cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Oil Extraction Methods on Physical and Chemical Properties of Red Salmon Oils (Oncorhynchus nerka)

The following four methods were used to extract salmon oil from red salmon heads: RS1 involved a mixture of ground red salmon heads and water, no heat treatment, and centrifugation; RS2 involved ground red salmon heads (no water added), heat treatment, and cen- trifugation; RS3 involved a mixture of ground red salmon heads and water, heat treatment, and centrifugation; and RS4 involved ground red salmon heads, enzymatic hydrolysis, enzyme inactivation by heat and centrifugation. The four extracted oil samples were evaluated for chemi- cal, thermal, and rheological physical properties. The RS4 process recovered significantly higher amounts of crude oil from red salmon heads than the other three extraction methods, while containing a higher % of free fatty acids and higher peroxide values than RS1, RS2, and RS3 oils. Oleic acid, eicosenoic acid, EPA, and DHA were the pre- dominant fatty acids accounting for about 60% of all unsaturated fatty acids. The RS1, RS2, RS3, and RS4 extractions contained 9.3, 9.05, 9.35, and 9.45% of EPA and 8.8, 8.55, 9.0, and 9.1% of DHA in the oil, respec- tively. Weight losses of the oils increased with increasing temperatures between 200 and 500 C. The % weight losses at 500 C were 94.50, 94.58, 94.94, and 95.47% for RS2, RS1, RS3, and RS4, respectively. The apparent vis- cosities of all the oil samples decreased with the increases in the temperature. The RS1 extract was more viscous (P \ 0.05) than those of RS2, RS3, and RS4 between 0 and 25 C.
Gap junctions remain open during cytochrome c-induced cell death: relationship of conductance to 'bystander' cell killing

Previous reports have shown that gap junctions relay cell death in many cell types. However, changes in electrical coupling and their dynamics during cell death are poorly understood. We performed comprehensive studies of electrical coupling following induction of cell death by single-cell cytochrome c (cyC) injection in paired Xenopus oocytes. Cell death was rapidly induced by cyC in injected cells, and cell death was also observed in uninjected bystander cells electrically coupled to the cyC-injected oocytes. Gap junction currents either remained at pre-cyC injection levels or increased dramatically as the injected cell died. Nonjunctional currents increased in injected cells immediately following cyC injection; nonjunctional currents increased slowly in uninjected bystander cells. Bystander cell death occurred only when junctional conductance was approximately 6 muS. Both 1,2-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,-N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetraacetoxy-methyl ester and Xestospongin C inhibited bystander cell death in pairs that had reached the death conductance threshold, suggesting that Ca(2+) and inositol 1,4,5 triphosphate are involved in the process.
Hydrolysis of Milk Proteins by Immobilized Streptomyces griseus Pronase

Abstract Streptomyces griseus pronase was coupled covalently to porous succinamidopropyl-glass beads with 1-ethyl-3-dimethylaminopropyl carbodiimide. The milk proteins, α -lactalbumin, ribonuclease A, bovine serum albumin, β -lactoglobulin, whole casein, commercial casein, α s1 -casein, β -casein, and κ -casein were recirculated through a packed-bed column of immobilized pronase. The rate and extent of hydrolysis of the milk proteins were estimated by a 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid assay which measured liberated α -amino groups. Rates of hydrolysis varied from .46 μ mol α -amino groups released min −1 100mg glass beads −1 for ribonuclease A to 7.70 μ mol α -amino groups released min −1 100mg glass beads −1 for a commercial preparation of casein while the extent of hydrolysis ranged from 5% α -amino groups released in 30min for ribonuclease A to 44% α -amino groups for α s1 -casein in 15min. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis visualized the rapid loss of major casein bands and degradation of the generated peptide fragments. Pseudo-first order rate constant for N,N-dimethyl casein prepared by reductive alkylation was 5×10 −2 min −1 , while for casein, 7×10 −2 min −1 . Inclusion of 4M urea with bovine serum albumin and stimultaneous exposure to immobilized pronase gave a twofold increase in rate and extent of hydrolysis.
Rapid evolution of silver nanoparticle resistance in Escherichia coli

The recent exponential increase in the use of engineered nanoparticles (eNPs) means both greater intentional and unintentional exposure of eNPs to microbes. Intentional use includes the use of eNPs as biocides. Unintentional exposure results from the fact that eNPs are included in a variety of commercial products (paints, sunscreens, cosmetics). Many of these eNPs are composed of heavy metals or metal oxides such as silver, gold, zinc, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. It is thought that since metallic/metallic oxide NPs impact so many aspects of bacterial physiology that it will difficult for bacteria to evolve resistance to them. This study utilized laboratory experimental evolution to evolve silver nanoparticle (AgNP) resistance in the bacterium Escherichia coli (K-12 MG1655), a bacterium that does not harbor any known silver resistance elements. After 225 generations of exposure to the AgNP environment, the treatment populations demonstrated greater fitness vs. control strains as measured by optical density (OD) and colony forming units (CFU) in the presence of varying concentrations of 10 nm citrate-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNP) or silver nitrate (AgNO3). Genomic analysis shows that changes associated with AgNP resistance were already accumulating within the treatment populations by generation 100, and by generation 200 three mutations had swept to high frequency in the AgNP resistance stocks. This study indicates that despite previous claims to the contrary bacteria can easily evolve resistance to AgNPs, and this occurs by relatively simple genomic changes. These results indicate that care should be taken with regards to the use of eNPs as biocides as well as with regards to unintentional exposure of microbial communities to eNPs in waste products.
Effect of Rhamnolipids on Permeability Across Caco-2 Cell Monolayers

Purpose This report describes the effect of rhamnolipids (RLs), an amphiphilic biosurfactant produced by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, on the integrity and permeability across Caco-2 cell monolayers.
Optical Hydrophone for Broadband Medical Ultrasound

A broadband fiber-based hydrophone probe is reported for measurements of high frequency (up to 100 MHz) ultrasonic fields. The fiber probe with a tip diameter on the order of about 9 microns provides an effective measurement tool, which is adequate for mm spatial resolution and they could eliminate the need for spatial averaging corrections. Power budget calculation of the fiber sensor has been performed, which shows that high power laser source is essential to achieve sufficient signal-to-noise ratio. Experiments have been done to examine the sensitivity of the fiber optic ultrasound hydrophone probe.
The Larval Development of Lightiella Incisa Gooding (Cephalocarida) 1)

[Description detaillee de douze stades larvaires libres du Cephalocaride Lightiella incira. Le mode de developpement dans ce genre est compare a celui observe chez Hutchinsoniella. Il existe un certain nombre de differences a ce point de vue entre les deux genres, mais leur mode de developpement est fondamentalement le meme. Il y a notamment un accroissement graduel du nombre des segments et des appendices au cours de la succession d'un grand nombre de stades larvaires, une perte du palpe mandibulaire et du processus enditique de la seconde antenne, et une modification de la premiere maxille a la fin de la serie metanauplienne. La presente etude laisse supposer que des variations sont possibles dans le cours precis du developpement que peut suivre un individu., Description detaillee de douze stades larvaires libres du Cephalocaride Lightiella incira. Le mode de developpement dans ce genre est compare a celui observe chez Hutchinsoniella. Il existe un certain nombre de differences a ce point de vue entre les deux genres, mais leur mode de developpement est fondamentalement le meme. Il y a notamment un accroissement graduel du nombre des segments et des appendices au cours de la succession d'un grand nombre de stades larvaires, une perte du palpe mandibulaire et du processus enditique de la seconde antenne, et une modification de la premiere maxille a la fin de la serie metanauplienne. La presente etude laisse supposer que des variations sont possibles dans le cours precis du developpement que peut suivre un individu.]
The mechanics of some common injuries to the shoulder in sports

Abstract The mechanics of some common shoulder injuries occurring in sports have been discussed. Such trauma differs from that found in daily practice in that it occurs under conditions of strong muscular effort and at the extremes of motion. The appreciation of the mechanics of injury often furnishes the clue to successful early diagnosis and treatment.
The Virtual Patron

SUMMARY The modern academic library is characterized by technological innovation, optimum Internet connectivity, and boasts of numerous electronic resources and services that are accessible remotely. Library patrons can now ‘visit’ the library and conduct research without ever entering the library building. Furthermore, enabling technologies have led to the exponential growth of distance education programs in many higher education institutions. Students can now participate in college and university programs without leaving their geographical locations because technology facilitates virtual delivery of academic programs. This has in turn led to the emergence of virtual academic communities. These virtual communities require the services and resources of various academic support units much in the same way as traditional campus communities. In order to remain relevant within this milieu, academic libraries are changing rapidly and being transformed to meet the changing needs of the evolving academic communit...
The New Academy's Appeals to the Presocratics

Members of the New Academy presented their sceptical position as the culmination of a progressive development in the history of philosophy, which began when certain Presocratics started to reflect on the epistemic status of their theoretical claims concerning the natures of things. The Academics' dogmatic opponents accused them of misrepresenting the early philosophers in an illegitimate attempt to claim respectable precedents for their dangerous position. The ensuing debate over the extent to which some form of scepticism might properly be attributed to the Presocratics is reflected in various passages in Cicero's Academica. In this essay, we try to get clearer about the precise nature of the Academics' historical claim and their view of the general lesson to be learned from reflection on the history of philosophy down to their own time. The Academics saw the Presocratics as providing some kind of support for the thesis that things are non-cognitive, or, more specifically, that neither the senses nor reason furnishes a criterion of truth. As this view is susceptible to both 'dialectical' and non-dialectical readings, we consider the prospects for each. We also examine the evidence for the varied functions both of the Academics' specific appeals to individual Presocratics and of their collections of the Presocratics' divergent opinions. What emerges is a better understanding of why the Academics were concerned with claiming the Presocratics as sceptical ancestors and of the precise manner in which they advanced this claim. Ever since philosophy attained a measure of maturity as a discipline, philosophers have looked to the great figures of the past for inspiration and, equally importantly, have reflected upon the lessons to be learned from their discipline's history. The members of the New Academy were no exception, and the past few decades have yielded a better understanding of some of the ways in which they were able plausibly to present themselves as true defenders of their Academic inheritance.' But the Academics
Surface-film and interfacial analysis via variable grazing exit angle x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract A brief review of the general requirements for handling “real world” thin film and interfacial analysis in the thickness region of 50 to 5000 A is offered. An attempt has been made to demonstrate that variable exit angle X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is the only surface analytical technique which has the inherent capability to meet all such requirements. The theoretical foundations of the film emission and substrate emission techniques are presented. Sample exit angle definition is defined for focussing and double crystal optics. The effect of surface roughness at low exit angles is evaluated. The general instrumentation requirements for non-destructive sample depth profiling in terms of macroscopic and microscopic elemental and chemical speciation analysis are evaluated. It is shown that the experimental studies discussed confirm the validity of theoretical projections for this new technique to obtain reliable information on in situ kinetic studies on gas desorption, gas entrapment, determination of the thickness of films in multilayer structure and the evaluation of chemically modified substrates, e.g., transition metal oxidation in the presence of significant physical contamination.
Liquid–liquid phase separation in linear low‐density polyethylene

The issue of multiple equilibrium phases in compositionally heterogeneous random copolymers is studied with an ethylene-butene copolymer representative of many linear low-density polyethylenes (LLDPE). This material has a dispersed minority phase (volume fraction f β ≃ 0.02) of highly branched, amorphous chains. A thermodynamic calculation of the equilibrium liquid state is done using the distribution of chain branching from temperature rising elution fractionation and the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter χ AB for linear and ethyl branched C 4 H 8 repeat units. The calculation indicates that this copolymer is metastable, between the binodal and spinodal at a melt temperature of 150°C
Far infrared reflectance and conductivity of TaS3 : completion of the AC response spectrum

Abstract The far infrared reflectance of the charge density wave (CDW) conductor TaS 3 has been measured from 3 to 700cm −1 with incident radiation polarized parallel and perpendicular to the long axis of the crystals. For parallel polarization, a strong reflection edge correlated with the formation of the CDW appears near 70cm −1 . The associated conductivity shows no dramatic conduction mode in the far infrared. These results are in share contrast to the observed behavior in the related CDW materials (TaSe 4 ) 2 I and K 0.3 MoO 3 , and they rule out models of a “generic far infrared mode” in CDW excitations.
Hydrogeochemical interaction between a wetland and an unconfined glacial drift aquifer, southwestern Michigan

In the glacial topography of southwestern Michigan, the water table does not always conform exactly to the land surface and flow-through wetlands, those with both ground water recharge and discharge, are common. The W-l wetland in Cass County, Michigan, a flow-through system, shows a distinct contrast between upgradient and downgradient ground water quality. Ground water discharging into the wetland is oxic, has up to 40 mg/L NO3-N derived from fertilizer and hog manure application to corn fields, and has major ion concentrations typical of the shallow unconfined aquifer in the area. In contrast, shallow ground water that originates as recharge from the wetland forms a plume extending downgradient that can be identified by isotopic enrichment in 18O and deuterium resulting from evaporation in the wetland prior to recharge and by distinct chemical characteristics similar to the wetland surface water (low conductivity and alkalinity, low concentrations of sulfate, nitrate and dissolved oxygen and high concentrations of ammonia, and DOC). As the wetland surface water infiltrates into the unconfined aquifer, conductivity and alkalinity increase due to carbonate mineral dissolution and iron concentrations increase as ferric iron in the aquifer solids serves as an electron acceptor in microbially mediated reactions. The other chemical characteristics, including the lack of nitrate, persist in the flow system for significant distances downgradient from the wetland. The chemical and isotopic composition of shallow ground water around wetlands can be used to spatially delineate areas of ground-water discharge to the wetland and ground water recharge from the wetland, thereby providing a supplemental method to the use of sometimes inconclusive hydraulic head data in the determination of wetland recharge-discharge function. In this study, the chemical and isotopic data confirm that the water table does not replicate surface topography around closed depressions in the landscape.
A zinc lock on GGDEF domain dimerization inhibits E. coli biofilms.

In this issue of Structure, Zahringer and colleagues present crystal structures of an important signal transduction enzyme, diguanylate cyclase DgcZ from E. coli. The authors show that zinc ions bound to the CZB domain inhibit enzyme activity and reveal how zinc availability affects biofilm formation.
Hydrothermal Formation of Calcium Copper Tetrasilicate.

We describe the first hydrothermal synthesis of CaCuSi4 O10 as micron-scale clusters of thin platelets, distinct from morphologies generated under salt-flux or solid-state conditions. The hydrothermal reaction conditions are surprisingly specific: too cold, and instead of CaCuSi4 O10 , a porous calcium copper silicate forms; too hot, and calcium silicate (CaSiO3 ) forms. The precursors also strongly impact the course of the reaction, with the most common side product being sodium copper silicate (Na2 CuSi4 O10 ). Optimized conditions for hydrothermal CaCuSi4 O10 formation from calcium chloride, copper(II) nitrate, sodium silicate, and ammonium hydroxide are 350 °C at 3000 psi for 72 h; at longer reaction times, competitive delamination and exfoliation causes crystal fragmentation. These results illustrate that CaCuSi4 O10 is an even more unique material than previously appreciated.
Stewardship and U.S. nuclear weapon production wastes—an introduction

The article provides new perspectives on the amounts and types of nuclear and toxic waste produced by the United States nuclear weapons production industry. These wastes are spread over 28 of the 50 states at 129 nuclear weapons related properties. The total quantity would fill a line of semi trucks, over 24 miles abreast, parked bumper-to-bumper, extending from Chicago, IL, to Laredo, TX. Much of the waste generated by nuclear weapon production has very long radioactive half-lives, and exists in uncontrolled or unstabilized forms. This article presents new categories for waste based on their relative accessibility to the environment, in contrast to old waste categories that are tied to nuclear weapon production terminology. Also discussed are potential risks from nuclear weapons waste, such as threats to public safety, cultural threats, and risks to natural resources. Because these wastes are extremely persistent (i.e., an average radioactive half-life of 3,000 years), they are managed under a concept new to the industry termed “stewardship.” Management by stewardship is described, along with its organizational and funding framework, decision-making philosophy, and how one goes about trans-generational information transfer.
The Heart of Mens Rea and the Insanity of Psychopaths

Psychopaths are mentally ill — insane — but as a rule have no insanity defense against criminal liability. This article explains why.The explanation hinges upon the doctrine of mens rea, the criminal mind necessary for criminal liability. The insanity defense is an excuse, an affirmative defense for those with mens rea enough to be guilty. But the defense should take its essential purpose and shape from the doctrine of mens rea.This relation between mens rea and the excuse of insanity is why a defendant insane as a matter of mental health may not be insane as a matter of criminal law. Only an insanity that calls into question the usual workings of the doctrine of mens rea should excuse from criminal liability. If psychopathy is not such an insanity, it should not excuse.Similarly, though philosophers may argue that psychopathy supplies an excuse from moral fault, the criminal law may have no qualms about punishing psychopaths if the doctrine of mens rea controls the insanity defense. The doctrine of mens rea may well entail an insanity defense far narrower than that entailed by general philosophical notions of human responsibility. This article explores the relation between mens rea, the insanity defense, and psychopathy. Part I describes psychopathy. Part II examines the doctrine of mens rea. Part III shows how the doctrine of mens rea entails an insanity defense. Part IV explains why such an insanity defense leaves psychopaths unexcused. In Part V the article briefly concludes.
Extending boosting for large scale spoken language understanding

We propose three methods for extending the Boosting family of classifiers motivated by the real-life problems we have encountered. First, we propose a semisupervised learning method for exploiting the unlabeled data in Boosting. We then present a novel classification model adaptation method. The goal of adaptation is optimizing an existing model for a new target application, which is similar to the previous one but may have different classes or class distributions. Finally, we present an efficient and effective cost-sensitive classification method that extends Boosting to allow for weighted classes. We evaluated these methods for call classification in the AT&T VoiceTone® spoken language understanding system. Our results indicate that it is possible to obtain the same classification performance by using 30% less labeled data when the unlabeled data is utilized through semisupervised learning. Using model adaptation we can achieve the same classification accuracy using less than half of the labeled data from the new application. Finally, we present significant improvements in the "important" (i.e., higher weighted) classes without a significant loss in overall performance using the proposed cost-sensitive classification method.
Theory of t 2g electron-gas Rashba interactions

(Received 24 January 2013; published 8 July 2013)Usingqualitativeconsiderationsbasedonatwo-centerapproximationfortight-binding-modelmatrixelements,we demonstrate that Rashba interactions in complex-oxide two-dimensional electron gases are due primarily tochanges in metal-oxygen-metal bond angles at surfaces and interfaces. We verify this conclusion by comparingour picture with illustrative
Flow disturbance measurements through a constricted tube at moderate Reynolds numbers.

Abstract Instantaneous velocities in the field distal to contoured axisymmetric stenoses were measured with a laser Doppler anemometer. Upstream flow conditions were steady and spanned a range of Reynolds numbers from 500 to 2000. Autocorrelation functions and spectra of the velocity were employed to describe the nature of fluid dynamic disturbances. Depending upon the degree of stenosis and the Reynolds number, the flow field contained disturbances of a discrete oscillation frequency, of a turbulent nature, or both. If turbulence was detected in a given experiment, it was always preceded upstream by velocity oscillations at discrete frequency arising from vortex shedding. For mild degrees of stenosis (50% area reduction or less) the intensity of flow disturbances was relatively low until the Reynolds number exceeded 1000, thus highlighting difficulties to be expected in employing flow disturbance detection as a diagnostic tool in the recognition of early atherosclerosis in major arteries. In view of the relatively high noise levels inherent in noninvasive Doppler ultrasound systems employed clinically, it seems unlikely that detection of stenoses of less than 50% area reduction is feasible unless the Reynolds numbers exceed 1000 or unless pulsatility introduces new unsteady flow features beyond those studied here.
Sublimation rate of ice under simulated Mars conditions and the effect of layers of mock regolith JSC Mars‐1

[1] We have studied the sublimation of ice buried beneath ≤200 mm of JSC Mars-1 model regolith under simulated Mars conditions. As expected, even thin layers of regolith cause large decreases in sublimation rate, up to one order of magnitude at 50 mm. When the depth of the regolith was 50 to 200 mm we detected water desorbing from the overlying layers for which we were able to determine a desorption coefficient of 1.45 ± 0.5 × 10−3 h−1. After allowing for the effect of desorption, we found that the diffusion coefficient for water vapor through our regolith is 1.74 ± 0.70 × 10−4 m2 s−1, in excellent agreement with theoretical values. We thus find that a 1-m thick layer of ice buried below a meter of regolith resembling JSC Mars-1 on Mars at 235 K would last ∼800 years.
Hard Luck Stories: The Reality of Endothelial Progenitor Cells Continues to Fall Short of the Promise

The discovery of putative endothelial progenitor cells by Asahara and colleagues1 engendered a new era of vascular biology, full of the promise of using circulating and bone marrow–derived progenitors for therapeutic angiogenesis. In this landmark article, Asahara et al demonstrated that a CD34 or Flk-1 positive fraction of mononuclear cells isolated from human peripheral blood formed endothelial tube–like structures in vitro and incorporated into capillaries in regions of ischemic injury. Thus, a new paradigm of “vasculogenesis in the adult” was born. Since this observation, more than a decade has gone by, with more than 8000 articles published on endothelial progenitors.2 Despite this extraordinary productivity, therapeutic vasculogenesis with endothelial progenitor cells continues to be in its infancy—a hard luck story, dogged by conflicting studies, lack of uniform criteria for defining an endothelial progenitor, and nonrigorous methods of determining progenitor-mediated vasculogenesis. Article see p 898 Notwithstanding the fundamental problems plaguing this field, numerous studies during the past few years have suggested that vascular progenitors may be involved in maintaining vascular homeostasis and repair. The number of circulating endothelial progenitors is inversely related to cardiovascular risk, and patients with healthy vessels have a greater number of circulating endothelial progenitors.3 Coronary endothelial cells of extracardiac origin were observed in patients who had undergone gender-mismatched cardiac transplantation, and a similar robust degree of endothelial chimerism was seen in coronary vessels of patients with transplant arteriopathy.4,5 Interestingly, the degree of endothelial cells of extracardiac origin was almost log10-fold higher in diseased segments of arteriopathic vessels than in nondiseased segments.4 These studies thus strengthened the notion that bone marrow and circulating progenitors were participants in atherosclerosis and arterial injury, although the precise functional role was unclear. The vasculoprotective nature of endothelial progenitor cells against atherosclerotic lesions was illustrated in an …
How should lupus flares be measured? Deconstruction of the Safety of Estrogen in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment–Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index flare index

Objective. Accurate assessment of lupus flares is critical but problematic in clinical trials. This study examined the impact of modifications to the classic Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment (SELENA)-SLEDAI flare index (cSFI). Methods. Ninety-one SLE patient records were evaluated at two visits at which the SLEDAI and BILAG had been scored prospectively. The cSFI was compared with an experimental version (eSFI) that eliminated medication criteria and separated the mild/moderate flare category into its components by clinical judgement based on records. The revised SFI (SFI-R) and some physician’s global assessments (PGAs) were also scored using chart notes. Results. eSFI-rated moderate flares had higher PGA and BILAG scores than those rated as mild. When medication criteria were excluded, 42 of 55 cSFI severe flares and 15 of 49 mild/moderate flares were downgraded in severity. Comparing flares that remained severe with those that were downgraded, disease activity was higher by PGA (P < 0.001), SLEDAI (P < 0.001), BILAG (P < 0.001), number of active BILAG organs (P < 0.04) and flaring SFI-R organs (P < 0.01). PGA (P < 0.001) and the number of SFI-R domains flaring (P < 0.001) were higher in mild/moderate eSFI flares than in those that were downgraded. Twenty-one of 83 (25%) medication changes occurred with no flare. Forty-six of 52 (88%) medication changes defining severe flare by cSFI involved patients rated by physicians with no, mild or moderate flares. Conclusion. A deconstructed flare index improves the discrimination of mild from moderate flares and selects more ill patients with true clinical worsening for each category of flare.
Hormonal and Chemical Regulation of Paraoxonases in Mice

In humans and rodents, paraoxonase (PON/Pon) 1 expression and activity in livers and serum are higher in females than in males, and some drugs increase paraoxonase's expression. However, the underlining mechanisms of gender-divergent expression and chemical regulation of Pon1 remain largely unknown. The present study determined the regulatory mechanisms contributing to gender-divergent and chemically altered Pon expression in mouse livers. Pon1 mRNA was much more abundant in the livers of mice than other tissues, with higher levels in female livers than male livers at mRNA and protein levels. Pon2 mRNA was ubiquitously expressed in mouse tissues, but minimally in mouse liver. Pon3 mRNA was most abundant in mouse lung and liver and less abundant in other tissues. Pon1 mRNA was lowest in fetal liver, markedly increased at parturition, and remained relatively constant thereafter. Pon2 and Pon3 mRNA are highly expressed in fetal liver and decreased after birth. Male-pattern growth hormone (GH) administration in hypophysectomized and lit/lit mice decreased Pon1 expression. Sex hormones and female-pattern GH administration had no effect on Pon1 expression, indicating the importance of male-pattern GH in regulating Pon1. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor, pregnane X receptor, and NF-E2-related factor activators had no effect on Pon1 mRNA. A constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) activator decreased Pon1 expression in wild-type but not CAR-null mice. In conclusion, Pon1 mRNA was most abundant in adult mouse livers, whereas Pon2 and Pon3 mRNAs were most abundant in fetal mouse livers. Female-predominant Pon1 expression in mouse livers is caused by the inhibitory effects of male-pattern GH secretion, and CAR activation decreases Pon1 expression.
Reverse engineering for mobile systems forensics with Ares

We present Ares, a reverse engineering technique for assisting in the analysis of data recovered for the investigation of mobile and embedded systems. The focus of investigations into insider activity is most often on the data stored on the insider's computers and digital device - call logs, email messaging, calendar entries, text messages, and browser history - rather than on the status of the system's security. Ares is novel in that it uses a data-driven approach that incorporates natural language processing techniques to infer the layout of input data that has been created according to some unknown specification. While some other reverse engineering techniques based on instrumentation of executables offer high accuracy, they are hard to apply to proprietary phone architectures. We evaluated the effectiveness of Ares on call logs and contact lists from ten used Nokia cell phones. We created a rule set by manually reverse engineering a single Nokia phone. Without modification to that grammar, Ares parsed most phones' data with 90% of the accuracy of a commercial forensics tool based on manual reverse engineering, and all phones with at least 50% accuracy even though the endianess for one phone changed.
Offering Pattern Mining Using High Yield Partition Trees

Despite the wide use of data mining techniques in client segmentation and market analysis applications, so far there have been no algorithms that allow for the discovery of strategically important combinations of products (or offerings) – the ones that have the highest impact on the performance of the company. We present a novel algorithm for analyzing a multiproduct environment and identifying strategically important combinations of offerings with respect to a predefined criterion, such as revenue impact, profit impact, inventory turnover etc. In contrast to the traditional association rule and frequent item mining techniques, the goal of the new algorithm is to find segments of data, defined through combinations of products (rules), which satisfy certain conditions as a group. We present a novel algorithm to derive specialized partition threes, called High Yield Partition Trees, which lead to such segments, and investigate different splitting strategies. The algorithm has been tested on real-world data, and achieved very good performance.
Confetti Clarifies Controversy: Neural Crest Stem Cells Are Multipotent

Neural crest precursors generate diverse cell lineages during development, which have been proposed to arise either from multipotent precursor cells or pools of heterogeneous, restricted progenitors. Now in Cell Stem Cell, Baggiolini et al. (2015) perform rigorous in vivo lineage tracing to show that individual neural crest precursors are multipotent.
Degenerative Disk Disease with and Without Facet Arthritis

Degenerative disk disease (DDD) is a common cause of low back pain (LBP); however, the exact relationship between the two remains unknown. The functional spinal unit (FSU) consisting of an anterior intervertebral disk and two posterior facet joints undergo structural changes as a result of degeneration, which may lead to LBP. Over time we have come to understand that the pathophysiology of DDD is most likely a multifactorial process. Degeneration of the spine is an inevitable consequence of aging and can be due to repetitive biomechanical loading of the spine and genetic predisposition. Clinical presentation is a key to the diagnosis of DDD with the physical exam being an important adjunct in determining discogenic etiology of symptoms. Other disorders may elicit LBP and should be considered during the history and physical examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard diagnostic tool for the evaluation of DDD. Conservative management is reasonable as majority of these patients recover from their symptoms. The most common surgical interventions involve fusion and more recently artificial total disk replacement (TDR). In addition, each procedure and surgical approach has advantages and disadvantages with associated complications.
A Bayesian paradigm for designing intrusion detection systems

Abstract This article describes a model based approach to designing network intrusion detection systems. The article considers general methods applicable to many different types of networks, using specific algorithms as examples. The central theme is that latent variable hierarchical models constructed using Bayesian methods lead to coherent systems that can handle the complex distributions involved with network traffic. Bayes’ rule provides a means of combining competing intrusion detection methods such as anomaly detection and pattern recognition. Bayesian methods present evidence of intrusion as probabilities, which are easy for human fraud investigators to interpret. Hierarchical models allow transactions to communicate information about possible intrusions across time and accounts. These hierarchical models contain a transaction level model describing how well individual network transactions fit user and intruder profiles, an account level model parameterizing bursts associated with network intrusion, and a network-level model that adjusts account level model parameters when an intrusion on one or more account is suspected.
Auditory Nerve Fiber Responses to Combined Acoustic and Electric Stimulation

Persons with a prosthesis implanted in a cochlea with residual acoustic sensitivity can, in some cases, achieve better speech perception with “hybrid” stimulation than with either acoustic or electric stimulation presented alone. Such improvements may involve “across auditory-nerve fiber” processes within central nuclei of the auditory system and within-fiber interactions at the level of the auditory nerve. Our study explored acoustic–electric interactions within feline auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) so as to address two goals. First, we sought to better understand recent results that showed non-monotonic recovery of the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) following acoustic masking (Nourski et al. 2007, Hear. Res. 232:87–103). We hypothesized that post-masking changes in ANF temporal properties and responsiveness (spike rate) accounted for the ECAP results. We also sought to describe, more broadly, the changes in ANF responses that result from prior acoustic stimulation. Five response properties—spike rate, latency, jitter, spike amplitude, and spontaneous activity—were examined. Post-masking reductions in spike rate, within-fiber jitter and across-fiber variance in latency were found, with the changes in temporal response properties limited to ANFs with high spontaneous rates. Thus, our results suggest how non-monotonic ECAP recovery occurs for ears with spontaneous activity, but cannot account for that pattern of recovery when there is no spontaneous activity, including the results from the presumably deafened ears used in the Nourski et al. (2007) study. Finally, during simultaneous (electric+acoustic) stimulation, the degree of electrically driven spike activity had a strong influence on spike rate, but did not affect spike jitter, which apparently was determined by the acoustic noise stimulus or spontaneous activity.
Different Effects of Religion and God on Prosociality With the Ingroup and Outgroup

Recent studies have found that activating religious cognition by priming techniques can enhance prosocial behavior, arguably because religious concepts carry prosocial associations. But many of these studies have primed multiple concepts simultaneously related to the sacred. We argue here that religion and God are distinct concepts that activate distinct associations. In particular, we examine the effect of God and religion on prosociality toward the ingroup and outgroup. In three studies, we found that religion primes enhanced prosociality toward ingroup members, consistent with ingroup affiliation, whereas, God primes enhanced prosociality toward outgroup member, consistent with concerns of moral impression management. Implications for theory and methodology in religious cognition are discussed.
The impact of external RF energy on high-speed differential signal quality of long cables

As voltage levels decrease and data rates increase and the electromagnetic environment becomes more noisy for high-speed, differential, I/O data buses in data centers, the electromagnetic susceptibility of these data links increases. Signal integrity and EMC engineers need a way to quantify the risk of data errors given a certain level of external noise and an I/O cablepsilas characteristics. This paper proposes a methodology by which an engineer can calculate a transfer function that enables one to determine the differential noise signal created by an external field or conversely to determine the external field strength necessary to create a differential signal capable of causing data errors.
Differentiation of Pluripotent Embryonic Stem Cells Into Cardiomyocytes

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have been established as permanent lines of undifferentiated pluripotent cells from early mouse embryos. ES cells provide a unique system for the genetic manipulation and the creation of knockout strains of mice through gene targeting. By cultivation in vitro as 3D aggregates called embryoid bodies, ES cells can differentiate into derivatives of all 3 primary germ layers, including cardiomyocytes. Protocols for the in vitro differentiation of ES cells into cardiomyocytes representing all specialized cell types of the heart, such as atrial-like, ventricular-like, sinus nodal-like, and Purkinje-like cells, have been established. During differentiation, cardiac-specific genes as well as proteins, receptors, and ion channels are expressed in a developmental continuum, which closely recapitulates the developmental pattern of early cardiogenesis. Exploitation of ES cell-derived cardiomyocytes has facilitated the analysis of early cardiac development and has permitted in vitro "gain-of-function" or "loss-of-function" genetic studies. Recently, human ES cell lines have been established that can be used to investigate cardiac development and the function of human heart cells and to determine the basic strategies of regenerative cell therapy. This review summarizes the current state of ES cell-derived cardiogenesis and provides an overview of how genomic strategies coupled with this in vitro differentiation system can be applied to cardiac research.
Activity of Electrolyzed Oxidizing Water Against Penicilium expansum in Suspension and on Wounded Apples

Spores of Penicillium expansum, the primary organism responsible for the occurrence of patulin in apple juice, were exposed to electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water in an aqueous suspension and on wounded apples. Full-strength and 50% EO water decreased viable spore populations by greater than 4 and 2 log units, respectively. Although EO water did not prevent lesion formation on fruit previously inoculated with P. expansum, cross-con- tamination of wounded apples from decayed fruit or by direct addition of spores to a simulated dump tank was substantially reduced. EO water, therefore, has potential as an alternative to chlorine disinfectants for controlling
Best Approximation of Functions like

We determine the exact order of best approximation by polynomials and entire functions of exponential type of functions like??, ?(x)=|x|?exp(?A|x|??). In particular, it is shown thatE(??, ?, Pn, Lp(?1, 1))~n?(2?p+?p+2)/2p(1+?)×exp(?(1+??1)(A?)1/(1+?)cos??/2(1+?)n?/(1+?)), whereE(??, ?, Pn, Lp(?1, 1)) denotes best polynomial approximation of??, ?inLp(?1, 1),??R,??(0, 2],A>0, 1?p?∞. The problem, concerning the exact order of decrease ofE(?0, 2, Pn, L∞(?1, 1)), has been posed by S. N. Bernstein.
Unmet Need for Help With Activities of Daily Living Disabilities and Emergency Department Admissions Among Older Medicare Recipients.

Purpose of the study This study determined whether self-reports of unmet need for help with activities of daily living (ADL) disabilities are prognostic of emergency department (ED) utilization. Design and methods This prospective cohort study of 2,194 community-living, ADL-disabled subjects combined 2004 National Long-Term Care Survey responses with linked Medicare data through 2005. A negative binomial count model was computed to assess the association between unmet ADL need and number of subsequent ED admissions while statistically adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics associated with ED admissions among older adults. Results The adjusted annual incidence rate (IR) for ED admissions was 19% higher for unmet versus met need (IR = 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00-1.40; p = .047). The IR for ED admissions for falls and injuries was higher for those with unmet ADL versus met ADL need (IR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.10-1.86), and trended toward significance for ED admissions for skin breakdown (IR = 2.02; 95% CI = 0.97-2.88), but was not significant for ED admissions for dehydration (IR = 1.13; 95% CI= 0.79-1.63). Implications Unmet ADL need is prognostic of ED admissions, especially for falls and injuries. Future research is needed to determine whether resolution of unmet ADL need reduces ED utilization.
AMPK governs lineage specification through Tfeb-dependent regulation of lysosomes

Faithful execution of developmental programs relies on the acquisition of unique cell identities from pluripotent progenitors, a process governed by combinatorial inputs from numerous signaling cascades that ultimately dictate lineage-specific transcriptional outputs. Despite growing evidence that metabolism is integrated with many molecular networks, how pathways that control energy homeostasis may affect cell fate decisions is largely unknown. Here, we show that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a central metabolic regulator, plays critical roles in lineage specification. Although AMPK-deficient embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were normal in the pluripotent state, these cells displayed profound defects upon differentiation, failing to generate chimeric embryos and preferentially adopting an ectodermal fate at the expense of the endoderm during embryoid body (EB) formation. AMPK(-/-) EBs exhibited reduced levels of Tfeb, a master transcriptional regulator of lysosomes, leading to diminished endolysosomal function. Remarkably, genetic loss of Tfeb also yielded endodermal defects, while AMPK-null ESCs overexpressing this transcription factor normalized their differential potential, revealing an intimate connection between Tfeb/lysosomes and germ layer specification. The compromised endolysosomal system resulting from AMPK or Tfeb inactivation blunted Wnt signaling, while up-regulating this pathway restored expression of endodermal markers. Collectively, these results uncover the AMPK pathway as a novel regulator of cell fate determination during differentiation.
Assessment of the Virulence Factors of Group B Streptococci: Correlation with Sialic Acid Content

Previous studies demonstrated strain-specific differences in opsonic requirements and virulence in neonatal rats among organisms of the same serotype of group B streptococci. The present study investigated the role of sialic acid cell-surface determinants in differences in virulence. Serotype III strains resistant to opsonization by antibody-containing sera had a higher percentage of cellular sialic acid than other organisms (1.02% sialic acid for four type III resistant strains versus 0.59% for three type III sensitive strains; P less than 0.01). Neuraminidase removed up to 70% of the extractable sialic acid from serotype III strains, markedly decreased their virulence, and made them more sensitive to the effects of protective antibody. No differences in sialic acid content were detected between sensitive and resistant strains of serotype II, and neuraminidase did not significantly remove sialic acid or affect their virulence. The present studies suggest differences in the nature or mode of attachment of virulence factors between types II and III of group B streptococci.
Dental abnormalities in the short-tailed shrew, Blarina blevicauda.

Examination of 712 specimens of Blarina brevicauda from widely separated localities revealed 48 dental abnormalities. Specimens having abnormal dentitions were x-rayed to determine whether or not injury was involved. Six kinds of abnormalities are discussed. Criteria for classifying specimens of B. brevicauda in age categories are established. Because subnumerary dentitions occur frequently in adults and old adults, it is reasoned that survival of specimens lacking unspecialized unicuspids is not prejudiced. Crowding of unicuspids probably is one cause of the tendency toward reduction in number of teeth in B. brevicauda, and this tendency is greatest in subspecies having small skulls.
Student-Faculty Contacts: Tradition versus Technology

Traditional student/professor interaction involves office visits or telephone calls. Both modes require the participants to occupy similar space and time. Two relatively new modes of communication ...