

Abstract In a 1981 survey of 436 Florida citrus growers, 27 pesticide related poisoning incidents were reported that were to have taken place within one year of the interview date. From these reports it is possible to estimate that there are 376 citrus fieldworker related poisonings per year in Florida. This number of estimated poisonings may be developed into an incidence rate of 113 fieldworker poisonings per 10,000 fieldworkers.
Postnatal cellular contributions of the hippocampus subventricular zone to the dentate gyrus, corpus callosum, fimbria, and cerebral cortex.

The rodent dentate gyrus (DG) is formed in the embryo when progenitor cells migrate from the dentate neuroepithelium to establish a germinal zone in the hilus and a secondary germinal matrix, near the fimbria, called the hippocampal subventricular zone (HSVZ). The developmental plasticity of progenitors within the HSVZ is not well understood. To delineate the migratory routes and fates of progenitors within this zone, we injected a replication-incompetent retrovirus, encoding the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), into the HSVZ of postnatal day 5 (P5) mice. Between P6 and P45, retrovirally-infected EGFP+ of progenitors migrated into the DG, established a reservoir of progenitor cells, and differentiated into neurons and glia. By P6-7, EGFP+ cells were observed migrating into the DG. Subsets of these EGFP+ cells expressed Sox2 and Musashi-1, characteristic of neural stem cells. By P10, EGFP+ cells assumed positions within the DG and expressed immature neuronal markers. By P20, many EGFP+ cells expressed the homeobox prospero-like protein Prox1, an early and specific granule cell marker in the CNS, and extended mossy fiber projections into the CA3. A subset of non-neuronal EGFP+ cells in the dentate gyrus acquired the morphology of astrocytes. Another subset included EGFP+/RIP+ oligodendrocytes that migrated into the fimbria, corpus callosum, and cerebral cortex. Retroviral injections on P15 labeled very few cells, suggesting depletion of HSVZ progenitors by this age. These findings suggest that the early postnatal HSVZ progenitors are multipotent and migratory, and contribute to both dentate gyrus neurogenesis as well as forebrain gliogenesis. J. Comp. Neurol. 497:833–845, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Measured Anchor Rod Tightening of High-Mast Light Poles in Alaska

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities owns and maintains 124 high-mast lighting poles (HMLPs) in south-central Alaska. Some of the anchor nuts that secured these poles, 100 ft and taller, to their foundations had been found to loosen without apparent cause. In this study, the axial force was measured in the 1 1/2-in. (38-mm) diameter anchor rods of one HMLP during the tightening of new rods. These rods had a relatively low grip-length to diameter ratio of approximately 3. The force was measured by strain gauges mounted in a small hole along the anchor rod axis and a computer-controlled data acquisition system. The FHWA tightening procedure was followed. This included a snug-tight condition, followed by 60° of turn-of-the-nut method. The snug-tight condition was created by the full force of a workman pulling on a 24-in. (610-mm) wrench. A specified verification torque was applied to the nuts after 1 week to ensure adequate tension in the anchor rods. It was found that after the tigh...
Linked Total Elbow Arthroplasty

This article provides an overview of the current state of linked total elbow arthroplasty. Discussed are the general indications for using a linked implant and currently available implants. Disease-specific indications, contraindications, surgical technique, and rehabilitation are discussed. The overall results and disease-specific results, as well as complications after a linked elbow arthroplasty, are reviewed.
Low threshold current lateral injection lasers on semi-insulating substrates fabricated using Si impurity-induced disordering

The results of a laser design that uses dual Si impurity-induced disordering stripes to both bury the active region and provide lateral electron injection are reported. Without heatsinking, lasers have room temperature CW threshold current as low as 2.77 mA and a single facet external quantum efficiency as high as 30%. >
Combinative Sonolysis and Photocatalysis for Textile Dye Degradation

The merits of combining two advanced oxidation processes, viz., sonolysis and photocatalysis, have been evaluated by investigating the degradation of an azo dye, naphthol blue black (NBB), using a high-frequency ultrasonic generator and UV−photolysis. An additive effect on the degradation rate of the parent compound is observed when the sonolysis and photocatalysis experi ments were carried out in a simultaneous or sequential manner. Sonolysis is effective for inducing faster degradation of the parent dye, while TiO2 photocatalysis is effective for promoting mineralization.
Non-intuitive features of disorder → order transformations

Abstract Vacancy-mediated kinetics of chemical disorder → order transformations in highly non-equilibrium alloys have features that belie conventional intuition. Activated state rate theories have been developed for these disorder → order kinetics. Some such theories of increasing complexity are presented, and they illustrate how with greater complexity comes a greater ability to control the kinetics of the ordering process in intelligent ways. In addition to the absolute rates of ordering, it is also informative to study the “kinetic paths” of ordering, where the state of the alloy is presented in a two-dimensional plot of one-order parameter against a second-order parameter. The area in this plot that is accessible to the alloy gives an idea of how much control we have in obtaining different non-equilibrium states of the material. Especially for ternary alloys, these kinetic paths can be widely varied, and their shapes can be highly non-intuitive.
Membrane protein structure from rotational diffusion.

Abstract The motional averaging of powder pattern line shapes is one of the most fundamental aspects of sold-state NMR. Since membrane proteins in liquid crystalline phospholipid bilayers undergo fast rotational diffusion, all of the signals reflect the angles of the principal axes of their dipole–dipole and chemical shift tensors with respect to the axis defined by the bilayer normal. The frequency span and sign of the axially symmetric powder patterns that result from motional averaging about a common axis provide sufficient structural restraints for the calculation of the three-dimensional structure of a membrane protein in a phospholipid bilayer environment. The method is referred to as rotationally aligned (RA) solid-state NMR and demonstrated with results on full-length, unmodified membrane proteins with one, two, and seven trans-membrane helices. RA solid-state NMR is complementary to other solid-state NMR methods, in particular oriented sample (OS) solid-state NMR of stationary, aligned samples. Structural distortions of membrane proteins from the truncations of terminal residues and other sequence modifications, and the use of detergent micelles instead of phospholipid bilayers have also been demonstrated. Thus, it is highly advantageous to determine the structures of unmodified membrane proteins in liquid crystalline phospholipid bilayers under physiological conditions. RA solid-state NMR provides a general method for obtaining accurate and precise structures of membrane proteins under near-native conditions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: NMR Spectroscopy for Atomistic Views of Biomembranes and Cell Surfaces. Guest Editors: Lynette Cegelski and David P. Weliky.
Will specialization continue forever? A case study of interactions between industry specialization and diversity

This paper studies the interactions between industry specialization and diversity. Several studies have shown that competitive industries in a region grew faster, thus expanding their shares in overall employment. The implication is that a region will become more specialized in its competitive industries and the process will continue forever baring external intervention. Utilizing an econometric model on county-level employment growth in Virginia, this study confirms that competitive industries experience faster employment growth, reinforcing specialization. However, as specialization proceeds, it reduces economic diversity. That will hurt job creation, as economic diversity also stimulates employment growth. The interactions between specialization and diversity can lead to complex patterns of industry structural change. This study concludes that if a locality starts with low economic diversity, specialization will continue to deepen and the region may be trapped with limited economic diversity. However, when an economy starts with high diversity, specialization and diversity tend to offset each other, resulting a more consistent industry structure.
Large deformation polymer optical fiber sensors for civil infrastructure systems

This paper presents intrinsic polymer fiber (POF) sensors for high-strain applications such as the performance-based assessment and health monitoring of civil infrastructure systems subjected to earthquake loading or morphing aircraft. POFs provide a potential maximum strain range of 6-12%, are more flexible that silica optical fibers, and are more durable in harsh chemical or environmental conditions. Recent advances in the fabrication of single mode POFs have made it possible to extend POFs to interferometric sensor capabilities. Furthermore, the interferometric nature of intrinsic sensors permits high accuracy for such measurements. Measurements of the mechanical response of the sensor at various strain rates are presented. Several cleaving methods were also tested in order to appropriately cleave POFs for coupling purposes. In addition, the design of a time-of-flight interferometer for phase measurements over the large strain range required is discussed. Finally the bond strength between the embedded POF and various structural materials is investigated and a methodology demonstrated for embedment of the sensors into a reinforced concrete structural component.
Fundamental natural frequencies of thin-walled elliptical composite cylinders

Hamilton’s principle coupled with the Rayleigh–Ritz technique is used to compute the fundamental frequencies of simply supported thin-walled fiber-reinforced composite cylinders with elliptical cross sections. Owing to the decreased geometric stiffness resulting from less curvature, it is expected that the normal displacement component of the vibratory motion will be larger in the flatter regions of the cross section than that in the more curved regions. Accordingly, in the Rayleigh–Ritz formulation, the normal displacement component of the vibratory motion is modulated with circumferential location to represent this characteristic by using a so-called shape factor. A number of simplifications in the analysis lead to a hierarchy of expressions for the fundamental frequency, including the one termed Lo’s approximation. The so-called large and small cylinders, as measured by cylinder circumference and with wall laminates [±θ/0/90]2S and[±θ/0/90]S, respectively, θ in the range of 0 to 90°, are considered. It...
Orphans No More: Definitions, Disciplines, and Institutions

Abstract This essay provides an introduction to the discipline of “orphan cinema” as an outgrowth of the work of moving image achivists, ideological film analysis, and experimental filmmakers. The contradictory relationship between nontheatrical film, academic film scholarship, and Hollywood film production is briefly reviewed. Finally, the article introduces the “institutional film” as a central theme in the nontheatrical film genre analyzed throughout the special “Orphans No More” issue of the Journal of Popular Film and Television.
Therapeutic implications of new insights into the critical role of VP16 in initiating the earliest stages of HSV reactivation from latency

Reactivation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a leading cause of fatal encephalitis in the USA and recurrent herpetic keratitis is a major infectious cause of blindness. There is no effective vaccine and no cure for HSV latency. While current antiviral drugs reduce viral replication, none prevent the initiation of reactivation in the nervous system and, thus, chronic inflammatory damage proceeds. The discovery that HSV VP16 is necessary for the exit from latency represents the first potential target for preventing the chronic inflammatory insult associated with HSV reactivation. Blocking VP16 transactivation would reduce the spread of the virus in the population and, importantly, presumably reduce or prevent the pathological long term chronic inflammation in the nervous system.
Initial results of a prospective trial of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: Whether or not laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be performed safely as an outpatient procedure is controversial. In 1993, a protocol for outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy was instituted to determine the benefits and safety of discharging patients within several hours of surgery.
Koschei the immortal and anti-aging drugs

In Slavic folklore, Koschei the Immortal was bony, thin and lean. Was his condition caused by severe calorie restriction (CR)? CR deactivates the target of rapamycin pathway and slows down aging. But the life-extending effect of severe CR is limited by starvation. What if Koschei's anti-aging formula included rapamycin? And was rapamycin (or another rapalog) combined with commonly available drugs such as metformin, aspirin, propranolol, angiotensin II receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
The Teenage Brain The Stress Response and the Adolescent Brain

Adolescence is a time of many psychosocial and physiological changes. One such change is how an individual responds to stressors. Specifically, adolescence is marked by significant shifts in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity, resulting in heightened stress-induced hormonal responses. It is presently unclear what mediates these changes in stress reactivity and what impacts they may have on an adolescent individual. However, stress-sensitive limbic and cortical brain areas that continue to mature during adolescence may be particularly vulnerable to these shifts in responsiveness. Consequently, perturbations of the maturing adolescent brain may contribute to the increase in stress-related psychological dysfunctions, such as anxiety, depression, and drug abuse, often observed during this stage of development. The purpose of this review is to describe the changes that occur in HPA function during adolescence, as well as briefly discuss the possible ramifications of these changes on the developing brain and psychological health.
Priming and induction of Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular antibodies in early infancy by Dpo20, an oligosaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine

A conjugate vaccine (Dpo20) was made by direct coupling of diphtheria toxoid and oligosaccharides obtained by periodate oxidation of Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide. This approach gave a higher multiplicity of saccharides per protein and greater immunogenicity in infancy than our previously studied conjugates. Thirty-three healthy infants received three sequental injections, and no serious side effects were observed. When Dpo20 was given with diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine at ages 2, 4, and 6 months, the geometric mean titer of anticapsular antibody rose to 5.9 μg/ml at age 7 months. Dpo20 given at 3, 5, and 7 months ralsed the mean to 3.2 μg/ml at 7 months (after two injections) and 15.4 μg/ml at 10 months. The antibodies included IgG and were bactericidal in vitro. Thus, antibody activitles potentially protective against invasive H. influenzae b infections were induced in the most susceptible age range. The infants also became primed for mature-for-age responses to (unconjugated) polysaccharide vaccine given as a booster at age 12 months.
Proliferative properties of murine intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL): IEL expressing TCRαβ or TCRτδ are largely unresponsive to proliferative signals mediated via conventional stimulation of the CD3-TCR complex

Murine intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) were studied for their capacity to proliferate in vitro following stimulation of the T cell receptor (TCR)-associated CD3 epsilon molecule, or upon direct stimulation of the TCR complex itself. Although IEL consisted primarily of CD3+ T cells which included activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes as demonstrated in CD3- and TCR-mediated redirected cytotoxic assays, IEL displayed minimal proliferative responses following stimulation with anti-CD3, anti-TCR alpha beta, or anti-TCR tau delta monoclonal antibodies under soluble conditions, or under conditions which effect membrane cross-linking, including the addition of accessory cells to IEL cultures. The lack of proliferation induction could not be overcome by stimulation of IEL in the presence of T cell-dependent cytokines, phorbol ester, or interleukin-4. Moreover, unlike splenic T cells, stimulation of IEL failed to result in expression of interleukin-2 receptor, further demonstrating an inability of IEL to respond to exogenous proliferative signals. This study is the first to examine the proliferative potential of murine IEL following direct CD3 or TCR stimulation. The findings described here: (i) identify an important functional distinction between intestinal IEL and other peripheral alpha beta or tau delta T cells which generally respond well to proliferative signals mediated through the CD3-TCR complex, and (ii) demonstrate that on murine IEL the CD3-TCR complex can discriminate signals of lytic activity from those of cell proliferation.
Swarm Formation Control Utilizing Elliptical Surfaces and Limiting Functions

In this paper, we present a strategy for organizing swarms of unmanned vehicles into a formation by utilizing artificial potential fields that were generated from normal and sigmoid functions. These functions construct the surface on which swarm members travel, controlling the overall swarm geometry and the individual member spacing. Nonlinear limiting functions are defined to provide tighter swarm control by modifying and adjusting a set of control variables that force the swarm to behave according to set constraints, formation, and member spacing. The artificial potential functions and limiting functions are combined to control swarm formation, orientation, and swarm movement as a whole. Parameters are chosen based on desired formation and user-defined constraints. This approach is computationally efficient and scales well to different swarm sizes, to heterogeneous systems, and to both centralized and decentralized swarm models. Simulation results are presented for a swarm of 10 and 40 robots that follow circle, ellipse, and wedge formations. Experimental results are included to demonstrate the applicability of the approach on a swarm of four custom-built unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).
Time-memory tradeoffs in vector quantizer codebook searching based on decision trees

The paper presents several algorithms for designing fixed- and variable-depth decision trees for searching vector quantizer (VQ) codebooks. Two applications of such are explored. First, given a source vector, a tree can be used to find the closest codevector in the VQ codebook with many fewer arithmetic operations than the usual "full search." This decrease in complexity comes at the expense of an increase in auxiliary table storage. Second, the tree can be used as the first stage of fine-coarse vector quantization, which yields further savings in complexity at the cost of somewhat more storage and a small increase in distortion. The design methods involve incrementally growing trees with a variety of node splitting criteria and, subsequently, optimally pruning trees on the basis of performance functionals such as distortion, storage, and computational complexity. The pruning is done with the BFOS algorithm, which optimally trades one performance functional with another, and with an extension of the BFOS algorithm wherein one performance measure is traded with a combination of two others. The results of applying these methods to i.i.d. Gaussian, Gauss-Markov, and sampled speech sources at encoding rates of one and two bits per source sample demonstrate the tradeoffs achievable amongst time (complexity), memory (storage), and distortion. >
Photooxidized Products of Recombinant αA‐Crystallin and W9F Mutant

— Human lenses contain many photosensitizers that absorb light at wavelengths above 300 nm, most notably UVA light (320–400 nm). Kynurenine (Kyn) and 3-hydroxykyn-urenine (HK), two of the best-known photosensitizers in the human lens, may play a significant role in photooxidation-related changes in lens proteins, such as conformational change and aggregation. In vitro irradiation experiments with proteins indicate that the Trp residue (with maximal absorption at 295 nm) is more susceptible to photooxidation by UVB light (280–320 nm) than by UVA light, but most UVB light below 300 nm is screened by the cornea and little reaches the lens, especially the nuclear region where nuclear color develops. Therefore, if photooxidation is an important contributor to nuclear color or nuclear cataract, it must arise from a photosensitized reaction. In the present study, we use recombinant αA-and its Trp-deficient mutant W9F as models to study the effects of UVA irradiation in the presence of HK or Kyn and of UVB (300 nm) irradiation on α-crystallins. αA-crystallin showed a large decrease in Trp fluorescence and a large increase in non-Trp (blue) fluorescence after the HK-sensitized or 300 nm photooxidation. For the W9F mutant, a smaller decrease in protein fluorescence (Λex at 280 nm) and a smaller increase in blue fluorescence than for the wild-type αA-crystallin were observed. A decrease in the near-UV CD was also observed for both photooxidized αA and the W9F mutant. The effect of Kyn sensitization is smaller than that of HK sensitization. A study of chaperone-like activity indicated that only 300 nm photooxidized αA and the W9F mutant increased the ability to protect insulin from dithiothreitol-induced aggregation. Thus, sensitized photooxidation can occur in amino acids other than Trp by UVA in the presence of HK or Kyn with effects similar to, albeit smaller than, those of direct UVB (300 nm) photooxidation.
Onset of convection in a variable-viscosity fluid

The Rayleigh number R, in a horizontal layer with temperature-dependent viscosity can be based on the viscosity at T0, the mean of the boundary temperatures. The critical Rayleigh number Roc for fluids with exponential and super-exponential viscosity variation is nearly constant at low values of the ratio of the viscosities at the top and bottom boundaries; increases at moderate values of the viscosity ratio, reaching a maximum at a ratio of about 3000, and then decreases. This behaviour is explained by a simple physical argument based on the idea that convection begins first in the sublayer with maximum Rayleigh number. The prediction of Palm (1960) that certain types of temperature-dependent viscosity always decrease Roc is confirmed by numerical results but is not relevant to the viscosity variations typical of real liquids. The infinitesimal-amplitude state assumed by linear theory in calculating Roc does not exist because the convection jumps immediately to a finite amplitude at R0c. We observe a heat-flux jump at R0c exceeding 10% when the viscosity ratio exceeds 150. However, experimental measurements of R0c for glycerol up to a viscosity ratio of 3400 are in good agreement with the numerical predictions when the effects of a temperature-dependent expansion coefficient and thermal diffusivity are included.
Improving survival of culture bacteria in frozen desserts by microentrapment.

Abstract Lactobacillus bulgaricus cells were entrapped in beads of calcium alginate and evaluated for their ability to survive freezing processes. Cells survived freezing (without agitation) in ice milk mix much better than in distilled water, and more entrapped cells survived than did cells that were not entrapped. Glycerol and mannitol were cryoprotective, but glucose was not, when each was added (6%) separately to the beads. Entrapment protected the lactobacilli in batch frozen and continuously frozen ice milk mixes. The percentage of survival for entrapped and unentrapped cells in continuously frozen ice milk approximated 90 and 40%, respectively. Lactobacilli survived better in beads with mean diameters >30 μ m than in those averaging 15 μ m. Addition of entrapped lactobacilli had no measurable effect on the sensory characteristics of the ice milk.
So What's New? Arch Expansion, Again

In Phoenix, Arizona, during three comfortable days in January 2008, Ormco Corporation hosted the 8th annual Damon Forum to celebrate its flagship orthodontic product line, the Damon System. At the heart of the system is an interesting self-ligating bracket with an assortment of prescribed wires and auxiliaries. The progenitor of these products is Dwight Damon, an affable orthodontist from the state of Washington. Many of the features of his appliances were envisioned and developed by Dr Damon some 18 years ago as the result of his experiences and frustrations in clinical practice. Over the past 8 years, he has parlayed his visions and hard work into a huge success story. A total of 1781 doctors, residents, and staff attended this meeting—a larger group than at any AAO Constituent Society annual session—filling a room the size of a football field and paying Ormco more than a million dollars to hear about its products. The kernel of Damon thinking that attracts these masses is the promise of excellence in treating almost all orthodontic patients with the same enticing treatment plan: a nonextraction, nonsurgical, non‐palate splitting, non-headgear, pain-free, reduced-time, fixedappliance method. Laced throughout the various Damon speakers’ presentations were agreeable words and phrases such as ‘‘perfection,’’ ‘‘excellence,’’ ‘‘best for the patient,’’ ‘‘less chair time,’’ ‘‘more beautiful,’’ ‘‘face-driven,’’ ‘‘high-tech,’’ ‘‘low force,’’ ‘‘low friction,’’ and ‘‘bone adaptation.’’ The basic mechanism used to deliver on these claims is gross dental arch expansion of the magnitude that Edward H. Angle advocated more than 100 years ago. However, a big difference between the Damon and Angle approaches is that Damon uses wonderfully resilient copper-nickel-titanium (CuNiTi) alloys that distribute expansion forces much gentler than Angle’s gold, German silver, or chrome steel wires ever could provide. The idea of straightening teeth by widening the dentition in every direction is almost 300 years old. Frenchman Pierre Fauchard, considered a founder of modern dentistry, proposed an ingenious mechanical system in 1728 to treat irregularities of the teeth with
Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)

labmedicine.com November 2005 Volume 36 Number 11 LABMEDICINE 723 Systemic sclerosis is a chronic disease of unknown etiology characterized by abnormal accumulation of fibrous tissue in the skin and multiple organs.1 Scleroderma derives its name from the Greek words “sclerosis” (hardness) and “derma” (skin), thus aptly named “hard skin,” a feature that is common to all the different types of scleroderma (Image 1). Over time, it became apparent that the disease was not only “skin deep” but manifested itself systemically and thus became known as “systemic sclerosis.” In clinical practice, 2 distinct categories of systemic sclerosis are considered: (1) diffuse scleroderma, and (2) limited scleroderma. Other categories include the overlap syndromes and localized scleroderma.
Composing Highly Reliable Service-Oriented Applications Adaptively

This paper proposes dynamic and adaptive reliability methods that can be integrated into a collaborative composition framework with dynamic verification and adaptive reliability modeling. The composition process follows a template-based approach with ontology systems where a variety of items can be reused including services, workflows, application templates, and test cases/scripts. Items submitted to publication are subjected to test and evaluation before they can be published and reused. Test cases can also be ranked based on their effectiveness and test cases will be continuously re-ranked based on recent testing results and reliability modeling. Composed applications will be tested and evaluated before deployment, and even during execution, applications will be monitored so that their reliability can be continuously updated. This paper proposed several adaptive mechanisms to estimate software reliability and update test case effectiveness. They are illustrated by examples.
NHERF family and NHE3 regulation

The intestinal and renal proximal tubule brush border (BB) Na+–H+ exchanger NHE3 binds to members of the NHERF (Na+–H+ exchanger regulatory factor) family. These are four proteins (current most used names include NHERF1, NHERF2, PDZK1 and IKEPP) which are related to each other, are present in locations in or close to the BB, and scaffold a variable series of proteins in NHE3-containing complexes in a dynamic manner that is altered by changes in signal transduction which affects NHE3 activity. The specific roles of these proteins in terms of NHE3 regulation as well as interactions with each other and with their many other substrates are only now being defined. Specificity for only one member of the NHERF family in one example of NHE3 regulation, inhibition by elevation in cGMP, is used to describe how NHERF family proteins are involved in NHE3 complex formation and its regulation. In this case, NHERF2 directly binds cGKII in the brush border to form an NHE3 complex, with cGKII also associating with the BB via its myristoylation.
Tracking of Body Composition Variables

Height, weight, and skinfold measurements were obtained on a cohort of 447 children from birth (weight) or 6 months of age (height and skinfold) and monitored yearly thereafter until 7 years of age. At age 7 years, 250 remained for follow-up screening. A significant degree of tracking was found for all variables from age 1 to age 7 years. Height and weight tracked most strongly (age 1- to 7-year correlations = .42 and .44, respectively), whereas skinfold tracked somewhat lower (.28). Earlier levels of each anthropometric variable were the best predictor of later levels of that parameter. Implications for early detection and treatment of growth abnormalities are discussed.