cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Additional postcranial remains of omomyid primates from the Uinta Formation, Utah and implications for the locomotor behavior of large-bodied omomyids.

Abstract Most omomyids are relatively small bodied (e.g. The new specimens include several distal tibiae, partial calcanei, a complete talus and a proximal first metatarsal of Chipetaia; distal femora, distal tibiae, cuboids, and partial calcanei of Ourayia uintensis; a complete calcaneus of Ourayia sp.; and a partial calcaneus and talus of Mytonius. Metric analysis of these elements, together with qualitative observations of non-metric traits, indicate that Ourayia and Chipetaia show equal or greater development of traits associated with leaping behavior (including elongation of the calcaneus, navicular and cuboid) than do smaller omomyids from North America. The elements of Mytonius, although fragmentary, lack some leaping features that are well-developed in Ourayia and Chipetaia, suggesting that Mytonius may have relied more on arboreal quadrupedal locomotion than on leaping.
Impacts of invasive parasitoids on declining endemic Hawaiian leafroller moths (Omiodes: Crambidae) vary among sites and species

Summary 1. Invasive parasitoids and predators, both accidentally and purposefully introduced, have variously altered native insect communities worldwide, sometimes causing major declines and extinctions. Most species of endemic Hawaiian leafroller moth in the genus Omiodes (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) have suffered range reductions and local extirpations and some species appear to be extinct. Non-native parasitoids, particularly those introduced for biological control, have been implicated in declines of non-target Omiodes and other Hawaiian Lepidoptera. 2. We assessed parasitism rates on Omiodes through controlled exposure trials using Omiodes continuatalis, a species once thought to be extinct due to non-native parasitoids. A total of 2514 O. continuatalis larvae were used in exposure trials on the islands of Maui and Oahu in 2006 and 2007. We also conducted extensive surveys for wild larvae of two target and three non-target Omiodes species, the latter also of conservation concern. Over 4 years, we collected 500 wild larvae across four islands to assess parasitoid impacts and compare results between wild larval collections and controlled exposure. 3. Exposure trials estimated parasitism rates of O. continuatalis from 15·6% to 65·3% and field surveys indicated observed parasitism of 8·1–100%, depending upon the species and locality. Accidentally introduced or cryptogenic (of unknown origin) parasitoids were responsible for 85·7% of parasitism in deployed Omiodes larvae and 56·6% of observed parasitism in wild Omiodes larvae surveyed in 2007. 4. The variation in these data appears to be associated with habitat level characteristics, which, in combination with species-specific features, may mediate the impacts of non-native parasitoids on Omiodes species. 5.Synthesis and applications. Biological control agents may not be a primary cause of decline or extinction for some native moths. Successful conservation planning for threatened and declining insects will benefit from consideration of the synergistic effects of parasitoids and habitat on a species by species basis.
keV x-ray imaging of a fs laser plasma with a spherically curved crystal

Images of a 130fs laser produced Ta-plasma were obtained with a spherically curved Mica crystal in four narrow spectral bands simultaneously. These are to our knowledge the first published x-ray images of a fs plasma. Also Mica was used for the first time as the imaging crystal. The resolved plasma size in the experiment (50 micrometers (DOT) 90 micrometers ) agrees with ray-tracing calculations and corresponds to the actual source size in our current setup. The four spectral bands of imaging are due to the strong Mica reflectivity in higher Bragg diffraction orders. All contributing bands have an energy higher than 1keV. Several laser shots were accumulated to achieve the required flux on the detector. Source spectroscopy was conducted to verify the source emission and the plasma density during the interaction with the 130fs laser pulse. Based on our experimental data the luminosity of crystal imaging is compared to a pinhole camera.
The problem of small divisors in planetary motion

Small divisors caused by certain linear combinations of frequencies appear in all analytical planetary theories. With the exception of the deep resonance between Neptune and Pluto, they can be removed at the expense of introducing secular and mixed secular terms, limiting the domain in which the solution is valid. Because of them classical solutions are known not to converge uniformly; Poincare referred to them as asymptotic. The KAM theory shows that if one is far enough from exact commensurability and has small enough planetary masses, expansions exist which will converge to quasi-periodic orbits. Solutions showing very small divisors are excluded from this region of convergence. The question of whether they are intrinsic to the problem or are just manifestations of the method of solution is not settled. Problems with a single commensurabily that can be isolated from the rest of the Hamiltonian may have solutions with no small divisors. The problem of two or more commensurabilities remains unsolved.
Swallowing function after transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) +/−adjuvant therapy for advanced stage oropharyngeal cancer

Objectives/Hypothesis: To perform a longitudinal description of swallowing function following transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) ± adjuvant therapy for advanced-stage oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) and identify prognostic factors associated with swallowing performance. Study Design: Retrospective analysis and longitudinal descriptive study of swallowing outcomes. Methods: Patients treated with TLM for AJCC stage III–IV OPC at Washington University from 1996 to 2008 were included. A search of medical records and direct patient contact were performed to obtain swallowing function at multiple time points. Persistently poor swallowing at 2 year after surgery was the primary outcome measure. Two year swallowing outcomes stratified by tumor site and T stage are presented. Results: One hundred eighteen patients met criteria for the study (median follow-up 53.9 months). There were 44 T1's, 41 T2's, 23 T3's and 10 T4's. Forty seven percent received radiotherapy and 41% received chemoradiotherapy. Ninety-eight percent underwent neck dissection. Patients tolerated TLM well with 82% enjoying good swallowing at 1 month after surgery. During adjuvant therapy, at 3 months, good swallowing dropped to 55%. At 1 and 2 years after TLM, 89% and 88% of patients had good swallowing function, respectively. At 2 years, 9 patients had persistently poor swallowing function. 93% of patients with T1 through T3 enjoyed good swallowing at 2 years. T4 base of tongue disease was associated with persistently poor swallowing function in multivariate analyses (P = 0.0023), with 40% having good swallowing at 2 years. Preexisting comorbidities and conversion to an open procedure were associated with delayed return of swallowing function, but not with persistently poor swallowing. Seven patients developed late-onset swallowing dysfunction. Conclusions: Treatment of advanced stage OPC with TLM ± adjuvant therapy results in excellent swallowing outcomes for patients with either T1 to T3 tonsil or T1 to T3 base of tongue resections. A detailed, longitudinal swallowing profile is presented to assist in preoperative counseling.
Control of synthesis of RNA and protein in subcellular fractions of Rhoeo discolor leaf sections by auxin and kinetin during senescence

Abstract Both auxin and kinetin prevent senescence of sectiond of just-expanded leaves of Rhoeo discolor maintained in darkness for ca. 20 days. Auxin, but not kinetin, has a similar effect in more mature leaves. The effect of auxin (α-naph-thalene acetic acid), kinetin (6-furfurylaminopurine) and mixtures of both, applied in vivo to tissue sections, on synthesis of RNA and protein was assayed in three subcellular fractions. Auxin stimulates RNA and protein synthesis in mature and just-expanded leaves, while kinetin is only effective in the latter. The effect of both auxin and kinetin on enhancement of RNA and protein synthesis varies among different subcellular fractions, and auxin- or kinetin-induced synthesis of protein in a fraction never occurred except attending auxin- or kinetin-induced synthesis of RNA in that fraction. The stimulating effect of auxin on RNA and protein synthesis increases with increase in concentration from 0·1 to 25 p.p.m., while an optimal effect of kinetin is apparent at about 3 p.p.m. Kinetin greatly augments the auxin-induced synthesis of RNA and protein in all subcellular fractions. The possible mode of action of auxin and kinetin is discussed.
Variable memory profiles in parkinson's disease

Thirty-nine patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) were categorized into one of three subgroups using discriminant function analysis and three key indices from the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). Patients were classified as having one of three memory profiles: (a) a normal memory profile; (b) a memory profile often observed in patients with Huntington's disease (HD); or (c) a memory profile often observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Twenty of the patients with PD were classified as having a normal profile, 10 as having an HD profile, and 9 as having an AD profile. The three subgroups did not differ on measures of global cognitive functioning, letter fluency, confrontation naming, or visuo-construction, suggesting that the patients with PD with an AD memory profile were not experiencing AD, per se. These results demonstrate that the memory deficits associated with PD can be similar to those found in patients with either HD or AD, and argues against the notion that the behavioral manifestations of PD are homogeneous.
Polyphosphazene/Nano-Hydroxyapatite Composite Microsphere Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

The nontoxic, neutral degradation products of amino acid ester polyphosphazenes make them ideal candidates for in vivo orthopedic applications. The quest for new osteocompatible materials for load bearing tissue engineering applications has led us to investigate mechanically competent amino acid ester substituted polyphosphazenes. In this study, we have synthesized three biodegradable polyphosphazenes substituted with side groups, namely, leucine, valine, and phenylalanine ethyl esters. Of these polymers, the phenylalanine ethyl ester substituted polyphosphazene showed the highest glass transition temperature (41.6 °C) and, hence, was chosen as a candidate material for forming composite microspheres with 100 nm sized hydroxyapatite (nHAp). The fabricated composite microspheres were sintered into a three-dimensional (3-D) porous scaffold by adopting a dynamic solvent sintering approach. The composite microsphere scaffolds showed compressive moduli of 46−81 MPa with mean pore diameters in the range of 86−14...
Stylometrics of artwork: uses and limitations

A number of digital image analysis techniques have been developed in recent years to address art historical questions. These techniques allow non-destructive analyses of art images that can target outstanding problems of attribution, historical ordering, and other stylistic dimensions. However, great care must be taken in designing the comparisons to which these techniques are applied. In this paper, we review recent work by our lab and by others aimed at establishing a toolbox of stylometrics, and we discuss some of the uses and limitations of these methods. We describe a technique that provides robust classification of authentic drawings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and we demonstrate new techniques for art historical analysis applied to the works of other masters. Specifically, we demonstrate the use of two low-level statistics (the slope of the log amplitude spectrum and color histogram correlation) to analyze the works of Picasso and Braque. Finally, we show that face detection and recognition techniques may play a useful role in the attribution of works of art. The rationale for employing vision coding-like methods (e.g., sparse coding) in stylometry is also reviewed. We conclude that generic authentication tools are unlikely to provide reliable stylometric predictions but that with careful construction of comparison sets - which we believe must be done in close collaboration with art historians - these techniques provide important predictions that can be weighed against other art historical evidence. We argue further that concurrent predictions derived from analysis of many independent dimensions of image data (e.g., color, luminance, and spatial statistics) provide the strongest evidence for digital stylometric determinations.
Dynamic self-assembly of rings of charged metallic spheres.

This Letter describes dynamic self-assembly in a system of stainless steel spheres ($\ensuremath{\sim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{m}\mathrm{m}$ in diameter) rolling on a flat dielectric surface under the influence of an external magnetic field that rotates parallel to the plane of the surface. As the spheres move, they charge triboelectrically. Self-assembly is mediated by two types of electrostatic interactions among these charges: (i) attraction between negatively charged regions of the surface and positively charged spheres and (ii) repulsion between the like-charged spheres. The spheres organize into highly ordered rings as a result of these electrostatic interactions.
Management of acute Kawasaki disease

Abstract Kawasaki disease is a leading cause of acquired heart disease in children of the developed world, but long-term sequelae are greatly diminished with appropriate management. Children with Kawasaki disease should be treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), 2 g/kg in a single infusion over 8–12 h, plus high-dose aspirin (80 mg/kg per day). Additional doses of IVIG should be considered in those with persistent or recrudescent fever. After defervescence, aspirin dose should be reduced to 3–5 mg/kg per day as a single daily dose and continued for 6–8 weeks if coronary artery abnormalities are not detected. If such abnormalities are present, antithrombotic therapy should be continued indefinitely.
Cranial nerve block after test dose through an epidural catheter in a preeclamptic parturient

A case of unintentional high spinal anaesthesia is reported, in a 40-year-old obese patient at 38 weeks gestation, complicated by pre-eclampsia. In spite of careful technique in placement of an epidural catheter, the test dose of 3 ml bupivacaine 0.5 per cent produced an unusual block which ascended to include sensory blockade of the fifth cranial nerve, but the motor components of the cervical and thoracic segments were spared, This case suggests that a smaller epidural test dose of bupivacaine might be appropriate, especially in an obese and pre-eclamptic parturient.
Activity of quinolones against gram-positive cocci: clinical features.

The potential role of the commercially available fluoroquinolones in the treatment of Gram-positive infections is discussed on the basis of data obtained from animal experiments and clinical trials. In respiratory tract infections, and particularly in community-acquired pneumonia, it is evident that the presently available quinolones cannot be prescribed empirically as first-line therapy because of their borderline activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae and anaerobes. Reports of pneumococcal seeding in other tissues during quinolone therapy render their administration a debatable issue. Experience in endocarditis is limited to the use of ciprofloxacin plus rifampicin in intravenous drug users with right-sided Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis.
Experimental evidence for weak effects of fire ants in a naturally invaded pine‐savanna ecosystem in north Florida

1. Fire ants naturally invade some undisturbed ecosystems of high conservation value and may negatively impact co-occurring ants. 2. Over 3 years, fire ants were added and removed from a longleaf pine savanna ecosystem that naturally supports a low density of fire ants. Impacts on co-occurring ants were monitored using pitfall traps. 3. Treatments resulted in significant differences in average fire ant abundance across all plots only in the first year of the experiment. Fire ants had little discernible impact. The abundance and species richness of co-occurring ants in removal plots never differed from unmanipulated control plots. The abundance of co-occurring ants was very slightly lower and ant species richness was slightly higher where Solenopsis invicta Buren colonies were added, but neither contrast was significant. 4. The poor conditions in this habitat for many native ants may explain this outcome. More broadly, the impact of fire ants on ant assemblages still appears to be secondary and largely a consequence of human impacts on the environment.
Amount of reinforcer and differentiation of response force

Three groups of 11 rats each were reinforced with one, two, or three 45-mg food pellets for responses having peak forces which fell within a 10- to 15-g force band. Other recorded responses above the 4-g response threshold were not reinforced. Measures of force differentiation performance, such as standard deviation of peak force and proportion of responses in band, showed that rate of differentiation learning and precision of force emission achieved increased with increasing amounts of reinforcer. These results are consistent with previous descriptions of the relationship between amount of reinforcer and force emission.
Time-Series Models of Dynamic Volatility and Correlation

Economic and financial time series typically exhibit time-varying conditional (given the past) standard deviations and correlations. The conditional standard deviation is also called the volatility. Higher volatilities increase the risk of assets and higher conditional correlations cause an increased risk in portfolios. Therefore, models of time-varying volatilities and correlations are essential for risk management.
Evolving knowledge and therapy of inflammatory bowel disease

With recent advances in the understanding of its pathophysiology, inflammatory bowel disease has become a very active area for the development of novel therapeutic agents. New targets for biologics include cytokines involved in T-cell activation, with antibodies directed against IL-12 and interferon-gamma. Selective adhesion molecule blockade has produced promising, though mixed, results. Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor might be effective in active Crohn's disease, presumably through stimulation of intestinal innate immune responses. With increasing evidence for a crucial role for luminal flora in maintaining the health of the bowel, strategies to manipulate intestinal bacteria using probiotics and prebiotics are being actively investigated as well.
Ferret: Programming language support for multiple dynamic classification

We introduce a concept of multiple dynamic classification, a powerful generalization of single-inheritance OO, and a language Ferret which implements it. Multiple classification allows Male, Female, and Married to be subclasses of Person, arranged so that a single Person object may be both Male and Married, but may not be both Male and Female. Dynamic classification allows classes to change: a Person may acquire or lose Married status. The subclasses are true subclasses. Married carries fields (e.g., spouse) which are specific to married people. Methods may be defined on classes, and even on Boolean combinations of class: Male&Married. Ferret provides a generalization of superclass calls, so that the methods for Male&Married can be based on those for Male and Married, without losing other classifications like Employee. Ferret has mutators, analogous to constructors but applicable when objects change class. The resulting language is powerful and highly expressive.
A new chemical synthesis of 5α-cholest-8(14)-en-3β,5α-diol

Reduction of 3beta-benzoyloxy-14alpha,15alpha-epoxy-5alpha-cholest-7-ene with lithium in ethylenediamine gave 5alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-3beta, 5alpha-diol in high yield. This procedure offers an alternate synthesis through the reductive rearrangement of an alpha,beta-unsaturated steroidal epoxide.
Erosion of deep-sea sediments in the Southern Ocean between longitudes 70°E and 190°E and contrasts in manganese nodule development

Abstract Using our previously published results, we present trend surface maps of surface sediment age, and the thickness of sediment deposited during the last 0.7 m.y. for the area between the Kerguelen Plateau, Broken Ridge, Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica. Four separate centers of widespread deep-sea sediment erosion have developed in response to high bottom-water velocities. Two of these, centered on the South Tasman Basin and the western end of the South Australian Basin, respectively, areassociated with extensive manganese nodule development. The manganese nodule fields are almost entirely developed on sediment which averages at least 0.5 m.y. in age. In contrast, the southern and eastern flanks of the Kerguelen Plateau, the Ross Sea and the Campbell Plateau have very limited manganese nodule deposits, despite abundant evidence of widespread active erosion. It is concluded that sediment erosion is a necessary but insufficient requirement for extensive manganese nodule development in the area, and that an important role is also played by submarine volcanism.
Preparation and Properties of Substituted Iron Tungstates.

Abstract Polycrystalline samples of members of the systems Fe 2− x Cr x WO 6 and Fe 1− x Mn x WO 4 were prepared and single crystals of Fe 1− x Mn x WO 4 were grown by chemical vapor transport. Their crystallographic parameters and electrical properties were characterized. Fe 2 WO 6 crystallizes with the tri-α-PbO 2 structure and is an n -type semiconductor. For 0.3 ≤ x ≤ 2, the system Fe 2− x Cr x WO 6 crystallizes with the inverse trirutile structure and is nonconducting due to blocking of iron(II)-iron(III) conduction paths by chromium(III). For 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, the system Fe 1− x Mn x WO 4 crystallizes with the wolframite structure and shows p -type semiconducting behavior. The nature of the variation of resistivity with x of Fe 1− x Mn x WO 4 suggests that interchain electron transfer may occur in this structure.
Baryon-symmetric baryogenesis

We propose a new scenario of baryogenesis in which baryon number is an exact symmetry of the fundamental Lagrangian. If the global U(1) symmetry associated with baryon number is spontaneously broken at early times (when the temperature was of order 1--100 GeV) then the out-of-equilibrium decay of baryonic scalar particles can yield a cosmic baryon asymmetry in ordinary matter. This baryon number is exactly compensated by antibaryon number in the vacuum. At low temperatures, the symmetry is restored, and the antibaryons show up as neutral (antibaryonic) scalar particles or as nontopological solitons.
Quantitative detection of eight phthalate metabolites in human urine using HPLC-APCI-MS/MS.

Because of the ubiquity of phthalates and their potential role in increasing risk for cancer and reproductive dysfunction, the need for human exposure assessment studies is urgent. In response to this need, we developed a high-throughput, robust, sensitive, accurate, and precise assay for simultaneous measurement of trace levels of eight phthalate metabolites in human urine by HPLC−MS/MS. Human urine samples were processed using enzymatic deconjugation of the glucuronides followed by solid-phase extraction. The eluate was concentrated, and the phthalate metabolites were chromatographically resolved by reversed-phase HPLC, detected by APCI-tandem mass spectrometry, and quantified by isotope dilution. This selective analytical method permits rapid detection (7.7 min total run time) of eight urinary metabolites of the most commonly used phthalates with detection limits in the low nanagram per milliliter range. Assay precision was improved by incorporating 13C4-labeled internal standards for each of the eight...
Interactions between the basal ganglia, the pontine parabrachial region, and the trigeminal system in cat

Anatomical studies utilizing wheat germ lectin-bound horseradish peroxidase demonstrated direct connections between the pontine parabrachial region and the substantia nigra pars reticulata and to a lesser extent, the entopeduncular nucleus as well as a number of other forebrain regions including the amygdala, hypothalamus, thalamus, bed nucleus stria terminalis and substantia innominata. The pontine parabrachial region was also shown to receive direct inputs from the spinal trigeminal system and to send axons to areas surrounding trigeminal and hypoglossal motor areas. Once the anatomical connections were determined, electrophysiological studies were undertaken to investigate some of the functional aspects of these connections between the pontine parabrachial, basal ganglia and trigeminal systems. Extracellular single unit recordings were obtained from 228 cells in the dorsal pontine parabrachial region of the cat. These cells were tested for responsiveness to trigeminal sensory stimulation and activation of basal ganglia outputs (i.e. substantia nigra and entopeduncular nucleus). Twenty-two percent of pontine parabrachial cells responded to only trigeminal stimulation; 4% responded to entopeduncular nucleus only; 37% responded to substantia nigra only, and 28% responded to both substantia nigra and trigeminal stimulation. Furthermore, 43% of pontine parabrachial cells with both substantia nigra and sensory response had the sensory response altered by a preceding stimulus to the substantia nigra. Thus, the substantia nigra is shown to exert influences on both the spontaneous activities and afferent responses of pontine parabrachial neurons. The significance of these findings are discussed in relation to the importance of descending basal ganglia influences and ascending influences from the pontine parabrachial region on various sensorimotor activities.
Numerical modeling of impedance loaded multi-arm Archimedean spiral antennas

A method of moments formulation for the current on arbitrarily shaped thin wires is applied to the problem of radiation and scattering from Archimedean spiral antennas. This formulation includes impedance loading along the wires. Additional analysis is performed to take advantage of structures which exhibit discrete rotational symmetry. Numerical results for a four-arm Archimedean spiral antenna with and without impedance loading are compared, showing that the loading significantly affects the current distribution and the far-field pattern for the higher order modes. >
Suitability of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) Instars for the Parasitoid Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Studies were conducted to assess the suitability of nymphal instars of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring [=sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Biotype B] attacked by Eretmocerus mundus Mercet. Host mortality, parasitoid survival, development time, and progeny longevity were recorded. E. mundus parasitized all instars; however, 2nd instars had the highest percentage of parasitism (66.4%) and the late 4th instars (red-eyed nymphs) the lowest (8.6%). Second instars exhibited the highest proportion of host mortality and parasitoid survival. The greatest rate of parasitoid emergence (93.8%) was from 2nd-instar hosts; the lowest emergence (35.7%) was from late 4th-instar hosts. Parasitoid development was longest when parasitized in the 1st instar (16.3 d). The longevity of unfed female progeny that emerged from hosts attacked in the 2nd instar was significantly greater (2.6 d) than those from late 4th instars (1.5 d). When E. mundus parasitized 1st or 2nd instars, the parasitoid can be referred as a koinobiont, because after parasitization, the host continues to feed, grow, and develop. However, when E. mundus parasitized 3rd or 4th instar nymphs, they evidently stop development (idiobiont).
Anisotropic core–shell nanocomposites by direct covalent attachment of a side-functionalized poly(3-hexylthiophene) onto ZnO nanowires

Abstract Inorganic-organic hybrid solar cells have demonstrated great potential for the development of next generation flexible electronics to deliver efficient energy conversion. The interfacial morphology and structure between donor and acceptor are determinative to the device performance. Here, we report on novel core–shell hybrid heterojunction nanostructures by covalently grafting side-functionalized poly(3-hexylthiophene) onto ZnO nanowires without ligand linkers. Solvatochromism of polythiophene is utilized to control the polymer morphology at interface. Study into the photophysics of nanohybrids demonstrates an elongated conjugation length of the polymer backbone at the interface and fast interfacial charge transfer. These results provide critical insight into the utilization of molecular composites to control donor–acceptor interfaces and further enable the use of anisotropic nanohybrids as photovoltaic elements for the massive fabrication of high efficiency devices.
The role of HOM-C genes in segmental transformations: reexamination of the Drosophila Sex combs reduced embryonic phenotype.

Abstract Homeotic genes in the Antennapedia Complex of Drosophila specify identity of the posterior head segments; the labial segment requires Sex combs reduced ( Scr ) for proper development, Deformed ( Dfd ) specifies maxillary and mandibular identity, and labial is necessary for intercalary segment identity. Although mutations in these genes cause homeotic transformations during imago development, the only obvious homeotic transformation during embryonic head development is found in Scr mutants, where a partial transformation of the labial segment to a more anterior, maxillary identity has been reported. This transformation is unusual because DFD protein does not accumulate in the labial cells of Scr mutants, although DFD is required for development of maxillary structures. Here, we present evidence that casts doubt on whether the labial to maxillary transformation actually exists in embryos lacking Scr. The observed morphological characteristics and gene expression patterns of various mutant embryos indicate a loss of segmental identity rather than a transformation.
Nucleolus and Chromosomes in Euglena gracilis

Nuclear constituents were degraded by nucleases and proteinases. Patterns of depolymerization are described in interphasic and in mitotic stages of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris treated “in vivo” with DNAse, RNAse, trypsin and α-chymotrypsin for exposure extended from 2 to 6 hours. DNAse degraded chromatin at all stages, and it also hydrolyzed a nucleolar constituent. RNAse moderately degraded one nucleolar component and certain regions in the prophase chromosomes. Observations on control cells and RNAsetreated cells showed that the nucleolus possesses highly coiled filamentous structures which resemble chromonemata and extend into the nucleolar chromosomes. Treatment by nuclease followed by proteinase demonstrated that the nucleolar filamentous structure resembling chromonemata was degraded by DNAse and by either proteinase but was RNAse-resistant. This nucleolar structure is not regarded as the nucleolonema but as the nucleolar organizer proper, and as such chromosomal in nature.
Refinement of axial shape description

The representation and characterization of planar shapes or regions has important consequences for image processing and image content understanding. Numerous approaches have been developed to provide image analysis with efficient methods to represent shapes. We present a region-based approach to extract a refined axial regional shape description in the form of a skeleton, which is based on the use of the constrained Delaunay triangulation (CDT) and the chordal axis transform (CAT). We elaborate on the exploitation of the approximate edge co-circularity criterion that is used to refine CAT-produced skeletons. The co-circularity criterion enables efficient evaluation of CDT-generated triangle edges lying inside regions (chords), and filters out non-salient chords. The application of this criterion produces smoother skeletons, allows skeleton to have vertices with branching degree higher than three that was due to the use of CDT, and significantly reduces number of skeleton segments. In this paper, in contrast with the chord strength evaluation of the original skeleton rectification algorithm, where chord strength evaluation does not include strengths of its neighboring chords, we introduce smoothing operator to evaluate chord strength by processing chord strengths within local neighborhood. The result of region characterization based on the proposed smoothing-based chord evaluation is that skeleton is more authentic (sensitive) to original shape, while at the same time it preserves all the advantages of the original skeleton rectification scheme. A number of examples, including comparison with skeletons generated by the original CAT-skeleton rectification algorithm, are presented to demonstrate our approach at work.
INSULIN RECEPTOR (IR) DEVELOPMENT IN NORMAL (N) AND DIABETIC (D) PREGNANCIES: DOES INSULIN (I) UP REGULATE THE RECEPTOR?

Offspring of D pregnancies have increased concentrations of IR on plasma membranes associated with differences in membrane lipid composition and physical structure. We have previously suggested that increased [I] occurring in human and animal offspring of D pregnancies caused up-regulation of IR. Since ambient [I] is the difference between its secretion by the pancreas and its degradation, we have studied these factors in rat fetuses from both N and D pregnancies. Twenty nine pregnant rats of timed gestation received either saline (N, n=13) or streptozotocin 60 mg/kg (D, n=16) on d 7 of pregnancy, and were sacrificed on d 21. Pooled fetal serum I levels were comparable (47 ± 8 vs. 34 ± 2μU/ml), whereas blood glucose levels were markedly elevated in offspring of D, (39 ± 13 vs. 321 ± 63 mg/dl, p < 0.001). Tracer I binding was also elevated on liver plasma membranes from D (5.3 ± 1.0 vs. 2.1 ± 0.3%/100μ g protein, p <0.02) due to increased high and low affinity receptors. I content of fetal pancreatic islets, quantitated by immunoperoxidase staining, was significantly lower in D offspring. I degradation was significantly higher in fetal liver homogenates from D offspring compared to N, (34 ± 1.7 vs. 26 ± 1.2% degradated/30 min/100μg protein, p<0.001). Conclusions: Elevation in IR concentrations on fetal liver membranes in D pregnancies appears to occur independently of I presented to the liver. The data support the concept that I degradation and IR regulation occur by separate pathways. A causal relationship between fetal hyperglycemia and/or hyperlipidemia and alterations of membrane structure increasing IR exposure cannot be excluded.
Fructan oligomers in Poa ampla

SUMMARY Ion exchange chromatography of water extracts was used to classify the fructans in leaves of 40 temperate dicots and 110 temperate grass species. Of the 150 species studied, only Poa ampla (Merrill) contained a single /3-2,6 linked fructan series. All other species grown at 10/5 ?C day/night temperatures (16 h day) contained some /l-1,2 linked oligofructans, even when the major fructan series was /3-2,6 linked. Leaves of P. ampla plants grown at 15/10 ?C day/night temperatures contained some /3-1,2 linked fructans and raffinose in addition to the dominant /3-2,6 series, but did not contain significant amounts of 1-kestose or bifurcose (1&6-kestotetraose). Leaves of Poa arctica R.Br. and Poa bulbosa L. contained significant amounts of raffinose and various ,8-1,2 linked oligomers but no 1-kestose. In vivo synthesis of 6-kestose in leaves of P. ampla grown at 10/5 ?C proceeds in the absence of significant amounts of either 1-kestose or bifurcose. Thus P. ampla probably has a specific 6-SST (6-sucrosesucrosefructosyl transferase) and might provide a ready source of /8-2,6 linked grass fructan.
Determination of the double-layer capacity in the presence of a depolarizer

Summary A method is described by which the double-layer capacity can be measured at potentials where an a.c. polarographic wave (faradaic admittance) is present. No special assumptions are made about the nature of the faradaic admittance and the latter can therefore be measured and studied in cases where it is “anomalous”, e.g., in systems involving adsorbed depolarizers.
Proline in alpha-helical kink is required for folding kinetics but not for kinked structure, function, or stability of heat shock transcription factor.

The DNA-binding domain of the yeast heat shock transcription factor (HSF) contains a strictly conserved proline that is at the center of a kink. To define the role of this conserved proline-centered kink, we replaced the proline with a number of other residues. These substitutions did not diminish the ability of the full-length protein to support growth of yeast or to activate transcription, suggesting that the proline at the center of the kink is not conserved for function. The stability of the isolated mutant DNA-binding domains was unaltered from the wild-type, so the proline is not conserved to maintain the stability of the protein. The crystal structures of two of the mutant DNA-binding domains revealed that the helices in the mutant proteins were still kinked after substitution of the proline, suggesting that the proline does not cause the α-helical kink. So why are prolines conserved in this and the majority of other kinked α-helices if not for structure, function, or stability? The mutant DNA-binding domains are less soluble than wild-type when overexpressed. In addition, the folding kinetics, as measured by stopped-flow fluorescence, is faster for the mutant proteins. These two results support the premise that the presence of the proline is critical for the folding pathway of HSF's DNA-binding domain. The finding may also be more general and explain why kinked helices maintain their prolines.
Residual Oily Soil Distribution on Polyester/Cotton Fabric After , Laundering with Selected Detergents at Various Wash Temperatures:

The reduction of wash water temperatures to conserve energy and the changes in detergent formulations in response to environmental concerns have intensified the already difficult consumer problem o...
Alternatively spliced exons of the beta tropomyosin gene exhibit different affinities for F-actin and effects with nonmuscle caldesmon

The rat beta-tropomyosin (TM) gene expresses two isoforms via alternative RNA splicing, namely skeletal muscle beta-TM and fibroblast TM-1. The latter is also expressed in smooth muscle where it corresponds to smooth muscle beta-TM. Skeletal muscle beta-TM contains exons 7 and 10, whereas exons 6 and 11 are used in fibroblasts and smooth muscle. In order to study the properties of the alternatively spliced proteins, recombinant TMs derived from bacterial and insect cell expression systems were produced, including the normal beta gene products, fibroblast TM-1 and beta skeletal muscle TM, two carboxy-terminal chimeric TMs, TM-6/10 and TM-7/11, as well as a carboxyl-truncated version of each, TM-6Cla and TM-7Cla. The purified TM isoforms were used in actin filament association studies. The apparent TM association constants (Ka) were taken as the free concentration at half saturation and were found to be 6 microM for beta Sk TM, 8.5 for TM-6/10, 25 microM for TM-1, and 30 microM for TM-7/11 at an F-actin concentration of 42 microM. For the truncated TMs, the values determined were higher still but the binding was not carried out to full saturation. Isoforms were also produced using the baculovirus-insect cell system which produces proteins with an acetylated amino terminus as is normally found in vivo. This modification significantly enhanced the F-actin association of TM-1 but not the beta skeletal TM or the other isoforms. Fibroblast TM-2 or TM-3, both products of the alpha gene, enhanced the affinity of TM-1 for F-actin, demonstrating different isoforms can act cooperatively on binding to actin. This effect was not detected with the other expressed beta gene products. The presence of 83 kDa nonmuscle caldesmon was found to enhance the binding of TM-1 for F-actin. This effect was dependent on the presence of both exons 6 and 11, as caldesmon had little effect on the other beta gene products. Collectively these results demonstrate TMs differ in their affinity for F-actin, which can be altered by other TMs or actin-binding proteins. The beta tropomyosin isoforms were fluorescently-tagged and microinjected into cultured cells to study their in vivo localization where it was found that each of the full-length TMs bound to microfilaments but, at the light microscopy level, the isoforms were not differentially localized in these fibroblasts.
Factors Influencing Radiation Resistance of Vegetative Bacteria and Spores Associated with Radappertization of Meat

The influence of some factors involved in radappertization of meats on the radiation resistance of two isolates of Moraxella-Acinetobacter (M-A), Microcodes radiodurans, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus spores was determined. Combinaton of subfreezing temperature and lyophilization increased the resistance of vegetative cells and showed M-A isolates to be most resistant. Cells lyophilized in ground beef were less resistant than cells lyophilized in a commercial culture medium. A preirradiation heat treatment prior to lyophilization sensitized the cells to radiation. No appreciable difference in resistance was found with the presence of up to 8% sodium chloride during irradiation of M-A and M. radiodurans. The radiation resistance of B. cereus spores was not affected by changes in temperature, drying, or suspending medium to the same extent as were the vegetative cells. B. cereus spores were more resistant at ambient temperature than at -30 ± 10°C. All these factors must be considered in assessing the magnitude of radiation resistance of various organisms, be cause there is no predictable pattern of radiation resistance.
Selecting sentences for multidocument summaries using randomized local search

We present and evaluate a randomized local search procedure for selecting sentences to include in a multidocument summary. The search favors the inclusion of adjacent sentences while penalizing the selection of repetitive material, in order to improve intelligibility without unduly affecting informativeness. Sentence similarity is determined using both surface-oriented measures and semantic groups obtained from merging the output templates of an information extraction subsystem. In a comparative evaluation against two DUC-like baselines and three simpler versions of our system, we found that our randomized local search method provided substantial improvements in both content and intelligibility, while the use of the IE groups also appeared to contribute a small further improvement in content.
Human papillomavirus in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and cervix of a patient with psoriasis and extensive ultraviolet radiation exposure

Abstract "High-risk" human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are associated with intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer of the uterine cervix. HPV has also been found in nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), especially in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of immunosuppressed patients. Recently, lesions of psoriasis have been shown to harbor HPV, and patients with psoriasis often have a history of extensive therapy with ultraviolet radiation (UVR). UVR is the major known risk factor in the occurrence of NMSC, in which HPV may be a cofactor for SCC. We report an otherwise healthy, nonimmunosuppressed patient with psoriasis who had a history of extensive exposure to UVR and experienced multiple SCCs on UV-exposed body sites. By the polymerase chain reaction method, we detected HPV in 5 of 9 SCCs. Automated sequencing showed HPV types 12 and 17. Only 1 of 3 normal skin specimens was HPV positive (HPV type 17). This positive specimen was from UV-exposed skin; one of the two HPV-negative, normal skin specimens was located on a body site not exposed to sun. In addition, HPV type 62 was found in a brush specimen of the uterine cervix. This case report suggests an association between psoriasis, HPV infection, and UVR exposure, in onset of SCC. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:681-6.)
An electron-dense extracellular material in the nervous system of Aplysia

An electron dense material is found in the extracellular space of the nervous system of Aplysia, a marine mollusc whose ganglia are widely studied by neurobiologists. This material appears to consist of irregular electron-dense granules, with diameters of approximately 600 A. This material is found between the glial cells that surround the neuronal perikarya. It is not found in other regions of the nervous system. Because it is found in the ganglion cell layer of the nervous system and because the neurons contain what may be the precursor of this substance, the electron-dense material is regarded as most probably being a neuronal product. The importance of this material is that it is one of the few examples of visible structure in the extracellular space of the nervous system.
Three-dimensional instabilities of oscillatory equatorial zonal shear flows

In this paper, we investigate the linear stability of oscillating zonal flows on the equatorial β-plane in the presence of fully three-dimensional disturbances. To exclude inflection point effects, we focus on the simplest case of a linear meridional shear with time-mean and oscillating components. For purely oscillatory background flows we find that in addition to resonant excitation of ‘additive’ type that occurs in the zonally invariant case, resonant excitation of ‘difference’ type is also possible. For flows with an oscillatory shear superimposed on an unstable time-mean shear it is shown that while the oscillatory shear has a stabilizing influence on disturbances with a small zonal wave number k, at higher k the effect of the oscillating shear diminishes and can even be destabilizing. Overall, a small oscillatory shear tends to reduce the fastest growth rate in the system and pushes the dominant k to higher values. Calculation of dominant zonal and vertical modes shows that the zonally asymmetric modes dominate a large portion of the parameter space, especially at high time-mean background shear and low oscillatory shear. As a result, the dominant vertical mode can have a somewhat larger vertical scale than in the zonally invariant case. At intermediate values of the time-mean shear the growth rate is relatively flat with respect to the zonal mode number, with maximum growth rate occurring in bands of high and low k. We have uncovered a rich assortment of vertical and zonal modes which are likely to play a role in the nonlinear evolution of equatorial flows.
Arl13b in Primary Cilia Regulates the Migration and Placement of Interneurons in the Developing Cerebral Cortex

Coordinated migration and placement of interneurons and projection neurons lead to functional connectivity in the cerebral cortex; defective neuronal migration and the resultant connectivity changes underlie the cognitive defects in a spectrum of neurological disorders. Here we show that primary cilia play a guiding role in the migration and placement of postmitotic interneurons in the developing cerebral cortex and that this process requires the ciliary protein, Arl13b. Through live imaging of interneuronal cilia, we show that migrating interneurons display highly dynamic primary cilia and we correlate cilia dynamics with the interneuron's migratory state. We demonstrate that the guidance cue receptors essential for interneuronal migration localize to interneuronal primary cilia, but their concentration and dynamics are altered in the absence of Arl13b. Expression of Arl13b variants known to cause Joubert syndrome induce defective interneuronal migration, suggesting that defects in cilia-dependent interneuron migration may in part underlie the neurological defects in Joubert syndrome patients.