cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toxic equivalency factors of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin, dibenzofuran and biphenyl congeners based on early life stage mortality in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract Toxic equivalency factors (TEFs), which relate the potency of individual polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxin (PCDD), dibenzofuran (PCDF), and biphenyl (PCB) congeners to 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD), are used to assess the risk to fish early life stage development posed by complex mixtures of these congeners in eggs. Newly fertilized rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) eggs were injected with graded doses of 5 PCDD, 4 PCDF or 4 nonortho substituted PCB congeners, and sac fry mortality was used to determine TEFs. Potencies of non-ortho substituted PCBs in causing early life stage mortality were much lower than expected based on Ah receptor binding affinities in mammals and 4 mono-ortho and 5 di-ortho substituted PCB congeners did not cause rainbow trout early life stage mortality at doses of 24 300–130 000 ng/g egg. To determine if increased elimination of PCBs, relative to PCDDs and PCDFs, was responsible for the lower toxic potency of PCBs in fish compared to mammals, PCDD, PCDF and PCB congeners were injected into newly fertilized rainbow trout eggs and the percent dose remaining 35 days later at the sac fry stage of development was determined. The percent dose of various PCB congeners remaining in sac fry (62–88%) was similar to that of PCDD and PCDF congeners (78–91%), indicating that increased elimination is not responsible for the extremely low potency of the non-ortho substituted PCB congeners or for the failure of the mono- and di-ortho substituted PCB congeners to cause rainbow trout early life stage mortality.
A potential early physiological marker for CNS oxygen toxicity: hyperoxic hyperpnea precedes seizure in unanesthetized rats breathing hyperbaric oxygen

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) stimulates presumptive central CO2-chemoreceptor neurons, increases minute ventilation (Vmin), decreases heart rate (HR) and, if breathed sufficiently long, produces centr...
Reply to Letter to the Editor - ‘resident safety: the perspective of quality improvement’

No abstract available! (Published: 25 November 2014) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2014, 4 : 26219 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v4.26219 This is a Response to a Letter to the Editor. Please find the original paper here and the Letter to the Editor here .
A Modular Scintillation Camera for Use in Nuclear Medicine

A "modular" scintillation camera is discussed as an alternative to using Anger cameras for gamma-ray imaging in nuclear medicine. Each module is an independent gamma camera and consists of a scintillation crystal, light pipe and mask plane, PMT's, and processing electronics. Groups of modules efficiently image radionuclide distributions by effectively utilizing crystal area. Performance of each module is maximized by using Monte-Carlo computer simulations to determine the optical design of the camera, optimizing the signal processing of the PMT signals using maximum-likelihood (ML) estimators, and incorporating digital lookup tables. Each event is completely processed in 2 ?sec, and FWHM of the PSF over the crystal area is expected to be 3 mm. Both one-dimensional and two-dimensional prototypes are tested for spatial and energy resolution.
Le rat est mort ! Ou le jeu de la tradition dans l’Hamlet de William Shakespeare (Notes de mise en scène)

L’article decrit le processus de creation du spectacle Hamlet de William Shakespeare adapte et mis en scene par Cristina Iovita au Theâtre de l’Utopie (Montreal, mars-avril 2010). La premiere partie examine les rapports entre le personnage de Polonius et celui de Pantalon, personnage typique de la commedia dell’arte qui donne la « cle » de l’adaptation scenique. La deuxieme partie presente la reconstruction du texte de Shakespeare sur les structures de base de la commedia dell’arte, structures identifiees et inspirees par la « scene des acteurs » (Acte II, Scene 2) du texte original. La troisieme partie suit les innovations de style amenees par l’insertion dans la trame scenique du tango argentin, une danse narrative de type populaire exprimant les rites de la passion. La conclusion porte sur le potentiel d’actualisation du repertoire classique par la recuperation des moyens sceniques traditionnels.
Wideband balanced AlGaN/GaN HEMT MMIC low noise amplifier

A 3-16 GHz wideband AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) low noise amplifier (LNA) on silicon carbide substrate, using balanced configuration with a coplanar waveguide Lange coupler, is designed and fabricated. This LNA shows a minimum noise figure of 4 dB with associated gain of 20 dB with gain flatness of /spl plusmn/3 dB across the 3-16 GHz frequency range. The output third order intercept point of 38 dBm is achieved at 8 GHz.
Maintenance and expression of heterologous genes in chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The chloroplast genome ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii has been transformed with a chimeric gene consisting of the chloroplastatpA promoter and the bacterial gene for aminoglycoside adenine transferase (aadA). TheatpA-aadA cassette has been placed within the chloroplast DNAEcoRI restriction enzyme fragment 14, or within the chloroplastBamH1 fragment 10. The chimeric constructs were introduced into the chloroplast by particle bombardment. Integration of the cassette into chloroplast DNA then occurred via homologous recombination of sequences flanking the cassette with their corresponding chloroplast sequences. We demonstrate that the chloroplastatpA promoter inatpA-aadA routinely recombines with its endogenous counterpart, resulting in heteroplasmic chloroplast DNA populations that may persist for many generations. The heterologous gene does not require a 3′ inverted repeat sequence for its expression. TheatpA-aadA gene copy number, which is dictated here by its position in the chloroplast genome, is proportional to the steady state level ofatpA-aadA mRNA. However, neither genomic position, gene copy number, or mRNA level have a significant effect on cellular resistance to spectinomycin, nor activity of theaadA gene productin vitro. These results suggest that, in the case ofaadA, the limiting step for expression of this gene is at the translational or post-translational level. TheatpA-aadA cassette should prove a useful model for future studies on the maintenance and expression of heterologous genes inC. reinhardtii chloroplasts.
Commitment and proliferation kinetics of human lymphocytes stimulated in vitro: Effects of α‐MM addition and suboptimal dose on concanavalin a response

We have examined the effect of alpha-methylmannoside (alpha-MM) addition to concanavalin A (con A)-stimulated peripheral human lymphocytes. With a previously established kinetic model, we have, from the time course of proliferation, extracted the responding clone size, rate of entry of this clone into S phase and the length of the lag period. We have studied the effect of con A dose and time of addition of alpha-MM to optimally stimulated cells on these kinetic parameters. We show that neither a low dose of con A nor an early addition of alpha-MM to optimally stimulated cells results in a change in the responding clone size. This is, all of the potentially cells appears to become "committed" to enter the cell cycle regardless of the presence of alpha-MM early in the culture or in the presence of suboptimal stimulation. However, the rate at which these committed cells enter the first S phase is a function of the dose of con A and time of addition of alpha-MM and varies over a wide range. It is the variation in this parameter that accounts for virtually all of the diminished response previously interpreted as a time-dependent irreversible commitment of mitogen-stimulated cells. The previous work using only fixed time points for measuring thymidine uptake and the concept of commitment must be reevaluated in light of the kinetic evidence presented.
Functional analysis of wild=type and altered tryptophan operon promoters of Salmonella typhimurium in Escherichia coli.

A plasmid was constructed bearing a chimeric promoter in which a functionally important region of the Salmonella typhimurium trp promoter was replaced by a foreign sequence. The plasmid was introduced into Escherichia coli for functional and mutational analyses. This hybrid promoter was found to be essentially inactive. Spontaneously arising single base-pair mutations were selected that restored function to the inactivated trp promoter. These mutant promoters were characterized and compared to the wild-type promoter in terms of nucleotide sequence, in vivo and in vitro transcription behavior, and the specificity and kinetics of their binding interactions with E. coli RNA polymerase. These results further define the functional importance of specific segments of the trp promoter and support a two-domain model of RNA polymerase-promoter interaction.
A defect model for the mixed alkali effect

The mixed alkali effect is postulated to be due to the existence of distinct sites for specific alkali ions. The sites begin to form in the liquid state and are frozen in as the glass cools below the strain point. Long range diffusion of the alkali ions requires formation of more mobile “mixed alkali defects” in which ions of one type exist and diffuse on sites of the opposite ion. The concentration of defects increases with temperature and with decreasing difference between the field strengths of ions. Defect formation at temperatures above the strain point causes the decreased viscosity of mixed alkali compositions.
Optical study on the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase of Fe-I-boracite

The ferroelectricity of the Fe-I boracite is confirmed by the direct observation of domain switching. By using this phenomenon, the birefringence in the 3 principal sections of the indicatrix is measured as a function of temp. The abrupt and large change of the electrostrictive nature along the ferroelec. axis at the ferroelec. transformation is demonstrated.
Moderate caloric restriction increases diaphragmatic antioxidant enzyme mRNA, but not when combined with lifelong exercise.

Diaphragmatic antioxidant enzymes are upregulated following acute and long-term treadmill exercise, but the effect of lifelong voluntary exercise (E) on diaphragmatic antioxidants is unknown. Therefore, 10-week old Fisher 344 rats were assigned to either: (a) sedentary ad libitum (AL) fed (24AL; n = 6); (b) E + 8% caloric restriction (24ECR; n = 9); or (c) sedentary + 8% caloric restriction (24CR; n = 9) groups. Diaphragms were harvested from animals at 24 months of age. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA in addition to catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-ZnSOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) mRNA and protein levels were measured. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and citrate synthase (CS) activity were measured to assess antioxidant status and oxidative capacity, respectively. The 24CR group demonstrated increased GPX, HO-1, MnSOD, and CAT mRNA compared to 24AL and 24ECR. Interestingly, the increased mRNA in 24CR animals did not result in elevated protein leve...
Facilitating inactive awake states in preterm infants: a study of three interventions

Inactive awake behavioral states have been associated with reduced heart rates and more successful feeding in preterm infants. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of three different interventions to facilitate these optimal feeding states. Twenty preterm infants (gestational ages 27-33 weeks, M = 31.6, SD = 1.7; birth weights 931-2,140 grams, M = 34, SD = 373) serving as their own controls were randomly administered nonnutritive sucking, nonnutritive sucking plus rocking, and stroking interventions; and a control condition. There were significantly more inactive awake states with the nonnutritive sucking and nonnutritive sucking plus rocking interventions than with the stroking intervention and the control conditions. The results suggest that there are interventions that can help preterm infants in the transition from gavage to oral feeding and potentially shorten their hospital stays.
The partial structure of human plasma prealbumin and retinol-binding protein.

Abstract A determination of the partial NH 2 -terminal amino acid sequence of human plasma prealbumin suggests that the molecule is a tetramer and that the subunits may have identical, or nearly identical, primary structures. The amino terminal sequence of retinol-binding protein is unrelated.
Cheiloplasty in the treatment of facial paralysis

There have been dramatic improvements in the treatment of facial paralysis. These include the successful use of free autogenous nerve grafting, nerve crossover techniques, regional masticatory muscle transposition, and free muscle grafts. The techniques are applied to total, partial, and regional paresis. The bulk of information on rehabilitation of the face has come from clinical empiricism, but basic research in nerve and muscle physiology and attempts at multiple classifications regarding indications and criteria have added to the splendor of this drama. One facet that has not been emphasized is the use of cheiloplasty in long-standing facial paralysis. Long-standing facial paralysis has both a neural and muscular deficit that cannot be rectified by a single concept or operation. It is essential to regionalize the rehabilitation, implant a kinetic muscular potential, supply some static support and elevation, and address the nonfunctional muscles about the paralyzed lips. This latter concept includes lip shortening and lip-flap transposition. A coordinated combination of these techniques has the best opportunity of maximizing the improvement in long-standing facial paralysis associated with severe muscle atrophy.
New constraint on the maintenance of Mn nodules at the sediment surface

Investigations into the association of manganese nodules with pelagic sediment in many areas of the deep ocean have mainly considered either (1) the source of metals in nodules, or (2) the occurrence of nodules predominantly at the sediment surface. The second problem is duscussed here. The mechanisms previously proposed have failed to consider that nodules retain their orientation at the sediment surface for several hundred-thousand years, during which time several tens of centimetres of sediment are fluxed down beneath them. Although we have no conclusive evidence, we consider the most plausible explanation for the surface occurrence of nodules to be bioturbation by infauna.
Sensitization of radiolabeled monoclonal antibody therapy using bromodeoxyuridine.

Background. Although treatment with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) against tumor-associated antigens offers the potential for targeted therapy, the efficacy of this approach is limited by the low dose-rate delivered. This could be overcome by increasing tumor sensitivity through the use of radiation sensitizers. Methods and Results. In vitro studies using LS174T human colon cancer cells showed that exposure to 1 μM bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd), a thymidine-analog radiation sensitizer, at a plasma concentration easily achievable through systemic administration in both animals and patients, increased the cytotoxicity of continuous low dose-rate irradiation delivered by a cesium-137 irradiator (at 12 cGy/h which resembles the dose-rate delivered by radiolabeled MoAb therapy)
Recovery of Straight Homogeneous Generalized Cylinders Using Contour and Intensity Information

Generalized cylinders have been the focus of considerable vision research. Straight homogeneous generalized cylinders are a class of generalized cylinders whose cross sections are scaled versions of a reference curve. In this paper, a general method for recovering straight homogeneous generalized cylinders is outlined. The method proposed in this paper combines constraints derived from both contour and intensity information. First, a method of "ruling" straight homogeneous generalized cylinder (SHGC) images is given. Next, these ruled images are studied to determine what parameters of the underlying shape can be computed. We show there exist equivalent classes of SHGCs that pro-duce the same set of contours, both extremal and discontinuous, thus one can not recover an SHGC from contour information alone. We also show that the sign and magnitude of the Gaussian curvature at a point varies among members of a contour-equivalent class. This motivates the need for incorporating additional information into the recovery process. Finally, we derive a method for recovering the tilt of the object using the ruled SHGC contour and intensity values along cross-sectional geodesics.
Combined effects of ethanol and propranolol on sleep time in the mouse.

Abstract d, l-Propranolol (40 mg/kg) was found to enhance ethanol-induced narcosis. Although dextropropranolol and levo-propranolol both increased sleep time, practolol, a beta blocking agent devoid of local anesthetic properties, failed to enhance ethanol-induced narcosis. Thus beta blocking activity alone is not a requirement for prolongation of ethanol induced narcosis. Propranolol's ability to augment ethanol induced narcosis may be the result of its CNS depressant properties and a concomitant depression cardiovascular function.
High Mechanophore Content Polyester-Acrylate ABA Block Copolymers: Synthesis and Sonochemical Activation.

In the past five years, the covalent mechanochemistry of polymeric1 and small molecule2 systems has generated a great deal of interest, in terms of both material science and synthetic chemistry. Most studies to date have focused on systems with a single mechanophore per polymer chain,3–7 an approach that has enabled the discovery of new mechanically induced chemistry and tools for stress monitoring. Single molecule architectures are likely to be limited, however, for applications in stress-responsive mechanical properties or scalable stoichiometric reactivity, due to low mechanophore concentration.8 gem-Dihalocyclopropane mechanophores have demonstrated a rich array of mechanochemical activity,9–12 and their post polymerization addition to polybutadiene based polymers has yielded the highest mechanophore content13 and highest single-chain toughness14 demonstrated in a synthetic polymer to date. While simple to synthesize, olefin containing polymers suffer from inherent instability due to ambient light, heat, and oxygen, often causing uncontrolled crosslinking. Furthermore, it is difficult to create complex architectures based on the post polymerization modification of polybutadiene. In considering more robust and useful synthetic approaches, we start from the desire to engineer non-scissile mechanophores, which typically means that ring systems must be embedded along the polymer backbone.15 Backbone rings cannot easily be introduced by the traditional polymerization of vinyl monomers, and although ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) has been used,11 the synthesis of complex fused ring monomers can be cumbersome. Furthermore, the ROMP methodology produces olefin-containing backbones whose stability is limited by the factors discussed above. While a rich array of functional groups can easily be incorporated into condensation polymers, mild and controllable polycondensation procedures typically generate polymers of low molecular weight (MW). This limits both bulk material utility and mechanochemical activation by pulsed ultrasound, where high molecular weights (> 40 kDa) are typically required to experience sufficient shear forces along the polymer backbone. Here, we report that the synthesis of an ABA triblock copolymer harvests the advantages of polycondensation and radical polymerization, giving access to stable, mechanophore-rich polymers of desirable molecular weight.
Contralateral Hydrothorax following Subclavian Catheter Replacement Using a Guidewire

Replacement of central venous catheters over a guidewire is now practiced throughout the United States. Although potential mechanical complications of this technique have been mentioned in the literature, few such complications have been documented. We report a patient who suffered a fatal contralateral hydrothorax following replacement of a central venous catheter using the guidewire technique.
The Commune in Chinese Development

Agricultural collectivization in China took place mainly in the three and -one-half years between the summer of 1955 and the end of 1958. Primary-stage agricultural producer cooperatives were formed widely in the second half of 1955, with the proportion of rural households participating increasing from 14% in March to 63% by the end of the year (Walker, 1965: 9-10). These were typically composed of about 30 families which pooled their land and capital assets but retained individual ownership of them. Distribution to members, made from the funds remaining after taxes, costs of production, and so forth were deducted from gross revenues, first provided for their contribution of land and capital (30%-60% of the total), with the residual distributed according to their labor input (Donnithorne, 1967: 38). The following year almost all of these were made into advanced-stage agricultural producer cooperatives, in which the participation of rural households increased from 4% at the end of 1955 to 51% in February
Why does rheumatoid arthritis involve the joints

The integrity of the synovium depends on the adhesion molecule cadherin-11. Mice that are deficient in this molecule are resistant to induced inflammatory arthritis.
Manual ventilation during resuscitation: does device matter?

Delivering effective positive pressure breaths to newborns during the first few breaths of life is an ongoing challenge. Because we have learned a great deal about physiologic effects of acute lung injury and lifelong consequences resulting from its outcomes, perspectives on delivering resuscitation
Phase II study of high central dose Gamma Knife radiosurgery and marimastat in patients with recurrent malignant glioma.

Abstract Purpose: To assess the outcome of high central dose Gamma Knife radiosurgery plus marimastat in patients with recurrent malignant glioma. Methods and Materials: Twenty-six patients with recurrent malignant glioma were enrolled in a prospective Phase II study between November 1996 and January 1999. The radiosurgery dose was prescribed at the 25–30% isodose surface to increase the dose substantially within the tumor's presumably hypoxic core. Marimastat was administered after radiosurgery to restrict regional tumor progression. Survival was compared with that of historical patients treated at our institution with standard radiosurgery. Results: The median times to progression after radiosurgery for Grade 3 and 4 patients was 31 and 15 weeks, respectively. The corresponding median survival time after radiosurgery was 68 and 38 weeks. The median survival time after radiosurgery in the historical patients was 59 and 44 weeks. Conclusion: The dual strategies of using high central dose radiosurgery to overcome tumor hypoxia together with marimastat to inhibit local tumor invasion may offer a small survival advantage for recurrent Grade 3 tumors; they do not offer an advantage for recurrent Grade 4 tumors.
Lineage-restricted neural precursors can be isolated from both the mouse neural tube and cultured ES cells.

We have previously identified multipotent neuroepithelial (NEP) stem cells and lineage-restricted, self-renewing precursor cells termed NRPs (neuron-restricted precursors) and GRPs (glial-restricted precursors) present in the developing rat spinal cord (A. Kalyani, K. Hobson, and M. S. Rao, 1997, Dev. Biol. 186, 202–223; M. S. Rao and M. Mayer-Proschel, 1997, Dev. Biol. 188, 48–63; M. Mayer-Proschel, A. J. Kalyani, T. Mujtaba, and M. S. Rao, 1997, Neuron 19, 773–785). We now show that cells identical to rat NEPs, NRPs, and GRPs are present in mouse neural tubes and that immunoselection against cell surface markers E-NCAM and A2B5 can be used to isolate NRPs and GRPs, respectively. Restricted precursors similar to NRPs and GRPs can also be isolated from mouse embryonic stem cells (ES cells). ES cell-derived NRPs are E-NCAM immunoreactive, undergo self-renewal in defined medium, and differentiate into multiple neuronal phenotypes in mass culture. ES cells also generate A2B5-immunoreactive cells that are similar to E9 NEP-cell-derived GRPs and can differentiate into oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Thus, lineage restricted precursors can be generated in vitro from cultured ES cells and these restricted precursors resemble those derived from mouse neural tubes. These results demonstrate the utility of using ES cells as a source of late embryonic precursor cells.
8.2.3 Demystifying Ambiguity in The Design of Amorphous Systems

Designing amorphous systems is challenging because of the broad scope of the task. The design team must integrate various solution elements, such as hardware, software, service, and infrastructure, while resolving the communication challenges among different domain-experts. This research begins with the observation that, at the onset of an amorphous system-oriented project, design teams struggle because they are limited to knowledge of fewer than 4 of the 6 W's (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How); rather than having detailed functional or structural specifications as is the case with hardware or software products. The proposed scenario-based approaches enable design teams to effectively deal with ambiguity and to communicate their ideas among team members and managers, as well as with customers through a common language. Based on the Scenario-based Design for Amorphous Systems, methods such as the Scenario Graph and the Scenario Menu help design teams through the exploration stage of a new system development. A case-study from industry demonstrates how a multi-disciplinary design team extracted high-level functions and requirements from scenarios dealing with an open-ended project theme. The integrated framework of Scenario-based Design for Amorphous Systems guides the design teams in visualizing and organizing scenarios and making decisions in order to define an amorphous system.
Cloning of a putative human neurotransmitter receptor expressed in skeletal muscle and brain.

Abstract With the use of the degenerated nucleotides that contain the conserved sequence of G protein-coupled receptor, we have identified a 648-bp clone (HDGRC02) from human genomic DNA with significant sequence homology to human neurotransmitter receptors. HDGRC02 was then used as a probe for the screening of full length gene. From human Lambda DASH II genomic library, a 1.6 Kb clone encoded a full length gene was isolated and named putative neurotransmitter receptor (PNR). PNR has a single open reading frame which predicts a 38.3 KD protein of 338 amino acids with seven transmembrane domain topography. The amino acid sequence of PNR exhibits considerable homology to the rat 5-HT 1D receptor with 35% amino acid identity and 56% amino acid similarity. PNR also shows significant sequence homology to the 5-HT 1D receptor from Japanese puffer fish fugu, to the 5-HT 4L receptor from mouse, to the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor and to the D2 dopamine receptor. Northern blot analysis indicates that PNR is expressed in skeletal muscle and selected areas of the brain. A chromosome mapping study located the PNR gene with human chromosome band of 6q23. The findings in the present study demonstrate that PNR is a putative neurotransmitter receptor.
A genetic risk score combining ten psoriasis risk loci improves disease prediction

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease affecting 2–3% of Caucasians. Recent genetic association studies have identified multiple psoriasis risk loci; however, most of these loci contribute only modestly to disease risk. In this study, we investigated whether a genetic risk score (GRS) combining multiple loci could improve psoriasis prediction. Two approaches were used: a simple risk alleles count (cGRS) and a weighted (wGRS) approach. Ten psoriasis risk SNPs were genotyped in 2815 case-control samples and 858 family samples. We found that the total number of risk alleles in the cases was significantly higher than in controls, mean 13.16 (SD 1.7) versus 12.09 (SD 1.8), p = 4.577×10−40. The wGRS captured considerably more risk than any SNP considered alone, with a psoriasis OR for high-low wGRS quartiles of 10.55 (95% CI 7.63–14.57), p = 2.010×10−65. To compare the discriminatory ability of the GRS models, receiver operating characteristic curves were used to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). The AUC for wGRS was significantly greater than for cGRS (72.0% versus 66.5%, p = 2.13×10−8). Additionally, the AUC for HLA-C alone (rs10484554) was equivalent to the AUC for all nine other risk loci combined (66.2% versus 63.8%, p = 0.18), highlighting the dominance of HLA-C as a risk locus. Logistic regression revealed that the wGRS was significantly associated with two subphenotypes of psoriasis, age of onset (p = 4.91×10−6) and family history (p = 0.020). Using a liability threshold model, we estimated that the 10 risk loci account for only11.6% of the genetic variance in psoriasis. In summary, we found that a GRS combining 10 psoriasis risk loci captured significantly more risk than any individual SNP and was associated with early onset of disease and a positive family history. Notably, only a small fraction of psoriasis heritability is captured by the common risk variants identified to date.
Electronic structure of small sodium clusters

We have calculated the electronic structure of three small clusters of sodium consisting of 9, 15 and 27 atoms. These clusters have the cubic symmetry of the first three shells of atoms in body-centered cubic metallic sodium and were not allowed to relax. The total energy per atom was found to decrease as one goes from Na9 to Na27, with the difference between Na15 and Na27 being smaller than the difference between Na9, and Na15. The charge density and density of states (DOS) of these clusters was also examined. The charge density of the interior atoms was found to become more spherical as more shells are added to the cluster. The cluster densities of states do not resemble closely the free electron like DOS of bulk metallic sodium.
Magnetic and structural studies of Cr2O5 and Cr3O8

Abstract The infrared spectra, indexed X-ray powder diffraction patterns, magnetic susceptibilities between 80 and 300 K, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra at 80 and 300 K are reported for Cr2O5 and Cr3O8. The results indicate that both oxides are Cr3+/Cr6+ mixed-valence compounds which contain CrO6 octahedra and CrO4 tetrahedra in different ratios. The valence formula for Cr2O5 is Cr3+2Cr6+4O15 and that of Cr3O8 is Cr3+2Cr6+7O24. The X-ray powder data for Cr2O5 and Cr3O8 could be indexed on the basis of a monoclinic unit cell (a = 12.01(2), b = 8.52(1), c = 9.39(1) A β = 92.0(1)°) and an orthorhombic unit cell (a = 12.01(7), b = 36.60(7) and c = 3.82(1) A ) , respectively.
Reactive sputtering of substoichiometric Ta2Ox for resistive memory applications

A major class of resistive memory devices is based on transition metal oxides, where mobile oxygen vacancies allow these devices to exhibit multiple resistance states. Ta2O5 based devices in particular have recently demonstrated impressive endurance and forming-free results. Deposition of substoichiometric Ta2Ox (x < 5) films is a critical process in order to produce the required oxygen vacancies in these devices. This paper describes a physical vapor deposition (PVD) reactive sputtering process to deposit substoichiometric Ta2Ox films. The desired film stoichiometry is achieved by feedback control of the oxygen partial pressure in the PVD chamber. A calibration procedure based on Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy is described for locating the optimum oxygen partial pressure.
Clades, ecological amplitudes, and ecomorphs: phylogenetic effects and persistence of primitive plant communities in the Pennsylvanian-age tropical wetlands

Abstract Pennsylvanian-age wetland plant communities and landscape gradients exhibit persistent species composition and ecomorphic structure. Such patterns are attributable in large part to strong phylogenetic partitioning of ecological resource space at the level of higher taxa. Each of four major class-rank clades in tropical wetlands was centered in a physically distinct part of the lowland ecosystem. Once established in these physical settings clades tended to resist displacement until removed by physically driven extinction. Lycopsid trees were the principal dominants of the wettest habitats and had subpartitioned these environments along generic lines. Seed plants were the dominants on well to poorly drained clastic substrates, a diverse set of habitats reflected in high diversity of species and architectures. Sphenopsids were most abundant in aggradational environments subject to high levels of physical stress. Ferns initially were interstitial opportunists and colonizers of disturbed areas in a variety of environments. These ecological patterns were established in concert with the architectural radiation of the vascular plants, which occurred during the Devonian-Mississippian transition and established the major classes. Within the wetlands, the replacement of species by close relatives drawn from the same families or genera contributed significantly to persistence of communities and landscape gradients. Replacement was more likely to occur from within a clade where similar ecologies already existed, than from across major clades between which the basic ecologies were different. Possibly interacting with the phylogenetic factors were community and landscape level multispecies effects that may have placed limits on species replacement patterns. The existence of such emergent properties of multispecies assemblages is suggested by a breakdown of the system beginning with major, climatically induced extinctions at the Middle-Late Pennsylvanian transition. Following extinctions of the major Middle Pennsylvanian trees, opportunistic ferns gave rise to dominants in many parts of the wetlands, perhaps due to loss of some aspects of system self-regulation. As climatic drying continued seed plants began their largely passive rise to dominance in most kinds of habitats.
An architectural approach to statistical relational AI

The architectural approach to AI focuses on the fixed structure underlying intelligence. Applying it to statistical relational AI should further stimulate the application of statistical relational techniques across AI, while focusing research on their commonalities, (in)compatibilities and integration. It could also yield new architectures that are simpler yet more comprehensive than today's best.
Very-low-threshold current density continuous-wave quantum-dot laser diode

Data are presented showing that a quantum-dot laser diode can achieve a continuous-wave room-temperature threshold current density as low as 11.7 A/cm 2 . The broad-area laser diode operates at a wavelength of 1.22 mum and delivers a power level of 0.42 W with 40% maximum slope efficiency in p-up mounting without heatsinking. Spectral measurements indicate the onset of stimulated emission at ~6 A/cm 2 .
Mitigating snow-induced roof collapses using climate data and weather forecasts

A method to predict extreme roof snow loads is described. The procedure utilizes a combination of recent climate data (antecedent snow water equivalent information), probabilistic precipitation amount forecasts and historical extreme snow water equivalent data. Use of the procedure is illustrated using precipitation amount probabilities derived directly from a statistical (MOS) guidance product and using conditional climatological probabilities, both with a lead time of 36 hours. The procedure is applied across a portion of the north-eastern United States where extreme snow loads during January 1996 resulted in widespread roof damage, injuries, and a death. Based on the 90th percentiles of the forecast precipitation amount distributions, the procedure accurately identified the areas in which greater than 100-year return interval snow loads were observed. Copyright © 1999 Royal Meteorological Society
Ion mobility-mass spectrometry of charge-reduced protein complexes reveals general trends in the collisional ejection of compact subunits

Multiprotein complexes have been shown to play critical roles across a wide range of cellular functions, but most probes of protein quaternary structure are limited in their ability to analyze complex mixtures and polydisperse structures using small amounts of total protein. Ion mobility-mass spectrometry offers a solution to many of these challenges, but relies upon gas-phase measurements of intact multiprotein complexes, subcomplexes, and subunits that correlate well with solution structures. The greatest bottleneck in such workflows is the generation of representative subcomplexes and subunits. Collisional activation of complexes can act to produce product ions reflective of protein complex composition, but such product ions are typically challenging to interpret in terms of their relationship to solution structure due to their typically string-like conformations following activation and subsequent dissociation. Here, we used ion-ion chemistry to perform a broad survey of the gas-phase dissociation of charge-reduced protein complex ions, revealing general trends associated with the collisional ejection of compact, rather than unfolded, protein subunits. Furthermore, we also discover peptide and co-factor dissociation channels that dominate the product ion populations generated for such charge reduced complexes. We assess both sets of observations and discuss general principles that can be extended to the analysis of protein complex ions having unknown structures.
The role of δ-opioid receptors in estrogen facilitation of lordosis behavior

The present study investigated the role of delta-opioid receptors (ORs) in estrogen facilitation of female rat reproductive behavior (lordosis). Infusion of 2 microg of the selective delta-OR agonist [D-Pen(2),D-Pen(5)]-enkephalin (DPDPE), into the third ventricle facilitated lordosis behavior in ovariectomized (OVX) rats injected with estrogen (E) 48 and 24 h before behavioral testing. Pretreatment with the selective delta-OR antagonist naltrindole (NTDL) blocked DPDPE effects on lordosis behavior. Ventricular infusion of NTDL (40 microg) also suppressed lordosis behavior in fully receptive OVX rats primed with both E and progesterone (P). In addition, NTDL blocked lordosis behavior when infused into the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) but not into the medial preoptic area (mPOA). Site-specific infusion of DPDPE into the VMH had dose-dependent, dual effects on lordosis behavior. While a very low dose of DPDPE (0.01 microg) facilitated lordosis behavior, a higher dose (1.0 microg) inhibited receptivity in OVX rats primed with E and a low dose (50 microg) of P. We used 3H-DPDPE to measure the density of delta-ORs in OVX rats treated with vehicle or with E by receptor autoradiography. E treatment did not have any effect on the density of DPDPE binding sites in the VMH, mPOA, medial amygdala, or caudate putamen. The behavioral effects of the ligands used in this study suggest that activation of delta-OR in the VMH by endogenous opioids facilitates estrogen-dependent lordosis behavior.
Macrocode for error detection and correction in mass memories

A new coding theory is established to detect and correct errors efficiently in mass memories. A novel error detection and correction code, macrocode, is presented. The macrocode features encoding a large amount of data into a separate code, and detecting as well as correcting multiple and symmetric errors in mass memories. The macrocode detectability and correctability of multiple and symmetric errors are upper-bounded to a block size of mass memories (usually 512-4 Kbytes). >
The fructokinase from Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii belongs to group I fructokinase enzymes and is encoded separately from other carbohydrate metabolism enzymes.

Summary: The Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii BAL fructokinase (frk) gene was isolated on a 2.4 kb BamHI fragment from the cosmid pLA72 by complementation analysis of the Tn5-induced frk mutant BAL79, and confirmed by hybridization analysis. The nucleotide sequence of the frk gene was found to contain an open reading frame consisting of 978 bp encoding 326 amino acids, which was then compared to known fructokinase sequences. The fructokinase gene was not contained in an operon and is encoded separately from other enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism. Its product is therefore assigned to the group I fructokinases. A putative promoter (TTGACA-N16-GTTGAT), ribosome-binding site and termination sequence were identified. The Frk protein contained several motifs conserved in other known fructokinase sequences, including an ATP-binding and a substrate-binding motif. The hydropathy plot derived from the frk gene sequence data revealed the fructokinase as a hydrophilic protein. The fructokinase protein was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a three-step method using chromatofocusing, affinity chromatography and gel filtration. Its purity was confirmed by SDSPAGE and it was visualized as a single band by silver staining. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified fructokinase confirmed the proposed open reading frame of the frk gene. The purified fructokinase had a molecular mass of 36.5 kDa, pl of 4.65, pH activity range of 6.0-9.0 (maximum activity at pH 8.0) and a Mg2+ requirement. It had a K m of 0.31 mM and a V max of 31 μmol fructose 6-phosphate (mg protein)-1 min with fructose as substrate. The R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii BAL fructokinase was biochemically and molecularly similar to other bacterial fructokinases.
DYSWIS: An architecture for automated diagnosis of networks

As the complexity of networked systems increases, we need mechanisms to automatically detect failures in the network and diagnose the cause of such failures. To realize true self-healing networks, we also need mechanisms to fix these failures and ensure service availability by providing alternatives when a failure is detected. In this paper, we address the detection and diagnosis of network failures. We introduce DYSWIS ("Do you see what I see ") which observes the system from multiple points in the network. Our system consists of detection nodes and diagnosis nodes. Detection nodes detect failures by passive traffic monitoring and active probing. Diagnosis nodes determine the cause of failures using historical information about similar failures and by performing active tests. They are based on a rule engine and represent network dependency relationship encoded as rules. We present our prototype system which considers network components present in a VoIP network and show the feasibility of our solution.
Polarization Parameter for Nucleon-Nucleon Elastic Scattering at 11.8-GeV/c

Data are presented on the polarization parameter in $\mathrm{pp}$ and $\mathrm{pn}$ elastic scattering at 11.8 GeV/c for four-momentum transfers $\ensuremath{-}t=0.15 \mathrm{to} 0.9$ ${\mathrm{GeV}}^{2}$. In contrast to lower energies where the $\mathrm{pn}$ polarization is positive, it is slightly negative at 11.8 GeV/c; averaging the data from $\ensuremath{-}t=0.18 \mathrm{to} 0.5$ ${\mathrm{GeV}}^{2}$ we find $P(\mathrm{pn})=(\ensuremath{-}0.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5)%$, to be compared with $P(\mathrm{pp})=(5.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.8)%$. These data, combined with our previous data at lower energies, show that the $I=0$ single-flip exchange amplitude has an anomalously rapid energy dependence.
Investigations of Salmonella enterica Serovar Newport Infections of Oysters by Using Immunohistochemistry and Knockout Mutagenesis

The consumption of raw oysters is an important risk factor in the acquisition of food-borne disease, with Salmonella being one of a number of pathogens that have been found in market oysters. Previous work by our lab found that Salmonella was capable of surviving in oysters for over 2 months under laboratory conditions, and this study sought to further investigate Salmonella's tissue affinity and mechanism of persistence within the oysters. Immunohistochemistry was used to show that Salmonella was capable of breaching the epithelial barriers, infecting the deeper connective tissues of the oysters, and evading destruction by the oysters' phagocytic hemocytes. To further investigate the mechanism of these infections, genes vital to the function of Salmonella's two main type III secretion systems were disrupted and the survivability of these knockout mutants within oysters was assayed. When the Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 and 2 mutant strains were exposed to oysters, there were no detectable deficiencies in their abilities to survive, suggesting that Salmonella's long-term infection of oysters does not rely upon these two important pathogenicity islands and must be due to some other, currently unknown, mechanism.
Age-Related Declines in Visuospatial Working Memory Correlate With Deficits in Explicit Motor Sequence Learning

Numerous studies have shown that older adults exhibit deficits in motor sequence learning, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. Our recent work has shown that visuospatial working-memory capacity predicts the rate of motor sequence learning and the length of motor chunks formed during explicit sequence learning in young adults. In the current study, we evaluate whether age-related deficits in working memory explain the reduced rate of motor sequence learning in older adults. We found that older adults exhibited a correlation between visuospatial working-memory capacity and motor sequence chunk length, as we observed previously in young adults. In addition, older adults exhibited an overall reduction in both working-memory capacity and motor chunk length compared with that of young adults. However, individual variations in visuospatial working-memory capacity did not correlate with the rate of learning in older adults. These results indicate that working memory declines with age at least partially explain age-related differences in explicit motor sequence learning.
Unsupervised discovery of facial events

Automatic facial image analysis has been a long standing research problem in computer vision. A key component in facial image analysis, largely conditioning the success of subsequent algorithms (e.g. facial expression recognition), is to define a vocabulary of possible dynamic facial events. To date, that vocabulary has come from the anatomically-based Facial Action Coding System (FACS) or more subjective approaches (i.e. emotion-specified expressions). The aim of this paper is to discover facial events directly from video of naturally occurring facial behavior, without recourse to FACS or other labeling schemes. To discover facial events, we propose a temporal clustering algorithm, Aligned Cluster Analysis (ACA), and a multi-subject correspondence algorithm for matching expressions. We use a variety of video sources: posed facial behavior (Cohn-Kanade database), unscripted facial behavior (RU-FACS database) and some video in infants. Accuracy of (unsupervised) ACA approached that of a supervised version, achieved moderate intersystem agreement with FACS, and proved informative as a visualization/summarization tool.
Recent progress in the development of full color SrS-based electroluminescent phosphors

Abstract A review is given of recent studies on SrS-based phosphors that are being developed for improving the color properties of electroluminescent (EL) displays. A dramatic improvement in the crystallinity, photoluminescence and EL performance for SrS : Cu was achieved by vacuum annealing under a sulfur flow. The two-component SrS : Cu,Ag phosphor has been shown to exhibit an efficient blue color, thus combining the superior excitation properties of Cu with the strong blue radiative properties of Ag. Additionally, studies in improving the EL efficiency by enhancing grain growth and by co-doping are discussed in a new green phosphor, SrS : Mn, and a preliminary results are presented for SrS : Eu.